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Board agrees to form special committee to study middle-school conversion
Summary
The board directed staff to place a motion on the next agenda to create a special committee of board members to study whether to convert to middle schools; members discussed committee size, tasks, timelines and stakeholder involvement.
Cumberland County board members agreed to create a special committee to study middle schools and determine next steps in a possible conversion.
Director of Schools Doctor Farley said the committee was added to the agenda after the board discussed the topic at a retreat. Several board members said they expected the initial committee would be composed of board members first, then add supervisors, principals and outside stakeholders as needed.
During the discussion board members asked for the committee to have a clear charge, a start and end date and specific tasks so it could begin work immediately. Members suggested the district's supervisors and directors be included because the committee will need numbers and operational information — for example, transportation impacts, costs and possible zoning or rezoning. The director said she would contact professional groups and nearby systems for examples; she mentioned she would contact the Tennessee Organization of Schools and check on practice in other counties, including whether Cannon County had consolidated and how they handled a transition.
Board members discussed committee size. One member said smaller committees avoid tie votes and suggested three board members be on the committee, with additional supervisors and community representatives as nonvoting participants. Another board member noted the chairper the board's bylaws'has authority to appoint committee membership and said interested members should make themselves known when the board votes to create the committee.
Members asked staff to prepare a motion for the next meeting that lists the proposed committee membership slots, a short list of initial tasks, and a proposed timeline. The board did not vote to create the committee during the meeting; members agreed to vote on the motion at the next regular meeting. No external stakeholders were named yet; board members said they expect the committee to collect data, work with supervisors and principals, and propose next steps including studying finances, transportation, and classroom capacity.
