Education/Schools - Historical Notes

The following acts once affected the board of education in Cumberland County but are no longer operative.  Also referenced below is an act which repeals prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1907, Chapter 236, abolished the District Directors in every county of Tennessee and placed the school systems under County Boards of Education and District Boards of Advisors.  The County Court would divide each county into five school districts composed of whole civil districts, as nearly equal in population or territory.  One member of the Board of Education would be elected from each district, and, if the districts were less than five, from the county at large.  The Board would select a Chairman whose duties and responsibilities were specified in the Act.  The County Superintendent would be the ex-officio secretary.  The power and authority of the Board were specified in this Act.  Every Board member would report to the Superintendent on a scholastic census in his district and upon the condition of the physical facilities.  The Board members would be paid between $1.50 to $3 per day for their services for not more than 30 days a year.  The obligations of the Advisory Board, who were elected by the voters of the districts, three per Civil district, for two year terms, were specified. 
2. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 210, amended  Public Acts of 1925, Chapter 115, a statewide school law by adding a paragraph at the end of Section 6 which provided for a nine member Board of Education in Cumberland County, and one member from each Civil District and one from the county at large, who would be elected by the County Court for a two year term and every two years thereafter.
3. Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 663, also amended Public Acts of 1925, Chapter 115, by providing for only five members of the Board of Education from the county at large who would have five year terms.  The Act names C. E. Keys, as Chairman, to serve to the regular term of the County Court in January, 1936; A. L. Tabor, to serve until January, 1935; Mrs. T. A. Day, to serve until January, 1934; S. E. Knox, to serve until January, 1933; and M. L. Taylor to serve until January, 1932.  This Act was repealed specifically by Private Acts of 1933, Chapter 421.
4. Private Acts of 1957, Chapter 342, created three Educational Districts in Cumberland County.  Two members from each District would be elected to the Board of Education plus one member elected at large.  Board members would be paid $6 per day for their attendance at Board meetings.  This Act did not receive local approval and never became effective.

The acts referenced below once affected the office of superintendent of education in Cumberland County, but are no longer operative.  Also referenced below is an act which repeals prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Private Acts of 1941, Chapter 420, provided that the County Superintendent shall be elected at the regular biennial election in August, 1942, and take office September 1 following his election, serving for two years, at a salary of $2,000 a year, half to be paid by the State and half by the county.
2. Private Acts of 1943, Chapter 160, provides that the County Superintendent of Education in Cumberland County shall be elected at the regular July session of the Quarterly County Court in July, 1944, take office on the following September 1, and serve for a term of four years at a salary of $2,500 annually, shared evenly by county and state.  The incumbent would finish his term which would expire on September 1, 1944.  This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 77.

The following acts constitute part of the administrative and political heritage of the educational structure of Cumberland County but are no longer operative since they have either been superseded, repealed, or failed to receive local approval.  Also referenced below are acts which repeal prior law without providing new substantive provisions.

1. Acts of 1905, Chapter 488, created thirteen school districts in lieu of the four school districts then existing.  The boundaries of the thirteen school districts would coincide with those of the former Civil Districts before they were reduced to four by Private Acts of 1903, Chapter 599.  The directors of the four school districts would remain in office, in whatever district their residence placed them until their terms expired.
2. Private Acts of 1909, Chapter 494, was a compulsory school attendance law for several counties, including Cumberland, requiring all children from 8 to 14 years of age to attend some school for at least four months or eighty consecutive school days in a year.  Parents, or guardians, were responsible for seeing that the law was met.  Some exceptions of disability, hardship cases, and private tutorship were recognized.  Certain school officials could excuse a child, but not more than 2 days a month.  Failure to comply subjected the guilty parent or guardian to a fine, and adequate reports of all absences, and copies of excuses, must be made to the Board of Education.  The Superintendent of school shall notify the parent when a child is absent from school.
3. Private Acts of 1909, Chapter 544, was a compulsory attendance law for Cumberland County.  Parents and guardians of children between the ages of 8 and 16 must have them in school for 80 days, or 16 weeks, if schools are open that long, unless excused under conditions enumerated in the Act.  The County would furnish books and clothes to poor children who could not attend school for those reasons.  School officials must submit proper reports to the Board of Education regarding absenteeism of all students.  Parents and guardians, guilty of non-compliance, could be fined from $10 to $50 for each offense, and each day would constitute a separate offense.
4. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 56, recited in the preamble that citizens had contributed large sums with which to purchase 440 acres of land at Crossville on which the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was to build a school for the benefit of all citizens, and that the County Court had previously authorized an appropriation of $2,500 to the Vocational School provided it was located in Cumberland County and that the General Assembly would approve their action.  This Act ratified, approved, and validated the appropriation.
5. Private Acts of 1921, Chapter 398, authorized the County Court of Cumberland County to pay the American Missionary Association, which planned to expand its school with a $100,000 improvement program, the sum of $300 a year for five years provided the said Association had spent as much as $20,000 on its program during the prior year, and, provided further, that the General Assembly would approve the appropriation.  This Act did approve the action.
6. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 483, created the Mayland Special School District out of part of the Second Civil District of Cumberland County, the boundaries of the district being described therein.  The School Board would consist of three members, elected by the people of the district, who would serve two year terms, be of good moral character, twenty-five years or older, and have at least an elementary school education.  The Board members were the corporate directors of the school district but would receive no pay other than that the Secretary could get the expense of the school census paid to him.  The powers and duties of the Board were enumerated in the Act.  The Trustee would pay to the district their pro rata share of general county education funds, and, in addition, a tax would be levied in the district of 20 cents on $100 of property valuation, plus a $1 poll tax, to provide money for the school.  No more than 25% of the tax would be used for debt service.  All children from 6 to 21 may attend and at no cost to them.  This Act was repealed expressly by Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 690,, and by Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 349.
7. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 643, created the "Crossville Special School District" of Cumberland County whose boundaries were described in the Act.  A Board of School Directors composed of three members was incorporated who would receive no pay except the Secretary who could collect his expenses for taking the required school census.  They would be elected for two year terms in August, 1928, and A. L. Garrison and T. E. Measamer were named as two to serve until then.  The Board members must be at least 30 years old, residents of the district, of good moral character and have a high school education.  Their powers and duties were specified.  A tax not to exceed 50 cents per $100, and a poll tax of $1, which could be raised to $2 the following year, were authorized to provide funds. 
8. Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 651, is the same as Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 483, which created the Mayland Special School District.  This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 690.
9. Private Acts of 1927, Chapter 349, amended Private Acts of 1925, Chapter 651, by changing the boundaries of the Mayland School District and by permitting a maximum of 75% of total revenue to be applied to school bonds instead of 25%.  This Act was repealed by Private Acts of 1931, Chapter 690.
10. Private Acts of 1951, Chapter 53, states that Mrs. Cora J. Baldwin taught in the Woody School for the 1948-49 school year but was not paid because the Superintendent did not procure a permit for her.  Her work was accepted, her pupils were counted and promoted, and all her records and paper work received and approved.  They have recommended payment of $1,165.60 which would have been her salary, if paid, for the nine month school year.  This is to be considered enabling legislation permitting the Quarterly County Court to pay and the County Judge to issue a warrant to pay the above amount to Mrs. Baldwin.
11. Private Acts of 1957, Chapter 342, created three Educational Districts in Cumberland County by aligning them with the Road Districts.  Each District, so constituted, would elect two members to the Board of Education for two year terms, and one member would be elected from the county at large, all of which elections would be conducted under the regular election laws of the state.  The members of the Board would be paid $6 per day.  This Act was not approved locally and never became effective.