This newsletter will be distributed on the Wednesday following the monthly Board of Education meeting. This newsletter contains important information from district departments and other helpful tips. If you have suggestions for content in this newsletter, please send them to Collin Brooks at BrooksB@jcschools.org.

• School Principal's Day - May 1
• Teacher Appreciation Week - May 5 - 9
• School Lunch Hero Day - May 2
• School Nurse Day - May 7
• National Speech & Language Pathologist Day - May 18 (falls on a Sunday)

Calendars

• Printable Calendars for 2024-2025 (Updated 1-16-25)
  
• Staff Holiday Schedule for 2024-2025
  

Johnson City Schools was pleased to welcome Dr. Erin Slater, our incoming superintendent, to Monday night’s Board of Education meeting. Dr. Slater attended with her family, including her two daughters, son and future son-in-law. We’re excited for her official start on July 1 and look forward to the leadership she will bring to our district.

During their meeting on Monday night, the Johnson City Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution to participate in Section 4 of the Education Freedom Act of 2025, which allows eligible teachers to receive a one-time state-funded bonus of at least $2,000. While the Board continues to oppose the legislation overall, this action ensures that our incredible teachers are not denied the bonus funds set aside by the state. The board also hopes to approve bonuses for all staff.

The Johnson City Public School Foundation's biggest fundraiser, Spell-a-bration, will be held on Thursday, April 10, 2025 at Science Hill High School. The event will start at 6:30 PM. This year, the goal is to raise $40-$60K to purchase a new Star Lab for the elementary and middle schools. The registration fee is $200 per team and the registration form can be found below.

• Visit our updated Human Resources web page to find assistance with your employee benefits and questions about the hiring process.
  
• Johnson City Schools is hiring Educare assistants, custodians, and instructional assistants. View our current job postings and apply today!

• Johnson City Transit is in need of bus drivers. For current bus driver position openings visit https://johnsoncitytn.applicantpro.com/jobs/.

• Please visit our updated web page at Finance | Retirement.
• Sharron Livingston in Human Resources now manages most benefits for our system. Christy Fair in Finance manages the Hartford Life Insurance only.
• Our Employee Forms page will assist you with finding commonly requested forms and the contact person for each one.

The new annual contribution limit to a 403(b), 401(l), or a 457(b) for 2025 is $23,500. The catch-up contribution limit for those age 50 and over is $7,500 (for a total of $31,000 that can be contributed for 2025). Staring in 2025, those age 60-63 may be eligible for a higher catch-up contribution limit. The higher limit is $11,250 (for a total $34,750 that can be continued for 2025).

Employees enrolled in the Consumer-driven Health Plan (CDHP) also have a Health Savings Account available to put aside funds for medical expenses. For 2025, the maximum that can be contributed to a health savings account $4,300 for individuals and $8,550 for family coverage.

Summer professional development planning is under way! Registration for our summer sessions will begin May 1st in Learning Stream. Instructors are encouraged to submit their sessions using the JCS New Training Request form on our professional learning web page as soon as possible.

Instructors, please review your sessions in your Learning Stream instructor accounts. Please confirm attendance for all sessions, or send the sign-in sheets to Tracey Coffey at TLC.

The TLC lab and conference area will be closed from April 21st to May 2nd for exciting facility upgrades. During this time, the Creation Station will remain open for staff and PTA member use. We’re thrilled about the upcoming changes, including new furniture, a laptop cart, and a ViewSonic board! Take a sneak peek at our new logo and sign, proudly made by CTE. We look forward to the final product. A big thank you to everyone for your support in enhancing our space!

To view the recording on the April Board Meeting, please click the YouTube link above.

The next regularly scheduled Johnson City Board of Education meeting will be held on Monday, May 5 starting at 6 p.m. inside the Board Room at Central Office (100 E. Maple Street). Board meetings can be viewed on the Johnson City Schools' YouTube channel.

Sawyer Ward, a junior, defeated a two-time undefeated state champion to win the state championship in wrestling. With the win, Ward became Science Hill's second girls' wrestling state champion. Sawyer had a season record of 41-3 this season, beating an undefeated 2-time state champion in the finals of this year’s state tournament.

Chase Smalling, also a junior, was the state runner-up in wrestling. This season, Chase had a record of 47-1, losing his only match for the season in the state finals.

Kate Carter earned ETSU's most prestigious undergraduate scholarships and was one of 11 students from the region selected. More than 1,000 seniors from across Tennessee and the bordering states (of Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia) requested applications for Roan Scholars last fall.

Indian Trail’s Robo-Hawks Robotics Team won the state’s Robotics Championship 2025! The robot’s name is Alt-F4. The students on this team are Byron Eisenzopf, Sam Quaintance and Mushabbar Raza. The coaches are Misty Davis and Carleton Lyon.

We would like to recognize a few students for serving with distinction as delegates at the 2025 TSBA’s SCOPE Conference:

· Kate Carter (President)

· Ensley Baker

· Owen King

· Addison Pumphrey

· Akshay Vashist (was elected as 1st Vice President).

Johnson City’s Chamber of Commerce hosted the final round of the National Civics Bee Competition in Johnson City. The 2nd and 3rd place winners were students from Liberty Bell.

· 2nd place in the Civics Bee: Broderick Ward, Liberty Bell

· 3rd place in the Civics Bee: William Tran, Liberty Bell (pictured)

The Johnson City Schools' Communication Department is looking for suggestions for features stories to share with our community. This could be anything you think parents, students or the public want or need to know about can be good features. We're talking student achievements, teachers doing cool things in their classrooms, school programs or offerings that could benefit from a little awareness, clubs... Anything. If there's a visual component – something or someone I could photograph to go along with it – it will be even more engaging. We would love to hear your ideas!

Please reach out to Nathan Baker or Collin Brooks with your suggestions.