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Description and Duties

The Sumner County Board of Education is an eleven-member elected body empowered by state law to manage and operate the Sumner County School District. Information about Board of Education meetings can be found on the Board Meetings page.

One Board member serves from each of the 11 Education Districts in Sumner County. Terms are typically four years, with rotating elections of six and five members every two years. Board elections are held in August as part of the county's general election cycle.

Board members must live in the districts they represent, and they must have a high school diploma or G.E.D. certificate. Members are citizens who give of their time to perform a public service. They are not school district employees. Once elected, Board members are required to undergo state-mandated training sessions on an annual basis.

Board members take office in September following their August election. Each September the Board elects a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from its membership.

Day-to-day operations of the school district are conducted by the Director of Schools and his/her staff. The Director is the only school district employee who can be hired by the Board. Most other personnel decisions rest with the Director of Schools.

The following is an abbreviated list of powers and duties assigned to the Board of Education by state law. Additional information may be found in Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.) 49-2-203.

1. Employ a Director of Schools.

2. Manage the schools under its jurisdiction.

3. Annually approve a budget for submission to the County Commission.

4. Establish policies for the efficient operation of the school district.

5. Approve purchases for amounts more than $5,000.

6. Grant tenure to eligible teachers who have been recommended by the Director of Schools.