Fayetteville City School Board extends superintendent contract, approves budget amendments and personnel actions; contractor protests FEMA shelter bid

The Fayetteville City School board on Monday approved a four-year extension of Superintendent Jones' contract, signed off on several budget amendments and personnel resignations, and heard public comment from Nabholz Construction raising legal and procurement concerns about the district's recommended contractor for a FEMA-funded dome shelter project.

Board members voted at the start of the meeting to adopt the superintendent contract that begins July 1 and runs four years through June 30; the contract reflects an update to the superintendent's current salary to incorporate a previously granted 5% increase earlier this year. Board action during the meeting was taken by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the minutes.

The meeting also included routine approvals: minutes from the May 5 meeting, disbursements, an invoice for architectural services from JDHM, a consolidated application for the 2025–26 year, multiple budget line-item amendments (including a cafeteria amendment moving $6,900), a capital budget amendment, approval of two staff resignations and authorization for the Fayetteville High School FFA chapter to attend a state camp.

Why it matters: several of the financial actions affect how the district will manage this fiscal year’s closing and next year’s spending. Separately, the public comment about the FEMA shelter bid flagged legal and stewardship concerns that the board and its architect said would be resolved only after the district requests additional federal/state funding and receives formal guidance.

At public comment, John Strack, executive vice president of Nabholz Construction, said Nabholz’s bid for the FEMA-funded dome was about $976,000 lower than the recommended bidder. "Century's bid is $13,064,865. Nabholz's bid is $12,093,000," Strack said, adding that federal, state and district funding are split so that "the federal government is required to pay for 87.5% of the structure" while the district pays 12.5% of the structure and all finishes. Strack urged the board to "award the project to the low responsive bidder who meets all requirements of the bid" and cited school board policy, Tennessee state law, and federal procurement law as requiring awarding to the best and lowest bidder when appropriate.

JDHM architect Will Lewis told the board his firm’s recommendation reflected what it assessed as "best value" to the district based on district funds versus total funds, and that both bidders were "completely qualified" and responsive. Lewis said the district must request additional funds from the state/federal program before a final selection is made. The board and staff repeatedly said no contract award or construction would occur until the district receives formal notification from the state funding agency and certified bid documentation has been reviewed.

Other business: principals reported summer programs and student outcomes. Fayetteville Middle School and Askins summer learning camp began with about 175 students in K–9 participating in ELA, math, PE, STEM and intervention activities. Staff reported high graduation scholarship totals at the high school — "our seniors had a record $7,100,000 in offered academic scholarships" — and noted the district's jump in FAFSA completion from 68% to 87%, which the supervisor called being named a state "FAFSA champion." The meeting also recognized retiring or resigning staff: Brian Gully (cosmetology instructor) and Beverly Norman (pre-K teacher); both resignations were approved by voice vote.

Votes at a glance (approved by voice vote; no roll-call tallies recorded): superintendent contract extension (four years from July 1; salary updated to reflect earlier 5% increase), approval of May 5 minutes, approval of disbursements, approval of consolidated application for 2025–26, approval of invoice for JDHM architectural services, cafeteria budget amendment #3 (reallocation totaling $6,900), general purpose budget amendment(s) (internal line-item moves), capital budget amendment #2 (moves requiring city board approval), resignation acceptances for Brian Gully and Beverly Norman, Fayetteville High School FFA overnight trip to Tennessee State FFA Camp Clement (July), and adoption of the superintendent performance evaluation instrument for 2025–26. Several amendments were described as internal transfers with "no new revenue".

What happens next: the architect and district staff will submit certified bid tabs and a request for additional funds to the relevant state/federal agency; the board will await that official response before any contract award or change. Staff said they will report back to the board when the funding determination is received. The board's next regular meeting was scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, July 7.

Ending: The board handled the legally required superintendent contract item at the start of the meeting per state law, completed routine fiscal and personnel approvals, and recorded a public contractor protest that the district and its architect say will be addressed as the funding process proceeds.