Kingsport City Schools

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BOE Meeting Notes - February 11, 2025

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The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.  Several key items were discussed, including:
  • Recognition of the winner of the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN) Battelle Education Poetry Coding Contest for 7th grade students in Tennessee;
  • Recognition of the 2025 Dobyns-Bennett High School Unified Bowling team for their outstanding achievements this season;
  • Recognition of the five Dobyns-Bennett High School seniors named as candidates in the 2025 United States Presidential Scholars Program;
  • Approval of two Policy revisions;
  • Approval of a recommendation to purchase a 24-passenger activity bus for Dobyns-Bennett; and
  • Approval to enter into an agreement to purchase internal technology connections and basic maintenance of those connections.
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Meeting Livestream and Audio
 
Click here to view the archived livestream of tonight's meeting.
Detailed Meeting Notes

CALL TO ORDER

The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by Jimmy Taylor.  Jimmy is a senior at Dobyns-Bennett High School.

Recognitions

Board member Todd Golden recognized Valoria Magdziuk, a 7th grader at Robinson Middle School, for winning the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN) Battelle Education Poetry Coding Contest for 7th grade students in Tennessee.
  • This was the first ever Coding Poetry challenge for TSIN.
 
Dr. Brandon Fletcher, Board Vice President, recognized the 2025 Dobyns-Bennett High School Unified Bowling team for their outstanding achievements this season.
  • The team won the sectional championship with wins over Karns and Gibbs High Schools and progressed to the Tennessee State Tournament.
  • At the State Tournament, the team won twice and was State Runner-Up, losing only in the final match 259-322 to Kenwood.
  • Members of the team were Jon Autry, Hunter Baars, Hayden Dockery, Conner Godsey, Landon Goins, Joshua Landers, Zeke Lynch, Lucas Park, Cody Pash, Parker Pickup, Rome Pruitt, William Russell, and Thomas Ryans.
 
Board member Jamie Jackson recognized the five Dobyns-Bennett High School seniors named as candidates in the 2025 United States Presidential Scholars Program.
  • The United States Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 to recognize and honor the nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors.
  • In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts.
  • In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.
  • Each year, up to 161 students are named as U.S. Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students.  
  • The five Presidential Scholar candidates are:
    • Rishad Dey (Academic Program)
    • Claire Li (Academic Program)
    • Griffin Moody (Career & Technical Education Program)
    • Delaney Morris (Career & Technical Education Program)
    • Cam Sewell (Academic Program)

business items

With the approval of this evening's consent agenda, two Board Policy revisions were approved on first reading.
  • 4.603 - Promotion and Retention
  • 5.118 - Background Investigations
Dr. Brian Tate, principal of Dobyns-Bennett High School, presented a proposed recommendation to purchase a 24-passenger activity bus for Dobyns-Bennett.
  • The purchase by Dobyns-Bennett Activities would utilize Sourcewell Contract Number 063020-BBB through Central States Bus Sales, Inc. The total cost of the purchase would be $124,978.00, with funding from the Dobyns-Bennett Activities account.
  • Following review of the proposal, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the purchase of the 24-passenger activity bus.
Andy Arnold, Chief Technology Officer, presented a proposal to enter into an agreement to purchase internal technology connections and provide basic maintenance of those connections.
  • The recommendation would utilize Tennessee statewide contract 68613 with Personal Computer Systems, Inc. to enter into an agreement to purchase internal connections (network infrastructure and equipment) and basic maintenance of those connections for FY 2025-2026.
  • The agreement would be contingent upon receiving E-Rate funding, Board of Education approval, and Board of Mayor and Aldermen approval.
  • Following review of the proposal, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the proposal.
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The next session of the Board of Education will be a work session on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 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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Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a student-focused, world-class public school district located in Kingsport, Tennessee, proudly serving students across Sullivan and Hawkins counties. The district comprises 13 schools, including a Pre-K facility, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, a high school program of choice, and an alternative learning program. With a total enrollment exceeding 7,600 students, KCS is dedicated to fostering educational excellence, empowering student success, and ensuring all students are college and career ready.
 
To learn more, visit www.k12k.com tune in to WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, or contact the KCS Administrative Support Center at (423) 378.2100. Stay connected by following us on Facebook (@kcsdistrict), Instagram (@kcs__district), and YouTube (@kcs__district).