At the workshop of its January meeting, the Union County Board of Education recognized and congratulated the Paulette Elementary School Beta Club for its achievements at the Tennessee Elementary Beta Club Convention. Dr. Lauren Effler, Supervisor of Instruction, introduced each student and presented each a Certificate of Recognition for Achievement.
Placing in the state competitions and invited to compete at the National Elementary Beta Club Convention are Tyler Jones (1st place in drawing art and 2nd place in fifth grade science), Bryley Keys (4th place in elementary speech), Molly Eden and Claire Eden (Premier Performers), and the team for 4th place in Living Literature.
The teacher sponsor is Jocelyn Hyde. The club meets weekly to practice and to perform various service projects. Anyone who would like to help these honor students travel to Nashville for the 2022 National Elementary Beta Club Convention in June can contact Paulette Elementary at 865-745-0224 or mail a donation to PO Box 999, Maynardville, Tennessee 37807. The club is selling commemorative shirts for a $50 donation.
Also during the workshop, Carolyn Murr, UCEA President, noted that having enough substitutes was a critical problem. She asked if stipends could be given to teachers who teach multiple classes at the same time to cover the shortage. She also stated that other than the lack of substitutes, the year seems to be “good”.
During the meeting, Schools Director Jimmy Carter announced that salaries for non-certified employees were under review for improvements for the next fiscal year.
Melissa Brown, Finance Director, reported that the FY21 Audit returned no findings. The board approved her recommendation for contracts and budget amendments and transfers.
Plans for the new middle school are inching forward. Attorney Mary Ann Stackhouse related that she had reviewed the proposed contract from the architects, Lewis Group, and that the board needed a committee to complete certain options and then negotiate a final contract with the architects. Carter recommended Marty Gibbs, the Finance Director, and himself to be the committee. The board agreed.
In other business the board approved the Updated Reopening of Schools Plan for the spring semester. The board also deeded a small strip of land to Luttrell City next to Luttrell Park to facilitate some park improvements.
Lastly, the board approved two out of county trips: one for a student to attend a band clinic in Gatlinburg and the other for UCHS Students to attend a National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
The next meeting of the Union County School Board will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 10, at Union County High School Commons.