The Franklin County Community School Corporation board of trustees approved a set of routine and policy items during its Oct. 13 meeting, including the naming of a high-school practice soccer field, several personnel hires, a donation acceptance and budget resolutions that set appropriations and tax levies for the 2026 budget.

The board approved each item by voice vote or show of hands; the meeting record indicates unanimous approval (7–0) for every listed motion.

Nut graf: The most consequential actions for taxpayers and operations were the board’s adoption of 2026 appropriation amounts and a resolution authorizing the superintendent to make budget-line adjustments and transfers as needed; trustees also authorized staff to advertise a request for qualifications/proposals for an energy-savings contract related to facility projects.

Key approved items (votes at a glance)
- Naming of Franklin County High School practice soccer field as the Bob O’Brien Soccer Fields (recommended by the Franklin County Youth Soccer Leagues and the district’s athletics/ECA committee). Outcome: approved (7–0).
- Consent agenda (minutes, expenditures, resignations) and related personnel and extracurricular appointments (multiple hires and extracurricular sponsors listed in the meeting packet). Outcome: approved (7–0).
- Acceptance of a $500 donation from the Franklin County Community Foundation discretionary fund to purchase ILEARN student supplies (requested by FCMS assistant principal Royce). Outcome: approved (7–0).
- Amended FCHS band field trip (trip location amended to focus on St. Louis rather than Branson; transportation by bus). Outcome: approved (7–0).
- Resolution authorizing the superintendent (or designee) to make necessary changes to budget lines and to make transfers from the Education Fund to the Operations Fund up to $1,200,000 during calendar year 2026 (district cited Indiana Code authority permitting such transfers). Outcome: approved (7–0). Notes: Superintendent Dustin Gehring said the district budgets conservatively and may adjust appropriations to keep the tax rate neutral.
- Adoption of the 2026 capital projects asset plan and five‑year bus replacement plan and preliminary appropriations/levies for the 2026 budget. The packet figures presented: Education Fund appropriation $17,000,000; Operations Fund appropriation $8,100,000; Debt Service appropriation $6,251,410; proposed total budget $32,351,410; proposed total tax levy $12,625,228; proposed total tax rate $1.26 (subject to Department of Local Government Finance approval). Outcome: approved (7–0).
- Authorization to advertise a request for qualifications/proposals for an energy savings contract to pursue performance-assessment projects that would reduce energy use on district facilities. Outcome: approved (7–0).
- Approvals of job-description changes: an administrator-of-counseling-services job description (seeking fully certified candidates for a high-school counseling administrative role) and a high-school registrar job description (title change to reflect current duties). Outcome: approved (7–0).
- Approval of the 2026–27 school calendar (includes teacher flex days and coordination with regional calendars for career-center students). Outcome: approved (7–0).

What the votes mean
- Budget and transfer authority: the superintendent may adjust line items and effect transfers up to $1.2 million in 2026; the board indicated the district will continue to aim to keep the local tax rate neutral and will work with the Department of Local Government Finance to arrive at final levy rates.
- Field naming: the district will mark the dedicated Bob O’Brien Soccer Fields with a formal ceremony to be scheduled in spring; the naming recognizes long-standing volunteer service to youth soccer programs.

Next steps and context
- The district will proceed with advertised procurement for energy-savings projects and continue committee work to prioritize facility improvements.
- Board packets and minutes list detailed personnel actions, extracurricular appointments, and the full budget packet; trustees asked staff for continued finance updates and committee reports.

Ending
All votes recorded in the meeting minutes were by voice or raised-hand show of hands and recorded as unanimous 7–0 on the items presented during the Oct. 13 meeting.