Cannon County Board of Education approves agenda, personnel items, facilities purchases and bids

The Cannon County Board of Education on Feb. 13 voted on a series of routine and capital items, approving a revised meeting agenda, personnel and travel items, a student survey, calendar adjustments if needed, the sale of surplus buses, review of personnel policies, rooftop HVAC units and associated installation, a special workshop to review director applications and authorization to bid backup generators for four schools.

The board approved a revised agenda that added overnight out-of-state trips and agenda item 13. The motion to adopt the revised agenda passed on a 4-0 roll call (moved by Miss Curtis; second by Miss Carmel). Board members voting aye were Miss Curtis, Mister McMackens, Mister Mullins and Mister Trammell.

The consent agenda passed 4-0 and included approval of minutes from the Jan. 9 regular meeting, the hiring of Brian Elrod as a track coach at CCHS, the hiring of Maka Penotti as an assistant football coach at CCHS, and approval of three overnight out-of-state trip requests (trip numbers 4803, 4804 and 4806). The motion to approve the consent agenda was recorded as made by Mr. Mayle and seconded by Mr. Mullins; the roll call recorded Ms. Curtis, Mr. McMackins, Mr. Mullins and Mr. Mayo as voting aye.

The board approved administering the TN Together student survey to 8th-, 10th- and 12th-grade students (motion by Mister Mullins; second by Miss Curtis). The roll call was 4-0 in favor.

The board approved contingency changes to the 2024–25 school calendar, making March 14 a potential student day (currently a professional development day), and designating May 22 and May 23 as possible student days/full days and May 24 as an abbreviated day for report cards if needed. The motion (moved by Mister Veil; second by Mister Mullins) passed 4-0. Board discussion noted requirements for virtual days (food provision) and that staff had queried the state for clarification on food distribution for virtual days.

The board approved the sale of eight surplus buses to Smith's Truck Salvage for a total amount of $5,708 (motion recorded as made by Mister Male and seconded by Miss Curtis; roll call 4-0).

Board members recorded a 4-0 vote to review school board policies 5.1–5.31 (personnel, part 1) (motion by Mister Mullins; second by Mister Mcmaggins).

The board approved purchasing two rooftop HVAC units through a state contract for Cannon County Elementary School and Cannon County Middle School for $34,889 (motion by Mister Mullins; second by Mister Veil). The board separately approved installation and crane/labor for the units for $6,500 (motion by Miss Trammell; second by Mister Mullins). Both votes were recorded 4-0.

The board set a special-call workshop to review director applications for March 3, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the Adams Committee Room (motion by Miss Trammell; second by Miss Curtis). The motion passed 4-0.

Finally, the board authorized staff to solicit bids for backup generators for Cannon North Elementary, Cannon South Elementary, Cannon County Elementary and Cannon County Middle School (motion by Mister Mills; second by Mister Mullins). The motion passed by a 4-0 vote.

Several of these items were presented and discussed at a prior workshop earlier in the week, and board members repeatedly noted that some agenda items (notably calendar contingency days and virtual-day logistics) depended on state guidance.

Votes at a glance (selection): - Revised agenda: approved, 4-0 (mover: Miss Curtis; second: Miss Carmel). - Consent agenda (minutes, coach hires, trips 4803/4804/4806): approved, 4-0 (mover: Mr. Mayle; second: Mr. Mullins). - TN Together student survey (8th/10th/12th grades): approved, 4-0 (mover: Mister Mullins; second: Miss Curtis). - Calendar contingency days (March 14; May 22–24): approved, 4-0 (mover: Mister Veil; second: Mister Mullins). - Sale of eight surplus buses to Smith's Truck Salvage for $5,708: approved, 4-0 (mover: Mister Male; second: Miss Curtis). - Review of personnel policies 5.1–5.31: approved, 4-0 (mover: Mister Mullins; second: Mister Mcmaggins). - Purchase of two rooftop units (state contract) for $34,889: approved, 4-0 (mover: Mister Mullins; second: Mister Veil). - Installation/crane for rooftop units for $6,500: approved, 4-0 (mover: Miss Trammell; second: Mister Mullins). - Special-call workshop to review director applications (03/03/2025, 6 p.m., Adams Committee Room): approved, 4-0 (mover: Miss Trammell; second: Miss Curtis). - Authorization to bid backup generators for four schools: approved, 4-0 (mover: Mister Mills; second: Mister Mullins).

Board members closed routine business and adjourned after chair and director comments noting upcoming budget work and school events.