In opening announcements, Dr. Jimmy Carter addressed the current novel coronavirus concern and stated that if school is canceled for an extended period due to the novel coronavirus/Covid-19, students will be issued Chromebooks loaded with two weeks of assignments that teachers are already developing.
Chromebooks and any other educational materials would be issued before spring break.
He further explained that he and the staff are in discussions with the TN Department of Education to determine appropriate lessons for special education and how to meet IEP and other requirements.
Carter said that he is not planning to cancel school unless the situation becomes more critical. Currently all schools and buses are using disinfectants to make sure surfaces are safe. Also, Carter announced that UCHS plans to host a ceremony to dedicate the track on Tuesday, March 17, and recognize the various donors to the project. He noted that all school trips have been canceled until further notice.
Under contracts, Image Solutions and one other contract was extended for one year. The board also renewed the K-12 contract with extensive changes to most areas of the contract from definitions to notification. In summary, the board sent a clear message that K-12 and TNVA must meet the same standards of the other schools and employees in UCPS. In addition, the contract limits the TNVA to grades K through 8. Finally, the contract increased the fee paid by K-12 to UCPS to 8% of the funds that K-12 receives in state funding
The lease with Union County Youth Football for use of HMMS field and concession stand was renewed for one year. In a separate motion, the board increased the fee for use of all school buildings to $200 per day from the current cost of $125.
Board Policy 6.300 Code of Conduct was approved on second reading after removing one sentence regarding PreK and K that did not pertain to the UCPS current practice.
Students in 7-12 will be able to participate in a program called Teen Health that will be taught by Beth Sexton, Union County Health Department Health Educator. Parents will sign permission slips to allow the participation since Ms. Sexton is not a school system employee.
The program will facilitate current curriculum in health and PE, but allow it to be taught more often than once in middle school and once in high school. The program is designed to squelch rumors of how pregnancy occurs and sends the message of abstinence, as well as an understanding of teen pregnancy and its detrimental effect to the teen and a baby.
Sexton would teach in small groups of 10 or less with the supervising teacher present. Teen Health is a state-approved program.
Maynardville Librarian Chantay Collins introduced the SLOTH Plan to encourage reading at home and outside of school hours. SLOTH stands for Slow down, Learn, Overcome, Think, be Happy.
K-5 students will adopt a sloth, read to the sloth 20 minutes daily out loud with parents or another adult supervising. Tutors at Maynardville Library are available to help with reading and listening. Collins stated that SLOTH is intended to inspire students to read for information and for pleasure and will meet many of the requirements outlined in part of the Health Council Grant.
The program will start at Big Ridge, then travel to Paulette, and extend to all elementary schools, hopefully, by May.
The SLOTH Program will continue into Summer Reading and next school year. Stuffed animal sloths for each child's reading buddy are provided by a grant and donations. The program has awards for students who complete certain time frames of the program. The board approved Ms. Collins to implement the program in all elementary schools.
Under Budget Amendments and Transfers, the board approved money toward the purchase of ELA textbooks for K-2- to allow for training over the summer. TNVA current year funding and growth and a drug prevention grant were also addressed in the General Fund.
Substitutes in music, equipment, and changes to meet need were approved for the Federal Funds. The board approved $10,000 to turf sod and complete other repairs to the softball field under Capital Outlay. According to Ann Dyer, county financial director, all expenditures are within normal parameters by function for the year.
Roxanne Patterson informed the board that the content of the attendance letter had been reviewed by Mary Ann Stackhouse, the board attorney. The tone of the language has been softened for next school year but the policy and interventions remain the same.
The board postponed transportation bids to the next scheduled board meeting on April 9.