Reporter’s Note
Thursday’s Hamilton County school board work session is the first public meeting of the board since the Hamilton County Commission rejected the district’s proposed fiscal year 2020 budget in June. The meeting could be a heated one. Will you be there? If not – or even if you are – follow reporter Meghan Mangrum on Twitter @memangrum for live updates from the boardroom.
– Meghan
THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION NEWS
Though it might feel like summer will never end in Chattanooga if you’re walking outside mid-day, Hamilton County Schools officials are preparing for the first day of school, which is officially less than a month away.
Last week, First Student Inc. showed off the dozens of brand-new buses that the transportation provider is readying for Aug. 7. The buses are outfitted with air conditioning, safety cameras and other security enhancements.
On Monday, the district’s top officials met at East Brainerd Elementary, where members of Superintendent Bryan Johnson’s senior leadership team and other central office staff members planned school bell schedules, bus routes and how to ensure new teachers get paid and classrooms are staffed when school starts.
In the coming weeks, the board of education will have much to talk about as it considers a new budget for the FY 2020 year and sends an amended budget back to the County Commission.
Mayor Jim Coppinger announced a joint meeting of the school board and the commission on July 23, but the school board has much to figure out before facing commissioners again.
The board will meet for the first time since the commission’s June 26 vote against a 34-cent property tax rate increase to fund education at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 11.
“Budget, behavior and buses” will be on the agenda as the board members also discuss a draft of the district’s new Code of Acceptable Behavior and Discipline.”
The board will meet again on July 15 for an agenda session ahead of its July 18 regular monthly board meeting.
Keeping reading for these stories and more!