April 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM - Smith County Board of Education Agenda

Discussion:  The Smith County Board of Education met at 5:00 pm on Monday, April 20, 2026, at the Smith County Board of Education. Mr. XXX provided the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. 

Discussion:  Mr. Tommy Manning, Chairman of the Board, welcomed all visitors and called the April 20, 2026, meeting of the board to order.

Discussion:  Request to approve the regular meeting minutes of the Board - Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Discussion:  Request to send all non-tenured teachers a letter of non-renewal as required by T.C.A. 49-5-409, "Continuing Contract Law."

Discussion: 

1. Smith County High School Lady Owls Soccer Team request approval to participate in the Smoky Mountain Cup Tournament in Gatlinburg on September 4-6, 2026. This will be an overnight trip.
2. Smith County High School Volleyball Team requests permission to participate in the 2026 Choctawhatchee High School Tournament in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on September 9-14, 2026. This will be an overnight trip.

Discussion:  Smith County Middle School requests permission to take a maximum of six students to the Tennessee FFA Leadership Training Camp, at Camp Clements in Doyle, TN, on May 25-29, 2026. This will be an overnight trip.

Discussion:  This letter seeks permission to conduct bids for access control (electronic door locks) to integrate into our existing systems. The number of schools receiving access control would be dependent on the cost of received proposals. Funding for this project would come from the 2025-2026 Public School Security Grant.

Discussion:  This letter seeks permission to apply for the Department of Justice COPS School Violence Prevention Program Grant. This is a competitive federal grant with no guarantee of award. This grant was previously awarded to Smith County Schools and funded our initial 3-year agreement for the Centegix badge system. Allowable expenses for this grant include panic buttons, security cameras, lighting, access control systems, radios, and intercom systems.

Discussion:  The School Nutrition Department requests permission to BID Food/Non Milk and Dairy Products for SY 2026-2027.

Discussion:  The Superintendent took the following actions:

1. Staff Placement

• Jean Key, substitute bus monitor, Transportation Department
• Amanda Silcox, cheer coach, Smith County Middle School

2. Transfers

• Melanie Candler, transferred from special education paraprofessional position at Carthage Elementary School to a CDC paraprofessional position at Carthage Elementary School
• Jeremy Hassler, transferred from assistant girls’ soccer coach to head girls’ soccer coach at Smith County Middle School

3. Resignations

• Margaret Batz, CDC paraprofessional, Carthage Elementary School
• Vicki Blair, bus monitor, Transportation Department
• Johnna Craighead, cheer coach, Smith County Middle School
• Delani Harrelson, assistant girls’ soccer coach, Smith County High School
• Kaycee Restina, full-time substitute, Carthage Elementary School

4. Suspension

• Jason Robert Smith, teacher, Smith County High School

Discussion:  Request to approve the contract for the Director of Schools


Contract to be emailed prior to board meeting

Discussion:  The following teachers are recommended to be granted tenure upon rehire for the 2026-2027 School Year:
 

School	Teacher	Motion	Second	Vote
Forks River Elementary School	Ellie Spike
Forks River Elementary School	Snowi Brune

Discussion:  Request for the June Board Meeting to be rescheduled to Monday, June 8, 2026

Discussion:  Smith County High School requests approval of a foreign exchange student application. This request would be in reference to the 2026-2027 academic year.

Discussion:  Request to adopt the following TSBA model policies to ensure compliance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations due to changes made by the Tennessee General Assembly and the State Board of Education.

As part of your policy subscription, the TSBA Policy Department monitors statutory and regulatory changes to ensure that our model policies comply with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Due to changes made by the Tennessee General Assembly and the State Board of Education, TSBA has updated the model policies outlined in this memo. Below are the recommended revisions.
Updated Model Policies

Policy 1.404 - Appeals to and Appearances Before the Board
On March 26, Governor Lee officially signed HB 22/SB 178 into law. As amended, this newly enacted legislation requires local governing bodies, including boards of education, to allow public comment "on any matter that is germane to the jurisdiction of the local governing body, regardless of whether such matter is an item on the agenda for the meeting." This is in addition to the requirement that boards allow public comment "on matters that are germane to the items on the agenda for the meeting."
This legislation, which became effective upon the Governor's signature, does not change the ability to place reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on the public comment period. For example, limiting speakers to a specific amount of time or when the public comment period occurs during the board meeting are still permissible. While the finalized version of the language is not available yet, we encourage all boards to review their current board policy and meeting procedures on public comment periods.

Policy 1.804 - Alcohol & Drugs in the Workplace
This updated policy contains a provision on examinations based on reasonable suspicion.

Policy 2.400 - Revenues
Due to the federal government's decision to discontinue production of pennies, the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury has issued guidance regarding payment practices. We have updated our corresponding model policy with suggested language that Boards may incorporate. 

Policy 5.114 - Personnel Files
This updated policy clarifies that disciplinary action is part of an employee’s personnel file.

Policy 5.1151 - Telework During Emergencies
This policy has been updated to clarify that telework outside of emergency situations is not permitted.

Policies 5.200-5.202 - Separation Practices for Employees
These policies include a provision for temporary suspensions that may involve suspending with pay in limited circumstances. We recommend reviewing this language with your board attorney.

Policy 5.302 - Sick Leave
This updated policy includes a provision on verifying absences of five days or longer. Additionally, it contains a provision regarding suspected misuse.

Policy 5.400 - Personnel Health Examinations/Communicable Diseases
This policy includes a new provision on providing options for employees who may be ill.



Policy 5.403 - Drug & Alcohol Testing for Employees
This updated policy contains new information on best practices for reasonable suspicion testing.

Policy 5.606 - Political Activities
This change includes a prohibition on using district owned property for filming political content.

Policy 5.608 - Tutoring for Pay
This updated policy includes a more detailed provision on tutoring arrangements.
 
Policy 5.800 - Director of Schools
This updated policy includes provisions clarifying the personnel responsibility of the Director.

Policy 6.411 - Student Wellness
The State Board of Education recently made updates to its Coordinated School Health Program Policy. These revisions were made to align State Board language with statutory requirements as well as reflect the current practices and needs of school districts. We have updated our corresponding model policy to align with these changes.

Discussion:  Request to approve the Athletic Training Agreement between STAR Therapy Institute, LLC and the Smith County Board of Education and shall be effective July 1, 2026.
The term of this Agreement shall be for the entire school year (as defined by regular class schedule) and shall automatically renew at the beginning of every successive school year unless terminated:

i)          Termination by Agreement.  In the event SCS and STAR shall mutually agree in writing with 30-day notice, this Agreement may be terminated on the terms and date stipulated therein, during the 2026-2027 school year. 
ii)         Termination for Cause.  This Agreement may be terminated by STAR or SCS if either party shall fail by omission or commission in any substantial manner to provide the services and/or fulfill its obligation as specified in this Agreement.
2.3.      Effects of Termination.  The effect of termination of this Agreement as hereinabove provided shall be that neither party shall have any further obligation hereunder except for obligations accruing prior to the date of termination and obligations by their nature extending beyond the date of termination

Discussion:  Request to approve the textbook adoption for 9-12 PE/Health Education and CTE: Information Technology and Advanced Manufacturing. This textbook adoption is a contract period of July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2033 and is a seven-year adoption cycle to provide high quality materials, which determines what instructional materials teachers can easily access that are aligned to Tennessee’s academic standards and support the needs of all students.

Grades 9-12 Tennessee Live Well Foundations of High School Health Human Kinetics
Grades 9-12 Tennessee Computer Science Foundations & Coding I CodeHS
Grades 9-12 iCEV Welding I & Welding II CEV Multimedia
Grades 9-12 Principles of Machining I & II Cengage Learning
Grades 9-12 iCEV Engineering Design I & II CEV Multimedia
Grades 9-12 iCEV Principles of Engineering & Technology CEV Multimedia

Discussion:  Request to approve the low bid of $2.999 per gallon for 1,500 gallons of regular 87 unleaded gasoline without ethanol from Mixon-Nollner for delivery on March 19, 2026.

Discussion:  This resolution amends the Central Cafeteria Budget following the approval of Resolution 9, which authorized the transfer of funds from the General Purpose School Fund to the Central Cafeteria Fund at the Board meeting held on March 17, 2026.

Discussion:  Review and approval of the FY27 General Purpose 141 Budget for School Year 2026-2027.

Discussion:  Review and approval of the FY27 Central Cafeteria 143 Budget for School Year 2026-2027.

Discussion: 

Annual Policy Review (April)

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. Tommy Manning, Chairman of the Board, during the meeting.

 

Policy 4.600, Grading System

Policy 5.7011, Instructional Assistants 

Policy 6.100, Student Goals

Policy 6.201, Compulsory Attendance Ages

Policy 6.202, Home Schools

Policy 6.204, Non-Resident Students 

Policy 6.205, Student Assignments

Policy 6.206, Transfers 

Policy 6.2061, Unsafe School Choice

Policy 6.207, Withdrawals

Policy 6.208, Release During School Hours

Policy 6.209, Child Custody/Parental Access

Policy 6.301, Rights and Responsibilities

Policy 6.302, Procedural Due Process

Policy 6.305, Student Concerns, Complaints and Grievances

Policy 6.306, Interference/Disruption of School Activities

Policy 6.307, Drug-Free Schools

Policy 6.3071, Student Alcohol and Drug Testing

Policy 6.3072, Athlete Drug Testing

Policy 6.308, Bus Conduct

Policy 6.309, Zero Tolerance Offenses

Policy 6.310, Dress Code

Policy 6.3101, Gang Activity or Association

Policy 6.311, Care of School Property

Policy 6.312, Use of Personal Communication Device and Electronic Devices

Policy 6.315, Detention

Policy 6.316, Suspension/Expulsion/Remand

Policy 6.317, Student Disciplinary Hearing Authority

Policy 6.318, Admission of Suspended or Expelled Students

Policy 6.402, Physical Examinations and Immunizations

Policy 6.405, Medicines

Policy 6.4052, Opioid Antagonist

Policy 6.409, Child abuse and Neglect

Policy 6.415, Student Suicide Prevention

Policy 6.500, Special Education Students

Policy 6.503, Homeless Students

Policy 6.505, Students in Foster Care

Policy 6.507, Students from Military Families

Policy 6.600, Student Records

Discussion:  Parent request for discipline review