January 7, 2021 at 5:30 PM - Bradley County Board of Education Regular Meeting

Discussion:  Nancy Casson recognized Sharon Melton and Jerry Frazier.  They both passed away since the last Board meeting.  

Discussion:  The pledge was led by Rodney Dillard.

Discussion:  Mrs. Beaty asked the policies for 2nd reading be moved to consent agenda.  Item #14 Policy 4.205, 4.203, 4.302 and 4.606.    

 

Discussion:  No one requested to address the Board.  

Discussion:  We are back in school and the week has been good.  We have a 2 hour delay in the morning due to weather, Dr. Cash told the Board.  

She ask Rene Diamond to give the Board an update on student progress on the bench mark test.  We tested in fall and then just before we left for Christmas.  It was projected based on our normal summer slide that our Math scores would see a deep decline.  It was predicted that we could see 50 to 60 percent more than normal slide, Mrs. Diamond told the Board.  Our teachers have been working incredibaly hard and made good progress.  I am going to give you the percentages of students that came in on grade level and then the ones that are on grade level now.

Math
K -  21% to 67%
1st - 10% to 36%
2nd - 13% to 33%
3rd - 11% to 41%
4th - 17% to 44%
5th - 26% to 47%
6th - 31% to 47%
7th - 22% to 35%
8th - 24% to 35%

We still have a long way to go in Math but our gaps are closing.  Our teachers are working really hard and making gains.  We are so proud of them.  The focus really is on Math with math training during our professional development days.

The English-Language Arts picture is brighter.  More kids came in on or above grade level.  There was much less of a learning loss in ELA during the spring/summer.  There are a couple of reasons for this.  We were pro active on I-Ready and Accelerated Reader, keeping kids reading and it paid off.  

K - 26% - 83%
1st - 14% - 44%
2nd - 31% - 53%
3rd - 54% - 71%
4th - 36% - 53%
5th - 36% - 52%
6th - 34% - 48%
7th - 38% - 47%
8th - 35% - 45%

We want to give the teachers and principals a big shout out for the hard work and great job they are doing.  

Dr. Cash added that when you entered our schools and were watching during the first few weeks, they moved from being hesitant about what they were doing to realizing that they were all fine, they were are all good, so let's learn.   At that point, the teaching and learning was really stong.  This is a real testament to our teachers, parents, and students for pushing through and being excited about being back at school.  We appreciate their deligence and persistents in that.  

 

Discussion:  President of the Bradley/Cleveland Public Education Foundation, Vanessa Hammond presented their mid year report for 2020 to the Board.  She began by saying that 2020 was a good year for the foundation.  

• On track with the Strategic Plan and Priority Objectives.
• Program & project support from the BCPEF totaled $234,936.00. 
• These funds included support directly to 11 schools in BCS.
• $111,863.00 of the program and project support money was used for COVID-19 expenses. 
• The COVID funding was provided through a TN Community Cares grant that was offered to non-profit organizations across the state.  Lynn found the grant and jumped on it.
• The program and project support for 2020 represents a 683% return on investment for Bradley County School based on it's $30,000.00 support for BCPEF operations for this fiscal year.  
• There are 10 teacher grants, awarded to 8 different schools, for a total of $40,000.00 for 2020-21 school year for the Bradley County School system. 
• A group of BCHS teachers worked hard to improve STEM at Bradley with The Tucker Foundation match grant of $40,000.00 that BCHS received in 2019-20. 
• During COVID, a group of teachers from BCHS, WVHS, LFMS, and OMS  came together to produce over 600 face shields using equipment and supplies that were obtained through these earlier grants and awards. This group developed a proposal to continue this project and submitted it to BCEPF in July of 2020.  With the help of a "group of friends" and $15,000.00, this project was continued.  
• The United Way Health Endowment Fund/Grant continues to meet the needs of Coordinated School Health.  TeleMed equipment will be installed into 4 Bradley County Schools in February.  At that point, All Bradley County Schools and Cleveland City Schools will have TeleMed capabilities, thanks to the partnership with United Way Health Endowment, Erlanger Children's Hospital and the school systems.  

The Executive Committee thanks the Bradley County Board of Education for your operational support that you have committed going forward, Mrs. Hammond told the Board.  
 

Discussion:  Since I saw you last in the fall, we have continued with design and coordination with the PIE center building, Ms. Lyons told the Board.  

• We were on site in November and worked out details in coordination.
• There have been a few changes that impacted GOAL- like modification to the back wall.  The wall got bigger.  6 classrooms were reduced to 5 and the space was redistributed between the 5 classrooms.
• Plans and descriptive scope narrative summaries were sent  to Corbett for pricing.  We received pricing yesterday and sent back some questions.  We expect to receive solid pricing and work thru some potential savings. 
• Construction documents are next.
• Plans will be sent to the Fire Marshall which could take some time.

Mr. Weathers asked when construction on GOAL Academy will begin.  Corbett told him that they are still on track to have possession by April 1st and if they are ready construction can begin. 

Discussion:  There is a lot of activity at the PIE Center now, Mr. Drew told the Board.

• There are sub-contractors all over the place. 
• We are still on track for substantial completion by April 1st. 
• All permits are in hand.
• All major subs are rolling. 
• Working on budgets for school components at PIE.
• Tennants have leases in hand and  reviewing with Attorneys. 
• They are beginning to design their spaces. 
• Hopefully, Lease documents will be to you by February.

You have heard us talk about permits, lease documents, and coordination with utilities on Parker Street - we are not talking about them any longer because it is happening.   We see a lot of forward movement and it is exciting, Mr. Drew told the Board.  

 

Discussion:  Moved to Consent Agenda for 2nd reading.  

Discussion:  Mr. Bryson ask that the Track at BCHS be put on the February agenda.