Summary of March 21 Collierville Schools Board Work Session. Full board present.

Review of February financial statement. Revenues and expenditures tracking as expected. Mr Hansen made comments about the district’s capital needs. Mr Aitken talked about the meeting with County Mayor Harris and the Shelby County education committee. Major needs include roofing at WCMS and HVAC at Collierville Elementary.

Review of textbook adoption proposal. Proposal to approve all state recommended books as accepted for Collierville Schools use. There is no purchase imminent, but this will allow the district to make the purchase when needed. Online component of text books was a key consideration, and that is commonly available now.

Special Course Application – annual renewal for Facing History and Ourselves course. Collierville Schools will be expanding the use of this curriculum.

Closing out CHS construction contracts:

  • Townsend Door (Tack Boards and White Boards). Small increase in cost due to configuration of art rooms.
  • Toadvine Enterprises (Basketball Equipment: goals). No deviation from bid/contract.
  • Central Technologies (cameras and monitors).
  • Daktronics (indoor score boards).

Review of Lawn Services bid for CHS. Note: athletic fields are still considered under construction and will be groomed by the contractor until approximately June. This bid is for mowing/mulching/weeding weekly from April through October and a separate bid was done (but allowed to bundle) for weed control/spraying. Agriscapes had lowest bid for mowing services, is local, and had great references. Also note: all other Collierville Schools properties are serviced by the town.

Review of Weed Control Services bid for CHS. Lowest bidder (Landscape Services Group) had only bundled package available, so the bid went to Herbisystems.

Review of HVAC Equipment bid at Crosswind. Two bids received for 56 units.

Superintendent Update:

  • Michelle Miller at Bailey Station is the regional winner for teacher of the year – 9 regions – and is up for state teacher of the year honors
  • Student Success Course introduction. This is in response to the Partners In Education feedback about career readiness. The district is going to do some additional communication about the merits of this course. It also includes study hall time, ACT prep, character skills, time for targeted/personal intervention, tutoring, mentoring, etc. The second year of the course will further expand on these skills and be good preparation for the career dual enrollment programs. Mr Vaughan added commentary that based on what he hears in Nashville a course/curriculum like this, to help workforce development, is likely to be mandated within the next two years. He commends Mr Aitken on his vision. This highlights the leading role that Collierville may play in the state in diverse education.

Chairman’s report:

  • Comments about the growth of Agribusiness in the Memphis area – as a national hub for this discipline. Collierville Schools is already including this in its curriculum at the high school.
  • State Legislation updates (Mr Vaughan) – Charter School bill updates, which in current version essentially maintains the status quo. Other bill about “Educational Savings Accounts” – seems to have no attraction outside Nashville, but will need to have public input to ensure it doesn’t get outside the full committee, which will take up the bill this Wednesday 7/27. This is a pet topic for the governor.
  • Mr Hansen wants to provide a resolution draft that will not be voted on until after that committee meeting, in order to voice opposition to the ESA bill. Mr Vaughan will have to distance himself from this resolution due to his commitment to not take a position on bills until they are actually up for a vote. Mr Cox: Our obligation is to protect public education. Mr Hansen: the proposed voucher system will have no accountability on the spend and will pose a risk.

Meeting adjourned.