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TO:
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Board Members
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FROM:
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Pedro E. Garcia, Ed.D.
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DATE:
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October 28, 2005
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RE:
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Board Letter - October 28, 2005
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MEMORANDUM
CHRIS HENSON, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS AND FACILITY SERVICES
Joe A. Edgens, Executive Director, Facilities and Operations
Surplus Property – Turner School – The old Turner School was declared surplus on February 24, 1998. As required in the original deed, the property originally donated to the school system and the building on that site were turned over to the heirs of the property donor. In 1952 and 1953, the Board of Education purchased lots 98 and 99 behind the school property which total approximately 0.735 acres, as shown on the attached drawing. These two parcels were not included in the original deed and, therefore, remain in our inventory. Some years back, a playground was constructed on this remaining property and is still being used by neighborhood children.
Recently, I was contacted by Ms. Amanda McClendon, Council Representative for the 16th Council District, about transferring the remaining “Turner School” property to the Board of Parks and Recreation for the construction of a new neighborhood playground. A letter is attached from Mr. Roy Wilson, Director of Metro Parks and Recreation, expressing interest.
A recommendation will be included on the next Board meeting agenda that these lots be declared surplus for the purpose of transferring them to the Department of Parks and Recreation.
SANDRA TINNON, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR K-12 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
A parent from Stratton Elementary contacted the Administrative Services Department and spoke with the PreK-4 Executive Tier Director, Dr. Greg Patterson, about the concern of her fourth grade child possibly encountering peanut products at school. The child has a severe allergy to any type of peanut products. Dr. Greg Patterson contacted the principal, Mrs. Constance Hayes, and a discussion was conducted as to ways this concern might be satisfactorily resolved. Below is a list of actions the school implemented to address the issue:
- Parent has conferenced on-site school nurse(s) on numerous occasions
- Cafeteria staff notified of allergy issues
- Notices sent to parents of ALL Taylor Stratton student families
- Meetings with school nurse, cafeteria manager, guidance counselor, Vanderbilt School Clinician and parent held
- ALL students at Taylor Stratton grade K-4 participated in a Protect a Life Learning Session (PALS) conducted by licensed nurses provided by Vanderbilt (on site). These were individual grade level sessions with demonstrations, lecture, questions and answer periods.
- Students received certificates for their participation in PALS
- ALL staff at Taylor Stratton including cafeteria and housekeepers participated in a training session by the on site nurses. The training provided info on children with allergies, how to help information, shown the Epi-Pen, trained on how to use/administer the Epi-Pen medication and were given a summary of students with allergies, plan of action and told where all Epi-pens were located throughout the building.
- Strategies put in place in cases of substitute teachers
- S-Team held
- 504 devised via school nurse(s)
- Constant updates of ALL students with allergies including asthma and bee stings-info is provided to ALL staff
- Additional note sent to ALL parents when parent reported that the child is now allergic to cinnamon
- Parent request of ongoing reminders honored
The mother wants her child to eat cafeteria food in spite of all of her concerns.
Dr. Patterson also contacted Metro Legal for advice and shared the actions implemented by the school. Ms. Rachel Fardon, attorney, stated in a written communication that from her perspective, the district has acted appropriately in responding to the parent’s concerns.
In addition, a planning conference was held between Dr. Patterson, Dr. Tina M. Bozeman, Coordinator of Lifetime Wellness, Physical Education, JROTC, and School Health Services, Mr. Jay Nelson, Food Service Coordinator, and
Ms. Deborah Walker, Nutrition Coordinator. The school actions were discussed and Mr. Nelson and Ms. Walker have followed up by communicating with the school’s cafeteria manager.
The faculty and staff seem to be diligently working for the well-being of this child. They are continually alert to any possible signs of an allergic reaction this child may exhibit. As stated above, all faculty members have been trained by the nurse on the proper procedures to use in the event of an emergency.
WOODY MCMILLIN, PUBLIC INFORMATION AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS
During the week of October 24, Public Information Office staff:
- worked toward the completion of the 2004-2005 MNPS Annual Report,
- provided support and attended the regular and special meetings of the Board of Public Education and the Moving Forward Together meeting, and the Parents Advisory Council meeting,
- assisted with a press conference conducted by Tennessee First Lady Andrea Conte,
- represented MNPS at the Mayor’s Neighborhood Conference held October 21, and the Mayor’s Night Out, held October 25,
- fielded calls from the media involving numerous shootings and guns in and around schools throughout the district, Dr. Garcia’s contract, zoning recommendations for the Antioch cluster, budget information, Katrina students and families, and other subjects.
- continued work on the new web site, and considerable time was given to translating content from website into Spanish, developing a list of frequently asked questions for the website, and ironing out access issues to the new website launched this week,
- continued plans for Principal for a Day,
- worked on the employee directory,
- worked the Dell Computer Contest,
- worked on updating school profiles,
- arranged a special informational meeting for Antioch-area council members (Bradley, Coleman and Wilhoite) to explain capacity/new school issues.
PEG/jw
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