The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. Several key items were discussed, including:
- A presentation by Dobyns-Bennett Students who attended the 2019 Student Congress on Policies in Education (SCOPE) Conference;
- Recognition of multiple KCS students and educators for various recent achievements, including
- D-B students receiving State Future Farmers of America Degrees;
- Students members of the D-B CyberTribe FIRST Robotics team;
- KCS educators completing Year 3 of the TDOE Micro-Credential Pilot; and
- KCS educators obtaining Level 1 and Level 2 Google Educator Certifications;
- Approval of 2018-19 Budget Amendment #4;
- Approval of an amendment to a contract between KCS and Perkins + Will for the construction of the D-B Science and Technology Center;
- Approval of the purchase of needed equipment for KCS cafeterias;
- Approval of the purchase of 1:1 technology devices for 4th, 5th, 7th, and 8th grades;
- Approval of the purchase of MathXL for use at D-B;
- Approval of one new and one revised Board Policy; and
- Presentation of the 3rd Quarter Financial Update for FY 2018-2019.
CALL TO ORDER
The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by students from the Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians.
- Several KCS students have earned Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards at their respective troop levels (Junior, Cadette, and Senior & Ambassador), the highest honor available. The awards combine skill-building with service.
- Gold Award - Jacqueline Byers (D-B Junior)
- Silver Award - Summer Hayes (D-B Freshman)
- Bronze Award - Makenzie Connelly and Alexis Hayes (Robinson Middle); Madison Houser, (Johnson Elementary); Destiny Stover (Jefferson Elementary); Mia Al-Khateeb, Emma Robinson, and Bailey Akers (Adams Elementary)
community interest REPORT
Dobyns-Bennett Social Studies Teacher Jason Clayman and three D-B students presented a report on their recent attendance at the Tennessee School Boards Association Student Congress on Policies in Education (SCOPE) Conference.
- The conference, attended by nearly 350 high school students from across Tennessee, took place on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN.
- Students at the conference explored education issues through mock school board meetings and group discussions.
- Participants met as a congress, where each group's student leader debated one of the day's topics.
- Events were designed to give students an understanding of how school boards operate, allowing them to express their opinions by voting on position statements involving the debated issues.
- Dobyns-Bennett students participating this year included seniors Abby Smith, Julian Chastain, Halle Hernandez and Kevin Loo (2019 1st Vice President).
RECOGNITIONS
Board Member Susan Lodal recognized three D-B students for receiving their State Future Farmers of America (FFA) Degree.
- The degree, presented at the 91st Tennessee FFA Convention on March 24-27, 2019 in Gatlinburg, represents the highest recognition the state association can give to its members.
- The D-B FFA members receiving their State FFA Degrees were Cameron McReynolds (Senior), Tatum O’Dell (Junior), and Aubrey Vincent (Senior).
- Cameron is a senior planning on attending UTK to pursue a degree in Agriculture Engineering. He is a three-year member of the FFA and is currently serving as co-president.
- Tatum is a currently a junior and is a three-year member of the FFA. She is currently serving as vice-president.
- Aubrey is a senior planning on attending Northeast State Community College before pursuing a Wildlife and Fisheries Science degree at UTK. She has served as co-president of her chapter during her senior year.
- FFA is an intra-curricular student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership. It develops members' potential and helps them discover their talent through hands-on experiences, which give members the tools to achieve real-world success.
Board Vice President Todd Golden recognized the Dobyns-Bennett High School CyberTribe Team for their successful FIRST Robotics season.
- Led by D-B Project Lead the Way teacher and CyberTribe coach Angela Conrad, the team had its most successful season.
- The team ranked #1 overall and won the Palmetto Regional competition, as well as finishing as runner-up in the Smoky Mountain Regional.
- At this year's national competition, the team was a quarter-finalist, competing against 67 teams from the United States and around the world. The team finished the competition ranked among the top teams in the world.
- At tonight's meeting, the reported on the highlights from this year's competitions and provided a demonstration of this year's robot.
Board Member Dr. Karen Reed-Wright, along with KCS Director of Professional Learning Dr. Stephanie Potter, recognized and provided a report on KCS teachers participating in the 2018 Tennessee Department of Education Micro-Credential Pilot (Year 3).
- Micro-credentials are a way for teachers to demonstrate professional competencies and provide evidence of outcomes from professional learning.
- The strength of Micro-credentials lies in the flexibility, voice and choice, and relevance provided for teachers, who have control over how the learning occurs and choice in topics most relevant to them and their students.
- The TN Department of Education broadened the choice of micro-credentials this year as the Tennessee Micro-credential Pilot entered Year 3 to gather feedback and explore avenues for providing more personalized learning for educators across the state.
- KCS teachers recognized for completing the pilot this year included:
- Ashley Carter
- Wendy Jones Harrison
- Kristy Williamson-Jackson
- Katie Salyer
- Stephanie Perry
- Andrew Walters
- Kathryn Bennett
- Alice Browder
- Michelle Loudermilk
- Sue Bragg
- Sara Leimkuhler
- Annette True
- Sam McCord
- Brandon Lewis
- Erica Gardner
- Amanda Dunham
- Leah Darnell
Board Member Eric Hyche, along with KCS Instructional Design Specialist Alyson Dowda, recognized KCS teachers that have earned the Google Educator Certification.
- Google Certified Educator is a program designed and managed by Google for educators who use G Suite for Education as part of their teaching and student learning. The program combines classroom experience with Google developed training resources and examinations that lead towards certification.
- KCS educators receiving Level 1 Google Educator Certifications were:
- Heather Usary
- Jon Tully
- Kathy Carter
- Megan Evans
- Madeline Gosey
- Derek Guske
- Mike Pencarinha
- KCS educators receiving Level 2 Google Educator Certifications were:
- Jason Jones
- Katie Beth Boggan
- Alyson Dowda
BUSINESS ITEMS
Mr. David Frye, KCS Chief Finance Officer, presented 2018-19 Budget Amendment #4 for Board consideration.
- The amendment included additional General Purpose Fund revenue from a Tennessee Arts Commission grant and three miscellaneous transfers related to school library, instructional supplies and materials, staff development, and awards and dues accounts.
- Adjustments to estimated revenue and appropriate amounts were also included related to the Federal Projects Fund and School Special Projects Fund.
- After review, the Board approved the budget amendment by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented a proposed amendment to an existing contract with Perkins + Will, which extends the formal end date of the D-B construction contract past the original end date of April 30, 2019.
- The date of the new proposal would allow for the final completion of all scope of services provided by Perkins + Will through September 30, 2019 at a cost of $50,000.
- Students and staff will begin using the new addition when they return to school for the 2019-20 school year.
- After review and discussion, the Board approved the contract amendment by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye and Jennifer Walker, KCS Supervisor of School Nutrition Services (SNS), reviewed a recommendation to purchase School Nutrition food service equipment from Tri-Mark Strategic Equipment, Inc.
- The equipment would be utilized at various SNS locations and would utilizing the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Agreement.
- The quote received from Tri-Mark Strategic Equipment, Inc., an authorized distributor of food service equipment, is in the amount of $129,368.32, which would be fully funded through the School Nutrition Services budget.
- Equipment includes needed items such as a dishwasher, steamers, a milk cooler, a refigerator, and ice makers.
- The Board voted 5-0 to approve the purchase of equipment for various KCS cafeterias.
Mr. Scott Pierce, KCS Director of Technology, reviewed quotes to purchase Acer C732 Chromebooks for 4th, 5th, 7th, and 8th grade students.
- The cost of the Chromebooks are $281.95 each, which includes the computer, Chrome license, and service fees.
- The total cost of the proposed purchase is $497,647.35, which is included in the KCS General Purpose Fund budget.
- After review and discussion, the Board approved the purchase of the devices by a vote of 5-0.
Dr. Rhonda Stringham, KCS Assistant Superintendent - Instruction, reviewed a recommendation to purchase MathXL for Dobyns-Bennett High School.
- The quote received from the MathXL publisher, Pearson, is in the amount of $62,643.00.
- The proposed purchase would be made using budgeted 2018-19 D-B textbook funds.
- After review, the Board approved the purchase by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Andy True, KCS, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, reviewed one new and one revised policy for Board consideration on First Reading.
- New Policy: 4.209 - Alternative Credit Options
- This policy, recommended by the TSBA, allows students across Tennessee the same access to certain course access courses that may not otherwise be available at their school.
- Revised Policy: 4.603 - Promotion and Retention
- Recommended changes to this existing policy reflect new parental notification requirements for students in kindergarten through 3rd grade that are not meeting expectations.
- Following a review, the Board approved the Policy recommendations by a vote of 5-0.
Reports
Mr. Frye provided a 3rd Quarter Financial Update for FY 2018-2019.
- Overall, current expenditures are roughly 67% of Budget, which is in-line for this time of year.
- To view Mr. Frye's full update, please click below.
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be a work session on Tuesday, May 28 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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