We'll be opening the meeting with a brief moment of silence or prayer and a pledge of allegiance to The United States flag. No one is required to participate or be present for any of these, and being in this portion of the meeting is completely voluntary. Tonight as in Tuesday, I would like for us to please be in remembrance in thinking of Tim Holden who is suffering from stage four kidney failure. He served as a member of our school board and was a real asset to this community. Mike Walls, also our director of maintenance is recovering from surgery.
Please have him in your thoughts and prayers. If you could bow your head for a silent prayer, please. Thank you. First up, we have I'm sorry. I just I keep forgetting pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. It's even worse because we have the DAR tonight, and I'm in the DAR, so I apologize. First up, we have the approval of the agenda. Give everyone just a moment, click that over.
I'll entertain a motion. Motion to approve. Second. Thank you, mister, Vaughn. Thank you, mister Tidwell. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Now we have the renewal extension of the director's contract. I'll make a motion that we, approve the renewal of the extension of doc Sullivan's contract. Do I have a second? Thank you, miss Rosalba. Any comments or questions? Miss Maxwell? Yes. Mister Tidwell. I'll just reiterate the same thing I did at the the first contract and I did at the the work session.
Thankful for doc Chilton's leadership. This is not anything personal. Thankful for that. But I would ask the board to consider an amendment that if something happened, this contract will not be paid out the entire time. So it didn't sound like I had much support for that on Tuesday, but that's my position on that. That instead of if let go for just cause, because I'm looking at just future contracts. Because what this contract could be used is precedent for the next contract and the next contract. So, in that manner, I would think that it would be useful that instead of
paying out the full contract, if something were to be if something were to happen, that you'd pay out for six months instead. So I would like to make an amendment to the contract, if possible, for that. That would be my motion. Second from miss Sharp. Okay. Before we vote, could you explain, mister Reid, exactly what the contract states regarding cause and, no cause. Just cause the contract right now, if you terminate a director for cause, you don't
pay anything for the balance of the contract term. So if you have a reason to terminate a director, you don't pay the balance of the contract term off. If you decide that you just don't like him one day, you want to change him for no change the director for no reason, say you fire him for no cause and you just terminate him because we don't we just want to make a change in that position. No real reason. We just want someone else in that seat. In that case, you do pay out the balance of the contract because, I guess, from a someone taking the position of director of schools, they're usually coming from either
a a civil service type job or similar kind of administrative job, which is planning secure and safe, and they probably have longevity with respect to that position. A director of schools is not really is you you're sitting in a hot seat when you take director of school's position. So whenever you change jobs and take a decide to accept the job, a director of schools, you're going from probably a more secure position to a less secure position by virtue of the nature of the position itself. So, most people who are gonna be sitting in that position is going are gonna
say, if you're going to get rid of me for for no reason, just because you don't like me, you should pay me out the balance of the contract term. Otherwise, you may have a four year contract that if you only pay six months worth of severance, it's really only a six month contract at that point if you're terminating someone without cause. But the way the contract reads now, if you if the director quits, he gets paid through his the day he quits, and he stops working. If you fire him for calls or terminate him for calls, he does not get paid the balance of his contract.
So the severance only kicks in in if you decide you just gonna you're gonna make a change to that position for no good reason or no sound reason. In that case, you pay out the balance of the contract at that point. And, so that's what the contract currently reads, and that's how these things tip typically are are structured. So if you do have calls to terminate a director and terminate a director for calls, you don't pay, the balance of the contract. Yes. Mister Tidwell? I got a follow-up question that you said, just for no good reason or no
reason, but there is a define a definition for calls and, you know, just whatever other reason. So there there are some differences there. But also, in Spurlock's case, the previous director, he was paid out for the remainder of his contract. Mhmm. He was. There's a lot going on that and a lot of the board I think there's only two board members who was still around when all that was still going on. I was here when it went on. There's a lot of talk and and a lot of work that went involved with with that change when that was made.
So, that's what I'm trying to do. That in that case. Right. So that's what I'm trying to prevent. Mister mister Vaughn. There's no no reason to have any kind of, amendment. This thing, it doesn't hold water. So, like, you know, if you don't have wings, it'd fly. Miss Rosales. So I'm a little bit confused. So if the amendment has I mean, if the contract already has removal with cause, no payout, I don't know why we need to amend the contract to add the
stipulation removal for just cause if already explicit states that he's not gonna get paid if he's terminated for just cause. The contract already says that. Yes. Right. So I don't know why we need to vote on that and make an amendment if it already includes the amendment. I guess I'm confused as to why we're voting on something to amend the contract when it already is in the contract. Or am I not understanding what that motion was asked? Because it said remove for just cause.
Make an amendment, remove for just cause, and and change the compensation. So that's why I'm confused. Mister Tidwell. I'll just read this line. This is section e. Unilateral termination by the board. The board may, at its option, unilaterally terminate this contract even without just cause. In the event of such termination, the board shall pay the director as severance pay the full salary and benefit package within his contract from the actual date of termination established by the board for the remaining term of this contract. That's here. So there is just cause and then there's unilateral termination by the board even without
just cause. You said there's a lot of things that happened with Spurlock. One of the issues that I had when I was campaigning for this board was paying two directors at the same time. I would not want to go through that. Mister Vaughn, I didn't talk. I would not Just let him talk. I think I have the floor. Just let him talk. Look. I'm not gonna be on the downside of this or not. But I am doing this in what I think is the best for the school system. I'm not trying to get rid of doctor Sullivan.
I'm not trying to move past doctor Sullivan. But this will set precedent. It has already set previous precedent with Spurlock and then that got paid out. So I don't know all the details of that, but that is a non negotiable for me. If if y'all want to vote down the amendment, y'all can vote it down. We can move on, go on to the next thing. Totally fine. But to just dismiss this as if that section is not in the contract, I think is, not the best interpretation. Real quickly. Four years from now, a new board can come in and can check could could
could when a new director is hired they can do a new they don't have to use this old contract. They don't have to. They can structure it the way they want it structured. So I If I'm still here. Yeah. I hope you're still here. But We want you to still be here. But but the the you keep saying this makes precedent, this makes precedent. I hope it does but it doesn't necessarily. It doesn't mean there could be a whole different group of people here and they could structure it differently. So but I I agree. I don't think it needs amending. But he hasn't he has a, he has the floor. He, has an amendment, and we do need to vote on that, please.
So yes, miss Darby. I just wanna say for the constituents of Rutherford County that are listening or watching that maybe haven't followed this since a couple years ago, I agree with mister Tidwell in the sense that if you're looking at this contract from the perspective of trying to make decisions on what's best for the district, I do believe it's best for the district for doctor Sullivan to remain where he is. And I would love to offer him an extension.
I also believe that there are issues with the contract, one of which being when the previous board gave the previous director the extension, everybody was happy with what they were doing. And it was only when whatever all went on went on that it became an issue, but it did cost the taxpayers a $199,000. And this contract right now, if we were halfway through it, it would cost the taxpayers $587,000 If if it was beyond that, I mean, you can go all the
way up to over $1,000,000. That's where my concern comes in. It's taking money away from our students and teachers. It's taking money away from our taxpayers. I don't expect that to be an issue. Doctor Sullivan's done a great job. I think he will continue to. But my responsibility to the district to make decisions based on what's best for the district, when I look at that contract, that language is my barrier in going forward with it. Miss Black. Hold on. I think miss Sharp wanted to say something.
I'll get right to you. I too support mister Tidwell's amendment to this because this is a clause that is in any director's I spoke with several of my friends that are school board members across the state today. This is a clause that's in in any director's contract. It's also in any CFO's contract or CEO's contract if you're in the private industry. It is just good business. I don't expect doctor Sullivan to do anything, and I would love for him to stay here. I enjoy working with doctor Sullivan, but it is our responsibility, as miss Darby said,
to be cautious with other people's money. And that's what this is. Thank you. Mister I'll get right with you. I'm sorry. Mister Vaughn. Do you forget my name? Alright. I've sat here and listened to this, and and I thought it was a kind of a simple procedure here that that Butch had brought up to, I guess, in in a roundabout way, tell doctor Sullivan and his staff that y'all have done a great job with the test scores and all that. We're just gonna, you know, extend his contract.
But now all of a sudden, we're trying to renegotiate his contract. And listening to the dialogue and everybody, again trying to play lawyer a lot of times here, I get tickled with contracts. This is a contract. Ms Sharp, you were sitting here when it was negotiated four years ago, whenever it was, you voted for it then. It wasn't a problem then. I don't understand why it's a problem now. Ms. Darby, Mr. Tidwell, both of you all have defied legal advice. If you're pretending to save the taxpayers money, y'all got us in a lawsuit with
the ACLU. So if we're really trying to save money, let's save money, but don't hide behind that excuse because you want to change something right here, you want to lower it back down, you want to renegotiate the director's contract, I think that's very disingenuous on y'all's part. I'm just going to call it like I see it right now. I would encourage my fellow board members to vote this amendment down.
Miss Maxwell mister Vaughn. Oh, sorry. Miss Rosales. I don't give a rat size what the former board I mean, the contract former, director have anything to do with it. It doesn't it doesn't matter. That has no bearing on this whatsoever. I don't wanna disrespect any board member by what I'm fixing to say. But our commitment as board members is to make decisions that's best for our students. But yet, you do not support a director who has made decisions that's made our
schools the best in the state of Tennessee. Some of you are politically grandstanding because of your actions and decisions. None of you have ever been in a school and do not understand the importance of the impact a director of school has on the schools. I've been there. I've been here for forty three years. I know the impact. The director of schools is a person who makes the decisions, the the hard ones. He establishes morale.
He establishes what's expected from every person in the system. Makes key personnel changes when necessary. There's nobody at the at this office or any school that does not understand what doctor Sullivan expects of. It's beyond all my understanding why you, who do not support this extension, do not support doctor Sullivan. It has and is obvious to anybody who pays attention to our board meetings that
you do not support doctor Sullivan and his efforts to continue to make positive improvements. Proof of this is that most of the efforts that's that doctor Sullivan has brought has been passed by a four to three vote. And people it's a joke around town. Everywhere I go, they say, hey. We know you know, you could throw a, I'm not gonna say what all they say, but you could throw it out there and it'd be a four three vote. But what part of these accomplishments do you do not realize?
Please understand. Listen to what I'm fixing to tell you. Our school system is a rewards district. It's been continued for, from the state of Tennessee. Our district growth and statewide performance surpasses Williamson County. We're the now the number one school system in the state of Tennessee for value added. And for the ones that that don't understand what value added is, that's what kids learn.
And in my experience, that's what it's all about. That's why we teach every day. We got the number one elementary school in the nation. We've got the number two magnet school in the nation. Number one last year. And we're gonna get after doctor Ashford, let it slip to number two. We've had zero findings in the state audit because doctor Servan's attention to detail, a federal balanced budget for the past two years, potential raises resulting in fewer vacancies, physical
responsibility and reasonable per pupil spending, positive evaluations from the board and school principals, noticeable improvement in staff morale. 45 schools in the past two years have achieved level five status. Last year, we had 32. We were the number school system in the state with the number of level five schools. What else do you wanna expect from the director of schools? If you cannot support the director, what is accomplished?
I hope and pray that someone replaces you that truly wants to do what's best for our students, our staff, administrators, our teachers, and school staff. And one other thing, it's so bad. We looked at the evaluations this past year and considered everything that doctor Sullivan and his staff has done, but yet in so many categories, He were he was above
four in all of them. But, again, there was no excuse for him to be as close to four as what it was. If anybody deserves five, it's doctor Jimmy Sullivan. I don't know what y'all want, but I wanna mention just like I did the other night. I'm old football coach and don't know a whole lot. But I know one thing. If I was a school board member in another system who's looking for a director of schools, The first person not to come up to would be doctor Jimmy Sowell.
You don't go after the worst coach. You go after the best. And if you LSU fan, that's the reason you got lame tip. But, you know, it's just it's beyond me. I I just don't understand what all this this, stuff it don't mean a hell of beans, To to to wanna sit there and modify and all the it's just beyond me. And so I I hope that we get some people on the board that do
what's best for the kids. If you wanna do what's best for the kids, you keep the people that are keeping the boat going in the right direction. So that's all I got to say. Thank you, mister Bowen. Mister Vassellas, thank you. I just wanna make sure I understand where we're getting ready to vote. We're going to vote on adding a clause to the contract. Termination with just cost, no compensation. Just cost, no compensation. Is that the motion? That's what it is anyway, ain't it, mister Reed? No. How do you have it written?
That's not what I thought he meant. And we can change it however you guys want. But I just have it as, hold on. Let me get to lose my place. Amendment to the motion to modify the severance payout in the event the director is terminated. So there's no cause. Is that correct? Do I need to speak? Yes. Alright. I'm sorry. Yeah. It would be, if it was done with just cause has certain terminology that goes along with it. So if it was without just cause, which is as you has have it written, there'd be a six month severance, where he would keep all his benefit, he or
she, whoever the director was at the time, would keep all his benefits and everything that goes along with including his salary. So the benefits would remain as it does here in the contract, except instead of going the entire rest of the contract, it would go for six months. Okay. Miss Max Yes, miss Murphy. How will this if the board were to vote on this and it passes hypothetically. How will this go to doctor Sullivan because it's an it's a negotiation. Yeah. And so if it goes to him and he doesn't accept the terms, what happens?
You don't have a change in the contract. So this is a contract that requires both parties to sign off and agree to it. So if doctor Sullivan did not agree on any, amendment, then you would not be able to change that section without his agreement. So if it's the will of the board to vote with, what if this hypothetically passes, he disagrees with it, it's a will of the board, someone has to compromise. Well, the current contract stays in place. There's no amendment at that point. But it's the will of the board.
No. No? Mm-mm. Mm-mm. So we're gonna be voting okay. Okay. This is really interesting to me. We're gonna be voting on adding with that cost. It hasn't been taken to doctor Sullivan prior to being here. We're gonna give it to him, and if he doesn't like it, we're still gonna go back to the contract the way it is? The existing contract's in place and is enforceable unless the board unless there's an amendment that both parties sign off and agree to. So why are we voting on the language in the contract instead of just sticking
to just keeping to the original motion of voting to just extend a two year extension. Either way, it may not get changed at all, even if it gets voted. Like, I don't understand why we're going I just don't understand why we're doing this motion right now, when he hasn't gone to him. I don't he may not even accept it, and we're still gonna keep the same contract. Like I don't understand why we're doing We have to vote on the amendment, and
if the amendment passes Well that's one thing. But if it doesn't pass, then it's a moot point and we just go on and we vote on this contract. Well, I'm just gonna tell you it's a wasted motion and I'm gonna be abstain because if it doesn't go to him first, I don't understand why we're sitting here at the table to vote on when we're gonna end up going back to the same contract. Because if he doesn't accept the terms, doesn't matter what the will of the board is, that means we're gonna have the original. So for those purposes, I'm gonna abstain.
Miss Maxwell. Yes. Okay. Never mind. If I've seen if it's three to three does it end? It ends if it's four to three. Okay. Okay? So, could you read that one amendment again, and we will vote by roll call, please, miss Williams. Alright. Amendment to the motion made by mister Tidwell and seconded by miss Sharp to modify the severance payout to six months without just cause in the event the director is
terminated. Yeah. No. No. It'd be it'd be without calls. Just calls is listed with specific definitions. Missus Maxwell, appoint appoint of order. We will have to vote on the call to question first, and then we'll have to vote on the amendment, and then we'll have to vote on the contract. Mister Reese, do we vote on the amendment first? No. You're voting on the question first. Question. You're voting on whether or not to stop discussion. Okay. I didn't realize that's right. I'm sorry. Discussion. Okay. Let's vote to stop discussion. Yes. Right.
Missus Darby? Yes. Mister Vaught? Yes. Missus Rosales? Yes. Mister Vaughn? Yes. Mister Tidwell? No. Miss Sharp? Yes. Missus Maxwell? Yes. Motion passes. Now we vote on the amendment. Voting on the amendment. Okay. Do you want me to read it one more time? Yeah. Read it for mister Vaughn just one more time. Okay. Amendment to the motion made by Caleb Tidwell and seconded by Tammy Sharp to modify the severance pay payout to six months without just cause, in the event the director
is terminated. Mister Tidwell. Yes. Missus Rosales. No. Miss Sharp. Yes. Mister Vaught? No. Mister Vaughn? No. Missus Darby? Yes. Missus Maxwell? No. The motion fails. Now we go to our original motion. And could you read that, please? Okay. Motion made by mister Vaughn and seconded by missus Rosales to approve the director's contract extension as presented. Thank you. Mister Vaughn?
Yes. Mister Vaughn. Yes. Missus Darby. No. Miss Sharp. No. Mister Tidwell. No. Missus Rosales? Yes. Missus Maxwell? Yes. Motion passes. Thank you. Before we move on, and I would like doctor Sullivan to say a little something after this. But I have written a little something, that was heavy on my heart today. When I was elected to school board in 2020, it was my desire to help this board immediately with support for our schools and families. A school board is responsible for providing a good education for students while assuring that
tax dollars are spent well. There are several things that were prioritized and the board was responsible for. One, safety and security in our schools which we address renovations and the purchase of weapons detectors. Two, top academic offerings at all of our schools as well as innovative CTE programs that would appeal to the widest number of students. And I believe we've accomplished that and will continue to strive for more in the future. Thirdly, providing responsible budget that maximizes our hard earned tax dollars while providing adequate resources to our teachers and students.
We have tried our best to compensate the employees of our district which has led us to recruit and retain the best faculty, administrators, and support staff. However, what led us here tonight at and to vote on this contract extension was not of the board's doing. It was the direct result of leadership at the highest level. Student outcomes are the way we are measured as a district and it is our esteemed director, doctor Jimmy Sullivan who deserves the credit for our high marks and status as a level five district.
His leadership and expertise cultivates an environment where everyone can excel. He works tirelessly to promote this district and holds everyone accountable. Administrators and faculty know he values them and supports them and in turn they reciprocate that with the utmost respect and effort. Tonight's vote is a celebration of our school system and our desire to let our district director know we are so very thankful for his leadership. We in turn want to reward him with an extension. We are a model for the entire state and other districts are definitely watching.
I have been told repeatedly from other districts that we need to hold on to doctor Sullivan and we plan on doing just that. I got a comment. Wait. Wait. You can go ahead. When the when the polls open in the fall, just remember how the votes were tonight, folks. We got to have people on the school board that supports the director, supports our students, supports our teachers, and our administrators. And we do that, there's no telling what we could do.
But we we fight a four three battle every time a vote comes up. I'm just glad we got four three. We need to have seven o. Thank you. Doctor Sullivan. So I wrote this because those of you that work with me every day know that, this means a lot to me. And obviously, I wanted to show emotion but not get too emotional. So I want to thank the majority of the school board, but this isn't about me. It's about our district. I was born and raised here. Darn, I thought I'd do better than that. Educated here, chose to raise my family here, and wanna ensure those that also live
here have that same great opportunity. A director is only as good as the people and the team that they have around them. Yesterday was a tough day. And it was a just a microcosm of how great of a team we have. We had a situation at one of our schools, right down the street that required our immediate attention of our leadership team. And there's not a lot of places that could pull off a immediate attention at 08:15, 08:20 to go take care of a security risk.
And the still have 51 principals coming to this building at 09:00 and be able to start a principals meeting on time where the rest of our attention was at our school that needed support. And that school was still able to get every kid in safely and be able to switch their classes with their schedule by 10:00. And that is attention to detail, but most importantly about the people that we have both at the district and at the school level. These things don't happen by accident. They happen because of our people.
I also have to mention, of course, our school leaders, teachers and staff at our schools. What we ask of our school leaders each and every day is really nothing short of extraordinary. Our school leaders are tasked with leading small cities. What they do and what they do with our amazing teachers and staff so amazingly, as Mr. Vaughn mentioned, we had the highest academic growth of any district in Tennessee. And for us, that is talking about students' outcomes and what they are achieving. That's what this is all about. Large school systems often lose their identity. When we go to schools and talk at the beginning of the year, we talk
about our number one priorities to make sure that even though we're large, we still feel small. And as long as we keep our number one focus on our people, I'm confident that that'll continue to happen. We will make mistakes, but as long as we put people first, we'll continue to excel together. Lastly, to the community, thank you. And as a director, I know that oftentimes I'm loved and hated at the same time. Parents and community members, they want a good school system. But most importantly, parents want a good education for their child. I think throughout my career and through the support system that has been shown to
my family through two tragedies, I hope you can see that although I may have a, a title that requires me to make decisions that you won't always agree with, Probably this upcoming week around snow. Some will love it, some will not. I'm just a regular person that's blessed to have been born and raised in Rutherford County. I say it all the time, but if you're out, oh darn, I did good. A lot of people come up and just introduce themselves. I'm just a regular person who's blessed to lead this district. So please, if you see us out, stop, say hi, introduce yourself because it's just
being a part of this community that's special. So thank you. Next, we have the approval of the consent agenda. So moved. Second. I need to dismiss it. Okay. Yeah. For the official notice, I did this at the work session, but Christiana Middle School, the Tennessee Ignite Basketball practice, Gym 2426 to 07:31 twenty six. I am an employee, obviously, of the district. Normally, employees are do get a waiver from the expense. But to make sure that everything is fair, the organization will be paying the $18 per hour.
That is the team that I am coaching. So please make sure that that's in the minutes, miss Williams. Thank you. I'll still sit. So noted. Next we have a, present. You didn't vote. Okay. So so sorry. Yes. You were so excited about me coaching. That's I am so excited about your coaching. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, I'm so excited that we have a presentation from the colonel Hardy Murphy d a DAR chapter, of which I am a member of the captain William Lytle chapter.
Love the DAR. Welcome. Good evening. My name is Valerie DeHoff, and I am the current regent of the Colonel Hardy Murphy chapter which was established in 1910 by Mary Knowles Murphy. So we've been serving this community for a long time. Our DAR mission is historic preservation, education, and patriotism. And we have some opportunities that we want to share with you to fulfill that
mission. I have with me Elaine Alexander who is an honorary regent, immediate past regent, and she's going to share that with us. Doctor Alexander. As you know, 2026 is our semi quincentennial year celebrating two hundred fifty years of independence from Great Britain. Hopefully you saw the PBS special on that and watched all six hours. I'm sure we did. So, what we decided to do is to try to get information about patriots Rutherford County and members into the schools.
And we wrote a grant that we received from the state state museum, state of Tennessee Museum, actually the Tennessee Commission for the US Semiquincentennial and the state of Tennessee to put a poster in all Rutherford County schools. We're doing Murfreesboro City Schools too, and local private schools of four patriots Rutherford County remembers. We think that people need to know that, Captain William Lytle donated the 60 acres that started Murfreesboro. General Griffith Rutherford, after whom our our county is named, was a was a patriot
that never set foot in Rutherford County. Kind of interesting. Colonel Harding Murphy after whom our chapter is named, after whom Murfreesboro is named. And there's also a city in North Carolina named after his family as well. And then Peter Jennings, and we really wanna educate folks about him. He served under George Washington in, Brandywine, Trenton, Yorktown. And, he was a freed African American who moved to Murfreesboro following the revolutionary war and had a bakery at the corner of Church And Pine Street.
So, we had this, poster that we're going to present to the school board. If you'll go over, I'm gonna get your picture with doctor Sullivan. We're gonna present to the school board. You can, display this during our, semi quincentennial year. And then we'll be in the next after our after our snow break, I think we're gonna have one, we will be delivering we we will be delivering these to every Rutherford County school for, displaying their library or however they choose to do that. Thank you. Wonderful. Could you send me a picture or or would could you take a picture?
Yes. Yes. We have been told in order to, get something, approve our our grant that we do have pictures of all the credentials. You want me to? I didn't know if you were gonna work. And join us, please, on July 4 for a birthday party for for our nation. We are going to recite together or read together the decorated independence and we'll even
have a birthday cake. Wonderful. Thank you, ladies. Doctor Martin, didn't you get to do that last year? Didn't you do that last year? Yes. I thought you did. She attended that for us last year. We thank you. We have no public comments, but next we have Rutherford Proud. So we have several things as always to brag about this month. The first is gonna be that we have, we have a band director here who's actually marched in the Rose Parade. We also had four students who did who are gonna join us at the next meeting to tell us about their experiences. But doctor Halpert is gonna start off and then we're gonna go down to some
of the others. So Yes. Band director Jared Ford, as, James said, got to march in the Rose Parade this year in the American high not high school. Your middle school band director. And the band director's marching band. He's a band director at Segal Middle School. We are so glad to have him. And the great thing about this experience is I'm always telling students music is forever. You know, when you learn an instrument and and have that kind of musical society around you, it can go on forever.
It doesn't end at high school. It doesn't end in college. It can be part of your life forever. And Mr. Ford is a great example of continuing to make music. He was also in the first ever, all American band directors jazz band, right? Yes. So we're very excited, that he's able to be here with us tonight and share some of his experiences. Thank you. I'm gonna keep this, pretty brief because I understand there's probably a lot to get to. It was a really life changing experience. I think a large credit of that is being an MTSU graduate. There were a lot of band directors in this county that were really formative to
not only my career as a student still in school, but, also getting to be a teacher, having such a great network of pretty much infinite resources of knowledge for me to use. Some personal things about the parade that were very cool. I'll be the first to admit that it was a lot longer than I had imagined. I didn't think I would get so tired, and it was about five and a half miles. So I got tired of it pretty quick. But the event was still super memorable. A special experience is that I was actually told about it by my middle school band director over in West Tennessee. And so we both got to march in it together and, make very great memories.
But again, I credit a lot of that to the just great wealth of knowledge that we have, in this county. So thank you. That's an amazing experience. I'm extremely jealous to to, to even see the Rose Bowl parade, but to march in. I mean, thank you for being here and thank you for what you do for our kids because that's that's an amazing accomplishment. I'm a saxophone player, and, I actually took two instruments with me. One was used for the jazz band and one was used to march with. Wow. And it was pouring down rain, wasn't it? It really was only when the camera was on us.
After that, it seemed to let up. I just wanted to know was it, like, a big bass drum he was carrying or a fluid. That really kinda adds to the story for five and a half months. Yes. It does. I, I thought I got off lucky holding my instrument. I had two roommates that were from other parts of the country, and two of them were marching the two boat. So say two boat would have been worse. It was a little bit longer for a few other people. Thank you. Okay. We also have doctor Anna Rawson who won a prestigious state special ed award. And, of course, you call her Anna, though.
It's usually Annie. So I don't know if you would just yeah. I wasn't sure who he was introducing. I thought I was next, but that's okay. First, I just wanna thank, doctor Ralston because it was within the first month of becoming director that, our special education department just needed to to make some changes. Our our previous director does a great job, but we just needed to move in the in in some new directions. And doctor Ralston just took it upon herself and her leadership, restructured some things, and thankful every day that you're here and what you do for our teams and our
students. So thank you. I really appreciate that. I was I was not there to accept my award at the Tassie Cup, So you get to hear my acceptance speech right now. So, this is a true honor, and it's very humbling to receive the Tassy Cup. Tassy stands for the Tennessee Association of Administrators of Special Education. Each year this award is presented to four recipients across the state. One from the East, Middle, and the West Grand divisions and one is selected by the Tassie board. While the award itself is meaningful and it's a beautiful trophy, the greatest honor is
joining that exceptional group of special education leaders across the state, both this year's recipients and those in previous years. Although my name is on this award, it reflects the collective work of Rutherford County special education team. Every member of our team plays an integral role in supporting our students. As a district, we are moving the needle. Approaching our work in more student focused and innovative ways. One example is our speech language pathologist who are recently recognized by the state for their integrated approach to service delivery for students with disabilities.
Our team works in close partnership with classroom teachers, educational assistants and administrators. Many of those are here tonight to create a more inclusive, responsive and educational experience for all students. This recognition belongs to all of them, not just me. And I am very grateful to work alongside such a dedicated and passionate team every day. Thank you. Next up, we have miss Megan Turnbull who made it very far in the state supervisor of the year. Competition is not right, but the recognition program. And so she's gonna share a little bit about that.
And I think she's tired of talking about it. Probably is. I'll take it. So miss Turnbo was one of our nine one of nine across the state supervisors of the years. And so we have Wow. That's what you sound like. Wow. That's what you sound like. Wow. That's what you sound like recording. That is awesome. I'm gonna go back and watch board meetings now. But, miss Turnbow was one of nine finalists for the Tennessee supervisor of the year and that was held in Nashville. So she was the Mid Cumberland core region, which is a huge honor because that
is where the large majority of students are in the state. So that represents Rutherford, Williamson, Nashville, Clarksville. A huge huge area of the state. And it shocked to me when we were talking about it because there's a 146, 147 districts that have a supervisor that submit for this every district in the state. And then I think last year when you were selected, it was just your second year in the position. Correct? And so congratulations, we appreciate all that you do. You want to give an acceptance speech? Well, James, you didn't tell me I was supposed to prepare a speech, but I
will say what's on my mind, which is not hard to do. But, I will say I hate that this is an individual award because just like Annie said, we have an incredible team. I have a very small but mighty ESL district office team that, yes, I came on two and a half years ago, and they just jumped on the ship with me. And, during that time, as you know, we had an incredible influx of students. And the response of our schools, our administrators, our teachers was we've got a we've
got a problem, but we're gonna fix it. We're gonna learn everything we can about how to reach English learners. And because of that, I truly believe our district soared. I mean, we could have gone the other direction and been sitting here saying, oh, Williamson County is still number one. But instead, we're number one and having that influx did not hurt us, but only helped us. And and I cannot stand here and say that it was because of me, but it was because of my team and honestly this entire school district.
So, I am a little tired of seeing this award. I told James I did not need to get up here again, but you know what? We're handing the torch tonight to doctor Gullian, and I believe wholeheartedly he's gonna be the one to make it to the finish line this time. So So connected to that, now we have doctor Mark Gullian, our federal programs director. And so he is this year's, Rutherford County School supervisor of the year.
So congratulations, Doctor. Gullian. And Mark does a little bit of everything. A lot of it unannounced and without any fanfare. So if a school needs help, needs help with observations, needs help going to help a teacher, I'll go and do a school visit check-in and I'll have no idea that doctor Gohigan was doing this. And they're just like, doctor Gohigan's been a huge help. Thanks for sending him. And I'm like, I didn't know he went. So that is but that's his, servant leadership. So appreciate you, doctor Goline. Appreciate that. Yep. Thank you guys. And, I'll pass the torch too to, someone who I grew up with.
Miss Ashley Witt, who is our principal here. We both grew up in Smyrna. She remembers me as a little guy. She was my sister's best friend, and I'll make a public apology now because I made her life bad. But miss miss Witt was along that ride and she saw that. Like all the rest of them said, doctor Rawson and and soon to be doctor Turnbow, we just have a great team. You guys know that. We've got great teachers. We've got great faculties. We've got great administrators. Relationship's always key. I think what doctor Sullivan said earlier about us continuing to be a large district, but feeling really like home, feeling like a small district.
That's important to all of us. And the relationships are key. These guys that are sitting in the back of the room, are so integral to to everything that we do every day. And the relationships that I have, I value. I'm a Rutherford County kid too. I went to school here for thirteen years and this is my twenty fourth year in the school district. So, just so excited to to get up and go to work every day, which is great for everyone. So appreciate y'all support and appreciate everybody that's here. And then lastly, it is my honor to recognize our principal of the year, miss Ashley Witt, who is the principal of Buckhannon Elementary School.
And Miss Witt has, done a fabulous job at Buckhannon. They've been a reward school, a level five school over and over and over again. And a grade A school and Ms. Witt's leadership and just transitioning that school to to new heights. When I called her and told her, one of my favorite things to do every year is when a school is a A or a five, I always call them personally to tell them before it's released. And so, I always appreciate miss Witt because she even though she probably knows they are, she always acts surprised. But this time, she acted very surprised when I called her to tell her she
was our principal of the year. So congratulations. I'm extremely proud of you. Thank you very much. I did I do have to tell a story on Mark though. When when doctor Gullian received his doctorate, I said, am I supposed to call you doctor Gullian or doctor Marky Mark? Or like, what is it I'm like supposed to call you? So I'm very grateful, like so many of us have spoken. I'm very grateful to have been raised in this district. I get to do a job I love in a district that raised me with people that I am blessed to serve with every day.
I am super proud of the work that we're doing at Buchanan Elementary School and every day I get to be part of that family and they go along with my crazy. So, that includes the kids. So I'm very grateful and very honored to represent the 52 principals in our district. And, thank you for this honor. So That is, that's probably the hardest part of my job.
When you have such high performing schools, to to try to pick a principal of the year. When you have 32 level five schools, 20 something reward schools. I mean truly just about every one of our principals could be a principal of the year. And so just to select one, I think we're gonna have to start. That's what the state requires, but we probably have to start doing some other things to recognize. Because it truly you don't want to be fair just a participation trophy, but just to have one out of 52 is is not quite accurate for our district. So I do appreciate all of them. And I just wanna say thank you to the board for extending doctor Sullivan's contract
because it's so easy to bring these things every month because we have so many things to be proud of. And part of that is, of course, because he's that that rare quality of giving us guidance and the space to flourish with our teams. And so that's why you hear everyone up here saying how much this is a team effort. And so we just appreciate him and and the board as well. So thank you. Thank you, James. Next, we have, number nine, the resolution. I don't know if we need to read it again. The resolution Yep. So this is just a resolution to establish an annual observance of the July 4 through instruction in all schools.
July 4 commemorates the founding of The United States Of America and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Because this national holiday occurs during the summer months when schools are not in session, the board affirms the importance of intentional instruction during the academic year to ensure students understand the historical significance, constitutional foundations and civic principles among which nation was established. I did get an email from a parent, so I wanna clarify. We always teach, fourth of July American history. It's in our curriculum. Those are things that we always do. We will continue to have this in our constitution week. This is just a letter of support to continue to show that we are doing
that. So that's not something that wasn't happening in Rutherford County. Thank you. And a motion. Move to approve. Second. Thank you, miss Gonzales. Thank you, mister Vaughn. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, we have human This is a long list of tenure recommendations. So again with our success teachers that have hold a valid Tennessee teaching license have served Rutherford County Schools for five years or a forty five month minimum within a seven year period or the last two in a regular, and the last two in a regular not interim position. They have to demonstrate an overall performance of above expectations or significantly above expectations on
the team evaluation during the last two consecutive years of the five year period. Or if they held tenure under the previous guidelines and returned to Rutherford School Rutherford County Schools, they meet the two year probationary period and tenure is reactivated. And this is a very long list and that kind of goes with our success. I do want a full disclosure. My daughter-in-law still sells money saying that, but my daughter-in-law is on here. I'm very happy for miss Sydney Maxwell. Move to approve. Thank you, mister Tidwell. Thank you. Thank you, miss Sharp. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes.
Next we have legal. Alright. This is transfer student under discipline one. The board has been requested to admit a transfer student from another school system under discipline. The student was expelled from making a mass threat according to policy 6.318. The board may deny admissions of any student except those in state custody when the student transfers from another school system while under suspension or expulsion. Director of schools recommendation is to deny. Second, let's start. Thank you, mister Vaughn. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next. This is transfer student under discipline number two.
The board's been requested to admit a transfer student from another school system under discipline. The student was remanded for possession of a box cutter and making threats. According to policy 6.318, the board may deny admissions of any student except those in state custody when a student transfers from another school system under suspension or expulsion. Again, director of school's recommendation is to deny. So moved. Thank you, miss Sharp. Thank you, I mean, miss miss, Darby and then miss Sharp. All in favor say, aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, we have engineering and construction. This is CLQ land development sewer easement for Lee Road.
CLQ land development has been working with the town of Smyrna utilities for sewer connection for their development on Lee Road. This development is across Lee Road from the RCS property under contract. They're requesting a 30 foot easement on East Boundary. CLQ has been informed that the property is not closed but this could be approved pending closure. Engineering and construction has reviewed the request and has no objections. Move to approve. Thank you, Mr. Boyle. Second. Thank you, Mr. Tidwell. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, financial. We had our transportation flowchart discussion on Tuesday. Anything else you wanna add to that?
Okay. Financial update principal budget request are due January 30, pending that we are here next week at some point. But if not, because principals have to get their team's input, so their leadership team's input before they can submit their principal request to a director of school's office so that we can then submit them to our leadership team for them to start developing their budgets. So if we are out for an extended period next week, then we'll have to move that week or so. So that's kinda where we are in the budget process. Okay. And then director's update.
Immediately following this meeting, there's a special called county commission meeting on plan Rutherford. I am on the steering committee for plan Rutherford. Not a very active member of the last two years, but I still am on the, steering committee. I will be speaking just for myself as director and not for the board, but I will make a statement there. More importantly, and I think this is a a credit to mister Runyon and our team. So on as everyone knows, luckily, we don't know about it here, the, new letter
grade system requires any schools that are an f or have some other stipulations, they have to have a hearing before the state, board of education. Those are gonna be in March. I was contacted last week by the state board of education, to see if you all know that we have one of the lowest per pupil expenditures, in the entire state. We also haven't had any audit findings, and we have amazing, test results. So the State Board of Education, wants, mister Runyon and myself to do a workshop
on how we develop our district budgeting process and priorities. And so we're gonna do that on February 26. So it's just a thirty minute window, but we're to be televised. So it's pretty neat to yeah. Thirty minute window on developing a budget for the entire county. It's gonna be a a very, very high level, overview. But for all the flack we sometimes get about our budget process to be recognized from the state board of education is a a pretty big deal. So I appreciate that. It's all I've got. It's not all I've got.
I take it back. Let me talk about winter weather real quick. So our process for winter weather, of course, we're watching that. The our first announcement is always about schools. We will announce as soon as we possibly can. I know everybody we've had. MTSU has gone remote. I don't know of any school districts that have made decisions yet unless it's been in the last hour or so. We're gonna wait to make sure that winter weather actually happens before we make a decision. We always announce schools first, then we look at extracurriculars, then we look at central office. The other thing we will always do, we make decisions as a county, not individual
schools. And so for people that are new to this area, there there's a law always a lot of chatter on social media of why can't you just open one school or open these schools. These 10 roads don't cause the entire county to be shut down. We are a county school system, and so we operate as a county. We also do not have the parks and the roads department for the county does not have snow plows or the type of machinery that you would see in other parts of the country. And so when we have ice or snow, it is truly up to nature to
melt the ice and snow. So we may be out longer than people expect if you are not used to being from this area. So that's our process for snow closure. Now Thank you, sir. Anything, mister Baut, for legislative update? I have been in contact with all of our legislators that you know, there's some stuff gonna happen this year. We have our our first TSBA Zoom meeting, I think it's next Friday, if I remember. Yeah. 11:00 next Friday. And then also too, I'm going to attend the legislative, legal and I'm sorry.
What was it called, Don? Do you remember? Anyway, it's the legislative legal update. It's, I think, the first week in February at Cool Springs, so if any of the rest of you want to go with me, I'm I'm going to go. It's a two day deal. One afternoon and one morning, but I'll drive back. I'm not staying, So I was trying to go to that. Yes. Probably some, you know, February, we'll really know where we stand and how we stand. I hope that helps everybody. Okay. Anyway, if you got something on your mind, let me know and I'll convey it. Now we're getting into general discussion.
Miss Maxwell? Yes. Thank you. Thank you board for passing the resolution for the July 4 to observe it. I have a policy that I would like to submit to be reviewed Okay. For, doing the policy committee. I don't know if it's too late to do this. Okay. Perfect. So I don't know who I need to give it to, but this is the policy that is written in order to implement it and kinda Okay. So I'd like to go ahead and put that. Thank you. Thank you so much. Anybody else for general discussion?
Me. Miss Sharp? Thank you. Thank you. I would like to and I didn't even tell doctor Sullivan when I spoke with him earlier today. Shout out to mister Richard Reid at La Verne Middle School, and they have actually a Sunday church at La Verne Middle School. And the pastor, Joshua Jamerson, he and mister Reid both spoke at the Martin Luther King program at La Verne City Hall on Monday, and they both did an excellent job representing our city and our county. Wonderful. So shout out to mister Reed at La Verne Middle. They're doing excellent things with academics there, and, they're doing a great job.
Thank you. Anything else? Well, if we are I have got to go with, Doctor. Sullivan as well. So if nothing else, we are adjourned.