Cleveland City School District

The meeting included opening formalities with a moment of silence and pledge of allegiance, followed by confirmation of no public comments. The Director's update highlighted numerous November activities, including a visit from the Maryville City Schools to review technology programs, attendance at the mayoral breakfast, Veterans Day programs, the TSBA annual state convention, a community bus tour showcasing various schools, a breakfast with the board at Cleveland Middle School, and a facilities committee meeting. Recognition was given to various staff and student achievements, such as the Supervisor of the Year (Randall Stevens) and Principal of the Year (Kim Bradford), and acknowledging Candies Creek, Cherokee, and Eel Ross Elementary Schools as State Reward Schools. The board also addressed calendar adjustments for the 2026-2027 academic year, which involved designating July 31st as a teacher work day, and approved the 2027-2028 academic calendar. The meeting concluded with a school spotlight presentation from Cleveland Middle School, focusing on the importance of middle school years and recent teacher-led initiatives.

The meeting commenced with the board coming to order, followed by a welcome and the pledge of allegiance. There were no public comments. The board welcomed guests, including the executive director for BCPF and her team. The chairman committed to running an orderly and respectful meeting, outlining procedures for public address. Key discussion items included the presentation and unanimous approval of the Director's evaluation results across five categories, concluding with an overall score of 3.63 out of 4. The Director provided an update, noting the receipt of three significant grants totaling over $84,000 for various programs, including one for K8 tutoring enhancement. The update also highlighted successful school leadership presentations, a meeting with state legislators regarding TISA funding formulas, and the recent board mini-retreat. Upcoming events included board breakfasts, facilities committee meetings, and a district-wide staff development day. The spotlight segment recognized the state championship achievements of the unified bowling team and the wrestling teams. Additionally, the board was recognized for their leadership during School Board Appreciation Week. The final spotlight featured an update from Steuart Elementary School, anchoring its mission on the principles to engage, inspire, and empower students and staff.

The board meeting commenced with acknowledgments, including welcoming guests such as the executive director of BCPEF and the president of the NAACP. A key part of the agenda involved approving the consent agenda, with the exception of the fiscal year 2027 budget calendar being reserved for later discussion. The director's update provided highlights from December activities, including culinary and band performances, a 'blue on the green experience,' a breakfast with the board, stocking distribution day, and various school events like plays and concerts. Professional development day focused on instruction and data analysis for the new semester. The meeting featured extensive recognition segments, including honoring the Champion Student (Owen Clemens, a cross country state champion) and Champion Staff (Jessica Frasier) from Arnold Memorial, and recognizing the Cleveland Middle School wrestling program for winning consecutive state championships. Furthermore, numerous staff members across various schools (Arnold Memorial, B L Bower Elementary, Candies Creek, E R Ross Elementary, Mayfield, Yates Primary, and Cleveland High School) were recognized as Novice Teachers of the Year, Classified Staff Members of the Year, and Teachers of the Year. Recognition was also given to board principal Bob Pritchard for being a finalist for principal of the year.

The meeting included introductory segments such as a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance, along with standard consent agenda review. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to recognizing the Cleveland Middle School softball team for winning their first-ever TN Softball State Championship. The Director's update covered the commencement of summer camps for elementary and middle school students, design planning discussions for relocating the central office to the dating center, director and principal evaluations, and upcoming training on a new board policy regarding school support organizations. Additionally, the upcoming visit from the Commissioner of Education, Dr. Kenny Schwinn, to observe the 4C summer camp program was noted. The meeting also featured a commendation ceremony for School Resource Officer (SRO) Jansen Ambassie for his quick and brave action in extinguishing a fire at Stewart Elementary School, preventing potential harm and property damage. Discussions also touched upon hiring needs for upcoming school year roles, including a new Daytona and a Supervisor of School Nutrition.

The Cleveland City Schools Board of Education meeting included welcoming the executive director for BCPF and reading statements about the board's commitment to high-quality education and community collaboration. The board discussed and approved the consent agenda. The director provided updates, highlighting partnerships with organizations such as 247 Choices Matter, the Tennessee Department of Education, ATS the Bridge, and the local chamber of commerce. Cleveland High School was recognized as the school of the month, and various activities and events at elementary and secondary schools were showcased. The implementation of a new cell phone policy was discussed, with positive feedback from teachers.