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Lakeland School System District board meeting, Aug 10, 2026

1 h 02 min · 0 public speakers

Reading and test scores ▶ 31:12

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Lakeland board approves superintendent contract with 4-year term and 4% pay increase 26:39

  • The board approved a contract for the superintendent with a 4-year term, which Laura Harrison said is the maximum allowed by state law, and a 4% increase in pay. 26:29
  • District instructional staff presented 2025⁠-⁠2026 academic data showing about 64% of students proficient in English language arts and 60% in math, and set goals of 68% and 65%. 33:03
  • The board also approved a committee, a set of resolutions and industry credentials for criminal justice classes. 51:44

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Item by item (13)
  1. Opening and roll call 4:23
    • Jeremy Burnett led a prayer, and the meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. 4:30
    • After the roll call, Laura Harrison said the board had a quorum and that this was the board's only meeting of the month. 6:23
  2. Public comment 6:33
    • Laura Harrison asked whether anyone from the public wished to speak and heard no one. 6:37
  3. Student and sponsor recognitions 6:42
    • The superintendent recognized students who qualified for the state tennis championships, along with the team's coach as a faculty sponsor. 6:42
    • Students who attended Tennessee Governor's School this summer were recognized, as were students who qualified for the TSA State Leadership Conference. 10:50
    • A student who earned Eagle Scout was also recognized. 15:25
  4. Superintendent's report 21:33
    • The superintendent reported a smooth first 3 days of school and said the windows approved at the last meeting are being ordered. 21:44
    • The superintendent congratulated district staff members on technology awards and a behavioral threat assessment trainer certification. 21:44
    • The superintendent said drainage work is underway on the baseball and softball fields at Lakeland Preparatory School and sod work is essentially complete at Lakeland Elementary School, with teachers and parents asked to stay off it until after Labor Day. 22:20
  5. Financial and legislative liaison reports 24:40
    • The superintendent said finance staff are preparing for the annual audit. 24:40
    • In response to a question from Laura Harrison, a staff member said expenditures are where they should be compared with the budget. 25:23
    • The superintendent said the legislative liaison's work would be reflected in the resolutions later on the agenda. 25:45
  6. Approval of the agenda 26:14
    • The board took up a motion to approve the agenda. 26:14
    • Laura Harrison announced the motion passed. 26:26
  7. Superintendent contract 26:29
    • Laura Harrison said the board had authorized talks on a 4-year contract, the maximum under Tennessee law, and that the contract includes a 4% increase in pay. 26:39
    • Jeremy Burnett thanked Laura Harrison for leading the discussions, and Deborah Thomas described the superintendent attending student events such as middle school basketball games. 27:51
    • Laura Harrison announced the motion passed. 30:17
  8. Consent agenda 30:24
    • The consent agenda had 5 items. 30:24
    • At the request of Deborah Thomas, item 5, approval of industry credentials for criminal justice classes, was removed for separate discussion. 30:38
    • Laura Harrison announced the consent agenda was approved. 31:07
  9. Academic data presentation 31:12
    • A presenter from the Department of Instruction reported about 64% proficiency in English language arts, 60% in math and 75.6% in social studies, and said science and growth scores were not yet available. 31:43
    • One board member asked that future presentations include state-level scores for comparison, and another board member noted that the student subgroups are identified at the state level. 34:10
    • The presenter said the district aims to raise English language arts achievement to 68% and math to 65%. 35:05
  10. Facilities Planning Committee 50:40
    • The superintendent said creating a Facilities Planning Committee was a goal of the board's 5-year strategic plan and proposed members including district leaders, the 3 principals and a parent representative. 50:40
    • Laura Harrison made a motion to approve the committee members. 51:38
    • The chair announced the committee was approved. 51:44
  11. State school boards association resolutions 52:02
    • A district staff member described resolutions the board could submit to the Tennessee School Boards Association, covering educator license reinstatement, teaching permits for high-need positions, network infrastructure and cybersecurity, the HOPE Scholarship and dual enrollment, and special education preschool funding. 52:18
    • One board member described reinstating a teaching license and said the resolution on lapsed licenses could add to the pool of candidates for district schools. 56:33
    • Jeremy Burnett thanked a person who was absent for background work on the items and for keeping up with the legislature. 57:19
    • The chair announced the motion passed and all resolutions were approved. 57:54
  12. Criminal justice industry credentials 58:04
    • A district staff member said the free credential, offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is an introduction to the National Incident Management system for criminal justice students. 58:13
    • Deborah Thomas asked whether the courses would receive extra quality points because of the credential. 59:01
    • The chair announced the motion passed. 59:56
  13. Announcements 1:00:06
    • A staff member announced that power was out at both schools, with generators running, 468 customers affected and an estimated restoration time of 7:30. 1:00:14
    • The board voted to adjourn. ~1:01:13

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “LSS BOE Business Meeting 8-10-26”