Kingsport City Schools

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BOE Meeting Notes - April 13, 2021

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The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.  Several key items were discussed, including:
  • A community interest report regarding the John Sevier Middle School Orchestra program;
  • Recognition of the KCS District Teachers of the Year, Supervisor of the Year, and Principal of the Year;
  • Approval of the tenure recommendation for eligible KCS teachers;
  • Approval of a bid award for pre-k playground construction at Johnson Elementary School;
  • Approval of a bid award for playground construction at Lincoln Elementary School;
  • Approval of an agreement for the development of an energy system improvement project;
  • Approval of a professional services agreement regarding architectural services for the renovation of Sullivan North High School (the future John Sevier Middle School);
  • Approval of a district property purchase on Park Street; and
  • Approval of 2020-21 Budget Amendment #3.
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Meeting Audio
Detailed Meeting Notes

CALL TO ORDER

At the start of tonight's meeting, the Board and all attendees held a moment of silence in memory of Mr. Randall Roberts, a KCS employee that recently passed away.  Mr. Roberts was a valued and long-time member of the KCS technology department.
 
The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by Stone Collier.  Stone is a 7th grade student from Robinson Middle School.

Community Interest Report

Members of the John Sevier Middle School 8th Grade Orchestra presented three musical selections this evening.  The mini-concert introduced a community interest report about the orchestra, which is led by Mrs. Rachel Cinnamon.
  • As a part of the report, members of the orchestra discussed why they enjoy playing and the value of KCS having a string orchestra program, one of only two such programs in northeast Tennessee school districts.

Recognitions

Dr. Rhonda Stringham, Assistant Superintendent - Instruction, presented the 2021 Kingsport City Schools Teachers, Principal, and Supervisor of the Year.  Originally nominated by KCS staff and then selected by a district committee, this years honorees are:
 
  • Grades PreK-4 Teacher of the Year:  Jackilyn Heller (Jackson Elementary School)
  • Grades 5-8 Teacher of the Year:  Mona Fulkerson (Lincoln Elementary School)
  • Grades 9-12 Teacher of the Year:  Andy Irvin (Dobyns-Bennett High School)
  • Principal of the Year:  Dr. Chris Hampton (Dobyns-Bennett High School)
  • Supervisor of the Year:  Vicki Johnston (KCS Supervisor of Nursing)
 
CLICK BELOW to view full bios of the 2021 KCS Teachers, Principal, and Supervisor of the Year.
 
Also recognized at tonight's meeting were the 2020 KCS Teachers, Principal, and Supervisor of the Year, who were unable to be recognized by the Board last year due to COVID-19.  Those honored include:
  • 2020 Grades PreK-4 Teacher of the Year:  Christa Nidiffer (Washington Elementary School)
  • 2020 Grades 5-8 Teacher of the Year:  Bethany Paupeck (Kennedy Elementary School)
  • 2020 Grades 9-12 Teacher of the Year:  Jimmy Burleson (Dobyns-Bennett High School)
  • 2020 Principal of the Year:  Heather Wolf (Washington Elementary School)
  • 2020 Supervisor of the Year:  Tommy Starnes (KCS Supervisor of Transportation)

business items

Jennifer Guthrie, KCS Chief Human Resources Officer, presented a list of KCS teachers eligible for Tenure consideration.
  • 32 KCS educators have met the requirements for tenure during the 2019-20 school year.  The teachers recommended for tenure include:
    • Cara Tilson, Adams
    • William Miller, Adams
    • John Burleson, Dobyns-Bennett
    • Billy Etter, Dobyns-Bennett
    • Derek Guske, Dobyns-Bennett
    • Antonio Adinolfi, DBE
    • Leah Darnell, DBE
    • Sam McCord, DBE/Associate Principal at Robinson
    • Sarah Lamb, Jackson
    • Patricia Dygert, Jefferson
    • Sarah Fleming, Jefferson
    • Cory Parker, Jefferson
    • Lynna Bingham, Sevier
    • Chris Carr, Sevier
    • Luke Holt, Sevier 
    • Nick Lingerfelt, Sevier
    • Brian Winstead, Sevier
    • Ashley Willis, Lincoln
    • Denise Brown, Lincoln
    • Sierra Sallee, Lincoln
    • Autumn Stacy, Lincoln
    • Elizabeth Taliaferro, Lincoln
    • Kristen Way, Lincoln
    • Sophie Doty, Palmer
    • Sierra Bass, Robinson
    • Jennifer Margeson, Robinson
    • Shelby Morris, Robinson
    • Olivia Larkins, Roosevelt
    • Leilani DeFord, System-wide (SPED)
    • Deb Hughes, System-wide (SPED)
    • Kim Bradley, Washington
    • Cherie Herald, Washington
  • Following the presentation of eligible candidates, the Board approved the tenure recommendations by a vote of 5-0.
David Frye, Chief Finance Officer, reviewed recently opened bids for PreK playground construction at Johnson Elementary School.
  • The low bid, which was opened during the bid opening on April 6, 2021, was submitted by Goins Rash Cain, Inc. for $98,539.  
  • The actual equipment will be purchased directly from Superior Recreational Products at a cost of $48,512, utilizing the BuyBoard cooperative contract.
  • The total cost of the project will be $179,738 (including a 6% contingency), which will be funded from the Future School Capital Projects account and a $50,000 donation from the Johnson PTO.
  • In regard to this item and another playground proposal on tonight's agenda (construction at Lincoln Elementary), the Board held a lengthy discussion regarding the funding of playground improvements, including the potential for establishing financial expectations and parameters.  Members of the Board expressed a desire to further discuss such potential parameters for future projects at the upcoming Board mini-retreat on April 27.
  • Following discussion, the Board voted to award the construction contract to Goins Rash Cain, Inc. by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye reviewed recently opened bids for playground construction at Lincoln Elementary School.
  • The low bid, which was opened during the bid opening on April 6, 2021, was submitted by Goins Rash Cain, Inc. for $488,221.
    • The K-5 portion of the project will be funded with ESSER 2.0 funds in the amount of $436,323.
    • The Pre-K portion and the architect fee total is $108,821. This portion will be funded from the Future School Capital Projects account, a donation of more than $50,000 from the Lincoln PTA, and $10,000 in donations from the East Tennessee Foundation.
    • The total cost of the project will be $545,144 (including a 6% contingency).  
  • The Board voted to award the construction contract to Goins Rash Cain, Inc. by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented an agreement with Energy Systems Group (ESG) for consideration.
  • The proposed agreement is for the development of a energy system improvement project.
    • The project development phase would include a comprehensive evaluation of the heating, cooling, and ventilation systems throughout the district, as well as evaluating the upgrading of all of lighting in the district to LED. This phase will also include the development of the costs of the upgrades as well as a plan to fund these costs.
    • At the end of the project development phase, if it is determined to proceed with the implementation phase, a scope of services will be part of the notice to proceed. 
      • At that time, a recommendation to proceed or not to proceed will be presented to the Board of Education for their approval.  If the recommendation is to proceed, there will also be a scope of services presented to the Board for approval.
  • KCS has been working with ESG since 2010, at which time the district and ESG entered into an agreement for $5 million worth of energy-related improvements financed with an Energy Efficient Schools Initiative low-interest loan, which was repaid from the KCS operating budget from savings from guaranteed reduced energy costs.
  • After the presentation and review, the Board approved entering into the agreement by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented a proposed professional services agreement with Cain Rash West, Architect, for architectural services for the renovation of Sullivan North High School (the future John Sevier Middle School).  The proposed agreement is for six percent of the total construction budget and reimbursables not to exceed $100,000.
  • In May, 2020, the Board voted to enter into an agreement with Cain Rash West, Architects for scope development and budget estimate of the Sullivan North renovation project.  That phase has been completed and this proposal is for architectural services for the total renovation project.
  • The Board approved the agreement by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented information regarding a proposed purchase of a property on Park Street.
  • The owner of the property, 1745 Park Street, has agreed to a sale price of $10,780.
  • The purchase would be funded by the General Purpose School Fund - Capital Improvement Account.
  • The Board approved the purchase by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented 2020-21 Budget Amendment #3 for consideration.
  • The proposed Budget Amendment includes:
    • Purchase of a regular education bus.
    • Carryover of funds designated for D-B band and chorus travel (due to lack of current-year travel) to the 2021-22 Budget.
    •  Several miscellaneous school-level financial transfers.
  • After review, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the Budget Amendment.
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The next meeting of the Board of Education will be a work session/mini-retreat on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 4 p.m.  
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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).