Goad Submits Resignation During February School Board Meeting
By Mark Darnell
Macon County School Baord member Jed Goad (Districts 1 & 2) submitted a letter of resignation during the regular monthly meeting of the Macon County School Board, held at the central office on Thursday night, February 10, at 6 pm.
Minutes ftom the meeting are as follows:
Chairman Goad called the meeting to order, and the group had the pledge of allegiance and a prayer. The first item was the consent agenda in which they approved the minutes from the previous meeting and had no leave requests. There was one trip request from the MCHS Interact Club to attend their annual convention in March. Motion was made by Mr. Case and seconded by Mr. Hix to approve the consent agenda, motion carried.
A motion was made by Mr. Borders and seconded by Mr. Case to approve the creation of three new elementary school guidance counselors in the county for the SY 22-23. This was discussed at the work session that due to all the external influences on the county’s young student’s mental health, this was drastically needed. Motion passed.
There were no appearance requests at the meeting.
In old business the board discussed approving a bid for a new modular classroom at MCHS. Principal Daniel Cook had communicated to Director Boles that he had been able to find accommodations for one classroom for one more year and could get by without the purchase for now. Mr. Case made a motion to approve and Mr. Borders seconded but the motion failed on a roll call vote 0-5 by the members.
A motion was made by Mr. Case and seconded by Mr. Marsh to accept the bid by Trent’s Landscaping for mowing and upkeep of all grounds in the school system. Motion passed on a 5-0 roll call vote.
In new business a motion was made by Mr. Borders and seconded by Mr. Hix to approve a fundraiser request by the MCHS Class of 2025 for a t-shirt sale. Motion approved.
Mr. Case made a motion seconded by Mr. Marsh to approve for the advertisement of bids in SY 22-23 for food and non-food items of the school nutrition program. Motion approved.
Mr. Case made a motion seconded by Mr. Hix to approve to advertise for bids for ice cream for the school nutrition program. Motion passed.
At the work session a request was made by MCHS Principal Cook to allow students from Smith County High to co-op in boy’s track and field. A motion was made by Case and seconded by Borders to approve and the motion carried.
MCJHS Principal Jamie Kelley made a request to approve a co-op in junior high tennis with RBSJHS. Motion made by Case seconded by Mr. Marsh and the motion passed.
Eight teachers in the school system were put forward for tenure at the monthly work session. They are: MCJHS- Jamie Kelley, Karen McLerran, and Rhonda Paredes, RBSHS- Andrew Mullinix, Fairlane- Juanita Holder, Lafayette Elementary- Brittany Holiday, and MCHS- Elizabeth Willbanks and Jacob Coffee. Motion made by Case seconded by Hix to approve and the motion carried.
In the January work session the board asked the Upland Design Group to look at development of plans for a new elementary gym at Red Boiling Springs and a new vocational building to be built at Macon County High. A motion was made by Mr. Case and seconded by Mr. Borders to approve the development of plans for the RBS elementary gym. Motion passed on a 5-0 roll call vote. Another motion was made by Mr. Case seconded by Mr. Borders to approve the development of plans for a new vocational building at MCHS and the motion passed on a 5-0 roll call vote.
The board then discussed the procedures for their annual self evaluation process as per their policies. Director Boles indicated that he would email and have hard copies for all board members for a meeting that they have scheduled for Feb 24th.
The board then discussed the process by which they wanted to proceed with a new search for a new Director of Schools. By law they are not allowed to seat a new director so many days before the August general election nor so many days after. With Director Boles contract set to expire in June the board agreed that they would work toward the goal of having a replacement by mid June.
The board then decided that they would take applications from Feb 11th to noon on Mar 10th for that position. A motion was made by Mr. Borders seconded by Mr. Case to do that and the motion passed. If they felt that they then needed to conduct a further search with the Tennessee School Board Association, which will have significant expense, they would proceed with that. They decided that they would take action on the possible search, if needed, at their regular March 10 meeting.
The final item was to elect a new board chairman. A motion was made by Mr. Marsh seconded by Mr. Goad to elect Mr. Hix as the new school board chair. Motion passed.
Mr. Jed Goad is the current chairman and he read a letter of resignation to the group dated to take effect Feb 15th. In his letter he indicated that he was grateful to have served on the Macon County School Board for three years but indicated that due to his moving outside the districts that he represents, he would resign.
A motion was made by Mr. Hix and seconded by Mr. Borders to adjourn. Motion carried.
