Brown County trustees approve TEDx donations, $2,500 internship payment and textbook fund transfer

The Brown County School Trustees voted Dec. 16 to approve several donations supporting student programs and to authorize a $2,500 payment to a TEDx student intern.

Trustees accepted a $1,846.21 donation from the Nashville Masonic Lodge to cover negative lunch balances, a $500 gift from Central Credit Union to support TEDx, $2,000 from the Brown County Community Foundation for TEDx and a $5,000 contribution from Performance Services for TEDx programming. Board members moved and seconded each donation and approved them by roll call during the meeting.

Staff also presented a recommendation to pay $2,500 to Chloe Sawyer "in recognition of her exceptional work and contributions as a TEDx student intern during the first semester." The board approved the payment; the staff member who presented the item said the payment will come from donated TEDx funds.

In a separate finance action, the board approved a one‑time transfer of $297,505.49 from the education fund to the textbook curriculum materials fund to bring that account to a $0 balance and close it "to align with Indiana code," staff said. The staff presentation explained the change reflects a state policy shift that no longer allows schools to charge families for curricular materials; the transfer is bookkeeping to comply with the state board of accounts.

Trustees conducted each approval with roll‑call votes; meeting minutes record the items as approved. Board members and staff thanked community partners and donors for supporting student opportunities and district programs.

Next steps: staff will process the donations and the fund transfer per state accounting rules; the district expects to continue fundraising for TEDx programming in the coming year.