By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—Talk about your new school smell.
At Tuesday night’s meeting of the Paris Special Schools District board, board members were treated to a tour of the newly-renovated Rhea Elementary building, and everything looked and smelled brand new.
Just a few minor things still need to be done, including dirt and concrete work outside, but the project is substantially complete and ready for school to begin on Friday. The new flag pole in front of the building will be one of the last items to be completed.
Former PSSD Superintendent Mike Brown was overseer of the project and displayed a new plaque which will be placed in the new lobby and which notes all the board members who have been involved since the project officially began in 2012.
The tour was conducted by Brown, Architect Ben Witt and Contractor Cary Henson. Henson told the board, “You have good local subcontractors to helped us achieve our target date. I really commend the local paving and roofing crews. You’re very fortunate to have good contractors in town here.”
Board President Richard Edwards thanked them for their hard work. “We’ve never been disappointed working with you guys and this one follows suit. We appreciate what you’ve done to get the project done.”
The board approved the 2018-2019 budget of $838,000, which includes a one percent raise and a one percent bonus, an insurance increase of 2.5 percent, an increase in teacher retirement from 9.08 to 10.46 percent, roof at Inman, health insurance for bus drivers, and budgeted transfers for construction.
In other business:
–PSSD Director of Schools Norma Gerrell announced Chris Hudgins will be the new principal at Rhea Elementary this year and Sandra Paschall will oversee district evaluations.
–Dr. Gerrell said district enrollment is up, with 1,620 enrolled for the new school year as of this afternoon, compared with 1,614 from last year. Inman School has the biggest enrollment with 609 students.
–Edwards appointed a disciplinary hearing board, the first ever for the district. Edwards said the district has never needed one before “and hopefully we won’t need one now”.
–Gerrell and the board congratulated PES Principal Chip Gray on successfully defending his dissertation to acquire his PhD from Murray State University.
Photo: Mike Brown shows the new cafeteria to board members and Dr. Gerrell.
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