BLOUNTVILLE — The Sullivan County Commission meeting on Thursday saw significant attendance from staff members of Sullivan County Schools and Blountville Little League, with many speaking during public comment in support of their respective organizations. On Thursday, the commission reviewed the newly proposed 2024-25 school budget, which utilizes $6.8 million from the schools’ fund balance to provide a 15% raise for school employees.
Jonathan Fields, principal of Sullivan Central Middle School, said the school had been asked not to compare their finances to those of the city. Agreeing that this request was fair, he said he decided to conduct his own analysis, comparing school salaries of neighboring Washington County and Sullivan County. “I began looking at my own salary, which last year was $97,836,” Fields said.
“In Washington County, it would be $109,408 for having a bachelor’s degree. I would’ve gotten $6,000 more for having a doctorate degree and $3,000 more for ABA attendance.” He also compared teachers’ salaries, noting that a teacher with 10 years of experience and a master’s degree in Sullivan County would earn $55,186, while in Washington County, they would have earned $58,344 last year, with an increase to $60,439 this upcoming year.
Additionally, Fields pointed out that a custodian at Sullivan County Schools for 10 years started at $13 per hour this year, compared to $16.32 per hour in Washington County. “I wanted to compare apples to apples, and I encourage you all to check me on this,” Fields said.
“I’m here to advocate for my custodians, my cafeteria workers, my teachers — the folks who are not making a comparable wage to a county school system beside us.” Fields received applause and a standing ovation from the audience. “We’ve tried our best to respond to every hurdle that’s been put to us on the board of education and the department of education,” he said.
“But it feels like every time we climb across one of those hurdles, someone is secretly finding another one.” Several individuals spoke on behalf of the Blountville Little League following the county’s decisions to demolish Bernie Webb Ball Park to make way for a recycling packaging facility. New fields are being built behind the former Blountville Middle and Elementary schools, but they will not be ready in time for the upcoming fall ball season.
Melissa Keith, a Blountville resident and softball coach, expressed the impact on families. “Letting our kids run around on the fields all day, hanging out with teammates and siblings was a luxury for us as families,” Keith said. “It was a way of life for many, many Blountville families over the season.
” Keith questioned the county’s decision to “destroy a Blountville landmark” and said the county did not take into consideration families who have multiple children. Bob Dotson, another Blountville resident and coach, criticized the commission’s decision-making process. Dotson said he was “very disturbed by the tone-deafness of this commission when it comes to decisions that affect the betterment of our kids.
” “Bernie Webb ballpark is more than just a piece of land to a lot of people,” Dotson said. “It’s a part of our lives, it’s a part of the history of this town.” He also noted the logistical challenges for parents with multiple children now needing to drive to separate fields.
“That’s more gas that families have to spend money on now,” said Dotson. The coach questioned the “lack of communication and preparation from the county to the league and community members.” “The equipment, the lighting, the buildings, the batting cage — you all didn’t pay for it, the county didn’t pay for it, we did.
And now it’s being indiscriminately torn down.” David Ewing, president of Blountville Little League, said the league will have primary use of the two fields at the middle school and will retain possession of the concession stand at Bernie Webb. “While we question the decisions behind the actions taken thus far on removing the little league and destroying our fields and assets without detailed planning discussion, we ask the community and the county as a whole for continued help,” Ewing said.
“We need help to keep our league alive.”.
