Today's News

Roane County’s most recent state audit noted some findings in the Office of Director of Accounts and Budgets.

“The office had deficiencies in budget operations,” the audit said.

The audit occurs annually and is conducted by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury. It was released last month.

One of the deficiencies listed said total expenditures in the General Debt Service Fund exceeded total appropriations by the County Commission by $11,564.

Roane County Director of Schools Leah Rice Watkins received a $15,000 performance bonus in 2016-17, her first year on the job.

The bonus is the maximum amount allowable under the contract she signed with the Roane County Board of Education. The contract was set to expire on June 30, 2020, but the board extended it last year to June 30, 2021.

The $15,000 bonus was in addition to the $120,000 salary Watkins received in 2016-17. Her salary for 2017-18 is $125,000.

The bonus amount is based on the school board’s evaluation of the director.

By Flo Charles

The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

The life celebration of Barbara Bush was held at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston with past presidents, dignitaries and leaders from all backgrounds and religions — 1,500 inside and thousands outside showing their respect for her life of service to her fellow man.

She was the matriarch of one of the most powerful American political dynasties in the families of American history.

When we wrote last week’s column concerning the mega-school proposal and the need for a vote by the people on that proposal, little did we know that this week’s column would be on the same mega-school proposal, without any intervening messages about anything else.

But, Friday’s Opinion page featured not only our dear Flo’s column, and our own View, but also had a lengthy discussion bearing the title “New school questions now answered,” with authorship credited to Leah Rice Watkins.