Votes at Maury County school board meeting: budget amendments, surplus buses, sports allotments, transportation MOU and $2,000 teacher bonus resolution approved

At its March meeting the Maury County School Board approved multiple routine and policy items: a set of budget amendments, a rescindment vote, declaration of surplus buses, annual sports allotments for 2025‑26, a Transportation Department Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), a calendar change for the April meeting and a resolution affirming a $2,000 teacher bonus commitment (the board accepted version 2 of the resolution, which removed the word "extraordinary").

Budget and finance: Staff described eight budget amendments as largely routine reallocations to reflect CFA assessments; a presenter said the net increase to revenue across the amendments is "a little under a net $50,000." The board approved the amendments and later approved a separate rescindment motion that had been pulled from the earlier vote.

Surplus buses: The board declared five school buses surplus and approved their disposition after a question from Miss Stevenson about how a bus is determined to have completed its life cycle. Mr. Perryman explained the state sets a 15‑year baseline for bus life, which can be extended only if buses meet certain criteria; he said the buses in question either have more than 200,000 miles or are not functioning.

Sports allotments: The board approved annual sports allotments for the 2025‑26 school year. Board members discussed whether additional coaches would be hired for new sports; staff said the district has funding flexibility to use faculty coaches or non‑faculty coaches and does not expect an immediate budget increase for the new sports. Board members also asked about football and turf at unit schools; staff said turf was not planned for unit schools and that adding a football program would be a phased, multi‑year effort.

Transportation MOU: The board approved a seven‑year Transportation Department MOU. Board member Miss Stevenson said she had concerns about approving long MOUs because some attorneys had told her MOUs are not legally binding; in response an attorney on the record stated the document is legally binding. The motion passed; the clerk announced the MOU "receives 6 votes."

Meeting date and bonuses: The board voted to move the April meeting to April 8 to avoid spring break and approved a resolution affirming a $2,000 teacher bonus commitment. The board chose version 2 of the resolution, which removed wording referencing an "extraordinary session."

Votes and motions recorded at the meeting included agenda adoption, approval of consent items, approval of multiple budget amendments (8), approval of a rescindment, passage of the five‑year facilities plan (reported elsewhere), declaration of surplus buses, approval of annual sports allotments, approval of the Transportation Department MOU, the April meeting date change, and approval of the $2,000 teacher bonus resolution.