Hickman County TN

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

School Board · Meeting · Apr 8, 2024

Mon, Apr 8, 2024

Hickman County Board of Education meetings, including regular sessions and special called meetings.

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This outline was generated by an LLM from a transcript and may contain errors or inaccuracies. Prefer the original recording when available.

The meeting’s main substance centered on facilities, policy, and budget pressure heading into FY 2024–25. The board approved annual TSBA dues, HVAC-related installation work at Centerville Elementary and Centerville Intermediate, a nutrition equipment purchase after bid review, two grant-related budget amendments, and second-reading policy changes. Board members also advanced a first-reading rewrite of the parental involvement policy after a long discussion over whether parents should be invited to daytime school events, how much discretion schools should keep, and how to avoid creating unrealistic expectations.

The most contested discussion was over the state’s Education Freedom Act / school-choice proposal. Initial interest in supporting the House version cooled after follow-up research, concerns over long-term funding loss, homeschool impacts, and lack of guarantee that rural-protection money would survive Senate action or future years. The board ultimately took no substantive position and formally tabled the item. Other notable threads included a lunch-debt donation that reduced student meal debt to zero, a preliminary TISA estimate showing only a small state increase despite enrollment loss, plans to move high schools from a 5-period to a 6-period day, staffing efficiencies through attrition rather than layoffs, the looming end of ESSER-funded positions, and scheduling two budget meetings before May action.

Call to Order; Agenda; Routine Approvals 15:15

  • 15:24 Roll call reported all board members present; student representatives Jack Morgan and Isabella Nargon also present.
  • 15:38 No public comment.
  • 16:31 Regular meeting minutes for March 11 approved by motion and second; passed without opposition.
  • 16:58 Budget Committee minutes for March 20 approved without opposition.
  • 17:22 Agenda for April 8 approved without opposition.

Special Recognitions 17:47

Employee of the Month 17:47

  • 17:55 Cassie Hail recognized as district employee of the month for multiple roles at her school, including math RTI facilitation, 504 coordination, foster care liaison duties, and mentoring new teachers.

Student conference recognition 20:02

  • 20:14 Students who attended the TSBA SCOPE conference were recognized; remarks described the student debate format and the educational value of the trip.

Consent Agenda and Financial Notes 22:05

Consent agenda 22:05

  • 22:14 Consent agenda included warrants, director’s report, and financial report.
  • 22:28 Motion to approve the full consent agenda passed without opposition.

Follow-up discussion on financial reporting 23:10

  • 23:25 Board members thanked donors whose contributions reduced student lunch debt to zero.
  • 24:14 A board member raised concern that the financial report often receives no oral explanation when embedded in consent items.
  • 24:22 Staff said a spending-and-revenue “snapshot” through March had been completed too late for the published packet and would be sent later by email.
  • 24:52 Discussion reflected some board interest in getting clearer recurring budget context, especially with ESSER issues approaching.

New Business / Agenda Items 25:27

Attendance zones 25:27

  • 25:36 Annual attendance zones presented with no changes; administration said boundaries have remained the same since 2007.
  • 25:43 Motion to approve passed without opposition.

TSBA membership dues 26:07

  • 26:16 Annual membership in TSBA was presented as standard for Tennessee districts, with value cited in legal advice, policy updates, professional development, and student conference participation.
  • 26:24 Cost stated as $6,176.
  • 26:59 Motion to approve dues passed by roll-call vote with all members voting yes.

CES gym split-system installation 27:25

  • 27:32 Board considered approval of purchase and installation work for a new gym split system at Centerville Elementary.
  • 27:48 Administration said Matrix was asked to quote the work because the company already holds the district’s maintenance agreement; the job was treated as an added scope under that relationship.
  • 27:57 Scope described as two inside units and two outside units, making the gym work more involved than the CIS item.
  • 28:06 Installation cost stated at just under $21,000; board members clarified this was the installation/labor component, with equipment purchase having been approved previously.
  • 28:54 Motion approved by roll-call vote for up to $21,000.

CIS makeup air unit installation 29:37

  • 29:44 Board considered a new makeup air unit at Centerville Intermediate.
  • 29:52 Administration described it as the large air handler circulating air for most of the school, believed to be about a 15-ton unit.
  • 29:58 Installation cost stated at just under $11,500 through Mechanical Solutions.
  • 30:15 Motion approved by roll-call vote.

Nutrition department steamer bid award 30:52

  • 31:00 Nutrition requested approval to purchase an electric boilerless convection steamer.
  • 31:00 Staff reported four bids were returned.
  • 31:09 Recommendation was for Dykes Food Service Solutions because lower bidder T of C Supplies failed to return all required bid documents; Mobile Fixture was also discussed as a higher bid.
  • 31:31 Price difference between the lower nonresponsive bid and recommended award was described as about $3,000, with the lower bid around $45,000 and Dykes at about $48,000.
  • 31:53 Staff said the recommended vendor was local; budget availability was confirmed.
  • 32:10 Motion approved award to Dykes Food Service Solutions Incorporated for $48,049 by roll-call vote.

Budget amendments 32:53

  • 33:02 Two amendments were presented, both in Fund 142.
  • 33:02 Budget Amendment 29 revised the Project AWARE grant, shifting additional dollars into other contracted services because those services were running higher than originally budgeted.
  • 33:28 Budget Amendment 30 added the ATSI grant submitted in ePlan.
  • 33:45 Motion to approve Amendments 29 and 30 passed by roll-call vote.

Laws and Policies 34:21

Second reading: Policy 1.805 electronic mail 34:21

  • 34:30 Proposed language originally said board members would have “full access” to electronic mail, including group and individual addresses.
  • 36:09 Board members questioned whether “full access” could be read as access to staff email content rather than merely the ability to send messages.
  • 37:41 Public concern was noted after a Hickman County Times article on the first reading; the technology department had received questions about the wording.
  • 37:56 Members agreed to narrow the language to clarify the purpose was sending messages, not reading employee email.
  • 41:34 Motion approved the policy with revised wording adding access “to send” mail; passed without opposition.

Second reading: Policy 2.403 surplus property sales 34:21

  • 35:03 Surplus-property policy returned on second reading with prior proposed edits.
  • 35:18 Members revisited a concern from first reading about storing surplus buses at the bus garage, noting potential space shortages and the economics of batching buses for online auction rather than selling one at a time.
  • 38:47 Discussion also raised security/vandalism concerns and the possibility of storing buses at other district sites with camera coverage.
  • 39:25 Williamson County and the sheriff’s online auction practice were mentioned as examples of how vehicle auctions can work.
  • 40:37 Board settled on more flexible wording requiring buses to be stored in “a secure location” until sold, instead of mandating the bus garage.
  • 42:08 Motion approving the revised language passed without opposition.

Second reading: Policy 6.200 attendance 34:21

  • 34:48 Attendance policy changes were described as deleting a sentence no longer supported by current law.
  • 42:34 No substantive controversy; motion passed.

Policy review batch: 2.700 to 3.211 43:04

  • 43:28 During regular policy review, a board member questioned whether administrative procedure 3.21 on dogs at school was placed in the most logical section after the safety policy.
  • 44:16 Counsel/staff said it had been placed there because of safety concerns, though staff offered to re-check whether another location would be more appropriate.
  • 45:28 Minor wording was also noticed in policy 2.700 concerning internal school funds.
  • 46:13 Motion to approve policies 2.700–3.211 passed, with no formal change directed beyond the discussion.

First reading: Policy 4.502 parental involvement 47:16

  • 47:25 A board member said the proposal grew out of an earlier lengthy debate on parental involvement and was intended to turn broad discussion into enforceable policy rather than leaving it as rhetoric.
  • 48:19 Draft added a section on “daytime school activities,” with examples such as holiday lunches, pep rallies, awards days, and similar events.
  • 49:16 Proposed framing emphasized inviting parents “where possible” rather than creating an absolute requirement.
  • 49:32 The draft also acknowledged logistics and facility limits, including the possibility that only some parents could be invited to some events.
  • 50:45 A new reporting section proposed an annual board presentation on how the district is complying with parental-involvement expectations.
  • 51:58 Existing legal requirements tied to Title I schools were discussed; members noted the current policy already contains state-law-driven reporting elements for Title I but not necessarily districtwide expectations for all schools.
  • 56:54 Suggested edits included softening the list by saying activities “may include but are not limited to,” and adding “at the school’s discretion.”
  • 58:07 Members stressed that if anyone opposed the language they should explain objections before a later vote so revisions could be considered.
  • 58:46 Student representative Jack Morgan objected particularly to listing pep rallies, arguing parent presence at regular high-school morale events could undercut the student-focused atmosphere.
  • 1:00:31 Members generally agreed policy should avoid overprescribing event details and should preserve principal discretion.
  • 1:03:05 Discussion returned to practical accommodation issues, such as limited cafeteria space for holiday meals and the need for better communication rather than abrupt elimination of long-running practices.
  • 1:03:56 Motion advanced Policy 4.502 on first reading.
  • 1:04:11 Motion passed without opposition.
  • 1:04:19 Board asked that the proposal be circulated to principals and schools for input before second reading.
  • 1:04:50 A board member specifically requested that the director return with his own recommended revisions after consulting staff.

Education Freedom Act / School Choice Resolution 1:05:31

  • 1:05:38 Board revisited a proposed resolution related to the state’s Education Freedom Act after prior discussion involving Representative Jody Barrett.
  • 1:06:03 The director thanked Barrett for presenting and acknowledged that the House version had included extra funding for rural and sparsely populated districts.
  • 1:06:46 He said that after the prior meeting he had researched the bill further by consulting five superintendents—two current and three retired—and the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents.
  • 1:07:27 His conclusion was that the promised money was unlikely to survive Senate approval, and there was no assurance similar support would continue in future years even if the House version passed.
  • 1:07:50 He reported that 50 school districts had passed resolutions against the act, and that Lewis County had also opposed it even if not yet reflected on the circulating list.
  • 1:08:11 He further said Barrett had indicated he would not support the bill unless all three districts he represents—Dickson, Hickman, and Lewis—were supportive; with Lewis opposed, the outlook had shifted.
  • 1:08:35 The director said plainly that he no longer believed the bill was in Hickman County’s best interest and encouraged the board to oppose it.
  • 1:08:50 Student representative Jack Morgan also argued against the bill, warning that a small county would be more vulnerable to even modest revenue losses and that any support should require protections on homeschool treatment and inflation-adjusted funding.
  • 1:09:14 A board member cited TSBA feedback that the measure was not gaining broad support and raised concern about an unfunded mandate and future effects on TISA.
  • 1:10:22 Another board member defended the earlier House-version concept, arguing it could have brought significant money to the district and might have required more than 100 students leaving before the system merely broke even.
  • 1:12:58 That same member declined to move approval of the draft resolution in the packet because it broadly endorsed the Education Freedom Act without clearly limiting support to the House version.
  • 1:13:07 A board member added that homeschool/private-school arrangements could allow students to pull money away from the district under some scenarios.
  • 1:14:05 Broader philosophical discussion followed on school choice, taxpayer fairness, and the board’s legal duty to act in the best interest of the Hickman County school system.
  • 1:16:24 Members also noted ambiguity about whether students near county lines could use benefits to attend neighboring public systems, potentially affecting border communities.
  • 1:17:50 Discussion pivoted briefly to district improvement, with comments that the district should identify why families might want to leave and address those causes directly.
  • 1:20:51 When pressed for an action, members indicated they did not want to adopt a supportive resolution.
  • 1:22:21 Procedural confusion over “passing” versus “tabling” ended with a formal motion to table.
  • 1:22:36 Motion to table the Education Freedom Act resolution passed.

Budget Update and Staffing / Schedule Issues 1:22:50

Preliminary TISA and revenue outlook 1:22:50

  • 1:22:59 Staff said the packet included the latest preliminary FY25 TISA estimate from the state; final numbers will not arrive until June, after the board is expected to pass a budget.
  • 1:23:30 Administration is checking enrollment and ADM figures against state reporting.
  • 1:23:46 Preliminary total estimate stated as $27,819,195.
  • 1:24:02 Compared with FY24, that represented an overall increase of $63,646.
  • 1:24:16 Of that increase, only $30,474 was described as additional state money; the balance reflected anticipated local share calculations not yet finalized by the state.
  • 1:24:54 Members emphasized how small the increase was, especially after district enrollment declined by about 2%.
  • 1:25:27 Discussion linked the slight funding bump partly to the state’s requirement to raise starting teacher pay; the base was said to increase from about $6,860 to $7,075 in the formula context discussed.
  • 1:26:23 Administration said the enrollment loss was not as severe as earlier fears but still affects funding.

Six-period high school day proposal 1:26:58

  • 1:26:58 The director reported that high school principals, counselors, the CTE coordinator, CTE counselor, and secondary supervisor had been studying schedules for months.
  • 1:27:20 Administration plans to recommend moving from a 5-period to a 6-period high school day for 2024–25.
  • 1:27:27 Main justification: over 4 years, students would have 24 annual-course opportunities instead of 20.
  • 1:27:46 A semester framing was also given as 48 opportunities.
  • 1:28:02 The director said students tied up in core requirements and athletics currently have limited access to CTE courses; the added period would expand access.
  • 1:28:20 Additional CTE funding was cited as a benefit, including from CTE expansion into middle schools.
  • 1:28:35 Students with IEPs would gain a dedicated support period for additional academic help.
  • 1:28:52 Administration said a six-period day could lower class sizes; an example contrasted teaching 4 periods of 25 students each under a five-period model versus 5 periods of 20 students under a six-period model if the total student count remained 100.
  • 1:29:24 The director said most nearby schools use a 7-period day, but administration believes a 6-period model is the right next step locally.
  • 1:29:38 Benefits named included stronger CTE access and better participation in band, theater, and art.

Staffing efficiency and ESSER cliff 1:30:22

  • 1:30:22 In response to questions, administration said the six-period shift should require fewer teachers, making scheduling more efficient.
  • 1:30:38 The director stressed there were no plans for reductions in force or layoffs.
  • 1:30:46 Instead, the district intends to manage overstaffing in some areas through attrition: when positions open, staff may be reassigned internally rather than replaced externally.
  • 1:31:17 He said current master schedules are inequitable in some places, with some teachers carrying large numbers and others much smaller loads.
  • 1:31:58 He estimated about 25 employees are currently paid through ESSER, which is ending.
  • 1:32:06 Example given: an ESSER-funded elementary RTI teacher could be moved into a regular classroom vacancy, such as fourth grade, if a teacher retires.
  • 1:32:15 Administration framed the plan around three goals: being effective, equitable, and efficient.

Student concerns about study halls and rigorous schedules 1:33:28

  • 1:33:36 Student representative Jack Morgan said he liked the six-period concept overall from a student perspective.
  • 1:33:51 He warned that academically intensive students, especially those in dual enrollment, may still need study halls because added college-level coursework increases workload.
  • 1:34:32 Lunch was described as about 30 minutes, not a full class period.
  • 1:34:40 The director responded that broad study halls conflict with financial efficiency and are being phased back because the state does not reimburse for them.
  • 1:35:02 He said some limited study-hall-type scheduling may remain around courses that only meet on certain days, but the broader goal is to steer students into CTE and fine arts rather than empty periods.

County revenue data still pending 1:36:18

  • 1:36:18 Staff said the county had not yet set the value of a tax penny and was still working from state-certified data.
  • 1:36:35 More revenue information was expected by about April 15.

Fundraiser Requests; Upcoming Meetings; Budget Calendar 1:36:57

Fundraiser requests 1:36:57

  • 1:36:57 Fundraiser requests were presented for board review without discussion or action details beyond acknowledgment.

Next regular meeting and budget timing 1:37:05

  • 1:37:05 Next regular board meeting announced for May 6 at 6:30 at the same location.
  • 1:37:15 Members discussed whether a budget would be ready for approval by then; staff said expenditures could be drafted even if revenues still needed revision.
  • 1:38:04 County figures from Crystal Fitzgerald were expected around April 15, as in prior years.

Budget work sessions scheduled 1:38:26

  • 1:38:26 A board member argued the budget committee should review a draft budget before the next regular board meeting.
  • 1:39:06 Staff said the county budget committee date was May 14, so the school budget would need to be presented before then.
  • 1:39:43 Members discussed using April 25 for a draft-budget meeting, allowing more pieces of the “fiscal puzzle” to come together first.
  • 1:41:30 To preserve flexibility, they also discussed holding a backup work session the following week if needed.
  • 1:42:06 Motion set budget meetings for April 25 at 6:30 and May 2 at 6:30.
  • 1:43:24 Motion passed without opposition.

Announcements and Closing Comments 1:43:33

  • 1:44:05 Student representative requested more information at a future meeting about how the six-period schedule would affect more academically focused students and those bound for higher education.
  • 1:44:28 Board leadership replied that much of that scheduling work falls within administration’s purview, though the director indicated he would discuss it further as needed.

Key figures and statistics

Figure Type Context / topic Timestamp
March 11 Date Regular meeting minutes approved 16:31
March 20 Date Budget Committee minutes approved 16:58
2007 Year Attendance zones said to be unchanged since this year 25:43
$6,176 Expense Annual TSBA membership dues 26:24
2 Unit count Inside units for CES gym split-system installation 27:57
2 Unit count Outside units for CES gym split-system installation 27:57
$21,000 Expense Maximum approved for CES gym split-system installation 28:54
15-ton Equipment capacity Approximate size of CIS makeup air unit 29:52
$11,500 Expense CIS makeup air unit installation cost, just under this amount 29:58
4 Bid count Bids received for nutrition steamer purchase 31:00
$45,000 Bid amount Lower but nonresponsive steamer bid 31:31
$48,000 Bid amount Approximate recommended steamer bid 31:31
$48,049 Expense Approved award to Dykes Food Service Solutions 32:10
142 Fund number Fund tied to budget amendments 29 and 30 33:02
29 Amendment number Project AWARE grant revision 33:02
30 Amendment number ATSI grant addition in ePlan 33:28
1.805 Policy number Electronic mail policy, second reading 34:21
6.200 Policy number Attendance policy, second reading 34:48
2.403 Policy number Surplus property sales, second reading 35:03
2.700–3.211 Policy range Regular policy review batch 43:04
4.502 Policy number Parental involvement policy revision, first reading 47:16
8 Years Length of one board member’s service cited during policy discussion 51:09
September Date reference Proposed annual parental-involvement reporting month 51:42
701-6-71 Citation as spoken State law reference on parental participation 55:13
5 People Superintendents consulted on Education Freedom Act 1:06:46
2 People Current superintendents consulted 1:06:46
3 People Retired superintendents consulted 1:06:46
50 District count School districts said to have passed anti-Education Freedom Act resolutions 1:07:50
3 District count Districts represented by Rep. Barrett referenced in discussion 1:08:11
$750,000 Funding estimate Approximate amount district might receive under House school-choice version 1:06:46
100 Student count Approximate number who would need to leave before district broke even under discussed House version 1:11:34
$7,000 Scholarship amount Amount discussed for cross-county/public-school choice scenario 1:17:18
FY25 Fiscal year Preliminary TISA estimate year 1:22:59
June Date reference Final TISA estimate expected after budget passage 1:23:15
$27,819,195 Revenue estimate Preliminary FY25 TISA total 1:23:46
$63,646 Increase Overall FY25 vs FY24 TISA increase 1:24:02
$30,474 State funding increase Portion of increase attributed to additional state funds 1:24:16
2% Percentage Enrollment decline discussed in funding context 1:25:52
$30,000 Approximate increase Board shorthand for slight gain despite enrollment loss 1:26:06
$6,860 Base figure Prior formula base discussed in salary/funding context 1:26:06
$7,075 Base figure Increased formula base discussed in salary/funding context 1:26:06
6-period Schedule model Proposed high school schedule for 2024–25 1:27:20
5-period Schedule model Current high school schedule 1:27:20
2024–25 School year Target year for six-period implementation 1:27:20
4 years Time period High school course-window comparison 1:27:27
24 Course opportunities Annual-course opportunities under six-period day 1:27:27
20 Course opportunities Annual-course opportunities under five-period day 1:27:27
48 Semester opportunities Semesterized opportunities under proposed model 1:27:46
4 Core classes Example of curriculum load used in schedule explanation 1:27:53
5th period Period reference Athletic period in example student schedule 1:27:53
4th grade Grade level Example vacancy that an ESSER-funded staffer might fill after reassignment 1:32:06
4 Periods taught Example teaching load under current five-period day 1:29:07
25 students Class size Example per-period load under current model 1:29:07
5 Periods taught Example teaching load under six-period day 1:29:15
20 students Class size Example per-period load under proposed model 1:29:15
100 Student count Example total in grade-level class-size explanation 1:29:15
7-period Schedule model Common surrounding-district schedule noted for comparison 1:29:24
25 employees Staff count Approximate number of employees currently paid by ESSER 1:31:58
22nd Year of service Director’s stated year leading schools 1:36:02
April 15 Date Expected arrival of county revenue/penny data 1:36:35
May 6 Date Next regular board meeting 1:37:05
6:30 Time Start time for next regular board meeting 1:37:05
May 14 Date County budget committee review date 1:39:06
April 25 Date First budget meeting scheduled 1:42:06
May 2 Date Second budget meeting scheduled 1:42:12
6:30 Time Start time for both budget meetings 1:42:06
zero Balance Student lunch debt after donations 23:25
30 minutes Time period Student estimate of lunch length in schedule discussion 1:34:32

External vendors, brands, and software

Name Type Context / topic Timestamp
TSBA Company Membership dues, legal/policy support, and student conference context 26:16
Matrix Company CES gym split-system installation quote under maintenance relationship 27:48
Mechanical Solutions Company CIS makeup air unit installation 30:07
Dykes Food Service Solutions Company Recommended and approved steamer vendor 31:09
T of C Supplies Company Lower but nonresponsive steamer bidder 31:09
Mobile Fixture Company Higher steamer bidder discussed during bid review 31:09
Hickman County Times Company News article that prompted concerns about electronic-mail policy wording 37:41
ePlan Software ATSI grant submission platform referenced in budget amendment 30 33:28
Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents Company Consulted during Education Freedom Act follow-up research 1:07:19

Personnel changes

Name Role / office Change Context / topic Timestamp
Cassie Hail District employee; math RTI facilitator, 504 coordinator, foster care liaison, mentor Recognized Employee of the Month honor; no change of status stated 17:55

Laws and policies

Citation / name Level Type Context / topic Timestamp
Policy 1.805 School Policy Electronic mail access; revised on second reading to clarify sending rather than reading messages 34:21
Policy 6.200 School Policy Attendance policy; sentence removed because it is no longer in state law 34:48
Policy 2.403 School Policy Surplus property sales; revised to allow buses to be stored in a secure location until sold 35:03
Policy 2.700 School Policy Internal school funds language discussed during policy review batch 45:28
Tennessee Internal School Uniform Accounting Policy State Policy Referenced in connection with internal school funds handling 45:52
Policy 3.211 / 3.21 School Policy Administrative procedure on dogs at school questioned for placement under safety section 43:28
Policy 4.502 School Policy Parental involvement policy revision advanced on first reading 47:16
Title I Federal Law Existing parent-involvement requirements and school compact obligations discussed 53:56
701-6-71 State Law State parental-participation law cited during parental-involvement discussion 55:13
Education Freedom Act State Law School-choice proposal debated; supportive resolution ultimately tabled 1:05:31
TISA State Law Funding formula referenced repeatedly in budget and school-choice discussions 1:09:54
ESSER Federal Law End of federal relief funding cited as staffing pressure in budget planning 24:02