001Mr. as here carrying the rifle. He's a junior in our program. His intention to join up on graduation from school. He's an outstanding doing this program high school. Next up with American flag. This probably one of the rising stars not only in our program but in our school. We got a leader here. He's freshman. Uh but he's already made up committee. which is pretty pretty quickly did that just um he he also does wrestling he's um on the lacrosse team he's does drill color guard he's already in this scene which is very impressive one to watch out as the next couple years go by have a Cody here another rising star another freshman he's just taking the lead he's also on our orienteering team and our team going to nationals next month. So, we're very
002excited about that taking kids down Florida National I have our unit XO here. She's an outstanding student, outstanding representation of our unit. Uh she's not only our exo, uh but she leads every aspect of uh our program. her plan after high school when she graduates, uh, she's going to become a firefighter hopefully here locally and we'll be able to, you know, use her talents as much as possible. Thank you again. I appreciate it. Next on the agenda is approval of minutes from December 15th for the special called meeting and regular meeting. January 23rd, 2026 special called meeting and February 9th, 2026 special called meeting. Motion for approval of those minutes. >> Make a motion to approve as presented. >> Motion heard. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor show raise of
003hand. Thank you. Next on the agenda is adjustment approval of the agenda presented by Mr. Dr. I'm sorry, Dr. Stove. >> Thank you, Chairman Settlemire, members of the board. Uh we do have some corrections tonight. The first um thank you for a great work session today. First correction is the local current expense budget request. Um the additions of the classified and certified supplement increase is in there. Uh again, we will need to move the the actual hearing though to the March meeting. I appreciate your flexibility with that. We need to removed like to request and remove new business number 12. We'd like to add new business 19. Um, and that would be the uh declaration of property surplus presented by Mr. Moore and Oh, yeah. Thank you, Debbie. I appreciate it. Also, uh we'd like
004to remove close session uh since we did that earlier today. We do have four field trip requests that came in uh today and so we are asking to add that. Uh those four uh are in uh from St. Stevens High School. They're traveling out of state for ROC and since they were just here um thank you all. But they just left. Okay. They're priority on the field trip. Um, >> did they bring them with them when they came tonight? >> Yeah. Yeah. Um, also we need to revise uh the calendar uh from last year we presented. Miss uh Mr. Thompson will be requesting to add uh possible weather makeup days for next year's calendar. The work session documents from the presentation this morning have been added to your packet for the architectural firm that the
005administration is asking for approval tonight. Made revisions to the second reading policies this morning specifically DC students. New business number 19, which is the uh moving the public hearing on 26 27 from uh February 23rd to the regular meeting on March 23rd, which we've already talked about that, but that would be new business 19. And then um as I stated earlier, which is actually new business number 20, disregard my earlier number for the declaration of property surplus. So let me uh summarize that. Uh remove number 12, new business number 12, remove close session. Addition to the consent number four, which is the four out of state field trips for St. Stevens High School, amend the unfinished business number one to approve the final draft of the local current expense. Revision to new business number two,
006which is revised the budget calendar. So the public hearing would be March 23rd, not February 23rd. Work session documents are posted. That would be new business number 15 from the uh presentation from Mr. Moore this morning on architectural firm selection. The second reading amended of the social media policy uh has been updated and put into uh your packets. New business number 18, we're revising for the equitable funding, which just uh updates the data in there for the letter to the North Carolina General Assembly. New business number 19, uh approval of the uh board meeting to move that hearing. And then finally, new business number 20, the adoption of surplus real estate. That may be the longest one I've ever done. Uh my apology, but we did have a very successful work session. As a result,
007a lot of things need to be moved. So, thank you all for your patience. >> Thank you, sir. Uh I seek a motion to make the adjustments to the agenda that that Dr. Stover had asked for. I'm not going to repeat all those. >> Make that motion for the I'm sorry. Okay, I make the motion for the adjustments to the agenda. >> Hearing a motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand. That is unanimous. Chairman's report. Hey, I'm just happy to have all our kids back in school. Snow days are done. Let's let's hopefully move forward that going. Weather is is on the horizon, I hope. Next up, superintendent reports presented by Dr. Stove. >> Chairman, if the members of the board would come out, we have
008quite a few recognitions tonight. So, uh, if you would meet me out front. Oh boy. After this, you guys will be tired of hearing me. So, here we go. I am uh let's start with uh welcome Bandy's high school teacher cadet Miss Andrews. Great to have our students here. Thank you. Also too, Mrs. Guyer. You didn't know this, but I know you're starting the program at Challenger and you're leading that. I'm excited. So glad you're here as well. Uh we have our special recognitions. I'll uh ask Mr. Gettys to come up. We're going to do our employees of the month. We'll start at Charles Ford Elementary School. Uh, our classified employee of the month is Cynthia Field Tarasso, our school secretary, school tutor, school nurse when she's not there, receptionist, greeter, and baker. Don't you
009worry, Gates. I was getting to that. That is important. Miss Gates, thank you for being here. Come on up. Let's give her a big round of applause. Thank you. >> Yes. >> All right. From Tuttle Elementary School. Um, want to welcome Miss Katie Chapman, our fourth grade teacher. been teaching a long time and she does incredible work with our math students. Uh she also uh has uh been uh just a wonderful teammate for her team that has been down and as far as with some health things. Uh she also leads our student extracurricular uh team of um uh we call it four 412 and um which I've gotten to speak there multiple times just making a huge impact on maiden and Tuttle and uh sometimes you can find her dancing in her classroom. Miss Chapman
010congratulations and thank you for Miss Plant. Thank you for being here tonight. Yes. All right. Well, I had to prepare for this one, so I'm not going to be emotional. Uh, but I want to big thank you, uh, Mr. Moore, Mr. Dan K. Moore, you'll see in the, um, not the governor, named may possibly after the governor. Uh, he is retiring and, and he he actually missed, I think, maybe the first cabinet meeting since he, uh, battled through cancer. And so we took the advantage of uh our liberty. I don't do this often or maybe the second time ever. Um but I I actually in our team just named him our employee of the month. Uh more like employee of the years for years. Uh everybody, Mr. Moore is one of the most incredible human
011beings you'll ever meet. And uh he's got a few more months and he's got a lot to do before he leaves. But Mr. Moore, uh I see Mrs. Moore in the audience. we appreciate you. Uh just a wise man. We're thankful for him and he's just done an absolute wonderful job. That went better than I thought it was. That's good. All right. All the way from Asheville. This is just uh wow. The hits keep coming to Kataba County Schools. We have great people. I'm thankful Dr. Sumner is here uh from North Carolina Center of the Advancement of Teaching. This year we are uh privileged to have Emily Puy, Miss Puy from Claremont Elementary who is uh a finalist in the uh beginning teacher of the year. And this is a big deal. It's through the
012Burrows Welcome Center. And Miss uh Dr. Sumner is here to say a few words on behalf of Miss Puy in this selection. Also too, I want to thank our Claremont family for being here. Mr. Fry, fellow teachers. Uh, just thankful Miss Puy, I know that you're here too. Here she is. And so, Dr. Summer, I'm going to turn it over to you for a few words if you wouldn't mind. >> And I would be remiss if I did not also congratulate Mr. Moore. We worked together in uh in a previous school system work. So, congratulations. He was amazing then as well. Uh so good evening, Superintendent Stove and members of the Kataba County Schools Board of Education. Uh on behalf of the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, it is my privilege to
013announce that Emma Puy, a third grade English language arts and social studies teacher at Claremont Elementary School, has been selected as a finalist for the INCAT 2026 Burough's Welcome Fund North Carolina Beginning Teacher of the Year Award. And Emma, come on up here. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate that. >> Yes. Yes, Emma does not have to Thank you. Thank you. Emma does not have to memorize that title to go advance to the next steps. So, this recognition celebrates Miss Puy's outstanding contributions as a beginning teacher and the meaningful impact she is already making on her students in the broader community here in Kataba County Schools. I would like to recognize Mr. Jamie Fry, her principal, Mr. Fred Whan, Kataba County School's beginning teacher coordinator. Thank them for their support. The beginning teacher of
014the year award was created to recognize the creativity, resilience, and commitment of firstear teachers across North Carolina. Each year, more than 7,000 new educators step into classrooms statewide, and this award shines a light on those who rise to the challenge and represent the very best of our profession. Miss Puvie will be attending a week of leadership focused professional development with her fellow finalist in March, where interviews and portfolio review will be conducted by a panel of judges from across the state to determine the next beginning teacher of the year. On March 12th, INCAT will celebrate all finalists and announce the winner at a recognition event at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem. At INCAT, we are committed to advancing teaching as an art and a profession, and we are thrilled to celebrate Miss Puvie as
015a shining example of that. Please join me in congratulating Emma Puvie on this outstanding achievement. We are pleased to provide you with this plaque, this certificate recognizing you as an INCAT 2026 Burough's Welcome Fund North Carolina beginning teacher of the year finalist. >> Thanks. Thank you. >> Yeah. Yeah. Let's do this. You got your picture and then she'll come through and shake hands and then >> Okay. So, do their picture first. >> No. Do their picture and then you'll be next. This is fancy. >> Okay. Will you go as well? I'll I'll be >> Thank you. Okay, last but not least, this is the second time. Here you go. Dr. had the opportunity to again have a regional uh finalist. This time it is our chief technology officer, Mr. Marty Sharp. This is the second
016time he's been nominated. And this time, folks, he's winning. He will be the state technology officer of the year. And honestly, Marty, I know he doesn't like it, but you are the best. I appreciate that. and your staff is wonderful and I can't thank you enough. Uh over the weekend he's letting us know about power. I I could go on. I'm not He behind the scenes just does such wonderful work and we're so thankful for and he likes to stay behind the scene. But we'd like to get your picture and wish you well. >> Thank you. And you're winning. >> All right. All right. real. Thank you. Next on the agenda is uh public comment and that will be directed by Miss April Underwood. >> The Kataba County Board of Education appreciates and welcomes all
017public comments. Members of the public who have signed up to speak may address board members on any topic of concern during the public comment section of a regular meeting. Each speaker will be allowed a maximum of three minutes to address board members. A time clock will be displayed to assist each speaker with their threeinut time limit. Speakers should direct their comments to board members rather than to the audience. Comments by members of the public should be respectful without slander towards any member of the public, community members, or any member of the Kataba County Board of Education. Any displays of approval or disapproval are out of order unless otherwise directed by the board chair. Our first speaker will be Sandy Jarvis. Thank you. I am here representing Moms for Liberty Kataba County. Our mission statement declares
018that we are for unifying, educating, and empowering parents to defend their rights at all levels of government. Communication is essential to success for any team. Every member of this board must be an active participant in timely and clear communication with each other. Last week, I sent an email to each board member that was currently serving at the time of the walk out at St. Stevens High School. I wanted to know what and when about this protest. I heard back from every member that was contacted. I found that there was one school board member who was directly informed by a parent ahead of time. This school board member chose not to inform the chairman of the board. This decision not to inform the chairman was a dereliction of duty to the school board and this member
019let down the parents and children of this school district. Had the chairman been notified appropriately, a message could have been sent out throughout the entire school system via parent square or another application utilized to communicate with parents. Informing parents ahead of time would have given parents in our county the opportunity to have a conversation with their sons and daughters about this situation. The goal should be to make sure that parents are always informed about activities on school property during school hours. Parents were not given the opportunity to educate and guide their child for this event. As I previously said, communication is essential to success. If there is a board member or a community member for that matter who intentionally withheld information from the chairman of the board or was not situationally aware enough to know
020the importance of this information, under those conditions, the member may not be positioned to provide the level of service that the parents and children of this county deserve. Thank you. >> Thank you, M. Jarvis. Our next speaker is Noah Rooney. >> Good afternoon. My name is No Ron and I'm speaking as an advocate for arts and culture support on behalf of Arts Culture Kataba. I'm a senior at Challenger Early College High School and I'd like to share a brief story about how theater has made a difference in my life. Before I became involved with theater, I was incredibly introverted and had difficulty meeting and talking to people in groups. Stepping on stage gave me newfound confidence and has given me social skills that have extended to my everyday life. Suddenly, communication, teamwork, and understanding other
021people wasn't so hard. Being in rehearsal gave me a space where creativity was encouraged and everyone had a voice that mattered. As I've matured over the past few years, I now have the pleasure of watching younger students grow as both performers and people in these theater settings. I've watched shy students find confidence on stage and I've seen students who struggled in other areas discover a passion that kept them engaged in school. Theater gives young kids a sense of belonging. A study by the liberating arts explains how the arts encourage critical thinking skills which teach students the ability to consider things from multiple viewpoints. When there is a greater understanding of others in a classroom setting, people feel more open in communicating and expressing themselves which creates a more positive school environment. Beyond the classroom, arts
022and culture nonprofits generate $53.5 million of economic impact in Kataba County annually. The arts have proven to strengthen both individuals and our broader community. I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support of arts and culture. Your leadership keeps Kataba County a place where creativity can thrive. If you have any further questions about the impacts of art in our community, I encourage you to reach out to Arts Culture Kataba. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Mr. Rooney. Addie Preswood is our next speaker. >> Hello, my name is Addie Preswood and I'm here to speak on behalf of Arts Culture Kataba. I'm a sophomore at Challenge at Challenger Early College High School, but not so long ago, I was a sixth grader at Mountain View Elementary. Every kid who attends Mountain View dreams
023of the coveted sixth grade musical from the moment they see it in kindergarten for the first time, and I was definitely no exception. I don't know if I've ever felt as happy as I did the day I read my name on the cast list as Wendy and Peter Pan. and the memories I made during that experience are some that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Through the three-month rehearsal process leading up to the show, I learned a lot about theater, but I also learned a lot about confidence, community, and teamwork. Prior to Peter Pan, I was a quiet kid and didn't really have any confidence in myself. The opportunity to be involved in the play gave me so many things. It helped me to open up. I gained confidence, and it gave
024me the belief that I could be a part of something so much bigger than myself. Every year, the drama and music teachers at Mountain View, Miss Katie Miller and Miss Joyce Yang, take a group of sixth graders and put on an incredible production with them. It's not your average school play. It's more like on a community theater level. The kids learn so many important skills. Dancing, singing, and acting. Yes. But they're also learning valuable life skills like how to speak in front of an audience, the importance of focus, tenacity, and hard work. They learn independence and individuality intertwined with working as a team and depending on others, and the value of staying dedicated and giving their all to every step of the process. In fact, a study by Americans for the Arts actually shows that
025children who actively participate in arts programs are four times as likely to be recognized for academic achievements. This program had such a profound impact on me that I wanted to return and help it in any way I could. When I was in eighth grade, I went back to volunteer and I've been doing so every year since. This program also compelled me to continue to do shows at local community theaters. And without my experience in theater, I wouldn't have the skill set to even speak here today. Thank you for continuing to support the arts and culture here in Kataba County. Without your support, our schools would be lacking the creativity, confidence, and diversity that make them thrive. If you have any questions about the impact of arts on our community, don't hesitate to reach out to
026Arts Culture Kataba. Thank you. >> Thank you for coming out. And I'd like to say thanks for for young people coming up and speaking about something like that. We we appreciate it. We like to hear from our our students and and young folks in the community. So, thank you for coming out. >> Thank you. Our next speaker is Aaron Shermier. So I come before you this evening as both a concerned citizen and a librarian. In both my personal and professional capacities, I am highly concerned over potential changes to what is essentially the collection development policy for the school system. In case you didn't know, in order to be a school librarian, often known as a media coordinator in North Carolina, you must possess a master's degree in library science or have completed at least part
027of the coursework. Part of the master's program includes classes specifically on how to select age appropriate materials for students. This is in addition to any classes you've already earned or taken as a bachelor's degree in education. These classes, if you're in education, include courses on child development and crafting lessons that include age appropriate materials. At that point, you're pretty much an expert. Due to their years of training, librarians are uniquely situated to be the best at deciding what to put in the school libraries. Every library in the system is not going to be the same due to grade levels for the school and their unique populations. I wouldn't expect St. Stevens Elementary to have what Marie does. It's just not the same group of students. The job of our schools is to educate our students
028and prepare them for the real world. We need to expose them to the real world. And that sometimes includes challenging books that are going to get people upset. It's going to happen. They're going to read them. A tenative librarianship and a good collection development policy is it acknowledges that you can't let your personal beliefs dictate what the library has. The board's proposed new policy directly states that any administrative flagging or removals for committee review must be justified by age, maturity, educational suitability, or pervasiveness of vulgarity, not by viewpoint, ideology, controversy, or third party ratings alone. Through prior actions of some of the members on this board and things that they've said, some of you have shown you're not willing to abide by this, and I'm kind of confused why it's in the policy. Um, because
029when we had all the controversy with book banning, some of y'all said that why you chose to remove books was it went against your personal beliefs. I'm sorry. This is an issue that's really important to me. Everyone deserves to see themselves in books. A well-known quote in librarianship says that a truly great library has something in it to offend everyone. If our libraries are going to do their job, there are going to be things in them that upset people. No one is forcing any child to check out a certain book. If it's not appropriate for your family and your beliefs, talk to your child about it. It doesn't mean it's not appropriate for someone else. Kids that come into the library, get this. I hear them say it. It's not hard. It falls on parent
030responsibility to determine what is and isn't appropriate for your family. Before I go, I also want to briefly address adding opening invocations. As a progressive Christian, it makes me highly uncomfortable. We're told in the Bible not to pray in public, but to do so in private as to not draw attention to ourselves. I feel by adding invocations rather than just a moment of silence, it's this board's way of quietly saying we're a Christian board. I would caution against making and I'm biller. >> Speaker is Joanne Gardner. Sorry. Thank you for your time. And I'd like to add to what she said. I haven't been in a classroom except for adult Sunday school class in many years, but I have been in the classroom from Head Start all the way through the college level. I'd like
031to reiterate what Aaron said about public Christian prayer. I don't see the point. I don't think it brings anyone to whoever you see as the higher power. I think it just has a potential to offend some people. I would also like to say that nobody goes into education because they want to make a lot of money. I think they go in with the highest of intentions and that they want to serve the community. To keep constantly going back and forth about books and things like that is a waste of your time and a waste of the educator's time. Let them do their job. They were educated for it. Give them the respect that they deserve and you're making it harder to keep good qualified people in the classroom. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Carter.
032Next speaker is Charlie Shepard. Good evening, members of the board. Thank you for your service to our students and families. I'm here tonight representing Kataba County Moms for Liberty, Dad for Liberty. Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept. It's here in our classrooms. Has extraordinary potential to enhance learning, improve efficiency, and expand access to information in ways we could not have imagined a few years ago. Used wisely, AI can be a powerful educational tool. With that opportunity comes serious responsibility. We've already seen what happens when technology outpaces guard rails. Smartphones and social media were introduced without fully understanding their long-term impact on children. Today we see rising anxiety, depression, and addiction. As a result, with AI, the stakes are even higher. That's why I'm asking you to adopt our AI proclamation. That pro this
033pro proclamation does not reject innovation. It embraces it with boundaries. Affirms that parents have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of their children. ensures transparency without about what data is collected and how algorithms are used. It protects student data from commercial exploitation and profile. It requires meaningful parental consent and oversight. consent and oversight. Most importantly, it makes clear that AI must remain a tool to support learning and that the keys to AI toolbox belongs to parents. No algorithm should replace a teacher's judgment. No platform should should shape a child's worldview. No AI system should conduct or monitor social emotional learning or provide mental health services to students. And no AI tool should operate without clear safeguards and accountability. This is about the balance of innovation with responsibility, progress with protection. By adopting
034this proclamation, you're sending a clear message. technology will serve families in this district, not the other way around. You're affirming that transparency, student safety, and parental rights are non-negotiable. A sample of the AI board policy. Um, it was sent to the chair of the board for review. We encourage the board to produce an AI policy if not already in place. Our children deserve opportunity. They also deserve protection. AI can help strengthen education, but only if we put the proper guard rails in place. Now, I respectfully urge you to adopt this proclamation and develop a strong policy to lead with clarity, courage, and commitment to the families you serve. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Shepard. Do you have a copy of the policy or the proclamation or Thank you, Mr. Jarvis. >> Our next speaker
035is Rachel Wright. >> Good evening. This is the first time I've ever attended a meeting of a um board. I appreciate the opportunity to talk with you tonight. I live at 406 South College Avenue here in Newton. I'm a councilman on the Newton city board and I'm here to talk to you about the the potential award of a contract of an architectural firm that hopefully is going to be doing some work on the school system middlegrade facilities. I'm here for some clarification on some of the things that I heard about and I just want to address that and I hope I don't how the board's going to use that information but I just want to make you aware of various things that could that I see as a potential hazard. I'm a registered engineer been
036in business for 54 years. I've seen a lot of things and I hope you take my comments constructively. I understand that you're getting ready to consider award of a I guess architectural contract to a firm that is out of rob. The project that you're considering tonight is reported to be a hund00 million project. The potential architectural fees based on a project of that size is about $6 million. It's a tremendous amount of money. A tremendous amount of money for construction. In all honesty, our firm was part of a team that interviewed for this job. I don't care whether we get to work or not. It's immaterial to us, but I am very concerned about the possibility of sending a hund00 million out of this county to somebody that resides in Raleigh. If you consider that
037hund00 million, what that what will that do to the county's economy? Once you send that $100 million, it's out of the county. School systems generate no revenue. So that hund00 million is gone and it takes a lot of time to recoup that money. The other thing I'm concerned about is the length of time and I see my time was almost up. Thank you, Mr. Wright. Um, somebody sent me your phone, Mr. Wright. Oh, >> somebody sent me your phone number. How about me and you con me and you connected in the next couple of days? I'll give you a call. Is that all right? >> Oh, wow. About that, but I could I can call. You said you want a clarification. I can call and clarify what I can. >> Okay. Next speaker is Lawrence
038Wedman. >> Good evening. Um, honesty, equality, fairness, respect, ethics, these are generally considered to be good qualities. In all things, do to others what you would have them do. you do to you? That's also good. What is Caesar's give back to Caesar and to God what is God's one could infer from this what does not belong to the state the state has no business interfering with. This is consistent with the law of the United States enshrined in the first amendment of the constitution. Religious beliefs do not belong to the state and representives representatives of the state including the board of education have no business promoting or invocating any religious belief. It's not fair to people of different beliefs. It's not equal. It puts people of different faiths on a lower tier. Telling them that they
039can just leave the room is disrespectful. It's not what you would want your neighbor to do to you. It's not what we're here for. It's also illegal under the Constitution. The Supreme Court has already ruled on this. But you already know this. Essentially, the ruling reference Santa Fe Independent School District versus DO 530US 290 2000. Yet the board willfully chooses to violate the law of the Constitution and the law of the prophets by having religion uh prayer associated with the schoolboard meeting. So let me ask you, what legal, moral, or ethical tenant gives you the authority to sanction prayer in conjunction with schoolboard meetings? The question is for you, Mr. Settle Meyer. >> This isn't an open dialogue type thing. You talk, we listen. >> So you have no answer. Uh I give you the
040opportunity. Mr. Stover, do you have an answer? Mr. attorney, if you would all please respond my email and answer the question. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Mr. Weiderman. Next on the agenda is approval of the consent agenda in your packets here. Uh there are no questions. I ask for a motion to approve the consent agenda for tonight's meeting. >> Mr. Chairman, I move to approve the consenting consent agenda items as presented. >> Hear a motion. Is there any further discussion hearing? Not. All those in favor shall raise a hand. That is unanimous. Thank you. Next on the agenda is unfinished business approval of 2026 2027 local current expense budget request final draft presented by Mr. Seth Privet. Good evening, Chairman Settlemire, members of the board, Dr. Stove, Ernie Sink. Got before you a
041visual of our 2026 2027 budget request. at a very high level. Um, an overall $4 million request increase request from the county equates to 11.4%. We've talked earlier about some of the components of that. I don't know how, this is my first time, so I don't know how deep you want me to go into this, but I would ask you if you have questions or or things that you would like me to to go over. Uh thank you um Mr. Privet. I I want to just add to the board. I want to thank you all for the consideration of the increase for our classified uh request for our classified employees as well as the request for our certified employees to our uh county commission. Um as you know, as inflation continues and uh no no
042state budget. That was a a uh a wonderful request. Of course, I don't know if that'll happen, but I really appreciate your hearts on that matter. So, I want to thank you all for that. Anybody have any questions for Mr. Privet? Not I seek a motion to for approval of the 2026 2027 local current expense budget request final draft. >> Motion to approve. >> Hearing a motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Next up is new business approval revised 2026 2027 and capital outlay request for Kataba County Schools presented by Mr. Dan Moore. >> Thank you, Chairman Settlemire, members of the board. Earlier today, we discussed the change that we had to the capital outlay request. There was an
043addition error. Uh we have notified you of that and we present to you now our revised capital outlay request and I would seek your approval at this time and be happy to answer any other questions that you may have. Anybody have any questions for Mr. Moore? Not uh I seek a motion to approve the 6207 capital outlay request. That motion >> hearing a motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise the handous. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. Next is approval of revised 2026 calendar. >> Yes. Again, we're we're kind of at the midpoint in this um timeline. This timeline is predicated at the request of our county offices. Um so I have presented it to you in the fashion that they have requested it from me. You've had
044an opportunity to review this. It would be my recommendation to approve as presented. But has any questions for Mr. Prebbit? I ask for a motion for approval of revised 2026 2027 budget calendar. >> I make that motion. >> Hearing a motion. Is there any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise hand. That is unanimous. Thank you. Uh next up again, Mr. Revit is the 2025 2026 audit engagement letter and audit contract for fiscal year ending June 30th 2026. >> Yes, as required always an annual audit. You guys have a longstanding um relationship with Anderson Smith and W. They have given their proposal for the audit contract of this fiscal year. It is a 3% increase in the price over last year. Uh just over $42,000. there's any questions I can answer
045for you. I'd be glad to do that. Not seek a recommendation of the audit contract. >> No questions for Mr. >> Pre. I seek approval of the 2025 2026 audit engagement letter and audit contract for fiscal year ending June 30th of 2026. >> I make that motion. >> Hearing a motion. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor raise a hand. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next up is approval of amendments to -ate consulting contractual agreements between Kataba County Board of Education and Clarity Solutions Incorporated. A seventh amendment to contract 2025 2026 school year. B 8th amendment to contract 2026 2027 school year presented by Mr. Marty Sharp. Uh board chair, members of the board, uh as presented earlier today, um I put in front of you the amendment for our -ate uh
046uh consulting contract. Um again, we have uh we've used clarity solutions uh since 2015. Uh we asked for approval for the addendum as well as the 2627 addendum or amendment, my apologies. It's up to the board. >> Okay, not a problem. And both of them are identical uh for each year. >> No questions for Mr. Sharp. I ask for a motion for approval of amendments of the -ate consulting contractual agreements between Kataba County Board of Education and Clarity Solutions uh for a the seventh amendment to the contract for 2025 2026 school year and B the eth amendment to contract for the 2026 2027 school year. >> I like that motion. >> I've heard a motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise of hand. Thank you. >> Thank you.
047>> And up next, Marty Sharp again, approval of amendment two to the wide area network telecommunication service agreement between Kataba County Board of Education and Catera Ultra Broadband LLC. And uh the first uh point of business for our new -ate or our continued -ate consultant is uh to look at continuing our WAN uh agreement. Uh this should be the final extension uh for final year. We will bring um if approved, we'll bring u an RFP in front of the board next school year uh uh for purposes. Uh and we ask that uh that the board approve uh the extension for the final year of Canara for our win agreement. >> If there are no questions for Mr. Sharp, I seek a motion for approval of amendment two to the wide area network telecommunication service agreement
048between Kataba County Board of Education and Cana Ultra Broadband LLC. >> Make a motion that we accept that >> hearing a motion. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand, >> sir. >> Thank you. >> Next up is approval of prequ. I'm sorry, approval of prek tuition increase for 2026 2027 school. >> Thank you, Chairman Somire. Board members, Dr. Stove, as discussed earlier today by Mr. Jr. or Sigman. We would like the board to consider an increase of tuition or fees from currently $496 to starting next school year $650. Reason for this, we currently have a deficit of around $200,000. And this would help cut our deficit almost in half uh for next year. Any questions about the request? >> Nobody has any questions for Mr. Miller. I ask for
049approval. Motion for approval of prek tuition increase for the 2020 2027 school year. >> Make a motion to approve as presented. >> Hearing a motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor show a raise of handmus. >> Thank you Mr. Miller. >> Oh >> sorry. >> Approval of quote from curriculum associates for I ready resources grade 2 through five presented by Mr. M Lee Miller. >> Yes sir. Thank you. This would align our district 2 through fifth grade with one reading curriculum which we would would be proud of that. We we've had several different ones over the last several years. This would have second grade using the ready reading curriculum and third, fourth, and fifth grade using magnetic, which we have used in 12 of our schools over the last three
050years. The total cost of this will be $75,396.39 and would be paid for out of PRC85 funds, not our local textbook or state textbook funds. We'd like to ask the board to consider that request. >> So, can you tell us what else was involved with that? This is a books, right? These are books, >> correct? >> These are these are books that students have. is a combination of a workbook that has text passages in the books. It also has comprehension questions in the books and writing prompts in these books. So, it's a a hard copy uh resource that we can give to students. Teachers have a guide and it ensures that our our students have grade level appropriate text that they are reading for comprehension. they're answering those um high order thinking questions which are
051so important to comprehension and also includes the writing prompts I just mentioned to help with the processing of the information that's within the text. Um we know that when the thing one of the problems that we have is building stamina for our kids. They typically have four passages on an EOG that if you look at the grade level. So for example, a fourth grade is going to have the grade level times 100 plus 200. So a fourth grade text on an EOG is about 600 words. We have to make sure that we're exposing our kids to that level of text and that length of text throughout the school year. This helps us do that along with building the comprehension skills that I mentioned. Thank you, sir. Any further questions for Mr. Miller on this uh
052number seven here? If not, I will ask for a motion for approval of quote from curriculum associates for Irated resource grade 2 through five. >> I'll make a motion. >> Hearing a motion. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand. Thank you. Next is approval of master service agreements county board of education and participate learning. Mr. Lee Miller. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. Participate learning uh helps to supply us with dual language teachers and our schools that have that program. We currently have four elementary schools that have the dual language program and two middle schools that have the program. will be adding Bandy's High School uh next year as our first high school program. We also have a number of teachers that are supplied by Participate Learning that help teach
053Spanish classes. Uh there is a fee involved per teacher around $23,000, but as I explained earlier today at the work session, we recoup that money because we do not have to pay our participate learning teachers benefits or retirement. So it's basically we we break even after we pay the fee to participate learning. their teachers that come from participate are vetted just like our teachers who come from Appalachin State would be vetted. They have to pass uh exams, have to pass background checks, and they are under the same type of of evaluation system that our typical teachers would be. If it's not working out and we have the correct documentation, we can move on from those teachers. They undergo quite a bit of training before they arrive here. uh in the United States and here in
054North Carolina to make sure that one they know our standards that we teach in North Carolina and two that they are teaching with the strategies that we know are impactful to learning. I can tell you that we've had number of participate teachers in our past and for the most part they're they're very good educators and I I would think that those students who are in our dual language programs, their parents are very happy with those programs and report, you know, success of their kids being in that program. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. Anybody have any questions for Mr. Miller? Hearing none. All those in favor of appro I'm sorry. I need a motion for approval of the master services agreement between Kataba County Board of Education and participate learning. >>
055Make that motion we approve. >> Hearing a motion. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand. Thank you. Get Mr. Miller approval of >> random agreement between Kaba County Board of Persona County Operative Extension Hunto's 4H program. >> Thank you again, Chairman Cinemire. Uh this program is currently at AR Middle School, St. Stevens High School, and Challenger Early College. The program is designed to support Latino students in grades 8 through 12 and their families in preparing for high school success and postsecary education. It is housed within the 4 youth development program. Believe as you mentioned it's really a partnership between North Carolina State University with Kataba County Cooperative Extension and the Kataba County Board of Education. We've had this partnership for I believe uh eight years. Um they have a
056100% graduation rate of those students who are in this program. They have regular meetings. They do five workshops for parents and they have monthly meetings for students. Some of those are student led. Some of those are led by the HUTOS coordinator. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have about HUFOS. between Kataba County Board of Education, North Carolina State University, Kataba County Cooperative Extension for Who knows 4H program. >> I make that motion. >> Hearing a motion. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> That's it for you. Wow. Up next is a revised second reading and adoption of board education draft policy 7.3350 employee use of social media presented by Miss Ray Thompson. >> Marty. >> Yes sir. >> Good evening chairman members of the board. Dr. Stober. Uh, this morning I brought for
057you the fir on the first reading a model policy from the state school boards association employee use of social media. And this policy as I talked about this morning kind of brings together um pieces from different policies. We have our social media guidelines and it codifies what we have asked our employees to do over the years into one single policy. Um after our discussion earlier today, I did make the adjustments that you had requested. Um the date has been updated from January. I have changed Twitter to the correct name of X there. Um, in the section three, employees are prohibited from knowingly communicating with any current Kataba County Schools student. You had asked that that be clarified. And then we also clarified the meaning of instructional time. So that now reads, "School employees are prohibited
058from accessing social networking websites for personal use during instructional time while working with or supervising students or carrying out the employees required duties." So that covers our classified folks or custodians, cafeteria folks as well. Again, we clarified Kataba County School students in uh section D number two. I believe that is the last Yes, that is the the last piece for that for those updates and changes. Any questions? Any any further issues we need to address with this policy? There are no further questions or comments for Miss Thompson. I request a motion to approve adoption of board education draft policy 7.3350 employee use of social media. >> Motion a motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise hand. That is unanimous. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Up again, Miss
059Thompson, is approval of revisions to the 2026 2027 Kataba County Schools traditional calendar and again inclement weather days. >> Yes sir. So um we have adjusted the 26 27 calendar to include three inclement weather makeup days for students as a result of our lovely two-week experience here. uh recently um as I explained to the board earlier today, we have not had any weather in the past really almost 12 years that we couldn't cover with student hours uh that we are over the state minimum until this year. So, we have looked at a weather makeup day potentially for February 12th, February 15th, and then also March the 29th to give us a little bit of flexibility at that time. And those dates are noted on the calendar with an asterisk and then also noted over on
060the side. So, I would ask for your approval of these updates. Thank you for being proactive with this like long time since we've had this kind of weather pattern. >> Hope we don't have to use these days but >> in case that we do. So planning ahead for that. >> Yes sir. >> Uh so I seek a uh motion of approvals to the revisions for the 2026 2027 Kataba County Schools traditional calendar adding in those in inclement weather dates. >> That motion. >> Make a motion. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise their hand. >> Thank you. >> All right, Dan. Oh, there he is. Uh, next up is approval of state approved curriculum for Quest before and after school program presented by Mr. Dan Moore. >> Thank you, Chairman Settlemire,
061members of the board. Earlier today, you heard a presentation from Quest Director Aaron Gates where she explained the curriculum requirements for DCD lensure. And I would ask that you approve her recommendation for funny Daffer education school age child care curriculum for the Quest before and after school program at this time. Okay. Make a motion we approve as presented. >> Thank you. >> And that's unanimous. Uh I do have one request before you start again. Uh there has been a a wedding ring found in the men's bathroom. So, if you're missing a wedding band and have been in the men's restroom, uh, somebody has it or either somebody just decided tonight was the night and that was it and left. I don't know. So, be checking your fingers if you're a gentleman and married. All right.
062Next on the agenda is approval of proposed rate increase for Quest summer program again presented by Mr. Dan Moore. Thank you, Chairman Saddle, members of the board. Earlier today, again, you heard Aaron Gates make a request to the board of education to increase the registration fee for summer care to $35 and the weekly rate for summer care to $135 for one child and $125 for any additional children. and I would seek your approval at this time. >> There are no questions for Mr. Moore. Uh I request a motion to approve the proposed rate increase for Quest summer program. >> Motion that we approve that. >> I hear a motion. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next is uh approval of AR architectural
063design firm for Kataba County School Middle School addition renovation presented by Mr. >> Thank you chairman Smire. Members of the board, earlier today you heard a discussion and a presentation about the process for the selection of the architectural design firm for Kataba County Schools for the middle school additions and renovations. And at this time, I would seek your approval of SLA architects for this construction program. Does anybody have any questions for Mr. Moore that date from this morning presentation presented by him? >> The question or make a statement whatever I have all the confidence in Mr. Moore and he does has and doing a wonderful job. So there's no reflection. I just like for him to reiterate how you came to that decision. uh for everyone because you know it's been raised that question in
064the meeting tonight. >> Yes. Um as you can tell I think it's on the third page Barney. I think the process was outlined. No, that's the second page. Third page. Uh we had a process in which there was a pre-selection. We had 12 firms that submitted proposals to Kataba County Schools. We used that rubric that is listed there. We determined that there were six firms that needed to be shortlisted for review. can keep and those firms are listed. Adamson Associates, Clark Nexon, Holland and Ham, LS3P, YCH Architects, and SLA Architects. After deliberation, we determined that the best firm for this project was SLA based on their ability and experience with construction management at risk and the fact that we would have more equity within all projects by having one firm complete that >> Mr. more.
065>> And also for a point of clarification, Mr. Moore, as we heard earlier, uh you know, we hope to get about $120 million from the county. Uh there is a large fee for the architect. Uh and um at this time, uh if the architect is chosen tonight, we still will be con uh selecting construction firms. Is that correct? Yes, sir. >> And are those construction firms being considered in this local community? Absolutely. >> Thank you, sir. Like I said, just another point is that we're we're going to use local people to do work. The architecture firm kind of wrangling all the cats together >> to the best of our ability. Yes, sir. >> Further questions or comments from Mr. Moore on this hearing? None. I seek a motion for approval of architectural design firm FLA
066county schools middle school nations. >> Make a motion that we approve. >> Hearing a motion. Is there any further discussion hearing? None. All those in favor shall raise hand. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. Next up is second reading and adoption of board of education draft policy regarding open invocations before board meeting by Mr. Jonathan Sink. >> That's right, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. Thank you. Uh up for consideration before the board is on second reading is the adoption of the policy regarding the opening of board meetings with invocations. Um, this is a non sectarian non-denominational invocation policy. All case law, Supreme Court, Fourth Circuit, state law cases, you name it, has been considered before embarking upon this draft. Uh, this would be a three minute or less endeavor before official board action even
067starts. It would replace the moment of silence after the meeting is gabbled in by the chairman and it would be an invitation open to all to either stand, not stand, whatever the individual so chooses. Uh public notice would immediately go out through the superintendent's office inviting congregations, synagogues, temples, you name it. It is a non sectarian invitation, non-denominational uh invitation to uh open the meeting with an invocation. That is what's before the board for consideration on second reading. >> Mr. Sink, could you go into more detail for the folks sitting out here as to how they would be select? >> Absolutely. So the way it would work is every single year public notice would be uh put forth in a just like we do board meetings. We put in the newspaper, social media, you name
068it. It would have the writing that you see on the screen in italics uh inviting all of those who are even remotely interested in providing an invitation to solemnize the purpose of this meeting is to solemnize the board meeting before action even gets started. And that is what would be the invitation both in the newspaper and otherwise. Names would come in of individuals from congregations or or other groups who meet to even discuss these things. Again, non sectarian, non-denominational. Uh this policy is Miss Wetszel's put online for a week now for the public to view and uh it'd be free. There's no payment to the person. There's no filter unless they just get up here and just start berating y'all via personal attacks or berating members of the audience via personal attacks. You know, in
069those cases, I could see an instance where it might need to be shut down. It's a prayer, not a sermon. And uh that's that's what's before the board. Mr. Whitner, >> thank you for the clarification. And I should add just to piggyback on the tail end of your question that if multiple names were to come in uh per board meeting then what's recommended and what's even said at the top of page two of this policy I think it's page two it's in here somewhere that it would be a random drawing as to who is selected Is there any further questions or comments regarding the policy for not? I seek a motion for approval of adoption of board of education draft policy regarding >> a motion. >> There a motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing
070none. All those in favor shall raise hand. Thank you. up there. Okay. Uh second reop policy regarding selection review and restriction of inappropriate library materials again. >> Yes sir. Thank you Mr. Chair and members of the board on for second reading and consideration before uh before the full body politic for adoption. uh is this draft policy regarding the selection, review, and restriction of inappropriate library materials. There's just a few parts that I will nutshell for everyone very briefly. You've all heard the presentation earlier today. So going at about 25 30% of what was said just to sum everything up uh as as to what this entails. Uh first it would allow the superintendent and his designate his office because this is not a oneman or one lady job to go through the materials that are
071accessible to all students and based on case law guidance in addition to statutory authority. And let's just read. It is worth it for members of the public who did not tune in, I think, from the work session standpoint. The very first line of this North Carolina General Statute 115C-98 gives local boards of education exclusive authority to select, retain, or remove instructional and library materials. And then you can go on to read the part that says an expressly authorized removal when materials are educationally unsuitable, pervasively vulgar or inappropriate for students age, maturity or grade level. So long as and that's where we have to get into as it's been duly noted uh before today. It's got to be viewpoint and content neutral. So what it does not say is that the superintendent or the superintendent's designate
072just have automat automatic authority to permanently remove anything. That authority does not lie with the superintendent or his office. The authority to permanently remove books from CCS library availability rests solely with this board. uh it does allow the superintendent as is already legal and in law to recategorize books. Say for example there was an extreme book on think of the most heinous thing you can think of just by way of extreme example in an elementary school shelf that could be recatategorized repurposed and transferred to a middle or high school for example uh age appropriate destination. Um, even materials that are flagged for potential permanent removal would have to be acted on within 45 instructional days. They would go to the challenge committee, the book challenge committee under the umbrella of curriculum instruction headed by Lee
073Miller. And then and only then would a recommendation come from that committee to this full board. Since this board is the only one, again it's very important. This board is the only authority in this context who has an authority to permanently remove library materials. That's what this policy is about. Are there any further questions or comments uh by the board to Mr. Sink? Are none. I request a motion for adoption of board of education draft. >> I make that motion. >> Selection and review and restriction of inappropriate library materials. Uh I heard the motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand. Thank you sir. Next is me. Wow. Next up is the approval of resolution in support of equitable funding for except RC0. You go ahead if
074you'd like. Well, thank you, Chairman Somar. Just as we looked at earlier, the the um crux of this is that uh we're uh over $2 million over the last two years underfunded for our exceptional children's uh department. Uh and as requested um from you all is uh why does this occur? The question is is because uh our students are funded at the same level. So each uh of our exceptional children's students requires uh different services. um uh depending on the handicap or um barrier of learning uh it can range from you know uh a 30 minute of a week consultation all the way to additional personnel from uh depending on PE to one-on ones to uh dietitionian specialists those type of things um nurses personalized nurses all that to say is u and it's the
075state funding formula way it works so I appreciate you all noting that um the need for change on that. And uh if approved tonight, then I will um get your signatures and we'll uh send this off to our general assembly before they start making decisions on the budget. And I want to thank you again for your all's um uh support of all our children, but certainly our exceptional children. Thank you. So >> So thanks for Dr. Ashbrook staff for putting this together. I thought I seen her here earlier. You're listening, Dr. Ashbrook. Thank you. Uh, let's see. Is there any further questions or or comments by the board on this? If not, >> I just want to say that um I appreciate you putting or adding both years on there. >> So, so that we
076could Yeah, because that makes a difference. Yeah, it does. >> All right. If there any no other no further comments I seek approval of the resolution in support of equable funding for exceptional children >> that motion >> hearing a motion is there any further discussion and all those in favor please raise next up is approval of a revision to Kataba County Board of Education 2026 6 a meeting schedule we've added in for March 23rd is the public hearing on budget and the regular meeting in the same night. So far that that's the only revision we need to make for this year because of our cancelled January sessions due to bad weather. There any further discussion on this? If not, I seek a motion for approval of revision to Kaba County Board of Education 2026 meeting
077schedule. >> I'll make that motion. >> Hearing a motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise hand. That unanimous back. Next is adoption of resolution to the Kataba County Board of Education declaring certain real property surplus and that'll be presented by Mr. Dan Moore. >> Thank you, Chairman Selmire, members of the board. Earlier today, you heard a presentation by legal counsel, Mr. Sink with regard to the process for declaring property surplus. Uh this property lies across from Balls Creek Elementary School across Little Mountain Road that we deem to be of no use to Kataba County. There is an interest by a party that lies across that road and I would ask for your approval of this resolution to declare this property surplus in order to begin the bid process.
078Are there any questions for Mr. Dan Moore after he presented this to us in close session this morning? >> There are none. I seek a motion for adoption of the resolution of the Kaba County Board of Education property surplus. >> I make a motion that we do >> hearing a motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor please show raise hand. That is again unanimous. Thank you sir. >> Thank you. >> Next on the agenda is approval of personnel recommendations and approval of addendum to personnel recommendations presented by uh thank you. Uh you have our addendum and our personnel recommendations and we do ask for approval this evening except for Mr. Moore's retirement. Uh, all those in favor of keeping Dan Moore around for Oh, I'm sorry. Uh, all these projects
079are done and completed to satisfaction. Uh, I seek a motion of of approval of personnel recommendations and approval of addendum to personnel recommendations that were presented uh today by Mr. Dr. Stover. Hearing a motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please show your raise hand. That again is unanimous. I now seek a motion to adjourn tonight's uh February 23rd, 2026 uh regular meeting with the Cobb County Board of Education. I make a motion we adjourn. >> Hearing a motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise hand. That is unanimous. This meeting is adjourned.