Oak Ridge Board adopts FY26 budget, affirms teacher stipend eligibility and approves grants, facilities work and scoreboard purchase

The Oak Ridge Board of Education unanimously adopted the district’s fiscal year 2026 budget, approved a board resolution to secure teacher eligibility for a $2,000 one‑time payment under Governor Lee’s Education Freedom Act, and approved several grant applications and capital purchases during a meeting that featured largely brief discussion and unanimous votes.

Board members voted to adopt the FY26 budget on its second reading after the superintendent and business office staff reviewed the development process and steps taken over the past year to align salaries, benefits and expenditures. Dr. Borchers, the superintendent, recommended adoption; the motion was seconded by Ms. Webb and carried unanimously.

The board also approved a resolution that the district said fulfills the administrative requirement needed for teachers to receive the one‑time payment created by Governor Lee’s Education Freedom Act while noting the board does not endorse universal vouchers. The resolution, the superintendent said, reflected the results of a survey from the Oak Ridge Education Association in which a majority of teachers indicated they preferred the district take the action necessary to ensure eligibility for the payment.

In other business the board approved federal and state grant applications and budget adjustments the superintendent presented:

- The FY26 Perkins Basic Career and Technical Education grant application was approved in a projected amount of $75,824.10; the board noted this is an annual, noncompetitive grant.

- The competitive FY26 Perkins Reserve grant was approved in the amount of $50,000; the district said funds would be used to purchase a metal saw, a water‑jet cleaning system and school storefront supplies if the application is successful.

- A Tennessee Department of Transportation competitive aviation grant application for $30,000 was approved; the district said the request, if funded, would buy equipment and supplies for the aviation airframe and power plant course at Oak Ridge High School.

The board approved budget transfer number 3 and budget amendment number 2 (second reading). The superintendent described specific adjustments included in the amendment: a final realignment of general fund salary, benefits and expenditures; addition of $400,000 to the general fund contingency to cover anticipated summer learning camp grants; and an increase of $76,500 to general fund revenues and a matching $76,500 to capital outlay to replace the Woodland gym floor.

Two policy updates and personnel items also passed unanimously: exceptions to Board Policy 5.1101 to allow four Oak Ridge High School staff members specific contract exceptions while pursuing advanced degrees, and amendments to Board Policy 5.11 (Compensation Guides and Contracts) and Policy 5.1101 (credit for prior service/advanced preparation) intended to align policy language to current calendars, salary schedules and payroll processes.

Capital and equipment approvals included a $160,000 contract with Commercial Building Systems to replace the fire alarm system at Woodland Elementary to address maintenance issues and bring the building into compliance with current life‑safety code requirements. The board also approved a contract for purchase and installation of video scoreboard equipment at Wildcat Arena and Blankenship Field in the amount of $536,306. The purchase was described as contingent on the FY26 budget approval and a financing lease agreement: $150,000 down payment included in the FY26 budget and a lease of $386,306 expected to be approved by the Tennessee comptroller; district staff said if the lease was not approved the purchase would be funded from existing fund balance.

Board members asked a few clarifying questions about timing and installation for the scoreboards; a vendor representative identified in the meeting as Mr. Blake was cited by staff as coordinating scheduling once paperwork is complete. The board also heard brief informational items including a legislative update, enrollment and attendance figures and recognition items for students and retirees; there were no public‑forum speakers.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of meeting agenda: motion by Dr. Hartman, second Ms. Webb; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Consent agenda (routine items including field trips and activities): motion by Ms. Webb, second Dr. Hartman; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Resolution affirming Governor Lee’s Education Freedom Act (to enable teacher eligibility for $2,000 payment): motion by Dr. Hartman, second Ms. Webb; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Adoption of FY26 budget (second reading): motion by Ms. Craven, second Ms. Webb; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Budget transfer #3 and budget amendment #2 (second reading): motion by Dr. Hartman, second Ms. Craven; outcome: approved unanimously.

- FY26 classroom fees (requested, not required fees list): motion by Ms. Webb, second Dr. Hartman; outcome: approved unanimously.

- FY26 Perkins Basic Grant ($75,824.10 projected): motion by Ms. Craven, second Dr. Hartman; outcome: approved unanimously.

- FY26 Perkins Reserve Grant ($50,000): motion by Ms. Webb, second Ms. Craven; outcome: approved unanimously.

- FY26 Tennessee Department of Transportation aviation grant application ($30,000): motion by Dr. Hartman, second Ms. Craven; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Budget transfer #4 (first reading): motion by Ms. Craven, second Dr. Hartman; outcome: approved unanimously (first reading).

- Exception to Board Policy 5.1101 for four Oak Ridge High School staff members: motion by Ms. Webb, second Ms. Craven; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Board Policy 5.11 (Compensation Guides and Contracts) — first and second reading: motion by Dr. Hartman, second Ms. Webb; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Board Policy 5.1101 (credit for prior service, advanced preparation) — first and second reading: motion by Dr. Hartman, second Ms. Webb; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Replacement of Woodland Elementary fire alarm system (Commercial Building Systems), $160,000: motion by Ms. Craven, second Ms. Webb; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Purchase and installation of digital/video scoreboards at Blankenship Field and Wildcat Arena, $536,306 (including $150,000 down payment and proposed $386,306 lease): motion by Dr. Hartman, second Ms. Webb; outcome: approved unanimously; purchase contingent on FY26 budget and lease approval by the Tennessee comptroller; staff indicated fund balance as backup funding.

What the board said and what happens next

Superintendent Dr. Borchers and business office staff described a year‑long budget process and thanked staff who worked on the FY26 budget. Board members said they appreciated the documentation and the work behind aligning policy and contracts to the district calendar.

Staff said paperwork for the scoreboard lease is expected to be presented to the board in June and installation was planned to begin after graduation if financing paperwork is approved. The broadband of actions approved — budget adoption, multiple grants and several capital projects — positions the district to begin contracted work and grant programming in the coming weeks; where approvals were contingent on outside review (for example, the comptroller’s review of a lease) staff noted that the projects would not proceed until those approvals are secured.

Items not acted on and public participation

There were no public‑forum speakers during the meeting. Informational items presented to the board included a legislative update, enrollment and attendance figures, and recognitions for students and retirees; these items were presented for the record and did not require board action.

(Reporting note: the board’s meeting packet and agenda list additional detail for many items; amounts and program uses cited here were those stated aloud by district staff during the meeting. Where the meeting did not provide an exact figure for a line item (for example, total FY26 budget amount), the article notes that amount as not specified in the oral record.)