Oak Ridge Today

Roane Co. school board to discuss director search on Thursday

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Gary-Aytes

The Roane County School Board will have a community meeting Thursday to discuss finding a successor to Gary Aytes, pictured above.

The Roane County School Board will have a community meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, February 25, in the O’Brien Theatre at Roane State Community College in Harriman for anyone that would like to address the board about the search for the next director of schools.

The Board is working on choosing someone to be the next director of schools, and applications will be taken beginning next week.

School Board members hope to hire Gary Aytes’ successor by the end of April.

Updated: Nine students injured when Roane County school bus rolls off road

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Roane County School Bus Crash Workers Oct. 21, 2015

Nine students were injured after a Roane County school bus went off the right side of the road and rolled on its side down a steep embankment on a curvy, country road southwest of Oliver Springs on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4 p.m. Oct. 22.

ROANE COUNTY—Nine students were injured after a Roane County school bus dropped off the right side of Mahoney Road and rolled onto its right side down a steep embankment on a curvy, country road southwest of Oliver Springs on Wednesday afternoon.

Two middle school students were taken to Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge by ambulance, and a third student, possibly also a middle school student, was transported by a parent, said Gary Aytes, Roane County Schools superintendent. The injuries were not life-threatening, Aytes said. He said one student might have a broken arm, and the others had cuts and abrasions.

Thursday update: The Tennessee Highway Patrol later reported that nine students were taken to Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge. Two were transported by ambulance, and the other seven were taken in private vehicles.

The crash was reported in the 600 block of Mahoney Road, just west of Johnson Road, at about 3:50 p.m. Wednesday. There were 22 children on the bus from Oliver Springs High School, Oliver Springs Middle School, and Dyllis Springs Elementary School in Roane County. [Read more…]

Roane State welcomes first Middle College students

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Roane State Middle College Students

Roane State Community College’s first Middle College students enjoyed their orientation during their first day on campus. (Submitted photo)

 

More than 30 students from Roane County schools will have a chance to graduate from high school with a diploma and a two-year associate degree through Roane State Community College’s first Middle College, which is launching this fall at the main campus in Harriman.

For years, Roane State has offered dual studies courses, which allow high school students to earn some college credit while in high school. Middle College, created in partnership with Roane County Schools, offers students an opportunity to complete 60 hours (four semesters) of college credit, more courses than most students can typically take through dual studies alone.

After earning an associate degree in high school, students who attend a university could start as juniors and finish their bachelor’s degree just two years after high school. [Read more…]

BBB: Roane commission OKs school reserve expenditure

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Information from WYSH Radio

(BBB-TV) On Monday night, the Roane County Commission passed a resolution authorizing the School Board to use approximately half a million dollars from its reserve accounts to help keep the Alternative Education Facility open and keep extracurricular positions from being eliminated as well. It didn’t come without a grueling 45-minute discussion that included several questions from commissioners, who drilled School Superintendent Gary Aytes and school budget director Eric Harbin as to how they plan on to improve the system’s financial situation.

This year’s budget was balanced by making several deep cuts to make up a $1.5 million shortfall. Aytes said changes to the state Basic Education Program funding were the main reasons the school system had trouble balancing the budget, but also told the commission the board is looking at other systems in the area for innovative ideas to deal with future budget problems.