Coffee County committee approves multiple school budget amendments, funds serving-line replacements and stadium renovation

The Coffee County Budget & Finance committee on May 28 approved a series of budget amendments for school operations and capital projects, including $119,000 to replace three high-school serving lines, increases to food-service and summer-program staffing and a multi-million-dollar renovation of the Cardon Gerald football stadium.

Carlin Cotton said the food-service amendment moves about $310,000 from the district’s fund balance to cover the three serving lines (the existing serving lines date from 1976), increased food costs, and additional personnel for an expanded summer feeding program. “We feed about 700 each week during the summer and last year the program was larger than expected,” Cotton said, noting the district receives per-child reimbursements for meals. She told commissioners she expects some of the spending to be offset by revenue generated during the school year.

The committee also approved amendments to record and accept several state grants and a small donation for classroom flags; to reallocate a TISA outcome bonus for afterschool tutoring, analytics software and professional development; and to increase technology and capital-project lines to cover a roughly $40,000 software increase and a $50,000 capital contingency for summer maintenance.

A separate amendment increases special-education contracted services and two aides whose federal grant funding has declined. That amendment will reduce the school unassigned fund balance by about $144,948, the presenter said. The committee approved a state grant of $436,223 to run summer-school transportation, staff and food for K–8 students.

For school safety, members approved the purchase of six weapon-detection systems for the high school; the presenter said the systems will cover some but not all school doors and will be funded from the district’s fund balance.

The committee also approved a major renovation of the Cardon Gerald stadium. The scope includes a new entrance and ticketing area, new officials’ and visitor locker rooms, conversion of existing concessions into locker rooms for other sports, a new concessions area and a front‑of‑stadium facelift. The project was bid competitively (six bidders participated in the solicitation; more attended the pre-bid) and the county moved forward with a construction contract previously approved by the board. Commissioners were told work would begin after the final football game and be scheduled to be finished before next year’s graduation; a contingency line is included for potential change orders.

Motions on each amendment were made and seconded by members of the committee and approved by voice vote. Commissioners said they preferred discussing the amendments individually to make clear what each change accomplishes.