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Scott Bolton is the principal of Simple Personnel Solutions, LLC.  He is an innovative and strategic leader in Human Resources (HR), currently serving as the Executive Director of Human Resources for Knox County Schools (KCS). Under his leadership, significant improvements have been made to KCS’s HR operations.

KCS, the third largest school district in Tennessee, serves nearly 60,000 students and employs approximately 9,000 staff members. It is the highest performing metropolitan district in the state, a testament to the dedication and quality of its employees.

In 2015, Bolton spearheaded an initiative to provide Workers' Compensation to professional employees, partnering with Knox County Government to achieve substantial cost savings. In 2016, he played a crucial role in establishing the Employee Relations department to handle employee complaints, investigations, and leave management, which reduced litigation and streamlined staffing processes.

By 2018, Bolton had designed and implemented a retirement incentive for professional employees, resulting in an estimated $28 million in savings for the district. In 2022, he successfully led the adoption of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) for classified employees, ensuring all new KCS employees receive the same benefits—a goal he had pursued since starting with KCS in 2014.

Bolton continues to enhance employee benefits without additional costs to the district. His focus on educating employees about health insurance and benefits has led to KCS representing 25% of local education participants in the State Health Insurance’s High Deductible Plan, leveraging Health Savings Accounts.

These efforts have contributed to KCS being recognized as one of Forbes Magazine’s “America’s Best Employers” in Tennessee from 2019 to 2023, and as one of the best large employers in Knoxville by CityView magazine in 2022. In 2023, KCS received the Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Pro Patria Award for Tennessee and the National ESGR Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

Bolton is also a respected leader and resource for school districts and local governments across Tennessee through his involvement with the Tennessee Association of School Business Officials (TASBO), where he currently serves as past president.