Hamblen Co. Schools To Choose New Superintendent; May Have To Change Policy First

Hamblen County’s school board will be choosing a new leader for the school district today. One of the issues they will be tackling is if someone without educational experience should be the superintendent of schools. Before voting for a new superintendent, the board will have to first vote on whether to change their own policy. The existing policy says any superintendent for Hamblen County schools must have experience in a school district. General Arnold W Bunch Jr. is a candidate for the job. He served in the U.S. Air Force but has no prior experience teaching children. So for him to be hired, the school board would have to vote to change their own policy. One parent was quoted as saying that to change the policy so that it fits for one candidate is wrong. However school board member Carolyn Clawson says Bunch has leadership qualities that could make him a good fit. The other two candidates vying for the position of Hamblen County School Superintendent are Tracy McAbee and Gregory Brown…a candidate needs 4 votes to win. There are currently around 10,000 students and 690 teachers in the Hamblen County school system.