September 28, 2021 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

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

Staff:  Dr. Trey Duke, Ralph Ringstaff, Don Bartch, Lisa Trail, Kim Williams, Joe Marlin, Beth Prater, Sheri Arnette, Sara Walker, Kristina Boone, Ken Rocha, Natalie Hardiman, Tiffany Strevel, Victoria Shields, Angela Fairchild, and Robin Newell

Assistant City Attorney Elizabeth Taylor and City Liaison Bill Shacklett

 

Rationale:  The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Don Bartch, principal of Overall Creek Elementary, and Mr. Ken Rocha, principal of Bradley Academy.

Rationale:  Chair Butch Campbell asked that everyone to remember the following during the moment of silence:
Lori Turnbow, a teacher at Discovery School, recently lost her father, Mr. Grant Kelly
Craig Nelius, a teacher at John Pittard, recently lost his wife, Leslee Nelius
Mr. Jimmy Richardson's daughter, Saoirse Richardson, was born this past week.
 

Rationale:  Elizabeth Taylor reviewed the process for electing a Board Chair and Vice Chair.  Nominations were taken for Board Chair.
Becky Goff nominated Mr. Butch Campbell, David Settles seconded that nomination.  Roll call was taken.
Wes Ballard-Butch Campbell
Roseann Barton-Butch Campbell
Butch Campbell-Butch Campbell
Becky Goff-Butch Campbell
Amanda Moore-Butch Campbell
Jimmy Richardson-absent
David Settles-Butch Campbell
With a vote of 6-0, Mr. Campbell was elected Board Chair.

Nominations were taken for Vice Chair. 
Becky Goff nominated David Settles, Amanda Moore seconded that nomination.  Roll call was taken.
Wes Ballard-David Settles
Roseann Barton-David Settles
Butch Campbell-David Settles
Becky Goff-David Settles
Amanda Moore-David Settles
Jimmy Richardson-absent
David Settles-David Settles
With a vote of 6-0, Mr. Settles was elected Board Vice-Chair.

Rationale:  Thank you to our community partners for your support of our students and staff:

The MCS STEM program received a generous donation from The Business Education Partnership (BEP) Foundation in conjunction with the Nissan Neighbors Program. The $25,000 grant will be used for current STEM schools and schools seeking STEM designation.  

Staples of Murfreesboro 0543 donated 1,200 StaplesConnect pencil boxes containing 19 items in each box ranging from glue to expo markers.  

The City Schools Foundation Back to School Dash went virtual this year with over 120 runners and walkers.  Funds raised will go directly to teacher grants.

Murfreesboro City Schools would like to thank World Outreach Church for school supply donations. Our Outreach Dept. would also like to thank the schools in our district that made donations to the Humphrey County school supply drive.

Mitchell-Neilson Primary would like to thank Heritage South Community Credit Union for their generous donations of umbrellas for staff that works the car rider line, as well as a generous check to our library! 

Murfreesboro City Schools Outreach Dept. would like to express sincere appreciation to the following community supporters:
Jason Deckard and the Official Liverpool Supporter Club of Murfreesboro donated $2,000 to district. Each school received $100 to provide food for staff, $300 for the Indigent Care Fund, and $300 for the Backpack Program.
The Murfreesboro Lioness Club for snack donation to the Backpack Food Program.

October is National Principals' Month, Farm to School Month, and National School Lunch Week begins October 11.

Rationale:  The Board heard opinions regarding COVID protocol from three concerned citizens.

Rationale:  The Board recognized the following Level 5 Schools, and Dr. Duke presented them with a sign for their campus-Discovery, Black Fox, Mitchell Neilson, Overall Creek and Reeves Rogers.

They also recognized the two Reward Schools, Discovery and Overall Creek and Dr. Duke presented those principals with a framed recognition letter from the Commissioner of Education, Dr. Penny Schwinn. 

Dr. Duke added that Erma Siegel missed this recognition by literally hundredths of a percentage point, and wanted to recognize that school as well.

Rationale:  Amanda Moore wanted to make sure that she understood the changes in this policy. She asked if this change would preclude someone from speaking if the Board felt it necessary for them to do so.  Ms. Taylor explained that in a case like that, the Board could make a motion to suspend this policy, and second that motion, to allow someone to speak.

Ms. Barton asked how the time frame for someone to complete the appropriate form and get that turned in to the Board Chair and Director, and Ms. Taylor told her that it was 24 hours. Ms. Barton felt that was ample time to go through the proper procedure.

Rationale:  David Settles asked if this policy was retroactive to the beginning of school, and Dr. Duke said yes.

Ms. Barton told Dr. Duke that she appreciates his decision to do this because it is not the norm.

Mr. Settles thanked Dr. Duke and his team for the foresight.

Rationale:  Dr. Duke explained that the current mask protocol would expire on September 29, and his recommendation was to extend that protocol until November 10.  That would also extend the opt outs until November 10.  He told the Board that the system had 92% of students that did not opt out of masks. 

A roll call vote was taken on the updated COVID Protocol. 

Wes Ballard-yes
Roseann Barton-yes
Becky Goff-yes
Amanda Moore-yes
Jimmy Richardson-absent
David Settles-yes
Butch Campbell-yes

With a vote of 6-0, the motion passes, and the COVID Protocol would be extended until November 10.

Rationale:  Roseann Barton said that she was happy to see the nursing hotline put in place to relieve nurses. She felt that was a great idea.

Mr. Ballard asked about the added manpower and the fact that we wouldn't need this personnel when things got better.  Dr. Duke explained that the positions are through a grant-based program to meet the needs right now.

Rationale:  Mr. Ballard asked Ms. Williams if sports gaming money was coming back to us.  Ms. Williams said that she would check into that and get back to him. 

Rationale:  Dr. Duke congratulated Mr. Ballard and Mrs.Goff for recently receiving Level II of their Boardsmanship.

Dr. Duke also informed the Board that at the September 15 City Council workshop, the Council approved the Schools' Five Year Improvement Plan. Dr. Duke explained that he will have a revised list of those items at the October meeting, and how they were funded. He thanked Mr. Shacklett for his help in that approval.

Dr. Duke told the Board that at this Thursday's City Council meeting, the approval for the contract with Mid-South Bus was on the agenda.  This contract is for two buses, one that was in the accident recently and one other bus. He felt that with this approval, we should have one bus right after fall break.  The second bus was for one of two replacements that was in the CIP. Dr. Duke will give more details on the CIP at the October meeting.

Rationale:  Dr. Duke reviewed the recent release of test scores with the Board in a Power Point presentation.  He explained to the Board that 4th grade stood out in MCS and across the state.  He also told the Board that MCS outperformed the state in Math. 

Ms. Barton told the Board and Dr. Duke that this was a great accomplishment especially since teachers and principals felt helpless in the middle of the pandemic.  She added that this is a validation that even though times were tough, everyone made some great choices.  She complimented the staff and administration by saying that they did great work!

Mr. Settles said that this was excellent news for our district.

Mr. Campbell added that this was a great report.

Rationale:  The meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m.