The Oak Ridge Board of Education on an otherwise routine agenda unanimously approved a FY‑26 Public School Security Grant, adopted multiple policy updates, approved staffing reclassifications and the addition of a full‑time American Sign Language interpreter, and accepted a donation of 30 virtual‑reality headsets through a Prisms of Reality contract.

The FY‑26 Public School Security Grant — $99,110.72, Superintendent Doctor Borchers said — will fund priority safety improvements identified in districtwide security assessments. "This grant will fund priority safety improvements identified in recent district wide security assessments, including increased ORPD resource officer coverage at extracurricular events, installation of safety‑rated bollards at Oak Ridge Preschool School and Robertsville Middle School ... upgrades to outdated or missing access control systems, and intruder function door hardware across multiple facilities," Borchers said.

Board members voted without recorded opposition on several policy updates recommended by TSBA (Tennessee School Boards Association). The board approved changes to policy 1.901 (charter school applications), policy 4.406 (use of the Internet) — which adds the line that "Students are prohibited from accessing social media platforms using district Internet except when expressly authorized by a teacher for educational purposes" — and personnel policies 5.2 (separation practices for tenured teachers) and 5.5 (discrimination and harassment of employees). In discussing policy 5.5, Borchers noted the district previously updated related policies in response to state law requiring an antisemitism definition be added to anti‑discrimination policies (recorded as Public Chapter 293 in the meeting discussion).

The board also approved personnel and position changes. Members approved the addition of 1.0 full‑time equivalent American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter to support preschool students who are deaf or hard of hearing; Borchers said funding reimbursement for that position will be sought "through the high cost reimbursement process at the end of the school year." The board approved the reclassification of a 0.75 teacher‑assistant position at Linden from general education to special education so the position can be paid from the appropriate salary lane, and approved reclassifying certain iSchool teacher positions to instructor status with additional contract days, with the additional pay to come from instructional contingency funds.

On an instructional innovation item, the board approved a Prisms of Reality contract to bring virtual‑reality curriculum to the high school. Doctor Williams described the donated equipment and the instructional purpose: "they're actually donating 30 headsets," and the technology will place students inside simulations that emphasize problem solving and spatial reasoning — for example, virtual dissections or simulations supporting science and math lessons. Doctor Brian Jones was named as the coordinator to oversee setup and training at the high school.

In financial reporting, the board heard from Miss Van Dyke that the district closed June with revenues exceeding expenditures and a positive balance of about $1,500,000 for the fiscal year. "We did end the year with revenues over expenditure, so in the black, if you will, 1,500,000.0 last year," Van Dyke said.

Brief public‑forum remarks included a parent thanking staff for the recent back‑to‑school event and Sean Taylor introducing the Health and Educational Facilities Board for the City of Oak Ridge, explaining that board's role in capital planning and coordination with planning and city council on school facility projects.

Votes at a glance: all motions recorded in the meeting passed unanimously.

— Agenda approval: Motion made by Miss Webb, seconded by Miss Craven — motion passed unanimously.

— Consent agenda: Motion made by Doctor Hartman, seconded by Ms. Krank — motion passed unanimously.

— FY‑26 Public School Security Grant (award $99,110.72): recommended by Doctor Borchers; motion made by Doctor Hartman, seconded by Ms. Webb — approved unanimously.

— Board policy 1.901 (charter school applications): recommended by Doctor Borchers; motion made by Ms. Crank, seconded by Doctor Hartman — approved unanimously.

— Board policy 4.406 (use of the Internet): recommended by Doctor Borchers; motion made by Doctor Hartman, seconded by Miss Webb — approved unanimously.

— Board policy 5.2 (separation practices for tenured teachers): recommended by Doctor Borchers; motion made by Miss Craven, seconded by Miss Crank — approved unanimously.

— Board policy 5.5 (discrimination and harassment of employees), updated to incorporate the antisemitism definition referenced under state law: recommended by Doctor Borchers; motion made by Doctor Hartman, seconded by Ms. Webb — approved unanimously.

— Addition of 1.0 FTE American Sign Language interpreter (new position): recommended by Doctor Borchers; motion made by Doctor Hartman, seconded by Ms. Webb — approved unanimously. Borchers said the district will pursue high‑cost reimbursement for this position.

— Reclassification of a 0.75 TA position at Linden from general education to special education: recommended by Doctor Borchers; motion made by Miss Webb, seconded by Miss Crank — approved unanimously.

— Reclassification of iSchool teacher positions to instructor positions (additional contract days; pay from instructional contingency): recommended by Doctor Borchers; motion made by Miss Craven, seconded by Miss Crank — approved unanimously.

— Prisms of Reality (Prisms VR) contract accepting donation of 30 headsets and associated implementation: recommended by Doctor Borchers with implementation comments by Doctor Williams; motion made by Doctor Hartman, seconded by Miss Craven — approved unanimously.

The board did not identify specific implementation deadlines for the security upgrades or the VR rollout during the meeting; staff said training and deployment of the headsets will begin after delivery and configuration. The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Sept. 22 in this room and noted upcoming district events and meetings.