BOE Meeting Notes - July 9, 2019 – 2019-20 Board of Education Meeting/Work Session Notes

The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, July 9, 2019. Several key items were discussed, including:

Swearing in of newly-elected Board members;
Election of Board officers;
Recognition of Dobyns-Bennett Principal Dr. Chris Hampton for receiving the William J. and Lucille H. Field Award for Excellence in Secondary Principalship;
Approval of the projected Board agenda for 2019-20;
Approval of School Fees for the 2019-20 school year;
Approval of the 2019-20 School Nutrition program;
Approval of the 2019-20 Differentiated Pay Plan; and
Approval of a budget amendment related to funding for the Robinson Middle School roof replacement.

Tonight's reports and recognitions were broadcast live on the KCS Facebook Page! Click here to view the video from tonight's meeting.

Meeting Audio

Detailed Meeting Notes

CALL TO ORDER

The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by Kennedy Elementary students Bonnie Ann Irvin and Layton Middleton.

Bonnie Ann and Layton are both rising 1st graders at Kennedy.

At the start of tonight's meeting, Board members elected during the 2019 City of Kingsport municipal election were sworn in. Members starting their four-year term with this evening's meeting include:

Todd Golden
Julie Byers
Jim Welch

Board officers were elected for the 2019-20 year. After nominations, the Board elected:

President - Carrie Upshaw (elected unanimously)
Vice President - Eric Hyche (elected unanimously)

Following the election of officers, the Board reviewed and read Policy 1.1061 - Boardsmanship Standards.

Per Policy, the Board reads these standards annually to review and affirm the Code of Ethics for Board operations.
Click here to view Policy 1.1061 - Boardsmanship Standards.

7-9 Policy 1.200 - Internal Organizations

RECOGNITIONS

Tennessee General Assembly Representative John Crawford presented a proclamation to Dr. Chris Hampton, Principal of Dobyns-Bennett High School.

The proclamation recognizes Dr. Hampton for recently winning the prestigious 2019 William J. and Lucille H. Field Award for Excellence in Secondary Principalship.
The Field Award was established to recognize one outstanding secondary school leader each year who demonstrates leadership excellence through commitment to the values of civility, candor, courage, social justice, responsibility, compassion, community, persistence, service, and excellence.
Administered by the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at the University of Tennessee, the Field Award identifies a Tennessee secondary school principal whose life and work are characterized by leadership excellence; encourages secondary school principals to pause and reflect upon their current leadership practice; and to consider their experience, challenges, and opportunities in light of the personal values that they embody.

BUSINESS ITEMS

Items passed on the Board consent agenda tonight included:

The projected 2019-20 Annual School Board Agenda.
The list of Approved School Fees for 2019-20.

Jennifer Walker, KCS Supervisor of School Nutrition Services, reviewed a proposed agreement through the Tennessee Department of Education to administer school nutrition programs for the 2019-20 school year.

The TDOE agreement includes polices and procedures related to the:
- School Breakfast Program
- National School Lunch Program
- Seamless Summer Option
- After-school Snack Program
- Special Milk Program
Following a review and discussion, the Board approved the TDOE agreement by a vote of 4-0 (Golden absent).

7-9 TNDOE Agreement_to_Administer_SNP 2019-2020

Jennifer Guthrie, KCS Chief Human Resources Officer, presented the 2019-20 Differentiated Pay Plan for review and approval.

The plan outlines compensation processes for teachers in alignment with the Tennessee State Board of Education Strategic Compensation Policy.
The primary purpose of the differentiated pay is to support educator effectiveness and improve teacher recruitment and retention.
Mrs. Guthrie reviewed the plan, including the differentiated elements and how teachers received step increases for the 2019-20 school year.
Following the review, the Board approved the Differentiated Pay Plan by a vote of 4-0.

7-9 Differentiated Pay BOE Report 2019-20

Andy True, KCS Assistant Superintendent - Administration, presented 2019-20 Budget Amendment #1 for consideration.

The amendment provides funding for re-roofing at Robinson Middle School.
The estimated cost for this project, including contingency, is $1,004,700.
If approved, a formal bid approval will be presented to the Board at its August business meeting, with the intent to complete the roofing project before winter.
The Board voted 4-0 to approve Budget Amendment #1 to fund the replacement of the roof at Robinson Middle School.

7-9 Budget Amendment Number One - FY 2020

The next meeting of the Board of Education will be a work session on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 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.