The Fentress County School Board passed a resolution opposing potential cuts to lottery-funded education programs that could limit college opportunities for local students.
Director of Schools Kristi Hall said district officials are concerned about reports of declining Tennessee Education Lottery revenues.
“One of our big ones is the dual enrollment program that a lot of our kids have the opportunity to participate in,” Hall said, “And so to us, if those proceeds were cut and that funding level was cut, it would really decrease some opportunities for our kids.”
Hall said the resolution will be shared with state legislators in an effort to protect funding. Clarkrange High School Principal Jason Bradley said lottery proceeds also support the HOPE Scholarship and other college assistance programs.
Bradley said the district is particularly concerned about preserving opportunities for students to earn college credit while still in high school.
“But we’re just hoping to kind of put that in there and just show that we care about our students and especially the dual enrollment and we definitely don’t want that cut if we can figure out something else,” Bradley said.
In other business, the board heard from York Agricultural Society hospitality and tourism students about a partnership with a local bakery to develop and sell student-designed cupcakes. The board also approved a substitute teacher policy revision extending the number of days an uncertified substitute can serve in a classroom from 20 to 30, in accordance with state law.