001meeting to order. Everyone please join in the moment of silence and pledge allegiance. I would like to ask that everyone please remember Miss Anita Hill and her family in your thoughts and prayers today. Thank you. 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. And I would like to welcome everyone out tonight. Thank you for coming to support the Cumberland County School Board and school system tonight. I do see Miss Colleen Mall is here, one of our elected officials with the County Commission. I don't see anyone else here. I'll turn that over to you, Dr. Farley. Tonight, on behalf of the board, I would like to extend our condolences to Miss Anita Hill's
002family and loved ones. We are so very grateful for her life, her service, and her unwavering commitment to education. For 37 years, Miss Hill served as a classroom teacher. She spent 28 years at North Cumberland Elementary teaching grades three, four, and five. For the past 6 years, she has served her district on the Board of Education. There is no doubt that Miss Hill has spent her life in service and dedication to young people. The amount of lives she has touched throughout her career is immeasurable. So many have benefited from the foundation she helped build. Miss Hill understood that education is not just about academics, but about people. She has worked to serve her community as an advocate for teachers, children, and families. We are better because of Miss Hill's influence, and we commit to carrying
003forward the work that she has cared so deeply about. Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU. >> [applause] [applause] >> SO THAT BRINGS US TO SPECIAL RECOGNITION number four. Um we have one student representative from Phoenix, Miss Fallon Lambert. Thank you for being here tonight. At this time, we would like to recognize some adults in our building. These adults have worked very, very hard, and we wanted to recognize them for what they've accomplished. If you all will come up and stand, and we will get a group picture. First, North Cumberland's MARY JANE ALLEN. >> [applause] [applause] >> DR. ALLEN OBTAINED HER doctorate from East Tennessee State University in educational leadership with a special education concentration, where she was also a rural initiative for training administrator with special education expertise scholar. Woo, that was a mouthful. Next,
004Pleasant Hill's Aaron Lewis, DR. LEWIS. >> [applause] >> DR. AARON LEWIS OBTAINED his doctorate from Carson-Newman University with a educational doctorate in administrative leadership. His graduation is scheduled for May the 1st, 2026. Next, [snorts] South Cumberland's JOHN LEWIS. >> [applause] [applause] >> DR. JOHN LEWIS OBTAINED HIS doctorate from Carson-Newman University with an educational doctorate in administrative leadership, and his graduation is also scheduled for May 1st, 2026. >> [snorts] >> Stone Elementary's Sabrina Babin. >> [applause] >> DR. BABIN OBTAINED HER DOCTORATE from Carson-Newman University with an educational doctorate in educational leadership, and she, too, will graduate on May 1st, 2026. >> [applause] >> CUMBERLAND COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL BE well represented that day. Carson-Newman Pond View Elementary, STEPHANIE BROWN. >> [applause] [applause] >> DR. BROWN OBTAINED HER doctorate degree from Liberty University with an educational doctorate in
005educational in the area of curriculum and instruction. >> [applause] [applause] [clears throat] [snorts] >> Madam Secretary, that brings us to roll call. Miss Stout Miss Nichols Here. Miss Dow Here. Mr. Davis Mr. King Here. Mr. Matthews Here. Mr. Cole Here. Mr. VanWinkle Here. Let the records show Stout and Davis are absent from the meeting. Declaration of conflict. Per Tennessee Code 49-2-202, Board of Education members who have relatives, per the statute, relative means spouse, parent, parent-in-law, child, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, or any person who resides in the same household as you employed by the system are asked to raise your hands to identify yourself. Do you certify that the votes that you make tonight will be in the best interest of the school system, regardless of the effect that your
006vote may have upon the employment of your relative or relatives? Yes. >> Yes. Let the record show Mr. Cole, Mr. Matthews, Mr. King, and Mr. VanWinkle. All right, that brings us to approval of minutes. >> [cough] >> I'll entertain a motion. >> [clears throat] >> I'll move to approve the minutes for the um March Board Meeting, the April special called, the April two and the two April work session minutes. I'll second. Oh, and the special called from April as well. So I got myself in trouble by listing them all. >> [laughter] >> There's been a motion and a second to approve the minutes on item number seven of the agenda. Any discussion? So, okay, no discussion. All those in favor say aye. Aye. >> Aye. All those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. Brings
007us to number eight, approval of agenda. Mr. Chair, I move to approve the agenda. Second. Motion by Mr. King, second by Ms. Stout, to approve the agenda. Any discussion? All right. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. And that brings us to community comments, and we do have uh one request for that tonight, Heather Klingon. Please come on up, yeah. Name Uh Yeah. >> [laughter] >> Uh my name is Heather Klingon. I live at uh 476 Maywille Ridge Road in Crossville. Um I'm proposing a change to the Board of Education Policy 4.602. Um Dr. Farley and board members, thank you for the opportunity to present on this important matter. I've given each of you a handout with the excerpts from the reference policies. They're right from
008the Board of Education website. Here's a quick background of how I ended up before you today. It came to my attention earlier this school year that while our high schools distribute report cards with numerical grades, students who attend dual enrollment classes at Roane State only receive a letter grade on their official transcript sent to their high schools. As laid out in Cumberland County Schools Policy 4.600, these grades then get assigned the arbitrary numbers of 95 for A, 85 for B, and so forth. Initially, I set out to remedy this problem and spent the last several months exhausting all of the options on correcting the grade submission process. During this, I discovered that due to Tennessee Board of Regents policies, Roane State cannot submit numerical grades. The reason this lack of an accurate numerical grade is
009so important is that as stated in Cumberland County Schools Policy 4.602, valedictorian and salutatorian are awarded to the top two numerical grade average recipients among summa laude students at each high school. As you can imagine, the students who are in the running for these achievements are the exact students who are attending Roane State dual enrollment classes. You therefore have an award system based on numerical grades when it is impossible to accurately evaluate these numerical grades. With the current system, one student could receive a 90 while another student receives a 100, yet both students will have the same grade on their report cards. Meanwhile, another student can take an easier high school level class and achieve a grade higher than both of these students. How then can these three students be fairly compared for valedictorian? With
010this obvious incongruency between the grading policy and the valedictorian policy, it is apparent that a change is needed. I'm proposing changing valedictorian and salutatorian back to GPA based. The beauty of GPA is that it considers the difficulty of the class and the letter grade all rolled into one simple number. As it stands now, high-achieving students are punished for taking more difficult classes because of a cap that is placed on their numerical grade. With a GPA based award system, high-achieving students would have their difficult classes acknowledged because their GPA would now hold more weight. To complete the updated policy, a tie can then be broken with a numerical grade average. This new policy will not only make the system more fair, it will also encourage students to take more dual enrollment classes and increase their chances
011for success post high school. It is well known among the highest-ranked students that dual enrollment grades are a detriment to their achieving valedictorian, and these students therefore intentionally avoid multiple dual enrollment classes. I know of at least a few students who chose not to do Middle College for this precise reason. So, as you can see, the current policy is actually deterring our most exceptional students from reaching their potential. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> [clears throat] [clears throat] >> All right, I'm going to go ahead and move to uh item number 11 on the agenda. Any reports from trainings? Okay. Okay, and that brings us to our legal report. Nothing to report this month. Yay. Thank you. Turn it over to you for item 13. >> Okay. So, next we have uh the
0122627 budget. Uh this had you all have seen this. This was at our um work session last week. The only thing that has changed is um we did have uh public comment, and we were questioned about the insurance amount. So, we have gone back in, and we have put the amount of insurance on each page that it pertains to uh in that and we did add the CDC and the SDS bonuses for the special education folks. Those are the only two changes that have been made. Um we uh I am hoping and this does have an asterisk. I'm hoping you will approve it tonight uh so we can get it to the um courthouse Monday morning. That is what our budget plan that we voted on December the 4th stated. Also attached is the capital
013projects. I'll entertain a motion on item 13. Mr. Chair, move to approve item 13. I'll second that. It's a motion by Mr. King and a second by Mr. Matthews to approve item 13. Uh this is as financial, so roll call, please. Mr. Cole? Yes. Mr. King? Yes. Mr. Matthews? Yes. Ms. Nichols? Yes. Ms. Stout? Yes. Mr. VanWinkle? Yes. Yes, it has it. Thank you, guys. We will get that typed up and get it to the courthouse uh on Monday. In your Monday morning email, you will also see a uh executive summary that will be going with that as well. Dr. Farley, before we move on, if I might just add a little something. >> Sure. I wanted to thank the administration and the board for everybody's work on this budget. Um we've been working on
014it all year, which is something new. Right. We were starting at the 11th hour. Right. Um so, this has been progress in that aspect, and I think that um everybody working together, it's put us in a with a budget that's proactive and has forward planning, which is something that's been in our vision of this current board. Um so, we can move forward into the future in a good position focusing on that five-year strategic plan that we all just got done updating. Um I think we've all been conscious of the fact that it's a large budget for the district, for the county, [clears throat] and costs keep going up even though the funding is not going up >> Right. uh in pace with it. So, um I just wanted to point out that I think it's
015been a good budget year for everyone working together this year, and I think that there's been good stewardship of taxpayer money um with that forward goal of moving the district in a positive direction long-term, and producing those positive educational outcomes that we're all looking forward and also safety, security have been two big items that we've looked at as well, and recruitment and retention and our salaries. So, I just wanted to say that because I think this has been the best proactive year since I've been on the board. And um I think we're on a good trajectory Uh next is uh the central cafeteria proposed budget. This is Ms. Hamby's budget. Again, this has been something that you all have seen, and this will need to go to the courthouse on Monday as well. Mr. Chairman,
016I'll move to approve item 14. Second. Motion by Mr. Cole, second by Ms. Stout, to approve item number 14. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. King? Yes. Mr. Matthews? Yes. Ms. Nichols? Yes. Ms. Stout? Yes. Mr. Cole? Yes. Mr. VanWinkle? Yes. Yes, it has it. >> [clears throat] >> So, the next item is the McKinstry contract. Um again, this is something that you all have seen. Um They did their presentation last week. They have worked very, very hard uh with us since we have signed on to on with them, and we are appreciative of their partnership in helping us to be proactive, as you said, Ms. Stout. So, Mr. Chair, I'll make a motion to approve the McKinstry contract document. Okay, there's been a motion by Ms. Stout, second by Mr. King, to approve the
017McKinstry contract. Any discussion? Just echoing what Dr. Farley has said. I think we're I think it's been a team effort. That's one of the things I've loved is that they've not just done it by themselves, but they've included everyone. Yeah, at the schools, throughout the district. I'm very impressed with all the interaction that they've had at the school level um in order to really customize this for the district moving forward. I think it's an essential product that we can use and that and really need, so Yeah. I think it gets us looking further down the road. Yes. Like that that's one of the biggest things I I I like about the contract is and and working the partnership, I should say, is gets us looking further down the road at all of our maintenance needs
018and this that and the other for the whole district years to come instead of year by year hoping and guessing that we make it through. Any other discussion? Uh roll call, please. Mr. Matthews? Yes. Ms. Staples? Yes. Ms. Stout? Yes. Mr. Cole? Yes. Mr. King? Yes. [clears throat] Mr. Bankston? Yes. It is so ordered. Next is the 27-28 calendar option. Again, we vote on these 2 years out. We did have a committee, just to remind you from last week, we did have a committee. We did survey the parents. It was online on our Facebook page, on our website, and this was the winner of that vote. Mr. Chair, I move to approve item 16 for the 27-28 calendar. Second. Motion by Mr. Cole, second by Ms. Stout to approve item 16, the 27-28 calendar. Any
019discussion? Just say I appreciate the work that goes into the extra meetings to to do this. I wasn't able to be a part of it this year, but I have in the past, and uh it's good that everybody gets some input and and gets their voice heard on this item. And the folks that took the time to vote for the different options. >> [clears throat] [snorts] >> Any other discussion? I I will say just one thing, and and it's just because I will got to be in the discussions on the calendar options. And between this one and C, they're pretty well about the same. Um the C option had had a opportunity for um an early dismissal for students, but allowing the the teachers to have a a parent-teacher conference starting earlier in the day,
020so that parents could come that would maybe would be on night shift during all the other conferences and and things like that. So, it opened up a bigger order. Um I'd like to on our next year, and I know that this is a year out, but just um kind of encourage an option like that next year again, and see um I I think it would be helpful to the community and the parents, you know, having that from noon to 6:00 or whatever opportunity for a parent-teacher conference during that time. So, um just looking forward for next year whenever we go through the calendar schedule that would just wanted to bring it up and kind of explain what the difference was between this one and the other option. So, but great options for both of them.
021Any other discussion? All right, all those in favor, say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. So, the textbook that was up for adoption this year was lifetime wellness textbook. Ms. Smith led that charge for us because it was for high school students, and this is her letter that she has asked in that the individuals have chosen. >> [snorts] >> Mr. Chair, move to approve lifetime wellness textbook textbook adoption. Second. >> [cough and clears throat] >> Been a motion by Mr. King, a second by Mr. Matthews to approve item number 17, lifetime wellness textbook adoption. Any discussion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. The next item is technology, and just to give you an update, you all voted um at the
022special call last week to allow us to do that, and I am grateful for that. We are in the process of trying to get those ordered from the first bid that we had to the second bid to try to get these ordered. There was a price increase of $20,000. So, we're still within the budget amount that you all did allow us to to use to purchase those, but I did want to let you know that. Are we locked in at that amount now? Like, they can't change it again? Yes, I think we're getting the process to get the the PO and all of that taken care of. So, thank you for that. >> [laughter] [snorts] [clears throat] >> Good thing I don't charge you all $3,000 [laughter] a day. So, the next the next item
023is my director's report. So, the first thing is Crossroads Academy renewal. This isn't a voting item, but just would like to renew this. This is the after-school care program that you all voted, some of you voted a few years ago to start. We've had to relocate them, and they are currently at CCHS. Um they have access to the outside, and it's working very well. So, just would like to continue that if you all are okay with that. Um next is the Shelby J and C renewal. This is something that we do every year. Um do a handbook, we do some um visits. The kids we go there and speak to some of the parents at Head Start, let them know what we kind of expect from school. We do have the handbook that we share
024with them, and then some of the kids get to come in to our some of our elementary schools and see the kindergarten classrooms. This is just a renewal of that as well. So, leadership update. And it's really small. Thanks. So, um Can you go up to the top because I or is that No, that's that was the search Okay, so here is So, school visits for this month, uh I've done 14. Uh I've been at an elementary school every day of testing. Uh and elementary kids just aren't really cheery in the morning. I had to kind of forgot that. Um and they probably all wonder who that crazy loud woman is that's telling them good luck on their test, but uh I will be able to go to every elementary school but one. I will
025finish up that road show on Tuesday. Um extracurricular events that I've been to, it's been a slow couple of months. Does that just say four? Yeah, kind of in between with sports, and we did have spring break. County Commission meetings, I've attended five different of those. Community events, I've had the opportunity to do lots of community events. I've been at eight different things. Um since we have met, we have completed our Aspiring Admin Academy. That wrapped up on April the 10th. We had 11 participants, 10 females, one male, and we did have high school and elementary folks that completed that. Um and I was able to attend the TCAT career fair on April the 9th. Um and we have added to our webpage a athletic tab, and it has the TSSAA information on there. And
026we will be adding our schedules on there as well. Um and nine-week parent newsletter, tried something new this nine weeks that went out on ParentSquare, but it was also videoed as well. So. So, another thing, we have um you know, we've worked all year, the principals and the supervisors on updating policies. When you do the first reading tonight, that will be the last group that we have done that we've all reviewed and renewed this year. Um Ms. Diane and I probably started two or three two years ago on working on updating our procedure manual. Um it was kind of embarrassing when you would go on that procedure manual and see some of the things as to how outdated it was. So, all procedure manuals have been updated, and the new link went live on April
027the 1st, and this could not have been done without the supervisors here at central office. They went through and helped, we all worked together, but they did a lot of the renewing and revising for me. It was great. Awesome. Good job, [snorts] team. Good job. It's a lot of work. So, um I went I have attended I did go to the TAS conference in March. That was 5 days in Nashville. Uh and then I did attend a three-region superintendents meeting in April. So, next is our annual planning calendar. >> [clears throat and cough] >> And all of the red that's on there now for February or for January, February, March, and April, we can turn to green since you all have approved the budget. So, yay. >> [laughter] >> Um and then next is your
028FYI, you have your warm body, your personnel report. You have substitute training, we had a substitute training today. I did see two people here. I don't know that we had We had a total of four. Four? Oh, good. Um and then you have your news articles and your calendar of events, and I'm sure you can see there's lots and lots and lots going on right now at the schools. That is all of my report, sir. Thank you. [clears throat] Mhm. That brings us to item 20 first reading of policies. Mr. Chair. Move to approve item 20 first reading of policies. Second. In a motion and a second to approve item 20. Any discussion? [snorts] We went over several things in the work session that we're going to be adjusted before they came back forward. And
029those were sent to you with the changes on Monday. And they're on here too, right? Correct. >> [clears throat] >> I did have one thing on the 5.1101. Mhm. That first paragraph in one, two, and three. Is also at the end in 33, 34, and 35. They say essentially the same thing. Okay. I was going to recommend moving those first five lines to the bottom. Okay. And then just look at formatting. I that formatting was just a bulleted word document. Mhm. So, I think those are the only two items I I think need to be adjusted on that one. If those last three lines need to be reworded for the first three lines. They they they essentially say the same thing. Okay. So, we can get the first So, let me make sure I understand
030you want the first five lines moved to the bottom of the policy, correct? >> Yeah, and then if you do that, that that takes care of that compliance review, which is line 32. Remove that. Yeah, I think just move those to the bottom as the compliance review and it covers that together. Doesn't change the content, just the arrangement. It's the arrangement. So, we will [clears throat] get that changed tomorrow. That will go out in your Monday email. And we'll get it to you Monday. >> Maybe to Mr. King's point, review whether that changes the content or not if you change the wording. Okay. Yeah. >> [snorts] >> Any other discussion on first reading policies? All those in favor of approving item 20, say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. That
031brings us to second reading of policies. Mr. Chair, I move to approve item 21 second reading. Second. In a motion by Mr. Cole, second by Mr. King to approve item 21 second reading of policies. Any discussion? No, sir. All those in favor of approving item 21, say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. >> [cough and clears throat] >> I do have one question on that first one, so now with that policy being passed, that will uh provide an email to the district on any postings that go up, right? To my knowledge, yes, that's what the policy says, right? Yeah. So, we can expect to see that email in the CCBOE list serve now. I will make I will make sure with HR. Okay, thank you. >> Mhm. I think the
032reasoning behind that was to provide transparency to our entire district, right? So, yeah. Okay. Are we ready? Item 22. She's like got up like three times. Sorry. >> [laughter] >> You're good. You can always come Well, it's okay. In our financial statement, our revenues for the month of March were close to $60.6 million and our expenditures were $55.8 million. Which makes our running fund balance $18.8 million. For our local sales tax, March was another good month. $1,256,974. So, we're still way ahead for the year. It looks real good. And then we have our budget amendments. Any questions on those? Mr. Chair, move to approve the 22C141 budget amendments. Second. In a motion by Ms. Stout, second by Mr. King to approve item 22C141 budget amendments. Any discussion? No, went through in the work session. >>
033Okay. Normal and necessary. Yeah. Roll call, please. Ms. Matthews. Yes. Ms. Nichols. Yes. Ms. Stout. Yes. Mr. Cole. Yes. Mr. King. Yes. Mr. VanWinkle. Yes. Ms. Abbott. Mr. Chair, move to approve the 142 budget amendment. Second. In a motion by Mr. King, a second by Mr. Cole to approve item 22D142 budget amendments. Any discussion? Normal and necessary. Roll call, please. Ms. Nichols. Yes. Ms. Stout. Yes. Mr. Cole. Yes. Mr. King. Yes. Ms. Matthews. Yes. Mr. VanWinkle. Yes. Ms. Abbott. Thank thank you, Ms. Stout. >> [laughter] [clears throat] >> That brings us to number 23 consent agenda. Mr. Chair, I move to approve the consent agenda. Second. In a motion by Mr. King, second by Ms. Stout to approve the consent agenda. Any discussion? All those in [snorts] favor, say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say
034nay. The ayes have it. Executive approvals. None to discuss this week or this month. Any questions from the media? No? Okay. >> [laughter] >> Meeting adjourned. Wow.