July 27, 2021 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Rationale:  In attendance:  Chair Butch Campbell, Vice Chair David Settles, Wes Ballard, Amanda Moore, Becky Goff, Jimmy Richardson, and Roseann Barton.

Staff:  Dr. Trey Duke, Ralph Ringstaff, Lisa Trail, Greg Lyles, Joe Marlin, Sheri Arnette, Angela Fairchild, April Zavisa, Sara Walker, Kim Williams, Natalie Hardiman, Sia Phillips, Cathy Pressnell, Ken Rocha.

Assistant City Attorney Elizabeth Taylor. City Liaison Bill Shacklett was absent.

 

Rationale:  The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Salem Principal, Sia Phillips, and Reeves Rogers Principal, Natalie Hardiman.

Rationale:  Thank you to Austin Wilkes, former Scales & Overall Creek student, who completed an Eagle Scout project in July including the installation, landscaping , edging, mulch, and weeding around the OCE Teacher of the Year Trees, hummingbird/butterfly/bee gardens, and the officially registered Monarch Butterfly Garden at Overall Creek. He is with troop 398.

Girl Scouts Ada Vance and her Silver Award partner, Jana Bahloul, from Troup 2203 completed a new Little Free Library and school supply box at Hobgood Elementary.  Thank you and congratulations to these young ladies for completing their silver project.

The Bradley Bobcats unveiled their new mascot on signing day.  Now, they are looking for suggestions for naming their Bobcat.  Send ideas for names to Bradley Academy.

Kindercamp is happening the week of July 26 across our district.  Kindercamp allows our newest students to learn school rules, new routines, and Kindergarten readiness skills before the school year begins.  

Mark your calendars for September 18.  The City Schools Foundation Back to School Dash is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. at Overall Creek Elementary.


 

Rationale:  Introduction of Bradley Academy Principal Mr. Ken Rocha
Introduction of 3-6 Reading Coordinator Mrs. Cathy Pressnell

Rationale:  Amanda Moore would like to see more discussion around the Annual Agenda regarding benchmarks, the strategic plan, budget, and the Director's Evaluation. 

Chair Campbell said that these things can be discussed at any time. The Annual Agenda can be added to or taken away from at any point. He added that these items could be discussed at the Board Retreat on August 10.

Rationale:  The Board was very much in favor of the pay increase for ESP workers. Mrs. Moore asked if there was a flyer that she could share to help get the word out. Mr. Ringstaff stated that he would send something out to the Board.

Rationale:  Amanda Moore asked if this policy has to be added to be in compliance with state law.  Elizabeth Taylor said yes.

Rationale:  Jimmy Richardson asked if we have similar waivers or exemptions to other vaccinations and Ms. Taylor said yes, that parents provide a written oath stating why their child is exempt.

Rationale:  David Settles asked if MCS schools have isolation rooms as referred to in line 45 of the policy.  Dr. Duke explained that isolation rooms were not a practice of MCS. 

Rationale:  Before second reading of this policy, David Settles would like to add "as a homebound student" to line 16. Elizabeth Taylor will adjust the policy before second reading.
 

Rationale:  Dr. Duke updated the Board on several items. 

Dr. Duke said that last Tuesday we welcomed all new teachers to MCS by hosting MCS Signing Day which was organized by the HR Department and was a huge success. He thanked Mr. Ringstaff and his department for handling that. 

Dr. Duke stated that MCS also recently held 2 1/2 days of training for those new teachers at MTSU. About 75 teachers completed those trainings. He thanked Mrs. Arnette for planning this induction program for new teachers. He also thanked MTSU for always opening their facilities for us to use.

School offices have officially reopened for the school year. Everyone is back in the building.  One thing that Dr. Duke will be monitoring over the next few weeks is enrollment numbers. He encouraged all families to complete the registration forms.

Teachers return on Monday, August 2. Wednesday, August 4 will be the district in-service day. The remainder of the week teachers will be in their buildings preparing for the return of students.

We just finished the Summer School program and Bob the Book Bus was hard at work this summer.  Bob visited neighborhoods and summer school sites and distributed a total of 3,723 books to children in Murfreesboro over the summer. Dr. Duke thanked Ms. Teresa Crouch, the driver of the book bus.

Dr. Duke congratulated Lisa Trail, our Communications Director, who was recently selected to serve on the TN Department of Education's School District Foundation Engagement Counsel.  On this counsel, she will be able to provide input, feedback, and recommendations to TDOE and the Commissioner of Education. She will serve a 3-year term in this post.

The Department of Education announced participation rates today in a press release for all districts in last spring's TNReady Assessment. All negative accountability consequences associated with this assessment were removed as long as 80% of the student population tested.  Dr. Duke was very pleased to announce that Murfreesboro City tested over 97% of our students. Dr. Duke said that he was so pleased and proud of Mrs. Arnette, Mrs. Osborne, and the testing teams at the school level. He said that they all did Herculean work last year to assure that our district tested this huge percentage of students.
Mrs. Moore asked when we will know the actual scores.  Dr. Duke said that the scores should be released in the next few weeks.

Lastly, Dr. Duke stated that the CDC updated their guidance today, and the team received that information this afternoon.  The team will be reviewing that information and will keep the board and parents informed.

 

Rationale:  Mr. Ballard asked what construction was going on in the parking lot of Northfield.  Dr. Duke explained that we are working with the city and replacing the pea gravel entrance at the school.

Before the meeting adjourned, a person in the audience requested permission to address the Board.  Mr. Campbell asked the Board their thoughts on allowing the lady to speak.  Mr. Richardson made the motion to suspend the rules on the process of speaking before the Board and allowing her to speak for no longer than one minute. Mr. Ballard seconded the motion.  Ms. Barton stated that she thinks that the Board needs to be consistent with allowing or not allowing someone to address the Board. 

A roll call vote was taken to allow the person to speak:
Wes Ballard-aye
Roseann Barton-aye
Becky Goff-nay
Amanda Moore-nay
Jimmy Richardson-aye
David Settles-aye
Butch Campbell-nay
4 ayes, 3 nays, the motion passes. 

Mr. Campbell explained that the time would begin when the speaker's name was given.  Ms. Anna Stewart stated her name and said that she was the parent of two students in MCS. She read the CDC updated guidelines on recommending masks indoors for all vaccinated and non-vaccinated people. She asked if the district would follow public health guidance from the CDC during this public health emergency.  Mr. Ballard explained that the Board would accept the recommendation as input only and that Dr. Duke would review the recent updated guidance and refresh the plans for the district.