Thursday's Internet Edition, September 02, 2010.

At last Thursday’s Roane Board of Education meeting, Natalie Freshwater, 38, of Spencer was named principal at Walton. Freshwater has served as assistant principal at Roane County High School the past three years and replaces John Putnam, who held the Walton position for a year.

Just last month, Freshwater gave up the assistant’s job at RCHS to become county attendance coordinator, based at RCHS, a job that becomes vacant with her transfer,

Freshwater previously taught science at RCHS and Spencer Middle. She also works as a lab technician at Roane General Hospital. She is a graduate of West Virginia University and Salem International.

Brier, 52, of Ripley replaces Freshwater as the assistant principal at RCHS. He has taught art at the school since it opened in 1993 and served as the school’s soccer coach the only year the sport was offered at RCHS.

The Pennsylvania native attended Marietta College, Clarion University of Pennsylvania and Edinboro State College and has a master’s in administration from Marshall University. He has spent his career in education, which began in 1980, in the Roane County School system with stints at Spencer Jr. High, Spencer Primary Center, Walton High and Walton Elementary schools

The entire personnel agenda was held up by a closed session requested by board members Tom Young and Paul Cummings.

After 50 minutes, the board returned to open session when it became obvious the source of controversy involved an extra-duty contract proposed for a member of the maintenance department.

Superintendent Steve Goffreda made a similar proposal in the past, before two new members joined the board last month.

Under the proposal, Gary King would be paid $5,000 per year to replace filters in HVAC systems in county schools.

Goffreda presented a cost-analysis for that position, which, including another $2,000 for purchasing filters, was well below proposals submitted by private contractors that began at nearly $17,000 per year, or $13,000 if the contractor was not required to pay federal or state prevailing wage.

Upon returning to open session, only Greg Boggs, one of the new members, voted for the proposal. Young and the other new member, Chris Mealey, voted against it. Cummings refused to vote unless the item was removed from the personnel agenda. Board president Joe Painter did not vote.

Goffreda removed the extra-duty contract from the list and the personnel agenda passed. Young then moved to put the position on the agenda for the next meeting, which passed 4-1 with Boggs opposed.

Personnel items approved were:

ν Resignations: Anna Hardway, Title I teacher and Scott Whoolery, physical education/health teacher, both at Walton; Kevin Brier, noon detention supervisor and Jillian Bright, fall and spring JV cheerleading coach, both RCHS; Christopher Lacy, substitute bus operator.

ν Leaves of absence: Misty Brohard, teacher, Walton for maternity leave; Dawn Paxton, for school year 2010-11.

ν Transfers: Freshwater, from attendance officer based at RCHS to principal at Walton, with 20 days extended employment; Brier, from art teacher to assistant principal, RCHS with 10 days extended employment; Loana Hoffman, from LD/MI/BD/AU teacher based at SMS to RCHS; Pam McDonough, from 6th grade to 4th grade teacher, Geary Elementary/Middle; Andrea Putnam, from literacy coordinator, Walton to 1st grade teacher, Geary; Marilyn Taylor, from 1st grade teacher to literacy coordinator, Geary; Bonita Schreckengost, from Art/LD/MI/BD teacher, Geary to art teacher, RCHS.

ν Remove from transfer list and assigned: Linda Keaton, kindergarten aide, Geary.

ν Removed from RIF list and assigned: Amy Aylor, 5th grade teacher, SMS; Jackie Higginbotham, 1st grade teacher, Walton.

ν Employments: Nona Perkins, literacy coordinator, Walton; Elizabeth Cobb, 6th grade teacher and Larissa Kennell, early childhood coordinator, both at Geary; Mindy Ellis, special education aide/supervisory aide, based at Spencer Elementary School; substitute teachers Beth Rhodes, John Workman, John Richardson and Phyllis Hickman, substitute aide Jo Ann Nutter and Roger Miller, substitute administrator.

ν Extra-curricular assignments: in-school tutors: Becky Hildreth (SES), Tracy Keaton (Geary) Jimelle Salyers (Walton); after-school tutors: Beth Tawney (Geary), Jennifer Hunt (Walton); after-school NuPA coordinator, Ashley Linkinoggor (Geary); beginning teacher mentors Sue Knotts and Don Williams (RCHS), Lorra Tanner (Geary), David Halcomb (Walton); Tammy Roberts, beginning teacher mentor and academic math coach (Reedy Elementary); Cari Ward, homecoming coordinator (RCHS); Robert Pavalok, interim asst. football coach (Walton) and Marion Sloan, bus operator/aide, to Roane Jackson Technical Center and during morning building constriction course, contingent upon enrollment of special needs student.

The board also approved the 10-year facilities plan presented at the last meeting by architect Kent Gandee and heard a presentation on prescription drug abuse by students involved in the PATCH program.

Also approved were:

ν Contract bus runs: Clerc Daniel, Speed/Rush Creek, $108.02 per day, or $81.64 for Round Knob Road only; Lois Smith, Collins Fork Road, $88.80 and Julie Conley, Pine Grove Road, $136.48.

The board also heard a suggestion from RCHS athletic director Don Williams regarding the need for a trainer for the RCHS football program.

The required position is filled only on a temporary basis until the start of school. Williams asked the board to consider combining the position with that of a full-time substitute teacher to attract a fully certified trainer interested in relocating here.

The next board meeting was set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26 at RCHS.