Huntingdon to Provide Free Student Lunches

HUNTINGDON (June 19) — Students at Huntingdon Special School District will have free breakfast and lunches beginning with the 2024-25 school year.

Dr. Jonathan Kee, director of schools, said lunch will be free of charge beginning in August. Breakfast has been free for many years. The free lunches are supported through the Community Eligibility Provision (USDA). Lunches were not free during the immediate past year. Students had unpaid lunches totaling $1,090. The Board voted to clear those remaining charges by transferring funds from the General Purpose Fund to the Cafeteria Fund.

Certified faculty and administrators will receive a $2,500 increase in their salary schedule and non-certified staffers will receive a five-percent raise, beginning with the July pay period. Extended contracts include an hourly rate of $20 to $25.

Students will also be admitted free to school athletic events, and the school system will reimburse the athletic departments for the admission fee.

In the 2024-25 budget beginning July 1, the General Purpose Fund is $12,936,578 (an addition of $133,090 as compared to the current year); Federal Projects is $859,887 (down $2,333,169 from the current budget), Cafeteria Fund is $811,415 (up $11,815), and Debt Service is budgeted at $600,531 (down $67,775).

The total budget is $15,208,411, down $2,465,319.

All the federal funds for schools from ESSER, a Pandemic Relief fund, expire June 30, 2024. With the funds, many schools made significant improvements to structures, air conditioning, and teaching.

Substitute teacher pay increased to $80 per day for non-certified substitutes and $100 for certified. The previous rates were $70 and $90 respectively.

The school’s certified property tax rate remains unchanged at $1.1211 per $100 assessed value. That is comprised of 87 cents for the General Purpose School Fund and 25 cents for Debt Service.

The annual budget also includes a four-year agreement with the Carroll County School District to provide student transportation, career-technical training (county vocational school), and alternative school services. The new state school funding formula — Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Formula — essentially reduced direct funding of the county’s school system, which offers vocational school training, student transportation, and alternative school. TISA funding added more funding for each student in the five special school districts. Now each special school district contracts and provides funding for the county’s district. Hollow Rock-Bruceton opted to contract for one year with the county.

Dr. Kee announced the school system’s open enrollment policy, which allows non-resident students to attend. This year, 18 applicants were received, all of whom were approved for admission. An estimated 31 non-resident students, including returning students, will attend.

All students can register for admission to the school system through an online portal.

A parcel of real estate at 310 Hale Street was approved for purchase for $17,500. The parcel is part of the school system’s plan to improve school safety. This parcel’s roadside land creates a traffic obstruction. Once the city obtains the land, it will reduce the land, which obstructs the motorists’ view.

The parcel is the third purchased with a goal of purchasing two more.

The Board voted to continue membership in the Tennessee (small) School Systems for Equity coalition for an annual fee of $1,930. About 80 school districts participate in the program to lobby for equitable funding for small schools throughout Tennessee.

Angie Bunn will retire from the school system on June 30 after 46 years of service. Dr. Kee praised Mrs. Bunn for her service.

The Student Resource Officer at HHS accepted different employment, so the school is working with the Town of Huntingdon Police Department to have another SRO at the school.

Other resignations include: April Davis - HHS Science, Kathryn Spencer - HPS Educational Assistant; and Dylan Poole - HHS History. Doris Smith resigned as a part-time food service worker at HMS.

Cathy Spears was hired as the HHS Math teacher, and Megan Jones as the HMS 6th Grade English Language Arts teacher.

The Board also approved a mandatory Code of Conduct for campus visitors.

The Board approved an emergency preparedness policy requiring schools to develop emergency plans with local police and fire departments. The policy includes a provision for students not to immediately exit the classrooms when the fire alarm is activated, a state law that arose after an armed intruder activated the fire alarms to force students into the hallways.

A state-mandated policy also requires school officials to report any assaults or threats of mass violence to law enforcement. Dr. Kee said that was the local school’s policy, but was approved as a written board policy.

The Board approved for homeschoolers to participate in school athletics and added band. The home-schooled students must attend practices during and after school.

Dr. Kee said all substitute teachers must participate in safety training. Last year, the school conducted a state-mandated off-campus evacuation, which he noted provided some great lessons and insights. Substitutes should be familiar with the school’s safety procedures.

The school is also seeking a state Pre-K grant to add a second classroom for special needs students.

Dr. Kenneth Newman, a professor of Education at Union University, and Jason Compton, a 1997 graduate of Huntingdon High School were guests at the meeting. Both are members of the Jackson-Madison County Board of Education.

Dr. Kee said the two were very instrumental in his life. Compton was a senior at HHS and Dr. Kee was a freshman at his alma mater. Compton helped instill the confidence in a young Kee in high school.

Dr. Newman instructed Kee at Union as an undergrad and graduate student. Kee said Newman changed his perspective of education and often used comics to emphasize points.

“I am not here (as director of schools) without you,” said Kee of the two men.

Dr. Lee Carter, chairman of the Huntingdon School Board, said the Board groomed Dr. Kee for the position of director when he first returned to his alma mater as a teacher. Carter said Kee and the Board do not have any conflicts because their mission is straightforward—to serve.

Dr. Carter said all the previous directors of school have retired from the position. He expects the same for Dr. Kee.

The next meeting is July 16, 5 p.m. at the Board Office, High Street, Huntingdon.