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Huntingdon School Board Approves $3 Million Loan

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The Huntingdon School Board met for their regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, September 21 and approved a financing bond issue to use for needed renovation work.
 
The consent agenda included a number of items including approval of the balance sheets and minutes from the August meeting along with budget amendments. A funding application for Title IX McKinney-Vento was approved. A funding application for ESSER 3.0 and ESSER Addenda Documents was approved. The board acknowledged the hiring of Anna Mitchell as an Educational Assistant in the Middle School, Renee Allen as an Educational Assistant in the Primary School, and Tina Hicks for Food Service in the Primary School.
 
Leading off the regular agenda was discussion and action on a loan through the Tennessee Energy Efficient Schools Initiative. The school system is in the process of converting all of their lighting to LED lights and any funds from this would go to completion of this project. The board approved the resolution for the loan.
 
School Director Jonathan Kee did a brief update on the Primary School roof project which is a full roof replacement estimated at $721,000 or less.
 
Board members unanimously approved a Bond Resolution for Huntingdon Primary School Cafeteria, roof replacement, and additional future capital projects approved by the board. Scott Gibson, of Cumberland Securities, made a detailed presentation to the board prior to the vote. The school system is currently paying on remaining bonds in the amount of $3,089,187.52 from a 2013 bond issue for the next seven years. The new bond issue is for $3,000,000 in funds at 4% interest which will cost $4,879,900 over a twenty-year term to February 1, 2042.
 
Scott Carter, Supervisor of Technology for the Huntingdon School System, updated the board on current technology issues which include updating phone systems and updating the website for the Huntingdon School District. This project will include new items that will enable parents to see detailed information on their child’s academic progress. The general public will see a detailed calendar that includes all events involving the schools. This entire new web system is expected to be available before the current school year ends.
 
Carter informed the board that 1,500 Chromebooks have been applied for under a fully funded grant of $578,000. The current 3-year lease of computer equipment ended last year with the new lease expected to be 4-5 years. Carter stressed that absolutely no local money will be needed or involved to obtain the new Chromebooks.
 
School Director Kee recommended this year’s graduation information with Commencement set for Saturday, May 13, at 6 pm, at Paul Ward Stadium weather permitting. The backup date is Sunday, May 14, at the same time and place. The board approved Kee’s recommendation.
 
The board approved two board policy updates. The first policy regarded grading scale changes made by the state and the local policy was brought in line with the states policy. Specifically, it deals with students passing credit recovery. The new policy states a student shall receive a grade of sixty percent under the state uniform grading system.
 
The second policy change concerns a change in the school board meeting date and time. The discussion on this started during the August meeting and was finalized at this meeting. The school board meetings will now be on the third Wednesday of each month effective immediately. Both policy updates were unanimously approved by the board.
 
The school board approved a new School Board Attorney Representative. The previous board attorney was Michael King, recently elected to be General Sessions Judge. King recommended John Whitworth, an attorney from Camden, to be the new school board attorney. It was explained that the attorney is used as needed and not on a contract basis. Whitworth was approved by the board.
 
School Board Officers were elected for two-year terms. Dr. Lee Carter was reelected as Board Chairman while Brittany Foster was reelected Vice Chairman. Morgan Butler was elected Secretary.
 
Before adjourning, the next school board meeting was announced for Wednesday, October 19.