Kingsport City Schools

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2017-18 Board of Education Summary Notes » BOE Meeting Notes - January 9, 2018

BOE Meeting Notes - January 9, 2018

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The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, January 9, 2018. Several key items were discussed, including:
  • A report on the KCS Chinese language program; 
  • Recognition of a Dobyns-Bennett student for winning the Girls Cross Country State Championship;
  • Consideration and approval of 58 KCS teachers for tenure;
  • Consideration and approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kingsport Police Department regarding crossing guards; and
  • Consideration and approval of two new policies and one revised policy.
 
Tonight's reports and recognitions were broadcast live on the KCS Facebook Page! Click here to view the video from tonight's meeting.
 
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Meeting Audio
Detailed Meeting Notes

CALL TO ORDER

The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by Washington Elementary students Cooper, Dixon, and Evann Armstrong.  Twins Cooper and Evann are 3rd graders and Dixon is in 2nd grade.  They are the children of Kevin and Shawna Armstrong.

COMMUNITY INTEREST REPORT

Dobyns-Bennett Associate Principal Ms. Amanda Arnold, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Brian Cinnamon, and D-B Chinese Teacher Ms. Ming Yang, provided a report on the KCS Chinese Language program.  

  • KCS partners with the Confucius Institute at Middle Tennessee State University, whose mission is to enhance the understanding of Chinese language and culture, facilitate engagement with China, and create opportunities for exchange and collaboration between communities in Tennessee and China.
  • Five teachers currently teach Chinese to students at Palmer Center, several elementary schools, both middle schools, and at D-B.
  • High school and middle school students in the program experience authentic Chinese food, music and art; explore significant events, people, culture and themes of Chinese history; develop written and spoken language skills while gaining an appreciation for cultural products, practices, and perspectives; and learn the Mandarin language.  Some students correspond with Chinese pen pals to share culture and ask questions while learning to be international goodwill ambassadors.
  • Elementary students in the program are learning basic words while being introduced to the Chinese culture.  Traditional games, music, dance, and the sampling of authentic Chinese cuisine are all part of the elementary experience, while Pre-K students are learning through activities, puppets, music and read-alouds.  In addition, the teacher at Palmer also supports a new Pre-K student in her native language, spending time with the child in her classroom to help ease the transition to Pre-K.

RECOGNITIONS

Board President Mrs. Susan Lodal and D-B Girls Cross Country Coach Bob Bingham recognized D-B sophomore Sasha Neglia, daughter of Chris and Katerina Neglia, for winning the 2017 TSSAA Class AAA Division 1 State Girls Cross Country Championship. 
  • The State Championship meet was held in Nashville on November 4, 2017.  Sasha's time for the 5K run was 18:15:71.
  • Sasha is a two-time state champion and has been nominated twice as Gatorade Runner of the Year in Tennessee.
  • She holds meet records for Bristol Cross, Trailblazer, Conference, and the Region, and holds the course record for Steele Creeke and Daniel Boone.
  • Sasha's accomplishments for the 2017 season including winning the state championship, placing 2nd in the Nike Cross Southeast, achieving a rank of 24th in the nation, and setting the D-B school record of 17:27:01.

BUSINESS ITEMS

Dr. Dwain Arnold, Interim Superintendent, and Mrs. Jennifer Guthrie, Chief Human Resources Officer, reported that KCS 58 teachers have met the requirements for tenure and Board approval was recommended to finalize this classification.
  • In Tennessee, a teacher is eligible for tenure only after attaining both of the following statutory requirements:
    • Serve five school years or not less than 45 months within a seven-year period as a probationary teacher in KCS; and
    • Receive evaluations demonstrating an overall performance effectiveness level of "above" or "significantly above" expectations using the evaluation guidelines adopted by the State Board of Education during the last two years of the teacher's probationary period.
  • Following review and consideration, the Board voted 3-0 to approve tenure for the recommended slate of eligible educators.
  • Prior to the Board meeting, a reception was held in honor of the teachers eligible for tenure this evening.
Chief Student Services Officer Mr. Jim Nash reviewed a request for approval to execute an Interdepartmental Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Kingsport City Schools and the Kingsport Police Department.
  • This MOU is to provide direction for the acquisition, management, and funding of crossing guards for the 2017-18 school year and for each subsequent school during the term of the MOU.
  • The terms of the MOU include, but are not limited to:
    • The KPD will provide qualified crossing guards which may be through a private provider or "contracted company."
    • KCS shall transfer $20,000 from one of its accounts to the KPD for payment of contracted services incurred by the KPD.  This dollar amount will be included in budget requests on an annual basis.
    • The MOU shall remain in effect until terminated by either department.
  • Following review and consideration, the Board voted 3-0 to approve execution of the Memorandum of Understanding between KCS and the KPD regarding crossing guards.
A request for approval to enter into a Professional Services Agreement for architectural services and project supervision on a Johnson Elementary School Roof Replacement Project was postponed to a future Board meeting.
Board Member Mr. Todd Golden and Andy True, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, reviewed two new policies and one revised policy for Board consideration.
  • Policy 4.210 - Credit Recovery is a new policy to comply with state law regarding changes in final grade calculation of credit recovery courses.
  • Policy 4.211 - Work-Based Learning Program is a new policy regarding evaluation and assessment of work-based learning experiences.
  • Policy 4.301 - Interscholastic Athletics is an existing policy revised to comply with state law regarding changes in excused absences from athletics-related events. 
 
After review and consideration, the Board voted 3-0 on each policy to approve on First Reading. The new policies (4.210 and 4.211) will now be considered on Second and Final Reading at the February Board meeting.  All other policies in Section 3 - Support Services and Section 4 - Instructional Services of the KCS Policy Manual were affirmed with no changes on tonight's meeting's Consent Agenda as part of the Board's Policy review.
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WeAreKCS.com
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.
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be a Work Session on Tuesday, January 23, 2018 at 6 p.m.  The meeting will take place in the Tennessee Room of the Administrative Support Center (400 Clinchfield Street).

Pledge
Chinese teacher
XC student
Tenure Teachers