May 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM - Smith County Board of Education Agenda

Discussion:  The Smith County Board of Education met at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the Smith County Board of Education. Mr. McDonald provided the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. 

Discussion:  Mr. Ricky Shoulders, Chairman of the Board, welcomed all visitors and called the May 20, 2025, meeting of the board to order.

Discussion:  Request to approve the regular meeting minutes of the Board - Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Discussion:  Request permission to seek bids for janitorial supplies for the 2025-2026 school year.

Discussion:  Request permission to seek bids for copy paper for the 2025-2026 school year.

Discussion: 

1. Gordonsville High School FFA requests permission to attend Tennessee Forestry    

2. Gordonsville High School Cheer requests permission to attend Universal Cheer Association Cheer Camp in Gatlinburg on June 11-14, 2025. This will be an overnight trip.
3. Gordonsville High School volleyball team requests permission to travel to Ooltewah for volleyball camp on July 22-24, 2025. This will be an overnight trip.
4. Gordonsville High School Band requests permission for the following:
   1. Hold band camp from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm on the weeks of July 14-25, 2025
   2. Begin evening rehearsals (5:00 pm - 8:00 pm) on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting July 8^th
   3. Perform at the Opening Ceremony of the Smith County Fair on June 30, 2025
   4. Attend Drum Corps International Masters of the Summer Music Games at Nissan Stadium on July 25^th in Nashville

Discussion:  Smith County High School requests permission for the following:

1. Smith County High School Cheer requests permission to attend Universal Association Cheer Camp on July 15-17, 2025, at LaGrange, Georgia. This will be an overnight trip.
2. Smith County High School Band requests permission to attend band camp at TTU from July 20-24, 2025. This will be an overnight trip.

Discussion:  The Smith County Schools Technology Department asks permission to bid Chromebooks and desktop computers for students and employees for the 2025-2026 school year.

Discussion: 

The Superintendent took the following actions:

 

1. Staff Placement

• Ramay Ashburn, library paraprofessional, Smith County Middle School

• Jimmy Austin, mechanic, Transportation Department

• Connie Bowman, substitute bus monitor, Transportation Department

• Nicki Driver, cheer coach, Forks River Elementary School

• Conner Hughes, special education paraprofessional, Smith County High School

 

2. Transfers 

• Stephanie Wix, transferred from special education paraprofessional to regular paraprofessional, Carthage Elementary School

 

3. Resignations

• Lora Coffee, bus monitor, Transportation Department

• Carrie Brown-Jones, guidance counselor, Forks River Elementary School and Smith County Middle School

• Jessica Lafferty, paraprofessional, Defeated Elementary School

• Patricia Lee, teacher, Carthage Elementary School

• Courtney O’Neal, full time substitute, Smith County Middle School

• Kara Thompson, special education paraprofessional, Forks River Elementary School

• Patricia Hamlet, librarian, Gordonsville High School, retiring

• Tonie Manning, special education paraprofessional, New Middleton Elementary School

• Megan Malone, cook, Smith County Middle School

Discussion:  Request to change the September Board Meeting date to September 9, 2025, because the Superintendent Study Council Conference is September 14-17, 2025.

Original date - September 16, 2025 
Requested date - September 9, 2025

Discussion:  Request to approve the Differentiated Pay Plan for the 2025-2026 school year.

Discussion:  This letter is to ask for approval of the attached line-item amendments for the FY25 141 General Purpose Budget in order to be in compliance with audit.

Regular Instruction  $27,000
Attendance                    $500
Health Services           $4,700
Early Childhood            $350
Transportation            $8,500
Total                           $41,050

Discussion:  Request to approve the following contracts for Special Education services for the 2025-2026 school year:

• Request to approve Michelle Woodard for an eighty (80) day contract as a psychological testing and evaluation personnel for the 2025-2026 school year.
• Parent transportation - The Smith County Board of Education shall pay the costs for transportation of 3 children to Smith County Schools at .45 cents per mile per day for home transportation.
• Therapy Service Agreement between Smith County Board of Education and Empowering Therapy Services Inc. to provide occupational therapy and physical therapy services beginning August 1, 2025, and ending July 31, 2026, unless terminated sooner pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 6 or under applicable law.
• Therapy Services Agreement between Smith County Board of Education and Stellar Therapy Services, LLC, to provide therapy services from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The term may be extended for up to two years following the end of the initial term, by mutual agreement of the parties.
• Contractual agreement between Smith County Board of Education and Deborah L. Curlee Communication Consultants, LLC, d/b/a Sidekick Therapy Partners for services beginning on or about July 1, 2025, for a one-year term. The term may be extended by mutual agreement of the parties.
• Contractual agreement between Smith County Board of Education and Vanderbilt for hearing and speech services by an educational audiologist beginning July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
• Contractual agreement between Smith County Board of Education and Vanderbilt for hearing and speech services by a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing beginning July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
• Request to approve the Partnership Agreement between L.B.J. & C. Head Start and Smith County Board of Education for the 2025-2026 school year.
• Contractual agreement between the Smith County Board of Education and Genesis Learning Centers for the provision of educational and therapeutic day school services for students with disabilities beginning July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
• Speech Language Pathologist - $48.00 per hour for services and mileage in the amount subject to the board policy for standard travel
• Spanish Interpreter - $50.00 per meeting as needed for language translation services
• Certified Surrogate Parent - $50.00 per meeting as needed/meetings that succeed 1 hour, then payment will be paid proportionally up to $25.00 per hour

Discussion:  Request to accept the low bid of $2.112 per gallon for 7,500 gallons of diesel fuel from Mixon-Nollner for delivery on May 8, 2025.

Discussion:  After reviewing the bids submitted for the roof repair on the former Save-A-Lot building, we request the school board’s approval of the bid of $13,500 submitted by Summers Roofing.

Discussion:  After reviewing the bids submitted for the exterior metal on the former
Save-A-Lot building, we request the school board’s approval of the bid
of $30,150 submitted by Summers Roofing.

Discussion:  After reviewing the bids submitted for the flooring on the former Save-A-Lot building, we request the school board’s approval of the bid of $156,430 submitted by Fuller Flooring.
Note: Fuller Flooring submitted the two lowest bids. The bid of $156,430.00 is the option that includes a textured surface vs the bid of $138,120.00 that is non-textured.

Discussion:  After review of the bids submitted for the brick/masonry/soffit installation on the former Save-A-Lot building, we request the school board’s approval of the bid of $29,692.43 and $5,200 for soffit installation submitted by Cumberland Supply.

Discussion:  After review of the bids submitted for stucco re-surfacing of the former
Save-A-Lot building, we request the school board’s approval of the bid
of $16,600 submitted by Cumberland Supply.

Discussion:  This letter is to ask for approval of the attached Revenue line-item amendments for the FY25 141 General Purpose Budget in order to be in compliance
with audit. 

Two of our schools, CES and NMS,  have each received grants from TVA Energy Right: SUP Learning Environment Grant to do building upgrades.  CES received $25,000 and plans on purchasing playground equipment. NMS received $10,000 and plans on upgrading bathrooms for the younger students.  According to Tamara Beckman, our independent auditor, these purchases need to be purchased by the BOE and then the reimbursement will be paid to the BOE, and not the individual schools.  We must purchase these items first, then we will receive the reimbursement.

Discussion:  Parent Request for Discipline Review

Discussion:  Director Smith updated the Board regarding an estimate for adding parking to New Middleton Elementary School. An estimate for the project is $75,000. The Board discussed that if they did that project for one school, they would need to do it for several others in the county. Principal Frye said that he cannot prevent parents from getting to school early in the afternoons for pickups, but once they start releasing students, it only takes about 10 minutes to clear the traffic out. He said that money could be better spent securing the perimeter of the school. 

Discussion:  Please review the following policies for the Smith County Board of Education to remain compliant in policy review.  If you find any inconsistencies or if something needs to be discussed regarding a policy listed below, please bring it to the attention of Mr. Ricky Shoulders, Chairman of the Board, during the meeting.

Policy 6.400, Guidance Program
Policy 6.4001, Student Surveys, Analyses, and Evaluations
Policy 6.401, Student Health Services
Policy 6.403, Communicable Diseases
Policy 6.4031, Pediculosis (Head Lice)
Policy 6.404, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Policy 6.406, Student Psychological Services
Policy 6.407, Student Social Services
Policy 6.408, Supervision of Students
Policy 6.4081, Safe Relocation of Students
Policy 6.410, Accidents and Illnesses
Policy 6.411, Student Wellness
Policy 6.412, Emergency Allergy Response Plan 
Policy 6.413, Prevention and Treatment of Sports Related Concussions
Policy 6.414, Prevention and Treatment of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Policy 6.501, Married and/or Pregnant Students
Policy 6.502, Foreign Exchange Students
Policy 6.504, Migrant Students
Policy 6.601, Annual Notification of Rights
Policy 6.602, Inspection and Correction Procedures
Policy 6.604, Media Access to Students
Policy 6.700, Student Activities
Policy 6.701, Student Solicitations/Fund-Raising
Policy 6.702, Student Clubs and Organizations
Policy 6.703, Student Government
Policy 6.704, Student Publications
Policy 6.705, Student Social Events
Policy 6.707, Contests for Students
Policy 6.708, Awards and Scholarships
Policy 6.709, Student Fees and Fines
Policy 6.711, Student Volunteers