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Board approves amendments to funds 141/142; finance staff outlines uses of large donor pool
Summary
The Dickson County Board approved amendments to funds 141 and 142 after finance staff summarized revenue/expenditure changes, discussed a $700,000 instructional donation (part of a previously larger $2 million gift) and said amended net changes are roughly $300,000 for fund 141.
Valerie Underhill, finance staff, presented the district's monthly financial report for November and summarized proposed amendments to funds 141 and 142 at the Dec. 19 Dickson County Board of Education meeting.
Underhill reported revenues were up year over year and expenditures slightly down; property tax was down while sales tax was up. She said amendments reflect adjustments to revenue and expenditure accounts and that the net amendment for fund 141 is about $300,000. "If you'll look on page 9 of the 141, the deficiency of revenues over expenditures... originally we had budgeted to be in a deficit of 5,110,000. And now if these amendments are approved, we'd be at a deficit of 5.198," Underhill said.
Board discussion focused on a previously donated instructional fund. Board member Miss Dale asked about account 711-00429 and the use of a $700,000 donation; Underhill and other administrators said the donor funds have been used for instructional supports including teacher stipends for "Open Labs," mentor funding for the Grow Your Own program and curriculum purchases such as the Beanstack reading platform. Board members said the larger donation initially was $2,000,000 and that the district is spending it thoughtfully over multiple years; one board member noted classroom increases to teacher compensation have been funded from the donation and that the stipend program is in its third and final year.
The board voted to approve the monthly financial report and to approve the amendments for funds 141 and 142 as presented. The amendments included reclassifications within grants (for example, ePlan allocations moved among object codes) and adjustments related to ESSER and other federal funds that had a later spending window than originally budgeted.
Why it matters: The amendments adjust how the district records and uses state and federal reimbursements, grant allocations and a large private donation that district leaders say is being directed to instructional supports and technology. Several board members pressed for continued transparency on how donor funds are spent.
Next steps: Underhill said a more detailed list of expenditures from the large donation can be provided on request; board members asked staff to share specific line items for the donor funds when available.
