Bradley County school board approves construction bids, policy updates and contracts; elects Vicky Beatty chair

The Bradley County Board of Education on Sept. 9 approved a series of bids, personnel contract actions and policy updates and elected Vicky Beatty as board chair.

The board voted to award a $3.2 million low bid (including a 10% contingency) and a 310-day contract to Integrated Builds of Chattanooga for an expansion at Parkview Elementary and separately accepted Wright Brothers Construction’s bid to pave North Lee Elementary’s parking/drive areas. The board also approved extended contracts for the 2025–26 school year for 25 positions and transferred two bus routes to Teresa Phillips after the death of a long-time contractor, Robert Phillips.

Why it matters: the construction awards and contract approvals move multiple facilities projects forward and authorize district staffing and transportation changes that affect daily operations and student access to school.

The board approved the consent agenda after removing policy 5.5 for later consideration. Todd Shoemaker, a district staff member who presented the extended-contract request, told the board, “I come before you asking for your approval again for our extended contracts on behalf of our incredible principals,” and said the number of extended contracts remained unchanged from the prior year at 25.

Patrick Spangler, speaking for Bradley Central High School, asked permission to begin a campus safety and beautification project that he said would require no district funding; he said work would include landscape changes, new curbing and a light pole and would involve students and a certified contractor. "We're not asking for any funding or anything," Spangler said.

Terry McElhaney, transportation supervisor, described the sudden loss of contractor Robert Phillips and introduced Teresa Phillips, who asked to assume routes 4 and 29. "She wants to continue supporting the community that Mr. Phillips served for 17 years," McElhaney said.

The board also reviewed multiple policy updates required to align district policy with recent state law changes and adopted Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) sample language in several cases. Nancy Cason, who presented the legislative summary to the board, said the 114th General Assembly filed about 1,500 bills this year, roughly 250 related to education, and that 93 became law. "The voucher was the biggest discussion of any of the things that came before them," Cason said.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (approved with policy 5.5 removed for later consideration): motion to approve the consent agenda minus policy 5.5 — outcome: approved; roll call indicated 7 yes votes (Allen Smith; Robbie Miller; Amanda Lee; Vicky Bailey; Ted Mason; Rachel Goins; Ted Bryson).

- Extended-contract procedures for 2025–26 (25 contracts): motion to approve — outcome: approved; roll-call recorded yes votes from Amanda Lee; Allen Smith; Rachel Goins; Nancy Kaysen; Vicky Bacon; Josh Taylor; Ted Grayson.

- Bradley Central campus improvement plan (permission to begin, no district funding): motion to approve — outcome: approved; roll-call recorded yes votes from Josh Taylor; Rachel Goins; Vicky Baby; Amanda Lee; Allen Smith; Ted Grayson; Andy Mason.

- Transfer of bus routes 4 and 29 to Teresa Phillips (following death of contractor Robert Phillips): motion to approve — outcome: approved; roll-call recorded yes votes and the chair declared the motion passed.

- Parkview Elementary expansion (award to Integrated Builds — low bid $3,200,000; 310 days; includes 10% contingency): motion to approve contract award to Integrated Builds — outcome: approved; roll-call recorded yes votes including Nancy Kaysom; Vicky Beatty; Ted Grayson; Amanda Lee; Charles Taylor; Allen Smith.

- North Lee paving (award to Wright Brothers Construction): motion to approve — outcome: approved; roll-call recorded yes votes including Nikki Beatty; Nancy Cason; Ted Bryson; Amanda Lee; Josh Taylor; Allen Smith; Rachel Goetz.

- Policy 1.407 (school district records, removes fax option, replaces a staff member name with title): first/second reading approved; roll-call recorded yes votes from Nancy Kaysen; Rachel Gomez; Ted Bryson; Allen Smith; Josh Taylor; Amanda Lee.

- Policy 3.204 (threat assessment team; requires parent notification within 48 hours and a quarterly incident report to the board): first reading approved; roll-call recorded yes votes from Rachel Gullins; Ed Grayson; Allen Smith; Ross Taylor; Nancy Katz.

- Policy 4.601 (reporting student progress; adds universal reading screener and dyslexia screener reporting on cards for K–8): first reading approved; roll-call recorded yes votes from Ted Bryson; Nancy Kaysom; Vicky Beatty; Allen Smith; Amanda Lee; Rachel Goins; Josh Taylor.

- Policy 5.11 (compensation guidelines and contracts; permissive authority on paying unused leave to estates or beneficiaries): first reading approved; roll-call recorded yes votes including Donna Taylor; Amanda Lee; Vicky Bailey; Nancy Jason; Rachel Goven; Ted Price.

- Policy 3.202 (emergency preparedness plan; no changes recommended): approved on first and second reading; roll-call recorded yes votes from Josh Taylor; Rachel Goins; Vicky Bailey; Amanda Lee; Allison; Ted Grayson; Nancy Casey.

- Election of officers: Vicky Beatty elected chair by acclamation; Ted Bryson elected vice chair (vote reported as 6 yes, 1 no); Nancy Cason approved as Tennessee Legislative Network representative by acclamation.

What the board recorded: all motions above passed during the Sept. 9 meeting. Where the record identifies a vote count, the board’s roll-call sequence is summarized above using the names called during roll calls.

The board scheduled a Hopewell ground-breaking for Sept. 24 at 10 a.m. and set its next regular meeting for Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. at the Bradley County Administrative Office Building.

The board’s formal motions, movers/seconders as recorded in the meeting, and roll-call vote lists are preserved in the public minutes.