Quick summary of the special called meeting. This is from my notes and observations, and I will indicate where I insert my opinion.
This meeting was called at last Tuesday’s meeting in order to consider the anticipated proposed interlocal agreement with Germantown for the Houston Middle and High Schools. As expected, Germantown’s school board voted on, and approved, the interlocal agreement on Thursday 3/20.
Kevin Vaughan missed the meeting due to previously scheduled vacation. Around 15 people attended this meeting, including a reporter from the Commercial Appeal.
There were no public comments.
Mr Aitken introduced the content of the interlocal agreement:
- Three year duration
- Covers current 6th and 7th grade Collierville residents at Houston Middle and current 9th through 11th graders at Houston High.
- Students will be allowed to choose to continue to attend their school until their exit grade
- Germantown will provide transportation for these students
- In exchange, Collierville will allow Germantown to use its bus lot, and the gas pumps at the bus lot (and will pay for fuel used)
- Collierville will also pay $100 per student to Germantown to cover transportation cost
This also means the following:
- Collierville Students not covered under this agreement (transfers), including siblings of covered students will NOT be eligible for transportation by Germantown
- Students will need to register at these Germantown schools by April 11
- Students should not register at their zoned Collierville school if they are choosing to register and attend in Germantown under this agreement
Board member Cox and Chairman Hansen made statements in support of the agreement, and highlighted that this would offer the affected families stability and the ability to choose.
The agreement was approved 4-0 by the board members present.
The other agenda item brought before the board for consideration by the Superintendent was a resolution to authorize the Superintendent to enter into a contract with Pearson for the purchase and installation of the Powerschool student data management system. This is the same system that was in use with the legacy Shelby County Schools system. Board members remarked that they had received numerous requests from parents and teachers to go back to this system.
The first year cost, including implementation and data conversion is $340,000, and the annual cost after that will be $170,000. The software will be used by all municipal school districts and Collierville will receive payment for this on a per-student basis. The Collierville share of the first year cost will be $88,000.
The board voted 4-0 to approve this resolution, following comments by Mr Hansen about the model of ‘saving through sharing’ where the municipal districts are joining forces to be able to defray the cost of necessary support services, in order to maximize the funds dedicated to teaching the students.