The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, June 20, 2019. Several key items were discussed, including:
Recognition of Board members Susan Lodal and Dr. Karen Reed-Wright, who are retiring from the Board after tonight's meeting. Mrs. Lodal has served on the Board for 16 years and Dr. Reed-Wright has served one four-year term;
Approval of a school nutrition services produce bid for the upcoming school year;
Approval of a blanket textbook order for the 2019-20 school year; and
Approval of a bid for a partial roof replacement at Kennedy Elementary School.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by KCS Assistant Superintendent - Administration Andy True, and included an introduction of Dr. Kelly Harrell, new principal at John Adams Elementary School.
RECOGNITIONS
Board President Mrs. Carrie Upshaw recognized the two Board of Education members that will be retiring from the Board following this evening's meeting.
Mrs. Susan Lodal was first elected to the Board in 2003 and is concluding her fourth term, totally 16 years, which included multiple terms as Board president.
While serving on the Board, Mrs. Lodal has received numerous awards and honors, including the 2014 Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) Scholars Circle Award, 2013 Ambassadors for Education Certified, Master, Diamond and Platinum Level Awards, and is a past President of the TSBA (Treasurer 2012, Vice-President 2013, President-Elect 2014, President 2015). She received the National School Boards Association Distinguished Service Award (2007, 2010, 2012), the C. Hal Henard Distinguished Service Award in 2010, and was named to the All Tennessee School Board by the TSBA in 2010. She has served as the chairperson of the Tennessee Legislative Network and member-at-large of the TSBA Board of Directors (2007-2008) as well as being a member of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Lodal is a Master (Level V) School Board Member, the highest designation bestowed by the TSBA.
Dr. Karen Reed-Wright was elected to the Board in 2015 and is concluding a four-year term.
During her years with Kingsport City Schools, Dr. Reed-Wright was an elementary and middle school teacher, a peer evaluator, a staff development coordinator, a reading coach, and an interim principal. For eight years she worked as the Literacy Coordinator and was communications coordinator when the new Washington Elementary was first opened. During this time, Dr. Reed-Wright also traveled within and outside the state as a consultant providing workshops in both reading and mathematics. She also served as a member of the Tennessee Reading Panel, selecting guidelines for reading and language arts for school systems across the state. While a classroom teacher, Dr. Reed-Wright achieved Career Ladder III distinction and in 2000, at the White House, President Clinton presented her with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science. Dr. Reed-Wright is a National Board Certified Teacher (1999) and was selected as a YWCA Woman of Distinction in the Field of Education (2007). Most recently, Dr. Reed-Wright was recognized as one of over 100 members of the Junior League of Kingsport Women of Impact during the Kingsport Centennial Celebration in 2017.
KCS Assistant Superintendent - Instruction Dr. Rhonda Stringham presented a recommendation for a blanket textbook approval to be purchased in the 2019-20 budget year.
The blanket approval is with Tennessee Book Company, the official State of Tennessee school book depository/distributor.
The blanket order would allow for purchases up to $200,000, which was included in the FY 20 budget.
After review and discussion, the Board approved the blanket order by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. True presented a bid for approval to replace a portion of the Kennedy Elementary School roof.
The low bid, from Davis Brothers Roofing and Metal, would cover replacement of shingled portions of the Kennedy roof. If approved, the work would begin this summer.
After review, the Board approved the Kennedy partial roof replacement by a vote of 4-0 (Dr. Reed-Wright recused).
Following tonight's business items, several reports were provided, including Board reports on topics such as ... , as well as Dr. Moorhouse's end-of-year report to the Board.
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be on Tuesday, July 9 at 6 p.m. The meeting 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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