With apologies for the delayed post! I was actually out of town on business, but my wife, Jennifer, braved the crowds and took detailed notes for me to use.
Please note: If you find that my updates on board business have been helpful, I request that you consider supporting my campaign to be elected to the open seat on the school board. Mrs Messerly is not seeking reelection this year. You can find more information here: https://www.facebook.com/EelcoForSchoolBoard
These are a summary of the Sept 27 Collierville School Board business meeting.
Mrs Messerly was absent, the rest of the board was present.
Special recognition: Crosswind Elementary. Dr Crafford presented a half dozen teachers that marked 25 years at Crosswind (since 1993). On Saturday Nov 3rd, Crosswind will host a block party to celebrate its 25th birthday. Also recognition of several notable and remarkable accomplishments, including the TN Reward School designation, and various acclaimed academic teams.
Mr Jones recognized the calendar committee, whose final work product is the 2019-2020 Collierville Schools calendar.
A series of speakers during public comments. Several residents ceded their time to these speakers which allowed them to accumulate additional minutes:
Dan Osborn, resident and parent of elementary and high schooler. Compliments the board for the start time committee. Highlights documented benefits of later school start times. References Collierville policy that states the district is committed to implement the Centers for Disease Control’s Coordinated School Health approach (which includes later school start times).
Recommends adoption of “the fourth proposal” of the school start time committee. Urges use of sophisticated bus planning software and tapping corporate experts to create bus routing that will not add unreasonable cost.
Recommends school start times to be as close to recommended start time as possible. Asks for the high school psychologist to be added to the start time committee. Invites board members to meet with the parents and experts speaking in public comment tonight.
Next speaker is pediatrician who practices in Germantown, sees Collierville students, and used to have Collierville office. References 2 decades of research on teenagers’ sleep needs and biological changes that happen in puberty. Urges board to improve students’ physical and mental health, as well as public safety by adjusting school start times.
Next speaker is Cathy Wright. Former teacher. Asks board to guess number of drowsy driving accidents in a year: 500,000. Approximately half are attributed to teenage drivers. Talked about her nephew getting killed during the middle of the day while walking in the neighborhood. He was a junior at Houston High. The driver was also at Houston High. She talked of the devastation this brought to her family. Dedicated herself to raising awareness of the drowsy driving. Established a foundation for this purpose: the Kyle W Kiihnl Memorial Foundation. Was recently recognized for her work in this area. Urges Collierville to step up and be leaders in this area.
Dr Valerie Crabtree, pediatric psychologist. Presented to school start time committee. Providing a summary of that hour-long interaction. Focus on biological changes in sleep rhythms. Reality of sleep deprivation in teenagers, and the physical and mental impacts on them.
Natalie Hurd – has two kids in Collierville Schools. Talked about her own High School experiences with early school start times for her kids and herself. Points out there has not been any optimization of school start times. Urges that there are lots of benefits that can be realized by school start time optimization.
Final speaker is Dr Alison Hanauer, clinical psychologist and Collierville resident. Has many CHS students as patients. Is mother of 8th grader at CMS and 11th grader at CHS. Moved to Collierville for the schools. Is noting a concerning pattern in her teenage patients. Unhealthy habits related to very early wake times. Psychological impacts of these unhealthy habits; physical impacts of the unhealthy habits. Teenagers are stuck in a vicious cycle that is very unhealthy.
Moving on to board business: Approval of Agenda, previous meeting’s minutes, monthly financial statements.
Approval of business items, including the 2019-2020 calendar.
Chairman’s update
- OPEB trust update – performing well
- All existing elementary schools are TN Reward Schools
- Sept 29th Congressman David Kustoff hosting information session on Service Academies
Superintendent update:
- Congratulations to schools that are Reward Schools
- Update on diversity/inclusion training; principals meeting reviewed doing what has worked well, and adding additional initiatives
-Introduction of StopIT tool
-CHS Student Congress which will have focus on student climate
-Partnership with the Facing History and Ourselves foundation for professional development and student curriculum; January PD day will focus on this topic. - Congratulations to 14 national merit semi finalists – celebration soon
- Funding of safety: $84k annual funding and $200k one-time for updates to address opportunities identified in the school safety audits at every school that were part of the application process. These will fund cameras, cell phone boosters, emergency training and equipment
- Grand opening of Dragon Stadium at Landers Sportsplex last week
- Leadership Collierville forum for school board, alderman and state representative candidates at CHS
Mr Hansen recognized Mr Aitken as president of TOSS (Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents) for 2017-2018 year.
Meeting Adjourned.