May 9, 2023 at 6:30 PM - GCSSD Board of Trustees Regular Meeting

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Watkins led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Discussion:  Mr. Tom Lannom, Board Chairman, called the meeting to order.

Discussion:  Principals of each school recognized their Teachers of the Year-Amy Thornton - Dyer, Melissa Stafford - Kenton, Joseph Dickinson - GCHS, Lacey Zarecor - Rutherford, Christie Strayhorn - SGCES, Mistina Johnson - SGCHS, Bryan "Corey" Brewer - SGCMS, Sarah Beth Temple - Spring Hill, and Kendal Cook - Yorkville.
Mr. Eddie Pruett recognized Dr. Lane Collins as the Principal of the Year and Mr. Terry Cunningham as Supervisor of the Year. 
Retirees honored were Terry Cunningham, Paige Garner, Chad Jackson, Lisa Ball, Bridgett Chandler, Tammy McMackin, Michael Sims, Marcia Stafford, Patricia Pugh, Denise Coleman, and Gaylon Childs.

Discussion:  Mr. Rory Hinson, Mr. Derek Norman, and other advisors acknowledged students' achievements through Career Technical Student Organizations such as FFA, Skills USA, FBLA, FCCLA, and HOSA. 

Discussion:  No public comment

Discussion:  Mr. Derek Norman presented the USDA Rural Development Grant. This grant will purchase equipment for the expansion of culinary arts programs. 

Discussion:  Ms. Anessa Ladd presented the Grants Update. 
21st CCLC Afterschool Program

• Fourteenth year and we reapply every five years.
• Currently serving, 148 students at three schools: Dyer, Rutherford, and Spring Hill.
• Ninety-five percent of students have shown improvement in Reading/Language Arts, and ninety-three percent improvement in mathematics. 

New Application

• Expand to Yorkville
• Partner with IHS to include eight seniors to be employed by grant; two per school; seniors will attend TTI camp. 
• Implement a career exploration program for K-8 utilizing community partners
• Implement a special ELA tutoring program to target K-2 and 3rd-grade students who are at risk of retention. This new tutoring program will meet daily during the 21st CCLC academic session. Staff will include certified teachers assisted by high school interns and will have a 1:2 staff/student ratio.

Farm to School-$50,000 Grant

• Beef production: Six cows total; three processed to date for a total of $1,238 lbs
• Equipment purchased: walk-in freezer, glass top cooler, bulk feed bin, dump trailer, chest deep freeze, generator, feed, and processing fees
• Profit: $4,072.00
• Expanding next year with storefront

FEMA Grants
Spring Hill-Site visit/invoicing this month; will close out next month
GCHS-Application being reviewed at the state
FEMA Public Assistance Grant-Reimburse COVID related expenses-$55,500.00 

SRAE Grant
Total Number of Students Received Classroom Education:5th-9th

• Middle School: 1,127
• High School:265
• Total: 1,391

Small Groups Number:
Topics: Essentials of Friendships, Social Skills, Bullying, Communicating Feeling, Internet Safety, Social Media Safety, Decision Making, Goal Setting, Preparing for Lifelong Relationships. 

• During school: Thirty-nine at SGCMS, Spring Hill, Yorkville, Dyer, and Rutherford
• Afterschool: Fifty-three students at Spring Hill, Dyer, and Rutherford
• Total of ninety-two students

Lunch-Learns at GCHS & SGCHS

• There are four lunch-n-learns held at both high schools. The topics covered Suicidal Prevention, Alcohol and Drug Week, Teen Dating Awareness, and Drowsy Driving Prevention.
• Ms. Kathi Wright from Kyle Kiihnl Foundation shared Drowsy Driving with students in wellness classes at both GCHS and SGCHS.

Mock Crash
This is available for all senior students to watch at both schools to bring awareness about drinking and driving. Students were actors in the wreck scene. 

• SGCHS on March 1
• GCHS on April 12

Services Learning
GC SHAC students taught Vaping Prevention Education to Rutherford School 7th and 8th-grade students. High school students made Vaping Flyers to educate students on the risk of vaping. These flyers were hung in all the middle and high schools. 

Tennessee Teen Institute TTI:
TTI's mission is to unlock the youth's potential to lead by example and to take a proactive role in bringing about positive change. The goal is to decrease the number of teens who use substances, increase self-esteem, increase healthy resiliency factors to help maintain a healthy lifestyle, develop leadership skills, and reduce teen crashes. We have nine students from GCHS and SGCHS attending the TTI camp in June. We have three students that are going to be on the staff this year. To be on the staff, you must be 16 years old and attend camp twice. Each day at camp, the team will meet to come up with a plan to implement and make changes in our schools and community. 

Parent Workshops:
Hidden in plain sight: This was put on by the Milan Prevention Coalition. This is a room that is set up as a teen bedroom and helps parents look for hidden drugs/vapes. This measure aims at raising public awareness about substance use and prevention. Twelve parents attended this event. 








 

Discussion:  Mr. Terry Cunningham asked Mr. Derek Norman to speak on his recommendation for the farmland at GCHS. The Gibson County FFA is interested in taking control of the remaining 18 acres the district owns along Old Dyersburg Road. We considered expanding the hay operation to this area.  However, with the recent staffing changes, we paused adding this land until a replacement is hired. The expected cost of about $7,000 to establish this field in a Bermuda-based forage. Mr. Norman proposed taking over the management decisions for this location moving forward.  The Gibson County FFA will sublease the ground during this first year to gain some rental income from these acres.  This money will be set aside to maintain the property and convert it to pastureland in the future.  He will help to oversee the bidding process for this property as the CTE Director in the future too.   Furthermore, the Gibson County Agriculture Department will maintain the borders of the property, as well, and keep these areas mowed.  
Mr. Terry Cunningham asked to expedite the bid authorization to the district office.

Discussion:  Mr. Terry Cunningham asked Mr. Chad Jackson to present the School Bus Camera Upgrade Bids. Mr. Jackson recommended Central State Bus for $84,150.00 and amend the budget. Other bids included EduTech for $121,935 and B&E Electronics for $90,717. Central State Bus Sales will install four camera systems on all thirty-three buses during the summer while the buses are parked. 

Discussion:  Mr. Chad Jackson presented School Bus Bids. Mr. Jackson recommended the Central State Bus bid for $144,236.00 with the cameras installed. 

Discussion:  Mr. Terry Cunningham presented the Paving Bids for the GCHS Soccer access road and parking. Mr. Cunningham recommended Martin Paving Company for $47,000 over Cantrell Construction Company for $63,800 and amend the budget. 

Discussion:  Mr. Terry Cunningham presented the Teachers' Salary Schedule for the 2023/2024 school year. With funding from TISA and other changing state laws, a pay raise of 8% for GCSSD employees.

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett presented the New Hire List. Mr. Derek Norman's new position will be CTE and Transportation Director and Ms. Erica DuRall will transfer from Kenton Principal to Food Service Director. Interviews for Kenton Principal and High School Instructional Supervisor will take place soon. Principals of each school are working to fill positions. 

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett presented the approval for the Annual Board Agenda for the 2023/2024 school year. 

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett presented the approval of the Board Meeting Schedule for 203/2024 school year. 

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett presented a list of surplus items from SGCES and SGCHS.