for the Rutherford County School Board. We will be opening the meeting with a brief moment of silence or prayer and 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.
>> Mr. Vaughn. >> Yep. Let's pray. Father, I just thank you for being able to blessing us by living in the greatest country in the world. Father, I just pray that thankful for
the peace that uh in Israel that's come about. We pray for our president, Lord, as he continues to lead our country. And and I just pray for our country and the
leadership. I pray for Dr. Sullivan and his staff and all of our schools and the staff that have done so well. And again, I pray for our school board that that we do that your will in everything
that we do in our decisions. And we just thank you and for guide us and direct us in your son Jesus name I pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> Please stand. 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. If you'll take a look at the agenda, let me know if there's any questions or
comments. If not, we'll move to the approval of the consent agenda. Any questions or comments there? Yes, Dr. Sullivan. >> Just want to point out we do this every year, but all junior pro basketball runs through Eagleville because the head of
Rutherford County Recreation works at Eagleville. So, it's easier to run it through one book. So, that is why it is all run through Eagleville. I had I had to ask that question. I thought there's a hundred referees >> and it's not enough.
>> Well, and I was going to say, how do they all play at Eagle? You know, they cannot there's not that many basketball games at Eagle. >> We'll move on to uh Ratherford Proud >> Thursday. >> Thursday and RCS strong staff awards
>> also on Thursday. >> Thursday. Uh we don't know about public comments yet. Um and then instruction. >> Yes. So this is our 2627 school calendar. Uh one of the main
changes that our teacher and calendar committee voted on was to move back to 12 hours of professional development. And so they had the option with the two real presentations to come back on a
Monday after before Christmas break or to add the extra six hours because teachers have to get 30 in service hours on their own. We build the last couple years 24 into that calendar so they only have to get six on their own instead of coming back on I believe December 22nd.
um they voted to go ahead and end on that Friday, which is probably going to make more sense. Parents aren't going to send their kids back on December 22nd for one day after a weekend anyways. And so they're just going to do 12 hours on their own. But this keeps the full week
at Thanksgiving. Um pretty good calendar trying to make our 200 days with students and it also throws it off. You have elections next year. So we always have to make sure we build the election days in. One of the noted changes, we did put two of our
teacher admin days on Fridays this time. And so it had been about a 10 or 15 year history of not because you want to make sure your attendance is high on a teacher admin day. But if I trust our staff to be there with students, then I trust them to be professionals. We had a lot of parents request to have that on a
Friday or a Monday so that they could have a three-day weekend. So we didn't do it with all four. We just went with two of them to start. >> Okay. Mr. Maxwell. >> Yes, Mr. Tidwell. >> Just testing the waters with that Friday. Um, on the calendar, I had a lot
of complaints last year of school going past Memorial Day. >> Yep. >> Was that a consideration in the committee to, you know, whether that talks about taking the Thanksgiving week? I I would always explain explain to them that we have requirements we
have to hit. >> So, you got to give it up somewhere. >> Yes. Yes. >> Was there any discussion on that topic about where it could give and take? >> It was um and this year it actually would have ended on May 31st, Memorial Day for 2027, and that would have put us into a pay period in June to come back
on June 1st. And we don't ever want to come back in June. We want a full two months, June and July. It just sounds a lot bigger, >> but you're exactly right. In future years, if August 1st happens to hit on a day that doesn't allow us to get 200 days and we have a primary and a general
election, that's two days that we have to take out. And so, you either have to get rid of the full week of Thanksgiving, add something, take away at um Christmas or go after Memorial Day. So, great question. >> Yes, Mr. Rosales,
>> I have a question. Do you guys consider the day that everyone takes a day off for the Christmas market? >> No, we got to be in school that day. That's a day that is our highest sub day of the year. That's fine. And it's it still dwindles some. It's dwindling as
time goes on, but it's still a large subday in November. >> It is. >> I know. >> No professional development on that. >> We do. Yes, we do. Is a city u in compliance with this? Also,
>> they have their own calendar, but we share and try to get as close as we can. We can't match identically, but we try to get as close as we can. >> Okay. >> And you guys do a pretty good job though. >> I was with Dr. Duke, too. >> Matching. >> Yep. >> Any other questions, Thomas? >> Okay. We move on to legal.
>> We have two discipline hearings and so asked to pay attention to how they're numbered. First one, this is a discipline hearing appeal number 25 for the school year 1001. Board has been requested to review a decision of the disciplinary hearing authority and of the director of schools to uphold the zero tolerance of a student from Steuart
Creek High School. Based on review of the DHA's record, the board may A affirm the decision of the DHA and the director, B overturn the decision of the DHA and of the director, or C grant a hearing before the board. >> Okay. >> Number nine, final.
>> We got the second one. Go ahead. >> And then we have the discipline hearing appeal number 25102. The board's been request to review a decision of the disciplinary hearing authority and the director of schools to uphold the remand of a student. So not a zero tolerance the remand of a student from Steuart Creek High School based on a review of
the DHA's record. The board may a affirm the decision of the DHA of the director, B overturn the decision of the DHA and the director or C grant a hearing before the board. >> Okay. So they were both creek. Sorry I didn't see that. >> Number nine, financial matters. This is
a long one and in the past we've done each of these amendments separately. Um talked Mr. Renan talked to finance department and said it was fine just to go ahead and add them all together. So these are three different grants. This amendment increases budgeted fiscal year
2526 fund 141 revenue and expenditures to recognize multiple state grants. First grant consists of the carryover money from the innovative model schools grant. This grant's in the third year and all funds will be used to provide 50% of the salary payment to existing personnel, stipens for PBLO works,
training and vehicle and equipment purchases for various CT activities and construction and renovations in CTE buildings and structures at multiple schools. Carryover amount of this grant is $8,889,685. So that's the first one. Our end date is September of next year. September 2020
2026 is when those funds have to be spent. The second grant is the public school security grant. This grant will recognize the fiscical year 25 carryover amount of $14,875 and new fiscal year 26 allocation of
1,49,958 for a total of 1,64,833. The funds will be used to provide new threat assessment, sophomore licensing, purchase of flip charts, signage, radio equipment for schools, repeaters, FCC license and installs, weapon detection equipment, and resistant film.
The last third and final grant is the reoccurring fiscal year 2526 state special education prek grant. The fiscical year 26 allocation amount of this grant is 519,488 with no carryover amount for fiscal year 25. The funds will be used for additional education assistant positions
to assist in the prek classrooms. The compliance specialist, additional training for teachers and EA sensory and deescalation items and supplies materials for the IPK classrooms. All these grants have been approved by the Tennessee Department of Education and none require a local match. And again, that's just we combined them all into
one instead of reading three separate amendments to the county commission. >> Number two, >> Miss Max. >> Yes. I'm sorry. >> That's okay. Um I got a couple questions on the grants. Uh one, the public school security grant. Um
are we as far as the weapon detection systems, do we have enough everywhere or are we including are these just extra? we do. And part of that is buying some bases so that we can move them. Um, extra batteries, extra little test kits because as time goes on, things will get
lost or or damaged. And so, um, we may come back and order a couple more because we'll have to order two or three more for the new middle school as well. >> So, we've kind of hit our baseline. >> Yeah, we are definitely there. >> Great. It's awesome. Uh, as far as the innovative model schools grant,
>> which I love. Is this thing going away forever? >> It's not. >> We don't have any idea if it could come back or not. Uh, but that was a state grant. >> Yeah, that was Governor um Lee's big push. So, the next governor wants to do the same thing, that would be amazing.
>> That would be great. We That would be wonderful. Uh on that note though, one thing that I've always I've never been a fan of is doing payments on or reoccurring expenses on grants and you have some if I missed that right employees.
>> Yes. >> So if you put them on I mean I understand the money has to be spent. Is the idea that we would be spending the money anyways and so this is a way to kind of offset some cost or are these new positions that we're hiring with a grant that we're then going to have a recoccurring cost? >> Good question. No, these are positions
that we added two years ago and every year we are lowering the threshold of what the is allowed to be paid. So last year it was 75, this year's 50, next year's 25% of their salary can be paid by the grant. And so part of what we looked at with TISA was to put positions
in place to then try to make money. I hate that sounds bad, but to make additional earnings off of what some of the industry certifications and CTE ADMs that we would get. >> Great. Well, this was a fantastic grant. I mean, just amazing. We'd love to see
it continue further. >> Yes, Mr. >> How are the uh weapon detection systems, how they working at ball games and stuff? >> As far as I know, good. Um, >> that's good. One of the one of the big
yes one of the biggest things that we have is with our opposing teams still that communication luckily with football most of them except for Eagleville are in county um basketball be a bigger challenge but it's inside so it's going to be a little bit easier to manage but
you have more out of district games with with basketball in case anybody's watching volleyball state tournament we host we are using weapons detection system and clear bags during the day so they'll both be enforced. Okay. Any other questions?
>> Okay. Next. >> All right. Next, we have a couple school support organizations. Per RCS board policy 2.404. Only a group of organizations enter into a written cooperative agreement with the board may use the name, mascot, or logo of a school or the school district to solicit or raise money, materials, property,
security, services, or other things of value. Tiger baseball supports provided all information requested from the board's written cooperative agreement can be recognized as an RCSSO. It's noted that this this SSO has not received an IRS determination letter to be recognized as a 501c3 nonprofit entity that's in compliance with the BOE
written cooperative. The IRS letter allows them to open and operate out of their own checking account that's separate from Central Magnet School student activity funds until they get this determination letter. The booster club will utilize the Central High School student activity funds for all its financial activities and be subject to the BOE financial policies and
procedures. Also, the approval is contingent upon the organization providing a detailed financial policy which they have been notified about. Very standard. >> Any questions? >> Okay. Next, >> if it's all right, I'll read it if y'all want me to. But the same next two are
exactly the same. The next one is Oakland Middle School's home run club at Oakland Middle School as an RCS school support organization. The exact same thing. they have um noted that this SSO received an IRS determination letter to be recognized. So because we've received
that, they are allowed to open and operate out of a checking account separate from open middle. So that's the difference there. >> Okay. >> And then our third one, Eagleville recognition of the Eagle Structured Classroom and Special Education Fund at Eagle is an RCS school support
organization. And you will see for this one, it's noted that this SSO received an IRS determination letter as well, so they can operate their own. >> Yes, Mr. Wall. >> Yeah.
>> Collect funds for that specific Oh, did you want to answer that one? Yeah. You went like this. Oh, I was I was like, "All right, you can take it." >> Well, yes. I'm sorry. I just The other two are >> Yeah.
You're supposed to answer these questions. Now, the other two are sports related and this one I you know what does that organization exactly do >> collect funds to be able to provide more >> whether they are materials or playgrounds or any of that for the structured setting classrooms. I believe
it probably helps to go for especially at the high school level transportation >> when they have the uh uh day prom special Olympics do a lot of it >> not special Olympics but special ed prom >> that a lot of the schools go all out um
rent a limo um and it's a lot of fun >> and eagle is unique because they're K12 so they may they have students spread across multiple grade bands and so if you only have one or two at senior level for example it's going to be tough to raise the funds they Yeah, I I was just trying to get in my
head what they need. >> Yeah, it's unique for sure. >> Yeah, it I mean most of the time these organizations are athletic related and this is a little >> they have the bowling that they do. They have the Special Olympics. Does this help pay for the buses or
>> No, we pay for that. It is a fortune. >> Buses are paid for. Okay. >> Pay for it. It's a fortune. >> Anyway, thank thank you for that. I would be like get up doing a math >> booster club so they all could do me. don't understand that that's unique.
>> Okay, any other questions? Okay, next. >> Seagull high baseball scoreboard replacement. Principal Larry Crey's requested to replace the existing scoreboard and locate the new one in center field. The cost for this request is 70,000 will be funded through the baseball booster account at no cost to the board. Seagull High will be required to request permits from the city of
Murphy'sboro and work with Middle Tennessee Electric for new service in this location. Engineering Construction has reviewed the request and has no objections. >> Any questions? >> Yes, Mr. If they're going to put that in center field, is that going to be a interference with the batter since it's
direct in center field? >> They've still got their batter's eye out there. >> It'll be all right. >> They'll only flash it when they're playing Oakland. That's what that's it. >> Wheels so that when they play certain teams can move.
>> That's reason you carry pocket knife so you can cut that cord on. >> Easy. Easy. >> Not in our weapon protection system. I can't do that question. >> Yes. >> Um, odd question coming from me, but u these scoreboards $70,000 $100,000 are
they covered in our insurance? >> They are. That's why they have to go through this application process. Now, >> even even though they pay for it, if something did happen, our insurance would still cover that for them, >> which is what why they get frustrated. Schools do it. Why do I have to get this approved by the board? The board approval requires for insurance coverage.
>> Perfect. Next, >> Christian Middle Softball scoreboard request. Dr. Kyle Nicks and Christian Middle offered the has been offered the existing Riverdale High School scoreboard. Christian Middle will be responsible for relocation installation. The cost relocation installation is
$3,875 and electrical connection $250 for materials. Maintenance will provide the labor for the electrical connection. Engineering construction review the request and has no objection. >> Wonderful. Any questions? >> That baseball.
Well, I think >> it's Riverdale softball >> and the baseball team already has one. >> Yeah, >> the Christian Middle School softball field has switched fields. They used to be right behind the elementary school. Now they're behind the field. So, it's a partnership with County Wreck as well. >> That's nice. Okay, number 11,
>> the naming of the new middle school. So, thank Miss Darby and her team for working on this name. Popular Hill Middle School, PHM mascot, the Bobcats. And in colors, you'll see primary hunter green and secondary gold. So, I think that matches the elementary school as well. Correct. >> Oh, we're very speedy on getting that
done and we appreciate uh number 12. >> Play on Sports would like to partner with Oakland High School to provide a branded school video portal, school-based event scheduling information and availability, etc. And you have the agreement attached in tab six. >> Okay,
next. >> Yep. Director's update. I will have more on Thursday, but I know that Mr. Lee wanted to talk about power hour bus discussion. We kind of tabled this portion of do we want it to be for a semester or a year. Miss Maxwell and I have to sign the contracts and they're sitting in my office and we don't have
an end date for them because we don't know if they're going to be a semester or a year right now. So before we can give them the contracts, we need to know how long they're for. >> So I'm bringing back up an item that was tabled. We when we set out the paperwork
this year, it was for the entire year which helped with continuity of the bus routes, learning the children, learning the routes and that sort of thing. It was determined that was the best way to go for the children. There was some conversation between some contractors and some board members. They felt like
it was unfair. They wanted to do it half a year and half a year. The transportation department has no opinion. We're waiting on the board to provide direction so that we can if we're going to do it twice, we'll need to send out things, you know, in November so that we can have contract,
new contractors, new contracts, and be able to get everything in place for the second half of the year. If not, then we put in the end date in the contract and we're finished. So,
that's item number one. I need your direction on item number two. This is new this year and it's really just happened recently. There's been a determination from instruction that they want they're going to do one middle school power hour and it's at Rocky Fork
Middle. We looked at trying to utilize the bus that is working out of Rocky Fork Elementary to provide the service for the middle school with the number of the students and the delay. There's a 15minute
difference in when they end. Right now we're pushing because we run multiple zones, it takes the even though the driver may have smaller numbers, they have a longer bus route. So the time
factor becomes affect and we could not do that. So we're going to need to add a bus for the middle school. The way we've done the power hour is anyone that drives at that school is eligible and anybody that drives in that
area that does not drive an elementary. So, this one would be a middle is allowed to apply. That gives everyone an opportunity that so chooses it. I don't think they can get there. We've got one bus. We're recommending that we
just send out notification to the buses that drive at Rocky Fork Middle to get an applicant. If there's multiple applicants, we'll use our wheel to determine who gets it. If there's only one, we'll just give it to that driver because they're going to know the students. It's going to be a smaller
route. It's going to be in their area. So, that's kind of a they're similar but different. I'll be happy to answer any questions. Mr. Maxwell. >> Yes, you too. >> On the power hour, uh, as far as the
timetable for that or let me start with this. The routes, the amount of routes there are. How many multiple contractors go after each route? Is do we usually have two or three going after each route each each time? >> It depends on where it's at, but yes, we
do have a few odd balls where it's just one, but mo most of the time there's two or three. Okay. And the the route remains the same on, you know, the first half of the year or the second half of the year, it's going to be the same route. It's just
potentially a different person driving it. >> Correct. >> Okay. And then the last thing is you're saying you want to use the pod for various reasons. You want to use the pod of contractors that are already in that area for this one particular middle
school power hour. um just because they they're more familiar with the schools, a smaller route. >> The there's probably not a middle a contractor that drives a middle school that does not
drive a middle school route that could get there in time to be able to provide the service. Makes sense. Well, look, I I'll say, you know, part of this when we had this discussion the first time, I think in fairness, uh, if
you have multiple people going after the route, splitting it up half of the year and half the year, I think is more advantageous to letting more people do it. It's the will of the board here. So, I I'm kind of up in the air on if if I'm in the minority on this, it's not the
end of the world for me. It just seems to me that that's the more fair way to do it. >> Any other discussion? >> Yes, Miss Darby, >> Mr. Lee, I'm just trying to remember does is there not a potential for route change the second half of the year?
Don't we have different students? Sometimes >> it could be slightly different if we have an a student that, you know, picks it up that moves here that needs it or a student that moves out. There there's a little bit of change but not much.
>> Okay. Any other discussion? >> Miss Maxwell? Yes. >> When are we supposed to be voting on this? Like you said, you need direction to get >> I need you to vote Thursday. >> Thursday. >> That's why I added it. So, we'll add it for a vote on
>> Oh, for agenda. Oh, okay. Um I don't know where anybody else stand, but I'm in agreement with Mr. Tidwell. I feel like I I think that in my own opinion that it will be advantageous if we give
more um others the opportunity to um get a bid and make it a little bit fair. So if we want to split up and if you and if you get it once then I don't think you ought to bid again a second time.
That's my opinion. Okay. >> Anybody else? Okay. Is there any other Okay. Uh I do want you to know that um we are going to have an executive session following this. It shouldn't take long, but the good news is we're getting out fairly
early tonight. >> So, is this uh are we in the general discussion now? >> Okay, great. Um Dr. Sullivan, I sent an email to you and Mark Gulion and Dr.
I had received multiple messages actually started Saturday evening from parents who are really concerned when what's happened in the department of education specifically with sped um one of the concerns is the funding aspect
with the idea grants I tried to calm their um ner their fears and their anxiety anxiousness and saying that we been monitoring the situation. We're in track of it and that for us it the impact wouldn't be that much. It's very
minimal. That's what the impression I received. And then the other the other question is that with the IEPs, there's a deadline that's looming. Um I think it's December 1st. Is that the deadline when you got to turn in the IEPs on a
federal level? >> Each student's different. We have to constantly >> mon Well, I've gotten a date. So maybe that was for that child. Um and so how will those be impacted if there's not a personnel in the federal side that can
um approve those and then still still be in compliant with federal law? >> No, good question. Federal allocations are a year ahead and so we received our federal allocations back in August is when they were all released for this current school year. So this current
school year will not be impacted. next year I think is all up in the air but our duty will still be to serve our students with what their needs are. But I think to help ease anybody's fears anything that government shutdown does not impact really the school system
whatsoever. Um and again our funding for special education title all those were already received through the end of June 30th 2026. >> And can you speak about the IEP's processing? Yeah, they'll still it'll move like normal because our accountability is with us and then the
state department is still working and they're the ones who monitor that portion. Now, who the state report department's reporting to, I have absolutely no idea if anyone's there, but our reporting to the state. >> That's great. Um, and I believe they're watching today because they were going to be watching this because that's one
was going to address it and bring it up. So, thank you so much for addressing those concerns. >> Yes, Mr. Sharp. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, my resources are saying all of that at the federal level is going to come back to the state level. So, if we are funded a year in
advance, by the time we roll around to next year, they should be set up to go from there at the state level. Any other questions? Well, if there's no other general discussion, I will see you all in
executive session.