The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held a work session on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 Several key items were discussed, including:
- Recognition of the Board during School Board Appreciation Week;
- A presentation on two recommended policy revisions;
- A report on social and emotional learning;
- A report regarding KCS district communications efforts;
- A preview of the upcoming KCS Annual Report release; and
- A discussion regarding the KCS Superintendent search.
Detailed Work Session Notes
At the start of tonight's work session, Assistant Superintendent - Administration Dr. Andy True recognized the Board as a part of Tennessee School Board Appreciation Week.
- Each year, Tennessee celebrates School Board Appreciation Week as a way to honor local school board members. This year, the week is Jan. 22-28, 2023 and is a chance for local communities to thank these individuals for giving their time and service to support children, educators, and families.
- At tonight's meeting, books were donated to school libraries on behalf the KCS Board members. BOE members also received an appreciation gift... a print/map of Kingsport highlighting KCS schools. Dr. True also read a proclamation issued by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee in recognition of the Board.
- Additionally, Board members are being highlighted this week across all KCS social media platforms and on WCSK Radio, 90.3 FM.
- Kingsport City Schools thanks and honors our five Board members:
- Melissa Woods, Board President
- Todd Golden, Board Vice President
- Julie Byers
- Dr. Brandon Fletcher
- Jim Welch
Dr. True 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.
- The Board will consider action on these two recommended revisions at their February business meeting.
Johanna Montgomery, Coordinator of Coordinated School Health, presented a report on social and emotional learning efforts in KCS.
- The report reviewed topics including:
- The current state of mental health in the district/community.
- Current trends found in school resource officer data.
- An update on social and emotional learning in the district.
- The Board also had a period of Q&A with Mrs. Montgomery.
- Click below to view the full report from this evening's work session.
Dr. True and Marybeth McLain, Communications Editor, presented a report regarding KCS district communications efforts.
- The goal of the communications department is to support the district goal of engaging families and stakeholders with accessible, effective supports, and meaningful communication.
- Such supports include production of a variety of publications, district marketing and event planning, promotions, research and development, and emergency event management.
- Communications efforts are supported by the work of Dobyns-Bennett High School Work-Based Learning interns each year.
- Electronic communications is also a focus of the department, through the facilitation of a variety of social media platforms, websites, and WCSK Radio 90.3 FM.
- Click below to view the full presentation.
Dr. True and Mrs. McLain presented a preview of the upcoming KCS Annual Report.
- Once again this year, the Annual Report will be presented in a calendar format and mailed to KCS households.
- Click below for a preview of this year's Annual Report cover.
At the end of this evening's work session, the Board discussed potential structures for the interview process to be utilized in selecting the new KCS Superintendent. Board President Melissa Woods will be seeking additional clarification on options with the Tennessee School Boards Association and the Kingsport City Attorney, to be considered at the Board's February meeting.
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be on Monday, February 13, 2023 at 6 p.m. The meeting 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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