BLOUNTVILLE — Sullivan County Schools officials are looking to fill a new position the Board of Education created at its Thursday evening meeting.
The board at the meeting voted 7-0 to create a new position of district data and accountability specialist, which would be someone with a minimum of a master’s degree to make about $72,000 a year, school officials said during a work session Thursday afternoon.
Money for the position would come from funds that had paid for an attendance and disciplinary coordinator position.
Mark Foster, a former high school principal, is retiring from that position. Director of Schools Chuck Carter said those duties, which include going to truancy court for students with attendance issues, will be absorbed by other employees at the central office or schools levels.
“We get a plethora of data each year,†Carter told the board during the work session. “It comes in big batches.â€
Carter recommended the new position but lauded the work that Foster has done. “A lot of his time was spent in the courtrooms,†Carter said.
Carter said the TISA or Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement funding formula uses data to determine some funding levels from the state. The position would be an 11-month position equal to an assistant principal.
Board member Mary Rouse of the Bristol area said she favors the idea but would like to see short presentations or emails from the new hire to the board each month.
Vice Chairman Michael Hughes of the Hickory Tree area said he’d like to see the new hire work with officials from other school systems, some of which have multiple people in the role, and compare Sullivan County’s performance data with them.
Carter said the data includes information about students just on the “bubble†of reaching higher academic achievement. He said the new hire would help individual teachers and schools zero in on areas and subjects that data show need attention.
Member Mark Vicars of Kingsport said the position would pay about $72,000 plus benefits, which Carter said was correct.
In other action, the board approved 2025-26 school meal prices, which included few changes other than small increases in second meal or second entrees and no changes in the free CEP or community eligibility provision breakfasts and lunches for all students, regardless of family income.
In addition, the menu includes a new creme-filled cupcake and some streamlining of categories.
Other actions included a series of year-end housekeeping matters in the 2024-25 budget to end June 30.
The school board and County Commission already have approved the $100 million 2025-26 school budget, which uses $9.7 million in unrestricted fund balance to offset revenue shortfalls.
