The Union County Board of Education, with Andrew Reed presiding and the minimum of four members for a quorum in attendance, recommended Merit Construction’s bid to the county finance department for approval at the July regular meeting.
Merit Construction bid $35,375,000 for the base bid which includes the grading for the football field. The bid also noted that Merit was willing to do the grade work for the football, baseball and softball fields at the same time as the school building. These additional improvements brought the total to $41,250,000. Director of Schools Greg Clay noted that the county commission was willing to finance the $41M and the school system could pay the overage from its capital funds. The estimated time frame for completion is 686 days.
During the workshop, UCEA President Carolyn Murr, asked about vacant positions. Clay answered that two elementary positions had interviews scheduled, but a math position that has been open for five years is still vacant.
Finance Director Missy Brown explained five contracts to be renewed. Four of the contracts concerned services for special needs students. The other contract was for Parent Square, a program that is more cost effective and will replace School Messenger as the parent notification service. All contracts are for one year and all were approved.
Clay called attention to the passing of Gary Chandler, Health and PE Teacher at Horace Maynard Middle School. He recalled “Ole Chan,” a fond name used by many of his colleagues, as a teacher who truly cared and served his students. Clay noted that Chandler also coached basketball, baseball and golf and currently coached the UCHS Girls Basketball Team with his son Christian Chandler. Clay said that he really got to know Ole Chan and enjoyed working with him at HMMS.
The BOE also approved several policy revisions on first reading, and an updated and corrected handbook for TNVA. Transportation Supervisor Lenny Holt asked that the two retired buses be surplused to comply with the grant that provided the electric buses as replacement buses. Finance Director Brown explained that the buses would be offered on Gov.Deals and then scrapped to comply with policy requirements and the grant. Scrapping those buses brought a response from David Coppock that the buses should be donated. Mr. Holt explained that the grant required the buses to have the frame cut and a holed bored in the block. Coppock mulled the requirements and then said that he was voting for the surplus under duress. The motion passed. So the buses will be surplused and offered for scrap online.
Clay expressed that UCPS is on track to reach the current 50 percent benchmark in four years instead of five and he plans to provide more information at the August meeting. He always noted that one change in TISA, the funding formula, is that state salary increases are mandated for everyone but additional state money for the salary increase is only sent for beginning the first year, the 6th year, and the 11th year. All other teacher salary increases are the responsibility of the local system.
The next meeting will be August 8, 2024, at UCHS when Director Clay plans to summarize the TCAP goals for this school year.