School board gives preliminary, budget-contingent approval to additional 2026–27 sports requests

The Maury County Board of Education on March 3 gave preliminary approval to additional sports requests for the 2026–27 school year, with the board specifying the approvals are contingent on final board approval and funding in the 2026–27 budget.

The item was removed from the consent agenda and brought forward as new business. Mr. Sims moved to approve the list of sports for consideration; during discussion he cautioned that appeals with the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) remain unresolved and that the list might change. "I'll be voting for approval on this," Sims said, noting that the list could be added to if appeals change eligibility.

Board member Miss Stevenson offered an amendment to make the approval preliminary and contingent on final board approval and inclusion in the 2026–27 budget; she asked for the language to reflect that the memo indicated "approval for consideration, not for final approval." The amendment was seconded, voted on and passed; the amended motion then passed.

District staff (Mister Perryman) clarified that the figures in the memo were maximum stipend estimates (100% of stipend for each position) and that more realistic numbers would be presented during the budget process. Perryman said most coaches across the district do not receive the full stipend and estimated that roughly 3,000 middle and high school students participate in sports districtwide. Board members asked for line-item budget figures before final approval.

What happens next: Staff will incorporate the preliminary approvals into the budget process and return with detailed budget line items and final recommendations during budget deliberations.