Coffee County School Board Meeting

001doing that. All right, now we're ready to go. Okay, welcome to the uh January 12th uh 2026. Got to make sure we get the year right. First board meeting of the year um for the Coffee County Board of Education. Uh we have a um we have a short agenda tonight, but we do have some presentations and stuff. So, and and a recognition. So, I know we got a lot of people here for that. So, uh with that, let's do the pledge of allegiance. And see, oh, wait a minute. First of all, we're going to do a prayer. Can you do a prayer? >> Sure. >> Okay. Mr. Hanser will give us the prayer tonight and then we'll do the pledge of allegiance. >> If you will bow with me, please. Our dear most gracious heavenly

002father, we want to thank you for this another day that you've given us, dear Lord. And dear Lord, we want to thank you for bringing us all back after a safe uh Christmas holidays. Dear Lord, we want to thank you for our travel grace that you give us to our bus drivers, to our teachers, to our students. Dear Lord, thank you for this beautiful weather that you've given us today. And we pray, dear Lord, that you'll just go with us through this meeting, that we will all uh get accomplish the things that we need to get done for our children. Dear Lord, we pray that you'll go with us now through the remainder of this meeting, go with us through the remainder of the week. We pray be careful to give you all the praise

003in thy name. Amen. >> Amen. >> All right. Pledge of allegiance. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America to the stands one indivisible with all. All right. Thank you everyone and we want to introduce our uh student ambassadors tonight. So just wave when I say your name so we know who you are. So uh we got uh Kira uh McInurf. Okay. All right. Bella Van Van Xanderberen Zanberen, sorry. And Leila Kger. All right. Thank you for for being here and being our student ambassadors tonight. So hopefully we'll have a good show for you. So all right. Um what we have tonight for recognitions is we have the new union boys basketball team and and uh I'm assuming we got a coach or or somebody that's going to All right. Come

004on up and and introduce everybody and tell us about the achievements. Hello, my name is Trista Gibson. Um, good evening and thank you for this recognition. I'm incredibly proud of this team and what they've accomplished. Achieving one undefeated season is special, but doing it backtoback while winning two championships speaks volumes about their work ethic, focus, and character. I want to thank the school board, administration, parents, and staff for their support. Most importantly, the players for their effort, character, and dedication. It's an honor to coach a group of that set such high standard. And I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of their journey. So, three years ago, Cutler came to me after we lost when we had an undefeated season and said he was they're going to win it next year, which was last

005year for um Knox and the fifth graders coming up. And that was the goal. And we went undefeated and won the championship. And they came back this year and said, "They're winning again." And just, you know, we didn't we didn't know if we were going to have an undefeated season, but we wanted to win the championship. So to have another undefeated season and a second championship with the fifth graders that I currently have was pretty remarkable. >> So um now I want to introduce my players. Um Oliver Frell, Rigins Turner. >> They're not that serious. I promise. Um Ace McN. Okay. Um, Zane, don't forget your last name. >> Stone. That's right. Rayan Tucker. I told him I wasn't going to forget his name this year. Cutler Creek, Kayla Monroe, Emanuel Brown, and Tommy Alford.

006And I'm missing um a few players. Journey. Um, Booante. Got it. Uh, Caleb and not Caleb, Caleb. Gabriel and Malachi Carter. Uh Dawson Barrett who >> Eastston Steel Sam Crabtree. Is that it? >> We know a lot of players. >> We have a lot of players. We have a lot of love. Um so I just want to thank the parents, you know, for we even did two um tournaments during winter break, both on the weekends. Um the one right after Christmas, we did a MLO one. They came in second place. And then the weekend after New Year's, we played in the first annual, I guess, Coffee County >> Border. >> Yes. >> You won it, didn't you? >> Well, we got we got second, but we only had eight players. We didn't have our, you

007know, we didn't have our full team. >> Yeah. >> Um but to come in second in that and not have our full team was really remarkable to say, >> you know, we had a lot of the fourth graders and um to show what we can do for next season is, you know, pretty exciting. Um so uh just a lot of love and the parents you know being there for the support administration and everyone else and also the bonds you know for them given their weekends and all the work they did. >> Very impressive. >> Thank you. >> Great. >> Mr. Ballard. We also have a special uh presentation from one of our county commissioners at New Union, Mr. Mr. Brown. Mr. Tim Brown. >> Let's get a picture and Mr. Brown can come up. >>

008Hop in there. >> You're going to kill the picture now. >> I don't know who to look at. Hey, the parents. Everyone look at your parents back here. >> We should probably get one with Mr. Brown in there, too. So, >> yeah. >> Get in there, Tim. >> Yes, sir. >> Mr. Black Tie. the future of our country. >> Okay, Mr. Brown, the floor is yours. >> Congratulations, guys. >> Congratulations. >> Very good. >> My name's Tim Brown. I'm a commissioner for New Union District and and I've been to a lot of the games they played this year and they really put a show on and I'm really proud of them. >> And I talked to the coach. If she'll put a party on, I'll pay for the entire cost. >> Thank you, Tim. >>

009Yes, sir. >> We got that on video, guys. >> We got him. >> We're going back now. >> You can't reig on that one. Hey, >> awesome. >> All right, we have >> Wow. >> So, Dr. Cornelius has a presentation for us on the TISA accountability goals when when we're ready. >> Good evening. So, as you probably know, this probably will be the last TISA accountability because they've killed it. So, we don't have to have a TISA accountability report anymore. It's all rolled up into informed TN and that name is going to change too. So, who knows what will be pulled out of the hat for that. Still the same still the same requirements, just a different packaging the way I look at it. But this year, we did receive uh $353,000 on TISA outcome

010bonus. That's about a $61,000 increase over last year. Now, I attribute that when I place them side by side, I attributed most of that to um making improvements with students with disabilities at the middle school that went up significantly. Also, students with disabilities at the high school. That metric improved quite a bit by them meeting some TISA outcomes. As you know, Tissa outcomes are the most difficult to meet. There's a little more to that than to the career uh college and career readiness outcome. Ready graduate has disappeared. It has gone too. So u that metric does no longer exist. And uh college and career readiness will be the metric that our high school is measured by too pretty heavily in accountability. Um it's easier kind in one way it's easier to gain or earn the

011career and college readiness uh metric. We had we did very well this year. We increased that too. There were 61% of high school graduates earning CCR status for the 24 cohort. Well, excuse me, the 25 cohort. Yeah, I'm a year behind too, but they did they did earn that. And also our ACT score at the high school went up. The average went up by 4/10en of a point, which is dramatic when you're talking about the ACT. It went from an 18.8 to a 19.2. Some of that is attributed to the focus that high school places on the ACT. I think there's a lot to that. Plus, um, there's an a we've spent some of the TISA bonus money, uh, beefing up ACT coaches and the ACT program. So, that that has also helped. Um, as

012far as elementary goes in accountability, we still have a ways, you know, quite a bit of ways to go with the third grade ELA goal, but um, there's a there's a huge jump to be made this year. So hopefully I'm I'm confident that we'll if we don't attain it, I think we'll get very very close. I look for us to attain it. Like I said, you know, last year one school did we did have Hickerson that did on their own meet that benchmark. Um that's basically all I've got as far as TIS accountability goes, but at least that's one report. It won't be sitting by itself. I'll still have to do it, but it'll just be packaged up in a in a different wrapper, you might say. Do you have any questions? >> That's my

013update. >> I don't. So, >> all right. >> So, what are the new metrics going to be? >> The the the new metrics they did they didn't change career college readiness. You have to have a 21 or higher on the ACT. You have to have a 31 or higher on the um ASVAB, the the oh comprehensive score. It's AFQT and I can't remember what that stands for right now, but it takes out just certain parts of the ASVAB and gives them an average score. That's a 31. Oh, and the industrial certifications, level two or level three industrial certification. And we do we have met and we are meeting as a team. We're still meeting right now as a district leadership team on how to um spend and allocate the TISA outcome bonus money. and the

014industrial Certs helping to pay for some of those that's a very good investment because that's one of the metrics if a student attains a level two or a level three then that's an automatic CCR career and college readiness marker and then earn one postsecary credit they have to earn one for CCR now for Tissa outcome you have to have um ACT ASVAB and earning two or more post-secary credits. So, t like I said, the TISA outcome bonus is a little harder for a student to qualify for or to to earn that. But that's that's basically it. But there's not really any changes per se in the metrics. >> Meeting those those metrics then is is what's going to get us our our T the TISA outcome bonus is not going away. >> That No, no,

015no, no, no. TISA outcome bonus. I haven't been told. You may have. I haven't been told that it's going away. Not me. You The only thing is with Ta outcome bonus, it would never be guaranteed year to year. >> Right. >> And the legislature may pull that, you know, at any time. It just depends. But >> I mean it and it will vary based upon um how we perform from year to year too. So it'll vary a little bit there. >> Okay. >> Any other questions for Dr. Cornelius? >> All right. Good to see you all. >> Thank you very much. Thank you, Dr. Quinn. >> All right. Dr. Blessing is going to tell us about the 2425 school letter grades and district designation. >> Yes, sir. Let me bring this information up on the

016screen. Say it's that time of year again to hear about data. The data is being released in waves. So in November 21st we got a part December 18th we got a part. So now I can share it publicly. So we'll take the time to look at that. Also as part of this I realized after I pulled this together I thought wait a minute we haven't had an opportunity to present to the board about the federal designations. So I'll just shove that in here too. So, we'll see what we can get all figured out. We'll back up a little bit so I can see too. For the district, they have five designations. And we'll just hit on that briefly because we've seen that before, but you may not have thought about it since a year. So,

017the lowest is in need of improvement, and then going up marginal, then satisfactory, advancing, and the highest level is exemplary. Every district gets a designation if you know. So we don't get letter grades for the district, but we we get titles. Coffee County, we earned a score of 2.9 out of the scale of uh one to four. And so that earned a designation of advancing. And in fact, we have earned the designation of advancing ever since this system has been in place. But our score has gone up slightly. Last time it went about 2.6 and now it's 2.9. So I think that's we were like 2/10 of a point from becoming exemplary. So that means it's within striking distance in the future across the state. I thought it'd be interesting to compare. There were 14

018districts for 2425 that were classified as exemplary. 100 were advancing, 21 were satisfactory, none were marginal, but there were eight classified in need of improvement. So again, in that that advancing category seems to be the biggest piece of the designation pie, this I'm not going to dwell on these a lot unless you have questions about it, but this is the criteria for school letter grades. We've seen it before, but I'll be glad to answer questions about it again. But there are two pools. There's a K through eight and there's high school. And you can see some criteria there to the side in those teal color boxes. For a K8, you have fewer than 30 students that are graduating. So that means our Raider Academy is considered in the KA pool because they do not meet

019the requirements for graduation or the ACT. They don't give that to their students. And for high school, you have to have 30 or more students in that and again the graduating cohort. Uh you may have heard in the news that with some of the criteria for accountability, they're dropping from 30 to 20. So we'll have to see how that comes into play down the road. And you see those little pieces of the pie. Achievement for both pools count 50%. Growth is split for high school to 30. And you see it says growth 25. The state has changed that name. Can you believe it? The state changed something and they instead of calling it growth of the lowest 25% they now call it the growth of the highest need group. Okay, same group of students 25%

020they just change the name. And then you'll also see over there for the high school the CCR Dr. Cornelius was mentioning about CCR, college and career ready. So you see how much all those counts in the in the school letter grade model. >> Can that screen be moved up? >> I'm not sure. I'll be glad to as long as you don't mean vertically. Vertically I can't I wouldn't be able to pick that up. >> How's that? >> Oh no. It's It's just lower. Get rid of your No, we just can't see the bottom part. That's >> Oh, I apologize. And this I I This is They put a lot on this particular slide. >> I thought maybe the screen would go up and down. >> No, sorry. >> Has that made it work? Do I

021need to adjust this again? >> You can leave it like it was. I just thought it would go up. >> Or it could be like you go to the eye doctor. Is it better here or here? They like doing that, by the way. >> Yeah. With some of them, I'm thinking, uh, can I see that again? And then it looks, >> it's better back there. >> Better back there. Okay. So, um, for the state accountability, every subject counts. For the federal, only English and math. That's why there's two different accountability systems. I have heard that they're going to try to merge it into one glorious system of accountability, but I don't know when that's going to happen or what it's going to look like. So, I'll tell you a little bit about both. But again,

022for the state, everything counts. Notice all those different tests that are listed that are used to calculate the letter grade. Uh ELA and math count more than science and social studies, but they're both counted. Um these different grade bands I've mentioned they had different weights. You'll see I don't know if my if the laser works on that. Let's see. Nope. It just sucks that light right up. For the 35 success rate, you'll see ELA and math count the same, but that's 40% each. And in science is 20%. So, what about social studies? They don't do a social studies test for those grades anymore. They say it's on pause. It's been on pause for several years. I don't see it coming off of pause because that's going to cost more money to develop, but again, the

023state's done strange things to me in the past. Who knows? 68. Now, they do have all four subjects there. You said they lowered ELA and math slightly. So that science went up a little and social studies was introduced and with 912 it says proportional weight. Not every student in high school takes EOC tests. So they look at the number of students who are taking those particular tests and they calculate it based on the overall testing population. uh they talk give us a little flexibility when there's some options they will put in without a substitution you say substitution of what for those advanced tests like AP biology or AP US history if that was given instead of taking the EOC they'll plug that in there and if it benefits the school they'll use it and if

024not they'll do the one that is without the substitution they figure both and whichever benefits the most the more since there's only two that would be what they use uh this and I apologize for the red circles they had this lovely table and then they tried to point out some things to us and they introduced them and I couldn't get rid of them but you'll see to the left achievement indicator score it's on scale of one to five and if your success rate that is your students who score proficient. If you have up to 19.9%, you'd score a one for grade 35. And if you look across that table, you see there's a 68 column, you'll see a 912 column. Each one's a different scale. So, you have to be very careful looking at your

025data to try to see. But the state calculates this but they provide us the data so that we can go and verify. And again these are just those subjects when it talks about growth. Growth for all subjects growth for that higher need group that called the growth 25. Here there are some exceptions. They don't include grade three and grade four science. The reason they say is those tests are too short. Thinking, well, I don't want to make them longer, but they are too short to provide growth data. But it does start in grade five. They do not include TCAP alt assessments. Those are the ones for the students who have uh by their IEP, say they're supposed to take alternative testing. That doesn't generate growth. And none of those substitutable courses like AP biology that

026I mentioned, they don't do calculate growth either. And we have to have a student 50% of the time or more in order for them to be counted. They figure if they were with us less than 50%, it'd be more fair for it to count for the previous system. They did have 50% or more as well. Same sort of table here on college and career ready. When all is said and done, we put us on scale of one to five. And there's those cuto off scores that you can see there. And it says it's based on quintile methodology. That's the state's way of saying they break them up to a group of five. So, and again, this is the important thing from this particular slide the state provided is down at the bottom. That's the scale

027that is used to tell if they're an A or down to an F. And you'll see it goes from a scale of one up to five, just like we were seeing on the tables. So you have like a 1.0 to a 1.4, that's an F. If they scored a 3.6, that'd be a B. And it doesn't matter which grade they are. You don't have to break it up to elementary or middle or high. That's the overall scale for all the schools. There are some schools that do not qualify to get a letter grade. If they do not have enough students, if they don't have enough students to test, or if you have, for instance, not enough in English and not enough in math, but you had enough in social studies, they're saying that's not enough

028data, and it's we're not going to give them a grade. They just are not assigned a grade. that all of this data is available publicly at the uh state report card if it'll do it. Well, I'm not going to drag you through the state report card, but it's available for anyone anywhere. if they just find the state report card, you can find the data for all the the uh schools in Tennessee, every district in Tennessee. We've seen that before here. I think we've we've taken a little tour of that before. Now, let's look at the school letter grades. For elementary, you'll see that we had five elementary schools that made a B and we had one elementary school that made an A. That is an improvement because we had some last year that made C's

029or a D. So, they they went up and we're glad to see that. You'll also notice to the left that a couple of schools are in bold. Those two schools, East Coffee and Hillsboro, were designated as reward schools. >> Let's give them a hand of excellent. And again, so I didn't see that on the slides. That's the federal designation. I have no idea how long that designation will be in effect because when they change the federal, but I have heard the state wants to try to implement it somehow, but I haven't heard any specific plans. You'll also notice that Hickerson Elementary has a double asterisk beside it. That's because Hickerson was one of those schools that went from a D last year to a B. So again, congrats to Hickerson. Okay. For the other school,

030and I at least took the time this year to separate it into two slides to make it a little more legible, so it wouldn't be there at the bottom of the screen. The high school had a C. Raider Academy had a B. And middle school I think we need to recognize as well because they also went from a D to a B. And the Dash there virtual academy did not have enough students to test to fall into the accountability model. So they're one of the schools that did not get a letter grade. Now, if you have questions, if you want to revisit a slide, you'd like to get a little more information, uh you want my wife's recipe for chicken casserole, anything, this is a good time to ask. >> Is it good? >> Chicken

031casserole. >> Yummy. Yeah. Just look at me. My wife cooks well. >> Okay. Um now, Virtual Academy got a letter grade last year. >> They did. Did they have a reduction in students then or reduction in standards? >> They had a reduction in students. >> Okay. >> Mhm. Because you have to have a certain amount. But now for this round of testing in spring 26, the numbers dropping from 30 for accountability to 20. I say next year they're going to generate a letter grade. Okay. >> And we'll just have to see how well it goes. >> What was their high school last year? >> The high school last year was a C. And what were the other grades the other schools last year? >> Oh dear. >> Let's see if I I do not mean

032to insult anybody, but if I say something wrong, please correct me. Dear Phil, I think you had a C >> Last year. East, were you a C? Is East here? >> Well, Hickerson was a D. Hillsboro was an A. Correct. >> No, you were a B. Let me think. No, Hillsburg was lay last year >> to Hillsburg. >> I think they were I think they it was okay. They've had a they've been a reward school for a few years. I'm trying to remember their letter grade. >> I'll hedge my bets. It was either an A through an F. >> Union was a C and I think North Coffee was a C. >> Mr. Blessing. >> Yes. Are we sure that the I thought the high school was a B. >> It could have been. That's

033That's why I say correct me, please. >> Okay. >> And again, the Raider Academy was a B last year or they have been an A. I know they have, but I think this may be the second year that they've been a B. And the middle school, we said yes, went from a D to a B. >> The high school, the reason they it was it was growth. >> Yeah. But they did very well on the rest of their metrics that they were measured on this year. It was the growth that knocked them down >> and the weights of each of the >> of the different categories come into play. >> So, how many schools did we have improve? >> Well, what you're seeing here is the overall letter grade. What we're not seeing are the

034metrics behind it. >> Okay? Because a school can be >> a B, >> but if you go back, a B goes from a 3.5 to a 4.4. >> Yeah. >> And so >> they can still have the same grade, but I'd have to look back >> somewhere different on the scale. >> Yeah, >> maybe. But as far as just letter grades, >> as letter grades, well, we had we Deerfield improved, East Coffee improved, Hickerson improved, >> um, >> Union, >> New Union improved, North Coffee improved, >> high school, Raider Academy stayed the same and middle school improved. So about six. >> Yeah. So we had several improvements. >> Good. >> Now again, we always want to keep in mind we're looking at the grades. We're looking at at the successes, but the whole focus is

035should be the student. >> Yeah. >> Being successful. >> Yeah. >> All the way through, >> right? >> Other things. >> But this is good, too. >> I think so. I think it it was a good year. And I was a >> good trend. Yeah. I was I want I was surprised we seen some of them because I hadn't you know when you get the data but you have to wait to hear from the state officially because we can crunch the numbers we say oh I think it's going to be this and it's nice when the state confirms yes your number crunching is right >> mostly >> yeah Dr. Cornelius likes to crunch numbers. >> Anything else? >> Okay, so excuse me for you probably already said this, but this was based on data from

036which time period? >> Spring of 2025 >> of the testing that that we do the TCAP testing >> just the spring semester. >> Okay. >> Yes. See, we don't have any testing in the fall coming on block schedule, >> right? >> We do the traditional. We may have a two or three students who graduate early >> and they may test and their numbers would be included but it's not counted as a standalone. It would be a year long. >> Okay. >> Others thank you for letting me take some time to come and share this with you. I will share this presentation with you so that you can go through and and dig a little deeper if you'd like or if you have questions feel free to reach out. So the 25 26 school year won't

037be till this time next year. >> That's right. It's always takes a while for them to get it to us. Yeah, that's it. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. >> Mr. Ballard. Uh we truly appreciate Dr. Cornelius and Dr. Blessing's expertise. Uh a and when you talk about a letter grade that was from two years ago, I mean these are are letter grades from the 2425 there. It's a semester delay. Um I've spoken to y'all several times about this. Who knows what accountability will look like next year, especially on the federal level. There's no telling what our state will or will not adopt. And it'll be a tweaking and it'll be a little bit of a new era. Hopefully there's some of the same language that Dr. Blessing uh and Dr. Cornelia shared with you

038all, but it's it's going to change. We're in a kind of in a transition. So, but I do appreciate their expertise. >> Dr. Bless, did you say he's going to email us that recipe? >> No, I don't know about the recipe. My wife doesn't usually cook much by recipe. She cooks more by feel. >> Okay. >> Whatever's in there. I don't know what method she used. I just know it's good. >> You want to send us a copy? We'll look at that sometime. Thank you. >> I'm just surprised as for samples. >> Well, you got any samples? >> No, I don't. >> Okay. You're going to miss a meeting. This is probably a good one to miss. >> All right. Miss Freda has to leave. So, we're going to move on to the uh agenda

039portion of the meeting here. So, um, we will be missing, uh, Jennifer Peacock Hodgej, Freda Jones, and Robert Gilly, but we still have a quorum, so we can proceed. Um, and I'm not seeing anything too controversial, so I'm not seeing any problems coming up. But, um, we have no public comment, so we can skip past that and get to the principal reports. So, have you guys arm wrestled to see who's going first? So, Ladies first. >> Yeah. >> Good evening. Some of the things that's happened at Deerfield here lately, we had Christmas dinner for preK, K, and fifth grade parents. Um, we finished up our Ames Webb testing before a break, and I'm very, we had our data meeting today, and I'm very proud of our students and our teachers for all the hard work

040they put in. Our data looks really good on our Ames Web. So, I'm really excited about that. Have to brag on them for that. Um, we have our academic pep rally tomorrow beginning at 8:45 to celebrate those wins. And, uh, starting at 8:45, so if you'd like to come out for that, it's 8:45 tomorrow. Um, we had Mr. Harrove come visit us last week and he spent the day with our staff and faculty and they got to drop in and talk to him. We enjoyed having you there. Thank you. >> Well, thank you. I was very impressed. We had an emergency drill and it was better than a NASCAR pit stop. You guys did >> a fire drill. It was warm. So, it was great. It was warm. So, I took the opportunity. I think

041a lot of people did. So, and before I have a seat, I would like to recognize one of our teachers. She is our ESL teacher. We share her with East Coffee, Miss Robin Walker. She's actually here tonight. And Miss Walker on February, Monday, February 2nd, she will be recognized and awarded as the VFW Elementary Teacher of the Year for the local post and the district post. So, we are very proud of her for that. And um let's see, on February 21st, she will be awarded the VFW Elementary Teacher of the Year for the state. So, we'd like to come down So now her application will go on to the national level and some of the things that were considered for this award is uh the interviews with the commander. Uh she had resumes and projects

042submitted and photos. So we're very proud of her for this district, local district, state, and now she's going to the national. So we're very proud of her. So we want to recognize her for that. I think Melissa wants to get a picture here. So, >> thank y'all for your service. >> We'll go get in there with you. >> You came by and talked to me the other day. We'll make you take a picture with me. >> All right. >> Thank you very much. Congratulations. Thank you. >> All right. Who's next? Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Um, just want to take a minute to just talk about those boys again. Um, we are very proud at New Union of that boys basketball team. Um, thank you for taking the time to recognize them tonight and

043let them come and present themselves. A lot of good kids. I'm going to tell you right now, without a doubt, I think we will see some of these boys at the secondary level playing some great basketball. So, awesome little team. Uh, New Union, we've had a great first semester. We are making changes and making an impact on our students. Uh, very proud of everything we are accomplishing. Just like Deerfield, we finished up some AS web testing. We are showing gains and that's what it's all about. We're making growth with our kids. Uh this Wednesday, January the 14th, um we'll be having our third grade retention law overview with parents. This is our second meeting of the year with our third grade parents, but just to go over and explain some more things and just a

044question answer session with those parents so that they kind of know what to expect when TECAP comes along. Uh Friday, January the 16th, we will have our second nine weeks awards day. Um, and then also my right hand, my left hand, my counselor, I don't know, all of the above, but Miss Peggy Melton, my assistant principal. This we're celebrating this week a birthday week because we have a very special birthday Friday. Can I tell them which one? >> Her 50th birthday is Friday. So, I'm I'm celebrating her this week and I appreciate everything she does for me and for New Union. >> We won't sing. Yeah. Uh Thursday, January 22nd, we will be having our spelling bee, annual spelling bee. Tuesday, January the 27th, we're going to be getting prepared for Mr. Hardrove to come

045and spend the day with us at New Union in Rebel Nation. Uh the week of February the 3rd, we will be celebrating school counselor week. We're very fortunate to have a school counselor. I am so appreciative that our board years ago put counselors in every building. She is a asset to our building, Miss Stephanie Hubard. Uh February the 6, we will be inviting you guys to come and join us for our Super Bowl potluck because we're going to be getting ready for the Super Bowl that Sunday. So come and join us for that. And February the 12th will be our annual Rebel Ball. I've never experienced a Rebel Ball, but I hear it's a lot of fun, so I'm excited about that. And then February the 13th is SRO appreciation day and we are just

046grateful for our relationship with the Coffee County Sheriff's Department and our very own officer Dylan Nagel. He's a tremendous asset to the faculty, staff, and students at New Union. Now, we brought you all a gift tonight. It's a gift bag of Rebel Red. Um we appreciate all of you and what you do for our school system. >> Thank you for that. Yeah. >> Happy birthday and good luck with that. ARP in the mail. I >> know you can hardly wait to get that. I know you're excited about getting that in the mail and you know it's a >> big accomplishment. You know, >> maybe we get the director to sing to you. Happy birthday. >> He might do that. >> Good evening. I wanted to uh share a couple of things with you. I want

047to I want to piggyback on what Dr. Blessing talked about school report cards. Um, obviously we made a ginormous jump uh on our school report card, but specifically I'd like to mention that we missed an A by like 4/10en of a point. So very, very proud of our students and our staff and what they accomplished. I did a little bit of homework with that, too. I spent some time looking at how did our report card compare with some surrounding middle schools. And I will say in the counties closest to us, there were three that that outperform Coffee County Middle. Cascade, uh, Dicab West, which is a KH school, and East Middle and those three schools outperform Coffee Middle. They're closest to us in the state. So, so very very proud of of what we accomplished

048uh this last year and going to do our best to repeat that uh and try to do better. Um we just finished up our basketball inter mural uh sport and that was a lot of fun. Kids competed by houses and uh we had just boys games and just girls game uh and and had a big time with that. Um after the break we held a leadership meeting that we do every month. We have our student leaders as well as our adult leaders in the building come together talk about what are we going to do next. Uh originally it was going to be cornhole. That was the plan. But the kids said we want to do some we want to throw something else in there. So we're going to try out mattress surfing. The kids are

049excited about it. Uh so we're going to give it a try and see how it goes. Uh, but we're gonna tackle cornhole a little bit later in the semester. But >> Dr. Anderson, did you forgot to share? Miss Yench, Mr. Cordell and I are on one of the mattress surfing steam. >> That'll be great. Okay. Absolutely. We can sign you up for sure. Uh, >> Mr. Anderson, that mattress surfing, is that where they have to drag the mattress to the top of the bleachers and then ride it down the bleachers? >> No, they are not doing that. Okay. >> No, they are not doing that. Cancel the 911 call. It >> It stay It'll stay on the on the gym floor. So, uh, so yes. Yeah. Um, but if you Google that, you'll see what

050it looks like and and I think it's going to be a lot of fun. Um, so yes, um, basketball season is coming to a close. We have two more home games. We have one tomorrow night, uh, and then again next Thursday night. The district tournament this year will be in Warren County, so not a far drive. U, but that'll be the 26th to the 30th of this month. uh if you want to participate in that. Something that I've not shared with you all before. I don't know why, but uh just to let you know, uh I do have a parent advisory committee that we meet with periodically. And so we're going to be meeting on Thursday night uh the 22nd uh to talk about what is middle school look like so far, how have things

051gone, getting parents opinions about things uh and for me to share some of the data that you all have seen uh throughout the school year with them. So uh that'll be happening on the 22nd at 5:30. You're all welcome to attend if you want to come and and and listen to that and hear what concerns that parents might have. And the last thing I want to share is our Valentine social. That's a big social. Kids love that. Um we're doing that on Thursday, February the 12th. Be right after school. And so the kids will have concessions and they'll have music and all the all the things. They have a big time. Uh so that that's what's happening at Coffee Middle. Any questions for me? >> I really like the fact that you're competitive competitive enough

052that you're going out and looking at the scores of the other schools and seeing how close it came. So absolutely. >> So that you know >> that means it means something to you. So I >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. It does. >> Like to be Thank you. Thank you. >> So are you saying that none of the middle schools in outperformed us? >> Just East Middle. >> Yes. East Middle did per outperform us. They had an A. >> No, they have They just have two, right? >> They do. Yes, ma'am. East and West. That's right. >> And East had an A. >> East had an A. Yep. Congratulations. That's a big jump. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> All right. >> And to all your staff. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. >> Next year. >> That's right.

053>> Next year. Yep. >> That's right. Thank y'all. >> Get that point4 points. >> All right, Mr. Parsley. >> Good evening everyone. Um on behalf of the high school, I'll share just a few things that uh we have going on currently. Uh midy year at the high school, and I imagine it's the same for most high schools. Uh we have lots of planning going on. Some of that planning is actually for next year, some of it is for spring. Uh for instance, uh we're currently developing strategies, the administration is working to develop strategies uh to increase our ACT score. Um our seniors for the most part h have all taken the ACT twice. Some of them will continue to take it another time or two this spring, but our juniors, most of them will take

054it for the very first time on April the 2nd. And so we're working on developing strategies uh to uh help with those scores. Um you know there there's a whole lot to be said for teaching the math and teaching the English and teaching the reading, but there are also strategies uh to help uh with the achievement on that test. So we're working through some things and have some ideas there. Um, another thing that we've decided that we're going to do after some discussion, uh, we're going to, uh, for the first time have, uh, what would be called an ASVAB pre-brief, not a debrief, but a pre-brief. And so, uh, our sophomore students will take the ASVAB on April 2nd. That same day, the juniors take the ACT. And uh so just uh a day before

055uh we have an organization a representative from an organization called MEPS that will come in and it's about a 20 to 30 minute presentation. And believe it or not, it's it's really just a presentation about why the ASVAB is important. You know, so many people have the perception that it it's yes, it is a military qualifier, but it has other purposes. and uh you know it helps students to understand what sort of career they may be best suited for and and really that's going to be our focus there. We obviously want uh our students to perform as well as they can on that ASBA just like uh we do for the ACT and so we're really going to try to focus on just motivating students to do their very best on that ASVAB again because

056some students just have the perception oh I don't need that. I hope that makes sense. Um, another thing that we are currently working through is planning for course registration for next year. We had our first uh meeting to plan for uh classes for next year back uh I think it was the end of the first week of December. And so that that's how much work, you know, goes into that. And uh so our goal is to be able to start registration right around the first week of February. It could end up being the second week. And uh we we've got some things going on right now just to get ready for that. Uh we'll be rolling out information to students uh before the month is out and they will you know be able to look

057at course offerings for next year and we'll be doing uh presentations per grade level so that students uh know more about the offerings that we have. Um, also want to share with you, and you may have heard, um, we, uh, have not had Winterfest in a several, several years. And, uh, I really have lost track of the last time we had had Winterfest. Um, we had not had great participation in that week. It, you know, Winterfest is sort of a, you might say, a smaller version, the winter version of homecoming. Uh, we had not had as much participation in that. the last couple years that we had had it. And again, I've forgotten what year we um decided we weren't going to do it the next year, but we are bringing Winterfest back this year.

058And so, uh we will have a Winterfest King and Queen. We'll have a dance uh on Friday night, February 6th, and Winterfest week is February 2nd through 6. We have other activities going on that week. And again, it's sort of just the the winter version of homecoming. And uh one of the things that I know our ambassador is going to share is a little bit more about what's going on with Winterfest. They have actually done the planning for that for this year. So uh and then put a lot of work into that. Uh that's all that I really wanted to share with you this evening. Again, they have lots more. Any questions for me? >> I had a question. >> Um you said the ASVAB is in 11th grade is when you get that. >>

059So all right. So we will be taking that. sophomores will be taking that on April the 2nd. >> Okay? >> And then they will take it again before they graduate high school. And so, uh, we're we're committed to doing that twice, uh, while they're in high school. And, you know, it stands to reason that they will do a little better as they get a little bit older. Uh, but we we begin that with sophomore year. And, um, one of the reasons you you might say, well, why don't you just take it twice during senior year? You know, they'll have had more course content. Honestly, part of that is sort of logistics. Um, our seniors are taking or I'm sorry, our juniors are taking the ACT on April the 2nd. Uh, our our seniors will be

060most of them will be job shadowing and taking early post-secary visits. And so that leaves our sophomores. And so what we what we do with them is is, you know, administer the ASVAB to them. um really with the the staffing that it takes to administer particularly the ACT. It doesn't take as many staff to administer the ASVAB, but particularly with the ACT, it takes a significant number of staffing. And so it works out really well for us for our seniors to job shadow and again take those early post-secary visits. We do sort of do the reverse of that in the fall with our seniors taking what we call the ACT re ACT retake. Um, and you know, our junior what what we uh would have liked to have done uh back in the fall is

061have our uh juniors take that uh uh ASBA in the fall. It did not work out. I don't know if you remember there was a military shutdown back during that very time. uh that we would have been administering the ASVAB and so we weren't able to do that. Uh what we chose to do instead then we gave our sophomores the preac which they need which they needed. So uh we were able to you know do some good things uh nevertheless I hope that answers your question. >> Well it what I was curious about was you said this is helps them to see what they're interested in. Mhm. >> I'm wondering why don't you give it to them when they're over at Raider Academy so that when they come in they can see whether they are

062more interested in the CTE program and what it has to offer or >> um >> you know I'll be honest that's something I'll need to do some investigating on. Uh I'm not I'm not sure whether students are able to take the ASBA prior to sophomore year high school. I can investigate that. I was just curious if that would help them at that point before they go into high school to evaluate which path they want to take. >> That that's something we definitely can investigate. And of course, I'd work uh you know, I would work with Miss Sellers to to investigate whether we could uh maybe administer that even sooner than we do. I appreciate that. >> Well, did you just thought >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I have a question. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um >>

063good question. What what is the earliest a high school student can take the ACT? >> All right. So, I am not aware of um I'm not aware of any regulation that would prevent >> uh a student to even take the ACT even in middle school if there is one. I'm not aware of it. Of course, I'm working at the high school level, right? >> So, that's not necessarily something that would be shared with me. But we've got uh I mean we've got I know we have freshmen that take the ACT. Again, you just you register to take it one of those national administrations. >> It's not administered at the school level. You know, we we do that for our our juniors and seniors and the preCT for sophomores. >> Um but as far as I

064know, they could take it in middle school um if they wanted >> like to take it at your school. So >> the first time you all let them take it there is in the spring of their junior year. Is that correct? >> Yes, it'd be spring. It it would be spring of junior year as far as the we do two administrations at the the school and that's I believe that's generally uh that that's what all school systems do. They'll do two administrations now. It's been that way for a few years. >> Uh but junior year would be the first >> those are in the spring. >> Uh so the senior retake is in the fall. >> It's midfall. It's it's mid first semester. >> Now, are both of those >> free of charge? >> They

065are both free of charge. Absolutely. They are. They You get You get two uh two free tests. >> So, if you had a student that wanted to take the ACT before spring of their junior year, they would need to do it somewhere other than >> what they could do is register to take it uh one of the national administrations. Now, and some people confuse this, Coffee County High School happens to be one of the national testing sites. >> Okay? >> And, uh, those are Saturday test. I believe they start at 8:00 a.m. And really people not only from Coffee County, uh, but from, you know, could be from Teleoma High School or their school system. We have people from surrounding systems that might come to our high school. >> And that wouldn't technically be Coffee

066County High School offering it. It's just the site >> the site >> for an administration of >> does that hopefully that makes sense. Other questions? >> Thank you. >> That's all I have. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Parsley. All right. Now, we're on to the uh call for intent section. In the consent agenda, we do have a request from Mr. to add um a a discussion and some changes on policy 3.402 to the agenda. So that would be agenda item number five. So I need to get a a motion to approve the consent agenda which includes the revisions to the agenda. So a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> So move, >> Mr. Cordell. I'll second >> and Mr. All right. Any discussion with that? Uh, let's start down here and

067Miss Matthews >> I >> Mr. >> I >> Mr. Cordell I >> Miss Yench >> I >> Mr. Hansert >> I >> and I will vote I that passes 620. All right, first item on the agenda is budget amendment 141-2026-13. So, Miss Melson, >> um this is a new grant that we received um from the state. So this a budget brings this grant into our budget to use for um there was a team selected for mental health and it's to use for professional development and um professional development substitute teachers and benefits and then some family engagement um activities. >> That's it. >> Okay. I need a motion to approve budget amendment uh 141-2026-13. So move second >> Mr. Hansert Mr. Cordell any discussion questions of April on this budget amendment hearing none uh Mr. >>

068I >> Mr. Cordell >> hi >> Miss Hinch >> I >> Mr. Hansert. >> Hi, >> Ms. Matthews. >> I >> And I will vote I. That passes 620. I don't think I missed any. Nope. Okay. Next item up is budget amendment uh 141-20 2026-14. Um Miss Nelson. >> Uh yes, this is just some budget corrections. Um I need to make uh first line, the first um line on the explanation on the back is for the extra pay. So, I just need to move some funds around. Um, uh, retirement, um, I had some people budgeted in the wrong area. So, that's just to move funds around within the current budget. So, it's not additional expenditures. It's just moving where I had some extra because we budgeted a little bit extra um because it wasn't for

069sure total amount because of the way the bonus was given or the extra pay was given. So, this is just to move those funds around to cover the lines where we need to cover in. And then we closed out a purchase order in error. And so when we closed the purchase order, it was a prior year. Um the funds went back to fund balance for that purchase order and we needed to open it back up in this school year. So um it was for the lighting at the uh athletic lighting. Um and so to do that, we had I need to take 40,000 out of fund balance and put it back into the capital alley line. And so that's what this budget amendment is for. >> Okay. I need a motion to approve budget amendment

070uh 141-2026-14. >> I make that motion. >> I'll second Mr. Cordell. >> Okay. Any questions of April on this budget amendment >> discussion hearing? None. Uh Mr. Cordell. >> Hi. >> Miss. >> Mr. Hansert. I >> uh Miss Matthews >> I >> Mr. >> I >> will vote I. That passes 620. Budget amendment 141-2026-15. Miss Nelson, >> this is a T the TSBA grant that we received um to be used for the teen um health advisory council um for substitutes and transportation for students. Um that's for just this is to bring it into our budget so we can use it. >> Okay. Um a motion to approve budget amendment uh 141-2026-15. >> I move >> Mr. Cordell second. >> I'll second. >> Mr. Cens any questions of April discussion hearing? None. Miss Yench >> I.

071>> Mr. Hansert >> I. Miss Matthews Hi, >> Mr. >> Hi, >> Mr. Cordell. Hi. >> And I will vote I. That passes 620. Um, budget update. >> So, this is the budget update for November. In November, we received $4,497,785 in revenue, which was 35% which brought us the 35% of budget. Um a million $92,000 of that was local, 3.3 million was state, and then 50,000 other. Um we are a little up from last year. Um last year's year to date for November was 33.95. Um expenditures in the month of November, we spent $4.2 million, which brought budget to 36.93. Um year to date last year was 32.83. And the major difference um between this year and last year is um the increases of the bonus I'm not the bonus payments that were made from

072the state. Um and then um we've had a little bit increase in utilities and um that's pretty much the majority of why we're up from last year. If you have additional questions um about specific lines, I'll take those. >> Okay. Let's get a motion to approve the budget update. >> I make that motion. >> Is it second? >> I'll second it. >> Miss Matthews, any questions of April on this one? >> April, I was kind of curious. Um, I'm noticing like for example the federal government revenues for this year were 14% and that was last year and year to date we've gotten 34. It's just there was an increase, was there? That was just that they brought it in earlier or >> um No, that's just um that is where we get reimbursed for our

073our um ROC instructors and so we had the shutdown and so that put us a little bit behind, but they're catching us up on payments. >> Oh, okay. >> Any other questions? Okay, hearing none. Uh Mr. Hansert. >> Hi. >> Uh, Miss Matthews, >> I >> Mr. >> I >> Mr. Cordell. >> Hi, >> Miss Yinch. >> I will vote I. That passes 620. Um, next item up is policy 3.402 at their request of Mr. to make some changes to this policy. So, Mr. Cool. Um during our um um bus driver maintenance breakfast, we received some anonymous comments and and we all got a copy of them and you know, one of the comments that was most um I guess represented there was bus drivers um complaining about the trip pay and after doing some

074research and I talked to Mr. Morris the over at the transportation department and he told me that um that he had presented um an increase at the principal meeting in December and uh seemed to have had good um response from the principles on it. Um, you know, I done a little done a little digging, done a little looking, and I found in policy that, uh, you know, in the policy 3.402, 402, the special use of school vehicles. Uh let's see B line 11 uh 11 and 12 says the board shall be reimbursed by the individual school at the rate specified by the board for the use of buses for extracurricular activities. So with that being said, this body up here can can set the rate and as Mr. Gilly had said in a board meeting

075before, um this body also sets policy. So instead of sending this to the policy committee to to be discussed, it's pretty cut and dry. Um what I would like to do is is add a rate amount to the policy to be adjusted every two years and the rate amount that um after talking to Mr. Morris and whatnot kind of come up with looking at the low end of the driver's pay and the high end of the driver's pay taking the average of that would be $26 an hour. We're currently right now they're getting paid 65 per hour for the for the driver. >> So, Mr. did you want to Why don't we go ahead and you make a motion to >> for I would like this language and then we'll get a second and then

076we'll do a discussion. I would like to make a motion to um add to the policy the special use of school vehicles. Like to add the rate shall be $26 an hour per driver and $1 per mile per each bus required. Rate shall be adjusted every two years. >> Do I have a second? >> I'll second that. >> Mr. Cordell seconds. Okay. Now for discussion any you want to elaborate further Mr. or >> I can um >> in my research and talking with Mr. Morris and and also I heard from couple of different bus drivers concerning this. But but the way I come up with my pay scale or you know come up with that number was looking at it a new bus driver that's what we would call a zeryear bus driver they get

077paid $8760 per day currently. That works out to $21.90 an hour. You know, a 25-y year bus driver gets paid $1165 per day. That works out to 2901 per hour. Sounds like a lot, but when you only work four hours a day, 20 hours a week, that's not a whole lot of money. If you add the top and the bottom per per hour, say it come up to 25.46. And personally, I like round numbers. So, I went to $26. Um, and part of the reason after looking at it, you know, currently it's 1665 per driver right now. We have a lot of drivers that do not want to take field trips. They do not want to lose out on their regular scheduled route to take a field trip if need be. And the reason for

078that is even if they're a first year driver, they're taking a $5.25 an hour pay cut to take. So in order for them to come out ahead, that field trip will have to be at least 4 hours long for them to take that to be able to take that. Um, you know, that's about that's about all I got at the at the moment on that. >> M Mr. Director, would you like to chime in? >> Interesting. Uh that's a topic because Mr. Shores and I met with Mr. Morris on this very subject today, but we work at your leisure. Um we can up pay high as you want, but we can have a lot of things, but we can't have everything. At some point budgetarily, we you know, it's going to become a a deficit.

079But that was a topic we discussed today. That amount was not that high. But um you know when we raise those trip routes, you're also raising the amount of fundraising we're going to do as well. So for every action there's a reaction, but we work at your leisure. >> Any >> Well, one thing I was, you know, Mr. Morris told me was that he only had very few drivers that would take field trips. And I know come April and May is a busy time of the year for field trips. And he told me that he'd already let the principles know that it's first come, first serve. You know, if we don't up the price that we're willing to pay our drivers to take those field trips, come the time of year that everybody wants to

080take them, there won't be anybody to take them. No argument here. We concur 100%. >> So, you know, >> that was part of our conversation today with Mr. Morris. >> You know, I'm I'm open for suggestions on a dollar amount, but I would most definitely like to see that dollar amount put in the policy, added to the policy, and like I said, it'd be adjusted every two years accordingly. >> Mr. Harrove. >> Oh, go ahead. What was the amount that Mr. Morris brought up today? >> Well, he didn't. >> Oh, >> we we did. >> Oh, okay. I was just curious >> how much it how much it was different from what Chris had. >> That was going to be my question, too. >> Yeah. I I just I didn't know how far off they

081were. I was just >> And I've actually done a comparison of the area district around us and what they pay for trips. And I'm not saying our folks are getting what they're what they're worth, but we do pay more than any of the areas around us. Um there's one local school system that pays more dollar amount, but they don't pay extra for field trips like we do. >> Um and they're limited to drivers. There's one school system that contracts their busing out. I don't Mr. Shores and I have talked about this several times. We don't think that's good for our community. We want our bus drivers are part of our school family and staff, but um we do we do better and we still talked about the need to raise it a little bit because

082we are having problems um finding folks to to to drive on field trips. We're well aware of that. Um, but it wasn't $26. No, ma'am. >> Okay. >> What was it? What was it? >> $20 an hour. >> 20. Okay. >> 20. >> So off about $6. >> Chris, is this dollar an hour something that they're getting now? A dollar per mile. >> Yes, that's what they charge. That covers the my understand that covers the fuel and the wear and tear on the buses. >> So, who gets the dollar per hour? >> That goes uh believe that comes back to the central office and goes in the budget to cover for the fuel and and whatever >> it it does. And Miss Yans, the other thing about it, this is not going to be a

083district cost. these costs will be passed down to the kids >> so we can >> I understand. I mean I I agree. We had this meeting in the same vein of trying to to find more bus drivers wanting to to drive on field trips, but those costs go directly towards our families and our kids because it is a field trip or we're raising money through athletics and whatnot. We're increasing that. So that that's >> can we not take the money out of our fund balance to to do with other these things like we've done other things? Star Growth >> uh potentially. I don't think that's I mean you're talking So we're going to use our fund balance to do what? >> To to pay to make this up to pay for this. How are you

084how is the kids >> when you say make it up? Who are we paying where do we get the money to pay for these other things? through fundraising. >> Okay. Okay. Where did we get the where did we get the money to pay for those jerseys at? >> Out of the the improper purchase of those jerseys out of the fund balance. >> Yeah, that's that's the same thing I'm talking about. That was how much? >> Okay. My my question on that is how long what's the longevity of that over time? >> That's what I'm asking. >> I mean, you're we'll have to sit down and look at it, won't we? One of the things that's usually not suggested and I'm not saying can't be done but it's suggested not to use fund balance for reoccurring

085cost and this is a reoccurring cost that it would be every year every time a trip that is that is the recommendation is to not use fund balance for reoccurring cost. So, you were saying that that additional cost to pay the driver would be made up through fundraising. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Do do you mean like um fund raise like the cost of the field trip would cost more? Is that what you're saying? Okay. And that's how you're >> you're equating it to being passed down to our families is that the field trip would actually cost more. >> Yes, ma'am. Usually whenever they're doing a sorry when they're doing a trip >> and and this is from the school level of it. When you're doing a trip, the teacher's going to go and figure out

086where they're going to, >> what's the length of the the trip is, what the mileage is of the trip. They figure out a estimate of what that cost for that trip's going to be. And then that is divided by the number of kids that's going on that trip. If it is a during the day school trip uh that that they're going on, then they divide that up and depending on where their funds, if they've got funds to take from somewhere else, they could do that or they can push it down to the parents and send it home saying we need $5 to to do this trip or we need $10. If we increase the the amount that the bus driver is making, then that's going to increase the amount that they're going to need to

087take up from the students. determine on what trip it is. If you go to Chattanooga, it's going to be more than if you go to the Manchester Arts Center. Uh so that's that's how it's going to be taken care of. Now, if you're looking at a athletic trip, you have well football, every Friday pretty much you're paying for a trip to somewhere and and that's going to come from the the boosters or the the athletic fund uh to be able to pay for that trip. So if the bus driver is getting more money and then it's going to cost more for that group to pay for that trip. Not saying it shouldn't. I'm just telling you how it works. And that's where I think Mr. Hargrove is saying that it would take more fundraising for

088the athletics. If they're taking those bus trips, then they're going to need more money to pay for that that trip. >> Well, when you look at it >> Oh, sorry. Well, I I think Miss Milson had something to say. >> Kelvin answered it because I was going to add in the athlete, but I think Kelvin Kelvin said pretty much what I was going to say. So, sorry interrupt. >> When you think about it, it's it's like an additional $10 an hour above what they're getting now. So, if a bus driver is going on a 4hour trip, he's going to be making $40 more dollars than he would have before. I don't see $40 killing anything one way or the other. I mean, if you've got a whole football team and and you're splitting it among

089the parents, they may each have to put in what, two, three $3. >> Yeah, I think that's where it comes to the decision of this board, what you would like for uh for it to go in and the direction you would like it to go. I do remember the time that that the amount for a bus is more for the bus at the time and as Mr. said it went up to a dollar and I do remember that time as a principal it was it did hit the students or the classes and the teachers trying to take those trips. It hit them pretty hard at that time. Not saying that this will I'm I'm not but I do remember at that time it it did make it quite a bit more difficult. >> Well, but

090it it may not like you said it might be just a dollar. It could be the difference between getting to go on that field trip and not getting to go on the field trip. So, >> and some of our spring, especially basketball and spring sports, I mean, they're going to travel. You're not talking about five games. You're talking about 15 games. >> Yeah. >> And it does add up. >> And is it going to break? No. But it does create operational differences in >> find coach drivers for 15 games. >> I understand >> that's going to get >> I understand and we recognize that and that's why we met with Mr. Morris today. >> Yeah. >> Well, I do know that during the football season that the football team had to chartered buses twice. >>

091That's correct. at a outstanding cost. I think both trips was somewhere about $11,000 that it cost them to charter those buses for those two games because there was not drivers that could take them cuz they had to leave early because of the fine region that we're in that they had to travel >> traffic >> um you know so you know I mean they would have gladly paid the increase because like I said that cost them 11 $11,000. >> My question is is that a is that a function of people not wanting to do it for the money or is that a question of having a shortage of bus drivers? See, on that one though, to me, it's more of >> we need those drivers to drive a route. And and you had brought up for

092them to basically skip driving a route so they could drive a field trip. And we've pretty much not allowed that to happen because we need our drivers to drive our kids home. That that's the first priority that we have with our our our drivers. And and we've always done that. I I can't say always. We've done that for ever since I've been up here because otherwise we're we're leaving a whole route sitting without way to get home without doing a double up. So I don't know that they've got that choice. And so you go back also to that that that situation with the uh the charter bus. The whole purpose the whole reason they went that direction is because they had to leave before they got done with the route. So they would still even

093if we increase if we increase it astronomic you know just amazing amount we're still going to need those drivers to drive a bus route rather than taking the trip. >> I don't disagree. I mean, the the taking the kids to and from school comes first, >> you know, but if you know, and I do know that, you know, we've had some bus drivers retire in the past few weeks, you know, I mean, it's, you know, it seems like they go out quicker than than we can get them trained. um you know because it's a quite a lengthy process to get them to get a bus driver trained. Um but with that being being said that even you know discounting the the football games, you know, being short on the drivers, you know, even if we

094do have enough drivers to cover the routes and we've got an extra driver or two that would be willing to do that, they're still not going to do that because they're taking one heck of a pay cut to take that trip. Um, you know, because a driver, you know, if they're if they're full-time, if they're not actually driving, they're and, you know, typically riding and and learning from an experienced driver. Um, you know, so they're still they're still getting paid. >> I I wish Mr. Morris was here because now since I've been up here, we've we've struggled finding the drivers. that's been not just Coffee County, that's across the state, that's actually across the the country is is finding bus drivers uh for our public schools. Uh but best I remember if at the time

095when they were able to take a field trip because we had a substitute to be able to fill their route then it was actually taken care of in a way so that they would not lose money by by not doing the route and doing the trip instead. But like I said that that hasn't happened in my time up here and Mr. Morris u would be the one I need to to direct that question to. Whenever we charter buses, who pay does who pays for that? >> I would assume the the booster, >> every bit of it, >> I'm assuming. Yes. >> I know of. Yes. >> Okay. >> I understand the dilemma with the cost being passed down to the families. Nobody wants that. I know they don't. and and maybe there may even be

096times where the field trip possibly isn't attractive enough to the student that they may opt out more so when they get older. Um, but it sounds to me like, and I've I've had a driver come to me about this field trip thing, the the hourly rate also. It sounds like we may not we may not have as many field trips if we don't up the rate um because of that. So you kind of have to weigh I think you know do we are we willing to pay more so that we can continue our field trips and attract drivers to take those jobs or do we want to keep cost down? I mean, if if a field trip is taking 60 or 80 students, I don't know what they typically take, and we've paid a total

097of 40 or $50 more, $10 more an hour. And we paid, you know, what is that 60 or 80 students? That 504 or $50 more divided by 60 students really is probably less than a dollar a piece >> to be able to make this happen because it sounds like we're not going to we may not have hardly any field trips if we keep going down this if we don't have drivers to take them. So, it's kind of I mean everything else is going up in the world. And so their time is valuable >> very much so. >> Yeah. >> And and we recognize that. That's why we met with Mr. Morris today. But >> like Mr. Mr. quoted, >> I mean, it's in policy. It's your >> your discretion. >> We're trying to look at

098all different areas of it. And it's it's a fine balance. It is. You can go too far one way and then you're you're hurting this side. then you go too far the other way and and it hurts it from the other side. It's a balance there that you have to do, right? >> And and we we talk about if it's 80 students, but let's say Hickerson goes to somewhere as a grade level and it's usually grade level, they may have 20 or 40 students and it makes it more per student. or if if there's a athletic event that is a smaller group, then it it it makes it more expensive per different one. But yes, we understand the the need on both sides and it's it's that fine balance and and if this board chooses

099to go that direction of of just move, we will follow that and move on with it. It's something that you have to to decide. But our goal, we started meeting with Mr. Morris today and and we've talked about it before trying to come up with a a solution with it and Mr. Harrove is like he said he he went to the different systems around close to us and we're already higher than majority of them and but still it's it's still we're we're hurting for it. The good thing is and and Mr. Morris has even said it. As far as our system with our bus drivers, we are in better shape than most on having bus drivers. We are struggling regularly. Like Mr. said, we are losing bus drivers to retirement because a lot of them

100are are older uh older group and they're getting to that point they're going to start retiring and it's hard to find others to to replace them. So that's going to happen anyway. But we're actually better than most in that sense. Even >> I think the biggest thing that that I've heard too and I've had the same amount of people coming to me, the bus drivers. I've talked to them. I've talked to like five different bus drivers. We are on our upend. And this is thing something that I have preached for the past six months is our classified people. If we don't pay these guys, we got to have something to entice them. Nobody's going to work for nothing. And and guys, I don't know if anybody's drove a bus. That's all I need to say.

101We can show everybody our bus reports. And to we we've got to do something to entice We entice teachers. We entice coaches. We entice everything else to try to get people to come here. >> But we got to do the same for our bus drivers. >> I agree. >> Nobody argues that. are certified as well. I mean, >> I understand. But that's what I'm that's what I'm saying is too is that we've got to try to entice >> bus drivers to come here as much as we do teachers and everybody else. >> So, it sounds like everybody's in agreement. We need to pay the bus drivers more for field trips. >> What is that amount? So, you guys came up with about $20 an hour. You got 26. So, that's that's the discussion. And I

102guess we need to resolve right here. >> So what's the right amount? And I will say personally I am opposed to using fund balance for recurring expenses like this. I just you know and I know what you're what you're getting at. So I you know but I I think it's just not good accounting. So that's so u but um but we need to figure out what the right amount is. Sure. >> And I'd like to add you were want to put this you put the amount in your motion. Normally we don't have amounts and that type of thing in motions or in in policy. That is completely your your choice if you want to do that. But normally it's not part of a a policy for the pay. That's a that's a pay scale setup

103which is not a policy. If this making sense, April, would you like to add anything? >> That's correct. I think the previous scale we have was approved by the board. I don't know what year, but the the current scale we have that's for trip pay um was approved by the board at some point, but I'm not sure what year. >> I think that's what Mr. Coon's trying to do is we're going to set that by putting it in policy tonight. >> Yeah. It has to be broken out by hour and then we have an half hour amount, a quarter, like a fourth of an hour, a half hour, and then three4 of an hour amount on that trip scale. So, we know how to process the payroll side. >> So, we're breaking it down in

104tents. >> Well, we have a trip scale like we have all the other pay scales. We have >> broken down into tents though. >> Um, I'm not sure. I don't I'm not have in front of me, but we break it out in quarter hour, half hour, 3/4 of an hour, and then an hour. Well, the first the first line is zero to three hours and then it increases every hour after that, but that's what we currently use. And I think that that pay scale was approved by the board at some point, but I'm not sure when. >> I think we would my opinion was we we need a new pay scale >> to be approved. >> I agree with that. >> Um >> I kind of agree with Mr. Shores. when you put an amount

105in a policy, it kind of um it goes out of date and we probably need a new to change policy to whatever you guys want to but then to build a new pay scale >> and if that means that like Mr. said every two years that it is revisited and looked at then that would be a pol something you would put in the policy >> but it it's actually is it a pay scale or basically the trip sheet? >> It's a trip scale. It's a trip scale >> use for payroll. >> But but to relook at the trip scale or or whatever you want to call it every two years but but like I said I we normally would not actually put an amount because that is a like a pay scale type. >> I

106will also too add that when we get audited they pull we have to pull that pay scale that trip scale for if they pull that time sheet we pull that pay scale and have to attach it with it to so if we're going to update we need to update the whole pay scale. If we're going to update a bount per hour, then we need to update the pay scale. If you're just going to do a flat amount, then I'm not sure. I guess I don't. >> So, >> yeah, that would still be a a an item for this board to an action item for this board to take. I don't think it's ready in my opinion for tonight, but that is completely up to you. I think the the the trip scale sheet needs to

107be fixed and then brought to the board and then the board votes on it as a a a scale for it. >> Yeah. And also on that on that um scale sheet tells the schools what they pay um based on the amount of hours too. So it gives them a little information when they're when they're doing their um trips to know what their cost is going to be as well because we add fuel into that. um the the bus driver's benefits for their um time and the fuel for that trip. So, not only are you just taking care of the bus driver, you're taking care of the bus driver, all of their social security, Medicare, and then their benefit and then their fuel for that trip. So, there's a lot of things that that are

108combined into that cost for the schools and we might need to update that as well because the schools use that to know what to pay um central office. >> Okay. So, right now we have a motion on the floor that's been motioned and seconded to for the language you proposed here. I mean, we can I Mr. Chairman, I'd like to resend my motion and make a new motion. >> Um, okay. And who? Uh, let's see. >> A second. >> Okay, >> I'm okay with that. >> That's okay. Okay. I'd like to make the motion that um that we put this policy on our upcoming work schedule or work session and we come to a resolution and have it on the February agenda item because if it's not taken care of by February, you're you haven't

109helped anything. >> So discuss it at the at the upcoming work session >> and then May be an action item on the February agenda. >> Okay, >> I'll second that motion. >> Yeah, we'll have to have that for the work session. >> So, okay. So, the motion is to um kick this over to Well, I I don't want to use that language. Motion. The motion is to address this issue policy 3.402 in the upcoming work session on January 27th and to um reconsider it in the um uh February board meeting which I don't know what the date is but is that correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. And Mr. Cordell has seconded that. Um do we have any further discussion on that? So whatever we would decide at the work s of course we're not going

110to be deciding but whatever we propose at the work session then April would have to come up with the the new pay scale on that by the fee the February one >> we would come up with the pay scale. >> No but she'd have to come up with the budget. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> That would be Miss Matthews starts on this. I >> Mr. >> I >> Mr. Cordell. >> Hi, >> Miss Hench. >> I >> Mr. Hanser. >> Hi. >> I will vote I. That passes 620. All right. That includes the the uh action items, the action action items agenda. So now we move on for items for discussion. And let's start with with you, Holly. >> Okay. Well, I I really didn't have anything prepared, but I did want

111to uh just say congratulations to Coffee County Middle School, East Coffee, Deerfield, New Union, Hickerson, and I'm I think I'm forgetting one >> that >> I I was trying to list the ones that went up in grade letter. I think I'm missing one or two. Oh, you're talking you're east. Did you say east? >> East. >> Hillsboro. >> Uh, I thought Hillsboro was already an A last year. >> Oh, increase. Sorry. >> That's amazing. >> That's important. >> Two years in a row. Yeah. I just wanted to say congratulations to all. I wanted to call them out, but my list is I think I'm short, so I'm sorry for whoever I left off, but uh congratulations. I think that is awesome. That is so good and speaks so well of the effort and the uh

112intentional work being done. It's just awesome and um appreciate everybody's hard work and thank you new union for the gift bag full of goodies. Thank you. All I have >> um well to um I guess I'd like to um basically say the same thing that Miss Matthews did. Uh congratulations to the to the schools, the the principles, the staff for for great improvement overall. Um, you know, that's the main thing that we're here for is to produce better students and, you know, it it shows. And also, I'd like to like to thank Miss Gilly for the gift bags that we received. That's very appreciated. And, you know, that's that's all I have right now. >> Mr. Cordell, >> thank you for the bags. Thank you for this team. You know, this team, you've committed to

113preparing the next generation to be our future leaders. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you for all your work and for proud of our schools and the grades and well, well, what 18. Thank y'all. >> Miss Y. >> Well, I'm in agreement on that. I was thrilled to see the increase. And and it's not just seeing the increase. I can't imagine the work that had to go in to making that happen >> and it just shows it's just so appreciated. >> Well, yes. >> So, I just want to say thank you. Um, I got to go to East Coffee for their Christmas huah, but nobody told me I could wear pajamas, so next year I will know I could wear pajamas. And um I got to read and I got to remember what it was

114like to try to hold a four-year-old's attention as you read. That is I think I managed five minutes. So anyhow that I appreciate his coffee inviting me. So >> that's your answer. >> Uh I kind of echo every what everybody else said it all the way from our teachers all the way down. Uh appreciate everybody's efforts. Uh East Coffee special place for me. It's where I went to school started out there. All my family uh they went there and uh you know them maintaining and Hickerson uh Kathy's done a great job out there. Miss Crabtree's going done a great job bringing her school up. All the uh faculty out there as well. Uh and again thank Bobby for our gift box or bag that she's given us and given us and uh thank appreciate everybody's

115effort and uh been a good year. Thank y'all very much. >> I heard that Santa showed up at East Coffee and he looked a lot like you. >> It's amazing how that happens. >> All right. Um I will will say that uh last Thursday we gave a presentation to the budget and finance committee and uh um after an introduction by Mr. Hargrove um Mr. Shores had to step in and and do the the presentation because the w um guy was sick and he really hit it out of the park. So I really need to give him a shout out for for it was it was a great presentation. I think we made a good impression and he added, you know, a little bit of history and spin to it that we probably wouldn't gotten from

116the W people, but we're doing it again. I guess the W guy is going to be there tomorrow night. No, >> I actually heard last night from him and he it's not him. He's not the one that's sick. It's family. >> Okay. >> And it's it's immediate family and and he's not going to be able to make it tomorrow. >> Okay. Well, I guess you're going to get a chance to start again. I don't know about that, but I'm I'm going to do the best I can. >> Okay. Well, you know, that's important because we presented to the budget finance committee for the Hickerson and East Coffee um u renovations and we're going to the full commission tomorrow night. So, uh any board members that can make it, that's at 6:00, I believe. So, uh

117showing moral support. So, so that that would be great. And I think that's what I have. We have a work session coming up on the 27th and uh looking forward to that. So, and with that, do we have any committee reports? I don't think we've had any committees. >> We are finishing up um evaluating or grading the applications of the innovation committee, >> right? and we'll uh we'll tally those up, send out uh information to the awardees and then our next meeting is for next steps in what other areas. Uh I believe we are looking for last time I talked to Melissa about this into February for the next policy com committee. >> Okay. >> Right. And Holly, we we need to you and I and Beth need to get on to scoring those. Yeah,

118I just got the documents today. >> Yeah. >> And if you need help with that, please reach out. Miss Tanya and I will >> I may I briefly it was a little Yes, ma'am. >> There's a lot of stuff. >> Yeah. So, >> lots of good applications. >> Don't be surprised if you guys hear from me tomorrow. >> I got no problem. >> I took one glance and was like, "Wow, >> it's a lot." And and that and that is really a good thing. >> That means we have enough folks that that are reaching out. That's that's good. >> Yeah. And now the high point of the evening, we get to hear from our student ambassadors. >> So, who wants to go first? >> I can go first. >> Okay. And when you come on

119up to the microphone and tell us a little bit about yourself and you know what you know where you're planning on going to come? >> Yeah, we'll go. >> Yeah. >> You can all come up. But but tell us a little bit about yourself. We want we like to know. So, >> my name is Bella Van Zimber. I >> microphone right here. >> My name is Bella Van Zamberan. I'm the junior class president at Coffee County for student government. >> Okay. >> Uh the topics that I'm covering, it's we have a Warren County game tomorrow. Girls start at 6 and boys follow. And this is for basketball. And then they also pay play Paige on Thursday at both at home. Yeah. And then for swim, they have a meet against Bradford County tomorrow at 5:00

120pm at the Shelbyville Rec Center. Okay, sorry, Bedford. Uh wrestling, they have an away meet tomorrow and then senior night is coming up on January 20th. For flag football, they had their very first practice today. I'm helping manager that because I can't play yet, but they're doing pretty good with that. There's they're working on catching and just getting the system together, how the flags work, but it's going to be a fun year for them. It's going to be club this year, but I think it's going to be able to be a sports team next year, right? >> Excited about that? >> Yes. >> Good. >> Um, in theater, they started their rehearsals today for year in town. That's their spring musical. And fine arts. I did hear that they're doing two different events, but the

121one that's coming up soon is in February and that's all the information we have right now. >> And my name is Laya Kger and I am a junior class representative and I'll be covering some more clubs. So for HOSA, we have our state conference later this semester. It's right after spring break ends. Uh the teen health ad advisory council were making hygiene bags that go out to students on Mondays. So it's similar to the food bags. Um I'm the secretary for the teen health advisory council. And then FFA sounds like they're having a chili cook off this weekend. This Saturday is what we know of. And then January 13th they have a speaking event. Should go over employment skills and there should be a prepared speaking competition. They also have a pet food drive on

122Wednesday, January 14th. That's when we know it starts. Beta just hosted a chili cookoff this past Saturday. Sounds like it was very successful. And then they're also hosting a drive for the Children's Advocacy Center this week. And Senior Smiles has been in full swing with us partnered with MacArthur Manor, Bailey Manor, and Autumn Oaks. And then Skills USA just finished up with their toy drive and received over 400 toys and raised 200 $60 for the Coffee County Rescue Squad. >> Hi, I'm Kira McInturf. I'm the student body vice president. Um, and I'll be talking about DECA, FBA, and student government. and 30 about 30 members um of DECA are headed to the sports and entertainment conference in Orlando, Florida. I believe they're leaving on January 27th. Um FBA just volunteered and donated items to Bailey

123Manor um for Alzheimer Alzheimer's awareness project. Um, student government, we just had an awesome end of the fall semester with our holiday spirit week as well as our Grinch kindness activity. Um, and now we are in Winterfest planning mode. So, we're really excited about that. Um, our dress up days for that week of February 2nd through the 6th is we have Blver, um, Frozen in Time, which is basically like a decades day. Um, polar opposites day, winter versus tropical, chill out, which is our comfy clothes day. Hooray. Um, and then we have winter white out. Um, and we will have a court ceremony happening where student government will be presented as well as our Winterfest King and Queen. Thank you. >> Awesome. Thank you. Any Thank you. >> Any questions for our student ambassadors? >>

124You guys did great. How many girls are you do y'all have on the flag football? >> I do not have a number for that. It's He doesn't cut anybody, so it's like some people are still joining and figuring out, but I think we're close to 30 girls. >> Wow. That's awesome. >> Wow. Good. >> That's awesome. >> Yeah. >> Thank you all for your service. >> Thank you so much for >> coming and sharing some time with us. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> All right. Next up, we have the director's report. >> I'll be brief. Uh just a reminder, our athletic lights are up and functional at our middle school. Really proud get opportunity drive by and look at those. Um somebody sent a picture when they were on and sent it to me. But

125it it it's good. They've done done well with their with those. Uh school visits, I enjoyed visiting with the teachers and staff at North Coffee and Deer Deerfield last week. Conversation with folks were awesome. We'll talk about from A to Z. just an opportunity for us to just to talk and meet and they figure out who I am and I get to meet them. Uh middle school, I visit our middle school Thursday. Meteor conferences are being conducted with our principles. We completed half of our schools. And when I say we, um Miss Seismore, myself meet with the elementary principles obviously um Dr. blessing and Miss Cole meet with the middle and the high school uh Raider Academy and high school. The next round is at the end of the month. They are very instructionally focused

126and a great time for our principles to reflect and bounce ideas and it's very valuable time. Uh those are not required, but I believe they're a good practice. Um scheduled for commission uh county commission tomorrow afternoon concerning the potential funding of our of a new Hickerson and renovations at East. And um please please keep Mr. Shores and I in your prayers this evening and that it all goes well and I believe it will. And you guys are invited. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. And Mr. Shores, you get to bring it home with the capital projects update. >> Well, he uh Mr. Hargo already got one and that's the lights. If you get a chance, they're going out there and look at them. They look really, really good. They've started on the softball lights,

127which they're not changing out the poles or anything, just the the fixtures. So, I think that's going to be a little quicker. and then they'll move to the the baseball with the uh the middle school and the plan is for them to be able to use the the new lights this season. So, it's it's pretty nice. Um, also at New Union Elementary, we uh have purchased several new doors in the 1963 uh part of the building section and they have made a big difference in several areas. One is safety, the other is aesthetics. Uh so very very proud of the way they're turning out and looking. They they've turned out really well and we have a little bit to finish up there and then we're going to move to the next school that's got that

128exact same setup. So uh the at the high school at the CTE shops, one side of the the shops has all new garage doors. Uh these are gonna these doors are more sturdy as far as they have uh insulation on the inside. So they're going to be more better for efficiency as well as that insulation is actually covered with a covering so it protects it from from the students as well. But they've they've turned out really good. Um bleacher repair at the high school. Uh we had a a bearing go out of one of the motors as well as when we added the uh handrails in the midsteps. It added weight to our bleachers. So, they're struggling on come going in and out. And we're going to try to change out the the wheels to

129give it more of a sticky uh adherence to the floor. Hoping that's going to help get those bleachers so that they'll go in easier. Um is and then also of course the bearing. The the bearing is a major part. The the price there is not correct. I'm not sure where that happened and uh Miss Melson and I we've gone over things and I don't know where we messed up on that one, but uh the the total cost on that and I don't have it in front of me is going to be around $9,000. It's $9.95 or around $9,500. So, uh it it is a little bit more than that. >> That may just be the initial the initial purchase order for >> It could be. >> It may not be because this is November the

130November list. >> I bet that's what it is. >> It won't probably be on there yet. and uh security camera server. This is more of a Randy Damewood thing with it. Uh and that still has to be uh installed. Uh the tile here on the for New Union, we we've had some problems with some glue and and the tile that we had to take up. when I got in touch with u Millses about this uh we were he told me that they had several boxes of tile still and one of the things you run into whenever you're doing tile this uh PCT tile is it doesn't match in color once they change the the the lot number basically it's it's not going to match. So, they had about six boxes of tile. I went ahead

131and bought it because there's going to be a time we need that tile. And so, we already secured it and now we have it for, you know, future problems that might come up with it. Uh, like I said, the lights and I think that's pretty much where we are. Uh, we do have a bid opening this Thursday and the bid opening is for the the doors and the walls uh at the high school. Uh the goal was to bring it to you during this board meeting, but uh with it being during the break, we struggled getting uh general contractors to to bid on it. And so we we gave a couple more weeks to bid and that will be opening up on this Thursday. So it should be on the February uh board agenda for

132for for your approval at that time. >> Thank you, Mr. Shores. And I think that's a wrap. So uh do I have a motion to adjourn? That's so moved. >> Second, >> Mr. Cornell and Mr. Hansert. Um, all in favor say I. >> I. I. >> All right. >> Nobody wants to stay. Make sure I get your time sheets.