December 12, 2019 at 5:30 PM - Jackson-Madison County School Board Meeting

Discussion:  James Johnson Chairman called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm

Discussion:  James Johnson asked for a moment of silence

Discussion:  The Liberty Tech High School Air Force ROTC presented the Colors under the direction of Chief Wally Littrell and Major Chris Honeycutt

Discussion:  Shannon Stewart and Wayne Arnold had concerns with the Budget Amendment lines #12 and #13.  Due to the concerns of these amendments, the Jackson-Madison County School Board removed line items #12 and #13 and approved the Consent Agenda.

Discussion:  The December Agenda was approved by the Jackson-Madison County School Board

Discussion:  There were no appearances before the Board at the December 12, 2019 Board meeting.

Discussion:  Janis Carroll mentioned that the PECCA Team has not been approved by the JMCEA Representatives. Mrs. Carroll feels,  that the calendar does not have the appropriate number of days listed for the 2020-2021 School Year and that Teachers with a level of 1,2 3 are being taxed higher due to how the pay is paid out. Mrs. Carroll read messages from Teachers that are not happy with several issues in the systems.

Discussion:  Holly Kellar did not have any updates from Monday Work Session for Board Members at the Board Meeting.  There were two Education Capital budget amendments were pulled from the consent agenda.  These were reviewed during the time set aside for Financial Reports.  Item #12, $890,462 Engineering fees associated with the following:  locker room at JCT ($150,000); locker room at West Bemis ($150,000); Lincoln masonry ($44,087); Alexander reroof and HVAC ($456, 548 less $200,000 from current budget); JCM and Madison Campus (fees associated with stadium for JCM/Madison ($289,827).

This amendment was approved for the requested amount less the amount for JCM/Madison $289,827.

Item #13, $197,951 Funding for the following projects:  SSHS greenhouse  ($93,354); power for bleachers at Lincoln ($3,260); power for bleachers at East ($4,180); Isaac Lane playground ($15,283); Andrew Jackson-paint for exterior ($15,720); Parkview-paint for exterior ($49,595); Parkview kitchen entrance ($12,605); Pope entrance window ($3,954).
The amendment was approved for the requested amount.

Discussion:  There were no questions for Karen Bell from the School Board Members.

Discussion:  Ben Torres presented to the School Board members the results of criteria from having Community Forums and an Online Survey for a Superintendent.  Mr. Torres was needing the Board Members to approve the Criteria on page 21 and the Procedures on page 4 for the Brochure to be presented for applications.
Morris Merriweather made a motion for the next Superintendent to have the following criteria; five (5) years classroom teaching experience, five (5) years Administrator experience and five (5) years as an Administrator in a district.  Doris Black seconded the motion
Morris Merriweather amended the motion to say; five (5) years classroom teaching experience and five (5) years Administrator experience and remove the the five (5) years Administrator experience in the district. Janice Hampton seconded the motion
Ben Torres recommended that the Board to say, 3-5 years experience Administrative within a system and Dale Thomas recommended that the Board to say, 3-5 years experience in classroom and 3-5 years experience as an Administrator. 
Roll Call Vote: Kevin Alexander - NO, Wayne Arnold - NO, Doris Black - YES, Jim Campbell - NO, Janice Hampton - YES, AJ Massey - NO, Morris Merriweather - YES, Shannon Stewart - NO, James Johnson - YES = MOTION FAILED with five NO and four YES.

Wayne Arnold made a motion for the next Superintendent to have the following; 3-5 years classroom teaching experience required, 3-5 years Administrator experience required, Master Degree required and a Doctorate Degree preferred.  Doris Black seconded the motion
Roll Call Vote:  Kevin Alexander - YES, Wayne Arnold - YES, Doris Black - YES, Jim Campbell - YES, Janice Hampton - NO, AJ Massey - YES, Morris Merriweather - NO, Shannon Stewart - YES, James Johnson - NO = MOTION PASSED with six YES and three NO for a minimum criteria. 

AJ Massey made a motion to approve the Proposed Criteria from TSBA on page 21, Shannon Stewart seconded the motion and the motion was unanimously approved.

Morris Merriweather made a motion to have additional criteria added for the next Superintendent; Turnaround experience with data to prove it and experience in school discipline and data to prove it. Doris Black seconded the motion
Roll Call Vote: Kevin Alexander - NO, Wayne Arnold - NO, Doris Black - YES, Jim Campbell - NO, Janice Hampton - YES, AJ Massey - NO, Morris Merriweather - YES, Shannon Stewart - NO, James Johnson - NO = MOTION FAILED with six NO and three YES
 

Discussion:  The JMCSS Board needed to approve the Impartial Hearing Officers to be used during the year 2019-2020. The following Impartial Hearing Officers were approved; Bill Barron, Christopher Hayden, Thomas Minor, Valerie Speakman, Jonathon Steen, Jennifer Craig and Craig Kennedy.

Morris Merriweather was out of the room during the voting for this action.

Discussion:  The JMCSS Board was given two appeals from parents to review. The December Board meeting will not be used as a hearing for the parent to speak.  If the Board does not grant a hearing, then the Board must decide whether to affirm, reverse or modify the decision of the DHA and Superintendent.  This decision will be based solely on the record provided to the Board.  If an appeal is a zero tolerance case, the Board cannot modify the calendar year suspension as that can only be modified by the Superintendent.

Morris Merriweather was out of the room during the voting for this action.

Discussion:  The Insurance Committee meeting was on December 4, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.  Ray Washington mentioned that the Jackson-Madison County School System made an adjustment of 5% in the budget for an increase with Dental Insurance.  The adjustment of 5% was not enough to cover the Dental Insurance increase.  The increase for employees would arrange from sixty-one cents (.61) to one dollar and fifty-two cents (1.52) depending on the plan that they were using.

Morris Merriweather was out of the room while voting on this action.

Discussion:  Kevin Alexander is proposing that the Board review the calendar further in our January Work Session due to concerns from the JMCEA President.

Discussion:  The following Jackson-Madison County School System Policies were to be approved at the December 12, 2019 Board meeting; 1.101 Role of Board of Education, 1.202 Board Member Legal Status, 1.2021 Boardsmanship Code of Conduct, 5.800 Director of Schools, 5.801 Director of Schools Recruitment and Selection, 5.802 Qualifications and Duties of the Director of Schools,1.3019 Teacher Retrntion Committee, 1.8021 Non-Discrimination, 1.804 Drug Free/Workplace, 2.601 Fundraising Activities, 5.602 Staff Time Schedules, 6.308 Bus Safety and Conduct, 4.300 Extracurricular Activities, 4.301 Interscholastic Athletics, 6.313 Disciplinary Procedures (delete), 6.300 Code of Conduct and 1.805 Use of Electronic Mail.  The Board will pull Policy 6.312 Use of Personal Communication Devices and Electronic Devices until further review.

Discussion:  James Johnson, JMCSS Chair, mentioned that the following revisions would need to be made to the JMCSS Strategic Plan; Mission and Vision Statement, Improve Teacher Retention and Attendance numbers from page 6 to page 14 under Critical Areas in need of improvement.

Discussion:  The Jackson-Madison County School Board removed Budget Amendment Items #12 and #13 from the report. The Board would like a detailed report for the amounts used in these budget amendments.

Discussion:  There were no items added to the agenda for a vote

Discussion:  Jim Campbell gave an update to the Board of the discussion from the Budget Committee.  Mr. Campbell presented the Budget Calendar and the detailed budget expenses to the Board.

Discussion:  AJ Massey did not have any further information for the Board

Discussion:  Janice Hampton did not have any further information for the Board

Discussion:  Ray Washington mentioned that they were having interviews for a Construction Worker to be used by the system and the Fire Marshall will be issuing permits.

Discussion:  Jared Myracle presented a power point for the Board.  The following information was in the power point for the Academic Update; Alumni Feature - any pasted Alumni could be submitted to be featured on the district media and website, L.O.O.P. Growth - January 2019 had 3 industry partners and 18 students, January 2020 will have 6 industry partners and 42 students, L.O.O.P. Recognitions - program highlighted by New Skills for Youth/J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation, District math Recognition - Eureka Math scores up for Students and for Teachers too and Curriculum Implementation for every student in every grade have been issued.

Discussion:  There were no Legislative Contacts reported to the Board Secretary.

Discussion:  The December 12, 2019 Board meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.