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Blount County's system-level administrators are currently working at capacity, but officials could improve if they make several recommended changes, according to a recent report.

Dr. Bob Lovingood -- former superintendent for the Monroe County School System and Christian County Public Schools in Kentucky -- has presented Blount County school board members with his central office review.

Lovingood was paid a fee of $200 per day -- including travel expenses -- and a total fee not to exceed $10,000.

He conducted a central office staff comparison with eight school systems that have student populations between 6,800 and 14,300 students.

Blount County Schools is provided state funding for 12 supervisory positions and three special education supervisors, Lovingood said. The system currently has eight supervisors, he said.

About 2.3 percent of the system's annual budget is spent on central office employee salaries and benefits, which includes Blount County Director of Schools Rob Britt, secretaries and supervisors, Lovingood's report said.

Blount County's central office staff members are currently “working at and/or beyond capacity,” the report said. “Most employees at the central office already have combined responsibilities. However, interviews with other school systems and the Blount County Central Office staff have produced a variety of cost-saving solutions.”

Lovingood recommended Blount County officials:

• Merge supervisor responsibilities to better align with Blount County Schools' mission and goals;


• Move supervisors to coordinator pay, because they retire with a 10 percent -- instead of a 20 percent -- supplement;


• Use retired employees for 100-120 day contracts whenever possible;


• Change supervisors and/or coordinators to a 10- or 11-month contract instead of a 12-month contract;


• Eliminate the food service supervisor and create a food service coordinator position;


• Eliminate the K-5 supervisor and create a federal projects supervisor using federal funds;


• Eliminate the 6-12 supervisor and create a K-12 supervisor for elementary, middle and high school curriculum;


• Move the English as a Second Language (ESL) programs at Eagleton Middle School back into individual schools;


• Hire temporary employees for high-peak periods;


• Replace the full-time receptionist with a part-time employee;


• Revamp the telephone system, which would remove the need for an operator, and update the current phone system for parent and staff notifications during emergency situations;


• Purchase an automated card system for use in the payroll department to replace the 1,600 time/sign-in sheets per month;


• Require direct deposit for all employees.

School board members didn't take any action on the report.

Britt said he plans to align administrative duties with the system's mission and goals and also create more equitable workloads among his supervisors. Officials will also be looking at all Lovingood's recommendations, he said.