August 9, 2018 at 5:30 PM - Bradley County Board of Education Regular Meeting

Discussion:  Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents, Executive Director Dale Lynch, presented Dr. Linda Cash a plaque for the Southeast Superintendent of the Year 2019.  She is now in the running for the Superintendent of the Year.

Discussion:  Vice Chair Amanda Lee chaired the meeting in Mr. Dillard's absence. 

Discussion:  The pledge to the flag was led by Dianna Calfee, Board Member of the 4th District . 

Discussion:  Dr. Cash ask that an item be added to the Consent Agenda.  The item is Library Book Shelves for Lake Forest Middle School. 

Discussion:  Dr. Cash ask that an item be added to the Consent Agenda.  The item is Library Book Shelves for Lake Forest Middle School.  The recommendation is to accept the bid from Geren Custom Furniture and Cabinetry of $52,800.00.

Discussion:  No one signed up to address the Board.

Discussion: 

Dr. Cash gave a briefing of the opening of school.  She told the Board that it went exceptionally well.  She and the Supervisors visited every school and saw everythgin running smoothly.  Parents and students were glad to be back in school.  She is very pleased with the cooperation of everyone getting school back in session.  She thanked everyone for helping to get school started back with students safe and on time.  It is exciting to see students in the NEW Lake Forest Middle School.  Classes were rolling. That is something to celebrate in Bradley County, Dr. Cash told the Board. 

Discussion:  Dr. Cash recognized Angie Gill.  Mrs. Gill told the Board that when a student in the classroom is struggling, teachers give them additional resources.  Micro-Credentials is a program that will help teachers in the same way.  Teachers can pick from a variety of classes to help with problem areas or additional professional development.  These classes are job embedded so they actually have to apply what they learn.  Two teachers went above and beyond to receive these special credentials.  Debbie Walker from Michigan Avenue and Megan Simpson, 8th grade English Language Arts teacher at Lake Forest Middle School.  Both teachers felt this was a very productive professional development. 

Discussion: 

Jimmy Logan, Lawyer for the Liquor by the Drink lawsuit, gave the Board an update.  He told them that oral arguments have been turned into the Supreme Court and that copies were sent to the Board.  Mr. Logan told the Board that lawyers usually have 15 minutes per side to argue and then the Court will render a decision, he believes, in 60-90 days.  He has had contact with many legislatures in hopes they will clarify this and that they will re-adopt a position for a uniform system of funding of state revenue for education students across this state that will not depend on if they live in or outside the city. 

Discussion: 

A club was formed called UNPLUG.  There are students from Bradley and Walker Valley in the club.  They introduced themselves to the Board and told the Board a little about their group's purpose.  Their purpose is to help with drug awareness and other issues that teens struggle with in our Community.  This year they will focus on not only drug awareness but also peer preasure, body image, anexity, and depression.  Trying to find solutions for these problems.  Dr. Cash thanked the students for stepping up to be student leaders. 

Dr. Cash told the Board that Bradley County Schools has a great partnership with ATS The Bridge. She introduced Scotty Elam, Reba Terry, Steve Hartline, and Bill Winters who were at the meeting. Mr. Elam told the Board how amazing is it that these students, at their age, are stepping up to address this issue.  Scotty told the Board that when he addressed a 4th grade class, 1/3 of the class knew what herion was. By presenting the drug program they are not taking away their incence, they are empowering them to make informed decisions and a plan to say no.  He asked the Board to help ATS get their message to those younger students.  The problem is bigger that opioids, it is addiction. It doesn't matter what addiction. They want to change the drug of choice to support and empowering them with love.  Mr. Elam told the Board that in grades  4, 5, and 6, they are with us. Grades 7 and 8, they are beginning to waffel and by 9th grade they are 50/50.  ATS wants to get to the younger ones, give them a plan, and they will be on auto pilot when the time comes.  

Dr. Cash told the Board that it is important to talk to our students at a very young age.  She also told them that if there is no objection by the Board, she will work with Principals to see that all 4th graders hear the presentation on drugs.  There was no objection from the Board. 

 

Discussion:  After some discussion between the Board, they ask Dr. Cash to work with Scott Bennett, Lawyer for the Board, to negotiate with the engineers on the cost of the soil issues they ran into. 

Discussion: 

Dr. Cash presented Dianna Calfee with a plaque thanking her for her service from 2014-2018.