BOE Meeting Notes - August 2, 2016

The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. Several key items were discussed, including:
 
  • A report on KCS summer STREAM and XSTREAM camps;
  • Recognition of the Dobyns-Bennett Air Force JROTC for receiving the Distinguished Unit award;
  • Consideration and approval of a bid for paving of the D-B band practice field;
  • Consideration and approval of two new Board policies and two revised Board policies.
 
Tonight's reports and recognitions were broadcast live on the KCS Facebook Page! Click here to view this video from tonight's meeting.
Regular Meeting Audio
Detailed Meeting Notes

CALL TO ORDER

Members of the nationally recognized Dobyns-Bennett High School Air Force JROTC presented the colors and led attendees in tonight's Pledge of Allegiance.  The unit is led by Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Willow Hunley-Bota, the D-B ARJROTC Core Commander.

STUDENT FOCUS REPORT

Dr. Amy Doran, Coordinator of Early Childhood/Grant Writer, and Mr. Jim Wernke, Robinson Middle School Assistant Principal, led a report on summer STREAM and XSTREAM camps.  They were joined by four KCS students who attended this year's camps.
  • STREAM camp was held at Sevier Middle School June 13-17 and June 20-24.  This camp was for rising 2nd-6th graders.
  • XSTREAM camp was held at Dobyns-Bennett High school June 13-17 and June 20-24.  This camp was for rising 7th-9th graders.
    • XSTREAM camp focused on the topic of aerospace and was held in conjunction with community partners such as Flight Foundations, Johnson City Radio Controllers, Bell Helicopter, and Bays Mountain Park.

RECOGNITIONS

Board member Mrs. Carrie Upshaw recognized the cadets and instructors from the Dobyns-Bennett Air Force JROTC unit for recently earning the Distinguished Unit Award for the 2015-16 school year.  
  • This marks the ninth consecutive year for receiving this award, the highest level unit award given by the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Headquarters, located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.
  • This commendation places the D-B program in the top JROTC units in the world.

BUSINESS ITEMS

Chief Finance Officer Mr. David Frye reviewed a bid to pave the D-B band practice field.
  • Paving of the band practice field has been a long-desired project to provide a better practice and training facility for the band program.
  • Adequate funding for the project was available so that other needed capitol projects could still proceed as scheduled.
  • The low bid was submitted by Vic Davis Construction in the amount of $375,937.  
  • Total cost of the project is projected to be $426,453, which includes construction costs, architect fees, and a 6% contingency.
  • After review and consideration, the Board voted 5-0 to approve the bid from Vic Davis Construction for paving the D-B practice field.
    • The paving work will begin in the very near future, with a projected completion date early in this fall.
Mr. Andy True presented two new Board policies for consideration.
  • The proposed policies are related to school district records and the prevention and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest.  
  • Both proposed policies are due to changes in State law or State Board policies, as recommended by the Tennessee School Boards Association.
  • Policy 1.407 - School District Records addresses changes to the Tennessee Public Records Act.  
    • Districts are now required to incorporate additional information in their records policies and identify individuals responsible for handling open records requests.
  • Policy 6.414 - Prevention and Treatment of Sudden Cardiac Arrest addresses training and removal of students from athletics to comply with Public Chapter 325, enacted by the General Assembly during the last legislative session.
  • After review and consideration, the Board approved both new policies on first reading by a vote of 5-0.
 
Mr. True also reviewed proposed revisions to two existing Board policies.
  • The proposed policy revisions deal with grading system and graduation requirements.   
  • Revisions are required due to changes in State law or State Board policies, as recommended by the Tennessee School Boards Association.
  • Policy 4.600 - Grading System has been updated to ensure consistency when calculating a student's grade point average and provides weighting of Statewide Dual Credit Courses.
  • Policy 4.605 - Graduation Requirements has been updated to include the option to offer an occupational diploma to students with disabilities, and reflects the requirement of students take the ACT and pass a civics test.
  • After review and consideration, the Board approved both revised policies on first reading by a vote of 5-0.
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be a Work Session on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 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 www.WeAreKCS.com.