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Jackson County board approves budget amendment, policy updates, field trips and personnel actions
Summary
At its October meeting the Jackson County Public Schools board approved the 2026 budget amendment covering state and federal grants, adopted policy updates, authorized six overnight/out‑of‑state field trips, and approved personnel actions after closed session; motion tallies were recorded by voice and specific vote counts were not specified in the transcript.
The Jackson County Public Schools board on Tuesday approved a series of routine but consequential items: a budget amendment to the 2026 resolution, multiple policy updates, six overnight and out‑of‑state field trips, and a personnel action agenda following closed session.
Dr. Benner presented amendment No. 1 to the district's 2026 budget resolution, saying it covers state public funds, federal grant funds and other specific revenue. When a board member asked about Title II expenditures, an administrator explained that consolidated federal funds support professional development, travel and supplies intended to "increase student achievement." The board moved and approved the amendment by voice vote.
On policy, staff presented updates 1 through 8 recommended by the State School Board Association and reviewed by the district attorney. A board member raised concerns about the burden on teachers to catalog library and classroom books; staff members Angie and Greg said they were "working really hard to try and minimize that burden" while ensuring compliance with the law. The board moved and approved the policy updates.
Dr. Ayers asked the board to approve six field trips that are overnight or out‑of‑state, including Blue Ridge Early College and Blue Ridge School to Dollywood, Colley Valley first grade to the Knoxville Zoo, a seventh/eighth grade overnight trip to Kill Devil Hill, Smoky Mountain Elementary grades 6–8 to Winston‑Salem (overnight), and Smoky Mountain High School to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The board approved trips 1–6; Dr. Ayers noted the Blue Ridge Early College trip date changed from Oct. 31 to Nov. 25.
The board moved into closed session under General Statute 143.318.11 to discuss personnel and attorney‑client matters and returned stating "there was no action taken here in closed session." Afterward, Dr. Ayers presented a personnel action agenda and the board approved the personnel items as presented.
What was not included: the transcript records voice votes and "All in favor" acknowledgements but does not provide roll‑call vote tallies or named vote records for the motions; where numbers or specific dollar amounts were not stated in the meeting, this report notes those values as "not specified." The board set its next regular meeting for Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Board of Education office and adjourned.
