Huntingdon School Board Extends Kee's Contract

The Huntingdon Special School District (HSSD) Board of Education met Wednesday, January 21, at the Board of Education building with only a few items on the agenda: discussing superintendent Dr. Jonathan Kee's contract, discussing the 2027-28 school calendar and officially approving the naming of the Eric Swenson Field at Huntingdon High School and the Bill Ezell and David Hale Gymnasium at Huntingdon Middle School.

The board unanimously agreed to extend Kee's contract to June 30, 2028 — a 12-month extension from his previous contract with the district.

The board adopted the 2027-28 district calendar two years in advance. The approved calendar, already adopted by Carroll County, decides students will start back to school August 3, 2027. Students will have the usual holiday breaks — three days out of school for Thanksgiving and two weeks out of school for winter break. Students will return from break January 4, 2028. Spring break will be the last week of March, and classes will end May 18, 2026, for students.

The board also "officially" approved the naming of two HSSD properties after privately approving the dedications with Kee.

In December, Kee announced that the playing surface at Paul Ward Stadium would be named in Coach Eric Swenson's honor after the head football coach became the all-time wins leader at Huntingdon High School and led the Huntingdon Mustangs to a state championship victory.

In January, former coaches Bill Ezell and David Hale became the namesakes for Huntingdon Middle School's gymnasium. Over the course of 37 years, Ezell coached high school baseball, softball, girls' basketball and football and middle school football and boys' basketball. Hale coached basketball for 43 years, including 37 years in Carroll County.

Student representatives Madison Dill and Page Costello updated the board on high school news. The high school just recently wrapped up homecoming week, and both representatives agreed students were most receptive to the school's pajama day and "Blue and Gold" day festivities. The Future Farmers of America convention is coming up, and the club has many activities scheduled for February. HOSA – Future Health Professionals students are also attending a state convention in the coming months. The Youth Leadership Carroll County group attended a meeting that morning.

Applications are open for next year's student representatives. The chosen students —  a rising junior and a rising senior — will also attend Tennessee's Student Congress on Policies in Education (SCOPE) conference in March at Belmont University. Applications are due in February.

School board members received gift cards from Huntingdon schools in honor of School Board Appreciation Week, which falls January 26-30, 2026.

Kee reported that Gränges will foot the bill to give 60 state championship rings to the Huntingdon Mustangs. There will be a ring ceremony in the near future.

Brick is going up on the baseball press box, and construction should be finished before the baseball season starts.

Kee recognized HSSD's grounds crew for keeping schools' campuses clean despite fallen leaves and recent cold weather. He also thanked the district's food service staff for their work this year for maintaining either a 100 or 99 score in all of their health inspections this year.