Left to right, Kingsport Superintendent of Schools Chris Hampton recognizes Melissa Woods, outgoing school board president, for her three years in that position as Vivian Altizer and incoming board President Brandon Fletcher look on.
Left to right, outgoing Kingsport school board President Melissa Woods leads her last meeting Tuesday night as Superintendent Chris Hampton looks past the vase of flowers he presented her in honor of her three years heading the board.
Left to right, Kingsport Superintendent of Schools Chris Hampton recognizes Melissa Woods, outgoing school board president, for her three years in that position as Vivian Altizer and incoming board President Brandon Fletcher look on.
RICK WAGNER/six rivers media
Left to right, Kingsport Superintendent of Schools Chris Hampton recognizes Melissa Woods, outgoing school board president, for her three years in that position as Vivian Altizer and incoming board President Brandon Fletcher look on.
By RICK WAGNER/rwagner@sixriversmedia.com
Left to right, outgoing Kingsport school board President Melissa Woods leads her last meeting Tuesday night as Superintendent Chris Hampton looks past the vase of flowers he presented her in honor of her three years heading the board.
KINGSPORT — From Aug. 4-20, the new Centegix lanyard card alert system was used 46 times and worked well, Chief Student Services Officer Jim Nash told the Board of Education Tuesday night.
The cards that formally went into use at the start of the 2025-26 school year allow teachers and other school system employees to push a button on the credit-card sized devices three times to notify school level personnel of issues.
Multiple pushes, until the devices vibrate for longer than it does for three clicks, will result in a school lockdown, Nash and Assistant Superintendent of Administration Andy True said after the meeting and Nash said during his presentation.
The system cost a little more than $700,000 and was discussed by the board back in November, with a target date of being in use by August of 2025. The board at that meeting approved the purchase from the Centegix Safety Platform with a CrisisAlert System from Central Technologies Inc.
In a report at Tuesday night’s school board work session, Nash said the 46 uses of the cards broke down as follows: four medical, 34 behavioral and eight drills. He said during the three weeks in use, the system learned that substitute teachers could use the devices appropriately.
The cards are active at all schools, the Administrative Support Center or central office and on school transportation or buses. All staff have been trained and new staff are trained as hired. Centegix is implemented during drills at schools.
“We’re very thankful to have it,†Nash said, a sentiment echoed by school board President Melissa Woods.
“Everyone was OK,†Nash said of the four medical alerts. “I think they were all student related.â€
In addition, David Sewell, supervisor of maintenance and custodial services, said the cards can help his employees even when working in school buildings late at night.
In other action, the board received a report on summer learning, other student services issues, facilities and maintenance and nine policy amendments the board is to vote on at its meeting next month. Most of the policy changes will be at the behest of the Tennessee School Boards Association.
Board members attended the regional TSBA meeting in Hamblen County Monday night.
The work session, where no votes could be taken, marked the last meeting where Woods heads the board.
At the end of the meeting, Hampton went to the speaker’s podium to honor Woods, who after three years heading the board last month was elected vice president. She will swap positions with Brandon Fletcher, who will become president Sept. 1. The board unanimously made the change at its Aug. 12 board meeting.
Hampton lauded Woods for her “service, vision and willingess to make tough decisions,†calling her a leader with “integrity and compassion.â€
“She listens when it would be easier to speak,†Hampton said before presenting her a vase of flowers.
“That is not expected but very much appreciated,†Woods said. “I think what we are doing is making a difference in the lives of our kids and the community.â€
