Cheatham County School Board approves FY26 budgets and $1.2 million textbook fund balance transfer

Cheatham County School Board approved several fund-balance transfers and adopted its fiscal year 2026 budgets for multiple funds during its meeting, voting unanimously to move the measures forward.

The board approved a $1,200,000 fund-balance transfer to purchase K–12 science textbooks and early-literacy kits, a $400,000 transfer to support school nutrition cash flow and a $486,000 fund-balance allocation to support an SESI contract for one classroom in fiscal year 2026. The board also adopted balanced FY26 budgets for food services (Fund 143), the extended-school program, capital projects (Fund 177) and the general-purpose operating fund (Fund 141). Board members voted in favor in roll-call votes; the measures passed with no recorded dissent.

The $1.2 million transfer is expressly earmarked for the district's K–12 science adoption and early-literacy kits; the board approved the transfer and noted it would use any remaining approved fund-balance amounts toward the textbook adoption rather than cutting textbook spending from operating lines. The $400,000 for school nutrition was described by staff as a temporary cash-flow support; staff said past cash-flow advances for nutrition have returned after an extended period (one board member referenced roughly an 18-month timeframe in prior practice).

Dr. Watson (district finance staff) presented the budgets and told the board the capital projects budget (Fund 177) is balanced after moving several technology and equipment purchases between funds. Among the line items moved into the capital fund were interactive panel bundles ($100,000), a server replacement ($60,000), iPad replacement ($50,000), network equipment ($50,000), a furniture request ($10,000), a tire changer for transportation ($35,000), a transit van for the tech department ($60,000) and a universal lift for maintenance ($20,000). The presenter said the budget was balanced using estimated excess local-option sales-tax receipts (the presenter cited an eight-month estimate that implied roughly $850,000 of available receipts, contingent on the economy and final collections).

Board members and staff discussed timing: the superintendent’s office will present the budget to the county commission in mid-May (the district indicated a May 14 presentation at 2:30 p.m.), and final TISA (state funding) figures and any commission changes will be incorporated in a revised budget submitted July 1. Several members emphasized the board will continue to refine the budget as final revenue numbers arrive.

Votes at a glance - Fund-balance transfer for K–12 science textbooks and early-literacy kits: $1,200,000 — Approved (roll call; tally 6–0). - Fund-balance transfer to school nutrition (cash flow support): $400,000 — Approved (roll call; tally 6–0). - Fund-balance request for SESI classroom contract (FY26): $486,000 — Approved (roll call; tally 6–0). - FY26 Food Services budget (Fund 143): Approved (roll call; tally 6–0). - FY26 Extended School/Aftercare budget: Approved (roll call; tally 6–0). - Fund 177 Capital Projects budget (revised): Approved (roll call; tally 6–0). - Fund 141 General Purpose operating budget (FY26): Approved (roll call; tally 6–0).

The board also approved the consent agenda and minutes earlier in the meeting by voice vote.

What happens next District staff will present the adopted budget to the county commission (district staff identified a May 14 presentation time). Final TISA numbers and any county changes will be incorporated in the July 1 revised budget if needed, the finance presenter said.

Clarifying details: the board repeatedly described the capital projects budget as balanced after reassigning specific technology and equipment purchases between funds; the $1.2 million transfer is specifically for K–12 science textbook adoption and early-literacy kits and not for other operating expenses.