July 8, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Kingsport City Schools Board of Education Regular Meeting

Description:  Roosevelt Elementary School student Harmony Gordon will lead the Board of Education and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Harmony is a rising 1st grader.

Description:  Mrs. Melissa Woods, Board President, will ask for a motion to accept the agenda, which includes the consent agenda. Once the agenda is accepted, the Board mutually agrees not to discuss any item of business or take any action that has not been accepted for the agenda.

Description:  Mrs. Melissa Woods, Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) Northeast District Director and Kingsport City Schools Board President, will present the TSBA Board of Distinction to Board members. The Board has met the standard as a Board of Distinction for the period May 2025-2028.

Tennessee school boards that seek this designation meet specified requirements in four key areas: planning, policy, promotion, and board development. Board of Distinction status is for three years, after which time the board may reapply for continued status.

Description: 

Public Comment Guidelines:

This is the time when members of the audience are invited to comment on agenda items. If pre-approved by the Board Executive Committee, members of the community may also address the Board regarding non-agenda items. In order to speak on a topic not included on the agenda, per Board Policy 1.404, you must submit a written request to the Superintendent of Schools at least three (3) business days before the regular meeting.  

This is not the time to speak about personnel issues, as there are more appropriate ways in which these can be addressed. If you are not sure how to do this, please ask a Board member after the meeting. In your remarks, you may not refer to students by name without permission from a parent or guardian.

Speakers are requested to first state your name and limit your remarks to a maximum of three (3) minutes.

Thank you. 

Description:  The proposed 2025-2026 Projected Annual School Board Agenda is attached for Board review and consideration. 

Description:  Per Board Policy 6.317 - Student Disciplinary Hearing Authority (DHA), the BOE must appoint members to the DHA. The DHA shall consist of a minimum of three members, with at least two of which shall be licensed employees of the Board. The maximum number must not exceed the total membership of the Board. DHA members shall be appointed to one-year terms and subject to reappointment.

Recommended for Board approval to serve on the Disciplinary Hearing Authority for the 2025-2026 school year are the following employees:

Jim Nash, Chief Student Services Officer (Chair)
Matthew Smith, Attendance Supervisor
Amanda Arnold, Assistant Principal at Dobyns-Bennett High School
Ben Robertson, Assistant Director of Special Education
Caitlin Armstrong, Associate Principal at Washington Elementary School

Description:  The proposed list of KCS school fees for the 2025-2026 school year is attached, as well as Policy 6.709 - School Fees and Fines. This policy states that school fees shall not be charged to any student as a condition of attending school, with the exception of applicable tuition fees for students residing outside the city limits. Under some circumstances, fees are needed to fund certain activities. School fees may be waived upon parental request. The annual waiver process shall conform to the guidelines established by the Tennessee State Board of Education.

Description:   Mrs. Jennifer Guthrie, Chief Human Resources Officer, has submitted the 2025-2026 Differentiated Pay Plan for Board approval. This document describes teacher compensation-related proposals being considered for the 2025-2026 school year.

Description:  It is recommended the Board approve a Contractual Agreement renewal with Frontier Health for the purpose of continuing current services provided by Holston Children and Youth Services for alcohol and drug prevention, behavioral health intervention services, and student assistance services. The contract total for the 2025-2026 school year is not to exceed $140,000.00, with funding for this agreement contained in the General Projects Fund.

Description:  It is recommended the Board approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) renewal with Clarvida/Camelot Care Centers, Inc. for the 2025-2026 school year to ensure the continuation of current behavioral health and counseling services provided to all students at Kingsport City Schools. Camelot Care Centers, Inc. is a provider of behavioral health and counseling services. They provide mental health professionals to work with children, families of KCS students, and school staff to develop and implement treatment plans and provide services in accordance with the established treatment plans. Camelot will again have eleven counselors to meet the needs of the students. The contract total is not to exceed $195,000 for the 2025-2026 school year. Funding for this contract will come from the School General Purpose Fund ($45,000.00), Coordinated School Health Fund ($18,000.00), and Safe Schools Grant Funds ($132,000.00).

Description:  It is recommended the Board approve a Services Agreement renewal with Blue Ridge Medical Management Corporation for the purpose of continuing current services provided by Blue Ridge Medical Management Corporation for extracurricular student drug screening services. The agreement total for the 2025-2026 school year is not to exceed $15,000.00, with funding for this agreement contained in the General Projects Fund.

Description:  It is recommended the Board approve Addendum 12 to the agreement with ESS South Central, LLC for substitute staffing services for the 2025-2026 school year. The addendum extends the agreement for the upcoming school year, with no changes to the pay scale. Funding for this service comes from the General Purpose School Fund.

Description:  Mrs. Melissa Woods, Board President, and Mr. Bart Rowlett, City Attorney, will present the proposed Superintendent of School Employment Contract for Dr. Chris Hampton for Board discussion and consideration. The contract employs the
Superintendent and the Superintendent accepts such employment in accordance with the terms and conditions found in the contract for a term of forty-eight (48) months beginning July 1, 2025, and ending at midnight on June 30, 2029. 

Description:  Dr. Andy True, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, will review several policies for Board consideration for approval on First Reading. New policies require two readings and revised policies require only one reading for adoption.