In the workshop session of the February school board meeting, those in attendance were shown a presentation by representatives with Trane on the energy project they have been working on since April of 2009.

The study is now complete and they are ready to take it to County Commission but before they could take it before them, it had to first be approved by the school board.

Nancy McBee, the K-12 Business Development Manager gave a presentation to County Court complete with a power point presentation of the areas of focus.

“This plan will save the county money in the long run and will not add any more tax dollars,” McBee said, “And in fifteen years the plan will pay for itself in savings.”

The preliminary energy analysis found the utility costs in Claiborne County exceed Trane's K-12 target by roughly 30-percent.

They found that many of the heating and air systems in the schools have outlived their use by up to twenty years and that plumbing technology were outdated and wastes water.

During the workshop session, McBee reiterated that this would be a self-funding project and that the plan is a positive impact on all the schools and will be funded through savings 100-percent.

Board member Michelle Huddleston brought us concern about the 100-percent guarantee.

"How can we know that you all are going to back what you say," she asked.

"We are in the process right now on writing a check to a Knoxville group," McBee said, "We guarantee our work and want you to know we will come through."

On the power point a slide that showed all the identified needs were shown and under each school and there were also projects that have already been taken care of.

The Trane proposal was not on the agenda for the meeting but was still brought before the board for approval.

Dr. Roy C. Ellis spoke up, "I make a motion to approve this project pending legal and financial review and Claiborne County Commission approval and finalization of funding."

Board member Bobby Drummonds seconded the motion and all board members approved.

The Trane Energy Project will be taken before County Commission during the March County Court meeting.

Director of Schools, Dr. Eddie Shoffner gave a report on the Race to the Top that the State of Tennessee recently applied for.

A handout was in the board members packets that Dr. Shoffner received on the estimate of Race to the Top that is based on the state's $485-million request.

"The State of Tennessee is optimistic that they will get the $485-million, so much so that they called a special session in State Legislature and changed the laws concerning the dismissal of teachers, concerning evaluation, making a lot of changes in the laws," Dr. Shoffner said, "At this time I just wanted to bring to your attention, that Claiborne County, if they receive this grant will receive, $1,503,062 over the four year period, divide four into that and it's approximately 375,000 a year."

Dr. Shoffner stated that a grant writing team is in place to present a proposal to the state on how they plan to spend that money. He said that he will have further detail at the next board meeting.

Richie Hoskins came before the board to discuss the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

"This is a survey that is distributed by the state and the study is done in every school system," he said, "Basically what it does is identify what problems we have from seat belts to drug use and we get statistics to know where to concentrate our emphasis and know what programs to bring in."

The students only put their age and grade on the survey and that the statistics will be released once they have them.

Board member Dave Chesney made a motion to distribute the survey and Huddleston seconded the motion and all board members approved.

Policy changes were also on the agenda for approval.

"What this is, is the principals work with Mrs. Minton and this cleans up our policy to match the handbooks that the principals have in the school," Chairman Sam Owens said, "And it has been requested to be changed to encourage attendance and makes it more uniform from school to school with consequences for various absenses, this has been brought from the principals."

Board member Bobby Drummonds made a motion to accept the policy changes for the policy to match the handbooks in the schools and Dot Patterson seconded the motion. The board approved.

The board also approved a field trip, two bids and the changing of minutes after a misprint was brought up by Dr. Ellis.

Before the closing of the board meeting, Principal Linda Keck from Cumberland Gap High School reported to the board that both high schools are working together to make sure that the preparation for block scheduling is going well.

The Claiborne County Pre-K program made Valentine's gifts for Dr. Shoffner and each board member to take home with them after the meeting.