Tullahoma board approves professional learning plan, furniture and playground budgets and signs nonbinding energy-efficiency intent

At its March 11 meeting, the Tullahoma City Schools Board of Education approved the district's 2025'26 professional learning plan and voted to fund furniture and playground purchases for the new Jack T. Farrah Elementary School.

The board approved the professional learning plan after a motion by Rosie Graham and a second by Andy Witt. Dr. Christine Boone, the district's instructional official who presented the plan, said the committee's work focused on teacher needs identified in school-based "Collaborate and Create" sessions, including the science of reading, vertical alignment in writing and integrating artificial intelligence and other technology resources into instruction. The motion passed; Miss Stidham was recorded as opposed.

The board also approved a furniture budget for the new Jack T. Farrah Elementary School not to exceed $450,000. Mr. Jordan reported the amount is included in the larger project budget of about $22,000,000; the district has secured $21,000,000 in financing and expects to use roughly $1,000,000 in reserves to complete the project. The motion to approve the furniture budget was made by Teresa Lawson and seconded by Rosie Graham and carried with Miss Stidham recorded as opposed. Administration said every classroom will receive new teacher desks and many rooms will receive new learning-area furniture, storage casework, rugs and movable boards; some existing desks may be reused in lower grades to stretch dollars.

The board approved a playground budget not to exceed $125,000 for equipment at the new school. The kindergarten and first-grade playground will be installed in the courtyard between the new and old building footprints; equipment for older students will reuse existing swings where feasible and add new equipment as funds allow. Brock Compton moved the playground budget; Rosie Graham seconded. The motion passed with Miss Stidham recorded as opposed. Board members noted the Farrah PTO may raise additional funds over time to add equipment beyond the district allocation.

The board named trustees for the district's noncertificated retirement plan by motion of Andy Witt, seconded by Teresa Lawson. Administration proposed that the board chair, the superintendent and the director of business serve as trustees; the motion passed, with Miss Stidham recorded as opposed. Dr. Stevens said the appointments align with the annual reorganization process in September.

Administration also sought and received approval for the district to sign a nonbinding letter of intent expressing potential interest in state Energy Efficient Schools Initiative (EESI) funds. Dr. Stevens said the letter holds a spot for the district but is not a binding commitment to apply and does not guarantee funding. Trane, the vendor that previously provided an energy study, is updating building data before the district decides whether to proceed to a formal application. Gigi Robinson moved the motion and Andy Witt seconded; the motion passed with Miss Stidham recorded as opposed.

Other routine items handled on the consent agenda were approved earlier in the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Professional Learning Plan (2025'26): Motion by Rosie Graham; second by Andy Witt; outcome: approved (Miss Stidham recorded as opposed).

- Trustees for noncertificated retirement plan: Motion by Andy Witt; second by Teresa Lawson; outcome: approved (Miss Stidham recorded as opposed).

- EESI letter of intent (nonbinding): Motion by Gigi Robinson; second by Andy Witt; outcome: approved (Miss Stidham recorded as opposed).

- Jack T. Farrah Elementary furniture budget (not to exceed $450,000): Motion by Teresa Lawson; second by Rosie Graham; outcome: approved (Miss Stidham recorded as opposed). Project total ~ $22,000,000; financing secured $21,000,000; expected use of reserves ~$1,000,000.

- Jack T. Farrah Elementary playground budget (not to exceed $125,000): Motion by Brock Compton; second by Rosie Graham; outcome: approved (Miss Stidham recorded as opposed). PTO contributions may be added separately.

Details and context

- Professional learning: Dr. Christine Boone said the district's "Collaborate and Create" school-based meetings identified priorities including the science of reading and literacy, writing alignment across grades, small-group instructional strategies and use of AI and educational technology. The plan presented will guide the district's two in-service days for 2025'26.

- Energy-efficiency intent: Dr. Stevens emphasized the EESI letter of intent is nonbinding and does not guarantee funds; Trane is conducting an updated facilities study using current building data before any formal application.

- Jack T. Farrah Elementary project: Mr. Jordan said the district is near completion of the new school and must place furniture and playground orders now because of vendor lead times. He said the furniture estimate is substantially lower than initial internal estimates and that some existing student desks may be reused.

What's next

Administration said it will return with more detailed proposals and updated studies (including Trane's refreshed energy assessment) before any binding applications for EESI funds and as procurement details for the Farrah project are finalized.