Study session August 4th, 2026 has come to order. For members of the public attending tonight's meeting, here are some important reminders concerning any and every portion of tonight's meeting. Please be advised that the board will not allow threats or or loud and
disruptive comments or noise such as jeers, shouts, or verbal outbursts from the floor. In accordance with Tennessee Code Annodated 3917306, any person who intentionally acts to prevent, obstruct, or interfere with this meeting by physical action or
verbal utterance shall be warned to discontinue such actions. After being so warned, law enforcement may remove any person who refuses to cease his or her acts of preventing, obstructing, or interfering with this meeting.
Item number one on the agenda, surplus property, school buses, vehicle maintenance. First read board. In your packet, you will find a description of buses that we are are wishing to surplus. As you can see, um surplus
property INVA2 requires us to request the board for surplus property. We have received a $ 1.5 million grant from Volkswagen that has allowed us to purchase 15 new buses.
As part of the condition of that grant, we must scrap 15 old school buses. As you can see from the list, these are buses that are from 2008 to 2009 that have reached their mileage a as well as
their condition capacity. And that's how these were chosen. All right. Item number two, retiree insurance 2026 update. First read. Melissa is you should have received the retiree insurance benefit recommendation in the
board packet. We review our retiree participation every year and it continues to be a very valuable benefit. At this time, we are recommending an extension of this benefit through fall 2030. As of September 1st, we will have 138 CMCSS retirees participating with an
annual board cost projected at $854,815. All right. Item number three, August federal budget amendments. First read, Mr. Jeff Taylor. If you look at your packet this evening, um these are just carry forwards for the from the FY25 FY26 budget, excuse me,
over to the FY27 budget for the consolidated admin, title one um reductions in title one neglected as well as uh title 4 and IDA prek. These are just carried
forwards into the FY27 budget. Any questions? >> Thank you. >> Item number four, goal number six, provide targeted ongoing professional learning to meet the evolving needs of both new hires and experienced staff who
directly support students. policy reference E1 and E2. Good evening board. I'm excited to present to you this evening. My name is Tina Smith. I'm the director of professional learning. Um goal six is our goal for professional learning.
Since I'm presenting to you so early in the school year, I want to take just a little bit of time to to talk about some of the accomplishments we made from last year in 2526, as well as what we will do this year to accomplish that goal as well. So, if we
start off by looking at our numbers from last year in the 2526 school year, on the graph, you can see our overall total of professional learning that was accumulated just within the district. So over 200,000 hours of learning for our
employees which is wonderful. A lot of learning is great but we want to make sure that it is also the right learning. So with that in mind um we use a lot of metrics to determine the appropriate content that is needed for our learners and we also want to deliver it in the
correct format. So as you can see here our most of our learning happens synchronously in person. Um we also do some learning via Zoom uh when it's appropriate for the content so that our learners don't have to drive across the
district to have access to learning. Some of our learning is also asynchronous so that employees can access the learning anytime anywhere and completed at their own pace. So we're maintaining about the same um balance there of synchronous versus asynchronous
learning. Now, in addition to the type of learning, we also want to make sure that the learning meets its mark. So, we look at a lot of different benchmarks to measure if our learning is meeting employee needs. Um, one of the very first things that we look at though is
uh the survey data that our employees complete once they finish a learning activity. So, in looking at this data, you can see the level of agreement is 96% or above for each one of those metrics. and we actually had over 13,000 completions of our survey. Um over 700
more than last year. So we're excited to still see those numbers standing strong. We have been um focused on our new hire needs for quite some time now. Um I've shared over the last couple of years some of the adjustments that we've made
for learning um needs for our new hires. So some of the things that we've done are differentiating their learning pathways to make sure we're meeting their needs. We've given them classroom management training prior to them stepping foot in the classroom. And we have also been providing district mentor
teacher support. So, while those measures have been in place, one of the exciting data points that I would like to share with you um this evening, you can see to the right the number of same-year resignations has been cut in half since those supports have been in
place. And we've also cut in half the number of late hires that have had to teachers that have had to be hired after the start of the school year. So, both exciting data points to see that these are having a positive impact. Now, I
know human resources often shares um retention data with you. Tonight, I want to narrow that focus in because they usually share retention data from all employees across the district, but we're just going to focus in on our new hires since um that's the group we're looking
at currently. So, just our certified new hires from last year's cohort group from 2526, we retained 88% of those hires, which is a wonderful percentage. We're headed in the right direction. it continues to improve. Um, but when we
narrow in within that cohort, we can see that the employees who were already CMCSS employees and then transitioned from the classified position that they were in into a certified teaching role, we retained 92% of those employees. So,
we love seeing that we really retain those employees and that's why we have such a focus on supporting our classified employees as well. Um, we have had 33% of our employees come from our classified pipeline, whether it is
from um, our teacher residency program or if they're in an educational assistant um, position or maybe from our substitute program. Any position that they held and transitioned over into a classified employee last year, 33% of our new hire cohort into certified
teaching roles came from those classified pipelines. Now, that's why we really love to make sure that we're providing learning for those targeted groups as well. So, we've worked really hard. Last year, at the beginning of the school year, we had 37 courses aligned
to meet their needs. This year, we are starting the first semester off with 60 courses. So, we're continuing to build learning um and have access to those things to meet those employees needs as well. Now, continuing on in 2627 to highlight some of the things that we're
going to continue to work on for this school year. We know learning never ends for our educators. As soon as the 2526 school year wrapped up, they jumped right in and started learning and preparing for the 2627 school year. So, we spent a great week in July at West
Creek High School. I said July in June at West Creek. Um, we came back together at Kenwood in July. We had over 1,200 um learners join us in June and almost 1,600 in July. They already accumulated
over 23,000 hours of learning before they ever came back on calendar. So, we're working towards that 200,000 again for this year. Hopefully, this year, one of our focus areas is going to continue to refine our learning
structures. So, we're going to look at summer learning events, how and when those are happening, and how we can continue to improve that process. We're looking at our online learning and how we can um improve how learners access and take advantage of that learning as
well. We're continuing to refine our mentoring supports and how they provide learning and support to employees across the district and looking at um our ongoing learning structures and how we can enhance those at both the district and the school level.
So continuing to build new learning, one that I wanted to highlight for you tonight is our leadership elevation academy. So our leadershipmmies are normally geared towards people who want to learn to then become a leader. But this is an academy that we built for
people who are already currently in leadership roles or people who have already completed our leadershipmies. So this was a way that they could all come together and learn um and grow and push each other's thinking. And this one has rotating content so it's not just a
one-time academy. they can participate multiple times if the learning that year happens to align with their needs. So, those are a few things that I wanted to highlight for you this evening. Do you have any questions? >> Yes, Miss Barry.
>> Miss Barry. >> Yes. I would like to know were any of the professionals that came in and trained our staff were they outside of CM CSS or >> we have no almost everything comes from inside the district. Um as far as our
summer learning the one thing that I can say from outside of the district we partner with Austin P on some of the content and some of their professors will come in and do some sessions with us to build that content knowledge expertise for our teachers. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome.
I believe that's it. >> Thank you. On to county commissioner's comments. I will be as brief as I can. Uh first of all, I'd like to remind everybody as of Indigo if I've forgotten, we have an
election Thursday. Please vote. Second, this is something I've been working on for a few months now. Um, and I have talked to some of our amazing staff members to to my right as well as a
couple of other folks regarding access for deaf and heart of hearing. Um, I did not want to talk about this last at the last meeting since there was so much else going on and I did not want to steal the thunder from the important messages that were being given by the
parents in the room. So tonight I want to give a big ask to all of us that are going to be remaining after this after this election and that we provide American sign language interpreter for
the broadcast meetings. Uh I have made that ask of our county commission. There are some things in work for there and I'd like to make that as publicly here as well. Those of us that are deaf really have a hard time following. I I
use an app for captions and they're not always the best. U and it's really important to be able to provide access without any kind of special clicks or retirement. Click here
to get captions, that sort of thing. so that people that are deaf and heart of hearing to be able to participate publicly in a world that they often times feel shut out of and I know a little bit about that. It's easy to kind
of feel like that you're not part of that. So don't let a lack of participation now coersse you into thinking that it's not really necessary. The American Sign Language is a language in and of itself.
It is also the one of the few languages that is protected under federal law with the Americans with Disabilities Act signed in 1991. And it is very important that we provide that level of access for the people in
this key, the thousands that I know of that use that as a primary method of communication. And I know there are several policies within the schools themselves which are amazing. And those policies were in place that allowed me
to be able to thrive in the 1980s. So I know that the schools themselves have gotten a lot. There may be some work that I don't need I don't know about but in when it come to public meeting that make decision for those school having that access is absolutely critical. So
that is that is the the comment that I have tonight. I thank you for your time. >> Can everybody hear me? Well, Dr. Fed, I have a just a a brief question. Um, and if you can't answer tonight and get back to me, that's fine. Of the 15 buses that
were to be scrapped, um, I know we had talked previously that the school was going to donate a bus to the sheriff's office for the litter abatement program. Is that included in the 15 or >> No, sorry. That's that's separate. We have we have already done that. And so we have done one I know for the
sheriff's office. We have also done one for the library in the past. These are 15 separate buses. >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you. >> All right. Board members comments. Mr. Mayberry. >> Hey board. I just want to let you guys know um I uh got jury duty. Uh so for
the next three weeks I had to call in and uh um Commissioner Ruer saw me out there so I got someone to vouch for me that I actually do have due jury duty. Uh so I had to call in uh every day and so that could affect um the arrival time of my next meeting or our next meeting,
my last meeting. I just want to let you guys know about that. Uh I'll be as diligent as I can to get here uh as soon as I can um at that meeting. I don't suspect it'll go on and on where I won't be able to make the meeting, but I do want you to be aware of that. Um, also,
I'm going to be sending the board um a policy change or two uh to check out in your email, which will be on the agenda for the next meeting. Um, and so hopefully we can put that towards the end of the agenda. As I said, I um will
have jury duty. um but wanting to address um the decorum in this room and just want to make sure that we uh going forward in the months ahead I won't be here anymore but just need to make sure that um we have good decorum inside of
our our room and that's u what the policy changes will reflect so thank you guys very much >> Mr. Griffy >> yeah thank you I want to bring up something that Mr. Garland brought up a few meetings ago and we talked about several months ago and and that is our
10ear facility construction plan. Um, we just completed Freedom Elementary and in August of 26 is when we were supposed to be beginning the planning stages of our school, elementary school
27 and um should have been under selection of architect and that type thing. According to the chart in June of 25 uh for school number 27,
we have built over the past four years. We have opened new schools to address overcrowding in partnership with McGomery County Commission, Kirkwood Complex, Freedom Elementary School have helped us balance our capacities in our growing school district. But I do not
want to lose that momentum. Um the projection open date for elementary school number 27 and these projections are based on population population growth.
um current building projects, homes being built, lots that are approved to be built on and lots that have purchased and the intent of building on but not yet sight have approval is on them yet.
So, a lot of data went into these projections that our system and staff did a wonderful job of bringing to us in order for us to stay in front of the curve to continue to have enough schools for the growth that we're sustaining
enough staff to teach these children and have them a great education androve the programs that we have existing in our school system. In order to do that, we we need to be moving. Um,
elementary school 27 is 13 months behind right now. Um, according to this 10-year construction plan, project approval was to occur in July 25
or August of 25. The original schedule moving through design and construction is projected would have had elementary school 27 opening August of 28 which was our projection.
If we approve the project and select an architect this month using the same schedule, we're pushing it right up to the deadline of August 29, not 28, which when the projections say that we need them.
Um, my plea to the school system and to the director is to get on this and get architects selected so that they can begin what they need to do to have our school system up to date, not overcrowded, and have
room for our students when they arrive. I know that that is not in our current budget. But the good news is I'm certain that the next budget is already in the process of being built. And if we act on it now, we can get it in the next
budget. So I would love to see staff work on this, I would love to see it on our agenda the next meeting, not a few months from now. And I would appreciate the board's support on this so that we can stay proactive in front of the curve
and make the necessary arrangements that we need to make in order for this county to continue to encourage the growth it's had and not put a strain on the school system in 18 months to two years because we cannot hold the children anymore.
That's the end of my comments. Mr. Garland. >> Yeah, I uh I strongly support uh Mr. K, Mr. Griffy um comments. Um I won't be with you and uh I have seen a lot of growth over
the over the years that I've been here. A lot of growth, positive growth. And I'm and one of the things that I realize about the county commission and the school board and the staff is that we don't build schools that we do not
need. With the growth capacity of this city growing, how fast it's growing and the number of houses that are being built every day and the people that are traveling here and being and putting up residents here. Uh like Mr. Griffy say,
we don't want to get behind the power curve. We want to stay ahead of the power curve. Um, no, I won't be here to vote on that plan, but I do strongly support that something be done to try to
get a to stay ahead of this curve because once you get behind, it's hard to catch up. You know, I remember when we first came on, well, one of the major problem was we didn't have enough teachers because they cut teachers because they didn't want to pay.
But then they started bringing the teachers back and then more children begin to come and we built more schools and everything began to uh plus up. So, I encourage the board uh those that will be here uh during that time to strongly
support this this project because whoever it is that you choose to actually do the plans. I do strongly believe that this county commission is now pushing twotory buildings. First, you got to find the land
where you want to put it and then you have to find the design how you want to build it. All of that takes time, ladies and gentlemen. And if we don't get started now, uh wait, if we wait one year, we're going to be two years behind. And we wait two years, we're going to be
four years behind. That's all I'm That's all I'd say. Thank you so much for the for your time. >> Sorry, I skipped you, Mr. Laneir. >> Are you Are you at Mr. Griff, are you asking for that to be put on the agenda next month for the architect selection? >> I asked for it to be put on the agenda
the next meeting. next. I mean, Nick, that's what I meant. Sorry. >> Okay. Thanks. Um, so a couple of things we've been doing. If y'all were following the city budget,
I've attended most of those meetings and $3.3 million is on the is on the table. It was voted on by referendum. I've spoke at the county or I spoke to the city quite a few times, sent them letters and everything else. So, if y'all would like to join in that and
call your local city councilman, um that was put on referendum and voted on by the people that 20% of the local option sales tax, which is not your property tax, which is the tax that everyone pays that comes here and does
something in the city. every hamburger that's bought, everybody from Hopkinsville or whatever pays part of the part of the due towards the school system. So, if that gets changed, that will really change how we do our budget. Um I've gotten with CMCA. They've got
some speakers um at this next meeting coming up. Uh we did the back to school bash. We gave out socks um about 6,000 pairs I imagine or more. It's hard to count. Couple of things we've done is with the
radio station we queued called queue up the classroom. We raised $48,000 to um teacher warehouse through the education foundation and that was largely in part by a donor an
influencer. She doubled it at the end. Uh open founders inc. We did uh the pass and go this last weekend. Um, we served freedom lunch. I think thank you to those board members that came and big thanks to Teresa for bringing boot
coodles of sides and then um sorry I was late but I just finished uh finished the landscape installation for Kenwood Middle. So um that'll be there for them when they come back tomorrow. So [snorts]
it's been a busy month. pass it off to whoever next. >> Miss Barry, >> I just would like to welcome everyone back to a new school year 26 27 and just
the opportunity for our students to learn and grow because that's what it's all about academically, socially, and other ways too. And I want to thank all the amazing staff and teachers for
preparing the classrooms and welcoming our students. And I hope and pray that we can work together and make this a safe year, supportive and successful for every student. And lastly,
we choose to be happy. Make sure you smile often and be kind to everyone. Thank you. >> Any other comments, >> Miss Crosslin? >> Uh, yes. I would just like to say that
um it was it was really um nice going and cooking for the people for the staff of Freedom Elementary. I enjoyed that very
much. Thank you. And um and just going and walking through the halls of the new school was it was beautiful. And I know the the children tonight that are going and to the open house, they're going to be
excited to see their new school. And I really enjoyed it. That's all. Any other comments? All right, Miss Dr. Luna Better. >> Good evening, board members. This week marks one of the most exciting weeks in
education, the beginning of the school year. The past two days have been filled with professional development, freshman orientation, open house, and tomorrow kicks off the first half day of the 2627 school year for students. As I have visited schools, I'm optimistic about
the positive energy and excitement coming from the faculty and staff members. Tomorrow, Freedom Elementary will open its doors to welcome students for the very first time. and students enrolled in classes at Founders Inc. will also experience an amazing new
educational space. Last week, we had the opportunity to tour both locations. It was heartwarming to see the beautiful brand new elementary school, but equally as uplifting to see the renovations done to the historical BERT building to repurpose the space to prepare students
for the future. All prayers are appreciated for the first day tomorrow and we hope it'll be a great day for everyone. Vice Chair Bryant, this concludes my report. All right, that concludes our meeting. Thank you.