January 25, 2022 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale:  In attendance:  Chair Butch Campbell, Vice Chair David Settles, Wes Ballard, Roseann Barton, Becky Goff, Amanda Moore, and Jimmy Richardson.

Staff:  Dr. Trey Duke, Ralph Ringstaff, Sheri Arnette, Joe Marlin, Greg Lyles, Lisa Trail, Angela Fairchild, Kim Williams, Emily Spencer, Ynetia Campbell, Maryam Hill, April Zavisa, Kandy Powers and ESP Site
Directors

Assistant City Attorney Elizabeth Taylor and City Liaison Bill Shacklett

 

Rationale:  The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Brenyn Crismon, a 5th grade student at Erma Siegel Elementary, and Wheston Davis, a 6th grade student at Northfield Elementary. Ms. Brenyn Crismon also signed the pledge for the audience.

Rationale:  Mitchell Neilson Schools would like to thank Mars Pet Nutrition Company for adopting over 40 families at Christmas!

Mitchell Neilson would also like to give a shout out to our community partner, First Baptist Church Castle Street, for donating tons of fresh fruit and other food items to be shared with our backpack food families!

Murfreesboro City Schools would like to thank Read To Succeed for their generous donation of books to BOB (Books on a Bus).

A special thank-you to Murfreesboro City government employees for their enormous donation of food to the Backpack Program. The donation was a result of their Pack the Packs Food Drive initiative. MCS received over 20,000 items in this donation.

Congratulations to Cason Lane on receiving a $3,500 TVA STEM grant titled "Fruits of our Labor" for beginning an orchard on their campus and to Hobgood for receiving a $5,000 grant titled "Let the Music Ring" for an outdoor music area.

Bradley's African American Cultural Celebration has been moved to February 24th at Patterson Park.

MCS's job fair will be held on Saturday, Feb 12 at Scales Elementary.  A virtual job fair will also be scheduled on the same date.

These Murfreesboro City schools have been selected as Model of Demonstration (MOD) Schools for Response to Instruction and Intervention for Behavior (RTI2-B)! This recognition is based on the schools’ partnership with the Tennessee Behavior Supports Project during the 2020-2021school year. Congratulations are for in order for:
 
Model of Demonstration Schools—Gold Level  
Black Fox Elementary
Cason Lane Academy
Erma Siegel Elementary
Hobgood Elementary
John Pittard Elementary
Overall Creek Elementary
Reeves Rogers Elementary
Scales Elementary
 
Model of Demonstration Schools—Silver Level  
Discovery School
 
Model of Demonstration Schools—Bronze Level
Mitchell-Neilson
Salem Elementary



 

Rationale:  Dr. Duke recognized the Board during the Spotlight on Education.  It was National School Board Appreciation Week.  Schools sent gifts to the board members and posters were hung around the chambers to thank the board for their hardwork and dedication to the students of Murfreesboro City Schools.

Rationale:  Dr. Duke presented the Best of MCS certificate to Mrs. Kandy Powers to recognize the countless hours that Site Directors and ESP staff put in during the recent COVID surge in our schools.  Dr. Duke also thanked the nurses for their hard work over the past few weeks. 

Chair Campbell added that this effort truly puts a stamp on what we do as a district with "the whole child."  He said that this truly was a team effort. He thanked everyone involved.
 

Rationale:  Mr. Ringstaff explained to the board that through a partnership with United Way, Middle TN Electric was replacing two hundred lights at Bradley Academy with LED bulbs.  He told the board that this was a cost of about $18000.00 for lights and $7000 for labor, with a total cost of $25,000 being donated to Bradley Academy. The major advantage of this project would be longer bulb life and the savings on energy costs. 

Mr. Ringstaff thanked Ella Weaver of the United Way and Jay Sanders with MTE for coordinating this endeavor. He also thanked Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association, Tennessee Valley Authority, TN Electric Cooperative Association, and United Way.  

Rationale:  Dr. Duke explained that the ESSER Spending Addendum must be approved and posted on the district website.  He told the board that no changes had been made at this time and that this document meets the requirement for board approval. 

Mr. Ballard asked if this approval would take place every six months to validate ESSER.  Dr. Duke explained that all addendums would be brought before the board for approval. 

Rationale:  Dr. Duke presented a PowerPoint with a brief overview of the new zoning proposal.  The board had already discussed the minimal zoning plan at the January 11th board retreat, but Dr. Duke wanted to make it public.  He explained that there would be upcoming town hall meetings to get feedback from concerned parents. 

Rationale:  Dr. Duke told the board that the community zoning meetings would be held at Overall Creek on January 27 from 5:30-6:30, at Salem on January 31 from 4:30-5:30, and a virtual meeting on February 1 at 3:30.

Dr. Duke told the board that it was mentioned at the January 11th board retreat that we should host a joint legislative forum with Rutherford County. He said that Lisa VanCleave was getting that together and would send the date out for that meeting soon.

Lastly, Dr. Duke thanked the board again for their hard work and wished them all a Happy School Board Appreciation Week.

 

Rationale:  The meeting adjourned at 6:42 p.m.