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Athens City Board extends schools director’s contract through June 2030 and keeps tuition rates unchanged
Summary
The Athens City Board of Education voted March 9 to extend Director of Schools Joe Barnett’s contract to June 30, 2030, and approved tuition rates for 2026–2027 that remain the same as 2025–2026. Motions were made by board member Stan Harrison and seconded by Emily Forrest; both motions carried.
The Athens City Board of Education voted March 9 to extend Director of Schools Joe Barnett’s contract by two years, amending the contract end date to June 30, 2030.
Board member Stan Harrison moved for the extension; Board member Emily Forrest seconded. The board approved the motion; no roll-call tallies are included in the minutes.
The board also approved the proposed tuition schedule for the 2026–2027 school year, leaving rates unchanged from the prior year. The approved rates are: in McMinn County $400 for one student, $600 for two students and $800 for three or more; outside McMinn County $800 for one student, $1,050 for two and $1,100 for three or more; and outside Tennessee $4,050 for one student. Stan Harrison moved to accept Director Barnett’s recommendation; Emily Forrest seconded and the motion carried.
The contract-extension item had been discussed previously at the board’s Jan. 28 work session, according to the minutes. The extension will keep the district’s current superintendent-level leadership in place through the 2029–2030 school year unless the board takes further action.
During public comment earlier in the meeting, Teresa Congioloso introduced herself as a candidate for District 1 of the Tennessee State Senate; the minutes record the introduction but do not link it to any board action.
The board approved the March 9 agenda and consent items, including the Feb. 9, 2026 minutes, by unanimous “motion carried” entries in the minutes.
