Steve Gibson

The needs assessment for Hardeman County Schools focuses on addressing the impact of the pandemic on academics, student readiness, and educators. Key priorities include providing additional instructional supports to close achievement gaps, addressing learning loss through interventions, and supporting students' mental and behavioral health. The plan also emphasizes the need for technology upgrades, improved internet access, and facility improvements to create a safer learning environment.

The meeting's agenda includes agenda approval, budget committee discussions on reapproval of FY21 general purpose and cafeteria budgets, ESSER fund allocation, cafeteria meal increase, and policy 5.3051 FFCRA leave. A director's report is also scheduled.

The meeting agenda includes approval of minutes from June 11, 2020, and July 15, 2020. Executive committee actions for the June 30, 2020 budget (Funds 141, 142, and 143) and policies (1.800, 1.8011, 5.1151, 5.3051, and 6.312) will be reviewed. Committee reports will be presented, covering topics such as the 2020-21 Nepotism Declaration, building and district level committee recommendations, disciplinary and personnel hearing authorities, complaint managers, budget committee matters, ESSER amendment, CTE Perkins budget, and Save the Children budget. Policy updates will include first readings on policies 4.205, 6.304, 6.3041, 6.319, and 6.409. A director's report will also be given.

The HCS Five-Year Strategic Plan (2022-2027) outlines key goals and strategies to enhance communication, resource utilization, and educational effectiveness. The plan prioritizes strong communication between administrators, staff, students, families, and the community; effective resource use to ensure service continuity and enhance student preparedness; maximizing educational effectiveness through coordinated use of space, time, finances, and technology; fostering an inclusive school culture that celebrates diversity and promotes respectful dialogue; and providing learning experiences focused on overall student achievement, subgroup, and individual student growth. Strategies include implementing researched-based instructional practices, providing opportunities for meaningful connections to learning, and promoting inclusive and culturally-responsive teaching. Action steps involve allocating resources appropriately, establishing community partnerships, providing professional development opportunities, improving technology access, and implementing a social-emotional learning curriculum.

Key discussion topics include approval of the board meeting minutes from November 11, 2021, stakeholder recognition of school nurses, HCEA, policy updates, committee reports from the budget committee, the director of schools contract, and the director's report.