West Carroll School Board Honors Retiring Supervisor Alred

ATWOOD (December 5) — During Thursday night’s meeting, the West Carroll Board of Education approved the retirement of Supervisor of Instruction Regina Alred.

A reception was held prior to the meeting in her honor, and the board members, administration and staff present all expressed appreciation for her service and well-wishes for her retirement.

Director of Schools Preston Caldwell said, “Mrs. Alred has been an excellent role model and educational foundation for everyone at West Carroll. She has an outstanding work ethic and tremendous passion in her work. During times of change, though the COVID pandemic, and when so much seemed uncertain in education, Mrs. Regina remained steadfast and unwavering in her role with West Carroll. It is her love for children and her desire to do what is best for them that kept her continuously focused in her career. West Carroll is blessed to have had Mrs. Regina as an educational leader in the district. Her knowledge, guidance, leadership and genuine care for children is exceptional, and she will truly be missed by all of us at West Carroll.”

The board heard an update from Kristin Lindsey on plans to convert part of the junior-senior high library into a career-readiness center, which would be a resource for students for things such as filling out job applications, completing industry-certification exams, taking headshots and more.

Director Caldwell presented information to board members about options for the required seven hours of annual training for members. He offered further assistance in coordinating between members and registering for the training sessions.

A lengthy discussion was held including West Carroll attorney Chris Hayden and Town of Trezevant attorney Charles Trotter on concerns raised by one student’s guardian.

A sixth grade student who lives near the elementary school in Trezevant and chooses some days to walk to school must cross Highway 79 to do so. The child’s guardian would like a crossing guard present at the crosswalk. A crossing guard has been stationed there in the past, but not in recent years.

The two attorneys agreed on the facts of the matter. The school district’s obligation is to provide transportation, which it does in the form of a bus route that stops near the student’s residence. The guardian has declined to have the student utilize the bus.

The crossing in question, Highway 79, is the property and responsibility of the Tennessee Department of Transportation. With the opening of the new bypass in the coming months, ownership of the roadway could potentially transfer to the Town of Trezevant.

In any case, the attorneys concurred that none of the three entities (the state, the town or the school district) have any obligation or liability to provide such an accommodation.

Hayden outlined the district’s options. The board could simply choose to hire a crossing guard. The board could also take no action at all. Another option would be for the board to determine the crossing to be a “special hazard,” a loosely-defined term in the legal statutes. That would trigger a need to reach out to the responsible party (currently TDOT) and request that action be taken to mitigate the hazard. Making such a determination is a discretionary decision for the board.

Board member Betty Wallace made a motion to take no action on the matter. Present members seconded and approved the motion unanimously.

Misty Mitchell and Kelly Weaver were absent.

The meeting adjourned after 50 minutes.

The board meets next on Thursday, January 9 at 6:30 p.m.