No school on Election Day in county

Roane County students will be out of school on Nov. 6. That’s Election Day and four schools — Midway and Ridge View elementary, Cherokee Middle and Harriman High — serve as polling places.   

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Board of Education members didn’t like the idea of students being at school when people are going there to vote. 

“I think it’s dangerous,” Mike “Brillo” Miller said. “I think we’re asking for trouble.” 

Wade McCullough agreed.

“There’s a lot of comings and goings, a lot of automobiles coming and going,” he said.

Director of Schools Gary Aytes said Nov. 6 will be used as a staff development day. Students are scheduled to be off on Feb. 15, but may have to go to make up for being out of school on Nov. 6.  

Aytes said Roane County Administrator of Elections Charles Holiway has expressed interest in not using the schools as polling places in future elections. 

“He is considerate of our situation and would like to have them somewhere else,” Aytes said. 

Holiway said he plans to look at the issue in 2013.