Thursday's Internet Edition, July 24, 2008.

The gymnasium at Spencer Middle School, which previously served as Spencer High School, does not have adequate fire exits, facilities director Mike Offutt told Roane Board of Education members Monday.

He said the state fire marshal’s office has pointed out the problem in the past, but is now insisting that something be done.

He said architects had prepared two proposals that met the fire marshal’s recommendations.

One would require a wall be built between the two existing basketball courts, with one area to be used for storage. A large portion of the bleachers would also have to be fenced off from the public.

That option would cost more than $400,000.

The other option would also require that the auxiliary gym be walled off from the main floor and would increase the number of fire exits. That option is projected to cost almost $900,000.

Offutt said the fire marshal would not approve a less expensive plan to limit the number of people in the gym at one time.

If the changes were not made, he said the fire marshal’s office would order the gym be closed.

Offutt said some emergency funds were available from the state, but he did not know if this project would qualify for those funds.

He said he planned to meet with state officials to see if there are other options.

Board members noted that their request for almost $5 million to build a new gym and some classrooms at Geary Elementary/Middle School had been turned down.

That request can be submitted again next year.

Offutt updated the board on other facility issues and said it would cost $9,000 to $10,000 to tear down the old finance office on Chapman Avenue.

He said it was costing $5,000 to $6,000 per year to maintain the house that previously housed the former superintendent’s office adjacent to the old finance office.

Board member Randy Whited suggested making that home available for rent. Board members agreed to put that on the agenda for their next meeting.

New treasurer Karen Cummings, in her fourth day on the job, gave the board both good and bad news.

Under a $5 million appropriation approved by the legislature to help counties with higher fuel costs, Cummings said Roane would receive just over $60,000. She said the county had exceeded projected fuel costs by about $53,000, which would leave a carryover of $7,000.

On the other hand, she said the county had to return more than $88,000 to the state because a projected increase in enrollment actually ended up being a decrease.

“If we had grown as much as they thought we would, we could have kept the money,” Supt. Steve Goffreda said.

The board approved the following:

• Resignations: Emma Greenleaf, extra-curricular assignment as special education bus aide, Spencer Elementary; Jackie Milliken, newspaper advisor, Spencer Middle and Sarah Richardson, substitute teacher.

• Leave of absence: Brenda Cottrell, special education secretary, medical leave, July 3 to Aug. 31.

• Transfers: Michael Brohard, from third grade to fifth grade teacher, Walton Elementary/Middle; Nancy Moore, from science teacher, Spencer Middle to third grade, Walton; Amber Osborne, from social studies teacher, Roane County High School, to kindergarten teacher, Spencer Elementary, Barbara Branard, from cook II, RCHS to cafeteria manager, Spencer Elementary; Amie Anderson, from halftime cook II, Spencer Elementary to cook II, Walton; Betsy Jarvis, cook II, from Walton to RCHS and Janet Rucker, custodian III from Walton to RCHS.

• Removed from transfer list and assigned: Lisa Alfred, Title I teacher, Spencer Elementary and Jennifer McCulty, Title I teacher, Walton.

• Removed from RIF list and assigned: Tim McGlothlin, custodian III, Walton.

• Employments: Andrea Freshwater-Keaton, science teacher, grades 6-8, Walton and Kiera Zerrer, speech and language pathologist/speech assistant based at Spencer Middle.
• Extra-curricular assignments: Linda Coffindaffer, Title I summer school coordinator; Lisa Alfred, Debbie Fox and Sara Caldwell, Title I summer school teachers; Tamara Cook, Sandra Cooper, Lora Matheney and Pam Ritchie, summer school teachers; Wanda Miller, summer school cook, Ruby Anderson, summer school custodian and Curtis Stockner, summer school bus operator, all at Spencer Elementary; Reva Paxton, Title I summer school teacher, Kristina Starcher, summer school teacher and Paula Burgess, summer school custodian, all at Walton; Anna Hardway, after-school tutor and Tim Ashley, head boys basketball coach, both at Walton; Travis Corbitt, golf coach, Spencer Middle; Joyce Evans, summer employment, central office custodian; Terri Reichard, asst. track coach, Geary; Paula Workman, special education bus aide; James Slingerland, bus operator instructor/trainer and Jennifer Vorreyer, sign language interpreter for football.

The board also approved:

• Bids from Harris Oil for diesel fuel ($4.5957/gal.), biodiesel ($4.6519/gal.) and 15w40 oil ($7.93/gal.).

• Increases in the cost of school meals, which will now be $1 for full-price student breakfast and $1.25 for full-price student lunch in the elementary and middle schools and $1.50 at the high school. Extra milk will now cost 35 cents.

• Contracts with sign interpreter Andrew Weygand from June 23 to Aug. 16 and TSA Consulting as administrator for retirement plan compliance.

• Right-of-way agreement with the Walton Public Service District for the Clio/McKown Creek waterline extension.

The board also approved the annual Title I project presented by Title I director Glada Kinison. Kinison said the county would receive an additional $10,000 in federal funds for the remedial education program, which was not enough to cover salary increases. Because of funding, she said the program had been discontinued at Spencer Middle School.