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Committee approves budget reallocations for athletics, Chromebooks and graduations; $49,000 vendor deal to cover athletic trainers
Summary
Wilson County Education Committee members approved two budget amendments that reallocated an assigned fund balance of $1.8 million (including $750,000 for athletic maintenance and about $1.1 million for Chromebook purchases), accepted a $21,930 donation and approved a $49,000 interim agreement with Vanderbilt to provide five athletic trainers through the school year.
Wilson County Education Committee members voted to approve two budget amendments and a short-term agreement to restore athletic training coverage after a vendor staffing change.
Under Budget Amendment No. 2, the committee added a donation of $21,930 and reallocated $30,000 from instructional supplies to staff development to provide roughly 10 additional slots for the iTeach program. The amendment also moved assigned fund balance of $1,800,000 originally set aside for athletic maintenance and Chromebook purchases to cover insurance premium overages and related costs. During discussion staff said $750,000 of that assigned balance was set aside for athletic field and facility maintenance and approximately $1,100,000 was planned for Chromebook purchases; staff noted Chromebook replacement costs average about $360 per device but that warranty returns could alter final purchase amounts. The amendment also included a recurring TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) award of $10,000 to Stoner Creek Elementary.
Budget Amendment No. 3 reallocated $25,000 to help with high‑school graduation costs, increasing the usual allocation for each of the district's five high schools from $5,000 to $10,000 this year; it also moved funds within the academic department to break out pre‑K food supplies per a state request, allocated $8,000 from fund balance to support non‑instructional coaches' TSLA assessment fees and included the director's recommendation to contract with Vanderbilt to maintain athletic trainer coverage.
On the Vanderbilt issue, staff explained the district had an ongoing relationship with Vanderbilt for athletic trainers but recent vendor staffing changes would have left the district short of coverage. After negotiations Vanderbilt agreed to provide five trainers to get the district through the school year for $49,000; staff said beginning in January the district would seek competitive bids or other options for ongoing coverage.
Board members approved the budget amendments and the Vanderbilt agreement by voice vote. There was no roll-call tally listed in the meeting transcript.
Votes at a glance
- Budget Amendment No. 2 (donation $21,930; move $30,000 to staff development; reassign $1,800,000 assigned fund balance for athletic maintenance and Chromebooks; TVA $10,000 to Stoner Creek Elementary): approved by voice vote. - Budget Amendment No. 3 (reallocate $25,000 for graduation costs to raise each high school's allocation to $10,000; pre‑K food supplies reclassification; $8,000 for TSLA fees; Vanderbilt trainer contract included): approved by voice vote. - Contract with Vanderbilt (five trainers through end of school year): approved by voice vote; one‑year interim cost reported as $49,000.
Staff said they will present a plan in January to solicit longer-term options for athletic trainer coverage and will proceed with Chromebook procurement work while checking warranties.
