The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, January 11, 2022. Several key items were discussed, including:
- Recognition of the John Sevier Middle School "Sequoyah Scribe" student newspaper for receiving a 1st Place award from the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA);
- Approval of COVID-19 temporary paid sick leave for KCS employees;
- Approval to reject bids for landscape maintenance services;
- Approval to reject bids for mowing and trimming services;
- Approval of a bid to replace electrical switchgears at the future Sevier Middle School;
- Discussion of a proposal to purchase smart LED-LCD TVs for use in KCS secondary schools;
- Approval to purchase Boxlight interactive panels for use in KCS secondary schools;
- Approval of a plan regarding broadcasting of BOE meeting and work sessions; and
- Consideration of a proposal to utilize an outside third-party to conduct the annual superintendent evaluation process.
CALL TO ORDER
The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by Carter and Rylee Lewis. Carter is a 1st grader and Rylee is a 2nd grader at Kennedy Elementary School. Carter and Rylee are the children of Chad and Suzanne Lewis.
Board Member Todd Golden recognized the staff of the John Sevier Middle School Sequoyah Scribe for winning the Fall 2021 "Best of Show" award by the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA).
- The Sequoyah Scribe won 1st Place for Newspaper/Newsmagazine in the Junior High/Middle School category of the NSPA Fall 2021 contest.
- The Sequoyah Scribe is the extra-curricular journalism program at Sevier. The program produces student-written, student-designed, and student-led newspapers, yearbooks, social media, and a website.
- The Sequoyah Scribe is led by Sevier social studies teacher and journalism advisor David Flanary.
- Founded in 1921, the NSPA is a non-profit educational association providing journalism education services to students, teachers, media advisors, and others throughout the United States and in other countries.
Jennifer Guthrie, Chief Human Resource Officer, presented a proposal to extend temporary COVID-19 sick leave for KCS employees.
- The proposal, effective January 1, 2022, would provide a maximum of five days of COVID-19 leave based on certain criteria.
- The proposed COVID-19 leave would expire on the following dates:
- For employees scheduled to work for ten calendar months, the expiration date of this additional leave is May 19, 2022.
- For employees scheduled to work more than ten calendar months, the expiration date of this additional leave is the earlier of either June 30, 2022, or the end of the employees scheduled work year.
- After review and discussion, the leave was approved by a vote of 5-0.
David Frye, Chief Finance Officer, presented information related to landscape services and the recent bid for such services across KCS.
- Only one bid was received for the project, which was significantly higher than expected.
- Based on this, the administration recommendation is to reject the bid and pursue other options for maintaining landscaping across KCS.
- After a review, the Board voted 5-0 to reject the bid.
Mr. Frye presented information related to mowing services and the recent bids for such services across KCS.
- Two bids were received for the project, which were significantly higher than expected.
- Based on this, the administration recommendation is to reject the bids and pursue other options for mowing across KCS.
- After a review, the Board voted 5-0 to reject the bids.
Mr. Frye presented information related to an electrical switchgear project needed at the future Sevier Middle School property.
- The project is needed related to electrical/lighting of the athletic fields of the former Sullivan North property. KCS intends to begin utilizing these fields in various ways prior to the location becoming John Sevier Middle School.
- Two bids were received for the project, the low bid being submitted by Massey Electric, Inc.
- After review, the Board approved the bid and awarded the contract to Massey Electric, Inc. by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented a request to purchase smart LED-LCD TVs for use in KCS secondary schools.
- The request to purchase 77 Samsung 4k UHDTVs from Central Technologies, Inc. would utilize the Sevier County Cooperative Purchasing Agreement.
- The total cost of the proposed purchase, which includes TV carts, cables, delivery, and setup, is $109,648.
- Funding for the purchase would come from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) 3.0 fund.
- After review, the administration recommendation to purchase failed for lack of a motion. The Board requested further investigation of potentially putting the project out for bid.
Mr. Frye presented a request to purchase Boxlight interactive panels for use in KCS secondary schools.
- The request to purchase 104 75-inch interactive flat panel displays would utilize the Sevier County Cooperative Purchasing Agreement.
- The total cost of the purchase, which includes displays, stands, and other services, is $281,320.
- Funding for the purchase would come from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) 3.0 fund.
- After review, the Board approved the purchase by a vote of 5-0.
Dr. Andy True, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, presented updated information to the Board related to options for broadcasting of Board meetings and work sessions.
- The Board has been discussing potential options for live broadcasting of meetings and work sessions, including methodologies and the equipment needed for such options.
- At the most previous discussion, the Board requested further information related to live broadcasting utilizing the district's broadcast FM radio station, WCSK 90.3 FM. Dr. True provided information regarding the equipment and procedures potentially necessary to facilitate such a broadcast.
- Updated information was also shared with the board regarding potential costs for upgrading the KCS Tennessee Room technology for other broadcast forms.
- After discussion and review, the board voted 5-0 to immediately pursue live broadcasting of meetings and work sessions on WCSK, 90.3 FM. The KCS Communications Department will begin the process of purchasing and installing the necessary equipment to facilitate such broadcasts.
- Additionally, the Board expressed a desire to (through the KCS budgetary process) improve the current technology in the Tennessee Room to best support the instructional and professional goals of the district, while also facilitating an increased ability to broadcast board sessions with video and audio. Administrative staff will prepare a plan to be reviewed and considered during the development of the upcoming KCS Budget.
Jim Welch, Board President, provided information regarding the potential hiring of an outside third-party to conduct the annual KCS superintendent evaluation process.
- Information has been received from Impact Education Group, LLC regarding such services. Their proposal is to perform the annual evaluation at a fee of $6,500 with additional travel costs not to exceed $3,500.
- After review and discussion, the Board voted 5-0 to approve a contract with Impact Education Group, LLC. The Board will further discuss desired evaluation parameters at its January work session.
After being pulled from the Consent Agenda, Dr. True reviewed Policy 6.306 - Interference/Disruption of School Activities with the Board.
- Proposed for adoption on 2nd reading, the Policy is based on Public Chapter 77.
- Public Chapter 77 establishes guidelines for principals and teachers to follow when disciplining students as well as a process for the removal of a student from a teacher's classroom. It also includes an appeal process that a teacher can utilize if the principal denies the teacher's removal request.
- After review, the policy was approved on 2nd reading by a vote of 5-0.
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be a work session on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at 6 p.m. The work session 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, read our blog, We Are 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), Instagram (
@kcs_district), Twitter (
@KCS_District), LinkedIn (
Kingsport City Schools), and check out our YouTube Channel (
KPTSchools).
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