June 11, 2020 at 5:30 PM - Bradley County Board of Education Regular Meeting

Discussion:  The invocation was given by David Riggs.

Discussion:  The pleade was led by Nancy Casson.

Discussion:  Mrs. Beaty said it was an exception evaluation and it shows that the Board has a lot of faith in Dr.Cash.   She like alot of other people in this room have had alot of difficulty during these trying times.  We really appreciate her and her staff. 

Chairman Weathers told the Board that the character of a person is how they handle issues when things are not normal.  The first day we began feeding children from buses Dr. Cash was in the middle of it making sure everything was going the way it should - that is true leadership. She did something we didn't have to do or was not required to do but our Director felt like it was necessary for our children. He also wanted to compliment her on the fact that the staff, teachers, and drivers rose to the call every time. It is amazing how things got done. We can evaluation someone in the normal times but when you make it through the tough times - that is when you get a good evaluation because you realize that not everyone could do that. At least that is what I beleive. I agree with Mrs. Beaty that the evaluation shows that the Board believes we have a great Director of Schools, that is doing a great job, and she is serving Bradley County students like she should be. That’s Hugh!

The next item on the agenda is the Director of Schools Contract. On a normal basis we usually extend or deny the Director's Contract. She now has a 3 year contract and I would like to open the floor to move that to a 4 year contract. I believe and have been told that the day we do not extend her contract, she will have a lot of calls and offers and she will go somewhere else making more money than we are paying her.

After the vote, Dr. Cash thanked the Board for being so supportive. You talk about having a heart for children - this Board has a heart for children.  I always speak about no one can do the job alone.  We have our principals, support staff, central office staff, teachers, drivers and it's everybody that makes Bradley County Schools.  We just appreciate a School Board that supports what we do. 
 

Discussion:  Dr. Cash ask for item 5c (field trips) to be pulled from the consent agenda and moved to item 18a.  Also, the agenda was revised on 6-10-20 by adding item 5d. Disposal.  

Discussion:  No one signed up to address the Board.

Discussion:  We are working with the CARES Act within the guidelines the Governor and Federal Government gave us, Dr. Cash told the Board. Our focus is on tutoring, remediation, online learning and technology and devices.  We are going back to what we saw as the needs during COVID 19.  The plan was implemented today and we hope to hear from them soon. Chairman Weathers ask if the plan was to buy devices with the money.  Dr. Cash explained that the focus is on middle schools for devices and boards, a Learning Management Platform, and devices for secondary schools.  Our elementary schools are in much better shape than our secondary schools.   Mr. Weathers ask Scott Webb, Technology Director, if there is a plan to help address elementary schools with devices since some of them have a 1 to 1 ratio of devices and some have 25 to 1 ratio.  Mr. Webb told him that they do have a plan to help some of the schools that are struggling but there is only so much money.  We do plan to help with refresh money and some from the CARES Act money. Dr. Cash made a plea to the Board for their help with letting legislatures know that in the textbook cycle they need to extend the cycles to include a cycle for technology so that every three to four years we would have money to purchase devices.  Mr. Webb also ask for their help with connectivity.  

Discussion:  Cole Strong from Lee University gave an update to the Board on the OMS Track Property / Multi Sport Complex on Parker Street.  He told the Board that he would like to tell them that they were further along than they are but with the wettest winter and spring in TVA's history, things didn't go as quickly as they would like.  Now that sunner days are ahead, we are hauling in dirt, getting good movement, and will make great progress.   We will not be ready to open in August as we planned but this facility will be the best in the region. It will be an artificial turf infield from FieldTurf USA that they call "CORE", which is their top of the line surface.  It is in the Gillette Stadium in New England and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.  We will have a top of the line surface for our teams and OMS teams to play on.  He told the Board that there is not a definite timeline but they will be open in the fall - just not in August as planned.   They are working with Dr. Limburg and Jake Willcutt  about facilities for girls soccer and football until the complex is open. Chairman Weathers ask Mr. Strong to reconfirm that Bradley High School will be able to use this field as well.  Mr. Strong told the Board that they have previously used Bradley's track and they hope to host Bradley's track meets at this facility.     

Discussion:  Dr. Cash ask the Board for approval to open up Bradley County Virtual School for grades K-5.  We are planning 100 seats for K-5   Tutoring, instruction, additional teachers and help to support our on-line elementary students was placed in the CARES Act money.  Mrs. Lee ask if there is a certain criteria to enroll into the Virtual school.  Dr. Cash told them that the criteria for elementary is alittle looser than the secondary schools because we will be looking at foundational skills.  They will be taking iReady math and reading for placement test but the curriculum will be basicly the same as the brick and morter.  They will have to have internet access and someone at home to help them.
 

Discussion:  Dr. Cash gave the update on the Black Fox and North Lee Additions for Peter Ludman from Cope Architecture.  

Black Fox:
•    Structural masonry is complete and steel decking and joists are in place.
•    Damp proofing is complete and roofing will be installed soon.
•    Interior rough-ins for plumbing and electrical are underway and almost complete.
•    Brick veneer is expected to start when masons are finished at North Lee.
•    Grading on the east side is not yet complete.
•    Finish selections are complete. 

North Lee:
•    Brick masonry is underway, and should be complete in the next 1-2 weeks.
•    Installation of EIFS and windows will begin after brick is complete.
•    Interior painting is underway, approximately 25% complete.
•    Interior mechanical unit rough-ins are underway, and ductwork is in place.
•    Finish selections are complete.

The total contingency that has been used thus far is $47,547.79 which leaves $102,452.21 remaining in the contingency fund. Additional contingency items pending review and approval are the aluminum canopy at North Lee, addition of concrete floor stain at North Lee and Black Fox, toilet partition upgrades, and addition of required fire dampers. Proposed amounts for these items are forthcoming.
 

Discussion:  Corbett Drew gave the PIE center update to the Board.  He told them that they are

• progressing with design.
• at 30% with construction documents and should finish them in July.
• beginning the permit process and will permit a land disturbance through the city and everything else will be permitted through the county and state.  
• continuing discussions with Cleveland Utilities about off site improvements - water and sewer.
• starting the abatement of asbestos process. 
• begin construction in August.
• putting out an RFP for construction manager / general contractor.  
• working with temporary tennants at PIE so they will be out by July 31st.
• An overhauled lease document by Scott Bennett and Corbette is before the Business Case Team.

  

Discussion: 

 

Discussion:  Dr. Cash ask that 5c - Field Trips be pulled from the Consent Agenda and moved to 18a for discussion.

Dr. Cash explained to the Board that the need for approval on field trips in this COVID 19 time is for schools to be able to begin the process of making reservations.  She recommended to the Board that they just give approval for the booking of the overnight trip and ask the schools to resubmit the request to the Board closer to the time for approval to take the trip.  

Discussion:  It was decided that the PIE Groundbreaking Ceremony will be Tuesday,  August 4, 2020, sometime mid-morning.  Dr. Cash will get the details worked out and send that out to everyone. 

Chairman Weathers ask Dr. Cash to go over the Principal changes that were made for the 2020-21 school year.  

• Robbie Winters will move to Lake Forest Middle School
• Nat Akiona will move to Michigan Avenue Elementary School
• Candice Belt will move to Walker Valley High School

Hopefully, by next week she will have replacements for Charleston Elementary School and Bradley County Virtual School.