Board approves language change to purchasing policy to let superintendent designate purchasing agent
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Summary
Board members agreed to revise the purchasing policy language so the superintendent, not the finance office, designates the systemwide purchasing agent; the change was advanced for the business meeting after board discussion and no objection.
Board members agreed in a work-session discussion to change the proposed purchasing policy language so that the superintendent would designate the district’s purchasing agent rather than the finance office assigning the role.
Dr. Paul Horrell summarized a recommended edit proposed by board member Keith Acton that would replace language stating “the finance office shall assign an individual to the role of purchasing agent for system wide purchasing” with wording that “the superintendent shall assign an individual.” Dr. Horrell said the change “makes it consistent with our other policies” and clarified the assignment should be explicit rather than departmental.
A board member asked whether Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) conflicts with the revision. Dr. Horrell answered that TCA requires a full-time purchasing agent and that the district already meets that requirement; the change would clarify designation in the policy if there is a situational change.
With no board objections, the chair said the correction would be made and the item carried over to the consent agenda for the business meeting next week. The board did not take a roll-call vote on the wording change during the work session; the modification was advanced by unanimous consent for formal adoption at the next meeting.