The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held a work session on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. Several important items were discussed, including:
- A presentation providing information regarding a current lawsuit seeking to hold social media companies accountable for the protection of children;
- A report on high school learning and freshman orientation programs that occurred during Summer 2024;
- A report on recent maintenance and facility improvements across the district;
- A review of an initial draft 2025-26 KCS School Calendar and Administrative Holiday Schedule;
- An introduction and review of several potential Board Policy revisions to be considered at the Board's October meeting;
- Review of a potential resolution supporting action by the Tennessee General Assembly to prohibit cell phone use in public schools; and
- Review of Board committee assignments for the 2024-25 school year.
Detailed Work Session Notes
The Board heard a presentation from William Shinoff, and attorney with Frantz Law Group.
- Mr. Shinoff remotely provided a presentation regarding a current lawsuit seeking to hold various social media companies accountable to do more to protect children.
- The Board will seek additional information from the Kingsport City Attorney and continue to consider this issue and potential participation in the future.
Dobyns-Bennett High School Assistant Principals Dr. Kristen Davenport and Bo Ford provided a report on high school learning and freshman orientation programs that occurred during Summer 2024.
- Summer learning for identified students took place using multiple rotations through math, English/Language Arts, and study skills.
- The report also covered topics such as how 8th graders transitioned into 9th grade with a variety of supports.
- Click below to view the full Summer Learning report.
David Sewell, Supervisor of Maintenance and Custodial Services, provided a review of maintenance and facility improvements that have recently taken place across the district.
- The report included work such as the ongoing Buck Van Huss Dome renovation project at Dobyns-Bennett, HVAC replacements at Robinson Middle School and Johnson and Lincoln Elementary Schools, renovation to the Nancy Pridemore Theater at D-B, and many additional projects at schools throughout the district.
- Click below to view the full Maintenance and Custodial report.
Dr. Andy True, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, presented a draft 2025-26 KCS Calendar and Designated Holiday Schedule for initial review.
- The proposed 2025-26 calendar is largely unchanged from the 2024-25 KCS Calendar.
- Components of the draft calendar include:
- School would start the first full week of August (First student day: Aug. 4, 2025)
- Fall Break: Oct. 6-10, 2025
- Thanksgiving Break: Nov. 26-28, 2025
- Two full weeks off over Christmas/New Years (Dec. 22, 2025 - Jan 2, 2026)
- Spring Break the last full week of March (March 23-27, 2026)
- Spring Holiday: Friday, April 3, 2026
- Last student day: Thursday, May 21, 2026
- It is anticipated that the Board will consider potential revisions to the draft and vote on a final calendar at its October meeting.
Dr. True presented several proposed Policy revisions for initial review and consideration.
- The potential Policy revisions discussed this evening on initial review are from Board Policy Manual Section 6 (Students).
- The proposed Policy revisions are necessary due to changes in state law during the 2024 Tennessee legislative session.
- 6.203 - School Admissions
- 6.300 - Code of Conduct
- 6.309 - Zero Tolerance Offenses
- 6.316 - Suspensions/Expulsion/Remand
- 6.318 - Admission of Suspended or Expelled Students
- 6.4052 - Opioid Antagonist
- The reviewed Policies will be considered on first reading at the October Board meeting.
Board President Melissa Woods presented for review a potential Board resolution supporting action by the Tennessee General Assembly to prohibit cell phone use in public schools.
- Such a bill may be presented during the upcoming Tennessee legislative session in 2025.
- A similar bill was introduced during the 2024 legislative session, but did not progress to the point of receiving a vote by the legislature.
- After discussion this evening, the draft resolution may be brought forward for formal consideration at the October Board meeting.
Mrs. Woods reviewed a list of Board member committee assignments for the 2024-25 school year.
- Click below to view the full list of committee assignments.
The next session of the Board of Education will be a joint work session with the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Alderman on Monday, September 30, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. The work session will be held in the Montgomery-Watterson Boardroom at Kingsport City Hall, 415 Broad Street, third floor, downtown Kingsport.
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), and check out our YouTube Channel (@kcs__district).
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