County board passes “no idling” policy for buses
At Thursday’s meeting of the Franklin County School Board, board members approved a “no idling” policy that will allow for school buses to idle for no more than five minutes.
According to Assistant Superintendent Donald Borden, the state adopted the policy first and is now asking that each school system adopt a similar policy.
Borden said the state is addressing the issue of idling because the excess fumes can become a problem for children, teachers or staff who may have respiratory illnesses that are exposed to the fumes while waiting to load the bus or from the fumes wafting inside the school, especially in warmer months when windows might be open.
The state also said idling wastes fuel that should be conserved.
Borden said the state should be sending signs soon to put up at each school informing everyone of the policy.
In other business, the school board:
• Accepted the payment of bills for the period of Nov. 18, 2010, through Jan. 26.
• Approved the financial report for September, October and November of 2010.
• Approved mileage rate reimbursement paid to individuals traveling in privately owned vehicles on official business from 50 cents per mile to 51 cents per mile effective Jan. 1, 2011.
• Approved the school calendar for the 2011-2012 school year.
• Approved out-of-state trips for Red Bay High School’s golf program.
• Authorized the prohibition of one individual to attend basketball sporting events that Red Bay High School is involved in.
• Approved a leave of absence for Samantha Bain at Tharptown High School for educational reasons from Jan. 4, 2011, and returning May 9, 2011 or sooner.
• Accepted the resignation of Deborah Cole, CNP Assistant at Belgreen High School, effective retroactive to Jan. 4.
• Approved the retirement of Dianne Mims, bookkeeper at Tharptown High School, effective March 1 upon approval of disability by the Teachers Retirement System Board.
• Approved the transfer of Ryan Swinney from physical education teacher at East Franklin Junior High to physical education teacher at Phil Campbell Elementary School effective retroactive to Jan. 3.
• Approved the transfer of Trisha Humphres from special education teacher at Vina High School to fourth grade elementary teacher at Red Bay School effective retroactive to Jan. 3.
• Approved Katrina Petree as a school-wide Title I program computer information aide at Tharptown Elementary School for three hours per day.
• Approved Lanny Jones as the special education teacher at Vina High School effective retroactive to Jan. 3.
• Approved Brooke Pate as a temporary part-time music teacher at Belgreen High School effective retroactive to Jan. 3.
• Approved Donnie Roberts as a part-time physical education teacher/ grounds keeper/ girls basketball coach at Red Bay High School effective retroactive to Jan. 3.
• Approved Sherry Loden for a six-hour CNP assistant position at Red Bay High School.
• Approved Donna Horton for a five-and-a-half-hour CNP assistant position at Belgreen High School.
• Approved to supplement the salary of Lanny Jones at Vina High School for his position as junior high baseball coach and assistant football coach for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year.
• Approved to supplement the salary of Amy Hester at Vina High School for her position as the assistant softball coach for the 2010-2011 school year.
• Approved Keith Seahorn as the assistant coach for the golf program at Red Bay High School on a volunteer basis.
• Approved Tracy Elliott as the assistant coach for the golf program at Red Bay High School on a volunteer basis.
• Approved the TRACKS program retroactive hire list.
