The Courier News

Clinton City Schools recieves Level 5 score

September 10, 2025 by Ben Pounds

Kelly Johnson Director of Clinton City Schools

Clinton City Schools received a Level 5 composite score, which is the highest level given by the Tennessee Department of Education for student growth.

Kelly Johnson, director of Clinton City Schools said Assessment System data determines the five possible levels.

The composite score combines student growth in English language arts, math, science and social studies at all schools in the district.

A year’s growth under the system means the amount of progress in these subjects the state expects students to make in an academic year.

Level 3 indicates that students made a year’s growth academically between testing years.

Level 4 is achieved by growing one standard deviation above a year’s growth.

This means students achieved more growth than 84.1% of their peers in a typical year.

Level 5 is two standard deviations above a year’s growth.

ORAU funds $30K local classroom grants

September 10, 2025 by Ben Pounds

South Clinton Elementary School students Keaton Cole and Dominic Hendershot hold up drones they programmed. Their teacher, Kimberly O’Dell, recently got a grant for the program from the nonprofit Oak Ridge Associated Universities.

Eight educators from Anderson, Roane and Scott counties received more than $30,000 in teaching materials and supplies through Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ 2025 Education Grants program.

“These grants will support innovative projects designed to inspire students and enhance STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education in the region,” a news release stated. “From kindergarten STEM labs to high school robotics programs, and from spatial learning tools to drones, ORAU is equipping teachers with cutting-edge resources to meet evolving statewide curriculum standards and engage students in meaningful, hands-on learning experiences.”

While teachers in other counties were eligible for and received grants, six out of eight of the grantees were from the Oak Ridge, Clinton or Anderson County School systems.

Courtney Bass of Norwood Elementary School received STEM stations including gears, kinetic ball tracks and building bricks for kindergarten.

Clinton City Schools aim debt-free by 2030

September 10, 2025 by Ben Pounds

The total debt for Clinton City Schools is $694,000.

Scott Rhea, chief financial officer for the school system, gave this information at the Aug. 25 Clinton City Council meeting.

“So we’re in pretty good shape,” he said. “Debt free in five years.”

Of that, Rhea told The Courier News, $160,200 was for a Clinton Elementary School construction project in 2000, and $534,000 for another CES project.

He said the audited fund balance from the 2023-2024 period was $7,040,000.

However, he told The Courier News that he expected a $700,000 year-end, putting the total fund balance closer to $7.7 million.

He also said the city took over debt from around 2012 on work at South Clinton Elementary School.

Clinch Community School’s fall plant sale begins Sept. 19

September 10, 2025

Shoppers check out the plants for sale in the greenhouse next to the Clinton Community School during last spring’s plant sale. - G. Chambers Williams III

Just over a week away, the Clinch River Community School’s fall plant sale will begin Friday, Sept. 19, and will continue weekdays and Saturdays until stock runs out.

This event is the second plant sale of the year for the school, which held its spring event in March.

The fall event will focus on mums, pansies, violas and perennials, school officials said.

Visitors may find the plants in the greenhouse next to the community school and the Anderson County Career and Technical Center, behind Anderson County High School, at 160 Maverick Circle, off North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard.

Intended to raise money for agriculture programs at the school, the sale is coordinated by Kendra McCoig, agriculture teacher at the Clinch River Community School.

Sales hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. The school accepts cash and checks, but no debit or credit cards.

McCoig said the plans are to keep the sale going until Oct. 2, or whenever the stock of plants runs out, if that’s sooner.

Money raised from the plant sale goes right back into the agricultural educational programs for Clinch River students.

For more information, stop by the school or call 865-457-7462 and ask for Ms. McCoig

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