The Union County Board of Education voted during its Oct. 15 meeting to send a proposal for a concession stand at the new middle school sports field out for bid. Skilled Services developed the plan. The concession stand will be located beside the bleachers, near the sidewalk and access road to the sports field.
The Union County Board of Education elected Jimmy Carter as Chairperson and Harold Cooke as Vice Chairperson at its meeting on September 10 in a 4 to 3 decision. Danny Wayne Collins nominated Jimmy Carter, and Charlie Hamilton nominated Terry Washam to continue as chairman. Jimmy Carter, Harold Cooke, Danny Wayne Collins, and Scott Bates voted for Carter. Charlie Hamilton, Jessica Buck, and Washam chose Washam. For vice chairperson, Charlie Hamilton nominated Washam. Danny Wayne Collins nominated Harold Cooke.
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 Middle 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.
Homebound teacher’s pay was doubled from $15 per hour to $30 per hour at the regular meeting of the Union County Board of Education last month. The pay per hour is the same as the teachers who tutor after school. The increase was necessary to provide services of three hours per week to students who have a medical reason for missing school for a short amount of time. According to UC Schools Director Greg Clay, the pay had not increased in several (at least 15) years.
Hayden Caldwell, UCHS Student Representative, addressed the board of education in February during their workshop. He informed members of several upcoming events including Winter Court, the choir performance at Dollywood, and the band and choir concert on Thursday, March 5. Hayden spoke briefly about the opportunity to participate in Middle College, a program in cooperation with Walters State Community College to graduate with an associate degree while completing high school.
In its meeting on January 15, the Union County Board of Education resolved several issues that had dominated workshop discussions over most of 2025.
At their August meeting, the Union County Board of Education approved a resolution to support the state’s attempt to investigate teacher workload and to allow districts to decide how often to evaluate high-performing teachers. By the board’s action on the resolution, it may become a part of the TSBA Legislative Program and be supported by districts statewide. Legislation with wide local support usually has a better chance of getting the Tennessee General Assembly approval.
At its July 10, 2025, meeting, the Union County Board of Education had a lively and lengthy discussion on policy changes that were the result of changes in state law. Adding a student member to the Board and defining regulations regarding cell phone use dominated the conversation.
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.
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.