By Adam Young

Staff Writer

TAZEWELL, Tenn. — The Claiborne County Board of Education (BOE) met in regular session on Thursday evening at the Director of Schools’ Office to discuss the tentative budget for the 2010-2011 school year.

Chairman Sam Owens stated that members needed to approve the school budget for the upcoming school year, so that Eddie Shoffner, director of schools in Claiborne County, could present it to the county court for their consideration/approval.

According to Owens, the main differences in this year’s budget — in comparison to the previous one — is that “it requires no tax increase and maintains all existing positions in the school system.”

Three school buses, estimated at $250,000, were also added to the budget this year, said Owens.

Board member Dave Chesney, who missed the budget planning meeting due to illness, wanted to offer an amendment to the budget before it was presented to county court.

“I would like to ask the Claiborne County Board of Education to amend the 2010-2011 school budget to include hiring a guidance teacher for Ellen Myers and Springdale — and that we, as a board, direct the director of schools to advertise and hire one person before the start of the 2010-11 school year,” said Chesney, adding that the person hired should work a rotating schedule (two and a half days at each school).

“The reason for this is we have 470 kids at Springdale. It is a great burden on the faculty members and administrators to work with these children, and to have to take the time off from their class schedules. I think somewhere in that budget we can find someone to do this job... It is their need,” explained Chesney, asking that the school board seriously consider the revision as an alternative in helping out the district schools in need.

“This has got to be a balanced budget... We would have to have a workshop with the financial people first, because the money has to come from somewhere,” Owens told Chesney.

“It can be done, but it needs to be looked at,” he added.

Board member Cindy Debusk weighed in and said that she was not ready to make a on-the-spot decision, commenting that she needed to consult with other district representatives to clarify demand first.

“We can do this at a later date, but I don’t want to make a change like that without discussing it first... I just don’t want to do that without discussion,” declared Debusk.

Member Michelle Huddleston also expressed her concern with the impromptu amendment.

“Certainly, I am not opposed to getting a guidance position at Ellen Myers, but I am fearful of how this complicates the budgeting process and that timeline. I wish we could take care of our budgeting issues and then, in a separate directive, ask that the budget be amended after this position is filled,” she said.

Director Shoffner said that the board should simply review the funds, and then try to seek full-time positions instead of part time, if feasible.

All board members agreed that the guidance situation within the district needed to be addressed and looked at closely — but as a separate issue.

“The board can do that and look at it and see, but we need to submit a budget to county court... The board at a later date, if they so choose, can rearrange it,” Owens explained.

Owens, again, maintained that the budget must to be balanced.

“You can’t just start moving money around unless you know what you’re going to do away with,” said Owens, adding that he was in no way opposed to the amendment but it needed to be looked at closer.

Member Bobby Drummonds then suggested that the board approve the budget as laid out, and give the chairman a directive to look into getting guidance counselors across the county.

“If we can find the money,” he concluded.

Due to confusion amongst board members, Chesney decided to drop the motion as long as he was assured that the situation would be addressed in a timely manner.

Members decided to examine the guidance position further, and discuss it — in depth — at the next regular-called meeting.

The board then approved the decision to present the budget to county court for approval.

In other business, board members agreed to support the decision to allow the public to elect the director of schools — and not the members themselves.

“I make the motion that the board stands to let the public elect the director of schools. It’s not us. We have no part in that, but we support the public in getting to elect the director of schools,” stated Drummonds.

Debusk seconded the motion.

“This has become an issue. Whether it’s something of our doing or not, it has truly become an issue,” concluded Debusk.

It was approved with a roll-call vote. No discussion was needed.

The board also approved the minutes of the June meeting and the payment of monthly bills on Thursday.

Adam Young is a Staff Writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. He can be contacted by e-mail at ayoung@heartlandpublications.com.