The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, August 8, 2023. Several key items were discussed, including:
- Approval to purchase phonics intervention kits;
- Acceptance of several donations to KCS;
- Approval of 2023-24 Budget Amendment #2;
- Approval to purchase a new marquee for Dobyns-Bennett High School; and
- Approval of several Board policies on first reading.
Dr. Rhonda Stringham, Assistant Superintendent - Instruction, and Emily Helphinstine, Coordinator of Literacy Programs, presented a recommendation to purchase Benchmark Phonics Intervention (BPI) Kits for the 2023-2024 school year.
- The BPI program is designed for students who are two or more years below grade-level expectations. BPI lessons are designed to be delivered by educators one-on-one with students or in small student groups. The kits would be used by KCS Interventionists.
- The cost to purchase the kits is $69,410.25, which utilizes a ten percent savings due to using a TIPS cooperative purchasing contract.
- After review and discussion, the purchase of BPI intervention kits was approved by a vote of 4-1.
David Frye, Chief Finance Officer, presented information regarding several donations to KCS for consideration of acceptance by the Board. The presented donations were:
- $3,585 donated from the John Adams Elementary PTO for the purchase of rubber playground mulch.
- $60,000 donated from Andy and Amanda Eidson for the replacement of the electronic marquee on Ft. Henry Drive at Dobyns-Bennett High School.
- $25,000 from an anonymous donor to the D-B Athletics Department. $15,000 was designated for girls basketball and $10,000 for boys basketball.
- After review, the Board accepted the donations by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented 2023-24 KCS Budget Amendment #2 for review and approval.
- The Budget Amendment adjusted expected revenue to the General Purpose School Funds due to the donations just accepted by the Board.
- After review, the Board approved Budget Amendment #2 by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented a recommendation to purchase a new electronic marquee for the front of Dobyns-Bennett High School, replacing the current marquee on Ft. Henry Drive.
- The new Galaxy Outdoor Electronic Message Center would be purchased utilizing the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Agreement with Daktronics.
- The cost of the marquee is $57,709 and would be funded by the donation from Andy and Amanda Eidson.
- After review, the Board approved the purchase by a vote of 5-0.
Dr. Andy True, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, presented several potential Policy updates for review and approval.
- 3.202 - Emergency Preparedness Plan
- 3.204 - Threat Assessment Team
- 3.205 - Security
- 4.300 - Extracurricular Activities
- 6.4001 - Student Surveys, Analyses, and Evaluation
- 6.402 - Physical Examinations and Immunizations
- After review, the Board voted 5-0 to approved the proposed policies on first reading.
The next session of the Board of Education will be a work session on Tuesday, August 22, 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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