The Oneida Special School District board approved a package of routine business items at its meeting, including permission to seek bids for new cafeteria warmers and coolers, three memoranda/contracts with higher-education partners and consultants, a general-purpose budget amendment for the OES gym project, acceptance of several resignations and approval of multiple student fundraisers.

Board members carried multiple motions by roll call votes. Dr. Nancy Williamson, Kevin Burt, Dr. Danny Cross and Dorothy Watson recorded aye votes on the items listed during the business portion of the meeting.

Why it matters: The approvals authorize procurement and contract work that affect school operations and facilities, move district funds into an ongoing gym project, and clear personnel changes and extracurricular fundraising that affect school programs.

Most important actions and outcomes

Votes at a glance

- Approval of board agenda: Approved by roll call (Williamson, Burt, Cross, Watson — all aye).
- Approval of consent agenda: Approved by roll call (Williamson, Burt, Cross, Watson — all aye).
- Permission to seek bids for cafeteria warmers and coolers: Approved by roll call (Williamson, Burt, Cross, Watson — all aye).
- Approval of three partnership/contract items: University of Tennessee at Martin; Tennessee Tech University; and FFA E‑Rate consulting contract — each approved by roll call (Williamson, Burt, Cross, Watson — all aye). The transcript does not specify individual contract amounts or terms.
- Approval of employees (details not specified in the meeting transcript): Approved by roll call (Williamson, Burt, Cross, Watson — all aye).
- General-purpose budget amendment for the OES gym project (money moved between sections of the general fund): Approved by roll call (Williamson, Burt, Cross, Watson — all aye). Board discussion noted a contractor-provided completion target of “February,” but no firm date was entered into the record.
- Acceptance of letters of resignation for Jordan Sims, Alex Vanhook and Hayden Muse: Approved by roll call (Williamson, Burt, Cross, Watson — all aye).
- Approval of four school fundraisers (Oneida Middle School “spectacular” creed sales; high school day club Christmas ornament sales; high school student government seasonal drink sales; high school imprints of honor T‑shirts): Approved by roll call (Williamson, Burt, Cross, Watson — all aye).
- Approval of High School Beta Club field trip (November conference): Approved by roll call (Williamson, Burt, Cross, Watson — all aye).

Discussion and context

Most votes were handled without extended debate. When the board considered the budget amendment for the OES gym, one board member asked whether there was a completion timeline; staff replied they had been told a February completion date by the contractor. No formal contingency, new contract authorization, or additional funding request was recorded in the meeting minutes for the gym line-item change.

Several contract and partnership approvals were presented as memoranda of understanding or consultant agreements; the transcript lists the partner names but does not include contract values, terms, or exhibit details. The board approved the items on motion and roll call.

Personnel matters recorded in this portion of the meeting include acceptance of the three resignations listed above and an item approving employees where the transcript does not identify the specific hires at the time of the motion. Later in the meeting the director read a separate hiring list into the record (see related article on director and principal reports).

Ending

Board Chair announced that all business items were complete and moved the meeting into the Director of Schools report. No further formal votes were recorded in this business block.