May 25, 2021 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale:  In attendance:  Chair Butch Campbell, Vice Chair David Settles, Wes Ballard, Roseann Barton, Amanda Moore, Becky Goff, and Jimmy Richardson

Staff:  Director Trey Duke, Ralph Ringstaff, Joe Marlin, Sheri Arnette, Angela Fairchild, Lisa Trail, Greg Lyles, Emily Spencer, Maria Johnson, Dr. Caitlin Bullard, Sonya Cox, Ynetia Avant, Dr. Victoria Shields, Natalie Hardiman,
Sia Phillips, Ashley Archer, Kim Williams, Beth Prater, Kristy Timberlake, Rachel Matthews, Lacy Moore, and Tabitha Rodriquez

Assistant City Attorney Elizabeth Taylor and City Liaison Bill Shacklett


 

Rationale:  The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mrs. Maria Johnson, principal at Scales Elementary and Mrs. Emily Spencer, principal at Erma Siegel Elementary.

Rationale:  Dr. Duke introduced the four new principals, Sia Phillips at Salem Elementary, Ynetia Avant Campbell at Northfield Elementary, Dr. Victoria Shields at Mitchell Neilson Elementary, and Natalie Hardiman at Reeves Rogers Elementary. 

Roseann Barton commended Dr. Duke on the process for choosing
principals. She said that it was the best process that has been implemented
in years.  


 

Rationale:  Join me in congratulating Cason Lane Academy on being named a TN STEM Designated School today! Their commitment to ensuring our students have access to STEM programming even during this challenging year is truly something to be applauded.  

Cason Lane becomes one of 61 schools across the state to earn this distinction.  It is very exciting that they become the 5 school in our district joining Overall, Discovery, Erma Siegel, and Bradley.

Congrats to the Chargers!

Dr. Bullard introduced her leadership team to the Board.
Sonya Cox, Kristy Timberlake, Rachel Matthews, Lacy Moore, and
Tabitha Rodriquez.  Ms. Timberlake and Ms. Matthews spoke to the Board about the designation process.

Chair Campbell congratulated the school for the STEM Designation. He
added that it puts that school in the top 3% of schools in the state of
Tennessee.

 

Rationale:  Dr. Duke went through a power point explaining the COVID protocols
for summer school. He also told the Board that Nurse Archer was in
attendance to answer any questions that they may have.

Option 1:
Masks required inside the school and when riding the bus when 6’ distance
cannot be safely maintained.
Masks will be optional when students are outside or when inside and
socially distanced.  

Option 2:
Masks will be required when riding the bus.
Students are encouraged to wear a mask inside the school building if
social distancing cannot be maintained.  However, wearing masks is not
required.  

Mr. Settles asked if social distancing is still considered 6 ft or 4 ft.  Nurse
Archer said that the school system still uses the 6 ft rule.  

There was much discussion regarding student’s ability to socially distance
in the classroom.  Dr. Duke explained that the summer school curriculum
was a little different than what is used during the year.  He said that it is
more game based and group based. He added that the population for
summer school.will also be much smaller than the regular school year, and
the student/teacher ratio would be no larger than 1 to 13.   

Jimmy Richardson asked if schools have enough masks for students and
Dr. Duke said that each school is very adequately supplied with masks.

David Settles reiterated and clarified with Dr. Duke that summer school
is optional, parents are not required to send their child, and that no teacher
was forced to work.  Dr. Duke said that was correct.

Roseann Barton said that she didn’t feel that there was enough difference
between Option 1 and Option 2 to go with Option 1.

Chair Campbell added that he wanted to do what he could to make sure
that everyone was protected and if that required wearing masks,
then that is what would happen.

Amanda Moore stated that she feels very strongly about mask wearing
because students are not vaccinated at this point.  

Wes Ballard added that he felt that wearing masks would cause long-term
effects on our students; therefore, he disagreed with masks being required.
He would like to see the words "parent’s choice" added.

 

Rationale:  Jimmy Richardson thanked the city council for their support of the Discovery School track.

Rationale:  Dr. Duke informed the Board that today was the final full day of school and tomorrow is the final half day of school for the year. He added that summer school will begin on June 2. Dr. Duke said that Mrs. Sheri Arnette and her team loaded cars of summer school teachers with curriculum and materials all afternoon. 

He stated that summer school feeding will be taking place at all summer school sites.  In addition, there will be on bus that will travel to seven locations on Tuesdays with food for the week, along with a stop at McFadden and Patterson Park.

Rationale:  The meeting adjourned at 7:08 p.m.