Jackson County Board approves budget amendment, $1.18 million Chromebook purchase and authorization for Blue Ridge access controls

The Jackson County Board of Education approved several spending and personnel items at its regular meeting, including an amendment to the 2025 budget, the purchase of 387 student Chromebooks for $1,175,839.18 and authorization for the superintendent to contract for access-control work at Blue Ridge School for up to $200,000.

Budget Amendment No. 7, described as including state public funds, federal grant funds and “other specific revenue funds,” was presented to the board and approved following a motion to adopt the amendment. Christy Walker presented the unaudited March financials and said the district is within the current budget resolution. Walker also said the federal grant allocations the district currently uses had been previously allocated and were not expected to be frozen, though she could not guarantee future federal action.

The board approved a purchase request to buy 387 Chromebooks, a purchase presented by Greg Stewart. Stewart said vendor and Lenovo pricing and inventory could change because of new tariffs, and the district was advised to act now to secure the devices. The price shown to the board was $1,175,839.18. Stewart…