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2022-23 Board of Education Meeting/Work Session Notes » BOE Meeting Notes - July 12, 2022

BOE Meeting Notes - July 12, 2022

The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, July 12, 2022.  Several key items were discussed, including:
  • Recognition of George Washington Elementary Principal Heather Wolf for being named a 2022 Tennessee National Distinguished Principal;
  • Approval to award a bid for engineering services related to HVAC upgrades at Jefferson Elementary School;
  • Approval of an agreement addendum related to design and construction of a dehumidification system for the Dobyns-Bennett High School pool;
  • Approval of 2022-23 Budget Amendment #1;
  • Approval of a contract addendum regarding surveillance camera upgrades across the district;
  • Approval of Board Policies; and
  • Approval of an agreement to continue substitute staffing services.
Meeting Audio
Detailed Meeting Notes

CALL TO ORDER

The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by Jude and Lillian Hite.  In May, Jude completed the 5th grade at Adams and is a rising 6th grader at Robinson Middle School.  Lillian will be a 4th grader this fall at Adams.  Jude and Lillian are the children of Justin and Chasta Hite.
 
 
At the start of tonight's meeting, the Board read aloud Policy 1.2021 - Boardsmanship Code of Conduct, as prescribed by the policy.

Recognitions

Board member Jim Welch recognized George Washington Elementary Principal Heather Wolf for being named a 2022 Tennessee National Distinguished Principal by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP).
  • The NAESP honors outstanding elementary and middle school administrators from across the nation and abroad for setting high standards for instruction, student achievement, character, and climate for students, families and staff in their learning communities.  
  • The 2022 National Distinguished Principal event will take place October 6-7, 2022 in Washington, DC.
  • Mrs. Wolf is in her 9th year as principal at Washington Elementary School.  She is a 28-year employee of KCS and has held teaching positions at Abraham Lincoln and George Washington Elementary Schools.  Mrs. Wolf also served as the Washington Early Childhood Learning Center Director and the district's 504 Coordinator.  From 2012-2014, she held the position of Associate Principal at John Adams Elementary School.

business items

David Frye, Chief Finance Officer, presented a proposal to award a bid for engineering services related to HVAC upgrades at Jefferson Elementary School.
  • Approaching the end of it's expected life-cycle, it is recommended that the district pursue replacement of the HVAC system at Jefferson.  This agreement would provide for engineering services for the project.
  • Mr. Frye reviewed a proposal from Holston Engineering services to provide a complete engineering package through receipt of bids and project management with associated documentation for a complete project.  
  • The recommended action was to approve executing the agreement for a lump sum fee not to exceed $120,000.00.  Funding for this project would come from ESSER 2.0.  
  • After review and discussion, the Board approved the agreement by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented a proposed addendum to an agreement related to a new pool dehumidification system for the Dobyns-Bennett High School pool.
  • In June 2021, Kingsport City Schools entered into an agreement with Thompson and Litton for architectural and engineering services for the Dobyns-Bennett pool dehumidification system for $17,250.00.  The initial agreement was for a study of the needed repairs and updates.  
  • The current recommendation is to move forward with the initial work and make improvements to the pool building, pool, and deck area.  The improvements also include the removal of the old pool filtration and ventilation equipment in the pool filtration/pump room and installation of a new pool filtration, pump, and pool water heating system.  
  • To accomplish these improvements, it is recommended the Board approve an addendum for the design and construction phases of the Dobyns-Bennett High School Pool Dehumidification System project in the amount of $45,300.00.  
  • Funding for this project would come from the Dobyns-Bennett Renovations Project fund.
  • After review and discussion, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the agreement.
Mr. Frye presented FY 2022-23 Budget Amendment #1 for approval.  Items found in the proposed amendment include:
  • Providing funding for school security upgrades, including upgraded surveillance cameras throughout the district.
  • Providing funding for upgrades to the audio/visual system in the Administrative Support Center Tennessee Room.
  • After review, the Board approved the Budget Amendment by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented a proposed change order related to previously approved surveillance camera upgrades.
  • In June 2022, the Board approved a contract with Central Technologies, Inc. for the replacement of surveillance camera equipment at Robinson Middle School.  
  • Additional funding has been identified to complete the upgrade for the entire school system (9 schools).
  • Funding for this project would come from the School Security/Technology Upgrades Project fund.
  • After review, the Board approved the change order by a vote of 5-0.
Dr. Andy True, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, provided a review of recommended Board Policy actions.
  • Policies reviewed this evening for recommended action included:
    • 3.500 - Food Service Management (Revised)
    • 4.101 - Instructional Standards (New)
    • 4.205 - Enrollment in College Level Courses (Revised)
    • 4.212 - Virtual Education Program (New)
    • 4.301 - Interscholastic Athletics (Revised)
    • 4.402 - Reconsideration of Textbook and Instructional Materials (New)
    • 4.403 - Library Materials (New)
    • 4.406 - Use of the Internet (Revised)
    • 4.600 - Grading System (Revised)
    • 5.119 - Employment of Retirees (New)
    • 5.201 - Separation Practices for Non-Tenured Teachers (Revised)
    • 6.409 - Child Abuse and Neglect (Revised)
  • After review, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the presented Policies.
Pulled from the Consent Agenda, Chief Human Resource Officer Jennifer Guthrie provided information regarding the district's proposed agreement with ESS Southeast, LLC.
  • The district has utilized ESS to provide substitute staffing services.
  • The proposed addendum would extend the agreement with ESS.
  • Following discussion, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the recommendation.

Reports

Board President Melissa Woods presented previous Board President Jim Welch with a recognition thanking him for his service as board president over the past two years.
 
Julie Byers shared a reminder regarding the deadline to renew Dobyns-Bennett Football season tickets, as well as a review of the Juneteenth celebration that took place in Kingsport.
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be a work session on Tuesday, July 26, 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).