Alcoa board approves FY‑25 budget amendments, matching grants and a part‑time preschool para

The Alcoa City Schools Board of Education on Aug. 19 approved amendments to the FY25 General Purpose budget, accepted a Property Conservation Matching Grant and a Safety Partners Matching Grant, and authorized hiring a part‑time paraprofessional for the state special‑education preschool program. Director of Schools Jake Jones presented the finance items and recommended approval. Board Member Julie Rochelle moved to approve finance items A–D; Brandy Bledsoe seconded the motion. The motion "passed by unanimous vote." The transcript and meeting minutes list the grant approvals by title only; dollar amounts, grant terms and any required district match percentages were not specified in the record and were not discussed during the meeting. The hire is described as a part‑time para for the State Special Education Preschool Program; the transcript does not specify salary, effective date or funding source for the position. Why it matters: Budget amendments and grant approvals can change district spending authority and support programs; hiring a paraprofessional affects classroom staffing for special education preschool services. Operational details and budgetary line items will be finalized by district finance staff after the board action. No board member registered dissent or abstention on the finance items at the meeting.