Wlaf1450JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – The Campbell County School Board held two meetings on Tuesday, convening early in a special called meeting to discuss the Board’s evaluation of Director Jennifer Fields. The evaluations were generally positive. Jeffery Miller voiced the only question about the general ranking of student achievement relative to statewide averages in math and other areas.
Fields reminded Miller and the board of where the school system ranked when she assumed the office, which was far below state averages. “When you have so far to come, it’s not feasible to jump up to state average right away. That’s why any growth is an improvement, yet way below the state average,” Fields pointed out.
Other board members had few complaints, Faye Heatherly complimenting Fields for “following board policies.” Later, during the regularly scheduled meeting, the board voted unanimously to approve the Director’s evaluation.
That meeting was kicked off with Fields handing out some compliments of her own, recognizing Elk Valley teacher Destany Osborne and SRO Tyler Minton for their handling of an incident last month when a middle school-age student brought a loaded gun to school.
“The teacher and SRO handled the situation in a calm, competent manner, resolving the problem with minimal disruption,” Fields said as the two were invited to the front of the room where the board and audience could recognize their efforts.
In her Director’s report, Fields also pointed to Elk Valley for the school’s accomplishments and state recognition which came with a $20,000 check for Elk Valley’s STEM program.
Fields also reported that the threatened loss of state funds under the latest state funding formula will not be as bad as feared. Changes in the BEC evaluation, a higher than anticipated student enrollment and changes in the state ESSER 3 funding cut into what had been feared as a $1.2-1.4 million budget shortfall.
“We are now faced with around $700,000 in budget cuts, half of what had been anticipated,” Fields told the board.
The board also approved a number of items, including authorization of the School Nutrition Program to operate the Summer Feeding Program, providing meals for eligible children in June and July. The board approved the school strategic plan and extending the current memorandum of understanding between the board and Educational Professionals of Campbell County through June, 2025.
The school board then recessed the meeting until May 24 at 5:00 p.m. at the Board of Education conference room, when they will review and approve the upcoming fiscal year budget. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/11/2022-6AM)