001Well, we're not. That was my mistake. >> Or >> No, no, we are. That was That was also my mistake. >> No, we are. >> We are. We are. [laughter] >> Yeah. Well, I'm just curious why >> there there's some language that we needed to update. So, what was before you tonight wasn't the proper language, so we'll pull it and then we're planning on bringing it back to you uh in January. >> Okay. Just curious. [snorts] And then >> do you have the >> I'll make a motion that we take that as amended. >> All right. So now we have a motion with the amendments and a second by Miss Thomas. So give us a roll call there. Mayor >> Mrs. Black. >> Yes. >> Mr. Connor. >> Yes. Mr. Dy, >> yes. >> Mrs.
002Haden, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jones, >> yes. >> Mr. King, >> yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer, >> yes. >> Mr. Slater, >> yes. >> Miss Thomas, >> yes. >> All right. We do not have any information on executive session. So, we are moving to our pledge to the flag and meditation. Dr. Mary Katherine Gatlin, principal of the Chattanooga School for Liberal Arts. [applause] That's a District 5 school. You can clap. >> Hello, I'm Ben Hopper and uh us three are representing both Dr. Gatlin and CSLA today. >> Hi, my name is Emily. I'm an 11th grader at CSLA. Hi, my name is Sohit and I'm an 11th grader at CSLA. [clears throat] Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic
003for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing for the CSA code of conduct which we say every morning uh at our school after the pledge of allegiance. I'll lead you in it. >> As a lifelong learner at CSLA, I will respect myself and others. I will be responsible for my actions and I will treat people the way I want to be treated. Please pause for a moment of silence. >> All right. Thank you. >> And thank you all. All right. Now we move into our exemplars of excellence and our first presentation [clears throat] with Mr. James is the AF Bridges. Greetings. I I'll be brief tonight. Uh you know when we start introducing state championship teams that gets a little lengthy. Uh tonight though we
004are recognizing a school and a very prestigious award that was secured by one of our schools this year. It's known as the AF Bridges Sportsmanship Award. Uh this award as given by the TWSAA recognizes schools that demonstrate exceptional sportsmanship and citizenship within their athletic programs. Uh it is with great pleasure that we recognize Brainard High School for upholding the high standards set forth by the Tennessee Secondary Athletic Association. [applause] Uh I'm going to go on I'm going to add that they are a they are a what is called a divisional finest. There is three division there three grand divisions in the state of Tennessee. Uh there were 10 sub finalist uh in the east region of of state of Tennessee and Brainard High School was awarded the the regional finalist. They're up for the school
005of the year. along with this award. Uh, Miss Mosley from, uh, of the from the schoolboard district. Help me out. I always mess this one up. Miss >> Mosley Jones. >> Mo Jones. >> Jones. Right. Uh, she's presenting the trophy. It also came with a $1,500 check for Brainer High School. I went ahead and got that to them early so they could [applause] get it deposited. Uh, but we're very, very proud of the job that Dr. Charels, Reggie Jackson, and the student athletes at Briner High School have done to represent Hamilton County in a in a very uh positive manner. Uh for their gym, uh they will receive a regional final ban uh banner which will be hung from the ceiling in the gym. I don't want to roll it out. It's a it's quite
006large. It's about about 12 foot long. >> Um so this comes along as part of the award. they can hang that proudly in their gym. And then also a smaller banner which uh represents every year that they have won it. Uh and didn't realize this, but going back in the past, Brainer High School has received the AF Bridges uh sportsmanship award for no unsportsmanlike issues throughout the year for multiple years. I'm 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 10 years now. [applause] So congratulations, Dr. Well, thank you for your hard work and dedication to the student athletes in Hamilton County Schools and let's continue uh showing good sportsmanship and setting the highest standards set forth by Hamilton County Schools in the life. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations, Mr. [applause] >> Absolutely. >> [laughter] >> Roll it all
007the way out. >> They ain't going to see you. You want us to hold it? We'll hold it back here. We'll hold it. We'll hold. Yeah. Like this. Yeah. And then y'all come on. Come on over. Come on over to it. And then There you go. [applause] >> Congratulations. All >> [applause] >> right. So, while they're fixing the other stuff, uh we have a unique presentation here momentarily. Uh >> I happen to uh be a follower of the Eagle Scouts and uh got to be there two weeks ago at their called Gathering of Eagles which is their end of year uh year awards presentation. 49 different individuals uh received their Eagle Scout award. And to do an Eagle Scout, uh to re to receive your Eagle Scout, you actually have to do a project and
008it involves a lot of different things, but the two main things are that you serve while doing the project and but you also try to get others to serve. And this uh young man that's coming up uh and I guess I'm going to take over for uh Mr. James, but this young man that's coming up represents a three-state region. He is Oh, I'm sorry. That's right, Steve. I had called you anyway. Uh, so Gathering of Eagles. And now I'm going to pass it on to Mr. Slater. [laughter] >> Uh, Brock Baylor is a student at Sight Daisy Jr., right? Why don't you come up here and let people take a look at you, Brock, are you? >> Yes. >> Thank you. He is an Eagle Scout out of troop 20 in Saudi Daisy and his
009Eagle project was chosen as the project of the year for the Cherokee Area Council. His project was repairing the Raider course at Saudi Daisy High. An Eagle Scout service project is a leadership focused community service that scouts plans, develops, and leads from start to finish as part of earning the rank of an Eagle Scout. [clears throat] It's one of the most visible and meaningful requirements in scouting. At its core, the Eagle Scout Service Project is to demonstrate leadership while providing a meaningful benefit to the community, a nonprofit, a school, religious, or community agency. While the Eagle Scout Service Project is most recognized requirement for earning the Eagle Scout rank, it comes at the end of a journey that begins usually at about age 11. With the average age of an Eagle Scout being 17, this
010means they likely have had a five plus year journey to get this resignation. In addition to the Eagle Scout service project, the scouts had to compete complete the requirements of six prior ranks and earn at least 21 ME merit badges. They are awards that explore your skills, your hobbies, your careers, your life abilities beyond everyday scouting activities. And I am extremely proud to say this guy is from Saudi Daisy High School. [applause] [applause] >> Parents, Mom, Mom, Come on. I did not. [laughter] [applause] Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Good job, bro. Well done. Good job. Congratulations. [cough and clears throat] >> All right. Now we are we are at our board member disclaimer statement. I think we have one individual >> [clears throat] >> I declare that I have a relative who works for the school
011system and that the board's vote on budget, policies, etc. may have an effect on my relative's employment. Even so, I hereby certify that I will cast my vote in the best interest of the school system. >> Thank you. All right. So, now we move to approval of the consent agenda. >> So, move. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. >> [clears throat] >> All right. So, let's We've already made a few polls in that. Is there anything else that maybe I did not hit any of the uh policy revisions? We Those are all second reads. Everybody's >> Mr. King. This is actually pulling for discussion, >> right? So, none. All right. Then roll call. >> Mrs. Black, >> yes. >> Mr. Connor, >> yes. >> Mr. Dy, >> yes. >> Mrs.
012Haden, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jones, >> yes. [clears throat] >> Mr. Keane, >> yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer, >> yes. >> Mr. Slater, >> yes. >> Miss Thomas, >> yes. >> All right. So, that takes us over to Yep. We're >> We're going to hit uh we we do have uh 9A. Uh so Dr. Brown 10A >> or I'm sorry. [clears throat] >> No, it is 9A. School psychologist and speech language pathologist. >> Mr. King, members of boards, what you have in front of you is a memo requesting approval of three items that really work together. I want to walk you through it just briefly and and answer any questions you might have. But the first item is uh your approval for adjustment of our school psychologist and speech language pathologist compensation structure and calendar assignments.
013Uh we've discussed this over the last few months where currently their salary is on the certified scale. We want to remove that to our general employee, our classified schedule to allow us to be more competitive when it comes to hiring school psychologists and and speech language pathologist. We'll also want to adjust their some of the school psychology SOPs their their day count. Uh there's a mix working with Miss Urgle and her team, Dr. Urgle and her team of 2011 day count and 241. Again, just putting us in a position so we can serve our kids well. The second um part of this is, you know, I'm proud to announce that we were awarded the grant uh the mental the schoolbased mental health grant um that this board allowed us to approve or to apply for.
014It's uh in a tune of about $7 million over the la next four years. This allows us to recruit and retain school psychologists. Um so we're asking for your approval to accept that grant. U we'll be able to use those funds um part of that first request to increase our starting salaries and our salaries for our school psychologists. Um we'll also want part of this grant part of our a grant we already have called the dream grant. Um and in accepting grants there's lots of paperwork right in a sense making sure you have a grant manager. We're asking that um part of the grant we have written in a 0.5 FTE uh serving as the grant manager but also we want to there we go testing there you go apologize for that um so the
015new grant that was just awarded uh if this board accepts is it's written in at 0.5 FT to help serve as the uh the the program manager but also we'll want to um make that a full FTE that allow us to serve both grants. We have the dream grant which is already in existence that allows us to um help with tuition for our school counselors, social workers, etc. school psychologists. Um that grant was already approved in existence. I believe we're going [clears throat] to start our second year. But in essence, a full FTE to help serve uh both grants. Uh again, this is a grant-f funded position. after four years um the grant has when a grant comes to an end that position will come to an end as well. >> So Miss Schaefer >>
016he answered it. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh and so what you're saying is all salary all funding for this will be incorporated from within the grant. >> Yes sir. part and I if we um get too complicated I might have to ask Mary Ellen to help but this grant is actually uh we're already in discussion of you know this board we've had discussion about school psychologists and our SLPs but this grant is specifically for school psychologist removing them from the certified scale to the classified scale this actually puts us in a better position where and you know if without this grant we would have to assume all that right away um but the idea of accepting this grant is that we will assume the full um cost of our school psychologists after four years, right?
017This board was already positioned ourselves to do that. This just allows us not only to um you know recruit and retain our school psychologists, but the funds that we're going to be able to use in essence will allow me as a chief talent officer to actually recruit our uh more and be creative with our school language pathologist as well that help move them to the new scale. >> All right. So, short answer, yes, sir. Uh we've got a little time, but again, the grant is definitely designated um to our school psychologist. >> All right, we have a couple questions. So, Miss Thomas, >> so if if if uh the compensation, I guess when when you say it's going to come from that grant, but what does that look like? Is there a starting salary? If
018you move them from the certified, is there a starting salary? Is there a cap? What what is that compensation? Even though it's a grant, [clears throat] what does that look like? >> Yes, ma'am. So I would tell you currently our school psychologist the average salary is about 686 $69,000 when you think about the I believe we have about 37 um positions or close to it for our school psychologist. Um currently our minimum salary um for our school psychologist is a little over $50,000 which is why we have vacancies right and so uh with that with the grant it'll allow us to be competitive so we will um one the strategy is we want to retain our school psychologist so definitely there'll be increase in their salary but also um this grant is started if if
019approved by this board um January the 1st so our new um minimum salary for school psychologist will be uh I believe around6 6162. Again, that's a minimum. And so, we will be able to use their grant to be competitive. So, my hope is not only are we able to fill our anywhere from our 12 to 13 vacancies, but um make sure we fully staff for the next school year, but retain our staff, right? And that's the idea. You know, there's some of our neighboring districts, school psychology, again, they already have a masters. They're starting about almost at $70,000. So uh we'll have a range to work with in a sense of being competitive to ensure that we have high quality people to give our services to our kids. So minimum salary going from 50 to
020easily 6162 >> and no maximum since it's going to be you said after four years will they lose that money or will they be just kind of grandfathered into the regular budget with their salary? >> Yes ma'am. That's why the that first request was moving them to when you said minimum there is a max right it'll be moving to our if you look at our salary schedule we're moving the school college to a grade L um that gives us flexibility and what I mean by that flexibility on the new schedule it's depending on the the person that comes to us right in a sense of their degree their experience the other u things they have on their resume that we can be compared to attract my hope is to attract neighboring from our neighboring districts
021is to come work for Hamilton schools because it's a great place. >> Okay. And that that would be wonderful. But what would happen to the ones that are currently doing the work? What what would their salaries with their >> Yeah. Internal equity. We want to make sure that we are been competitive. That's why it's so important to have the grant in place because ultimately we want to recruit, but we definitely want to retain um our quality school psychologist now. >> All right. Miss Hen. >> Yes. Um, I agree definitely that we need to pay our school psychologists and speech language pathologists better and and hire more and be able to uh with the grant because there's kind of a shortage I understand and also I think there are some questions they have to have a
022master's in counseling most of the school psychologists don't they have to have a master's degree so they do I mean those salaries are low. We do need to pay them more at that level. So, I agree. And who would turn down a grant? But my question is about the grant-f funded position. Now, while you were talking, I heard a half a position and a whole position. >> Yes. >> So, is this position the one the resource facilitator? Is that the a full FTE position or half? >> Yes, ma'am. And again, I apologize for the confusion. The reason that was there was we didn't really learn that we uh was awarded this grant till I believe December the 11th and so we already had seen things in motion for the dream grant as a been amended.
023So in essence we have the two grants. We have the dream grant that's already in existence and then the new grant that was just awarded um to us. Both grants in our eyes in the sense of the work that needs to be done to manage the grip is probably a 0.5. So what we'll love to do because it allows us to recruit a high quality person. It's difficult to hire a part-time person, right? But since we have two grants in a sense of a one grants a sum of $7 million over four years, we've got to manage that. And so that uh full FT will allow that person, the individual to manage the grant, but also work with recruitment retention of our school psychologists as well. >> Okay. And let me clarify in case I
024just missed something. So are we hiring just one FTE or one and a half? >> Yes, ma'am. Great. One. We we hope the one. Sorry, I didn't totally um follow. And the pay grade a G. What what pay grade is that? >> Yeah, that's a grade G. So um I don't have in front. That's probably a minimum hourly rate of about 25 $26 >> an hour or so. What's yearly? >> Um >> and what level? Like coordinator? >> It'll be a 260 day uh employee. U again that employee will be full benefits. Again, the entire salary will be paid by the grants. Um and that it will be uh we will hire uh with the full knowledge it's grant funed. So it's a four-year um position. Okay. And I guess my only other concern is
025you know just staffing. I know we have a lot of employees in the grant department and they're you know they're all listed online and all too. So I it's just like not fully understanding. >> Well, I would love to say this and honestly I know staffing is one thing, but without the grants department we have the the few people we have, they're the reason we just earned this $7 million, right? It takes a lot of work to make sure we have everything in place um for the for us to be awarded this. So honestly, in a lot of ways, the small department um they've just earned their keep. >> Okay. Are most [snorts] of those positions then are they like grant embedded positions? I mean I wonder how many are like when the grant ends
026that position ends. >> There is only one position. This the grant that I'm asking you to approve is this the the resource facilitators. The 0.5 and then the 0.5 from the dream. Everything else goes towards compensation goes towards training um gowards towards recruitment. Um, so there's no other positions that's going to be um funded by the two grants that I've just mentioned. >> And that position will go go away when the grants >> four years, >> right? >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And push a button. Uh, >> number two is also listed under you. There were no other questions on this. >> Got to approve that. >> Oh, yeah. I'm sorry. Uh, so do we have a motion and a second for the 9A1? >> I make a motion to approval. >>
027Second. >> And we've had discussion, but any other? >> All right. Roll call. >> Mrs. Black? [clears throat] >> Yes. >> Mr. Connor? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dy? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Haden? >> Yes. >> Ms. Jones? >> Yes. >> Mr. Keane? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mr. Schaefer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Slater, >> yes. >> Miss Thomas, >> yes. >> All right. So 9 A2 PEKA vote and committee members. >> Yes, sir. Let me remind the board about the uh PEKA. The purpose of collaborative conferencing is to reach agreement regarding salaries, uh grievance procedures, insurance, French benefits, working conditions, and leave with the resulting agreements remain in effect for three years. we're entering or we're in our last year of our current agreement with HCA. Um so based on the votes that took place last
028month, a majority of participating professional employees indicated a preference to engage in collaborative conferencing. Um and then secondly, uh of the eligible professional employee organizations, the majority selected Hamilton County Education Association as their representative um organization. um part of your memo you'll see that the members the 2025 collaborative conferencing team um have to be equal teams eight members on both I've listed those members for HCS representing HCS but also representing HCA um we're asking you just to approve that we'll move forward with uh our conferencing um then of course we'll keep you updated with the meeting schedules discussion topics and when there is an agreement um we'll bring that to the board and the board will vote all Any questions? All right. Need a motion? >> Second. >> All right. So, we've got a motion
029and a second. Roll call. >> Mrs. Black? >> Yes. >> Mr. Connor? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dy? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Hatton? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jones? >> Yes. >> Mr. Keane? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer? >> Yes. >> Mr. Slater? >> Yes. >> Miss Thomas? >> Yes. All right. So, we pulled 9B1. Uh, so 9C, Chief Strategy Officer Shannon Moody. Oh, >> always good to see you. >> So, administrative policy update monitoring. >> Or do you want to make a motion >> or do you want to just explain what >> Yeah. Right. Yes. >> Yeah. >> Um so what this is, it's a document. At the policy committee meeting, we asked for um permission to make like a clerical change on all policies. In the top left corner, there's a monitoring section. And right
030now, it says the month that we'll review those policies. Since we've uh been successfully reviewing them quarterly, we're going to go ahead and change them all to say review during the quarter in which we're doing. Um instead of bringing them all to you one by one, this is a memo asking for permission to do that and then being clear what that'll say in the monitoring session. section. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> All right. Any questions? >> No questions. All right. Roll call. >> Mrs. Black? >> Yes. >> Mr. Connor? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dy? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Haden? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jones? >> Yes. >> Mr. Keane? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer? >> Yes. >> Mr. Slater? >> Yes. >> Miss Thomas? >> Yes. >> All right. So, we are on
031to board matters and is that going to be Miss Moody again? >> Those are uh two just first read policies. So, unless the board wants to discuss uh no need. They've been in front of policy committee already. >> All right. I didn't know if Mr. Slater had something on Oh, no, that wasn't it. Not 3.210. Okay. So >> all right. >> No. So >> motion to approve. >> No motions are no >> necessary. >> All right. Uh so Dr. Robertson, we have uh 10B. We've got uh so I think Miss Schaefer and you are going to handle this between the two of you. I'll let Okay. you all had the legislative agenda um that we discussed at the policy legislative committee. Um nobody wanted to add anything that I'm aware of. We did meet with
032Dr. Robertson, the administration and I met with the de delegation and um we did make one minor change to um the school state testing and that's after our conversation with legislators. um we're all kind of on board together with that, but there was a red line in it so that we could make sure our language is more in line with where they're at. So now it says conduct a thorough or a thoughtful review of the K through2 assessment landscape across Tennessee. That's where um what was the name of that committee? the innovation K12 innovation committee. >> The K12 innovation committee and Senator Bo Watson was on that and that was one of the recommendations he shared with us is coming out of that. That report report is supposed to come out soon. It's not been
033released yet, but they um they're going to make a recommendation for assessing all testing across K through 12 in the state. And that's whether that's at the state level or at the local level. So they want to first assess how much our students are being um tested. Senator Watson said to let you know he is acutely aware of the complaints around overesting. We had a great discussion today um about that. Um and there's potential for us to work on a resolution for this board to really get behind this with legislation of giving some flexibility to um eleas right now. We have to do the statemandated. Then we have what our local eleas want us to do for how they feel like they can track our students progress. And so we're doing both, right? We're doing
034the state and the local. And so we're looking at and trying to push for maybe some flexibility and discussing that where we could maybe the eleas could have the option some flexibility of whether to choose the state testing [clears throat] or the local testing and Senator Watson was talking about as long as there is a benchmark because they want to continue to see test scores go up across the state. So as long as the LEA continues to meet the benchmark then maybe we could have some flexibility. So that's why we made this red line um is to be more in alignment with where that innovation committee is landing. Again, we don't have the full wording yet. We're just kind of going based off that conversation. So once we get that report, um we'll probably bring
035a resolution to this board regarding that. But that was the only change from the committee um today from our meeting. So it looks like Mr. Connor had a comment. >> Yeah, I've got just a question. The whole thing's red. You said that we changed a few words which I forgive me. I >> we we replace the entirety of it. Uh it it's very similar. Um but what we I think what we've heard and and M Schaer and I agreed with this from the board and from administration is we want to level set on what is mandated at the state level. What are we asking for as an administration? And then uh once that comes out to be able to make some recommendations on where reductions can take place and where there can be flexibility. >>
036I definitely heard both you say. I'm just like in two sentences. What words were not good in the last one that are better in this one? >> Like >> so it's the it's the thoughtful review. So if you look at the the first one it says reduce state testing. So instead of just going straight to a reduction of state testing, having that thoughtful review uh on the front end of it, uh that will then um guide what decisions we could make. I I was a little bit um surprised, probably the wrong word. Uh I I didn't realize the state was considering uh flexibility possibly uh as long as you know achievement is still there. And so to me, uh, that changed some of our thinking. Um, but but at a holistic level, it's the review
037is a big change. Um, and then how we respond to it. To Miss Schaefer's point, once that review happens, I would fully expect us to bring back a resolution to this board to kind of I mean, not an addendum to this, but in addition to say like, okay, we've we've heard from the uh committee what their recommendation is. Now, what does the board want to say? in reaction to that. >> That's perfect. You did use a lot more than two sentences. >> I know. Sorry. >> But [laughter] um that's awesome because it sounds really well written like this. And so I was wondering what we changed to make sure because this is this is definitely better than what we had. So thank you. >> And so that's this is what we have. We have to
038vote on if this is what we want to say is our goals. Again, um the delegation said none of this was new to them. that they um they've been working on these things and they want us to know that they are working on all of these things and none of it was new to them or caught them by surprise which they appreciated. Um so I think that we could work well with our delegation with this. >> And I was going to ask a question not not on this particular one but under school safety measures uh was this the only one they talked about or did did they hit on each one of these? >> Oh, we talked about every one. >> Okay. So, under school safety measures, uh, I know there's been talk that they
039might provide more funding for SSOs, and I'm going to just make a comment right now. Uh, I think I I can't speak for middle schools per se, but I know that uh I think each high school in our district should have an SSO and an SRO because of the different duties or the things that they're allowed to do with regards to search and and uh different things. I I think each school needs an SSO and an SRO. >> I will say that I hit on school safety measures pretty hard in our meeting as one of a a top priority for us. Um and we talked about again flexibility. I think that was the theme for today is we were pushing for flexibility in the funding. Right now there's funding not being used for SRDs and
040because they're not able to staff them completely. So we we were talking about flexibility of that funding to be able to use for SSOs because we we are kind of underst staffed with our SSOs and we have maybe we have the staff to fill it. [laughter] >> We we could >> Okay. >> And so what remind me again the difference SRO? SRD. What >> SRD is just you know te technically Hamilton County you're a sheriff's deputy. You're not an officer. Um traditionally they're called SRO's. I just want to be clear to your point. I I don't disagree with what you're saying, Mr. Keane. What we're asking for here, though, is if if the local law enforcement agency for us, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office says we can provide an SRD for middle and high schools, but
041we can't do it for every elementary school. We're asking for funding to kick in to support SSOs. Okay. >> I agree with you. It'd be great to have one of both in in every school, but that's probably a long way down the road, >> right? Okay. Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Connor. >> Thank you. I second that thought process, what you just said, too, that there they are [clears throat] different uh positions uh in what they can and can't do. And so, I think it's a great idea to to utilize both. Um, I will also say, and I've said it from the DS before, but I want to repeat it, that when the initial funding was released and we learned about it in the legislative session for TSBA, that thought process was that there would be
042uh SSOs available to fill in for the spaces, knowing that we would never be able to fill all of them or uh keep them staffed fully. So, that's been a conversation line that has just kind of fallen away. And so I'm I'm happy that we are continuing to hound that out because it's not putting somebody in any way, shape, or form of a lesser quality in there. It's just filling the position. So, >> thank you. >> All right. And then, uh, lobby and contract. >> Well, we got to vote on this. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. >> I'm going to uh motion. >> So, we need a motion. >> Motion to approve. >> And do we have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Any other discussion? >> All right. What? What? >> All right.
043So, we're This is >> a >> the just going with what the wording change was in that redlinined area. >> Well, actually the whole thing >> the whole thing. >> Sorry. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Approval of the whole agenda. >> Approved the whole agenda. >> So, any any other question? >> All right. Roll call. >> Mrs. Black? >> Yes. >> Mr. Connor? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dy? >> Yes. Miss Sadden, >> yes. >> Miss Jones, >> yes. >> Mr. Keane, >> yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer, >> yes. >> Mr. Slater, >> yes. >> Miss Thomas, >> yes. >> All right. >> And is that going to be you, Dr. Robertson? >> Uh, this is the contract for Gallon that we spoke about in the [clears throat] policy meeting. It's six-month contract, $3,500 a month. Um this
044is basically in lie of class for the next six months and then we can u rethink how we're going about it. >> So this was for Robert Gowen and his law firm. All right. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. All right. Any discussion? All right. Roll call. >> Mrs. Black. >> Yes. >> Mr. Connor. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dhy. >> Yes. Mrs. Haden, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jones, >> yes. >> Mr. Keane, >> yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer, >> yes. >> Mr. Slater, >> yes. >> Miss Thomas. >> Oh, yes. >> All right. >> I have a question. I wasn't at that. So, this is um just we were paying 5,000. He's reduced the price. He's just going to represent us instead of us being in with what was called the large school coalition. Right. Okay.
045I won't say nothing. Never mind. Okay. >> All right. We pulled C, so we'll move on to 10D1. Uh, school capacity, >> Mr. Dhy. >> Yep. Thank you, Chairman. I'm going to pass something out to everybody up here. Let me pass that down. Uh this this would hopefully be a first and final, but as you'll see when you get this, there's um basically three documents in front of you. And um I want to kind of begin every begin this with um I apologize for not getting this in front of us sooner. I I literally was working on this up until I left at 3:30 today. My mom came and watched the kids. Um, I know we we talk about capacity a lot and uh many of you on this board, myself included, are dealing with
046uh capacity issues. I mean, Jill, you're probably the the the prime example of what that looks like across Hamilton County. And um effectively kind of as we know from a board perspective, the challenge when you have capacity is is is multifaceted. First and foremost, it has the ability to erode the quality of education because eventually you you hire raise the student to teacher ratio. Um there's also an impact with cost with with hiring more teachers. So effectively what you'll see and this is in u collaboration with with Dr. Robertson and his team is we kind of provided an updated what I call a utilization report and you'll see three different color codes on this sheet. Uh essentially the schools from a capacity perspective are broken into three tiers. Yeah. >> So tier one would be
047uh 95% capacity above. And just as an example in my own district, Nolan Elementary is is kind of right at that uh well they're a little bit above it, but for example, Westview Elementary, Jody, uh they're at a 95.7 and they've got 26 20 26 available spaces. So just just to give you just kind of a framework of kind of where we are countywide, but the policy that I've written with with Dr. Robertson is uh essentially intended to >> Mr. Dy, I'm sorry to interrupt. Can you email me those documents because I can't see what you have. >> Yeah, we'll get I'll get emailed to you, Jill. Um, >> thank you. >> Shirley, could you email it to her? Surely we'll email it to you, Jill. Um but essentially what what we're exploring doing is
048uh a proactive process around growth and capacity in the school system. I think we all would agree uh there's a tendency to to maybe be reactionary and it's largely driven to the fact that uh Chris I think you'll agree with me oftentimes uh there's not a lot of pre-iscussion with the school system when it comes to county development. Um, and often times it feels like, you know, a train track is being built and we don't know where the where the next piece of track's going. So, essentially what this policy is intended to do is it's it's designed to create a framework. So, basically, if you have a school that's a tier one, Dr. Robertson and his team will come to you annually and say, "Hey, uh, school board member, you now have a school that's
049in a tier one, and here's the the process that could take place." So essentially it puts in place an what I would call an exploratory process whereupon you look at the available capacity and then you look at where the future development can or will occur in your district. So the idea behind this is is proactive zoning of any future development. So, this does not displace any current families, but the idea is is you get ahead of the growth. You say, "Hey, if if we're going to have a 100 new homes here in in this area that's technically assigned to a school that is over capacity, we're going to proactively reszone that area to a a school that has the capacity to absorb it. So the the the benefit of doing that is is largely driven
050by cost because as we know from the bond that we went through. If we don't do anything, we get to a point of capacity where we've got to absorb all these new students. We're forced with either an expansion, an addition, which can be, you know, 1012 million or a net new school entirely, which, you know, can be 40 $50 million for a new school. Combine that with the fact that we're two to three years out on a building timeline. So, we're really buying the hate ball on that. And Jill, I know you'll appreciate this, too. Um, you know, the portables that we do as a stop gap or a band-aid, those are not cheap. I mean, those are half a million dollars to to fully land and install. So, the idea behind this is as
051a proactive measure for the board to really have an annual discussion around growth in Hamilton County. And I want to be clear, this is just a framework. So, effectively what Dr. Robinson would do annually is he would bring any board members that have a tier one or tier two. He'd make it to your attention and then you as a what I would call the head of the committee have the ability to explore with Dr. Robertson's team possible areas of future residential development that you could uh reszone to areas that could be better absorbed from a capacity standpoint. So the number one goal is to just not compromise the education quality that we have for the students and children in our school systems today. and provide a proactive approach to manage uh the growth in Hamilton
052County. So the last piece is what you'll see is kind of what this would look like in practice and in the map in front of you. So effectively what I'm proposing tonight is to adopt this policy in conjunction with this sheet which effectively would put this into practice for the schools that are in tier one in my school area and district two uh primarily Nolan and Thrasher. So these yellow lots, these are all future developments. So no one lives on these today. These are largely just land. But the idea is as we get ahead of this growth and we have a clear understanding of, hey, if if development does occur here, we're going to put this at the best school for these future potential students and that would not be at a school that's over
053capacity. So again, I apologize I didn't get this for any student. It's it's been a it's been a lot. Uh this is, you know, I can tell you firsthand there's a lot that goes into it. Um, but again, this is a a proactive measure to try to get ahead of growth and really hopefully to allow us an opportunity to have a seat at the table uh when it comes to future development across Hamlin County. But I'll pause there. Thank you guys for letting me give you, you know, some context and background on it. >> All right. So, we have a lot of lights on. So, Mr. Connor, >> thank you, Chair. So, uh, the first thing I'll say is just I I I do I heard you say it. I just want to say, too,
054it it stinks to have to do something when you don't have any notice of it. So, this is going to be really difficult because there they Oh, I'm trying to wrap my head around it in seconds, not not the time that needed. But the second thing is I heard you say that Dr. Robertson's on board with this. So, if we don't mind before we hear anything else, would you mind to tell us why you like this and what you see beneficial? >> What what what's beneficial about this? You think about from a um planning agency standpoint or development standpoint. We don't get involved like you've you've never in your, you know, three years on the board had someone come here and say, "We're we're thinking about putting a new neighborhood here." What do you think
055as a board member? What do what do you think as a school board? Is there capacity? It's never happened, right? They just put >> uh neighborhoods in. They they put development in apartment complexes and then we're expected to respond to that, right? Um what ends up happening is uh our response is to go to the county commission and say, "Hey, school X is over capacity. We need X number of dollars to add on to it to build a new school down the road." And so we're constantly playing catch-up. What what I think that this does is it makes the school board part of a conversation uh unique to your district, right? So if it's in your district, it's coming to you. You're putting a committee together. there's enough flexibility uh the way it's written that
056you get to determine what that committee looks like. You could have the developer on the committee if you wanted to. Um and then bringing a recommendation back to the school board to make a decision. Um it could be no change at all or it could be an adjustment to that zone. So to me it allows um it allows the school board to be part of conversations that we should have been part of all or sorry you should have been part of all along. and just haven't been included. >> Okay. I I will say that I'm not going to speak for everybody, but I have definitely been to planning commissions and stuff. You know, in many parts of my district, like in Redbank, they successfully uh overcame the sewage issue. Um North Chat, they like to
057build houses on postage stamps and on sides of cliffs. Um part of the reason that we're talking about expansion at Noral Park. Uh but in what way do we as a school board hold authority to tell the commission what to do because >> you don't you control zones. >> Okay. >> Right. So you you are the body that approves zones. >> Correct. >> And so uh that that doesn't take approval from any other board. So we've gone through this before. If you remember um two years ago we we were talking about Brainer and Eastridge. At the time both East Ridge were were nearly a thousand kids. I think the high school was just over. Brainer was sitting under capacity. And we made we made the recommendation to the board to uh go back to the
058historical zone where everything north of the interstate was zone to Brainard. everything south of the interstate except for a small little pocket that city of Eastridge for some reason jumps across the interstate state at Eastridge. That was y'all's decision. Um it doesn't take approval from anyone else. So you are the zoning for schools authority. >> So I want to be really clear. I am fully aware that that is our our responsibility. I'm asking how we have the authority to force anybody to talk to us about zone about >> grow. We we don't. We don't. We don't. Yeah. And I want to be very clear on that. Um really what I'm just trying to do is so basically it'll be reviewed annually which I think is a good exercise in general when we talk about capacity
059utilization across school [cough] system and and through that report that Dr. Robertson's team will put together that has a utilization map and then any any potential challenges within a school that's over capacity. We can you know I don't know how what it looks like but we would just share that with the the powers that be on the county government so that they're aware uh and what they do with that is is their prerogative. So I guess I'll ask it again in a different way. What what are we doing then? Like we're are we just asking for them to please come talk to us because we can't force them to. No. >> So what is what are we do? What is the goal? The like I said earlier, what's the like three sentence goal of this
060for? >> Yeah. The the goal is to provide a proactive approach around growth to be prepared uh to ensure that we are maintaining the quality of education for the kids and families that are in our school system today. So what's the accountability if we put if we vote this in tonight? What is the accountability to somebody that just says I'm not doing that? Is there any repercussion or we just is this just wishful thinking at the end of the day kind of thing or do we have any holding of accountability to somebody that chooses not to follow this? >> Mr. Chairman, may I may I dive into this if I could there for historical context. So this is this is u gerine to D6. So back in 2007, there was a dispute about the zoning
061for Normal Park. Uh and in particular, there was there was this initial desire to expand the zone to uh I think the Bell Spears area. As it happened, a lot of developers started to buy up those homes and put in lots and lots of of of places um saying, "You get to send your kids to Normal Park." And so what happened was that area exploded. And so suddenly, I think it was in 2010, we were at over capacity at some of those schools. And so the the school board was trying to claw back the zone because they were over capac we were over capacity that school. And that created a major disruption. And so what as I understand Mr. Dardy is is proposing here is because the school board controls the zone by by looking
062at these these gating criteria when a school reaches a certain capacity you start having conversations about any new development within that zone may not go to that school. So going back to Normal Park in the in the the as or the early teens, um with this policy in place, what very likely would have happened is before developers would have said you get to live in in North Chattanooga and you get to send your kid to North to Normal Park, the school board might have said, "Well, wait a second. Let's check our capacity. we're we're going to need to send any future development in that area to Rivermont or to or to Redbank or to wherever else. And then that would have spurred a conversation because if developers are marketing a particular school, then the conversation
063is well, wait a second, what can we do to meet in the middle? Because frankly, one of the things that's attractive about this neighborhood is the school that's in it. So that's what spurs the conversation. If developers don't want to have the conversation with the school board, if they're content with with new residences sending their kids somewhere else, maybe not that neighborhood school, that's fine. Maybe the people moving in that area are going to be empty nesters, maybe they're going to be retirees, and so zoning is is immaterial. Um, but if they're marketing for a particular school, then there's a conversation that that you all are part of. So, I'm going to come back to my question, but I want to say I'm acutely aware of that situation. Obviously, I represent Hill City and that
064is still a big piece of hurt. Um, but I would also say that even though it's well established that that's not a normal park zone and doesn't have a plan to be right now, um, those houses still go for hundreds of dollars a square feet over the averages despite the fact that they don't aren't zoned for the school. And I would even say also that it's kind of a legal gray area to market any piece of property for its school zone specifically. >> Oh, there's all people steal too. We mentioned there's some bad apples and everything, but that is not legal. Um, so I say again, I come all the way back to to the legality of us doing this. Is this wishful thinking and you know, a good policy? I'm not I I don't
065want to knock it obviously having conversations about our capacity versus growth. I I beat you up all the time about the houses on Morrison Springs, about what they're going to do with the GPS fields, about uh the new thing at Lton City. Like Rivermont's never going to close for those exact reasons. I can't believe I got to sneak that in there. That's awesome. So, uh I So, I say again, my question is, what legal stance do we have here right now to do this? and how are we holding them accountable? Like how is there any accountability? And then I I I'll I'll put mic up, but I'll say this, too. >> I I want all those answers. And I I really do I really think that there could be some good things here, but without
066community input, I'm not going to vote for anything day one, you know, minute one. Um but but I do need to know the last that question again. What legal right do we have to do this and what accountability can we hold from it? >> Okay. Am I next? >> No. >> Miss Thomas, Miss Jones. >> Oh, is it not? >> Oh, Miss Thomas. >> So, I I I can speak. Well, I feel [clears throat] capable of speaking to the legal and um accountability piece. Mr. Mr. Connor um living through several um reszones and bills and um all the development that has occurred um being a lifelong resident of of Chattanooga in Hamilton County, I um I feel competent to speak for my district and for my community and I would say the black and brown
067community um from that perspective and then just from my my my district. But what what we see a lot of times is um as uh times change, things change, communities that we know to have been certain communities have now been renamed, changed, um historical populations that were normally in and I spoke about a little about a little bit about this earlier with the Austin Park area, but when you look at the area, so like the Northshore, like it took me a long time to get to get used to call it the North Shore of North Shore. I grew up that was North Chattanooga, Hill City, North Chattanooga, Red Bank, Normal Park. Um, and then it was now we have the West End. That's the west. It ain't even the west side, honestly. That's Martin Luther
068King. Then you got Brainer and now it's Midtown. Well, it was Brainer and Woodmore and Eastale. You know, you have all these things that are just evolving and I'm like, where are these places? And my poor 75-year-old mama be so confused because she been here all our life and people are like, "Oh, well you need to come over here to this." And she like, she calls me and says, "Carita, where is that?" And I'm like, "Oh, mama, that's the old Cameron Hills, which is Blue Cross." So, I'm saying all that to say things grow, things change. But what I do know is that having been on this board for this amount of time and being culture is out there. So being has shown me now for 12 years, come January 1st, maps upon maps of
069red and orange and burnt orange and yellow and green, all these places that are overconentrated and oversaturated. And then you have people like Gus Issa or GTI, whatever's GISA, whatever his name is. and you got bail and you got all these people that are building these things and all of this stuff comes up and then it's like, oh, >> we need schools for these kids. But that's after you've built 150 homes in a culde-sac. Now you need room for kids and then we have to figure it out. And then now we got to shift kids and look at taking 50 out of this school and 100 over here and 25 over here and 200 over here and then we going to build a new high school but we ain't going to put no toilets on
070the football field and we didn't take into account the growth that's going to come in East Hamilton. So now we got to build a whole another East Hamilton because East Hamilton Middle overcrowded in year seven. I mean it's all these things that are happening and I've lived through this. So I think as a school board we have a legal author, a legal responsibility and an accountability to the people whether they're already currently in those schools, currently in those neighborhoods or coming to make sure that we're doing our due diligence to be prepared because what I do know is when Gus Issa build them homes up in Harrison and Udawa, he not asking they never asked us. They've never we've never sat at those tables ever. Never ever never have I ever never has anybody from
071a nine member board to 11 member board now sat at any of those tables and I've had this conversation a couple of times now and I've said it before I said it about six years ago why don't we sit at these tables because we don't Mr. Matter of fact Mr. Test that's how long ago Mr. Testament was on the board we had this conversation David Testament >> and we're three board members out with Mr. testament. That's how long we've been having this conversation. They don't talk to us and then we have to figure out what to do with them. And I get it. Like I know that there's a business. I have friends that are realtors, family members that are realtors. I know all that. And I know what we talk about all the you
072write me. You're not supposed to sell houses like that. You're not. But I have worked in spaces >> where they're recruiting people and I've been on the school board at this time and they've come to me co companies and corporations and say hey can you tell me the the most high performing schools or can you and then they send realtors to meet with these wives of these doctors or whomever and while the doctor is trying to figure it out at Erlanger the realtor has her own signal Mountain and in the Northshore and in East Brainer and in Apison looking at houses. Why? Because that's where the good schools are. And then here we go again. So I'm just saying I think the legal all that could say three three words short. We have a legal
073obligation because we're responsible for those kids when they're over capacity and they're overpacked and then other schools got to take them in and the parents mad. Like I remember Brainer and East Ridge. That was a whole situation about going back to an original zone cuz the zone they're in now was the original Brainer zone when I was in high school, but it was a whole situation. Like they're making our kids go to those schools and all those things. And I think if we're at doing these kinds of things and seeing where that growth is coming, then we can be proactive about it. No, it may not ever change where they build. And you're right, people will still move over there. They going to move over to Northshore cuz I mean you it's a walk, live,
074play, learn area and they love it, right? And they're going to send their kids to the Balor and Brights anyway, but that's what's happening. And in some areas, no people don't have anywhere else to go. Like the whole Brown battle resone was horrible because we had kids that went to the west side that we had to take out a battle and put in Brown and they so they left their neighborhood school because it's a zone magnet to go 10 streets over, not even 10 streets, maybe five streets over and two blocks because their zone school was at capacity because they done built all them apartments up down there and people moved into them apartments with four and five children just to be zone. for Battle Academy. They didn't want to wait it out on a
075lottery list like me. So that's the obligation that we have is to do what's right by children no matter what what the other outcome is because ultimately if not we'll be sitting up here talking about what are the options for kids and where they going to go and what other school choice option we going to get them because their zone schools are packed out. >> Yeah. Thank you, Gita. All right. I appreciate that. So, so without >> Miss Head. [laughter] >> Yes. Um, let's see. This is the first time I've seen the policy and um and I guess I was thinking it might be resolution or something maybe originally maybe the concept. Um, and I think it's a great concept. I like the concept, but as far as writing and approving an official policy, um
076Shannon, have you had a chance to look at this? She usually is in charge of the policies. >> Okay. For one, the numbering is a policy. Um it's under the student section and it might need to be under facilities or some other section. And it's not um in the same format as most of our policies when we vote on them. It doesn't say the monitoring or some of the other codes and it's the first time we're seeing this and it doesn't have the state >> codes. [laughter] I mean, it's the first time I'm seeing it. I mean, [clears throat] um, yeah, we can adjust formatting, police. Um, you know, the the the the idea is we all are dealing with this in some way or another. >> In particular, in my district, I mean, it's
077a very imminent situation. I mean, you look at >> Nolan, I mean, they've got seven seats available and we've got >> multiple developments planned up there. And again, to Karice's point, this is about a proactive approach because if we don't do anything, it's because you're going to move in there and then you're forced with having displaced families that have moved in and bought a house and done all this. Whereas, if we go with this approach, >> it's it's more >> and that happened with Uda East Hamilton. People moved over there and had to get book pushed over to Udawa. >> I'm not arguing that. >> Yes. I hear about it all the time. Yeah, I'm not arguing that this is not a good idea. I think it's a great idea and I appreciate that. But
078as far as creating policy and there's procedures, you know, we usually need to go through like the first read and second read and you know, we just haven't had a chance to I mean, I haven't had a chance to read the whole thing. Um, I just think we need to continue to work on it and maybe ask Shannon like she usually doesn't get a first read um for this policy for us and the format that we're used to seeing and maybe change the policy number and include the other things that are usually included with the policy. So maybe possibly having this ready for a first read in January. I know that's Anyway, that's what I think we should do. >> All right, we've already had everybody speak. >> I have not >> and Jill on
079the thing. >> Yeah. So, that was Yes, that's who we're going to recognize there. >> She's not on the >> Yeah. Um I was just first of all I like the idea of thinking forward like the forward thinking and planning that again like Miss Jones said is our responsibility um overcrowding is something that has affected almost my entire district. Um, as far as like making people talk to us, um, do we not have the authority to request >> reports [snorts] and appearances from the regional planning agency just like the county commission does? >> We we do and and Ben Culture does that pretty regularly. >> We don't have the >> Is that is that the kind of data that we're going to be using? I mean, I I'm just going to be really honest. I
080don't have a a lot of hope that uh developers are going to invite us to the table because they don't need anything from us. [laughter] Like we don't have to approve their permits like like county commission does. Um I don't have like but [cough] we can still access this data through regional planning and have some sort of idea. I like the idea of having regular reviews like this. My only concern is um if we like review do these reviews every year, are we talking about disrupting like feeder patterns every single year or are we going to try to take like a longer term like longer than twoyear snapshot to like is this going to be an every three years thing? Like I'm just concerned or like focusing on certain areas and like once we do
081an area not coming back around to it for three or four more years. Like I'm just concerned about the disruption of communities and children and especially during the elementary school year. Like they're there for six years. Like they could go back and forth one or two times through zoning if we did this every year. >> Miss Black, I think >> that's my only real concern. I think that's what we're trying to avoid. Um, and and I'll go back to this example that Miss Jones used earlier about Battle. So, Battle and Brown get built about the exact same time. Their zones get set uh and and what ended up happening is and and you're living this now, right? Right around battle, uh, small pieces of property that were once either single family living homes or businesses
082got developed into uh multiplexes, apartment complexes that were already in the zone for battle. What this is saying is um that if there was a new development in that zone, you as the board member would have a conversation in a committee about that development. And so if we had this in place 20 years ago, what we would have avoided is what you're saying is uh people buying up property in battle's existing zone where there were no houses before, building large apartment complexes, and now you're having to displace kids that were actually zoned and in houses already established for battle from the beginning, >> right? And so it my thing here is we're trying to not necessarily bring anyone to the table, but developers for years have pushed kids out of zones and schools by building
083on property that uh was was within the boundary of a zone but wasn't either a dwelling or it was just a large farm. And now we're having to reszone kids that were already in that school. That's what it's trying to avoid practically. All right, we have uh Miss Thomas, then Mr. Connor, and then I'm going to close. So, there's [clears throat] uh >> Well, I would just like to bring a little humor to this and ask the question, uh how would this benefit my school since it is under capacity? So, does that mean that we're going to really, since other schools may be at capacity and we could possibly use that space, are we going to push for me to get a new school for the middle school in my district, which is very much
084over needed? I'm just asking a question because if we get to moving people around, and I know my school needs a new school before anybody wants to walk up in there because they're leaving because sometimes of of the school and it's present. So, how will it benefit my school since we're in the under capacity row? >> That's a great question, Jackie. So, so the way the policyy's written is in addition to the annual tier maps, uh, we will also be having continued conversations of where the next best school needs to be based off the capacity. So, I know we talked about it and we, you know, we went through that bond a couple, you know, two years or so ago, but this then becomes a more annualized conversation whereon we look at things every year
085and we assess where the capacity is, where do we need it, do we need a school here and it's, you know, it's just a constant continued conversation based off the data that's readily available to the board. >> Okay. Okay. I understand that. But you're saying if we need a school, so if the school is not in capacity, it's going to look like we don't need a school. So, you know, you know what I'm saying? And if it's so far away, I doubt seriously they're going to bust them there. So, I was just wondering about that because I don't what I don't want to happen is this. I don't have problem reviewing and discussing discussing anything, but I still know a school is very much needed in that area, a new school, but it's under capacity
086and I just don't know what that looks like for what would that look like for this school. Yeah, that's all I'm saying. >> Yeah, I understand. All right, Mr. Connor. Thank you, chair. Um, I do this knowing that you will have time to for discussion after I make a motion on that. Um, I hear everybody asking questions. There's a lot of questions. There's a lot of things that we need answered before we can fully support this and get um get the input that we need to make a properly informed decision. So, I make a motion that we um move this to the next facilities committee meeting um to properly vet it, get community input, and and discuss it in a forum that we're supposed to do before meeting. >> So, so I have a discussion
087once they both go through. >> I I need Yeah. Sorry. So, what would happen is I would need a second for that motion and then we could have discussion about that motion. >> All right. So we have a motion to move this to the next facility meeting which is undetermined but somewhere we think between the end of January and midFebruary. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> All right. So we have a motion and a second. So now we do have discussion. So >> I I [clears throat] will also say after making the motion that I would entertain the idea of adding this to an agenda of some sort like the meeting on the ETH if this feels like finance we could add it to that too. I'm just a time >> move it
088further down the line. >> Not I don't want to I definitely don't want to say kick it like I want a a date like the next time there's a facility meeting or the next committee meeting I want it on that but yeah >> because maybe as early as January, >> right? So >> I do my lights on. >> I'm sorry. >> This is a very relevant issue. As we all know, my entire tenure on the board so far has been about the capacity of district 7. Um, and we have the biggest share of growth right now. So I just want [cough] the board to know this is very pressing. So kicking the can to March may be too far. So maybe, you know, January at the latest because we're not being consulted and I'm been
089making the plea not to reszone my district because it's been reszoned so many times. So, you know, every board member should have the right to represent their district. And that's pretty much what I hear Mr. daughter, are you trying to say is we should have a voice in our district, which is what I've been fighting for my entire tenure on the board. So, if you vote to move it, I would just say January, not March. >> Yeah. When's the workshop? January >> 8. >> We could even do it as early as January 8th. >> So, [clears throat] my concern is I don't live through a whole lot around here. My concern is and I and I get the whole I mean it's all first time seeing it. I get that. But just to put this
090in perspective, the last time we were in a situation like this, we were thinking about purchasing what is now the BJ's in Hickon. Um at that time it was the old Sears and we were looking at it for a possible school setting over in district three. We left school board and the entire amount. Am I Bennett? Was it the cost that was we could have potentially bought bought the old Sears for and everything about that situation? We're a awol and hence why there's a BJ's over there now because people now because it's public and we've made no decision. They go and have conversations. They lobby us because it happens. I got calls about the old Sears. All of those things will happen and we'll look around and we'll be it's it'll be January 13th, 14th,
09128th, whatever, February 2nd. And we won't even be having this discussion because somebody would have got somebody's ear [cough] and it won't even be a discussion. It'll be a voter, but I just don't think we need to do it because they didn't got in your ear. Once again, I'm leaving next August, so I'm just feeling very empowered to say a lot of things. But I just want to share that because when you do when those things happen, once again, the students, the schools, the staff are put at risk. That's all I'm saying. >> All right. So, I'm going to close out on this and then our vote would be to uh this particular vote would be to move it on to a meeting further down the road. But I'm going to close. Feliz Haden and
092I have been attending in our districts. uh we are experiencing what district 7 did experience and still experiences and which is huge growth uh we've been a part of what's called plan Hamilton and now there is a move uh to pull away from the regional planning commission with uninccorporated plan Hamilton and but what this brings up to me is words people might not remember Dalton Roberts, but Dalton Roberts was a county executive years and years ago and he said RSS roads, sewers, schools, and then you start bringing in the rest of it. And so if you know if this gets us in and and again I I'm agreeing with uh a few of the others that it is a first thing that we're looking at but it's definitely on the right track and it's something
093that we need to do and I think our uh for what's called responsible uh growth and that ahead of us I I think we need to really look at this but not jump right into it. So >> I just want to be very clear that the way the policyy's written, there's no immediate action required. It's simply a framework. So ultimately the the it maintains local authority with the with each respective board member when there is a tier one school outside of my situation in my backyard with district 2. There's no immediate action that's going to be taking place out of this. This is just an adoption of a framework for an annual review process. >> It is a policy though, right? >> Hold on. >> Correct. Has her hand up. you. >> Okay. And Mr.
094Slater has his light on and he hasn't spoke yet. So, >> thanks, Gary. Um, what Ben Connor was saying about the real estate people is true, but let me tell you, they sell these houses based on where the schools are and where they're going to school. I I know that for a fact. My daughter moved two blocks so she could take her kids to Normal Park. Um, and I know what's happening up at Signal Mountain with all the building and this is just my opinion, but I think we need to pass this and I think it needs to be discussed about how to go about telling these builders, hey, the kids may not go to this school where you think they're going to go. It's my opinion. All right, last one. Miss Black. >> All
095right. Sorry. Um, if we move this to the committee meeting on the 8th, which committee meeting is that? Um, the finance workshop. If we move it to there, can I request that Shannon take a look at it as far as formatting and wording? um between now and the 8th and then we could have a first and final read for a vote at the January meeting. >> Okay. >> Well, we can't we can't vote in the January 8th meeting. That's a workshop, right? >> No, but we can discuss it and then vote on the 15th. Yeah, >> January 15th. We could do a first and final. >> All right. So, what we've got right now is a motion and a second >> to be clear. The mo I know there was some discussion afterwards so this
096is maybe clear up the motion that got the second is a motion to move this to the facilities meeting facilities committee meeting that has not been scheduled and then I know there was some additional >> Mr. Conor made some addition. >> If you don't mind, I'd like to resend that and restate the motion. Yes. Thank you. >> So, I'd like to restate the motion to move this to an addition to the finance meeting on the 8th. >> Uh, a second. >> Yes, that's right. It is >> currently on the >> All right. So we have a motion and a second to move this discussion and this policy to have dis further discussion on the 8th. >> And let's do roll call. >> Mrs. Black, >> yes. >> Mr. Connor, >> yes. >> Mr. Dy, >>
097no. >> Mrs. Haden? Yes. Mrs. Jones? >> No. >> Mr. Keane? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer? >> No. >> Mr. Mr. Slater. >> No. >> Miss Thomas. >> No. >> 54. Motion fails. [snorts] >> All right. So now we would need a motion >> to approve this. >> Scott, just we can always adjust format after the fact and we can adjust the policy number, right? >> Yeah. I mean if if the board adopts if the board adopts a policy um >> yeah do more discussion in >> if the board adopts a policy it exists as a policy now we'll need to put it someplace so so if you think about if to answer your question Mr. Dy, if you think about it, every decision the board makes is a policy decision, right? So, if I'm
098thinking out loud here, so if the board adopts this as a as a policy decision, at some later date, the board could decide to insert it in the policy manual somewhere specifically. You're just amending an existing policy. So, yes. >> Yeah. Thanks, Scott. So, so Chairman Gary, I would like to make a motion to pass the resolution. So, it's a joint motion. It's a motion to pass the resol uh the policy also to uh approve this uh zoning change to the district 2 schools in my area with the accompanied uh visual. So, the is a dual part motion for the policy and the uh the updated zoning in district two. >> I think we would have to separate the Am I wrong? >> No, you are. >> It's just a policy. >> You don't have
099to. I mean, if the board wants to take them separately, you can, but but but the the joint motion is a motion to pass the policy and further to uh I guess to >> approve the updated zoning. >> And I didn't hear the second. >> All right. So, we have a motion and a second. There's no lights on. We'll do roll call. >> Mrs. Black, >> I'm sorry. I'm just seeing this zone today like 30 minutes ago and we haven't had any public input. I can't vote to approve a zone that we have not taken to the public. >> No. [laughter] >> Mr. Connor, >> no. >> Mr. Dhy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Haden, >> no. >> Mrs. Jones, >> I have a question about the motion. >> Okay. >> Is it a I was
100trying to ask a question. Was it joint or separate? >> It's separate. It's joint. They're together. So, it's it's a motion to pass this policy and to approve updated zoning in district two. >> Well, did this what did did he I I'm sorry because I didn't I did he was what is your zoning changed? Did you change your zoning? Yes. >> And how does that affect other So, the yellow is is as I mentioned it's future development. So, no one lives there now. So, the idea is proactively say hey these two elementary schools and thrash and roll are over capacity. They're 99% I think 104. So any future homes, any people that live at there will not be guaranteed to be zoned for those two schools. So trying to get it out in advance. >>
101Where would they be zoned for? >> Well, hard to say because you'd it would change. I mean, it could it's all based on current capacity. >> So >> I'm I can't vote for for this part, >> but I'm okay with the framework. And then we >> that's why I was trying to get to that but then I thought they were separating them. I there was a lot going on. It's a whole lot of side talk over here in my left ear. >> So yeah, the current motion is them joined together. The current motion is them joined together. So >> okay. So >> can we can we can I amen? Can I amend? >> We're voting right now. >> So no no for the joint. >> Okay. Okay. >> But I will I will >> Mr.
102Keane. >> No. >> Mrs. Schaefer. >> Yes, Mr. Slater. >> I want to look more into the zoning, >> Miss Thomas. >> Uh, no. Cuz I want to look I I too want to consider the policy, but not necessarily the zoning because I don't know how it affects everything else. >> Okay. And so that's 63. No. Motion fails. >> Now, I would like to, >> as a chairman, am I allowed to make a motion? >> All right. So, I'd like to make a motion that we pass the first part, not the reasonzoning, but the actual policy. >> Yeah. >> And then make changes to the numbers and that as needed as we further look into it. >> I second. >> Thank you. >> So, we have a first and a second. Mr. Connor, your lights
103on. >> Okay. >> This actually passed the policy, right? >> Yeah. Miss Jones, you're like pass the policy. >> I'm sorry. I was Thank you for acknowledging me. No, you're right. Thank you. I I'm just going to restate that that this is just doesn't feel right. Like [clears throat] we're trying to push something through. And what I'll say out loud, Chris, what I said over here is we're trying to push something through and we're asking if we can change it after we do it. It's a conversation I have with my girls all the time. Turn it in right. Don't turn it in wrong. Get it right the first time and turn it in that way. Don't turn in something half done that's that's not fully thought through and not fully baked. We're not there. We
104I don't like that politics and and governance moves so slow, but it's because we got to listen to our constituents. I'm getting people texting me all over here going, "Hey, why can't I see this? Why can't I even read it?" It's because I couldn't even read it. So, we need to talk about it. >> Yeah. No, it's okay. Listen, I'm going to >> not one month. Is it my turn? Yes. >> Okay. Cuz my light was on. >> Someone's going to have to Uber my daughter. >> Okay. Just >> What' you say? >> Yeah. >> What' you [laughter] say? >> She said she's got to go pick up her daughter. >> Oh, I' I've had to do a lot of things like go to funerals and I mean I don't even know if my uncle's
105dead cuz I said in I just know they buried the casket. That's called elected office. So >> I I hear you. I >> I'm No, that was a real life experience for me. >> All right. So, >> we have something in front of us we need to discuss. >> Okay. And that's what I was trying to do, but she was she interrupted first. So, just I mean, >> no, both of you be quiet and state your point. As I was saying, I don't believe in doing anything subpar or piss par or half done. I believe in doing things decent in order. But I've lived long enough here in this space to know that sometimes it's not always a good idea to wait because you don't set a precedence the to that you're that you're standing
106for something. You set a precedence that somebody can come and talk in your ear. Now, I'm not saying nobody's going to do that, but if you can't stand strong, I would suggest that we look at talking about this framework. Now, no, I'm not going to vote for um a zone because I do believe that we should hear from the people living in that community about a zone, but I believe that I was elected to make a best to make a choice based off of what I know that sometimes I know that the community doesn't know. And what my community knows, District 5 knows is I've been here long enough to know that sometimes you have to make a decision because I'm telling y'all, you get in your car being right. They texting him now. Why
107can't I see this? Somebody else probably texting somebody else saying don't do that. Let's talk about it. When you start to have those let's talk about it conversations on January, whatever date that is, it's going to go a different way. I promise you. I've lived this long enough. If you ain't never trusted me before on anything and I don't make rash decisions. We have to start to set a precedence that we are our own people and we are elected to do what we are elected to do and we don't wait on everyone. people elect us to do certain things and this really a policy don't take like we don't wait for the community to tell us about a policy that the state sent down we go on and vote on that policy you didn't you
108didn't care about what the community said when we I'm not even go there >> now some people cared so let me just say that but some people didn't but now you want to care about a framework that you can just make a decision about this I'm baffled and Oh, in lie of the book that I'm reading, let them I'm going to let you make whatever choice you want to want to and I'm going to let me make the best decision for district 5 and the constituents that voted me in >> Mr. Dohy. >> Yeah, thanks. [clears throat] Um, listen, I I know everybody might some people might feel off off caught caught off guard and I acknowledge that. Um the reality is is I've heard from my community and um I've been listening and this
109is one of the I I view one of the the largest imminent threats up in up in district 2 particularly on the schools where the majority are concentrated up on signal and that that's why I've taken this approach because to earlier point if we don't do anything it just gets so much more messier and it's also more costly as well. So, uh, I'm open to Gary your resol your motion to just approve the policy and then we can revisit it. But again, there's there's no action items from this. This is just a framework and and in which we come to the table more often and each board member maintains local authority to make a decision what's best for their district, which is what I thought I was doing here for mine. And I stand by
110it because I think it's the best thing long term. Um, but I did want to just add that. >> All right, Miss [clears throat] Thomas. I I just wanted to say I I wanted to go on and be able to vote on on the motion that was on the floor, but also to say I just don't think the zoning is fair to everybody else. Nobody else has where they they've said you can't come to our zone anymore. So, I think that portion does need to be separate in a discussion and more intense um discussion around what that looks like for everybody's zone. Uh, so I'm just ready to move forward to to vote on this policy. >> All right. And that ends our discussion. So let's recap what we are voting on. >> Yes, sir.
111This is a motion to pass the school capacity policy with leaving room to make some changes uh non-substantive changes I think like changes to the policy number and things like that. Okay. Mrs. Black. >> Yes. >> Mr. Connor. >> No. >> Mr. Dhy. >> Yes. Mrs. Haden, no. >> Miss Jones, >> yes. >> Mr. Keane, >> yes. >> Miss Schaefer, >> yes. >> Mr. Slater, >> yes. >> Miss Thomas, >> yes. >> 72. Motion carries. >> All right, that brings us to our events. And we don't have any legal services report, I don't think. Do we? >> All right. So, announcements, December 19th, students half day and it's the end of the second quarter. Uh, we have a break December 22nd through January 6th. Let's jump down. Professional development on January 5th and 6th for
112teachers. Students return on the 7th. January 15th [clears throat] at 4:30 we have our work session and January 15th at 6 o'clock we have our next board meeting at which point we will discuss the superintendent job evaluation and maybe hear more about what we've been doing. Merry Christmas. Thank you uh for uh Mr. Bennett for the wonderful stuff your wife made for us all and also uh Dr. Robertson and staff for the gift that you gave us all. Merry Christmas and we are adjourned.