Board Of Education: July Minutes

Submitted by Angela Leigh

The Lewis County Board of Education met in regular session on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at 6:04 p.m. at the Lewis County Board of Education board meeting room located at 206 South Court Street, Hohenwald, Tn. With the exception of Cassie Couch, all board members present were Board Chair Lindsey Himes, Vice Chair Paula Dyer, Matthew Adkins, Glenda Atkinson, Derek Cotham, Jackie Holt, Cody Mitchell, and Sallie Pollock. Prior to the regular scheduled meeting there was a workshop held at 5:30 p.m. During the workshop, Jesse Clardy of Clary Construction Advisors gave a PowerPoint presentation on the progress of the new high school construction. Dana Davis, Special Education Supervisor, requested another Paraprofessional for the high school. Director McAbee and board members agreed that there was a need for another paraprofessional in the high school.

The invocation was given by Allen Trull. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mrs. Glenda Atkinson.

Chair Himes welcomed Mr. Hobbs from the Hickman County school board to the meeting and informed board members that he will be doing an evaluation of the board.

Andi Starcher from the student advisory committee gave an update on the FBLA students trip to Orlando, Florida that competed in the National FBLA conference.

Consent agenda:

• Approval of Consent Agenda

• Approved previous minutes from the June 25, 2024, special called board meeting.

• Adopted agenda.

• Approved payroll and miscellaneous warrants.

• Add-on: Approve Memorandum of Understanding between City of Hohenwald, Hohenwald Police Department and Lewis County Public School.

Upon motion by Mrs. Atkinson and seconded by Mrs. Pollock to approve the add-on to the consent agenda was unanimously approved.

Upon motion by Mrs. Dyer and seconded by Mr. Adkins, the consent agenda, with the add-on, was approved unanimously.

Regular agenda:

Director’s Report

• Accepted the retirement letter from Tracy Lomax, Kindergarten teacher, effective May 31, 2024.

• Accepted the letter of resignation from Adam McInnes, LCHS Band teacher, effective May 31, 2024.

• Accepted the letter of resignation from Dana Sims, LCES Cafeteria worker, effective June 11, 2024.

• Employed Lee Riley, LCMS Head Boys basketball coach, effective August 1, 2024.

• Employed Devon Brewer, LCMS Boys Assistant basketball coach, effective August 1, 2024.

• Employed Rob Inman, LCMS Boys Assistant basketball coach, effective August 1, 2024

• Employed Allison Jackson, LCIS 5th grade math teacher/LCHS Head volleyball coach, effective Augst 1, 2024.

• Employed Stanton Rayburn, LCMS Social Studies, effective August 1, 2024.

• Employed Caleb Brewer, LCES Physical Education teacher/LCHS Head Baseball coach effective August 1, 2024.

• Employed Olivia Eglinton, LCES Kindergarten teacher, effective August 1, 2024.

• Employed Loreita Churchwell, LCIS Sped teacher, effective August 1, 2024.

• Employed Carla Knight-Hussey, LCIS 5th grade ELA, effective August 1, 2024.

• Employed Edward Medford, LCHS Band teacher, effective August 1, 2024.

• Employed Rocky Conner, LCHS math teacher, effective August 1, 2024.

• Employed Gloria Ebarb, LCIS Paraprofessional, effective August 1, 2024.

• Employed Jasmine Chapin, LCIS Secretary, effective August 1, 2024.

• Employed Carla Bennett, Volunteer State Virtual Academy Clerk, effective August 1, 2024.

• Transferred Christi Bunch, LCES 1st grade teacher, to LCIS Sped teacher, effective August 1, 2024.

• Transferred Maci Lomax, LCES 1st grade teacher, to LCES Kindergarten teacher, effective August 1, 2024.

• Transferred Maci Dodson, LCES Paraprofessional to LCES 1st grade teacher, effective August 1, 2024.

• Transferred Addison Hinson, LCIS Paraprofessional to LCIS 3rd grade teacher, effective August 1, 2024.

• Transferred Cissy Riley, LCES librarian, to LCES 2nd grade teacher, effective August 1, 2024.

• Transferred Betty Guarnere, Substitute teacher, to LCES librarian, effective August 1, 2024.

• Transferred Emma McCoy, LCES Paraprofessional, to LCES 2nd grade teacher, effective August 1, 2024.

• Transferred Clif Gallagher, Substitute teacher, to LCHS Paraprofessional, effective August 1, 2024.

• Transferred Tammy Adkins, Part-time Intermediate/Elementary School Assistant Principal, to full-time LCES assistant principal effective August 1, 2024.

• Transferred Koty Couch, LCMS 8th grade math, to LCIS Assistant Principal, effective August 1, 2024.

• Transferred Neci Baker, LCIS 5th grade teacher, to LCMS 8th grade math teacher, effective August 1, 2024.

• Transferred Ginger Bates, LEAPS Coordinator, to Food Service secretary, effective August 1, 2024.

• Transferred Cassie Hallman, LCIS Secretary, to LEAPS Coordinator, effective August 1, 2024.

• Dr. McAbee gave an update on the job vacancies for the school system. He stated that as of today there was only one position that needed to be filled and that was 5th grade math. He stated that he wanted to bring to attention on the list of employees being hired for the 24-25 school year and the board would be voting on later, that Brande Smith was mistakenly left on the list of employees for the middle school.

• Dr. McAbee informed board members that the bids for the abatement of the asbestos at the current high school will be opened on Monday, July 15th.

Unfinished Business: There was no unfinished business to address.

New Business:

• Approve the director of schools’ participation in the annual Superintendent Study Council Conference for September 15-18, 2024.The meeting will be in Gatlinburg, Tennessee at the Park Vista Hotel.

Upon motion by Mr. Mitchell and seconded by Mrs. Pollock, item 1.) under new business was unanimously approved.

• Discussion/Action to approve Bullying Compliance Report.

Upon motion by Mr. Mitchell and seconded by Mrs. Dyer, item 2.) under new business was unanimously approved.

• Discussion/Action to approve all schools’ handbooks.

Prior to the vote on item 3 under new business Chair Himes stated that the only discrepancies that she notices was the difference between the dress code at the high school and elementary school. She also mentioned that there would not be use of cell phones during the actual instruction period at the schools. Dr. McAbee explained that students would have access to their cell phones during lunch breaks and their 10-minute breaks during the day. He stated that this would be determined at the discretion of the principal in each school. Mr. Mitchell stated that he liked the idea of cell phone usage during breaks. He stated that it needed to be implemented the same way in every school and all teachers follow this policy. Dr. McAbee assured the board members that all the teachers have been informed of this policy.

Upon motion by Mrs. Pollock and seconded by Mrs. Dyer, item 3.) under new business was unanimously approved.

• Approve Employment and Assignment of School personnel for the 2024-2025 school year.

Prior to the vote on item 4 under new business, Mr. Mitchell asked about the status of bus drivers. Sheryl Sharp stated that we will still short some bus driver and that she was having bus drivers orientation on July 12, 2024, and she would be able to let board members know how many bus drivers will be available after this meeting. Dr. McAbee stated that he was going to mention the benefits of current employees to sign up for bus drivers at the opening ceremonies on August 2, 2024.

Upon motion by Mrs. Atkinson and seconded by Mr. Adkins, item 4.) under new business, with the change of removing Brande Smith from the middle school list, was unanimously approved.

• Approve MOU between City of Hohenwald, Hohenwald Police Department and Lewis County Public Schools.

Prior to the vote on item 5) under new business, Dr. McAbee explained to the board that the school received a bill from the city and that there was an understanding between the school and the city that the city was receiving a grant to pay for an SRO officer in each school. He further explained that the school is not refusing to pay the bill, but he needed a more detailed listing of the charges that were being billed to the school. Dr. McAbee assured everyone that there will be SRO officers in each school for the 24-25 school year.

Upon motion by Mr. Mitchell and seconded by Mrs. Pollock, item 5.) under new business was unanimously approved.

Announcements/informational items

Chair Himes announced that the next regular scheduled meeting will be August 13, 2024. Mrs. Pollock stated that she would not be available on the 13th and asked board members if the date of the August meeting could be moved. After discussion, board members agreed to move the August board meeting to August 6, 2024. Chair Himes stated that there will be a workshop prior to the meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Mrs. Pollock informed the board members Senator Hensley regarding the grant that was being approved to pay toward the purchase of a school dog. She stated that Kelly Hinson was very interested in having a dog in her classroom.

Paula Dyer invited board members, librarians, principals to attend the small library created by Sandy Curtis in Summertown in her honor. She stated that the small library will be dissolved and are giving away all the books for free. Mrs. Dyer stated that she would let everyone know of the date later.

Chair Himes asked everyone to continue to remember Wanda Holloway in their prayers. Mrs. Dyer asked everyone to remember Becky Miller in their prayers with the recent loss of her sister.

Adjournment

Upon motion by Chair Himes and seconded by Mr. Mitchell, the meeting was adjourned at 6:44 p.m.