The September 2008 opened with a benediction given by Ms. Barnes who began with a request for a moment of silence in remembrance of Hunter Hass whose life ended tragically the week prior.  The result of the loss of the 8th grade student (that was not discussed at the board meeting) was that 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students had lectures on bullying at Newcenter School.
Dr. Parton presented the board with information that our community is experiencing declining growth.  Sevier County school's rate of growth peaked in 2004-2005 school year.  This year our schools only grew by 26 students, a growth rate of 0%.  The chart showing the enrollments of schools showed that Sevier County High School which has been tauted as an 1100 student occupancy has had over 1500 students since 1990-1991 school year.
Boyds Creek Schools are open and running.  After years of construction, however, Pittman-Center School may open this school year.  Dr. Parton mentioned being in negotiation to purchase land for new schools and would have answers by the next board meeting.  Interestingly enough the county already owns a great deal of property through delinquent taxes.  Perhaps Dr. Parton could review some of those properties and save taxpayers even more money.
Ms. Barnes mentioned Smokey Bears football being 3 and 0.  She brought up drawings of plans by the boosters clubs to decorate the stadium with the board's approval.
Mr. McClure asked Dr. Parton to opine on the decline of the schools rate of growth.  Dr. Parton gave high gas prices as the number one reason with an emphasis on the fact that our growth should regain in the following fiscal year.  
However our growth rate was in decline before the effects of Hurricane Katrina were felt on August 2005 and the following gas price spikes.  If anything, our schools probably received a bump in enrollment from people fleeing the storm ravaged area for the 2005-2006 school year.  
Dr. Parton also mentioned that the school system was on top of stopping students from coming to Seymour Schools from Blount or Knox County.  He mentioned that Boyds Creek Schools were seeing the greatest growth in the community.  
Of course the explosive growth of that school could be from the property development by Darrell Keene right beside where the school was to be built which may also explain why this school was begun after Pittman Center School and was completed long before Pittman Center School.
The inference is that Dr. Parton was or still is a partner of Darrell Keene.
In an effort to stem costs of new building, Dr Parton mentioned the possibility of going to a Junior High system in the most crowded areas.  The idea is that ninth grade would be the final year of students at some buildings and sophomore year would be the beginning year at the overcrowded high schools.  This would be an ingenious plan as this community should have plenty of room with the openings of Pittman Center School, Boyds Creek Middle, and a Cattletsburg School taking pressures off of the most centralized and overcrowded systems.  
This plan coupled with four years of declining growth in this system should alleviate the need for tax increases on the citizenry.  Moreover, as these other three schools finalize their construction for this school year, the school system can divert existing construction funds to create a new high school to relieve the overcrowding at Sevier County High School.  
The school system received a bid for fuel at a rate of $.84 and $.88 for fuel plus the cost of the fuel at the railhead in Knoxville.  This gives the bidding company a fluctuation cost of whatever it costs to get a tanker of fuel to Knoxville by rail plus the cost of $.84 or $.88 for the fuel to get it to the school's garage.  
Use of schools and other regular meeting items were discussed and the meeting came to a close.

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