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Thomasville City Schools board approves proposed $5.48 million current-expense budget and $1.49 million capital plan
Summary
The board approved the FY 2026–27 budget and budget message after a presentation by CFO Wanda Lane Niezkes. The plan includes a $5,482,959 local current-expense appropriation and a $1,492,028 capital outlay package; board members requested ADM and Title I detail to be provided.
The Thomasville City Schools Board of Education approved the district's proposed fiscal year 2026'27 budget and budget message following a presentation by Chief Financial Officer Wanda Lane Niezkes and a period of board questions.
Niezkes presented a proposed local current-expense fund appropriation of $5,482,959 and a capital outlay budget of $1,492,028. She listed capital projects included in the Category 1 capital plan: district-wide painting ($50,000), district-wide paving ($118,161), Liberty Drive roof replacement ($150,000), HVAC repairs and renovations ($200,000), ADA compliance renovations ($300,000) and drainage/plumbing renovations ($300,000). "A total current expense, fund appropriation, 5,482,959," Niezkes told the board as she reviewed the figures.
Board members pressed staff for details about enrollment-driven funding changes. The CFO said a decline in average daily membership (ADM) from the prior year produced a negative adjustment in the city/county appropriation of approximately $36,482; staff also identified an ADM decline of roughly 53 students and agreed to provide the board with separate state and county ADM figures and the dollar impact of the decline. The board's requests for those numbers and other clarifications are to be provided by Friday.
Board members also asked about federal-program funding. A district administrator whom the CFO called to the podium said Title I expenditures are traceable through finance procedures and that the percentage of Title I funds retained at the district level for 2025'26 would be provided. The official said federal allocations for 2026'27 had not yet been released and confirmed that, for 2025'26, Title I paid for 1.5 positions that provide behavioral supports across the district.
The board asked whether technology replacement and other capital needs have a sustainable funding source; staff said they lack a guaranteed state funding stream for device refreshes and that middle- and high-school devices will soon be out of warranty. The CFO noted that lottery or grant requests may be pursued, and that any grants received later would be added to the budget by amendment and require separate board approval.
After the presentation and discussion, a motion to approve the FY 2026'27 budget and budget message was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. The chair stated, "That motion carries." The transcript records a voice approval but does not include a roll-call tally in the record.
Next steps: staff will deliver the requested ADM breakdowns (state and county), the district-level Title I retention percentage for 2025'26, and the dollar impact of the 53-student ADM decline; the district will return any grant-funded changes to the board as budget amendments for formal approval.
