001Regular board meeting is called quarter. If you would stand and join me with moments. Okay. Tonight leading us with the pledge is from Phoenix High School, Miss Anna Dandy. [Music] I aliance 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. Heat. Heat. [Music] Want to welcome everyone here tonight. I think I see two of our county commissioners who's calling them all. Mr. Tom Ash. Do I miss anyone? Thank you all for being here. [Music] Okay, next is our kids first award, Dr. [Music] Farley. Our kids are first. Our Kids First April award winner is Billy Fay Brennan. Miss Billy Fay Brennan has been a dedicated and active contributor to the arts community for several years. She
002has worked closely with both the senior art and people's choice awards program, providing consistent support and leadership. A committed member of the Fairfield Glade Art Guild, she has served in various roles within the organization, including working with guild art scholarship applicants to encourage and support the next generation of artists. In addition to completing several art displays throughout Cumberland County, she is an accomplished artisan herself. Her passion for the art extends beyond her own practice as she regularly organizes field trips for the guild and collaborates with the Arts Roundup Group of Cumberland County. She is also deeply invested in the growth and the development of local art educators educators playing an active role in ensuring professional development opportunities for art teachers in the area. Miss V Billy Fay is very deserving of this honor. So, Miss
003Billy Fay and I hang art at the library for the schools and we do that in February and our displays are there from March and April and I hang the art here. So, about 3 years ago, she comes in one day and she hands me her ladder and she passed it on to me because she said she was going to quit climbing ladders at age 80. Plaque reads, you want to pick it up for us? Yes, ma'am. The plaque reads, "Kids first award awarded to Billy Fay Brandon for exceptional selfless service to the kids of Cumberland County Schools. Thank you for your continued support and love for our kids. [Applause] [Music] Mr. Secretary, call a roll, please. Miss Th here. Mr. Banley, here. Miss Nichols here. Miss Hail here. Mr. Davis, Mr. Matthews here. Mr.
004Cole here. Miss Stout here. Mr. Okay. Here show Mr. Davis. Thank you. Mr. Mccardi declaration, please. Thank you, sir. Apologize. [Music] Board of Education members who have relatives per state statute. relative means spouse, parent, parent, in-law, child, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, uncle, nephew, niece, or any person who resides in the same household as you. That was my fool. Uh employed by the system are asked to raise your hands to identify yourselves. Do you certify that the votes you may make tonight will be in the best interest of the school system regardless of the effect that your vote may have on the employment of your relative or relatives? I think yes. Thank you all. Mr. So, the approval of the regular minutes from last month, our 4:15 special call minutes. Need a motion to
005approve. Move to approve. Second. Motion in second. Those in favor say I. I. Those opposed? Nay. Guys have Need to approve the agenda. Need a motion. I move to approve. A second. Motion and second. Discussion. I have something. Um, are we not going to discuss considering the budget draft one tonight? We will. Okay. Down. And then I also had a mention too based on our um previous work session um we'd want to add the addition of the TSBA recruitment involvement guess under number 11 for the discussion of the possible need for interterm director of schools. That's a good place for it. It is. Okay. Any objections? No. Does the budget draft one need to be attached to the agenda? I guess was I think it was on online it was on the uh the work
006session but I don't think it is on the meeting but I don't think so. I don't see it. Okay. It wasn't me. [Music] I just like to amend the motion to attach that budget draft one. Okay. Yeah. Where you putting it? On number 18 on budget updates. Okay. I think the only changes was the summary that we got last meeting. Okay. Yeah, we will attach it. It's there. Any [Music] others? So, motion to approve and second would be additions. All in favor say I. I. Those opposed and no guys have motion approve is is good. Next to the community comments have one signed up Julie Timson. Hello, my name is Julia Jensen. I live at 6960 South York Highway, Clark Range, Tennessee. I spend most of my days though at North Cumberland Elementary as you
007all know. Um I just wanted to get up here tonight. I emailed you but I didn't receive I've received one response but no answers. Cumberland County Schools operates under a collaborative conferencing agreement with a memorandum of understanding. And according to state law, when a budget shortfall affects an item covered under theou parties must conference to discuss and reach a resolution before any action is taken. Given the current budget situation, it is imperative that we meet to address the issue of insurance benefits prior to any decisions made by the board. Since the board of education suggested resolving um some of the shortfall by reducing teacher healthcare benefits, and I know in the work session you said that's not your desire, I have received an overwhelming number of calls and emails expressing concern. While we understand that
008cuts must be made sometimes, it's important to remember that for years teachers in Cumberland County have been told, "Can't give you a raise this year, sis. But man, that benefits package is great." Now, even that benefit package is at risk. On Friday, April 11th, a survey was distributed at 2:00 p.m. with a deadline the following Monday. Unfortunately, there was no explanation as to the purpose of it and many found the survey confusing and general consensus among those who responded was that it lacked context or clarity. I am personally disheartened by pay disparities for years. My daughter who works in Putham County with only two years experience in a bachelor's degree only brings home $400 less than me a month. I have 30 years in a master's. I anticipate the response that if we are unhappy,
009we should consider other roles to become administrators. I've had a board member look at me. If you don't like your pay, get a higher paying job, be an administrator. Well, we can't all be administrators. Somebody's got to teach the kids. All I ask is you consider the long-term impact before reducing benefits. If there is no meaningful raise and benefits are cut, we will lose more than more educators. And I personally am open to paying more for insurance if it means better salaries because salary is what pays my retirement, not my insurance benefits. However, I know it's not all about Julia. Several teachers have also said they will leave Cumberland County if this proposal moves forward. Given the national teacher shortage, we simply cannot afford to lose more educators. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Miss
010Gibson. So number 10, director of schools mutual agreement with the BOE. Yes, sir. Um briefly and I believe this agreement was a draft agreement obviously was attached to the agenda and certainly I could go through it. Um it's a very simple agreement. It's something that I actually broached. Um because I apologize that's my timer. You are well ahead of your timer on the speaker. So sorry. Um but it's it's honestly something I broached. I feel like it's part of my job obviously as board counsel when I see things that could be resolved and I see a pathway forward from a legal angle that I need to bring to the board. That's what I think it's part of my job to do. Um, and looking a few months ago at Director Steppp's contract, current contract under
011section 220, I'm sorry, section 21A, there's a mutual agreement provision, which essentially allows that if the board and the current director made a mutual agreement to essentially separate, but that is completely within the power of the contract. Uh, it's not a decision made by one party. It's truly a mutual decision. Um, seeing the way that the votes have gone lately, seeing certainly some of the discussion and watching that as again as an outside observer with an interest, it's something that I broached with director Steppp and I broached with each one of you individually as something I think everyone should consider and I'm still recommending tonight that the board certainly consider it. I know Mr. Stepp is in favor of it. I know that he's in favor of moving forward with that because in my opinion
012it allows both sides to essentially move forward in an amicical fashion and and I'll say I'll say this in a professional fashion. Uh I think it's something that that let's just let both sides turn the corner in a positive direction. Um it's a very simple contract. It's a very simple agreement. It it abides by and incorporates the previous contract. Mutual termination as to section one is just that by their signature below. If this is approved effective tonight, Mr. Steppp would by mutual agreement no longer be the director of schools entitled and in duty and responsibility under section two because obviously Mr. steps contract would typically run through June 30 and that's when he would as any all of us we were talking about benefits a second ago anybody needs benefits anybody that says they don't
013would not be probably telling me the truth um but this would not terminate his employment what would happen is the board would effectively via this contract place Mr. step on a paid leave of absence. He would still have every access to his benefits, every access as an employee to those benefits just like any other employee. He would just have no responsibility, no no dayto-day operational responsibility as well. Um, then the last two provisions just are pretty standard, what I would call basic boilerplate. There's a general release of all claims for both sides where this is just a clean break. Please don't take that to mean anybody that that that I think there is a claim. any lawyer worth their salt puts a general release into everything. Okay. And everything that's included. I'll put it on
014a menu if I could. Um and then the other one was just dispute resolution and it just says if there ever were a dispute, definitely don't anticipate one here. It would have to take place obviously in Cumberland County in a court hearing. That is it. I'll take any questions that the board has, any any comments, anything by Mr. Stepp, but like I noted, I've talked to him at length about this and I've talked to each one of you individually to make sure you understood my reasoning for recommending it. And as I sit here now, I still recommend it. Any questions? There no question. Any motion to approve? I'll make a motion that we approve the mutual agreement. Second motion and second. Other discussion. [Music] Mr. Secretary, call the roll, please. Miss Soul, yes. Mr. Vanle,
015yes. Miss Nichols, no. Miss Hail? Yes. Mr. Matthews? Yes. Mr. Cole? Yes. Miss Stout? Abstain. Mr. King? Yes. Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. McCari. Thank you, Mr. That brings us to the need for a director right away. So number 11, we had put this on the agenda and three signed up for it. Thank those three are present tonight. Would you like to say anything before we look at this, Mr. Yes. [Music] Start with my name is Brian Simmons for those of you that don't know me. Um lived here in Prim County my whole life. Been teaching for the last 20 years. Um there are four points that I'd like to bring up to start. Um, I think that we need to have our teachers buy in. At this point, I don't feel like they
016feel very appreciated. Um, they feel like they've been left out of all the decision-m processes. Um, we as teachers are measured in multitude of ways and similar to the effectiveness of the DOS and central office should be measured both qualitatively and quantitatively. Over the last couple years, we've had a great um deal of loss of people uh aid positions, teacher positions. Um we need to do something to reduce the student teacher ratio in the schools because right now the quality of our education for our students is suffering. Um I also feel like there's a real disconnect and adversarial relationship right now between the schools and the central office and there are steps I think that we need to take to make that better. Start with teachers need a voice here at the central office. Uh
017right now rank Paul teachers feel ignored and disrespected in business. We talk about making sure the stakeholders are all invested and the stakeholders in education are teachers and parents. And right now they're not invested. Uh we have a lot of teachers who are really knowledgeable, understand how to make a school run well, really understand the nuts and bolts of teaching kids the right way. And again, they don't feel like they're being consulted. They think that their decisions are being made here at central office that affect them and affect our students in a negative way and they have no say in the matter. Um we need to have a better mechanism for measuring the director of schools and central office staff effectiveness. You know qualitative and quantitative. We need to be measuring how is the functional
018health of our school system. How are we doing with the budget? Um do we have data that shows uh how teacher retention is going? Um how are test scores going? That stuff needs to be posted and right, wrong or indifferent, we need to have a report card for the school system just like we have a report card for each one of us as teachers and for each school. Um, I know that there are exit interviews being done with people who leave. How widely disseminated is that information? Honestly, the very first step to making sure that we can fix a problem is everyone has to understand what's actually contributing to the problem. And I don't think that's being done right now. Or if it is, a lot of people don't know anything about it. Um, we've
019seen a reduction in the number of teachers aids in the schools and that reduces student services. Um, my understanding there's been nearly $800,000 worth of federal funds that have been removed from the actual schools. Now, I don't understand all the nuts and bolts of everything. I've not went through all the budget and everything to this point, but anything that is taking away bodies that are working with kids is not helping education in our county. And honestly, the kids that are being hurt the wor the worst are the lowest socioeconomic kids. Those are the kids that are struggling already. They don't have the the home life. They don't have the structure. They don't have the discipline. And if we can't provide those that intervention at school, then we're failing them. Um for me, one of my
020favorite sayings is we need to the main thing is to make the main thing the main thing. And as someone who's in the schools right now, we feel like there's a lot of things that are going on that aren't really affecting that are not helping us to affect the kids. Um, another thing that I hear from not just my school, but from schools around the county and a lot of the other administrators, it seems like there's a very um adversarial relationship between the central office and some of the schools. And part of that comes back to this is my job. people become very entrenched at what they're doing and when they do that then I think sometimes they lose sight of what the real job is. It's not about your job or my job. It's
021about taking care of the kids. And one of the things I think that would have a big impact on that is if we were rotating people through the central office and administrative positions at the schools. You know, you might have a little bit way of dealing different way of dealing with things if you know that the person that you're telling down here might be the person that's telling you from that spot next year. put like a three-year term where you bring an administrator from a school up here to the central office to learn the ins and the outs and find out what's going on, then rotate them back into another school. By doing that, everybody's involved. You're letting people know back at the schools what's going on at the central office because there's a lot
022of things going on up here that are a lot more complicated than we understand at the schools. But that communication doesn't happen, at least not in a meaningful way. There's a lot of other things that we need to address. Um right now um literacy rates are going down. All the lower grade teachers I talked talking about the curriculum we're using is contributing to that. Um a lot of teachers are leaving because of lack of academic freedom. Um we have a lot of wasted time and unproductive time in meetings. There's an overly complex evaluation prog process when you compare what we do here to some of the other uh systems around us. lack of resources and curriculum tools. There's certain grade levels and certain subjects that haven't had a new curriculum given to them in 20
023years and the teachers are having to make this stuff up from scratch. And that's not even going into Mastery Connect last year. We lost so much time with TECAP TCAP practice program that we didn't even have the time to go through all the curriculum we were supposed to be covering. U student discipline is going to be a continuing issue that we have to deal with and the schools and the central office don't seem to have a connect between those how to handle those things. Um lack of planning time in all the schools and planning time doesn't just mean your grade level. It should be vertical planning where I as a science teacher deal with the science teachers below me and above me so we can kind of get on the same pages on things. Um
024we don't have enough subs in the system. bus drivers. We're doing a really poor job retaining people in these non uh non-certified positions. And to be honest, at the end of the day, the aids, the bus drivers, the lunch ladies, the custodians, we can't do what we do if they don't do what they do. And when they're, you know, they're not getting paid very much. We're losing more and more of the good people from those. Um the pay scale for the non-certified is just atrocious at this point. We have people that are basically working a full-time job and are on welfare. I can go on for an hour, but the truth is we have a lot of issues that we need to be dealing with and the people at the schools and I understand a
025lot about what goes on up here. My father was up here for years. I've heard all the stories. I know the way things work and but at the end of the day, if you're if what you do isn't being communicated to them effectively and vice versa, then we're all just fighting against each other rather than actually working together to make things better. And right now, I don't see that that's getting better. In fact, in the 20 years that I've been here, I see it going the opposite direction. And so, at some point, we have to have someone to take a stand. Now, I had a lot of people that said, "Well, why would you put in for this?" Because to be honest, I've turned down every opportunity I've had to be an administrator because I'm
026a teacher. But honestly, I don't know that anybody's going to listen unless I'm willing to stand up here and tell you this out here in public this way. And I don't like public speaking. I don't think I really want to ever be in administration, but somebody's got to take a stand and and make it better for our kids. Cuz right now, the poorest kids in the county are getting the shortest sh. And if we don't do something about it, then if we think their jails are are full now, when we don't do a good job educating kids, that's where they go. The welfare roles are going to get bigger and bigger if we don't do a better job of educating the kids. And when kids are coming to me in fifth grade and sixth grade
027and they're reading on the first and second grade level and we're having to find all these behavioral problems and again the disconnect between the central office and going back to the schools being what it is, we have to get on the same page. We have to get a lot more efficient what we do or the kids are the ones going to suffer. So that's my two cents and if anybody wants to hear more or talk more, I'm always willing to listen. And honestly, being in a position of administration is not something I've ever wanted to do. But I'm dumb enough to go out here and try my best if you guys would be dumb enough to put me in that spot. But anyway, thank you for giving me [Music] I think I've stood here in
028front of you many times before. Here we go again. Uh like to address a couple of things with you. And first of all, Brian Simmons, uh, thank you for for wanting to stick your neck out and and do something like this. I appreciate that. I think I've known you for quite some time. Your dad, your mom worked for me for a long time. I think a whole lot of you and your family. And uh, the same thing I can be say about uh, Dr. Farley. The last six years, Dr. Farley has uh, we we worked hard. There's been a lot of things that go on at the central office that people don't understand and people don't know about. But I know how hard I've seen teachers work hard. I've seen principles work hard. And I
029know how I know what hard work is. I was taught that I believe in the eighth grade of school. My dad put me to work to show me how to work 14 hours a day at a country store. I know hard work. All right. The other thing, and I want to make this perfectly clear, the most important people we have in our school system is our teachers, our support staff. Those are the people who are going to stand in front of your children and all the kids in Cumberland County every single day and make a difference in their lives. Those are the important people. Not me, not this school board, those children. And I've got grandchildren coming up in the school which will be entering this fall. I am looking forward to it. My plans
030I had uh up until about 3 or 4 months ago have been shot out the window. My path was going in one direction until this happened. I don't need this job. I don't need it. I want it. Okay. I want the job because I think we have a lot of turnover. But the biggest problem we have is the turnover in this position up here that Mr. Stepp just stepped down from. Come on. That's the biggest problem we have in this school system. I've been here, this is the end of my sixth year after spending 13 years at Stonemora High School as their principal. I've worked for three different uh directors of school. In six years, we can't get consistency. We are about a mile wide and about an inch deep when it comes to software
031and a lot of programs that we run because we continually can't get a footing before somebody leaps. We've got to that's to me that's the biggest problem. We've got to have commitment from the board. We have to have commitment from the community, you know, and and somebody asked me one time, what's the most important thing you could do for the that biggest wish you have for the kids of your county? And you can't mention money. What would you like to see? What's the most important thing you'd like to see? And so we went around the table. I believe it might have been Net or or TNTP, one of the vendors that was asking us that question. And you know what I told him? I meant this from the bottom of my heart. My wish for
032the kids of Cumberland County and across this nation. I wish every kid had a mother and daddy in home. Amen. If every kid had a mother and daddy that cared for them and loved them, we wouldn't be in the shape that we're in right now. Not just in in the county of Cumberland, not across the state, not across this nation. Y but we've got a problem with raising our children. Yeah. We play a vital role as teachers in helping raise those children. That's why I say the teachers and the support staff are the most important people we got. I don't know what's going to happen you guys. I don't know which way you're going to go. I know I've lost a lot of sleep over the last few days trying to think about trying not
033to think about it. But y'all got a big decision to make and I would I wish the board would just go ahead and hire. That's what I wish. I wish you to look at me and go, we want the guy. We want the guy for the rest of the, you know, we don't want to do any turn. Just just hire us. And whether it be me, Dr. Farley, Mr. Simmons, hire us. Let us go because you're going to run all the way to the there's a lot of work to be done by the person who's going to lead this system between now and July 1st. The work don't start July 1. When you start making plans all for for next fall and for next school year, plans are being made right now. You need somebody
034in place right now. But I appreciate each and every single one of you. I've known a lot of you for a long time and some of you not for so long. But know where my heart is. I don't need it. 36 years into this business. I want it. But I want the opportunity. So I appreciate you guys. Thank you. Harley friends. [Music] Good evening. I am Rebecca Farley. Uh, I am completing my 26th consecutive year in Cumberland County where I have built many relationships with many people in every school. I can tell you lots of custodians. I can tell you lots of food service people, bus drivers, secretaries, and I love each and every one of them. And yes, it does take each and every one of them. As both of these gentlemen have said,
035during my time here, I have served as a classroom teacher, an assistant principal, a principal, and a district supervisor. I've been in all of those positions for at least 5 years with the exception of assistant principal. I was principal at North Cumberland for one year. I believe that all students can learn and that they should be given the opportunity to reach and achieve their academic and athletic goals and dreams. I also believe, as it's been said, that it takes every person in the school to make the school successful. That includes teachers, teacher assistants, bus drivers, food service, custodian and maintenance, nurses, security, technology, and office personnel. And each one of those working together knowing they are appreciated will help our students reach their full potential. Most of you know me, but professional adjectives that would
036describe me would be hardworking. You're probably not going to find somebody that will outwork me. I'm consistent. Been here many, many days, many, many hours with you all. Uh, I'm candid. That's not always popular. Uh, you can ask most principles. They know if they're going to call me, they're going to get the truth. And it's not always po popular. I'm also goal oriented. I And I am determined. We are going to have to work together. It's going to take all nine of you plus a strong director to lead this school system where it needs to go. You're going to have to work on budgets and then we're going to but first we need to get our academics in order and then we can work on budgets. But you're going to have to name somebody first
037to do that and to lead you all. Uh professional or personal adjectives to describe me. I'm a mom. I'm a wife. I'm a Christian. I'm a friend. I'm a reader, a runner, and a stitcher. I will leave you with a quote from Pat Summit. I absolutely love Lady Ball basketball, and she's an awesome leader. I aspire to be like her. I'm going to beat you. I'm going to outwork you. That's it. That's all there is to it. Thank you. [Music] Thank you all very much for that. Board members, you've read the recruitment selection criteria. You have any questions or comments? I would also point out is that has everyone reviewed uh it's the qualifications and duty section. That's 5.82 as well. Just want to make sure just for the record, there's only one statute in
038Tennessee that talks about qualifications for the directory and it's on these college degree. So, I think we're good, man. [Music] I think we have some great candidates that have stepped forward. Appreciate you all doing so, particularly under the circumstances that it's under. Um, lots of experience with all three of you. Um, some of you have been in supervisory positions for quite a few years and, uh, I know that Dr. Maddox and Dr. Carly have both gone through the superintendent academy, prospective superintendent academy. Um, so that was something that the district invested in um for two of our administrators, some points, lots of good experience. Um, Dr. Farley has stepped in for Mr. step when needed um during his tenure and has worked closely with him in her position as the chief academic officer. She's been
039second command during this time. And I know that um Dr. Maddox has been heavily involved in the athletics and the 9 through 12 supervisory role that he's been in and stepped up to the uh athletic director when asked. So has been busy with that. Anyone else? One thing on this policy that I don't know if we need to vote on before we make our decision or not, but the the interim part being able to apply for the director's position, right? Um before we make our decision, make that vote to to make sure that that's taken care of. Okay. So, within the motion to vote, we'll have ballots. We need to make that distinction. I think you could do a separate vote for that just to mod. So, that would be a motion to modify the
040policy to modify that line. Okay. Yeah, that would probably a little cleaner. Should we modify the policy or just modify it for this instance? whatever the board would. Yeah. So, I mean, I' I'd like to make a motion that we allow consideration of these candidates for director of schools regardless of what the policy states right now. Yeah. We want to change it permanently, we can do that later, right? Accept that. Yeah. for the time sake right now just so these folks know that they would have that opportunity um with stepping forward at this particular time. Yes. But I think longterm we need to readress well not long term short term like with next meeting or two we need to address the policy and get that resolved so it mimics um what we're doing and we're
041not just going outside policy. Yep. You essentially be motioned to suspend that policy requirement for these three candidates. Right. I guess it wouldn't really go against the policy though because it says uh the board expressecially permits such inclusion in the in the selection procedures. So we're just saying that we're going to confirming. Okay. So the motion is to line that me to restate it. Mostly permit. So yeah, seven six and seven. Yeah. Yeah. Seven and eight. Six, seven, and eight. Or in any other way he can see. Oh, I guess it would be six, seven, and eight. Yeah. Yeah. Six, seven, and eight. Six, seven, and eight. So the exception to the policy would be for this time right now. Yeah. To include Yeah. Any other questions or comments before we vote? Mr. Chairman, I'd
042like to point out in our policy 5.82, item number two and three is where I direct your attention a master's degree in education with a preference for a doctorate. And then item three is three years of successful experience in school administration are requirements currently by policy for the job. Okay. Thank you. So for the motion to make this exclusion so it's not included. Uh those all all those in favor will indicate on roll call. Mr. Secretary, Miss Stall, yes. Mr. Van Winkle, yes. Miss Nichols, yes. Miss Hail, yes. Mr. Matthews, yes. Mr. Cole, yes. Miss Dow, yes. Mr. King, yes. M. So, that exception being made, I guess we're ready to pass out ballots. We got three candidates. Put your name and the candidate that you want. We'll count. I think board members know this
043that you're putting your names down, but I always feel the need to talk if I'm talking three minutes. U just remember those will need to be attached as part of the part of tonight's minutes because it's a public vote. So just make sure [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] I don't know why we fold it, but I thought the same thing when I handed it to him. Doesn't really matter. It's a secret. Just get read out. I know. I did. I told it. I'm like, why did I do that? Makes more [Music] work for Jason. More for Jason. Mr. B. Mr. Cole votes for Rebecca Farley. Mr. Matthew votes for Rebecca Farley. Miss Hail votes for Dr. Maddox. Miss Stout votes for Dr. Farley. Mr. Van Winkle votes for Dr. Maddox. Miss Nichols votes for Dr. Farley.
044Miss Stall votes for Dr. Farley. Mr. King votes for Dr. Dr. Thank you. [Music] Congratulations Dr. and thank the other candidates. Thank you. Thank you. Welcome. Welcome to the platform. Thanks. It's a long way from my back corner. Now you're in the other corner. His name. Moving on with the agenda number 12, the first and second readings of the directors. Job description. We made changes. They're in blue. We need to do our TSBA. Okay. We added that. I'm sorry. Yeah. Under number 11 still. Number 11. Sorry, we're circling back around to number 11 again. So, we had added the TSBA. Yeah, we need to vote on that. Yes, we do. Which plan do you want to go with or do you want to go with at all? Need a motion? Um, I move to enlist
045TSBA for the level two plan um, plus the superintendent evaluation for the first year with the new director. Thanks. I'll second that. Discussion. No, it just the $7,500 plan seems like it's going to bring a lot to the table for us with the survey, with the advertisement, the community, um the communication with us, um in preparation for making sure that we get the proper person placed in the job. So hopefully they're here long term. And um I you all know my thoughts on the superintendent evaluation. That's been an issue with pastboard. So getting off on the right foot to make sure we set the proper channels of communication and what the expectations are um I think is important and will help with um having somebody here long term. Mr. M. Yeah, I I agree with
046all of that and the and the the price of it. I know that during the budget and all of that stuff, it's still costing us money no matter who we have looking for it. Um, plus it gives us an outside view of the world more or less for this position. So, um, making sure that we do our very best to get the best for our kids. Other comments or questions? Being none, we'll vote. Need to do a roll call. Miss Stall, yes. Mr. Vanle, yes. Miss Nichols, yes. Miss Hail, yes. Mr. Matthews, yes. Mr. Cole, yes. Mr. St. Miss Stout, yes. Mr. King, yes. The motion passes. Plan two. Now, can we go to 12? First and second readings of the DOS jump changes are in blue. I think we've looked at almost already a
047lot. Mhm. A motion. I make a motion to adopt it as written with the recorded changes. I second. Motion and second discussion. Mr. go. I feel like it now the policy is more tailored to what the needs of the district and the job description for that position are. Outlines the expectations a little bit more for both us and the new director. Any other discussion? So, let's do a roll call, too. Miss Stole, yes. Yes. Miss Nichols. Yes. Miss Hail, yes. Mr. Matthews, yes. Mr. Cole, yes. Miss Th? Yes. Mr. King? Yes. Yes. Okay. So, that's taken care of. Good. Number 13, board members report from training. Anyone caught a few web courses? Um TSVA, if y'all haven't seen, they've got a summer camp series that are just little little 1-hour webs that they're doing. Um
048they've been very good so far. They did one on parliamentary procedure. And then um just the one this week was how student discipline works, which I found very interesting for board members. and um because there's a lot of ins and outs with it and um laws surrounding the discipline piece. So, it was interesting to hear about that and also a web on cyber security. That was good. Any others? Not um legal report is usually good news. Um, I did send an email today to members of the board discussing the possibility of having a closed session, but I will say I do talk cryptically. Um, I've had a conversation with the board members since then and I think those concerns might be alleviated. I think there's good communication and I think there might not be a
049need for that. So, I'll follow up with you as the board and executive if I think that is necessary, but as of right now, I don't want to think of it. Thank you. PL report. Yes, sir. is very short. Um, last week the legislature passed um an appropriations bill for the state of Tennessee's next fiscal next fiscal year. Included in the budget was 244 million in new appropriations for education. The largest component of which is million subject to state and local split for the purpose of increasing teachers minimums starting pay to $50,000 by 2026. The new approach appropriation for education also increases the TISA base amount of funding that each student will generate in the 2526 school year. I think we already know this, but it's from $7, uh75 to $7,295. As of Tuesday evening,
050April 22nd, the general assembly has adjourned. It will uh reconvene, of course, next January in 2026, but uh TSBA will continue to review public chapters as they are posted. Um TSBA overall this year they tracked 251 different pieces of legislation which um I follow some of them but not all of them. Miss um D was better at that of of which approximately 70 passed and will impact our public education. um they've scheduled opportunities for us to learn more about this. The legislative update camp uh webinar in on May 14th, the um uh the summer law in Gatlinburg, uh some of us have sound uh signed up to go to that. We'll get u instruction about that. And of course, there's a summer law institute in Jackson. Um, I had a meeting uh a Zoom meeting
051this afternoon that he uh the notes I took hand notes but he's not going to post the notes and he talked about uh Nolan Holmes talked about several of the legislation that affected um education in particular and I'll bring those to us next time. We can we can also go to the state legislature and look up each bill and see what was what was uh passed and not passed. There's a lot he uh Nolan informed us that we are going to the TSBA will hold over for um next year that um they weren't satisfied with and people were trying to um get legislated passed. So, the kindergarten thing was is still up and um several of them. So, I'll whenever I get the information, I'll send it out to you guys. [Music] Thank you, director.
052Are you see both feet? You can do it. So, the first item on the agenda is the science textbook adoption. Uh Dr. uh Maddox and Dr. Spike did a wonderful job leading this up leading this up. Um the samples go to the schools. The school the teachers got to give their input on what they wanted and then the um their person that was chosen at the school level came here and they um told gave a ballot. They signed off on the ballot and these are the results. So grades K basically grades K through 8 chose SAS as their textbook and grades 9 through 12 with uh chose McGraw Hill with the exception of physics and they're wanting uh that was adopted from Accelerate Learning and these are the teachers that have spoken. Um are we
053getting a chance to see these textbooks? Ma'am, they're sitting right out there on the table. And the uh article for the public notice went in the newspaper on Tuesday. Thank you, ma'am. There is the ballots uh and how uh each school voted and these will be with us for eight years. Yes. textbook uh cycles have now been extended to eight. Yeah, maybe they don't extend them further. Yeah. Okay. Yes, we do need your uh approval to accept these results. I move to approve. Second. Motion and a second. I was going to second. And I I've got faith in the team that was listed that approved these and that's what the teachers feel is best for the students. I'm not going to question. Mhm. We've got a good committee that was put together and worked worked
054through this material and now the public will have the opportunity to see it. The board will have opportunity to approve the funds, pay for them. Right. Yay. Teamwork. That's right. And it probably does need to be discussed sooner rather than later because right now it is budgeted for half this budget season and half next. And when does the order need to go on by to have them? Well, it it'll at least need to for this year we would at least need to get it by the end of the fiscal year. Okay. And then what we would do is um as quick as the new budgets passed, probably like July 1, if that's not around a holiday, we would get it ordered the rest of it that day. Okay. So that's something we could do next
055month. Yes, we could wait till next time. The remainder of the budget for it because we she said we have half and half. So we'll have to move the half forward. Okay. You said half in this budget cycle, half in next. How's the how's that prioritized? Which one? What goes first? Is it just number or is it grad? Just numbers. Okay. Yeah, numbers and amounts. Uh my assumption would be since the majority of them chose SAS uh that that we would probably start with that which would be K8. Other discussion or questions? Mr. Secretary, one more time. Miss Th. Yes. Mr. Van Winkle. Yes. Miss Nichols. Yes. Miss Hail. Yes. Mr. Matthews. Yes. Mr. Cole. Yes. Miss Stout. Yes. Mr. King. Yes. Mrs. Thank you. Some science books. So, next we have the request for
056funds uh for Crab Orchard Archery Nationals. Um Miss Batty has submitted this letter yesterday and Mr. King has just shared the invoice. Did you get a total? Is that the total? This is just for the registration. Uh there's two different invoices here. One is in the amount of 700 and the other is in the amount of 1435. That policy does state I think that it can be for uh 1,500 is the max. Right. Move 25% of 15 of whatever it is up to,500. So yeah, be way over 6,000. Yeah. Move to approve up to the 1500 in assistance for the archery national competition. Motion to approve in the secondary. Yep. We're allowed we're allowed for policy to go ahead and do that. They have done an excellent job. They they've been doing this every year
057um since I've been on the board. And um it's fantastic that they're going to the national competition. Yep. the leadership there and the students stepping up to compete and yeah, good job. Worthwhile venture, Cole, did you second? Yes. Sorry. Anything to add? Yeah. Um, I agree with what Miss Stout said and commend these kids for competing and uh hope they go and bring home some medal to Cumberland County. Yeah. Amen. Any others question or comments? Money. Let's do a roll call. Miss St. Yes. Mr. Binkle. Yes. Miss Nichols. Yes. Miss H. Yes. Mr. Matthews. Yes. Mr. Cole. Yes. Miss St. Yes. Mr. King. Yes. Mrs. Next, we have the calendar options. Uh, Miss Neely put together her committee this year and this is uh teachers and parents and uh central office staff as well. Uh
058there's administrators that's on there and they had a couple of different options and we put them online to get a uh vote on that and uh this is option one. Do you have the other options? There's option 3B. I think what they do is they put the top two on there maybe and um should a little closer. There you have it. Exactly. It's like so the basic differences between the two. I have not been in a meeting. One was August and one day I was on that committee and um some of the I guess biggest noticeable differences was that one started in July. The auction three starts in July and has a couple of days and then there are four week that first full and I I point this out just simply because of the
059127 yard sale in the two schools that we have that really are affected by that is the option three has the more days of kids getting on and off the bus during that 127 sale. So that's the biggest difference I took away from a lot of it. But uh and that starts in July or starts in August. Yeah, this one starts in option three starts in July and that first week full week of August is the 127 sale. So, um, my recommendation personally is option option one. I have to agree with you, Mr. Matthews, because I used to teach at North and we fought that uh, yard sale for years, for years. And it's very dangerous. people just walk out in the middle of the road, don't you know, pay attention to ta traffic and
060um I think the teachers would appreciate, you know, that a few more days of of um summer vacation and start in August. It's their privilege if they want to come and get their classrooms ready on their own in July. When you start in July, it's like, "Oh, my summer's over with." Yeah. Mhm. I like option one because of that. Starting in July just kind of puts a damper on the rest of the summer. I know it's only a few days but it just just the sound of it. Even though it was slight that that was the one with the preference as well, you know, with the Yeah. slim margin though. I would say that it was slim. It was M Are we voting on one of these tonight? Mhm. This is for next year, not
061this coming year. Yeah. Well, I'll make a motion that we accept option one. Second. Yeah. Motion and second to option one. Discussion. Should we do we need to refer to it as option A? A option A up there and then it says option one. So, which one? 1 AB. There you go. One action one a first one a. Got it. Okay. Gotcha. Thank you, Jason. There's no further discussion. We'll vote. Those in favor say I. I. I. Those opposed say nay. The eyes have it option. Does have to be submitted to the state and that will be done next week. Okay. Thank you. Next is the planning calendar. Um, so um yeah, I can't hardly see the colors here. So, um Oh, yeah. Uh tonight you took care of the textbook adoption. We're still working
062on budget preparation. and we're still working on budget preparation for April and we're working to present a preliminary budget in April as well. So, got some work to do. So, I've got kind of a question on this. I see as we're looking forward into into May, the employee non-rehire notification and those type things. Um, since we since Dr. Farley is our interim, do we need to I I don't know what the grounds are. Do we do we need to like list out all the things that is there differences between the interim and the director as far as changes that can be made or should be made or things like that? No, no, she has full authority. Correct. Yes. She acts like the director. Yeah. It's guided by statute. Okay. So, all the duties of the
063interim director are basically assumed to be the same as the director of schools under 492301. Right. So, that there would be no I just wanted Yes, sir. Understood. As you know, we need to let people know what's happening for the coming year. Make sure that she has all authority to do so. Yeah. Upon y'all's vote tonight, she has full authority. Okay. Thank you for clarifying that, Mr. Ricardian. Thank you for asking that, Mr. Matthews. The uh rehire paperwork is due tomorrow to our office, so that will definitely be ready on the next agenda for you all. Okay. Next, I have the normal stuff. You have the warm body counts. Uh and then you have the personnel report. [Music] Uh and then uh next we have the um nutrition staff changes. Um go back to the
064warm body count please. Um I always ask about the 700 kids at Homestead and Martin and now I know Stone has got 629. It says that's a lot of students in an elementary school. And do those principles get extra help? Well, we did have it in the budget, and it is still in the budget at this point for any elementary school with over um I think it's uh 600 or 650 to have an additional part-time assistant principal. That has been added in the budget right now. No, neither of those schools do have one. Mar Martin did pilot an assistant principal halftime this year, and we have asked for that in the budget for next year. So you all will be deciding on that when you vote on a budget. Okay. Thank you, Dr. Farley. I've
065been there. Understand? And yes, they do need additional help. Yes, absolutely. Um, so this is the food service and then the next items are your uh newsletter and your school calendars. And I think you get those electronically as well as a hard copy if you request it from Miss Diane. That is it, sir. Thank you. just coming nowhere. She doesn't even have to be asked. She just comes up here. She knows. Is it my time? Is it your time? My turn. Uh, basically, I think we've been over this um just a few several times as far as our revenues and expenditures. Is there any questions? I think we I've gone through this a couple of times. Mhm. I think we're good. Yeah, I think we're good. What we got next? Sales tax. Yes. Well, unfortunately,
066that's not so good. Um, we came in below budget. Like I mentioned in the work session, that was the month of January when it snowed. So, hopefully everything's turned around. We're going to catch back up because we still are running ahead for the year. Hopefully we'll see lots of shopping occur over spring. Everybody go to Becky's twice. Thank you, Chris. We appreciate Thanks for your contribution. You're welcome. Every little bit helps. These are the budget amendments that we just visited in the work session. This is a new one. Like I explained earlier, this is a check that we received in the mail on Monday for Hback. So, I wanted to get that to you so we could get in the budget and start spending that money. Mhm. You have any questions on any of the
067rest of them? There's only We've been through them a couple of times. Yeah, I think we're good. We're good. Are we good? Well, Mr. Chair move to bundle the 141 grants and the 142 budget budget amendments. Okay, there a second. I'll second down. As Miss Bray mentioned, we've gone on this over this numerous times. Yay for the grants. Yes. And uh readjusting the baby birds money for the end of the year books and should be good to go. We don't ever want to send money back to the state. No, we do not ever. I go with any other question or comments roll calls. Miss Stall, yes. Mr. Van Winkle, yes. Miss Nichols, yes. Miss Hail, yes. Mr. Matthews, yes. Mr. Cole, yes. Miss Stout, yes. Mr. This is our running fund balance. And like I
068explained last month, now this looks really, really good. Really good. But I've done a deep dive into where I think we're going to end up at the end of the year. And I had told somebody, maybe Mr. Davis, that I thought around this 6 million mark. Well, I put the pencil to paper here in the last couple of days. And it's probably at 5.7 cuz remember in June, you're going to have the June and July payrolls. So, we're going to have three more months of payroll in the next two months. and then all of our capital projects will hit because we put the roof out to bid, the two fire alarm systems, and the working on the bid for the Martin Electric. So, that is a substantial amount of money that's going to come out
069of this. So, that's I have this in copies for you guys if you just want to see it, but that's basically I'm sticking with my original thought around 6 million somewhere in there that we'll actually have left. Yeah. Okay. And that's above what the state that's the that is the okay any questions I think we're good. Yeah. Thank you. So number 18, we did updates in work session. The attachments are there. We'll add them back to the budget as requested. Back to the agenda agenda. So we've discussed we need to send something forward. Is there a motion? I I'll move to approve the executive committee presented budget to the commission for their review. I'll second. Motion second. I'd like to make a amendment to that motion to include a 10% pay increase for the cert
070for the classified employees below 260 days and also to include the tennis courts and consider the the bids that we have for the football field. For the football field and and bids in addition to what's already being done to the football field. Yes. What bids? We have We have bids. I have it in my car if I need to go get it. Not real bids. E estimates. Estimates. Yeah. Yeah. An estimated cost. Yeah. This is the planting of the grass and the other stuff that we're already doing. That was the Yeah, that was the packet that included all three. The tennis courts, the track, the football field. We have discussion on that, right? Oh, okay. Uh, I made the motion to approve it so we could get what has been recommended by the executive committee
071and the administration over to the commission. So the budget committee commission could review that and provide any necessary feedback. Um, and I made it as stands. So then we can make adjustments if needed after the commission can take a look at it. And the amendment includes tennis courts and football field. Was there something else? The 10% increase classified. Yeah. 10% to the less than 260. Yeah. So, have you figured out how much that adds to the budget, Scott? Um, no. Where's Miss Bray? Well, the synthetic turf would add 1.2 natural Bermuda 785,000 and then the tennis courts is about 650,000 each. And one more time just to get it out there, the 10% Miss Bray would add Get that back up. 662 I think 66 something 600,000 on the tennis court side of that. Is
072there any update Dr. Maddox from trying to combine those facilities as far as No, there there's not been an update from the from the city county. The last I sent was the square footage necessary. Yeah. And that's that's where that's as far as we got. The reason I ask is is if by combining if if there would be savings there instead of having two separate facilities. Um is there any savings there to be realized between the I think there would be but it's not going to be the it would be a little bit more expensive than just building one one facility at at the school because you have to have more courts to accommodate all the schools. but it would be less than than the two individuals with the deficit that we're facing and some
073of the other areas that we've looked at at possibly needing to give way. um the cost of the tennis courts, why we have viable alternatives and we're looking into other options and the football field while we're working on a fix for that right now to me seem it's not guaranteed though. Yeah, it's Oh, I know. But that's a big ass to even put in. I mean, we just stated in the work session that we're likely going to have to cut all the maintenance items anyway, correct? No. No, that's what we said. Yeah. Put them into a separate ask. Yeah. Yeah. Separate. Yes. Yes. So that's we're going to try our very best not to cut especially when it comes to safety and security, right? Um safety, security, education, three priorities that we've all echoed. Um
074so looking at football fields and tennis courts and the big dollar, the football field supports a lot of a lot of student athletes in our community, not just not just stone football players. going to be without a field. So that's my point. There's a fix that they're working on that's going into place until we can figure it out. A second on that amendment before I mean you guys are into discussion just hearing the questioning the order. It was they were still in discussion but you know obviously to move forward with the amendment you would need a second. Mhm. That's true. I'll second the amendment then. I I think we're getting kind of to the point where with some of the facilities that if we don't start doing something, we're going to have to cancel sports.
075We're going to have to cancel those programs and that's really going to hurt our kids. Mhm. I I I know that we talk dollars and cents, but whenever you start talking kids and the after school opportunities and and the chances that they have with coaches and and parents and the people that really care and, you know, pour their heart into these athletics, you look at it as just an an athletic venture, but it's not. It's an investment into those kids' future. It's an investment into, you know, they they get things from the sports that they may not get at home, some of them. So, um, when we're talking about any kind of investment into into those kids, into and how many kids it supports. I mean, it's not just one football team, it's not just
076one tennis team, it's, you know, there's hundreds of kids that get something from that. So, I mean that to me it's it's more than just fixing the field. It's an investment into those kids' futures. I think that once we get the alarm systems fixed and we get all the safety issues fixed and the electrical things fixed and the roof's not leaking and all these other things done, then focusing on fields and tracks and tennis courts sounds more reasonable to me. But in the beginning of this, I mean, we've got buses we can't buy. We've got things that we can't fix. And we're asking about adding things to a budget that we don't have. So, let's get smart. We go to the county commission and not be doing this stuff so that we can work together
077as a team to then maybe down the road get a little bit more money or get some help with the county and the city, but we can build community courts that everybody can use and we won't have to put all of our money out. But right now, this safety thing is huge. We've got schools that need help with things and that's and that's I understand your your your position on that but that is safety things. I mean we had the one assessment from baseline that said you know not to play on the field. This was last year and I understand that. Uh but we're going to have to have somebody come in and and reassess and re-evaluate that. But they were saying don't play on the field because of the chance of lower leg injuries
078and things like that. And I agree. I absolutely agree. educating them over athletics, I think, is our first priority is to educate them. And I love athletics. Look, I've got a nephew that loves to play football and I want him to be safe and I don't want him breaking ankles or tripping and all of that. I totally get it. I totally get it. But our first mandate is to educate our kiddos. That's our first thing. And safety is even over and above that. And then comes athletics. We've got to get this in row. Look, we have been messed up for a long time. We've got to get things straightened out. And that's why I'm asking for an investment from our county. I'm asking for our county to invest in our children. And they will. If
079we come to them with a reasonable budget and we're not asking for things over and above, they will sit down with us and we will work together as a team. But if we're asking for stuff that we don't absolutely have to have right now, it makes sense that we will sit down together as a team and work through this. And in the current budget, that's the the way that it stands. we are going to them that way that you know we are presenting it that way without the tennis courts and without the field and the fact that there are other viable options in place where the students can still be involved in the athletics safely. Um we're not terminating the athletics means um there's other viable options that and the fields being repaired based on
080what's been explained to us. For one thing on on the tracks, we're our tracks are not in good enough shape that we can even hold track something separate that's on the budget. It's on this. Yeah, we're not building the truck. We're talking about the talking about courts and football field. Where I'm at with it, we've got a potential partnership in motion already with the city andor county for the tennis courts. So I think if we're wait a little bit we've got that opportunity and and I've got faith in Dr. Maddox to to pursue that. So I think before we throw it in there we need to to see what what can be done there because obviously there's funding opportunities uh you know if we put it in our budget the countyy's funding it but if
081we can get a partnership with the city then that would alleviate the pressure uh from both angles. Now, as far as the football field goes, again, we've got a maybe a temporary fix in motion, but until we see that it's failed, I don't see spending the amount of money for our textbook upgrades for a new field at this point. I'd like to again see what Dr. Maddox is able to to do with it. I know the field's rough. I coached on it last year was rough. There's no doubt. I just I don't feel like this is the time to to drop 785,000 on when there might be a cheaper option that would suffice. Especially if we're going to start getting together real soon and we're going to start going through the monies and how we
082spend them and where they need to be done and what needs to be cut and what doesn't need to be cut. We'll have a better picture of that as that committee starts meeting and getting down the road a little bit. But the things that are the most highest and priority to me are safety. We have got to get these things done. So the motion uh Mr. Chairman, the motion is not to take away those safety items. It's to add the football field and the tennis courts and amendment. Yeah. Yeah. And so and so I guess u another point I would like to make is that if we don't put it in the budget now, it's another year down the road before we can ask for it again. So then we we can't we can't fix
083it unless we put it in the budget now. we can't fix it in a in a timely manner. Uh if it's in if it's not approved, then it comes back and we can discuss what we need to take out. But I think we ask for it. If we don't get it, then we reconsider. But that's that's where I stand on the amendment. Other questions or comments on the amendment? We'll vote on it first. Make it clear what we're looking. Yeah. So to restate the amendment, move to amend the motion to include the 10% pay increase for uh classified employees below 260 days at the tennis courts and also add the football field repairs. Any questions on the amendment? Miss St. Yes. Mr. Binkle. Yes. Miss Nichols, no. Miss Hail, yes. Mr. Matthews, yes. Mr. Cole,
084no. Miss Stout, no. Mr. King, no. So, the amendment motion fails. So, back to the motion for the budget one. I'd like to make an amendment to the motion. I'd like to amend the motion to include the 10% pay increase for 26 below 260. Okay. Is there a second? I'll second. Motion and second, Mr. I just I I've stated my opinion on this several times that I feel like through the process of increasing pay on based on a percentage that we need to do a catch up in that area. Yeah, I'm I'm with you. Catch up that one. Other questions or comments? So, this amendment is for the 10% for the less than 260 day certified or non-certified. Miss Stall, yes. Mr. Van Winkle, yes. Miss Nichols, no. Miss Hail, yes. Mr. Matthews, yes. Mr.
085Cole, yes. Miss St. No. Mr. King? Yes. [Music] Yes. Okay. So, now we're back to the original motion for the budget, an executive summary for budget one. Any other questions or comments? Roll call, please. Miss Stole, yes. Mr. Van Winkle, yes. Miss Nichols, yes. Miss Hail, yes. Mr. Matthews, yes. Mr. Cole, yes. Miss Stout, yes. Mr. King, yes. Yes. Okay. So, guess what? Well, temporary. When will when will this be presented to the commission? Is it May? I'm sure we can get a presentation. Okay. Before May 1st. Before May 1st. I'm sorry. I was asking when it would be presented to the commission if it was going to be May 1st. I know they've got an all day meeting for the presentations of budgets then, but Mr. King mentioned that it would be sooner than
086that. As soon as they could get everything calculated, we get up there. Thank you. So, the consent agenda need a motion to approve. Move to approve. Second. Motion second. Those in favor say I. I. Those opposed say no. You guys have it. That takes us way on down to questions from the media. real quick. Anything else? If not, you're Thank you.