001If everybody will stay, we'll have a moment of silence and we'll go to our places to eat. All right, today pledge is over here. Attention, salute, pledge. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you, everybody. Appreciate everybody participating and I'll turn it over now to the director for our recognitions. >> All right, Coach Sampson, our golf coach, middle school golf, come on up. >> All right, team, come on up. I want to thank the board for letting us be here tonight. It's been a great season. Middle school golf is a spring sport, so typically if we do anything good, we have to come to this board meeting to
002tell y'all all about it. So, this is our co-op team. I'm really proud of these guys and girls. We're missing two boys today. We are represented by most of the schools. I'm hoping next year we'll get some from the other ones, but we're represented here with Jeff Middle kids and Mary kids and we're even restaurant, so we got three out of our four schools. But, I'm going to let them talk and let them say their names here in a a minute, but I'm going to lose two two to eight grades. They're going to be the hospital next year, so I'm going to wish them great and I know they're going to do great things. And then I'm lending one of my girls to to the hospital, so well we've got some returnees and then we've
003got some sad faces. We're going to miss them. I'm very proud of this team. We came in second in district, which allowed the boys team to move on to regionals, where we ended in sixth place at regionals. And our girls team, they finished fourth at district, which both of those are outstanding considering we go against like 10 or 11 other schools. So I'm very proud of how they how they fared this year and looking forward to next year. But I'm going to let them come up and say their name and and what school they're from. >> Sam Bennett from Moore Middle School. >> [cough] >> Margaret Hughes from Moore Middle School. >> Brooke Rogers from Jackson Middle School. >> Caroline Spencer from Jackson Middle School. >> Sophia Hawkins from Moore Middle School. >> You got
004a picture right here with us? >> [applause] >> I know some of you all probably don't want to stay for the whole meeting. If you don't, you're fine to leave whenever or if you want to stay for a while, that's fine, too. Mr. Edmonson, we asked if you the track. He had heard some stuff about track. So, we did have several high school um members and then also some uh uh some high school and some middle school uh state champs. Um But, uh that event happens right at the end of school. So, um the last week of school. But, we'll catch up with some of them later, hopefully. So, just wanted to share that also. >> All right. Appreciate the golf team showing up. And uh I know past couple years they've done fairly well.
005Um public input. >> We do not have any more. >> All right. You do not have anything else? >> You know? >> You want to say anything? You got a little something, man? All right. That then brings us down to the uh board approved agreement or renewals. And uh MOU for the mental health services was up last time during the business session and there was uh a move to table it to the next business session um in light of wanting to maybe add some things. Let Tommy speak to that. >> Yeah, I just I got some information today um from Mr. Bennett got back. He just talked about considering having um counselors just signing that that they're that they understand the memorandum of understanding between the board. Um he said, you know that's something you
006can do. And then also talking about one thing about it was contact information. Um He said ever how you do it, that should be something that is on file and we get in touch with them whenever there's an issue. Um I have spoke to every principal and they do have that information. Um already with them. Um And then you know, he just mentioned about having that information of of the counselor on file, kind of what their schedules are, which we do have schedules. They're at some schools at one day a week, some schools four days a week depending on the caseload and size. Um and then also talked about kind of who is on their caseload if if that ever comes up. Um and then also there was a request just about how much each
007school is served by mental health counselors, like how many students they serve at each school and and how many hours per school. There is a little bit of an issue with we can definitely get the number of students served per school but the hours per school is a little tricky because various counselors serve various schools and keeping up with that. We can get the total number of hours served, maybe not broken down per school, but we can get the number of students served per school. Um Um Helen Ross McNabb may be able to um be able to get the number of hours per school and the number students, because they only have a couple of counselors serve two schools three schools. And we're working on that information and can have that at the board meeting.
008Share that information. We usually get that at the hearing anyway, just to look at the number of students served, the hours, those type of things. Um But that's something This came to um Mr. Bennett today at 3:00. And I'll get Rhonda to get that out to you at a later or send that to you in the morning, just so you can have that information. But it just like I said, mentions about signing, you know, just as they come into the school, just acknowledge that they've looked over and understand their duties. Um And then also having their information on file and schedule of the students. students served. Any questions about anything? So, >> [clears throat] >> it's not going to change our MOU from what I understand, right? It's going to be the MOU as long
009as it's going to be separate anyway. It's just going to be understood that they're going to do that stuff. >> Right. >> So. >> And he says it's best practice to have that information. And um you know, if he asks us to do something, we normally do it. Unless he says it's optional, so. Here he says it's best practice to, so. So, we'll do it. >> But the MOU will stay as they are, then, right? Okay. >> Yes. No need to put it in the MOU, Um um as kind of a procedure that we'll follow. Any questions? >> All right, so that will be up both of those MOUs being on the business meeting being voted on uh next is committee reports joint school board / county commission committee. We met What was it? Last
010Thursday, I believe, wasn't it, Doug? Doug, myself, Jamie Carmichael was there, um Austin Brooks, yeah, he sat in and we had a few uh newly post newly elected we can newly nominated for their parties, uh county commissioners and school board members. Um that was there, but Michelle was there. She was the only newly nominated school board member, but uh went over a whole lot of different things. Uh they all blank and shook with her and talked about Jefferson Elementary and what's going on there. Um and kept everybody apprised of higher talked about Talbott and what they're finishing up with that. Doug brought up garage. We'll say anything about the county garage? >> Yeah, yeah, we're we're partnering with the county commission for that new uh county garage up there. Uh seems they got the grading
011done. I didn't have a whole lot of information to tell us. Um just like, you know, it took us a while to get our steel building has taken a while for them to get theirs, but they're moving along slowly, but they're moving. And uh uh the site is graded. Uh they're doing surveying up there and if you go by there, you can kind of see where it's going to be now. Before you kind of wondered, but now the uh site is level and they're they're definitely moving along. >> They give an idea of when it's going to actually start or finish at all? >> They I guess what's hap- what you know, kind of like right we found out that you know, the our bleachers from Mari are 8 months. I guess anything that it
012has to do with aluminum or steel is way out and they're they you know, they signed it. They know what it's going to cost. They know who's going to do it, but it's a question of when it's going to get here. So that's pretty much what it >> You got anything else you want to bring up? >> Um, we uh we brought up the uh uh policy that we are going to be introducing at the next school board meeting on the bullying and cyber bullying. Explaining to them how we put our the uh policy meeting marathon policy meeting that we had special committee meeting was a starting point. Uh and that you know, Tommy brought up the seminar that we're going to have on that and that we're it's kind of an all hands on
013deck. You know, we're doing things on the uh board side, they're doing things on the administrative side. The uh administration they're doing stuff telling the principals in the high school so that all of us together that you know, we're never going to stop it, but you know, it's a kind of a you know, maybe cause it not to happen as much and when it does happen, to have a little bit more defined way of dealing with Um and uh Tommy brought up the policy information that we got uh out on the internet right there and all of it making that being up there too. Talking about that. Yeah. Definitely we met with teachers. We didn't see it as necessary to send anything out to parents. It's normal for end of the year for stuff to
014get moved. As you come in this building right now, you see all this stuff in the hallway. The The classrooms are empty, stuff cut in the hallway. They'll strip and wax, do stuff in the classrooms, and then move it back. So, that's common practice. You know, we got rid of a a piece of cabinetry furniture that sit in the room. They picked it up. It's not attached to anything. We got rid of some lockers that were in the room that's sitting on the floor. It's screwed to the wall, so that whenever you open it up or pull on it, it doesn't fall over. So, you know, we removed six screws. We talked through teachers. And met with them on election day before we started, went through the process. And got everything out in the open.
015But some of them took it upon themselves to share some information about mold and environmental issues within the building that was unfounded. And it was actually after the fact of the room had already been done, so we took care of that issue on our side. And talked with the personnel. Hopefully be able to solve that problem going forward. >> But all in all, I prefer a joint meeting. Sometimes those joint meetings are in and out. I felt it was a pretty informative joint meeting. But it was a good meeting. Uh a lot of good participation. They all like the chips that we explained about everything. going on with Jefferson County schools. I think that's pretty helpful. Folks that are here and of course Tommy talking about addressing Facebook issues, business and stuff getting out. I
016guess we need to thank our new communications director over there for getting stuff out there all that. But it was it was a very good meeting but when's the next one that was set? What's the date? >> September 14th. >> On the joint one? I had September 17th. >> 17th, yeah, you're right. 17th. I reckon it'll be here. I'm sorry to interrupt you. >> I've got it. We'll we'll figure it out. >> Um building maintenance, you got anything to add to that one? >> No, just our next meeting will be September 15th at 5:30 at White Pine. I think once we hit White Pine we've hit just about every elementary school for sure as far as meeting at. Um we've also hit Bridgewater's. They they've hit White Pine first from what I understand as far
017as just addressing >> [snorts] >> a list close to 70 items. >> 70, yeah, right. >> That they're going to try to just punch out, take care of all that and then move on to the next school and >> But they won't tell us which one. >> They won't tell us which one. So, uh >> It could be a little one. >> Cross your fingers, but uh if you want to be yours. He does like cookies if you want to try to bribe him and go to your school. >> That's good to know. >> So, um but no, I I'm I'm looking forward to doing it in that process. I think you know, getting getting a like that it takes time. Just knocking it out. And and you know, there'll always be stuff coming back
018up. But I think it'll be a good way and a good place to start over there. >> All right. That next meeting for them is again September 15th 5:30 p.m. All right. Now we're down to directors school plan all business session. Doing that. You got anything there? >> Yeah. Not necessarily a little bit, but the first thing I want to say is um we talked a lot on the joint committee meeting about capital projects and those type things. And uh Paige and I spoke today and we're looking at adding to our webpage a kind of a capital projects update. Uh so sometime tomorrow you'll see that pop up. The first one we're looking at is uh Calvert just to give an update. So it's something similar to what I sent the board that's got the
019uh uh contractor's information of where we're at currently, what's happening, where it's going to be at over the next few weeks, and then some pictures sharing uh some of that information just to post. Um we're going to hit Calvert, but remember we're building this, so we'll probably look at Calvert, um Jeff Elementary, uh the ag building, the HVAC project, and we'll go from there. Uh you know, that type of project. See where we're at. Uh we know we've got material for the next 2 and 1/2 years to get them [snorts] in there. Put in there and and keep people up-to-date. So, you know, if you're in Waterville West strong and you don't go that direction much, you can look on there and see what's happening. And then Of course, we already went over the MOU.
020That's the item that'll be under probably under old business. And then, I don't think we have anything under new business, do we? Craft nail. We'll have a couple of field trips that need consideration. And then we'll go over there, but I do want to, if you'll give me just 1 second to Joey Allen's here with us. So, Joey has been with the school system for many years. And then, she left, went to finance, and uh is basically our bookkeeper for the finance department. So, that's kind of how I would describe it. But, how many years with the school system? 20? 22 with the school system and finished up with the finance department and is retiring at the end of June. And she's been I mean, I can't even I mean, just the information, institutional information
021that you're able to call talk about, "Hey, >> [clears throat] >> in 2015, we had this. Where did that go? What happened?" I mean, she has that information. So, and then we're going to miss that, but we've got a She's She's training. So, so they're working over there. So, there'll be some transitions, but we just want to recognize Joey, appreciate all she's done for us over the >> [applause] >> That's what she That's all I have. >> Yeah, I appreciate that. I know you'll be wondering about all that money and stuff. >> [laughter] >> All right. Uh let's see. >> Yeah. >> How we looking at the activity as far as it's going schedule? >> Yeah, they plan to finish within the next 6 weeks. >> Okay. >> And uh right now, you don't see
022a lot of progress cuz they've been inside electrical, some some structural stuff with uh hurricane hangers They'll be putting in some insulation inside, putting in some uh gray metal, all the interior of the uh the enclosed area gets covered inside with gray metal, so And but it's progressing. I'm going to say next 6 weeks completion. >> I think it looks good from the outside. >> Yeah, I don't know about paving schedule. Kind of gets paved in the front, down the side, a little bit in the back. Uh so you back you know, be able to bring vehicles in there, back trailers in there, whatever you need So >> Anything else? >> No questions. >> Okay. School administrator hours for discussion. Oh. >> I have a a couple of questions. First of all, uh back when
023I first joined the school board back in when I was on the I requested that we uh get the monthly district the moment report on a monthly basis. Um I'm beginning to think that I don't unless I don't look at it every month. I'm wondering if we kind of did it in the interest that we just take the word that we we get that rather than monthly. >> Um I mean it only goes up two or three per school per per month. And I think we get it in the beginning, the middle, and the end. >> That would satisfy me. I don't know how the rest of you feel about it. >> [cough] >> And I don't think we have to vote on it. I think I just request it and we start getting it.
024So, I don't know how you folks feel about it. Do you want to get it on a monthly or if quarterly would suffice? Would there be any objection to getting it monthly? >> I said that quarterly. >> What's that? >> No, the financial. >> The No, the the attendance monthly attendance. Monthly attendance that compares one year to the next. >> Oh, that's >> Yeah. >> So, is there any problem with that? >> It looks headache for her. >> Yeah, well that's exactly. I mean, why if we're not if if it's of no great use to us, why why are we having her having to do that? So, >> I'd be fine with getting it quarterly. >> Yeah, quarterly. >> reach a kind of a beginning, middle, and end. >> Yeah. Cuz then I think you
025see more of the the trends, you know, one one year one month year one and a half year and >> But if there's any concern, you can always just ask to get it out. >> Oh, yeah. Something major happens. Yeah. I thought that >> It's great. >> So, >> we just >> If we take >> we can get this in the beginning of the month. >> Yes. >> So, why do you just wait? >> Get one in August. >> And then >> Toward of September, maybe. >> Yeah, and then February and then May or whatever. >> We'll get it. >> Um also, I got a call from at the Jefferson County Fair and I just before I came in here. The fair is going to be the 8th through the 12th. And as always >>
026What was that date? >> The 8th through the 12th of July is the fair and they will have a school staff night where the school staff will get a substantial discount. It's either a Wednesday or Thursday of that week. Um, she said just go to the website. Uh, it's on there. I didn't have a chance to look it up before I came in. So, we might want to check that to get the word out to the the school staff. They get one ticket and I believe Mr. Hardy was the one who requested something of that nature and she called me and said that they're they're finalizing the schedule. I was asked to ask That's all I had. >> I'm all right. >> Um When we got this uh, is it newer or recent time? I
027was just wondering. >> So high. >> Yeah. Yeah, one thing that you're looking at, I don't I don't know. Um but whenever you have an incident um So, let's say you have a school and you have three situations that involved um two people. Then that is Karin here, help me talk through this. >> I didn't hear that. I'm sorry. I didn't hear that. >> Come up here. Um So each time So, let's say that we have a football team or a basketball team and there was a bullying reported on the team and there was nine people involved, then that's nine separate uh reporting investigations um of of bullying is is how that's documented across this the this area. Um >> Do you happen to know, I mean, we can do some research. Do you happen
028to know if there was a large group of people that I don't >> There I know that there has been multiple people involved in multiple incidents. >> Specifically at just the one school, and not the others? >> I think at I would can't say that for sure, but I I know at the one school there have been multiple people involved with multiple incidents. >> So >> Also, I would I mean, I would also argue that I've really been hitting hard the like you must investigate, you must show that you investigate, you have to turn these in. Um I would like to think that the schools doing really good at at doing that, responding to any kind of reports, and not brushing things off. So, when I look at that number, it makes me encouraged that
029at least they're looking into things. Um where I would be concerned is if they also have a higher number of it is true bullying compared to the other schools. And that's something that I'll go through during the summer and look at as well. >> So, could could it be a possibility that the other schools that are lower may not be doing their investigation? >> I I can't say that, but this is the first year that we've had them report like this. That's what I'll say. >> Okay. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> And you know, one thing with with a lot of your low schools, uh Dana Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Piedmont Elementary, Calvin Elementary, I missed one. >> North. Mount View did have a high number. That was an outlier, too, I thought where um most of
030your elementary schools do not have as as high a number as your middle schools compared uh with the exception of uh Mount View did have a high number. But you expect that with your your middle schools especially you're going to you're going to see an increase in that age group. A lot especially with uh social media stuff and and whatever they do snap or messaging or whatever also. That leads to the school >> I definitely Are Are we uh pretty certain that our our cell phone ban uh 9:00 to 3:00 cell phone ban in force pretty strictly at the school? >> Yes, I did talk to You and I had a conversation once. I did follow up with principals of You can hear it too at the high school um in the cafeteria. It's much
031loud You know, 2 years ago it was silent in that cafeteria cuz they on the phone or on something. But it's much louder. That's a good thing. Kids are talking, interacting. Um but we have had some bus drivers. I think we've got that message across that cell phones are not banned on buses. It's It's 8:00 to 3:00. Um during during the school day. But to we don't allow whenever kids come in if if it's 7:45 and you know, we're to we don't allow them. Once Once that teacher picks them up, they're away. Uh they have to be turned off, so we feel pretty comfortable. Principals feel pretty comfortable that that it is being followed. Now, there are circumstances that happen. Uh and and you know, we've had some principals, teachers, you know, sometimes we allow
032kids to turn them on, access them whenever they need to get a number or call a parent for an issue that may come up. Sickness and we we don't have an active number or something like that, so they're like, "Am I going to get in trouble?" And we're like, "Not in that circumstance." So, you know, we're trying to get in touch with people. Um so so I I believe they are being very thorough with it. Even, you know, outside of phones, I definitely don't see the earbuds in at Dillon High School. Uh you know, they may come into school with them um in the morning, but they're up and and you don't see them again till the end of the day. So, so I I feel comfortable with it. >> You feel the same? You
033have the same confidence with the middle schools? >> Yes. Yes. Uh definitely. The the transitions are much more limited at the middle school than at the high school. It's a quicker transition. Uh you don't see kids you know, they don't allow we don't allow hoods or hats or any of that nature, so being able to hide it's not easy. But you You I'm not telling you that a kid doesn't go to the bathroom and access a cell phone or something of that nature, but as far as in the lunchroom, in the classroom, in cafeterias, changing classes, they're it doesn't doesn't happen. Now, you know, you take a 15-year-old kid, they can sit here and be texting to somebody, talking to you, and I mean, you never know, but uh I couldn't text. I can barely
034text somebody. I sit here and look. You know, kids are very very good. Uh >> You don't have the phone dexterity. >> But, for the most part, no. They would be 100%, but teachers are vigilant with it. >> I think their muscle memory on those >> Oh, it's amazing. >> Such fast fingers are pretty crazy, dude. Thank you. That's all. >> Anyone else? >> Um I will say I I just looked it up. Opening night for the fair is July 7th. And Tuesday night, July 8th, there's a chance of school personnel at 10:00 night to 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., so that's on their webpage there. Get that out and everybody can go and do that. That looks like I don't have a goat show and a truck and tractor pull. [clears throat] And somebody big
035races are there. >> Big races. Jason's big races. >> Let me see if anybody wants to go. >> Uh anyone else? >> I got I got a couple of things. >> Yeah, I have a couple of things. Um So, I want to try to understand this, too. So, when I ask, I'm not trying to be wrong here. Part-time employees, like maybe an aide or assistant teacher or assistant, they don't get full-time hours. They don't get any kind of bereavement, right? >> I think I understand what he asked. >> Part time employees, do they get bereavement? >> Um, not according to school board policy, no. >> How many sick days do they get? >> Depending on if they're an assistant, they get nine a year. >> Personal days? >> For part time? Not in the policy.
036>> If there's a family member that passed away, can they use their sick day for bereavement? >> Yeah, they they've been allowed to, yeah. >> So they won't get in trouble if they do. >> Not for death, sickness, >> [clears throat] >> medical appointments. Basically, anything it, you know, go to court. Just not, you know, Carnival Cruise Lines, Daytona Beach, so you can't use your sick days for vacation. >> What about other part time employees, people who don't get full time hours or benefits, do they get No, I know like the restaurants, cafeteria workers or I think there's one or two ladies that might be part time there or I I don't know. I Maybe I have a custodian who might be part time. I don't know all the employees that are part time. Does
037it apply to all of them? >> Bus drivers, all it applies to all part time. >> [clears throat] >> They would fall under the same category. Bus drivers, cafeteria workers, a few instructional assistants, few. We've kind of Those have been hard to fill and as we come across, there's a very few, but there's a couple part time custodial positions, but we've tried to make them all full time. They're just easier to fill. But, if somebody wants a part time, then we have a couple of those for them. >> They get nine Did you say nine? >> Part-time employees >> it depends on like so for the assistants, cafeteria, nine days at however many hours they work a day. >> Okay. So, if they're a 5-hour day employee, they get nine 5-hour leave days. They are
038sick days. >> Yes, paid. >> Yes. >> Do they have to notify that it's a difference between I am sick or had a death in the family or like how do you >> I don't know how they notify their principal, but I would say if they say it's a death in the family, they probably would tell them that's the reason. So. They're allowed to use it for that. >> And they don't have to have doctor's excuse. >> It depends Doctor's excuses if it goes 5 days or more or if there's reason to suspect like somebody's chronically out, so they can ask for doctor's notes, but typically on a day-to-day basis, they don't ask for doctor's note. >> What about an an employee, whether it be full-time, part-time that has sick days and they use it
039to I don't know if they go up to the items they can set up for the day or you know, they they they're not sick, they're not they don't believe in it. And what happens with employees like that? >> If we know about it, we'll ask them to change their day and use a personal day or a leave without pay. So, if you sacrifice the instruction of our students to go on a vacation or trip with your family, we're we're going to charge you. Uh we're not going to allow it. >> Even if they're not a teacher. >> Right. No matter who it is, you cannot use a sick day for anything that's not allowable under that sick leave policy. Any employee. So, um I'm not going to tell you somebody had done it, of
040course they have, but not If we know about it, then we enforce um because we don't have subs for many of our employees. There's nobody to cook whenever Janice is not there to cook. There's nobody to drive a bus whenever Ronnie's not there to drive a bus. Um so, you know, we don't have a lot of subs. We And many of those employees work 5 hours a day and they're only working 170 183 days or >> You talking about assistants? >> Yeah. >> 188 days. So, they may come in at 8:00 and leave at 1:00 or you know, come in at 9:00 and leave at 2:00. So, you know, still time for doctor's appointments, banking, those type of things. >> Can they use a sick leave day for like a dentist appointment or something like
041that? >> Eye doctor, dentist appointment. Court, I mean, we're we're pretty flexible. >> typically be sick. That that's kind of They can kind of use it as a personal day more or less. >> Uh yeah, I mean uh I I would say it differs from the personal day in that a personal day can be used for anything. But, a sick day falls under certain guidelines that have to be followed and uh So, >> Okay. Um >> But, it's not just their medical. It could be their husbands, their childs, their parent. Um you know, take a parent to grandparent I mean >> So So that they have a personal day, say nine sick days, and they don't have to use that personal day first or that they can say, "Hey look, my my child I've got
042to take him to the doctor today. He's sick." And he's one of my sick days, save their personal day. >> Yes. >> Okay. I'm just trying to So many different types of statuses for the employees. Just trying to understand. Um I asked spoke with Dr. Moore about Lifetouch. My my personal feelings is with Lifetouch, I think they've already signed contracts for next year. >> Yes. >> My personal feeling Um I think he's going to reach out to Mr. Bennett about it. I still am not comfortable with Lifetouch. >> Lifetouch is part of your photography. >> I know they're still sitting in I think two of our schools. Um still not comfortable with that. What I've looked into, a lot of them employees are still working corporate level. Um I think there's other s- photography studios
043that we could use and the schools use different ones. I I'd like to see what Mr. Bennett has to say. I know that he reached out at one time when this first came up. But I think it would be uh valuable to the school board to consider just cutting our ties with them. Based on what Mr. Bennett says. So I'm just kind of want to do that. out. I think that would be just for the sake of the children. Nothing may ever happen, but I don't want anything in the future to be impossible, you know. That's something I think we should look into and see what to do. >> And Rhonda has that email. She'll send it to you tomorrow. It came in the mail today. So, she'll send the Bennett's response on Lifetouch. >>
044Okay. >> I've not even I couldn't >> Well, I bet it was a opinion. >> even I >> I bet it was a opinion, too. So, but >> Well, anytime you're under contract, there there is an obligation. >> Yeah. >> Um and uh we'll look at that. I I had a conversation with him. I've not read his email, but I've had a conversation. I think you have to weigh the the schools you know, for instance, if we're going to lose lots of money and and we could look at at spring picture sales and be able to determine some of that, too. Um you know, you have to have a reason to to breach that contract. And uh it's kind of like he described it as, you know, asking a student to remove a a shirt.
045Um it has to have the ability to cause a disruption or a disturbance. Just because, you know, someone came in with something on their shirt, a Bible verse, or a person's name, or or uh whatever it may be that you you have to have reason to that that's going to cause a major disruption. So, he said to breach that contract, you kind of have to have a reason that to be able to show it's going to cause a major disruption to the school system. He said, you know, you have 50 people that complain, okay, there's 55,000 in the county, there's 7,000 students, there's, you know, 15,000 parents or whatever. 50's not a big number. Um so, it it has to be able to to cause a substantial disruption. But, they'll send us something and we'll
046look at it. >> But, there's none yearly. The contract is >> I'm sorry. Yes, and we have had a conversation about it. Um there was nothing I could do in I think that came out in February-ish, somewhere around there. You know, we're facing we've already snapped spring pictures at one of those schools and the following week snapped the pictures at another school whenever it came out. But, contracts were already signed in the fall for the next fall. But, but we've had a conversation about this fall and not signing contracts. >> Okay. So, what So, the contract will run out after the fall pictures and then they have to sign again. >> So, they'll take fall and spring pictures this year unless we do something. But, we've asked them not to sign a contract until they
047speak with us and that's two schools. They understand that. >> The only other thing I want to bring up is um I've been trying to understand the process of books that are read in during ELA. You have multiple books that are read like during ELA, but I know that it comes down on this from the state. Hundreds of books that are approved. And uh Correct me if I'm wrong when I when I say this. From what I understand, it's the ELA curriculum was adopted. The original one was four or five years ago. Something like that. >> Johnston was here. I don't remember the exact time. Do you, Michelle? 2020-2021 >> So >> Wait, Kristen is probably going to delete That was the year we That was when we implemented that curriculum. >> 2021 >> 20
0482020-2021 >> Okay. Okay, so So we're at six years that it's been about the curriculum being in >> Yes. >> Um But with that adoption, came that list of books. >> Um So the state list The state had a list. It's in a repository, is that what they call it? Uh so yes, there is a list of books. It's like you said, it's hundreds in there. >> And it's all It's per grade? >> Well, it's not It's not really like that. The repository is the list of grade levels. I can't say the state has a list. The repository is a list of curriculum that has been approved. And you can see all the books within that curriculum, I guess. I don't I don't know what it >> There's a link where you can log in
049to the different curriculums. And um kind of mostly you see like teacher editions, basically. Like what our teachers see when they teach it. So that's where you might be able to see a list of books, like you know, you may have like our elementary curriculum has 10 units. So you have a a list of each unit is based around some kind of like theme. So, you know, you might be learning about inventors and then in in unit six then you're going to have a huge teachers edition with a list of books that are all about inventors. And you know, so then multiply that 10 units by each grade level and you can see the list like by unit by grade level that the kids read. >> Well, I'm just trying to figure out I know
050everybody has their own objective opinion of what's grade level appropriateness. I guess what I'm talking about but I might what might be okay with me might not be okay with Mr. Reeves. Um or vice versa. Um and then what's grade level the other problem we have is state has decided that United States students get being inclusive with things within the school system. And you know, I had a a book that was brought up in 12th grade that my son had to read. And he's probably on the on the reading side he's probably about a sixth seventh grade level. Mental capacity probably sixth seventh level maturity wise. But he's reading a book that's probably I don't even know if it's appropriate to be read in the 12th grade. So I'm trying to figure out why like
051who is there there's a committee from what I understand made up of certain people. Who decides is it teachers per class? Is it committee that says here's what we're going to read in 12th grade this year. Here's what you're going to read in 11th grade. Who makes that decision? >> Ultimately, it was the board that made that decision. So, the the proposal from the committee was brought to the board, and I'll share that middle school with you. Uh I have it um now, but it was brought to the board that talks about unit one, unit two, unit three, what books want to be read, and the board approved that with the committee um from the committee. >> That was back in 2020, 2021, whenever it was first year. >> So, that's that's the approved books
052that go with our units and our curriculum. Um that that was approved by the board. >> Has anybody reviewed these books? Like actually read them? >> You know, um Michelle and Christie, the teachers, um they read them. Um they read them. >> So, the the year before we do a local adoption, the state does does that a process, and they have um they do the committees come up like we do. So, they have parents, they have teachers, they they they choose people from across Tennessee. Um and then they develop like rubrics to make sure they match our state standards, but then they also look at appropriateness. And so, that committee weeds through everything that's submitted. So, all the vendors, of course, want you to buy their stuff. Um so, then they'll develop, the year before
053we look at it, the list of this makes the cut for Tennessee. Um they'll do a bid process to get like the pricing all set out, too. So, we get like state-level pricing. Um and then we pick it up as a local adoption, and like what Tommy was saying. So, um when we did ELA we chose a teacher per school per grade level that teaches ELA. So, it's a really big committee when you do like ELA or math. Um so, you know, eight schools that have an elementary and then that would be one kindergarten, one first, second, third, fourth, and fifth grade teacher. And they get like the samples. Um you know, not every single every single teacher edition. So, you can see what the you know, the list is and you can see the
054questions and you can see the um strategies. Um and you can reference online to like look at the actual books. Um you know, but learning to read, you know, you need a lot of material. So, there are there are ton of like little readers in the in the lower grades um that come with those books as well. Um so, then we review that. We have some committee meetings um where we talk about it. We talk Vendors come and make presentations so we can ask questions then about how things work and what the test look like and uh what kind of data do we get and those kind of things and then the committee um after you know, the months of the process, then they make the recommendation and we can sign off on it and
055then present it to the board and then like Tommy said it from that point the board usually, you know, accepts the teacher you know, the teacher recommendation. I think in the past we've pretty much always accepted what the teacher committee has um has um you know, studied and recommended. >> Do we have any stakeholders involved in that decision making? >> Yeah, you are we're required to have um some community {slash} parents. And so, you know, since since I've been a overseeing it and it was I mean before me, you know, we we seek out and typically Sheriff Henson who did this before me would have like PTO presidents like the you know, we get some parents that we already kind of know and are familiar in our schools to serve on the committee so that
056they can help with the decisions as well. >> Do we rotate these parents on a regular basis or are they pretty much the same ones who from prior years who served on the >> Um >> The science adoption for example, we did With the science adoption, we uh send out a to the schools and ask for volunteers to serve. And then we I mean we got everything from professors of science, chemists I mean all kinds of stuff. It was a It was a good group. >> Yeah. I think we did more advertising because it seems to be you know, we've kind of grown into that to see that let's make this opportunity available for anybody that really wants to be involved and wants to see what's going on and be transparent. So, you know, over
057the past several years we have been trying to be more like put that out there as an opportunity for anybody that's interested. >> Um So, this is the book that my son had to read The Glass Castle. And I don't know how many people have actually read this. Does the committee actually read through the book at all? >> I would say that there are too many for each for us to read every single time. Uh I don't know that we've read through them. But, you know, our teachers before they teach them um you know, that's what we've asked them to do. But, the very first year when you start a curriculum, you do learn a lot about what's in there. >> Well, like this book right here talks about rape, incest, verbal and physical abuse.
058Like I I personally this book disgusts me. >> I can't really speak to it except to also say that some some of our texts are like excerpts. I mean, I don't know if they are in the entire book. I don't know if they you know, what what they pull out of it or what value they feel like they get from it. But there are books that we don't read the whole thing. We just read excerpts. So, I don't know if that's one or not. >> Well, I I hear a little grumbling here. Maybe I'll read a couple excerpts and find if this is appropriate for anybody in our school. Some kids in here are there. This one here is where uh Dad was running Mom down in the car with the kids in it. And
059he stuck out his head out of the window as he drove hollering at Mom, calling her a stupid and a stinking And ordering her to get back in the car. Like that's what my kid had to read. A 12th grader should read. There's another one here. Dad didn't like Mom's paintings, so she needed to get a job, basically, right? Started throwing out Mom's oil paintings went flying through an upstairs window. Next came her easel. Crowd below scurried back to avoid getting hit. Then Mom's feet appeared in the window followed by the rest of her body. She was dangling from the second floor. Legs swinging wildly. Dad was holding her by her arms while she tried to hit him in the face. He's hanging her out the window. He was just This is stuff in these
060books a child had to Kids playing the other kids who were bullied. And went into detail about what they were going to do. I I'll be honest with you. When I heard that they were going to read this book, and the same title, The Glass Castle, sounds pretty to me. Like, what could be wrong with it? My child was kind of behind because of being so sick. So, we put the audio on. My jaw hit the ground as the guy was reading this book. I I just read two or three little excerpts out of this. This whole book is filled with this stuff. It talks goes into very explicit raping of the girl, her trauma of her life. And then we wonder why we have our kids in mental health. In 2019, we brought mental
061health in to reduce the bullying and incident. Our numbers doubled. 2020-2021, this book gets put into our schools to be read. Our numbers doubled. I think there needs to be some kind of oversight where people are held accountable of what books our kids are being told to read. I know there's a process. I spoke with Dr. Arnold about this. And I hope that every parent looks at the books that they're not comfortable with. And requests a different book. They have every right to do that, right? That's the process. They just >> Policy 4.801, controversial issues, does allow parents the opportunity to for It's not just a book, it's controversial issues. So, we have all kinds of that happen. Michelle deals with it, Christie deals with it, principals deal with it. So, that is a an
062option parents have. >> For for basically an assignment that's like that, they can they'll be offered a different assignment. >> Yes, that is correct. >> Okay. Um and this was prior to Dr. Arnold. So, this was not on his desk, but I do know that in ninth grade, my son um we requested a different book that he was reading at the time. And then we got refused. So, I'm just going to urge parents they listen. Board members, if you hear anybody asking you, please encourage the parents to just simply request, I guess with the teacher. >> That's where it would begin. >> Okay. And then the other review is with the >> Teacher, principal, you know, central office. We all work together to >> [clears throat] >> solve those problems. So, we've had them call
063us and then we call the the school. So, >> I think maybe what I'd like to see is maybe a committee of some stakeholders. And and I'm open to whether it be three stakeholders for elementary, three for middle school, three for high school, or one committee that they must take the time to do it to go over all the books and and uh you know, get their recommendation. I would suggest stakeholders that would be willing to read books. I mean, I I just I really don't want books like that read. That was that was for a sped class. So, that's just my input. >> I was going to ask how early in the year do we begin reviewing books? For example, what they I know we're in like what year cycle? What year are we
064in? And how early do we start reviewing books for the next cycle? >> The state starts a year about a year in advance. Um on the state side, they would start in July or so. Then, the districts would get them about December or January um again getting them in that time frame. And then, you start looking at decision-making about 5 months later. >> I have an adoption of social studies next year. I heard that y'all are setting up a committee or something like that and who would come to it. But I got to cuz that was disgusting. And you know, the violence against women, rape and stuff like that, makes me wonder how many other books have that. Cuz the most violence against women is a very big thing in this So, whatever we can
065do to get stuff like that out of our schools would be >> I'd also like to send a book I just picked up. It's something my son son had to read. And and credit to the teacher, she checked she skipped chapter six. You can only imagine what was in that. None of that was in chapter six. Um did a little research. One study said two out of five. The other one said three out of five. So, one's 40% and one's 60%. So, if you want to split the middle and say 50%. I mean to say if you want to say 25%. Of girls under the age of 18 deal or have dealt with sexual abuse of some sort. And then these are made to go into a classroom read books like this. Maybe not even
066as bad as this. Just some type of abuse like this. And have to relive this trauma. And then we wonder, like I said before, why we need an have a need for mental health therapists. And I just you know, are are we are we promoting this not purposely maybe, but are we promoting this need? I have a problem with stuff like that. I think that our our number one goal above education should be the safety of the children and what's best for them. And then the education. If they're not in a safe environment, if they're not reading things that are safe, they don't feel that they're safe, they're not going to learn. But I think it starts with us as a board. I wasn't on the board back in 2021. I don't know if who
067all was. But I know I didn't I didn't vote that curriculum. I didn't have the opportunity to go through that. And I would also like to tell you that I've already started looking into social studies and they're trying to incorporate and weed ELA which we're talking about now into social studies. Which is going to be adopted this next school year. So, I would really, really urge the board to really be in the due diligence and looking over the curriculum as it's presented to us. That's all I have for now. Sorry, guys. I'm sorry for the language. >> All right. I will point out something. This is something I started learning in the past couple of years, paid. Books can be pulled from library, but they cannot but just because they're pulled from library don't mean
068they're pulled from the curriculum. So, you might not be able to check out The Glass Castle but it can still be in the curriculum. That's a little That's That's an odd thing that That whole thing with Knox County Schools. It was banned from the library in Knox County [clears throat] Schools. You can't get it You won't You can't go check it out as a student, but if it was part of the curriculum, you could It's an odd thing. People think just cuz it's banned means it's over the whole thing. >> a district decision or state decision? >> To ban a book is a board decision. So, uh Roots got pulled and now it's back in. Back in today. So, you know, it's a very controversial. Just as as that happened, then you get a influx
069of people that are against banning books. So, we have a multitude of of people out there that that feel that we are a public school. Um I always say just go to Walmart and stand there on a Saturday and that's your public. And you can ask them, there's people that that feel that we should never ban a book, no matter what, and there's people that feel like, you know, most books should be banned. You know, there's people that would go through here and, you know, maybe leave half of these books, maybe. So, so it is a different And, you know, sometimes controversial issues discussed in a school setting to shed light on on a bad situation and how things should be carried out and happen. You know, nobody would disagree that abuse against children, abuse
070against women is is a something that we should condone or approve or anything, you know, sometimes that has to be told to kids. Sometimes they don't hear it at home. You know, sometimes they grow up seeing bad things happen and they need someone to tell them that's not acceptable. >> And and then the librarian, if I'm not mistaken, the librarians, don't they do something to where they don't have to sit there and read every book? They can punch in titles and kind of see just makes it a lot faster for them to be able to >> Whenever they order books, yeah. Whenever they order books, and of course they have, I mean, that's their job, so they keep up on books that have are very controversial, controversial authors, um, and, you know, shy away from
071those to bring into the library. >> Our librarians network with each other about stuff like that, too, from what I understand. >> They do. >> Okay. That's him? >> Uh >> Yes. >> Down on the items for information. >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Okay. Uh I had to put on the agenda. We had a tournament, I think, what, 3 or 4 weeks ago? >> Yes, sir. >> And uh the bathrooms weren't accessible. >> At the baseball >> This is at the high school. >> At the high school. At the baseball field. >> Uh Tommy can relate more than I can on this, but the renovation on the bathrooms, I think, needs to be done. Also, home plate is bad. So, I'm going to let Tommy handle it. >> Yeah, so you know, I think he
072needed to talk to to somebody that that, you know, he's dealt with a lot. We probably had uh a thousand people >> in the crowd. >> Well, I don't know. 700 minimum uh people there, and there was a a men's toilet and a women's toilet. At one time, it was clogged uh and uh we had no toilet. So, you know, I it was a little bit um of an embarrassing moment. So, it's embarrassing for me and the plunger. But, um you know, I I definitely think that we we did a renovation at softball, got that up and going. I think there definitely needs to be something done there. Just just you know, we're not talking about the top of the hall, but you know, a building where people can go in there and use it.
073Something that's more accessible to the public would be good. And then, of course, with there's varsity, there's JV, there's middle school varsity, middle school JV, there's multiple games a night. It's just taking a beating. I think Danny's looking at several projects and something to do there. >> Is the uh are you talking about the ones underneath this where where it's just at? >> The baseball field. >> Do they have their own facility up there? >> Yeah, its own facility up there. >> Softball field has service, but you've got a better way. It turned out nice, but the baseball field is pretty bad. >> Is it just one toilet in each one right now? >> Yeah. >> And do we need maybe multiple toilets in each one? >> Yeah, we would need Yeah, we would need
074I mean, you know, not something the size of here, but >> I don't need building? >> Yeah, it would need a new building. Some of the plumbing, some of the we had water issues, had to dig up the parking lot down there. Had to bring in Yes. I don't know when that was built. I would say it's original. Uh so, it's 50 years old. Uh It definitely needs update. They just need >> Who would give us an update as to what we need? Transporter or you or >> Uh we've talked a little bit just whenever the event was going on. We had a conversation. So, we're looking at a uh Austin Bridgewater suggested like a a women's restroom with four four toilets, handicap accessible, and then a men's restroom with two urinals and two toilets.
075Uh And a little, you know, we had to call uh and a little closet for some supplies. We had to call down to the high school and get the custodian out of the closet to bring supplies up there. Uh just cuz they went through during that event. >> What do you think about putting a building in place of this building, next to it? >> Yeah, at its current location, so um >> Is it used in the spring or is this the fall and is it something >> It's a spring sport. Um end of February start date for games, middle February start date, so >> And you know, could we put back the old It it it if I know the bid process and the building process and everything else is kind of lengthy. Can we
076put sport bodies up there in the meantime while we're probably doing that? >> So >> I was going to say, how can we streamline this to get this going? At the same time, we want to have you know, I don't want to be suddenly starting working on it and it was the first day of baseball. >> Yeah. >> We'd look at it. I mean, we'd need to fit this in to a whenever we submit capital projects to the board um you know, you're talking about it's on a sewer system, so just being able to go up there um find somebody bid it out, you know, if it's over $50,000, we have to bid it and um and just bid it out. I'm sure that we could probably take down what's there uh get them a
077slab be able to to go from there. I would imagine, you know, somebody somebody that got on could build that in 6 weeks. Start to finish. >> Is this something [clears throat] we need to move with a motion? >> Not today, um but something that we would definitely need to look at whenever we bring capital projects in front of the board. >> When would that be? Sometime Does this need to be put on the agenda? >> Yeah, I think on the agenda for uh next meeting, we'll put it on there and get an approval to add the capital projects list. >> Now, I will not be at the next meeting. I'll be out of state. Uh but I would like it to be on the agenda and I I hope that you all will carry
078it through with me on that. >> So, you're talking about the agenda next week? >> Yes. >> Not the one after next. Not the one in August. >> I hope that try to Okay. >> Yeah, you're looking at about $15,000 for home plate and about probably 45,000 for a restroom facility. Probably something like >> And uh the only other thing I've got is I know uh next Thursday we'll probably be out of state. >> We got a special called at the end of the meeting. >> Yeah. What about >> Shortly. >> Well, just in case I don't see you talking to both of you all, what you all have I learned a lot from you. Whether it's concurred or not. >> We spent $75,000 on that. The baseball [clears throat] field, all that back net,
079y'all. >> We spent $75,000 on it. >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I ain't got any more phone calls until we put that new one >> We got to renew our license. Thank you for bringing that up. I saw it and I forgot about it. Um All right, so uh that doesn't need to be on the agenda uh for the next one. June 5th. All right, then. That being next Thursday, June 4th. Next Thursday. We need to reschedule that one. Thank you.