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Board agrees to cover student general fees and graduation fees in 2025–26 budget
Summary
Blount County Board of Education approved a motion to have the district pay general school fees and graduation fees for 2025–26 after district staff said the county's proposed budget includes the funding.
The Blount County Board of Education voted to have the district pay student general fees for elementary, middle and high school students and to cover graduation fees for seniors in the 2025–26 school year.
John Young, speaking for the business office, explained last year the board paid portions of general fees (for example covering $10 of a $20 elementary general fee for students). Young said he did not presume the board would again assume the fees and therefore presented the schedule without board-paid coverage, but he later recommended full coverage once the board discussed the matter.
The county CFO, who has been assisting Blount County Schools with budgeting, told the board that the proposed 2025–26 county budget includes funds to cover the general and graduation fees, and Young said the numbers "total up to about $250,000 or a little less than that actually" in the proposed budget. The chair moved to pay the fees and the motion was approved by voice vote (ayes recorded; no opposition).
Board members discussed the graduation fee amount in public comments, and Young said the business office had calculated an average per-graduating-student cost of about $33.59 for the 2025 graduating class; for budgeting he said the district used $35 per graduating student to be conservative.
The action will be implemented through the district's finance office and reflected in the 2025–26 budget and fee schedule.
