Where at in East Tennessee ? I went to high school in Rogersville.
How short and what kind? There are a lot of 35-54 pass. conventionals and Vistas on the North Carolina Surplus School Bus site. 125K - 270K miles, late '80s - early 2000s, $2500 - $4000 range.
No pics, so you have to do your homework. Look up the VIN #s to decode which style. Some county contacts have snapped a phone pic or two and sent it along, some haven't. Start in the mountain counties and work your way west.