Clay County school board approves insurer renewal, authorizes bids, amends therapy contract and OKs new bus

The Clay County school board on Feb. 12 voted through a slate of routine operational measures, deciding to remain with its current Risk Management Trust insurer, authorize bids for hazard-removal work on older school buildings, amend a therapy services contract to add behavior-analytic support, and approve the purchase of an 84-passenger school bus.

The board’s presiding officer said the district’s insurance provider, Risk Management Trust, represents about 105 Tennessee school districts and that administration expected a premium increase of about 4%–7% for 2026–27. “We would expect a 4 to 7% increase,” the presiding officer said; in the discussion the increase was also described as roughly an $8,000–$14,000 impact on the district budget. After brief discussion, a motion to remain with the current provider passed unanimously.

Administration asked the board to request bids for removal and disposal of coal residue in the administration building boiler room and for asbestos abatement, demolition and disposal in the old gymnasium and cafeteria, work that officials said is covered in part by grant funding. The presiding officer described the project as “a tremendous liability” for the system and said the grant support made the work feasible; the board voted to advertise for bids.

On a separate personnel and services item, the board voted to amend an existing contract with Elevate Therapy Collective to add Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) services for a newly enrolled student. The administration said the proposed rate is $140 per hour and that competing rates they reviewed were as high as $185 per hour; board members approved the amendment.

The board also approved the purchase of an 84-passenger bus, selecting the low bid from Central State using a piggyback off a Lincoln County contract. Administration said the purchase had been budgeted and could be covered within the existing transportation line items without a formal budget amendment. A board member moved to accept the low bid and the motion passed.

In personnel business, the board confirmed three nonfaculty volunteer spring sports coaches after administration reported they had completed required training and certification.

During the principal’s report, school leadership said a fire marshal inspection produced only minor required fixes, the building experienced about four days without power during a recent weather event and staff have addressed most of the resulting issues. Administrators highlighted recent college-and-career outreach visits by representatives from Ball State and TCAT, upcoming student events including a driver-safety Think Fast Interactive program and a budgeting simulation for sophomores, and noted that the CTE director, Amy Dodson, has applied for a Perkins Reserve grant to buy equipment for Clay County High School. Officials also said they are coordinating window work at Hermitage Springs School with King Construction Group and that food service has received USDA commodity donations that save budget dollars.

Votes at a glance: the board approved minutes from the Jan. 15, 2026 regular session (motion passed); approved the Feb. 12 agenda (motion passed); voted to remain with Risk Management Trust for 2026–27 (motion passed); authorized bids for coal residue removal and asbestos abatement (motion passed); amended the Elevate Therapy Collective contract to add BCBA services at $140/hour (motion passed); approved the purchase of an 84-passenger bus from the low bidder via a piggyback contract (motion passed); and approved three volunteer spring-sports coaches (motion passed).

The meeting proceeded without public comment and included routine updates from school leaders; no further formal actions were taken during the session.