Horace Maynard Middle School (HMMS) is excited to announce its inaugural Spring CTE (Career and Technical Education) Market, a fun-filled event for the whole family! This community celebration will take place on April 5th from 11am-2pm, offering a variety of activities, local products, and entertainment for all ages.

Guests can enjoy time with the Easter Bunny, perfect for those looking to capture special holiday moments with photos. A petting zoo will be set up, where kids can get up close with friendly farm animals. For those seeking a bit more adventure, an obstacle course will also be available to encourage fun and physical activity.

Spring is an exciting time of year at Horace Maynard Middle School. Not only does it mark the start of spring sports season, but it also highlights the achievements of standout students in the classroom. This month, the school community came together to celebrate the Student of the Month for December, January and February. These students (in photo) have demonstrated exceptional effort, leadership, and a positive attitude in their studies and extracurricular activities.

Our 6th grade students at Horace Maynard Middle School are competing in the annual Science Fair. The top six winners will be judged on February 27 by Clinch-Powell Education Cooperative. The two school-wide winners will each receive $150 and advance to the 12th Annual Regional Science Fair at LMU on March 7, where they'll compete against 6th graders from six counties.

In a spirited display of athleticism (this term is used very loosely for staff) and school spirit, the Staff vs. Student basketball game at Horace Maynard Middle School brought together teachers and students for a morning of friendly competition. The event, held last Wednesday, packed the gym with enthusiastic spectators, creating a fun and lively atmosphere that united the entire school community. The staff did squeak out a 61-58 victory and from what we can tell there were no long-term injuries to staff members. The money raised during the game will go to support the HMMS Beta Club.

On September 4, the HMMS teachers and staff along with the Union County School Board, Union County government, the Lewis Group and Merit Construction employees and the Latham-Davis Family broke ground for the new middle school. According to Director Greg Clay, the school system has decided to keep the name Horace Maynard since it was first established 100 years ago, first as the high school and then as a middle school in 1997.

All Union County teachers will see an increase in their pay this school year. The Union County Board of Education approved a revised teacher salary scale at its meeting on January 11.
Missy Brown, finance director, explained that the additional increase is necessary to put the salary schedule on track to meet the $50,000 state mandated beginning salary in 2028. She further noted that the additional funding will come from the state TISA Growth monies and the pay increases do keep us competitive with surrounding counties.

At the October meeting, the Union County Board of Education got a glimpse of the preliminary development of the new middle school. The Lewis Group, architects for the project, shared a preliminary plan for the property plat and a block drawing for the building. The school will be on John Deere Drive on property located behind the present Goodwill business.

Dr. Jimmy Carter, Union County Director of Schools, introduced Dr. Tobi Kilgore as the new HMMS Principal at the July Board of Education meeting. Kilgore related that he has a wide array of experience in administration at the middle and high school level in Knox County.

A dozen or so parents with concerns about Horace Maynard Middle School attended the Union County Board of Education meeting in May. Jessica Waggoner, the spokesperson, said that her fifth grader was terrified at the thought of being a student in the middle school next year.
Waggoner listed vaping, fights in the bathrooms and punishing everyone for the bad behavior of some as issues to be addressed. Another parent echoed these issues and added that bathrooms need adult monitors. One grandmother suggested that the middle school needs a PTO and better communication with parents.

Aurora Pulliam and Tina Guinn from the Tennessee Valley Authority presented Union County with a grant check for $30,000 at the Union County Commission meeting on April 25, 2022. The grant will address the erosion at the campground on Beech Island that could negatively impact the environment.
Pulliam, who manages the recreational agreement between TVA and Union County explained that Union County Mayor Justin Bailey had initiated a request for a review by TVA after the marina discovered a concerning erosion problem in the campground area in 2020.