By Holly Roeder
The Chester County Board of Education met at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 11, 2024, in regular session with all members present, Clay Rogers in video attendance. The board made decisions on out-of-county tuition rates, honors scholars attendance policy and the middle school dress/discipline policy. Additionally, they recognized a local student’s accomplishments as well as a number of local educators.
Chester County High School senior Will Kemp was recently named the Future Farmers of America Tennessee Star Farmer. Kemp said it was a challenging competition, noting that at state level he was competing against two others just as qualified. CCHS FFA advisor Teresa Crouse said Kemp has been working toward his goal of Star Farmer since his freshman year, adding that Kemp can run as American Star Farmer at national convention at age 21. Kemp is the first in Chester County to win the award, a feat accomplished by hard work and navigating an extensive application process. “It feels good to be the first person from Chester County to win because that sets a good role model for Chester County,” Kemp said, adding, “and I hope I’m not the last one to win.”
Board member Brandy Cherry attended the FFA convention and Star Farmer award announcement. “I was privileged to be present when Will won,” she said. “I’m really proud of Will.” Cherry, whose daughter, Sydney, is the same age as Kemp, said it was exciting for herself and the other students to see Kemp receive the award. “I’m just really proud of all of them. All their senior officers, they’ve worked really hard. They’ve helped revamp this program. I just appreciate your work, Will, and your family’s work. I’m looking forward to the future of this program. And thank you, Mrs. Crouse, for what you’ve done.”
With such strong competition, Kemp indicated that what set him apart was his involvement in multiple areas of farming. In addition to being active with the West Tennessee State Fair and Farm Bureau, he restores and shows antique tractors, farms approximately 400 acres of corn and soybeans, has a produce business which includes 15 to 20 acres of peas, corn, cabbage, potatoes, etc., and is running about 75 head of cattle.
Kemp stressed the importance of sharing the history of farming, and he does so through the exhibition of his restored tractors. “If we lose that insight into how agriculture used to be, there’ll be no knowledge about agriculture today.”
The board unanimously approved the following motions regarding agenda items:
- Policy 6.204, out-of-county tuition rates will remain the same for the upcoming school year.
- Policy 4.602 will reflect a change to 93% attendance, or 44 days, required for honors scholars, over the course of the high school career with no more than 10 days being unexcused. This policy will also show that the attendance criteria will be established prior to the final spring semester, and will include attendance data from the ninth, 10th and 11th grades and the first semester of the 12th grade. Cherry expressed the need to ensure parents and students are aware of the policy. Prior to the change, this policy required 95% attendance. Clay Rodgers made the motion to make the change to 93%, with Cherry seconding.
- Policy 6.310 will reflect a change adjusting dress code and discipline code to K-5 and 6-12 policies instead of the prior K-3 and 4-12. Chester County Middle School Assistant Principal Jared Shumate addressed the board explaining that fourth and fifth grade students at CCMS are being held accountable to the same policies as a high school senior.
Chester County educators participating in the Comprehensive Educational Resources (CER) committee received recognition. These are Content Review Team Members Corey Sweatt and Ben Odom – CCHS, and Curriculum Team Members Emily Marise, CCMS ELA; Erin Warren, CCMS; Crystal Wilson, CCMS; Jerra Leek, CCMS ELA; Leigh Ann Skaggs, CCHS; Julie Miller, ECES; and Jill Bland, CCMS.
In other news, the state of Tennessee recently released school report card data online for public review. This gives a more in-depth view of the previously announced school report card grades, in which three of Chester County’s six schools scored at the A grade levels.
John Mark Williams updated the board, saying that, while progress had slowed recently due to an excess of rain, they are on track with the capital projects.
Superintendent Troy Kilzer II said the board of education’s proposed capital project note, which would fulfil funding for both facilities, will be submitted to the Chester County commission for approval at the next county meeting.
Upcoming dates to note include baccalaureate, May 12, and graduation, May 13. The next school board meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 14, at Jacks Creek Elementary School.
