New building construction for schools was a central topic at the regular Union County Board of Education Meeting in April. The school system has multiple projects at Union County High as well as the new middle school construction. Walls are being constructed for the TCAT /WSCC high school addition.
At the new middle school site, the 6th grade wing is complete. The administration section is continuing and the contractor has begun the 8th grade wing. The gym wall is being backfilled. Testing has begun on the football field for light pole placement. Excavation of the baseball and softball fields has resumed with more rock expected to be encountered on the softball site. The utility trench along John Deere Drive is 50 feet of solid rock which will definitely protect them from any future shifting of the ground. TDOT says the state will not install a traffic light at the intersection of Pine Street and SR 33 and recommends using SROs to control the temporary traffic. However the county safety grant may provide a traffic signal.

Nevertheless, Director of Schools Greg Clay will begin notifying property owners along Beeler Road to obtain the four foot right of way and removal of the treeline on the Latham side and the 21 ft. expansion on Pine Street to accommodate turn lanes. The school system still has $300,000 in contingency for the project. Clay also reported that the central office roof is complete.

CTE Supervisor Bryan Shoffner brought a revision for the new welding and diesel shops at UCHS. The third revision calls for a reduced cost, is patterned after the Claiborne High project, and uses the same architect. The job must be bid quickly to use the grant funding which expires on June 26, 2025. The welding and diesel program may become another dual enrollment option in CTE. The board approved to let the project for bid.

Turning to other business, Missy Brown reported that the school system is in solid financial standing. The system is on track to meet the future required $50,000 starting pay for teachers by the time Governor Lee's term expires. The fund balance for general purpose schools is strong and she recommended moving $4M to the Capital Projects Fund 177 for FY26. The board approved all budget amendments and transfers and took the finance recommendations under advisement for the FY 26 budget.

The board considered several policy changes. Approval for the first reading was 4.603 Promotion and Retention. Postponed until May were 6.303 Interrogations and Searches to fine tune language on metal detectors and 5.118 Background Investigations. Board members reviewed sample language currently in use in Collierville regarding a whistle blower policy. Board attorney Caitlin Burchette will read and compare the Collierville language with the Employee Protection Act and make recommendations in May. Dr. Jimmy Carter also volunteered to review both documents.

The board also postponed until May the Resolution for teacher bonus pay in the Education Freedom Act until May. A teacher survey of 220 teachers netted 132 responses. In favor of accepting the bonus was 87.9 percent. Voting no to the bonus was 12.1 percent. Clay stated that the resolution must be approved by June 1, 2025 to receive the bonus money. Requirements have not been clarified. Teachers who are “in front of kids all day” will qualify, but administrators will not. According to TSBA, a system does not have to declare support of vouchers to private schools in order to receive the bonus money.

The board also set up a Differentiated Pay Committee and approved the application to establish a virtual school for grades 9-12 with qualifications for enrollment.

During the workshop, the board fielded questions and recognized achievement. UCEA President Carolyn Murr asked if the federal cuts had impacted the free lunch program. Director Clay assured her that the free lunch program had not changed and no significant funding has been removed. Dr. Lauren Effler, curriculum supervisor, recognized the HMMS Science Fair winners. Two of the winners from HMMS also placed in the regional science fair at LMU. Susan Coffey, Ms. Greene, Ms. Brantley, and Ms. Rhodes were recognized for their excellent science instruction. Dr. Effler also recognized the spelling bee winners from the elementary schools and the middle school in addition to the winners of the Union County Spelling Bee. John Fugate of UCHS will accompany five students to UT Martin to participate in Veterinary Science Competition.

The next meeting and workshop will be on May 8.