By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN. (WLAF)- The Campbell County Board of Education met Tuesday evening, approving the future hiring of a third-party consulting firm to help maximize the “use of finding and make recommendations as to how to balance the budget for the upcoming year and further years.

This was a suggestion of BOE member Randy Heatherly at one of the recent budget and finance meetings.

Two policy changes on the second and final reading.  Policy changes include student alcohol and drug testing to now be done “in house”, as well as a policy change to the application process for student transfers within the system.  Both policy changes came out of the BOE policy committee.

Also approved on Tuesday was for Junior school board members to be appointed for the 2025-2026 school year. Mekhi Gibson was approved as the representative for Campbell County High School and Olivia Ulrich was approved to represent Jellico High School.

These student representatives will begin serving in August, according to Director of Schools Jennifer Fields, who said both students are “rising seniors.” Last year, the school board approved the addition of student representatives in a policy change and this year, a new state law requires junior board members in a new policy and to have a board member from each high school in the district.

“We are ahead of the game,” said policy and committee chair Lisa Fields.

Veteran CCHS teacher Billie Jo Ralston addressed the Board of Education on Tuesday evening regarding the budget deficit, being good stewards of funds and being equitable for all students and ending the “this side or that side of the mountain” mentality. Ralston finished by praying for the board and the school district.

In other business, it was approved to accept two bids, one for food services and another for janitorial supplies. Three vendors submitted bids for food services; the recommendation was to go with the low bidder of Cisco at $3,571,916.44. The other bid approved was for Janitorial supplies went to the low bidder of Ellison Supply at $47,836.55.

It was also approved to advertise for bid five special education buses as surplus. These buses had been used as parts prior and are non-running.

The BOE also approved to “gift an easement of LaFollette Middle School to LaFollette Utilities. This request is to upgrade and relocate existing water lines in that area, according to BOE Chair Jeffrey Miller.

Board member Brandon Johnson was the only no vote on this agenda item.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 6/12/2025-6AM)

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