Lewis County Herald - Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898

The Lewis County Board of Education met in regular session on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lewis County Middle School Auditorium located on Park Avenue South.

All members were present: Chair-Glenda Atkinson, Vice-Chair Johnny Clayton, Derek Cotham, Cassie Couch, Paula Dyer, Blake Farr, Lindsey Himes, Jackie Holt, and Phyllis Townsend.

Farr motioned to approve the minutes from the meeting on December 8, 2020, adopt the agenda and approve the second quarter warrants from the beginning of October through the end of December.

COVID-19

Director Pace informed board members that the COVID-19 numbers are relatively low. According to the school system’s website, there are currently six active cases within Lewis County Schools.

A total of 92 staff members have used 643.5 sick days due to COVID-19, which would be an additional $30,000 cost to the planned budget.

He then pointed out that the COVID vaccines are now available for teachers and Sasha Powers, Coordinated School Health Director, would send out a survey to teachers to get an estimate as to how many would be interested in getting the vaccine.

FFCRA Leave Policy

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act policy, which states that employees are entitled to two weeks paid sick leave if affected by COVID-19, was brought up for revision.

Vice Chairman Clayton made a motion to revise the policy for an ending date of the current 2020-2021 school year instead of March 31, 2021, so that policy would not have to be brought back to the board again for revision.

Expanded FMLA Leave

Under the FFCRA, an employee qualifies for FMLA leave if the employee is unable to work or telework due to the need to care for his/her son or daughter because of a school or child care facility closure or because the person who regularly provides child care (i.e. this could include a family member or a neighbor) is unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.

Full-time or part-time employees who have been on the payroll for thirty (30) calendar days prior to the beginning of the leave are eligible for expanded FMLA leave (EFMLEA). The amount of leave may be impacted by any prior use of FMLA.

School Funds

It was reported that the Lewis County School System’s General Purpose Fund stood at $3,322,772.15 on the day of the meeting. Director Pace told the board that 35 percent of that budget had been spent through December 31, 2020, which was about the normal amount spent this time of year.

Pace pointed out that there had been an increase in fuel costs and felt that the price would most likely continue to go up in the next few months.

The Board of Education had spent 61.11 percent of their budget due to insurance expenses that were paid up front.

The Federal Projects Fund stood at $367,038.16.

Pace informed board members that MLEC did not have any grants to aid in the cost of replacement windows for the Intermediate School, but hoped that the cost could be covered by the hopeful ESSR 2.0 funds.

The ESSR 2.0 funds should provide the Lewis County School System with approximately 1.8 million dollars. The money, once received, would not have to be spent until 2023 and has flexible perimeters as to how it can be spent.

In addition to replacing windows, Pace hoped it would cover the purchase of new electronic devices and help cover the expenses for COVID sick days. He announced that a Leadership meeting would be held next week and encouraged each board member to be there, ready to give their input.

Other General Updates

Director Pace reported that the resignations of Teresa Clayburn, LCES Paraprofessional, and Emma Creasy, LCIS Paraprofessional, had been accepted as well as the leave of absence for full-time custodian, Dorinda Yants, effective December 2, 2020, through February 26, 2021.

Director Pace also stated Allen Trull, Supervisor of Student and Support Services, had taken the lead in the USDA pre-loan application process and provided requested information to USDA representative Vance Hamilton. Pace then affirmed his favorable impression of Hamilton and said if the project disturbed more than 10 acres then there would be more environmental studies to be completed.

At the end of the meeting, Chair Atkinson announced that the next Board of Education meeting would be held on February 9, 2021 at 6 pm in the Middle School Auditorium.