The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Several key items were discussed, including:
- A community interest report on the Kennedy Elementary School HOWL'ers Club;
- Approval of a budget amendment to fund the purchase of student Chromebooks;
- Approval of an agreement to purchase student Chromebooks;
- Approval of a bid to improve fiber technology connections at Robinson Middle School, Sevier Middle School, and Dobyns-Bennett High School;
- Approval of a purchase of computers for teachers and school resource officers;
- Approval of an agreement providing elevator maintenance and repairs;
- Approval of a professional services agreement related to the design and construction of a roundabout on Legion Drive (in front of D-B);
- Approval of certain considerations related to the 2020-21 and 2021-22 KCS Calendar; and
- Presentation of the second-quarter Financial Update.
CALL TO ORDER
The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by Ashlyn and Evan Cline. Ashlyn and Evan are students from Jefferson Elementary School. Ashlyn is in the 4th grade and Evan is in 2nd grade.
Community Interest Report
Mr. Andy Walters, 3rd grade teacher at Kennedy Elementary School, presented a report to the Board on the Kennedy HOWL'ers Club.
- The Kennedy HOWL'ers are a group 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade young men seeking to improve themselves through new learning experiences and community interactions.
- Their goals are reached through partnerships among the Kennedy teachers and administration, as well as community partnerships.
- Activities include guest speakers and site visits to locations across Kingsport.
- The HOWL'ers three core values are to look your best, do your best, and be your best.
business items
David Frye, Chief Finance Officer, presented a Budget Amendment to the Board for approval.
- This Budget Amendment is to designate funds from the KCS Unreserved Fund Balance for the purchase of student Chromebooks, which will be considered later in this evening's agenda.
- This amendment is necessary to purchase devices in time for their arrival prior to the start of the 2021-22 school year.
- In order to issue a purchase order now for these devices, funds need to be available. The recommendation is to appropriate funds from the Unreserved Fund Balance and budget the funds as normal in the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget. Those funds would be left unspent and added back to the Unreserved Fund Balance at the end of FY 22.
- The Board approved the Budget Amendment by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye and Dr. Robinson presented a proposal for the purchase of student Chromebook devices.
- The proposal to purchase 1,385 Lenovo Chromebooks is for the regular replacement cycle of devices. The devices are for students entering 6th and 9th grades in Fall 2021.
- This purchase is typically completed by July 1 each year, but is being accelerated this year do to increased delivery timeframes. This purchase needs to be made as soon as possible to support delivery prior to the start of the 2021-22 school year.
- The recommendation is to purchase Lenovo 100e Chromebooks from Trafera, LLC. utilizing the National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance (NCPA) contract. Each Chromebook will cost $334.00, which includes the computer, Chrome license, and service fees. The total cost for the purchase of 1,385 devices will be $462,590.00.
- Funding for the purchase would come from Fiscal Year 2021 funds.
- After review and discussion, the Board approved the purchase by a vote of 5-0.
Dr. Tony Robinson, Chief Technology Officer, presented a proposal to award a bid for an upgrade of fiber connections for Robinson Middle School, Sevier Middle School, and Dobyns-Bennett High School.
- The recommendation to award the bid to Personal Computer Systems was based on a review of five proposals. The bid by Personal Computer Systems was deemed to best meet the needs of the district.
- The cost of the proposal ($45,021.41) would be funded through E-rate funding.
- This project will upgrade the fiber connections from MDFs to IDFs in the network closets at Robinson, Sevier, and Dobyns-Bennett.
- The project will take place between April 1 - June 30, 2021, with a projected start date of service on July 1, 2021.
- After review, the Board awarded the bid as recommended by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye joined Dr. Robinson to present a proposal to purchase teacher and School Resource Officer (SRO) technology devices.
- Three vendors submitted proposals for 200 laptops and docking stations and four Optiplex 3070 devices. Dell submitted the low quote for both ($253,588 for laptops/docking stations and $3,166.36 for Optiplex 3070).
- The purchase replaces older computers currently in use by teachers and SROs.
- Pricing is based on procurement cooperative agreements and bids from other state contracts.
- Funding for the purchase is available within the Fiscal Year 2021 Technology budget.
- After review, the Board approved the agreement and purchase by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented a proposal to enter into an agreement for elevator services across the district.
- Currently, service calls for elevator repairs are billed individually when they occur. It is expected that entering into an annual service agreement will result in cost savings for the district.
- The proposed contract is with Thyssenkrupp Elevator Corporation to provide elevator maintenance and repair services for eleven KCS facilities. The cost for the proposal is $40,260 for the first year.
- The proposal is for a 5-year agreement and would utilize the National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance contract.
- After review, the Board approved the agreement by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented a proposed agreement with Mattern & Craig, Inc. for civil engineering services to construct a roundabout on Legion Drive.
- The project would create a permanent roundabout structure, replacing the temporary setup in front of the ROTC Building and Pridemore Theater. This project has been anticipated as a part of the completion of the construction of the D-B Science and Technology Center and redesign of the parking/transportation patterns due to the new facility.
- Services provided would include design and development, survey, construction documents, bidding, and negotiation.
- The total fee proposed by Mattern & Craig, Inc. is $19,880.00.
- After review, the Board approved the agreement by a vote of 5-0.
Dr. Andy True, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, presented several considerations related to the 2021-22 KCS Calendar for review.
- Based on information received after the approval of the 2020-21 and 2021-22 KCS Calendars, the following was presented this evening:
- #1 - Endorse a date change of the 2021 Graduation from Saturday, May 22, 2021 to Friday, May 21, 2021.
- This revision is based on a recommendation from Dobyns-Bennett staff to move graduation to a Friday night event, due to positive feedback related to such a change for the 2020 graduation. This change would also allow for "rain date" scheduling on Saturday, should inclement weather postpone the event on Friday evening.
- #2 - Endorse a date change of the 2022 Graduation from Saturday, May 21, 2022 to Friday, May 20, 2022.
- #3 - Revise the date of the 2021 KCS Fall Break from October 11-15, 2021 to October 4-8, 2021.
- This revision is based on the release of the Fall 2021 athletic schedule, which has Dobyns-Bennett with a "bye" week (no Friday night football game) on Friday, October 8. Shifting the Fall Break one week earlier would align Fall Break with the bye week.
- #4 - Revise the date of the 2022 KCS Spring Break from March 28-April 1, 2022 to March 14-18, 2022.
- This revision is based on proposed travel by the Dobyns-Bennett Marching Band to perform at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ireland in 2022. The tentative dates of travel for that trip are March 12-21, 2022. The proposed change would minimize potential missed instructional days for involved students and staff.
- After consideration, the Board:
- By a vote of 5-0, endorsed the change of Dobyns-Bennett graduation to Friday evening in 2021 and 2022. D-B's 2021 graduation will take place on the evening of Friday, May 21, 2021. D-B's 2022 graduation will take place on the evening of Friday, May 20, 2022.
- By a vote of 5-0, moved the dates of KCS Spring Break 2022 from March 28-April 1, 2022 to March 14-18, 2022.
- Tabled consideration regarding a potential move of Fall Break 2021 until more information and feedback can be gathered.
REPORTS
Mr. Frye presented a financial update for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2020-21.
- The update includes a review of revenues, expenditures, and budget overview for the first half of this fiscal year.
- To view the full update, please click below.
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be a work session on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place in the Tennessee Room of the Administrative Support Center (400 Clinchfield Street).
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