The Rutherford County Health & Education Committee approved a combined budget amendment on Oct. 28 to recognize three state education grants with no local match.

Dr. Sullivan (Rutherford County Schools) told the committee the amendment consolidates three awards: a carryover from the Innovative Model Schools grant (carryover amount presented as $8,889,685), a Public School Security grant (carryover $14,875 plus new fiscal‑year allocation $1,049,958, totaling $1,064,833), and the State Special Education pre‑K grant (fiscal‑year allocation $519,488). School staff said each grant carries programmatic restrictions and is monitored through the state's ePlan system; specific purchases and positions must comply with state grant rules.

The Innovative Model Schools funds will continue to support career and technical education (CTE) personnel costs (the district said it covered a declining share of certain salaries with grant funds, from 75% last year to 50% this year), stipends for project‑based learning work, equipment and some facility renovations for CTE. The Public School Security grant will fund threat‑assessment software and licensing, signage, radio equipment and FCC licensing/repeaters, and weapons‑detection and security film. The pre‑K special education grant will fund additional education assistants, training, sensory/de‑escalation items and classroom supplies for integrated pre‑K classrooms.

Committee members asked about oversight and restrictions. School staff explained that grant expenditures are routed through the Tennessee Department of Education ePlan approval process and require local and state approvals prior to expenditure. Dr. Sullivan said the Innovative Model Schools grant began in 2023 and the carryover funds must be expended by September 2026.

A roll‑call vote approved the amendment; commissioners present voted yes (Commissioner Oliver, Commissioner Davidson, Vice Chair Wilson, Mister Boyd, Mister McMurray, Mister Gooch and Chairman Dodd). The motion passed.

What happens next: School finance staff will proceed under state grant requirements and timelines, execute the expenditures approved in ePlan and report back on carryover spending and any further required actions to the committee.