Hamilton County School Board members voted Thursday night to let Supt. Rick Smith oversee discretionary funds given by county commissioners for school projects.
The vote took place after last week’s discussion on whether to accept $100,000 of discretionary funds from Commissioner Sabrena Smedley for new bathrooms and concession stands at East Hamilton School’s stadium.
There were two issues the board had with the funds.
One was the fact that many county schools are in need of repairs - like the demolition of the newly condemned bleachers at Tyner Academy and Howard School. Some board members thought it looked like they were choosing to build new bathrooms and concessions at East Hamilton instead of pursuing more important projects. But because Commissioner Smedley gave the board the money for the specific reason of building bathrooms and concessions, the board could not put the money towards something else.
The second reason some members of the board were uneasy with the discretionary funds is because it was recently ruled these funds could not be used for schools, since schools receive money from a different budget. Commissioners are allowed to give the schools money from a one-time $100,000 they received for discretionary capital items, but not from the annual $100,000 in regular discretionary money they get.
Commissioners Smedley and Greg Beck recently made a trade of $34,000 worth of capital discretionary funds for regular discretionary funds so Commissioner Smedley would help with the East Hamilton athletic complex. Commissioner Smedley gave up regular discretionary funds, and Commissioner Greg gave up capital discretionary funds.
Chairman Jonathan Welch said there were not any projects the board did not want to see happen, but “discretionary funds can be sticky.”
He made a motion to delegate the approvals of donations of discretionary funds to Supt. Smith, the condition being that Supt. Smith would give a monthly report to the board members and make them aware of any approval or denial of funds.
Board member Dr. Greg Martin asked what the impact would be on current projects if this motion were approved. He said he hoped the board was not throwing a monkey wrench at the opportunity to work with the commission on school projects.
“This board sees itself in partnership with the County Commission when it comes to funding these things,” Dr. Martin said.
Board member Dr. Steve Highlander said the board should have input on the discretionary funds. He motioned, without success, to table Chairman Welch’s proposed amendment.
Board member Donna Horn said East Hamilton does not have bathrooms and has been using Porta Potties. She said she hoped that in giving Supt. Smith the ability to manage the funds, the East Hamilton projects would be a done deal.
Board member Rhonda Thurman asked why put bathrooms in at one stadium when certain schools in the county do not even have football fields. She said the board should let Supt. Smith oversee the discretionary funds so it did not look like the board was picking and choosing projects.
Chairman Welch said the projects currently underway would not be affected by the resolution to give Supt. Smith authority over the discretionary funds.
He shook his head over the fact that the board was talking about bathrooms and money that was not theirs when there were kids in the county who cannot read.
Members Karitsa Mosely and George Ricks were absent from the meeting.
Though every member there voted to let Supt. Smith manage the discretionary funds, Dr. Martin said he hoped the board would have had a more thorough discussion over this matter before reaching a decision.
Supt. Smith confirmed he would keep the board in the loop on any discretionary funds that came in.
The items on the Thursday agenda included these donations from county commissioners:
- reimbursement of $4,000 in tech lab equipment purchases for Harrison Elementary
- purchase of a $7,200 audio and speaker system for Brainerd High School
- reimbursement of $100,000 toward completion of the restrooms and concessions for East Hamilton School athletic complex.