October 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM - Smith County Board of Education Agenda

Discussion:  The Smith County Board of Education met at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at the Smith County Board of Education. Mr. XXX provided the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. 

Discussion:  Mr. Tommy Manning, Chairman of the Board, welcomed all visitors and called the October 21, 2025, meeting of the board to order.

Discussion:  Request to approve the regular meeting minutes of the Board - Tuesday, September 9, 2025.

Discussion:  Gordonsville High School BETA Club requests permission to attend the BETA Club Convention at the Opryland Hotel on November 20-22, 2025. This will be an overnight trip.

Discussion:  Smith County High School requests permission for the following:

1. Smith County High School FFA requests permission to attend FFA Camp in Doyle, Tennessee, on November 14-15, 2025. This will be an overnight trip.
2. Smith County High School BETA Club requests permission to attend the State BETA Convention at the Opryland Hotel from November 20-22, 2025. This will be an overnight trip.
3. Smith County High School Boys Basketball Team requests permission to attend the Lowcountry Invitational in Charleston, South Carolina, on December 26-31, 2025. This will be an overnight trip.
4. Smith County High School Soccer Team requests permission to play in the Smoky Mountain Cup soccer tournament in Gatlinburg on March 13-15, 2026. This will be an overnight trip.

Discussion:  This letter is to request permission to run bids for the Save-A-Lot building funded from the ISM grant:
 

• Concrete: Materials / Labor
• Interior Coverings
• Metals: Materials / Labor
• Exterior Utilities
• Sprinkler System Update
• Paving / Striping
• Doors / Windows
• Restroom Fixtures / Partitions
• Awnings

Discussion: 

The Superintendent took the following actions:

1. Staff Placement

• Ruby Culver, substitute cook, School Nutrition Department

• Teresa Woodard, substitute cook, School Nutrition Department

• Janet Skelton, substitute cook, School Nutrition Department

• Sharon Raines, substitute cook, School Nutrition Department

• Mindy Ford, full-time cook, School Nutrition Department, Smith County Middle School

• Jennifer Burton, Paraprofessional, Carthage Elementary School

• Kathrine Carter, Paraprofessional, Smith County Middle School

• Jeff Crowley Jr., Volunteer Band Instructor, Gordonsville High School

• Brian Hopkins, Volunteer Swim Coach, Gordonsville High School

• Alexandra Rollin, Substitute Teacher

• Susan Ross, Volunteer Girls Basketball Coach, Gordonsville High School

• Emma Thompson, After School Paraprofessional, Forks River Elementary School

2. Transfers 

• Zac Cole, transferred from teacher leader position at Carthage Elementary School to assistant principal position at Carthage Elementary School

• Jennifer Evans, transferred from assistant principal position at Carthage Elementary School to teacher leader position at Carthage Elementary School

 

3. Resignations

• Angelita McGee, Cook, Gordonsville High School

• Cody Crump, Paraprofessional, Carthage Elementary School

4. Suspension

• Holly Anderson, ELA Coach & Homebound Coordinator, County-wide

Discussion:  Request to approve new Policy 6.3001 Alternatives to Exclusionary Discipline Practices in Pre-K using the TDOE Model Policy for Alternatives to Exclusionary Discipline, to develop a behavior management policy that aligns to positive behavior supports and interventions.

This is the second and final reading for this new policy.

Discussion:  Request to approve the hire of two (2) current Smith County teachers to serve in the capacity as a Math Instructional Coach for Smith County Schools for the 2025-26 school year. Mrs. Sheryl Taylor as the 7-12 Math Coach and Mrs. Brandi Jackson as the K-6 Math Instructional Coach. This position will be a stipend position in addition to the duties they fulfill as a classroom teacher within the district.

They will coordinate and collaborate with district instructional supervisors, school principals, and math teachers to provide learning opportunities and professional development to improve student learning in math. The stipend for each position will be funded through the Title IIA grant. The position will be $50 / hour for up to 200 hours during the 2025-26 school year as well as the summer between the 2025-26 & 2026-27 school years.

Discussion:  The director of schools shall establish the salary rating of each person employed and shall recommend such salary rating to the Board for its approval as stated in Policy 5.110 Compensation Guides and Contracts.

Discussion:  Request to approve the low bid of $2.48 per gallon for 1,200 gallons of regular 87 unleaded gasoline without ethanol and the low bid of $2.46 per gallon for 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel from Mixon-Nollner for delivery on September 10, 2025.

Discussion:  Request to approve the bid of $162,984.00 for one type D 78 passenger school bus with a luggage compartment from Central State Bus Sales.

Discussion:  Request to approve the Smith County School Calendar for the 2026-2027 school year.  The calendar was constructed by an appointed Calendar Committee based on results from a countywide survey sent to educators and staff.

Discussion:  Due to the discount on property taxes being entered this year, it messed up the required MOE calculation. In order to correct this, TDOE has determined we should amend the budget adding $3,800 to revenue to stay in compliance. They recommended after review that we could add this amount to investment income since we have historically underestimated that revenue. 

Discussion:  Permission to Name the Baseball Facility Built on Ward Avenue after the Late Mr. Jerry Wayne Gammon Senior

Discussion:  Pursuant to TCA code 49-3-112, each school district must submit an accountability report for TISA funding each year to the Tennessee Department of Education that has been approved by the local board of education. Smith County has established goals and budget actions steps for the following priorities: 3^rd grade ELA proficiency, grades 3-11 math proficiency, Ready Graduate growth, and K-12 Literacy.

We request approval of the Smith County 2025-2026 TISA Accountability Report.

Discussion:  Request permission for the following school-level purchases using Title I federal funds. Each school will be responsible for completing the purchase on the individual school needs.

Carthage Elementary - Up to 56 ASUS Chromebooks and Management Console License for a total not to exceed $16,200

Defeated Elementary - Up to 40 ASUS Chromebooks and Management Console License for a total not to exceed $11,450

Forks River Elementary - Up to 32 ASUS Chromebooks and Management Console License for a total not to exceed $9,000.00

Gordonsville Elementary - Up to 54 ASUS Chromebooks and Management Console License for a total not to exceed $15,500

New Middleton Elementary - Up to 27 ASUS Chromebooks and Management Console License for a total not to exceed $7,780

Smith County Middle - Up to 48 ASUS Chromebooks and Management Console License for a total not to exceed $13,750

Union Heights Elementary - Up to 28 ASUS Chromebooks and Management Console License for a total not to exceed $7,800

The maximum number of Chromebooks to purchase would be 385 not to exceed $82,000. The cost of Chromebooks is based on the bid acquired by the Technology Department of the Smith County Board of Education.

Discussion: 

Please review the following policies for the Smith County Board of Education to remain compliant in policy review.  If you find any inconsistencies or if something needs to be discussed regarding a policy listed below, please bring it to the attention of Mr. Tommy Manning, Chairman of the Board, during the meeting.

Policy 3.100, Business Management Goals

Policy 3.200, Buildings and Grounds Management

Policy 3.201, Safety

Policy 3.202, Emergency Preparedness Plan

Policy 3.203, Crisis Management

Policy 3.205, Security

Policy 3.205.1, School Safety Zone

Policy 3.206, Community Use of School Facilities

Policy 3.207, Facility Expansion

Policy 3.208, Energy Conservation

Policy 3.209, Facilities Planning

Policy 3.210, Naming New Facilities

Policy 3.211, Project Planning

Policy 3.212, Involvement of Architects

Policy 3.213, Educational Specifications

Policy 3.214, Project Financing

Policy 3.215, Board Inspection and Acceptance

Policy 3.216, Retirement of Facilities

Policy 3.217, District Water Testing

Policy 3.220, Access to Private Facilities

Policy 3.300, Equipment and Supplies Management

Policy 3.3001, Use of Cellular Phones

Policy 3.301, Leasing and Renting

Policy 3.400, Student Transportation Management

Policy 3.401, Scheduling and Routing

Policy 3.402, Special Use of School Vehicles

Policy 3.404, Private Vehicles

Policy 3.500, Food Service Management

Policy 3.600, Insurance Management

Policy 3.601, Student Insurance Program

Policy 3.602, Workers' Compensation

Discussion:  The School Nutrition Department has increased participation and revenue.