Rutherford County Board approves routine contracts and facility projects, denies two student transfers under disciplinary policy

The Rutherford County Board of Education on Feb. 12 approved a slate of routine personnel, curriculum and facilities items and denied two transfer-student admission requests related to disciplinary findings.

In procedural business the board unanimously approved the meeting agenda and consent agenda by voice vote. Later, the board approved a recommended signing-bonus incentive for 2026–27 as presented by human resources.

Under legal items, the board considered two transfer-student cases. In the first, staff told trustees the student had been expelled for possession of drugs; the director of schools recommended denial under district policy 6.318 and the board voted to deny the admission. In the second case, staff said the transfer involved a student expelled for possession of a weapon or dangerous object; the director again recommended denial under policy 6.318 and the board denied admission.

On curriculum and instruction trustees approved formation of a career-and-technical-education (CTE) textbook-adoption committee to review CTE materials and return recommendations to the board. The board also approved special-course requests for 2026–27 under state rule 0520-1-3, listing new and renewal offerings such as advanced grammar, fine-arts appreciation, intro to linguistics, infectious-diseases and neuroscience-related courses; commissioner of education approval is required later in the process, staff said.

Trustees approved several facilities- and athletics-related projects. The board approved an agreement among Wilson Bank & Trust, Riverdale High School and the Riverdale Baseball Booster Club for a video-scoreboard and signage partnership. Principals requested and received board approval to use booster or school athletic funds for local projects: a replacement baseball fence at Eagleville (project not to exceed $18,000, no cost to the board), relocation of an existing scoreboard from Segal High to Whitworth Buchanan (replacement-support costs anticipated not to exceed $3,000), and purchase of permanent soccer goals for Smyrna Primary using fundraiser funds (cost: $6,757.08). The board also approved an ROTC obstacle-course installation at Smyrna High to be funded by CTE monies (estimated cost not to exceed $4,000). Engineering and construction staff reviewed these requests and raised no objections for the projects presented.

Most votes during the meeting were taken by voice with trustees saying “aye”; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript. The board adjourned after routine general discussion and announcements.

What happens next: the CTE textbook committee will review materials and return recommendations to the board; several projects will move forward under the funding sources noted (school/booster funds or CTE funds).