Giles County Board of Education approves multiple routine items, fields several follow‑ups

The Giles County Board of Education handled a slate of routine and administrative items at its Sept. 4 meeting and approved several motions summarized below.

Elections and appointments: The board elected Knox Vanderpool as chair, Mary McLeod as vice chair and Richie Brewer as the Tennessee School Boards Association (TLN) representative. Nominations were made from the floor, motions to close nominations were approved and votes were conducted by voice.

Consent and routine approvals: The board approved the Aug. 5 meeting minutes under the consent agenda. It combined and approved field‑trip requests labeled B through F and O, and it combined and approved disposition of assets items G through L.

Online safety hub: The board approved item M, a no‑cost opportunity to add a LineWise parent information online safety hub and demonstration site to the district website. Staff described it as an informational tool with no cost to the district.

Director’s contract: The board voted to add the director’s contract renewal to the Oct. 2 meeting agenda and to publicize it in advance to meet required notice timelines.

Budget amendments and staffing: The board approved a package of budget amendments tied to grants and alignment with state and federal reporting. Staff described reallocations from contract services into a newly hired part‑time in‑person speech‑language pathologist salary line, movement of public‑school‑safety grant funds into equipment/maintenance line items, and other transfers to align federal consolidated funding application (CFA) details. Board members noted the changes did not draw on fund balance and that some adjustments reflect state/federal reporting requirements.

Baseball field resurfacing: The board approved a request to resurface the Richland School baseball field and authorized the athletics account to pay for the work (a single purchase over $5,000 required board approval under district policy). Staff said the athletic account can absorb the cost and that multiple vendor options were considered though a regional firm is the common vendor for the service.

Policy updates and facilities: The board approved revisions to Policy 6.312 (use of wireless communication devices) to allow coaches and event sponsors discretion for devices on extended trips, and Policy 6.303 (questioning students and searches) to add a designee option. Board members also received an update on the BMS renovation, including current contingency figures and outstanding punch‑list items.

Public comment and next meetings: The board heard a public comment urging AC on special‑needs buses (see separate item). Members announced upcoming special‑call and work‑session dates; the board’s next regular meeting was scheduled for Oct. 2 with a work session on Sept. 18.

Votes at a glance: A summary of motions voted on at the Sept. 4 meeting is below.