March 19, 2018 at 6:30 PM - GMSD Board Meeting

After discussion in the  work session, the Board recommended two amendments to the agenda,

1. Remove CIP List - 9E from Board Action items

2. Move Tenure Approval - Consent item 8B to Board Action item 9E

Her are the 3 Teacher of the Year  award winners for tonight’s meeting:

Courtney Berggren – Grades PreK – 4

Shannon Ward – Grades 5 - 8

Michael Robinson – Grades 9 – 12

Houston High School

·      This session of the General Assembly is coming to a close.  Final calendar for the Senate Education Committee will be next week and other House Committees will have their final calendars in the next weeks.  The following is an update on key bills/resolutions I mentioned last month which we covered with our Legislators during our Day on the Hill. 

o   SB2610/HB2474 (Gresham/Moody) - As introduced, extends eligibility for an individualized education account to any student with an individualized education program (IEP).  This bill would apply to all "Gifted" students as defined which is about 40% of our student population.  We believe this bill brings us back to the slippery slope of vouchers.  Having spoken to Rep. Mark White who serves on one of the House Education Committees, it does not appear that this bill will gain traction in the House.  This bill has been placed on the House Education Administration and Planning Subcommittee and Senate Education Committee agendas for this week. 

o   SB2196/HB2272 (Pitts/Swann) - As introduced, requires LEAs to employ one licensed social worker in each school that conducts classes in any grade from kindergarten through grade 12.  We support this bill as long as it is fully funded and not passed as an unfunded mandate or partially funded (as RTI was).  It was decided that a Study should be performed on the benefits of having licensed social workers in schools before this bill is pursued.

o   Senate Resolution 0593 (Haile) - directs the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations to study the overall effects on public education relative to having multiple school districts operating in the same county.  We are concerned with the direct of this resolution and the amount of work and money which could be involved in a Direct Study which would investigate an operating procedure which is effectively working not only within our state, but across the nation as well.  This resolution will be on the Senate Education Committee agenda this week.  There will be an amendment proposed to strengthen the language of the study if the resolution gains traction.

·      The Department of Education has reconvened its Task Force on TNReady.  The task force is focusing on ways to reduce the time and amount of tests for our students.  I attended the Task Force meeting on February 26^th.  Discussion time was focused on the amount of testing in the 11^th grade.  The next meeting is in April.

·      The Tennessee Board of Education added 2 new members from Shelby County late last year.  The Superintendent and I met with Lang Wiseman in early March and we will meet with Darrell Cobbins next week.  We are connecting so that the Local School Board voices are brought to the Board of Education meetings and so that we can better understand any potential policy changes. 

TSBA Scope Conference

TN School Board Association holds the Student Congress on Policies in Education annually where school board sends student delegates. TSBA conducts the congress to obtain student input on issues facing boards of education. Over 350 students from around the state took part in small group mock school board meetings and group discussions centered on delaying school start times.

Students then debated and voted on the following policies:

·     Student information shall be shared without parent permission. Students passed this policy.

·     Corporal punishment shall be banned from all schools.

Students voted against banning corporal punishment.

·     All students shall pass a civic exam to graduate.

Students passed that students taking a civic exam.

·     Cyberbullying shall be a zero-tolerance offense.

Students voted against cyberbullying being a zero-tolerance offense.

I attended as a group facilitator and would like to recognize Houston High students that represented our district at the congress:

Carson Lubin

Nwdainobi (Dinobi) Onyeagocha On ye go cha

Meredith Kreitz

Holden Brewer

Chairman Betsy Landers briefed as follows,

• Performance of "Curtains" by Houston High School students
• Attended the National PTA Legislative Conference in Washington DC that  focused on School Safety

Superintendent Jason Manuel delivered the Financial report in the absence of Chief Financial Officer Kevin Jones.

He gave the following update to the Board,

Revenue and Expenses Statement, Balance Sheet as of period ending 2.28.18

SCHOOL OPERATING FUND

Property tax revenue collections totaled $4.0 million for the month.  This represents 25% of the total budgeted.  $3.5 million in cash was transferred to the Local Government Investment Pool for investing.

HEALTH INSURANCE FUND

Medical and pharmacy claims were $486K for the month.  A $277K y-t-d loss is reported in the fund.

OPEB TRUST

With the February market fluctuations, a $78K unrealized loss on investments was reported.  The OPEB commission meets March 21 to receive a report in investment performance by US Bank.

Superintendent Jason Manuel presented the following in his report:

• Transportation- Durham Bus tracker in real time, a secure and good tool for parents
• ACT Day at Houston High School - Tuesday March 20
• Power Point Presentation on Testing Window, Four steps to calculate Districts' determinations:

• Step 1: Minimum Performance Goal
• Step 2: Achievement Status
• Step 3: Subgroup Status
• Step 4: Final Determination

Fine Arts and Field House/Concession Facilities

·       At the beginning of the school year, the Board was ask to approve a community group’s effort to raise approximately 4 million dollars to build both a Fine Arts Facility, as well as a Field House for Houston High

·       Over the last five (5) years, GMSD has worked diligently to build partnerships within our community. We have successful involved the entire community in making our district into the success it is today.

·       One of those opportunities presented itself this fall as the group seeking to raise funds for a new fine arts facility and field house at HHS

·       An individual donor stepped forward – offering to donate 1 million dollars, with the stipulation that the donation was a matching opportunity for both GMSD and the City of Germantown.  The 1 million offer breaks down the donation as follows:  $300,000 to a Fine Arts Facility and $700,000 to a Field House/Concession Facility

·       As a Board, we are well aware of the numerous deferred maintenance projects that our district currently has – and we will be aggressively pursuing those, as we do each year.  We will be discussing our needs with the Financial Advisory Committee, as well as Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

·       The Board has taken the chance to discuss this opportunity and its potential impact on our district at two successive work sessions – and  also being mindful of our deferred maintenance needs.

·       However, this donor opportunity presents GMSD with the unique chance to leverage a community partnership to benefit our Houston High students and by extention our entire community.

·       With that in mind:

I move that Board of Education approve GMSD make the matching donation of $1,000,000, giving $300,000 to a Fine Arts Facility and $700,000 to a Field House/Concession Complex, over a period of five (5) years.  The donation will be made pending the City of Germantown and the private donor meeting the obligation of matching the District’s contribution.

Superintendent Jason Manuel congratulated the Houston High Girls Basket Ball team for reaching the finals for the first time in the History of Houston High and said that they will be recognized at the April 16 Board Meeting.

Chairman Betsy Landers made the following announcements,

• Please visit the GMSD Website for the Calendar of events to see the opportunities and upcoming events in various schools
• April 11 - Work Session on GMSD FY 2018-19 Budget
• April 16 - Work Session and Regular Board Business Meeting