March 21, 2024 at 6:00 PM - Board of Education Meeting

Discussion:  (See above)

Discussion:  - Boston led the board members in a Moment of Silence. After a moment of silence, Leilah Crawford from Stone Memorial High School led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Discussion:  Kelly Smith advised, so Leilah did not know she was getting this award. So it just happened to work out for us. In June of 2022, Leila attended the Washington Leadership Conference. A National FFA conference in Washington DC. While at WLC, Leilah was tasked to create a plan that she could implement into her community that would allow it to grow. Leilah decided she wanted her plan to be Agricultural and Educational, but didn't have an exact plan when leaving the conference. Last summer Leilah was placed among the top 35 agriculture students in the state and was given the opportunity to attend the Governor's School for Agricultural Sciences. At Governor's School, Leilah learned about parts of the agricultural industry that she had not been exposed to before. After her time at Governor's School, she knew it was time to start working on her plan from the previous summer's conference. After lots of brainstorming with her FFA advisers, one is here tonight, Mrs. McClanahan. She came up with the idea to provide each Pre-K through 3rd grade student in Cumberland County with an agricultural literacy book and coloring book, which came out to be around 2,500 students. To accomplish this, Leilah partnered with the coloring book company to produce the books and sought partnerships from community members and Farm Bureau to provide the reading supplies. Each grade level was provided with material that was specific to their age range. After months of fundraising and speaking with multiple organizations and businesses within the county, she raised $14,000 and was able to fund all of the books. So funding all the books for all of our schools, as well as CAC. Leilah even had the opportunity to meet with congressman, John Rose. To talk about the project and gain his support. Leilah received a lot of support from the Tennessee Soybean Promotion Council. As they paid nearly $3,000 for all of the 3rd grade books called, My Family Soybean Farm, plus they sent 2,500 packs of soybean crayons to be given to the students as well. Leilah and her fellow FFA officer members, family members, advisers, and peers spent roughly 40 hours preparing the books and coloring books to be delivered to the students as a Christmas gift. Leilah and some of her fellow FFA chapter members visited each of the nine elementary schools to deliver those books and they took time to read it and then give the books out. We would like to thank Leilah for her hard work and dedication to this enormous literacy project for our community. We are so very proud of you, Leilah. Stepp replied, so Kids First Award awarded to Leilah Crawford for exceptional, selfless service to the kids of Cumberland County Schools. Thank you for your continued support and love for our kiddos.

Discussion:   - Boston advised, next is a welcome to our visitors. It appears that we have a packed house tonight, which we are very pleased. Thank you for coming.

Discussion:   
Boston advised, student board representatives. I think Miss Nicole, you're going alone tonight. Well, you represent us proudly.

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 February 22, 2024 Minutes. Stout replied, move to approve. King replied, second. Boston replied, so we have a first and second. Any discussion? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. Boston replied, the minutes have been approved.

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #2) Boston advised, approval of the agenda. I will entertain a motion to approve. Stull replied, Madam chair, can I make a motion that we add for discussion, Baby Birds. Boston asked, are you making a motion to approve the agenda with the addition? Stull replied, yes. Boston asked, okay of discussion on Baby Birds? Stull replied, yes. Boston replied, okay I'll need a second. Hamby replied, second. Boston replied, so we have a first and second. Any discussion? King replied, yes. I tried to do that last month and I wasn't allowed to. Why are we doing it now? Boston replied, well we voted last time. King replied, okay, that's not what I'm saying. Boston replied, okay. Well, I don't know how to answer your question. We voted last time and it did not pass. King replied, there was a great deal of controversy too. They had to take it up in Old Business. Boston replied, okay. King continued, so what's the rule going to be next time? Boston replied, whatever we say it is. King continued, it keeps changing. Boston replied, okay. King replied, it's not okay. Boston asked, well, then what is it you want? King replied, I just wanted to know that I object. Boston replied, okay are you objecting to the approval to the motion? King replied, there is a motion to add, adding after it's published. Boston replied, okay. So we have a motion and a second on the floor to approve the agenda, to add Baby Birds for discussion. We'll go ahead and do a roll call. Davis asked, we can talk in Old Business? Boston replied, correct. We can talk in Old Business. Davis asked, we can talk about it in Old Business? Is that correct? Boston asked, we can talk in Old Business. Davis asked, we can talk about any topic? Safdie replied, that is an option too. Boston replied, if it's been discussed prior, yes. Davis asked, has it been? Stull replied, not with this board it's not been. Safdie replied, Nick, that was a good question. The Roll Call Vote continued. Boston replied, motion passes.  Boston continued, where would you like to add that? Stull replied, I don't have a preference on where. Boston asked, can we add it at the end of the agenda? Stull replied, that's fine. Boston replied, okay. Right before Old Business will be Baby Birds. (The discussion on Baby Birds was actually discussed right after 16. Climate Survey on DOS Discussion and Approval. The agenda was edited to add 17. Baby Birds Learning Center Grant Discussion and detailed minutes were placed there.)

Safdie replied, I would like to pull 21.A. under the Consent Agenda. The CCHS overnight field trip request and make a separate item. Boston replied, I think you can do that when we get to the Consent Agenda. Safdie replied, okay. Boston asked, is that ok? Safdie replied, that is fine. 

Discussion: 
 Boston advised, next is Acknowledgment of Elected Officials. I think Mrs. Mall is our only County Commissioner and she is present. Thank you for being with us.

Discussion:    - Boston stated next on our agenda is the Community Comments. Since we have five pages of Community Comments, are you going to keep the time? Safdie replied, I'll keep the time. Boston continued, okay. I have asked Baby Birds to designate two speakers. If you'll tell me who's coming first and what your name is. The topic of your discussion and you are limited to 3 minutes.  

Name: Russ Owen 18 Harrell Lane Crossville, TN 38558
Subject: Baby Birds Closure Concerns and how Baby Birds has impacted his daughter. 

Name: Emily Nichols 551 Myrtle Ave Apt 2 Crossville, TN 38555
Subject: Baby Birds Closure Concerns and how Baby Birds has impacted her son. 

Name Billy Dodd Breckenridge Dr., Crossville, TN 38572
Subject: 3rd Grade Assessment, Martin Breach and Bus Drivers 

Name Chris Goddard 103 Phyllis Street Crossville Tennessee 38555 
Subject: Martin intruder's backpack, Baby Bird's Grant, and Voucher Program

Name: Kandi Newcome 300 Old Grassy Cove Road Crossville, TN 38555
Subject: Homestead Safety

Name: Craig Clark 2266 Hwy 68 Crossville, TN 38555
Subject: Budget Committee and Budget

Safdie asked, Mr. Stepp was there a delay in the budget last year? Was there anything that you did not approve on the budget? Was the budget prepared when you and the chairman met for the first time and at that point did you deliberate on what was to be included on the budget or not? Stepp replied, we did meet and deliberate, yes. Safdie asked, did you then, did the chairman and you declare a date when the budget would be held? The Budget Committee would be held? Stepp replied, not at that time. Safdie asked, at what time did that happen, because this board is being accused of irresponsible behavior and to me it looks like that irresponsible behavior is not on the head of the Board of Education or the chairperson, but a result of the Tennessee legislature providing the money that we were to have. Now I haven't said anything for the past five or six months, as you all have deliberated. This is my chance to just tell you that your accusations (Mr. Clark) do not correspond with the facts that took place at that point. In fact the comment was made that the chairman of the board hijacked the Budget Committee Meeting. They hijacked, actually it was they hijacked the budget. That is not what happened at all. There is a working relationship that the Director of School has with the chairman and they both determine when the meetings will be held and how they would be held. Now the other issue is the agenda and the approval of the minutes. That's a separate issue and I won't address that here, but I will not stand as an individual board member, since I am part of the board to hear the public make accusations that there was irresponsibility. There was no irresponsibility. In fact, if you're going to look at irresponsibility then what about board members going behind the board's back talking to County Commissioners. Nichols replied, do we need to call point of order or something, because this is. Safdie replied, okay, that's fine. Thank you very much. Thank you for calling point of order. I got a little emotional there, sorry. 

Name: Karen Frantzen 895 Parnell Rd. Crossville, TN 38572
Subject: Why she became a teacher. The 3 R's and following Mrs. Strickland's lead. 

Name: Jason Futrell 5848 Hwy 70 N Crossville, TN 38571
Subject: Middle School Basketball and using the boards power.

Hamby asked, may I respond just for a second? Boston replied, yes. Hamby continued, I just want to make it very clear. That the board voted on whether or not to do TMSAA, but we have not voted on what was talked about last time. The board has not had any say and that has been Mr. Stepp and his team. So I just wanted to make that clear. That was not the board. Stout replied. yeah, there wasn't any vote. There's been some opinions shared by board members and board meetings, but no vote by the board. Boston replied, thank you.

Name: Julia Timson 6960 S. York Hwy Clarkrange, TN 38553
Subject: Copy of the survey responses and gave the board homework. 

Davis asked, Mrs. Timson can I ask you a question. Timson replied, sure. Davis asked, who conducted the survey? Timson replied, I did. Davis asked, on behalf of? Timson replied, CCEA, Cumberland County Education Association. Davis replied, okay thank you. Timson asked, were you here, Mr. Davis? I'm sorry, were you here when I gave the backstory to that? Davis replied, yeah I was. There's been so many surveys. I just want to make sure what I'm looking at the same one. Is this something we do annually or your group does annually? Timson replied, we do various surveys annually. This is the first time I've done this particular one, but we have asked. Davis asked, so with this idea of collecting data, what would be the intent of how would you use it? Timson replied, I use it to give it to you. So that you see that some of our teachers are frustrated and what they're frustrated about. They won't come just tell you. This gives you an idea. It's an anonymous thing. I don't know who filled it out. I don't know who said what, but this gives you a bird and I did redact it if it said anything that was a personal thing that would take you back to a teacher. One teacher mentioned her school and said how great her principal was, but I marked that out with sharpie, because I don't want anybody to ever think that I'm giving out their information. If I say it's anonymous, it's anonymous. Davis asked, how many? Did this go to every teacher in the union? Timson replied, it went to every teacher in the county. Davis asked, and what were the; how many people responded? Timson replied, 134 and some you did not receive because they were so personal that I would have had to redact the entire answer. Davis asked, so the percentage was? Timson continued, I took those and shredded them. Davis replied, 134 thought to complete it and how many did not? Timson replied, I believe Mrs. Bray, 530 something teachers? Bray replied, classroom teachers. Timson replied, classroom teachers. Davis replied, so 20% did. Timson replied, right and some people are just afraid to fill out a survey. They're afraid it really won't be anonymous. Davis replied, gotcha, okay, thank you. 

Discussion:   - Boston continued, next on the agenda is the TLN Report, Mrs. Shannon Stout.
 

Discussion:   - Stout replied, at this point in the Legislative Session, the Committees are starting to wind down and things are starting to move to the floor. As I do at every board meeting, I try to bring some forward that I think I mean there's a bunch of bills out there that have to do with education, but I try to bring the ones forward that are going to impact our district and policy or procedures and I'm bringing some forward tonight. In order of still working through committees, ones that are almost there, almost to the point of the floor of getting votes or getting in and then also bills that have passed. I want to start with the Education Freedom Scholarship Bills as it's titled. The house bill passed the Government Operations Committee this week and is moving to the House Finance Ways and Means Committee. The Senate Bill also passed the Senate Education Subcommittee and is moving to the Senate Finance Ways and Means Committee. So we still have multiple bills out there regarding the scholarship or voucher program. That are moving their way through. We haven't gotten through the point or that they haven't gotten to the point where they have combined them into one bill yet. So that's still to come. We did have a virtual Q&A session yesterday for the TSBA members with Speaker Sexton and Chairman of the House. Chairman of the House key through subcommittee Representative Haston and I did want to just give a little shout out to them for taking time out of their really busy schedule during the Legislative Session the last minute to sit down and just answer random questions from all the TSBA members that were on the line. So it was a good hour session. They did provide some additional information and I have a few items that I wanted to highlight, because I know we've talked about some of the pieces and parts of the bill before, but I wanted to bring some things forward that they emphasized yesterday. Speaker Sexton said that the House Bill is an attempt to create a level playing field for private and public schools. So when we're looking at the Senate Bill or the Governor's Bill there isn't anything regarding public schools in those bills. They're strictly voucher or scholarship bills. So the House Bill actually has information in there or items in there for public schools. They outlined that 80% of the House Bill is for public school and 60% is for funding public school and 20% of that is for funding school choice. So that's how they broke it out yesterday. The Infrastructure Health Insurance and other funding within the bill for the public schools. They said would be reoccurring every year. So that's not something that's just going to be one year. It's going to continue. It has qualification and spending parameters around the scholarship funds more than the other bills do. There's also a two-page summary out there of the House Bill, which is great because the total bill is 37 pages. They said that they'd go ahead and get it over to TSBA. So TSBA could get it out to all of its members. So hopefully we'll see that forthcoming. They're also working on fiscal projections that they're going to get to TSBA as well, but that's not completed yet. They brought forth the fact that American for Prosperity conducted a poll in five of our Tennessee Senate Districts regarding school choice and the results are out on their website. So if anybody wanted to look further regarding the results of those surveys that's out there. I also encourage you all to go out and take a look, because this is a very hot topic. There's a lot of discussion that's going on. A lot of people are talking to board members and coming to the board meetings in favor of or not in favor of. So I would really suggest that you do go out and just look over the bill. You can just Google House Bill 1183 and there's a plethora of resources out there for you, where you can go take a look at it. So that way you're speaking from your knowledge of the bill. Okay, moving on to the next bill. Joint Bill 841 which proposes an amendment to article 11 section 5 of The Constitution of Tennessee to authorize local education agencies to approve lotteries conducted by nonprofit school support organizations. Provided that the net proceeds of the lottery revenues are allocated to the Local Education Agency. To be used for educational or extracurricular purposes. This is a TSBA supported legislation. It's passed through the committees and it's now on the Senate Finance Ways and Means Subcommittee for 3/27. So that's on its way. So we might have some leeway there with doing our lotteries for school funds. So that's great. Bills that are almost there are HB 1605 prohibits leas and public charter schools from displaying in public school flags other than the official United States Flag and the official Tennessee State Flag. An amendment was added to address the issue of a type of flag, which might need to be temporarily used as part of a lesson plan included in a bonified course curriculum. That's passed on the house floor. It's passed through Senate Committees. It's been referred to the Senate Calendar Committee to be scheduled for a final vote on the senate floor. So that might be something we need to keep our eye on for policy. House Bill 2882 requires beginning with the 24-25 school year that each LEA and Public Charter School to provide students with age appropriate and grade appropriate instruction on firearm safety. It's passed on the house floor and through the Senate Committees. It's been referred to the Senate Calendar Committee to be scheduled for a final vote on the senate floor. So we'll have to possibly be prepared for that for next school year and then a couple bills that have passed. House Bill 2058 requires that the State Board of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Education, to identify math courses that may be substituted for Algebra 2 for purposes of satisfying High School graduation requirements and to submit a report to the Education Committees by October 15th of this year. It passed on both floors and has been signed by both the speaker and the speakers and the governors. So we should be getting some alternate options for the algebra problems that we ran into last year and then House Bill 1630, which is the AI Bill that I previously mentioned. The bill mandates that all state universities 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. It passed on both floors and has been signed by the speakers and Governor. The effective date is, it has passed 3-11-24. So that's something that's in place already. So we'll have to be working with TSBA on our policy for that. Hamby replied, I'm sure they'll send us that soon. Stout continued, and that concludes my report.

Discussion:   

Discussion:   - Boston advised, Mr. Patton your Legal Report. Patton replied, there's been no meaningful update on any of your pending litigation. I'll ask Mr. Stepp, have you received any updates on the JUUL Litigation at all? I have not. Stepp replied, the last document you said I needed to sign. Patton replied, right. So hopefully next month, we'll have an update as far as that goes. I suspect you will. I have received a couple of messages from you concerning the request of Mr. Hill on the Genesis Road property. My plan is to prepare a memorandum for you and the board can decide if they want to put that on next month's agenda. Boston asked, we had a lawsuit going at Pleasant Hill. The attorney had withdrawn. Any news on that? Patton replied, the attorney did withdraw, but there has been no update as far as whether the plaintiff has retained a different attorney or not. I've not heard from Mr. Williams in that regard. Boston asked, did the court give her just the standard 30 days? Patton replied, I think they provided 45 days. That's my recollection. Boston replied, okay thank you. 

Discussion:   - Boston advised, next on the agenda is our Director's Report, Mr. Stepp. Stepp replied, alright some great things going on in Cumberland County. School Nutrition, Cumberland County was recognized across the state of Tennessee on Monday, March 18th in the TDOE School Nutrition Newsletter for several activities including Stone Elementaries cafe's Dr. Seuss Reading Day Celebration on March 4th. North Cumberland Cafe's perfect health inspection. Way to go. Cumberland County was one of only 17 counties statewide to be awarded an equipment grant that was $85,000 to replace the walk-in freezer and cooler at North Cumberland and then also the Phoenix School's Farm to Table Project. Where the students grew lettuce that was served on the salad bar in their cafeteria. So great job to those kiddos. Also congratulations to North Cumberland Elementary on its progress through the STEAM designation process. Thursday, March 14th the school received a much deserved site visit from TSIN and the staff did an excellent job. So we're waiting on the results of that to be STEAM designated and then of course best of luck to all of our CTSO students that's our College Career Technical Education students who are competing in the next few weeks. We got FCCLA and FFA in Gatlinburg. FBLA, HOSA and Skills USA in Chattanooga and also we just finished our last round of Benchmark testing. It was completed March 13 through 15. Projections look encouraging as faculty members prepare for upcoming end of year exams for high school, ACT 11th grade and Pre ACT for 9th and 10th grade were completed on March 19th. TNTP our literacy or math partner did walk through, were complete on March 20. With the final end of year diagnosis meeting schedule where we're working on a strategic plan. Mr. Lowe and his staff are working on new alternative school procedures for 24-25. They've done several site visits at other places. So CCHS Computer Science teacher wants to say congratulations to Alystia Young. Please congratulate her for passing her Express Employment Professionals Business Office Technology Industry Certification today. She worked hard to prepare for the exam in Computing Fundamentals, Microsoft Applications, Business and Web Ethics and Workplace Technology. Even with our snow and she completed everything five weeks ahead of time and then also with our ESL Department, the WIDA Language Proficiency Assessment has been completed. With ESL instructors in the district assessing 176 students progress and inquiring the second language. So a lot of good things going on. That was just a few of a bunch.

Stepp continued, so then I also want to share this about the Baby Birds. So the Baby Birds Learning Center was established in 2010 through a joint effort of Cumberland County Schools and the Tennessee Early Intervention System, TEIS. So the schools has continued to maintain the Baby Birds Learning Center facility and TEIS has been funded through a grant. The current grant funds end on June 30th, 2024. This center provides Early Childhood Intervention Programs for children from 18 months to 3 years of age. Currently, the Baby Birds Learning Center serves approximately 30 children on Monday through Thursday from 8:15 to 11:15. Each child can attend up to two days a week for 3 hours each day. So the Special Education Law, the IDEA Part C, is a section of IDEA that assists states in operating Comprehensive Statewide Program of Early Intervention Services for eligible children and their families. Tennessee Early Intervention System is a voluntary program that offers therapy and other services to families of infants and young children with development delays or disabilities. Currently some TEIS eligible children in Cumberland County are being provided their services at BBLC. Each family has a TEIS Service Coordinator that works with the families to develop an Individualized Family Support Plan that outlines services and support specific to the child and family with a maximum of five service hours per week. TEIS, will continue to provide services based on the child's individual needs even though BBLC is closing. IDEA Part B is a section of IDEA that governs how Special Education and related services are provided to school-age children with disabilities. Cumberland County Schools will continue to provide IDEA school age services on the child's third birthday. If the child is eligible for Special Education and or related Services. Each child has a Special Education Case Manager that collaborates with the IEP team to develop an Individualized Education Plan that outlines services in support specific to the children. So if they're 3 years old, they can have services 5 days a week, all day. In four different Pre-k 3 settings that we have in this county. The decision to reallocate resources was made after careful consideration for all stakeholders in Cumberland County Schools by the Director of Schools. I continue to strive to ensure Cumberland County schools are engaged in innovative learning environment, empowering every student to achieve excellence in life Academics, Arts, Athletics and activities. So I just want to share that statement with you before I get into my report. Boston asked, can I ask a question? You said reallocate funds. What is that mean? Stepp replied, the resources that we're using down there, we're going to reallocate to other places. That's the plan. Boston asked, you mean resources as of money or as a building? Stepp replied, people. Boston replied, people. Stepp replied, yes. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #3) Stepp continued, so next on my report. We're starting out with the Telemedicine Grant letter. Mrs. Polson is wanting to apply for this grant, but in this grant it also requires a match. So this is for y'all's approval. Boston replied, okay. $12,000 so $18,000. Stepp replied, I believe so, yes. Hamby asked, and we need a motion. Boston continued, we would have to match, yes. Hamby replied, I will make a motion to approve. King replied, second. Boston replied, okay so we have a first and second on the; now you do understand that this has a $18,000 match. Hamby replied, yes I do. Boston replied, okay. Okay any discussion? Davis replied, yes. What will this grant provide that we're currently not providing? Polson replied, it will provide the equipment that will be needed to use to do the telemedicine visits. So there's a piece of equipment that we can do strep, flu, Covid screening and then also the computer, the stethoscope, the odoscope. Those things, specifically the technology piece to telemedicine services. Davis asked, are we currently offering some version of telemed now? Polson replied, no. This will be a new program. Hamby replied, this will prevent children from having to leave to go to the doctor as often as they do now, right? Polson replied, it'll provide the opportunity for parents to be in, they can be on the screen at the same time as the physicians on the screen and perhaps if I'm a high school student and I might have strep, I swab them. They don't have strep, then they can send an antibiotic for a sinus infection to the pharmacy. They go back to class. So it's going to provide services for the people who don't already have that service. Certainly, I'm going to send them to their primary care above all, but this will provide an opportunity for kids that can't get it. Stull asked, how is the visit covered as far as payment wise? Is it covered by the students' insurance? Is it covered by the school? The telemedicine office? How is the payment being made to the provider? Polson replied, so I have spoken with a couple of different options and my best option is they'll provide services to every child and they'll take whatever the insurance pays and if we have somebody that does not have insurance, then they'll work that out with with the family. Stull asked, so will a parent have to be present for the visit, meaning in person or on with video? Polson replied, online with video. They can like you can be on the same call as the physician at the same time with the student in the room. Stull replied, but will I mean, is that a requirement as well or is it just a student in there with the physician? Polson replied, well there will always be probably a nurse that's with them. I guess it depends on the parents' wishes whether they want to be in the room or not, but I prefer them to be on the screen at the same time as they're visiting the physician. Nichols asked, so Marsha it would never be done without parents' permission? Polson replied, no, absolutely not, never. Nichols continued, because some of these other areas are using this for some really. Polson replied, yeah, no and I just want to do Urgent Care. I am not talking about at this point in time, nothing above like an Urgent Care visit. I have a cold. I have sinus infection, something like that. So you know just to give the opportunity for the kids that parents for Urgent Care. Davis asked, doesn't it's say it's for Urgent Care? Did you say it's not for Urgent Care or it is? Polson replied, just for Urgent Care. Not for extended care or chronic. That'd be something that they would need their Primary Care to do. Davis asked, how would the school nurses be involved in this program? What would their role be in this? Polson replied, they would be; the physician would tell me where we need to place the stethoscope or where I need to put, or you know what area of the body they need assessment. There's a rash, what they want to look at. So essentially, I'd just be doing whatever the physician asks me. Like I would in an office. Hamby asked, is this going to put extra work on the nurses? Polson replied, I don't, not really. Yes at first, but I think once they get used to it, they're going to really like it. The places I have visited and have talked to that are already doing telemedicine say they love it. That it does take a minute or two, but once they learn what the doctor wants they're ready. Stout asked, will this provide equipment at all the schools or just certain locations? Polson replied, this grant will provide enough for all the schools I'm hoping. Hale asked, Nurse Polson have you talked to the nurses to see if they would like to have this equipment. Polson replied, I have two that are ready to go today if I had the equipment for sure. The rest of them would be like me, you teach me and then I'll be ready to go and none of them have been opposed to it. Safdie replied, tell me a little bit about the types of lab tests that you would be or your nurses would be conducting in the nursing station. Polson replied, like a flu swab, strep screen and Covid swab. So it's basically a nasal swab for all of those or a throat swab. Safdie asked, are there any regulations regarding contaminant materials and are our nursing stations capable of handling the contaminant materials. Polson replied, yes we already do that. Safdie replied, okay. Hamby asked, do you foresee it like some of our schools have you know 600-700 kids. Do you foresee it over working our nurses or in the long run helping them? Polson replied, I think it's going to help the students that need help, because we have a lot of parents who want to take their student to their own primary care physician and that's what they should do, but the ones that don't have that opportunity or can't leave work to do that, but they can take a 10-minute break to you know do a telemed visit. It'll give them the opportunity to get some services, hopefully and make it equal. Equity Services throughout our community, something we always strive for. Davis replied, last two questions. How many Urgent Care situations are we not dealing with now that we would be dealing with if we were to be able to use this equipment? Polson replied, I really can't tell you that, because I don't know who would be. I don't know which parents are going to be willing for the students to go to do the Urgent Care like this rather than go to their own. You know to a different place. So I don't know what the opportunity is, because we've never done anything like this before. Davis asked, Mr. Stepp, how do we quantify the need if we don't know how many we're going to deal with versus we weren't dealing with? Nichols replied, Nick are you asking like how many kids go home sick? Davis replied, right. So if we're looking at? Nichols replied, how many kids would need that? Davis continued, well I mean like if currently, if we got an Urgent Care situation and they're like hey we can't deal with Urgent Care here in the school you need to go to your provider. Like instead of them leaving and now they're going to stay and get care. How many of those are we? I'm assuming that's what the point of this is. I don't know if that's the case, but that's why I'm asking. Polson replied, so we've seen about 45,000 visits this year and of those let's say 39,000 have went back to class and then so you're looking at 6,000 students that could have been potential for something like that now. Some of them were injuries or something different, but yeah I mean you know that's a rough estimate in my brain about where we're at. Davis replied, okay. No that's that's what I was looking for, awesome. I guess the last question. How long is this USDA Grant been around and what would be our, I guess exposure if this grant went away? What would be our obligation? Polson replied, it's supposed to be a one time. They give you the money, that's it, because it's purchasing equipment right. So the equipment would then belong to us. Davis replied, right, but the equipment is run by software and needs updated, because every week we're getting rid of iPads here. So I'm just curious like are we going to need to continue this? Like what's the forecast? Polson replied, I think whatever company we choose to go with is for telemedicine will be willing to help us with updating and in that area. I feel like this would be getting them started to working with us to serve our students. Nichols replied, so I come in. I do a swap with my telemed doctor. I have strep and then I stay in school. Polson replied, if you don't have strep you would. Nichols continued, but if I'm sick then mom has to come get. Polson replied, but mom now knows they're already sick and there's probably a prescription at the pharmacy for them already. Stout replied, Mr. Stepp if this was something that got rolled out, I'm assuming that there'd be some procedures around it. Since we're doing a different type, offering a different type of service. Stepp replied, absolutely there's a lot of procedures to this. Nichols replied, some of them take advantage of it and it gets a little. Stepp replied, yeah we have an issue with chronic absenteeism. So this would help with that. That's one of our big goals with the county is get the kids in school. Boston asked, any further discussion? Patton replied, I have a question. I've heard the term Urgent Care tossed around in this conversation and I just, I want an understanding. I guess of what additional things our nurses would do if they had this equipment and would that be under the supervision I guess of the physician that supervises them? Polson replied, yeah. Well the telemed visit itself would be under the supervision of the physician on the screen. So for instance if I partnered with East Tennessee Children, then they would be the responsible entity for the televisit entirely. It would not be the responsibility of the nursing staff. Patton replied, we're basally facilitating contact with a provider. Polson replied, right. Patton replied, thank you. I understand that better now. Stout advised, we have a question in the crowd. Will we allow a question in the crowd? Mr. Frantzen asked, can I ask one question? How much is each call? Polson replied, it depends on what which provider we go with. We don't have one particular provider that we've chosen yet. So it's going to depend on which provider we go with and I'm just asking to apply for a grant for the technology portion. Mr. Frantzen asked, and the parent would be responsible for that? Polson replied, replied, yes.  Boston asked, any further discussion? Hale asked, would we have the money to do the 15%? Stepp replied, we would have to budget it. Boston replied, we would have to budget it and since we do have; Marsha I'm assuming that the grant is $120,000. If we do a 15%, which is right at $18,000. Would that be additional? So you would have $138,000. Polson replied, yes. So I'm asking them for $120,000. Boston replied, you're asking them for 120 and their requesting or requiring us to do an $18,000 local match. Stout replied, we don't have any idea of the lifespan at all on this equipment? Like when would this cost, when might we be looking at those cost reoccurring again? Stepp replied, we can find that out. Hamby replied, but right now all we're doing is okaying or not okaying for the you to apply for the grant? Boston asked, but if you apply when will you find out if you receive the grant? Polson replied, it will probably be, I'm going to say at least August before I'll know anything. Stepp replied, that'll come back to the board if we receive the grant for y'all to approve us to take it or turn it down. Hamby replied, and at that time if we don't want to approve we can turn it down. This is just okaying to apply for it. Stout replied, do a little more research in the meantime, get a little more information be prepared. Boston replied, and since it includes a local match, then I think that gives us a little bit of time especially starting the budget season. To look at that, but if you won't know till August. Then we won't know if that money is going to be required or not. So that gives us a little bit of time, since it does involve a local match and a percentage. I'm going to do a roll call vote on this. A Roll Call Vote was taken. Boston replied, so motion passes. So you can apply for your grant Mrs. Polson. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #4) Stepp advised, also next is also and request to be able to apply for the Healthy Built Environment Grant. Pleasant Hill was our only school that met the qualifications to apply for. So that's why that's the location that Mrs. Polson is applying for. Hamby replied, I'll make a motion we approve. King replied, second. Boston replied, so we've got a first and a second to approve. This is actually, this grant is coming from Billy Loggins. Not an employee. Would this still come to us? Stepp replied, he's applying on their behalf. Mrs. Polson. Polson replied, yes. Healthier Tennessee wanted to apply for it. So yes it will come to our Healthier Tennessee Team, which Kathy and I are both on this thing. As well as most of the Health Council and so Billy Loggins happens to be the chair. So yes, he wants to apply for that grant for us. Boston replied, on behalf of Cumberland County. Polson replied, on behalf of yes, Healthier Tennessee of Cumberland County. Boston replied, Pleasant Hill. Safdie replied, and there's no match. Boston replied, no there's no match. Is there any discussion? Davis replied, yes. Same questions I guess. What's the long-term expense for, I guess the school system? So this is to be on school property? Is that right? Stout replied, both the track and the possible pickle ball would be on school property. Stepp replied, it's possible. The tracks already there. Davis asked, so we're looking to add a pickle ball courts in Pleasant Hill? Stepp replied, on campus. Hamby replied, with the grant. Davis continued, for use of who? Stepp replied, the community and Pleasant Hill students. Davis asked, do we have a lot of students playing pickle ball in Pleasant Hill? Stepp replied, we play every PE has a curriculum that includes pickle ball. That's at every elementary school. They got pickle ball going on in their gyms. Hamby replied, it's getting more and more popular. Nichols replied, it's the upcoming thing. Hamby replied, yes the up coming thing. Davis replied, yeah I'm aware. I'm just curious. Stepp replied, that's a Community Partnership between Pleasant Hill School. Davis asked, so once it's ours, it'll be ours? It won't be a partnership, correct? Stepp replied, right. Davis continued, so we're asking for money to build pickle ball courts at one school and why was it that Pleasant Hill was the only one that's capable of having pickle ball courts? Stull replied, they are the only ones that qualified for this? Nichols replied, they are the only one that qualified. Davis replied, that's what I am asking. Why are they qualified? Polson replied, they were considered the most rural area that did not have any kind of park activity area and so the state developed a map and that school was the only school in our district, in our county that fell in that map. Therefore that's why we're asking for the money. Davis replied, yeah I understand that. I don't have anything against pickle ball. I'm just trying to wrap my head around like what's going to be the impact? Like we're going to have. Boston replied, they're going to learn. Davis continued, they're going to have, they're going to be healthier, because they're playing pickle ball. Hamby replied, it gives them some activity whereas a lot of our other schools have access to parks and other things, whereas Pleasant Hill does not. Nichols replied, they can't walk to places. Stout replied, with community use on the school premises. Do we have any concern about liability that this is being built for community use? Do we have that covered? Stepp replied, we have communities walking the track at CCHS, SMHS. Boston replied, playing soccer. Stout replied, we are good. Stepp continued, most schools are community used, soccer clubs, playgrounds. Stout replied, I'd make sure we're covered if we're saying yeah we'll take the money to put something out there for the community. Davis asked, so if it's outdoors, this is outdoor? Stepp replied, yes. Davis continued, if it's outdoor anybody can just walk on property at any point, anytime and play pickle ball or walk the track. Stull replied, during non school hours. Stepp replied, during the school day they can't come on the playground with kids present. Davis replied, so we don't have to like schedule, hey I'm playing pickle ball at 3:00 or we've got a pickle ball league that starts at XYZ time and we got to figure out whether the kids can play or the people that live there want to play. Stepp replied, yeah we work out logistics. Davis asked, so they do have to schedule it? Stepp replied, we'll work out logistics if we actually build it, yeah. Davis replied, gotcha, cool. Stepp continued, I don't know exactly what those logistics would look like in Pleasant Hill, but. Davis replied, gotcha, cool. Boston replied, any further discussion? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #5) Stepp advised, so next is the Calendar Committee final results for the year after next. We always create the calendar two years out. Boston replied, I'll entertain a motion to approve option C on the calendar. Nichols replied, so moved. Boston replied, okay so we have a motion. Stout replied, I'll second. Boston replied, so any discussion? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. Stout replied, thanks to everybody for voting, who voted. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #6) Stepp advised, so the next is MOU from Cumberland County and Big Smiles 2024. This is a program, a dental program for 18 months to 18 year old. It's to provide more support. The health department already comes in and helps us out. So this is MOU to allow them to come in and help us more with the dental support and every school. Hamby replied, I'll make a motion to approve. King replied, second. Boston replied, okay so we've got a first and second, third. Any further discussion? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #7) Stepp replied, next you receive this every year. The Annual Food and Non-Food Supply Bid Packet. Hamby replied, I make a motion to approve. Stout replied, second. Boston replied, so we have a first and second to approve the bid package. Any discussion? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #8) Stepp replied, next is just our quarterly report. The Strategic Plan reviewed each area. We looked at each supervisor and leadership looked at those areas to see where we were. Where we feel we are and where we need to improve. So there's a lot of areas of improvement that we have. We have some areas of success that we feel we have good systems in place to be successful and then several areas that we got opportunities to get better at. Stout replied, I saw a lot of funding notations here, under challenges, and I know y'all have worked on getting the first draft ready for us. Have you been able to work on that particular challenge within the budget for next year? Stepp replied, it's what we're working on right now. Stout replied, okay so that could be hopefully some relief on that challenge. 

Discussion:   - Discussed under 15. Director's Report

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #9) Stepp replied, next is the Annual Planning Calendar. Just review as we always do every month.

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #10)

Discussion:  - Stepp advised, and we have our Personnel Reports that we review every month nutrition and other.  Hale replied, I had a question about the Personnel. There was a new position in Central Office, but it didn't say what for, Mrs. Kendra Davenport.  Am I in the right place? Stepp replied, I'm looking. Hale continued, new hires non-certified a Kendra Davenport. It says at central office 3/18/24, but there's no reason. It doesn't say what that person's doing. Who they're working for or working with? Boston replied, it's for Marsha's. Polson replied, PRN Nurse. Hale replied, okay. Thank you ma'am. 

Discussion:   - Stepp continued, then we have the Substitute List.

Discussion:   - Stepp continued, and then our newsletters.

Discussion:   - Stepp continued, and calendars and then that's the end of my Director's Report. 

Discussion:   Boston advised, next on the agenda is the Climate Survey on DOS Discussion and Approval. Mrs. Stull would you like to lead us off? Stull replied, well we had talked about in Old Business last month the Director's Contract and different evaluations to do and I felt that a Climate Survey from the entire district would be good if we were going to go ahead and explore the contract any further. To go ahead and add that to our discussion with that. Stout replied, so an additional survey on top of the Director Report, principal, vice principal, and then the one we do. Stull replied, this one would encompass everyone in the district. So not just the principals and the supervisors and not just the board, but everyone. Hamby replied, all employees, teachers, maintenance, bus drivers, everyone. Stull replied, they're just as important to go ahead and hear from them as well. Stout replied, so a Climate Survey on the district as a whole or a Climate Survey specifically on the Director of Schools? Stull replied, on the Director of Schools. Cuz that is what we are trying to discuss his contract. So that would be what the Climate Survey would be for. Stout asked, how do you? Stepp replied, I did withdraw my request to renegotiate contract several weeks ago. Hamby asked, but if you were to bring it back to us it would be nice to have this survey in place. Davis asked, with that survey, how would we use the information? Stull replied, the way we would use any other evaluation. Davis asked, meaning? Stull continued, where does he fall within the evaluation scale or the survey scale I guess. Hamby replied, where improvements needed or? Boston replied, let me stop this. Do we have a motion on the floor? King replied, no. I was about to ask that. Boston replied, can we go ahead and get a motion started and then go into discussion maybe? Hamby replied, I make a motion that we approve the Climate Survey on the Director of Schools Discussion. Stull replied, second. Boston replied, okay so now we have a first and second on a Climate Survey on DOS Discussion and Approval. Carry on with discussion. Hale asked, where would we get this survey? I mean how are we going to get the questions or have you already been sending them out? Stull replied, no. I've not sent anything out. Hale continued, so how would we get? Where would we come up with the questions and things? I mean any ideas? Safdie replied, there was a survey that was given two years ago or three years ago that still available. Boston replied, we did one in 2019. We got the results back in January of 2020 and it was a Climate Survey done to everybody and I mean that was on our board connect. So in just looking at it the questions, I think there were seven questions and it says there is an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect within the school district. I am generally satisfied with being an employee of the school district. This gives you the climate throughout our district. How our employees feel? I would recommend this school system, Cumberland County to parents seeking a place for their child. I feel supported by our Director of Schools. Hamby asked, and does it leave an area for comment? Boston replied, it does not. Hamby replied, that would need to be added, because we need a comment section. Stull replied, I liked the questions that were at the end of the evaluation from the principals. I thought those would be good questions at the end for anyone to go ahead and add comments. The other thing is that I would feel that the survey would need to be 100% anonymous. So no identifying your demographic information as far as questions on there as well. Stout replied, before we get into the weeds of questions and the survey, I think we need to talk about a little bit about why and the type of information that we're trying to derive and what we're going to do with that information. So then we can determine what kind of questions need to be asked. It's very difficult to have an all school district wide survey done. Answering specific questions about somebody that they don't interact with regularly or report to. That's not typical to do that. Stull replied, ultimately he's their boss and so that's where? Stout replied, it's could be more of a Climate Survey. If we're trying to determine areas that we're going to look out for improving within the district, then we need to make sure that we design the questions that way. So we need to know what are we looking for to get out of this questionnaire? Out of the survey. So then we can make sure we're asking the poignant questions. So we can get information that's usable in order to make improvements. It's been brought up that this seven question survey was done back in 2019. It was also done in 2021 as well and several of the board members that are on here now were here then. My question would be we went through the process of doing that. We had TSBA send the survey out, collect everything, but what improvements came out of that? Other than the two directors that were here at the time when the surveys were done leaving. What other improvements were made in the district? What kind of information did we derive from this that improved things for our students? We need to decide what we're trying to drive with us and then go from there. Stull replied, I think in having the survey, I mean that kind of answers some of that already and then the other part is for I mean his contract is going to be up the end of next year and so to go ahead and get in front of any sort of you know talk negotiations stuff like that. To have this available to us when that time comes. Hamby replied, and also to allow all of our employees we have the principals, assistant principals and supervisors, but it allows the rest of our employees to have a voice also and shows them that we are listening and so that's, I think it's very important for us to include all employees. Not just supervisory. Stout replied, I think a Climate Survey is a good idea, but we need to make sure what are we trying to drive with us. What information from this and asking questions, direct questions about the Director of Schools from somebody who isn't, doesn't interact with them or isn't responsible for reporting to them directly. They're not going to be able to answer those questions well. What you're looking for to be able to say this is good, this is bad. This contract, we're working with this for his contract. You're not going to get those detailed objective information that we need contract wise. We could do a Climate Survey and there could be some questions on there. He runs the district, so there could be some questions on there regarding how you know certain things about the district. Do they feel address the districts being led in the proper direction? If we're going to do something like that, we need to have a section on the board. We need to have a section on the DOS. We need to have a section on their direct supervisor. Hale replied, we want it to be anonymous. I would think. Stout continued, well we need to have a direction on it. It can still be anonymous. A direction on their direct supervisor. You know, does your direct supervisor do da da da? Do you feel you can go to your direct supervisor da da da and then overall climate. Are we heading in the right direction? Those sort of questions. Nichols asked, does TSBA do that is that? That type of questions. Stout replied, they won't put the questions together for us right. We would have to put our questions together, but there's a lot of surveys out there that we can reference. Boston replied, the responses come back to them. They put it on a scale type form and then send it back to us. Nichols replied, we come up with the questions. Boston replied, we come up with the questions. I think, Robbie you were on that committee in 2019. Did y'all create the questions to send in? Safdie replied, yeah we created the questions. Stout replied, they need to be as objective as possible. Davis asked, so what question, what did we do with it? Once y'all got that back, like how did that information impact it? Boston replied, it told us, I don't know what you mean. What did you do with that information? But it told us how our, because we sit here. Central Office operates, each school operates. It tells us how each individual school and they all got input on this is what I think. You know the question, there's an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. The results, there were 15% strongly agree, 41% agree, 29% disagree, and 12% strongly disagreed. So it gave us some idea of how everybody felt about the district as a whole and that is what we are looking for. Davis replied, let me ask you this. I think surveys are good. Boston replied, you like data. Davis continued, for the reason of collecting data. So you can enact a decision. Where surveys fail in a sense is where you're not capable of getting the voice of everybody. The reason in our survey is, when we evaluate him, we evaluate ourselves. It's mandatory that we all participate. The trouble with surveys of this magnitude is it's not mandatory for everybody to participate? So you only get one fifth of the people that were asked about one of the grants that we're looking for or I'm sorry one fifth of the teachers responded to their survey. Okay one fifth of those people did. So when you only have a fifth of the audience how conducive can you really be with your decision making based on that small sample size and that's not just this survey. Surveys on building YMCA, surveys on anything that they send a survey out on. That's what happens. They send it out to 100,000 people and 10,000 people respond and then you're going to make a decision on the 10,000 people or the ones that were silent? Stull replied, the hope would be. Boston replied, decisions. I think you're going to take this data and take this climate and it tells us where we are. I mean what do we need to approve on and I'm talking about not here, but out in the schools. What kind of support do they need? What do they need from Mr. Stepp? What do they need from us? What do they need to gain an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect? Davis replied, but that's only going to cater to the people that actually answer the service. Stull replied, the hope would be that everyone would answer the questions on the survey. Now granted yes are we going to get 100% participation? Probably not. Stout replied, just for reference, 718 responded in 2019 and 266 responded in 2021. Stull replied, but you can still go ahead and from the responses that you do get, knowing how many responses you do get, you can go ahead and say okay well if we got 50% of response. Safdie asked, is that statistically significant? Stull continued, right and then you take the data from that and go from there. Just because you may not get 100% participation doesn't mean you don't do the survey. Nichols replied, and so the survey that you sent out, Mr. Stepp. That just went to principals? Hamby replied, principals, assistant principals and supervisors. No teachers. Stepp replied, it went to principals. Each one filled one out. Assistant principals each one filled one out. Supervisors each one filled one out. So I try to make sure that's valid by having everyone complete it. Hamby asked, no teachers or other employees filled those out? Those were just supervisors and up. Stout replied, my recommendation would be if we're going to do something like this, that we go ahead and look at the areas that we're wanting to get the information on and then we design the questions around that and make them as objective as possible. So we can get some good information on where and how can we make these improvements. Nichols asked, so madam chair, do you make a committee for the questions that need to be formed? Do you form a committee for those questions to be put together. I don't necessarily, I think what we do is we all sit back and look maybe what a Climate Survey, what information we would be looking for and then submit questions. You know we can submit questions to each other and then we can revisit it. Hamby asked, as long as we're not debating it, right? Earl, we can submit the question, right. Submit the questions. Davis replied, I'm going to say something. I feel like you know it's not that for quest of knowledge and information. I don't think it's a bad idea, but the concept is the structure across the state is the county voices who they want to have as their individual representative during election time in their district. Us as representatives get to determine if our employee is employable and it's up to us to go out and collect that information and deem as to whether or not we're going to continue to employ him or we're not. So I don't know that this particular survey would have any bearing on my thought outside of the data that I've been able to collect or the amount of phone calls, emails or people that have been able to to come up here and talk to this point. I don't know that any survey would change my mind, because of the structure that's in place. That's for a good reason. Boston asked, is that what we're wanting? Is for you to change your mind? Davis replied, well I'm just saying like I don't know that this survey would be able to provide enough data in any direction to change the way that I do business. Stull replied, I'm not asking to change any minds. It's just to use as another tool. Davis replied, if we're not looking to make changes, we don't need any information. Safdie replied, well the original intent of the Climate Survey was to assist the director to have an educational perspective and say these are some things that have taken place or that people have perceived you as or the school system as and how can we help you deal with those issues. Davis replied, right. So help is change, right? So if we're not going to help, we can't change. It's like climate. Climate means temperature or the environment you're in. It's important to know if you're going to be in Sub-Zero temperatures or it's going to be in the tropics. So we can make a change to what we're going to do to be in the right position for the environment. Safdie replied, absolutely. Davis continued, I don't see the survey making an impact based on what our structure, above and beyond the structure we already have in place. Is all I'm saying. We have a structure designed to determine whether or not we have a DOS that's operating. We've already conducted a survey internally to develop our own thoughts based on the information we could have collected. Stull replied, we've only done survey based off of ourselves and then the principals, assistant principals and supervisors. I think that it would be the responsible thing to do is to hear from everyone their voice and so leaving out a massive amount of people that are impacted by the Director of Schools. I don't think is responsible. I think that. Davis asked,  so if by large and part I hear what you're saying, if the majority of those people aren't responsible enough to conduct the survey, are we going to disallow the information? Stull replied, you don't disallow the in the survey just because not everybody went ahead and voted. You do take into account how many people did go ahead and answered the survey. You do, but you don't just discredit or disqualify the information just because not everybody filled it out. Davis replied, but that's what you're saying. You're disqualifying the people that directly report to him. Stull replied, no, no. Davis continued, and we're asking the people below them to provide their own. Stull replied, it's another piece to add to that information. What is the problem with asking everybody's opinion on. Davis replied, there's not. We just don't do the same thing for every topic. Like so when would we not do, like are we going to ask them everybody everything all the time in surveys? We just going to start a survey for everything? King asked, doesn't the state do one in April? Stepp replied, yes the state does Climate Surveys with all certified staff. Hamby replied, with all certified. That does not include our non-certified and they are just as important and this survey would include everyone. Stull replied, and not received any of that information either. Hamby replied, from April of last year. So we've not receive anything. Stull replied, we never received anything. Nichols replied, the non-certified are who? Hamby replied, that's our transportation, maintenance, and cafeteria workers, teacher assistants. We've got lots of non-certified support staff that our system could not run without and they need a voice also. Nichols asked, they answer to you, Mr. Stepp? These people answer to you? Not to their bosses, they answer to you? Stepp replied, there's a leadership chain of command. Nichols continued, so there's a hierarchy. So they respond to their leadership. Davis replied, so just for the record. Like I think information is great. Generally speaking, people that don't report to other people don't typically provide survey data. Most organizations do not survey in this manner, because it's dirty data, is what we call it right. It's not data that is directly, you don't have valid logic for your answering, right. The decisions that they may think that he gets to make may not be decisions he makes. We have that misconception all the time. People think the board decides if we go middle school basketball or not. We don't, so there's misconceptions everywhere and I think this is subjective and could potentially be damaging, more than it would be positive. I don't know nobody's been able to voice what the positive outcome would be, because I've asked and nobody's able to tell me what the positive outcome would be. Nichols replied, I agree because they have a person in between him. So they're not answering to Mr. Stepp. They're answering to their supervisor. To their lead person of their department and not directly to him. So the interaction that he has with them, there's a person in between that. So I don't understand. Hamby replied, but his decisions for our district affect everyone right. Nichols replied, they do. Hamby continued, and so that's what the survey is. Nichols replied, but that's what the hierarchy is for. So I go to my boss and say hey I don't really like this. Can we talk to Mr. Stepp about that? So then you got. Stout replied, we're talking about a couple different things here. They're getting rolled together. So we're talking about wanting to get some results for being able to drive some improvement in the district right. How people feel about our direction? How they feel about their job? Those kind of things, but then we're also talking about wanting to get information regarding Mr. Stepp and at some point contract discussions right. Those are two totally separate things. Nichols replied, totally separate. Stout continued, they need to be done in two totally different ways and the ones that we're going to be using for contract negotiations are objective things along with some subjective, but they're going to come for direct reports. They're going to come from the board. They're going to come from data that we're getting on, are we hitting our numbers? Are we following the Strategic Plan and staying on tasks for what we're holding him accountable for. So that's what we're going to be looking at for contract. If you're talking about wanting to approve things within the district, then we need to be talking about the Climate Survey and what do we want to know from that. Where can we make change from that and then we'd have to determine what sort of questions we want to send out district wide. Stull replied, I mean, I agree with that, but I also feel that every person in the district also needs to go ahead and have their voice heard as well and it's not being heard, because it's not being asked of them and so we have the board's evaluation. We have the principals and supervisors evaluation, but we have nothing else from anyone else. The teachers while they don't directly report to Mr. Stepp they are all impacted by him as well. Davis asked, what about in the same vein, what about the parents and the children? Should we survey them as well and say hey what do y'all think about this guy? Stull replied, they're not being employed. Davis replied, they're the recipient, essentially of the same process that he's in charge of. Stout replied, they are our ultimate customer. They are why we are all here. Davis replied, they are the ultimate stakeholders in this equation. Safdie replied, at the end of every year, the beginning of every year. I guess it's the end of every year. The federal government requires that give a survey to parents and has that been done yet? Stepp replied, not this year that I know of. Davis asked, on the climate or on the Director of School? Safdie replied, it's law. On the the Director of Schools, the direction of the schools. How you feel about the school positivity to your student needs? Nichols asked, who does that, Mr. Stepp? Davis asked, who all does that go out to? Safdie replied, it's supposed to go out to all parents. Hamby replied, of all of our students in Cumberland County. Stull replied, and even less parents are going to go ahead and respond to that survey verses the actual employees. (audio) Safdie replied, oh excuse me. Let me verify that. Is it still being done? Stout replied, well there has been requests for survey responses. Stepp replied, I'm not aware of a federal one. Is there federal, what is that called? Do we know? I'll have to find that out. Hamby replied, I know there used to be. Safdie replied, there was a requirement. It may have been state, but. Stepp replied, I'll find out what that is. Nichols replied, well that would cover parents. Boston replied, that would cover parents. I don't think I want to poll students. Hamby replied, we have a motion and second. Do we have more discussion? Boston replied, well I think first we need to to vote whether we're going to have send out a Climate Survey or not. Once we make that decision, then we can further on at the direction of the survey. Stout replied, before we vote though, I think it's a little premature to take the vote without having information on what are we trying to derive from this. Boston replied, well the motion is to. Hamby replied, to do a Climate Survey. Boston continued, to do a Climate Survey. Hamby continued, and then we need to get together and figure out what we want to put in it. Boston continued, and then once you decide whether you're going to survey. I mean I think everyone, I mean if you'd like to discuss it further the floor's open. Davis replied, I would move that we postpone until we quantify what indeed the climate is. Hale replied, that's a different motion. Davis continued, right. If we're going, if it's needed make a move that's to determine if it's needed and we can establish what the climate is. Stout replied, I would second that. We need more direction on this before we decide if we're going to invest time and energy into it to vote. Hale replied, we haven't voted on the first one yet. Stull replied, we have to vote on the first motion. King asked, do you got an amendment made? Vote on the amendment first. Hamby replied, we'll have to vote on their amendment first. Boston replied, so the amendment is to. Hamby replied, postpone. Boston replied, well he just said to determine if it's needed and needed more direction. So what is that motion? Davis replied, I guess the move would be to move the topic into. Boston replied, okay let's put it in simple terms. Do you want to postpone? Davis replied, I think, we're going to have to postpone. So I would move to postpone to quantify the need and establish the climate. Hamby asked, and did you second that? Stout replied, yes. Hamby continued, Mrs. Stout seconded his motion. Boston replied, right his amendment. Hamby replied, so now we got to vote on the amendment. Boston replied, okay so what we are voting on is the motion on the floor is to conduct a Climate Survey with all employees. The amendment is to postpone this until we determine if it is needed. Is that correct, Mr. Davis. Davis replied, yep. Boston continued, and we have a second. So what we are voting on right at this moment is the move to postpone the Climate Survey until it is determined in more direction. A Roll Call Vote was taken. Boston asked, Robbie do you want to go back and change your pass? Safdie replied, no. Boston continued, okay it's four to four. Motion Fails to postpone. Now the Climate Survey, which is on the floor at this particular moment. Is there further discussion on it? Safdie replied, I was just thinking that the definition of Climate Survey is kind of unique. I'm not sure that the past surveys don't reflect a general measurement of climate. You know it's really hard to, there's a difference between taking a performance criteria, where you list specific things versus a generic measurement mood or feelings that people have. I think that I lived in a work environment where the president of the college to their human resource agent created a Climate Survey that included questions about him and he gave it to all 500 employees. It was wonderful, because he was saying, yeah let's do it. You know, give me feedback. So for that reason, I think that I would support a motion to establish the Climate Survey. Boston replied, okay so let's go ahead and take the vote on whether to conduct a Climate Survey. Once that is over and we determine that we are or we are not going to do a Climate Survey, then we can determine what direction we want to go into as a board. Whether we want to create our questions. Whether we want to use a more general questions and go from there, but I think we've got to determine whether we are or are not. Stout replied, a couple things really quickly. If we're going to do a Climate Survey, I'd like to enroll the Director, Mr. Stepp in coming up with questions. Safdie replied, that's a good idea. Stout continued, since these are going to be questions from the district and he would be the one that would be involved in working with making the changes. Boston replied, well I think that's comments for after we determine whether we're going to have a survey. Stout replied, well this is before voting. This is what I want to put out there and then also are we voting on a Climate Survey or are we voting on a Climate Survey on the DOS's. Hamby replied, a Climate Survey on the DOS. Boston replied, that is the motion. Hamby replied, my motion was Climate Survey on the Director of Schools and her second was on that motion. Stout replied, so specifically on the Director of Schools. Hamby replied, yes specifically. Stout replied, not an overall Climate Survey, but you're looking for a Climate Survey specifically on the Director of School. Hamby replied, on the Director of Schools. Yes ma'am. Stout replied, which is I'll tell you it's not recommended. TSBA does not recommend that. They do not recommend surveying any employees that are not direct reports on a particular supervisor or manager and I've never been involved in any survey. Boston and Hamby asked, where did you get that information? Stout replied, I'm speaking with Ben and I have never been involved in a survey in my 30 years of business where I have answered specific questions on how an upper management person handles business day to day. Yes, on overall direction of company. Do I think leadership or management is taking the company the right direction. Would I recommend people to come to the company with the direction we're going? Those types of questions, but never on a specific supervisor or manager that I did not report to and that this is just not typical. Nichols replied, I'm going to tell you it absolutely sounds like a witch hunt. It's like I don't know what you're looking for, but it almost looks like you're setting him up to look for something to get rid of him. Hamby replied, and it's not. Nichols replied, I'm sorry it does. Hamby replied, I'm trying to give a voice. Nichols replied, that is the appearance. 19 and the 21 you did the same thing. That was when you got rid of the other two directors. Hamby replied, we did not get rid of Mrs. Ina. She resigned. Stout replied, regardless there's been nothing spoken to for improvements from last year. (audio) Davis and Hamby replied, point of order. Davis continued, so here's the deal. Like to everyone's point. People, we like data. We like conclusive data. The only thing I'll say before we vote is when you take a look at all the information, it's got to be presented in a way that's tied to the way that we make our decision, right. Nichols replied, it should be yes. Davis continued, so our ability should be the way we evaluate the Director of Schools currently doesn't incorporate a Climate Survey into that. So if we're going to add a Climate Survey just to be sitting on the side, I would say that's dangerous, right. Just because of the fact it's not conclusive in the way that we conduct business in determining the Director of School's performance. Whether to be considered for a raise or whether to be considered for dismissal, because it's not within the scope of what our reach is. So we can do a survey, but it's outside. If we cite this it's outside of scope. So I would just caution you that we're looking at things that aren't relevant to what we told ourselves we're supposed to be doing. Stull replied, I disagree with that and the reason is because we had such a massive conversation last month on the contract and we had two pieces of information to go ahead and even try and look at for any sort of negotiations. We need more and this is another way to go ahead and do that. It is going to be something that has to be done by next year and getting ahead of that, because that was one of the things that was mentioned. Was to do this early versus rather than having to wait until the last minute. This takes time. We have to go ahead and gather the information. Davis asked, when would you propose we start and finish this? Stull replied, as soon as we can go ahead and get the questions together. Davis asked, who's going to be responsible for the survey? Hamby replied, TSBA does the survey. Davis replied, they don't do these surveys. Hamby replied, after we present them with the questions. They received all the responses and then send us the results. Stout replied, they'll send it out and compile. Davis replied, we just got to tell them what we want. Hamby replied, yes. Davis continued, so we know we want it. We just don't know what we want. Stull replied, that's what the rest, the next part will be. Is to go ahead and discuss that as far as the questions go. Davis replied, it sounds like the cart and the horse, but okay. Boston replied, well I think you've got to determine if you're going to. Then determine what you're going to want on that survey and this is, the survey we did back  the Climate Survey. In my opinion, is there an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect with the school system. That could include principals that could include your supervisors. I mean, do we trust? Do we have a good environment? Are we promoting a good environment? And I think that is you know one of the I'm generally satisfied with being an employee. Well, if I'm not why? Stout replied, the questions before were very subjective. So if were going to do something, we need to make them a lot more objective. Boston replied, you know, there again, these were just created. They were not all about the DOS, although he is our leader. Stout replied, four of the seven. Four of the seven questions were specifically on the DOS. Boston continued, he is our leader. He sets the tone. He sets the pace, but we have supervisors, we have principals, we have other individuals in the buildings that also contribute to that. In my opinion, to that environment. Hamby asked, so should it say Climate Survey on the Director of Schools and immediate supervisors. Would that? Boston replied, no. Can we just leave it at Climate Survey? That's survey okay sounds good Climate Survey. I would amend my motion if you are okay with just Climate Survey. Stull replied, yes. Boston replied, we have a motion and a second on the floor to conduct a Climate Survey within our school district. Sending out to every employees and I'm going to a Roll Call. A Roll Call Vote was taken. Boston advised, so we have voted to do a Climate Survey and I will open the floor back up for what direction do we want this survey to go in. Safdie asked, may I make a suggestion that we wait until the next board meeting to make these decisions. To have everybody think about the things that they would like rather than trying to make the decision at this point. Boston replied, sure I mean I'm fine. Safdie continued, put it on the agenda as a discussion and maybe you could send out the surveys to give them. Mr. Stepp, to send that to other board members, all the board members. So they can see. Stepp replied, sure. Hamby replied, Mr. Stepp, I would encourage you to add what you would like to. Questions that you would like to have answered. Safdie replied, we did that with the previous director. Boston replied, if we could have 1 to 10 questions and everyone kind of be thinking about what they want to, I guess for this survey. Then we can get the proposed questions on the agenda for the April board meeting and see if we can get this started.

 

Discussion: 

 - See 18. Setting an Agenda and Board Conduct Discussion for detailed discussion on moving Baby Birds Discussion up next. Per TSBA recommendation, the agenda was edited to add Baby Birds Learning Center Grant Discussion as an actual agenda item do to the agenda was amended during the 9. Approval of Agenda process. 

King replied, I would move to postpone. Boston asked, move to postpone what? King continued, until another meeting. It's getting late. Safdie replied, the grant deadline is? Hamby replied, we do have a grant deadline. Stout asked, what is the grant deadline? Safdie and Hamby replied, next Friday. So we can't wait until next month. Boston replied, and this is just for discussion only. Now you made a move that we postpone to another meeting. King replied, what's the nature of the discussion? It's already been explained to us earlier in the Director's Report. Boston replied, I understand that. King continued, we heard comments in the comment section. What else is there? Boston replied, I don't know. They haven't presented it. Do you object to it moved up, because it's all been put on the agenda for discussion? King replied, no I don't object to moving it up. We need to move through it pretty quickly. Boston replied, so with no objection on moving Baby Birds discussion up. Before we get to Setting an Agenda and Conduct Discussion. So if we could start out the discussion on the Baby Birds. There cannot be a vote, because it was amended. Just added for discussion to our agenda. So anyone that would like to open up the discussion for Baby Birds. Stull replied, I know that the grant is set to be sunsetted. So not going forward with it right now. That was the decision that was made and I know that Mr. Stepp went ahead and talked a little bit about that earlier this evening, but why is the grant not being applied for? We don't know what that amount is going to be. Stepp replied, well as I said my team came to me, after looking at all information, made this recommendation. So we carefully reviewed everything and came to this decision. Stull asked, why would the board not be able to go ahead and be presented with this? With the possibility that if there's not enough in the grant for us to go ahead and put that in our budget to continue to fund the program. Stepp replied, I had several board members come in and speak with me when I provided that information to you and we discussed that linked several different things. About this that's included in my statement. This is the first time I believe you and I talked about it. Stull replied, that is correct, but I did also ask several questions in the email that I had sent out. The fact that we're looking at a program that we've had in our district for 14 years. That we don't know if this grant is going to continue to cover it or not, because we've not applied for it. We're just automatically not going to apply for it, because we may not have enough to fund it. Doesn't seem to be the responsible way to go in making a decision like that. The building was something that TEIS provided for us. They built that building for this program. Those children go ahead and receive 6 hours a week through Baby Birds. Yes, they are able to go ahead and receive an hour of in home care and then other therapies that they may qualify for. They may not qualify for 5 hours in total. That would be four additional hours of therapies. Not every one of those children have those needs. Some sure, yes, but not all of them and those are hours that would be taken away from them. The differences that are made in these kids being able to participate in this program is huge and there's a waiting list on this program. This is not something that the community isn't using. The community is using this program to its fullest. Why would we not try and explore the grant? We don't know if that grant is going to cover all the expenses. We only know what the previous grant was. Hamby replied, and that was my question. We vote on whether or not we're going to apply for grants all the time, but this was never presented before the board for a vote to decide if we wanted to apply for it. It doesn't mean that we have to accept it. It doesn't mean, you know. Why were we not afforded the opportunity to at least vote on applying for this grant? The full board was not included in that decision. Safdie asked, what's the maintenance cost on that above and beyond the cost of the grant? Stepp replied, I have to look at the exact dollar amount? Safdie asked, is it matching? Nichols asked, not long ago we talked about that with the surface ground that had to be completely done. Stout replied, that was around $100,000 for that. Nichols continued, the structure and then new maintenance on their toys and stuff. Correct? Stull replied, that's not something that the board discussed though. That was something that was just sent out in the statement, the email for us. Saying that, why the reasons that. Stout replied, so the question that you wanted an answer to is why was this not brought forward for the board to talk about it. Stull replied, yes. Stout continued, before the decision was made to apply for the grant or not. So I guess my question would be, do all grants that are being considered get brought before the board for consideration? Stepp replied, no. Stout asked, so what would trigger you to bring one before the board if all of them aren't brought before the board? Stepp replied, there's no policy on that, that it has to go in front of the board. That's part of running the business of the schools. Stull replied, but again, this is a program that's been in our district for 14 years. This is not just something that we decided to try for a year. This is something that's been in our community that's been funded by a grant for 14 years and then the Director of Schools just decides that they're not going to apply for that grant anymore, because it may not cover the costs and because we have additional maintenance needs that are needed. That's not even something that's been brought to the board on whether or not we would like to see that program still continue. If we want to go ahead and try and fund the repairs that are needed. Stout replied, I think first of all, we need to be very careful about throwing around the Director of Schools just made the decision. Stull replied, he did. Stout continued, wait. This is our employee here, okay. So he's provided and along with his administration detailed information behind for why the recommendation was made to him by the administration. Who we task and trust in their roles to make decisions. Day-to-day decisions for the district. The recommendation was made to him based on data that was also provided to him and then he made the final decision. We trust him in his role. We are tasking him in his role to make the proper decisions day-to-day decisions. The board does not get involved in grant determination, decisions, applications. That is the administration and Mr. Stepp does that. So we need to be careful about pulling one particular thing out and saying this should have come to us for the board to talk about it, because then we're saying anytime the grant is being considered you need to bring it before us to talk about it. I understand this program's been in for a long time, but anytime we take a grant we always talk about is it sustainable. Are we always going to have this money? Is this going to be something we're going to continue on. Grant money can always go away. Stull replied, it can, but there is no harm in actually applying for the grant, because you don't know if you're not going to receive the full amount that you need to fund the program that's been self-funded this whole time. Stout asked, so Mr. Stepp, when we talked you had mentioned that there was discussion with TEIS and the grant, about the grant and the grant funds and so there were dollar amounts that your administration provided for needs in order to continue it. Including staffing, teacher pay raises, which we are doing across the district and when you talked with them, they provided you an idea, I believe. Correct me if I'm wrong of what the grant money would be like and that's what helped y'all move forward with the decision. Is that right? Stepp replied, yeah, that and some larger ideas system-wide, but the biggest thing is we're working very hard with TEIS on making sure there is no break in the continuation of services of any child, period. I sat with a parent today, got the right information out. It was a great meeting. It was Mrs. Katie Bell and it was awesome, but the totality of the decision. We took all stakeholders in mind of what we're doing. We are going to work directly with these families on all the transition and we already work with TEIS all the time. So we're going to work with them. As I said, working through this services. We are offering for the three-year-olds, we have four different settings where they can go five days a week. As much as they want, all day if they would like. So we're increasing that offering right now and we can do that whether we get the grant or not. So we can provide those services also. Stull replied, but the age limit that we're dealing with right here is 18 months to 3 years. Those children are being serviced right now. Not over three. We're not talking about that. The ones that we're servicing here with the Baby Birds Program are 18 months to 3 years. In the community, we already have a shortage of services that these kids can get their appointments through. There's waiting lists for them to go ahead and receive their services or they're going to have to travel to Cookville or Knoxville to go ahead and try and and get these same services. That they're receiving right now, here. Stout replied, I don't think anybody's questioning the need for it and I don't think anybody wants to end the program. It's a matter of what's best for the entire district. Stull replied, the actions speak otherwise. Stout continued, which we talked the whole administration with. Safdie asked, are we going to tear down the building? Are we going to tear down the classroom and get rid of it. So we don't have any maintenance costs on it. I mean if they gave it to us. Hale replied, I would like to know what we're going to do with the building. Safdie asked, what are we going to do with the building? I don't know. Is it going to remain empty? Are we going to? Stepp replied, it will never remain empty, no. Hamby replied, and Mrs. Stout mentioned emails. The first email that we got did not have a lot of detail. The next one that we got had more detail after questions had been emailed back. So the very first one did not have a lot of detail. Stout replied, no he was letting us know what happened, but he responded to the questions immediately when we had them. Hale replied, well, I thought I heard Mr. Stepp say, and it can be read back that he talked to some board members. I want to know what board members were talked to, cuz I was not. Stull replied, I was not. Nichols replied, I called him right away. Stout replied, I called him. Stepp replied, the invitation was in the first email to call me with any questions or current concerns and I put that in every email and I encourage you to come by and talk to me. Hale replied I did. Stepp continued, you came by Mrs. Hale. Several people called me. You know, I talked with Mrs. Boston, I don't remember what day that was. We've been talking every day. Boston replied several. Stull replied, and I sent emails. Hamby replied, but discussions was after you sent out. Stull replied, after the decision was made. Hamby continued, instead of talking to us before the decision was made. Boston replied, my fault. We have a building. We have a program that services special needs babies. They are babies. These parents need help. We've got a program that with the exception of changing the light bulbs and and fixing the toilets and you know putting up paint, whatever the case may be. Anything we're going to do to any building that we own. We're going to cover those just general maintenance. An electrical socket goes out, we're going to fix that. Besides that, this program has never cost the Cumberland County School District any money. The issue now is we have a playground that is going to need some work. So we can put these babies outside. They can continue their socialization. They can continue their therapy there. I guess their classroom work or whatever the case may be and we're going, our decision is we don't have a decision. It's been made, but why would we not apply for a grant for a program that is so needed for these babies and for their parents? That hasn't cost us anything. So it's not an overall in the best interest of the district. It's what's in the best interest of these children. It's what we need to be thinking about. It's never cost us. I talked to Mrs. Holton. We don't know what the grant's going to do. If we apply, the grant right now is it $311,000. Holton replied, $313,000. Boston continued, $313,0000. Okay and if we apply for the grant and they come back and say oh wait a minute times are tough we're only going to give you $250,000. Then we're having an entirely different conversation, but right now that program is self-sustaining. If we have to do some work, give these parents an opportunity to do a fundraiser. Give these parents an opportunity to come forward and say okay so this surfacing needs to be fixed. Let me think, you know what can we do? What alternative options do we have? We don't have to spend $100,000. I can guarantee you that right now. We may have to spend some money, but is it worth getting rid of the entire program for these children, because we have to fix a playground and it's not in the best interest of the district that we're thinking about. It's what's in the best interest of these children. If we don't apply, we don't know. They may come back and say okay guys, we're going to give you $400,000 this year. We can staff it. We can buy their supplies. We can buy their cleaning supplies and we also would possibly be able to put some money toward the facility itself. If we need to, we need to. If we need to come up, if we need to look at our budget and come up with 25, 35, $40,000 to fix a playground. It is well worth it to offer this service. Stout asked, are you saying some kind of community resources that might be available? Boston replied, well I mean if we don't apply and keep the program going. We won't never know. Now it is Mr. Stepp's decision whether he chooses to apply for that grant. I think the board can direct him as our employee to apply for the grant and let's see where we end up. We don't know, I mean we may get, let's be generous. We may get $450,000 or we may get $310,000. We may come so close that we can barely staff it. At that time, we're having a different conversation. Stout asked, just for a little more information, Mr. Stepp. What other than the playground was mentioned here? You said that there were some, can you just review some of the other things that you had mentioned? That were taken into consideration, cuz if we're looking at resurfacing playground only, like you said Teresa. There's going to be probably some resources of things that can be pulled from. Stepp replied, but staffing is going to be issue with the pay raises. That was one of the big ones. I'm trying to find that thing I sent you guys already. Boston replied, well, we were at $311,000 with the upcoming raises and what would we add. That was the sheet we got. Holton replied, that is what our current budget is this year. Boston replied, is $311,000. Holton continued, the budget that we applied for in 21 ends June 30th of 2024. So applying there's no guarantee we might not get the grant. We might get $400,000. We could be anywhere in the middle of that. We will not know the decision until April to June whether what that decision is. I projected because it's a five-year contract. So I have projected what I would need to fund the salaries with this year's raise. Possible next year's raise to get to the 50,000. The budget that I would propose to be able to make it to year five would be $393,000. Stout asked, for all five years? Boston replied, but if we get the same. Holton replied, you get the same amount each year, but for year five, I have to have that much to run it. For year one, I don't have to have that much, but they don't let you save any money to be able to cover it. So like if I ask for $350,000. I can't save $25,000 to be able to cover for year five. So they give me the exact amount over the five years. So whatever I get year one has to also cover year five. So we've projected 6 1/2% raise for certified, 4% for non this year. Probably very close to that next year to be able to get to that $50,000 minimum and then we've added projected step raises for the three years after that. Just on the scale that we have now. So we average $5,000 additional salary for the next three years. Having enough money to support the program. We put, I think $40,000 in there to support the program just because we will have to have that on year five. Boston replied, but we don't know until we apply. Holton replied, correct, but that would be the budget that I would propose. Boston replied, and that's fine. I mean you can do the budget and you know what you're looking at, but do we really know what the response is going to be until we do apply. Holton replied, no and I've called her and I've said you know, they've asked these questions and she just says there's no guarantee either way. I could get what I am asking for. I could get half of what I'm asking for. I could get zero, but you know. Boston asked, but could you get more than what you're asking for? Holton replied, I don't think that they provide more than what you asked for. I mean I can call and ask that question, but it says to come up with a budget you would need to run the program for the next five years. So creating that budget would be that. Stout asked, and with this 5 year grant, it's a 5 year commitment. So if we do fall short, then it would be on the district to make sure that we continue. If for some reason, there's additional expenses or something that happens. Holton replied, so what would happen is, they would, if the decision was made to apply, they would say we're giving you this amount of money for the next five years. Then the discussion would be, do we have enough to staff it? Do we have to go back on the current staff we have? Do we have to change their programming to meet the dollar amount we have? Do we come and say does BOE give us more money to continue? Are we able to fix, you know, modify the playground area? Stout replied, so I'm assuming some of that based on the information we got was already taken in consideration with the recommendation for what you're saying. Staffing was one of the things that was discussed, playground, budget. There was several things, so it sounds like all of that was looked at when you made the recommendation regarding the program. So if we apply for it now and they say yeah we get the money. Then we're going to go back and re look at that again, but that's already been looked at and there's some concerns with that. Holton replied, so what happens is they would say you receive this amount of grant money. I can't sign that contract until we present it to the board and say I applied for this grant. This is what they're giving me and then you would approve to accept or deny the grant after I apply for it. Just like with any federal money that we get and then those discussions would have to happen. Stout asked, so if you apply for it and we get the money and we all celebrate, we get the money and we say yeah let's take it. We've got the resources we need to move forward with it, staffing wise, maintenance wise. We may be talking about maybe some money difference. Hamby replied, if you get the grant. Stout replied, and we approve it. Hamby continued, we have a staff. Stout replied, are you confident that we have what we need to fulfill that 5 year commitment. Holton replied, if I get $393,000 I can run the program, but the maintenance of the building and the playground has always been since 2019, the responsibility from the BOE. Stout replied, so that would be additional on top of that $393,000. Hamby replied, which we've always taken care of. Boston replied, which you know, if we've got a playground issue I know that there have been schools when they wanted to add playground equipment. When they wanted to add things of this nature. They could do fundraisers. They could do different things. They could reach out to the community. I think giving them that opportunity to do so would be a great opportunity. If it some of it falls on the BOE, then I mean we do repairs and we do things of this nature all the time. I don't know why this would be, I mean we don't have to spend $100,000 tomorrow, but let's start looking ahead at things that we can't do, but when you look at those, I mean don't want to get, this is business. I don't want to get personal. You look at that child and you say we're just not going to even try. Parent replied, she learned to walk at Baby Birds. She could not walk. Boston replied, and I appreciate it. I'm not trying to, this has been in my mind. Parent replied, no, no, no. The program is just if we need to look at more grants over the years to help pay for the additional cost or the parents have been saying that they would be glad to do fundraisers or the parents themselves, the mechanics in the families. They would be glad to come and fix the playground or places like Autism Awareness. They would, I'm sure be places like that at least would be glad to help us cover the cost that we need if we do not get enough. Boston replied, well, you would have at least the opportunity. That's my thoughts on it. Stepp replied, I appreciate all the input. I mean it's great input. Thank you for all those when you got the email call and said Stepp let's talk about this. I really appreciate that. So that we can really talk through some of the details and the planning processes and the business of the schools. So it's not going to be a problem. We'll go ahead and apply and then we'll see where we go from there. Multiple board members thanked Mr. Stepp.  Stepp continued, I would still encourage the board to talk to me. Call me when you have concerns. I think that's our business partnership and my responsibility to talk to you guys. Davis replied, and I'll add to that. I appreciate that very much and that's something I think we should collectively look at. Is when there are like we spend every board meeting talking about grants. So if we're going to be involved in grants from the funding, we ought to be in the conversation on the sunsetting much sooner than the decision being made. So if our expectation is that we need to set that internally so we don't arrive at this situation in the future. Stepp replied, that's what me and my staff have talked about. We're always in that continuous Improvement Plan, so we've had many discussions about all this stuff. Davis replied, and that's not throwing shade on anybody. I'm just saying like collectively. Like let's realize this is probably situation we can avoid in the future. Boston replied, if we weren't in such a push. If the deadline wasn't sunsetting or whatever, but I understand that the grant is due next Friday. Stepp replied, we're good. Boston continued, next week is Spring Break. Stepp replied, we're good. We plan through all scenarios so that we could be ready. Boston replied, well I certainly appreciate that from my point of view. Employee replied, I just have a question and let me be up front. I'm a dual employee. I'm one of your bus drivers and I'm the last one in on Baby Birds. I work at Baby Birds. I have two comments. To keep this program up and running in you're five years, you can axe my job. I would walk away to keep these kids. Boston replied, I don't want axe anyones job. Employee continued, second is whether you use that builder for Baby Birds or you put somebody, because he said it would be used. Aren't you going to have maintenance on it? Boston replied, yes. Employee continued, no matter who's in there. Whether you turn it into a daycare. Whether you turn it into something else. Isn't maintenance a mute point? Isn't that playground a mute point? If you're going to use it. If you're going to tear it down then you don't have maintenance, but if you are worried about maintenance in a playground, then whatever you put in there. I mean I'll do respect, on that. Safdie replied, you know the parents of Cumberland County have been so generous. We have a Booster Club that donated about $180,000 for a field for the boys to practice and girls to practice on. Now people are raising $39,000 for a sign at Stone Elementary and I could list a half dozen contributions that the parents and businesses in Cumberland County have helped our school system and our students and our kids. So I look forward to seeing how these volunteers can come together to help if necessary build a playground or paint an inside interior and help absorb some of the cost for our school system. Stout replied, I agree it's a community issue. We've got a lot of things that are community issues that tend to fall to the schools and it's hard for the schools to keep up with all of it. Boston replied, well if we can just, once we apply for the grant. Hamby replied, we can move forward. Boston continued, we may be having a different conversation once the grant comes in. Stout asked, how soon will we know? How soon do we get a response? Stepp replied up to June. Hamby replied, between April and June. Is that what you said? Holton replied, yes. Stout asked, and the program starts, it aligns the same as the school? Stepp replied, June 30th is the last day of this contract. July 1 is the first day. Applications goes in. It's a open-ended process up into June. Stull replied, the program runs all year round. It doesn't run with the school system. Stout replied, I was just trying to figure out timing wise. So depending on what comes back on the grant, we've got about a month. From the time we know on the grant to a month for when things going to start rocking and rolling and we'll have to figure out how to stop gap if we're going to do any stop gapping in a short time. Boston replied, that was a really good point. This is not just a 180 day program. This program runs year around. Stout replied, it's just the staffing part. Boston continued, that also helps. Thank you everyone who came. We appreciate it.

Discussion:   - Boston advised, next on the agenda is Setting an Agenda and Board Conduct Discussion. Stout asked, madam chair I move to recess for 5 minutes. So everybody can take a quick restroom break. Boston replied, sure.

This meeting is adjourned for about 5 minutes. The meeting adjourned at 8:02pm. The meeting was called to order at 8:12pm. 

Boston advised, we going to call this meeting back into order. There has been a request that the discussion on Baby Birds be moved up. So that some of their audience can get their children home. If there are no objections, we're going to take that item up next. (See 17.Baby Birds Learning Center Grant for detailed discussion) 

Boston advised, next on the agenda is Setting an Agenda and Board Conduct Discussion. Stout replied, move to postpone to our next board meeting on this if we can. Hamby asked Stull, are you seconding that? I see you shaking your head. Stull replied, I will second that. Stout replied, I don't know how much more progress we're going to make this evening. We tackled a lot of things. Hamby replied, we're exhausted. Stull replied, its okay. I understand. Hamby replied, we got a first and a second. Boston replied, we will just move back to April. Stull replied, that's fine. A Voice Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   - Boston advised, next on the agenda is the Education Survey for Discussion and Approval. I asked that this be put on the agenda so that we could start conversations on middle schools. We called it an Educational Survey so that it can address a broad spectrum of things, not just middle schools, but with their target being information on whether parents would look at middle schools. Whether they would support middle schools, because the transition thereof is going to be fast if this board would vote to go towards the middle schools. I particularly thought I'd like to know if we had the support of the parents before we move in that direction and so Mr. Stepp and I talk about several times and I asked that it be put on the agenda to see if we could give Mr. Stepp some direction on sending out a survey to parents and whether they would be in favor. Whether they would not be in favor of transitioning to middle schools. Hamby replied, I'm going to make a motion that we approve the Education Survey. Nichols replied, I'll second it. Boston replied, okay further discussion? I think that Mr. Stepp can create the questions and get back the information that we're looking for. Am I correct on that? Stepp replied, yes. Nichols  replied, the quicker we do that, the quicker we get to move to middle schools. Boston replied, I'm just saying we've got to start somewhere. If this is ground zero, let's start here. Send a survey out. What particular time frame? Stepp replied, let me get the questions ready and to the board first. Then when the board all has a chance to look at it and feel good about it. Then let's set the timeline to make sure it's correct and it meets all of your needs. Safdie replied, try to make the questions. Davis replied, if I may. You know where I'm going with this. Boston replied, just information to guide us towards. Davis replied, understood and I think that is valid, right. We want to know what people think, but I also think that people need information on the why. That's an intelligent decision. If in deed the direction, if Mr. Stepp is in support of that topic, then there needs to be some sort of forum. Some sort of informational setting scheduled to articulate the value proposition as to the why this is a direction. Nichols replied, the survey yes, doing the survey first to get the interest. Davis replied, right, but interested in things that you don't know about. Stout replied, they're not going say ya or nay. If they don't know how it's going to look. Davis replied, it's a scary word. You can go, you can say chicken or egg. Stull replied, I think though that parents of middle schooners, they kind of already have an idea that they either want a middle school or they don't. Davis replied, say that again. Stull replied, Parents of middle schoolers in those grades. They either know that they do or don't and if they don't know they'll have an opportunity to go ahead and explore that option more. (audio) Davis replied, I'm just saying. If we provide the information, there's no reason for everyone not to know, right. So we're going to leave as a chance and say we hope y'all know everything you need to know about middle schools. Tell us what you think. Multiple board members said, no, no. Davis replied, listen, time out, time out. Boston replied, that's not the purpose of the survey. Davis replied, I know, I know. I'm just saying order of operations is provide the information and then ask them how they feel about that after you've provided all valid information for or against it and then ask them what they think about it. You don't take the test before you go to class. Do you? I get that takes the test before they go to class. Stull replied, I get that, but it's an ongoing thing in our county as far as we have elementary schools. We don't have the middle schools and parents that have the kids in the middle school grades. Davis replied, I'm for the survey. Nichols replied, we just asked a question do you want a middle school. (audio) Stout replied, point order point, point of order. Everybody's talking over each other, point of order. Safdie replied, we've done this before with zoning. We've done this with schools with building schools. What we did was we had as the board the Director of Schools made appointments in the evening at each of the different schools or board members attended when they could and the presentation. Stout replied, Town Halls at the schools. Stepp replied, what I was going to say, y'all allow me to create a proposal of events and survey and then y'all comment on that to see if that'll work. We've already been thinking about this with my team and I have been thinking about this. If they like it or if they don't, and we've already been discussing the information that would be needed. All those types of things. I think I've talked with two or three of you just about the process and what it would look like. So let me propose a process and a survey to you and then you guys comment on it, and then I'll redo it again and then you guys comment on it again and that way we can get it going. Here's the reality: if the community doesn't want it, they don't want it. We make what our processes are now better. If it's something they do want. A point that was made to me by one of my people is we're under the Innovative Schools Model Grant for two more years. So there's nothing that can be done for at least two years, otherwise we return money. So until all that is worked through and we're paying 100% out of our GP for those personnel. We can't do anything right now. Nichols replied, it could also take two years to do the survey. Davis replied, unless we're willing to return money. Stull replied, I don't want to return money. Stepp replied, we would have to return $3.1 million. Davis replied, I'm just going to always play the devil's advocate, apparently. There are moments in time where, if you quantify the effort, you may find that you save more than that. I'm not saying we will. I'm just saying until we look into the whole scenario as a whole and say logistically, moving from A scenario to B scenario, it's likely to believe that you might find yourself in a cost savings scenario, right. Like that's how you do it in a current state and a future state evaluation. You tie a dollar bill to that evaluation and then you make a decision and once you propose the information, all information is available, make a good decision, and the other thing I'll say is just because and I'm for the public making their voice said. I am of the public and I was elected and all of us are here and everybody here is in the public. So I'm not speaking on behalf of anybody per say, but I will if we're going to split hairs. Just because the public has a voice doesn't mean that they're the expert. Nichols replied, oh no we have to take everything into question. Davis continued, we've deemed this gentleman here and his staff and so does our wallet say that he and them are the expert on this matter. So if we have suggestive data that supports it in lieu of a survey that may or may not support it. I would still say that the survey should not be the the only denominator that we use make a decision. (audio) So encourage people to take it. Give them the information they need, but let them be experts. Stepp replied, something I learned from a mentor long, long time ago. Happy parents or happy schools. Nichols replied, that's right. Boston replied, and you made a comment that just because they're parents they're not experts, yes we are. We are parents. Davis replied, well then why aren't we teaching them at home? Boston replied, I don't have any left. Davis replied, we're clearly, you mean, like we're not, we don't think enough of our own teaching abilities to keep ourselves at the house to teach them. Boston replied, that's not the point. Davis replied, it is the point. We're paying this guy to do that job. Boston replied, we're not paying him to educate. We are paying him to make good decisions. Hamby replied, okay we've got a motion and a second on the floor. Davis replied, I'm not trying to insult parents. Safdie replied, okay good. Glad you said that. Hamby replied, I'm glad you clarified that. Davis replied, I send my kids to school, because I'm not teaching them what they're going to learn in school. While I'm trying to provide for them. Hamby replied, okay let's move forward. We've got a first and a second on the floor to allow the survey, which will allow Mr. Stepp to come with all the details and bring back to us. So that's the first and second. A Voice Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   Boston advised, next on the agenda is School Board Committees. Mrs. Hamby, if you would please Policy Committee.

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #11) Hamby advised, on the first reading we have Policy 4.602 Graduation Recognition Light and Classification and all that was we had missed a benchmark that should have been changed to 18 and so that's all we did on this Policy. 5.803 Evaluation of Director Schools. It had never been in our policy manual. We have chosen to adopt that. Came out of committee to the full board so that everybody can make the decision if that's what they want to do. Since it came out of committee, I don't need a second. All in favor of 4.602 with the benchmark being changed from 22 to 18. A Voice Vote was taken.
 
Hamby continued, okay and on 5.803 Evaluation of Director of Schools. All in favor of it being added to our policy manual and adopted by our school district, our school board say I. You got a question? Boston replied, no I'm just going to pass on this one. I'm going to pass on 5.803. Hamby asked, okay and should I do a roll call? Boston replied, no. A Voice Vote was taken.  Hamby advised, we have one pass.

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #12) Hamby continued, the second reading policies. There are several on here. Policy 1.300, 1.404, 1.900, 1.901,1.902, 1.903, 1.904, 1.905, and 1.906, 2.8041. This is for second reading. Has anyone found anything that they need to discuss further on these? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken.  

Discussion:   - Hamby replied, Mr. Davis, I going to ask you one question. Make this report quick please. Boston advised, next on the agenda is the Arts, Athletics and Activities Committee. Mr. Davis would you please. Davis replied, just it took y'all all night. Hamby replied, I was just giving you hard time. Davis replied, I know, I know, I know. Nichols replied, we love you Nick. Davis replied, point of order, point of order. Davis continued, so Athletic Committee met last week and it was extremely popular and topic of discussion by the public was as to whether or not the folks that were willing to show up were content with the message that basketball in this county was going to continue and that was the focal point of discussion. There were a lot of other discussions that were had or comments that were made rather it wasn't much of a discussion. It was really comment section. Of those comments there was an abundance of information that was shared that had been shared prior. All of which stem from the desire of some to migrate toward two true Middle School Basketball Programs. That would put us in alignment with all the rest of the sports in this county. Leaving behind elementary basketball to continue to be the only supported sport at the elementary level. At the way that we're currently doing it. So we received information. People had asked Mr. Stepp to reconsider that scenario. People had, you know, went scorched Earth in a sense and the decision ultimately came back today. Dr. Maddox was gracious to send us out an email saying that the decision was going to continue to be held and that there would be no changes for this year and they appreciate the community support, you know. So I will say that you of all the things that are floating around the topic has been very popular last year. There were over 20 meetings held, one form or another with that topic being at the forefront of it. There was a survey that was conducted. We did receive the results of that survey. Results were brought back that the majority of the coaches, I believe and admin folks were in agreeance. That they felt that was a good move to move toward to true middle school basketball teams and there was other information that wasn't presented that ultimately led to the decision not being made. So it left a void, left a hole, left a question for people to not understand fully as to why that decision was made. The email today tells us that one section of the email from Dr. Maddox I guess, have a question. It says together we can ensure that our basketball programs remain a source of pride for our entire community and I agree. That it is a source of pride for the entire community, but my question is why do we not take pride in other sport programs in our community at that level. Stepp replied, I understand the question. Why do we not migrate all the middle school sports back to elementaries? Is that what you're asking? Davis replied, nope. I'm asking why we're not taking pride in our other sports in that segment? Stepp asked, who says we're not taking pride? I don't understand,  Davis replied, if we don't support them, we're clearly not proud of them? Stepp asked, so the middle school sports are not supported?  Davis replied, all other sports have the opportunity to compete at that level except for basketball. Stepp replied oh I see what you're saying.  Davis replied, and all other sports at the elementary level are not supported other than basketball. So why are we only focused on supporting basketball at the way we're continuing to support basketball and why are we only going to support basketball at the elementary level and not support all other sports. King replied, point of order. Is this a discussion or a question? Hamby replied, because you're just doing a committee report. That's all this is supposed to be is just a committee report. Not a discussion of why that would need to be actually added on to the agenda. Davis asked, so there's no questions in a report? Hamby replied, not when you're doing a committee report and that's it. You talked about the athletics. You talked about the middle school ball and that's what you report on whenever you're doing a committee report. Stout replied, reporting on the last committee meeting. Davis asked, so you can't have questions in your report? King replied, we can't relitigate the meeting. It's already been had. Boston replied, you can bring it up in the committee meeting. Davis asked, so I can't ask the question today, but I've asked the question and I will ask the question at later in time and that will conclude my report. Hamby replied, maybe on your next Athletics Committee Meeting. Davis replied, maybe in Old Business right here. Hamby replied, maybe so. Boston asked, is that your report? Davis replied, that was the end of that.

Discussion:   - Boston advised, next on the agenda is the Budget Committee. We did not meet. We effectively got a, I think everyone received the budget yesterday. So now we can start moving forward in and what is going to be a task.

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #13) Boston advised, next on the agenda is Building and Grounds and Safety Committee. Do you want to go ahead and give that report? Hamby replied, I will if that's okay with you Mr. Safdie. Safdie replied, that is fine. Hamby continued, the only thing that is on there is the Stone Elementary digital sign and we did just approve in committee for it to come to the full board. In order for them to continue to carry on to get that sign. Safdie asked, do we need a motion to approve the digital sign? Hamby replied, it came out of committee. So we don't need a second. The motion is to approve the Stone Elementary digital sign. A Voice Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #14) Boston advised, next on the agenda is Financial Report. Bray replied, as far as the summary financial statement we're still progressing as I had basically thought that we would. We are at 62% of our revenues, which is just spot on where we needed to be. Now we're on as far as expenditures at 56.9%, but we will have some sizable expenditures probably here maintenance wise and transportation wise in the next couple of months. That'll bring that back into line. I don't expect anything to go over. I am happy to answer any questions you have in particular on that. No questions were asked. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #15) Bray replied, moving on to the sales tax. We did turn it around just a little bit in the month of February. We're still behind where we have budgeted for the year about $200,000, but we are still ahead of where we were this time last year. Stull asked, and that's two months? Bray replied, correct and it's two months lag. So this is like December cash register, which is what I expected. Stull replied, I'm sorry I asked that all the time. Bray replied, it's okay, it's a little tricky to understand. Boston asked, do you think we're going to catch up? Bray replied, no. Boston asked, do you think we're to stay $200,000? Bray replied, right and keep in mind we're still above where we were this time last year. This is just their projections from the finance office. So no I don't think we're going to get their projection, but we're still ahead of where we were last year, but the budget was based on that number. So no, I do not think we will catch up.

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #16) Bray continued, moving now to the budget amendments. We'll start with 141. The first one is one of mine. This is where I need to move some money so that we can pay for our buses. This time last year we projected that we need $555,000 to purchase the buses, however they came in about $10,000 more than what I had originally projected. So I need to take $40,000 out. So we can buy our four buses. Boston asked, do we have the money in gasoline? Bray replied, we do. We always estimate very high in fuel and so we're doing quite well on that line. The buses came in at $148,688. Boston asked, how many did we buy? Bray replied, four. Boston asked, these were the ones that were budgeted last year. Bray replied, you try to do this and try to guess a year in advance. It's really tricky to do that. The next one is a 141 is a CTE. Just a general fund cleanup. If there is any questions on that I am sure Dr. Eldridge would be glad to answer those. Basically to catch up her subline and some other things. The next one is a 141. This is from our ISM Grant. This is just another cleanup and I think that concludes all of the 141s. Oh I got my summer school. How could I forget my summer school. This is my most proud budget amendment. This basically just puts money that their, the state is going to fund summer school again this year. Hallelujah and this just puts it in the budget. So when summer school starts we'll be able to pay our folks and buy supplies. Boston replied, I'll make a motion we approve all 141s. Stout replied, second. Boston replied, so we have the first and second. Are there any discussions on our resolutions? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. Hamby left the board meeting due to an ill family member. Boston replied, so all of your 141 resolutions are approved.  

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #17) Bray continued, moving on to 142. This is on the Perkins Grant. There again, this is just a cleanup and then we have another 142 that is related to ESSER. This basically just balances out towards the end of the year so that everything agrees appropriately in the plan. King replied, madame chair move to approve 20.d. Stout replied second. Boston asked, the ESSER. Why we are we moving that? Is that a cleanup? Bray replied, it's just a cleanup. That's some funds that they weren't going to utilize that they realize now that they won't be utilizing this year in that particular line and they're just moving it to lines that they can be utilized before it runs out. Boston replied, okay thank you. Bray continued, the clock is ticking. Boston replied, so we have a motion and a second. A Roll Call Vote was taken. Boston replied, the 142s are approved. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #18) Bray continued, and then the last are 143 budget amendments. Mrs. Hamby is here if you have any questions regarding these. These are for our Central Cafeteria Fund. Stout replied, congratulations Mrs. Hamby, thank you for your work on getting it. Boston replied, I will entertain and motion to approve. King replied, madame chair move to approve 20.e. Boston replied, which is your 143 budget amendments. Stout replied, second. Boston replied, okay and we have a first and a second. Any discussion? No one responded. A Roll Call Vote was taken, 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #19) Boston advised, now we come to the consent agenda. Safdie replied, move to approve the consent agenda. King replied, second. Boston replied, okay so we have a first and a second to approve the consent agenda. Is there any discussion? Hale asked, so you are approving the one that you're saying you want to keep the one in there? Safdie replied, yeah that's fine. Boston continued,  okay that's fine. A Voice Vote was taken.  

Discussion:   - Boston asked, anything in Old Business that we would like to bring up or discuss? Stout replied, I just had one question. Why everybody was here. You mentioned that we received the first draft of the budget and we've got table salary schedules that are out there from the February Budget Committee Meeting. While everybody's here, would it be possible to settle on a date for our meeting for Mr. Stepp to formally present? Boston replied, I will have to look at the calendar. Stout continued, so we've got a 4-1 date approaching fast and a Spring Break next week. So 4-1's the date that we have in our policy for him formally presenting the budget to us. Boston replied, well you already have it. Stout replied, he emailed the first draft. Stout replied, but I'm talking about all of us to get together, so he can formally present it. Go through it with us and go through the budget with us as a board.. Boston replied, okay thank you.

Discussion:   - Boston asked if there were any questions from the media. No questions were asked.

Discussion:   - Boston advised, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Safdie replied, so moved. Stull replied, second. The meeting was adjourned at 9:13pm.