November 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM - Kingsport City Schools Board of Education Regular Meeting

Description:  Adams Elementary School students Nora and Stella Utsman will lead the Board of Education and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Nora is in Kindergarten and Stella is a 3rd grader.  

Description:  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:   Dr. Richard Church, Vice President of Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) - Elizabethton, and other TCAT representatives will recognize Kingsport City Schools and the Dobyns-Bennett High School Career & Technical Education (CTE) Department for being TCAT - Elizabethton’s Silver Level Dual Enrollment Partner in total participation in Spring 2026. D-B had 539 students dual enrolled in a TCAT CTE program.

Description:  Melissa Woods will recognize Dr. Philip Wright, Principal of Roosevelt Elementary School, for being named the 2027 Kingsport City Schools Principal of the Year.

Dr. Philip Wright, Principal of Roosevelt Elementary School, has been named district Principal of the Year. Dr. Wright is in his 25th year with Kingsport City Schools and is entering his seventh year as principal of Roosevelt Elementary School. Wright began his career as a Milligan College intern at Johnson Elementary School during the 2002-2003 school year. After earning his Master’s Degree in Teaching, he was hired in 2003 as an elementary music specialist at Lincoln Elementary School, where he served for 11 years. He then transitioned into administration, serving three years as associate principal at Adams Elementary School and three years at Roosevelt Elementary School before being named principal in 2020. Wright believes educating children is a shared responsibility and that meaningful partnerships between schools, families, businesses, and the community help ensure every child has the opportunity, encouragement, and support to succeed. He is passionate about creating a welcoming school environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive. Wright earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from East Tennessee State University in 2016.

Description:  Jamie Jackson will recognize Emily Helphinstine, Coordinator of Literacy Programs, for being named the 2027 Kingsport City Schools Supervisor of the Year.

Emily Helphinstine is in her 27th year as an educator in Kingsport. She began her career by teaching pre-k at Kennedy Elementary and also taught 4th and 5th grade during her 11 years at Kennedy before becoming the Instructional Coach at Robinson and Sevier Middle Schools. Mrs. Helphinstine has been in the role of district Coordinator of Literacy Programs for the past 15 years. During this time, she served on the State Teacher Leader Council, participated in multiple TCAP Item Review Committees and served as the state ELA Lead Content Consultant for TNReady Grades 3–5 in 2015. In 2018, Emily was selected as a Leadership Academy Fellow with the University of Tennessee. She has presented Professional Learning sessions at local, state, and national conferences, including the National Learning Forward Conference. Mrs. Helphinstine holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Milligan University as well as a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from East Tennessee State University. In addition, she has an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Administration from the University of Tennessee.

Description: 

For Public Comment during Kingsport Board of Education Regular and Called Meetings:

SIGN-UP REQUIRED

Any person wishing to address the Kingsport Board of Education during the Public Comment portion of a Board regular meeting will have an opportunity to sign up immediately prior to the 6:00 p.m. meeting.  Prior notification of intent to speak is not necessary, but recommended.

HOW LONG MAY I SPEAK?

Per KCS Board Policy 1.404 - Public Communications at Board Meetings, those who have signed up may speak for up to three (3) minutes. Before addressing the Board, the speaker shall state his or her full name and address, including zip code. The public comment period will last no more than thirty (30) minutes in total, unless the Board waives the limit(s) upon considering a request for extension made prior to the President's announcement for public input.  

WHEN WILL IT BE MY TURN?

Speakers will be called in the order in which they signed up or announced their intent to address the Board. When the Board President calls your name, please make your way to the podium.

POINTS TO REMEMBER

• Please address the Board as a whole. Note that the Board will not respond to public comment. 
• Limit comments to the allotted time as determined by the Board President.
• Profane language, making threats, or revealing confidential student or staff information will not be allowed.
• Comments regarding personnel or personnel matters are not germane during public input.
• Speakers may not refer to students by name without permission from the parent or guardian.
• Groups representing a common viewpoint are encouraged to select one spokesperson.
• All comments become a matter of public record.

In order to communicate with individual members of the Board, the public may obtain members’ contact information from the Office of the Superintendent or from the Kingsport City Schools website, www.k12k.com.

Description:  The Compliance Report represents the statutes and policies outlined in the Tennessee Code Annotated and State Board of Education rules pertaining to school operations. The report is one way the Tennessee Department of Education monitors Local Education Agency (LEA) compliance regarding legal duties and responsibilities. The report is reviewed annually by appropriate personnel to verify that Kingsport City Schools is in compliance. It is recommended the Board approve and certify the 2026 LEA Report for submission to the State.

Description:  Dr. Andy True, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, has submitted revised Policy 4.700 - Assessment Programs for Board consideration. It is recommended the Board approve this policy for adoption on First and Final Reading.

Description:  Aspen is the current Student Information System (SIS) used by Kingsport City Schools to manage student data. The recommendation is to utilize state contract 89189 with Follett Software to renew Aspen at a cost not to exceed $54,727.50. The total cost includes an online webinar subscription, a training environment, and a level 1 database. Funding for this purchase will come from the Technology budget.

Description:  Mr. David Frye, Chief Finance Officer, has submitted a quarterly list of multiple donations from various sources received by Kingsport City Schools from July through September 2026. The total of the individual school receipts is $41,502.15. It is recommended the Board approve acceptance of these donations.

Description:  Board President Melissa Woods will lead the discussion and recommend approval to name the football field at J. Fred Johnson Stadium in honor of retired longtime Dobyns-Bennett High School football team head coach Graham Clark.

Description:  David Frye, Chief Finance Officer, will present a recommendation to purchase Scale Computing hardware and software utilizing the TIPS-USA Cooperative Purchasing Agreement with Personal Computer Systems. Purchase Agreement 230105 with Personal Computer Systems, Inc. to purchase Scale Computing hardware at a cost of $172,960.00 and license and support fees cost $59,671.00. The total purchase cost will be $232,631.00, including license and support fees. The license and support fees cover a three-year period and a savings of twenty percent as opposed to an annual agreement. Funds currently not obligated in the General Purpose School Fund budget will be used to fund this purchase.A budget amendment will be forthcoming to supplement this budget.

Description:  David Frye, Chief Finance Officer, will present the audit results of the Financial Statements for the School Activities Fund for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2026. Attached are documents pertaining to the audit for review.

Description:  David Frye will provide a financial update for the 1st quarter of FY 2026-2027.