February 9, 2016 at 5:30 PM - Bradley County Board of Education Work Session

Discussion:  Todd Shoemaker, Principal at Bradley Central High School, introduced Cortney Braswell and several students. He told the Board about an assignment that one of Mr. Braswell’s History classes did. Mr. Braswell told the Board the assignment revolved around thankfulness, capturing kid’s hearts, and showing kids how to be thankful. We don't always show them how to express that. The class did a three part assignment. The students didn't know all that he would ask them to do. First, they wrote a letter to someone telling them how thankful they were for them. He asked them to be very sincere and because they didn't know the next step, they were very candid. Next, they were encouraged to call that person and read the letter to them. This really brought up a lot of emotions from everyone. The second part of the assignment they were asked to write a thank you letter to a teacher in the building and read it to them. For the last part, they wrote about a difficult time in their life and how they got through it. These were anonymously read to each other. Mr. Braswell explained that we each and every one have our own history and we all bring that with us to this one place to do something great together. We are trying to change culture and we do that one person at a time. The class changed that day. It was not just a History class anymore but it was a group of people that cared about each other. One of the students told the Board that this was a life changing experience for him.

Discussion:  Angela Lawson, Principal from Michigan Avenue Elementary School, presented to the Board plans for a walking trail to be constructed on the grounds of the school. The funds for the walking trail will come from a United Way Grant that the PTO received. She asked the Board for permission to modify the property with this walking trail.

Discussion:  Danny Coggin, Secondary Instructional Supervisor and Arlette Robinson, Supervisor of Career and Technical Education, presented a power point explaining the Tennessee Valley Early College at Cleveland State. An early college is designed so students can possibly earn both a high school diploma and an Associate's degree or up to two years of credits toward a Bachelor's degree or a career certificate. Students will have the opportunity to get ahead on their pursuit of a college degree (2 or 4 year), get ahead on their pursuit of career certificates, get a high school diploma, get an Associate’s Degree or Certificate, and use Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit at the High School. They are seeking permission from the Board to explore options, challenges, and curriculum for the development of early college opportunities, certifications, and general transfer and career pathway degrees through collaboration with Cleveland State Community College.

Discussion:  Patti Hunt gave the Board an update on the REACH Grant. REACH stands for Resources, Education, and Counseling for Healthy Students. It is just finishing the third year and it is now in a no cost extension. $219,000.00 was brought into this year. This grant has helped to increase Direct Counseling Services for Lake Forest Middle School, Ocoee Middle School, and Waterville Community Elementary School where Social Workers were added all three schools and a counselor was added to be shared between LFMS and OMS and one for Waterville. Direct Counseling Services increase from 391 for the first year, 1400 for the second year, and 1573 for the third year. Social Workers worked with the schools to create School Wide Positive Behavior. Discipline Referrals dropped from 3775 the first year, to 1903 the second year, and increased slightly to 2016. School Wide Positive Behavior put all students on a level playing field with a positive approach. The Social Workers are available to work with students on problems they are encountering in and out of school. This grant will finish up at the end of this school year. Mrs. Hunt also gave an update on the Pathways Bradley Youth Career Connect Grant at Bradley Central and Walker Valley High School. In April 2014, the system was awarded a four year US Department of Labor Grant for $4,499,121. With this grant we work with local businesses and educational partners to systematically address workforce skill shortages in the region and state by connecting students to real-world opportunities and corresponding robust curricula to elevate graduates' employability in high growth H-1B industries. There are 209 enrolled in the program at Bradley Central and 207 enrolled at Walker Valley.

Discussion:  Scotty Hernandez gave a demonstration showing the Board the TIPS Hotline for Reporting. TIPS is an icon on our website for Parents and Students to report incidents. They click on the icon, pick a school from the list, then pick an incident from the list of incidents. When the form is completed, it will be sent to ALL individuals that need to review it.

Discussion:  Scott Humberd told the Board that recently bid specifications for replacement windows at Michigan Avenue Elementary School and replacement sound panels for Waterville Community Elementary School were made available to qualified vendors. After receiving the bids, he recommends for the replacement windows at Michigan Avenue the bid from Ross Glass and Aluminum LLC; and, for the replacement sound panels for Waterville Community Elementary School the bid from Dillard Ceilings.

Discussion:  Chairman Turner asked Scott Bennett, Board Attorney, to explain to the Board the case that started in McMinn County that reminded county governments how to fund capital projects in their school systems. Mr. Bennett told the Board that the General Assembly provided in counties with multiple school systems that the county levies property taxes and allocates a proportionally weighted ADA for current operations and current maintenance. Counties usually fund these projects with Bond sales that must be appropriated. There is a long standing policy to allow for county governments to fund construction in rural schools by way of a savings account. McMinn County set up a savings account for educational capital projects annual appropriations. County Government put that money in that fund and as McMinn County Schools had capital needs the county government appropriated that money to those needs. Etowah and Athens realized that almost 11 million dollars had gone to fund capital improvements in the county schools and they raised a claim. The TN court of appeals said this was a law - a simple statue. Provides that appropriation must be done for current operation and maintenance if a county government sets up a savings account for capital projects improvement down the road they are NOT subject to appropriation. Rural areas don't have a tax base like urban areas.

Discussion:  Dr. Cash told the Board that there are no changes to Section 2 - Fiscal Management.

Discussion:  Dr. Cash asked the Board to accept the changes to policy 6.304 that are attached.

Discussion:  Dr. Cash explained to the Board that some policies from Section 5 have recently been reviewed and changes made with 1st and 2nd reading. The rest of Section 5 - Personnel has no other changes that are needed.

Discussion:  Dianna Calfee, TN Legislative Network Representative told the Board that she has arranged for them to meet with several representatives. Chris Turner will be recognized to speak before the House Committee on Educational Administration and Planning and the House Committee on Education Instruction.

Discussion:  Dr. Cash recommended that Charlie Rose be added to the Ethics and Screening Committee.

Discussion:  Mr. Turner read a Resolution for the Funding of Lake Forest Middle School. The Resolution will be completed after the final amount is decided during Thursday's Board meeting. It will then be submitted to the County Commission.