Anderson County school board serenaded as it wraps up the year
Norris Middle School students sang “Feliz Navidad” and “Mele Kalikimaka” at the Anderson County Board of Education meeting Dec. 12. (photo:Ben Pounds )
The students, wearing leis, sang “Feliz Navidad” and “Mele Kalikimaka” amid a poinsettia-decorated meeting room.
Lauren Sharon, who teaches the world cultures class, introduced the program.
Choir teacher Angela Goodale accompanied the students on the box drum while health teacher Gerald Sharon played the guitar.
“They worked really, really hard for the past two weeks getting ready to try and ring in the Christmas spirit and so we want to just invite you guys to join in with us,” Lauren Sharon said.
The presentation began a short Board of Education end of the-calendar year meeting.
There were several decisions of note, but all votes were unanimous, and there was little controversy.
ACHS Softball
The board discussed a request for a new softball locker facility for Anderson County High School.
Director of Schools Tim Parrott told The Courier News that the school plans to remodel the existing girls’ softball locker room. He said the school has raised the money to complete the project, so it won’t cost the school district anything.
Board member Dail Cantrell made the motion to approve, and Darren Carden seconded.
Lottery funds
The board designated $325,000 in Tennessee lottery funds for after-school programs.
That item was part of the financial report, for which board member Teresa Portwood made a motion to pass, and board member Jo Williams seconded.
textbook reviews
As another part of the consent agenda, the board voted to form a committee to review science textbooks.
Members are Jamie Linkes, Amanda Irwin, Miranda Rasnake, Hannah Stiles, Melinda Powers, Morgan Cordy, Ramona Owen, Laurie Templin, Melissa Nelson, Chole Duncan, Stephanie Pridemore, Maria Taylor, Rebekah Kent, Stephen Potter and Donovan Harrington.
Parrott said the school system forms committees like this one every time the state changes the curriculum so that it can choose books that match it.
Virtual reality
While not part of the main meeting, two members of the schools’ technology staff showed off some virtual-reality devices at a Dec. 9 work session.
David Beets, service team coordinator, and Wade Haney, director of technology, let the board members try out the Metaquest 3S devices, which middle school students can wear to try career like piloting planes, welding and cooking. Currently the school system has five of them.
Dual Enrollment
The board passed a measure making dual-enrollment courses count for five percentage points toward grade point average rather than four.
Also:
The board passed on second reading a policy regarding virtual education, or education away from the classroom, and on electronic devices such as for homebound, quarantining, or weather or health emergencies. The board reviews this policy annually.
The board also approved a grading policy laying out how each letter grade works.
