Following the monthly business meeting tonight (5.14.18) for LSB (Lakeland School Board), Lakeland Currents talked with Kevin Floyd, chair of the LSB, and Dr. Ted Horrell, superintendent of the Lakeland School System (LSS) about TNReady testing this spring and the problems surrounding the tests.
Link to meeting agenda: https://lakelandk12.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/5.14.18-Business-Meeting-Agenda.pdf
Link to LSS salary schedule 2018-19: https://lakelandk12.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2018-19-LSS-Salary-Schedules-ALL-Positions-FINAL-5.10.18.pdf
Among consent agenda items, all were passed except approval of LMPS (Lakeland Middle Preparatory School) cheer boosters which was moved to the June meeting.
A fourth item was added for discussion which passed: A coordinated school health district application which requires annual approval.
The Fiscal Year 18-19 school fees list was amended to include increasing band and orchestra rental fees to $75 from the current $50 and adding language that students will be responsible for damage. Students would not be liable for normal wear and tear to instruments, but would be responsible for such damage as dropping an instrument or breaking it. The amended version was passed by the Board.
There was much discussion for a communications coordinator with School Board Member Geoff Hicks urging other members to approve a part-time person to be a liaison between schools, parents and other community stakeholders.
He said other school districts in the area all have someone responsible for communications. “Moving forward, I think it would be prudent for us to have someone to have the big picture – mostly to parents and to all our stakeholders,” he said.
He noted that such an employee could help parents and students keep up with activities not only at the two Lakeland schools but also PTA, clubs, sports and Lakeland Education Association events.
Vice Chair Laura Harrison noted there was a lot of discussion about such a person last week. She suggested since only three of the five Board members were present tonight, the discussion be moved to June.
Chairman Floyd asked Dr. Horrell how much a communications coordinator would be paid. Dr. Horrell said $25,000 for a 10-month position, part-time, to mirror the time of the teachers.
Dr. Horrell has talked with both school principals (Matt Adler/LMPS and Joretha Lockhart/Lakeland Elementary School). He would like a strategic plan from both, outlining details on communication with staff, how often to communicate and how to hold everyone accountable. “We have been talking over the semester. How are we going to do better?” he said.
Chair Floyd said he is intrigued by the idea of the new person but not completely convinced it is a need. “We do need to communicate better,” he said. He suggested the idea be tabled until October when principal plans could be reviewed.
Vice Chair Harrison said she would like to see accountability measures and she wasn’t ready to vote. She said she preferred to wait until June. Member Hicks agreed to carry the discussion to June.
Amended salary schedules were approved.
Life Scout Liam Hawkins attended the meeting toward his Citizenship in the Community merit Badge in Boy Scouts. He lives in Lakeland, is the son of Cari and Kevin Hawkins and is in the seventh grade at Arlington Middle School.
He will begin his Eagle project later this month.
… Photos and video by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents.
