McKenzie School Board Talks Vital Repairs

McKENZIE (March 4) — The McKenzie Special School District Board of Education met on March 4, 2025, to approve budget reallocations, student travel requests, and facility repairs, including urgent roof issues at McKenzie High School.

The board unanimously approved four budget adjustments, shifting funds for security upgrades, staff development, and operational expenses.

• STOP Grant ($61,770 increase): Includes $34,870 for teacher training (Elevate Conference, Innovative School Summit).

• COPS Grant ($51,078.06 increase): Funds $36,115.24 in communication equipment, including radios first approved in February.

• CTE Perkins Fund ($752.62 increase): Reallocated for staff development.

• School-Wide Pool Adjustment ($346.81 net change): Federal funding shifts in Title I, II, III, and IDEA Part B allocations.

The board approved travel for McKenzie High School students competing at the state and national levels. The FBLA team will attend the state competition in Chattanooga from April 6-9, 2025. The DECA team qualified for the national competition in Orlando from April 25-30, 2025. The estimated cost for the DECA trip is approximately $1,100 per student, with sponsorships and fundraising efforts planned to help offset expenses.

Facility repairs at McKenzie High School were a key focus of the meeting. The roof replacement project remains on schedule for a mid-March start, contingent on weather conditions. Moisture scans identified penetration in all 19 tested areas, confirming the need for remediation before roof installation begins. Board members noted that new leaks were observed during the meeting, underscoring the urgency of the project. Repairs must be completed before further construction proceeds.

The board discussed a scheduling conflict between its April 1 meeting and the McKenzie High School Honors Banquet, scheduled for 6 p.m. To allow attendance at both events, the board voted to move its meeting to 5 p.m. at McKenzie High School.

All motions passed unanimously. The next meeting will be held on April 1, 2025, at 5 p.m. at McKenzie High School.