Dr. Dale Lynch, Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents, appeared before the Union County Board of Education during the workshop in August to announce that Dr. James (Jimmy) Carter is the East Tennessee Region Superintendent of 2022.
The award is bestowed on the superintendent or director of schools who has exhibited outstanding leadership not just in his or her own system but through holding various positions of leadership throughout East Tennessee and the state.
Carter, who was chosen by his peer superintendents for the award, received a plaque and stated that he was “humbled to receive this honor.”
Toward the end of the workshop Brad Griffey asked that a “raise for Dr. Carter” be added to the agenda and recommended a 10 or 15 percent salary increase. Toward the regular meeting's end, on a motion by Gerald Smith from Plainview (7th District) and a second by Danny Wayne Collins from Sharps Chapel (5th District), Carter received a 10 percent raise.
Several capital projects have been accomplished since the spring. Union County Education Association President Carolyn Murr sent a thank you for the fence and blacktop at Maynardville Elementary School (MES).
Carter noted that a gate had also been installed at MES and a seal coat was placed on the pavement at Paulette Elementary School (PES).
Paving has also been completed at Union County High School (UCHS). Mike Johnson, Maintenance Supervisor, stated that the HVAC unit in Big Ridge Elementary School (BRES) gym was replaced. Of the four contracts approved by the board, two concerned maintenance and construction to add HVAC units for MES, PES, and Luttrell Elementary School (LES).
Marty Gibbs, First District Board Member, requested a final inspection requirement be put in the contract to ensure all perform properly. Budget amendments also were approved that dealt with capital projects as well as the normal beginning of school grants and revenues.
Carter explained that Union County Public Schools (UCPS) received an Ayers Foundation Grant to provide two career guidance counselors for UCHS. The Board approved to let the bid for another capital project to renovate the career lab to provide office space for the counselors and storage for the permanent records at UCHS.
Mayor Jerry Lawson of Luttrell addressed the board concerning a small piece of property that has been included in Luttrell Park for which there is no apparent deed.
Much of the Luttrell Park property was previously owned by the Union County Public School System. Without legal documentation, the city cannot apply for grants to improve the property.
Lawson asked for a lease or a deed for the property.
Carter commented that he did not think the board would want to do a lease. So the board approved a motion to donate the property to the City of Luttrell and provide a deed pending the city paying for a survey of the property in question. Brad Griffey, Second District Board Member, refrained from the roll call vote since he serves on the Luttrell City Council.
The board took action on several student and employee items. Three teaching positions were approved. One will be for first grade at MES and two sixth grade positions are being added at HMMS.
Another custodian position and one county-wide nurse position was approved. A standardized Code of Conduct for Bus Transportation that will apply to all students in all schools was approved.
The board postponed the Upslope Employee Code of Conduct to September. TNVA Handbook needed no action due to editorial changes only for names of personnel. In addition, the Board approved numerous TSBA recommended Board Policy changes on first reading that covered over a dozen topics.
Lastly the board accepted the Revised Re-Opening of School Policy. Highlighted changes include that the Tennessee Department of Health would decide who was to quarantine and would provide all contact tracing.
School closures would occur when the Department of Health recommended that the cases for COVID-19 were high enough to show that spread was occurring. Apparently, the number of cases reached that point because as this article goes to press, UCPS has closed for 10 days and Carter has suggested that the schools be used for COVID-19 vaccine clinics to produce the best long range outcome for the system. At press time, details about this plan have not been announced.
The next meeting is September 9.