Carter County board accepts bids for alternate projects; funds advanced pending FEMA reimbursement

The Carter County Board of Education at a special call meeting voted 7–1 to accept bids for alternate projects to improve school athletic facilities, authorizing use of district fund balance to begin work pending federal reimbursement.

Board members approved the motion to "accept the bids for the alternate projects," moved by Tony Garland and seconded by Dylan Hill. The roll call vote was Dylan Hill — yes; Terry Hubbard — yes; Gary Oaks — yes; Jeremiah Tolley — yes; Danny Ward — no; Keith Bowers — yes; Renee Lewis — yes; Tony Garland — yes. The board chair announced the motion passed with seven yeses and one no.

The approved work was discussed as a package of "alternate projects" tied to FEMA funding rules. Dr. Carpenter, who led the staff presentation, said the district is pursuing projects that can be completed and matched closely to FEMA's alternate-project rules so the district can use federal disaster funds effectively. "We cannot put a football field and waste that money until mitigation is done," Dr. Carpenter said, explaining why Hampton High School is not an immediate candidate because mitigation work affecting that site and nearby housing must come first.

Board members and staff discussed using the alternate-project funding primarily for surface and turf work on school fields, which they said would support high-school teams, youth leagues and community events (movie nights, concerts and other gatherings). Dr. Carpenter said Cloudland High School's baseball and softball fields were identified as suitable projects because they are not subject to the same flood-mitigation constraints as Hampton. He also noted the old bus garage on the river would be vulnerable to flood damage and is less suitable for alternate-project funding.

Dr. Carpenter described the cash flow approach the district will use: the district will advance funds from the general or fund balance for projects and then submit those expenses for FEMA reimbursement. "If we pay $500,000 on a project, we submit that in, they send us the $500 back," he said. He told the board that a FEMA representative had indicated the state-level process has delayed some reimbursements but that once processing begins on the state's side the turnaround should be faster; he said, "I really think that 90 days will be good." The board president also told members a budget amendment to cover the upfront payments will be considered at an upcoming workshop.

Board members flagged sequencing issues: installers' schedules, championship-game timing, and the district's desire not to start work at Hampton until mitigation is complete. The board identified Dunhill Academy as a potential smaller project under consideration and said the district is still refining cost estimates and priorities for a set of up to four alternate projects (three of which staff said could likely be paid from alternate-project funds).

The motion approved was limited to accepting the bids for the alternate projects; the board did not adopt a final construction schedule at the meeting. Next steps described on the record include a forthcoming budget amendment at the board workshop to authorize the upfront funding and coordination with installers to set start dates once reimbursement and mitigation questions are clarified.

The meeting opened with a public-comments opportunity (none were offered) and concluded after the vote and brief administrative notes.