001Thank you all for that. >> 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. >> Appreciate that. >> All right, I'm going to turn it over to the director here for some recognition of some deserving groups. >> All right, Miss W's coming up with Mory Middle School volleyball. So, I'm here to recognize um our volleyball team around this um and coach Adam Evans. I'm just gonna talk just for a minute. I'm gonna let Coach Evans take this over in a second, but it was a phenomenal year, groundbreaking year. Coach Evans has been our volleyball coach for 16 years. He took the team to state. There were over 400 nearly 500 teams that were eligible for the
002state tournament and they came in seventh overall. I mean, it was absolutely outstanding. They did an amazing job and he's an amazing coach. And they further showed it today by beating the football players. Groundbreaking volleyball game three times. They beat them three times. Those football players really thought they were going to win. They didn't. Not at all. So well done outlet coach. >> Um would you all agree that was the easiest game y'all had all year? But thank you all for the support that you all showed us um on our run to the state championship. Um especially on social media. I had so many messages that I would read to the girls every chance that I got. And it was um really important to them and really important to us to see the support and
003to let them know how many people were behind them, cheering them on and supporting them throughout that process. And so we greatly appreciate that. And um it was um It was a record-breaking season with the number of wins. It's the winningest class in Mari volleyball history. Um I think 60 total wins under their belt. And so um this and also the the state championship for middle school volleyball has only been around for three years. We've only been eligible for the last two years. So technically in our second year eligible, these girls went to state. and um not only was the first team from Mari but also the first team from from our district to advance that far. So um they uh they set a goal early on. They actually at the end most of their
004seventh grade years at the end of that seventh grade year they set a goal to advance to state. Um and they didn't cower away from that goal. They they accepted that goal and kept it on the um in front of them all year. And um which that's the thing I'm most proud about them is they they didn't back down from it. They knew that challenge and accepted it and then went out and got it. So thank you all for your support and um supporting these girls. Congratulations. >> Wake up. So, uh, Chrissy Walk and I will present, um, a few awards tonight. If you saw Dr. Arnold's press release um, Friday afternoon at about 2:30, the state department of education was able to announce um, this year's reward school list. And for those of you
005that don't know, reward school is the highest designation the state of Tennessee gives to individual schools across the state. Out of 1,700 schools last year, roughly 450 received reward school status. Four of those were in Jefferson County schools. Um each of those schools earned this status based on the end of the year TECAP test chronically out of school numbers and also including WEDA alpha test. This year our four elementary schools starts with Talbet Elementary School. We'll do individual pictures. This is Talbot's fifth in six years. Miss Rainey is really excited to add on to her building for additional places to put her banners. That's kind of her goal right now. She needs more space. Um, the next school is Jefferson Elementary School. Craig started asking about reward school status last year before school ever started.
006Like he was trying to get ready and prep for it. So, Our third school recognized is Pemont Elementary School. We will get Julie Allen later on. And then our final reward school for the 2425 school year is New Market Elementary School. Hey, come on. Um, on top of these four schools being named, um, there's a long formula that goes into this work. Um, Jefferson County High School missed reward school status by onetenth of a point. Mount Hora missed it by onetenth of a point and Danders Elementary missed it by onetenth of a point. So each of those three schools we tried to recognize for all the work they did as well. That would have been a total of seven had we been able to just eek out a few extra points. So we do appreciate
007all the work that goes into there. The other piece that we are finally allowed to announce is every year based on TCAP test schools get what is called a growth score. It is called TBOS. Like I said, you hear a lot about TBOS when it comes out and then you don't hear about it again until the next year. Achievement tells us about students who cross the line and we have some very high performing schools in our district. TBOS tells us about how individual kids grow as a whole. So we wanted to recognize tonight is put out on a scale of 1 to five. Five is growth beyond and above the expectation. I said so a three is what's expected. Four is good. Five is top. And we had several schools this year that were able
008to score a five in growth. And most of those schools also would have scored a four or a five in achievement. So again, you know, a really big accomplishment for these schools. You will hear several of these like I said that was just announced rewardable status. Jefferson Elementary level five to boss score this year for composite. Jefferson County High School level five for TBOS composite. Mari Middle School level five for composite. You see? Okay. New Market Elementary School. Five for composite. Peont Elementary. Five for composite. Cali Elementary School. Five for composite. One piece. I don't know. Awesome. >> Congratulations. >> Letter grades will be released in the month. We will follow those up in January's meeting. That's the other accountability system we have. We have some great news to share there as well once we
009can. >> All right. Cars worth paying off right there. Let's see. That takes us down to public input. I mean, all right. Who's up? >> First one is David from Dandridge speaking about First Liberty Institute letter. >> All right. Remember name and address. Thank you, Mr. Chair. David Seal, 7:30 Sam Martin Road and Damage. By now you received a four-page letter from First Liberty Institute dated November 10th. I called your situation to their attention on prayer schoolboard meetings and requested they contact certain members of this board have expressed an interest in starting your meeting with prayer. First Liberty offered to provide free legal services, work with your school assistant attorney, and assist you in developing policies. I certainly hope you accept their offer because it's no ordinary law firm. It would be the same law
010firm that represented coach Joe Kennedy in the landmark Supreme Court case Kennedy versus Bon. There seems to be a concern that school board prayer would trigger a lawsuit. I disagree. The liberal footh lawsuits are just trying to scare you, trying to suppress prayer in public places. Once you're represented by specialized council, the probability of legal action is greatly diminished. And first liberty certainly specializes in liberty, freedom, liberty, religion. As I've said, the last thing godless liberals want is a school board prayer case in front of the sixth circuit court of appeals or even worse, the US Supreme Court. They know it will be game over if they lose a case like that. We often hear things like, "What about other religions? Don't we have to include all religions in the prayer?" That question indicates a
011gross misunderstanding of the free expression clause of the first amendment and of article one, section three of the Tennessee Constitution. And I'm sending you sections on both those to your mailboxes. And I suggest you read. This is about your personal liberty as a board member to recite a prayer based on your religion. There is no requirement for you to step outside of your own beliefs to accommodate other religions in a school board open prayer. Finally, I wanted to announce that my annual legislative training class will be held on December 2nd at the Jefferson City Library. It's been a popular event over the past five years. With the volume of legislation that affects your school system every year, I would think it would be of great interest to you, especially on topic of following legislation. Come
012early. Get a good seat. Fly starts at 16. Thank you again, Mr. Chair. Thank you. >> Our next one is Jackman speaking about bus. >> Hello folks. We've met before. First of all, thank you for everything you did for the bus drivers uh getting them benefits and things like that. I have some handouts I want to give you. Uh and this has to do with bus routes mainly for substitute bus drivers. Okay, your top sheet after everybody gets one is what is called a turnbyturn bus route report. Every bus driver has to write one of these out before after he starts his rides at the beginning of the year. These sheets, and you're only looking at the first page, probably can contain anywhere from six to 10 pages. These are kept in a notebook in
013the bus. This is what a substitute bus driver looks at. Okay. Now, I'll show you on your second page there, you're going to see one that is a special ed bus route that she completes. If you look on the top of it, it says Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. That's one route she routes, and that's her AM route. You'll find another one that says Tuesday, and Thursday later on. That's her AM route route. She also has a midday route in which Monday, Wednesday, and Friday is different from Tuesday and Thursday. This is what your substitute bus driver is looking at. Driving to drive the bus to make sure they get to where they need to get at. It could be on the floor. It could be in a notebook. So, your bus driver, your sub is
014looking at this trying to drive the bus in the dark, in the snow, in the rain. Your next one is a regular bus route and you can see it contains many more pages and a lot to it. Again, this is what a subd driver looks at. This is their responsibility. They have to look at and get where they need to go. This AM route can be a lot different from the PM route. The reason being you may have somebody get picked up in the afternoon. You may have somebody be taken to school in the morning and take the bus home in the afternoon. So if a sub looks at this and says, "Well, that's no problem, but at PM it will be the same." No, it will not. You have kids that go to Boys
015and Girls Club in the afternoon. Okay. So they don't ride the bus. What I'm asking, can you read this in the dark? Can you read this? Is this is hold it out at your arms length. Can you read it and flip from page to page and keep the bus on the road and then you got kids in the back you got to worry about too cuz you may not have a monitor. So you're looking at this on the floor in a notebook. You're looking in the mirror for your kids back there. And then you're looking on the road to make sure you're making the right turns and you're doing what you're supposed to do. There's a system that can eliminate this. We have GPS on our buses right now that track where the bus is
016at. There's a system that we can look at to get this corrected. When you drive your car, what do you put in the address in your GPS and you go, don't you? I spending my time. I'm sorry. >> I've 30 seconds to wrap it up. >> Okay, I'm just about there. There's a system that can be used. Okay, I don't know what the cost is, but it just got done in severe county. They just adopted it. Let me ask you a question before I leave. Cost of may expensive. I don't know. We got 60 65 buses on the road. What's more expensive? instituting a system that gets your kids home safe, your bus driver home safe, and the people in Jefferson County safe, or the loss of a child or a bus driver because he's
017trying to look at this and drive the bus. Your decision, folks. Thank you all for uh letting me address you, but I think it's something we really need to look at. There's a gentleman here that might be able to help you later. No question. >> Do you know what the name of that system is called? >> It's called >> what? >> Bus, right? B U S R I G H T. One word. >> Say that again. >> Thank you all for allowing me to speak. It's called Busright. B u sr i g ht and you could look that up busright.com and I'd be more than happy. I know I provided um Jack a couple of videos showing him what it looks like. I brought a tablet because there's a tablet on the bus. Each student
018has a uh student identification card we call a safety pass. Um and so they're able to scan on and off the bus and then the parents have a parent application that allows them to see when their child got on and off the bus. Um the school uses it for field trips um if they want or um uh athletic trips, whatever the case may be. So they know where every child is at. >> What school districts do you currently have this product? >> Uh so Seir County right next door. Um they just recently signed up. Blunt County uses the terminal. Um Franklin County outside of uh Nashville. We're in 36 states right now. I'm personally located over in Oxville. That's where I drove on over. Um, but yes, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> So, I just
019wanted to bring your attention what something we need to look at, folks. >> Thank you. >> Someone's keys are over here. I'm assuming these are yours. >> You want me just leave them right here? >> All right. All right. How y'all doing? >> All right. I have some handouts as well. My name is Kesha Gillis, Jeff City girl, raised right here. Um, and I want to talk to you about In Her Footsteps. So, it is a local nonprofit that I started with my mother. We call it Iner Footsteps because we did it to honor the legacy of my grandmother who used to sit right here. Her name was Barbara Jean Sheets. She served as county commissioner for 20 years. Um, and so we wanted to continue her legacy of community work. And we have two
020initiatives. We have our classroom heroes and our student empowerment. What our student empowerment looks like is we provide care kits to all of the schools in Jefferson County. Those care kits are empower kits. Those are feminine hygiene products. And then confidence kits. That's soap, deodorant, toothpaste, all of those essentials for kids. We put those in discrete bags. Um, those are either with the school nurse or sometimes with the counselors. So that way kids that needs those items, they can get those in a discrete manner um and provide those to them directly. We pack those as a community. We have packing parties. People have to be subject to my playlist, but I have fun. Um but we usually do that at the library and we just bring the community together because we believe that the when
021the community comes together, we can take care of everybody and we want these kids to know that the community loves them and that they're willing to spend their Saturdays enduring my playlist to put those kits together for them. So again, we're in every single school. We have a special relationship with Mr. Wolfenberger. So, even at um the Jefferson Academy, we do unique things for them. So, if they need shirts, uh brought belts over last week. Um so, he tells me kind of what their needs are and we fill those as well. Um we also have classroom heroes. We realize that teachers are ranked number 44th as far as teacher pay, but I see y'all doing a lot of work to bring that pay up and we appreciate it. Um but what we created is this
022teacher supply station. So, in every single school in the county, there is now a teacher supply station where we have the top five things that teachers spend money out of pocket on. We keep those in those schools. We got funding from United Way and the Morani Foundation to get that started. And we've been working with local businesses to adopt those schools so that we can keep that keep those uh supplies stocked and keep those secret teachers out of their pockets. Another thing that we did is we initiated a teacher steering committee. We have one of our committee members here, Miss Karen Smith up there. Um so we have a representative from every single school so that they could tell us what we're doing right, what we're doing wrong, and how we can be better. Uh,
023one of the things they really helped us with this year is our second annual bundle up and pack up. So, you have a flyer for that and that is going to be on January 3rd at the Patriot Academy. What we do there is we realize that when it comes to school supplies, a lot of people focus on back to school and they give kids backpacks and school supplies at the beginning of the school year. And if you know about school supplies, those don't last the whole year. So, what we do is a backpack repack. My mama named it that so I can't take credit, but we do a backpack repack where we give additional supplies. We also give them we have a warm clothing initiative. So we give out coats to younger kids and then
024something happens in the brain about sixth grade where they can't wear a coat and they got to have a hoodie. So from sixth grade on up we give them two hoodies. We also give them beanies and gloves. Um and then my mom is amazing. She called over to Bush Beans and they gave us 900 lb of beautiful bean footage last year. So that inspired us to do a full box of groceries. So, in addition to the warm clothing and also repacking those backpacks, we also provide a full box of groceries to every single family that signs up. Last year, we served 179 students, 81 families. That was our first year. This year, the goal is 300 students, and I'm estimating about 150 families. Right now, we've got 134 already signed up in Jefferson County. So,
025just wanted you to be aware of the work that we're doing. We're happy to collaborate in any way that we can and just wanted to make sure that you knew that in her footsteps is here to support Jefferson County Schools. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate all the hard work. >> All righty. That brings us down to the items for information. I'll turn it over to the director for that. >> Thank you. um start out on um Talbot and Jefferson Elementary School projects. We uh I sent you out some information on Talbot and we are um looking at a proposed access road that I wanted to bring before you for approval. Um it would be coming in off North White Pine Road and um be a two lane in one lane out type road. Um there
026is money in the uh project budget to cover the cost of that road. I know u currently we have issues. Um Miss Rainy's back there. I'm not sure when that was it last there was a medical emergency there at the school. Two years ago. Um, so of course, um, Kansas tolerant roads blocked. Um, the school entrance is blocked. Um, so you can't get emergency vehicles to the um to a student, faculty member, or a visitor picking up their child. So, so that's that's an issue. Um, and then also just as that school has grown in population some over the years, last year it went above 300. U, there's there's more and more cars visiting that school on a daily basis. So, um, we would definitely recommend that being added in. Um, as the project got
027approved, the scope of work, I believe Mr. Jarnan talked about an access road. We were able to purchase some property and it would definitely line up with some um a good use of that space to be able to add that towards the end of the project if approved. I don't know an exact dollar amount yet. for that road. Um, but there's there's plenty of money to be able to to build that. An initial estimate just you know shooting out there was somewhere around 120 to uh $200,000 was to do the grade work drainage um and the two lane in one lane out. >> Yes sir. >> Would this be also used items like this for student pickup also? Yeah, we would look at that uh being able to bring cars in uh line them up.
028So, we would definitely want plan to use that in that way. >> Would this road completely go around the school or just access in access out? >> So, it would tie into the existing road that is back there. So then there would be a loop around. Um even if we brought cars in the way they come in now, they could go out that way. So there's there's lots of options depending upon um how it ends up. So it gives us right now we have no options. I mean it's one way in, one way out. Um, so it gets, if you've ever been up there between 2:30 and 3:30, it's >> just don't go. Yeah, that's true. So, um, that'll be on the business session coming up for you all to consider. And then also there
029is some um threat assessment information that's coming. >> Yeah. So, we we will try to get that to you monthly. Um and there'll be different levels of reporting on that. So we'll give you basically numbers each month and then some months whenever we have to report to the state um it'll be a more detailed type report that we'll share with board on that for those threat assessments. >> Oh did you want to talk about the A >> yeah um some of the ADA improvement school facilities on here. Um so in my district we specifically have multiple kids mobility issues. Um, and I know the the last work session coach made a great point putting this overall maybe on the retreat, but there's a need over there now. Um they I believe it was a PTO
030worked with some grant I think where% they they uh raise the other 50%. Is that something like that? Do you know anything about that >> for the playground facility that's being built? I think that's correct. So, um, they put a lot of time and energy into this and a lot of the equipment on there is all new as well. And my concern is when you have a child in one instance of a wheelchair involved, there's a special matting we can put down on this, you know, I would like to see this sooner than later get done. It's not cheap, but I think that if especially you get someone like a school where they've basically raised their money, their own playground, I think we should be able to help them out so this child has equal
031access to the playground. Um, so I I'd like to, you know, if you want to talk about it, we can, but my hopes is that there's going to be needs in the future where there might be somewhere else that have a need and I think that we would be good to have a line item made with just the money in it so that they don't have to struggle finding where it's at. But you know you would say thank you. You're and you'd like to kind of earmark some kind of like we did with the playground upgra upgrade program where we earmark certain amounts of money. I I believe um you know Mr. Martin pro and we did this what about four or five months ago set aside like $150 $125 for um playground upkeep. Is
032that kind of what you'd like to do with at least some amount of money for the ADA accessibility? >> Yeah, exactly. um you know there's money left over to go right back into our general fund. So it's not like we're spending it and it can't move out of there you know at the end of the budget cycle we just we would have to put a motion to put it back in there. Um, but I do think that having a little count there for it to be used for that purposes, I think would be a good idea. It'll be already allocated. We won't have to try to refund if there's a a need down the line. We know there's some money already there. I mean, a lot of people don't realize how much this equipment can
033cost, whether it be the magic or just some of the equipment on that. I from what I understand, I think they have the swings and different things for the disabilities, but it can be pretty expensive. Is this something reckon that we might to take some of the money that we have allocated for upkeep and maybe use tools just a little bit or something? I mean, I don't know what the cost is that we're talking about, but well, uh, you know, just for instance, this one specific playground, I think they have three or maybe four over there, but just this one just to do the floor is probably going to be 60 to $8,000. >> No, there's not money. Are we talking about every school or are we just going to pick out your school and
034leave my school out or how are we going to do that? You can't do one without doing all of them. >> Well, that that money would be already in this account and if one of your schools has a need, >> that's what that line that's account. >> It's not exclusive to just my schools. It's not exclusive to just my schools. It's open to any any of the schools. >> But we can't do the one without doing the is what I'm saying. >> Well, there's a need there. I think we should then. So, so if we had an account with a certain amount of money, whatever amount of money that is, would we kind of do an internal audit to go around to the various schools, find out which schools, you know, need um money for
035playground access. I I believe this is just for external ADA uh accessibility questions. >> Yes. So we would then >> and it doesn't have to be just to playground. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. It's not specific to playgrounds, but maybe there's a need for, I don't know, they put a new sidewalk in and they realize there's not a handicap access, okay? >> Or where a child has to go out to the playgrounds. Maybe there's never been a ramp, but this it'll be for an ADA improvement that type of situation, which may not require that much money to do or ramp some concrete. So what we would do is we'd kind of go around and do an assessment of the various schools, find out what's needed at each school, see what we have in the account,
036and then do what we need to do and if we have to fill that, you know, replenish that account to get the rest. Is that what you're I'm just trying to understand what >> Well, this is this is just in hopes of getting one of our school that's going to need this right away. I thought as far as maybe trying to do more of a a look at stuff, we that was something that I tried to bring up last time and the one commissioner thought it was better spoken of at a retreat, which is fine. But if we wait till then and then the next business meeting, um, we make a line item, we're already looking at March going into April and not going to help the playground out. It needs that surface now. So
037what you're talking about is doing is approving that expenditure for I presume is a restaurant or new market. >> It's new market and and that's and that's there if they need to use it >> for that. >> Okay. I'm just trying to >> you know if elementary is working on something and they have something that they need to approve something ADA they're more than welcome that money's there already. All right. Um, couple of weeks or last meeting, um, Coach Bradley brought up about director of school's contract. So, four years ago, I was hired in and then two years later, um, you considered my contract and and renewed that contract. So, that's kind of been the, uh, um, standard even prior to me was every two years that contracts looked at, evaluated, and gone. Um so
038Chairman Cameron um we shared some information. He talked to the board attorney and u I believe do you want to speak on that? >> Yeah, I'm actually he can probably answer some questions. I know he's going to be here tonight. Um so I've got for y'all the >> current contract the one well when me and Doug came on it was 2024 I think when we voted on this and then um this is what the one that Mark proposed by the director this is the one that Tommy has sent for us to consider and you know this is like negotiation and stuff. So, so we can see what he wants and what we want. And I guess at least with me and Doug when it was, you know, a couple years ago, it was pretty much
039you you can see on the old one or on the current one, it was just some date changes pretty much and, you know, arrays. Um, that wasn't, I guess you'd say, too difficult for us to compreh. But since then, we've got two new board members. Um, and there's there's some things in here, you know, I want y'all to look at because this isn't just me, you know, doing it. It's all of us. This is a a contract between us and our one employees. So, if Mr. don't care, maybe you could come up here and fill all us newbies in on contract stuff and maybe Any questions or anything? >> Would it not be a good idea? The way I look at it is for you and him to sit behind closed doors and discuss this
040contract instead of everybody in the world, you know, here talking about it. Once you all discuss and settle this contract, then you can bring us in and let us know what how it goes instead of I just don't feel like it's right to discuss. I wouldn't want my contract discussed in front of 50,000 people. I look at it. So, >> I I agree. I agree completely with Danny. Um there are I haven't even seen this so I'm sure there's going to be from my business background I never discuss an employees contract in front of the whole company much less the whole community. Um I'm sure there'll be things I want to ask that I could ask in private or you'd ask you to ask that I wouldn't ask in a public setting. So, um I
041would just caution against getting too detailed into this in public. Uh I would prefer to speak to people in private and then once we decide what we want to do, then we can make it public. But there are questions that I would ask that I would never ask in a public forum like this. So, I'm just >> Yeah. So, >> I'm just kind of echoing. >> So, that's I'm just trying to get this to you all so you can say it. I mean, I'm not looking to discuss numbers or anything like that in here, but if you do have like maybe like I said, me and and Doug, we're fairly new and Don and Paul are very new at this. So, I thought maybe our lawyer could help us out and just give us a,
042you know, all about all this if you don't care. >> Pleasure of the board. So, uh, and that that's really kind of the overarching prem premise here. There's no right way, there's no wrong way to go about doing this. You have to have a written contract with your director. My advice to to this board going back now a good long time, I guess 12 years or so, is in your contract, it's a good idea to to set up performance goals because he is your one employee. My advice to to all of y'all and your predecessors has been uh figure out what are some of the things that you want to want to do uh over the next four years. Set some targets and compensate your director accordingly. Um other districts prefer to just have a
043a straight contract and there no performance bonuses. Uh I can't actually remember what the history here in Jefferson is. I mean it goes back and forth quite frankly. Um the the rules of the road are it's got to be a written contract. It can't exceed four years. Uh it's got to be voted on publicly and you've got to give the public 15 days notice. Aside from that, it's it's really whatever you all want to do. U there are some districts where the the chairman works with the director and they put something together and they share it like right now and then the board looks at it, chews on it, maybe public suggestions and then it's it's amended and there's a 15-day notice and there you go. Uh in other districts, um board looks at the
044contract that's been kicked onto the field like a soccer ball and y'all pick up the ball and you go talk to the director and you say, "Tommy, I can't I I I can't go with this, but I'll go with that." You know, you want extra sick leave days. I won't I don't want to give you I'm sorry. You want extra vacation days? I can't give you extra vacation days, but I tell you what I'll do. I'll increase your your your car alliance because he's got to do a lot of travel. You know that back and forth. Other districts, and I'm not I'm not volunteering, but other districts, um, they call me and they just say, "Hey, Scott, can you put something together here? Here are my concerns." And so I'll say, "Okay, you know, Mor,
045you know what? The other district had that very same concern. Here's what they did. She likes it. Mr. Hardy says, "Hey, I've got another issue. What about this?" You know what, Mr. Hardy? Your predecessor had the very same question. So, I'm the one who isn't doing the shuttle diplomacy. I'm not volunteering. But I kind of guess maybe I accidentally am. Um, that is something I can do if there are lot if you're not sure what how you want to get to the middle. And so, I end up putting something together, be sure it's in legal ease, and and I float it to Dr. Arnold and if he's okay with it, and I push out to all of y'all. Um, on the other hand, if you only look at this, I I have no there's no
046reason for me to over complicate a hammer. You may look at this and you may say, "I don't have a problem with this except for pick one issue." If there's one issue, this gets resolved. So, to answer your question, I can do whatever you need. Uh, the board can do whatever it needs. Um, there's no there's no right way. There's no no wrong way. Um well, there's there's one wrong way. You all can't discuss this behind closed doors. So, you know, Chairman Cameron here can't um call Mr. Rickson and say, "Well, I'll go along with this if you'll if you he'll go along with that." You know, you can't have behind the scenes. >> Can we individually as board members discuss it with Dr. Arnold? >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >> He's your one employee. >>
047Okay. >> Yeah, you can discuss with Dr. Arnold all day long. >> Um you can say, "Dr. you know, I I love you to death. Hug your neck, but I don't want this. Or you may say, Dr. Arnold, you're selling yourself short. Here's what we need to do. Now, your your your question basically is what's the most efficient way to move forward? Well, my thought there is uh you look at the contract that's that's been proposed by Dr. Arnold and and the chair. Is that correctly? Or is this your proposal? I sent it to the chair. >> Yeah. And I'm wanting this is the first time they're seeing it. I'm just wanting to get, you know, what are their >> what are the next steps? >> Well, so so my my suggestion here is again,
048let's not over complicate the hammer. Look at it, study it, and pick up the phone and talk to Dr. Arnold. Sit down with him, have a cup of coffee, and just say, "Hey, look, um, you know, here here's what I'm thinking." It may be that most of y'all are are of the light. In which case, I understand your point since they haven't seen this before and you want to be very very careful about doing it transparently in the public eye. You want to know your next success. Maybe you have, you know, y'all are all on the same page. You know, I heard a lot of schools were recognized for for some achievements this evening and maybe y'all are very content with with where things are. Figure out what to do next. So, let me let
049me just say this. My suggestion would be you look at it. If you have any legal questions, give me a call. If you have any thoughts about other ways to do things, give me a call. But if you're looking at it and your contract looks very much like his previous contract, looks very much like Dr. Johnson's previous contract. Looks very much like Dr. Edmond's previous contract. If you're satisfied with it and don't want to reinvent the wheel, it's just a matter of juggling vacation days versus cars versus whatever else. Pick up the phone, talk to him. You may find that y'all are are pretty close to a consensus on something. And at the end of the day, if there's a if there's a a rough spot, I'll be happy to help any way I can.
050>> Make sense? anybody. >> I I appreciate it. It makes sense. And like I said, I I want to just get this in front of y'all for private consumption, so to speak. Um didn't want to like email or anything like that. >> Of course, of course, the proposal is public record. Anything that goes out the board is is is public record. Um something that that was said earlier, I thought they made it timing. So, Dr. Arnold mentioned that that this is contract. Uh it's very common, very very common in Tennessee uh among school boards after an evaluation, particularly after the second year evaluation, it's very common to decide we want to extend our director's contract or not. Uh two years in very often board members have a sense of where things are going. Uh and
051so they, you know, that's an opportunity to give your director or it's an opportunity for you to give him some coaching up. Um, but again, it it's people sometimes ask the question, well, what's the rush? If it's a four-year contract, why not wait for three and a half years? Well, because three and a half years, if you decide you're not going to renew, it gives you six months of time. And that is not fair to the board. Um, it's not fair to the school system. Um, I am helping lots of boards do searches right now, and the the pool is shallow. Um, so it may you know, we like where things are going. You want to keep them under contract um moving forward. Anyway, the timing is is sometimes a question that new board members
052ask. He's got two years left. What's the point? In Tennessee, it's just become the norm that that boards at the two-year mark decide we like how it's going or we don't like how it's going. So, there's nothing unusual about that. I will say this also, um come June is a blackout period. So, so 90 days 90 days 60 days before a general election, boards cannot take action on a ver contract and it extends into 30 days after a general election. So, if y'all want to do something at the two-year mark, you would be in good company. U you've got to do something between now and June. There's something else. I if you need me for anything else on the agenda, Mr. Chairman, but if not, I think I think I would like to be excused.
053>> Thank you. >> Anything? >> Make sure you drive if you want to go the right way. >> What about Knoxville? >> Oh, yeah. It's a it's a it's a spot. So, I'd appreciate it, you know, if y'all take a look at this and, you know, if you've got questions or if you don't got questions, whatever, you know, talk to the director. I know he's more than willing to, you know, hear you out and then once we sort of, you know, if we could, I guess vision wise, you know, by the next work session or so, if we could have something that, you know, Scott went over and said, is good or what have you and then try to vote on it there. What is it? January. Um I think that' be good. So hopefully
054this will answer any questions anybody had and you can see that. So thank you. >> Thank you. >> So we talk to Dr. Arnold and then if we want to see a change in it. We're going to get a hold of Mr. Bennett. >> I mean that can't >> collectively pleasure the board if if you want to float something to Dr. Arnold and he's agreeable that's easy. If um if it's something that you two can't come to agreement on or regardless I work for you so you give me a call and you want to kick something around by all means kick it around. Um, at the end of the day, the board gets to vote on the contract. Um, my responsibility is to make certain that the contract you all look at is clear and
055visual and accomplishes what the majority board wants to accomplish. >> I think that that works pretty good and I appreciate the work the director does. You uh you see all the miles he logs and all the things he does. So, I'll be happy. I'll send something out if any of y'all kind of like I did with my evaluation. And if you want to get together on it, have questions on it, we can do that. But in person, by phone, I you can come to me, I can come to you, whatever is convenient. Um, we good? The next is Jeff Kenny High School after school Bible um study club. uh it is called rooted. So uh within policy new clubs activities come to the board for final approval. So we don't I don't Mr. Rogers doesn't
056have any hesitation on approving this club. It has a sponsor. It has um officers. Um they are um within your packet there is information um about somewhere in there is information about the program. Um, so that is totally for will be for you to consider at the business session of approving this club. >> Yes, there it is. Is it held after school after school? >> after and after the school or >> after and at? Yes, >> that is correct. Um, so clubs do not interfere with the instructional part of the day and they're either before or after and then they are held at the school. It is a school employee that is the sponsor of the group. And then also before you is the curriculum guide. I know that um last year you spoke about
057wanting that ahead of time. So within there is the curriculum guide and a summary of changes for this year's curriculum curriculum guide. what you see added, removed and other changes within the the guide itself. Um you see some state dual credits taken out. That's per state law. Um departments phased out those and then some changes within in the science Any questions on that? I hope not too deep. Might have to get somebody not to phone a friend. Uh but as you look through this and have questions um feel free to just reach out and and we can um if I don't know the answer. It's a pretty you know on a certain course u then you know we can reach out and get you the answers that you want. I believe that includes concludes my
058there chairman camera. >> All right. Appreciate that. A lot of work. >> I have one thing, one more thing. I wanted to just um share a second on Thanksgiving meals. Uh we we served Thanksgiving um lunch last week. I was able to visit every school um in the district. I had at least one spoonful of dressing from every school. Um I had several pieces of pumpkin pie. U but we were able to serve um almost 5400 student meals. We served 1700 almost 1,800 adult meals um to equal 7155 total meals served that day. some one school in particular, Mount Horeb, um I don't know where in the world they feed that many, but they fed six or they fed 543 students and 535 adult meals. Um they actually fed 1,078 meals at Mount V. The
059high school fed, 174. So, um, they they do a great job of community outreach, getting their parents to come to the schools and and be able to share in that day. So, yes, sir. >> How many years have we been doing this? >> I know Sam's picked up um as far as just the the community outreach and those type things. Um Sam really got it going. As far as Sandra, you um as far as at Mount Hor Elementary, you all picked it up more this year. Pedmont picked it up. Dandridge had a good out they all bring in families for Thanksgiving meals but it's definitely at some schools greater than others. >> I think it's a terrific idea. You know I I just want to compliment the district and the schools who really put the
060effort into it. I think it's a great idea. >> Yeah. and uh Sheriff Coffee and the chiefs of police was great to provide extra coverage making sure you know not just for security safety but helping people park and get in and out and those type things. So, uh just a great event, great times to share that. >> I I will say I always love Thanksgiving dinner when I was growing up. Still do. one meal I will eat at school anymore and I'll run sit in line. I remember at White Pine doing that and my mom or dad get to come and best day you love it. I'm glad we still do that cuz some schools don't you know it's a lot but I appreciate our cafeteria workers and everybody that's got a part in it
061cuz that's that's definitely a busy day right there. >> Um so you got anything else? >> I don't think so. All right. Well, that brings down then to school commissioner items for discussion. I'd like to say thanks to the people that put the teachers recommendation together. That was one of the most complete things that I've been involved in school for a long time and I'd like to see us come up with it annually. That was a fine, fantastic meal. Everybody was so nice and so polite. Yeah. So, so we had a few dates on that and it just so happened that the date that this year that matched up was was whenever five of you all were in Nashville. I should have been there in Nashville, too. >> So, we'll definitely schedule that next year.
062Um, I would advise you to attend if at all possible. It was a great idea. >> One more thing, Josh, on this bus driver that made this comment about those monsters. I I'm for that. That's a good idea, but I think he's jumping ahead. I think we should start with the bus driver, so supervisor, Tommy, let them know tonight. If that's what they want, get a price and present it to us. I don't think we should vote on it before we and you all discuss the prices >> and I'm I'm asking you all look at it and come back with the price and not not leave our surprise. >> Yeah. >> Thank you for that. >> I had a couple questions. Uh I don't want we u approved some capital projects. I'm not and I'm
063afraid I just want to keep up to date on where those are. Not the not the big building projects, but like the we end up leases for more of the overhang for uh restaurant. Um do we have any have we set those up to bid yet or do we have any kind of time frames? Uh, I know we're kind of squeezed on the personnel we had to put to them, but I was just kind of >> Yeah, we are u we have pursued um a company to come in and help us to uh get the specs on the bleachers. So whenever you bid it out, it's really important that that that bid is concise so that whenever you get bids, you're not getting somebody that bids on, you know, some set of bleachers that's, you
064know, I mean, we we want a middle of the road type bleacher, you know, we don't want something that's elite and we don't want something that's going to tear up 30 days. Um, so we're working on those specs. Um, Austin has been in contact with a company. They I can't remember if they've come out or they're coming out in the next few days and working on that. We've also been down to u we ran into a little issue with um the lost words. Uh what's the the canopy? The awning canopy at Rush Strong. Uh we had a company that we were set to do it and then we got word from finance department that White Pine was doing a canopy with the same company. Put us at $51,000. They said that's over the bid limit.
065We have to bid it out. So, uh, we were not, we had quotes. We were not going to bid that canopy out. Um, we still may not. U, I'm working on that to get a check that process, see what we have to do. And then, um, >> the repairs to the stadium. So, we ran into an issue there that um they they considered that I consider that a waterproofing. Somebody else didn't. Um so, we're probably going to have to bid that out. So, >> okay. So, they're they're all in kind of pre-bid situations right now. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> U there's one more. Oh, science tables. So those that that's moving forward um for Jefferson Middle School and uh and should be done maybe by Christmas break and then come in whenever they are
066able to to get those shipped. >> Thank you. >> I'll I'll make a note to update on those capital projects monthly. >> I talked to Dr. about I'd like to if possible put on the agenda about the bleachers and the small gym. Well, I call it small gym. We have two gyms. The bleachers and the small gym are right against the the line and kids we've actually I know I have I'm sure Mr. Williams have kids are in there for PE the fall down slide. Well, they're hitting their head on these bleachers. These bleachers don't fold up. We'd like to have some were pushed back. So, we're taking PE. They got plenty of room. We've got some bids. I sent uh one to Tommy. Maybe the same people that's going to give us a bid
067at might want to give us a bit restaurant, but I guess we need to put it on agenda and vote on before we go any further if we can put that on for the next meeting. >> Okay. Sounds good. >> All right. That concludes it. I guess we're in our journey to the business session next week. I believe it is 6:30. So, we'll see y'all there.