Chairman David Coppock called the August Union County Board of Education Meeting to order and recognized Jimmy Carter, superintendent of schools, to present an award to the Union County Clover Team, who took second place in the national competition. Then Carter asked Lucy Russell Freyer to pay tribute to Carolyn Murr for her 50 years of service to Union County Public Schools. Murr has served as a physical education teacher as well as a classroom teacher and a coach. She currently teaches fourth grade at Maynardville Elementary School.
Saying there were no words to do justice to Murr's service, Freyer recalled how Murr had been her basketball coach when MES won the county tournament, her teacher in elementary school, and her mentor as a beginning teacher.
Freyer stated, “You are a wonderful person and a wonderful teacher.”
Carter noted that Murr was an advocate for not only students but also teachers.
Ronnie Mincey attested to having witnessed this advocacy first hand when he negotiated beside Murr and then across from her by saying “Ms. Murr respected your opinion although she may not have agreed with it and spoke passionately for her point of view.”
Mincey also related that after he had Phyllis Noah for physical education in college, he realized how correct Murr's teaching strategies had been.
Continuing her service, Ms. Murr spoke on behalf of the Union County Education Association and asked about if all teachers were getting a pay increase.
Carter responded that rather than a percentage across the board increase, all certified employees would receive at least $1000 from increases in step pay or increases in pay for years of service. Substitutes and secretaries are getting an increase this year, and assistants will get a raise next year. Murr also addressed the cracked pavement on the MES playground. Carter assured her that it would be fixed.
The Board approved Budget Amendments and Transfers and contracts that covered professional development, speech and language services and dental care.
The Finance Director will advertise for bids to add and replace fencing around the UCHS Football Field.
The board's lawyer, Mary Ann Stackhouse, stated that she had filed a motion for dismissal in response to the current lawsuit brought by the Union County Historical Society, and the hearing is set for August 28.
The Board increased the contract for secretaries from 210 days to 220 to include paid holidays. A revised handbook for TNVA as well as the first reading of several Board Policy changes recommended by TSBA were approved. The Board also added three new positions: one to satisfy the Gap Program, another to address the increase in 5th grade enrollment at SCES, and finally one to alleviate difficulties during custodial leaves of absence.
The Director's Contract, further Board Policy Changes, and the TNVA High School Policies will be on the agenda at the next regular board meeting on September 12.