Clinton City Schools board approves budget, grants, textbooks and countywide vaping procedure

The Clinton City Schools Board of Education voted on a package of routine and policy items at its May meeting, approving teacher tenure, financial reports and several program and policy items including a countywide vaping response procedure developed with ASAP of Anderson.

Board members unanimously approved tenure for three Clinton City teachers, accepted the March financial statements, approved Budget Amendment No. 4 and adopted the 2025–26 budget on second reading. The board also approved continuing the Community Eligibility Program for North Clinton Elementary (which provides free breakfast and lunch to all students funded through the USDA), adopted a new K–6 McGraw Hill science adoption, approved the district’s consolidated application for Title I/II/IV/IDEA and related federal funds, and approved a district procedure to respond to vaping incidents in partnership with ASAP of Anderson, Oak Ridge City Schools and Anderson County Schools.

Why it matters: The approvals set the district’s spending plan, preserve federal program funding and clarify school responses to student vaping. The textbook adoption and budget actions have immediate budgetary effects; the vaping procedure creates a coordinated countywide approach intended to prioritize restorative interventions and evidence-based prevention for students.

What the board approved (votes at a glance): - Tenure approvals: Motion to grant tenure to Taylor Bailey (fifth-grade teacher, Clinton Elementary School), Morgan Lane (sixth-grade social studies teacher, Clinton Elementary School), and Megan Flora (North Clinton Elementary School). Outcome: approved by voice vote. - March financial report: Outcome: approved by roll call (Curtis Isbell, Lori Wilson, Tim Bible, Merle Price, Joey Smith and Debbie Heaton recorded as voting yes). - Budget Amendment No. 4: Adjustments to revenues and expenditures, including adding a summer learning grant and a one-time textbook purchase that produced a temporary deficit in the reporting period; outcome: approved by roll call (unanimous). - 2025–26 budget (second reading): Board approved the second reading of the 2025–26 budget; the net changes from first reading were budget-neutral overall and reflected a $127,000 redistribution largely among salary line items; outcome: approved by roll call (unanimous). - Community Eligibility Program (North Clinton Elementary): Renewal for 2025–26 so all students at that school receive free breakfast and lunch; outcome: approved by voice vote. Funding source: USDA (federal). - Local textbook adoption (science, K–6): The board approved purchasing the McGraw Hill science series for grades K–6 under the state-approved adoption list (the state now moves adoptions to an eight-year cycle); outcome: approved by voice vote. The purchase contributed to the one-time textbook expense noted in Budget Amendment No. 4. - Consolidated application for federal grants (Title I/II/IV, IDEA and special ed pre-K): Board approved submission and acceptance of federal funds that flow through the Tennessee Department of Education; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Vaping response procedure (ASAP partnership): Board approved a countywide vaping response/procedure developed with ASAP of Anderson and partner districts; outcome: approved by voice vote.

Details and context: - Financials: The finance presenter noted the March statements reflect activity through March and do not include an April budget amendment the board approved in April. He told members that the educational capital projects line shows 967% over budget in the report because of a $400,000 playground and seating expenditure approved in April that is not yet reflected in the March statement. Federal projects collections were described as about two months behind schedule.

- Textbooks: District science lead Kimberly O’Dell led a months‑long review and recommended the McGraw Hill science series from the list of state‑approved materials; the state now moves adoptions to an eight‑year cycle and the district will prepay consumables and ancillary materials for the adoption period.

- Federal grants: The consolidated application covers Title I, Title II, Title IV, IDEA and special‑education pre‑K funds; the district said initial allocations are fluid and subject to state approval in ePlan before funds can be spent.

- Vaping procedure: The board approved a procedure emphasizing restorative approaches for first offenses, in‑school accountability options (the district uses a Personal Accountability Class rather than ISS), and a partnership with ASAP to provide “Coping Conversations” (a five‑session intervention) and a referral pathway to outside providers (Rigview) when higher levels of support are needed.

What the board did not do: There were no votes to reject or table any of the items covered above.

Meeting context: The meeting included recognition of staff wellness work, principal reports summarizing end‑of‑year activities and student assessment schedules, and several routine personnel and consent items. The board approved the items listed above during multiple voice votes and roll calls; specific roll call names were recorded for the March financial report, Budget Amendment No. 4 and the second reading of the budget.