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2022-23 Board of Education Meeting/Work Session Notes » BOE Meeting Notes - January 10, 2023

BOE Meeting Notes - January 10, 2023

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The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.  Several key items were discussed, including:
 
  • Recognition of Dr. Kyle Loudermilk, principal of John Sevier Middle School, for being named the Tennessee Department of Education Principal of the Year;
  • Recognition of Dr. Jacki Wolfe, KCS Director of Special Education, for being named the 2022 East Tennessee Supervisor of the Year by the Tennessee Association for Administrators in Special Education;
  • Board approval of tenure for 25 KCS educators;
  • Approval of a revised Tennessee School Boards Association KCS Superintendent vacancy announcement brochure;
  • Approval to purchase student Chromebook devices; and
  • Review of the Fiscal Year 2021-22 Audit Report.
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Meeting Audio
Detailed Meeting Notes

CALL TO ORDER

The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by Adalaya Eaton, AJ Stewart, and Aryana Stewart, students at Jackson Elementary School. Adalaya is a 4th grader and is the daughter of Ann Adams and Travis Eaton.  AJ is in 4th grade and Aryana is in 5th grade.  They are the children of Andrew and Christina Stewart.  

Recognitions

Board member Jim Welch recognized Dr. Kyle Loudermilk, principal of John Sevier Middle School, for being named the 2022-23 Tennessee Principal of the Year by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE).
  • The announcement was made during the Excellence in Education celebration in Nashville on December 7, 2022.  
  • The Principal of the Year award recognizes administrators who have provided educational opportunities for Tennessee students through leadership, programs, and vision.
  • Nominations were accepted from the state’s school districts, with up to three semifinalists identified by selection committees in each region.  The region-level finalists were then selected by a state-level selection committee.  Overall winners were identified from the finalists following a panel interview.
  • Dr. Loudermilk previously served as principal at Andrew Jackson Elementary School when he was named the KCS 2022 Principal of the Year.  He has previously served as an associate principal at Kennedy and Lincoln Elementary Schools, interim assistant principal at Robinson Middle School, and associate principal at Sevier Middle School.
 
Board Member Julie Byers recognized Dr. Jacki Wolfe, Director of Special Education, for being named the 2022 East Tennessee Supervisor of the Year by the Tennessee Association for Administrators in Special Education.
  • The award recognizes special education directors, supervisors, and other special education administrators for demonstrating outstanding service and dedication to educating children with disabilities.  
  • Prior to joining KCS as the Special Education Director, Dr. Wolfe served as Regional Consultant and Statewide Monitoring Coordinator for Federal Programs and Special Education for the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) in the Division of Consolidated Planning and Monitoring.  She also has 16 years of experience as a teacher and administrator with Sullivan and Hawkins County Schools.  Dr. Wolfe also serves as adjunct professor at Milligan University and serves as board president for the Palmer Center Foundation, Inc. 

business items

Jennifer Guthrie, Chief Human Resource Officer, presented 25 KCS educators for tenure approval.
  • The teachers have met the requirements for tenure due to their length of service and Level of Effectiveness Scores.
  • Board approval is required for tenure to be granted.  Prior to tonight's meeting, Board members had been provided information on recommended teachers, including evaluation scores, educator licensure, and attendance information.
  • Teachers recommended for tenure include:
    • Mackenzie Tate - Lincoln
    • Brandon Holley - Robinson
    • Julie Carrier - Robinson
    • Fanta Henderson - Johnson
    • Whitney Steadman - Johnson
    • Mary Jennee Allison - Johnson
    • Cortney Bess - Johnson (Speech)
    • Logan (Carrie) Burton - Washington
    • Kelli Cate - Washington
    • Brian M. Trent - Dobyns-Bennett
    • Monique Qualls - Dobyns-Bennett
    • Chris Poore - Dobyns-Bennett
    • Michael Pencarinha - Dobyns-Bennett
    • Jason Jones - Dobyns-Bennett
    • Holly Fain - Dobyns-Bennett
    • Megan Evans - Dobyns-Bennett
    • Megan Carr - Dobyns-Bennett
    • Melanie Blankenship - Dobyns-Bennett
    • Ashley Throp - Dobyns-Bennett
    • Erica Gardner - DBE
    • Amanda Dunham - DBE
    • Kristy Rowe - Palmer
    • Carrie Morrison - Palmer
    • Laura Davis - Palmer
    • Elizabeth Johnson - Kennedy
  • Following review, the Board voted 5-0 to approve tenure for the presented teachers.
Board President Melissa Woods presented a revised draft of the KCS Superintendent vacancy informational brochure for review and approval.
  • The information, compiled and distributed by the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA), will be used to promote and advertise the district and vacancy in recruitment efforts.
  • After review, the Board approved the brochure by a vote of 4-1 (pages 1-3 of the attached brochure options). 
    • The Board agreed to revise the deadline for candidates to submit applications to February 3, 2023.  
David Frye, Chief Finance Officer, presented a proposal for the purchase of student Chromebook devices.
  • The proposal was for the purchase of 2,000 Chromebook 11 3100 devices ($202.50 each) and 1,000 Chrome licenses ($29.15 each).  The total cost of the purchase proposal was $434,150.00.
  • After review, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the purchase of student Chromebook devices.

REPORTS

Mr. Frye presented the audit results of the financial statements for the School Activity Funds for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2022.
  • To view the summary audit memo and full report, click below.
 
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The next meeting of the Board of Education will be a work session on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at 6 p.m.  The work session will take place in the Tennessee Room of the Administrative Support Center (400 Clinchfield Street).
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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.
 
For more information visit www.k12k.com, listen live on WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, or call the KCS Administrative Support Center at (423) 378.2100. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook (kcsdistrict), Instagram (kcs__district), Twitter (@kcs__district), LinkedIn (kcsdistrict), and check out our YouTube Channel (@kcs__district).