Schools Adopt New Policy For Private Vehicle Use



A new policy for private vehicle use was adopted by the Cannon County Board of Education during Thursday night's meeting at the Cannon County Courthouse.

Due to budget cuts, buses will only be running for specific school sports teams such as high school football and basketball. Because of the lack of bus-provided transportation the board recognizes that certain employees may need to use their private vehicles for school purposes. With the use of private vehicles, the following policy shall be observed:

1. To use a private vehicle for school purposes, the employee must have the written permission of the director of schools or his designee and proof of vehicle liability insurance coverage in the following forms:

a. A copy of insurance certificate issued to the insured indicating liability limits of at least $100,000/$300,000/50,000 and

b. A specific permit for each trip involving students involving field trips.

2. The school system shall assume no responsibility for liability in case of accident unless the employee has the proper authorization described above.

3. The Board specifically forbids any employees to transport students for school purposes without prior authorization by the director of school or his/her designee.

4. Privately owned school buses and drivers of such shall meet all requirements of state law and state Board Rules, Regulations and Minimum Standards.

5. No student shall be sent on errands, personal or school related in a vehicle owned by the student, employee or the school system.

6. No employee may ask for or give permission to students to transport other students to and from any school or school related activity without written parental permission and proof of student insurance.

The Board recognizes that volunteer parent drivers are often needed to use their private vehicles for school purposes. The volunteer parent drivers who use a private vehicle must provide proof of vehicle liability insurance coverage in the form of an insurance certificate issued to the insured indicating limits of at least $100,000/300,000/50,000.

The new policy passed with the addition that transportation to and from ball games in grammar school sports will be the responsibility of each individual parent. Any Special Education travel for Special Olympics would also be the parent's responsibility.

In the case of a low number of students traveling to a school club event such as a Beta trip, then the students could travel in a caravan which would be covered under school insurance as

long as there is a sports coach or club coach leading the way and the last vehicle following the caravan would also be a sports coach or club coach depending on the circumstance.

In other actions the Board approved the request of the Kindergarten Parents to add trees to the front of the Woodbury Grammar School at no cost to the school.

The Board also gave the greenlight for the proceedings of a grant to run through the books of the high school. The grant is worth $3457and will help fund batteries ($1900) and other accessories for an electric car.

The Cannon County Amateur Radio Club will apply for grants from the Middle Tennessee Electric Cooperative and Middle Tennessee Natural Gas to help fund their projects after the Board gave approval last night.

The Board gave approval to Woodland Principal Kim Parsley to add an extra exit for vehicles at the Woodland School to help alleviate traffic crowding when school lets out during the afternoon. Parsley went before the board to ask to gravel the area. The Board approved giving her $500 for the project while the project will mostly be funded by the school itself and the Woodland PTW. Bratcher Horton Melton and Associates of McMinnville turned in the only audit bid; as a result, the board awarded the contract to them.

Director of Schools Barbara Parker announced that teacher Brad Underwood was named the Channel 2 teacher of the Week. The spotlights on Mr. Underwood will be aired Thursday September 15th at 10:00 and Friday at 6:00 AM during the newscasts.

The Board voted to extend Parker’s contract for two years. Board members Cathy Hyatt and Shannon Davenport voted against the two-year extension as both stated they would be for giving her a one-year extension due to the elections coming up and possible new board members in place. The motion passed however with Randy Gannon, Chris Blackburn and Mike Mayfield voting for the extension.

The meeting was recessed until Thursday, September 22 to approve their budget.

Cannon County High School Junior Janna Reed became the newest student representative of the Board joining fellow student representative Tyler Stone.

Dr. Barbara Corry, Director of Attendance for Cannon County Schools, and Director Parker presented a framed certificate to Auburntown School who was runner up in the best school attendance rate contest with a 96.1 percent attendance rate. Short Mountain School received a plaque for the highest attendance rate coming in at 96.2 percent. The overall attendance rate for the Cannon County School System is 95.23 percent which is way ahead of the State rate of school attendance at 93 percent.

The meeting was recessed until Thursday, September 22. The County Commissioners will meet on the 15th to set the tax rate.