Knox County Board of Education Packet Summary — August 3, 2026
Meeting Overview
The Knox County Board of Education is scheduled to hold a Regular Session on August 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. in the Summer Place Boardroom, 500 W. Summit Hill Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee. The agenda includes recognitions, presentations, consent agenda items, policy matters, grants, contracts, regular agenda items, public forum, and board forum.
The packet includes a presentation on the Long-term Vision for Success for Special Education and recognitions of Brickey-McCloud Elementary School as a 2026 National Gold Star School and outgoing board members.
Key Items on the Agenda
Special Education Vision Presentation
The board is scheduled to receive a presentation on a Long-term Vision for Success for Special Education. The packet identifies this as a presentation item and does not describe any proposed action or decision associated with it.
Consent Agenda Items
The consent agenda includes approval of prior meeting minutes, contracts, agreements, and other administrative items. The listed minutes include the July 6, 2026 Work Session, July 9, 2026 Regular Session, and July 22, 2026 Policy Review meeting.
The packet also includes a range of proposed agreements covering transportation, partnerships, academic programs, student activities, and district services. These items are presented as scheduled approval requests rather than completed actions.
Major Financial Items
Grants Under Consideration
The agenda includes several grant items recommended by the Superintendent:
- Tennessee Department of Education Fiscal Year 2027 Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) Grant in the amount of $2,216,087.92 with required in-kind matching funds of $1,932,000.00.
- Tennessee Department of Education U.S. Department of Agriculture Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) Grant totaling $383,050.00 for multiple Knox County Schools.
- Elementary School Dental Program Agreement with Elgin Children's Foundation for July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, including a grant of up to $8,000.00 for student transportation costs associated with the program.
- FIRST Robotics Competition Grant of $2,500.00 for L&N STEM Academy.
- University of Tennessee Space Grant Consortium Grant of $2,789.70 for Powell High School.
Budget and Fund Balance Items
The regular agenda includes a proposed transfer of $873,548.77 from the Lonsdale Construction Account to the Halls Middle School Gym Improvements and Western Heights Solution Accounts.
The board is also scheduled to consider a proposed $480,000.00 fund balance designation for the purchase of Maintenance and Operations Department vehicles.
Policy and Governance Items
The agenda includes several proposed policy approvals. The listed policies were discussed at Policy Review and are scheduled for consideration as amended on one reading, with second reading waived as permitted by Board Policy B-200.
Policies listed for consideration include:
- Policy I-211, "Selection of Instructional Materials Other than Textbooks."
- Policy I-212, "Reconsideration of Instructional Materials and Textbooks."
- Policy I-241, "School Libraries."
- Policy I-170, "Extracurricular Activities."
- Policy I-171, "Interscholastic Athletics."
- Policy I-222, "Internet Safety."
- Proposed new Policy I-223, "Use of Digital Devices in Grades K-5."
- Policy I-440, "Wellness Policy."
- Policy J-359, "Private Practitioners."
Contracts and Partnerships
The packet includes several proposed contracts and agreements, including:
- A license agreement with Knoxville Expo Center, LLC for exhibit hall space for the 2027 Knox County Schools Nutrition Food Show on February 11, 2027, at an estimated cost of $9,402.00.
- A letter of engagement with Pugh & Company, P.C. to examine Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) Fiscal Year 2025 census data at a cost not to exceed $7,500.00.
- A Guided Inquiry Design® District Partnership Agreement with BLV Consulting, LLC at a cost of $3,000.00 through August 14, 2027, with possible extension options.
- A Ford Next Generation Learning Memorandum of Understanding for Phase 5, Year 3 of the Ford Next Generation Learning Roadmap at a cost of $52,660.00.
- A Construction Trades Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding with Builders Exchange of Tennessee for the 2026-2027 school year.
College and Career Programs
The agenda includes multiple proposed agreements supporting college and career opportunities.
The packet includes the "AP Access for All" program agreement with Niswonger Foundation to provide online advanced placement courses to all Knox County Schools high school students from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030 at no cost to Knox County Schools.
Additional dual enrollment agreements and memoranda of understanding are scheduled for consideration with institutions including Carson-Newman University, East Tennessee State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Pellissippi State Community College, Roane State Community College, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville, Tennessee Tech University, Tusculum University, The University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and The University of Tennessee Martin.
Facilities, Operations, and Employee Items
The board is scheduled to consider several operational and employee-related items, including:
- A change order to the Design Contract with Design Innovation Architects, Inc. for the Innovative School Model Project at Fulton High School at a cost of $19,993.05.
- Contracts for drug and alcohol testing services, fire alarm monitoring and related services, Section 125 administration, and employee vision insurance benefit services.
- An increase to the design contract with Thomas Caldwell, Architect, in the amount of $63,940.00 for additional work related to the Gibbs High School Partial Roof Replacement.
- A proposed change in contractor for upgrading the current Gibbs High School baseball field into a multi-use athletic field using existing donated funds previously approved by the board.
School Zone Adjustments
The regular agenda includes two proposed school zone adjustments:
- A change for property located in the 7100 block of Northshore Drive, moving the balance of a single property from the Bearden Elementary School Zone to the Sequoyah Elementary School Zone.
- A change for the 200 block of John Sevier Highway, moving the entirety of a new apartment complex from the New Hopewell Elementary School Zone to the Bonny Kate Elementary School Zone.
What to Watch at the Meeting
Key agenda items to follow include proposed policy changes, grant requests, facility-related contracts, employee benefit and compensation items, and agreements supporting student programs.
The agenda also includes Public Forum, which allows speakers to address the Board on educational topics after completing the required sign-up process.
