Williamson County board approves 2025–26 operating budget after Chromebook-cart amendment

The Williamson County School Board approved the district operating budget for fiscal 2025 26 on a 10 yes, 1 no vote after board members adopted an amendment to the district Chromebook purchase plan.

Board members voted to increase the Chromebook/carts line for elementary classrooms after a motion from board member Miss Edmond to add additional carts and charging stations so devices could remain at school instead of being sent home. "I like to make an amendment to the Chromebook budget to increase it to 6,200,000.0 so we can add computer carts to charge devices at school so children will not have to take them home," Edmond told the board during the meeting. The amendment passed unanimously, 11-0. School leaders said the change would add enough carts to cover grades 3 through 5 in elementary classrooms and bring the total elementary carts to 866.

The Chromebook amendment was offered amid broader debate about technology use in classrooms. Board members and district staff said the district plans to limit take-home device requirements for younger students by increasing school-based charging carts; district staff also described an instructional-standards-first approach for when teachers use technology. "Our tech integration philosophy is that we start with the instructional standard," Assistant Superintendent Brian Allen said, describing the district's expectation that teachers disaggregate standards and choose instructional strategies before adding technology.

Superintendent Golden and finance staff also briefed the board on the budget gap and revenue outlook. They noted a projected fund-balance gap of about $11 million (after a potential state allocation of roughly $4 million that had not yet been finalized) and described pay increases as the main unresolved item. "With us projecting an $11,000,000 gap, the gap right now based on our proposal is exclusively related to pay increases for next year," staff said. The board approved the general purpose school fund budget 10-1.

Two small donations placed into the budget were approved earlier in the meeting: a $7,500 donation for dual enrollment and a $6,500 donation from Atmos Energy for safety equipment; both passed unanimously, 11-0.

What next: The superintendent said final pay proposals will be presented in May after the county commission determines tax and transfer decisions; if commission funding falls short the district may need to rework pay proposals and line items.

Votes at the meeting included device and budget tallies that will affect classroom technology and staffing plans for 2025-26.