Charter commission staff signal growth needs; approves interpretation services agreement

The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission's Business Operations Committee on March 27 approved an annual interagency agreement with the Tennessee Language Center for interpretation and translation services and heard staff warn that the agency's operations will need new systems and flexible office arrangements as it scales.

The commission's executive director, Tess Stovall, told commissioners the agency is in the final stages of hiring three positions, including a newly accepted director of school programs and support, and is finishing the search for a student data analyst. She also said a recent departure left an open role the agency expects to fill.

Stovall said the commission's eighth-floor office footprint is the full space the agency currently has and that growth driven by new responsibilities from the General Assembly will force a transition to flexible seating or hybrid arrangements: "there will come a point in which we will have to move to flexible seating and or a fully hybrid model," she said.

Stovall and Melanie Harrell, the commission's director of finance and operations, flagged the need for a grant-management system to replace spreadsheets as the commission's portfolio of charter schools grows. Stovall described the system's purpose as tracking operator grant budgets, submissions, reimbursements and documentation through the lifecycle of grants.

On procurement, Harrell presented an interagency agreement with the Tennessee Language Center, noting the contract exceeds $25,000 and therefore required committee approval. The committee moved and approved the agreement; members voted "aye" and the chair said, "Ayes have it."

Harrell also reviewed FY25 budget-to-actual results through March 1 and presented a draft FY26 budget for discussion. The FY25 update reflected state and local adjustments to TISA and local funds tied to changes in average daily membership and local tax collections; Harrell said the per-pupil rate in Davidson and Shelby counties had decreased slightly but the current paid per-pupil rate still exceeded last year's. For FY26 the draft assumes approximately 24 schools with an expected funded K–12 enrollment of about 8,300 students (pre-K not included because those students do not currently generate state and local funds). Harrell said the draft projects the authorizer fee should cover agency expenses or come close and that the governor's proposed budget included funding for two additional positions the commission requested.

No substantive amendment motions or contested votes were recorded on budget direction; the committee did not adopt a final FY26 budget at the meeting and Harrell said an amended budget would be brought for approval at the July meeting after the General Assembly adjourns.

The committee convened, approved the agenda and minutes by voice votes, and adjourned. Chair Christine Richards welcomed newly appointed Commissioner Thomas Lerman and announced Vice Chair Chris Tudor's departure; Commissioner Lauren Smith was appointed to chair the Rules, Policy and Governance Committee for the present period.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of the meeting agenda (voice vote): outcome recorded as approved. - Approval of minutes from Jan. 23, 2025 (voice vote): outcome recorded as approved. - Approval of interagency agreement with the Tennessee Language Center (voice vote): outcome recorded as approved.

Why it matters

The commission is preparing operationally for portfolio growth: staff hires, space constraints and a move away from spreadsheet-based grant management are early signals that the agency expects both more schools and larger grant workflows. Fiscal assumptions for FY26 will depend on final TISA allocations and state budget actions later in the legislative session, and commissioners asked staff to return with final figures at the July meeting.

What's next

Staff will return with a recommended FY26 budget and any procurement documents tied to grant-management technology at the commission's July meeting. The interagency agreement with the Tennessee Language Center will be implemented per procurement rules.