January 26, 2023 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education

Discussion:  - (See above)

Discussion:   - Boston led the board members in a Moment of Silence. After a moment of silence, Raelyn Sohl and Cooper Hillis from Homestead Elementary led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Raelyn and Cooper were awarded a certificate of appreciation for their participation in tonight’s meeting.

Discussion:   - Boston welcome and thanked the visitors for attending and showing interest in the children. 

Discussion:   - (See Exhibit #1)  Assistant Principal Mrs. Lowe nominated Barb Duncan for the Kids First Award. Stepp awarded Barb Duncan for exceptional selfless service to the kids of Cumberland County Schools.

Discussion:   - (See Exhibit #2) Dr. Wood stated the charitable fund started in 2005 with $5000 as a special contribution for the Spring and Fall semester. This semester we will be donating $17,700. Dr. Wood also asked for more participation from the community so teachers do not have to spend their own money on school supplies, and students that cannot afford the supplies suffer. He hopes everyone will contribute in the future and spread the word. Farley read the names of the Charitable Fund Spring 2023 recipients.
 

Charitable Fund Spring 2023
Brown Elementary	Kasi Lewis	5th grade ELA	$            250
Brown Elementary	Miranda Sims	5th grade Science/SS class	$            675
Crab Orchard Elementary	Jessica Marsee	Music/Band/Choir	$            300
Crab Orchard Elementary	Lindsay Armes	5th grade Science Class	$            300
Crab Orchard Elementary	Lindsay Armes	BETA Club	$            500
Homestead Elementary	Wadlington/Conner	SWPBS	$            200
Homestead Elementary	Lauren Mathews	PE	$            200
Homestead Elementary	Jacqueline Smith	8th grade ELA/SS	$            500
Homestead Elementary	Wendy Bridges	STEAM Club	$            200
Martin Elementary	Kristina Turner	ESL Fam. Literacy Night	$            400
Pine View Elementary	Tina Niles	5th/6th grade ELA	$       263.50
Pine View Elementary	Tina Niles	JV/V Boys/Girls Basketball	$            400
Pine View Elementary	Heather Jones	JV/V Cross Country	$            500
South Cumberland	Mario Laborde	Band	$            200
South Cumberland	Sarah Pharris	Library/AR Millionaire Club	$            400
South Cumberland	Tiffany Brewer	BETA Club	$            500
Stone Elementary	Kristin Lopez	Band	$         1,137
Stone Elementary	Sheri Sather	ESL Fam. Literacy Night	$            200
Stone Elementary	Shannon Brown	Art/Visual Arts	$            250
Stone Elementary	Davis/Smith	PBS	$            250
Stone Elementary	Grenz/Gibson	Cross Country	$            250
Stone Elementary	Blaze Dishman	PE	$            250
CCHS	Daniel Rickman	Graphic Arts/Design Club	$            500
CCHS	Carla Pratt	FBLA	$            500
CCHS	Anna Pickard	Freshman Academy	$            300
CCHS	Bekki Atkinson	Reader Volunteer Club	$            400
CCHS	Stuard Bowen	Track & Field	$            500
CCHS	Randy Herring	Golf Teams	$            500
SMHS	Williams/Phillips	Food Pantry	$            500
SMHS	Annalee Dunbar	Pharmacology Class	$         1,125
SMHS	Eleni Fragopoulos	Theatre Club	$         1,000
SMHS	Brittany Bilbrey	Craft Club	$            250
SMHS	Kidwell/Hicks/Miller	Counselors	$            500
SMHS	Kylee Johnson	Class of 2024	$            750

 

Discussion:  - Boston acknowledged and thanked student representative Megan Melechea for being present tonight.

Discussion:   - (See above)

Discussion:   - Declarations of Conflict- Per TCA 49-2-202 Board of Education Members who have relatives (per the statute: relative means: Spouse, parent, parent in-law, child, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, or any person who resides in the same household as you) employed by the system are asked to raise your hands to identify yourself. "Do you certify that the votes that you make tonight will be in the best interest of the school system, regardless of the effect that your vote may have upon the employment of your relative or relatives?" Boston and King certified by saying individually, "I do."

Discussion:   - (See Exhibit #3) There was no discussion. A Voice Vote was taken.

Discussion:   - (See Exhibit #4) There was no discussion. A Voice Vote was taken.

Discussion:   - Boston acknowledged and thanked  Elected Officials, Mrs. Colleen Mall and Mr. Joe Sherrill for being present tonight.

Discussion:   - Boston stated there are three community members that have signed up to speak before the board.

Patricia Lewis - 3381Potato Farm Rd.
Subject: 3rd Grade Retention Act to be amended and go back to letting the school boards decide.

Julia Timson - 6960 South York Highway, Clarkrange TN
Subject: CCEA was recently removed from participating with the board. A Voice for the teacher. We would like this group to be reinstated. 

Barbara Smith - 97 Heritage Loop Crossville, 38571
Subject: Follow up on the 3rd Grate Retention Act. Requested and encouraged the board to hold Community Information Forum.

Discussion:  Stout reviewed the TLN Report. 

Discussion:   - Board members discussed different trainings and webinars they've participated in the past month.

Discussion:   - Patton stated there are no new litigations or updates on current litigations. He will follow up with Mr. Williams, who's handling a couple of cases and report back to the board next month.

Discussion:   - (See Exhibit #5) Stepp stated the Tenure Recommendations and mentioned there was a correction on the name list. The 10th name down should be Ashton Hayes and I assure you Mrs. Hayes but all other information is correct. No other discussion was had.

Farley read off the following names and Stepp presented each teacher with a certificate.
 

2022-2023 Tenure Recommendations
Cindy Kemmer	Brown Elementary
Andrew Owen	Brown Elementary
Aaron Marsee (Reinstatement)	Brown Elementary
April Shelton	Crab Orchard Elementary
Wendy Bridges	Homestead Elementary
Lauren Mathews	Homestead Elementary
Ashlee Norris	Martin Elementary
Emily Butters	Martin Elementary
Rose Davis	Martin Elementary
Ashton Hayes	North Elementary
Tammy Phillips	Pleasant Hill Elementary
Sharon Miller	Phoenix School
Ginnie Wheeler	Phoenix School
Chelsea Phillips	SMHS
Mary Jane Allen (Reinstatement)	CCHS

Discussion:   - (See Exhibit #6) Boston asked if we know how much money the grant is. Stepp clarified the application form does not indicate the dollar amount or if it's a competitive grant. We only need approval to apply for the grant. A Voice Vote was taken.

Discussion:   - (moved to the Budget Committee 17.C)

Discussion:   - (See Exhibit #7) Stepp stated the Safe Schools Grant letter that was received shows how much money was received and the budget. We talked about the budget before and it's developed off of the Safe Schools Assessment that we have to do every year, which is required by the government. Boston asked the grant says  $37,250 matching funds, where does this match come from? Stepp explained every local has to match. Our match comes from paying for the Safe School Counselors. So we spend a more than the $37,250 that's listed there. Our five Safe School Counselors are paid through our general fund and that’s considered the matching part of this grant. After explanation, Boston said I'll entertain a motion to approve. A Voice Vote was taken.

Discussion:   - (See Exhibit #8) Stepp state this money will go towards CTE strengthening up I think our STEM classroom is the majority of it at CCHS, so that matches Stone Memorial High Schools.

Discussion:   - (See Exhibit #9)

Discussion:   - (See Exhibit #10)

Discussion:  Text text text text text discussion discussion discussion. 

Discussion:  - discussion. discussion discussion discussion

Discussion:   - The board decided during the January 14th strategic planning meeting, they would have Ben Torres with TSBA present on Robert's Rules of Order. The board discussed in-person vs. Zoom presentation. An in-person presentation will cost $1,500. Zoom session will cost nothing. Boston advised, the Budget Committee met Tuesday and there is a sufficient amount of money to cover the February Legislative meeting as well as Robert's Rules in-person training. The money for in-person will come from the Board of Education budget. 

A Roll Call Vote was taken, because it does involve money.

Discussion:  (See Exhibit #11) Hamby advised, we  have started going through our Policy Manual for Mr. Stepp each month. Revisions should be brought to Hamby and the Policy Committee will review. Stepp clarified grammatical errors will be handled by his team. Those revisions must be sent to Hamby and she will forward to Stepp for his team to edit. 

Approval for First Reading of Policies are the following: 

• 2.8041 Travel
• 3.3001 Use of Cellular Phones
• 4.206 Special Programs
• 4.601 Reporting Student Progress
• 4.700 Testing Programs
• 4.701 Maintaining Test & Data Security

Hamby advised, these had district changes and only had one that had TCA code change and just came out of Policy. 

Discussion:  (See Exhibit #12) Hamby read through following policies: 

• 2.404 School Support Organizations
• 2.700 Accounting System
• 4.100 Instructional Goals
• 4.201 Class Size Ratios
• 4.202 Special Education
• 4.2021 Special Education Class Size
• 4.203 Advanced College Placement
• 4.204 Summer Instructional Programs
• 4.205 Enrollment in College Level Courses
• 4.207 English Learners
• 4.211 Worked Based Learning Program
• 4.212 Virtual Education Program
• 4.213 Family Life Education
• 4.301 Interscholastic Athletics
• 4.302 Field Trips & Excursions
• 4.400 Instructional Materials
• 4.401 Textbook Selection, Distribution, and Care
• 4.404 Use of Copyrighted Material
• 4.405 Employee-Developed Materials
• 4.407 Web Pages
• 4.501 School Volunteers
• 4.6011 Homework
• 4.606 Graduation Activities
• 4.702 Evaluations of Instructional Programs
• 4.801 Controversial Materials
• 4.802 Student Equal Access (Limited Public Forum)
• 4.803 Recognition of Religious Beliefs, Customs & Holidays
• 4.802 Prayer and Period of Silence
• 5.310 Vacations and Holidays
• 6.314 Corporal Punishment
• 6.506 Students from Military Families

Discussion:  (See Exhibit #13) Hamby advised, this is the Second Reading and these had district changes. McCartney confirmed they all passed the First Reading. 

• Policy 2.802 Payroll Procedures
• Policy 3.100 Business Management Goals
• Policy 3.203 Crisis Management
• Policy 3.207 Energy Use and Conservation
• Policy 3.208 Facilities Planning
• Policy 3.210 Naming of Facilities
• Policy 3.211 New Project Planning
• Policy 3.212 District Water Testing
• Policy 3.218 Service Animals in District Facilities
• Policy 3.219 Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Model Aircraft in the Curriculum
• Policy 3.220 Access to Private Facilities
• Policy 3.300 Equipment and Supplies Management
• Policy 3.301 Equipment and Supplies-Leasing and Renting
• Policy 3.400 Student Transportation Management
• Policy 3.401 Bus Scheduling and Routing
• Policy 3.402 Special Use of Schools Vehicles
• Policy 3.403 Traffic and Parking Controls
• Policy 3.405 Commercial Advertising on School Buses
• Policy 3.500 Food Service Management
• Policy 3.600 Insurance Management
• Policy 3.602 Worker's Compensation
• Policy 3.2011 Protection Against Injury
• Policy 3.2012 Violation of Safety Procedures
• Policy 4.209 Alternative Credit Options
• Policy 4.502 Parent and Family Engagement
• Policy 6.307 Drug Free Schools

Hamby advised, these are for Second Reading and they came out of Policy. There was no discussion.

Discussion:  Stepp explained the Budget Committee met in December and recommended a salary range of $80k-$95 for the Chief Operations Officer (formerly known as Deputy Director). King stated the money for this role is coming from remaining money that was not spent for positions that are open.There is enough money in this pot to hire a Chief Operations Officer and CFO. A Roll Call Vote was taken. 

Discussion:  the committee reviewed and decided to advanced to the full board. 

Discussion:  (See Exhibit #16) Safdie advised, the Building and Grounds Committee received the request for Phoenix School to build an awning and they're using their own funds for the awning. The committee approved the construction and sent it to the regular board for approval.

Discussion:  (*) Indicates Action