Tag Archives: Diane Elder

School systems across the Upper Cumberland are bolstering fire alarm policies after a change in state policy. The new legislation requires all schools to develop procedures to determine the cause of an activated fire alarm. Pickett County Director of Schools Diane Elder said she held a safety meeting with the school’s new homeland security officer, local law enforcement, and EMS. ... Read More »

A lot of snow melted across the Upper Cumberland Monday but many schools are still closed. Pickett County Director of Schools Diane Elder said schools are closed Tuesday to ensure conditions completely clear up before putting buses back on the road. She said she plans for Pickett schools to open back up on Wednesday after students being out of school ... Read More »

Pickett County School Board approved emergency renovations following a pipe leak that exposed unknown asbestos. A pipe burst in the School Board Conference room in July, which cause an entire wing of the office space to flood. Pickett County Director of Schools Diane Elder said an estimated $22,000 in sheetrock, baseboard, and flooring damage occurred. “It will be an obstruction ... Read More »

Pickett County School Board agreed to clarifications in the high school dress code for the upcoming school year. The changes were part of the handbooks approved for each school during Monday night’s meeting. Pickett High School Principal Mitch Buckman said the problems addressed developed last year. Buckman said the first change involves blouse straps with at least two inches of ... Read More »

The Pickett County Schools new fiscal year budget includes a new bus for disabled students and a pipe replacement for the high school. The School Board went through the budget during a Monday work session, voting to approve it during the regular meeting. The total budget includes some $1.42 million in local tax dollars, a slight increase from last year. ... Read More »

Pickett County Schools struggling to keep up with ESSER projects due to the slow reimbursement of funds from the state. Director of Schools Diane Elder had to approach the county commission to request for approval the transfer of some $75,000 from the general purpose fund to avoid overdrafts. “We are spending so many thousands of dollars that we did not ... Read More »

Pickett County Schools’ new scoreboard that was recently installed is now operational. Director of Schools Diane Elder said the 10 by 12 foot panel is located at the sports field by the high school. “We hope to get our donated by sign on it this week,” Elder said. “The scoreboard was donated to us by People’s Bank. It is very ... Read More »

Pickett County High School is in the process of multiple renovations this summer. The Board of Education approved bids for the parking lot paving and ceiling replacement project. Quality Asphalt and Sealing Incorporated won the bid as the sole bidder at $29,545. Director of Schools Diane Elder said the parking lot will be numbered, striped and sealed. “We are excited ... Read More »