The Greene County Commission has asked the Greene County School Board to explore, research, and formulate plans to provide vocational education courses at the individual high schools. The resolution, which passed on an 18-2 vote last night, comes after nearly 40 years of collaboration between the Greeneville City and Greene County Schools to provide those type of courses at the Greene Technology Center.
Director of Schools David McLain told the County Commission that county school students make up about 55% of the students who attend the center, and that the Greene County School system also provides the majority of funding for the Center. McLain, as well several commissioners, pointed to an issue that has plagued the center for decades – how to convince students to take advantage of the courses offered there. Students must be bussed to the center for classes, which means time away from their school and friends.
The tipping point for the exploration seems to have arisen last fall, when a Memorandum Of Understanding included a phrase that McLain said rubbed the County School Board the wrong way. The document says that the City Director of Schools would have the “ultimate authority” when it comes to the final decision on a principal for the center.
The resolution only sets in motion a study of how the center is utilized, and whether moving those classes to the individual county high schools would benefit the county students more.
