September 18, 2017 at 6:30 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

Discussion:  Chair Stillings called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m.

Discussion: 

Principal Mrs. Tosha Robinson-Baugh welcomed those in attendance and led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Discussion: 

Good News Awards (on file) - Highlighted were: FSSD Student Artist of the Month  LES 3^rd grader Lillee Sparks; FIS students Kaylee Duplessis, Madison Garey, Jas Jani, Strider Lear, Phillip Morris, Eve O’Donnell, Lily Rackley, Levi Sponsel and Lexi Kate Woodford who, as 4^th graders at MES, were named honorary members of the Sherlockian Society in Maryland for their input for an evidence box of one of the Sherlock Holmes series, and in addition, Jas Jani and Levi Sponsel had an essay published in a Sherlockian publication, The Serpentine Muse; FMS students Dylan Grow, William Humphreys, Miles Katawala and Brewer Osteen, who as 6^th graders created a Random Acts of Kindness video project which received a semi-finalist recognition in the Discovery Education i-Witness Video Challenge.

Discussion: 

No one addressed the Board during this portion of the meeting. 

Discussion: 

Counselors Closet Report - introduced by Board member Dr. Barker, Counselors Closet, renamed N.O.O.K. (Needs of Our Kids) is a program that will match clothing and immediate needs of our students with resources. Through attending school board leadership conferences, Dr. Barker spearheaded a task force for a centralized program, instead of a individualized school effort. A collaborative team of FSSD representatives which include counselors, teachers, CO staff, PTO members, high school students and community partners have developed N.O.O.K. to serve the entire district more effectively.  Executive PTO President Brandi McCutchen gave an overview of how the program would work.  Jennifer Morrison will serve as Community Liaison for this program, which will be backed by counselors and community partners with the help of One Gen Away, who will provide a centralized storage location that can be accessed 24/7 to provide critical items that could be immediately delivered to students and families upon notification of the school counselor. Organizers of the program will work with the Threads of Care Program at Centennial High School, which will be a support to the program through volunteerism, money and time.  This program is due to be stocked and operational by the end of 2017 or before; it will not impact services already begin provided to the community through GraceWorks, United Way or Thriftsmart. 

Discussion:  Threads of Care Presentation - Zach Wolfson, Centennial High School student and Founder & Executive Director of Threads of Care, along with high school students Mikaela Prince and Nicholas Hadley, who are officers in the program, presented a check to the district as seed money for Counselors N.O.O.K. in the amount of $250. Threads of Care works within Williamson County and with organizations across the state organizing clothing and shoe drives, provide awareness of youth poverty, and providing volunteer and financial support for needy students and their families. They will work with N.O.O.K. by providing dress code shirts in their partnership with Parker Uniforms, clean underwear and socks, and further awareness of youth poverty.

Discussion: 

Teaching & Learning Spotlight - “AdvancED Re-Accreditation Year” – Dr. Catherine Stephens, Associate Director, presented this report. During the upcoming January Board retreat, work will be done toward preparing for district re-accreditation. More on this and updates from her department were sent to the Board in preparation of the meeting. 

Discussion: 

Construction Report – presented prior to the meeting by Mr. Sternenberg in preparation for this meeting. There were no questions from the Board.

Discussion: 

TSBA Convention Delegates - Delegates to represent FSSD in the Delegate Assembly as part of the upcoming convention will be Allena Bell, Alicia Barker and Kevin Townsel.

Discussion: 

Robin Newman made a motion to approve the board agenda with Item VII.7. Overnight Field Trip Request – FIS 6^th grade to Nature’s Classroom, removed from the agenda. Allena Bell seconded the motion, which carried 6-0.

Discussion:  Item removed from the agenda

Discussion: 

Dr. Snowden presented the following report to the Board:

·         FSSD Attendance, Demographics, and Free & Reduced Students - A report was provided to the Board to give the attendance information and ethnic demographics for each school to date.  A report on free and reduced students will be provided at the October Board meeting.

·         Director of Schools Advisory Council - The members of the Director of Schools Advisory Council are being selected from each site and the first meeting is scheduled for October 5th.  The Advisory Council is composed of an employee and alternate from each school, representatives from the central office and annex, FSSDEA, maintenance and transportation.  The meetings offer opportunities to celebrate successes at each site/department, as well as to bring concerns and questions to the Director of Schools.

 

·         Complaint Managers for the FSSD - The Director of Schools has appointed the Associate Directors or designees as Complaint Managers for the FSSD in accordance with the Complaints and Grievances policy (5.501). 

·         Fall Break - The FSSD’s student Fall Break will occur October 9 - 13.  District offices will be closed as well during this time.

·         TSBA Fall District Meeting – We are looking forward to this meeting on September 28^th, hosted at Houston County High School, 2500 Highway 149, Erin, TN.   We will be carpooling to leave around 3:00 for this event. An agenda of the evening has been provided in your packet.

·         2017-18 Conference update: Please let Carol know which you will be attending and she will get you registered. Thank you so much for your representation at these conferences and the investment of time that you put in to leadership development!   So far:

o   NSBA CUBE Conference September 29-30 - Dr. Barker and Mrs. Bell will represent at the 2017 New Orleans conference.

o   NABSE Conference November 15-19 - Mr. Blair is registered.

o   TSBA Annual Convention and Leadership Conference – Registration is underway for this November 2-5 conference. We are working at this time to coordinate your attendance for those portions you will be attending, as well as which of our board members will represent us as delegates. 

o   NSBA Advocacy Institute and Equity Symposium registration opens September 26^th for the February 3-6 in Washington, D.C. 

Mrs. Newman and Mr. Stillings are interested in registering for this conference to date.

o   NSBA Conference registration opens October 18^th for the April 7-9 conference in San Antonio. The Board’s attendance preference is requested for this conference.

Discussion: 

There were no announcements. 

Discussion: 

Chair Stillings adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.