By TABITHA EVANS MOORE | Editor-in-Chief
LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — The Moore County Board of Education voted Monday night to approve Director of Schools Chad Moorhead’s updated employment contract following a brief discussion about evaluation language and future succession planning, while also setting the date for its January meeting and reviewing upcoming policy and planning items.
Director Moorehead is celebrating his twentieth year in the Moore County system. The native and MCHS graduate returned to Lynchburg in 2005 to take over from Wayne Stewart.
The Board voted unanimously to approve Director Moorhead’s updated employment contract, which includes a standard three percent salary increase consistent with recent years and maintains the existing self-evaluation requirement.
Board members briefly discussed the idea of building a formal succession-planning component into the director’s contract or professional development framework. Members agreed the concept may be better suited for the district’s strategic planning process rather than as a contractual condition.
Board members discussed how and when they should be notified of school-based threat assessments under new state law. The Board agreed to receive quarterly summaries via the Director’s Report unless a threat rises to the level of “viable” – requiring immediate notification. No viable threats have been identified this school year.
Looking ahead, Board members discussed scheduling working sessions for early 2026 to address the district’s next budget cycle and longer-term strategic plan. Tentative dates were explored with the expectation of using extended board sessions or multi-evening workshops rather than a single retreat.
Director Moorhead updated the Board on multiple district matters, including:
• Textbook orders are nearly complete, with one remaining title pending before payment is processed.
• Districts have additional time to decide whether to join the ongoing textbook false claims litigation; initial guidance suggests participation could be labor-intensive.
• Moore County High School received the TSSAA’s AF Bridges Award for sportsmanship and leadership.
• An employment update included a new custodian hire and the reassignment of a certified teacher assistant to support student behavioral needs.
The Board voted to move the January regular meeting from Monday, January 12 to Tuesday, January 13 at 6 p.m. to avoid conflicts in the school calendar. Typically, the Board meets every second Monday of the month at 6 p.m. at either the MCHS Library or the Board of Education offices. •
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