Kingsport City Schools

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BOE Meeting Notes - October 6, 2020

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The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, October 6, 2020.  Several key items were discussed, including:
  • A report on the Dobyns-Bennett BioBuilder program;
  • Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding regarding mental health services provided to KCS students; and 
  • Approval of the 2021-22 KCS Calendar.
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Meeting Audio
Detailed Meeting Notes

CALL TO ORDER

The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by Matthew Nash, a junior at Dobyns-Bennett High School.
  • Matthew has already completed 27 college credit hours, his combination welding certificate, and his first year of college.  
  • He is starting his A.A.S. degree and will be able to walk at the Northeast State Community College graduation ceremony this December.

REPORTS

Amanda Blackburn and Evie Lafollette, science teachers at Dobyns-Bennett, joined KCS Chief Academic Officer - Secondary Dr. Brian Cinnamon in presenting a report on the D-B BioBuilder program.
  • The award-winning curriculum from MIT offers students opportunities to participate in innovative STEM education, focused on synthetic biology.
  • BioBuilder activities provide the opportunity for students to integrate biology and engineering through practical, hands-on lessons and labs. 
  • Click below to view tonight's full BioBuilder presentation.

business items

Jim Nash, Chief Student Services Officer, presented a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Board approval.
  • The MOU outlines the agreement between KCS and Camelot Care Centers, Inc. regarding mental health and counseling services provided by Camelot for KCS students at various KCS schools.
  • The MOU outlines how nine Camelot mental health professionals will work with children, families of KCS students, and school staff to develop and implement treatment plans and provide services in accordance with established treatment plans.
  • The agreement stipulates that Camelot may provide services to students at all KCS schools.
  • After discussion, the Board approved the MOU by a vote of 5-0.
Andy True, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, presented a proposed 2021-22 KCS Calendar for review.
  • The calendar closely mirrors the 2020-21 KCS calendar, with a start-date of the first week of August, two full weeks (with three weekends) at the winter break, full-breaks in the fall and spring, and a graduation date a week prior to Memorial Day.
  • Key features of the calendar include:
    • Start Date:  Monday, August, 2, 2021
    • Fall Break:  October 11-15, 2021
    • Two mid-semester staff learning days:  October 22, 2021 and March 14, 2022.
    • Thanksgiving Break:  November 24-26, 2021
    • Winter Break:  December 20, 2021 - January 3, 2022 (staff returns for in-service day on Monday, January 3, 2022)
    • First student day of 2nd Semester:  Tuesday, January 4, 2022
    • Spring Break: March 28 - April 1, 2022
    • Last Student Day:  May 19, 2022
    • Graduation Day:  Saturday, May 21, 2022
  • After review and discussion, the Board approved the Calendar and the Designated Holiday Schedule for 12-month employees by a vote of 5-0.
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The next meeting of the Board of Education will be a work session on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at 6 p.m.  The work session will take place in the Tennessee Room of the Administrative Support Center (400 Clinchfield Street).
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For more information on KCS, visit www.k12k.com, listen live on WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, download our mobile app for Apple/Android devices or call (423) 378.2100. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook (Kingsport City Schools), Twitter (@KCS_District), Instagram (@kcs_district), LinkedIn (Kingsport City Schools), and check out our YouTube Channel (KPTSchools).