April 25, 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, Cub Scout Pack 374 led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Discussion:   - Boston advised, we would like to make sure that we welcome all of our visitors. We appreciate your interest in our education system and our school district, and we certainly appreciate you being here. 

Discussion:   Boston advised, we'd like to also welcome our student board representatives, which we have two out of three. We have Owen Brown, CCHS and Nicole Ranson, SMHS. Thank you for being here.

Discussion: 

 (See Exhibit #1) Mrs. Kilby advised, the Cumberland County Fine Arts Educators would like to nominate Mr. Glen Belcher for the Kids First Award. Mr. Belcher has been an advocate for the Fine Arts in Cumberland County Schools for the past eight years. Mr. Belcher began giving his time in 2016 to the Pleasant Hill School for free to restart their band program. Mr. Belcher began STARTS (Support The ARTS) on August 16, 2016, after noticing the need for moral and financial support for the Fine Arts throughout the Cumberland County School District. STARTS is a 501c3 Non-Profit housed within the Cumberland County Community Band, which currently supports twenty-six Cumberland County School Arts Educators and their students. Mr. Belcher announced last month that he will be stepping down as the Executive Director of the STARTS Non-Profit Organization, concluding his forty-five-plus year career in the Fine Arts. The Cumberland County School District owes its current Fine Arts growth and successes to Mr. Glen Belcher’s unwavering dedication. Over the past eight years, he has selflessly taken on the role of an unofficial Arts Coordinator for Cumberland County Schools, investing his time, talents, and personal funds to support the Cumberland County School District’s Fine Arts students and its Fine Arts Educators. Furthermore, as the unofficial Arts Coordinator, Mr. Belcher has created personal relationships with each Fine Art Educator in the Cumberland County School District and with members of the Cumberland County Community. The Fine Arts Educators of Cumberland County School are forever grateful for Mr. Belcher’s service.

Mrs. Hall advised, South Cumberland Elementary would like to recommend Hayden Shadden as a deserving candidate for the Kids First Award. Hayden was in my classroom during my first year as a fourth-grade teacher at South Cumberland Elementary. His engaging personality and sense of humor made him a student that I will never forget. I knew then that he would do great things. Hayden's roots in our county run deep. He is a lifelong resident who has demonstrated his dedication to service from a young age. During his time at South Cumberland Elementary, Hayden was not only an exceptional student, he was actively involved in various extracurricular activities and also served as our inaugural mascot, embodying school spirit and fostering a sense of unity among students. Following his education, Hayden decided to return to Crossville, where he established his law office. His contributions extend far beyond the legal realm. Hayden is an advocate for education, a value instilled in him by his family members who are educators themselves. He recognizes the vital role education plays in shaping the future of our community and actively supports our schools in numerous ways. One of Hayden's most notable endeavors has been his involvement in supporting teachers and students alike. Whether it's providing meals, organizing school supply drives, or offering his assistance whenever needed, Hayden consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the success and well-being of our educational community. His recent utilization of the historic Cumberland Mountain School as a venue for a school supply drive exemplifies his innovative approach to promoting community engagement and support for education. Hayden serves as an outstanding example of the type of individual our community needs a young leader dedicated to giving back and investing in the future of Cumberland County. His contributions to South Cumberland Elementary and the broader educational landscape have not gone unnoticed, and we are incredibly grateful for his ongoing support. His passion, generosity, and commitment to the betterment of our community make him an exceptional candidate deserving of this honor.

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 #2) Boston advised, next on the agenda is the approval of the March 21, 2024 minutes. Stout replied, move to approve. King replied, second. Boston replied, so we have a first and we have a second. Any discussion? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #3) Boston advised, next is the approval of the agenda. I'll entertain a motion. Safdie replied, move to approve. Hamby replied, second. Boston replied, okay so I have a first and second. Any discussion? Stout replied, yes madam chair since the Legislative Session is officially closed, so excited. The item 18 is no longer applicable. So I move to remove. Boston asked, do we have a second? King replied, second. Boston continued, okay so we have a first and a second. We're going to do a roll call vote on that. A Roll Call Vote was taken. Boston replied, motion carried. Number 18 will be removed from the agenda. Safdie asked, may we have a discussion on that? Boston replied, yes. Safdie continued, if you'll pardon me for just a moment, I would like to explain why I voted no. Safdie continued, In 2022, Hillsdale College president, Larry Arnn, made the statement that teachers come from the "dumbest parts of the dumbest colleges." His comment was made to Governor Lee. Statement's such as the one by Arnn really degrade the quality of public education across our state. His conversations with Governor Lee included building charter schools across the state under his leadership. 

Hillsdale College is a religious school and provides an avenue, in part, to a non-secular curriculum. This is not to belittle any religious school, but to call attention the direction Tennessee has been moving and is currently moving. 

I would like to preface the rest of my remarks with the following: Thanks to the leadership of our state legislatures and Governors over the past few years public education and its funding has been moving forward. Thank you. I am not blind to the progress our public education system is making. However, I want to point out that the Constitution of the State of Tennessee, in Article XI, Section 12 states:

Section 12 The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance, support and eligibility  standards of a system of free public education. 

Our Constitution does not provide a recipe for funding K-12 non-public private and religious schools. This has certainly been a constitutional thorn in the side of voucher loyalists. Our Legislature, Governor and lobbyists found a get-around to the apparent "constitutional caveat." Since public support is critical in making any legislative, members of the State Legislature and Governor have framed the issue of vouchers around the "right of parents to choose what school a child attends-freedom to choose."

To avoid any constitutional backlash, legislation has channeled the tax dollars to qualified families for a child's educational use. So, public money is not going to private and religious schools, but to the family of the child, who can then use the money for many different educational uses and as tuition to private schools. 

I have three problems with what is going on.

1) As soon as the Education Freedom Act failed, Governor Lee is going to pursue vouchers next year (https://www.foxnews.com/media/school-choice-proponent-warns-tennessee-republicans-school-choice-bill-fails-lose-war). Many elected state officials will also continue to pursuing the voucher program, brandishing the cry of Freedom of "choice for parents." After all this mantra is so appealing, Who does not want freedom of choice? 

2) There are approximately 1,100,000 school age children in Tennessee, and 10% attend some type of non-public school. Although there are and would be current restrictions on who would qualify for this "voucher scholarship" and how many children can have access to vouchers, imagine the cost if 100,000 plus students applied for and received the $7075.00 for tuition to private and religious schools? The amount is staggering, $778,250,000 (i.e. over three quarters of a billion dollars). If you listen to the Governor's ideas, that would be the direction of our state and how we would be led. 

The potential loss of public school money does not end there. If a student moves from a public school to a private school, the public school's funding will be negatively impacted because of decreased enrollment. If there are millions of dollars to spend, it must be spent on public education, our teachers, our students, our student safety, our curriculum and programs, and our building maintenance. 

3) My final point is based on the concept of secular studies in education. Over 50% of the list of private schools are religious schools and offer a non-secular curriculum. The Tennessee Department of Education will not be able to touch the curriculum taught in any private school. At this point, the popularity of the voucher system appears to stem from the conservative values that we see in this state. Using tax dollars to fund qualified religious schools through student scholarships, saving plans and other forms of vouchers is a back-handed way of circumventing separation of church and state issues. The issue seems to have little value for conservatives in our state legislature.

Some members of the community have asked me, "Why did I not present this sooner?" And others have interpreted the silence as a flag of support. I did most present this sooner because my contact told me that the bill was a lost cause this year and would be dead in the water. I am presenting this to the board  now to protect the future of Tennessee public education. 

Discussion:   Boston advised, I am not certain, because we're kind of crowded tonight. But do we have any elected officials in the audience? No one responded. Boston continued, I didn't think so.

Discussion:   Boston advised, next on the agenda is community comments. The instructions are that you will address the chair. You have three minutes. We have 30 minutes set aside for all, and we've got about seven pages, so be as patient as you possibly can. We do not want to address any personnel. This will be a generic issue and so if we could just keep it that way, that would be appreciated. So I'm just going to go start down the list as they were handed to me. Robbie, you will? Safdie replied, I'll be the timer and about 15 seconds before three minutes, I'll go like this or go like this or like that. Just to give you an idea that your time is almost up. Boston continued, what you'll do is you'll walk to the podium, state your name, your address, and the topic on which you plan on addressing the board. If I'm not correct on some of these pronunciations, bear with me.

Name - Beyunca Rogers 361 Village Lane Apartment 102 Crossville, TN 
Subject: Bullying of kids in school by students and staff. 

Name - Robert Lawerence (Liaison Bikers Against Bullys) 186 Sherman Drive, Crossville, TN 
Subject: Stats on bullying and suicide attempts are climbing.

Name - Jason Hill 3771 Blaylock Road Crossville, TN (Liaison Bikers Against Bullys)
Subject: Assault situation, board policy misleading and student handbook differences. 

Name - Jessica Smith 174 Lee Circle Crossville, TN 
Subject: Son assaulted at CCHS

Name - Memphis Smith 174 Lee Circle Crossville, TN 
Subject: He was assaulted and amount of students trying to take their own lives due to bullying.

Name - Nicole Flexner 820 Highway 68 Crossville, TN 
Subject: Vouchers and her experience in the public education. 

Name - Autumn Feustel 140 Gray Fox Drive Crossville, TN 
Subject: Bullying, misconduct and dismissing problems.

Name - Candy Newcome 300 Old Grassy Cove Crossville, TN 
Subject: Homestead school in the budget and petition to add a fence around Homestead Elementary
 
Name - Craig Clark 2266 Hwy 68 Crossville, TN 
Subject: Complimented Director of Schools and Budget Committee on the budget preparation and recommended a work session.

Name - Karen Frantzen 895 Parnell Road Crossville, TN 
Subject: Complimented Director of Schools and Mrs. Bray's budget presentatiion. 

Name - Elizabeth O'Brien 6200 Hillcrest Drive Crossville, TN 
Subject: Bullying in school, safety plan, and son's experiences and suicidal attempts. 

Name - Ed Camera 141 Channing Lane Crossville, TN 
Subject: After-school care and transportation. 

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

Discussion:   Stout replied, okay buckle up. I got a summary here. I'll try to go through it as quickly as possible. I'm going to start out with the Federal Law Title 9. The US Department of Education released its updated Title 9 Regulations, which cover investigations of discrimination and sexual harassment. As of right now, these regulations will go into effect on August 2024. So they'll be in effect for the upcoming school year. The updated regulations will impact non-discrimination notices, board policies and local administrative procedures. Currently, TSBA is reviewing updated requirements along with any potential impacts on state law and existing lawsuits on these topics. I'd recommend that everybody go out and take a look at the new Title 9. There's a summary online. If you just Google Title 9 summary, it'll come up. So you can see the changes that are in there. Moving on to our state. Last week, the General Assembly passed a 52.8 billion budget for the 24-25 fiscal year. Both the Senate and the house versions of the budget contained $261 million in increased TSA funding, which included 125 million intended for the teacher pay raises. The budget also included $144 million of additional funds for Education Freedom Scholarships. As I mentioned earlier, the General Assembly wrapped their 113th Legislative Session today. So, as you can imagine, I was doing a dance once they declared it closed. Happy about that. There's a couple things that I'm still watching for the report on, but I've broken this down by bills that are not proceeding. Bills, that I'm watching still for a final result and bills which have passed. I'm just going to mention the House Bill number, because if y'all want to go out and look them up you can do it by the House Bill. To save some time for us. So to start with Joint Bill HJR 41, which authorizes local education agencies to approve lotteries conducted by nonprofit school support organizations. Mention that one before. It's been taken off notice due to the 6th Constitutional Amendment limit per General Assembly being reached. So, hopefully next Legislative Session that'll come back around and maybe we can have lotteries for school funding purposes. HB 1605, which prohibits LEAs and public charter schools from displaying in public schools flags other than the official United States flag and the official Tennessee flag or appropriately approved for curriculum flags was passed by the House back in February, but it failed to pass the Senate this month. So that one died. HB 0784, it requires the Department of Education to establish a fund to reimburse educators an amount equal to the cost of an assessment required for licensure. If the educator receives a qualifying score on the required assessment and receives a license to teach in the state or an endorsement while currently employed by a local education agency or public charter school. That one was taken off notice. Hopefully, we'll see that again next session. So HB 1183, which is the infamous voucher bill or scholarship that we've had a lot of discussion about tonight. Monday morning, Governor Lee announced that he didn't believe that there was any legislation regarding the scholarship piece that would pass the General Assembly this year, and it closed today without anything moving forward. Both the bills stalled in the Finance Ways and Means Committee. There's still that $144 million in additional funds that are earmarked and remains in the budget for next year. To Mr. Safdie's point Governor Lee and the Speaker of the House have both said that the voucher legislation will be filed again next year. So I would highly encourage everyone to be aware of the bills as they are going through. To read the bills, I know they're long. This year the House Bill was 37 pages, but they had a three-page summary that you could take a look at. Please be aware of those bills. Any benefits or detriment to public school education and be open to communicate with the legislators, because even though there's some things that we saw that would impact monetarily. There were also benefits, monetarily, that they had in the House Bill about $2 million, a little more than $2 million, would have been earmarked coming to Cumberland County in additional funds. So there's plus and minuses on both. So educate yourself and communicate with the legislators. A bill that was still in process and I believe I heard it passed while I was watching the session this afternoon, but I want to wait for it to post before I say for sure it's passed. HB 2326, which provides additional pathways for promotion of fourth grade students who are at risk of retention. So it was assigned to the Conference Committee today, because there was still two bills out there. The house and the senate for them to work out the differences and like I said, I think I heard in the final session today that it passed, but I want to make sure it gets posted out there. I don't know if you heard. Stepp replied, I haven't got a notification yet. Stout continued, okay so I'll report on that next month, but that'll change things for us as well. The bills that have passed HB 2882, which require the beginning of the 24-25 school year. Each LEA and Public Charter School to provide students with age appropriate and grade appropriate instruction on firearm safety. It was passed by the House and the Senate and signed into law by Governor Lee on 4-23. So we'll have to add that to our curriculum. HB 2058 requires the board in collaboration with the Department of Education to identify math courses that may be substituted for Algebra 2 for purposes of satisfying the high school graduation requirements, and they're going to re-submit the report to the Education Committees by October 15th. Regarding those additional courses will satisfy was passed and signed by Governor Lee on 3-15. HB 1202 authorizes a faculty or staff member of a school to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds. Subject to certain conditions including obtaining an enhanced handgun carry permit and completing annual training. That passed the House and the Senate and is awaiting Governor Lee's signature. HB 2165 requires a request made by a student to an employee of the students' LEA or public charter school for an accommodation to affirm the student's gender identity to be reported to a school administrator and to the student's parents. Prohibits an employee of an LEA or Public Charter School from knowingly providing false or misleading information to a student's parents regarding the student's gender identity or intention to transition to a gender that differs from the student's sex at the time of birth. Passed by the House and Senate and awaiting the Governor's signature. HB 2285 authorizes the issuance of temporary teaching permits for courses for which an end of course examination is required. That was passed by the House and the Senate and is awaiting Governor Lee's signature. So there you go. Quick rundown. If anybody wants a copy of my notes, let me know I will shoot them to you. 

Discussion:   - Boston advised, next on the agenda. Does any board members have any reports from any training or knowledge that they may have received? Stout replied, in the last couple of months I attended the Board Superintendent Relations Course and the Deep Dive into Boardmanship Course.

Discussion:   - Boston advised, Mr. Patton. Patton replied, board members there has not been significant development in any of your pending litigation. We'll say that I haven't heard anything on the JUUL Litigation. Still expect to hear something soon on that. On the Social Media Litigation. I know that Dr. Farley and Mrs. Bray spent a significant amount of time last week or earlier this week on a plaintiff information sheet that was submitted. That's a good step towards the right direction on that, and hopefully we'll hear some more as time moves on there, but hopefully we'll have a little more to report to you next month.

Discussion:   - Boston advised, next on the agenda is our Director's report. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #4) Stepp replied, all right, first on the list is to accept a $10,000 grant from Rotary International for the Teacher Supply Depot. Stout replied, move to approve. King replied, second. Boston asked, what is a Teacher Supply Depot? Stepp replied, something brand new for us here. So it's a place where a teacher can come and get free supplies for their class. So we're collecting it. It's just, Depot is just a name for it and this is our first step. We're also working on the Old Armory as a possible location for other things too, but the teachers would be able to come in. There are several counties, some counties, the larger counties, they have a school that's been closed down. They use that whole thing for teacher supplies and they come in with their cart. They know what they want, they get it all free and they walk out. Nichols' replied, that's awesome. Stepp continued, but we're at the very beginning stages of that. As you know there's several churches and other groups in Hayden tonight who collect supplies for kids and teachers. So once we get everything rolling, we'd like to get a collective together and unite the community resources needed. Boston asked, any more discussion? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken.  

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #5) Stepp advised, next is to accept this bid packet for equipment for North Elementary's walk-in freezer and cooler.  Hale replied, move to approve. King replied, second. Boston replied, so we have a first and second to approve the bid packet for North Cumberland walk-in freezer and cooler. Any discussion? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #6) Stepp continued, another bid for South Cumberland cafeteria furniture to accept. Boston asked, is Kathy Hamby here? Hamby replied, yes. Boston asked, there you are.  Are you renovating South cafeteria? Is that what this is? Hamby replied, yes. They are next on our renovation list and I've worked closely with Dawn Hall and we've went back and forth and I've got the packet that we think will work really well for the school. Boston replied, I just want you to know how much we appreciate what you do. You do a fantastic job, but I'll entertain a motion to approve. Safdie replied, so moved. King replied, second. Boston replied, so we have a first and second to accept the bid packet on South Cumberland Cafe Furniture. Any discussion? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #7) Stepp advised, next is a request or approval to apply for the No Hungry Kids Rural Non-Congregate Summer Meal Service Grant. This is also through Mrs. Hamby. Boston asked, how much is this grant? Hamby replied, we've asked for $20,000 to help supplement wages for folks that work the summer program, since we're expecting it to grow. We've already signed up two additional sites already and we've just started planning the Summer Meal Program. Boston replied, I'll entertain a motion to approve. Stout replied, move to approve. Hale replied, second. Boston replied, so I have a first and a second to approve to apply for the grant for the Rural Summer Meal Service Grant. Any discussion? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken.

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #8) Stepp advised, next is a request by CCHS Beta. They qualified to compete in the National Beta Club Convention in Savannah, Georgia. They're currently raising money towards that trip. They are requesting from the board $1,500. Safdie replied, move to approve. King replied, second. Boston asked, any discussion? No one responded. A Roll Call Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #9) Stepp advised, next items are the FYI items, so we got the planning calendar for the board. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #10)

Discussion:   - Stepp continued, updated Warm Body Count.

Discussion:   - Stepp continued, we got Personnel Reports.

Discussion:   - Stepp continued, news letters.

Discussion:   - Stepp continued, and calendars.

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #11) Boston advised, next item is after-school care for school-age children. Mrs. Diane, could you pull that permission slip up please. Hamby replied, Mrs. Boston. Boston replied, I'm fixing to hand it over. I just wanted to see it. Hamby replied, I'd like to make a motion that we approve the transportation for this program. Boston replied, second. Boston continued, discussion. Hamby replied, I do have a question for you, Mr. Stepp. I received your email this afternoon from the insurance. My question is are you telling me that we don't do any of this for Cumberland County at all? Do we not have any after-school programs that we actually give transportation to? Do we not sometimes drop kids off at grandma's house with parents' permission. You know, I'm just curious. Stepp replied, so there's a certain process if a kid goes home with another child and there's documentation they have to do and all that kind of stuff. We do have some agreement set up that some days they'll be dropped off at grandma's or some days they're dropped off at home. Those are very specific things, but everything is followed up with paperwork and times and dates and has to be approved by the principal. So that we can verify all of that is done. Mrs. Martin, is that accurate? Martin replied, yes sir. Hamby asked, don't we also transport students to the TAD Center at least three days a week? Stepp replied, yes. Martin replied, only students from Martin though. Hamby asked, only students from Martin. With this program, we are requesting from Stone Elementary and from Martin Elementary the buses that already go on Webb Avenue. I understand the insurance concern. Stepp replied, I was trying to collect as much information for y'all, so you. Hamby continued, I understand the concern. The thing of it is, is if, the way it's worded from the insurance company is if we drop the students off at the after-school care once they are in the building, we could be liable for them. That is not true or we would be liable for them whenever they are dropped off at home and they enter their house. So that was kind of a little bit confusing on that, but the thing of it is if we do this for one program in our county. We need to do it for others or we don't need to do it at all and I mean it's almost like, it's I don't want to say discrimination, but it's kind of is. It's like you're okay with one program, but not okay with another and I'm not being argumentative and ugly. After-school program is so important for our county, because we have a lot of parents that can't work in the afternoon or their kids are having to go home at 7-8 and 9 years old by themselves and wait for an hour or two or more for their parents to come home, because they can't afford childcare and so that's why I'm very passionate about this Child Care Program, because we need it. They're only asking for transportation from Stone Elementary and Martin Elementary. If any other parents want their children to go, they would have to supply their own transportation to this program. Once they are off of the bus and they have them in their hand, the liability goes to them and they also have a $2 million insurance policy theirselves to cover anything that would happen. Those students would not be under our care anymore once they are off of our bus. Safdie replied, they can have a parents can sign a waiver. Hamby replied, and they have a parents' permission slip. We also have in our procedures a bus schedule that parents sign at the first of the year. What bus their kids are going to be riding and when that changes throughout the year, if it does, they can resign that slip. Right? Stepp replied, do you think I said no or something? Hamby replied, oh no, no, no, no. Stepp replied, I just gave you information. Hamby continued, no. I just want the information out there as to; we need this and I understand that the insurance guy sent this email and he has his concerns. I'm not concerned with that. Davis asked, can you tell us more about the program other than Mr. Camera's. Hamby replied, well, it was actually on the agenda. Davis asked, what logistically would it require? Hamby asked, what do you mean? Davis replied, logistically like for us to service this. (Audio) Nichols replied, we transport nothing else. Stull replied, the bus already goes down that road. Nichols continued, and the bus just drops them off. Safdie replied, and the Crossville First Methodist Church has a real nice facility. I mean they're making improvements in it. That's wonderful too. Hamby replied, that's all the logistics. There are buses that already go on Webb Avenue. Hale replied, I agree it's a much needed program. Martin replied, they have 70-80 students on them already and they're already doing double loads. Stout replied, so just if I might really quickly, when this came up on the agenda and when I had some communication from constituents. I went out looked at our bus scheduling and routing policy and I went out looked at Tennessee Code 49-6-218, which our policy pretty much mirrors what that code says and there's nothing within the policy it says we cannot do it. Because it does say no student may exit the bus at a destination other than that student's designated bus stop. The Director shall develop procedures that would allow a student to exit the school bus in an alternative location. So that mirrors what the law says. I reached out to talk to Mr. Stepp and really what it came down to at that point was, I mean everybody would like to see how we could help after school. I think right and what it came down to was logistics, which is what Nick brought up. So number of students on the bus we talked about. Stepp replied, Mrs. Martin can kind of voice the concern side. If you would like to that? Hamby replied, that's fine. You're welcome to do that. Martin replied, well like I said the buses that are in town are already all doing double loads, because they're full. I would love nothing more than to help students get where they need to be, but I just don't have the buses or the staff. I mean I barely have enough spare buses if a bus goes down right now. Hamby replied, how does the bus take the students to the TAD Center if they are already full? Martin replied, well there's only like 20 students that go to the TAD Center from just Martin and that bus does go a double load. Stull replied, but this would not be adding any more children to the buses currently. Hamby replied, it could, but it would not be very many. Stull replied, if they're already on it, it would be the children that were already on the bus. Davis replied, there is no way in knowing. Hamby replied, no, no, it comes from Stone Elementary and Martin Elementary. They might need to get on a different bus than what they normally ride. What I was saying is it's not taking, but it's not adding another bus to that route, but Mrs. Brock. Do you have about how many students from Stone Elementary or about how many from Martin initially that are signing up? Brock replied, well we really don't know to be perfectly honest. We've had tons and tons of calls and we basically just said put them on hold. So we haven't really distributed it for the schools, but the majority of our students would be coming from Martin and Stone and of course one bus does go down in front of the church and one bus goes down behind the church. So that's the reason we were trying to access that. So that parents would have that ability to use the buses. Hamby replied, thank you. Davis asked, whats going to say what's normal practice for districts that have after-school programs? Like how do those kids get to those? Stepp replied, the district where I worked, the churches had buses and they just pulled right up into our bus line, filled them up on their buses, and they went to whichever church they were going to. We didn't drop off at different locations. Stull replied, I've been in different districts where, if it was already on that route, school buses have dropped off at different childcare. Hamby replied, in other counties do also. Hale replied, we used to drop off at Miss T's, whenever Miss T was there from North Cumberland. That was a bus stop. Miss T's Small World, it was a bus stop for the morning and in the afternoon, and a lot of children that did not have the afternoon program at North went to Miss T's Small World. Boston replied, well this is would be such a help to parents, because then you don't have to worry about your child going home in the afternoon under a lot you don't know what they're doing. You don't know. I mean this gives the children somewhere to go, somewhere to play, somewhere to be cared for and parents can actually work in peace. Hamby replied, exactly and not worry about. Nichols replied, and we could use help with the tutoring. That's a win-win. Boston replied, and we've got educators who are running the program. Stull replied, well and the other is that you know doing it for this one location maybe others would want to go ahead and do the same as well. Hamby replied, and if this is a successful program, maybe in a year or two, they have their own bus and then they would not need to utilize our transportation, but it's a new business just starting out. I believe we need to try to work it out. We need to try to figure out how to get these kids there with our transportation system. Davis replied, good point. So question, does the group of Crossroads Academy, is there intentions for you all to provide transportation to all in the future? Hamby replied, no just those schools that are on that route and if other parents want their kids to go they have to get. Davis replied, I know, I was asking Miss Brock. So what are your intentions for transportation long term? Brock replied, well we're starting with two schools and the schools that we could utilize the bus transportation and from there we just have to see how our program grows, really. I mean it's going to be open to all schools. I mean if somebody wants to transport their child or their grandchild, we'll be there, but you know at this point in a starting business, we can't provide transportation. Davis asked, so the church doesn't have transportation? Brock replied, this is not a church activity. Patton asked, this is a for-profit venture? Brock replied, yes. The church is our landlord. Patton replied, I just wanted to make sure I'm clear on that. Hamby replied, they are just renting. Davis replied, okay cool. I read it earlier. I'm just trying to wrap my head around that. Safdie asked, have talked to or can you talk to UCHRA and perhaps work with them on a long-term basis to write grants for buses for children. So y'all can run your own routes. That would be, you know that's one of their specialties is route running. Hamby replied, that might be something that could be done in the future. Safdie replied, it needs to start now, though. (audio) Hamby replied, as far as grant writing, working with UCHRA and seeing what kind of grants they might can help you write. Nichols replied, they're good. They're very good. Hamby continued, and they are good with that. So that might be something to look into, but the problem is their here and now and of course, like we said, this is not starting until August, when the next school year starts. So we've you got a couple of months here to work on the logistics of it. Boston replied, if we can coordinate testing and survive that. I think we can figure out how to get a few students to a church. Hamby replied, I think you're right. Nichols replied, and I'm also in agreement with we don't want to over stress the wonderful bus drivers that we have now, because we are still short of the ones that we need. So we don't want to over stress them and you know, maybe that we can get them to come alongside of us. Just in this growing period, to get this thing worked out until they get a bus and then we can start moving forward with their own vehicle, but maybe in the meantime you might get some wonderful people to step up and help. Boston replied, it's needed. It is so needed. Nichols continued, and our community is wonderful fulfilling needs. Boston continued, and if we can assist them. Yes sir, Mr Patton. Patton replied, I didn't mean to interrupt you. I just was going to let you know before you concluded on this. I mean I and I certainly don't mean to rain on anybody's parade. It's not my intention. With regard to what Jason Baggot said. I don't know how much you really increase your risk of liability in those situations. You're dropping off kids, sometimes not at their house. You may be dropping them off a block away or so and they're walking. So I don't know that your material increase your liability exposure. You increase your liability exposure with a lot of things, but I will say that one thought that I had is that you're providing transportation services to benefit a for-profit venture. If somebody else comes along and does a same thing, you may have to do that for another entity. Hamby replied, but that's a process and if it becomes an issue. Patton replied, and that may be a good problem to have. Hamby continued, it may be, but we've went all these years. Patton replied, I didn't want to go without mentioning that. Boston replied, no and I appreciate your input, because that's why we've got you sitting right down there. Stull replied, potentially even shorten bus routes as well. In the fact that you're taking a certain number kids to one location. You're not having to go ahead and make all those additional stops for those children, cuz you're dropping all of them at one location. So it can actually shorten a bus. Stepp replied, unless the bus is full. Stull replied, true, but even if you're taking 10 of those kids off that bus route. Stepp replied, I just wanted to point that out, cuz that's what Mrs. Martin's concern is. These buses. Hamby replied, and I understand that concern. I think we need to work trying to figure it out though. Nichols replied, we do. This is a good start. Hamby continued, and I don't want this shot down. I want them to be able to do this. Our students and our parents in this county need this. We have the TAD Center and we have the after-school program at North Elementary and that's it and we need this. I talk to parents lots and lots, that say it is so hard to work or my 8-year-old is having to go home by themselves and stay there for an hour or two. That's not safe, especially in today's time. Not safe and our kids are in danger and we need to help them and so we need to see what we can do to to get this and I understand that this is an operations thing. So it needs to be and I want the board to; I've made a motion. We've got a second. I want to approve this and that way move forward with trying to figure out the transportation and not overcrowding the bus. Safdie asked, what if we can't figure a way of doing that. Boston and Hamby replied, then we come back to the board. Hamby continued, but I believe in Cumberland County and I believe in our board and I believe that we can work together and find a solution. Stout replied, how about I move to amend the motion that you made for us to go ahead and request that the logistics be looked into, that the liability and legal portion be looked into and that be brought back before the board. So we could look at all the information before we can determine whether it. Hamby replied, and I don't have a problem with that if we can do that by next month. They need to get some things in order. They need an answer so they can get more things. Boston replied, they need to move on and start registering their students. Get everything on and so. Stout replied, it sounds like we need an idea to know how many students, so we know. Hamby replied, there's no way for them to do that until we give them the approval to do it. Stull replied, I think one way to really look at it though is you get the number of students that you're going to go ahead and have and see how many are either on that bus already or you know kind of how you can move around some of the kids on the different buses. To where you're freeing up space on one bus, right. The other is that your freeing up stops, because again you're not making, you know, say 20 different stops. You're making one. So maybe another route can go ahead and take over some of those other children to free up space on the full bus, because that bus is no longer having to go ahead and make all those additional stops. Hamby replied, very true. Mrs. Brock, I have a question. Could you send out and do a potential amount of students that are interested and let the parents know this is not a 100%. We just need some numbers, because like she said, that is going to give us some numbers and we can figure out what buses, cuz we don't want to overcrowd. We don't want to put anybody in danger. We don't want kids sitting in the floor and we don't want them standing up. Stout replied, and we've got the time limit we have to work with them. Hamby continued, yes and so if we could get some. Boston replied, Mrs. Hamby can I interrupt just a minute? Hamby replied, yeah sure. Boston replied, why don't we approve this? Let them work or not approve it, however everybody votes is up to them and let the logistics be figured out and then, if there is a problem, come back to the board or go back to the Director and say you know, look, this is what I've got. You figure it out. Hamby replied, I agree, I agree. Boston recognized, Mr. Cameron. Cameron replied, just a comment. We have a bus at church. We don't have a driver. If we can work together and figure out where we think the crowded route's going to be, we may have an opportunity to supplement school transportation and church transportation. I'm not committing to that, but I would like to at least discuss it with y'all and figure out where the problem's going to be and maybe be able to do something. Hamby replied, thank you very much. Boston replied, so we've got a motion. We've got a second. I'll do a roll call. Hamby replied, we have to finish her move, cuz she made a move. King replied, an amendment. Boston replied, oh sorry. Stout replied, do you want me to repeat it? An amendment to your move for us to go ahead and look into the logistics, get the information on the logistics of the bus, get the legal and the liability squared away and then come back to the table and determine if we can work this out once we have the numbers of students and all. Hamby replied, and we have to vote on her amendment before we can move on. Davis asked, can I interject? So the reason I'm interjecting is, because the number that they provide today in the list of kids where they go to school at, is going to be a moving target from now till they close the doors, cuz the kids are cycling in and out semester to semester, school to school. That's going to be a moving target forever. So it may be that's good today to say okay day one, this is what we're going to do with our buses and our routes, but it's not going to stay the same. So in theory, I think understanding that if we're either going to do this and it's logistically possible to get people from A school to B location. Then that's all we need to figure out, because everything else is going to be a moving target. Stout replied, so I'll retract my motion for amendment and we'll just vote and see how it lands. Hamby replied, so she's retracted.  So, now we're back to our motion and second and so are you going to do a roll call or. Stepp asked, I guess my question is this a motion to tell me how to do operations or is this a motion that you supported and. Boston replied, this is a motion to approve. Hamby replied, this is a motion to approve. We're not telling how to do operations. This is just a motion to approve the transportation for this after-school care. Stull replied, and then you figure out how to do it. Stout asked, should we be capable of doing it. (audio) Hamby replied, this is a motion to approve. Boston replied, motion carries. Hamby replied, and I'd like to make one more comment. Mr. Stepp, I'm in no way shape or form want you think I was trying to. Stepp replied, we are good. I want to make sure I was understanding what. Hamby continued, I wasn't trying to control your operations. Stepp replied, we are good. Nichols replied, and we want to thank you guys at Crossroads. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. It's going to take some work, but you're going to put it together. It's going to be good. Thank you. Hamby replied, thank you ladies for what you're doing. Boston replied, thank you, Mr. Camera for representing the church and the availability in the space. I can remember back in the day when this church had this same program and there were kids everywhere. Hamby replied, they were wonderful. My kids were in that there. Boston continued, there were kids everywhere. It was awesome. Stout replied, for time sake that was brought up, Mr. Stepp and Mr. Patton, are you all in a position where we could have more information by the next board meeting regarding logistics and legalities? Patton and Stepp replied, yes. Boston replied, I don't think it necessarily has to come back before the board. Just send us an email. Stepp replied, I'll work with Mr Patton on procedurally, what we need to do if every program in the county approaches us. Hamby replied, thank you. Well, we've went several years without a program approaching. So if they do, I would be very shocked, but we'll work on it if they do. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #12) Boston advised, next on the agenda is the approval of the climate survey questions. I have attached. These were some of the questions that we used on the last climate survey. I just took them directly off and attached them. You had on your desk some questions that Mrs. Stout and also Mrs. Stull had provided and I like the questions that Mrs. Stout provided with the exception of two and the true and false. I checked with Survey Monkey today. They will allow us to do a survey using 10 to 12 questions. They will send it out and whoever is the designated user will receive those results in graph form instead of true and false. They're graph form, which is you know, agree, strongly agree, disagree, strongly disagree, and it's going to be their fee would be right around $400 for one user, $1,000 for three users. If we do the three users, then it allows more than one person access. Stout asked, how much for the three? Boston replied, a $1,000. What I'd like to do is make a motion that we approve the questions that Mrs. Stout provided with the exception of number one under district wide and number two of the Director of Schools, because not everybody is going to understand what it Strategic Plan encompasses. Hamby replied, I'll second your motion. Boston asked, okay and well can I finish? Hamby replied, yeah I thought you had, sorry. Boston continued, and use strongly agree, agree, disagree and strongly disagree. I would also like to encompass in that motion that Mr. Patton. Patton replied, yes ma'am. Boston continued, you be one of the users for Survey Monkey. Patton replied, I'll help you any way I can set that up. Boston replied, and I think you can. It seemed very simple. Patton replied, yes ma'am. I've been involved in those before. Boston replied, perfect. Now that's my motion. Hamby asked, what was the one you wanted to change under district wide? Boston replied, district wide is number two. Provides a Clear Vision of the Strategic Plan. Hamby replied, oh no, that was under Director of Schools. Boston replied, it was number one under district wide. Stull replied, you said 10 to 12 questions. That's still more than 12 questions on this one. Stout replied, that makes it 14 questions. Boston replied, they will allow us. Hamby replied, okay so that was your motion. Boston continued, and that includes the funding. So my suggestion is in this year's budget, we have an on the board of education page. We have a column or a line item for meals and things of that nature. We don't eat. We don't do the meals anymore and there's plenty of money in that account. So if we could use those funds and I actually recommend that we do the three users, because if we only do one user, then that kind of ties Earl down. If we use three users that allows his secretary to be able to get that together for him and secretaries are invaluable. Davis replied, we're talking about 14 questions. Boston replied, yes. Davis asked, it's going to provide the report? Boston replied, in a graph form. You know, like this percentage said agree. Stout asked, and then we're going to share the results with the board, Mr. Stepp, administration? Is it something that's going to go out to schoolwide so everybody knows where we landed as a district? Boston replied, well let's get the information first and then we'll determine where it goes. I think Mr. Stepp, certainly, the board, certainly. If it involves the administration, absolutely Mr. Stepp can share that information at any point. Stout replied, I want to make sure we have an end use in mind. If we are going to spend the money, whether or not it was left from our meals. Just if we're going to spend the money and take the time and ask everybody in the district to take their time, that we've got a plan in place for how we're going to use this data when it comes back. Boston replied, let's read the data, see where we stand and then we'll determine. Just like an evaluation. It evaluates us, it evaluates the district. It's kind of an overall what's your client and to go out to the certified, classified, every employee whether they have interaction directly with administration. Whatever the case may be. They still are an employee of this district. We have a first and second. Any discussion. No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. Boston replied, motion carries.

Hamby asked, madame chair may we please take a 5 to 10 minute break? The meeting was called into recess at 7:41 pm and was called back into session at 7:53 pm. 

Boston replied, I'm going to call this meeting back into order. As Mr. King so kindly reminded me if it involves money, I need to do a roll call vote. So I'm going to make the motion that we spend up to $1,000 to Survey Monkey for the Climate Survey. Hamby replied, I'll second.  Boston asked, any discussion? No one responded. A Roll Call Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #13) Removed from agenda. See 9. Approval of Agenda discussion for additional details. 

Discussion:   - Boston advised, next on the agenda is the Middle School Athletics, Mr. Davis would you like to take off. Davis replied, all right. So I would like to make this simple and like to make a motion that we have Mr. Stepp and his team work to develop or create four basketball Middle School team feeders for CCHS and Stone to support the boys and girls of those respective areas and maintain the Elementary Club Teams and move forward. Stull replied, I second that. Boston asked, can I inject long enough that if some of the elementary schools need to co-op with one another, because of shortage of players or whatever that we give them the authority to do. Davis replied, that sounds excellent. Hamby asked, so you are amending your motion to add that to it. Davis replied, yes. Stull replied, I would second that. Boston replied, any discussion? Hale replied, now say it again. You're wanting four teams that would. Davis replied, boys and girls for both. The CCHS side and the Stone side. Hale replied, okay and then what about the regular basketball in the regular schools? Davis replied, yep the elementary schools would continue as they are. Hale replied, okay so you're just saying that those that can make a middle school team, if they try out for it. That we would support that, but we would not be doing anything to the individual schools. We would not be taking away anything from the programs. Davis replied, nope. Just giving that opportunity to those basketball players to compete. Stull replied, there was a lovely plan that was laid out by one of the coaches to go ahead and actually still maintain the elementary basketball just with a different time frame, but still being able to go ahead and and keep it going. Hale replied, because if we try, you know, if we don't, if we don't keep those, I mean there's other things that like the cheerleading goes away. I don't want anything to go away. I want the opportunities to be there for the children. he children that are not you know, might not. I wouldn't make the basketball team, but I might want to learn how to play basketball. I know I wouldn't make the basketball team, but you know so I would want to be able to try out and be on the team and say woo-hoo. Hamby replied, that was my question was have the two or the four teams. The two feeder schools, but don't touch our elementary. Keep our elementary ball. Safdie replied, let me ask a question, Mr. Maddox. Is this possible? Can we do that? Maddox replied, well I would have a number of questions first before you can do that, but you need to address. I think there's a lot of questions that need to be answered before you move forward with this. One being first of all, who would be responsible for running those club teams? If you said club teams, you didn't say school teams. You said club teams. Boston replied, school teams. Word, it however you want. Maddox continued, who's responsible for running those school teams and who's the governing body of their school teams? Davis replied, how are they governed currently? Maddox replied, TMSAA. You can't do it. Boston asked, how were they run before? Maddox replied, they're govern right now to the Tennessee Middle School of Athletics Association. That's what you guys approved for. Hamby replied, even the elementary? Maddox replied, not the three through grades five, but the sixth through 8th grade. In every elementary school, they're governed by the Tennessee Middle School Athletic Association. That's what we put into place this school year. That's why we had teams that got to go play in sectional to go to the state. This was the first year we've ever got to play post season. Normally, historically, we've had teams that play each other. Two times at home and away game. Once the season was over, it was over. They couldn't go on any further. Those six, seventh and eighth grade teams did not have an opportunity to advance. So that was one of the selling points we had when we came to the board back I guess in August or July last year, but you can't have two middle school teams countywide. That's members of the Tennessee Middle School Athletic Association and then have all these elementary schools who are also members. They will not let you do that. Davis and Boston replied, okay so they won't be members. Maddox asked, who's going to govern them? Davis replied, the Athletic Department. Hamby replied, okay can I ask a question? Nichols replied, okay wait. Answer his question first, so who's going to govern?  Davis replied, the Athletic Department, right. Like we were prior. Boston replied, principals. Safdie asked, we're just talking about three through five, right? Maddox replied, no. We're talking about 3-8. Boston replied, anybody that would not make the middle school team would be eligible to play at their elementary school. Stull replied, and that's as long as they're not playing. (audio) Hamby replied, they can't play both. Stull replied, so it be a different time frame. Maddox replied, they be limited to what can they play. They go back to the old method of all those elementary schools could only play each other in our county.  Boston and Stull replied, that's right. Maddox continued, that's all they could do? That's all they could ever do is play each other. Davis replied, they can schedule games outside of the county. Maddox replied, no they can't. Davis replied, not in any capacity? Maddox replied, no they can't. They can't play any member of school that's Middle School Athletic. Davis replied, non-member schools. Non TMSAA schools. Maddox replied, yes it's hard to find those. You can't, that's that's pretty much your limited of what they can do and I've always been in favor of the middle school concept in a sense. It wasn't until the sectionals that I started changing my view on some of this, because I don't want to take anything away from the students. I like the camaraderie. I like the community and what's happening, but if I could give you a history lesson and what has happened over the years, if you bear with me. For instance, this whole thing started with a middle school concept. It started back in 2014 or 15 under a previous administration. The first thing that we had in middle school was football and that was out of necessity. It wasn't by choice and just to give you again a brief synopsis of what has happened. We were dealing with the lack of coaches, the lack of participation and safety issues, because it was costing our elementary schools a lot of money to recondition helmets, to buy uniforms, buy equipment, and so we combined teams to do that out of necessity. Then we converted softball, because all the thing we had for softball girls who wanted to be competitive was a co-ed team and same thing with volleyball. Out of necessity, we went to countywide teams with those sports, because we couldn't have a volleyball team at every single school. We couldn't have a football team at every single school. We couldn't have a baseball team at every single school. So we started going with countywide things, countywide teams. So we did that out of necessity, not out of desire, not out of want, because that was the direction that we had to go. With basketball, a different story. Basketball there's not a necessity to that. If we want to talk about the basketball program and I know coaches. I've been around this is my 35th year in this business. I've been around this for a long time. I know what the coaches want. I know what some of the principals want. I know what some of the families want, but at the same time answer the question. What are we trying to do with our kids? Are we trying to have as much a participation like you stated Mrs. Hale with all the kids? We're already trying to develop winning programs that feed into the high school. If your answer is we want develop the kids to go into the high school and you're a data person and you like data then show me the data of what we're doing with football, volleyball, baseball, and softball at both sides. Show me the data where it's improved the play. Show me that data. It has not, because the most important thing in developing athletics is the person standing in front of those kids and coaching them every day. Just like the most important part of education is that teacher standing in front of those kids in that classroom every single day. They make the biggest impact on those kids. It's not the programs, it's the people and you want to know why some teams get beat 50 to 2? It's because of the importance and the type of the people that we have. Sometimes and I'm not blaming the schools because we're limited to the availability of good coaches. So just picture this. What you're going to create is not exactly what you think you're going to get. If you put two teams out there countywide with basketball. What you want to get is like all stars on these two basketball teams. Both boys and girls in each side of the county. I promise you that's not what you're going to get. You're going to get the kids who can afford and the parents who can afford to spend to send these kids to summer camps to do all these things outside of school, but then you're going to force the kids who unfortunately, can't do that and don't have the support. They're going to choose to play at their school. Some of the best athletes that you have in this county are going to be playing at their school. They're not going to be playing countywide. We think they will. No, they will not. Davis replied, so why do you say that? How are we disadvantaging those kids by giving them another opportunity? Maddox replied, because they don't have the same opportunities. Davis replied, what opportunity? All they got to do is sign up and make the team. Maddox replied, they don't have the same opportunities. Davis replied, well, that's what they're doing in high school. What are we doing with the rest of the kids? We're not worried about them right now. Maddox replied, it's different at high school. Davis replied, it's not different, it's the same topic. Maddox replied, sure it is. Like I said guys, that's what's going to happen to our teams. I'm not in favor of that, because if we want to do that, I would love in all my heart in all these years, I would love to go and in a few years we study and we go to two middle schools and we go to two middle schools. Let's have middle school teams, but if you're not careful and I know some of the coaches have already told me. If we go to, if we have two teams, if we have the middle school teams, and we have those, the six, seventh and eighth grade teams at the individual schools. They don't want that, because they're now in competition with those schools, with the players. So that player does not even compete and doesn't try out for the middle school team, because he'd rather play at his school, cuz now he can walk up and down the hallway with his jersey on and his chest puffed out and he's recognized and when I went to the sectionals and to the state this year. Boston replied, excuse me just a moment. That's not what all the coaches and all the parents have come before us saying. I mean we've heard they want middle school teams. Maddox replied, a lot of people do, but. Boston continued, okay so why would it not be advantageous to let those who want to play middle school teams and go that route and then still have your elementary teams. So the young man can walk down the hall with his jersey on and be proud he plays for Pleasant Hill, Crab Orchard, whatever the case may be. You can have best of both worlds and still provide for those students. Safdie asked, can you get the coaches though? Maddox replied, you got it. We're struggling right now getting coaches. Right now we have Pine View Elementary who has to co-op with Crab Orchard. Brown girls are going to have to co-op with South next year, because Mrs. Speich doesn't have the number of girls to produce their own team. So we've already got a drop off and so the coaching situation is always an issue, but when you go through we've been through this mess with no oversight in sixth, seventh and eighth grade basketball for years and personally, as an Athletic Director, I don't want to govern that. I don't want to be the one policing that. Davis replied, yeah. Well, maybe we don't. Stull asked, what's the transportation then like for either the schools that have to co-op, but then also if you did go to the two middle school teams. What would the transportation be like for these kids to get to the practices and things like that? Maddox replied, right now what we're doing there's a bus Mrs. Martin could address that. There's a bus that goes from the elementary schools to each other high schools to take kids for workouts, for practices and so and so forth, but they would not be able to do that to the high schools. They couldn't go like from basketball team. If you do the middle schools, then you start having to think about practice sites. How are we going to work out the logistics of having six. You've got three through five grades that are going to go for a short period of time. There's overlapping with the seasons because coaches serve both roles and then all of a sudden we start sixth, seventh and eighth grade basketball, but at the same time the high school practice starts. Now you want to go two middle four middle schools. Davis replied, no. two. Maddox continued, boys and girls one each side. That's four teams. Let me ask where are they going to practice? Davis replied, in one of the nine gyms, two of the nine gyms that we have or two of the 11 gyms that we have. Maddox asked, are you talking at night. Davis replied, when it's available. Maddox replied, it would have to be late at night. Boston asked, then why are we members of TMSAA? That makes no sense to me. Maddox replied, because it's a governing body. It gives us the rules. It lays out everything that we need. Boston replied, we can play by the very rules without being a member. Safdie replied, but if we're not a member, then we won't be able to get referees and we won't be able to make. (audio) Davis replied, there's a million benefits. The point is that every other sport in this county has the opportunity to compete at that level and basketball is the only one that we don't. Maddox replied, well then, I will stop with this. We are now talking about procedures. We're not talking about policy, we're talking about procedures in this board meeting. Davis replied, well, policies tells us that we are to approve extracurricular activities each year as a board, including athletics. So we're talking about a policy. Maddox replied, that says approved. Doesn't say make it. Davis replied, so I'm making a motion that we approve adding extracurricular athletic activities for the kids that want to pull their resources together to have the same opportunity that every other sport has. Hamby replied, you've already made a motion and have a second. Davis replied, right. I'm just reiterating what it's about. The point is we're trying to give an opportunity to kids to do that by not taking anything away. Is it going to create work? Is it going to create additional things to be considered? It is. Hamby replied, I have a question. For one, most of the coaches that we have now, they will not stay and this thought just crossed my mind as Mr. Maddox was. They're not going to stay working with our elementary teams. So we're not going to have coaches, they're going to go to the middle schools and middle school teams and I mean we've heard from everyone of the coaches here and as he was talking about that, that crossed my mind. Who are we going to have coach the elementary teams? They're not going to stay there and coach the elementary. Even some of our volunteer coaches are wanting to do the middle school and not elementary. So who are we going to have coaching them? Boston replied, we'll have coaches. There's a number of people that want to. Davis replied, the people that want to do it deserve the opportunity to try. Hamby replied, and I have another question. Mr. Maddox, as the Athletics Director, could you create a program where what we are wanting to work? Could you create something that where we can have the four middle school teams, but have elementary. Maddox replied, when it was first proposed to us to do this, Mr. Davis was apart of an organization that was going to provide that services to our school and take up that slack and one of the reasons we didn't want to go that direction is because we're building the plane while we're flying it and I wanted to see Mr. Davis and his organization put this into place for next year and let us get the operation side of it and turn it over to him and his organization to run these programs. That was the intent and I would still like to see that happen. I would love to be able to turn that over for someone else to govern. Davis replied, and it's not off the table. There's a large affinity of folks that are very passionate about the elementary aspect. Maddox replied, and with all due respect when we had the number of people that came up. If you all recall that. Spoke out at a work session or board meeting that voiced their opinion and in support of that. If you had been around the Central Office for the next 2 or 3 days you would have seen as many phone calls, more, more phone calls that was telling Mr. Stepp thank you and people coming here to visit with him personally. You don't see that other side, but I promise you if we do this, then we're going to see that other side, but I personally don't want to govern that rail. I've got enough to govern. You want to give me a raise? Davis replied, that's a good point. He makes a good point. Maddox continued, because you just increase the workload tremendously when you do this. Safdie replied, I like to see a hierarchical chart that demonstrates how it could be done. You know, I mean I can't envision what everyone's talking about here. (audio) Hamby replied, it's very confusing. Maddox replied, if you approve this and you go this direction, there's so many variables that has to be worked out after the fact. Boston replied, it's almost like providing bus transportation for the after-school. You know, we know that there's going to be decisions that have to be made. We understand that it's going to be a struggle to make it work, but this gives you, in my opinion, and I've never played basketball like Mrs. Hale, maybe we should strike up a team, but this is going to give both those who possibly they eat, sleep and thrive on basketball. Those students the ability to compete outside of Cumberland County and it also allows those elementary teams to keep those students who do not have the opportunity to play travel ball. They've not developed their skills, but they want to play. This allows both parties, all the students to be able to participate at their particular level. Is there going to be issues? No question about it. Is there going to be struggles? No question about it. However if you need assistance, do we not have two other ADs in this county? Maddox replied, yes and no, because this is the end of the year. We've had a resignation of one of those, but here let me respond. Boston replied, but we did have two additional ADs. Maddox replied, because you just made a statement that everybody has an opportunity. Those students who are at the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade level who are going to remain at their school will never have the opportunity to advance. They will never and those kids, it's not just about the kids that are they have to work on their skills and so for some of the kids that would be at that sixth, seventh, and eighth grade level at their school. Their skill set is going to be high. Not all of them, but they're going to choose not to play. Either they choose not to compete for middle school and try out or they try out and get cut. They're on the cusp of it. Do they not deserve to be able to play post season? You going to limit their opportunity and we all know that there's basketball players that grow six inches in a matter of a year. Once they get you know at a certain age and where they flourish, so we say it's okay for these four teams, but they can advance, but all the rest of the teams, the other eight teams out there. Y'all just forget it. You can't do anything else. Davis replied, but we didn't do anything for and post season for the last 50 years anyway. So why are we worried about it now? Maddox replied, why it would be great this year to do it. Davis replied, though it was and it really sparked a lot of people's interest. Maddox replied, this will be the last thing I say. Is that I made a phone call today to Mr. Richard McWhirter, who is in charge of the Middle School Athletic Association and ask him some questions about the middle school concept versus the elementary and he told me he would always support what we were doing in Cumberland County. As far as the way we have it set up, because of our girls who advanced this year. He said, I'm a basketball coach. He said if I got a basketball team that's got five feeder schools coming into it. When they get to high school. I've got 50 kids that's going to try for my varsity basketball team. He said, now what you're going to have is those teams those two countywide teams. You're going to get those whatever 12 players, 15 players, whatever you have. They're the ones who are going to move up and play, but I want the 50 people trying out, because those skill sets. They grow, they develop during that time. So I just suggest that I would rather see us wait until we have a true Middle School Concept to go to those, because once we there's no question what we can do with middle school with academics and CTE and athletics, but until then, this is not a need. All the other sports was a need. This is not a need, this is a want and we're going to hurt our community with this. Stull replied, one thing I would like to kind to see is maybe seeing how this year goes. We've been under one year with TMSAA and you know seeing what a second year will do. I do agree with the fact that, I mean it would be so much easier if we actually had two actual middle schools, because it wouldn't be an issue. There would be no conversation, because you would have your middle school sports in those middle schools and see what kind of participation and growth that we have over this next year being in the middle school structure. Davis replied, he just explained to us, I appreciate your comment. He just explained to us that he feels like that those programs are dying as it is and the scoreboard reflects it and so are the number of participants and the fact that they're having a co-op already. So, if you're the best team at that school or you're a kid that's on your team at that school right now or could be on that team at that school, but they're not quite up to your standard of performance, that's the best opportunity we have for those kids in that school. So we're not affording them the same opportunity that every other sport gets. They do have the opportunity to do that at every other sport and we're handcuffing all these kids by not allowing them to do it. Stull replied, I get it. It's not perfect either way you look at it, because we don't have the two schools. Davis replied, and that's a big if. So this is doable middle schools we probably could agree is a lot larger ask to happen it overnight. So this being the combination of the two. Also so there's more opportunity out there for you know. The ask was you know if another organization wants to add basketball. Can we utilize the facilities that question's been asked. So logistically that's in the works. Stout replied, We also have a YMCA that might be. Davis replied, there's a YMCA coming to town. There's opportunities coming. Stout replied, in the future. Davis continued, there's opportunities coming and the thing is like more is more like we're launching flag football right now. In launching flag football, we're not trying to determine how many kids there are going to be. We're opening the door. We're saying here's something that's not being done. We're going to open it up. Volunteers can volunteer. Kids can come, however many there are. That's how many's going to play. We're not capping it based on theory or past or we're just saying in theory. If we build it, will they come and I don't know any high anybody that's competitive that wants to stay stuck in their own little bubble. Stepp replied, just two things I'd like to. So first of all I'd like to reassure the board we'll make what you want happen. So whichever way we go we got a strong team and we'll figure it out. So I want to reassure you not just athletically, but overall and the second thing, just before y'all vote. Is this motion to have the middle school teams and then the sixth, seventh, eighth graders at their home schools? Do like an inter mural program. Is that what you're? Boston replied, yes. Stepp continued, because they won't be able to be part of the TMSAA. Davis replied, it would be a countywide, just like essentially before. they were the same. Stepp replied, 3-5, 6-8. Okay, I just want to clarify. Davis replied, because beforehand, you're right. They were not affiliated with any sanctioning body other than Cumberland County Athletic Manual that we had. Stepp replied, the hybrid program like we talked about. Davis replied, yep. Boston replied, well and when we first started this back it seems like two years ago. The wording that was used is that we were going to create middle school teams, but we would continue to have club teams at individual schools. Hamby replied, not club teams, school teams. Stout replied, they were called individual school teams. Boston continued, now in all honesty, I watched the high school play basketball. It's great fun. I was impressed with what some of our our schools were able to do this year with advancing those talent. Those skill sets, but I honestly thought we had middle school teams and that the other children were playing at their local elementary schools and I understand that's not what we were doing, but until it was brought to my attention that is what I thought we were doing, because that is what the creation of this is what we were told. We were told we were creating middle school teams and then each individual elementary would be allowed to continue their club teams and it wasn't until after or during the season quite frankly that I realized that's not what we were doing and I think that's why this has resurfaced is because of that concept. Everybody thought that's what we were doing and to find out we were not it's kind of resurfaced, because all of these coaches and parents and individuals. I don't know how many people you've called or you had called. I've had numerous. I've had several parents, several coaches reach out and go here is why we need this. Here is why we want this to work. We want that student to be able to excel in basketball. If that's where their love lies, but we also want that student at that elementary school who's in the eighth grade. Who's got a size 13 shoe and his coordination is not where it needs to be. To be able to get on that court and be proud of who he is. Be proud of what he's doing and he's playing for his school. Now that's asking for the best of both worlds. Mr. Stepp just said we'll make it happen. I don't know the logistics of it. I don't know TMSAA here. I don't know refs. I don't know coaches, but we can make this work and everybody ends up winning. Now I'll shut up. Stout replied, call for previous question. Boston replied, I agree. Okay, the motion on the table is to have two Middle School Feeder School, feeder teams in basketball and maintain our correct me if I'm wrong. Maintain our elementary teams and allow and authorize the elementary schools to co-op should that become necessary. Stull asked, it would be four teams right? Boston replied, boy, girl, boy, girl. Stull asked, so it would be four. Davis replied, two feeder, but yes. Boston replied, unless we want to make boys and girls play together. Multiple board members replied, no. Boston continued, okay that is the motion on the table. I'm going to do a roll call. A Roll Call Vote was taken. Boston asked, am I 5 to 4. Webb replied, yes. Safdie asked, may I make the recommendation? Maddox replied, I do have a question for you, because there's already been tryouts. There's tryouts being made at the elementary schools right now. I told you there's a lot of factors going on right now. Safdie asked, is this for the TMSAA try outs for the feeder schools? Maddox replied, yes. The uniforms have been purchased. There's funds that's being raised as we speak. Which one of you guys are going to go tell all these schools you going to go to your districts and tell the team, meet with those coaches and meet with those teams and tell those kids that they have to try out to play? Boston replied, I'll be glad to. I will. Safdie asked, well didn't they have to do that anyway? Boston replied, yes. Safdie continued, am I wrong? I mean they have to tryout. I mean there's feeder teams right? Maddox replied, tryouts are going on right now. That's what I'm saying. The tryouts and things in the spring practice is going on right now. Boston replied, Mr. Stepp and I know this is going to be a stroke. Can you make this work? Stepp replied, well I mean I have to make work what the board votes on. That's my job and I think, just to clarify my words when we started TMSAA was governance and playoffs. I just want to make sure that's what I've always said, since we've done TMSAA publicly. Boston replied, okay well motion carried. Let's move on. 

Discussion: 
 - Boston advised, School Board Committees. Mrs. Hamby, Policy Committee. 

Discussion:   2:26:15 (See Exhibit #14) Hamby replied, okay we had Policy 4.600 for first reading. Is just a grading system we had to change. Mr. Maddox please explain that. Maddox replied, I believe the last change that we've made was an adjustment to when you added the points to calculate the semester average. Hamby replied, beginning 2024-25. Maddox continued, added to at the end of each term as opposed to the final. So we had to change that. Hamby replied, thank you. Then for second reading we have um policy 4.602 Graduation Recognition Latin Classification and that was we had forgotten to add 18 on the credits and so we added that in and like I said this is the second reading on that and then we had also voted to have 5.803 Evaluation of Director of Schools brought before the full board and this was a policy that we had not used previously, but we have brought it to the full board to and this is second reading. Like I said. Boston asked, so are you asking that they came out of committee said they don't require a second. So are you asking that we do first and second readings all at once. Hamby replied, yeah. We can do both at the same time, because the 4.600 actually needs to be. It needs to go ahead and be pushed through. So we could actually put that on first and second if that's okay and we don't normally do that anymore, but with something like that it needs to be pushed through. So, yes I'm asking it came out of committee. I made the motion to approve all of these for first and second reading. Any discussion. No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #15) See 20.A.1. Approval of First Reading of Policies for vote and details. 

Discussion:   - Boston advised, Mr. Davis. Davis replied, there's nothing to report.

Discussion:   - Boston advised, on Budget Committee meeting we are in the process of having those meetings. We have a meeting Monday afternoon at 4:30 and a meeting Tuesday afternoon at 4:30. So we're making some progress.

Discussion:   - Boston advised, Mr. Safdie, Building and Grounds. Safdie replied, we did have a meeting on 4-16-24. The Building and Grounds Committee met. We talked about several items. One was the Homestead fencing item and the committee made a recommendation to pass this item on to the Budget Committee to decide if we're going to put a full fence or a partial fence. It was the committee's opinion that we needed to start something and that's why we went ahead and referred it to the Budget Committee. Then the second issue was the tennis courts and this is a certainly at a time of crisis in the budget area in our finances. The question becomes can we afford to fund the tennis courts and which court do we fund and how big do we make that court. So I referred that to the Budget Committee. Excuse me, I didn't, the committee referred it to the Budget Committee. The third was an update on the Baby Bird Program. Thank you, Mr. Stepp and thank you, Mrs. Holton, the Director. Anyway, the grant was written. There's we got an update from Mr. Stepp and it looks like we're going to have a Baby Birds Program. The funding has been cut tremendously, but it will still go on in some modified way. There was no action taken by the board. That was just an update. Finally, Stone Memorial High School baseball facility. I wanted an update on how it's going and the update was it is almost there. It's almost completed and that's my report madam chair.

Discussion:   - Boston advised, next on our agenda is the Chief Financial Officer's Report.

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #16) Bray replied, basically we're three quarters of the way through the year. We're still basically on where I think we should be for our revenue. We're at 65% as far as expenditures, but just keep in mind that the last three months is when you see a lot of our big maintenance projects that we had planned for hit. So we should come in basically where I had budgeted, but just be aware that some of that will start hitting when we start encumbering those funds. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #17) Bray continued, as far as the Sales Tax Report. Unfortunately, we are still behind for the year, but I think I shared with you last month don't anticipate that being any different. We're ahead of last year, but we're going to stay behind and we're behind what was budgeted. Any questions on that? No one responded. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #18) Bray continued, if not we'll move on to the Budget Amendments. The first one that I have in my packet is the State School Improvement Grant. This is a state grant and it is a new grant, but this is one that Dr. Whitenbarger and his team will manage for us. Boston replied, you said it's a state grant. Bray replied, it is a state grant and that'll be significant here in a minute. Stout replied, move to approve. Boston replied, well wait just a second what's this significance? Bray replied, well if you look in the back, you're going to see the exact same grant where we're reversing it. What happened was it was initially put in as a Federal Grant in 142 got it. So we're backing it out out of 142 and correcting our era and putting it in 141. Safdie replied, second. Boston asked, well do you want her to do all three of them at once? Safdie replied, do all three of them at once. Bray continued, at the next one is recording the remainder of our outcome based money from TISA. We have $433,622 that we're going to record in Maintenance of a Plant. So that we can utilize those funds as you folks deem necessary, but we cannot utilize those funds unless they're put in the budget. They can be in the bank, but if they're not in the budget, we can't spend them. The next one is a resolution to the general purpose fund. This is just a cleanup of our ISM moving some monies around in the particular accounts at the schools. The next one is a new grant. It's the ATSI Grant $75,000. This will be a Federal Grant. Hale asked, what would this grant be used for? Bray replied, this I don't know. Dr. Whittenbarger was not here this week. Stepp replied, so it's for Stone Elementary. They ATSI school for performance. So they're getting this extra help to get them back up and it'll be used for Contract Services to have some people coming in to help with instruction and all that kind of good stuff. Bray continued, the next one is just an adjustment to our Perkins Basic Grant $500. The final one is an adjustment to the Federal the HQIM Literacy Grant. Just moving some funds there $14,599 and then the last one is like I said, the reversal where this was literally just put in the wrong fund. It should have gone in 141. It was put in 142 and we're reversing it out there and then our final is an adjustment to the TN All Corps budget. This just matches things in E Plan. Boston replied, I'll entertain a motion to approve the 141s and 142s. Stout replied, motion to approve. Boston asked, do we have a second? Nichols replied, I'll second. Boston replied, okay so we have a motion to approve all 141 and 142s. Is there any discussion? A Voice Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #19) See 21.C. 141 Budget Amendments for the vote and details. 

Discussion:   (See Exhibit #20 ) Boston advised, next on the agenda is the consent agenda. I'll entertain a motion to approve. I would like to point out one item on the consent agenda. It's 22e. It's the request of funds from Crab Orchard Archery. It came in yesterday and Mr. Stepp and I went ahead and executive approved that, but I want you to draw attention to it. That is the $1,500 that we give to national competitions and it is for the Archery Club. So we approved $1,500 coming from the budget, which we have set this aside every year $7,500 for national competitions. Safdie asked, do we need a motion? Boston replied, it'll go with the consent. Any further discussion? I just wanted to point out. Davis replied, a couple of things before we do the consent. I know we've always got inventory that leaves right. So I guess my question is how do we track that? Stepp replied, we have to track everything and you have to track it in multiple lanes. If it's General Funds or Federal, Title One. All that and we have to keep those records and we go through inventory in every building and this building and equipment every year. We have to sign off. So every building like we'll get a federal list of inventory and they have to go through and check serial numbers and all barcodes and all that kind of stuff and now if we get to the end of life of any service of anything. There's a process we have to do to be able to get rid of that. I know the chromebooks, I think now we're allowing seniors to take those with them. The other way that they did that was they were in boxes and we had to pay somebody to come take them away, but we document each time something comes in and goes out. Davis asked, do we have a mathematical number of dollar figures? Stepp asked, each year that goes out and what comes in? Davis replied, yes. Stepp continued, yeah. I mean we could figure out a way to get all that smooshed together. Davis replied, I noticed on some of the reports it says that there's obsolete or broken and then some of it's not indicated whether it's obsolete or it's broken. So is it obsolete and we can, obsolete to us and that we can reclaim some of that money or it's broken and we can't reclaim it. Stepp replied, most things go through duct tape, wire and anything else we can to hold it together. So most of the time when a school system retires something it's probably worn out pretty good. There's not, we repurposed some laptops that you know aren't at the level that the software teachers are using and they'll let other people use those. Other adults in the buildings like TAs and stuff like so. We try to use everything all the way to the last second, but yeah I can try to get some money rolled up into that and what it looks like. Davis replied, I'm just curious. Just something that we can wrap our heads around and is it possible. Hamby replied, we don't normally discuss the agenda. Davis replied, I wasn't part of the decision-making process of what goes on the consent agenda or not. So that's why I'm asking questions about things on the consent agenda. I'm essentially, I guess not consenting. Is it possible for us to get a list of grants and what they cover and how much? I know we talked about it once before just trying to wrap our heads around, because grants come and go and we've got to answer questions. We got to approve them and it's like I don't know about things that are that were approved prior to today. You know what I mean, so I don't know what's coming next, baby birds? What's the next something, so I'm just trying to look ahead. Stepp replied, we are applying for grants all the time. Davis continued, right and how can we be as engaged as possible in that? To keep our eye on it. Boston replied, if we can do a current list. Here's the grants we've got. Here's how much they want. Here's what they're being used. That would be helpful. Safdie replied, it would be state and federal and local. Boston replied, Federal Grants come with such restrictions. State sometimes, but not necessarily. Stepp replied, that's all kept inside E Plan, the state and federal. Boston asked, Mr. Davis are you? Davis replied, that's all I had. I was just curious. Hamby replied, I make a motion we approve the consent agenda. Stout replied, second second. Boston replied, okay so we have a first and second to approve the consent agenda. Any further discussion? No one responded. A Voice Vote was taken. 

Discussion:   - Boston advised, old business. Safdie replied, you'll be happy to know that I don't have any old business. Patton replied, I sent the board an email, a couple of emails this past month concerning a request by Mr. Hill to deed some property that the board holds the title to and I just need some direction from the board. I've given you know, a legal opinion and I suggested that we send a response back. I'd like to do that. I know that the board can't necessarily vote on that this evening, but I would just request that be placed on an agenda very soon. Boston replied, Mrs. Diane, will you note put that on May's agenda please. McCartney replied, what would you like it labeled? Boston replied, that property lies on Genesis Road. genesis Road Property and then slash David Hill and that tells us and it's approximately two acres maybe. Safdie replied, out of 154. Patton replied, that's my understanding. Boston replied, okay if you'll just make a note to make sure that, I forgot it this month. Mr Patton, we will move forward on that. Patton replied, thank you.

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

Discussion:   - Hamby moved and Safdie seconded a motion to adjourn at 8:46pm.