Board empowers attorney to send counteroffer in Sweetwater High School sale talks

The Monroe County Board of Education voted to empower its attorney to send a proposed counteroffer to the Sweetwater School Board concerning the sale and transfer of Sweetwater High School.

A board member raised a point of order citing the minutes of the Sept. 18 meeting, noting that the prior motion about the Sweetwater sale had passed 9‑1. After discussion that the counteroffer language would specify an amount and time, the board voted to authorize the county attorney to transmit the proposed letter to the Sweetwater board's attorney. The roll‑call vote showed a majority in favor.

Some board members sought additional transparency about legal costs. One motion asking for an accounting of attorney fees incurred since the earlier 9‑1 motion was made and would have requested the total charged by the two lawyers from the same firm; that motion failed for lack of a second. No other changes to the sale process were approved at the meeting.

Board members framed the attorney authorization as a next procedural step rather than final action on the sale; the proposed counteroffer would be sent to the Sweetwater board's attorney for consideration.

The authorization was recorded by roll call during the regular agenda; the board did not rescind prior minutes or prior votes on the record during this action.