LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — Moore County will join the other 94 counties in the state in a tuition assistance program for county Health Department employees. On Monday, the Metro Council voted unanimously to participate in the program that offers tuition reimbursement for county employees to continue their health education.

Moore County will pay the learning institution directly for the employee’s tuition and then be reimbursed by the state. According to Mayor Bonnie Lewis, this is a one-year program that is not guaranteed to continue. The Moore County Health Department’s Sara Bates R.N., a 12-year employee, plans to register for courses under the program to work towards her B.A. in Nutrition and Science. Bates works closely with Moore County citizens enrolled in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program that safeguards the health of low-income families in Moore County. She also works with the elderly population to make sure they receive adequate nutritional support.

“We are thankful this tuition reimbursement program has been offered and our Metro Council is allowing Registered Nurse Sara Bates to continue her education to better serve the citizens of Moore County,” Mayor Bonnie Lewis said. “She and the other employees of Moore County Health Department are valued assets for the county’s overall health.”

The tuition assistance program is federally funded and will sunset at the end of fiscal 2022-23. Salary increases as a result of program completion will be subject to funding availability within the employees division. Tuition assistance includes two course leading to a degree plus up to 90 percent of the tuition for the degree, up to $25,000 a year. •

{The Lynchburg Times is the only locally-owned newspaper in Lynchburg and also the only woman-owned newspaper in Tennessee. We cover Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}