The Overton County School Board appointed interim Director of Schools Kim Dillon to take on the full time position during its Tuesday meeting.
Dillon has spent 24 years in the Overton County School System as a teacher at Livingston Middle School and the Principal at Hilham Elementary. She spent the last last four years in the district office. Dillon said her time as the interim was a whirlwind, but she is ready to get to work.
“I’ve got a great team, we all work together and we’re trying to get ready for the new school year,” Dillon said. “So, I’ve not got a chance to actually learn, you know, all the stuff about the job, but I feel like we’ve all kind of done the job for the last four years because we all work together in the different departments.
Dillon was approved unanimously by the Board. Her starting salary is some $106,000.
Dillon said her biggest goal in year one is to create a comfortable environment for everyone in the district.
“I just want teacher morale to be up,” Dillon said. “I just want them to be happy. I want them to want to be at work and come to school. I want the students to be happy. First and foremost, culture is important to me.”
Dillon said setting the culture is the first part of her vision.
“I think once we get our culture and climate up, we can get our attendance back,” Dillon said. “We can get our enrollment back. I feel like our test scores are going to come up, and that’s just going to be a progression.”
Dillon said it felt good to be officially appointed, and after Tuesday’s in-service training day, she feels excited for the new school year to begin. Dillon said she thinks everyone is ready to be back in the routine and patiently awaiting student arrival on Friday.
In other business, the School Board approved the salary scale for both certified employees and support staff.
The School Board approved a host of new policies, including policies now required by Tennessee Law such as a mobile device policy and student board member policy.
The School Board approved a Family Life curriculum supplement. The School Board approved a contract with Cumberland Rehabilitation Services for occupational therapy for the district.