Tipton County board approves preschool staffing, Monfort assistant, school credit card and authority to pursue used bucket truck purchase

The Tipton County Board of Education approved several personnel and operational items during the regular meeting.

Personnel: On a motion by Mister Jenkins, seconded by Mister Eubanks, the board approved adding a preschool staff position at the Austin Peay Elementary preschool to preserve required teacher-student ratios and serve additional special-needs students. Administration estimated a prorated cost in the neighborhood of $45,000 for the remainder of the year and said it intends to use TISA outcomes funding to cover the position.

The board also approved an assistant position at Monfort Elementary to serve a special population; administrators said consolidated funding will cover that role.

Finance and operations: The board authorized Brighton High School (internal school) to apply for a credit card in the principal's name, naming Coach Brian Croson as the applicant for internal-fund purchases. Administrators said the card is intended to facilitate online purchases and travel reservations; internal controls and existing procedures remain in force.

Maintenance procurement: The maintenance department requested authority to purchase a used bucket truck under the district's bidding threshold if the price is within 5% of an independent market estimate. The presenter cited a Commercial Truck Trader estimate (the transcript records a figure of about $1,314,000); board members discussed driver qualifications, training and insurance requirements. The motion to grant authority to pursue the purchase passed, with staff saying they would not complete the purchase if insurance or training issues arose or the vehicle failed market-value checks.

All of the above motions were approved by voice vote in the meeting; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.