BOE Called Meeting Notes - July 28, 2020 – 2020-21 Board of Education Meeting/Work Session Notes

The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held a special called meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2020. Several key items were discussed, including:

The KCS Framework for Opening the 2020-21 School Year - Operations Plan (tabled);
A revision to the 2020-21 KCS School Calendar (approved); and
A revision to Board Policy 2.601 - Fundraising Activities (approved).

Meeting Audio

07-28-20 - Kpt BOE Called Meeting - Electronic

Detailed Meeting Notes

CALL TO ORDER

The Board made the determination that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and per Governor Bill Lee's Executive Order 51, 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.

business items

The Board reviewed the status of the KCS return to school operations plans, including:

Discussion of relevant health information and guidance with Mr. Gary Mayes and Dr. Stephen May of the Sullivan County Regional Health Department. Mr. Mayes and Dr. May were present electronically to answer Board questions and to provide additional information.
Input from multiple KCS parents and community members who provided public comment about the return to school.

After discussion, the Board voted 5-0 to table a decision regarding the return to school plan. With the release of Governor Lee's school reopening guidelines late this afternoon, additional review is required to ensure KCS plans are informed by this new information. The Board indicated another called meeting could take place in the near future to approve the final plan for how KCS will begin school on August 10th.

To hear the audio of tonight's discussion, please click the audio file above. The full meeting video is also available on the KCS Facebook Page.

Andy True, KCS Assistant Superintendent - Administration, presented a proposed revision to the 2020-21 KCS Calendar.

There were three significant changes proposed:
- Move the 2020-21 KCS first day of school to Monday, August 10, 2020.
- Change the week of August 3-7, 2020 from student-attendance days to teacher in-service days (no students present).
- Change Friday, August 14, 2020 back to a regular student attendance day (previously, this day had been designated as a teacher in-service day).
The Board approved the proposed changes by a vote of 5-0.

Approved 2020-21 KCS Calendar REVISED 7-28-20

Mr. True presented a proposed revision to Board Policy 2.601 - Fundraising Activities.

The proposed revision is recommended per Public Chapter 134, which allows Boards to allow district employees to raise funds for non-educational purposes if there is a policy in place to allow for that. Such funds are often raised by staff for hospitality purposes.
After review, the Board approved the revision by a vote of 5-0.

The next meeting of the Board of Education will be a meeting on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place in the Tennessee Room of the Administrative Support Center (400 Clinchfield Street).

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).