January 27, 2024 at 8:00 AM - Board of Education Retreat

Discussion:  Staff:  Dr. Trey Duke, Sheri Arnette, Angela Fairchild, Lisa Trail, Maria Johnson, Ken Rocha, Don Bartch, Daniel Owens, Andy Taylor

Assistant City Attorney Lauren Bush and City Liaison Bill Shacklett.  Mr. Shacklett came to the meeting but had to leave to speak at the NAACP meeting in the place of the Mayor.

Discussion:  Dr. Duke shared a gratitude video with the Board and Ms. Trail had gifts at their tables to recognize them during School Board Appreciation Week.

 

Discussion:  Dr. Duke discussed the process to review what in the Board’s five-year strategic plan needed to be updated or adjusted.  He reviewed the feedback process that was completed with the Teacher Advisory Group, Principals, Department Heads, and a Parent Input group.  He outlined the adjustments that were being suggested in each of the four main categories.  The Board will consider this for a formal vote in February.












 

Discussion:  The MCS Transportation Department was highlighted to review how driver shortages have impacted the entire department and how services provided for children and their families are impacted. Although there have been very few transportation delays, they are eminent, and therefore, we need to adapt our services for delays and substitute drivers. Additionally, changes may increase our bus driver recruitment. One change is that we need to increase our Parent Responsibility Zone, at four schools from .75 to 1.0 mile. In future school years, more schools may be added. Families impacted by the Parent Responsibility Zone will have a first chance opportunity to sign up for ESP services in the summer. The other change presented was creating hubs. Hubs are simply old school bus stops. MCS has added stops over the years to the point that one neighborhood on the west side of Murfreesboro has 27 stops. The "hub" plan condenses this neighborhood to seven stops with students walking no more than .3 miles to a stop. All schools and routes will be adjusted, and this will be communicated when students are assigned their bus stop in July. 
 

 

Discussion: 

Dr. Duke reviewed current enrollment numbers for January 2024.  This included outlining that our current enrollment is 9,408 students and 40% are considered economically disadvantaged.  This increase is due to the fact that students eligible for Medicaid are included in the number.  15% of our student population are English Language Learners, and we have seen a 20% increase in our immigrant population since January of 2023 and a 12% increase since May of 2023.

Ken Rocha shared with the Board that Murfreesboro City Schools will conduct the open enrollment period for zone waivers from February 29 - April 1, 2024. Parents or guardians of a student seeking to transfer their child to an open-zoned school for the 2024-25 school year must apply within this timeline. There are two types of requests that are completed on the same form: (1) new zone waiver and (2) students currently on a zone waiver requesting to remain at the school. Today, enrollment projections and open enrollment for the upcoming 2024-25 school year were shared.

On February 23, 2024, the Board will consider approval of open-zoned schools and seats along with closed-zoned schools during the Board meeting.

Discussion:  Ms. Bush explained the different facets of school law and the responsibility of the Board for each one.

Discussion:  Dr. Duke shared with the Board the revised floor plan for the Reeves Rogers Addition as well as the architectural design for the outside of the building. Mr. Bartch updated the Board on the timeline and stated it was now slated to be finished earlier than originally reported.  The planned completion date is July of 2025.
 

Discussion:  Dr. Duke outlined the impact the movement of county property tax pennies away from education has had on the school system for the last two years.  He also updated the Board on a meeting that he and Mr. Owens had with the City Mayor and the County Mayor to discuss this.  The Board also discussed ways to continue to build the partnership with Rutherford County Schools so that the city and county systems could work together to address the rapid growth in our community.
 

Discussion:  Due to a lack of time, the Educator Labor Market Report will be discussed in detail at the upcoming Board budget meetings.

Discussion:  Meeting adjourned at 1:01 p.m.

Discussion:  Meeting was called to order at 1:08 p.m. 

 

Discussion:  Andy Taylor presented the School Security Plans to the Board. 

Dr. Duke thanked Mr. Taylor for the work he has done with these security plans and the work that he has done since he has been in this position. 

Meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m.