TOP PHOTO:  The elementary school basketball season is postponed until the spring.

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – The Campbell County Board of Education voted unanimously on Tuesday night to postpone the elementary school basketball season until the spring semester, citing a lack of any guidelines from the state and possible liability issues if someone contracted COVID-19 as a result of holding games as among the reasons to hold off on allowing the season to start us usual. High school sports are allowed but under careful guidelines set down by the TSSAA while school districts are left with no guidance from the state regarding elementary school sports.

Tim Malicoat addressed the board representing a group of parents who hoped the season would be allowed, pointing out that many children, including his son, participate in more than one sport and would not be able to do so if everything is packed into the spring semester.  Malicoat added that parents would accept the games being held without spectators but Campbell County Director of Schools Jennifer Fields said the limitations of no more that 50 people gathered and lack of guidelines from the Department of Health would leave the school system subject to lawsuits if sickness resulted.

Longtime board member Johnny Byrge was elected unanimously as the new chairman of the board after being nominated by Faye Heatherly.  Ronnie Lasley then nominated Jeffrey Miller as vice chairman and he was also approved unanimously.

Byrge said he would like to see the board resume holding workshops the week prior to meetings, something he said used to be a practice that has not been followed for several years.  Byrge also suggested that the board consider having some community representatives who would attend in an advisory capacity without voting powers.

In her report,  Fields told the board that as anticipated, average daily attendance (ADA) was down steeply for the first weeks of school.  “Unless the state makes some provisions for the COVID effect, Campbell County schools stand to suffer significant reduction in state funding next year, she warned.

The board also voted to change the date of the October meeting until October 20 due to the fall break and approved a bid from Rogers Group to pave the parking lot for the new Campbell High soccer field at a cost of $38,621.  The only vote that was not unanimous involved approval of a pay scale for a new certified heating & air (HVAC) position.  Byrge was the only member to cast a “no” vote as the scale was approved 9-1.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 09/09/2020-6AM)