January 11, 2024 at 6:30 PM - GCSSD Board of Trustees Regular Meeting

Discussion:  Mr. Richard Addo led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Discussion:  Mr. Tom Lannom called the meeting to order.

Discussion:  No public comment

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett announced that School Board Appreciation Week is January 21-27. A donation of $150 is being made to the Gibson County Imagination Library as a token of appreciation.

Discussion:  Mr. Rory Hinson presented the purchase of two Special Education Vans on the state contract of $33.952 each from Ford of Murfreesboro. The total cost will be $67,904.

Discussion:  Principals of each school reported their school's TNReady 2022–2023 results. Principals praised staff and discussed ways of improvement. 


 

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett recommended Ms. Sherry Dodson for tenure.  

Discussion:  Ms. Amy Richardson presented the Coordinated School Health Update. Coordinated School Health encourages healthy lifestyles, provides needed support to at-risk students, helps identify health-related problems that impair academic success, and works with community partners to find solutions.
Research is clear ... healthy students are better learners, better learners are more likely to graduate, and graduates are more likely to become productive citizens. The CSH model provides an evidence-based framework to address the needs of the whole child.
CSH consists of 8 Components, which include Health Education; Health Services; Nutrition; Physical Education/Physical Activity; Healthy School Environment; School Counseling, Psychological, and Social Services; Student, Family, and Community Involvement; and School Staff Wellness. CSH Coordinators constantly work with these 8 areas to have the greatest impact.
In a recent survey, GCSSD School Counselors were asked "How can CSH support you in your role as a school counselor?" Responses included:
"Continue to be a listening ear and resource when we have questions/concerns."
"Providing PD for counselors is a huge help!"
GCSSD Physical Education/Lifetime Wellness teachers were asked in a recent survey "Has Coordinated School Health helped support your work in the past?" Responses included:
"Any need that arises, Amy tries her best to accommodate our needs."
"Yes, CSH has provided me with materials to help my class."
This year, the GCSSD CSH Coordinator was selected to serve as a CSH mentor and was one of three CSH Coordinators who spoke during the new coordinator training due to her experience and leadership skills. GCSSD CSH Coordinator is also currently serving on the statewide School Health Advisory Council.
CSH - "Where Health and Academics Merge"

Highlights of the GCSSD Coordinated School Health program can be found each month in the newsletter at
https://www.gcssd.org/documents/departments/coordinated-school-health/newsletters/144956
Updates can also be found on social media sites including:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gcssdcsh/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RichardsonGCSSD
I encourage you to check these resources out as this is the best way to stay up to date with the programs we are currently involved in.

Immunizations have been provided for students and adults through our partnership with West Tennessee Health Care. So far this year, a total of 259 consents have been received with a total of 291 immunizations given to adults and children. More will be given in the spring clinic as well.                                  
Recently, our district was one of three districts selected to present information on our staff immunization program at our annual conference in February.  The theme this year was "Level Up with School Lunch" and had a game theme.

The School Health Services Student Update for the school year of 2022-2023 indicated that the enrollment of 3834 students in Pre-K through 12^th grade made a total of 20,970 visits to the school nurse. The nurse-to-student ratio in 2022-20223 was one nurse to 383 students.  This is an improvement from the 2003 statistics when there was one nurse per 1390 students. This improvement is due to GCSSD employing 10 school nurses as well as a lead nurse to oversee the program. It is very important to keep our students healthy and in school to receive a solid education and our school nurses are invaluable in this goal.  

CSH partners with LeBonheur to provide healthcare services to students who have not had physical or medical treatment in the last year. Students can also be referred for acute or chronic physical or mental health problems. Students with parental permission and completed paperwork are seen in the Mobile Health Unit while at school, regardless of their ability to pay for services. Last year there were 72 EPSDT screenings on students in our district. As a result of this program, there were 63 referrals made to outside resources last year. Their Health Educator saw 10 students within GCSSD last year for lessons on nutrition and physical activity. Also, one student was seen for behavioral health services last year. The In-Kind value of these services for last school year was $26,544. As of 11/20/23, there have been 33 total students who received physicals from the Le Bonheur Mobile Health at Dyer, Rutherford, and South Gibson Elementary School. They are scheduled to be at Spring Hill School on January 23^rd and hopefully, more schools will be scheduled this semester. https://www.growwelltn.org/programs/le-bonheur-mobile-unit/

Student Health Screenings were given to students in Preschool, Kindergarten, Second, Fourth, Sixth, Eighth, and Special Education Students.  These screenings included height/weight=BMI, hearing, vision, blood pressure, and Sixth Grade Scoliosis.  Coordinated School Health partners with the Nursing Education program at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology to facilitate this. There were approximately 1672 Student Health Screenings completed this year.

The School Backpack Program was initiated by funds from CSH for students with low food sources to have a pack of food discretely placed in their backpacks on Fridays with enough food for that student through the weekend or over long breaks. Once the community saw the need, it became involved in the programs in the local schools, as businesses, churches, and individuals worked together to ensure this program’s success. 
Currently, a total of 120 students are being served. Dyer School serves 46 students, Kenton School serves 15 students, Rutherford School serves 18 students, South Gibson County Elementary serves 19 students, South Gibson County Middle serves 8 students, Spring Hill School serves 8 students, and Yorkville School serves 6 students. GCHS also has a food pantry where students can obtain food as needed and is currently serving approximately 10 students.
For the past several years, the Trenton Foundation, which is a chapter of the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation, has made an annual donation to help support this program.
We also received a grant from Second Harvest to support this program at Dyer, Kenton, Rutherford, South Gibson County Elementary School, South Gibson County Middle School, Spring Hill, and Yorkville Schools. This program supplies the needed food for the eligible children at these schools. This grant is worth $21,000.
 This fall, GC YAC students volunteered to collect food for the backpack program as part of our annual "Pack the Bus" food drive. Students and the community were able to donate food to assist with this need.

CSH and Lifetime Wellness class teachers at both high schools have partnered again this year to provide health-related education to students. Topics such as Suicide Prevention, substance prevention, and were taught by TN Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN).  CSH has also ensured that Hands-Only CPR is taught in wellness classes at both high schools. Topics such as Vaping and Safe Driving will be covered in the spring semester.

CSH was able to purchase Nine Square in the Air for several of our middle and high schools. This was received very positively by the PE/Wellness teachers and students. One student said, "This is so much fun." And another was heard saying "When it isn’t your turn you can cheer for your friends.

Walk to School Day was held at Spring Hill to encourage family engagement, physical activity, and nutrition. GCSSD CSH provided water and CSH health information. We hope to make this an annual event.

CSH partners with individuals and groups from the community to secure Grants and In-Kind funding to assist schools within the district meet the needs of students and families. As a result, barriers to learning are removed, leading to improved academic learning. In the 2022-2023 school year, CSH was awarded $47,138.99 in grants and
$134,972 in in-kind funding for a total of $182,110.99.
The grants included the Resilient School Communities Grant which funded our initial partnership with Carey Counseling Telehealth Therapy Services and Trauma Informed training for the school counselors, as well as Backpack program supplies and funding and TN Teen Institute participant fees. The In-kind value includes services, material, equipment, or labor committed or received at a conservative value that fits within one of the eight components of Coordinated School Health. This included LeBonheur, immunization clinics, health education videos and supplies from Team Mica and Kyle Kiihnl Foundation for Prevention of Drowsy Driving, volunteers that assist with the backpack program, Mock Crash volunteers, and nursing supplies for school nurses.

GCSSD has a total of 21 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) located throughout the school district with at least 1 in each school. There are teams in each school who are trained in CPR and using the AED. These teams go through drills to identify strengths and weaknesses so that if a real situation were to arise, they would be prepared. Other school staff are trained either in person or by utilizing the Five Points section of My Benefits Channel to watch a training developed by GCSSD Lead Nurse Tammie Floersh.

We also have the following emergency medications available at schools:

• Narcan, a narcotic antagonist used to treat overdose with opioids, is available in each school. Narcan is provided free of charge by the State of Tennessee through the regional overdose prevention specialist. Medical orders, for the use of Narcan in the school district are provided by Dr. Jim Williams. School nurses and volunteers are trained in the signs and symptoms of a narcotic overdose and the administration of Narcan. Currently, there are at least two doses of Narcan located in each school. One dose is in the AED case by the gym; the second dose is in the nurse’s office.     

                                                                                                                                                                                                

• Epinephrine (Epi Pen) is the emergency medication used to treat severe allergic reactions/anaphylaxis.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Schools have teo sets of Epi-pens. Elementary and middle schools have both the Jr. (dose for those under 66 lbs.) and the standard Epi-pens on hand. Doses are kept in the AED case or cafeteria and with the nurse. The Epi-Pen 4 Schools program provides 2 double packs to each school for free. Medical direction for recognizing and responding to anaphylaxis is provided by Dr. Jim Williams. Training on recognition and response to anaphylaxis is provided by district Registered Nurses.







 

Discussion:  Mr. Tom Lannom discussed the last strategic plan and asked the board to review the core values. Any necessary changes will be discussed at the March board meeting.

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett presented the Policy Revision. Mr. Pruett recommended suspending the rules and passing the policy on the first reading. 

• Policy #5.608 Tutoring for Pay changes how teachers use school buildings for paid tutoring. 

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett presented the Upcoming Conferences. 

Discussion:  Mr. Eddie Pruett informed the board of the upcoming conferences. 

• Legislative & Legal Institute - February 12-13- Franklin
• SCOPE Conference - March 5 - Belmont University, Nashville