Board of Education Work Session - July 22, 2025

0012025 work session for the Rutherford County School System. First up, we have the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence and prayer. We will be opening the meeting with a brief moment of silence or prayer and 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. >> Miss Rosales, you have a special guest this evening. Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, today we have the honor and pleasure of having one of our students that recently graduated from Rutherford County Virtual School. His name is, um, Hudson McNeel and he's going to be leading us in the pred in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

002and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. If you let us bow our heads in prayer. Dear Lord, we just come together one more time. And Lord, we're coming um and asking that you would give us wisdom and discernment. Guide us, Lord, in our in our decisions that we're about to make. I pray God that you uh protect those that are needing protection. And I pray that you will provide for those that are needing and that need provide. Thank you so much for all that you do for us, the good and the bad, and we praise you for everything. In the name of Jesus, we prayed. Amen. >> Amen. >> First off, we have the agenda. I hope everybody's got a chance to look

003it over. And then we have the consent agenda. Full disclosure, one of the uh new speds at Leverne High School is my son, Michael. So, just letting you all know that name looks familiar. It's because it's my son >> and we very well could add people again today and tomorrow trying to get people hired for nepotism as the school year starts. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Is and is is this where we had the um where we where we show if we're using the facility use. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh yes. So, I wanted to disclose that um Breakthrough Tennessee is on the agenda and that is a nonprofit that my family owns and we're on the agenda for you utilizing the the facility in Blackman High School. >> Any other comments or questions? >>

004Motion to approve. >> Not to on Thursday. I'm just I'm sorry we haven't been here in a while. >> I know there are a lot there's pages and pages of if not we'll move on to transportation >> that's under consent agenda as well. Okay. Well, I think we're good enough that then. Okay. We have no guest speakers tonight, but we do have um Dr. Jeff McCann ready to go. >> Right. Yeah. Good evening, board members. I'm here tonight to present a summary of the um the two charter application recommendations that I I emailed you I think last Friday and over the weekend. Um hopefully I can I can keep this as brief as possible. A lot of this information you already know because we've already been over it um in the initial round of applications,

005but we're here tonight to to take a look at the amended applications submitted by both Nova Smart Academy and Rocket Ship Tennessee 4. Just a reminder where we are on the timeline. We're at that second to last block where you have to vote on the amended applications within 60 days of receipt. And this is the final board meeting before that 60-day window is up, which is which is why we need to vote this week. And just a review of the process itself. On April 24th, you as a board voted to deny both of their initial applications and both submitted amended applications within the submission window by June 2nd. and the uh charter review committee engaged about six weeks of review um and scoring of the amended applications per TDO OE guidelines just like we did

006the initial application same process we followed and I'm here tonight to to present the recommendation report to you and the public in general and you'll need to vote on it on the decision whether to approve or deny each of the two applications at Thursday evening's board meeting just a reminder if you decide to deny they do have 10 days in which they can appeal to the um public charter school commission um for approval there. Um or if you approve of them um you can engage with the charter schools to develop that legal official agreement to operate on a 10-year term. Just a reminder, here's the members of the review team. You've seen this before. I just I want to show it again so you know that there was lots of expertise on the team from

007central office um staff in in just about every area that we could find. two principles, our instructional specialists, two parents were on the board, um and Miss Rosales from the board, um was also represented on the committee. The two ch the two schools, if you'll remember, are Nova Smart Academy, um petitioning to open a K8 school in Rutherford and Rocket Chip Public Schools, TNing to open a K5 school. Let's talk about Nova Smart Academy first. They're the same group that applied last year and were denied by both us and the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission, but they're back again this year with a revamped application. Um again um their intended location is Smyrna Leverne, but they did indicate in the amended application that they would be willing to consider other locations um or engage in

008discussions about other locations within Rutherford County if we felt like saturation or oversaturation was an issue in the Smyrna and Leverne area. They are willing to take a look. Okay. They have no other schools in operation. If this is approved, it will be their only school. This is they're they're a true new start charter school. This is what their proposed enrollment looks like. Um, starting with 192 kindergarten, first graders, adding 96 students um, in in in successive classes each year until year 8 when they reach their full enrollment of 864. And I would not be surprised if it got to that point if they considered opening or applying to open a high school after that. Dr. Sager has mentioned that as a possibility. So, just something to think about. So, here's a summary of that

009evaluation of the amended application. And I'm only going to try to hit the highlights, some things that were changed for the most part, but things that we still feel are strengths and areas to grow. Uh to sum it up, the review committee recommends denial of this application as well uh because they failed to meet or exceed the criteria of the rubric in all three areas, academic plan, operations, and the financial plan. And remember, they have to be deemed to have met or exceeded the standards in all three areas before we as a committee could recommend that they be approved. And we did not deem that they met or exceeded the standards in any of the three. And let's talk about why. Okay, first of all, section one, that academic plan and design, our concerns remain

010special populations. Particularly with ELLs, there still remains incorrect and and inaccurate terminology. They use terms like pushin modifications um which are not allowed anymore for ELLL students. They are not up to date on the current regulations for ELLL. They had the same issue last year. It was better this year, but um still there are some concerns and monitoring concerns as well. They some of the things that they list for how they're going to monitor their ELLLs are not up to um current termin or up to current expectations for ELLL students per state of Tennessee regulations. and our students with disabilities. Dr. Rosson reviewed the plan thoroughly and she felt like they just demonstrate a lack of um understanding for how Rutherford County provides services to students with disabilities mainly at the building level. And we

011do in our schools, we provide most all services our special education students need at that building level. and this application and even some of the other application to kind of point towards um other locations for students that need other services and we don't necessarily provide that in Rutherford County School. That's something typical you would in a district like Metro that has a whole lot more um schools and placements for kids like that but we tend to serve kids at the building level and their plan doesn't really reflect that they fully understand that I don't think. Also, another concern and this is a big one for us and has I'm sorry. Go ahead, sir. >> Now, go back to that previous slide and help I want you to help me with something. Okay. Push in modifications,

012monitoring concerns. Expand upon that. I'm a little naive to that terminology. Th >> those are terminologies that used to be used where they would push teachers into the classroom to work with kids that needed direct ESL services, which is you're no longer allowed to do. Modifications. You can't modify the curriculum for an ELELLL student or a student with disabilities. Um, you can um um uh what's the word I'm looking for? You can adapt their you can adapt their their services, but you cannot modify the curriculum. They have to receive the same curriculum as everybody else. It it appears that and and forgive me if I'm putting words in the committee's mouth because I don't mean to but trying to understand this they're is are they assuming they will not have these type students either >>

013no effect are are they not taking it serious enough? Have they not done enough homework with the population and the demographics in our county? I mean, >> that's a that's a great point, Mr. Ba. That that was something actually the state public charter school commission brought up with their plan last year when they appealed to them is the fact that it didn't appear like they've done enough recruitment and outreach to the ELLL community in the area to ensure that they will have sufficient numbers in their school. And we still kind of see that as an issue and we'll get to the um the recruitment part here in a minute in the community outreach, but okay, that does appear to be a concern. I'm just trying to understand >> the lacking. >> Okay. So, and back

014to the community engage or support and demand as you you know this we we surveyed Rutherford County parents um at the beginning of this process and 82% said that they were not in favor of approving the Nova Smart Academy application. Um and Novus responded in with their amended application um um indicating that they felt like well that survey was really more about charters in general and not about NOVAs specifically. But that's not exactly correct. There was a question about charters in general in which 80% of of parents were not in favor of charters in general as an option. But there were specific questions about Nova Smart Academy, this one in particular, and it had links to their actual application where where the parents could go to that application and read through it and see what

015they had to offer. So there was some specity spec specification for for Nova Smart Academy, too. Okay. Now, there were a lot of strengths, too. Um, and some improvements they made to the Nova Amended application are they totally removed the references to culturally relevant curriculum. And if you remember, that was a cause of concern in the initial application that that they claimed that their curriculum was culturally relevant. Well, they they've taken that out and they have now ensured that their curriculum is in full alignment with Tennessee content standards. Um, increased time allotted to science and social studies. We pointed that out in the initial application that that we didn't feel like they were um allotting enough time to those two subjects. and they fix that and their schedule indicates 30 to 40 minutes per day

016for each subject which is for an elementary school that's pretty strong for science and social studies on a daily basis. The exception there is on Wednesdays. If you remember, we looked at their calendar that they have early release Wednesdays for teacher planning. They release an hour early on Wednesdays. Um, and that's the only day that they will not meet that full 30 40 minutes a day of science and social studies. And a concern for us was their the role of school counselor. Um they had indicated that their school council would serve as the coordinator um of their their multiple tiered system of supports MTSS which you might know better as RTI academic interventions. Uh and that is typically not a role enjoyed by or filled by school counselors in Rutherford County. They clarified that to

017say, "No, what we mean is that school counselor is going to co- um uh organize the RTI behavior plans along with a with a with a fellow administrator in the school, which is more in line with the role that school counselors have in in Rutherford County. I do have to uh um really commend them though for including a school counselor in their budget. Um they're the only charter school um that is applied or is operating in Rutherford County that um employs the use of a school counselor which we think is a critical role in our schools. Now all right let's go on to section two the operations plan and capacity. Again our concern is and we love Dr. Sager. We think he's a very capable person. He's a great great guy. Um but it's that's

018a lot for one man to do to open a school. That's a lot of hats he's got to wear. a lot of things to get done as one person in the beginning. He has added some more assistant principles, but they don't come on board until the years uh progress. Um and the fact that is this is simply their first attempt even as a governing board of of opening a charter school. So there really is no track record for us to go on. Okay. So that was a concern of the committee even though we really like Dr. Sager that is a concern that this is their this is their first rodeo. All right. the facilities improvement budget. We're we're questioning whether that's sufficient or not. They did increase it to $850,000 over the original $500,000 they

019had in the initial application, but we're concerned it's sufficient with for two reasons. Number one, the facility they're looking at is an older facility. It's going to need significant upgrades in terms of safety, security, ADA compliance, things like that. And it turns out that they are not going to receive one of the grants that they had budgeted as a significant revenue source for them. And I'll get to that in the the financial plan part here in just a second. the storm shelter variance. Again, they they they they still intend to request a three-year variance on building a storm shelter, um which is a concern of the committee, but I will say this that the state has changed their policy on that um to they where they no longer require from their point of view, but

020it is now a local decision as to whether or not we want to require a storm shelter um be constructed and and and the facility that they have chosen, it might be one that we we we would want them to. I can't say that for sure, Mr. Lee, but um it is an older facility. So, that's just something to think about is that possibly that would have to be done, too. And waiting three years to get it done is a safety concern. Okay. Strengths and improvements in that section two. Again, they have they really have done a great job of revamping their their board over last year's board. A lot more varied expertise and plans for ongoing recruitment. They've added three additional members since the initial application was submitted. And all three of those members

021have experience operating a charter school or operating in a charter school. That was a concern of ours is they did not have enough charter experience. Well, they added three more board members that do. Uh transportation, they've improved that plan a little bit with forecasted ridership. They've now revised their forecasted ridership to match the local um wrership of Smyrn and Leverne are so in line with what typically those kids would would do in in terms of around 70% ridership. They revised their plan and their budget. They've also engaged with a transportation firm, Wise Coaches of Nashville, to and Wise Coaches helped them decide how many buses, what size buses, how many routes that we're going to need to run, and what it was going to cost. So, their budget for that is a lot more, we

022think, accurate than what it was. It's always been a a hallmark of our in our mind that they want their staff demographics to align with their student population and the fact that they do have a facility already located. They have a pretty strong partnership with that church in Leverne on Ridley Street. Okay. So, let's talk about finances for them. Um, number one, um, as I mentioned a minute ago, they were not awarded the new school venture fund grant, um, which is included in their budget budgeted revenue in year zero of $250,000. They are not going to get that grant. So that could result in a negative ending balance in year zero of minus $45,761.91. Um now Dr. Sager um did tell me that you know they're committed to doing whatever fundraising they need to do

023and turn over every stone every stone, but that's a lot of money that they're not going to get that they were counting on. And as a result um well not even as a result of that, but their budget margins in general are overly thin. If you look at their budget by the end of year five, the cash that they have on hand, the ending fund balance they have at the end of year five really only equates to about four days of of business expenses. And I determined that by taking their total year's expenses and divided it by 200 days, which is the typical school contracted days of 200 to get that figure. Um, and you notice that does not even include any summer school programming. So that would have to come out of that four

024days of expenses left. And it also did not take into account that they were not going to receive the new school's venture fund. So that that that ending balance after year five could be even lower. Okay? Especially if they don't meet budgeted enrollment numbers. And you can kind of see there what the the funding impact is um for them in year one or for Rutherford County year one of operation and year five. Okay, now that's it. Before we go on to rocket ship, do you have any questions specific to notice? I will sum it all up again at the end, but do you have any questions about Nova Smart Academy? >> Yes, sir. >> I got one question, but if if we g the money for these X amount of students and half those students

025don't show up, the when do we get that money back or do we? Here's how here's how it worked last year. In your initial year of operation, you're funded based on your predicted enrollment. Okay? Let's say you let's say you predict you're going to have 400 kids in your school. Well, the first three months, we have to fund you at 400 kids and then that October true comes around and let's say you really only had 250 students. Well, the money that we were giving you for those extra 150 kids that didn't show up, it does have to come back to us. And this is what happened last year. As a result, our two charter schools did not get a payment at all, I think in November. And one of them got did not get much

026of one also in December to make up that difference. Uh and that that that was tough on them. It was because what they did was they went out and spent that money that they got on the front end because you know when you're opening a new school, there's a lot of expenses involved there. So they spent a lot of that money up front and when it came those two months where they didn't get funding, it it hurt them. >> Yeah. I just think it's a real problem. you know, if that's got that much thin line anyway, >> right? >> So, they're they're paid once a month. >> They they're paid 10 times a year. >> Okay. >> Yes, Dr. Sullivan. >> And Mr. Vault, you'd you'll definitely get this. Our problem came into you have

027to budget up front for the full amount and have the commission approve the full amount >> does come back, but you have to budget up front, >> right? You may c you may catch it back November, December, January, but you it's on the >> the commission has to approve all of it and they're not going to come back and give you extra money. >> Oh, no, no, no, no. Wish they would. >> Yeah. >> Now, I will say this, the opposite will come into play for our I know this is really off topic for our two charter schools that are in operation this year. >> The in your second year, you're funded based on the your enrollment from last year, your previous enrollment plus whatever additional grade levels you're adding. Um, >> and I don't

028know while I've got the floor, if you don't mind indulge me a little bit, the more I try to educate myself on charter schools, >> can they charge a tuition? >> They cannot charge tuition, but they can do fundraising. >> They could do a school sponsorship, you know, if they hit up Well, I was going to say Bridgestone, but probably Bridgestone is not the company to hit them up right now since they're on the way. >> That' be a good one to hit up, right? I that was ugly. I should I'm sorry. I'm sorry. >> McDonald's hater. >> Mc Yeah, somebody. But any But a business or a church, >> could a church fund them, help fund them, that's legal. >> They could do as much fundraising as they want, just like any school. >>

029So they can they can get sponsorship. >> Their board approved it. As long as their board approved it, >> they they just cannot charge tuition. That would be considered a private school at that point. >> That would be correct. and they are a public school. Charters are publicly funded schools. Okay, have questions about Novas. All right, let's take a look at Rocket Ship. I did a couple things I failed to mention about Novvice before we go on. They did improve their teacher salaries. They initially had told us they were going to have to hire look for um zero experienced teachers because that's all they could afford was to pay teachers on that entry level. Well, they've ramped their budget up to to cover um for experience and to pay for performance um incentives that they

030were in the plan but weren't originally in the budget. And they also revised their enrollment deficit contingencies to match the cont the contingencies that our two operating charters experienced with enrollment deficits this year. If you remember that that they had they said, "Well, we can operate with up to 25% um less enrollment than than what we're asking for." Um but we told them well our current charters um experienced deficits of up to 35%. So they came back and revised their budget to match that. They did. Okay. So Rocket Ship, again the school itself doesn't really have a name yet. They named it by committee after they've been approved. Uh but they do have a charter management organization. Rocket Ship Education Tennessee. This would be the only charter school that we have in our district if

031approved that has a charter management organization, an overarching group that governs them. Okay. Again, their proposed location is Smyrna and Leverne and they do have three schools in operation right now in Metro Nashville. Um they also applied to open a fourth one in Metro this year along with us. Um, and it's my understanding they were denied initially as well and are in the um, amended application process just like we are here. Here's what their proposed enrollment looks like. Again, they're only serving grades K through five. Uh, 240 in year 1, reaching 575 in full capacity by year six. That's their target. And a summary here's a summary of the the evaluation of their plan is that again the review committee is recommending denial of their application that should say amended application for rocket ship TN

032because the application failed to meet or exceed the criteria of the rubric in three of the four areas. They actually had a fourth area since they have schools in existing operation and a charter management organization. They had a fourth section of their application that had to be submitted. But the committee um says that they partially met the standard for academic plan, financial plan and the portfolio and performance record. We did determine that they met or exceeded the standard in operations plan and capacity but that's the only area that we marked as meets or exceeds and you have to be meet you have to be scored as meets or exceeds in all four for us to recommend them for approval. Okay. academic plan uh section one. Let's talk about our concerns. First of all, the four

033content block schedule, which is, you know, that's a big part of their their daily schedule. But again, we feel like time for science and social studies is lacking in those four contents. They showed and and when we told them that they made no increases in the science and social studies time. I think it's only nine to 18 minutes daily for for both is what is indicated in their plan. and they still have not adopted any curriculum for social studies. Their plan is to embed that in the ELA curriculum. Um, which is fine, but uh there's no guarantee that Tennessee content standards are going to be covered for social studies in that ELA curriculum. And remember, after they leave fifth grade, they're coming back to us where they will be held accountable for social studies scores.

034So, that's a concern of ours is that social studies are not going to be adequately addressed. Same thing for science. Again, we have concerns over the ELLL services. Theirs also contained errors like inaccurate service levels per their um ELPA 21 results. Again, they're using the term modifications which is not allowed for ELLL students. You cannot modify their curriculum and they they failed to correct their screening deadlines that we pointed out in the initial application. They still claim that they have 30 days to screen screen a student that comes to them for ELLL services, but that is not correct. That's only at the beginning of the year. after the year starts, they only have 10 days to do it. And they did not um uh edit that. They did not revise that at all. A concern

035we had with the initial application was their focus on social emotional learning. Um however, um they did go in and change that. They changed that terminology completely. It no longer says social emotional learning anywhere in the plan. Instead, it says life skills development. However, it's basically there were no changes in the plan focus. They just changed the name. They just changed the title of it. And that learning uh and I can tell you exactly how they describe it is it's tier one social emotional learning curriculum. It aims to integrate storytelling with pro-social skill building to help students understand their lives and share their personal stories. That's what that's all about, developing life skills. And the only reason we mentioned that, not that that's necessarily a bad thing, uh, according to the committee, but we know

036that, um, it's been a, um, um, a challenging point for this board in in in in focusing on social emotional learning at the school level. We haven't always been in uh, a proponent of that. Okay, that's why we put it in there so you guys would know. And also their success rates, their performance rates. um while they have shown some good growth scores at some of their schools, their success rates do not match RCS data. And I'll give you I'll give you an example. Um uh um is Rocket Ship Schools ELA data um from two years ago. They were 21 to 26% proficient. Okay. Um or meets or exceeds 21 to 26% across all their schools. um RCSLA was 38% in the Smyrna Lever area in the area of attended services. So a good 12%

037um to even to 17% below performance for RCS. So that is a concern that even though they've been able to show growth, they have not been able to show the success rates um that match RCS data. And we're very proud of our our our results here in in Rutherford County. Okay. And again, that lack of community support and demand, uh, 80% of the respondents were not in favor of approving Rocket Ship Teen's application. And they don't solicit pre-enrollment commitments at all. Um, they do provide some letters of support, and there were several letters of support in their um um in their amended application, but they're all just generic form letters that they printed off, and they just had to write a parent just had to write their name on it. Um, so to me, that

038just lacks per uh it's a little impersonal and it it it lacks true commitment. Now, what did they what did they improve? What are their strengths in that academic plan? Well, we we we've always liked their whole child approach uh in incorporating STEM and positive behavior supports and multi-tered system of supports includes enrichment. Um they do plan to pro provide a lot of enrichment and parent engagement is a big part of their plan and they did update their science curriculum to STEM scopes which is approved by the state of Tennessee. The initial application was did not utilize science curriculum that was approved by Tennessee. Again they have strong instructional strategies for building fluent and accurate readers. That's their whole focus. And there they do have a solid plan to track data and recruit and and

039market their school. although we haven't seen much of that yet. So, what are our concerns for section two, the operations plan, safety and security of the attended facility um as related to the budget? And we you'll see this in a minute, but they have located a facility um of Threat Street in Smyrna, which is right by the the airport. And um it used to be a dentist office. Um, we actually went and toured that when um, I believe it was Springs Empire was looking for sites. Um, so we knew that that facility was available. It's going to need a lot of upgrades and the budget does not reflect that. Also, the budget doesn't reflect some necessary equipment. Um, paying for a school nurse, even though the plan says they're going to have a school nurse,

040that's not in the budget. Same thing for an SRO. It's not in the budget. They're going to have an SRO, they said, but it's not in the budget. Uh recent denials of those new of a new start and agreement renewal with MNPS are concerns of us too. Um you know anytime you get denied and and especially that renewal agreement after a 10-year term a local authorizer decided not to renew their agreement that's a concern that we would have. Okay. But there are a lot of strengths in their operations plan. Remember we rated this area as meets or exceeds the standards. They got a great history, strong staffing plans. their transportation provision is good. They've done it before. They know how to provide transportation. They procured facilities. Um they did um revise their qualifications for the

041principal. If you remember in the initial application, the qualifications for who gets chosen to be the principal were minimal at best. Well, they revised those to match typically what we would require of a principal to be hired in Rutherford County. Now, um, also you'll notice they totally took out all the Common Core references, which never should have been in there in the first place, but they have removed all Common Core references because we don't do Common Core in Tennessee. We do Tennessee content standards. Okay, section three, finances. Okay, here's a concern that we have their budgeted staff numbers. They talked in their um in their capacity interview and in their uh prescribed plan that they were going to have um pupil teacher ratios of no more than 25 to1. But we pointed out to them

042in their initial application, no, you've got 30 and 31 to1 because you did not. Your full-time equivalent ratios in your budget do not match your student numbers. uh their response was to come back and not change that but say well we requested waiverss of class size ratios at our previous schools and we plan to do the same thing here. So they're going to ask for a waiver from those statemandated class sizes and have larger than normal um pupil teacher ratios in their school. Again no school counselor in the budget. Um they do mention mental health workers. Not sure what those are being possibly being used but um I We think the school counselor role is is vital is a vital role at that elementary level uh especially in that area. Okay. And do you can

043see their year one and year five funding impacts right there in front of you. But some strengths of their financial plan is they have strong network support. They're not going to have to go into any debt. They're not going to have to take out any loans. They have the funds. Matter of fact, their network, I think, has a cash um on hand of $7 million um at least that's what they say that can be used. They've a lot of great experience operating new charter schools and opening new charter schools. So, this is not their first rodeo and they have a history of sound fin fiscal performance. No noted, negative or questionable financial practice. But you will notice uh or you may not have caught this but um in the initial application they said that they

044had zero audit findings ever. Well, they've taken that out since the with the amended application. They've taken that out. But still there I can't we can't find anything negative or question about any of their financial practices. So they do have a a strong support system there. They did clarify some budgeted revenue issues for weighted funds and they are in line with what they should be. uh and their operating fund balance by the end of year five is a full month, 30 days of operating funds by the end of year five. So that's a little bit stronger financial position. And then their final section, portfolio review and performance record. This reviews basically their past success. Okay. Um and if if you read the submitted um authorizer reports from the school, there are some concerns from several

045of their current schools. Their success rates academically fluctuate greatly. ELA math and science and again they don't really match RCS success rates. Chronic abs absenteeism is a concern in many of their schools. Credentiing, what that tells me is that they are hiring teachers that are either not licensed or not endorsed in the subjects that they are teaching. And we run into that problem with our two current charter schools. And that is that's a that is a concern. That's a red flag. They have fairly high student suspension rates. Um um and and those other obligations. There were a couple of those that were marked as as that they failed to meet or were below. But all in all, I have to say that the authorizer reports were generally positive in nature. They were. And in my

046discussions with the other authorizers, they were positive about about Rocket Ship Schools. We would like to see them show a little more ownership of those two denials in our neighboring district. Um instead of saying, well, they really they brought up some things in the in the amended review process that weren't brought up in the initial process and we didn't know. And um you know, we we would like to see a little bit of ownership there of hey, you know, we had some struggles here and here's what we learned. suspension. >> This was this was all of their schools. So mainly they're operating K5 schools right now. At least the ones in this state >> not in this state. >> Now they have a lot of they have schools all across the country but um not

047intensive. Again though, the strengths of their portfolio review is like I said, their overall authorizer reports indicated positive ratings um supported by due diligence. I talked to um folks at the state charter commission and folks at MNPS that are currently authorizing Rocket Ship Schools and they had positive things to say about them. Said they really are some of their better charter schools. Um and they had positive growth rates for a lot of their schools. um that Rocket Ship United has earned reward status from TDOE several times in their short history. Um and they received uh a gaper label from Stanford University in their study that they did on charter schools back in 23. And that label was given to any school who showed success at closing achievement gaps. Okay. So, any questions about rocket ship

048before I sum it up? They don't have a principal, right? >> They do not. Their principal will not be hired until January, I believe. >> Okay. Well, let let me wrap it up for you. Um again, our recommendation summary is for Nova Smart Academy is we recommend that you deny their approval um based on these concerns, those special populations concerns, lack of community support, lack of a track record, and funding and operations margins, very thin operations margins. Rocket Ship Tennessee. Also, we're recommending to deny based on a lack of attention to science and social studies, lack of community support, deficiencies in that ELLL plan, recent denials by another local authorizer, their high pupil teacher ratios, and so far their success rate performance not being on par with Rutherford County Schools. Those these are the reasons

049why we are recommending to you that they not be approved. And we know that's a difficult decision for you regardless, but that's what our recommendation is for both schools. So, what are your next steps? You got to think carefully about the application submitted and the reports provided to you. You need to vote by resolution at Thursday's meeting. And we have to provide a copy of that um resolution to the charter schools. And if they're denied, we have to give them specific reasons why. Okay? And if approved, we can begin the agreement negotiation process to develop a charter agreement that will last for 10 years. Okay, just reminders. Couple of reminders. The committee was very scrutinous with these applications. They picked over them with a fine tooth comb. They really did because we only want applications

050from solid, strong schools with no major concerns. Again, if we deny them, we have to indicate specific reasons and they would have 10 days to appeal to the public charter school commission. who could approve them and serve as their authorizer or they could approve them and allow us to negotiate with them to be their authorizer or they could deny them as well. Right? But remember, if we approve them here, we are liable for anything that's in that agreement that's in that written application and in the practice of that charter school. Just a final reminder, it's important that a quality authorizer makes decisions to approve or deny based on what's best for students, families, and the local education assoc association, us in other words, regardless of political or other pressures. >> So, if I understand that

051right, we're approving, it's on us. If state approves it, it's on them. Correct? >> Okay. questions for me. All right. Well, I'm happy to sit down with any of you between now and Thursday night. If you if you got questions, you just want to talk through it, um, give me a call, come see me in the office. I'm I'm I'm glad to do it. >> Thank you for all your months of hard work. That was >> y'all did a real good job in doing this. >> Very thorough. >> Thank you. >> And we have no public comments for tonight. So, number seven, federal funding updates. So, a couple updates are about federal funding and then Dr. Goian will be here Thursday as well to answer questions if you have any questions. So, you've got two

052requests, but I'm going to just give a quick update first. So, as most people are aware, the federal funds um from the US Department of Education are frozen currently, at least most of those funds are. The ones that are most impacted for us are title two, title three, and then title four. So, our three most impacted are title two, title three, and title four. Title two really deals with teacher development, professional development. What is frozen right now is 1,185,21942. Title three deals with uh largely English as a second language. That's $794,336.99. And then title four is safe and healthy. Last year, the board actually approved us to, it was the first time to allow moving title 4 funds to other areas. So, we moved some to title two and most of it to title one,

053but that does uh come up to $393,877.95. So, those three funds are currently frozen. Just in talking with multiple directors and conversations, Department of Education with those directors, I don't think we feel very confident that those funds will come back. And so we are planning our operations as if those funds didn't exist. Title one and some of the other ones, we at least right now feel pretty confident those were going to come come back and actually be released in the next Have they been released already? Title one, it may have been released today because I know the the updates have been going through and title one's the one that impacts our schools the most and so we're that's the one we need to get going. >> Yes, Miss Darby, what did you say? Title four

054was >> $393,877.95 >> and that's typically like what >> it's safe and healthy is what they cover it. So we didn't >> last year you were allowed to move that money into other ones and so we moved most of it into title one to give more to the schools. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And so that's the only part of title one that would be impacted. That 393,000 would be reduced from that number. Um luckily we do not fund a whole lot of positions out of that. If you just do Google and look at what is happening in other districts, there are dozens upon dozens of positions that are being lost in some districts. We've that's not how we operate. Um the other part which is more Tennessee Department of Education, even though I have

055it under federal, let's talk about Atlas for a second. So Atlas is under the federal program McKini Vento. That's what we use to support our homeless students. that has been a a grant that you apply for from the State Department this year. Um, unbeknownst to just about everyone, that became a competitive grant. And so, I don't know why homelessness is competitive grant, but it has become a competitive grant. We and just about every district across the state that was impacted asked TDOE, "Where did you communicate this?" And the response in writing was, "We had office hours to where it was communicated." And so we did not we will not receive homeless funding for the next three years. So this year, next year, and the next one. Um our McKenna Vento funding is $228,000 $267 and

056I can't read my writing. I think it's 96 cents. It's a something six. And so that is uh I know that there are directors talking to legislators about the lack of communication about how that was a grant. We just weren't selected as part of the competitive grant process this year. A lot of your big districts um weren't. And so that is the first one. The first request you have is to move Atlas liaison from federal funding to general purpose school funds. no additional funds or position will be needed due to an open position currently at the central office where this position will transfer. We had a school support specialist um retire and so this would move Jessica Johnson into that position uh without additional funding. And then I put on here this request is due

057to RCS not receiving funds from McKenna for the 2526 school year. Happy to answer any questions but that's that's kind of what we know now. I know that directors are pushing on the state. Do you think that we could bridge the gap a little bit with some help from like our church's community or faith-based community? >> Yeah, possibly because the biggest things that are still impacted right now are transportation for homeless students. Um because that's something that is provided there. If a student is homeless, they can stay at their current school and not have to be bus somewhere else. And then of course food we're going to try to offset with school nutrition. >> Miss Maxwell, Miss Sharp and then >> Okay. Yes, Miss Sharp. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, if I can speak

058on behalf of Jessica Johnson, um, I can't remember when she came. She worked somewhere else in our district, right? And then she moved to Atlas. Um, I have called her many times during the summer, many times at night. She, um, her husband works for Smyrna Fire Department. Uh, they she is called in when there's tragedies in the family as well. So, it's not just it's not just homeless. she does. Y'all would never know because it's all done behind the scenes all the stuff that she does. Um, and this is this is a very important um role for someone in our school system. So, I know that there's been some other uh representatives on the federal level that have gone to the administration to ask for funding and I think maybe we need to go back

059and and do that because there remember I sent you that article and they had gone back and and they did go and release some more funding. So, I think it's something that we need to reach out to our federal delegates and say, you know, this is very important for our district of 62,000 plus people. Uh because we don't want to lose Jessica and she's she's vital to our students. She's vital to >> and she she does things after hours that y'all have no y'all have no idea. So, >> yes, Mr. Salis. So the grant is because the state what was the reason why I couldn't hear. >> The state um changed it to a competitive grant this year. So normally it's it's been a grant and you apply for it but districts have received it.

060Um this year it became a competitive grant based on a scoring report. >> And what was you said there was a reason that they said >> when we when directors asked um and even Dr. going federal programs asked where was this communicated because we get a commissioner's update for directors every Thursday now I think it's bi-weekly but it's every Thursday it's nowhere in there instead it was mentioned that we had office hours as a department that you could call in for support if you needed help with that grant we've we've received this grant for years so we didn't call in for support I mean we would have known to we definitely would have >> sure how many counties received it then >> I don't know they haven't released that >> oh they haven't released any

061data I know there's enough of the when we have a director's call in our mid Cumberland region. Um there were quite a few of us that did not. >> Oh wow. And then I'm glad that you clarified publicly that there's even though we're having some funds frozen um from the federal side that this is not going to be impacting decisions because I did receive phone calls about the um the funds particularly for title three. Um and I don't someone sent me an article because it was stated in an article that a Weatherford County um personnel stated that positions were going that were impacted and so that created a little bit of a firestorm and I got >> they are impacted and that's what the next one is is to request to move them for federal

062>> right they are impacted but we're not laying off anyone and I think people were nervous that we were going to lay off people and so I think I'm glad that you are stating it publicly that we're not going going to be doing that. >> At least that's my request to the board is not to >> that's in my and I'm with you on that. So that's good. >> Okay. Any other questions or comments? >> And then the second one is the request to move six title three positions to general purpose school funds from 142 due to the freeze of title three funds currently impacting districts across the nation. These positions are vital to our operations and academic success. Additional funding is not needed as funds realized from three open ESL teaching positions that are

063no long utilized. as well as we have an additional um central office specialist position that we do not plan to hire right now that'll give us those funds. I don't know what's happening to my voice all of a sudden, but um board's aware of what that position was. It was in our email last week. Um so these positions are still are no longer needed, the ESL teaching positions due to academic success experienced by our students and teachers requiring less ESL staff of what we know right now. So what that means is every year you exit students from ESL services and when you exit students from ESL services then you lower your ratio of students that you need. So >> Miss Turbo thank you. >> She's done an excellent job. Yeah, there request just so everyone

064knows three of them are ESL coaches that support all of our schools u with ESL instruction and the other three are family liaison who help our not necessarily with translation but they do help with translation but really helping parents navigate the school system >> and those are the other three >> can I >> yes go ahead >> so ESL then is it kind of like a bell curve in in other words they come into the program, then they kind of look at the program. And so depending on >> the population and how long a student has been with us, that's the reason you would not necessarily need those positions or or be able to reclassify those positions. That's what it looks like you're doing. >> Usually within your first four or five years is when

065you can exit the most students because they the language acquisition is so quick. Once they're once you get past five years, then they're considered a long-term EEL and it's a lot harder >> to progress that student. Um, I was pulling up do you have the number right on? I was pulling up our PowerPoint. >> And the question Yeah. The question I was going to follow that up with is how does that student population has there been a downward trend? >> No. >> In the last two or three years? >> No. It has been way way way up. >> Well, and that's that that's only reason I've got a little concern about doing this. I understand >> we expect it to drop a little. I >> I understand you shuffling money and I appreciate that. I

066just don't want to cut her nose off spider face. >> And to give you how well um Miss Turbo and our ESL team is doing. So the here are exit numbers of how many students were exiting for English as a second language. 2021 we exited 349 students. 2022 459. 2023 495. 2024 648. And here's why I'm very I'm confident in our number. This year we exited 1,130. And so almost 500 more students, which 14 15 teaching positions by the time that those students trickle out of your school system. >> How do you know how many is coming in? >> We don't, but we're going based on previous numbers. >> When will you have an idea? >> September. That's usually when it sets out. >> You'll have that. I was going to say would would you

067know by November or December? >> Yep. We'll know by midepptember. That's usually when our growth starts. >> So if we got to look elsewhere to replace >> Y that's my only concern here if that makes any sense. I just >> and Kelly and I we Kelly our kind of we've talked about our >> if we got to dig a little deeper somewhere >> our separation of powers is that I sign them and Dr. Anthony um can or Kelly approves them. Dr. Anthony post them. So this kind of the three of us working together to see where our positions are. and go for it. Kelly, >> just really quick. Oh, this doesn't Okay, >> first time with the new mic. Um, we also did some reallocation of positions to meet the kind of that 1 to35

068ratio across the schools over the summer. So, as positions would open up, um, we're we've more efficiently placed the teachers. Um, so I we are not concerned about these necessarily impacting our schools right now. and we have a plan like he said for September, October to keep an eye on that. >> I do want to publicly thank and commend Miss Turnbo and all of our ELELLL teachers for the tremendous work that they've done over the last couple of years. Um that we couldn't be where we're at today and we couldn't have exited all these children if it weren't for their excellent staff we have. I'm sorry, Miss Sharp. I didn't hope I didn't cut you off. >> Um no worries. Um, so if the money comes in, we would just back it out. Correct. We

069just back it out and put them back in the same place back into title two and three. >> My only concern with how well we're doing with our district exiting numbers is it used to be part of the state accountability model and now it's not. >> Of course. >> So we used to get this used to be 10% of our overall score and now it's zero. >> That's unfortunate. >> Any other questions or comments from anyone? Okay, >> you already heard about the rocket ship in Novvice. >> Next is curriculum instruction. First, we have CT department would like to allocate approximately 9,000 of the innovative schools model grant funds 2526 to support the OSHA trainers for the high school CT students. The purpose of this in-house OSHA trainers to eliminate barriers for students obtaining OSHA

070TDOE approved industry certifications. OSHA trainers will be responsible for completing the OSHA trainer trainer course set for July 2025. You'll see the 8day professional development session below. >> Any questions? >> Okay. >> Next we have Governor's Early Literacy Foundation. This is book delivery and caregiver engagement programs. Governor's Early Literacy Foundation is a Tennessee nonprofit that promotes early reading through programs like the K through3 home library, which provides free books to students and teachers. Rutherford County Schools participates in this program with an option for parents to opt out. To support implementation, this agreement allows RCS to share students names, grade levels, home addresses, media specialist names, and appropriate teacher names um with GLF. This is the second year or third. Second, third. Okay. Okay, any other questions? Okay, next. >> Next we have Carl D. E.

071Perkins basic grant. This is not one that is frozen. The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2018, known as the Perkins 5, is presented for approval for the funding period of July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2026. This grant is 754,876.90. Carl D. Perkins basic grant provides funding for program improvement, equipment, travel, and staff development for our CTE teachers. >> Any questions? Yes, M. >> Dr. Sullivan, how do you guys decide where that money goes with all of our different CTE programs? >> I don't want to give a incorrect answer. I think the the simple answer is we continuously prioritize what programs need the right equipment to reach that industry certification level. So, as you'll see like with welding for instance, that's been a huge focus for us based on industry. So,

072that gets top billing. So we look at the industry certifications aligned the teacher the student enrollment all of those things and try to allocate based on where the gap is in our GP. >> So you guys evaluate that every year I guess depending on which program is >> correct. >> Is this amount close to what we get? >> Yeah. >> Every year it it normally goes up. This year it's funded on the same exact level as last year. >> Okay. >> So it it may come back and have additional funds. Uh we also look Miss Darby Tissa this year for the first time is going to fund they've tiered the CT programs differently so you get more funding for higher tiers and so we're going to put more funding towards the higher tiers. >> Any

073other questions? >> Okay, next >> the next one is a competitive grant that you apply for additional Perkins funding and every year that I know of we we get this the Carl D. Perkins Reserve Grant. Carl D. Perkins Reserve grants presented for approval for the funding period of July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2026. This competitive grant is for 50,000 and this grant provides funding for the welding booth trainer simulators for the AR agricultural mechanic CTE program of study at Riverdale. >> Any questions or comments to see that? >> Yes, I don't I can't imagine what that is, but I can't wait to see it either. Okay, next. Special education. We have a request for updated job description for speech language pathologist position to provide more clarity to the job description. The proposed description does

074not contain a change in pay scale or days in contract. >> Okay. Next >> uh same similar thing. This one is an updated job description for general education student services specialist to provide more clarity. The job description again does not contain a change in pay scale or days in contract. >> Okay. Next we have human resources. >> This is Rutherford County Schools athletics and coordinated school health are partnering with Perry weather to monitor weather conditions in the district and make sure we stay compliant with state safety guidelines. Perry weather's on-site stations provide precise lightning precipitation, wind, and air quality data updating every 5 minutes in the mobile app and the dashboard. We used something very similar this year when we were a host partner with um TWWSAA for spring fling and it was very successful

075in us being able to look and see city of Murphy'sboro Parks and Rex helped us use their program that use >> I was going to ask if we've used this in the past. >> Um Williamson does or one similar and some other ones do and then again Murphy'sboro City let us use their program for TWSAA. It was very helpful. Excellent. >> Kind of takes it and I hate to say it takes out the coach's hand of did we have lightning in the officials or did we not have lightning? We can determine whether or not there was lightning within that radius. >> Gotcha. Next we have legal. >> So approved fees per policy 6.709. Prior to beginning of each school year, the board upon the recommendation of the principles and director of school shall approve all

076student fees for the upcoming school year. Additional fees may be approved during the year as needed. >> Any questions? Okay. Next >> records clerk job description. This was part of the approved budget, but this is the actual job description. It has not been posted yet until this is done. Legal department's requesting the approval of a new job description for the 2526 26th school year. The new position will assist the legal department with managing, fulfilling student, staff, and administrative records requests. >> Okay. Next, >> campus school agreement. MTSU's renewed the agreement between RCS and MTSU regarding campus school. And this agreement will be effective for five years. >> Excellent. Next we have policy adoption. >> So we have two policies I believe and I'm going to my updated one. I have notes on this. >> So

077the request is going to be for these two for the board to first on Thursday wave the requirement of two readings and then pass these. The first one is policy 3.400 student transportation management revises language for awarding or renewing contracts and updates language consistent with current contract. And I believe we'll have some discussion on that one. And then the second one is use of wireless communication devices adds language for the use of personal communication devices for students pursuant to a change in state law. And just for anyone watching our >> what came out of policy in our recommendation last night was >> we're having you you speak very well. >> Yep. >> But your voice doesn't carry as well. >> Not carrying tonight. It's it's very >> raspy for some reason. >> Can you put

078the mic closer to you where you can lean in? >> I will. though. The second one is for the use of cell phones. And what came out of policy last night was uh students not to have access to their cell phones during the school day um up until dismissal and they can still have them on them, but they have to be put away. So that was our cell phones. >> Um Miss Miss Maxwell. >> Yes, Mr. Rosales. >> Okay. Yesterday when we were talking about the transportation um management and there was discussion around the financials of uh I don't have the policy with me I was opening it up before I to the floor but the financials and there's con there was a lot of discussions about what should be provided um after I went

079home and thought about it a little bit more I do agree that we should show something that proves that there is funding for the the securing of the buses or the transportation or the business or whatever. And I don't know where where we landed if we voted if we were going to come back and work on that specific piece or we were going to make approved the policy. I know we were going to do something today, but I was going to ask if we could make the change and that that number four with the about the finances if it could be required to provide something that says there's proof of funds that's notorized. It's not a bank statement. is not um anything like that but just a document that states probably from the the the

080institution that they're getting the funding for or the banking um financial institution or even for the bus transportation that yesterday >> we I thought yeah >> we did >> where did >> we on number four we changed it to say that they had to provide >> um adequate proof according to the transportation department that they had secured either funds or had the title to or whatever of a bus. It's up to the transportation department if what they provide is adequate. The transportation department has to approve it. So, we did take care of that yesterday. >> So, what is what are we going to approve? What will be the what is transportation going to prove as adequate? >> Putting back on you. >> Yeah. Yes, Mr. Lee. My thought would be a letter of basically a

081letter of credit from the bank that they've secured funding to purchase a bus, a letter from one of our two local bus manufacturers that they've agreed to provide them a loan, you know, or they're going to be the one who's going to finance the bus. We're not looking for their bank information, but we're looking for something from those individuals that says yes, we are guaranteeing that if they're given a route that we'll provide that they have the funding to buy the bus. >> Okay. I think I will it be possible to have that notorized because when we're that will make it um more legal that is a a document that is um when you notoriize it makes it a little bit more stronger. I I don't think it No, I mean >> it makes it

082legal and binding. >> No, it's not. >> The only thing the notary would do is guarantee the signature that that that's basically what the notary does and most banks >> and financial institutions have them. I >> mean, >> yeah, I Yes, that's correct. So, that's why I'm asking for be notorized >> if we can it can be a notorized document. >> More. So notorizing it is not going to do anything. But there is another document that they from what I understood from yesterday the AIA something that you guys Yeah. But that's for contract that's for construction contracts. I was using that as an example that we do, you know, require I was letting everybody know that we're not picking on bus contractors asking for this because we do ask for a lot of bank information

083from all of our contractors who bid our work. So, and I guess I was trying to make the point that we do this as a practice. We're not singling out the bus contractors, >> right? So, you're not asking for any other >> No, it could be a letter. I think um Mr. Vault's got a >> Yeah, Mr. Vault. Okay, I'm happy with that. >> And I and I was going to highlight kind of thought about this since so much of my business is related to financing, but this would be much like, you know, a pre-approval letter for a house. You know, you need to know what you can afford. And and I think what transportation or at least what I'm looking for for transportation is that they would have some type of guarantee that either

084a they could pay for the bus outright, b they could get it financed through one of the bus dealerships, you know, on the spot financing or one of our local lenders and in fact open it up a little bit more. I've talked to Farm Credit uh just a little bit. there's some of our uh bus contractors that would qualify through farm credit to purchase it as a capital piece of equipment. So, I think there's two or three things that and I think transportation's probably got a idea what that document looks like. I hate to tie it down too close, but I think some type of pre-approval letter or some Yeah. Carolina Chris, somebody's got you've got if you're going to buy a $200,000 bus, you've got something going on, right? So, and we don't need

085to award contracts or tie up a bus route, you know, on a hope and a prayer and a promise. So, I think give transportation a little bit of latitude probably and we'll if we need to tweak it next year, we can tweak it. Does that sound all right? >> Yeah. And all I'm looking for I if I get it from Farm Credit or whoever it is, it's going to have somebody's name on it that signed it and a phone number >> loan officer >> and I'm going to pick up the phone or Wanda is or >> verify >> and we're going to pick up the phone and call that person and go, "Okay, yes, it says Farm Bureau when I answer when they answered the phone and we're going to verify that that letter's correct."

086So, so the notary, as long as we get the letter and it's signed and got somebody's name that I can call, I think we'll be okay. >> Okay. Okay. >> But it does, but we do required other contracts to provide their financial statements for their business so that it's a legitimate recruitable type of business. Correct. >> We do for our construction projects. Yes. >> Yeah. So, that wasn't anything different asking for financial sealment. >> Okay. Any other comments or questions? >> Do we do we need any type of assurance on insurance since they're having to pay for it now? >> Contract. >> We could take that letter to approve them as a contractor and then we could put a clause, you know, that 30 days after they've been given strongly suggest they better be working

087on their insurance. >> Yes. I mean, we do that now. Okay. But I I think there again, if you're that far down the whole the rabbit hole and you're serious about this, you're going to have to talk to somebody about the insurance first to know what it's going to cost. >> Well, and and also too, it's not like it's a big surprise because you're on the list. >> Correct. >> Right. The the list is the list. So they they know where their name is on the list. So they three months out, six months out, they're going to start preparing or they should be. Sure. >> Okay. Any other questions or comments? Okay. Next, we go on to engineering and construction. >> So, several school requests. First is Oakland Middle School pad request. Principal Brad Deckers

088requested to install a few concrete pads at no cost to the school board. The cost will be covered through the soccer account along with donation for Smyrna Readymix. Smur mix is donating six yards of concrete for this project. The anticipated budget is $2,600. Engineering construction review the request and has no objections. Any other questions? >> Okay. Next. >> Daniel McKe cafeteria mural request. Principal Nicole Sturbis requesting to allow the experienced church to paint a mirror on the cafeteria area. This project is anticipated to cost $2,75 and is being donated by the experience church. This project is at no cost to the board. Engineering constructors review the request with a noted possibility uh in the request of standing water has no objection. >> Do we know what the mural is going to look like? >> Do

089not unless it's in this tab. Is it in the tab? The tab up. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. Next. >> Popular Hill Elementary and CUD cost reimbursement agreement. As part of the overall Popular Hill Elementary Middle School project, RCS is required to relocate an 8 in water line owned by CUD. While we're doing the work, CUD would like to upgrade the water line from 8 to 12. By making a request, CUD will reimburse Rutherford County Schools for the difference in the cost of materials. The cost reimbursement is $50,395. Engineering has reviewed the request and has no objection. >> Any questions? >> Okay. Next. >> Energy efficient lighting program. RCS has recently been provided with a requested cost report for the LED lighting project from Excel Energy. After review of all schools, Excel has provided a

090cost analysis for review. The expected total cost today is 8,400,000. Anticipated TVA incentives are 768,000 to make up a net cost of 7.6 million. This is an annual energy savings of a little over a million dollars and our payback would be roughly six years. This project is being funded this year in fund 177 at 4 million and with any additional review being added later in the school year. >> How far are we long enough to get the fields done? >> We will be complete. I got one more one more field, not one more campus, but all schools will be complete in the next few weeks. >> Excellent. >> That's awesome. Better lighting is cheap. >> Excellent. >> It's we will finally meet TWS comp regulations for the first time on all Rifer County fields. >>

091And then as part of that, we've already I know our new schools of course have LED, but we have SM Elementary School is being updated along with their HVAC. Correct. >> Correct. And our new schools, we started at John Coleman. >> It's LED. Rocky Fork Elementary isaries LED. Uh Plane View's LED, Smyrna High LED. So, so we we've been converting schools. We started some time back with our new construction and our renovation projects. They've all been LED. Um and I would I guess I kind of got the floor for a minute. in your um tab six at the back there. There's a little bit more to this and I didn't want to have like six paragraphs in this thing. There there is a fairly comprehensive XL lighting has been to every campus and counted every

092light. They spent three or four weeks walking our campuses so that we could get page two. Currently, what we're anticipating, not only are we looking at 768,000 incentives back from TVA, which we only got half of our sports lighting. We got a little over half a million back from TV or we're going to get a half a million back from TVA for half of our fields because they had stopped this program, but they started it back in January and they wouldn't go backwards and let us pick up the schools we'd already done. So, we only got a half, which I'm not minimizing a half million. I'm tickled to death that we got a half million back, but we're looking at getting 760 uh,000. That's a fairly close number. Once completed, uh, we will begin to

093see an actual annual electrical savings of a little over a million dollars a year. >> That's awesome. what what this initial program is and we need to begin to move forward. Of course, we're not going to have the funding probably till the first of the year because it's all predicated on property tax. So, we don't get the money for our 177 fund to be able to start this project. But, I have some leg work that I would like to continue go on to do. The main things I want you to get from this takeaway and I would like for you to look at it's only three or four pages uh when you have a moment is there there's basically two options. One option I'm going to use round numbers. Don't hold me to the number.

094The actual numbers are here. Let me go to page 108. >> We got 8 million for basically a bulb type replacement. Meaning we keep the housing. We go through we change all the bulbs and we change the lenses. We change all of our parking lot lights. We change our building exterior building lights. And we change all of our exit lights. >> Is this where you need us to be? This document or somewhere else on here, >> sir. >> Do you need us to be right here or do you need us to be somewhere else? >> Scroll down to the bottom, John. >> That number is roughly 8 million. Correct. >> 8,400,000. Yeah. >> Yeah. All right. So, that this is option A, $8 million. and it shows the TVA incentives and it's by school. It'll

095show you what our initial cost is per school. TVA incentives, net cost, kilowatt savings, total energy savings, and then you get over to the far right. That's our payback. We can get a I'm going to call this the the less expensive option, six-year payback. In the next option, scroll down, John. there. Again, same information, same schools by school. If you scroll down to the bottom, we get to a number that's 14 million with a 12-year payback. This is basically we take out every light fixture completely and put new light fixtures back. We do have some areas where our fixtures are very old. It would be a nice upgrade to change out the whole fixture, be more of aesthetics versus function and savings. But if we can get some aesthetics, as Miss Sharp has said before,

096ceilings, paints, floors, any improvement is is puts in the students mind somebody cares. I'm not necessarily saying I want to go to the 14 million. Would be really nice, but it would take us a while and a lot of money. Somewhere between the 14 and an eight is a sweet spot where we can replace some for aesthetics, some for just function, and hit somewhere in the middle. Our savings utility-wise is going to stay the same and we'll be somewhere between that six and 12 year payback if we could get in that sweet spot and our number would be between 8 and 14. This year we're going to spend 4 million. It's it's a three-year project no matter how we do it. >> You're thinking >> miles an hour right now. Uh generally in the housing

097industry there uh you paint a house every seven to 10 years. You do a faceelift as I call it every 12 to 15. You do a major overhaul at 20. The major overhauls, new cabinets, gut the bathrooms back the side of that is that replacing of light fixtures. And so Terry and I have always looked at that that that 12 or 15 years is kind of, you know, they're out of date. Let's just say they're out of date. They're like me, a little over the hill, maybe it Do you have a vision? And not trying to pin you down tonight, but is there a vision? Do do we say that, you know, any school that's over 12 years old, over 15 years old, we put the new light fixtures in, or and I don't want

098to make the rule hard and fast, but but that would be kind of where I would be leaning toward. >> That would be a large part of it. But if you think here's where I'm going to throw you a curveball, seagull is 20 years old. >> Right. Right. We don't have very many schools. The vast majority of our schools are going to be in that old and they've got the original lights. They're going to be 25, 30, 40 years old. >> Yeah. >> Because Oakland River Oakland Riverdale are doing it in this revamp right now. Right. >> Yes. The the >> And this has been changed. >> Yes. >> These have been changed. >> Yes. So somewhere is a sweet spot and that's what I'm asking for a little bit of flexibility on me. We're

099going to spend four million this year. >> We'll see how far it goes >> and see how far it goes with this flexibility of of a little bit. >> Yeah. >> And and I you're you've hit the nail on the head. >> I'm not going to get any more money back >> from my electrical uses, >> right? My my savings is pretty much the same either way we go. We're going to get the same pretty much back from TVA. However we go, but I do think there is some value in some places to replace the whole fixture. >> Yes. Yes. And and there will be value as as you referring to Miss Sharp saying, you know, everybody feels better. School feels better, principal feels better, teachers feel better, students feel better. Everybody's back. >> I

100would like I guess what I'm >> And you can't put a value on that. >> No, you can't. And and what I'm being forthright to let you know what I would like to do. >> Sure. >> That's why I left the questions andor motion from the board. I guess what I'm looking for is a little bit of flexibility. Keep you informed of where we're kind of going, what schools, what we're where we're going to land. come back later in the year with some additional revised numbers to give so that you're not sitting here going, "Is he going to end up at 135 or is he going to end up at nine?" I'd like to give you a little better number, but I would like to get working with the firm that we've got and you've

101got all the information based on basically that's where we start is those two numbers. >> I I think that's what you do and and and you know, go back to the bullet and nickel too. you know that some of this I don't know maybe is handled there may you don't know what emergency projects you're going to have we don't know how thin a margin we've got a well we operate on a pretty thin margin right now but there may be some things that happen this year that don't get that don't get taken care of that you could move that money out of so I'm I mean I'm good with I think that's the most appropriate way to approach this >> but I've given giving you the information on the two. Basically, somewhere between option A

102and option B is where we would like to be. I would like to come back a little bit later with another number. I'm not real good at having people to do a whole lot of work knowing that they're possibly not going to get paid at all. I would like to commit with XL lighting to go forward and then we come back with the number later. >> I've had several parents call me about lights at Central and I understand that's a a different animal, but there are short pole blue lights that would that you could put in the parking lot. A lot of colleges have them. Is that something that we could that could help? >> You talking about in the parking lot? >> Yeah. City of Murphersburg has said no. That is a historic district.

103>> We have gone down this. >> We've gone down this. Do you know anybody? >> I know a few people. >> The the city has basically told us we're over what we should be foot candles for that area of town already and don't ask for any more lights. >> But it is extremely dark and unsafe. >> It's extremely dark and it is unsafe. And thank you for telling me that. I will do my best to work on that. >> Everybody Everybody should have the option to go and sitting with a historical commission. >> That's a real experience. When I was at Central, I got the opportunity to do that on soccer fence and it was quite an experience. I'm sure. So, >> well, I don't wish that on anybody, but anyway. >> So, I mean,

104you you have approached the historical committee. We have I mean it is >> because what I'm sitting here thinking about you know after they tore the hospital down there's a lot of candle watt power that got gone then you know can't we just get a little credit for that and move it over to central or something but unfortunately that that that my logic is not at our property limit. >> Yeah. Yeah. My my country logic doesn't work there. Back to it says questions or proposal motion from the board. What direction are we leaning? Do we need do we spend up to four million this year or or do we want four you know to set aside >> that's all we have budgeted in fund one >> anyway so so go ahead go ahead and I

105didn't know if you want some kind of commitment to >> you know for the next two two or three years you know up to next >> well we all understand it's the same thing that we've done with our sports lighting it took >> two years >> right >> and we've got a lot of HVAC projects that we get commitments from from the contractors that we have to fund it over a couple of years. The only thing they're they did this this work through the TVA and and the work that they do for free that they don't have anything in it right now and if we walk away they get nothing. >> So the the motion needs to be appropate up to 4 million. >> Yes. And we we have that in fund 177. >> So

106we we have the money. We just need to authorize it. Correct. >> That's what you're looking for. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. That's I I'm I mean I'm in agreement with I think it's very prudent to do that. The payback is there and just try to prioritize, you know, where it goes this year. Yeah, it'll pay for itself. It's a it's a good program. Let me ask you, one thing that we ran into when I was in Oakland that because of the uh airport, the bright lights, you know, they can't be a certain height and you have to you have the What is the brightness can't be up a certain amount? And if y'all run into that, I mean, is that something y'all have to deal with at Oakland? >> We don't anyway. Now, now

107there's there's different foot candles for different radiuses like at John Coleman because of its pro. It is in a flight path for the Smyrna airport. There were some restrictions there, but typically it to the average person, it's they can't tell the difference. >> We deal with crane height, everything over there, don't we? >> Yeah. I kind of got had a crane operator that got kind of loose at John Coleman and we got our hand slapped. >> But that was on them. That was on the company. They should have done that. We had that in Oakland as well. We got we got contractor with his crane a little bit too high and it was okay. He just didn't have the right paperwork submitted to the airport. >> Sometimes it's easier to get forgiveness and permit. >>

108Miss Short. Thank you, Madam Chair. Okay. If my memory serves me correctly, we've been trying to get this done since and we've probably left some money on the table. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. So, we need to get this done, y'all. >> Miss Maxwell. Yes, Mr. >> Thank you. So this $8 million is to cover the whole entire school. Even if we go up, whatever sweet spot we decide between the eight and the 14, it will still cover the whole all of our schools, but the higher number will give you more money to replace some of the lighting fixtures that are needing. >> True. >> Awesome. Yeah. I um in 22, Miss um um Sharp and I, we went to that energy efficient conference where we learned about different uh ways to cut cost by

109being energy efficient. And so I I think that was very motivating to get some of us on board to say, "Hey, let's find ways to cut costs and and look in in doing this program." So I'm glad that we finally are able to do that because we've been pushing that. I know. I have been pushing that for a while. >> So, this is good. We're finally getting there. Any other comments or questions. Thank you, Mr. Lee. Next, financial matters. >> Couple of job description updates from financial. First is an updated job description for the ISA accountant. What does ISA stand for, Brian? I know it's individual school accounts. >> Internal school accounts. >> Internal school. Wrong. I darn. Second is an updated job description for payroll accounting specialist. And then third is updated job description

110for payroll accounting specialist too. >> Madam chair. >> Yes, Mr. Darby. >> I think uh Mr. Va had brought this up. I don't know if it was our last meeting. It's been a minute. Um, if we could get more information on the job descriptions and even if it's not in here, >> similar to how Miss Ridley does our policy where she's highlighting the portion that's changing. >> Yeah, we can do that. >> Something like that so that it's very clear to us what is changing within the job description. That would be really helpful. >> We can do that. >> Well, we have it in our packet. It's just not highlighted what was changed. So, it's like if you go online, they have it on the tabs. is just just it's already there. It's just making

111the highlights of what it is. I mean, it's here. >> I know, but Mr. VA had asked for it to be put on the agenda. The agenda just >> Okay. Well, I'm very excited for 14 because I want to know what sponsorship approval because that's my kind of a >> So, sponsorship approval between Dunkin Donuts and Smyrna High School. So, this is a $2,000 investment over six years for a total of 12,000 to become an official sponsor of Smyrna High Athletics. So, that Smyrna runs on Duncan is what it officially. >> I love it. >> Yep. >> Okay. Next 15. >> Next was um the last board meeting, we had discussion about offering a stipen for hard to fail structured setting EA positions. And I'm going to let everybody know our current open positions right

112now. We gave the board an update on email on Thursday. Let me get my list. >> Dr. Sullivan, we have currently 12 structure setting EA openings at this time. >> Great. Thank you. And then I'll give you guys the rest of everybody else in just a second. >> Our approximation would be about 70 So overall openings uh last week in classified on July 16th we had 88 as of today we have 81. So definitely trending in the right direction. Certified last week we had 49 and today we have 39. And so when I sent you all that that was on 716 and this was today so 722. So trending in the right direction. A little bit further for classified spa. We have 24 12 are the um structured setting but we have 12 other sped

113EAS for comparison we have 18 general ed EAS open and so 24 sped 18 general ed school nutrition is our biggest one 28 there and 11 in custodial for certified we have 15 in middle school 14 in elementary school 10 in high school and then six at the central office >> 18 24 sped 18 general So we have most of our sped positions filled. >> They're moving that way. Yeah. Which is >> not that atypical because we principles again just started back about a week and a half ago. And so they're not doing a lot of hiring, >> right? >> There shouldn't really be any hiring when they're not working, but some of them are working. Most of their work anyways, but the big hiring season's right now. >> Good. So we don't foresee you

114don't foresee having an issue with vacancies through the year. officer that will always have vacancies. >> Sure. Of course, it's a hard decision. It's a hard decision, but it's not going to be it's not going to um create issues with with um with with however many we have open. It's not going to have significant impact. >> It's not above anywhere else that would alarm me compared to the general ed one might alarm me more than the special ed one does right now. I wouldn't have expected to have 18 general ed. >> Okay, anybody wants to be an EA, you have to be 18. you can have some college and that will you will not have to take but if you don't have any college you have to take the paraprofessional test and it's you know

115and it's very enjoyable I loved it and uh I encourage anyone that wanting a job and wants to get in there and loves kids to apply it's really a great very worthwhile >> Miss Maxwell so Dr. So you don't foresee us having as a board having to come and do something as an incentiv to try to incentivize >> this position right now. >> So we're not going to see put ourselves in any type of lawsuits or any like that because of how many positions we have open today. >> Uh based on what we have right now. >> Okay. Great. Okay. Next. >> Nothing but financial report. Federal is our big thing we're looking at right now. >> Okay. Director's update. director's update. I'll do most of it Thursday, but we started our summer conference with

116our teachers today. So, our instruction department's done an amazing amount of work over at Blackman Middle and Blackman High. And so, we're there today and then we're there again tomorrow with our teachers. So, we we think 400 or so probably today, at least 400 teachers that are volunteering their time to be over there for training. And then Thursday, Friday are our two-day principal meetings. And I know they're thrilled to spend two days with us. So yeah, Thursday all day and Friday half a day and we appreciate MLOW um giving us their space so they're letting us go over there so we can get into a different environment. >> Any other I do want to say uh Camp Wonder was held uh July 7th through the 11th at Smyrna High School. I want to thank Smart

117High School and it was a wonderful camp. 12 kids came together and had a wonderful week and uh we'll be back next year probably that same week July 7th through 11th and uh stay tuned to be determined where we will be located but uh it was just a wonderful week and I just wanted to let you all know that I appreciate all the prayers and support. Anything else? Well, if that's everything, >> move tojourned.