Knox County Board approves multiple policy readings, grants and schematic design for new K-8 school

Knox County Board of Education members on this meeting approved multiple policy readings, accepted several school grants and donations totaling tens of thousands of dollars, and advanced the schematic design for a new K-8 school by Lewis Group Architects.

Board members voted, by voice, to approve second readings of policies including C180 (advertising and solicitation), C181 (political solicitation), D190 (payroll), G467 (paid parental leave), G500 (compensation guides and contracts for support personnel) and G570 (schedules of classified personnel). The board also approved several first readings around early graduation (I371), graduating with honors/distinction (I373), test security (I383), controversial issues (I420) and a wellness policy (I440). Motions were regularly moved by Mr. Triplett and seconded by Ms. Henderson; each motion was recorded as carrying.

In grant and donation business, the board approved Battelle Education TSIN STEM classroom grants sponsored by TBA and BVI totaling $42,000 to support classrooms at Bearden High School, Dogwood Elementary, Gibbs High School, Green Magnet Academy, Hardin Valley Middle School, Holston Middle School, Ellen STEM Academy, Bridal Elementary and Whittle Springs Middle School. The board accepted a $500 Crossley Custom Cruiser Contest donation for Central High School, a $250 mini-grant from Tennessee Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom for Southdale Middle School, a Dow Gibbs grant of $23,000 for West High School, and an instrument grant valued at $38,717 from Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation funded by the Morgan Wallen Foundation for West High School.

The board also approved the superintendent's annual evaluation and granted tenure to eligible teachers.

On textbook adoption, the record references a figure of "$20,252,026" in connection with textbook adoption committee appointments for advanced manufacturing, information technology and PE/health/wellness; the board approved the appointments as presented.

The meeting included a presentation and discussion of schematic design documents for a proposed new K-8 school prepared by Lewis Group Architects. Board member Miss Templeton asked whether the design maximized opportunities for natural light; an architect representative said the building's long linear form provides such opportunities. When Templeton asked whether funding changes would require design changes, district staff member Dr. Ryzweig explained the project is funded within the county's five-year capital plan caps and that the district works within those caps. "The money that's allotted for that project right now is within those caps," Dr. Ryzweig said, adding that if costs rise the district typically looks for cost savings and relies on an included contingency fund. Staff also told the board that playgrounds for new school builds are part of the standard design and are fully accessible.

The board approved the schematic design package; the motion was moved by Dr. Butler and seconded by Ms. Fontenot Ridley.

What happens next: district staff said final design will be brought back to the board for approval once complete and that contractor interest will be tested when the project goes to bid. The board recorded no roll-call tallies in the public transcript; each motion concluded with a voice vote and the minutes state "motion carries."