January 10, 2022 at 5:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Mrs. Dawn Robinson opened the meeting and ask everyone to remember the Baldree family during the moment of silence.  Mr. Baldree served on the Cleveland Board of Education for 17 years and passed away on January 7, 2022.

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Ms. Leah Hargis led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  -Professional Development went well on January 5th
-The General Assembly returns to session this week
-Cleveland High School Principal's job posting is now live on our website.  The post will be on our website, indeed, and several other national career sites.  We will have a community survey that will be open starting on Tuesday, 1-11-22.  The student advisory group, employee feedback, CHS parent feedback, and community partners feedback will follow.  
-Reminder - Martin Luther King Jr Day is Monday, January 17- Schools and offices will be closed that day.
-Dr. Dyer wants to present Cleveland High School Highlights to understand all the great things happening at CHS.  CHS has been named a TN STEM Designated School.  There are numerous AP programs offered at CHS.  The students are enrolled in dual enrollment, Work Based Learning and TVEC students.  CHS is ranked in the top 16% in the U.S. News.  The class of 2021 earned $8 million in scholarships.  The level of effectiveness in percentage: 25% level 5, 61% level 4, 14% level 3.  We have numerous recent CHS award-winning educators.  The students are also well-rounded with clubs, athletics and fine arts.  Technology and software is the most up-to-date information to make a difference in the real world.  The technological infrastructure has been upgraded.  CHS offers a wide variety of CTE courses.  95.4% of our CTE concentrators have a on time graduation rate.  CTE has also earned multiple awards.  CAPS Network is a new program that has brought on new partnerships with the community.  Raider Evolve is comprised of students and consultants.  The students are interested in owning their own business and the consultants help them with this.  STEM thinking map and the 5 C's often are taught at CHS, as well as other schools.  

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Mrs. Robinson introduces Sargent Burke who is the Sargent of the SRO division.  Also in attendance is: Travis Graig from Cleveland High School, Raul Cruz from Cleveland Middle School, Mike Harris from Candy's Creek Cherokee Elementary, April Ratcliff from Blythe-Bower Elementary School, Willie Espinoza from Cleveland High School, Nathan Hartwig from Mayfield Elementary School, Jansen Vassey from Stuart Elementary School, and John Milen from Yates Primary School.  The Board presents the SRO's with gifts, and thanks them for being in our schools and making connections with our students and families in our schools.  

 

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Dr. Dyer reads Policy 2.601 on fundraising activities.  Mr. Cagle advised this update on the language.  The new language states they took the language out that the board needed to approve all fundraisers.  Policy 5.3052 on COVID leave changes the end date to June 30th, 2022.  Policy 6.600 and Policy 6.601 on student records, which deals with directory information and who has access to the information.

 

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Mrs. Robinson stated the board reviews the annual agenda every year, and they make changes as needed.  The agenda is a good tool for our parents. If they want to know about a specific topic they will know which meeting the board will discuss the item at.

 

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  The Board asks when we look at this evaluation are they supposed to be looking at the 20-21 school year or the calendar year?  Dr. Dyer states it will go back to the previous year, 20-21.  The next set of goals will start in February of each year until the next February.  The board members will fill out the evaluation, meet with Dr. Dyer in January, and turn your completed forms into Julie.

 

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Mrs. Robinson states that they usually complete a Board Self Evaluation form when we complete the Directors Evaluation form.  The board's responsibilities are planning, promotion, and policy.  When you complete the evaluation please turn it into Julie.

 

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Christy Duncan presents the ESL program.  Non-English Language background demographics.  We have 1450 Non-English Language Based students, which is 26% of the CCS student population.  We have 20+ languages with Spanish being the top language in CCS other than English.  Not all of our English Learners qualify for services in schools.  Blythe-Bower, CMS and CHS are our larger English learning sites.  The strategic plan ESL Focus areas: 1. Create a collective district culture that supports language and content development for English learners.  2.  Provide ongoing professional development opportunities for teachers of English learners. 3. Strengthen connections between schools and families of English learners.  CCS has hired a full-time district interpreter/ESL Family Engagement Coordinator, a part-time bilingual educational assistant, and a part-time immigrant youth specialist.  Some training we have held for our teachers: Ready, Set, Co-teach training for CMS ESL/content teachers, and Math-Science-Social Studies-and ELA content areas.  There have been extended learning opportunities for English Learners: ESL Summer Newcomer program (June 2021) and Raiders XD Newcomer Groups (Fall 2021).  Christy feels privileged to work with this program staff, students and families.  Christy thanks the board for all of the support for the program.

The Board asks if there have been any Afghan people migrating into our area and what language do they speak?  Mrs. Duncan states we do have one student at CHS, but she spoke with an organization in Chattanooga and most are settling there.  Mrs. Duncan believes they speak Maiwand.

The Board asks if she is seeing good participation in the family nights and things at the schools from the ESL families?  Mrs. Duncan states having the district interpreter has helped the families feel at ease to be able to communicate and her ESL families are very involved.

The Board thanks Christy and her program for our students. 

 

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Laura Hudson states there is a spike in the COVID numbers.  The task force will be meeting this week to monitor all of our tiers and plans to make sure we are ready to go if needed. All of our students and staff have PCR tests available.  Since 8-30-21, the district has performed 189 tests and 140 were able to come back to work/school.  On January 4th, we offered testing before the staff returned to school on January 5th.  Laura wants to thank all of our nurses and wants them to know how appreciated they are.

The board asked how many teachers were out today?  The total staff out today was 34 and around 26 were filled with substitutes.  

The board asks if a student goes home with any symptoms, does the child have to present a negative test to return to school?  Laura states not always.  Every case will be different, but they do ask that the student follow up with their pediatrician.  

 

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes): 

Leah Hargis reports on what is happening at Cleveland High School.

Sports at CHS:

-Girls Wrestling- 1st-year program, currently 2nd in the state. Brianna Stringer is currently ranked 6th in the state. Piper Fowler is currently 1st in the state and 4th in the nation. Diamond Young is currently 4th in the state. We wrestle Bradley at home tomorrow night. It will be their senior night. Regional Duals will be held on 1/22. 

-Swim- Jayden Dauphinais and Sara Pirtle have made state cuts, and many others plan on making them soon. Senior Night is tomorrow at 6 pm. They will compete at the UTK championship meet on January 22-23. Senior Sara Pirtle committed to Berry College to swim.

-Boys Wrestling- Currently 1st in the state. 11 of 14 wrestlers are ranked in the state. On 1/27 are the Regional Duals. Feb. 4-5 are the State Duals. We will be wrestling for our 5th consecutive title. Ashton Davis committed to Cornell.

-Girls Basketball- The season started off with injuries and a difficult schedule. Currently, 12-4. Overbreak, they went to Greenville and played in The Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic. Teams from all over the region played. We finished 4th out of 20 teams.  They also held a Pancake with Santa breakfast before Christmas. This event was a huge success and will become a yearly event.

-Boys Basketball- Currently they are 5-9 but 1-2 in the district. We have 2 district games this week. We host Walker Valley tomorrow night and travel to McMinn Co on Friday night. Hopefully, this week will turn our season around. 

-Bowling- They finished their 1st season 8-4 regular season and 3rd in the district. Our own Coach LaManga received coach of the year. Jo Colon made the girls’ all-district team and Ethan Mayo and Tommy Rollins made the boys’ all-district team. 

-Winter Guard- Entering their season. The 1st competition is set for Feb 5. They will have 5 competitions, 2 in Feb., 2 in March, and the championship will be in April.

Music and Theatre at CHS:

-Theater- The Jr class won the class playoffs with a play titled, The Actor Games. The Performance Showcase will be this month. The school musical is Freaky Friday. Auditions will be in February and the musical will be in April. 

-Concert Band- Sr. Clinic tryouts were held this past weekend. We had 9 students making all East and 2 students made all-state. In March they will travel to Maryville College for the East TN Concert Performance Assessment. 

-Renaissance- Their season starts this month as well. The 1st competition is 1/29 in Montgomery, AL. 2 competitions in Feb. On Feb. 5 they travel to Albertville, AL and on 2/26 they travel to Tift Co, Ga, 

CTE at CHS:

-Digital Media- Renovations have started in the media room. New flooring has been installed.

-Pharmacy- Just completed the 1st semester with the new CTE program. Our pharmacy, 423 Raider Pharmacy, is up and running. We have a lab setup where our students make enemas, suppositories, cough syrup, and chapstick. 

Other News at CHS:

-New classes that were added for special needs students this past semester are thriving and benefitting the students greatly.

Coming Up at CHS:

-CHS leadership team is beginning to look at new courses to possibly add to the course catalog for next school year. 

-CHS World Languages will host a Culture day on February 25th displaying projects by students, some including food. 

-February will be cultural awareness month at CHS. We will spend the month highlighting the cultures of the world.

-CHS Open House will be on January 27 from 5:30-7:30. This is when all families are welcome to come and visit their student’s teachers. 

-This week is Law enforcement appreciation, and we are so thankful for Officer Graig and officer Espinoza, our two amazing SROs.

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Dr. Dyer would like to take nominations on who the board wants to elect as chairman, vice chairman, and chairman pro tem.  

 

Discussion (Visible on Public Minutes):  Mrs. Robinson adjourned by general consent.