March 7, 2017 at 5:30 PM - Bradley County Board of Education Regular Meeting

Discussion:  The prayer was given by Wayne Finnell, Pastoral Care at Westwood Baptist Church.

Discussion:  Ted Bryson led the pledge.

Discussion:  Black Fox singers sang for the Board.  They are preparing to perform in Disney. 

Discussion:  No one signed up to address the Board.

Discussion:  The students from JROTC did not make it to the meeting.

Discussion:  Walker Valley wrestlers or coaches were not present at the meeting.

Discussion: 

During the 2017 Class AAA State Dual Wrestling Championship Bradley won nine matches over Cleveland.  They also had nine wrestlers place in the top six places.  Three first, two second, one third, fourth, fifth and sixth place winners.  Knox Fuller was named Best Wrestler.   Bradley won first place with a team score of 236 during the 2017 TSSAA Wrestling State Championships.  Dr. Cash and the Board congratulated the wresters and Coach Smith for a job well done. 

Discussion: 

Tom Montgomery from Next Generation Underwriters and TN Risk Management Trust, addressed the Board. He thanked them for being loyal members since 1993. He explained that they insure all of Bradley County School's property, vehicles, and all liability lines.  In 1987 they started with 13 schools, in 2000 grow to 90 schools, and now they have 100 schools.  He told the Board that in 2000 they branched out and picked up 100 other public entities; such as counties, utilities districts, etc.   They have a big base of membership.  The trust is very stable financially. 

The policy renews July 1 of each year.  Mr. Montgomery told the Board that they only ask one time a year to confirm everything covered.  After that, if a bus is added we just add the bus with no additional charge.  Workman's comp is a little different.  It is based on estimated payroll.  It will be balanced one time a year and settlements made if it is different.  Added to their coverage this year will be drones and cyber coverage and legal advice.

He also told the Board that the trust pays dividends when possible.  They don't want to sit on your money.  In 07, 08, and 09, checks were written for $53,600, $40,000, and $50,000.   In 1993 and 1994, Bradley County paid $472.000 in premiums and the trust paid out $937,000 in claims.  In 2010-11 to 2014-15, Bradley County paid 3.7 million in premiums and the trust paid 3.6 million in claims.  The trust works with you.  Some years are good and some are not. 

Mrs. Lee ask about the claim for Bradley High School's cracking walls.  Mr. Montgomery told the Board that settlement is not covered under any insurance.  Sometimes they just have to say no. 

 

Discussion: 

Doug Cawood from Lewis Group Architects, gave an update on the Lake Forest Middle School project.  On February 3, 2017, a pre-construction meeting with Bradley County Inspectors, Tri-Con, and Lewis Group was held.  There was a notice to proceed issued to Tri-Con on February 6.    Over the next four to six weeks, Tri-Con will be focusing on masonry and concrete for the main building structure.  They will start pouring slabs and installing electrical and plumbing in two weeks. 

Discussion: 

Gary Austin, Director of Student Services, explained to the Board how Bradley County Schools buses are kept safe.  He reported that Bradley County Schools has 70 large contractor buses for 45 routes, 18 county owned special needs buses for 13 routes/1 school to work route, and 6 activity buses that are county owned.  There are 7,000 students on large buses and 100 students on special needs buses that are transported daily.  These buses travel over 3,200 miles a day.  Through his years as a Transportation Director he feels there are several factors to safe transportation.  Hiring drivers, training drivers, managing the bus (proper seating and discipline), and bus inspections.  Before a driver is hired a DOT physical, drug test, TBI background check and driving record are required.  They have several different types of training that are also required. The drivers must manage the proper seating and discipline on the bus.  The buses have two way radios and cell phones on them.  They have video systems for the driver, Principal, or the Transportation Director to monitor the students and driver.  Finally, bus inspections help with safe transportation each day.  The TN Highway Patrol, Pupil Transportation Department inspects the buses annually.  All buses up to 15 years of service require one inspection per year.  Buses going into the 16th, 17th, and 18th year of service are required to be inspected twice a year.  The TN Highway Patrol does unannounced inspections of 10% of our fleet over the year.   

Discussion: 

Scott Humberd, Chief Operational Officer, gave the Board an update on paving at Bradley Central High School.  In June, Tom Crye was contracted to analyze the paving needs.  A bid package was created and Caldwell Paving won the bid.  Bids came back to high so they had to go back and rethink what could be done with the budget of $77,000.   November 11th, Mr. Humberd met with Jonathan Cantrell.  He told Mr. Humberd that he would get right on it on weekends and then finish it up during Christmas Break.  Due to the rainy weather at Christmas Break, he wasn't able to finish it.  Mr. Humberd contacted him again to see what his plan was.  It was to finish during Spring Break.  Mr. Humberd informed him that it needed to be finished before that.  He started working and will finish in the next 48 hours, if the rain holds off.  When it is complete, there will be some patches and a rebuilt section of pavement. 

Discussion:  Karen Saffles-Slater, CSH Coordinator, gave a handout to the Board that reported the accomplishments of the Tennessee Coordinated School Health program.  She told the Board that Tennessee leads the nation by providing a state-funded Coordinated School Health initiative in school districts.  Research is clear... healthy students are better learners, better learners are more likely to graduate, and graduates are more likely to become productive citizens. 

Discussion:  Susan Willcutt discussed with the Board salary increases, health insurance increases, and substitute daily rates as it relates to the 2017-18 Budget.