Newly elected school board members sworn-in

Judge Mike Hinson swore in the Lewis County School Board members who were newly elected in the August 6, 2020 election before the regular monthly meeting on September 8, 2020. They are: Glenda Atkinson, Derek Cotham, Jackie Holt, Paula Dyer and Blake Farr.

The Board meeting followed at 6 p.m. at the Lewis County Middle School Auditorium with all members present: Chairman Glenda Atkinson, Vice Chairman Johnny Clayton, Derek Cotham, Cassie Couch, Paula Dyer, Blake Farr, Lindsey Himes, Jackie Holt, and Phyllis Townsend.

The election of a chairman and vice-chairman took place under new business of the board. Holt nominated Clayton, seconded by Couch. Townsend nominated Atkinson, seconded by Himes. Following a roll call vote, Atkinson was selected with a total of five votes to Clayton's four.

Farr nominated Clayton for vice-chairman and Townsend seconded. Himes made a motion for nominations to cease, and Townsend seconded. Clayton was re-elected as vice chairman.

Director Benny Pace reported recent employments: Mandie Bass as Intermediate Special Education Paraprofessional, Jenna Barber Harper as Elementary School Paraprofessional, Jerilyn Ashmore as Intermediate School Paraprofessional, Clint Alley as Alternative School teacher, Becky Newbold as certified full-time substitute to cover the classes of teachers who may be isolated because of exposure or quarantined because of COVID, Judy Duncan as Pre-K interim teacher for Holly Adkins, and Kandra Barnes and Trey Holbrook employed by the South Central Human Resources Agency through a grant and placed in the schools to help with COVID related issues.

The resignation of Paraprofessional Bethany Calderon was accepted and Danny Cheek was moved from part-time custodian to full-time. Leave of absences were issued to Jan Ammons, LCES first grade teacher, from July 24, 2020 through August 24, 2020 and Reagan Clayton, LCHS ELA teacher, effective September 17, 2020 through May 21, 2021. Brittney Couch Hall rescinded her employment offer and accepted a full-time teaching position in Lawrence County.

Director Pace informed members that he was still waiting on the insurance company's response to the repairs on the gym floor. He stated that the school still owes the construction company money for the replacement of the high school roof and he was sure that they will work to get the repairs done on the gym floor which was damaged from the roof leaking after the old one was torn off.

He addressed the board with inquiries about the funding of the new high school. He stated that since the sales tax referendum failed, he has talked to a couple of financial advisors, Ashley McAnulty of Stephens Inc., and Marty Spears of Municipal Bonds, about what the next step would be to get the building started. The advisors suggested that the board finance the total amount of the loan on the new building and use the interest that is in the fund balance to help make the payment each year. He suggested to the board that once he gets the correct projected money that would be available from the interest of the Capital Funds, that they meet with the financial advisors to see how to move forward. Mr. Pace further stated that with that he has figured that the school could afford about 22 million dollars for the new high school. There was discussion of floating interest rates and fixed interest rates. Mr. Clayton suggested that the board approve a locked-in interest rate on the loan. Board members agreed that the interest rates should be locked-in. Mr. Pace reminded everyone that the Lewis County commissioners would be responsible for the final decision and would carry the debt. Board members agreed to meet with the two financial advisors at a separate workshop in the future.

Director Pace told board members that the schools so far have not seen a lot of effects from COVID except for students that are being quarantined due to being exposed. He commended the principals and teachers for staying with the plan that was developed earlier. Sasha Powers, CSH supervisor, informed board members that we currently have 22 students that are quarantined and have had approximately 100 students quarantined since the beginning of school. She stated that there was one current positive contracted worker that was in contact with several students and they had to be sent home. Ms. Powers further stated that the Department Health has recently changed the exposure time to 15 minutes and 6 feet or less. She explained to members how the Specials classes were using the same seating chart that the students are using in their regular classroom to keep the same children in the same proximity of each other.

Pace explained to board members that the Tennessee Department of Education has developed a dashboard that is set up to report the cases of COVID in the schools across Tennessee. He stated that he had some concerns of the actual numbers being reported as the state will be reporting this information from the Department of Health.

Allen Trull, Supervisor of Student Services, reported that currently there are 45 high school, 24 middle school, 11 intermediate and 6 elementary virtual students. He stated that every classroom has had the opportunity to practice virtual. Teachers can use virtual at their own home if they are sent home due to be quarantined. Mr. Pace stated that if students are not participating then they are considered absent from school. Mr. Pace further explained that if virtual students do not adhere to the attendance policy then they will have to return back to the school that they are enrolled in.

Pat Couch, Supervisor of Teaching and Learning, stated that the CLP was returned back to her for additional information and she resubmitted it and she found out today that there was a system error. She stated that they were not for sure what the system error was and that she was working on getting the CLP approved. She further stated that there was another grant available that will be used for technology of the schools and the grant will depend on the completion of the CLP. This grant will be used to purchase additional Chromebook, laptops and other technology needs in case there is a shutdown of the schools due to COVID issues. She said that with this other grant that the High School would have 188 chrome books, intermediate school 154 Chromebook, middle school 154 chrome books and elementary 134 Chromebook.

Other new business conducted by the board was the adoption of Board Policy 5.1151 Telework During Emergencies and Board Policy 1.8011 - Emergency Closings. Both policies were dealing with COVID-19.

The board unanimously elected Himes and Farr to represent Lewis County at the annual TSBA Conference and Convention in November.

Chair Atkinson informed board members that the next regular scheduled meeting on October 13, 2020 will fall on the parent-teacher conference date. Board members agreed to move the meeting to October 12, 2020 and keep the meeting location in the middle school auditorium.