This is a summary of the school board business meeting from October 25, 2018. I was out of town on business, but was able to use my wife’s notes of the meeting to write these. My apologies for the delay!

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 

Mrs Chism not feeling well, and thus absent. The NEW Schilling Farms Elementary school was honored with special recognition today. Principal Dr Cleaves talked about the journey they took to get where they are, and presented a red wagon full of gifts for those who made it possible. A sizable group of students sang for the audience.

This was followed by recognition of the National Merit Semi-finalists and the National Merit Commended Scholars.

Public Comments:

  • Commander Justin Long, Navy. Collierville resident. What differentiates great schools and average schools. As a recruiter, he has spent a lot of time with high school and college students, and has been recognized as the top recruiter in the nation. Has responsibility for nationwide recruiting decisions and a team of data analysts to determine priorities and budgets for recruiting. Introduces the Noble Index. This points to the highest potential for recruiting the highest quality recruits. Collierville is at 112. That is in the highest tier. Collierville is underperforming, and is not getting the results it used to. Presents statistics that contrast how the school should be performing, vs how it is being measured, and it falls short in key metrics, including graduation rates, college acceptance rates, and math scores. This affects how colleges view CHS. Key predictors of top performing schools: median income, student health care, hours of sleep. Schools with 8 am start time or later have a statistically significant correlation with being the top high schools in each state.
  • Dan Osborne, Collierville resident with CHS and Bailey Station students. Thanks board for studying start times. Represents a large group of parents working together for later start times. Offers assistance to board and committee. Presents board with “option 4″ which would result in later start times at a much lower cost than published estimates being used by the committee ($400-500,000).
    Wants to address the survey that was recently sent to parents, staff, and students. Points out flaws in survey that skew results in negative ways.  Urges committee and board to use resources available in town to better optimize bus routes and other cost savings opportunities. References Henry Ford’s comments on what happens if you ask the public what they want: “faster horses.”
  • Cathy Wright, Collierville resident, president of the Kyle Kiihnl foundation. Mentions Teen Safe Driving Week. Also references the number of drowsy driving crashes reported annually. Last  meeting the number brought forward was 500,000. New data published by TN Department of Transportation now says 1.2 Million. Estimate is half of those are by teens.
    Describes the essay submissions by teens for the foundation’s scholarship, which is available to students across Tennessee. The essays asked for descriptions of drowsy driving crashes they had experienced. Highlights the numerous studies pointing to 8:30 as the best start time. “the kids themselves may not even like it. I don’t care. If we can save even one kid’s life…” Later start times will be life-changing for them.
  • Grant Ayres, CHS Freshman. All top 10 schools in Collierville have a later start time than Collierville. Lists the 10 schools and their start times, including Houston High at 7:45 am (at number 10). Collierville has the best building in the state and needs to make this change.
  • Steve Milligan, Collierville resident, proud parent of students in multiple schools. FedEx pilot. Urges board to include school counselors in the start time committee in a meaningful way. Highlights that change is hard, and will meet resistance. Discussed how each district that considered change met with challenges and resistance, and each that moved ahead saw positive results across all areas.
  • Rebecca Dupuy, Collierville resident, has kids in Collierville Schools. Questions why this is meeting so much resistance. What matters is the kids. We need to do what is best for the kids.

Approval of agenda, previous month’s minutes. financial statements.

Chairman Report:

  • Thanks to Leadership Collierville for hosting the candidate forum for local candidates at CHS
  • Thanks to all the bosses – in light of bosses day last week
  • CEF fall event and 5k
  • Sycamore Elementary Immedsion day
  • CHS Girls soccer success, beating Houston for the first time in 12 years, moving through the regional and state tournament
  • Encouraging the public to participate in Early Voting or on election day
  • TN School Board Association (TSBA) convention is next week
  • Nov 14 board member and state representative Vaughan will be speaker at the Chamber of Commerce

Superintendent Report:

  • Congratulating Mrs Hayes – distinguished service award
  • Congratulating Mr Jeff Jones – Selected as school system administrator of the year for the region
  • School board convention will have Collierville present on several topics
  • one of only 5 districts in the state with 70+% pass rate in AP tests

Question by Mr Vaughan: asking for update on CHS project, budget results, etc. by Mr Simpson.

Approval of LEA Compliance report – annual self-reporting process required by the state.

Meeting adjourned.