Kingsport City Schools

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BOE Meeting Notes - March 10, 2026

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The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.  Several key items were discussed, including:
  • A special recognition by the Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton (TCAT) recognizing the partnership between TCAT and Kingsport City Schools;
  • Recognition of National Merit Scholarship Finalists from Dobyns-Bennett High School;
  • Recognition of U.S. Presidential Scholars from Dobyns-Bennett High School;
  • Approval of 2025-26 KCS Budget Amendment #5; and
  • Approval of an agreement providing internet services for KCS.
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Meeting Livestream and Audio
 
View the livestream from tonight's meeting on the KCS YouTube channel.
Detailed Meeting Notes

CALL TO ORDER

The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by Benjamin Pittman.  Benjamin is a Junior at Dobyns-Bennett High School.

Recognitions

The Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton (TCAT) presented a special recognition celebrating the partnership between TCAT and Kingsport City Schools.
  • Dr. Richard Church, TCAT Vice President, presented the recognition acknowledging KCS and the Dobyns-Bennett High School Career & Technical Education (CTE) Department for being TCAT-Elizabethton's Gold Level Dual Enrollment partner for Spring 2026.  KCS received a gold-level designation for the total number of students enrolled and a bronze level designation for the percent of student enrolled. 
  • KCS currently has 500 dual enrollment students at TCAT campuses or in embedded programs at D-B, which represents 22% of the D-B student body.
 
Board Vice President Melissa Woods recognized four D-B students that have been named National Merit Scholarship Finalists.
  • This National Merit Scholarship program identifies and honors the top high school students in the United States.
  • Identified students have demonstrated exemplary achievements in the classroom, commitment to co-curricular activities, and meaningful contributions in the community.
  • National Merit finalists will compete with the top high school students in the nation for approximately 6,900 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $26 million that will be offered this spring.
  • National Merit Scholarship winners for 2026 will be announced beginning in April and concluding in July.
  • The four National Merit Finalists from D-B are:
    • Eesha Kothari
    • Arrush Nagre
    • Aparajita Vashisth
    • Laila Venzon
 
Board President Dr. Brandon Fletcher recognized five D-B students that have been named as candidates in the 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
  • Application to the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is by invitation only.  Candidates are identified based on their scores on the SAT or ACT exam or their nomination by a Chief State School Officer during their year of graduation from high school.
  • Semifinalists will be announced in April and national winners are announced in May.
  • Students chosen as U.S. Presidential Scholars receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in June for National Recognition Weekend featuring various events, enrichment activities, and culminating in the presentation of the Presidential Scholars Medallion during a White House-sponsored ceremony.
  • The five U.S. Presidential Scholar candidates from D-B are:
    • Henry Clendennen
    • Benjamin Culp
    • Emily Doyle
    • Eesha Kothari
    • Laila Venzon

business items

David Frye, Chief Finance Officer, presented 2025-26 KCS Budget Amendment #5 for consideration.
  • The proposed amendment reflects increased revenues due to interest earnings and expense allocations related to KCS capital projects.
  • After review and discussion, the Board approved the Budget Amendment by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye and Andy Arnold, Chief Technology Officer, presented a recommended agreement to provide internet services for KCS.
  • The proposed agreement would change KCS from the current internet provider, Zayo Education, Inc, to United Data Technologies (UDT).
  • The agreement would utilize the Anderson County Schools agreement dated February 25, 2025.
  • The estimate provided by UDT reflects a monthly cost of $3,480 for the same services currently provided by Zayo Education, which would result in a monthly cost savings of $2,365.50 and annual cost savings of approximately $28,386.00.
  • After review and discussion, the Board approved the agreement by a vote of 5-0.
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The next session of the Board of Education will be a work session on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 6 p.m.  The work session will take place in the Tennessee Room of the Administrative Support Center (400 Clinchfield Street).
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Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a student-focused, world-class public school district located in Kingsport, Tennessee, proudly serving students across Sullivan and Hawkins counties. The district comprises 13 schools, including a Pre-K facility, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, a high school program of choice, and an alternative learning program. With a total enrollment exceeding 7,600 students, KCS is dedicated to fostering educational excellence, empowering student success, and ensuring all students are college and career ready. To learn more, visit www.k12k.com, tune in to WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, or contact the KCS Administrative Support Center at (423) 378.2100. Stay connected by following us on Facebook (@kcsdistrict), Instagram (@kcs__district), and YouTube (@kcs__district). 
 
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