By Robert Sorrell
Star Correspondent
The Carter County Board of Education approved motions on Thursday to extend the school director’s contract and to install new radios for buses.
Board members unanimously approved a motion made by board member Keith Bowers Sr. and seconded by member Terry Hubbard to extend Director of Schools Dr. Brandon Carpenter’s employment contract.
Chairman Kelly Crain stated that the new contract is essentially the same as Carpenter’s initial contract from 2022. The new four-year contract begins on July 1, 2024, and ends on June 30, 2028.
Carpenter has led the school system since his hiring in the summer of 2022, succeeding Tracy McAbee, who departed for a job in Middle Tennessee.
“We appreciate the job you’ve done,” Crain said.
Carpenter expressed gratitude for the support from the staff, principals, and teachers in Carter County. “We’ll try to keep that moving forward,” he said.
Carpenter noted a positive team atmosphere in the school system, describing operations as “very smooth.” He previously served as principal of Hampton Elementary School.
His contract includes an annual salary of $96,000 plus benefits.
The board also unanimously approved a motion to accept a bid for services to install new radios in school buses. The $72,000 contract spans two years and covers maintenance, parts, and replacements, Carpenter explained.
Currently, communication is unavailable in some parts of the county, particularly in mountainous areas. The radios are expected to enhance service and safety for both drivers and children, Carpenter said. They also provide GPS tracking on the buses, even when cell phone service is not available, allowing bus drivers to communicate with staff at the county bus garage.
The agreement with the company, School Radio, will provide 81 radios.