Grades, attendance records available
via the Internet says school board
By Bob Robinson
STAR STAFF
The Elizabethton School Board found itself in
a "heads you win and tails we lose" situation with the Tennessee
Department of Education (TDE) at its regular meeting last
evening.
After the board heard TDE had cut $130,000 from
the Elizabethton School System's enrichment programs, the
board learned TDE is requiring local school systems to purchase
new student informational management software. No financial
support is available from the State, however.
The software will allow student records, average
daily attendance information and other reports to be sent
to TDE "in their required format" via the Internet, according
to Ronnie Morton, Elizabethton City Schools technology coordinator.
Privacy concerns were expressed by several board
members, including Dr. Robert Sams. Morton assured the board
the data would be protected from hackers by a firewall.
After some discussion, the board approved the
expenditure of $76,470 for the purchase of software from Chancery
Software, Ltd., of Burnaby, British Columbia, one of three
companies certified by TDE but the only company "to get the
data to go through," according to Morton.
Installation of the software will begin the first
week of November. Training will begin in January 2002, and
continue through April for principals and secretaries.
When operational in three years, students and
parents will be issued a password to allow them to access
enrollment and academic information the school principal places
on the Internet, Morton told the board.
On the subject of the forthcoming Wheel Tax Referendum,
Board Member Bob Berry said if voters approve the tax, it
would benefit education.
In other action, the board:
* Approved the expenditure of $90,500 to defray
the balance of the $118,000 cost for installation of an elevator
at T.A. Dugger Junior High School (TAD). The elevator gives
students with mobility impairments greater accessibility to
classrooms on the second floor of the school.
* Amended the budget for the current fiscal year
to reflect increases in revenues for federal projects, totaling
$283,221, and general purpose budget, totaling $119,023.
* Approved Buddy Farmer field trip request to
Cookeville on Nov. 4; Perry Elliott field trip request to
Orlando, Fla., April 3-7; and Charlotte Ryan, Debbie Estep
and Jancey Bennett field trip request to Gatlinburg, May 10.
* Approved new hires -- Debbie Odom, TAD teacher
assistant; Stephanie Brace and Janet Duvall, part-time ESP
child care workers; and Rod Stipe, TAD interim teacher for
the remainder of the school year;
Transfers -- Dr. Judy Blevins from assistant
director of schools/curriculum director to director of schools;
Lucy Morton from East Side (ES) secretary/bookkeeper to systemwide
school nurse; and Jackie Guinn from ES teacher assistant to
ES secretary/bookkeeper;
Leaves of absence --Kim Lavin, learning academy
teacher; Jena Williams, Elizabethton High School (EHS) custodian;
and Brenda Hyder;
Expired -- Harold Ellis, TAD teacher;
Resignation of Dr. Dale Lynch, former director
of schools, effective Sept. 14, 2001; and,
Hiring of substitute teachers -- Melissa Farthing,
Lora Humphreys and Carmen Maines.
The board also heard a report from Bob Berry,
vice chairman, on the 2001 Fall District meeting in Hamblen
County; announcement of 2001 TSBA Leadership Conference and
Convention, Nov. 10-13, by board chairman Dr. Jonathan Bremer;
and announcement of a Board Policy Workshop to be held within
the next three weeks.
A "jump start" agreement between Northeast State
Technical Community College and EHS was also approved by the
board. There were 13 EHS students participating in the program
last year, 54 over the last four years, according to Ed Alexander,
EHS principal.
In final action, the board amended its Food Service
Management Policy which is updated yearly.
