August 24, 2021 at 6:00 PM - GMSD Board Business Meeting

Discussion:  Chairman Amy Eoff called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.

Discussion:  Chairman Amy Eoff called for a moment of silence.
 

Discussion:  Vice-Chairman Betsy Landers led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Discussion:  Board member and TLN Representative Ryan Strain presented the TLN Report as follows,
This month has seen a flurry of activity at the local, state, and federal level in regard to K-12 school mask policies:

• On August 6, 2021, the Shelby County Health Department issued Amended Health Order No. 24, which, due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, Shelby County’s high level of COVID-19 transmission, CDC guidance recommending universal indoor masking for all persons in K-12 schools, and local data regarding pediatric cases of COVID-19, directed all K-12 schools to require universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status.  Amended Health Order No. 24 expires on August 31 but may be renewed, depending on levels of vaccination rates, hospital capacity, and/or cases per 100,0000 residents.
• Days later, the Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives sent a letter to Governor Bill Lee signed by all Republican members of the Tennessee House requesting a special legislative session to, among other things, address local officials’ responses to COVID-19.  The week previously, the Speaker had been vocal in supporting vouchers if school districts transitioned to remote learning or required students to wear masks this year.
• Then, on August 16, Governor Lee issued Executive Order No. 84, which permits students’ parents or guardians to opt out of any order or requirement for a student in kindergarten through 12^th grade to wear a face covering at school, on a school bus, or at school functions.  The Order also suspends any law, order, rule, or regulation that would limit the enforceability of the Governor’s Order.  Executive Order No. 84 expires on October 6.  After issuing the Executive Order, Governor Lee stated he would not be calling a special session at this time.
• On August 18, the U.S. Secretary of Education sent a letter to Governor Lee and Tennessee’s Commissioner of Education stating "Tennessee’s actions to block school districts from voluntarily adopting science-based strategies for preventing the spread of COVID-19 that are aligned with the guidance from the [CDC] . . . may infringe upon a school district’s authority to adopt policies to protect students and educators as they develop their safe return to in-person instruction plans required by Federal law."
• Finally, on August 19, the Shelby County Health Department issued Second Amended Health Order No. 24, which requires masks to be worn in indoor, public settings in Shelby County except, pertinent to GMSD, K-12 students whose parents have opted them out of wearing a mask according to Governor Lee’s Executive Order.

The Tennessee Department of Education has been busy, as well:

• In July, the Department announced high schoolers will, for the first time since 2019, take standardized end-of-course exams online.  Students in grades 3 through 8 will continue to take annual spring assessments by hand for the time being.
• The Department also released the results of last school year’s state standardized testing.  GMSD outperformed state averages on all TCAP and end-of-course tests.  Additionally, GMSD students and families rose to the difficult occasion, far surpassing the 80% in-person test-taking requirement set by the Department to avoid state-imposed negative consequences.
• The Department also issued proposed rules addressing the legislature’s newly enacted law prohibiting the inclusion or promotion of certain concepts in a course of instruction.  The Board submitted comments to the Department addressing a lack of clarity in the rules and the possible loss of valuable administrative time that lack of clarity could cause.
• Additionally, the Department has announced an opportunity for high school seniors to retake the ACT this fall for free.  Testing windows are in October and November.

In legal news, two transgender students have sued the State of Tennessee over a newly enacted law regarding use of school restrooms, contending the law violates Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education.

Finally, the Associated Press has reported Governor Lee used $4.4 million in federal discretionary pandemic education funding to help launch new charter schools, none of which have been open during the pandemic, and none of which are scheduled to open before 2022.
 

Discussion:  Chaiman Amy Eoff presented the Chairman's Report as follows,

Mr. Strain reports he attended the city’s Principals' Appreciation Luncheon, GMSD In-Service Kickoff, and Dogwood’s PTO meeting. He taped video greeting for GMSD In-Service. He welcomed students to the first day of school at Riverdale, spoke over the phone with Rep. Kevin Vaughan, met with Rep. Dwayne Thompson regarding the 3rd grade retention law and other issues, and spoke to the city engineer regarding the stop light at Houston High School.  On behalf of the Board, he prepared and submitted public comments regarding the TN Department of Education's proposed rule on Prohibited Concepts in Instruction.

Ms. Landers reports she taped video greeting for GMSD In-Service, and attended the GMSD In-Service Kickoff. She spoke with several aldermen on various items, and met with Rep. Dwayne Thompson regarding the 3rd grade retention law and other issues.

Mr. Curry reports he attended the city’s Principals' Appreciation Luncheon, and the GMSD In-service Kickoff. He also taped video greeting for GMSD In-Service, welcomed students to the first day of school at Forest Hill Elementary, and met with Rep. Dwayne Thompson regarding the 3rd grade retention law and other issues.

Ms. Griffith reports she attended the city's Principals Luncheon and the GMSD District Inservice kickoff. She taped a video greeting for GMSD’s in-service, welcomed students back on the first day of school at Dogwood Elementary, Farmington Elementary and Houston Middle Schools, and met with our Rep. Dwayne Thompson 3rd grade retention law and other issues.

Ms. Eoff reports she taped a video greeting for GMSD In-Service, spoke with aldermen on various items, and met with Rep. Dwayne Thompson regarding the 3rd grade retention bill and other issues.

Our school doors successfully opened on August 9th.  It has been a joy to have our students and staff back together again. However, the start of this year was not as many of us envisioned, as we are continuing to deal with the impact of Covid-19 on our community and our classrooms.

Over the past month, we as a board have heard from many people with many opinions regarding what should and should not happen. We have been told by different government agencies what can and cannot happen. In the midst of all of this, a divide has developed. Our focus as a community has shifted from what unites us to what divides us. 

So, I am asking, I’m pleading, for us all to remember that we all want what's best for our children. Everyone may not agree on what that looks like or how it will be carried out, but we can hold fast to what is true for us all - what’s best for all of our children is what’s best.  If we can start there, understanding that one side does not want to kill all the children on the other side by not wearing masks, and the other side does not want to take the rights away from everybody by wearing masks. If we can start by understanding we all want what’s best for our students, what’s best for our children, we can make progress toward a successful school year together.

And in all of it please remember what Mr. Fred Rogers, one of my lifetime idols, said, "There are three ways to ultimate success. The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind."




 

Discussion:  Chief Financial Officer Kevin Jones presented the Financial Reports for period ending 6.30.2021 as follows,

These are preliminary 06.30.21 financial reports.  The 20-21 books will remain open until the end of August and amounts will change.

Report Total Assets, Liabilities, and Fund Balances on the Balance Sheet were reported for period ending 6.30.21

SCHOOL OPERATING FUND
There was a significant positive variance in sales tax revenues of $1.4 million for the year and we expended 93% of our operating budget.

HEALTH INSURANCE FUND
There was a $362K increase in fund balance for the year.

CAFETERIA FUND
SFE reported a net income of $78K for the year.

OPEB TRUST FUND
Year-to-date realized and unrealized gains on investments totaled $760K versus $210K budgeted

 

Discussion:  Superintendent Jason Manuel presented his Superintendent's Report with the following Highlights in his PowerPoint presentation,

TCAP and EOC Data

• How did GMSD compare to other districts?
  • ELA grades 3-8 ranked #2 in the State
  • Math grades 3-8 ranked in top 5 districts
  • Science grades 3-8 ranked in top 5 districts
  • English I ranked #3 in the state
  • English II ranked in top 5 districts
  • Algebra II ranked in top 10 districts
  • Biology ranked in top 5 districts
• GMSD TCAP and EOC Scores Comparison for various Subjects
  • State average 2021
  • % On Track and Mastered 2019
  • % On Track and Mastered 2021
• Plans to Address Forward Motion
  • TN-ALL Corps Tutoring Program
  • New Instructional coaches in both ELA and Math for grades K-8
  • A holistic approach to addressing the Learning Loss
  • Strengthened District’s Response to Instruction and Intervention RTI-2 Strategies
• GMSD Celebrates Several Increases in Proficiency in Subgroups

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

 

Discussion:  The following Citizens voiced their opinions on Mask Mandate and Dress Code,

- Kim Brown, 9481 Poplar Pike, Germantown TN 38138
- Gigi Zhang, 9168 Sycamore Creek Cove, Germantown TN 38139
- Matthew Tremel, 1815 Boulinwood Lane, Germantown TN 38138
- Livi Hicks, 9626 Mourning Dove Cove, Germantown TN 38139
- Jason Smith, 8193 Waverly Crossing, Germantown TN 38138

Discussion:  Consent Item 9.C was removed from the Consent Agenda per "Approval of the Agenda as amended"

Discussion:  The Board voted on the Option Miscellaneous Budget Amendment 9C to align with the Board Action Item 10.D "Approval of the Base Bid only"

Discussion:  Chauncey Bland, Assistant Superintendent Student Services presented the 2020-21 Civil Rights and Bullying Compliance Report. 

Chairman Amy Eoff announced the following,

September 26 - Labor Day Holiday
September 22 - Next Board Work Session
September 28 - Next Board Business Meeting

Discussion:  The meeting was adjourned with consensus at 7:44 pm.