BOE Work Session Notes - March 26, 2019

The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held a called meeting and work session on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. Several key items were discussed, including:
  • Called Meeting:
    • Consideration of a revision and extension of the contract of Superintendent Dr. Jeff Moorhouse;
  • Work Session:
    • A review of the Superintendent evaluation process; and 
    • A report on the Portrait of a Graduate work underway throughout KCS.
Work Session Audio
Detailed Called Meeting Notes
As the single agenda item of the called meeting, the Board considered a change of terms and extension of the employment contract of Superintendent Dr. Jeff Moorhouse.
  • Board President Mrs. Carrie Upshaw presented general findings from the recent evaluation process utilized by the Board regarding Dr. Moorhouse.
  • Dr. Moorhouse's initial contract was executed on January 23, 2018.
  • After one year on the job and in response to his recent Board evaluation process, the proposed amendments to Dr. Moorhouse's contract include:
    • Extend the contract to a period of four years, through March 31, 2023.
    • Provide a two percent (2%) increase on the base salary and allowances, plus any cost of living increase that is provided to KCS contract employees.
    • Adjust administrative leave days to 20 for 2019-20, and 25 starting in 2020-2021.   
  • Following consideration and discussion, the Board voted 4-0 (Todd Golden absent) to approve the amendment to Dr. Moorhouse's contract.
Detailed Work Session Notes
Mrs. Upshaw provided an update on the establishment of a revised Superintendent review/evaluation process and timeline.
  • Key components/timelines of the proposed review process include:
    • January - Employee Survey 
      • Odd-numbered years:  Administrative/Cabinet Employees
      • Even-numbered years:  All KCS Employees
    • January - Superintendent Self-Evaluation
    • February - BOE review of surveys and self-evaluation
    • March - Superintendent review and contract adjustments (preferred in even-numbered/non-election years)
    • April - Mini-retreat by Board to set goals for next year
    • June - Superintendent End-of-Year Report
    • September - BOE Retreat (review data, adjust goals, review large items prior to budget process, review evaluation process)
    • November - Superintendent Mid-Year Progress Report 
  • This process will be formalized for inclusion in the KCS Administrative Procedures, with a goal to ratify the process at the April, 2019 BOE meeting.
KCS Assistant Superintendent - Instruction Dr. Rhonda Stringham presented a report on the Portrait of a Graduate (POG) work taking place in KCS.
  • The Portrait of a Graduate is a framework that school administrators, faculty and staff will use as a guide for designing and implementing a challenging, learner-focused curriculum and for preparing students who will engage with, lead in, and impact our world so they can be successful in their future.
  • Essential questions to be asked, answered, and implemented throughout the POG process include:
    • How has the world changed?
    • What skills do our students need?
    • How are we doing with developing those skills?
    • What can we do better?
    • What will change as a result of this process?
    • What is STEM’s role in our future?
  • In today's world, it's not enough to consider what students know, but instead what they can do with what they know.
  • To view Dr. Stringham's full presentation on the Portrait of a Graduate, click the link below:
The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 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 WeAreKCS.com.