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1. Call to Order
Speaker(s):
Chairman
Discussion:
Chairman Angela Griffith called the meeting to order at 6:01 pm.
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2. Moment of Silence
Speaker(s):
Chairman
Discussion:
Chairman Angela Griffith called for a moment of silence.
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3. Pledge of Allegiance
Discussion:
Board member Betsy Landers 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:
Students Being Recognized in November
We had several middle school and elementary school teams win their state championships this Fall season. Join us in celebrating this extraordinary achievement. We ask each team and coach(es) to come to the front when we say your team’s name, and then read individual names by team. Houston/RES Middle School Boys Tennis Team: Logan Shimko Cayson Park Leo Saxton Max Havens Bruno Meier Coaches: Jeremy Park and Kristi McDonald HMS Varsity Boys Cross Country Team Miles Pleasants Houston Fyfe Ian McNeil Henry Carter Grayson Tognetti George Church Rook Janda Coach: Scott McNeil HMS Junior Varsity Cross Country Team: Cash Hurt Matthew Wu Myles Martin Marshall Mullis Conner Cathey Ben Cathey Hayes Burkett Mack Stuart Jake Thweatt Harrison Thweatt Chase Rainer William Pressler Harrison Coverdale Barrett Waddell Coach: Scott McNeil It is special that our elementary school students have the opportunity to train and compete in cross country. What began with the Falcons 5K a decade ago has spread to other schools and has developed into a series of athletic teams that are building a pipeline of championship cross country teams as well as strengthening lifelong friendships and healthy habits. We’d like to recognize two elementary school GMSD teams that took first place in the state championship. Farmington Elementary Boys Varsity Cross Country Team: Liam McNeil Braxton Musso McKay Boston Ryan White Dylan Acton Foster Avis Parker Clubb Anthony Wiese Charlie Egan Campbell Hayward Coach: Scott McNeil Dogwood Elementary Girls Varsity Cross Country Team: Korbyn Greene Pia Oswald Ivy McIntrye Alex Corman Ella McBride Ainsley Corman Reese Kelley Savannah Buehler Sophia Wilmoth Elyn Miller Lillian Sayle Coaches: Stacey Schwarzmann and Madison Lessley (sponsor) STAFF RECOGNITION This month’s Employee Who Empowers is Latoya Cohen, Germantown Municipal School District’s Finance Supervisor. With a decade of school finance experience prior to her time in our district, Latoya Cohen joined our GMSD family in 2018 as a senior accountant. During her tenure, she assumed additional responsibilities and was promoted to controller and then to finance supervisor. Latoya has a strong working knowledge of accounting policies and procedures and of systems. development. She is a tremendous support to the CFO and other district staff in day-to-day operations as well as special projects. Her work is accurate and focused. Latoya shared with us that her mother was an accountant and that her college-aged son is currently studying at the University of Alabama to become an accountant. When asked what most excites her about her job, she said, "I enjoy using analytical skills to work with the numbers." In addition to completing great work in her regularly assigned duties, Latoya often takes the initiative to streamline procedures and provide clarity to fellow staff members. This year, she created new standard forms used by employees in receiving stipends and seeking travel reimbursements to bolster the district’s efficiency during financial audits and redesigned the Finance Department’s website. Last year, Latoya also became a Certified Municipal Finance Officer (CMFO) through an accreditation process. Some other fun facts about Latoya include her love of bowling, riding four wheelers, and hunting. She is also the proud owner of 13 beagles! We would like to recognize Latoya for her time and work in the GMSD Finance Department. Her dedicated efforts are greatly appreciated.
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
The Germantown Board of Education bids farewell to Ms. Betsy LandersAfter nearly a decade of service to GMSD, Betsy Landers is retiring from the school board. She has advocated for children for many years prior. Landers came to our district equipped with a very impressive resume. Her tenure as the President of the National PTA was preceded by several years of service to children in Germantown, Shelby County, the State of Tennessee -and the entire nation.From the moment she joined her first PTA in 1989, Landers’ dedication to education has been unwavering. When she encountered challenges with her first PTA experience, she stayed with the group to ensure future volunteers had a better experience. Twice she helped form a parent organization at schools her children attended when there was an absence of an organization. She took on increasing responsibilities for Shelby County Council PTA, and the Tennessee PTA. Her goal was to help foster a widespread culture of excellence throughout the county and the state. As Tennessee PTA State President, Landers led the organization in collaborating with the State Board of Education and several legislators to write what would become the Parent Involvement Act, a Tennessee law that mandates all school districts to have a written parent involvement policy. In 2002, was named one of the "50 Women Who Make a Difference" by Memphis Women’s Magazine, and in 2004, she was honored with the Shelby County Schools Board of Education Community Service Award. She and her husband Ben G. Landers have three children—Benton (Courtney), Nicholas, and Mary Frances (Martin), and one grandson, Tripp. They live in Germantown, Tennessee. The City of Germantown Mayor and Board of Alderman recognized Ms. Betsy Landers and thanked her for her valuable service to the community and the school district. The following were in attendance: Mayor Mike Palazzolo Vice-Mayor Mary Anne Gibson Alderman Scott Sanders Alderman Sherrie Hicks Alderman Brian Ueleke Alderman John McCreery |
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6. REPORTS
Speaker(s):
Chairman
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6.A. TN Legislative Report
Speaker(s):
Ryan Strain
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
Board member and TLN Representative Ryan Strain presented as follows,
Germantown Board of Education Legislative Report (November 29, 2022) November 8 was Election Day for the two House seats and one Senate seat representing Germantown in the Tennessee General Assembly. Incumbent Republican Mark White was re-elected to represent House District 83, incumbent Republican Kevin Vaughan was re-elected to represent House District 95, and Republican Brent Taylor won the election for the open Senate District 31 seat. The 113th General Assembly will convene on January 10, 2023. In legal news, Williamson County Schools’ motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging its Wit & Wisdom English language arts curriculum violates Tennessee’s law prohibiting instruction on a number of concepts often collectively referred to as "critical race theory" was heard in mid-November. According to The Tennessean, during the hearing Williamson County Chancellor Binkley described examples of the curriculum cited in the lawsuit as "not even com[ing] close, in [his] opinion, to critical race theory." An Order on the motion has not yet been entered. Additionally, on November 23, a three-judge panel in Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County v. Tennessee Department of Education dismissed Metro Nashville’s and Shelby County’s remaining challenges to the state’s private school voucher law. The County governments are considering whether to appeal. Finally, on November 23, former Tennessee State Senator Brian Kelsey pled guilty to two of five counts in his federal court campaign finance case. Kelsey is tentatively scheduled for sentencing on June 9, 2023. |
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6.B. Chairman's Report
Speaker(s):
Chairman
Discussion:
Chairman Angela Griffith presented as follows,
BOARD MEMBER CURRY’S ACTIVITIES HHS vs White Station football game HHS Student Government Association Trunk or Treat Houston vs Independence football playoff game TSBA Leadership Conference and Annual Convention HHS Theatre production of Much Ado About Nothing Forest Hill Elementary PTO November meeting Germantown Chamber of Commerce November lunch Presentation of Milken Award at Dogwood for Mrs Guynes HHS vs MHEA girls basketball game BOARD MEMBER EOFF’S ACTIVITIES Attended final HHS home football game and first playoff game Attended the TSBA Leadership Conference, Pre-convention Legal Workshop, and Annual Convention Enjoyed HHS Theatre's production of Much Ado About Nothing Celebrated Ms. Alexa Guynes's Milken Award at Dogwood Corresponded with constituents about a variety of subjects BOARD MEMBER GRIFFITH’S ACTIVITIES Attended the HHS Mustang Football Playoff game vs Independence Attended TSBA’s Annual Leadership Conference, Delegate Assembly and Convention Enjoyed Houston High’s Mustang Theatre's production of Much Ado About Nothing Attended Leadership Germantown Alumni Association’s breakfast featuring Superintendent Manuel Attended Germantown Chamber of Commerce Luncheon featuring Superintendent Manuel Attended the Milken Award Ceremony for Dogwood’s Ms. Alexa Guynes BOARD MEMBER LANDERS’ ACTIVITIES Attended TSBA Leadership Conference and Delegate Assembly in Nashville Attended Houston High Theater performance of "Much To Do About Nothing", Participated in Education Commission meeting as liaison to the BOE, Named October Teacher of the Month, Ms. Susan Berry, a third grade teacher at Dogwood Elementary Took part in American Education Week recognition, taking cookies for the teachers at Houston Middle Participated in the GMSD Board Work Session Attended the Milken Family Foundation announcement, Dogwood Elementary, recognizing Alexa Guynes as a 2022 recipient of the Milken Educator Award BOARD MEMBER STRAIN’S ACTIVITIES Attended and spoke during Steeplegate's HOA Picnic Attend TSBA Convention Attend Mustang Theatre's production of Much Ado About Nothing Attend Leadership Germantown Alumni Association breakfast featuring Superintendent Manuel Attend Dogwood PTO Meeting Attend Mrs. Guyne's fantastic award announcement/celebration CHAIRMAN’S REPORT November 29, 2022 You will often hear me use the term advocacy. To have advocacy, you must also have advocates who are advocating. I know, I know, that seems obvious, but hear me out. Webster defines an advocate as the following: one who defends a cause or proposal, one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or a group and one who pleads for the cause of another. As an action or a verb, advocating means simply to plead in favor of something. Going back to my Latin days, advocate is derived from advocare, which means to summon or call. This, from an etomology standpoint, also gets used in the word vocation, which, as we all know, is a calling. Advocacy is not a single act, rather it is a continual effort. Everyone is hopefully an advocate for something. Likely, if you are here this evening, you are an advocate for children or, in our case, students. We teach our children to be their own advocate or to speak up for themselves at an early age, simply identifying ways to have their needs met. In that case, advocacy is more on an individual basis. As parents, we advocate for our children more as their representatives to ensure that they have access to everything that they need to be healthy, safe and to be successful. In public education, schools strive to meet the needs of all students. The school district and in many cases the local school board advocate on behalf of their students. School boards are the voice for the students of their districts that they serve. We advocate for the purpose of securing funding to support the academic needs of all students and to provide safe and secure school buildings for them to learn. We also advocate for our teachers to be supported and our parents to be heard. We also advocate to our legislators about the impacts proposed bills or current laws have on our students and staff. Advocacy is a calling. Sometimes the calling calls you and sometimes you are brought by the cause. In this case, our calling is public education. |
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6.C. Financial Report
Speaker(s):
Kevin Jones
Attachments:
()
Discussion:
Chief Financial Officer Kevin Jones reported the Total Assets, Liabilities, and Fund Balances on the Balance Sheet
SCHOOL OPERATING FUND The District paid $355K for its OPEB liability to Memphis Shelby County Schools during the month. CAFETERIA FUND Y-T-D net income for the cafeteria fund is $110K, with SFE reporting a net income of $23K for the month. HEALTH INSURANCE FUND There were no claims paid to Lucent Health for the month of October. We should see those payments made beginning in November. OPEB TRUST FUND Year-to-date realized and unrealized losses on investments totaled $104K, with an unrealized gain on investments reported at $130K for the month of October. |
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6.D. Superintendent's Report
Speaker(s):
Jason Manuel
Discussion:
Superintendent Jason Manuel presented the 11.29.22 Superintendent’s Report with the following highlights in his PowerPoint presentation:
ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS - presented by Assistant Superintendent Elissa Stratton
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 opinion,
Dr. Carle Kalsi, 2300 Elderslie, Germantown TN 38139 |
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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 10.25.22 Board Business Meeting.
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8.B. Revision of Policies - First Reading
Speaker(s):
Jason Manuel
Rationale:
Rationale for Revision of GMSD Policies 11.29.22 Board Business Meeting
Revisions are recommended for the following; First Reading - 11.29.22 Second Reading - 12.15.22 *The Board recommended the following suggestions in Italics after the discussion during the Work Session on 11.16.22
Edit Page 3/ Lines 2, 4 and 6 to add "grants" after "sponsorships" for consistency. Remove Page 3 / Lines 8 and 9.
Edit Page 1 / Line 9 to change "should" to "shall".
Edit Title to change "Reductions in Force/Staffing Positions" to "Reductions in Staff" Edit Page 1 / Line 8 to change "Reductions in Force" to "Reductions in Staff" |
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8.C. Miscellaneous FY 22-23 Budget Amendment # 15
Speaker(s):
Jason Manuel
Attachments:
()
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9. BOARD ACTION ITEMS
Speaker(s):
Chairman
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9.A. Student Discipline Board Appeal
Speaker(s):
Chairman
Rationale:
You have before you an appeal of the Superintendent’s decision regarding the suspension of student, "X". You were sent copies of the Disciplinary Hearing Authority proceeding, the appeal to the Superintendent, the Superintendent’s decision.
At this time, you may,
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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9.B. Approval of Contract to Audit the GMSD Internal School Funds for FY 2022-23
Speaker(s):
Jason Manuel
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion passed: I move to approve the contract to audit accounts between Germantown Municipal School District - Internal School Funds and Watkins Uiberall, PLLC, passed with a motion by Board Member #1 and a second by Board Member #2.
Rationale:
A contract to audit accounts between Germantown Municipal School District - Internal School Funds and Watkins Uiberall, PLLC
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Attachments:
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10. Announcements
Speaker(s):
Chairman
Rationale:
Announcements:
Thursday Dec. 15 - Board Work Session and Business Meeting. Saturday Dec. 10 - Germantown Holiday Parade Friday Dec. 16 - Last Day of School before Winter Break |
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11. Adjournment
Speaker(s):
Chairman
Discussion:
The meeting was adjourned with consensus at 7:12 pm.
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