Hardy County Schools board approves FY26 operating budget, adopts textbooks and advances policy on unanimous votes

The Hardy County Schools Board of Education unanimously approved the district’s fiscal year 2026 operating budget and a series of routine adoptions and policy actions at its regular meeting.

Board members voted to adopt the operating budget after brief discussion of fund-balance projections and federal Title I changes. Finance staff reported no unusual items in the April 30 report and said a planned transfer of roughly $837,000 would raise projected carryover to about $1.9 million; staff recommended a carryover target near $1.7 million. A board member flagged an approximate $60,000 decrease in Title I funding and asked staff to identify which programs will be affected once final amounts are posted by June 30.

The board also approved the consent agenda and moved several administrative items: a board self-reflection instrument was approved; social studies and pre-K textbook adoptions were approved from the packet (attachments 8 and 9); and the staff conflict-of-interest policy (GBS) was advanced on first reading. The meeting record shows these measures carried without opposition.

Separately, the board entered an executive session to discuss a matter counsel described as potentially involving attorney–client privileged information related to vaccinations. The board returned to open session with no public action taken on the executive-session topic. Following that session the board approved recommended personnel actions dated May 27 as presented.

The meeting adjourned at 5:57 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for June 9 at 5:00 p.m. at the board office.