The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, October 11, 2018. Several key items were discussed, including:
- A report on STREAMWORKS, an innovative community-supported program helping develop STEM and robotics experiences for KCS students;
- A recognition of the Dobyns-Bennett Air Force Junior ROTC unit, which for the 11th consecutive year, was named a Unit of Distinction, placing the unit among the best in the world;
- Approval to apply for a State of the Art music grant;
- Approval of a memorandum of understanding between KCS and Frontier Health/Link House;
- Approval of a contract for billing services related to services provided to students with disabilities;
- Approval of a contracted services agreement related to safety improvements for school entry areas;
- Approval of a contracted services agreement to facilitate the bid and construction process for improvements to the Kennedy Elementary School playground;
- Approval of the 2019-2020 KCS School Calendar;
- Consideration and approval, on first reading, of several Board policies;
- Two financial reports, including the 2017-18 4th quarter financial update and school activities fund audit.
CALL TO ORDER
The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by the Dobyns-Bennett High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).
- Cadets presenting the Colors this evening included Color Guard Commander, Cadet Senior Airman Cayden Watt, Cadet 2nd Lt. Wyatt Wenk, Cadet Airman Amanda Scott, and Cadet Airman Basic Joe Johnson.
- Cadet Capt. Sarah George led the Pledge. She serves as Cadet Squadron Commander and is a recent ETSU scholarship award winner.
community interest report
Dennis Courtney, Executive Director of STREAMWORKS, provided a presentation about educational opportunities available to students through STREAMWORKS.
- STREAMWORKS is an educational program that delivers enhanced opportunities for students (grades K–12) to participate in mentor and project-based programs that focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills; inspire innovation; and foster well-rounded life capabilities.
- Statistics show that by 2020, 65 percent of all jobs will require training beyond high school. At current enrollment rates, the U.S. will be short five million workers for these skilled careers.
- STREAMWORKS supports local K–12 science and mathematics education and helps get students excited about opportunities in higher education and technical fields.
- Click here to view tonight's STREAMWORKS presentation.
RECOGNITIONS
Board member Dr. Karen Reed-Wright recognized Dobyns-Bennett High School Air Force JROTC cadets and instructors for recently earning the AFJROTC Distinguished Unit Award for the 2017-2018 school year.
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This is the eleventh consecutive year the unit has received this prestigious honor.
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The Distinguished Unit Award is the highest level award for an Air Force Junior ROTC unit, placing Dobyns-Bennett in the top 25 percent of all units worldwide.
- With this distinction, all first and second semester D-B Cadets will receive the Distinguished Unit Award Ribbon for their uniforms, the guidon, or unit flag, will have another streamer added, and Dobyns-Bennett will retains its designation as an Honor Military School for the 2018–2019 School Year.
- Since the D-B Air Force Junior ROTC program was established in 2006, over 550 D-B students have participated in at least one semester. Of the D-B cadets who were active all four years, approximately nine percent joined the officer or enlisted ranks of the Armed Services. Former D-B Cadets are currently on active duty with the US Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps. There are also Junior ROTC graduates attending the US Air Force, US Naval and Merchant Marine Academies.
Dr. Amy Doran, KCS Coordinator of Early Childhood/Grant Writer, presented a State of the Arts music grant proposal for submission approval.
- If won, the grant would allow KCS teachers to develop new music education programs, including Orff programs for elementary schools and a music-technology lab at D-B.
- The maximum amount of the three-year grant, if awarded, would be $200,000.
- The Board voted 5-0 to approve submission of the grant application.
Dr. Jeff Moorhouse, KCS Superintendent, presented a proposed Memorandum of Understanding between Frontier Health/Link House and KCS/City of Kingsport.
- The MOU would formalize an agreement to serve students living at Link House would attend Cora Cox Academy, D-B EXCEL, and Robinson Middle School.
- The Tennessee Department of Education has requested a formal agreement between KCS and Link House, as the system serves Link House students.
- After a review and discussion, the Board approved the MOU by a vote of 5-0.
Mrs. Jacki Wolfe, KCS Director of Special Education, presented a contract for billing services by Public Consulting Group.
- The contract provides reimbursement for school-based health-related services for students with disabilities.
- The renewable contract is for an initial term of one year.
- Following presentation and discussion, the contract was approved by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. David Frye, KCS Chief Finance Officer, presented a proposed professional services contract for school safety projects at nine KCS schools.
- The agreement with architect James Wright is to provide services related to safety improvements to receptionist windows, per the recommendation of the KCS Safety Task Force.
- The improvements involve the replacement of existing glazing and window frames at receptionist window areas at: Jackson, Johnson, Jefferson, Kennedy, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Washington, Robinson, and Sevier.
- Following review and discussion, the Board approved the agreement by a vote of 4-0.
- Board member Dr. Karen Reed-Wright recused herself from discussion and voting on the agreement, due to her relation to the contracted individual.
Mr. Frye and KCS Assistant Superintendent - Administration Andy True presented a proposed professional services contract for playground improvements at Kennedy Elementary School.
- The agreement with Barge Design Solutions would provide professional civil and landscape architectural services for the drawings and specifications required for the bidding process for new playground structures at Kennedy Elementary School.
- Barge Design Solutions would also provide bid and construction administration services for the playground project.
- Following review and discussion, the Board approved the agreement by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. True reviewed the proposed 2019-2020 KCS School Calendar, which was originally shared with the Board at the September 2018 Board Meeting.
- The proposed calendar is similar to the calendar implemented in previous years and includes:
- Start date - August 5, 2019
- Fall Break - October 14-18, 2019
- Thanksgiving Break - November 27-29, 2019
- Winter Break - December 23, 2019 - January 3, 2020
- Spring Break - March 23-27, 2020
- Spring Holiday - April 10, 2020
- Graduation Day - May 23, 2020
- Mr. True also presented the proposed 2019-2020 Designated Holiday Schedule for 12-month employees.
- After review, the Board approved the 2019-2020 KCS Calendar and Designated Holiday Schedule by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. True presented two new and three revised policies for Board approval on first reading.
- 3.212 (New Policy) – District Water Testing. Public Chapter 977 requires every board of education to develop a policy on reducing potential sources of lead contamination in drinking water in public schools. This law goes into effect on January 1, 2019. It requires that all school facilities built before January 1, 1998 be tested at least every two years and contains reporting requirements.
- 6.2001 (New Policy) – Absence During Postsecondary Visits. Due to changes to State Board of Education Policy 4.100, the excused absences list in model policy 6.200 has been modified. College visits and school sponsored activities are no longer excused absences, instead those students may now be counted as present. However, to count a student present for missing a school day to take a college visit, State Board of Education Policy 4.100 requires that boards adopt a policy allowing students to participate in these type of visits. New model policy 6.2001 aligns with this new requirement.
- 1.1061 – Boardsmanship Standards. Board Policy 1.1061 has been revised to accurately reflect an annual reading of the policy after the election of Board officers (typically at the start of the July BOE meeting), as well as correcting a job title as “Superintendent of Schools,” for consistency.
- 5.1141 – Teacher Effect Data. School-level administrative analysis regarding student and teacher data is necessary to create the best environment for success. Board Policy 5.1141 outlines the administrators to which teacher effect data is made available. A revision is requested to include school assistant and associate principals, so that the full administrative team is able to collaborate on such decisions.
- 6.200 – Attendance. Due to changes to State Board of Education Policy 4.100, the excused absences list in model policy 6.200 has been modified. College visits and school sponsored activities are no longer excused absences, instead those students may now be counted as present.
- Following discussion, the policies were approved on first reading by a vote of 5-0.
REPORTS
Mr. Frye presented two reports to the Board this evening:
- The financial update for the last quarter of FY 2017-18
- The audit results of the Financial Statements for the School Activity Funds for fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be a work session on Tuesday, October 23 at 6 p.m. The work session will take place in the Tennessee Room of the Administrative Support Center (400 Clinchfield Street).
Read and follow our blog, "We Are KCS" to learn more about the great people and programs of Kingsport City Schools. Check it out at www.WeAreKCS.com.
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