Lenoir City board approves tenure, roofing bid and several policy actions; adopts resolution opposing Education Freedom Act
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Summary
At its February meeting the Lenoir City Board of Education granted tenure to three teachers, approved a roofing contract for Lenoir City Elementary, adopted a credit‑card policy per TSBA guidance and approved revisions to promotion/retention and alternative‑education policies. The board also approved a resolution opposing the so‑called Education
The Lenoir City Board of Education approved a string of routine and policy actions during its February meeting, granting tenure to three educators, awarding a roofing contract for Lenoir City Elementary and adopting board policy language on credit‑card use that the district said was recommended by the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA).
The actions matter because they finalize personnel status for three district educators, commit the district to a capital project for an elementary school roof and codify administrative controls on school credit cards and student placement policies.
The board voted to grant tenure to three staff members recommended by school principals: Carolyn Jaquette, identified by district staff as the district school psychologist; Emily Ritz Lewis, a teacher at Lenoir City Intermediate/Middle School; and Jennifer McCombs Cleveland, a health‑science teacher at Lenoir City High School. The board recognized the teachers publicly and approved tenure by roll call. Board members congratulated the educators and invited them to a group photograph following the meeting.
The board approved a recommendation to award the roofing contract for Lenoir City Elementary School (the transcript references work “through Fawn Creek in Chattanooga”) and recorded the project amount in the meeting materials; the spoken dollar figure in the public record was unclear in the transcript. District staff said the low bidder met specifications and the district looks forward to starting the work.
On policy, the board adopted proposed policy 2.8051 (credit cards) using the TSBA draft language after receiving advice from the TSBA policy attorney to retain the original wording. District staff explained the language clarifies that principals are the only employees authorized to apply for a school credit card and adds that any employee who applies without authorization may be subject to disciplinary action. The board also approved revisions to policy 4.603 (promotion and retention) to require written communications between parents and schools, and to policy 6.319 (alternative education) to clarify separation of students deemed a danger from the regular student population. The board’s staff said the promotion/retention and alternative‑education items are revisions to existing policies and that nothing substantive changed since the workshop.
The board approved a resolution opposing the Education Freedom Act (referred to in the meeting as the “Blue's Education Freedom Act” in the transcript) and directed staff to follow up as additional guidance becomes available from the Tennessee Department of Education and TSBA. District staff told the board they had received sample resolutions and expected further guidance about steps the district would need to take for teachers to access any state‑provided bonuses under that law.
Other routine business approved included the meeting agenda, minutes from the Jan. 9, 2025, board meeting and the typical monthly authorization to pay district bills. Superintendent and staff remarks noted upcoming events (spring concerts, sporting events, Presidents' Day holiday, a board retreat tied to strategic‑planning work at DreamMore Resort) and testing for ESL students.
Votes at a glance
- Approval of agenda: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Approval of Jan. 9, 2025 minutes: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Authorization to pay district bills for another month: motion moved by a board member; outcome: approved.
- Grant tenure to Carolyn Jaquette (school psychologist), Emily Ritz Lewis (teacher, Lenoir City Intermediate/Middle School) and Jennifer McCombs Cleveland (health science teacher, Lenoir City High School): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Approve resolution opposing the Education Freedom Act (referenced in meeting materials): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. Transcript shows some confusion among board members about whether individual future votes would be required for teachers to receive any state bonuses; district staff said TSBA and the commissioner would provide additional guidance.
- Award roofing contract for Lenoir City Elementary School (vendor referenced as Fawn Creek/Chattanooga; low bidder met spec): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. Project dollar amount in spoken record was unclear.
- Adopt policy 2.8051 (credit cards) using TSBA language: motion moved by Rick Chadwick; second by Chris Clabo; outcome: approved. District staff noted the TSBA policy attorney advised keeping original wording, including a sentence that disciplinary action may follow unauthorized card applications.
- Revise policy 4.603 (promotion and retention): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
- Revise policy 6.319 (alternative education): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.
The meeting adjourned after the board’s routine business and superintendent updates. District staff invited the newly tenured teachers to have a group photograph with the board.
Ending: Board materials and staff comments indicate the district will circulate additional guidance from TSBA and the Tennessee Department of Education on questions raised during the meeting, including the procedure for teachers to receive any state‑level bonus tied to the Education Freedom Act.