001thank you for being here with eight of nine board members present we're going to call this meeting to order and tonight the moment of silence and the place to the five will be led by miss Owen please face the flag a couple of announcements a reminder that Knox County Schools will host another opiate abuse prevention community meeting on Wednesday October 25th from 6 to 8 p.m. at fulton high school these in official meetings are sponsored in partnership with the Metro drug coalition North County Health Department Knox County Sheriff's Office Knoxville Police Department the office of the Attorney General the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the high intensity drug trafficking area program I see Commissioner Dave Wright came in so we welcome you Commissioner Wright are there any other elected officials with us this evening ok
002seeing them are there any changes to the agenda mr. Autry is moved to approve do I have a second okay just a reminder before we vote on that that a request was made and our work session for item 12 b2 we be withdrawal so seeing no other changes and with a motion and a second on the floor all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries the agenda is approved special recognitions we have two very special gifts to recognize tonight but before super and Thomas introduces them I want to take a moment to recognize the accomplishment of one of our members as some of you may know mr. Roundtree submitted a proposal to the National School Boards Association to present information at this year's National Convention which will be held in San Antonio Texas April
0037th through night she was recently notified that her proposal was selected and she will be joined by Stephanie Welch from the great schools partnership in principle Tanner nicely as they present on our community school programs to school boards from all across the United States I know I speak on behalf of the full board when I say congratulations to miss Roundtree and recognize her being selected for this honor special recognition tonight the other one is of dogwood elementary school student Asher I noticed and I will refer to superintendent Thomas for that presentation thank you madam chair members of the board Governor Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam welcomed approximately 100 children to the kids state dinner at the Tennessee residence on Friday to celebrate outstanding achievement in summer reading the event honored avid readers who
004participated in the first lady's statewide summer reading competition with help from Tennessee libraries rising kindergartner kindergarten through rising 4th grade students were challenged to track their number of minutes spent reading over the summer winners were chosen based on a number of criteria including age grade level region and number of minutes read during the eligibility period assured notice from dogwood elementary was one of those students recognized upon arriving to the tennessee residents via a special red carpet I sure enjoyed dinner games a photo booth musical entertainment from local children's performer mr. Steve The Music Man and a visit from Clifford the Big Red Dog Asher left the event with a goodie bag certificate signed by governor and first lady Haslam as well as new books to read at home thanks to a generous donation from Scholastic
005tonight we want to you late answer for his dedication to reading this summer and then ask that he come to the stage for a picture way to go a sure [Applause] mr. Andre if y'all can hold there just a minute his parents are coming out to have a picture made with a family [Applause] our next recognition goes to Kayla canario this is a learning coach at Bearden middle school she was honored with the Verizon innovative learning award at the WNBA's third annual inspiring Women's luncheon in New York City in late September through the Verizon Innovation learning program provider Eisen is committed to developing measurable education initiatives from the ground up to help level the stem playing field for minority and underserved students the Verizon innovation innovative learning award recognizes an inspirational teacher who leverages technology
006resources and hands-on opportunities to inspire tomorrow's creators kale has played a vital role in cultivating a dynamic learning environment at Bearden Middle School leading 90 teachers in the transformation of their classrooms into innovative digital learning spaces congratulations Kayla you'll come to the stage we'll make a picture [Applause] Adam salmon approve appointment of Board of Education committees and roles for 2017 2018 okay so basically board members as we discussed Monday night we've had a few changes in the finalized list which is attached to your agenda I'm sorry mister you get but I don't think anybody stepped up for your row but Mr Farage has agreed to serve on the disparities in educational outcomes steering committee and mrs. Roundtree agreed to serve in her places board representative on what was formally known as the district Advisory Council
007but will now be known as the family Advisory Council so that's what we'll be voting on just to make you aware miss coutny okay so do I have a motion for that miss Roundtree and then miss Horne second did all any discussion on that all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries item 8 consent agenda I have a motion motion motion a seconded by mr. H much made by mr. norman any discussion all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries item 9a approve second reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy B 160 School Board meetings as amended okay do we have any discussion on that okay all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries 9 be approved second reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy b210 school
008board records as amended motion made by mr. norman seconded by mr. Olin is there any discussion on that okay all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries 9c approves second reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy G 290 hiring personnel as amended motion by mr. norman seconded by Miss Ellen so we have one public speaker signed up to speak to 9c crystal Yamazaki shall I wait for the timer like yes please my name is crystal Yamazaki I'm speaking as a representative for the voices for trans youth campaign as a parent of a transgender student in Knox County Schools and as a member of the Knox County Community the Knox County community has been working very hard to help this board understand the challenges Knox County LGBTQ students face at school and to
009encourage you to do everything in your power to ensure a safe harassment free learning environment for all regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation in a short amount of time you will hear from many Knox County community members who will is encourage you to retain the current LGBT protections in kcs student and employment harassment policies policies J 2:10 and G 220 I'll be addressing two additional policies policy J 100 and policy G 290 you should each have the amendment proposals in front of you policy J 100 as revised on the agenda contains Knox County Schools equal educational opportunity clause likewise policy G 290 contains your Equal Employment Opportunity clause the student clause reads as follows all students shall have the same opportunities regardless of sex national origin disability religion race color or creed the employment
010clause similarly guarantees equal opportunity for employment and advancement regardless of sex national origin disability religion race color creed age or veteran status neither of these policies affords equal opportunity protections to students and employees on the basis of gender or sexual orientation just as sexual just as harassment protections for LGBT students are necessary and moral so our Equal Opportunity protections the departments of justice and education have been rolling back federal protections for LGBT students and employees and our state legislature introduces bills that threaten the rights LGBT Tennesseans every legislative session it is now more important than ever for the Knox County community and the Knox County Board of Education to come together and do everything in our power to protect those among us whose rights are currently under attack an essential foundational step towards this goal
011is explicit written anti harassment and non-discrimination protections at the local level with this in mind I ask you to consider the proposals in front of you which would add gender and sexual orientation to the equal educational opportunity and Equal Employment Opportunity clauses and kcs policy including gender and sexual orientation in our Equal Opportunity clauses will allow kcs to protect students and employees from rollbacks and protections at the state and federal level including gender and sexual orientation in our Equal Opportunity clauses will also deter discrimination and differential treatment of LGBTQ students and employees and help to promote a culture of inclusiveness and fairness in our schools including LGBT students and teachers in our Equal Opportunity clauses we'll send the message that Knox County Schools values all students and teachers regardless of gender or sexual orientation and
012that Knox County Schools deems LGBT students and teachers as equally deserving of non-discrimination protections as everyone else I urge you to send both of these policies a 100 and G 290 back to committee to consider adding gender and sexual orientation to protections thank you [Applause] this is totally read a proof second reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy G 290 hiring personnel as amended we had a motion made by mr. Norman and seconded by miss Owen is there any discussion by the board miss Owen this change is because we are required to have a statement about criminal history record information included so do we need to go ahead and pass this and then look at other change later that would be my suggestion okay any further discussion seeing no lights all in favor of
013approving the second reading of policy G 290 say aye aye all opposed motion carries 90 approved second reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy J 122 compulsory attendance ages as amended motion made by mr. norman seconded by Miss Olin any discussion on this policy seeing none all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 980 approved second reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy J 140 homeless students as amended motion made by mr. norman seconded by miss owen any discussion on this item okay all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries 9f approved second reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy J 151 student assignment as amended motion by mr. norman seconded by mr. Owen any discussion all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries 9 g approves
014second reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy J 170 released during school hours as amended mr. Norman seconded by miss Owen any discussion on this item okay all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries 9h approved second reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy Jay 196 admission as suspended or expelled students as amended motion made by mr. norman seconded by Ms Owen any discussion okay all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries item 9 I approved second reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy J 201 random searches for dangerous weapons as amended motion by mr. norman seconded by miss Owen any discussion all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries item 9 J approved second reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy J 280 alternative school programs
015as amended motion by mr. norman seconded by miss owen any discussion all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 9 k approved first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy b200 policy development and adoption as amended miss Owen any discussion all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 9l approved first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy 170 student transportation management as amended motion by mr. Norman seconded by Miss Owen any discussion on this item okay all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 9mm approved first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy G 220 harassment of employees as amended motion by mr. Norman second by miss Horner any discussion mr. McMillan they matter they're sorry mr. McMillan just leave your light on and miss Ellen we have public
016speakers yes we have several public speakers for this item so our first speaker is Steve driving thank you madam chair I'm speaking today to oppose the suggested changes to the student and staff anti-discrimination policies and to suggest that only additions be made to the policy and not any deletions I attended last week's policy committee meeting and I was very disappointed in the lack of depth and thought that was given to the issue in this meeting there was a lot of time spent but the discussion seemed very superficial for example someone suggested that the board had no say because quote we are an instrument of the state we have to do what they say we don't have the authority on our own to develop a policy that is different however were attorney mr. du Claire had
017previously just moments before read the University of Tennessee's anti-discrimination policy which includes quote race color national origin religion sex pregnancy marital status sexual orientation gender identity age physical or mental disability or covered veteran status the University of Tennessee is an instrument of the state as well so clearly they have the authority to add and do what they want to in their anti-discrimination policy so there's no reason we can't have the additional language as well but no one covered this and no one caught on to this obvious contradiction Mr duper went on to make a slippery slope argument about well what about vegetarians do we need add what if they want to get added to the policy well I have to address that directly I'm sorry is the anyone on the board aware of any vegetarians
018who have been beaten to death for their lifestyle or is anyone on the board aware of any studies that show higher suicide rates among young vegetarians you know the argument is stupid and that's patently offensive I'm appalled my tax dollars go to pay anyone to develop advice in common such as that sorry Ms Owen brought up the issue that removing existing language could create a hostile environment for students and staff potentially exposing the school board or excuse me the school system to us lawsuit in the future if a discriminatory event were to occur and if this proposal goes for it as is such an issue will definitely occur no one at the meeting was able to address that concern it just seemed to be silence on that - the issue was raised again in more
019detail at the work session Monday by people were better versed in the law than I am but as a Knox County taxpayer I'm sick and tired of my tax dollars going to pay to resolve lawsuit after lawsuit that could be of award avoided if the board in the county could open their eyes and take a more serious consideration of risk avoidance County Commission who have followed for years and years has done a great job in the last five years of improving and keeping the county out of stupid lawsuits and I'd like to see you at the school board do the same no one at the meeting could seem to address the question what Harmon there is leaving the language in if we just had sex and leave the existing language in there the question needs
020to be seriously answered tonight not by claiming that the state ties our hands you tease policy and some of the discussion Monday certainly dispels that the state you have the authority the board had the authority in 2005 and again in 2012 to add the language regarding sexual orientation and gender discrimination no issue is made of a conflict with the state legislature then there is no state opinion state saying that any of the existing that removal of any of the existing anti-discrimination policy that it cannot be removed so if we can't demonstrate any harm and if it creates an exposure to easily avoidable lawsuits then I would say all of this trumps any argument to remove the language let's vote tonight simply add sex and whatever other language is required but make no deletions thank you
021[Applause] yes that could I ask the question related to a point of order do we have a motion on the floor motion motion oh one second I miss miss horn sorry miss one second it could I might would it be appropriate for me to make a substitute motion at this time certainly in light of all the discussion that we've had dealing with this matter and there than I we Monday night we talked about item qj2 10 in conjunction with 2 to 20 as far as the word it's my understanding that when we changed the language in 2012 because some people felt threatened and there were three of us that are now on the board mr. idiot mr. Etheridge and myself that voted for that and I know this would not satisfy everyone but I don't
022think you don't stand by everyone but I think this would afford the most protection if we just left it as it is in light of that I would like to offer a substitute motion to just leave the wording okay do I have a second on instrument now in substitute motion I have I second that but I have a clarifying question mr. macmillan are you asking that we leave the language in both of those policies as is jj2 10 and g 220 we can just do it on G 220 I second it for G 220 okay leave the language the same as the current policy okay so we have a substitute motion made by mr. McMillan and seconded that this is only on G 220 not both policies so anyone want to speak to the substitute
023motion that's in front of you for G 220 it is the same language that mr. McMillan has proposed with the addition of sex and Creed in there to paragraph changes I mean just to drop them down a minute how can we know I'm sorry if I'm speaking we only go we can only entertain one substitute motion why on the floor at a time so we'll have to vote on mr. McMillan and just substitute motion the makeup mr. McMillan in a second could amend since he made a substitute motion I could but I choose not to my motion is to leave it I'm not taking anything away that's what I'm prepared to support discussion on his substitute motion if we are following the guidance that we need the language that's in the federal protected classes then
024I think we would be remiss in leaving out six okay so any other offer an amendment to that substitute motion whether it's friendly or not that we also add sex and Creed point of order I don't think you can do an amendment to a pension unless he once will allow it is that correct mr. boob can he can she amend he's already stated he had the option to approve a second and he said no he didn't want to so we need to vote on so and that's my point I want to set answers your question okay okay seeing no other lives then out mr. Norman okay thank you madam chair this is just comments that relate to both J&G policy statements and I feel like there's a couple of things that need to be said
025especially as regards some of the some of the comments that have come from public forum over several weeks but I feel like this board has been almost accused and condemned in how we've handled this and there's this implication that we're insensitive or somehow in favor of discrimination or harassment which is just an absurd thing I certainly hope that people that are LGBT whatever are never harassed are never discriminated against but of course we know that won't happen it doesn't matter what the language of this policy is and that's a sad thing but it's a fact it's part of our life and I hope that those who have been persecuted somewhat in in terms of this find some real protection which goes far beyond some policy statement or language that we could adopt there's a there's
026a couple of you know there's there's a couple other things that bothered me we've had we've had several people that represent the legal profession come and and sort of lecture us on the law I spent a lot of time with our law director and directors on this subject it's been published in the paper and so on the position of the law department is an our law director his his job is to protect this corporation we call Knox County ok the community in question is part of that part of that corporation but he has clearly stated to us that this position in this language which is suggested is the best and most defensible position from his view and he understands far beyond what this whole board does in total about statutes and case law that applies
027to this issue so I just want to state that this is about protecting the corporation that is Knox County so we're about that that's what we're about now I'm gonna vote I'm gonna vote for mr. McMullin substitute motion but I do want to make some of these things clear there's been just missed statements that have been made miss miscommunications about our policy meeting and our inability to understand or express that's that's bizarre and that's a low blow and I'm not gonna I'm not going to accept that without some form of rebuttal so anyway thank you thank you for having to piggyback kind of off of what mr. Norman said I would just like to say this board it isn't about weakening or strengthening our policies as soon as said it's about enforcing the polit enforcing
028the policy with integrity and with fidelity it's not the policy that protects you it's the people that are enforcing the policy so I guess with that if there's no other comment mr. Roundtree I just wanted to before we vote if we could just get the clarity again on the amendment it's going back to its making no changes just leaving leaving it as is and has been since 2012 and okay thank you so anyway yeah that's what missed it that's what she was just saying thank you so to leave it as is with no change or withdrawal some language about against would mean that I vote of no would mean otherwise is there any further discussion thank you Miss Owen for that correction anything else okay we'll take a roll call vote we'll start over in
029district 1 what ask a question for vote when you say we changed it in six twelve we added six and six okay what's attached to your agenda is the correct a June 2017 version so when you vote yes miss Edwin mr. Norman yes mr. Fugate yes miss Horne mr. McMillan miss Roundtree miss bounds no that is six yes vote since you know so substitute motion beba mr. McMillan passes item nine in approve first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy G 390 appointment of hearing officers as amended we have reminding public forum speakers but they were that's true but there some signed up to speak to the later policy and it was only one motion so okay I guess I'll defer to the wall director I apologize that's on vice-chair that's up to this
030board and I anticipating a mr. McMillan might make the same type of motion I don't know that he will I know I know I'm saying I'm assuming if he does when we get there we're signed up and that's up to this board since it kind of becomes a non-issue it's up to this board if you want public forum on it I recommend that we hold public discussion that those two issues until we get to that to see if there's a need to have such a conversation that's my suggestion I don't know if I have to make a motion I well you can say that's a motion I'll second o my motion Weber miss Fugate seconded by mr. on trade to do the public forum before the next vote or policy okay all in favor say
031aye okay so I'm an honorable chairman but once they when I'm sorry I apologize but this is first reading right so it's not like this is gonna be it will be coming back again this is first reading No my correct mister our director that's that's correct your substitute motion away I saw it was that the changes that were on the table were no longer on the table and you're with the policy that was passed in June of seven atom nine and a pre first reading not skinny Board of Education Policy G 390 appointment of hearing officers as amended three seconded by mr. norman is there any discussion on this okay all in favor say aye motion carries 900 a pre first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy J 100 student goals and objectives
032as amended motion made by mr. Norman second by mr. Roundtree ain't discussion miss Owen does not match the language in the other policy that we have said we are carrying over okay so we have a substitute motion I'll second her substitute motion yes if you get second did the substitute motion they'd miss Owen is there any discussion on that okay all in favor of sending this back to the policy review committee say aye all opposed motion carries Adam non-peak will see in policy J 110 back to policy review 9q approved first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy J 210 harassment of students as amended so moved okay motion made them miss Roundtree second by that got my miss you don't have a motion and then he's already indicated what you might do that
033might alleviate a long night so so he's their emotional okay seconded by mr. Norman okay thank you now that we have a motion I would like to make a substitute motion for J to 10 that we revert back to I believe the correct date the language that was in there was 1211 on that one actually I thought when I sort of misspoke when I was I was thinking about the day during this one when I talked about G to 20 he'd made the confuse people but anyway to just go back to the language that was passed at that time I'll second that no one had this substitute motion miss Roundtree second did it and now we're gonna get we're gonna get to those folks and again I apologize going on there so if it's a
034substitute motion it needs to be voted on unless they're going to speak on that so we have a motion in a second and I'd just say that I support that I think that I appreciate mr. McMillan bringing this forward and that this is a good way just to leave it alone I think that when we're talking about leaving it alone and talking about taking their recommendation of law department we are missing the fact that the federally protected category sex is still not included and all of the case law that we can look at if we want to go back to the eighties and look at price waterhouse whatever we want to look at all things that I have been able to find and that anyone has been able to show me that encompasses gender sexual
035orientation or perception of those falls under the umbrella of sex and I think we've been well advised by multiple people that we need to have those federal categories in there what else we add above and beyond that is of course completely up to us but I think leaving out the one word that has historically been shown to support gender and sexual orientation cases you have included this codes madam chair would like to agree with miss Owen eye after looking through the accounting policies last night that she provided us there is some discontinuity between our policy and over 100 other County policies regarding this issue after speaking with many students I believe that if we did include sex it would along with the law directors suggestions and would clarify any misconceptions across cultural interpretations of what
036the word sex means in legal interpretations of what the word sex means so just from the students I've spoken to I believe sex is necessary as well for the lack of misinterpretation so we don't have anymore misinterpretation regarding these words but that's just my input I would like to ask mr. Duke to give us that opinion your legal opinion about do we need to add the word sex I think there's well I just like to your answer first well let me address the Pricewaterhouse case has nothing to do with sexual preference or orientation period it has to do with sex only and the Supreme Court declined to define it as a sexual orientation issue now moving on to what controls us is the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals which entails Kentucky and Tennessee and Michigan
037and Ohio and clearly Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has said that gender preference or orientation is not a protected class they have consistently said that these cases have been tried to appeal to the Supreme Court the Supreme Court has declined to address that issue so that means the Supreme Court isn't wanting to get into that fight at this point not to say they might not but we are governed by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals the only other circuit is Ninth Circuit out in California that says well it does include it but there are like ten circuit courts of appeals and so we've got the Sixth Circuit and most other circuits that are along the line with our sixth circuit we're governed by that so there is no law that says that we have to
038take sex as being sexual preference or orientation or anything else that being said I would want to follow in on and and there was a lot in the other meeting by two lawyers that were not true I'm just I don't want to go into it now because we've got a motion on the table and hopefully we can go home but they just were not true one lawyer said that all the case law tended toward the definition of sex as including sexual orientation it is a falsehood to say that it does not in this circuit period end of story they would Ken admitted that when he started talking he's professor over at UT but then he said if we didn't put that in it would throw things to disarray in the law it doesn't ring a
039bell with me the law is very clear so I don't see how it could be in disarray that being said I want to go along with what Tony Norman said this board has 60,000 students and their parents all with differing views and differing problems and we've got lgbts we've got people with birth defects we've got people that have all kinds of things that they get bullied about and I think mrs. Owen sent out a thing which was very informative from a state on bullying one out of 277 last year was because of sexual orientation I think there were nine that were because of physical disabilities I don't remember the exact numbers 14 were cyberbullying that leaves basically 250 harassment and bullying that were not related to sexual orientation now we need to protect and I
040know every board member up here wants to protect all 60,000 students equal protection of the law that goes for lgbts that goes for people that have amputated legs people suffering from dwarfism people left all of the things that you see and I tell you I was one that got bullied on the playground I know what it's like I know how mean it can be out there but it has to be done according to protect all 60,000 students and their parents this board wants to do that also the law director has a duty to protect this school board from being sued we have one of those attorneys that was out there 6767 claims in lawsuits that he has filed that he has filed against this school board over the last two and a half years 67
041it has cost the taxpayers several hundred thousand dollars just to defend those they haven't won any of them but just to file an OCR complaint cost money and that's what they've done and that's just not right because we have a duty to protect this board also from frivolous lawsuits and despite what the professor of law said as soon as you put in some of this wording that that people out in the audience are wanting it's creating another protected class and violation of equal protection for all students and the minute that happens one or two of those same attorneys is going to be filing a lawsuit we got to go to federal court and defend it and we win it because what the Sixth Circuit has said but it's the defense of it that becomes expensive
042so having said that the law director is of the position that all 60,000 students and their parents be protected with equal protection I'm agreements Tony Norman we also have to protect this board which is doing its level best to administer the state's schools now I can go into a lot of other things but it's going to be a long night and I don't want to contradict everything that was wrongfully misinterpreted to this board the other night my question I think he answered my question that was my first thing my comment was going to be we can get tied up a lot in definitions and that's what we're doing I think in 2012 people a good intent came forward and responded to a request from people who were scared and afraid that's all that's out there
043we voted to do it I think the only recommendation now is let's leave it alone for now any board member at any time can bring forward any policy proposed changes to any board they don't even have to go through the policy review committee any board member can bring a new proposal for a policy change all it takes is two readings so that is why I support leaving it alone as it is tonight because that's what's out there that's what we've lived with for the last five years and if somebody wants to make another change I'm not recommending it go back to the committee I'm saying if another board member wants to bring a policy change at a future date like I did several months ago about a stool school dress code people can do that
044at any time and just ask for it to be on the agenda that concludes my ask for additional clarification are you saying that you feel that the additional language is unnecessary or that the word sex as a federally protected category is unnecessary or both I don't think that you need to put in anything other than if you go to what I've seen and there was for instance somebody said it was an Alcoa board policy and it's not it clearly isn't in Jefferson County it was said it was in theirs what they have done is followed the Tennessee School Board associations wording which is very straightforward covers everything no students shall be harassed for any reason boom that's that's it no student for any reason and I'm the exact wording here but I'm saying I don't
045think it has to be in there because it's clearly in there and and I think in one thing I saw the notes at the bottom the protected classes that are there for hiring and firing and that have that word sex in there and different different categories which are protected itemized protected categories but I don't think it has to be and I think if if if this board the superintendent and the principal's say there will be no harassment no bullying no cyber bullying nothing with regard to any student for any reason that to me seems to cover everybody on the waterfront so to speak so I mean that's a long answer to your question is the one but I okay I'm gonna ask this company to read the substitute motion I think that mr. McMillan made
046a substitute motion to revert and policy J 2 TN back to the December 2011 language and that was seconded by Ms Roundtree we've had discussion is there anything else starting with this death Ridge and district 1 missed Etheridge yes miss Owen mr. Norman yes mr. Fugate miss Horne mr. McMillan yes miss Roundtree yes miss bounds no that's six Tootie okay most shut the substitute motion passes mr. Butte do you have any comment about the public forum and why there or not I don't I would have but I think at this point it's the issues are resolved and so I won't go any further than what I already okay mr. Roundtree do I have a motion for the board that we just missed oh and for them I think I just have a question I thought
047our rules on public forum where people can speak to things that are going to be voted on that's true we are now not voting on that issue therefore that those people who want to speak to that do not need to be recognized that's right I'm just wanting that clarify and they can be recognized at the end if they so choose but I guess but anyway thank you miss do you get for this has been a very complicated meeting Hey eight years a'practice thank you very much for that clarification so we will move on with Miss coutny item nine aren't a pre first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy J 3:30 student on its program as amended motion made by mr. norman ii did let me so on any discussion okay all in favor
048say aye all opposed motion carries 9s approved first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy Jay 350 Student Health Services as amended motion by mr. Norman seconded by mr. Owen any discussion all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries 90 approved first reading of a Knox County Board of Education Policy J 351 physical examinations and immunizations as amended motion by mr. Norman seconded by mrs. Owen any discussion all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries 9 you approve first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy J 352 medication as amended motion by mr. Norman seconded by Ms Owen any risk all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 9v approved first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy Jay 353 acquired immune deficiency syndrome as amended motion
049by mr. norman seconded by Miss Olin any discussion all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries 9w approved first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy Jay 350 for blue kitchen administration apology as amended motion by mr. Norman second to vote miss Owen any discussion all in favor say aye opposed motion carries 9x APRI first reading Knox County Board of Education Policy J 356 guidelines for managing life threatening food as amended motion by mr. Norman seconded by mrs. Owen any discussion okay all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 9y a pre first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy Jay 357 student communicable diseases as amended motion by mr. Norman second did I miss Owen I want any discussion all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 9z
050a pre first reading of new Knox County Board of Education Policy J 358 adrenal insufficiency motion made by mr. norman seconded by miss Owen any discussion all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 9 a a proof first reading of Knox County Board of Education for CJ 370 student social services as amended motion by Miss hello in second I'm mr. Norman don't listening up there guys any discussion on that all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries 9b be a pre first reading of new Knox County Board of Education Policy J 392 students in foster care rushon by Miss Ellen seconded miss miss Roundtree any discussion all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 9cc a pre first reading at Knox County Board of Education Policy J 400 child abuse and
051neglect as amended motion by mr. norman seconded by Miss Olin any discussion all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 9dd approved first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy J 430 school nutrition program as amended motion by mr. norman seconded by miss Owen any discussion all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 9ee a pre first ringing of Notts County Board of Education Policy J 490 student performance as amended any discussion all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries 9ff a pre first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy J 510 student behaves as amended motion by mr. norman seconded by miss Owen any discussion all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries 9gg approved first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy J 5:30
052awards and scholarships as amended so made by mr. norman seconded by Miss Owen any discussion all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 9h age' proof first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy Jay 550 student records as amended motion made by mr. norman seconded by miss Owens any discussion on this item all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries 9 aye aye approved first reading of Knox County Board of Education Policy J 551 student records annual notification as amend motion by mr. norman seconded by miss owen any discussion all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries 10 a approve receipt of funds from state of Tennessee Department of Education for a federal title for a student support and academic enrichment grant for fiscal year 2018 in the amount
053of three hundred and ninety nine thousand one hundred and forty seven dollars motion made by mr. Cray check up on his horn any discussion all in favor say aye carries ten be approved grant contract with state of Tennessee Department of Education office of pathways for a new schools for youth grant for 2017-2018 school year application and receipt of funds in the amount of $20,000 designated for the salary of a work based learning coordinator was approved by the board on September 13 2017 motion by mr. Roundtree seconded by Ms Horne any discussion all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries 10c approved memoranda of understanding with great schools partnership for grants in the total amount of sixty three thousand eight hundred and twenty four dollars for the 2017-2018 school year designated for tutoring centers
054at central high gibbs high Holsten middle and west high schools in the pilot Flying J student academic support center at Karns High School OSHA led by Miss Owen seconded by mr. norman any discussion on this item all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries tnd approved Tennessee Arts Commission student ticket subsidy grants for various Knox County Schools in the amount of forty four thousand three hundred and thirty five dollars designated for tickets and transportation to arts events motion by mr. Rowntree seconded by Ms Horne any discussion all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries C and E approved covenant health Knoxville marathon Grant for coordinated school health initiative in the amount of three thousand five hundred dollars designated to place water refill stations at Hardin Valley Academy and power high school motion
055by mr. Roundtree seconded by mr. Norman any discussion all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries CNF approve application and receipt of funds from a Great Smoky Mountains National Park grant for South Pole Middle School in the amount of two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars designated for the cost of benefit buses for an eighth grade field trip motion by mr. entree seconded by mr. Fugate any discussion all in favor say aye aye opposed motion carries TNG approve donation from Shannon Dale Elementary PTO in the amount of thirteen thousand seventy two dollars and the request of Shannon Dale elementary school to use the designated donation and internal school funds for the purchase and installation of an electronic message board at a cost of at a total cost for twenty two thousand two hundred and
056seventy four dollars motion by Miss Ellen seconded by mr. Norman any discussion all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 11 a approved contract with mobile fixture for purchase and installation of dis machines in the Knox County Schools cafeteria is up to four hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the term of November 1 2017 through October 31st 2018 with the option to extend for four additional years one year at a time for a total of five years motion by mr. Norman second about his death Ridge any discussion all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 11 be approved contracts with foreign language academy linguist tika international and Spanish language solutions incorporated for provision of on-site interpreter services for the term of November 1 2017 through October 31st 2018 with the option to extend
057for additional years one year at a time for a total of five years motion by mr. Norman second by Miss death Ridge any discussion on this all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 12a approve a fund mounts designation in an amount up to four hundred and fifty thousand dollars for renovations at Karns High School for the culinary arts program constricted by Shelton general contractor's motion by mr. you get your second second by miss Owen any discussion mr. Norman thank you thank you madam chair appreciate the superintendent Sinha knows some information today that is pertinent to this I did want to ask mr. Thomas a couple of questions though or just get a few clarifications know the structure given the org chart the structure for the director of CTE that that person's immediate supervisor
058is who executive director of innovation who reports to the chief academic officer okay and then that person reports to mr. rise with us soon all right yes yes the executive director of innovation reports dr. Roz wick and dr. Izak reports to to me okay now in an in the normal sequence of things as a regarding documentation of this project would with documentation go from the director CTE to the innovation director it should have to have and I'm not sure in all cases that it that it did in some cases I think the communication went if it involved payment of a purchase order I think it went and again this is preliminary in terms of our findings so we still have to do some further review of this but and my thought with what happened is
059that that it went from the CTE director bypassed the executive director of innovation in some cases and also the chief academic officer and then went directly to the business office for payment of certain purchase orders okay so and and given given the fact that the system was aware and probably most of the people in that chain of command were aware of mr. Lawson and some of the difficulties that he had received in terms of Mis Alba's and the Comptroller that's true that is true great yes sir okay so and that would include the the director of innovation so that's where that's where I'm just confused about how the immediate supervisor of mr. Lawson is unaware of a project that he's that he's ramrodding obviously and I think there surely would or meetings about this that
060involved at least that office and probably the facilities office but just I guess I just wanted a little more I guess a guess as to what might have happened or Wyatt Wyatt jumped two levels of the org chart in this sense and and and again we got some folks to interview regarding our preliminary findings and I do believe that in some occasions the CTE Department took responsibility for management of some construction I don't know that it was anything in terms of this amount of money but I did feel like that there were some building modifications made depending on program if a classroom is turned into a cosmetology classroom then that that would involve some modifications to the building and I'm not sure in all cases those were ever brought to the board and again before
061I say that actually happened I want to make sure that we've researched it well enough to say because I don't want to say anything that's not true so in terms of the the largest problem with this but this construction was that the CTE Department took responsibility yes the executive director of innovation was was aware I think at times but there were multiple departments including myself that were involved in this and and as I said the other night there were gaps in communications between departments those being the CTE Department to see in our department finance department facilities Department and the superintendent's office and as you mentioned there was a situation a few years ago involving the director to CTE director so I think from that point forward there was failure to provide adequate oversight in any
062supervision of that individual and then again we went through a physical plant a physical plant upgrades audit a PPU audit from Knox County the internal auditor a couple of years ago and we parked part of the recommendations there was to develop a capital asset management policy which we did in part of the recommendation at that point time was to train everybody on that policy and looking back at this there was there's either incomplete training or a lack of understanding of that policy because it clearly states that the modification such as this did require board approval and that wasn't that wasn't thought so and there were multiple policies probably in the neighborhood of six policy violations if you were to break this project down and see where it failed to be righted or put on the
063tract so and again I think that gets back to to some communication problems and issues it also gets back to and we've already made some we did have internal controls in place but obviously the internal controls were not strong enough so we've made some modifications to our internal controls to strengthen those processes so that something like this doesn't happen again and as I said the other night in terms of of capital projects there are two departments facilities and maintenance that need to be involved and managed because all those folks do understand our policies and procedures that should be in charge of any kind of a modification to to a building and as there was knowledge there apparently with facilities there was knowledge of a certain extent of maintenance because they work order was sent the
064maintenance to remove a tile floor sometime in January of 2017 so the in again should that have raised a red flag you know if the principal sends in work order to take up tile I don't know that that raises to the level that somebody says hey what's going on here other than to remove the tile floor to help repair the room so there were there were multiple places where this project could have been stopped one one was in my office in late May I guess when the principal talked with me and said hey this projects been on the been promised to us we've got students registered for this project for this fall it's it's been ongoing and actually one across two principals and and across three superintendents I suppose and two chief and they choose
065their two chief financial officers and two exec two chief academic officers so and that's no excuse I mean you know again we all ought to know the policies and follow the policy and that's what I'm charged with is making sure we follow the policy and that's where I'll take responsibility for that didn't happen but anyway back to back to that point when I was when the principal talked with me about it the breakdown with with me was and I've been around long enough to know this how come I didn't confirm board approval before I said let's proceed how come I didn't check okay but where's the budget for this project and it's the money there so you know that falls on me and that was early June then there was a question posed to us
066by Locke's County finance department to say well hey wait a minute this is a capital project that and at that point it could have been stopped we could have said timeout this is a capital project let's make sure that boards approved it and that there's money to pay for it obviously there I mean there was an item brought to the Board of Education in early March to start a culinary arts program fifty thousand dollars worth of equipment you know no questions you know staff didn't ask any questions far as I know you know superintendent raised no questions so you know again there were just multiple points here I think that this project could been could have been righted and it wasn't so and you know and I'm the superintendent I'm responsible for this and I'm
067also responsible to make sure that we've got the that we follow board policy that we've got procedures in place that prevent this and that all of us that deal with this are educated to the point we know what the policies are and what the procedures are and we follow them and you know if the board gives me another chance to do that and that's what that's what I plan to do and and there are folks involved it should have known better and as soon as I get to the bottom of that we're you know we'll deal with that issue as well okay well thank you thank you mr. Thomas and I and I understand this is I understand some of the some of the gaps some of the glitches that took place one thing that
068I hope that in in your humility about this this whole debacle is is admirable but I but but then again I think the responsibility is is internal and I think that that the taxpayers expect a very thorough recognition of really where the responsibilities lie so I just don't I don't want you to you you I know you're a you're a fine person and you're your as a superintendent you are going to be protective of your staff but I think we've got to dig into this thing and really really take a hard look at what happened and why it happened thank you I want to say I made them I appreciate mr. Norman's comments I made the motion because we do need to pay this contractor who through no fault of their own entered into work
069in good faith with Knox County whether we had our act together or not so and I also want to say you know mr. superintendent you're our only employee but I fully expect as mr. Norman has stated that you will handle the internal controls and disciplinary matters that need to happen and I appreciate your your attitude that you are the leader and the buck stops with the leader so I appreciate your taking taking that but we all know it goes further than that and and I would expect I would actually like to see what are the new internal controls that are going to be put in place that you know it's not for the board to micromanage but I think after something like this happened and we you know we asked you when you were the
070assistant superintendent of operations when I was on the board we had the PPU audio we asked you to come back with some specific procedural recommendations I kind of would like the same thing once you guys talk about how we make sure this doesn't happen again be it be nice for us to know them and then maybe if people see something going awry they might might ask a question so that I think that's also on the board because we you know we saw we approved $50,000 and didn't I don't think anybody asked well is there a culinary program you know we approved a few thousand dollars for equipment and I do understand how if this project led to a larger dollar amount that should have the kind of capital project but that Department had a history
071of doing some small work I can understand how people maybe didn't question everything but somebody should have known and I appreciate you looking into that okay we have two other lights on I think mr. H was first miss deathly thank you madam chair I'm not gonna repeat what everybody said because I agree with what was said because this issue it just didn't happen I mean this is just a you weren't even the superintendent when it started but at the same time you still your responsibility to try to fix it I think some people take the attitude that they can get by with things because they've always done it I've bought some things that the superintendent and to this board before and some things that were kind of quirky with that uijik with that certain division
072and so hopefully now that that everything is out and everybody understands what was trying to be I guess discussed earlier and some some things that they were doing that was not necessarily aboveboard has now been gonna have to be handled it's gonna have to be taken care of and hopefully I'm not like I said not gonna people what everybody said cuz I agree whatever it was said and thank you for stepping up and making sure that you do take responsibility for what has happened and plan to make some Corrections and I'm looking forward to those Corrections being made and that everything from now on it's going to be designated to the appropriate way of doing business throughout Knox County Schools I appreciate that the buck stops at the top that's that's something we're not completely
073used to I appreciate that it's not everyone looking to blame even though we are looking for what to do so I appreciate that we are looking for for where those changes need to take place and looking for accountability especially the bottom line is you were hired in June and so you can't take full responsibility even though we appreciate that but thank you for looking at what we can do to correct the problem so it doesn't happen again okay miss Horne thank you madam chair the superintendent Thomas you had included some recommendations on ways that you would change power to change procedures going forward to alleviate this are those is that less incomplete do you expect that you'll add to it do you want to talk about that a little bit we're still adding to that
074we've already put some change some procedures as effective the this month the first of this month too and we strengthened our procedures a little bit whereas before the purchase order may not have required indication of board approval of a project well now that'll you know that'll be certain something that will be clear the department head will also have to sign off on it before it gets to to the business office for payment and so forth so we've we've made Spencer's made some are already made some changes we're in the process so those have been communicated will further communicate and we're also going to further do do more training in terms of our capital asset management policy so we'll get as Miss P they request it will we'll provide you with an itemized will a list
075of those internal controls that we put in place that will hopefully prevent anything like this from happening again in the future and again I apologize that the board is having to deal with this I know we've got much more important issues to deal with and rather than something of this nature and I just apologize for for that so discussion being finished let's have a vote all in favor say aye opposed motion carries 12 B was withdrawn 12 C approved Memorandum of Understanding with the Tennessee Department of Education for 2017 2018 evaluation flexibility options for Knox County Schools mr. norman seconded by Ms Roundtree any discussion all in favor say aye opposed motion carries 12 d approved textbook adoption committees for 2017 2018 for the content areas of science physical education wellness and health fine arts
076career and technical education arts anatomy and physiology audio-visual technology and communications motion by mr. Norman second by miss you get any discussion all in favor say aye motion carries 12 approve request of Transportation Department to add a new position of inspector and clerk for vehicle and maintenance records ocean Vader mr. Norman second by mr. McMillan any discussion all in favor say aye aye all opposed motion carries 12 F approved list of dismissal hearing officers for the 2017 2018 in 2018 2019 school years mr. Norman miss Roundtree any discussion all in favor say aye all opposed motion carries 12 G approved resolution to surplus property known as parcel ID zero five eight C F zero zero nine zero one in the Fountain City Gresham middle school area any discussion on this item all in favor say
077aye all opposed motion carries well given that we have no other speaker speaking on any topic other than M and cube which we've already voted on I will entertain a motion to adjourn if any board member so mr. McMillan seconded by mr. Norman all in favor if the board chooses to but it's I think the Board's decision we can check check them through there miss Roundtree that's right here yes public format regular session voting board meetings is open to any topic related to education except for personnel matters oh that we can terminate the remarks I mean it says that they can see during this meeting but I don't it does it only talks about do you have a clarification on this no mr. Butte okay so we will go forward with those peoples are okay
078we do have that so we will have to its draw that emotion it made the motion mr. macmillan mr. macmillan are you willing to his draw the motion to adjourn oh sorry I think this is at the beginning of the meeting that that we can not include okay I'm willing to stay here it doesn't matter to me so okay well we can take what would I say make a record why don't we take a five-minute break and let people come up and you tell her if they still want to speak and if not then we can when we reconvene we can decide what to do that's can we do that with emotion okay okay thank you mr. macmillan so we will take a five-minute break and give those people that still wish to speak to
079this item of a murky okay mr. Rowntree is gonna call your names and you can come out yes Moira Connolly when the Hinkel lowest prison WAAFs key I'm really sorry about that mispronunciation probably Gerald Frye Jesse Lee Brianna Rosenbaum Nancy Mott Reverend Jim Etta Austin and her Stephanie Webb your Connolly okay you're gonna say okay okay yeah you're taking care of your Linda you do want to speak or no okay to reconvene and begin public forum and we're gonna start with Laura Connelly good evening my name is Moira Connolly I've been a Knox County taxpayer voter and resident for 22 years this is the first school board meeting I've attended and I'm so glad to be here thank you for taking time to listen to us I am a instructor full-time in the English department
080at Pellissippi State Community College I also serve as the advisor to one of the pride groups for lesbian gay transgender and bisexual students at the Magnolia Avenue campus as part of my teaching load I teach dual enrollment English in Knox County Schools as a result although I am a college instructor my teaching does intersect with the lives of high school students I just want to commend the board for taking the stands you did and reverting to the policy and the reason I chose to remain on the list to speak is to just sort of back up your obvious intention to provide a supportive environment for students and staff and so thank you for doing that and I want to just give us a somewhat of a testimonial my experience at Pellissippi State where we have
081in fact a policy that does list just those classes that you all have chosen to keep in your policy as a way to protect certain people that might otherwise feel vulnerable because of certain situations my point in remaining as a speaker was to say that I think most of the taxpayers of Knox County do you believe that you want a supportive environment and what we have found at Pellissippi State is that students can study better and employees can work better if that's their sole concern if they don't have to worry about being bullied or being harassed but appreciate that they are accepted for who they are and have that stated in a statute or in a policy so they know that every day when they come to school or when they come to work that
082makes it easier for them to focus on the tasks that they're supposed to be doing whether to be studying or working so I appreciate you all taking the stand you did and for being here tonight thank you thank you [Applause] next is Louis Prince of ski I think I got it right that time or closer I'm getting closer maybe so this is the third time that I took off my work to come help us figure out your work and took a few hours today to write up a presentation but it's not needed now and I just wanted to say thank you and I was hoping that we could help you feel good about that decision because this need not be adversarial we you've heard us as LG as your LGBT constituents and we thank you
083also for sharing your hurt that this board felt attacked by those of us who imperfectly did our best to help LGBT students and employees feel safe and valued tonight's resolution to leave the LGBT LGBT protections for students and employees is greatly appreciated and need not be perceived as adversarial we sincerely appreciate your flexibility and decision to do no harm even if you disagree with our perception of the intent of the policy we come from different places were different people but now we're inviting all to be themselves and as a psychologist and then a decent-size practice in Knoxville and we get to work with hundreds of your students and employees and they are telling me this legislation hurts them as it's being considered and certainly as if it was if it was going to be implemented
084but you decided not to do that even if you disagreed so for that we thank you and quite frankly I do believe you're seeing this not because of lack of integrity of this board I know many of you personally and you're filled with integrity and nobody woke up today think you know I'm we're going to harm our almost 3,000 LGBTQ students or our most 417 LGBT employees that was not your intent and that is not what you did tonight I think we're seeing this now because we all know that democracy needs an educated and a healthy populace and many of us are deeply concerned that our current divisive and deceptive administration is counterproductive to both education and health especially with regards to vulnerable populations but thank you for helping us the way we wanted to
085be helped today Gerald Frye I appreciate your vote this evening and I'll try to be brief Ruth in my time allotted so you can go home and enjoy your evening I did want to say just a couple things to try to make sure that we're all on the same page one of the things I came here today to do was to offer the support of the Tennessee transgender political Coalition it's a statewide organization that has a lot of knowledge on LGBT issues but particularly trans issues including the issues of students we do training seminars members of the group our own Human Rights Commission's in the state we be thrilled to offer any support you might need in the future one thing I won't be sure God in was some County policies across the state let's
086see a short excerpt from the Davidson County school board policy lists the students race color religion national origin handicap slash disability sexual orientation ancestry or sex including gender identity gender expression and appearance the Rutherford County I'm sorry Putnam County monastic the Putnam County school board policy which I think we could all agree might be a slightly more conservative part of the state list race color national origin sex including sexual orientation transgender status or gender identity disability including hiv/aids or sickle-cell trait pregnancy marital status age except as authorized by law religion merit status ancestry or genetic information I want to skip over some my mark remarks some of what I wanted you to hear this evening is the results of a 2015 service survey on trans people across the country I brought data specific to trans
087students in the state of Tennessee this is the largest gathering of data ever in the US on trans people 80 percent of those who are perceived as transgender or out at some point between kindergarten and grade 12 experience some form of mistreatment that's in Tennessee 53 percent of those who are were out or perceived as transgender in K through 12 were verbally harassed 22 percent were physically attacked ten percent were sexually assaulted 15 percent faced such severe mistreatment that they left a K through 12 school and I'm sure you all know what that does does someone's future people in that position need your explicit support not implicit and I really appreciate you doing that to save me thank you three Anna Rosenbaum [Applause] my name is Brianna Rosenbaum I am a law professor at the
088University of Tennessee I'm licensed attorney and a mother of a child here in Knox County Schools I'm also an ally I would like to acknowledge and thank the board for its decision today to vote against the proposal to remove these specific language in the policies and these two policies that protect students and employees from harassment on the basis of gender ID identity and sexual orientation as we heard today in the board's discussion inclusive policies are important because they reinforce legal principles ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations as a licensed attorney I also appreciate that about that value however I also know as a lawyer and as a law instructor that policies have additional and vital objectives these include setting a desired cultural tone deterring undesired conduct and facilitating effective enforcement with these matters in
089mind I am pleased the board decided to keep specific language in these two policies that protect students and employees from harassment on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation because perceptions are important retaining the specific language protecting students and employees from gender and sexual orientation harassment sends a signal to students employees and her a sirs the confronting gender and sexual orientation harassment is a priority of this board thank you this leads to less litigation when actors within the district understand more clearly what conduct is expected thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight thank you again for your consideration of this issue for your deep consideration tonight I hope that you will consider additional proposals to school policies and practice that from inclusive safe and healthy spaces for all of Knoxville's children thank you
090C Mon [Applause] Nancy Mott thank you for staying enough to here are things for deciding to keep the policies as they were worked out in in times past I hope it's not sort of darn you you've got to stay in here us say thank you but we do want to thank you this was I think that that I had no doubt that this board does want to protect all students that harassment will not be allowed there's something there's something satisfying about just saying like a mother might say I said this period no harassment and yet being human being sometimes we do need to have it spelled out this harassment you're not going to harass on the basis of sexual orientation gender I did you're all of it no harassment it is a teaching device I
091think teachers if they need to they can explain it this should be explained particularly in upper grades why we are going to respect all people that that respect would will include these vulnerable populations in thinking about this sounds like this is heavy but I was thinking about the fact that that it isn't just that you are seeking to protect the people all people you're seeking to protect the corporation which are also by spelling it out you're allowing these people to not only be protected but to feel protected it's a way of avoiding the offense and I thought about what the teacher Jesus who is is revered in all three April religions said that probably pointing to kids and said if anybody causes any of these little ones to stumble it were better that that person
092had a millstone tied around his neck and thrown into the sea this is the loving Jesus so we want to not cause offence to any of all of these students and so indeed I thank you so much for being willing to come to retain the language we've heard some other pieces of language that could be added that can be considered at another time - thank you so much Board of Education a web her Stephanie web hi I'll be brief I just wanted to say thank you all for for the way this went tonight I can't thank you enough and for like miss Owen if you wanted to add an amendment at an additional time to include sex and those policies we fully support that and we'll stand behind it and be here to advocate for
093it so good job tonight Thank You chair that concludes public forum move adjourn [Applause] you