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Votes at a glance: Knox County Board approves textbook funds, technology licensing, consulting work and other routine items
Summary
On March 6 the Knox County Board approved several contracts, grants and calendar changes, including $9.97 million set aside for science textbooks and an approximate $650,000 annual Microsoft license agreement. The board also approved a middle-school consulting project and a resolution supporting state dyslexia-screening legislation.
At its March 6 meeting the Knox County Board of Education approved multiple consent and action items covering grants, contracts, textbook purchases and a resolution on dyslexia screening.
Key approvals
- Grant: National Environmental Education Foundation — $7,500 for South Haven Middle School (Item 7a). Motion carried.
- Grant: Tennessee Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom — $500 for Southall Middle School (Item 7b). Motion carried.
- Contract: Microsoft Campus Education Volume Subscription Licensing — approximate annual cost $650,000 for three years (Item 8b). Motion carried.
- Contract: Accenture LLP — $230,000 for a middle-school experience consulting project (Item 8c). Motion carried.
- Textbooks: Knox County Schools adopted new science textbooks and designated a $9,970,000 fund balance for the purchase (Items 9a and 9b). Motions carried.
- Calendar: Revised 2025–26 school year calendar approved (Item 9c). Motion carried.
- MOU: Memorandum of understanding with Knox County for transfer and redevelopment of the former rural high school site (Item 9d). Motion carried.
- Resolution: Board approved a resolution supporting Tennessee House Bill 1124 to require dyslexia screening; board members discussed an amendment requesting the bill include "substantially similar" methods in addition to the Orton-Gillingham approach (Item 9e). Motion carried.
Other actions
- Multiple policy second readings were approved earlier on the consent calendar: policy D100 (Fiscal management goals and objectives), E170 (Student Transportation Management), E173 (Private vehicles for transporting students), F150 (New project planning) and J-191 (Misbehaviors and disciplinary options). Motions carried by voice vote.
Context and next steps
Most items passed without extended debate; staff will implement approved contracts and report as required by internal procedures. The procurement for 403(b) administrative services (Item 8a) was discussed at length and deferred to a later meeting; that deferred item is covered in a separate report.
