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Archives
12-13-2000 News
Davis Resigns As Director, Needham
Named Interim
Davis Resigns As Director, Needham Named Interim
By Dewain E. Peek With no official explanation, Eldon Davis resigned as Director of Overton County Schools effective Thursday, Dec. 7. The Overton County Board of Education appointed Bill Needham interim school director during the Monday, Dec. 11 regular monthly meeting, with all members present. Chairman Milton Raines read Davis' letter of resignation to the Board, which simply stated his immediate resignation as director. Raines said, "There's no reason. Mr. Davis has resigned as director of schools. We have to have an interim director of schools to carry on, because the interim director of schools is going to have to sign the payroll." After accepting the letter of resignation, the Board voted to have an internal audit by the State Comptroller's Office. Board Member Jerry Glasscock said, "I just think it would be a matter of good business. I don't know that there is anything, but I'm sure that the director of schools that's coming in, everwho it would be, would want it, and I think too it would be good for the Board to know. And everwho is coming in they'd come in on an even keel, not inheriting anything." Nominations were taken for the interim director, with Ken Dodson and Bill Needham being nominated. Dodson received yes votes from Larry Looper, Donald Brown, and Melody Williams, all other members voted no. Needham received yes votes from Edith Key, Jerry Glasscock, David Langford, Milton Raines, Russell Gray, Tim Coffee, and Joey Smith, and the other three members voted no. After being appointed, Needham said to the Board, "Well, I don't need to say a lot, but I do appreciate the confidence the Board has just shown. I pledge to all of you that I'll do my best to earn your confidence to see that the administrative part of this system moves forward and that all the intent is placed toward providing the best education we can for the students of this county." Amendment #4 General Purpose School Budget 2000-01 was approved for an educational assistant for the fourth grade at Wilson Elementary, for a Board secretary at work sessions, and for a temporary secretary's salary increase for full benefits. Quarterly reports were approved for the period ending September 30, 2000 for General Purpose, Federal Projects, Central Cafeteria, Education Debt Service, and Capital Projects Funds. The first reading of the Overton County Pedicullosis (head lice) Plan of Control and Procedures was approved. The Board approved the School System/School Compliance based on Tennessee statutes and State Board of Education rules, regulations and minimum standards for approval of schools. Drenia Wilson's request for a one-year leave of absence was approved, beginning November 2, 2000. Local Amendment #13 IDEA part B 2000-01 Amendment #1 Sliver Grant was approved. The regular monthly meeting day was changed from the second Monday of each month to the first Tuesday of each month. The Board voted to take bids on central heat and air for the Central Education Office building. The minutes for November 13 were amended to state that Anita Burnett is to receive full benefits, excluding health insurance. In executive action, low bids for Microsoft Office 2000 from CDW Government Inc. were approved as follows: Office standard version, new license - $45 each; Office standard version, upgrade license - $35 each; Office professional version, new license - $57 each; Office professional license, upgrade license - $45 each. The low bid for a double-stack convection oven from Tennessee Restaurant Equipment was approved at $6,514.79 each. The bid for two-way radios with a repeater and control station, including installation, from Wireless Solutions was approved at $32,170. The Director's Report was issued to the School Board. Actions taken by Director Davis before his resignation were as follows: Hired as non-certified substitute teachers were Jill Robbins, Leigh McAlpin, Christy Nivens, and Cindy Henley. Jeff Webb was hired as a technology technician, beginning November 27, 2000. Kirby Boles was hired as a substitute janitor at Livingston Middle School. Kaye Killmon was hired to replace Kay Holbert as secretary at Board work sessions. The Board discussed a possible solution to the mold problem at A.H. Roberts and Rickman Elementary. The meeting adjourned. LA Football Affected By Realignment By Dewain E. Peek The TSSAA has released its classifications for the 2001-2005 period. Classification changes will have a direct effect on Livingston Academy football. Four area schools elected to move to Class 3A from Class 2A Upperman, Jackson County, Smith County, and Cannon County, and York Institute, which would have moved down out of Class 3A, elected to stay. After the smoke cleared, LA's region, 4-3A, had gone from 8 teams to 10 teams. LA Wildcats Coach Matt Eldridge said, "They've split it into 5 team subregions, and you'll play 7 region games out of 9 possible. "They had you draw, just the luck of the draw, the other three from the other region." Post-season eligibility still remains the same. "They'll still take the top four teams just like normal," Coach Eldridge said. The subsections shook out with Portland, Macon County, Trousdale County, Smith County, and Jackson County in one subdivision, and Livingston Academy, Cannon County, DeKalb County, Upperman, and York Institute in the other subdivision. Don't get too excited about 2000 State Champion Portland being in the other subdivision. Remember that "luck of the draw" thing? Though LA was not required to play them, Portland fell into Livingston's schedule. "And in two years it may change," Coach Eldridge said. "We wanted to play everybody, because that's kind of the only fair way. Apparently, three or four teams didn't want to." The new schedule has caused the Wildcats to have to get in shape in a hurry next season. Because of the new scheduling, the first game will be August 17 against Crossville. "We're going to start zero week, we don't even start week one," Coach Eldridge said. "So it's really, really early." This will cut preparation time down a week. "You're allowed to start with pads on the 1st," Coach Eldridge said. "We'll get about two and a half weeks of practice." After Crossville, LA will host Donaldson Christian Academy, then travel to Macon County the next week. The Wildcats will then travel to Sparta, then host Cannon County before having a bye week. LA will restart the season at Upperman, then host Jackson County. The Wildcats and Blue Devils haven't faced off in football since 1992. The Wildcats will travel to DeKalb County the following week, then host Portland. The 'Cats will close the regular schedule at Jamestown against York Institute. DHS Launches Child Care Web Directory Parents looking for child care may now find information on-line about providers in Tennessee. First Lady Martha Sundquist recently joined the Tennessee Department of Human Services in launching a new directory via the state's official web site www.TennesseeAnytime.org or www.state.tn.us/humanserv featuring a user-friendly listing of all licensed and registered child care providers in the state. Parents in all regions of the state or country may access general information, including addresses, hours of operation, type of facility and capacity. The information is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on any computer with Internet access. Human Services Commissioner Natasha Metcalf said, "Parents will be able to click on a specific county, and then a zip code, and review basic information on the facilities within that zip code. We want to give parents basic information on licensed and registered providers in order to better assist them in locating and making child care arrangements. This is another step toward that goal and we hope parents will be as excited as we are about the project." Anyone who needs additional information about providers, such as how long they've been in business or how many complaints, if any, have been filed against them should contact their county DHS office or the Child Care Resource and Referral/Complaint Line office. The toll-free, statewide number is 1- (800) 462-8261; in the Nashville area, the number is (615) 313-4820. The Resource and Referral office is open from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. central time, Monday through Friday to help parents without Internet access find and learn more about child care providers.
Overton County News
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