November 20, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Bedford County Board of Education
| Minutes | ||
|---|---|---|
|
I. PROCEDURAL ITEMS
|
||
|
I.A. Call to Order
Discussion:
Chairman Michael Cook called the meeting to order, followed by a moment of silence, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Melanie Acosta Mongez, Antonella Acost Mongez and Eden Acosta Mongez who are students at Eakin Elementary School.
For the Veteran’s Day Recognition Clara Ozella, a student at Cartwright Elementary School, sang the National Anthem. |
||
|
I.B. Moment of Silence
|
||
|
I.C. Pledge of Allegiance - Led by Melanie Acosta Mongez, Antonella Acosta Mongez and Eden Acosta Mongez who are students at Eakin Elementary School
|
||
|
I.D. Veteran's Day Recognition - Clara Ozella, a student at Cartwright Elementary, singing the National Anthem
|
||
|
I.E. Opening Remarks
Discussion:
Mr. Cook recognized the Leadership Bedford members that were in attendance.
|
||
|
II. CONSENT AGENDA
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
The Consent Agenda was approved by acclamation upon the motion and seconded by Brain Crews and Barton Williams.
|
||
|
II.A. Approval of Agenda
|
||
|
II.B. Minutes from the October Monthly Meeting
|
||
|
II.C. SCHS Student Council Trip Request
|
||
|
II.D. SCHS Girl's Wrestling Trip Request
|
||
|
II.E. Cascade HS Baseball Trip Request
|
||
|
II.F. Policies for Revision
|
||
|
II.F.1. 4.407 Websites
|
||
|
II.F.2. 4.402 Reconsideration of Textbooks and Instructional Materials
|
||
|
II.F.3. 4.205 Enrollment in Advanced Courses
|
||
|
II.F.4. 4.701 Test Security
|
||
|
II.F.5. 4.803 Recognition of Religious Beliefs, Customs & Holidays
|
||
|
II.F.6. 4.202 Special Education
|
||
|
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
Discussion:
There was no public comment.
|
||
|
IV. COMMUNICATIONS
Discussion:
Ms. Garrette gave a quick summary of the highlights on the Good News Report. She highlighted that our district had received the Change Makers Award. This comes from the Tennessee Tiered Support Center and the Tennessee Department of Education. This award is for districts that have strengthened their academic and behavioral supports for students. Susan Huff and Lindsay Wiley were recognized as key contributors to this award. She also spoke briefly about the new Bedford County App that was launched this week. The app, supplied by Apptegy Communication System, offers two-way communications as well as mass notifications. Parents, caregivers and families of students will now have just one app to communicate with teachers, coaches, club advisors etc. We will also roll out a new website later this school year.
|
||
|
IV.A. Good News Report
|
||
|
V. PRESENTATIONS
|
||
|
V.A. Growth on Universal Reading Screener - 1st and 2nd grade teachers
Discussion:
Mr. Harwell presented the Growth on Universal Reading Screener teachers with a certificate. The Universal Reading Screener is administered in the fall each year and it assesses phonic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Students are assessed again in the spring and the spring results determine the amount of growth students have achieved since the fall assessment.
|
||
|
VI. ACTION ITEMS
|
||
|
VI.A. 2026-2027 BCS Calendar
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Dr. Terise Rhodes shared that the calendar is pretty much the same as last year with the exception of two election days next school year. One is August 6th and the other is on November 3rd. Mr. Cook asked Dr. Rhodes to clarify between an in-service day, an administrative day and a staff development day. She explained that there are 5 in-service days required by the state for professional development training. The requirement is 30 hours. Staff development days are taken out of our stockpile days used to provide additional training for teachers. She stated we can have up to 5 administrative days and those are mainly days for teachers to get report cards ready, for preparing their classrooms for the beginning of school and for parent-teacher conference days. Motion was made by Glenn Forsee and seconded by Barton Williams. Motion was carried with a 7-0 vote.
|
||
|
VI.B. Policy 4.605 Graduation Requirements
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Per TSBA, changes were needed to clarify between State of Tennessee Diploma and Bedford County Diploma. BCS students have an opportunity to earn 32 credits therefore BCS requires 28 credits for the Bedford County Diploma. To earn a state diploma only requires 22 credits. Motion was made by Glenn Forsee and seconded by Lana Craig. Motion was carried with a 7-0 vote.
|
||
|
VI.C. Policy 4.207 English Learners
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Changes made to align with the model policy from TSBA. Motion was made by Barton Williams and seconded by Shanna Boyette. Motion was carried with a 7-0 vote.
|
||
|
VI.D. Bid 26-7 Culinary Arts Kitchen Renovation at Cascade High School
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
All bids were over the amount for the grant. Motion was made to reject by Glenn Forsee and seconded by Andrea Anderson. Motion was carried with a 7-0 vote.
|
||
|
VI.E. Bid 26-6 Water Tank Reinsulation at Community Elementary and Middle Schools
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Only one bid was received and it was recommended that we award the bid to Demand Mechanical for $48,195.00. Motion was made by Brian Crews and seconded by Lana Craig. Motion was carried with a 7-0 vote.
|
||
|
VI.F. Budget Amendment No. 2
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Robert Daniel stated that the two big items were the ISM (Innovative School Models Grant) and fund balance. The ISM has to be re-budgeted because it went away on June 30th and Number 9 is for the vestibules. The money for the vestibules was closed at the end of the year in July so we are taking it out of fund balance and putting it back so we can use it for the vestibules. Motion was made by Barton Williams and seconded by Brian Crews. Motion was carried with a 7-0 vote.
|
||
|
VI.G. October Monthly Financial Report
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Mr. Daniel said we have nothing new to report. The budget amendment cleared up a lot of things. A question was asked if Mr. Daniel has number for the budget rollover. He stated that he will not have those until later in November or early December. Motion was made by Andrea Anderson and seconded by Barton Williams. Motion was carried with a 7-0 vote.
|
||
|
VII. REPORT ITEMS
|
||
|
VII.A. Monthly Tax Analysis
Discussion:
Robert Daniel stated that property tax collections are a little less than this time last year but not a problem.
|
||
|
VII.B. Attendance Report
Discussion:
Terise Rhodes reported we are still holding at about 230 students less than last year at this time.
|
||
|
VII.C. BCS Threat Summary Aug-Nov 2025
|
||
|
VII.D. Executive Committee Report
Discussion:
Mr. Cook announced the Fall Retreat will be December 4th here at the Central Office starting at 4:30. The next board meeting will be December 18th at the Central Office.
Surplus property declared for the SCHS, Community Middle, Eakin and Thomas. |
||
|
VII.D.1. Surplus - SCHS, Community Middle, Eakin, Thomas
|
||
|
VII.E. Superintendent's Report
Discussion:
Dr. Garrett thanked the Culinary Arts class at SCHS for the meal this past Tuesday. She also gave a shout out to Lori Sexton and Sam Blevins for their work at the Game of Life at the Bedford County Ag Center. All juniors participated in the event in which they got assigned a career, money and they had to pay rent etc. There were about 60 community partners who helped put that on and we appreciate them for that. Tomorrow we will get our district federal designations and will share that as well as the reward schools will be named tomorrow. Also, the prize patrol will be out tomorrow naming our District Teacher of the Year, District Assistant Principal of the Year, our Novice Teacher of the year and for the first time ever our Aspiring Teacher of the Year (this goes to a junior or senior that wants to be a teacher). Dr. Garrett said she is very thankful for our community that values education and our parents who partner with us and she wished everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving
|
||
|
VIII. OTHER BUSINESS
|
||
|
VIII.A. Additional Acknowledgements
|
||
|
VIII.B. FYI - Personnel
|
||
|
IX. ADJOURNMENT
Discussion:
Glenn Forsee moved to adjourn the meeting at approximately 6:43.
|