May 23, 2024

Today’s Forecast

74º | 61% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:20 a.m. | Sunset 8:48 p.m.

🏫 EDU BUDG 101 is now in session

LEX Fayette County Public Schools District Office

FCPS is focusing on supporting the wellness of students and staff with this tentative budget. | Photo provided by FCPS

The Fayette County Board of Education has approved the tentative 2024-2025 budget — ~$809.8 million with an emphasis on improving daily operations and supporting the wellness of students + staff.

The budget is broken down into five categories:

General Fund | $671.6 million to go toward next school year’s daily operations, including pay for employees, cost of utilities and materials, as well pay for contracted workers
Building Fund | $55.5 million to go toward new constructions, renovations, and land purchases
Special Revenue Fund | $42.8 million to go toward revenue sources that are legally restricted by external entities
Food Service Fund | $36 million to go toward supporting school meal programs
Capital Outlay Fund | $3.8 million to be used for debt redemption and/or capital improvement

Since the general fund makes up a primary portion of the total budget, let’s break down where the money may be allocated.

An exterior shot of Morton Middle School with white columns and gray brick. — The current Morton Middle School was built in 1938 + completely renovated in 2002. | Photo by LEXtoday

Instruction

Classroom instruction, the methods or strategies used to teach curriculum, make up 57.7% of the general fund — the primary source for everyday operations for schools. This covers the costs of how teachers and students interact through materials, supplies, and technology.

Staff + student support services

Around $74.1 million (~11%) of the general fund is expected to go toward supporting staff + students in professional and educational growth. For instance, the $33.4 million for staff services aims to help improve curriculum development, as well as library and media services.

District + school administrative support services

School administrative and district support make up 5.6% and 1.2% of the general budget, respectively. For school admins, this means the money will be reserved for the responsibilities of the principal and others involved in the overall management of the school. Similarly, the district budget helps support the responsibilities of the Superintendent, Board of Education, and other executive-related roles.

Business support services

The $36.8 million of this portion of the general fund goes toward supporting operations such as:

Human resources
Payroll
Accounting
Printing, posting, and telecommunications

See more budget highlights

Events

Thursday, May 23

Full Moon Hike | Thursday, May 23 | 8:30-10 p.m. | Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, 3885 Raven Run Way, Lexington | $8 | Bask in the light of the full moon and listen for nocturnal wildlife while taking a hike with Raven Run staff.

Friday, May 24

Studio Players Presents: “Murder on the Orient Express” | Friday, May 24-Sunday, May 26 | Times vary | The Carriage House, 154 W. Bell Ct., Lexington | $15-$22 | A luxury train ride turns into a nightmare when a tycoon is found dead aboard — now it’s up to the passengers to solve the mystery.
Solarpunk Futures: A Workshop for Utopian Remembrance | Friday, May 24 | 6-8 p.m. | The Loudoun House, 209 Castlewood Dr., Lexington | Free | Join the Lexington Art League for an evening of social storytelling to create a utopic future with the game “Solarpunk Futures.”

Saturday, May 25

Kentucky Ballet Theatre presents “Peter Pan” | Saturday, May 25-Sunday, May 26 | Times vary | Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short St., Lexington | $20-$48 | See the story of Peter Pan, Wendy, and Neverland told through ballet.
A Tribute to Bob Dylan | Saturday, May 25 | 7-9 p.m. | Kenwick Table, 201 Owsley Ave., Lexington | Free | The answer isn’t Blowin’ in the Wind — it’s at this live tribute to this folk music legend.

Sunday, May 26

Tahlsound Concert Series | Sunday, May 26 | 5-9 p.m. | The Oleika Great Lawn, 302 Southland Dr., Lexington | Free | Help kickoff the Southland Jamboree with local + regional bands like Hot Brown Smackdown and East Nash Grass.

Events calendar here

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The Father’s Day gifts he’ll ask for every year

It’s not too late to order the Harlestons Seaside Hoodie, Seaside Pullover, or Seaside Pocket Polo for Father’s Day. | Photos by Drew Somerville

Calling all children, partners, and friends of dads everywhere: Harlestons’ Seaside Collection will have the men in your life wishing Father’s Day — ahem, coming up on June 16 — was everyday.

Mix and match any of the pieces in the Seaside Collection (including the hoodie, polo, and quarter-zip) to create a complete look perfect for Father’s Day. Wearable throughout every season, Harlestons’ easy-care, performance fabric keeps you both cozy and cool all year long.

Father's Day gifts that won't miss

News Notes

Opening

We’ve got our eyes on the pies. Chicago-based pizza joint Rosati’s will open its first Lexington location at 148 Malabu Dr., Ste. 160. Here, you can expect classic Chicago-style deep dish pizza, as well as pastas, salads, and sandwiches. The opening date is forthcoming.

Closed

Whiskey Bear and its on-site restaurant Addie’s Stone-Fired Pizza have closed, citing rising costs + limited labor. The bar went through a few different iterations, beginning solely as a bar in The Summit, and later moving to Beaumont and adding the pizza concept. (Lexington Herald-Leader)

Traffic

Beginning next Tuesday, May 28, South Mill Street will be closed between High + Maxwell Streets for sanitary sewer replacement. Construction is expected to be completed this fall, and in the meantime, you can use these detours to navigate around the closures.

Sports

Another Wildcat alum has joined La Familia ahead of the The Basketball Tournament at Rupp Arena this July. Andrew Harrison has joined the team along with Willie Cauley-Stein, Eric Bledsoe, and many others. (Kentucky Sports Radio)

Lexingtonian

We gotta give some R-E-S-P-E-C-T to sixth grade student Oliviah Braun, who will represent Central Kentucky at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC next week. In March, Braun won the Big Blue Bee with the word “marsupial.” (UKNOW)

Plan Ahead

Get your ring tossin’ arms ready. The Burl County Fair returns to the Distillery District this fall. On Friday, Sept. 6 + Saturday, Sept. 7 the campus will come alive with rides, carnival food, and of course, live music.

Finance

Just as bourbon enthusiasts might appreciate the rich notes and heritage of a carefully crafted whiskey, so too can investors relish in the art of managing their wealth. American Trust Wealth’s From Grains to Gains, a bourbon-infused guide to investing, draws parallels between the worlds of bourbon + wealth management. Learn more.*†

Shop

Stanley is having a Memorial Day sale. Get your summer drinkware, camp mugs, coolers, and tumblers 25% off with code MEMORIAL DAY.*

†Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value. Disclosures.

Drink

🧋 A pearl-fect match

A hand holds a bag filled with two cups of bubble tea next to a sign that reads "Tsaocha"

Tsaocha serves up milk teas, fruit teas, desserts, and savory options. | Photo courtesy of @tastinglexington

As the temps get warmer, we had the idea of rounding up some of our favorite ways to cool off during the summer. The first part of that series? Instagram-worthy bubble tea shops around town.

Tsaocha, 1080 S. Broadway, Ste. 201
Bubble tea, mojitos, or drinks topped with milk foam — there’s a unique Asian-fusion sip for everyone. Bonus: It also serves bites like ice cream and egg waffles.

Sharetea, 2860 Richmond Rd., Ste. 180
Get your fix of fruit + bubble teas, choose your preferred sweetness level, and get ready to sip.

Bubble Tea Studio, 535 S. Upper St., Ste. 185
Try a classic milk tea and add your choice of 12 different bursting bubbles and jellies.

Black Pearl, 171 W. Lowry Ln., Ste. 176
After you’ve munched down on some Vietnamese cuisine at Pho BC, head next door to wash it all down with a Thai milk tea.

Asked

What do you like in your bubble tea?

A. Classic tapioca pearls
B. Popping boba
C. Jellies

Get the par-tea started

The Buy

Drunk Girl Art Prints. Celebrate National Wine Day with a new piece of wall art for your bar cart.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Aayat

From the editor

I remember being a kid and finding tapioca pearls being way too chewy and bland for my tastes. Fast forward 15 years, and now it’s my favorite add-in by far.

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