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Education Administration Subcommittee holds inaugural organizational meeting; schedules Safe Schools briefing
Summary
At its first organizational meeting, the Education Administration Subcommittee introduced members and staff, confirmed a quorum, set regular meeting logistics and asked the Department of Education and Department of Safety to present a recently issued Safe Schools report at next week—s meeting.
Chair William Slater, a representative from the 30 Fifth District, convened the inaugural meeting of the Education Administration Subcommittee for organizational business and member introductions and asked the panel to prepare for a substantive briefing next week on a recently released Safe Schools report.
The meeting was brief and largely procedural. Paul Obrecht, serving as clerk for the session, announced that five members were present and that the panel had a quorum: “Mr. Chairman, there—s 5, present. You have a quorum,” he said. Members introduced themselves and staff were presented to the committee, including legislative attorney Katie Robertson, research analyst Carly Easley, legislative assistant Chelsea Rackley, sergeant at arms Dedrick Grimes and Elizabeth Edwards, recorder for the State Library.
The subcommittee is small (six members), and Slater stressed punctuality and procedure. “This committee will be the landing spot for those types of bills,” Slater said, describing the subcommittee—s role in receiving and considering legislation related to student safety, school discipline and selected teacher issues. He asked members to route questions through the chair and to arrive on time for afternoon meetings, which the subcommittee will generally hold at 3:00 p.m.
Slater asked the Tennessee Department of Education and the Department of Safety to appear at the next meeting to unpack the Safe Schools report that had been distributed to members: “Next week, I—ve asked, the Department of Education and the Department of Safety to come and to share with us, the report on the, Safe Schools report that just came out,” he said. The departments were expected to present the findings and answer members— questions.
Members also noted a related outreach opportunity: Representative Mark White invited members to a meeting of superintendents next Thursday at the Doubletree hotel and encouraged attendance at a 7:30 a.m. breakfast intended to give subcommittee members a chance to speak with local school leaders.
The chair reviewed committee mechanics: because six members make up the subcommittee, four members are required for a quorum to conduct business; members were reminded to notify staff if they had multiple, rapid procedural questions so the chair could manage time efficiently. With no further business, a motion to adjourn was made and seconded, and the meeting ended. “We are adjourned,” Slater said.
The subcommittee—s next meeting will include the scheduled Safe Schools briefing from the two state agencies; no votes on policy or legislation were taken at this organizational session.
