Tennessee / School Districts / Lakeland
Superintendent reported the district has been closed for six days due to ice; maintenance crews continued daily work, city public works assisted, and kindergarten interim report cards may be delayed because teachers must evaluate children in person.
Tennessee / School Districts / Lakeland
CTE director Chad Uhiron told the board Lakeland Prep’s first-year work‑based learning program includes about 78 students (36 in general work‑based learning), a range of school‑based enterprises and career practicums, and new medical partnerships to host student rotations in spring.
Tennessee / School Districts / Lakeland
Legislative liaison reported a Tennessee School Boards Association‑sponsored bill (HB1056 / SB989) seeks to allow full‑time staff (not only teachers) to get a 25% discount at public colleges; she said the bill has a fiscal note of $45,000,000.
Tennessee / School Districts / Lakeland
After debate about preserving the 'Preparatory' brand, the Lakeland School System board voted to name the new grades 5–8 school 'Lakeland Middle Preparatory School.' An earlier amendment to name it 'Lakeland Middle School' failed before the board approved the amended resolution.
Tennessee / School Districts / Lakeland
At its January meeting the board elected Laura Harrison as chair and Jeremy Burnett as vice chair, approved committee and independent hearing officer appointments, adopted a new unassigned fund-balance policy (second reading) and approved clarifying amendments to the 2025–26 fees list.
Tennessee / School Districts / Lakeland
Finance staff presented the annual OPEB actuarial valuation showing a large improvement in funded ratio and recommended continuing pay-as-you-go retiree premium payments plus a $150,000 transfer from the general fund to accelerate funding.
Tennessee / School Districts / Lakeland
Board legislative liaison Michelle Childs briefed the board on the Tennessee General Assembly session and summarized a recent comptroller study that raised questions about ESA background-check monitoring and low parent survey response rates for voucher programs.
Tennessee / School Districts / Lakeland
The district selected Bureau Veritas to perform a facilities condition assessment; site visits at Lakeland Preparatory, Lakeland Elementary and the district office are scheduled to begin in February with final reports due a few weeks after inspections to inform capital planning.
Tennessee / School Districts / Lakeland
The board amended academic policies to align practice and policy: dual-enrollment courses earning three or more college credits will count as one high-school credit for graduation, semester dual-enrollment courses will be calculated as semester courses for GPA/ranking, class rank will not be published (available on request), and limited early-graduation rules were clarified.
Tennessee / School Districts / Lakeland
The Lakeland School System Board of Education approved a resolution directing the superintendent to establish a separate middle school (grades 5–8) on the Lakeland Preparatory campus beginning in the 2026–27 school year; the board voted to move forward, and the superintendent will return recommended next steps and a name for the middle school.