February 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Kingsport City Schools Board of Education Regular Meeting

Description:  Dobyns-Bennett High School senior Jimmy Taylor will lead the Board of Education and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Description:  Mrs. Melissa Woods, Board President, will ask for a motion to accept the agenda, which includes the consent agenda. Once the agenda is accepted, the Board mutually agrees not to discuss any item of business or take any action that has not been accepted for the agenda.

Description:  Mr. Todd Golden will recognize Valoria Magdziuk, 7th grader at Robinson Middle School, for winning the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN) Battelle Education Poetry Coding Contest for Grade 7 students in Tennessee. This was the first ever Coding Poetry challenge for TSIN.

Description: 

Dr. Brandon Fletcher, Board Vice President, will recognize the 2025 Dobyns-Bennett Unified Bowling Team for their outstanding achievements this season!

Team members are Jon Autry, Hunter Baars, Hayden Dockery, Conner Godsey, Landon Goins, Joshua Landers, Zeke Lynch, Lucas Park, Cody Pash, Parker Pickup, Rome Pruitt, William Russell, and Thomas Ryans.

The coaches are Stephen and Michelle Baker. 

Over the last 15 months, this team has built a strong foundation within the Kingsport City Schools Inclusive Athletic Program that will inspire future generations. Their dedication, sportsmanship, and teamwork have brought immense pride to our community.

Achievements

• First-Ever Regular Season Match
  • Competed in Knoxville and won two matches
• Sectional Champions
  • Scores:
    • 274-163 victory over Karns
    • 275-197 victory over Gibbs
• State Tournament Runner-Up - January 2025
  • Scores:
    • 308-235 victory over Nolensville
    • 289-182 victory over Franklin
    • 322-259 close loss to Kenwood in the championship game

This incredible journey would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our athletes, partners, coaches, parents, and sponsors. We extend special thanks to Coaches Stephen and Michelle Baker, whose countless hours of dedication and leadership have been pivotal to the team’s success.

It is a privilege to honor this team for their accomplishments over the past two seasons. Their efforts embody the values of perseverance, inclusion, and excellence that Dobyns-Bennett High School and our community hold dear.

Congratulations to the 2025 DB Unified Bowling Team, and thank you for making us all so proud!

Description: 

Mrs. Jamie Jackson will recognize five Dobyns-Bennett High School seniors named as candidates in the 2025 United States Presidential Scholars Program. The students are as follows:

Rishad Dey (Academic Program)
Claire Li (Academic Program)
Griffin Moody (Career & Technical Education Program)
Delaney Morris (Career & Technical Education Program)
Cam Sewell (Academic Program)

The United States Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of the nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named as U.S. Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students. The U.S. Presidential Scholar is a recognition-only program and no scholarship funds are associated with this award. 

Students have the opportunity to become Presidential Scholars based on three paths of accomplishment. The majority of the Scholars are selected on the basis of broad academic achievement. Another twenty students are selected on the basis of their outstanding scholarship and accomplishment in career and technical education fields.

For the career and technical education component of the program, students are initially selected based on their accomplishments in career and technical education fields. Students are nominated through their Chief State School Officer (CSSO). Each CSSO can nominate up to five candidates who meet the U.S. Presidential Scholars candidacy requirements.

In April, the Commission on Presidential Scholars reviews the applications of all semifinalists based on the same criteria used by the review committee. All the selected scholars are honored for their accomplishments during the online National Recognition Program. The semifinalists will be announced in April and the national winners will be announced in May.

Students chosen as U.S. Presidential Scholars receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. in June for National Recognition Weekend featuring various events, enrichment activities and culminating in the presentation of the Presidential Scholars Medallion during a White House-sponsored ceremony.  

Description: 

This is the time when members of the audience are invited to comment on agenda items. If pre-approved by the Board Executive Committee, members of the community may also address the Board regarding non-agenda items. In order to speak on a topic not included on the agenda, per Board Policy 1.404, you must submit a written request to the Superintendent of Schools at least three (3) business days before the regular meeting.  

This is not the time to speak about personnel issues, as there are more appropriate ways in which these can be addressed. If you are not sure how to do this, please ask a Board member after the meeting. In your remarks, you may not refer to students by name without permission from a parent or guardian.

Speakers are requested to first state your name and limit your remarks to a maximum of three (3) minutes.

Thank you. 

Description:  Mr. David Frye, Chief Finance Officer, has provided a recommendation for Photography Services for Board consideration. A Request for Proposals for school photography services was published in December and proposals were opened on January 15, 2025.

It is recommended the Board approve entering into agreements for KCS school photography as follows:

Lifetouch - Sevier Middle School and Dobyns-Bennett High School.
PhotoGenius - Palmer Center, Adams Elementary School, Jackson Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary School, Johnson Elementary School, Kennedy Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, Roosevelt Elementary School, Washington Elementary School, and Robinson Middle School.

Description:  Dr. Andy True, Assistant Superintendent - Administration, reviewed two revised policies at the January work session for Board consideration for approval on First Reading at the February meeting. Revised policies only require one reading for adoption.

Description:  Dr. Brian Tate, Principal of Dobyns-Bennett High School, will present a recommendation to purchase one 24-passenger activity bus for Dobyns-Bennett Activities utilizing Sourcewell Contract Number 063020-BBB through Central States Bus Sales, Inc. The total cost of the purchase is $124,978.00. Funding will be from the Dobyns-Bennett Activities account.

Description:  Mr. Andy Arnold, Chief Technology Officer, will present a recommendation to utilize Tennessee statewide contract 68613 with Personal Computer Systems, Inc. to enter into an agreement to purchase internal connections and basic maintenance of those connections for FY 2025-2026. The agreement is contingent upon receiving E-Rate funding, Board of Education approval, and Board of Mayor and Aldermen approval.