June 7, 2022 at 6:00 PM - GMSD Board Business Meeting

Discussion:  Chairman Angela Griffith called the meeting to order at 6:17 pm.

Discussion:  Chairman Angela Griffith called for a moment of silence.

Discussion:  Board Member Brian Curry led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Discussion:  Student Recognition
Laila Sharif was recognized for her service as the First Student Board Member Representative of the Germantown Board of Education.


Community Volunteer Recognition
K-Kids is the largest service organization for elementary school students, with more than 36,000 members worldwide. The first K-Kids were chartered in 2000. Today, there are more than 1,200 clubs worldwide.

K-Kids is a student-led community service organization that operates under school regulations and draws its members from the student body. Community-based K-Kids clubs also can be established at churches, libraries, YMCAs, lodges or similar facilities. A Kiwanis club, composed of like-minded, service-oriented people from the community, serves as the club’s sponsor.

We would like to recognize those who serve our school through the K-Kids program:
Forest Hill Elementary: Don Eye
Dogwood Elementary: Steve Vessart
Farmington Elementary: Linda Fisher


Key Clubs provide volunteer opportunities for Houston High School students to volunteer in their community. Members are required to volunteer monthly for community projects to remain in good standing in their clubs. Colleges on many of their applications are looking for students with volunteer spirit. This year, they were able to award $20,000 in scholarships to Key Club members.

We would like to recognize Judge Mary Wagner and James Allen for leading our Houston High School Key Club.

We are also excited to announce that Germantown Kiwanis have also formed a new partnership with Houston Middle School Principal ShaMira Davis and look forward to beginning a Builder's Club next year.


They also provide Terrific Kids in which Germantown Kiwanis members work with school staff in identifying children who have exceeded expectations on a monthly basis and are recognized for their accomplishments. Children are provided a certificate and a gift from Kiwanians.

A special thanks to Jeff Yearwood and Don Eye for leading this program in our schools.

Thank you for investing in our students with resources as well as time in teaching the importance of servant leadership in our community.

A special guest speaker, Ms. Caroline Bell from Dogwood Elementary School shared comments with our guests and the board about the impact K-Kids has made on her.

We would like to recognize the following:

James Allen, President of Clubs
Mary Wagner
Jeff Yearwood
Linda Fisher
Steve Vessart
Don Eye

A special award was presented to Mr. Don Eye who after many years is retiring from the Kiwanis President of clubs.




 

Discussion:  Board member and TLN Representative Ryan Strain presented as follows,
Germantown Board of Education TLN Report (June 7, 2022)

Yesterday, Governor Lee issued Executive Order No. 97, titled "An Order to Enhance K-12 School Safety."  The Order declares Governor Lee’s administration is "committed to ensure the security of students, educators, and staff in Tennessee’s public schools" and orders the following steps to be taken:

• State departments are to provide specific guidance and technical assistance to school districts to implement the Schools Against Violence in Education Act and to promote compliance with Tennessee law requiring public schools to conduct an annual school security assessment.
• State departments are to publish a School Safety Resources and Engagement Guide to provide parents with information on how to effectively engage and advocate for safe conditions at their child’s school.
• The Department of Safety and Homeland Security is to develop additional training and educational materials for educators, school leaders, and staff regarding school safety.
• State departments are to update the template for school district safety plans to include additional details on deficiencies identified by school districts when conducting school security assessments.  School districts are also to provide descriptions of district spending on building security and other school safety initiatives, as well as how such expenditures mitigate any deficiencies identified during school security assessments.
• The state Department of Education is to request permission from the U.S. Department of Education for districts to use existing federal ESSER funds to conduct safety assessments and identify necessary facility upgrades.
• State departments are to ensure school districts receive guidance on how to appropriately improve school building security while maintaining emergency exits and protecting life and property from fire and explosions.
• State departments are to develop new strategies to increase the number of Tennesseans pursuing careers in law enforcement.
• Parents, teachers, school leaders, and district leaders are encouraged to partner with law enforcement in promoting habits and practices that help prevent unauthorized entry into schools.
• The Department of Finance and Administration is authorized to identify and make available any lawfully appropriated funds to support the execution of the Order.

Additionally, during a press conference yesterday, Governor Lee stated school districts can expect more unannounced security inspections and that he is not looking at gun restrictions or gun laws as a part of a school safety plan going forward.

In a recent interview with Chalkbeat Tennessee, Governor Lee also stated he "would be in favor of a strategy that includes training and vetting and a very strategic and appropriate plan for (arming teachers)," that he is committed to investing in mental health resources and services across the state, and that he has concerns with red flag laws related to issues of mental health and the effectiveness of red flag laws in general.

In General Assembly news, state representative John Ray Clemmons has asked Governor Lee to convene a special legislative session to address gun violence.

In Tennessee Department of Education news, the Department has released proposed rules for the state’s new public school funding formula known as TISA.  Among other things, the proposed rules define which students are eligible for additional funding.  The public comment period on the proposed rules is open through August 2, 2022.  Public comments may be e-mailed to TISA.Rules@tn.gov.

In legal news, Metro Nashville Government has filed a petition asking the Tennessee Supreme Court to reconsider its recent decision that the Education Savings Account Act does not violate the Home Rule Amendment to the Tennessee Constitution.
 

Discussion:  Chairman Angela Griffith presented the Chairman's report as follows,
We have all heard the three Rs of education, reading, writing and arithmetic. I may not be the most studious person up here tonight, but even I know that writing starts with a W. That saying goes back to different times though.

In 2022, I would suggest that the three Rs of education are respond, restore, and reignite. How we respond to stakeholders in public education since the beginning of the pandemic has been transformed. Communication relying more heavily on technology than ever before. The expectation of immediate responses has also increased in our digital age. A response can simply be an acknowledgement, an answer, or an explanation. Responsiveness can also come in the form of an action or follow up to a question, suggestion or expressed concern. Let us all make requests and reply realistically and objectively.

I do not subscribe to the term, new normal but know that we have all been changed by our personal experiences over the past two years. As someone who thrives on structure and routine, I realize the benefits for all stakeholders to return to a form of structured accountability. When stability and consistency were abruptly taken away from traditional in person learning environments, grace and flexibility were sought and offered during a time when we all needed it most. However now in my conversations with students, parents and teachers, the call to restore basic structure in the public education arena is what many are craving. With a return to defined expectations and policy enforcement we can attain that structure. Restoring trust in public education processes is paramount and ultimately in the best interest of students. Let us all strive to restore and strengthen partnerships between our district and the community.   

Employers around the country are identifying ways to reignite their staff following continual disruptions over the past couple of years. Studies from all types of school districts indicate that teachers this past school year were what they refer to in the industry as Spring Break tired just after Fall Break. Many school level and classroom routines were impacted, and our board continues to support Tennessee’s initiatives to grow and increase the field of future teachers in our state. Our superintendent has led the charge statewide to have the annual measurable objectives of Tennessee teachers be based on real data and not compared to pre-pandemic numbers which are not indicative to current student performance. Let us all support teachers through efforts to reignite their why and their calling to educate and encourage all students. The three Rs.  

 
 

Discussion:  The Financial Report will be presented to the Board at a later date.

Discussion:  Superintendent Jason Manuel presented the 6.7.22 Superintendent’s Report with the following Highlights in his PowerPoint presentation,

Annual School Safety Report

Our Commitment to continually strive to improve safety and security and educate our stakeholders about our efforts.

Safe Schools
 

• Annual Trainings for Staff and Students
• Programs and Products
  • CLASS - Closed Locked And Stay Safe
  • Protected by Raptor Technologies
• Facilities
• Secured Entrances
• Surveillance Cameras

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 to the Board,

- Kristin Hicks, 9626 Mourning Dove Cove, Germantown TN 38139
- Geoff Hicks, 9626 Mourning Dove Cove, Germantown TN 38139
- Lorrie Williams, 9629 Fox Hill Circle N, Germantown TN 38139

Discussion:  Board Member Betsy Landers informed the Board as follows,
"In accordance with GMSD Policy 1.106 Code of Ethics, Section 2, I wish to declare the need to recuse myself from this voting on this particular matter, as a matter of personal interest."

Discussion:  Chairman Angela Griffith announced that currently, there is no board meeting scheduled for the month of July and hope to meet in the month of August.

Discussion:  The meeting was adjourned with consensus at 7:19 pm.