The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, July 7, 2016. Several key items were discussed, including:
- Election of the Board President (Mr. Eric Hyche) and Vice President (Mrs. Susan Lodal) for the 2016-17 school year;
- Recognition of two D-B student athletes for winning Track & Field State championships;
- Consideration of a Community Eligibility Provision program that will provide no-cost breakfast and lunch for all students at six KCS title schools, beginning this school year;
- Consideration of a TIF grant application;
- Revision of two existing Board policies regarding bullying and student wellness due to changes in State law; and
- Consideration of two new policies regarding religious content in courses and student suicide prevention due to changes in State law.
call to order
The Pledge of Allegiance was led tonight by Molly Bates, a 4th grade student at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School. Molly is the daughter of Chad and Gayle Bates.
KCS Superintendent Dr. Lyle Ailshie presided over the election of the Board of Education President for the 2016-17 school year.
- The floor was opened for nominations, at which time Mr. Eric Hyche was nominated by Dr. Karen Reed-Right.
- Mr. Hyche was elected Board President for the 2016-17 school year by a vote of 5-0.
- According to Board election procedures, Mr. Hyche then assumed leadership of the meeting and election proceedings, asking for nominations for Vice President.
- Mrs. Susan Lodal was nominated by Mrs. Carrie Upshaw to serve as Board Vice President.
- Mrs. Lodal was elected Board Vice President by a vote of 5-0.
Following the election of officers and in accordance with Board Policy, Mr. Hyche read aloud the Boardsmanship Standards that guide the actions of the Board (Policy 1.1061).
RecognitionS
Board President Mr. Eric Hyche and Dobyns-Bennett High School Track & Field Head Coach Mr. Bob Bingham recognized two student athletes for winning 2016 TSSAA Boys' Track State Championships (Class AAA).
- The TSSAA State Track & Field Championships were held at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, on May 27, 2016.
- Rising Senior Bryce Barrett captured 1st place in the 400 Meter Dash.
- Bryce is a three-time state champion and was undefeated this season in running the 400 meter dash, winning the state title with a time of 47.83. He was also named to the Tennessee sportswriters All-State Track Team.
- Jordan Jeffers, a 2016 graduate, captured 1st place in the Triple Jump.
- This season, Jordan set a D-B school record of 47' 8" in the triple jump and won the state title by almost a full foot. He will attend Milligan College this fall.
Chief Finance Officer Mr. David Frye and Supervisor of School Nutrition Services (SNS) Mrs. Jennifer Walker presented details of the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) for six title schools in the KCS district.
- CEP will enable all students at title schools to eat a school-provided breakfast and lunch at no cost, regardless of economic status.
- Title schools qualify for this program based on their percentage of directly certified (DC) students.
- The current DC percentage will meet the requirements for KCS to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost at six title schools for the next four years.
- The six title schools involved are Jackson, Johnson, Kennedy, Lincoln, and Roosevelt Elementary Schools and Sevier Middle School.
- The USDA will reimburse KCS for 97% of meal participation at the highest rate for schools in our district.
- After review and consideration of the program details, the Board voted to adopt the recommendation to implement the program, starting this school year and lasting for four years, by a vote of 5-0.
Superintendent Dr. Lyle Ailshie and Coordinator of Early Childhood/Grant Writer Dr. Amy Doran presented information pertaining to a Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) grant for which KCS intends to apply.
- This application will be submitted by a consortium comprised of Kingsport City Schools, the Association of Independent Municipal Schools (AIMS), other AIMS member local education agencies (LEAs), and Battelle for Kids.
- The purpose of this consortium is to refine and elevate local human capital systems to better serve the needs of the districts' highest need schools and students.
- The grant application is for $25 million and would be shared (by percentage) across the consortium districts.
- If received, KCS would intend to use TIF funding for additional professional development, as well as provide funding for Phase 2 of the district strategic compensation plan.
- After review and consideration, the Board approved the request to proceed with TIF grant application by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Andy True, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, reviewed proposed revisions to two separate policies; 6.304 and 6.411. Both revisions are due to changes to Tennessee state law from this year's legislative session.
- Policy 6.304: Student Discrimination, Harassment, Bullying, Cyber-bullying and Intimidation is required to be enacted at the beginning of the 2016-17 school year and adds additional procedural requirements for bullying investigations.
- Once a report of bullying is received, the district must initiate an investigation within 48 hours and complete the investigation within 20 calendar days, unless appropriate documentation can be produced justifying a extended investigation period.
- The district must also immediately notify parents or legal guardians of any student involved in an act of harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyber-bullying.
- Policy 6.411: Student Wellness has been revised to reflect new State physical activity standards.
- Students in grades K-1 are required to receive a minimum of three fifteen-minute periods of non-structured physical activity per day.
- Students in grades 2-6 are required to receive a minimum of two twenty-minute periods of non-structured physical activity at least four days per week.
- Students in grades 7-12 are required to receive 90 minutes of physical activity per week.
- Physical activity cannot include time spent walking to and from classes.
- After review and consideration, both revised policies were approved on first and final reading by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. True also reviewed two new policies; 4.804 and 6.415. Both new policies are due to changes to Tennessee state law from this year's legislative session.
- Policy 4.804: Religious Content of Courses is being added due to the enactment of Public Chapter 660, which requires districts to adopt a policy regarding the appropriate inclusion of religion in local curriculum and instructional materials.
- Districts are required to allow public comment before adoption of the policy.
- The inclusion of religion shall be for educational purposes only; studies shall never be used to proselyte, establish, foster, or demean any particular religion, tenet, or belief.
- A course syllabus must be made publicly available for all grade 6-12 social studies, science, math, and English language arts courses. The syllabus must include standards, objectives, topics covered, major assignments, and field trips.
- Policy 6.415: Student Suicide Prevention is being added due to the enactment of Public Chapter 623, which requires all employees of a school district to attend annual in-service training on suicide prevention.
- Each district must adopt a policy on suicide prevention that contains procedures related to prevention, intervention, and postvention.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be on Tuesday, August 4, 2016 at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place in the Tennessee Room of the Administrative Support Center (400 Clinchfield Street).
Skip to main content
