Director Edmonds Pushes To Assure School Will Start On Time At JCHS

The Jefferson County School Board met on Thursday, July 24, 2014 at the Patriot Academy. The meeting was Called to Order by Chairman Potts. Absent from Roll Call were Board Members Vines and Rogers. With a Motions from Board Members Jarnigan/Lowery and Jarnigan/Bradley the Agenda and Consent Agenda were Approved.

No teachers, students or citizens requested to appear before the Board. Under New Business, with a Motion from Cavanah and 2nd from Bradley the General Budget Amendment #1 and Federal Budget Amendment # 1 were Approved. Beyond general line adjustments, the general amendment included a small insurance recovery of $4,240 and an equal expense in the maintenance and repair services equipment line. Also included was a move of $110,000 into the expenditure account from the reserve account of monies earmarked for maintenance.

Upon a Motion from Jarnigan and 2nd from Bradley a resolution to surplus property in the technology department was Approved. Also Approved, with a Motion from Lowery and 2nd from Cavanah, was the use of the Fairgrounds for the East Tennessee Walking Horse Training Academy.

Director of Jefferson County Schools Edmonds informed the Board that information regarding test scores are still embargoed and will not be released for a few weeks from the State of Tennessee. Edmonds suggested that the Board wait for their Director’s evaluation until the scores are available and can be used as a portion of the evaluation. He stated that he is working on five year goals for the school system and will complete those as soon as test scores are available. With a Motion from Cavanah and 2nd from Jarnigan, that Board Approved the format for the Director Evaluation as presented.

Director Edmonds stated that there has been a push to assure that school will start on time in regard to construction on Jefferson County High School. He said that JCHS Principal Walker has a contingency plan if needed to temporarily relocate students if spot areas are not ready and he expects that school will start on time. Director Edmonds introduced Dominique Salaciak as the Director of Secondary Education and Assessment, replacing Ruth Pohlman who resigned earlier this year.