silence or prayer and the pledge of allegiance to the United States flag. No one is required to participate or be in present for any of these and being in this portion of the meeting is completely voluntary. Tonight's uh prayer and pledge will be brought to you by myself.
Please bow your heads. Dear Lord, thank you for our many blessings today and every day. Thank you for loving us as your children. We ask that you guide our hearts and our minds as we make decisions that impact our students, faculty, and families. May we
always do what is pleasing in your sight. In your name we pray. Amen. 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. >> I feel [clears throat] like I do need to make the announcement that there is this is not a work session. This is a regular schoolboard meeting. We do not have the regular Tuesday work session, Thursday meeting. This is our one meeting this week.
Have everyone take a look at the agenda and I will entertain a motion. >> Move to approve. >> Thank you, Mr. Tidle. Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, we have the approval of the consent agenda.
>> Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. >> Thank you, Miss Sharp. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. We have one speaker for public comment this evening. His name is Daryl Der. Mr. Der, you are
up. >> Good evening. Um, my name is Daryl Der. I am a community member and I'm here again uh this evening as I was in July to ask you to please consider doing
extensive testing on the next piece of property that you expect to use for a school building. I know we have a great need for new schools, but I do believe that we have learned recently that it's very important to
inspect before you build. I've left with everyone this evening uh some documentation. I'd appreciate it if you would review that. But again, thank you very much for your consideration. >> Thank you. >> Okay, first up we have human resources.
>> The school nursing department's requesting to move the assistant to school nursing department position from an 11 month to a 12-month um employee position. >> Any comments or question? Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. >> Thank you, Miss Sharp. All in favor say
I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Next. >> And then next, this is an updated job description from a part-time hearing envision EA. And I did want to note both of these positions are at no cost to the board because they're being funded by a non-filled position in the nursing department. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Vaughn.
>> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Title. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Next, we have instruction. >> All right. Next, we have the grant from the Rutherford County Opioid Board Board. And this is the recommended approval to accept that for our opioid
prevention education or hope for the 2627 school year. Same curricul. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Next. >> Next, we have a Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act basic grant. Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical
Education Act of 2018. known as Perkins 5 is presented for approval for the funding period of July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027. The grant is in the amount of $864,2131. The Carl D. Perkins grant provides funding for our program improvement
equipment, travel, and staff development for our career and educ and technical education departments. Um, that 1 cent is definitely important. I guarantee you Dr. Pilgrim will find a way to spend it. [laughter] >> Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. Second. >> Thank you, Miss Sharp. All in favor say I.
>> Yes. >> I thought we've already approved this once. Do is it systematic? >> This you you will hopefully approve it every year. You approved a reserve grant last time which is an additional amount that district apply for. We got the full amount of 50,000 last time and so this
is for the actual grant. >> Okay. Thank you for the clarification. >> Okay. All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Next. Yeah. >> Yeah, I can do that. Yep.
>> Thank you. Next, we have legal >> Eagleville School. A Coke four-year marketing agreement. Eagleville School request enter four-year agreement with CCBCC Operations LLC or Coke to serve as a vendor for athletic concession stands, vending machines, and school stores. Contract includes terms for the minimum
number of cases to be purchased by the school each year, as well as yearly marketing fees, rebates, complimentary cases provided by Coke by the school. And just as a reminder, the board can approve up to four years as can I. Anything over four years has to go to the county commission for approval. So that's why we usually see it at four years and nothing. >> Okay. Nothing more.
>> I'll entertain a motion. >> To approve. >> Thank you, Mr. Vaughn. >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Darby. Were you wanting to talk or just No. Okay. She She got in quicker. >> No, I needed to ask a question. >> Oh, okay. Sorry. I thought Okay. >> Seconded. Now we can. [laughter]
>> Okay. Now, >> do you know um only because this came up in one of our neighboring counties, do we have any restrictions on the vending machines that are within our schools? Oh, yes, they're allowed to. >> Yes, they have to they have to follow the sugar and the caffeine and coke and the size, all that.
>> No energy drinks or anything like that going on? >> Nope. >> Thanks. Okay. Uh so, we had a motion from Mr. Vaughn. Thank you, Mr. Ba. And u all in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Sorry, Mr. Arby. I couldn't tell you want to
talk or or or second it. Next, we have engineering and construction. >> First, we have the Irwin Landing Force main relocation request. M2 Group on behalf of the developer for the Irwin Landing Residential Development Project is requesting to relocate and add an additional 500 ft to the Walter Hill Force Main owned by RCS. M2 Group has
provided drawings and new calculations show the request does not adversely affect the current installation. Engineer Construction had the [clears throat] calculations reviewed by another engineer to verify the request. This request will also include revised easements provided at no cost to RCS by the property owner. Engineering and construction has reviewed the request
and has no objections. >> Any any comments or questions? Okay. >> I What is that? >> Yes. I'd kind of like a little explanation. Does you got a copy of the >> of the easement or where it is or what
part it is? >> I'm a little familiar. >> It's in your downtown. >> Yes, sir. the drawings, all the complete construction documents and everything are in your package. >> Is it the parcel on the corner of Central Valley and 231? Is that it? >> Pretty much. Yes. >> Is
>> that what I'm thinking? So that they're re are they relocating that pressure line? >> Our pressure line goes from Walter Hill to Thompson Lane. >> Uh I thought it was Cherry Lane >> somewhere in there. >> Yeah. >> But anyway, that's where it goes. >> Yeah.
>> And basically they're just rerouting. They're having to reroute it for the layout of the sub. >> Well, if they want to develop it, they have to reroute it. And I wanted to make sure it wasn't as adversely affecting our pumps. >> The elevation's still the same and that kind of stuff. >> Yes, sir.
>> That that's what I not that I didn't trust that you overviewed it. I'm sure you did and scrutinized it worse than I did, but I did want to be familiar with where they were moving it to. >> Yeah, that that's I didn't go down. They're they're zigging and they're
adding a few 90s and adding some footage to it was my main concern. And usually when you add >> 90s and footage you it increases your head pressure. >> No detrimental >> according to the engineers. No, they did all the calculations.
>> Whose engineer? >> Well, they did and then I had them verified. >> Okay. All right. >> So, you're good. You're good. >> I'm not I'm not a hydraulic engineer. No, I I I didn't think you were and that's the reason I asked Well, and the reason I'm bringing this up, I know a little bit about it because the the the
the >> the fire station deal and all of that. So, um anyway, I'll hush. Good enough. >> I'll entertain a motion. >> Move to approve. >> Thank you, Mr. Bond. Thank you, Mr. Tidwell. All in favor say I.
>> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Next we have number two, >> Popler Hill Middle Petty Cash Account. Popler Hill Middle Cafeteria cash on hand. The middle school opens, I guess, on Friday. Um, cafeteria is required to have, excuse me, cash on hand to make
change. School nutrition department's requesting $75 be authorized. The initial amount of cash on hand for the Popular Hill Middle Cafeteria. >> I'll entertain a motion. Move to approve. Thank you, Miss Star. Thank you, Miss Sharp. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> That doesn't seem like that doesn't seem
like enough. We don't want to give them a lot. Petty cash doesn't need to be on hand, so they don't need a lot. >> Going through that first day. He had to bring cash probably first day. >> You like that answer, didn't you, Mr. Ry? They don't need to bring cash. Correct. We don't need any more than $75.
[laughter] >> Okay. >> You like it? >> Of course. Yes. Yeah. >> All right. >> This is This is Yeah. How do they pay? >> No, they can pay with cash. We just don't need to have more than $75 on hand
to break. >> I get that. But the curious question I'm getting back to is how do most students pay now? >> Their parents put a money into their account on school cash online and then the kids four digit >> code just like everybody else the way they need to be. >> There are those weird people like me
that still carry cash. >> Yep. Same old check. That's what I used to do. >> Yeah. Thank you. [laughter] >> Okay. >> All right. Next >> number three we have below you'll find a list of contractors requested board approval to lease a bus and we recommend their approval.
>> Miss Maxwell. >> Yes, Mr. >> I got a question. >> Yes, Mr. Table. >> Trey, is this the the route that was being discussed previously? One of these routes. I think Gail Porter was was the one that we're having the issue with Miss Hobbs and
>> you know what I'm talking about. Hobbs didn't want her to be able to turn her route in, so she decided to keep it. >> Okay. >> And had to do a lease. >> Yeah. That's what you thought might happen. >> Yes, sir. And that's what happened. >> That is what happened. >> Yes, sir. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Yes, sir. >> Madam Chair.
>> Yes, Mr. Darby. >> Mr. Reed, I know we had I believe it was Mr. Vault that had brought it up that you were going to look at the leases and all that. Did you? Okay. So, we're good on that front. >> Thank you. >> And any We've had a few more that have come in since then. We send them all to Mr. read to review.
>> Thank you. Any other comments? >> Need a motion. >> Okay. >> Move to approve it. >> Thank you, Mr. Font. >> Thank you, Miss Sharp. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes. Number four. >> All right. We have an additional one on
from the floor. Mr. Lee has a transportation transfer request that was um requested by a contractor. Mr. Lee, will you go over that real quick? >> Yes. And this goes back to what was asked last time, but it got lost in the shuffle somewhere. We're trying to get
everybody set up before school starts to the board to the to the board of Ruleford County. I, Brittany West, would like to transfer my route 314 into my dad's hands, Gary West. He has supplied the bus and insurance for the last three years of me having the route. Due to the
new policy, we are trying to get our routes back to the assigned owner by the person holding the contract. So, basically, she's held the contract. He's provided the bus and paid the insurance. It was one of those lease type agreements, and it was like some others,
but she's wanting to give it back to her, give it to her dad, and that's what we discussed last time. >> Yes. >> You don't have a problem with that. So, we can go ahead and approve. No sir, it follows precedent set by the board.
Okay, move to approve it. >> Thank you, Miss Bond. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Sp. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Now number four. >> All right. Now we have recommendation to adopt >> recommendation to adopt the following transportation guidelines. And this is
up to the board. So there was you've received some emails about um gated communities and providing bus service. And so if that was something the board wanted to do, Mr. Lee and I don't have a preference. This would be our request. Define the term driveway to mean where
the county road stops and private roads begin to get consistency backed by policy. And then add an exception clause that single family detached neighborhoods with over 50 houses do not have county roads will have at least one meeting spot inside the neighborhood as long as there is space for the bus contractor to turn the bus around. And
so that kind of gives you an idea of what if that's something the board wants to do, what we would um recommend. And it's open for discussion. >> For discussion, Miss Maxwell. >> Yes, Mr. Tidville. >> All right. So, I was talking straight about some of this stuff. Um, and I
think one of the things that kind of got lost in our conversation when we were talking about the buses uh previously, we're talking focusing really heavily on the gated communities, but in our policy, it says we're going to pick them up at the driveway. Now, driveway can mean a lot of different things. Uh, and
so you got a lot of different situations. You got private roads. You got places where buses can't turn around. There's a lot of different definitions. So Trey had mentioned this definition to define what a driveway means so that we can resolve some of the issues that we have when running
transportation. Um so that's where this comes from where the county road stop and private roads begin to get consistency. Um and Trey can dive more into this especially if you guys have more questions. Just my line of thought
on this was the county has certain specs that they have to build the roads by. The city followed those specs. So it could be county and city roads, but they have certain specs, loads, stuff like that. When you get off of those specs, then your bus can do damage or whatnot
to the road. And then who's responsible for that? It it it creates a lot of different issues. Um, and then whether or not there's a turnaround location for the contractor in certain neighborhoods. So, the first part I think is pretty cut and dry as where the definitions lie.
The reason I brought up an exception clause is because, and Stan, you may be able to uh speak to this as far as developments. Um, some subdivisions choose not at the end of construction, a lot of times they will deed the roads,
the main roads over to the county. The purpose of that, one of the main reasons is so that the county takes care of the roads from there on out, but they have to build them to county specs. But then you have other developers that decide, all right, we're they don't want to build build them to county specs. They don't want to have a culde-sac that's a
certain diameter wide or whatever enough for a B bus to turn around in. and they either can't demote or the county won't accept them. That's an option or they just didn't build them to specs and so the county well like I said is not going to accept them. So it it creates a
difference there. So if the county doesn't accept it then you'll have subdivisions and we're not talking about a difference of well it's a small subdivision. You have a very large subdivision that does is considered by the top definition a private road subdivision.
Now, we would not notice that driving in and out, but we're not we're not al also talking about the specs of a county road or not. So, with that in mind, we came up with this exception or I came
up with this exception because obviously I'm sure you guys have seen gotten some emails as well, but there are some neighborhoods, large neighborhoods that they could that if the bus contractor could drive down these, you know, we'll call them gated
communities, could drive down one main road and pick up maybe on two spots or whatever, then the kids can go into those spots. Otherwise, you got kids in these large neighborhoods that are walking from the emails that I've gotten half a mile um
up to.9 of a mile just to get to the front gate of a large subdivision. So, that's that's the two line of thoughts here. Um like you said, it's open for discussion. Glad to hear any feedback, but that's why I brought it up to the board.
>> Okay. Any other comments, Mr. Ball? Oh yes. Um let let me play devil's advocate then just kind of thinking through this uh because I think this came up related to
the gated communities, right? >> Yes. >> So what if and it's detached. What if it's 50 mobile homes? >> Can I answer that? Can you let us
debate? >> Yeah. Can we talk back and forth? >> Yes. >> Back and forth. >> That was a question that got brought up right before this meeting and so we didn't add it to here. >> But the solution to that would be site built detached homes.
>> Okay. >> Okay. >> So are then we setting ourselves up to be discriminate. Are we discriminating against one subdivision versus another one? Again, let me play devil's advocate right through here.
>> I think I think that's a great that's why we're having an open discussion. >> Okay. >> I'm not 100% sure. The the main thought that I was aiming for is if we if we set this definition, which >> this would open up probably more pickups
than what we are currently scaling back from. >> Right. >> So, we we we've scaled back some of transportation. This would open up a little bit more for some. that my thought was if if we have a large scale neighborhood that the developer decided, hey, we're not going to do we're not
going to do this over to the county or the countyy's not going to accept it. Well, in that case, you got a lot of kids walking all the way up to the front of the neighborhood because the county road stops right there. That's that's kind of the idea that I was getting. That's why I chose a a large number of
homes. and and and and I think that's prudent. If you if you if you head down this path, you got to think of it like that a little bit. Um the you know the other side of it, again, let me play devil's advocate
here. Most of the gated subdivisions that I'm aware of in Rutherford County. Now, there's several in Williamson County, um, they are mostly geared toward, how can I tactfully say this?
Retired people. So, there's not a lot of subdivisions in our county that would have schoolage children. But, this is this is going to continue on, you know, so we've got to set president here. So, and and in and
knowing this, I I found this out last year when we were dealing with insurance that a lot of the uninsured claims that the county um insurance was held liable for was uninsured motorists and some of those
situations, correct me if I'm wrong, it you don't have to get in this discussion, but correct me if I'm wrong, that a lot of those claims that got turned in were when buses were backing up or turned around or something like that. Struck a mailbox, struck a car, struck something. Right. So, are we
opening ourselves up for more liability? And here again, we're trying to I think it's admirable that we're trying to help parents out and pick kids up in front of their houses as best we can. That's admirable, right? But the other side of it is we've got to be prudent
with the liability that we accept on behalf of the county that and and this is going to be an this is an issue that I am aware of. Um it was a private road that was built
here in the city and um the uh and and where this information comes from. I don't want to sound like I know it all. I I I I knew this was coming up and I thought I I want to talk to Greg Brooks. I want to talk to the highway superintendent.
Are there any gated subdivisions that you're responsible for? No, there's not. County regs won't let us go into a private subdivision in we can't do it. Talked to the city maintenance director. Um he was aware of one situation where
they went down a private driveway, private road into a subdivision. And for years, I hope I don't get in trouble telling this story or he doesn't get in trouble for sharing this with me, but um it it was a subdivision and they allowed
the garbage trucks to go down it, the city garbage trucks. Well, eventually they messed the road up and so the discussion was back and forth, who's going to pay for fixing road? Well, the HOA didn't want to pay for it and the city didn't think they should pay for it because it's a private road, right? So,
you get into this. So, I'm reluctant. I said all that to say this. I'm reluctant a little bit to send our private contractors into quote unquote a private subdivision that are we setting ourselves up to accept liability
that you know that HOA comes out and says, "Well, your school bus has tore this up." Now, there there are private contractors, so I I'm not playing lawyer here, Mr. read. But if we send them into the subdivision, I would assume that we would be accepting that liability or
that responsibility possibly. Don't know. So there's my reluctance in the whole thing. Second part of it is I know this from design criteria of most of the planning commissions. the design criteria if it has gone through the full
planning and they did build it to the specs of either Murphy'sboro, the county, Smyrna, Leverne, Igville, um the culde-sacs, the turnarounds, the radiuses are all designed for
their fire engines, but their wheelbase is shorter than our school bus wheelbases. And a lot of people and that's something else I have found out here in the last six months that we I think we prudently need to work with our planning commissions and and and notify
them that if these subdivisions aren't designed, we can't send these contractors down these Whoops. I was going to say something, Madam Chairman, that I should say at the barn, these narrow roads and and set ourselves up again for
liability or claims on insurance or something like that. these contractors having a hard enough time getting insurance. We sure don't need to put them in a predicament that that you know they would have extra claims or something like that. I know I've given y'all a lot to think about, a lot of
crossroads. It sounds like I don't want to help the kids, don't want to help the parents. I feel for them. Uh but there's a I think we start accepting a lot of liability and and and could set ourselves up for a lot of cost right here. So anyway, I'll
throw all that out there. Thank you, M. Sharp, and then Miss Darby. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, Mr. Lee might can help me on this one. Um, there's a bus stop at Stan Hill and Fergus Road where it's a trailer park and there's probably a hundred students
at least that that ride those buses. Um, we don't go back in the trailer park. >> We stay on Sand Hill Road. I say we, the drivers don't go back in the trailer park. They stay on Sand Hill Road. Uh, because it's narrow. you you've got kids running back and forth and everything. It is the safest thing to do to have
some of the points of of meeting. And you know, we can help where we can, but sometimes the parents are just going to have to pull together and take turns standing out there with their kids. Um, so that way everybody gets everybody
gets taken care of. But there there's probably at least a hundred students that ride from that one area that that get on those buses there. So to your point, >> yeah, thank you.
>> Excellent point. Yes, Miss Darby. >> Mr. Lee, do you have a rough number of how many gated communities we have or andor communities where we're hitting private roads? Rough.
>> There's there's lots of private roads in the county. The largest majority are going to be small developments where somebody had 50 60 acres and wanted to
do six acre tracks and they just put a road down the middle of it, call it private HOA and then you know that those people have five, six acre tracks and they build homes. It's all over the map to be I mean
there's trailer parks, there's condo complexes, there's apartment complexes and I'm going to digress for if you'll allow me for one moment and I'm going to go back to that 55 and up and I've talked to all of our jurisdictions, the county,
the city, all of them. And I'm not an attorney, but these 55 and ups are going to come back and bite this school board before it's over. >> Grand kids, >> they legislate. They say it's in the HOA
bylaws that it's 55 and up and I'm not an attorney and you're a real estate man. You move in a 55 and up and your child gets a divorce and she comes to live with you for a little while and she's got two or three grandkids. They're
coming in tow. We as a school system are obligated to take those children to school if they I don't care whether they're in a 55 and up or not. No one can give me a straight story or a straight answer on how that's
regulated by the 55 and up HOA. That's situation number one. Situation number two, you pass away and you leave your condo to your kids. How do they legislate your children
owning it, but they can't live in it because they have children? Now, I'm not an attorney. I don't want to get in it. My comment to all of them is unless something happens in the future, this school board and this school system
has decided that transporting children is part of what they want to do. And a lot of those 55 and ups have not made preparations for buses any at all. And it's going to be a problem. So I'm g back to Europe.
I'm going to say the largest majority of them are going to be modular homes, apartment complexes, town homes, and condominiums. But we do have a 10 to 15 subdivisions
that if you want to call it a subdivision, I'm going to use the term, we'll use Mr. Tidwell's term, over 50 units. There's there's 10 to 15 of them. Um, so, so it's more than we think and
and I can't predict what's coming in the future because what you choose to do is not only going to affect what we currently have, but what is also going to come in the future. Can you speak um briefly on some of the challenges for anyone that didn't listen
when we previously discussed this about the some of the gated communities in particular that our bus drivers have faced over the last few years? >> Sure. And I I I would like to say the same thing I've told the different board members that have called me
to discuss it. For me, it's the the gate is not the biggest problem. It's the private road part that for me it's the and that's where we came up with the definition of what is a driveway and that's when you leave the public right
away at the point in which you're approaching your residence and that's on private when you leave that public to private that's where we've determined that's where we pick it up and that's where that 2/10en of a mile starts. Um
the problem with the gates and and they have good intentions and we have gates and they are problems for us as well. Um they when they work and everything works correctly, they're great. When they
don't, it becomes a problem for the bus. The bus is at the gate. the gate either functions or the code is messed up or their their batteries died or whatever. And what's happened in the past, and it I'm not throwing our contractor under
the bus that ran that area, they did what they thought was best, not good practice. They would get off the bus and manually open the gate. They got he they had a code. Technically, by state law, they're not
supposed to do that. They're not supposed to leave that bus. So, that's a problem. And with a regular bus, you couldn't meet the code. You know, you couldn't reach the box. They They've all agreed, we'll leave them
open. We'll make sure that they're open when you come through. Everyone has good intentions and I do not think they were in any way or manner trying to skirt the system or not cooperate. They were
they've all tried. The vast majority of them have gave up and they've left their gates open. This is probably one of the few that continued to want to use their gates. So, we did have problems and we're either waiting for someone to let us in
which puts the bus behind then we're late for the rest of the routes and we're also late you know getting the children to school and if it's an elementary run where we have the problem then it just gets worse as the day goes on. So those are kinds of things that happen. I
would >> I would also guess that if they get to a gate that is broken and not functioning and is closed, I cannot imagine a school bus trying to get out of that lane with the gate not opening because they're usually fairly narrow
and if they have a turnaround, it's usually pretty pretty small to try and turn around in. >> Most gates when they break have a manual way of opening them. So they could get but they would have to wait there again. they would have to wait for someone to come do it. The easiest thing to do is
just not use the gate, leave it up. >> I >> But that defeats the purpose of the gated community. But that's the HOA's decision. >> I did tell um some of the the constituents that emailed me that that I would bring this up for debate. So, I'm glad that it's up to be discussed and
talked about. Um and I do just want to say like I think, you know, this board desires to serve all of our students um as best we can. And I think we have to look at, you know, some of the concerns that you brought forth. We have to weigh in some of the concerns the parents brought
forth. And I don't know that there's a a perfect answer. Um I know a lot of times what I look for is, you know, is the expectation of what we're doing reasonable? Does it seem appropriate? Um and I am concerned about what you
brought up too, Mr. Va. And if if we start going into private roads and gated communities, but we're not going into trailer parks or apartment complexes or condos unintentionally, is that sending a bad
message as well? And is it easier to have a little bit more of a black and white? We're an extremely large district and we don't always have the luxuries that smaller districts have to be able to be a little more nuanced with the way that they serve their students in some
capacity. I think we do an amazing job with with what we do have. Um, this is a hard decision because I I absolutely want to serve our parents and our students as best we can. Um, but I do have some concerns because I do think,
you know, when the gate doesn't function properly, that is a delay and that affects all of our students. That affects everybody. Um, so I I'm not exactly sure what the right answer is here, but I did like what Mr. Mr. Lee came up with as far as the term
for the driveway. And and I think it's kind of a clear-cut picture if we're saying we pick up where the private road starts. Like we we're not going to go down the private roads. And I I think that's also considering our contractors and the buses. I know in my subdivision
we've had several garbage trucks come down and things have happened on the road and then people start talking about who's responsible for fixing it and all of those things as well. So there's a lot of good concern and good discussion happening and being considered here. Um, I do like the driveway definition.
I'm just I don't know that it's a difficult one. [snorts] >> Okay, Mr. Tidwell. >> All right. So, I think that this is great discussion. Um, I think there's three things that we're actually talking about here. One, defining a driveway. Um, two,
not to conflate the exception clause with the gate communities because those are not exactly the same. So, if we want to come up with an idea of what we want to do with gated communities, then we can do that. For example, I know one subdivision has sent me a letter from
their HOA that they are going to, which I can send to transportation that they are going to keep their gate open during bus driver arrival route times. And they've listed what those times are every day, every time. Matter of fact,
they even put in an exception there that they will accommodate when we've had a shorter day or shorter schedule or let out early. They will accommodate with the gates during that set schedule as well. They are willing to provide a remote, but that's may be necessary, not
necessary if the gates are open. So, that's one way to answer to me the gated community question. Now, with that, we now have this. We're starting with the driveway definition. So now we have the driveway definition. That's number one.
Number two, we go to gated communities. So when we get into a gated community that has county or city roads, they're going to meet that number one definition. The the second portion, which is the gated community, and I'm these can all be separate motions. um if
they have an HOA letter saying that they're going to keep the the gates open during bus route times and those are city or county roads then I don't see the issue with that. I understand from one of the communities I heard there was one instant in which the
gate was an issue one day and so when you look at the scale of how many days that route was ran and there was only one issue and then now we're going to retreat from that just because there's a gate I I don't think that's fair and this is a large subdivision as far as um
so that that's that's two separate items. Then we get to number three which the ex is exception thing. So I'll just hit on that real quick. um you talk about uh modular homes and and things of that nature. Those are usually very small lots, very close together. It's
very hard to get in there. Well, in this clause, it says the bus contractor has the space and ability to turn the bus around. So, that would eliminate if that's not an option, that takes that back off the table. That's why that's in there. Uh historically,
we have done all different sorts of things, which is why we're having this conversation today. We have not followed one set of rules that we have stuck with, which is why we're defining it before we start having issues. We do pick up at the modular homes that do have a pickup spot. All the kids come
out at the apartments. Tons of cars both sides have a lot of apartments around where I live. You ain't getting a bus in and around there. The gate non-issue. We're not It's totally separate issue. The apartments have a pickup spot to pick up up front. Got that. You get out
in Christianity. Christian Christiana and you you drive down one of these, you know, 5 acre lots. It's only 16 houses in the whole neighborhood. It's got one street that's private. That's that falls under this
50. It's below 50. We're not coming in and making an exception on that. And times past, we have on some, we haven't on others. So, we are looking for some direction to kind of nail down here. And so, and when you do that, yeah, you're going to cut out some people, you're
going to keep some people, but as far as historical precedent of what we've been doing prior, modular homes, apartments, those things, they've always had the one pickup spot. What's happening here is that you take a subdivision that has a county or city road. When we're talking
about the gated community, so let's just go back to that one particular item. talking about the gated community piece. You have a subdivision that has the specs in the road and we have picked up kids in that neighborhood before and now because of our new definition or or our new discussion around gates, we're no
longer picking up in those those particular areas. So, I would understand that if every day bus contractors should not leave their bus. I get that was the issue. I'm with you. If we're relying on remote
I'm on the edge, but I can still come around and say, "Okay, maybe the remote don't work and that's an issue." Okay. When the HOA and we can make I'll make this motion tonight, sends a letter and says, "We are going to keep the gates open during
bus operating hours. If they have the spec, they've already met the first level. If they have the specs, why would you not like what? We were doing it before. Well, we just unless our unless the idea is just to scale back transportation. So,
you got one defined in the driveway, two not currently listed, but uh gated community conversation, then three where you get to the exception clause, which is, and this can be modified however you guys would like to modify the way that
is currently written, over 50 houses, so large neighborhoods. Um, and there has to be space for the bus to turn around. So anyways, just throwing that out there to kind of clean up that because what happened last time we started talking
about the gated communities and it was really more about defining a driveway and now we're back up here talking about defining a driveway and we're mixing in well you know the gated community conversation which is a conversation worth having and we can talk about what that looks like but that's not the same
as what we're talking about with the county roads and this the private roads. >> Okay. >> So hopefully that makes more sense. >> Thank you Mr. T. Well, Mr. Vaughn, you have something to say. [clears throat] >> You know, again, I'm like Mr. Lee. These places u have great intentions,
but you know, the thing about it is I don't see how in the world we could ever expect a driver to have to get off the bus and open the gate in these gated communities cuz you talking about a liability.
If something were to happen, um, we probably don't have enough money in Rother Canyon to pay for it. And I don't know, uh, what does what does the drivers feel about this? What's what's their position, Mr. Lee? Do you
have a feeling for it? >> Uh, most of our drivers try and do whatever they can for the kids. I haven't heard a lot from the that there again the gate is the minimal part for us. It's the
public and private is the what I'm trying to but but there again >> why don't we tie it however you'd like to tie it. It's not up to me. Why don't we let the let the drivers
do what they can and come back to us and you know if there's an issue that with any of these subdivisions are gated and everything like that let's deal with it then. And if they're if they're willing to do
everything they can for the kids which I'm sure most of the bus drivers are. Uh, I don't see why we don't go in that direction and just see and if there's a problem down the road, then we'll we'll deal
with it then. I need to be able to set it, you know, with routes, we need to be able to have consistency so that we know how to set the route stops. That's the reason we're >> asking >> asking for >> correct >> define what you would want so that we
can have something to go by so that then we can because there has been some inconsistency and my goal is to make it consistent. >> Can you say just leave it up to the judgment of the driver? >> I don't think they want I I don't think
they want that liability and and the catch for them is the private roads. That's that's the catch for them is the private roads. >> Miss Darby, and then I'll get to you, Mr. PL. >> I guess my my biggest concern with the
gated communities really has more to do with when it doesn't work how it's intended to. So, the HOA sends a letter and says, "We're going to have the gates open from this time to this time." And one day the bus driver shows up and it's not open. or the bus is
running extremely late and the gate has now been closed. My question then becomes what happens to those students? How do they know where to go? How do we know what's happening in how to handle that?
Because what I don't want to do is have students wandering trying to figure out what is happening in that instance because our other our other routes are just stops and you're either at the stop or you're not and the bus moves on. So,
I think I could probably get on board if the gates are open with the caveat that if the bus driver comes and it's not open, bus driver's moving on, just like if the kid wasn't at the stop because I don't know a better way to kind of navigate
when there's a barrier that a bus driver has to deals with deal with. So, >> true. Now, >> Mr. thought >> I and and y'all correct me if I'm wrong, but I I think we we've talked all the way around the circle. I think you've answered your own question. If my
understanding about county policy, city policy is correct. Anything that has a gate up is a private road. Am I wrong about that? That's the way I read. >> You can have a private road without a gate. You cannot gate a public road. you
that that that's what I was trying to get out. So, you can't we've kind of answered our own question. I think you you you limit bus service to public roads, whether it's city or county, period. And the buses do not leave the
rightway. I I don't know, some of us may be confused right that that there are no gated subdivisions that gate a public road. They're not allowed under the subdivision regulations. Correct. >> That is correct. >> Yeah. So, I think we answered our own question right there.
>> That may solve the problem. >> Does that make Does that make sense? I don't think the buses just don't leave the rideway. Period. >> That'll solve the problem. >> Yes, Mr. Darby. I will say that some of the concerns the parents had are in some larger gated communities. They're saying
that the walk is longer than what our policy states we try to keep it at. >> Right. So, I just want to make sure that we bring up the concerns that have been mentioned by those constituents that this is affecting. >> So, that is something to be considered that that that does create a potentially
longer walk than what we typically expect of our students to be picked up. >> Um, so I would again go back to I I don't think I have an issue with the open gate. I think my biggest issue would just be everyone's going to have to be okay with if the gates closed
then we have to keep going because the other the other issue is the delay that that can create for the rest of our students. If a bus driver were to stop and try to handle that situation. We don't want them getting off the bus. We don't want to delay everybody else that that bus is picking up. I think that
that that would have to be I think that's a reasonable caveat. Like if you're going to agree to have the gates open, great. We'll come in. If we show up and the gates closed, we got to keep it moving. >> M. Maxwell. >> Yes, Mr. Tidwell. >> I think that's that's valid. Um, but
just for some context, we were previously going into some of these areas. And so, if that was an issue, I'm sure it's happened before. It happened at least once in this particular subdivision. Um, so I think the parents are willing to take while they reached out to me knowing that that was an
issue, they're willing to take that chance just because it is such a rarity. So, if we want to add something into a motion with that saying that if we get a letter from the HOA saying they're going to keep it in keep it open during
transportation hours and um if it is closed then the school system or the bus contractor would not be responsible for those ch I understand that. That's reasonable to me. >> Okay. Um Mr. lot.
>> I'd just like I'd like to make a motion that we just uh but the drivers not get off the public road. I think that would that'll solve these problems cuz >> you know we're just beating a dead horse really
to go around. But you know it's I think that's going to solve the problems. It's going to be fair to everybody. We're not going to get off the public road. So I'd like to make a motion. That's what we do. So
>> you have a second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. B. >> Miss Maxwell. >> Yes, Mr. Tidwell. >> All right. So, we are just voting to define just to make sure we got the motion correct. You're going to define the term driveway to mean where the
county road stops and the private road begins. Right. That's that's what you're aiming for, Mr. Von. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> All right. Dr. Sullivan. >> I'm sorry. Was you gonna say something? >> No. That's what I was going to ask to clarify where we're going with what's on
here. >> Yeah. >> Thank you for doing that. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Do we have any more comments or questions? We have a motion. We have a second. >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Motion passes. Now to the second
part. >> Yeah. Now, Miss Miss Maxwell. >> Yes. I'd like to make a motion that as far as dealing with gated communities, if we get a letter from the HOA
um that we can access the actually I'm going to add that to I'm going to add to number two the exception clause here. If you have a single family, and I'm going to add the word sightbuilt detached neighborhood
with over 50 homes. I'm going to take out the do not have county roads as we learned that tonight. There will be at least one meeting spot inside the neighborhood as long as there is space for the bus contractor to turn
around. So, I'm going I'm going to repeat that. Add an exception clause that single family sitebuilt detached homes, detached neighborhoods with over 50 houses.
Have at least one meeting spot inside the neighborhood as long as there is space for the contractor to turn around. underneath that and I don't know if this has to be a separate motion Jeff you can tell me if I need to make a separate motion here
about the gated communities underneath that if it's a gated community and the HOA provides a letter saying that the transportation that the gate will be open during morning and dismissal
transportation that that is an option provided that The first pieces are met. That is my motion. >> Madam Chair. >> Yes, Male. Would you be willing to amend
that to add the clause about the gate being closed? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. That if it is closed, that is not the responsibility of the contractor. >> Correct. >> Sounds good.
Did you second it? >> No, I didn't. I asked him if he would amend it first. So, he said he would >> just include it on the >> Do we need to do two or is it just >> included in the original? >> Okay, the original. Okay. Go ahead. Okay. >> Yeah, he needs a second.
>> Okay. Does anybody have a second for it? >> I'll second it. >> Thank you, Mr. Darby. >> That's my >> um Mr. Vaughn just made a a good point. I just want to get clar add clarification to this that if the bus
contractor drives up so just for clarity the gate is open then they have this option we have this exception clause here if the gates closed the bus contractor is not getting off the bus they are not putting in a code they are not doing any anything extra gates open
it works gates closed doesn't >> okay >> not to get off Gotcha. >> Okay. Is there any other discussion you'd like to add? >> Again, I'm going to go back to it. I'm I'm fearful that we're adding liability
that we don't need to add right here because again, if that if we allow or tell our bus drivers to go up into a private subdivision and they get a turnaround spot and they tear up the road,
in my view, we're accepting that liability to fix that road because somebody's going to point the finger at that bus. That that's that's my first fear. My second fear is this is that the whole idea behind gated communities is
is an added level of security. So they've raised the gate. Again, Caleb, I'm being the devil's advocate here, and I don't wish anybody any bad things, but I have watched it happen time and time and time again that there's somebody casing the joint and
they know the bus is coming in at 7:15 and the gate goes up and they follow that person in there and the next thing you know, they have broken in somebody's house while they've gone to work. Does that set us up for some type of liability? I don't think it does, but
counselor, I don't know if you would address that or not. It It's those fears that, you know, we're we're trying so hard, and I appreciate y'all doing this. You're trying so hard to accommodate a few people um at the expense of the of
of most of the constituents and most of the students in this county. And I'm fearful that we're going to we're going to end up this is going to end up ending bad. That that would be my only piece I'd say. >> Yes, Mr. V. Yeah, Mr. uh Mr. Darby.
>> Mr. Lee, >> we have currently been servicing all of these areas. Correct. With the exception of anything newly built. >> Yes and no. [laughter] >> Expand >> because it's it's been inconsistent. >> So, some have, some haven't.
>> Some have, some haven't. And I my goal is consistency. Would it be helpful, and I don't know, but to have anything in here in regards to Mr. Tidwell's
motion that speaks about um as long as there is space for the bus contractor to turn the bus around, whose discretion that falls under? Would it be transportation department? Would it be the contractor themsself? Does it really not matter?
cuz you're going to have some parents that'll say that bus can turn around there. >> I'm not getting in it. Going to be the contractor and if they say yes, then they go and if they say no, we don't. Okay. I'm not I'm not getting into splitting hairs. >> I would love to to amend that motion
again, Caleb. I'm sorry. And add um for the bus contractor to turn the bus, let me see. long as there is space for the bus contractor to turn the bus around to be determined at the discretion of the contractor.
>> Is that a second amendment or we or can we just add that to the original one as well? That makes it a long amendment. >> Contractor driver. >> Yeah, >> contractor driver. >> Yeah, I would do contractor. >> I think you better do that. Don't do this. >> Yeah,
>> I'll accept that amendment. Okay. >> I guess I'm going to be devil with advocate too. I just I think if man the only way to solve this problem is just not leave the public road cuz when you go on that private road pass
that gate [clears throat] you do for one you don't do for other you going to have a problem in my opinion. That's just my opinion. Are we comfortable with all of that being in one motion or do we need to add
>> Do you want me to read it back? >> Yes, because I I'm trying to write it all down. >> I think I have it. Bear with me. Uh and I would guess we would just call this exception clause. Um
single family site built. Correct me if I'm wrong, Caleb. Single family sightuilt detached neighborhoods with over 50 houses will have at least one meeting spot inside the neighborhood as long as there is space for the bus contractor to turn the bus around to be determined by the discretion of the
contractor/driver. In the case of a gated community, an HOA provides a letter stating the gates will be open during transportation times. The bus will enter if the gate is open. If the gate is closed, the bus
will move on. I don't know if there's a better way to word that part, but >> the bus contractor is not responsible for picking up. >> They if the gate is not open, they will not be responsible for
>> pickup >> pickup >> or drop off. >> So, what do we do with them? If we don't drop them off, what do we do with them? >> Well, you'd have to drop them off there, but I guess not at their regular stop. So, that's another point that brings up a whole
>> What'd you do in the past, >> sir? >> What'd you do in the past? >> You ever You ever had dismissal and come to the gate? >> Well, it doesn't have anything there again. I'm going to take the gate out of it. If the parent's not home, we have to take the child back to the school and the parents responsible to come get
them. And then the parents mad and the contractor's mad >> and the principal >> and the principal and the principal's mad and the school. They've got to stay till the parent comes to get them mad and the school staff have violated their contract. Yes. >> Yeah. I think we're talking about a
rarity though that this this is not something that seems to be consistently happening. So [clears throat] I'm good with the motion. I like the way it reads. >> I think we have to clarify the ending there though. So if the gate is closed, >> we don't pick up or drop.
>> So then the kids would be brought back to the school. >> They'd have to be follow typical protocol. >> Yes, we >> if we drop them off, then I would imagine they can get in their gate would be my recommendation because otherwise I'm bus I'm going to have buses full of kids going back to school with nobody
there. >> Yes, Mr. Sharp. There's always there's always >> Oh, they can walk. Yes, >> they can walk. >> They walk as Maxwell. >> Yes, Mr. V. >> You know, Gosh, we keep making all these exceptions and I I still say the only
way to solve it. Don't leave the public lo road. That'll solve all of them. We don't have to worry about it. >> I understand, Madam Chair. >> Yes, Mr. Arby. In the spirit of we're here to serve the students, I think is where Mr. Tidwell's
motion is coming from. Sure. >> I just I don't want anyone to feel like they're punished for where they live, regardless of what that is, whether it's a trailer park, a townhouse, a regular house, a gated community. I I certainly don't want any of our students to feel
that way. Um but to finish Caleb the if the ending said the bus the bus will enter if the gate is open. If the gate is closed the driver will not pick up at drop off. Students will be dropped at
the gate. >> I think so because that would be the solution if we were not taking them inside the the community anyways. >> That's where they would be dropped off if we weren't going inside. Yes, >> that's >> okay.
>> Miss Maxwell. >> Yes, Mr. Tidwell. >> Yeah. And look, this is a long motion. We are literally developing policy, and that's what a board does. So, if you read through some of our policies, you're going to see some very long policies. We're developing something new, something that wasn't in place
before that had all types of varying definitions. So the fact that this is a long motion I don't think deters from the the reason that it a is a reasonable logical conclusion on this particular problem. >> Madam chair. >> Okay. Do Yes. I would just like to say
too listen if it doesn't work we can always come back and change the policy at any point in time. So if we start school and six months into school we've had 45 instances of gates being closed. It might deserve another look at that
point. So, or if we find that we've got way too many people that aren't fitting into the exception clause that maybe should be fitting in there, then we can come back and revisit the policy. But right now, I feel like we're trying we are trying to accommodate all of our students at Rutherford County in the
best way we can. That seems to be reasonable. >> Okay, Mr. Bond, >> I can eliminate the long policy. I have real short. Just don't leave public the public road. I mean, we're
doing all this stuff and gosh, you know, if that bus driver's got to sit there and think, okay, what's this new policy? You know, what I do and they call Mr. Lee up and he's going to have to give a sermon to, you know, about it and read
all of it off. But it's a simple thing that just don't leave the public road that you know we're we can solve that and we're being fair to everybody. It's not that we're being unfair to anybody.
And you know, I don't know. I just >> We are trying to be fair, but there's always going to be someone who says we weren't being fair. So, it just it's it's opinions and everyone's got one. Did you have something to say, Mr. Vaughn? >> Oh, I got a lot to say, but I don't need to say anything else. >> Okay.
>> And I'm I will say this. I I appreciate my fellow board members. Y'all have tried extremely hard to to to take care of what I deem to be, you know, a handful of situation and maybe it's a double handful of situation. But again, I would iterate
my final thought is setting up that liability and that possibility that we would have to pave roads or be responsible for something else. I just I'm like Mr. Devon. Um don't leave the public road period. And that takes care of it. So, and and I and and I think
Marrymont Springs is probably the subdivision that most of us have got on our minds right now cuz they're the ones that sent the email, I think, or the lady did. And I would say that maybe they build community, maybe they help each other out as neighbors and they get to know their neighbors. And maybe, you
know, one car pools, maybe one parent sits at the gate or hauls everybody to the gate every morning or picks them up in the afternoon if it's raining or something like that. There could be something good come out of this that they would have to engage with their neighbor instead of, you know,
petitioning us to get a bus to come down a private road. But hey, it's it's good. Y'all tried extremely hard. Let's see where she falls. >> Okay. Well, we have a motion. We have a second. We've had very good discussion on this. And like I said, Miss Darby, if
you know, we're trying to do what we can here to listen to all the voices uh in our uh school system. So, we've got a motion. We've got a second. >> We will roll call. >> Let's do a roll call because I'm not exactly sure. >> All right. Um
Miss Sharp. >> Yes. Mr. VA. >> No. >> Mrs. Rosales is absent. Mr. V. >> No. [laughter] >> No. >> Mr. Tidwell. >> Yes.
>> Mrs. Derby. >> Yes. Mrs. Maxwell. No. >> You have a tie. I have a tie. >> Motion fails. >> Motion fails. >> Mhm. When you have a tie, everyone loses. [laughter] Now, I'd like to make
a motion that we we make a motion that they don't leave the public roads. >> We already first >> that it Okay. >> Y. >> So, we're good. >> Okay.
[laughter] >> When our attorney doesn't know, that's that's troubling. So, private roads private roads and not public roads. So what's going to happen with the kids if they don't if you don't have >> I'm sorry Mr. Is his microphone on?
>> Sorry. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. So, u there are a lot of private roads when when we're talking about gated communities, there are not that many gated communities in the county. There are very few of those, I think. So, it's not many of those. There are many subdivisions and many
developments that have private roads in them. A lot of these town home developments are all 100% private roads. And we probably have buses driving down those today and had buses driving those for years to pick up kids. If we're not if we're saying buses are not going to
be allowed to pick up kids on private roads, that is probably going to present a pretty major problem for a lot of parents and a lot of kids. Um because these town home developments in particular and and subdivision these days have lots of private roads in them.
You may not know what when you're saying when you're seeing a public road or a private road. It may be hard for us to even as a common people to know whether that road is public or private because um you can't it's not obvious to look at at it. You have to get the plat out to know whether it's a public or private
road. Um the plat but you know it may be a 100 cars driving on a road but maybe a private road in the community. I am I am curious because I don't know how they do this, but when you have a large town home community, is there a spot towards
um the main road that everyone gathers at? I mean, the bus. >> Yeah. So, the buses aren't necessarily going down the private roads. >> Okay. >> Okay. So I >> the problem and I'm not arguing with
anybody and I want to stay out of this as much as possible. >> You're going to have to struggle where do you define your two tent starting point in your condominiums and your apartments because they don't have driveways.
So do I start at their door? Where do I start with the two ten of a mile that a child is? I know. I know. But I'm speaking to Mr. Reid at the moment. He's saying we're going into these units. With what y'all just said, we're not.
>> Well, didn't didn't you tell me earlier that we currently don't go in them? >> The vast majority. We do not because we can't get a bus through them. But there are some newer ones that we could. >> I'm sorry, Madam Chair. >> Miss M. Darby. >> And I don't know that you have this answer, Mr. ly. So, I'm sorry [laughter]
to put you on the spot, but this brought up a little bit of a bigger concern. If if the exception clause isn't going to be made, my concern is now jumping to how many of our routes is this going to affect and you're talking about doing this a week before school starts, which
is not giving our parents time to do what you're talking about and get with community and try to find a way to get their kid to a new stop or a different stop from what they have been used to. How many is that affecting? >> Not many because we've set most of them.
We've set most of them based on defining a driveway the way we've been defining it. >> Public to private. >> Dr. Sullivan. >> So, Mr. What you're saying is right now our bus stops are set on the way we've been >> pretty much. Yes. Yes, sir. >> Yeah.
>> So, the majority of our stops currently are set that would meet what we just approved for the most part. >> 98% >> 98%. Okay. >> Yes. you can't make it. >> Okay. Any other comments? >> And that's why I was that's the main reason I wanted to get set because
that's kind of the way we've been operating and I want to make sure >> that's where it was getting sticky with the def >> Mr. Reed. I think you're going to be >> I think you're needed one more time. [laughter] >> I think we we skipped over the question that I asked you a while ago was was the
did did the first motion that that Mr. Von made that said the definition of a driveway. Is that sufficient enough to say that the buses do not leave? What was the
first motion? I've gotten confused now. >> That county road stops and private roads begin to get >> Right. Right. >> And so is that clear enough direction or do we need another motion to to to clean this up? I didn't think so.
>> It's going to be hard. Well, I mean, county road meets private. >> Period. >> Period. >> Period. Okay, that's clear enough. >> Okay, >> counselor, is that clear enough? >> And >> is it city road or county road? >> City. City or county where it >> public rideway.
>> Public rightway. Yeah, public rideway. >> Public rideway. >> That's what we're looking for. >> The good thing if there is a good thing and I'm and it's difficult and I'm going to use the one that started all this May. If we use the
two ten of a mile, the bus can stop on Rucker Road. >> Public to private, that definition. If I have to go up in there, there's no place outside the gate to turn the bus around. We can't turn a bus around, >> right?
>> Okay. >> So, they would stay on Rucker Road and they would bring the children would come to there. It would be no different than an apartment complex or anything else. I'm just I'm looking for that
>> solid ground. >> Yes, sir. >> Madam Chair. >> Yes, Mr. Darby. >> Just to be clear, >> the one in question that we're talking about, that subdivision though, has currently been having a bus come through there to pick up. So this will affect
those parents and how those children are catching their bus. >> And that's what started it all is they started looking for their bus stop and their new bus cuz we rerouted the whole county. So they started looking on edge log to see what
their new bus number was and they found out their bus stop was at Rucker Road. >> Okay. that that's what started all of this and we explained as best we could and that's when I said it's got to go to the board you know y'all got >> okay
>> y'all y'all have to be involved because they weren't happy that the 100% that's what started all this our buses were going in there okay >> and and I I made the decision we're not going to we meaning the transportation
department is not going to decide what areas we go into and but areas we do not. >> Okay. >> And that's what brought us to this. >> Thank you for the clarification. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Mr. Reid, are we clear now? We good? >> So, are we defining the term driveway to
me mean to mean any where any public road stops, a private road begins? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. And and it works for a driveway because it's, you know, if you're in a subdivision with a public road, your
driveway meets the public and that's where we would start. We've been doing that for years. That's where we defined the 2/10 of a mile where it stopped at the public rightway. That's where we started our >> calculations for 210. But it hasn't been
they've been applying the same thing to driveway in a private neighborhood. >> Ah, >> okay. >> When in the drive in the neighborhoods that we could get a bus in >> that they've been applying it. So it hasn't been equitable and it's been kind
of >> gray area >> little gray. >> Okay. >> How do the minutes how did they vote in that earlier? Uh they did all seven we it it went seven and0. >> So where the public not where the county but the the public road stops and the
private road begins >> we'll have to amend it >> will be the driveway >> because that's not how we voted on it red county road not public road. >> Oh well we all right but let's make a new motion >> going to make the new motion. >> Yeah. And say right right away
>> public rightway public any public rightway. >> Okay. >> Okay. We'll restate the Yeah. And we'll do it the right way. >> That's Bush has made made the motion for public right away and uh we have a second. Thank you, Mr. B. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Any oppose?
>> Motion passes. >> All right. Clear as clear as mud. There >> I think we're ready to move on. >> Financial matters. >> No financial matters yet. >> Okay. >> So, we're early in the year. >> Director's >> It is. Yes.
>> Director's update. Um, got a couple. First, um, Mr. Lee with Smyrna High School. Can you give us a quick update? >> Excuse me, Eric. Would you pull that drawing up? I met with the
town mayor, the city manager, the assistant city manager, traffic engineer, and five, not that, the bulldog drive there. What you see on your screen is Uhuh.
Go back down because I need all the way to the bottom. There you go. Right there. What you see, and I don't know how well we can see this. We're going to try. This is Lee Victory Parkway going >> this way.
Can you enlarge it a little bit again? It went smaller for some reason. I know I didn't do it. This is what we're going to This is the new westbound turn lane to enter coming from Nissan. This is the westbound lane that's going
to turn into the new w newly widened Bulldog Drive. At the intersection going eastbound, there will be an additional turning lane turning into Bulldog Drive. So, what we had what we had before was one lane in, one lane
out. Right >> now, we're going to have Where's the thing? There's two lanes. There's going to be two lanes in. So, if the right turn lane, there's two lanes into there's two lanes coming out and
then there will be four lanes exiting. Two left and two right. Now, say all that to say this. School starts on Friday. This part wherever it went.
>> You want me to vent a watch? >> Right here. From here north is completely finished. The turning lane here and the turning lane over here are not. They have committed to the following.
All striping on Bulldog Drive will be completed by Sunday, temporary or permanent by Thursday night. They if they cannot finish the permanent striping right here, they have it striped back
here. All of this is complete from here to the apartment complex to the football stadium. All that's finished. This striping right through here is not. They've committed to either have temporary or permanent striping by Thursday night. Because I told them
today, I can't dump a thousand kids with their mamas with no striping down here at the road to direct them left or right. We've got to have traffic direction there. And the city agreed. So, they've committed to that. They think they're going to have it all
by Thursday night. Westbound turning lane complete by Sunday. Eastbound turning lane complete by Sunday if possible. If the weather hurts them, I told them
the eastbound turning lane would be the least impact on us because the current turning lane is still in play. We would just wouldn't have two. We'd we'd start school like we ended school. They have com they are supposed to add
two bus entrance only signs which is they go >> up there >> here right >> and I want to show you Eric if you'll show us the other drawing please so that everyone sees what the new bus traffic
pattern will be. We have the developer for Kroger. We took out two islands, closed up an entrance here. This was required by T DOT. All of this closure down here was required by them. >> So, they gave us a new cut and pavement
over to the front. The intention is this will be bus entrance only cuz the buses in the morning and the afternoon came in this way. They came in on Bulldog. Cars came in off JJ Mack Williams and then came down and made a loop back out. So
cars, not a lot of difference. Buses are still turning in Bulldog. They're just going a little different route because they went to the front. >> So all of that's the same. Yes, sir. >> How do cars come in? >> Same way. JJ M Williams, >> they go down and come back up and circle.
>> Yes, they're going to come back up and then circle back and go back out. They have this school has the option and they were doing a drone footage today on how they want their traffic to flow. They can we installed for them over the summer a gate right here to allow them
the option to close this and send traffic back or they could open it and send traffic back this way. This area right here currently is the band practice area. We just got it restriped for the band. So, it's not
going to be feasible in the afternoon to send cars through here cuz the kids are going to be practicing. So, more than like and I'm not going to get into their traffic pattern. I'm getting buses in and off the campus. The vehicular traffic is on the school. They've got
their plan. I'm not um the good thing is this parking lot here that is a fairly large parking area. They have gained spaces in it. Plus, now when they send the students up to
the ticket booth over and down, they'll have double the traffic lanes to get the kids out. They'll have two lefts and two rights instead of only one lane that the lefts and the rights were coming out of one together. They're going to have two each. >> Oh, really? So that in theory should
improve the student >> emptying off and it should help football games for the people that park on that side. They're going to have more than double the amount of ability to get people off campus. I think it's going to be a win to help us. It's going to be a
struggle to start, but overall it's going it's going to help us. Um Dr. Sutherland had discussed with the developer she wanted a fence along Bulldog 6 foot black chain link. The developer is waiting on the city to
confirm where the rideway is before they install it because the fence has to be on our property, not in the rightway. U but he has committed to do that. Um, >> is that the full length or just down to >> No, she wants it all down bulldog
>> all the way to the ball field. >> All the way to the back. >> Okay. >> Yes, sir. >> And they've agreed to do that. >> Yes. >> Well, good. >> Um, the new traffic signals to make all of this work will not be operational till the 13th. So, we will be operating
with the current signals, which still green and red. And for us, we have um crossing guards morning and afternoon. >> Um we have sent the new route. This exact drawing has been sent to all the
contractors that service this school so they're aware of it. And the school is going to be sending out their traffic pattern that they did today with the sheriff's office and the drones. They will be sending out, I'm assuming, today or tomorrow on how to go.
But that is the update on Bulldog Drive. Any questions? >> Good. >> Let's make sure all of y'all that way if you get I want to make sure you had the dates what was happening and when. They've got a really good shot at having it all ready other than the new new
lights. Um but if not, there's a contingency plan. >> Okay. Anything else? Sir, >> yes, several other ones. Okay. >> First, um I'd like to request a
motion is so we all aware that we had some news media coverage about Leverne High School and so that is a internal custodial administrative issue. And so unfortunately, and I just give a little bit of information on this, that position um currently is on leave for
our lead custodian. Uh custodians, as with all staff, and so I think it's good for everybody to understand this. Anytime we have somebody go on leave, unless they are a teacher with substitute days, we do not replace that position. And so the school, the district, um right now we we may have an
administrator that goes on leave for something. We have to fill that with a substitute teaching position or it goes unfilled. Um if Mr. Renion were to to be out on leave tomorrow, I just picked down because he was looking at me. Um his person that is second, Melanie would
have to fill in that position. There is no way to replace that because that position is still getting benefits. It's still getting um retirement, all those things. There is not another position to replace. And so my request is that we have a new custodian position. Um, I'd
also like to recommend that we match. I'd emailed the board earlier. Possible motion. I think we need to rec that we match it as a hard to staff. It's the same as our teacher salary. I think I'd said 10,000. I'd rather it match, which is hard to staff teacher salary. Is that 4,000 right now, Dr. Anthony? So, $4,000
um instead of what ID said$10,000 so that we can get an interim um LHS lead custodian as soon as possible. Then the question becomes what happens with the person that's on leave when they return. Then we will have um those decisions are
on the director of schools. I will make a decision looking at past performance all those whether or not we are going to continue to have that position there or move that position somewhere else. And so but we definitely for Lever High School I need to get a a lead custodian there and not wait.
>> So you said a $4,000 heart to staff. >> Yes. Yep. >> Question. >> Is it a possibility that when the custodian that's on leave comes back that we leave this position for a rotating? >> Absolutely. I would love to have that.
That would be >> because that's what I'm wondering. Anytime you have somebody out sick, they're on vacation. Those aren't being covered essentially. So, if you had a rotating position that just went whatever school needed, >> abs that'd be fabulous. >> Possibility. >> Absolutely. Um, and that'll probably,
it's a great point. I think that's what we will do. I instead of just giving the position back. Um, because this person, it's going to take somebody who is willing to give up their lead custodian job at their school right now at the beginning of the school year. That's why I asked for a signing bonus because that's tough to ask a person to leave
their current school, go fill in at another school, fix a problem, and then not know if they're going to stay there or not. That's that's a tough ask of somebody. Um, but I trust our custodial crew and believe that they can get some work done. But I've got to have some staff there instead of leaving that position open.
>> So moved. >> Okay. So, can we read that that that motion? >> Motion to approve a $4,000 hardto staff stipen for an interim lead
custodian at Leverne High School. Are you all okay if we just make it a full-time custodial lead position and then that way instead of it being an interim just at least what you were talking about about transferring it around wherever we need it? >> It's fine with me.
>> I'd like to add something to that. I I like to be somebody that Mr. Lee I don't need to be just anybody. This person needs to be a really first class custodian and I think Mr. Lee would be in a
position to select that person. >> Absolutely. I think I'm I've got some ideas of schools that I've had the people that I trust to get things fixed. >> Do we need to add that or can we >> No, because I can and select and transfer. >> Okay. >> As needed. Um the other thing I do want
to bring up to that um so the one portion that just so that everyone's aware how transfers work this is policy 5.115 the director of schools shall transfer employees is necessary for the efficient operation of the schools transfer shall be non-discriminatory shall not be arbitrary or capriccious director of schools are responsible for developing
and disseminating procedures um and then for reassignment it's lines 19 reassignment shall be non-discriminatory shall not be arbitrary capriccious employee shall be reassigned as necessary for the efficient operation of the schools Whatever happens, I think we can all agree right now what's going on at Leurn High School is broken and I need to get
that fixed. And so that's what my number one job right now is is to get that fixed. >> Have you spoken with this gentleman? >> No, not yet. No, but I I have an idea. >> Okay. Okay. Maxwell, >> Mr. Tidville, sorry. >> Where I was going. >> How often is this an issue? Uh and how
long is this particular custodian going to be out? >> At least October. Um how often is this an issue? Quite often. whether it's custodians, school nutrition, teachers. Um it's and I say it's tough for teachers, but even it's tough for teachers because we will fill an interim
position, but they're getting subpay. And so if you have a certified teacher in this day and age, they're not going to come take sub pay. They're going to take a full-time position. We usually have enough positions um because of teacher openings that I can just give that school a position for six months and say just fill it for six months
instead of taking sub pay. We don't have extra lead custodian positions built. So this would give us one lead custodian position. >> Yeah, that I was specifically asking about custodians and I wonder how big of an issue that is. I mean, how many custodians do we have across >> couple hundred? So at least couple
>> three to five times 53 schools. I Yeah, you're looking two to 300 at least. >> Yeah, >> it's quite a few. >> Okay. So that would fill in a rotation. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yes, Mr. >> I was going back to that. How many total
positions are there? Just off the top of your head, >> average if you average them all together, seven times 53. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, >> so 350 to 400. >> So, and not getting into structure but trying to understand structure. So,
there's a lead custodian >> one at each school. >> At every school. >> Yes. >> And so, so the if I'm hearing this correctly, what this is as much as anything is an accounting >> correct >> problem. or situ accounting the situation that
has caused this problem because you do not have the ability to fill a position that is vacant for an extended period of time. >> Correct. And it also I can't um director schools can't approve positions without board approval. So this position I can't
carry go out there and say I'll pick you and go down here and fix this problem or fill in for this position. I could if I had a position, but I don't have a position. And so we have 53 lead custodian positions. I don't have an extra one to move somebody into. >> So this is this is a little bit of a
leadership I'm going to say vacuum maybe >> that has caused some of these issues, but >> and I discussed that with the Lever High School's faculty. I went and talked to them today >> and they understand this. So this this would give us the ability or you the
ability to do this at say Oakland High School or Riverdale or View Elementary the next day. Yes. >> I I I don't I don't see how you function without this. >> Very um >> Well, I mean really somebody gets sick and somebody's gone
all the time, right? >> Very classifi and I'm speaking out of term. I'm sorry. He looked at me. This is a classified employee situation. If I go out, there is nobody and he can't hire anybody temporarily and if he moves
one of my people up, he can't replace them and then they're going to quit. >> Right. That that's what I say. >> Just work a man down and we do or a lady. We do that >> quite often over the place. Yep. >> So, this will help tremendously. >> So, Brian and Michael Smith have caused this problem, right? Y'all y'all just
didn't have We didn't have enough. >> We just don't have enough positions. >> Mr. Smith deals with the same thing on the county level. They had a county finance director assistant when he was sick. He wasn't able to fill that position. And so it's it's government. >> Well, again, trying to be prudent with
our tax dollars, but my staff at my office, there is a backup plan for everybody, the the the the office manager, everybody. And and so >> now we're trying to give ourselves a backup. Well, then as large as this district is, I as I said, I don't say
have you functioned without somebody to you've been lucky that I'm going to say that you really been lucky that this >> and our maintenance staff really pitches in. But right now, our maintenance staff, if I keep them at Lever High School, then they are not getting to the items they need to to get the rest of the schools open. >> So, so this person would feel really get
that staff back up to 100%. >> And one thing I think it's good for the public to be aware of is how our financial season works. So, we close purchase orders or POS at the end middle of May. Our schools get out the end of May. And so, that's when we need to be
doing most of our work, but because of the way our fiscal year ends, it ends June 30th. The county doesn't open our books back until third week of July because they have to close, which is typical. So when we need access to be able to do most of our stuff for work, we don't have the ability to actually do
any work. >> Like ceiling tiles, >> ceiling tiles, wax, any of that kind of stuff. >> So So they should have been ordered in April, but but it's hard to anticipate. You don't know when >> this should have been anticipated, but >> Well, you don't know when you're going to have a leaky roof or something like that that would cause that staining or
whatever in April. So, it's a series of circumstances as much as anything, but this position will allow you >> flexibility. >> Great. >> Yes, Mr. Derby. Dr. When did the lead custodian go out on leave at Leverne? Do
you know? >> Not officially approved yet. Um, but has submitted it this month. >> Okay. Um, would it be better for the motion to label this as a floating lead custodian until you decide?
>> I think that's fine. Yeah, I'm good with that. Instead of an interim float, that would help me. >> Okay. Floating. Okay. >> Floating. [cough] >> Go on record. >> Floating. A floating lead. >> I'm good with that. >> So, they're not assigned to a specific school necessarily. They're put wherever
you need them. What you need them. >> Thank you. Yeah. How much money did we just spend? [sighs and gasps] >> Not unfortunately nowhere near as much as you would think with a le custodian position. There are 1078 I believe. I'd have to go look exactly
the scale and then $4,000. >> Okay. Did you have something to say, >> Mr. T? >> Yes. Um I I agree with what we got going on here. The question I have is about the the accounting issue. Is there something that we need to do as a board to prevent
that from happening? I mean, if the summertime is when we can get so much maintenance done, >> unfort Yeah. Unfortunately, there's not. We have to basically be able to predict the future, see what's going to hit, and that's the way that every district in
the state works because of our fiscal year. Most states run June or July to June. There are some states that run January to January. We just happen to be a July to June state. And so it's tough for us in the summer months if a school needs something. We our books are
closed. Now I can authorize an emergency like if we had a chiller or something go down. Um but as far as regular maintenance type things, we we have to shut them down so we can get an idea to get you all the the amendment and that's been tough. You all know that we've had to do that meeting earlier and earlier
every year. And so our we our county commission met I think June 22nd or 23rd this year. That meant our meeting had to be earlier. So we finished our budget amendments July 11th or June 11th and so [clears throat] that's tough. You we went almost 5 and a half weeks where to
where we weren't going to approve it just to make sure we had money. >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Can we add an a line item and obviously not this year with the uh budget being approved, but I mean moving forward just as a basically a little savings account there as a buffer to get through.
>> I wouldn't be able to utilize it >> cuz we have to Yeah. I can't have I can have POS go from one fiscal year to the next, but there's a lot of steps I have to put in place to do it. And then I still have to leave the books closed so that the county can close their books for the auditors. It's just a it's an accounting
system that's not great for school systems. >> Yeah. Frustrating. >> Yep. >> Did you have something to say? I guess I was not saying things, but I sure would like to go on record send a message to Mayor Cole Lever that
I personally, you know, certainly don't appreciate the way he uh he approached the issue at Lever High School. U courtesywise, you know, you pick up the telephone, you call Dr. South later to
later. You don't do it in the You don't do it in the the media. Um what his reason for doing that, I don't know, but I thought it was just didn't show a lot of class, a lot of didn't
show any professionalism. So, >> thank you. >> Okay. Yes, Mr. Tidwell. >> I got one last question on that. In this particular situation, how long has the custodian been out the lead? They officially asked late June but have not
submitted paperwork until um July 17th. >> Okay. I mean this individual is doing a good job, right? Or I mean I'll do the evaluation of our employees. So yeah. >> Okay.
Anything else, sir, that you've got? >> Last thing is a positive. And so we didn't vote on that, did we? >> I don't think we voted. We >> did not. I apologize. Yes. Can you read the motion real quickly for me, Miss Williams? >> Okay. This was made by Mrs. Darby and
seconded by Miss Sharp. U motion to approve a Sorry, I can't read it without my glasses. U 4,000 um hard to staff stipen for a floating lead custodian. >> Okay. Thank you.
>> I'll sorry. Do we need to clarify that we're adding it as a new position as well? >> That's fine. Yeah. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> I'm sorry, but it sounded like it was just a stipen the way it was written. So, >> yeah. >> Is everybody clear now? Okay.
>> I'm ready to vote. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Motion passes. >> All right. Thank you all for helping me work through that problem. We can always find a solution. We just have to be able to to brainstorm on it. Um, next thing is some positives. So, one of the things
that I do every year is I go to every school um to meet with the faculty, a 5 to 10 minute speech the first week of school. Um, unfortunately, Dr. Chastain has a pull day schedule for tomorrow, which means that she takes all the faculty out of their buildings. I'm just giving her I'm just giving her a hard
time right now. Um, it is appropriate. So, we take like our English, our math, our career and technical education teachers, they all go meet together so we can train on the subjects. Um, but that did take a day away for me to go to the school. So, I'm fitting all 53 schools in 3 and 1/2 days. I've gotten 36 finished the last two days. And so,
our school goals this year are making sure that we continue to focus on our people. And so, that's been number one. And it has allowed us to be very successful. We've got about 3,600 certified staff members, almost 6,600 staff members altogether. And with that, as of yesterday, we had 11 teacher
openings. And so, to have 3,600 certified staff, 11 teacher openings, that's fluctuating a little bit. I think we lost a Latin teacher uh today. So it's it's somewhere in that like 10 to 20ish range but still with 3600 that's phenomenal. Unfortunately most of them are structured setting and so that's an
area of concern. Second goal is consistency. Our academic performance continues to just go further than I think year after year our teachers can do and once that's unembarged we can discuss that. Um but definitely lots of reason to celebrate. And then third we're trying to focus on
simplicity so that we can have synergy and aptagy. I know it doesn't feel simple right now because we're transitioning, but that'll allow us to make our operations more efficient, communicate with parents um a little bit better. And then one of the other things I'm talking about with all of our staff
is around um elementary and just overall student behavior. And so kind of one of the messages I talked about was previous to COVID, if we had a student who was acting out and just not showing appropriate actions in the classroom, throwing things, hitting,
that kind of stuff, we would have removed that student from the classroom. Something happened in education since that day and we no longer do that. Instead, it's become custom the last seven years, we remove all other kids from the classroom. I think if we take a second as educators to to look back that
that kind of seems asinine to do. Why are we going to remove the 99% of the kids who were doing what we asked them to do from instruction. So I'm going to every school and saying that I don't know all the answers for that yet. But that practice that has become nationwide over the last seven years can't be the way we operate [clears throat] as a district. And so no, that's going to be
something that we continue to highlight. That probably means more discipline decisions for some students, different placements, more homebound services, but that's something as a district that >> it was evident by our teacher survey I talked about, but that's something that we used to do. And so there's no reason that we don't go back to that again. And
so that's been very well received. >> That's sounds wonderful because I was frustrated with that. I had a lot of questions why we >> I have no idea why it started. Um, but it has started nationwide. It's become the trend and I I don't know why. >> Okay. Well, thank you, sir. Is there anybody else? What
>> the question? I mean, was it a directive from the state board of education? >> No, I think it just was a, you know, after coming out of COVID, everybody was a little bit more lenient and so now it's like, what do we do with our students? We don't know how to control them. And that was just a nationwide kind of thing that everybody decided,
let's make everybody else safe and leave that kid in the classroom. But that doesn't make any logical sense other than that just became the habit. And so I'm >> and the reason the reason I question that I'm gonna get off on a tangent here and I know everybody's ready to go home. I should not do this but it appears to
me there have been some some policies, some structures, some things that have either come from the federal department of education or the state department of education that is doing its best to dismantle and discredit
public education. And you know, after being here with with you people, good people, this board, I it's almost, you know, our hands are tied with certain things and I'm and I'm
and I'm beginning to be a little bit of a conspiracy theorist here. Is is this a concerted effort by certain groups of people in our country to um get into the pocket of uh public
education? Because I I'll say this, it is the largest expenditure we have in the state of Tennessee. It's like 30% of our budget. The the on the local level, it's 75% of our budget. It's like the last great hurrah that private enterprise could leverage. And I sound
like I'm preaching to you and I don't mean it that way, but it is making me suspicious. And that's the reason I question you or question that. If you ever hear me say that, I'm trying to figure out who did this and why did they do it and what was their motivation to
do it because you got a heck of a staff out here. U this board has been I've enjoyed working with every one of y'all. Hadn't always gotten to say, you know, we don't always vote the same. And I think that makes for great discussion. Uh my experience being on the county commission when we voted, you know, 12
to to to whatever eight or nine, you know, most of the time it was a good decision. Every time we voted 21 to zero, I was always a little concerned that maybe we we weren't doing the right thing or we hadn't asked the right the questions. But tonight, I think this board shows it works really really well
together and working through this thing. Anyway, I'm I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get off subject right there. I think what it um comes down to one I think teachers and staff got a little worried about what is going to happen if I don't support that one child. And so what we've talked about the this week is
we've got to make sure we support every student, not just the one student who is misbehaving. We also have to support the rest of the students who are not and protecting their educational environment. And at first um honestly it was there were two things that really made us reflect and think about it. One was our teacher survey that came back.
Second, there's a new state law that anytime you clear a classroom, you have to contact parents that day. And so that made me reflect on why in the world are we clearing classrooms? When did that start and what are we doing? And so I think that gave us that opportunity. I don't know how other districts are going
to talk about it, but we we've said we're the 80th largest in the country. There's with size comes power. And so I think for us it's very easy for us to say all right the state department said that if we have to or the legislature has said if we have to clear a classroom then we have to notify parents which is
right that's obviously not what's expected then we it is not expected behavior to clear a classroom and so that's something that in talking with our 36 faculties even if it didn't involve u talking to the middle and high school faculties I told them about this as well so that everybody kind of
understood we've got to get back to controlling our enir environment. That's what allows us to be a great school system. But if we don't protect that, then we will be we will fall to not being a good school system. And so I think it's been very well received. >> Mr. Von, >> the biggest problem in my opinion is
that people are making decisions at the state legislature. Those folks have never been in education. Most of them never been in school. They have no clue what it takes to run a school. and they have no clue that they're
trying to appease parents instead of discipline kids. Kids have to understand there's accountability for your actions. >> Yeah. >> And I got something in my attic that we used to take care
that I used to for many many many years to take care of a lot of lot of discipline problems. And uh it never never bothered anybody. I have people come every day and tell me that it changed their behavior.
So, you know, until and when you go vote Thursday, dad gam it, you better put some folks in there making decisions on education that have been in education
because, you know, it's like me trying to make decisions for Nissa other than putting gas in the key to start the car. That's about it. But, you know, we need to have people that understand education to be in
positions to make these decisions. And I hope I live to see the day. I guess people get so maybe people get tired enough of things being bad that they'll do something about it. So,
>> thank you, sir. One thing I do want to add, so I just want the board if we're going to um just to make you guys aware since that is something I've said districtwide, I do expect discipline decisions to increase. And so that may mean more alternative placements, more serbbound services, more expulsions. I don't want to do that, but we've got to
make sure that we protect that environment. So do not be surprised if you get more contacts or emails about discipline decisions that >> Okay. >> We got to hold them accountable. >> That's all I've got. >> Okay, that's everything. Dr. Sullivan, is there anybody else that has anything?
Because if not, I do. I have some. >> So, yesterday was a big day for you and we weren't able here to do anything about it. But I want to tell you that every one of us to a tea um really
values you as a person, as our director, and we feel are lucky stars that you are in sitting in the seat that you are. We have just a little something. Thank you very much. >> And I would like for us all to join in. Oh, we're going to sing by myself. >> We don't have to sing again. Sing.
>> I definitely think and welcome and say happy birthday to Dr. Jimmy Sullivan. I won't even ask how old you are because nobody wants Yeah. >> Yeah. It's all right. There we go. I appreciate it. Thanks. >> So, if we could start one, two, three. >> Oh, we are singing. >> Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday [singing] to you. Happy birthday, Dr. [singing] Sullivan. Happy birthday to you. >> Thank you. I don't know how red I am, but thank you. I can feel [laughter] it. So, yeah. Thank you all. Yeah.
[applause] Appreciate. >> Who was supposed to bring the cap? Who was supposed to bring the birthday cake? >> I know. >> We don't need a cake. I don't need to eat it, >> man. Your daughter baking. >> Yeah. Move to adjourn.