Summary of the September 17 Collierville Schools Board of Education. All board members present.

Presentation by Dr Nicholson from Battelle for Kids. This (non-profit) organization is under consideration to be engaged to help Collierville Schools develop its next strategic plan. Their approach:

  • visioning – including building a custom ‘portrait of a graduate’
  • current state analysis
  • plan that connects the two
  • connect the community stakeholders with the plan

Community involvement starts with participation in the visioning. State requirements focus on numeracy and literacy, while the focus on developing the right mindset is more predictive of future success.

Depending on the agreed upon engagement, Battelle for Kids can provide assistance with every aspect in the development of the plan, including community engagement. The Portrait of a Graduate takes approximately 4 months, followed by two months of data analysis of the current state, two months to develop the new plan, and another month or two for socialization. While no specific financial details were discussed for these services, the cost to Collierville Schools should be ‘less than six figures.’ The exact RFP bid process for this type of service will be subject to state law, as are all purchases for the district.

Battelle for Kids is an organization founded in 2001 under the umbrella of the Battelle Memorial Institute, which is a sizeable ($6B revenue) non-profit organization which supports science and innovation going back to the 1920s, and is a significant federal government contractor. See Wikipedia Entry.

 

Family Life Curriculum Presentation (proposed curriculum change)

  • Change to state standards in 2018
  • Addition of the requirement to address human trafficking in 2019
  • Current teacher input was sought and incorporated in the proposed curriculum
  • Current program focuses on a single week in the spring; when evaluating the detailed standards for elementary school, there is a significant amount of coverage already included in the curriculum taught year round
  • Middle School will remain with the one-week focus. Curriculum called Puberty: The Wonder Years (includes abstinence-based content) will be added to 6th grade; delivery will be done by selected educators, who will get targeted professional development for this curriculum and support from health, counseling and admin staff
  • Feedback heard: parent communication needs to be more robust; parents will be invited to review curriculum content at the school office if desired, but in-school options will be explored

Review of Financial Report – Dr Lilly walked the board through some of the financial statement highlights for August, including providing some context

Review of Policy #4.603, Promotion and Retention – reflects changes due to state law, including parental notification
Review of Policy #4.605, Graduation Requirements - reflects changes due to state law: must PASS civics exam (old regulation only required taking the exam); also updating policy to be less prescriptive in procedures, which should be in the handbook
Review of Policy #4.700, Testing Programs – additional change since last month – omitted item added to conform with state law
Review of Policy #6.300, Code of Behavior and Discipline – and Review of Policy #6.313, Code of Conduct and Discipline Procedures – proposal to rescind 6.300 as the details exist in 6.313; combined into one policy, and reflects changes to reduce exclusionary discipline in order to seek better results through other levels of discipline; partially influenced by state review of discipline from earlier in the year

Review of 2020-2021 School Calendar – viewable here

  • Note: calendar will not be final until approved by the Commissioner of Education
  • Calendar Committee with wide district representation, including peer-selected teachers for each school
  • State law has specific constraints on the makeup of the school calendar
  • 8 paid days for professional development prior to the start of the school year on Aug 10
  • Parent-Teacher Conferences will be spread along a 3-week window to allow school-by-school scheduling, in order to create separation between
  • Nov 3, 2020 is a presidential election day, which now requires students to be out of school due to the use of two schools as polling locations; teachers will have professional development that day
  • Full week at Thanksgiving returns
  • Two weeks for Christmas break
  • Wednesday May 26 is last day of school
  • 2021-2022 calendar will be considered in the spring (March/April)

Superintendent Update:

  • Thanks to calendar committee
  • Kudos to Town BMA and management and police department for ongoing commitment to have School Resource Officers in every school, even during the challenge of the police department’s officer staffing challenges
  • Agri-STEM expos at both middle schools this Friday (9/20)
  • Saturday 9/21 Drive for Education Classic Car Show at Central Church organized by Collierville Education Foundation, including donations by Landers Ford to CEF for every test drive scheduled
  • CHS Alumni Association scholarship fund event Sunday 9/22

Chairman’s update:

  • Department of Education Strategic Plan presentation on Whole Child and Educators – need to ensure CS plan is aligned
  • Congressman Kustoff hosts a meeting for students interested in the Service Academies at the TN Welcome Center in Arlington – Saturday 9/28

Meeting adjourned