Director of Schools Report:
Tom Rutherford, TAS Teacher of the Year:
Thomas Rutherford has been named the recipient of the prestigious Tennessee Academy of Science Distinguished Science Teacher Award for 2012. Mr. Rutherford teaches chemistry, physical science, astronomy and German at Sullivan South High School. Mr. Rutherford will receive the award on November 16th during the annual meeting of the Tennessee Academy of Science at Vanderbilt University.
Early Graduate Update:
Twenty-eight students will graduate early this December. Sixteen of those students plan to attend Northeast State Technical Community College.
State Report Card:
All schools will be disseminating a standardized newsletter and principal letter to stakeholders. Report card data will be utilized to complete School Improvement Plan updates by December 14th. Sullivan County's K-8 results show a great deal of momentum in both achievement and value-added. High school results show movement, but we are identifying areas of opportunity for improvement.
Six Additional Schools Recognized as "on the cusp" of being Award Schools:
Six schools received a letter from the Commissioner of Education recognizing them for their achievements, noting how close they came to being named Reward Schools. Those schools include Bluff City Middle, Colonial Heights Middle, Blountville Middle, Holston Middle, Rock Springs Elementary, and Miller Perry Elementary. This brings Sullivan County to a total of 11 schools that have been recognized by the Commissioner of Education. Blountville Elementary, Indian Springs Elementary, Central Heights Elementary, Mary Hughes, and Sullivan North High school were previously named reward schools by the state.
Chairman of the Board Report:
TSBA Convention
Sullivan County School Board members attended the TSBA Convention November 4-6 in Nashville. Each year, one of our high schools create a banner to display at the convention. This year, Sullivan North High School created the banner.
Ketron Elementary School was awarded 2nd Place for the TSBA 2012 School of the Year Renovation/Addition.
On December 1st at 9:00 a.m. there will be a called meeting of the board to discuss planning, budgets, and achievement.
The following Consent Agenda Items were approved at tonight's board meeting:
- School Trip Requests
- Copier Lease Agreement for Blountville Elementary School
The following items were approved at tonight's Board Meeting:
- Policy 1.108 Nepotism - Adoption on 3rd Reading
- Policy 5.310 Vacation and Holidays - Adoption on 3rd Reading
- Policy 1.705 Attendance Zones - Adoption on 3rd Reading
- Policy 1.802 Section 504 and ADA Grievance Procedures - Approval on 2nd Reading
- Policy 4.406 Use of the Internet - Approval on 2nd Reading
- Policy 5.701 Substitute Teachers - Approval on 2nd Reading
- Budget Transfers
- 2012-2013 Safe Schools Grant & Budget Resolution
- 2012-2013 Budget Resolution - Ketron Elementary Renovation Project
- Renovation Fund Approval
Other Business:
- Policy 4.205 Enrollment in College Level Courses - Review
This policy states high school students will be allowed to earn 1 high school credit for every 3 college credit hours taken in courses previously approved by the principal. These courses will not be considered in grade point average calculations.
- Operational Capacity of Buildings
- School Calendar for 2013-2014
Three calendars were created for the Board's consideration. Draft A is the closest calendar to Kingsport City's proposed 2013-2014 calendar. It includes a full five-day fall break in October and a start date of August 5th. Draft B includes fall break the week of Thanksgiving and a start date of August 12th. Draft C includes a start date of August 12 with a two-day fall break at the end of the first nine weeks as well as the Wednesday before Thanksgiving out. In all three calendars, there are two weeks off at Christmas. The Board selected Draft A and C to be presented to parents and faculty in Sullivan County for consideration. An online survey will be available for input prior to final approval of the calendar.
