February 13, 2020 at 5:30 PM - Bradley County Board of Education Regular Meeting

Discussion:  Chairman Weathers welcomed Milan Blake, Chairman of the Finance Committe: Thomas Crye, Chairman of the Education Committee; and Johnny Mull, Chairman of the Bradley County Commission.  It is a rare occassion that you have these three heads of the County Commission in the same room with the Board of Education.  We thank you for your interest in education and the children of Bradley County, he told the Commissioners.  

Discussion:  Ted Bryson led the group in the pledge to the flag.  

Discussion:  Chairman Weathers ask that agenda item #19 be removed from the agenda.  

Discussion:  No one signed up to address the Board.  

Discussion:  Dr. Cash ask Johnny Mull to give an update on the bid process for the custodial contract. He told the Board that there was a pre-bid meeting on Tuesday with 9 vendors.  They were given calendars, defined full and part time, top scrubbing vs stripping and refinishing, the various types of floors we have.  What BCHS and MA being hybrids means.  They were given a schedule for site visits which is next Wednesday, Thursday,  and Friday from  8-4 going to all schools.  We answered any questions they had.  Talked about additional square footage at North Lee, dispensers for bathrooms, and changes to the bid document.  The committee was pleased to have 9 vendors present.  5 were from TN, 1 from Cleveland, a couple from GA, and 1 from St. Louis.

Mrs. Lee thanked Mr. Mull and everyone that is on the committee. They are going above and beyond to be sure we are doing this correctly and get a good contract.  
Many praises to Emily Brown and the cafeteria manager at BCHS for their help in feeding students that were at BCHS taking the ACT last Saturday during the snow.  Also, a shout out to Lee University for feeding about 140 students that were on their campus taking the ACT that day.  The students were released about 2:00 that day.  

A special thanks to Mr. McKay and his crew for their hard work during all the rain.  

Discussion:  Dr. Cash recognized Ocoee Middle School Principal Corey Limburg to address the Board on re-branding at Ocoee Middle School.  He began by telling the Board that Ocoee is in a simular situation as Walker Valley High School.  They are using the Denver Bronco's horse head but they have never gotten a cess and desist order like Walker Valley did.  The Lankford Design Group is allowing them to piggy back on the items that they designed for Walker Valley for about one third of the cost with the stipulation that they use the same horse and same color palette, he told the Board.  He told the Board that he was coming before them tonight to make them aware that Ocoee was in this process.  By the March Board meeting,  he hopes to present the new branding for Ocoee Middle School.  

Discussion:  Heath Eslinger came to present "A Better Way!" to the Board.  He explained that parents, teachers, coaches and band directors are the people that have the most influence in a child's life.  All of these people are pulling at a child and maybe in different directions.  He created a virtual online training program that will help align and allow the people in a child's like to speak a common language.  Most parents want what is best for their children.  Most educators want what is best for kids. And, most coaches want to have an impact on children's lives.  If we are off, even a little bit, the child is the one that suffers.  We are offering this program to Bradley County at an 80% discount.  He explained that he wants to see the language and behavior change to "What matters most is our children and that we give them the tools to be successful in life".  He is making this offer to Bradley County because his children are in Bradley County.  He wants to see the change first hand.  He gave the Board a preview of the program.  

Discussion:  Amy Kier, Assistant Principal for the Humanities Academy at Walker Valley High, presented Kayla Ruby to discuss the Seal of Biliteracy Opportunity.  The purpose of the Seal of Biliteracy is to award students who have mastery in two or more languages.  It encourages students to pursue biliteracy, honors the skills students attain, and can be evidence of skills that are attractive to future employers and college admissions offices.  

Discussion:  To make Bradley High School safer, the Guard Booth will be relocated foward to the existing gate and placed in the middle of the driveway, Mr. Spangler told the Board.  There will be automated swing arms added and a motorized control gate.  The estimated cost of this project will be $42,700.00  There is $45,000.00 of SAVE ACT Grant money left for this fiscial year that will be used to pay for this project.  We are asking for permission to put this project up for bid, Mr. Spangler told the Board.    

Discussion:  Dr. Cash gave the update on the Lake Forest Middle School Cafeteria Construction.  She told the Board 

• 90% of the painting has been completed with 10% touch up remaining,
• Masonry work should be complete by March 1, 2020.  Cast stone has been ordered and will be a few weeks out before it is laid.  
• Metal soffits work and metal wrap, weather permitting and should begin around February 24th.
• New storefront glass doors will begin being installed at the end of next week.  All should be completed by March 1.
• Weather permitting, all work will be completed by late April.  

Discussion:  Peter Ludman from Cope Artchitecture, gave the Board an update on the Black Fox and North Lee Elementary School additions.  

• There were 4 bidders for the projects.  Wilson Construction won the bid for $2,440.000 and worked with them to reduce the price to $2,284,000 and some change.
• The contract was awarded.
• Construction began on February 3rd and that puts the project in the 175 calendar days to finish prior to the opening of school.  It will be a tight schedule and right now the weather is not playing nicely.  

 

Discussion:  The PIE update was given by Corbett Drew.

• Since the last Board meeting, we took your feed back and made rounds with all the stakeholders, possible tennants, city officials.  We have gathered and made rounds with all these stakeholders and resolved alot of the issues that have been discussed.    
• Major tennants are happy with the entrances, proxcitries, and parking.   I think after speaking to each of you individually, we are in good shape now .   
• Schmatic design change since last time is that GOAL Academy has been moved.  It is adjacent t the Multipurpose Space.  This makes more sense now.  
• Wrapping up due dilgence. Structural integraty of all the compontents,  The condition of water pipes. sprinkler systems, and  sewer lines.
• Design Development should be completed in March. 
• We will get updated budgets to make sure we are still okay. 
• The, we move to Construction Documents and Permitting