Board approves acceptance of state broadband grant funds for CTE; application seeks roughly $100,000
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Summary
The board authorized district staff to apply for and accept a Tennessee broadband-ready communities grant for career and technical education. The grant amount is $100,000 before a 5% administrative fee; roughly $95,000 would be available for equipment such as audio-visual production gear, laptops and software.
The Hawkins County Board of Education approved a motion to apply for and accept state broadband-related grant funds for career and technical education programs, with administration handled by First Tennessee Development District.
Mayor Mark DeWitt alerted the district to availability of remaining broadband-ready-community funds and asked the district to consider CTE projects. Board and staff said the program provides $100,000 subject to a 5% administrative fee by First Tennessee Development District, leaving approximately $95,000 for equipment and program needs.
Staff described priorities including expansion of an audio-visual production program at Volunteer High School (moving from a club to a program of study), purchase of specialty equipment for that program, and replacement/upgrades of laptops and software used across CTE programs. Officials said many of those purchases otherwise come from limited local funds.
Board members voted to approve accepting the funds when they are made available; the board did not specify exact line-item purchases at the meeting but asked staff to proceed with application and bring expenditures forward for inclusion in the budget once awards are finalized.
First Tennessee Development District will administer the grant and charge a 5% administrative fee; staff noted the grant criteria require purchases be tied to broadband access or workforce development. The board’s vote authorizes staff to accept the funding and place it into the district budget if awarded.