The Union County Board of Education addressed two change orders for the new middle school during its meeting in February. The Lewis Group and Merit Construction requested an extension to the contract completion due to the snowy and rainy January weather, combined with the tremendous amount of time spent on removing rock and addressing voids and a cave at the site. The board agreed to an extension but commented that hopefully construction would not be extended for the full 30-day request. Both Lewis and Merit assured the board that they would do everything possible to make up lost time during the summer in order to open the new school in August of 2026.

However, the second change order request, an additional $1.5M to complete the sport fields including associated facilities, was rejected. Questions arose from the board as to what was contained in the original bid, but were not answered at the meeting. Attorney Caitlin Burchette advised that an agreement had been negotiated to allow the work to continue while the change order was in dispute. Burchette also advised that the board should call for an executive session to further discuss the issue and the board’s options. In addition, she noted that the board had previously voted to continue the work even if the cost increased. But the board did not follow the attorney’s advice and voted to disapprove the change order request. Since the board did not approve a motion to allow the work to proceed even though the change order was in dispute, all work on the baseball/softball excavation was temporarily stopped. The building construction is continuing.

During the workshop, Burchette explained the difficulties caused by the new federal immigration executive order. She explained that the school system has no information on the immigration status of its students. Anyone entering the school must show a state or federal identification. Under in loco parentis, school employees can only release a student to those persons on a parent and school approved list. Finally, all children are required to have a free and appropriate education.

The board passed policy 5.302 Sick Leave and 6.319 Alternative Education on second reading. The new sick leave policy added minor children of employees to the Sick Leave Bank. The definitions of alternative school and alternative program were changed to agree with the state definitions. The board approved Terry Washam to be a Sick Leave Bank Trustee.

The board approved all budget amendments and field trips including UCHS ROTC and FFA as well as BETA from BRES and SCES.

During the workshop, the board discussed improvements to the Master’s Salary Scale. Schools Director Greg Clay updated the maintenance projects, building projects and sports improvements. Rebecca Lock, TSBA Legislative Liaison, noted several bills of interest that are being considered by the Tennessee General Assembly. Clay distributed numerous thank you notes, Valentines, a banner from PES, and other gifts from the schools to the board.

The next Board of Education meeting will be on Tuesday, March 13, with the workshop at 6 p.m. and the meeting to follow.