McKenzie School Board Approves Multiple Projects Amid Optimistic Budget Talks

McKENZIE (June 30) — The McKenzie Special School District Board of Education met Tuesday evening for a budget workshop followed by a regular meeting. Despite several challenging factors, the overall financial outlook for the district is optimistic, allowing board members to take action on several much-needed projects.

Finance Director Brad Davis presented a budget proposal for 2026-27 and reported on the final status of the 2025-26 budget.

The proposed new budget features a balanced General Purpose Fund and a slight surplus in the Debt Service Fund. The total budget is $15.7 million with an unchanged tax rate of .7438.

Included are state-mandated salary schedule increases as well as a three-percent across-the-board raise and $1,000 bonus for all district employees.

Davis noted that educational assistants in McKenzie schools are "underpaid as compared to some others in the county" and included an additional increase to those salaries.

He called 2025-26 an "extraordinary year financially… one of those years where everything went right."

A "significant" amount was added to the General Purpose Fund balance, due to higher-than-expected sales tax receipts, savings from personnel departures and other costs coming in under budget.

Davis pointed to one "bright spot" in particular—that the Cafeteria Fund was projected to end the year with a sizable deficit but instead produced a slight surplus. He noted that cafeteria staff would receive additional raises as well.

The finance director did acknowledge some challenges in the present and near-future.

Health insurance rates increased by 8.73 percent after several years of average increases of around six percent.

Utility costs continue to rise.

Some grants are ending or expiring.

The elementary school roof needs to be replaced at a projected cost of $1.2-1.5 million.

Beginning next year, Carroll County will receive no more state funding. MSSD has been gradually increasing its contribution during the last several years in anticipation of this change.

The budget workshop lasted one hour.

The board began the regular meeting by approving year-end budget amendments to reallocate funds and finalize the 2025-26 year.

Bids were approved for the elementary school gymnasium floor replacement.

For the full asbestos abatement, the board approved the low bid of $19,875 from SEG, Inc.

To resurface the floor with a rubber base mat covered by a poured urethane topcoat, a bid of $39,803 was accepted from Covington Flooring Company.

MSSD received three bids to replace the perimeter fence at the football and practice fields at McKenzie Middle School. The low bid of $27,900 by AllStar Fence was approved.

A lone bid of $37,812 by Fuller Industries was approved to update the bathroom floors at MMS.

The board approved a bid request process for back-flow preventors at several district facilities. A service estimate provided by S.M. Lawrence amounted to $33,678.

Several board policies were amended on second and final reading.

Two of the updates amend policies regarding drugs and alcohol. One adds language allowing for drug and alcohol testing triggered by reasonable suspicion, while the other establishes procedures surrounding the testing process.

The policy on revenues was revised to allow approved district staff to collect funds through electronic payment methods, but the Director of Schools or designee must determine when this type of transaction may be used. At the individual school level, the principal will oversee the collection of funds. Another revision establishes rounding procedures for cash transactions due to the discontinuance of the penny. Cash transactions will be rounded to the nearest $0.05.

The Personnel Records policy was updated to mandate that the public may not obtain the results of individual teacher evaluations. This revision follows Tennessee law.

Updates were approved to separation practices for three categories of district employees: tenured, non-tenured and non-certified. In each case, language was added to allow for temporary removal from duty not to be considered disciplinary "but rather a precautionary measure until a determination can be made" about further actions.

Another update clarifies language prohibiting employees with a contagious or communicable disease from performing duties in a location that might endanger the health of students. The amendment allows the Director of Schools to reassign the employee to alternate duties, place the employee on administrative leave with pay or temporarily remove the employee from the school setting.

The policy on political activities was updated to reiterate that district-owned property may not be used for political promotion or solicitation and that employees shall not use audio or video messages to engage in such activity during school hours.

A policy was updated to state that teachers who engage in private tutoring do so as independent actors and that the district shall not be liable for any claims or damages arising from such services. No private teaching or tutoring should happen during regular school day hours.

Finally, a policy was amended to clarify that the director of schools is the only position directly employed by the board of education and that all others are employed, supervised and managed under the authority of the director.

A field trip to Austin Peay State University was approved for the high school volleyball team.

Director of Schools Dr. Justin Barden provided a report of personnel changes in the district.

Retirements include Veda Haney and Kathy Barcroft.

Resignations include Jennifer Allen, Tara Sharp, Molly Hannah Wilson, Christy Hampton, Hannah Whitworth, Tyler Holt, Lindsey Holt and Audra Atkins.

New hires are Amy Reed, Stacy Sullivan, Victoria Ashley, Jay Taylor, Sydney Luker, Brooke Rodriguez, Valerie Dillion, Adalyn Furr (non-faculty), Amberleigh Cooper, Colby Akin, Courtney Cooley and Jake Cassidy (non-faculty).

Non-renewals include Emily Bolin, Betsy Flynt and Alec Meddings.

The regular meeting adjourned after 45 minutes.

Board member Bobby Young was absent.

The board meets next on Tuesday, July 7 at 5:30 p.m.