By Charles Romans
Carter County Times
The Carter County Board of Education held its regular meeting on Monday where they recognized the efforts of staff and students involved in the Summer Feeding Program, as well as discussing instructional updates, and setting property tax rates on property and motor vehicles. After approving the agenda, the board first recognized staff and volunteers.
Superintendent Dr. Paul Green said that everyone was excited about the start of the new school year, but that he wanted to go over what had happened over the summer.
“As part of a school district,” Green told the board, “one of the most important parts is our food service program. We have so many kids, unfortunately, that really depend on our school nutrition program to provide healthy meals for them throughout the year. Especially during the summer when we are out of school.”
“This summer our Food Service Program and Department served over 160,000 meals,” Green continued. “That’s 160,000 meals for children and families in Carter County that were free of charge. We are thankful for all our food service employees and volunteers, and we want to take the time to honor them.”
Green then presented each of the workers with a certificate and thanked them on behalf of the school board.
The board also received an architect and construction update on the new school project. The update included a presentation showing tree clearing, minor changes to the access road, and necessary changes in design to the school itself. The board voted unanimously to approve the design development of the new school.
The board then heard from financial director Andy Lyons, who explained the process involved in determining taxes.
“Tax rates are set by the money they generate,” Lyons said. “You have property assessments,” he said, by way of example, “and if your assessment goes up, then your rates come down and can still generate taxes.”
Lyons said that the tax rate for both motor vehicles and property was .47 per 100 dollars on assessment. The tax rate in Carter County went down two years ago, Lyons said, because of a raise in assessment. After Lyons’ report, the school board voted to keep the tax rate at its current rate for both motor vehicles and property.
Still, there are challenges to be faced, he told the board. The Carter County school district has experienced a loss in income; but not necessarily in a way one might expect, Lyons explained.
“We aren’t losing funding, necessarily,” he said. “We are losing students. And we will have to make adjustments based on the number of students we have.”
There were over 5,100 students who enrolled in Carter County schools in the 2008/2009 school year, but that number has fallen dramatically over the years. This school year there were just over 4,100 students enrolled in the district.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
