JC school board: 2026 negotiations team named, building project delays

The Johnson City Schools Board of Education has announced its 2026 Collaborative Conferencing Management Team, made up of administrators who will represent the district in future negotiations with district employees. The team will be chaired by Tammy Larkey, the district's supervisor of middle school instruction and student services, and facilitated by special education supervisor Allecia Frizzell, according to a board resolution approved during Monday's regular meeting. Other members include administrators Amber Forbes, Josh Carter, Leia Valley, Melissa Stukes, Roger Walk and Joe Barnes, the district's maintenance supervisor. The conferencing process addresses negotiations on salaries and wages, insurance, employee benefits, working conditions, leave policies and payroll deductions. "This is an annual approval that's put forth from the Board of Education, and it's taking a look at an important aspect of collaboration that we do in this district conferencing with our representatives from [the Johnson City Education Association] and our administration," Superintendent Erin Slater said. In facilities updates, Barnes reported that construction on the new Towne Acres Elementary School is progressing despite some recent weather-related setbacks. He said ongoing rock-breaking operations are proceeding smoother than anticipated, which officials believe should help offset time lost to inclement weather. "We did have a couple of bad weeks of weather, but they've gotten through that," Barnes said at Monday's meeting. "They're moving along pretty well." However, Barnes informed the board that contractors recently failed to meet their previous deadline for completing secure vestibule upgrades at North Side, Mountain View and Cherokee elementary schools. He said district officials plan to meet with them to establish new completion timelines and suggested the projects could now be finished by the end of January. "Today was the deadline day, so tomorrow they start paying damages," Barnes noted. The school board also recognized district-level and school-level Teachers of the Year. The district selected South Side fifth-grade teacher Shannon Barnett, Indian Trail special education teacher Alison Russell and Science Hill math teacher Chad Salyer as this year's District-Level Teachers of the Year to represent the school system in the 2025-26 search for Tennessee Teachers of the Year. The three educators will soon compete to be named as Regional Teachers of the Year, which could allow them to advance to grand division and statewide competitions. The board will hold its next regular meeting on Feb. 2.