In the meeting on August 13, 2026, the Union County Board of Education amended the school calendar to allow teachers to move into the new Horace Maynard High School. Inservice days and the Labor Day Holiday mean students will not attend school from Wednesday, September 2 through Monday, September 7. Students will resume classes on Tuesday, September 8. This date will also be the first day students will attend the new Horace Maynard Middle School. On Tuesday, September 1, everyone is invited to the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting at the new school on John Deere Drive at 5:00.

Board action named the new HMMS Stem Lab for Dana Sharp Latham, whose family owned the land where the school is built and who was a highly respected science teacher at Horace Maynard High School.

The Board approved a proposal by Skilled Services to renovate the old middle school including 10 classrooms, the library, and the cafeteria by installing new lighting, painting, replacing doors, windows, and HVAC, repairing floors, moving lockers, and upgrading the gym lighting. The proposal included a lighting project for all schools with 10 years of energy savings but that part was not approved.

Director Clay reported that the new HMMS back road drainage has been fixed. There is still some landscaping to be done in the fall. The additional costs for the bank repairs, the drainage repairs, and rock removal may be just under $5M. The fire marshal is scheduled for August 26, to approve the new school. Luttrell Elementary will get a new roof at a cost of $10 M with funds coming capital projects.

During the workshop, Dr. Lauren Effler recognized Ms. Ingles, HMMS Math Teacher, and two students who achieved perfect scores in 8th grade math. The Board also honored Dr. Ronnie Mincey for 33 years of service as a teacher, principal, current Supervisor of Federal Programs, and Secretary to the BOE. Rebecca Lock received a plaque for serving as the TSBA Legislative Liaison and for her diligence to have legislation pass that improved opportunities for virtual students and investment in school systems across Tennessee during her term on the school board.

Director Greg Clay recommended that Josh Williams be added as co-chairman of the Disciplinary Hearing Authority Committee. He also asked that the district wide math coach position change from half time to full time. The Board agreed to both.

Finance Director Missy Brown explained the Budget Amendments and Transfers that mostly included adding grants, carrying over funds from FY 26, moving funds to appropriate lines, changing object codes, and spending the remainder of the capital funds earmarked for the new middle school. All were approved. She also informed the Board of contracts for lawn care, special education interpreting, asbestos compliance, and drug education for the prevention of drug use. The Board approved all contracts. Ms. Brown asked that the Board simplify the formula used to figure principal supplements pertaining to school size. The Board agreed to the scale which includes an additional month's salary for the stipend.

Board members added I Ready and Amplify to the adoption list for UCPS. They also approved Board Policy 2.805 Purchasing on 2nd reading and School Board Policies 5.302 and 5.303 Sick leave and Personal and Professional Leave and 2.806 Bids and Quotations on first reading. The state changed teacher sick leave days to 8 for the ten month employees, 9 for eleven month employees, and 10 for twelve month employees.

A Special Ed PreK resolution was discussed and the Board will ask TSBA to consider making it part of the legislative agenda.

The next meeting will be on Thursday, September 10, with the workshop beginning at 6:00 and the meeting to follow. Officers of the Board will be elected, and new board members seated.