Board approves security grant transfer, certifies LEA compliance (contingent), and adopts TISA accountability report

The Warren County School Board voted on several formal items during the meeting: approval of the consent agenda; a budget amendment moving a public school security grant into maintenance of plant funds to update cameras and technology; certification of the district’s LEA compliance report contingent on completion of 30 employee fingerprint background checks; and adoption of the district’s Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) accountability survey and report.

Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda by voice vote after a motion from Mr. Johnson and a second from Mr. Colwell. The chair called for the ayes and announced the motion carries.

Budget amendment (General Purpose Fund 141, Budget Amendment No. 5): The board approved moving $123,883.33 in public school security grant funds from Fund 141 into the maintenance of plant (701) to purchase camera and technology upgrades. The superintendent said the primary use will be to update cameras and technology starting at Eastside and continuing to other schools as funds allow. The motion to approve the amendment was made by Mr. Johnson and seconded; the board approved by voice vote.

LEA compliance report (Tennessee Department of Education): The board voted to approve the annual LEA compliance certification with one explicit condition: the superintendent will not submit or sign the certification until 30 employees complete required fingerprinting/background checks. The superintendent said the submission deadline approached (Nov. 28) and asked the board to approve the report contingent on completion of the outstanding fingerprints; Mr. Bennett moved the motion and Mr. Caldwell seconded. The board approved the conditional certification by voice vote; the superintendent emphasized he will not sign the submission until the fingerprints are complete and that the district reimburses employees for travel to fingerprinting sites.

TISA district accountability report: The board approved the TISA accountability survey and report, which restates the district’s three goals (third-grade reading proficiency, eighth-grade math proficiency, and an 11th-grade ACT goal) and summarizes stakeholder survey responses. The superintendent reported 366 survey responses with more than 60% agreement with the stated goals; the board approved the report by motion and second.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda — Motion by Mr. Johnson; second by Mr. Colwell; outcome: approved by voice vote. - General Purpose Fund 141, Budget Amendment No. 5 — Move $123,883.33 (public school security grant) into maintenance of plant for cameras/technology — Motion by Mr. Johnson; second; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Tennessee Department of Education LEA compliance report — Motion by Mr. Bennett; second by Mr. Caldwell; outcome: approved (contingent on completion of 30 fingerprint/background checks; superintendent and board chair will not sign until that completion). - TISA district accountability survey/report — Motion and second (names recorded in the transcript as motion/second); outcome: approved by voice vote.

Ending: The superintendent said he will hold the LEA certification until the outstanding fingerprint checks are completed and will return for reapproval only if the checks are not finished before submission.