August 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting/Work Session

Discussion:  In attendance:  Dr. Trey Duke, Daniel Owens, Sheri Arnette, Angela Fairchild, Maria Johnson, Don Bartch, Ken Rocha, Lisa Trail. 

Assistant City Attorney Lauren Bush.  City Liaison Bill Shacklett was absent. 

Discussion:  The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Board Member Karen Dodd 

Discussion:  Dr. Chris George presented TCAP proficiency test data to the Board.

Dr. Duke talked about demographic shifts and how the demographics of our district have changed. 

The decrease in enrollment was discussed briefly and the fact that certain categories, such as Black, Hispanic, and Native American have seen a 10.2% increase, ELL a 43% increase, and Students with Disabilities have seen a 15.6% increase from 2021-2022.   

Dr. George talked about new and permit teachers comparisons.  He explained that permit teachers taught 12.2% of students in 3-6 ELA and 5.7% of 3–6 teachers were first year teachers.  He said that more teachers are coming to us on permits because there are fewer licensed teachers. He added that permit teachers also taught 11.5% of 3-6 math students, with 4.1% being first year teachers.  

Karen Dodd asked if our schools are departmentalizing math and ELA.  Dr. Duke explained that we do it when we can.  He said that 4th and 5th grades are departmentalized as well as some 3rd grades.  
She said that research has shown that departmentalized teachers are more likely to stay longer.  

Barbara Long asked if we have data on 3rd grade students that are departmentalized.  Dr. Duke explained that this is the first year that we have done this, so we have no data yet.  

Dr. George also divided each subject:  ELA, Math, and Science, by grade and discussed in detail the number of students that are being taught by a permit teacher.  

Sheri Arnette talked about how our district supports permit teachers. She said that we offer Teacher2Teacher professional development.  She explained that she will also be visiting their classrooms more often as well as coaches will be working very closely with them.  

Amanda Moore asked if permit teachers are evenly spread across schools.  Maria Johnson said that larger schools have more permit teachers, with Scales having the most and Discovery having the fewest, but all in all, they are pretty evenly dispersed.  Principals also look at rosters to make sure permit teachers are evenly distributed among grades.  Dr. Duke added that principals are being intentional in hiring teachers.  

Dr. Duke told the Board that he feels that we are moving in the right direction and doing the right work.   

Dr. George also highlighted the fact that 16.5% of ELL students exited ELL services in 2025, which was a 4.6% increase from last year.  

Sheri Arnette talked about academic success and said that we have a lot to celebrate.  She said that her team is providing high doses of professional development around HQIM. She added that teachers are using core curriculum in Science.  She said that we have work to do in 5th and 6th grade (science and SS) but we have a plan going forward.  She also told the Board that Dr. George will do some data analysis with schools throughout the year.  

Dr. George said that some information is still embargoed, but all in all, we are not seeing districts making huge gains.  Dr. Duke said that we have sustained gains and are outperforming the state, and we feel good about where we are going.  He said that last year we specifically focused on 5th grade math, and that showed up this year.  He added that we will focus on what we need to again this year.   

 

Discussion:  Dr. Johnson presented the annual report to the Board.  

Dr. Johnson stated that in speaking with exiting staff, 84% said that they would consider returning to MCS.   

Dr. Duke said that his goal is to do a deep dive and analyze for himself the outliers of why they are leaving and he will continue to look at that.  He said that we did have quite a few teachers returning this year that had left to go elsewhere. Dr. Johnson told the Board that she would get the exact number.  


 

Discussion:  Ken Rocha gave an update on enrollment as of today. He stated that from period 9 in 2021-2022 to day 10 of 2025-2026, we are down 309 students.

Again, Ms. Moore and Mr. Settles asked where the students are going.   

The group tossed around some theories such as birthrates and housing affordability, but Dr. Duke said that after speaking with several other Superintendents, other districts have seen significantly lower enrollment in Kindergarten, but their 6th grade increase balanced them out.  

Mr. Rocha said that our highest count is in 4th grade.  He added that we are also seeing an increase in Sped CDC and regular Sped classes.  

Dr. Duke said that next year as he and the team plan and watch 6th grade numbers going down, he may bring a recommendation for 6th grade zones to the Board.  

Amanda Moore mentioned that the decrease that we have is also a funding curve. She said that we get money if we grow but if we lose population we are losing money.  Dr. Duke said that this is definitely a funding implication.   

Dr. Duke said that we will concentrate on 6th grade science and social studies because that grade has impacted us the most when it comes to growth scores.   

Dr. Duke said that he wanted to go on record stating that he is not advocating that we do something in 6th grade, but it would be beneficial to have zones that work, and if parents choose to stay with us in 6th grade, their child will get a robust experience.   

Jeanette Price asked if we would still provide transportation to 6th grade and Dr. Duke said yes.  

Dr. Duke said that 6th grade is a parent choice that we don't want to stop offering, but we need to be strategic in how we offer it.  



 

Discussion:  Don Bartch presented the Capital Improvement Plan for 2026-2030 to the Board. 

Mr. Bartch explained that we are looking at expanding at Scales and Cason Lane instead of building a new school as per the city council's request.   

Discussion:  The Five Year Strategic Plan was moved to the 9/9 meeting so there would be adequate time to discuss it.  

Discussion:  Dr. Duke explained that the current 2025-2026 Organizational Chart was in BOE Connect for them to view.  If any questions, the Board could contact him.  

Discussion:  Lauren Bush presented Board Policy 4.300, Extracurricular Activities.  She explained the use of school facilities and legal obligations.  She said that this came up because we received a request from a non-profit to operate an afterschool club at Northfield, and we need to review the policy to give them and others that may also request the same in the future.  She explained that we are now a closed-door school district.  She talked through different scenarios with the Board, and after much discussion, ultimately the Board chose to remain a closed-door district.  

Dr. Duke did explain to the Board that if we leave the policy as is, they need to understand that there are clubs offered in Rutherford County that cannot be offered in MCS because Rutherford County is an open-door district. He wanted the Board to understand if they get complaints that this is why we won't allow them in the system.  

Ms. Bush stated that we will be filtering some things that would be beneficial to our system to go through ESP.  They could come in as a visitor to ESP.  

Barbara Long said that she would like to see a little more of that so that our students have more experiences.

Dr. Duke stated at the end of the discussion that he doesn't see a desire for the Board to change the policy and he will let the good news and graceful gyms groups know that we do not allow outside clubs in.  

 

Discussion:  Before the meeting adjourned, Karen Dodd mentioned that she would like to discuss the possibility of cameras in CDC classes.  She asked that the Board think about this, and possibly bring it back up for more discussion at the 9/23 meeting.  She said that we already have them in BEST classrooms and in cafeterias.  She said that she had asked several CDC teachers and they are alright with the idea. She also said that the only time it would be used is if the camera footage had to be pulled because of an incident.  

Dr. Duke told the Board that the first September meeting on the 9th would be at central office, and he would add this to the agenda. 

Ms. Long said that she would like to see legal ramifications and what other districts are doing as well as the cost to do this.  

Dr. Duke said that we can start by getting information on who is doing it now and the cost so that the board can make an informed decision. Dr. Duke told the Board that if there is anything else that they want to know about cameras in CDC, please let us know. 

Barbara Long said that it is time for a tour of 910 Ridgely Road.  

Dr. Duke told the Board that next Thursday is the Fall District meeting and he would be willing to drive if anyone wanted to meet at central office at 3:00 to ride with him.  
 

Discussion:  The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.