Board approves $24.4 million capital budget; officials outline how projects are chosen

The Knox County Board of Education on April 29 approved the fiscal year 2026 capital budget for $24,400,000 and discussed how projects are selected and prioritized.

Board members asked how a school gets onto the capital improvement plan. District staff explained that capacity projections trigger major investments such as land purchase and new construction, while the facilities assessment and maintenance director’s information drive project choices and timing.

“Normally what we do is we look at projected numbers … we really start talking about purchasing land and building a school when we exceed capacity,” said Dr. Adams, a district staff member. He said in one case the district will demo an older portable at Powell Elementary and repurpose two portables from Mill Creek, avoiding a $600,000–$1,000,000 purchase.

Staff said they coordinated the facilities-assessment data with maintenance staff, conducted on-site visits to resolve discrepancies, and expect the assessment to be a key component in capital planning. The district said it may revisit the facilities assessment every five to ten years and that completed projects (for example, roof replacements) change a school’s priority ranking in subsequent cycles.

On programming and building standards, staff said Knox County follows district construction standards but noted the district is building larger and nontraditional K–8 schools in some cases that allow different design features. Staff said murals and similar site-specific features have historically been part of older buildings but can complicate maintenance; principals sometimes request a cleaner aesthetic when they arrive.

The board voted without recorded opposition to approve the capital budget; no amendments were made during the April 29 meeting.