Board reviews $10.47 million in state grants for CTE, security and pre‑K special education

District staff told the board they combined three separate state grant amendments into a single agenda item to speed processing. The combined amendment would increase the FY26 budget to recognize the following state awards: an $8,889,685 carryover from the Innovative Model Schools grant to fund CTE salaries, training stipends, equipment and construction; a public school security grant with a carryover of $14,875 plus an FY26 allocation of $1,049,958 (total $1,064,833) to pay for threat assessment software, signage, radio equipment, repeaters and weapon‑detection equipment; and a State Special Education Pre‑K grant for FY26 of $519,488 to fund additional education assistants, a compliance specialist, training, and classroom supplies.

Staff told the board all three grants have been approved by the Tennessee Department of Education and none require a local match. Board members asked whether security purchases were supplemental or intended to replace aging equipment and whether personnel costs funded by the Innovative Model Schools grant would create recurring obligations. Staff said some positions funded by the model‑school grant were added two years ago and the percentage of salary paid by the grant has been declining (from 75% to 50% this year and expected to 25% next year). The board did not record a final funding vote in the transcript; staff indicated the items were combined for efficiency and would be brought forward in the consent/approval process.