Board approves multiple grants, policies and calendar items; innovative-school grant carries over $10.23 million

The Williamson County Schools Board approved a slate of budget, grant and policy items in a single meeting, with each item passing by voice vote. Key approvals included capital and program grants, a large carryover for the state’s Innovative School Models program to support construction of an innovation hub, several policy updates required by state law, and the calendar and committee memberships for the 2026–27 budget and school year planning.

Grants and budget amendments approved included:

- Public school security grant (General Purpose School Fund 9.25) — $855,618. The superintendent said the funds mainly support construction-related safety upgrades such as lock mechanisms.

- United Way grant — $59,525 for after-school tutoring.

- State transition grant — $220,833 for student support services for students with disabilities transitioning out of K–12 services; funds align with the state’s October 1 budget year.

- Innovative School Models carryover — $10,234,529.93. The district said this carryover funds ongoing construction of an innovation hub adjacent to Franklin High School and that the facility construction and site work are paid by the grant. District staff said the estimated completion is late April of the coming year and that programming planned for the center includes aviation, hospitality and tourism, fire prevention and suppression services, diesel power generation, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The superintendent emphasized the construction is 100% grant-funded and that contingency funds, if unused, could assist first-year operations.

- State special education preschool grant — $677,520 for early childhood/special-education preschool services.

Each grant was presented briefly by the superintendent or staff, and the board approved each by voice vote; recorded tallies shown in the transcript for many items were 11 yes, 0 no.

Policy and calendar items approved on first and final reading included charter-related policies (1.901 charter school application; 1.903 charter school oversight; 1.904 charter school intervention and revocation; 1.905 charter school renewal) and safety-related policies such as 3.202 (emergency preparedness plan) on first reading and 3.204 (threat assessment team) on first and final reading. The board noted some of the policy wording changes were made to align with recent state law. The threat-assessment policy now explicitly requires notification to parents within 48 hours in certain circumstances and quarterly reporting to the board about such incidents.

The board also approved the 2026–27 budget preparation calendar and the calendar committee membership. The board agreed to keep “the basic calendar structure” in place and indicated the district will continue the practice of outlining calendar plans two years ahead to help family planning. The calendar committee will include Williamson County Schools parents as recommended.

Votes were conducted as voice votes or standard agenda votes. For many items the clerk recorded 11 yes and 0 no. No item was tabled or failed during the meeting.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the innovation hub’s schedule and programming, the source of construction funding (confirmed as grant-funded), and how calendar and fee decisions would affect principals and fundraising. One board member urged that school fee burdens be addressed in the upcoming budget process. The board directed staff to continue program planning and to provide additional details through the budget process as enrollment and costs become clearer.

A consolidated list of the items approved appears below in the actions section.