HCS Agenda Session 11/12/2026

Hamilton County Schools Board work session, November 12, 2026. No contracts, bids, or purchasing approvals were made. A parent requested cameras in special education classrooms; the board’s attorney offered to prepare a legal analysis, and the superintendent agreed to obtain cost information. Ricardo Morris presented an approximately $11 million, privately financed proposal to renovate the Howard School auditorium as the Roland M. Carter Art Center, involving a proposed lease and outside nonprofit management. He said the proposal would not require district funding. Board members raised concerns about outside access and management; no decision was made, and staff said a concrete proposal would be needed to assess feasibility. A prior $7 million stadium was mentioned during the discussion, but no related action was taken.

The board also heard a presentation on the Chattanooga Public Library’s existing student and teacher card, literacy, and outreach programs; no new funding or contract was discussed. Policies were removed from the next meeting’s agenda for further Policy Committee review, including proposed revisions to public participation rules. Committee updates included a planned facilities meeting focused on Orchard Knob Middle School and a Finance Committee meeting; no spending action was reported. The board celebrated district assessment results and discussed ongoing school funding and staffing approaches, but no budget allocation was voted on.