Merit Construction has begun erecting the outer walls and even the classrooms of one wing of the new middle school. But construction has not come easy as every shovel of dirt seems to turn up rocks and more rocks. The latest location of rock is at the end of John Deere Drive as improvement on the road began. The construction has nearly depleted the original contingency fund due to the excess of rock, and the Union County Board of Education approved the use of $10,000 more of the original $300,000 contingency at the regular March meeting. The board set aside $1.5 M last fall to add to the original contingency fund.

The additional funding for rock removal is funded from the current school budget under capital funds and the fund balance. An excess of rock has been discovered on the land designated for sports fields, especially the softball field. The additional cost of the rock removal as well as questions regarding the sports field completion has caused the board to retain an independent firm, Chamblis, Bahner, and Stophel P.C. to advise UCPS in analyzing a possible dispute with Lewis Group Architects. Assuming the warm, sunny weather continues, the first classroom wing will be “in the dry” by June. The entre complex is expected to be under roof by November and have permanent power by January of 2026. The opening is on track for August of 2026.

The Principal of TNVA, Dr. Childress, appeared before the board to request to add 10th grade to the virtual academy. The 2023-2024 cohort of 9th graders showed a better than 90% success rate on state testing and subject completions. But with no tenth grade in TNVA, many enrolled in a virtual school in Lewis County, Tennessee. The Principal of Volunteer State Virtual Academy reported to Dr. Childress that the best students in attendance and achievement had come from TNVA. He gave compelling data to show that the policy revisions adopted two years ago that only allowed students who had previously attended and been successful in the elementary section are permitted to continue into the ninth grade was definitely encouraging student success. In addition, Childress asked that the TNVA be reconfigured to a K-5, 6-8, and 9-10 like the rest of the school system. TNVA will add a single grade to the high school each year until a complete 9-12 high school is achieved. Two more teachers would be needed to achieve the proposal. The board granted the reconfiguration as well as the high school proposal. The proposal did not add any additional cost to the budget.

Dr. Lauren Effler explained the process to adopt a state-approved textbook for science. She explained that the current science texts were over ten years old. The board adopted a science textbook for grades 3-8 and biology. The texts will be used for eight years.

All budget amendments and transfers were approved. As the board adjourned, Terry Washam, District 2 board member, requested that future meetings be held in the UCHS Library. He noted that the sound was better and people had commented that they could not hear well in the auditorium. But he also asked that the library have better chairs.
A workshop on the budget is scheduled for Friday, March 29, in the UCHS Library at 6 p.m. The next regular workshop is Thursday, April 10, at 6 p.m. at UCHS with the meeting to follow.