The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, February 13, 2023. Several key items were discussed, including:
- Approval of a single candidate to be considered as the next KCS Superintendent: Dr. Chris Hampton;
- Approval to enter into contract negotiations naming Dr. Hampton the permanent Superintendent of KCS;
- Approval of the purchase of three vans for Dobyns-Bennett High School;
- Approval of the purchase of student Chromebook devices;
- Approval to enter into an agreement regarding the purchase and maintenance of broadband connections;
- Approval of an agreement regarding engineering services for HVAC replacement at Robinson Middle School;
- Approval of an agreement regarding engineering services for HVAC replacement at Johnson Elementary School;
- Approval of an agreement regarding engineering services for HVAC replacement at Lincoln Elementary School;
- Approval of an agreement regarding architectural services for construction at D-B EXCEL;
- Approval of an agreement regarding architectural services for gymnasium floor work at Sevier Middle School;
- Approval of 2022-23 Budget Amendment #6; and
- Approval of two Board Policy revisions on first reading.
CALL TO ORDER
The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by Lyndon Malone and Neyleigh Steffy, kindergarten students at John F. Kennedy Elementary School. Lyndon is the son of John and Meaghann Malone, and Neyleigh is the daughter of Landon and Brittney Steffy.
business items
Dr. Tammy Grissom, Executive Director of the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA), was present at the meeting and presented a report on the status of the search for the new Superintendent of Kingsport City Schools.
- The Board had previously contracted with TSBA to facilitate the search, including the application process and bringing recommended candidates to the Board for interviews.
- The deadline to apply for the position was February 3, 2023. A total of six candidates applied for the position, three of which met the minimum qualifications.
- After reviewing candidates and the criteria set forth by the Board, the TSBA recommended only one candidate for Board interviews: Dr. Chris Hampton.
- The Board voted 5-0 to accept the recommendation from TSBA.
After accepting the recommendation of TSBA, a motion was made to forego the interview process and enter into contract negotiations with Dr. Hampton for the position of permanent superintendent.
- Kingsport City Attorney Bart Rowlett was present to provide guidance to the Board regarding the motion.
- The Board voted 5-0 to accept the motion to enter into contract negotiations naming naming Dr. Hampton the permanent superintendent.
- The Board then voted 5-0 to authorize Board President Melissa Woods to lead the contract development and negotiation process.
David Frye, Chief Finance Officer, presented a proposal to purchase three 7-passenger vans for use by Dobyns-Bennett High School.
- The vans would be added to the D-B Activities fleet. One van would be purchased by Cora Cox Academy to replace an aging van that needs to be taken out of the fleet.
- The proposed purchase was for three Ford Transit Connect Wagon 7-passenger vans from Ford of Murfreesboro at a cost of $32,177.00 each. Statewide Contract 209 would be used for this purchase, with funding from the internal funds of Dobyns-Bennett Activities.
- Following review, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the purchase.
Mr. Frye presented a recommendation to purchase 2,300 Chromebook devices for student use.
- The purchase would use the Wilson County Schools Cooperative Purchasing Agreement for the devices and licenses.
- The unit cost for the devices is $202.50, as well as $29.17 for licenses (1,000 licenses would be purchased).
- The total cost of the proposed purchase was $494,920.00. Funding for the purchase would come from the School General Purpose Fund.
- After review, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the purchase.
Mr. Frye presented a proposed agreement to utilize a Tennessee Educational Broadband Consortium State Master Contract to purchase internal connections and basic connection maintenance for the fiscal year 2023-2024.
- The agreement with Personal Computers Systems, Inc. is contingent upon receiving E-Rate funding, Board of Education approval, and Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen approval.
- After review, the Board approved the proposed agreement by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented a proposed professional services agreement for HVAC replacement at Robinson Middle School.
- The services would include a complete engineering package produced by Holston Engineering, including through receipt of bids and project management, for needed HVAC replacement at Robinson.
- The overall estimated cost of the HVAC replacement project at Robinson is $4 million, plus engineering fees and contingency.
- The proposed agreement, including all associated documentation for a complete project, was for a fee not to exceed $240,000.00, which is 6% of the estimated project cost.
- Funds for the project would come from ESSER 3.0.
- After review, the Board approved the agreement with Holston Engineering by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented a proposed professional services agreement for HVAC replacement at Johnson Elementary School.
- The services would include a complete engineering package produced by Thompson & Litton, including through receipt of bids and project management, for needed HVAC replacement at Johnson.
- The overall estimated cost of the HVAC replacement project at Johnson is $2 million, plus engineering fees and contingency.
- The proposed agreement, including all associated documentation for a complete project, was for a fee not to exceed $120,000.00, which is 6% of the estimated project cost, plus $8,000 for reimbursable expenses incurred.
- Funds for the project would come from ESSER 3.0 and/or General Purpose School funds.
- After review, the Board approved the agreement with Thompson & Litton by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented a proposed professional services agreement for HVAC replacement at Lincoln Elementary School.
- The services would include a complete engineering package produced by Thompson & Litton, including through receipt of bids and project management, for needed HVAC replacement at Lincoln.
- The overall estimated cost of the HVAC replacement project at Lincoln is $2 million, plus engineering fees and contingency.
- The proposed agreement, including all associated documentation for a complete project, was for a fee not to exceed $120,000.00, which is 6% of the estimated project cost, plus $8,000 for reimbursable expenses incurred.
- Funds for the project would come from ESSER 3.0 and/or General Purpose School funds.
- After review, the Board approved the agreement with Thompson & Litton by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented a proposed professional services agreement with Cain Rash West Architects, Inc. (CRW) for desired work at D-B EXCEL.
- The agreement would provide for architectural services produced by CRW regarding proposed construction of currently unfinished space at DBE.
- The proposed agreement was for a contract amount not to exceed $6,000.
- Funds for the agreement would come from School General Purpose Funds.
- After review, the Board approved the agreement by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented a proposed professional services agreement with Cain Rash West Architects, Inc. (CRW) for desired work at Sevier Middle School.
- The agreement would provide for architectural services produced by CRW regarding proposed renovation of gym floors in the main gymnasium and the Sprankle gymnasium.
- The proposed agreement was for a contract amount not to exceed $9,000.
- Funds for the agreement would come from School General Purpose Funds.
- After review, the Board approved the agreement by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented proposed Amendment #6 to the FY 2022-23 KCS Budget.
- The proposed amendment includes:
- An adjustment/increase of 5% to the classified pay scale, effective March 6, 2023.
- This increase would be reflected in paychecks of classified employees beginning on March 31, 2023.
- The cost of the increase would be a recurring amount of $164,000.
- To better reflect the current market rates for bus drivers, a movement of the pay lane for bus drivers from Lane E to Lane F. This would represent a pay increase of 7.5% and will have an impact to the Budget of $18,300 for the remainder of FY 2023.
- An acceptance of a donation to the D-B CyberTribe robotics team of $30,000.
- After discussion and review, the Board approved 2022-23 Budget Amendment #6 by a vote of 5-0.
Dr. Andy True, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, presented two proposed Policy revisions for Board consideration.
- 4.700 - Assessment Programs
- At their October 2022 meeting, the State Board of Education made changes to their regulation on
non-public schools. This updated regulation now mandates that Boards include policy language if
they require students transferring from these schools to take an exam for credit or grade placement.
As KCS requires such testing, it is recommended that Policy 4.700 be updated to address this new
requirement, per TSBA model policy 4.700.
- 5.310 - Vacations and Holidays
- To support the district goal of hiring and retaining high quality employees and to more closely align
with City of Kingsport employee benefits, KCS administration recommends revising Policy 5.310 to
provide 12-month employees twelve (12) designated holidays per year.
- After review, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the two Policy revisions.
- *With tonight's revision to Policy 5.310, please see below for the revised 2023-24 KCS Designated Holiday Schedule.
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be a work session on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 6 p.m. The work session will take place in the Tennessee Room of the Administrative Support Center (400 Clinchfield Street).
KCS has been ranked the "#1 Best Place to Teach in Tennessee" by the 2023 NICHE Best Schools Ranking and the City of Kingsport has been voted as the "Nicest Places in America" in the October 2022 Reader's Digest.
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