Smith County Board approves routine contracts and pay changes; board chairman says he will resign as chair

The Smith County Board of Education voted to approve multiple routine consent items, a contract for a speech-language pathology assistant and updates to the district pay scale at its meeting, and the board chairman said he will resign as chairman while also indicating he intends to run for the school board one more term.

Board members approved purchases and bids including TSBA policy recommendations, school fees, diesel fuel, janitorial supplies and Chromebooks, and they approved a contract agreement for Heather Tettleman to provide speech-language pathology assistant services under a contract. The board also approved an updated pay scale that added positions including an assistant flag football coach.

The approved items were presented on the consent agenda and carried by motions and seconding votes. Several items were recorded by roll call as approved without opposition during the meeting’s recorded votes.

Board discussion on the contract with Heather Tettleman noted the district had been contracting for speech services and that Tettleman’s contract rate was reported during discussion to be about $20 an hour less than using a company. A staff member said the district could hire a full-time specialist but that current student IEP hours and caseloads drive the number of hours needed; the contractor arrangement was presented as a flexible option.

On the updated pay scale, board members discussed additions tied to student participation and program development, including adding an assistant flag football coach position and ensuring roles are supported if participation meets thresholds. A board member said the position was added with the expectation that participation in the first year would be sufficient; the board asked staff to monitor participation and bring back any needed adjustments.

Members discussed the director’s evaluation and annual policy reviews; the meeting record shows the board allowed a speaker identified as “JR” to address the board after a motion to permit him to speak. Board members also discussed possible supplements and legal issues tied to after-school programming and how supplements would be administered if the district pursued them.

During closing remarks the board chairman said, "I'm planning on running the school board one more time. . . . I am resigning as chairman of the school board," and reminded members that the contract for "Smith" runs out next June and that the board should begin thinking about options before that date.

Votes at a glance

- Purchase TSBA policy recommendations — approved (motion and second recorded). - Approval of school district goals / BA policy recommendations — approved. - Approval of school fees — approved (roll call recorded). - Approval for diesel fuel — approved (roll call recorded). - Bid approval for janitorial supplies — approved (roll call recorded). - Contract agreement: Smith County Board of Education and Heather Tettleman, speech-language pathology assistant — approved. - Updated pay scale approval (includes assistant flag football coach) — approved. - Approval for Chromebooks — approved. - Motion to allow speaker JR to address the board — approved. - Motion to adjourn — approved.

No formal votes or action outcomes were recorded in the transcript for the director evaluation or the annual policy reviews beyond discussion and the board’s choice to accept reports and hear a speaker.

Ending

Board members did not record dissent on the items reflected in the meeting transcript. The board chairman’s remarks that he will resign as chairman and that "Smith" has a contract expiring next June were the final substantive matters noted in the meeting record.