March 24, 2025 at 4:00 PM - Bradley County Board of Education Regular Meeting

Discussion:  Chairman Beaty called the meeting to order and welcomed dignitaries in attendance. 

Discussion:  Board Member Nancy Casson led the Pledge to the Flag.

Discussion:  The meeting began with the first item of business, the consent agenda. 

Discussion:  No public comment was given.

Discussion: 

The Director welcomed everyone and provided highlights from the Director’s Report. She noted the success of "Kindergarten Rocks," which had a strong turnout with 478 new kindergarten registrations, and commended schools for their efforts in making the process easy for families.

She also highlighted the first-ever BCS STEM Competition, held on March 7, as a successful event. Special recognition was given to Tabitha Payne, Nurse Manager and Telemedicine Coordinator, for receiving the Tennessee Coordinated School Health Service Award.

Athletic achievements were acknowledged, including the Bradley Barettes winning their third state championship and the participation of both Bradley and Walker Valley boys’ basketball teams in the state tournament.

Additionally, the Director recognized students from both schools who represented Bradley County at the Tennessee Student Congress (SCOPE) during spring break.

In closing, she mentioned preparations underway for state testing and expressed appreciation for the hard work of teachers and administrators. A special note was made to keep Denny Collins in mind as he manages the distribution of testing materials.

Discussion: 

Dr. Linda Cash presented a recommendation for the Board to nominate a student for the Tennessee State Board of Education student member position. This is the first time Bradley County has submitted a nomination, and Dr. Cash expressed full confidence in the candidate.

She recommended Miss Britain Snapp, a junior at Bradley Central High School, for her exceptional leadership, academic achievement, and service. Miss Snapp currently serves as the Board’s SCOPE representative and holds various leadership roles including East Tennessee Representative for the Tennessee Association of Student Councils, Student Body Vice President, Beta Club Vice President, HOSA Treasurer, and Interact Club National Chair. She is also a member of the Student Advisory Committee, a delegate to the Student Congress on Policies in Education, and is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, and varsity cheerleading for the three-time state champion Bradley Bearettes.

Dr. Cash formally requested the Board approve Miss Britain Snapp as Bradley County’s nominee for the student member position on the Tennessee State Board of Education.

Discussion: 

Dr. Linda Cash addressed the Board regarding the insurance process, noting that insurance is a significant expense. This year, the Board has requested that the insurance be competitively bid out.

She recommended that the Board engage Gallagher Student Health and Special Risk as the insurance broker/producer, in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated 12-3-1209(a). Gallagher will not be bidding to provide the insurance themselves but will manage and facilitate the bidding process to ensure broader participation and more competitive responses.

Discussion: 

Dr. Elizabeth Kaylor and Mr. Todd Shoemaker presented the Science Textbook Adoption recommendations to the Board. Mr. Shoemaker explained that the process begins with the state providing an approved list of textbooks, which are then reviewed by a local committee made up of teacher representatives selected by principals. Teachers used a detailed rubric to evaluate materials based on student accessibility, teacher support, digital features, and alignment with educational goals.

Dr. Kaylor elaborated on the new science standards that take effect in August, emphasizing the importance of three dimensions: disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and cross-cutting concepts. The committee ensured the recommended materials addressed these dimensions to support high-quality instruction.

The committee's final recommendations were:

• Elementary: McGraw Hill

• Middle School (Grades 6-8): Savvas

• High School:

  • Biology, Environmental Science, Chemistry: Savvas

  • Physics, Anatomy, Physical Science: McGraw Hill

The selection process was thorough and deliberative, involving detailed scoring and discussion to ensure alignment with curriculum standards and instructional needs. The Board was informed that this adoption follows an eight-year cycle, newly extended from six years, aligning with the rollout of new state standards for better curriculum consistency.

Board members commended the detailed and professional nature of the adoption process and the dedication of teachers involved.

Discussion: 

Scott Webb provided an update on the district’s online communications plan, part of the ongoing internal "Good to Great" initiative. He and Miranda are co-chairing a committee tasked with improving the district's digital presence. After evaluating several vendors, the committee selected Finalsite as the proposed new provider for the Bradley County Schools website and communication platform.

Key Features of Finalsite:

• A unified communication system including website, branded mobile app (iOS/Android), social media, and messaging integration.

• AI Assistant feature to help users navigate the site more efficiently.

• Integrated translation capabilities with five supported languages, improving accessibility for families with diverse language needs.

• Full integration with the district's student information system for seamless communication between schools and families.

• Enhanced oversight of school-level communication, replacing third-party messaging tools with a centralized system.

• Committee has secured a discounted bundled pricing plan including AI and translation add-ons.

Implementation Timeline:

• Due to time constraints, the district will begin with a flexible template-based site for a July 1 launch, transitioning to a fully custom-built site within two years at no additional cost.

• App launch is expected between mid-July and August 1.

• A special called Board meeting will be required for contract approval once legal review by Scott Bennett is complete.

Budget and Contract Information:

• The proposed platform carries a four-year contract.

• Total estimated cost is $69,000 annually, with a $23,000 setup fee covered in the current year’s technology budget.
  
  Committee Involvement:

• Members included staff from HR, school nutrition, communications, and technology departments. Principals were not on the initial committee but will be involved in training and implementation.

• Feedback from instructional coaches and tech specialists has been positive.

Board members expressed support for the platform, especially its potential to streamline communication across schools and improve parent engagement. Concerns were raised about principal input, training, and oversight, which Scott Webb committed to addressing during the rollout phase.

The Board will reconvene for a special session to vote on the contract once legal review is complete.

Discussion:  Terry McElhaney addressed the Board to request approval for the transfer of Bus Route 12 (Prospect area) from Willard Ernie Lewis to his son, Will Lewis III. Mr. Lewis III has been a contractor with the district for two years and has driven for Bradley County Schools for at least five years with a strong performance record. The transfer is intended to be seamless, with Mr. Lewis III officially taking over the route on April 1.

Discussion:  A recommendation was presented to the Board regarding the selection of a Construction Manager for the Hopewell Elementary School project. After reviewing submittals and conducting interviews with two local companies—Pillar Construction and Tyson Associates—the recommendation was made to proceed with Tyson Associates. The Board was informed that a portfolio of Tyson’s work is available in Maranda's office for further review. A motion was made to approve Tyson Associates as the Construction Manager for the project.

Discussion: 

An update was provided on the Walker Valley High School track improvements project. Only one bid was received—from Baseline Sports Construction—due to the specialized nature of the work. Although the initial bid came in over the $300,000 budget, after consulting with legal counsel, auditors, and the business office, it was determined that bonding and stamped designs were not necessary since the project is a resurfacing. This adjustment brought the total cost to $295,238, under budget.

Baseline has previously completed work at both Walker Valley and Bradley Central High School, including long jump pit relocation and repainting after turf installation. Board members expressed support for the company and emphasized the importance of maintaining the new track surface and engaging coaches, principals, and athletic directors in its upkeep. Recognition was also given to Wright Brothers Construction for their continued volunteer support of Walker Valley Athletics.

Discussion: 

The Board reviewed three policies proposed for deletion from the current policy manual:

• Policy 6.313 (Discipline Procedures) - This policy has been incorporated into Policy 6.300 (Code of Conduct).

• Policy 5.204 (Resignation) - The content has been merged into Policies 5.200, 5.201, and 5.202.

• Policy 5.205 (Retirement) - Also now incorporated into Policies 5.200, 5.201, and 5.202.

It was confirmed that these deletions would not create any conflicts, as the language has been duplicated in the updated policies. Supporting documentation was made available for review. 

Discussion:  With no other items to discuss, Chairman Beaty adjourned the meeting.




                                                                      
Vicki Beaty, Chairman



                                                                      
Dr. Linda Cash, Director of Schools