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FCPS Regular School Board Meeting, May 7, 2026

Added May 07, 2026 •

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Regular school board meeting begins at 6:00pm

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the number yes all of that we got to figure out it depends something good morning 24 hours thank you call to order this is uh P County Public Schools school board meeting Thursday May the 7th 2026 6 p.m. roll Mr Speakman here Mr Miller here Mr Farren here Mr Powers here miss McGuire here Mr rounds here miss trim here Mr Wilson and Mr reads here okay cool yes sir if you would uh we'd like to stand for a moment of silence and after which we'll have the presentation of the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance amen I want to have the presentation okay color oh there good what time March that Bell March oh freeze it good attention salute pledge I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands 1 nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all good to see write about Trail arms March go oh let's give them a round of applause okay we had item number 4 presentation all we are number 5 uh the scope recognition sir all right annually tsba hosts the student Congress on policies and education which is called scope um this conference brings together 9 through 12 grade students from across the state to discuss current topics in education participants explore education issues through Mach school board meetings group discussions debates with their peers these events are designed to give students and understanding of how school boards operate for students from faget County attended this year and will now receive certificates presented by um Dr Mack so our first is is Landon Hubbard so Landon if you'll come forward all right our second student is Ivy keriz she's in the guard there's congratulations all right and um I don't believe the other 2 students are here but will recognize them Daryl Douglas and then um Jason Yates who spoke about scope I think in a previous board member who board meeting who also served as our state scope president so Jason Yates all right so I think at this time we'll also recognize we have many of our Academic Decathlon students in attendance um they want if you I'm sorry oh oh okay so Landon if you and Ivy will come back they want to do a quick group picture of you and Doc sorry all right let's give all of them another nice round of applause please all right our Academic Decathlon team um our site Champion Academic Decathlon team recently competed in Nationals um at this time though we're going to recognize all the students who 1 um and I believe every member won at least 1 regionals or state medal um if you add up the regional medals the state medals their plaques and what they wanted National um our students won over 206 medals and plaques which is also so so we'll start with our freshman team members here again some of these folks are not here and so students if you're here um you're going to come up you're going to stand up to be recognized and then we're going to have you like line up up here and as we call your name and then eventually um Doc's going to come down and have a picture with you and and recognize you as well so oh okay thank you but we're good all right all right so starting with our freshman um we have Caleb Holmes who won 1 medal and black we have Jackson hope Pleasant 13 Avery Joyner 5 and then these next folks are here Kylie Kimball is here 1 9 Meadows and plaques so come forward all right if you'll just stand up here all right and if I mispronounce names I'm sorry all right um Malia and lacks 10 ms and plaques so okay Conor McDade 1 6 and he is not here tonight um but Jayden Owen won 3 medals Katon Rivera 112 and then the last of our freshmen is Jeremiah Tims and he won 3 medals Jeremiah fuel come forward all right now to our sophomores um Isabelle a new Nunez 17 she's not here tonight but these next 3 are we have ivy kazalas again to come forward she won 10 romelo LAX he won 17 and then not only winning 16 medals but as a sophomore won at Nationals the gold first place medal for speech and that is Skylar Holtz so Skylar come forward all right so now to our juniors all right James Anderson 114 he's not here tonight but let's give him a round of applause um in the next 3 or not here as well Kimberly Cruz 110 Jayden Davis 13 and Charlotte Van Kirk 12 so let's give them a round of applause all right the next 3 are are here Ramsey's Tama Edwards 13 and then Landon hovered 116 so those are all of our Juniors so as you can see we've got a lot of pro promising talent coming back to compete next year we had 3 seniors on the team this year we have 2 that I believe are not present but we'll still recognize them because several of these folks have been on the team for multiple years we have Michael Watkins who 2 including a gold we have Amy Robertson and then not only winning 12 medals but 1 2 medals at Nationals and 1 2 scholarships at Nationals Dean maxi believe Dean's been um elected to um speak for a for about a minute on um Nationals and I'll turn it over to you Dean well we can do the picture and then you can talk that'll work so all right I just wanted to thank all of you here tonight so much for taking time out of your schedule to allow us to be here and recognizing us tonight and I want to thank my team for helping me and getting us to National let's go so I've been to Nationals 3 years and I've uh been in the program for 4 and I will say this is my favorite thing that we have that they aware so I'm just so glad you all support it thank you so much and I think not only is it a great opportunity for kids to travel compete and make friends but I think it teaches you a lot not only the topics but it teaches you to work through things even if sometimes you really don't think it's your best thing but because sometimes a lot of the topics won't be for you but if you push through it and focus on the things things that you do love about it you see the beauty of competition thank you not done yet sorry all right okay so Dr back we're not done we need you back sorry got 1 more thing so you might notice there's 3 trophies over here so we've got to make sure we recognize not only the students but none of this will not be possible without their 2 coaches so I want to make sure that we recognize them at this time so doc will get them to he'll give them the trophies all 3 of them and then we'll have the coaches come up and do 1 last picture and then kids then you can go home and and um study and do what you need to and so that's miss Patricia Madela and Mr Brian Banks if y'all will come forward mhm all right we'd like to thank the all of the 1 is participating uh investing time and we're real proud we're real proud of it everything here everyone here so uh we'll move on we have a full agenda we'll move on with next item on the agenda tonight which will be number item number 7 Sr over the year Ward ugh board member Dave reads is the chairman and would you take that sir yes sir uh Lieutenant goodro can you bring your deputies forward please yeah okay uh this week across the country is National Police Week it's where we uh recognize our officers across the country for the dedicated work they do uh we also recognize those that are lost in the line of duty during this week and uh coming towards the end of the school year uh we just want to thank each and every 1 of your dedicated service to the school system uh we want to thank Sheriff Riles for providing deputies to our schools um for that we're thankful um unfortunately we appreciate all of you uh but there can only be 1 school resource officer of the year uh Deputy Brian Bermudas can you please step forward congratulations that's exactly what Dr 47 yes sir uh as they're leaving I want to thank all of them but I also want to thank Lieutenant goodroe uh he's been crucial and and bringing us together as coordinating events and activities wonderful liaison the sheriff department and the uh the school system so I deeply appreciate you lieutenant good bro thank you for all you do okay we'll move on to the item number 8 which is the approval of the general do I have a motion to approve motion to approve second all in favor I'd like to speak Mr chairman I I I do have a comment hold on hold on hold on hold on point of order let's go back 1 more what what are you what are you uh I would like to exclude a couple of items from the consent agenda and that would be under uh item uh Little 3 eyes the uh policies 5-1 100 104 105 and 106 if they could be excluded uh from the consent agenda I do have some discussion on that when we get to that 3 all right so which which page is that 3 page from the end that's the annual policy review first item and then the fifth sixth and seventh the 104 105 and 106 could I ask a question at all these items policy items yes all right so the agenda and so these are policy items on the agenda I so if we're going to do a mod to this then we're going to have to have a clear definition of the change pulling pulling from the consent agenda just means moving it to the regular agenda however I'd like to make it suggestion into uh Mr rounds considering this is in the first reading can this not be taken in our committee meeting uh in 2 weeks rather than discussing it here for the sake of time since it's only for the sake of time and because there is a second opportunity yes okay so with that I withdraw that hi yes sir uh I want you to remove uh 1 3 and 4 on the B all right Janice this policy this is policy no this is not policy all right budget committee budget committee all right stay tuned this is on page 2 letter B subsection 1 3 and 4 is that correct Mr Wilson yeah all right all right so if you uh would State uh the action that you would like to take to remove it from the go ahead Mr chairman go ahead it it just comes on and goes into the the full agenda rather than being part of the consent agenda so with your permission I would suggest that after the approval of minutes that we make those the first 3 items of the agenda discussion so make it a 9B for the 3 items that Mr Wilson pulled out to the full agenda all right do we have any further comments on that if not so we'll make that a motion and we move this to 9 B can I make it a 9 B for those 3 items yes I move that uh amending my motion to approve the agenda all right so we have to second on that too to have a proceed on through so I don't I'm moving that we move create an IB on the agenda that will Encompass the 3 items that Mr Wilson pulled off of consent agenda and and I believe Mr Farren seconded my motion yes all right so now we have to vote on that then we have to go back to the original to completely approve the agenda all right so let's let's vote on uh the question of moving it to 90 told you have it so there's no f****** no discussion all in favor I I opposed all opposed motion passes and be moved to all right now we have to go back and uh vote to approve the agenda all in favor I opposed no opposed agenda passes all right so now we'll move to 9V yes sir approval of minutes approval of minutes and 9 and then 9 Bill approval so let's uh uh let's approve the minutes all in total uh do I have a motion to approve motion to approve the minutes as listed second second all in favor approval passes okay now the and then I guess we are now at 9 B all right so now if you would since a moment uh then that's the first and third and fourth and the fourth all right okay so these now uh move into regular order so first item that we would just present superintendent's contract performance bonus to uh this is this was in committee there was approved in committee do I have a motion to approve or proceed I'm a I moved that we proceeded to discussion yeah Mr Wilson I second that proceeded to discussion discussion please okay my concern with the 3 that I pulled off unless you're on a budget committee we have had an opportunity to discuss it at all the other members on the board um so that was my reason for bringing that on for somebody to discuss all 3 of them the 3 that I pulled on may may I address the first 1 yes sir Mr Wilson you had the opportunity to give for 6 weeks you had to go up to give feedback for his performance and you chose not to and I think it's interesting that you bring it up right now that your objective to it I think that's what you're doing I mean because I not only did I get the in you get the opportunity for input for 6 weeks from you and then I ultimately some it and gave it back to you not you know I've heard nothing is there anyone who can discuss this I don't I'm not looking for a lecture well there's no 1 to discuss it just say I think that was discussion you had the opportunity to make a difference Mr chairman please I'd like to be recognized yes sir uh Mr Wilson I understand your concern with it be having been only in the budget committee having sat through the committee 2 weeks ago um Mr Mr Miller went through a detailed presentation of how our um superintendent has exceeded based upon the evaluation of the majority of the what he took the AI and uh Mr Mr Stephen share Mr chairman hold on just a minute all right I'm gonna I'm gonna tell that we're not going to start a bunch of chatter we're going to do business and when I do that if I have to do that second time we'll address it so I'm I'm I'm going to give the warning right now that the first morning all right go ahead as I was saying I sat through the presentation that Mr Miller gave based upon the um recommendations that were given by the board members that chose to have their input into Dr Max present performance review and at this end I think Mr Millie gave a very detailed presentation it is available on video for people to watch but I would like to ask Mr similar if you would just give a quick synopsis of the process from receiving the input from us and how you came up with the final product if you could summarize that very quickly okay well I started at about 2 months ago and and I I developed the form from the tsba suited to our needs I reviewed it with with attorney minor gave it out to everyone in this room I mean in the board every 1 of the board members and said you can buy the the March or the April board meeting you were to get it back to me I got it back to 7 of the 9 members and uh I summarize those and I made sure that it was tried to reflect every word that was given to me I also gave the opportunity that somebody didn't have their their point made that they can give the the feedback directly to Dr Mack and 1 of the questions that he meet or exceed the expectations the answer was famous yes so um I don't know how you get he clear that you had the opportunity where you see I haven't said anything what I was concerned about is the bonus amount since we uh we don't have to pay employees or to keep employees and then we're giving bonuses um and also the other 2 if you want to go ahead and discuss those we borrowing money on and kill some patient and so my that would be my concern about any any of these 3 items that I pulled from the agenda so what is the bonus amount it's $10,000 and we budgeted for it last year thank you all right we're not going to discuss 3 now we're going to discuss whatever you want to discuss or do we need to vote on this 1 oh just on the first all right let's uh my motion was originally to bring it for discussion there um I will further move in that uh with discussion being closed that we accept it and uh finalized board for Dr Matt to receive his bonus as specified in his contract based upon the review so what is the purpose of borrowing taxes I understand what you're saying Mr Wilson but um I had only presented to discuss the first 1 I think the the correct me if I'm wrong Mr chairman will be proceeding on to 2 and 3 after we vote on this proceed with 1 only we'll we'll proceed to the other items correct if I'm wrong uh this we we were going to discuss them individually okay all right well I appreciate that so we have uh you know the motion now we're at the point of vote all in favor I propose okay roll call Mr Miller I Mr Farren I Mr Powers I miss McGuire know Mr rounds I miss trim Mr Wilson pass and Mr reads hi all right the motion passes uh I move on to item number 3 okay item number 3 same uh platform yeah we'll do the combination if that's good I know that we discussed both at once discussion please second yeah oh excuse me need a second second all right we have a motion and a second we have a discussion Mr Wilson you have just get anyone have a point of discussion yeah I I asked a question earlier what's the purpose of uh the tax and anticipation of resolution to borrow money if you must have a reason for it yes sir we um in consultation with the mayor looking with missel and our finance director is we start this New Year we're getting very close to the minimum amount we have to have as always we want to make sure that our Personnel are paid so this is a basically like a line of credit if we don't need it we don't use it however I don't want 1 person not to get paid and so if we don't do this and the numbers get tight then we we do not want to delay a payment specially to Personnel but also to our vendors so having said that it is simply there in case of an emergency and then we only have to borrow x amount of dollars that's all we have to borrow so so you're saying we do have the money to pay person now well again as as as you well know you've been superintendent before you know as the tax dollars come in there's certain months there's more money than others and that's the whole purpose with my understanding that we deduct money from the person um the employees checks every month that's just to to pay them in the summer months where uh used to be they just got paid 10 months none of it paid 12 that's correct so we we conducting a minor so we should have that right but we're funded by tax revenues so tax revenues don't come in they don't get put toward us so that's what we're simply talking about it's just a tax anticipation note that if we don't have the taxes come in we we can have the money to pay everything and pay the bills and then when the money does come in then we'll refund it back to the we'll pay it back okay I'm trying to see I'm trying to understand what what could cause that well again if as we're like I told you we're getting very close on things and and you'll hear in this presentation is that you know we lost enrollment since 1989 and as the enrollment drops we get less and less funding from the state yeah but we we approve the budget we're over budget was that what you're saying well last year last year we were uh we were over 3.4 million we have money in our reserves to pay that we don't have any money extra money to payback this coming year Mr Mr chairman correct me if I'm wrong this is in this is in anticipation for the upcoming fiscal year budget not the current budget oh I know that so so my the point being this is to make sure we know that we're facing a 3.6 million but if you spend money from your next year's budget you starting out already in the old none of that money experience after you if you use it plus you got to pay interest on none of that if you correct me if I'm wrong Mr superintendent Mr chairman none of that money is being spent on this fiscal year this fiscal year we have the money to finish correct that's correct this will be for next Zone has nothing to do with paying bills through June 30th of 2026 this has everything to do with going forward from July 1st of 2026 in the event as the superintendent outlined there's no the sales tax numbers don't come in we don't get that months uh money that we were expecting to come from the County Commission and we both sat on the County Commission and know those numbers fluctuate depending on seasonal sales or whatever the case may be so this line of credit that what we addressing is for next school year has nothing to do with the current fiscal year that we're coming up on the end of so are you saying even if we need it for to pay Personnel in the summer any other uh invoice buses that come in if you saying it won't be used that is my understanding chairman yes it is now let me let me step in here I'm I'm listening to I've listened to the uh the the uh the mayor's on this uh truth of this is not an optional document on our on our part this was handed To Us by the County Commission or by the mayor and said I think this would be very wise that we go ahead and get this document signed and basically what it means to is if if you think you're going to run out of cash and you can't buy a Groceries on Friday night you might have a line of credits Bank and that's this is a line This is a line of credit that we're guaranteed we're guaranteed a backup from the County Commission by signing this document now am I wrong all right that's that's putting it into household terms so if we run out then we're using it for this year no no no this is this is all all next year operation we're through this year this Finance through this year it's it says if you read it it says for the 2627 school year sir so this would be next year uh and it's just the same as our budget that we'll go through the approval process Mr chairman I think I see where where there might be a misunderstanding Mr Wilson correct me if I'm wrong but you're referring to teachers that have opted to have their pay stretched out and rather than 10 months having many sure I remember having that down noise in Florida and it's very difficult when you hit July and August and you don't have that paycheck coming in I understand but their July and August pay Mr chairman are those paid out of this year fiscal year that is correct okay so that money that you you're thinking that you're anticipating them being paid July and August and please feel free to step in if I'm wrong is being paid with the current fiscal year even though the fiscal year ends June 30th that's right the money's acred and and then we do we go back and do a journal entry to to make sure it's paid out of this particular budget Year yes sir so in essence that the line of credit is solely for fiscal year starting July 1st and will not be touched at all and correct me if I'm wrong cannot be touched until the new fiscal year begins and it would not be allowed to be used because it would need to be on fiscal year 262702526 correct but but your revenue from the state comes in before you next year starts um uh about that time it cuts off in June and then you start by receiving it from the state the the millions whatever it is from the state that we get they send it every month you don't have it in the bank or uh trustee's office Mr chairman could we actually ask Miss Iran to come up and add add some light if you could to this discussion come on up Miss Elliot and answer you so the money that we received from the state it is abbreviated well not abbreviated but they give us 70% and then 25% in the months of June and July we will get our regular funding in August right but what we what the County Commission is saying is in the month of November December the money is a little short if you can recall this year in November we had to come in and ask the board until we move money from G GP to our um federal funds in order to cover payroll at that time due to the funding not come again we didn't receive the money from the state a lot of the payments are reimbursements you you can you can answer this this simply and we want to go through all that my concern is the money that was deducted from the employees check to pay them during the summer is that money there do you have it or do you not we have it we have enough money to cover payroll from here until July thank you yes sir any further questions any okay thank you so do we need a motion on well we would we would discussing both of them together Mr Wilson I'd like to ask uh what was it about uh number 4 uh number 4 is different if we had a boss that are doing we do if that money is coming out of title 2 Federal money 1 142 and so that's something that's we've done for several years now so we're just continuing that practice it's it's if you score high enough on tvos for teachers or for the school and like that it's like it comes out of federal I have no further discussion any discussion other discussion sure I'll go ahead and move that we that we approve this and I second that all right we've had the motion in a second motion second so uh all in favor all opposed all in favor motion passes okay let's see all right so we moving all the way down if you're trying to follow the handout um we'll move pay let's see all the to several Pages down here and we'll move to item number 10 is it 10 hold on just a second I mean let me find my number here from consent agenda all right number 11 all right everyone on the same sheet all right so we're on 11 hold on someone sold me Mr chairman check correct me if I'm wrong we um approved via consent agenda when we approved the overall agenda with the 3 items removed into the general agenda which we just approved so 10 was approved with that will be my understanding yes all right public comments All right so we do we have a list of uh people have requested to talk yes sir yes sir first we have Mr Charles Watkins good evening everyone my name is Charles Watson I live at 745 Casey Drive in Rossville Tennessee and I'll be discussing the agenda item about the uh CTE as well uh once the comment about this whole budget piece the the county has had and seen a 42% increase in Revenue over the last 3 years the revenue that they get from interest just off of the money that they have sitting in the bank has grown from an average of a 100,000 dollars to a 150,000 or 200,000 dollars a year now to 2.1 million but the overall budget for the school district has only increased by 2% so my question is why is it that they are offering a loan as opposed to just you all asking for more money when the money is not certainly there I only have some I only have a few questions here I would like to see a full list of all potential 75 positions by school title funding source student impact class size impact and whether each person is being laid off transferred resigned or not renewed next how does this comply with policy 5.651 6 which requires to have the least harmful effect on students is the East not a placement in alternative school or an alternative program and if it is where is the safety plan Staffing plan IEP 504 plan Transportation plan and transition plan also with CTE program are being eliminated which credentials disappear and how does this affect graduation Pathways tcat Partnerships industry certifications and student Workforce Readiness and finally given the fiscal year 24 a findings have all budget amendments tied to these Cuts been approved by both the board and County Commission before implementation because it appears that what you all are about to do is to drive down the overall Public Relation piece as it relates to the school system hence it's going to drive down student enrollment as we know it people students are already planning to move to locations and you're about to put us in a position where be it self-inflicted or not we're going to see people leave the school system and this will be at your watch so I would like to have those questions answered if at all possible thank you yes sir our next is civil Miller Watkins I stand here tonight not just a teacher but as the mother of a graduating senior from fya County public schools on Saturday and I'm tired I'm tired of watching people elected to protect our children make decision after decision that hurts them 25 teachers and staff gone CTE programs cut to only a few while other districts are expanding opportunities in technology Health Care trades and Workforce Development and alternative school pushed into a middle school building my middle school building as if our children who need support through alternative school deserve less dignity and less space Pre-K removed staff reduced and while our public schools are struggling under 8 3.5 million dollar shortfall according to the meeting we had with our uh superintendent we keep hearing more conversations about homeschoolers private school students Charter policies online school policies then we hear about the children sitting in our classrooms right now so I want to ask you fighting for the children already in this system who in this room is waking up every day asking fed County Public Schools stronger for the student we serve today because it doesn't feel like you on the borders doing that I've watched this board ignore 2 of its own members voices that are trying to raise concerns ask questions and push for better so I have to ask why those voices being ignored while questions only answered that they have when other board members bring them up what are you afraid of hearing and why would you listen to your board members why should we believe you're listening to us when we don't listen to them I've spoken to this board often I've shown up our voice concerns I've asked questions I've had several of those questions answered so let me ask you again when parents come to you again and again why don't we see change what exactly has our engagement produce because from where we sit it feels like decisions have already been made when we walk into this room right now you're not only using teachers feel those in some of your best teachers level 5 teacher experienced Educators who know how to reach our children so I want to ask what is your plan to stop the bleeding what is your plan to retain the teachers who are still here but are unsure at the same time we're losing students high school students are leaving because you gutted CTE my eighth grade students don't want go to say where because the plan said they had have now been thwarted so how do you expect to keep students engaged when you remove the very programs that connect school to real life what do you expect for these children to go 15 seconds this board did not ask the County commission for money last year so I suppose you went out and didn't ask again this year without investment how do we build our schools how do I children have a future thank you uh next we have Teresa driver my name is Teresa driver from B Tennessee and I know that we are short on students and we're going to be short on students but you study cut what are you offering you saying bring the kids back bring the students back what are we bringing them back to give me a reason to bring my grandkids back give me a reason for anything I would love for them to be in bed kind of but my goal my grandkids that I have the best education not just to go to school so with that being said you know y'all need to come up with a plan to give not just take every every time to look around you're are you taking pay stop taking and try to figure out how to give to the parents I'm speaking to the parent y'all they are not just setting up here they are voting in we need y'all to get out and vote get out if you not pleased but what they are doing come on get some more people to get it back to the end and then see what we can do but y'all on the board we hold y'all responsible for the kids education not just figuring out how to take let's figure out how to give so that's how thank you ma'am see that completes our public uh comments um I don't know 12 uh the budget proposed budget for 2026 27 Dr Mack please uh yes sir put it up please this may this will take a little while and we will go funerals quick quick as we can but there's a lot of numbers okay here's the 26 27 budget presentation uh 142 and 143 budgets are included in your packet 142 is the federal budgets were was referred to Title 1 title 2 title 3 title 4 Ida Etc 1 143 is the uh Child Nutrition as far as that goes so that's we won't cover those because those are federal things uh just to kind of let you know last year for 2526 our teeth allocation was 20 282 grants a little over a million dollars so the expenditures when you add all that together we expanded over 32.7 million okay now amount that we had to use from a our money was 3 3.4 million okay in 2024 just as a reminder I wasn't here but uh they uh y'all cut 7 instructions 1 Project aware director 3 social workers and the summer of 2025 that loss of 7 uh central office positions or 15 teaching positions majority and K through 5 and High School main building uh but at the good good part about that is is there were no employees laid off due to the ability uh to absorb the positions cut to the filling of vacancies due to non non-renewals retirement and resignations this year uh the state has told us we're going to be at 28123 466 now to let just go back 1 second can't see this but we qualify for the funding floor and the funding floor was set up when the legislature passed uh the uh Voucher Program that was 1 of the caveats that they passed that if we of our enrollment was down and our Bud the numbers were down that we would receive basically the same amount as the previous year if we did not receive that we would be losing another million dollars okay obviously the State Legislative glaciers requiring uh not only us but also across the us across the Tennessee to increase salaries of employees to meet the $50,000 minimum salary for first year teachers but but guys you know here's the problem is that it we're not comp competitive and so uh you have you can go across the county line and a first year teacher can make 3 to 5 to 8 thousand dollars more a year the person with a master's in 8 years can make $20,000 more a year so my goal is I in time I can't do this overnight my goal is to try to make us as competitive as we possibly can be can't I can't do it all in 1 day or 1 year but that's my goal to do that so having said that of course is that that that's going to cost a bit of money uh so we we anticipate that uh 6% across the board as far as that goes surrounding districts as I've already said Pay More the cost of insurance they're Pro projecting a 10% increase um cost of fuel if you if you bought any fuel before you think you think gas is high try diesel it's even more expensive so there's a a tremendous cost there and of course since 1989 we have been losing students in 1989 we had just entered 4700 students and we've continually gone down every single year the fund balance of course is so low that we can't offset the expenditures and and we'll have cash flow which the board just approved that anticipate patient note for next year in the event we need that okay now if you look at these particular budgets it's kind of hard to see uh from that standpoint but just to kind of let you know as we go down the regular instruction uh you see that amount that's part ERS uh it's obviously it's less then of course and special education you see that is less uh Career and Technical education is down a little bit uh thank goodness we had some we had a grant to help uh offset some of that or it would even be worse uh attendance obviously there's a Personnel their health services uh we're going to everyone will have a nurse it just won't be a full-time nurse and then of course moving forward on other student support that a that your counselors as well as your security uh other support staff of course uh uh would would be other items that's down of course uh the regular instructional support that's your library Ian and the chief of staff that we're actually uh getting rid of the special education budget of course you see that Career Technical Support as well and obviously you see technology go up but we're actually asking for money uh we haven't had new computers as a whole since Co and so we're trying to set on a path to buy so much each year to replenish those because they get beat up I mean our students use them they fall they drop they stopped working so we're trying to set a a 10-year plan for that working with Mr Hill okay and then of course the Board of Education that's up simply because of the consent order there's more money obviously for the attorneys uh director of schools obviously that number's down uh then of course principles you that number down uh Food Services and then of course Human Resources is dead all right plan operations plan operations is your custodians and obviously you know gas water electricity those things go up up uh plant maintenance of course losing some there uh Transportation uh Transportation we're asking for additional buses our buses have been on a system for several years where we pick up twice in the day and twice at night and our buses are they're falling apart I mean they're they're they're running 4 times as much as other districts so I'm asking we're going to ask for for more money there for more buses all right then of course um yes that's it and then of course uh or the childhood education obviously that's a loss under regular capital outlay for years uh you see some coid money there uh but you see the first true year that uh uh the budget committee and the and the staff actually began to put money in those things we're asking to to do this we have deferred maintenance there are so many things that we need to work on can't happen overnight so I'm we're asking for an increase in that okay and then of course Debt Service we have a portion which required to pay for buklet Carpenter and of course the uh the associated interest all right now this is the uh proposed budget uh obviously we're getting everyone up to 50,000 across the board transportation we're we're 6% raise for our bus drivers uh the same way for our bus drivers van drivers and other things the 6% then of course we have our uh shop foreman and things like that a mechanics 6% maintenance same thing security same thing custodians the same thing 6% increasing substitute pay okay teachers assistance again 6% and data clerks same thing secretary the same Financial sectors as well here of course is the a lot of the stopinj is is teachers do things and uh they you know a yearbook or some sponsors uh we include those the reds are the ones that we don't use anymore so we're those at the meeting this is of course is our coaching supplements you know coaches don't get a paid enough as it is but uh We've uh deleted a couple of them that we don't use anymore at the same time though we've tried to increase a little bit we have some things uh for the principles the way they're paid and obviously there's some people with central office with some uh top bonuses we're we're deleting that and then of course here's the principal pay and we we kind of set it up so the principal pay you have an opportunity to uh if you if you're a teacher at a principal LaGrange Moscow versus a principal at Oakland Elementary it's a total number of students so we're trying to address that so they get paid accordingly assistant principals and then of course here's the central office everything across the board here's the differentiated pay plan as far as that goes all right okay all right and then here of course this is small to see but this is your our 5-year plan uh for the budget which we're trying to do with our maintenance same more of that and then here 1 more and then that this right here is our uh actual amount we're trying to do for our technology and this is all been in your packets so what we're doing so these are the the things I've recommended at the committee and Rebecca I'm in here uh we're we're again we're trying to cut we have to cut a lot of money so I know it's easy not easy uh the 1 of the positions of the uh coordinator of position I have sentence 1 losing 1 of human resources and finance coordinator to combining those all right as far as we're going to combine that with the food service bookkeeper to handle accounts payable we've already abolished the front desk receptions the family gate the family engagement uh districtwide so we're taking that money and moving it to the schools uh abolishing communication fellow changing of 1 FTE technology to point 4 We're reducing uh Legrange and Southwest we have a uh instructional coach half and half AP we're reducing those down to 1 we're reducing We're abolishing the Chief of Staff position we're also abolishing the chief School support officer position doing the Pre-K director reducing that and that'll be handled uh in central office by the uh Chief academic officer or the special ed director we have a care Courier that goes around and picks all the things up and mail and things we'll be doing that as time would go out to the district we'll be carrying out to schools and vice versa we're reducing the shop foreman from 2 to 1 we're abolishing the actual Chief academic officer and this is where I'm asking the board to uh give me the privilege to do 1 of Elementary secondary we may just do 1 this year of course but they will basically be paid part out of uh out of the general fund and part out of federal reducing Nerf nurses across the district from 7 to 5 we'll have a nurse or someone to be able to do medication so we will have everyone will have coverage Samuel school counselors my recommendations 8 to 5 that's above the minimum that we have to have and and we'll have coverage at all those positions we are looking at reducing the CTE our numbers are very low and we're trying to we're trying to make the savings from that regard but what we're doing with those things is that we're taking that and we're we're forming the relationship we are we're strengthening the relationship we already have with UT Martin Somerville and those positions right now these these positions they're not getting any college credit so as we've revamped this we're making sure that every single student that does that on a pathway they will be a complete we're going to make sure that they have the opportunity at every single 1 of them to complete that at the same time we're pushing this to UT Martin Somerville and to ticket we're not only will they they get regular credit They will receive college credit so a huge win for our our students there of course then of course we'll have to reduce uh uh general education teachers at fetware uh CT leadership we're going from 3 to 2 there East Junior High we're having to reduce now last year East and West got the same number of teachers okay West has 100 and something more students maybe 125 150 more students than the East US however we are still going to have banned we're just going to be working with the high school things like that we are still going to be having uh every single thing we covered we're going to have enrichment we're going to have other clubs and activities all the things will come and we've been working with the principles as as we've been going along okay uh when when ft at Legrange 1 1 at Buckley Carpenter we're reducing our security guards from 13 to 10 custodians we have a a several part-time we're trying to go from 28 to 18 reduce number of coaching and other supplements we've reduced that I you saw that the red on the other and uh reduce the total number of data clerks and Financial secretaries instead of having 1 at each we're combining positions to say if they need it they'll have it if not they won't so like for example the high school definitely needs it West has most of the jobs most of the actual uh lot of things for East and West and that'll continue we'll still have basketball and volleyball at East pretty much everything else we've already already had going to be moving to West anyway which most of those things are combined already and and then the other thing is is we have some people that don't even have a dedicated ated secretary we're going to ensure that everyone has a dedicated Secretary of school obviously we're leveraging faculty members teacher and assistants uh as in libraries if if in reduced libraries to 4 ft which is obviously what we've got to have are eliminating uh some of the some of our Pre-K classrooms we'll we'll continue to do the ones that are required we're going to reduce uh 2 FTE assistant principals and instructional coaches uh to 1 and then we currently have 3 AP positions at the High school it will go to 1 the alternative school alternative school will be on a separate Wing uh at East it'll be completely separate I have worked extensively with Dr Ford Dr Ford is fully aware and she's fully capable and I have tremendous respect for this woman she has already said everything up she has everything prepared as we move forward as we do that of course that obviously will give us the opportunity they won't be eating together they won't be going to the bathroom together they'll be on a completely separate wing and then of course the reach those are the students that there's not any discipline issues they're just behind so we're going we have extra room at CTE and that's where we'll have them and then of course that will save us a good bit of money there and then so as you see it's hard to see this but this just lets you know the money but based on the end if nothing changes our fund balance won't be enough to even move to the next we got to have a we got to have a to have a % reserve and we won't have that so needs these are the things that even though with these Cuts it's going to be about 3.9 million but we still have a tremendous amount of need so I have worked with the County Commission I have met with members of the County Commission and I am asking the County Commission and this is what I'm asking them to help us fully fund the 6% to help us the 1.2 million dollars in bonds they that's part of the maintenance of effort but in its legal what they do but when they pay it out and not show it as our for us that's a 1.2 million loss for us I'm asking them to step in and cover that amount I'm asking them about you saw the the added part in the capital projects there's tremendous amount of need so I'm asking them to help us with the things we need their and then again our buses they're wearing out I'm asking the County commission for 2 more buses regular buses and 2 more special needs and then like the technology plan the technology plan I'm asking them to help us in there so I'm asking them for a lot of money okay so is my recommendations to the board for this year uh 143 budget is representative board packet 1 142 141 as your board packet as we have here the salary schedules the Stop and supplements all the differentiate play is presented to your board packet and due to a decrease enrollment over the last several years actually since 1989 and due to the resulting loss of revenues Associated I recommend that the board take steps to reduce eliminate license or non-licensed positions within the system so as far as reduced payroll and minimize indoor eliminate budget shortfalls also recommended the board that my list of lots and non-licensed positions be eliminated due to the decrease in enrollment with the district and the resulting loss of Revenue Associated there with thank you Mr chairman yes sir based upon the presentation that our superintendent gave us I move that we go ahead and approve this budget to be sent to the County Commission to ask for the the money the Dr Mac is outlined they had unfortunately with the reductions that were outlined my second time motion okay discussion Mr chairman yes sir I just it's very important to realize this is not done out of malice I know there are many people that will look at me I see people looking at me right now with malice but the bottom line is it's the same people who have never reached out discuss this the talk all the time of us having a discussion but it's always a discussion on somebody else's terms but the bottom line is it's not done with malice not put my name forth in this position to be vindictive I am a teacher at heart I taught for 15 years I am unfortunately not in that position any longer because of situations I had with my administrator and so the Lord moved me on and allowed me to get involved on this level and this is a very heavy heart that I am that I even put forth the recommendation and move this on to the budget or onto the commission my heart is a is my heart is for students no matter what I've been told by people people are going to say what they're going to say my heart is to keep every single position that we can but the fact remains we talk about preserving the system and preserving these jobs how can you preserve jobs if you can't pay for them we are looking at a 3.9 million dollar deficit how do you pay for that if the money's not coming in we we have the superintendent has put forth a very well-thought-out and asking for money I was adding it up correct me if I'm wrong Mr superintendent but that's almost $3 million extra that you're asking from the County am I correct that's correct so he is asking for the money I am talking personally with County Commission members myself I've spoken with the mayor I know that they are looking at but the bottom line is how are you going to save something if it goes into non-existence if you can't pay the bills how do you keep a system opens we we just had a debate regarding a line of credit to make sure we had cash flow coming at the end of this at the end of the acid or excuse me the calendar here in the new fiscal year and we had a complaint about the possibility of looking at it a line of credit if you didn't want that how do you say these that doesn't have the money do we have the money are we going to have the money excuse me excuse me comments but they'll come into the audience please but the bottom line Thank you Mr chairman bottom line the bottom line all right excuse me continue the bottom line we as a school board we don't fund ourselves how do you raise money we don't we can't we don't have that option other than to go to the County Commission and after the funding on the local level and to go to the state so thank you Mr chairman I have uh all right all right all right who's thank you Mr chairman I uh I want to uh say that I respect and depth all the work you all have done and you've done a lot of creative reorganizing breathing and and considering of all the different options I personally work on more Visual and absent a org chart before and after I'm not comfortable with voting either way so I'm planning to abstain okay next yes sir uh I had 2 other requests questions though um the superintendent have all the people who are losing their jobs or combining them all being abolished have they all been notified as far as the positions uh yes now like anything else as we look at positions that doesn't mean that people we won't have retirements and things like that so obviously we're going to follow the board policies and we're going to follow those to a t regarding the reduction in force and we have a list and we're going to go line by line by line on those now that would be different than someone that's just non-renewed now I did we didn't have to do that I wanted to personally do that I cleared it with our attorney we could have not made made it to anybody and then they just would have known but I thought that was the right thing to do so that's what we've done there from there at that point in time after this at that point in time we move forward we'll develop a list we'll we'll rank them okay as we're required to by our board policy and at that point in time we will begin the process of saying okay this will be a position and because it's not just about a position its position position they have certification for so yes sir we have that all outlined so did we look at any other options for example cutting from the top and not the bottom okay I forgot make the most money so if they get a 6% increase that's a lot more than somebody making 25,000 again I thought it would be best to give everybody a rate besides me of course I have a contract that's different but as far as that goes I felt like it was best to do that across the board but if you're losing enrollment you don't need all the people at the top well that's why we're cutting from 42 to like less than 30 at the central officer yeah well I go around to a lot of the churches and other places in the community and some of the people spoke that's truthfully if if what I'm here we have 500 at the high school would make it we're not going to have a 3 or 4 uh if they move the kid as they say they don't I know sometime people get upset and they might say they want to do something they don't but um I'm here in a lot of that that that they leave because they've had the kids in school and then they have a math teacher they didn't have this teaching and they just leave so that's just something we need to be thinking about um if we the state of Tennessee and federal for the last 20 years they've been moving a responsibility to down Federal they just give me to cut that out almost all together and this state is pushing down to Locust and then the problem in fed County I've been a part of it I was on the kind of commission of 28 years I always tried to get them raised at 1 Penny 2 Penny because 1 of these you're going to have to raise a dollar if you don't do it and that's about that's about where we are now and I can tell you I've been on the kind of commission uh if you got to get all the stuff you asking for raising the property tax you forget it they are they are doing anything to support you but not raise property taxes do it we went with the adequate facilities tax and uh that took care of it up for a little while people moving in the they had to pay extra but uh I served on some of those people and uh they'll do anything to balance the budget take from schools to give to uh Sheriff Department from this but um they are going to raise problems with that when you go to talk to State people they say y'all don't need any money down there you have them raised property tax in 40 years they laugh at okay my timer well I was trying I was trying to speak the 1 thing that I'll say of course is is regarding the federal is that you know again natural highlights means I'm old and gray and and you go back to the financial crisis of the country had in 2008 2009 you had what the it's called the ra money and that was given money and they gave it to schools and they gave it to governments and they told people do not hire people and what did people do hired people come here to co they gave tons of money and if you and what did they say do with Esser don't hire people they did it in person now so what happens is is that every after every time the the feds give you money after 4 to 5 years you have what's called a funding Cliff the money's gone so from that particular standpoint but I have asked the County commission for this money I will ask the County commission for this money whether they give it to me give it to us I don't know but I will and I have going I am going to be asking for it where they going to get it from if they don't raise property tax I don't know where they get it from you're the county commissioner I'm not so I can't speak for that what else to get it from yes sir because I like raising taxes you know I guess somebody who got 40,000 Acres they're a little bit more than ever paying in wood and me but I will be asking yes sir on Monday and Tuesday night all right and then I like a hard copy of that provided please um I didn't receive all of the slides I have some but not all so I would like a hard copy provided please we that we were getting the board packet for you we we go look at the computer to make sure you have it all there all right so tell me other any other comments all right okay I will make a comment uh I I guess I I need to be careful how I say this I do not love our County Commission and I will be asking uh and or whatever uh we can do uh to support this and we we have met with the county mayor there's meetings that would be held um I'm sometimes told you get a lot more with honey than you can by standing up and with vinegar and I guess I'm vinegar so uh but if if if we don't ask you're sure not going to get anything and and if if uh if if it's a matter of asking we all need to get out and go over and do public speaking you know there and ask okay I I'm sure that we're going to have people there asking yes okay yes sir so all right now we're at that point where uh we have a a uh second uh motion and a second roll call please Mr Speakman yes Mr Miller yes Mr Farren Mr Powers yes Miss Maguire Mr rounds Epstein Miss trim okay Mr Wilson pass and Mr Reeves yes 63 603 actually well that's right past this that's right okay motion passes next item on the agenda superintendent report uh with the next is the textbook committee uh excuse me okay yes sir I'll ask Mr kelp you'll come up and and talk about the textbook recommendations so board members we have had um 2 committees meet about the textbook recommendations that are in your packet and that were discussed at the textbook committee uh 1 was about lifetime Wellness we had our 2 lifetime Wellness teachers plus Miss Jackie Shields and myself were on that committee and then um what the way CTE textbooks work is they rotate those every few years so um for the CTE titles um that committee was Miss Christian uh Mr Jerry Henderson Dr Arnold and myself and so the recommendations um some of the books there was only 1 title um but for the for the versus um where there's more than 1 title those committees reviewed them and um you have those recommendations um do want to make sure that you understand is that um what we've chosen to do is whether that whether we're currently offering the courses or not we've went ahead and adopt the books so that way if we were to offer those courses in the future the textbook would be adopt adopted um really um for your for for your information there's 2 courses in particular they're both freshman courses that are really the main priorities but um you have those in front of you and um um our recommend the recommendation of the 2 committees is for you to adopt those as recommended and then doc can add on to that from his recommendation nope that's my recommendation motion to approve the recommendations is presented by Mr keel all in favor discussion excuse me discussion yeah yeah discussion yeah I have had the opportunity to to look at them in some depth uh there's not the same kind of controversy there was in the science textbooks um I think they've done good work and I do approve uh I recommend that we approve of what they've done okay father discussion all right all in favor motion passes item 14 superintendent report yes sir thank you uh it's teach Teacher Appreciation Week so we thank you so much for the teachers um as you move up the ladder you may have more Authority but the the most time you'll ever the closest you'll ever be with students is being a teacher the difference is that these teachers make our life changing me personally if it wasn't for my parent grandparents and for my teachers and coaches I don't know how it turned out and so every this week in May every 1 of them that's still again old and gray they're still with us I either call them or send them a letter thanking them for what they did for me so we appreciate the teachers let's give a round of applause uh the next is this past week we had uh nurse appreciation day we do appreciate what all they do middle daughter is an oncology nurse I know what she's been through with Co and then on with oncology we know what the you know sometimes it's the little boo boos and sometimes it's the big things right and so they're they're troopers from that standpoint so let's give them a round of applause as well okay well uh we have a little thing called let's see graduation Saturday all right be a fact we're a high school and it's at 11:00 so we're looking forward to that uh there's a several other promotion ceremonies so please look at the websites for those things promotions and and and award programs so please look there as far as that goes uh coming up we have our summer learning camps uh we're up to 270 students and that is from May 27th to June 17th uh Buffalo Carpenter Oakland will be uh doing K through 8 Credit Recovery is at the high school so any students that need that extra help will be doing during the summer as well and we'll be having enrichment for non-air middle but also our high students uh tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. La Grange Moscow there is a TVA School uh uh uplight celebration announcement so it's a big announcement uh we're gonna have some people from the board and and Mr kills are you there I'll be at the high school but uh so the big announcement for for our school there uh congratulations uh to the upcoming pentathlon they go to the Nationals in Nashville uh that'll be the 14th of the 16th and we hope that they will bring back as many trophies and medals as our our our decathlon uh last day for teach uh for students I know no teacher knows this date uh May 21st and then of course uh May 22nd is last place for teachers so we don't see you before then we hope you have a wonderful summer that's all I have Mr chairman thank you sir I have a question yes sir do we have reserved parking seating graduation for the board members yes sir yes sir you know where it is and we're going to get something uh yeah if you wait afterwards we'll get with you good uh we expand a little bit on on our capacity we've handed out uh our our uh we had a problem last year with Fire Marshal oh okay yes we we have the the number of fire number of uh uh armbands that's that the fire marshal will allow and once that number is reached then of course we do have to close it off but there shouldn't be anybody coming in without an armband or wristband so that should take care of itself from that standpoint yes okay all right any other questions for Dr Mack okay yes sir all right we'll move on then uh item 15 executive committee I have nothing on and so we'll pass I mean we'll move on the uh next item would be comments uh uh my board members Mr chairman I do have uh prepared thing I'd like to go through yes sir all right um we we saw today uh like the academic uh decathlon team Tennessee State winners they competed in Nationals in California they win the uh winning silver medals and social science and bronze and economics we have the uh score or I mean excuse me scope student Congress on policies an education fed where student Jason Yates was chosen as president of scope for the 2026 uh Conference held by the Tennessee School Board Association at Belmont University he was also chosen to be students School board member on our own board he spoke at the tsba annual convention and operate land in November he impressed members of school boards from across Tennessee with his intelligent entertaining and informative speech then we go to the n uh uh Naval Junior ROTC they placed highly in multiple categories at the 2026 Warrior inventa Invitational drill meet and Jonesboro Arkansas with teams from across the multi-state region Chanty Walker placed second out of 50 students in the individual Jill uh drill regulation that's a toughy we have the honor uh Last Friday Night at the annual jnr oh TC dinner uh to sit with this young leader and his parents and he has a natural Aura of command clearly earning respect from his teammates he does a job this fate where team the people we saw here tonight and others is sought to represent uh to present patriotic and Honor Guard drill services at events in and Beyond faget County often being being chosen over local teams for solemn locations okay in athletics be it where teams are competitive locally and across Tennessee particularly in basketball and track and field I've had the opportunity to visit classes in occupational subjects including cosmetology electronics and I was impressed with welding we have Ford motor company whose chosen uh fet wear as 1 of 5 schools in West Tennessee to install Ford future Builder Labs educational fabrication Labs that are equipped with 3D printers laser cutting tools and more they will create skills and opportunities for our students these advantages are simply not available in most other school system even with the problems we have faith schools are a poorly camouflaged secret it is time to let the secret out I want to propose that we start advertising perhaps starting in the local shop uh local shop Central magazine shop local and let's start drawing more students by showing all the good things we have and doing it loudly um I have seen the private schools advertising here I see no reason why we should not compete in the media that we have available and maybe others if we can think of them but I think we need to speak up and and that's my comment yes sir thank you Mr any other comment okay we were at that point in item number 17 motion to adjourn second all sure all right all right John

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FCPS Regular School Board Meeting, May 7, 2026

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