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Tag Archives: Chris Pierce

VITAL Enrollment Down In Putnam, Elementary Capacity Spread Out Across System

The biggest change in the Putnam County Schools’ enrollment through the first month of the school year, home schooled students and students enrolled through the VITAL program. Attendance Supervisor Chris Pierce reported to the School Board Thursday night. Pierce said roughly 248 fewer students had enrolled systemwide to begin the year, a decrease of 2.5 percent. “VITAL enrollment was down ... Read More »

School Board Votes To Limit Enrollment At Upperman High

The growing student numbers at Upperman High School led the Putnam County School Board Thursday night to restrict school enrollment. Only students zoned to go to Upperman, students enrolled there this past year, or the children of full-time Putnam County School employees will be allowed to register. Enrollment Supervisor Chris Pierce said the school will likely exceed its listed capacity ... Read More »

Prescott And Jere Whitson Elementary Over 90 Percent Capacity

Two Putnam County elementary schools enter the spring over 90 percent capacity and will be limited in enrollment for next school year after Thursday night’s school board vote. Prescott Elementary has a capacity number of 95 percent while Jere Whitson Elementary sits at 94 percent. Attendance Supervisor Chris Pierce said that’s above the average enrollment of 85 percent. “We get ... Read More »

Putnam County Schools Working To Mitigate Number Of Chronically Absent Students

A state mandate put in place several years ago now affecting several Upper Cumberland school systems working to avoid chronic absenteeism. The state classifies chronic absenteeism as when a student misses 10 percent of instructional days. Putnam Schools Attendance Supervisor Chris Pierce this is a fluctuating issue and students today would be chronically absent after missing just five days. “It’s ... Read More »

Upperman High School Running Well Amidst High Student Capacity

Upperman High School starting the school year at 107.3 percent capacity, but that doesn’t mean the school is bursting at the seams. Putnam Schools Attendance Supervisor Chris Pierce said that number has to do with a capacity rating set when the building was built. He said high school capacity ratings at high schools differ from other levels. “That high school, ... Read More »

Gov. Lee Issues Executive Order In Effort To Enhance School Safety

One of the Putnam County Schools’ leads on school safety said Governor Bill Lee’s new executive order is an added resource when it comes to school safety. The order directs accountability measures for school safety and an evaluation of training for Tennessee law enforcement. It also establishes additional resources to support improving school security practices. Putnam County Schools Attendance Supervisor ... Read More »

Putnam Schools Student Transfer Portal Opens

Putnam County School System has opened its new transfer student portal. Attendance and Enrollment Management Supervisor Chris Pierce said that the portal will allow for priority 4 students in grades 1 through 4 to attempt a transfer to a school outside their zone. “Every now and then you’ll have a situation where a family’s work will change, a babysitter’s location ... Read More »

Putnam School System Has Only One School Over 90 Percent Capacity

The Putnam County Board of Education’s efforts to better control school capacity has produced results. Attendance Supervisor Chris Pierce said Prescott South Elementary is the only elementary school with capacity over 90 percent. Pierce said elementary schools are averaging 84 percent capacity. “I think we’ve been doing this a while and we’ve had at least a half a dozen schools ... Read More »

Budget Deficit Workable In Putnam Schools’ First Draft

All Putnam County School staff would receive a four percent raise under the system budget’s first draft approved Thursday night. The raise totals some $2.422 million, some of which will be paid for through the legislature’s appropriation. With property tax rates yet to be set because of reappraisals, the school system currently faces a $2.6 million budget deficit. “Often at ... Read More »

Putnam Enrollment Down Over 2 Percent

Putnam County Schools enrollment has decreased by about 2.25 percent from last year. A total of 11,168 K-12 students are currently enrolled. Attendance Supervisor Chris Pierce said the decrease likely results from a COVID-forced move to home schooling. “During the past few years we’ve had a fairly consistent growth rate of like a percent of up to two,” Pierce said. ... Read More »