[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6381902,"mediaKeyId","2127783-fc3c38439e80abd0d3f3a42bfa16c425","parentId",2127783,"title","Board hears transportation update; discussion on bus monitors and safety","audioSeconds",392,"startMs",3056000,"endMs",3448000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127783-fc3c38439e80abd0d3f3a42bfa16c425&start=3056&end=3448","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127783-fc3c38439e80abd0d3f3a42bfa16c425/thumbnail_3056000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6381902/Tennessee/Board-hears-transportation-update-discussion-on-bus-monitors-and-safety","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381902-2ef8eebe64c5beb46be785ea7805ef24/orig.mp4?Expires=1773581545&Signature=lP25B3FNufQTJO0jAIqsweQR~D2P1gy9EYezDpLeuRnr2gvgL6Pi4Thp3eUKNAqGfzn2PmTErhPG5~9e5PgNipoQmdnrmmNQX4ocuo5vVbuG5KJMS9X0KwagATFdOFxO9Aph0sipFv~2REdQopCExfot9tEw79NBo3p3xock1tPDQltVxnsmYNRXf65Rx7-Sxe9nPIuEfrCwfEZXzIEBmzsvPexqXyAj9vG1-m4SMTaSX4beMDCGYu3WqhMQQhG0hI8GlgGQ98UjX41jZ2RN5SQsRgpJSk-po8BT-9fCoq4mK1ww374Y6LOPsIicLemuCDe6YLjeluwcOqncjLXQzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hamilton County School","date","2025-01-17T12:05:01Z","article","Board members received an update on student transportation contracts, monitor coverage and safety procedures and discussed the possibility of a test program for bus monitors. No board action was taken at the meeting; staff said contract negotiations are ongoing and the board will be briefed on proposals.

Mister Grom introduced information about a first amendment to the student transportation management contract and said the amendment would carry an approximately 3.5% increase in transportation cost over the remaining contract life. \"We've been able to get that that contract set with a 3 and a half percent increase in transportation cost over the remaining life of this contract,\" he said, and asked members to review the 31-page amendment package.

Board members also discussed monitors on buses and bus safety. Brandon Allen, identified in the transcript as the district's director of transportation, and other staff provided route- and contractor-level details: the transcript records that as of that day First Student had 98 monitors on its buses, with five floating monitors that move among independent-contractor routes; First Student was covering 68 SPED routes (all with monitors) and additional regular routes with some monitor coverage; independent contractors were covering about 122 routes with a small number of floating monitors. \"If there is a concern about a bus, the first person y'all should be going to is Brandon and having those conversations because he will address those [concerns],\" a board member said.

Board members raised a separate concern about a high-school field trip that listed 40 students with only three staff members on the trip form; staff agreed to follow up with the school to confirm the number of approved chaperones and fingerprinted adults. The superintendent and transportation director described procedures for drivers to report suspicious items or behaviors immediately to dispatch and principals, and to check buses before routes begin.

No motion was taken on monitors or the contract amendment at this meeting. Staff said formal contract negotiation outcomes and any pilot program proposals for monitors will be presented to the board in a future meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","HCS Board Meeting 1/16/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board members were briefed on transportation staffing, a proposed first-amendment to a transportation contract with a 3.5% cost increase, and the district's existing bus-monitor coverage; staff recommended contacting the transportation director for route-level concerns.","taxTitle","Hamilton County, School Districts, Tennessee","taxId",12943,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6381907,"Board directs review of special-education placements and staffing after member raises safety concerns",488,2112000,2600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127783-fc3c38439e80abd0d3f3a42bfa16c425&start=2112&end=2600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127783-fc3c38439e80abd0d3f3a42bfa16c425/thumbnail_2112000.jpg","/articles/6381907/Tennessee/Board-directs-review-of-special-education-placements-and-staffing-after-member-raises-safety-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381907-0b062e27908c4dda5d61e2121d4a9a06/orig.mp4?Expires=1773581545&Signature=Nhut5UBhAfSdWAaVVDjc6rCe~p3swwzS9ukmZKOVwQkZT-PODJeyfEXV2RCmazDvfSTjEtMfqHc826c77HnAYnFgDL~k8FMEsL4zEvFtsCbm4EID71bMDC1gFPLiQabxyD2~YbFvBxMVaEVo7AKCkpx15CCA~24ZllyPRb-2HCi3KcyEYfGNHLyeK4eFgup6xqPNNtiXgR52BF6hqnZ0TNK3Klm6~0CiO0zDL1bLq0xe334Vhn-BZChbfAuSIQcK10LtoUTEVZYjzqUt99vhCq1mQCpaN6~aJOTNaBIaLlTs1onvRKbP93BiWhvpvw4QowkcpcOczbeTijHowjKfdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members discussed concerns about the safety and placement of some students with disabilities and the strain on teachers and support staff in certain schools. The discussion did not produce a formal vote but resulted in a staff-directed review of placement options and a board member serving as a liaison for the review.

\"There are teachers and support staff ... who do not feel safe at school because of some of this, actions of students,\" a board member identified in the transcript as Miss Hatton said, describing reports of on-the-job injuries and ongoing incidents. She asked the board to \"consider a placement a new placement somewhere in our system\" for a small number of students whose needs she said might be better met in a different setting.

Dr. Robertson emphasized that individual placement decisions fall to IEP teams and described the need to review the district's \"continuum of services\" to ensure appropriate options are available. \"The IEP team gets to make a decision based upon what an individual child needs,\" Dr. Robertson said, adding that if a team determines a placement change is necessary, it may do so subject to available options.

Board counsel Mister Bennett and other members recommended staff produce a report on staffing models and placement options. The chair and board members agreed that Miss Hadden would serve as the board's representative or liaison to work with the exceptional education (XED) team and staff on the review. Bennett clarified the appointment did not require a formal board action: \"You're not creating a committee. You're not staffing a committee. You're basically asking [Miss Hadden] to serve as the board's liaison on this topic.\"

The superintendent and staff said XED staff will examine district census data, review the continuum of services and return to the board with findings that address placement options, staffing models and potential near-term steps where safety or service gaps exist. Staff also agreed to follow up on a specific staffing shortfall at Westview, where one board member said a full-time RTI facilitator position was leaving some students without services this semester.

Board members stressed that any action must respect the \"sovereignty of the IEP team\" while also ensuring the district has appropriate programs and staffing to meet student needs and keep staff and students safe. The discussion generated no motions but produced direction for staff follow-up and a board liaison to track the work.","Board members heard concerns about staff safety and placement options for students with complex needs, asked district staff to review the continuum of special-education placements and designated a board liaison to follow the work.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6381912,"Board approves parking-lot MOU, capital projects, architect selection and lease renewals",720,1377000,2097000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2127783-fc3c38439e80abd0d3f3a42bfa16c425&start=1377&end=2097","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2127783-fc3c38439e80abd0d3f3a42bfa16c425/thumbnail_1377000.jpg","/articles/6381912/Tennessee/Board-approves-parking-lot-MOU-capital-projects-architect-selection-and-lease-renewals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6381912-ad4a6b1c148fa3829351f641533e9155/orig.mp4?Expires=1773581545&Signature=Ntn-dmBWQYqPRbG5aL8b7BRR~IXOn4Ft-BR6QwnmT-aQnD5Gs2e~ubXx2vgapX2q82rWqnWIUVbq8lZGQze48VNix9Yn-DExdVS8YYmdrrnwfNiZmjYdkkdDZumCJSwOh8zQBBWMrkHo7GEB6wCiTyXlb9h4A17SYZ7J8E~zGUw7g8j~4dLGGRqRGIKbx8ut0zVpGFE~KZ~thG9A9tHb78qZdExaS89aKsCGqknfMRalVKBg~HmfXy2w03m1L0XWLwXBMObkMyE1L8RYSJlrw1it98zm1yLQe0WbUMpa7XTtcbZt~SQxVhlLuOn~-9wL~lUgE7aLMeGK~brWCbBNhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hamilton County Board of Education members voted on several consent and action items, approving a parking-lot memorandum of understanding with First Christian Church, a bond-funded capital projects and fiscal year 2025 budget amendment, the selection of Franklin Architects for North River Elementary, and a one-year option to renew leases with the city of Chattanooga for three Head Start sites.

The board approved a parking lot use agreement requested by First Christian Church for a fee the transcript records as \"$75100\" for the year; Dr. Robertson described the lot as adjacent to Tommy Brown near UTC's campus and said the fee is budgeted under operations. \"We're just asking for approval of the agreement, that the church requested,\" Dr. Robertson said.

The board also approved a bond-funded capital projects package and a fiscal year 2025 budget amendment after a motion by Mister Connor. Connor referenced recently completed work supported by ARPA funds at a Chattanooga-area charter school and said the funds would support school improvements including new chairs and other capital needs. The motion passed on roll call.

For North River Elementary, the board approved a recommendation from the selection committee to appoint Franklin Architects as the project architect and authorized staff to negotiate a contract and return it to the board. \"All we're doing is approving the the architect. We're we're not approving a contract or anything beyond that,\" Chairman Smith said before the vote.

Separately, the board exercised one-year options to renew leases with the city of Chattanooga for the Avondale, Cedar Hill and Daisy Head Start sites. A recusal was noted on the record for one board member in relation to that item; the chairman announced the vote result as \"10 in favor with 1 abstention.\" The recusal had been entered before the roll call.

Votes at a glance:
- Parking lot use agreement with First Christian Church: motion to approve (mover: not specified; seconder: not specified). Roll call recorded: Missus Black — yes; Mister Connor — yes; Mister Doherty — yes; Mister Groan — yes; Missus Hadden — yes; Missus Jones — yes; Mister King — yes; Missus Schaefer — yes; Mister Slater — yes; Miss Thomas — yes; Chairman Smith — yes. Outcome: approved.
- Bond-funded capital projects and FY25 budget amendment: motion to approve by Mister Connor; second not specified. Roll call recorded unanimous yes. Outcome: approved.
- North River Elementary architect selection (Franklin Architects): motion to approve (mover: not specified; second: not specified). Roll call recorded unanimous yes. Outcome: approved; staff to return with negotiated contract.
- One-year lease renewals (Avondale, Cedar Hill, Daisy Head Start sites) with the city of Chattanooga: motion to exercise one-year options (mover: not specified; second: not specified). Roll call result: 10 in favor, 1 abstention (recusal noted). Outcome: approved; recusal recorded in minutes.

The board chair and staff clarified that approving the architect opens negotiations for a contract to be brought back for approval at a future meeting, and that the capital package includes previously set-aside funds for specific building needs discussed later in the meeting. The transcript records discussion about existing HVAC needs at Orchard Knob and a separate $31,000,000 package for urgent HVAC work across the district; staff said a report on Orchard Knob's HVAC needs is expected within about four to six weeks before committing a $6 million allocation earmarked for that building.

The board did not vote on the Orchard Knob HVAC report at this meeting; staff described the architect approvals and budget amendment votes as enabling next steps in project design and contracting.","Hamilton County Board of Education approved a parking-lot memorandum of understanding, a bond-funded capital projects and FY25 budget amendment, selected an architect for North River Elementary and exercised one-year lease renewals for three Head Start sites; votes were taken by roll call and one board member recused from the lease item.","actionData","errors"]

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Board hears transportation update; discussion on bus monitors and safety

Board directs review of special-education placements and staffing after member raises safety concerns

Board approves parking-lot MOU, capital projects, architect selection and lease renewals