The Cannon County Board Of Education welcomed two new members Bruce Daniel and Nathan Sanders to the Board last night and then caught them up to date in a lengthy meeting. Because there was no workshop, the Board had to approve each of the items on the consent agenda in separate motions at their regular monthly meeting which took place at the Woodbury Grammar School cafeteria. The meeting started with the election of the Chairperson which was once again Randy Gannon and the chairman pro tem Chris Blackburn The Board approved the copier lease for Cannon County High School. The school renewed their lease with the current company they are using and saved $6,000 by doing so. However, it wasn’t the lowest bid submitted but it was the best bid for what the High School’s needs are. Bruce Daniel and Mike Mayfield voted against the motion but the majority of Chris Blackburn, Sanders and Randy Gannon were for the motion and the motion passed on a 3-2 vote. The Board passed the list of complaint managers at each school. There is a male and a female complaint manager at each school to try to settle any disputes and complaints that are lodged against other personnel. The board approved the K through 5 textbook committee. The textbooks that will be reviewed for purchase this year will be the K through 5 reading text books A presentation was made by Neal Applebaum concerning solar roof panels being installed at the Woodbury Grammar School. There are currently solar roof panels on the Cannon Arts Center which won a Governor’s award, and on a residence on Parchcorn Hollow Road. There had been plans to put the panels on the Farmer’s Market Building. The timing isn’t going to work as there are time constraints with TVA that require that the installation be done by the end of the year. Woodbury Grammar School has what is considered the ideal set up for an installation. The investor in the solar systems would like to lease the roof of the school for 15 years at $1,000 a year, install the solar roof panels and in year 16 the system would be given to the school. The system would produce about 6 percent of the power use helping save money on energy bills. The system would normally cost $180,000.00. There is software to allow staff to see what kind of power will be generated by the panels as well as programs to use as educational tools for students in school. The Board tabled any decision until they got more information on the program.
The item of the sewage pump problem at the football field house is being resolved. The pumps that were installed in 2007 or 2008 had developed major leakage and broke in some parts. The system itself was still under warranty but the service call was $160.00. The board approved payment of the service call. The Board also agreed that the Schools should take responsibility for the General Maintenance of the field house from this point on.
The board gave approval for the report card update for grades Kindergarten 1st and 2nd grade. The update will reflect common core standards.
The board tabled approving the Cannon County High School Boys and Girls Basketball Trip to the San Destin Florida Shootout December 26th-31st. and approved the extended contract proposal that will award the schools $26,000 to be used toward student credit recovery, and the funding of counselors. The board approved the audit bid from John Poole of $6400. Poole will audit the books of the individual schools budgets. Mr. Poole comes highly recommended from the Trousdale and Macon County School Systems.
Director of Schools Barbara Parker discussed the Schools Strategic Plan. This is a one year plan mandated by the State. Statistics showed that the greatest progress of the schools is in grades 3-8 math while the greatest challenge was in 7th grade reading and Math II. The three strategies the schools will be implemented include the High Schools That Work and Literacy Coach which will be paid for by the Race To The Top Grant, Professional Learning communities and Formative Assessments. The Communities do not cost anything to form however the assesments will cost around $80,000. The funding will come from Title 1-A. Title 2 and Title 6.
Two schools made the focus list simply because there were gaps in subgroups in the two schools. To help close the gaps in the subgroups one of the schools, Short Mountain applied for a Focus Grant in the amount of $100,000 which would be awarded for a two year period. The other school, Woodbury Grammar School applied for a grant in the amount of 200,000 each year for a two year period. The schools are waiting word on what schools were award which grants. There are 45 grants available statewide and over 100 schools applied.
Director Parker explained the Race To The Top Grant. The School system is in year 3 of the 4 year grant of a total $380,000. Most of the money is spent toward the high school as the elementary schools have title 1 monies. The grant money must be spent on the related strategic plan.
The Pease property transaction has been completed. The final purchase prices was $30,244.00
Two classrooms are still without air conditioning at the Woodbury Grammar School. Representatives from Trane and Director Parker are expected to meet Monday to discuss
The Cannon County HVAC unit project is complete. The original date of completion should have been on the first of September however the project was completed late and because it was after deadline, the Schools will be looking into declaring damages at $100 each day after deadline.
The deadline on the Ag Pavilion Building Project is October 1st however the deadline won’t be met. The building itself has been ordered but won’t be in until November.
The board approved the change in the school calendar to reflect that the elementary schools parent teacher conferences changing October 9th to October 23rd
The next board meeting workshop will be at the Central Office on October 9th at 6:00 with the next regular board meeting Thursday October 11 at 6:00 at the Woodbury Grammar School
