Elizabethton Board approves first readings of sick- and personal-leave policies, sets 2025–26 tuition rates and OKs $27,300 software purchase

At its April meeting, the Elizabethton Board of Education approved first readings of board policies 5.302 (sick leave) and 5.303 (personal and professional leave), agreed to revised tuition rates for out-of-county students for the 2025–26 school year, and authorized the purchase of a Pravata software license and startup services for Elizabethton High School for $27,300 using xQ grant funds.

The board approved the first reading of board policy 5.302, which the administration said clarifies which family members qualify an employee to use sick leave. "We felt the need to update the sick leave policy and specifically outline who family members of employees who would qualify them to use sick leave," said Mr. Van Huss, the district director, while presenting the policy language. The same list of qualifying family members was added for support personnel on the second page of the draft policy.

Board policy 5.303 (personal and professional leave) was approved on first reading as well. The administration said edits align the bereavement-leave family list with the updated sick-leave language and remove pandemic-era language no longer pertinent. The policy sets bereavement leave at a maximum of three working days per occurrence.

The board also approved revised tuition rates for non‑Carter County students for 2025–26. Under the approved schedule, the administration proposed that out-of-county tuition be increased to approximately double the comparable Carter County rate (for example, K–5 in-county listed at $800 would result in a $1,600 out-of-county rate under the proposal). Mr. Van Huss noted that state funding under TISA generates roughly $7,300 per student and that local tuition represents a small portion of that amount. A board member asked how many out-of-county students the district currently serves; Mr. Van Huss said staff would run a Skyward report and provide that breakdown.

The board authorized a $27,300 purchase of a Pravata software license and startup costs through January 2026, paid from xQ grant funds, for Elizabethton High School. Dr. Mitton described the platform as a tool to document students' work-based learning and capstone experiences, allow community partners to provide feedback, identify competencies or "badges," and automatically generate data the district must report back to xQ. The initial cost includes startup services and two in-person training visits; the administration said recurring annual costs would be significantly lower if the grant continues.

Votes at a glance

- First reading, Board Policy 5.302 (sick leave): approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded). Presented by Mr. Van Huss. - First reading, Board Policy 5.303 (personal and professional leave): approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded). Presented by Mr. Van Huss. - Elizabethton City Schools tuition rates for 2025–26 (out-of-county rates revised): approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded). Presented by Mr. Van Huss; staff to run Skyward report on current out-of-county enrollments. - Purchase of Pravata software license and startup through January 2026, $27,300, using xQ grant funds: approved (voice vote; no opposition recorded). Presented by Dr. Mitton.

The board closed regular business and announced a budget workshop to follow; the next regular meeting was scheduled for Thursday, May 15.