MINUTES: Jackson-Madison County
School Board Meeting
DATE AND TIME: January 10, 2008; 6:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Joe Mays, chair, Grady Akins, Bob Alvey, Karen
Bell, Carol Carter-Estes, Vicky Foote, Anne Henning-Rowan, Linda
Pride and Ben Rudd
PLACE: Jackson-Madison County Board of Education
MOMENT OF SILENCE
APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made to approve the consent agenda. This was
unanimously approved.
1. Bell 2. Akins
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A motion was made to approve the agenda. This was unanimously
approved.
1. Bell 2. Carter-Estes
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
A motion was made to approve the previous minutes. This was
unanimously approved.
1. Carter-Estes 2. Foote
MAYOR JIMMY HARRIS – PROCLAMATION
Honorable Jimmy Harris, Madison County Mayor, proclaimed the
week of January 20-26, 2008 as School Board Appreciation Week in
Madison County, Tennessee and presented the board with the
proclamation.
RECOGNITION
Ben Rudd, on behalf of Tennessee School Boards Association,
presented a plaque to Ozeal Mitchell, principal at Denmark
Elementary, as recipient of the TSBA’s Awards for Excellence in
Education Programs for their “Book Buddies” program. The program
is a reading and mentoring partnership between Denmark
Elementary and the 100 Black Men of West Tennessee. Ms. Mitchell
recognized Louise Ellison, guidance counselor, who coordinates
the program and asked that representatives of the 100 Black Men
of West Tennessee stand and be recognized. Ms. Mitchell
described the “Book Buddies” program and explained how it began.
Hope Cooper, representative of Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership
Jackson Alumni Board, stated that Ben Rudd was the recipient of
the 2006 Leadership Jackson Community Observance of Personal
Excellence Award and was nominated to the national Community
Leadership Association awards program. She presented Mr. Rudd
the 2007 Distinguished Leadership Award in recognition of
exemplary service and commitment to the community.
Carolyn Carter, principal at Jackson Careers and Technology
Magnet Intermediate, recognized Teresa Johnson, sixth grade
teacher, and her sixth grade class who participated in the
Middle Tennessee State University’s and Jackson Sun’s Stock
Market Game and placed first, second and third. Ms. Johnson
explained how the game worked and recognized the students -
First Place – Dasia Williams, captain, Brucshe’a Bivins, Hannah
Piercey and Peyton Tharpe; Second Place – Justin Norment,
co-captain, Wyatt Woeltje, co-captain, Tylor Nelson, Jake Oakes
and Matthew Swift; Third Place – Diana Smith, captain, Jamarius
Epperson, Cameron Henderson, Nick Jones, Ely Mandle and D’Vondre
Williamson.
Shannon Erickson, No Child Left Behind Administrator, explained
Mean, Predicted Mean and Gain as it relates to TVAAS. He stated
that of sixty-three (63) tested areas in the five high schools
forty-two (42) of those were in the top two quartile. He
recognized the students, teachers, faculty and staff under the
direction of Jimmy Arnold, principal at South Side High School,
for achieving the highest gains, based on Cumulative Gain Index
(3-year average), of any public school in Tennessee in Algebra I
and Foundations II.
MR. PAUL HARE, CHAIR – BI-RACIAL COMMITTEE’S ANALYSIS OF 2000
AGREEMENT
Dr. Mays stated that this item would be moved to the end of the
agenda.
FINANCIAL REPORT WITH ANY NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENTS
Mike Nichols, Madison County Finance Director, presented the
board with a copy of School Fund Sales Tax and Summary Financial
Statement.
(See copy …… page 53)
Mr. Nichols also presented the board with the following six (6)
budget amendments to transfer funds: 1) transfer $15,000 from
supplies and materials in Reading First to salaries for addition
of two part-time Reading Interventionist Teachers; 2) transfer
$131,727 from grant line item to supplies and materials for
Reading First supplies; 3) transfer $63,371 from staff
development to clerical salaries and benefits for addition of a
guidance clerk to each of the five high schools; 4) transfer
$45,054 from BEP 2.0 to Special Education Teachers salaries and
benefits; 5) transfer $5,000 from teacher salaries to travel for
new positions hired from BEP 2.0 monies; 6) transfer $3,892 from
other supplies and materials to salaries and benefits to replace
general maintenance helper position with journeyman electrical
position. A motion was made to approve all the budget
amendments. This was unanimously approved.
(See amendments …… page 54)
1. Rudd 2. Alvey
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jackie McKnight expressed her concern regarding the public not
respecting the board’s rules during public comments. She also
asked the Mayor to support the board.
Shelia Godwin addressed the board regarding Unitary Status and
needing money for JCM, board members not responding to speakers
during the public comment portion of the board meeting and
eliminating the Bi-racial Committee. Ms. Godwin stated that she
supports the board.
Alexander Jones, parent, requested information regarding
obtaining a waiver for his children to return to North Side High
School from Jackson Central-Merry High. Dr. Zambito asked Nathan
Boyd, Pupil Personnel and Federal Projects Manager, to assist
Mr. Jones.
Kenneth Moten expressed to the board his support of Jackson
Central-Merry High School’s football coach Cedric Hampton and
retaining him as coach.
Stephen Moten, 2006 graduate of Jackson Central-Merry, expressed
to the board his support of Cedric Hampton as coach.
Lisa Brown, teacher assistant at Isaac Lane Technology,
addressed the board regarding helping assistants in becoming
teachers. She also shared with the board that some of Liberty’s
football and baseball players are reading to the students at
Isaac Lane and that it is having a positive impact on the
students.
Harrell Carter, President of the local branch of NAACP,
expressed to the board that there are a lot of good things going
on at JCM. He stated that in regards to Unitary Status that
there are several issues that need to be addressed and that
student assignment is not the only issue.
MR. L. DAVID MORRIS, JMCEA PRESIDENT
Mr. Morris requested that the board release the teachers’ two
percent raise from last year and their three percent raise from
this year and not use that money as leverage to get the teachers
to ratify a contract.
RESOLUTION REGARDING SCHOOL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS AND ANY
NECESSARY BOARD ACTION
Debra Owen, staff attorney, gave a brief explanation of the need
for the resolution.
A motion was made to accept the resolution. This was unanimously
approved.
(See copy …… page 55)
1. Foote 2. Bell
COMMITTEE REPORTS AND ANY NECESSARY BOARD ACTION
Carol Carter-Estes, policy committee chair, stated that the
policies for second reading were on the consent agenda and that
the committee would continue to work on Policy 6.317 – Student
Disciplinary Hearing Authority.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Dr. Zambito gave a brief explanation of the need for the
positions that were approved on the consent agenda – two
part-time Reading Interventionist teachers, 5 guidance clerks,
non-faculty coach and the replacement of a general maintenance
helper position by a journeyman electrical position.
Dr. Zambito stated that there is a team representing “High
Schools That Work”
visiting Jackson Central-Merry High this week. She stated that
she, Pam Finney, Assistant Superintendent, and Curtis Gillespie,
Career and Technical Education Supervisor, attended their
introduction last night and that they were interviewed this
morning regarding board and district support of the initiative.
Dr. Zambito stated that she felt there would be positive
comments coming from that visit.
Dr. Zambito stated that three portables are set up at Liberty
and that two are completed and the third should be completed in
another week. She encouraged everyone to go and look at the
portables when they are completely set up.
Dr. Zambito congratulated Malesus Elementary staff on writing
and winning the Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant for almost
five-thousand dollars. She stated that they are going to use the
money to create the Madison Long Reading Garden in honor of
Madison Long, a Malesus first grader that we lost to cancer
about a year ago.
Dr. Zambito expressed a belated “Thank You” to the Jackson Arts
Council for funding the opportunity for all our fifth graders to
attend The Nutcracker during the month of December.
Dr Zambito reported that Dr. Portia Hegmon, Pupil Personnel
Assistant Manger, and Grant Ward, Transportation Supervisor,
have been working with the committee to address transportation
issues. Dr. Zambito stated that the board had a copy of the
report of what had been done to date and that the committee
would soon be submitting their recommendations.
(See copy …… page 56)
Dr. Zambito introduced and welcomed Tiffany Ellison, school-wide
math supervisor. Dr. Zambito stated that this year Ms. Ellison
will specifically be working with the Jackson-Central Merry math
department.
Dr. Zambito introduced and welcomed Lartyania Merriweather,
social worker. Dr. Zambito stated that Ms. Merriweather will be
assisting families and students at Tigrett Middle and
Jackson-Central Merry High.
Dr. Zambito stated that you have a copy of the Retirement and
Resignation Report and she briefly covered the report.
(See copy …… page 57)
Dr. Zambito stated that we have a North Side High School student
being spotlighted on the Tennessee Special Olympics website and
we will be recognizing him at the February board meeting.
Dr. Zambito reported that the district-wide graduation rate for
2005-2006 school year was 76.4% and for the 2006-2007 school
year was 81.8%. She stated this is a real achievement by the
professionals (teachers, teacher assistants, principals) working
in our twenty-eight schools and central office who are
supporting those teachers. She stated “Good Job” Jackson-Madison
County School professionals.
MR. PAUL HARE, CHAIR – BI-RACIAL COMMITTEE’S ANALYSIS OF 2000
AGREEMENT
Mr. Hare was unable to attend the meeting; however, Randall
Page, Bi-racial Committee member, stated that the committee’s
job is to tell us where we are and use the information the
school system provides to establish those numbers. Mr. Page
explained how the report was written and stated that everything
in the light print was last year’s data and the 2006-2007 update
is in bold print with a conclusion on most sections. Mr. Page
then summarized the report.
(See report …… page 58)
Dr. Mays reminded the board members of the Team Trek (Board
Retreat) material that is to be completed and the book,
NAVIGATING CHANGE, which is to be read.
CONSENT AGENDA
POLICIES
A. SECOND READING (5)
This was unanimously approved.
(See copy …… page 59)
1. Bell 2. Akins
REQUEST PERMISSION TO ADD TWO (2) PART-TIME READING
INTERVENTIONIST TEACHERS FOR THE 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR (ASSIGNED
TO BEECH BLUFF) (FUNDED BY READING FIRST)
This was unanimously approved.
(See copy …… page 60)
1. Bell 2. Akins
REQUEST PERMISSION TO ADD A GUIDANCE CLERK TO EACH OF THE FIVE
(5) HIGH SCHOOLS (FUNDED BY BEP 2.0)
This was unanimously approved.
(See copy …… page 60)
1. Bell 2. Akins
REQUEST APPROVAL OF NON-FACULTY, PAID COACH FOR THE 2007-2008
SCHOOL YEAR (MADISON ACADEMIC - 1)
This was unanimously approved.
(See copy …… page 60)
1. Bell 2. Akins
REQUEST PERMISSION TO ELIMINATE A GENERAL MAINTENANCE HELPER
POSITION TO BE REPLACED BY A JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICAL POSITION FOR
THE 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR.
This was unanimously approved.
(See copy …… page 60)
1. Bell 2. Akins
PERSONNEL STATUS REPORT (INFORMATION ONLY)
This report was for the board’s information.
(See copy …… page 60)
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made to adjourn. This was unanimously approved.
Meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.
1. Carter-Estes 2. Foote
____________________________________
Chair
____________________________________
Secretary
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