Lenoir City Board approves budget amendments, updates bank signers and OKs IDEA/ESEA consolidated application

At its May 22, 2025 meeting, the Lenoir City Board of Education approved budget amendments for both the 2024–25 and 2025–26 fiscal years, authorized the district’s consolidated federal application for IDEA and ESEA for fiscal 2026, changed authorized signers on the district bank account and rescheduled upcoming meetings. The board also announced that the director of schools’ contract-extension will be considered at the June 2025 meeting.

The budget approvals covered four fund types in each fiscal year: the general purpose fund, the sales tax fund, the food service fund and the capital projects fund. Each fund was taken separately and approved by roll call; the board’s recorded votes were unanimous on the items shown in the minutes.

The board approved the fiscal year 2026 consolidated application for IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act), a required filing to receive federal education funds. The board took the motion, which a member moved and another seconded, and recorded a unanimous roll-call vote in favor.

As part of routine financial housekeeping, the board voted to remove two long-standing signers from the Lenoir City Schools account at United Community Bank and to add two current board members. The motion to remove the two signers passed by roll call; the motion to add Lacey Murray and Chris Clabo as signers likewise passed by roll call.

The board also approved schedule changes for upcoming meetings: the June board meeting and workshop were rescheduled to Thursday, June 19 at 11 a.m., and the July meeting and workshop to Tuesday, July 22 at 11 a.m. Both schedule changes were approved by roll call.

Votes at a glance: a) Approval agenda — motion by Rick Chadwick, second by Lacey Murray; unanimous. b) FY2026 consolidated IDEA/ESEA application — motion by Rick Chadwick, second by Pyle; unanimous. c) Remove two signers on the United Community Bank account — motion by Mitch Ledbetter, second by Rick Chadwick; unanimous. d) Add Lacey Murray and Chris Clabo as signers on the United Community Bank account — motion (mover/second not specified in the record); unanimous. e) Reschedule June meeting to June 19 at 11 a.m. — motion by Lacey Murray, second by Rick Chadwick; unanimous. f) Reschedule July meeting to July 22 at 11 a.m. — motion by Mitch Ledbetter, second by Lacey Murray; unanimous. g) FY2024–25 budget amendments (general purpose, sales tax, food service, capital projects) — separate motions; all passed by roll call. h) FY2025–26 budget approvals (general purpose, sales tax, food service, capital projects) — separate motions; all passed by roll call. i) Motion to adjourn — passed by roll call.

Board members who participated in roll-call votes recorded in the minutes were Tammy Powell, Rick Chadwick, Mitch Ledbetter, Lacey Murray and Chris Clabo; all votes recorded in the minutes on the above items were “aye.” The minutes do not show any recorded “no,” “abstain,” or recusals on these items.

The board expressed informal thanks to staff members for their work preparing the budget and called out a staff member named Susie during remarks of appreciation. The director-of-schools contract-extension was announced for formal consideration at the June meeting; no details of the proposed extension (term length, compensation adjustments or effective date) were provided in the meeting record and are therefore not specified.

Funding amounts and line-item changes for the budget amendments were not specified in the meeting transcript provided; the board handled each fund as a separate motion rather than bundling them. The consolidated IDEA/ESEA application was presented for approval but the transcript does not include the application’s dollar totals or program-level allocations.

Next steps: the board will take up the director-of-schools contract-extension at the June 2025 meeting, and routine financial and scheduling items will proceed under the revised calendar.