Weathers is new Bradley school board chair

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Troy Weathers was elected chairman of the Bradley County Board of Education on Thursday.

Weathers, who won re-election in the board’s 4th District, has served as chairman previously.

Former chairman David Kelley told board members he would not accept the nomination. He cited the growth of the local Head Start agency he directs and “recent developments in my personal life.”

Kelley’s wife died earlier this summer.

Weathers said the board vacancy left by the August death of Terry McGuire will be filled in the Nov. 2 elections. He told board members he would like to schedule a work session or planning retreat after that.

“Sometimes here at the board meetings, we don’t get a chance to ask all the hard questions,” Weathers said after the meeting.

With two new board members after the election and changes in the school system’s central office, he said, “we need to focus on what lies ahead.”

At the meeting, board members elected Charlie Rose vice-chairman.

New member Vicki Beaty was sworn in to the 2nd District seat and later was elected as liaison to the local legislative delegation. In that role she will be contacting local legislators about education issues.

Beaty said after the meeting she had not expected the appointment.

“I like challenges,” she said. “I know this is a difficult year for the state.”

But she would like to discuss some of the programs being cut back this year, she said. One is extended contracts with teachers.

Dan Glascock, assistant director for secondary schools, told board members that the school district is getting less money for the program this year than in the past and he expects none next year.

This year, 67 teachers have contracts that pay for extra hours they can spend helping students.