Members of the Carter County Board of Education discussed several matters in their Thursday meeting, including the purchase of new cafeteria equipment, ball game admission prices and the potential sale of excess property.
Director of School Nutrition Lindsey Feathers presented Board members with two bids for the replacement or purchase of need equipment for the cafeterias at several schools. Among the items to be purchased are new ovens to replace some 1960s models, a steamer, food warmers, coolers, heating cabinets, and shelving, Feathers said.
The lowest bid came in at around $74,620. Feathers told Board members the school system has worked with the company that submitted the lowest bid before and has been pleased with them.
“This will be turnkey equipment,” Feathers said. “They will come in and take out the old and put in the new.” Feathers added the company will handle all electrical hook ups so there will be no need to bring in an electrician for the equipment replacements.
Board member Ronnie McAmis made a motion to approve the lowest bid and purchase the equipment. The motion was seconded by Board member David Buck and passed unanimously on a vote. Carter County Finance Director Christa Byrd informed the Board will come from the Food Service Program’s fund balance which is separate from the school system’s fund balance.
The Board had previously discussed the price of admission to junior high school level athletic events and asked Director of Schools Dr. Kevin Ward to look into admission prices in neighboring school systems. The review of prices came in response to increases in the amount of money needed to pay referees to officiate the games and the cost of having security present at the games.
“The junior highs are having trouble paying for officials and security and still making any money,” Ward said.
During Thursday’s meeting, Ward reported currently Greene County charges $5 admission across the board to both adults and children; Sullivan and Johnson Counties charge $3 across the board; and T.A. Dugger Junior High School charges $4 for adults and $2 for children.
Currently Carter County schools charge $3 for adults and $2 for children to attend junior high school athletic events.
“I’ll make the motion to set it at $4 and $2,” McAmis said, adding that price was in line with T.A. Dugger which is the closest other junior high school level athletics. “That way the students aren’t paying any more, the adults are paying the extra dollar.”
The motion was seconded by Board member Ladonna Stout Boone and passed unanimously on a vote.
Buck suggested the Board review the policy of allowing certain groups of individuals free admission to the games, saying that could be costing the schools money.
CTE Program Director Mickey Taylor said during his last year as a principal at Unaka High School about six years ago the school made all free admissions sign into a log book. At the end of one year, Taylor said the school reviewed the sign ins and saw the money lost on free admissions totaled to $5,100.
Members of the Board decided to review the free admission policy during their September meeting.
In other business, the Board voted to bring the subject of selling a piece of excess property located on Highway 91 back up for discussion. During the group’s July meeting the Board voted to table the sale of the property after some members of the Carter County Commission expressed a possible interest by the county in purchasing the land.
“Since I was the one to table it, I will make the motion to bring it back off the table,” McAmis said. “I’ve not heard anything back from the county.”
Ward said the matter was discussed briefly during Monday’s Commission meeting but nothing was decided.
The Board voted unanimously to bring the matter back up from the table. The Board will consider the sale of the property during their September meeting when they will also consider three proposals from auctioneers regarding auction services for the sale of excess property.
Byrd provided copies of the proposals from the three different companies to the Board members and asked them to carefully consider and compare the companies before making their decision in September.