So, I think moving forward, I'll get with Dr. Coglianese so we can start that and hopefully have something bring it to the board, everybody look it over, and I guess the goal would be to have something implemented by maybe September so that we can possibly for next school year have a student, possibly a student uh board representative. That is excellent. And and see, that's the whole precept about the community board engagement, students. They have a voice at the table. Okay? And we want them to actually have a voice at the table. And we can get out in front of things that because we're hearing from our students. That just give that much more power. >> And some of our students in that in in that are going down that path, it's amazing experience. >> We We saw We did see some of that. I mean, just look at some of the things that have been presented to us in the last 7, 8 months.
So, I'm proud of all of you guys. Congratulations. So, the the skills and the opportunities I think are especially important and as a board member I want to say to those who may say these look like just trips, they're actually extremely important to building who you will like to see come back and be leaders, come back and show what we are capable of as all of them, but in generally in and as much as just the people, our resilience, our confidence, and our ability to to to do these types of things has has and will always be there. So, I want to thank you guys for being the examples, being exemplary in what you're doing. Um it's not easy. Trust me. It takes a long time, and I'm glad that you are learning now how to be able to do these types of things because it will take you extremely far.
So again, from 2019 through 2025 and you can go ahead and go to the ELA and then if you want to go to the science. Okay. And then this final slide is going to show you the state assessments passing percentages. Again, with our um with our local we I mean we if we were to look at all of our operational peerroup data, we would see very similar numbers between them, but what people always want to know is how are we doing though compared to SH and Snowflake? I mean, that's always a big question. And so, we just want to make sure that the information is out there so that you can see a clear comparison between those numbers. Okay, what questions can I answer with all that information? This is probably more of an observation, but in a in a sense, our our years of service is kind of a negative as far as the average teacher salary because you would think if we have a higher average, you know, teachers who've been here a long time, our salary should be higher.
So these are going to be the findings that we ended up on our final audit from the from the previous fiscal year. So we um we were coding some non-technology repairs to a fund number that is no longer to a object code that is no longer accepted. They go under the breakdown between educational technology and regular technology. So that's what the first one is. There's a 16430. We have one check that they found that was deposited after 8 days and not within the 7 days. Um so that was one of 12. Um we didn't have anything within the governing board. We had nothing within budgeting, nothing within inventory, property control, um expenditures, travel, credit cards. Um, when we get further down into procurement um some cooperative contracts that we use Omnia and save. Do you do diligence? We did due diligence on those, but we didn't do it on the specific vendors.
Some of our students I'm telling you, amazing. So, it's just if you're going to go in this sort of whether you're going to go in this field, but you're in that arena, you know, coming here and having that kind of experience, listening and learning how it functions, Robert's Rules, following them. And maybe one day they will find themselves officially behind this table with that with that big income. Just kidding. All right, thanks, Phil. Thanks, all. Madam State of Updates. Um I've got a very special news to share uh this evening. I believe I sent something out to the board a little while ago about our very first spelling bee. There's a spelling bee that's conducted at the regional office. Yeah. >> [applause] >> And I believe this is our first time we've had a declared winner. >> Oh my god, I got to get this on video.
Um so I 100% am 100 a thousand percent proud of you and I will stand up every time to be able to utilize that we have funds that we have to be able to send kids and anyone that is interested shows the the commitment, the confidence, the ability and it also uh provides just the simplicity of of of of the the essence. I think you guys are extremely gifted, talented, and I want to say thank you so much again and congratulations. >> [applause] >> Thank you for those encouraging words and family, thank you for watching our video because uh if you ever step on the intermediate campus, you will see exactly what was on those videos. They may not be exactly like how it is in the video, but we similar. We have adopted the Ron Clark Academy ways of teaching and engagement. So our classrooms are not just sitting in rows where you're just sitting there watching the teacher teach.
Um, so I was kind of interesting when you pulled up the the Xolo Snowflake there, uh, average years of service is less than ours, but their salaries are higher. >> Um, and so I think that's something that we should probably pay attention to and try to uh remedy as much as possible. I know that's not that might take some magic wand stuff, but um, >> we're working on that, >> but certainly something to to consider, >> right? >> Um, and obviously those state testing scores are are concerning as well. I I know that in uh we changed testing at the for the high school at least um we went to the ACT. So I don't know and I'm sure that's why there was a drop from what was it 18 to to 21 but >> when compared to everybody else we're still not not quite measuring up.
So, the next time we do any purchasing using a contract through Omnia or purchasing, we need to make sure that we're doing the due diligence and background checks on those. Um, we had that one emergency procurement um, for when the sewer was backed up and we had um, the sewage backing up and we already had plumbers here on site. Um we did not prepare a formal written statement documenting the basis for the emergency why we selected that contractor and why the price paid was reasonable. Um, we chose them because they were here and they were already working on the plumbing in another area, so so because we didn't specifically write it down, they gave us that finding um, the sole source document, we had no changes to it, so we didn't bring it up for any approvals. Um, but this the auditor general's office also wants a new form on their sole source.
>> Ms. Frisbee so to come on up with our young [applause] gentleman. Oh my goodness. Oh man. And hi. >> Kingston McGee. >> [clears throat] >> Hi. This is Kingston McGee. Kingston's our sixth grader. He's 11 years old and he is representing our county at the DC Scripps Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. at the end of May. Oh my god. We're so excited. Oh man, that's so >> [applause] >> good. Absolutely. First ever in the history of Cooper Middle School as far as we know. And so there's no record of anyone else. So he's a record holder as well now with us and we're super excited for him. Yeah. Do you want to say something? >> [laughter] >> You don't have to. Well, let him spell a word. He can spell some words. I love it. What was the word you went you won with in our building?
It's actually getting up, moving around, doing cheers, doing a lot a lot of engagement where the students are getting up and talking. We're not just sitting there with our hoods on. We are actually talking and having fun. So if you see our houses around, right now we are in the house of Revere. So if you see our sign back here, they took over the board there because it is their month. But we do share how four different houses and um the primary and the high school also has it their campus. So if you see them, say hi because they are proud of their house and they represent it their house very well. And they saw how the teachers and the staff were at the Ron Clark and they're like, "Oh, now I get it. Now I know what my teacher is trying to do in my classroom." And so, we are trying we're making the change in our classrooms to come out of our comfort zone to be more engaged so that our students are more successful when they go out into the real world.
So, and I know there's a lot of other factors in there, but it's >> yeah, >> it is definitely something that we are >> all very aware of though and working hard to to remedy. I mean there are you know a lot of factors you're right um both internal and external factors that um you know that we are working on and I think um you know I think everybody is working well together and I can actually I mean I can attest to the um you know as far as the testing is going um our everybody is it is amazing to see you know as the district test coordinator I get to kind of see it from a bigger picture um and the amount of work that goes into making sure that we're getting 100% of our students tested and making sure that they have a quiet environment to be testing and you know that part is that's um it's been incredible.
So, we have that, you guys have already approved that that new document. Um, there were no findings within the classroom site fund, no findings within payroll or financial reporting. Within student attendance um, we had two elementary two elementary students and a junior high students tested that they did not accurately calculate partial day attendance. Um so we put them in for full day absences based upon their minutes and their minutes actually showed them being a half day and then the other one was vice- was just the opposite. Um and then the other another finding with the student attendance was we have one student who was supposed to show up uh on on on a specific date and it had that date on their paperwork. They were sick that day so they didn't show up until the next day. So the date on the paperwork and the date on the computer didn't match.
Say it again. Okay, what was the word you won with at the county spelling bee? Blasphema? Blasphema? Spell it. Yeah, cuz I'm like what is he saying? B l a s t e m a Yep, I didn't know how to spell that one. Yeah, it's a great [laughter] He's Kingston is very Did you did you ask the question, can you give me the origin? Or can you use it in a sentence? Did you use those things tools? Did you did you get to that point where you had to ask those questions? No. Oh, that That just means you're that much better. I just say he was very confident at the building spelling bee too. He was super confident. I'm trying to How do you spell What I heard he was really good at it when went through all the rounds at the county bee bee so we were super proud to hear that he won.
So, thank you. >> [applause] >> In the spirit of celebration, we'll move on to our barbecue and our school district students of the month. Please help me put your hands together to welcome our elementary primary uh principal, Ms. Enriques, so to present our students of the month. Parents, if you may be the first time again, uh when you hear your name, come over here, shake everybody's hand, hear the beautiful message that the school is going to share about you, and families, you're part of the success. Then you can go forward, and you get to take a picture with your child. You get a chance to decide what you want in your picture. Feel what you want. You want a heart? Thumbs up? Number one? Peace? Rock and roll? Rock and roll? Your name is I'm confused already. Thank you all for being here. Um we do have seating.
But you know it's really is um identifying the factors that are leading up to that that are you know that's the part that we are we're we're working really hard to identify. >> Test scores aren't the end all be all but a lot of people will use them as comparisons for other schools in the area. So >> right >> just just for clarification for folks that might not understand operational spending and nonoperational spending. Can you define those two? >> Sure. So our operational spending is going to be everything that's everything that's going into our our classroom spending. And actually can you go back to that slide? Let me pull that back up again. I'm sorry. Almost there. There we go. Yeah. So, if you take a look at the top of it, you're going to So, everything that's our operational spending is listed on that lefthand side.
So they they found that and made that finding. And we were having some issues uploading our our getting our ADM to match with what ADE was reporting. Um so we understated our ADM our membership by 103 and our absences by 3,403. So it was just a matter of getting what we were reporting in our system to upload correctly with ADE. Um that has also been corrected. There were no findings with NIT, technology, records management, or with our long-term debt. So with that I will open it up to y'all for discussions and any approvals. We can go through the financial part of the audit if you like. I was just giving you the the high the the overview of what they had actually found while they were here. And while they were here. Cuz they they spent three days here on site. A lot of the other work and stuff that we had to upload and send to them.
It was a surprise for all of us. So I'm sorry, what's the next step? DC And when is that? The Scripps spelling bee. And when is that? Uh end of May, May 20 late May. So he could be on ESPN? Yeah, he could be. Oh yeah, so we can watch? Oh yeah. Oh man, get the popcorn. You can watch it on it comes on ESPN. Are you It's on the ION uh network so on TV. On TV. Oh okay. Okay, party's over your house? Let's go get the popcorn. >> [laughter] >> Wow. He's been practicing every day. So I was going to ask that like how do you practice to be the spelling bee champ? Like do you just randomly open a dictionary and you find like eight letter words or what does that look like? Well, no I actually prepare myself. I focus on root words in Greek and Latin.
Please come forward. We don't charge extra. And then you have come over here, come in the middle. Be part of the celebration. Go ahead, Ms. Enriques. All right. Good evening, President Bondia, governing board members, superintendent, and community members. Our first student of the month is from Ms. Sharice's pre-K classroom, and that is Aleah Escalante. >> [applause] >> Aleah is a great student to have in the classroom. She comes in with a positive attitude and is ready to learn. She is always willing to help others when needed. She always does her her best and isn't afraid to ask for help if needed. When she was asked what she would like to be when she grows up, she would like to be a firefighter. >> [applause] [applause] >> Our next student is from Miss Black's kindergarten class, Aspen Lewis. >> [applause] [applause] >> Aspen is a wonderful student who truly deserves this award.
So, that's our classroom spending and our non-classroom spending dollars. So, instruction, student support, the instruction support, and then non-classroom spending, but still in that operational side, is all of our administration dollars, plan operations, food service, and then our transportation dollars. And if you slide to the other side of it, land and buildings. So, this is going to be all of the this is our um this is our you know our buildings all the the bricks and mortar um as well as the equipment and then interest on um bond dollars from you know previous um on on previous bonds any kind of interest that we have um that's all of our nonoperational spending and so relatively I mean we we have our non-operational spending is is low um >> do we still have to count the old elementary school in those figures? >> Yes. Yes. >> Any other questions from any anybody?
I have a quick question. Yes, sir. Yeah. Um Ruth had some questions last meeting regarding the audit of the consolidated equity accounts. You say she had some questions the audit in the last meeting. Was that Drew, do you mean the auditor general's versus the audit? Read read that again.