April 9, 2020 at 5:30 PM - Jackson-Madison County School Board Meeting

Discussion:  James Johnson Board Chairman, called the April Board Meeting to order at 5:30 pm.  Mr. Johnson thanked JEA, West TN Today and the JMCSS Tech Department for assisting in the recording and video of the meeting.

Mr. Johnson read, Effective beginning with the April Work Session through the effective date of Governor Lee's executive order NO. 16, all Work Sessions and Meetings of the Board of Education will be by electronic means.  Board Members will participate by video conference.  Public Access to the board room will not be available to the General Public in order to protect public health, safety, and welfare because of the COVID-19 outbreak.  The General Public, however, will have live access to view the meeting via electronic means as described herein.

The Public will have live access to the April Board Meeting by one of the following means: Jackson Energy Authority (JEA) will broadcast the Board Meeting on EPlus TV Channel 6 provided to JEA Cable subscribers or JEA will live stream the Board Meeting on its website at www.eplustv6.com.

Discussion:  James Johnson asked for a moment of silence

Discussion:  The Jackson-Madison County School Board approved to meet under the provisions of the Executive Order NO. 16.

Discussion:  The Jackson-Madison County School Board approved to suspend Board policies 1.400-1.407 

Discussion:  The Jackson-Madison County approved the Consent Agenda

Discussion:  The Jackson-Madison County School Board approved the April Board Meeting Agenda

Discussion:  There were no further questions from the JMCSS Board for Holly Kellar, Director of JMCSS Fiscal Services

Discussion:  There were no further questions from the JMCSS Board for Karen Bell, Madison County Finance Director

Discussion:  The JMCSS Board Members needed to nominate one School Volunteer for the TSBA School Volunteer Award.  Janice Hampton nominated Barbara Smith from Lincoln, Shannon Stewart nominated Barry Cooper (JOCOA) from Best Academy and Carol Carter Estes-McCright from JCMECH.  

The following voting: Barbara Smith received votes from Doris Black and Janice Hampton, Barry Cooper received votes from Kevin Alexander, Wayne Arnold, AJ Massey Shannon Stewart and Siyan Yumas received votes from Jim Campbell, Carol Carter Estes-McCright and James Johnson.
Barbara Smith = 2 votes, Barry Cooper = 4 votes and Siyan Yumas = 3 votes

Discussion:  The JMCSS Board approved the Fees for Before and After School Day Programs.

Discussion:  Catherine Korth informed the Board that they needed to approve the Special Course Codes for Madison.  The State has a list of courses that are approved for all districts to teach.  If a district or school wants to teach a class that is not on that list, they have to submit a request for special codes.  The State has an Introductory Speech and Communications Class, but that is all.  Madison has completed the application to teach an Intermediate (Speech and Communications ll) and Advanced (Speech and Communications lll) Class.  These classes have been taught in the past at Madison, but periodically the application for special courses has to be re-submitted to the state.

Discussion:  The Jackson-Madison County School Board will make a selection for a Superintendent.  The voting began with a roll call vote; Kevin Alexander-Dr. Marlon King, Wayne Arnold-pass, Doris Black-Dr. Marlon King, Jim Campbell-pass, Carol Carter Estes-McCright- Dr. Marlon King, Janice Hampton-Dr. Marlon King, AJ Massey-pass, Shannon Stewart-Dr. Rodrick Richmond and James Johnson-Dr. Marlon King. The nomination results; Dr. Marlon King = 5, Dr. Rodrick Richmond = 1 and passes = 3.  After some discussion, the mistake was notified that a motion and second was not given before the voting for Superintendent.  Shannon Stewart made a motion to proceed with the selection of Superintendent and seconded by Carol Carter Estes-McCright.  The results to proceed process are as follows; Kevin Alexander=Yes, Wayne Arnold=pass, Doris Black=Yes, Jim Campbell=Yes, Carol Carter Estes-McCright=Yes, Janice Hampton=Yes, AJ Massey=Yes, Shannon Stewart= Yes and James Johnson=Yes.
Jim Campbell suggested, that the Board be able to sit down with Dr. Marlon King during the contract process and discuss the expectations of a Superintendent.  Mr. Campbell stated that in the past, the Board has been able to do this process and he wants to insure the length of Dr. King's stay with the system.  Janice Hampton agreed with Mr. Campbell that this has been done before and feels it would be good for the Board and Dr. King.  Carol Carter Estes-McCright feels that this may seem like managing Dr. King.  There was much confusion with during this conversation and on a motion.

Janice Hampton made a motion for James Johnson and Dale Thomas to start the process of a contract with Dr. Marlon King and to set up meeting between him and the Board.  Kevin Alexander seconded the motion. The results to further the contract process are as follows; Kevin Alexander=Yes, Wayne Arnold=Yes, Doris Black=Yes, Jim Campbell=Yes, Carol Carter Estes-McCright=Yes, Janice Hampton=Yes, AJ Massey=Yes, Shannon Stewart=Yes, James Johnson= Yes.  

Discussion:  There were no items removed from the Consent Agenda

Discussion:  There were no items added to the agenda

Discussion:  The Budget Committee is being scheduled to discuss the K-8 Construction Contract.

Discussion:  Ray Washington thanked Alison Pryon, Cafeteria Workers and Volunteers for arranging and preparing meals for the students in the system, Dr. Vivian Williams, Jared Myracle, Bernice Thompson, Administration and Teachers for the academic resources for students, Holly Liesley and Rachel Scott for getting information out to the community and parents, Holly Kellar with assisting in financial issues, the Bus Garage for assisting in meals, Tech Department with assisting the recording/video for meetings and the Board support during the COVID-19.