School Board Meeting - 10-27-2025

001begin with our moment of silence and pledge of allegiance. Please stand. Have a moment of silence. [clears throat] Thank you all for that. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you all for that. We got any recognition or anything? All right, we're moving on. All right, public [clears throat] input. So, remember, three minutes, we'll have the timer up here. Make sure you keep an eye on that. Make sure you state your name, address. We got anybody signed up? >> We have two. >> All right. All right. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, [clears throat] members of the board. David Seal 7:30 Sam Martin Road and Dage. Over the past year,

002I provided this board with information on new approach that our Supreme Court has taken on religious freedom. The 63 majority of conservatives understand the establishment clause and the free expression clause and render decisions accordingly. You've been provided with supporting cases and documents to back this up just in case you wish to change your outdated policy on prayer at school meetings. My dad used to say, I've given you enough information on this to educate people. The liberal attorneys and progressives that are pushing back these liberals want to scare you into believing that prayer at schoolboard meetings will result in lawsuits. In reality, propaganda is all they have. They know if a case ever reaches the Supreme Court on school prayer at meetings that their goose will be cooked. Look at the Supreme Court decisions that I've

003cited over the past 14 months. Since there are so many school boards across Tennessee that have been fooled by these godless liberals, I've written proposed legislation on religious freedom in public education. That legislation has been drafted into bill form and now has multiple supporters and willing sponsors in the general assembly. One of the components of the bill is a provision to codify prayer at schoolboard meetings. The question now is what are you going to do to support the effort or will you oppose it? What standard are you going to take on prayer schoolboard meetings? What example are you going to set for the students? I fully expect the Tennessee School Superintendent Association and the leftwing bureaucrats of the Tennessee Department of Education and a host of other progressive nut cases to to to oppose the

004bill. But I can assure you opposition has never deterred me from any legislative effort. And finally, I wanted to announce that I'm working with the law firm that represented coach Joe Kennedy in the landmark Remington School District case out of Washington State. Maybe if you dismiss my information on prayer schoolboard meetings, you'll consider theirs. I hope to bring you that information very soon. you have an opportunity to set a godly example for the state and here here and now I renew my offer to sit down with any of you one onone and work on this issue. Thank you again Mr. Chairman. [snorts and clears throat] >> Who we got next? Next is Stephanie BS9 Whitaker Road. Good evening, Dr. Arnold and members of the school board. Um, thank you again for allowing me another opportunity

005to speak before you tonight on the current sick leave policy um 5.302. Uh once again, school employees are running into the issue of not being able to use their accumulated um time for quote life situations that have arisen. I'm here uh to ask again to please help alleviate these problems for staff uh by reviewing and changing the sick leave policy. Uh there have been other school districts um that have completely done away with categorizing and labeling uh accumulated time off for employees. Um and it's just been a whole lot better uh for their school system. Um not to have to try to categorize whether it's sick time, personal time, uh bereavement time or anything. They just get accumulated time off and they use that accumulated time however they need to. So, I implore you to

006please consider this opportunity to help improve the quality of your um offer your employees and thank you for your time. >> Thank you. [clears throat] All right. Thank everybody for coming giving their input. >> Mr. I'd like just so I don't have to say make sure please we're being recorded. turn your lights on when you speak. Thank you. >> Thank you for that reminder. [clears throat] All right. Takes us to the items for information and I'll turn it over to the director for that. >> All right. I'm going to um just out of order of things, we're going to bring Blankenship BM up. Bill Blankenship is going to have a discussion with you on Jefferson Elementary School project and where we're at with schematic design. Mr. Black, >> no. No, >> there's one extra. >>

007Okay. Um, good evening and it's good to see you again. to be back with you. Um, hey, uh, it's it's been exciting for the last two or 3 months. Um, starting off with, uh, the renovation of Jefferson Elementary School. Um, it's been very exciting for the team. And before I get any further, I would really like to say what an excellent team it is. Um, of a lot of smart people at the table, a lot of good, dedicated people at the table. Um there's there's a few of them in this room right now. Let's see. Craig Day. He's been to all of our meetings. Um and the principal of the school, uh Curtis Ellsworth. Where's Curtis? There he is around on the other side of the column. And uh two of my assistants, Olive Lee

008and Mike Rutland are here. Let me see. Oh, there's behind my back. Matt Callahan's back there. and um uh Austin Bridgewwater. Um hey u and I don't want to forget Dr. Arnold. He's been a big part of this also. And Jessica uh this elder has been with us uh quite a bit. And so uh all of you listening to me tonight, if I say something wrong, just interrupt me quickly. Go ahead. Uh okay. Um that's my name and everything. Uh let's go to the next slide. >> Number three. >> That is um uh just a partial elevation uh of the front door of the new uh school. I said the front door. That's the front door right there in approximately the same location it's in now. And you'll see a new canopy that curves around

009a good portion of the bus entry circle. Uh and that large mass beyond is a gymnasium. And over here on the right is is starting to take off. that goes quite a ways further is the renovated um administration area for the building. And next slide, please. Now you're seeing a big site plan of the whole property. And this is like being in an airplane flying over the side about 5,000 ft and looking down and seeing the whole site. Uh, of course the reddish brown area is the footprint of the building. Uh, most of it's the present footprint of the building. I mentioned the bus circle. You see those three buses right there. And if I could blow it up even more. Not there. Oh, go back. Okay. >> [snorts] >> I there's a canopy that

010uh uh the kids can get off or get on the buses in the rain and not get soaking wet there. But let me first uh go to the entrance. There's a uh a roundabout, a new roundabout located right at the entrance to the the school property to clean up well kind of chaotic entrance at the present time. [snorts] And from there, uh, a parent delivering their child in the morning would take this new perimeter drive around to this point. There's a red arrow there. That's an entry point. Or continue on to this second entry point here. There's a red arrow there also. Um, this perimeter road will clean up a lot of problems with Universal Drive at the present time. And this is the See that north area? North is really down toward the bottom

011of the screen. This south side, you've got room for about five cars to unload it at the same time. And at this middle entry here, uh, we're we've lined up eight cars to show that they can unload at the same time. And things been moving along quite well. It's not just one car at a time. Um, [clears throat] so um, also we've cleaned up a lot of the teacher parking lot and straightened it out. There's been an additional parking area here. which presently flat as a table uh will barely need any uh new grading. And there's a new uh teachers parking lot at the rear here uh which is also a fairly flat area at the present time. And once the perimeter road is in place and kids are arriving by the perimeter road and

012leaving that way also and leaving on buses here at the circle, then this rear drive all the way back in the back [snorts] can uh be used for just garbage trucks and delivery vehicles only. Uh let's see this area right in here is a new administrative area which is expanding and there is a new entry secure entry vestibule right here but I'll get into those in a larger detail. Uh next slide please. Okay, this is a blowup showing that arrival and departure area on the south side and the one over here on the let's see I think that's the east side west side I'm sorry um and I was talking about multiple cars can line up and unload at the same time that's quite possible over here [snorts] so it's also leaving us some very

013um nice areas at a nice location for uh some good landscaping and uh some good color ornamental uh type plant material. I will say it within this square rectangular area here right there if you can see my red pointer is the main power pole that supplies power to this school and that will stay where it is. Uh, and there is also a little white square right there. And there's an existing transformer in the place right there. And uh, it may it may have to be changed out, it may not, but it'll probably stay in that location whether it's an old one or a new one. So, that's a good place for it. U, next slide, please. This is the whole floor plan. Now uh the yellow uh obviously you can read that uh uh legend

014over there on the right uh is the yellow is all the classrooms that you have in Jefferson Elementary School. The administration area is right in here right there. And I'm going to show it show it to you at a bigger scale, but the existing exterior wall is running right down through there. And you can see we've added on all of this space out here and a new secure entry rest. Um the green is all the restrooms you see dotted on here and they're all being redone. Every one of them. I mean redone everything you walk in the restroom and see and below the ground too. All the piping included. Um, [snorts] and there's the gymnasium. Of course, you your your cafeteria and kitchen up in this area. Okay. Uh, next slide, please. Now, here's a

015larger blowup area of the administration area. And there is the exterior wall that's existing now. and the uh Craig Day, his office is back in this area back here. Uh we're virtually doubling the size of this and moving the exterior wall out. Um I think it's large enough that I can easily point out the rooms and show you how it flows. Uh there is a secure entry. If you're a parent, you'll come into the reception lobby area right here. Uh there's an SRO uh located right here on the corner. That uh security officer, he has a commanding view of this whole area, including the inside of what's that a 270 degree view of the entire area. Um, [clears throat] we've thrown in new uh conference rooms, meeting rooms. There is a small restroom here for

016the public. [snorts] And beyond here is the existing principal's office. I'm sorry, the principal's office, new principal's office, and the new principal's office back here. And beyond. There is one more room I'm sure Craig will take advantage of and it's a large meeting room beyond um let's see there's speech therapist um I can't read that one very well there's a small room back here which is uh we call the hall it's good for a security room >> and uh to lock up >> the bookkeeper uh attendance uh secretary and then u there's There's a a a office supply room here. Uh one um person and that's a nurse. We uh thought would be very very good to put them up front really very uh quickly and easily accessible to a parent coming in to pick

017up a sick child. And that's really why the nurse's office is where it is. There is a good office here and there's another one um with this area laid out with furniture uh for two the two people in this area who can service the uh reception counter. Oh, this area over here has been redone uh internally. Um, the SRO moved from here over to to the exterior wall and that highly visible place. And now we're looking this teacher workroom and lounge. Uh, it's big enough for both a work room and a lounge with a vending area here and a small kitchen uh with a counter and sink here. And something that's really badly in needed is teachers restrooms um located here. [snorts] Both a men's think up here and uh see the women's is located

018in this area. [snorts] Um you're happy to know that uh because female teachers greatly outnumber the male teachers twice as many fixtures as the females. Um let's see next slide please. Okay here here you see a better shot of of the uh staff restrooms. Uh these circles we architects those are important to us. Those are handicap uh wheelchair turning radiuses, 5 foot turning radiuses for people in um wheelchairs. They have to go well have to be allowed access throughout the building. Even the restrooms, everything must be ADA. Now, uh that's what those circles are all about. And this is with furniture. I like it because it get l scale and shows you how big things really are. Uh such as here's a new conference room and that's a eight seat conference room table and there's

019conference room table with six chairs in it. You could put boy in that one but here's what I was talking about. Uh there's one person uh located there and here's another one. Both of these two can service that reception counter quite well. And of course during the day there'll be cameras definitely on all of these doors and lock during the day. And um of course these people can see on the TV computer screen um who's the front door. Let them in or not. So next slide. Now, this is a lot to look at. This is just all the elevations north, east, south, and west of the building. Um, the school's all one floor. It stretches out a long ways. It stretches off our big pieces of paper. Uh, we architect love to draw on. Uh,

020we have to put match lines to get it all on. For instance, this is the elevation of the front door [snorts] gymnasium canopy that I told you about a while ago to start off with. And here's offices for the principal, the assistant principal right in here. [snorts] Um, go here. That is that middle entry or arrival departure um doorway there and it's its connecting canopy. And these arrows, what are they for? I'll tell you, this elevation connects on to that one and keeps on going. Um, and that's what all of them work. These are uh very very long elevations. It is we proposed quite some time ago to use ephus uh which well we know what that is, but a lot of the public don't. That's exterior insulation and finishing system. Finishing system um on

021all faces, exterior faces of this building plus uh insulated uh glass um which we've had some help in selecting the color and uh right now it's sky blue. So, does it look good, Craig? Okay, thank you. Uh, other shots. This is that north entrance of arrival departure doorway. And there is that uh canopy that the five cars will be right next to uh there. And there it's Trying to think anything more to point out there except I always want to say it's such strongly horizontal. All the lines, the geometry, the face of this building, it's so horizontal that you just want to play up to that and take advantage of it. U and I'll tell you one thing, it improved the heck out of it. the appearance, the exterior appearance was tearing down that uh

022chimney. It's still out there. If you go look tomorrow, it's located right there. And it was a big tall chimney. I always remember vertical line out there. everything else is so horizontal and um so we're playing up to that but giving away no secrets. Uh next slide please. Okay. Um we're getting toward the end. Uh this is just a wall section here. Um all the classrooms especially the window sills are about right here. They are moving to here to approximately six feet. I'm 5'10. They're moving to six feet or two inches above my head. Um, and that's what that that fell over on the right shows. The new wind seals are just right above his head. Um, and that's actually what this uh wall section shows. From here it is being raised to here and

023some other new construction up here at this sopet and fascia but uh uh next slide. Oh two more um wall sections. I won't get into those here all night. So next time >> one more >> and and boy. So, we're back to the beginning and hope I didn't run through that too quickly. >> Any questions? >> Yes. >> Um, Mr. Blackish should I know with Oops, I tell everybody turn on. I did. Uh, I know one of the main concerns of ours been the renovation was the windows making them more secure, you know, to prevent the worst case scenario. And I like the idea that they're 6 foot high. Are those able to be opened or are those stationary, flat, nonopable? >> We do not have any operable windows that open. >> Okay. All right.

024because I do know with the preschool and correct me if I'm wrong, part of the evacuation plan is through opening those windows and through are we going to will this you know require a new evacuation plan and and if so does the structure of the school as you're proposing it allow for that >> you and I want to also say at the present time you have u some well awkward doors in those window systems, those old window systems, and there's some uh concrete steps down from a window sill. >> Um that is not required on view. If you fully sprinkle that building, >> ah the sprinkler system, >> right? Okay. >> You will have a new sprinkler system. >> Okay, that answered my question. And once you have a new sprinkler system, I'm trying to

025be brief about this. Once you have a new sprinkler system, I cover your travel distances to exit can be longer and you can fly. So you don't need any operable uh uh uh windows in a window wall for either a door or window. Thank you. parent question. I did ask him one did ask him a question first and then you okay uh director percentage wise how many students in our county are car riders and how many are bus riders ballpark >> at a minimum 60 40 but it's probably more like 7030 I would say 70% are car riders 30% are bus riders. >> Okay. When I look at this slide on here, you have five cars at south entry and eight cars at west entry. Of course, I know those kids those people are getting

026out of those cars and people moving, but uh I don't know if that's enough, [cough] you know. [clears throat] space for car riders or I don't know uh what do you think about availability to let kids out? >> I think how far how far back will traffic back up any idea? >> Well, traffic's going to back up some. We got to stop them for people to get out. No question about So, it's going to back up some. Hey, we've got a lot more room to back them up. And this way we can keep the line moving faster by letting um several cars out at once and then hey all your eight cars going by. >> Give me another eight. Uh so it can be speeded up. Um, now another thing is I'll point with my

027finger here at your plan. >> When you do that, I think you need more sidewalk area. Um, so this becomes a small um pedestrian plaza right here. It needs more room for when there's more people uh trying to hurriedly get into school. And the same thing's true here. You need a wider sidewalk area, more pedestrians, and I think that can really work in your favor. Um, and like I said, >> you're saying those cars going to move faster. >> I think you're queuing faster and be more keeper. >> Yes, sir. >> And the line will move on quicker. >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. should be built out like >> nowhere in the district do we unload that many cars at one time. >> Okay. I guess that's the question I'm looking at cuz you're familiar.

028I know what >> what P look like. >> Yes. [snorts] >> In the morning and afternoon. >> Yeah. >> You avoid that place. >> Yes. [clears throat] >> Am I done? >> Oh, I think >> I'm done. Thank you. You said I was done. >> That's it. No, I got one more question. [clears throat] >> There was just one more thing. >> One more. >> Oh, you somewhere on here. I saw Oh, here it is. two conference rooms. >> Yes, sir. >> Why? Oh, we need two conference rooms. >> You may need it. You a principal may need to meet with one family. one of the sister might need to meet with another family. >> Um >> you you may >> me answer that. So um there is a um so we have a lot

029of um department of children's services a lot of outside u people that come in at one time that need a secure small these are very small locations >> right >> um in outside the principal's office that is going to be a meeting room and then behind it it says meeting room two and then meeting room one. Um we discussed at the last meeting changing that meeting room one more to a custodial storage room of equipment and bigger items that come in there. So there'll be kind of two conference rooms right there at the office and then one large meeting space for >> how much the square footage would >> half of a classroom I'd say 400 square ft would be a meeting room and then the conference room would be about u maybe maybe 150

030square ft of that conference room. >> Okay. >> So, a small office. Small office. >> Basically, >> turn 80. I mean, it doesn't bother me. I just Yeah. >> I just never seen it designed to have two conference rooms, you know? >> Yes. >> I should have asked the square footage first before I, you know. >> So, we have a lot of people that come over for various things. Um and and that could be used by different people on Tuesday, Thursday, than a different person on Monday and Wednesday or people that just pop in for um you know, Department of Children's Services or whatever it may be. There's a lot that goes on nowadays. So, >> okay, good. I'm satisfied with >> Good explanation. Thank you, >> Mr. Chairman. I already asked my question. >>

031I actually have two questions. I may know already the answer one, but I'll still ask. >> Between the media center and the teachers restrooms, there's a classroom. [clears throat] >> Oh, sorry. >> Between the media center and the teachers restroom, there's a classroom. What exactly is that classroom? >> Dave, >> I'm sorry. >> If you look up there, you see the media center. Yeah. >> Down below the media center, there's a classroom. >> It's right there. >> What What is that classroom right there >> at the top left? >> That's our instructional coach. >> Okay. Yeah, there's one on each side of the media center. >> ESL. ESL. >> ESL is that one. Instructional coach is this one. >> Okay. Um, >> at this time >> the other question I have is for at the

032drop offs [cough] [clears throat] to it here with the eight car rider is um, is there a canopy that's going to be over that already? I kind of see it looks like there's some lines going over where the eight car >> where the eight car rider drop off is. >> Yes, sir. Is there a canopy put into right there? I see some staggered lines going down. Is that already a canopy going over it? >> Yes. >> Okay. What about at the five car drop off? >> There is a canopy. It's that dash dotted line right there. >> Okay. >> And there's one there. There is a long straight one here that connects little short connector to the building. That's all under canopy. And then of course the third one is just the front door for

033the bus loading bus. [clears throat] >> Okay. Okay. I had that same question. >> It's pretty much an exotic but canopy standard aluminum tubes >> just something to [clears throat] keep the weather off when it's raining or something. corugated deck for the roof and gutters. Pretty standard stuff. >> Thank you. Yes. Um the traffic flow as we add this traffic flow in traffic flow, drop off, pick up, exit uh to Jefferson Elementary, is that going to in any way compromise the pickup, drop off and exit for the um alternative school and middle school? No, it would only help getting into the um middle school as an additional um anybody coming from the new market area up that way has its own little exit ramp off 11E to go straight to Jeff Middle. So, you can

034bypass all that and go straight to Jeff Middle. And then the cars for Jeff Middle exit at the funeral home side. >> The other side. >> Yes. >> So they don't get involved in this at all. >> Uhhuh. >> I'm going go back to the canopy thing real quick. Where the bus riders let off in that circle. Is there a canopy that wraps around there as well? Yes. >> Well, I see someone I see it go along like in the drone. I see the picture. Yeah. Is there going to be a canopy? >> We have a canopy as long as those three buses. >> Okay. >> So, one thing on safety, we don't want the canopy to go on around because we don't want our students walking towards the bus. U that's a safety issue.

035So, we want the bus in front of the students. So they walk towards it whenever they're parked and and everything set in place. >> There was just one other thing was the last slide that's I guess I flew over it is what's next. And hey, it looks like this. There's a there's a little list of our uh designing phases and one of the construction phase with NU. Uh we think we're at the end of schematic design now and with your approval we'll move into design development. Well, what's design development? Much more detailed. Um really I'm going to [clears throat] be telling Matt back there to begin the mechanical design selecting all those mechanical equipment designed duck work so on and so forth. Then we start really well rather than looking at it from 5,000 ft

036we're really zeroing in on every last of detail. Um, another good example I said uh all along that we think the gym is worth saving and can be saved and it's not in that bad shape uh structurally and we promise to go back and do give it a much more serious look at and we have a hole or two uh look at the footings that'll be we'll do that that's during the design development phase and that's next. So that's what we do >> from the time we approve the schematic drawings. And the time we approve the schematic drawings um to the time that the design development is finished. Let's say just hypothetical at the next meeting. Not saying we're going to if we do the next meeting from that point on how long will it

037take for us to get the design development documents to look at. >> I would like to have 90 days. >> 90 days. Okay. >> November, December, January. >> Thank you. >> We'll work through the holidays. That's what it means >> and that was to the design development. >> From the time we approved the schematic design, Mr. It says it will take 90 days to get the design development drawing skills. >> Thank you. Good to see you all. >> Appreciate. >> Yeah. If you just set it right there on the podium, that'll be fun. Nothing else there. All right. Um, make sure you Thank you. We'll share it. >> We'll get a third page to send it to. >> All right. So, um, there's a third there's a front and a back there, and then also

038there's a third page I'll get to you that kind of gives some project limitations, clarifications. U, but as we go on, this right here came from a survey that I sent to Mr. Day and he sent to the faculty and they completed um some things on the employee side. Um, so we sent it to all employees at Jefferson and they just shared some thoughts, ideas that they have. Um, and it goes right along with the board scope of work. So, they're not wanting anything drastic. U, [snorts] you know, some things in there. They want some storage space. They want electrical outlets that u work and are spaced out accordingly so that you don't have uh overloading and tripping of breakers. Um consistent [clears throat] HVAC working that's reliable and controls humidity. Um safety and accessibility

039concerns, furniture and flooring. uh just the aesthetics of the place, you know, they're they're not definitely not asking for the Taj Mahal. They're just asking for, you know, good clean environment that is conducive to learning, that's safe, that functions, um that's low maintenance, um easy to kept clean, similar to to some things that were put in place at Pedmont. Um so, um some good things there. So, um, whenever we made some copies, page one and two, three's not there, but I'll share that with you in a, uh, make sure you have that. So, there's a few things that we can't do. You know, we can't move interior walls, uh, per se. So, um, also, they were concerned about secondary fire escapes like you mentioned, Mr. Davidson and we addressed that with them that the new

040sprinkler system, fire suppression, life safety would allow us to to do away with that. No longer need that. And um [clears throat] one thing is some of them wanted um two restrooms in there. So, we told them if we could not put two restrooms in a classroom, it would be one in the smaller grades because they currently have two, but I can't fit in one of them. Um, they are extremely small bathrooms built in 57 and u I don't know I they're not um you could easily If my boy walked into one of the restrooms, his shoulder would touch both sides of the wall. Um, so it's it's 28 in wide [cough] with a 26 in door and then it's only about 1 ft in front of the toilet seat to the door is about

041the space. So we will take that whole both toilets and make it larger to be a accessible in there. So that's just some things that they looked at and addressed. But I just wanted you to know that in this time we've reached out to employees [clears throat] there, got their concerns, thoughts, ideas, suggestions, um, and then put it on paper and delivered it to Mr. Blank Ship for his consideration and design work going forward. >> Yes, sir. >> I should add, Mr. flank chip. Is all the piping going to be replaced like to the bathrooms and to the water fountains or is this going to be replaced? What's >> um I know we've had a lot of leaks underground. >> Yeah, the idea is to replace all existing um plumbing both um supply and return.

042So both supply and sewer would be all >> all Yes. um lines within there are restricted due to um buildup within those lines. So we definitely see a need to do all that work. All water lines will be replaced. >> Yes. Yes. director. Um, I hate to do this, but I'm going to um the you mentioned scope work and I'm trying to cause any problem, right? So, this was approved by the board. >> Yes. >> And I know that some things probably could not be done. >> Yes. >> All right. >> But so let me go down this list of scope work. All right. You just simply answer yes or no. >> Okay. >> Or if you don't know, leave it blank. It is. >> Wait a minute. Somebody make his print too small. Okay,

043here we go. And this kind of goes with your question, Bill. So, this scope of work was approved by the board. Uh, new I'll start. New mechanical systems, boiler, exhaust, HVAC system, roof system, gas, rooftops and controls, hot water. >> Yes, >> that's a yes. New electrical system and service. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh, new technology drops and cabling for data, cameras, intercom and security system. >> New cabling technology. Yes. Okay. LED lighting exterior. >> Yes. >> New plumbing system. >> Yes. >> New sprinkler system and life safety edition. >> Yes. >> It's okay to do this. Are you >> Hey, I'm I'm fine. >> You're ready to go, aren't you? >> I knew you new windows with existing space enclosed or brick block. Yes. >> Okay. I guess that's filling in with brick or

044block, you know, because the wood is not going to be the same size. New exterior doors. >> Yes. >> A new finish. Uh finishes, drop ceilings, floor, interior doors, door hardware. >> Yes. >> New furniture to request existing schoolwide. I'm going to say that there's $700 and something,000 in that line. That's the intention. Um, >> yes, that's the intention to replace that. Now, you know, whenever >> it funding >> whenever bids get it is funded right now. Yes. But whenever bids get done, [clears throat] then we'll have to make a determination. If we're under bid, then that's great. If we're over bid, we'll have to come back to the board and have to make some determinations. >> So, I guess that's kind of what I'm going for here is what um may not may have

045to be left out. >> Is that it? >> The bid process, you know, and then we can go to fund balance. And if we can >> right now, my intention is to ask for a new teacher desk, a new file cabinet, a new bookcase, a new teacher chair, and all new student desk and chairs, a new line projection board and whiteboard and bulletin board to be on the wall in every finished classroom. >> Okay, that's good. Uh, so anything that hopefully I mean we got to make it fit with the money we asked for. >> Yes. >> And if it doesn't if we go over we're going to have to uh go to our fund balance to make up on some things probably. I'm just there's a plan B but we won't know until he

046a hazardous material abatement. >> Yes. Expansion of administration suite to include new security measures. >> Yes, >> I know some of that here demo replacement of gym including stage area. I know that didn't happen. That was determined the gym was >> the the gym was determined to be structurally sound by a structural engineer who you know there would be some more work in depth done on it. We did study the >> back in whatever year where those cracks appeared. Studied that u structural engineer decision and um they deemed that that was not a structural issue but a ground issue and and we can go from there. >> The outside wall. >> Yes sir. >> Yes. >> Uh replace outdated kitchen equipment. >> Yes sir. Accessibility improvements for ADA. >> Yes, sir. >> Security [snorts] system

047and card access system upgrade entrances and equipment. >> We're not sure about card. We'll use best practice of what we need for that building. >> Okay. A roof [clears throat] replacement. >> I didn't hear you. >> Roof replacement. >> Yes, sir. >> Roof's a bad word. structural structural repairs. [cough and clears throat] It's a very broad general term I assume >> it is. So that's one thing especially on the brick facads u of your sopets exterior all that would be repaired with that ephus to uh twofold. >> Okay. And I you probably answered the next one. Exterior facade improvements. >> Yes. Okay. Fencing. >> Yes. >> Restrooms completely gutted and remodeled. >> Yes. >> Re remediation drainage issues including storm water installation. >> Yes sir. >> There's a lot of water. >> There is where

048I want to say water. Uh parking improvements include increased car rider space to remove vehicles from roadway. Explain that. So this one classroom space of 800 plus square feet. I know that can't be done like you said. >> Yes. Well, let me >> and I know you have a plan to accommodate those big those classrooms that are under 800 square ft. >> Yes. So you got something worked out and so there will not be a big overload, right? >> That is correct. Yeah, we'll we'll practice utilization of, you know, a smaller need in those um low square footage classrooms. So that we're not going to put a regular classroom in there. >> So >> just scheduling and things like that. >> Um I don't know about this next one. I don't know what how it

049says demolation and replacement of wooden playground used by public. >> Yeah. So, we had looked at expanding out um and where the bus have to go as far as if if it had to move out towards that wooden playground and we had to take down trees and and it encroach upon that area. If we took that down, then would we replace it? >> And the board said yes. >> So, we don't anticipate the bus circle being moved much, and we don't anticipate the access road interfering with that playground. That playground's 30 years old, still got some life left. I don't know how much. Um, you know, it will come to an end one day, but it doesn't have to with this project. >> Right. Okay. >> Was the playground plus there by the school system?

050It wasn't, was it? >> No, I was in college. We came over and dug some holes. U Lion's Club. >> Um, >> there was some farmers there. I mean, there it was a community project. >> It was community. >> Yes. Ran, I believe. >> Yes. >> Another one. Structural assessment of foundations. >> Yes. and they will continue on that. >> Yeah, we've already done some borings in that area in the front. So, um we've done some already >> and the last one I didn't have to be because you've worked out, but it says portable classroom and office space to utilize during renovation. So, you're not we're not using any portable >> not at this time. It's not our intentions. Um, we plan to get all non-essential personnel out of that building. If if they're not

051there Monday through Friday, 9 to5, they're gone. Um, we'll find them another place and they can come in there when they need to be. Um, so we're working on that now, even though we're, you know, eight months away from starting. Uh, we're working on that to be ready. >> Good. I I didn't want to ask him. I mean, I won't >> Yes. >> I know you and >> him. >> Yeah. >> Know what's going on. And uh so >> the majority of the things on this list that the board voted are being done, [snorts] you know, like you say, the interior wall, you can't >> Yes, sir. >> can't touch those. And we didn't need portable classrooms. And what else don't work out? The gym was fine. >> Yes. getting new playground, those kind of

052things, you know. Yes. But everything else were the others were biggies and they take being taken care of. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you. Thank you for doing that for me, please. >> Thank you. >> All right. We good on Jefferson. Uh Tab Elementary. Not much is going to change this week at Talbot. Whatever I sent you last week will be about the same. Uh, I'm sure they were not there today. I don't expect them there much this week. Um, they've got some digging for underground piping, um, block work to start. [clears throat] So, I don't see much happening this week there on that site. So, basically, we've got footers in. Is that about where we're at? footers are in and ready for underground work and we'll just go from there. But that's about it.

053Yes, sir. >> Uh are we going to wait until the end of the project to demolish that house on that we purchased? >> Not if Austin gets a wild hair before. [laughter] >> Yeah, he's pretty good at demolition. Um >> we probably will. We'll probably look at I know we're looking at an access road in there. U >> keep looking for that road. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, we're looking at that access road. We have some things in place. Um right now, I think we have a possible change order with the company around $100,000 that at the end of the project would put that road that would tie into uh where the smoking tree was. uh where the exit is right now for the construction that would go all the way over to the car rider

054loop. >> Um so whether we used it or not as an exit, it it it would be a way that we can get emergency personnel people out if we need to. Uh so right now we're very limited. [clears throat] You know, you take a uh let's say tomorrow an employee or a person in a car has a heart attack right there at the car rider drop off. I'd say the closest they're getting is a quarter of a mile to that school uh without that entrance. Same thing happened at Danage Elementary uh back 2007 or eight six maybe. Uh before we put the entrance at the justice center, it was one way in, one way out, and it was backed up, had a medical emergency. So So that's key to get additional uh entrance in for

055that purpose. Um any questions on TA? So right now the plan is over Christmas break to redo the two restrooms that is has kind of the original tile and and underground piping and then later after maybe 1st of February redo the gym. So, we'd have to shut it down for a short period of time, but the uh PE teacher has we've [clears throat] talked to her. She's fine with it. So, that would not interfere. >> That won't happen over Christmas though. >> No. Uh [cough and clears throat] right now, over that Christmas break, it's very difficult to You usually have to be a year out to get a floor contractor. So many uh floors get refinished, redone over Christmas break. They're usually a year out on that. So I don't think it would pay in

056for us there. I think we'll get a better quality job waiting. And that's all I have on tablet Elementary. Any questions? Uh in your board agenda, in your business agenda, there will be a um TISA accountability report. So we have to get that board approval. Then we have to put it out there a little bit of public facing. [clears throat] Um so this is a requirement by the state legislators. Um, so we post this in the as you read through there, it it goes along with a lot of the board's five-year strategic plan, the district yearly plan. So those things marry and match up um to some of our big goals of accountability um spending money towards improving [snorts] uh student achievement, student growth, those type things. And um this is just a requirement that

057we have to do with the state. And you'll see this platform used this year. Next year it look a little bit different as the state's already decided to change the platform. So it it will look different next year. Any questions on that? You can read through that. Um just talks about major investments. um toward the goals that are listed in there. And like I said, many of them are are similar and connect to the board's 5year strategic plans. I do have a question. Um read through it somewhere there. Um should we do I with um K through fifth grade. >> Uh, no, it's third, second. >> Um, >> are ready math? It's K [clears throat] through eight. >> K through eight math. >> Okay. >> And we do tutoring for it. Is that part of

058the piece of funding or how does that >> tutors are a part of outcomes money that is utilized? Um, so TISA outcomes money comes into the district in December and we have use that money to fund tutors for um some tutors are required by the state in third, fourth, and even fifth grade is a requirement, but we use that TES outcomes money for early grade instructional assistance. and um for tutors. >> Yes. >> Okay. But we don't have tutoring for high school. >> No. No, we do not. Um so right now we do tutors within the school day in elementary school and only no tutors are in middle or high school. Um, and like I said, it is a requirement for third, fourth, and fifth grade students that meet certain criteria have to have tutoring

059as a requirement through state legislation uh for the third grade retention, low achievement type levels. >> Okay. Because I know there's there different tiers in there. Is that part of the different tiers? There's different tiers in RTI. Response to intervention has different tiers. Tier one is your general education. Um what students get on day-to-day basis in the classroom. Then there's tier two. That's usually 25% or less of your students get tier 2. And tier three is 10% or less of your students that get a more intensive. Um They're usually two grade levels or more behind and struggling. >> Okay. So, is that part of the tutoring when dealing with the tier different tier levels? No. >> Yes, it could be. Um, yeah. A kid in RTI 2 could be getting tutoring u response to intervention.

060So, it is a way to [clears throat] this goes deep. uh it's a way to to students in order to for a student to reach special education through a learning disability has to go through the tier process um unless they come in with a a diagnosed uh disability through a medical professional. So for the school system to get a student special education support, they have to go through the two tier system to be labeled with a specific learning disability. >> Okay. So this this happens all through up through 8th grade up through middle school >> once they get high school. There's no RTI, there's no I ready different type of scaling or something. >> So um of course in high school level they have different levels of classes. Um they have a general class, they

061have honors class, they have uh what's the other one? >> Accelerated. Um so they can choose pathways. There's a lot more options than just um you know third grade reading. >> Yeah. >> So your third grade reading classroom is you know you might have kids in there on a kindergarten level and a eighth grade level uh reading in a third grade classroom. Whereas at the high school level your your kids are more they're more on the pathway of, you know, standard English, honors English, advanced English. >> So, >> I just wonder um I've actually had multiple parents ask about too. I think I asked you before, you don't have that in the high school level. Um, you know, and I'm I'm not going to put numbers out there for because I think that not just

062our district, it's all districts. It goes same with IQ levels. When you look anywhere when they're the younger they are, technically their IQ levels higher and as a child gets older, their IQ kind of levels out or follows out. Um, same as their literacy. I think our third grade literacy is probably a higher percentage than our eighth grade. I I think a lot of what I was looking at a lot of the correlation is across the board, not just us. And I wonder what we do once a kid leaves 8th grade to help them in high school if we're not doing tutoring. Is there something that we can do or are we doing to help these kids once they get into high school? >> One [clears throat] thing, you know, it would be nice to

063say we're going to do math tutoring. Um, right now Mr. Rogers has three vacant math teacher, two vacant math teacher positions. So to say we're going to do I mean number one, I've been in education 27 years. There's no way I can tutor anybody in high school level math. Um, that's that takes some specialized work in there and it would take a math a certified math teacher at the high school level to do it. And we can't even we're too short right now filling those positions. They're just not there. We've had advertisements for the position for um several years and not been able to fill them. Um we we did talk a retired teacher into coming back in the spring that's been retired for several years to teach some advanced level coursework. So, you know,

064we're out beating the bushes, but it's not it's not happening as far as that goes. Same thing with um I mean there's ways we could help students and we do that are um you know multiple grade levels behind but as far as [clears throat] enrichment um you know some of the biggest things is we're trying to find ways to encourage students who are struggling um to stay in school that the lights at the end of the tunnel here's multiple ways that you can earn a degree and a pathway forward. Um, so you know, a lot of them they say they don't want to go to college. Some of them want to even stop school now and start work. And you know, there's there's a pathway to to get there, but we try to encourage them

065to to finish their degree somehow someway. >> But there's nothing on a state level that help us out with teaching or [clears throat] anything like that that will help out high schoolers or anything like that? >> Not to my knowledge as far as like a tutor. Uh the the state provided some tutoring resources. Uh that was mainly through 8th grade because even the state recognizes there's you know where what do you offer tutoring in at the high school level? Um there's so many courses So, do you just offer it at, you know, a general algebra one level math or, you know, do you offer it at just a general English level? Um, we do a lot of um work for students too that that want to do to improve ACT scores. And then we also

066help students find pathways to if they don't care about ACT, they want to go to TCAD or they want to go to work um there's pathways for that also through CTE programming through workbased learning um and can help students to land jobs and and start work. So, I think that they do a great job of [clears throat] providing them. I mean, some of those students in high school that are struggling with the academic part, they will excel in work whenever they they get in there because they could care less about math, science, and history, but they can take two sticks of metal and make a masterpiece of a bead and and are hireable. And uh and that's the big thing. A lot of these students need um to some of them need to get better

067at uh showing up for work. Um you know, I call it school, but um you know, some of our struggling students are missing 20. They've already missed a lot of school. You know, so those are soft skills that bleed over into work. You know, it's hard to want to hire a student that didn't go to school on a regular basis. They probably won't come to work on a regular basis either. So really talking to students about, you know, your job now is is education. Coming to work is going to school and that'll pay off as as you enter the workforce later. So, but there is no tutoring for the most part that there's nothing that we provide on a regular basis for high school. >> Nothing at the middle school level either besides I read

068that puts a student at their grade level and paces them to improve. I knew I knew do know that RCS amongst the state. So, but no, I appreciate. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I've got a question. Um, how long has our school district been teaching phonics? >> What year did it begin? And did we ever stop and then start again? >> We've never stopped. >> We've always done >> at least I mean at least 15 years. >> Okay. >> It' be fair to say since 2010 11 >> I started teaching in 1999 first grade and we did. So we've done phonics >> since 99. >> Always done. >> Okay. different programs >> but um but we have taught phonics since there [snorts] >> all right anything else on Tissa accountability Joshua we will ask

069you to sign something if that is voted on and approved by the board. We'll upload it and then it goes from there next week. All right. Next, Matt Callahan with Perfection Group is here. If you have any questions on Jefferson Middle School, um that was in your packet for the I'm flipping see it in there somewhere, John? >> There it is. It's >> got some color photos. Um, it has one thing about Jefferson Elementary, I mean Jefferson Middle School. Jefferson Middle School has that's unique from Rush Strong, Dandridge, White Pine, New Market. Um Jeff Middle has some humidity issues. Um some in the cafeteria, some in the hallways. Um so one thing here in this project is um additional package units in the hallway for um hallway ventilation. And um I believe we were looking

070to add one at the cafeteria serving line. And uh this would be totally similar to restaurant uh New Market Dandridge where we go in replace these units as 20 30 38 years old some of them. Uh there's three units that would remain in place, not get changed out that are relatively new, just a few years old and and really um update the system. But Matt's here with perfection if y'all have any questions. >> What's the cost? >> Uh >> $4,84,082. No penny. Zero zero. >> One more time. >> 4,84,000 $82. >> That's on this page. >> He didn't hear it. >> It's on this page right here. >> Okay. >> Now 15 question. >> Obvious. I had read it. um >> you have a step away then >> as I recall in the um the

071projected cost back when we were you know looking at the project you know the uh lighting and HVAC replacement project as a whole seemed to be a little less. Uh I addressed this with Dr. Arnold and I guess a lot of that has to do with the vendway uh air conditioning units that now have to be there I guess by state law, right? to meet to meet air quality standards, it would be good to put these in here and reduce humidity levels. And then also, you know, bottom line is over 18 months, stuff has increased in price some [clears throat] >> I mean, you know, you take 10% of, you know, if stuff went up 10% of 4 million, if it was, you know, 4.4, now it's 4.8. eight. So, um that's kind of where

072that is. >> One one of the things is that [clears throat] the first pass through several years ago we did this um the some of the windows windows were operable small amount which means that you don't have to have the additional um indoor air uh outdoor air requirements going in there. The last conversation with one of them was was awesome. Can we get those to function properly and they're they're either jammed shut, painted shut, they're just old windows. So, this was the best way to alleviate and add outdoor air into the So, we're putting in five new units. one in the serving line which added cost. 40 new units with duck work and all the the ancillary stuff that goes with those new units uh is a is a cost as well as um with

073some of the classrooms because there there are outdoor vents that when they on the inside turns on a split system. So you got an outdoor condensing unit, you got an indoor unit. When that comes comes on, it's supposed to draw air through the outdoor vent on the outside wall through there. Some of those rooms weren't getting enough air. So, we put an we also added an inline fan to that to assist the air to get down those long runs because they're all tied together, if that makes sense. >> One more question here. Are the um will the air conditioning units at Jeff Middle be land based or roof based? >> We're going to be replacing like for like so if you have you have 38 split split systems, there's no way to really go back

074without an extensive amount of cost to put in different different units. Um, we are removing all the the outdoor pads or piece of concrete/plastic type of pad that the unit sits on. Replacing all that. We're actually cleaning up a lot of the old um piping refrigerant piping runs. >> That was my next question. >> Yeah. To make it look a lot better and more appealing. That's the That's the idea behind that as well. Yes, absolutely. >> Um, do you know how many actually are base off hand >> off hand 38 classroom split systems. There is one 50tonon unit that serves the auditorium >> and another 7 and 12 ton that serves a room off of the auditorium. Is that the band ring? Yes, >> Dr. >> So that's it. 38 plus two that are correct

075outside or >> you got a they're split system. So you got an outdoor condensing unit that has the compressor in it and outdoor coils etc. And they have refrigerant lines that go into an indoor unit. The classrooms have on the older section have a horizontal air handling unit that's up towards the ceiling. Okay. Um the newer section I believe has them either I think either in the ceiling or in a mechanical closet. But yes um [snorts and clears throat] so you have an outdoor unit along matched up with an indoor unit in each each section for that. >> Yeah actually answered my second question. Thank you. >> What I meant to say so the middle actually is like a big circle square with the center right. Yes. >> With no outside access to you have

076to be in the school to get to that center. Correct. >> Uh there's just one small courtyard about half the size of this. >> Are the units located in that courtyard or are they on the exterior? >> There's one in that courtyard. >> There's one in the courtyard that we we are going to look at taking that to the roof to get it out of the courtyard and put it right above the roof. It shouldn't be a problem to to uh because the air handling unit in it is right behind that behind that window in a in basically a mechanical room that's off of an equipment um room as well football. So is there any way I mean is it not good to do this or is there is there something that is that you

077would suggest you know when I see sitting outside you know I think of these high-end residential homes a lot of times they'll put these shrubs on two or three sides of it to kind of hide it from the street or something. Is there something that we could do to kind of hide the look of those things sitting around? Not really good to do that. I mean, I I look at kind of more of a, you know, um I I remember a time back in I think it was 08 when went through the roof. People were literally having their AC lines just ripped out of there. No, we service facilities, convenience stores up in Louisville, Kentucky. While the store was running, a unit was cut [snorts] from the electrical power and the refrigerant lines and stolen

078out back while the convenience store was in pro. So, I know what you're talking about. Um, you can put fencing around it. You can put shrubbery. Um, that's just added cost, but um, be careful what shrubbery is put around there because you don't want something that's going to um, defoliate and get caught and sucked into the uh, coils there because that just adds extra maintenance for cleaning. >> Yeah. I'm trying to eliminate the maintenance side of things, too. So, I mean, is there some type of a paneling or stuff like that? I mean, we can do something like that. >> Yeah. Yeah, as long as you don't what you don't want to do is restrict the air flow as that fan on the top of the unit pulls air out from the condensing unit and

079the coils or from the compressor and the coils. That air is being pulled through the the coils from the outside in. So, you just don't want to restrict that air flow. >> That's an option if we wanted to kind of hide it hide. >> Yeah. >> You can put one panel just in front. You don't need three sides. >> Right. Right. [clears throat and cough] >> That's why I said even just two side. I see a lot of people do the three sides and I'm like, um, and they just make a lot of flow underneath. Um, yeah, you know, to me, a new unit looks really good, but then years down the line, the units don't look as nice. >> I'm more worried about the visual view of it. So, that's something to to your

080point, Dr. Arnold, I did an average of all the systems that we're looking to replace. Um, average is 30.3 years for all that. >> This would be a question for Jessica. If in fact we were to approve this this uh project, what and seeing that we approve the uh egg building uh and it's been approved by the county commission. If we were to approve this project, what would we have left in our fund balance after this expenditure? >> Oh well, you have around 9.7 million unassigned. So 4.8 wouldn't go out. >> Little shy of five. >> How soon could we get started on this? >> I I think as soon as you go through your board um and then the county approves it, we'll we'll start on on getting final submittals to the team and

081begin ordering equipment and start working on it. >> What like um how long would I mean is this equipment readily available? I know there's a time >> equipment is usually 12 weeks. That's a common >> Okay. >> common the the bigger unit for the auditorium may be a little bit longer. I'm not really sure. Just depends on what they have. But the smaller units are typically um 12 weeks time. >> Okay. >> All right. >> And from the time you receive that from the time you get going to the time of completion, how long? >> I I would guesstimate on that building probably in the same time frame of dandridge or a white pond because it's a similar type setup. Uh we're doing we're doing inside and outside work. So I would say it's roughly

082a six-month period. Depends on on weather and some you know different things like that. From the time if we were to approve this, from that time, well, let's say from the time the county commission approves it, it'll take about 9 months from ordering to completion. >> Somewhere in that time frame. Yeah. Yeah. 6 to 9 months. Absolutely. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> And I if if and when you do pull the trigger on this, um um I will update you on time frames for everything, the schedule, etc. at that point. >> And just to clarify, I know Mar was the other one that was kind of in debate on the other one that might need it. This was definitely much more needed than >> I would I would say you have some a lot

083more newer equipment at Mari. Um, but they're in similar condition if that makes sense. So, it's and they're both comparable in pricing. So, I think we we went with Jefferson Middle because I'm not sure why. I think that was just the focus at one point in time, >> but the units overall are older. >> Yeah, they're they're they were both built at the same time. They have a lot of the old split systems that are in there. A lot of the same issues with indoor air quality, humidity, etc. um that we see with with that type of building, that age of building. >> Anybody else? >> All right. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Um Paul had asked that ADA improvements at school facilities be placed on their number seven. You see there? >>

084Yes. So, um, brought to my attention couple areas. Let me just start by saying our school buildings themselves are not out of class. So, I'm not talking about a specific school. I'm talking about facilities, football fields, softball fields, stuff like that. Um, but I do know that uh there's certain areas that are harder to access. say if you're in a wheelchair or if you had a walker um for whether you be students or parents um that I think it uh as a school district I think that we uh try to keep these facilities uh as much available to people with disabilities that have a hard time getting back to them. Um you know heard many times how our you know a lot of our parents or grandparents now whether because parents are working or um

085for whatever reason um you know so so I don't mean just wheelchairs I'm talking about uh people that use walkers um and I don't know would venture to say even somebody with pain or just somebody has a harder time walking keeping their balance as they get up in age um of the that brought my attention was the softball field at the high school and I do know it's and correct it's the parking lot is paved correct >> yes but once you get to the parking lot which is the outside field that's the end of the pavement you're you're in grass the rest of the way all the way up to the stands so even if it's just doing sidewalks um understand there's probably a schools that have the access to the football fields. I know

086Rush Strong specifically once you leave the parking lot, try to get over to the ramp to get up there. That's a little bit of a dirt hard area. It goes in a little bit of a grassy area before you get to the ramp. Um Jeff may have that issue and Mari may have an issue with accessibility to the football fields themselves. And I just think it would be a good idea that if we Maybe look at these areas and think about maybe doing a little bit of improvement on some of this to make these a little more accessible. And perhaps this be put on here and see what everybody else thought about it. I've been kind of looking into, you know, whether it be we just do a concrete walkway or just see what we

087need to do to some of these areas. So I you know I spoke with Dr. Arnold about this and um you know our our our goal as a I mean I guess the compliance side of things is that we are in compliance. We are here for the students. So, this would be a little bit of a beyond when you talk about the general public. Um, you know, we we're make sure that our stuff is compliant for our students. So, these facilities, you know, you're talking about, you know, if you're having a football game from another school, the um, you know, we're going to make sure that um, the general public is not our main concern as far as making sure that the kids can get around. Am I correct on that? Yeah, that's that's our

088primary focus is to ensure that you know our schools are compliant ADA accessible um for our students and then you know we do the best we can just like softball ask you know if somebody just comes they don't know that it's tough but we try to accommodate by pulling to a different location letting uh somebody move up to the field level so that they can access that area. Same thing at baseball and Mari allows you know those that have handicap to park inside the gate and even pull down sit in the car to watch a game so that they can see. But we can, you know, it's likely anything. There's always areas that we can improve or make better. >> So, yeah, I I would like to see us try to improve in some of

089these areas um with the accessibility of, you know, letting getting people with disabilities being able to get, you know, whether it be a pavement [snorts] sidewalk [clears throat] or, you know, We need to do a ramping. I the places I've seen, I haven't really seen a need for so [snorts] much of a ramp as it is maybe just a concrete pad getting up closer or whatever to the stains. >> So, I'm trying to understand what you're are you asking that we do an internal study of what we need or have somebody do a study of what we need come up with cost? I'm not quite understanding what you're asking for. I know I know at uh in Mid Market they actually have a lady um that's out of Knox County come in who she's in

090a wheelchair um that they were looking at their playground and you know when they were looking at their playground this lady was like let's talk about you know let's not worry about your swing how you get to your swing you know and so you know I I the lady came to me she was actually had the PTO meeting for the uh maintenance committee and she was talking about how you know her eyes were really opened up to just the lack of accessibility and you know what we think is you know easy to get to you know the the like the one playground specifically had a drop off you know she said I wouldn't want to go down that you know off once you get to the end of the rim it's got drop off. Um,

091and I know some of our playgrounds have gravel in them, which you're not going to wheelchair in. Now, you know, granted, not all of our playgrounds, not all our schools have kids with wheelchairs. So, I'm not saying let's go around and, you know, do all these playgrounds. you know, or do all this stuff this year. But I do think it would be a good idea to maybe see if she'd be willing to come in and um you know, maybe give us a more of a priority list and starting with maybe we have a need and you know, just start somewhere and um you know, I don't know if it's what Dr. Harlem thinks about this, but you know, do we need to have an assessment done? I don't I don't think full-blown assessment, but I

092I think there'd be a good needs list of, you know, hey, you have a child over here, a student over here. Look at areas over here that would help him access around the facility a little better, whether it be a playground, football field. And I, like I said, I have no idea. That might be the only child we have in a wheelchair. But if we have three, then maybe we need to go and find out what would help these kids with the facilities at those three schools. >> Tommy, have you ever had a complaint about any of those issues he's talking about? >> Yeah, we've not had a complaint on the school student side of things. We, you know, there are a few complaints that come in from u people uh who are visiting locations

093that u may not be aware of accommodations that we make. Um you know, one thing to think about is, you know, you think about Thompson Bowling Arena down there to go to a basketball game. It's ADA accessible. you can get there to watch the game, but you can't access the entire arena. Um, so I think that's one thing that that whenever we look at ADA accessibility to understand that um, you know, some students even if we get them a sidewalk all the way to the playground, they they do not have the ability to access that playground and what goes on inside there. >> [clears throat] >> So there's certain things that that we can put in place. Um you know, we want to help any student any way we can or or you know, any

094um it's just like the the football stadium, the ADA accessibility is on the >> left. >> Yeah. The ticket booth side down there. And um you know there has been people that park and and they complain that they park back here to to be closed but then they have to walk all the way to other end not use steps. Um so you know there's a little bit of I mean with anything it's it's the same thing. You take Jefferson Middle School, um the football field down there, there's no ADA access building within the bleachers. There's, you know, we did create a way for a wheelchair to get all the way down to the um field level now to be able to view that. Um, so, so there's things those restrooms are, you know, they're they're

095not great at any of those events. Um, >> there's room for improvement everywhere. >> Always. Yeah. Windows, doors, ADA accessibility. I mean, we always look to improve, add to. So definitely some you know if you as a board want to look at we'll be um happy to add that to Austin's list. >> Well I I would think the first thing would be to maybe do a little internal study to find out where we need it if we need it. >> You know I my thought I mean we do need we need it. We don't. >> Yeah. And it's the same way. I mean, you know, somebody comes in, they want, it's kind of like Bill Blankenship's not here right now, but you know, he's an architect. He designs, he, you know, he wants an awardwinning

096uh so sometime we have to scale him back on a few things. Um, you know, he's in there talking about trees and aesthetics and Austin's back there cringing about having to cut down those trees that he plants. U, I mean, you know, it's it's a give and take. I mean, we understand we want something that we're proud of, too, but we want it in a, you know, >> professional. >> Yeah. And then something that we can afford, maintain, and and pay for. So, you know, we would definitely if somebody came in, we'd want some limitations on, hey, this is exactly what you're looking at the areas. Um, not just uh and and Paul said it too. Not just, hey, here's our facilities. Tell us everything. Same thing the county got into. I think the county

097did a ADA accessibility and it looked at everything and you know they're 12 years into it and have >> we've done priority one and two so far. >> Okay. And u the schools on our end have done some things at Pedmont the high school. We will do some stuff at Talbet that are voting issues that the county ran into for voting that we're helping with on our end too. So >> mention was against B8. >> Sure. Oh yes. Yes, that is true. >> Mr. Chairman offer suggestion on this topic. This would be something good for our retreat. I would think maybe February time to get gather information and then we can discuss it and prioritize or whatever. You know, I understand I've gotten older. I understand that from here to that door now is a

098struggle used to be, you know. So, I agree with what you're saying. We may pick things that need to be that we could do afford to do. But that would be a good topic I think for the retreat and give us time to gather information on that and discuss it then just my thoughts. Anyone else? I agree. Be give plenty enough time to get some stuff researched and looked at. >> All right. Anything else there, Tom? I don't have anything else there, Paul? All right. Um, next is um, Coach Bradley asked for some, um, field lighting there at Mory Middle School to be considered again. Um, anything you want to talk about there, coach? >> Sure. Uh, lights are getting pretty dim. They're probably playing in the dark. I don't know. Uh but I think

099it's time to replace those field lights. I know there are also seating situations at at Mari and at Jeff Middle that could be addressed separately. But the lighting issue, uh, I guess the biggie for me, I would like for this to be on the agenda for our meeting, our business session because it does, like you mentioned earlier, it takes a while to get things together. We'd like to have the new lights up by next football season. So, this is not something we could put off. I think it's something we can do. and and I don't maybe perfection group could uh or somebody give us an idea of the cost I guess is the big issue of what it would cost to do that and um I don't have that number what anybody take a stab

100I would uh >> did we not have a price on those at one time to take the money down. >> Yeah. I mean, you know, we were looking at um in excess of half a million dollars to be able to put adequate lighting in there to be able to put poles up, fixtures, u be able to light the playing field and the uh parking lot. I know we've had um it's very dark in that area. I I don't think you could really safely play a football game if it went into nighttime there. U and we have upgraded. We upgraded Rush Strong's electrical service down the football field. Is that complete yet? >> Not complete, but we're working on it. >> It was sketchy at best. U so Mary's is the same way. Very sketchy uh

101service. >> I believe we still got the same lights we had there in 1962. Has coach >> probably. >> I walked up the hill in the dark many times. >> Matt's got something. He's got Do you want me to come up? >> Yeah, come up here and give you can give us something. >> I'm looking for a number. Okay. Okay. And I don't have a number on me, but last year when we looked at both schools, one of the things where we added to the [clears throat] program was the lighting at um the football field at Mark. >> So I have an idea of a number. I'd have to get updates on lighting cost, but I can give Dr. Arnold the number that is pretty close if that makes sense to you. Is that >>

102we'll take them. >> Okay. And it'll give us scope of work because there were new polls that were going to go up. I mean, you need to there's a lot of work that needed to be do be done there to upgrade and improve that lighting facility as well as the parking lot light. So, um I'll I'll get on that, Dr. Arnold. You can share that with us. >> You think you can get us an out of business session? >> Oh, yeah. We'll hold him to it. >> That's a that's a 10 days away right at it. So, >> yeah. No, I I'll have that. I can probably get it to you tomorrow by Wednesday at the latest. Right. So, we don't know what number we're going on at the next meeting. Okay. Yes. Thank you.

103Appreciate it. >> Any questions there? Uh number four, uh a little bit of information in your packet just on threat assessments. So, that's a requirement by state law we put in there. So you'll see the number of threats investigated, number of viable threats. Um, and that's August 6 through October the 10th. Also in your packet is updates on mental health services in Jefferson County. that was requested just the number by October the 6 that Helen Ross McNab had completed and by October 9th was whenever Allied Behavioral Health gave us a report for the number of services provided students and hours. Um then also bullying investigated reporting for the 202425 school year is listed in here. Total number of harassment, intimidation, bullying or cyber bullying cases uh were investigated indicating bullying occurred. Um so then there

104is that's 2425. Then there's a report in there for the number of cases for this school year up till October the 9th. That is the number that have reported cases and the number that have been reported and determined to be bullying. And then also in here is zero tolerance offenses. So there um zero tolerance offenses for possession, use distribution of illegal drugs and then there was one [snorts] threat of mass destruction, mass violence last year that turned into a ZT. This year we have u as of October 20th number of zero tolerance offenses that have been dealt with up until October 20th of 8 for this school year. So I don't remember um somebody at some of this we have to give you and then somebody asked for some additional information that was provided. I'm

105sorry I don't know who it was right off the top of my head or multiple people but I had notes of to get this information to you. [clears throat] Any questions on that? Yes sir. >> So on the October 2025 report says September 15th to October 10th the number of threats investigated 24. Then At the very bottom, it's August 6th through August 10th. It says 66 investigated. So from August 6th through September 14th, there was 42 of them. >> A lot. >> Was that the beginning of year? >> Yeah. >> In the first month there was 42. >> That's a lot. I can't remember exactly. I tried to put it all together. It was on your last that you got how many there was. That's why I broke it up that way. >> I just

106wanted to make sure I was reading that right because I was like a lot this year. >> Okay. >> But viable threats is zero. >> Yes. >> So, um viable threats is zero. I mean, you know, threat can that can last anywhere from >> two minutes. I mean, basically, you get a threat, report, investigate it, and determine that's nothing quick. Some of them can last two days, involve Homeland Security, sheriff's department, local PD. Uh, some of them go on for we had one at Rush Strong this year that went on for weeks off and on. U So, they're You know, sometimes they last, like I said, two minutes and sometimes multiple days it takes to to get to the bottom of it. But, uh, some of that stuff comes in the first week from students,

107from summer break, and various things, too. So, I remember counting whenever we started. I said there's one, two, six, seven. I mean, you know, we wasn't even the first week of school, so I quit counting quick. >> But there's some information for your taste buds and to look at and it is a lot just, you know, you're looking at 66. Um, so Tal may have had three of those and the high school may have had 15 of those. Um, so it is kind of dependent on that. Any questions on that? >> Nothing. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Could we get a break on how many of these type of based on which Well, I could send you that information. So, of the six 66 threats, is that how many? >> Well, it's like a combined number

108that I see. >> Yeah, we can break that down. Yes. [snorts] >> Make sure So for the October U, yeah, I will send that to you. [clears throat] We'll look at doing that quarterly. So right now we're in a quarter. Um, so we have to produce you monthly reports and then on our quarterly reports, we'll break them down by school for you. Um, anything else? >> All right. Next is on there is a proposed 2026 2027 academic calendar. Um lost my spot. So it gives in there just an overview for you. Um know that I sent this out to employees. um know that there's close to I mean 1,200 employees. So uh you know some people didn't respond some people thought well you know I thought if I like this one I didn't need to

109respond. Um you know I got a bunch of emails bunch of conversation. Um, the teachers don't like returning in August or they don't like returning in July, the last few days of July, but they also don't want the semester to go past Christmas break. Uh, so you only have so many days in there to to fit in a a semester, two, nine weeks to end it. They also don't want to give up a a fall break. um they don't want um as many split weeks so that we have consistency. Um so there's a lot of things that we took into uh consideration. I know that this one thing that's diff I can't always guarantee teachers that we can start in August. There's a possibility it could have worked out this year, but there's no way

110it could have worked out next year with elections being in November. Um, and and going forward it gets tough. So, one thing that we added this year to this proposed calendar is a week-l long Thanksgiving break. Um it right now historically we've always went Monday, Tuesday and then out Wednesday, Thursday, Friday for our staff. Um so in looking at the next several years, I feel like that we can fit in a weekl long Thanksgiving break, still complete our semester. Josh over there licking his lips. So, um, >> so one thing that this looked he'd have to quit. >> So, we wouldn't have we taken as a teacher, but >> I can speak for Yes. >> experience on the broad schedule weeks, but we always had two weeks left after Christmas. It was amazing how much

111they have forgotten uh you know that time off and you're trying to two weeks trying to end the semester in the middle of January. Thanksgiving too. Uh of course I started teaching and we scratched on rocks but anyway Thanksgiving used to be Thursday and we had school up till Wednesday. Well Wednesday started to get thin on pupils. So we made hyd. So I agree with if you can possibly >> a week for Thanksgiving just I mean nobody shows up [snorts] you know they got to travel you know they got to go somewhere and if you need people take them out you know take a week off be done with you can I would rather start in just my opinion I don't like to start in July do that and have some time off at Thanksgiving,

112>> right? >> And you know, and have all the students there >> you can have class. >> You definitely want to end the semester before Christmas, right? >> For sure. >> Right. Well, um I think that uh you know just in conversation and working with [clears throat] people I know you know Sam Holl's head over there he's helped us out a lot in in developing this calendar and coming up with ideas and concepts and I mean you know he we feel like it would be a great um thing for our employees. Um you know, it gets hard to to get off on Tuesday and get everything done that you need to or travel somewhere or um it doesn't take away in my opinion, it doesn't take away from instruction. Um, you know, one thing I

113put in in the overview for you was to uh, you know, provide those balanced semesters and consistent breaks. I don't feel like coming back a Monday, Tuesday before Thanksgiving really does a lot for us. So um especially in today's world um I think it leads to greater absenteeism which we're combating already and trying to to get better at. I think this would help uh with that. You know students that are chronically absent by we have a ton that are chronically absent by you know two or three days. So every day matters to get them to school and I think this would help to get them to school more. And then um also in in looking at um you know Sam's at college, he does some college adjunct work and and a lot of our kids

114are taking dual enrollment [clears throat] classes um taking um workbased learning just opportunities where they miss um consistent things like putting all our PD days on a Monday or on a Friday and you miss that uh same day three times in a semester and it hurts that class for especially for students taking a college level course. Uh so this spaces that out, takes that into consideration. You know, you all can review this. You all approve and set those calendars and it would, you know, just consider it. I know that teachers don't come back in in July uh the last two days, but but we're going to have to. Also, um one thing that if I don't start employees in July, then they don't get benefits until September. So, their health insurance wouldn't start. So if

115we come if the first day teachers report backs August 1st then their benefits don't start until September. Now this cost the board extra money to start benefits but in my opinion it's the right thing to do for our employees start them back in as a start date of July. you know, for these new employees, every how many we have, there's no lapse in their benefits or their benefits pick up right away in August and go forth there. So, that's another thing that we just consider that a lot of people don't understand. They're already working, but but it does it does help our new employees and recruitment of staff, too. Any questions on Yes. >> So what are when are the students first day? Is it Wednesday the 5th? >> So it is Wednesday the 5th

116off the 6th because 6th is an election day. U so that's that's why you see a start day on the 5th. That is a partial day that allows us to that goes back to my first year in 2022 whenever we had the storms 35 county roads closed. We didn't know where kids lived. I said we'll never do another full day as long as I'm here. So that gives us a partial day to find out how kids are getting home. meet with moms, dads, grandparents, whoever, you know, fill out car rider tags, get information, and uh be able to have a trial run a little bit to uh to make that happen. >> So, that's a short day for them. >> Short day. >> Okay. So, their first full day will be on that Friday, then

117the seventh. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And then why do we do that? Um, so who got you? Did you get a new teacher this start the year? Somebody did. >> I did. >> Ben did. >> So Ben start a year with, you know, two kindergartens and numbers came in and they were too high. We had to add a kindergarten from the start of school, the first days to, you know, second, third day. So, we've got to go gather up stuff from Jefferson Elementary School, take it to Rush Strong, and this gives us time to make that happen whenever we have to add a classroom to meet regulations. I just I just tell you, I think that my kids go to school here since 2005. I don't know why you waited to wait. My last

118one graduates, have a calendar like this. a week off for Thanksgiving and fall break. You know, you still get the same Christmas break and spring break and you're still getting that >> this is Wednesday. >> Yeah, this is volume 16 edition 126 on the calendar. >> So, it didn't just happen. I mean, you know, Sam sent a lot of feedback back that helped us to really hone this in on on the um weekl long Thanksgiving break and adjustment of the the days. You know, a prime example is September 7th is a holiday. What holiday is that? >> Labor Day. Is that first Monday in September? So, u and then we follow that up with a PD day right after that. So that I mean bottom line is we have a lot of kids, staff, whoever

119that will miss a Monday and then you know miss a Friday and a Monday. So so this this gives us a little bit of connection so we don't have a 4 day week here and then another four day week two weeks later. So there's a little bit more consistency in the calendar. these calendars all these years. >> I know it's a beautiful so you all take this [clears throat] in consideration look at it. Um then you know this is what's proposed before you and we'll go from there. I believe that concludes where I'm at on the um items for information and input items coming up on the board session agenda. So >> I'll turn it over to you. >> Thank you. >> All right, school commissioner for discussion. Um, I got a call over the

120weekend, um, and I since found out that a couple of other commissioners got the same call, uh, about there is a rear parking lot primarily for staff that at Dandridge Elementary School. That thing is so dark at night. I went up there the other night. Um uh it it's accessed from this little dog dance road off of Industrial Park Road. You turn up it and it's if if you didn't know where this thing was, you wouldn't know it's but it a bus right up to where the preschool is at D and it's primarily for staff and uh and teachers. That thing there's not a light. It the back of the school is in front of it. The back of industrial buildings in in the back of it backs up to it. There's nothing uh to

121the left of it and this little dog dance road comes up is to the right of it. that is, you know, um, and I don't know if the principal of has received any complaints about this or not, but that thing is really at night, especially when teachers are there for, you know, you know, special events at night and everything else. I wouldn't feel real comfortable if my wife was a teacher, her parking back there and going back there at night. I mean, there is really no way if someone's lurking back there, you you wouldn't be able to see them. If there's bears back there, you wouldn't be able to see them. So, the request was that we look at possibly putting some lighting back in that so it's at least illuminated enough where people feel

122safe going back after dark. And I went up there and I completely concurred with that. I I think we need to do something now since Paul got the Paul and Don. I don't know if anybody got calls on this thing. Paul and Don got calls on this. I guess Paul went and talked to Appalach and Electric about cost. So, I'll turn it over to Paul on this one. >> Yes, I got a call about it and uh it was basically the same kind of concern. Um but basically once it gets started, like I said, a parent parent teacher conference or something happened last week where kind of along it was started by the time someone came out. Um You want to know about lighting? I I didn't even know that it existed. I actually drove

123up there before I came up here just to take a look at it. It's not really big, but um you know, I said, "Well, I don't even know what the process would be." Like, I would just So, I called a friend of mine that works at Appalach and said, "Hey, you know, is that something that we would have to buy a pool for? Is that something that you guys do? Like, what is that process?" and it's something that they can do and you know I just got this information was about 3:34 getting ready to be done for the day. So I don't know if there's certain requirements either. So he's talking about a wooden telephone pool and I went up there right before that and I know there's metal pools out in the parking lot

124>> in the front parking lot where they park. So I don't know if we're under requirement of doing a certain type of pool or whatever but they'd be willing to go up there and meet with whoever be Dr. Arnold or you know Austin >> make an assessment on how many thought we need. I mean, I'm a I'm not a professional by them. I I don't think we would need more than probably two, but I mean, I don't I can't make that assessment, but he's talking about at the max if we need the transformers for each one. We're looking at like at the max $500, but that's a 40 foot. That's a wooden telephone pool. >> Yeah. We don't we use that. I mean, you know, you take Jefferson, if you drive down the road and

125look at Jefferson Elementary School versus Jefferson Middle School, it looks like a car lot versus, you know, something on the Appalachian Trail, as far as lighting goes. And uh u basically we use a lot of Appalachin electric pole lights for Jeff Elementary because they don't have any um any pole lights in the parking lot. We did uh we just we upgraded Dander Elementary's parking lot. We have adequate parking at Dander Elementary. They park back there at a convenience. Um I mean, you know, we can shut that parking lot down and have more than adequate space back there for personnel. There's probably I would say there's 60 empty spots in the school parking lot. Nobody parks along the woods. Adequate spaces up front down by the playground. Um, but there's also exterior lighting on the ends

126of the building. I know sometimes there's some issues with a lightning strike of a photo sale or something. Austin can look at that. We could put additional lighting up there. But there is some exterior lighting there. That road comes in, the road that comes in is also access to the cottages for Jefferson Park. Um, so we spent money to pave in some of those potholes that were created. Uh, and then also, uh, we cleaned out that coming up. it was grown up hanging over the road. We cleaned all that up and uh and improved that. The biggest thing is people park there because they need out. They don't want to get blocked in. Um but um we we'll look at it and see what we can do. >> Yeah, there there is on the end

127of that Jim back there on the end of kindergarten hall. Isn't there a security light up there? I I think there is >> we can look at that and see on that u see what we can do to add that in. >> I was just up there on on Sunday not Sunday night and there was no way. So maybe we have them that's not working or something. >> Yeah. But if you look at it that's that's all I think we can ask. >> Yeah. We've added in a bunch. I mean, New Market, uh, Jefferson, White Pine, uh, so New Oh, Rush, >> uh, yeah, greatly. >> You can't sleep. >> Jeff Don, y'all know Jeff Denton with the maintenance department. >> Uh, with the county maintenance department. He was all mean for you remember that

128light was shining in his bedroom window from Jeff Middle School. So we had to get on a boom truck and lower it down to but uh yes we can greatly improve those and we used Appalachin Electric. So it's KGB at Rush Drum, right? >> Because that's on their service. But that greatly increased the visibility there along the road after basketball games and events, Talet, White Pine, New Market, Jeff Middle, Dandridge, the front and bottom. So we can look if we can do it relatively low cost. My only question with that is that when we do have an an event up there, do we fill Is there an event that fills those spots up? >> Parent teacher conferences u you know it. Yeah, they have schoolwide events just like do you still do K through two

129stuff 3 through five? Sometimes Mount Hor does that same thing. They'll do K through two one night, three through five another night just to be able to accommodate. U they do Thanksgiving here in the next month. Sam will do Thanksgiving. There's not enough parking in the Mount Or community for all the people that come out. So it gets crazy over there. >> He'll go from serving 350 meals to 3,000. It's like a soup kitchen over Thanksgiving. They had the biggest turnout I've ever seen. So any other chair, one more thing. I'm sorry. I forgot this. >> We will be having a special call policy meeting. >> All right. On the prior to the November work session, all right. And that will be at 5:30 on November 11th. Mr. party has a couple policies [laughter] of

130contract renewals in our >> you know that might be I thought about that like an item for information. >> Yeah. >> An item for information. >> We won't talk like it could be for the work session. >> Yes. >> Then we can then we can discuss it. >> Yeah. Okay. >> We're going to do something about it. Then we got to business >> November 24th. My mistake. Now I know. you, everybody needs to have the policies that they want to be reviewed in our policy committee into Rhonda by November 11th. If they're not in to Rhonda by November 11th, they will have to wait until our regular policy meeting in January. I put it on