The Cleveland City Board of Education had a split vote, 4-3, on Monday on whether or not the schools should pay for renovations to the field house at Raider Field out of the General Fund Capital Reserve Fund.

Discussion centered on the fact that the site committee had recommended the improvements to the field house with all the costs being donated.

The board on Monday found out that the completed renovations had cost $9,585.44 and only $3,000 was donated. The remaining $6,585.44 is past due.

At-large board member Bill Brown said it seemed to him “it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission” and asked that the three items needing board approval for payment from the reserve be voted on separately. Mr. Brown and board members Steve Morgan and Murl Dirksen voted no on the field house funds with Dawn Robinson, Tom Cloud, Evelyn Rockholt and Peggy Pesterfield voting yes.

The new handicap ramp at Arnold Memorial Elementary, which cost $4,500, passed unanimously. However, charges in the amount of $8,981.90 from the city of Cleveland for gravel at a Cleveland High Sschool parking lot received one no vote from Mr. Morgan.

Lynn Voelz, executive director of the Bradley Cleveland Public Education Foundation, presented information about National Board Certification for Teachers (NBCT), which was created as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Currently, Tennessee ranks last in surrounding states with only 338. North Carolina has 14,211. Cleveland City Schools has two teachers who have completed the program: Jeanie Long, who teaches biology honors courses at Cleveland High, and Leneda Laing, math coordinator at Cleveland Middle.

Much of the remainder of the meeting was spent discussing fundraising requests from clubs and sports groups and the board’s role in granting permission for them in a timely manner. Mrs. Rockholt reported on possible changes to Policy 6.701, which requires that fundraising activities be approved in advance.

The board has grown seemingly frustrated over fundraising requests that have been held by the schools before the board members give their approval. In one instance, a group completed the sale of firecrackers before asking for permission. Mrs. Rockholt said at least 30 minutes of each meeting is taken up with problems associated with fundraising.

There was discussion about ways to enforce proper procedure including forfeiting proceeds to the general fund. Decisions were tabled until the December board meeting.

In the Director’s Good News report, it was noted that the Cleveland High marching band was named Class AAA and Overall Grand Champion at the Warrior Invitational Band Contest held at Gordon Central High in Calhoun, Ga., on Oct. 10.

The Cleveland and Bradley County school boards will hold their annual joint meeting on Jan. 11, 2010.