Board approves grant-review panel and extends three vendor contracts amid funding uncertainty

The Children’s Trust board approved an eight-member volunteer grant-review panel and voted to extend three vendor contracts for one year as a stopgap while the organization awaits clarity on property-tax–related funding.

Board members discussed whether to approve the reviewer slate as a packet or vote individually; the board moved and approved the slate and noted that Judge Williams abstained from the vote. Miss Woods agreed to serve as the grants committee chair; volunteer backgrounds cited in the packet included pre‑K and early‑education practitioners and a president/CEO of the Council on Aging.

Under operations, staff recommended one‑year extensions for three vendors — Warren Averett (auditor), CPC Office Technologies (printing) and Clark Partington (legal counsel) — citing uncertainty about legislative changes to property taxes that could affect funding. Staff said the extensions would bridge the trust through the coming months and allow an RFP process (procure every 3–5 years) to run in January 2027 if needed. The motion to extend all three contracts as a package passed with one abstention.

Board members emphasized transparency and noted the extensions preserve continuity while giving the trust time to solicit new proposals if desired. The board recorded that date-of-extension would be measured from each vendor’s existing contract date.