The LSB (Lakeland School Board) met for its work session tonight (8.6.18) with Dr. Ted Horrell, LSS (Lakeland School System) superintendent, confirming the first home game date for LMPS (Lakeland Middle Preparatory School) football.
The date is Sept. 6 which will be the first home football game on the new field at the grades 5-8 campus which opened a year ago. It is against Houston 2 and starts at 6 p.m.
Football and soccer fields are under construction at LMPS as part of a project which includes a concession stand/restrooms, new driveway and parking, and lights on the fields. Dr. Horrell said if MLGW does not complete their work in time, a generator will be brought to the site. He noted the turf is premanufactured so it is being stitched together. “It’s starting to look like a field,” he said. The building for concessions and restrooms won’t be finished until fall break, said Dr. Horrell.
Money for the LMPS construction comes from $3+ million in excess funds left from bond proceeds on building the Middle School in 2017.
Link to agenda: https://lakelandk12.org/lss/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/8.6.18-Work-Session-Agenda-1.pdf
Financials for SRO: https://lakelandk12.org/lss/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/On-Staff-Security-Guard.pdf
Job description SSO: https://lakelandk12.org/lss/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/School-Security-Officer-JD-.pdf
Livestream of meeting: https://livestream.com/lakeland/events/8321155
Chairman’s report
Kevin Floyd noted that LSS registration is tomorrow, next week begins year five for the School System and for the third consecutive year, LSS rated number one in the state for grades 3-5, English/Language Arts and Math.
Superintendent’s report
The new calendar for teachers is going well, Dr. Horrell said. Instructional days were cut by five because of time spent this summer by teachers on professional development. He noted this was less of a cold start and the teachers get the days back over Thanksgiving and Winter Break.
Mold remediation is complete at LMPS and follow up testing was today. On July 31, Dr. Horrell announced mold had been found in the school and confined to one area served by one AC unit which was producing humidity. Dr. Horrell said custodial staff observed what appeared to be mold on July 26 on areas of the carpet in the band room and instrument practice room. Professionals were immediately contacted for testing and then remediation.
Work continues on the new secure entrance at LES (Lakeland Elementary School) and is expected to be ready for the first day of school, Aug. 13. The cell tower is finished but not yet functional. Fencing was to be completed today. Classrooms and office space, as well as cafeteria expansion are to be finished by February.
It’s part of a $2.7 million project to upgrade the K-4 school and provide more space for students. The budgeted amount for the work, which included eight classrooms, was $3 million. There was an additional bid of $347K for four more classrooms. Because the bid was under the $3 million budget, four more classrooms were added to the project.
TLN report
Board member Geoff Hicks said there was nothing substantial for the Tennessee Legislative Network report but fall is just around the corner. He is asking Board members for resolutions to take to Nashville. He suggested resolutions for additional SRO (School Resource Officer) funding and switching to ACT/SAT suite of tests.
SRO position
Board members discussed the SRO position for LES. A similar position within the Bartlett City Schools is being used as a model for LSS. Unlike the SRO at the middle school, who is an employee of the SCSO (Shelby County Sheriff’s Office), the person hired at LES will be a System employee. And yes, said Dr. Horrell, the new person will be an armed officer and will be identified by a uniform.
Mr. Hicks talked about possible state grants to fund the SRO position and said there are two available types: one covering infrastructure and one that might cover expenses of hiring the SRO. The second category is money already being received and maybe a bit more, he said. Hopefully the state will allocate more funding for this next year, he said.
Dr. Horrell was asked to bring a budget amendment, job description and amended salary schedule to the business meeting next week (8.13.18) related to the SRO position.
Evaluations
Board Member Kelley Hale will work with Dr. Horrell on Board and Superintendent evaluations.
School support organizations
Dr. Horrell said every year, organizations like the PTO, PTA and booster clubs must turn in their cooperative agreements to the Board. A list was presented to the LSB tonight with more likely added next week.
Other business
Dr. Horrell recommended Tammi Boeve and Kim Louis for the Policy Review Committee.
There was discussion on rescinding a policy for exit grade transfer for students enrolled from February 2014. Dr. Horrell said this is a policy created at the start of the new school system, now archaic and the situation no longer exists.
Dr. Horrell commended Linda Roe, administrative assistant to Dr. Horrell. She is leaving the System because of a job transfer for her husband.
Vice Chair Laura Harrison announced there is lots of excitement within the System: a spirit event tomorrow, new-student welcoming events, prayer walk and sports events starting next week. “There is lots of exciting stuff,” she said.
