ÿWPC« ce'ŒP…`&âÙ8LR&nQH ÖYÒkz˜'ÕØOP÷³Œ„«Ü†^1NêºÏ~­Ž‘N¼:±hÑ ²äÙ —^¦xdþÌ}ŸÅ3-õK.ÀøÍ™¯8ü¸qÉIe²Ly_G1VLžâë/¶Z:äPò“Ž_ 8¤y—\lSå¯JÒ}¸`¢þø­¿ßM© ~8 ÞyªÒ=u[íÅŽuC‘ SÙÌÑÊ•5Ÿ J,ÊËD›(¢Ó뽩CXºe¶ÉA=ÖBdæq*µãHκéõSßz¥¾ãb§©X¨«µÃüá‚[•^´,Ûd#ž,Ÿ~ñç­pov+­#÷šÎ2ˆNÛyq{rªrtzé‰à «EãKSb±=ž—v̰6× >ÐÃB‘ ;@—\ïó9÷ïzzüîó#û¿0G\ÇâAÝœsG! e ì—´OmfT1h¨pKÓÿt2 üØ;oÞwUû‡†=ÖÔâlPâ˜îšÈðyc˜þ­ÿRÅ1Q#Y?cr R8°9©{‹AƒHot=‰ äàœî&_¼ßw|ÔÄËN3[°âF®…Lzò‚o˜-¸ú€÷Þ(Ó)uܶ’ ý4˜¬¨í Ƕ›ôd#!xU):™ %Ó 0ˆÙwa 4e y 0ˆ U#: É 0DÑ  m       V. . N„„$†^ ªªªªªªª B¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶ 0¤Ó D5wwwww AQ¬Æý 0¤Ã 0Dg˜HP LaserJet 8000 DN PSØÚØÚÚØØÚ0, øð AZ‹"Arial RegularX(`zZ$¡¡ÑTRY,3Ø'ÿ Letter3Ø'3Ø'ÿ Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÔ  Ô{Z='ÔüÔô3|x(·(2”$¤¤Ý ƒzZ!ÝÑTRXà3Ø'ÿ Letter3Ø'3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÔ  ÔÝ  ÝÒ4°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€ô¤ÌõXXÔà Œ àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó, øð AZ"Arial Regular(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ LÝ ƒ5˜$ÝÔ  ÔÒ4°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€ôÏòXXÔà Œ àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ‡ ôV òòôÏÔThirty„nine€states€cover€public€employees€generally.€€Six€states€cover€employees€but€notÐ  Ðofficials.€€Texas€covers€county€employees€and€specified€highway€and€state€college€and€universityÐ ÐÈ Ðworkers;€it€permits€cities,€towns,€and€villages€to€provide€compensation.€€Georgia€requiresÐ ˜ Ðcoverage€when€the€public€employer€is€either€an€instrumentality€of€the€state€or€a€corporation.€€Ô#†ôÏò ò ôVŠ#ÔÔ‡ ôV òòôÏÔ4Ð ` X ÐArthur€Larson€&€Lex€K.€Larson,€òòThe€Law€of€Workmen's€Compensationóó€ðð€56.10€(1999).Ô#†ôÏò ò ôV|#ÔÔ‡ ôV òòôÏÔ Ý ƒb]"ÝÔ  ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ XXÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€X/ØX ÔÐ  ÐÌSeptember€27,€1999ÌÌCecil€Ô_ÔCrowsonÔ_Ô,€Jr.ÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAeÔó ó h;'L  d(|3]$££Ý ƒzZ!ÝÑTRXà3Ø'ÿ Letter3Ø'3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÔ  ÔÝ  Ý )ÿÿ!dxdxabZc[Cþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3]$¢¢Ý ƒzZ!ÝÑTRXà3Ø'ÿ Letter3Ø'3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÔ  ÔÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óÝ ƒzZ!ÝÑTRXà3Ø'ÿ Letter3Ø'3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÔ  ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ԚѰÑѰÑÒ4°ÒÒ„°ÒÑ  ÑÑ8€/ØXXdædÈ8ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñò òÑTR[° AØ'Legal ManualXà3Ø'ÿ Letter AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' LetterTÑÔ_Ôà@PPDàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ  Ðßx€`[B2.jzf{`  `€€@ÿEZo` 8ttxP’ôl { xßà@ii)DàAT€KNOXVILLEˆÌÌÌÌà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àà œ àFOR€PUBLICATIONÌÌó óà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àà œ àò òFiled:ó ó€òò€€€€€September€27,€1999à€T$T$MT$àóóˆÐ | t ÐÌÌMICHELE€P.€MUHLHEIM,à@##/Dà)ˆÐ 4,  Ðà@##/Dà)ˆÌà Œ àPLAINTIFF/APPELLANT,à@##/Dà)ˆà œ àKnox€Chancery€No.€137765„1Ð ø  Ðà@##/Dà)ˆÌv.à@##/Dà)ˆà œ àHon.€Frederick€D.€McDonald,Ð ÌÄ  Ðà@##/Dà)ˆà œ àà ô à€€ChancellorÐ ²ª  ÐKNOX€COUNTY€BOARD€OFà@##/Dà)ˆÐ ˜ ÐEDUCATION,à@##/Dà)ˆÐ ~v Ðà@##/Dà)ˆÌà Œ àDEFENDANT/APPELLEE.à@##/Dà)ˆÐ JB Ðà@##/Dà)ˆÌà Œ àà ä àANDà@##/Dà)ˆà œ àNO.€03S01„9808„CH„00089Ð  Ðà@##/Dà)ˆÌJOANNE€I.€HAYDEN,€A€Citizen€andà@##/Dà)ˆÐ âÚ ÐResident€of€Knox€County,€Tennessee,à@##/Dà)ˆÐ ÈÀ Ðà@##/Dà)ˆÌà Œ àPLAINTIFF/APPELLANT,à@##/Dà)ˆÐ ”Œ Ðà@##/Dà)ˆÌv.à@##/Dà)ˆà œ àKnox€Chancery€No.€131939„1Ð ` X Ðà@##/Dà)ˆÌKNOX€COUNTY,€A€Politicalà@##/Dà)ˆà œ àHon.€Frederick€D.€McDonald,€€Ð ,"$ ÐSubdivision€of€the€State€of€Tennessee,à@##/Dà)ˆà œ àà ô à€€ChancellorÐ #  Ðà@##/Dà)ˆÌà Œ àDEFENDANT/APPELLEE.à@##/Dà)ˆÐ Þ$Ö! ÐÌÌÌòòFOR€APPELLANT€MUHLHEIMóó:à ì àà D àà œ àòòFOR€APPELLANT€HAYDENóó:Ð v(n!% ÐÌWILLIAM€C.€CREMINSà ” àà ì àà D àà œ àJ.€ANTHONY€FARMERÐ B*:#' ÐKnoxvilleà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àà œ àKnoxvilleÐ (+ $( ÐÌà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” à€€€€€òòFOR€APPELLEE:óóÐ ô,ì%* ÐÌà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” à€€€€€WENDELL€K.€HALLÌà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” à€€€€€KnoxvilleÌÌÌÌÌÌà@oo)Dàò òÔ‡è„0çXXÔO€P€I€N€I€O€Nó óÔ#†X/ØXçè„0? #ԈР 5.3 ÐÌÌÌREVERSEDà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àà œ àà ô àà L àà ¤ àHOLDER,€J.Ð  B9:27 ÐÓÓà Œ àÔ‡ X/ØXXX/ØÔà@,Dàò òOPINIONó óˆÐ  ÐÌà Œ àÔ#†X#XX X£ Ó#ÔWe€granted€this€consolidated€interlocutory€appeal€to€determine€whether€Ô‡ X£ XXX#ÔaÐ È À Ðschool€board,€which€is€initially€exempted€by€statute€from€providing€workersððÐ ¬ ¤ Ðcompensation€coverage,€may€divide€its€employees€along€professional€andÐ Œ„ Ðnonprofessional€lines,€providing€workersðð€compensation€benefits€forÐ ld  Ðnonprofessional,€nonunion€employees€while€excluding€certified€teachers€who€areÐ LD  Ðrepresented€by€a€union.€Ô#†X#XX X£ ž#Ô€We€conclude€that€the€Ô‡ X£ XXX#ÔBoard€made€a€valid€division€of€itsÐ ,$  Ðworkforce€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„106(5)€(1991)€(current€versionÐ  Ðfound€at€Supp.€1998).Ô#†X#XX X£ ¡#Ô€€Accordingly,€we€reverse€the€trial€court's€denial€of€theÐ ðè Ðdefendant's€motions€for€summary€judgment.Ð ÔÌ ÐÌÓ  Óà @ àò òPROCEDURAL€AND€FACTUAL€BACKGROUNDó óÐ ld ÐÓÓÌà Œ àOn€October€17,€1996,€Joanne€I.€Hayden,€a€certified€teacher,€filed€suitÐ ! Ðseeking€workers'€compensation€benefits€for€an€alleged€work-related€injury€sheÐ Ü"Ô Ðsustained€in€May€1996€while€employed€by€the€Knox€County€Board€of€EducationÐ ¨$   Ð(ð ðthe€Boardðð).€€On€March€12,€1998,€Michele€P.€Ô_ÔMuhlheimÔ_Ô,€also€a€certified€teacher,Ð t&l" Ðfiled€suit€seeking€workers'€compensation€benefits€for€an€alleged€work-relatedÐ @(8!$ Ðinjury€she€sustained€in€October€1997€while€employed€by€the€Board.€Ð  *#& ÐÌà Œ àIn€both€cases,€the€Board€moved€for€summary€judgment€claiming€thatÐ ¤-œ&* Ðbecause€both€plaintiffs€are€certified€teachers€they€are€not€eligible€for€workersððÐ p/h(, Ðcompensation€under€a€collective€bargaining€agreement€between€the€Board€andÐ <14*. Ðthe€Knox€County€Education€Association€(Ô_ÔKCEAÔ_Ô),€the€union€representing€theÐ 3,0 Ðteachers.€€Ð Ô4Ì-2 Ðâ âÐ  6˜/4 ÐÔ_Ôà Œ àIn€support€of€its€motion,€Ô‡ X£ XXX#Ôthe€Board€provided€an€affidavit€from€its€formerÐ  Ðâ âchief€negotiator,€Bob€Chambers,€stating€that€workersðð€compensation€benefitsÐ ìä Ðwere€ð ðon€the€tableðð€for€negotiations€in€1980,€1982,€1985,€and€1990.€€In€eachÐ Ì Ä Ðcase,€the€benefits€were€rejected€and€were€not€included€in€the€agreementÐ ¬ ¤ Ðbetween€the€Board€and€the€KCEA.€€Chambers€stated€that€during€the€1990„91Ð Œ„ Ðnegotiations,€the€Board€offered€workersðð€compensation€benefits€that€the€KCEAÔ#†X#XX X£ #ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#ÔÐ ld  Ðrejected.€€Instead,€the€union€bargained€for€monetary€and€financial€benefits.€Ð LD  ÐChambers€stated€that€the€Board€has€provided€ð ðAccident€Protection€Insuranceðð€toÐ ,$  Ðteachers€since€1982;€a€Ô#†X#XX X£ p#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#Ô1995€Memorandum€of€Agreement€between€the€BoardÐ   Ðand€the€KCEA€confirms€this€coverage.€€The€Memorandum€of€Agreement€was€Ô#†X#XX X£ ©#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#ÔinÐ ìä Ðeffect€when€the€two€teachers€were€injured.€€Ô#†X#XX X£ t#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#ÔÐ ÌÄ ÐÌà Œ àThe€Board€also€presented€evidence€that€in€1987€it€elected€to€provideÐ Œ„ Ðworkers'€compensation€benefits€to€a€group€of€nonprofessional,€nonunionÐ ld Ðemployees.€€According€to€a€letter€to€the€Tennessee€Department€of€Labor,Ð L!D ÐDivision€of€Workers€Compensation,€the€coverage€applied€to€food€serviceÐ ,#$ Ðemployees,€maintenance€employees,€custodians,€clerks,€teachers'€aides,Ð  %  Ðsecretaries,€and€substitute€teachers.€€The€supervisors€for€the€food€service€andÐ ì&ä" Ðmaintenance€departments€were€not€covered.Ð Ì(Ä!$ Ðà Œ àÌà Œ àIn€response,€Hayden€and€Muhlheim€both€argued€that€the€Board€could€notÐ Œ,„%( Ðprovide€workersðð€compensation€to€certain€employees€within€the€department€andÐ l.d'* Ðnot€provide€coverage€to€all€employees€within€the€department.€€When€the€BoardÐ L0D), Ðelected€to€provide€coverage€for€some€employees€in€1987,€the€effect€was€to€electÐ ,2$+. Ðto€provide€coverage€for€all€employees.€€Thus,€the€plaintiffs€argue,€all€theÐ  4-0 Ðemployees€are€currently€covered€by€the€Act,€and€the€1995€Memorandum€violatesÐ ì5ä.2 ÐTenn.€Code€Ann.€Ô#†X#XX X£ ù#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#ÔððÔ#†X#XX X£ 2##ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#Ô€50„6„114€(1991)€(current€version€found€at€Supp.€1998),€whichÐ Ì7Ä04 Ðprohibits€employers€from€making€contracts€relieving€them€of€their€obligationsÐ  Ðunder€the€Act.€€The€plaintiffs€also€contend€that€the€Education€ProfessionalÐ èà ÐNegotiations€Act,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€Ô#†X#XX X£ x##ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#ÔððÔ#†X#XX X£ ð$#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#Ô€49„5„601,€òòetóó€òòseq.óó,€does€not€allow€workers'Ð È À Ðcompensation€to€be€a€negotiable€term€in€the€bargaining€process.Ð ¨   ÐÌà Œ àThe€trial€court€denied€the€Boardððs€motions€for€summary€judgment€in€bothÐ h`  Ðcases.€€Thereafter,€the€Chancellor€granted€the€petitions€of€Muhlheim€and€theÐ H@  ÐBoard€seeking€interlocutory€appellate€review€in€both€cases€pursuant€to€Rule€9,Ð (  ÐTenn.€R.€App.€P.€€This€Court€granted€the€interlocutory€appeals€and€consolidatedÐ  Ðthe€cases.€€For€the€reasons€that€follow,€we€reverse€the€trial€court€and€hold€thatÐ èà Ðthe€defendant€is€entitled€to€summary€judgment€in€both€cases.Ð ÈÀ ЀÌÓ  Óò òANALYSISÐ ˆ€ Ðó óÓB(ÓÌà Œ àSummary€judgment€is€appropriate€if€the€movant€can€show€that€there€is€noÐ H!@ Ðgenuine€issue€as€to€any€material€fact€and€that€the€movant€is€entitled€to€aÐ (#  Ðjudgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.04Ô#†X#XX X£ 6%#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#Ô.€€The€non-movant€is€entitledÐ %  Ðto€the€strongest€legitimate€view€of€the€evidence€and€is€entitled€to€all€reasonableÐ è&à" Ðinferences€that€may€be€drawn€from€the€evidence,€discarding€all€countervailingÐ È(À!$ Ðevidence.€€òòShadrick€v.€Cokeróó,€963€S.W.2d€726,€731€(Tenn.€1998)€(citing€òòByrd€v.Ð ¨* #& ÐHallóó,€847€S.W.2d€208,€210-11€(Tenn.€1993)).Ð ˆ,€%( ÐÌà Œ àÔ#†X#XX X£  )#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#ÔIn€determining€whether€summary€judgment€is€appropriate€in€the€case€nowÐ H0@), Ðbefore€us,€we€must€consider€whether€the€undisputed€facts€establish€that€theÐ (2 +. Ðelection€statute€allows€a€governmental€entity,€such€as€the€Board,€to€electÐ 4-0 Ðcoverage€for€nonunion€employees€while€excluding€the€certified€teachers€who€areÐ è5à.2 Ðunion€members.€Ô#†X#XX X£ ™+#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#ÔÐ È7À04 Їà Œ àA€provision€of€the€Tennesseeððs€Workers€Compensation€Act€thatÐ  Ðaddresses€governmental€entities€states:Ð èà ÐÌÓÓà8 Œ àà8ä Œ ü!Œ ü!à[T]he€state,€any€county€or€municipal€corporation€mayÐ ¨   Ðaccept€the€provisions€of€this€chapter€by€filing€writtenÐ ˜  Ðnotice€thereof€with€the€division€under€theÐ ˆ€ Ðcommissioner€of€labor,€at€least€thirty€(30)€days€beforeÐ xp  Ðthe€happening€of€any€accident€or€death,€and€may€atÐ h`  Ðany€time€withdraw€the€acceptance€by€giving€likeÐ XP  Ðnotice€of€the€withdrawal.€€òòThe€state,€any€county€orÐ H@  Ðmunicipal€corporation€may€accept€the€provisions€ofÐ 80  Ðthis€chapter€as€to€any€department€or€division€of€theÐ (  Ðstate,€county€or€municipal€corporationóó€by€filing€writtenÐ  Ðnotice€thereof€with€the€division€under€theÐ  Ðcommissioner€of€labor€at€least€thirty€(30)€days€beforeÐ øð Ðthe€happening€of€any€accident€or€death€and€may,€atÐ èà Ðany€time,€withdraw€acceptance€for€the€division€orÐ ØÐ Ðdepartment€by€giving€like€notice€of€the€withdrawal,Ð ÈÀ Ðand€such€acceptance€by€the€state,€county€orÐ ¸° Ðmunicipal€corporation€for€any€department€or€divisionÐ ¨  Ðthereof,€shall€have€effect€only€of€making€theÐ ˜ Ðdepartment€or€division€designated€subject€to€theÐ ˆ€ Ðterms€of€this€chapter;€€€ÓÓÐxpä ¤ä ¤ ÐÌTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„106(5)€(1991)€(emphasis€added).€Ð 8"0 ÐÌà Œ àThe€issue€now€before€us€is€whether€a€school€board,€which€is€initiallyÐ ø%ð! Ðexempted€by€statute€from€providing€workersðð€compensation€coverage,€may€divideÐ Ø'Ð # Ðemployees€along€professional€and€nonprofessional€lines€and€may€elect€toÐ ¸)°"% Ðprovide€workers'€compensation€benefits€for€nonprofessional,€nonunionÐ ˜+$' Ðemployees€while€excluding€professional,€certified€teachers€who€are€representedÐ x-p&) Ðby€a€union.€€€This€issue€is€one€of€first€impression,€and€thereÔ#†X#XX X£ g-#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#Ô€is€scant€case€law€inÐ X/P(+ ÐTennessee€interpreting€the€election€provision€set€forth€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ð 810*- Ððð50-6„106(5).€€òòSeeóó€òògenerallyóó€òòFinister€v.€Humbolt€General€Hosp.óó,€970€S.W.2dÐ 3,/ Ð435,€439€(Tenn.€1998)€(holding€that€a€hospital€is€exempt€as€a€subsidiary€of€anÐ ø4ð-1 Ðâ âexempt€hospital€district);€òòPresley€v.€Bennettóó,€860€S.W.2d€857,€858€(Tenn.€1993)Ð Ø6Ð/3 Ð(holding€that€the€filing€of€a€notice€of€election€under€the€act€is€directory;€substantialÐ  Ðcompliance€is€sufficient).Ð èà Ðâ âÌà Œ àWhile€we€have€looked€to€other€jurisdictions€for€guidance,€we€have€foundÐ ¨   Ðlittle€or€no€guidance,€as€apparentlyÔ#†X#XX X£ 6#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#Ô€only€Tennessee€and€Delaware€have€workers'Ð ˆ€ Ðcompensation€provisions€allowing€public€employers€to€choose€whether€to€provideÐ h`  Ðworkers'€compensation€coverage€for€public€employees.€€Delaware€has€notÐ H@  Ðaddressed€the€issue€now€before€us,€and€the€remaining€jurisdictions€generallyÐ (  Ðmandate€some€form€of€compulsory€coverage.׃×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ô#†X#XX X£ Ù9#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#Ô€€4€Arthur€Larson€&€Lex€K.€Larson,Ð  ÐòòThe€Law€of€Workmenððs€Compensationóó€Ô#†X#XX X£ õ;#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#ÔððÔ#†X#XX X£ ™<#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#Ô€56.10€(1999).Ô#†X#XX X£ ß<#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#ÔÐ èà ÐÔ#†X#XX X£ /=#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#ÔÌà Œ àTennesseeððs€election€statute€allows€an€exempted€entity€to€opt„in€and€toÐ ¨  Ðprovide€workers'€compensation€coverage€for€public€employees.€€The€opt„inÐ ˆ€ Ðprovision€also€provides€a€public€employer€with€the€latitude€to€provide€coverageÐ h` Ðfor€segments€or€portions€of€its€workforce.€€This€latitude,€however,€is€curtailed€toÐ H!@ Ðthe€extent€that€a€public€employer€may€only€delineate€by€"departments"€orÐ (#  Ð"divisions"€when€providing€coverage€to€portions€of€its€workforce.Ð %  ÐÌÔ#†X#XX X£ †=#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#Ôà Œ àWhile€the€Act€permits€an€employer€to€delineate€"departments"€andÐ È(À!$ Ð"divisions,"€the€Act€does€not€define€either€term.€€Blackððs€Law€Dictionary€definesÐ ¨* #& Ðð ðdivisionðð€as€an€ð ðoperating€or€administrative€unit€of€government,€court,€businessÐ ˆ,€%( Ðor€school€system.ðð€€òòBlackððs€Law€Dictionaryóó€479€(6th€ed.€1990).€€Accordingly,€Ô#†X#XX X£ @#ÔtheÐ h.`'* ÐAct€allows€a€governmental€entity€to€provide€workers'€compensation€benefits€to€anÐ L0D), Ðoperating€or€administrative€unit€of€its€workforce.€€The€Act€further€permits€anÐ 2+. Ðemployer€to€exclude€operating€or€administrative€units€when€electing€to€provideÐ  Ðcoverage€under€the€Act.Ð ÔÌ ÐÌà Œ àIn€the€case€now€before€us,€the€school€board€is€a€governmental€entity€andÐ l d Ðis€exempt€from€providing€workersðð€compensation€coverage€to€its€employees.€€TheÐ 80 ÐBoard,€however,€can€elect€to€provide€coverage€under€the€Act.€€In€1987,€theÐ ü  ÐBoard€elected€to€provide€coverage€for€the€Boardððs€nonprofessional€employees.€Ð ÐÈ  ÐThe€Board,€therefore,€generally€divided€its€employees€into€units€ofÐ œ”  Ðnonprofessional,€nonunion€workers€and€professional,€certified€teachers€who€areÐ h` Ðrepresented€by€a€union.€€The€Board€did€not€elect€to€provide€workers'Ð 4, Ðcompensation€benefits€to€the€certified€teachers€or€professional€employeesÐ ø Ðbecause€the€teachers,€represented€by€their€union,€had€repeatedly€rejected€theÐ ÌÄ Ðworkers'€compensation€benefits€during€negotiations.€€Ô‡ X£ XXX#ÔThe€teachers€have€beenÐ ˜ Ðcovered€by€Accident€Protection€Insurance€since€1982.€Ô#†X#XX X£ ñF#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#Ô€They€are€professionalÐ |t Ðemployees€required€to€maintain€a€license€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ð \ T ÐÔ#†X#XX X£ “G#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#ÔððÔ#†X#XX X£ YH#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#Ô49-5-101€(1991)€and€are€members€of€a€union.€€The€teachers€represent€a€unit€ofÐ <"4 Ðemployees€that€is€separate€and€apart€from€the€nonprofessional€employees€of€theÐ $  Ðschool€board.€Ô#†X#XX X£ ŸH#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#Ô€€Ô#†X#XX X£ µI#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#ÔWe€hold€that€the€Board€made€a€valid€division€of€its€workforceÐ ü%ô" Ðpursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„106(5).Ô#†X#XX X£ ùI#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#ÔÐ Ü'Ô $ ÐÌò òÓ  ÓCONCLUSIONó óÔ#†X#XX X£ ºJ#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#ÔÐ œ+”$( ÐÓòJÓÌà Œ àWe€hold€that€a€school€board,€which€is€initially€exempted€by€statute€fromÐ \/T(, Ðproviding€workersðð€compensation€coverage,€may€divide€employees€alongÐ <14*. Ðprofessional€and€nonprofessional€lines€and€may€elect€to€provide€workers'Ð 3,0 Ðcompensation€benefits€for€its€nonprofessional,€nonunion€employees€whileÐ ü4ô-2 Ðexcluding€professional,€certified€teachers€who€are€members€of€a€bargaining€unit.€Ô#†X#XX X£ .K#ÔÔ‡ X£ XXX#ÔÐ Ü6Ô/4 ÐAccordingly,€wÔ#†X#XX X£ eM#Ôe€reverse€the€trial€court€and€grant€summary€judgment€to€theÐ ¼8´16 Ðdefendant€in€both€cases.€€The€costs€of€this€appeal€shall€be€taxed€equally€againstÐ  Ðthe€plaintiffs€for€which€execution€shall€issue€if€necessary.€Ð ÔÌ ÐÌÌÌÓÓà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àòòà€T$T$MT$àóóˆÌà Œ àà ä àà < àà ” àà ì àà D àJANICE€M.€HOLDER,€JUSTICEÐ êâ  ÐÌÌÌò òConcurring:ó óÐ ‚z  ÐÌAnderson,€C.J.Ð TL ÐDrowota,€Birch,€and€Barker,€J.J.