February 18, 2021 at 5:30 PM - REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING

Discussion:  Recognition of our Student Liaison for being awarded as a Roan Scholar.  She's honored and hopes to represent Elizabethton well.

Discussion:  Back to four days a week 100% attendance.  Commend students and staff in the job they are doing.  Last month we distributed chrome books to our students.  Thankful for those.

Thanks to the Ccrter County Health Department for issuing the doses of vaccinations to our approximaely 130 employees.

New legislation as it pertains to education 270,000.00 for learning loss and summer programming.  Lots of work ahead of us figuring out what we need to do to put together the best program we can. 

Requirement that we maintain 80% of students tested.  

Teacher pay addressed and out to staff hopefully in April.  Both sets of restrooms finished at TAD next week.  Mr. Campbell's class cutting aluminum for signs for restrooms.  Only other thing is roof work for the building.

Bipolar Ionization:  almost finished

Protected entrances final inspections tomorrow (2/19).  Only lack ballistic film which has been on backorder.  

ESSER 2.0 excited about the impact on this.  

There's a lot going on of a positive nature.  
 

Discussion:  We are back to four days per week at 100% attendance.  Thanks to our faculty and staff for their commitment to our students. Distribution of Chrome Books went well.  Special thank you to the Carter County Health Department for getting the vaccinations out.  ECS has had around 120-130 staff members receive the vaccination.  Special Session in Nashville last month regarding new legislation affecting education and pandemic.  ECS has received $270,000.00 for learning loss and summer school.  Lots of work ahead of us.  More information on this in the future.  Only requirement regarding accountability is to maintain that at least 80% of our students are tested.  There's also a component about teacher pay and we will have something together in March to address and outline this issue.  Construction Update:  Restrooms at TAD should be finished by the end of next week.  Mr. Campbell's class at EHS is working on signage for those.  Roof work is continuing to go well.  Work on the main building is all that's left.  Wrapping up the bipolar ionization units.  Also wrapping up the protected entrances.  Final inspection tomorrow (2/19/21).  Still waiting on ballistic film to be placed over the windows.  ESSER 2.0 spending plan for those funds and the impact this will have on our students. There's a lot going on of a positive nature, and we're excited to see the positive impact these things will have on our schools. 

Discussion:  Mr. Pless thanked the schools for recognizing the Board Members for National School Board Week.

Training from TSBA. Legislative Council was canceled.  Waiting on notification of when this will be re-scheduled.  TSBA Database webinar for Board Members on March 1st.  

Discussion:  Weight room funding:  City council approved the funding for their portion with a second reading in March.

Propose to City Council that we do a memorial by naming a parkway within the city limits in honor of Dave Rider.  

Would like to recognize Veronia Watson for helping with the Sycamore Shoals State Park by updating their website,creating, and writing articles for her Public History class at EHS.  Admirable that she reaches out to her community as a student.  Thank you to Veronica.

Thanks to Mr. VanHuss for letting Mr. Simerly visit and tour TAD.  It's a jewel within our community.

Letter to Mr. Estes: The City has seen almost 230,000.00 above the estimated tax revenue.  Mr. Simerly asked that we prioritize the items on the list to help the City Council make their decisions.


 

Discussion:  Currently in the process of working with Mr. VanHuss and Ms. Newman to get student voice into the textbook adoptions.  Teachers on textbook committee to choose a student or two to shape our education toward what we (students) want.  

Discussion:  Similar to assistant coach pay for softball and baseball for TAD.  The extra set of hands would be helpful.

Discussion:  Purchasing weights and benches for facility at Joe O'Brien Field. 

Mr. Wilson asked if we were purchasing weights and machines.  Mr. VanHuss stated we were and they would be placed in the dressing room at Joe O'Brien Field.  Mr. Simerly stated that in closing the deal with Boyd Sports they were to take the existing equipment from the facility and this will replace those weights and machines.  

Discussion:  Annual service agreement to maintain boilers, chillers, etc.  Mr. O'Quinn asked if this had been bid out.  Mr. VanHuss stated it had not been bid out in quite awhile due to using this within our Energy Services Agreement. 

Discussion:  Standards were changing and we adopted but didn't purchase.  Need materials now that will meet our students needs.

Discussion:  Allow current aviation students to complete EOC exam to earn college credit.  We have the premiere aviation program in the US.  Mr. Culbert and Mr. Mills have expertise and designed a top notch program leading the way in Tennessee.  

Mr. Mills:  several high school aviation teachers have joined with Dr. Beckman on Zoom every week.  We're applying for a grant in the amount of $365,000.00 that would benefit them and us as well.  Trying to design a program that would take children from elementary, junior high, into high school, and right into the job force.  Dr. Beckman will be on the Advisory Board for EHS as well.  Several students have been hired at the Elizabethton Airport.  

Mr. Culbert:  He has spoken with other schools and some of them have simulators but not like ours and some get so solo, but not many.  We have Mr. Mills and they don't.  He's dedicated and works with them night and day.  

Mr. O'Quinn:  How many hours can they get toward MTSU?  Mr. Mills stated we have four classes at 3 hours each which is 12 hours.   This goes toward a major and not core classes.  Airline transport pilots license is required $1,500.00.  Major universities said they need relief and can get a restricted ATP for $1,000.00.  Airlines are currently paying $60,000.00 to sit in the right seat of a commuter plane.  

 

Discussion:  Mr. Culbert:  We can offer any class we want but CTE has to go through channels.  This is due March 1st.  This will pertain to next school year.  

FMX Flight lab:  students would fly every week.  Aviation II:  first nine weeks:  students would be back in the FMX Skyhawk 172, and deal with problems (sickness, heart attack, running out of fuel, too much wind, etc.)  Second nine weeks students would be in the 58 Baron with a glass cockpit.  The other course would be sitting for the FAA Private Pilot written test which has 901 questions in the data base and the student would go through those twice.  Those students would also be working on soloing.  We've had thirteen in this program and have five this year will that would be taking advantage of this. Through our program the student or parent would pay $350.00 to solo.  Doing this through the airport would likely be around $2,000.00.  Another class we will have in the summer would allow students to take their written private pilot's exam this semester, solo and then work on their private pilot's license.  The airport manager and the three instructors have as agreed to do this at a reduced rate for our students with students getting their Private Pilot's license for around $2,000.00.  It's $11,000.00 at MTSU and at Liberty $14,500.00.  This type of education is hard to find anywhere else.  

Mr. O'Quinn asked if there was anyway to use the dual enrollment to get the cost reduced.  Mr. Mills stated that the aviation courses have to be approved by the FAA, core classes could transfer from another university/community college but aviation courses have to be taken at MTSU.  There's no problem with a student being accepted at MTSU with a Private Pilot's license, it wouldn't do any good to include it in the dual enrollment program.  
 

Discussion:  This is a typical Agreement for student teacher intern placement.  

Discussion:  We do have a BoxLight on display at EHS and the teacher is using it everyday.  We can observe the teacher using the board.  These cost around $2,800.00 each.  This price includes a turn-key job.  

Discussion:  This program is an asset to the community.  We feel there's a real value in providing this program.  

Discussion:  Mr. Simerly suggested we prioritize the letter.  If the Board approves, Mr. VanHuss will make those adjustments.

Discussion:  The seating is close to 50 years old.  Have had issues over the years finding parts to repair the seats.  The cost to replace the seating could be in excess of $300,000.00.  All four of our current sets are high quality and could not buy new and get the same quality.  It has aged and needs work.  There are also safety issues we need to address.  Safety rails currently in place do not meet code. Those would be replaced and would fold up as the bleachers fold up.  The section in the balcony was recently out of alignment and would not open as well.  The gym is used for many sports and community events as well.  This is basically deferred maintenance.  We've finally found someone to do the work.  There are four different companies that make parts for these bleachers. There are twelve drive rollers need to be replaced and also replace cracked or damaged boards in the balcony bleachers.  This is money well spent to do the work.