Jackson‑Madison school board approves $776,498 in budget amendments after debate over Stone River consulting line

The Jackson‑Madison County School System Board of Education voted to approve budget amendments totaling $776,498.53 after a contested discussion about a $90,000 line item to contract with the Stone River Group for strategic‑planning and government‑relations support.

Board members debated whether the Stone River contract duplicates services already available to the district and whether fast‑growth funds should pay for outside consulting. Board attorney Dale Thomas told the board the firm “does not provide the same legal services that I’m able to provide to the board,” describing Stone River as a provider of government relations, public relations and strategic communications rather than local legal representation. Superintendent Marlon King said the consulting relationship would add national and state contacts and specialized services the district does not maintain in‑house, calling the firm a “thought partner” and saying the district would use the group’s government‑relations and communications capabilities to advance student outcomes.

Board member Debbie Gall opposed the $90,000 allocation and asked that the specific amendment for $776,498.53 be considered separately from the rest of the package. Gall said she “disagree[d] with the allotted $90,000 designated operations strategic planning support” for the Stone River Group and argued the board should deliberate unbudgeted expenditures individually. Board members debated procedure and the merits of hiring an outside strategic‑planning firm; other members defended the cost as equivalent to hiring a single position with benefits and said the consulting access could accelerate district priorities.

The board held a roll‑call vote on Gall’s motion to split the $776,498.53 amendment from the rest of the package; that motion failed. The board then voted on the full set of budget amendments and approved them by roll call. During debate, Superintendent King and other members said the amendment uses fast‑growth or student‑outcomes revenue and that other budgeted line items (transportation salary schedule, other contractor services) had already been accounted for in the FY26 budget process.

Votes at a glance • Motion to amend (separate the $776,498.53 amendment): failed on roll call (motion to amend did not carry). • Motion to approve all budget amendments (including the $776,498.53 and the $90,000 Stone River item): approved by roll call (several board members recorded as voting yes; minutes show the motion passed).

Context and funding Superintendent King said the $776,498.53 includes funds received at the end of the last fiscal year as TSSA/TISA fast‑growth and student‑outcomes revenue for a rapidly growing district, and that some of the money is intended for innovation programs and other priority needs. King emphasized the district will continue to budget for other contractor services and called the Stone River relationship a supplemental, not legal, service. Attorney Dale Thomas said the firm’s national connections and government‑relations capacity are services he does not provide.

What the board decided The board kept the amendments together, rejected the motion to divide out the $776,498.53 item, then approved the full bundle of amendments including the Stone River allocation. Board members who supported the package framed the consulting access as a cost‑effective way to obtain lobbying, communications and program partnerships; members who opposed said they preferred more targeted scrutiny of unbudgeted or late fiscal‑year expenditures.

Next steps Board members directed staff and administration to proceed under the approved budget amendments. Superintendent King noted the district will continue implementing innovation programs and that the administration will work with the consulting partners as described.