Tennessee / School Districts / Hamilton County
Chief of student supports Jasmine Fernandez told the board the Opportunity 2030 initiative met its primary objective reducing students with multiple exclusionary infractions and identified 1,007 children eligible for McKinney‑Vento services; the presentation covered RTI2‑B, professional development and bullying‑response improvements.
Tennessee / School Districts / Hamilton County
Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise proposed leasing two Hamilton County School parcels on West 40th to build roughly 75 workforce units for district employees and first responders; CNE would finance and manage the development while the district would retain land ownership. The board will consider an option‑to‑lease on Jan. 15.
Tennessee / School Districts / Hamilton County
The board approved a six-month contract with lobbyist Robert Gowen at $3,500 per month, down from a prior $5,000 arrangement; the decision was procedural and passed on roll call.
Tennessee / School Districts / Hamilton County
After lengthy debate over authority, public input and developer influence, the board adopted a capacity-management policy (framework) by a 7–2 vote; a joint motion to approve rezoning tied to District 2 failed earlier.
Tennessee / School Districts / Hamilton County
The school board approved accepting about $7 million in school-based mental-health funding over four years to increase psychologists’ pay, recruit staff and fund a grant manager post. Board members pressed for clarity on pay scales, duration and internal equity before voting.
Tennessee / School Districts / Hamilton County
Committee reviewed the district’s 2026 legislative priorities—pushing for an annual inflation adjustment to TISA, correcting economically disadvantaged counts, increasing weights for highest-need special-education students, funding for infrastructure and mandated services, and other items that mirror TSBA priorities.
Tennessee / School Districts / Hamilton County
The Hamilton County Policy and Legislative Committee voted by consensus to send a suite of personnel-policy revisions to the full board for second and final reading in December, including updated recruitment language, retirement clarifications and background‑check provisions; educator‑diversity language was debated and reworded to emphasize intent rather than mandate.
Tennessee / School Districts / Hamilton County
Administration recommended dropping CLASS membership and contracting individually with a state advocate (name referenced in the packet) for a six‑month trial to support legislative work; proposed cost is lower than current CLASS fees and the administration will present a contract for the board to vote on.
Tennessee / School Districts / Hamilton County
The committee discussed separating work sessions from voting meetings under Policy 1.4 to give administration time to respond to public input, but members voiced concerns about added travel burden for the public and trustees; the item was left in committee for further work.
Tennessee / School Districts / Hamilton County
ABM told the facilities committee weekly inspections, a QR feedback system and fall‑break catch‑up produced notable inspection‑score gains (about an 11‑point district average improvement). ABM said staffing is improving (lowest zone ~91%) and starting pay ranges from about $13 to $20 per hour.