February 15, 2024 at 6:00 PM - Bedford County Board of Education
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I. PROCEDURAL ITEMS
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I.A. Call to Order
Discussion:
Chairman Michael Cook called the meeting to order, followed by a moment of silence, and the Pledge of Allegiance lead by the Learning Way Elementary School’s Boys Basketball Team.
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I.B. Moment of Silence
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I.C. Pledge of Allegiance - Led by the Learning Way Elementary School Boy's Basketball Team.
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I.D. Opening Remarks
Discussion:
Mr. Cook opened with asking for thoughts and prayers for the SCHS student that had a medical event at a basketball game.
He also recognized the Leadership Bedford members that were attending the meeting and he thanked the board members for the calls and thoughts and prayers for his dad. |
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II. CONSENT AGENDA
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
The Consent Agenda was approved by acclamation upon the motion and seconded by David Brown and Brian Crews.
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II.A. Approval of Agenda
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II.B. Minutes from January Monthly Meeting
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II.C. SCHS FFA Trip Request
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II.D. SCHS DECA Trip Request
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II.E. Thomas Magnet Beta Club Trip Request
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II.F. Community HS TSA Trip Request
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II.G. Community HS Science and Math Trip Request
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II.H. Community HS FFA Trip Request
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II.I. Cascade HS FFA Trip Request
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II.J. FY 2024 - Innovative School Models - Rev 1
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II.K. FY 2024 - CTE Perkins Basic - Rev 2
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II.L. FY 2024 - Consolidated - Rev 4 - Title I, Part A
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II.M. FY 2024 - Consolidated - Rev 4 - IDEA, Part B
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II.N. Policies for Revision
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II.N.1. 5.108 Supervision
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II.N.2. 5.306 Military Leave
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II.N.3. 5.301 Emergency and Legal Leave
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II.N.4. 5.304 Long-Term Leaves of Absence for Professional Personnel
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II.N.5. 5.114 Personnel Records
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II.N.6. 5.110 Compensation Guides & Contracts
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III. PUBLIC COMMENT
Discussion:
There was no public comment.
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IV. COMMUNICATIONS
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IV.A. Good News Report
Discussion:
Mr. Cook stated that the Good News Report was in the board members’ notebooks and was also online.
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V. PRESENTATIONS
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V.A. Cascade HS Band
Discussion:
Mr. David Brown introduced the Cascade High School Band. They had a special performance for the board members. Emma Kwapinski and Kaitlyn Whitehead performed a duet on the flute and saxophone and Mikey Lucich performed on the french horn. The band was brought up on stage and recognized for their achievement of 2nd place in the state competition. Each band member received a certificate from Dr. Garrett that Mr. Lucich, the band director, will give to them at a later time.
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V.B. Owner Rep Update - Jeff Sweeney
Discussion:
Jeff Sweeney, the Owner Representative for Bedford County, gave an update on several projects going on in the school system. Cartwright Elementary School is currently under budget with $1,036,000 saved, Bell Construction lowered their portion of the shared savings from $430,000 to $275,000. The school system will get the keys on May 10th which is a month and a half sooner that expected. The plans for the additions to Thomas Magnet and Liberty were received, the State Fire Marshall has signed off on the Thomas plans. Liberty’s plans should be signed off on by tomorrow or Monday. Bid dates have been set and hope to start both schools by the first of March and move the portables during spring break. On the Vocational Annex Building, the fire marshall did their walk through, there were two small problems. The speakers were not loud enough when the units were running and one of the smoke detectors had a broken lens. Those have been corrected. On the kitchen, we’re waiting on some equipment to come in, the floors will be poured back next week. An option for the property next to Cartwright, was discussed to be a bus depot. We gave Dr. Garrett an estimate of $1.8 million for such a project. We have sent Kline Swinney a design concept and also a steel structure from a steel company. Bell is working on estimating that for us. Mr. Sweeney met with Kenny Parker just to get some feedback to see if he was starting new what would he like to see at the new bus depot. We are in the middle of getting the plans finished for the Ag building at Cascade and Community. We have a meeting with the state next week on the Cascade Ag Center. On the septic system at Community, we are on hold until we get the master plan on design back from Kline Swinney so we know where to locate it. He said Mr. Brown has him working on the concession stand at Cascade. Going to revise it so we can get a budget that everyone can live with. Should have that to him in the next two weeks. He said Mr. Harwell and Christy Williams have both been great to work with.
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VI. ACTION ITEMS
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VI.A. Bid 24-35 SCHS Drumline
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
It was recommended to go with the lowest bidder, The Music Stop. A private donor gave money for the needs of the band. Motion was made by Shanna Boyette to approve and a second was by Barton Williams. Motion passed with an 8-0 vote.
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VI.B. Community HS/Community Middle School Dugout Request
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
They have private donors for this and we are making sure we are in compliance with financial policies and building codes. Motion was made by Dan Reed to approve the renovation of the softball dugouts and a second was by Brian Crews. Motion passed with an 8-0 vote.
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VI.C. Community HS/Community Middle School Baseball Pressbox Request
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Would like permission to use some of the $150,000 and private donations. Motion to approve the construction of a concession stand/press box at Community Middle Baseball Field. made by Dan Reed and seconded by Shanna Boyette. Motion passed by an 8-0 vote.
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VI.D. Cartwright Contingency
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Garrett asked to have discussion on the contingency. What could we do with the money left over from the bond? If we did something like the bus garage, since the property is connected, we could do that or purchase land. One of the challenges to building a bus garage on that property is we have to close this out at the same time as Cartwright Elementary. There is no way to build the bus garage and close out at the same time. Dr. Garrett would like to have a motion to pay back the general purpose budget with the money left over from the bond and that would free up some money in the general purpose fund to work on capital projects. Robert Daniel explained that we have a certain amount of time to use the money once it is borrowed. If not used on time it is called arbitrage. We would have to pay a penalty to the IRS because we would be earning interest on the money while it is sitting there if not closed out in time. Mr. Cook stated that we took money out of general purpose to pay for furniture and IT work and now we will be able to pay for it under the money that was borrowed. Dr. Garrett explained that the IT they are talking about is not computers but wiring, card readers to get in the building, etc. Robert Daniel said the contingency money saved won’t be known until the project is finished. The savings on the project due to construction is over a million dollars. It was explained that the money is not returned to us but has not yet been borrowed. Mr. Cook noted that a decision has not been made on building a bus garage. Dr. Garrett suggested creating a prioritized list of capital projects at a work session. Motion to request that the county commission reimburse the general purpose school fund expenditures for Cartwright Elementary from bond proceeds by Dan Reed and seconded by Brian Crews. Motion carried with an 8-0 vote.
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VI.E. Policy 5.311 Bereavement Leave
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Garrett asked to change the policy to a tiered system (5 days for death of spouse, parent or child, 3 days for death of grandchild, brother, sister, stepchild, stepparent, grandparent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, or an individual whom the employee has guardianship, 1 day for death of an uncle, aunt or other family member with approval of the Superintendent of Schools, which necessitates the absence of the employee). Doing the policy this way shows that the board cares about our employee’s emotional health. Mr. Cook said we need to look at the budgetary impact as we move forward. Brian Crews asked will it be 5 days consecutive. Dr. Garrett explained that the days could be broken up but used in the fiscal year. The days do not roll over to the next fiscal year. They are not paid out if not used. Shanna Boyette asked if it would be effective immediately and Dr. Garrett answered yes. Motion was made to approve by Glenn Forsee and seconded by David Brown. Motion carried with an 8-0 vote.
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VI.F. Budget Amendment No. 3
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Mr. Daniel explained there were department transfers, grant adjustments, reimubursements, additional TISA funds, a variety of things on the amendment. Dr. Garrett explained that she asked for the TISA funds to be placed under capital projects. Motion to approve by Shanna Boyette and seconded by Brian Crews. Motion passed by an 8-0 vote.
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VI.G. January Monthly Financial Report
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
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VII. REPORT ITEMS
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VII.A. Monthly Tax Analysis
Discussion:
Robert Daniel explained that the numbers depend on when people pay their taxes.
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VII.B. Attendance Report
Discussion:
Terise Rhodes reported that we have 8762 students. Seventy-two students graduated in December.
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VII.C. Executive Committee Report
Discussion:
Mr. Cook declared surplus property for Eakin, Central Office, Community Elem., Southside, Learning Way, Cascade High, Liberty and Maintenance
He thanked Brian Crews for stepping up last month in his absence. He mentioned some special dates - SCOPE delegation on March 5th, the next board meeting is March 21st at 6pm at the Central Office, the board retreat is March 15-16 at Embassy Suites Cool Springs, March 19th President’s Day, February 23rd is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day, March 2nd is Dr. Seuss Day Read Across America, March 3rd-9th is National School Social Work Week, March 8th is Social Emotional Learning Day. |
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VII.C.1. Surplus - Technology (Eakin, Central Office, Community Elem., Southside, Learning Way, Cascade High, Liberty)
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VII.C.2. Surplus - Maintenance
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VII.D. Superintendent's Report
Discussion:
Dr. Garrett asked the everyone remember the student that had the medical event at a basketball game. She spoke on going to the Legislative and Legal Institute and got a little down listening to them discuss education and vouchers. Then she saw what the students were doing for the student with the medical event and remembered this is why everyone in education does what they do in public education.
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VIII. OTHER BUSINESS
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VIII.A. Additional Acknowledgements
Discussion:
Glenn Forsee recognized the SCOPE (Students Congress on Policies in Education) delegates that were in attendance, Allison Farris, sophomore Cascade HS, Kylie Randolph, sophomore Community HS, Leyah Marter, sophomore Community HS, Krisha Patel, junior SCHS, Seth Sharp, sophomore SCHS.
Mr. Cook said he appreciates Shanna Boyette for doing what she does as the Legislative liaison. She goes above and beyond. |
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VIII.B. FYI - Expenditures
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VIII.C. FYI - Personnel
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IX. ADJOURNMENT
Discussion:
Glenn Forsee moved to adjourn the meeting at approximately 6:53.
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