Tag Archives: Board Member Barry Austin

The Van Buren County School Board passed its fiscal year budget Wednesday night that includes a $2,000 raise for teachers and a $1,200 raise for hourly staff. Director of Schools Jared Copeland said the teacher salary increase would put the minimum salary at some $45,600 for fiscal year 2025. He said the raise bumps teacher pay above the new state ... Read More »

Van Buren County Schools will consider using the remaining funds from an ISM grant to make upgrades to the county’s CTE building. Director of Schools Jared Copeland named new HVAC units in the building two front classrooms and new LED light fixtures as two of the highest priorities. The board considered replacing the building’s tile flooring with either polished concrete ... Read More »

Discussions by the Van Buren County School Board about renovating a masonic lodge for use as a daycare, tabled indefinitely Wednesday night. Director of Schools Jared Copeland said the county received a grant from the Upper Cumberland Development District some three years ago to renovate the building. He said he believes that the money remaining from the grant would cover ... Read More »

The Van Buren Board of Education approved its new statewide accountability report Wednesday night. The report is a part of the TISA formula that requires the board to create a five-year plan for the county’s schools. Director Jared Copeland said the report allows the school board to show how taxpayer dollars are going to student achievement. “So it’s really just ... Read More »

The number of home schooled children is up in Van Buren County to start the new school year. School Director Jared Copeland said the school loses $6,860 in base funding for each student that withdraws to attend home school. Board Member Glenece (Glen-ese) Cole said unfortunately just about anybody and their cat can start a home school. Cole-1 (:18) “They ... Read More »