Jackson County Board of Education approves contracts, bus purchase and personnel actions; requests Flat Rock property transfer

The Jackson County Board of Education at a regular meeting approved a package of contracts, purchases and personnel actions and passed a resolution asking the state to transfer the Flat Rock School property to the district.

The board approved contracts for student evaluation services and supervision, authorized the purchase of nine buses and accepted bids for a high‑school reroof and a small robotics lab. It also accepted multiple retirements and resignations, approved non‑renewals for certified and non‑certified staff, and authorized a number of transfers and summer employments. The board approved budget amendment No. 1 and accepted reconciled financial statements for March 2025.

Board action and context

The board approved the March reconciled financial statements that show total payroll expenditures of $4,730,363.37 and total non‑payroll expenditures of $1,271,815.45. The board then approved a series of contracts and purchases:

- A contract with Journey Consulting LLC to provide individual evaluation services for Jackson County students (motion approved by voice vote).

- A contract with Donald Yamamoto McQuery to provide individual evaluation services; the board noted McQuery had previously served in the system and will return on a contract basis (motion approved by voice vote).

- A purchase of nine school buses from Transportation South for $1,394,406. The board discussed that all nine buses will be air‑conditioned and are expected to be delivered around summer 2026; members said now is a good time to lock in prices amid economic uncertainty (motion approved by voice vote).

- A commercial roofing bid of $989,941 for the Section High School reroofing project; the board noted four bids were received, with other bids as high as about $1.5 million (motion approved by voice vote).

- A $174,999 contract award to PNC Construction for a small robotics lab at the Kevin Duke Center and Innovation Academy (motion approved by voice vote). The board said three bids were received for that project.

Other approved contracts included supervision by Candace Turner (BACB) for field‑work requirements, a contract for an unnamed school nurse to provide bus aide or nursing care services to specified students, and a contract with Ashley Hildestan for training (motions approved by voice vote).

Personnel actions

The board approved a list of transfers, including adding to the agenda a superintendent recommendation to transfer Lacey Davidson from reading coach at Northside Mountain to building‑based math coach at Northside Mountain effective July 2025. The board approved employments (primarily for summer school), coaching assignments, and accepted a number of retirements effective June 1, 2025. Named retirements accepted included Carol Baranowski (custodian, Section High School); Carol Jones (10‑month secretary, Stemsdale Mutual School); Mary Ann Rogers (teacher, Stevenson Middle School); Wanda McClain (countywide school bus driver); Chris Hammond (teacher, Section High School); Amy Shankles (teacher, Rosalie School); Dwight Fowler (teacher, Dutton School); Stacy Wilson (librarian, Section High School); Sheila Cloud (countywide aide); and Adam Boozer (teacher, Dutton School). The board also accepted resignations from Luke Pruitt (teacher and coach, Pisgah High School, effective April 4, 2025) and Anthony Murphy (collision repair instructor at KDCIA, effective June 1).

The board approved non‑renewal lists for certified personnel (effective May 2025) and for non‑certified personnel (effective May 28, 2025). The board also approved non‑renewal of the probationary principal contract for Heather Blizzard effective July 2025.

Budget and property

The board approved budget amendment No. 1 (presentation by Miss Buffett) and approved a resolution requesting that the state transfer the Flat Rock School property to the Jackson County Board of Education; the resolution had been discussed in the work session earlier in the day and was approved by voice vote.

Announcements

Mr. Stokes, a district staff member who provided the announcements, said the legislature remains in session and he will monitor proposals that could affect the district. He noted district teams are in postseason play in baseball and that SkillsUSA and other student events are upcoming. He also announced a job fair at the Kevin Duke Center on April 24, the Exceptional Olympics at North Jackson on April 25 and that the next regular board meeting is scheduled for May 14 at 5 p.m. The board was told there is one unused weather day remaining on the calendar; officials said that day might be kept available for Friday, May 9.

Votes at a glance

(Each item below was approved by voice vote unless otherwise noted.) • Approve agenda with added transfer (Lacey Davidson) — approved. • Approve March 19, 2025 work session and board meeting minutes — approved. • Approve March reconciled financial statements (payroll $4,730,363.37; non‑payroll $1,271,815.45) — approved. • Contract: Journey Consulting LLC — approved. • Contract: Donald Yamamoto McQuery — approved. • Purchase: nine buses from Transportation South — $1,394,406, delivery ~summer 2026 — approved. • Contract: Candace Turner (BACB supervision) — approved. • Contract: Ashley Hildestan (training) — approved. • Contract: unnamed school nurse for bus aide/nursing services — approved. • Bid award: Section High School reroof (standard commercial roofing) — $989,941 — approved. • Bid award: PNC Construction — robotics lab at Kevin Duke Center & Innovation Academy — $174,999 — approved. • Family Medical Leave: Jenny Edwards, May 5–May 29, 2025 — approved. • Budget amendment No. 1 — approved. • Resolution: request state transfer Flat Rock School property to the district — approved. • Accept retirements (listed in the meeting) effective June 1, 2025 — approved. • Accept resignations: Luke Pruitt (effective April 4, 2025); Anthony Murphy (effective June 1) — approved. • Non‑renewals: certified personnel list (effective May 2025) — approved. • Non‑renewals: non‑certified personnel list (effective May 28, 2025) — approved. • Non‑renew probationary principal contract: Heather Blizzard (effective July 2025) — approved. • Transfers A–O (including Lacey Davidson transfer) — approved. • Employments A–D (primarily summer school) — approved. • Coaching assignments A–D — approved.

Ending

Board members congratulated retirees and thanked them for their service. The meeting adjourned after a motion and voice vote.