Summary of the April 25, 2019 Collierville School Board business meeting.
Roger Jones, Principal of THE Collierville Middle School presented – recognition for:
- Band students making it to All West Honor Blue band
- Pom team – national champions and world champions
- Math Counts winner: 5th place in the state
- Jr Beta Awards – state level high performance including qualification for nationals
- Contest winners in language arts and visual arts
- Step team – first year team won several awards, and has qualified for nationals
No public comments
Approvals of agenda, previous meeting’s minutes and March financial statements.
Chairman’s report:
- Passing the floor to Mr Vaughan to talk about the legislative session and the charter school and educational savings accounts (voucher) legislation. The changes in the charter school regulation were minimal, moving the state appeals process to a stand-alone board, rather than the state board of education. The voucher bill basically sets up a system where schools that are heavily over-regulated and struggling to achieve their goals has students move out to a largely unregulated private school environment.
- Mr Vaughan described the pressure legislators were put under to vote along with the bill. The state education budget is over 6 billion dollars, which attracts a lot of people who want to have a piece of that pie. Additionally, there is a lot of desperation about the failing schools in the inner cities, with no viable solutions on the horizon.
- The Senate bill that was passed earlier today is widely different than the bill passed by the House.
- Mr Vaughan argues that there is some examination necessary of how much the legislature is involved in the classroom.
- Ultimately, the program was sufficiently stripped down to limit the potential negative impact and will allow the opportunity to examine if this has any merit at all in practice, which might actually help some students, which would be a positive outcome.
- Need to make sure Collierville Schools continues to strive to be the best. Additionally, it is important to help Shelby County Schools be better to help prevent further erosion of local public schools.
- Mr Hansen is doubtful that this will have any positive results, and is afraid that the claim will be that it wasn’t big enough yet – leading to growth and expansion of the program despite its lack of results. Conversely, it is possible that any positive-appearing result will lead to expansion of the program.
- Susan Willis from the CEA asked whether the legislature has the awareness that the problem is poverty, not the schools.
Superintendent’s report:
- Thanks for Mr Vaughan for represneting Collierville well
- Teacher of the Year banquet this coming Tuesday
- Dragon Games this Friday – Collierville Schools version of Special Olympics
- TNReady is wrapping up tomorrow – has run very well, 180 degree difference from last year.
- CHS Principal position is posted through mid-next week.
- Some staffing changes under way with the removal of most shared services. Making good use of the ‘learning cottages’ at WCMS.
Business Items:
- 2019-2020 General Funds Budget. Mostly as presented at the work session two weeks ago. Zero-based budget. Some discussion around the uncertainty of funding each year, and the expectation of a budget amendment in June/July. Approved. Will go before the Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
- 2019-2020 Special Funds Budget. Includes all grants and federal funding, as well as nutrition. Approved.
- 2019-2020 Apple Lease – Apple leases run in staggered terms to reflect phased roll-outs. Approved. This will need to be approved by the town of Collierville, since the school districts cannot own a lease like this, which is considered debt.
Crosswind and Collierville Elementary HVAC improvements – approved
Memorandum Of Understanding between Collierville Schools and Tennessee Department of Children’s Services – coordination agreement that outlines responsibilities in regards to support of children in the district.
Approval of Resolution to Name Collierville High School Community Room – John S. Aitken Community Room – in recognition of his service to Collierville Schools, dating back to his years as a teacher. The full resolution can be read here.
Approval of Resolution to Name Collierville High School Wrestling Room – Mike Simpson Wrestling Room – in recognition of his work to build the high school; Mr Simpson has a long history in wrestling back to his high school days, and has supported wrestling over the decades. The full resolution can be read here.
Approval of 2019-2020 Differentiated Pay Plan – outlining additional funding for teachers who perform specific roles in support of the school district, academic areas, and other teachers.
Meeting Adjourned.