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Archives
04-10-2002 News
School Board approves new calendar School Board approves new calendar By RACHEL SMITH, OCN staff Overton County Board of Education held the regular monthly meeting Tuesday, April 2, with all members present. As discussed during the March meeting, board members were to meet with school PTOs to get community feedback to the proposed 2002-2003 school calendar, in which Overton County students would attend school for nine weeks, have a two-week break, then go back to school for another nine weeks. The new calendar would put all schools on the same nine-week grading period that the high school has been on for a few years. According to Director of Schools Bill Needham, school principals indicated at their recent mid-month meeting in Hilham that everything they had heard from parents in the community about the proposed calendar had been extremely positive. "I've had a few calls myself inquiring about the calendar. Most all the comments I've received have been very positive" Needham said. After Needham's comments, the Board voted unamiously to approve the proposed 2002-2003 calendar as previously submitted by the Calendar Committee. In other new business, board members approved Title VI Local Amendment #16 State Amendment #1 Reduced Size Classroom and Special Population Local Amendment #17 State Amendment #1. Permission was granted to allow second, third, and fourth grade Accelerated Reading students from A.H. Roberts to travel to Dollywood on May 6. Also approved was an overnight trip to Gatlinburg for eighth grade Hilham students on May 3-4. In a letter addressed to Director Needham, Wilson Elementary Principal Alice Reed notified the board of her plan to retire. In her letter, Reed stated, "I'd like to express my thanks to the Overton County Board of Education for allowing me to serve my community for over three decades. I've enjoyed almost every day of my employment at Wilson Elementary. Thank you again for your support, kindness, and cooperation." After hearing her letter, Board members voted to approve her planned retirement date of July 31. Other new business approved by the board included a change in the current year's school calendar, in which a May 14 discretionary day was changed to May 7 to accomodate the Overton County primary elections. The final action of new business was to grant tenure to 14 teachers currently in the Overton County school system. Approved for tenure are Shirley Ashlock-Kirk, Donna Beaty, Phillip Bowman, Jacob Carwile, Tim Copeland, Vanessa Farris, Tricia Hix, Misty Huddleston, Ginnie Jackson, James Loftis, Mandy McCormick, Richard Melton, Christy Miller, and Cynthia Sells. Director Needham issued the Director's Report to the School Board. Actions taken by the school director were as follows: Hired Sue Phillips as lunchroom monitor at Wilson Elementary to replace Louise Phillips who is on medical leave. Hired all tenure teachers, including those listed above, to be placed at a later date. Hired Peggy Hibbs and Donna Sweezy as non-certified substitute teachers and Cindy Melton as substitute cook. Approved maternity leave for Kelli Hayes effective April 15 approximately) until May 10 (approximately). Needham then recognized members of the 2002 Youth Leadership Academy who were attending the meeting to fulfill one of their class requirements. Needham also informed the School Board of a "Mock DUI Program" for LA seniors, which will take place Friday, April 26 beginning at 9 a.m. Needham said, "This is part of our Safe and Drug Free Schools Prom Promise, and is sponsored by the Overton County Health Council. "All county emergency agencies will participate in this drill, and I think it's something that will really have an impact on our seniors. "It's all make believe, but extremely realistic. Hopefully, it will help to save young lives and give them something to think about and see how real things are in this world." When the floor was opened to other comments, Board member Donald Brown addressed the group with his concerns about the current status of the building program. "We've been in this building program for a while. I try to tell parents at PTO meetings to have patience. It's hard to tell them that anymore, because I don't have any patience either." Brown went on to say, "We need some results. If we need to take legal action, then we need to do something." Brown's concerns, along with many others in the county, are primarily directed toward the problems being experienced at Allons and Rickman. With the end of this school year not too far in the future, these schools have been without proper lunchrooms for almost two years. Students are being fed in portable classrooms, hallways, and classrooms, while meals are prepared off-site and transported to each school's campus. The general contractor for these schools, as well as Wilson Elementary, has been under a contractual penalty since October 26, 2001. At a cost of $150 per day per school, Wallace Construction Company of Fayetteville has accumulated penalty charges for each day since that time, including weekends. Needham explained that he has already contacted Board attorney Chuck Cagle to determine what legal options are available at this point. As early as December 2000, subcontractors notified Needham that Wallace Construction was not meeting their payment obligations. At that time, Architect Richard Williams began requiring subcontractors to sign a waiver of lien, basically stating they had been paid although they had not. Checks to Wallace have been sent registered mail, return receipt requested for some time now, according to Needham, in order to prevent any claim of checks not being issued by the School Board. To further protect the School Board, future checks will be issued in the name of both Wallace Construction and the subcontractor, requiring both to endorse and, therefore, ensuring the subcontractor gets paid. Needham explained, "It's extremely frustrating. We're all very unhappy about the situations with those two schools in particular. "However, we have been told that if the bonding company takes over it is extremely likely they would hire the same contractor to finish the job, but the bonding company would be responsible for writing the checks. This could result in even more delays, which we don't want." Due to the many issues still unresolved, the Board will hold a mini-work session with the architect Thursday, April 11 at 6 p.m. to outline what is still to be done at each school, and what legal steps, if any, the Board needs to take. The meeting adjourned.
Thefts investigated by Sheriff's Department Becky Meredith/OCN staff
Capt. Frank Dial with Overton County Sheriff's Department displays items recovered recently from two thefts.
A theft on Bethlehem Road was reported to Overton County Sheriff's Department on Monday, April 1. Captain Frank Dial arrived at the scene and learned that approximately 250 to 300 wall studs, 2 boxes of #8 nails, and a box of metal clips were missing. He, along with Dep. James Harris, went to a residence on Highland Mountain where an informant said the stolen goods might be. "When we approached the location, we noticed a stack of what appeared to be the same type of lumber," Capt. Dial said. "Then we saw a car with some of the same type of lumber in the trunk. We talked to the two gentlemen who were building a house with this material, and one of them, Jonathan E. Dial, admitted taking the lumber." Jonathan Dial was transported to the Sheriff's Department, where he completed a written statement to present to Overton County Grand Jury. Dep. Harris loaded the material onto a truck and took it to Overton County Justice Center for evidence. Also investigated by Capt. Dial was a theft Friday, April 5, when he travelled to Sumner County to question Terry D. Henry and Sherry Staggs Henry regarding a break-in and theft in the Rickman area. Terry Henry reportedly admitted to breaking into the home and taking the items in question: a box of medication and a .22 rifle. "He also told me the location of where he put the items after the theft," Capt. Dial said. Capt. Dial and Dep. J.D. Masters went to a location on East Howard Road, where Henry allegedly threw out the medication. They also reportedly found the rifle that had been reported stolen.
Curtis Hayes announces bid for city mayor Curtis Hayes has informed Overton County News he plans to run for the office of Livingston Mayor in the upcoming municipal election. His statement is as follows: "I am a lifelong resident of Livingston. I am the son of Curtis Hayes Sr. of Algood and Christine Hayes of Livingston. I have been married to Julie (Hill) Hayes for seven years. We have two sons, Creed, who is 7, and Carter, who is 3. "I am currently employed by Tennessee Technological University as a painter. I have been employed at Tech for approximately four years. My wife is employed at Livingston Regional Hospital as the director of administration. "I am very proud to be involved in numerous Overton County youth sports. I have been coaching football and baseball for the past 10 years. I am president of the Overton County Outlaws and the Middle Tennessee Youth Football Conference, which contains 8 counties and 10 teams. "I am a 1993 graduate of Livingston Academy. I attended Roane State Community College, before leaving to enter the law enforcement field. I was employed by Livingston Police Department and Overton County Sheriff's Department. "I currently serve on the Livingston Board of Aldermen. I am also a member of several local boards and committees. I am a proud citizen of Livingston and plan on spending the rest of my life here. "I feel that Livingston has missed out on several vital opportunities in the past. If elected, I will strive to keep the taxes low and continue to help in aiding our senior citizens. I feel that the city has the opportunity to provide some important youth services for children in our community. I feel that an effort needs to be made to bring in more industries, so that the people of Livingston will not have to travel to other cities or counties to find a decent job. "I make this promise to each and every person: I will work hard for you every day and go the extra mile to provide better services through the City of Livingston. My goal is to make a positive impact on Livingston, and to strengthen the ties to the community. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. It is the only thing that ever has. Let's work together for a better Livingston. "If you would like to discuss any issues involving the city, please feel free to stop by my home at 515 North Goodpasture Street, or call (931) 823-7637. "Your vote and support are greatly appreciated."
Overton County News
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