001Next on the agenda is the approval of minutes from the July 28th amended and the August 25th, 2025. Got a copy of these minutes earlier to look over. Anyone have any questions? If not, I seek a motion to approve the minutes from the July 28th, 2025 and August 25th. >> I make a motion to approve. >> Hearing a motion, is there any further discussion? Hearing none, I seek approval for the approval of minutes from the July 28th, 2025 amended at the August 25th, 2025 meetings. All those in show of favor, raise a hand. on the agenda is adjustment approval of the agenda. Uh there's two additions. Uh one is to add a budgetary summary seven and add business new business number seven. Approval of agreement regarding school assignment for Kataba and Lincoln by the boundary
002update between Kataba Lincoln County. I seek a motion to approval for these two. I make a motion. Iard a motion. There any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor of uh adding consent number seven a budgetary summit summary number two at new business number seven approval of agreement regarding school assignment for Kataba Lincoln County students impacted by boundary update between county and Lincoln County. All those in approval shall raise a hand. Next is the chairman's report. Since the last meeting, a lot has happened. passed away the day after. Let's go out and live like that. Next on the agenda will be the superintender, members of the board, want to thank you for a great work session today. Uh we've had a great start to the school year and um just watching the ROC students
003back with us just brings a smile back to my face. So, that being said, we're going to celebrate some of our employees and uh if the board would meet me up front and Mr. Gettys, of course. All right, everyone. Well, uh, exciting times. I want to welcome again Mr. Chris Gettys, our Homes for Hero sponsor. Been doing it for I don't even know how many years now. So, thank you very much. We appreciate that. Each one of our employees of the month gets a gift certificate that you won't retire on, but it'll get you a nice meal and a plaque. And I think the plaques probably most meaningful to show your hard work and dedication for our students here in Kataba County. So, the first one is our administrator of the month from HM Art
004Middle School, Mr. Chavis Sims. Please come on up. Mr. Sims is joined by his principal himself this evening, also his wife and family. Uh, what a great family. Also, Miss Sims being our principal at Clyde Campbell now, too. Mr. Sims uh has done a wonderful job uh at Art Middle School. His passion, his love, his joy, kindness for all, just does a great job. And this past year, he and his staff just knocked it out of the park with academic growth and success. Uh because of his leadership and his staff just jumped on board and made some midcourse corrections. And as a result, Aunt Middle is back on top for our middle schools. um where I know that he's proud and we're proud of him. Great job, Mr. Sams. Congratulations. We're staying in the Saint
005Theater this this time and um we're super excited. Uh Mr. Diggs is our school counselor from Web A Murray. Come on up and I've got some great things to talk to you about Mr. Diggs or about him. [Applause] >> So, Mr. Diggs um has just been a wonderful addition to Murray. Uh Mr. Garcia and Mr. Robinson joining him tonight. Uh Mr. Diggs has gone out of his way to be part of the community. Community visits, uh home visits, apartments, you name it, Mr. Diggs goes. He's also so inviting. Parents love to come in and talk to him. Our students love him. When I went to go celebrate him the other day with our great group, he was in the room planning with teachers a counseling lesson. And um we think the world of you, Mr.
006Digs. Just keep making that commute from Denver. And uh for that, we'll be extremely happy. Let's give another round of applause. And that is uh that's Denver, North Carolina, not Colorado. Um and last but not least, from Bunker Hill, the Hill, uh Miss Anita Loftton. Come on up. Let's give her a round of applause. Uh, Miss Loftton's joined tonight by her husband. I'm glad I got that right. I should introduce myself earlier. Thank you for all uh your patience because I know she spends a lot of time at work. So, also to Dr. Clark, our principal, Amy Sigman, our district data manager. I told Miss Loftton, we went out to celebrate her and I think half of the U county was with us. And so we're just uh so thankful for you, Miss Loftton. Uh
007our data managers work so hard behind the scenes. Um and I I've seen it firsthand. It it's a lot. And you do a great job. We love how you work with our counselors, our teachers. Um you just do a wonderful job. So let's give it up for Miss Loft. All right, let's get a picture. Everybody. Thank you. Thank you, members of the board of education. And last under my report is Dan Moore. He's going to give us a quick construction update. Thank you, Mr. Moore. >> Thank you, Dr. Stove, Chairman Settlemire, members of the board. Couple of projects that we're bringing to the end. We see here Maiden Elementary School, which last week when I went down there Thursday, the paving company was actually there to begin to pave the track. I haven't been back.
008I don't know if that has come to fruition yet or not, but I know that they were there to actually complete that process. Uh secondarily, you also see pictures for all our playground equipment that has been installed and those playscapes were being used on that day. That was the first day that they had been allowed to play there. So the children are very excited to be able to access that new equipment. And also a outdoor basketball goal has been installed with a surface to play four square and other activities. So, Maiden Elementary School is very close to being finished. We hope to close that project out in December, if not soon. I will have to find that out to make sure. Okay. talked to uh uh Miss Plemens and she said that is uh the
009PTO's taking that up. Yeah. Okay. And uh probably hopefully see some sales uh maybe closer to the end of the year or maybe start next year. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> There's no trees there. So >> putting up lighting around >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And hopefully as that that area that play area becomes more u a better grass area that it would be an opportunity for town teams, wreck teams to practice their soccer as well. So we're excited with that partnership with the town. >> Yes, sir. Um so our next project of course is the completion of Maiden Middle School HVAC project there. Uh some work that you see we've created a new electrical room. This was in a large room in what used to be years ago the old automotive building and it's
010new electrical service that will be required as we continue our additions and renovations at that site. So there is that panel box that is installed and we were beginning now or DDI is beginning now to install the gas piping for the uh heat for those rooftop units and you see those pictures there as well. We're very pleased with our partnership there at the school. Um there's some things that we have to continue to work through, but both these projects are coming to an end and we're thankful for both DDI and also Hickory Construction uh at Maiden Elementary School. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have for these two projects. >> I just wanted to state that I stopped by and saw the security vessel and it looked really nice and everything. really
011looks good and it's something they've needed for a long time. >> Yes, we're very thankful for that addition to that school. >> Thank you, Mr. Mo. >> Thank you. >> Up is public comments and that'll be led by Pton Wallace. >> The Kataba County Board of Education appreciates and welcomes all public 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 the Kataba County Board of Education members. A time clock will be displayed to assist each speaker with their threeminut 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
012slander toward any other member of the public community member or members of or any member of the Kataba County Board of Education. Any displays of approval or disapproval are out of order unless otherwise directed by Ford. The first speaker is Matt Sin. Good evening. My name is Matt Sin. Thank you board, fellow citizens for giving me the opportunity to speak. Remind everybody I'm born and raised in North Carolina, been through the public school system K through 12. I'd like to think that Kataba County thinks of me as a friend. Uh my main goal today was to mention um public school meal debt. Um, I've pledged and given over $10,000. You can ask uh Karen Barrier about that for public meal debt, but the need is still there. We need to make sure uh families take
013the responsibility to pay for their students and if they can't afford to to apply for assistance without fear of any government repercussions. I myself received seven days a week, three meals a day. Public school provided meals my junior and senior year. So I So the state realizes how important nutrition is to learning. So young people shouldn't be penalized if their parents are not able to pay and we need to do more. Either have fundraisers. I've offered to have fundraisers and I've also pledged to help. Now, I did not know that Dr. Leslie Barnett had passed. So, I want to spend the last minute and a half. I think at the least she deserves some reflection without anybody else being brought up. Whether you agreed or disagreed with her, nobody can doubt that Kataba County and
014North Carolina is better for her having lived and worked here. I only knew her for a short time this year, but in that short time, she became one, an inspiration to me and two, a mentor. In our conversations, she described her background and I would put her background against anybody in the state, including our state superintendent. For her to be on this council with all her accomplishments, experience was a blessing that many other school boards don't have. Now, in the last couple seconds, I want to pledge that I, Matt Sin, will continue Dr. Barnett's legacy of advocating for public education, fairness, and educating all of our students. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Sin, for your comments and for your pledge to school debt. Next speaker is Miss Kimberly Turk. Thank you. When my son
015was a sixth grader at Clyde Campbell Elementary, his sixth grade team competed with the middle school science olympiad and made it to states. That was also the first year I volunteered. I have volunteered at both the uh local and the state level and I was even part of helping with the national tournament. I'm currently running the Hickory tournament and I'm afraid this may be the last year for the Hickory tournament. CBCC has decided that they can no longer be a sponsoring partner for Science Olympiad, leaving us with no site for Science Olympiad to happen. We are currently the westernmost site of Science Olympiad in North Carolina. And this means hundreds of middle and high school students will no longer have the opportunity to participate. The next closest tournament would be Charlotte, which has been full
016for years. We've actually been taking capacity from them. I would need a place that could hold a couple of thousands spectators and has three or more lab facilities. We do not have any high schools in this county with a gym big enough, nor do I have anywhere that has a space big enough and also has lab space. So, our loss of CBCC may very well mean no more science olympiad for Kataba County. Um, since I still have a minute left, I would like to say I too would like to one day grow up to be much like Leslie Barnett. It would be a great life goal and it's something I'll definitely work towards when I retire May 31st. >> Thank you, Dr. Turk. >> Uh, next speaker is Julia. How how do you pronounce your
017name? Okay, thank you. >> Good evening. I'm Julia Larelle. I just wanted to um come to you and um I know right now with the process of um fulfilling Dr. Barnett's term um on the school board is up in the air at this point. However, I just wanted to encourage you um as our board to um possibly consider Rhonda Pollock as an appointee to fulfill Dr. Barnett's term. Uh Rhonda recently retired this past year from Kataba County Schools. She's been in the schools for many years and is very wellversed to Kataba County uh board policies. Um, so if you would, I'm sure Dr. Barnett would be pleased to know that a fellow educator who um has given multiple years to serve the students of Kataba County um that if Rhonda were appointed to continue Dr.
018Barnett's passion uh for doing what's right in our county schools. So I just encourage you if um that would be a consideration just to put her name out there. Um, and we of course all miss Dr. Barnett and um, but we want to continue what she started and do what's best for our schools. Thank you. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Next speaker is Craig Meadows. My name is Craig Meadows. I'm a former teacher, coach, driver's ed instructor, bus driver, and new teacher mentor in this school system. Former because on June 16th, 2021, while teaching driver's ed, the vehicle myself and two of my students were riding in was ripped apart by a drugged driver. I sustained a traumatic brain injury and several bodily injuries. My students injuries were horrific. Three minutes is not long when
019I could spend three hours and still struggle to address the deception and cowardice I've witnessed and been subjected to from this school system. This type behavior has a devastating impact on good teachers, vulnerable students, and trusting families in our community. But I'll spend as many nights here, three minutes at a time as I need to and am able to to address the problems with the leadership of this school system that they refuse to self-correct. I have been treated with a shocking lack of basic human decency by this school system and the vile workers comp system since my crash that has resulted in severe problems for me and my family. sometimes by employees of this school system and sometimes by members of my community that I've devoted my life to. I'm sick of it and have
020had enough. I will stand up for myself and will fight for my family. This deception will stop. No desired end to a situation ever justifies sickening, deceptive, and dishonest means being utilized to accomplish that end. We're talking about a lack of basic human decency. You will tell me what you've done to me to destroy my living testimony that I've spent a lifetime building. You may think you won't, but you are wrong. You most certainly will. You fix it or I will. I will see you again soon if you don't. Teachers and our children deserve competent and genuine leadership. Contract renewal should stop being passed out like Halloween candy without any accountability. In anticipation of my next visit, I would ask board members to prepare some questions for clarification that one previous board member used to
021be so fond of, as community members attempted to stand against smut and filth made available by this school system to our children. today. There are teachers that care about that. I will be prepared to answer them and then this board will have clarity needed to straighten out the lack of institutional control caused by deception and lack of transparency leaders in this school system have historically relied upon. You are not going to intimidate me into hiding from manufactured guilt or shame. I have lived an honorable life and you will not take that from me. Thank you, Mr. Meadows. All right, our next uh item on the agenda, it will be our uh consent items, and I'll turn that over to Dr. Sto. Thank you, Mr. Mullis. Um, our consent items are before you and, uh, we
022did, just a reminder, we did add the number seven there for our budget. Um, and so I do ask for your approval this evening. Um, I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent and consent item agendas items as presented. >> Make a motion >> for the consent. >> Thank you. >> I have a motion. Any discussion? Hearing uh none. All those in favor, please raise your hand. That motion passes. had to step away for a moment. >> Uh, next up is unfinished business. Uh, approval of TIPS USA purchasing cooperative contract lighting for auditorium lighting repairs and upgrades at Maiden High School. And I think this has to deal with a warranty. Correct. >> Yes, sir. Thank you, Chairman Settlemire, members of the board. Um at the last meeting we were asked to provide warranty information.
023We did not have that available at that time but we do now. Uh for all of the lighting the fixtures have a fiveyear warranty and LED arrays have a 10-year warranty. Uh there are 20 amp relay modules that have a two-year warranty from the date of purchase. And those are the warranties for this particular project which totals $133,174.36. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have with regard to this proposal. >> All right. Uh, I seek a motion for approval of the the tips USA purchasing cooperative contract with Barbazon lighting for auditorium mining repairs upgrades at Maiden High School. >> Motion hearing a motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor for approval of tips USA contract is show approval by raise of hand. That is unanimous. Thank you,
024Mr. Moore. >> Thank you. >> Next on the agenda is approval of the 2026 Early Head Start continuation grant presented by Mr. J.R. Sigman. >> Good evening, board. Um, I'm just seeking approval of our Early Head Start um 2026 grant that I presented to you during the work session. I seek approval. I seek a motion for approval of the 20 2026 early head startuation grant. >> Mr. Chairman, I make the motion to approve as presented. >> Hearing a motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none shall raise the hand of approval for 202 >> and that is unanimous. >> Thank you sir. >> Next is approval of the 2024 2025 final audit report for county schools presented by Davis. >> Uh chairman settlemire, Dr. Stover, members of the board. You heard this morning um a
025presentation from the auditor Andy Deal from Anderson Smith and Wik. And I think you have a copy of that audit uh in your packet as well as the PowerPoint presentation that he presented. So we would like to seek approval of the 202425 audit report. Please >> motion for approval of the 2025 4 2025 final audit report for Kopa County Schools. >> Make a motion for approval for the audit report for 2025. >> Hearing a motion. Is there any other con any other questions? Hearing none. All those in favor show a raise of hand for approval. >> That is unanimous. Agenda is adoption of the 2025 budget resolution. >> Yes sir. So also in your packet um is the budget resolution for adoption. This is for this fiscal year 2025 2026 as was presented this morning
026and I'd like to see seek your approval please. >> I seek a motion for the adoption of the 2025 2026. I make a motion for the approval of the B budget for 2025 24 20 24 2025 sorry. Okay. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor of adoption of the 2025 2026 budget resolution that is unanimous. Thank you Miss Davis. >> Thank you. Next on the agenda is approval of committee requesting naming of football stadium press box at Bunker Hill High School presented by Dr. Matt Stove. Thank you, Chairman Smireer. Uh earlier today, we uh got the request from Bunker Hill High School to name the press box after Mr. Johnson and we are uh seeking your approval here this evening. >> Okay. Uh, I request a motion for approval of committee
027requests for naming the football stadium press box at Bunker Hill High School. >> Make a motion that we accept. Hearing a motion. Uh, any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand. That is unanimous. Thank you. [Music] Next is approval of Kataba County Board of Education voting delegates for the North Carolina delegate assembly. Please be alternate motion for that approval. I make a motion for the approval of Kataba County Board of Education voting delegates for the North Carolina School Boards Association 2025 delegate assembly. >> Hearing a motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand. Next up is a approval of request for Kataba County Schools operations department construction change director number three and change order one for new Hback systems at Thermont Elementary
028School B a proposed sawmill building at Frankie and more. Thank you, Chairman Smire. Members of the board, three items in front of you. The first being construction change directive number three for the new HVAC systems at Claremont Elementary School. A lump sum decrease of $460,58424 at that project. and secondarily the change order that creates the final contract amount for that project which is change order number one. The next document uh the original contract amount was a million69,000 with this deduction of $460,58424. The final contract sum being $68,415.76. Would you like me to proceed? Yes, sir. The proposed sawmill building at Fred T. Ford High School. We heard presentation this morning from myself and from Dr. Jeff Eisenhower. Um the proposal is from Neil Construction in the amount of $224,276. It also includes a general contingency
029of $7,500 and I would seek your approval of that project. And lastly, uh you heard a request earlier today from Director of Transportation Brett Huffman with regard to uh increasing the activity reimbursement rate to $1.85 per mile rather than $1.50 per mile beginning January 1st of 2026. and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have about any of these proposals. No one has any questions. I seek a motion for approval of A. The construction change directive number three and change order. B proposed sawmill building at Fred High School increase or make a motion that we accept these proposals. >> Motion. Any other discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand. Thank you. >> Number seven. uh approval of agreement regarding Kataba County schools assignment for Kataba County and Lincoln County
030students impacted by the boundary update between Kataba County and Lincoln County presented by Dr. Matt Stober. Well, the time has come. Um we are the um ready to uh have an agreement with Link County Schools, Link County Commission, uh the our county commissioners, and hopefully our school board. and we are looking for you to agree and pass this uh resolution this evening. Um the again just a reminder that the students are already with us or the students remained in Lincoln County um and that the payment for these children won't begin until the next school year. Mr. Chairman, I make the motion to approve the agreement regarding school assignment for Kataba and Lincoln County students impacted by the boundary update between Kataba and Lincoln County as presented. >> I have a motion. Is there any further
031discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand. That is unanimous. Thank you. Next up is the approval of personnel recommendations and approval of addendum to personnel recommendations presented by Mr. Matt, Dr. Matt Stover. >> Yes, sir. Members of the board, all those recommendations are in front of you and we do ask for your approval this evening. >> Okay. Okay. I seek a motion for approval of personnel recommendations and approval of addendum to personnel recommendations. >> Make the motion for approval of personnel recommendations and approval of addendum to personnel recommendations. >> Have a motion. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand. That is unanimous. Thank you. That's everything we have on the agenda. U just to let the public know, we had a working session
032today where we covered all this in detail faster this evening. That being said, I see a motion for adjournment of the September 22nd, 2025 county. >> Make a motion to adjurnn. Hearing a motion is any further discussion hearing? None. All those in favor shall raise a hand. Meeting is adjourned. Thank you.