September 26, 2012

Minutes

T.O.S.S. Board of Directors

  

Date of Meeting:           September 26, 2012

 Place of Meeting:          Nashville City Club

                                       Nashville, TN

 

Call to Order: President Dale Lynch called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.

Roll Call:  Members Present:  Dale Lynch, Mary Reel,Jimmy Long,Phillip Wallace, Jim McIntyre, Mark Willoughby, Wanda Shelton,Jack Parton,Denise Brown, Mike Looney, Cathy Harvey, Sandra Harper, Johnny McDaniel, Bill Heath, Joey Hassell

  Others Present: Chuck Cagle

 Approval of the Agenda:  Upon motion of Jim McIntyre, second byDenise Brown, the agenda for the meeting was approved.

 Introductions:   Wanda Shelton introduced Bill Heath, Director of Schools in Lawrence County, as the new board member from the South Central district.

 Interviews of the Executive Director Candidates:   The board interviewed three candidates for the office of Executive Director.  In order of appearance, the board interviewed Wayne Miller, Director of Schools for the Lenoir City Schools, Dan Lawson, Director of Schools for the Tullahoma City Schools, and Barry Olhausen, of the Tennessee Department of Education.  At the end of all interviews and discussion on the matter, Wayne Miller was elected the new Executive Director contingent upon his acceptance of the offer and agreement upon a contract of employment.  Legal Counsel to the Board was instructed to begin immediate contract negotiations with Mr. Miller.

 Discussion of the TOSS Meeting Calendar:  After reviewing all of the dates set aside for TOSS board meetings and other meetings at which Directors of Schools will be in attendance, it was determined that the TOSS Board calendar should be adjusted. 

 Upon motion by Denise Brown, second by Phillip Wallace and approval by unanimous vote, the following dates were established as meeting dates for the remainder of the 2012-2013 year:  November 5, January 16, February 27, March 18, and April 24. There will be no meeting in May, 2013 and the meeting dates for June, July and August, 2013 will be determined at a later date.

 Discussion of the Legislative Agenda: Dale Lynch presented the Legislative Agenda that was currently posted on the TOSS website and invited discussion from the Board members regarding adopting and/or amending the document.  The following items were considered for inclusion in the legislative agenda:

  • Supporting passage of a fully funded BEP including reinstating the capital outlay funding removed by the prior state administration;
  • Supporting passage of full state-share funding for twelve months of teacher insurance;
  • Amending the virtual school laws;
  • Supporting continued funding of Pre-Kindergarten programs;
  • Opposing any measure to return to elected school superintendents;
  • Opposing a uniform school calendar;
  • Opposing a school voucher program;
  • Opposing a state authorizer for charter schools – removing the responsibility from local boards to a state level agency;
  • Support for amending the public records acts to make the system more manageable for school districts;
  • Support for legislation giving the local school board the authority to fill vacancies in its membership;
  • Supporting expanding the availability of, and simplifying the process for, purchasing electronic textbooks;
  • Support for maintaining a minimum salary schedule for teachers; and
  • Support for making the BEP Review Committee report a mandatory guideline for use in the budget planning process 

Chuck Cagle was directed to prepare a report on these items for the November 5 meeting of the board.

 Adjournment:  There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.