Wonderful Thanksgiving and ate enough turkey, and now ready to do your exercise before Christmas. Mister Jenkins, please take the roll. Board member McKissick? Present. Board member Garcia? Here. Board member Murphy? Excuse me. Board member Porter. Here. Board member Murphy? Present. Board member Love? Here. Board member Otey? Here. Alright. Board vice chair Coleman? Present. Board chair McKinney. Here. You have eight in affirmative. We have a quorum. Before we do the posting of the colors, I would like to, ask that after
that, we remain standing for a moment of silence. And this evening, we are honoring the memory of those who have recently lost loved ones, doctor Melita Thomas, who lost her father, doctor Lori Meeks, who lost her father, missus Kimmy Ingram, who lost her mother. So would you please stand for the posting of the colors? Please be seated. I would be remiss not to acknowledge that this is Wood Dale High School today, with the posting of the colors. We are now on the spotlight on the arts.
Mister Jenkins, please recognize the spotlight of the arts. Thank you, Jerm. Good evening, everyone. This year, we are proud to celebrate the incredible talent and creativity of our young artists. We are excited to announce that we are reinstituting the district holiday card contest, a tradition that highlights the artistic excellence found throughout our schools. Tonight, we are happy to share the results with you. The MSCS fine arts department would like to congratulate the following students, their teachers, and building leaders for winning awards in the MSCS holiday contest card contest.
Students and teachers, please come forward when your name is called and remain standing until all names have been called so we may recognize you together. If your building leader is present, we would like to have them stand to also be recognized for their support of the arts in their building. Our students succeed because of the priority you all place on the arts. We appreciate you, and we applaud these students for their accomplishment. Our elementary elementary winners, first place, Jay Wright, AB Hill Elementary. Fifth grade, art teacher, Valerie Gunn.
Second place, Alona Anderson. Peabody Elementary, fifth grade, art teacher, Jamie Hooper. Third place, Walker Green, Idle Elementary. Fifth grade, art teacher, Kelly Lindsey. Honorable mention, Genesis Reyes. Fifth grade, Fox Meadows, art teacher, Brianna Anderson. Our middle school winners, first place, Ashley Vasquez. Colonial Middle, seventh grade, art teacher, Shannon Murrah. Second place, Duvalier Martin, Colonial Middle. Seventh grade, art teacher, Shannon Murrah. Third place, Esther Zhang, White Station Middle.
Seventh grade, art teacher, Miranda Babier. Honorable mention, Avery Jordan Joyner, Colonial Middle. Sixth grade, art teacher, Shannon Murrah. High school winners, first place, Jesse, on one two. Germantown High, twelfth grade, art teacher, Ashley Gerst. Second place, Erilyn Smith, Whitehaven High School. Eleventh grade, art teacher, Sharon Milam. Third place, Max Stark, White Station High. Eleventh grade, art teacher, Tracy Peterson. Honorable mention, Kayla Lam, White Station High.
Tenth grade art teacher, Andrew Dicus. Everyone, please join us in recognizing the outstanding achievements of these students, their schools, and their dedicated teachers. Thank you. Congratulations, students. Congratulations. Next, we want to highlight and congratulate our district choral programs that have participated in the all Southwest Tennessee senior and junior high honor choir auditions, rehearsals, and a cumulative concert. Of the 440 musicians selected from participating in Shelby County public, municipal, private, and charter
schools, MSES has a total of 116 students. We have 76 in the senior high honor choir and 40 in the junior high honor choirs. These students represent the following programs, Central High, Ontario's Woodland, Colonial Middle, Sherry Miles, Cordova High, Adrian Macklin, Cordova Middle, Jordan Smith, Douglas High, Queen McClain, Germantown High, Rosalind Lake, John p Freeman, Marcus King, Overton High, Quentin Rayford, Ridgeway High, Brianca Kimbrough, Ridgeway Middle,
Kennedy Dickens, Snowden Middle, Dasia McNeil, Southwind High, Dre Pinson, Whitehaven High, Greer Williams, White Station High, Daniel Massey, White Station Middle, Caroline Phillipsburg. Now we will hear from the combined schools of the senior high honor choir performing Mark Butler's sign of the judgment. Roselyn Lake. Oh, Germantown. Dre Pinson, Southwind High School. Quentin Raiford, Overton High School. Ontario, Switzerland Central High School. Adrian Macklin Cordova High School. Alright. That's amazing.
You all, that's what I'm talking about. The students being supported by our amazing teachers. So I cannot stress how important that is, and I know the board feels the same way. So thank you again. That was incredible. Just what we needed. So the next item of business is special recognition and presentations. Mister Jenkins, please announce the special recognitions. Okay. For board member, Otey, we have miss Patty Farmer. Miss Patty Farmer is an incredibly dedicated PTO president whose hard work and heart have
made a true difference in our school community. She continually goes above and beyond to support our students, staff, and families. And her leadership and kindness strengthen our school in meaningful ways. We are grateful for all she does for our community. Okay. Next, we have Hope and Him mentorship program. Morning Chapel Hill Baptist hosts a program and provides mentoring for male scholars in grades six through eight at Cordova Middle School. The support services they offer include transporting students to sports activities, providing financial support for
various school events, and offering after school tutoring and mentorship. Board members, if you would please remain in place. During fall break, Memphis Shelby County Schools continued our tradition of the Soaring Sight Words Challenge, an exciting literacy initiative designed to support and celebrate our pre k through third grade scholars. Students were challenged to recite and identify their grade level sight words as they rose to the occasion with confidence and creativity. What makes this challenge even more special is that our families participate alongside their children.
Sharing why literacy is important in their homes and helping us reinforce the reading truly begins with strong family engagement. We are proud to showcase their work. Check out this video here. Hi. My name is Alright.
Parents and students, as I call your names, please come down. Jasmine Wade from Graham Wood Elementary. Arwan Seja from White Station Elementary. Zaria Smith from Garden View Elementary. Hakeem Jones from Idlewild Elementary. Natalia Sims from White Station Elementary. And Zena Lewis from Chimney Rock Elementary. Congratulations to each of our winners and their families. Your dedication to reading reminds us that when families and schools partner together, literacy soars.
Thank you. In 2425, Memphis Shelby County Schools earned an advancing designation from the Tennessee Department of Education. This is the second highest designation possible for school districts. The score used to determine this designation placed the district in the middle third of all school districts in the state. I want to first say congratulations. MSCS continues to grow forward, driven by purpose rooted in belief and focused on outcomes
for students. This year, our district earned an advancing rating, Tennessee's second highest accountability distinction, marking our third advancing designation in four years. This progress reflects disciplined work, strong leadership, and a shared commitment to excellence across our schools. Tonight, we're proud to recognize three groups that helped to make this momentum possible. Schools that moved from TSI to good standing, schools that exited CSI status, and our
reward schools for the twenty twenty four twenty five school year. At this time, we invite our reward school leaders to come forward so that they may be recognized. But before before, congratulations to our comprehensive support and improvement exit schools, CSI exit schools, which are Freedom Prep Elementary Park Rose. If you're here, come down. Georgian Hills Elementary, Holmes Road Elementary, Journey Coleman k eight, and Treadwell Middle School.
All of those schools exited comprehensive support and improvement. We are very proud of you. We wanna do our CSI schools first. CSI first. CSI first. Come on down. CSI. Next, congratulations to our schools that moved from targeted support and improvement, TSI, to good standing. Those schools are Bill Forrest Community School, Circles of Success Learning Academy, Cromwell Elementary, Downtown Elementary, Cape Bon Elementary, Keystone Elementary, Memphis Merritt Academy, Memphis School of Excellence Elementary, Southern
Avenue Charter School, and the Tresvent High School. Please come on down. Congratulations. And last but not least, congratulations to our reward schools. As I call your names, please come down. Balmoral Ridgeway Elementary, Brownsville Road Elementary, Cherokee Elementary, Chimney Rock Elementary, Compass Burke Claire, Compass Frasier, Compass Hickory Hill, Delano Elementary, Freedom Prep Mill Branch, Georgian Hills Middle, Germantown High,
Hawkins Mill Elementary, Jackson Elementary, Journeys East Academy, Kingsbury Elementary, KIPP Memphis Collegiate Elementary, Maxine Smith Steam Academy, Medical District High, MBA Hickory Hill Elementary, MBA Hickory Hill Middle, MBA Middle, Memphis Grizzly Prep, Memphis Steam Academy, Middle College High, Oak Haven Elementary, Oakshire Elementary,
Parkway Village Elementary, Perea Elementary School, Power Center Academy Elementary Southeast, Power Center Academy High School, Power Center Academy Middle, Richland Elementary, Riverwood Elementary, Sheffield Elementary, Shelby Oaks Elementary, South Wind Elementary, Springdale Elementary, Star Academy, Will Station Elementary, West Haven Elementary, White Station Elementary, White Haven Elementary, White Haven High School, and Windridge Elementary.
Congratulations to all our reward schools. Board members, that's that's all you can return to your seats. Again, I wanna thank principals and just remind them, you all are the greatness that grows here. Thank you for your leadership. Hold on. When it gets I also would like to thank the Yes Foundation and the Newman family for a wonderful MLK tournament at Hamilton High School this past weekend.
We also appreciate our board members who joined us as we passed out checks to our student athletes and scholars. Special thanks to Cigna, who was a sponsor, City of Memphis, and the Memphians for helping to make the weekend meaningful. We also enjoyed stopping by the Whitehaven, tree lighting this weekend, and it was a honor to attend the naming ceremony for reverend Matthews of New Hope at the performing arts center at Fairley High School. He celebrated more than fifty six years of service to the community and thirty five
years of working with Memphis City Schools. This is truly remarkable. I also wanna thank our FACE department. As you all know, they've conducted several food pantries. I wanna thank them and let them know I appreciate what they're doing to support our community. They also supported operation warm hearts today. And again, thank you to everyone in the community who came out to support these events. There is so much greatness that grows right here in Memphis. Thank you. Thank you, doctor Richmond.
The next item of business is the approval of the agenda. Are there any amendments? Yes, madam chair. I'd like to add from the floor, the 2025 LEA compliance report. Also, the MOU, the memorandum of understanding with MSCA and TEA. Also, we'd like to add an item for Treadwell Middle School Kids First high doses tutoring services for ELA and math and last but not least a donation acceptance from ServiceMaster Facilities Maintenance for winter clothing for our winter clothing initiative they, donated $20,000 today
for our operations, warm heart. We'd like to add those items. Alright. And I see board member Murphy. Yes, madam chair. I would like to pull item number 1321, a contract approval for ABM Industries Group. We're we're coming to that when we get to the consent agenda. Just remind me when we get there. I'd also like to add the resolution delegating authority to the superintendent to pursue an advanced legislative proposals. Board members, these items were, sent to you earlier today, and they are they will be uploaded once we have a vote.
If there's no objection, the agenda will be approved by general consent. Donation. No. Okay. We can add them if if there's no objective to adding them. When we add them, then if someone has questions, we can talk about it at that time. Okay? So is there any objection to adding this to the agenda? There being no objection, we'll, we'll approve by general consent, mister Jenkins. Please, I need a motion to approve no. Oh, general I'm sorry. Mister, Jenkins never mind.
Thank you. The agenda is approved. Next on our agenda is the public comment. In accordance with state statute, the board shall reserve a period for public comment during business and special called meetings. Only those members of the public who submit public comment cards to the board chairman prior to the commencement of this meeting shall be permitted to address the board. Public comments will proceed in the order in which public comment cards are received. A sign up sheet for public comment is available thirty minutes prior to each applicable meeting and will be closed at the start of the meeting.
This sign up sheet is located at the entryway table just past the security checkpoint. Speakers must state their name, organization he or she is representing, if any, and the subject of their comment before they are permitted to proceed. Speakers may offer objective comments about school operations and programs that concern them. Speakers are asked to address the board and not individual board members, given that we make decisions as a body and to refrain from using names of personnel or names of persons connected with the school system, particularly when lodging a complaint.
Speakers will not be permitted to engage in gossip, make defamatory comments, or use abusive or vulgar language. The chairperson shall have the authority to terminate the remarks of any individual who is disruptive or does not adhere to the board rules regarding public comment. We have 10 speakers. The time that you that you'll be allowed is projected on the screen. Alright. That'll be, a minute and a half. I'm gonna call three names at a time, and if you all will come forward
when I call your names. And in that order, I have Mark Williams, Reggie Eskridge, and Latasha Griggs. Mark Williams. 47 North 5th Street, Shelby County Youth Council. Good afternoon. My name is Mark Williams. I'm the Shelby County Youth Council district ten youth representative and MSCS student congressmen. I am here today to state the crisis that is silent yet profoundly damaging, The youth mental health crisis in Shelby County. The impact is felt directly in our schools. Mental health issues hinder academic performance, increased absenteeism, and more.
The vast majority of youth are completely unaware of the free mental health service available to them at YouthConnect. They are suffering because they have no information. As an MSCS student congressman as well as the SCYC rep, I have seen issues that contribute to mental health issues. A big problem that contributes to mental health issues is classwork and homework loads, which take a time on a student's, toll will take a toll on student's time. However, they're ear more. MSCS has been making strides towards youth mental health. Credit is due where credit is due. A great and bold step is the youth mental health council.
However, more action is needed. Our youth are suffering right now and need support at a critical time. My call to action is simple and powerful. Take notice of these issues and work with groups such as SCYC and other groups that are committed to solving this youth mental health crisis in Shelby County. Now is the time to have intergenerational collaboration and commitment across the board so that our youth can prosper. Thank you. Reggie Eskridge. 4077 North 5th Street.
Good evening. My name is Reggie Eskridge, and I'm the youth engagement coordinator for the Shelby County Youth Council. And I'm coming before you all to speak on behalf of Shelby County Youth Council to thank you again for your compute, continued support of our council as well as the work in supporting young people, especially with our campaign this year around addressing youth mental health. Over the course of this semester, our youth council members have been able to gather responses from over 235 Shelby County youth to learn more about the youth mental health landscape from their perspectives. We have then analyzed those responses along with data that was gathered by community partners
and stakeholders, such as Alliance and Youth Connect within the Youth and Family Resource Center. Mark, who just spoke, shared with you just some of our findings. In order to find out more details about the work that we've done, I would like to invite you to our youth power showcase, which will be on December 18 from 04:30 to 06:30, where there, Shelby County Youth Council, along with many other youth councils and other youth groups, will be showcasing the results of the work that they've been working on this entire semester in far greater detail. And will be it'll be open to the public where community members, as well as
elected officials, will be able to see the different work that many of our brilliant minds have been able to put together. Thank you for your time, and I hope that you'll be able to hear more about our campaign at the youth power showcase. And in in addition, I would like to also extend an invitation to our youth voice summit that SDYC puts on in the spring. Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Latasha Prive. My address is 1531. So I was gonna say one thing, but I'm a address this because I wouldn't be me if I did. As a public official, I will hold you all. Can you hear me?
Okay. I would as a public official, I would expect that certain people will act accordingly. Now me being me, I feel like if I'm a person of constituent in the community and I pay some of your taxes well, I pay your paycheck. Why you can't sit down and listen to criticism? Because if if you, miss chairman, had to criticize me as a woman, I will stand there and listen. I don't play that. They talking about my child because one thing about it, I got a child with
a disability. I have come here two years and they wrote about my child, and I received the services and whatever is going on at school. I've come here. But one thing I don't do, I don't use my child as a crutch. I don't do that. Now I don't understand what's going on, but I don't understand how somebody wanna stay in the seat, but they can't stay their ass in the seat. I like to remind people not to use abusive language or vulgar language, please.
Next, this is Kiara McGee, Mikayla Pogue, and Danette is that Esquivel? I'm sorry. I can't read that. Esquire? Is it Danette Esquire? Hopefully, she'll come. Okay. Go ahead. My name last name, McGee. My address is 120 Codewell Avenue. Where is the business the budget for what the government has given?
Because the ADA says that deaf students are supposed to be educated with an interpreter. They must know before, like, what they're supposed to have. Like, for instance, there were kids here singing today, and there's no access. There's no access provided specifically for the deaf. Like, we don't know the budgets. The parents don't even know what's going on. We want to see what is being given. Also the disability, the computer technology.
How are they supposed to understand the language and how does it match the deaf department? Also, where's the access for ramps? Like, if we have deaf blind come in, there's nothing friendly for them. Deaf friendly. Also, note, we want to know information about, like, how can we know information beforehand and what's required, and, you know, the budget of what the ADA requires. I just feel like you all are ignoring us.
Also, staff, like it's required for the students to have that. And that is it. Mikayla Pogue. 2737 K. Fawn Road. I've been a member of my school's student council for all three years I've been in middle school. In those three years, I've gained experiences and memories I will never forget. Two weeks ago, my council and I hosted a regional workshop we had been planning for months. And on that long awaited day, I walked up on stage and worked to help manage over 300 kids who came from schools, private and public, coming from miles away
for over three hours of friendship, learning, and inspiration with fun that topped it all. Seeing it all come together reminded me why I chose student leadership. Leading to me isn't just titles and ribbons, but a chance for me to do things I could have never dreamed of doing before. I know personally how my student council has shaped kids into confident and thoughtful leaders, not just in their own school, but our district and across our state. Because leading is the most versatile tool in my toolbox and one I hope to
pass on before the end of this year. I feel that the more kids that are able to experience what I did, the more impactful leaders we will have in the future. Thank you for listening me thank you for listening to me today. Have a good evening. Dana Esquivel. 7531 Hello. Good morning to everyone. My name is Dana Esquivel, and today, the topic of my speech is student leadership. Student leadership is something that all of us have experienced at some point, and it shapes the way people see us and how much they trust and respect us. But, what is leadership?
A dictionary would describe it as the action of leading a group, but to me, leadership is much more than that. Leadership is the moment you decide to step up when others hesitate. It beats knowing who you are, what you stand for, and being willing to do what is right even when it is hard. Sometimes leadership looks like being brave even when you feel nervous. Other times it starts quietly by leading yourself first before trying to lead others. I believe a true leader isn't someone who controls people. A real leader is someone who is one for all, who understands and guides with
a tone of sincerity and their voice. Leadership is choosing kindness over cruelty even when it would be easier to ignore a situation. It means helping others succeed instead of only building yourself up. Student leadership could show up in everyday moments such as students who stand up for a classmate who is being bullied, someone who welcomes a new student who feels left out, or a person who leads with their actions, not a title. These actions could seem small to many, but they create a great positive change for school communities. Leadership is important because it reminds people that everyone of us has the ability to
make a difference. We don't need to wait for someone to tell us to lead. We can start by being responsible and making our own choices with courage. And every person in this room, including I'm gonna go ahead and call up the last four, Maud Beant, Bishop Charles Lampkin, Elizabeth Maribel, and Sola Adeyye. I may not be pronouncing that right.
Thank you. Maud Brians. 272737 Capon Road. Don't be asking your students to do something you're not willing to do yourself. Leadership comes in many forms. Our athletes are amazing. We cheer them on in state championships and rival grains with all our heart and soul and build strong bonds with competition. Our art students are seen and celebrated in competition, and the world knows of our creative and performing art strengths. Student leadership is slightly different. This group of students and their sponsors show up in often less visible ways.
They run school wide drives for food and supplies to assist their peers and friends. They find simple, meaningful ways to encourage the exhausted and worn out teachers. They help with every task, no matter how mundane a principal or the district asked them to assist with. This past month, there were two events in West Tennessee. One for high schoolers and one for middle schoolers. The Tennessee Association of Student Council held their national their regional meetings. We'd like to celebrate and thank Shelby County, Memphis Shelby County Schools for the support and assistance they provided. This year was huge.
We saw an increase in the attendance of MSCA students and schools as a result of your focus in this area. Students not only showed up at the events, but they showed out. As the host for the middle school meeting, they not only participated, they led. We want to thank you for the support you have shown, but we need even more to be able to continue to allow our students to meet and mingle with those across the state. When individuals do this as students, they become adults willing to tackle the difficult role of leadership. They will have empathy and the skills to solve local, regional, and national problems.
Differences do not restrict them, but empower them. I need a little support now because these eyes are not working the way they used to be. Charles Lampkin. 3711 Austin Peay Highway, Memphis 38128. I wanna speak briefly this evening about transparency, clear vision, and shared decisions. We're coming to the end of 2025. And as we get ready to cross over into 2026, we need to really be on one accord with regard to who we say we represent, which is our children.
The open, honest communication and visibility and decision making. I only wanna make these three points. I love to see a path shared by school policies, budgets, and decisions that clearly represent our kids, our community, our stakeholders, and our families. Engage continue to engage in clear forums where parents are able to understand what's going on and then give their opinion, just an opinion, as to what they think would
be would help this clear vision to go forward. And last but not least, engaging them and putting yourselves in a a position of accessibility so that when they reach out to board members and our superintendent, they will get a timely response. I think if we just try that, then that makes Amos three and three what it says. How can two walk together except they be in agreement? There is power in agreement. Have a blessed one.
Good evening. Members of the school board, interim superintendent, fellow educators most importantly, our students. My name is Elizabeth Maribel, 6263 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee. I stand before you as a proud educator that began work in this district in 1983, and more importantly today is the president of the United Education Association, affiliate of TEA and NEA, speak on the behalf of our children and our educators who show up every single day to teach, to learn, to mentor, to support despite the growing
challenges that public schools face every day, especially in urban areas throughout The United States. This evening, I want to express to you our deep appreciation for your decision to make educators a priority by signing the memorandum of understanding, the one document that establishes clear expectations for educators, principals, and district leadership. We value the collaboration and look forward to continuing our discussions in January around insurance, working conditions, fringe benefits, and last but never least, educator compensation.
On another note, our public schools remain under threat. You know what? I'm gonna close this. I'm just gonna speak to you from the heart tonight. We, as you all know, continue to be under threat. Memphis Shelby County Schools is not failing, and we need to share that message. The state of Tennessee, we got data tonight that shows we're not failing. We are starving. The money that we are sent is forty seventh in this country, and we're seeing a push, and we gotta stand up and push too.
We can no longer stand by and be quiet. We cannot be silent. We have to do like the rest of the country and push back. So our children, look at them tonight. They're not failing. They're thriving. Greatness really does grow here at Memphis Shelby County School. Thank you. Last but not least, we recognize the principals, and I know you care for the teachers and wanna recognize them, but I wanna speak to them because they're the ones that make the magic happen every day with our SCAs, our TAs, our mental health support, and everybody in those Hundred And 64 School Building.
We praise you. We thank you. We see you, and we deeply appreciate all of you. Thank you. We have it. Sola. Okay. Can we make sure that Sola Adeoye, it's a d e o y e, is not outside. Alright. We're gonna move on to the next item, approval of minutes of the previous meeting. So we have, approval 8.1, approval of the minutes of the 10/21/2025 work session meeting. They have been distributed and placed on board docs for public viewing.
Are there any corrections to the 10/21/2025 work session minutes? There being no corrections to the 10/21/2025 work session minutes, may we approve the minutes as distributed by general consent? Seeing no objection, we approve them by general consent. We'll move on to 8.2, which is the approval of the minutes for 10/28/2025 regular business meeting. They have been distributed and placed on the Memphis Shelby County Schools BoardDocs for public viewing. Are there any corrections to the 10/28/2025 regular business meeting minutes?
There being no corrections to the 10/28/2025 regular business meeting minutes, may we approve the minutes as distributed by general consent? Seeing general consent, we will move on. Those are approved. We will move on. So the next item of business, 8.3, approval of the minutes of the 11/18/2025 work session meeting. The minutes for the that meeting have been distributed and placed on the Memphis Shelby County School Board docs for public viewing. Are there any corrections to the 11/18/2025 work session minutes? There being no corrections to the 11/18/2025 work session minutes.
May we approve the minutes as distributed by general consent? There being no objection, the 11/18/2025 work session minutes are approved as distributed by general consent. The next item of business is approval of the minutes of the 11/18/2025 special call meeting. Those were also placed distributed and placed on the Memphis Shelby County Schools board docs for public viewing. Are there any corrections to the 11/18/2025 special call meeting minutes? There being no corrections to the 11/18/2025 special call minutes.
May we approve the minutes as distributed by general consent? There being no objection, the 11/18/2025 special call meeting minutes are approved and distributed by general consent. Alright. I would like to, if at all, I'd like to take this a little bit out of order. If there are no objections under item, 10, board chair's report, we'll do this one thing, and then we'll move back to the superintendent's recognition of grant and gift. You don't have okay. Well, we can we are you don't have any?
Alright. Then we'll move to reports. Please join me in wishing board superintendent has informed and I'm stating for the record that there are no recognitions of grants, gifts, and donations. Yes. Correct, madam chair. Thank you. Then we will move to 10 board chair's report. Please join me in wishing board vice chair Joyce Coleman a happy early birthday. Her birthday is on December 14. So could you please join us in serenading vice chair Joyce Coleman with a happy
birthday. Board member Murphy, can you lead us off, please? Mister Schultz not here. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear. Joyce, because it's your birthday, and we're doing it early. Happy birthday to you. Thank you. I just wanna say happy birthday. I I forgot to send my video in, but, you know, I I ties run deep. You know, she's been knowing me since I've been going to a tennis show.
We're joining her all the way through my Mero's day. So she's been always, like, the the second second mother to me. So, again, happy birthday. I also wanna share happy birthday. Gave me something I did not think about doing, which is a nice photo with my voice because I never got camera ready, and then I forgot. I'm so sorry. Happy birthday. You know I love you. Happy birthday, miss Joyce. Thank you. We have a happy early birthday to Karen Waters, executive admin administrative for the, board office.
She's the day after December 15. Happy birthday, Karen, if you're watching. Congratulations to mister Rishon Jenkins on defending his perspectives. Mister Jenkins will soon be doctor Jenkins. I just wanted to, say happy birthday to Karen, and I want to keep her in prayer as she is dealing with some things with her mom. So keep her in prayer as she continues to fight with her mom with her mom, but side by side with her. So she's not here because she's dealing with some things, but keep her in prayer. Thank you. Moving to the next thing.
I I know that doctor Richmond said this, talked about the MLK tournament this past weekend, but I wanted to to, on behalf of the board, extend our gratitude and recognition to the YES organization, which stands for youth engineered success, and the Robert Newman family for hosting the fifty fourth MLK Invitational Basketball Tournament. I think that is a half a century. Fifty fourth. Fifty fourth, y'all. Fifty fourth. I'm good. It was at Hamilton High School. For more than a half a century, this event has highlighted the athletic and academic
excellence of middle and high school girls and boys across MSCS and beyond. In partnership with Cigna, more than $25,000 was awarded to participating youth, including $1,000 scholarships for 23 high school students. Scholar athletes boasted GPS of up to five point o and ACT scores ranging from the mid twenties to a 32. I think we had two thirty twos. Congratulations, and thank you.
I also wanted to bring, to the the public's attention that board members participated in the TSBA fall conference this past November, where we attended multiple workshops, adopted the TSBA twenty twenty six legislative agenda, and we are proud to announce that our own very own board member, Michelle McKissick, has been elected vice president of the TSBA board of directors. Congratulations to board member Michelle Matyssek. Michelle, are you, like you're gonna be a first soon.
Correct? I I'm currently a first since I'm gonna play up the officer ranks, so we'll see if it gets to the big one. Okay. Alright. Thank you. There we go. We got a first sitting on the board. Good. Alright. The other thing that I wanted to bring to board members' attention according to, our policy zero zero two seven business systems review, the chair is responsible for establishing the dates for the business systems review conferences, and the board is tasked with approving the matrices for each business system as proposed by the superintendent. These proposed matrices have been provided for you for your review with approval scheduled for
next month. So that gives you some time to take a look at the matrices. You also have provided for you the schedule for the business systems review for 2026. And then finally, we are at the next item of business, which is the committee reports. We have the first committee, academic performance committee. Is there a report? Seeing no report, moving on to 10.3, budget, do you academics? No. Okay. 10.3, budget audit and finance committee report. Yes. Thank you. The the auto budget and finance committee met, prior to our work session earlier this
month. We just wanna share a few reminders that budget surveys are now live for parents, staff, and students. This feedback is gonna help us, guide our work as we begin preparing for our 2027 budget. So we encourage you all to participate. We do get all of those results, and, we take that into consideration as we're crafting the budget. Tonight, we're bringing forward the November 2025 budget amendment. As we discussed and we shared, you will see the the number differences will remind the public. This amendment is reducing the budget to match our finalized federal awards, amounts and removes
the state TISA portion that now goes directly to charter schools as required by the state. So we will bring that item tonight, but and I've discussed it, wanted to share that. But and then finally, for board members, as we're thinking about next year's budget, let's keep our shared priorities in mind, and as we move into the development process. So if you do have ideas and we're thinking about, going into 2026, please bring those, to our public meeting spaces. Thanks. Are there any questions?
Alright. Seeing no questions, moving on to the next committee meeting report, charter schools committee report. No report. Next, 10.5 community outreach and engagement committee report. Thank you, madam chair. First of all, I'd like to thank the SROs for the the work that you do. And so I just want to make sure that I say that to them to let them know that their work is not going unnoticed, that we do appreciate you. We see your hard work, and I know that sometime on a daily day basis, y'all have a hard task. And so we want to say thank you, and we appreciate you, and we appreciate
everything that you do. So thank you so much. And though if y'all see our s r o's, y'all give them a handshake, a hug, or tell them thank you so much for all that you do. Y'all heard that. Do I need to repeat it? No. No. I ain't gotta repeat it. Okay. Also, I wanted to thank Roslyn and the team, for going out into the communities and feeding our families. We know that this is a tough time for us throughout this season and this year. And so we have been going to different districts to feed the families in need at this time of year. And I think we got one in Whitehaven, if I'm not mistaken. Not yet? Okay.
So we're working on Whitehaven, but we have, we've been in different areas of the district feeding the families. We was just in Douglas last week. And so we appreciate you. We appreciate your hard work. I don't know if Roslyn is in here and if she wanted to add anything to it. Anybody seen Roslyn? Is she outside? Yeah. We're good. Let's We're good? Okay. If if we're good with that one, then we'll go back and follow-up with the Whitehaven one. So thank you so much. I think this concludes everything that I have for now. Thank you. Are there any questions? Seeing no questions, we're gonna move to the evaluation committee report.
Thank thank you. Just wanna share with the public and our particularly our employees, we we have a superintendent and formal review, timeline we discussed earlier this month. We're actually in, midway through that, timeline. We're in week four. So December. This Friday, teachers, principals, and central office staff, you have the opportunity to provide anonymous survey feedback to us as part of, to be considered as, and and taken into consideration by the board for the requested informal review for interim doctor Rich man.
We will, get a synthesis of those survey results, to the board, and we will also get the superintendent's self reflection, next week. And then the board, I know we're getting real close to Christmas on this, but week six for the fifteenth through the nineteenth, we will ask that you submit, your individual assessments, and we we need nine of them, to make it a comprehensive review. And then we will compile all that together, and there will be a a public presentation of the evaluation during our evaluation committee in January.
So, just a final reminder, Friday, the survey does close. So please share your, responses, so we can have a comprehensive review. Thank you. I see one light on. Board member love. Thank you for that presentation. I emailed, Amber, Joyce, and Natalie because I had some questions about the survey. Has the survey went out yet? Yes. It has. Who's doing it? Our assess our chief White's team.
Is the survey is the survey going out to all employees? There are three surveys. Correct? Three separate surveys for teachers, principals, and central office staff. They are the same. Has the survey went out to all employees? I will verify, but I I personally got the I know where I'm providing board feedback and not taking it. But chief White. Yes. The survey, through our communications team has gone out to all three groups.
And there's actual additional messaging that will continue throughout this week, including tomorrow. Two more questions. Let's just say, employee uses the survey on their phone, and then they have a computer, and then they have their daughter's computer, three surveys all one person, Is it protected by that? It is. Great question, board member love. The they are doing this through their employee email address.
Now the survey is confidential and anonymous. My team can't even see the way it's set up, who actually responded. But what happens by virtue of them having to do it through their employee email address is that if you, have already taken the survey and then you try to go back and use that link regardless of what computer you're on, it will not let you take it again. Thank you. One question. When are we going to get the survey? We will have the survey responses, by the end by the December 12.
When are we going to get the responses? We will have the survey results by December 12. Thank you. Alright. I wanna, commend doctor Richmond for requesting that the board conduct this informal evaluation of its performance in alignment with the board policy on 01/00/2005. I believe that this feedback, we receive will inform us on how we set your performance objectives for the actual annual formal evaluation as required by the state in your contract. I'd like to say to board members that looking ahead and beyond the evaluation, as
a discussion for later, I would also like for the board to begin thinking about how we move forward with choosing a permanent superintendent aligned with board policy one zero zero two with student achievement and operational efficiency at the forefront. This discussion, I believe, has to be separate from the informal review of his current performance. So I will be asking the board members to think about that as we move forward into the next year. Alright. Thank you. No further business under the report for evaluation.
We'll move to facilities ad hoc. Alright. Latest update. We went through and we did the approval for the resolution at the special call meeting. What's next? I'll just give the very next thing is December 16. We're gonna be receiving a comprehensive draft, from the facilities plan from administration. Was there if you wanted to give a quick, overview of the last few meetings that you had, doctor Richmond, the schools. Oh, for the school closures?
Closures. Yeah. I think we had two meetings, doctor Richmond, if you would. Yes, ma'am. We've, had two of our, repurposed consolidation meetings, and I think those meetings will conclude on tomorrow. Not conclude, but resume on tomorrow at, Lucy. Thank you, doctor. Awesome. Yep. So we'll be getting that comprehensive plan, from you on December 16, and that'll be a draft. Any questions? Remember, love? No? Okay. No questions. Seeing no questions, we'll move on to the next thing, which is ten point eight,
policy governance and legislation committee report. Katie Bailey will present, do a presentation on our lobbyist firm. Thank you, miss Bailey. Good evening, and thank you for having me. My name is Katie Lane Bailey. I am an attorney at Holland and Knight, formerly Waller. I'm a partner in our Nashville office, and I run our state government relations team. Going into the 2026 legislative session, we thought it would be useful to just be
available for a quick reminder of of who our team is. Presentation is, aggressive. I think I have just a handful of remarks, and then I wanna open up some discussion if you've got questions. But, again, we are are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the district and to be an extension of you all at the legislature in Nashville. Your team consists of Annie Beckstrom, Mac Cooper, Max Johnson, James Weaver, and recently Chase Engel, who hire who we hired, from the house majority leader William Lambert.
He was his chief policy adviser and started with us two weeks ago. We began our representation of the district in December 2023. At that point, it was supplemental to your primary representation who was not, at my firm. We were Waller as a reminder to you all. We were Waller, Lansden, Dorchin Davis, until March 2023, and we became a part of Holland and Knight in a combination then. We began our representation of the district, in a supplemental capacity and recently transitioned this
past January to your primary representation at the legislature. Our goals, just to to to overview our goals because I acknowledge you all were not not all of you were a part of our interview process, but our goals are, like I stated earlier, to be an extension of the district, to represent the unified voice. I'm gonna slightly deviate from the remarks that I have prepared because as I've sat here tonight and witnessed the wonderful things that you all are doing and the pride that I see in each of you as board members and each of these audience
members, those are the things that we want to present on behalf of the district before the 132 legislature legislators in Nashville. The district is doing wonderful things, and it seems that in the two hours and fifty eight minutes that it takes to get from here to the legislature, a lot of that is forgotten. And so our goal for you and we made significant progress this year and will continue to do so as our relationship strengthens things. Like all things, I think it will get better with time.
But our goal for you is to create partnerships among the district with other like minded stakeholders, so that we are grouped in with those who are impacted similarly. We work along side organizations like TOS, TSBA, TEA, PET, and we try to find, where we can agree with stakeholders and policy makers. We are your voice on policy initiatives. We are your voice on policy priorities, legislative initiatives. But our goal, particularly as we transition, into this next legislative session, is to highlight
the progress that the district is making. Just here tonight, I have I've made notes, my paper. I don't know if you can see this, but these are all green. All this green is my handwriting that I'm gonna follow-up with Justin and doctor Richmond and Maria because these are the things that I think need to be shared at the legislature more consistently and more emphatically. Student achievement, operational efficiencies, the repurposed consolidation. The district has plenty to be proud of and we take seriously our opportunity to share that more publicly on your behalf. Tonight's display of the talent in the arts, I mean, that they should come to
the legislature and sing, when when the legislature convenes in January. I live right down the street from Independence High School, and I know that you all athletically put a hurting on Independence High School not long ago. Those are the things that should be. And I say that with all due respect, my son's best friend's mom is principal of Independence High School. So, we are loyal to to Independence Eagles, but I know that you all have so much talent. And as a district, you're doing so much good. And I could sit here and, you know, talk about all the things we expect
at the legislature come January, which are, you know, the obvious. Right? The things if you read a newspaper, you're gonna read about. Work force development, CTE, flexibility and innovations with licensure school days, testing flexibility, evaluation reconsiderations. The speaker was recently quoted as saying he wants to consider and evaluate the possibility of an associate's degree to get more teachers in the classroom, to help address some of the pipeline issues, expansion of vouchers through additional budget appropriations. Those are all things that we expect.
Those are all things that your five team members, my team, conversations that we engage in on your behalf. But I wanted to personally, applaud you all for the work that you're doing, for the progress that you're making, for the wonderful things that your students and your teachers and your staff are accomplishing, and those are the things that we think should be highlighted on your behalf at the legislature. I think we're naive to think that there's not always room for progress for everybody, for all of us. But for that to constantly be the focal point at the legislature seems to overlook
the wonderful things that you are doing, both as a board and as a district. So I want to thank you for the opportunity to continue our partnership. We are at least partners until September 2026 when you get to reconsider our partnership, but I hope that we serve you very well. We take very seriously the opportunity that you have given us to represent the 164 schools in your district. And we want to we hope that we we are able to promote and advocate on behalf of the district, as well as you would hope hope we do.
I forgot to even There's I see, two questions. Oh, yes, ma'am. And I go ahead. Yeah. Love and then, board Thank you for your presentation. What can we as the district do to get our story told to you and others? I think engaging with legislators is is should be a priority, and it is significantly important. And and, obviously, the delegation matters. The Shelby County delegation matters. But any opportunity that you have to participate, and engage with legislators outside of the
delegation. There are 99 house members and 33 senate members, and only a handful of those come from Memphis and Shelby County. And so we, certainly don't mean to imply that we don't prioritize the delegation at at the legislature because we we those relationships and that support is invaluable, but they know your story. And and any opportunity that you get to engage with house and senate leadership, the education, committee chair chairperson who's out of the senate chairman, is out of Rutherford County.
Obviously, Marquis, chairman Marquis is the house committee chairman. So any opportunity that you all have to engage, with legislators and policymakers in a positive way outside of the delegation helps to promote that that story. Thank you. One thing I failed to mention, I got so excited about being up here that I didn't even really properly introduce myself. I started in 2007. This will be my nineteenth legislative session. My two new best friends asked how that could be since I was only 25.
But I so I developed a a passion for education policy when I served as the house research or the research analyst for the house education committee, in from 2000 I've been sitting here trying to think. I think it was '10, '11, and '12, but it might have been 09/10, November, when speaker Beth Harwell was the speaker, and Richard Montgomery out of East Tennessee was the chairman. And back then, it was a 24 member committee with two subcommittees, k 12 and higher ed. And so I got I got exposed to all everything from early childhood to higher
ed, and think the work that you all do is potentially the most valuable work, that that we see across the state. Thank you. I have board member Porter, McKissick, and then Ote. But, again, thank you for the presentation. Thank you for coming down. And, commissioner Love asked, he she she asked the question, but, yeah, I do think we need to tell a better story because it's been a long political year that we've that we've gone through. And so oftentimes, personally, myself, I feel like we didn't have any representation up there. So, again, thanks for the presentation. I do look forward to a stronger collaboration. It's gonna take all of us.
It's gonna take you guys' communication. It's gonna take interim, superintendent to, when asked questions to advocate for the board as well. And so, it's it's gonna take it's gonna take everybody to to continue to tell the story. Again, thank you for the presentation again. Looking forward to, you know, for a stronger collaboration again. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Madam chair, if I may. Okay. Hi, Katie. Hi. Michelle McKissick. Yes, ma'am. I recall meeting you, I guess, a little over a year ago, and I saw you in action. So I am thrilled that you are now officially representing MSCS in Nashville.
And like my colleagues, I look forward to working with you Thank you. To go out and just kinda spread the good news. There's a lot of good news happening within MSCS. And, it's just good to have that fresh perspective and fresh voice to help us share that, with those nationals. I just wanna say thank you, and it's good to see you again. Thank you. And congratulations to you on your TSPA election. Thank you. You know, really quickly, my church does this thing for parents, and it's, called not just surviving but thriving. And I think perhaps that the last year, there was an element of survival.
And I think we're transitioning into thriving because I think it's evident tonight that the district is doing a lot of of really wonderful things. There were words that came to my mind, calmness, collaboration, stability. Those are all things that the legislature doesn't see, and I take it very seriously to promote that. And and my team, obviously, I'm speaking on behalf of my team who couldn't all be here tonight, but we take very seriously, the responsibility that you have given us to promote that at the legislature on your behalf. Thank you. Board member Murphy.
Thank you, madam chair, and thank you for your appreciate yeah. Your presentation. I really appreciate it, and I I know the board members appreciate it. And I wasn't gonna say anything too much about it, but when we come to the arts, the other day, I had a young man that came to me. He doesn't go to school at all. He's, supposed to be an eleventh grader, but he hasn't been in school since he was in the ninth grade, and he walked up to me and asked me about the state choir. He said, I don't have a grade. I haven't been to school, and my mama don't care if I go to school, but I wanna be in a choir. And I said, well, if you be in a choir, then you have to go to school and we'll just track your grades.
So those are some of the things that, we need to bring to the forefront because some kids don't have 2.5 averages. They don't have good family lives. And that the citywide choir that myself and mister, Armstrong is working on, that will bring more kids back to school because they need something to do, and that was just a testimony for me. So thank you so much. I appreciate you. Mhmm. We would love to highlight that at the legislature when they convene in January. Yes, ma'am. One of the things I often say, if I may, is that the, you know, the legislature is, there's a 133 legislators and or I'm sorry.
A 132 legislators, and they're they're represent each are representative of their district, but they each have their own unique perspectives as well. And and very few of them, are educators. And so they they see their perspectives are in large part driven by, the correspondence that they see and that they receive from their constituents. And, you know, I think it is our human nature and, again, not unique to your district, but I think it's our human nature to reach out to an elected official when there's something bad, right, when there's a problem and something needs to be
fixed. And so, one of the things that I have consistently encouraged not just you all but all of our clients at Holland and Knight to do is to establish those relationships with legislators, even if it's as simple as sending them a text and saying, here's a video of our choir performing and the awards that they've won. So that when you go to ask a question or a favor or when there is a disagreement on a policy initiative, they're they're basing that relationship on years of
correspondence and trust as opposed to just that one isolated instance. So so back to board member Love's point, simply just reaching out to your legislators and saying these are the wonderful things that our students are doing across the district, helps, I think, highlight all of the accomplishments and the achievements that should be celebrated. Thank you, Katie. Thank you for this. We are looking forward to working with you in a collaborative way. Thank you. And and thank you very much for coming from Nashville. Yes. I live in Franklin. I'm headed home.
I have a 10 year old little boy who if you, talk to me for longer than about thirty seconds, you get to know a lot about. He is my pride and joy. Oh. His name is Wyatt. He's in the fourth grade. He would be watching except he's at basketball practice. I make him watch the board meetings with me. He once said, I wanted to be an attorney when I grow up, but now I'm not so sure. So I said, it's not like on TV, buddy. So I appreciate the opportunity to be here moving forward. You know, Maria and I have talked about a number of ways that that our team can be more transparent and more engaged with you all individually, and I'm excited
to to move into the 2026 legislative session with you. Thank you. Thank you for having me. Thank you. Thank you. Any other any additional items in the policy? I I would like to add, most of my colleagues touched on mostly everything, but I I would like to also add, because she did speak about us personally speaking with a lot of the legislators. And I know last year, myself and board member Porter also, and I think, miss McKinney did as well. We spoke to several legislators. You were there to support as we kinda popped in and had several meetings, and we met with representative Mark White.
I think Porter and I got to meet with, mister Sexton. So speaker Sexton. So, you know, just really making sure that we focus on getting the word out, that we're hyper focused on, exposing our students to AI, that we're hyper focused on getting our students prepared for the workforce development world. We have some great programs, Cordova High School, Thailand Neck because they're in my district. They do, an amazing, career fair every single year and just having those relationships with those companies and those businesses preparing our students for the real world side. Want them to know that we are making sure we're moving the needle forward, and
we're building success. We've been successful students, and we're providing opportunities, and we're hyper focused on the next level for them and making sure that they're successful individuals. And we're also hyper hyper focused on repurposing our buildings, whatever it is we need to do to make sure our students can be successful. So, thank you for all your support. Thank you, board member O'Shea. Thank you. I'll add to that. I think that you all have done, and and I will commend doctor Richmond. I think you all have done, an exceptional job of proactively addressing the concerns. And and I don't think it's in necessarily, response to threatening legislation, but it is
an attempt to to to facilitate those partnerships and those relationships. And so in those meetings that you all had when we were there to proactively address the concerns, particularly the buildings, I know that chairman White brings that up often. And I think the things that you all have done to proactively address that those concerns when we're able to get those message that message out there, I I think will will serve you very well. And so I commend you all for that. Absolutely. Thank you. Yeah. That has been a a huge help. You. The oh, no. We have to move on to the next thing. But yeah. So thank you so much.
We appreciate everything you're doing. Thank you for having me. Alright. Moving on to procurement committee report. All all items are on the agenda tonight. No report. Moving on to, the general counsel's report. Thank you madam chair. Good evening, good evening, superintendent, board. Every year all school districts in the state are required to, complete the LEA, compliance report and submit their findings to the Tennessee Department of Education. You all received electronic copies of the report earlier today and there should be copies in your packet as well. The purpose of this report is to either confirm our district's full compliance or where
necessary transparently identify areas of non compliance and provide a clear path forward. When completing the report, school districts must either confirm compliance with all federal and state education laws and rules or indicate areas of non compliance. If any non compliance areas are identified, the report must include a corrective action plan. And again, all those materials are are included in your packets and you got electronic copies, earlier. Over the past several months, my team with the Office of Governmental Affairs and Compliance worked closely with senior leaders, and their designees over several months to identify the district's
compliance with applicable laws and rules. The report before you, tonight for your approval identifies six areas of noncompliance that were identified, during the review. For each of these six areas, we have developed a required corrective action plan that, specifies the steps, timelines, and personnel responsible for achieving full compliance. The state is allowing us to submit our findings by tomorrow, December 3. However, as a district, we have already started implementing, our corrective action plans. The district will be responsible for monitoring progress and ensuring on assuring ongoing compliance.
The Office of Governmental Affairs and Compliance will oversee, this process. Again, that item has been added to the request for action later in the agenda, but I did just wanna talk briefly, with you all about what it is she'll be approving. Thank you, general counsel. I have a light from board member Love. What is the timeline on the compliance report? Because every year we get this at the last minute. Thank you, board member Love. So the, and I know that miss miss Stewart is back as well. As I mentioned, the report has to be filed with the state by tomorrow, knowing
that our last board meeting, for the our board business meeting for the year would be tonight. But miss Stewart, do you wanna speak to Yes. Thank you, superintendent, chief, Bailey. We received the information from the state a month in advance. We started the process probably four months ago. There are over 800 items that we've identified that the school district has to be in compliance with. So it does take some time for our departments to go through all of those,
laws as well as state rules to ensure that we're in compliance. Next year, is if it's okay with the superintendent and your team, send this to us earlier. I want to read this, and I don't have time. I am very committed to my board work, and I don't have time to read it now. If there are way, the superintendent and you can discuss sending it to us a
month in advance, three weeks in advance, a week in advance. It makes the voting on this hard when we just received it. Do we know that? Thank you, board member Love. I do have a a sort of observation. One of the things that I would like for us to do as a board to possibly look at this as well as a mechanism to determine whether there are gaps in resources. And if there are gaps in resources we're getting ready to go through the budget
period right now, so that might help us with some of the non compliance. So I would like us to use that document and this this document in that way as well, consider using it in that way, identifying additional resources that might help fill these gaps. And I'm in agreement if there's something we need to do, to ensure that you can get through. I hear the timeline. It's about a four month timeline, and we have 800 things that you have to go through, and we are a district of a 100,000, 14,000 employees, a 100 and
something school buildings. So, one of those things might be we need additional personnel to do that. So I just want you all to think about that so we can not be in this cycle. And if I can, superintendent, if it's okay with you, superintendent, I would like to acknowledge my team. We were down by two people in the compliance area, and Alicia Nuttall Simmons and, Sherman, Antoine Sherman, they stepped up to the plate. And they made sure that they reached out to every single senior leader and their,
and their support staff to make sure that this job was completed. Again, there are over 800 items, and we're still adding to that list, in terms of laws that we have to be in compliance with as well as state rules. Thank you. Any other questions? Seeing no other questions, we'll move on to superintendent's report. Thank you, general counsel. That was it. Right? Yes, ma'am. Alright. Yes. Thank you, madam chair. The team and I were asked at the October, business meeting, per resolution, to look
at expanding, school bus eligibility, for students in support of our show up for greatness initiative. At this time, I'd like to ask mister Langston to present, the study that was done in regards to, PRZ zones. Thank you, mister Langston. Thank you, doctor Richmond. Board members, this is a transportation eligibility, parent responsibility zones. Again, as doctor Rich man alluded to, we were asked to, in a thirty day window, look at reducing the PRZ zone or the parent responsibility zones as a active
look into how we can support our families that's experiencing issues with ICE. Next slide. So the purpose of this presentation is to engage in structured dialogue regarding the PRZ concerns. We wanna provide accurate legal operational information, maintain student safety, look at physical responsibilities, and look at district wide equity. Next slide. So the parent responsibility zones, or as we call it PRZs, looking at understanding the framework. The PRZ is an area that's determined that determines the distance, from the school where
parents who reside in the zone or area are responsible for transporting their children to and from school. The framework balances the transportation resources, with the family responsibility while ensuring student safety. Our current district standards by policy for our elementary schools is 1.5 miles for our parent responsibility zones. What that means is that parents are responsible for anything less than 1.5 miles getting their students to schools if they have an elementary student.
Anything over 1.5 miles, then we provide transportation for those elementary students. In middle and high schools, it's two miles. So, again, same as you said. Anything, less than two miles, parents are responsible for getting students to and from schools. Anything over two miles, we, as a district prayer policy three zero zero four, we provide transportation. Also, when we look at, the parent responsibility zones, it's important to note that, federal transportation requirements, particularly for our special population students, particularly particularly our students with disabilities, transportation
must be provided for if there's a if it's required by an IEP. In some instances we get students, door to door service if the IEP calls for it. We do specialized equipment on our buses. And we aid and specify by the IEP. This is something that's mandated by federal law for related services. Next slide. So, again, what we're talking about today is board policy three zero zero four that outlines, again, for elementary students. It's 1.5 for the PRZ and two miles for middle schools and high schools.
So this policy that provides student transportation, including eligibility for, bus operations, safety requirements, as well as administrative procedures. Next slide. So currently, looking at the resolution, the board on the resolution, we wanted to look at an analysis, look at a long term sustainability and a physical impact study to establish possible PRZ adjustments across the districts. So this review ensures that the district fully understands the operational as well as the budget implications before any changes are proposed to the policy.
So our decision making approach, the recommendations that you kind of hear today or considerations, if you will, we'll look at some data. We wanna be data driven as we look at this. We wanna talk about, equitable, being equitable, and obviously physical sustainability as we move forward for our neighborhoods. And the goal is to balance student safety, access, and long term operational stability. So the scenarios that you'll see shortly this under review is incremental, reductions that are being modeled. Elementary schools, as I alluded to, we're looking at reducing in different scenarios from 1.5
that's current for our PRZ zone to one point o, point seven five as well and then point five miles. And then for our middle school and high schools, our current is two point o. We'll we'll model scenarios for 1.5 miles, one mile, and point seven five miles. Again, these scenarios will help us determine, the effect on buses, routes, drivers, as well as, service reliability. Next slide. So diving, quickly into the data. Again, the current PRZ use is 1.5
for elementary students, 2.2 o miles for middle schools and high schools. Currently, the number of stops that we have in our current contract, if you're looking at this chart, we have 6,088 stops with our current contract for again, this with our current PRZ of 1.5 miles for elementary and two point o for middle and high. Our total eligible students currently is 26,597 students based on our current. Option one, we looked at reducing the PRZ to point five for elementary students and
point seven five for our middle and high school students. Doing so would increase or add additional stops to our routes of 6,636 additional stops. That will bring our grand total stops of 12,724. And there would be there would mean that an additional 24,383 students based on a new, increments are eligible. Now bringing our total eligibility of students to 50,980. Our total buses, that we would have to add in option one would be 206
buses, to get us through the remaining of this year. It'll cost us roughly about $11,900,000 just for the remaining of this year. And then for the the the sake of this estimate, we're assuming no rates increases. But if we were to for sustainability purposes, if we were to carry over to next year, it'll be roughly about $20,500,000 The next option you see, again, we wanted to model three scenarios would be reducing our, PRZ zone for elementary from 1.5
to point seven five. And then for middle and high from two point o to one point o, they would increase they would add additional stops of 5,040, bringing our total stops of eleven thousand one twenty eight. They would add, additional eligible students for seventeen thousand four twenty six, bringing our total eligible students from twenty six five ninety seven currently. So 44,023, that will require 149 additional buses, about $8,600,000 to finish this year, and about 4 point $14,800,000 if we were to do this the sustainability into next year.
Then lastly, option three is going from 1.5 miles to one point o for elementary to two miles to 1.5 for middle and high. They would add additional 3,066 stops, bringing our total stops to 9,154, adding 9,439 eligible students, bringing our total ridership to 36,036. That would take us 98 additional buses, about $5,600,000 to finish this year, and about $9,700,000 sustainability for next year.
So, again, as you can see, even the smallest reductions, adds about 3,000 new stops. And then the largest scenario at the top, going up to point five and point seven five, it's roughly about 6,600 stops, which nearly doubles the current amount of riding demands that we currently have. Next slide. So some other things we wanna consider. Again, per use the per policy. The one the the thing that normally changes the policy is is when something is safety, a safety hazard, if you will.
So some of the things we consider is walking conditions and environment. So crossing guards, if they're really readily available, pedestrian pathways, street lighting is one. Sidewalk limitations are our core components. These are the these are, ways that we evaluate the safe walker routes as outlined in board policy 3,004. NPD, sheriff data, on unsafe routes. Our law enforcement data helps us identify areas of, traffic hazards, dangerous roadway conditions, and
pedestrian safeties. Again, this information supports the district's determination of, quote, unquote, unsafe routes on the board policy three zero zero four. When we look at the operational lens, reducing the PRZ increases the riderships and bus stops based on the data I previously shared with the slide above. That means we need more bus drivers. We need more buses. We need more monitors, depending on the age groups. And then we'll need more routing staff because we would have to route those additional, anywhere from 6,000 to an additional 3,600, routes.
And then, reducing the PRZ would also cause, obviously, as we saw on higher annual operating costs. Obviously, we saw more routes will be needed and which would increase over time and then possibly, look at the operational strain. We would have to work with our, vendor partners and staffing, that will require more bus drivers. And then roughly, on the high end, it could take our total transportation costs anywhere from $32,000,000 to roughly between $60 and $64,000,000 depending on which scenario that we look
at. Next slide. So when we're thinking about equity considerations again, what we looked at is for the entire district, reducing the PRZ zone, from an equitable lens. So the first thing we look at is a need for consistent standards district wide. So So we want to, do consistent rules for, to protect fairness, transparency, and trust, ensuring families and all zip codes are held to the same expectations and receive the same opportunities for support. We wanted to ensure fairness across all neighborhoods. So changing the PRC for only a few neighborhoods can intent unintentionally, create unequitable access
to transportation. So to honor every community for Memphis, Shelby County schools, we we wanted to ensure that the adjustment to transportation policy benefits students equitably no matter where they live in the city. Obviously, protecting students who rely on guaranteed transportation. That's our students with disability Our students with disabilities, under the IDEA act, five zero four students. And then our students who transition such as McKinney Vento or our foster care. And then finally, system wide impact on resources and supports.
Reducing PRZ, distances increases the number of buses, drivers, and the routes needed. So as transportation costs rise, the district, must make responsible choices to balance safety, operational capacity, as well as, as well as equitable access. Next slide. So, we did meet with some of the grass root organizations just to get their feedback of what they've been seeing in the community as it relates to, families is experiences experiencing issues, again, due to the task force as well as ICE being in
the city. This is some of their feedback. First daily transportation challenges. They alluded to some families expressed barriers getting students to school within the current PRZs, distances. They talked about, relying on what they believe to be inconsistent or at risk walking routes, effectively meaning that, you know, the the current routes that they have, you know, they're possibly at risk of being, affected by, the agencies that's in our city. Volunteer support is not sustainable. Currently, those grassroots organizations talked about, some what they're doing is kind of, a, an
approach where they're using, vans, if you will, to support families. So those community members are helping with rides, But they're saying that those, those efforts require major sacrifices. It's not sustained sustainable long term. So lived experience is not reflected in the data. So, they talked about advocates emphasize that, the attendance numbers that we currently have don't fully capture the daily hardships of families. One of the things that when we look at the data currently, what we don't show in our current data is that those, are immigrant students, experiencing a lower attendance
rates in our schools. Currently, when we look at the data, we don't see that in the current data. So student well-being concerns are predictable with stressful travel, arrangements are affecting parents and the students mental health as well as emotional well-being. And then lastly, a need for clear supportive communication. The families talked about wanting, clear guidance on safety protocols, available supports, as well as any future transportation options. Next slide. So, to round us out, some of the disclaimer that we wanted to add.
So when we look at the projections based on the 2526 school year data, this assumes 100% ridership using, 84 passenger buses. Due to the reduced PRZ mileage, the analysis includes schools that are not currently provided transportation services. So what that means is that we have schools that we don't currently provide transportation for. But as we reduce the PRC in those schools will then now become available, for students to be, in a ridership. We have projections that don't that don't reflect, future, district changes such as updated student
addresses, enrollment shift, new schools, closures, rezonings. Effectively saying that this is just relying on the current data that we have. Currently, we have what's called a three tier bus approach. That means that we do 07:15, 08:15 and 09:15. And one of the major reasons we do that is because one, we have a limited number of bus drivers as well as to reduce the cost and transportation. We have the three tier, bus system to be able to, effectively, increase or be
efficient with our 26,000 ridership that we currently have. So looking at the pros of this presentation, obviously, one of the pros is expanding, transportation within the PRZ could increase, student enrollment as well as attendance, across access for schools. Some of the cons, as you see us going through the data is right now, increasing routes will mean a driver shortage. We would need more drivers to do so. Some Some behavior concerns that we're looking at is when you add more routers and
longer routes, behavior management needs may be something to consider. So one of the things that we have in our country is monitors on the bus. And one of the reasons why monitors is on a bus in addition to, supporting the space students is to, alleviate or effectively mitigate, behavior concerns. I mentioned more monitors needed. There's no state funding, for this. There will be no state funding for this increase. So when we had BEP, we had a per pupil allocation for, transportation. Now on to TISA, it's all rolled up.
So increasing or decreasing the PRZ and increasing our ridership would mean that we would get more money from the state. And then the last last thing is adding staffing demands. As I talked about internally, we would need more, a few more staff to look at how we route the additional routes, based on this. Next slide. So finally, we, as we talk about this, obviously we're we're we remain committed to student safety, equitable decision making as well as transparent communication. So, again, one of the things we wanted to bring to the board is this
data, as a consideration, not necessarily recommendation. And madam chair, that concludes my presentation. Thank you, mister Langston. I have three lights in this order. Board member Love, board member McKissick, board member Hubert Garcia. Did you take into consideration the principals and the parents that have been the board members for years? A perfect example would be, Macia Walker in Rockwell Church. Yes, ma'am. Miss Loves. So to your question, one of the things that we talked about in in this
presentation is being equitable. So the first thing I think about is the ratio. One of the considerations is if you change bull policy 3,004 is mostly for safety hazards. If we remember a base here, Walker that we talked about last year and then the busy traffic, this if this presentation would include all schools, so they would take into consideration every, principal who has had a concern around reducing PRZ. The next question is, did did anybody talk to the city of Memphis over ninety
ninety, we only have six schools in Shelby County proper. Over 90% of our schools are located right inside of Memphis. Did anyone talk to them about funding? So, miss Love, I'll be transparent. We had talked to them. One of the things that we talked with the grass root organizations about is if they talked with, the city around using things like matter for it, if you will. Obviously, the city has matter. We haven't directly talked to them, but we wanted to bring this information to the
board, and look at anything for next considerations. Do you know how long it takes? Excuse I think, board member love. I think, doctor Richmond would like to to make a comment. Yes. I would like to interject, that we have spoken with. We spoke with them on yesterday, but but it wasn't, in regards to this. I would encourage the superintendent to talk to, the mayor and the city council because
over 90% of our schools are located inside City Of Memphis. And they say they want to do a lot of things for the students, get them to school. That's it. Board member McKissick. Alright then. Thank you, board member Love. Madam chair, to piggyback on that though, I I'm speaking from personal experience here when I talk about, Madam and how it can be a game changer. Growing up, I took MATA bus to school.
I still have my MATA bus pass. And the school district worked with MATA and I recall going into the auditorium and getting my picture taken. And, you know, having this discounted bus pass that I would take to school every day. And I was like nine years old when I started first started taking the MATA bus by myself. It was a different time, to school. And I took it into high school as well. So I lived outside of the school bus zone and so I know it can
be done. And we were actually piloting a program just a few years ago where we were signing and I remember specifically going to Hamilton High School and signing up students for the MATA bus pass. And I'm encouraged by MATA now having this ninety day window of free transportation because I think as a community, we have got to get beyond this as a socioeconomic statement but simply a mode of transportation that anyone can take. I took MATA bus when I was in college. I come home, go to the Mall Of Memphis on the MATA bus. So it's a freedom that we need to educate our children and our community on
of going anywhere you need to go. And hopefully MATA will, you know, get together and certainly improve the services there. And I think they're on that pathway. But we definitely need to follow-up with MATA, with the city of Memphis, put your money where your mouth is, in terms of supporting our young people. And we are in crisis. And I know we wanna talk about equity, but we're in crisis with a very specific community right now. And so I I hope we have a mentality of finding a way to yes instead of all the reasons why no may crop up.
And I know finances are a big way of it. But how do we find our way to yes to make this happen to protect students? I don't know if a matter of having central locations maybe where students can can come and one bus comes to one location to pick up students. I don't know if that's another safety issue that may pop up for our students who are concerned about getting to school. But I really want us to exhaust exhaust finding a way to yes for expanding
this opportunity, but also to work with the city. And Mada could be a part of helping them find money for their own selves with some of our money from the school district, some of the money from the city to pick up these, students who need it. It can happen. I did it from grade school all the way through high school. Thank you. Board member, Hugo Garcia. Thank you. The chart that says parental responsibility zones that does the total eligible students, option one says 50,980 students. Am I reading this correctly based on all the assumptions that over half of our
kids are not I would don't go to their zone school then. Is that accurate? No, ma'am. I think It's like If you can go back more than two miles or Miss Timberlake, if you if you can go back remember, PRZ only considers obviously, we're district of choice. PRZ only considers students who are zoned to their homeschooling. So I'm asking, half of our kids do not go to their zoned schools. This data wouldn't tell this. This data would tell you that half of our students, they are beyond 1.5
or or two miles, if we reduce the PRZ, they are their parent is responsible for getting them, to school. No. I'm talking about under option one. Yes, ma'am. So there's only 50,980 students that would be within There would be point five or point seven five miles of middle of high schools? Got it. Oh, I got you. I follow what you're saying. Yes, ma'am. That's So there'd be there's a we're talking close to half of the district maybe a little bit. I'll call it what you said. Yes, ma'am. When I do this math, though, we're talking about $400 per student per year who
are bus eligible that we would be investing. If we're talking about equity, and I mean, I wanna make sure we're also solving the right problem, which is showing up to school, chronic absenteeism. Like, and this is just an example, if we concentrated on the 2,500 students who had a transportation stipend of $400 we'd put a million dollars into it. We were kids who needed the most. Our attendance data, our chronic absenteeism data is some of the best data we have.
Our attendance data is great. So equity to me isn't necessarily if you have a elementary school that already has 989% attendance rate, adding a bus route is not going to change their experience. We have we have concentrated areas of our district where kids are not getting to school. So that is what I care most about whether it's for their safety or whether it's for family, responsibility, whether it is illness. But if transportation can solve it, then give access to the students who need it
the most. So we can decide how much we want to invest, and focus on the kids who are not coming to school. So instead of that is equity to me, not not solving a problem. If there's no problem to solve, let's not let it's not money well spent or resources well spent, but we do know who our students are that need us the most to step up with transportation options. So I would propose we decide what is a if we could see that chronic
absenteeism number, we might be able to think at it differently. How would we wanna spend $400 a piece on these students, or then maybe go to the city and say, would you also put in $400 for each of these students? Because each day they miss, we actually or each day they come to school, we get about $300 This will pay for itself. So let's think about it differently. Thank you. Board member, love one second. This will be your second time. I wanna say, piggyback on board member Hubert Garcia.
I think we need to be thinking about this possibly a little differently. How are we defining unsafe routes? And then how are we going how can we do a targeted approach for our high where we're finding high absenteeism much like what you all did when you did the door knocking. You targeted those ZIP codes because you saw the high chronic absenteeism. So I think that's what we're talking about is thinking about targeting where the needs are as opposed to making this because what this is in my mind is not
equity, it's equality, which means everybody treated the same. Everybody doesn't have the same needs. So I would really I'll piggyback on board member Hubert Garcia is that consider and also board member McKissick, consider how we get to yes in a truly equitable way, but targeted for what we actually need. And then also, with our our community organizations, working with them collaboratively to push the city to do these things, to work with us to ask them to fund these
things as well. So, I really would like us to think creatively around this because I think that was the tone and tenor of the of the resolution. It wasn't we just wanna change the PR zone trade war. We wanted to focus in on attendance and getting our attendance up and being very targeted about that. So I just wanted to make sure we had that you understood where the board was coming from. Alright. Board member Love. I like what Amber, Garcia said. How many kids miss the bus?
You don't have to give it to me right now, but I like where Amber, Garcia is going. How many kids miss the bus on a continuous basis? And what is this causing us for those children to be absent day after day? I also wanted to add that, our transportation team, we do partner with MATA. So we do provide MATA. Matter of fact, I got a quite a bit of MATA bus passes in my office. We do provide MATA bus passes to our students that go to alternative schools as
well as, our students who, identify as homeless or McKinney Vento students. So we do provide bus passes due matter for those students currently. Well, there's lots of other students out there. I I didn't fall into either board member Murphy. I got somebody before me. Apologies. Nope. Don't put that He was looking at me, so I had to Stop looking at her. Okay. Alright. Let me. Do you wanna speak? I'll let you speak after board member Murphy. Do you need okay. Board member I just have one question. How many of these buses are on time?
Because these buses get these kids to school late. And we know that after so many tardies, I think I don't know if doctor Richmond, dealt with that yet after three, four tardies in their absence. So, we had that issue last year. It it ain't it ain't supposed to count, but some still do it. So we have to make sure we take care of that. That was one of the questions that was on the floor last year. It's back on the floor again today. Don't look at me crazy y'all because y'all know I call you. Let let's just make sure we get it right and check on that. Alright. Alright. Do we have any, I think board members helped me to provide some direction.
I think what we're asking for is a plan that incorporates us being responsive to, the actual issue, which is absenteeism and attendance and how we are looking at making sure that the route that that students that need to, be on safe routes have this a safe way to school and how we are defining safe. That can be streets, that can be the fact that I need to be able
to remain on the street without being snatched up. So unsafe routes and also how do we target what we're trying to do here, which is to ensure that we're getting students to school. Is that that accurately reflect that, board member, Hugo Garcia? Yes. I'd like to see the the percentage or the the number of students who are chronically absent of which we think expanded transportation would improve it. I think it can be bus routes if they are concentrated in neighborhoods, but I think if there is a possibility where we provide where we can make improvements and
provide rideshares or, a a targeted, some some sort of other partnership, if if going to a student's house is actually going to solve the challenge, and we have to pay $12 each way, you know, six or seven times a year because they have chronic challenges, I think that's an investment worth making, but do we know who those students are? So it may be a combination of bus routes because this feeder pattern is really impacted, but we've got, you know, a set of a 100 students who are spread
across the district, and they they need something else, and bus routes are not most efficient. Like, we know where these students are at. What is the most efficient way to meet them there and get them to school? That's what I wanna know. Board member McKissick. I don't wanna belabor the point because, my colleagues have expressed it so nicely, but I just wanna make sure that we we move as expeditiously as possible on this so that come the start of the second semester, something possibly is in place. So just wanted to make that comment. Thank you. Alright. Last last round, board member Love.
I know. You forgot to add, as many community partners as you can collaborate with, go and get the cheese. Go and get it because I agree with all the board members. We don't have money. That is a lot of money. Everybody says they want to work with us. It's time to go and put their feet to the fire and get the kids
educated. Thank you. So I think I hear the board member saying that they'd like to see an actual plan of action. Board members, thirty thirty days, forty five what are we talking about? Doctor Richmond, what's what is reasonable? The team the team and I will, do what the board has has requested us, to do. What's being requested is is challenging. It may seem easy, but it's extremely challenging. And so I wanna be clear that the board is asking us, to go to
other governmental entities and ask for an investment. That's what I just heard. So the team and I, will be preparing a budget to see if that's, what the board would like for us to do. Also, when you look at, chronic absenteeism and just absenteeism in general, it's fluid. It could fluctuate from school to school. We could put measures in place that help us improve at school a next month. And so that school improves, but then school b may drop the following month.
So we could put the transportation in place and it could help, but we could possibly have another school that experiences the same thing. We also have, students that are highly mobile who move two or three times a year. So the same student that we're putting transportation in place for could move to another location, and then we could see a dip there. But, we will do as the board has, asked. I will also share with the board that this year, we're putting out for RFP, our transportation. We'll be going out, I wanna say, this this month.
I think it's going out tomorrow, for RFP, our transportation, because we're needing a new contract. So again and we're currently playing with with 32,000,000 teed up. So it's currently 32,000,000, which means it's probably going to increase. And so we'll do what the board has requested us to do, but I just want the board to understand, some of the challenges that this, will, allow for. Board member Hugo Garcia. We are not asking you to go to government entities before we approve a plan,
so don't you did mishear that. I think this is this is a I I I understand the challenges that you're talking about, but there is there is there has to be we may not improve or change the trajectory of every student who is chronically absent, but there are there are broad strokes that we can take, and the board can we can put a limit on the amount. We we could say we wanna spend a million dollars on this. What would be the best use of these dollars? Like, I think that is that is that is up to us.
What is a responsible amount of money based on our reserve? What, what return we would get from that attendance increase? I I do think there it is fine with me at least immediately. I do think we do have a couple schools where attendance for our immigrant students is impacted. We you shared that with us in a in a a follow-up focusing there because that is chronic absenteeism. But then seeing if this investment is actually working, and then we could scale that
scale that. Is it is it bringing revenue back to the district or because when kids were in school, they learn. Like, I understand we're not gonna solve the problem with this plan, but we we got very loud feedback that we need to do something. And so let's let's figure out what is a responsible amount of money to spend here, who are the kids who need it the most, and and not, be daunted
by the complexity of the challenge. Thank you. Thank you. I hear a short term targeted approach. Alright. Moving on. Alright. We are now on unfinished business. 11.1, proposed policy second reading. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves revisions. Revisions to policies ten fifteen, board district general counsel, three zero zero seven, student wellness, four zero zero three employee conflict of interest, five zero one four or grading system for grade grades pre k five, five zero one five, grading system for grades six
through twelve, and six zero five one, interscholastic athletics. Do we have a motion to approve the revision to the policies? Am I in the wrong place? Yeah. Again, we're on an unfinished business. 11.1, the proposed policies second reading. Revisions to policies ten fifteen, board district general counsel three zero zero seven, student wellness four zero zero three, employee conflict of interest five zero one four grading system for grades pre k through five five zero one five, grading system for grades six through twelve, and six sixty fifty one interscholastic athletics.
Do we have a motion to approve the revision to the policies? I move to approve the revision to the policy. Do I have a second? Second. It's been moved by board member Murphy and seconded by board member Hubert Garcia. Mister Jenkins, please call a roll call vote. Board member McKissick? Aye. Board member Garcia? Aye. Board member Porter? Aye. Board member Murphy? Aye. Board member Love? Aye. Board member O'Tay? Aye. Board vice chair Coleman? Board chair McKinney? Yes. You have seven in the affirmative. Thank you.
The motion passes. We're moving on to the next section, new business new board business. Proposed policies first reading. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves suspension of section a one of policy one zero zero five, superintendent evaluation from 12/02/2025 through 01/27/2026. We will need to, suspend the rules to adopt the suspension of this section a
one of the policy, so we'll need to do that first. So let me first ask, is there a motion to suspend the rules? I move to suspend the rules. Do I have a second? Second. It has been moved by board member Murphy and seconded by board member Otey that we suspend the rules to adopt the policy on the first policy one zero zero five superintendent evaluation suspension today. Now I need a motion to, approve policy the suspension of section a one of
policy one zero zero five. Oh, I'm sorry. We need to vote on suspension. I'm moving real fast right now. Mister Jenkins, please take a roll call vote. Board member McKissick? Aye. Board member Garcia? Aye. Board member Porter? Aye. Board member Murphy? Aye. Board member Love. Aye. Board member O'Tay. Aye. Board chair McKinney. Yes. You have seven in the affirmative. The motion to suspend the rules has been passed. Now I need a motion to, a motion to approve the suspension of section a one of policy one zero zero five, superintendent evaluation.
I move to approve section a one policy, number one zero zero five, suspend, superintendent evaluation. I have a do I have a second? Second. Yeah. It has been moved by board member Murphy and seconded by board member Love that we suspend section a one of policy one zero zero five, superintendent evaluation. Are there any questions or discussion before we move to vote? Seeing no questions, mister Jenkins, please take a roll call vote. Board member McKissick? Aye. Board member Garcia?
Aye. Board member Porter? Aye. Board member Murphy? Aye. Board member Love? Aye. Board member O'Tay? Aye. Board chair McKinney? Yes. You have seven in the affirmative. This passes. We have suspended section a one of policy one zero zero five. Next, we're on to the consent agenda. Are there any items to be removed from the consent agenda? Madam chair, I would like to re oh. Board member Murphy. Oh, my bad. Madam chair, I would like to pull 1321 contract approval for ABM Industries.
Alright. We have 1321 ABM. Are there any other items that need to be pulled? Alright. Seeing that there are no other items being pulled pulled, I will now read each item into the record before roll call vote. 13.1, approval. Dual enrollment, memorandum of understanding between MCS MSCS and Tennessee College of Applied Technology Northwest twenty twenty five twenty twenty six. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves the DE memorandum of
understanding between MSCS and TCAT Northwest for DE courses, one year agreement. Next, 13.2 approval amended local dual credit memorandum of understanding between MSCS and Southwest Tennessee Community College 2025 to 2026. Recommended action recommendation is it is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves the amended memorandum of understanding between MSCS and Southwest Tennessee Community College for the local dual credit courses one year agreement. Item number 13.3, contract approval teaching strategies.
The amount in the amount of $364,208, it is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves the ratification of the continuation of professional development services, cloud platform membership, Finch assessment screener, and ADT trainer with teaching strategies in the total amount of $364,200. The contract includes $17,850 for inspiring interaction professional development, teachers only, 269,538 for cloud platform membership renewals, and $76,820 for the Finch assessment screeners.
Moving on to the next item, 13.4, contract approval, waterford.org, in the amount of $182,820. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves the contract with waterford.org to provide licenses for 3330 preschool students to assess to access Waterford's early learning platform, which includes reading, math, and science content designed to support kindergarten readiness. The total contract amount is 182,820 thousand. The next item is 13.5
contract approval, n c s Pearson in the amount of $220,496.50. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves the NCS Pearson contract in the amount of $220,496.50 for industry credentials in the college career technical education programs. Next item, 13.6 contract approval. I see e v multimedia in the amount of $368,738 It is recommended that Shelby
County Board of Education approves the Internet creative educational videos multimedia contracting amount of $368,738 for curriculum and certification in college career technical education programs. 13.7 contract approval comp t I t I a, a $158,005. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves the comp t I a contract in the amount of $158,005 for industry certification, preparation and assessment in college
career technical education information technology programs. Next item, 13 a, contract approval, career safe, $140,000. It is recommended that Shelby County Board of Education Proves the career safe contract in the amount of $140,000 for level one OSHA, ten hour certification in college career technical education programs. Next item, 13.9, donation acceptance, Procter and Gamble in the amount of 25,000 is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education accept a donation valued at more than $25,000 from Procter and
Gamble of oral health necessities to promote oral health awareness and reduce untreated mental issues. Thirteen point ten two thousand twenty six twenty seven charter renewal timeline. No dollar amount. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approve the recommendation for the charter renewal timeline for the twenty twenty six, twenty twenty seven school year based on the annual process determined by board policy ten eleven. Next item, 13.11, contract approval, Memphis Zoological Society in the amount of $125,000.
It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approve the MOU valued at a $125,000 with the Memphis Zoological Society. Next item, 13.12, contract approval. Methodist Community Care Associates employee on-site medical services in the amount of $2,091,537. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves a one year extension term in the amount of $2,091,537 to provide on-site medical services to its employees and
dependents to include, but not limited to primary care and pharmaceutical services for generic non class four drugs at two established sites. The cost of the on-site medical services include Flicker Street Clinic in the amount of $1,649,253 and Hacks Cross Clinic in the amount of $442,000 $202,184 dollars. Next item. This item okay.
I'm gonna, suspend reading of the consent agenda and allow board member Murphy. Thank you, madam chair. I would like to pull item number thirteen thirteen, contract approval for Dale endpoint protection. Thank you. That item has been removed, and we're moving on to item thirteen fourteen, approval diligence corp, $275,000. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves the ratification and purchase
order number 2612425 for Diligence Corporation in the amount of $275,000. This request is for the Firewatch Security Service for the remainder of the twenty twenty five, twenty twenty six school year, and is based on RFP number 032525DW. Master contract, 200 20250627. Next item, approval, Singer hotel and restaurant supply in the amount of 116,456.
It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves the award to Singer hotel and restaurant supply for $116,456 for 20 slide in steam tables. This was based on ion wave bid number 2356DEM. Next item, contract approval walk ins. You overall PLLC in the amount of $105,000. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves a one year professional service contract to walk ins overall PLLC for the internal school funds annual audit in
the amount of $105,000 of Tennessee code annotate sections 49 dash two dash one one zero and one one two states the local board of education shall conduct an annual audit of the accounts and records of all schools under its jurisdiction that receive and disperse funds. Next item, approval Crown Software Experts LLC in the amount of $2,365,230.74. It is recommended that Shelby County Board of Education approves the contract with Crown Software Experts LLC in the amount not to exceed $2,365,230.74
for the purchase of Microsoft Office three six five a five education software licenses for the district. Item 13.18, contract renewal Hess facilities, 8 mil in the amount of $8,342,404.16. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves the one year contract renewal from 01/01/2026 to 12/31/2026. Is that 2027? Okay. 12/31/2027 with Hess facilities in the amount of $8,342,404.16
to provide custodial services for all district facilities in the Southeast Region. Contract renewal, Parkoo LLC in the amount of $9,249,811.11. It is recommended that Shelby County Board of Education approves the one year contract renewal for from 01/01/2026 to 12/31/2027 with Parkland LLC in the amount of $9,249,811.11 to provide custodial services for all district facilities in the Southwest Region.
Next item is, been removed. 13.21 contract renewal service master clean LLC. 10,000,000 in the amount of $10,576,651.45. It is recommended that Shelby County Board of Education approves a one year contract renewal from 01/01/2026 to 12/31/2027 with ServiceMaster Clean LLC in the amount of $10,000,000.576651 dollars and 45¢ to provide custodial services for all district facilities in the Northeast Region
region. Next item, contract approval. District wide chiller preventative maintenance services in the amount of $474,742. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves the contract with Ewing Kessler, Inc. Carrier Corporation and Integrity Mechanical Solutions for the district wide chiller maintenance services. These are one year contracts totaling $474,742. Each contract includes two one year options to renew. Next item is 13.23
contract amendments b four applied, Inc. It's recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education amends the contract with b four applied, Inc. By extending the completion date from 12/30/2025 to 06/30/2026. This extension is necessary to repair building damage resulting from the old roof. There's no cost increase. Next item, approval, Zayo Inc. In the amount of $2,102,650.37, it is recommended that Shelby County Board of Education approve the contract with Zayo Inc.
For the intercom replacements of at seven schools for $2,102,650.37. Next item, contract approval, fiscal year '26, fire alarm replacements in the amount of $1,800,697.69. It's recommended that Shelby County Board of Education approves the contracts with the listed vendors for fire alarm replacements at six schools for one million eight hundred thousand six hundred ninety seven dollars and sixty nine cents. Next item, memorandum of understanding between Shelby County sheriff department and Memphis Shelby County Schools
recommended dollar amount non recommendation. It is recommended that the Memphis Shelby County Schools Board of Education approves the memorandum of understanding between the Shelby County sheriff's school resource officer program and Memphis Shelby County Schools. Next item, fiscal year twenty six November budget amendment. Recommendation, it is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves the November 2025 budget amendment resolution. Next item, 2026 legislative agenda. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves the 2026 legislative agenda draft review. Next item, 13.29,
the Council of Great City Schools in dollar amount 105,000. It is recommended that Shelby County Board of Education approves the two year contract between Memphis and Shelby County Schools and the Council for Great City Schools for performance of professional services. Next item, it's recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approve the 12/02/2025 consent agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? I move to approve the consent agenda. Do I have a second? Second. It has been moved by board member Murphy and seconded by board member McKissick that we approve the consent agenda.
Mister Jenkins, please take roll call vote. Board member McKissick. Aye. Board member Garcia. Aye. Board member Porter. Aye. Board member Murphy. Aye. Board member Love. Aye. Board member O'Tay. Aye. Board chair McKinney. Yes. You have seven in the affirmative. The consent agenda passes. Alright. We had one pulled item two pulled items. I'm sorry. The first one was 13.21, and the other one was 13. Was that 1313? Let's take them in the order of the thirteen 13 first and then 13.21. 13 13 just needs to be removed from consideration.
Okay. We're just removing that from the the agenda for consideration. There will be no consideration on thirteen point thirteen. Alright. Next item, 13.21. That need to be held up for, consideration too. We need more discussion on that. That is, ABM. I have some questions. I don't know if my other colleagues have any questions, but I have some questions about ABM. Before we get we'll need to because it's on a consent agenda. We'll need to discuss it now. So what I'll need is I need a motion to put it, I need a motion and a second, and then we can discuss it. Okay.
I move to discuss it. Do I have a second? Second. It has been moved by board member Murphy and seconded by board member was that McKissicker or Hugo Garcia? Hugo Garcia. Do we have any questions or discussion on this particular item? Alright. I see board member Hugo Garcia, then board member Murphy, then board member Love. During our last meeting, there was, it was shared almost in real time that there was a a complaint. Are we has has everything been settled before we Superintendent?
Yes, ma'am. Okay. In looking at the recommendation for this contract, I saw that we once employed this vendor, and had poor poor performance. So one of the follow-up items, and thank you for sending it to us, I see 9495% satisfaction with existing existing vendors. What was the what was the thinking behind, awarding someone that we've we've had to
fire in the past? And did we approach the existing vendors to see if they wanted to expand into this region? I I worry about the, the satisfaction of our the cleanliness of our buildings and that and that contribution to culture. So did we consider another option versus putting this out? Thank you for that question, board member Hubert Garcia. Doctor Richmond. Yes. Thank you, board member Garcia, for that question. What I would like for mister Langston to do would be mister Langston first, would
you, explain the procurement process, either you or miss Braxton, and why, we had to put this specific item out this year for bid for for RFP? And then if you have any historical context, then go into answering the question that, board member Garcia framed. Thank you, doctor Reitz and board members. Miss Timberlake, if you could pull up the presentation, I will walk, I will walk us through how we select vendors from a procurement process. But to answer your original question, board member Garcia, if you remember, this zone was
occupied by Dean Freshstart. We terminated the contract for Freshstart. And then what we enacted on an emergency basis for last year, well, is we split the zones between service and master and parkour at the time at that initial contract. What this now RFP process does is satisfy us and gets us through one year, for the remaining of the year. Because now that we have exhausted that emergency, enactment that we did last year, we have to, put it out for bid to get us through this last year.
If you're the other three zones are on the consent agenda for the last year as well, and we'll be putting out all four to get back on the timeline for next school year. So to answer your original question, we had to put it out back out for bid, to because our emergency contingency plan that we enacted last year had exhausted. And now this is a very inequitable way to get, a new vendor on on or get a vendor assigned to the zone by our fee process, if that answers
your question. Were they selected because they were the lowest price? No. I'm that's what I'm about to walk you through the RFP process now. Yes, ma'am. So so board members, I wanna walk us through the RFP process. So first, when we score an RFP process, it is structured by evaluation process that is designed to compare vendors fairly and objectively. While cost is a contributing factor and you'll see a minute and when we go through the criteria and RFP is not awarded solely based on price. The only time we base a solicitation on price is if we do an invitation
for bid. And that's when you see we've had discussions about like computers. Those are items, if you will, for proposals is only one criteria is price. So, more than likely, even with this large sum of millions of dollars, price isn't the only factor. Before we receive proposals, we set the criteria and then we, have have an evaluation committee that we formed to review all of the proposal. And evaluation committee consists of three or more scoring members, or, or five or more
for larger complex RFPs. This particular one consisted of eight scoring members. And we had, I believe we had 12 respondents. Five were deemed, non compliant according to procurement rules. So we scored, seven based on the proposals that we received there. The evaluation committees is a group of MSCS employees that consists of subject subject matter experts, and additional core members of the MSCS staff. The team or the committee is responsible for reviewing and scoring each proposal based on
the criteria. When they scored RFP, the highest score vendor is selected based on the criteria. Next slide. So this is a criteria that we set. So first of all, the evaluation criteria that they're going through. Remember, when we put out a bid for a proposal or response, for proposal, we put it out on the street. It usually stays on the street for anywhere between ten and fourteen days. The vendors then have a set date and time that they have to respond to the RFP, and that is the cutoff.
Based on that, then we begin to, score based on the committees. And this is the rubric that's set. 20% of the weight is for qualification and experience and their references. So, again, each vendor who presents a proposal, their committee is scoring their qualifications, their experience, and they also have references. Next, they look at quality assurance and customer service. That's based on 20%. Then they have a project plan. So specifically for custodial vendors, they have to talk about how they will address the
cleanliness of schools. And again, this committee is scoring based on the project plan that each of the vendors have submitted. Next is cost. So again, as alluded to, while cost may not be the only factor, it does weigh in 30% of the criteria or rubric for this. And then finally we do financial stability where we're looking at each company and how their, financial stability is and if they can keep up with the demands of the district of such of such this size.
Again, they told us that to 100% when we score all of the components, then we do an average based on the a scoring member. So this is kinda how we come up with the criteria. And, again, based on the law and RFP, then we rank the vendors based on the scoring to begin to make a recommendation to in a fair. And that's that's the only way we can be fair and equitable is based on the rubric that we have and the committee member scoring and getting an average. Are we gonna see this how close were the scores? So two things I can't share. I can't share with you the committee members because I knew that one.
Yeah. And then the next thing is I can tell you that the scores are really close. But, again, I can't share the scores with us as well, but I can tell you that it was close. But based on the criteria and the rubric, we're recommending the top ranked vendor that came out of of it based on the score. Okay. I think it is our our prerogative to assess how our schools well, I care about whether kids show up to clean schools, and we have evidence that this is
a risk. And I imagine the quote I don't know what the scores were, but we have current, partners or or business relationships with people who are high performing, where project plans, quality assurance, customer service, or real time. Like, I I guess that would be a curiosity I have if they're that high performing. How do we highly score someone who we've both fired and does not have data
in the last ten years, about what's actually happening under a system that we've improved in the last two years? So I just that's my concern because I don't wanna be here in three months because we're getting emails every day about our schools not having staff show up or they're coming into dirty schools when we know that we have people who can perform and not have that be the reality. But I don't wanna make a mistake when we see we've done it before. So those are my concerns.
Board member Murphy. Thank you, madam chair. I don't know how they ranked. I don't know who did this. This evaluation criteria thing, I don't know how they ranked. Because as commissioner Garcia just said, we fired them. They were they were poor. They didn't do they didn't do well for us. They didn't do well for a Williamson County, poor performance. They didn't do well for DeSoto County, poor performance. The last thing we need is another fresh start event to happen where we have to rush and put people in position to clean these schools. We don't need last minute, moving things around and moving companies around to keep this
zone clean. I don't want that, and I don't need that. I don't know how many they represent. I don't know how many people coming in to represent, but I do know that this company is not for our zone. It is not for our district because they had a poor performance before, and I'm quite sure they probably don't have another poor performance again. That's just my concern. We need our kids to be safe. We need clean schools. We don't need our kids coming home with with flu virus and and all the germs that they spread around because our schools are not properly cleaned. So I just wanna make sure that we move in excellence. And the only way to move in excellence is that we minimize the companies that
we know that's not gonna do good for our kids, that's not gonna do good for our district. To move in excellence, we work with excellence, and this is not excellence. Thank you. Board member Love. Garcia asked most of my questions, But who made the rubric? So the so the rubric is made by again, it's it's a combination of the procurement team and the the subject matter experts that makes the rubric. In my professional opinion, the rubric is is a fine rubric based on this. Now, again, the committee is responsible for scoring a proposal.
Again, every vendor has an opportunity to put their best foot forward. That's the only way you can be fair and equitable is you submit your best proposal for the committee to then weigh in on. So there's the the the rubric is, again, in my professional opinion, a fine rubric. I don't believe so. Because financial stability, five points. 5%. The cost is 30%. We are discussing a vendor that's the lowest bidder.
How many schools do, did Freshstart have under our contract? I wanna say missus Michelle, you may have help me. I wanna say 36, 37 possibly. And, again, this isn't the lowest bidder. Again, it's not based on price. This is not necessarily the lowest bidder. This is the highest ranked vendor according to the rubric. I just wanted to clear that up. Doesn't mean that they their cost was the lowest. It just means that 30 schools.
Yeah. I I wanna say anywhere between thirty six and forty schools. How much did Freshstart bid their contract? Roundabout. I I wanna say off the top of my head, it was around $7.87900000.0 dollars. And they have the same, contract? They have the same amount of schools. Again, the the two necessarily doesn't have to be the same. How many employees did Freshstart have? Roughly a 175 employees, I wanna say. And how many employees does ABM have?
After the bidding process, they're gonna have roughly about 182 employees. I agree with the board members. I was on the board when ABM was not doing a good job, and the services that I see now are way above the vendor that we're discussing. The schools are clean in my district. They're clean. I go to a lot of schools outside of my district, and they're clean.
The board is responsible for this contract. Thank you. Board member Porter, Hubert Garcia, Murphy, McKissick. So, within that emergency contract, was it an option to renew within that contract? No, sir. That's which is why we're here today. I guess. This is to get us the to the final year. And, again, in May, possibly June, we're gonna be at a all of the contracts will expire. We'll be putting out all four zones again to renew for another four years for all four zones at that time.
Do you know how many, employees it take to, for those each vendor to operate per zone? Is that a calculator in the rubies from Kennewick? On average, I say anywhere between $1.75 and $1.80. But I wanna be clear, The we can do there there is a standard calculation that we can do for the number of employees. The truth of the matter is, you can have 150 great employees who can clean just as well as 200 employees.
Our goal is to ensure from an operational lens, taking away the RFP processes, that we have clean schools. Just like those the the, just like the board's job is. So, miss Stewart, my job is to make sure that schools are clean and no matter who the vendor that the board chooses to to to approve, we're gonna have to hold them accountable to clean schools, whether they have a 150 employees or 2,000 employees. Yeah. So no. And and I definitely agree with that. But, I just think in good faith for me, I can't support this because what
I'm thinking is you're gonna we're gonna be laying off people close towards the holidays. And, they probably tonight when you know they have a job. So that's why I think that I kinda, you know, the way it is for us. Like, I've been getting getting great feedback from my schools. Just, talking about just, you know, just employees excited to come to school. I mean, to come to work. And so, just from their perspective, I want babies to to support this. Board member Hugo Garcia. It's it sounds like there's, several colleagues who have concerns based on past performance and wanna recognize that businesses grow and evolve and, you know, what was presented is a
is a decade later. I won't get that, and so I don't want them to hear this negatively. We are protecting our kids and we're we're and our teachers, the culture of our buildings matters on on how clean they are. What is the process if the board does not accept this recommendation, for putting something in place? What are our options? Right off the top of my head, we'll we'll probably have to look internally because we would be at board of a contract.
So me Stewart and myself, we would have to look internally to determine how we would do internal employees to clean those schools. I wanna be clear. This is this contract, from an emergency standpoint, is ending. So in order to it ends December, 2025. So January 1, January 2, when schools start back, we need some solution in place to clean schools. So absent of the the board approving some, vendor to move forward, then internally, we'll
mister Stewart and I myself will work with our teams to bring the superintendent recommendation because our jobs, at the end of the day, is gonna be to clean schools. So is it I guess, since we have the other two vendors on a or we've got three, to finish out the year. I I think I was worried about putting a new infrastructure in place for people who have not been in our schools for eleven years, and didn't perform when they were. Is it possible that we just ask the capacity of our existing vendors to take
on the work? Or is that a is that a required emergency contract in and of itself or an amendment to their current contracts? So based on the way we've done this, we've already exhausted the emergencies. Again, from my lens, what we'd be looking at is from a fair and equitable standpoint is looking at doing something internally, because we've exhausted our emergency officers for this contract. So we will we will have to find Memphis Shelby County School employee capacity if we do not approve this.
That's the the first thing that's coming up in in my mind. Now I can go and work with the legal counsel to see if there's any other options that we can enact. But, again, we enacted an emergency basis based on fresh start leaving, and we knew this was ending 12/31/2025. The committee has brought forward the recommendation for a vendor. The board has his right to approve it up or down. And then again, it's our job to to support schools being clean.
So, based on what I the knowledge that I have now, I don't see how we could able to be moved forward unless I can get with the general counsel to come up with another solution. I mean, what I don't want to happen is they don't get cleaned if we don't make take action tonight. And this is our last board meeting, but I know, I would like there to be a discussion with general counsel if we have this these concerns. And if I am a a teacher, a twenty year teacher, and said they employed
him again, that's why none of them remember anything. Right? Like, that is it is our job to look at the past performance, and I want if we have other options, approving this seems, like, we've we've forgotten our own mistakes here. So, so I would like general counsel. And if we have to come back and make sure that we have something in place for January, then I think we we we reconvene if we need to. But I know there are more comments. Next is board member Murphy, board member McKissick, board member Otey, board member Porter.
And then I believe we will need to confer with general counsel on options. So let's go through those. Yeah. Do you all I wanna hear what you all have to say. So Murphy, McKissick, Otey, Porter. Thank you, madam chair. I'm a make mine short. Let me let me give clarity. Thank you, Amber, for that. Let me get clarity. If our schools are not properly cleaned and sanitized, that's when viruses reach out children, when they touch stuff and they touch somebody else.
So I wanna make sure I had clarity on that one. Number two, all money ain't good money. My momma always used to say that, all money ain't good money. So So just because they bid it low don't mean they're gonna do a good job. That's number two. Number three, we do not wanna be back in the news for the same thing we were in the news last year for, that we have to now find somebody else to clean this zone because they haven't done a good job or they walked off. We don't need to be back in the media for that. So we have to be careful when we make decisions for our children and who's
cleaning these schools to make sure they are safe and that their health is in good condition. So it is a lot of things play a part in this. And so that is why I'm adamant about we need to come up with something else, another suggestion, general counsel. Whatever we need to do, we need to do it. Thank you. Board member McKissick. Thank you, madam chair. Initially, I just wanna say I wanted to call the question, but, so what does doctor Richmond, whomever you designate, what does ABM say about their service and what everybody
is saying about their service? I mean, I if this was something from ten years ago, I'm just you know, that's a long time ago. So what are they saying about who they are and what they are right now? Great question, miss board member McKeesick. So, again, based on the committee's response in their proposal, the committee is is formed to hear the best proposals that all vendors have bring forward.
Based on what was proposed, the committee has recommended, based on this rubric, ABM to be the winner for this RFP. So based on that, their their the committee has said that ABM is the top rated vendor. Thank you. So is there any sort of contingency or out clause in this one year contract, one year, to mitigate any concerns that may pop up during the course of this year in terms of the cleanliness of the schools?
Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Like, we so we have contingency in all of our contracts for our vendors. So, if just like we have with Freshstart, our job is to hold any vendor that is in our schools accountable to services. If they can't render the service, no matter who it who it is, then one, we'll hold them accountable. And if they eventually can't, cure, any situations, if they arise, then we'll bring be bringing before the board another option to solve for schools if we were to move
forward. Okay. Thank you. So, what I'm asking of my colleagues then, just in light of a rock and a hard place situation that apparently we're in right now, one year, one year contract. There's some clauses along the way saying to come down with them. But this is if we're concerned about issues that were documented a decade ago, I I I'm just inclined at this point to support this recommendation by the administration. Thank you. Board member Otey and then Porter. I think many of my colleagues asked several questions.
I'm gonna try to go and see which one they didn't ask. So there was absolutely no option to move forward or renew the current the current, whoever is currently claiming those place the schools. Right? Absolutely no option. Right? We we we exhausted that option on an emergency basis last year. So in a fair and compliant way, we have to put it back out for b to, get compliance. So answer is no. That's correct. Okay. And then so how how long does it typically take when you're hiring new staff, which is December 2 right now, and getting equipment and all that, how long does
that typically take for a new vendor to do that? Background checks? Roughly three to four weeks. We we was at the same point last year. Gotcha. Usually what happens, if I could just be honest with you, is employees it's the same cast of employees. They just change one shirt and go to another one. Yep. We've changed vendors. That's usually what happens. But they do have to go through the process. Background checks everything for fifteen to four weeks. School will be back in by that time. They do have to Okay. Go through the background check. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Thank you. Board member Porter. No. I think all the questions are gonna exhausted.
I'll I'll move the call to question. Second. Doesn't alright. I have a call for the previous question. It's moved and seconded. Moved by board member port Porter, seconded by board member McKissick. This motion is non debatable. Those in favor of ordering the previous question, please take a roll call vote. So you're gonna say yes to move to the previous question or no to keep debate going. Roll call vote, please. Board member McKissing. I'm sorry I need clarity.
What exactly we're Yes, you're agreeing we're gonna call for the previous question. We gotta vote on calling for the previous question. So you have to say if you wanna call for a previous question, yes. Yes, most definitely. Board member Garcia? Yes. Board member Porter? Yes. Board member Murphy? Yes. Board member Love? Yes. Board member O'Tay? Yes. Board chair McKinney? Yes. You have seven in the firm. Alright. We are we have, passed the call for the previous question. We're now on to back to the motion, and the motion was I gotta find
it again. Contract approval, ABM Industries Group, for $7,215,103.13. It is recommended that Shelby County Board of Education approves the one year contract from 01/01/2026 to through 12/31/2027 with ABM Industries Group in the amount of $7,215,103.13 to provide custodial services for all district facilities in the Northwest Region. Roll call vote, please, mister Jenkins.
Board member McKissick? Aye. Board member Garcia? No. No. No? Alright. Board member Porter? No. Board member Murphy? No. Board member Love? No. Board member O'Tay? No. Board chair McKinney? Yes. You have two in affirmative and five nays. The motion fails, and the ABM Industries Group contract is not approved. Alright. We're moving on to request for action 14.1, Resolution approval, a resolution of the Shelby County Board of Education, delegating authority to the
superintendent to pursue an advanced legislative proposal. Recommendation, it is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves the resolution authorizing delegating authority to the superintendent to pursue and advance legislative proposals. Do I have a motion to approve this resolution? I move to approve the resolution. Do I have a second? It has been moved by board member Murphy, seconded by board member Ote. Roll call vote, please, mister Jenkins. Oh, I'm sorry. Before roll call vote, any questions? Seeing no quest oh, one question. Board member Love. What is the urgency of this resolution?
Board member Love, we discussed this during November 18 board committee meetings, I believe. And the request from the policy office and legislation was that we are getting ready to start the legislative season in January, prior to us coming back to the, for a meeting. And this is also so that if the general assembly is fast paced, and so if there is something that occurs, the staff can move quickly on it. And then in the resolution, you will see that it says they will immediately let
us know what they're doing. Thank you. Any other questions? Alright. Seeing no additional questions, mister Jenkins, please take roll call vote. Board member McKissick? Aye. Board member Garcia? Aye. Board member Porter? Aye. Board member Murphy? Aye. Board member Love? Aye. Board member O'Tay? Aye. Board chair McKinney? Yes. You have seven in the affirmative. The resolution passes. Moving on to the next item of business is 2025 LEA compliance report. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves the 2025 LEA compliance
report. Do I have a motion to approve 14.2? I move to approve the resolution. Second. I'm sorry. Compliance report. It has been moved by board member McKissick and seconded by board member Murphy. Is there any discussion? I think I see board member McKissick. Oh, that wasn't for that. Okay. No discussion. Alright. Alright. Seeing no discussion, roll call vote, mister Jenkins. Board member McKissick? Aye. Board member Garcia? Aye. Board member Porter? Aye. Board member Murphy? Aye. Board member Love? Aye.
Board member Otey? Aye. Board chair Coleman? Yes. You have seven in the affirmative. This passes moving forward to 14.3 MOU memorandum of understanding with MSCEA and TEA. It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education approves a memorandum of understanding between the Shelby County Board of Education and the Memphis Shelby County Education Association and United Education Association of Shelby County. Do I have a motion for item 14.3? I move to approve the memorandum of understanding between MSEA and TA.
Second. It has been moved by board member Otey and seconded by board member Murphy. Mister Jenkins do we have any discussion? No discussing, no discussion. Roll call vote. Vote, please, mister Jenkins. Board member McKissick? Aye. Board member Garcia? Aye. Board member Porter? Aye. Board member Murphy? Aye. Board member Love? Aye. Board member O'Tay? Aye. Board chair McKinney? Yes. You have seven in the affirmative. This passes. Next item, 14.4 Treadwell Middle School. Kids First high dosage tutoring services for ELA and math grant in the amount of
$118,000. Tag five point o grant is recommended that Shelby County Board of Education approves the purchase to Kids First Education LLC in the amount of $118,000 for tutoring services that include ELA high dosage tutoring for 40 sessions at $1,475 per session totaling 59,000 and math high dosage tutoring for 40 sessions at 100 $1,475 per session totaling 59,000. Do I have a motion to approve item 14.4? I move to approve item 14.4.
Do I have a second? It has been moved by board member Murphy and seconded by board member Otey. Is there any discussion? Seeing no discussion, mister Jenkins, please take roll call vote. Board member McKissick? Aye. Board member Garcia? Aye. Board member Porter? Aye. Board member Murphy? Aye. Board member Love? Board member O'Tay? Aye. Board chair McKinney? Yes. You have seven in the affirmative. Item passes. Moving to the next item, 14.5, twenty twenty five donation acceptance service master facilities maintenance winter clothing initiative. Donation is valued at $20,000 or above.
It is recommended that the Shelby County Board of Education accept a donation valued at $20,000 from service master facilities maintenance for winter wear for students to promote attendance awareness and reduce barriers by providing students with the resources that they need. Do I have a motion to approve item 14.4? I move to approve item 14.4. Do I have a second? Second. It has been moved by board member Murphy and seconded by board member McKissick. Are is there any discussion? Seeing no discussion, mister Jenkins, please take roll call. Vote. Board member McKissick?
Aye. Board member Garcia? Aye. Board member Porter? Aye. Board member Murphy? Aye. Board member Love? Aye. Board member O'Tay? Aye. Board chair McKinney? Yes. You have seven in the front. Item passes. Alright. Seeing that there is no further business, this meeting is now, adjourned. Happy holidays. Merry Christmas.