BOE Meeting Notes - April 14, 2020

The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2020.  Several key items were discussed, including:
  • The determination that meeting electronically was necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • Recognition of the Kingsport City Schools Teachers, Supervisor, and Principal of the Year;
  • Approval to award a bid for chicken commodity purchasing for the 2020-21 school year;
  • Approval to award a bid for cheese commodity purchasing for the 2020-21 school year;
  • Review and approval of a pay plan for staff participating in the closure feeding program;
  • Approval of two Board policies related to Human Resources issues; and
  • A review of KCS work during the COVID-19 closure.
Meeting Audio
Detailed Meeting Notes

CALL TO ORDER

The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by Kodi Black.  Kodi is a senior at Dobyns-Bennett High School. 
 
Following the Pledge, the Board made a determination that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was necessary to hold tonight's meeting electronically to protect the health, safety, and welfare of participants and observers.  By a roll-call response, each Board member affirmed an electronic meeting was necessary.

Recognitions

Dr. Rhonda Stringham, Assistant Superintendent - Instruction, presented the names of the 2020 Kingsport City Schools building-level Teachers of the Year and announced the three teachers chosen as the 2020 Kingsport City Schools district-level Teacher of the Year at the PreK-4, 5-8, and 9-12 levels.
  • District-level Teachers of the Year are:
    • Christa Nidiffer (grades Pre-K–4)
    • Bethany Paupeck (grades 5–8)
    • Jimmy Burleson (grades 9–12).
 
  • The 2020 KCS Principal of the Year is Heather Wolf, Washington Elementary School.
  • The 2020 KCS Supervisor of the Year is Tommy Starnes, Supervisor of Transportation.
 
The 2020 KCS Building-Level Teachers of the Year are:
 
Grades Pre-K-4
  • Sophie Doty, Palmer Center
  • Amy Caldwell, Adams Elementary School
  • Rebecca Mann, Jefferson Elementary School
  • Patricia Seabolt, Lincoln Elementary School
  • Kathryn Bennett, Roosevelt Elementary School
  • Christa Nidiffer, Washington Elementary School
    Grades 5-8
  • Ashley Page, Jackson Elementary School
  • Hilliary Laughlin, Johnson Elementary School
  • Bethany Paupeck, Kennedy Elementary School
  • Jennifer Margeson, Robinson Middle School
  • Carrie Warner, Robinson Middle School
  • Kathleen Donnellan, Sevier Middle School
  • Hunter Hilton, Sevier Middle School
    Grades 9-12
  • Jimmy Burleson, Dobyns-Bennett High School
  • Angela Conrad, Dobyns-Bennett High School
  • Bryan Kerns, Dobyns-Bennett High School
  • Evie Lafollette, Dobyns-Bennett High School
  • Brandon Reed, Dobyns-Bennett High School
  • Ben Robertson, Dobyns-Bennett High School
  • Amanda Dunham, D-B EXCEL
 
All of these employees will be recognized at a later date, when they are able to honored in-person by the Board.
 
Bios:
2020 Teachers of the Year (District-Level):
Christa Nidiffer, a 4th grade Teacher at Washington Elementary School, has been named the district winner for grades Pre-K-4. Nidiffer has a total of 25 years of teaching experience, with 21 years at Washington Elementary. She has taught multi-age grades 2-3, multi-age grades 3-5, multi-age grades 4-5, and since 2013, 4th grade. In 2002, Nidiffer was awarded the Kingsport City Schools District-Level Teacher of the Year, and in 2017 received the KCS World Class Award. She holds an undergraduate from the University of West Florida and two Master's degrees from East Tennessee State University.
 
Bethany Paupeck, a 5th grade Math and Science Teacher at Kennedy Elementary School, has been named the district winner for grades 5-8. Paupeck has a total of 14 years teaching experience, with seven years in her present position. She previously worked for Saint Lucie County Schools in Florida where she received the Instructional Leader of the Month (2009) and the Excellence in Teaching Award for State Test Scores (2006-2013). While at KCS, Paupeck was the recipient of the Kennedy Elementary P.A.C.K. Award (2019). She holds a degree from Georgia Southern University.
 
Jimmy Burleson, a 9-12 Special Education Teacher at Dobyns-Bennett High School, has been named the district winner for grades 9-12. In addition to teaching Functional Academics (Level 2) in a Specialized Learning Environment, Burleson is also the Dobyns-Bennett Assistant Athletic Director and Tribe Games Coordinator. Burleson has a total of nine years of teaching experience, with eight years at Dobyns-Bennett. Prior to Dobyns-Bennett, Burleson worked at Jackson Elementary School. In 2017, he was awarded the Kingsport City Schools School-Level Teacher of the Year and in the same year, received the KCS Student Focused Award. In 2019, he was named the ETSU - Clemmer College of Education - Outstanding Mentor Teacher. He holds a degree from East Tennessee State University where he graduated as Magna Cum Laude.
 
2020 Principal of the Year:
Heather Wolf, Principal of Washington Elementary School, has been named district Principal of the Year. Counting this school year, Wolf is in her 26th year as an educator with Kingsport City Schools, with six years in her present position. Wolf has previously taught at Lincoln Elementary School and Washington Elementary School where she was named the Washington Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2009. Wolf also served as an associate principal at Adams Elementary School. Wolf serves as a board member for membership and state advocacy for the Tennessee Principals Association and in 2019, she was named the recipient of the Robert W. Frazier Meritorious Service Award for exemplary service and commitment to the Tennessee Principals Association. Wolf holds an undergraduate degree in early childhood education from Indiana University, a Master's degree in early childhood education from East Tennessee State University, and an Educational Specialist degree in administration and supervision from Lincoln Memorial University.
 
2020 Supervisor of the Year:
Tommy Starnes, Transportation Supervisor for Kingsport City Schools, has been named district Supervisor of the Year. Starnes has been employed with Kingsport City Schools for 13 years, with five years in his present position. He has previously served as a substitute bus driver and a full-time bus driver. Starnes is a 2014 graduate of the Pal's Business Excellence Institute. Prior to his time with KCS, Starnes spent over 20 years as a professional musician touring the country. He currently plays bass for the Benny Wilson Band. Starnes has a background in logistics from working as a road manager and driving tour buses for various groups through the years which prepared him to coordinate the 40 bus routes that KCS runs daily.

business items

 
David Frye, KCS Chief Finance Officer, presented recently opened bids for chicken commodity purchasing for the 2020-21 KCS School Nutrition Services (SNS) Program.
  • Three vendors submitted bids for consideration.
  • After evaluation, Tyson and Gold Creek Foods were selected by the SNS program to provide products from 60,000 lbs of commodity chicken purchased with entitlement funds.
  • The contract agreement is for one year and has an option to renew for up to three additional years in one-year increments.
  • After review, the Board voted to award the bid to Tyson and Gold Creek Foods by a vote of 5-0. 
Mr. Frye, presented a recently opened bid for cheese commodity purchasing for the 2020-21 KCS School Nutrition Services (SNS) Program.
  • Land O' Lakes, Inc. was the only vendor to submit a bid for consideration.
  • The SNS program recommended awarding the bid to Land O' Lakes, Inc. to provide products from 4,000 lbs of commodity cheddar barrel cheese purchased with entitlement funds.
  • The contract agreement is for one year and has an option to renew for up to three additional years in one-year increments.
  • After review, the Board voted to award the bid to Land O' Lakes, Inc. by a vote of 5-0. 
Mr. Frye and Jennifer Guthrie, KCS Chief Human Resources Officer, presented a proposal regarding a pay plan for KCS staff working the COVID-19 closure food program.
  • The proposal would provide an additional $25/day for SNS workers, bus drivers, and assistants working in the closure feeding program.  Cafeteria managers would receive an additional $10/day (total $35) due to increased duties and hours worked each day.
  • The additional funds (from SNS funding) would be paid retroactively to Monday, March 30, 2020.
  • The Board approved the plan by a vote of 5-0. 
Andy True, KCS Assistant Superintendent - Administration, presented two policy items for review by the Board.
  • 1.8011 - Emergency Closings (REVISED)
    • Updated to include a provision on paying employees while schools are
      closed. This policy acknowledges that some employees may be paid while they are working from home or even while they are unable to work during this emergency. 
  • 5.115.1 - Telework During Emergencies (NEW)
    • TSBA has developed a new policy on telework during emergencies. This policy allows the Superintendent of Schools to set the parameters for employee telework during times where more flexibility in work settings may be necessary.
  • The Board voted to approve both policies on one reading only by a vote of 5-0.

REPORTS

 
Dr. Moorhouse presented a report reviewing the work of KCS staff and students throughout the COVID-19 closure.  Items reviewed included details regarding:
  • Continuity of Instruction
  • Continuity of School Nutrition Service
  • Technology
  • Student Services
  • Human Resources
  • Operations
  • Communications/Community Engagement
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be a work session on Tuesday, April 28, 2019 at 6 p.m.  
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.