I'd like to welcome everyone here tonight. Yeah. That wasn't good. And, yeah, thank you for coming. If you need to repeat the roll call, please. Yes, sir. Please stay Thank you. I'll put you in the chat. Thank you. I'll put you in the chat. Okay. Thank you. Present. And Marsha Moss? Thank you. I'll please stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, Yes, ma'am.
Dear heavenly father, thank you for this gorgeous day you've given us. Be with all of us, lord, and as we go our separate ways later this evening and and further days. Lord, please help us make good decisions decisions for the children and for the best for our tax payers. Lord, be with those that are with us tonight as they travel. In your name, amen. Amen. Thank you, sir. Mister Goff, you do a mission statement. Mission statement of Jackson Madison County School System is providing equitable options and opportunities in a safe, caring environment to maximize student potential. Thank you, sir.
Alright. We did we don't have any staff or student recognition tonight. Number three will be approval of minutes. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda. Fair enough. We can motion to approve the agenda. Do I have a second? Second. All in favor, say yes. Yes. Yes. All opposed to say no. Motion passes. Alright. The next is the consent agenda. This will be the USBA year end policies, ABC report and strategic plans in the June general board meeting. We met Monday night, but was probably at least an hour or hour and a
half, I think. I don't remember that. I'm going over all of this, but now I have a motion to approve the consent agenda. Mister chairman. Yes. I move we approve the consent agenda. I second. Second. All in favor? Aye. All opposed say no. Motion passes. The next is the public comments. We have, 12 on the list tonight. So we will be able to go ahead and we decided since it's just two more than 10, because we got thirty minutes. Thank you. And as a former educator, troubleshooter for education, and various other things, I wanna say,
first of all, great job, guys, superintendent, his staff, and the teachers. But Jackson Madison County Schools educates everybody. That's what they're charged with, and they try to. They have something for everyone. I've studied this, looked at it from several different directions, and Jackson Madison County Schools can provide work to provide any style of learning. The teachers, the supervisors try to provide something for everybody that way because every child doesn't learn the same. Some learn fast, some learn slow, some learn with a different style.
There's several different everything from traditional to Montessori. And And I happen to have a little knowledge of Montessori. No. Actually, a lot of knowledge of Montessori. And our Montessori school, I'm proud of them. They're going for their Montessori certification. Y'all correct me if I'm wrong. They'll get it because we move forward in Jackson Madison County School. Now several other commendable aspects of this, high academic growth. We've achieved the state's highest level five for academic progress on the value assessment. And And what a great job our teachers have done in all these areas.
Improve graduation rates. Look at it. I've taken over nothing but rebuilding jobs when I was coaching. Well, guess what? Y'all rebuilt some things that had gotten in. It's the job's not finished. We're gonna get there, though. Focus on career readiness innovation. Man, we we should get really high marks in that, and we're getting better. We're doing more things, like the Hub City, Innovation Cup. I just have to mention a few of those things. And and Jackson Massa County Schools emphasizes a coaching mindset to help teachers improve their
instructional practices. Also, the commitment to teacher education. Back in the old days, some of the in service trainings would joke. Now y'all really do something to get some serious stuff accomplished, and I'm proud of that too. Community engagement and support. School systems doing their job. We in the community, including myself, we got to do more for the schools. It's a two way street. We gotta get off our duffs and not depend on the school system to raise our children. We gotta be involved in it. And, variety of programs and services, you've got like the STEM, the magnet programs, career
and technical education, fine arts, athletics, pre k. And if you look at the Tennessee score case, it shows that Jackson Madison County Schools, stands out for its commitment. Now very quickly, I'll Greer's Digest version, the wheat field story. That's where the little girl got lost in the wheat field. They couldn't find her because everybody went in different directions. Our commitment here has got to be community and board and everybody to join hands and work together because if we all join hands and work together, a school system
that gets better every day, and I do mean that genuinely, can be one of the best anywhere in this country. Keep working at it, and we don't need any interference in it. Y'all are doing good. Thank you. Good evening everybody and thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts. I have always been a strong advocate for fully funded public school system and adamantly against any diversion of public funds into any charter school. That said, the goals presented by the the Jackson Museum School proposal are very appealing. Reconciling these conflicting points of view has been challenging for me.
In the end, however, I don't think we should risk our students' education, hoping that the success rate for this one will be different and not lead to further inequities in our education system. Furthermore, the integrity and credibility of this school board is at stake. The school district followed the rubrics sent forth by the state in noting numerous deficiencies in the charter application even after revisions. To approve the application now would be like giving a high school diploma to a student who didn't meet the graduation requirements. This district has made great strides in boosting student achievement, improving the quality of instruction,
and gaining respect and support from the community. To approve anything substandard would signal a step backward and mar the positive public image the district has worked hard to create. Additionally, the precedent that would be established with the approval of a defective application is concerning. As long as charter schools remain legal and encouraged by the state, there will likely be other proposals in the future. And if the district bends the rules and makes accommodations for the Jackson Museum School, how will it draw the line in the future charter charter proposals? So while I do appreciate doctor King's attempt to propose a workable compromise, I cannot
support some sort of conditional approval. The idea of a hybrid charter school within a school on the surface does sound good, But the practical implementation would likely be unwieldy at best and could easily be an administrative nightmare. As you know, the overall success rate for charter schools across the nation is not encouraging. And a school that can't get its application approvable on second revision does not generate much hope for success, no matter how appealing its goals might be. Doctor Little has indicated that if this board denies their application today, she intends to
appeal to the state for approval as is her right. If indeed the state approves its application and the school cannot accomplish its mission, let the state take care of that problem. The state has in effect taken away local control already, as we saw with the state's overturning the school board's decision on the ACE Charter School. If the state takes control of the decision, let the state own it. This board was responsive to the community input on the ACE Charter School and wise in its decision to reject it. Please exercise the same amount of caution regarding the Jackson Museum School.
Thank you. Thank you very much, mister chairman. As mister Walden said, I'm Jordan Long. I'm an attorney and business owner in West Tennessee. I also, in my day job, run government relations, advocacy, and campaigns and policy centers. I have almost a decade of public policy experience working on things like the TISA funding formula, the charter authorizer in 02/2019, the EFS and ESA programs, all while supporting teacher pay raises, incentives for public schools.
I'm a proposed board member of the Jackson Museum School, and I'm proud to be one of those. We've talked about options. I believe options were talked about or being a proponent of school choice was discussed in the working group. When school choice and options are are presented to parents as you can have options, but it's gotta be one of the ones that we have that's not true choice. Charter schools are a wonderful form of education and have been praised by presidents all the way back to Clinton to Bush to Obama to the current president, have has,
had bipartisan support for years. We've reached a point in education now where the best school may not be the right fit for a student, and students need options so that they can achieve what they need to in life, be prepared for post k 12 education. And just to remind, this body that charter schools are public schools. They take everyone, and they don't turn anybody away. What Jackson Museum School is here to do is to provide a very innovative, hands on approach, something that we don't see and we haven't seen in West Tennessee, but
we can have right here in our backyard. I'd ask that when the Jackson Museum School resolution comes before you that you would vote to approve it. Thank you, mister chairman. My name is Brent Boker. Proposed chair for the Jackson Museum School board. Apologize for my handwriting. Always had messy handwriting. I went to Huntington. So, but I'm here because not only do I believe in what the Jackson Museum School is doing, I'm a parent. I've got six kids. I live here in Jackson. I moved back here in 2018.
My background has been in corporate world. I've worked for Amazon, JB Hunt, FedEx, Uber Freight. I've I've been upper management for a lot of these companies. I've went in and taken care of problem operations. That's what my specialization is, is going in and fixing what's broken. And having that operational knowledge and bringing that to the Jackson Museum School, I feel like I'm in a good place to give a lot of positive oversight to make
sure that this is done right and it doesn't fail. I can't stand to fail. I don't want anything that my name's attached to to be a failure. And we've struggled, you know, with six kids. Six kids is a lot. That's a lot of kids. Luckily, I've got a couple in college now. One's going to esthetician school. One's playing baseball, you know, but I do have six year old that that currently goes to Polk, which by the way, the new school is beautiful. She's very excited about that playground. But, you know, I do intend to put her in the Jackson Museum School once
we get it open. And I like that idea of that free magnet charter school that's open for everybody, for for every citizen of Jackson to have that option. And, you know, it's something that that I'm excited about, my wife's excited about, my kids are excited about. And I just I implore you to be open to change. Us being Jackson, Tennessee, Hub City, we've got, you know, Blue Oval coming. We got a lot of big things coming here. And a lot of things are gonna bring in new diverse, careers.
You know, we've got tech companies starting up here, a lot of different things. So having those options for those people is gonna be big. And I saw it work in Northwest Arkansas where I lived for fifteen years. Walmart did a lot to bring in a lot of a lot of different things, lot of change, and it only benefited everyone. And I'm here, you know, like I said, as proposed chair to tell you that we will make this work. And believe in us because we can do it, and we will.
Thank you for your time. Thank you, mister chairman. I think what most Most of you are aware of our stance in terms of charter schools. We are very strong in public school settings. We know that there's difficulties at time when you're asking for the financials that helps you to navigate this system that we have. One of the speakers said that, you know, we educate everyone, and that is true. You do some some work that not many district of this size does. I am a very proponent. Our organization is proponent of public schools.
We wanna keep them strong and viable. We know that we need more finances to do the things that you all wish you would want to do. But, unfortunately, that is not forthcoming as much as we would like. We hope, we pray, and we will come election demand that a lot of these no's at the door that you are asking for more funding and more money will turn into yeses because our school children public school children in this county need your
support, your help, and we're here to help you provide that. We want you to understand that we appreciate your work. We know that you have things that you want to do. You have a vision. We wanna help you make that vision come true. Whatever that we can do as a local NAACP branch, we're here to help you forge ahead. And I thank you for your time. Thank you, sir. Bye. On charter schools. Yes. Yes. Charter schools. I, don't want to bore you with statistics. The gentleman in before me, number one, said lot of the same things that I
was gonna say even though I know that you already know these statistics, but we wanted to remind you. So I would just get to the point. I'm here to respectfully request that you vote no for the charter schools. As a retired teacher, retired educator, administrator, former school board member, I have seen the effects of charter schools.
Statistics shows that five years is a lifespan of most of the schools. I have observed the shortcomings of them and even the ones that are that are established with good intentions, which I believe that these, good people have, they still fail. Despite the great intentions, hard work, and dedication, there are numerous challenges for our students
and their families beyond their control. I believe that we should not jeopardize or even chance the education of our students in the hope that this one just might work. What we have in Jackson Madison County Public Schools, we see the strides that you are making. We have lots of opportunities and options for the children. You know and I know that there have been stellar people who have graduated from
public schools. So once again, I just ask that we don't chance take a chance in our on our kids, and they fail when we know that we have what works. So I leave you with this question. What are we trying to fix when we are already doing a stellar job? And I know that you continue to work on improvement. So please vote no. Thank you.
Thank you, ma'am. Excuse miss Victoria Toon. Good evening. Tonight, you will make a very important decision. I hope you will vote no on the charter application. If you approve the application for the Jackson Museum School, That decision will impact our families and our community's social emotional well-being for a very long time. As a retired professional school counselor from this district, I am aware of the tremendous wrap around resources utilized by our students and families.
Our district understands that we must teach the whole child and most days our students and families have a crisis. There is always a parent or student who will share with us, there is not enough food in somebody's house today. The lights are off in somebody's house today or there was a a shooting in the neighborhood the night before. Our school district, this district has a tremendous fast acting system to respond to our
students and families in crisis. The team of counselors. Our school system has prioritized our students mental health and understands that underserved communities benefit the most from these additional wrap around resources that are built within our system. A vote to approve the museum charter will certainly disrupt the progress and stability that is available to, to our most vulnerable students. The needs are being met right here in our school district.
Now there may or may not be many people present tonight from the East Jackson community, but I am East Jackson. I am proudly East Jackson. And most of my work in the district has been with East Jackson students and families. I'm dependent on you to vote our best interest. Think big about the needs of the needy and deny the application. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Next name is Tina Marsher. Good evening. Good evening. I don't know many of y'all.
I'm Tina Mercer, and I am a member of the Jackson Mountain County Education Foundation. I am speaking in opposition of the charter school today, but I wanna first say that I am not in opposition of charter schools. I actually worked with the charter school before in Memphis. Charter schools have a good model in some instances depending on where they are. This board and this community is seeing results from this school system. Graduation rates, TCAP scores, scholarships, we're seeing results from this administration.
We're seeing results from you guys supporting doctor King. And thank you, passport chair James Johnson for your leadership in being instrumental with bringing doctor King here. All the things that you have voted on, all the moving parts that we're seeing are some results, especially with the morale of teachers, the morale of the administration, and the students. We're seeing results and distinctive and definitive changes. With the obvious discourse with the museum school that we talked about in the last
school board meeting in terms of their building, in terms of transportation, in terms of you being able to feed the children properly, sports. We saw some of the same parallel distinctions with American classical. My issue is not with charter schools and not with the fact that you're doing such a great job. What students are we willing to sacrifice and give them a disservice from a quality education? This is a start up school, and we wanna make sure that they're going from one parallel type of environment to another.
If we're seeing the same type of definitive issues in both schools, I don't have a problem with that. But what we've seen from the past application and from the rubric because that's the that's going to be the deciding factor anyway, with the state hands down and based on the rubric. But what we don't what children are we willing to sacrifice as guinea pigs to go to a system that they might not get the same quality education that they're receiving here? So when you vote today, I want you to think about the disservice that you may be doing and what children are we willing to sacrifice, leaving a stable environment
to an unstable one. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Nixon, I do apologize. I think it's Austin Goodman? Goodman? Oh, Caitlin. Caitlin. I really missed that one. I am so sorry. You get a little squirmy sometimes. Good afternoon. I'm Caitlin Goodman. Thank you for this opportunity to speak today. I, have been honored to be a part of the proposed board, for directors of Jackson Museum School, where I would be leading the marketing and community engagement. I was asked to serve in this role because of my background in creative, strategy. So sorry.
A community focused communication, skills. I've presented in years of, building and, I believe, are just as important in education as they are in business. But more than anything, I'm here as a mother. My oldest child is currently a student at Jackson Madison County School System, and, my youngest will start pre k in the district this fall. When, Jackson Museum School opens, I would plan to enroll my youngest. Even though my oldest will have, aged out, but, truly, I believe in what the school stands for.
Reason being, both of my children learn in different ways. My oldest child has a visual processing disorder and uses a five zero four plan to support, although we still continue to to struggle with grasping the fundamentals of literacy. My youngest is full of energy and, with endless curiosity. He is the kind of child that needs to move and explore, and learn by doing. Typically sitting behind a desk 70 per 75% of the day isn't how, his mind works best and how he is going to learn. Parenting them has shown me, something that is so important, and it's that that two
children, do not learn the same way, or no two children, excuse me, do not learn the same way. And I believe our public schools can embrace this. I also speak from personal experience. Growing up, I struggled in traditional classrooms. I often felt lost until I found music and art. That's where I, became, who I am today, and I've seen how the arts can open up a child's mind in confidence. That is where, that drew me to the Jackson Museum School. It doesn't just treat the arts as an extra. It actually makes it a part of how the kids think, feel, and learn.
And that's the that's where real meaningful education, I feel, begins. Jackson Museum School isn't just a new name. It's a new way to think about public education. It's still public. It's still tuition free built, but but it's built around creativity, curiosity, and student led discovery. The kind of learning that prepares a child not just for tests but for life. Even if neither of my children would would attend, this school, I would still be here today Because I believe that every child deserves the access to any public school
that they choose, that they feel best, that will, see them for who they are, support them for what they need, and help them thrive the best way possible. Thank you. Next is miss Sheila Godwin. Good good afternoon. Good evening. My position on this, on Charter Stills at this at at this point, I'm I'm asking you to vote no. At this point, from working in the school systems, working with kids, disadvantaged kids, and kids that are from poverty stricken areas, At this point, I think that they don't
need any more, disruption. I believe that Trump is already disrupting our public school system by way of wanting to to dissolve the state board of education, Tennessee State Board of Education, as well as the state charter commission has has changed some of their, some things to force you guys to even though if you say no, that in three years after if
if applicant applies three times and you deny them, they can okay give them support for five years. So I'm saying that you need to put your boots on the ground. And you the kids' lives are at risk. We're already doing a great job, a super job here in Madison County. Madison County is under the spotlight for the work that they are doing. Teachers are working hard. We also already have programs at at schools like Lincoln where you have community partners
working with the kids. Why do you wanna disrupt that at this point? You do not. You really do not. So I don't wanna do repetitious and repeat what other people have said, but I'm asking you to keep your boots on the ground. Do not vote at this point for charter schools. We're not ready. The kids, the African American kids are not ready. How many African American parents do you see in here? How many African American parents in in that area have you seen Say Something? How how many times have they went over in their community?
You don't see any African American kids. You don't see the parents. So don't vote for something and they're not prepared and they're not ready, especially on a project that's starting new. I'm asking you to please not vote for Charter Stills at this time. Thank you. Thanks, mister Claudette Brown. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I come to you as a taxpayer, a granddaddy, a county commissioner. And I'd like to let you know what forty seven years of evolution in our
county school system has evolved too. I've had zero complaints about anything with regard to our school system this year. In the last three years, in concert with the state, nothing but accolades, salutes because of the vision, the innovations, and the initiatives taken by the school system.
As a commissioner, I also take and look at the dark side of the story. Because you see, I've been to the valley and I've also been to the mountain top, but now I see the promised land. I see what you and our superintendent have provided to us in a broad based education. Choices. I salute my I salute you as school board members because, the the the visionary can't can't do it without the policy makers walking in step with them. The county commission are exercising themselves as constitutionalists.
They're not it's trying to change the constitution with their opinion and their personal desires. But the constitution says to the county commission Tennessee constitution is that the county commission shall provide funding for public schools in Descede County. I'm proud of Madison County. I'm proud of the people who have moved here because of the school system that we now have. Look at our community last three to four years.
You seen faces at at at Kmart and everywhere else that didn't stay here? I am proud of the school boards, especially last couple before you. They weathered the storm. They stood on principle rather than opinion. I trust that you preserve this school system as it is. Everybody has a choice. When I chose to move to Madison County, I chose the Jackson Madison County School System, and we're proud of it. Let's keep it that way. Next up on our list is, doctor Jean Littles on GMS. Good evening. I am doctor Jean Littles, as you already know.
I I've had quite a bit of time to prepare a closing statement, but in hearing the comments tonight, I think I'm just gonna speak from the heart, if that's okay. Every person who has come up here, we wanna work with them. The concerns that people have brought, we hear those concerns, and we do feel that we've taken every effort to be, a partner to doctor King, to this board. We do think that an authorization on the local level is the way to have
that partnership. And just to speak to experience and guinea pig, you know, there's there's really two types of charter schools that can come in. And whether we kind of like it or not, charter schools are a part of the educational landscape in Tennessee. And so that's going to be a choice that some people are going to ask for, and it's a way to bring in a new innovative, design, a new innovative model to, a particular city. So speaking on those terms, you know, the two types of charter schools, there's one
that's a community backed board, that's a community grassroots level. Typically, those are people who have not actually created a charter school before. Now granted, we do have a lot of experience. I have a lot of experience in school leadership. In fact, I think my statistics speak for themselves. Not only have I worked in West Tennessee for about twenty years, I won an award in Kentucky for the work that I did at the school where I actually graduated. Carr Elementary is a school that is, very small.
It's a turnaround model, and it is 70%, underserved students, minority students, students, 94% high poverty, twenty percent of the students were identified on the spectrum. So within two years, my team was able to take them from the bottom 5% in the state on achievement scores to average. You don't normally celebrate average, but if you were in the bottom 5%, you do. We were also able to take a teacher retention rate that was below 50%, which means the next year, over half those teachers were not coming back.
It was that rough. And then we were able within two years to get that to around 90%. All of that's verifiable through the state report card on Kentucky side. So I do have experience in working with, all types of students, diverse students, students, EL students, special ed students. I mean, you name it. My heart has been in working with those students that a lot of other people do not wanna work with. So I also have the results that show that school leadership and a teamwork approach and the model that we've done, quite a bit of research on, which I also
wanna say how much I appreciate the time that you've taken to look at that model and your also your charter application review team, in scoring it the way that they did, which speaks to me that the model is very strong. Thank you, doctor Linn. Thank you so much. Next one, agenda is the resolution of a Jackson Museum Charter School. Mister Thomas, I see you got a bottle of water that's great. I'm gonna read the proposed resolution. This is a resolution denying charter school amended application submitted by Jackson Museum School.
Whereas, pursuant to Tennessee Public Charter Schools Act of twenty o two, the Jackson Masset County Board of Education has received a completed charter application from the Jackson Museum School on 02/01/2025, the application, whereas the Board appointed a review team to assist in reviewing and evaluating the application whereas on 04/14/2025, the Board received the report from the review
team and discussed the The Board 108, the Board reviewed and considered the application, the
Tennessee Charter Application Scoring Criteria, the statutory requirements of the Act, and the concerns raised by Board members during the meeting and in prior discussions. And in the interest of public transparency and a clear understanding of the proposal, the Board granted the applicant an opportunity to appear before the Board to address unresolved concerns in certain critical areas that were only partially met, concerns which contributed to the reviews team's decision to reject the application. Whereas, on 04/30/2025, the Board found the application partially met the standards established by the
Tennessee Department of Education and the Board. However, additional information and clarification were needed in key areas to determine whether a proposed charter school is in the best interest of Jackson County School System, its students, and the community, and therefore the Board, by resolution, denied the application. Whereas, on 05/29/2025, the Jackson Museum School submitted its amended application to the Board. Whereas, on 07/07/2025, the Director of Schools presented the Board with a report outlining his
comments and concerns with the amended application and his recommendation to deny the amended application, as in his opinion, approval of the amended application was not in the best interest of the students, the district, or the community. Whereas on 07/07/2025, after the review team's careful review and evaluation of the amended application, the Chairperson of the duly appointed Charter Review Team presented the Board with a report outlining the review team's concerns with the amended application and its scoring of the amended
application using the Tennessee Charter School application scoring criteria provided by the Tennessee Department of Education. And the review team's findings on the standards and parameters provided in the state law and regulations were as follows: Section one, academic plan and design 1.1, school mission and goals meets or exceeds 1.2, academic focus and performance standards partially meets standard 1.3 Assessments Meets or Exceeds Standard 1.4
School Calendar and Schedule Meets or Exceeds Standard 1.5 Recruitment and Enrollment Meets or Exceeds Standard 1.6. Parent and Community Engagement and Support meets or exceeds standard 1.7. School Culture and Discipline meets or exceeds standard 1.8. Special Population partially meets standard 1.9 Conversion Charter School Planning Section two Operations Plan and Capacity Evaluation 2.1
Governance Meets or Exceeds Standard 2.2, Facilities meets or exceeds standard 2.3, Start up plan meets or exceeds standard 2.4, Personnel and Human Capital partially meets standard 2.5 Professional Development partially meets standard. 2.6 Transportation meets or exceeds standard. 2.7 Additional Operations meets or exceeds standard 2.8 charter management organizations not applicable 2.9
network vision, growth plan and capacity not applicable 2.1 network governance not applicable 2.11 Network Management and Personnel not applicable 2.12 School Replication not applicable Section three Financial Plan and Capacity Evaluation 3.1 Operating Budget meets or exceeds standard 3.2 Operating Budget narrative partially meets standard 3.3 Network Financial Plan not applicable Whereas on 07/10/2025, after thoroughly considering the amended application, the
requirements of the act, the recommendation of the director of schools, the commentsconcerns of the charter review team, the scoring of the amended application, the comments of Board members, and the comments of members of the public. The Board voted to deny the amended application. Therefore, be it resolved by the Board that the amended application of the Jackson Museum School is hereby denied for the following reasons: Paragraph one: The Jackson Museum School has failed to provide sufficient evidence to meet or exceed the standards established by the Tennessee
Department of Education's Charter School Application Scoring Criteria in all areas for Academic Plan and Design Operations Plan and Capacity, Section II Financial Plan and Capacity Evaluation, Section III, as follows: a. The academic plan and design fails to meet or exceed the standards because: one. Placement based education is relied upon as a key modality of instruction, although limited research
has been conducted using this teaching strategy. And there are challenges noted on how this specific environment hinders the teaching and learning process. Further research indicates that many of the PBE programs lack a critical dimension focusing solely on improving educational achievements. Research further indicates that the implementation of PBE as a barrier based on limitations because of standard based learning and test based accountability measures. And then a reference is cited.
Two, intervention and enrichment is stated as a twenty minute rotation, and this plan does not meet the response to intervention, Tennessee RTI requirement for literacy and math. Three, the implementation plan for providing specialized services for unique learning needs is vague and does not address how specifically designed instruction and related services will be effectively provided for with students with significant disabilities. B. The operations plan and capacity fails to meet or exceed the standards because: one.
The staffing plan is insufficient as the CEO, lead founder, and principal is responsible for most tasks in the staffing of Jackson Museum School, with additional staffing support not being added until years three-five, and only one part time academic coordinator special education position is added in year zero to help with start up. Two, the professional development plan is inadequate. As professional development topics are indicated to be facilitated by the assistant principal, however, the
position of assistant principal is not funded until year five. Three, while the amended application added a random list of topics for professional development, there is no strategic plan outlined for delivering professional development that is unique to the needs of the staff and students, and there is no accountability for its implementation. C. The financial plan and capacity fails to meet or exceed the standards because: one. The proposed operational budget raises several significant concerns regarding financial viability, accuracy of assumptions and
adequacy of support for key student populations. Two, the budget relies heavily on unsecured external funding sources, including grants, philanthropic donations, and federal funding. The uncertainty of these revenue streams, without documented commitments, pose a substantial risk to the school's sustainability. Three. The budget included federal funding projections for Title I and Title III based on the total projected enrollment, rather than realistic estimates of the percentage of students who will qualify
for Title I and Title III funding. It is not reasonable to assume a 100% poverty rate or a 100% English language learner student population, as these assumptions significantly inflate the projected revenues. Four, the budget underfunds And benefits in the salary line and does not provide sufficient detail regarding allocations for benefits or future staffing needs. Five, the budget estimates securing a building at $9 to $12 per square foot, despite
much higher current market values in the area. This discrepancy without evidence of a facility agreement or detailed justification raises serious questions about the viability of the school's facility plan and its budget. Six. In general, the fiscal condition as outlined in the budget narrative lacks a clear cost structure and sustainable financial plan. Two, the approval of the amended application is not in the best interest of the students, the district, or the community.
For all the reasons outlined in the Director of Schools' report to the board dated 07/07/2025, which is attached here to as exhibit a to the resolution. In accordance with with TCA forty nine three one zero eight, in the rules of the State Board of Education, the Jackson Museum School will shall have ten calendar days to appeal the board's decision to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. Adopted and approved this July 2025, exhibit a is doctor King's report that he, provided
to the board at the work session on Monday night. Sir? I have a motion to approve the resolution denying charter school amended application submitted by Jackson Museum School. Mister chairman. Yes, sir. I'd like to, make a motion that, we approve the resolution denying, the charter school. Second. Discussion. Mister chairman? Yes, sir. Can we get clarification on just what a yes vote or a no vote means? Yes, sir. I was gonna do that.
If we vote yes on this, we are saying we're denying the application. If you vote no on the resolution, you're saying that we are accepting Jackson Museum School. Correct? That's correct. K. A yes is a approval resolution. Denying the first school application. A no is a, is not approving the resolution denying the first school school application. Yes, sir. Any more discussion? We're good. Mister chairman? Yes, sir. I appreciate being a part of this process.
I think it's government, it's community at its best. Very weighty discussions and people on both sides who believe sincerely what they've said and just hold different opinions. I'm proud of the work we've done and continue to do, and I'm excited about the options offered in Jackson Madison County School District and my small part as a member of this board. All of that being said, it's been refer reference to what the state of Tennessee is imposing in terms of a limit on how many denials we can issue as
board And whether that's right or wrong or whatever agenda is behind that, it's what we are held to at this point. With more charter applications promised in the future, I have no doubt there'll be an application at some point that I just cannot vote to accept, and a program that would not, be conducive to academics learning, participation, or ideals of civic, engagement growth or
patriotism even in our schools and in our community. So this is not that charter school, that I can say I'm willing to, risk my no vote or my disapproval of rather. And so in spite of, all the, concerns, this is one that I'm willing to take a chance on. And so I'll be voting against the resolution to deny, and hope that we can
work together, to see this succeed. Thank you, sir. Anybody else? Mister chair. Yes, ma'am. I speak on behalf of the East Jackson community as a, school board member, District 6, position 1. I speak as a member of, this great community in which I serve. I speak as a student in the Jackson School System, before consolidation and a graduate, my children as well. I speak for the future of my grandchildren who attend Jackson Madison County School Systems
now. And I speak, to the audience, to everyone listening that, we have a great system here at Jackson Madison County School System. And, the the possibility of a a charter school coming into our community is really a disservice to us because we don't know you. Taking a chance on our children is something that I'm not, welcoming at all for
my community. Feeling that, we can do half of it right now and we do a little bit more as we go on is still a disservice to our community. There's never been any talks. There has been some emails that I received and there were some family members that were added in these emails that were fraudulent, that were sent to me personally. And those people can be, named as well. So I'm disturbed in those emails that were saying yes to this charter school because
those people did not send those emails, and there were over three that I can vouch for and they can vouch for themselves. So that's kind of disturbing to me that someone would go to those lengths to get some emails sent, and it wasn't the community people who sent those. That's disturbing to me. So I wanna say today that I do vote, in favor of of denying this Charter Museum to come in my community in which I serve these people well.
I love this community, and I'll fight for them in the best professional way possible to make sure we make the best decisions for them. And I stand by doctor King and his administration highly because we have something great here. Amazing. Thank you, chair. Thank you, ma'am. Anyone else? Miss Mitrice, please do a roll call. Yes, sir. Sir. Before before we do that, just to recap. Mhmm. Yes. You're voting to deny the application. A no. You're voting to ex to accept them as a charter school.
Miss Demetrius, please. Harvey Walden? Yes. Shane Lawrence? Yes. Andre Darnell? Yes. Debbie Gull? No. Glenn Gull? No. James Johnson? Yes. Andrew Givens Moore? Yes. And Marsha Moss? Yes. I believe it's six to eight. Yes. My motion carries. Next is the guaranteed Mexican price GMP of Central Administration. Do I have a motion? Mister chairman? Yes, sir. I move that we accept the GMP on Central Administration building provided by Lashley Rich
in the amount of $6,992,414. I second. Any discussion? I'd like to say I'm very excited about it, and I'd wait to get moved. It'd be wonderful. All in favor, please say yes. Yes, sir. All opposed, say no. Motion carries. The next is the fixed alternative salary schedule, LTS. I have a motion. Mister chairman? Yes, sir. I'd like to make a motion that we accept the, fixed alternative salary schedule that we have presented in our work session and is a part of our packet tonight.
Second. Second. All in favor say yes. Yes. All opposed say no. Motion passes. The last tonight is the superintendent evaluation instrument that we went through at our work session. Do I have a motion? Mister chairman? Yes, sir. I'd like to make a motion that we accept the, superintendent's evaluation instrument that was presented, by our attorney and approved by doctor King, in our work session. I second. All in favor say yes. Yes. All in favor say no. Motion carried.
Any comments when you want? Can I have a motion to adjourn? So moved. Second. Second. Let's go. You have a great night, and thank you so much for coming out tonight.