CUMBERLAND SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES MIDDLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
According to a report by the Crossville Chronicle, The Cumberland County Board of Education approved the formation of a middle school special committee, the adoption of a cause-and-effect matrix tool designed by Chairman Scott VanWinkle, and a proposed end date of May 2026 for the committee’s work. Although committee members were approved in September, the group held an initial meeting without full board authorization to discuss the matrix—a comprehensive spreadsheet outlining considerations for implementing middle schools—and to establish tasks and a timeline for the October meeting.
Throughout the 2025-’26 school year, subject-matter expert teams will populate the tool, with ongoing refinements discussed during the October work session, where members like VanWinkle and Chris King noted it as a evolving process. Board member Anita Hale raised constituent concerns about comparing academic outcomes of middle schools versus K-8 configurations, prompting Director of Schools Rebecca Farley to assure research on all perspectives, including benefits like early high school course access for grades 6-8.
The board voted nearly unanimously (with Hale dissenting) to use the matrix for identifying three to five options, unanimously approved the committee itself, and set the May 2026 deadline. On the consent agenda, the board also approved eight overnight/out-of-state field trips, 11 school-wide fundraisers, six surplus property disposals, and two executive field trip approvals.
The next work session is scheduled for November 20 at 4 p.m. at Central Services in Crossville.
