The Rhea County Board of Education honored the Best Buddies club of the Rhea County High School for their winning Chapter of the Year and for Andrea Kirkman for Advisor of the Year.
Dr. Amie Lonas, director of schools, presented Mrs. Kirkman, along with her club ambassador and group of officers, awards of recognition for their achievements.
Mrs. Kirkman said the chapter started at Rhea County High School back in 1989. So far, the last three years they have won Chapter of the Year, and in 2022-23 school year won International Chapter of the year.
Officials said, "Best Buddies matches students with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Best Buddies creates relationships between people with and without IDD, offering social mentoring while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion."
Best Buddies will have a get together this Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the lobby of the Rhea County High School to celebrate their achievements. The Rhea County Commisson had made Aug. 17 Best Buddies Day in Rhea County a couple of years ago.
In other board action, next Tuesday has been set as a special called workshop starting at 5 p.m. and a special called meeting of the board following at 6 p.m. to discuss and changes to 20 of the board policies, ranging from district records and goals to employee of retirees and use of wireless communication devices at school.
The board also moved the September and October board meetings to avoid conflicts with other events. The September meeting will be moved to Sept. 4, with the workshop starting at 5 p.m. and the meeting at 6 p.m., to avoid conflict with the Tennessee State Schoolboard Association meeting scheduled for Sept. 11 at Tyner Academy. The October meeting is moved to Thursday, Oct. 2 to avoid fall break of all the schools.