Board approves series of budget amendments including Raptor, grants and lighting funding

The Coffee County Board of Education approved multiple budget amendments on Sept. 8 to record incoming grant revenue, reclassify after‑school program funds and include approved purchases.
District finance staff explained the packet of amendments and walk‑throughs tied to earlier agenda votes. Highlights included:
- A budget amendment to cover the Raptor visitor‑management contract and associated grant or internal funding entries (staff said the final used amount will be reflected at close‑out).
- A $25,000 grant to provide retention stipends for school psychologists; staff said the state grant will pay the stipends over two years.
- A reclassification of after‑school program expenditures to align with state reporting.
- Carryover of federal and CTE grant funds and teacher‑retention/assessment allocations from the prior year for targeted academic programs.
- A large amendment to fund the athletic lighting construction and materials; staff said the approved installation contract and materials purchase together exceed previously set‑aside capital and that staff will bring a budget amendment to cover the additional funds (the board later approved the lighting installation and materials separately during the meeting).
Finance reported the district closed FY 2024‑25 with revenue exceeding budget and a positive addition to fund balance; staff said auditors will review the closed year figures and that the amendments will be reflected in line‑item accounting.
All amendments on the packet passed on roll call votes.