WCS sets superintendent search, hears HVAC concerns

Washington County school board members approved a superintendent search plan while hearing concerns over a new high school HVAC system's noise Thursday evening. Director of Schools Jerry Boyd plans to leave the district at the end of 2027. During the regular meeting, the board approved using the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) to conduct the superintendent search, the same process used to hire Boyd. Board Chair Annette Buchanan said the board intends to keep the process public, despite recent state legislation allowing school boards to conduct superintendent interviews privately. "Our policy is open," Buchanan said. "We put out the names and all of that because the other option was that we could interview in executive session... We have opted to stay open." Board member Chad Fleenor recalled the process used during Boyd's hiring. "We got the chance to meet with the top candidates, three or four," he said. "I know they met with teachers, they met with staff and they've been able to tour central office and some schools with a school board member." Buchanan said interviews for potential candidates lasted about a week in prior years. TSBA will provide materials on every applicant and recommend finalists, but the school board will make the final hiring decision. Public Comments Wendy Brock spoke on behalf of residents of The Reserve at Hillendale Farms regarding the noise from a recently installed HVAC system at Daniel Boone High School. Brock thanked board members Eric Barnes and Mike Masters for meeting with neighbors and listening to their concerns. "We're glad that the school is getting the new utility updates, but the current noise level has changed our day to day lives," Brock said, noting that chronic noise is bad for health and they're worried about their homes property values, adding it could decrease them by 20%. Boyd said the HVAC system was activated during the week of July 4 and remains in the construction phase. He said the district plans to plant trees after construction, likely this fall, and is exploring additional mitigation measures, including constructing a wall and adjusting the fans to reduce night time noise. The system has three fans, all of which operate during periods of high demand. Boyd noted the system was turned off during the July 4 holiday weekend and said district officials are working with architects and engineers to determine the most practical noise reduction solution. "If we can reduce the decibel level by 10 to 20 decibels, to the human ear, that is about a 50 percent drop in noise." Boyd said. "That's our goal. We will try to drop the decibel level as much as possible." Board member Eric Barnes asked for patience from community members while the district works toward a solution. A member of the protest group that has continued demonstrating outside the Washington County Schools Central Office since board member Keith Ervin's censure called for his resignation again during public comments. Ervin faces a simple assault charge next month as well as public backlash for comments made to a student board member in April, which he has since said were taken out of context. The speaker identified themselves as Kenny and said they represented The Organizing Committee for the Resignation of Keith Ervin. "I've come to speak on behalf of those who wish for the resignation of Keith Ervin for his multiple violations of trust between parents, students and the school system," they said. "We the people of the Tri-Cities have spoken: adults who behave inappropriately to minors will not be tolerated in or around a school, especially not in a position of power."