Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget And Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Blount County board approves fee coverage, Arconic-funded pilot, summer school and capital transfers
Summary
The board voted to pay recommended school general and graduation fees, accepted a $30,000 Arconic grant (with a $10,000 BCEF match) to pilot services for English learners, approved summer school and year-end budget adjustments, and authorized capital transfers moving projects into Fund 177.
At its monthly meeting the Blount County Board of Education approved a package of budget and grant actions intended to free operating dollars and launch a targeted pilot for underserved students.
School fee coverage: John Young presented the recommended 2025–26 general fee schedule and clarified prior-year board contributions. He told the board the business office calculated the board spent about $33.59 per graduating student last year and that the board used $35 per graduate for budgeting transparency. The chair reported discussions with the Blount County CFO indicating local budget capacity to cover general elementary, middle and high school fees and graduation fees, a total the chair described in the meeting as "about 250,000 or a little less than that." The board moved and unanimously approved covering the recommended fees.
BCEF/Arconic grant: The board accepted a $30,000 grant from Arconic awarded to the Blount County Education Foundation (BCEF). BCEF also committed $10,000, together funding a two-year pilot to reduce barriers to academic success for English learners (interpreter services, tutoring, materials) and to provide a stipend for a part-time facilitator. Renee of BCEF told the board these funds will allow a data-gathering pilot to assess district-wide needs and the potential for a full-time position.
Summer school and year-end adjustments: The board approved a 2024–25 summer school state grant budget increase (grant supports 11 elementary schools for a 16-day program, May 27–June 17, covering admin and teacher salaries, benefits, TAs, nurses, transportation and food service). A small year-end Fund 141 adjustment (balance $1,499.15) to close out the school year was also approved.
Capital projects and fund transfers: The board moved several capital improvement projects from the general purpose school fund (Fund 141 / 01/1941) to Education Capital Fund 177 after consultation with the State Comptroller's Office and the county CFO. A resolution read at the meeting listed building improvements ($2,141,698.90), plant operation equipment ($8,484), and heating/air conditioning ($299,201.44), totaling $2,449,384.34 to be transferred. The board approved the resolution by roll call.
Other capital approvals included moving up the Heritage Middle School roof replacement in the long-range capital plan and approving Heritage High School auditorium renovation funding from Fund 177; both items were approved to proceed to bidding and implementation stages.
What happens next: Staff and the maintenance director will solicit bids for capital work and bring implementation details back to the board. BCEF will launch the two-year pilot and report data to the district. The board indicated the fee coverage and transfers are intended to protect the operating budget while allowing faster capital work.
Quotes from meeting participants are drawn from the public record provided to the board during its meeting.
