[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6506655,"mediaKeyId","5588451-2380fb181dd2d964eb66d96e87e80be1","parentId",5588451,"title","Votes at a glance: Monroe County School Board (selected items)","audioSeconds",3093,"startMs",57000,"endMs",3150000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5588451-2380fb181dd2d964eb66d96e87e80be1&start=57&end=3150","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5588451-2380fb181dd2d964eb66d96e87e80be1/thumbnail_57000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6506655/Tennessee/Votes-at-a-glance-Monroe-County-School-Board-selected-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6506655-820566974b0d8807880dae0e78e25022/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148221&Signature=ZOO-72PS~X3vBBHoC9yseaiKqBNv~HQRTWJhwl-NLa8PcUmrK3ZJH6UkQR5UuV9GTXSxxXmUP9oXEUK0y65boPQqfPdIPqTLuzsBzXtes-JZp5fSjExE7papw6O6NJTguOrkSWuU1ICUfALlS38ZMV8fJMp5YwpQ-oZFcdd0usdZSbGB-p9ko0x~dWzA8W7YGwXhhWPwdrhSGF-okjz3Wfd6b0KnpOH4TNGVQ0IzgO58-YH5lUWoll9rmxQ0ZTm2knvibFwAmEiBJR2poobJuIaO3ljrOkKmonG7zSjXgo6IDLktYiFaJwh-GmvL1K0p7C4ixf5ODTPC-N5scJHv6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Monroe County Schools","date","2025-08-14T21:54:28Z","article","The Monroe County Board of Education approved several routine and consent items during the meeting and scheduled a special called meeting to consider a request from Sweetwater residents about the future of Sweetwater High School.

Key votes and outcomes:
- Consent agenda and amended agenda: Approved by voice vote.
- Approval of minutes (07/10/2025): Approved; board directed that an item related to Sweetwater High School be reviewed in the minutes if necessary.
- Special-education contracts for the 2025–26 school year: Approved.
- Disciplinary hearing authority roster for 2025–26: Approved (names listed in packet included Trey Ferguson as chairman and other members).
- School fee requests for 2025–26: Approved.
- Calendar changes: Board approved moving the September meeting to Sept. 18 and changing the May meeting to May 14 (unanimous consent to change dates).
- Special called meeting: Board scheduled a special called meeting for Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 6 p.m. (with an executive session at 4:30 p.m.) to consider the Sweetwater High School transfer request and possible price/offer; the board directed its attorney to provide options in advance.

The board handled these items largely by motion and voice or brief roll-call votes; none of the consent items involved extended debate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Monroe County Schools August 14th, 2025 Regular Called Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved routine consent items and several policies; key outcomes include approval of special-education contracts, disciplinary hearing authority, school fees, calendar changes and a special called meeting to consider transfer of Sweetwater High School.","taxTitle","Monroe County, School Districts, Tennessee","taxId",38326,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6506660,"Board declines immediate staffing change for transportation; asks administrators for recommendation by September",244,2660000,2904000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5588451-2380fb181dd2d964eb66d96e87e80be1&start=2660&end=2904","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5588451-2380fb181dd2d964eb66d96e87e80be1/thumbnail_2660000.jpg","/articles/6506660/Tennessee/Board-declines-immediate-staffing-change-for-transportation-asks-administrators-for-recommendation-by-September","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6506660-908cdbcf8f847944b56191c3f01c44ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148221&Signature=Bd6ROrm18hyHWYpJ2HXsmc9C0qolbBNq0yqY-1rrmMWu-pzCUj2NyAi0K2Nu4TwjKQeDk3yIAWPshZ-YyxHZhRrG-TqQNNY8~5hoQ31Bos-~wZTcaAdUlylg8PN04S66gVfzeXsC9ORO4u5Rh8HhQ9tActb6mbjiWxZ7rjMs1rZ2NJ3sT2bCsm0DJZGX-dBuleL97MGizIv7i41z-7bfWUZf64z6AmKDjPCJnj8jc~ZE1SNejBAYPyQMaUmLZUfQgvNcDwG14sV01l4zlg~82b0yftkvq7sq-GatihLE4GCbWhZ6XrlOB-x86Zye1ir8g~qYDvfxs5NluCb74zIksA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Monroe County Board of Education declined to require that food service and transportation be consolidated into a single full-time director position after members questioned costs and operational effects. A motion as worded failed on a roll-call vote.

The maker of the motion said parents have raised concerns about bus availability and urged the board to make transportation a full-time administrative responsibility separate from other duties. Critics cautioned the board that the district does not hire and fire directly and that the financial implications — including salary, benefits and operating expenses — must be understood before creating a new full-time position.

On a roll-call vote the board rejected the motion as presented. The transcript records multiple \"no\" votes and one \"yes.\" After that vote, board members asked the director of schools and the CTE or transportation staff to study whether transportation should be a full-time director-level position and to return with a recommendation by the September meeting; the board agreed to the request.

The director said she would accept the request and bring back analysis and a recommendation at the next meeting. The board did not authorize immediate hiring or reclassification; it requested a staff report with costs and operational implications.","A motion to require that food service and transportation positions be full-time director roles failed; the board later asked the director and staff to study transportation staffing and return with a recommendation by the September meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6506665,"Board adopts new wireless-device policy and emergency family/medical-leave rules",306,3214000,3520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5588451-2380fb181dd2d964eb66d96e87e80be1&start=3214&end=3520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5588451-2380fb181dd2d964eb66d96e87e80be1/thumbnail_3214000.jpg","/articles/6506665/Tennessee/Board-adopts-new-wireless-device-policy-and-emergency-familymedical-leave-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6506665-76829ebfd1be945d3ef12d28fed68c5c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148221&Signature=KUWE6PxkUI3GeeJll4ku~tk2qCcc7P4oSElrNAIAVCuFIZ7-NPvnL5IwSjocvCgOlj8tGUfo6vfxEZeep3OrmACUdzioWMxsxTDISSSTdL~OoIqt1RyD~OhEzfJPw1cyETDI1jokErYSbxQaq7JfOIYeSx8Ft97kU2HmpZKXthPqQjSjnsXLj0jGDzSwYWnPvC0aK9etdOVGmyQ0R4qMGBNI7eCOY7yGyomsXlhkSAZXyoXLclRnf4Ukp-YBSlp6yUYJCnFUoSHkyRYU20wxUxqT5Svht9DtmbrgkqEyZjKN9dbYYLsepwD6RX-wd36GWNSGrN0B0vH68JmFuUsf1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Monroe County Board of Education approved an updated policy on the use of wireless communication devices in district schools and adopted a revised family-and-medical-leave provision to reflect recent state changes.

Board member John Bridal presented the revised wireless-device policy, which expands and clarifies classroom and student-device rules to align with state guidance. The board discussed the policy briefly and approved it on roll call.

The board also approved a revision to its paid family-and-medical-leave rule. Under the updated language, paid leave must be used within 12 months of a qualifying event and shall be taken in increments of at least one week unless the director of schools determines an extenuating circumstance. Board members said the change reflects recent legislative guidance aimed at preventing employees from stretching leave in small increments; the board adopted the family-and-medical-leave change on an emergency basis.

Both policy changes passed with board votes during the meeting.","The board approved a revised policy on the use of wireless communication devices (policy 6.312) and adopted changes to family and medical leave in line with state law; the family-and-medical-leave change was approved on an emergency basis.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6506669,"Board approves $161,700 to extend $2,000 bonus to additional professional staff",399,504000,903000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5588451-2380fb181dd2d964eb66d96e87e80be1&start=504&end=903","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5588451-2380fb181dd2d964eb66d96e87e80be1/thumbnail_504000.jpg","/articles/6506669/Tennessee/Board-approves-161700-to-extend-2000-bonus-to-additional-professional-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6506669-20a9446f5fa5268721b8d55c89d5a3e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143617&Signature=TD1FrC9D5jIHhBwebTWAkf~h8Ez-sDo~H4Jk4LfUQBwK7H1LoeH-H8Ml6O6N7lMY195EuXXq1zzXXw2chxq1HYAn2PXoUpGwRYpwzg9sldHFzfgF63t~J745iPjqOfkpfkPc7Kb8JqJUSYiIG0vo8MWc0OEVBtZXnzhszdQogdYHSnU3a387agPMEfrNXVMw0nEQ8kkKRB3ACApJgwYVkyGU1jn6Yzl~WXF3KhKACXJAFTu66jvvJ6R05sV3ms026pnyx8Q4gucL1T-e9S-kicHOnGbASBda0EthRoilgBgH7KLjHl-CQhp~Hcniba4fwNM4RJBYtx1e0uFix637DA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Monroe County Board of Education voted to pay $161,700.40 to extend a $2,000 bonus to professional employees who were not covered by a state bonus program, including principals, assistant principals, psychologists, instructional coaches and certain day teachers and supervisors.

The director of schools told the board that the state-paid bonuses for classroom teachers will be included on the August paycheck, and the locally funded payments would be distributed to the newly covered staff at the same time. \"They will on their August check,\" the director said when asked whether teachers had received the state $2,000 bonus.

Board members debated whether the district should absorb the additional cost. Several members warned that while $162,000 is not a large sum relative to the district's overall budget, the district is planning significant capital expenditures and drawing from fund balance. One member said the board was preparing to take $7 million from fund balance for other projects and urged caution about setting a spending precedent.

Supporters of the payment argued that certified and certified-adjacent staff who provide instructional leadership and student services should receive parity with classroom teachers when the state omitted them from its measure. The board ultimately approved the payment on a roll-call vote.

Roll-call voting recorded: Mitch Avery — No; Richard Bettis — Yes; Joe Cagle — Yes; Sharon Freeman — Yes; Mark Ingram — Yes; Freddie Kelly — Yes; Brian Kyle — Yes; John Rigel — Yes; Vaughn Shubin — Yes; Dean Williams — Yes. The motion carried.","Monroe County Board approved a $161,700.40 payment to cover $2,000 bonuses for principals, assistant principals, psychologists, instructional coaches and other covered staff that the state did not include in its bonus legislation, following debate over fund balance and budget priorities.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":105,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6506673,"Monroe County board rejects plan to open trade school within a year, directs staff to study costs and logistics",1712,2615000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5588451-2380fb181dd2d964eb66d96e87e80be1&start=903&end=2615","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5588451-2380fb181dd2d964eb66d96e87e80be1/thumbnail_903000.jpg","/articles/6506673/Tennessee/Monroe-County-board-rejects-plan-to-open-trade-school-within-a-year-directs-staff-to-study-costs-and-logistics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6506673-c00ec6c0f8e0f06491f5e27e293d6f47/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148221&Signature=bkdiSc4mfXAAIOliu7YcO4mszGce80cyIcL~cQBQtg5i1PYbPvYNYfqTVlO8oaW370gKvJitDa3bLWQcVLmrxTE2KX-2OhFoK2gh376DhxCzqX246RSgQDADlbWz3CPxNsDXfnSdMJ-2O~Yl3hm3Cm4RMbSz96q4OfZnnmq6UAMEM0csStDjLtB3qMIVtJUUz4F-elyl0EK8a3a7kBnoRJkOKWg6CvHyBDYKI3QJsD2clR~iefrptiQneSjzTFVRVdM0ADecDlZVM7jS6TJIt1NE3vHXYbVNa1mP4vDRF0EM5Rsj~jiO1OseamAsB3kgjIkk-xGJsbgZKH7u6Oc6Yg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A motion to establish a county-run trade or vocational school in the Niles Ferry Industrial Park and have it in place by next school year failed after extended debate, and the Monroe County Board of Education instead voted to ask staff to study the idea and return with a cost and feasibility report by the October meeting.

Board member Dean Williams proposed creating a trade school in a 60,000-square-foot building at the Niles Ferry Industrial Park, saying local industry leaders had expressed willingness to support programs such as welding, HVAC and electrical work. Williams said a lease would cost about $45,000 per month and that a new building could cost $8 million to $12 million; he urged action so students could access local industrial jobs.

The motion to open the trade school “by this time next year” drew lengthy discussion about costs, student interest, available staff and state graduation requirements that can limit how much time students may spend off-site for career-technical instruction. Director of Schools Dr. Windsor cautioned that creating a sustainable program requires inventories of student interest, available equipment and staffing, and that starting a program for only a handful of students risks long-term viability. “If the interest is not there, that’s often why it’s not offered. We don’t have the people to teach the class,” Dr. Windsor said.

Board members also raised questions about transportation logistics and whether shifting existing CTE staff and equipment into a single leased facility would be practical. One board member warned that committing to a lease without confirmed enrollment or written commitments from industry donors could leave the district paying for an underused building.

On a roll-call vote the motion to establish the trade school in one year failed. After that vote, board member Mitch Avery moved — and Sharon Freeman seconded — that the director of schools and her staff prepare a detailed report for the board’s October meeting that would evaluate infrastructure needs, costs to move or duplicate existing CTE equipment, potential lease terms, transportation implications and any commitments from industry partners. That motion passed on roll call.

The board did not set a construction timeline or fund the project; the approved directive is for staff to return with analysis and recommended next steps.

The failed motion and the approved study measure reflect a split on whether to proceed rapidly by leasing space or to take time to determine financial and operational feasibility. The board set a firm deadline for staff information but did not authorize leasing or spending as part of the October request.

Notes: the proposal cited a 60,000-square-foot industrial building and a $45,000-per-month lease as starting figures; board discussion referenced possible $8 million–$12 million new-build costs. Director of Schools said such proposals require inventories of student interest, equipment and staffing before committing district resources.","Board member Dean Williams' motion to open a trade/vocational school in the Niles Ferry Industrial Park within one year failed on a roll-call vote. The board then approved a separate motion directing the director of schools to research costs, facilities and staffing and report back by the October meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Monroe County School Board (selected items)

Board declines immediate staffing change for transportation; asks administrators for recommendation by September

Board adopts new wireless-device policy and emergency family/medical-leave rules

Board approves $161,700 to extend $2,000 bonus to additional professional staff

Monroe County board rejects plan to open trade school within a year, directs staff to study costs and logistics