By Ryan Lewis
Correspondent
JASPER, Tenn. - For months, the Marion County Commission has been trying to work out the details on the creation of an education foundation board of directors.
The foundation was approved by commissioners in May, but the specifics of the board's purpose and makeup took several months to sort out.
Recently, the fine points of the new board were announced.
Commissioner Les Price, who is also the chairman of the commission's education committee, said the foundation's composition was one of the top priorities.
"We talked at some length about the size of the board," he said. "It would be a nine-member board, and hopefully, nonpolitical. We want to move this forward with individuals that have knowledge of the educational process."
The new education board will include three county commissioners, a delegate from the Marion County Department of Education, a representative from Chattanooga State and three at-large members, officials said.
Price said there also will be a member from Kimball, Tenn.
County administrators hope that the three at-large positions will consist of local business leaders who will represent all areas of the county.
Price said the education foundation's job will be to advise the County Commission on matters concerning the new training center and will try to insure its continued growth.
"Chattanooga State is the player now, but they're not the only player," he said. "There could be other universities and schools that might want to do something down there. It would partly be the job of this board to seek those people out."
Each of the new board members will serve staggered terms, but officials said they want to wait until after the upcoming elections before seeking out possible candidates.
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.