Board debates committee structure, withdraws motion to dissolve committees and instead reconstitutes assignments

Coffee County school board members spent extensive time on Sept. 8 debating whether to eliminate ad‑hoc and standing committees and move work to full board work sessions. A motion to do away with nonessential committees was made but later withdrawn after members asked for time to review which committees are mandated by policy or grant requirements.
Board member Hansard initially moved to eliminate committees, arguing that work sessions could accomplish the same tasks and reduce duplication. Other members pushed back, saying committees provide focused review, oversight and confidentiality where needed (for example, the sick‑leave bank and ethics panels). Board members also noted that some committees exist because state law, grant agreements or district policy require them.
After extended discussion — which covered the value of specialized oversight (textbook review, calendar, capital projects), policy committee procedures, and the workload of board members — Hansard withdrew the motion and the board agreed to convene a work session to review the committee list and identify which ones to retain. The board proceeded to appoint members to the committees on the annual list, retaining policy, budget, capital projects, safety, ethics and other committees and adding a new “innovation” committee and a CTAC representative for an interagency memorandum of understanding.
Board members said they will bring a refined committee list and any suggested dissolutions or consolidations to a future meeting or work session so the body can act after staff identifies legally mandated committees.