The Union County School Board approved the 2024-2025 calendar at its November meeting. Most of the calendar was very similar to past years.
However, the addition of six early release days sparked some discussion. The early release days would close school at 1 p.m. rather than 3:15. Carolyn Murr, a Maynardville teacher and president of UCEA, voiced a concern for parents including teachers who would need to find additional daycare during the work day.
Roxanne Patterson, supervisor of attendance and chairperson of the calendar committee, advocated for teachers who had requested the time to do the collaborative professional development to analyze data, formulate lessons, address learning gaps and improve instruction.
Patterson explained that she sent two versions of the calendar both with the early release days and without the early release days to all of the schools with companion surveys. Of the 195 surveys returned, 86 percent of teachers favored the calendar with the release days. Chairman Marty Gibbs asked for information on the views of the 14 percent against the early release time.
Patterson stated that the negative responses were a concern that other directives from supervisors would negate the time and that finding daycare would be difficult. Director Greg Clay noted that teachers’ planning time has been increased by reworking schedules, but teachers need more time to really deliver quality lessons to their students.
The six days correspond to the same early release dates in the Knox County school calendar. The Board of Education agreed to the calendar with the early release days.
The BOE also granted tenure to six teachers who had completed at least five years of service in Union County and scored a 4 or 5 on their evaluations. All received positive reviews by their principal.
The Union County High School teachers awarded tenure are Beth Barker, Michael Sanders, Rachel France-Smith and Jaimie Akins. Michelle Mills at Maynardville Elementary and Cara Wilkinson at Paulette Elementary also received tenure.
The board discussed several recommended policy changes by Tennessee School Board Association. At least one policy concerned the use of credit or debit cards or online credit to purchase annuals and other school supplies. These policies will most likely receive a first reading at the December meeting.
Director Clay updated board members on the status of various capital projects and the new middle school. The roof bid for Union County High School CTE, choir, and the auditorium came in under the $700,000 budgeted for a total of $628,000. Work will begin in late February or early spring.
Architects The Lewis Group are sharing regular reports on the detail design of the new middle school and plan to update the Union County Commission monthly.
The fencing and concrete are complete at the UCHS baseball field. The baseball bleachers are being built. A new concession stand and batting facility is in planning. Cosmetic upgrades are being considered for the softball field. Big Ridge Elementary is slated to get a new intercom this year.
The new student-based funding formula known as TISA has triggered negotiations on funding between K-12 which manages the virtual school, TNVA, and Director Clay. K-12 wants to pay a reduced fee.
Director Clay maintains that transportation money should be removed from the online school funds. Negotiations are continuing and Clay shared the financial impact of different scenarios with board members.
The next meeting of the BOE will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 14, at UCHS.