The Oak Ridge Board of Education voted unanimously to name the School Administration Building boardroom for Keys Fillauer and approved the district's FY 2024 financial audit and a series of facility and equipment purchases and budget adjustments at its February meeting.

The board approved the naming request after Superintendent Doctor Borchers presented a recommendation honoring Fillauer's decades of service to Oak Ridge Schools. The board also accepted a clean audit opinion from Brown, Jack and McDaniel and approved midyear budget transfers and capital purchases, including an emergency replacement of a dish machine at Linden Elementary and renovations to school office and locker-room areas.

The naming request placed the boardroom in honor of Keys Fillauer, who the recommendation stated taught and coached in Oak Ridge schools for 31 years and served on the Oak Ridge Board of Education beginning in February 2001, including as chair from February 2009 until 2024. Fillauer addressed the board after the vote, saying, “I am honored and surprised.”

Finance staff, speaking for the district auditor, told the board that Brown, Jack and McDaniel issued an “unmodified or clean opinion” on the district's financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. As read into the record by Miss Van Dyke, the auditor said the statements and related disclosures were “fairly stated in all material respects” and that the audit found no reportable deficiencies or instances of noncompliance that would materially affect the financial statements.

Board members approved FY '25 budget transfer number 2 and budget amendment number 1. District staff said the midyear transfer reallocates available fund balance and savings to cover district needs this fiscal year; staff also said the district will use some of its fund balance to cover several items but did not specify exact long-term impacts.

The board approved the preschool selection criteria for the district's voluntary pre-K, Title I, and Head Start programs. Superintendent Borchers said the criteria were developed in collaboration with Anderson County Head Start and the district's preschool policy committee to create prioritized wait lists based on level of need.

On facilities and procurement, the board approved multiple purchases and repair contracts recommended by the superintendent:
- Emergency replacement of the dish machine at Linden Elementary by K Tom Restaurant Supply Inc. of Kodak, Tenn., for $60,928; until the replacement arrives, the health department-ordered measures require disposable trays and three-compartment sink sanitation; staff said lead time is about four to seven weeks.
- Office casework replacement at Jefferson Middle School (JMS) by Skilled Services LLC for $66,500 to replace original 1968 casework.
- Replacement lockers for the Oak Ridge High School girls' basketball locker room by Skilled Services LLC for $28,600; staff said boys' locker rooms had been previously renovated.
- Addition of repair services to the Woodland Elementary gym floor by Praters Inc. for $12,705; staff said combined with prior work the total for the floor project is $29,244.28.

All motions on the items above were made, seconded and approved unanimously by the board. No dissenting votes or abstentions were recorded on the agenda items presented at the meeting.

The board noted several upcoming student trips and activities, and the superintendent reminded the public that the next board meeting will be March 24 at 5:00 p.m. in the Keys Fillauer boardroom.

Votes at a glance
- Name School Administration Building boardroom for Keys Fillauer — motion made by Dr. Hartman; second by Ms. Webb; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Approve FY 2024 district audit (Brown, Jack and McDaniel) — motion made by Ms. Craven; second by Dr. Hartman; outcome: approved unanimously. Auditor reported an unmodified opinion and no findings.
- Approve FY '25 budget transfer #2 and budget amendment #1 — motion made by Miss Van Dyke (presented by staff); second by Ms. Craven; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Approve preschool selection criteria for Pre-K, Title I and Head Start — motion made by Ms. Craven; second by Ms. Crank; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Emergency replacement: Linden Elementary dish machine, $60,928 to K Tom Restaurant Supply Inc. — motion made by Dr. Hartman; second by Ms. Webb; outcome: approved unanimously. Lead time estimated 4–7 weeks.
- JMS office casework replacement, $66,500 to Skilled Services LLC — motion made by Dr. Hartman; second by Ms. Craven; outcome: approved unanimously.
- ORHS girls' basketball locker room lockers, $28,600 to Skilled Services LLC — motion made by Ms. Webb; second by Ms. Craven; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Woodland Elementary gym floor additional repairs, $12,705 to Praters Inc. (total project $29,244.28) — motion made by Dr. Hartman; second by Ms. Craven; outcome: approved unanimously.

Ending
The board concluded the meeting after routine business and announcements about upcoming meetings. The next regular meeting is scheduled for March 24 at 5 p.m. in the Keys Fillauer boardroom.