With the threat of more severe cold looming, Knoxville School District Superintendent Cassi Pearson spent time Monday discussing with the School Board the protocol she follows in determining whether or not to call off school.

Pearson says if heavy snow or severe cold are present, she monitors the National Weather Service website on an hourly basis, saying the situation can change almost hourly. Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, and the safety of students and employees is the most important factor to be considered.

In other action, the union representing Knoxville teachers offered its initial contract proposal to the district; the Knoxville Education Association is seeking a six percent salary increase for the coming year, noting teachers have not requested a yearly two percent increase in the last couple of years.

The union is also proposing the creation of an additional lane and additional steps on the salary schedule, compensation for teachers filling in as substitute teachers during their planning time, and a conversion rate for sick days into personal days.

Teachers also request the sharing of budgets beginning August 1st, so they can obtain necessary supplies before school starts, and a $500 stipend for any teacher which has to change classrooms, buildings or assignments. And they request that money from colleges and universities to student teachers be paid directly to those teachers, rather than through the school district.

The current contract with the school district expires at the end of June.