Board approves budget amendment, recognizes emergency responders and students; personnel report approved after closed session

At its March 25 meeting, the Warren County Schools Board approved Budget Amendment 1 and later approved a personnel report following a closed session on personnel matters.

A finance staff member briefed the board on adjustments incorporated into Budget Amendment 1 after state and local budgets settled. The presentation said a grant previously managed through local funds was moved into "fund 7" to prevent sharing with charter schools; federal carryover on some grants was higher than earlier estimates but was spent appropriately before expiration, the district adjusted its capital outlay figures after the county held the appropriation at $350,000 instead of the $500,000 previously sought, and the child nutrition program required a modest increase. The presenter described conservative budgeting practices and said the district has added money to fund balance in prior years. The presentation included discussion of available fund-balance figures (the presenter said $1.4 million was made available in the current budget, with closer to $2.7 million in total in the fund).

During the meeting the board also recognized Warren County Emergency Services, sheriff's office personnel, local fire and police departments and school staff for their response to a Feb. 28 incident at Marion Boyd Elementary when a dump truck caught fire and students were evacuated. Dr. Carrington described the coordinated response and thanked multiple agencies and staff.

A motion to convene into closed session for personnel matters was made and carried; after returning to open session the board voted to approve the personnel report as presented in closed session. The transcript cites a statutory basis for closed session but renders the citation as 'general statute 140 three-three 18 dot 11 a 6' (verbatim from the public transcript).