Board approves budget transfers, contracts and several policy updates; school advisory group named

At its June 9 meeting the Oak Ridge Board of Education voted unanimously on a slate of action items covering budget amendments, contracts, policy updates and the naming of a student advisory group.

Key actions recorded in the meeting minutes and motions included:

- FY 2025 budget transfer number 4 (second reading): Board approved a budget transfer that establishes a Creswell grant budget, a summer learning camp and transportation grant budget, and routine transfers for the April 23–May 12 period. Motion passed unanimously.

- FY 25 preschool Head Start self‑assessment: Board approved the district’s Head Start self‑assessment, a federal requirement that helps set preschool spending priorities. Motion passed unanimously.

- FY 26 consolidated funding application: Board approved the district’s consolidated federal funding application. District staff said Oak Ridge’s allocation totals $2,335,484.74 for programs under ESSA, IDEA and Perkins‑Voca funding streams. Motion passed unanimously.

- Food service contract renewal: Board approved a third‑year renewal with Southwest Food Service Excellence. The superintendent said general and administrative expenses and the management fee will each increase by 3.5% (divided equally over 12 months); the contract continues a guaranteed budget surplus of $75,000 for the food service fund and no student meal price changes were proposed for 2025–26. Motion passed unanimously.

- Central Technologies contract ($82,627.85): Board approved purchase of access control and CCTV equipment and related services from Central Technologies of Knoxville to refresh district access control and address earlier software problems. Motion passed unanimously.

- Government capital lease for athletic scoreboards ($457,614.20): Board approved a capital lease to replace video scoreboards at Blankenship Field and Wildcat Arena; first annual payment is due July 1, 2026 pending comptroller approval. Motion passed unanimously.

- Board policy updates: The board approved revisions to Policy 5.31 (vacations and holidays), Policy 6.2 (attendance) and Policy 6.411 (student wellness). Staff described the attendance policy change as adding related activities (for example school‑sponsored competitive events) to allowable excused absences. The wellness policy change prohibited withholding physical activity as discipline. All policy changes passed on first and second reading unanimously.

- Oak Ridge School student code of conduct: Board approved the 2024–25 student code of conduct. Motion passed unanimously.

- Oak Ridge High School Student Council as board advisory group: The board approved naming the Oak Ridge High School Student Council as an advisory group to the Board of Education, consistent with a law passed by the legislature; board members said operational details (meeting format and schedule) will be determined before July. Motion passed unanimously.

Several motions were introduced by different board members (examples: motion to approve the agenda amendment and votes to approve items were variously moved and seconded by Miss Webb, Miss Craven and Dr. Hartman). The meeting record repeatedly states “motion passes unanimously” but does not include roll‑call vote counts in the transcript.

Votes at a glance (transcript wording): motion passes unanimously on all listed items; where dollar amounts were stated in discussion those amounts are noted above.