Giles County Board approves budget amendment, bus purchases and HVAC work; accepts health award and grants

The Giles County Board of Education on Oct. 2 approved a budget amendment that includes money for three school buses and a $71,000 fund-balance contribution to offset part of a rise in employee health insurance premiums, and voted to proceed with HVAC work at Bridgeforth Middle School and Giles County High School.

The action came during the board—s regular monthly meeting at the Rackley Education Building, where members also renewed the director—s contract through May 31, 2028; accepted a $1,000 Tennessee Healthier Schools Challenge award; approved the district—s TISA accountability report for submission; accepted a furniture donation for Bridgeforth Middle School; and approved several time-sensitive student field trips.

The board—s budget amendment ties together multiple items discussed earlier in the meeting: the planned purchase of one special-education bus and two 83-passenger buses, a $71,000 transfer from fund balance to cover roughly half of the projected insurance increase for staff, and the formal acceptance of grant funds and donations the district received. The board approved the amendment unanimously after motions and seconds.

During discussion of vehicle purchases (agenda item O), administrators said the recommended purchase is for three buses total: one special-education bus and two 83-passenger buses, with an estimated purchase cost of about $446,300. The board voted to proceed with the purchase.

Board members also considered renovation updates for HVAC units at Bridgeforth Middle School and Giles County High School. Presenters described a plan to swap certain components on existing units rather than full replacement, with per-unit prices that declined with recent contractor proposals. The district estimated a total cost for remaining units of about $149,100 (combined $84,004.90 for 17 units at Bridgeforth and $64,600 for 13 units at Giles County High School) and said contingency funds could cover the work. The board approved moving forward; staff said the work will be handled through change orders and adjustments to guaranteed maximum prices (GMPs) as needed.

The board accepted the Tennessee Healthier Schools Challenge award and approved the distribution plan described by Mrs. Lambert. "I'm gonna use a small portion ... to put back into our resource room," Lambert said, adding she planned to replenish hygiene and clothing supplies in the county resource room and divide remaining funds among schools to support healthy-schools projects.

The district also approved its 2025-26 TISA accountability report for public submission; board members said the report had been circulated for public feedback and that it aligns spending with TISA requirements. The board approved an individual medical exemption from compulsory attendance under Tennessee law after staff said the request had been reviewed confidentially and required parent and physician documentation.

Other approvals included renewal of the director—s contract through May 31, 2028, adoption of the district organizational chart, acceptance of an $8,456 office furniture donation to Bridgeforth Middle School, and the addition and approval of multiple field trips (including a Giles County High School trip and a 40-student FBLA trip from Richland High School). The board also approved disposal/disposition items presented as part of the consent agenda.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of Sept. 4, 2025 meeting minutes: approved (motion seconded; unanimous voice vote). - Additions to the agenda (Johnson County High School and Richland High School field trips; Tennessee Healthier Schools Challenge Award; renovation updates): approved. - Director contract renewal through 05/31/2028: approved (motion seconded; unanimous voice vote). - Organizational chart: approved (motion seconded; unanimous voice vote). - Disposition of assets (items C through N combined): approved (motion seconded; unanimous voice vote). - Bus purchases (item O): approved — purchase of one special-education bus and two 83-passenger buses; estimated cost about $446,300 (motion seconded; unanimous voice vote). - Graduation date amendment (item P): approved — Johnson County High School May 14, Richland High School May 15 (motion seconded; unanimous voice vote). - TISA accountability report (item Q): approved for submission to the state (motion seconded; unanimous voice vote). - Office furniture donation to Bridgeforth Middle School ($8,456): accepted (motion seconded; unanimous voice vote). - Medical exemption from compulsory attendance (item S): approved (staff said parent and physician documentation provided; motion seconded; unanimous voice vote). - Tennessee Healthier Schools Challenge Award acceptance (item T): accepted ($1,000, Platinum level); board approved planned uses as described (motion seconded; unanimous voice vote). - GCHS and Richland field trips (items U and B): approved (motions seconded; unanimous voice votes). - Renovation/HVAC work approvals (old business): approved to proceed with the proposed equipment swaps and associated change orders, to be handled through appropriate contract documents (motion seconded; unanimous voice vote). - Health insurance premium offset using fund balance ($71,000) and related straw-poll decision to cover 50% of the increase: approved (motion seconded; unanimous voice vote). - Budget amendment incorporating bus purchases, insurance offset, grant receipts and other adjustments: approved (motion seconded; unanimous voice vote).

What it means

Board members said the purchases and budget amendment will align expenditures with state funding and recent grants and allow the district to replace or repair transportation equipment and complete remaining renovation work. Administrators said contingency funds and recent contractor quotes made the HVAC work feasible without seeking additional appropriations at this meeting. The award funds will be used for student hygiene and school health projects and to restock a county resource room that serves students across schools.

The board recognized several employees and students during the meeting. Patrick Gilbert of First National Bank presented monetary recognitions for staff. Robin Olsen, a Richland art teacher, introduced student artists and described art-club activities and an upcoming small art show.

Board members announced upcoming schedule changes: a work session Oct. 16 and the next regular board meeting Nov. 4 (moved from Nov. 6). The board also noted attendance at the Tennessee School Boards Association convention in November.

Speakers quoted in this article were identified in the meeting record and are listed in the article—s speaker table.

Ending

Board members closed the meeting after routine announcements and thanked staff and community partners for donations and grants that officials said support classroom and student needs.