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Board members clash over athletic/activity director job description and agenda notice policy
Summary
Several board members raised concerns that a TSBA model athletic/activity director job description was approved without sufficient review; the exchange prompted calls for working sessions and clarity on agenda-notice timelines (5 vs. 7 days).
A contentious portion of the Stewart County School Board meeting focused on how the board uses Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) model policies and whether members had sufficient time to review a newly approved athletic/activity director job description.
Multiple board members said they had little time to review the model job description before it was voted on and questioned experience requirements they saw in the model. One board member said the way the model read ‘‘looked a little lopsided’’ and asked for more time and transparency before adopting such a role when new money or duties were involved. The transcript records the exchange and the speaker expressing frustration that the item had appeared on the agenda with little notice.
Other board members defended the use of TSBA model policies as routine practice. Director Mike said the district uses TSBA model language to align local policy with state law and that the director implements and fills positions according to board policy. He told the board he had consulted TSBA and that model policies help ensure compliance with evolving state requirements.
The dispute also highlighted procedural confusion about agenda posting: some members cited a five-day posting requirement in an adopted policy, while staff said board packets are provided seven days in advance. Several members asked to reinstate working sessions to review policies in a less rushed setting; the board agreed to schedule a working session in September to review policy items in greater detail.
Outcome and next steps: No formal reversal of the previously adopted job description was recorded in the transcript. Board members agreed to hold working sessions to review policies and to clarify agenda-notice language so the public and board members have consistent expectations.
