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Cocke County School Board meets
Members of the Cocke County School Board meeting Tuesday evening were brought up to date on plans for school safety. Because money has not been made available for a School Resource Officer at every school, armed security guards recently have been posted outside every school. Assistant Director Casey Kelly said the state has appropriated $30 million for the new fiscal year. Currently the system receives $25,000 annually toward funding the three SRO's, and Kelly expects that funding will double. But some federal funds may also be available for some safety funding. A program will train local school employees to evaluate all of the schools, and then the system will apply for funds needed for the additional SRO's. The system also receives about $2.2 million annually in federal funding, mostly through Title 1 funding aimed at helping low-income students. Director Manny Moore said enrollment is dropping in some schools while others are overcrowded. Reduced enrollment means less money from the state and so efforts are underway to cut costs in the system. Because of a computer malfunction at the state level, some TNReady testing results were not received in Nashville. As a result the board agreed to exempt TN Ready results from the student's final grade. Newport Planner Gary Carver addressed the board regarding the planned construction this summer of a sidewalk along Hedrick Drive. It will begin at the Cosby Highway and stretch to the parking lot of the Cocke County High School, across Hedrick Drive from the Central Office. A second phase will come later, extending the sidewalk to West Broadway. Attendance Officer Dennis Balch reported that a new state attendance law will go into effect on July 1, including a modification of the truancy regulations. In a related issue, the board is trying to determine how to handle attendance or discipline issues of students attending a school outside of their district. Those students have transportation issues that then are reflected in the truancy records of the school. The board also approved several dollar expenditures;$23,500 for two welding stations at Cocke County High; $55,250 for paving the Del Rio Elementary parking lot and $165,000 for needed cafeteria equipment at five schools. Members were invited to attend a Spring Into Summer Reading Festival planned for Saturday at the Cocke County High football stadium. In case of inclement weather, the activities will move to the Cocke County Recreation Department. The event from 10 am till 2 pm, is sponsored by Save the Children. It is geared toward children from birth through the Eighth grade. Children will meet Cat in the Hat and other characters and will enjoy free books and other activities.
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Return to Today's News Stories - Front PageThursday, April 29, 2021
US 411 Project News
Mill Creek Wildfire Update
More Bad News For Smokies' Fans
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Mill Creek Wildfire doubles in size
Goodbye Smokies?
Keep Cocke County Beautiful
Cocke Co. High School Remote Learning today!
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
The fireflies are coming!
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Gas prices drop
Tennessee keeps all US House seats
Monday, April 26, 2021
Boat accident victim ID'd
Traffic stop yields drug arrest
Cocke County Wildfires
Friday, April 23, 2021
Leaving WNPC
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Newport drug roundup
Cruise Against Cancer
Jobless numbers
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