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Hamilton County board reviews policy edits, McKinney‑Vento hires and concerns about DEI language
Summary
Board members discussed policy updates to align with recent Tennessee legislative changes, debated a diversity/equity policy’s scope, and examined McKinney‑Vento grant-funded positions for homeless students and a culture-of-care role tied to a stop-school-violence grant.
During the July 1 work session, Hamilton County Board of Education trustees reviewed several policy changes required by recent Tennessee legislation and discussed staffing additions funded by federal grants, including McKinney‑Vento positions to serve students experiencing homelessness and a grant-backed ‘‘culture of care’’ role.
Policy updates: Committee chair Connor said policy revisions largely reflect changes from the Tennessee General Assembly. Examples he cited include adding language to discrimination/hazing policy to address antisemitism (citing Tennessee Code) and clarifying that religious content alone is not a sole basis for removing library or instructional material. He also said the district’s Internet/device use policy was updated to limit social media use on school devices.
Equity/diversity policy: Trustees debated a revised diversity/equity policy that removes specific hiring or retention ‘‘goals’’ to comply with a recently enacted state public chapter repealing the prior state board rule. Administrator counsel said the edits remove goal language while keeping guidance that administration may recruit talent broadly; board members split on whether to keep any local policy. Some trustees argued the policy remains a useful framework for recruiting and retaining staff; others urged caution given state law and recent executive orders referenced by staff.
McKinney‑Vento positions: Board members questioned whether the two proposed positions (a homeless specialist and an assistant) are fully grant‑funded. Administrators confirmed the roles would be paid from McKinney‑Vento grant funds (the presenter identified the grant award at approximately $339,000). Staff said the positions were not included in the previously approved general fund budget and that, if the federal grant does not continue at the required level, the positions would end.
Stop School Violence grant and ‘‘culture of care’’ facilitator: Trustees raised concerns about a job description for a culture-of-care facilitator posted externally (for example, on Indeed). Administrators said the position was written into a December grant award that funds two roles focused on school culture and reducing vaping; the facilitator would work across schools, run school-based microgrants (about $2,500 each), and support school-level capacity-building. Board members asked for revisions to the job description and assurance the role fits district policy.
Other budget and stipend questions: Trustees discussed stipends for social workers supporting homeless students (overtime/home-visit work) and cell phone stipends for staff who respond after hours. Administrators said current cell-phone stipend policies were tightened during budget revisions: stipends remain for employees formally required to respond after hours (for example, HVAC technicians); social workers doing after-hours work related to McKinney‑Vento would receive a stipend tied to grant-funded duties.
Ending: Board members requested more documentation: the McKinney‑Vento application, the Memorandum of Understanding for Eastside field turf support, and clarified job descriptions for grant-funded roles. They also said policy edits would return as second and final reads for board approval.
