The Kingsport City Schools Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, June 14, 2018. Several key items were discussed, including:
- Recognition of D-B EXCEL for being designated a Tennessee STEM School;
- Consideration and approval of a bid for 1:1 technology devices;
- Consideration and approval of a bid for academic resources;
- Consideration and approval of a professional services agreement for architectural services to construct an additional secure entrance at the D-B CTE building;
- Consideration and approval of a bid for providing ice cream products to school cafeterias;
- Consideration and approval of a bid for school kitchen equipment;
- Rejection of bids for chemical cleaning products;
- Consideration and approval of revisions to five existing policies; and
- A review of KCS summer program offerings and policy approvals that have occurred during the 2017-18 school year.
Tonight's reports and recognitions were broadcast live on the KCS Facebook Page! Click here to view the video from tonight's meeting.
CALL TO ORDER
The Pledge of Allegiance was led this evening by Theodore Roosevelt Elementary students De'Angelo and Elijah Bestwick, and Sydney Gentry. De'Angelo will be a 6th grader at Sevier Middle this fall while his brother Elijah will be entering 2nd grade. Sydney will be a 3rd grader at Roosevelt in the 2018-19 school year.
RECOGNITIONS
Board President Mrs. Susan Lodal recognized D-B EXCEL (DBE) Principal Mrs. Shanna Hensley and several faculty members for DBE having received the prestigious Tennessee STEM School designation, one of only 15 programs in the State to receive this designation. DBE was awarded during the Tennessee STEM Summit on May 8, 2018 in Nashville.
- Designation as a Tennessee STEM School was established under the guidance of the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and the STEM Leadership Council to identify and recognize schools for their commitment to teaching STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
- Each school that was awarded the Tennessee STEM School Designation was evaluated through a rigorous application process based on five focus areas: infrastructure, curriculum and instruction, professional development, achievement, and community and post-secondary partnerships.
BUSINESS ITEMS
Director of Technology Mr. Scott Pierce presented an update on quotes provided for the 1:1 technology device program.
- Approximately 2,225 Chromebook devices are scheduled to be purchased for use by KCS students in grades 4, 9, 11, and 12.
- The low bid for the device purchase was received from Firefly Computers.
- The unit cost for each device from Firefly is $237.00.
- The total quote from Firefly is $527,325.
Following review and discussion, the Board voted 4-0 to accept the quote from Firefly Computers for the 1:1 technology device program.
Dr. Lamar Smith, Supervisor of Federal Programs, presented an update on the textbook purchases for the 2018-2019 school year.
- The KCS Curriculum and Instruction department, in collaboration with the Elementary and Secondary Science Textbook Review Committee recommended:
- K-5: Discovery Education resources.
- 6-8: Pearson resources.
- Both resources will integrate into the Canvas learning management system.
Following review and discussion, the Board voted 4-0 to accept the recommendation from the Textbook Review Committee.
Chief Finance Officer Mr. David Frye presented a Professional Services Agreement with Mr. Jim Wright for Board consideration. The agreement is for architectural services for an additional secure entrance at the Dobyns-Bennett High School CTE entrance.
- Construction of an additional layer of entrance security doors is being added to the entry to the D-B CTE building
(entrance from the breezeway).
- This location is currently being utilized as the main entrance for D-B during the construction of the D-B Science and Technology Center.
Following review and consideration, the Board voted 3-0 (Dr. Reed-Wright abstaining) to approve the Professional Services Agreement with Mr. Wright for architectural services related to the Dobyns-Bennett CTE secure entrance in the amount of $3,500.
Mr. Frye presented bids for providing ice cream products to KCS cafeterias.
- Two bids were received, with the low bid coming from Prairie Farms Dairy.
- The bid was for ice cream products to be provided during the 2018-19 school year.
- All expenses from this contract are to be fully funded by the School Nutrition Services budget.
Following review and consideration, the Board voted 4-0 to award the bid for the supply of ice cream products to Prairie Farms Dairy in an amount not to exceed $20,000.
Mr. Frye presented bids for the purchase of school kitchen equipment to be installed at various school locations.
- Multiple bids were received, with the low bid coming from KaTom Restaurant Supply.
- The low bid for the equipment totals $103,137, which is to be fully funded by the School Nutrition Services budget.
Following review and consideration, the Board voted 4-0 to award the bid for supply of chemical products to KaTom Restaurant Supply.
Mr. Frye presented bids for chemical products for KCS School Nutrition Services.
- The bid covers cleaning products to be used at KCS locations.
- Multiple bids were received, all having issues resulting in a recommendation to reject the bids.
- Two bids were deemed to be not in compliance, while a cost issue was identified with the third.
- The recommendation was to reject all three bids and reissue the bid invitation, upon approval by the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
Following review and consideration, the Board voted 4-0 to accept the recommendation to reject the bids for chemical cleaning products.
Board member Mr. Todd Golden and Mr. Andy True, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, reviewed revisions to five existing policies for Board consideration on First and Final Reading.
- Policy 4.603 - Promotion and Retention is an existing policy revised to reflect recent changes to the State BOE policy which places greater emphasis on promotion.
- Policy 6.413 - Prevention and Treatment of Sports Related Concussions is an existing policy revised to expand the definition of "health care provider" to include a physician's assistant (per changes to Tennessee law).
- Policy 6.601 - Student Records Annual Notification of Rights is an existing policy revised to eliminate modifier for "enrollment status" for clarity.
- Policy 6.700 - Student Activities is an existing policy revised at Board request to include verbiage which expands the definition of allowable excused absences at school-related activities.
- Policy 6.709 - Student Fees and Fines is an existing policy revised to change wording related to voluntary student work in exchange for elimination of incurred debt.
Following discussion, the Board approved revisions to all five policies by a vote of 4-0.
REPORTS
Mr. True presented an overview of Summer Programs currently taking place across KCS to the Board.
- The report provided a brief overview of the summer learning opportunities available to KCS students and teachers.
- Multiple schools and programs offer summer learning opportunities for students of all ages, including:
- Jump Start to Middle School.
- D-B AP Summer Preview Camps.
- STREAM Camps for students in grades 2-12.
- Musical and band camps for middle and high school.
- Athletic camps for students of all ages.
- Free breakfast and lunch opportunities are also being provided to students daily.
Mr. True also provided an overview of the work that has occurred to update the KCS Policy Manual during the 2018-19 school year.
- During the required biennial review, the Board has addressed 153 policies, including:
- Eight new policies.
- 19 revised policies.
- Affirmation of 126 existing policies.
The next meeting of the Board of Education will be on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 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.
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