November 20, 2017 at 6:30 PM - GMSD Board Meeting

Discussion:  Chairman Linda Fisher called the meeting to order at 6:39 pm

Discussion:  Chairman Linda Fisher called for a moment of silence

Discussion:  Board member Suzanne Jones led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Discussion: 

Student & Staff Recognitions: Houston High School Golf Team

We are proud to recognize the Houston High School Girls Golf Team for bringing home the State Championship last month. The Girls Golf team boasts some of the country’s most exciting and burgeoning young talent.  In the last three years, the team has taken the state championship twice.  Coach Steve Bell leads this exceptional two-woman team.  Baili (Bailey) Park is a senior. She came in 2^nd overall individually at the state championship.  She is headed [on scholarship] to Georgetown next year.  And, junior Jayna Choi, who holds a record score of 62, has recently returned from winning the National 2017 USGA Women’s State Golf Team Championship. Jayna has committed to Vanderbilt.  We look forward to seeing more victories from them in the future because of their hard work and dedication.

HOUSTON MIDDLE girls and boys Cross Country Team was also recognized.

Discussion: 

·      I attended the House Joint Education Committee meeting in Nashville on October 24^th.  The committee held discussion on HB501/SB481 which would add funding for three Response to Instruction and Intervention positions within each public school to the Basic Education Program (BEP).  The committee also discussed bill HB503 which would change the funding in the BEP from one nurse per 3,000 students to one nurse per 750 students.  I was asked by the TN Nurses Association to speak with them in support of this bill.  Both bills were well received by the Committee but the Committee did mention that it would come down to how much the Budget for 2018 could increase.   Commissioner McQueen also spoke at the Committee meeting regarding the issues with the delivery of TNReady testing results.  The committee members were very vocal in their disappointment in the timing of the delivery of TNReady results.

 

·      Our Board and Superintendent attended the TSBA Annual Conference in Nashville the first weekend in November.  The TSBA Delegate Assembly is held during this conference.  The following are the resolutions which were passed:

o   State ACT/SAT Accountability

o   Bidding & Sale of Property Advertisements

o   Funding of School Nurse Positions

o   Release of TNReady Scores

o   Funding of RTI2 Positions

o   Teacher Licensure

o   Changes to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

o   Graduation Rate

o   Moratorium on Additional Assessments

o   Release of Assessment and Accountability information.

 

·      We will be working with the other municipalities to coordinate the Legislative breakfast in January to kick off the new the 111^th Session which will reconvene on January 9, 2018.  

Discussion: 

The GMSD board, board secretary and superintendent  attended the TN School Board convention in Nashville November 3-5. Superintendent Jason Manuel, Board member, Lisa Parker and Kate Crowder , Communications Coodinator, presented for one of the sessions. They presented Moving from Transparency to Engagement- Mobilize Your Community in a Positive Direction. In addition, Riverdale parent, Bonnie Lee was recognized as the TSBA Statewide School Volunteer. She received a $1000 grant for her school. Congratulations to Bonnie Lee for exceptional commitment to volunteerism in our school district.

 

 

Congratulations to the students, teachers and parents involved in the Riverdale Theater Rodgers and Hammerstein show, Houston High School “Our Town” and Farmington Elementary “ Madagascar”  all presented in the last few weeks. They all showcased the many talents of our students.

Discussion: 

REPORT TOTAL ASSETS AND TOTAL LIAB AND FUND BAL

 

SCHOOL OPERATING FUND

The TN Department of Education notified us that we will receive an additional $113,000 in BEP revenue for the 17-18 year.  This is due to a formula calculation update.

 

CAFETERIA FUND

ARAMARK continues to report a profit y-t-d, which is now covering District expenditures.

 

HEALTH INSURANCE FUND

A month-to-month comparison of claims expense was added to the financial report.  Claims are now stabilizing to historical trends.

 

OPEB TRUST

Investment performance reflects an unrealized gain of $80,641 y-t-d.  83% of expected ($112,000) return for the year has been achieved.

Discussion: 

Superintendent Manuel presented his Report highlighting the Attendance Zone Focus Group update for the New Elementary school, expected to open doors for the 2019-2020 school year.

The first meeting of this group was held on November 9, 2017 and the following was discussed,

• Guiding Principles

1. Proximity to Schools
2. Existing Attendance Zones
3. Keeping Neighborhoods Together

• Optimal and Maximum Capacities
• Germantown Growth
• Elementary Demographer Projections
• Elementary School Current Enrollment VS Capacity
• Middle School Demographer Projections
• Middle School Current Enrollment VS Capacity
• Projected Germantown Build-out - 1,400 Units
• Projected Student population from additional build-out at the rate of 0.31 per household
• Next Steps in Attendance Zone: 

1. December 15 - Second Focus group meeting with Zoning Activity
2. January - Third Focus group meeting
3. February - Town Hall Meeting, FAQs, Surveys
4. March - Board Decision

 

Discussion:  There were no Citizens to be heard at this time.

Discussion: 

Chairman Linda Fisher announced the following:

• December 9 - Germantown Holiday Parade
• December 18 - upcoming Board Business Meeting

Discussion:  The meeting was adjourned with consensus at 7:06 pm.