The Marshall County Board of Education met in regular session on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at 5:30 p.m. at the Board Conference Room at Jones School.
Members present were Jerry Campbell, Tim Harrison, Kristen Gold, John McCullough, Craig Michael, Randy Perryman, Ann Tears and Todd Tietgens
Mr. Pierce and Mr. Dukes recognized employees that had retired in the past year. These employees were Nancy Aldridge, Cinda Carol Brown, Elynor Busler, Paula Lambert, Vickie London, Kathy Jones, Nancy Pruitt, Suzanne Roberts, Fran Thornell, Barbara Trout, Brenda Upton, Peggy Warden, Johnny Flynt and Bonnie Garrett
Mr. McCullough made a motion to approve the minutes of the September 13, 2007 meeting. Mr. Harrison seconded the motion and the motion passed 8-0.
The following were presented in the consent agenda: Todd Garrison, math instructor at Forrest, to take students to competition at University of Tennessee 10/24-25, Middle School Beta at Cornersville School to Opryland Hotel for convention 11/19-20, MCHS Girls’ Soccer to have dance on 11/2 to raise money for uniforms and equipment. Mr. Perryman made a motion to approve the consent agenda with the second by Ms. Gold. The motion passed 8-0. A request from Cindi Jones to use the MES gymnasium to conduct baton twirling, gymnastics and dance classes was presented. This item had been tabled from the September meeting. Mr. Harrison made a motion to approve Ms. Jones’s request with the stipulation that she furnish required insurance. The motion passed 8-0.
In the Director’s report Mr. Pierce made the following statement: Based upon TCA 49-5-605, the Board is required to recognize a professional employees’ organization such as the Marshall County Education Association as the exclusive representative only if the organization has a majority of professional employees as paid members. As of October 1, 2007, the Marshall County Education Association paid membership is not a majority of the professional employees in Marshall County. I recommend to the board that the Marshall County Education Association no longer be recognized by the Board as the bargaining agent for the teachers of Marshall County. Mr. Michael made a motion that pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated, 49-5-605(c)(1), to challenge and substantiate, based on our payroll deduction records as of October 1, 2007, that the Marshall County Education Association does not, in fact, possess a majority of the professional employees as paid members and therefore is no longer recognized as the bargaining agent in the Marshall County school system. Ms. Gold seconded the motion. After a roll call vote, the motion passed 7-1 with Mr. Perryman voting against the motion.
Under new business, Ms. Gold reminded the group about a work session to be held on October 15 at 5:30 p.m. to continue the discussion of the reading program.
Mr. Michael made a motion to relieve John David Pierce of his duties as Director of Schools effective 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 5, 2007 with the following condition: That the Board enters into negotiations regarding contractual issues and that Mr. Pierce’s salary and benefits continue until the next regularly scheduled Board meeting or until a severance agreement can be ratified by the Board, whichever occurs first. Mr. Perryman seconded the motion and after a roll call vote, the motion passed 8-0.
Mr. Pierce told the Board that he had enjoyed working them and appreciated their work
Mr. Harrison nominated Nancy Aldridge to serve as Interim Director until a permanent Director could be named. Mr. Tietgens seconded the motion and the motion passed 8-0. Mr. Harrison pointed out that Board policy states that the person serving as interim could not be considered for the Director’s position. When asked by the Board if she would serve in this capacity, Ms. Aldridge accepted.
Respectfully Submitted,
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Jerry Campbell, Chairman
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John D. Pierce, Director