A Special Meeting on the Calendar?

The School Board will hold a special called meeting Thursday, August 2nd at 7:30 PM (study session) and at 8 PM (regular meeting).  Interestingly, the meeting takes place on Election Day and on the second day of registration -- meaning many parents will not be able to attend.  Of course, all teachers are required to be at their schools until 8 PM that day, so attendance at a Board meeting that starts at 8 PM will be difficult. 

The agenda includes a study session item regarding the naming of school facilities.  Specifically, the item seems to be aimed at current County Commission Chair Merrol Hyde, for whom a Hendersonville school is named.  The policy change, proposed by outgoing Board member Danny Hale, indicates that if someone for whom a current school is named files a petition to run for office, the Board will immediately change the name of that school.  Should Mr. Hyde seek re-election to his current post, the Board would then be obligated to rename the school bearing his name, at a significant cost to taxpayers.  This would seem unwise given the current tenuous state of the school budget. 

Of course, the item could also be aimed at former Director of Schools Benny Bills, for whom a school in Gallatin is named.  Bills was rumored to have considered a run for the 44th District House seat that includes Gallatin and is currently held by retiring Rep. Mike McDonald. A future run for office for Bills is not out of the question, given his long service to the community. 

On the regular meeting agenda, only one item appears.  That item is related to the 2012-13 school calendar.  Of course, registration is this week and school starts on August 6th.  It is not clear what action might be taken on the upcoming calendar.