001regular school board meeting for the Rutherford County Schools. We'll be opening the meeting with a brief moment of silence or prayer and a pledge of allegiance to the United States flag. No one is required to participate or be present for any of these and being in this portion of the meeting is completely voluntary. Tonight's prayer and pledge will be led by Mr. Butch Vaughn. >> Please bow your heads. >> Heavenly Father, we just thank you for this beautiful weather you've given us. Father, we just thank you for celebration of these athletes tonight and the great job they've done. They represent Ruff County schools. They represent their families and they're just quality quality young people. Father, we just uh pray for our president. We pray for our country. We pray for the school system that you've
002blessed. We just pray that your continued blessing on us. Father, be with us tonight. All the all those board members be with us in decisions we make that they honor you in everything that we do. In your son Jesus name I pray. Amen. >> Amen. Please stand 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. First up, we have the approval of the agenda. Anything any comments or questions? >> Move to approve. >> Thank you, Miss Darby. Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, we have the approval of the consent agenda. Any comments or questions? >> Move to approve. >> Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. Thank you, Miss Sharp.
003All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes. We have two speakers signed up for this evening. Our first speaker is Miss Jacqueline Fletcher. >> Hello. >> Thank you. >> I am here to ask the board to consider their voting. Yes. Sorry. Um, I'm here to ask the board to reconsider their zoning when it comes to Stewart's Creek Elementary. Our home was excluded and has been historically zoned for Stewart's Creek Elementary previous to I guess gosh quite a bit of the developments that have gone in around Stewart's Creek. And I understand that we have reszoned to alleviate overcrowding at the school, which I definitely understand. However, uh I believe the zoning map might have been incomplete when it was completed and presented to the board. Part of the part of Rocky Fork has been
004split with the left side not with the left side staying at Stewart's Creek and the right side being removed from Stewart's Creek. It affects approximately 12 homes that have been removed that have been historically at Stewart's Creek since it was built. and the neighborhood predates the Steuart Creek campus by 20 years approximately. Um, and I think the zoning study needs to be revisited on that section of Rocky Fork up to Interstate 24, including Martha Lane. Um, it was flip-flopped previously and now it is excluded and it really just affects a handful of kids. And my child specifically is going into fifth grade and won't be able to continue out his education at Steuart's Creek, which is very upsetting and challenging. Um, but it I think was just an oversight on the zoning map. And I
005think it I would implore the board to reconsider and relook at this section of Rocky Fork and see if there's anything that we can do to accommodate a handful of children, but selfishly mine as well. >> Thank you. >> Next, we have perhaps another member of the family, Connor Fletcher. Um, my name is Connor Fletcher and I would like the board to reconsider the reszoning of Studs Creek cuz I've been at Studs Creek for four full years and four whole school years. And also, I've had many memories that I'll always cherish. and I'll remember a lot and if they get taken away who knows what can happen plus and I have many friends and most importantly my education there was taught has taught me many things about all my stuff. Thank you. >> Thank you.
006Very good. Very impressive. Yes. Yes. Dr. Sullivan has some somewhat good news probably. >> Um so I emailed um Miss Fletcher just a little while ago. So I had our zoning um district planner is Mr. Morgan's name. And so this is a small section. If you pull up the map, it is a portion that one little part was and I do believe part of it was an error. So there are nine students that are impacted. Um, so what I'm going to reach out to these nine parents and recommend is that I'll approve an admin placement for these students if they can provide transportation um and then relook at this portion next year um for these nine students so that they can attend Steuart Streak Elementary School, but they would have to provide transportation. And then
007we can relook at this area next year of what the board actually wants to do, where it needs to go because it is right beside really it's right beside Rocky Fork Elementary is the closest. It is reszoned to Browns Chapel and then it was zoned to Stewart Creek Elementary School. And so I asked our zone our district planner and his kind of response was as a general rule I attempt to avoid island zoning or situations where a family must drive through one school zone to reach another. And that's where this little section has. Um, and so it is, if you look at the way it's pulled up, everything around it is a different zone. And it looks like this, the way this, uh, we call them nodules. The way this nodule was, it wasn't put
008into the system correctly. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you for coming and speaking with us. >> And then we also had one um, individual who came and did not sign up by 12:00. And so I have a personal connection with that person. And I've said that if they wanted to talk to the board afterwards quickly, it's a an employment situation. Um, I would have to recuse myself. And so I said if you want to talk to the board afterwards, that would be >> okay. >> Up to the board if they want to talk to them afterwards. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Next, we have the RC difference. >> So, our RCS difference. Let me get past all of these pages. First, we have recognition of RCS Spring Sports and our athletic director, Mr. Chris
009Harris. And I think uh are we doing this again at our June 15th meeting as well? >> Yes, we are. >> I was just hoping that this one going to be the last time I got to call you that. So, >> yeah. >> No. So, good. We get to see you one more time then. >> That's right. We uh we are going to do it on the 15th as well. As you know, we had a lot of uh weather issues with spring sports this year. We had Stewart's Creek High School won the state in softball and Eagle Eagle Bowl girls won in softball as well. So we had a lot of weather delays and so we couldn't get them here today and so a lot of them are going different directions but we are going
010to be able to recognize them again and recognize some of of our other sports as well on the 15th. But we do have uh uh some people that are here. Some of them I think are still trying to get here tonight. But we're going to recognize uh the middle school seagull middle school uh softball team who had an incredible season this year, undefeated season. So, I'm not going to spend a lot of time talking about them. I'm gonna have coach Sam Thomas come up here and uh uh speak about that and Principal Stoker is here as well. And these outstanding young ladies uh are here as well to talk about their season. Went 30 and0 this year. And uh I mean that's a perfect season obviously and they had an outstanding year and as well
011as winning the state championship. So coach, >> didn't they run roll through the championship as well? >> Yeah. >> I mean I thought so. That's >> that's impressive. >> Can't get much better than that. So >> first of all, thank you guys for having us tonight. Uh our girls back here, fantastic group. Um they started back in the fall with workouts, conditioning, everything. Like Mr. Harris said, they finished the season 30 and0. Um just some of the numbers, they outscored their opponents, I think 384 to 49. They only played seven complete games all year. The rest were run rules, um including the state tournament, both state tournament games actually. So uh they're a great great team, great group of girls, but they're also student council members. uh study buds. Uh they're part of a lot
012of different groups at our school and they have certainly represented our school very very well. So um I think the majority of them are here tonight. I do think we have a couple missing playing softball and other things. So um but yes, that's is our group of uh Seagull Middle School softball players. [applause] Is that a record? Has anybody ever gone 30 and0? >> Not not to my knowledge either. So, >> Mr. Evans, are you going to get a picture of all of them? Yes. Okay. >> Perfect. >> Thank you. Um, also, uh, Eli Harris, uh, I don't think he's not here, but who's from Lever Middle, he won the 110 meter hurdles. Uh, Coach Connelly at Lever Middle and Principal Reed, obviously, uh, they weren't able to be here. Uh, Miss Cook, uh, Coach
013uh, Cook, I don't know if she's here. Oh, there she is. Okay. Uh, uh, the Oakland Middle School boys uh, track team is here. They won the 4x00 and 2x100 meters uh relays and so they're 3A state champions and uh they're going to talk about Coach Cookie come up here and talk about these young men. >> Good good evening. Thank y'all for allowing us to be here. Um I just want to take a quick moment to not only congratulate these four wonderful gentlemen right here. Um also my coaching staff and the parents who've been here to help throughout the season. These are very much like the softball team, multisport athletes, we have academic achievements, we have emerging leaders. So many great things about these four young gentlemen. Um the the season started, we had to
014do some moving, we got some things together, but as a coach, my only hope is to always figure out how to be number one. So to see these four young men go out there, leave it on the track every single meet, even at the state level, just makes my heart happy. And I couldn't do it without, like I said, the help of my lovely coaching staff, Coach Caitlyn Eaton, Coach Angela Allison, and Coach Charles Booker. So without them and these gentlemen and their parents, I couldn't have done it. So this accomplishment is not for me. It's for them and for Oakland Middle. Thank you all. >> Thank you. >> How many How many of you young men play football, by the way? Y'all play football? There you go. Okay. Y'all going to high y'all going
015to Oakland High School. Correct. >> Do you want to introduce Let's go ahead and introduce him as well. >> Yeah. >> High school. >> Then we have Caleb Johnson as well. We have Brady Henderson High School. And then Lucer will be at college. >> All right. Awesome. Coach Harris, we need to do the same thing for softball, too. So, can you come back and introduce your girls? It's going to be a heck of a um test right on the floor. So, this is a lot. So, I'm sorry. So, yeah. >> I'll do my best. >> Yeah, I agree completely. Yes. All right. So, uh I guess I'll just start uh on the end here. We have Tegan Dunaway. Next we have Addie Barrett, Harper Maleb, Liv Dumbar, Kaisley Witherspoon, Ariggus. Who's next to you? >>
016Avery Hingleman. Natalie Mccurio. Anniah Osborne. All right, y'all sit down now so I can see the next row. Okay. All right. We have Reagan Latimore, Toby Carl, Madison Alip, McKinley Chesterfield, Madison Chesterfield, Tatum A. Is that it? >> Okay. And we also only had four eighth graders this year, so we should have a very strong group uh again next year. So awesome. Thank you. >> Believe that's Chuck, isn't it? >> Your man from All right. This [clears throat] next uh student athlete is from Central Magnet. Uh, I'm going to let him introduce himself. >> And, uh, he won the class doubleA boys high jump and another outstanding student as well as an athlete. >> Just introduce yourself. >> Didn't you guys just get done with basketball practice? >> Huh? >> Yeah. Yeah. I think so.
017Declan's my son, so you've been with him today. >> Wait, who's your son? >> Declan. >> Oh, Dean Sullivan. >> Yep. That's him. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. He's my kid. So, yeah. So, yeah, he talks about you. So, that's why I was like, "Oh, it's Chuck. That's him. I know him." So yeah, here we go. >> All right. Yeah. So my name is Chuck Woody Obi or more commonly known as Chuck. Um it's actually my second time being here. I was state champion for HOSA. So yeah, I'm I put the student first before athlete >> always. >> Yeah. Um so I did win high jump. I jumped 68 and I will be going to nationals in Pennsylvania. >> Wonderful. >> And uh I I believe that's everybody. Is there anyone else? Uh and I
018just want to echo uh just I want to tell everybody we are extremely proud of these student athletes. And I want to again, I've said this before about them being students first. These are great young men and young ladies and they they represent our county. They represent all of all of us extremely well and we're very proud of them. >> Congratulations if all athletes and you guys will go out with James um Evans. And so that is the famous James Evans who makes the snow calls. And so you can get his autograph if you want to. Parents, you're more than welcome to stay for a riveting board meeting, but you also may leave as well. >> And there goes everybody. Are you going to leave? Let's do that. >> Is the nurse have Is she
019here? >> So, we are going to move on to number two in just a moment. We're trying to don't seem to have the proclamation >> that he found it. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Okay. Here we go. >> So, I was making sure you you weren't doing it, were you? Or were you doing it? I was doing this portion. Correct. Good. And you're doing the nursing data presentation. I was like, I don't plan to do the nursing data presentation. As long as you can handle that part. All right. So, this is recognizing the state of Tennessee proclamation by Governor Lee. Whereas many students face complex health problems that require care in our schools. And whereas school nurses have earned a critical role in improving public health and helping to ensure students academic success for
020more than 120 years. And whereas school nurses serve as a liazison to the school's community, parents, and healthc care providers on behalf of children's health by promoting wellness and helping to improve health outcomes for our state's children. And whereas school nurses support the health and educational success of children and youth by providing access to care when their cognitive development is at its peak. And whereas we recognize the hard work and dedication of all Tennessee school nurses and commend them for their continued efforts. Now therefore, Bill Lee, Governor, state of Tennessee, do by hereby proclaim May 6, 2026 as school nurses appreciation day. And so that was on May 6th. We are blessed um to have Dr. Groom here and all of our school nurses for the work that they do each and every day. And
021this does proclamation does discuss a lot of our students. This is the care that they receive. And so without our school nurses, a lot of our students wouldn't receive adequate care adequate adequate care. And outside of that, our school nurses serve as a resource for our teachers, for our community, and for our entire staff. And so we are blessed and thankful for all of our school nurses. So greatly appreciate you guys. Next, the school nursing department is recognizing Norah Ward for her courage and bravery in performing CPR during cardiac emergency. Oh my gosh. >> Yes. Um, just wanted to take a moment. Um, in 2013, our school nursing department started handsonly CPR for fifth grade students. So, we've been doing it for several years. Um this year we were very fortunate to receive a donation
022of mannequins from the American Heart Association who's here tonight um in conjunction with the Titans. Um and they actually came to Wilson Elementary and did that presentation earlier this spring. But what we're here tonight is to recognize one of our students who used that training um from her school nurse to save someone's life. So if Nora and her school nurse would come up here. So Nora was visiting her grandmother and stepped in um in an emergency situation called 911 and used the skills that she had learned and did did CPR. So, we are so thankful not only for Nora and her bravery and her courage in doing CPR, but for the school nurses that had started that program with the American Heart Association that support that program. So, wanted to give Nora a certificate and
023[applause] Next. >> All right. Next is um just a quick data presentation from a year the year's overview of the school nursing data from um this year. Go ahead to the next slide. We we had even though Rutherford County declined in students slightly um we saw an 11% increase in the number of scheduled appointments that our nurses did. You can see that we are up 122 thou over 122,000 scheduled appointments. Um those scheduled appointments, if you don't really know what scheduled appointments that we do, um that would be our diabetic students, our insulin doses, blood glucose checks, our oral medications are our top one that we do with over 42,000, but that also includes inhalers, tube feedings, caizations, um TRA and ventilator care. Um and then just at the bottom there, you do have um
024our code blue data. We had 662 code blues for students this year and 254 EMS calls. That was up again from last year. Our walk-in visits. So, these are our unscheduled appointments. These are just um unexpected illnesses or injuries. That also went up again this year, even though we saw um you know, we think maybe that's they don't have their cell phones on them. A lot of times reality is kids would text their parent from school and mom would come pick them up. They never saw the nurse, but those kids are coming to us first. The great news is is a lot of times we're sending those kids right back to class if there's no need to go home. But we did have another increase in walk-in visits. Um we also see staff when needed
025that um was 996 staff visits this year with 74 code blues. That's not included in that other number um and 54 EMS calls just for staff members. One of the big things that we celebrate in our district and we are super proud of Rutherford County Schools is we have only 64 nurses in the state of Tennessee that are nationally certified school nurses. 29 of those 64 are Rutherford County school nurses. So that is um almost half that that number keeps climbing. We do encourage our nurses they do not get any um they don't get any additional pay. they don't get any additional, you know, anything to do other than they are better able and more confident in taking care of our kids. Um, also a huge celebration for our department this year is Medicaid billing
026and our reimbursement. We um, again increased that this year. We received over $200,000 in reimbursement. We do have a small admin fee from Stellar that um brought us around $174,000 of revenue into the district. And um just legislative updates. Part of my um job as the national director to um from Tennessee for this um National Association of School Nurses to support federal legislation. There is a bill called the nurse bill, the nurse for underresourced schools everywhere. We believe it or not, we would have schools that qualify for that in our district because you have to have 20% of free and reduced lunch. Um, so we would have a lot of schools that qualify for that. It does not have a Senate sponsor. It only has a house sponsor. So we did go and try to
027get some Senate sponsors for that. So that's the federal level. On the state level, we had three bills that we um supported this year. There was an epinephrine bill which actually passed and has been signed into law by Governor Lee which will allow us next year to have intraasal epinephrine as our stock epi um instead of injectable epinephrine. So that's wonderful. Um the school nurse grant bill I know the resolution that is later on um tonight that bill was born out of the resolution that y'all passed last year. It was a bill that would um fund school nurses that a grant that school districts could apply for. Even though it sailed all the way through legislation with not a single nay vote, it did not get funded at the end. So, it never made it
028to general assembly. There was a third bill where um the state would require districts to pay nationally certified school nurses, which we have a lot of on teacher pay, which Rutherford County already does. So, we we set the bar for that across the state. Um again that was also wellreceived no votes but again it was not funded. So we will keep um trying to support especially the school nurse grant bill. We would also benefit greatly from that bill in our district and that's all I have. So any questions? >> Any questions? >> Yes, Mr. Tid. >> Yeah. I just I just want to speak a little bit to what our nurses do. I appreciate all your efforts being a liazison to try to get some of this passed and I'm hopeful that it will just
029because it didn't make it through last time. You got all the votes so maybe we can get it funded this year >> and I know that Miss Sharp is is running that resolution again. So hopefully we get that funding there. But you know it's it's just interesting. You don't know how much you appreciate someone till you need them. And we heard a wonderful story with the American Heart Association about uh our little hero here tonight that we celebrated and her saving a life from uh learning this hands-on hands-only CPR. Um which I'm so thankful that we do here and I'm very grateful for them celebrating that tonight. But I want to speak to a little bit as well about just how appreciative I am of nurses. You know, I had uh my son had some
030issues uh with a birth defect that we needed to get worked out and we didn't find out until he was already in back in school in that starting year and so he missed a lot of time. He was out of school for a long period and he had uh gosh, you know, it's important. It's just important. I think that's why it matters to me so much. Nurse Bailey's here, I think. Am I seeing you over there, Nurse B? Yeah. over at Barfield School. Um she just did a f ph phenomenal job helping my son be able to get back in the classroom uh to pick back up his learning. He his growth just exploded when he got back into school, but he'd missed so much of school that there was a drop off. So I
031will be forever grateful for what you guys are doing in our schools. And if there's anything on our end that we can do to make that better, absolutely count me in 100%. And I just wanted to say thank you to all of our nurses. Yes, >> Madam Chair. >> Yes, Miss M. Start. >> I'm pretty sure last year when we presented, we talked about looking to be able to give them something for that certification because we do give our teachers more for their additional degrees and those types of things. So, did we ever get anywhere with that? >> We haven't approved our salary schedules for next year yet. So, that'll be on our June 15th meeting. And my second question is the money that we're getting the reimbursements, is that going back to the nurses
032or is that just going >> It just goes back into the general revenue. >> Can we look at maybe utilizing those funds? >> Perfectly fine. Yep. >> To do something like that. >> Perfectly fine. Y >> excellent idea. Yes, Miss Sharp. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um after all the statistics that Dr. room has already given us. One thing that most people don't know is our nurses chart every single person that's in that school board in in the school room in the schoolhouse every single person. So if somebody even even it's a a custodian or a teacher um somebody who's in that building that works in that building they already have a chart on that person. So if something happens they already have information. And then they also do like the triage and if there's
033a code blue or something like that, they're in charge of that. So there's a lot of responsibility on our students to be able to have really really good nurses at our schools. So thank you for everything that you do and we'll see if we can't get that resolution pass. >> When I go to other school districts or I go to other state sponsored things, we are blessed in Rutherford County at how we set the bar for other districts to meet. So do a great job. >> Thank you. >> Great job. Thank y'all. Okay, next we go to human resources and number one is bus driver. >> All right, first is our new job description for bus driver full-time. And again, these are going to be for our special education buses. Uh as we talked about
034the other day, these could only be total eight positions, but we do not have that many buses. So, uh, that would be all the number that we would have and so we would have five at the very most if we were able to fill them and they would be full-time bus drivers. >> Any more questions or comments? >> Move to approve. >> Thank you, Mr. Cable. Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Number two. >> Second was an updated job description for safe schools director. And again, there were no changes to salary or any of those different types of things. >> I'll entertain a motion. Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Rosales. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Number
035three. >> Number three is a new job proposed new job description that we talked about the last board meeting and then again at the work session picked up a lot of media attention, a request for an athletic supervisor that we had previously discussed as a compliance individual. Um, this would fall directly under the athletic director. Um it's a R115 budgeted or as a certified position um with supervisor indexed. And so if that were approved, it would post tonight. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Miss Rosales. Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes. >> Thank you all very much. >> Number four is Livcom University School of Nursing Clinical Agreement with Lipskum University as a clinical rotation site for nursing students. Lipkcom nursing students spend one to two days observing
036RCS nurses as part of their pediatric rotation. The recommended motion is to approve. >> Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. >> Second. >> Thank you, M. Sharp. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Number five. >> Number five is Stellar Therapy Services contracting for Medicaid reimbursement. Stellar contract for the nursing Medicaid reimbursement program in Rutherford County Schools is set up for annual renewal. That's what Mr. Darby was just referring to. Their administrative fee is 20% of total revenues received. Medically necessary services that the student provider orders may be reimbursed. These include tube feedings, tracheosttomy and ventilator care, diabetes care, asthma treatments, and other treatments for chronic illnesses. This school year, the school nurses have received reimbursements of $217,639.38 with revenue of $174,111.50. >> Thank you, Mr. Tidville. All in favor say I. >>
037I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Moving on to instruction. >> First, we have WayGground. The instruction department is requesting the purchase of WayGground, an online student engagement platform. This platform will replace several existing tools such as Near Pod and Play Posit, consolidating them into one system and helping reduce teacher workload. Ways a user-friendly solution that engages students through interactive activities, supports collaboration, and provides immediate insight into student learning through formative assessments. Activities can be teacher led or self-paced and completed in class or at home. Way ground Library offers more than 40 million Tennessee standards aligned resources across subjects and grade levels including Tennessee adopted textbooks along with assessments, presentations, interactive videos, passages, and flashcards. Total cost for 2627 school year is 249,900 to be funded through general purpose funds. >> Any comments or questions? >> Thank
038you, Mr. Vaughn. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Rosales. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes. >> Number two, >> this is the approval of the fisc year 2027 consolidated funding application. This fiscal year 27 consolidated funding application that encompasses consolidated admin title one part A, title one part D, title two part A, title three IDEID, part B, and IDEIDA preschool was submitted to the Tennessee Department of Education on May 15, 2026. These federal funds will be spent to supplement district funding in the 2627 school year and I believe is Dr. Chestain the exact same amounts as last year as of right now. >> Thank you Mr. Fawn. >> Second. >> Thank you Mr. Tidville. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. >> Next number three >>
039optimal health for me or O4M. The optimal health for me is a sexual risk avoidance or SRRA program promoting a holistic approach to sex and healthy relationships. This program aims to provide trained speakers to classrooms within RCS aligned to the standards within the expectations of family life instruction. This program complies with Tennessee code annotated 4961301 through Tennessee code annotated 4961308 requiring a program to be age appropriate, sexual risk avoidance, abstinence centered, evidence-based, and medically accurate. This program is available for grades 6 through8 and ranges from three to five lessons. >> Thank you, M. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. >> Next up, legal. >> This is the first reading. So, policy adoption, first reading of two readings. These policies below are recommended on
040the first reading and they will be brought at the next scheduled board meeting for a second and final. First is a policy 4.602 gradepoint average adds SAT scores to criteria for validictorian or saludiatoran. And then a new policy 4.20002 20002 annual instructional observation of independence day and that adds a policy to require annual instructional observance of the 4th of July holiday within the academic school year. >> Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. Second. Thank you, Mr. Darby. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Number two, >> transfer student under discipline. The board has been requested to admit a transfer student from another school system under discipline. The student was expelled for possession of a THC. According to policy 6.318, the board may deny admissions of any student except those in state custody when a
041student transfers from another school system while under suspension or expulsion. Director of school's recommendation is to deny. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Miss Pardon me. And thank you, Miss Sharp. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. >> All right. The first item during the work session was the presentation with CMTA on Las Cassis and our top HVAC priority funding options. And again, Mr. Lee, thank you for that. Um, we did send that to our health and ed chair and vice chair and then to some budget members and the chair of the commission as well. And so hopefully that'll get the discussion rolling for next fiscal year. I didn't want to risk any of our funding for this fiscal year. And so that's why I mentioned for next fiscal year to
042start the discussion, but hopefully that'll get the ball rolling. And so number one is the city of Lever sanitary sewer easement revision. City Lever is requesting to vacate the existing easement established in 1992 and revise it to reflect the new sanitary sewer upgrades and alignment at Simon Springs, formerly known as Leverne Primary. Engineering Construction review the request and has no objections. >> I'll entertain a motion. Thank you, Miss Sharp. Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Rosales. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next. >> Second is Popler Hill Elementary final change order request. RG Anderson Company has completed all work associated with the contract for Popppler Hill Elementary. All costs have been verified and the final change order is a deduction of $25,624.58. The final contract amount submitted is $48,391,37542. Engineering Construction
043has reviewed the request and has no objections. And again, this is just the contract for RG Anderson's portion of the building. >> Move to approve. >> Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. Second. >> Thank you, Miss Rosales. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next. >> All right. some more storage barns. CTE requests for three storage buildings at Rockville High School, Rutherford County Schools Career and Technical Education Department is proposing the purchase and installation of one 14x 32 foot A-frame storage barn for CTE criminal justice program and two 14x 32 foot A-frame storage barns for CTE JOTC program. CT department is paying for the storage barn using the Tennessee Innovative Schools models grant. And these storage barns will be used to store CT instructional supplies and subjects and grade levels. Nope. Equipment has
044both criminal justice or portable classrooms and have virtually no storage in their classroom for the equipment that's needed to effectively teach the law and public safety classes. Additionally, the two storage bars for the JOTC programs will be also used to store large amounts of supplies and gear that are used in their Raiders programs as well as equipment storage for JOTC. Anticipated cost is not to exceed 35,000 and engineering construction has reviewed the request and has no objection. >> I entertain a motion. >> Second. >> Yes. Do we have >> Yeah, I got a question. Um I know we go through I have a lot of requests for these. Do we have like one vendor that we buy them all from or do they just buy them from wherever? >> We have one vendor that purchasing
045puts out a bid every year. >> Okay. >> And then it's it multiple people bid on it. whoever loaded they we have set different sizes price for like an 8 by8 and a price for an 8 by10 the school picks out the colors and that kind of thing and after that it's it's price is predetermined based on the size >> but yeah it's the only question I had great >> okay I think Mr. Darby you had a motion and who was my second over here >> I did >> Mr. Von. Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next. >> Eagle High girls basketball and volleyball request. Principal Tim Pedigo is requesting to modify an existing male restroom for use by the girls basketball and volleyball team. Renovation is not to
046exceed 10,000 and is at no cost to the board. Engineering construction reviewed the request and have no objections. >> Move to approve. >> Thank you, Mr. Bond. Thank you, Mr. Darby. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Motion passes. Next. And just so everyone following along earlier we approved the construction for Popular Hill change and this is the entire project. Popppler Hill Elementary fund 189 project closeout engineer construction reviewed all cost associated with Popler Hill Elementary and at this time we would like to close the project. The final funds utilized for this project are 58,378,28444 and the balance left in this project line is 1,55056,44356 and may be moved to another project line. >> Thank you, Mr. >> M. Derby and thank you, Mr. V. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed?
047Motion passes. Next. Next we have Riverdale High School Edition and renovation project. Engineering construction has reviewed all costs associated with Riverdale High School Edition and renovations. And at this time we'd like to close the project. Final funds utilized for this project are $55,260,9002. Balance left in this project line is 1,44,2998 and these may be moved to the Leurnhigh project. And again, we were asked to keep 2 million from our high school um addition projects to help cover the bond issuance for Leverne High School. >> Move to do that. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Sville. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. >> Next. >> Oakland High School addition and renovation project. Engineering construction has reviewed all costs associated with Oakland High School addition and renovations. At this time, we'd like to
048close that project. The final funds utilized for this project are 60,862,691.68. Balance left in this project line are $717,38.32. And this may be moved to the Lever High project. And again, same as above. >> Move to approve it. >> Thank you, Mr. Ball. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Tidwell. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next. >> Next, we have Smyrna High School addition and renovation project. Engineering Constructions reviewed all costs associated with the Smyrna High School edition and renovations. At this time, we'd like to close that project. The final funds utilized for this project are $37,47,52951. The balance left in this project line is $1,275,22049. That means $238,392.70 can be moved to Leverne High project and the remaining balance of 1 million $36,927.79 may be moved to another project
049line at the request of the county commissioner. >> Okay, I entertain a motion to approve. >> Thank you, Miss Sharp. Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, we have the resolution. Do we need to read that again? Miss Sharp, this was resolution. You discussed this on Tuesday night that you brought. Yes. And do you want to have it reread again? >> Okay. [clears throat] This is a resolution to ask the state legislature to provide um additional funding for school nurses. Um, so whereas the Rutherford County Schools Board of Education is a local government body responsible for providing a public education to the students and families of Rutherford County. And whereas student school nurses play a vital role in Ruary Countyy's public schools from thoughtfully managing students
050various health conditions to administering care in emergency situations. And whereas school nurses are crucial for identifying and addressing students health issues that left unadressed can negatively affect students attendance, behavior, and academics. And whereas the presence of qualified school nurses provides reassurance to families about the health and safety of their children during the school day. And whereas roster county schools is one of the fastest growing districts in Tennessee with rising student enrollment increasing the demand for school-based health services and exacerbating the strain on existing nursing staff. And whereas pursuant to TCA 49-3-359, the director of schools for an LEA that does not employ or contract for at least one school nurse for every 750 students must report to the department among other relevant data. Reasons behind the LEA's inability to staff nurses at a ratio of
0511 to 750. And whereas school districts currently receive no dedicated or direct funding stream through TISA or otherwise to support the hiring and retention of an adequate number of school nurses, making it difficult to meet student health needs consistently across campuses. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Rutherford County Board of Education calls on the Tennessee General Assembly to appropriate sufficient funds either through the Tennessee Investment and Student Achievement Act, TISA, funding formula, or through some alternative funding mechanism to ensure that every public school district in Tennessee has the resources necessary to staff an adequate number of licensed schools nurses to meet the health needs of students. that's to be resolved by the RO County Board of Education. >> Thank you, Mr. Reed. So, this this is another resolution and they need to go back
052through just like Dr. Groom had said, there is an appetite for funding this program or giving us a grant, but this has been an unfunded mandate for our system for a number, maybe a decade, I don't know. Um, and you know, as our education dollars tighten and everything that, you know, you can argue and say this is not education. This this is health. It's not related to education, but we desperately need our nurses and our students need need the nurses. So, um, I would appreciate y'all support on the resolution so we can get it back through um the TSBA in November. somebody can take it back through there and then um I'm pretty sure it'll sell through like it did last time and then TSBA will take it up as one of their lobbying efforts
053to the general legislation starting next year. >> Okay. >> Yes. M >> you know um can we get our local people, you know, in the legislature to try to push this through and support it? I mean, I'm telling you, school nurses give our students a lot of students is only health care they get. And I don't think people realize that, >> but I know that our nurse Becky when I was at Oaken, she was so valuable. I mean, to the teachers and everybody. I mean, she kept kids in school and she gave them health care that they wouldn't got otherwise. and she kept teachers. I mean, when you're sick, you go by and see her and and she helped out. Boy, they're they're valuable. And I just wish we could get our local people to
054push help push this through. >> So, it was my understanding that Chairman Don White was supportive of this. Uh there was a lot of support for it, but I think it kind of got down to the bottom of the line for the budget. So now there are everybody said it was a good idea. So I think next year going in there it's not going to be a new idea and they're going to already know that this is something that they need to put money aside for. And of course we can all contact our legislators and our local reps and everything and we can even go down there and talk to them. Um so I think it's just a matter of going back through the system like we did before and telling them we we need
055it and now that Dr. groom is. She's What's your title for the >> Yes. >> So, she's over the entire state. So, we've got people from >> from the entire state. We've got people that can that can push that consent >> as it comes up. We need to make sure that we put the pressure on those folks to >> to support this. funded. >> Thank you'all. >> Move to approve. >> Okay. Second. >> Thank you, Miss Sharp. Thank you, Mr. Darby. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? And I want to go. And of course, there are none. So, >> next we have financial matters. >> So, just a couple quick updates. So, I'm going to split these in two since we're really into fiscal years right now. So, let's talk about fiscal
056year 26 right now. That ends June 30th. So, we're on a little bit different of a schedule next week um because of the way the county commission is meeting. So, their final meeting is June 22nd, which dictates how our meetings end. So, June 22nd then means all of our end of the year items have to be done before the final health and education meeting. So, we have a work session next Thursday, so a week from today on June 11th, which is weird for us to have a work session on June 11th. And then our board meeting is actually on Monday, June 15th. The reason it's on a Monday is because health and education then is meeting on Tuesday at 5:30 and then they are meeting before budget has their public hearing at 7 o'clock that
057night. This is the same schedule they followed last year. Uh and they have moved that end of the year commission meeting up. It technically could be the the next m the next week, but they move it up one week just so that they have time. So we are a week ahead, which does put a little bit pressure on the school system of a $600 million budget. So next week you will see our normal end of the year cleanup. uh just like we have we normally have millions of dollars of movement to utilize every available fund that we have to cover just normal expenses. Uh couple things you'll see movement. Uh the board back in September approved covering extra medical insurance. So you'll see some of the additional revenue that we have from extrissa funding because
058we never budget direct funding or outcome funding. And then we have some additional funding will go to medical insurance. We'll have to put some additional funding into pensions. Uh pensions, we have more staff now on the hybrid instead of on legacy. Hybrid is a higher cost to the districts but less cost to the state. And so as we have more teachers that are on a going through our teach now program or rather teach now program, it's a higher cost to the district, less to the state. So we'll have to move some funding into that. Uh we're also going to move some of that funding into textbooks and into uh contracted services so we can go ahead and cover some of our expenses for next year in this year's budget. And so you're going to notice
059some of that in our cleanup amendment. Comparatively, our cleanup amendment usually is somewhere around 10 million or more uh in a $600 million budget. The counties is way higher than that and they're at about a $200 million budget. And so a lot of times when you see that big of a number, I just always like to clarify that upfront. It's very much in line with what we've done in previous years. Again, that is Thursday is our work session, the 11th, and our Monday is the board meeting the 15th. Health and Ed, then is Tuesday the 16th, followed by budget on at 7:00. Moving into fiscal year 27, which starts July 1st, and is the budget we just passed. We received unanimous approval from health and education and budget last week. So, our next steps again,
060health and education meets June 16th. Uh, they could reconsider anything. I don't anticipate that the public hearing on the budget again is June 16th at 7:00. So, that's how both years kind of go together. And then the final passage should be June 22nd at 9:00. Because we do not have a certified tax rate. The we have a special we'll have a board meeting June 23rd. We already have a policy meeting scheduled for 5:00. That will be more than likely a long policy meeting because it's when we update our annual policies. Uh we anticipate having all of those. And so our board meeting right now, we're going to schedule it for 7:00 knowing that policy very well could go later. Uh we won't start earlier than 7:00, but we will start maybe later than 7 o'clock
061if policy is still going. And I anticipate the items being on that. Any coaching approvals and then just approving what tax rate and revenue the county actually approves on the 22nd. So that's kind of our update on budget. Happy to answer any questions on that. >> Question. >> Mr. Tidwell, >> I have a question. The um you know how we got prorated for the uh high achievement? >> Yes. >> Did we get those funds this year? >> Okay. On this side, >> we're supposed to get it in the next 5 to seven days. We got an email last uh yesterday afternoon. So that's part of that revenue we're going to go ahead and use for textbooks and instructures contracted services. We had it in next year's budget, but we moved it to this year's budget
062to go ahead and take a million dollars off. So great question. Thank you for your work on that. >> Thank you. >> Um director's update. We have started our summer programming started on Tuesday. So thank Elizabeth Davis uh who is our Do we still have her with a horrible title? Learning loss supervisor. It is a horrible title. We need to update that job description at some point. Uh we extended learnings. Yes, that's a much better one. >> That is much better. >> Much better. I want to thank Dr. Martin. She started our new principal uh cohort today. So, we have six new principles. It's actually for six for us is the largest we've had since I've been director. But out of 52 principles, that's still 89% retention. So, it's still extremely high retention. Out of
063that new group, we have a former director of schools. We have central office supervisor of the year and regional supervisor of the year. I mean, so it's a it's a strong group of principles to have a new teacher principal group, but you guys did amazing today. So, I appreciate your work with that, Dr. Martin. Um, the other kind of thing I will come back right at general at the end of general discussion is all right to talk about the um person that wants to talk to the board after the meeting. >> That's okay. >> Anything else? >> Not for me. >> We'll go into general discussion. Anybody got anything? [snorts] Yes, Mr. Sharp. >> Lever High School unveiled their um flat track bike today that they uh took from Harley-Davidson. It was a street bike
064and they stripped it down and then converted it into a flat track bike. And so, uh everybody's going to Holland Wall on Saturday sometime Saturday and um sure to be fun. The kids were excited. These students um had a lot of mentors that came in. Billy Lane. Uh there was I can't remember his name. Dave um Perit Perowitz. He's a famous painter on bike bikes. Um so they did welding and they did painting and they did wiring. There's a lot of experience that they received through this project and they're going to be able to go straight out and get a job. Those that graduated this year are probably already in jobs. Some of them were in um welding positions already, even after school and um going to school in the morning and then going to
065work in the afternoons. So, uh those that graduate this next year will be probably even better because they've got some more things that are coming with the bike that they announced today. So, the media and everything's out there. So, y'all watch it. They've got several updates of new things that are coming in the fall. There's going to be a reality program of how the whole program came together. They filmed all of that and that they'll be starting that in August on Racer TV. So, if you've got Racer TV, stay tuned for that. It's going to be pretty funny. Um, but there's a lot going on with that and um the students the students are pumped and it's a beautiful bike. So, y'all stay tuned. >> Excellent. Yes, Mr. Tidwell. >> Uh, yeah, just to hit
066on that subject, I just asked Dr. Svin about so previously if we didn't get the money by a certain specific date it would just roll over in the fund balance and it wouldn't actually go to the district even though the district earned the the funds. Um so I have been working with TSBA and we'll be bringing a resolution. I don't know if it'll have at the next board meeting or not but the following about trying to push that to where that is a continuing thing moving forward so that we don't have to go to our legislators and ask them each year to make sure that gets bumped up. See if we can just put it into law. So >> be awesome. Thank you. >> Heads up. >> Do we need to suspend the rules or
067anything for >> No, because I it's a personnel issue. So I'm going to give a disclosure and then if the board wants to talk to the individual afterwards, that's up to the board. >> M >> I wanted to say one more thing. Dr. chest was really thank you for your vision of the welding department and and getting that because she's the really really the one that took welding during COVID and everything and really saw the class. So, thank you there. I mean there's so we would have whole meetings if we talked about everything that you guys have done behind the scenes. But thank you for bringing that. That's it's going to be a huge opportunity for our students. Thank you. >> And I guess actually I guess you could afterwards after I read my disclosure
068that'd be fine so everybody could hear it. That'd be fine. It's just a it's a public meeting. So, if um he wanted to discuss that public, I guess that'd be up to him. Um I just wanted to give a disclosure. So, it is weird being in this county and living in this county and being born and raised in this county. So, you guys know that I coach AAOU on the sideline uh or on the side during all my spare time. You also know that I'm transparent. So, we had a head coaching position at Leverne High School. Um, we have an individual that I've known for about 15 years, uh, who applied for that position. Um, director of schools hires and fires every position in state law. Uh, that's that's just the way it works. I
069hire and fire every person on the board hires a director of schools. And so I denied employment of this person um just because of our requirements in Rutherford County. I've known them as a parent for more than a decade. Uh, currently is serving as an assistant coach for me. Um, but because of the way we have requirements, I deny their employment. And so I appreciate they have Mr. Frell, he is here. Uh, when I deny employment, I'm the one that denies employment. And so I'm not advocating for anything, but I appreciate him not taking no for an answer. And so he showed up at 520 something today and said, "Can I speak to the board?" And I said, "No, our signups," or actually Dawn did, or somebody did. And so Miss Ridley and I have
070I know Miss Ridley's talked to him. And so I somehow even though I'm the only one that hires and fires, uh Dr. Hatchet has been involved and so it's up to the board how they want to handle it and I would have to get with Mr. Reid probably as well, but I don't board talked to him separately. If he wants to address it, I I don't know how you need to go for it. >> Board, how would you like you'd like him to speak now and then we can all speak to him separately afterwards perhaps? Maybe. Yeah, I'm I'm well I'm I'm open to whatever if we need to suspend the rules if the gentle would like to speak to the board. >> Rules and have him come and speak to us. >> I would
071leave it up to the gentleman whether he wants to have that publicly or after the meeting. >> Exactly. Would you rather talk to us now or would you rather talk to us individually? >> Okay, come on up then. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, Miss Sharp. Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Derby. All in favor say I. I. Hi. >> Um, how are y'all doing? First of all, thank y'all for waiting and letting me uh speak to you all. Uh, my name is Jeremy Frell. Um, I'm originally from Shelbyville, Tennessee. Um, I'm 46 years old. Um, I went and applied for the job of head coach position for the boys basketball team at Leverne High School. Um, I've coached well over 20 years. I've pretty much coached every sport. Um, in 2000, from 2017 to 2021, I
072was the assistant coach for the girls basketball team at Toma High School. Um, the next three years, I was the assistant coach for the middle school, uh, West Middle School girls basketball team. Um, I did with my ring today. Um, I was able to, uh, be a part of the state championship. I know y'all are used to this with Oakland, but um, Teleoma we won in 2021. Um, and I was blessed to be a part of that coaching staff. Um I worked at Toma High School from 2017 to 2024. Um when I was there I was over at Tite program which was um eighth graders that were coming into the ninth grade basically placed into the ninth grade um different issues. Um they placed 20 of them in one room. I had sat in that
073room with those 20 kids. They had all the teachers come into that room and teach them. Um, as the kids progressed, they were able to go out and go into other uh classrooms. Um, I was also one-on-one for two different kids while I was there. One was, uh, problematic. Uh, she had been sent off. She loved to fight. Loved, absolutely loved to fight. Um, they sat me with her. Um, it was supposed to be for a year. Um, I worked with her. After 3 months, she was able to go to class by herself. So, I no longer had to escort her to any classes. if she had any issues, I kept a walkie-talkie, so they would call me and I would go, you know, talk to her and calm her down. Um, I was also
074I worked in sped while I was there. I was uh a one-on-one with the sped kid that was there. I feel like it was mainly because he was like 6'4, probably like 250, and everybody was just terrified of him. Um, but I was able to, I guess, more or less be like a father figure to him and I was able to get him to do work. You know, a lot of times they would if he wanted to go to sleep, he they had like a huge um sleeping area for him. If he said soon as he said he wanted to go to sleep, they would let him go lay down just because it was easier to not deal with it. Um I was able to get him to do work every day. That was one
075of the requirements. If you want to sleep, you ain't got to do work. Um so I was able to get him to do work every day. Um which nobody had really been able to do. Um I worked in uh ISS for two of my years while I was there. Um, I also worked in alternative school twice while I was there. Um, they switched people. One was able uh was over it and they had me go and assist him. Um, you know, we had different issues there. Teleome was a smaller town. They had a couple of kids that came in from Nashville. Uh, again, everybody was kind of terrified from just because they never, you know, dealt with that type of kid before. Um, but I was able to, you know, kind of reel them in
076and help them get through, um, as much school as possible before they end up transferring back out of Nashville. Um, like I said, I've coached um, many sports across the board. Um, I have three kids. My oldest um, play division 2 basketball in Alabama, then she went joined up her last two years at UTC. She graduated two years ago. My son graduated from high school two years ago. played in Mllo last year. Um, and then my youngest actually just moved in with me cuz we live in Murphy'sboro now. She will be attending SE. She actually went to her first practice today which is pretty cool. Um, but with that being said, I accepted the job um of the position and they did a background check and um when I was 18, I got an a
077misdemeanor unlawful possession charge which was 28 years ago. I'm 46. It was 28 years ago. Um, and that is basically holding me from being able to what I feel like is being an asset at Leverne High School. Um, I've already got a coaching staff together. One is um, he was actually the assistant coach at Mlo State last year. Um, he's he's on board. I actually talked to him right before I walked in and told him, you know, depending on how this went, you know, we know how we go forward. Um, but he um, he's ready to go. He's excited. Um to be honest, him and I were the two that they were thinking about hiring and they ended up hiring me and then they said that they need because I'm not certified. So all of
078these things that I've done at the school, I I I don't have any degrees or any of that and now like I've just been thrown into positions, but they know how well I work with kids. um having the opportunity to coach coach Jimmy you know we had a couple of kids that were you know attitude issues or you know not confident and um just in the four or five weeks that I've been working with him you know a lot of people said they've seen a large progress in the kids um I love kids I know that I was you know everybody has a purpose um I believe in God everybody has a purpose and you know my purpose is to work with kids my purpose is you know coaching um I also have a cousin
079to play collegiate basketball that I'll be helping um at Leverne if I'm able to take the position. Um and then in talking to Dr. Hatchet that my position would basically be what I was doing at um Teleoma High School. I would be working with you know kids that have issues need a moment calm down. Um that type of thing. Um, I just I I I I do understand that there are rules and I do understand that, you know, we we we need to abide by those rules, but like when I talked to Miss Monica earlier, she said that some school um districts have the ability to um go on a case- by case basis. And my charge is a misdemeanor. I've talked to some lawyers. They said that it's, you know, the equivalent of like
080speeding tickets. Um it's a mis a class C misdemeanor. Um, I I did six months in jail for it. I went and um I had to be put on probation. I actually even looked into getting it expuned so that I could get an opportunity. And according to the DA in Before County, he said that because I had a violation that I plead guilty to um when I was on probation that that stops me from getting expungement. He said that he was like, "My op my options were that the law changes year to year, so it could change or I could get a pardon from the governor." And if I'm being honest, even if you know governor was here right now, it's like I'd pardon you. I wouldn't take it because there are people that are
081locked up that shouldn't be and deserve an opportunity for, you know, a pardon like that. So for me to selfishly take that just to get a coaching like I just wouldn't as a you know as a man and as a human I wouldn't feel right to even accept that if it was um offered. But I I just ask that y'all you know give me an opportunity to go be a difference at Leverne High School. Um I met a couple of the kids. You know they were excited if if everything goes well you know I was going to be able to start tomorrow. you know, my the assistant coach that I got, he's already went and got some pads to put in the the weight room as well as the locker room. Um, I went and
082talked to Dr. Hatch and she walked me around the school. I was able to see, you know, the school and meet some of the kids and just in that day, you know, I I kind of had already started building a bond with some of the kids and, you know, just introducing myself and they were like, "Well, are you going to be the new coach?" And I was like, "Maybe." You know, they was like, "Man, that'd be cool." you know, and I just the program that we have that we would be able to take there would be so beneficial to the young men there. Um I already have people um in line to come and help. Um as far as you know, little things like um teaching them how to change oil in the cars, teaching
083them how to change tires. Um I just want to help produce upstanding young men to go out and do well in the community. Um, and I've been able to do that throughout the years, just, you know, mentorship programs and helping with different things. I go to church in Christiana. It's um, Believer's Face Fellowship. Pastor Jason Scales is my pastor. Um, so I I just I I would love the opportunity to go and make a difference in the community as well as, you know, here. Um, I I to me I was excited when they offered me the job because it was it was like it was full circle because my first head coaching position I ever got was actually at the YMCA here. Uh, my daughter was five or six and my son was two. Um,
084he they had a little goal that was probably about this big and he was big enough and strong enough to play with the two and three year olds. So, they let him play and I can say that my son dunked his first basketball when he was two years old because, you know, the goals were smaller. But, um, I just I have a passion for coaching. I have a passion for kids and I don't want, you know, something from 28 years ago to stop me from being able to be an asset to the community and to Leverne High School. Um, I I thank y'all for listening to me. I like I said, I just it's something I'm very passionate about and I I would just love the opportunity to be able to go and do something
085that I love to do and I know there's a purpose for my life. >> Miss Maxwell, thank you. Um I believe in second chances. So I don't know what we can do to help um figure this out, but if there's a way that we can um look into as a casebyase situation, Miss Monica, We can. I think the issue is that I have a personal connection. So that's why I was >> sure >> that is one of the negatives of being born and raised in the community you're from. And so >> you don't want to be the one influence. >> Miss Ridley, do you want to bring up the I hate to put you on the spot, but there is a this is the caveat that allows um for that or doesn't allow and we
086as a count county have never done it that I know of. There is um there's a law in the state of Tennessee which um prohibits people with certain charges on their background for being employed by a school system. Um obvious, you know, violent felonies, um drug felonies, things like that. um sexual offenses. I mean the the ones obviously that you think of um offenses in what is called TCA uh title which is weapons um is also on that list. There is a exception um which says that if the person was convicted of a misdemeanor offense and I'm not revealing anything confidential because Mr. Frell already told y'all that he had a misdemeanor offense when he was 18. Um, and if it occurred more than 10 years preceding the date of the application, which of course
087his did, and if the offense did not include a um or involve a minor, which to my understanding it it did not. Um, and so there is an exception which the school district may on a case-bycase basis. um allow a person with such a charge to be hired. Um we we typically don't do that. Um we stick with you know the charges um that are listed in in the law. >> Um if this is a case by case and I know you said we typically don't do that but considering that it's it's a misdemeanor. It was not an obvious thing where that was involving sexual um inappropriateness, things of that nature. Um I I think we should give I think we into because he has history working with kids. Um it's he's got experience working
088with children in the basketball arena and he seems very passionate about helping kids and wanting to do the right thing so they don't get, you know, caught up in a situation like he was caught up. I think he's learned the mistake that he's made and I just don't feel like it should be used against him at this point since it happened 20 something years years ago. So, if there's a way that we can make the exception to move forward with hiring him for that job for being the head basketball coach, right, is for you to be the head basketball coach, I'm in favor of that. I believe in second chances. I don't believe that something that happened 18 years ago when he was 18 years old should be used against him. My brother, and my
089husband is not going to like what I'm about to say because I'm bringing family and situation. My brother was someone that no one thought he was going to make it. He was caught in um things with the law. Um anyway, I'm not going to give up. But right now, he's a millionaire because he turned his life around. He's an amazing father. He's an amazing husband. And he was a basketball coach over in Wilson Middle School. And the year that he taught, those kids made it to the championship because he was very passionate and poured so much time into the lives of these kids. And it takes someone with passion like yourself in showing that can do amazing things to their kids. And we need people that have that passion that want to pour into a
090kids' life. So if we can make a change, I I want to make this change. >> Sure. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So Dr. Seller, and what you're saying is you guys have a relationship and and you know all the background and everything. You just don't want to make the decision whether it's a yes or no. Ultimately, my decision is no because that is what we've done as a county. Um, if the board were to offer a like we support this because of this situation, that would be something that I would consider, but it would only be in that situation because of my personal relationship. >> Okay. I move to make an exception. >> A second. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Yeah. I I appreciate the way this is being handled. >> Yeah, >> I
091appreciate you guys uh bringing it out into the open and um of course I think experience is worth its weight and gold over paperwork. I'm not sure you said there's some kind of thing that you were not certified for, but you're clearly you got plenty of experience in this particular field. Uh, so I was going to actually ask Jeffrey to come up here to give us some guidance um as to the best way to handle this situation to make sure that we are following in policy. We we've heard from Miss Ridley about the potential and and the decision that could be made by the board. What is your I don't know opinion on direction if we if the board decides to move forward with the motion? >> As the director says, state law is very
092clear. The decision to hire fire people like we're talking about here is a director decision. It's not a board decision. If the board wants to weigh in on this, the board needs to just make a recommendation, but it's not going to be binding on the director. He's not bound to follow it. It's just a recommendation the board wants to make on it. Um, I don't know what all I don't know the full history of the criminal background here. I think I heard some about probation, maybe some other charge while he was on probation. Um but um he served time in in jail. I heard that. Which is usually a pretty serious um offense if someone serves time in jail. If things are just a routine misdemeanor, they're generally not serving time in jail um and
093it has not been expuned. And a very common thing in criminal matters if people have kind of cleaned up their act and gotten back on the right. I noticed this a number of years ago, but it's a very common thing for criminal charges to get expuned. So, if someone has say they commit a misdemeanor charge, they are um they're on probation for a while. Most people don't serve time unless it's a very serious offense or something else is going on that complicates that and they don't get in trouble for another year or period of time. People are usually eligible to have a charge expuned and that is taken off the record at that point. Um, so I don't know what all has gone on with respect to the the criminal charge here. I don't know
094anything about this. I've not talked to anyone about this. I think he just came in. >> I didn't expect it as well. Yes. >> So I haven't heard I don't know in the background. So I may not have enough information to comment on it. But there are questions in my mind about that. U it's usually not it's not common for someone to have a first offense and have to serve time for it. um there's usually something else going on that has led to that time being served and it hasn't been expuned yet which to me is also a bit unusual if it's kind of a one-time offense thing. Um, I know probably whenever this happened is a number of years ago. So maybe his life has changed. Um, but I can't tell you that. I
095don't know anything about him. But there and I haven't looked at the statutes yet Monica talked about. Um, so and what policies we have and other schoolboard policies we have, you know, that may be implicated of this. We'd have to kind of look in that in addition to the state law because there could be other policies that we have that we have to look at. Um, so I think if the board is inclined to look into the matter, it probably be something do some a little bit investigation. >> It's your recommendation that we should postpone sharing even though even though it's just going to be a recommendation from the board, but as far as a general recommendation for the board, we should postpone this. We got a board meeting right around the corner. >> Correct.
096>> Is that something that would be useful? >> I would recommend postponing it. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Miss Darby, you didn't have something you wanted to say. I was actually going to ask um if we're being asked for recommendation or to in essence give you permission to step outside of that normal I think that's kind of what you're you don't want to make that decision but we obviously can't do the hiring. So that would still be ultimately yours. My my question to you would be if if what was on if what is on his record was not there would you hire him? >> Absolutely. Yeah. Okay. Um, and so my next question, which I don't want to get into publicly, [clears throat] but I I'm in favor of postponing it because I would I would
097like to just look at the record and and all of the information before we make that decision. Um, I do want to thank you for coming and talking to us. And and I can't tell you >> what it says to me that you're willing to stand up here in public and talk about something that occurred in your life that that is probably not the most pleasant thing in your life. But I think it speaks a lot to your character. Um, it's hard to get up here and talk even when you're talking about fun, happy stuff. The little boy that spoke, that takes a lot of bravery. Like, and and I think that it's an asset a lot of times when we have people in our school system that have faced some kind of adversity or
098made some bad choices and can speak life and perseverance and positive changes into some of the some of our students need to hear those stories. So, I look forward to to kind of just doing our due diligence and then coming back and and making a recommendation. >> And I you guys know if I had an idea that was coming, you would have known. I mean, we talked um last week when I called to tell him, "No, you're not getting the job." I mean, he still showed up at practice. I didn't anticipate that. So, I speak still. >> Yeah. I'm I'm a firm believer in second chances, too. I I've spent my whole life in education giving kids second chances. I mean, that's that's what life's all about. There's not a single one of us that
099hadn't done something in our past that we screwed up. Um, some got caught for it, others didn't. But, you know, when people learn from that, it makes them such a such a better person. And this young man has shown to me that by what he's done in the school system, the jobs he's had, the impact he's made on kids. I mean, that's what we're in the business for is to save kids. I mean, if we're not in the business of saving kids, we need to get out of it. And uh I just I just really firmly believe in second chances. And I think this young man has paid his dues. Uh but whatever they were, I think that he's he's paid his dues and I think he's impacted kids' lives and that's what it's all
100about. So >> his concerns. So basically what happened was I remember it was like game five or six of the we watched Michael Jordan playing Wolves and I had a friend of mine who owned guns. Um boy he had them and uh he came by the house we were at. He was like hey can y'all go shoot? He was like yeah and there was a wooded area behind the neighborhood that we're in. like no houses were around. It was, you know, very dense, wooden area. And we just literally went out there and just shooting guns. And um the police came, somebody called the police and the police came and uh they came up and they arrested all of us. One was allowed to go to um the army. One got into some other kind of
101trouble. Um I stayed in jail for three months um waiting on the process. Um I had one lawyer every He came back and asked, you know, what happened? And I was just like, look, I've told you three times, like, you're not talking to anybody. You're not doing anything about it. Can I get a different lawyer? And I went in front of the judge and asked for a different lawyer. Um, her name was Trisha B. Henry. She came in. She asked me what happened. She went and talked to the lawyer and the DA. Um, they were trying to do like a year or something and uh, you know, she was like, you know, he hasn't been in any trouble. he hasn't done anything like you know that's not going to work. And basically she came back
102and she was like they're they're offering you 108 days with 90 days served because of the three months that you've been here. Um she was like I mean I think it's a good deal. Uh my was I've been in there for 3 months. It was only three more months. So I was like I can you know sit in here for three more months and then I'll be able to go home. Um, so that's why I plead guilty to to the charge. Um, just because I mean, if I'm being honest in county and, you know, I I just felt like I didn't stand a chance to I don't want to be like a race thing or anything, but as a young black male in county, I just didn't feel like I was going to get a
103fair shot if I took it to trial or anything. Uh, and she said she thought that was, you know, a good deal. So, I did three more months. I got out. I was on probation. Um, missed like one or two meetings with my probation officer. got scared. Um, she called me in. That's why I got ended up getting the violation of probation. I didn't do any more jail time. She just reset my probation. And from that point on, I just paid all my fees and made sure I showed up every time and took care of everything. Um, and you know, since then, uh, I had my first child when I was 23 and I just I promised my kids like I wasn't, you know, like I'm not that dad. I'm not going to be that
104dad. I'm always going to be present. I have family members that have been in and out of prison, in and out of jail, and I just I decided that I wasn't going to do that. Once I started coaching, I actually started coaching because I had to coach when I was like 12 is when I first ever played soccer. And uh Josh Yaki, I'll never forget him. He came pick me up for every practice. And every Saturday morning, he would come and pick me up and he took me to McDonald's. That's when McDonald's was like, "Oh my god, go to McDonald's." And uh but he took me to breakfast every Saturday morning. We went and played our game and then after the game he would take me to his house. Uh he had the old school
105Nintendo. I I play Nintendo. His mom would cook his burgers and fries every Saturday. I got to you know hang out with him and stuff. And it just it impacted me to the point that I wanted to do the same thing. And I've had through the years there's actually a kid from Sheffield Central that just graduated who I coached in football and uh he found me on Instagram and he was like you remember you know obviously so many years ago. And I was like, "No." And he was like, "Well, uh, my name is Fernando and I used to come over your house all the time." So, basically what Mr. Yaki did for me, I kind of did for him and I've done for many kids over the years just because if you ever coach, you
106know, you're always taking kids home. You always pick them up. Sometimes you got to feed them because they you don't know if they're going to feel at home. So, it just impacted me to the point that it made me want to do the same thing. And I decided then that I just I knew I knew you could have certain charges and I knew there's certain things you just couldn't do and get into because it would prevent you from being able to do those things. So I you know clear my life up and you know been a present father like I said got two kids. One just graduated college, one that actually is going to take a year off because he's trying to decide if he wants to continue to play or just get into the
107workforce within you know my youngest. I just like I said, I just I just want to be an asset um to the community and to Lever High School as well as the kids. I I know the impact that I can make and I know the impact I made and you know, even with the time that that six months in the county jail and if I'm being completely honest, I I knew so many people during the six months that I probably had more fun than I I was supposed to. But it was the fact that I was locked up and I couldn't do things freely like I wanted to. I couldn't leave. I couldn't, you know, talk to people when I wanted to. Like that was enough for me. I I was like I never again
108like I would never be in a situation where somebody else controls everything that I do and I have absolutely no say so over it. So that's that point of getting out getting out of trouble and you know all the things I was like I'm just you know I'm I'm done. I'm not going to do it. That's, you know, I've had like um um driving without license or, you know, uh no insurance and stuff like that. Maybe had to do like, you know, pay little probation or something. But as far as any I guess criminal like I just I knew that I couldn't I knew that it would prevent me from one day getting, you know, position that I wanted. >> We appreciate you coming and being so honest with us and we want to treat
109you fairly. Is everyone here okay if we adjourn for about 10 minutes and then we can come back recess? I'm sorry. Recess. Is everyone okay with that? >> All in favor say I. >> I. We're recess. >> Okay. our board members and our director get here. >> I don't know how we lost Dr. Sullivan and stay We have resolved anything. We do need to take some more time. And uh Mr. Reed, are you going to get some uh information for us? >> Do we want to withdraw the motion in a second? That was >> You want to withdraw your motion? Yes. Okay. Thank you'all. >> Move to adjourn. We're ajourned.