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Wilson County schools to use $704,806 IDEA reimbursement and $74,600 tutoring grant for special education and tutoring
Summary
The school system’s Budget Amendment No. 10 reallocates insurance reimbursements, a $74,600 tutoring‑innovation grant to fund 48 math tutors for grades 6–8, and a $704,806 IDEA high‑cost reimbursement earmarked largely for extended‑school‑year special education and related supplies and contracts.
The school system presented Budget Amendment No. 10, detailing reallocations and newly available funding.
School staff described insurance reimbursements: $150,000 returned to transportation insurance claims and $12,115 for an intercom replacement at Watertown Elementary after a lightning strike. The amendment corrected a prior transposition error in an IT budget line and reallocated state revision funds for an early‑literacy tutoring grant.
The schools reported receiving a $74,600 tutoring‑innovation grant that will staff 48 math tutors serving grades 6–8. The presented plan funds each tutor at $40 per hour for 4 hours per week over 12 weeks — about $1,208 per tutor — and directs the program at middle‑school math support.
Additionally, the district received a $704,806 IDEA high‑cost reimbursement for targeted special education costs. School leaders proposed using a majority of that reimbursement to fund an extended‑school‑year special education program, plus staff development ($100,000), instructional supplies ($100,000), equipment ($50,000) — including classroom technology — furniture ($50,000), and $132,000 to supplement contract expenses for targeted special‑education seats. The amendment also reallocated $902,785 from the capital projects fund balance to supplement two capital projects whose bids exceeded earlier earmarks: West Wilson Athletic Facility and Mount Vernon Middle School paving.
Commissioners moved and approved the school budget amendment by voice vote.
Why it matters: the IDEA reimbursement and tutoring grant fund services that directly affect students with special needs and middle‑school math supports while capital supplements allow planned facility projects to proceed.
Next steps: schools will implement the tutoring program and extended‑school‑year services and the finance department will update capital budgets to reflect the supplemental funding.
