Chairman David Coppock called the first virtual meeting of the Union County Board of Education to order on April 9, 2020, with all board members present.
Director of Schools Jimmy Carter relayed a message from UCEA President Carolyn Murr. She thanked the BOE for the care and thoughtfulness shown during the pandemic, especially the distribution of food to the students.
She cautioned that Chromebooks and textbooks should be sanitized when returned. Finally, she encouraged everyone to “stay positive just like the protons in the atom” to get through the pandemic. Carter echoed Murr's sentiment and expressed his appreciation for the remarkable job the teachers, students, cafeteria staff, custodians, support staff and parents had accomplished during the pandemic. He also noted that the Family Resource Center had been outstanding with providing food and other necessities during this emergency.
Under Budget Amendments and Transfers, Finance Director Ann Dyer explained that in Fund 141, money was being moved to meet the need. In addition, Fund 177 Capital Projects dealt mainly with roof improvements that included an engineering contract to determine the repairs to the high school roof. Dyer reported that the budget was meeting normal expectations for the year.
Transportation Supervisor Lenny Holt reported that the bidding of bus contracts resulted in all contracts but one being higher than the current budget. The bid for the 13th District of Braden was rejected and he is working with the Claiborne County director to provide transportation and count students on Claiborne County's BEP with Union County to supply the funds for any additional student services.
Holt also noted that two routes in Luttrell were refused because they exceeded the financial threshold. These routes will be absorbed by the school system. Due to the 120-day process, the board approved the purchase of two buses to begin immediately. The board also renewed the contract for the HOSA software for UCHS and HMMS libraries at a cost of approximately $2,000.
Board policy changes included TSBA recommended 1.8011 Emergency Closings and TSBA 5.1151 Telework. Under the former policy change, the director would be in charge of determining essential workers, how employees are paid, leave requirements for those unable to report for work, and conditions for work. The latter defines telework and includes circumstances, locations and expectations for implementing telework.
Another TSBA recommended policy change was the FMLA/ EFMLEA. Among other benefits, the act provides 12 weeks of pay at two-thirds rate of pay unless taking sick or some other paid leave, and allows for two weeks of paid sick leave for sickness of an employee, spouse or child under the pandemic.
All TSBA board policies for emergency need only one reading and can be proposed and passed at the same meeting.
The board training workshops are being rescheduled, and plans for a June workshop with TSBA continue for the second weekend in June at the Hyatt in Knoxville. The BOE will request a waiver for board members who were unable to meet training requirements due to the pandemic cancellations.
The board granted tenure to the following teachers: Rebecca Rollison, Alex Galster, Linda Nicely, Laura Whitaker, Kaitlyn Lampkin and Scott Turner.
The board adopted textbooks for English and Language Arts recommended by Dr. Lauren Effler and the textbook committee for K-8. The committee requested to postpone the adoption of textbooks for 9-12 until 2021 due to the availability of a new and more appropriate textbook at that time.
When the discussion of the 2021 budget highlighted a nearly $500,000 increase mostly for salaries, Marty Gibbs questioned why. Gibbs expressed concern that the bulk of the money no longer needed to pay for the high school would be consumed by these salary increases.
Dyer explained that the BEP projections were not yet available and the salary increases were estimates for teachers based on the beginning salary of $37,000. She also explained that the revenue amounts would most likely change with the new projections for BEP. Finally, Dyer related that non-certified staff would receive a two percent increase.
Gibbs also asked how bus operation by the system was going to decrease when the proposed budget shows a $32,000 increase. Dyer explained that the increase would be $90,000 more than the current budget if the system did not own some bus routes, including the two to be added in 2021 budget. ROTC is also funded to begin in August of 2020.
In the addendum, Carter requested board approval to pay bus contractors and substitutes during the pandemic. He explained that many bus contractors, drivers and substitutes depend on this income. The board approved to pay bus contractors at 80 percent of the contract which will exclude the fuel cost. Substitute pay would be based on an average of the days worked per week with the highest being paid for four days per week. The auditor and substitute contractor agreed to the plan. The district may be eligible for one or both payouts to be reimbursed through the emergency federal flow-through money to the state. Board member Marty Gibbs voted against without comment.
The board also took action to allow the director to determine essential workers during an emergency and pay them their regular pay. This resolution meant that all regular employees will receive their normal income.
The first virtual meeting went smoothly except for technical connections near the end of the meeting. The next regular meeting will be on Thursday, May 14, when the 2021 budget is scheduled for approval.