001Good evening and welcome to the March 9th, 2026 meeting of the Robertson County School Board. Uh at this time, I will ask everyone in present to uh silence any electronic devices and please join me in a moment of silence. Thank you. At this time, we got East Robertson High School with the pledge of allegiance. Attention salute 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 guys. Ladies and gentlemen, it's my proud or my distinct honor to be able to introduce to you the sixth grade boys club from East Robertson High School. I have five young men here tonight who are um honored to be able to ride uh raise the flag each day
002and take it down when the weather uh is impeding. And so I've got some sixth graders I want to introduce to you. And the question I asked them because I told them millions were watching here tonight this morning. when you come from the elementary school and go to middle school, what would you tell an elementary student? So my man Manning Swearington said, "Don't mess with someone unless you want to get messed with back." >> Jake Green said, "Don't let the words of others affect you. Go about your life." William Jernigan said, "It's not as hard as people make it sound." Cash Grove says, "Give your best. Get involved in everything." And finally, my man Camden Eden here said, "Don't overthink it. Ladies and gentlemen, please give a round. >> Thank you, gentlemen. At this time,
003Dr. Weeks, could you please read our mission and vision statements? >> Our mission is to ensure that each student is prepared to succeed in life. And our vision is that Robertson County Schools will enable all students to reach and exceed high academic and career standards while empowering them to succeed in a culturally diverse and technologically advanced society. Thank you, sir. Not aware of any items for public comments. The board members, we will move on to item number three on your agenda, the consent agenda. Uh you all been provided a copy of this, had a chance to review it. At this time, I'll open the floor for any questions or motion. >> Mr. White, could I correct? Uh, item 3B needs to read February 9th meetings minutes, please. February 9th. It's updated to February 9th. >>
004Motion to approve by Mr. Jeff White. Do we have a second? >> Second by Mr. Scott Rice. I think Stephen A. I wasn't looking. All those in favor, please make it known by saying I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries 6. Moving on to item number four, recognitions. For members, I would like to We have two students we'd like to recognize this evening. One from Chet Park Elementary School and one from Heritage Elementary. I think Miss Hayes, you're going first. Is that right? Thank you. Joshua and Elias, do you guys want to come on up? So, the Governor's Early Literacy Foundation recognizes Tennessee's youngest learners who have overcome challenges in their literacy development. Uh, this program is called 10 Under 10. So each year, third grade students from across the state are nominated for demonstrating
005what it means to be tenaciously driven, eager to read, noticeable growth, and non-stop learner. Tonight, I have the honor of sharing the story of an extraordinary reader named Joshua. He is the kind of child everyone should have the pleasure of meeting. He radiates kindness, joy, and perseverance well beyond his years. Joshua's journey has not always been easy. At his home, his family is learning English, which means he often navigates school and reading in a new language. His family has also faced hardships and loss that no child should experience. But every day, Joshua comes to school with a smile, a joyful spirit, and a determination to learn. He is truly tenaciously driven. He works hard every day and approaches learning with positivity and determination. Joshua is also eager to read, often asking to read aloud and
006even challenging himself to use his new words and sentences to deepen his understanding. Because of that effort, Joshua has shown noticeable growth. Since the beginning of the year, he's made tremendous progress in speaking, reading, and writing in English, steadily improving his reading scores. Most importantly, Joshua is a non-stop learner. He loves discovering new things and sharing what he learns with his classmates, encouraging them along the way. Joshua's story is one of resilience, hope, and determination. Despite the challenges, he chooses joy, learning, and lifting others up. We know this is only the beginning of your story, Joshua, and great things lie ahead of you. And so tonight, we celebrate Joshua and Broce Obama for being recognized as a 10 under 10 finalist in the state of Please. >> Good evening. I'm Amanda Fields. from the Princewood
007Heritage Elementary and I'm here to recognize tonight our student Elias Hill in the 10 under 10 uh category in Tennessee. It's my honor to recognize this student whose growth and enthusiasm for learning truly stands out. Elias has developed a strong love of reading through hard work, curiosity, and a willingness to keep growing. Over time, he has made impressive progress in his reading comprehension and benchmark scores, showing just how much his skills have developed. As his confidence has grown, so has his enthusiasm in the classroom. Elias eagerly participates, reads aloud, and is always willing to challenge himself with new material. He approaches learning with a positive attitude and a genuine desire to improve. What is especially inspiring about Elias is that he has become a continuous and non-stop learner. He continues to build on his skills,
008embrace new challenges, and find joy in reading and learning each day. Elias's journey is a wonderful example of how dedication and increased confidence can help a student grow into a motivated and capable learner. Join me in congratulating Elias for his hard work, his his growth as a reader and the bright future ahead of him. Thank you, Miss Hayes and Miss Fields. We uh know there was quite a nomination process there and appreciate you taking time to recognize your students. Uh we are going to go across the hall and have some pictures made, Mr. Bellis. And guys, thank you and congratulations. And if you'll exit the back door to your left, they'll take care of you over there. >> Y'all got cheated out of something. And that is Joshua smile the whole was awesome. It's just
009a light bulb. I mean, just a light bulb. kind of like Miss Thomas was watching. >> You were kind of fun to watch. >> Congratulations to both of those young men. Um, at this time we will move on to item number 5A, personnel reports. >> Four members, in your packet, page 19 contains our personnel reports. Uh you'll see uh we we've started to have some names coming in of retirements and I would be remiss if I didn't recognize one in particular that's very special to me. Uh Mr. Mark Gregory is with us here this evening and Mark has served as our CTE supervisor and he has indicated at the end of the year he's going to be uh finding something else to do on mornings at 7 o'clock rather than coming to work. So Mark
010we congratulate you. We will have a reception for uh everyone later in the year, but did want to particularly bring that out. I think you've done a great job in leading your department. We're thankful for that. Uh Miss Jennifer Gordon from Coopertown Middle School is an interventionist. Marsha Hogan from Chet Park, an instructional coach. Allison Holman, a coach at um Westside. Sheila Leech an interventionist from East High. Nicole McDonald from Heritage Elementary. Donna Sabatini from Cheetum Park. and Victor White from IIA. You'll see those retirements and again we congratulate those individuals for uh the work that they've done in the county. Lots of longtime names there. Uh you see resignations, leaves of absence and some new hires and new placements on there for certified positions. On page 20, you will see uh the classified report
011and you see two retirements there. Unfortunately, they're both bus drivers and we need bus drivers desperately. Mr. Melvin Christian and Mr. Ralph Toothman also longtime bus drivers for the system and you see other personnel actions uh with classified personnel report. While we are there, I will add that the U HR department has scheduled a job fair on March 31st, the afternoon of March 31st here in this office and uh we will be uh taking uh applications, having some open interviews and hopefully opening and posting some jobs that are available for these individuals. And uh we'll try to get some folks in and try to stay ahead of the hiring problems that we've had. Thank you, sir. Moving on to item six uh A, expense comparison report. >> 6A. On page 21, you'll see uh a
012summary of what's in your uh consent agenda. But on page 6A, you'll see that our revenues have come in 59% of our budget at 84.3 million and our expenditures at 82.9 million. So $1.4 million uh to the good roughly. And uh so that those numbers are looking good. and turning from where we're we're starting to bring in more revenues than we are. Expenditures always good for us. Property tax and sales tax coming in around 22 million. Uh slightly above where we were the same time last year, about 60% of those budgets. You will see our expenditures that we track regularly, some of those large expenditures, electricity, diesel, gasoline, and salaries and insurance. Um you'll see those numbers. Those are in pretty good shape for the most part. Uh I will say is um we have
013started working on the budgets as we start looking at that and I guess one of the things that we've looked at most we heard last week is uh we're hearing that their insurance may be going up as much as 10 to 12%. So they're predicting double digit health insurance increase so going to uh greatly impact our budgeting plans. We run by now. >> That long fuel going up. I don't know what we're going to do. >> On that happy note, >> we'll move on to item 6B, budget amendment. >> Item 6B, we have received some revenues from the state and local grants, and you'll see that's a total of $86,600. And Miss Kleiner wanted us to go ahead and uh code it code and classify those to the appropriate line items. You'll see lines 10
014or so 10 or so lines of where that 866 is going to be distributed. And so we would need a motion and approval so that we can send this on to the county budget commission county commission budget committee. >> Got before you a balanced budget amendment board. Uh do you have any discussion or motion? Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Motion by Mr. Scott. Second by Mr. Scott Rice. All those in favor, please make it known by saying I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes 6. >> And moving on to item 7A, school attendance report. >> Members, if you'll uh look at page 24 in your packets, you'll see our attendance for the month of February. And uh I know overall we had some pockets of illness, but nothing. As you can look at the
015numbers, I think our our numbers range from 90% um all the way up to 98%. And so again, we'd like to recognize White House Heritage High School. I think that's the fourth month in a row they've had the highest attendance for our high schools and middle schools in the county, 98.5% for the month of February. And also like to recognize Chetm Park Elementary School, 95.6 6% for elementary schools in terms of attendance. Uh you'll see how each school compares to the previous month and then you'll see our district totals 94 and a half% again that's a very good number for us up over 93.2% the same period last year. In the far right column you'll see the number of students that have 20 or more absences. Uh, Coopertown Middle with 29, Green Bear High 37,
016Green Middle 24, Joe Burns High at 22, Springfield High 30, and Heritage High 25. All the rest um 16 or less, it appears. So again, we are uh continuing to send in to the court system uh those students who are truent with 10 or more unexcused absences and uh we're continuing to work with them to try to resolve some of those issues. Questions or discussion on the attendance report? Hearing none, we'll move on to item 8A, uh renewal bid for filter sales and service. for members. Uh tab 1481 is for our filter service. This is the company that comes in, orders, delivers, brings in, and changes all of our air conditioner filters. Uh you see that is up for renewal. Uh there's a March through February contract, and they have notified us that they would
017do that for the same price that they have uh done that for the current year. So would recommend that we accept and extend that contract uh to admage are also we've known him as Murray Filter Sales and Services. >> Do we have a motion to extend that contract? >> A motion to approve. >> Second. >> Motion by Mr. Scott Rice, second by Demetri White. >> All those in favor make a comment by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes 60. >> Item 8 B on page 26 is a renewal of our pest control uh services. Uh this also is an extension with Legacy Pest. They've agreed to accept pricing uh for the following uh the same amount as we've had for this year. Uh you will see those items on there and
018would recommend approval for that. >> Have a motion to approve. >> So move, >> Mr. Steven Ays. Do we have a second? >> Second by Miss Connie Hogan. >> All those in favor make it known by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes 6. Item 8 C on page 27 and 28 uh are additions or addendums to the contracts for landscaping services. We had uh bid this last year as you'll recall. Uh but in the bid there was no provisions for extending or accepting those contracts. So, I would recommend that we uh if you look at item number three, the renewability clause, option to renew up to four years, but no more than a five-year total. And again, the uh the items and the discussion for price index increases is listed in item 2D. And
019uh I would first recommend that we add this language to the existing contracts from 8C uh to both contracts for 3C Lawn Care and Steuart Lawn Care, please. >> So move >> motion by Mr. Jeff White. Do we have a second? >> Second by Mr. Scott Rice. All those ino or all those in favor make it known by saying I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes 6. >> Four members. With that addition to the contract, I would recommend that we extend the contracts for 3C's lawn care. Uh they have done a good job on the northwest and northeast quadrants of our county and Stewart's lawn care, what we call the central and the southern uh quadrants of our county. So you see uh the proposed contracts for each of those groups uh divided out by quadrants.
020North, Northeast, Northwest, South, and Central. And you'll see the cost for renewal of those. I would recommend approval on those. >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by Mr. Steven Ays. Do I have a second? >> Second by Mr. Scott Rice. All those in favor, make it known by saying I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes 6. Moving on to item nine, communications. Uh there are none. >> There are none. How about item 10, director of schools report members? Uh thank you for your work this week and I will say first of all I've had an opportunity to spend time at the superintendent conference and uh uh that was last week and we've learned a lot of updates from the state and we've also been given some new things to do as we normally are when
021we visit with state personnel. Uh they also had a lot of discussion around legislation and I know that you are staying on top of school legislation that's uh been before you and again if you've not seen that lately I would share that with you through your TOSS TSB reports that you receive on Friday afternoons. Uh they did discuss that they thought the legisl legislature would be shutting down by uh late March early April uh so that the elections and get back home and do some campaigning there. So, uh, conference was a good conference. Again, we come home with several new items to take care of and to do. So, that's, uh, just about anytime that we attend conferences. Uh, while I was away, our students have been very busy with benchmark testing and they're wrapping
022that process up. And again, those benchmarks will help our teachers know how to diagnose and, uh, hopefully remediate as best we can between now and TCAP time. And, uh, so TECAPs are coming up very quickly. We'd also like to uh congratulate several of our folks that participated in the school health conference uh last week and Miss Hogan um you might have some additions to that during your comments. You might want to mention uh we had some adults and students participating there. So Miss Hogan will probably tell us about that a little bit. White House heritage basketball is in the substate playin game tonight. So they are probably uh going to tip off here in about seven or eight minutes and we wish them the best. It's the boys White House heritage boys basketball. Uh would
023go without saying I think spring break's coming up next week and I know there are a lot of excited staff and students about that and we wish everybody a safe and happy break. Um board members beside your desks you will see an agenda for our state of the schools program. Uh that is Wednesday uh March the 11th. That will be at Springfield High School. uh breakfast at 8:30 in the program between 9 and 10. Uh you see the agenda there and uh we're excited about that as have an opportunity to share with our community. I know we participate in a couple of state of the schools programs with the chamber of commerce but this is a full day uh it's a full morning for us to highlight several of the things that we do and
024uh don't have to share that with uh with others. So it's a great time. We're excited about that. And uh part of that focus will be you have an annual report. So you have the new printing of that. So this talks about our district and we'll be going over several of these points with the uh with the group that we have on Wednesday morning. And lastly, uh I know several of you have been asked to read in our schools as part of ReadAcross America or other reading programs that are going on. And so if you've not had that opportunity yet and would like to do so, we still have some slots available I think this week and we'll try to get you worked in for there if we need to. And lastly, um, summer law
025registration will open up probably during next week while we're on break. So if you have any intentions of going to summer law, you know, that conference fills up uh very quickly. I think it is the middle week of July around July 15th or 17th somewhere somewhere right around there. So if you have any intentions of registering for that if you let Miss Trice know that Mr. White you norally go Miss Hogan possibly sometimes. So if we need to to get you registered for that please let us know because u particularly the hotel fills up pretty quickly. >> That's all I'll have. Mr. Right. All righty. Or members, do we have any old business to be brought forward? >> Do we have any new business? >> Hearing none, we'll move on to comments by board members.
026Uh, Miss Connie Hogan, you want to lead us off? >> Well, maybe. I don't know. Uh, what I really was going to talk about was the reading. Okay. because I have these two little reading buddies at Bransford and so I go every week to read with them and and that's always one of the highlights of my week and then I got to go to some ReadAcross America uh things west side had a fantastic time and and you I think I sent that group text out to you all because I promise I went in a second grade class and they were studying u subjects and predicates and I thought second grade I think I did that maybe when I was in the fourth grade? I you know I know things have changed a lot but um
027what you were referring to earlier I I don't know a lot of the details about it other than it was a health do you know the name of it? I don't even know the name of what it was. Um it was in Nashville and there were about 600 people there is what I heard. One of y'all might coordinated school health. coordinated school health, right? Okay. Well, my granddaughter, Mary Brenley, um, who is a junior in high school now, was diagnosed with Crohn's when she was three years old. And so, she's had a struggle her whole life. Um, you would never know that she had a struggle because of the way she handles it. But um she got up and made and and made a speech about this situation and about the things in school. Um
028she's had some fantastic teachers and some wonderful nurses. You know, she uh named several of those that they had really been a big part of her life. and uh you know going into school when you're in kindergarten and you have Crohn's and I don't know if you all know what all is involved but I won't go into all the details but there's a um it's it's a tough disease and there's nothing you know that that's going to cure it. She handles it as best she can. medication changes a lot. But the point of that day was to make sure I mean it it was about school health and what a big part of school health what they had done to help her in her life. And so that was really um you know but then
029she did tell me hey I got a standing ovation. So that was pretty important for her. But, uh, you know, I will have to say I look back from kindergarten all the way through, she's always had the help of the school nurse, uh, at whatever school she's been to and and it's just been really amazing to see um, how she handles it because she's she's pretty tough, you know, pretty tough little girl, but uh, yeah, school school has helped her a lot. >> Thank you, ma'am. Mr. White. You know, I think back there's a there's a lot of things that this board, and I know it's been different folks on the board through the years, but there's been several things that this board has pushed for, and with the help of the county commission and
030them pushing forward as well. We have officers in every school. We have nurses in every school. And just go back what, 20 years ago, >> and we didn't. And uh I'm I'm proud of that for the time I've served and and that you all have served and those that's gone before us too because that was something that was decided many years ago in Mr. Barry Baker's committee meetings that I do remember and uh so I appreciate that. Mark Gregory, I love you, man. I go to church with Mark. So I have another relationship with Mark at church. He's a great teacher at church and uh enjoy his classes there. You're going to be missed. Um I just started flipping through here and I see CTE all over the place and I I think you have
031set some groundwork to keep that going and to keep it moving forward. I appreciate all the work that you've done and you took my son and inspired him to get into it and he absolutely loves it. So, I thank you and and I I know that you have done a great job and I'd love to see it continue on. >> Well, I'm going to mirror some things that Jeff just said. I I was making notes just from from old memory. Mr. Gregory, I don't know that if you have any clue how much effect you had. You know, I can go back to like when Paul, our son, was in school and just like with FFA and we didn't have as maybe as many opportunities with CTE as we got today, but just with what you
032were doing there and Mr. Baker, I mean, all he could think about was farming and that's what he does today. That's all he could think about. But uh but as far as the academics, he's sharp. He's smart, but he he wouldn't give you a nickel for that. I mean, it was just constant. Have you done your homework? You know, and so, uh I think you and Mr. Baker, I think that FFA that that was the only thing that he looked forward to was was FFA. And I think he maybe got some speeches from y'all and somehow y'all got through to him in a way that I couldn't. And I remember Mr. Baker coming back and said he's going to be fine. We we've talked to him and he's he's going to graduate. He's going to
033be fine. So anyway, so I appreciate that. >> He's forgetting who his first grade teacher. >> Well, listen, he couldn't get he didn't even want to come home when he had Miss Connie. >> Yeah, that and that's the truth. Yeah, he Anyway, that that's a whole other story. >> You don't want us to bring that stuff? >> No. Even at holidays, I would I would send gifts for his other teachers and I would say, "Did she like it?" And he would say, "I don't know. I carried it to Miss Connie." >> So, I always had to out all through elementary, I had to have a gift for Miss Connie and for his teacher for for holidays. So, anyway, but teachers do make a big difference and I appreciate y'all and you're going to be missed.
034I know you've done a lot of a lot of great things and I bet there's a lot of stories to tell. So, we appreciate you and hope all the teachers have a really good spring break. >> Mr. Just thank you everybody for all your hard work. Mr. Gregory, thank you for all you've done. CTE has completely changed statewide while you've been doing it for Robertson County, but Roberts County wouldn't be where we are CT today without you. And I appreciate it. Thank you. You've done a great job. Uh just u hope everybody enjoys their break. It's very welld deserved. So, thank you all. >> Mr. Rice. >> How much else to be said? Enjoy the spring break and be safe and Mr. Grant, you set a foundation for a program that uh has come a
035long way and it's going to continue to grow and I appreciate the the help that you've done in building that program, giving us a good foundation. Uh everybody stay safe and see him back in a few weeks. >> And to echo everybody else, Mr. Gregory, just in the short time that I've been on the board, um some tremendous things have happened in the CT programs under your stewardship and thank you so much. Congratulations. Uh maybe one day I'll get to retire. I hope. I um I did get to participate last week in a Read Across America Wood all. I kind of like to gauge the librarians confidence in our community leaders by what grade level they assign them to read to. So, uh, but it was a great day. It always is. And and then
036thankful to be a part of that. And other than that, just glad it's not all the way quite dark yet. And we're about to finish up. And I hope you all have a great spring break. >> Mr. White. >> Yes, sir. >> You didn't tell us what grade you taught. >> Well, so so there's there's nepotism involved there because my wife teaches second grade. So, I think if not for that, I may have been I may have been uh they may have just kept me in the library. >> Good job, buddy. Do we have anything else before we adjourn? >> All right, we stand ajourned. Thank you. >> How does it