And in his support. Gradle does not even begin to cover what I feel for the work that they do. Their contributions have helped create better, stronger, and more enriching learning environments. Not just for my classroom, but for classrooms across Rutherford County. And it is my joy to represent these teachers as we express our thanks and appreciation to the Richard Siegel Foundation this evening. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next, we have public comment, and we have one person signed up for public comment. That is Matt Fee. Good evening, everybody. Long time no see. Hope everyone's had a good summer.
My name is Matt B, and I just felt compelled to come here tonight to speak about two proposed policy changes. I know when I say we'll stop these changes from happening, they're being brought forward to comply with the state law. And honestly, if I hadn't come tonight, they'd probably pass without much fanfare or notice. But I felt I needed to say something. Because these laws being forced on our district come from the same people who have driven Tennessee to the bottom in quality of life rankings, who've contributed to the loss of nearly four years in life expectancy since 2014, and who continue to leave our
public schools underfunded and near the bottom in per pupil spending. At the same time, denying a small administrative cost to feed hungry kids during summer break, refusing to end the grocery tax, or or do anything that would actually provide improvements to the quality of life of Tennesseans despite having massive funding reserves and providing billions of tax dollars in tax breaks to corporations, profits over people. Again, we had to comply with state laws, no matter how damaging they may be. But when we talk about removing diversity language from school policies, it's important to remember
why those policies were put in place to begin with. States like Tennessee have a long history of exclusion and discrimination. The policies being altered tonight were designed to make sure underrepresented voices in our community weren't overlooked. And to help ensure that the most qualified candidates are hired regardless of race, background, or identity. I know some would like us to believe we've moved beyond needing this kind of language, that bias no longer exists. But let's be honest with ourselves. Bias is still here, whether it's conscious or unconscious.
And when we have school board members who don't even believe Juneteenth should be a holiday, it's clear that some of these biases are still loud and proud. I'm not here because I think I can stop what's happening tonight. I'm here because silence helped these kind of changes slide through unnoticed. And I won't be silent, not when we're taking steps backwards. If this board truly values diversity, then I ask you to say so tonight clearly on the record. Let the community know that this change is not your choice, but a requirement being
forced on us by a state government more interested in controlling narratives than supporting students. Policies reflect values. If you're being made to remove the words, then at the very least, don't let them remove the intent behind them. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next, we have the director of schools evaluation, and I'm gonna go over it, each section for you. The first section, section a is the administrator survey. Section b is the board observational data, and section, two is the appendix c is
the achievement of board goals and strategic plan. Overall, doctor Sullivan, I am very pleased to say, scored a 4.3 out out of five, which is excellent. And it is due to his strong leadership that this district is in in such good shape. So if we go through it, the first appendix a, administrations administrators perceptions of directors' performance, he received a a, average 4.63 at a rating out of five.
There were several glowing comments regarding his, leadership. Appendix b, board observational data. He received a 4.2 average rating out of five. Community relations. He received a 4.37 out of five. Staff and personnel relationships, 4.3 out of five. Facilities, finance, and human resources, 4.26 out of five. Vision, 4.2 out of five. Student achievement, 4.2
out of five. Management and operations, he achieved a 4.2 out of five. Integrity, fairness, and ethics, a 4.48. Political, social, cultural context, he received a 4.27, which was an average of that section of 4.27. And then when you go to appendix c, achievement of board goals and strategic planning, he achieved a 4.43. And then under performance objective two, develop a school district strategic plan, he has received
a 4.4. And then performance objective five, works with the school board to develop and implement an annual plan for promoting school system and increasing communication and support with the county commission and city council. He received a 4.1. Appendix c's average was a 4.13. There were many additional comments. I will tell you there were some scores that I felt like for the second year in a row should have been like, we have the highest graduation rate in the state, and there were several scores that were lower.
They should have been fives. But I'm very pleased, doctor Sullivan, with the direction of this Thank you. School system and your leadership. Thank you. Miss Maxwell? Yes. Miss Rosella? I was hoping TSVA was gonna be here because I have a question about, the appendix c in, the 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 because the highest you can get is a level five. We're a level five district and those scores were in this area were all fives.
But yet the performance evaluation is does not match what the actual TVOC scores are. So I believe that there should be something in this evaluation written that this is not a true accurate scoring because it should match what we're getting. This section shall match our TBOS section. So I was hoping TSBA was gonna be here so that we could and this is two years in a row where the marks are lower than what the actual scoring was on TBAS.
And so that needs to be fixed in my opinion. We could definitely talk with to ESPN. Yeah. Because it needs to be made noted on there. Once again, thank you. Yeah. Just hold on. And the only thing I'll say is the director has allowed a written response. Of course, I appreciate the feedback. We've had very consistent performance, flexibility when needed. I agree with those areas, and the director has allowed a written response as well. And so TOS, is aware of that portion as well for two years in a row. Really good. As the organization of school superintendent. So there we go.
Thank you. Next, we move on to facilities in the 814 South Church Street. So this is a request. This really came out of conversations with the county mayor and county commission. This is a request for Rutherford County Government to utilize 814 South Church Street. This is recommended by the director of schools through request of the county mayor considering the increase to maintenance of effort. We received 2,900,000.0 extra this year, this budget year. County government can use the building without stipulations placed in a school because of students. We discussed this on Tuesday. It'll be used for EMA first responders.
Technically, they can go ahead and take it from us if they wanted to anyways, but this is a, a good gesture for us to to potentially offer. That's why it's my recommendation. It's a no brainer. Thank you, mister Second. Thank you, mister Rosales. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, we have human resources. This is an MOU between Centerstone and Rutherford County Schools. We had adjusted these last year to include making sure it was evident that parents have to opt in to all of these different things, not an opt out. And so this is a request to approve MOU between Centerstone and RCS.
I'll entertain a motion. I move. Thank you, miss Sharp. That's it. Second. Thank you, mister Vaughn. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, we have instruction. We still have two more MOUs. So we have MOU between volunteer behavioral health care and Rutherford County Schools. Very similar to the Skip right over those. I apologize. You're fine. We'll have to approve. Second. Thank you, miss Sharp. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, we have. And the last one's MOU between Stars and Rutherford County Schools and again, very similar to the first two. Just request permission to enter that MOU.
I'll entertain a motion. Move to approve. Thank you, mister Bond. Second. Thank you, mister Bond. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, we have instruction. This is the annual, MOU that or I guess, understand that allows us to use optimal health for me or o h for him. Optimal Health for Me is a sexual risk avoidance or SRA program promoting a holistic approach to sex and healthy relationships. This program aims to provide trained speakers to classrooms within RCS aligned to the standards within the expectations for family life instruction curriculum.
This program complies with TCA forty nine six thirteen oh one through TCA forty nine six thirteen oh eight, requiring the program to be age appropriate, sexual risk, abstinence centered, evidence based, and medically accurate. This program is available from grades six through 12 and ranges from three to five lessons and it does require parent permission, explicit language, but it is in line with state law. Any comments? So moved. Thank you. Thank you, mister Vaughn. All in favor, say aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, we have legal. This is a request for transfer student under discipline. The board's been requested to admit a transfer student.
From another school system under discipline, the students remain in possession of illegal drugs. According to policy 6.318, the board may deny admissions that many students accept those in state custody when a student transfers from another school system under suspension or expulsion. Director of school's recommendation is to admit and place a new alternative school because of timing. This student's, discipline would run out in September, at least September 6. Is that right, miss Wrigley? And they would be eligible to go straight into a traditional school. Recommendation is to place it into an alternative school because then they would have to follow our program, program, before they enter it back into a traditional school.
Okay. Thank you, mister Vaughn. Aye. Thank you, mister Vaughn. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next. Alright. Next, we have policy adoption first and final reading. I'd like some guidance. Do you all want me to read each title, each one, what would what would y'all like? At least it's Tuesday. We're gonna put them all Put them all together. Yeah. We're gonna put them all together. Put them all together. But does anybody have any questions Alright. So you see there are quite a few policy changes requested all the way from policy 1.407
of school district records all the way through to, policy 6.709, student fees and fines, and a requirement of policy 1.1021 to have at least a policy for a student board member. And the first, request that is needed is it is a request to suspend board policy 1.6 to specifically weight the two reading requirements of the above policies to go into effect as presented as one. Thanks, mister Botte. Thank you, miss Carvey. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed?
Motion passes. And then second request is to then adopt these on the first and final reading, with the above policies since that has now been suspended. I'll entertain a motion for sure. Thank you. Miss Darby, all in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, we have financial matters. Financial matters, this is Poplar Hill Elementary cafeteria cash on hand. I know it's a small amount, but it's it's to keep us legal. With the opening of Poplar Hill Elementary School in August 2025, cash on hand to make change needs to be authorized for the school cafeteria operations. School nutrition department's requesting $50 be authorized as the initial amount of cash on hand
for Poplar Hill Elementary. I'll entertain a motion. So moved. Thank you, mister Vaught. Thank you, miss Darby. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, we have director's update. So just a couple of quick things. Of course, we had our two hour day yesterday. I thank parents, students, and staff, for the work to get to that point because, you don't wanna jinx it. But overall, very smooth two hour day would help to have similar tomorrow. Full days, it does take us a few days to to get fully operational. We'll have a lot of logistics, students registering, schedules changing, transportation. Just be patient as we work through those things because we go from zero students
to 53,000 in a matter of a day and a half. And so be patient there. We are watching enrollment. There's a couple areas that are a little bit concerned, but concern. One of those being Poplarillo Elementary has helped tremendously in in the Blackman, Brown's Chapel, Stewarts Creek area, but I do have concerns with Stewarts Creek Elementary School still. And so they are sitting, above 1,100 right now, actually closer to 1,200 right now. And a lot of that is due to employee zone exemptions. And so we have over a 100 employee zone exemptions at that school.
So our zoning numbers were around a 50 to a 70. We have a 100 employee zone exemptions and I'm not advocating in any way to remove those because I always think we need to take care of our people. But at the same point, Brown's Chapel is sitting just over 600. And so you've got a big discrepancy between two schools with a very similar build. And I don't know if we may have to look at a cap again at Stewart Street Elementary School until we can look at that rezoning. The part that concerns me the most is looking at that zone. You either have to look at employee zone exemptions for three schools, which is gonna
impact our hiring there, or we have to look at taking the Brown's Chapel zone almost to the front door of Stewart's Creek. And so that's just the way that zone it can go west a little bit, all the way to the county line, which is what Brown's Chapel does now instead of Stewart's Creek, but there's not a lot of students there. The number of students goes closer whether you're getting to Seminary Road or Wharton Road. And I'm just mentioning them. That's not my suggestion. Just mentioning that would be where the zone would have to go to to impact the number of students they get. Now when it comes to a a teacher waiver for this child, they still have
to ask for it every year. Right? Just once they're enrolled. No. Once they're Okay. We did have a pause on that for the last two years. And so now they are all there. You have the largest high school in the state and one of the largest elementary schools in the state. And so you've you've got a large number of faculty, four or 500 people there that happen to have a 100 students that are enrolled in Sturminski Elementary. So again, that's not my recommendation. Those are just some things we're gonna have to look at and I won't know more until we truly have actual numbers. Like their kindergarten numbers are down lower than I would have expected for other schools.
So I'm hoping still there's some students that'll that'll register there. Yes, miss Charlotte. Could we ask for volunteers just in case maybe there's a question as Jim always here? Yep. You always can. Alright. So, you know, we build Poplar Hill because of the need over in Sirs Creek. So, it's almost as if we're back to square one in a sense. Not that far because we were well into the 13 hundreds. We're not where we need to be. We're nowhere near where we were. So it sounds like we may need to make some adjustments for next year because it is impacting Correct.
Browns Chapel. And I know there's concerns there. For sure. My anxiety about it. For sure. The other part of that is we are in the middle of position changes. So every year we have to make changes based on who actually shows up. And so I will give a list to the board of what positions we have to have in involuntary transfer. Don't expect a lot, but you always have some, usually the elementary, middle level the most. If a class size average for K through three is supposed to be 20 and we have a school that's sitting in 12, but then I have another school that's sitting in 21, We have to move those positions to make numbers.
Doctor. Chastain does an amazing job of trying to project that as much as we can, but you have dual zone, you have other competition. It's just a it's a challenge. I don't expect a lot, but we always go with volunteers first and then if we don't have volunteers then it is last hired, in the district. And so just know that that is potential over the next week, but we'll have a better idea of enrollment over the after the end of next week. So Can you remind me the capacity for enrollment? Close to a thousand. A little bit over a thousand. And then right now we have Like, 600. Yeah. A little bit over, but roughly.
They definitely have some room. They do not have what's different about them is we do your populations are a little bit different. And so we're Stewards Creek Elementary at 11 to 1,200. It's gonna feel larger because they have a larger ESL population. And Brown's Chapel has a large ESL population, but not quite as big in Brown's Chapel. The other difference in Stewards Creek is we have room for portables which we've had and we didn't remove all of them. We don't have room for portables at Brown's Chapel just because of the way that property is. So just Okay. It's something we're watching. It's definitely it's the one area that I'm I'm not thrilled with the way the
numbers came out. But you have dual zone, you have a charter school there, there's all kinds of things that are operating with the numbers. I gotcha. Okay. Next we have general discussion. Anybody? Yes. Miss I guess, miss Rosales. I you know, I don't wanna harp on this, but I just feel like this is really important. I'm just really concerned about this evaluation with those numbers. Is that something that has to be signed, or can we get from can we talk to TSBA to make those amendments before we sign this?
Because once you sign it, that's what the scores that's what the scores are. Right? And you can't make changes after It's already official. It's only I mean, because it's already been calculated. Is there any way I think I had asked for a, I think two, three years ago, we I had asked to where we could make comments on different sections. So if there if you were going to be scoring things a certain way, you can write, you know, comments based upon that scoring. So if we're not gonna score things appropriately, it'd be great to know what the
heck are they looking at? What are we looking at the scores to know? Why they're low in the five, why we're giving lower marks, things of that nature. Because not everyone gave comments at the end to reflect why they score certain way. So I had requested three years ago to have a tool, to have the support for this evaluation that included a comment section for these areas. So that way you didn't have to just have one common section towards the end. So if I think it's only fair for if you want if we want improvement
of something, it's hard to improve from something if you don't know what to improve upon or have examples of what happened. So I just not that I wanna harp on this, I just don't think it's a reflection of what this district is doing and the good things are doing based on the leadership that we have. We definitely are a great district. So that's I would like to ask TSCA. Perhaps they can change the evaluation and make those changes that you'd like. We can definitely ask them. Exactly.
If if there are gonna be low marks, high marks, whatever, then get why. It's no different than you will have as a employee evaluation in any corporation. Because when I gave evaluations to tons of employees that were under my supervision, If there were inefficiencies or praises, there were areas where you can spin upon why that reflected and have those meaningful conversations. But just to have a blanket type scoring with nothing to go back, I mean,
how in the world is still supposed to improve on something if they're not scored low? I understand. Thank you, miss Rosales. Can I ask for a discussion? Yes. Go ahead. Sorry. Two quick things I forgot to mention. On the next core agenda, we will have, a draft of five year plan. And so for discussion, we won't really make a a final decision till we get our new enrollment numbers from RSP and do a lot of that in October. But just to kind of look at our five year plan, we did this at the retreat. It hasn't changed. We're just kind bring that public. And then second is insurance rates. It's that time of the year where we have to look at insurance rates. And so, I can't remember the state aggregate average.
Was it five and a half, six? Brian, do you remember what it was? The state aggregate entry average? It was five and a half, hopefully. And so we'll have different options of kind of budget wise. What we can't afford, can't afford, what the board's doing, all those different types of things at our next, board meeting to be able to pass before we get to open enrollment. Because open enrollment is October I don't know. We have to choose the dates. We haven't chosen them yet. So that's why. Okay. Well, if that is all miss Darby? Move to adjourn. Wait. Miss missus Clay? You're saying? Yeah.
I know. Before we adjourn. Before we adjourn, I just wanna say it's a special day. It was a couple days days ago. We're a little late. Oh, goodness. Yes. We're a little late. It's the one part about the start of the school year that I do not like. Yeah. But right it's right there at the start of the school year. Yes. It is. I just wanna say happy birthday to doctor Sullivan. Yep. Are you turning 40? No. I'm past that. No. I know. I may not work yet, but I'm past. Yes. Yes. Well, we were debating. Yes. Oh, boy. Three. Oh, boy. We're doing this.
Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Yeah. It's good. You're good. Yes. I'm great. Thank you. Yes. I'm great. Yes. Everyone, I would ask you to join us in miss, instructions. We were hiding out in there. So in instructions, special, conference room.
Conference room. Conference room. National birthday celebration. Conference room. Conference room. Special birthday celebration. Surprise. I'm curious too. But thank you very much and, so come and join some cake and and wish you all the best. Fellowship. Fellowship. We are adjourned.