January 18, 2012

TENNESSEE ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS

BOARD MINUTES

 

January 18, 2012

TOSS Board Room

9:00 AM

 

 

The following TOSS Board Members were present:

 

Jimmy Long

Dr. Wanda Shelton

Dr.Dan Lawson

Dr. Mary Reel

Dr.Phillip Wallace

Dr. Jams McIntyre

Dr. Dale Lynch

Sandra Harper

Roger Lewis

Johnny McDaniel

Denise Brown

 

The following TOSS Board Members who called in:

 

Dr. Jackie Parton

 

The following TOSS staff was present:

 

Dr. Keith Brewer

Chuck Cagle

 

The following guests were recognized by President Dr. Mary Reel:

 

Stephen Smith

Will Cromer

Kevin Huffman

 

 

I.      LAWSON – WALLACE: Motion to approve agenda.

Motion carried with no objections.

 

II.      HARPER – LEWIS: Motion to approve November 14, 2011 minutes.

 Motion carried with no objections or corrections.

 

 III.    MCINTYRE – MCDANIEL: Motion to approve Treasurers Report.

Motion carried with no objections or corrections.

 

 

IV.        LONG – LEWIS: Motion to approve the Budget Legislation Proposal as presented by AttorneyChuck Cagle.

Motion carried with no objections or corrections.

 

V.        WALLACE –LYNCH: Motion to approve legislation for virtual schools.

Motion carried with no objections or corrections.

 

VI.        LYNCH – SHELTON: Motion to approve legislation concerning mental health facilities.

Motion carried with an amended motion by Dr. James McIntyre to approve the amendment to Tennessee Code Annotated §49-3-370 relative to education funding for students in mental health facilities.

 

VII.        Senate Bill 2210 discussion by Stephen Smith, Will Cromer and Commissioner of Education Kevin Huffman. Senate Bill 2210 was depicted as a “local flexibility bill”, giving local control during a climate of limited resources.

 

  1. Example- In the event of maternity leave, the students of the absent teacher could be equally divided among other grade level teachers.  As a result, the teachers who assume the responsibility of the extra students would be paid accordingly until the absent teacher returns from leave.
  2. Climate today is one of “no new” revenue.
  3. Remove the “average” class size from old legislation.
  4. For the funding ratios, the same amount of money will be awarded. The savings will be used to raise the average teacher salary from approximately $38,000 to $42,000.
  5. The discussion brought up the issue that the enforcement mechanism is weak for county courts. Locals are being held harmless in B.E.P. 
  6. Dr. Mary Reel stated that we need modifications to the bill.
  7. Dr. James McIntyre discussed accounting in the bill to the Commissioner of Education.
  8. Johnny McDaniel from Cleveland stated that after speaking with other districts, the state trust level needs improvement.

 

  1. BROWN – LAWSON: Motion to approve AttorneyChuck Cagle’s revised amendments to language of Senate Bill 2210.

 Motion carried with no objections.

 

 IX.    Dr. Sharon Roberts presented valuable information about the work SCORE is doing as an independent evaluation of the new Evaluation System.

  1. Each Superintendent will appoint a representative to work with SCORE and give feedback from Teachers and Administrators.

 

  X.    AttorneyChuck Caglereported on PECCA. The implementation and report are to go to legislature for approval. Consultants should be available for reflective thinking and mediation, and data should be dispersed to school systems.

  1. Each system may need two (2) facilitators: one for teachers; and one for Board members and management.
  2. Attorney Cagle recommended that each system should focus less on positional bargaining and more on reflective thinking and interest based bargaining.
  3. He also reported that facilitators should be trained, and recommended school counselors as a possible choice for this position.
  4. Dr. Brewer discussed website improvements. President Dr. Reel complimented Dr. Lynch for his committee’s work.

 

 XI.    Dr. Brewer discussed Executive Director’s Evaluation percentage for the 4 items.

WALLACE – LONG: Motion to approve instrument as presented by Dr. Brewer. 

            Motion carried with no objections or corrections.

 

  XII.  LAWSON – WALLACE: Motion to approve The Legislative Conference on March 9-10, 2012.

Motion carried with no objections.

 

  1. LONG – WALLACE: Motion to approve employment for a person to work on a 100 day contract to serve as the TOSS Website Coordinator as well as provide office/clerical help.

Motion carried with no objections.

 

  1. WALLACE – BROWN: Motion to adjourn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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President                                                                     Secretary