Nashville School Board Approves New Hires, Reviews Budget, Considers Photography Contract

The Nashville School Board held their regular monthly meeting Monday, addressing personnel matters, district finances, and a potential change in school photography services.

Superintendent Doug Graham presented several staffing recommendations to the board, including hiring Jana Stewart as primary nurse, Gabbi Bevill as junior high art teacher, Ashley Pratt as a junior high ESL-dyslexia paraprofessional, and Tabitha Jones as elementary school principal. Board members also voted to reemploy licensed and classified staff for the upcoming year.

In addition, the board approved the resignation of Brian Bearden as a high school teacher and Martha Lucia Lewis as an ESL paraprofessional. All personnel recommendations were approved unanimously.

Graham also provided a financial update, noting the district is approximately 70 percent through its budget cycle and remains in stable condition, with about $6.17 million in operating funds. Following discussion, a motion was made by board member Anthony Whitmore and seconded by David Hilliard to accept the report.

Graham also discussed Heritage Portraits, an Arkansas-based photography company, as a potential provider for the district’s school photography services.

After further discussion, board member Nick Britt made a motion, seconded by Anthony Whitmore, to approve Graham’s recommendation to switch to Heritage Portraits. The motion passed, finalizing the district’s decision to move forward with the new photography provider.