Julie Beasley

The meeting commenced with a presentation by the "Talk of the Hawks" news crew from Jones Brummett Elementary. The district received the Change Maker Award from Vanderbilt University for its strong partnership with Tennessee Tiered Supports. New business included the approval of the lowest bid from Romach for the Castle Heights Window Replacement Project, funded by infrastructure funds, scheduled to begin on February 17. Revisions to Board Policy 6.401 (Safe Relocation of Students) were approved. Permission was granted to pursue the bid process for replacing the 50-year-old gymnasium floor at Walter J. Baird. Reports covered infrastructure updates, noting that estimates for solar crossing light upgrades and bus purchases would be presented in February. The Strategic Plan Update highlighted progress on Goal 4: Strengthening Partnerships, including the status of PTOs and the implementation of parent engagement programs. The Director's Report reviewed upcoming academic calendars, and the Revenue and Expenditure Summary indicated local option sales tax collections were significantly above projections. A presentation was given on the "Sounds First" Tennessee foundational skills curriculum.

The meeting included recognition of Friends of Education recipients from various schools within the district. The board approved granting tenure to teachers across multiple elementary and middle schools. Budget amendments were approved to allocate funds for purchasing auxiliary vehicles. Contract renewals with R.J. Young and Canon were also approved. Updates were provided on student enrollment, the window replacement project at Castle Heights, staff bonuses, reward schools, Teacher of the Year selections, and local option sales tax. Additionally, there were discussions on accountability, district advancement, targeted assistance schools, administrator training, benchmark planning, and summer school preparations.

The meeting included recognitions for the LSSD's True Friend of Education and True Business Friend of Education from various schools. The agenda covered the approval of recommendations to grant tenure to teachers across different schools. It also included the approval to amend the transportation budget for purchasing two auxiliary vehicles and the renewal of contracts with R.J. Young and Canon.

The work session focuses on board expansion, specifically filling board seats. Discussions include efforts to inform the community and schools about how to get involved and run for office, changes to zoning, and the transition from three to five board members. The board also discussed the importance of zones, term limits, and the opportunity for greater representation. They touched on the manageable nature of the positions, the unique advantages of being a special school district, and the potential for increased committee representation.

The board meeting included a student spotlight featuring an archery demonstration. The agenda was approved, and there was no public comment. The board approved resolution 252602, requesting the election commission of Wilson County to call an election for four positions for Lebanon Special School District Board of Education in August 2026. The LEA compliance report was approved, noting no deficiencies. Updates were provided on enrollment, facilities, teacher effectiveness, and the strategic plan. Concerns were raised about Skyward, the student information system, not being on the state's approved vendor list. The transportation app's live map function was launched. The local option sales tax collection was reported to be above estimates. The teaching and learning update included information on benchmark assessments and graduation planning for eighth graders. The Tennessee School Board Association meetings were announced.