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1. Call to Order
Speaker(s):
Chairman
Discussion:
Chairman Amy Eoff called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
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2. Moment of Silence
Speaker(s):
Chairman
Discussion:
Chairman Amy Eoff called for a moment of silence.
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3. Pledge of Allegiance
Discussion:
Board Member Ryan Strain led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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4. Approval of Agenda
Speaker(s):
Chairman
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion passed: I move to approve the agenda,, passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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5. Recognition and Awards
Speaker(s):
Chairman
Rationale:
Staff Recognitions
Erin Rhodes, Extended School Year Jenni Ledford, Mustang Transition Camp ShaMira Davis, Blast Off! Summer Success Learning Camp The three individuals we are recognizing this evening helped to organize, and in many cases pioneer summer programming to help address learning loss. Each individual served as the director of a summer camp--most of which was in ADDITION to their current and regular job responsibilities. Their hard work, innovative ideas, and dedication to students did not go unnoticed and most importantly, students enrolled in the summer programming showed growth. Let’s first recognize ShaMira Davis who served as the Director of Blast Off! Summer Success Learning Camps--which served 360 students in grades K-8. Next, Jennifer Ledford who served as the Director of the Mustang Transition Camp at Houston High School which served 35 rising ninth graders. Lastly, we are recognizing Erin Rhodes who served as the Director of the Extended School Year which served 91 students with disabilities this summer. Between these three individuals, almost 500 students enjoyed an additional four weeks of intentional, small-group focused, data-driven instruction by over 100 hardworking teachers and staff. We thank you for your service to our students and to the district. |
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6. REPORTS
Speaker(s):
Chairman
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6.A. TLN Update (Tennessee Legislature)
Speaker(s):
Ryan Strain
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
Board Member and TLN Representative Ryan Strain presented the TLN Report as follows,
Last month, the Tennessee Department of Education announced $4.5 million in Grow Your Own grants, which establish partnerships between Educator Preparation Providers and school districts. These grants are designed to foster partnerships to provide innovative, no-cost pathways to the teaching profession. GMSD is a Grow Your Own district and has several teachers and assistants pursuing endorsements and certification through the program. Additionally, several new education-related laws took effect earlier this month. Those laws include:
Additionally, last month the federal Department of Education released a notice of interpretation stating, in light of last year’s Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, that for purposes of Title IX (the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education), sex discrimination includes discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This is a change in the Department’s position and could result in conflicts with legislation recently passed in several states. In legal news, the United States Supreme Court recently decided Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., a First Amendment case addressing students’ off-campus free speech rights. The Court declared schools do have the power to punish students for speech occurring online or off campus if it substantially disrupts school, but found the student’s particular speech in this case did not to rise to that level. |
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6.B. Chairman's Report
Speaker(s):
Amy Eoff
Discussion:
Chairman Amy Eoff presented her Chairman's Report as follows,
Mr. Strain reports he attended the TSBA Summer Law Institute and the State Comptroller's ESSER funding presentation. He also met with a Shelby County School Board Member. Ms. Landers reports she attended TSBA Summer Law Institute. Mr. Curry reports he attended TSBA Summer Law Institute and the Chamber of Commerce July luncheon. Ms. Griffith reports she attended the TSBA Summer Law Institute and the State Comptroller's ESSER funding presentation. Ms. Eoff reports she attended TSBA Summer Law Institute and met with Germantown city leadership. In June, the Board completed Superintendent Manuel's annual evaluation. Superintendent Manuel’s overall evaluation score is 3.804 out of a 4 point scale, highly effective. Strengths Identified: Superintendent Manuel’s relationship with the Board is strong and communication consistent. Information needed for board responsibilities has been provided in a thorough and timely manner to all board members. The addition of policy rationales has been a welcome addition to agendas (and because they are so popular, rationales have been requested for budget amendments), as well as the superintendent’s increased receptiveness to questions and suggestions from board members. During this extremely demanding year, Superintendent Manuel made improving board communication a priority including giving board members tours of facilities to identify needs. "The superintendent continuously kept the board informed as Covid related guidelines changed and impacted the district’s ability to operate." Superintendent Manuel continues to excel in promoting a positive image of GMSD. In a time that limited in-person accessibility, new ways to communicate with families were created, i.e. Let’s Talk, zoom town halls, and online curriculum nights. "Mr. Manuel does a great job with the media, never causing GMSD to look bad in print or on camera." Superintendent Manuel has worked to delegate more to his staff in order to allow opportunities for professional growth. His team continued to recruit highly qualified staff even in pandemic times using creative means for online snapshot events. His staff holds him in high regard. "When you are an employee of GMSD, you are part of a family." Superintendent Manuel provides a budget that is student-focused and strategic plan aligned. His work on ESSER funding has been consistently centered on how to be the best stewards of this money within the ever-changing guidelines from the state and federal governments. "Mr. Manuel’s team does an outstanding job with our budget and materials. Any member of the community can see the formatting and make sense of the budget." Superintendent Manuel is highly knowledgeable regarding instructional programs and has set goals for strengthening student achievement in the short and long term. His active legislative advocacy and involvement in professional organizations are strengths that were particularly imperative this year. "The Superintendent is knowledgeable and willing to keep up with educational trends and best practices. He continues to actively participate in professional organizations and lead in some capacities. He has developed professional relationships with fellow superintendents and educational leaders in order to learn and share what has worked in different districts. This has been essential in the pandemic educational landscape." Opportunities for Growth: While communications has grown tremendously over the last year, the board would like to see continued growth focused specifically on proactive communication.
The following goals were set in line with the strategic plan for the coming school year: Strategic Plan Targeted Goals for 2021-2022: Strategic Plan Goal 1 - Engaging, Challenging, and Innovative Academics: Increase academic support services and differentiation in the classroom to ensure all students receive high quality, innovative, and authentic learning experiences. (Obj 1.2, Obj 1.3) Strategic Plan Goal 2 - Whole Child: Develop and implement a tiered system of support to provide every student with a supportive, safe, and secure learning environment. (Obj 2.3, Obj 2.4) Strategic Plan Goal 4 - Resource Management Long-Range Planning: Begin creation of long-term plans for district facilities and programs including how to engage funding bodies and potential new financial partners. (Obj 4.2, Obj 4.3) Strategic Plan Goal 5 - Community Partnerships: Increase awareness, on the local and national level, of our district’s and schools’ academic and extracurricular accomplishments and successes. (Obj 5.2) This concludes the chairman's report. |
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6.C. Superintendent's Report
Speaker(s):
Jason Manuel
Discussion:
Superintendent Jason Manuel presented his Superintendent's Report with the following Highlights in his PowerPoint presentation,
Back to School Safety Plan
Summer Learning Programs
The above presentation can be found at our GMSD website link https://www.gmsdk12.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=2177271&type=d&pREC_ID=2181786 |
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7. Citizens to be heard
Speaker(s):
Chairman
Discussion:
The following Citizen voiced their concern regarding Masks in Schools,
Carey Acerra, 1691 Bryn Mawr Cove, Germantown TN 38138 |
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8. CONSENT AGENDA
Speaker(s):
Chairman
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion passed: I move to approve all the items in the Consent Agenda,, passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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8.A. Approval of the Minutes
Speaker(s):
Chairman
Rationale:
Minutes from 6.8.21 Board Business Meeting
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8.B. GBOE Resolution - 1/2021-2022
Speaker(s):
Jason Manuel
Rationale:
GBOE Resolution 1/2021-2022
A Resolution of the GBOE Adopting the Shelby County Hazards Mitigation Plan
Attachments:
()
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8.C. Revision of Policies - Second Reading
Speaker(s):
Jason Manuel
Rationale:
Department of Human Resources Revisions recommended for the following policies, HR Policy 5.201: Separation Practices for Non-Tenured Teachers - Revised and Updated after discussion during 7.21.21 Work Session Rationale for changes to GMSD HR Policy 5.201: Separation Practices for Non-Tenured Teachers
Recently, the Tennessee General Assembly enacted a new law that changed the timeframe for teacher notice of non-renewal. Now, written notice of a non-renewal must be sent via certified mail or overnight carrier to the teacher’s physical mailing address on record or transmitted via electronic mail to the email used by the school district to communicate with the teacher within five (5) business days following the last instructional day for the school year. In addition, the new law defines "last instructional day" as being the last day of the school year in which students are required to report to school. The revisions made to HR Policy 5.201 reflect the changes in state law that went into effect on May 11, 2021. Discussed on 7.21.21 Work Session Rationale: Previously, state law gave the Commissioner of Education the authority to suspend a teacher's license if he/she broke a contract with a local board of education. A new change to state law, now gives this authority to the State Board of Education. GMSD HR is recommending the updating this policy to reflect the change. In addition, the Superintendent is required by law to report potential misconduct to the Office of Educator Licensing for licensed educators. GMSD HR is recommending to add wording that states educators who have a temporary teaching permit will be reported to the State Board of Education for misconduct in the same manner that is done for licensed teachers. 5.201 P3, L11-15, renumbered so that there is a 1, 2 & 3 conditions / added No.2 per statute HR Policy 5.307: Physical Assault Leave
Rationale for changes to GMSD HR Policy 5.307
Due to a change in TN State Law and to provide clarity for GMSD employees, the term "Full benefits" has been outlined to include benefits the teacher was receiving from GMSD when the teacher was placed on leave due to the teacher's personal injury. In addition, "Full benefits" does not include the teacher's full salary. |
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8.D. Revision of Policies - First Reading
Speaker(s):
Jason Manuel
Rationale:
The Rationale document is attached.
The following edits have been made to the below policies per Board member recommendation, 3.204 P1, L31: location of employees’ [add apostrophe] work 5.102 P2, L20 strike "No person" P3, L29, Add "such" as tuberculosis P2, L25-29, renumbered so that there is a 1, 2 & 3 conditions / added No.2 per statute 4.202 P4, L6-7 add "provided that" chemical restraints are not prohibited 1.810 Throughout the Policy "an GMSD" changed to "a GMSD" 6.409 P2, L9 delete "must" ("must" is already included in L10) 6.402 P1, L21-22 "or" first grade and strike comma at end of struck clause P2, L9 Add "For" Exemptions 4.301 P1, L20 Strike P2, L34 "reflected" in the minutes P3, L18 "and" volunteers P4, L4 contest should be contests
Attachments:
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8.E. Miscellaneous FY21-22 Budget Amendments # 2,3 &4
Speaker(s):
Jason Manuel
Attachments:
()
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9. BOARD ACTION ITEMS
Speaker(s):
Chairman
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9.A. Approval of Pearson Contract
Speaker(s):
Jason Manuel
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion passed: I move to approve the Connections Education LLC d/b/a/ Pearson Virtual Schools USA contract in the event that the number of student enrollees causes the contract price to be $100,000 or greater, passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Rationale:
It is recommended that the Board approve the Connections Education LLC d/b/a/ Pearson Virtual Schools USA contract in the event that the number of student enrollees causes the contract price to be $100,000 or greater.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
()
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9.B. Change Order #1 for the Houston Middle School Addition Project
Speaker(s):
Jason Manuel
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion passed: I move to approve Change Order #1 for the Houston Middle School Addition project in the amount of $1,470,260 in order to comply with the Davis-Bacon Act, passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
()
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9.C. GBOE Resolution 2/2021-2022
Speaker(s):
Jason Manuel
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion passed: I move to approve GBOE Resolution 2/2021/2022, passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Rationale:
GBOE Resolution 2/2021-2022
A Resolution of the GBOE to Support our Students and Teachers by Requesting the TN General Assembly amend Public Acts of 2021, CHAPTER NO. 1 To include a Provision allowing School Districts to make Retention Decisions for THIRD-GRADE STUDENTS based upon School District DATA demonstrating an understanding of the ELA
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
()
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10. Announcements
Speaker(s):
Chairman
Discussion:
Chairman Amy Eoff announced as follows,
The first day of School is August 9, 2021, for the 2021-2022 School Year |
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11. Adjournment
Speaker(s):
Chairman
Discussion:
The meeting adjourned with consensus at 7:00 pm.
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