May 17, 2022 at 5:30 PM - Bedford County Board of Education

Chairman Michael Cook called the meeting to order, followed by a moment of silence, and the Pledge of Allegiance lead by Sawyer Bratcher, Paizley Wheelon and Lillie Wheelon who are students at Community Elementary School.

The 2022 retirees were presented a plaque at a reception before the board meeting and were recognized by the board during the meeting.

Valedictorians and Salutatorians were recognized and presented an award for their achievements.  Valedictorians in attendance were Cascade High - Steven Cope and SCHS - Slayden Taylor.  Salutatorians in attendance were Cascade High - Rachel Phillips and Ethan Estes, SCHS Emma Habel.   Those not in attendance were Sarina Richards from Cascade and Breanna Whitaker, Trace Broiles from Community High School.

The Superintendent Student Advisory Council (secondary group) was recognized and presented certificates for participating in the meetings through the school year.  Three members of the council, Caroline Cook, Rhoden, Chandler Cates, addressed the board about their experience on the advisory Council.

Tammy Pirtle recognized the Model Demonstration Schools and presented the awards for RTI²-B.  Ms. Pirtle explained "These schools have been participants in training and technical assistance and have undergone the process of implementing a positive and proactive behavioral systems framework for all students.  The RTI²-B framework consists of identifying common behavioral expectations across the campus, teaching, re-teaching, reinforcing and acknowledging students, faculty and family for exhibiting these expectations."  The schools can now be mentors to other schools across the state.  The schools receiving the Silver Level award are: Southside Elementary, Eakin Elementary and Eastside Elementary.  The schools receiving the Gold Level award are: Learning Way Elementary and Community Elementary.

Tim Harwell and Lori Sexton presented a brief version of the High School Redesign.  This proposal would change the high schools in Bedford County from a traditional bell schedule to a four-by-four block schedule.  Mr. Harwell stated "One of the biggest reasons and one of the root causes for presenting this to you tonight is Governor Lee’s vision for workforce development."  Lori Sexton, the Director of Career Technical Education, said "One of my objectives is to make sure we are preparing our students for whatever pathway they choose."  "Transitioning to a block schedule will allow more opportunities for students to take elective courses, it’s going to allow them more opportunities for that career exploration piece."  Ms. Sexton went on to explain that "we’ll be able to expand access to career pathways, we’ll be able to expand opportunities for students to attend TCAT through dual enrollment, to attend Motlow to get some of those local dual credits, to expand the statewide dual credit."  Mr. Harwell stated that "Bedford County is getting ready to look different.  We’re getting ready to have an MTSU campus in Bedford County off of 231.  We’re getting ready to have a state-of-the-art TCAT center off of 231.  More industries are coming in to our county.  We’re getting ready to look different.  And as a result of those differences we want our students to be prepared as much as possible for when they get that high school diploma they can smoothly transition and be ready to do whatever they do next."  The proposal is to increase the innovative CTE opportunities, increase the required credits to graduate from 22 to 28, and to shift from a traditional bell schedule to a block schedule.  This will not happen in the next school year.  The 2022-2023 school year will be a year for training and professional development for teachers to be prepared to teach in block schedule.

Harris Middle School had their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) class teacher, Ms. Nashika Trice, and 3 of their students, Nathan Pinkston, Caden Landers and Seth Sharp to speak about what they are learning in the STEM class.  They presented items that they made in STEM class.  The students also presented the board members with keychains that they made with the 3D printer.

Terise Rhodes gave the attendance report.  She handed out a two-sided spreadsheet with enrollment numbers for this school year as of May 16, 2022 and projected enrollment numbers for 2022-2023 school year.

Delegates were named for the conference, Andrea Anderson, Brian Crews, Michael Cook and Glenn Forsee with Dan Reed as a back-up delegate. 

It was recommended to grant tenure to Mrs. Beth Nicholson. 

Glenn Forsee asked "The students this year in virtual school have they been consistent all year.  Have they come out of virtual back in to mortar and brick? How are our numbers doing?  Ms. Meredith Gilliland answered "Our numbers have increased all year.  We have had some transitions with students coming in and out of the virtual program.  More coming in than going out.  I think that we have learned a lot through this first year and are going to be putting some policies in place so that there is less transients with our students coming in and out of virtual." 

Minor changes to get up-to-date with the model policy. 

Updating to get current with the model policy.

Updating to match the model policy. 

Changes needed for the new law Open Enrollment that begins this coming year.

Updating to go with the Open Enrollment. 

Also goes with Open Enrollment. 

Updated policy. 

Updated policy. 

Proposal that was talked about earlier by Mr. Harwell.  To increase the required credits from 22 to 28 with a transition over the next 4 years.   

H through S   Dr. Garrett asked to group these together. 

Kenny Parker explained that there was only 1 company to place a bid.  He recommended to accept the bid from Mid-South Bus Center, Inc.   Mr. Parker explained that the prices for buses are going up every 15 days.  This bid is only good until July 30^th and for only 6 buses.  Glenn Forsee asked about the years a bus can stay in service.  Mr. Parker said buses are allowed to stay on the road for 15 years being inspected 1 time a year.  After the 15^th year there are semi-annual inspections that run $770 a bus a year.  Diane Neeley questioned "there was a note on here about the delivery date.  Have they given you any updates to that?  Do they think we’ll get them close to the time we’ll need them or are they going to be extended?"  Mr. Parker explained "it usually takes about 6 months from the time we tell them we want a bus and we get the PO to get the process started to get the bus to us.  When we get the bus we have to add cameras and get it inspected which will take a little longer." 

This bid is only good for one bus at this price. 

Robert Daniel explained about the Budget Amendment is needed to have cash flow for federal programs. 

            Robert Daniel reports that property tax collections $162,000 less than same time last year.   Sales tax collections are up $362,000 for the same time last year. 

The Budget Work Session will be Monday, May 23, 2022 at 6pm at the Bedford County Board of Education board room.   Penny Schwinn, Commissioner of Education, will be on a bus tour June 2^nd and will be stopping by Community High School for a short visit.  The Collaborative Team        The next board meeting will be at Community High School on June 21, 2022.  The ground breaking at 5:00.   Andrea Anderson spoke about the Collaborative Conferencing Team.  They have a meeting with the teachers collaborative team to discuss salary, wages, fringe benefits and the other things we can meet on.  The meeting is schedule for Thursday at 6:00 and Ms. Anderson will report back.

Dr. Garrett said the last day of school is Friday, May 20^th.   Dr. Garrett also wants to clarify the process of "how principals are selected and retained".  "It’s not a vote of the board.  Principals receive performance contracts every July 1. They know what is on there."  She went on to say "If anyone had a score of 1 for their school, 1 out of 5 with 1 being the lowest, they are put on an improvement plan with several things in place."  "We sit down as an instruction team and coach principals and also decide what is going to be best for our system."

Surplus property declared

Surplus property declared

Surplus property declared

Glenn Forsee moved to adjourn the meeting at approximately 6:48 pm.