UC School Districts Trying To Buck Growing Teacher Loss
Upper Cumberland school districts working to retain teachers, hopeful of bucking the national trend of teachers leaving the profession. White County Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said the district maintains well above a 90 percent teacher retention rate through fostering an atmosphere of cohesion. “We try and support one another,” Dronebarger said. “We don’t differentiate […]
Findlay Elementary Earns Prestigious National Blue Ribbon
Findlay Elementary School named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education for exceptional academic growth and achievement. White County Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said just six schools in Tennessee received the recognition during the last award cycle. Dronebarger said the honor is based on performance metrics that show the school […]
Dronebarger Gets Raise, Still Below Peer Director Standard
The White County Board of Education approved a seven percent salary increase for Director Of Schools Kurt Dronebarger Thursday night. Board members voted to amend the director’s salary line item from the contractually mandated $117,300 to just over $123,000. That number leaves White County some 20 percent below its peers in director pay. Board member […]
Swatting Calls Disrupt Celebrations At White County Schools
White County Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said a series of unfounded swatting calls disrupted the school day. Dronebarger said the threats included a false report of an intruder inside a school building Wednesday morning followed by a second unfounded report of a suspicious person outside in the woods near a school. White County officials […]
New State Fiscal Guidelines Will Help Schools Like White
New guidelines designed to help local school systems maintain fiscal responsibility fit well within what local systems are doing already. The Comptroller’s Office offers 10 steps to plan responsibly, meet legal requirements, and build long-term financial stability. White County Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said as decreased enrollment numbers in public schools lead to less […]
White County Career Center Replacing Fallen Brick Facade
White County Schools seeking bids to replace the brick facade at the White County Career Center following a partial wall collapse. Director of White County Schools Kurt Dronebarger said the district has already removed the damaged exterior from the side of the building using a local contractor. Officials are currently negotiating with insurance carriers and […]
School Board Proclaims Warriorette Day After State Run
The White County School Board has officially proclaimed Friday as Warriorette Day to celebrate the high school girls basketball team finishing as the Class AAA State Tournament runner-up. White County Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said the school system wants to acknowledge the hard work and effort of the coaching staff and student-athletes. Faculty and […]
White County Receive $400K Literacy Improvement Grant
White County Schools will strengthen literacy instruction across its middle and high schools after receiving a $400,000 state grant. Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said the district was awarded the four-year Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant. Dronebarger said the funding will focus on enhancing teaching strategies and supporting students in grades 6 through 12. “It’s […]
White County Board Authorizes Fire Department Transfer
The White County Director Of Schools will begin the process to deed school-owned properties currently housing volunteer fire departments back to the county government. School Board Chair Bob Young introduced the proposal after discussions with County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson concerning the cleanest way to help the departments at BonDeCroft, Central View, and Cassville. Young […]
Academic Deficits Tackled After Winter School Closures
School officials in Jackson and White counties are implementing recovery plans to address learning gaps caused by extended winter weather closures. Jackson County Director of Schools Jason Hardy addressed the two-week closure caused by ice and road conditions. The district is utilizing a strategy that involves daily incremental efforts rather than rushing through the curriculum […]
