The Marshall County Board of Education met in regular session on Thursday, September 12, 2002, at 5:00 p.m. in the Board Conference Room at Jones School.

Members present were Jerry Campbell, Sheldon Davis, Rhonda Holton, Jack Keny, John McCullough, Jimmie Pruitt, Kenneth Stacey, Ray Stocstill, and Ann Tears.

Prayer/Pledge

A moment of silence was observed for Jim Lowry, a teacher at Lewisburg Middle School who recently passed away.

John D. Pierce, Director of Schools, opened the meeting by opening the floor for nominations for Chairman. Ms. Tears nominated Ms. Holton with the second by Mr. Keny. Mr. Davis nominated Jerry Campbell with the second by Mr. McCullough. Mr. Stocstill moved that the nominations cease with the second by Mr. Pruitt. Ms. Holton received three votes by show of hand. Mr. Campbell received six votes by show of hand and was elected chairman. Mr. Keny made the motion to revote in order to make the vote unanimous. Ms. Holton seconded the motion and Mr. Campbell was elected by a vote of 9-0.

Mr. Campbell opened the floor for nominations for Vice-Chairman. Ms. Tears nominated Ms. Holton but the motion failed due to the lack of a second. Ms. Holton nominated Mr. Keny. Ms. Tears seconded the motion and Mr. Keny was elected by a vote of 9-0.

Dr. Burt Hayes addressed the Board regarding the termination of 6th grade Band and Chorus at Lewisburg Middle School. Mr. Campbell stated that the Board would take the issue under advisement.

In the MCEA report, President Judy Rickman expressed disappointment in the fact that there were no local raises this year.

Jeff Penix, of Orion Building, presented the Building Program report. Evaluations #40 and #41 totaling $540 for Oak Grove and Evaluations #31, #42, and #42 totaling $6,578 for Cornersville Elementary were presented. Ms. Holton made a motion to accept these evaluations. Mr. McCullough seconded the motion and the motion passed 9-0.

Mr. Stacey then asked the Board to set a timetable to respond to the group represented the 6th Grade Band/Chorus. He made a motion to defer the issue to the Curriculum Committee with the second by Ms. Holton. The motion passed 9-0.

Ms. Holton made a motion, seconded by Mr. Stacey, to approve the payment of bills (see attached) contingent upon Orion's final release. The motion passed 9-0.

The following items were presented in the consent agenda: Trips-Forrest Beta Club to travel to Opryland Hotel for convention Apr. 21-23, MCHS to send Ginger Tepedino and 4 students to Nashville on Sept. 15-16 for the TN Conf on Youth. Fundraisers-MES PTO several fundraisers, MES Library to conduct Book Fair, MCHS Tigerette Basketball to have steak dinner to cover team expenses, MCHS Family & Consumer Services to sell gift items to fund activities, LMS Student Council to have Octoberfest booth to fund activities, LMS Girls Basketball to conduct fish fry to cover uniform and travel expenses, Forrest 11th and 12th Grade to sell magazines to pay for Senior Trips and Prom, MCHS classes to sell magazines for class activities, Westhills Parent Club to have Market Days to purchase Weekly Readers and Reading Kits. Mr. Keny made a motion to approve the consent agenda with the second by Mr. Stocstill. The motion passed 9-0.

Bids were presented for approval. (See attached) Bid sheets showing sales of surplus vehicles, portable classrooms and land adjacent to Cornersville Elementary were reviewed for information purposes. Mr. McCullough made a motion to accept the low bidder, Watt Roofing, to install a roof (ballasted system) on Lewisburg Middle School for $18,977. Mr. Pruitt seconded the motion and the motion passed 9-0. For paving at MCHS, Mr. Keny made a motion to approve the only bid, Wright Paving, for $17,075. Ms. Holton seconded the motion and the motion passed 9-0.

Mr. Keny made a motion to approve a new course, African-American Studies, at MCHS. Ms. Tears seconded the motion and the motion passed 9-0.

A special request was submitted by Angela Miller, a 1995 graduate of Cornersville High, for permission to take drama at MCHS in order to meet requirements to attend college. Ms. Holton made a motion to honor this request with a second from Mr. Keny. The motion passed 9-0.

A motion was made by Mr. McCullough to approve changes in the 2002-2003 Supplement Schedule (See attached). Ms. Holton seconded the motion and the motion passed 9-0.

A letter from Bob Edens, Principal of Cornersville High, was presented (See attached). In this letter, Mr. Edens recommends a number of students who live out of the county and wish to attend Cornersville High. Mr. Keny made the motion to accept these students with the second by Ms. Holton. The motion passed 9-0.

The next item on the agenda was new business:
Ms. Tears distributed information concerning a planning retreat sponsored by the TSBA. Mr. Stacey suggested obtaining a facilitator to come here and help with planning. Ms. Tears will investigate.

Ms. Tears expressed concern that there are no sidewalks at LMS for students walking before and after school on Jason Maxwell Blvd. Mr. Pierce will contact the city regarding this issue.

Ms. Tears asked for information about the work that Ms. Barbara Woods is doing as a contracted 6th-8th grade Instructional Supervisor. Mr. Keith Stacey, Principal of Lewisburg Middle School, reported of changes being made with the help of Ms. Woods and Ms. Ewing, Assistant Principal, to raise test scores.

Mr. Campbell reported that there are two classrooms at Cornersville High that have a problem with mold/mildew. He made a motion to obtain someone to investigate this issue. Mr. Keny seconded the motion and the motion passed 9-0.

Mr. Stacey asked if there are school nurses at each school. Mr. Pierce stated that we only earn one nurse for the entire county, but we have at least one nurse for every two schools.

In the Director's report, Mr. Pierce asked for permission to bid the following:
" 23 Ed Pacs
" Awning at CHES
" Fence at Oak Grove Elementary
" Fence at Westhills Elementary
" Phone system at the Central Office
" Planting of trees at Oak Grove and Cornersville Elementary Schools
" Construction of a lower lever of the press box at Preston Hopkins Athletic Field
Mr. Stocstill made a motion to bid each of these with Mr. Stacey seconding the motion which passed 9-0.

Mr. Pierce reported that two classrooms are being made from the old shop class at LMS which will alleviate the use of a portable classroom. He also stated that a new air conditioning system will need to be considered for LMS for 2003-2004.

Mr. Pierce informed the Board that a new Kindergarten teacher will be hired at CHES and a Special Ed teacher will be added at Oak Grove.

Mr. Pierce asked for a motion which would allow Keyboarding to be changed from a maximum ½ credit to a maximum 1 credit. Mr. Keny made this motion with a second by Mr. McCullough. The motion passed 9-0.

Mr. Pierce presented a letter from Johnny Flynt, Transportation Supervisor, recommending that Bus #46, a 1973 Ford 700, 66 passenger bus be declared as surplus. Mr. Pruitt made a motion to declare this bus surplus with a second from Mr. McCullough. The motion passed 9-0.

Ms. Holton made a motion to approve the minutes from the August 8, 2002 meeting. Mr. Davis seconded the motion and the motion passed 9-0.

The meeting was adjourned.

      Respectfully Submitted,
 
 

      ______________________________
      Barbara Kennedy, Chairman
 

 
      _______________________________
      John D. Pierce, Director of Schools