Kingsport City Schools

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BOE Meeting Notes - September 12, 2023

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The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.  Several key items were discussed, including:
  • Recognition of Dobyns-Bennett High School seniors Malik Gamble and Oliver Winkler for being named as 2023 College Board National Recognition Programs Awardees;
  • Approval of a donation to KCS by the Greater Kingsport Family YMCA;
  • Approval of a bid to replace the boiler at Jackson Elementary School;
  • Approval of a bid for renovations at the Palmer Early Learning Center;
  • Approval of a recommendation to purchase up to five vans; and 
  • Approval of several Board Policies.
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Detailed Meeting Notes

CALL TO ORDER

The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by Abram and Adellen Poff.  Abram is a first grader and Adellen is in the third grade at George Washington Elementary School and they are the children of Adam and Jessica Poff.

Recognitions

Board member Todd Golden recognized Dobyns-Bennett High School seniors Malik Gamble and Oliver Winkler for being named as 2023 College Board National Recognition Programs Awardees. 
  • Malik Gamble received the National African American Recognition Award (NAARA).  
  • Oliver Winkler received the National Hispanic Recognition Award (NHRA).
  • Students who take eligible administrations of the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, or AP Exams will be considered for awards.  Students must also identify as Black, African American, Latino, Hispanic, Indigenous, Native, or attend high school in a rural area or small town. 

business items

David Frye, Chief Finance Officer, presented a recommendation to accept a donation from the Greater Kingsport Family YMCA.
  • The proposed donation is for sound equipment valued at $28,587.60.  
  • The equipment will be installed in the Robinson Middle School auditorium.
  • After review and consideration, the Board accepted the donation by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented a recommendation to accept a bid to replace the boiler at Andrew Jackson Elementary.
  • Though still operational, the existing boiler at Jackson is approaching its end-of-life and administration is recommending its replacement before failure occurs, especially prior to the onset of cold weather.
  • Bids were opened on August 23, 2023.  Five bids were received.  
  • The lowest compliant base bid was $86,175.00 from Premier Boiler & Combustion, LLC.  
  • The total cost of the project, including architect fees ($5,000) and a six percent contingency ($5,171), would be $96,346.00.
  • Funding for the project would come from the current operating budget capital improvement account.  
  • After review, the Board voted 5-0 to accept the bid to replace the Jackson boiler.
Mr. Frye and Dr. Andy True, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, presented a bid proposal for renovations at the Palmer Early Learning Center.
  • The recommended renovations are due to increases in the Special Education population at Palmer and the need for additional classroom space. Renovations would provide space for an additional class and open up the gym for Pre-K and ECLC use. 
  • One bid from Comsa Construction was received, with a base bid of $317,000.00.  This bid was over the anticipated budget for the project.
  • After receiving the bid, KCS and the architect worked with the contractor on potential value engineering items to lower the potential cost of the project.  The total of the identified value engineering options was $33,804.00, bringing the total construction cost of the project to $283,196.00.
  • Cain Rash West Architects recommends utilizing the value engineering options and contracting with Comsa Construction on this project.
  • The final recommendation is to enter into an agreement with Comsa Construction for the interior renovations for Palmer Early Learning Center for the base bid less value engineering options in the amount of $283,196.00 and authorizing a six percent contingency of $16,992.00. 
  • After discussion and review, the Board approved the bid for renovations at Palmer by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented a recommendation to purchase vans for KCS use.
  • The recommendation was to purchase up to five Chrysler Pacifica vans at a cost of $41,690.00 each from Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat of Columbia, TN.  
  • The quote is based on the Tennessee statewide contract #209.
  • After review, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the purchase recommendation.
Dr. True presented several potential Policy updates for approval.
  • 1.106 - Code of  Ethics (revised)
  • 1.400 - School Board Meetings (revised)
    • 1.400 was tabled for further research regarding the aggregate number of meetings that could be attended virtually in a year.  Dr. True will investigate the answer to this question.
  • 1.404 - Public Communication at Board Meetings (revised)
  • 3.204 - Threat Assessment Team (new)
  • After review, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the policies, minus 1.400, which was tabled.
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The next sessions of the Board of Education will be a called meeting and work session on Tuesday, September 26, 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).