June 22, 2021 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

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

Staff:  Dr. Trey Duke, Sheri Arnette, Ralph Ringstaff, Angela Fairchild, Lisa Trail, Greg Lyles, Sara Walker, Darla Sampson, Kim Williams, Beth Prater, Sandy Scheele, Cindy Cliche, Dustin Patrick, and April Zavisa,  

Assistant City Attorney Elizabeth Taylor and City Liaison Bill Shacklett

 

Rationale:  The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Angela Fairchild, Special Education Supervisor.

Rationale:  Mitchell-Neilson Schools would like to thank Parks Realty (especially Agent Sunnette Peay) for their generous sponsorship of our school. They provided prizes for all 7 grade levels in our annual Essay contest.  They awarded a bicycle and helmet to first place winners, $50 Wal-Mart gift card to the 2nd place winners, $25 Wal-Mart gift card to 3rd place winners, and $10 McDonald’s gift card to the 4th place winners.  
And on top all of that- they provided breakfast to all teachers and staff at each campus on the last day of school!  

Mitchell-Neilson Schools would also like to thank First Baptist Castle Street for providing us with Field Day snacks for teachers and staff. 

The City Schools Foundation Back to School Dash has been scheduled for September 18.

MCS and City TV are in the process of filming the 4th edition of Take 20. A big thank you goes to City TV and Mr. John Padgett for their participation and hard work in this project.

MCS has launched new websites for all city schools and ESP.  Thank you to Kevin Jones, webmaster, and Tori Carr, Communications Assistant, for helping to make this all possible.

Rationale:  A parent, Mr. Michael Dewey, voiced his concerns about students wearing masks to the board.  Mr. Dewey spoke for the allotted three minutes and requested an extra thirty seconds to complete his statement.  Mr. Campbell allowed him the extra thirty seconds. Mr. Settles asked for a copy of the documentation that Mr. Dewey used in his presentation.

Rationale:  Sheri Arnette, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, and Cindy Cliche, MCS Math Coordinator, presented a video to the Board and told about the great things happening with the Summer School Program.  Mr. Ballard added that he visited some of the summer school sites with Sheri Arnette and was thoroughly impressed. He liked that the students and fed, happy, and learning. He thanked Dr. Duke and his staff for a job well done. Mr. Ballard asked if there were SRO's located at the summer school sites, and Dr. Duke told him that there were.  Mr. Settles asked if there were nurses located at each summer school site.  Ms. Walker told him that there was not a nurse at every site, but they do rotate.  

Rationale:  Mr. Ringstaff explained that 6th grade teachers positions are hard to fill. So newly hired and transferred 6th grade teachers will be the ones that will receive a $2000.00 signing bonus this next school year. 

Rationale:  Dr. Duke shared a PowerPoint with the board showing our COVID numbers as a county.  Dr. Duke thanked Nursing Supervisor Sara Walker, Coordinated School Health Supervisor Darla Sampson, and Rutherford County Health Department Director LaShan Dixon for all of their help and hard work.

Dr. Duke explained the two Options for COVID Protocol for the 2021-2022 School Year. 
Option 1-Face masks required on the bus, students are encouraged to wear a mask at any time if that best meets their needs, and adults should adhere to the CDC guidelines and when in the presence of students, they are encouraged to follow student protocols.
Option 2-Face masks are required on the bus, non-vaccinated persons are required to wear a mask inside the school when 6' distance cannot be maintained, and adults should adhere to the CDC guidelines and when in the presence of students, they are encouraged to follow student protocols.

After much discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Jimmy Richardson and seconded by Mr. David Settles to choose Option 2 for the 2021-22 school year with authority being given to Dr. Duke to make adjustments to the protocol as COVID numbers decline.  There was more discussion by the board and Mr. David Settles called for the question, Mr. Jimmy Richardson seconded the call for the question. 

A roll call vote was taken to go with Option 2.

Wes Ballard-No
Roseann Barton-No
Becky Goff-No
Amanda Moore-Yes
Jimmy Richardson-Yes
David Settles-Yes
Butch Campbell-Yes

4 yes, 3 no-the motion passes

 

Rationale:  Dr. Duke informed the Board that Ms. Elizabeth Taylor was recently selected to participate in the 2020 Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Class and was awarded the Larry D Wilkes Leadership Award. This award is chosen by the class for demonstrating exceptional leadership qualities. The Board and Dr. Duke congratulated Ms.Taylor. Mrs. Moore added that the ones that attend TBALL are fantastic and are the promising leaders of the Bar Association of the future. 

Rationale:  The meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m.