[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6298388,"mediaKeyId","2504613-058f46ef21fc8aedbf35f2c8ce92ec5a","parentId",2504613,"title","Board reviews Advantage XPO renewal, staffing and substitute-pay context","audioSeconds",79,"startMs",2199000,"endMs",2278000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2504613-058f46ef21fc8aedbf35f2c8ce92ec5a&start=2199&end=2278","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2504613-058f46ef21fc8aedbf35f2c8ce92ec5a/thumbnail_2199000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6298388/Tennessee/Board-reviews-Advantage-XPO-renewal-staffing-and-substitute-pay-context","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298388-fd4ee9e421db3bb45d5e71f860635886/orig.mp4?Expires=1770708216&Signature=UxodmekofDu-6bKSv9IECls2xDH1O5jxd318uCOFGH~DNSUs7WmzPf6fIbRgIHZvfwFk0I0qf5LUGND3XMaxirGHEO-uidDyaPyO~ctcAnVc-ZcBHVp~40JgN4DBRlajsFPMAI4FXdRZScx7CWBvNfiG1vhHC4yvOm5XMXIj2Y16gIOhLpWOaxqAoonNWKqrxjh~UZzYwjZ0tsFScAfNbybDj2uKa4ax09KmusDM4N-UOKEjTjbH3D3f0sYwP2rAX4hKusqKh0XB8y78EIRJ~Na87TpijPU~gutHBQGaiph9Z5h7C8ZfIv03bPQSH2ESVFE2Be7uZGPKcWz6evtd7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rutherford County Schools","date","2025-03-05T12:54:31Z","article","Rutherford County Schools staff presented a renewal of the district’s contract with Advantage XPO for substitute-teacher services at the March 6 work session and answered board questions about rates and recruitment.

Staff said the vendor will maintain the current contract and that the vendor’s bill rate will increase by $0.28 per substitute day due to SmartFind software-profile costs, according to the presentation. A district representative said substitute pay varies by substitute qualifications and experience and that the district adds $10 per day for positions at hard-to-fill schools. The district’s current substitute fill rate was reported at roughly 77%–78%.

Board members asked when substitutes last received a raise; staff said raises occurred about two years earlier and that the district initially started pay around $85 per day in prior years.

No vote was recorded at the March 6 work session; the item appeared on the agenda for review and as part of routine contract renewals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Work Session - March 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board reviewed a renewal agreement with Advantage XPO for substitute-teacher services; staff said the vendor will keep current billing rates and that the district’s substitute-fill rate runs about 77%–78%.","taxTitle","Rutherford County, School Districts, Tennessee","taxId",13507,"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},6298393,"Board debates 90- vs. 78-passenger buses as staff present cost and routing trade-offs",798,3219000,4017000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2504613-058f46ef21fc8aedbf35f2c8ce92ec5a&start=3219&end=4017","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2504613-058f46ef21fc8aedbf35f2c8ce92ec5a/thumbnail_3219000.jpg","/articles/6298393/Tennessee/Board-debates-90-vs-78-passenger-buses-as-staff-present-cost-and-routing-trade-offs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298393-3f260a6402bf0f3e679930d7a324981d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770708216&Signature=emqOzE4g8GtD-~x-Wj4Km6WzGeY7tQ52MsdkUXvho45~Nvpk2Dx-u5Ezooof7KG5dgLoRJcSsIfYTEFxWQfzv6cGsf~-G8W79ZbEyXGE7q18zBXQu9d5xOuqdqT-gr8USzirXTZi2DLSh0D5m5wzwWBIxKHnddDVEUYSyHDl0NmCaulrn9s6i80p7QcK4O0~2~QBsESClw9UYJW0TRJuuQmo1sOTkr-gLc41JKy33i0zVJMiw~acwFLrKhF~j~4WlZWW~x9ZekllksWP2zwp26rTyxZXjRmKpZfAJ87dI6bazzb9~QiX-ZoeXPQUi8F2JOyyvIIpB0~pc~zTSo1uSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rutherford County Schools transportation staff reviewed bus sizes, seat rates and routing trade-offs at the March 6 work session as trustees questioned whether contractors should be allowed to operate smaller, lower-cost buses on district routes.

Transportation staff provided comparative figures for common bus sizes: the transcript lists a 90-passenger bus priced at about $173,000 (no tax), an 84-passenger bus at about $171,641 and a 78-passenger “flat-nose” bus at about $169,864. Staff said annual operating incidentals for a 90-passenger bus run roughly $7,200 per school year (10 months) for routine maintenance, and that contractors are paid a route rate that, for a typical 60-mile route, appears in the figures discussed as about $71,700 (transcript figures provided by staff during the session).

Staff cautioned that allowing contractors to substitute smaller-capacity buses could create capacity shortfalls on routes that combine elementary, middle and high-school runs. A transportation official said many county routes are at or near capacity, especially on runs serving more rural areas; the official warned that swapping to lower-capacity buses could trigger the need to add routes or swap vehicles later in the year if enrollment or subdivisions grow.

Trustees and staff discussed the used-bus market as one reason contractors might prefer 78-passenger buses: used buses can be cheaper up front but may have fewer remaining service years and higher maintenance demands. Staff said the district has contract enforcement tools if contractors cannot keep buses running and suggested any board decision should make duties and risk clear to bidders.

Board members asked staff to include fuel-index options in contracts and to consider both diesel and gasoline/propane/natural-gas options. Transportation staff said adding flexibility on fuel indexes is feasible and could benefit contractors and the district depending on future fuel-price trends.

No vote was taken. Staff said they would return more detailed seat-rate scenarios and contract language options for board consideration.","Transportation staff presented seat-capacity, price and route-efficiency figures for 90-, 84- and 78-passenger school buses; trustees discussed contractor choices, used-bus purchases and risks of losing capacity on busy routes.",{"_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},6298398,"Board reviews Fund 177 amendment to accelerate LED athletic lighting and Smyrna Elementary HVAC work",135,1902000,2037000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2504613-058f46ef21fc8aedbf35f2c8ce92ec5a&start=1902&end=2037","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2504613-058f46ef21fc8aedbf35f2c8ce92ec5a/thumbnail_1902000.jpg","/articles/6298398/Tennessee/Board-reviews-Fund-177-amendment-to-accelerate-LED-athletic-lighting-and-Smyrna-Elementary-HVAC-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298398-9c459760ceb2c78d98852e284cee9aa9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770708216&Signature=mv1w1OD-pQ74ZXyJezCqn3ux2zvjk3TIzlZ7xkNlJyI~JVUTIvtrM2ZBHaS~5Z3xKZHNg-aDCsg3P-V1NoUpfWad45byecmPbWh8u6HwHW2PYXof~iuRw3Lugntw4O~qS13kn5gTRsSsXy66fnzYi2QIwG~5B-RnjApYaR5TFGJ7GYvKuZ4H4ydM0Qh3liANON45bMwhXd0H-MjMeRApue67YnprFzGjkTO-B38LDFUZxSyiJCqDUuUJQGVifbk5vUpdI1qtjQT5QfJ2KrPoqTYniESF3Fa~iWaYNhoMm-P3NamfoJm~Zy0A3dT0e6WWTgAQZ6v9IeUBEJ4dhJlaYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rutherford County Schools staff outlined a proposed Fund 177 fund-balance amendment at the March 6, 2025 work session to accelerate sports-field LED lighting and HVAC repairs at Smyrna Elementary School.

Trey (last name not provided in the transcript), speaking for the district’s facilities team, summarized the funding move: $1,635,468 would be shifted from account 34685 (committed for capital projects) to account 9130335 (maintenance and repair services — buildings). The allocation includes an $84,442 increase to a high-school LED lighting project and $1,551,026 for phase 1 of the Smyrna Elementary HVAC project, staff said.

Staff stated the change will let the district finish the Smyrna Elementary work this summer instead of waiting for the next fiscal year. A district finance speaker explained Fund 177 is primarily funded by property taxes and some adequate schools facility tax receipts, which typically arrive in February and March.

Board members pressed for context about the county’s budgeting process. One trustee asked whether the county commission might remove or reassign Fund 177 revenues; staff acknowledged recent commission conversations about the county’s allocation of “pennies” and said any use of Fund 177 fund balance for capital work will also require commission approval because it reduces the fund’s balance. Staff cautioned that the second half of the Smyrna project is already planned in next year’s budget, and buying equipment now would allow completion this summer.

No formal board vote on the amendment took place at the work session. Staff said the amendment will proceed through required county commission review and return to the board as needed for formal approval.

Trustees also asked operational questions about the LED work: staff reported that the county’s athletic-field LED upgrade budget was $6,000,000 for district athletic fields and that bids came in near $6,084,442 for outdoor athletic lighting. Staff said the outside fields upgrade is scheduled to be finished by mid-summer and future discussion will address building (indoor) LED upgrades.","District staff described a proposed amendment to move $1,635,468 from Fund 177 to pay for LED athletic-lighting increases and phase 1 HVAC work at Smyrna Elementary; staff said the fund is largely property-tax supported and the amendment will require county commission approval.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6298402,"Rutherford County Schools board hears OpenGate metal-detector demonstration",1483,361000,1844000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2504613-058f46ef21fc8aedbf35f2c8ce92ec5a&start=361&end=1844","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2504613-058f46ef21fc8aedbf35f2c8ce92ec5a/thumbnail_361000.jpg","/articles/6298402/Tennessee/Rutherford-County-Schools-board-hears-OpenGate-metal-detector-demonstration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6298402-89adf11131ffc386b8997b9248138dca/orig.mp4?Expires=1770708216&Signature=Fe2EZbVKEGNFsLOBUjRWWKU2hZ6jy7gvDItddhJIRIOb6r4FFvfM-0Khc4F0wbpXgYeaATEq0W3-gYRWqUJqqffRccY0apoO23ZzZg8UViiae6V3mXTSEQgOUbfU~hGbf82u7ZSZTm9nvaIQqv8jyJhDgzWsU19KNQz~UkpowduueglekhxKm7Jk9i7xr781Iw3OlXJ3DtUmIZ8bmlg9X0hsdIP~Qd2ylCQb9YKDloKvf6BgRHqfMfdmSlszqvQP5lNdyn-o1dKuahF60hpr4YAe4hHWGnWEfZc6Q7MBFTWlCIvHX6MPOyi8h90ZvedTijm4Gz9U~ZGvq8YnOukt6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A vendor demonstration of OpenGate walkthrough metal-detection units and a district account of early school deployments took place at the Rutherford County Schools work session on March 6, 2025, as board members discussed whether to pursue wider purchases.

The demonstration showed a wireless, battery-operated walkthrough unit that the presenter said detects a range of metal items. Bill Muller, identified in the meeting as a retired police officer and training specialist for OpenGate and communications technologies, said the units have “300 zones of detection” compared with about 80 for a traditional archway, run on an 18-volt lithium battery and, in his demonstration, can be set up in “about a minute to two minutes.”

The district’s discussion mattered because board members said they are weighing how to add a security layer without disrupting school operations. A district staff member who described current classroom and building security said one middle school in Rutherford County is running a single OpenGate set for random checks and that the school processed 467 students through the unit in about 12 minutes during a trial. The same staff member said one principal reported that “10% of students feel safer with these in the school.”

Muller demonstrated features and limits during the session: he said the manufacturer advertises throughput of about 2,000 people per hour for a single set and that battery life runs about 12 to 14 hours; the devices weigh about 20–25 pounds (25 including batteries); sensitivity settings can be adjusted so the units detect objects as small as a scalpel, and the vendor estimates the units find about 50%–60% of vapes. He cautioned that some common student items — Chromebooks, three-ring binders, collapsible metal umbrellas and eyeglass cases — can trigger alarms depending on sensitivity settings.

Board members asked operational and procurement questions. The board requested pricing comparisons and vendor lists from other districts that have used the units. A board member asked whether district funds are available now; staff replied that fund balance and budget timing would determine any immediate purchase. Staff said they will examine state bid lists and other options and expected to return to the board for a possible April vote.

Members also compared OpenGate with other products used locally. A staff member said the district had previously used an “Evolve” system at one school and that Evolve required an annual subscription; the staff member said the Evolve subscription cited in the meeting runs about $20,000 per unit per year. Staff told trustees that OpenGate units report updates through a secure app and that vendor software updates are provided without an additional subscription fee.

The board did not take a formal procurement vote at the March 6 work session. District staff said they will provide more complete cost comparisons, state-bid options and references from other districts before returning with a purchase recommendation.

Questions or follow-up requests from trustees included: sample lists of nearby districts using the devices; an estimate of how many units would be needed for schools of different sizes; and an analysis of staffing impacts for routine checks. The board indicated interest in further information and comparisons before any formal action.","A vendor demonstrated OpenGate wireless walkthrough detectors to the Rutherford County Schools board as district staff described current use and early results; board members asked for pricing and comparisons and staff said a procurement item could return in April.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board reviews Advantage XPO renewal, staffing and substitute-pay context

Board debates 90- vs. 78-passenger buses as staff present cost and routing trade-offs

Board reviews Fund 177 amendment to accelerate LED athletic lighting and Smyrna Elementary HVAC work

Rutherford County Schools board hears OpenGate metal-detector demonstration