001stand. And Mr. Ambrose, will you please lead us? >> I pledge algiance to 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. >> Thank you. >> Mrs. Hines is running behind. So I've asked Mr. Cox to um fill in and do roll for us, please. >> Certainly. Mr. Ambrose >> present. Missy Mitchell >> present. >> Dr. Weaver >> present. >> Miss Hines absent. Cox present. >> Mr. Roshan >> present. Miss May >> present. We have a quorum. >> Thank you very much. Next on our agenda is the superintendent search selection of finalists. I am going to turn it over to our partners from MLI, Mr. John Severi and Mrs. Sheila Els. >> Thank you. So, we've discussed
002uh how we're going to go about making the the uh your selection of finalists last night. I'll just quickly review that. Um, we'll give you the chance to go around and have you individually weigh in, speak to who it is that you would like to advance in this process and to whatever extent you're comfortable doing so, speak to your why. Um, and just a reminder too that as we do that, we we never talk about why we're not selecting candidates. We never make critical comments about any of the candidates. So, it's all focused on here's who I would like to advance. Here's why I feel that uh they're worthy of uh being advanced in this process. Um Sheila and I will tally your responses and then we'll kind of read back to you how many
003supported each of those candidates and if it works out easily. It doesn't always but sometimes the way it works out is pretty apparent then who has four or more board members in support. There's already a quorum. You can make a motion in support of those candidates. Of course there can be discussion but ultimately you vote and you will have selected your finalists. You have any questions about that process? Okay. So, in terms of the order and how you'd like to go about that, I'll leave that up to you, President May. >> All right. I usually make it pretty simple and ask who would like to start. Do we have anyone that's interested in starting? >> Okay. So, I'd be the first one to bite the bullet. Thank you. I would like to see Miss Jackson
004come back for a second first second interview. And my second choice would be Oh, my reason why I chose her is because when she came to the first interview, she was very invested in the Wayne Westland School District to the point where she knew where our buildings was at, what was going on, and especially with our elementary sports since that was a program that's not been around and made a lot of history yet. So, I just found figured that she was well grounded what was going on here in um Wayne Westland and she figured that her agenda would fit in with what we doing here. And the second person I chose was um Dr. Oily um because he's already in the district, so he knows what's going on in the district and and and his
005plan. Um speaks speaks to the need of the district. Um that's all I have. >> Thank you. too. >> Okay. Thank you. Would someone else like to go next or am I going to call my names at this point? >> Thank you, Dr. Weber. The first one is Dr. Cost. My reasoning is that when we lost um excuse me, when we lost whole, we lost 800 kids. When we lost Dignon, we lost 300 kids. When we lost Jen Curry, we lost another 250 kids that immediately left the district after they did. 1350 kids. And that's 13,500,000 that we lost because of superintendent change. Secondly, Dr. Cost has been very successful, had a very successful year that has quieted our district and not only quieted our district, but moved our district forward in several ways. The
006third is that Dr. cost has listened to and responded to the needs of board members and quick to respond. And if she knows you're in the building and she's here in the building, she will seek us out just to talk to us. Uh she has a a great personality and she would be my second or my first. Um, Miss Jackson would probably be my second choice. Um, to look at again. Um her research of our district was impressive and um her general all in all um demeanor uh seemed to be pleasant. Um, and that's all I have to say about her, but I I will say better to keep the one we know. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Weaver. >> All right. So, we'll just continue on that side. Mr. Roshan, please. Good evening
007everyone. Um, one of my choices is uh Michan Jackson as one of the my finalists for superintendent because she demonstrated a clear commitment to understand our district at a deep level. Uh she took the time to thoroughly research Wayne Westland, showing up prepared in a and insightful of our district, our community, our students, our staff. Uh she has a proven track record of successfully managing 900 a $900 million budget that speaks to her ability to lead a complex organization with both fiscal responsibility and strategic vision. Uh that level of experience is critical as we continue to navigate the financial uh responsibilities of our district. In addition, her lifelong career in education reflects a deep rooted passion and dedication to this work. She understands the systems from multiple angles and has consistently shown the ability to
008lead with purpose and impact. But, you know, one thing that really stood out uh most to me is her ability to bridge operations and academics. Uh, as I talked to community members and received emails, that was one thing that everyone kept saying. Um, a lot of people said, you know, that was their top candidate. Um, a lot of people said other candidates. Uh, but overall, I believe Michon Jackson brings the experience, preparation, leadership, mindset, uh, needed to help move our district forward. Um, at this time I have a few other candidates that I'm really looking at, but I ask if my colleagues will go forth and um, uh, with their candidates and then I'll come back with a second. >> So to the chair. So what we're going to do is we're going to now
009abandon procedure and >> kind of look to John to see if we could is that okay or should we just continue with the plan of each person saying >> whatever we want to do. >> Totally your call. Our job is to advise but uh ultimately that's your call. >> Okay. Since we didn't set that as a precedent and everyone else has shared all of theirs up front, I will ask that you do the same. >> Um I'm not sure yet. So I don't um what would happen if that would be my only choice. >> And that's your only choice. >> That's okay. >> Okay. Um so if I'm not ready to make that decision at this moment, Um, that would have to be my only choice. >> I'm going to lean to the board as
010that decision. Like, we made that decision as a board cuz we walked out of here with the understanding that we will all come back with our choices and we would share them. So, I don't think it's for me to say that like we're going to not follow that process that we agreed to. Okay. >> Other board members, please feel free to chime in with what you're most comfortable with because I don't want anyone to feel like the process was unfair to them, >> if that makes sense. >> Yeah, if we could have a discussion on that. Um, if >> we've already two board members share theirs and had they had the opportunity to maybe think they may not have shared theirs, >> I totally understand. >> How does how do others feel? Can I ask
011you know the rest of the board I guess a discussion on if you think it's okay for me to come back uh with a decision in a few moments. >> We I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> I would say that we take your one choice now because if you get a second choice when we come back I'm going want a third choice. >> Say >> I say it's final now. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I I would um you know we've had a couple of weeks with these candidates and um really at this point our individual mind should be made up. So that's my thinking >> and I'll just add this isn't the decision. This is saying that we would like for these people to come back and we want to hear more
012from them. So if there's someone that you think you want to hear a little more from, there's absolutely nothing wrong with bringing that person forward. >> Totally understand. >> Um any more I guess need more discussion? >> No, I just I to the chair. I just want to know you know what the what we're doing >> is all because like Lana said it's uh >> we'll be here just going back and forth. >> This is this is such a difficult process anyway. further complicating it is all I'm thinking of. >> Totally understandable. Oh, I I assume that maybe I have um I wanted to hear my colleagues. Um but if we didn't set that president, that is fine. Um >> but no, we are hearing each other. So like once these these aren't final. So
013once we say who we want to bring back, then we have further discussion and we determine like who we are actually bringing back. So this is just saying what who each person would like to see to hear more from, but it's not final. >> You know what I mean? So you can say a person and then through the discussion you may say like, "Yeah, you know what? You're right. I don't think I need to hear from that person anymore." Do you know what I mean? >> Um I assume that we're as we we're saying who we want, we were tallying. >> Yes. >> Um but once we tally, is that final or >> we still have to do a motion to vote that? >> Yeah. What we're advising is that for all of those who
014four or more of you weighed in on that they would be included in a motion but then the motion is followed by discussion >> and so that certainly could lead to a different outcome. >> Understand? I don't want to prolong it too long. What I will do is um I want to go with um Mr. uh Dr. Aily uh because of his interview um wanted to hear his plans wanted to hear his interview. I think um he answered some of the questions that I had and I would like to hear more from him. So I will go with uh Dr. Ailia at this time. >> Thank you >> Mr. Ambers. >> If you would have asked me at the start of this whole process, um my answers would actually be quite different. Um, I was
015actually uh want to hear more from from three individuals. Um, the first one is Miss Jackson. um her thoughts and her ideas really really intrigue me. Um and the people I want to hear from I think can can hit the ground running day one here in this district and and that's what we need. She she researched us. She researched everyone on the board, our contracts, um, the schools, how they performed. Um, and I think it helped that she had friends that had kids in the district. So, she was she was familiar and intimate with us on that level. Um, the second person um is Dr. Cost. Um, Dr. cost has come in. Um, and as Dr. Weaver said, she's quieted the district down. Um, I think she h she hasn't done everything she wanted to
016do because she was only here on an interim basis and so she she felt her her role was to quiet and to stabilize and listening to her talk and talk about her ideas. she has some good ideas to move the district forward and I want to hear more about those ideas. And the third one is uh Mr. Cutlac from from Belleville. Um again, another superintendent who's been doing the job for for 10 years. Uh he has turned Belleville around. Um he is he is welll liked in the community down there. Um similar demographics they are famili he is familiar with us uh being being just south of us and uh I want to hear some more of his ideas on improving student achievement also. >> Thank you Mr. Cox. My choices are Dr. Cost. My
017first choice is Dr. Cost. Uh, you know, uh, having done this, uh, I think seven or eight times now, um, and been with the district so many years, you develop an understanding of all of the foundational resources that are needed here. And among the largest is the ability to communicate with our employees. So many times I have uh looked at the resume and the background of the people that have applied for this position and thought, "Boy, they're perfect for this. Uh they have all of these skills and uh and they've done this work before and uh and they've impressed me in every way." And then when they get into the position, uh things that you that you weren't really judging at the forefront become the most important things. Like uh someone who is a very
018hard worker uh very disciplined and uh uh very intelligent, but that doesn't collaborate with others uh is not going to be effective in the Wayne Westland School District. And and so as we listen to these people, uh what I have done is I've thought to myself, well, does your exceptional experience and as Mr. Si said, uh they were all very wellqualified, is is your is your particular experience in this arena, not just handling big money, uh but rather in this particular arena. And uh this is probably and and of course I don't know because I haven't served on school boards in other communities but this has to be just because of its size one of the most difficult places to maintain that steadiness. Now in the case of Dr. cost. She came in at a
019time when we had no steadiness at all and uh seamlessly blended into our school district and enjoys the support of many of our administrative people and mo most importantly the educators in the classroom because no matter how smart we are or how smart they are, if it doesn't get through the teacher, it doesn't get to the student. And so I weight very heavily the ability of whomever we choose to be able to communicate effectively. Not just know how to speak and say the words properly but in a way that they need to communicate to be effective here. Dr. Cost I don't have to guess with her. I've seen it. I I know it's there. My second choice is uh Dr. Oily who is in a you know being the human resources director in the Wayne
020Westland school district has to be like the guy that holds the target up. It's just nothing you do in your workday is really going to create friendships for you. It's extremely hard. And of course the superintendent knows that that's the person who's going to get punched in the nose a lot. That's the person is going to be the pivot point. And as a consequence, you have to operate in that uh in that vein. But I've I've been here for four years with Dr. Ofield and I know what he's got going on upstairs and he's very gifted and kind of being held in a box where he's doing his job, but you're not really saying what he's capable of. Uh, so I think as Mr. Si said, they're all so qualified, but it's about how you're
021going to function here in my mind. So, >> thank you. So, I actually have a couple um and in no particular order. So, I'd like to hear more from Pete Koulac. um some of the reasons why looking at the candidate profile. So looking at demonstrates integrity and strong ethical standards in all actions and decisions. I appreciated his ability to be vulnerable and to share his mistake with the um snow day and how he handled that and um honoring and and owning that mistake and saying how he would fix it. um in terms of being approachable, visible, and accessible to students, staff, families, and the community. He spoke heavily about um knowing what's happening in the classrooms, not hearing about it, but being present, being in the buildings and in the classrooms. Um our third profile
022component was around possessing strong financial acumen and ensuring the district's financial health, stability, and long-term sustainability. I really liked how he talked about prioritizing and not touching the classrooms and not touching teachers and also the idea of zerobased budgeting which would allow for the community to be a part of that process. Um attracts, develops and retains students and highquality staff. Again, this kind of ties into a couple of different things that he said. Um builds trust or other parts of our um profile builds trust and fosters collaboration, teamwork, and consensus among diverse stakeholders. really like the idea of the living room conversations and being willing to meet our families where they are and to dig deeper into um some of the behavioral issues, the attendance issues, and also willing to hear what's good, what's bad,
023what's ugly about the district and having a plan um in advance, not waiting to build relationships when we need something from the community. um really love the idea of the bi-weekly meetings that he talked about with principles and the um understanding that leadership is coaching. So, not being top down, but being willing to listen and to thought partner. Really appreciated hearing him talk about um not wanting yes people but wanting to be challenged, wanting to um hear if idea was good or bad or other um ways to improve an idea. He also has a proven track record with Van Beern Schools. Um, one of the other things that we have on here is to be deeply student centered, consistently placing students at the forefront of decision- making. And I think he talked about that through
024his entire interview, recognizing the varying needs of students and circumstances of children and those things having to be taken into consideration, but it doesn't mean that you lower expectations. It also doesn't mean that you do not keep a safe environment. Um, the last thing that I appreciated hearing him talk about was being a chief people officer and so I would just like to hear more from him in regards to how he would um implement some of the things that he talked about in Wayne Westland. My um another one that I have would be Mrs. Mason um Jackson. again many other reasons that my colleagues that have mentioned her shared um also I'm sorry let me pause for well I'll say that for the end um in terms of the candidate profile is approachable visible and
025accessible to students staff families and the community love the idea again of listening tours and listening to her talk about um the time when they were talking about closing the school and how she they had to backtrack they had to pivot because they didn't have all the data, all the information that they needed, but they listened to what the community said, what the stakeholders said, and they were willing to say, "Hey, we need to change this, right?" Um, also treating individuals with dignity and respect. She talked a lot and leading with kindness, empathy, professionalism, and authenticity. She talked a lot about just how to be nice and that you have to be nice. That's really what it's about. Um, building trust, collaboration, teamwork, consensus among diverse stakeholders. again her community meetings that she talked about
026um and then maintains a whole child focus supporting the academic, social and emotional development of every student. Um when she talked about wraparound services for students while maintaining a safe environment. So the question around the risk assessment and what that looked like and what the process was and at the same time saying that while we have to keep the environment safe, we still have to get this child some help. So, I would love to hear more from her. Um, she also talked about leadership and coach leadership and coaching or leadership is coaching. And another piece that she really I appreciated hearing about was not just the research she did on a district, but when there's a situation, how she researched. So, when she gave the example of the property and the property wanting to be
027purchased and how she didn't just say, "Oh, it's $300,000 on the table. Let's take it." she did research and she was able to get the district more money and the willingness to push back on vendors to say like, "Hey, this is how much money we have. This is what we're working with." Not just, "Okay, this is how much it's going to be." So, those were pieces that I appreciated hearing and I'd like to hear more from her. Um, I do have a third candidate that I would like to hear more from and that would be um Dr. Oily. And one of the reasons why is um his commitment to the district. He has um is some of the things that um Mr. Cox shared in terms of being HR, being the face of some things,
028taking some um hits. Um some may be warranted, some may be not warranted, but he's still here and he showed that he's committed to be here. And so I would like to hear more from him. Um, I liked how he talked about honoring the current work, but also shared ways to enhance and build upon that. He shared measurable outcomes for assessing the curriculum and um, I'm sorry, for assessing um, culture and climate. When I look at the profile, just to name a few things. Um, attracts, develops, and retains students and high quality staff. He talked about his experience in Birmingham um, with not only increasing enrollment but increasing student achievement. So, I would like to hear more about that. Um, is deeply student centered, consistently placing students at the forefront of decision-m talked about being
029willing to make those difficult decisions and gave a couple of examples. Um, builds trust, foster collaboration, teamwork, and consensus among diverse stakeholders. Um, I liked how he talked about the parentmies and the task force. I also appreciated him sharing um errors that he made and what he learned from negotiating and and the importance of having two-way communication and finally maintains a whole child focus supporting the academic social and emotional development of every student where he talked about the various the varying needs of kids and having a solid understanding of the MTSS process. So those are my three >> questions. Um, I'm not sure this is even appropriate, but where is Mrs. Hines? Do we know? >> I said at the beginning of the meeting. I said at the beginning of the meeting that she was
030going to be late, but I don't know. >> Or maybe not here at all. >> No. >> I make a motion that we uh ask Miss Jackson, Dr. Cost, and Dr. Dr. >> Second >> say you said Miss Dr. Oily, Miss Jackson, and Dr. Cross. >> Yes. >> So, we had motion support. >> Support. >> I think Dr. Weaver supported, right? And then discussion. >> Uh, discussion >> discussion. I would like to just move forward with two candidates. >> Oh, >> so that I know that's not a motion. >> Yeah, >> that's not a motion, but I'm just discussing I prefer to move uh forward with two candidates. I I believe that was what we kind of talked about before is moving forward with the top two. Um and I would that's my discussion on
031three is I would ra I would rather move forward with just candidates for the finalist, >> but I think we have to go with the motion on the table. >> We have to vote. >> But I'm just lifting that as a discussion. >> Is there more discussion? >> I I' I'd like to make a statement. I certainly understand that uh Shannon after we you know after all of the interviews we've already had but uh we have one board member not here tonight and obviously there is support uh for three candidates uh u strong support for three candidates and uh I think under the circumstances with not all the board being able to weigh in uh we should give us the opportunity to hear from u all three of them again that's that's why I made
032the motion I did >> I am going to ask um Mr. Severe is a part of this discussion. Can you give us the numbers for each of the candidate candidates? The total >> five of you named Michan Jackson, four Alexi, three Katherine Cost, two Peter Kudlac. >> Okay, >> thank you. >> Can you just repeat that again? I'm sorry. >> Sure. Five um named Michan Jackson, four Alex Oily, three Katherine Cost, two Peter Kudlack. >> If there's no other discussion, I'm going to You raise your hand for discussion. Dr. Um Nothing. It's okay. >> You say anything? No. Okay. So, um, you have this. Are you call? >> Yes. >> Oh, thank you. I was going to grab it from you, but go ahead. >> Okay. Uh, Cox is uh, yes. Mr. Roshan, >> no.
033>> Miss Hines is not here. Dr. Weaver, >> yes. >> Mr. Ambrose, >> yes. >> Miss Abney Mitchell, >> no. and Miss May. >> No. >> Sorry. >> No. >> Do we have another motion? >> I would like to make a motion that we move forward with two candidates. Um, as discussed before, >> who will be the two candidates? >> Uh, the top two candidates, uh, which was Miss Jackson and Dr. Oily. Is there a motion? I mean, I'm sorry, not motion. Support. >> Support, >> discussion. >> I um I know that I was the one that um and a couple more voted for uh Katherine Cost or nominated. Um, I really feel like she needs to be in the discussion. Um, stopping or cutting her off at this point in my view would be
034a mistake. And um as much as I am loathed to do an extra night to do three candidates, um I'm thinking it's going to have to be. >> Thank you. Any other discussion? >> Please call row. Uh, Dr. Weaver, >> no. >> Miss Ay Mitchell, >> yes. >> Mr. Ambrose, >> no. >> Miss Hines, Mr. Cox, says no. Mr. Roshan, >> yes. >> Miss May, >> no. >> Okay, motion fails. I'd like to make a motion that we look at two candidates, Dr. Cost and Miss Jackson. >> Second >> discussion. Well, what I want to say is that if we looked at two candidates, I think that we should go with the two candates that was rated the highest. I I appreciate that statement, but that that's not germanine to this conversation because any um
035any member >> Yes, it is. We have a conversation. And any member can pick whatever two that they would want to. So um my reasoning is not your reasoning. >> Okay. But I'm we having discussion. So but that's I was of under the impression that that was the reason that we had the rating for the highest candidates. Is that true or false? Um he actually said that even after we put forward names that we could change that. >> Ultimately it just comes down to what the majority of the board chooses to do. Okay. Your your initial um voicing of support for various candidates was just to get that out on the table so that everybody understood and knew you knew what your fellow board members were thinking. At this point, it just comes down to
036what what a majority of the board chooses to do >> having heard from everybody. >> Were you gonna say something, Mr. Cox? >> No. >> Thank you. >> I I uh Well, yes, I guess I am going to say something. And I continue to believe that uh it's not that much of an inconvenience considering all of the work that's been done, some of it in this room, most of it at uh Mr. Barry's office uh to to see three candidates again. And uh if it was the uh the entire board's decision not to uh I would certainly live with that and move on. But we've got one person just not here with the most important decision that the board of education ever makes. And you know, nothing against her. I know this happens. It's happened
037to everybody. Uh but what we're doing is as soon as we're done with this meeting, Mr. Si is going to call the people that we choose and we will therefore be precluded from ever talking to the other person. Cutting ourselves off for no reason whatever other than we don't want another one and a half hour meeting. Considering what's at stake, it doesn't seem too much to ask. So, what I will add is for me is not that I don't want another one-hour meeting. That just was not a person that I wanted to hear more for from um I have my reasons why I don't feel like it needs to be stated here. One of the things that I will lift though is interim is a short term. It doesn't guarantee a position. It doesn't guarantee
038an interview. And so, That is where I stand with it in terms of where I sit in terms of like, hey, I don't necessarily need to hear from this third person. Um, but it's not about the extra night. >> Well, you know, I I I agree with Mr. Cox and I trust our seasoned board members. I have said it in the past. I said it last night and I will continue to say it and he has some very valid points and I do agree that Dr. Cross came in here with boots on the ground and been kicking ever since. I agree with that. So it's not about the extra hour for me cuz that hour going to go past and I ain't going to even know what I did with it anyway. So instead of
039Since spending an hour here debating this, I will go back to your first motion. >> Okay? Then then through the chair, then you'd have to vote uh no on this one. >> Okay? >> And then you can make the motion. >> Okay? >> And I want you to know it's not about me thinking that my colleagues aren't interested in the one and a half. It's more about giving someone I've served for 10 years with on the board of education who might be going through something that she just can't be here right now the opportunity to to look at everybody. >> You are absolutely right. You're right. >> It's about fairness for me. It's about fairness to her. >> You're right. You are absolutely right because she's usually here. >> Okay. So, are we going to
040vote on this motion? >> Uh Dr. Weaver, on the motion that you made, how do you vote? It was actually the motion that >> Mr. We have to deal with your motion and my second first. >> We did that already. It failed. >> Okay. Sorry. I was getting a cookie or something. >> No, it is your motion. >> It's still >> Oh, yes. It is Weaver. It's for the two. >> We have not voted on that. We have to vote on >> Sorry about that. So, this is your two. >> Dr. Weaver. >> Yes. >> Cox is going to be yes, even though it's going to fail. Mr. Ambers, >> no. >> Mr. Mr. Roshan, >> no. >> Mitchell, >> no. >> Miss Habs and Miss May, >> no. >> God, >> this isn't unusual,
041by the way. >> But no, but we just agreed that we weren't going to We knew that motion wasn't going to pass cuz we're going to make another motion >> that we're voting on. So that's why. >> So I'd like to make a motion that we we bring back for a second interview um Dr. Cos, Dr. Oily and Miss Jackson >> second >> discussion >> around please. >> Oh, I want to have a discussion. >> Okay. And I think that this is absolutely the right choice, but I don't know, maybe that's not for the board table because our our our board member is not here, but on the same night that we made these choices, she wasn't here. >> So, what I will say is Dr. I mean, Mr. Cox, I appreciate what you lifted.
042Um, that wasn't a thought for me at the time. Um, I don't know what our board members um, selection would have been. I can also appreciate the desire to want to um extend a second opportunity to um our interim superintendent and so I I can appreciate us going back to this motion. I'm fine with that. >> Would you like me to call roll? >> Please have any >> I keep forgetting. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ambers. Yes. >> The signs absent. Dr. Weaver. >> Yes. >> Miss May. >> Yes. >> Mr. Roshan. >> Yes. >> And Cox is also Yes. >> So we're back to you. So now we know that our finalists are Dr. CS, Mrs. Jackson, and Dr. Oily. >> Yes. So now we need to discuss the third night because we have two
043nights already established. >> So yes we do. Yes we do. So uh that throws our our uh timeline a little bit out of whack but we have talked about that possibility and as we said to you um if there's a need to we simply have to adjust. Right. The most important thing is that you have the people still in the process that need to still be in the process in your view. Right. and through the chair to Mr. Silberry. >> I'm not sure this can happen, but could we start early and hear all three in one night? >> Well, let me um Don't be stealing my thunder, Mr. >> Okay, all right. >> So, um Sheila and I have spent some time exploring because we were anticipating this could happen, right? We didn't know that
044it would, but we anticipated that it could. So, we talked about various options. um and how to attack this. One would simply be to add a third day. You come back on a third night to do an interview. We have those stakeholder meetings. That's a lot to ask of anybody. It's a lot to ask of you. But when you consider the stakeholders who would be given the opportunity to participate in question and answer sessions, three days is a lot, right? So, we're not in love with that idea. We'll just share that. Plus, even in terms of the calendar, as it stands right now, you got some activities taking place on the following day on the Thursday. Um, and the next day is a getaway day before you start a break. And we don't want to
045even think about touching that day. So, it's also a bit of a shorter week when you think of it that way. So, let me just share what um we're recommending to you, but we can have discussion and we're not saying that this is set in stone by any means. Ultimately, you're the ones who need to make the final call. So what we're suggesting is that on March 24th that we conduct the meet and greet, excuse me, the district tours on that day from 12:00 to 3:00 on the 24th followed by um the stakeholder question and answer sessions um for each of the candidates. Now this is where it gets tricky. So this is what we're going to suggest. Instead of three days, the t the the schedule that we've kind of mapped out would work
046like this. So bear in mind all three of the finalists would be in the district in the morning of the 24th. Rearranges schedule. We'll come back to that in a minute, by the way, in a few minutes. But we work out a schedule to where we would have them going in not all at the same time, but going to different schools and we have folks taking them around to see the schools and have a chance to interact. um that would be followed by the stakeholder meeting. So all three in the district and what we've tenatively mapped out is from 12:45 to 2:45 we'd have an opportunity for administrators in the district to provide questions, hear responses. All three of the candidates during that time would have a 40minut time slot each. So over two-hour period
047for administrators, they'd have one candidate present for 40 minutes of that, another for another 40, and then the third for the final 40. 3 to 5:00 we would replicate that and do that for staff. That's all staff all in any. And then 5:15 to 7:15 we would do the same for parents and community members. But we realize that there may be reasons that that administrators can't get to that 12:45 to 2:45 time or not all of it. Same thing might apply to staff. For example, we know that with elementaryaries they don't dismiss until 4. There's no way they could be there for 3. So that's disadvantaging them. But the idea would be um normally you don't get tons of people coming for the parent and community meetings. So um the 5:15 to 7:15 time even
048though it would be designated for parents and community, we'd make clear that it's also open to anybody else who couldn't come to the previous meetings to be present. So there would be an opportunity for all of those stakeholders to be present. And again, each of those twohour blocks of time would consist of each of the candidates taking 40 minutes to answer questions. So they'd start with the district tour and then they would conduct those meetings all in one day. >> And that day is the 24th. >> That would be the 24th. That's what again we're suggesting. 25th again all three people would be back. We're suggesting on that day we start with a meet and greet from 4 to 6 o'lock. Remember that's just a literally an open house. All three candidates in the same
049large space. Anybody who would like to come in and interact with them, just get a chance to have a personal conversation and then provide feedback to the board, they have that opportunity to >> I'm sorry, what was the time again on that one? >> That would be uh 4 to 6. >> Okay. >> Um and that would be followed then by um interviews and the tenative schedule we mapped out. We talked about these interviews being 80 minutes before, 60 minutes for questions, roughly a breakdown, and 20 for a presentation. We're going to shrink that down just by five minutes. The five minutes gains us a little bit of time, and we don't think it's going to really take away from the interview, right? And candidates will know that ahead of time, by the way. We'll
050tell them exactly what to expect, and it's their responsibility to to kind of master the timing of it, right? And accomplish everything within that time. So the tenative time schedule we've worked out is 6:00 to 7:15 for the first interview. Now remember what we're going to do is have the subsequent candidates come earlier so that they're on hand. If the first meeting first interview doesn't go the full 75 minutes, we'd be ready to start earlier. If everybody took the full time, I'm going to tell you it would look like this. 6 to 7:15 for the first interview, 7:25 to 8:40 for the second, 8:50 to 10:05 for the third. But then again, that's assuming that every single interview goes the full 75 minutes. Whether they do or not is another story. So chances are they
051probably wouldn't and you'd be ending a little bit earlier than that. So you're talking about roughly a 4hour period of time, which isn't too much longer than you've been doing these other nights anyway. >> And if you include the first night when you came for a five o'clock meeting and then conducted two more interviews, I think you were here longer than four hours that night. So um we think that's manageable. Could I make a privileged statement at this point? >> Sure, Dr. Weaver. I just I just want to say and I always say things that probably will get me in trouble, but through this whole process, we've only had three administrators show up. And I got to say that I'm very concerned about that. Th this is their boss we're talking about. And uh so
052I just want to say thank you to the administrators that are here and uh that I have a great concern for the ones that were not. >> So with the proposed schedule, are there any questions or concerns from board members? >> Yes. Uh, I'd like to make a motion that we accept that schedule. >> Before we do, I appreciate that. >> As we're talking just now, and again, remember, we've been going back and forth, but we're realizing that we we've made this a little too tight in one spot on March 25th. >> If the meet and greet goes to from 4 to 6 and then interview start at 6:00, that's not going to work, right? >> Um, there's going to need to be a break in between. So, um, we would just suggest that the
053meet and greet be 4 to 5:30 and then the interviews would start at 6. I'll amend the motion. >> So before you amend the motion, I just want to run back through the schedule if that's okay with everyone. >> So from uh on March 24th, >> we'll have district tours from 12 to 3. >> Yes. >> Then you'll have stakeholder we'll hold state stakeholder Q&A 12:45. >> Excuse. >> Do we take that off? >> No. >> Well, no, no, she's right. We would do the district tour in the morning. This this Oh, you said >> because that's what was that's what he said. That's why I'm reading notes, but we're changing. >> That's No, that's why we're going back over it. >> I appreciate it. The the meet and greet would have to take place.
054The district tour rather would have to take place in the morning. >> Okay. >> So, we would look at roughly we don't even necessarily you don't need to necessarily vote on a time just to say that that would take place in the morning, but work out a schedule. It probably would be something like given what it looks like here, right? >> We want to give these folks maybe a chance just to get a quick bite in between. So roughly maybe a 9 to 12 something like that maybe even a little bit earlier 8:30 to 11:30 and then start the uh stakeholder Q&As's at 12:45. Thank you. >> Okay. So district tours 8:30 to 11:30 we'll breakins between and then staff holder Q&A I'm sorry stakeholder Q&A 12:45 to 2:45 for admin. >> Yes. >> No,
055not the 245. Yes. >> Yes. >> Yep. 45 to 2:45 >> 3 to 5 all staff >> 5:15 to 7:15 community but something was 40 minutes each. Was that by level was 40 minutes 40m minute each for each >> within each of those two blocks that each candidate would be present. >> That's what it was. Okay. Thank you. And then 3:25 from 4 to 5:30 would be the meet and greet. >> Yes. First interview from 6:00 to 7:15. Second interview 7:15 to 8:40. >> Uh 7:25 to 8:40. We give you a break. >> What did I say? >> Because we're so kind. >> I said 7 What did I say? >> 7:15. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I wrote 7:25. Um Okay. And then third interview would be from 8:50 to 10:05. >> Yes. But what
056we'll we do typically is that's just to give you a ballpark of when the timing is likely to work. We won't post them like that. When we post this for the public, we'll post it. The interviews will start at six, >> right? >> And then at the completion of each interview, the board takes a 10-minute break and then the next interview starts >> and then, okay, we can vote on this and then I just have some logistical questions. Does anybody else have any questions? Everybody's good on this. Dr. Weaver, you lean in. Okay, >> I have my back to you. Anything? No, >> Miss Abney Mitchell. So, um, the district tour, she said 8:30, 8:30 to 11:30, but I got 9 to 12. >> Um, >> we don't have a set time. It's just >>
057We don't have to. It >> It'll just be in the morning. >> It'll be in that ballpark. >> We'll work with the school to find out the time. >> We need those tours. >> Those that's the logistical part. Let's vote. We'll >> come to that schedule. Talk about that. Well, before we vote, you know, I would just like to have, you know, whoever is available, you know, especially at the meet and greet that's being held on the 24th, the the 25th to at least have one or two board members available, not just to talk about who they support, just to be here, you know, with the stakeholders in in in the room available, you know, even on the tour, you know, Just have to be careful that >> okay >> um we don't violate open
058meetings act. >> Okay. >> So limit the number of board members that are present. >> Right. I say one to two. Yes. >> Yeah. We'll we're prepared to that's something that we need to discuss and make decisions on as well here. >> Okay. >> Once we get the schedule down then we talk about that part of it as well. >> Okay. >> I'd like to second Mr. Cox's motion. >> Thank you. >> You got a motion? >> So we already had discussion. Yeah. Mr. Cox, will you please call ro? >> Sure. Dr. Weaver, >> yes. >> Cox is yes. Mr. Ambrose, >> yes. >> Mr. Roshan, >> yes. >> Miss Abney Mitchell, >> no. >> Miss Hines, absent. Miss May, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> 51. >> It pass. >> So, just so you
059know, for district folks, too, we'll all of this out. We'll be communicating with them tomorrow and and make sure that we're ready to communicate this out as well. >> Sounds good. And then now we can talk about the logistics, right? Is that where we're going next? Okay. >> Yes. Um so in terms of that, um we've got the time schedule down. Uh location for these things is one of the things we have to determine too. Um the stakeholder question and answer sessions, for example, district tours. What we start with locations stakeholder question and answer sessions >> best location >> I would submit the baracy center >> probably. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Is it We have to make sure it's available. It should be maybe available >> if available. Baracy center. >> Okay. >> I'm looking
060at Kim because I didn't know you're Do you want me to look right now? >> Oh, no. I thought I didn't know if you were, but I'm okay if you're not. >> No, but I can I was taking minutes but I can definitely >> take minutes. I don't know. Right now we're going to say cenly the um BC center. >> That would be our first choice if it's >> and that's March 24th. >> That's the 24th, right? >> Okay. And then um the meet and greet ideally I would say um it would be someplace very close. If the interviews are going to start that day at 6:00 and the meet and greet stops at 5:30, we don't want a long drive for the candidate to get from one place to the other. >> I'm thinking
061the Bary Center. >> Center. Keep it all there. >> I agree with that. Yes. >> Right next door. >> Just do it all there. >> Then you don't have to be moving from place to place >> availability. If it's not available, we'll talk about alternatives. >> Okay. And then let's talk a little bit more then about the district tours. And and I will tell you that um so with a district this large, first of all, we would map out a schedule where with three finalists, in fact, you may would be able to pull it off to where every school gets visited by one of the finalists, right? But we would separate them. They wouldn't necessarily have to go to all the same building, right? And the time wouldn't permit them to be able to. Could
062be a bit of overlap, but so we'd have to work out that schedule, which we'll be able to do. The question would be who's going to shepherd them around. This is where I'll just tell you districts have done this in many different ways in the past. They just have. So, it's going to come down to your choice. What I'll share is that there have been districts who have had no more than two board members, for example, kind of be responsible for taking the candidates around the district and showing them around and then sharing their feedback with their with their fellow board members and what they saw and heard and observed. Um, some have relied on district administrators to do that. I say district, not necessarily district level administrators within the district to do that. Um,
063one option that I've seen not as frequently, but that I like a lot. Um, I'll just say that's my preference is um, you get high school students involved and you have high school students who lead the candidates around. And what you can certainly do is get a staff member, you know, it doesn't necessarily have to be an administrator, but a staff member who's going to go along with them. um maybe could even be kind of the driver but and but the students would then be responsible for really kind of leading the candidates around and they could also give feedback from a student's perspective on what they saw and heard. >> Dr. Um, I just want to make myself available. Even though I do work, my schedule is uh pliable at times. So, I'd like to
064submit my name. >> So, we need to first decide if we want to do students or uh board members or both. Correct. Yes. Because we don't get there yet. >> Yep. >> Um, with respect to board members and uh no offense, Dr. Weaver. But having these two board members be with that candidate that's going to maybe get hired and these two board members be I don't know. I don't know. >> I have now that I'm thinking about it. I have >> Yeah. That's like having all three people who might be the bank manager be in the vault. I Let's find out first. And I love the kids because it's all about them anyway. >> I might as well start with them. >> Yeah. >> As a board member, I might say something I shouldn't say.
065So I wasn't going to volunteer. >> Yeah, I know you won't be saying autonomy. >> You were going to say something to Mr. Roshan. I'm sorry. You were going to say something to Mr. Roshan. >> Yes. Can I make a motion that we um have a student possibly two students and a staff member uh with the students? >> Yeah, I support that. >> So we have a motion from Roshan and um supported by Cox. Discussion. Mr. Cox, will you please call roll? >> Yes. Cox is yes. >> Mr. Roshan, >> yes. >> Miss Hines is absent. Dr. Weaver, >> yes. >> Mr. Ambrose, >> yes. >> Missy Mitchell, >> I'm confused. So, we going >> There's not a box for that. >> We going to have the student do what? In the staff. A student
066and a staff take the candidate around. >> Yeah. For district tour. >> For district tour. >> Yes. I said two students in the staff. >> Two student in the staff. >> Okay. If y'all can find them. >> Mitchells. Yes. Miss May. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. Six. >> I'm put. >> I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> Not. >> It'll be a district tour. So, all of them. >> So, the question I do have, which is not you, it's a logistical question, is just getting them around and how we are going to get the students around for that piece. Um well again that's why I'm suggesting that you have a staff member designated to to be along on that with I'd say a couple of of high school students and and the staff member would be the
067one responsible for doing the driving and and accompanying them along on the tour >> driving the kids >> the the kids and the I mean and the candidate >> I was about to say we can't drive kids >> is that a policy you can't do that >> we still have transits district vans. So that's why I was like this is logistic that we just need to figure that part out. >> Well, so district vans, but I don't know that we would have three available that day. So we'll have to look into that. >> Okay. So we >> have to see if we have drivers available. >> It's an important I appreciate you folks sharing that. Yeah, that's certainly a wrinkle that we have to consider, right? >> I got a comment. >> Teachers. >> Yes.
068So why why we just can't use the student? If they go to the high school, have the two students that's going to give them a tour that high school available and then as they get to school, have the student already there ready to, you know, if they go to elementary school, we might have to use a fifth grader. They more familiar with that school than the high schooler that's in high school now. So why don't we just use the students that's already in the building? >> I like it. Yeah, >> there's no reason we can't. >> Great suggestion. >> So, so in that case, you could have a staff member >> that drives the candidate around. >> Drive the candidates don't know where they're going for the most part, right? And then >> we wouldn't
069they shouldn't walk in cold anyway. >> But I like the idea. You could have a student at each of their the places they'll be visiting ready to greet them, show them the building, >> or maybe two students >> or maybe a couple. Sure. >> Meet them at the door. Welcome them. >> It's very nice idea. >> I'm going to bring that up when they're in elementary school. So the question that I do have >> um >> we have two internal candidates. I know we stick to the process, correct? >> So it would be the exact same process as if they were not internal candidates. Correct. >> Right. And I know that that that's a bit of a wrinkle, too, but we've run across it before. And our rule of thumb typically is that we want
070this to be an equitable process. Right. Um, and so it's important that we put all candidates through the same steps. >> Yep. Okay. >> Yes. >> So, cuz somebody just had a question. So, at the elementary level, >> can maybe we have like the fifth grader. Sure. >> And a parent. >> No, it's a Well, not No, but it's a student. It's a staff member that's driving the candidate. that staff member that is driving the candidate is going to be walking with them with the two students. >> Okay. All right. >> So, the students aren't by themselves. >> Right. Right. Right. >> It'll be a staff member present. >> So, I was always thinking I was also thinking about somebody from the PTO or something like that. But yes, we'll go with that instead of
071further making it >> normally we would go with the older students at the building. likely go with fifth graders at elementary, eighth graders at middle, 12th graders at the high school. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. >> But, you know, we'll we'll work with your folks and with with the administrators in the buildings, too. And and >> they're going to be able to help us identify the kids who will be um suited best suited to do this for us. >> And we have an administrator that's you got you I'm kind of putting you on the spot, Mrs. Pringle, but I know that's your group, so you will help. Thank you very much. so that measures get the message. >> All right, we talk that one through. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Um, so I Let me go back
072then. So the meet and greet that will take place before the board interviews. Again, that's going to be in one location. We'll have all three of the candidates present. It's just a drop in, right? Nobody has to be there by a certain time. Brief interaction. People can get feedback if they would like to for the board. what we permitted in the past. It's a bit of a smaller space, so I'm I'm just going to throw out there. We have in that case permitted board members to be present just to observe, but what's really important that you understand is if you do that, you don't want there to be even a whiff of a violation of the open meeting. >> I'm not going to. So you would if you're present and there's a quorum of board
073members there, you have got to separate yourselves and not be engaging in discussion because you can say we're talking about opening day coming up, but if people aren't hearing that conversation, they're going to assume that you're deliberating, >> right? >> We're not going to even take a a a chance at that. So um I would tell you during that time if you want to drop in, you're welcome to, but if you see any of your fellow board members, give them a wave and steer clear. And that is during the meet and greet piece, right? That 4 to 5:30. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, one more question just on that. So, I'm >> you have >> that meet and greet. 4 to 5:30. Then we You're going to stagger them coming in, right? So, we
074can still be at the Barcy Center or is it >> No, we don't stagger it at that point. We got all all >> three of them in the same space and then they just Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> through the chair. >> This is the 24th. We're talking >> that is the 25th. >> Oh, 25th. Okay. >> I I'll we'll we'll again we'll spell all of this out and make sure that that >> I'm just I'm just wanting to make sure we don't get anywhere near the 26th because I'm not here if we are. >> Uh no, we actually we originally had the 26th on the timeline um for district tour and meet and greet, but necessity is the mother of invention, right? So, we've got three finalistic causes to revisit this and
075we've come up with a schedule that we think we can do with fidelity over the course of two days. >> Okay, >> sounds good. >> Okay, any other questions about that? >> All right, so second interviews. Um, we need to talk about a couple of aspects of that. One is the presentation topic and I mentioned last night that we would be revisiting that tonight. And we want to pick that topic tonight because when we call the three finalists at the end of this meeting to give them plenty of time to start to prep for that and get it ready, we want to let them know what that topic is. Um again, just to reiterate what I said last night, this is an opportunity for you to hear more in depth on a topic of interest
076um than you're going to typically hear in response to an interview question. So, and it could be anything. It just we'd be looking for you to engage in dialogue and and agree upon a topic. >> I I would like to make a motion that uh the topic be improving student achievement, leave it as broad as that and whatever the um candidates give their presentation on, whatever lane they go concerning student achievement. >> Can I just ask a question? Instead of it being a motion, can you throw an idea out there so we can just get see if it's more ideas before we make a motion? >> Okay. >> That we're >> so that was the idea. Student achievement. You had idea. >> It's a It's a great idea. It's I had a what I think
077is a great idea, but I think that might even be a greater idea. My idea is I want a uh point by point plan on how you're going to fully open the Career Tech Center and and get that rolling. That's what I want to see. Uh I think it's just I think that that center could be a magnet and be beyond our ability to understand how important this type of education is going to become over the next 12 months. I we need to be first in line at this in my opinion. That's >> I I want to say I I agree and but I would love for it to be about student achieve improving student achievement >> through the career tech center through >> it's only 20 minutes. Were you going to say something? Um
078Dr. Weaver? >> No, that that's that's what I'm saying. >> I got you and I wasn't trying to cut you off. I apologize. I saw Dr. Weaver leaning in and started talking before he could. So that's why I was like >> the only thing that I could add lowhanging fruit might be finance, >> how much they know about the finances, but I I have to say before I stop that uh I have to agree with Mr. Cox 100%. >> Mrs. Mitchell, you >> I also want to um although I agree most definitely with student achievement but because we are already having those conversations and have and we have a student achievement committee and they meet monthly. So our um our current admin superintendent is already involved in that. So, I would like to have a
079broader conversation like the career tag because I feel like because we meet monthly, she already got to step up on that subject. >> Mr. Ambrose, did you have a topic? I want to hear how they plan to grow the district and I think career technical center is a part of that. Um it encompasses student achievement. It encompasses getting our finances under control because without that growth our dollars are continually going to shrink. Um, and another topic uh that I don't think we've we've talked enough about is building trust within this community for the with the district. I think that's very important. Um, a lot of the comments that I I've read lean towards a a lack of of trust among some people, uh, whether it's staff or even even parents and proof of that is
080how many parents have left had their kids leave the district. >> Thank you. Um, so what I was thinking about and I feel like so I have two things to say. What I was thinking about was addressing chronic absenteeism because that is an issue, right? Um, but I like the idea of how to grow the district and maybe under that having some touch points for that. So, it's how to grow the district but also addressing building trust, the finance, chronic absenteeism, um, the CTC program, which I think falls under how to grow the district, but we can put that as a pinpoint, right? And I don't know if that's too much for 20 minutes, but I'm just wondering. Yeah. So, I I would like to hear the feedback, but those are all things that I
081think are important. And maybe it's just how to grow the district and see what they touch on, what they what they hit on. I don't What do you guys What are the thoughts? >> I I agree. Oh, go ahead. >> I was going to make a motion >> because because I think we're >> the more talking we do, the more good ideas we're going to come up with. you're not going to run out of them. >> And and if we really want to hear a person's succinct plan, we have to concentrate on one thing. They can't be playing baseball and golf at the same time. >> The career tech, as Mr. Ambrose said, is the best chance that we have for increasing enrollment and bringing attention, positive attention to our district in my opinion. And
082I would really like to see their plan because it's sitting over there like doing nothing at a time when uh we really needed to be doing something. And I and I want to hear a plan on it. So I'm going to make a motion that we ask them to talk specifically about how we can make our career technical center the focus in the region for trade school education. >> I will second that >> discussion. So, I don't dislike it. This is where my struggle is and I'm gonna get there. But I just want to express this, right? CTC is that that is a um a very viable program and it can we can do so much more with that program. But I also think about the fact that we're K12 and when I think about
083some of the feedback we heard from some of the teachers to say like, hey, I didn't hear any touch points on elementary, right? And so as we're talking about how to grow the district, we're going to get we need the babies to come in here and metriculate up to get to the CTC program. So I just don't I want I don't want to leave that component out because I think that's a huge component when you talk about how to grow the district. So I don't have an answer per se, but I just wanted to >> Can I through the chair to Mr. Si? >> Everybody's got a point. Um, is 20 minutes enough time to do more than one thing, especially when the one thing is this big? >> Well, you know, it that it's
084of course they're meaty topics and somebody could easily take more than 20 minutes, but there are times as a superintendent you have a limited time to to make your case and to share information and so >> it's not unfair, I think, to also say, you know, you've got this much time. Um, it forces you to prioritize a bit too. You can't be all over the place. You've got to be very targeted in your response. They'll know ahead of time, too. So, they're going to have plenty of time to think it through. Know what the time frame is. Um, so I think it's okay. Um, it just depends where you want to go. I'll I'll as an example, how to grow the district, right? I assume you're talking about enrollment, not necessarily just that >> everything.
085>> just broadly. >> Yeah, that's a huge topic and you could argue 20 minutes isn't nearly enough time. on the other hand forces you to hit the high points. What are what are those really kind of high impact things that you think you could do? >> You've got a limited time to hit on those and so during that time that's what you would do. It could be insightful to hear given that given the limitations what do each of them elevate as as being most important on that topic that yeah >> that could be revealing >> and maybe it's how to move the district forward versus grow the district and also maybe thinking about the questions that board members that um the candidates ask at the end of board members at the end of their interview
086right >> just about all of them ask like what were priorities >> right >> for the board so you have that information because you asked that question. So, do they build up on that? That to me that's that's telling in itself because did you really listen to the board or did you not listen to the board when you asked that question? So, I think it could I think it can be done and maybe it's the the focus of like I don't know they could organize it by grades span if they wanted to. What it would look like at elementary, what it would look like at middle school, what it would look like at high school. I would think a comprehensive uh presentation would include that. >> But I do think Am I wrong? Did you
087have a motion on the table for Yes. >> We were just talking. >> We're in discussing >> um >> I I'm sorry. >> Nope. Go ahead. I I um boy, you know, when when we think about what could be said, I would like to go out of this meeting tonight not thinking that somebody's going to sit here and just touch point in 20 minutes. I think we need to hear more depth of conversation. And I do agree um with you that um you know we want to hear about it all and moving our district forward. So I hear you on that. But um to me this the CTC center is of such importance that building a building or a bigger addition and um and seeing how that um a superintendent would reach out to other
088districts and advertisement is of such importance just to me is of such importance that I think I would like to sit here and see a candidate talk 20 minutes about their plan. If I if I can add to that discussion or we >> we're still discussing >> discussing. Okay. Um what if we do um how to grow the district with an emphasis on um the CTE program? So we kind of letting them know to touch on the CTE program, but we really want to know how they would grow the district. >> I may uh add another comment. Um I completely agree with Dr. Weaver. It really honestly is that important I believe and uh and that doesn't exclude any of the comments that have been made especially we need babies but there are babies that
089are already 14 and 15 years old running around out there that we could bring here and teach them how to weld and be a carpenter and heating and cooling and that's a lot easier than getting people to make new babies so that we could have them at saddle. So if you want to have an immediate reaction, if you want to have an effect, uh the effect is to get that the career tech center rolling and advertise it so that people in the region know that they can get proper education here. And uh and and and the other thing is nobody's got that. If you look at, you know, I I brought up in one of the meetings that we have a trade school in town uh that the trades have put together so that they
090can get some educ. You should see what they charge. >> So, and I'm not I just want to say this last point and then we can actually if the discussion is over after this we can vote. I'm not against the CTC. I just wanted to add that piece because this is an interview and so because we will have we have various stakeholders, right? And so everybody has different things that they want to hear about. So how do we allow for a presentation that allows for people who are invested at the elementary level? So like our elementary teachers to hear, our middle school teachers, our middle school administrators to hear, our high school um students and staff and just so we just have so many people that are engaged. if you just look at who has
091continued to show to come show to the meeting, right? They're they're invested and I just want to make sure it's worth what they hear is worth it to them if that makes sense. Right? So that's that's where my head was, but I don't want us to mean >> spin another, you know what I mean? Just to keep talking about it, talking about it. I can agree with the CTC, but I just wanted to throw those pieces out there because I do think that's important to hear how we move this district forward as a K12 so that we're not focusing on one area and forgetting about another area, if that makes sense. >> You're not going to find a bigger supporter of the CTE than than myself. That's what got me into engineering and the job
092I have today is because as an adult student, I took an auto mechanics class with Mark Backco. Mark and I are still friends to this day and uh see each other at football games when the marching band's out there um at community events. Um, and I agree it it's important, but it's also just a a a small segment of this this very large school district. And so I think if we're going to inter have someone discuss that we're going to put in charge of this district, I I think we need to hear a more comprehensive plan for the district than just one little piece of it. And that's why I brought up, you know, growing the district. Um, what it would what they plan to do from day one to help the students because if
093they help the students academically, our district is going to grow. Um, and I honestly think the teachers and the parents that are here deserve to know what what that vision is. And and so, while I agree, we need to hear about CTE. There there's so much more we need to hear about. >> Wait one second. Avenue Mitchell had something to say and then we can >> I think lots of times us sitting at this table here we we tend to forget because we baptized John Glenn High School to get here we tend to forget sometimes about the K through five. So my thing is I like your CDs your career tech plan I like that but growing the district. So my thing but I my thing is most of the candidates they gave us their
09490-day plan. They they bootstration of how they going to develop the district. What's they plan for? They gave us their plan and let them put it in motion for that 20 minutes. >> You know Mr. Roshan if I may miss >> Mr. Sean mentioned that uh he was interested in seeing uh how they would grow the district with emphasis on the CDC. Does that uh does that meet your your does that make you feel as though you'd get what you want? >> Anybody? >> How to grow a district with the emphasis on CTC. >> Yes. Yes. a as as opposed to talking about how to grow the district and not even talking about the career tech center. >> I I I think the CTC is a is a component of of getting growing the district
095because not every child is going to go to college. We we have let's be honest about that. Our goal and our miss vision statement is to prepare students to be productive and contribute to society. And one way is through career technical education. I have two kids that had no desire to go to college. One's going to flight school and the other one is when she's done with her drum line is going to go to beauty school and become a hairdresser. My third child wants to go to college, but she's trying to figure out what she wants to do first before she goes to college. And so, not every child is going to go to college or they're not going to go to college right away. So, we do have to lot give them the opportunity
096uh while they're under our care to have an opportunity to make money and be productive in society. And so that is a that is a step to do that but it's only a a step. >> So with that if we stay with the theme of how to grow the district can we just give the instruction that we'd like to hear from a K5 perspective from um 68 and from 912. So that those are the components of how to grow the district. And when we say 912 912 with an emphasis on the CTC program. So then we hear from the K5, we hear middle school, we hear high school with the CTC component. >> Let's make that motion on the table. >> Sounds like a lot for a 20-minut if I if may I speak again
097about something we haven't talked about at all. In the next five years, artificial intelligence >> is going to so so change the landscape of so many of the things that we learn in school are on our phone now. It's like we've got the smartest advisor in the world answering every question that we have. It will surely change the way the education product is delivered. And a question would be how are we going to be on the forefront of that and use it as a tool in our mission as opposed to having it go right over us. And earlier someone mentioned the loss of students in each of the calamities we've suffered. And it's been tremendous. And honestly, if we do not get a handle on that, K through uh 12 instruction is going to be
098se severely impacted by the fact that we don't have any money. So that is and I'm not trying to push this. I'll I'll do happily and move forward in unison with whatever the board decides, but we better start thinking about that because in three years we're going to be in trouble if we don't have a plan in place. And and I understand that everybody has to feel comfortable, but the board's got to make a decision here. >> It's really not. It's It's for us. We're the only ones that can make it. And uh we've got to take care of our bottom line. It's just we do. It's serious. And it's going to get more serious. So, um I I I like I like the motion uh that Mr. Roshan uh mentioned which is uh let's
099show how we can grow our our district and uh we're interested in also emphasis on the career center and I'll amend my motion uh to to say that uh if the seconder will >> second. Yep. >> Okay. >> I'll accept that. >> Okay. So this is what I'm going to say real quick on discussion. John and um Sheila I know you guys were taking notes. So, some of the things that we talked about, not some, the things that we talked about, can we um formulate questions around those topics? >> You mean interview questions or Oh, >> so for that second round, >> absolutely. And that's something to keep in mind. By all means, you're looking to find a topic that you're going to be able to hear more in depth on. >> The next thing
100we'll talk about is how to select interview questions. And when you make those decisions, you generate a lot of other ideas. You can have questions around all of those topics, right? just kind of general regular interview questions. So, you could still hear the candidates speak to all of those things, just not as much in-depth as they are able to with that one presentation topic >> through the chair. Would do you recommend that every member of the board develop one question? >> We'll we'll get there. I've got a I've got a plan for that. >> Okay. Sorry. I just wanted to ask that before. So, if we're all good, we can vote on this motion. Roll call. >> Yeah, you do roll. >> Miss Abney Mitchell. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ambress. >> Yes. >> Miss Hines
101absent. Mr. Roshan. >> Yes. >> Cox is yes. Dr. Weaver. >> Yes. >> And Miss May. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> So help us out. We want to make sure when we provide this prompt to the candidates that we've got it correct. So I'm I'm hearing something like this. I don't know that I've got it right. So I may not. You correct me if not. But sounds like what we landed on is something like you would like them to present on how to grow the district with a focus on doing so through utilization full utilization of the career tech center. Is that >> yes >> accurate? >> Yes. >> I believe that's what we agreed on. >> I'm just writing it down so I don't forget what I just said. And then also like
102a steel I'm sorry. >> No, I'm I'm sorry through the chair. I just wanted to let you know um due to a family matter, I might have to excuse myself a little early, but uh I'm pretty sure you guys can handle the remaining questions for uh the candidates. >> I know you can do it by yourself. >> Thank you. Thank you, >> Dr. Weaver. Um, no. I just I just wanted to say and I thought better of it because I think it's already been said u the things that board members want to really hear about certainly they can do that with their question. >> Yep. Ready to move on? >> Ready to move on. Okay. So, interview questions, right? Um, we're going to give you the opportunity to submit. We suggest that you submit three
103to five. We're only going to be using two from each of you, but the reason we overshoot is it does give us a little bit of leeway to try to make sure we have some balance to eliminate redundancies. >> Um, that would be helpful. So, where do you get the questions from? You have a lot of potential sources. You don't have to have your binder here. I'll just refer to it, but in your binder under tab four where you had the first round interview questions that we picked from, there's another large set of questions there and you could use that as a basis of selecting three to five to recommend. You can pick all three to five from there. You can pick one or two. It's up to you. You can make up your own
104question. Is there something that is very relevant in Wayne Westland? It's not a something that you're going to find in a generic bank of questions that you think it's important to ask. You can make up your own question and suggest that. You can review the candidate profile and if you think there's something there that you need to hear more from the candidates on, you can formulate a question surrounding that. You've gotten feedback from some of your stakeholders. And in some cases, remember one of the things they weighed in on was what questions you still have for this candidate. >> There may be a great question or two embedded in that too that you can pull from. So sky's is the limit in terms of where the questions come from and again we're going to ask
105that each of you submits three to five and ultimately we will pick two from each of you and you will ask those two questions of each of the candidates. The big wrinkle in that is that an option that we talked about before is you can ask now in this round questions that are more kind of specific towards candidates. Um, but if you're going to do that, what we have to do for to be equitable is with three finalists. If you're there's one specific question that's I'm just going to pick one. Uh, Dr. Oily, right? It's a question that's specifically for Dr. Oily, not for the others. If you're to do that, we have to have a question specifically for Miss Jackson and Dr. Cost as well. Right. And then all the other questions would be
106the same for each. If you have two questions for Dr. Oily specifically for him, you're going to want to have two for Dr. Cost, two for Miss Jackson, and then all the rest of the questions will be the same. Does that make sense? So, if when you submit within your three to five suggested questions, if you have a specific question for a candidate, >> we're going to ask you to kind of push yourself to come up with a specific question for the others as well. Um, because if we don't have that balance, then we're going to be asking each of them the same questions. So then how are we having that discussion or getting those We're just sending those questions. What's Yeah. What's the next step in picking the questions and getting them? And real
107quick, sorry. Go ahead. It's okay. >> I'm texting with Mrs. Hines. So she's on her way. She's in Leavonia. Um so I don't know if you guys want to pause for a minute to give her a chance cars. >> She does be here. the one you was driving the other day. >> I I think at this point she's kind of lost her privilege by not being here on time, >> right? >> Well, now she lost her privilege, but earlier we went round and round for her privilege. >> I Well, >> that doesn't make but I I understand what you're saying, but I'm just I just want to to just be clear on what was said because they're two different things, but we can keep going. personally need another 15 to 20 minutes for somebody to
108get here at this point. >> I'm fine. >> So, okay, >> keep going. I just I want to be fair because earlier it was discussed that she wasn't here and how important it would be and how we had to give her grace for that. So, I want to give her grace now because she's on her way. >> Thank you, Madam President. >> Well, what's going to be important is is for um for her and Mr. Roshan, too. will need to convey how this is working and what their responsibility is going to be with the question. So that'll need to be communicated to them. But normally what we do is we have each of the board members submit their suggested questions to the board president who then takes those forwards them to us and you're going
109to give us a little bit of latitude. uh if you agree to that that with all of those questions again, we're going to go through and pick the ones that we believe are going to be the most helpful. Um looking to strike a balance there too in terms of the topics of the questions, eliminating redundancies. What we would give favor to certainly is if several of you had a very similar question, we'd want to be sure to include that question, right? Because so many have interest in that. So, um, you you'd be giving us the opportunity really to take all that and put it together for you through the board president first to us and then we would provide those questions to you. Given the timing of everything, if you're okay with it, what we'd
110asked today being Thursday, and you can push back if this sounds too speedy, but if we could ask all board members to submit their three to five questions to the board president by the end of the day on Saturday. um ask President May to submit what she's got to us by Sunday. That's going to give us enough time to put them together, get them copied, and have them ready for you when it's time for the interviews. You look puzzled. >> We gave you all week. Now you want the weekend. >> You can push back. >> We get it done by tomorrow. >> Three to five questions. And again, if if it's the easiest path for you, honestly, there's a lot of great questions in this binder. So, if time just doesn't permit you to spend
111a lot of time kind of thinking about it, there there's a lot of really good ones here that you can pick from. >> Yeah, there's a lot of good ones that we received from my stakeholders. Also, a lot of good ones. >> What honestly is still in play even is the unused questions from the first round interviews for that matter, right? There were some there that we didn't pick, but they're still there, >> right? >> A lot of options. So, what questions do you have about that? And you can if if you want to suggest a different timing, that's okay. That was just a No, that's fine. I will just >> give me a hard time. >> That's it. >> Is that okay, Madam President? >> Yeah, I'm fine. >> Okay. >> I'm just in
112here. >> All right. >> I don't think we need to vote on that. So, that's how we'll proceed then. >> Yep. >> Right. >> Okay. And again, like we did before, what we'll ask you to do is bring your skinny binder back. They had the interview questions. What you can do though, and you don't have to do it now, if you have them, you can. Um, you can pull out the questions from the three candidates who are not advancing. We're going to give you the questions for the three that remain, three hole punched, ready to insert right in here. So, you'll have uh your notes from the first interview for the three finalists that are still in play. Okay? >> And then you'll have the questions for the second round in the same binder. Okay.
113You want those tonight if we have our binder? Is that what you said? >> Uh, if you have it and you'd like to do that, we'll take them off your hands. >> If you don't have it, we can get get them from you later. >> So, I think that is anything that we've neglected to cover in your view, Sheila? >> I think so, too. Any questions from you folks? >> No. Okay, I think we're ready to roll. We're getting there. >> All right. Thank you very much. Appreciate your time, your thoughtful interaction. >> All right. So, we are wrapped up with you. Correct. >> Yes. >> All right. Next on the agenda, citizens comments. Mr. Cox, >> I have nothing tonight. >> Yes, you do. >> Oh, do I have something? We'll give it that.
114Got a couple >> Mrs. Owens. >> I'm going to respectfully ask that you do not start the clock until I can take a deep breath and collect my thoughts for a moment. Got it. Thank you. Mr. Weaver, you mentioned this topic earlier, the disappointment in the fact that there are not more administrators here at these uh interview meetings. I'll give you the reason why those administrators along with other employees and families are not at these meetings because they have lost complete faith in this board. It has been mentioned to me on too many accounts just in the last 48 hours of people reaching out to me personally via social media how they are done beating a dead horse with this school board and they are tired of it as am I. Why don't you send
115out a poll to the to the staff and the families and ask them what questions to ask on the second round of interviews? After all, this superintendent will be working for our children, for our staff. Why should we not have a an opinion on what should be asked of these candidates? After your past failures with the community, why would you why would wouldn't you want to hear from us and see what we want asked of these candidates? Moving on to Mr. Oily. How is it, and I am mind blown and baffled. How is it that this man can even be considered entertained as a candidate, let alone send him to a second round of interviewing? He has had multiple grievances filed against him with the union. He has created a work environment full of fear
116of retaliation or job loss if anyone crosses him. He does not know how to run his department efficiently and he leaves a bad taste in everyone in this community's mouth since the mess with Dignen who hired him into this district. He is very well known as being the most hated candidate on this in this running. And how you can be so tonedeaf to your own community and your staff in this district is absolutely baffling to me. teachers had to go into arbitration to settle their one-year contract. One-year contract is all they got because he was not working with our staff and trying to help them find a a reasoning to their contracts while he took a raise to the tune of almost $10,000. And that's just to his already inflated base salary. Aren't you embarrassed
117yet? I'm embarrassed for you. How can you justify him being a good choice for our children? He needs to be investigated. His department needs to be investigated. And you should be fully aware of how much it will cost this district with him at the helm. Not only because of a widespread fear that he will drive us into more fiscal mismanagement, but how staff and families will leave this district as they will not tolerate another failing and fear-based work environment. Look around this room. No one is here because no one has faith in any of you anymore. myself included. Staff will not come to these meetings and speak out because they are in fear of retaliation or loss of jobs. You need to read the room and you need to do your jobs better. Alex Oily
118cannot progress into our superintendent position and I will see to it with investigations that I've already filed with the school board for the state of Michigan. Gwen Bettinborough. Um, one thing I would just like to talk about is the timeline on the 24th and it was talked about how nobody can come to these um, meetings and I understand and it was mentioned that how admin can't make it from 12:40 to 12:45 to 2:45. admin are supposed to be in their building and and god forbid something happen that takes precedent from coming to a Q&A session. So I kind of think it's not fair to call them out saying that they don't come because if our first priority are the children then shouldn't they be in their buildings? Number one. Number two, a staff Q&A at
119from 3:00 to 5. Tuesday the 24th, I do believe, is a Tuesday. We teachers are contractually at the high school, cannot leave until 3:10 because on Tuesdays we have PLC's or staff meetings. So again, I think it's a little unfair to schedule times and schedule meetings knowing the times of who these are for. We can't get to them. Middle school can't leave until 3:40, 3:45 because they stop at 2:40. Their staff meetings or PLC's start at 2:50 and they're an hour long. So, you're already setting us up for a failure. I feel you're already setting us up for failure. And then we'll come back when nobody's here. So, we're between a rock and a hard place. I understand the community time that's fine, but we also have seen that the community time no one comes
120to meetings. you got one. >> I would also like to kind of say that yes, I think the community should have had a say in some of the except maybe second round questions and I understand the timeline's tight. That's fine. Um my last thing would be knowing that there are some issues with current people that are up for superintendent. Um, I would wonder how to rebuild trust with them and staff I think would be um a step in a direction to help build confidence between my higherups and us. And I and my time wasn't going, but I know that I'm So, thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. So >> spring sports also start next week >> whole lot of parents are going to be unavailable at five o'clock all week like we have baseball
121games at Wayne Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 4:30 every day. And I'm just letting you know that spring sports so tennis. >> So I want to say because normally we don't comment back but I want to say thank you for sharing that schedule because we weren't aware of the schedule. So, thank you for sharing that. >> We need to do some re revisions. Sports, thank you for sharing that as well. I just don't know how we're going to please everybody with the time, right? So, we're going to have to pick some time next week. >> I understand. >> But I just I want to say that, right? But I that piece like, hey, we scheduled something during teachers meetings. That's something we need to revisit. So, thank you for sharing that. Thank you for sharing
122about the sports. The other piece that I do want to add though is through the feedback which is now closed, right? But there was the space to say questions I still have about this candidate or questions I and um yeah, so that piece was there. So there were some people that put questions in there. So we can definitely utilize some of those questions, right? But if you didn't put a question, like we can't, you know, we've tried to provide like the intake sessions, all the different pieces so that we could gather that information and even get some of those questions. Um maybe we aren't doing things the way people think we should do them, but we are following a process through a company that we're paying to do these things. So, we will look at
123these questions to help formulate those other questions along with the ones that are in here. We're not going to get everybody's question in. I'm just going to be honest. So, I don't want people to feel like, well, I put a question in here. She said they were going to look at the feedback. They didn't use that question. Um, but again, all of your feedback is appreciated and that's why we continue to lift that this piece was here and wanted you all everybody to be a part of that process. So, I just wanted to share that piece. You have another one. Yep. >> Hi, Mrs. Hines. >> Hi, ma'am. >> Um, Mrs. Pringle. Good evening everyone. Um on behalf of WA Wayne Westland building administrators, I'm here um as Dr. Weaver has mentioned that um it
124would have been nice to have an opportunity for more people to be here um through this process, but since they're not, we are just wondering is there an opportunity to submit feedback now that the interviews will be published? Is there a possibilility to allow the QR codes to be opened up for those who want to view the three candidates interviews and provide constructive feedback? Um, and then secondly, just an opportunity for building administrators to submit feedback as well. So, >> thank you for sharing that. I'm going to look to MLI to see about that and and I'm just I know our timeline is is is crunched and and I'm going to I don't know. I'm looking to you. I'm going look to the board because then opening back up the QR code, which I understand.
125I like the idea, but I also want to be realistic. If we have to look at questions, get questions submitted by Saturday, >> right? >> We won't have time to look at what's submitted and a new QR codes. >> Um, so if I may, one thing to point out, I don't know if this will help or not, but just that the plan for the second round, I know >> is to complete the interviews both all three of the interviews and then post all three of the interviews and provide the QR code so that because there's a gap there part of the issue in this first round is that there was such a quick turnaround that with with interviews descending yesterday and the board having to decide today we cut off responses at 10:00 last night
126so that the board could see all responses with finalists. There will be an opportunity because the board's not going to come back together to make a final decision until after spring break. So there will be time for people to watch those final interviews and have a QR code at their leisure, write recorded versions throughout kind of that stretch between the time the interviews end and the time that you decide which is going to be I think about a week and a half. Um and then provide feedback through that form through the QR code. So there there will be ample opportunity through that for anybody who has interest to weigh in in the way that they would like to. And John, can you talk a little bit about the Q&A piece that we have because that
127may be another opportunity for people to ask candidates the questions? >> Yeah, what we what we do there is we invite anybody who would like to be present to do so. We we have them we have index cards available. We ask them to write the questions down. We collect them and then Sheila and I will ask those questions of the candidates in the presence of the folks who are there submitting questions. Give them a chance to hear the responses. Then again, there's an opportunity for people to provide feedback. So, we'll provide a a QR code. Again, lots of QR codes, I know, but we want lots of opportunities for your stakeholders to provide you feedback and to weigh in on what they think. So, that would be another opportunity for those folks to ask questions
128that they may have, hear the responses, and then provide feedback to the board based on what they're hearing. >> Okay. interview. >> Can we follow a policy and procedure here? >> We can, but I don't have is five people in here and we just trying to get this together. So, I I'm okay with it. Is are the rest of the board okay? Are you guys struggling with this right now? >> Because if so, we can stop. >> I'm struggling with it. Should be done the correct way. >> So, you would need to fill out a form. I got to go up there. >> Yep. Just you'll have to I already question. >> Do I just stand up here and then I do this afterwards? >> Yes, you can do that. >> I just want to
129know how do people access the QR code that aren't here or were people able to access the QR code that haven't been here the first three nights? >> No, because the questions were in regards to the interview. >> Okay. will be online. >> Will the next QR code be online? >> So no because it's about the the so the night of the interview for second interview. So that QR code will be present here so that the people that are here watching the interviews can then put it in there. But I'm sorry when they are posted they will have access to the QR code, right? Because we said we were putting them with the >> both are true. People who are present for the interview just like in the first round will have the opportunity to
130submit feedback through the QR code. >> But then as soon as the next day, I don't want to speak for you, but you'll be posting those interviews. there'll be a QR code kind of embedded there that people can see and so anybody who couldn't be present and provide feedback can then watch yep >> the recorded versions and provide feedback at their leisure. >> So if someone has concerns about a candidate from previous experiences they cannot use that QR code to submit those concerns. >> They can I mean they people have been they just answer the question. So yeah. >> Okay. Citizens comments at this time. Are we closed? Are you coming? One more. >> I'll fill out a form, too. I just have a question. What is the difference? Why a meet and greet? And
131you're doing it the day before with everybody. So, why are what's what's going to be the meet and greet from 4 till 5:45 or whatever? What's the difference with the two days? Are you so the Q&A one is allowing for questions. Meet and greet is more because the questions are facilitated. So the questions are written on a Q um index card as Mr. Sever stated and then they are going to facilitate that Q&A. Meet and greet is just more so like hey how you doing? I just wanted to meet the candidate. >> Okay. Okay. At this time we're closing citizens comments. We are now at um review and recommendations. We will start with Dr. Weaver. >> Thank you, Madame President. Let me um just say a couple of things. Number one, to our community, you
132have to understand that our as as individuals out in our community are diverse in their thinking. So, we are on this board. The thing that um helps us is that at one point or another, four of us have to agree. And um and so um when you come to criticize um just know that when you always have a finger pointed, you always have three pointed right back at you. Secondly, I'd like to say people come to this podium talking about so many people that have talked to them and how that they're at the pinnacle of of hearing all of these things when in actuality it's probably very little. I would rather see people come to this podium and say this is my opinion rather than including others. And the last thing I'll say, if a
133person in our community is so disturbed with this board's performance, then why don't they run for the board? It's so much easier to curse the darkness than it is to light a candle. And that concludes my comments. >> Thank you, Mr. Ambrose. >> This has been probably one of the most challenging weeks I've I've had in a long time. And That's uh that's actually saying a lot considering um some of the the things that I I've gone through in my life. um agonizing over who I thought in my opinion would be the the candidates I would want to hear from to again to move this district forward. I never thought in a million years I would have to be faced with a decision like that. And I'm grateful that there were people in this community
134willing to trust me with that decision. I realize it might not be the decision that a lot of people were looking for. But I hope that I was at least honest enough with all of you uh in my opinions to come to that decision. And I just ask that you respect it. We don't have to agree, but at least respect the the decisions that were made up here because I can tell you that there are times that none of us up here agree with the decisions that are made, but we move forward because we want to do what's best for the district and for our children. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Abne Mitchell. >> Yes. >> Well, I would like to start off by saying thank you to administrators that came out. Thank
135you to the shareholders came out, students, teachers, because we appreciate you. If you left a comment in the QR code, thank you. Those are all tools that went in our tool box to help us make this difficult decision. And just like my former BR board member said, this was not this is not an easy decision. I can sit out there and make this decision real easy. I got the answer sitting out there, but until you sitting up here, you don't have the answers. Cuz everybody that interview, we believe that they are capable of running this district. But in this world, things happen. And it's hard to be in charge of things that other people was involved with. Even a little task like pulling the garbage bag out the garbage can. Once you think you got
136it, some of the garbage didn't fell out. It's hard doing things, being in charge when other things or other people is involved in it because it can always flip-flop on you. Just when you think that you got the best candidate, something can happen tomorrow and you'll be like, why did y'all get that person? So I just ask everybody to support the progress the process as we move forward. You know we have a very wonderful district. We have people that families that want to be in our district. We have families that don't want to be in our district. But that's not just Wayne Wesley district. That's all the school districts cuz because you didn't made them mad and they don't do this over here. So, I'mma go over there. But things happen and and to my
137board colleagues, I wouldn't want to live in a world with a seven Las. So, have your own decision. Be diverse. You don't have to think with like me. You don't have to agree with me cuz as it said, it's going to take at least four votes to get to one person. But I appreciate y'all. I like the comments. I just don't like being bullied. I feel like I'm too old for that. But I like the comments. They they help develop me. It's growth. And um thank you, President. >> Thank you. >> That's all I have, >> Mrs. Hind. >> Yes, I'd like to apologize for my tardiness. I had a new job and I wasn't able to get off because we have lives outside the school district. But um definitely I've been in involved in
138several superintendent searches and a lot of times what's scary about those is when people interview that's one side but sometimes you never see the other side till they get in the job. So that's the only thing that can be like you know can cause some issues but um hopefully the choices were okay. I'm not sure. I'll find out later. But um definitely like again apologize because I just wasn't able to get off of work today to be on time. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Cox. >> Thank you, Miss May. Um, I agree with everything that everybody said so far. Um, and I appreciate the passion that everybody brings to this issue. The anger that you see is passion. It's someone who really cares about this. And I I tell you, we desperately want to
139get this right. We want to get to the point where the kids are having improvements and their opportunities are increasing. And we know none of that can happen but through the but through the teaching staff. But just like Lana said, uh I'm way too old to be talked to this way. I don't like it and I'm not going to learn to like it and it's not going to have any impact on what I decide. None whatsoever. You can you can speak that way if that's how you you think that is the best way to get through life, but it's not going to impact me. Um, anybody here that would like to have their questions submitted, please send them to me. Send them to me by Saturday morning. I have one question I desperately want to
140pose. I'll put that down and the next four will be whomever sends me a question. So you can talk to your colleagues and send them to me, decide. That doesn't mean it's going to get asked, obviously, but uh you're certainly welcome to do that. And uh I'll pick one and you can have the other four. Um I want to thank my colleagues because as Mr. Amber said this is this is so important because it's so impactful not just on the children of the school district but everybody who owns property in this school district. This is the center of everything that happens for 25 miles around here. We have to get this right. That doesn't mean perfect. Nobody's going to get it perfect. And last thing I'll say regarding some of the comments about employees that
141aren't liked. I promise you every single person that was interviewed here has a cadre of people back at their home school that would say exactly the same negative things about them. Anybody in a leadership position who has to make decisions is going to make friends and enemies. the worst thing they could do is try to make friends when what we're trying to do is educate children. We need people who say, "No, it's going to be this way." And I promise you, if we're going to get any increase in the quality of education in our school district, we're going to have to start doing a lot of things different. And just listening, is it the whole program? People are going to have to have higher expectations of students and frankly themselves. Maybe I should leave this
142last part for for later, but I'm going to say this, too. Everybody associated with this school district represents it. >> Every single person. Two weeks after the best contract that the teaching staff in this school district ever got, they were picketing outside two elementary schools because a teacher had to get transferred from this classroom to that classroom. Channel 4 is not going to do anything to help us. If we have problems, channel 4 needs to stay out of it. We need to deal with them here. When you need a two-lb hammer, don't grab a 15lb hammer. because all we're hurting is our ability to do the job we all want to do. I say let's protect this. Let's protect it by conducting. If you're an educator and you come up to the microphone and you
143talk like you've never had a job where you had to interact with people, what do you think the board of education is thinking about what's going on in your classroom? Please, it's all going to start here. and nobody else is coming. You're all coming. You're always here. You need to be part of this in a positive way. Sitting back and just throwing rocks at us all the time or criticizing us or talking to to us in a way that nobody in my world talks to me like that except for here. That's all I have. >> Thank you. Um, so a couple things that I have. The first thing I'd like to say is that I know that I frustrate my board colleagues at times with the level of discussion that I allow to take place
144at this table, but this is where it's supposed to take place. This is where the multiple perspectives are supposed to be shared. This is where we are supposed to reach consensus. is not supposed to be done behind the scenes. It's supposed to be done at this table. Um, we will not always agree and our vote sometimes may be four to three, but once it passes, that's what it is. We all fall in line with what that decision is. The other piece is this evening I did not follow process in terms of citizens comments. I didn't follow process because some information was raised that was important to this process and so we needed to talk about it. That was my decision to make. I thought it was important to make that decision because this is an
145important process and it's one thing to say we want to hear from our constituents. We want our constituents to be a part of the process and it's another thing to not act in that manner. And so for those on the board that I offended tonight by not following process, I don't want to say I apologize. I want you to understand why I did not follow process tonight. Um that doesn't mean that we won't follow process next time for citizens comments, but this was a piece to me that was relevant and needed to be heard. Um, I hear rumblings that we're not listening to the community. As our other, as my other colleagues have shared, none of this work is easy work. This is truly hard work. you think about these decisions that you make because
146they don't only impact children, they impact adults, they impact our employees, they impact our um homeowners, they impact the community. So, it is a heavy lift, but each and every one of us signed up for this lift. What I will say is just because you say something doesn't mean it's what we're going to do. We want to hear your opinion. We want to hear your perspective, but your perspective isn't the only perspective we hear. So, you may sit on one side of the fence, we will hear from other people that sit on the other side of the fence. We have to weigh that. It may not be what you like, but that really is how it works. There are multiple sides to stories, multiple experiences. I'm a former parent in this district. My child graduated
147from John Glenn. My child went to CTC. I have some experiences that were not pleasant in this district. My son had experiences that were not pleasant, but he also had some fantastic experiences. So, I have to weigh all of those pieces out. The same way with any job that you're on. Some days you love your job. Some days you get in your car and say, "I don't never want to go back to that job, but I'm grateful for that paycheck." That's just life. So understanding that and I say all of that to say that there are multiple perspectives that we have to hear and take into consideration when we make decisions. And so I don't want you to ever feel I don't want to say I don't want you to ever feel because you're going
148to feel how you feel. I just want you to know that we receive it. This for me I've printed it out. This is it right here. I've been flipping through it. I've read these comments. I've read I've read I've read them every single night. It doesn't mean that I'm going to say, "Oh, okay. I'm going to do this." I'm taking all these things into perspective. We talked about data having multiple pieces of data that we take into account for this process and that's what we will continue to do. We've worked really hard with MLI to do that to provide those opportunities. Um the last thing that I will say is I will open the door the same as um Mr. Cox because I was thinking it and thank you for lifting that. If you have
149questions that you'd like to send, you may most definitely send your questions to me. They will be the same process where I will forward them on. What is selected is what is selected, but we will definitely take those questions. And with that, I will entertain a um motion to adjurnn. >> So move second. >> Thank you. All in favor? I >> thank you everyone. >> Thank you.