Elizabethton board approves three vans, updates retention policy and adopts resolution opposing state voucher bill

Elizabethton — The Elizabethton Board of Education on its January meeting voted to buy three 2025 Toyota Sienna minivans, approved updated language in board policy 4.603 on student promotion and retention to reflect a new state statute, and unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the state’s proposed Educational Freedom Scholarship Act.

Director Van Huss, speaking to the board, said the three hybrid vans would give the district more flexible, economical options for transporting small student groups and reduce the need to rent vehicles or rely on drivers with commercial licenses. “We had money in the budget to purchase another school bus. But in talking with Mr. Hutchins Transportation and Ms. Wilson, we made a decision to ask you to consider allowing us to purchase these 2 vans in place of that bus,” Van Huss said, adding the vans get “great gas mileage.”

The vote came after the board’s first reading of updated board policy 4.603, Promotion and Retention. Van Huss said the edits mirror a new statute the Tennessee General Assembly passed last year and related State Board…