Thursday's Internet Edition, September 09, 2010.

Two new members joined the board for their first meeting Tuesday, including one who participated by telephone.

Chris Mealey, on vacation in North Carolina, cast votes by speaker phone during the board meeting at the Roane County High School library.

Greg Boggs also joined the board for his first meeting. The two new members replaced Russell Moore and Randy Whited, who did not seek re-election.

Tom Young nominated Painter, president the last two years, for another two years. Paul Cummings seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously.

The 62-year-old retired educator, whose career included time as a teacher, administrator and five years as assistant superintendent, said his top goal was to improve the county’s accreditation status.

A recent performance audit found several problems with the local school system.

“The number one thing has to be bringing Roane County to full accreditation,” Painter said after the meeting. “We have got to get this corrected.

“It’s going to take a team effort,” he said.

Board members received their first update on the plan that addresses the problems found in the audit. Painter said he wanted regular reports on the county’s improvement plan, including who was responsible for implementing each step.

Painter is starting the final two years of his second four-year term on the board.

He said his number one goal when he was first elected six years ago is under construction – an addition to Geary Elementary/Middle School.

“That is finally coming to fruition,” he said.

Painter said he was grateful for the confidence the other board members put in him by giving him another two years as president.

“I’m real excited about it, and I’m real flattered,” he said.

Young was elected vice president of the board, also for two years.

Painter was re-elected to serve on the Roane-Jackson Technical Center Administrative Council, and Cummings was named to the RESA V Board of Directors. Boggs was appointed alternate for both positions.

Mealey was elected to the WVU Extension Service Board.

The board also approved the resignation of RCHS special education teacher Arielle Boggs and hired Richard Lockhart as assistant wrestling coach at Spencer Middle.

Bids from Harris Oil for oil and diesel fuels for the upcoming fiscal year were also approved.

Job descriptions were approved for three positions to be paid for by grant funding, including a transformation specialist for Geary Elementary/Middle School, which has been identified as an underperforming school, a literacy coordinator and early childhood coordinator.

Goffreda also gave the final report from the energy cost avoidance program submitted by retired treasurer Paul Hughes. Since Hughes was stepping down, Goffreda said the county needed to find another program to help curb energy costs.

The next school board meeting was set for 7 p.m., Tuesday, July 20, following a 6 p.m. public hearing on the county’s proposed 10-year facilities plan.