recognitions

• The championships took place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
• In addition to winning the overall Class AAA championship, the D-B Band received the top Class AAA scores for Outstanding Music Performance and Outstanding Visual Performance.  The band was also named an overall finalist when competing against bands of all class sizes.
• In finals performance, the band placed eighth overall when competing against the top Class AAAA and AAA bands in the nation. 
• The band is led by Lafe Cook, director, as well as:
  
  • Drum Majors
    • Conner Hall
    • Ella Halliburton
    • Grace Nelson
    • Bethany Triplett
  • Guard Captains
    • Reagan Doner
    • Ericka Pierce

discussion items

• CRW has been leading the design phase of the project, through an ongoing collaborative process with KCS and Sevier administrators and staff.
• The design phase has included a deep review of the identified educational and design needs for the renovated school.  CRW has based their design work on this review.

• 4.201 - Class Size Ratios (NEW, 2nd Reading)
• 1.700 - School System Goals (REVISED)
• 1.8011 - Emergency Closings (REVISED)
• 2.300 - Compatibility of Services (NEW, 1st Reading)
• 5.306 - Military Leave (NEW, 1st Reading)
• 6.300 - Code of Conduct (REVISED)
• 6.306 - Interference/Disruption of Schools Activities (NEW, 1st Reading)
• 6.4081 - Safe Relocation of Students (REVISED)

• The Tennessee General Assembly recently passed House Bill 9072, which allows for the election of school board members to be conducted on a partisan basis.  If utilized, a person seeking a position on a school board would campaign as the nominee or representative of a political party.  
• Currently, elections for a seat on the Kingsport Board of Education are non-partisan, meaning that a school board candidate does not designate his/her party affiliation when running for election.  The names of candidates for school board elections are included on the ballots without reference to any party affiliation, and any qualified candidate can run for a school board seat.  
• The majority of states currently have nonpartisan school board elections, with only a small number allowing for partisan elections for school boards. 
• After review and discussion, the Board voted 4-1 to approve the resolution.

• 5.202 - Separation Practices for Non-Certified Employees (NEW, 2nd Reading)
• 4.201 - Class Size Ratios (NEW)
• 5.117 - Procedure for Granting Tenure (REVISED)
• 5.201 - Separation Practices for Non-Tenured Teachers (REVISED)
• 6.202 - Home Schools (REVISED)
• 6.500 - Students with Special Needs (REVISED)

• The anonymous donation is being provided specifically for upgrades at J. Fred Johnson Stadium.
• Based on its age and current condition, the sound system in the stadium is in need of repair.
• The Board voted 5-0 to accepted the anonymous donation.

• Specific information on the Budget Amendment included:
  • The previously approved 2021-22 Budget included funding to decrease by one-half (for impacted teachers) the difference between teacher step numbers that were below the step represented by their actual years of experience. The proposed Budget Amendment this evening would further eliminate the last one-half of the gap.  After discussion, the amendment was revised to make the salary gap-closure adjustment for impacted teachers retroactive to the beginning of the 2021-22 year.
  • Item one was tabled until the December business meeting (to allow for further information to be provided to the Board).
• After discussion, the Board approved the proposed budget amendment (items 2-4 and the School Project Fund) by a vote of 5-0.

• The proposal covers engineering services for lighting and sound system upgrades at J. Fred Johnson Stadium.
• After discussion, the Board approved the proposal by a vote of 5-0.

• Two vendors submitted bids for the project, EMS LINQ, Inc, and the current vendor being utilized by KCS, Horizon Software.
• Based on a review of software capability and overall cost, the KCS recommendation is to award the bid to EMS LINQ, Inc.
• The bid pricing would remain the same over the next ten years and would be funded by the School Nutrition Services budget.
• After a review, the Board voted 5-0 to accept the bid from EMS LINQ, Inc.

• Two vendors submitted bids for dairy products, DFA Dairy Fluid, LLC/Mayfield Dairy, and the current vendor being utilized by KCS, Prairie Farms Dairy.
• Based on a review of the quality of service and overall cost savings of $30,861.90 in the first year, the KCS recommendation is to award the bid to Prairie Farms Diary. 
• The contract not-to-exceed amount is $350,000.00 and the agreement begins January 8, 2022 and runs through June 30, 2023.
• After review, the Board voted 5-0 to accept the bid from Prairie Farms Dairy.

• All School Activity Funds are in good financial condition and have received an unqualified opinion.
• Eight schools received no findings, with a finding at two schools, which has been reviewed by bookkeepers and principals.  Findings from previous years have been corrected in full.