August 20, 2024 at 5:00 PM - Smith County Board of Education Agenda

Discussion:  The Smith County Board of Education met at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the Smith County Board of Education. Mr. Glover provided the invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag. 

Discussion:  Mr. Ricky Shoulders, Chairman of the Board, welcomed all visitors and called the August 20, 2024 meeting of the board to order.

Discussion:  Recognitions

Outgoing Board Members

Mark Jones - District 1

David Apple - District 2

Randy Glover - District 3

Recognition

Jamie Winkler - School Board Attorney

Discussion:  Request to approve the regular meeting minutes of the Board - Tuesday, July 16, 2024.

Discussion:  Gordonville High School requests permission for the following:

1. Gordonsville High School requests permission to participate in the TSSAA Flag Football for female athletes in the spring of 2025. Smith County High School has asked to co-op with Gordonsville High School for this sport.
2. Gordonsville High School Boys Basketball requests permission to travel to Sevierville for a post-Christmas tournament on December 27-30, 2024. This will be an overnight trip.
3. Gordonsville High School Baseball requests permission to attend the Gulf Shores Classic Baseball Tournament on March 20-25, 2025. This will be an overnight trip.

Discussion:  Smith County High School FCCLA officers request permission to attend Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) at Camp Widjiwagan in Nashville, on September 16-18, 2024. This will be an overnight trip.

Discussion:  Request to approve the SCHS Owls Quarterback Club as a Board-Approved School Support Organization (SSO). They have submitted all the required paperwork to become a Board-Approved School Support Organization and to fundraise in our district.

Discussion:  Request to Bid a New Intercom System for Union Heights Elementary School

Discussion:  Request Permission to Bid Sidewalks, Parking Lot Paving, and other Exterior Finishes for the Wellness Centers at Gordonsville High School and Smith County Middle School using ESSER 3.0 Grant.

Discussion:  Mrs. Diana Gochcoff, Transportation Supervisor, requests permission to seek bids on a bus to replace bus 63 that was totaled in an accident in May 2024.

Discussion:  The Superintendent took the following actions:

1. Staff Placement

• April McCoy, full-time cook, Gordonsville High School
• Melissa Poindexter, cook, Smith County High School
• Tiffany Hall, full-time cook, Smith County Middle School
• Nancy Collier, substitute cook, School Nutrition Department
• Vicki Sicila, part-time cook, Gordonsville High School
• Raven Maggart, full-time cook, Gordonsville High School
• Christine McKim, substitute cook, School Nutrition Department
• Cheyanna Kemp, substitute cook, School Nutrition Department
• Debbie Smith, full-time cook, Gordonsville Elementary School
• Brooke Conner, full-time cook, Smith County Middle School
• Brittany Boyd, full-time cook, Gordonsville Elementary School
• Jacqueline Arnold, special education paraprofessional, Carthage Elementary School
• Lindsey Boze, fourth grade teacher, Carthage Elementary School
• Snowi Brune, seventh and eighth grade teacher, Forks River Elementary School
• Foster Cooper, custodian, Smith County High School
• Elizabeth Davis, paraprofessional, Forks River Elementary School
• Matt Davis, special education teacher, Smith County Middle School
• Kimberly Dillehay, secretary, Gordonsville High School
• Amanda England, paraprofessional, Defeated Elementary School
• Shelia Everett, ESL paraprofessional, County Wide
• Riley Grecol, math teacher, Gordonsville High School
• Katie Grandstaff, STEAM Bus Coordinator, County Wide
• Shane Jones, part-time custodian, Defeated Elementary School
• Brandi McKinney, paraprofessional, Carthage Elementary School
• Elizabeth Nolen, paraprofessional, New Middleton Elementary School
• Mark Ramsey, bus driver, Transportation Department
• Emma Smith, paraprofessional, Carthage Elementary School
• Bobby Taylor, seventh & eighth grade math & science teacher, Union Heights Elementary School
• Kara Thompson, special education paraprofessional, Forks River Elementary School
• April Walker, special education paraprofessional, Gordonsville High School
• Tammy Wilson, special education paraprofessional, Gordonsville High School
• Keri Woodard, paraprofessional, Defeated Elementary School
• Erin Wright, paraprofessional, Carthage Elementary School

2. Substitutes

• Brandon Atwood
• Katherine Carter

3. Transfers

• Emily Anderson, transferred from a paraprofessional position at Defeated Elementary School to a third grade teaching position at Carthage Elementary School
• Jaclyn Chastain, transferred from special education paraprofessional position at Carthage Elementary School to a special education pre-k teacher at Carthage Elementary School
• Wendy Hess, transferred from paraprofessional position at Smith County Middle School to a special education paraprofessional position at Smith County Middle School
• Kim Preston, transferred from a special education paraprofessional position at Smith County Middle School to a special education paraprofessional position at Carthage Elementary School
• Kaycee Restina transferred from a paraprofessional position at Carthage Elementary School to a special education paraprofessional position at Carthage Elementary School
• Susie Woodard, transferred from a Behavioral Interventionist position at Carthage Elementary School to a Behavioral Interventionist position at the Smith County Alternative School

4. Resignations

• Angela Weston, cook, School Nutrition Department
• Katherine Carter, special education paraprofessional, Smith County Middle School
• Jackie Gentry, mechanic, Transportation Department
• Gerald Keen, custodian, Defeated Elementary School
• Tracy Mofield, baseball head coach, Smith County Middle School
• Ruth Ann Myers, special education paraprofessional, Forks River Elementary School
• Jerry Young, substitute bus driver, Transportation Department

Discussion:  Request for the annual election of Board Chair and Vice-Chair of the Smith County School Board for the 2024-2025 school year.

Discussion:  Norma Mitchell, CFO, requests permission to select Staples, Inc., as the vendor for copy paper for the 2024-2025 school year at $37.48 per case.

Discussion:  Updated Policy 1.501 Visitors to the Schools requires the development and approval of a Visitors Code of Conduct. The attached Code of Conduct was drafted by Attorney Chuck Cagle and was sent through the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents. The approved Visitors Code of Conduct will be posted on the District Website, on each school’s website, sent to all employees, parents and guardians, and will be posted at the school entrances.

Discussion:  Request to approve the Grant Contract Between the State of Tennessee, Department of Human Services, and Smith County Schools

Discussion:  Request to approve the contract agreement between Genesis Learning Center and Smith County Board of Education

Discussion:  The Smith County Schools Technology Department asks the Board to approve Howard Technology Solutions as our Chromebook vendor for the 2024-2025 school year. Howard Technology Solutions submitted the lowest cost bid that met our required specifications, with their quote for 100 Chromebooks being $24,200.00. We received a total of 11 bids. The bid opening form, bid evaluation matrix, and a copy of the recommended bid are attached.

Discussion:  The Smith County Schools Technology Department asks the Board to approve Dell Technologies as our desktop computer vendor for the 2024-2025 school year. Dell Technologies submitted the lowest cost bid that met our required specifications, with their quote for 50 desktop computers being $47,760.50. We received a total of 9 bids. The bid opening form, bid evaluation matrix, and a copy of the recommended bid are attached.

Discussion:  Request to approve the following Smith County Student Disciplinary Hearing Authority (SDHA) members to serve for the 2024-2025 school year:
 

• Heather Wilmore, Co-Chair
• Dillon Reed, Co-Chair
• Jera Huff
• Misty Smith
• Mac Petty
• Angel Williams
• Annette Hord
• LaShae Johnson

Discussion:  Review and approve the FY25 Budget for School Year 2024-2025.

Discussion:  Diana Gochcoff, Transportation Supervisor, requests permission to purchase a 2024 Malibu LS on the state contract for use in transporting students to Rutherford Academy in Murfreesboro for $23,074.80.

Discussion:  Mr. Dunn was unable to attend this meeting but has requested to be on the agenda for September.

Discussion:  Phillip Slagle was present at the meeting and has looked at a way to restructure the driveway and parking area to make three lanes which would enable up to 84 cars to park in the pickup line, getting them off of the main road. The board members agreed that this should be done this school year if possible because of safety concerns with cars being lined up on the main road in the afternoons. Mr. Slagle estimated it would take approximately $60,000 for this project. Norma Mitchell stated there was not money in the budget for this project this year with what the county had allotted. Mr. Smith said that we can look at numbers in December to see if we might have Capital Outlay money if we are under budget from the building projects. The board could also go before the County Commission to request an amendment to pay for this. Mr. Shoulders said we should address Defeated Elementary Parking and Forks River Elementary Parking as well, but we can do one school at a time. 

Discussion: 

Please review the following policies on line for the Smith County Board of Education to remain compliant in policy review.  If you find any inconsistencies or if something needs to be discussed regarding a policy listed below, please bring it to the attention of Mr. Ricky Shoulders, Chairman of the Board, during the meeting.

 

Policy 1.700, School District Goals

Policy 1.701, School District Planning

Policy 1.8011, Emergency Closings

Policy 1.803, Tobacco-Free Schools