| School board extends UC classes to May 28 | | Posted: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 9:02 pm
| By KEVIN BOWDEN
Staff Reporter
Students in the Union City School System just had their school year extended to the day after Memorial Day.
Classes were originally scheduled to dismiss for the school year on May 23; however, the Union City High School girls’ basketball run at the state tournament means classes won’t dismiss until May 28.
While the UCHS girls’ team was competing at the state tournament, classes in the city school system were dismissed for two days, prompting the change in the last day of classes for Union City students.
Students will be dismissed from school early on the final day of classes, which is the day after Memorial Day. There will be no school on Memorial Day.
The Union City Board of Education approved the change in the school calendar Monday during a brief board meeting held at Union City High School.
Also during the meeting, the board was updated on a series of personnel matters.
As the school year draws to a close in Union City, 10 school system employees are retiring or have resigned.
The Union City Board of Education was updated on the resignations and retirements by Director of Schools Gary Houston. He announced the resignation of longtime food service supervisor Billie Rich.
The board was informed of the retirements of four staff members from UCES — teacher Cindy Kuberski, secretary Pat McCarver, cafeteria manager Dianne Thomason and cafeteria worker Sherry Starks. UCHS custodian Kay Craig Hill has also retired.
Those teachers who have resigned include Union City Middle School teacher Laura Oliver, UCHS teacher and football coach Rick Mallory and UCES teachers Courtney Bondurant and Suzanne Doss, according to Houston.
He informed the board he has hired Mary Bell to replace Ms. Hill, and he said he has also hired Jamie Fox to work at the high school cafeteria. Tony Westbrooks has been hired as a maintenance worker.
The school board’s consent agenda was unanimously approved and included granting professional licenses for teachers Abby Cruce, Lindsey Beth Hughes and Melissa Templeton-Heuck. Also included as part of the consent agenda was the purchase of a new $82,766.79 school bus from Cumberland IC Bus Sales of Nashville and approval of Allen Searcy Building Contractor as the construction manager for a window replacement project at UCMS.
Monday night’s meeting marked the return of Houston, who has been out for the past three weeks recovering from surgery.
In his director’s report, Houston announced, “A lot of things are going on” in a raspy voice.
“We are very grateful to have you back with us,” board chairman Glenda Caudle said.
Houston updated the board on all the athletic and academic activities taking place in the city school system while also expressing his gratitude to his administrative staff for filling in during his absence.
“That makes me feel good,” he said about his staff taking care of things while he has been recovering from his surgery.
“They’ve done a superb job of taking care of business,” Houston said.
Among the school activities taking place this spring are student testing, spring sports, the upcoming Rotary Relays and, immediately following the meeting, the UCHS Top Ten Banquet, which was held in the commons area. Retired Congressman John Tanner was the keynote speaker.
Prior to the start of Monday night’s school board meeting, Mrs. Caudle led in prayer and once the meeting started, student representative Joseph Shanks led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Staff Reporter Kevin Bowden may be contacted by email at kmbowden@ucmessenger.com.
Published in The Messenger 4.30.13 | | | | |
