The Macon County Board of Education met in regular session last Thursday, August 9, 2012 and offered many heartfelt well wishes to fellow board members Ronald Birdwell and John Wheeley, who were defeated in the County General Election last week.

Wheeley and Birdwell expressed their sincere appreciation to the current members of the board, for always standing together in unity as they strived to enhance the educational standards for Macon County students.

“I have been in the school system for 45 years and have enjoyed every bit of it,” Ronald Birdwell spoke to the board and members of the audience. “I am still not done,” he said, further explaining that he has a foreign exchange student from Germany in his home, and as always, will be the Tigers #1 fan.

The board recognized the FCCLA (Family Career Community Leaders of America) for achieving the prestigious FCCLA Program of the Year award for the state of Tennessee recently. Jimmy Wheeley explained that teachers Ms. Cothron, Ms. Sallee, Ms. Blankenship, and Ms. Baney led the 21 participating members of the club to the event where each one medaled with Bronze, Silver, or Gold.

Board members approved the school fees and school budget for the 2012/2013 school year for each individual school in Macon County, and also agreed to advertise for school audit bids.

The board approved Macon County High School Cross Country and Track teams to participate in the co-op program with Red Boiling Springs High School.

The board spent several minutes deliberating the issue of Macon County High School Girls Soccer team participating in the co-op program with Trousdale County High School. “Look at how many kids we already have playing soccer,” Board Member Billy Willmore said, expressing his concern. “The fields are packed full on Saturdays,” he added, “and I would not want it to knock some of our kids out of playing just because they do not have their own team.” After more talk about the issue, Willmore asked the question as to just how many kids were wanting to play soccer.” MCHS Principal Stephanie Meador answered, “only one.” Willmore then said, “I make a motion for the one student to participate in the co-op program for this year,” and the board unanimously agreed.

Since not enough students were eating breakfast at the Macon County High School, the board agreed to approve the school breakfast waiver for the 2012/2013 school year.

Director of School’s Margaret Oldham requested the members of the board look at the new TSBA policies that were passed during the recent legal conference. “There have been some changes that you need to be made aware of,” Oldham said, giving an example of a new policy that states a P.E. teacher must obtain certification in a different subject.

The board accepted a bid from Tennis Court Constructors to seal and re-strip the MCHS tennis court located on Days Road, and also added a work session for Tuesday, September 4th at 7 p.m.

In need of hiring an interim chairman to replace Ronald Birdwell for a few weeks, board member Billy Willmore nominated Jimmy Cook, and the motion was seconded by Steve Waldron.

Speaking about the principals thoughts about the first day of school, it was reported to the Director of Schools that the Macon County Jr. High School had scheduling issues and their students were forced to remain in homeroom the entire day while faculty worked to remedy the situation. Principal Bobby Bransford commented that he had 769 actual students at school, and feared that after Labor Day the numbers could top 800. Fairlaine Elementary’s Principal Linda Smith told Director of Schools that each of her eleven classes were already packed with 20-21 students.

Before the meeting ended, board members mentioned the next four years were going to tough as the new bills for education are coming with a big tax increase. They said, Macon County Schools have been operated on the same financial budget for the past five years and future changes will impact the need for additional funds from County Commissioners.

The board welcomes two newly elected members to the education system, Rebekah Tuttle and Jeff Harper.

The Director’s Report

Certified Positions Hired: Kimberly Grisham – MCHS language arts; Cassidy Williams – MCHS math and asst. volleyball coach; Ronald Bean – MCHS math; Rita Wilburn – transfer from RBS 7th & 8th grade reading to county-wide instructional leader; Dale Reid – transfer from MCJHS 6th grade to county-wide instructional leader; Nikki Hogin – transfer from LES 5th grade to county-wide instructional leader; Jeb Coe – MCJHS 7th grade history; Chelsea Robinson – LES 5th grade; Jacob Smith – MCJHS 8th grade science and MCHS asst. football coach; Andy Davis – MCHS asst. Cross Country coach; Stacey Mims – RBSHS Physical Education and Head Softball coach; Cody Mungle – Interim for Ashley Shouse (Westside) 8/6/12 to 9/7/12.

Non-Certified Positions Hired: Stephanie Schroeter – MCHS teacher asst.; Tabitha Centers – MCJHS teacher asst.; Carolyn Halliburton – MCJHS teacher asst.; Sue Hix – transfer from RBS Elementary part-time teacher asst. to RBS Elementary full-time teacher asst.; Tammy Popielarz – interim for April McKinney (Fairlane teacher asst.); Rick Shoulders – MCHS and MCJHS volunteer asst. Golf coach; David Minchey – MCHS Head Trap coach; Tricia Minchey – MCHS volunteer asst. Trap coach; Kerry Cook – MCHS volunteer asst. Trap coach; Jeff Gregory – MCHS and MCJHS asst. Girls Basketball coach; Jeremy Phillips – MCHS volunteer asst. Boys Basketball coach and volunteer asst. Baseball coach; Anthony Carter – MCJHS volunteer asst. Football coach; Tim Greenhalgh – MCJHS asst. Football coach; Chase Greenhalgh – MCJHS asst. Football coach; Dwayne Colter – MCJHS Head Baseball coach; Danny Kempf – 5th and 6th grade Boys Basketball coach; Tabitha Centers – MCJHS asst. Cheerleading coach; Spenser Young – RBSHS asst. Football coach; Jeremy London – RBSHS volunteer asst. Football coach; Terrell Sutton – RBSHS volunteer asst. Football coach; Julie Patterson – RBSHS asst. Softball coach; Brad Murphy – RBSHS volunteer Softball coach; Wayne Deering – Bus Driver; Tony Harrison – Bus Driver; Tesha Jenkins – Bus Driver; Alaurice Schultz – Bus Driver; Wanda Clark – SPED Bus Monitor; Carolyn Halliburton – SPED Bus Monitor; Wanda O’Donoghue – SPED Bus Monitor; Karetha Perrigo – SPED Bus Monitor; Rebekah Thomas – SPED Bus Monitor; Amber Brown – SPED Bus Monitor.

Substitutes Hired: Angie Anderson, Joyce Bilbrey, Virginia Brockette, Jerry Brown, Michael Brown, Debby Carter, JY Carter, Amy Carver, Mindy Cliburn, Jenna Coffee, Lanita Copas, James Cox, Karen Dean, Brenda Forrest, Pat Hanes, Robert Hawkins, Brenda Langford, Donna McCrory, Debra Murray, Sandra Owens, Guiliano Pagan, Jennette Ragan, Sherry Stone, Angie Swindle, Michael Tatum, Brookie Vinson, Angela Welch, Dawn Willis, Sonya Wilson, Tina Atkins, Myla Beach, BJ Blankenship, Marcia Briggie, Linda Bristol, Cathy Brooks, Chyandra Brooks, Jean Brooks, Ancle Burford, Tricia Butcher, Rachel Carman, Eli Carter, Jon Carver, Amy Chandler, Wanda Clark, Orry Clayborne, Joe Copas, Linda Copas, Pam Cothron, Courtney Cox, Wendy Dickens, Shirley Dillard, Stacey Dyer, Rebecca Farley, Vicki Gensel, Carol Geralds, Terry Gillim, Kathy Gordon, Lucy Green, Beverly Gregory, Mary Jo Gregory, Melissa Grizzle, Carolyn Hansen, Anna Hawkins, Lisa Heady, Tonya Heady, Gail Herald, Pam Hill, James Hix, Penny Hoff, Juanita Holder, Matthew Holland, Teresa Hudson, Kathy Huber, Tracy Hume, Coleda Jenkins, Tammy Jenkins, Dianna Johnson, Charles Jones, Floyd Jones, Eller King, Christy Knight, Regina Law, Tina Linville, Heather Lowery, Carolyn Mandrell, Leah Halsell, Jo Linda Kirby, Charles Loring, Benny Maggart, Brooke Mann, M`Randa Martin, Sandra McDuffee, Baili Meador, Teresa Meador, Ronna Moran, Melissa Morgan, Linda Napier, Ashley Naramore, Tammy Neville, Wanda O`Donoghue, Julie Patterson, Hannah Peek, David Phillips, Jeremy Phillips, Heidi Popielarz, Tammy Popielarz, Loren Prock, Vanessa Ragland, Kelly Rich, Kathy Rinehart, Betty Robinson, Kelly Russell, Bethany Shirley, Beth Shoulders, Brittani Turner-Smith, Jaralyn Stagner, Tonya Stover, Dale Strong, Stephanie Strong, Matthew Swoner, Lori Taylor, Priscilla Taylor, Wendy Taylor, Sonia Thomas, Vicky Thomas, Billie Thompson, Geroldine Tranthem, Kristie Tucker, Cathy Turner, Meredith Tuttle, Amanda Veatch, Katie Walton, Peggy Wheat, Arielle White, Martha Williston, Leslie Wix, Margaret Wix, Shalyn Wix, and Tina Wolfe.

Substitute Bus Drivers Hired: Alex Bray, Helen Sutton, Cathy Taylor, Erica Flippin.

Resignations: June Carver – RBS Elementary teacher asst. effective 8/6/12.