001One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you all. And next on our agenda is the approval of the agenda. So I'll ask at this time if I hear a motion concerning the agenda that's before you. >> Mr. Chairman, I move we approve the agenda as submitted. >> All right. There's a motion to approve the agenda as submitted. Is there a second? >> Second. motion and a second to approve the agenda. Is there any discussion? If not, all those in favor of that motion to approve the agenda is submitted, please signify by saying I. >> I. All oppose. No. Motion carries and the agenda stands approved. Next is the approval of the minutes for the October the 20th and as well as the November the 10th uh meeting of the
002school board. Do I hear a motion at this time concerning those minutes? I make a motion that we approve the minutes for October the 20th, 2025, which was a regular call board meeting, and also November the 10th, 2025, the special call board meeting. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Frederick. Uh, you all have heard Miss Frederick's motion. Do I hear a second to that motion to approve the minutes of October the 20th as well as November the 10th, 2025? >> Second. >> Motion and a second to approve the minutes for October the 20th and November the 10th of 2025. Any discussion? If not, all those in favor of that motion to approve the minutes for both October the 20th and November the 10th, 2025 being a regular call board meeting in October 20th and the
003special call board meeting in November the 10th. Please signify by saying I. >> I. All oppose? No. That motion carries as well. And those minutes now stand approved. Next we have on the agenda is um the lift program. I see we've got Miss Elizabeth Greset here with us. And um Miss Keller, I guess you're going to do the introduction, so we'll call you up at this time. Please, ma'am. >> Certainly. Good evening, distinguished members of our board, Dr. Tullik and our viewing audience. Lift, lead, inspire, focus, and transform. During the 2024 2025 school year, Cal County partner Calvin County public schools had the opportunity to partner with Lyft to provide coaching and support for our teachers. The Lyft coaches co-plan, co-e with teachers. They conduct observations, give feedback, and offer support to reduce teacher turnover.
004Lyft is providing these services to us this school year at no cost to the district. This partnership is invaluable, offering high quality professional development and coaching that strengthens instruction and enhances student outcomes. Our lift team members, Dr. Elizabeth Greset, if you would please stand. Dr. Greset is a native of St. Matthews, South Carolina. She graduated from St. Matthews High School. She earned a BA in early childhood from Columbia College, a master's in special education, and a doctorate in educational administration from the University of South Carolina. Dr. Greset became the first executive director of the Pomemetto State Teachers Association in 1980. Dr. Greset was also awarded the Order of the Pimemetto by Governor Mark Sanford. Dr. Greset is the director of the Foundation for Professional Development. Thank you. Mrs. Janice Bell McDow will be presenting to
005you all tonight regarding the Lyft program. Mrs. McDow was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in education from the University of South Carolina and now works as a consultant for the foundation for professional development. Her career included services as dean of students, director of training at the department of education, adjunct professional adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina. And she's also earned several honors and awards including who's who among American high school teachers as well as teacher of the year. Ladies and gentlemen, Mrs. Janice Bill McDow, >> members of the board, Dr. Tal Tullik, as well as members of his staff, parents, and the reason that we are all here tonight, and that is our children in Calhoun County. My name is Janice Bell Mcdal and
006as my I always say my best years were in the classroom and as I look out in the audience this is the reason that I am continuing to work in the capacity I am here tonight. So I want to talk about a program that we have provided for Calhoun County public schools this year. It is called the lift program which is lead which works with the individuals in this uh school district. I present the title as uplifting teachers. I'm actually going to share a case as if I'm presenting it to you all as I am going before you all to be judged. And I'm sure we'll all look at the same outcome of this case. Why are why do we have live you all in the state of South Carolina? One of the biggest problems
007we have is teacher turnover and teachers leaving the profession within the first five years. We have very talented individuals who enter the profession of teaching but find it and they struggle within those years and then they leave. So what is the problem and how are we going to address it? The problem high teacher turnover and actually trying to keep these young these teachers in our schools. Almost half of the new teachers leave within a short period of time. And that is why one of the reasons why we are working with Calhoun counties students become attached to teachers in those first years and when they don't return that that impacts student achievement which is again why we are all here. I'm going to move this way so I'm not in front of you all. Okay. The
008program we are is individualized. We don't have a cookie cutter. We don't take that approach. It is personalized. We provide individualized instructional coaching for second and third year teachers. The state department requires firstear teachers to have a mentor, but we're taking it a step above. We're providing coaching which is at a higher level and is more detailed as with our approach. We provide strategic support that is aligned with the district. One of the things we come in and do first is we train and provide a very thorough orientation for the teachers and the participants with this program. We pro we monitor this. We don't just have coaches come in, they are monitored. We do a needs assessment. We constantly monitor and we provide accountability for those individuals working with the teachers. We it is a
009non evaluative coaching. We do not hire a fire. We come in to build support to help build capacity in those teacher with those teachers. How do we do this? We co-plan lessons. We co-e. We help them with classroom management. The best approach to solving classroom management is a good lesson. That's the way. When students are engaged, there are less problems in the classroom. We conduct observations, provide feedback for teachers working with the program because in the end we want to build trust. We want a collaborative approach with these teachers. We're not here to hire again or fire and that's where that capacity continues and we build points of cons consideration. Although we provide this service at no cost this year, there is a return on investment. It costs at least $18,000 to replace a teacher.
010And what we're doing is we're coming in to take whereas that money would go out in human resources. But in the end, the thing we look at most important with retaining teachers is the student achievement, the impact that's going to have. It is human- centered support. Again, not evaluative. We work with the individual. We go in, we build that trust and then we help them build capacity. Capacity building empowers the teacher. It makes them feel confident when they're working with students and that in the end helps them grow as a professional. in the end and at the very end of everything that we do and while we are all here and while we're right in front of student recognition is the fact that we want to increase student achie achievement data. We everything is based
011on the data from the teacher turnover to the capacity that we build to the impact this is having on our students. This we can really tell in the very end and as you look at the chart as we talk about data this is the the this is what you're going to find the results of after we implemented the program we started in Lexington 2 and you as you can see from our chart the number of teachers enrolled and the number of teachers would continue to be in the program but all to be in the profession which actually means being in our classroom and that is what we really look forward to um doing is building those relationships so that teachers can build positive relationships with our students. And there's no more powerful instrument we can
012use than a teacher who is empowered and that is how we work with this program. In the end, the lift program changes things. We come in and we make the changes necessary in the form of human changing changes and growth so that we can be so our teachers can better serve our students. Um at this time I'd like to bring forward Elizabeth Greset. >> I just wanted to make one comment. Um I grew up in St. Matthews, proud graduate of um St. Matthews High School and all my life wanted to be a teacher. and went through a wonderful program at Columbia College, got my first job teaching school in Okonome County, and that was pretty scary. I didn't have a curriculum, but I was fortunate enough to be put in a carpool with two ladies
013who between them had about a hundred years of experience. And every afternoon they'd say, "What'd you do today? How'd that work? What are you gonna do tomorrow?" And so it was coaching at its best. It was immediate. It was individualized. It was oneonone. And that's what we're trying to replicate with our Lyft program. We want to walk alongside these teachers. We want to help them. We want them to blossom and bloom so their kids achievement can um be increased. and we appreciate the opportunity to come and tell y'all about this program. Um, we were able to offer it to Calhoun County this year because of a grant that we got from the Dorothy D. Smith Foundation and we're very pleased to be able to offer it at no charge to y'all. Do y'all have any
014questions? >> Thank you. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Um, Miss Grass and Miss McDow, I know you all probably got other places to go, but thank you for your >> two. >> Well, well, thank you for what you do. Um, I like what Miss McDow said that um, you know, it's not a cookie cutter program. It's individualized. Um and and again relating to what your comments were too when you started you were fortunate to be put into a car poolool with two ladies who had over 100 years experience which is great. Um they knew that they knew what to do and it sounds like you all are replicating that. Each teacher and different teachers may need different things, but they certainly need that support. And
015I for one and I know I concur my fellow board members would agree that we thank you for what you all do because you know teaching is a tough profession and again we couldn't couldn't operate without them. So thank you what you all do for us. Next next on our agenda is student recognition portion of our meeting which is what many of you are here for and again what makes us smile as well. um if it weren't for you young people, we wouldn't be here. We wouldn't have a job. So, we really really appreciate the work that you all put into your um the efforts you put into your school work and uh tonight is an opportunity that we can recognize you for those um the hard work that you're doing. So, at this time,
016we'll turn it over to Miss Murdo. >> Good evening everyone. >> Good evening. Tonight is an apicious occasion because tonight we recognize students who turned the word impossible into I'm possible. This first quarter GPA awards for the students who have earned the highest GPA. To our esteemed board members, Dr. Tull. Parents, students, colleagues, and listening audience. Tonight we are in for a treat. So get your cameras ready so you can do that photo op. At this time I ask that our board members along with Dr. Tull please come to the front. At this time I ask Dr. Treith Nelson to join me at the podium. Parents, this could not be possible without you. So, as your child's name is called, I ask that you stand and at the end, I will give you an opportunity
017to make memories. At this time, will Mr. Floyd Dinkens and Mrs. Crystal Ziggler please come to the front? Recognizing Sandy Ron K8 School, sixth grade, regular ed, Brittany again, 4.911 GPA. And parents, while she's shaking hands, each student will receive a yard sign. Now, when we ride by your homes, I'd like to see them. >> Oh, no. Britney, you got to get a photo op, darling. Recognizing sixth grade, gifted, and talented, Jennifer Luna, 4.917 GPA. That's all right, Britney. You'll get used to it. Recognizing seventh grade Caroline Meadowz, 4.943 GPA. Recognizing eighth grade regular ed Natalie Belton 4.717 GPA recognizing eighth grade gifted and talented Lillian Keading 4.417 GPA. All right, parents, get ready. Photo op. Keep those smiles going. Hold it. All right. Let us give them a resounding round of applause. Job well
018done. Recognizing St. Matthews K8 School. Will Dr. Melissa Peoples, principal, and Mrs. Jacqueline Mrick please come forward. Recognizing sixth grade, regular ed, Levi Bird, 4.617 GPA. Recognizing sixth grade gifted and talented Christopher Tamayo 4.029 0 to nine. >> Recognizing seventh grade regular ed, Immani Thomas, 4.5 GPA. recognizing eighth grade regular ed Payton Charles 4.62 GPA hold it Dr. You can hold it like that. photo op. Get those smiles in. Keep it Keep it going. Memories are being made. Let us give them a resounding applause. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. recognizing Calhoun County High School. Will Mr. Milton Howard, principal, and Mrs. Sophia Brown, assistant principal, please come forward. Recognizing ninth grade Chance addicts 4.6 GPA. Recognizing 10th grade, Destin Nelson, 4.8 GPA. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a tie for 11th grade. Recognizing 11th grade,
019first honore Jordan Fields, 4.8 GPA. Recognizing 11th grade, Dea Green, 4.8 8 GPA. Recognizing 12th grade Tara Womaker 4.8 GPA photo op. Hold it. Let us give them a resounding applause. Job well done. Parents, I would ask that you please stay until all honores are honored on tonight and we will give you the uh metal pulse for the signs. I'll be back up in just a minute. Mr. Parker. Okay. Well, I'll continue and wait until he comes up. Ladies and gentlemen, you know that it would not be possible for your students to be as successful as they are without the people that come to work tirelessly every day to support your children in many different ways. About two three years ago, Dr. Tull along with the board and Tri County wanted to recognize teachers, staff,
020faculty on the job that they do for the district. And so tonight, we honor our shining stars. How do we say thank you? In Spanish, we would say gracias. In French we would say merci. And Italian we will say grati. In German we will say danka. In Portuguese we will say obriato. In Chinese we will say shes. In Korean we will say gamida. In Hawaiian we will say mahalo. In Romanian we will say multi mask. In Swahili, we would say asante. In egbo, we would say dalu. And in Japanese, we would say abriato. But for these folks tonight, these United States of America, we're going to say thank you to all of our honores for all the things that they have done for the students of Calhoun County. First, we recognize from Sandy Run K8
021School, Mrs. Ellen Seabbert. Please come forward. >> She was sick today. Let us pray for her to get better. For C for St. Matthews Middle School, Miss Ellen Heatley. This young lady has been with the district for many years and with her tireless work in the classroom and outside the classroom. I think I've received cucumbers, cabbage, collard greens from what her students plant at the school. We all know that is necessary for our children to learn other things outside the classroom. And Miss Ellen Heatley does that very well along with so many other things. Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Ellen Heatley from Calhoun County High School. This young lady has been with us many years. That should tell you all something. She not only works with the students inside and outside of the classroom, but she
022helped develop the first standardsbased report card for our district for prek through 2 grade. I say to you, come forward. Mrs. Michelle Stokes Glover. The next two honories held from the district office. One ensures that we have the funds in order to take care of our children's needs. The other makes certain that we have a nutritious meal for our children each day. But these two together, if you have not been to the high school to see how they have restructured that cafeteria, I ask that whenever you have some time off, please go over and see how much they have done for our students at Calhoun County High School. I bring forward to you our chief finance officer, Mr. Rusty Brunson. And right behind Mr. Rusty Brunson, Mrs. Karen Jackson, Director of Nutritional Services. Each shining
023staff will receive their certificates along with a gift card on behalf of Tri County. Ladies and gentlemen, photo op. Mr. P. Let us give our shining staffs a round of applause. Thank you all for a job well done. Mr. Parker, children, keep up the good work so I can see you for the second quarter. Mr. Chairman, Madam Secretary, Dr. Tell members of the board, greeting audience. We're here to introduce to you and to everyone else, we had opportunity this year to participate in the esports program, which is a new program that the state of South Carolina has embarked upon. Um at our annual technology conference this year, our school had the opportunity. We were selected 16 teams and you had to be selected this year. Calhoun County Saints, Cyber Saints were selected to be a
024part of that team. I'm going to ask Mr. Dixon, you're here. She is our head coach. Come up, please. Ma'am, she's going to stand. Let's give a round of applause. She has been and I'm going let her talk but she has been uh over the last what Mr. Hart maybe four five years been doing the club um where after school they would come in and play different things. You're going to say something. Um so I don't want to steal her thunder but I saw the work that she was doing and then we had an opportunity to participate every year that we've been going um to our technology conference for the last three years. Um I I looked at my fellow colleagues, my other um director of technology um guest counselors and directors and CTO's and
025I told them I said we're not here this year but we will be here the next year. And so I can say this year we were able to participate. And so what I'm going to do is I'm going to show you a clip first and then after I show you a clip I'm going to allow Miss Dixon to speak. Is that good? Great. Here I am. Listen, this was just a small clip of what was happening at our state conference. Um, I want to say kudos to Miss Dixon. Out of all the other directors, I didn't have to do anything. I saw them doing all kind of trying to redo paperwork and trying to organize things. I didn't have to do anything but come in there, support her, and support the team. So, again, let's
026give Miss Dixon a round of applause and her team. So, she's she's the head coach, but do you have her and also Mr. Parish Allen, also Mr. David Robinson who are not here but at this time Miss Dixon if you would come please say something to them. >> Good evening. >> Um not a woman of many words just want to say thank you to the board Dr. Tullik Mr. Howard as well as um Mr. Parker just for letting us have the opportunity to compete and have a team. >> Thank you. real quick. Kobe, Robert, Kamari, and Kayen, if y'all will come to the front so you can get a picture with board members. And these are just a few of um the gamers. Excellent. Let's give another round of applause. All right, as y'all be
027seated, I'm going to show you something else um pertaining to esports. Thank y'all so much. Uh many people as we started this initiative um and this is a global initiative, they took it as just playing games. But this is not just playing games. This is actually a um career um that they're looking at. And as we participated in Myrtle Beach, we had some of my colleagues, they had another tournament the following week. So what I'm going to show you now is just how serious this is, how our students can earn scholarship money. So the following week in Florence at the at the Florence Center, I want you to read this these words. And back to back scholarship winners and they give the the student name of Mayo High School with Cameron Lmore, an eighth grader
028and eighth grader at Dton Middle School. Both won $8,000 in scholarship funds. First time winner Hayden Bird of Parksville High School wins $8,000 in scholarship. Also along with third place winner um Jakari Daniels of Lamar High School. All winners won a total of $32,000. This is in one day. $32,000. Um and this is a spin tournament. I think it's the first tournament we had in Florence which I'm hoping that we'll part of the next year. Um this is some of the um funds. I want to give you a larger picture to where you can see they walked away with these funds on that day. You can see the checks that the that the schools came, the institution came and wrote them checks, scholarship funds. Do y'all see that? Here's another clip you see there. lost
029$5,000 on site. Okay, this is on site the the Saturday after we played that they won these funds. And this is the last clip. This is how the floor looked at the Florence Center. And this the floor, if some of you know this is where our high school boys go and play state, lower state and state championship game. The whole floor is filled with computers. This is again not just playing games. This is you learning a technique. And when we look at air traffic controllers, they have to have that ability to be able to maneuver very quickly and very accurately. So again, we want to thank Dr. Tullk for your push and for your leadership, the board of trustees for allowing us to do this. Um, we're looking at some of these schools you're looking
030at here now. They have this as a sport, which means that they play this year round from fall until the spring. And so we're looking at doing the same thing. This is the only sport that you can play year round. And so we're looking at getting our kids also involved so that we can also have some scholarship winners. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Parker. Um, next on the agenda is the chairperson's report. I'm gonna use this opportunity just to I know some of you parents probably have to go. You young people probably need to get home and get uh get ready for bed so you can get up and get back to school tomorrow. And uh Okay. Um, and so I want to let you all know how much we appreciate you all being
031here and how much you uh we really appreciate your parents and your community members and family members, grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, everybody else is here supporting these young people because that's what it's all about. And um, Michael, I said, wants to say a word or two too as well, but I just want to thank you all for being here. >> I I just want to echo what Mr. Port said. I I am the newest board member up on this row up here. I am also an educator of 20 years uh in Lexon and five. So what I see going on in this room when I see these parents that are engaged with their children, grandparents engaged with their children. You build a better tomorrow today, right? So thank you for showing up. Thank you
032for showing up for your kids and let's pack this out so that we can't meet in here anymore and we got to go to the auditorium to meet. Thank you for doing that with your children. And and the only other thing I want to say is uh and this is a challenge to Mr. Dinkens and Miss Ziggler at Sandy Run and and you young ladies, I'm very very proud of you, but you didn't have any young guys in that that Sandy Run group. >> St. Matthews K St. Matthews Kade had two young men and Scout County High School had two young men. So Mr. Dinkens and Miss Sigler, that's your challenge. And you young girls, keep it up. I want you I want you to Don't you let those boys catch you. Don't you let
033them catch you. >> We'll give you all a minute to get out. So, I know y'all got to get home, but um thank you for being here again. >> All right. >> Doing good. But the whole game you have empty house. Oh, okay. >> All right. >> Oh, no. Not Mr. policy. >> I did talk to um >> price about those ones had NSBA. He said just remove it. I had a chance to he said just remove any reference. >> Okay. He said to he said to any I'll tell him we'll come back even if they in here we'll come back and adjust those again later. >> Right. Right. And we can go ahead and take those. >> Okay. >> To remove the national organizations. >> All right. Looks like we've kind of settled down.
034So, next on the agenda, uh, Mr. Brunson is the finance report. So, if you want to come forward, the alarm went on. >> Good evening, Mr. Chairman, members of the board, members of the viewing audience, Dr. Tullik. Um have in your packets the October 2025 financial report and budget adjustments. Um highlights of the report we receive three excuse me for the month we received 5% of our projected revenue and year to date we've received 13% of the general fund budgeted revenue. We expended 19% of our expenses for the month and 29% year-to date of general fund expenditures and our year-to- date incumbrances are 58% for a 12-month fiscal period. At this time, I would like to ask the board's pleasure on accepting the October 2025 financial report and budget adjustments. >> All right. Well, I
035hear a motion then concerning the October 2025 financial report and budget adjustments as presented by Mr. Brunson. >> That's so move, Mr. Chairman. >> All right. There's a motion on the floor to accept the October 2025 budget reports, excuse me, finance report and budget adjustments as presented. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion under second to accept the 2020 October 2025 financial report and budget adjustments. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, I'll call for the question. All those in favor of that motion to accept the financial report and budget adjustments for October 2025, please signify by saying I. >> I. All oppose? No. Motion carries. Anything else, Mr. Brunson? >> I just want to keep you up to date on our annual audit. Uh hopefully we are down to our last few questions. um
036been feeding the auditors all kinds of information, everything they asked for for the last probably two, three months. And um hopefully we're going to get to the end of it by the end of this week. Um and also um to echo on the the furniture over at the cafeteria, um we're just about done with that. There was been a mix up in a couple a few of the chairs. We're straightening that out. I'm hoping before we go home for Christmas that we'll have all that and then everything will be absolutely complete. But um if you haven't had a chance to go by, please please go and um take a look. The students seem to really love the the new decor and um hopefully it's going to make a lot of difference in the dining experience.
037>> I continue to hear good things about it. Um is how it's been received by mostly especially by students which is good. Mr. Howard, I know you iterated that iterated that as well. So, I'm going I haven't seen it, but I'm going to try to get by there soon to check it out. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. That brings us to the superintendent report. So, Dr. Tolllet. >> Yes, sir. Good evening, Mr. Chair, board members, um our guest. Um this evening, we will have a number of items under superintendent report. We will begin with Miss Keller with the second reading of some policies. I believe 20 policies and two administrative rules. Um she will be followed then by Mr. Kieran with the 2026 2027 academic calendar again for first reading.
038Uh he'll then come with the facilities update. Uh Dr. Nelson will then follow with the report card ratings information. Mr. Parker will give us some technology updates and then I will come back behind them with some information from the superintendent's office. Miss Keller. Good evening again. Tonight, I'd like to give second reading on 20 policies and two administrative rules. Starting with policy GCC, professional staff leave and absences. It outlines our rules and procedures for leave grandchildren highlighted in yellow is the addition. Administrative rule GCC-R professional professional staff leaves and absences is a date change. Policy GDC support staff leave and absences again outlines our um policies and procedures for leave. Grandchildren highlighted in yellow is the addition Administrative rule GDC-R support staff leave and absences is a date change. Policy BA school board operational goals
039date change. Policy BB board legal status Khung County School District should be highlighted in red and removed. and Calhoun County Public Schools highlighted in yellow should be added. Policy BBA board powers and duties. The information highlighted in red should be removed and the information highlighted in yellow should be added. It's grammatical changes. policy BBA, board member authority and responsibilities. The information highlighted in red should be removed and the information highlighted in yellow is the addition grammatical changes. Policy BB, board membership and elections date change. Policy BBA, board member qualifications, date change. Policy BBB, oath of office, date change. Policy BBC BC, board member resignation, date change. Policy B CB, board member conflict of interest, date change. Policy Bedi, news media service at board meetings, services at board meetings, date change policy BG, school board policy
040process, date change. Policy BGCBG policy revision and review/board review of administrative rules date change policy BH C board staff communications date change policy B I A/BI new member orientation and board member development opportunities ities. Date change. Policy BID, board member compensation and expenses. Date change. Policy BIE, board member insurance liability. Date change. Policy BJ, school board legislative program. Date change. Policy BK, grammatical change. The N in red highlighted in red should be removed and the N in yellow highlighted in yellow is the addition. Are there any questions? All right. You all have heard Miss Keller go over those changes. This is second reading. um 20 policies and two administrative rules I believe is correct. Is that right, Miss Kell? >> Yes, sir. >> Do I hear a motion at this time to take second reading
041on those 20 policies without stating them? The 20 policies that are listed in the agenda along with the two administrative rules. Take second reading on the revisions to those policies, most of which just for the record involve just a date change. I make a motion that we take second reading on the 20 policies and the two administrative rules that were presented in the board packets on this evening. >> All right. Mr. Jenkins has made a motion to take second reading on those 20 policies and two administrative rules. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Motion and a second to take uh second reading on the administr on the excuse me amendments to the 20 policies and two administrative rules as listed in the agenda. Is there any further discussion? There are hearing none. All in
042favor of that motion to take second reading on the 20 policies and two administrative rules, please signify by saying I. I. >> I. All oppose. No. Motion carries. And the second reading has been taken. All right. Um, and Dr. Tull, I did hadn't had a chance to talk to you, but I do. And Miss Kelly, you as well. I did speak to Scott Price from the schoolboard association about those references we were talking about to the national organization and we no longer uh maintain any kind of association with the National School Board Association is now CASPA which is the Council of State School Boards Association I believe is what the acronym stands for as you and I talked about and and Mr. Price said just remove any reference to any of the national organizations. So,
043we'll we'll do that. I know this policy BK has got the National School Board Association in it, too. I can't remember what the other ones were. We you you know which ones they were, Dr. Ter, but we can come back as I said, Mr. credit, we come back and amend those just those policies that have the national organizations in them and just remove any reference to the national organization and and Scott suggested as I I would concur and and we can talk about it if you all have any differing opinions or whatever, but he said just remove any national reference to any national organization. It really doesn't serve a purpose in there. So, all right. Thank you, ma'am. >> You're welcome. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you, Miss Keller. Uh, Mr. Kieran, >> good evening,
044Dr. Tel, distinguished board members. I come before you this evening with the first reading of the 2026 27 academic calendar along with facilities update for November of 2025. Within each one of your board packages, you should see the voting breakdown for the calendars A and B. Um we are asking at this time based on the results looking at uh asking for first reading for proposed calendar A as our 2026 27 academic calendar. So any questions regarding the proposal for the uh first reading for calendar A the 26 27 academic calendar year. No questions. I asked the board for the first reading for calendar A to be represented for the 2627 academic calendar year. >> All right. Calendar A is one that >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Do I hear a motion at this time
045then to take this takes two readings? You said, Mr. Kieran? >> Yes, sir. >> Do I hear a motion this time to take first reading on the adoption of calendar draft A for the 2026 2027 school year? Chairman, I move that we u take first reading on approving calendar A for the school year. >> All right. And Mr. Nelson has made a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> A motion and a second on the floor now to take first reading on policy, excuse me, on calendar A, draft A for the 2026 2027 school year. Is there any discussion or questions? Anything concerning the calendar? If not, do I hear? Uh, then let's take a vote. All those in favor of approving draft day of the 26, 2027 academic calendar, please signify by saying
046I. >> I. All oppose. No. Motion carries and first reading has been taken. Okay. Mr. Carol, >> time move on to facilities update for November 2025. I'm pleased to announce the restroom upgrades here at the district office along with the atrium at the high school have both been completed. So, they're good to go. That's the uh the sinks and the um vanity area have been completed. They're brand new. Look really good. Uh everybody has used them is very excited. So, that has been completed. We had a student uh desk pickup. That's the old students that were the old student desks that we're trying to get rid of. We had a pickup this past Saturday. Um we were able to get remove a bunch of the older desks. We'll have a couple more this year. Uh
047once again, any community members that come up and produce an evidence that uh an ID that they live in the county, they're able to pick up the desks and chairs. So, we had one this Saturday. We have a few more this school year. Uh we also had our last anti-apee class this past Saturday. Uh we will not have one in in December. We will have another one in January. What we decided to do is we had two antiape classes a month, part one and part two. We decided to combine them to one Saturday. It's a little longer, but we've seen better results of students showing up making it one. So, students do show up with their parents. So, we'll have our next one in January. Uh we're also beginning to plan our summer 2026 updates
048for our facilities. Um most of our upgrades will center around HVAC upgrades for this upcoming summer. And the last thing I have on the agenda would be the track upgrades. We have our track upgrades. They will be occurring within the next month. that'll be through our track around over at the um county high school athletic facility. So, we're excited that about seven years old. It's time to upgrade that. So, any questions regarding facilities update for November 2025. >> You said the track is about seven years old. >> Seven years old >> since we put that rubberized service. It's been seven years. >> Goes by quick. >> Doesn't seem like we um already completed the first quarter either, but Thanksgiving is next Thursday. not this Thursday, but next Thursday. So, >> and they said when they
049came and looked at it, they were they were surprised by how the great shape it was in for seven years old. But it is time to go and start fixing cracks, restripe it, make it look really sharp and get ready for the next track season. >> Good. Well, I'm glad to hear it and I know from my observation it looks like and I haven't seen it up close. So, I saw it was at a football game and look just, you know, glanced at it. But certainly at graduation, we walked down the track and it it seems to me to be holding up well, which is good. But that doesn't uh doesn't go without saying we don't need to keep it up the track and if we got some cracks uh you know an answer prevention
050is worth a pound of cure. So let's go ahead and get it done. Sounds like we only got that on the on the record on the book >> away from that. Be ready for track season. >> Sounds good. >> Other questions regarding facility update from November 2025. >> Thank you Mr. Cid. Dr. Nelson will now come to discuss report card ratings. Good evening, Chairman Por, board members, Dr. Tullik, and the listening audience. Thank you for the opportunity to present this evening. I'm here to provide an overview of South Carolina's federal accountability system and to present the school report card ratings for our district. Let's look at components for the elementary and middle school ratings. The accountability system includes four key elements. First, academic achievement. Second, student growth. Next, English profici proficiency progress. And finally, school
051quality and student success. And that is for middle school and elementary schools. As we look at the high school, there are slightly different measures. Academic achievement is based on algebra 1 and English 2 and of course exams. Unlike elementary and middle schools, high schools do not include a student growth measure. High schools are also evaluated on the 4-year adjusted graduation weight, which accounts for students who transfer in or out of the cohort. English proficiency progress applies here as well, along with school quality and student success. So, let's take a deeper dive into each category. Academic achievement measures performance in English, language arts, and math all across school levels. It includes South Carolina ready assessments for grades 3 through 8, South Carolina AL assessments for students with significant cognitive disabilities, and the end of course exams
052for high school students in algebra 1 and English 2. Preparing for success. This indicator evaluates performance in science and social studies. It includes South Carolina ready science assessments for grades four and six, biology 1 and US history and of course exams and South Carolina alts science or social study assessments. It reflects students readiness for future academic success. Multilingual learners progress. This measure tracks how well students who are initially proficient in English progress toward English proficiency over a fiveyear period. ESSA requires all states to measure this growth and it applies to elementary, middle, and high schools. You must have at least 20 students in the subgroup for a rating. If not, the points are redistributed between achievement and preparing for success for the elementary and middle schools and the graduation rate and achievement for the high
053school. For this current year, we will not receive any ratings in the multilingual learnings progress category. Student progress elementary and middle. Student progress captures yearover-year gains in ELA and math. Growth is compared to individualized targets for the students, statewide peers, and specifically to the lowest performing 20% of students. This ensures equity and support for those who need it most. Moving on to the high school graduation rate and high school student success. For high schools, we monitor the 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate. This percentage reflects students who graduate within four years, accounting for transfers as well. High school student success looks beyond graduation, measuring whether students are accumulating credits on track to graduate are achieving with success within five years, preparing them for postsecary opportunities. College and career readiness. This indicator measures the percentage of students
054ready for college or careers using metrics such as standardized tests, which are the SAT and ACT, advanced coursework, credentials, and workbased learning experiences. It ensures students leave high school prepared for their next steps. And finally, we have the school climate. The school climate captures teachers, student, and family perceptions of the school environment using the South Carolina school climate survey. This survey has been administered for more than 20 years, providing valuable insight insights into the quality and safety of our schools. For the rating purposes, they only use the teacher and student feedback from the surveys. Are there any questions at this time? Now I would like to show a video that will tell us about how we did as a district. It is a 4-m minutee long video, but it is very insightful. And Mr. Parker
055will start that and then I will come back with just a few statistics. You know, sometimes it's just nice to take a break and focus on some genuinely good news. And that's exactly what we're doing today. We're diving into a really positive announcement from the Calhoun County Public Schools. So, let's get into it and see what this is all about. So, all of this comes from an official letter that went out to pretty much everyone, students, parents, staff, the whole community. And what's great is this letter isn't just a dry list of scores. It really tells the story of how they achieved their success. And right from the very first sentence, you can just feel the positive energy. The superintendent, Dr. Ferando Tullik, kicks things off with so much pride and gratitude, and it really
056sets the tone. So, what exactly is this wonderful news he's talking about? Well, here's the headline. Every single school in the district, not just one or two, but all of them, got a rating of average or better on their state report card. Now, that is a huge deal. It means every single campus met or even beat the state's benchmarks. That is a massive win. Okay, so that's the big picture, but the real story is always in the details, right? Let's zoom in and see how each school played a part in this district-wide success, right? This is the question everyone wants the answer to, especially if you're a parent. How did our school do? Well, let's take a look. And check this out. What's really impressive here is the consistency across the board. You've got Sandy
057Run Elementary, St. Matthews Elementary, and Sandy Run Middle, all hitting that solid average mark. And then you have Calhoun County High School, and St. Matthews Middle kicking it up a notch, earning a good rating. I mean, that's just a strong comprehensive performance all around. And this number right here, it really says it all, 100%. That's not just a statistic, it's a statement. It means every single school was part of this achievement. No one got left behind. That's pretty powerful stuff. So, you have to wonder, how does an entire district manage to pull this off? Was it just a lucky year? Well, according to the superintendent's letter, not a chance. This was all by design, driven by a core philosophy they call BE S. And bees isn't just some catchy acronym they put on a poster.
058The letter makes it really clear that this is a shared commitment that they live and breathe every single day. It sounds like this is the real engine behind their results. It's baked right into their culture. So what does this be philosophy actually look like in practice? Well, it boils down to five core ideas. First, making sure every single decision is student centered. Then they're committed to empowering every student, not just some of them. They also focus on open and transparent communication, which is huge. Plus, they're all about teamwork, working together to create opportunities for kids. And underpinning all of it, a genuine belief in the power of public education. It's a pretty solid playbook. But here's the thing. This wasn't just some strategy handed down from the top. The superintendent is very, very clear that
059this achievement belongs to absolutely everyone. And there's that phrase again, shared commitment. The letter really drives home the point that this success is just a mirror reflecting all the hard work from the entire community. It's not just the district's win, it's the whole community's win. And the letter gives a specific shout out to these four groups. First, the students for their hard work and effort. Second, all the teachers and staff, the folks on the ground making it happen day in and day out. Third, the parents and families for being such incredible partners. And finally, the community partners for believing in the schools. It really shows that it took a village, you know. So, after a huge celebration like this, it might be tempting to kind of sit back and relax. But that is not the
060vibe they're giving off at all. The letter signals that this is just one stop on a much longer journey. And this is such a crucial point. They're not treating this like a finish line. Nope. They see it as a milestone. It's a moment to celebrate for sure, but also to refuel knowing that the work of providing a great education is never really done. And that really leaves us with this final thought. The Calhoop County story isn't just about a report card. It's a case study in what collaboration can do. It makes you wonder when an entire community, students, educators, families, partners pulse together to hit a milestone like this, what's the next one they can achieve? What does the next chapter of their journey look like? First, I think we should give just another hand
061to the principles, their staff, our students, and the community. They worked very hard last year to work together. There are 86 school districts in South Carolina. About 30% of those districts were districts where all the schools were satisfactory with an average or above rating. It is an honor to have Calhoun County Public Schools in that number. We have five grade levels or subjects where there are where there were at least a 10% increase in the number of students who scored met and exceed or passed the end of course exams. We have four grade levels or subjects in in math or ELA where at least 50% of the students met or exceeded or passed the end of course exams. The individual rating category at the high school for college and career ready moved from good to
062excellent. The state is very proud of itself because their college and career ready moved from average to good whereas our county moved from good to excellent. Very awesome Calhoun County High School. Are there any questions for me at this time? And again, St. Matthews Elementary School, Sandy Run Elementary School, all scored in average. St. Matthews Middle School in the high school and Sandy Run Middle Sandy Middle School scored average as well. Um, Calhoun County High School and St. Matthew Middle School scored good. Yeah, I I got a question. >> Sure. >> So, if in our packets we have EOC algebra scores, EOCC biology scores, EOC I guess this was in our blue folder, uh, English two scores. So, am I interpreting this right? When I see I'm gonna look at algebra one and it says
063if I'm doing the math I'm seeing that 54% of our students have a D or an F in EOCC in algebra 1. Is that correct? >> We have 46.5% of our students who scored C or better. And that is the rating we have on the school report card. And then biology, it shows only 17% scored a C or higher on which subject? >> Biology. The sciences all across the district. We all working on that. Miss um Mrs. Murdoch, the chief of academics and instruction has put things in place to for improvements. Like we said on the video, this is not the end. This is just a milestone. and we are working towards that along with um our US history. Although we gained 13 points from last year, we still have work to do in that
064area as well. >> And English two shows where we've got I'm I'm just trying to interpret this. It says 30 65% scored a C or higher. I'm I'm reading that as 35% scored a D or an F. So how are these how are acade how much does academics play a role into our state report card? >> Academic plays that comes under achievement that was the first category that I described those come um math and ELA comes under achievement and what we do there preparing for success will include social studies and science. We get a number of points for each one of them. And again, they're looking at what the kids have done from the previous year as well. As I and Michael, I appreciate your comments. As I look at these four course, um, algebra
0651, biology, English 2, and US history and constitution, um, algebra one, as I see it, and correct me if I'm reading it wrong, but it says down here at lower right hand corner at 46.15% score C or high. Is that correct? >> For algebra, >> algebra one. >> Yes. >> And then um, biology, we plummet, I say plummet 16.95%, right? about 17%. So that means we got about 83% that's you know scoring a D or an F. So we we I I'm just I say that to think that US history and constitution is 27% um that one and but we need to work on all of them obviously but English ELA was 71% scored C or better which I mean I I think is >> 65 if you would um as Mr. Diaz mentioned there's
066another sheet in your um folders um that >> that should be 65.5%. >> So instead of 71.7 >> pull that one from your folder from your notebook and the one from your folder should replace it. >> Again that's a lot better than 17%. Um, so and you mentioned Dr. Nelson that M. Murdo is working on things for I think biology and I mean that that's obviously the >> heavy hitter fourth and for science at the elementary and eighth grade level only fourth grade is tested for the elementary level. So that score is based on one grade and for middle school um sixth grade is tested for science. However, we are working on those areas. We know our challenges and we are putting things in or we have put things in place. >> And then US
067history and constitution as well with the 27%. I mean I >> even though we >> I've heard some national media about that% >> you know how many kids don't know about the constitution. You know they don't know about the declaration of independence. A lot of things with US history they don't know. So >> well what happened? Well, what could be the cause cause? One of the things is they stop testing um US history and social studies in the smaller grades and we focus sometimes we focus primarily on on math or English and science and that's being dropped the load is being on the high school being given to the high school. Well, again, math and ELA especially, I I would I'm not an educator, but I would think ELA includes reading, right? Or that reading
068would fall under ELA, English and language arts. >> Yes. >> Um and I've said, you know, that was my entire tenure on the board. You all educators, you know, that reading is so so important. Um, I'll never forget many many years ago, you some of you have heard it. I know Dr. Felic has and some of my fellow board members had, but we had a an associate superintendent who we weren't in this building. We were in the building across town and talking about we had eighth graders reading on a third grade level. And I said, it kind of hit me like a brick. And I I I came up I couldn't understand that. And I finally I stopped her. I said, "Wait a minute. Did you say what I thought you said? She said, "Yeah."
069I said, "You got we got eighth graders reading on the third grade level." Now, this is many, many years ago. Don't don't don't say I'm saying that today, but that that was just startling to me. And then I delved into the subject of social promotion and hopefully, you know, that doesn't happen. other words, a student needs to learn before they promote it, obviously. And and I think it's more of a disservice to the student than it is to us as a community when we're promoting a kid who's reading on a third grade level to get to the eighth grade and they're reading, you know, subpar because that's when we really lose them. And I've heard, y'all know more than I do about I've heard things and I want to say that if you if a
070child doesn't learn to read by the third grade that the chances of losing them go up exponentially. you know, they they pretty much drop out of out of school uh and drop out of the learning process. And the reason being, it's easy for me to understand as an outsider looking in, as I said, and I'll say again, if you can't read, you can't do anything. I mean, and I'm not laughing at you, but but you think about it, your instructions for science, you know, you're you're learning how to do math. You got to be able to read to learn how to do math. First off, they got some words in there as well as numbers. So reading is so important and I'm glad to see that focus on reading. I'm glad to see how I'd
071love it to be 100% and I know you all would too, but you know 70 plus% in ELA is is is to me is good, but like you said, M Dr. Nelson, it's not over. You know, it's not a it's not a goal, not not an end result. It's always, you know, it's a stepping stone or a milestone. We always need to continually word I heard too or words I heard years ago used is monitor and adjust other words if something ain't working quicker we get rid of that and let's get on something and it's it's a trial and error and kids you know I I'm proud we're dealing with I understand it changes you know a student coming into school today is not what a student was coming into school 20 years ago or
072not what a student certainly not what a student was 40 years ago um you know they come from different backgrounds you know they They've got these little things now. Um, which, you know, I got a three and a half year old grandson who can take that and do more than I can with it. I mean, it's just again, the challenges are are ever increasing and I know that and I mean, I know you all know it because you all see it every day. And and I I I guess I want to say that we're here and I think you all know that we're here to support you. I'm not fussing. And I just want to, you know, I want to make sure that we're doing all we can do and and I know you all
073are doing that as well, but I want to me reiterate that. I think I think I speak for all of us. We need to do all we can do to make sure that that we're doing getting these kids and getting them prepared. Um because, you know, I don't know where the world's going as far as I AI and nobody knows that. you know, they talking about all the jobs going to be cut out and but a couple things aren't going to be cut out. They're not going to cut doctors out. They're not going to cut out um you know, firemen and policemen because AI can't do that. So, there going to be a lot of things that still needed in this world in spite of where our AI takes us. So, you know, we're going
074to need jobs and but but these jobs are going to require someone who's able to to to think and reason and and do those kinds of things that we're charged with teaching them. So, I'm I'm I'll get off my rant. If y'all got something else to say, I >> I will say that the third grade ELA and reading across the district, their students scored 50% or more of MET and exceeds. Third grade is the base from where we start our standardized testing. So, that is a very good start. We're doing the base for our children and moving them upward. I would also say that there has been an increase at every grade level in achievement except for and um Dr. Telk will correct me if I'm wrong maybe three three to four areas in math
075but every grade level in ELA has made um a percentage gain. So that is something to say as that is something to celebrate as well with our students and our teachers and the principles and um we look forward to working towards getting better and improving but we are certainly excited about what they have done this year and all our schools being satisfactory and we always appreciate the board's support. >> Thank you. >> I agree. You know we need to celebrate our successes. There's no doubt about that. I mean, I you know, just like tonight, you know, having these young people in there and recognize them for their achievement. I I I'm always a thinker that, you know, challenge is good. You know, especially young people, they love a challenge. Um, you know, we all like
076a challenge and, you know, that's what I said to, you know, Mr. Denkins and Miss Ziggler about, you know, all those girls from Sandy Run, which is great, but where are the guys? You know what I mean? And I I know that we got guys up there, but you know, but then I tell the girls, I said, "Don't you don't let them catch you." You know, it needs to be that competition. You know, I want to be the best. And they all want need to. And and again, I know you all are doing what you can, but I think that that's something we need to keep on our minds every day to challenge these kids to be their very very best. And um that's what you all do and I appreciate it. you know, keep
077keep striving or as um when the Carolina Panthers came down beginning of not last school year but year before last from Big Thing, I think their motto was keep pounding, keep pounding and that's what we got to do and you all know that. You do it every day. Um and it can be frustrating at times when you a teacher works very hard and then the kids don't perform as well as what you feel like they could do or should do. Uh but but taking this ride, we got to keep pounding, keep pounding, keep pounding. That's my cheer for tonight. So, >> I'll hush. >> Thank you, Dr. Nelson. Um if I can go out of order just a little bit um because some of my presentation tonight does include um some assessment highlights. I just
078want to go behind Dr. Nelson, if Mr. Parker doesn't mind, we'll come back to him with the technology updates. Um but as Dr. Nelson mentioned um our report card ratings for the five report cards. Um and I I'd sometimes say we have three roofs, but we've got five actual schools here. The two elementary, two middle, and then the high school. So again, Sandy Run K8 and St. Matthews um Middle and Sandy Run Middle, excuse me, Sandy Run Elementary and Middle and St. Matthews Elementary are all rated as average. Um and then the high school and St. Matthews K8 middle were all rated as good. Um and I want to give some assessment highlights from SE ready. So for ELA the grades continue to rise. Um and we need to make mention of third grade, fourth
079grade, fifth grade, sixth grade and eighth grade. And again this is for SC ready ELA because they also increases in the meets and exceeds category and again that's a combination of the two meets and then exceeds. So that meets and exceeds category um also increases. Grade three did see a decrease of 20% in the number of students performing in the does not meet category. So that 20.8% 8% of students move to either progressing or into the meets expectation categories in eighth grade. And again, we're still talking SC ready ELA. The eighth grade students outperform the state average. And we're talking about again across the state in the meats category. The state average was 32.9%. The district was 34%. We talk about grade three. Grade three was 1.8% away from meeting the state's average, which was
08030.8%. So, one point away. Grade six was 9/10en of a point away from meeting the state average at 30.9%. Again, this is in the meats category. Grade seven was onetenth of a point from the state average at 38.1%. And again, this is in that meats category. So, we're right there where the state is performing in third, sixth, and seventh grade. And in the eighth grade, this the eighth grade group and the meats outperform the state. Again, we talked about math and we talked about those challenges earlier, and I'm glad to use the word challenge because that's what I've mentioned them here. We've got celebrations that we um must certainly take a look at, but we also have challenges as a district. And not just as a district, these challenges are occurring across the state. And
081if you pay attention nationally, they're happening across the nation as well in math. So again, in the sixth grade, and this is math, our sixth graders outperformed the state again on the meets category. The state was 19.7%. Our sixth graders across the district performed at 23%. And again, this is in that meets category. Again, in the meets and exceeds category, the sixth graders were 39%, the state was 39.4%. So again, although it's a challenge for us and we recognize that, we're performing right along with the state when it comes to this. So again, there are measures in place to help us and help our young people to increase our math performance. Again, some EOCC highlights in algebra. one, we saw 46.1% of our students score C or better. It's down from 55% the year before.
082Biology again, and these are some things that we mentioned early, doc um with Dr. Nelson. Biology was 16.9% of our students scoring C or better, and that's down from 34 almost 35% in the previous year. English 2 saw 65.5% of our students score C or better and we're pretty close again but it's down 3% from 68.9% in the previous year and again US history um so our students score 27% C or better and that's up from the 13.6% 6% in the year before. So nearly more than doubled um that performance by 13.9%. And so again from last year 13.6% to this year 27.6%. So again there are highlights that we need to um celebrate but certainly again we recognize those challenges that we need to continue to work on. So um we certainly salute if
083we our young people and certainly our staff for the work that they did over the past year and again continue to make decisions that are student centered so that we can improve upon those scores. Also in your packet if there are no other questions ask you to flip one more time with me. Um I shared with you um I should say actually two more times. Um, I shared with you a state aid to classrooms, um, flyer, leaflet information, if you will. Um, and it goes back to some of the things that we talked about before in terms of funding. Um, we've got in the state of all of our students who are attending the public school systems, there are 93% of those students which attend traditional brick andmortar schools. with the advent um or the
084in inclusion now in the state system of charter schools. Charter schools again make up two types of school. Brick and mortar, those in buildings and then those that conduct classes virtually. So there are two systems for the um ver the charter schools brick and mortar and virtual. If you go back again the numbers that I mentioned, 93% of all the kids in traditional in public schools charter or in traditional 93% of those young people are in the traditional setting. 7% are in your your charter programs virtual again or brick and mortar. However, we've got to stay cognizant of the funding formulas that are being presented. 93% of the students again traditional schools 7% in charter there is proposal for there to be a split of 49% and 51% of funding from the state of that
085funding formula the 49% would go to charter schools and 51% would go to our traditional schools and you see here the numbers um that are equated to again our traditional schools. You've got, and I want to don't want to speak incorrectly, if you look at that second page, you've got 700,000 students in our traditional schools. However, 57,000 are in charters. Those 57,000 students are slated to receive 49% of the state funding, whereas 51% is going to go to the nearly 700,000 students. So we need to be cognizant mindful of what is out there in terms of funding u particularly for our school districts not just us but all school districts in the traditional setting again charters are coming um at an alarming rate again virtual andor brick and mortar and they're again receiving comparable if
086you will amounts of funds in regards to the number of students that we are receiving. receiving. So again, please be mindful of what we're getting. Um we will have more conversation about this. Also in your packets, you have the sports schedules. You should have a JV boys, varsity girls, and varsity boys basketball schedules. Also, u put in your folders that's in your packet. Um you can pull that. We saw it schedule a change in the schedule. You should have now in your folders two schedules of middle school boys as well as JV varsity girls and varsity boys schedules. So if you replace that that is in your packet with those that are in your folder. Um and again I ask that you please come out to support our young people. Your names um are left
087at the door for your entry or you can simply come with your ID badges. Um on tomorrow I ask not only you sitting in the room but those who under my voice um can please attend the circle of excellence program tomorrow um Tuesday November 18th at again 1:30 in the auditorium at the high school. Um I know Miss Keller stepped out. She's probably over at the high school working on but I want to thank the HR department for their planning this experience where we have the opportunity now to recognize our staff for the contributions that they make across the district. Um again I'd like to thank Miss Keller, Miss Amy Williams, um Charlene Jenkins and Jennifer Willilifford uh for their contributions to this event. Again, that is scheduled for tomorrow. Board members ask that you
088please join us um as we've asked those who are important to us to be there um for tomorrow's celebration. Um also board members, at this time I ask for your consideration and recognizing all of our employees um across the district. Um, I'd like to, um, extend a monetary incentive for all of our employees that we have budgeted, um, for $1,000, um, pre-tax. So, everybody in this room is going to get $1,000, but it's going to look different after your particular taxes. Um, again, that is 273 employees across the district, and that amount has been already budgeted. It's not anything that we're having to pull from reserves or anywhere. So, I ask for your consideration at this time in um providing that to our employees before they go home for the Thanksgiving break this week. >>
089All right. And then lastly, I extend um from the district office and certainly from the district, my family as well, um Thanksgiving greetings um holiday greetings to everyone. The district will be closed next week. Um we're out of school Monday the 24th through Friday the 28th. Uh students and staff will return to the classroom on Monday, December 1st. That is all that I have. U Mr. Chair, if there are any questions, I certainly entertain them. >> All right. And you want to go ahead and take that in consideration now for that? >> Yes, sir. Please. >> Bonus. Then do I hear a motion at this time to approve the um $1,000 per employee bonus? Uh and I think >> pre-tax pre-tax. It we call it an incentive bonus, right? >> Yes, sir. >> A retention
090bonus or incentive bonus? >> This holiday incentive? >> Holiday incentive bonus. Do I hear a motion at this time uh to approve that $1,000 per employee bonus? >> I make a motion that we approve the $1,000 um holiday incentive bonus as presented by Dr. Tuller. >> All right. There's a motion on the floor to approve the $1,000 per employee uh holiday incentive bonus. Is there a second? Second >> motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Any questions? >> If not, then all those in favor of that motion to approve the $1,000 employee holiday incentive bonus, please signify by saying I. >> I. All oppose. No. Motion carries. And that stands approved. All right. Um, I guess we need to back up for Mr. Parker with the technology update. Mr. Parker, do you have anything
091else? We can go to executive s. >> Do you Dr. Tull, do you you did you concluded your report, right? >> Yes, sir. That's it. >> Okay. >> Greetings again, chairman, madam secretary, members of the board. Dr. Tull, again, let me say thank you once again for your support. Um, two years of going to our state conference without a a team, but this year it felt so good to be able to see our students. I think we took around 16, Mr. Howard. 17 maybe. I know it was enough for four teams that we took. U we had the most in the room and that's to be applauded. So, I really appreciate your support, Dr. Tull, as well as your push for that. And they're excited. They're very excited as they were walking out of the
092door. They are pounding me up. Um one saying, "I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm ready." was at the high school early today and another he was not here because he had basketball practice, but he was saying, "Mr. Parker, I'm ready." He said, "When is our next tournament?" So, they're very excited about um the opportunities that uh are before them and as I showed you on the the actual presentation, how they're able to receive these scholarships on site. So, again, thank you for that support. Secondly, I have um as the last board meeting, not the last board meeting, the last regular board meeting I spoke to you about, we're moving to our two-factor authentication. Um on that Monday, on that Tuesday, we start our first call. We are now have already went through two configuration levels where
093we have all of our network users already completely configured. Next, we'll be doing our email accounts to configure them. We are now um waiting on Sgra to authenticate our A record. Once they authenticate our A record, then we can move forward with um pulling in all of our email accounts for the um two-factor authentication. So once they complete that, I received an email from SER today saying that they are working on our A record to get that um verified. Any questions? Um the last thing I have in the rim of security um as you well two things. Last week Canvas went out um districtwide because of Google made a security change. Security is top priority now is is top priority. And you may have seen where there Google is suing a company because of some
094text capabilities. So in that change that they made, we had to make a change. When I say we, the state department and our vendor Canvas had to make a change for our security so we can make sure that our connection to Canvas is secured. The last thing is on tomorrow at 2:00 we're going to be disconnecting the internet because we are um we are installing a new firewall. Um this new firewall is again to stay up to date with security. um because the old firewall has become end of life. There are no more firmware updates and so therefore we have to stay um according to standard according to federal and state guidelines. We must have an update firewall. So at 2 o'clock or tomorrow we'll be disconnecting the internet and we'll be um installing our
095new firewall. Any questions? >> How long will it be down? >> Uh I cannot tell that a lot of time it takes about two hours. It should be back up before the end of the day tomorrow then. >> Sure. >> But this is also the time that everybody is at the high school. >> Okay. >> Yeah. But this is something that must be done. Yes. A question. Thank you. >> All right. Next on the agenda is the public participation portion of our meeting. And I've been handed the signin sheet of which no one has signed up to address the board. So that takes us to an executive session and ask at this time if I hear a motion concerning an executive session. >> I make a motion that we go into executive session and discuss
096personnel matters as well as the superintendent's evaluation and upon completion we return to regular session. >> Thank you, Mr. Jenkins. Um Mr. Jenkins made the motion. You all have heard it. I won't repeat it. Uh does there a second to his motion at this time? >> Second. >> Motion and a second uh to go into executive session for personnel matters. for recommendations and resignations as well as the superintendent's evaluation and to return to open session upon completion of our discussion. Is there any discussion before we call for the vote? If not, all those in favor of that motion, please signify by saying I. >> I. All oppose, no. Motion carries and we will go across the hall to the conference room for executive session and should be back shortly. Shortly is a term of art
097if you have all that and figured that out by now.