001Call the Kataba County Board of Education U regular meeting through July 28th, 2025 to order. Uh, please stand for a moment of silence then followed by the pledge of allegiance by Miss April Underwood. Next will be the uh approval of the minutes. Uh but before that uh Dr. Barnett is unable to attend tonight and Don Sigman is also able to not attend but he is here virtually. Uh, with that being said, I seek approval of the minutes for June 23rd, 2025's uh, school board meeting. >> A second. We have a motion in a second. Hearing a motion and a second. Is there further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor show of hands. Don unanimous. Okay. So, just to clarify, Dr. Barnett is not here because she she had been in the hospital briefly over
002the last week and talked about attending virtually, but just didn't feel that she had the energy to put into it that she usually would. So, that's why she's not here in person or or virtually. That quick update. Right. On to the adjustment and approval of the agenda by Dr. Stober, chairman, members of the board. Uh we do have a a request uh for um our operations department approval of a quote under um to purchase a touchless bus wash. And um we'd like to put that at the end of the meeting if you guys would so choose. So we will make that number 14. >> Yeah. after closed session. >> Yeah. 14 after closed session. Yes. >> Hearing the adjustments for the agenda. I need a motion and approval to approve the agenda for tonight's meeting.
003>> Second. Hearing a motion and a second uh to approve the agenda with so noted uh additions. Hearing no further discussion, show of hands. So I would approve. Next up is the superintendent report by Dr. Stover. >> Thank you, Chairman Smire, members of the board. We do have uh one special recognition this evening and um if you would join me out front. We are in the presence of a state winner. All right, Miss Barry, would you join us up here, please? Uh, Miss Barrier is, as you all know, our child nutrition director, and um, we learned a couple months ago, uh, no, pardon me, just learned a couple weeks ago that she was, uh, named the North Carolina Child Nutrition Director of the Year. Uh, so that is a big deal. Let's give her a
004big round of applause. In fact, no one knew that she was the child nutrition director of the year. Uh, no one called myself or in fact, her own department didn't know until they saw this award that the state had given her in her office. I think that says a lot about Miss Barrier's leadership. Extremely humble, hardworking, and gets the job done every day. and um what you've done uh with short staff and what your staff has done uh and the quality that you bring each day has been amazing. Miss Barry, welld deserved. I'm going to give you back the award North Carolina gave you. Shake your hand and get some pictures. We'll do one last round of applause, please. One other note, uh, chairman, members of the board, uh, tomorrow, pardon me, Wednesday starts our
005administrative academy at Lenor Ryan University. We want to thank Lenor Ryan for hosting us this year. We look forward to a great couple of days. As you all know, we'd love to have you all come out Wednesday morning if you're able and uh just fellowship for a couple of minutes before we get started. And then Sunday or pardon me, Sunday, thinking about ice cream. Uh Thursday afternoon at 2:30, we are going to have some soft serve ice cream. If anyone's available, we'll be at the same place we were. I stopped by. Um it's not fat free or sugar free. Uh but I think it'll be Yeah, it'll be delicious. Uh so uh but we're looking forward to that in the next couple of days or this this week. So I think that's all I have
006today. Thank you. Okay, just a quick little update for me. Um late June I was approached by the Newton Conover uh school board. They asked if we would be willing to redraw some lines to add students their population. I didn't say anything to them at the time that uh that I would bring it to you guys and get your thoughts on it. Be transparent about what happened. Get your thoughts on it and see what what our board would choose to do. It shouldn't have other than their the will hear what the attorney has to say in close session about what we just spoke about and we may need to add that to the agenda an agenda item and a and a possible vote. It would it would need to be an agenda item. >> Understood.
007>> Okay. Next up is public comment and that'll be handled by Mr. Clayton Mullis. >> Believe that Dr. Stover wanted to say something under your chairman's report. >> Yep. Go ahead. >> Thank you, Chairman Semire. the um I I just want it to be known that um any time that we give students to other districts for about every 100 students that would leave that's about six employees that I would have to reduce. So I want you to keep that in mind. So that request comes with some pain on our part for us to give them students on their part which I understand where they're coming from. At the same time though, we're Kataba County Schools and um we have a family here and for us to reduce positions uh is hard and so I would
008just like to add that this evening. >> Thank you. >> And also with the commissioners um saying that they have put this on hold at this point to regroup and look at everything in Kataba County. I mean, why would we be looking at that with just Newton Conover right now when we know that the commissioners are con, you know, going to potentially look at other other options? >> I I just wanted to bring forward what they had asked me just to let you know what what their thoughts were. That's it. >> Thank you. I do have one other thing. My apologies, Chairman Smireer, is u Mr. Moore's got a a quick construction update he wanted to share. >> Mr. Moore, if you could come over to the microphone because um uh board members online won't
009be able to hear you. >> Thank you, sir. >> Do we have a board member back online? >> Okay. So, we only had one and it's just and he's not back online. Reason I ask is the minutes have to reflect that and so if he does, Mr. Sharp come back online, if you'll let the board chair know. Thank you. >> So, two things. Uh the first photos that you see are at Maiden E and they are somewhat dated. We already have the binder course down for this project and in fact are doing the top course. Uh our playground equipment will be installed there soon. This view is from the drive looking down toward the school. This will be our bus entrance and where our school bus drivers will park their vehicles during the day. Uh
010we are attempting to seed this area so that the children will have a playground and again we will have playground installation and hopefully a nice area to play soon. Uh there will be some lighting that will be installed eventually by the town of Maiden so that different teams can practice after hours at that facility and there will be a walking track as well. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. Again, these photos are somewhat dated. We've by the time they're submitted, time passes, things move quickly. So, I'll be happy to answer any questions about Maiden Elementary. However, >> I don't have any questions, but it looks good. And it looks like everything's on schedule, at least for that that part. >> Yes, we're very pleased. So, we've got a couple of little
011minor tweaks, issues that we're trying to work through within the building. Uh, a little bit of a humidity concern. Uh, but we've got people on that trying to get that worked out. >> Thank you. Our next project is made in middle and again uh these photos are roughly 10 days to two weeks ago and we've made much progress in that time. We actually have many of those units being fired up so that those can be balanced. Uh we feel pretty good about the progress in this project at this point. It was a very heavy lift, but DDI and both Holland and Ham and their subs in that project have done an excellent job in meeting timelines. Uh so a lot of grid replacement in those open ceilings, new lighting. You can also see cable trays
012for future installation there as well. The security vestibule has been poured. It's coming into place. So we're very pleased with the overall progress at this project. and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have at this time with regard to Maiden Middle. >> So, is this project on schedule? >> Yes, sir. >> Yeah, we're very pleased. Now, we probably won't get the building released to um full use until the week before students come back. So, we're going to have to do some little schedule adjustments with regard to teachers coming back and being able to have them in certain areas of the building, not in certain areas of the building. So, we're going to have to manage that, but we're confident that the building's going to be released to us on the 18th, which
013is good. We're very, very pleased. I don't know, Robert, if there's any other information. I think that's pretty much >> Yeah. And we're pleased because as I said this was a very heavy lift and we're very pleased with the work that they put forward. >> So, did you bring this AC unit from the old Maiden Middle School in here tonight to >> as a reference to what they they have in their had in our classrooms? >> We've got a few of those uh and we had to use those at Maiden Middle School last year and other places uh chasing chasing away some Hback troubles. So, I know that Angie's Hall has uh endured this for a minute, but we're getting the systems repaired. >> Thank you, >> Chairman. Settle. I'd also like to add to
014uh some good news on Challenger. Thank you to uh Mr. Sharp and his staff. Got internet connectivity in new PAT building today. And I went over there last week and the nest is completed and looks absolutely wonderful. Uh we still got some moving things around, but uh Challenger will be ready. Uh just spoke to Mr. Moore last week. We plan on having a another ribbon cutting, if you will, have our board there, CBCC and our partnership. And um I think it's going to be a really nice place for for our Challenger students. So we're excited about that. So I just wanted to update y'all. >> Seems like Don's back now. Thank you. Okay, now can we can proceed with the public comment is going to lead that. Okay. Uh, first person to speak is going
015to be Mr. Charlie Shepard. You'll have uh three minutes to speak. Hey, thank you for letting me speak. Um, I'm addressing I hope I'm not wasting your time. Um, consent item number two, overnight slash out ofstate field trips. That caught my eye. I was late to get that get this. So, anyway, I threw something together if I find it. Um, sounds ridiculous, but here we are. Governor Stein vetoed a bill that simply defines what a woman is. House Bill 805 affirms the truth that men and women are biologically different that this reality matters in law, education, sports, and safety. Here's what the bill does. It defines male and female in state law based on biological reality. It ensures single sex spaces like women's shelters, locker rooms, and prisons uh remain protected. It requires age verification
016for online pornography to shield minors from exploitation. It bans state from funding bans state funding for gender transition procedures on children. uh guarantees parents access to school library content and classroom activities and it allows students with religious suggestions to opt out of certain gender related lessons. You know, the general assembly has a narrow window to override vetos tomorrow. Uh we're expected to vote on this, but uh Kataba County overwhelmingly is in favor of this bill. I guess most of us know that u it's and you were elected by Kataba County. U I voted for everybody on this board, even Dr. Barnett. U great Dr. Bar I'd say she's a great lady. Um, I differ with an opinion on her with some things. Um, so I ask you to please represent Kataba County. I don't know
017how this will affect overnight trips or um is it out of state field trips or any kind of field trip, you know, two se two sexes separate uh separate faces to different sexes and very important. Yeah, I'll pray that these few cons. Thank you. That's all I got. >> Thank you, Mr. Sheepard. >> Next speaker is Miss Vicky Baker. Thank you, school built board members. My name is Vicky Baker. I'm here representing um Moms for Liberty. Tonight, this be discussing two items of information. The first has to do with the recent Supreme Court ruling on June 27th. Mama versus Taylor. This ruling allows and encourages parents to exercise their right to opt out their children from curriculum surveys, programs, policies, and activities that go against their religious beliefs. This includes LGBTQ plus related surveys, lessons,
018pronoun usage, bathroom and locker room use, and any other program that focuses on gender identity. Our organization will be providing parents with a form letter to complete and give to the principal of their child's school outlining their rights according to this recent court ruling. What does that mean for our district? First, the school should provide clear advanced notification to parents for any upcoming lessons covering the topics of gender identities, sexuality, or other related things. Second, parents have the right to opt out their children without penalty or stigma from specific lessons that conflict with their religious convictions, and district policies must be aligned. Third, children who opt out should be given meaningful equivalent educational opportunities, ensuring they don't fall behind while respecting family beliefs. Fourth, teachers will need guidance to handle opt out sensitively to implement
019alternative lessons professionally. This ruling doesn't ban these materials altogether, nor does it restrict academic freedom. Rather, it reinforces parental rights, ensuring families can agree or disagree with specific content presented to their young children. I urge the district to swiftly align its policies with this decision, ensuring transparency, respect, and balance moving forward. The second item is see you at the library coming up Saturday August 16th. Monster of Liberty is partnering with Brave Books providing a wholesome story hour. Even though we have net resistance from the public library, the event will be Saturday, August 16th at 9:15 a.m. at Cheryl's Ford Public Library. Uh April Underwood from the school board will be reading one of the books. We will be giving away um the books being read to some lucky participants and look forward to getting kids
020excited for the start of the school and another year of learning. You can at cuthe.com. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Baker. >> Uh, last speaker for the evening will be Mr. Lawrence Weedman. Next item on the agenda is the consent items which are personnel consent, overnight out of funding activities and all had a chance to look over these consent items. Are there any questions? Hearing none. I need a motion and a second for approval of the consent items. >> Second. >> Hearing a motion and a second. Is there further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall have raised hand. Don, how do you vote? All those in Deb, >> can you hear me? >> I can hear you now. >> I can't hear y'all. I can't hear a thing. >> Okay. >> I
021lost connection a while ago and it just I just now got the picture back. >> Okay. >> I don't have sound. Next item on the Could you hear me, Don? >> I can hear you, but I now can't see you. >> While ago, I could see everybody, but I couldn't hear him. >> You're not missing much, but uh we're all still here and look the same. Okay. Okay. Uh the next item on the agenda is the approval of the amended board goals and action steps for board members. Uh what was added in red has what's been changed. There any further discussion on that? If there any questions or any further discussion? Uh I just need a motion and a second to approve these and working on this as well. Second >> hearing a motion and
022a second. Is there any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand. That is unanimous. Even with Don Sigman, you have to say yes or no, Don. >> Okay. Yes. Thank you, Don. Thank the rest of you. Next on our agenda is new business with the approval of requests regarding title one, I'm sorry, title two, three, and four federal government reductions by Dr. Stoke. >> Okay. Um, members of the board, Chairman Settlemire, uh, great news. I sent it to you. Uh the federal government is going to release our title two, three, and four money. It won't be all of it. We look to uh it'll look to appear about oh probably around $70,000 difference in title two and title three. Um and some of that's still up in the air,
023too. Um so we don't have to come to you tonight and ask to use fund balance, which is fantastic. um we are going to be um some of the changes we've made uh we're going to leave in effect so that we can prepare for what could be the future. We're not sure what u you know what title one, two, and three will look like in the future. So we want to make sure that um we'll have some funds available if we need to carry over. One of those, as you guys know, title uh three is a lot of our ESL program. Of course, that's a federal requirement to have a ESL. So, we still have to have those things. Um, so it's not something we just have to find somewhere else in the budget. But
024for this evening, uh, you you will see what we had worked out. Uh, but for this at this point in time, uh, with the funds coming our way, we will not have to ask to use fund balance to prop those things up. So, that's good news. Uh I also want to tell you in our title one that was a title one was a $270,000ish dollar reduction as well. But I want to tell you that uh between uh Miss Davis and Mr. Sigman and all our elementary principles pre-planning um that is that is uh and Ray Miss Thompson too with all her work and I'm probably missing some folks but they created a budget with a reduction and because of that uh we were able to move forward and not have to use fund balance in
025that situation either. So, a credit to our directors and uh Miss Davis, Miss Thompson for planning ahead. Our principles, great insight. Uh and our BLT, too, our B building leaders uh building leadership teams and our elementary schools are instrumental in how those title funds are used. Uh so, we're thankful for them planning ahead. So, I come to you tonight with uh no action necessary. Uh Miss Davis, am I missing anything that you would like to add? Thank you for your work on your um uh handout as well. We're good. Any questions? Thank you. That that's very good news from uh the federal government releasing those funds. So, we didn't I know there for a minute there was a panic about some things, but worked out. >> Yeah, we we we put together a plan and
026and it we didn't have to use it. So, that's great. Thank y'all. Uh, next up is approval of the 2025 2026 comprehensive continuous improvement plan federal programs grant for title one and assurances presented by Mr. J.R. Sigman. >> Good evening board. Um, as Dr. Saver has already stated, we weren't sure about this presentation, but um, so I'm glad I went ahead with it. Um, since we found out late Friday that everything was going to be released. Um, I'm going to start with Title One. um it was always um released. So we had it we had the planning way before. So we went ahead with that. But as Dr. Server said, as you see here, we had a $276,000 reduction in Title One, but that wasn't because of the federal government reducing it. Um the state
027of North Carolina got the same amount they always received for Title One. However, due to the number of charter schools that were open in the state of North Carolina, the funds were divided by more num by a higher number of schools. So, that's where that $276,000 difference came was because of all their all the charter schools that were opened in the state of North Carolina this previous year. So, that's where the cut came. Um, as you see here, all these, um, of course, I'd already sent it to you guys when it was released, so I have withheld there, but it's not. However, we don't have it yet. The last thing I got from DPI was Mon uh, Friday evening, and they said that the budgets would be released the week of the 28th. So, sometime
028this week, DPI said they would release the money, but we don't know when this week it will be released. Having said that, we also don't know what exactly the planning aotments will look like as opposed to what they did look like before they were withheld. So these figures will represent what we had the planning budget that was first released. So are there any questions there? Does that make sense? So um we're hoping they'll re remain the same, but we don't know if they remain the same. Our title two was cut by um 85,000 600ish. Title three was cut by 8,500 and title four we gained almost 5,000 in title 4. So that's an explanation of this table. And we um we'll see what what it looks like. And Angie, have you heard anything from your
029end about a timeline of >> true? Okay. And as far as the grant goes, they deleted the title two, three, and four shells from my um grant online. So, I do not have access to it. And I checked before the board meeting began and I still only have access to title one. So, what I'm asking for tonight when I go through this is approval of title one, two, three, and four pending the we release of the current withheld money. If that's legitimate, Crystal, is that legitimate? Okay. So, of course, the first thing we talk about with any of these all four of these funds is all four have to be directly tied to our strategic plan. So, um I have linked in our comprehensive needs assessment that I I created um that is there for
030you guys to look at. And then I also for the goals and strategies, I took all the goals and strategies from our current strategic plan and tied them to everything we want to spend money on. So they have to be tied to the strategic plan and those goals. So um everything was tied to at least one of the goals or it can't be in the plan. So that's those two documents and that's what has to be done first. Then I want to get into the details of the title one. As you um know or may not know, title one is based on all free and reduced lunch applications. So, um, what what we do is in May we get that from child nutrition and then I have to rank the schools based on the highest
031free and reduced lunch percentage and work my way down. All of our elementary schools are now title one schools. Cheryl's Ford came on board this past year as their first year. Um but they you have to have um 35% or greater but you can also qualify if you are 30% but I have to do a waiver to give them the money. So I did that last year but this year they are over the threshold so no waiver will be required. They are like all the other title one schools and all 16 of our elementary schools are title one. What we spend the majority of our title one funds on are people. uh most schools um want additional teachers to help reduce the class sizes in the upper grades. So that's what the majority of the
032money for title one is spent on. It's also spent on academic facilitators. Every elementary school has an academic facilitator housed at their school paid for with title one money. So and then some do additional teacher assistants. Some do tutors, bus monitors, and other positions that are are are for people. this year with the reduction where the most of the cuts happened were tutors and they're all part-time um no full-time tutors or anything like that. So that's where most of the cut hit. We also do um school supplies and materials. This year it's limited because we started meeting with the principles today one-on-one and everyone we met with today 100% of their budget was spent on people. There was none left over for materials and supplies due to the cut. Um then some PD conferences and
033workshops at the district level and subs for those computer equipment technology most of the time but again with the cuts we probably won't have any for that but I always put it in there in case something comes up and we need it so we're covered. >> Mr. Sigman, do you mind if I interject real quick? Yeah. >> Just just as a point of clarification. So those were additional supplies and uh dollars that they get through their title monies, but we get um student aotment, pardon me, from the state and local that we give to schools. So um they still have some supply money. Uh I don't want you to think what they get and they need title one must be spent on things that are above and beyond what we give them as a district
034or statement. >> Thanks. Just want to clarify that. Then um at the district level we purchased the title one crate software which is the federal accountability that we have to have because of the title one program and it ha it houses all the school's documentation of how the money is spent and what they're doing to meet the federal regulations for title one. Um it's spent on some transition to kindergarten supplies and materials. Um homeless students that's a requirement. We must spend some of the title one money on homeless and most of that goes to transportation for homeless and school supplies for the homeless students. The Mckin Vento students parental engagement activities we are required to meet twice a year at the district level and then 1% of our total amount that we're allotted must be
035spent at the school level on parent engagement activities. And then also we have what's called equitable share. We have to meet with our private schools to offer title one money to any private schools who may be housing children who live in the Kataba County School District because those children can be entitled to that money. The the private school has to elect to participate. No one has ever elected to participate until last year. That was our first one. Tria Life elected to participate and they elected to participate again this year. So, what they do is they figure out who qualifies for free and reduced lunch at their school. Then they tell me what home school that they're in in our our district and um I verify that and they have 10 students that attend their school
036that are in our district that we have to provide um an equitable share to them. And there you see the total of what their equitable share will be for this coming school year. even though they're in the Hickory City School District, it's where the kids reside, not where the school resides. Any questions? And then I have a analysis of our cuts by schools. Um, I shared this with the cabinet to let them know how each school was affected by the cuts. So as you see here um in column B is what they received last school year. Column C is our planning aotment for this coming school year and then column D is the difference. Um as you see most schools were um cut some schools gained more and I'll explain that. If you see like
037Kitaba gained 23,000 if you look at the next column it's because they gained two spots in their ranking. So in other words, they might have been number five at a free and reduced lunch and they moved up to number three. So as they move up, they get a a higher per pupil amount per student. So that's usually um the only reason why schools this year would have increased is where they fell um on the ranking. As you see, Claremont, they went up one. Um, Mountain View went down, I mean was cut even though they went up one, but that's because they're so low on the ranking. Their free and reduced lunch percentage is not large. So, as Dr. Stove said, most of the principles had already when I found out that we were being cut
038almost $280,000, I sent an email to principles immediately and said, "Make a plan A, B, and C." you know that what you thought you were going to get was cut by um 15% then cut by half and then what would you do if you didn't get it at all? So they immediately did that and figured it out on their own. So kudos to them. But as you see here in column G, this is how they um handled their cuts. So just an example, Boss Creek um they had to reduce one because um they were in the hole and wouldn't have had enough money. So they reduced a teacher from retirement or um re um attrition somehow. Either a teacher left and they didn't replace them. So no one lost a job or we had to
039riff. So as you see here that is um on all these we had a teacher retiring in November for Banoke this coming year. That person will not be replaced and he worked it out to where he could do it without having the teacher be replaced. So, as you see here are the cuts and three of the schools we have decided that the district will fund because we felt it was too late in the year to rift a person at this point in time for next year. However, if you see these three, they are Maiden, Oxford, and St. Stevens. If you look in column H, we have told them that for 2627, they will have to reduce a teacher or a TA. But that gives them a year to think about it, plan, and hopefully someone
040will retire or move or something and then they just won't replace that person. So, we're not talking about losing a person. Any questions about title one? That's way more in depth than I've ever done before, but I felt like I needed to explain where we were. Okay. Um, title two. We'll move on to title two. Um, title two is all about professional development and improving the field through professional development. So, um, some of our title two funds will be spent on instructional coaches, the beginning teachers institute, mentors for beginning teachers, tuition, testing, lure, renewal, reimbursements, professional development such as workshops, trainers and substitutes, and online kitaba teachers. also entitled to. We have um various conferences and trainings. We send people to the aspiring administrators academy will occur this year. We have to it's required that
041we put in some money for a reduced classiz teacher for the district if we need it once school begins and we have an influx in population somewhere. Um out of all the years that I know we've been doing this, we've never used that money, but we just have to we have to um budget for it. um some prek PD for kindergarten transition from preK to kindergarten um curriculum development stipens, mileage reimbursement, and here I'll talk a little bit about private schools. They are also we have to offer private schools um access to title two. The only private schools we offer title two that we're required to offer title two services to are those that are located within our school district. So, if the building is within our school district, that's who I have to offer
042equitable shares to. Again, no one has volunteered or voted to do that until last year, and it was Tabernacle. They have elected to do it again this year. So, I have to do it based on their total school population. That's the requirement in the formula. And you see their equitable shares here would be $12,000. $12,200 approximately. And they can only spend that on PD. Any questions about title two? Okay. Title three is all English language acquisition. We spend that total budget on four ESL teacher assistants and half of an ESL lead teacher who serves like a mentor for the other um ESL teachers. It's not a large budget, so that's all we're able to spend that on. And then title four is all about student support and academic achievement. There's three categories in title four
043that we're required to spend this money with. And it's called well-rounded students, safety, and technology. And 20% of the budget has to be in well-rounded, and 20% has to be in safety. Technology, something just has to be spent. Even if it's a penny, we have to spend something or budget something on technology. So the list of things we're going to be spending on title four on is online Kataba teachers, Vista software, elevation software, and off to class software, which are all ESL software um components, ecats, which is the database that we keep all of our 504s in Kataba County in um safe visitor software at um every school. Um the digital citizen software which is um the technology education software that we um for safety security cameras at various um elementary schools and we have
044budgeted some for technology for Chromebook replacements. So any questions about title four? Okay, >> thank you for the detailed presentation, Mr. Pigman. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I just need approval. >> Looking for a motion and a second for approval for the comprehensive continuous improvement plan for federal programs grant. Title one and assurances pending the uh funding that we'll know about this week. >> Will you will you let us know when it comes in and how much it is? >> I can let Debbie know and then she can email. >> Mr. Chairman, I make the motion to approve um as presented. >> Hearing a motion in a second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, raise of hand. And Don, yes or no? >> Yes. >> That's unanimous by all those
045in attendance. >> Thank you, Mr. Sigman. >> You're welcome. >> Next up will be information for the board on education policy 3.7700, administrative pro procedures presented by Mr. Lee Miller. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. board. Just to give you a little bit of a history on this administrative procedure, it changed around 2009 2010 and Kataba County schools went to the Latin honors system which consists of um Magna or Sumakumlaw, Magnaumlad and Kumlad based on our students GPA. At that same time, the administrative procedure was put in place where only certain types of achievements would receive honors. I believe you have that list in your packet. Um there were things like the National Achievement Award, National Honor Society, Beta Club, National Merit Scholar, North Carolina Academic Scholar, Honor Graduate, and Junior Marshall. So those those were
046the awards that this administrative procedure set forth that would be recognized. And in 2009 and 10, this procedure does not recognize a validictorian or saludiatoran from our graduating classes. Um, that is a change. Students are still ranked. They receive a rank on their transcript. I believe that is statemandated that we do that. As far as you know recognizing validator sol we've not done that I guess almost 15 years. I'll be glad to answer any questions if I can or the board just wants to discuss. The first one um that Mr. Miller mentioned was actually changed in 2019. So, prior to that time, it did reflect valadictorian >> prior to 2019. >> Yeah, if you'll look on the back of the first >> the first paper, it's dated January 28th, 2009. >> All right. I'm sorry.
047I I'll look at um there's a section that talks about 2009 and 10 that those incoming freshmen. Maybe that's when we change. >> It may be. Yeah, I'm just saying that's dated. Any questions for Mr. Miller on that at this time? If not, um um I'm not seeking any uh action from the board tonight, but um I just want to give um my thoughts on this. And uh I see the argument in the case that that has been made for this uh several counties and cities across the state of North Carolina. Um, I know Lincoln County Schools and I believe Gaston County Schools still recognize valictorian and saludiatoran. Um, as a parent, I see it. And as a board member, um, I wouldn't be as privy to this if I didn't have a student that's
048a a child that is a student at Challenger High School. I don't only think Challenger is a very successful school. All our high schools are very successful. There's a lot of emphasis put on athletics and so many other clubs and things in our schools, but a lot of people forget the focus that it's almost a sport with the valator and saludiatoran that some of these students, many students that are at Challenger and I'm have been informed on my daughter's feelings that sometimes they feel left out that things are grouped together and that the individualism and the hard work that those students put in is not recognized because at Challengers graduation all our other high school recogni um graduations they were not recognized and I know that's per the policy but I disagree with that and
049um to me some of these students being validictorian or saludiatoran is their state championship per se and my daughter and I'm saying this as a parent and I'll fight for my kids to have every opportunity that they can to be successful so that every child that comes in behind them can have that opportunity. But my daughter sacrifices her time, time with her friends, time with her family because she sees the number game that it is because certain schools that she's looking at to apply. She has to balance. I can't take art. I can't take band. He wants to take these other classes. She can maxim maximize that GPA. But as we go forward, I I'm not asking for the saludiatoran or valatoran to give a speech. I think they should have that option to give
050a speech if they do. And I think if the student body wants to elect somebody from the student body to give a speech, I'm very well appreciative of that. But at the very least, I think we should recognize the saludiatoran and validictorian at our graduations. I think their hard work is commended and I think it should be commended. Uh but that's all that I have. >> And and thank you, M. Small. And I I'm just presenting information to the board and uh the board certainly do what what they feel is right. I will say you mentioned taking classes and not some students. And I think that's why this policy was implemented when it was because students were felt pressured to take certain classes and not take other classes because um it got to the point
051where even an honors class could possibly drop their GPA a tenth or a hundth of a point and it might mean that they go from one or two to four or five just that small little you know hundth of a point possibly. So I think again that's why and I wasn't in this role obviously at that time but but I think that's why this was implemented so students wouldn't feel that pressure maybe to I've got to take this AP course versus this course and also uh like for example art band students um the courses that they take often times for those particular subjects Um, when you average those onto a GPA, again, for our top students, it may actually cause their GPA to drop slightly because it's not an AP course that maybe this student
052over here did take. And so, it got to be so competitive between students and and not that competition is bad. I don't want to give off that feeling. what I think the feeling was or the thought was students are are taking courses for GPA versus what may benefit them after high school. And again, I'm not arguing for or against it. I just think it's important to know that I think that's why this administrative procedure is when it was. Now, I will also say this changed somewhat because now 10 years ago, taking a an art class, a band class for honors credit was almost unheard of. Now, students can opt to take honors credit in art. Van, a CTE course, even an internship can now be honors credit if the student applies for. So, that is
053a a a difference now versus then.U you can keep in mind as well. Any other questions? Okay. Next is approval of a two-year quote to purchase RTI stored MTSS tracking program. Mr. Lee Miller. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. So MTSS is multi-tiered systems of support and our students who are struggling with grade level content can be referred to MTSS and it simply means interventions are put in place for those students to try to bring them up to grade level. So tier one is our core instruction. Every student receives tier one instruction. Tier two are those students who are initially referred into the MTSS process and you'll typically uh do or have uh interventions twice a week for those students and then hopefully that you'll see improvement and they can drop back down to tier one.
054Sometimes if we do not see students um improve with tier two intervention, they may be moved to tier three intervention uh which is more intensive, happens more often, a longer period of time and then if we still do not see progress, it may lead to an EC referral. So with all that or all those interventions, we're constantly collecting data on these students. That data has to be stored and a big piece of this process is you have to use that data to compare that student's progress to their like peers. So typically you would have let's say five students in the intervention group. If four of those students are making progress and one of those students is not then we know we need to probably um move that one student to more intensive interventions. So again
055with all that being said, we really have to have a way to collect the data, analyze the data, store the data, and then have a system to compare the data of our MTSS students. Also, uh RTI stored is an early warning system. So it can pick out students who based on poor instruction may need to be considered for tier 2 interventions. So, this system provides all of those things. We asked a representative from RTI stored and another vendor to come in and present their programs to our academic facilitators. We did that back in the spring because we wanted our academic facilitators really to give us their feedback on which program they felt was best. And so they felt like RTI scored really fit our needs better than the ecatch program which we had used uh
056for a period of time but it had changed a little bit with infinite campus. So RTI stored is again two-year quote for $85,600. uh the money would come from at risk funds that that we receive from the state and ATSI funds which we receive and we can pay for a portion of this with those ATSI funds. I'll be happy to answer any questions that you might have. So, >> this will be used at all our elementary and middle schools. >> Yes, sir. If there are no further questions, uh, I need a motion on approval for a two-year quote to purchase RTI for MTSS tracking program. >> Make a motion that we approve. >> Hearing a motion in a second. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor show raise of hand. Don has stepped
057away. All those in the U. >> Don, would you like to approve this? Uh, >> sorry. Yes, I heard all of it. I just had to get up real quick. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Sigman. >> Thank you. The next thing we're seeking approval of is the purchase of the I Ready math toolkit. It's a kindergarten through 8th grade mathematics instruction uh supplemental resource that nine of our schools would like to purchase. Some of our schools used this last year and liked it. Teachers felt like it was a a good resource. again supplemental resource that was easy to access. Uh the resources they felt aligned well with our content standards. There's student assessments that are included in this and it would be it's just a digital resource just for teachers to use and pull those
058resources uh from for our students. students were not it's not another program for our students to be on a device. Again, this is for teachers to pull resources, lessons, and assessments from to use with their students. Um, the money would come from textbook funds that are provided by the state. I would be happy to answer any questions that you might have. Uh do we have any data the schools that you said that use this that they had an increase in in results or the student results? >> There was certain teachers and grade levels and I I that's a good question. I I don't but I I'll be glad to look. Um I I know of a particular third grade and fifth grade teacher that used it and their scores were I would say above our
059district average. Anecdotally, I can say yes, it seems to to have an impact on on student learning, but as a whole because TE schools purchased this individually last year, so I'm not aware of exactly who all use it, but I am aware of of two person that use it. >> Nine of our 16 elementary schools use this. What are the other seven? Nine of nine of our 16 are would like to purchase this. Our other ones are using Envisions uh or into math which is a pilot that they're doing and we have two schools that are also doing a complete I Ready pilot which is free to them and it it's a comprehensive program. Again, this is more of a supplemental program. If you recall last month, I spoke about the math resource guide that
060we created within our district so that teachers can pull go to that resource guide and if they're teaching content standard uh 2.3 that resource guide will tell them if I have the I already toolkit where those resources are to pull or if I'm using the visions where those resources are. We're trying to make this as user friendly as we can because we know we have different math curriculum that we're using. We're not happy about that. We got to get through next year, one more year before the new math centers come on board and then our plan is to be aligned as a district. But for the last last year and this year, we have let schools choose what they feel like is best for them and their students. So if we had several schools that
061had higher averages with this particular program, were there any discussions with the other uh schools that were not using this so that they would know and would have an option to be able to use this since we had good results? >> Right. and and what we've seen is in visions uh which is something we've had for a number of years when it is used to fidelity we see we see success when we use for example delta math which is more of a supplemental resource when it is used to fidelity we see success the thing that we're we is a challenge for us is when we have pockets in a classroom. I'm going to use this today. I'm going to use this next week. And that can sometimes lead to misalignment, which we're trying to get
062away from. And we've said schools, you can use what you feel like has worked for you. We've created that resource guide to try to help focus them if they're going to use Envisions, the I Ready toolkit, Delta Math. Um, so that when they're teaching a particular standard, regardless of what resource they're using, they know I can go to this part of that resource, this particular page or unit of that resource, and there's the content that I need. We felt like because it is somewhat scattered. It's a a search and find mission and we want to eliminate that and say here's where you go with this resource that you're using. So to answer your question what I feel like when resources are used to fidelity regardless if it's the ready or the envisions or delta um
063and good classroom instructions taking place we see success. So what's coming next year is you don't know exactly >> there's one more year >> before the new math standards come about. So we have a year and a half really and the good part about this is we because we have envisions which again we've used for a number of years. We have into math at Startown Elementary and we have the I already pilot at Blackburn and Banoke. And again, the the supplemental IR toolkit will be able to tell um really what resource we feel like is best for us at that time and look to adopt one resource for the district. Yes. And really they're the ones who have kind of get to decide they tell their principal that uh where they want to use envisions
064the toolkit delta math uh and then the principles let us know like what grade level only thing we've asked them to do is as a grade level we want you to be consistent at your school. We don't want if we have five third grade teachers at St. Stevens Elementary we don't want them using five different things. We want them to be able to plan together. So that's really the only stipulation that we put out there is as a grade level, we'd like you to do the same thing. We'd love for you to be aligned as a school and especially at least with a grade band like K2 and then 35, but um we've not said you have to use this. We we let teachers give their input and then principles report back to us what
065they're what they're asking for. Any further questions or comments? Hearing none, I need a motion and a second for approval of quote from curriculum associates to purchase iated math toolkit. >> Second that hearing a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion hearing? None. All those in favor show a raise of hand and Don B. >> Yes. >> That's unanimous for all those in attendance. >> Thank you, Mr. Miller. Uh, next up will be approval of the 2026 2027 Kataba County Schools traditional school calendar draft by Miss Ray Thompson. >> Good evening, Chair Chairman Settlemire, members of the board, Dr. Stover. So you you've all asked to take a look at the traditional calendar options and there are two one is traditional start and spring break and the other has a separate spring break.
066I cannot access my links. Okay. Well, let me that have copies. Oh, perfect, perfect, perfect. So, your first calendar draft is the traditional start and spring break, which has spring break following with Good Friday on March the 29th um through April the second, and then it connects in to that um for that week. That is what we have had for many, many years. It put spring break very early in the spring. So, we have added the April 30th optional teacher workday just to give kids and student and um adults a day breather before we dive head first into testing in those three weeks of May. So everything else about this calendar is exactly the same as the second calendar except for the spring break. So, in the second draft, you have Good Friday, which is
067federal holiday, and followed by an optional teacher work day on March the 29th, that Monday after Easter, and then a separate full week of spring break, April 12th through the 16th. Again, everything else is exactly the same. When we put these forward back in the fall, 56 sorry, 55.6% of staff felt like the separate spring break would be better. 40.7% said tie them back together in the traditional way. And then uh one staff was completely split. In their comments, the elementary folks spoke most highly of having that traditional spring break because they wanted to have more time in April and May to really drill in with testing before they hit testing those last two weeks in May. So, as you look at those uh what questions you have about the two calendars. >> Miss Thompson,
068do you do you happen to know how many districts in our area have went to an option where they designate the spring break at a certain time? >> I I know that there are some u Mr. Mullins, but I'm not MS I'm not sure exactly how many um most have in our region are keeping the two together. >> Do we do we know when the end of grade testing would be? End of grade testing is going to fall um for elementary folks the 10th through the 14th. And then middle high school and middle school is also the 10th through the 14th of May in 27. And then high school testing would be the 17th through the 21st. It's always the last 10 days of the school year. Advanced placement testing would start the week prior
069to that, the first week in May, because they have so many separate tests that they'll have to give. They start a little bit early. So, I had this added back to the agenda because I know that u people start planning their vacations early and thought the sooner we got decision out there, the better it would be for everybody. I really wanted to start early and the state passed the law for a flexible calendar which really isn't that flexible. Uh it's either you do it their way or you don't get money. >> Yes, sir. >> Deal. So, starting on the 24th is about the only option we have unless we perfectly balance the calendar. virtually impossible to do. Uh that being said, I think splitting the spring break kind of works with this calendar because it
070is so early in the year and it's a long time between end of March and the basically the end of May. It's up to the board as a whole to the best Mr. Chairman, can you hear me? >> Yes, Mr. Sigman. >> I don't I wouldn't have any problems with splitting the the vacation as far as the Easter with another week this year. I think it would be only fair for the ones that's working that to help them. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Sigman. Uh, so would you willing to make a motion for um the draft number two of the traditional start and separate spring break calendars for 2026 2027? >> Yes, sir. I'll make that motion. We change it to and split the vacation that way. >> Hearing a motion and a second for
071draft two traditional start and separate spring break calendars 2026. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand that for Mr. Sigman. >> Yes. >> That is unanimous for all in attendance. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I'm sorry. Clayton Mullis did not raise his hand. Next on the agenda is approval for intercom system replacement at Charles H. Tuttle Elementary School presented by Mr. Dan Moore. >> Thank you, Chairman Settlemire. Members of the board, Dr. Over. We have a quote from B&L Communications in the amount of $55,772 one cent to replace the intercom system at Tuttle Elementary School. I would seek your approval and be happy to answer any questions that you may have at this time. If there are no questions for Mr. Moore, I seek a motion
072and a second for approval of the quote for intercom system replacement at Charles H. Total Elementary School. >> I'll make a motion that we accept that. >> I second. >> Hearing a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall a raise of hand. >> Yes. >> That's unanimous for the board members in attendance. >> Thank you. >> Next on the agenda is approval for certified bid tabulation for rear parking lot repaving at St. Stevens Elementary School presented by Mr. Dan Moore. >> Thank you. This project involves the bus parking lot or rear parking lot St. Stevens Elementary School and we wanted to make that we address this need after the basic installation of our fourpack modular classroom at that location. The apparent low bidder is Hickory Ceiling
073and Striping in the amount of $97,500 and I would seek your approval and would be happy to answer any questions that you may have. >> Are these the folks that did the front parking lot? No, the front actually was precision paving was the big winner on the front. >> They going to pave from the back parking lot up to where the hit down right there. >> Think that's Don's dog. Go in and turn left. It's like they stop paving at that point because it's thicker if you turn. I wonder if the binder course was just and the top code had not been paved at that point because that was >> yesterday when I went over and looked at it. It was >> okay. I was wondering about that what was >> Okay, that was my
074question. >> Uh, any further questions for Mr. Moore on the paving project? Hearing none, I need a motion and a second for approval for certified bid tabulation for rear parking lot repaving at St. Stevens Elementary School. I'll second >> hearing a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor shall a raise of hand with the exception of Mr. >> Yes. >> That's unanimous for all board members in attendance. >> Thank you. >> Next, approval for requests for preschool classroom renovations at Balls Creek Elementary School, 400 hallway presented by Mr. Dan Moore. >> Uh, thank you. This first document does not require your approval. It's basically just our contingency summary for this project. You'll note that we've had a couple of change directives. We we had a $1,000
075change directive with regard to a no dollar limit for a warranty, 20-year warranty. And when we moved that train equipment for this project into general contingency, we paid for that. We had prepaid for that material. So those are the first two items. And then tonight we're discussing uh 3.1. But I'll be happy to answer any questions about this particular document before we move on to the approval of the change director. I think you're good. >> All right. So, this change directive involved several items at the prek uh renovation project. Um providing labor, materials, and equipment to prep and paint interior walls, doors, frames, and wooden window sills within phase one and phase two. Labor, materials, and equipment to patch and paint the existing wall penetrations after the dual temp water lines have been removed. Labor,
076materials, and equipment to excavate, form, and place the new continuous concrete base for the new EPUS wall. Labor and equipment to remove and dispose of all items associated with the existing fresh air unit above the ceiling between classrooms 414 and 415. labor materials and equipment to add 2.2 foot by two foot acral ceiling and grid in the new toilet identified as 413A to provide labor materials and equipment to replace the removed asbestous fiber panels 5 in drywall place the rotten wooden framing discovered behind the fiber panels and to replace the damaged ceiling grid ceiling tiles. All of these are conditions that are requested by the owner, by us for this project. While we're there, we want to be able to make these upgrades and make sure that when we're done, we've addressed all of the
077items. Total amount of this change request is $28,364.78. and I would seek your approval at this time or be happy to answer any questions that you may have. So, we're seeking an approval for $28,364.78. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Hearing no further questions. Uh I request a motion and a second uh for the change order directive for $28,364.78 at Balls Creek uh Pre Elementary School for the renovation project. >> I make a motion that we accept the change order. >> Hearing a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor show a raise of hand and Mr. Sigman verbal. We couldn't hear you, but it seemed like you said yes. >> I couldn't hear. Yes. >> I don't know which one was this thing. >> Thank you. >>
078That's unanimous for all board members in attendance. >> Next item is approval of request for HVAC replacement at Claremont Elementary School presented by Van Moore. >> Thank you. Again, this document is a general contingency summary. We've only had one U adjustment to this contingency summary at this point and that is where we added the value back into the project once we were able to pay for that train equipment. The amount uh that is listed is $19,134.15 and I'll be glad to speak to that if there's no other questions with regard to this summary. Hearing no questions, uh, I seek a motion and approval for change director of Claremont Elementary School HBAC renovation project. >> Make a motion we accept it. >> Hearing a motion in a second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, all
079those in favor shall raise a hand. Mr. Sigman verbal. >> Yes. >> That's unanimous for all board members in attendance. >> Thank you. >> Next is approval for request for HVAC replacement project at Maiden Middle School again by Mr. Dan Moore. >> This is a general contingency summary for this project. Uh you'll note that again replacing the value of purchased equipment being the first change directive. And tonight we're going to discuss two three and four. Uh, and if all of these change directives are met, we will still have a substantial amount of money remain complete this project. But I'll be happy to discuss any of that with you if you like. Hearing no further questions. Uh I receive I seek a an approval of motion and a second for the Maid Middle School uh HBAC
080project. >> I'll second hearing a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand. Mr. Sigman verbal. >> Yes. unanimous. Thank you, Mr. Moore. >> Thank you. >> Next is approval of proposed amendments for Kataba County Board of Education policies 7.1700 employee conflict of interest presented by Miss Crystal Davis you want to present. Okay. Tell them kind of the history. >> Okay. So, uh, Chairman Stomire, Dr. Stover, and members of the board. Um, so we have been speaking with the other Miss Davis, uh, regarding our employee conflict of interest policy. Um, it looks like this policy was revised last November. Um, has had several revisions. Um, upon executing a policy, sometimes tweaks are needed to be made. Um, first of all, we wanted to make
081sure with Miss Davis's help that our students um mental and or physical uh health care needs or medical needs are not hindered by this policy. Um, and that sometimes can take place depending on the providers and access that you have um for medical uh physical, mental, emotional needs for students. So, um she did make the revision of the policy to um have a concession there for that. Also, um the policy as it stands right now speaks to um a concession for immediate family. It defines immediate family. And so, first we want to make sure that the board knows it is very important um I know it's important to me, I know it's important to Dr. Stove, to the school district that we have integrity in our purchasing and our ethics. Um And so we want
082to make sure that no conflicts of interest um do really exist when it comes to using certain vendors um for certain things. However, um Kataba County Schools is the third largest employer in Kataba County. Um so when you're looking to use a vendor for any need at the school district level um at the district level um then you have um when you have immediate family as defined in the policy right now and it goes into um in-law relationships, brother um step relationships, those kind of things. it it becomes very challenging to find uh vendors in the county being the third largest employer that would um that would meet the definition and that we would be able to use. So um just personally in my experience being here a short period of time I know many
083principles have reached out with questions. There have been many vendors that we have not been able to use simply because they might be um in a have a step relationship or an in-law relationship with an employee here. although no real conflict exists. Um so I do believe as the policy stands it was creating somewhat of an undue burden on our schools. Um it also I think inadvertently I didn't intend to but pushed business out of the county >> um because if you can't find vendors in the county um that would meet the definition then you do have to look a little bit further out. So we were um not meeting two but spending a lot of our dollars outside the county. Also, sometimes it was a detriment to the school's budget. So, if there is
084a vendor in the county that may happen to be related to someone at a different school and no conflict of interest persists, but they want to help out our district, many of our vendors will do that um and offer a discount to our schools for whatever product they have, um they would not be able to use that vendor. Um so, it it did somewhat end up being a detriment to our schools trying to do the best they could with their money as well. Um and then also just kind of closer to home for me, it created some inequities with um the integrity of our vendor process. So um the policy as it stands um again when we are not allowed to use uh vendors who have that in-law relationship, they may be a cousin um
085or distant relation but but is defined in immediate family. Um for the finance department, we are only able to not use those vendors that we are aware of. Um, and so I do believe there are probably many vendors in Kataba County schools or excuse me in Kataba County um, employ people who own those businesses that have somewhat of a relationship with our employees here. We're just not aware of that. Um, so that makes it very hard to police and so it does create some inequities because again we're only able to enforce those that we are aware of. Um, so what we asked Miss Davis to do, we kind of worked on this, was to go back to the very original schoolboard association recommended policy. Um, and the schoolboard association defined it defined a conflict of
086interest and a direct benefit that someone would receive from a contract um, if the employee or his or her spouse does any of the following. So if the employee or their spouse has more than a 10% ownership um in the business or the ent entity that's a party to the contract or if they derive any income or commission directly from the contract or acquire property under the contract. Um and that that was the raw score schoolboard association policy. Um now I will also say that um you all we all have another policy uh policy um 6.4420 4420 that speaks to vendor lists and it does give Dr. Stover andor his designate the authority um to not include a vendor in our school district for a defined reason. So if we do feel like there is
087some type of um conflict that that is happening um something that may not pass the smell test as we like to say then Dr. is allowed to say, "No, I'm sorry. We're not going to be able to use that vendor because, you know, just something's not right." Um, so we do want to maintain integrity in the purchasing process, but we also want to make sure that by doing that, we're not putting an undue burden on our schools. Um, because they they do um when they look for products and services, they get bids, they get quotes. Um, so if someone happens to be related to someone across the county, this is going to allow them the freedom um, as long as no conflict exists to use that vendor. Um, so that's kind of the back backstory
088of the revisions of the policy and she she can give you more information on that. So, this originated, of course, the policy that was in place before uh November 25th, 2024 was indeed the updated version of the North Carolina School Boards Association policy. And unfortunately, Carla had exper Carla Aldridge had experienced some pretty specific issues relating to um vendors taking an taking opportun to um to sell to schools, students and community um whose whose family was on the sports coaching teams. And um Carla actually asked me um several times about this revision. um she actually asked to for me to define what u immediate family was and other policies and then requested a policy change in November in November of 2024. So that's the why come of why that policy change was made. It was
089a direct request from our finance officer at the time. Um I did make some changes to make this a little more readable. Um if you'll see that in a u when um Miss Davis actually said that she wanted the um she would prefer that the immediate family section be removed. It didn't read real well as far as an employee shall not do any of the following with subsection five. So I just changed took out the immediate family references that she objected to and then changed if you'll see in a one two three four and five in policy 7.170 just beginning each sentence with an employee shall not so that that's clear and then section five is where we um that was the request of Miss Thompson um where we um we think it So, well,
090Miss Davis, sorry, put it so well that um we want to make sure that we're meeting both students and employees medical um and mental health needs. And that's employees as well. Um and it because of the large um size of hospitals and medical practices, it would be impossible to vet um all of that. So um that's that's the why come in number five. There is still a provision that's up to the board about employees um uh not engaging in or having excuse me u an employee shall not engage in or have gained or derived a financial interest in selling goods or services to the board directly or indirectly and shall not engage in or have a financial interested directly or indirectly in any activity that conflicts with their duties. So that's specific to the employee.
091Not even that. Number five is not in the recommended North Carolina School Boards Association uh policy. That is something that's been particular that was particular to Kataba County Schools. It is rewarded and that information in number five is added. Um, as far as the um medical medical services and educational services to students, any questions about that? That's just my my addended background. >> So, why are all the other school districts in North Carolina that use this? >> I don't know. in there for a specific reason. >> Um it's been um again as far as the the provision in there with regard to employment and vendor contracts with the board or except for employment and vendor contracts with the board that are approved by the board and which provide educational and medical services to students. Um
092an employee shall not engage in or gain or financial interest that's been in place since um believe Sandre Wolf was here. Um we actually had an employee at the time who was selling keyboards to the school system and um he was an employee and was also had a piano business and was selling um keyboards. And so not only was he selling the school system, but the prices were higher than So Sandra Wolf at that time felt the need and recommended that that provision be in there. It has been I did reward it because we needed to put the exception in that Miss Thomas. So I don't know about other school systems. I know it's not in the school board's policy but there's a lot of policies we have things that are not in the school
093association policy. Does that does all that make sense to you guys? You have any other questions of me or guess why why are we why did we not make these changes? Well, I did. Miss Thompson, >> this is based off the North Carolina Schoolboard Association policy. >> Well, uh, we did have it in place. Um, this North Carolina School Boards Association policy was added to we added to it in November. And that was at the request of Miss Aldridge. So we took that out now at the request of administration in the states and then added in making sure there was an exception for employment and vendor contracts that are with the board that are approved by and I can give a few examples if it if it helps of um the the before and after
094maybe as it was as I understand it um there there were there was some activity as as Miss Davis said before prior that maybe had led Miss Miller to to want the restrictions. Um, since I have been here, I know that we have one employee who wanted to use a company um to do some rental chair rentals at their school. Um, and they were going to use this company. Actually, two schools had used this company in the past um and were told that they couldn't use this company because they were a sister of another employee. Now, they're grown adults, separate households. this person who's an employee with us his, you know, derives no benefit from anyone in the school system using his sister's company and he himself does not use his sister's company because he
095feels it as if it would create somewhat of a conflict, appearance of conflict. Um, but someone across the county couldn't use them for that reason. Um, we also had someone who was a part-time employee, so they weren't even fully benefited with us. Um, worked 20 hours a week. Um, their growing adult daughter had a company and no one in the school district can use that company because of this part-time 20-hour a week um tutor. So, um it it just kind of creates uh it some handcuffs to our schools. um when I first came, I went out to visit with our principles and um unprompted several mentioned this policy to me um just how restrictive it had been. Um I guess since the revisions were in place and then since then I've had two or three
096different ones reach out to me, different scenarios, needed a special piece of equipment worked on. one dealership in the county works on that piece of equipment, took that piece of equipment, and when they went to fill out the vendor form, they're the in-law of someone who works for Kataba County Schools, so they couldn't do business with them. So, um, just running into oddities like that, um, that kind of make it restrictive for our schools. So, that that's the reason for for my request, if that helps at all. >> Something like that. We not do a soul source. >> Well, technically they're not soul source because you can go outside the county. I mean, there are other people who do it. Um, it's just not convenient. It might be more expensive. Um, and it's not located
097in Kataba County, but but you can find other vendors that do it. inve it's up to the board and I mean honestly I have Any suggestions? I mean, y'all want to keep it? Any suggestions about reing? If you don't want to keep it, that's your wanted to make it clear that we have that I mean, Miss Davis has used the term vendor contracts. They're also independent contractors as part of a vendor contract. So for example, if we had as I'm not familiar with those, but if we had adult daughters Okay. And so one of the things originally brought that That's why contact by the board service. This is clarify. I mean, I personally would like more time to think on this. It's up to the board. >> How do y'all feel about that? >> I
098have a question. So, you're specifically calling out educational and medical services. Is there is there a situation that that is so I I guess I don't I guess I don't understand the question the the issue um with approving that um if it's if it's to make sure that our kids are going to get make sure that they have what they need medically and mentally I didn't say I wouldn't prove it. I just like some time to think on it because why are just well I don't know if it's just us. Why why are we just using this very specific language in our policy? Why would other school boarders not say, "Hey, that's a good idea. Why don't the the state put that in there or the North Carolina School Board Associations add it in theirs?"
099I was just I was just going to call around and look around online and see what other school systems might be using a specific language like this because it seems very targeted. Why the state wouldn't go ahead and say something or why the North Carolina School Boards Association wouldn't go ahead and say something like this seems kind of odd. That would just give me time to to do my research. medical and um healthcare. >> Thank you. >> Uh so we'll need a motion and all that to table that >> motion. >> All right. So I'd like to I mean I request a motion to table this until uh our August meeting to give us time to read through this and kind of compare policies from other school districts. I need a motion and a second
100on that. I'll second. >> Having a motion, a second. Is there further discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor of tableabling until August meeting show of hand and verbal. Mr. Sigma. >> Yes. >> That's uh unanimous for all those uh in attendance. Chairman Smire, if you don't mind, I just would uh want to tell the board too. You're going to see these SPG2134s on there and that was part of uh the board's goals. Earlier I was telling Chairman Settlemire, I neglected to tell you that earlier and I apologize. Um excuse me. That um that's part of the board's goals to align their agendas to the strategic plan. And so we put those on there for you so you could see how that your agenda relates directly to our strategic plan. Thank you. >> Thank
101you, Dr. Staver. Uh, next on the agenda is approval of North Carolina School Boards Association parliamentary procedures. Uh, we got Mr. Mullis actually uh got with Miss uh our board secretary, Miss Wetszel, and we had a couple of options here. One is Adam Miller, the staff attorney at the uh North Carolina School Boards Association. Another is uh an attorney, Jim Slaughter, a certified professional parliamentarian. Um the quote we got from the staff attorney at the Northtown School Board Association was estimated total cost of $983.80 80 cent and that's for roughly 75 to 90 minutes of training plus roundtrip expenses uh for that training and the outright attorney Mr. Slaughterers was a $2,500 flat rate fee. Seems to me that we should probably go with Adam Miller from the North Training. Are there any further questions,
102comments about this? All right, hearing none. I seek a motion in the second to approve Adam Miller, the staff attorney with the North provide uh parliamentary procedures and Robert's rule of training for the Kata County uh board of education work session for September 22nd, 2025. >> I'll make a motion that we accept Adam Miller as a second. Hearing a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor shall raise a hand. Purple. >> Yes. >> That's unanimous for allending board members. >> Okay. We do have a need to go into close session for personnel reasons and real estate. >> I need a motion to go into close session. >> A second. >> Have a motion to second. Uh is there any further discussion? All those in favor shall raise
103a hand. >> Yes, >> that's unanimous. Turn at 10 after 8. Close session. there. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? Show of hands. That's unan unanimous by all present board members. Uh as far as item number 14, the added uh car wash. Uh we are going to table this for the near future. All those in I need a motion and a second to table. >> A second. >> All those in favor shall raise a hand. That's unanimous by all present board members. Um next motion is to adjourn uh the top county boards of education meeting for July 28th, 2025. >> I make a motion we adjourn. I've got a motion to second. Any further discussion hearing? None. All those in favor shall raise hand. This meeting is ajourned.