The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Several key items were discussed, including:
- Recognition of Northeast State Career and Technical Certificate Graduates and Middle College Academy graduates;
- A report by Dobyns-Bennett High School students who recently attended the Tennessee School Boards Association Student Congress on Policies in Public Education (SCOPE) conference;
- Presentation of the Julia C. West Foundation Grant Award to D-B EXCEL teacher Antonia Adinolfi;
- Approval to accept a donation from the Kingsport City Schools Education Foundation;
- Approval of a recommendation to purchase literacy materials for KCS elementary students;
- Approval of an agreement with Pepsico for beverage pouring rights and advertising partnership with KCS;
- Approval of 2025-26 KCS Budget Amendment #6;
- Approval to award a bid for renovations at Dobyns-Bennett High School; and
- Approval of the 2026-27 KCS Budget.
Meeting Livestream and Audio
CALL TO ORDER
The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by Chase Howard. Chase is a senior at D-B EXCEL and earlier today, graduated from Northeast State with his Associate Degree.
Recognitions
Board Member Jamie Jackson recognized 12 seniors from Dobyns-Bennett High School/D-B EXCEL who received Career & Technical (CTE) graduate certificates.
- Through a partnership with Northeast State Community College, KCS students in Career and Technical programs have the opportunity to earn post-secondary technical certificates alongside their high school diploma.
- KCS had over 60 students complete these certificates with Northeast State.
- These credentials empower students to launch careers in high-demand technical fields and enter the workforce with a head start.
- Additionally, through grants from a variety of sources, these opportunities are offered at no cost to students.
Combination Welding Certificate Graduates:
- Joey Dodson - D-B EXCEL
- Daniel Cenite - Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Evan Reyes - Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Nathan Fields - Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Dusty Dean, Jr. - Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Jordan Slemp - Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Jordan Weatherly - Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Logan Broadwater - Dobyns-Bennett High School
HVAC Certification Graduate:
- Zaine Austin - Dobyns-Bennett High School
Entrepreneurship Certificate Graduate:
- Nevaeh Hartsock - Dobyns-Bennett High School
Emergency Medical Technician Certificate Graduates:
- Kora Houlihan - Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Augustine Merritt - Dobyns-Bennett High School
Mrs. Jackson also recognized 17 seniors who were recent Middle College Academy graduates with associate degrees from Northeast State.
Associate of Science: General TBR Transfer - Middle College:
- Abraham Athey - D-B EXCEL
- Alayna Bailiff - D-B EXCEL
- Lustre Barnette - D-B EXCEL
- Riley Compton - D-B EXCEL
- Maggie Dunworth - D-B EXCEL
- Elijah Hayes - D-B EXCEL
- Chase Howard - D-B EXCEL
- Colt Lark - D-B EXCEL
- Alexander McCarthy - D-B EXCEL
- Zeva Nichols - D-B EXCEL
- Lucas Bowman - Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Stone Collier - Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Tyler Gay - Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Alyssa Mahon - Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Emma Martin - Dobyns-Bennett High School
- Rylan Moore - Dobyns-Bennett High School
Associate of Science: General TBR Transfer Graduate:
- Jazmund Coleman - Dobyns-Bennett High School
Board President Dr. Brandon Fletcher recognized Dobyns-Bennett High School students who recently attended the Tennessee School Boards Association Student Congress on Policies in Public Education (SCOPE) conference.
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High school students from across the state gathered in Nashville on March 3, 2026 on the campus of Belmont University to express their views on public education in Tennessee.
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Dobyns-Bennett seniors attending the SCOPE conference were Emery Corpstein, Jackson Haren, Andraia Gordon, and Piper Osterhus, along with SCOPE chaperon and Dobyns-Bennett Social Studies teacher, Joshua French.
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Now in its 43rd year, SCOPE is designed to give students a voice where public education issues are concerned and to involve young people in finding solutions to the topics that are discussed.
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Attendees participated in mock school board sessions, where they assumed the roles of school board members, school officials, parents, students and concerned citizens.
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During the afternoon, students had a policy debate session, led by school board members and superintendents from across the state. SCOPE delegates also elected officers for SCOPE 2027.
- Click below to view this evening's SCOPE presentation.
Board member Dr. Phillip Marshall recognized D-B EXCEL teacher Antonia Adinolfi for being awarded the Julia C. West Foundation Grant.
- The award by the Julia C. West Foundation, totaling $9,804, is to be used for STEM equipment.
- The foundation supports initiatives that provide opportunities for further education, particularly for those who may face financial barriers to continuing beyond secondary school.
- Chris Rose, Board President, presented a check on behalf of the foundation to Ms. Adinolfi, who teaches chemistry and STEM at DBE.
business items
On tonight's Consent Agenda, the Board approved the 2026-27 KCS Random Drug Testing Regulations and Procedures.
- The proposed regulations and procedures were reviewed during the Board Work Session on April 28, 2026.
- Per Tennessee Code Annotated and KCS Board Policy, high school students participating in extracurricular school activities are subject to the random drug testing during the school year.
David Frye, Chief Finance Officer, presented a recommendation to accept a donation from the Kingsport City Schools Education Foundation.
- The monetary donation in the amount of $500,000 is being given by Bharti and Natu Patel.
- The goal of the donation is to strengthen teaching capacity, update and improve educator resources, and improve student learning and enrichment across the district.
- After review and with much gratitude, the Board voted 5-0 to accept the donation from Mr. and Mrs. Patel.
Mr. Frye presented a recommendation regarding the purchase of literacy materials for KCS elementary students.
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The recommendation was to approve the purchase of a three-year Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Into Reading Literacy Program subscription for elementary schools from Tennessee Book Company.
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The total purchase price would be $277,200 for the three-year subscription.
- It is also recommended a blanket order for FY 2027 be issued to Tennessee Book Company in the amount of $275,000 to cover the remaining literacy program cost, other textbook freight costs, and consumables.
- Funding for the purchase would be from the current year's General Purpose School Fund ($87,000) and from FY 2027 General Purpose School Fund ($189,400).
- After review, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the purchase of the literacy materials.
Mr. Frye presented a proposed recommendation regarding the beverage pouring rights and advertising partnership for KCS.
- The proposed three-year agreement with Pepsico would be for the "Non-Alcoholic Beverage Pouring Rights and Advertising Partnership."
- Pepsico is the current vendor for the district.
- All funds paid and received regarding the agreement would be from the high school's and middle school's internal school funds.
- After review, the Board approved the agreement with Pepsico by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. Frye presented proposed 2025-26 KCS Budget Amendment #6.
- The proposed Budget Amendment was for items including summer learning, the D-B renovation project, and miscellaneous transfers.
- Additional items were related to the Federal Projects Fund, the School Special Projects Fund, and the General Purpose Fund.
- Click below to view the full Budget Amendment.
- After review, the Board voted 5-0 to approve 2025-26 KCS Budget Amendment #6.
Mr. Frye presented a proposed approval to award a bid for renovations at Dobyns-Bennett High School.
- After advertising for bids related to renovations at Dobyns-Bennett, five sealed bids were received and opened on May 8, 2026.
- Major components of the designed renovations include new flooring in the academic pods and ramps, removal of lockers, painting, and renovation of the current Annex pod for use by the D-B special education department.
- The low base-bid was received by Construction Partners in the amount of $2,840,000. The total cost, including acceptance of identified alternates (#3, #5, #6, and #7), architect/engineer fee, and a 6% contingency is $3,269,384.
- After review and discussion, the Board voted 5-0 to award the bid for renovations at D-B to Construction Partners as presented.
Mr. Frye presented the proposed 2026-27 KCS Budget for consideration and approval.
- After review and discussion, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the proposed Budget.
- Some components of the proposed Budget (which can be viewed in the presentation below) include:
- A limited amount of new positions, mostly related to required new special education personnel.
- Step increases and a 1% cost-of-living increase for certified and classified employees, totaling $1,610,000 in new employee pay.
- A market adjustment increase for school-based school nutrition employees.
- The approved Budget will now move to the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen for review and inclusion in the 2026-27 City of Kingsport Budget.
The next session of the Board of Education will be a meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at 6 p.m. The work session will take place in the Tennessee Room of the Administrative Support Center (400 Clinchfield Street).
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).
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