Elizabethton Board approves sick-leave, bereavement and tuition changes and $27,300 software purchase

The Elizabethton Board of Education on a series of unanimous voice votes at its April meeting approved revisions to board policies on sick leave and personal/bereavement leave, set new out-of-county tuition rates for the 2025–26 school year and authorized the purchase of a software license and startup services for Elizabethton High School for $27,300 using XQ grant funds.

The changes to board policy 5.302 (sick leave) and 5.303 (personal and professional leave) clarify which family members qualify an employee to use leave and remove language tied to pandemic-era leave rules. The board approved both readings without roll-call votes; the motions carried by voice vote with no opposition noted.

Board discussion and staff presentations said the sick-leave change explicitly lists family-member relationships for professional and support personnel so employees may use leave as intended. The bereavement policy was revised so the list of covered family members matches the sick-leave policy; the policy continues to allow up to three working days of bereavement leave per occurrence.

The board also approved new tuition rates for students who live outside Carter County for the 2025–26 school year. Under the proposal presented, out-of-county tuition would be set by doubling the district's in-county per-student rate by grade band to match what the board described as the current out-of-county charge. Examples given in the packet and during discussion: K–5 in-county tuition of $800 would be charged at $1,600 for out-of-county students; junior high in-county $400 would become $800 for nonresidents; high school in-county $300 would become $600 for nonresidents. A district official said each enrolled student generates about $7,300 in state TISA funding and noted that teacher salary and benefit costs mean the tuition charge is a relatively small portion of per-student funding. The board asked staff to run a report to show the current number of out-of-county students; that number was not specified at the meeting.

Finally, the board approved a $27,300 purchase for a Pravada software license and startup services through January 2026 from a vendor identified in the meeting materials as Start Soul (also referenced in staff remarks as Start Solo). The item will be paid from recently awarded XQ grant funds. Dr. Mitton and district staff explained the platform will let students enrolled in work-based learning and community-based internships log hours, document experiences, and allow community partners to provide feedback and competency badges. Staff said the initial startup cost covers two in-person implementation sessions and setup; annual subscription costs thereafter were described as significantly lower if grant funding continues.

Board members and staff placed the items in the context of an upcoming budget workshop scheduled to follow the meeting and the district's ongoing work to manage salary increases tied to state funding changes. The board noted facility and capital-project progress elsewhere in the meeting, including updates on the Dave Rider Center for Athletic Performance at the high school.

The board set its next regular meeting for Thursday, May 15; the budget workshop was held immediately after the April meeting.