A special session of the Hamilton County Board of Education was canceled an hour and a half before the meeting was scheduled to begin Thursday, further postponing a vote on whether to approve a five-year contract with Teach for America.
At the board’s Oct. 18 regular monthly meeting, board members clashed over whether to approve an agreement with the nationally known nonprofit organization aimed at recruiting teachers.
About half the board members were ready to approve the contract that night, but others claimed they hadn’t had enough time or done enough research to feel prepared to vote. The special session was called in order to address the postponement.
At right, Hamilton County School Board Chairman Joe Wingate changes seats with Dr. Steve Highlander following his appointment as the new chairman during the Hamilton County School Board meeting Thursday, September 20, 2018 at the Hamilton County Department of Education in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The school board names a new chairman and vice-chairman during the meeting.
Hamilton County School Board member Tucker McClendon asks a question about the adoption of Future Ready 2023 Thursday, September 20, 2018 at the Hamilton County Department of Education in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Thursday was McClendon’s and Jenny Hill’s first meeting as school board members. “We wanted to have a full board there for the vote, and there were some circumstances that weren’t going to permit all nine board members to be there. I felt it was an important enough thing to vote on to have everyone there,” said board Chairman Joe Wingate, of District 7.
Board member Tucker McClendon, of District 8, said he was frustrated that Thursday’s meeting was canceled.