And so, um I think we're going to work next year and see if we can incorporate a little more of that into our regular routine. So, we're hearing from our students more often. They have awesome things to say. They have great perspectives and ultimately it's their school experience. So, we want to hear from them what is working for them and what is not. uh strategic planning committee. We had our unofficial last meeting together and uh we really put a lot of the finishing touches on the concepts of the strategic plan. Uh between now and the next meeting, uh the leadership team and I are going to work on kind of refining that in um making it look a little more like a finished product and then bringing uh that draft back to the committee in miday uh and hopefully finalizing that. So we're excited about that work and and again a lot of the work that is in the strategic plan are things that um were identified by the group things that are currently happening that we want to strengthen and some things that are currently happening but we want to spend a little more time and and and intention on moving forward.
And by actively talking with the veterans, I'm able to hear about their individual stories and how it impacted them, not only right now, but in the past as well. In turn, veterans also end up being able to go outside and talk with us as well, encouraging them to exercise their brain physically, mentally, and emotionally, remembering the memories that they once earned and how the emotions that came with it affected them. In turn, also, the younger community can learn how to appreciate the veterans for what they've done and also grow out of their shell. as we end up looking at them and we end up being with them. I think it personally helps me because I was able to not only see myself but other people also grow out of their shell which really does show and I really appreciate. And while we obviously could improve ourselves with our advertisement and our interviews which we can spread throughout our ITV, you keep going.
I'm Gene O'Neal. If you don't know who I am, I'm your Bullhead City Councilman. I live about two blocks over that way. So, I'm in your neighborhood all the time. Yeah. Hi. It it it surprises me that I'm a knucklehead and I haven't been here before, but I plan on coming a little bit more. And what I'm here to do is offer my services to the boards, the principles of the other schools, or anybody that needs my assistance with anything. I'm not a miracle worker, but I'm a good guy that'll try to help out. I I got this idea because I got asked to read at Diamond Back Elementary School and I got to read to all the third grade grade kids and it was I'm a grandpa and I'm a dad and uh that just warmed my heart. Those kids are amazing. Those kids are amazing.
Uh the feedback has been really really good. We had a safety team meeting today, district safety team meeting. Um, and Amber's done a great job of collecting some teacher feedback along the way. And I think one of the number one things we've heard so far is just the Alice training promotes, um, decision making based off of the scenarios that are presented. So, um, autonomy in how we know each crisis situation is not the same. And so being able to continue the trainings and the tools and the resources to be able to try to be as proactive as we can uh but leaving autonomy to teachers and and staff uh that are with kids to make the best decision given the scenario in front of them. So that is that has been good. Uh curriculum instruction assessment uh teacher evaluation rubric committee met this past Monday and finalized our new rubric for 2627.
Any discussion? All those in favor? 7-0. And next, high ability coordinator. Stipend. Yes, these are stipends and I'm asking for approval. Um these are from the high ability um grant and they've been paid annually and it's for work outside of contracted time for these four teachers. And the names are in your packet. Entertain a motion to approve. So moved. Motion by Kurt. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Cheryl.
>> Okay. Okay. Yeah. So, >> no, I told her I'd get it to her tomorrow. I knew we'd be discussing it tonight. >> Okay. >> She has this draft, but it's not posted yet. >> Okay. >> But if somebody were have called today and asked for it, she had this. >> Got it. So in remind me on the 30th it can still be changed on the 30th absolutely tweet right. >> So if on the 30th you decide take out this paragraph rewrite it that's perfectly acceptable. >> Okay. >> I think it's I think it's um I think it's great if we can make as few changes as possible without reinventing the wheel. Um but I think the changes made here actually are >> I think they're impactful. The three to five I think is I think is great to keep it keep it flexible depending on the pro you know the project a >> lot more palatable to do it per project than for three years.
Uh little update on the budget as indicated before in the finance meeting in case you attended that. Uh interest rates did come in a little bit lower than we projected. So there was a little bit of cost savings to the board um of $54,767 for our budget. Um and that decreased our original ask from 5.1% down to 4.84%. We have a budget we have a finance meeting following this meeting this evening. And then we have two public hearings this year. We encourage everybody to attend and share your perspectives, your thoughts, your ideas. They'll be at the town hall at 7:15 at night on April 21st and April 28th. U we received a lot of good feedback from the community at the coffee and conversations and hopefully uh that trend will continue at the public meetings. Couple facilities updates. Um unfortunately we had a little bit of an issue with water the other day at Bolton High School.
You keep keep going. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, we also wish that it also is important for the school to show that we are not only a program not like band and choir which of course are diverse in their own way but JRTC is very misjudged and we'd hope that you would show that a little bit more. If we work together for this act, not only can we bring more awareness to our JOTC drill, but also our day classes if they're reinstated as a career pathway, so we can bring even more students into this. Thank you so much for listening to us. >> Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Natalyia Morrow. Um good evening. Today I will be talking about the JRTC program. Over time in our JRTC program we have seen numbers f fall and rise leaving us currently with around 84 students in our zero period program.
I actually spent a lot of time all over the world. I was in the army for 20 years and I retired as a first sergeant out of the United States Army. It was with the 82nd Airborne Division. So, I'm used to unruly people. So, the kids were well behaved. I was surprised to see we have a lot of Filipino teachers there, which is awesome to me. I spent a year in the Philippines and my daughter that my oldest daughter is a Filipino, half Filipino and American. So, I got to talk a little with the teachers and stuff, which was amazing to me that I got to do that. Uh, what I'm here is I got a bunch of my cards. It's got my personal number, my personal email. This is not a city thing. This is Gene O'Neal thing. just reaching out to you guys.
So that is um super exciting. Um super proud of that group. Um it's it has been a true example of a a collaborative team working towards um honestly a very very big task uh when we're looking at something like that. And so it is truly a shared vision, a shared rubric um and next steps will be for communication to cur occur at buildings uh later this month. So uh we are are excited and and couldn't be more proud with with what that group's turned out. So uh tiered systems of support for mathematics. Uh just kind of an update here on this is a required component of MTSS for 2627. The main piece being with math. Um it is K8 but um elementary is used to kind of living more in the the tiered instruction world. So this has been a different lens for our middle school to need to look at and um Mrs.
Any discussion? All those in favor? 7-0. Um next we'll go down to recommendations. Yes, asking for approval of the following recommendations, please. Megan Buchanan, Jennings County High School teacher to half-time Jennings County High School teacher, half-time Jennings County School Corp District instructional coach with a math focus. Career increment master teacher stipend for the years 2026 through 2030-31 for Hannah Cooper. Courtney Christians, Graham Creek Elementary instructional coach to Graham Creek Elementary principal. And Samantha Law, Sand Creek Elementary instructional coach to half-time Sand Creek Elementary assistant principal and half-time district instructional coach with a math focus. Entertain So, a motion? I have a motion by Marilyn. Do I have a second? Second Second by Travis.
>> Yeah I I think so you know it's hard to I mean it's hard enough to get you know people to sign up for five years for this board or three years or whatever. Um and and hopefully then yeah we would get people for you know for that list. So, >> all right. So, it is 7:51. We are still uh Anna said um she would be here at 8. So, we still have nine minutes. >> Did you want to continue now? >> Oh, I think yeah, they can do it. >> Yeah, >> I guess I I got three. >> Yeah, I just enough to continue. You got to wait for >> I don't think we need to. >> I don't think so. But >> yeah, it's just continuing. So, you don't need >> Yeah. Does it >> And I think I can do that. I'm just not going to vote.
They were able to get in and rectify it temporarily. Unfortunately, the the weld booster drives uh are obsolete and we can no longer get parts for them. So, we can't repair them anymore. They have to be replaced. So, we'll be replacing those. Um John Butchovics is on it. Um and he's going to get those done uh in short order. And then moving forward, just to put it on our radar again, we'll be needing to replace the wireless access points next year, which is going to be uh a significant cost. So, we're planning uh planning for that that upcoming cost.
But that but as of yesterday we discovered only juniors, seniors and dayclass students count as being in the actual program. So why do we do this? Why are freshman and sophomores not considered a part of this actual program? We believe it is unfair in this approach due to the fact we have the required amount of students for our program in our zero period. Although many students at first join the program for a PE credit, I feel as though it should also be considered being in the program. We all do the same thing. So why shouldn't those who join for PE credit go towards our numbers in the program too? Many of these students end up staying in the program till junior and senior year. So why choose for freshman and sophomores not to be a part of it when they put their hard work and effort into this program as much as others?
I'll leave them with the secretary here so you can pass them out and feel free to share my number with teachers or or anybody at the schools that think I can come over and read the kids or just give you talking or whatever. I was an army recruiter for a long time. I I did a lot of different things in the world. I'm from Bridgeport, Connecticut on the other side of the country and I've lived in 40 out of I've been in 40 out of 50 states. I've been all over Europe and Asia. So, there's a lot of things I've done that uh that I might be able to give back. I have no problem doing that. Uh this is not a political move because I could care less about my politics or any of that stuff. This is just me offering my services to help out.
Hos and her team has done a great job of putting a plan together for that. And um so they've been on it from the beginning and having the conversations with their their teams and um and they have a solid plan moving forward. Uh AP training, Dr. Riker initiated um a little while back uh us hosting a uh AP training here with uh College Board. And so that occurred um just this past week and um super super great training. Uh teachers were excited about it. Uh we had two different sessions. So we had two different presenters from college board um one on argumentative writing in the morning and then quantitative analysis in the afternoon. So um great resources to take from that and also some some strategies and and glean into the AP um exam and uh the questions. So in the afternoon it was it was fun to watch the teachers.
Any discussion? All those in favor? 7-0. And if you don't mind, I'd like to introduce several of those new administrative leaders are here in the in um in the room. >> [cough] >> Yeah, absolutely. [clears throat] Cindy Law is well, cuz she was in the same >> Yes, ma'am. Yes, um cuz um Cindy Law was in the consent consent agenda items, but Cindy is transferring from Sand Creek Elementary assistant principal to Sand Creek Elementary principal. So, we're happy to have Cindy Law 2027. Yes. Cindy Law here with us, Samantha Law, Courtney Christians. So, if you all will come up, we'd love to congratulate you. And you want to >> [applause] >> Who did you bring with you this evening, Cindy? >> [clears throat] >> I have my husband, Clinton. Welcome. And Courtney, it looks like you have some special guests as well. >> I have half of my family here.
>> Right. Because there's no discussion. There's no material. >> Trying to think what I can do and what I can't do because I'm still not uh >> Yeah. >> Excuse yourself. Do you have to step out for us to make the motion? Well, the the the the funny thing is so um so as you I I'm I refuse myself from from this project 55 Tilton because um because the owner of that building is my landlord, but um I am moving out of that building um as of June 1st. I'm moving into a home setting up a home office for myself after >> You sure? I've seen your office. >> That's pretty nice. >> Got a lot of space at home. >> What? >> Enough space. Yeah, I do have enough space at home. So, um but yeah, so uh so um I will be moving out of that building.
>> Does anyone have any questions? >> I was hoping somebody would ask what a well booster drive is. >> Um it is um >> yes the drive. It's in the well. Do you want do you actually want an answer? Okay. So, like your house as well as out back that goes into a large system that to provide the pressure to the big building. There's the booster pumps, big motors that that run at different speeds depending on what's called for and the digital electronics to control those speeds. They're called drives. We had a similar failure a two years ago >> on one of the heating system is the same technology. It's end of life and that's what it >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Thanks, Mr. We think that we have the money in John's budget for that. >> Yes. >> Hope to >> just a quick question.
No matter what grade, we as students go out of our way to show our school spirit. I agree that JTC should be kept as an opportunity for lower grades to get PE credits, but undeniably lower but undeniably they are also a part of this JC program. This program has helped us grow as students and individuals. Should you intend to give us another chance, we have asked our old CSI SAI Colonel McCall to return and he would be willing to return if the job listing reappears as he has fully recovered and has been medically cleared. We understand the root of why you have chosen to move our program, but we hope you understand where we come from, too. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you to all our student speakers that join us tonight. and we the board appreciates your civic engagement. Um and definitely definitely the best dressed in the room tonight.