December 12, 2019 at 5:30 PM - Bradley County Board of Education Regular Meeting

Discussion:  Vicki Beaty led the group in the pledge.  

Discussion:  No one signed up to address the Board.

Discussion:  Dr. Cash told the Board that she wanted to recognize that we lost a student today.  She ask for everyone to keep the family in their prayers and to give thankful prayers for the other students that were in the accident and will be okay.  

The second item that she updated the Board on was the first day of business for Bradley High School's food truck.  It opened for breakfast and was a great success.  Students were spreading the word.  Walker Valley will open theirs sometime in January.  The change of their logo has been the hold up for them.  

Discussion:  Chairman Weathers let the Board know that this item was moved up in the agenda due to Mr. Stevenson needing to go back to be with his faculty for a Christmas event.  Principal Stevenson gave an update on the gym project at Lake Forest Middle School.  He told the Board that all the shingling on the lower portion and on the top of the towers would be completed by December 16th.  By December 20th, all painting would be completed, metal wall panels by December 21st, all structual on the outside by December 31st, and ground prep, seeding and straw will be completed by the week of January 2nd.  He invited anyone that has not seen it lately to come by and take a look.  You will be pleased with the way it looks, he told the Board.  

Mr. Bryson ask what the status was on the cafeteria project.  Mr. Stevenson told the Board that he and Dr. Cash are looking at 2 or 3 proposals and will get information back to the Board as soon as possible.  

Discussion:  Sarah Crispin, HR Supervisor, explained that some teachers were overlooked for tenure during the period of time when the tenure law changed.  We went back and found all teachers that were left off between when the old law ended and the new law began.  This list of recommendations correct any problems we found.  Chairman Weathers asked Mrs. Crispin to clarify if evaluations for these teachers were different during the time they didn't have tenure and should have?  Did they have any more or less evaluations than they would if they had tenure, he asked.    Their evaluations didn't change.  The only thing was that they didn't have a letter saying they had tenure, Mrs. Crsipin told the Board.  

Discussion:  Dr. Cash let the Board know that Mr. Page was out of town due to a death in his family.  She introduced Mr. Corbett Drew to give the update and introduce himself to the Board.  Mr. Drew began by telling the Board that at the last meeting the architects came and showed diagrams and talked with them about the schematic design package.  He and the architects presented the schematic design package to the city staff  and building officials this week.  They talked about the building, the site, water, sewer, drainage, and all different components of the build.  The pre-submittal review went well.  No fatal flaws, no major surprises, no resounding nos, or concerns, he told the Board.  Feedback will be taken from the pre-submittal meeting and the Board meeting last month, along with alot of other stake holders so the schematic design can be completed and move on to the construction documents phase.  Mr. Frazier ask if the Board was going to vote on the contract for the Project Manager.  Dr. Cash told them that because the contract was just finished today and sent out to the Board, Chairman Weathers was going to discuss the process.  I would like you to look over the contract tonight and if you have any questions, please call Dr. Cash tomorrow so she can answer your questions.  If no one has a problem with the contract, he will come by and sign the contract with executive approval at 4:00 tomorrow, Chairman Weathers told the Board.  

 

Discussion:  Dr. Cash told the Board that Mr. Drew was excited because he graduated from a school that was something simular to the vision for PIE.  She ask Mr. Drew to talk to the Board about his experience.  He told them that he graduated from a 2 year Boarding School in Alabama (state pilot-school) that was a math and science STEM school.  It was STEM before there was STEM.  He told them that this school really helped open doors for him and he really looks forward to helping open doors for the next generation.  Dr. Cash welcomed him and let him know how excited she and Mr. Page both were to have him on board.  Mr. Drew told them that he not only wanted to see the smiles at the ribbon cutting but also at the first graduation and that will be his priority.  Chairman Weathers ask him to read the back of his business card.  The quote is "Your Vision, Our Expertise".  He told them that when he moved into the private sector and created his own company, that was his tag line.  He went on to say that the Board is funding it, the Board not only recognized a problem and innovated a solution but had the boldness to step forward; so, it is your vision and it is not mine to highjack - It is mine to deliver for you.  

Discussion:  Peter Ludman from Cope Architecture and Dr. Cash decided that Dr. Cash would give the update to the Board for this meeting. Dr. Cash went over a slideshow that Mr. Ludman sent.  The construction documents will be complete by December 18.  The bidding and state fire marshal review will take about 4 weeks which will run from December 18 to January 16. bids will be received on January 16, with contract execution and mobilization also beginning on January 16 and running until January 30.   Construction will begin on January 31 and last until July 17, 2020 - about 6 months.  Move In / Owner Occupancy should happen by July 20 - August 3, 2020.  Please see the drawings and additional information for each school in the attached documents.  

Discussion:  Sreedhar Upendram, Ph.D., Community and Economic Development Specialist from the Institute of Agriculture with the University of Tennessee, did a survey of broadband access in Bradley County.  He came to the Board meeting to share his findings with the Board.  The purpose of the survey was to see if Bradley County had a need or interest for hot spots at our elementary schools.  He will also use the data from the survey to help write a grant to fund the hot spots.  

Discussion:  Mrs. Casson reminded everyone that December 17, will be Spirit Day (all day)  at Chili's.  

Discussion:  Mr. Frazier ask that a universal review of the athletic facilities be put on the agenda for the next meeting or the retreat.