September 5, 2019 at 10:00 AM - Jackson-Madison County School Board Combine Meeting

Discussion:  Kevin Alexander, Board Chairman will call the meeting to order

Discussion:  Kevin Alexander, Board Chairman asked for a moment of silence

Discussion:  Kevin Alexander, Board Chairman lead the Pledge of Allegiance

Discussion:  The Consent Agenda Items are the following; August 5, 2019 Combined Work Session and Board Meeting, August 16, 2019 Special Called Board Meeting, Financial Reports, Human Capital Report and School Support Organization (SSO) 

Discussion:  Donna Martin representative from Imaginary Library spoke with the Board concerning 500,000 Pennies for Imagination Library.  Imagination Library of Madison County will ship it's 500,000 book to a Madison County child in September 2019.  Imagination Library is dedicated to have every child in Madison County will receive age appropriate books every month until they are 5 years old to help ensure a love for literacy.  Because this milestone is coming up, MCIL desires to partner with the Jackson-Madison County School System in a penny drive for the purpose of celebrating this milestone across our community.

The Imagination Library would propose that all elementary schools participate in the event during the month of September.  All of the schools would be tracked, and the school that raises the most money per student in the school would receive a popsicle party from Imagination Library.  This would allow all schools the opportunity to participate and be recognized as enrollments are different at each school. Each school would be free to plan how they would like to publicize and involve their school community in the event.  

They would propose a deadline fro the event of September 30, 2019.  The timing of this is flexible if it is advantageous for the district to have more time to  plan for th event, or fit within the school calendar.

The Imagination Library would propose to d a joint press release with JMCSS to announce the event.  Upon completion of the event, MCIL will work with the winning school to provide the popsicle party at a time determined by the winning school.  MCIL was able to present this event in the Jackson-Madison County School Board September Combined Work Session and Board Meeting.

Ray Washington stated that he was not sure if September would be a good starting month since it was already September but would further speak with Imagination Library concerning the partnership.

Discussion:  Harrell Carter had concerns with the testing and data results still with the students in JMCSS and that the Board needs to ask the County Commission for the money to better instruct students and bring the scores up.

Discussion:  Janis Carroll, JMCEA President thanked Ray Washington meeting with her and the discussion of concerns are as follows; teacher contract language wording in 3a and 3b, teachers assigned to lunch duties, out of uniform fundraiser at schools, teachers being asked to come in several minutes prior to start time, E.O.C. classes being taught by substitutes, teachers being asked to teach 4 blocks, retention bonus at Arlington, scripted curriculum, Eureka math program vs TEAM evaluation, non-renewals of teachers with evaluation scores of a 4 or 5, Administrators not be credentialed and student behavior.

Discussion:  Holly Kellar, Fiscal Service Director for JMCSS, mentioned there are 4 budget amendments this month.  The General Purpose Monthly Financial Report for August is posted on BOE connect for review and shows that 11.5 million dollars of the FY20 budget has been expensed with an additional 52 million dollars encumbrances.  This totals 15.5% of the overall budget as compared to being at 13% of the budget at the same time last year.

Discussion:  Karen Bell, Finance Director for Madison County, presented the Modified Summary Financial Statement for July 2019.

Discussion:  The Jackson-Madison County School Board did not take action on this item since the 10 acres of land had been purchased.

Discussion:  Doris Black made a motion "In that the county commission has committed to the purchase of the Ashport Road property, I move that we authorized expenditures of up to $100,000 to fully study use of this property like or similar to the Master Plan drawings as presented to the board by Orcutt and Winslow Architects.  Further, that we proceed with this due diligence process with the expressed intent that the existing Pope School building will be used as a school such as a Pre-K center or a Montessori upon the completion of building the new K-8 school."
Morris Merriweather seconded the motion and Doris Black rescinded her motion.

Discussion:  Surplus Items: 1 bus, 200 old student desk, approximately 200 or more old, broken and obsolete chairs, 26 old filing cabinets, old miscellaneous shop equipment, lockers and an abundance of miscellaneous items

Discussion:  The Policy Committee is recommending that the JMCSS Board approve the following policies revisions on the first reading from the Board Retreat; 1.000 Board Operations, 1.101 Role of Board Operations, 1.105 School Board Legislative Involvement, 1.405 Rules of Order, 1.803 Tobacco Free Schools, 3.206 Community Use of Buildings, 6.205 Student Assignments, 6.317 Disciplinary hearing Authority, 6.319 Alternative School, 6.604 Media Access to Schools, 5.105 Recruitment of Employees, 5.1151 Continuous Service, 5.200 Separation Practices of Tenured Teachers, 5.201 Separation Practices for Non-Tenured Teachers, 5.202 Separation Practices fro Non-Certified Employees, 5.304 Long-Term Leaves of Absences, 5.305 Family and Medical Leave, 4.101 Philosophy, 4.500 Community Instructional Resources, 4.405 Employee Developed Materials, 4.702 Evaluation of Instructional Programs, 4.502 Parent/Family Engagement in Title 1 Educational Programs, 6.308 Bus Safety and Conduct 

Discussion:  The Policy Committee is recommending for the JMCSS Board to approve the policies revisions from the August 27, 2019 meeting; 1.304 Student Advisory, 1.404 Appeals to and Appearances before the Board and to adopt the TSBA Boardsmanship Code of Conduct policy 1.2021 

Discussion:  Chairman: Morris Merriweather nominated James Johnson and Shannon Stewart nominated Wayne Arnold' the Board voted 5 yes and 4 no for James Johnson.
Vice-Chair:  Doris Black nominated Janice Hampton (she declined), Shannon Stewart nominated Wayne Arnold, Janice Hampton nominated Doris Black (she declined).  The Board voted unanimously for Wayne Arnold.
Parliamentarian: Doris Black nominated Shannon Stewart.  The Board voted unanimously for Shannon Stewart.
Legislative Representative:  James Johnson and Morris Merriweather nominated Janice Hampton.  The Board voted unanimously for Janice Hampton.

Discussion:  there were no Committee Reports at the meeting

Discussion:  There were no items removed from the Consent Agenda

Discussion:  There were not added items to the agenda

Discussion:  JMCSS will host a public meeting for parents and community members to meet with the Family Life instructors and to view the district' Family Life Curriculum.  This meeting will be held on Thursday, September 12th at the schools listed below from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.  This is our state-required annual public meeting where teachers will have samples of the textbook and instructional materials used to teach the Family Life Curriculum available for review.
1. Northeast Middle
2. JCM Early College High
3. Liberty High
4. Madison Academic High
5. North side High
6. South side High

Discussion:  Jared Myracle presented to the Board a power point for Academic Update:  Overview of TNReady Results from 2018-2019

Discussion:  The following names have been submitted for the Code of Ethics Committee; Bob Alvey, Clarence D. Boone, Claudell Brown, Kyle Dempsey, Bill Kipp, Rev. Paul Lacy, Dr. Joe Mays, Sylvia Showalter.  James Johnson, JMCSS Board Chairman will select 5 names for the Code of Ethics Committee and present to the Board in October for a vote.

Discussion:  Janice Hampton and James Johnson will present to the Board a NSBA Report from April 2018.

Discussion:  The Board Retreat was scheduled for October 19, 2019 but will need to be rescheduled.

Discussion:  The Board would like to discuss the Superintendent Search in a Special Called Meeting.

Discussion:  TSBA sent an email to all Board Members to participate in a Fantasy Football Challenge with other districts.  The Board members have the option of participating on their own.

Discussion:  James Johnson asked, when will the Governor of Tennessee be in Jackson?  Ray Washington mentioned that tentative date will be September 18, 2019 but will notify the Board closer to time on date, time and tour.

Discussion:  The Board will submit any agenda items for October by September 27.

Discussion:  There were no Legislative contacts to report

Discussion:  James Johnson will notify the Board members which committees they will serve on for the 2019-2020 school year.

Discussion:  The Board Evaluation will need to be completed by each member for Board of Distinction.

Discussion:  The JMCSS Board used SKYPE for Wayne Arnold to phone in due to his job and being deployed for a Hurricane.  Mr. Arnold needed to log off due to an emergency during the Superintendent Report.  Doris Black left the meeting at 11:51 am due to a prior engagement and leaving town.