Coffee County School Board Meeting

001Cordele, is that okay? Sure. Okay. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we just thank you for this another beautiful day, another day to enjoy the beauty of your vast creation. Thank you, Father, for this day. Father, thank you for this team. Thank you for all that are here. Thank you, Father, for our teachers and our director and our whole team, including our bus drivers, custodians, maintenance, whatever, Father, we just pray that they are blessed and Lord, that we just thank you for them and for what they do for this county. Father, we just pray wisdom and discernment in all the decisions we make tonight in this board meeting and every day when we when our teachers and our teams meet. Father, I just pray that you bless us and give us wisdom and discernment in all that

002we do. Father, we just thank you again for this day. Thank you for this the board members and all that's here and Father, we lift up Brother Tom today and Father, we just pray that you touch him and bless him and and in such a special special way. And Father, we just thank you for all that is here. Thank you for Free tonight and her leading us and Father, give us discernment in what we do. This we pray in your son's precious precious name. Amen. Okay, will we all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. First of all, I want to [clears throat] welcome our

003student ambassadors and uh we had a we had a substitution or name change and I want to make sure I had your name correctly. It's Morgan Jones, is that correct? Yeah, no, ma'am. Jones-Wagner. Jones-Wagner, okay, let me write that down. Thought your last name was Jones like me. Is it w a g g o n e r? >> Yes, ma'am. Okay, thank you. And David Lewis. So, welcome tonight, and uh you'll be on board with us in a little while when you look at the agenda. Okay, I hope all of you will bear with me tonight. Uh I'm having to take Mr. Ballard's place, and uh so, if I need help, I'll just ask. Um okay, the first thing that we're to do is uh we have a recognition for Diane Barnhill. I think Tonya

004Garner is going to take care of that. Oh, Carlin Cotton is going to. Okay. It is a uh Coffee County School Middle School one of Diane's employees. So, yeah. >> [clears throat] >> And I feel so honored to get to present her today. Tonya did get this for me. Like I said, Diane works at the middle school, and she's going to let you know what she did in just a second, but I'm here today to give her the certificate um from the American Heart Association. She is a heart saver hero for what she did. She performed the Heimlich on a student in the cafeteria at the middle school, and this was back in the fall. It just took a little while for us to get this. It says, "The American Heart Association would like to

005say thank you. It is a pleasure to honor you for acting so courageously and swiftly to offer life-saving aid." So, would you like to tell them a little bit about what you did? I don't know. >> [laughter] >> I just did it. Um well, we were just in the cafeteria ringing up breakfast, and he came up to us. He had a hard time, and he came up to us. I just turned around, and I don't know. I think it's divine intervention, if you ask me, because just pushed everybody aside, and I just did it, and just went back to what I was doing. But, I know I love them. I love my job. I love the kids. I just love them. It didn't I just did my heart. And I feel blessed have her. She's

006been with us how long? Several years. Or more than that, I think. Yes. Yes. So, but I appreciate it and here is your certificate. THANK YOU. >> [applause] [applause] [clears throat] [laughter] >> THE BARNHILLS ARE MY NEIGHBORS, so it's good to see y'all and uh Thank you for what you did. I'm sure the parents and teachers out [clears throat] there are very, very appreciative of what you did. That child. Okay, now we'll call to order the meeting of the March 6th, March 10th, 2026 Coffee County School Board meeting. And the first thing that we'll need to do is to approve the agenda. Ms. Rina, I would like to make a motion to add something to our agenda. Actually, I would like to add it to the general consent items if possible. Okay. It is a

007Coffee County Schools Use of Facilities Request Form for use at the East Coffee Elementary gym by Ms. Allison Hester. You should all have the paper here. If we can get that in the general consent and if not, add it as an action item number seven, please. Okay, so you're making a motion to add that to the general consent. Yes, ma'am. Do we have a Do we have a second? Yes. Okay, since she has um put fees on here and she's asked to waive them, Uh-huh. um you may want to make that a action item. Action item number seven. Okay. That's fine. Okay, and we'll get to that then about what items are to be waived or she's asking to be waived. >> Are you going to make it action item seven? You want to Do

008you want to re- rephrase it and make it an action item? >> put it in general consent? If it's general consent, it's going to be it's going to have the fees in there, correct? Okay, well then If it's added to general consent, then we could pull it out of that, but it's probably easier just to add it as an action item. Okay. I would like to make a motion to add the use of facilities request form for East Coffee Elementary School gym by Allison Hester to our action items on our agenda, please. Madam Chairman, she she really doesn't have to make a motion Okay. because it will be adding it to it. Then the board actually votes to to approve the agenda with it on or with it, you know, taking it off. What do

009you need me to say and I will say You just like to add it to the agenda. I would like to add the use of facilities request form for East Coffee Elementary's gym by Allison Hester to the agenda, please. Okay. Oh, everybody understand that? Okay, we will I do I have a motion to appro- to approve the agenda with this added? Oh, Ms. Freda. Yes. Has Did you add an item that Mr. asked? No, we haven't done that either. Okay. Okay, Mr. would you like to add another item? Well, let's get this one first. Okay. >> I can Yes. Okay. So, I would like to add an item to the um just the not the general consent, but the regular action items. Okay. Um I would like to add um I guess it would be

010item number seven. No, item number seven >> Okay, cuz seven is Okay, so eight. Um uh position of middle school director of instruction. >> [snorts] >> Is that uh So, that would be Dr. Blessing's position? >> Yes, ma'am. Okay. Okay, so we have two items that have that have been requested to be added. Number seven item number seven would be the facilities request, number eight would be the position of the middle school uh supervisor of instruction. Yes. So. Do I have a motion to approve the agendas as stated? I so move. I'll second. Okay, Mr. Cordell made the motion. And Coons second. >> [snorts] >> Okay, I will start with Ms. Hall. >> [cough] >> I. [clears throat] I. Mr. Coons. I. Mr. Billy. I. Mr. Cordell. I. Ms. Yates. I. Mr. Hansard. I. Okay,

011that passes. Eight to zero. Okay, so now we have [clears throat] our agenda. Um I understand there was no public comment. Is that correct? Correct. Okay, we will have the principals' reports at this time. Who wants to be first? Okay, Miss Parsley. Yeah, ladies first always. We had a kind of a quiet month at Deerfield. We finished up our mock TCAP testing and are going over the results of that and and seeing where we have our needs. We wrapped up our Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough fundraiser. We have celebrated our SRO. We really appreciate our SROs in the school system. It it's they take care of us and watch over us so we really enjoyed them having them there. We have our math night March 31st and that is planned by Miss Janice Tally. We have

012our Easter lunches on April 1st for our second and fourth grade families. We also have our quarter third quarter academic pep rally on April 7th starting at 8:45. And our second grade is planning a field trip to the Nashville Zoo. So that's about what we got going on this month. Thank you. Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, now we have Miss Kelly. Hello. Okay, at New Union last week we celebrated Read Across America Week. We had several dress up days and guest readers. It was a great week to celebrate literacy. We also had literacy and lunch to boost our book fair sales, but it also invited our community into our building so it was fantastic. We had several people attend. Book fair our gross sales was well over 10K. This money is used to

013purchase library books and we will also use this money to help us purchase our accelerated reader program. We also had grand persons day and this was a great day for our book fair as well. On the 5th we had our math night. This was put together by Shannon Reynolds. We had over 50 students to come to our school and participate. She was actually awarded a Sportsman's and Businessmen's grant to do this not. So, it was very success successful. Very proud of what we did that with our math-a-thon. April the 2nd, we're looking forward to our lemonade day draft. We're excited about that. And today, we did some things today. We're we have been looking at data and started our prep for TCAP. I'm very proud and excited for this this team of teachers that are

014at New Union are coming together and looking at data and focusing on students as individuals. This allows them to hone in on the standards that we need to address in intervention classes as well as tier one instruction. So, that was a full day of that today. So, we did a lot of work. Uh a lot of stuff looking at individual students. Do you have any questions about any of that? You said that so fast. Can you do it again? >> [snorts] >> You just got to pay attention. >> [laughter] >> Maybe you could cut that hair and you could pay attention. Who is she week? Oh, [laughter] and all of my wigs. Frida got to see all of my wigs. So. I did I did not know her. >> [laughter] >> Anything else? Thank you.

015Thank you. Now, I have to explain that. They had 80s Was it 80s week or No, probably >> [clears throat] >> decades Decades, yeah. Back in my decade. >> [laughter] >> Whenever I walked in, I did not know her. I don't think the kids even knew you did that. I had a wigless week last week. So, but yeah, we East Coffee celebrated Read Across America week as well. It was pajama day one of those days and I had the bright idea of wearing like the night shirt. And that was the day I had to run around the school the most last week. So, I looked fairly ridiculous. But, it was a great week. We we had masked readers throughout the week. So, we had staff members dress in costume and read a book to the

016students and they got to get try to guess all week who they were and we did a big reveal on Friday afternoon so that was a ton of fun. We also had a family night with that Miss Tally helped us host on Thursday had I think we had over 60 kids sign in for that but we also had a bonus masked reader that night and had our book fair open as well. We ended the week with our warrior ball and so we were first of all I want to thank Forest Mill Church of Christ for letting us use their gym free of charge to host that event just so we had a larger space for for more dancing and and I got to so I went from Mr. Keith to DJ Detention that night. Let's

017see end of quarter three coming up this week so we'll be giving out our quarter three awards and awarding our top 10% of fifth grade and yesterday we had a neat experience through someone that works through the state paired us up with a school East Side Elementary over in Bedford County and their administrative team came to visit us because they noticed we were similar demographics and and noticed some growth that we've had in the last uh uh few years in in in certain areas of test scores and so we sat down and collaborated and I think we learned just as much from them as as as we they did from us so it was a good good experience there so that's all that's going on at East Coffee. Thank you. Good evening. Good to see

018everybody. Um Miss Parshall started by being saying it's pretty quiet at Deerfield. Uh don't know what that means if you know, that didn't happen in middle school. Um but but we have been working extremely hard. [clears throat] Lots and lots of things happening. Um just to let you know, spring sports have kicked off and a lot's happening already with those sports. Um several games last week. Uh boys soccer uh is on a a run, a good run, good start to the season. Uh won a couple matches already. Uh softball's doing well. Baseball's doing well. Tennis is I think starting tonight. Uh track's pretty soon. So, um it's all in full swing. So, lots of things happening there. Um I want to mention a program that uh assembly that's going to happen uh tomorrow at our

019school. Tonya Garner uh put this together. It's called that organization is called ATS the Bridge. Uh and they're going to be speaking about vaping and drugs and that kind of thing. And and so, it's I from what I hear, it's going to [clears throat] be a fantastic program. I know it's happening at the middle school and and Mr. Parsley will talk about the high school as well. But um they will see all of our kids tomorrow. So, our students will be in grade level presentations with uh this uh organization. So, and then there'll be parent nights and stuff like that, too, that I'm sure Mr. Hargrove will talk about. Um >> [clears throat] >> and then let's see here. I'm sorry, I got a list here. Uh we've had our last benchmark for the school

020year. That took place the last week of February. So, we also, like Ms. Gilly was talking about, we also have been working a lot with data the last couple of days. Uh looked at our standards and what standards students need to uh remediate on. And we looked at students today. So, we have spent at least 2 days worth looking at our information. How do we respond? What do we do? What kind of remediation do we provide for our students? And so, teachers have a very good plan. Um really proud of the work that they put in. They put in probably several hours of work trying to make sure that we're ready to get things uh prepared for the test at the end of the school year. So, proud of them for that. Uh this Friday

021is our social. Uh we had our Valentine social planned, but then of course school got called off, so that got bumped back to uh this Friday. So, we're excited about that. Kids are excited about that. Um >> [cough] >> next week we [clears throat] have a parent engagement night. I emailed all of you all inviting you all to that event. Hope that you're able to come. Uh I think that's going to be a huge success for for our school as well. Um the week we come back from spring break, um we have an organization coming in that's called healthy boundaries. They're going to be doing a presentation about healthy boundaries, teaching our seventh and eighth graders about what boundaries they need to set up, how to set up those healthy boundaries. Um that or that

022presentation [clears throat] is done with uh parent permission, and so all those forms have already gone out, uh but I think it's very very needed for our students. Um and then I believe the last thing I want to mention, uh one of my teachers, Mr. Roy Slaughter, [clears throat] uh teaches eighth grade social studies. He has been awarded uh the VFW Teacher of the Year award. Um he has won at the local level. He has won at the state level, and it is his application is now at the national level. Um tonight our county commission is going to recognize him before their meeting tonight. So, I'm going to slip over there for a little bit uh and and be with him. So, maybe we can have him come in if y'all think that's great. Uh

023have him come in next month just so he can be recognized here. Um very humble man, but kids love him to death. So, if you ask a kid, "How do you know Mr. Slaughter?" They're going to tell you a lot about him. So, he does a great job and super proud of him and and [clears throat] all the work that he's put in at the middle school. I think that's on my list. Any questions or anything for me? What was his first name? Roy. Roy Slaughter? Yes, ma'am. Okay. Eighth grade social studies teacher. And I don't know what he is, but social studies teachers are always so nice. I remember mine. >> [cough and clears throat] >> And and I I can think back to the years that everybody loves social studies for some reason.

024That's great. Absolutely. All right, thank y'all. Thank you, Dr. Anderson, for stealing some of my material. And before Mr. Parsley gets up here, >> [laughter] >> the ATS Bridge, it it is an organization that brings awareness to drugs and substance abuse. We'll have a community program tomorrow at our high school from 5:30 to 7:00 in the auditorium. We'll have a staff training on Thursday after school at 3:30 in our high school and we hope to have that well attended. The group will be presenting, as Dr. Anderson said, to our middle school students and our Raider Academy students tomorrow during the school days school day and on Thursday for all our high schoolers at our at our high school. One of the things they do is it's something called hidden in sight and it is a

025just a small display of a teenager's room and there are all sorts of drug and drug paraphernalia hidden in it. And if you've never gone to see that, it is amazing the places that they're hidden. And it's just to to assist our parents and our community and make our students aware of of the of the dangers with that. So, you are cordially invited tomorrow afternoon from 5:30 to 7:00 to attend the community program at our high school. Mr. Parsley, sorry. Y'all are killing me. >> [laughter] >> All right. I thought I would share some recent successes that we've had at the high school with you all tonight. Some of this information I just received today and a little bit of it in the past week or so. Our winter guard is in their competition season

026and they have had three competitions over about the past month or so. Those are typically on Saturdays in various towns in the general area. This past weekend they were in Columbia for the Columbia winter showcase. And our winter guard was one of 11 teams that competed and for the third competition in a row they finished first place. And each one of these competitions has had 10 or more teams competing. So, we're proud of the work that they are doing. Also, want you to know that our Red Raider band traveled to MTSU today. They went to the School of Music to participate in the annual concert performance assessment. And so, those assessments consist of really being scored by a panel of music professionals and categories would include stage performance and sight reading. And there's also a

027professionalism category. Before they left today I I was you know going down the music hallway and I peeked in there. They were practicing a little bit and I spoke to the band for just a moment and one of the things that I pointed and I really didn't even know what these categories were, but after I walked in there and saw them and heard them a little bit, I said, "Guys, I'm just really impressed with the professional look that you all have." [clears throat] Um and sure enough, they received a grade of excellence. I'm sorry, superior in the professionalism category today. Uh they also received uh excellent uh scores in both stage performance and sight reading. So, we were really pleased with the work they did. In addition to, you know, those category scores that they

028get, they get specific feedback uh both the band members and the band instructors so that when they come back through this spring and through next fall, they use that information to improve as a band. So, uh we're we're glad to be able to go to that. Uh some additional information that I have, uh recently our uh DECA Club, uh which is one of our career and tech technical support organizations, went to the Tennessee State Career Development Conference in Chattanooga. And uh we [clears throat] had a few students that performed uh very, very well and placed in that state competition, and they will be going on to Atlanta at the end of April uh to uh compete in the national competition. Uh Christian Galindo finished fifth place in professional sales. Uh Gianna Fanney and Grace Anderson

029finished third place in marketing management team decision making. And we had our very first first place winner at this conference uh this year, and that was Will Rogers in sports and entertainment marketing. Again, the first time we have had a first place winner in this. So, uh we're very proud uh of these results that we've had. Um I believe that's all I have. Well, I do have one more competition that I want to share with you. Um back in December, we had a couple of our culinary students that uh decided that they wanted to uh take a go at a fairly new competition that the state has in culinary. It's called the Junior Chef Competition. And uh so what you do for that competition generally, you develop your own recipe and you sort of fine-tune

030it and uh you present that recipe to a committee at the state level, and this committee then decides uh who they want to compete in the state level competition. Well, um two of our students, Jacob Gilly and Georgia Johnson, they're both junior students, they were selected back in uh December to compete in this competition based upon a recipe uh that they concocted, you might say, and it's uh teriyaki pork chops. And uh I actually had that dish back in December after they [clears throat] had developed it. It was very good. Uh they went to this competition last Friday, and they finished second place at the state level for a recipe that they developed. Uh they each are receiving a $6,000 scholarship to Sullivan University. Uh which is a culinary school. So, very proud of them.

031We just had a lot of successes in various uh clubs here lately. Uh also, uh you know, in addition to uh the drug uh awareness uh speakers that we've got coming to the middle school and the high school to speak to our students, uh and also for the community presentation, which is tomorrow night, uh that organization is going to speak to my faculty and staff on Thursday afternoon. We happen to have our monthly faculty meeting on Thursday, and so they are going to speak to my faculty and staff on Thursday afternoon. And I believe the the rest of the staff in the district have also been invited to come if they would like as well. That's going to be at 3:30 for our faculty and staff. So we're we're glad to have them and hopefully

032we're all going to be a little bit better educated about you know just the danger dangers of drug addiction and you know that we know that vaping and THC are a problem that we're really dealing with not only in our community but really all over the state the country. And so hopefully we'll be a little bit more educated after this week about that. Finally, our student counseling center is hosting a FAFSA Frenzy this Thursday evening from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. in our library. And the FAFSA Frenzy is an opportunity for senior students and their parents to come and receive help and applying for federal financial aid. To barely to complete the FAFSA. It's a very detailed application not as easy as someone might think and so we we try to provide support in doing that

033two or three times a year and the next opportunity for that is from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. this Thursday evening again in our library. Dr. Donna Jones one of our counselors heads that up and so she'll be there to help families with that. Isn't there a deadline of when cuz I know it's easy to miss that? Absolutely. The deadline for that application. >> is April 1st. April 1st for completion. >> much time do they? >> course that you know students are encouraged to get it done sooner but the the absolute deadline is April 1st. We got a little less than a month so. It's a good opportunity for students but that application is very very confusing and hard to Yeah. deal with. Any questions for me this evening? Our student ambassadors have quite a bit

034of other information. We We too have started spring sports and I know they have information about that as well as some other things. Any questions for me? I want to also thank all of you that were able to come to our top 10% banquet last night. We really appreciate your being there and it was a a wonderful event for those 41 seniors and their families. Thank you. Is there any any other principals here? >> [clears throat] >> Mr. Parrott, sir, I'll need the recipe for those pork chops. Yeah, send us an email on that. Okay, so I think we've approved the agenda. So, we will go on. We'll start with action items and the first action item is project coach and I think Mr. Harper will tell us about that. Yes, Madam Chair. Since around

0352010, since I think it was Governor Governor Bredesen at the time, we've been evaluating our teachers with something called the TEAM model. >> [clears throat] >> There are several other approved evaluation tools that we can use, but >> [clears throat] >> excuse me, most people in the state use the TEAM model of evaluation. And in my humble opinion, it it it feels punitive and and what goes on in the TEAM evaluation is I'm going to evaluate most of our teachers that have a level of effectiveness score from three to five twice a year. They're going to get an announced evaluation and then in the spring time there's an unannounced. I find the unannounced evaluation much more of a real picture of what goes on. Um >> [snorts] >> I think the project coach is a

036more of a growth mindset and with more frequent and um evaluations. Uh the the the administrator under the team model is required to be in there the entire class period. Under project coach, they're much shorter evaluations, but there are are more evaluations. Uh so they're in our classrooms, our instructional leaders, our leadership, our principals are in our classrooms more often. [clears throat] I think the rubric is much more actionable um and the feedback is much much better because you're you're having you're talking with your teachers more cuz you're in the classrooms more. All the evaluations in project coach are unannounced. Now, how does that help our administrators? Well, in the fall, we have all these announced evaluations. And if something comes up, guess what happened to that planned evaluation? Well, Ms. Matthews, you may be

037be getting evaluated today and you plan a great lesson on your announced evaluation and guess what? Something happens and the principal can't get down there. [clears throat] Or post conference. All of those things are lined up in a much more formal setting. Scores are now uh uh but under project coach, you're not receiving a score until the end of the year. Um it provides our administrators a chance of having a lot more flexibility of getting out. Some days you you just get stuck in the office and you're not able to get out and evaluate. Well, that's okay with project coach. When you have available time, you can get out and make it happen because they're much more short in length. Not not quite as formal and it's more of a coaching uh a coaching model.

038Uh I believe it helps improve our our teacher-principal relationship as far as instruction goes. And as far as developing um professional development for a building, there are all sorts of reports that come with Project Coach that we don't have with TEAM. And it will gather and group uh areas of need, so your principals can build professional development to fit your teachers' needs. Um I think you have increased collaboration. I can uh match match up if Ms. Inches a second-grade teacher and uh she has an area of need, I may match her up with a fourth-grade teacher, Mr. Hansard. Hey, go visit Mr. Hansard's room. It just creates more of a coaching model instead of we're holding an evaluation over someone's head. Uh the downside of it, it does cost money. I think we have around

039$15,000 budgeted for it, but it will be cheaper each year after that by $2,500. We'll provide our own training for it, and that's how we'll lose the $2,500 each year. The reason I'm uh presenting this tonight in our policy, we have to change to Project Coach, and y'all would have to vote to approve a change in our evaluation tool. But I I just find it a lot more flexible. Um it's a lot more of a growth mindset uh than what we currently use. Uh Ms. Reed, do you had TEAM, didn't you? When you're in central office? >> [clears throat] >> sure it was called that, but I I I certainly agree with you that Project Coach seems to be more useful and more definitive of what the teachers' actually doing because uh there were some

040evaluations that I had where I felt like I was just putting on a performance. You know, you knew they were coming, you knew what to expect, you knew what rubrics to hit, and and it was over. And this way it's more informal and and I always thought that a that a principal could walk in the classroom and be in there te- tell me if I'm wrong, but you can you know if it's going on what's if it's if what's going on in there is really good or not too good. And and the type of teacher you've got. I feel like the principals have that expertise. And we kind of limit it by this is do the principals feel the same as you? >> Uh uh and you've hit a the nail on the head. It

041provides [clears throat] uh you get real as none of it's you get actually what's going on in that classroom. And and and [clears throat] it puts our administrators in our classrooms much more often, twice as much as what we currently use under the TEAM model. Do y'all have Anybody have any questions about it? I'll make a motion. I'll second. That we that we change the policy. >> the concept of the switching to the project coach. Okay, so what we'd have to do is is change the policy. >> Yes, ma'am. Okay, so how would we word that as a a motion that we >> going to change the policy, but [snorts] We're just going to approve approve the approve the evaluation tool. >> And then we'll work through the state on the project coach and what

042tool we use. Yes, Okay. So, Robert, you're making a motion to approve project coach for our school system. >> Yes. Okay. And I second that. Okay. Motion made by Mr. Gilly and seconded by Mr. Cordell. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, I'll start with Ms. Matthews. Uh I have some questions. >> Yes, ma'am. Sorry. That's [laughter] okay. Sorry. I'm bear with me. I forget. I don't know a lot about the evaluation process. So, this is all kind of new to me. So, I guess you said that the evaluations under project coach would be more frequent, right? >> Yes. Okay. So, the one that we're under now, there's three per year per teacher, is that right? >> on what your level of effectiveness is. >> Uh-huh. And and their group, you know, you're going to have an

043announced evaluation that hits um several areas. You know you're coming, there's a post conference that's set by time. You go meet and you talk about it. And then the next one, you're going to evaluate [clears throat] other indicators. And it's unannounced. >> Uh-huh. So, So, there's only one unannounced in the current model that we use, right? >> Yes, ma'am. And then the project coach is going to be all unannounced, right? >> Correct. Okay. And you said more frequent, like I'm just curious, like how many? >> So, you're a three through five. Let's just assume you're a three, four, or five in your level of effectiveness. Uh-huh. Okay. Under the current, you're going to be um evaluated twice at a longer period of time. Okay. Under project coach, I'm going to be in your classroom four

044times. Unannounced. Unannounced. Okay. >> But, the time is shorter. You know, You The duration. >> classroom more frequently. Also, you have the freedom. >> Uh-huh. Also, you have the freedom under project coach. If I'm evaluating a special ed uh special ed teacher, I may sit in an IEP meeting. Uh-huh. And that's part of the rubric. Uh-huh. And that's a big part of of their job. >> Yeah. I I just think the the the rubric for project coach is much more Yeah. actionable. And the team model has kind of seen its day Uh-huh. come and go. Got you. Have you worked under Project Coach before? Yes, ma'am. I'm going to the system I came from. Got you. So, you've seen you've seen and done both. Yes, ma'am. We have a neighboring school system in the middle

045of this county and they use it as well. There are a lot of school systems and especially in East Tennessee that have gone to Project Coach. Got you. Um one more question. This is just probably because I I just don't know. Evaluations are performed by principals. Are they right? >> instructional coaches as well. Okay, so it could be our instructional coaches from up here, right? Yes, ma'am. Assistant principals? Do assistant principals Assistant principals? Okay. So, it could be any number of those people. It doesn't have to be the same person coming to evaluate >> if I'm the principal in the building, I'm going to want all new teachers under under my I I would be observing them for a reason. I want to make sure. [clears throat] The other thing that's great about Project Coach

046is I can go in there as many times as I want to. It gives that flexibility as well. >> So, you're not limited. If a teacher needs more support Any evaluation where you're talking about Project Coach, team model, Tiger is only is is good as how it's implemented. I mean, Project Coach could be a bad thing if it's not done with fidelity and our intentions, but I have confidence in our leadership that we're going to implement it with fidelity and use it the way it's supposed to be used and that's about improving instruction. Okay. I don't know if I answered your question. >> Okay. Anybody else have any questions about it? I just just a comment. I As long as this doesn't take on a gotcha type atmosphere, I think it would be excellent. If

047If the whole purpose of it is more of a mentorship, then it'll work beautifully. But, if it ever steps over into a gotcha thing, then it could be dangerous. But, I'm believing the principles that I know it's going to be a mentorship type thing. And I believe that, too, Miss Yance. And I I we're try I feel like the team almost is a gotcha. So, but that's just my two cents. Could it be uh suggested that the principal do the the four uh evaluations [clears throat] for new teachers? I mean, is that something that could be done? Cuz I do agree with that that a new teacher really needs that principal. Well, if you're a brand new teacher and you haven't ever taught before, you're going to receive eight Oh, okay. short evaluations. And that

048provides a support. Um Miss Frida, you're you're a rock star and you're been killing it for years. We may have our post conference while you walk your class to the lunch room. Well, if Miss Yance struggles, I may set up an appointment with her and let's sit down and let's get uh let's get some things going in in the support wise. So, it's the flexibility is there. And and the principals are in in agreement with this? Well, we have been talking about it since before you got here. I got you. Well, I got before I got here. But, I talk about it every principal meeting and tomorrow I'll hit on it again. And it it seems to me it it it's simpler, but more effective. It's not as formalized. Yes, ma'am. And there's another element

049to it. One of your four, if you receive four, has to be a sidecar. You have to have another person with you. That may be an instructional coach. Hopefully, that's one of your APs. So, if Mr. Shores is my sidecar, we're going to go in for the same amount of time in the same classroom, and we're going to evaluate. When we leave, we're going to have a 10-15 minute and discuss what we saw. Well, he's my brand new assistant principal. That's a great time for me to do what with my assistant principal? Mentor. And we're right back in that coaching phase. So. Are there any other questions or comments? Okay, I guess we're we're ready to vote now. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, I'll start with Ms. Matthews. This is approving the project coach. >>

050Okay. I. Mr. Coen. I. Mr. Kelly. I. I. I. Chairman votes I. Co-chairman votes I. I. I missed you. >> [laughter] >> We'll get there. Eight to zero, and approved. Okay. All right. Okay, the next thing on the agenda is the board sponsored scholarship, and uh I know each year we as a board provide a $500 scholarship to a student that's graduating, and uh that's to be discussed tonight if we want to continue that. Do we have any comments on it? I make the motion. Yeah. Okay. Can I have a motion? Do we have We have to have a motion with that. Yeah. I'll make the motion to approve that we continue the board sponsored uh community scholarship. Okay. >> I'll second. Okay. Do we have any discussion? Okay. I think it's a good thing.

051I do, too. I'd love to see one of our seniors walk away with something from us on awards day. Yes. As expensive as college tuition now is, I know. every little bit helps. Okay, we'll start with Mr. I Mr. Coonley? I Mr. Cordell? I Ms. Yance? I Mr. Answorth? >> [laughter] >> Ms. Jennifer? >> I And I vote I. Good, 6 to 0. I vote I, too. >> [laughter] >> It's okay. Two two minutes for one agenda item. That [laughter] was perfect. I don't want to do any better. >> record. Let's see if we can do number three the same way. Okay, this is the textbook adoption, section E, and all of you should have a uh printout on that, and [clears throat] I hope you've looked at it, and That was in general >>

052[cough] >> That was in general consent. Oh, I'm sorry. It was in general consent. Okay, with the budget items. Number three, budget amendment 141-2026-19, and this is uh a revision, is that correct? Is Ms. Nelson here? >> So, this is just a revision to our current So, we receive um voluntary pre-K funding each year, and I have to cost center that those items that we were the way we set up our budget. So, this money's in our budget. I'm just cost entering the part of it that is uh restricted for the voluntary pre-K. So, this is just taking it out of the original line and putting a cost center on it. So, if you look at the very top, um majority of the lines should still equal what the bottom [snorts] equals. There were a

053few items that we put in the pre-K budget that weren't in the top, but this is in our normal budget, but this is just to add the cost center for the pre-K grant because I have to report it on its own and the way we have it structured in our budget right now, I cannot do that. So, this is just to add that cost center to it. Okay, do I have a motion to approve uh the budget amendment 141 2026-19? So moved. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. Okay, Hodge seconds it. Who was the second? Ms. Hodge. Are there any discussions or questions? Okay, Mr. Gilling. Aye. Mr. Cordell. >> Aye. Ms. Yates. Aye. Mr. Henson. Aye. Ms. Hodge. Aye. Ms. Matthews. >> Aye. Mr. Coons. Aye. And I vote aye also. So,

054that's eight to zero. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, the next item is budget amendment 141 2026-20, and I understand that's after school program. Yes, ma'am. So, this is the budget amendment to take care of the funds you guys restricted in the last meeting. So, this is to take $500,000 [cough and clears throat] out of the unassigned fund balance and putting it into after school program. And you can see at the bottom of the page it affects the fund balance. It reduces the fund balance at the bottom of the page. Okay, do I have a motion to approve budget amendment 141 2026-20? I'll make the motion. I'll second. Okay. Ms. Hodge made the motion, Mr. Gilling seconded. Uh is there any discussion or questions? I have a question. I'm looking at this and I see that

055the unassigned fund balance was 15 and then at the end it's 12786. But I'm trying to figure how I may be off on my math, but I'm trying to figure how um 500,000 made such a drop in that. Can you explain that to me, April? >> Well, each one of those amendments listed under So, if you look at the 15 million each amendment that I have listed under there reduces that fund balance. Mhm. So, um for example, number seven that was for the extra pay, the $2,000 for every for every everyone that didn't get it in the first part of the state bonus. I'm just going to hit the big ones. Um the number 16 that reduced for the security improvements that we did at the high school. So, each time we've done a budget

056amendment, it reduces our fund balance down. So, all of those affected which brought us down to the 12.7 million. Okay, so you're not just showing the 500,000, you're showing all the different areas. >> Right. So, that just gives you an idea of where we're at right now with all of the items that have been taken from fund balance. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. So, this is in essence wrapping up the excellence program for this year. Is that correct? >> this will do is it'll restrict the 500,000 and it'll take care of the next 2 years. Is what we is what I guess was decided in the last board meeting. Um this will take care of next year, 2020 26, 27, and then 27, 28 school years. Okay. Is there any questions about any of that?

057How much did we use this year? How much What was our actual cost? We budgeted to use around 121,000, I believe. And um we may spend all of that but about $20,000. So we'll have we'll have [clears throat] a little bit left over that we can restrict with with this um 500,000. Okay, so you're saying that we we spend as a board 120,000 this year approximate. And that'll be with if that that'll be with our estimate with if all the students continue to come and pay for the $5 a day. So that's just an estimate on based on the original without paying was 250 um around 250,000 and so if all the students pay it brings us down to about 120. Okay, so as I understand it we're going to continue with the pay method,

058so the 500,000 may last longer than 2 years. Mhm. But this is yeah, but this is the cost. So the total cost without without students paying for the program. Yes, ma'am. Okay. So it should last us for longer than 2 years. [clears throat] Okay. But that's just estimated based on what you guys wanted to do last board meeting, so. Any other questions or discussion? Okay. I'll start with Mr. Cordell. Uh Yes, ma'am. All right. Now April, I'm sorry to keep holding this up. >> It's okay. But as I understand it, we will continue with the parents paying. I don't think we voted to change >> not been voted on. No, that's correct you're correct. But nothing's been done like no there's been no action items to change that. So yes, that will continue to be

059as long as that action as long as there's no other action taken, that will continue to stay in place. Okay. All right. So, I I Matthews I Mr. Cone I Mr. Gilly I I vote I. Passes eight to zero. Okay, item number six is the budget update. I'm sorry, item number five. It's the budget amendment 141 2026 21. So, this is to take care of and Mr. Blessing can Dr. Blessing can correct me if I'm wrong. Um, the three-year ELA gap that we have and um new um adoptions that we will have for next school year. So, this will the funds for this budget amendment will cover those adoptions and that gap um three-year gap to get us to the next adoption for ELA. And then, um this will this is a budget amendment did

060change. Um, if you've looked at the document prior to that today, we have updated the amount um a little bit more um than it was originally. So, if you looked at it prior to today, then you probably saw 430,000 on here. Um, but the actual estimate we came up with today is 590,000. And so, we have those funds restricted in our textbook fund. And so, we're pulling that from >> [clears throat] >> we're pulling instead of pulling from fund balance, we're pulling from that restricted fund. So, you can see that in the top section of our um of the budget amendment, the very top part of the um fund restricted fund balance, it reduces that to 6.5 of what we have left in our restricted fund. Okay, do I have motion to pass uh budget

061amendment 141 2026-21? So moved. I'll second. Okay, are there any questions or discussion? >> [snorts] >> I have one. What was the difference in the amended budget? I know it was 430 and now it's five What caused that big increase? What did we add? We added something else to it. What did we add? Do I need to get to my phone, so You can have this one. >> [clears throat] [clears throat] >> As Mrs. Melson was saying, turn this way cuz I hate talking one way and speaking another. Um >> [clears throat] >> a three-year gap was created by the state with our English language arts materials. This year was the end of the current English contract. But the state extended the adoption to an eight-year cycle. Normally, we would be buying new English materials

062for or considering adoption this next year. But now we have to fill that gap in addition to what is normally up for adoption now, which is that section E that was on the consent agenda. The original amount of the amendment was for the uh the English materials, the three-year gap materials. What we've added to it is for the present purchase or the section E purchase. And that include that's uh wellness, that's several CTE classes. And um when I put all that together and it increased another 200 something thousand dollars. And then we also tried to estimate shipping. Never know about shipping, especially with gas prices going up. We have to allow something and if this amount is more than what we need, it rolls back over into the textbook fund, so it's not lost. Any

063other questions? Ready to vote? Okay, I'll start with Miss Yance. Now, as I understand that this was already in our restricted fund. Yes, that's correct. I. I. I. I. I. And I vote I. Eight passes, eight to zero. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, we had an item added, the facilities request for East Sorry. Let's see, we just passed the 21. We got the budget update. I'm sorry, I skipped that. Okay, the budget update. Okay, so this is the budget update for January. In the month of January, we received $4.8 million, which brought our year-to-date up 31.9, which is 60% of our budget. Um compared to last year, we're kind of we're right on. Um last year was 61.92 percent. Of that $4 million, 3.4 of it was state, 1.3 was local, and about 14,000 in

064other. Um going down to expenditures, in the month of January, we spent $4.3 million, which brought our balance to date of 30.2 million, um which brought us up to 52.34% of our budget compared to last year of 47.94%. Um, main variance is there are the state mandates that we paid out, um, from in early in August, and then the extra pay we gave to the, um, employees. And then, um, we've seen a little bit increase in our utilities. Um, in our utilities at the schools, and, um, for about all of electricity, mostly electricity. And then, um, also there the the lots that the lotting project in capital outlay has pushed that up to just a little bit, um, with the 1.3 million, I believe it was, um, that we spent. Um, if you have a

065other additional questions, I would be glad to take those. Okay, let's get I have a question. April, um, I think we have to have a Oh. Motion. >> Motion first. You want to Okay, do I have a motion to approve the budget update? So move. Okay. I'll second. Mr. Coons seconds. Okay. All right, Miss Matthew. Okay. So, I was going to ask April, um, under the total support services, um, total community service, can you just give us some examples of what, um, it looks like that's a pretty big sizable portion. What What falls under total community service? I'm just curious. So, um, three things. Mhm. Um, the state made me move where the after school program was. If you look up at the budget at 72290, that is where I was reporting it, and they

066didn't like what that where I was reporting in that category. So, I had to move it down. So, last year we reported it in the 72290. So, that is that is down after school program as long as well as the after school tutoring program. So those two things are in there. And then we pay any so anytime the city of Manchester takes a bus trip that's where we pay for our bus drivers um to go on those field trips or field trips or anytime that the city would use a bus because it's not part of the school system it's considered community of community service. So those those bus drivers are paid out of those that when that happens and then also miss our FRC program is paid out of that line. So are you saying

067that if one of our schools with Manchester City Schools another district takes a field trip and our our bus goes and our bus driver goes Manchester City Schools doesn't pay for that? They do. They reimburse us. Okay. But they we pay it out of the that line to pay the bus driver out of that line. >> And then they reimburse you. >> they reimburse us and that hits in our revenue section. >> Okay. Makes sense. April, can you explain to me and you probably done this before this category reoccurring items why we would have 293%? So so that we don't usually budget a whole lot in that category. That's mainly for things that come in and then we put it back out. So last year we received a Batel grant that we received for Hickerson

068and we we received it in one month and then we send it out in the next month. We emailed we mailed the check to them in the next month. So the reason that is 293% is because there's not a whole lot to budget in there and that check was around 10,000 and it just pushed that budget number up. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? Um I I have a question or really just a clarification. I was going to ask the question about the after school program because it did show, you know, 0% [clears throat] use last year and 38 this year and but it's basically like Holly brought up it's in the community uh service line now. So, there will no longer be an [snorts] after school line out. >> yeah, I would I would

069wanted to separate it but the state told me I couldn't use that that line and so I had to move it into that into the community services line. Why is that I wonder? Why why would that not be considered after school program? I don't know. They just told me I was I used it. I asked if I could use it. It's in the it's in the chart of accounts approved chart of accounts. They just when I did my end of the year for uh for 2024-2025 school year, they just told me that that shouldn't be using that one, so. Huh. What does constitute an after school program? >> Well, I've named it that, so when I I changed the name to that but it it was called other school programs and so I changed it

070to the after school program so it was clear on here. So, it's not other school programs, community service. Okay. >> no one else in the state is using that one and they told me I shouldn't be using it, so. Okay. Okay. I told them they should take it away and eliminate it. Right. >> Couldn't use it, but Okay, any other questions or discussions? Okay, we're ready to vote. Mr. Hansard? I. Sarge? I. Ms. Matthews? >> I. >> Mr. >> I. Ms. Cordell? >> I. Ms. Yates? I. And I'll vote I. Passes eight to zero uh seven to zero. Mr. Gillies? You want you I won't be here. You don't want any of it? You still got time to vote. Okay. Can you get to blow that up please, sir? There's a plus up here. In

071the mind >> it's 7070 row. Did you get that? Okay, thank you. Thank you. Okay, let's see if I can stay on track. Okay. Now we're on item number seven, the facilities request. I think it's top it's East Coffee uh facilities request. Sweetie, Allison Hester is here. She's the coach. Can she come and talk about this? Allison, come up. I may have some things to say, too, maybe. You know, it might be a little tall, but that's okay. >> [laughter] >> Jennifer, thank you for getting this added. Thank you guys for allowing it and hearing me out. Also need to thank Mr. Keith [clears throat] back there. He's been a big help um getting the approval, understanding the process, so I could get in front of you. Um I know you guys get these requests

072all the time, so I won't bore you. I know I wrote an exhaustingly long letter of the importance. Um more specifically to request the wave of the fees. Um but I am standing in front of you to ask on behalf of Dream Team AAU. I know we have a few of those in the community for use of East Coffee gym twice a week, two hours each to practice as well as potentially wave of the fees. There's 3200 involved >> [clears throat] >> with the custodial fees and the gym use fees. Um why is that important? Well, Dr. Anderson left, I really wanted to jump off of him. Year two at the middle school with a child. Um very exciting, great, you know, student overall, involved in things, but also involved in sports. We played soccer.

073I say this because Dr. Anderson said how well the boys soccer team is doing. New coach, new players, it's exciting to see them do well. I feel confident he stood in front of you months ago, I would assume, when basketball season started, and said, "Well, boys basketball is not doing well." Uh which was painful for us as parents, painful for the coaches, but most painful for those boys that put their heart out there on that court, formed a team bond, learned leadership, teamwork skills, respect, gosh, the discipline that these middle schoolers need to understand the responsibility of growing up. We did watch them learn that. While they may not have performed on that court, half the problem is they don't get to play together. They don't have anyone investing in them if it isn't that

074school team in that moment. Rewind two years ago, Top Gun did have a team for this age group, and the coach chose to go to another age group. Very disappointing, right? Very heartbreaking for those boys. Last year, nothing. So, my husband, Marcus, who's also a part of this that will be true head coach, I'm kind of his admin. We said, "We've got to do something. How do we do it?" And we started that process. Because we want these boys to understand what it's like to be able to continue to play together, continue to grow, learn from each other, and truly be a team. They've got one more year, and we'd like to see them be successful. We'd like to continue that positive environment, that safe environment, and the growth of all those skills that they

075have started to obtain at 13 years old. Um this is literally minus one, the entire CCMS basketball team from this year. We also have picked up three Westwood players because they don't have a team for that age group. So, this is basically seventh grade? Yes, ma'am. >> Team. Okay. And you're requesting what what fees to be waived? Uh the 3,200. So, there's 600 for gym use and 2,600 for the custodial fees. Um, I'll also let you know that we do have, of course, Jennifer that will have a son on the does have a son on the team. And that will be at these practices. Yes, um, we also have Ashley Simmons who is a teacher at Coffee County Middle that has a son on the team that will be present. Um, my sister is also,

076uh, the nurse, Lindsey Ridener, at East Coffee. While she may not be there all the time, she will be around. Um, I take a lot of pride in taking care of things. I understand the importance of the schools, obviously being a future or a former student. Um, so, we will make sure that it is as if we were never there. Um, I will personally make sure of that, checklist it off every time we use it. Nothing's broken, nothing's damaged, everything's clean, bathrooms look good, and that we stay in the specific areas that we are approved to be at. Okay. Do we have a motion to approve this use of East Coffee Elementary? We'll get it on the floor and then we can do we can have questions and discussion. Do I have a motion to

077approve this? Can I make a motion to approve this? I didn't know. I'm going I'm going to be recusing myself from this vote since it directly affects me, so I didn't know if I could make that motion. Okay. If you don't feel comfortable making Does anyone else want to make a motion to approve this? Uh, I'll make a motion to approve, but I think we're going to have to do some amending to it. Okay. Does anybody second it? I'll second it. Okay. Well, let's let's have questions or discussion. Yeah, I think, uh, we're going to have to get in line with what we've currently done with school employees when they're there and things of that nature, but I think the key is the employees were there. They were actually coaching and things of that nature

078to fall into that. Usually what we we have done in the past is if if the employee is there and they take care of basically they oversee the gym, make sure the bathrooms everything's picked up and cleaned up and taken care of. So usually the employee is is there. They might not be the coach, but they are there. It was kind of the shadow of the umbrella with them being actually on site and there. >> Yes. You you got a little bit of coverage. Didn't Did we not just have this two weeks ago? With the We had two facility use forms two weeks ago. And I believe we did waive the custodial fee, but not the usage fee. I have it pulled up here [clears throat] in the minutes from the last meeting. And that

079that employee is actually the coach there every session. On both of those. On both of those. Yes. Will an will an employee be there to do it? So go ahead. I mean I said that I said I was I just asked Mr. Shores if I said that right. Do I [clears throat] count as a Coffee County Schools employee because I will be there? Am I an employee? I've got a That's going to be up to this board, but truly you're not an employee of the Coffee County Schools. Okay. Um Ashley Simmons will be there. Her son Wade is on the team as well. So she will be present. So both of those are there. Sure. >> Ashley's an employee. Ashley is an employee, so that would definitely take care of that part of It'll take

080care of the employee part of it. She's at CCMS. every session. Mhm. Okay, so we've got that taken care of. Was there anything else? That's fine. Okay. So we're going to We're sticking with what we're what [clears throat] we've been doing with everybody else so long as there is an employee there every session. Yeah, absolutely. Right. So that'll be Miss >> That would be my motion. Can you restate your motion, please? What about the What about the fees in your motion? >> we only waive or we do not waive the custodial [clears throat] fee. We only wave the custodial Only wave the custodial and but not the usage fee. Is that acceptable? >> That's fine. That is absolutely acceptable. We've kind of explained to the parents what player fees will look like, given a fundraising

081opportunity as well for those that may struggle to pay that fee and this was factored in. Okay. Okay, does anybody else have any other questions? Okay, I think I need to start with >> So what's the motion? Okay, you want to repeat the motion Mr. Gilly? Completely. >> [snorts] >> Maybe I'm supposed to >> [laughter] >> I think we are approving this school use facility use request um waving all fees except the custodial fees. No. >> [laughter] >> Just wave the custodial fee. >> waving custodial fees. Okay, so is the motion to approve the use of East Coffee Elementary uh waving the custodial fees. Only. Only and the $30 usage fee will still be in effect. Yes. Okay. Miss, do do you understand why we're doing that? Why we're because we've kind of set a

082precedent here. Oh, yes, it's fine. >> Okay, we just don't want you to feel like that we're trying to In my discovery of how to go about this, I have looked at old minutes and tried to kind of understand how the process goes and ask lots of questions. You know, Jennifer's been supportive, Mr. Keith has been supportive you know, it's exhaustingly hard to find gym time. So, thank you for for the approval. >> [laughter] >> It's it's exhaustingly hard, I'll say that. Does and that that usage fee, I think last month did they explain how to make that payment? I think they said it's paid monthly, is that right? I think it may say on the form. >> Okay. Yes, that by the 8th of every month. >> The 8th of every month. Okay. So,

083I would assume that means April 8th would be my first payment unless I need to go ahead and pay for >> Do we Does that need to be on the form? I know last time we did it's on here. It's just not on the one that we see here. Oh, yes, it's two pages. You know when they have the first page. >> Is this one that you have something to say for? >> Yes, we want to put in the motion previously and some minutes we put um if a school employee is present. Do you want to add that? >> Yeah, that's probably need to be added to the form. Okay. Okay, the motion is to approve the use of the East Coffee facility for the Dream Team waving the uh custodial fee only and as

084long as there is an employee of the school system present at each session. Yes. Yeah. So, that's what we're voting on and I'll start with Mr. Hanserd. Absolutely. I'm excusing myself. >> Oh, okay. Ms. Matthews? I. Mr. Coons? I. I. Mr. Lee? I. Ms. Cordell? I. And I vote I. Thank you very much. >> She did ask a question on whether she needed to begin payment in March or April. And so >> I think she'll be fine do it starting in April. >> Yeah, I think I don't think there's a problem with that unless y'all want it different. I think April would be fine. And we can practice tomorrow? Yes, please. >> [laughter] >> Is that what that means? Well, good luck. We're going to be looking for some champions. >> Okay. I sure hope

085so. These boys need it. Yes, they do. They need it desperately. So, I appreciate you guys. Thank you so much for your time. Appreciate your service. Thank you. I'm a little sad that I'm not an employee. I I've been carrying this badge with pride like a Coffee County Schools employee and I'm flabbergasted. I know. You don't get insurance. You don't get benefits. Although she could. [laughter] I thought I counted. She just don't get the employee right. Supervise the basketball team. My goodness. So where do we go now? Okay, I guess we're to number eight and I think Ms. Matthews wanted this added or Mr. Coone to the uh Position of middle school instruction instructor or or real really we're talking about the position of middle school supervisor. Yeah. And uh is Do we need a

086motion to discuss this or what it's I guess we do. Yeah, we do need a motion cuz our first motion was just to add it. So So I I would like to make a motion. Did anybody else want to do that? Okay. Um Okay. Um for um there was a job posted recently just this past week I think for the position of middle school uh in director of instruction or or curriculum and um I would like to make a motion for us to pause that application and hiring process for the time being and hold off on that until this board has had an opportunity to discuss that in a little more detail. Okay. I'd like to second that motion. Does everybody [clears throat] everyone understand the motion? The I'm not sure that we can do

087that. I would like to have Is [snorts] it already a current position? Yes. The motion is not to do away with it or anything. It's just to discuss it. Thank you. So is it to discuss this? interview in a We can tell >> power other than the board uh or the director of the schools. Uh you know, you could reward the you know, it could What is the purpose? It's just to discuss Just to discuss the position and what it entails. The job description? Yeah, the job description and anything else that needs to be discussed about it. I I didn't have anything specific. I think the board just wants to talk about that position. Before someone is hired. Before Before we start taking applications and thinking about hiring. I think we just wanted to discuss

088>> We've already taken applications. In fact, the job has posting has come down and we've set up interviews for next week. Oh, wow. That was fast. Now, I was I thought that was the director's job to decide what um what qualifications and what a job entailed. What we have is the Do we Do we need to get a motion on the table first and then discuss this? I think I think you do have a motion. And I have a I have a second. So, to discuss it. So, let's get that passed and then Okay, Mr. Hampton. I guess what >> I guess we need to vote. No, it's discussion right now. You're in the discussion. Okay, just to discuss. You don't have to Okay. I didn't know we could do that without a motion. You

089do have a motion. But we didn't vote on it. You have a motion and a second, and before you vote, you have your discussion. Okay. I think what we can do is basically what we were trying to do, I think. Or what [clears throat] I would like to try to do is to try to tell Mr. Hargrove that, you know, we all have the right to do away with that position as a board. So, we were kind of maybe trying to tell you, you might want to put this on hold for a little while in case we we get it in the budget. >> You do have that right, but respectfully I wholeheartedly disagree. Uh there's a lot more to a job than a job description. Um going into I mean, the duties that Dr.

090Blessing does. Oh, we know. We got it I got a copy of it. I'm sure of that one. Can I Well, we're debating. Can I ask you Are you done or Yeah. Is there somebody currently in this position? Yes, Dr. Stephen Blessing who'll be retiring at the end of the school year. Okay. But currently until it is filled or the end of the school year that position is filled Dr. Blessing >> position we don't go there. Eliminating a position while it's filled. That's correct. >> best I remember uh that's been a very dangerous area for board to enter in. Terminating. I don't think that's what Holly was doing. I don't I don't think I really believe we better think about this before we go on because the only thing that like Mr. Hensley said, we

091can eliminate a position. That's all we can do. I think all Holly wanted to do was discuss >> I didn't say anything about eliminating. Right. But I think that's the only thing. What I'm saying I'm I'm not saying you did, I'm just saying I think that's the only thing we can do because it's not in our purview of the board to intervene on something that is currently Ms. Matthews, I believe Mr. Hansard interjected about eliminating Yeah, I I I just wanted more discussion on the position in general. Um whatever that may lead to. I'm not disagreeing >> before we move forward ahead with it, I feel like there would be a lot of good discussion that That would be great for an April >> [clears throat] >> work session. >> That right, exactly. I think

092that would be a great topic for April work session. I guess the question that I've got, Mr. Hargrove, is would it not be better to pause it and then to get into April or or or May and then decide that and you hire somebody and then us decide that we're going to do away with the position before the next school year? What would be I'm worried about the hiring process, Mr. Hansard. The early bird gets the worm. And if the quicker I mean those folks are going to find jobs that have applied for it in other positions in other districts. But we do that with our teachers. We try to get jobs posted quickly because it is a very competitive market. Um and with this position the value that is walking out the door and

093the expertise is walking out the door, that also might allow us some time for Dr. Blessing to to assist that person. He's he's departing in 4 months, correct? March, April, May, June. >> June 30th. Okay. So about 4 months. So we're still 4 months out. I think we would have plenty of time in my opinion. >> I humbly disagree, but I'll work at the will of the board. Yeah, I think from my perspective, is that we've got a $131,000 job here that a year that we're looking at, and we've got two people already doing that position, and we're the only in my looking at is that we've got uh three people doing that same job where most other school districts doesn't have but two. Uh I'll humbly disagree there as well. I think every you're

094talking about fruit. We're all school districts, but every district has a different set of challenges, and the other two people, they don't do Dr. Blessing's job. He does all those things that are in his job description and what's on that duties list. The other two supervisors have a whole different list of duties. And I guarantee he earns every penny that he walks out with every 15th of of the month. So, you're saying the two I I just the motion is to just Yeah. pause this until the April work session when we can discuss it in depth. Right. And you no assumptions made whatsoever. >> Miss Chair, I want to I'm going to I'm going to formally bow out of this discussion and this motion that is on the floor until proper legal representation and can

095can answer the question if this is even in our purview to intervene at this point. Well, I think what it is is that basically it's the job description and what is what is emphasized and what's not. And uh We hire and fire a director of schools. I do not But we [clears throat] approve job descriptions. when presented with a position. Well, we have either >> eliminate or to put in place a position. We have approved job description. Control in which we hire and fire the director for. That's everything we've ever been taught, told, and learned. And and I but Whatever, but I'm out of this. >> at the same token we approved a job description for a district-wide athletic director that wasn't already in place. But nobody's asking to eliminate or anything. We're only asking

096for more time for discussion in a work session. That's that's all. We're just saying pause it. You're not even talking about the position. You're talking about the concept of him hiring or doing his job in which he's appointed to do. We're not talking about a position or job description or anything. >> that position was posted. So, that's In his line of work approved prior to us being aboard. His day-to-day operational control of the school system. I'm not And in talking to an attorney for us what we would like to do is to offer you a put it on pause to wait and and weigh these things because you don't want that that bird to get a worm and then have to give it back. If we do away with that position, then he would really

097be messed up. If you hired somebody and then we did away with that position. I understand, but I got two different I was getting two different messages. We had the same thing moving it back, which I don't make. We can move it back to the and talk about the study session, but I'm I would not ever recommend dissolving the position. I don't think we're there yet. I I we just want to discuss. We just want to discuss. Dr. Blessing, we love you. Please don't feel attacked right now. >> [laughter] >> Yeah. I I I am not the position. I am the I think this is just more of a questioning thing. Absolutely. I'm fine with that. Absolutely. Is that not important? >> [clears throat] >> Um >> [cough] >> Think, "Oh, he's about to sing."

098No. Um In 2005, three people retired from the the central office. Ms. Jones, Judy Jones, and Charlotte Philpott. At that time, I was hired to replace the position of Judy Jones. At that time, the position of director of middle school instruction and testing didn't exist. Her position that I had was curriculum 6 through 12, district testing coordinator, textbook coordinator, student teacher coordinator, director of Title IIA, director of Title III, and other duties as assigned. That catchall phrase. That position sort of has [clears throat] mutated and under Dr. McFall, >> [clears throat and cough] >> she um wanted to separate 6 8 from 9 12. And she assigned me 6 8 and Krista Cole was assigned 9 12. And it's been that way, you know, since that time. So, I think the job description that you

099see is more brief. And that's why you have that duties list. And it's a little more detailed about some things. And that's just things that have happened with this position for past cuz there's something mentioned there friends like the ATSI grant. Well, that's gone. So, it's not something that's that's recurring. But you get an idea of the things that this position currently is uh responsible for. So, one more point and this is something else from Dr. McFall in one of our principals meeting. She asked everyone to describe what they think their position is in terms of you know, one word. And my word I chose was support. This position in my view is a supporting position in all those different aspects. So, I think again, speaking as someone who's been in this job now for

10021 years, doesn't seem like it should be that long, but hey. I think it's an important position in order to meet all the growing expectations of the state. They've been adding on all these different things. Uh testing has morphed. Uh textbook things have changed. Our ESL population has grown. When I was hired, we had one itinerant ESL teacher for the whole district. Served all the schools. We now have 225 ESL students. And it's growing. And so, it's the position grows with the expectations. So, again, just for your consideration, for your future discussions. Thank you, Mr. Preston. Thank you. Dr. Preston, sorry. >> [snorts] >> I don't think it's the purpose to do away with the position. Is that correct, Mr. Matthews? I just want to have discussions about the position. I don't know what that

101would entail. Um but at this, you know, at this time, I think that it's definitely worthy of discussing the feasibility of the position moving forward. Okay, well, we have a motion to discuss this to table it Your motion was to table Yes, ma'am. >> of this at this point? Yes, ma'am. And to discuss the at the next work session. And when is the next work session? Is there an April one scheduled? Is it spring retreat? You want to spring >> I'm okay with that. Bring it to the retreat. Okay, so to put it as an item on the on the spring retreat? Yes, ma'am. That would be up to Holly. She's the one that made the motion. >> Yeah, yeah, I'm I'm good with changing it to the spring retreat, discussion at the spring retreat.

102Okay, so your motion is to table the the hiring of this position at this office until the board discusses discusses the what? >> of the position moving forward at the April work session. >> [snorts] >> Okay. Does everybody understand what the motion is? Okay, we have And you you second that? Yes, ma'am, I do. I second. Yes, ma'am. Is everybody ready to vote? Um Yes, I believe that we hired a director because his job is to know what our county needs and our school system. And I'm with Robert. I feel like we're stepping over into area that really doesn't belong to the board. I don't believe it's the board's job to decide what the duties of this Now, I know you're talking about eliminating the position. But as far as us deciding what the duties

103of this position are, that's not the job of the school board. >> That's not what we're doing. You're trying to decide whether to eliminate the position. No, ma'am. I think the motion was to discuss the job description and have a better understanding of what this position is. Cuz I really don't think the board Is that it? Yes, ma'am. And into not uh to pause the uh the hiring. Is that at this moment until after until after the work session. Yes. Or the retreat. So, basically, that's you're not you the motion is not to eliminate the position. >> Absolutely not. Just further discussion. An opportunity for the board to discuss the position. So, I guess Does everybody understand that? What would be the purpose of discussing the position? To see whether sticking our nose where it

104don't belong. No, what what is the purpose, Holly, that you have in discussing this? >> the feasibility of if this position is something that we feel is um needed in the future. Um and look having an opportunity to look through multiple job descriptions to see what the duties are of each and to make sure that our tax dollars are spent wisely and with deep purpose. I would like to see more discussion. I mean, the discussion may shake out that there's no possible way that we could ever think about going in a different route or restructuring anything whatsoever or it may not. I don't know. I don't know how the board would feel, but I think it is worthy of pausing [clears throat] it for the moment and discussing it as a board. any other discussion

105or questions? Okay, I think we just need to vote. We'll start with Mr. Hansard. Uh Miss Hodge. I. Miss Baggett. I. Mr. Coons. Uh Mr. Billy. Miss Chair, I will not participate in a frivolous vote outside of the purview of myself as a board member. Mr. Cordell. Uh Miss Yance. No. Okay, and the chair votes aye. So, this will be put on the uh retreat agenda for discussion. >> [snorts] >> Okay. Um Okay, we have items for discussion. I think it's next on the agenda, and that's each board member. And uh I'll start with Mr. Coone. Do you have anything tonight? Um well, I attended the the uh top 10% banquet last night, and it was um a very good event, very well put on. I'd like to commend everybody that had a hand in

106putting it on. The um the entertainment we had, the singers, they done an awful good job. Um and uh congratulations to all 41 members of the top 10%. You know, you all worked hard, and you know, you deserve the honor that you that you got. Uh keep up the good work in the future. And the only other thing that I'd like to say is um is that, you know, you know, we're we're losing a member of our team, and I wish her the best in the world. >> [clears throat] >> Ms. Matthews? Well, um I had the uh privilege of attending Fine Arts Night at Coffee Middle School, um which was um for grades K through 12, and uh it was just awesome. Um I was blown away with the talent that I saw um

107and heard as I listened to the music um and I just um I'm so proud of our students that brought their talents to showcase so that we could all see um these these students are going places and it was really impressive to see what um what they've accomplished and and that that's just the tip of the iceberg for them. They are um immersed in talent. Um and I I want to thank the teachers and the administrators who hosted that and got that together. It was a pretty big deal and I had a wonderful time. I loved every minute of it. Also want to thank the um CCHS counseling office for the top 10% banquet they put on last night. It was [clears throat] really touching to see all 41 students that scored in their top

10810%. That's something that's not easy to do at all and it showed a lot of dedication and commitment from our students and our parents that pushed them along the way because it does take a village but um want to thank the counseling center or the counseling office for including us in that. The dinner was really good. Heirloom Kitchen catered that. It was awesome. So I had a really good time. I enjoyed doing that with you guys and um also want to give a little shout out to our teachers and our staff members at the Rider Academy. Last week they had a brutal wave of illness come through and um think it affected so many students and um I think it was flu and strep and I don't know what else, but those teachers they soldiered

109on and they came on in and I know some not just them, but teach other teachers in our district. I mean I know kids were left home alone with fever and all that. And um then we had some schools that were hardly affected. So, but I just want to give them a shout-out or as Mr. Hargrove says a greater shout-out >> [laughter and gasps] >> to them for um for keeping on and um I felt like at one point we should issue every one of them a hazmat suit. >> [laughter] >> But um anyway, I just want to say that I have a deep appreciation for them and and their commitment. And that's all. Oh, and Melissa, I'm going to miss you. I'm going to miss you a lot. So, we have to keep in

110touch. Thank you for everything. Thank you. Mr. Hodge. So, when I came onto [clears throat and cough] this board, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing and if Melissa had not held my hand and been very patient and given me lots of hugs and lots of advice, I probably would not have made it to this year number four. Without a doubt. So, we will miss you, but we'll always be friends and thankful for you. And I want to reiterate what Holly said. I went to fine arts night with my little girl and it does something good to your soul to be in a building full of happy people. Everyone was so happy. There was so much pride, there was so much creativity and so much talent in that building. I didn't see anything

111that didn't just blow my mind that someone created that and they were willing to talk to you about it or running around pointing at what they had done, and there were singers and people that were playing instruments and all kinds of stuff, and it was just a really great thing. So, I'm really proud of our students for that. That's all. Thank you, Mr. Ansley. Uh I'm I too would like to thank Melissa for coming here and when I got here um her and Charlie both uh my Brent, my older son has a special place uh for Charlie and both of you. I do myself, and thank you for I'll echo what Jennifer said. When I came here uh you know, it was uh a great big thing to get acclimated into everything and know how

112things are going. Thank you for for lining us up at TSBA. Uh you know, you you did that. Uh and sometimes in you know, a couple of years you didn't even get to go. And uh I'm glad you got to go this year because you know, you put it all together but you weren't able to go and thank thank you very much for being able to go this time and and Mr. Hardgrove for allowing you to go. Um I was uh privileged to be able to go to uh Read Across America this past week. Uh last week got uh I'd like to thank you, Garrison. Uh I'd like to thank uh uh Miss Crabtree for asking me to come down and read into uh Miss uh Jennifer's daughter and uh got to uh enjoy her

113again and and uh Miss uh Miss Nikki's class down there. Uh that's a a special place in my heart for that class. Uh But and also uh we have one of our top 10% here tonight, Mr. David Lewis. Uh his dad and Creighton were were best of friends. And uh what a uh a privilege it is to see you in the top 10, and I'm proud of you. And I know that your dad and your your grandfather and your grandmother are are are proud of you as well, and uh, I'm I'm sure proud of you. So, God bless you and wish you luck in everything that you do, okay? >> [clears throat] >> So, thank you all. Thank you. Well, I got to go to the banquet, uh, which was a lot of fun. My

114granddaughter was in the top 10, so I got to sit at next to her table. Um, and I've known Melissa since she was secretary at Tia's school. And so, I got to know her there, and Melissa, you've been the heart of all these meetings. What you put into it. And so, I don't say it casually when I say I'm going to miss you. Because I look forward to seeing you. You took care of us like a mama taking care of children. It's really what you did. And, uh, you made the transition easier than than it much could have been. And so, I'm really grateful. I respect what you're doing for your parents, for the sacrifice you're making. It speaks of your character. And so, I appreciate it. And I'll quit crying. Um, I got to

115I got to read at Hickerson, and I was reminded of how squiggly kindergarteners are, but that was fun. And the art nights, of course, for me the art nights were huge. When I got all of the art was amazing. But when I got to see that elementary art, and know that this was something new for these kids. Not that the teachers weren't putting art into their lives. They did every every week cuz I could see it all over the walls. But to have a formal art instruction um it just touched my heart. And the teachers the art teachers have done such a good job and they were so proud of their kids and what they'd have been able to accomplish in the elementary art in that time. And I guess it stood out for me

116because it was something our county needed and I just love seeing it come. So, um and I think that was it for my week. Mr. Cordell. We really enjoyed the meeting last night. So proud of our team. Our top 10% and all of our students and our team. What a team. And uh Melissa, thank you. I'll just keep my comments brief, but uh thank you for your leadership and and all the information you have supplied. And we just pray for y'all and wish y'all the best. And uh as I finish this is going to be different, but uh I'm going to speak a declaration over you. I I just pray that speak that you are royally blessed and highly favored [clears throat] in all the earth. And may Jesus use you to change the generation.

117Thank you for your service. Your turn. Mr. Geary. >> Well, everybody said everything you can say about everything. I'm a little bit different. Miss Melissa, thank you. I mean you talked a lot. But Ron. Ron. I think we you're got to give me a cinder block. It's like herding cats. [laughter] And you do a great job. >> Yes. Awesome job. And just like everybody else, congratulations to everybody. Miss Freda, you've done a wonderful job tonight. Yes, you have. You have. Yes, you have. I'll get [clears throat] better. Yeah. >> [laughter] >> Thank you. Uh I kind of last minute changed up some other things for discussion. Uh I do hope that via [snorts] my position as a board member on the school board that via the executive committee, you can reach out to the director

118and contact legal counsel to make sure and verify the validity of the last action item that we just took here in this room. Will do. I hope you can look into that pretty quick [snorts] and somebody can make contact and see if that is valid to stand or if that needs to be remedied fast. Other than that, I'm done cuz I want to go see a light show this weekend. Can I say one more thing, Miss Freda? Yeah. I think we should all say hi to Tom because we know that you're watching. So, hi Tom. We miss you. Listen, nobody misses him more than me. >> [laughter] >> Yeah. Melissa, thank you so much. >> [clears throat] >> And thank you, Melissa. Thank you for all your help today and in the past. And we

119appreciate you. Good luck. And I don't have anything else to say except I was fortunate to get [snorts] to read at Hickerson and New Union and love both both experiences and it's so amazing the different personalities of each school and all [clears throat] of them are great. It just fits the It just fits each personality fit that school and we have so many things to be thankful for as far as our school system. And I hope everybody realizes that. Um So, I guess that's all the items for discussion. Uh do we have any committee reports? I think the only committee that met was the salary and compensation committee. Uh were you the chairman of that, Mr. Hansen? >> was Charles Hargrove. >> Oh, Mr. Hargrove was. Oh, really? >> we just talked about we um

120actually talked about the budget for a little bit. We talked about [clears throat] uh the portion of the budget that the state has mandated that we spend on certified personnel raises. And it was a short but talk-full of information. Uh We got our estimates from the state a couple weeks ago. A week ago. >> Last Friday. Okay, it was last Friday, so we're a little behind on the budget, but April's working diligently and we're trying to help her along there. But, that was it. Thank you. There There weren't weren't any more committee meetings, were there? Okay. Um Okay, now we're to our student ambassador report, and we've got two young gentlemen here that's patiently waited for their turn. And we'll start with with with you. Okay. Okay. And uh it's Morgan Wagner and Jones. >>

121Morgan Jones. I'm Jones Jones Wagner. Jones Jones Wagner. >> [laughter] >> Uh and and just [clears throat] so for everybody knows, the name that was on here was not Morgan Wagner. It was some other name, so that's why I think I know both of your dads, [clears throat] and that makes me feel like the oldest lady in the world. So, I'm excited to hear them. >> [clears throat] >> Okay. So, I got a couple couple topics to talk about. Um to start off, basketball our basketball season for both the girls and boys has come to an end. Um two girls were named region 3 through 4A all-tournament, and it was Natalie Barnes and Jensley Nagadula. So, congratulations to them. Um wrestling. For wrestling, the following competed in the TSSAA state state wrestling tournament on Friday,

122February 20th, and those people were Aiden Lindsey, William Barlow, Cameron Stafford-Turner, Tanner Vernon, Eli McClain, Carlos Valle Martinez, Giana Bear, Jasmine Norris, Gabriela Silva, uh Alyssa Jennings, and Amy Miller. And next on I have tennis. There is a match tonight that started right after school. Um they're going against Shelbyville, so hopefully they're doing good right now, so. Baseball, the first home game was last Friday. They beat White County two to zero last last night, actually. I didn't know about that, but yeah, last night. >> [laughter] >> And they play Battle Creek away this Saturday. And then for softball, they won their home home opener against Riverdale last Wednesday. >> [clears throat] >> Um schedule in full swing, Tuesday's away, Wednesday's home, and home against Tullahoma on Sunday. For our track, they have a meet tonight

123at Blackman. So, hopefully we get some uh good good things hear some good things about that cuz one of my buddies, Presley Rucker, he actually just tied the school record for high jump, I think it was, so props to him. Yep. Then for flag football, the season starts on March 19th. Their first game will be [clears throat] away at Ravenwood. And they have two home games at uh in April, so keep an eye out on that. Um band, Mr. Parsley covered this, but I'll just repeat it briefly. They went to MTSU School of Music to participate in the annual concert performance, and that was today. And then theater just opened last weekend their new show, or not show, their play You're in Town, and they have shows on March 13th and 15th, evening shows Fridays

124and Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. Uh mat matinee performances on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $9 for students and seniors. They can be purchased at door standing 1 hour before each performance. All Coffee County school employees can purchase $6 tickets for themselves and their families. And I would like to add to to that to that um the our theater group does a really good job. I really enjoy their plays, so I encourage every single one of y'all to go out there and check it out cuz they do a good job. And the last thing I have here is that we had our top 10% banquet last night, and I'd like to thank all of y'all who attended. Means a lot. Um it shows that my hard work and well, all of

125our hard work didn't go unrecognized, so it means a lot to us. Absolutely. Thank you all. Congrats. Thank you. All righty, so Jones. >> [laughter] >> Jones, I know your name. It's all right. Jones is famous. He is famous. Oh, famous, I don't know about that one, but [laughter] All right, so we had an additional fine arts night, I believe, at the high school, and that was on February 26th. So, I think it was a different one from the one at the middle school. Uh that included a large gallery of student art, live music sets, and stage performances. SGA, student government, wants to congratulate Jacob Gilleon Georgia Johnson again on that cooking scholarship to Sullivan University. >> [clears throat] >> There was a spoken word poetry slam open mic night and it was tonight it

126started at 5:30 in the theater and there was two students who will move on to the state competition um next at next month at TSU. Um HOSA, our HOSA club, is doing a hygiene item drive going to Blue Monarch and there are they are accepting donations until March 13th. So, that's exciting. Our Teen Health Advisory Council is having a St. Patrick's Day campaign next week and it's going to be a scavenger hunt where there'll be our logo turned into clovers that we'll hide them throughout the school and then if you find one you can turn them in and you'll be entered into a raffle to win gift cards. So, that's going to be a fun a little, you know, way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. FFA, we've had many FFA students attending 4-H Congress this

127week. Beta Club, they're gathering donations for victims and domestic abuse at Haven of Hope and Advocacy Center until March 19th. Skills USA is leaving for state conference next week. We'll be gone to Chattanooga competing Monday through Thursday. So, I believe our first day back at school next week will be Thursday. We'll compete every day Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we'll have students competing just like DECA. Mr. Parsley went over DECA. We had lots of students, you know, place in eighth, ninth, and 10th also. He didn't uh he just talked hit the top ones but we had multiple go all the way through top 10. Uh FBLA FBLA state is in Chattanooga um and they'll be gone April 6th through the 9th. And then student government helped create and work the spring 2026 Renaissance recess and that

128took place last week. Students received their updated Renaissance cards based off the specific criteria um based off last semester so fall of 25 grades, attendance, and behavior. You get a red card if you have all A's, you get a card if you have A's and B's, and silver card if you maintain a 4.0 or raise of your GPA by 0.5, you get a silver card. A white card is perfect attendance and no office referrals. This is a great incentive we have. If you qualify for a card, you went to the Renaissance recess event in the gym during extended homeroom to celebrate. Each student got a snack, a drink, and a lanyard, and a rally towel to use at different school events and games. We had a Gaga pit, different games such as cornhole, spike ball.

129Some played games such as head, shoulders, knees, and rally. We also had tables with playing cards, a coloring table, a teacher thank you note table, and had various drawing amounts of money. There were options for everyone to relax and enjoy time together and celebrate our accomplishments. And then prom tickets on went on sale yesterday, and prom is Saturday, April 11th, so we're very excited about that. And then the scheduling for the '26 and '27 school year is underway. Counselors are meeting with students over the next month preparing schedules. They're doing a fabulous job. They're working hard and they're very busy right now. And then that's all we have for you. Oh my Thank you, Don. You're welcome. Good job. >> [applause] >> Oh my goodness, there's so much going on over there. A lot. Yeah.

130>> [clears throat] >> Awesome. Okay, uh the next item is the capital projects update, uh Mr. Shores. Okay, with the capital projects, uh I sent you an email a little bit earlier about the lights at the football field. They have finished those and are testing them tonight, so that's what Mr. Gilly was speaking of a little earlier was the light show. Uh there is a what [clears throat] they call a dancing lights with Well, it was installed at the football stadium, so it's going to be a neat thing to see. If you want to pop over there at 7:30. It should be going on. And basically it's a test. They're testing things out and it's just a neat thing to be able to see, I believe. Uh also at the Cardin Gerald building and renovations

131bid was supposed to have been last uh Tuesday. They did get postponed. There was several There was some calls to uh Duck River about uh some things and after meeting with Duck River, they wanted us to look at some options. Uh due to those wanting us to look at it, we had to postpone it. Uh we will be looking at those and bringing it back up. The The goal was to have it actually on the agenda for tonight. Uh since we're having to postpone it, it will be on the agenda, if nothing goes wrong, uh for the March Sorry, the April meeting. And that's pretty much what I've got, unless you've got any questions. Okay. Does anybody have any questions on any of these capital projects? But this time? Okay, I think that's all except

132for the director's report. Miss Freda, thank you. You have filled in remarkably tonight. Uh I would like to ask you all for everybody to continue to pray for those that are unable to attend tonight. And uh I encourage everyone to pray for continue to pray for our school system. Last row, I've got Randy right here that's going to talk about E-rate. For those people that's been around for a long time, usually in March, I have a bid for our E-rate uh category two, which is the hardware equipment. Well, the state was supposed to have the mini bid process ready by mid-January. I got an email about 35-40 minutes ago saying it's ready now. So, just so you understand what this is, during a 5-year period, we get so much money that's allocated to us and

133for us it's $865,000 roughly. Now, that is to be spent over 5 years. We are committed to pay only 15% of what we purchase. So, I'm looking at doing about 200 to 220,000 dollars worth of access points for the district for next year. This has been in my plan 6-7 years ago. This was put into place. And you would have had to bid and I would have sent it out and it come back in. We're using the Tennessee mini bid, so all I have to do, those contracts are already aligned. I send out an email, I get responses from vendors, I pick them, and then normally the board would approve these RFPs and bids. So, what I'm going to need is the deadline is April 1st. You miss that, you lose it. It's done. So,

134and that's the cuz it's the federal government. So, it is due on April 1st. So, what I need to do is tomorrow morning, I'm going to send out those emails. Sometime next week, I'm going to get those bids back. And then we're going to need the executive committee to approve it so I can send the request. At that point in time, it still doesn't commit us to any purchase. That starts the process for E-rate has to approve it cuz part of that process is if E-rate doesn't approve it, which is not likely, but it's possible, then we're not committed to purchase that. So, at that point in time, once that is taken care of for the spending of the money, the 33,000, that could go for the board and do that expenditure. That doesn't But,

135we have to have approval for me to send out that request. Does that make sense? Any questions? So, we need to approve So, what will happen is I'll send out the email tomorrow, probably give them 5 days, 7 days, probably next week sometime. I'll get with Mr. Hargrove and I'll say this is who I recommend. Mr. Hargrove I guess will contact you, right? That would be the and then you two would whether you can be here to sign something or you can do it through an email. I'm not sure if if that works, too. Then, you would say yes, hopefully. And then I would send that and fill out it's called a 471. That's what E-Rate calls that form. I'd fill that out. Then, by that time we'd have all the information and on the

136April board meeting, we could officially vote for it like you normally do. Okay. But, I don't want to send anything cuz if we're if we get a audit and review, which is possible, they could look and say, "Well, this wasn't You didn't follow the board procedure, so we're not going to you know, so." That's just why you got to do it this way. Do we need to make any kind of formal No. Nope. No, you don't need to do anything right now. >> the executive >> Yeah, just between between the executive committee, but we'll still approve that purchase of the expenditures. Even though and that's all money, it's already in my budget. It's already been planned, like I said, 6 years ago. Okay. >> That I was going to that our access points are going

137to go end of life about October, but it takes till about October for us to get the stuff. Hopefully, it will come in and I mean, technologies is jumping up out of the seat on price wise. All right. AI is just taking all memory and everything, so. Any other questions? Thank you for sharing that with me. >> Oh, no problem. Okay, I think if if that's that's it, I guess >> Well, last but last but not least, >> Okay. it's Melissa's last ride. I apologize [clears throat] for jumping through the door and scaring the bejeezus out of you every day [laughter] and you never could catch me. Big old bat, but I appreciate you. We'll miss you and know you're always welcome in Greater Land. You're going to be an awesome grand grand. Yeah. Uh

138that I hope it's a happy time, but but we sure will miss you and you're all always welcome. >> [laughter] >> Yeah. Charlie said something about getting a skillet hot, but I don't I'll let you take that up with Charlie. >> [laughter] >> Okay. We uh all of us on the school board has something for you, Melissa, and you you can't forget us, so we're giving you something that you can remember us by. Aw. And this is from all of us and I think everybody's already told you how much we appreciate you and uh Thank you. We wish you the best and enjoy every day and take care of your family and take care of yourself. Mhm. Does anybody else want to say anything to her? We wish you the best. >> [clears throat] >>

139And and before you leave, I want you to No, don't No, don't stand up and Okay. Oh, okay. You could come up there with her. Yeah, come down here with Wait a minute. You come down here with her. Do you want to come I'm coming with I'm not. I wanted to get your attention, you know. You can run. Robert's got to get out of here, so hurry up. Huh? Get down here. Robert's got to go. He's got to make the late show. Okay. Good luck with that. Maybe next year. Yeah, I don't know if I'll miss you or I don't know if I'll miss you. I love my mom very much and dad. Jill, start Can you come up here on the side of this? Who's got the keys? Oh, this way we got to

140Do we need to We play with her? Do we need to stay here? The principal pulled it. I think everyone looks good. All right, are you 1 2 3? Thank y'all. I appreciate it. All right. We need a motion to adjourn. Miss Chair, can I make a motion that we adjourn? Yes, there's a second to that. I lost my motion and second it. Meeting adjourned.