This is my summary of the Work Session of the Collierville Board of Education for April 28, 2020. As always, these notes represent my observations of the public meeting. Any comments or corrections of inadvertent misstatements are welcome.

Board Present on WebEx, except for Mr. Cox.

Review of April Financial Statements.

Mrs Hays reporting on favorable results where revenues are outpacing expenses.

CARES Act funding comments – the district will try to use federal funds to replace missing revenues (sales tax) rather than to make purchases. This is pending State allocations, then State guidance on what funding can be used for.

Apple Lease Review – three year lease-purchase agreement. At the end of the three years, the district can sell the devices to a third-party at approximately 33% of the value of the devices. Town BMA will hold the lease and will need to approve this lease, due to the nature of the lease being a debt agreement, which the school system cannot incur. In addition to this lease, the district is looking to supplement devices to 1:1 ratios in K-2 grades. These will be attempted to be a CARES act purchase rather than a lease.

This lease is iPads for middle schools, iPads for staff and MacBooks for teachers.

School Board Calendar for July 2020 through June 2021. Proposed schedule follows current model: Work Sessions 4pm at Central Office on third Tuesday of the month, and Business Meetings 6pm fourth Tuesday of the month at CHS, with minor exceptions for November, December, and March.

Change to Field Trip Policy: set constraints for independently planned trips organized by school teachers, which are not part of curriculum or funding. These will be unexcused absences, and any liability will lie with the organizers.

Graduation Activities Policy – TSBA recommended update to define scope of graduation activities and to protect the district in regards to maintaining separation of church and state. Proposed update to create distinction that this pertains only to activities organized by or sanctioned by the district.

Special Course Application – seeking approval for new (optional) full credit Student Success Course. This is to correct a state error that only allows a half credit for the student success course under the old model. This would be effective this coming school year. Previous year(s) were allowed to remain at full credit due to publication error with the state. This course is the enhanced student success course that was discussed in prior meetings, but will not be made mandatory for 20-21. Approval (or rejection) is anticipated to be completed before the end of June. If rejected, some options are available to add co-enrollment of another course to add up to a full credit, or switch to a half-year, etc. Some discussion around board member questions for the justification of the application and some of the content.

Career Success Course as a focused elective – improved listing of Career Success to be paired with CTE classes for focused elective option.

Bailey Station bus lot and Tara Oaks parking lot repaving – one bid for both – to be awarded to Hollingsworth Paving

Sycamore Elementary Roofing Restoration to be awarded to Garland/DBS – attempted to do under cooperative agreement – quote came in too high – will be pulled from agenda and sent out to bid.

Superintendent Evaluation instrument – Presentation by Board Attorney Mr Marshall. Evaluation to be performed and submitted by  board members to Mr Marshall.

Work Session Adjourned approximately 6:12pm – 5 minute break prior to business meeting.

Moving on to Business Meeting

Mr Cox still absent (planned) but enough of the board present to have quorum; Mr Cox may join later during meeting. Speedy meeting since essentially all discussions took place during the work session reported above.

Public Comments:

  • Amy Johnson – would like to know what the plans are for the fall for safe return of students and any remote learning plans. Dr Lilly: was scheduled to touch on this during update, but will address now. Lots of unknowns for what the fall will hold. Planning for various contingencies, including full normal return, some students remaining home, all the way to complete online scenario. Scenarios under consideration to see how curriculum, transportation, nutrition will look like; impacts on sports, cleaning, etc. Reentry committee will be seated tomorrow, with Mr Hansen as the board representative, to create variety of plans which will be vetted with health professionals. This will allow for the creation of a set of contingencies which can be switched as the need arises. Students, faculty and staff need to remain healthy and safe. Hoping to share some more plan variety details in June.
  • Suzanne Stanford – thanks to CHS and Project Graduation for senior pickup process. Is asking for increased, more consistent, and broader communication. Touches on the fact that seniors that are joining the military will likely be in basic training by the projected June 26 Bellevue graduation, and that a July football field commencement (contingency) will be very hot.

Review and approval of prior meeting minutes, agenda and April Financials.

Chairman’s Report:

  • Will keep it short due to the long meeting. Refers to contingency planning under way for next school year. Other board meetings will be welcome to represent the board on subcommittees that will spring up.
  • Lots of board-related work that was planned and/or started has been deferred, but some items are now getting scheduled again.

Superintendent’s Report:

  • Thanks to Mrs Stanford’s comments. It is impossible to overcommunicate, so he appreciates the ask for more, and will be more intentional with frequency and content.
  • Graduation ceremony/event planning is very tough in the fluid situation. Relates to the needs of the military-bound graduate as his son is going to a Service Academy.
  • Email with updated graduation activities is coming tomorrow.
  • This week is the end of the school year. Thanks and apologies to the student body for staying engaged and positive. Thanks to parents for support. Thanks to teachers for major changes they had to make. Thanks to all the staff everywhere that put in so much effort.
  • Today there was another delivery of household necessities to 77 needy families.
  • Collierville Schools is going to have extensive plans for next year. Will be looking to incorporate parental input.
  • Offices will be closed for Memorial Day. Gratitude expressed for those who served and paid the ultimate price.

Approval of business items discussed in work session earlier in the evening. Mr Cox has joined the meeting.

Mrs Chism made comments in regards to the Student Success Course application stating she didn’t have enough time to perform due diligence on this item. Course application vote passed 4-1 with Mrs Chism voting against.

No further notable discussions of business items.

Meeting Adjourned.