JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – The Campbell County Board of Education voted Tuesday night to approve seven new teaching positions and five special education teaching assistants as a result of increased enrollment in Campbell County schools this year after several years of declining enrollment.

Director Jennifer Fields identified three open positions that could be filled and the board and commission budget committee both approved a $263,880 budget amendment to cover the salaries and benefits for the four additional teachers, with the money coming from the undesignated fund balance.  In addition, the board also approved bonus pay for substitute teachers of up to $100 for 10 days per month with those funds to be provided by the federal ESSER 2 grant.

County schools have experienced some effects from the recent upsurge of COVID-19 Delta cases, with 47 students and 12 staff reporting positive tests as of Tuesday, Fields said. Still, all county schools continue to hold in-person classes as Campbell County has not yet experienced the widespread outbreaks that have forced some schools in Knox, Anderson and Scott counties to switch to all virtual learning.

The board also voted to award bids for $73,835 for a walk-in freezer at Jacksboro Elementary School and $1,202,620 for parking lot repaving projects at CCHS and LaFollette, Valley View, Wynn and Caryville elementary schools.

The board also voted unanimously to retain Johnny Byrge as chairman and Jeffrey Miller as vice chairman for the upcoming year, while Faye Heatherly announced that Lisa Fields has been chosen to chair the Tennessee School Board Association fifth district.

The board also approved an increase in pay for special education bus drivers of $2.50 per run, raising their pay from $80 to $85 a day. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 09/17/2021-6AM)