Winter break seemed to arrive just in time for educators as they navigate teaching during the pandemic.
âAll of our staff is just very tired and weary,â Rebecca Dickenson, president of the Blount County Education Association, said in a phone interview this month. âWeâre trying. Weâre doing the best we can, and itâs hard.â
During Decemberâs Blount County Board of Education meeting, Dickenson shared the results of an informal email survey of Blount County Schools teachers who belong to the association.
Only 32% of those who responded agreed that they felt safe at school, and only about 16% said they have enough staff to teach effectively, although Dickenson noted many said that answer depends on the day.
Harry B. âMickeyâ McClurgâs name is on Alcoa City Schoolsâ board room, but his decades of devotion to the district left an impact across the district.
McClurg, who died Dec. 17 at the age of 82, served on the Board of Education for 31 years, nearly 22 as its president.
âMickey McClurgâs dedication to the Alcoa City Schools was always above and beyond,â Jane Qualls, director of ACS from 1999 to 2004, emailed. âHe enthusiastically supported all aspects of our schools â academics, athletics, students, teachers and administrators. He was also very committed to buildings, maintenance and grounds in making Alcoa Campuses positive places to work and learn. Mickey was truly a big man with a big heart!â
The topic of COVID-19 vaccines came up at the Alcoa Board of Education meeting Tuesday, Dec. 15, during discussion of immunization policy.
Alcoa City Schools policy mirrors state law in requiring immunizations determined by the Commissioner of Public Health and allowing exceptions for medical reasons with a doctorâs statement or on religious grounds âin the absence of an epidemic or immediate threatâ of one.
During a school board work session Monday, Dec. 14, someone asked whether the district would require a COVID-19 vaccine, according to Assistant Director John Campbell.
At this time, he said, state leadership is not considering a mandate for elementary and secondary schools to require a COVID-19 immunization.