The Marshall County Board of Education met in regular session on Thursday, November 8, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. in the Board Conference Room at Jones School.
Members present were Jerry Campbell, Kristen Gold, John McCullough, Craig Michael, Randy Perryman, Ann Tears, Todd Tietgens, and Todd Warner. Absent was Tim Harrison.
Prayer/Pledge
Wayne Qualls and Chuck Cagle, who were scheduled to speak, were unable to attend.
Heather Lodari, School Health Coordinator, informed the Board that because of the high pregnancy rate in females aged 15-17 in Marshall County, state law requires family life instruction. She presented the “Why Know Abstinence Education” program that will be presented in January to 8th graders. Mr. McCullough made a motion to approve the implementation of this program. Ms. Tears seconded the motion and the motion passed 8-0
Mr. Perryman made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 2nd special called meeting, the October 2nd regularly scheduled meeting, the October 18th special called meeting and the October 30th special called meeting. Mr. Michael seconded the motion and the motion passed 8-0.
Mr. McCullough made a motion to approve the 2007 compliance report for the State of Tennessee. Mr. Tietgens seconded the motion and the motion passed 8-0.
Randy Hubbell, Principal of Lewisburg Middle School, requested that Shanda Sparrow and Anthony McClain split the boys’ basketball assistant coaching supplement. Ms. Tears made a motion to approve the request with the second by Mr. McCullough. The motion passed 8-0.
Mr. McCullough made a motion to allow approximately 30 students to attend the Student Leadership Institute at Columbia State on November 29 accompanied by Deborah Wade. Ms. Gold seconded the motion and the motion passed 8-0
Ms. Gold made a motion to delete the phrase “However, at Releasor’s request, payment shall not be made before December 31, 2007” from the contract dated October 31, 2007 by and between John D. Pierce and the Board. Mr. Michael seconded the motion and the motion passed 8-0.
Ms. Gold made a motion to approve a resolution which would take $109,704 from undesignated fund balance to fulfill the contract between the Board and Mr. Pierce (see attached). Mr. McCullough seconded the motion and the motion passed 8-0. Ms. Gold then made the motion to approve the detail entry to the resolution (see attached) pending approval of the resolution by the County Commission. Ms. Tears seconded the motion and the motion passed 8-0.
Policy #1.302 “School Attorney” was presented on second reading (see attached). Mr. McCullough made a motion to approve the policy with the second by Mr. Perryman. The motion passed 8-0.
The following were presented under the consent agenda: Spot Lowe HOSA to attend competition in Fairview 1/18/08 and if the students advance, to Chattanooga 3/17-19 and Dallas 6/18-21, Forrest Junior Beta Club to convention in Nashville 11/18-19 and Forrest Lady Rockets JV Basketball to Clinton, TN 12/27-29 for tournament. Ms. Tears made a motion to approve the consent agenda with the second by Mr. Tietgens. The motion passed 8-0.
The principals or teachers from Westhills, Oak Grove, Chapel Hill Elementary and Cornersville Elementary reported to the Board on the effects of the changes made regarding the reading program.
In the Director’s report, Ms. Aldridge gave each Board member a copy of the 2007 TCSPP along with the 2007 state report card details. She informed the Board that the postings on the two Supervisor of Instruction positions were closed and that she would be interviewing qualified applicants on November 12-14. She also informed the Board that they had been given copies of the real estate appraisals for each school and enrollment numbers by school for the past eight years. She reminded the Board that a work session will be held to address building needs at Chapel Hill on November 15th at 5:30 p.m.
She reported that James R. Calahan had offered to donate approximately ¼ acre to Cornersville High, which would enable the soccer teams to play on their own field instead of the football field. Mr. Calahan asked that the Board pay for the survey, deed and a woven wire fence separating his property from the schools. Mr. Tietgens made a motion that we accept this land pending an environmental check, with the second by Mr. Michael. The motion passed 8-0
Ms. Aldridge distributed information on the Student Advisory Council and their topics of discussion. She extended an invitation to all Board members to come and work at the luncheon honoring the teachers on November 19th. She distributed organizational charts of the Central Office. Mr. Warner requested that degrees, salaries and applicable contract information be provided on all Central Office employees.
Under new business, Mr. Warner congratulated the Forrest Band for its recent accomplishments. He informed the Board that the bleacher situation at Forrest needs to be addressed.
Mr. Michael expressed his concerns over the standard based grading system implemented at Oak Grove. He made a motion that the Board instructs Ms. Aldridge to instruct Oak Grove to discontinue the standard based grading system and return to the previous grading system immediately. Ms. Tears seconded the motion. After much discussion, the motion failed 2-6 with Mr. Michael and Mr. Warner voting in favor of the motion.
The meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Jerry Campbell, Chairman
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Nancy Aldridge, Director