Work Session – Board in full attendance, Mr Aitken absent – attending TOSS meeting (new president of TOSS)

Review of financial statement for July – the one month with minimal expenses and no revenues.

Policy Reviews:

  • Alternative School Programs – in-house service for grades 6-12. Special Education and 504 services for alternative school participants will be addressed as needed, in compliance with all applicable laws. Currently 12 students in alternative school, which is the max, with a waiting list. The alternative school is a privilege offered to the district, not a right.
  • Voluntary Pre-K attendance policy. Added based on TSBA recommendation. Currently 20 students enrolled (max class side), and waiting list of 16 students.

Staff Report on High School Assessment Results – End of Course

  • New assessments, at higher standard
  • Algebra: 11th in state
  • Geometry: 6th in state
  • Algebra II: 6th in state
  • English I: 3rd in state
  • English II: 21st in state
  • English III: 3rd in state
  • Biology I: 6th in state (older existing standard)
  • Chemistry: 7th in state (older existing standard)
  • US History/Geography: 7th in state
  • Most of these also show significant improvement which is hard to achieve in a high-achieving district.
  • All 5 elementary schools get 5 on School-wide composites for growth
  • CMS – 1 (low growth, but no detailed numbers available yet)
  • SFMS – 4
  • CMS and SFMS both get 5 on Algebra I EOC
  • District wide scored 5 for growth. Not expecting that there are a lot of districts with a score of 5 in the state)

2018-2019 Calendar (proposed, pending board approval) click for document

  • new high school, new elementary school, moving middle school
  • allow maximum prep time over the summer
  • end school year by memorial day
  • unique calendar required approval of Commissioner of Education – approved with no further requirements
  • other municipalities have teachers returning July 30 – Collierville will return August 1
  • couldn’t make 2 week delay happen
  • using stockpile minutes to end up with 175 day school year, 200 days for teachers (including professional development, inservice, admin days)
  • teachers will get 8 paid days of prep before school starts
  • fall break still aligned with other municipal schools, partly with teacher kids in those districts in mind, partly to ensure alignment with ACT weeks for the state
  • parent/teacher conferences moving to day time: September 14
  • whole week off for Thanksgiving week – Monday and Tuesday will be PD for teachers
  • Christmas break starts 12/21, which is two days later than other schools
  • After Christmas break, Students don’t return till 1/7 (a Monday), but teachers go back for 1/3 and 4
  • Spring break is aligned with municipalities as well
  • Day after Easter is another PD day – no students
  • Last day of school is a Friday, May 24, which is a day later than the other municipalities
  • This calendar will create some expectations for future years… which are already being anticipated
  • Link to comparison to other municipal districts and the district’s highlights of the calendar

Board Meeting Calendar for 2018 – adjustment to meeting on Thursdays, to accommodate State Representative and School Board Member Vaughan’s legislative schedule. This also moves some meetings to the central office. It is possible the meetings will move to the new High School once it is open.

Budget adjustments to account for a CTE grant.

Closing out contracts for HVAC work at SFMS and CMS: purchase of equipment and installation. Each contract included bid plus contingent amounts. Use of contingency funds was low, which is favorable for the district.

Superintendent Update:

  • Mr Jones standing in
  • Rezoning: public meeting dates: Thu 9/28, Thu 10/5. 6:30pm CHS auditorium. Proposed maps to be published in advance to these meetings.
  • Upcoming events: Parent teacher conferences this Thursday, District Learning Day on the 15th; Collierville Education Foundation will host car show 10/16, and will have test drive fundraiser. 10/21 Go Jim Go visit to all schools.
  • Hurricane Relief Efforts had great participation, which will be well used

Chairman’s update:

  • Car show will allow local organization volunteer hours
  • Open House at CHS last month had full board in attendance
  • Mr Hansen attended Crosswind PTA meeting that same week – rejuvenated organization
  • Great to see improvement scores, testament to the teachers and the curriculum department.

Meeting Adjourned