HCS Board Meeting 9/18/2025

001[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] If I could have everyone's attention. If I can have everyone's attention for just one second. I'm not calling it to order, but I do need attention because of the um amount of people that we have participating with us today. Law enforcement needs to for everybody to have a seat so we can see how many seats are available and left in the room so that we can be in compliance. Fire code You okay? >> That's the work station. I didn't have so much going on. So much Huh? >> Oh, I want to speak for delegation. >> Just wait till it off

002until I >> y'all ready got y'all delegation together? Oh goodness. [Music] >> Okay, I'm going to call our monthly session to order. Uh, roll call, please. >> Chairman Smith, >> here. >> Mrs. Black, >> here. >> Mr. Connor, >> here. >> Mr. Dy >> here. >> Mr. Gro >> here. >> Mrs. Haden >> here. >> Mrs. Jones >> here. >> Mr. Keane >> here. >> Mrs. Schaefer >> here. >> Mr. Slater >> here. >> Miss Thomas >> here. >> Superintendent Dr. Robertson >> here. >> Okay. First item on our agenda here will be to elect our new officers for this coming year. So, the floor will be o open for nominations for board chair at this time. >> Mr. Chairman, >> oh, I got my light on. Is my light not on? >> Uh, Miss

003Jackie's light is on. >> Thank you. Good evening, everyone. Um, before I make my nomination recommendation, I would just like to say a few things uh in regards to this board. I've served on this board along with five other new board members for the last year and I can say that it's really been a learning experience and as we continue to learn the process, we all have had disagreements at some point. However, I think we all genuinely respect each other and each other's um expertise in various areas. Nevertheless, one of the things that I did hear us all talk about and that we all tend to agree with is what Mr. Larry Groins had said indicated when he talked about DEI and how he felt that there was no place for it. And some of

004us agreed that there was no place for it as long as we would do what was right. DEI would not need to exist. And having said that, one of the things that I would like to do tonight is to nominate a person based on their qualifications and hope that this board would do what's right. So the person I would like to nominate is a person that has over 20 years experience serving children and their families in this community. Uh this person is a licensed master social worker, member of various fellowship programs. They have served as a adject professor at UTC. They've been program director of community forward, a direct partnership with the Hamilton County School System. They've also a 501c3 executive director and founder that services children's and families. They are the executive director of

005Educate to Elevate. They are a 2015 Harvard graduate business school of young American leadership. They're the 2024 leadership collective cohort graduate. They are part of various different organizations in various different boards. They are currently they have served as one of the top city administrators over the department of early learning for the last five years and have served have managed 200 over 200 staff employees that service early learning under the department of early learning which consists of head start community forward the basics all foundational principles for children in education as all of you No, the foundation of children is where it all starts from the home to the school. If we have a solid foundation, our children can learn, our children can thrive. So having said that most importantly the one thing that she has done

006has served on this school board for the last 11 years and this will be the 12th year in serving and uh last year she served as the vice chair under our chairman Mr. Joe Smith. But tonight I would like to ask and also challenge the other board members. No matter what you came in here thinking or what you may have already had on your mind, I ask you tonight to prove and to abide by what you say when it comes to DEI. We're going to base things on qualifications. And I would like to nominate Cararissa Jones, Cararissa Mosley Jones as the chairperson of the Hamilton County School Board for the 2526 school year based on her qualifications and that she can do the job as she has always done and the expectations not over DEI,

007but she can do the job because she's qualified. And I stand here tonight and I nominate her. I would like >> Thank you, M. Thank you, Miss Jackie. >> I would like to second that. >> All right. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Miss Jones. Uh Gary King, lights on. All right. Well, I'd like to nominate Joe Smith. I will uh I've known Joe for uh close to 40 years now. Joe has worked with children for well over 40 years. Uh he's actually had 19 adopted children besides his own children. Uh he started YCAP. Uh has had a uh following in the church and is just a outstanding business leader. Uh Joe has shown leadership as our chairman previously and I hope we'll uh accept this nomination again. So I nominate Joe

008Smith. >> I'll second that. >> So I have a nomination of Joe Smith. Duly seconded. No more lights. Any other nominations? Okay. So, we'll we'll ask for uh a roll call. Uh and uh that roll call will be uh Mr. Smith or Miss Jones once your name is called. Everybody understand that? Okay. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Black. >> That's what happens when you give us snacks. Mrs. Jones, Mr. Connor. Um, so I thought we might have some discussion. So I'm just really quickly going to say that I vote for Mrs. Jones. Uh, because each September when electing a leader from our own members, um, we do so with somebody who has leadership in mind and the leadership of our students and our community. Um, last month, Hamilton County School Board voting to discontinue centerstone

009services without an exit strategy, without a plan to help our students showcased the exact opposite of leadership. That's why I'll be coasting my vote for Miss Mosley Jones. M >> Mr. Dardy, >> Joe Smith, >> Mr. Gro, >> Joe Smith, >> Mrs. Haden, >> Smith, Mrs. Jones, >> Carissa Jones, >> Mr. Keane, >> Joe Smith, >> Mrs. Schaefer, >> Joe Smith, >> Mr. Mr. Slater, >> Joe Smith, >> Miss Thomas, >> Carissa Mosley, >> Jones, I'm sorry, >> Chairman Smith, >> Mr. Smith, >> 74 in favor of Mr. Smith. And for those of you all that are in the audience, that's why we have DEI [Applause] because clearly here tonight, we did not do the right thing when it comes to qualification and experience. No, I'm going to speak because this is my opportunity to

010speak just like every other citizen. Tonight, I respect Mr. Joe Smith, but sometimes you have to pass the baton >> and do what's right and not always to to for an agenda. And I don't I don't care what he voted on the last time. That's not important to me. What's important to me is that we share this board and we share the the leadership experience that we need. And it is clearly she has been on this board for 11 going on 12 years just as Mr. Joe Smith. But because he is Joe Smith, I know his experience. I've worked with him, too. But it's also time to pass a baton on to other leadership that is just as qualified. So, yes, I'm going to speak and I'm going to speak to the board members because

011you say two different things in here. You talk about DEI and you talk about don't select people because of their race, because of who they are as females, right? But here you are once again an agenda and I don't appreciate it and I am going to speak out and young lady it whatever picture you're showing it doesn't even matter to me. I pray for everyone and every person that has had any type of concerns or issue. All I say is to I too pray for this board and that we began to do the right thing when it come to people and and also experiences of people. Thanks. [Applause] floor is now open for nominations for vice chair. I'd like to nominate Gary Keane for vice chair. >> Second. I have a nomination and seconded for

012Gary King for vice chair. Any other nominations? I see no lights. So, roll call. >> Mrs. Black, >> yes. >> Mr. Connor, >> abstain. >> Mr. Dy, >> yes. >> Mr. Gran, >> yes. >> Mrs. Haden. Yes. >> Mrs. Jones, >> no. >> Mr. Keane, >> yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer, >> yes. >> Mr. Slater, >> yes. >> M. Thomas, >> I vote for Mr. King not because he's a white male. I vote for him because I know he too is qualified. So, I will vote yes for Mr. King. Thank you, >> Chairman Smith. Gary King. Okay. Floor is now open for nominations for legislative chair. >> I n I nominate Ben Connors. Second. >> I'd like to nominate Jody Schaefer. >> Second. Okay. I had nomination for Ben Connor and I heard a second. Uh,

013who was the second? Jill. And then I heard a nomination I think for Joey Schaefer. >> Did I get a second for >> Okay, Jackie, your light is on. Did you? >> Probably because I got so much to say, but I'm sorry I turned it off. >> No more lights on. Any other nominations? Okay. Roll call. >> Mrs. Black. Mr. Connor. >> Mr. Connor. >> Connor. >> Mr. Dardy. >> Schaefer. >> Grown. Mr. Grone. >> Schaefer. >> Mrs. Haden. >> Schaer. Mrs. Jones. >> Connor. >> Mr. Keane. >> Schaefer. >> Mrs. Schaefer. Schaefer, Mr. Slater, >> Miss Schaefer, >> Miss Thomas, >> I vote for Ben Connors, even though I do think that Jod is qualified, but if you all do not know what is happening up here, these decisions were already decided before we

014got here. But when you have to make people show people in this this community of who people are, just know this is who they are. Jod is very much qualified, but I think Ben has been doing a great job in that area. So, my vote is for being Connor. >> Chairman Smith, >> Jody Schaefer. >> 74 for Miss Schaefer. [Applause] >> Come on, camera so we can get the me. >> This is going to take a minute. I don't know why I take a minute. Y'all already had plotted to what y'all was going to do. >> Don't Don't play with me. Uhoh. Got you. >> This is yours. >> Yep. >> Is this yours down here? >> Yes. I'll come back for it. So no executive session that takes us down to pledge and uh

015meditation and it gives me great pleasure uh to introduce my friend great principal from Hixon Middle School. >> Mr. Mr. Chairman, >> excuse me. Did I miss something? What' I miss? >> Approval of the agenda. Thank you. Thank you. I need a motion to approve the agenda. Thank you. >> So move. >> Second. >> No lights. Roll call. >> Are there any >> Mrs. Black? >> Yes. >> Mr. Connor? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dhy? >> Yes. >> Mr. Grown? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Haden? >> Yes. Mrs. Jones, >> yes. >> Mr. Keane, >> yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer, >> yes. >> Mr. Slater, >> yes. >> Miss Thomas, >> oh, yes. >> Chairman Smith, >> yes. Now, I get to say it again. Gives me great pleasure uh to introduce a principal from Hixon Middle School,

016my my friend, great principal, Coach C. All right. >> Sorry. We'll start with the Sorry, my audience is usually 12-year-olds. So, we'll start with the pledge of the flag. If everyone would stand, please. >> Attention. Salute. Pledge. Igiance 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. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, I've got some real brief. I'll start with a quote uh by John C. Maxwell. Once you find your why, you'll be able to find your way. uh believe. It's just a word, but if you come to Hixon Middle School, you'll see this sign plastered all over the walls, as well as our mission statement, empowered minds and boundless futures all over campus. The Maxwell

017quote above is the premise behind the work. Middle school is this awkward transition in the human experience when no one knows what neurochemical will control that person on that given day. This is why middle school is crucial in the development of every student. Every middle school educator and leader in our district is working tirelessly to try and provide that why for every student. If we can give them that one thing, that one goal, that one dream, their empowered mind can lead to a boundless future. I know that third grade retention law is important. I know graduation rates important, the ACT, but so is band, art, theater, JOTC, clubs, athletics, like the reason that these kids want to come to school every day and stay. So, what I'd like to challenge you all to do uh

018in the midst of everything going on is think back to middle school, that awkward time, and think of the person to help you find your why so that you could find your way. Thank you. >> Thank you, Coach C. Can I Can I say something about you? >> Go ahead. Go right ahead. >> I I made Coach C. What do you think? Uh 50 80 miles you had to run. >> Yeah. Because of my body. >> No, not because of >> Great soccer player, great leadership, was a captain for our soccer team, and I knew when he came back from pharmacy to education, he'd be a great administrator. Good job, Mike. Can I say something too? I just want to say I admire Michael Catio so much. We were in many professional development um sessions

019together as math teachers and he was topnotch back then and he still is. >> Thank you. Thanks again, coach. Okay, our uh foundation updates. Kids first Coopin books. LeBron, if you don't know LeBron, he's been around since Moses. >> Hey, listen. I feel like it. >> You're still a great human being. Great coach. So good to see you, coach. >> Thank you, Joe. First of all, Michael was one of our students uh at Hunter Middle School. And my name is uh LeBron Stury. Beverly, come on up. Uh I'm a retired educator here in Hampton County Schools for 31 years. Teacher coach, uh administrator. I've been now 20 years after been retired 21 years. It's hard to believe that I see the logo Hampton County Schools and uh still have a heart for my great experience

020that I had working in Hampton County Schools. Dr. Robertson, uh Chairman Smith and fellow board members. Real quickly, we're going to talk to you again. As I said, I'm a 20-year board member of the uh Fund for Excellence. 38 years ago, Dr. Loftess established the Fund for Excellence to try to help uh the local schools raise funds. We all know we have all kind of money. Every school has everything they need, don't they? We know that's not true. Uh but one of the things that the board has been doing, uh, of course, first is the kids first coupon book. Uh, this is Beverly Conway. She's a 25-y year, uh, member of the Fund for Excellence staff. Uh, there's only two uh, as such. And Miss Conway is going to give you one of the new

021books this year. these books. Um, everybody's heard about them. Everybody knows about the kids first coupon book. The one thing that we've been trying to do this year, the book, it's good for a year. You hear on TV, the sale sales over Labor Day or sales over Memorial Day. These coupons are from the local merchants. We have had in the paper, uh, if you hadn't seen the Sunday paper, we've had a list of all the sample savings. You get your $15 back. We thank the local merchants because they are giving coupons out to help support public education and help support Hamilton County Schools. But that's not the reason to buy a coupon book. The reason to buy a coupon book is because the local elementary school gets $10 of the 15. It cost us a

022$160 now to print this book after COVID with all the cost. That's 66 and 2/3%. I challenge anyone in this room to show me a fundraiser for schools that gives that percentage. We asked the coordinators. They're not out there. And so the reason to buy a coupon book and we've been promoting this year is to support the local elementary schools for help them to raise necessary funds. We already have one school this year is probably going to make we're going to write them a check for $15,000 for the coupon books that they have sold. Several are going to get checks for $10,000 because $10 of that 15 goes to the local elementary school. One of the things we're proud of this year, we've developed a QR code. It's the kids' first QR code. All of

023us remember the day we went door todoor and we had our little piece of paper and we were selling wrapping paper, cookie dough or world's chocolate finest. I here to tell you World's Chocolate Finest this year instead of last year was $50, that box is now $80. So, uh, some schools have said, hm, we're not going to do that. One of the things we want to do as fund for excellence is continue. And again, I'm just a temporary. I've been a board member. That's all my role is. I'm not paid. I just want to support Hampton County Schools. But we're going to uh be writing these checks at the end of the sale next week. Uh, we've given out new incentives this year. One of the cool ones we have to sell just two books.

024Most of you have heard of the Little Debbie Hampton County Fair. If a child sells two coupon books this year, we've got a free exclusive night on Thursday before the fair starts for that child and their two adults to ride all the rides and get a Coca-Cola Dr. Dr. Pepper Coca-Cola product. Uh we really appreciate the parks and recreation Karen show and mayor wamp uh for this. This is going to be a cool thing. It's exclusive for these students who sold just two books. We've got drawings this year for four tickets to the Tennessee Vandy game, four tickets to the Titans New Orleans Saints game. We've got tickets to Atlanta Braves next year because they're not going to make the playoffs this year, folks. Uh so it's not going to happen this year. We also

025have two drawings from the local Chick-fil-A uh owners for a Chick-fil-A meal for an entire year. That's a $600 value. The Chick-fil-A owners have uh committed to us for two of these. Plus, we have other drawings for the students that sell five. We're excited to try to help the schools make money. And again, this book is not the reason to buy a Kids First coupon book. It's to help the local elementary schools. I will close with that. Uh again, uh you may be getting an email soon. There's 6,000 employees in this system. the more books we sell. You can designate with this QR code. All they do is get their phone or go to the internet kids first coupon book. Click it, select the school you want to give that $10 to. You can actually

026select the student, but if we send it to employees, you're going to still designate the school. We're going to send you the book. But we're trying to sell all these books. Our goal this year is 30,000. We want to get back up to 40 or 50,000, but we're on our way this year as such. So again, thank you for the time. I appreciate Dr. Robertson and his communications office. They have been outstanding. They came to Daisy. We had a kickoff at Daisy. David Carroll's been a wonderful supporter of Kids First and uh we had a great time. The staff was there for communications sharing the information. I will shut before Shirley throws the bell at me. Thank y'all so much again for supporting Kids First. The other thing quickly, we do uh two things. We

027give grants to the teachers. They're actually now applying for $1,000 grants. We're going to give 30 $1,000 grants from our golf tournament that we do in the spring at uh Bear Trace. Uh then also we have uh athletic grants that we'll be giving out uh a large portion of money from our USAC fund. So, we're trying to really help support the local schools, not only the elementary school, the kids first coupon book, but the athletic programs and the teachers in the school system. Any questions? >> Rhonda, got a lot a lot of people that won't want to say something here. So, don't go anywhere. Can you still hit the golf ball? She'll she'll >> If this rotator cuff would if this rotator cuff would cooperate, it's But anyhow, no, I love I love my golf.

028As you get old, Joe, you know there's one thing. You can't play pickle ball. Can't play tennis anymore. Uh God's been good, though. >> Thank you for all you all you do. Miss Jones, >> I just want to say Mr. Stury, you stole my stole my shine cuz I have my QR code right here. >> At a girl, >> cuz I have a handsome little boy at Battle Academy who is selling books >> at a girl. I was there today. >> You want them Braves tickets? >> Hey, baby. I I was there at Battle. I was there at Battle today. So, if anyone would like to to buy a coupon book, >> I have a QR code ready >> for you to just come up and access. >> And uh >> and I called first

029dib since all the other board parents were supposed to be in quiet. >> Thank you, Miss Jones. Yeah, we are excited about this QR code. We've sold um again, the parents can still take their order forms, but this QR code can be sent out to all of their acquaintances. We didn't publicize it. So you'll this question was asked. Why didn't we send it Chednoo wide? The problem is it cost $6 to mail a coupon book. >> Well, that's more we only make $3 and a few cents of the $5 cuz we got to pay for the book. So again, it's gone through the schools, but they can call the elementary school. They'll be more than glad to give you that code. And you designate that school, designate that student. We've got we've given crop charms,

030air heads, keychain backpack, a backpack keychains, uh all kind of cool little things, friendship bracelets, plus there's 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 book levels, but that two book level gets them to the county fair. Thank you, Miss Jones. >> Okay, don't go anywhere just yet. >> Yes, sir. >> And Mr. Sturky and I have a little bit of a background, but we do, don't we, Gary? >> All the time you give, I just really appreciate it. the number of hours and that and guess he hits the golf ball I think about three times a week still uh >> not lately >> but I I will say this uh Mr. Stury was my first year teaching mentor uh at Eastridge Junior High. >> Amen. >> And uh in 1982 and led me to the Lord that

031year. >> Amen. >> God's good. >> Steve Slater. >> Steve. >> Yeah. Um, >> yes, sir. >> Don't let that gray hair fool you. >> Um, >> way back in the 70s when I was playing softball with I hate to say this, but it was Frosty Mug. When we needed a shortstop, we called LeBron and the boy could play some ball. I'm just telling you. >> Yeah. >> Had a lot of fun, didn't we, Steve? >> Yeah, we did. >> Those days are gone, too. >> Yes, they are. >> Ronnie Yan, thank you. Yes, sir. Thank you for talking. Everybody in the house needs to buy a Cupid book and uh >> Well, don't let them don't tell them, but they're not going to get out if they don't. No. >> Well, I think Carissa

032said she's going to be standing over there. Yes, ma'am. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank y'all. Appreciate Dr. >> Oh, yes, ma'am. My daughter was my daughters were privileged to attend Hunter Middle School while you were principal there and opened it up and >> every time I passed LeBron Ciri Road I think of you. >> Well, thank you so much. >> I I had 30 31 wonderful years there. Thank y'all for what you do. >> Thank you so much. Okay, we've got some exemplers of excellence. Dr. Robertson, I believe you're going to take care of this for us. >> Well, just can I give a little background? We have uh two uh student board members that will be non voting members but active participants in uh the board and the work ahead. We've had this in

033the past. Uh Mr. Smith and I were talking about years past and trying to figure out when when it went away. Uh but uh we're we're excited to bring this back and these two were voted on uh by the student leadership council that we started last year. They both served on that as juniors and were selected by their peers this year to be uh the two representatives. I'm going to ask Angie Cass to come forward and also Donnie Mullins to come forward at this moment and ask uh Miss Cass if she would do a proper introduction for Ryan Jenkins and then for uh Donnie Mullins to do a proper introduction for our second board member star say. Good evening, Chairman Smith, distinguished board members, Dr. Robertson. I'm honored to stand before you tonight to present

034a young man who I feel absolutely certain will be an invaluable asset to your group this year. Many of you have met him already. Um, many of you know him. Many of you have had the privilege of having him serve on a campaign that you have run. Um he is already at the young age of 18 a legend in the Saudi Daisy community and we are very proud of the work that he does for us. Um I do want to pause for a moment to just reflect on something with Ryan in mind. High school is a time where students are able to explore things, explore courses, explore extracurriculars, athletics, whatever drives their passion. Um, in that time, it is our sincere hope that we inspire them in the next steps of their journey, whatever that

035may be. Um, every once in a while a principal is able to meet a student that what we all refer to as an old soul. Ryan displayed a picture on his Facebook page um a few months ago of him at the age of 9 years old meeting his first elected representative for the state level. He's had that passion since he was a very young man and he is determined to make a career in the political arena and I can honestly tell you I will be as a retired person working on his campaign if he would like to have my services. Um he is instrumental in things that happen at Saudi Daisy High School in our community and beyond. He has served many folks across Hamilton County already. He's been to the state level numerous times

036to meet representatives. He is eager, he is curious, and he is fascinated with what's happening. Um, and he told me the other day that he wishes to start his career at the local level. You all are receiving a gift tonight in Ryan Jenkins and I could not be more proud to represent him. Come on up, Ryan. [Music] [Applause] Let's go star and I'll be more often. Welcome to the >> Congratulations. You're good to come out. [Music] [Applause] Um, I just want to say how much I appreciate that you all truly value having direct access to student voice and I do want to take time and address the students of Hamilton County and those who selected me and just say how I take this role very seriously and it's a true honor to be able to

037serve in this capacity. I want to say thank you again to all of you guys, the superintendent, deputy superintendent, Miss Cass, and my family who's helped make me make who's helped me make all this possible. So, I'm I'm excited and I'm optimistic. Ryan, you have a you have a a new seat. You don't sit back there anymore. You have to sit up here. >> Okay. Dr. Robertson. >> Yeah. Ask uh Donnie Mullen to introduce our second member, Miss Star say. >> Yeah. I'm going to ask Star if she'll just come on up. We'll just we'll go ahead and do that. You'll stop by Dr. Robertson first. Join me. >> So, Chairman Smith, Dr. Robertson. Um, I just I'm honored to stand next to Star. I think when when I think of her, when somebody asks

038me to describe her, I think of leader. Um, I think she is exactly what her name says she is. Um, and what she will be, she will be a star. Um, she already is. Um, she was on my very first student um, advisory council as a principal at Udawa High School. So, we knew there were great things ahead for her. Um, and I think it speaks volumes that her peers would vote her into this role. I think what you're going to get is somebody that's dedicated, somebody that is an advocate for others, and somebody that leads with her heart. So, congratulations, Star. [Music] [Applause] >> Thank you. Yeah, we're done. [Music] [Applause] Ryan Star, we we uh absolutely uh welcome you guys and and and we value you. Um you have a light there. I

039believe that uh if you have something to say, you push that light. If I was to not see it, we'll then pick it up and throw it at you uh to make sure that you're recognized. Your voice is important on any item we discuss. We want to hear from you guys. So, you absolutely weigh in. Do not let me miss you. Uh that's vitally important, but we're so glad you're here. Um Dr. Roberts and I were talking about when I first came on board over a decade ago now. Uh we had a representative and it kind of fell off because the representative didn't come. So my marching orders to you two guys, you got to be here because we need you and we need to hear from you. So welcome. We're so very glad to

040have both of you guys. Okay, that takes us down to our disclaimer and I believe uh we just have one. I think I declare that I have a relative who works for the school system and that the board's vote on budget policies, etc. may have an effect on my relatives employment. Even so, I hereby certify that I will cast my vote in the best interest of the school system. >> Okay, that takes us down to the approval, our consent agenda. Before we do that, um there's a red item there. You see under uh 10B3. Do you you guys see that? >> Maybe it's just red on my copy. >> No, it's red. >> Okay. CCA property encroachment. Dr. Robertson, just take a minute and and explain that. >> Yes, sir. It's a item that we

041just got to uh Miss Macaui late, so it's highlighted in red. Just recognizing that it came late. essentially uh what it is uh a house was sold on the back side of the CCA property. Uh once it was sold through the survey recognized that uh a basically a stone porch was jutted into the hillside which is part of our property. So this is basically an agreement for uh the new homeowner to purchase at market rate a small piece of land. I think it's like 530 square feet. Uh so it's it's a very minimal piece of property, one that we couldn't use because it's into a hillside. Um and it's a nominal amount, but that's why it's in red and that's what it's asking to approve. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for that clarification.

042Uh do you have a question about that, Miss Jackie? >> No, that was me. I was saying so right here it says $89. Is that what you're talking about? $89. Okay. Okay, with that I will ask for a uh motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Move to approve. >> I have a motion to approve. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> I have a second. Okay. Any items to be pulled? Seeing none and no lights. Roll call. >> Mrs. Black. Yes. Mr. Mr. Connor, >> yes. >> Oh, >> Mr. Dy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gro, >> yes. >> Mrs. Haden, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jones, >> yes. >> Mr. Keane, >> yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer, >> yes. >> Mr. Slater, >> yes. >> Miss Thomas, >> no. >> Chairman Smith, >> yes. Okay,

043that takes us down to board matters. And I'm going to recognize uh Mr. Connor because he brought thisou. So, Mr. Connor, if you would uh speak to this >> administrative >> item 10, administrative >> item 10. >> Yeah, administrative matters. >> I'm I'm just getting ahead of myself. Thank you. And those are so important. I must be in a hurry to go get to the ball game, I guess. I don't know. Excuse me, Zach Brown. Thank you. >> I thought it Yes, sir. Chairman Smith, this is just we have two educators that we've um um wanted to verify that they have received all the eligibility when it comes to their missing um testing scores. I brought this to you I believe maybe two months ago for where we had a significant number of u educators

044receiving tenure. Uh these are two remaining educators that I like to recommend that we reinstate their tenure. >> Okay. Any questions, comments? Seeing none, motion to approve. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Questions, comments. Roll call. >> Mrs. Black. >> Yes. >> Mr. Connor? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dy? >> Yes. >> Mr. Grime? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Haden? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jones? >> Yes. >> Mr. Keane? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer? >> Yes. >> Mr. Slater? Yes, >> Miss Thomas. >> Yes, >> Chairman Smith. >> Yes. >> 2026 benefits premiums. >> Yes, sir. Uh, this is just, if you recall back to our FY26 budget, we discussed all of the the employee benefits adjustments that was made and approved by this board. Uh, this is just to be very transparent on where we're

045at with our benefit premiums, our retirey premiums. Uh we'll need this to be approved so we can start our open enrollment uh on October 1st. >> Okay. So I need a motion to approve. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Motion in a second. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Black, >> yes. >> Mr. Connor, >> yes. >> Mr. Dy, >> yes. >> Mr. Gro, >> yes. >> Mrs. Haden, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jones, >> yes. >> Mr. Yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Slater. >> Yes. >> Miss Thomas. >> Yes. >> Chairman Smith. >> Yes. >> Updates for 2026. >> Yes, sir. With that uh approval from the board with our benefits changes. This is just making sure that we're in compliance with our collaborative conferencing, going over the change to make sure

046it's very transparent to our our employees when it comes to insurance coverage, spousal search charge, events attendance, uh workday clarification, return to work, and the paid parental leave. Uh we're all in agreement with our collaborative partner that this is indeed good for our employees. >> Okay. I have uh Miss Jones. That's Gary actually. >> That's me. >> That's true. So >> need a >> my question is to you. >> We need a motion and a second right >> to approve to discuss. >> That's correct. >> Okay. >> We need a motion to approve. >> Motion to approve >> with question. >> Second. >> We got a second now. Go ahead. >> All right. So, these benefit premiums, does this include a topic we're going to discuss probably at the policy meeting with regards to uh

047teachers that have been suspended holding on to their insurance or being placed in. So, explain that to me where that falls in on this. >> Yes, sir. That will be a separate matter. That's uh something we can continue to discuss. But this is just when we think about our normal health insurance premiums, benefits. Um, but that's a separate topic. All right. >> Just wanted to make sure that. Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Okay. Roll call. >> Mrs. Black? >> Yes. >> Mr. Connor? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dy? >> Yes. >> Mr. Grime? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Haden? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jones? >> Yes. >> Mr. Keane? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer? >> Yes. >> Mr. Slater? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Thomas? >> Yes. >> Chairman Smith? Yes. Salary scale master step. >> Yes

048sir. In front of you this is uh you know state of Tennessee requires us to have a minimum salary. And so we were notified by the state that our minimum salary for our master zero was um under under where it needed to be. And so this is to make that adjustment for our master's zero uh personnel. You can see that that's going to uh in the memo about 30,000 to adjust. Um uh all our other categories are well exceeded the minimums but I will state that this will be something we'll monitor going into FY27 to make sure that we are not just meeting but exceeding um salaries state of Tennessee. >> Okay. Any other >> roll call >> Mrs. Black? Yes. Wait, do we have a motion? >> Sorry. Move to approve. >> Excuse me.

049I'll second Miss Black's motion. >> Real call. >> Mrs. Black. >> Yes. >> Mr. Connor, >> yes. >> Mr. Doy, >> yes. >> Mr. Gro, >> yes. >> Mrs. Haden? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jones? >> Yes. >> Mr. Keane? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer? >> Yes. >> Mr. Slater? >> Yes. >> Miss Thomas? >> Yes. >> Chairman Smith? >> Yes. >> I may look make sure I can get this right this time. I need a motion to approve bond fund for capital projects fiscal year 26. >> A motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. Any questions, comments? Miss Sha, >> I'd like to pull the CSAS4.5 million and I'd like to make a motion to send that to the athletic committee. I'm not pull >> the way I Mr. Chairman, the way

050I'm interpreting that motion is that there's a list attached to this to this item. Miss Schaefer, correct me if I'm wrong. My understanding is that you want to pull that item from this list and refer it to the athletic committee. >> That's correct. >> Okay. For the record, which which number is this on this list? >> It is number Well, there's two fours >> this because it's in district four. So, >> one. >> Yes, >> it's the second four. >> Okay, got it. Thank you. >> All right. So, we're clear. There's There's been a motion to approve uh the bond capital projects. Miss Schaefer is making a motion to amend this list to pull uh the CSASS item and to refer it to the athletic committee. Did I get that right, Miss Schaefer? >> That's

051correct. >> Okay. I don't think I heard a second on her motion. >> Second. >> Okay. So, >> now discussion is discussion. >> Yes. >> Oh, >> go ahead. Go ahead. Uh Mr. Gary, M Miss Jones says Gary over here. Miss Jones. >> Mrs. Jones. It's a song for that. Y'all know. Um but um no my qu my my my um my question I guess is is kind of the rationale for that because I mean it is athletic based but also there's a gym floor on here. I mean there's other things that are athletic based. Are we going to pull everything that's athletic and move it over to athletics committee or we're just pulling the CSAs turf? >> It's the amount of money that it is and we we don't have a lot of explanation

052on this project. that that's the reason just to discuss the project a little bit further. >> Okay. Well then I want to pull the whole list in because I don't know a lot of this stuff on here. >> I mean I'm just saying if you're I mean >> okay Mr. King >> are we ignoring that >> she >> that's a secondary motion >> uh point of procedure. She made a secondary motion that we have to vote for before we can continue with the first confused. What are you going >> there's discussion on the motion to amend is where I think we are procedurally >> but m Miss Jones has rated has is debating the motion as I understand where we are >> that's where we are >> okay >> that's where we are >> uh

053so this would be you right >> so just to be clear pulling of the item is to find out >> a clearer thing or because when you send it to the athletic They aren't the ones that deal with the budget. >> Exactly. >> And that what what's the purpose of sending it to the athletic? >> Maybe it should be facilities. >> Yeah, that's it would it would go to the facility committee. >> Athletics can be involved, but Jim, go ahead, Dr. >> Yeah, if you remember, we this came to the facilities committee um the last time that we met. I can't remember that exact date this this list came and and this item was on there. Uh it is a bigger number, right, than anything we've done. The reason it's a bigger number, CSAS, uh

054if you've ever been to that um that school, uh it's a it's an old stadium. It's got a retaining wall that has old bleachers. U the old changing facilities underneath the bleachers and then it's a it's a soccer field with a baseball field and a softball field all in the same place. Right. And so the four and a half million uh is not only for resurfacing that field, but they're going to have to tear out those bleachers because the bleachers are um the the bottom of it actually we don't even allow anyone in it anymore out of safety reasons. So they're having to tear those bleachers down uh in in the course of that ensures that retaining wall uh is solid, right? And then uh the rest of it goes to resurfacing that entire field

055so they can play uh baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse. They don't have a football team, but uh it is a larger field. Plus, you throw in, you know, the retaining wall and the bleachers is what makes it more than uh other athletic facilities. >> Okay, Mr. K. >> Thank you, Chair. Um Dr. Robertson answered most of my questions. I was going to point out as you mentioned that it is officially condemned that they're not actually allowed in there at all. Uh was what I was >> bottle of it. >> Okay. Yeah. >> I don't think it's officially just we've made the decision >> and this >> I mean you've been down there. You've seen it. >> Yeah. I have some constituents that have asked me to go see it that you know obviously everybody knows CSASS

056has students from across all districts. Um we this field will also be utilized for the school for K through 12 for physical education daily. So this is a needed thing that we are in line with uh the new educational laws that we have to do x amount of physical activity a day play that's uh not PE. Um and this is something that we've done at other places including Howard school has a new turf field. That's something that we're moving towards in most of ours for the longevity of fields and it should, if I'm not mistaken, become a costsaver in the first few years um without having to buy grass seed, watering it, mowing it, paying somebody to do that. I'm in line on all this. >> Yeah, I I mean I think it it none

057of this is necessarily costsaver. I think it's a wise investment just like we have done in other u athletic fields of putting in the turf for community use for things like you said um that I should have provided this context as well that it's not just 4.5 you also see on there there's 500,000 that's set aside from hotel motel tax that mayor wamp has specifically put towards this purpose uh that aligns with um you know the community use of athletic facilities and more um more spaces for youth sports. Uh, and if I'm not mistaken, I think this is already on the commission agenda for Wednesday. >> You took my point again. I was going to that was the next comment is that it's not just for our students, it's also for community use that we

058could potentially get revenue from. >> Yes. >> So, okay. So, there's a lot of items that come back to us on this. Thank you. Ju just as a point of reference for just the football field, just the football field that we just did at East Hamilton for example, what what what did we pay for that? >> We we budget uh somewhere between 1 to$1.2 million. Uh it ranges of course you you put some um can't remember the technical term contingencies in there because we have run into some issues of like dirt issues, additional costs that we weren't aware of. Uh but if if you think about the size of a a baseball field and a football field together, that's what we're talking about here, which obviously makes it a lot of the cost though again

059goes back that retaining wall. If you haven't been on CSAs campus, I mean, it's the retaining wall is probably a 30 foot drop from the parking lot to uh to the ground level and it's tearing out those entire stands and >> everything else. So, it's much more than just the turf that this cost is. >> Steve Slater is old enough to have played football there >> and probably did. >> Yeah. Go ahead. >> U how if we're talking softball, baseball, lacros, how's this going to be lined off? Yeah, it's it's a good question. We talked to Justin Wood about this. There's going to have to be some uh portable or mobile fencing for the the softball and and the baseball. The mound obviously uh in and his sons play baseball, so he he said that

060this happens in multiple places, but the mound is removable for for baseball to convert it to softball. So, you would have lines for basically, you know, right, left field, and then bases that could move the the mound that can move and then the field itself would be lined off for uh I believe soccer and lacrosse and possibly uh kind of youth football lines, not not what you see at Saudi Daisy, but probably the inverse of it. You'd have darker lines for for soccer and and lacrosse and more um nuance lines for football. I you may can answer this out, but I think the county is actually footing the bill for like a half million. >> Yes, sir. Of this >> the out of the hotel motel tax mayor wants us. >> Okay. >> Point of

061order, chair, if I may. In our facilities meeting, there was a map of this project. >> Yeah. Right. Right. Okay. And again, I'm confused here. So, Karita, is this you? >> That's her name. I think this is you now. >> Me? >> I just didn't me. I don't have anything. >> Okay. Then Miss Jackie, >> I I just like to say that uh I think it's very much needed. I'm not really understanding why it's going back to a committee. Um uh what what purpose that would do uh to go back to the committee when we can discuss it before we vote on it, I guess, whether you wanted to vote on it or not. And I was really unclear about the motion. The motion was to accept it. uh do we accept it and then

062with her amendment that's the whole motion. So do we vote it just just hypothetically do we if we we're not forward we vote the everything down or do we vote the first part is just vote down the amended part >> right now the only thing that's before the board is Miss Schaer's motion to refer this particular item to the athletic committee but I think I heard Miss Schaeer say that maybe the facilities committee would be better but we can we can cross that bridge when we come to it. Uh but so so to answer your question, Miss Thomas, right now the board is discussing whether to treat this particular item separately and send it to committee. >> And so I'm clear, Miss Schaefer, um and and Mr. Gran, is the is it your motion to

063send it to the athletic committee or the facilities committee? >> I'll withdraw my motion at this time. >> Okay. Mr. Gran, do you >> No. >> Well, Miss Schaper has withdrawn her motion. Do you withdraw your second? Yes. >> Okay. So, now we go back to the original motion that was properly uh motioned and seconded. Correct. So, we're ready. And M. Jackie, you're still lit up. Do you? >> Okay. So, now we're ready for roll call. >> Mrs. Black. >> Yes. >> Mr. Connor. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Grown. >> Seems like an awful lot of money. Yes. Mrs. Haden, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jones, >> yes. >> Mr. Keane, >> yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer, >> yes. >> Mr. Slater, >> yes. >> Miss Thomas, >> yes. >> Chairman Smith, >>

064yes. I know we'll be building that gym for long. Uh, takes us down to uh uh Arch Study, West View. I need a motion to approve. >> So, move. >> Second. >> No lights. Second. Roll call. >> Mrs. Black, >> yes. >> Mr. Connor, >> yes. >> Mr. Dy, >> yes. >> Mr. Gro, >> yes. >> Mrs. Haden? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Jones? >> Yes. >> Mr. Keane? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer? >> Yes. >> Mr. Slater? >> Yes. >> Miss Thomas? >> Yes. >> Chairman Smith? >> Yes. CCA Property Encroachment that uh that we already spoke to earlier when we were approving the agenda. I need a motion to approve. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> What was it again? >> Go ahead once again. >> Yes, ma'am. Uh the reason I was talking

065about the reason it's red is because we we added it late there. There's essentially a house that sold uh when they were doing the survey, they found that a 348 square foot section of a basically a paved or pavers back porch that encroached on property of CCA. It's in a place that we're not going to ever use in a severe slope. And so the the buyer, the owner of the house has agreed at $112,000 per acre to buy that $348 square foot piece of property, which amounts to $895. So they're paying us $895 for that small piece of property. >> Mr. Connor, >> your live is >> Yes. Oh, yeah. Yeah. >> Sorry. >> Okay. >> Just I want to be in Sorry, let me get to the microphone. I just want to be in

066full compliance. Um I believe a few board members know that I've recently gotten my real estate license. I'm selling real estate. Um I did have a conversation with the real estate agent who is over this. Um longtime friend, children used to go to uh Normal Park. It's why he reached out to me. I put him in touch with uh Robert to discuss this. I was not licensed at the time. Just want to make sure that everybody knows that I had nothing to do with it and have received no monetary compensation from this deal. >> Okay. So, roll call. >> Mrs. Black. >> Yes. >> Mr. Connor, >> yes. >> Mr. Dy, >> yes. >> Mr. Grown, >> yes. >> Mrs. Haden, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jones, >> yes. >> Mr. Keane, >> yes. >> Mrs.

067Schaefer, >> yes. >> Mr. Slater, >> yes. Miss Thomas, >> what did I vote no on a few minutes ago? It wasn't this. >> No, ma'am. You voted no on the consent agenda. >> Oh. Oh, I thought I was voting no on this, but Okay, I vote yes since y'all see it's a fair market price, but I'm probably voting no. >> Chairman Smith. >> Yes. Okay. Uh, takes us down to board matters. And again, I'll recognize uh uh Mr. Connor with thisou. >> Thank you, Secret Chair. So, as was with the rest of them, you all have theou in front of you. You have in red line the two items that are added. I'll read them out now. All center employees will be background checked with Hamilton County Schools or Hamilton County Schools approved methods

068um noting the conversation line that was uh had at last month's meeting. And then this agreement will be effective immediately reinstating services and continue until such time as an RFQ can be fulfilled concerning student mental health services. Again acknowledging the conversation that my colleagues had u about the desire to have more than one option which we do with Helen Ross may have but I listened and wanted to make sure that that was uh warranted. That is the first job of a board member is to listen. So >> I want to say that this is not supposed to be a partisan issue. Uh, caring for our kids is not partisan. It is our moral obligation. Even the Chattanooga's poll this week shows the vast majority of our community want our students to have access to mental

069health care in our schools. All the same, I have read the statement from the local Republican party officials that they've put out. Not only does it contradict itself, but it contradicts Tennessee's Republican Republican Governor Bill Lee's wishes. Governor Lee has allocated extra funding for mental health support through the state, including a partnership with Centerstone, specifically by name. Our local GOP is working directly against the state leadership directives of their own party. It should also be noted that the investment in these seed coaches and counselors who are necessary in so many productive ways are not the very much also needed licensed clinical therapists. Trying to say that these job descriptions are one and the same only further highlights how far from truly understanding the need for mental health services in our schools they are. It should

070be further noted that many of these students uh have centerstone specifically written into their 504 or IEP plans. Meaning by denying these services at school as prescribed in their plans, we are breaking the law just waiting for the lawsuits. We are welcoming multiple lawsuits. Where does that 23 million go when we're paying out the families we have failed both morally and legally? I've heard from members of our community that the board members are not being truthful with them about parents being upset about the care they have received from Centerstone. And they have valid points because in my many years as a parent, community advocate, school board member, uh, and support school support member, there's one thing that is always true. If you've wronged a child in the schools, that parent lets you know loudly, publicly,

071and immediately. Immediately. Those majority of voices I mentioned, specifically the over 500 emails supporting Centerstone and their amazing work for our children, with just as many stories of their great works for our children and community, if printed, would be over 20 pounds of paper. all loudly praising the work of Centerstone. Ounce by ounce, that's 20 pounds of parents begging us to care about their children. That's 20 pounds of community members begging us to do what is right and good. 20 pounds of students in disbelief that their supports have been stripped of them with no outlet, nothing. Gone overnight. Do you know what 20 pounds of emails looks like? It looks like that. That is what happens when a parent feels their child has been wronged. That and every member of our community knows it, too.

07220 pounds of emails on the floor in front of us shows what you get when you mess with their children. You get a parents fury at our mistake. The board needs to stick to turfing fields, not politically astrourfing parents' opinions that are not there. If parents really wanted Centerstone kicked out of the schools, we would have had actual HDS parents lined up to congratulate us. Instead, the lone voice of support is a few folks from a failing fringe group claiming to be for students, but showcasing the exact opposite here tonight. We must do better for our schools. We must do better for our community. We must do better for the children who cannot vote to help to get the help they are dying to get. >> So I need a motion. I need to approve.

073>> Second. Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] I need order, please. So, we can move forward. [Applause] >> I need a motion to approve. >> Move to approve. >> I got a motion to approve. I need a second. >> Second. >> Okay. Discussion. >> Miss Schaer. With all respect to my fellow board member, this board has already spoken on this matter and we I make a motion to move this to the table. >> Second. >> So I have a a motion to table thisou and properly seconded. Um, I' I've had a couple of heat cups, so I want to make sure I don't have another one. >> Do we finish the motion? >> Excuse me, please. >> Excuse me. Uh, I've had had a motion to table the original motion and properly seconded. So, Mr. Bennett

074make sure I understand that once the motion to table and properly second has been made I make we have to make the roll call and and the debate ends. Correct me if I'm wrong. >> That's that's the rule. >> Okay. Roll call, please. Tab in this motion. >> Mrs. Mrs. Black Is there no discussion on this? >> No, >> there's discussion of a motion to table. >> What's the motion to table? >> And and this is this is a vote on the motion to table. >> That's right. >> Mr. Chairman, to clarify, motion to table is is is supposed to be non-debatable. >> That's that's that's the reason I asked the question. I want to make sure I wasn't having a heap here. >> And so and so we're clear. the the motion to t

075the board is voting on the motion to table which is which is effectively to to put it on the table. >> Okay. So, roll call. >> Mrs. Black, >> may I request to hear from the students? >> The the debate has ended. >> Roll call. >> So, we have student representatives we're not going to listen to at all. >> I'm following I mean, you want me to follow Robert's rule and procedure? That's what I'm doing. >> Follow the rules. So don't pull up to follow the rules. We talking about following rules cuz I know some rules that wasn't followed that even got her. [Applause] >> He just sat here and told these two people, these two young people that they had a voice and it mattered. >> Do the right thing and revote in front

076of us. [Applause] I'm asking for I'm asking for a roll call on the appropriately >> motion table this original motion please. >> Mrs. Black, >> no. Mr. Connor, >> I will not continue to fail our children. No. >> Mr. Dy, >> yes. >> Mr. Grung. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Haden. Yes. >> Mrs. Jones. >> No. >> Mr. King. >> So, I will make a statement for a minute. So, we asked after the last meeting. We asked our superintendent to come up with a >> uh Mr. Gro, I'm I'm going to I mean uh Mr. King, I'm going to interrupt you. >> What? >> This This is a vote now. This all debate has ended. No, it's no debate. >> No, >> I'm hoping to see the RFP from the superintendent. So, >> mine would be

077yes. >> Mrs. Schaefer, >> yes. >> Mr. Slater, >> yes. >> Miss Thomas, >> no. >> Chairman Smith, >> yes. >> 74. Motion. Motion to table carries. >> We just get to talk about it next month. Okay, this takes us down to uh >> takes us down to information only. We have some uh >> events coming up Monday. >> You added me, >> Mr. Chairman. Item B, Feliz Haden's uh exceptional ed staffing. >> Thank you. What? >> If if you'll remember, we >> they added things. >> If you'll remember under during our >> work session, we added Thank you. we added staffing and budget that Miss Feliz had asked for. Thank you for keeping me on task. Once again, go ahead. >> Hey, first I want to remind you that I'm a former Hamilton County

078School exceptional education teacher who passionately advocated >> for >> um >> I think people need to be removed that they're going to continue and interrupt because I can't I mean >> we haven't shown them any respect tonight by even listening by even debating vote in front of them >> listen listen has the floor and if I have to I will ask security to have you removed >> shame shame Shame on you. >> It's amazing. Blood on your hands. Blood on your hands. All of you. Who? I swear to God. So serious. Yes, ma'am. >> Miss Hayden, you're recognized. >> Come on. Uh, fleece, whatever you want to say. >> Let's go. >> Okay, I'll I'll start over. >> I just can't say. >> Go ahead, Miss Hayden. >> Okay. First, I want to remind you

079that I was a former exceptional education teacher and I passionately advocated for the exceptional education teachers uh back in January and through the budget season. So, here are my comments. Um Hamilton County's decision to allow allocate exceptional education staffing based on headcount rather than student needs has created a crisis. Case loads are at record highs across the county. Teachers and assistants are leaving just a month after school started under these new ratios. And students with the most significant needs are losing legally required services. IDS classes now have around 20 students with just one teacher and one assistant. Our exceptional education teachers are leaving in droves. And I'm hearing this from across the district because these ratios make the job impossible. Entire classrooms are in survival mode. You can't fix this with bonuses or quick hires.

080We are losing experienced education educators because we've made the job physically and emotionally impossible. Once they leave, they take years of expertise and relationships with them. Hamilton County must base staffing on student needs, not headcount. Restore reasonable ratios so children are safe and can learn. Provide planning time and support so teachers can actually do their jobs. And the question is, will we act now before more students lose critical services or more educators walk away? And I know we are currently hiring quite a few exceptional education teachers. if there's any anyone out there interested. Um, so that is my top my comment on exceptional ed, but I want to go on to the budget unless there's any comments. >> Okay, you make >> I have comments and my next >> Let me let me recognize and

081I'll come back to you, Jack. Okay. >> I I just want to correct for the record uh what what Miss Haden said is what we're doing. She said to go back to basing on student need. Last spring we went from headcount to student need. So how we're staffing is what you just said we should be doing. To clarify what uh is creating the issue and the issue that we've been trying to work through is a very specific license. It's a 461 license that uh across the state people are struggling with. You actually saw uh Tennessee Department of Education put out a similar uh incentive as we did to get more people to get that 461 license. It's classes like IDS, multiple exceptionalities, DCC. That's where we're struggling. We've got approximately 15 openings uh in XED

082teachers. The issue uh is that kids don't come in these boxes of 10, right? and we have committed as a district and we talked about this last spring that if a parent wanted to stay in their zone school that we were going to work through that. We're currently looking for about six uh teachers with the 461 license. What the incentive is is to encourage people that don't have the 461 license to go into one of these classes and then take the necessary coursework to get the 461. And so just to clarify, the number of app the number of vacancies that we have is typically what we have. If you heard me say this last year, we could post 30 exceptional ed positions right now. And uh specifically with the 461, as of two weeks ago,

083we had zero applicants. >> Correct. >> Zero. And so what we're dealing with is a lack of uh eligible employees internally or externally uh that are that are willing to do it. And so the incentive is to encourage people to to move that in that direction. Uh I I again say this all the time and I applaud uh Dr. Brown, his staff for what they do. We have stayed ahead of the curve not only in in hiring regular ed but also exceptional ed teachers. But we are pulling every single lever that we can to make sure we can hire the best and retain the best. uh with this 461 license, it's becoming incredibly hard. And so, we're trying to be innovative uh in terms of getting people into these positions. And I want to be

084clear, this keeps coming up about like where where are we coming up with the money for this? We have 15 vacancies right now. We also did a conservative approach to our title two because if you remember at the beginning of the school year, we had to hold on some of the title two because the federal government pressed pause on it. Title two money can be used for this. And so this isn't something that's unique to Hamilton County and it is not uh in in something that's coming out of the way that we've changed. We were in headcounts. Now we're based on student needs. >> Okay. All right. I I'll come back to you in just a second. Uh Miss Jackie, your light is your lights on. >> I was just trying to I want clarification.

085what the purpose of of uh is is the purpose for lease to just notify us of the vacancies that's happening? What what's the the purpose of the discussion? I guess that that was kind of my question because I think for me it's operational. I think that's something they need to work out. Uh unless it's a policy that we're trying to change. We've already gone over the budget. I just was trying to get clarification of were you just notifying us that there's a special ed vacancies in schools or or what was your purpose? >> Okay, I'll say this. I taught in Hamilton County schools 20 years. The last five years were exceptional education. Um, this year was different. And I know we had the budget cut, but I know we it it >> didn't do it

086because of budgeting reasons, but there was a huge backlash if you remember all the parents and families and teachers showing up trying to fight for their same placements um in exceptional education. And I know one school, my district school, uh was notified in January that seven of their personnel would no longer be there the next year. So there was a major reorganization that I that I that I disagree with that's causing these changes. This year is different according to all the people that I'm hearing from in the community. Okay. as far as the ratio of the numbers, their class sizes are larger and it's hard for them. They don't have the support and I know you know some specific accounts but I don't want to call people out but this is this is different. Well,

087let me can I can I finish, please? that I I just wanted to clearly understand and I understand you said you you worked in in in uh special ed for the last five years and you know the importance I too think special ed is very much important and children should be served but having because I'm just thinking about what you just said working in special ed you should also know that a lot of special ed students need mental health services more than anything and so I think us keep debating this about what's needed for special students and there's a vacancy. We can't do anything if there no one if there's no one to teach. But I think for me, let Dr. Robinson, Dr. Sonia Stewart, and whomever else is responsible, Dr. Brown, they got DRS

088in front of their name responsible for determining and how that problem is going to be solved. Solved because we can't solve it off of a policy is what I'm saying. So that's that's that's why I was just like, what what's our purpose? uh because I think special ed students need a whole lot and I just didn't know. We're not going to revisit the budget. We're not So I'm just I was just trying to figure out what the purpose was. >> M let me get Miss Schaefer now. >> My last >> Okay. All right. Back to you then, Miss Fletch. >> Okay. All right. Well, I just, you know, mainly just want us I'd love to turn back the clock if I could, but I'll move on to our next uh my next topic. >> Real

089quick, my lights on. Um >> Oh, go ahead. >> Thank you, Chairman. Um Dr. Person, I wonder if it would be worthwhile to maybe at the next board meeting, we get an update just on where we are collectively across the county as it pertains to this specific topic. How are we staffed? What are the current numbers? Do we have more high needs? I mean, I think that might be worthwhile because candidly I have have heard some concerns as well primarily rooted around kids that had higher hour requirements who were, you know, we went to their parents and their IEP team and hey, can we move these kids in some of the specialized locations and of course that was a choice. >> So, I am curious kind of how that played out and kind of where

090we are overall. >> Yeah, m Miss Had put in a pretty lengthy request earlier this week that we're working towards that answers a lot of the questions that you just asked. I would expect uh probably early next week for us to have that ready uh that we'll send out. And it it's essentially answering all those questions like what is supposed to be at a school from an inclusion teacher, what is supposed to be at a school for an ME class, a DCC class, assistant, so on so forth. Also shows you the counts of students. Um and so hopefully early next week we'll have that ready and be able to send it to the entire board. >> Okay, great. >> Yeah. Okay, Mr. Fates. All right. The other um topic as far as staffing and all

091too is something that we've been asking for are um you know uh a list of positions um and job descriptions. So um but something that we still have not approved and the organizational chart. I know that's something that you're supposed to do during the budget season as well, but I'm just going to read from policy 5.101, which is creation of positions and lines of authority. Um, all existing staff positions shall be approved from year to year through the an annual budget process and in accordance with an organizational plan submitted by the director of schools and approved by the board. before any or new additional position is created, the board must specifically approve it. Um, so and then the director of schools must first present a job description and compensation, etc. Um, but it just seems

092like this past year, even with the budget, we've been adding new positions and new names, and I know that's been what >> I guess the norm. And >> we sent you this a week and a half ago. The new one. >> The new one. >> Yeah, >> the new one. >> All right. I'm just saying during the budget season. But um >> let's see. Um, something else I've noticed when we reorganize and we need to change of personnel for positions, what I know happens quite a bit or over the years is we move that person to a new position that might not be approved or might have a new name and then hire someone else. And so we end up um I just think proportionately when we're in a season where we're not getting all

093the grants and all um and needing to make cuts like we did this past year. I just think we need to be more prudent as far as how many positions we have. And I'll just I'll just rattle off this one. um report that I have because you've seen some of the other documents um that I provided where you know there are a lot of positions that or in the organizational chart that were not in the budget that we approved either. Um and I know I explained that I actually uh considered you know the self-funded programs and didn't include those. And I know I and I also um um removed 50 of the positions that were federal uh funded, but there were still 67 positions that I couldn't find budgeted. So, you know, I just want

094I guess some reconciliation. Um but when you consider let's see we had 400 central office positions but there were 116 positions in the organizational chart that weren't in the budget. So that makes like 512 central office positions. But there are two other categories that aren't based in schools and those are like um they might be school serving you know or bookkeepers or psychological personnel but they're not you know their home is not in a in one particular school or divided between a few schools. So if you add those school serving positions to the centralized positions and the organizational chart, there's a total of 642.75 positions that aren't based in schools. And I just think that's a high number. I know recently the Chattanoogan posted the top salaries um in theirs. And and in my opinion,

095this is a lot and I'll just give you the facts. Uh we have a superintendent, a deputy superintendent, five community superintendent, seven chiefs, six executive dire director, executive directors, 18 directors, 47 coordinators, four because I saw another one in top salaries projects and policy administrators and the lowest of those is 96,000. That's 88 positions um totaling close to $10 million for the top 88 positions. And um uh and there are some areas and I won't call them out right now, but I feel like we need to focus more on educating our students and academics, supporting our teachers, regular teachers and exed teachers in the classroom. And I do want to praise our administration for all the work that you do supporting the future ready programs. And I know we kicked that off at the gateway

096today. And I think I think that's the best thing the the thing I'm most proud of. Um one of the most things I'm most proud of that our we do an excellent job. I mean all of our staff. Um, so I'm very proud of, you know, the future ready and willing to invest in that and academics. Um, and um, I just think we need to streamline. The reason I'm bringing it up now is because throughout the year we start hiring people and new positions get posted that I'm not familiar or have not seen and and new positions are created. people are just moved around and um and I would just like to follow our policy more and have more accountability there. And I hate to offend anyone. I personally I really personally hate to do

097that, but I also feel passionate about, you know, being fiscally responsible with our with our budget. >> Mr. Chairman, I I just need to know what what you guys want to see. On on September 8th, we we sent you an email. Had a memo that outlined how we categorize positions. Had the updated organizational chart. It had a spreadsheet listing every position with the department, the title, uh the funding source, so that we can see that, you know, when we say it wasn't approved in the budget. What what we're actually saying is the GP budget versus federal programs. We tried to clarify that with that spreadsheet. If you will tell us what you want to see, we will provide it. We have been transparent uh with our budget with these positions. And I just we just

098need to know what you want. >> Perhaps and I I really want to say this in front of my finance chair. What might would be helpful is let's have a work day, a finance workday where we really dissect all this and you bring all this stuff to us and uh in a in a way that we can all understand. >> Can we get some feedback on the 98 email because I mean we we spent a ton of time on that. >> Ton of time >> and I apologize for not thanking you for that information. Um I know you spent a lot of time on that so forgive me for not you know recognizing that work that you did and thank you very much um on that but you know I think this is about going

099forward with hiring and how many positions we want and approving positions. So I think it's more about >> it's a lot a lot of stuff course is done. We're into this new budget year. chew on what I just said a minute and I'm going to recognize you and then I'm going to come back to you. So go ahead. >> I want to recognize that Fel has done a tremendous amount of work at the last board meeting. she provided her own independent audit in essence of the budget um through the Excel spreadsheet and then she's looked back through I believe what was sent with the new org chart but there's still some questions of things that from what Feliz has found in her kind of independent audit leaves at least 66 positions in the ORC chart

100that are not in the budget according to her kind of independent audit. So, I would like to see that reconciled, those 66 positions. Um, I I'd like to see more explanation of this so that we can get a better grasp on where we're at. the the spreadsheet that we sent was trying to do just that because the 66 positions were either in federally funded or self uh funded things like SACC or things uh some in school nutrition. >> I didn't include those. >> I understand but what you what it would be helpful is if you would give us feedback on the 98 document because that came directly from >> you only knew how many hours I know I spent at least 60 to 80 and honestly I haven't had hours and hours and hours to

101spend on the latest document yet. I understand. I understand that. But what I'm saying is we tried we sent that trying to address >> your questions with that spreadsheet that you originally came. We're happy to keep clarifying, but we've got to have feedback on on what we've sent >> and and part of it is just how we move going forward as far as, you know, creating new positions um and making sure, you know, that we're aware and that we approve because um I just feel like it's time, you know, we've grown and grown and it's time to pair down. So, part of it is just how we move going forward. um you know vacancies come up um just analyzing and I think a work day would be fabulous so we could discuss these things in

102detail and what we how what how we want our structure to look like because there's a lot of things some some a lot of functions I see in there seem to even duplicate some of the county functions too um but I don't want to you know go into that right now but yes if we could have a workshop to see, you know, what we'd like it to look like. >> Mr. Khan, >> thank you, Chair. You kind of said what I was um about to say. This feels like something we need to put in the committee. So, I could I make a motion to go ahead and table this to committee. >> Second. >> We don't have a motion. >> I'm just We can do that or we can have a work day and have

103everybody involved. I mean, whichever you prefer, which wouldn't require a vote. Uh, let me let me come. Can you hold that for hold that? >> Good. That's just You said it repeating what you said. >> All right. So, Mr. Finance Chair, your thoughts on a work day that we really dissected. >> Yeah. No. Um, I mean, we're talking about a lot of things. I think the challenge we have is, you know, I think maybe a lot of people have, you know, bad memories of what happened with the budget last season. And I think we're all trying to ensure that we don't get in the same place we were last year. Um, and it is incredibly complex budget. I'll be the first to tell you. But I I do know for a fact that one thing

104that that Justin and his team, Mayor Ellen, have committed to do is to really layer in these finance committee meetings earlier and often. That's why we had one last month. We're going to have one this uh next month. Um, and the idea behind that, Felic, I think you'll appreciate this, is um, from administrative perspective, have a more forward-looking point of view and saying, "Hey, where are gaps? Where do we need to invest more money?" And in the idea is to bring those conversations to the board on the front end so we can have a more collective input on kind of which direction we want to go. So, in their defense, that is absolutely something that was discussed and I think we can certainly combine this with the finance committee meeting next month. >> Yeah. And

105I I I'll say I was prepared to speak at the finance committee but meeting but it was cut off because there was so much else. I did not even get to discuss what I came to discuss left over from the last board meeting. So I think because of the length maybe a workshop like you suggested dedicated to this and not all this other finance. Okay. >> I've got a couple other lights. Mr. Ke that would be Mr. Rich. I'm not. >> No, you're >> I mean I am good, but I mean I I just I did still have something to say. I was actually going to I think I am so utterly confused on on on on I have never felt more a part of chaos in my life. And I hate to say that

106because I really somewhere deep down in my soul have respect for everybody on this day. But I am just so baffled at how we can have conversations about certain things and how things processes go a certain way for certain things and in other ways they don't. I just and I really don't like that because it starts to feel like I'm losing my mind and I know that I'm not crazy. I know that like I know that I have very sane cognitive skill and so I don't like being a part of narratives that I wasn't privy to agree to. And y'all could think about that on the way home because those who know when you think about it on the way home you going to understand what I'm saying and I'm talking to the people on

107this desk. But one thing for sure is that when I put my hand on the Bible three four-year terms consecutively, I swore to an oath to do what was right for children and through the state of Tennessee by through Hampton County. And I I remember the very last thing that I said and I feel like I may have jinxed myself this last term because I literally said, "So help me God with so much passion." Cuz clearly he knew what I was about to face these last four years. I implore upon my peers on this day is as you drive home today or you go through your days tomorrow in the weekend to think about this meeting and what occurred here. Every single piece of it from 4:29 until we leave here. Think about what happened

108here. Go home, process it. Every piece of it. I implore upon you all. I implore that upon you all because although I sit here as one of you all, I also entrust the love of my life to your decisions every day. And I am very concerned about my decision to do so after today. I get one chance at this life with this one little six-year-old boy. Just like everybody else gets there 1 2 3 4 however many God bless you with. You get one time to do it and get it right. I implore upon you to think about the decisions that we are going to go forth in making this school year that we have made and that we will go about making as a body. Think about them beyond the title, the votes. Think

109about them from a humanistic standpoint. and what you are doing to the lives of children, adults, and the villages that they come from. >> Think about that, y'all. >> Amen. >> Because this is serious. And it ain't serious just on whatever trip or tangent y'all on. This is life. These are the lives of children and the people that come with them. that are be they're being affected here. So think beyond your little silo, your home, your think beyond that. And please, cuz I hear I've heard everybody on this day is talk about God. Please remember, but by the grace of God, >> you could be standing in any pair of shoes that you felt like you made the right decision for. Think about that. Think about what you said out of one side of your

110neck and you turned around and said something else out the other side. Think about that because I'mma be able to go home and go to sleep tonight just fine. Even though I got a lot of stuff going on personally, I'mma sleep well. I question how well some of y'all going to sleep because if you believe in the same God I believe in, he going to rock with you tonight. >> He going to rock you. and not in the way that you feel like he going to rock you. He going to deal with you tonight, tomorrow, whenever. But this is heavy stuff. And I just want to go forth with saying as it relates, this is a Bennett question, so Benny, pay attention. >> Yes, ma'am. as it relates to what has happened these past two

111meetings as it relates to Centerstone or any other mental health service being available to these children. If God forbid something happens and we end up having to deal with Tennessee Risk Management, because I done been down this path a couple of times with you, Bennett, how do I recuse myself of being a part of this body? >> Because when they sue, they sue us collectively and you know, they start naming individuals. I don't want any parks. What is my right, if I even have one, to not be a part of that when it comes down to it? Because I don't want because that kind of stuff jeopardizes my professional. I I have a legal e ethical I don't want no parts. >> Sure. So, Miss Jones, I think it's probably a and and I don't

112mean this in an argumentative way. It's a rhetorical question because it can't happen. school board members are are immune from suit uh under under Tennessee law. I understand where you're coming from, but but you don't need to worry. Do what you do. Vote your conscience um and and move on to the next the next item, the next meeting. Um and and Tennessee law assumes that you're acting in good faith u and it protects you accordingly. >> So once again, thank you Gretza. Thank you. Uh the this item was tabled and the debate ended. Um events announcements. Monday, September 29th, policy committee at 4:30. Uh Monday, October 6 is an executive session. Will that be here, Mr. Bennett? >> No. No, it's out of here. >> That's okay. Right. And you you'll send us all emails

113on that. Uh Thursday, October the 9th is our next work session. Thursday is our quarterly meeting. Now, that's early this time, just so everybody understands uh because of fall break. Okay. >> It's October what? >> The October the 9th. >> Yeah. Which which is earlier because of fall break falling in there. So, that's just what three weeks I guess. And then fall break 13 through the 17th. Thank you. We stand adjourned. >> This board has derelicted its duty. Our students will be back until you help us.