January 25, 2024 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Meeting

Discussion:  (See above)

Others in Attendance:

Earl Patton, Attorney
Heather Mullinax - Media

Student Representatives:

Owen Brown - Cumberland County High School
Nicole Ranson - Stone Memorial High School 

Discussion: 
- Boston led the board members in a Moment of Silence. After a moment of silence, Jonah, LeiElla, Mayona, and Josiah Draper from North Cumberland Elementary led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Discussion:   - Boston advised, next on the agenda is welcome to our visitors. I would like to say it is so wonderful to see all the smiling faces out there tonight. Some new, some old. Talk about good times we've had, but we do appreciate you being here tonight. Taking your time out to spend with us and helping us make the right decisions for our children. Again thank you, we appreciate it.

Discussion:   - Boston advised, Mr. Stepp, Kids First Award. Stepp replied, so Kids First Award, we're going to start off with Pepe Perron. Come on up. Mr. Perron was unable to attend. Stepp continued, I guess we'll push it to next month, but we do have another Kid's First Award tonight. This goes to Heather Mullinax. So as you know she's going on a new adventure and she's been wonderful to our kids and Cumberland County. Reporting some amazing stories. She did a lot of great things for Cumberland County Schools. So we can't thank you enough. It reads Kids First Award, awarded to Heather Mullinax for exceptional selfless service to the kids of Cumberland County Schools. Thank you for your continued support and love for our kiddos. Stepp presented Mullinax with a plaque, flowers and a gift from the Board of Education. Stepp continued, I'd like to also on behalf of the Cumberland County Schools thank each one (board members) of you for your service with the school board. We can't thank you enough for stepping up and being willing to make Cumberland County Schools the best we can. So thank you. Boston replied, many of you in the audience, I think some of us up here know how valuable Heather Mullinax has been to our school district. She has been here through thick and thin and she has reported fairly and she's such a wonderful person and we will miss you. Mullinax replied, I'll miss the schools and I'll miss all of you, just not your meetings. Boston replied, didn't I say she was terribly honest. Thank you, Heather and best wishes on your adventure.

Discussion:   
- Boston replied, next is our Special Recognition for our Student Board Representatives. I can't see so, I'm just going to announce them. Owen Brown, Braden Whitehair, and Nicole Ranson
 

Discussion:  Boston advised, next on the agenda is the Charitable Fund. Stepp advised, a big thank you to Dr. Wood, who is instrumental in creating this whole Charitable Fund thing. It's amazing, does wonderful things. We have forms for you to fill out if you'd like to go ahead and donate to that. We encourage everyone to get in to support the kids, but this is amazing Dr. Wood and thank you so much. Herring advised, I would like to talk for a moment. For those of you who know me, you know I'm not afraid at all, of getting in front of a microphone. So I need everybody who's out in the hall to hear this, which is why I came to the microphone, because I am posing a challenge to everyone who receives a check tonight. So I'm not sure everyone realizes how the charitable fund works. It's an endowment, so whenever you make a donation, that donation actually lasts forever, because the money that is distributed twice a year. So every time that we distribute it comes from the interest that is made on the donations. So when you donate it lasts forever. So there needs to be more donations. So we can give away more money, so I'm issuing a challenge to you. If you get a check tonight, I want you to take this flyer that explains the Charitable Foundation and give it to somebody. So they can make a donation. Everybody going to do that? So I needed the mic so everybody actually hears that. So that's your challenge and everybody that's in here that needs a tax write off or something like your 403b donation right here, because it goes into every classroom in every school in this district and nowhere else. So I need everybody to know that.

Dr. Farley announced the recipients for the Spring Charitable Fund Awards and Mr. Stepp and Mrs. Herring presented the checks. 

Spring Awards - January 25, 2024 Total Awarded $17,454

School	Name	Subject	Amount
Brown Elementary	Hannah VanWinkle	Book Club	$250.00
Brown Elementary	Aaron Marsee	Music Class	$250.00
Brown Elementary	Miranda Sims	Science & Social Studies	$250.00
Brown Elementary	Cindy Kemmer	FFA Team	$330.00
Brown Elementary	Paula Bailey	Chess Club	$330.00
Brown Elementary	Elizabeth McDonald	Visual Art/Art Club	$330.00
Crab Orchard Elementary	Erin Jackson & Brianna Kerley	8th grade	$330.00
Crab Orchard Elementary	Jessica Marsee	Band/Choir/General Music	$330.00
Crab Orchard Elementary	April Shelton & Pam Graves	Junior BETA	$330.00
Homestead Elementary	Jennifer Lawrence	7th-8th grade Science Class	$330.00
Homestead Elementary	Darlene Wallace	B3 Fitness	$300.00
Homestead Elementary	Rebecca Wood	RTI	$330.00
Homestead Elementary	Kelsey Eller	ESL	$330.00
Martin Elementary	Brandon Fletcher	Band	$250.00
Martin Elementary	Nicole Graham	8th grade Math	$250.00
Martin Elementary	Stephanie Brown	Math Competition Team	$250.00
Martin Elementary	Chealsey Baxter	PE	$250.00
North Elementary	Chasidy Turner	6th-7th grade Math	$250.00
North Elementary	Misty Goss	PE	$250.00
North Elementary	Ashton Hayes	FFA	$250.00
North Elementary	Julia Timson	STEM Club	$250.00
Pleasant Hill Elementary	Kim Nelson	4th grade Science Fair	$214.00
Pleasant Hill Elementary	Kim Nelson	Chess Club	$300.00
Pleasant Hill Elementary	Samantha Essex	FFA	$330.00
South Cumberland Elementary	Jamie White	RTI	$370.00
South Cumberland Elementary	Andi Casey & Stacy Dykes	Student Council	$250.00
South Cumberland Elementary	Mario Laborde	Band	$250.00
South Cumberland Elementary	Leigh Ann Burgess	Lego League	$370.00
Stone Elementary	Sheri Sather	ESL	$200.00
Stone Elementary	Beth Troyer	5th grade Science	$400.00
Stone Elementary	Shannon Brown	Art Room	$200.00
Stone Elementary	Kristin Lopez	Band	$200.00
Phoenix School	George Kington	Transition Academy	$100.00
Phoenix School	Sherry Smith	Prom Committee	$300.00
Phoenix School	Sherry Smith	Media Center	$200.00
Cumberland County High	Jeff Wright	Jets News Network	$300.00
Cumberland County High	Daniel Rickman	Photography	$300.00
Cumberland County High	Bruce Johnson	Band	$500.00
Cumberland County High	Bekki Atkinson & Gretchen Daenell	Reader Volunteer	$300.00
Cumberland County High	Daisy Filler & Kaytlin Hobbs	Varsity Cheer	$500.00
Cumberland County High	Daisy Filler	BETA	$500.00
Cumberland County High	Lindsey Atkin	Vocal Music & Music Theatre	$300.00
Cumberland County High	Angela Robbins	Jet Theatrix	$350.00
Cumberland County High	Angela Robbins	Theatre 2 Class	$350.00
Cumberland County High	Cub Whitson	Soccer	$350.00
Cumberland County High	Cub Whitson	Boys Soccer	$350.00
Cumberland County High	Stuart Bowen	Middle School Track & Field	$300.00
Cumberland County High	Randy Herring	Middle School Boys & Girl Golf	$300.00
Cumberland County High	Alesha Gibson	Middle School Volleyball	$300.00
Stone Memorial High	Rachel Martin	English Department	$500.00
Stone Memorial High	Ethan Tipton	Marching Band	$300.00
Stone Memorial High	Tristessa Luetkemeyer	Art Club	$300.00
Stone Memorial High	Anna Bryant & Carol Smith	BETA	$500.00
Stone Memorial High	Chelsea Phillips & Krissy Headrick	Food Pantry	$500.00
Stone Memorial High	Carol Smith	FBLA	$250.00
Stone Memorial High	Brittany Bilbrey & Peggy Potter	Craft Club	$400.00

Discussion:   (See Above)

Discussion:  - Declarations of Conflict - Per TCA 49-2-202 Board of Education Members who have relatives (per the statue: relative means: Spouse, parent, parent-in-law, child, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, or any person who resides in the same household as you) employed by the system are asked to raise your hands to identify yourself. "Do you certify that the votes that you make tonight will be in the best interest of the school system, regardless of the effect that your vote may have upon the employment of your relative or relatives?" Boston and King certified by saying individually, "I do."

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #1) Boston advised, next on the agenda is the Approval of the December 7, 2023 BOE minutes. I'll entertain a motion to approve. Stout replied, move to approve. Boston replied, I need a second. Hamby replied, second. Boston continued, so we have a first and a second to approve the BOE Minutes for December the 7th. A Voice Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #2) Boston advised, moving on. We have the approval of the agenda. Hale move to approve. Stout replied, second. Boston replied, okay so we have a first and second to approve the agenda. A Roll Call Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   - Boston advised, next is acknowledgment of elected officials. There were no elected officials in the audience at this time. Mrs. Collen Mall joined the meeting during Community Comments. 

Discussion:   - Boston advised, next on the agenda is the Community Comments. We have two that have signed up. If you would, please come to the podium, the microphone, state your name, and your address. I think the first is Mr. Goddard and the subject on which you're speaking.

Name - Christopher Goddard
103 Phyllis Street
Crossville, Tennessee 38555
Subject: Security concerns, notification system, school vouchers and rejecting federal funds.

Name - Julia Timson 
6960 South York Highway 
Clarkrange, Tennessee 38553
Subject: Survey results on why teachers are leaving and teachers' dress code.

Safdie advised, Julia your time is up. Can we make a motion to extend it? Boston replied, I'll make a motion to extend. Safdie replied, you have 30 seconds. Timson continued. 

Timson asked, the board if a colleague of hers from Putnam County could speak. She advised, she did not know that she had to sign up for Community Comments. After discussion Safdie replied, I make a motion to wave our procedure and allow this person to make a presentation for three minutes. Boston asked, is that a motion? Safdie replied, that's a motion. Boston replied, I'll second it. Safdie continued, the motion on the floor is to wave the procedures that require a speaker to present their name and topic prior to the meeting and present it to the chairperson. Boston replied, we have a motion on the floor to wave the procedure for Community Comments. This young lady drove from out of county. She is a parent and was not aware of the procedure that we had a sign-up sheet outside. There is a motion on the floor to allow her to speak. I seconded that motion. Any discussion? Hale asked, this would be just for tonight? Boston replied, just for tonight. Any discussion? A Voice Vote was taken. 

Name: Hannah Bratton
158 East Street Apartment A4
Putnum County, Tennessee 
Subject: January 11th at Martin Elementary and suggestions to restore safety protocols. 

Discussion:   - Boston continued, next on the agenda is our School Board Reports. First is the TLN Report, Mrs. Shannon Stout

Discussion:  Stout advised, the Second Legislative Session of the 113th General Assembly kicked off on Tuesday, January 9th. The legislature did not meet the week of January 15th due to weather conditions, resulting in this week being the first full week of committee and subcommittee meetings. There is a bill that could affect policy in our district that made it through the K through 12 subcommittee this week and it's House Bill 1630, Senate Bill 1711 and it mandates that all state universities and K through 12 public and charter schools adopt a policy for the use of AI by students, teachers and staff for instructional and assignment purposes. They also introduced an amendment to the bill that added clarifying language to the definition of artificial intelligence, which is defined in the bill as computer software that is designed to simulate human intelligence through machine learning and to perform tasks that would normally require human involvement. So now the bill is moving on to the House Education Administration Committee, but they haven't put it on their calendar as of yet. So that's one of the education ones that made it through this week. We're not yet to the final filing dates for bills, so they still have until the 31st for the House and the 1st for the Senate. So I'm sure there's going to be some more bills flowing in before those dates. I also wanted to bring you up to speed on the Federal Education Funding Joint Working Group. The Senate put out their report and recommendations. They released it on January 9th. The report includes information on Federal Funding received, laws and requirements associated with Federal funds. How to eliminate unwanted restrictions, options for consideration and further questions and considerations. The report, they said is preliminary, pending further discussions. At the time of their report release, the House and Senate had not agreed to mutual recommendations. They're still waiting on the House Report. They haven't given a date on when that might come out. So it's forthcoming based on the Senate Report and the current status of the joint working group. It's really apparent that the process is still in its early stages and they don't seem to be looking to want to rush through it. There's a lot of good information in that report and I've downloaded a copy of it. So if any of you are interested in getting that, just let me know and I'm happy to email it to you. 

Discussion:   - Boston asked any other board members that have received training that they'd like to report? No one responded. 

Discussion:   - Boston advised, Mr. Patton your Legal Report. Patton replied, there are three matters of pending litigation currently before the board. The Kirkman Case, which involves a student that fell on some bleachers out at Pleasant Hill. My understanding in that matter is that the plaintiff's council in that case is withdrawing. They filed a motion to withdraw from the case. Now what that means to the litigation and how it develops from here remains to be seen, but I'll probably have a little more update for you on that next month. You've got the JUUL Litigation. I don't know Mr. Stepp, have you received any further communication from the Franz Firm? Stepp replied, I signed the contract, sent it back. It was good to go. So that's all. Patton continued, and I do expect that we'll receive some more news on that before the next board meeting. So hopefully we'll have a better update there and the other matter is fairly new to us, which is the Social Media Lawsuit and again we're still kind of in the preliminary stages there. I think they'll be reaching out to the to Central Office for some information here soon. I'm sure. I'll have more to tell you next month.

Discussion:   - Boston advised, next on the agenda is our Director's report. Stepp replied, absolutely. Start out with some good stuff going on. So first of all, I want to say thank you to our Maintenance Department and all of our custodians for all that they did during the last 10 days that kept the schools running, kept everything safe and clean. A shout out to School Nutrition and Coordinated School Health for their sweet potato raised beds at North Cumberland. The kids love that and did a great job. Transportation again, they worked through all 10 days of this. The mechanics, for their hard work, dedication, willingness to help with covering bus routes. So we're short 13 routes, as everyone knows. Administrative Assistant always go above and beyond. The drivers and their willingness to help out. Amazing group of employees. They raised $1,000 for the Lighthouse Christian Camp through Transportation. So that was awesome. In Special Education, teachers and staff working tremendously hard to meet the needs of every student. Shout out to SMHS, Mrs. Fragopoulos and her theater students. Now for the amazing news. All the students receive many college call backs per person, so that's a conference for theater students and Western Kentucky, MTSU, UTC, Center College and others offering our students opportunities at their universities. Out of approximately 300 students, two of our students received top three recognition and performed at closing ceremony. That was Luke Smith and James Ramsey. That is two out of three recognized were from SMHS. Then $1,000 scholarship was announced. The winner is Luke Smith and in February Luke, James and Bailey Gunner will head to the conference to perform and work with professionals as All State and All East Regional winners along with, Payton Lee as an All State and all East alternate. Zola Breer is now talking to universities based on her auditions. Sophomore Alissa Johnson who prepared herself for next year by going through the process this year and she's ready to go over colleges and they're just generally proud of all the SMHS theater things. I got tons of pictures I have to share online with everyone. For CTE, Dr Eldridge and all of her people. Competitive TVA grants received at Pine View for STEM, North for agriculture and CCHS for culinary. Congratulations guys for winning those grants. The epic bus was sent off today and it will be returned to us as a Career Mobile Lab for our students. Martin Elementary STEM students won first place in the presentation section during the robotics competition on Saturday in Knoxville. Writing process on the steps to making gingerbread houses. So that was the ESL students from the WIDA Assessment Language Proficiency Skills. So they work through several projects, food from recipes. They used their cookbooks and did all those great things. So that was pretty awesome, and then through our Tennessee All Corp Grant. We were able to purchase new hands-on learning materials that will target skills such as reading comprehension, main idea, test taking strategies. Each school will receive approximately $1,000 in materials along with the information training through our grant from the state. We were able to purchase $112,000 worth of CKLA curriculum for the ESL teachers. Also through our grant we will be purchasing big books for all K-2 classrooms. These big books are used to enhance our curriculum delivery and engage our student learners in the reading process and that's about a $10,000 value. So that's pretty awesome. Then also last but not least the SMHS Chick-fil-A Leadership Students in connection obviously with Derek Allen and Chick-fil-A. They donated book sets for us to give out to our students on the book bus this summer. So thank you, Shannon O'Neal and their club sponsors. She's the library media specialist. These are the book packets, so up to 150 children will get these and then the students that were in that process wrote quotes out for the students when they get these. So its a pretty neat project. So great job there.

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #3) Stepp continued, and the only thing I have for you guys to vote on is the CCTE HES Grants for Growing. They want to apply for that. So that's something I want to ask your permission to go ahead and do. King replied, move to approve 15.A. Hamby replied, second. Boston replied, we have a motion to approve the HES Grants for Growing CCTE and we have a second. Any discussion? A Voice Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #4) Stepp advised, all I have left are the regular monthly reports, newsletters and calendars. Do y'all have any questions on any of those items? No one responded. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #5)

Discussion:   - Boston replied, next on the agenda is School Board Committees. Mrs. Hamby, Policy Committee. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #6) Hamby replied, I was not able to be here for the committee meetings this month due to illness. So I'm going to allow Mrs. Elizabeth to go ahead and report on this, because she did take care of the Policy Committee and I appreciate that very much. Stull replied, we did our meeting on the 9th and we went ahead and passed all four of the policies in committee for board approval. Hamby asked, was there one that had question? Stull replied, there was the Use of Personal Communication Devices. There's not an actual cross-reference to be had and that was the only thing that we had asked to go ahead and have put on that one. Stepp replied, TSBA didn't provide one and most of the other counties didn't. That falls on local. So we also I believe attached a procedure to it, so you could see what the principals want to use for procedurally. So that would be the procedure to this policy. Hamby replied, so I know at one point the procedures were a little bit outdated compared to the policy. Stepp replied, these are the ones the principals like. We polled all the principals and they prefer this. Boston replied, and it was revised July the 18th of 23. Stout asked, so we going to go ahead and reference the procedure at the bottom of the policy? So the parents know where to go to see the details. Stepp replied, we could. We don't do that on any of the others, but we can do it special for this one, we can. Hamby replied, what everyone needs to know is the procedure manual is public. It is on our website, so is the Policy Manual. So in most policies that needs procedures, they're there and they're easy to find. So I don't know that we need to cross-reference like you said. Most of our others do not have a cross-reference on it. If it has procedures, the procedures
are going to be in the book. Safdie replied, well you know I appreciate your input. I differ just a little bit okay and with respect. If we provided a page number for the procedures in their Procedure Manual, that would assume that the Procedure Manual has page numbers and it would also assume that there are hundreds of policies. So that if we decide to cross-reference for parents, it would be a long-term project where policies could be reference or cross-reference to procedures over a year, two, three year period of time. Hamby replied, and I understand that, in respect that if we're going to do that with one policy, we need to do that with several that they are cross-referenced into the Procedure Manual right? Safdie replied, well we could begin the process. It doesn't mean that we have to do all of them at one time, but I know going through the policies that sometimes I would like a reference and that's kind of an issue that we can bring up and discuss some more in the future. Hamby replied, I agree with that. I agree that it would be nice to know that there is a procedure to go along with that policy. So yes I agree. Safdie replied, and then it puts it without being obtrusive, it would put pressure on the Director of Schools to make sure that there is a procedure for each of the policies and you know when you come in new, you don't know what has been previously written by other Directors. So that would put more pressure on you. You don't need any more pressure. Stepp replied, it's all good. So the way it's set up currently just for parents that want to reference procedures. When you go into the actual policy link, you go to other helpful links and there's a line. The very first line says the Cumberland County Procedures. When you click on that, then it shows you six different folders. So you got the Board Operations Folder. You can click on that and go to the policy number and it goes to that. So it's set up that way, not by exact page numbers. So like for this one, you click on the folder number six that says students and you'd scroll down until you got to 6.312 and then those procedures are there. So that's the current way to get to it electronically. TSBA houses all this. Davis replied, off topic or on topic. What happens if the student decides that they don't want to give their communication device? Stepp replied, they stay up in the office and the principals will call the parents.
I always turn to the parents. I have your child here. They're not going to give up their advice. Please come up. Davis replied, should this say that? Hamby replied, it's in the procedure. Nichols asked, I was just going to say, so that would be written in the procedure? On how do we handle it. Hamby replied, or should be in the procedure. Davis replied, well that's what I'm asking. Should it say that in there? Boston replied, it says in the first offense, device will be taken and held for the parent or guardian to pick up and documented warning. Davis asked, but if they decide they don't want to give the device up? Boston replied, they're going to be sitting there until the parent shows up and we'll hand it to the parent. Stepp replied, we can get detailed like that, yep. Boston replied, well and that's in the procedures and Mr. Stepp is in charge of writing the procedures. So that is something he can take care of without altering or amending the policy. Stepp replied, thank you for the advice. It was good. Boston asked, do we have a motion on the floor? Hamby replied, it came out of policy. So I'm going to make a motion that we approve these. Stull asked, these were the first reading is that correct? Boston and Hamby replied, first reading. King replied, I have a question. We shouldn't be approving the Administrative Procedures. We should strike that from the record. Boston replied, we're not. Hamby replied, thank you. No, just the policies. Boston replied, the procedures were attached just so that the board was aware that these were the procedures. It was for information purposes only. Hamby replied, so this is for Policy 2.200, 4.700, 6.312 and it came out of Policy Committee. I made a motion that we approve and if there's any discussion. Boston asked, did everyone read the policy with the use of Personal Communication Devices and they were happy with them? Stull replied, there was one portion that I had thought would be good to go ahead and keep in, but it was line 16 and 17. I thought was good to go ahead and keep in there. At no time will a student utilize a personal communication device in an attempt to undermine instructional practice or violate an individual's privacy. Hale replied, I agree. I like that in there. Our first policy was good. Stepp replied, this is the model TSBA policy that we recommend. Hamby replied, yeah this came from TSBA, but we do not have to follow exact. As long as we're not breaking the law. I have no problem with amending my motion and adding line 16 and 17 back to this policy. So I will change my motion that we approve on first reading 2.200, 4.700 and 6.312 with adding line 16 and 17 back into 6.312. Stout replied, if we're going to look at adding the 16 and 17 back in, would they sit better after line 12 instead of at the end where they are? Talk about that the principal or designee may also grant a student permission to use such a device at his or her discretion and at no time will any student utilize a personal communication device and attempt to undermine. Stull replied, I like that. Hamby replied, yes. We move 16 and 17 up under line 12. Stull replied, I'll second that. Boston asked, what was that? Hamby replied, the motion is that we will approve on first reading, because this is going to come back anyway, but on first reading policy 2.200, 4.700 and 6.312 with 6.312 adding back in lines 16 and 17, but moving it up under line 12. That was my motion. Mrs. Stull seconded. Any discussion? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. Boston replied, okay so on first reading we have approved the policies presented. The procedure was not approved. That was for your information only based upon Mr. Stepp is in charge of the procedures.

Discussion:   - Boston advised, next on the agenda is the Athletic Committee, Mr Davis. Davis replied, we have not met this year. So we are intending on meeting at the February 13th date to discuss a handful of items at that time, but really just want to I guess congratulate Martin and Homestead on their first ever trips to the sectionals in the TMSAA tournaments. They're going to be representing our County in for the first time this weekend. So wish all them the best of luck. Go Bulldogs, go Eagles. So that's all that I had there.

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #7) Boston advised, on the Budget Committee we have not met. February the 13th is when our next scheduled policy group meetings are. Mrs. Bray, how are we on the salary schedules? Bray replied, I'm probably 98% there. I'll be ready. Boston replied, that means we've got 2% to go and we should be able to get rocking and rolling. Perfect.

Boston replied, next on the agenda is Mrs. Stout had requested for discussion the May 24th Budget Committee Minutes and the May 30th Budget Committee Minutes. Stout replied, no discussion. Just so we can get them approved since they've been pending. Boston replied, it's only on there for discussion. Safdie asked, is there an attachment of these? Boston replied, no. Boston asked, were they attached? Hamby replied, yes they are. Safdie replied, so they are public record? Boston replied, they are public record now. Stout replied, okay. So they're going to be posted out there like any other meeting notes for transparency. Safdie, Hamby and Boston replied, yes they are. Stout asked, is there any reason why we're not approving them? Boston replied, we haven't had a Budget Committee Meeting and just quite frankly as general practice that they are always approved at the next meeting and as soon as Mrs. Bray gets us, then we'll have a meeting and we can get those approved. Stout replied, so we've had several opportunities with the Budget Committee members gathered together for these types of meetings and other meetings and being that were well past the recommended 30-day time frame. Boston replied, I don't think we have had many opportunities. I think the only opportunity we've had is for the January the 9th. Stout replied, well that was committee, but we've been gathered as a board every month since May. Boston replied. I understand. Is there any further discussion? No one responded. 

Discussion:   - Boston advised, moving on, Mr. Safdie Building and Grounds. Safdie replied, the Building and Grounds Committee met and we had no real business other than just general discussion. I think that we referred a bid to Mr. Stepp to look at some bidding process. Do you want to tell us what took place then? Stepp replied, yeah working right now with Mr Chamberlin on bidding out the leak at Pine View. The roof temporary fix is temporary now. So once I get that together I'll contact Mrs. Boston and we will see which direction we go from there. Safdie replied, he's referring to the roof leak, fixing the roof. Boston asked, now were the alarms referred as well? Safdie replied, no. Boston continued, CCHS alarm. Safdie replied, no we just had general discussion of the alarms and the potential cost of those alarms. Boston replied, I don't know if this is inappropriate, but I'm going to ask the question. On the tennis courts, which come out of building and grounds or has been discussed. Do we have an alternate place that these children can practice? Nichols replied, big question. Stepp replied, yes the principal's have been working on that. Dr. Callahan has an alternate place for CCHS. I think SMHS still has working courts there on campus. Boston replied, SMHS is on campus. Ranson replied, I'm on the tennis team at Stone and we do have working courts there, like one or two of them that have really bad cracks, but they're still able to be played on for practice. Boston asked, so you're still practicing. Ranson replied, yes. Boston replied. okay well thank you. Boston asked, and CCHS is going? Callahan replied, Mr. Perron has been gracious enough to allow us to practice at his facility. Boston replied, thank you. That's quite a trip down there. Nichols replied, I was just going to say that's a distance. Boston continued, that's a good court. I'm sorry to kind of go off topic a minute, but I thought about that. Safdie replied, actually we we have that as a general discussion item. No motion was made to do anything. I think I mentioned, do we have to have tennis courts with to serve and have eight courts in a tennis court. Can we reduce that in order to reduce the cost of the construction of them? So nothing was resolved. Nothing was discussed. Boston replied, all right. Well thank you. Stepp replied, they will be discussed in the budget process. Boston replied, yes I think so. It's been lingering for a couple years. Safdie replied, don't miss that budget meeting. Boston replied, I think we're not going to have a choice on that one. 

Discussion:   - Boston replied, Mrs. Bray, Chief Financial Officer Report. Our monthly Financial Report.

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #8) Bray replied, well good evening. Once again basically our revenue is kind of finally caught up a bit with our expenses, which is to be expected. Property taxes are coming in. We've gotten our TISA money. So I mean you get a monthly and then we also get our outcome based funding. So that has caused our  revenue to exceed our expenses, which is always good. We're at about 44% on revenue and I think 42% on expenses, which is very good this time of year. Now granted later on in the year, we'll have some expenditures that will roll in. Which we already have planned for, but I still think that we're on part where we need to be. Boston asked, I have a question. You said we got our TISA funding in and then we got our allotment. Bray replied, no our outcome based funding. Boston asked, which is what? Bray replied, that's basically on the student outcomes. We're going to get that three times a year and this was our first installment. Mr. Stepp can explain more how that is calculated. Boston asked, how much was it? Bray replied, 600,000. Boston asked, so that's the sheet we got? Stepp replied, correct. That's one December 15th I emailed to you. That's based on our achievement and our College and Career Readiness data. All of those things lump together. They didn't have all that calculated till December. As we know. So once they had it calculated, then the new formula they came up with in November. They multiply what our results were times what the formula says what we get credit for and that comes out to be the number. Boston asked, so this was not included in our TISA budget? Stepp replied, this was not budget. So on our TISA estimate sheets the outcome said TBD. Bray replied, to be determined. So I did not know how to include that and I was not going to chance it. Stull asked, but you said that comes out three times a year for us? Bray replied, three times. We'll get it again early spring, but it will not be that significant. So let's don't get excited and think we're going to get $600,000 each time, but there will be a payment early spring and then late spring. Now what that means, that's up to them to determine. That is was what I was told, early spring and late spring, but I don't anticipate or I don't anticipate it would be anything close to this, because what they will be valuing or measuring will be different. Stepp replied, I always send when I get those estimates. I send it that day to the whole board. Boston replied, well that was kind of a surprise amount of money. Stepp replied, we knew we were going to get it. We just didn't know what. Boston replied, you didn't know how much and there's no way to predict that. Stepp replied, not the first year, because they hadn't created the formula for it until November. Bray replied, that's why it was TBD. Stepp continued, but my team did a great job on the appeals. Get all that information in quick. It was a lot of information that we had to double check to make sure we get all that right money. So they did a great job. Bray replied, and they had a very quick turnaround on that. They did an excellent job. That's $601,000. Is there any questions on that? No one responded. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #9) Bray continued, and we'll move on to Sales Tax. Obviously, we're still behind what we had budgeted, but the good news is we're still ahead compared to the prior year by about $185,000. So it doesn't look as bad as what it looks when you look at the bottom line, but hopefully when we get the December end, we will see some improvements in February. We're still running right at $200,000 behind what had been originally projected. Is there any questions? No one responded. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #10) Bray replied, move on to the Budget Amendments. The first, the only General Budget Amendment we have is basically to record the funds that we receive from the TVA Grant. I think Mr. Stepp has already covered that. We had STEM, we had Ag and then we had culinary. Culinary was at CCHS. STEM was at Pine View and North got the Ag. Boston asked, do we want to entertain a motion to incorporate all of that? Bray replied, that was the only General Fund. If you want to do them all at one time, we can do that too. Boston asked, Federal is there any? Bray replied, they're both reallocations. Boston asked, what's a reallocation? Bray replied, basically they're just reallocating the funds they already had to different expense lines. So they can be better utilized. Boston asked, on the federal money where's that? Bray replied, that's for a SPED bus, the $140,000. Boston asked, that's for a SPED bus? Bray replied, correct. Which we desperately need, but we won't get it for another year. So we got to start early. Long lead time. The next one is just travel to teacher line. There again, that's a reallocation. Something she feels like she needs. Stepp replied, that's CTE. Bray continued, the next one is a CTE Perkins revision, moving a little out of In-Service into Contracted Services and then same thing with the Perkins Reserve Consolidated Vocational Equipment is an increase, decreasing some Supplies and Materials and Contracted Services. Stout asked, so that's equipment that we can go with out we don't need? Bray replied, no this is where we're going to increase that. We're going to buy some additional equipment. Basically she's just reallocating some of her money somewhere else, but this is existing funds we've already allocated. We're just moving it around a little bit and then the next one would be Mrs. Hamby's and this is basically new funds that she's received and we're putting them in her budget. King replied, Madam Chair, move to approve 17 C, D and E together. Boston replied, okay I'll second that. Boston continued, so we have a motion on the floor to approve Budget Amendments 141, 142, 143. There's a first and second on the floor. Is there any discussion? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. 
 

Discussion:   - See discussion on 17.C.

Discussion:   - See discussion on 17.C.

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #11) Boston advised, next on the agenda is the Consent Agenda. Safdie replied, move to approve. King replied, second. Boston replied, okay so we have a first and second to approve the Consent Agenda. Any discussion? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. 

Boston continued, the Consent Agenda has been approved. Stout replied, looks like the students have a lot of good activities forthcoming this semester to look forward to. Boston replied, I will note, we made an Executive Approval for the wrestling team overnight, because that was during a time when school was not in session and they needed the approval. So Mr. Stepp and I approved that to the Executive Committee.  

Discussion:   - Boston advised, Old Business. Safdie and all the board members thanked the schools for all of the wonderful snacks, letters and gifts they provided each board member for Board Apprecation Week. 

Hale advised. Madam chair I had old business. I wanted to ask about when are we going to have the meeting for the MOU collaboration with the teachers? I'm on that committee and I've not been informed when we're going to have a meeting with the teachers and go over the memorandum understanding. Stepp replied, we had the initial meeting and then Mrs. Bray and Mrs. Timson, I believe are communicating to set that time up. Boston asked, when does that start? Hale replied, I was not informed. If I'm on that committee, are you going to inform all the members about different meetings. Stepp replied, once Mrs. Bray and Mrs. Timson work out those dates that goes out from Mrs. Timson and Mrs. Bray to all the members on both groups. So as soon as they work out those dates, everyone that's involved will get it from both of them. So they'll do it together. Hamby asked, so they've not had an actual meeting yet? Stepp replied, not yet. Hale replied, well I was just wondering, because I've not heard anything from it and I want to be there. Boston replied, to be aware. Stepp replied, as soon as they work out those dates that'll be public for everyone. Boston asked, any further on business? No one responded. 

Discussion:   - Boston asked if there were any questions from the media. Mullinax advised, thank you to the school system. I'm really enjoyed it. It's been a lot of fun. I've been covering the Board of Education since 2002. So you know meetings are meetings, but it's always fun to get into the schools and see what they're doing with the kids and I've had a great time just highlighting some of the things our students do. Thank you for that.  The board and the audience gave Mullinax a standing ovation. 

Discussion:   - Boston advised, I will entertain a motion to adjourn. Hamby replied, I make motion we adjourn. King seconded.