Board approves 2025–26 athletic facilities allocations, considers $25,000 recurring increase

The Hawkins County Board of Education approved the administration’s recommended allocations from the district’s recurring athletic facilities fund for the 2025–26 year and discussed pursuing an increase to the recurring allocation in the next budget cycle.

Board members reviewed requests submitted by seven middle and high schools and heard debate about whether the $50,000 annual allocation should be spread across many schools or used for larger projects at individual high schools. A long‑running practice, the annual allocation was created in 2013 and reduced to $25,000 in 2014 before returning to $50,000 in later years, according to board discussion.

Why it matters: Board members stressed the fund is intended to support extracurricular programs and to help schools that do not generate substantial athletic revenues through ticket sales or booster fundraising. Several trustees said permanent structures such as fences or backstops are typically a system responsibility but noted smaller maintenance and safety items are often addressed through this fund.

Details: Staff provided a prioritized list that showed cumulative requests above available funds; trustees talked through example requests including a $10,000 sound system item at Volunteer and other listed priorities across Cherokee, Clinch and middle schools. One board member urged the board to pick representative items across schools so funding is distributed system‑wide rather than concentrated at a few schools.

Motion and vote: A board member moved to approve the recommended allocations for 2025–26 “as suggested by Mr. Thomas.” The motion passed by voice vote. Separately, at least one trustee requested that staff pursue an amendment in the next budget cycle to increase the recurring allocation by $25,000 (to $75,000) for board consideration; staff said they would consult with finance leadership and bring an amendment forward for the 2026–27 budget process.

What’s next: Staff will implement the approved allocations and, if approved through the budget process next year, a higher recurring amount would allow broader or larger projects. The board asked staff not to include elementary schools in this round of requests; the fund has historically targeted middle and high school athletic facilities.