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School board approves I‑Ready math pilot and purchase of UNOX combi ovens using spend‑down funds
Summary
The board approved a $48,300 purchase for an I Ready math pilot (diagnostics and professional development for grades K–8) and authorized $146,369.58 to buy six UNOX combi ovens for cafeterias, funded from DDOE spend‑down funds; trustees recorded questions about fund balances and implementation details.
The Warren County School Board approved two budgeted purchases intended to support instruction and food service for the 2025–26 school year.
I Ready math pilot: The board approved a pilot of I Ready math for grades K–8 that includes three diagnostic administrations and 21 professional-development sessions for staff. Presenter Miss Bragg said the district would pilot the program in three elementary schools and two middle schools (with two other elementary schools continuing the program using local funds) and requested $48,300 to pay for the professional-development component. Trustees discussed how the program compares with a prior state-provided math product and were told I Ready offers aligned diagnostics plus embedded professional development.
Cafeteria equipment (UNOX combi ovens): Dr. Costner, representing food services, requested purchase of six UNOX combi ovens (one for each cafeteria that lacks the equipment) at a cost of $146,369.58 from MTS, to be paid from DDOE required spend‑down funds rather than the general operations budget. When a board member asked about the spend‑down balance, Mister Brown (addressed by name during the discussion) reported the current balance at the end of July as "just under $2,200,000" and estimated roughly $1,000,000 above the recommended three months of operating reserves. The presenter said the spend‑down funds must be spent on food‑service items and cannot be transferred to other budget lines such as textbooks. The board approved the purchase.
Why it matters: The I Ready purchase funds teacher training and diagnostic tools intended to inform instruction and SOL preparation, while the combi-oven purchase modernizes cafeteria equipment and uses restricted spend‑down funds to upgrade meal-preparation capacity.
Next steps: The I Ready pilot will be implemented during the 2025–26 school year with scheduled diagnostics and PD; the food-service department will proceed with procurement and installation of the ovens and report on implementation as required.
