Kingsport school board cuts internet expenses by a projected $28,000 annually

KINGSPORT — Kingsport City Schools is saving some money on its internet access, projected to cost $28,000 a year less under a new contract. The Board of Education, at its Tuesday evening meeting, voted 5-0 on a recommendation from Chief Finance Officer David Frye and Chief Technology Officer Andy Arnold to switch KCS from current internet provider Zayo Education Inc. to United Data Technologies, or UDT. The agreement utilizes the Anderson County Schools agreement dated Feb. 25, 2025. The estimate provided by UDT reflects a monthly cost of $3,480 for the same services currently provided by Zayo Education, resulting in a projected monthly cost savings of $2,365.50 and annual cost savings of approximately $28,386. In other action, the board voted 5-0 to approve 2025-26 KCS Budget Amendment No. 5 as presented by Frye. The amendment reflects increased revenues because of interest earnings and expense allocations related to KCS capital projects. Those include the Washington Elementary School HVAC replacement. 2025-26 Budget Amendment No. 1 appropriated $2,675,000 to the Washington HVAC replacement project. This appropriation was to fund the construction contract and the contingency. The total for these items, however, worked out to only $2,117,880. This leaves an excess of $557,120. Bids are to open for the Robinson Middle fire alarm replacement project in late March or early April, with a recommendation for BOE approval at the April board meeting. The estimate from the engineers is approximately $325,000, with a need for a contingency of about $20,000. So, the board approved a recommended to transfer $350,000 in excess funds in the Washington HVAC replacement project to the Robinson Fire Alarm Replacement project. The funds originally came from the General Purpose School Fund Unreserved Fund Balance. IN OTHER ACTION BOE Vice President Melissa Woods recognized four Dobyns-Bennett High School students recently named National Merit Scholarship Finalists: Eesha Kothari, Arrush Nagre, Aparajita Vashisth and Laila Venzon. The program identifies and honors the top high school students in the United States. Identified students have demonstrated exemplary achievements in the classroom, commitment to co-curricular activities, and meaningful contributions in the community. National Merit finalists will compete with the top high school students in the nation for approximately 6,900 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $26 million that will be offered this spring. Winners for 2026 will be announced beginning in April and concluding in July. Board President Brandon Fletcher also recognized five D-B students named as candidates in the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program: Henry Clendennen, Benjamin Culp, Emily Doyle, Eesha Kothari and Laila Venzon. Application to the program is by invitation only. Candidates are identified based on their scores on the SAT or ACT exam or their nomination by a Chief State School Officer during their year of graduation from high school. Semifinalists will be announced in April and national winners are announced in May. Students chosen as U.S. Presidential Scholars receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in June for National Recognition Weekend featuring various events, enrichment activities and culminating in the presentation of the Presidential Scholars Medallion during a White House-sponsored ceremony. ONLINE ACCESS For a meeting livestream of just more than 31 minutes, including the beginning Pledge of Allegiance led by D-B junior Benjamin Pittman after questioning by Assistant Superintendent of Administration Andy True, go to the KCS YouTube channel titled Kingsport City Schools. For audio from the meeting, go online to k12k.com and navigate to the board schedule and notes tab.