001So, they're live as soon as the turn is on. We're about to start. >> How are you? >> Oh, good. >> How you doing? >> Good to see you. Good seeing you. Did you get working on it. >> Good evening everyone. for two Got Talent. Tonight we are so pleased to have the Bullet Springs Elementary Honor Choir directed by Miss Jana Curry. Thank you. [applause] Hello. We are the fifth grade members of Boiling Springs Elementary Honor Choir and we're happy to be here tonight. Thank you for inviting us to perform. >> Our choir has 28 fourth and fifth grade members who practice after school each week. You can find us singing at community events like college basketball games and Dickens of a Christmas. We love to sing and also participate in an annual program with
002our class. One of our favorites is the South Carolina program and its music is our theme for tonight. We hope you enjoyed these selections from our state. We'll begin with Carolina Sunshine. Carolina sunshine, [music and singing] Carolina rain. Hear my country calling. Come on home again. [music] Come and taste the gladness. Come and feel the pain [music] of Carolina [singing] sunshine. Carolina rain. [music] Going to pack my suitcase. [music] Hit the road again. Got to see my people [singing] coming home again. >> [singing] >> Come and taste the gladness. [music] Come and feel the pain of Carolina sunshine. Carolina rain. Carolina sunshine. [singing] Carolina rain. Hear my country calling. Coming home again. Come and taste the gladness. [music and singing] Come and feel the pain of Carolina sunshine. [singing] Carolina rain. [music] Did you know
003that sand slappers is a nickname for people who live in the Midlands or or South Carolina coast? We like that nickname so much we consider ourselves sand lappers, too. We hope you enjoy another favorite. And yes, it's called Sand Lappers. We are [screaming and crying] goods and lappers. Yes, we're good and lappers. And we're mighty proud [music] to say that we live. [music and singing] Yes, we live in the very finest state of the USA. [singing] We love South Carolina. [singing and music] Good old South Carolina. And we're [singing] mighty proud to say that we live. Yes, we live in the very finest state of the USA. [singing] [applause] Our last song describes many beautiful things you might find all over our state. Thank you again for inviting us to perform this evening. We hope
004you'll remember that nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina. Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning. No one could be sweeter than my sweetie when I meet her in the morning. [music] And a morning glories twine around the [singing] door. Whispering pretty stories I love to hear once [music] more. [singing] Strolling with my girl when the de is early in the morning. [singing] [music] Butterflies all up and kiss these little butter dawning. [music] If I had a ladder [singing] [music] to be in Carolina in the morning, [music] nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning. Morning. [singing] No one could be sweeter than my sweetie. When I meet her in the morning [singing] where the morning [music] glories twine around the door, [singing] whispering
005pretty stories I long to hear once more. [music and singing] Strolling with my girly when the de is early in the morning. [singing] Butterflies I'll flutter her up and kiss these little butter cup [music and singing] at dawn. If I had Aladdin's lamp for only a day, I make a wish. And here's what I'd say. Nothing could be finer [singing and music] than to be in Carolina in the morning. [music] They did good. >> They did great. They were good. >> Pretty good. >> I might not be. I'm trying to look here now. Watch out. >> This is more stuff to read aloud and get back to me. It's just a policy that association does it page and get back to me. It's just >> now got [clears throat] snow. about to cut up for
006a different >> about to know each other very well. >> I just found out and this is the conductor. [clears throat] >> I don't think I can already tell. >> Yeah, I know. Can I say convenience and the principles. [clears throat] That's right, baby. >> There's one down here. I don't know how Must have had more than more. >> Yes. came to see you. >> She's got a whole >> Is it dig for one? >> I'll give it back to you. >> [clears throat] >> He's not here. I'm just >> sh You mean your >> think I can get it ready? >> I have 7 o'clock. So, we'll call this meeting to order. >> Uh, welcome to everyone here tonight. Uh, if you'll stand with me for the pledge of allegiance. Repeat after me. >>
007To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> I'm going to give our invocation tonight. So, if you would bow your heads with me. Heavenly Father, we gather tonight to seek your wisdom and guidance as we serve the students, staff, and families of Spartanberg School District 2. We ask for your protection over our schools and your direction for our teachers, and administrators as they pour into the lives of our children. Grant this [clears throat] board clarity to make decisions that foster excellence, safety, and growth for every student in our community. >> Yes. >> Help us to lead with integrity and to remain mindful of the great responsibility that we have. Thank you for the opportunity
008to serve and we pray for a productive and peaceful meeting tonight. For sure we pray. Amen. Amen. >> All right. Just want to confirm the media has been notified. >> Welcome to the media tonight. Um I think the first thing on our agenda is who's who and who. Okay. Um Chairman Kill, members of the board, members of our audience. Welcome tonight. Uh it's good to see everybody here this evening for our first livereamed board meeting. Uh, but the first order of business we have tonight is to swear in our board members that won the election back in November. And so I know we have a lot of folks here. We got family members with our board members. And so we're going to invite as I call the name of each individual board member up. The
009family members please come up and join. Uh, but we have uh to help us tonight uh Shannon Judge Shannon Phillips uh who is a 2001 graduate from Bolan Springs High School. Uh, but I understand you have some Chesney folks in the uh, family too. So, [laughter] but she is a D2 product and she is going to be uh, helping with the swearing in tonight. So, the first uh, board member that we will have is Mrs. Connie Banks and we would certainly like to have you and your family come up and join at the front. Hi, boy. >> [clears throat] >> I do solemnly swear that I am duly qualified according to the constitution of the state to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been elected and that I will to the
010best of my ability discharge the duties thereof of and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of this state and of the United States. So help me God. Please affirm by saying I will. I will. >> [applause] [applause] >> our next board member that we will bring up to the front with his family, Mr. David Garner. I do solemnly swear that I am duly qualified according to the constitution of the state to exercise the duties of this office to which I have been elected and that I will to the best of my ability discharge the duties thereof and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. ution of the state and of the United States. So help me God. Please affirm by saying I will. >> I will. >> Congratulations. Thank you. >> Our next board member is
011Mr. Jason SE and family. >> [snorts] >> I do solemnly swear that I am duly qualified according to the constitution of the state to exercise [snorts] the duties of this office to which I have been elected and that I will to the best of my ability discharge the duties thereof and preserve protect protect and defend the Constitution of the State and of the United States. So help me God. >> I will. [laughter] >> Congratulations. [applause] >> Our next board member is Mrs. Sarah Butler and family. >> [clears throat] >> I do solemnly swear that I am duly qualified according to the constitution of the state to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been elected and that I will to to the best of my ability, discharge the duties thereof, and preserve,
012protect, and defend the Constitution of the State and of the United States. So help me God. >> Please affirm by saying, "I will." >> I will. >> Congratulations. [applause] [clears throat] And our last board member, Mr. David Canel and family. I do solemnly swear that I am duly qualified according to the constitution of the state to exercise the duties of the office to which I have been elected and that I will to the best of my ability discharge the duties thereof and preserve protect and defend the constitution of the state and of the United States. So help me God. Please affirm by saying I will. >> I will. >> Thank you. All >> [applause] >> right, if we could just give one more round of applause for all of our board members [applause] and Judge
013Phillips, before you take off out the door there for just a second, we can't have you come back to District 2 without giving you some swag to [laughter] take home with you. So, thank you for helping us tonight. and uh we appreciate all you do. All right, that we'll move on to the next item on the list, which is our board member, South Carolina School Boards Association service recognition. So, I believe myself and Mr. McKillip are going to walk around front here. So board member and leadership team training is a priority for the South Carolina School Boards Association. Established in 1982, South Carolina School Boards Association Boardsmanship Institute offers a year-round training curriculum focused on leadership skills for board members on state and national educational issues. We are always pleased to honor these uh individuals
014who have reached one of the six levels in the South Carolina School Board Association's Boardmanship Institute. Congratulations to the board members listed who have reached a new level in fiscal year 2425. And we are going to honor each one of those folks right now. Our first is Mr. David Garner. If you will come up to the front, we have a certificate and pin for getting to level four out of level six. So, all right. [clears throat] [applause] Our next board member is Dr. Sarah Simmons for level four out of six. >> Surprise. >> That's right. You dress for it. >> Yeah, I can dress for it. >> That's right. two. [applause] >> Our next board member is Mr. Jeff Watson who achieved level one. This is what happened. >> He's just so yall know [laughter]
015this way. One, two, three. [applause] And our last board member is Mrs. Rachel Yelton, level three. One, two, three. >> Thank you. [applause] Good evening board members, new board members. Uh we just are so excited to celebrate you this month. January is board appreciation month, but we want to celebrate you all year, but January is just an extra bit special. Our call to action for this January happy board appreciation month is elected.connected. And we certainly feel like our Spartanberg 2 board members are connected deeply with our community, with our schools, with our students, and the staff that you all serve. Our schools are actually working on special visits for each of you to deepen that connection. and we really can't wait for you to get into those schools and to have some more time with
016us. But tonight, we have some special visitors for each of you. We have some of our precious students. And at this time, what I'm going to like for you to do is to uh stand in front if you'll come inside of your uh name tag on your desk. If you will stand there, I'm going to ask some special students to stand beside you for a very special presentation. So, if you'll just stand in front of your name plate, please. Now students, I would like to ask you if you would please stand um with your board member with them um at the front, please. As part of this special time with each of our trustees, you've been partnered with a school sponsor and a student from that special school your partner with is gifting you with
017a special book that they believe is significant and special just for you. It's the same book that's going to be placed in the school's media center. I'm going to come around now and let each student introduce themselves and share the title of their book. They've also perhaps written something special for you as well, and they'll be sharing some more with you at that school visit. Okay. >> All right. I'll start with you. >> Hi, my name is Banks Davis. I'm from high uh Chesn High School. I'm in the 12th grade and I brought a book named Prospect out [laughter] to be honest. I don't remember it. He is my honey. [laughter] Thank you, Banks. For those of you who may not know, this is Miss Banks grandson, so I'm sure you can fill her in.
018along the way. Thanks. [laughter] Okay. >> My name is Alba Penn. I'm in eighth grade from Bowling Springs Middle School. And I'm not sure the name of the book. >> Good evening. My name is Sarah Martinez. I'm a fifth grade student at Sholley Creek Elementary. the board member. Well, you already know that part. [laughter] The title of the book we'll be presenting to you is Who I Am and Words I Tell Myself by Susan Verdie and artwork by Peter H. Reynolds. >> Thank you. >> One, two, three. >> My name is Caroline C. I'm from Carlo Fosters Grove. Our board member is my dad, Jason C. We have two books to share. The Nutcracker and Cart Racing. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Annaise Hearnen and I am an eighth grade student at Chesn
019Middle School. Tonight we are presenting Mr. McKillip with the book Game Changers, the 2025 Teen Reader Favorite Book Award. It reflects the characteristics of learners that CMS values. collaboration, motivation, and self-reflection. Mr. McKillip, thank you for your service to Spartanberg School District 2. >> Thank you. >> Hello, I am Brenley Stone from Chzn Elementary School. I am in fifth grade and our board member is Dr. Sarah Simmons and the book title that we have today is The Most Magn Magnificent Thing. Thank you. >> Hey, my name is Grayson Crowe. I'm from Bullen Springs High School and I'm a senior. And the book I have is the Beekeepers Bible. >> Awesome. Thank you. [laughter] >> I appreciate that. Which way? One, two, three. >> Hi, my name is Bella and Gant. Um I'm a fifth grader
020from Mayo Elementary School and um I'm presenting um Miss Yelin with the pencil by um Hay Young Kim. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hello. My name is Olivia and I'm in first grade at Sugaridge Elementary. I'm giving kindness who wins. >> I love that. Thank you so much. >> I'll come down there too. >> My name is Kayla Jones and I am a second grade student at Kohley Springs Fingerville Elementary School. Our school is showing our appreciation to Mr. Kantra the the book we are [snorts] dedicating to him is the leaders >> devotional as he steps into this new world of leading and service on the school board [applause] with me I'm sure I'm going to go to step ladders. I get a >> roofbody. [applause] We are going to [laughter]
021meet you Now I got children. >> I do too. [laughter] That fits, don't it? >> It does. They knew what they were doing on that one. >> Hey, did you get that video I sent you? >> I did. Yeah, I sure did. >> The beehive. >> I did. That was cool. >> Very cool. >> Yes. Hi, how are you? Good. Good to see you, too. >> Yes. >> Good to see you. That's right. >> Your daughter in the >> I'm in the career center. I oversee the launch program. She's getting tall. >> Oh, thank you. >> I'm on the other side. >> How's it going? How are you? >> Yeah. Good to see you. Yes, sir. >> I'm excited to be here and old. [laughter] Moon. That's right. Moon. That's right. >> Thank you very
022much. >> Cleared down the >> good. How about you? >> Yes, sir. little eagle >> in the back. >> Thanks. Thanks. All right, we'll continue on with the next item on the agenda, which is public comments. And board, we do have a request to address the board tonight. Uh, Mr. Tim Smith, I'll ask you to come forward. Uh, you can have the podium. Um, you have, I think, been notified of this, but it's just board policy. I'll remind you, please keep your comments to five minutes or less. The board is not allowed to respond to your presentation at the meeting, but we'll certainly take your issues under adisement. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you for being here. >> Good evening, guys, ladies. Thanks for allowing me to come speak with you tonight. I trust that
023each one of you had a good Christmas, New Year's. Unfortunately, I can't say the same thing. My wife is a fifth grade um K5 teacher. I said fifth grade, I'm sorry, K5 assistant teacher at Bowen Springs Elementary. Right before school recessed for the um for Christmas break, they were notified a child in their room had measles. Now, my wife fully vaccinated. I wasn't real worried about it, but she wanted to go take a what's called a tighter test to just to make sure. Couple days later, she was contacted by the lady at the um DHCK and said that she had failed her tighter test and asked me how my wife was doing. At that point, I told her, I said, "My wife is really sick." Folks, it didn't have to be. We sat there for
024the next two days watching her getting sicker and sicker. It didn't have to be at all. Friday, I think it was Friday. I'm sorry. My days are are kind of mixed up right in there. But anyway, we took her to get a test for for measles because we done ruled out flu. We've ruled out COVID. Measles was the only logical choice left. So, we we had the measel test done. We came back home and and Jamie got really bad. We went to the hospital that night. My wife was throwing up. She had diarrhea. She couldn't breathe off for what? This is It's absolute insanity. She was totally dehydrated. We have laws on our books that require vaccinations. But for some reason, somebody decided that we can apply for a religious exemption and anybody that applies
025for this can get it. It's not a good policy whatsoever. And tonight, I'm I'm going to ask you as a board to consider one thing. Measles was eradicated for 50 years. It was done. We You didn't hear it. Each one of us had measles vaccines. We had the mom and dad showed our vaccine guards at the at the school. We get go to get our our um registration. We was allowed in public school. That's been done away with. But what does not make sense is to allow children into our public schools that mom and dad says we're going to take a religious exemption. I know that's a big ask. I I'm very very aware of it. But I'm asking each one of you tonight to to understand that this could be your wife, mom, daughter.
026There's immuno compromised kids at the school that that can't take vaccines. these vaccines are in place to help protect them. What do you what are you going to say to their parents when when they get the measles? Even worse, yeah, let's take it a step further. Let's say they get polio. My god, it polio's been eradicated for a long time. And each one of you, you're old enough to understand and know what polio did. It's going to be bad. And if we think it's can't come, we we're fooling ourselves. There's there's an answer to what we can do if a if a you know religious freedoms is a a very closely held part of our lives. It's it's in our constitution. But the reality is this right here. It does not give someone a right
027to put someone else in danger. It has absolutely no right of that. I got a news story just before I came here today that since Friday, 134 new cases of measles popped up. I had a call from a doctor on Thursday that told me that in October there was 30 cases. He said, "Right now there's 30 plus cases a day and it's climbing. It's not going to stop and it's not going to get any better until we do something different." The vaccines was put there for her immunity and it worked. And I know there's a lot of folks out here nowadays hollering about vaccines. I get that. This co so-called COVID vaccine that they put out, I wouldn't advise anybody to get. But these are tried and true. These are 50 years old. >> I
028just wanted we've got about 20 30 seconds left. I just want to give you an >> Yes, sir. Well, that being said, let me just ask each and every one of you. One of your fundamental responsibilities at this board right here is to make sure that that our kids and the faculty of this these schools are safe. I'm going to ask you to do so. I know what the state law says, but it's time to to just say, you know what, we're not going to follow that. We're going to we're going to require vaccines in our schools, and if a mom and dad don't want to vaccinate, they need to homeschool their children. >> Thank you, sir. I appreciate you being here. >> Yes, sir. Um, there is a letter that was sent from Senator
029Josh Penroll to each one of you and um I know I don't have time to read it for you, but each one of you should have a copy of that letter. >> Thank you for your time. >> All right, board. Uh, the next item on our agenda will be the consent agenda. And we have a recommendation to approve items A through C on the consent agenda. And someone like to make a motion to do so. >> I'll make a motion we approve the consent agenda. >> I second. >> Okay. We have a motion and a second. Any questions or concerns? Okay. Hearing none, we'll call for a vote. All those in favor? Any opposed? All right. Thank you very much. We'll move into uh instruction and curriculum with Dr. H. >> Well, hello again. I'm
030excited about the first item to bring forth from the uh district is more good news to celebrate. It is time of year and new board members we do something really special in our school district. We call it the district 2 academic Olympics. And this started in 2018-19 because I started looking at some data of our students learning from the previous year. And I realized we had some grade levels and some subject areas where our students were scoring in the top 5% of all third grade math in South Carolina or in the top 10%. And I thought, you know what? It is time that we look at some academic Olympics and it's a way to uh recognize those teams of teachers that work together and what we call in our collaborative teams we call them teaching
031and learning teams or TLTs and we uh come around um the the folks from the district office and we recognize and celebrate the accomplishments to get a gold medal in the academic Olympics students. students learning from the previous year as it translates to SC ready or end of course assessments they score in the top 0.1 to 5.9% in South Carolina so basically the top 5% silver medal is the top 6 to 10.9% bronze medal is 11 to 13.9 and we also look at most improved from the previous year and honorable mention is 14 to 17% sent. And when you go around to visit schools, I want you to notice around the teachers doors because these are actually uh what they look like. You'll see some teachers um have a lot of these. And the students
032love it because they will ask their teachers, "What is that?" And the teacher will say, "Oh, well, the students last year scored in the top 10% of all fourth grade ELA in South Carolina." The students love that. They're like, "Well, we're going to do it, too." and we're going to do it one better because they realize that they can and that their students can take them to that level. So, it's really exciting. I know we started today, we busted into Mayo Elementary School and we recognized some bronze medalists and some silver medalists. We have these confetti poppers. It's sort of like a reveal, you know, where where did you land? And we did it at a faculty meeting. It's just such a wonderful thing to do. Um but please notice these and talk to the
033students and teachers when you visit schools. But I did have for your information on your agenda um the five years of data since we started academic Olympics. And you can see in 2021 on the agenda we had 12 um teams recognized. 2022 14 teams. 2024 26 teams recognized. And this past year from the 2425 school year the most ever 36 teams that were recognizing in academic Olympics. So that's exciting and we um are excited about that. So wanted to bring that for your information tonight. Also at this time uh we are required by the state department to give an update quarterly update on any schools um that are in additional targeted support and improvement. And this is ATSI and we have some really good news to share. But I'm going to turn it over to
034Tom Griffin our director of uh special services. and he's going to give you an update on the good news and tell you where we are with our ATSI schools for students with disabilities. >> Thank you, Dr. Hen board and Dr. Newman. Uh I have the distinct honor of talking about ATSI which is the probably one of the most convoluted things the federal government has ever created for us to to deal with. But the good news is we had two schools u Hendricks Elementary and Bowling Springs High School came out of ATSI midcycle and we had two elementary schools Mayo and Caral Fosters Grove came off at the end of their first cycle. So we're in good shape. We did add one school to ATSI this year which is Rainbow Lake Middle School. And if you
035can look up at the slide there, bottom line is they missed it by what one point something percentage points. Uh they had to meet the 30.43 fresh threshold and they were almost there at 28.9. So we have already uh we will meet with the ATSI people uh on the 28th of January with Rainbow Lake Middle and design a plan for them to uh come out of ATSI. Any questions? Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Our next item is just the list of names from our student uh spelling bee winners. Um so we're uh happy to have those students um to earn the spelling bee winner for their respective schools. And then last but not least, it's that time of year to update you on all the wonderful uh professional development opportunities we provide for our
036educators in Spartanber School District 2. And I'll call on Mr. Steven Oolen at this time. >> Video spelling be winners. So >> I got too excited. So we do have a [laughter] video of our spelling be winners. We normally do that in the beginning. So, I am just going like a clock step here. So, we're going to let you hear from each of these wonderful children whose names are on your agenda. >> I am Ryland Dunning and I'm the spell and be winner from Carl Frosters Grove. My winning word was imitation. I M I T A T I O N. >> My name is Olia Nikk. I am the spelling be winner of Shalley Creek. My winning word was immigrants. I m M I G R A N T S. >> My name is Richman
037Viang. I'm the spelling be winner from Hendricks Elementary School. And my winning word was Bart. B A R R E T E. >> My name is Athena Baya. I'm the spelling be winner from Sugar Rich Elementary. My winning word was submerged. S U B M E R G E D. submerged. >> My name is Anulip Skaya. I am the W the spelling be winner of Boiling Springs Elementary School. My winning word was equestrian. E Q U E S T R I A N. Equestrian. >> My name is Elliot Harrison. I'm the spelling be winner from Bowling Springs Middle School. One of my toughest words was precocious. P R E C O C I O U S. Precocious. >> My name is Molly Clayton and I won the school spelling be at Oakland Elementary. My winning
038word for the spelling bee was pediatric. P E D I A T R I C. >> My name is Nathan Lee and I'm the spelling be winner from Rainbow Lake. My winning word was ostracism. O S T R A C I S M. Uh, my name is James Raspersonson. I'm the Chesy Middle School spelling bee champion. Uh, my winning word was thesaurus. It's spelled T H E S A U R U S. >> Hi, I'm Isabella Rajabov and I'm the Mayo Elementary School spelling be winner. My winning word was eel. Ew. [laughter] >> How'd that happen? Yeah, the easy way. [laughter] >> And so, uh, just following up after the spelling be, just a quick update on where we are, uh, with professional development for the year. Um, when we when we talked in in
039September, um, we kind of laid out our plan for the year, but just an update, we're continuing to study, uh, John Hattie's visible learning signature practices. Uh and as a group, our teachers and administrators with our instructional coaches are working through Hadtie's Illustrated Guide to Visible Learning as our tier one professional development this year. Um we're also focusing on implementing high-quality instructional materials. Um our English and math teams all have um new within the last two years high-quality instructional materials. We're putting those to work. Uh and then continuing our focus on teacher clarity. that's been a a core part of what we've done um over the last 10 years. Uh we are continuing to offer monthly leadership development for our assistant principles and for uh potential future leaders through the D2 leads program. And we
040are putting the final touches on our summer schedule uh with work on curriculum writing um mentor and rubric 4.0 know evaluator training as well as starting to make preparations for uh our induction teachers uh that we'll be bringing in uh new to the profession um in the fall. Um also just wanted to give you an update uh you know last uh during the last legislative sess session uh the state legislature passed the educator assistance act uh that had an impact on what we do from a professional development standpoint. Uh it required four professional learning days to be colleial professional development days. Um and we just had one of those January 5th. Um and have our teams those days have been working on planning instructional units. Um some folks are still involved in the state required
041letters training. And then some of our schools are working towards Hadtie's visible learning school awards uh process and they've been working on the professional learning that goes with that uh as part of their collegial professional development. Um we were very very pleased with the feedback that came from teachers in the January 5th professional development uh specifically unit planning and visible learning professional development. um really being teachers being able to take it, use that time to get stuff done that they're going to be able to use right away in their classrooms. Um some of the highest we were looking over the the rating the rating and feedback from teachers and some of the most positive feedback we've ever had. Um so that's that. We've got uh one more of those days, March 6th, uh where we'll
042be continuing to work on these same goals. Uh and then we'll start making our plan for next year about where we need to go next. So, uh, with that, happy to answer any questions you have. >> Right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. [clears throat] Well, that wraps up curriculum. We'll move into the human resources report. Dr. Wilman. >> Good evening, Mr. Chair, members of the board. Dr. Newman, human resources tonight present certified candidates for employment. It's a recommendation from administration to approve the certified appointments as listed. >> Okay, board. We have a recommendation to approve the certified appointments. Someone like to make a motion. >> Make a motion that we approve the certified appointments. >> Okay, second. Thank you. Any questions? Hearing none, we'll call for a vote. All those in favor?
043Any opposed? Okay. And in addition, we have uh some administrative candidates and it is the recommendation from administration to approve the administrative uh candidates as listed. >> Okay. Board, we have a recommendation to approve the administrative appointments. Need a motion and a second. I make a motion that we approve the certified administrative candidate. >> Thank you. >> I seriously make a second. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any questions? Okay. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> All right. Thank you, >> Mr. Just a quick question. Have we done that uh our recruiting thing yet? The uh hiring event will be Saturday, January the 31st. >> Okay. All right. >> Springs. >> Look forward to hearing about that. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Randy. >> Good evening. >> I've included in
044your board packet the general fund revenue and expenditure reports through December 2025. I'd be happy to answer any questions that you might have. If not, I've also included the budget calendar for 2026 2027. Um lawmakers just returned today to start state budget deliberations. So, we'll be tuning in and providing updates leading up to the budget work session in April and the final approval of the budget in June. So, we'll keep you updated on the state um budget projections as we go along. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, Brandy. Good evening everyone. I don't know about you guys, but I think Eel is the only word I could have spelled in. [laughter] Just sad. Um, but I will tell you, so Isabella, I think I got that name right just to talk about how precious
045our kids are. So after every I did every interview, I'd say, "I hope you go win it for your school." And really, I want one of them to win it for D2. And she looked at me, she said, "If it's God's will." [laughter] I said, "I hope it is his will." That's just precious kids all over our district and that was just precious moment with Isabella from Mayo. >> Well, I know we are past Christmas time, but I haven't seen you guys since we last spoke in November. So, I wanted to share with you and I'm glad Mr. Pasaro is here. It was a wonderful time at Christmas at Chesy. I don't know if you got to make it there. Uh, but you know, you when you throw a party, you're always worried no one
046will come. And so, when people started coming in, it never stopped. It was a fantastic time. And I just have a couple of photos that kind of captured just some of the sweet moments from that. Uh just the the snow machine and everyone playing in the snow. It was fantastic. Um I was over there where where Santa was. And we had several hundred kids come through and love getting the positive feedback from parents. Uh getting reassurance. This is free, right? This is free. Yes, ma'am. This this Santa picture is free. We're going to get it to you. and they were just so thankful for that moment for their family and for that keepsake for their family. Um, and there's just another precious moment with Santa. We may have actually had the real Santa. That is
047a realistic looking Santa. And him and Miss Claus did a fantastic job. And we saw uh some of our kids, some kids who maybe weren't ours. We saw faculty and staff members come through. It was a great time. Mr. Sar, you did a fantastic job of planning that. Uh, your team was there. I mean, I know it was a big undertaking, but it was well worth it just to hear from those community members about that. So, can't wait to see what next year holds in store for Christmas at Chzn. Um, I talked to you guys la in November about a community survey we did about communications and this is another thing we're doing in response to that. We listen to to our community and they said they want to get information via text. So, we
048worked in the last two months of last year to make sure we could enable text messaging to not only our community, but to our faculty and staff for things like I don't want to say it, but snow. We don't want you don't want snow delays, things like that. So, we can text them. It's just another way to get important information to our families. Phone calls. We'll continue to do those things, but sometimes when you miss that phone call, your instinct is to call back. But if you get the text at the same time, you know what's going on. So, that is something we've enabled for faculty and staff as well as our community. And Mr. C, you talked about the hiring event. I want to share a little bit about that. There's the information Dr.
049Wman talked about. It is January 31st and this year it's at Bowling Springs Middle School in the beautiful new little auxiliary gym they have there. It's a really nice space for that. So, we're going to move there. Also, it's it's just right off Highway 9. A little easier to find. Um, and I can tell you we've been working hard to promote that event. Uh, we've done some targeted uh online stuff. Uh, Dr. Wilman gave me some areas he wanted to really target digitally with geo fencing and that is if you live in this zip code or in this area you're going to get that message from district 2 uh about the career fair and I can tell you so far we are glad to say and we still have 18 days to go uh we
050hope the number club is even higher but we have 89 people registered and these are people who are looking to teach so we've really marketed this as for certified folks u we're going to have probably another event right Dr. from later on in the year for classified folks, but this one's really for to bring in teachers. We have 89 folks that have registered for that. I can tell you it's working. So, I can't see where they're where they're at, but I can see because we asked for their phone number, their area codes. We have folks coming from Charlotte, Atlanta, Chattanooga, and these are just the places that we targeted with geof fencing. So, you can actually see it working because folks are coming from those areas to our career fair. So, I hope that number
051keeps growing and we have a lot of great people and I'm going to leave you tonight. So part of the advertising campaign via Google, Meta and these other platforms is we shared a video and we thought who best to market our district than our teachers. So I'll share that video with you now. [music] Make sure you're actually talking and asking questions. >> [music] >> I love the fun atmosphere where we are trusted to do our jobs and I get to build the relationships with my kids and show them what learning is and that it can be fun. [music] >> Also, what do we do with our notes, Payton? >> We keep them. >> Um, I really do feel like [music] District 2 as a whole, we have just an atmosphere that we feel like a
052family. We feel like we can support each other. Baba, what did you see that Angel did a really good job on? We make it happen every day with our students. And that's [music] in every classroom. The students are there to learn. They're there to meet the high expectations that we set for them. >> If I were to split a birthday cake into 24 pieces, are they going [music] to be smaller or larger? >> Smaller. Right. >> It's amazing here. It's a family. Mayo especially. Everyone is your family. They're there for you. They want to see you succeed. [music] They'll do anything they can to help you. And that being from California where my family's far away [music] from me, that's exactly what I needed. And it's just home. >> Oh, good job. Okay. Okay. >>
053From [music] professional development. Um I' I've really embraced the visible learning stuff. Um so I love district [music] 2. It's home. Um, Chzn High School. We are a big family and we love on our students. [music] We love on each other and it's it's just it's a great place to work. >> Makes you want to teach here, doesn't it? >> Well, [music] great job by our teachers marketing our district and every bit of that I believe came from the heart. [music] Thank you board members. Appreciate that. >> Thank you, Adrian. All right. The next item on our agenda is the liaison report. Dr. over to you. >> Thank you um Dr. Newman and Mr. Chairman and board members. Um, as you know, today is the first day back in um the general session and if
054you can remember um the governor has say some things that we that might interest us as they work on that transportation um project and the teacher salaries um $64,000 and also um resource the offices in every school. And the last thing, freezing um college students tuition for the instate students. And so those were the things that were emphasis that were put on um I did um call back down today to see if there was anything else. But because it's the first day, as you know, going back in the first day, there a lot of things that we do have to cover. So this completes my little report. >> Thank you very much. >> All right, Dr. Newman, we'll turn it over to you for your report. All right, Chairman McKillip, members of the board, members
055of our audience, and our online audience, our first live stream meeting. I know I've said that a couple times, but I'm pretty excited about that. So, um, just a few things to talk about during my update. First of all, we've had a great start to the second semester, uh, and second half of the school year. I mean, it's amazing that it's flown by and we've gotten through breaks and everything is off and running as we get ready to finish strong. Uh we're looking at our I Ready midyear data already. Uh we're also assessing the projected growth and achievement based on that setting up our midyear meetings with our principles, our data meetings where we'll have a chance to kind of just evaluate we are where we are at this point in time. Just a you
056know temperature check and what we need to do to make that final push uh for the end of the year. Winter sports are in full swing. Uh, of course, basketball, wrestling, uh, several of our, uh, sports that are going on. Uh, and our all of our teams are representing D2 well at this point in time of the season. Uh, you know, basketball teams are doing well at all levels, whether it be middle school, uh, or high school as well. Um, and then triyouts for spring sports are just around the corner. So, those take place usually the first and second week of February. So, uh, it's flying by. Um, also, uh, you have in front of you, uh, the D2 spring arts, fine arts events calendar. Uh, so please make sure that you take a look
057at that and if you are able to attend uh, at any uh, time during the month, February, March, April or May. Uh, again, first of all, you're always welcome and second of all, our our students love seeing you all come uh, watch them perform. Um, also, uh, for the third time in this meeting, I'm going to mention the D2 hiring event. All right, so the teacher hiring event that is coming up on the 31st, uh, at Boring Springs Middle School from 9 to 12. Um, please feel free to drop by. Uh, want to invite you to stop by. Uh, I think it's great for folks from outside of this district to see the family. Uh, and you all are part of that family. You're a big part of this family. So, if you were available
058on that Saturday to stop in and say, "Hey, uh we would love to see you all for that." Um and just, you know, again, as you heard Adrian say, we we're 89. I mean, I say that's close to hundred already that we have that folks that they're specifically interested in coming to teach in D2. If you heard the video, the reason why relationships, family, and people love on each other, but most importantly, love on our kids. And so, um it's special here. and people want to be a part of this and so this gives us a chance to really shine. Um, also I hear we get a little competitive with the booths that are set up with the principles that are in the room right now. I'm just hearing this, you know, not not that
059there's any competitive folks in this room or not, but anyways, I think you'll get a chance to see how competitive our folks are in a great way to attract people to the district. Um, I do want to give an update on Kelly Services, uh, which as you all recall back in the fall, I came to you and asked, uh, if you would approve, uh, for us to be able to use Kelly Services, uh, to take over our substitute teacher program. Uh, and I am really glad to give this update. Uh, we started uh, in December as far as onboarding all the folks uh, into the Kelly services that we had currently with substitutes. Um, and then really we hit the ground running after the holiday. So, so just last week and this week, but I
060just wanted to give you a couple numbers. So, last Friday we had a 90% fill rate. Monday we had a 92% fill rate. Today, we had a 96% fill rate and tomorrow we're slated for 100% fill rate in all of our schools. So, if you all remember when we were talking about this, our fill rates were in the mid60s to mid70s always. Um, and for us this quickly to be in the '9s, uh, and really in the upper 90s at this point in time, that is such a relief. Our our principles know this in the room, that is such a relief off of teachers having to double up classrooms. They're not having to do that now. um and more importantly [snorts] for administrators not to have to be the ones on the phone starting at
0615:00 in the morning trying to figure out how we're going to get folks to come in and cover our classroom. So, I I just really wanted to give the board, first of all, thank you for allowing us to do that. Uh but more importantly, it's working and it is effective. Uh Megan is our on-site person. Megan is our principal's new best friend. uh because she's a phone call away when those emergencies pop up and she's doing a really good job for us. Uh but again, just very encouraged about that a new initiative that the board uh approved back in the fall. wanted to mention that we do have a work session that is scheduled on Monday, January 26th, uh 6 p.m. And so at that work session, we're going to have a chance to continue
062our conversations regarding the upcoming budget season, uh including the potential for some additional funds that we're waiting to see. Uh we have more students this year than we had last year. And typically what that means is from the state department that we will receive funding for this current year that we're in based on those additional students. And so Miss G and I are uh anxiously awaiting the 20th of this month which is when those reports are supposed to drop to tell us as you all know uh the past couple years because of the funding formula uh it's not been precise. So, you would think if you add students, you would get money, but there's been some instances where people have added students and they've lost money. So, and it's because of the funding formula and
063the way it's uh set up across the state that it it it accounts for all students in all districts. But we're very hopeful that based on the um 384 students that were above this year versus last year at the 45th day count that we should see a significant chunk of money that would be for this year and of course continue on for next year as well. Um, so we're waiting to see on that and also we're going to get a chance uh to see how this year's growth may also look in the future. So if we had that kind of growth this year, what does that look like next year? What does it look like five years? What does it look like 10 years? And so uh we'll have a chance to talk through the
064demography study that has been done uh by the the group of consultants that will kind of tell us what it looks like in the future. And so we'll be able to take a look at that as well at the work session. Um and then also, you know, the potential growth it it not only is going to impact personnel costs, uh as far as teachers and and school staff, but also, you know, capital needs um and you know, how that may impact our buildings because as you know, the majority of our buildings are at capacity right now. So many of our uh buildings are at capacity. Um, so look forward to talking about that. And again, you know, those personnel costs are are school cost and their support cost and their district level cost. So it
065it kind of kicks off that that budget season that we start. Um, and so I'm looking forward to having those conversations with everybody in January at the work session. Um, again, I want to welcome I want to personally welcome our two new board members, uh, Mr. David Canrell and Mrs. Sarah Butler. We're glad to have you with us. I look forward to working with you. uh and being, you know, we're a family as well. And so look forward to, you know, as we move uh together and and uh I know there's things coming up, there's conferences and all those types of things, but you're with a wonderful group of people. I say that because I've been around several places in the state and this group is as good as it gets. So, you're in good
066hands. Uh and then also, of course, board appreciation month to all of our board members. Thank you uh for what you do. Uh it is you you don't hear that enough. Uh and you deal with a lot of tough situations, but I I can just say from my role, but I know everybody in this room too. [snorts] Uh we really appreciate what you do and um and just, you know, be encouraged. Uh you're doing good work and you're doing God's work and I appreciate that and I know everybody in this district does too. Uh so and then uh last I'm always wanting to to do a shout out to our principles that are in the room with us. Thank you all for for being here and uh again thank you for what you do in
067our buildings for our kids getting everybody started back. You know, I know we're having to deal with all those things that come up as you start the the the new semester and the second half, but y'all are doing an awesome job and uh I've been in a lot of the buildings and you know, just just be encouraged. We're here to support you. So, uh, and chair McKillip, that's superintendent's report. All right, we do have one item left. Um, we do have a couple of things to discuss in executive session. So, uh, at this time, I will entertain a motion to move into executive session for legal matters. I make a motion to move in executive session for legal matters. >> Okay. Need a second. >> I'll second it. >> All right. Any questions? Okay. All
068those in favor? Any opposed? Unanimous. Okay. All right. Thank y'all for being here. All right, thank you Adrian. We are back in uh regular session. Um our executive session for legal matters has concluded and there is no action taken nor any that needs to be taken from our executive session. Um, also I believe that ends our agenda. So all we need to do now is a motion to adjourn. >> Chairman, may I move that we adjourn this District 2 school board meeting. >> Thank you, Dr. Simmons. Second. >> I'll second. >> All right, we got a motion, a second. Any last questions, comments? All right, all those in favor? Any opposed? Last thing I'll remind you of is our board feedback form. If you would complete that would be helpful. >> Thank you very much.