Oak Ridge Schools board approves summer school fees waiver, science textbook adoption, Woodland gym-floor replacement, audit contract and budget amendment

The Oak Ridge Schools Board of Education approved a slate of superintendent-recommended actions, including a no-fee summer program for targeted students, adoption of new science textbooks for K–12, replacement of the gym floor at Woodland Elementary, engagement of an audit firm for FY 2025 and a first reading of a budget transfer and amendment.

Why it matters: The actions affect classroom materials, school facilities and the district’s finances ahead of the FY 2026 budget. Several items were tied to capital outlay and contingency planning the district said will support summer learning and facility needs.

The board approved the superintendent’s recommendation to waive fees for K–8 students identified as most in need of summer instruction. “In order to encourage more of those students to attend, there will be no fees or tuition for those students,” Doctor Borchers said when presenting the item; the high-school summer program will charge residents no fee and the presence of nonresident enrollments was described as “very, odd” in the presentation. The motion passed unanimously.

On curriculum, the board approved the 2024–25 science textbook adoption committee’s recommendations for FY 2026 purchases and an eight-year adoption period. The district will adopt McGraw Hill Tennessee Science for grades K–4; Accelerated Learning STEMscopes Tennessee for grades 5–8; and Savvas Learning for grades 9–12. Superintendent materials noted the committee met in January, February and March and used TDOE-approved textbook lists as part of its review. The adoption motion passed unanimously.

The board awarded the contract to replace the Woodland Elementary gym floor to Prater’s Flooring, Incorporated for $105,682. Doctor Borchers said the existing floor, installed in 1945, has been sanded and refurbished repeatedly and “the only option we have is a full replacement.” Trustees voted to approve the contract unanimously.

For the FY 2025 audit, the board approved engaging Brown, Jake and McDaniel for the annual audit at a stated engagement total of $53,000 plus hourly rates for non-audit services; the engagement letter was referenced as included in board materials. The motion passed unanimously.

The board also approved budget transfer number 3 and budget amendment number 2 on first reading. Doctor Borchers described the amendment as including a realignment of general fund salary, benefit and expenditure budgets; an addition of $400,000 to a contingency budget for an anticipated summer learning camp; $76,500 added to revenues tied to increased interest received; and $76,500 added to capital outlay for the Woodland gym-floor replacement. Trustees approved the first reading unanimously.

The board granted a one-time exception to Board Policy 5.1101 to adjust the salary of one Oak Ridge High School staff member after the employee earned a master’s degree. Doctor Borchers said the staff member requested an adjustment to reflect the advanced degree; the board noted a policy revision will be brought forward in May to reduce the frequency of individual exceptions. The exception motion passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance - Approval of FY25 summer school fees (waiver for targeted K–8 students; high school residents no charge): motion passed unanimously (moved by Ms. Craven; seconded by Dr. Hartman). - Science textbook adoption (K–4 McGraw Hill Tennessee Science; 5–8 Accelerated Learning STEMscopes Tennessee; 9–12 Savvas Learning): motion passed unanimously (moved by Dr. Hartman; seconded by Ms. Webb). - Woodland Elementary gym-floor replacement — Prater’s Flooring, Inc., $105,682: motion passed unanimously (moved by Ms. Webb; seconded by Dr. Hartman). - FY25 audit contract — Brown, Jake and McDaniel, engagement total $53,000 plus hourly for non-audit services: motion passed unanimously (moved by Ms. Craven; seconded by Ms. Webb). - Budget transfer number 3 and budget amendment number 2 (first reading) — includes $400,000 contingency for summer learning camp; $76,500 revenue and $76,500 capital outlay addition for Woodland gym floor: motion passed unanimously (moved by Dr. Hartman; seconded by Ms. Craven). - Exception to Board Policy 5.1101 for one Oak Ridge High School staff member (salary adjustment for earned master’s degree): motion passed unanimously (moved by Ms. Webb; seconded by Ms. Craven).

The board took each vote by motion and the meeting record indicates each motion “passed unanimously.” No roll-call vote totals by member were recorded in the meeting transcript.

Next steps and context: The budget amendment was presented as a first reading; the district’s FY 2026 budget process will continue with additional review and a scheduled budget adoption in May. The superintendent said routine budget realignments and contingency planning were the primary drivers of the amendment.

Ending: Board members expressed appreciation to staff involved in summer programming, the textbook adoption committee and facilities staff; no public comments were made during the public forum portion of the meeting.