The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held a work session on Tuesday, January 17, 2017. Several key items were discussed, including:
- A report from the KCS Family and Community Engagement Committee;
- A report on the newly redesigned Tennessee State Report Card, including highlights of KCS achievements;
- A review of potential revised and new policies;
- An update on KCS communications efforts;
- A brief overview of the 2015-16 KCS Annual Report.
Detailed Work Session Notes
Supervisor of Federal Programs Dr. Lamar Smith, Kennedy Elementary School Family Liaison Mrs. Debbie Allen, and Lincoln Elementary School Family Liaison Mrs. Marsha Musick provided a report from the Family and Community Engagement Committee. This committee, formed during the 2016-17 school year, is tasked with working across the district to coordinate family and community engagement efforts.
- Committee representatives include KCS administrators and staff, family members, and members of the community.
- The committee also provides feedback on and approval of the KCS District Family Engagement Plan and the KCS District Plan.
- Engagement activities include events such as annual back to school nights, service projects, "Lunch and Learns," celebration of grandparents, student-led conferences, and activities related to "Read Across America Day."
Director of Performance Excellence Mr. Michael Hubbard presented the recently redesigned and released Tennessee State Report Card. Mr. Hubbard also shared KCS highlights from the Report Card, including district rankings, ACT scores, and graduation rate.
- The Report Card may be viewed by clicking here. The design focuses on profile information and an academic snapshot.
- KCS placed 2nd in the State among all districts in math and 7th in English for percentage of students "on track" or having "mastered" the subject areas.
- KCS ranked in the top ten districts across the State in all ACT subject areas (ACT Composite, English, Math, Reading, and Science) and in the measurement area of students scoring 21+.
- Graduation rate in KCS again topped the State, with 95.5 % of all KCS students graduating (versus an average of 88.5% for the State).
Board member Mr. Todd Golden and Mr. Andy True, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, reviewed four potential policy revisions and seven potential new policies for Board consideration.
- Policy 4.700 Assessment Programs has been updated to comply with State rules regarding calculation of final grades in courses which include an End of Course exam.
- Policy 6.503 Homeless Students has been updated to include provisions for enrollment, placement, records, and student services.
- Policy 6.600 Student Records has been updated to be more comprehensive.
- Policy 3.208 Facilities Planning is a new policy including provisions for asbestos management as required by State law.
- Policy 3.600 Insurance Management is a new policy required by all districts which offer health insurance to employees.
- Policy 4.207 English Learners is a new policy to align with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), signed into law in December 2015.
- Policy 6.203 School Admissions is a new policy to align with State law which mandates that each child must have a physical examination before entering school for the first time.
- Policy 6.300 Code of Conduct could be revised to align with proposed changes to Policy 6.314 Corporal Punishment.
- Policy 6.313 Discipline Procedures is a new policy to align with the Tennessee Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act. It includes discipline policies prohibiting disorderly conduct, the illegal possession of weapons, and the illegal use, possession, distribution and sale of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs by students.
- Policy 6.314 Corporal Punishment is a new policy to comply with State code TCA 49-6-4104.
- Policy 6.505 Students in Foster Care is a new policy to comply with ESSA's amendment to the McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act. It addresses processes governing the placement and transportation of students in foster care or students awaiting foster care placement.
Mr. Andy True and Mrs. Marybeth McLain, Communications Editor, provided an update on the district's communications efforts.
- The Communications Department issues a number of publications, some weekly or monthly and others annually. These include BOE meeting notes, employee newsletters, Saturday Six blog posts, handbooks, the KCS Annual Report, policy manuals, and the KCS Strategic Plan.
- A variety of marketing tools are used to promote KCS within the community. WCSK radio 90.3 FM, Charter cable channel 192, news releases and media advisories, and effective use of social media.
- Event planning and facilitation is also a key activity for the department. The KCS Hall of Fame, Convocation, appreciation weeks, Insight KCS, celebrations with new employees, tenured employees, and retired teachers, and annual planning retreats are a few of the events which fall under the responsibilities of Communications Department staff.
- The department uses best practices and works to develop innovative concepts to drive continual improvement in the area of communications.
- The department oversees promotion of the district, crisis management, and coordination with community businesses and organizations. It manages the KCS website and radio station, actively posts on social media, produces videos both in-house and for use on online and on Channel 192, and coordinates programs such as Insight KCS.
- Click here to view the entire presentation.
Mrs. McLain also gave a brief overview of the 2015-16 KCS Annual Report. The Annual Report is designed to give an overview of Kingsport City Schools and its efforts to provide a "student-focused" and "world-class" education for Kingsport students in grades Pre-K through 12.
- The Annual Report serves as the comprehensive yearly publication summarizing the work of the entire district.
- It is in process of being printed and will be mailed to each KCS family as soon as it is finalized.
- The calendar format includes current school year dates of interest, highlights for all schools from the previous school year, and information such as KCS demographics, course offerings, and budget.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will be on Thursday, February 2, 2017 at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place in the Tennessee Room of the Administrative Support Center (400 Clinchfield Street).
Read and follow our blog, "We Are KCS" to learn more about the great people and programs of Kingsport City Schools. Check it out at WeAreKCS.com.
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