DeKalb County Board of Education approves 2026–27 budgets, several policies and accepts state maintenance grant

The DeKalb County Board of Education on July 9 approved routine consent items, several board policies and the 2026–27 school and food-service budgets, and accepted a state public-school construction maintenance grant worth "a little over $91,000," the director of schools told members.

The actions were taken during the board’s regular monthly meeting at the Ernest Ray Education Center. The chair opened the meeting, the clerk completed roll call and the board moved through the agenda with a series of voice votes approving motions on consent items, budgets and policy readings.

The board approved individual school budgets and fundraiser requests for the 2026–27 school year after a motion recorded in the transcript as moved by Mr. Hayes and seconded by Mr. Beshears. Multiple school-board policies were advanced on first and second readings, including policy 1.404 (second reading) and policy 4.205 (first reading). On policy 2.4, the board adopted Option B after a motion recorded as moved by Mr. Beshears and seconded by Mr. Irvin.

Director of Schools (as recorded in the meeting) presented budgets for consolidated federal programs and special education, and noted minor certified-tax adjustments on the food-service budget that had been previously approved in May. "We'll be receiving a little over $91,000," the director said of the state maintenance grant the district applied for and received; the board voted to accept the grant.

On student-discipline procedures, the board set the Student Disciplinary Hearing Authority (DHA) to include three supervisors from the district office, an administrator and a teacher from a school not involved in an appealed incident. The director recommended Joey Reeder to serve as chair of the DHA; the transcript records the recommendation but does not show a separate motion or recorded vote on that recommendation.

The director also used the personnel-report segment to thank cafeteria worker Emily and her staff for summer meal service and said he would provide counts of meals served in June and for the day in question.

No public commenters were signed up for this session. After completing the agenda, the board recessed on a motion recorded as moved by Mr. Parkerson and seconded by Mr. Urban.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting transcript) - Consent items: motion to approve (moved by Mr. Parkerson; second recorded as Mr. Irvin). Outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 2 — Individual school budgets and fundraisers for 2026–27: moved by Mr. Hayes; second Mr. Beshears. Outcome: approved. - Item 3 — Board policies (first reading, multiple): moved by Mr. Parker; second Mr. Beshears. Outcome: approved. - Item 4 — 2026–27 board meeting dates: moved by Mr. Hayes; second Mr. Irvin. Outcome: approved. - Item 5 — DHA composition: moved by Mr. Hayes; second Mr. Parkerson. Outcome: approved (composition set). - Item 6 — Recommendation: Director recommended Joey Reeder as DHA chair. Outcome: recommendation recorded; no formal vote shown. - Item 7 — Policy 1.404 (second reading): moved by Mr. Parkerson; second Mr. Hayes. Outcome: approved. - Item 7 — Policy 2.4 Option B adoption: moved by Mr. Beshears; second Mr. Irvin. Outcome: approved. - Item 8 — Consolidated federal programs budget: moved by Mr. Irvin. Outcome: approved. - Item 9 — 2026–27 food-service budget (GP): moved by Mr. Irvin; second Mr. Parkerson. Outcome: approved. - Item 10 — Policy 4.205 (first reading): moved by Mr. Hayes; second Mr. Irvin. Outcome: approved. - Item 11 — Public school construction maintenance grant (state of Tennessee): moved by Mr. Parkerson; second Mr. Beshears. Outcome: approved (district to receive ~ $91,000). - Item 12 — Extended use of 2008 Thomas bus: moved by Mr. Beshears; second Mr. Hayes. Outcome: approved. - Adjournment: moved by Mr. Parkerson; second Mr. Urban. Outcome: approved.

The board did not record roll-call vote tallies in the transcript; actions are reported as carried after voice votes of 'aye.' The director’s recommendation for DHA chair was recorded but no separate motion or vote on that appointment appears in the transcript.