The county schools' new STEM School at the Chattanooga State campus has selected a name - STEM School Chattanooga
Students were involved in the name selection, and the branding committee met with a marketing expert at Chattanooga State.
The county school board approved the selection.
Supt. Rick Smith said the Benwood Foundation is contributing $250,000 toward a new effort by the school system at drawing up a strategic plan. He said the county schools will put in $50,000 from Title I funds for a $300,000 total.
Board member Rhonda Thurman said it is the third strategic plan process during her tenure and she questioned the value. She was the only board member to vote against the proposal.
She said teachers advise her that the strategic plans take 4-5 years to complete and by then the current educators in charge are ready for a change of direction and a new strategic plan.
"It's like a dog chasing its tail," she said.
The board approved a new four-year contract with Durham Transportation.
The number of routes will go down from 190 to 184. There are eight former No Child Left Behind routes being cut, but two routes added due to student enrollment increase.