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School Board Meeting Update 1-7-13
Director of Schools Report:
Indian Springs Community Chest Recognition 
The Indian Springs Community Chest supports Indian Springs, Holston Elementary, Holston Middle, and Central High School. This school year, the community chest began a new program allowing teachers to write grant proposals for the community chest to consider. Recipients of this year's grants include teachers from Indian Springs and Holston Middle School. Teresa Calhoun, 4th grade Science and Social Studies teacher at Indian Springs Elementary, received grant funding to purchase a class set of Tennessee History booklets for her classroom. Jamie Robinette, 4th grade Math teacher at Indian Springs Elementary, received grant funding to purchase "Math Hall of Fame" t-shirts that students can earn by mastering math facts. Karen Nave, Principal at Indian Springs Elementary, thanked the community chest for providing discretionary funds to the school that provide school supplies and other necessities to students. Billy Miller, Principal at Holston Middle, received funding that enabled a Poetry Jam Program as well as provide a computer lab for each grade level in the school. Mike Gonce of the Indian Springs Community Chest presented the check at this evening's board meeting.
Safe and Secure Schools
Student safety is paramount for Sullivan County Schools. Board members confirmed this evening that it will pursue additional funding and County Commission approval for School Resource Officers for all Sullivan County Schools. Over the past three years, Sullivan County Schools has worked diligently to improve security for students and teachers in county school buildings, but recent national events require further action of community leaders.
Currently, all Sullivan County Schools have implemented the following best practices to prepare for emergencies and prevent crisis situations:
- Updated emergency and disaster preparedness plans.
- Provided classrooms with easily accessible, emergency placards with concise instructions for various emergency situations.
- Installed secure entrances with cameras and buzzer systems for most schools and will complete the remainder within the week.
- Enhanced communications to convey accurate, timely information through the phone notification system.
- Established routine emergency drills.
- Provided two-way radios to communicate with Central Office and County Emergency Dispatch Operators.
The School Board will engage in a dialogue with parents, community leaders, law enforcement officials, and county elected officials in a series of meetings to implement a comprehensive solution to increase the level of security and ensure our children are safe.
For additional information please go to www.sullivank12.net. We welcome your comments on the It's Your School blog found at http://www.sullivank12.net/connect/ or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.
Personnel Report
The board was provided with an updated personnel report.
Board Chairman Report
The next board work session will be on January 28th at 6:00 p.m.
Mr. Hull reported on his investigation related to Sullivan Central High School's placement in a division in which they will be competing with schools that are significantly larger in student population. He did not recommend challenging the placement because legal challenges to the TSSAA are almost always unsuccessful. The courts have held that they will not interfere with voluntary associations, such as the TSSAA, in most situations. One challenge for Sullivan Central is that if they are moved down a division, they will be competing against schools that are nearly half their size.
The following Consent Agenda Items were approved at tonight's board meeting:
- Meeting minutes from December 3, 2012
- School Trip Requests
- Copier Lease Agreement for Bluff City Elementary
- MOU between SCDE and ETSU Northeast TN STEM Innovation Hub
The following items were approved at tonight's Board Meeting:
- Policy 5.309 Legislative Leave - Approval on 2nd Reading
Other Business:
- Operational Capacity for Buildings
- Policy 6.304 Student Discrimination/Harassment & Bullying/Intimidation and Cyberbullying - Review
- Policy 4.208 Adult Education Program - Review
- Policy 1.300 Board Commitees - Review
- Policy 4.205 Enrollment in College Level Courses - 2nd Reading, will return to committee for review
- Policy 4.605 Graduation Requirements - 2nd Reading, will return to committee for review
Next school board meeting dates:
- Monday, February 4, 2013 @ 6:30 p.m.
- Monday, March 4, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.
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