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Hamblen County Schools to pilot telehealth in four schools; board honors two long-serving administrators
Summary
Director's report outlined summer school attendance, a telehealth trial in four schools with East Tennessee Children's Hospital, enrollment increases, nutrition outreach, staffing vacancies, and recognition of two retiring assistant superintendents, Buddy Smith and Hugh Clement.
The Hamblen County Schools Board received its monthly director’s report on summer programs, staffing and health services, and recognized two long-serving administrators who are retiring.
Director Mr. Bunch told the board the district has more than 450 students regularly attending summer school across Westview, Hillcrest and Lincoln Elementary. He said re-enrollment for next year stands at 7,732 students, with another 241 families having started the process but not completed it.
The district will pilot a school-based telehealth program in four schools next year — Russellville, Lincoln Elementary, Lincoln Middle and Hillcrest — in partnership with East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. All necessary equipment will be supplied by the hospital at no cost to the district. Under the plan, a student who needs medical attention would visit the school nurse and connect with a nurse practitioner remotely; parents will be looped into consultations and must give consent. Mr. Bunch described the program as a way “to keep our students in class” and to enable parents to remain at work while their children are evaluated.
On staffing and vacancies, the report said the district currently lists 39 open positions (excluding school nutrition and custodial staff). The district is short three special-education teachers, has ongoing shortages of school psychologists and is down six bus drivers. The director said the vacancies are the lowest the district has seen in about three years for this time of year.
The school nutrition program reported a drive-through bulk-feeding event that served 1,512 children: families passing through received seven days’ worth of breakfasts and lunches per child in the vehicle. The board praised the nutrition team’s outreach.
The board also recognized two retiring administrators. Buddy Smith was described in the meeting as having 24 years in the Marines and 22 years in education, including the last 10 years as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. Hugh Clement will retire on June 30 after more than 53 years of service to the district, including roughly 26–27 years as assistant superintendent for administration and three stints as interim superintendent (2001, 2017 and 2022). The board noted both bring significant institutional knowledge as they depart.
Why it matters: The telehealth pilot could change how minor medical needs are handled in schools and may reduce missed class time and parental work absences; enrollment figures affect staffing and classroom planning; staffing shortages and vacancies continue to influence operations.
What’s next: The district will provide updates on the telehealth pilot and on progress filling open positions. The board thanked the retiring administrators and said the district will acknowledge them again at a later date.
