Board of Education Meeting - August 21, 2025

001meeting for the Rutherford County School Board. We will be opening the meet with a brief moment of silence or prayer in the 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. Mr. Ba, you have that floor. >> Thank you, Madam Chairman. Join with me in a moment of silence, personal reflection, or silent prayer. Dear heavenly father, we thank you for this day. We thank you for the opportunity to be of service to our fellow man. We thank you for this school district and all of its employees and students. I ask that you grant us wisdom, discernment, and guidance to make the decisions you would have us to make. Lead guide and direct

002us. Protect every family represented here. We ask all these things in your holy name. Amen. >> Amen. >> Madame chairman, I have got a special guest this evening, Candace, if you join me. Uh Candace Kirkham from Seagull High School is in enrolled in the transition academy and she is going to lead us in our pledge. >> Wonderful. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you Candace. >> Thank you. First up this evening, we have the approval of the agenda. >> Move to approve. >> Thank you, Mr. >> We've got a request. >> Yes. I'm sorry. >> Can we move number 11, financial matters, benefits, and insurance update before the five-year plan?

003just so that that's probably going to be a lengthy discussion and that helps our one of our teammates be able to get out and get to another engagement. >> So to number number 11 to number eight is fine be my request. Okay, >> Madam Chair, move to approve. >> Thank you, Mr. Tidville. Thank you, Mr. Paul. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, we have the approval of the consent agenda. >> Move to approve. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Rosales. Thank you, Mr. V. >> Sorry, I got another one. I just got a late breaking crossing guard email. >> Okay. And so I don't think we have this one on here, do we? You guys didn't get this. >> We have someone. Let me see if I've got this

004correct. >> Yes. We have a Alisa Korns. >> Oh, it is on there. >> Is it on there? You guys do that. That Okay, never mind. You're good. >> Don catches them quicker than I catch them. Ignore that. Good catch, Miss Williams. Okay, I think we had a first and a second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Next up, we have so excited. We have our esteemed Annie Rollston, coordinator of special education, who will highlight the achievements from the past year and share the special education department goals and focus for the year ahead. With a continued commitment to helping our students reach beyond limits, will reflect on meaningful progress and outline key areas of focus that will further support growth, inclusion, and success for all learners. Hello, Dr. Rston.

005>> Hi. Uh, thank you guys so much for allowing me the opportunity to brag about our students, teachers, administrators, and of course, our staff. Let's first talk about where we were in May 2025. We had 6,043 students with an individualized education plan. That's an IEP. We had 24,423 students with a 504 plan. Our assessment specialist performed over 2,000 initial evaluations. Last year we had over 866 student assistant team meetings. We had uh 371 students in DCS custody. We performed over 315 threat assessments. student behavior intervention plans, 174 safety plans, and 88 functional behavior assessments were performed by our behavior team. Hearing those numbers, it is very obvious it takes an amazing team to accomplish all of that plus more. The special education department itself here in Rutherford County, I am pleased to tell you, is

006very strong. And it consists of homebound teachers, behavior specialists, board certified behavior analysts, registered behavior technicians, assisted technology, instructional technology support, supervisors, coaches, Spanish interpreters, Arabic interpreters, sign language interpreters, defed teachers. I'm not done. vision teachers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, psychologists, speech language pathologists, admin assistants, pre-K support staff, 504 student specialists, uh DCS student specialists, and of course, bus aids. Of course, we can't achieve those numbers without our amazing school teams, our administrators. I see several in the audience tonight, special education teachers, general education teachers, educational assistants, and all of the support staff. Everyone is involved with students because every student matters and our students can succeed to great heights beyond limits. Every year all of the schools are scored on the annual performance review. I'm sorry, school districts are scored on the annual performance

007review. The individuals with disabilities education act or IDA for short demands that states report to the federal government how local education agencies or school systems are implementing IDA. The state of Tennessee scores each LEA or school system on 17 different indicators. These are all combined in our annual performance review or APR for short. Each year we receive our APR information in May. However, the data that's used is from the previous year. For example, we're about to look at some highlights from the report that we received in May, but the data is from the 2324 school year. All of the annual performance review indicators are combined together. And what you see here on this slide is that overall score. I want to call your attention to the darker blue block, the 2324 school year, 65.93%. That's

008pretty great. We have short showed marked improvement in our score and we have not scored this high if you will look over the past four years. Now, there are four different determinations based on this overall score. Meets requirements, needs assistance, needs intervention, or needs substantial intervention. Mr. McDaniel, will you go to the next screen, please? In 1920, we needed assistance. That starts on this right hand side for me. Whichever side it is for y'all, whichever way you're sitting. Uh the 20 and 21, we needed intervention. 21 and 22, we needed intervention. 22 and 23 is the orange block and we needed substantial intervention just due to the past history. But I want to point your attention to that dark blue block again. We surpassed needs substantial inter intervention. We passed needs intervention and we landed

009squarely in needs assistance. We are so close to meets requirements. We need to hit a 70% to hit needs requirements. I mean meets requirements and I believe we're about to be there. I'm not going to go over all 17 indicators with you because I know your meeting is very long. If any of you would like to set up a time to look at the full report with me, please let me know. I am always happy to talk about data and how amazing we are. However, I would like to highlight a few areas which has led us to our focus for this upcoming year of beyond limits. You may have seen some of the shirts in the audience. First, if you'll go to the next slide, please sir. First on the left hand side is the

010graduation rate. We dropped from 81.27% in 2223 to 79 94% in 23 24. We believe that this had a lot to do with the change made by the state in some of the reporting in the summer uh between those two school years and our AB pathways at that time. The 4x4 is going to correct that on its own. The dropout rate in the next column, you see it's very tiny. I would like for that to just disappear. Uh but the dropout rate dropped from 2.01% to 1.62% which is awesome. We want to keep that dropping. The next two indicators are LRE and that stands for the least restrictive environment. Least restrictive environment is based on the amount of time students with disabilities spend during the school day with same age typical peers. The goal is

01180% or more of our students spending 80% or more of their school day with their same age typical peers. This indicator, as you can see, is broken into two indicators. Indicator five is the students ages 5 through 21. So, our kindergarten through our super seniors. Our percentage is 72.18. So, we're not quite at that 80%, but we're climbing. Indicator six is for the students ages 3 to five. That's our preK. That percentage is 29.68%. Our goal for that one is not 80%, it's 45%. But I want to draw your attention to how large that orange line is in comparison to the blue one. Because we chose to blend some of our volunteer prek and our integrated prek classes together during this past year, um it enabled us to create more inclusive environments and we were

012able to bring our percentage up from 5.69% to 29.68. Both VPK and IPK impact all students and together these programs provide those inclusive environments for students to grow. The last three indicators on the screen are our all are all all post school outcomes. Each year, our teachers and special education coaches are provided a list from the state of all the seniors with disabilities who graduated the year before. They are then tasked with reaching out to the student and or the parents to answer survey questions about where the student what the student has done post RCS. I'm very proud of these. Outcome A is the percentage of students who enrolled in higher education. We jumped from the year before from 20.55% to 36.62%. Outcome B, the percentage of students who enrolled in higher education or are

013competitively employed. We jumped from 49.32% to 59.15%. Outcome C is the percent of students who enrolled in higher education, competitively employed or are in some other form of employment such as assisted employment. Again, we jumped we jumped from 67.12% to 86.62%. This percentage itself places us as one of the leaders of the large districts in the state of Tennessee. This is huge. This not only shows that Rutherford County Schools is impacting our students futures, but we're impacting the future of our community we live in. Therefore, this year we are focusing to the next one, sir. We are focusing on preparing our students for their futures beyond limits. We will continue our collaboration with the instruction department and working with both special education and general education teachers to provide those inclusive environments. We will also continue

014our collaboration with Tyra Pilgrim and the CTE team because it has shown that providing students, all students with access to CTE has a huge impact on those outcomes and our students futures. Christa Morgan is a special education supervisor and has done a fantastic job the past few years building up the work-based learning programs and the transition fair that happens every spring that provides parents and students with opportunities after RCS. The Transition Academy and Project Search are both amazing places and amazing programs that we have put a lot of work into. Um, and I say this every time I'm here. If you have not had an opportunity to go check it out, I highly recommend it. It will be the best day of your year. Thank you so much for giving me a minute to brag

015about our programs. Um, I'm always here if you guys have questions or want to go through the other indicators at any time. >> Thank you. Yes, Mr. Ros. >> Mr. Maxwell, I know that you've shared this before, but um in the in the same token and note that you are talking about Tracision Academy, I will encourage every one of us here that's sitting on this desk um to go to the graduation. I've gone to it two years in a row and it's one of my favorite days. And I know that we we talked a lot about growth and how the buildings need attention. Not that we need new buildings to build because of the growth and there we need to also maintain old buildings. But I also think that this program um with transition academy

016shall also be looked into and paid attention and how we can expand it and grow it so that we can give more opportunities for those children that um after they graduate from high school that they have something that as it's called a transition academy of some sort um that that can help them be successful as an adult after they graduate from high school. So, I will I don't know when we could do this, but I would like for like I know you have mentioned this in the past and and trying to put more attention to that and how we can prioritize it. I know that we have a lot in our plates and trying to figure out where the money is going to allocate. But I would love that we can also take a look

017at that as well. I think I think we need to make sure that it's part of not just our fiveyear but maybe 10 year plan. We need to look far in the future and it's still just limited to 12 spots is it right now and that's just way too small for as large as this county is and for all the benefits that come from attending Transition Academy. I still want to find a place in the north end of town. So at least we could double the size that we have now. So but you do great work Annie and thank you so much Dr. Rston. Thank y'all. Thank you so much. [Applause] Next up, we have several um speakers this evening. Um first up, we have Daniel Lee. Hello. Good evening, members of the board. I

018want to begin uh my speaking by extending my appreciation to you all tonight uh for allowing me to express my opinions and my thoughts upon this issue. My name is Daniel Lee and I'm currently a senior at Central Magnet High School and I'm here to speak about your newly adopted student policy in response to Tennessee House Bill 0932 labeled a policy to prohibit students from using wireless communication devices during instructional time except in certain circumstances. Furthermore, I do understand that considering this new policy, Rutherford County is obligated under law to follow certain procedures detailed under House Bill 0932. Therefore, the contents of my opinion will entirely and solely be based on the subjects in which Rutherford County has the authority to change. I'd like to address the inclusion of headphones within your personal device policy.

019Posted on RCS back to SchoolHub on July 30th, 2025 under new policy alert, it states verbatim, headphones will also not be allowed during the school day. With a link to the full Rutherford County policy, however, at closer look at this policy by the Rutherford County schools, this policy does not include the term headphones, nor does it prohibit them. In addition, Tennessee House Bill 0932 also does not include any provisions on the use of headphones during the instructional day. The issue that this raises is that since the beginning of the school year, students and teachers alike have been closely following the expectations Rutherford County Schools has set for personal devices. However, the lack of inclusion yet enforcement of a headphone ban has been hindering the learning in the classroom. And here's how. Because of a lack

020of expectations for the use of headphones, teachers across the county have banned the use of headphones outright. This has been both a disservice to both teachers and students who rely on countyf funded educational materials such as econ lowdown that require the use of audio to function properly. I would also argue against the addition of a provision for headphones in county policy as House Bill 0932 does not prohibit them. I believe along with many others including my peers, family members, and other parents alike that any extension in this policy that prohibits items not listed within what the state of Tennessee has outlined for the betterment of our learning is unjustified. As such, the inclusion of headphones is and would be beyond the legislative intent of the state of Tennessee. And I do not believe that that

021such portion would be in the benefit of our learning. Thank you. And I'd like to extend once again my absolute appreciation for you guys tonight for everything you guys do and of course allowing me and giving me the opportunity to speak with you guys tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you, Daniel. Next we have Andrew Dicki. >> Good evening. I would first like to start by expressing my gratitude to the director and to the board for the opportunity to speak to you all tonight. My name is Andrew. I go by Isaac Dicki and I'm a senior at Central Magnet School. And I'm here to speak regarding the recent cell phone ban that was passed by the Tennessee State Legislature. And I would first like to make clear, similarly to Daniel, uh that I fully understand that

022the board only has so much control here and that this was a law passed by the state. And so I would just like to take a quick moment to speak on the daily impact that this is having in our schools. Because of the complete ban, platforms that the county pays a lot of money for have not been utilized properly or effectively in my opinion. The first and the most glaring example of this to me is PASS, a tool that was purchased by the county to ensure the safety and the well-being of every student while under the school's supervision. I can report that most teachers have stopped using this altogether as they feel it hinders instructional time due to the lack of convenience to the technology. Furthermore, platforms such as Remind are rarely utilized as students

023no longer have the ability to see quick messages regarding things such as a cla a change of class location or cancellation of their sports practice. Additionally, I would like to suggest to the board, it's just a suggestion, that the county adopt a policy requiring every middle and high school student in the district to take a technology literacy course that would teach students the dangers of overusing technology, as well as when and how it is appropriate to use things such as AI. I feel that this would create a better and high functioning society. And just since I've got about a minute left here, I'm going to take a second to speak off the cuff here. I have quite a lot of respect for Dr. Sullivan and for Dr. Martin and everybody who works in this board.

024In fact, Dr. Jeff McCann is um gonna be my mentor this year for a senior thesis that I have to write for graduation and I totally respect everything y'all are doing here and I I totally understand that. Again, there's only so much y'all can do. Uh but I I really do have the the best interest of my fellow students in mind. And again, just thank you all for hearing this. So, thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> One of them was, excuse me, Mr. Strickland, was it uh pass and what was the other uh platform? >> Pass and remind. >> Yeah. Remind. Yeah. Okay. Next, we have Aiden Strickland. Thank you, sir. >> I would first like to say thank you for the opportunity to be able to speak. I appreciate the board and

025the director for giving me the opportunity to speak on these important issues. In regards to the cell phone policy, cell phones and other personal devices have oftentimes in recent years seem to cause many focus and attention issues in high school students. However, they're also an extremely valuable tool for communicating with students and planning school events and meetings quickly. Students before were able to receive messages quickly and effortlessly. Now, to view any important messages or notices, students must use their computers to check their email during class, which is often very disruptive and breaks the focus during instructional time. The new Tennessee policy on electronics and the Rutherford County policy that have come from it is an understandable method to increase focus in students. However, it also comes with many detriments. By allowing students to check their

026personal devices during periods such as their lunch or their class changes, students will be provided with a middle ground that increases focus in the classroom while also maintaining their communication abilities. It isn't about getting rid of the current policy, but merely amending it. Other counties in Tennessee, such as Williamson and Wilson counties, have implemented policies so that students are allowed to view their devices during their lunch period as well as during class changes. By doing this, students are able to keep track of academic news, ask questions to their teachers, and contact their parent or guardian without needing to meet anyone in person. However, limiting this usage to only lunch periods and class changes ensures that students are still focused and on tasks during their in-class instructional time. By enacting this change, students are able to

027communicate with their teachers and other students where it is needed without sacrificing any focus during their instructional time. The increase in usage of personal devices in the classroom, especially over the last few years, has many times become an issue regarding keeping students focused and attentive. In many cases, it is much easier for students to be distracted in class with said communication devices. However, banning usage of personal devices from the start of the school all the way to the end greatly reduces students abilities to plan and communicate with their peers and their teachers. Many important classes, clubs, and other extracurricular activities use trusted online communication programs such as Remind to notify students of plans and changes that they should be aware of. Such programs are highly useful as it provides a simple and effective way to

028communicate to many students quickly as notifications are received immediately without being able to view their device at any point during the school day. It significantly reduces the teachers ability to communicate with their students. Teachers are now at a good disadvantage in regarding expedient communication with their students and this policy change would greatly alleviate this issue. Respectfully, I would urge the board to amend the current policy to allow students to personal devices during these short time frames as lunch and class changes. We believe it is an actionable and happy medium in regards to Tennessee's wireless communications law and it would greatly increase student productivity and morale. Teachers are not expected to instruct students during class changes and their duty-free lunch periods. This policy change would ensure students stay focused during class while also allowing them to

029communicate during these free periods where focus on instruction is not expected of them in the first place. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next we have Wyatt Patel. >> Good evening members of the board. Um I'd first like to begin and thank you for your time today. Um, I understand this is most likely a thankless job. Um, I don't want to sound like a broken record after hearing my peers speak. However, I do want to speak to the fact that there are there are other uses of the devices particularly for students with uh certain special needs including ADHD, anxiety, and overwhelming sensory issues. I myself have ADHD and through the years have come to use music as a uh attention aid where I with teacher permission use music to engage in class so that I

030am not disruptive due to my attention issues. Um these are not allowed in 504s as I have discussed with our counselor. Um I apologize I'm a little parched. I hope that you take the time to not simply dismiss us as phone addicted teenagers. I understand that there's going to be some inclination to that. But I want to make it clear that in the school that we have become accustomed to, we have integrated technology as a tool that teachers often use for their own educational purposes, including things like videos that supplement lectures. There are many reasons why things like a wired device um like headphones are important. Sorry, I'm trying to not rehash the things that were said earlier. I would like to also include the fact that many students often use Apologize. I would like

031to direct attention towards the fact that like Daniel Lee had said um it is there is some leeway within the county policy versus the Tennessee state law. The Tennessee state law only requires during instructional time a ban while the Tennessee state law also only allocates 6 and a half hours of instructional time compared to the 745 to3. All we ask is that there be a little bit of leeway for the consideration of the modern technology usage for students like me as well as the modern incorporations of technology. Sorry for some of the stuttering. Thank you. You did well. You spoke very well. You want some water? Would you like some water? >> Thank you. Next, we have Brian Walsh. Good evening, chair, members of the board, and community leaders. My name is Brian Walsh. I

032want to speak to you on behalf of the McFaten PTO. Like everyone else, I appreciate the opportunity to be here tonight. I'm the proud parent of two current students at McFaden School of Excellence, a school that represents both the deep history and the bright future of Rutherford County. As you guys may know, McFaden has an incredible history as one of the oldest school buildings in our county. The original structure dates all the way back to 1927. And after suffering multiple fires, the main building that we use today was built in 1938. Over the decades, additions have been made. Most recently in 1978, almost 50 years ago. But time has caught up with us. Today, our school faces constant costly repairs. Most notably, our kids tell us all the time about the aging and the undersized

033HVAC system. Also, the recurring moisture damage in the walls despite the repeated attempts to fix it. The layout is outdated, as you would expect with a building that is almost 100 years old. It has narrow hallways, multiple stairways at ground level, and retrofitted accessibility features that, while technically compliant, are still cumbersome for students with mobility needs. My son shared with me that last year a girl in his class was in a wheelchair for several weeks after breaking her leg. There were times where we would take her two separate elevator rides just to move from one side of the school to the other. But yet, despite these physical limitations, McFaten thrives. Our culture is one of academic excellence, family pride, and community spirit. McFaten has been consistently ranked the number one elementary school in Tennessee by

034US News and World Report. We're a national blue ribbon school, a Tennessee reward school, and we continue to attract families from all parts of the county for the education that McFaten offers. Our families are deeply invested. Over 80% of them participate actively in the PTO each year. Our teachers, staff, and administrators pour their hearts into creating an environment where students are challenged, supported, and inspired to excel. It's this combination of rich history and unmatched culture that makes McFaten so special. And we feel that is why it deserves a future school building that matches the excellence of its students. We feel that the time has come to provide a modern building that is worthy of the students, the families, and the educators who call McFaten home. On behalf of the McFaten community and the PTO, I

035want to thank you for your leadership, your continued support of our schools. Several of us reached out via email and and I have to confess I was a little shocked to get multiple responses and and we appreciate that. We appreciate that you are considering these things and tonight I would respectfully and wholeheartedly request that you thoughtfully consider expediting a new facility for McFaten. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next we have Yasmin Chandran. Good evening, chair, members of the board, and district leaders. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. My name is Yasmin Chadri, and I have two kids in McFaten. I stand here with deep pride in this in McFaten School of Excellence. Our families, teachers, staff, and administration work tirelessly each day to maintain the high standard of excellence that our school

036is known for. We are grateful for your ongoing support and we recognize the important role you play in shaping the future for all of our students in Rutherford County. As you know, our county is experiencing rapid population growth and with it comes both opportunity and challenge. One of the greatest challenges is overcrowding in our schools. The proposed new building or renovation of for McFaten is more than just bricks and mortar. It represents an investment in the future of our children and our Rutherford County community. By adding classrooms, we can not only serve more students at McFaten, but can also help reduce overcrowding across other schools in the district. Expanding McFaten also means expanding school choice for families and providing more students access to an academically challenging environment where they can thrive. This project could potentially

037offer new amenities that enrich the whole student experience, but have never been before afforded to the McPadent students. A stage or auditorium would allow our creative and talented students to shine in performances, building confidence and community pride. A full-size gym would give our young athletes the facilities they need and provide space for parents and other family members to celebrate their accomplishments. Just as importantly, it would help address the inadequate gym space currently affecting Central Magnet. In every way, this building has the potential to serve not just McFaten, but the larger Rutherford community. Board members, McPaten families, staff, and students are deeply committed to excellence. We believe this rebuild or renovation has the potential to reflect that same excellence you strive for each day. On behalf of all McFaten families, I respectfully and wholeheartedly ask that

038you choose to prioritize the new building plan for McFaten, the oldest school on the current 5-year building plan. Thank you for your time, your vision, and your continued support of our schools. >> Thank you. And last but not least, we have Mr. Matt B. >> Good afternoon everybody. I haven't seen this many public speakers here in a while. Um especially for them advocating for um you know the change in policy. Very well done. Very well done. Uh my name is Matt Fee. Uh, and I'm here tonight because at Tuesday's work session, we learned that Rutherford County schools face a nearly $7 million higher health insurance cost next year. 75% of that, more than $5 million, is going to be pushed directly onto the employees of the county school system. I've come here many times to

039say politics shouldn't be part of a school board's decisions. But this time, politics from outside this room are already hurting us. And not a single Republican on this board acknowledged where these costs are really coming from. This increase didn't happen because teachers or cafeteria workers or custodians suddenly suddenly became more sick. It happened because of political choices. When Republicans in Washington DC passed the so-called big beautiful bill this summer, they made permanent tax cuts for billionaires and corporations. But to pay for those giveaways, they gutted health care supports and shifted the burden onto states, counties, and school districts like ours. So, here we are. Our teachers and staff are getting the bill for the Republican tax breaks. At the same time, they are already being squeezed by tariffs. And every extra dollar we spend covering

040these costs is a dollar we don't have for smaller class sizes, better textbooks, safer buses, maintenance of aging facilities, or higher pay for people who keep our schools running. The burden keeps rolling downhill until it lands here on us and our kids. This all Republican school board is now left making choices inside the broken system their party created. The people of Barford County deserve honesty. When Republicans say they are cutting costs in Washington, what they really mean is they are cutting costs for billionaires and transferring the bill to us. Rutherford County cannot afford Republican re leadership anymore. Not at the school board, not at the county commission, not at the state house, and definitely not in Washington. Our families can't afford it. Our schools can't afford it. Our community can't afford it. If you are

041serious about protecting our schools, then stand with your employees and stop asking them to subsidize tax breaks for the wealthy. It's time for leadership that invests in the working people of our community. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> That is all of our public comments. Now we move on to number seven, the director of schools evaluation tool. I'll entertain a motion. >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Sharp. All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. And now we have financial matters since we've moved things around a little bit. >> And so the financial matters. Again, we do not need a decision tonight. But if you can go to page 166, John, the 573 166. This has the chart. And so just to reiterate numbers, our current

042cost for our district is 56,987,000. If our district were to cover all the cost for employees, it would be a $3.8 million change. And so 3.8 change. If we covered the entire cost, the recommendation is, as we talked about on Tuesday night, the covering 25% that is about $971,000 of district and the rest would go to employees. And if we could cover all of it, that would be of course my recommendation. But that's just not our financial situation. Something I also think gets lost is that being the CEO really in this district is very strange because you have a $600 million operating budget, but I don't control revenue and I can't write checks. And so that is a extremely strange position for anybody that sits as the director of schools to not have those two

043tools uh available to them. And so revenue is set a year in advance and we have what we have and we have to operate within it. And so that's the reason for the 25% recommendation compared to 100 if we could. But again, we don't need a decision till September 11th. >> Okay. M. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So when do we need a decision on this? >> September 11th. Okay. And also um when we were at the county, how much was it? I know we the initial year we saved $7 million. >> Well, I we can pull that up for our next board meeting as well. I'll send it to you beforehand to go and see. >> Okay. I was just curious because I know we saved $7 million but we've had a year in

044between. We've had one year and two >> two so this is our going to be our fourth year >> started 2020. >> Yes. So it'll move in 23 24 25 January we'll start our fourth year on the state plan. >> Great questions. >> Okay. Any other comments? Okay. Now we can move on to construction. >> No fiveyear plan. Yep. Now we're good with five year plan. >> Okay. Now with the 5ear plan >> and so we discussed the 5-year plan on Tuesday. I have spent last couple days continuing our conversation with our finance director. Um again this is just for discussion. We don't need any action tonight other than the one that is um requested on here is for Mr. Reid recommending motion to allow him to move forward with land acquisitions neighboring McFaten School

045of Excellence. that would be our first step in moving towards renovating or rebuilding or whatever we need to do with that property. So I don't know how the board if the board wants to entertain that motion first and then come back for discussion. It's truly up to how you all miss. >> Yes, Mr. >> I would like to move to approve the to allow Mr. Reed to move forward with Lando Pacia's neighboring school of excellence. >> Thank you Miss Sharp for seconding. Um I think miss I think Mr. Tidville could you I just ask so I don't want to miss anybody. Please try this to recognize the chair first. Okay. >> I was just clarity here as far as this. We're asking for him to just gather information, bring it back to the board. That's

046correct. >> Mr. Arby, >> uh I think I was Caleb and I were on the same wavelength there. The way this is written makes it sound like we're allowing him to proceed with an actual land acquisition versus to engage in conversations for possible land acquisition. So, I think it's just a maybe a change in wording is needed. >> I I think the motion is fine the way it is. Either way, we're going to be the ones who are going to make the decision. This is just authorizing for him to go to talk talk about what is the selling price and what is the act what is the asking price that they are going to ask and then for him to come back and tell us for us to make a decision to actually join the

047contract. It actually allows him to move forward with land acquisition. It doesn't say to move forward with conversations for possible land acquisition. >> Mr. Vaugh. >> Well, might I make a suggestion? Um, contract negotiation. That would suffice. Uh, it it's I after spending a year here, th this is a little awkward the way government has to um purchase things, especially real estate. Me being in the business, you know, most of the time people put a sign on their property, you go make an offer, you get, you know, you do it subject to financing, you do it subject to this. When we expand or we look for school sites, it's not necessarily property that's available right now, right? I'm kind of looking to Jeff for this, but he understands it because his firm has been involved

048in contracts for 50 years, I guess. So, um, I've looked at this and legally how we can do things. Dr. Sen, and I talked about this a little bit. You know, it'd be really cool if he could have the ability to go out here and negotiate or do that subject to our approval. But, as people have always said before on this board, the first thing that happens when the word gets out, the county's in the market to buy real estate or property or something like that, the price goes up, it doubles, right? So, it kind of puts us in awkward position. So, I I think what I would suggest here is that we would give Jeff the ability to to u negotiate or enter in enter into a um and I hate to call it

049contract because we would really need to approve that, but um it needs to be it needs to be further than discussions. He needs to be able to to to uh get the owners to sign a letter of intent that they would sell to us for x number of dollars or that they would um solicit to us, you know, a type of proposal or something like that. I had some wording in mind that that we could do it, but I, you know, a a solicitation or a proposal or a letter of intent doesn't have a lot of teeth to it, which again, my experience has been you can't make somebody sell and you can't make somebody buy. Everybody thinks they can, but the judge will always call the deal off. So maybe we allow him to

050enter into negotiations and report back to us for final approval and then funding. Right. Is that what we want? >> Yes. That's that's kind of how I think it reads as well. >> Me too. So >> you want to change the wording to that? I'm on board with you. My biggest concern is Miss Sharp had brought up a good point about the possibility of taking a year and moving the McFaden students to Holloway and possibly building on the site where it currently is and that we may not need to acquire those properties. So, I just legally don't want to put us in a position where we've committed to something before we explored that option that we discussed on Tuesday. So, all I'm saying is it's one and the same. It's just a matter of clarifying

051that we're not actually giving him permission to make a deal. We're giving him permission to start the conversations and discuss the possibility of those deals, but it's not creating an actual deal or acquisition yet. >> We're going to need those properties >> in order to even go forward with it. We're going to need those properties. >> I'm going to go back. I think it needs to be a little stronger than that. It needs to be an actual >> uh I don't know. I hate to use the way it's not a contract to purchase. It would be not a How would you word this, Jeff? You know me. I'm trying to go into it from the front door and we're really coming in the back door. >> Is it an offer to sell or we want

052them to sign an offer to sell with us having final approval? Would that be the way you would sell? >> If we if we attempt to sell Thank you. >> We I could go ahead and get contract signed, but any contract that gets signed would have to come back to the board for approval. Exactly. But ultimately, nothing's going to be valid until this board approves it. So, um, so if I can have authority to negotiate a contract, if that's what the board's will is, I'm happy to do that. Then I can bring those proposals back to the board for your consideration. And of course, the contract's not going to be binding until you have you have approved it. >> Right. >> Okay. >> I think a real simple >> word change. I've got it. So,

053to move. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. >> I think it should just be really easy. Move forward with a possible contact with possible contract negotiations for land acquisitions. I think that kind of clears it up a little bit more. >> I don't think we need a possible contract because Okay, Dr. M when you come before us to bring us um uh lands that you have been in contact with the owner and you have an asking price and even when we we authorize you to to speak with B um yeah with the baby property. How did that happen? All we did we just made a motion to authorize you to do that for you to come back and say hey I've talked to them. This is the asking price. I've got a draft ready to go. If

054this is what you want, go for it. Right. Will this motion be sufficient enough to do what you've done in the past? >> Um, I I think it's fine. I think it's okay if the motion says to move forward with contract negotiations uh for the for the acquisition of neighboring McFaden property as well because any contract I have has to come back to you for a >> Exactly. So, I'll modify it to say um to allow Mr. Reed to modify to move forward with contract negotiations with land acquisitions neighboring McFaden School of Excellence. So I'll add that verbiage. It's what we've done in the past. This is nothing different. We still have to make a decision at the end day, but it just tells them to talk to the to the property owners that this

055is something that the board is considering. It's not binding anyone to anything at this point. >> It's all subject to finance. I >> I'm sorry. It's all subject to the county commission funding it. Anyway, forgive me for asking a dumb question right here, but is there not do we not have some policies about real estate? >> We do have a policy. Yes. >> Okay. Can I mean does this adhere to that? Does it fall in line with it? >> It does. >> Okay. That's there had to be somebody smarter than us before or somebody before us had to do deal with this. So long as it meets policy, let's >> Well, ultimately, I mean, I'll if the board wants me to contact the adjoining owners and to see what kind whether they're willing to sell

056under what terms they're willing to sell, what the possible prices they are they would entertain. And of course, there is negotiation. I normally do not take the first price I get from a land seller. So, there is often times and you normally give and take and go back until we get a number that's feasible and sounds reasonable for it. And then if we get are able to get a number that sounds reasonable for the price, then at that point we put a contract together and come back with the board. You look at that point determine whether the board wants to move forward with it or not. So nothing be binding on this on the county or the school board until the contract comes back to you and you have approved it. And of course if

057you approve it, it's still subject to county commission of funding and approval. So you have several layers you have to go through to get anything purchased for the county. Mr. Maxwell. >> Yes, Mr. Chair. >> Uh, my first initial question to this was simply for clarification. I understand how the process works and I appreciate you going over that. Um, I I just asked the question I already knew the answer to because I wanted to be on the record. Uh, because when someone looks at this, if they just read it the way it's written, then they would think that we are purchasing land or trying to acquire land that we have not yet, you know, started negotiating with. We understand the process. doesn't mean the when the record reflects it, it's not going to say all

058the details you just mentioned till we had you come up here. Now, that was the lead into my initial question. I'm okay with modifying the language. I'm okay with the language as is. I know you can't move forward without our board approval, but I'm just want to state my position was to get it on record that the the clarity here that I was desiring was that the public would know that we are not moving forward to purchase land that we have not yet entered into negotiations with. So, just getting my two cents out there. >> Yes, Mr. Wall, >> I'd like to extend it a little bit more. Um, I'd like to authorize Mr. agreed to contact the city of Msburg. Uh the McFaden Community Center is right there beside it and I'd just like

059to know if there's any possibility of them being interested in working out a like Mr. B says a land swap or something you know but u you know we got to look at the options and that's really really the only two ways we can go. So we don't have any choice. So hopefully one of the two would work out and so I'd like to authorize extending that to check on that land. >> You want that? >> You're making that as an amendment. >> Amendment. >> Yes. >> Second. >> Okay. Any other? Let's go ahead and vote on the amendment. >> Okay. So the amendment is to allow Mr. Reed to reach out to the city of Murphy'sboro about the Community Center. Do you want a roll call? >> Yes, please. >> Mrs. Rosales, >> yes.

060>> Mr. Vaughn, >> yes. >> Mr. Tidwell, >> yes. >> Miss Sharp, >> yes. >> Mr. Ba, >> yes. >> Mrs. Darby, >> yes. >> Mrs. Maxwell, >> yes. >> Unanimous. Okay. Thank you. That's wonderful. And now we move forward to the other. Now that everybody understands what the motion says that this is just authorizing him to go speak to them. Um I think it's fine the way it is. We have a first. We have a second. U I'd like us to go ahead and vote. Roll call. Great. Is every Are y'all ready? >> All right. >> Okay. >> Miss Sharp. >> Yes. >> Mr. Va. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rosales. Yes, >> Mr. Vaughn. >> Yes, >> Mr. Tidwell. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Darby. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Maxwell. >> Yes. >> Seven and

061no passes again. Wonderful. Next, we move to number nine, instruction. I think we can connect the rest of the five-year plan discussion when we get to the property because those are depending on how the board wants to vote on the property and then potentially fund the property. I got some things to talk about with the 5-year plan. All right. So, first we have instruction. This is a wrestling co-op proposal between Oakland Middle School and Central High School. >> Move to approve. >> Thank you, Mr. Arby. Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Next we have legal. >> Legal is transfer student under discipline. The board's been requested to admit a transfer student from another school system under discipline. The student was remanded for possession of illegal

062drugs. According to policy 6.318, the board may deny admissions of any student except those in state custody when a student transfers from another school system while under suspended or expulsion. Director of school's recommendation is to deny. >> I'll entertain a motion. >> Thank you, M. Short. Thank you, Mr. Bond. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed. Motion passes. >> Number two. >> All right. Next we have a requested change and this is two motions. The below policy change um would be recommended on one reading to go ahead and go into effect. Adds language to allow schools policy 3.50 school nutrition management adds language to allow schools to manage vending machines in their buildings. So the policy would say vending companies or the school and as we talked about on Tuesday night that would still

063follow the um requirements by our accounting department. They have to have inventory control and still run through the school books. They are audited by themselves as well. So my first request would be recommended motion to suspend board policy 1.600 to specifically wave the two reading requirements for the above policy. >> So move. >> Thank you Mr. B. Thank you Mr. Mr. Sharp. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. >> And then second is a recommended motion to adopt in the first and final reading for the above policy is presented. >> I'll entertain a motion. >> So moved. >> Thank you, Mr. Ba. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. V. >> Question. What has driven this? >> Yeah. So, it's driven it. We have our high school, several of them have their

064vending machine companies who vendors are not interested. They want to sell the vending machines. So, so they're some of the they're doing it to continue the services. Yeah. And they can make probably more for their school as well, >> which I assume they were making commission anyway. >> They were, but when it came to me, the first question was, "Can I do this?" And I always look at policy and said, "No, the way the policy is written, no, you can't." So, you have to wait. >> Well, they used to years ago, you know, 40, 50 years ago, they used to do it theirself. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you for that. I thought that was the reason. Yep. >> Okay. Do we get a second on that? >> Okay. All in favor say I. >>

065I. Any opposed? Motion passes. >> We've already done financial matters, but I did um I forgot that I had talked to county finance department. They have increased they're going to increase their insurance plan by 6% and they are passing the full amount on to employees. So, they're going up 6% county general with the full amount passed to employees for this year. That's what was included in their budget. >> Okay. Number 12. >> All right. Number 12, engineering construction. Tab 7, Blackman Middle CDC fence request. Principal Jackson get Jackson requesting to install approximately 100 ft of fence to enclose the CDC or structured setting area. The cost for this project will be from the Richard Seagull grant and will be at no cost to the board. There will be appropriate exit gates and hardware provided to

066meet the state fire marshall approval. Anticipated budget for this is $7,830. Engineering construction review the request and has no objections. >> I'll entertain a motion. >> Move to approve. >> Thank you, Miss Rosales. >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Darby. All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Number two. >> All right. Number two. And bear with me while I go through this because I've talked to finance department quite a bit um working on funding. And so I think the first would be to entertain the purchase of the property. And then I'd recommend a second motion. And I'll give you two options that have been suggested to me on how to fund it. So first just the possible or the approval to either purchase or not. And I can go into all the

067details right now as well. I just I'll need two different motions. This is 5405 Lee Road property review. All reports are now enter the property at 5405 Lee Road review. These reports took place during the work session. Engineering Construction review the reports and finds them to be within the scope and site of site cost of recent projects. There'll be a request to partner with CUD to upgrade the water line similar to the one for Plane View Elementary and costs are provided with no objection. If the board finds these reports acceptable, engineering would request a motion to move forward to health and education for funding. The purchase price is 12,885,600 with added fees of an estimated 100,000 bringing the total to 12,955,600. I believe that's correct. Mr. Reed, we worked on that number again. Anything you

068want to say to that? >> Uh 12. >> Yes. >> I think it was 12,985600. Yes. Correct. Yes. >> Okay. And the first motion will be to either approve or deny. >> Move to approve. >> Thank you, Miss Darby. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Rosales. >> All in favor say because we can discuss this, right? >> Yes. Uh I have a question. So, if we buy this property on Lee Road in the area is at, what schools does it relieve? And that would be a trae or Dr. Svin question. >> Elementary, middle, high, which one are you talking about? What are you talking about? >> If we're doing a high school on this property, >> high school, Leverne, Smyrna, Stewart's Creek, Blackman, and probably Rockville depending on the zone. >> Okay. So, it will

069help Lever with overcrowding over there. >> Lever city limits. Yes. Because it's going to a potential zone will go all the way up I24. >> Okay, perfect. Because one of the reasons why I had um uh was looking at this and reviewing I was uh thinking it was because Mr. Lee had said and you're um confirming that it it will help that area. So that's that's what I wanted to clarify. Thank you. Yes, Mr. Tidville. >> Dr. Sullivan, uh we had a lot of discussions with the five-year plan and one of the things that I will continue to advocate for is the smaller high schools. If we put a smaller high school up there and this may be for Trey Lee as well, how many other schools can we fit on the property? >> Three,

070right? >> If we were to move the hill, we could potentially get three. Depends on the size. >> Sure. But if we went smaller on this, sorry, the high school. >> That would help. You still have the athletics that takes up the same amount even if you have a smaller student body. And if you were to put a middle school there, then you would also have athletics for middle school as well. >> Can I ask you a question on that? On the on the middle school and high school athletics, is there a way in which we could split some of that cost by having shared facilities of some sort? And I understand that they're both going to fight and say we must have our own, but I mean, is it even in the realm of

071possibility that there's a shared portion? >> If you turf the football field, yes, that's becomes much more utilized. You still have to build practice facilities, but you could have high school on their practicing on their turf field and the middle school practicing or university working through time is freshman practicing on the practice field or two. So you wouldn't have to build excitements for both gym space. You're still going to need as much gym space because that's what we run into at central one gym for a middle and high school. So they have to go somewhere else. But yes, there is some savings. >> Yeah, there'll be some savings there because I think that that's going to be a question that comes up with splittings too. splitting to smaller high schools is well you're building double

072the athletics and so if you're >> if you're saving some of that money on the middle school side when you go to build the other side then I think that helps with the same apply to like a baseball softball field as well. >> Baseball and softball are going to be tough because they're going to be playing at the same time. Um and your games can't start till a certain time. Um, we traditionally don't light our middle school fields. And so then you would have one school that gets an advantage that has lights where the rest of the third team don't. And so that'll be another conversation, but there's there's some things we could do. Our middle school baseball and softball aren't large cost items compared to everything else. It's just the space. Yeah. And I'm

073thinking let's get creative here. Yep. Agreed. So if we're going to if we're going to do this and we can find a way to save cost without cutting quality, then I think that would be super efficient. Yes, Mr. Sharp. >> Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Listen, I I agree with buying this property. What I don't agree with is that it's going to alleviate overcrowding in Leverne because the the line between Smyrna and Lever and the high schools is Sam Ridley. So, we're we're going to move people from the Lake Forest past Smyrna and then back to by Stewart's Creek because that's where this land is. That makes a good point is to look at all that. I think part of it is to look at the Lever area and when we're looking at the

074Lever area, this would target the I24 portion. >> Well, but the if they're at I24 and Sam Ridley, they live right by the high school. So, we're going to pass them from the high school down to another school. >> Yes, they would for this school site. They would that'd be where that high school would have to pull from. I >> I don't think that that makes sense. I think if anything we would move people from Smyrna or it's going to take up by the time we get it built that growth over there on that side of the interstate is going to gobble all that up. It's I don't really think that it's going to help Levert at all. >> So, but I do agree with purchasing it. So, that's just >> miss the zoning portion

075will be up to the board whenever we get close to it. So, that is lots of conversations. >> Mr. V, Mr. Rosales. No, I was just going to say that with black and high the middle and high school, we already do that where in the sense that the middle school doesn't have its own football field. It has a practice field because we use the high the high school football field when we have our games. So, we've been in the habit of saving cost in that sense. I think I agree with you in the sense that we need to think c creatively of what other ways we can if we're going to have a middle school and a high school together, is there other things that they can utilize where we don't have to build the

076same thing on each. So I I do agree with that being thought for sure. >> Sorry, >> Mr. Now, I was thinking in my mind visually where where that site is located and from a transportation or logistics standpoint, kind of cut my eyes at you right here. But the big choke point in our county is always the interstate, I24. You got to get back and forth across it. So, in my feeble mind, I'm sitting here looking and thinking about this, thinking about what Miss Sharp has said over the last two or three months about the number of permits going into Leverne. And maybe I'm misled, but what I was trying to get in my head is everything west of I24 and go as far south as you could without just decimating Steuart's Creek. and then

077Stewart's Creek zone would move south probably into Blackman a little bit. That that's what I was, you know, in other words, we just shift everything south. So with that in mind, Dr. Sullivan, and I don't know if you can produce this number right now, but theoretically, how many high school students are in that quadrant starting at the county line following I24 down? What to? Um, well, you got to come past Rocky Fork somewhere in that Stewart's Creek. You get into that Stewart's Creek. I don't think you come as far south as Amville Road probably, do you? >> No, I mean, >> but what would you have back over to Williamson County >> and so again, this is just preliminary. >> Just guess. >> Met with Rob last May to discuss because we're looking at all

078kinds of properties here when this first came up. Also looked at Smy Elementary School where that could have a site. And so this is way way way rough road projections. If you were to move pretty much, and I'll send this to the board as well, but again, just know that it's rough. If you move the future high school, everything west of I24, so the Lero property is everything west of I24 and the zone would go directly to this school's door. And so all of this traditionally Stewart's Creek would be the new school. All the new development would be the new school. Stewart's Creek goes all the way to 840, picks up a little bit of Franklin Road and Blackman becomes more centralized across both sides of I24. And the numbers just because that's kind of

079what you were looking at. And again, this is let's go with 2930 because that is probably the first year that would operate. Um, Blackman High School with a new school here. It's 2046. Lever's at 2321. If we address the north end, then your big issues then become the south end, which I think goes direct with what Mr. Tickle said. It's hard to do just one if you don't do both. Oakland's at 2774. Riverdale is at 2003. Rockbell's at 2433. Here's where your issues come in, though, is Smyrna drops to 1734. The new high school is 2138, and Stewart's Creek High is only 1471. And so we're going to have to again this was just a very rough draw to use the main boundaries that we have. >> But what was the number that would be

080in the 2500 school capacity? This is not a small capacity. >> So how many's in that quadrant north of north of Stewart's Creek? >> Can you do that on heat map or something? 21 2200 roughly by 2930. So it would help if you built a smaller school and then Stewart's Creek and the future high school both are similar in capacity. >> So then Steuart's Creek wouldn't drop to,400. >> Right. >> So you roughly got 1,200 kids up there easily. >> We got more than 12,200. Yes. >> And don't forget we still have dual zones going and when this school gets open dual zones are gone. >> So that would that some of these numbers are a little bit skewed. >> The dual zones are tough. I know dual zones are are making this harder. >>

081Okay. That's >> Mr. Derby, did you have something to say? >> I was just going to say um kind of going along with what Mr. Tidwell said that Miss Sharp has brought up several times. If we did a three school complex on the Lee Road property and we made them smaller, I think that would be a great opportunity to do the elementary middle Jack and Jill. It would save you some space. I think a little bit with the cafeteria and such. Um, I know that school we looked at was pretty it was pretty neat concept if you were talking about thinking outside of the box and stuff. So, it might give you some more room for some of the athletic fields as well. >> Okay. So, we have a is that all the discussion? We

082have a motion on the Ford to approve. >> So, approve the purchase. >> Approve the Yes. Approve the purchase. >> So, move. >> Good. Okay. Anything else to say? Oh, he said the motion you >> and then we have to come back to >> second. That's all I'm saying. This was for >> Okay. Okay. I'm sorry, Mr. Mr. Darby. All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes. Okay. The second motion. >> All right. Let's talk about >> So, let's talk about funding real quick because we really have two options. Uh talked to Michael Smith for a while today. So, let me give you an overview of kind of where we are. As of today, we have about 104 million in fund balance, uh, which is better than we anticipated. As you know,

083last year we operated in the deficit. We were able to cover quite a bit of that. We anticipate being at about 90 91 million fund balance. We're at 104. That's where I mentioned earlier it's a little bit tough being a CEO because there was extra revenue at the county side that you can't draw into. And so that's that's tough, but we're glad that it's in there. We also got some extra fast growth money after the school year ended for the second year in a row. We got $2 million. It would have been nice to be able to budget last year, but it came in in July. So tough when that comes in in July. So we're at 104 million roughly. We still have to check some numbers to verify that's all accurate. County has closed

084their books. We closed our books before that. County closes their books. and we have to make sure that whatever their books say uh is what's there but 104 million we like to stay or Michael Smith likes us to be at about 90 about 15% of what our operating budget is a little bit higher but still we also have some funds available in 189 I got a fund 189 which is our building project fund it is still and we don't run this this comes from the county as well and so this is as of June 30th so they're still working on June 30th numbers We've got about $2 million at our West Brooks Woods Academy that we had allocated over there to be able to move. We have go I'm just looking at all these in

085just a second. We have about 355,000 at Leurn Middle Annex. We have 891,000 for secondary land. So that would that one would make sense. 891,000. And so we've got several million to be able to do that. But when I talked to um Mr. Smith, I said it's not just land. We also have to start moving on design fees pretty quick. And so I needed we need a way to be able to do both. So, our two options are to be able to motion to approve request to fund the purchase of Lee Road property using a combination of funds from projects in fund 189 and funds from 141 fund balance at the finance director's suggestion. So, that would be one. So, whichever funds he sees need 4 million needs to move from 189 versus 9 million

086moving from 141, whichever one makes more sense. Or the other option is a motion to request funding from the county commission either through a bond anticipation note or a capital outlay note. And so what that would do, that's 18 to 24 months. That'll probably result in us or the county having to move pennies next year. So we either fund it up front now or we fund it by losing pennies at the end of the year. And so they will then have to go to the bond market for the $13 million. And so it's really up to the board. I think Finance director suggestion is going to be motion to approve the LER property using a combination of funds from fund 189 and 141 and what the finance director says goes pretty far with the county

087commission for funding. That would probably carry pretty quickly. Uh the motion for a bond anticipation or capital outlay note and Mr. Reed, you may need to talk about this a little bit. It's going to require some extensions and some some delays where we have to do a do you know 30 60 days probably at least for the county to vote on take 60 days >> longer to go that route and so again it's up to the board. I don't care either way. I was just trying to figure out how do we get the land and the design fees funded eventually. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Um will we have any change orders from Oakland and Riverdale? >> We will. Those were used to start the first funding for Lever High School >> for the Yes.

088Okay. Yeah. That's where we started. We moved what? A million dollars from each one. Does that sound right? >> It's 500,000 from Oakland. >> About a million each. >> Yes. >> So, Smyrna, Riverdale, they use that to lower the bond issuance for Leverne High School at Paper Hill Middle. >> Okay. Mr. Darby, Mr. >> Do you know what the approximate design fee cost is? >> It'll be a percentage. And so, there's also been discussion about architects. So a lot of it's going to before we get to design fees, we need to decide whether or not we want what type of school we want. Big, small, small core, Jack and Joe. I mean, there's all those discussions are going to depend. If we use our Seagull Stewart's Creek design, it'll be less. If we knock a

089wing off of that, if we go and design something new, it's going to be more. And so we've been in the what, three and a half to 4% roughly. If we have a new design, you're probably looking upwards of five or six. at a project for that you're looking5 to$10 million roughly. >> Can I ask uh this might be a question for you Mr. Lee if we were to use like the Stewarts Creek design rather than necessarily like knocking a wing off would that work to use that wing you would normally take off if we decided to make it that arts magnet as like the art space? >> I'm not following the question. Can you repeat it? >> Dr. Sullivan was saying if we used the Stewart's Creek design and the board decided to make

090a smaller high school, we could knock a wing off. And I said, would it make sense to use that design and rather than like knocking that wing off, use that to make that like the arts wing if we decided to make it the arts magnet? >> You could I mean it could it would be fairly functionable that way? Yes. >> Okay. Would that change change the price though? It's going to increase some. You have to build an office space. You're going to have to deal with some, but it's not something that's going to be a 2% change. >> Okay. Okay. >> I wouldn't imagine. Would you? >> I wouldn't think it'd be a whole lot. >> Okay. Mr. Tipple. >> Yeah. Um, I appreciate you gathering that information so that we can have some accurate

091data to be working with. I'm glad you spoke with the finance director. Uh, we definitely need them on our side and it sounds like the the first option is going to be the way to go regardless. So, I'm I'm just here to make a motion that we go with the first option. >> Second. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. >> I just think it um the money set aside for central bank and I think it's what 680,000. It's this is not going to affect that. Is >> it's not this that would be our innovative schools model. So, we can't touch that. >> You know, Mr. ly I um I was at a building last week that was five stories and every bit of it was the walls and everything was built out of concrete and

092you know the state legislature is trying to push everybody for storm shelters and things of this nature and buildings that are built with concrete walls and things uh about as good a protection you can have in severe weather and it's my understanding that there's not a lot of difference in the cost between a wall made out of concrete and one made out of block. Uh, is it possible that somebody could do a one of the architects of something that can make do a comparison cost analysis that we could look at that and just see I've got contractors that'll do that and their pricing will be more accurate than an architect. And I don't mean that derogatory toward architects. They do it every day, >> right? I utilize them a lot. And I'll be perfectly honest.

093Any architect in this area that's doing schools is going to call the contractors that work for us and ask them to help them price it. So that would do it just as easily for me as they will them. So it it is something we could look at. Yes. >> I appreciate it. >> Yes, Dr. S. >> Mr. Tidwell, just to clarify, your motion is to approve the funding through a combination of 189 and 141. >> That is correct. Okay. >> Yes, doctor. >> That's fine. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Doctor of what? Right. Um go back over those numbers again, Dr. Sullivan. It's in both those funds for me. What were they? >> Fund 141, our general purpose. And I do not like going to our fund balance so much. I mean, it's like you're you're

094robbing. >> But there's a spread. There's a spread there right there, I believe. >> Yes. And there's 15% and I just think there's a there's that is my recommendation, but there's some concerns in future years. You we keep doing this. We've funded an elementary school. We keep funding design fees now. We're buying the land. Like we're continuing to fund. We're up to about probably $60 million we're funding ourselves at this point. That's part of the partnership. >> So, how much So, how much is there in that fund? >> 104 million. And if we drew it back to 90 million, then there's 14 million >> roughly. Yes. >> Okay. So, how much is in the 189? >> 189, the best I can tell is 2 to 3 million right now because again, this is from June

09530th. So, it is still showing I'll give you an example. It is still showing Riverdale having 7 million, but we have paid out a lot of things to get Riverdale finished. And so, there's not 7 million left for Riverdale. And so, I until the county updates all those, I don't know exactly what's there. I want to make a suggestion. I didn't I'm not against the motion, but I'd almost want to pull 189 back. And here's what I want to hold 189 for is to act to to be able to buy the three or four tracks of land around McFaden and to get us a little springboard right there maybe in design fees because I think now I may just thrown you a curveball by doing that. I think McFaten will be easy to get the

096fund 141 support from because it's from a shared penny because I usually get hit on the fund 141 coming from a shared penny to where >> I'll definitely understand rest my case >> getting $350 million out of county commission. I've had lots of conversations over the last three years. >> Any other conversations? >> Okay, we have a first, so we have a second. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. >> One more thing on this with the school site is our inspection period period currently expires September 16th. So we like to extend an additional 30 days if we want to. It might be prudent go ahead and exercise that extension to make sure we have time to get through the county commission with everything. So if that's something the board is

097inclined to do, we need a motion to exercise the extension of the inspection period to extend it for 30 days. >> So move. >> Thank you, Mr. Barn. Thank you, Mr. Darby. All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. >> Thank you. And to give everybody a timeline, this will go to county commission on t No, no, it'll go to health and net on Tuesday the 26. So this coming Tuesday, which is typical. Um I gave Mr. Don, Mr. Wilson the heads up. And so that'll be added to the agenda. Then it'll go to budget on September 4th and then full commission on September 11th. Dr. Martin, looks like you are going to have fun with those two. Thank you. That was great. Um, number three, >> Whitworth Buchanan Middle Pavilion request

098CT and principal April Sneer submitting for approval the construction of an open air pavilion for county schools career and technical education departments proposing the purchase of one 30x 24 pavilion for Witworth began middle school. Cost for pavilion is $92,544 and will be funded by CT department using the Tennessee Innovative Schools model grant. Engineering construction reviewed the project has no objections. engineering will work with the school in the proposed location. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Bond. Thank you, Miss Rosales. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes. >> Now discuss Rockville bus route. >> You have an update? I know we got an email a little while ago. So, >> I got a bus driver. >> Did you hear that? and it'll start tomorrow afternoon. So, we are working on

099messenger to parents for adjusted times and that sort of thing. So, one of our biggest, it's still going to be some issues out there, but this has been the biggest one. We'll go back to three buses running three routes. So, hopefully tomorrow afternoon and then thereafter we'll work out the kinks and that one will be out of our hair. So, we go from 9 to 8. >> Okay, that's better. Yes, Mr. This is an ask. Um on our career page, we have certified and classified. Could we not add contractors on there? >> Sure. And anybody that reaches out to our transportation department, I've got a list of bus contractors that want their names. >> I mean, as far as I'm concerned, >> that way >> I want to ask Mr. to read because I know

100that we sometimes do you feel like that's okay to balance the employees versus the contractor to put contractor information on our careers website. >> Good thought. >> I totally agree trying to find but I something >> there are some I mean it would specifically say you're not going to be working for the school but we are currently looking for contractors to drive the buses because I understand that there's some buses basically advertisement of sort. >> Yeah. On our careers page, we have certified, classified, and then some other different categories. So, my suggestion is to add the uh contract. >> I don't see a problem with adding that as a advertisement type deal. >> There's no application or anything like that. >> No, just an ad to that. We are interested in bus contractors or bus

101drivers, whatever we need. And you're giving notice of that. >> Do we need to take a motion for that? >> No, we can add that. I just wanted to Sorry, I just wanted to clarify. >> We get that question a lot. >> No, because I because I >> seems like it come up before or something and we never got Thanks. >> So, it's not going to be part of the data search career. They're just going to have a blurb saying >> that where they need drivers, right, >> Dr. Sullivan, I think we can design a PSA to put on that page type that this directs them on how to to connect with contractors if they are a qualified driver >> without it going through any sort of our job search function or it be in

102the same area of the website. So if they happen to have the credentials they need for that endorsement for school bus drivers those things that they know how to contact us >> and it will go to transportation then for information. >> Yeah it's going to have to go through them anyway. I mean they'll have to go they'll have to approve everything anyway. >> That's a good idea. >> Next we have the director's update. >> Yes. Several things. Uh first we have our weapons detection system roll out. So, we have we train next week with our schools and so they already set up the Blackman campuses because that's where we're doing our training. Uh we'll have videos that go out to our parents about what to expect. The roll out of course is day after Labor

103Day. So, just everybody be patient as we go through the the new I'm sure we'll have some some people complain about it slower. It's going to be slower for a couple days till we get it working. Then it'll be live for football games starting on September 5th. If somebody does not for our Friday night football games, high school September 5th, that's the first games where we really start playing each other. And so that's sometimes a heightened sense of awareness. We want to make sure that we uh have those in place if someone at the games because that puts you in a weird situation that if somebody's metal detector goes off. Um we have of course search laws. You don't want necessarily a EA or a teacher trying to search an adult. So if somebody goes

104through and the metal tetra goes off, they just won't be permitted until they either >> go take care of whatever is going off until they can come back and be rescreened. >> They may. So it depends on it depends on the brand and so but they can also if that's what's setting it off, you can take that to the side, wand it, then you're clear to go in. So just know that's one thing going on. Our high schools are starting football this week. Um, one other thing I gave everybody an enrollment report and so these are actual students. This is not going to match Skyward exactly, but these are students we have seen. So, I just want to go over a couple things. This shows you the our each grade level and then the total

105and then I always like to look at total from where we were in April. So, this April 23rd and it shows you the difference. We're unique because we continue to grow. So, we're going to grow to these numbers. Uh, let's go to the second page at the very bottom. So, you can see just overall, this is our total. We're at 51,030. Again, these are just K12, not including preK, not including our super seniors, not including our two ver our two charter schools that we authorize. So, these are just traditional Renford County schools K through 12 51,030. In April, we were at 51,170. So, we're down about 140 kids, but this tracks about where we were this time last year as well. And so, until again, all of our students get here in September and August

106or September and October, we we drop a little bit. Do want to point out so you can see kind of where schools are. The elementary rezone definitely helped everywhere, but my one that I'm still most concerned about, you'll see Brown's Chapel is at 533. And then on the next page, you'll see Steuart's Creek Elementary at 11:48. And so I'm going to watch that the next couple weeks and will probably be a recommendation to put a cap in place. I have I met with Rob with RSP yesterday, myself, Dr. Chastain, Dr. Martin, Mr. Evans, we met yesterday. We are sending him our entire data set because they were off only two kids total for the three schools. And so between the three school campuses, their projections were in two kids. Something is strange about that Browns

107Chapel Stewart Street zone to you got about 150 kids not going to the right place. And so it is and Blackman Middle School I think they were within seven kids. And so they're they're spot on their projections just the kids are in a different place than expected and so based on the address. >> Now is some of this because we allowed teachers to bring their children with them. >> That's part of we going to look at that differently next year. I think that is totally up to the board. I mean, that's a that's a tough situation in and of itself as well because then you've got employees who everywhere else across the district take their kids and that's a three school complex which adds on over time that tends to go away. I looked at

108Blackman Elementary for example, they had under 15 kids at their school because it's become an older zone now. >> Just some things we're either going have to look at that. I don't I don't necessarily believe that's my recommendation because that that has different consequences. But we either need to do that or look at the zone lines. But I'm waiting on Rob to get back with us to see where did those kids we anticipated from his data set last year to the data set this year, where should they be? Is there an address that's messed up somewhere? Because everything else is pretty spot on. And so the other ones just to kind of look at, Leverne High School's down 106. Um they're I know they still have some enrollments to process. I think they're under 20,

109so it's still going to be 80 or so. Lever Middle's down 58 expected with our reszone. Oakland High School's up 202. Of course, Popler Hills up 856 because they didn't exist last year. >> Let's see. Riverdale's up 38. Rockville Elementary and Rockville Middle are ones that are staggering. So, they slowed down for a year and now they've jumped again. So, up 117 and Rockville Middle is up 92. So, we're going to have to shift that Rock Bell zone to black and black and more to the new school because we're not relieving enough of Rockville Middle. You'll see Rock Springs also has a lot of room. We did this with the reszone Rock Springs Elementary. We shifted some kids to Steuart's Creek, which we may need to shift back towards Rock Springs. Uh we anticipated a

110lot of that development on the west side of I24, but they they have it annexed, so there's definitely some room for some more students there while that while that develops, but it's going to develop quick. >> I was going to say you're going to have to be really careful there, though, because that's where all that >> all the development. >> Yep. >> And I noticed I don't know if you knew this, but there's new stuff going up right behind Rocky Fork. >> Yes, there is. It's great. Yep. >> It's missed. >> Everywhere. And then the other high schools you will see seagull high again with the rezones up 119. Smyrna High is down nine and Stewart's Creek High Schools up 22. And so overall reason helped did what we needed to. And one that is

111not grown in a long time that is growing again is Kitrol Elementary. So they've gone up 48. And I know that may not seem a lot but when your school enrollment last year was at 325, they've grown about 12% um in a year. And so that's there's some new developments, um, apartments and two new neighborhoods going out there. So it's we've got plenty of room out there. It's just not staffed that way currently. So that's just kind of an idea of enrollment report where we are. >> M. >> Yes. >> Dr. What is the capacity for Holloway for the program because they're at 120 kids. >> Y >> and they've lost six. >> But they will gain some, right? They will. They will gain some. >> I know. But I'm just the only reason why

112I'm saying that is because there's room there's more room for kids that will benefit for the for this program and we should promote this to grow it and it will help with overcrowding. >> So I'm just curious to know how many seats if in a perfect world >> how many seats will be available for Hollowway. Let me pull up what we have said projection is so that I don't or what capacity is we do keep those smaller but it is I do agree and we have promoted it and part of it is perception >> and so perception is is tough even though we've changed it because we keep promoting and we don't get the students there. So >> I think it's only when that child gets to one of our larger high schools and has

113an issue that they even think about Holloway. They don't think of Holloway going straight into high school and that's the problem. So, what is it? The >> I'm pulling that up real quick. >> Y'all can keep going to general discussion. I'll come back to that. It's okay because I'm pulling up what RSP and what we said. Exactly. So, I'll give you the answer. >> Thank you. >> That's all I had. >> Yes, Mr. D. >> Sorry, I'm going to ask you another question while you're looking that up. Um, but couple questions. The dual zone is is affecting these numbers as well, right? So, >> absolutely. >> That is confusing the process a little bit from >> Yes. >> the projections as well. So, that's going to change things a little bit. I think we need

114to be thinking about that as that's falling off here in a little while. Also, my question is about Barfield. See, it's down 197. Does that mainly have to do with the reszone structure out toward Plane View and Christian? >> A little bit of both. And you also have a dual zone there with Salem and so us and Salem pass kids back and forth non-stop. >> Parents are just changing more. >> Y >> um dual zone I do just want to hit until the board chooses to get rid of dual zone. dual zone states and so it would have to the way the motion was we established dual zones. So the board would have to take a motion to do away with dual zones or make it >> make it um sunset at a certain time

115but they're they're tough. I know what we were trying to do was accommodate parents in their request but it makes district tough. >> It does. >> Well I want to come in on the back end of that. I do think that that is something this board should consider. Um, so I don't know when we want to talk about sunsetting that, but we at least need to be having discussions about that as um that affects us as well. >> Well, we did say with a caveat that it was going to stop when um when a new high school was built and so we just purchased a land and hopefully we'll start um in the we'll start working towards that to build a new high school because that's what we said, >> Mr. Maxwell. >> Yes, Mr.

116When would be the completion date in a perfect world on that high school, Mr. Leon? >> Three years. >> I mean, in a perfect world, I'd tell you too, but >> yeah, >> not going to happen. >> I just think it's worthy of consideration, especially as we're looking at I I would entertain a recommendation from Dr. Sullivan as he's looking through the enrollment numbers if he feels that we should sunset this early. Uh I feel like this has complicated some of the projections that we put out there. it was kind of a last second thing where there was a lot of dual zones added on uh after we went through the process. So I would at least entertain it. I'm not saying it has to be sunset tomorrow, but I would love to hear recommendation.

117>> Um Holloway High School district capacity has it at 3:25. Now that 3:25 I'd probably say a little bit less than that because the virtual school taking the space the annex but close. >> Okay. >> Yes, Mr. No, when you get in the discussion, I've got a couple things. >> Okay. >> Well, yes. >> All right. Listening to the discussion earlier about the McFaden and the direction that that the board wanted to go with that. Um over the course of the last couple of months, I've had five land owners contact me that probably from my analysis have some value as f future school sites. What is the pleasure of the board? What what would y'all have me do? Sit down with Mr. Reid and and and create these contracts for your observation, approval or whatever.

118What what direct that's reason I was asking about policy earlier. What should I do? These these are old families that that I have been involved with for 30 40 years. They don't know how to do it. So, and I don't want to get in trouble. I don't want to do the wrong thing. I don't want to advise them the wrong way, but I know that that ultimately the board needs to to do this. I talked to Dr. Sullivan a couple of days ago about it. I was fixing to get us all in trouble, but because some of them just simply want a letter of intent. They really don't want a contract. So, how what would be the pleasure of the board? What would y'all have me do? Or does Jeff need to you may need

119to guide us through this or miss >> you need to say something too. >> Mel, >> I think it's a good idea. So if you've got connections to particular land owners that have several hundreds of acres or lots of land tracks that are are coming available, it's good to talk about it. And um if you want do a letter of intent, we can do letter of intents, but that they they could write letter of intent on their end and give it to us to consider later on. I'm not sure what the locations of those are and how that fits into the long-term plans of the board with respect to school sites, but um it's good to know where those locations are and know what may be coming to get ahead of developers. So you may

120have the first bite of the apple at some of those opportunities as they come up. and and that is the intent of these families. They they kind of want to they have listened to us or the board over the years talk about this and I think they want to you know kind of give us first pass at it. I just is not sure how to proceed. They would feel better. I don't want to disclose those locations and bring them up to the board for deliberation without us having some type of agreement because there are some ruthless developers in our trade that might you know do that. But I think these families once they commit they're committed it would be our choice whether or not we close. So >> Mr. VA just go straight to you.

121>> Is that well enough with the board that I just engage him? I would like to see the properties first and see what they are before because it may not be something that we have. >> Well, that's what I was saying that these families are a little uncomfortable putting it out there because they may not sell for two or three more years. >> If the county if the county is not interested, they may not be interested in selling. They're want to give us first pass at it. And so I I'm I'm reluctant to disclose until there's some type of understanding written down that this board can vote on. Price, duration, understanding. >> I'd like, you know, I personally like to see uh get all of them you can and keep them confidential between you and

122Mr. Ray until the time comes. Um Mr. If if we build high schools, 1500, which academically there's a there's a lot of advantages to that. Plus, it we wouldn't have to need near as much land. U How many acres would you need to have say a 15 student high school? >> It's not going to be with two or three acres difference. It's not much. It's very little. >> Yeah. I just Mr. Paul I just think that you know we need to look at every option we got and between you and Mr. Reid and you know if it's something area that we're looking at that cuz I'm like you we don't need to let the people get out get after these people that are trying to sell them. I think we just need to keep it

123confidential. >> I've I always thought that that the we were supposed to take it to Mr. Reid and Mr. agreed with but then bring it towards us if it's something for us. >> I'm just wanting direction right here. I don't want to mess up. >> Okay. >> Yes, Mr. Tickle. >> All right. Thank you. Um yeah, you're asking for opinion. So I I'd love to share as well. I I would rather not come out and and I think that's what your intent is, not come out and tell what those properties are obviously for the sake of the homeowners, but also to alert anybody that's listening in on this public record. I like the the thought of you going to Mr. Reid, but Dr. Sullivan can attest to this this company that we've used RSP have

124been I mean just incredibly useful tool for us in projections and so having a conversation probably with him as to what locations and zones that you know about which families where they're at and where we might be looking could be useful. >> Yeah. I guess and this just dawned on me when we we've gone in executive session to discuss lawsuits or anything like that. Could we approach these land purchases that way? um if >> or at least discuss them before we vot it on. >> Probably cannot do that in executive session. You know, you can do, you know, one thing we might could do is some options to purchase from a contract standpoint and maybe do that. >> Um and certainly I can vet with staff here at the staff level, right? >> And see

125what how the staff feels about those locations before we think they're legitimate locations for consideration and then bring those back to the board. we know that we're more serious about them at that point. That way, you know, people are not showing their cards with respect to from a landowner standpoint until you know that there's been some vetting of this at a system level and the locations are something that might work for a school site. >> Sure. Sure. Sure. Second thing, uh, after the comment the other night about us buying buses, uh, again being contacted by a lot of the bus drivers trying to calm fear fears a little bit. I made this suggestion and this kind of went over with some of them. Uh, I shared this with Dr. So before the before the meeting

126and and I don't know whether this takes a policy change Dre or or what but give us all something to think about the suggestion was made to maybe take you know if we did purchase five buses 10 buses make county employees use those buses to train the next generation of drivers u and with the understanding that you know within two to four years they would purchase a bus theirel and start driving. The advantage to our drivers now, they could have a type of backup system where maybe they didn't have to own a bus or keep a spare bus or something like that in cases of emergency. One of the one of the suggestions or one of the problems that that has been reiterated to me two or three times is that when they do have

127a difficulty mid year and they've got to turn a route in, but then maybe they get the issue straightened out, whether it's a a bus down or a driver down or try a driver. One of them shared with me that they had a driver they thought was diagnosed with with cancer and they turned a route in and 6 months later everything was okay and so they wish they had the route back. Well, I made the suggestion there, okay, if we had some backup buses, the county could fill in temporarily where that that contractor didn't have to abandon that route until the end of the school year. And so I'm I'm trying to look at avenues or opportunities that we can that we can pull more people in as contractors and help them get started. And

128that was that that kind of went over pretty good when they thought it wasn't when they took it as not a threat to put them out of business. They thought that that might be a pretty good protocol. So I just thought I'd make that suggestion tonight. There's a couple of policies I think that maybe at some point in time we need to address. One of them I think that again somebody drops a route. I think the protocol has been they can't reapply for a route 6 months later. That kind of goes away now doesn't it Trey? Or does it? >> I'll have to I'll have to read the contract. >> Okay. That because that was I'm looking at any opportunity to get get them re-engaged as quickly as possible if they do. So I know

129some of them maybe some of them we don't want to re-engage but some some of them I'm sure we do but anyway that was a suggestion that came out of your comments the other night >> Mr. V >> I I raised my sorry >> thank you um sorry so going back to the the what if we want to allow a board member to be involved we do have Mr. VA, you asked if we had a policy in regards to land acquisition and we do and part of that um policy it does say that we should identify areas are considered the hot zones or where we could potentially look into buying where we should be looking at. I think as a board we should start there figuring out where those hot zones are so that if

130you're going to if we were to say um you or anyone were to want to know where we're needing land the most we've identified those areas because the priority is given to those areas that were needing a high school because of overcrowding. So I would think we will start there figuring out where those areas are that were needed and I don't think we've really figured that out yet. I know we've identified the north end and I know the RSP mentioned that we're needing another school in the south end. So I think we need to come up with some kind of game plan in that sense and start it out that way and then if Mr. Von wanted to contact some of these families again and then there's a protocol of how that goes too within

131that policy. So there's already kind of a guidelines of what guidance of what we're supposed to be doing when it comes to land acquisition. Um is this general discussion? >> Yes. Okay. So, the other thing I was going to point out, the five-year plan, we had we talked about whether we should um meet delay that vote because we were going to meet during the fall retreat, but it seems like for us, we're going we can still make that vote in November and still and Dr. Sullivan has said he still has time, >> yes, >> to meet with for health ed. So, I don't feel like he's not going to be prepared. If he says that he's going to be um prepared and have enough time for that if we if we vote on in November,

132then I'm okay with keeping the fall retreat in November 4th. >> I've already decided after talking with both Dr. Sullivan that there was no need to change it just to keep it as is. One of the suggestions or reasons for that as well was we don't technically own the property at Lee Road. And so to get design fees for a school property that we don't own would definitely be we need the funding and all of that done first and closing and all those first before we could start design. So multiple reasons. >> Mr. Bond. >> Yes. uh your comment about hot zones. Uh everywhere you go in town is hot zones. So I didn't know um I got a couple of things I think that for ones of you don't know Central M was named

133the number one high school in the state and third nationally. Mac Faden is the number one elementary school in the state. So it says a lot for our people. I mean, it says a lot for for everybody and congratulations these people and teachers and parents and support and all and uh you know we've got the best school system in this state and I think people are realizing that and it's because of leadership and people that have they're working together as a team and uh uh you know it's really enjoyable to go in schools and see teachers smiling. I mean, you know, after you especially after you come off summer break, but it's really I mean, everywhere we've been, they just seem like they enjoying school again, >> and I think the kids are too. Uh,

134I've got one other question, I guess. Uh, I What's the status of the center magnet building status? you know, we talked about that and I know that it was hold up on permits and >> so the city council passed theirs at the end of July there was a 15-day implementation period and so the permitting portion wasn't part of the ordinance change and so we have reached out to staff um again and then had another correspondence today to ensure that the conversations that the board saw in January that involved Representative Stevens that that we all agreed to are in place. We're waiting for an answer and I will give it a couple days before I get Representative Stevens involved. I don't want to go there because I think we've had great conversations, but we've it's been

1357 months since that conversation. Enough time has passed to to implement those changes. >> So, it sounds like the city dropped the ball. >> I don't think they dropped the ball. They had to get through things done through the ordinance change and that was just 15 days after July 31st. So, we're we're just there, but the permitting portion doesn't require an ordinance change and somewhere that hasn't been communicated to staff. And so, we've gone to start pulling some permits that we don't necessarily need to pull and want to make sure that we're on the same page so we don't get into some backlash. So, I fully anticipate us working that out in the next couple days, but it's been part of the conversation. >> Okay. >> Last week, this week, today. >> Okay. >> Yeah,

136that's great. Uh, another thing again, Miss Rosales, what she said, you know, about the mink faden. Well, I tell you, we really we really need to move padding up on that list and the sooner the better cuz uh I don't know, you know, putting gun money in bad out there. So, like putting polish on a pig, you know, it's still a pig. And, you know, the school is uh so old. There's just not a lot you can do about it. They do a great job considering that they've overcome all that. But I just like for us to really consider putting that putting that on the front burner because they need it pretty badly. >> Okay. M, did you have something to say? >> Yes. Thank you. Um, I too had a bus contractor reach out

137and say that he had some extra buses. So, if you want them, he even offered to, and it's not who you think it is, offer to um buy some other buses if we need some more buses. So, all he needs is drivers. So, number two, um I think the stipens that our teachers were supposed to get are coming up this week or next week. should be by the end of next week. >> 29th. Okay. Because I'm seeing a lot about a lot of it on um Facebook and um if we were still in session, I would probably go back to our legislative body and ask them to make our teachers whole. So, I've thought a lot about on how to help them some without incurring more taxes and a lot of other things. So, I

138hope that my fellow board members um will appreciate this and support this. So, I'm going to put a motion on the table for a reimbursement to our teachers for $300 a teacher to come out of our ending fund balance to buy supplies. if they've already purchased supplies which were in August and almost September um they can submit their receipts from for June, July, August and September. The teachers can also pull their money if they want to purchase some piece of equipment together, the art department, the history department or something like that. So my motion is to do reimbursement and all they would have to do was submit their reimbursement receipts to our accounting department. Dr. Sullivan, what would the fiscal note on that be? >> A million two if it's all the teachers. I don't

139think all of our teachers will take them because a lot of our CTE programs, they already have money for supplies in the classroom. >> But how much will they be with $300? >> It's a million two if every single one of them takes it. 4,000. >> How much will that be? It's 300. How many teachers do we have? >> Close to 4,000. >> So 4,000 * 3 is taking a million. A million two. >> A million two. >> I'll second that. >> Can I? >> Yes. >> We have some And Brian's over there. We >> I know this is so But listen, they we were told that they were going to get the money and I fully intend I fully believe that they intended that they were supposed to get the $2,000. They haven't. And

140to Mr. Fe's um point, now we have the insurance on top of that. And listen, our teachers have probably already spent the money and that's what they were going to spend the bonus on. Was the school supplies? >> Okay. So, if we were to do this, do you anticipate going to the legislature and getting them to pay us back? >> No. So, multiple Let me just go because I I support the intent. There's just multiple logistical things. Um, one reimbursement wouldn't be possible because it's over fiscal years. And so, June, July, I would rather just give everybody $300. That that would be >> I was just thinking because I know some of them have already bought supplies for their room and they may not want to buy more supplies. >> Yeah, because that would that's

141going to be an accounting >> thing. Second is >> classified staff. So we haven't given them anything and so I'm concerned about class because usually when we do certifies you'll be classified. >> Okay. The other portion is I have to get because this is out of fund balance. I have to get County Commissioner Brutin. And so I'm not I think that's a political thing that I think they would say yes. But one of the arguments I hear from the county commission about taking our purchasing power potentially away. The private act is saying that we don't do a good job of making sure they know what all the expenses are for the year. And so I do have concerns about the potential reverberations of that because that is going to say they're going to say that's

142something you should have anticipated to ask for. And I'm just telling you what when I go and ask those are the questions I'm going to get. But I fully >> I understand. I understand. So will you re would you rather us hold off on this for now and see if there is a recommendation that you can bring to us of how we could do this and if it doesn't work out in this budget something we can do for next year's budget. >> It's it's not coming out of the budget. It's coming out of the ending fund balance. >> Great. But he's he's saying that he's wanting for us to go through the proper channels because of the persons in the act and then also because if we're doing something for the certified, we also need

143to do something for the classified. So I like the idea of doing this. I don't have I don't I don't think it's a bad idea. I think it's a good idea. I just think that we need to take a moment to allow Dr. Svin and work with Brian Ryan and to come up with recommendations and if it doesn't work out for this well the will of the board is the will of the board but he gives his recommendation and then we can make that determination >> Dr. I may be resending it right now is >> there's multiple like you said logistical one of the things that Dr. Anthony just pointed out is we're having to pay teachers right now that have already left the district. What are we going to do? Are we leaving those

144out? Those teachers out not getting the $300. >> Who is that? I'm sorry. >> There is probably I talked with the payroll today. There's about 340 teachers that have left the district that we still have to activate to pay because they were with us last year. The logistical problem with this $2,000 is it was for last year, >> right? but we had to pay it in this year. So those teachers that left us last year or worked before us last year and left us, they're not with us currently, we have to go back and pay them. We have to find what school district they went to, where they're at. It's it's really a logistical nightmare. Nobody really understands it until they get into it. So, >> but the state gave us money for that. Correct.

145>> They gave us money. Yeah. But what the state did is they only paid us for the district's portion of paying those down. Now, here's the other thing. Do you want me to pay that $300 out to them personally because then it's going to be taxed again? >> No, it's a reimbursement. It's a reimbursement. >> Okay. >> Like an expense because it's for classroom supplies. >> I miss >> Dr. Mr. Sullivan, would it make more sense to maybe put the amount of money Miss Sharp is talking about towards the insurance increase because then we're eliminating the logistics. We're eliminating the taxes. >> That would be easier. That would be a lot easier. But >> Miss Sharp, >> I listen. It's a million, but the How much is the How much is it going to be?

146Three. >> Well, we were going to do almost a million. So we basically say we would be putting roughly 2 million towards the insurance increase. >> We'd basically according to what the chart said, we'd probably be picking up half of the insurance >> instead of a quarter. >> My only >> And that would be everybody. >> Yes. Everybody takes >> and that would be everybody currently with us too. >> Yeah. Just current. My only that is a much better I like both ideas. Again, I love the intent of supporting our teachers. >> Push them in. Well, we're we have to vote on that. So, I would just say, can we when we discuss the insurance, can we go ahead and add that quarter percent onto the quarter you already put on there? >> Okay. I

147just want the board to be aware that's going to we're there's nothing else that we can do throughout this calendar year because now I'm I'm operating on like a point. 02% margin for any other expenses that that occur. And so, it's we have $4 million roughly in direct outcome. and we've now used two of it. >> I I will say I think this would go a long way because there has been chatter out there from our teachers about the insurance increase. So I >> agree. >> At least this way we're addressing our current staff. >> That's a good point. >> And it's a way to help without taxes affecting it. >> Good. >> I just wanted because there has been so much they've taken so many hits something I wanted something for them for them

148to say, you know, because it's been out like >> it's a great idea. I appreciate supporting our >> look into the next budget then. That's something that's when we can talk about things at that point. >> So, do we need to >> I September 11. >> Okay. I rescend it. So, we'll wait until >> September 11th because that way I can have exactly what everybody's rates going to be and you can see the charts you're used to seeing. >> Okay. Okay. >> Mr. Bob, did you want to say something? >> I was and she Yes. I was going to suggest the same thing because I'd already decided for me personally and this little liberal side of me coming out which doesn't come out much but you know this insurance thing you know if you don't

149take care of your employees and I appreciate you being as honest with us as you can but every now and then we as a board have to go to bat for our employees and I'd already decided from Tuesday night hell we need to pay half of it. I'd already decided that deep down in my heart that's where I was. I didn't know if I could persuade the rest of y'all. But her gesture is more than gracious to do that. I appreciate that. But I think at the end of end of the day, they would appreciate that maybe more paying the insurance. I Yeah, I'm y'all know how I'm going to vote already. >> Yes. So, >> one thing I want to address, I appreciate very impressive to have several of our students here about cell

150phones. And so give me just a second to um pull that portion up because I did want to talk about that um a little bit again. You >> gentlemen, I'm very impressed. Appreciate you guys being here. That takes a a lot of courage to get up and talk on TV in front of uh elected officials, director and staff. So >> and they did great. I see some interns. >> Absolutely amazing. >> I see some interns over there did really good. >> Thank you one day. Right. So there's a a couple things and when I went to all schools um just so that you know I gave or I go to every school at the beginning of the year and give a speech in central office and what I said was one of our things that

151we're holding tight on is the use of wireless communication devices. Like that is the expectation of the board and the way that our policy is written. I would much rather start off as strict as we ever plan on being. That's just the that's the teacher in me. you start off strict and if you ever want to lighten up on something, it's much easier to lighten up than it is to start off light and then add um things. And so the way that our interpretation is students may possess wireless communication devices so long as such devices are stored and not in use for the entirety of the school day. And so the use of headphones, if they're using headphones listening to music, they are utilizing their cell phones. And so that is the reason we added

152the headphones to that. Headphones can be permitted by the teacher for instructional use. Um I do see you know there's conversation there's other districts that do allow during lunch during um class change those types of things but that would require um the board to make a change to policy and I know that that wasn't the will of the board back in July as things go through and we see how implementation goes and that's something the board wants to reconsider. They always can but we're enforcing it as is. But I I totally respect where you guys are coming from. I have a kid in the school system and he is as mad as the world about it as well. We just tell him to listen to his music when he gets. >> Well, is that everything

153y'all want to talk about? >> I got just two things. >> Okay. It's football time in Rutherford County. There are some huge games this weekend and Oakland's got a really big one, but so does Blackman and Riverdale and Lever and uh other schools. I don't know, I don't have the schedule in front of me, but I love football and sports in Rutherford County is just tremendous. So, this Friday night, I know it might be a little steamy still, go out and catch a game because there these kids are really laying it all on the line. And let me tell you, the competition, >> the defending state champion, please >> Oakland Patriots are playing Friday night at home. In case you need tickets, get there early. >> I think every high school is having some great

154competition this year when we start playing each other. It's going to be fierce. It's going to be fierce. Second of all, I would like to call Miss Monica Ridley and Mr. James Evans to the podium, please. Oh, >> I love both of you. This is great. >> We're trying to remain respectful. Dr. Sullivan right here. >> The board chairs requested you to the podium, but I don't think you have a choice. >> Some of you may know, but some of you may not know that we have two birthdays. And uh I believe Monica's is today and James is yours tomorrow. >> No, it's next week. >> Next week. But we're going to take care of it now. So I would like all >> I didn't wait until next time. >> I think all of us

155should sing happy birthday. >> One, two, three. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear James. Happy birthday to you. [Applause] [Laughter] >> Well, I I was thinking we were going to do a standing ovation and and give him an applause for a job well done. Who wants to join me and do a standation and sing? Mr. [Applause] >> Y'all have a great great birthday. >> Thank you so much, >> Mr. Maxwell. >> Yes, Mr. >> We have some principles in our audience this evening. I'd like to recognize them. We got Dr. April Sneed here, Dr. Kyle Nicks, and Steven Wayne is joining us, I think. Is that Did I get everybody? >> All right. We appreciate you guys coming. And uh >> we also have an assistant principal. >> Don't forget

156about me. assistant principal. >> Mr. Darby move to