Board Meeting 3/2/26

001Miss Terres Calhoun >> present. >> Miss Polly Jones >> present. >> Miss Diane Eldren >> present. >> Josh Roen present. And Miss Janet Ward absent for this meeting on there. We'll start first with the pledge of allegiance. So let's stand together. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. So I come in the United Church pray. We've got approval of the agenda. Anybody have any items there? So, I sent you all an email about a hole in the parking lot at my high school, and I put it on there if you approve it at the very end of the um amended agenda. Um we had, of course, holes in our parking lot all

002over and patched them. But on Friday, it was brought to uh Jody's attention of a pretty significant hole. And when you see the pictures that are attached, it's significant. So, we'd like to get that taken care of. Number six under action. >> I have concern about a program that we're using as uh in our mental health program. I've been impacted by a lot of folks and you'd like to discuss that is called anytime. Um could we add that discussion to the >> anytime? I've never heard >> anytime. Is that not the name of it? It's some kind of program we're using. >> I may have my name. Hang on just a minute. I'm sorry. Oh, I'm sorry. Alongside. Why did I think it alongside and you started with an A? Can you what questions do

003you have about it? So we I wouldn't be prepared for any conversation that we have. >> It uses a chat bot bot mental health thing and some parents are very concerned because it was not an opt in, it's opt out and we had some folks that had a hard time opting out and they're concerned that we'd have a chatbot in fourth and fifth grade. So I get what you is it just the chatbot I mean >> well I think that's the big problem is the chatbot and I have been researching as I've tried to do on our AI policies and the state policy says that we should not have chat box in elementary school that it should start later any chatbot it specifically addresses chat GPT for students until they're It's pretty specific about those

004guidelines. And so >> happy to speak with you about the program. It's within the app. Um, and it is the responses are from a clinical psychologist. Um, and we're notified about any alarming things just like we would with gaggle or say something as well. But >> I'd be happy to speak with you about that. I think Jamie, it's more than it's a chatbot, but it's in the mental health realm and there's a lot of >> So, can you have the parents contact us and then we'll we'll be happy to sit down and talk with you about it. >> They're reluctant to do so. They're very reluctant. They're afraid their children will be targeted >> based on I don't know. >> I do not care. >> Yeah, that's not >> Well, I will have them. Um,

005there were some other parents who were supposed to come speak to that today and they cannot come. They didn't get in in the conversation in time. They wanted to come speak about it today as well. But >> can you have them call it? >> I mean, it's not something that they don't have to do, but I mean, they don't have to do it. >> It's not loaded automatically on the Chromebook. They have to access it on their own. >> I think the problem is the fact they had to opt out of >> and we have had several that did that and you get an email and I get a copy of it immediately. Well, I am concerned as a board member that we're having a chatbot. >> That's not what the whole program is. That's

006a portion of it. >> It is, but I am concerned that that is available to children in the mental health area, especially when it is against the um guidelines for the state on AI. >> It it's not, but I'll be happy to talk to you about that. But I'll be happy to talk about >> I think we have some opportunity to get the information. >> We're ready either way prepared for that. >> I think it's I mean I think they need some more time to answer any questions that are out there versus us trying to >> for them to scramble and >> but I don't know if we can answer all the questions without all of it here. I wasn't prepared for that today. >> Has the parents tried to reach out to Dr. Cox

007or anybody? Um I think she said one of them said that they had tried and Dr. Cox was not available. I'm not sure that she said what she um wanted but um I think I'm supposed to get some more information from her if I would like have her to reach out to share any information. >> How many parents are you talking about? >> I've talked to five different ones that are very concerned of them. I didn't know anything about it. Why would I go to them? >> It has been brought up. It hasn't been brought up to me. >> So, D have them to me. I'm happy to get all the information on it. And then again, um especially with Jamie, and I'll help her get it together, too. and then um we can bring

008you information at the next board meeting so you're um fully informed on exactly what it what it's available and um how how it's being used and what the intent is. I would like to have that information for me as well because I'm very concerned about us doing those chat bots and there is some legislation out there right now. Some um actually some suing going on >> about chat bots in the mental health area that have encouraged students to commit suicide. I'm not saying this program does that, Jamie. I'm not saying that at all. But I am concerned. I went online. I looked at this program. Um, it's pretty benign except for that, you know, that chatbot. I do not like that. And it and I've gone over the guidelines repeatedly. It is not suggested that

009we do chat bots for any age group that young and I'm very concerned. >> Well, if we can get it worked out, maybe have it for discussion. >> Yeah. >> Updates at next April meeting >> on there. >> Okay. That might give everybody more of opportunity to be prepared. >> Jamie, bring us a report. I'd like to see it on paper. >> I'd like for us to go online and look at it as well. >> How long has it been? >> 2023. >> 23 >> and I think this year just went down to fourth grade. >> It had been mixed and it started a portion of it for fourth grade. >> Got this. Got. >> So we'll have that for next month. >> Sure. on there kind of have that way all the information. Not

010hearing anything else. I'll take a motion to approve the amended agenda heading number six for that hole in the parking. >> Do I have a motion? >> I make a motion that we accept the agenda the way it is. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions, comments? All in favor, raise your hand. motion. Now we got work session, Miss Amanda, but we'll let you talk. >> These years just keep flying by. It just seems like we just give this work through this process. There we go again. The submissions were due in late January and we pulled all together and of course we had one due to weather but the yellow sheet is culmination of all those requests have some good news on the very first house request.

011So excuse me Amanda a little bit louder. Okay. Yeah. Grab the thing the one behind you get it for you. Put it on there. I don't have a teacher voice, I guess. >> I mean, you'll have to get really close to it. >> Okay. You need closer now. Okay. The very first request in high school was a position. It was the teacher assistant position or interventionist position for the heel. um they thought that program has been very successful and they were going to lose their funding. The project start grant was going to expire January 30th or 26. Dr. Mo and Julie and myself wrote for an extension on that and we get that grant for one more year. So we can strike that one and not have to worry about it at this time. >>

012So it be extended for next school year. >> It will itire June 30th of 27. So we do it one more year. So he'll probably bring it back to us again next year unless you know we have a windfall of money or something. High school second request was the capital. Um it was a cafeteria update. You know the tables in there I think have been in there since we built the school and they're they're difficult to maneuver for them to clean. Um they also use that space for a lot of different things. So, they'd like some tables that they can move around a little bit easier to set up like different areas to have whole meetings and professional developments and staff meetings where they break out in smaller groups. Um, it probably is time to

013replace those. And then the there's this is three-part request. need some gates to um block off the kitchen because as you know unless a cafeteria person is on on site nobody's supposed to be in the in the kitchen that that is not one of our rules that is um well it's OSHA it is um health department because you know the general public is not trained in Cleveland is um and then the third thing was dividers so he could have some separate space to do different projects. >> If that was supposed to be with OSHA, it was supposed to be there. Why haven't we had him in there? >> Well, OSHA, it might when I say that I say have a cafeteria person on staff once somebody's in there and people just kind of wander into

014the kitchen. And >> so the dividers aren't required by OSHA if that's what dividers are not required, but that would make it easier to be able to block off the gate. the gate, I'm sorry, the gate aren't required, but it would be easier to block off that space. So, you don't have people that wander back there um whenever they're utilizing the cafeteria space. >> So, I want to picture in my head. I know the to go into the kitchen, there's a door. >> So, I'm going into the we'll call it the buffet >> area. Are you talking about closing that off? >> Right where the hat registers are. >> So, where the tiles change, it would block that area. Somebody couldn't get back. >> Okay. I Okay, that makes you >> have orange cones up

015there. >> No, that won't stop anybody. >> I think some of the other schools already have those. >> So, in the Google document that you had um these, right, the pictures of the stuff. So, that's what the gate looks like. >> Oh, okay. >> Like what they have going down that hallway. >> That's right. That got access to the top. >> Yeah. Amanda, >> is that under the computer's not working? I did have a question on there, Amanda. Okay. >> On the rationale. >> Yes. >> The tables were purchased in 1992. School didn't open till 1999. >> That's probably transferred from the other site. >> See, we transferred a lot of furniture from other schools. >> I know my class. A lot of their furniture is >> the booths were new. >> Honestly, I was

016gonna say the booths are bolted in >> and we brought up the table thing before. Those are pretty sturdy tables. Um, >> but they're talking here about getting rid of the booths. >> He's of everything. What's he want to replace it with? I did not I did not get them. >> That's what it says. >> I sent that on February 19th. >> Yeah. I can resend it to you. >> Let me see if I can find it. >> I'm having trouble with my email, too. >> I can understand, >> but the tables are >> But I can understand them wanting it to look the same, too. >> Yeah. Those boots are hard to get in >> and it's hard to get enough people in them as well. Well, and then you have different sized people

017that are not as uh the booths are not friendly too. >> Unfortunately, kids are bigger now than they care department. >> I mean, I never have seen there, but possibilities. I think they'd be able to use the space better with >> with something different, you know, >> and I think that, you know, we have to make all of our spaces more functional. >> So, that the cafeteria updates that dollar amount. What does that include? >> That includes the tables, the gates, and the dividers. And it has a little bit of um you get a little bit for inflation because you know things are going up every month, >> especially with steel and some of those bigger pieces like that. >> Now, how long is this stuff like warranty for? Like is there a long live

018shelf on it? >> Usually things like that are uh you know just warranty usually. We have another gate right there next to where you walk back and we've not come in here. It's not had any issues, but um I would I would support Justin on that recommendation. >> One year. >> I do think it and it is it is cumbersome to clean so it it doesn't make an impact on the flooring space and how much time you have to spend in there. I think that making it easier to get in there. would be would be good for staff and students all the way around because if it's not clean students don't want to go back over there do a good job of cleaning that >> we talking about the fold up >> I don't remember

019exactly what included on this so I don't want to speak outside of my lane too much but I do tell I do remember having a conversation where he was talking about the benches I think the benches are tough to clean around and again the access pieces and again what Josh was saying it would be nice to have something that you can move so you can clean up like the other ones That's I don't want to speak too much out of it, but I did help me get the quotes for the gates, but I do think the benches would be a nice piece for the high school to have, especially as we're going forward with the middle school, they'll come out of the middle school into the high school. You have some pieces that translate. >>

020There's 12. >> Can I ask you a question? >> When you move the middle, what's going to what kind of floor is going to be under them? They going to mess mess up the whole floor and you have to relo. Uh, I think we think we can find a coating. We can do something with you. >> I didn't know. I figured out >> that big. I don't know. Yeah, those are really cumbersome to move. Like it takes a >> pretty good lift. >> That's a well used space and it's kind of like that's the part that's not so >> not user friendly. >> No, the OCS kids used to clean the cafeteria and we used to have to try to move stuff around and it's really hard. But my thing is they're probably sturdier than

021anything we can buy even if they are old. What does our capital look like now, Amanda? That >> say, our capital >> 600. >> Yes, I have I can get you a more exact number because the number that's showing on the audit has still has a portion of the turf field in it and um something else in it that is not really part of our money. So the 600,000 capital, that's what we get to spend. That's what So that's the fund balance. >> That's the fund balance. So that the county gives us $200,000 typically every year to do projects. >> Okay. Um a portion of that goes to the schools as an allocation. Um so for them to purchase what they need if they need a bumper or mower. Um, originally it was set up

022that the a lotment was supposed to be in a do a classroom of furniture, but it's not. >> It's never been. >> Yeah. Um, that was the intent of it. as schools a as schools age um that cost is really heavy to to replace things and we end up um >> well I had 30,000 in place equipment that breaks a million >> and that was gone in the first two months this year >> just so that I know what's the number that we're trying to stay under can you say >> so today's >> this is just >> the purpose of the day is decide what we're going to take to the commissioners. >> Gotcha. >> And then when they give us our number, we go back in the summer or fall. >> Last year it

023was a little late, but >> we eventually got there. >> Gotcha. >> Yeah. >> Um so today's purpose is to decide what we're going to take to the commissioners. >> Gotcha. Okay. >> What are we going to do with these tables? If we buy new tables, can we sell those things? >> Do we get anything out of them? We actually do way better on gun deals than we do to the old surplus sales. >> Yeah. Okay. >> It's >> Yeah. Because there's somebody who really needs something to match something else or they can't find or they use it for parts. >> Yeah. And it goes >> It's statewide. Well, actually regionally, right? >> We get something. >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. >> Okay. >> We usually do our right in there. So, How good's worth

024the cost? >> Yeah. >> Are we going to vote in each one individually as we go and just pass on to the next one? >> I would like that. >> Well, personally, I can see doing that. I mean, I'm in favor of it. I got the rest of it. So, I'll just make started so we can move on. I'd say >> I mean what they've got works right now. I'm not knocking that they need new. I like the new idea and the concept of the use of the space because I know we were there for the early graduation for the reception in there. Nobody sat in the booths. >> They can uncomfortable. >> No. So, you know, but >> in the scheme of things, that's a lot. >> That's one of the baker budget items.

025I see the kitchen especially cut off, but I don't know. Could they just do the booths and not all these round tables that they've got on here? So, it's showing a bunch of four top round tables in there because the other sides chairs and tables just >> Could we do it in bits and pieces? Like I had the round tables this year and then next year when we have extra monies. I mean, >> well, they're replacing the round the booths with the long tables according to this. if that's laid out the same. But >> whatever you do, you need to do it all one time because you probably don't match next time. >> Well, you could. I see that. >> Could we pull out the gates and the dividers and leave the furniture for next

026year? Course we did that last year. >> Well, the gates wasn't that bad. I don't >> I would take it to see what happens. I mean, >> I mean, you never know which project they're going they're going to take a liking to and >> you can take it to them. see what they say. There'll be them bad ones. I'm kidding. >> I don't disagree with it. But >> no, >> but that is >> and if they give us a certain dollar amount, >> we know that this one may be a lower priority for us, right? >> We take care of the other things first. >> So, let's do that. Do we have to make a motion on that? >> Notually everybody's good with that. >> Is everybody good? the high school's final request was some

027part-time help um in the office. We know the high school is a very busy place. It's uh traffic is is crazy in there, but um they're having a hard time keeping keeping everything up with that right now. So, they're looking at somebody that would be on the front and then they can give some other duties. Um, we have one person in the office that has 170 hours of calm time because they're being pulled to either filling in on the front or you know phones and that's a lot in call time when you have to start paying that out. >> My concern was that we have Mountain View who their enrollment has boomed this year and right now that what they're around 520 something back, right? >> No, they have >> Yes, it's close for that.

028Plus, they're doing the early college stuff and they only have the one >> They're doing college stuff. >> I mean, early learning center, excuse me. They're doing the early learning center paperwork and stuff. >> They're not doing lunch count and all that stuff or any of that. We call the numbers in and when they fix the lunch and send it back over to >> but they're not doing any other paperwork for the early learning. They do the payroll but it's 10 people so it's not >> well >> I mean their numbers >> scope of things >> um they've been asking for help for a while now because their population is very I don't know individual >> they haven't privatized our listings got a dump trailer >> correct >> but I think though they have four

029full-time employees up there that works right the office >> that's still in >> I could see that they could divide the help a little bit more maybe cuz >> typically we don't bring personnel here because we've got a an a different pot of funds you know that this comes out of usually state funds. We try not to put so much on local from a personnel standpoint because we're already carrying teachers and teacher assistants and custodians and other things in that local pot. So, um anyway, but at as we lose students because they're not people aren't having babies as as much as they did before >> and their numbers are going down. >> Numbers everywhere are going down except for Mountain View. Um, but in general, our kindergarten population coming in is not usually the same

030as the high school students that we graduate in the end. Um, we're we're continuing to do that. And I'm not saying it's not needed because it's hard to run a high school, period. There's a lot of work in a high school. There are people in and out every single class, period, all the time, answering the phones. It's not easy. Um they lost more administrative support than anybody over the time even before Dr. >> the high school. >> Yes. >> How' they lose? >> We added an extra >> well I mean assistant principal we've added >> support is what I'm talking >> I was going to say but an assistant principal they've had that same amount since I've been here long ago if that is the case. >> But their enrollment is dropping. So, here's what

031you're talking about. >> They all support. They would help um Miss Gibson with data management. They would help Justine with some of the payroll pieces. They could help um when the person is out then you automatically have a feeling that person you it it's just tough schools. But then they let somebody go like last year or so and then moved a couple people around because they didn't have the position or the work for that position. >> We had some people quit because they were adding to their positions. >> That's what I meant. Okay. Yeah. >> I'd like to see Mountain View get some more help, too. I think it's very difficult for them to even get a lunch break sometimes. I >> think the difference in the piece is is there's so much going on

032at high school with athletics just just getting the deposit ready from a gate from a big football night. we talk in two or three hours is and she has payroll >> bookkeeping and and purchases and so it's one less person they have to pull to do front desk and the and if you've ever sat in the high school it the phone rings constantly >> but they have students that come up there and work during the day >> but that's an issue >> but you still have to have an adult there even when you have students >> but they could actually help answer phones and stuff like that >> correct but there's physically not someone there at some points in times and there are things that kids just aren't going to handle. >> So, >> I'm

033just D. I don't know about M, but I just think those funds could be used in other places. >> My opinion. >> I mean, this is you're all choice what you want to take to the >> correct. >> Let me let me ask you a question. If we ask for money for that, could we include some other things as well? I mean, that we could maybe give Mountain View a part-time person. >> So, these are just the school requests. >> School requests. These are just the school requests that are essentially coming to you all. So that was not a priority of Mountain View when these requests came through. I've really there may be something else that they have that's a different priority and I and that's what I'd like to fall back on so that

034they have the say which would be the principal. >> I don't think he turned it on. >> Well, I mean nobody nobody is going but he didn't ask for it. >> I mean we went through this. >> He didn't ask for it. Several years ago, nobody would ask for nothing. So, we told them to ask for it. Then they did. >> That's right. >> And then, so now they should know. >> We we met individually with every principal >> um with every principal and director that has any kind of request and um you we talk them through it. And there are other things they need, but that wasn't one of them that was expressed to us. And typically we handle personnel within the a lotments that we have. Um you know you know we could

035argue that everybody needs more hands on debt. >> Can I go back to a question about what you said? You said when somebody's got days >> time hours. So how much does that cost that for a year half year? That was that was what that person has earned over the last probably year above and beyond for 40 hours a week. Of course, that would equal the salary here, but it would be a whole lot aggravating. >> Well, and it's nice when they can take the time off, but unfortunately when you're tight, it's hard to take the time off whenever. So, I know it's hard. I mean, that's a yearly number, >> right? It's just a four hour a day. >> That's why I was wondering. It can't be much for a year. >> Do they

036have somebody that's willing to do that? >> It's hard to find anybody to work. >> I don't He had somebody in mind, but it'll have to go out. >> Yeah, we'll have to We can't just put somebody there. We'd have to But I didn't know if they had So, you'd have to hire somebody from outside to come. Yeah, you have to post it when you I think we could use funds other places, but it's up to you all. >> You want to keep going and come back to that one? >> Yes, I think >> I think we need Let's Let's make a decision. We can't look how long we've been here on two things. >> Seriously, you're sleeping. >> Oh, no. I'm reading the attachment. That is the third. So, it sounds like the low

037on the totem pole for the request on there. If we had to make a decision now, I'd say hold it and not right now. If you're want to do it that way or come back to it if we see once we go through everything, put it back. But that's up to you. >> If we don't ask for it, we won't have it. >> I'm saying today by the end of the week done here. >> We can we afford to pay for that position? Well, we're going to ask for it in a request. >> But can we afford it? Well, if we get the money for it, we don't we don't have that magic ball to find out. We don't ask, you won't get it. >> Well, that's right. I get I agree. But then I

038had a one tell me that they didn't put nothing in because they'd never get it. So, I had one person tell me that. So, it's like, you know, well, again, we but we've also had others that they could put something in, repeat, repeat, repeat, and then finally get it. So, it just depends on what they value. you know, if they've been doing it long enough without something, they tend not to do that, you know, because >> people figure things out. I have Well, >> if you want to go, go. If you're not, then let's go. >> So, is that a no or >> I don't have a problem asking for it, but I'm hope you know >> if you ask for it, then we can, >> you know. >> So, if they approve it, do

039we have it say so later than where funds go? >> So, here's what'll happen. and they'll give us a dollar amount that they bring it back every once in a while. They will say, "Hey, I will fund your playground in addition to% that we come >> and and so more than likely personnel and things like that, they don't usually even entertain. They figure you can do it within >> but they might fund a cafeteria table or they might fund something else on." >> So, do they write down what that money has to go to? It depends on the year. It depends on the >> I mean, we can submit it and then maybe if we could have it somewhere else, >> it will it will come back to sign on again. >> Yeah. At the

040end of it, you're going to have to decide whether or not that's what you >> Okay, let's just send it and move on. >> Okay. >> That good. >> Leave it. >> Yeah. >> I mean, it'll be a long meeting. >> I think we're good to go. >> Okay. middle school. Um, she had a couple of requests, but I was able to find one out one out of this year's money. So, the only thing we're bringing to take to the commissioners if they need a projector for the gyms. >> Is this movable to the new school? as they send it on to. >> Can we get a projector that will be for that huge space? >> They they put a quote in there for one. >> That's a huge space to try to project to.

041>> I'm assuming they have figure out what they need. I'd say both things. That's that's dropping the bucket. >> Tell Alison to add it to her list of things. >> Listen, we've got a whole list of things that you've been back and forth on the middle of school. So, >> thank you whoever sent out my water. >> Laminators is a laminator. They have one, but it's think maintenance has been down there and repaired it multiple times and it's just >> and they use it quite often. >> It's all interesting. >> Yeah, they do. >> They love it. >> They like things. >> Well, and they love to save things too, so they don't have to repeat. >> I know Mr. has not requested this, but one thing I have been hearing from the community and

042from a personal viewpoint, that bank, and I think I mentioned it to Jody the other day, that bank out there across the field is full of multifllora, rose, poison oak, and ticks. And we need to get that fixed because it needs to be um the kids lose their balls out there and they go to get them and they're in the weeds, they're in the thorns, they're in whatever. And I know of a couple of cases of um poison oak that got pretty severe last year from kids just retrieving the balls. Is there, you know, I know they've not asked that, but is there um I'm pretty sure I can get some community people in there to do that, but we need to get that landscaped and fixed where the kids are not in danger for

043>> But he didn't he didn't ask for it. >> No, he didn't. >> So, let's just stick with what he asked. >> Okay. >> I mean, you have to go with what they submitted. So from if you can was that request from >> No, it was my request. I I had to go out there one day and some kid was crawling through the the Brumbles trying to find the ball that they kicked out at PE out of there. >> A fence, whatever. But there's a big bank there that is very >> Pardon me. >> She thought she said electric fence. >> That was funny. >> Not electric, but fencing would be fine. There's very the fencing did not go on that side for some reason, but it's it's you know it could be cleaned up

044and put um mulch and other plants in there and um the community we do not have a PTO over there right now and so you know they would do a whole lot but I can get the community to do that if we can get some agreement that it needs to be done. >> Well, let's stick to this >> but stick with what they submitted. So Diane, if you if you want to call me with with what that is and where and exactly. Uh okay, we can look into it. I can, you know, look into it differently. Um but we've not had that request come to us at all. >> Is it a community group that's using it that's having the issue? It's um well not so much but we only have one ball out there.

045Um but it's the um >> is it sports are playing >> when they go to recess and they are out there playing then the balls go into that area. I bet you will find 50 or 60 when that's cleaned up out there. They're losing their classroom balls in that because you have to go through the multifloor roads. You have to go through the poison oak and that area is laden with ticks. If you just even walk out through there, you can you better be checking your pants. Make sure you got all the ticks off. So, it's J. Have you looked at that area? >> Yeah. Got a couple options. Don't I don't have my current budget to tell you anything about it, but we can talk Dr. Cox and I've been talking mainly Mitchell about

046just talking about options. So, something that I've looked through. I've not gotten your numbers efficient efficiently officially yet, but that's something that we can look at. I think fencing is an area lean towards because you didn't have to up the face of it. And if you look at the fencing we did at the middle school with the netting there, that that turned out pretty nice from Bin. That's something we hope to do, but that will be a part of when it's when it's timely appropriate. So if you send it to me, Diane, we can look at it. I like I said, he doesn't have it in his budget now is what what he says. And of course, it hasn't >> Yeah, it's not been a priority from the school. >> All right. So, let's talk

047to the laminator. Do we want to go ahead and submit that in? >> I'm fine with the laminator. >> It's over 10 years old. >> The laminator, are you okay with that? >> Yeah. And some of these things may be things that at the end of the year maybe some things that we can take care of, but these are all the requests that have come in from the school. >> Yeah, we're still a little far out to project Yeah. what the rest of the year is going to be exactly. >> Okay. >> But >> okay, go ahead and send that >> view under $1,500. Jody's able to take care of that out of the budget. Um, so with that on the left, the 6x12 dump trailer for them and used mountain do all those pine

048trees. They are constantly draw and they're having to clean that mess up. >> So they really need the dump trailer. They have to use to >> clean that area. >> And they use it for other things, you know, mostly mulch. And have they never had one effect? Did they have? >> Not that I know of. >> I don't remember it. Yeah, that's all they asked for. >> That's it. So, I guess it >> Are they cutting the pond now? >> Well, they're doing some generic clean up, not anything. Chainsaw screen. >> Hope something to do. >> There is, but there is constant debris that lays on the ground back there. and just logistically where they're at with their shed on the hill, moving stuffing back and forth from the shed on the hill would be

049a good good asset for them to have with with the kind of setup they have with their the distance from their shop to run the property. >> All right. Do you want to go ahead and send that one through? >> I think so. >> That's all they ask for. >> All right, we'll go with anybody local. Okay, that's the only thing I just noticed the company was out of Lexington, but if there is somebody local that could order one of those, it would be nice for this. >> Okay, thank you. >> I asked her, why don't you get hot? >> Okay, I'll turn it down. >> I'll have to take my sweater off. We don't want that. My apology stay >> my fault. >> Yeah, >> the Westwood. Um, he is needing replace one of

050his mowers. It's been in and out of the truck and we're spending a fortune on repairs on it. So, it is probably time for that to go to the rest home. storage building, huh? Well, >> he's got he also has shel containers. If you'll if you've got your documents pulled up, you can finally Okay. Number 32. >> Well, I say yes to the mower because it says they're doing increased repair costs and frequent downtime, which is manpower time, interruption to routine grounds maintenance. But I can see getting a lawn where y'all can debate the next one if you want to. >> Well, I tell you what, a building's not worth much if it doesn't have the shelving and stuff to come with it. >> We've tried that. >> What is this? Storage building shelving. >>

051Do they have a shelter there? Our building? >> No, this will be for the building and the shel. >> So, they don't have nothing there. >> Okay. He has got if we approve it, he has got somebody that has volunteered the grading for the building. >> Where where would they put it? >> He hasn't changed. It looks like he's going to put it toward the school board kind of on the back side. >> Um Westwood, you know, not sure. I walk back there more often than I want. got pretty good across the little drain runouts, but approximately in the school like closer to the school side. Yeah. >> In the back side. Yeah. >> Yeah. Makes more sense if he's storing what he's storing in there to be closer to the building. >> Yeah, I

052think. >> Yeah. >> Well, we talked to it was a fire code issue with fire rating of the building. There's a code issue there. So he did want to go, but that wasn't an option. Rating on the building. It doesn't meet that close. >> There's a note at the top of this with $3,000 more dollars. Is that not included in the quote? >> It is. When you add them together, I just saw the note. >> Yeah. >> I kept looking at the quote and not seeing that at the time. >> But on the big spreadsheet, it's the full amount. >> Yeah. Yeah. All right. >> If that's what they need that for. >> I mean, if you've got those salt, they're storing stuff in here. I tell they got this is the smallest amount of

053things it's ever been as far as the I don't know. >> Everybody good with those? >> Okay, I'll go to the next one. Early College Learning Center had three quiz. The first being flooring the two classrooms and we're kind of piecing their flooring together a little bit each year. This is in the therapy area, isn't it, Terry? >> Yes. Therapy room and what in our itinerary classroom where um parents bring in um for services. Man, that carpet needs to go >> and we can use public school building repair renovation. That's a project that if you all are okay with we can just go >> forward and get that lined up for the summer because it's it's our money. >> Carpet multiple elementary schools trying to get rid of carpet in classrooms. How long you thinking

054carpet's been there? >> 50 years. >> Probably not that long. I don't think it's original. >> Yeah, the dollar amount actually Dr. Cox can approve, but we wanted to bring it. >> Go ahead and do it. >> I mean, these are the requests and we're bringing them to you. Some of the others like we could approve requests if we had the funding for it. So, this next request, I'm probably going to have to rely on Terry a little bit to help me with this one. Um, NC PreK is running in a hole. We've found a way to cover them for this year. The problem is public school does not get the same rate that private childare gets. And then the other piece of that is private child care does not have to pay on the

055state teacher scale like we have to pay. So we're hit with cost that the private hit with. We've been very fortunate um that we've been able to break even for a lot of years, but it's come to the point now where salaries have increased, but our rate has not with the general assembly that we're out of balance. So, the rate is $496 is what we get per child and private industry >> 719 per child. And so that's how we pay for NC3K. That's what >> that's how we pay for. >> And then we do have title one that that covers two TAs, three TAs at the early learning center. And there's some supplies. Yeah. Some costs >> as as um SF funds says you have to use title one 25% to be able to pay

056for prek. That's why it pays for three um TAS. And that's federal rules. >> And the other thing is that if we have if we fill a classroom of 18, which is always our goal, and we always are either at 18 or 17, somewhere around there 16 to 18, 18 still does not pay for a full-time teacher at this point because benefits and salaries have gone up. We say in 14 years, I think we got $26 for a kid in 14 years of um doing this job. I noticed today when I was reading up there that there were weren't near as many kids as even two years ago. >> 16 but that's indication of our whole population. Um so but even 18 does not will not fulfill a um teacher salary benefits at this point

057in time. >> And so what what's also in jeopardy in some of this? You know, we we were really um intentional opening a classroom at Blige Elementary School. I think it's important for kids not to have to travel that young, that far into town um for prek. And we've also been able to get a number of students there and 16 >> and there are 16 students there, but we're losing money on that classroom every month. Um which is unfortunate and we want to do it because it's right. it's right for our families. We need it. Um, however, um, it's money we don't have at this point in time, even though we're trying to be helpful to the rest of our community and to our children. Um, it's one of those things that, um, it at

058some point in time, um, we're going to have to make some hard choices about about uh, prek because we can't keep losing money that we don't have. our developmental pay and our private pay is not losing money because you can charge market price which even though we're still lower than every all the other sites when we charge our private pay we also get 1350 for developmental delay kids um in that classroom. So that that classroom doesn't lose any money. It's the 496 that is killing us as far as making sure that we can pay for four teachers and um one assistant. That's what we're having to pay for. Four teachers and one is super because title one pays for the other three. And we don't if you lose a class then you have a waiting

059list because there's there's enough in every class even if they're not full or 16. Um has 16 and other class other classrooms have um 16 or 17. But um so if you cut a class and you try to put those kids in there, we can't go past 18. So then you're on a waiting list. So you're kind of in a stuck between a rock and a hard place or you >> and it's not like we have places in the community that even accept the kids because we're we're spread equally throughout. I mean so it's a significant need. So, two things. One, not just this funding, which would be immediate, but we really need to um talk with our legislators about what this um what impact this is having on our communities. And really, the uh

060the rate just needs to increase um for schools. They've always said, "Well, schools have other resources and therefore it's not costing as much >> other private sites, >> but private sites >> and we're K12 and you can't use K12 funds." Correct. >> Prepaid. >> So that's why we have to use local funds and my peers around us are in the same predicament. Some of them are much more in the hole than we are. And um they're giving up S3K classrooms in their because they just simply can't afford it. and and those I mean they're asking us just recently for a survey of um if we can um if we have waiting lists because other people are getting waiting list because the schools are giving up their insecure case sites because they can't afford them. >>

061They still have to have some kind of learning issue. We accept them now or can we accept any >> we can for SC prek accept um four different ways. First one is income of course then they can have a developmental delay. They can have um um a medical condition that's diagnosed by the doctor and they have to say a certain thing and the certain thing is is that it's real. It could possibly impair their learning and then military if they're active military um in the last um year they can begin. >> So these are at risk kids to start with. Well, personally, I don't think we can go wrong getting them off to the start and and uh having a daughter that pays daycare for two children. We're just waiting on the day that Bodie

062will be four and we can get him into some kind of prek program. Uh maybe um it's very expensive for families to do this. We can provide at least some of their families this kind of relief and we need to do it. Um what h Okay, never mind. >> We have been um actively let um contacting legislation for this increase. We've been informed as of last week when we had our meeting that nothing will change for next year, but we can continue doing hitting legislation to try to make it change. I know Dr. Cox has sent several um texts and emails um to um get this amount. It's the attendance all based on each child. So, I don't know how they come up with per site you get X amount of dollars. Head Start gets

063450 per >> they get less than we do. >> Less than that. >> Yeah. >> Wow. >> They get how much? >> 420. Yeah. 420. >> Do you have an idea how many kids be coming in through dollar screening this year? >> Well, our numbers just went up. Um, we are up to about 75 on the list. Um we still have um another um week to get through a point. We usually like them at about 90 um during this this per push because then we always at least get 25 to 30 more um afterwards. I think that you know where they've missed it. We get them from our files March 16th through the 19th and then we'll probably get about 25 framework and we do everything. I mean we tell them exactly what that that

064they have any type of medical note so that we can um try to get anybody and everybody um that deserves it and needs the qualifications but it's state dictated so it's got any children at your churches or by August 30 >> I think we're sounds like we're good with that >> give me applications Nothing. >> I need a mower. >> Okay. So, learning center mower because again like this just aged and it's causing a lot of down time on maintenance and know the grounds there are a little >> they're a little tough. So, what's the difference in the mowers? We got one that's 9,761. We got one at 16,000. >> Go down the hill. >> Yeah, there's a >> either that or you'll >> It's the mower that we're at comparable to the high school

065has um bought a year ago or two years ago. Um And that is exact it's it's not the exact model that we had that's lasted um 14 15 years. >> Yeah. >> Um but it because they don't make that model. This is the model that's comparable to the one that we had about 14 years ago. >> It's not a zeroturn. >> No, >> you wouldn't want one on that bank. Lord knows. >> I've tried it. It don't work. >> Don't give any ideas. What happened to your hair? >> Yeah. All right. So, do we want to go ahead and send this one through? >> Does Eddie do them? >> And so does some of the maintenance when he's out. They come over and help unless come over and help him. So, got a cool nickname.

066>> Good with that. Thanks. Thank you. >> So middle school of course hasn't requested anything. He's just holding off till it gets to the school. I think um years two years the high school has um requested lighting. They have found a different vendor that is much more um economically a lot more economically. Yeah, it's it's a way different than what we presented last year. >> Look, you can see your your documents. He has quotes in there that are broke out. Again, this is a project that we could take in parts. We don't have to take it all at one time. >> I could see the dome and the gym floor covering. Well, I was going I talk about the dome. >> I was going to talk ask about the dome. I don't >> Oh, go

067ahead. It is pitiful the dome. Have you been through it lately? >> Yeah. >> Um some of the I had to go into Wendy's the other day and uh some of the baseball players went there and they were talking about it wasn't even big enough that they have to do it in shifts and how cold it was in there and it's really bad. Um >> I agree with that. If we're going to be competitive at all in our climate, we'll have to provide a place for those kids to get ready. And I don't see it being I see it being necessary if we're going to participate in spring sports myself, you know. And it's still not the it's not a Taj Mahal by any means. >> I don't think the dome was designed for that

068for it wasn't at all. Not at all. It belong to the bus. >> How long ago? >> Not years. >> It's not been that long. >> When you >> goes by quickly, doesn't >> Let's go back to lighting. >> I'm still against the lighting. the lighting is working and I'm I'm still not I would rather use that money. Other places like the early learning center or somewhere else we have other needs. I just think that's a um an icing when we need the cake. So, I just I'm just against it, especially $518,000. >> I agree with Diane on that one. I mean, if we were having issues with the lighting perhaps, but u they're in the dark. Thank >> it's too late. >> Oh, that's true, too. >> But I understand the covering the floor

069covering of the dome. >> How's that softball feel over there? Is that Does it get I mean it's the farthest out. It would be It would get darker and need more lighting than anything. It seems to me like since it's over there so far, but maybe they don't play at that time of day, but they need it. I don't know. >> They use pretty good lighting. They use a lot of lighting. >> To me, that would be the start there and come this way >> on the the football field gets used more than any other field. And it's used by the community. It's used by um several different sports, band, um soccer, football, cheerleading. So, I mean that that gets your heaviest use because people are going to the stadium. Um, baseball, softball. Um, absolutely.

070I mean, they could all use more lighting. >> Um, you there's some areas that um are not lit currently. So, you know, there's some blind spots, you know, from a safety issue, but >> you said the community. A few years ago when we tried to get uh um we thought about a new project project graduation out at the football field the blind spots where I need the lighting to get lighting but >> I could see security lighting before I could lighting on the field and I think the security lights back in some of those areas would be sufficient. >> How much would just security lighting be on the football field? >> I have no idea. You know, >> is this the is this the lighting that makes the makes them blink and all that stuff

071when you play the music and all that? >> Any of that in there? >> That's what they asked for. >> So, this is a different vendor. Did you get your Google open? >> Um, yeah, but I'm not there. Hang on. >> I don't know. My numbers aren't driving on that one. >> Mine aren't either. I just I just >> it's still showing the football field at on the attachment instead of 278. >> Maybe we should ask for one and build one each year. >> That's why she mentioned it. >> If we don't ask, we don't get. The longer you wait to do some of this stuff, the more expensive it's going to become. >> This was before. >> So translating is what you were doing floor covering. I don't pay that much attention to it.

072>> It's it's down to maybe getting another um >> Well, this is just the art of for graduation. They're like patching it together. >> Is it the only time? How many times a year do they use it >> graduation? Like >> do they do they use it for the blood drives and those things too? Every time there's an event that covers push down and again that cover 25% >> I guess >> I think we the school was first >> veterans day program they put it down for that any event >> anytime that we have tables and chairs down on the gym floor >> but that's what's going to save your floor >> enough to cause damage to the gym floor that's the problem you don't want damage to the gym floor >> he said this

073before he had the tennis You have to add the tennis court to >> the football66 on the front page. Is that what you said you couldn't come back to? >> No. When I scroll through that attachment he's got, it's got it broke down. >> The football >> and the football is 425 instead of 278. >> Baseball and softball are baseball's just 405 by itself. >> Let me pull. He had two attachments. The other one without tennis. Let me see this one, right? >> Nothing. The tennis on here is 255. >> You want this one? >> See, that's why I'm asking football with show light entertainment. >> I think that's whole accent like >> Oh, yeah. So, the the first electric is the one he wants to go with, not >> there. There are different quotes

074in there. There a whole bunch of different he doesn't want to use last year's quote. Yes. So is that the last? >> So that's not the one. >> Oh, well that bottom one's dated February 28th, 2024, >> right? >> So it's that is the old. So those are >> usually asking to get multiple quotes. So >> we reduce only to use the new >> I like his practice better but still are you talking about the baseball the four of us? >> Oh >> but still that's long. >> Yeah that's long. What is this? $216,000. >> That's what I'm talking about too. >> Retrofit. We've not include the stamped electric drawings. $216,827. >> I'm just not finding the same numbers. >> No. >> So, let's see. total description here. >> Well, we're just missing 60,000 something.

075That's >> the total cost of the stadium is 27 $278,827. >> Yes. For football play >> $278,87. >> Yeah, that's far far less than what it was last year. Um, I'm still I still think that's a ridiculous number for that when we don't need it. >> Sorry. I know you'd like to have it. >> I think it could be. >> We have a lovely football field. We should light it up. >> Well, it's lit up. There's nothing wrong with the lights. >> I would be in favor of putting some security lights in some of those areas back near the concession stand. >> And that would be probably >> Yes, I agree with that. >> But the different kind of lighting, it's security lighting. >> It is pretty dark back there. >> Where do you stand,

076Josh? Oh, no. I'm trying I'm trying still trying to get them to ch um >> so numbers. >> Yeah. I mean, I like the numbers better than last year. >> Um on their I know when they look at that lump sum, they'll say no. >> Um I could see breaking it out if he knew which is the most in disrepair that you could send. >> If there's a way to break it out, >> at a time. >> Yeah. which it is the most used and the most >> the most used in the community. It makes sense to do them first. >> They have a way to show what savings we get. >> What probably would be taken into point if you start splitting it out the price will increase because of set up they so

077that can control. I just like that to be said. >> Gotcha. to be aware that logistics they will hit you with. So we will lose the quote will probably go up I don't know 10 to 30% >> because you're >> because they're because they're going to set up >> tear down each time which I don't I don't I mean I help Ryan with some numbers on the dome a little bit recommended the same kind of thing on a smaller scope but on the large scope it's it's a tough thing to swallow. So, I'm not pushing one way or another, but I'm just saying. >> No, I understand. >> Keep that in mind as we try, you know, find ways to be successful. So, >> you've got that expertise. So, I appreciate that. >> There's coming

078down the mountain. >> Yeah. >> I just have a feeling they're going to say no matter what. Um I think >> I said we just do the covering and the done the floor. >> we send all that >> and for everyone to do it this is the time to do it because a lot of places in here has no request because CTE no request it request >> but the early college don't have none either and they could use some funds other places too. question. >> I would just say that we could use the 500 different >> if we're ever going to do it. This would be the time to go. >> But that's capital, right? >> Two different funds. This is These are capital funds. >> But I'm I'm >> say no, but that's me.

079You all have to. >> Okay. Would that include any security lighting at near the concession stand in that back? >> Again, I have to work with Brian on part of it to see what see what his goal is to try to do this. I didn't give you a quoting on on a field light. So, I'm not sure what that piece, but I did help him get some lighting within the dome. So, I think that would be a different way of looking at it because that'd be pulling off different brightness. that kind of set the setup would be different because you're pulling much smaller lighting versus what they have at the uh at the stadium fields. I mean those bulge >> and Blue Ridge Energies can do that, right? >> But then >> they can do

080the security lights. >> You'll be paying for them all year versus turning them on when you've got an event, turn them off when you don't. >> Oh, do you? >> Yeah, I pay for those for mine. >> Aren't there some that you can turn off? Well, you can put a photo cell on it. I mean, it'll cut off when daylight. >> Yeah, but I mean, you pay for that every day. >> Yeah, it'll come on every night. >> Oh, well, maybe maybe it should. >> But then there's another thing. It's like where we've asked them to ask for requests. We don't know what they need until they request it. And we don't get an opportunity to ask for it unless we ask for it. So, you know, you can ask for it and then we

081get what we get and decide from there. This is a future request every day. This is a third less than a million. It wasn't a million dollar. >> So there there's another thing to consider. So in in two years we're going to have the middle school done and they're going to have great lighting at the middle school field. >> That's two more years though. >> It is. However, um I don't know that we want those requests to coincide with each other. You know what I mean? Being >> it's not not included in our package. it it should be included in the package, but soon as they have it and the high school doesn't, it's going, you know, it is going to look different at the high school and people, you know, people, it'll be something

082that people notice because you're going to have a great facility and then you're going to have one that doesn't look as great even with a new field because of the lighting. So, it's just something to consider um you know, as you're thinking forward about um you know, the fields themselves. We're not going to have a football field up there, right? >> No, there will not be. But I mean from baseball, softball, you know, the other sports, you know, their theirs is going to look brand new. >> Um because it will be so >> I don't know what it would hurt to ask. I mean, you don't >> But it's also showing where we could use other funds in other areas. were not being very cautious about the funding, >> but this is the lowest like

083Paulie said of anybody that's ever >> Well, what about some other areas and >> Well, they not asked. >> They didn't. Nobody asked. They're not asking. >> That is true. >> But they said they had been turned down. So, some just didn't want to ask. >> Well, you don't get if you don't ask. >> Hey, you have that. >> You didn't ask for anything. You >> I don't know why people so afraid to ask or talk >> question. I tried to listen to every request anybody has ever had is form. I don't know why they'd be afraid to come. >> Agreed. Ask >> for my maintenance lens. I've told this is our first year through it, but I always say I've told every principal to ask for it if they needed to ask for it

084or you know man has found other ways to get some. >> It's better to look ahead than to be >> reactive to something when it breaks. >> I've lived through that buildings that I've had. You never know when a car will run. They can't get to any of the prepaint >> because fixing things. >> Are we still talking about lighting or other things? >> But are they just going to laugh at us when they see this desk? >> I just I I just I don't I wouldn't send it, but it's up to you all. I just stated where I stand. So it's up to you all you guys. >> So do we lighting versus one? >> Can you do that? hold and probably counterpart that with some of my requests that we had. I think

085there'll be less savings just being transparent on what to make with LED conversion that I've had, but there will be some savings now at the price at 500 20,000. I I don't know. >> It's it's it's not it's not you can't >> I mean I don't think our light bills are are that great. I mean, I'm hoping to have savings otherwise I can share some we get to that part of my list. So, >> you said the live bill. How much is that bill? >> Do you know over the fields? >> Depends on the field >> like the field area. >> I don't know about fields around 10 to 12,000 a month. >> 10 to 12 a month. >> That's secure. A lot of that security, right? >> It's a lot more than that at

086high school. It's probably 20 to 20. Yeah, I was going to say at least a couple. >> 20,000. It's a lot for that school. >> Possibly. No. >> Yeah. Yeah. High school run around 20,000 more. >> I can see them thinking this is a frivolous request. They still haven't repaid for the FEMA stuff that they've spent. There's lots of things still. the county or >> the county has not >> that it'll be ours come in in waves too. So we got our first reimbursement in January. That's why it's critical keep a fund balance because we've got it floated. So then >> there's a lot of things going on in all you know I can see tableabling it but still letting them know it's out there down the road. I mean, there's still the option of

087breaking it up, but like Joe said, that's going to have other costs to it. >> Can we send it through, but on the record saying that I didn't want it to go through? >> I don't either. I don't want it to go through either. I just >> I mean, can we do I mean, I'm fine with it going through, but I just want to state that I'm not for it. If I can do that, >> I think we need to stick together as a board. We're either doing or >> Yeah, I think it's either yes or no. >> I didn't know if we could do that for notes. >> Well, and there are four people too. It's going to be a tie, which means it does not go forward. >> Yeah. Stalled. >> You know,

088>> if we had all kinds of money and everything was just absolutely wonderful. I would love to all of these requests, >> but if we don't ask this signal, I mean, if we ask for it, maybe commissioners would be more apt to give it to us knowing that we need it. >> Are they most of them are sports fans, aren't they? >> Are they going to consider this a need for a lot? >> This hurricane's throwed it all. >> You made a good point with the hurricane part. So I mean >> I mean they're still paying for stuff and and then got some projects that have to be done. So you've got FEMA on your off then too waiting pay and >> I mean it'll FEMA will be a constant will they be paying for

089the next five years or say years >> probably more than that >> and and we ours are small compared to other districts to the county in general they deal with trees and other >> Mr. Coach Hampton fine with waiting another year on that to bring it to them because I don't know. I don't know if this is the best year to bring that big budget line item. >> I will tell you this, he is going to have to bring the gym floor total replacement because it can only be sanded down one more year, one more time too thin >> to do any more work to it. And that replace will be a significant amount. >> How much would that cost us? included that we may look at a gym floor at Mountain View, too. I

090don't feel like be transparent. I don't think the state has done a great job of setting us up for success. I had some of these conversations and I hate that I have to point the finger, but DPI said they would help us with this facility assessment survey with long-term planning on what's going from our facilities. And I and they don't have it and we've got a broken It's broken apart in a really hard readable format, but we need to bring that to you guys so you can start seeing some of these bigger ticket items so you can make the most logical decision. >> That would be a good idea. >> And we actually had it in the fall like had them come out and assess with us in the fall and >> it's been done

091for months months and I'm I mean personally I'm just frustrated with because important information that our leaders need to know to make these wise decisions and it's just really kind of stalled from the state. Um, I'm pick some things out of the mind, but I think it's not fair to just pick what's in my mind is what's most important. I think it's give you the report, let it digest. Let's talk about the top tier items. I mean, I can I mean, I can tell you some things that are at that dollar amount or above that I don't have requested now, but we would like to request in the future. >> Correct. that are at the high school that are and maybe you know how do we find funding for that and there's other ways and

092man sports that great I just you know I don't think this is an easy answer and I'm not saying do or don't do it because I think there's a pros and cons or wins and you know opportunities >> I'm looking ahead if the if the gym floor has to be replaced after next year then if we ask for lighting which is maybe a want instead of a need. I'm just thinking like they think I think it's a a wall myself. Then what are they going to say if we ask for a gym floor? >> Well, we have to have gyms to play on and it's not going to be >> gym floor would have to be a need. It would be need absolutely a need and I'm not sure how much a gym floor would

093cost. >> So a new sub floor and maple gym flooring is $380,000. M. >> So that's another real big >> and that's two schools we're talking about. Mountain View and >> this is just the high school. I know but what I'm saying and we need one at Mountain View. We need one at the high school. >> Mountain View is not >> as dangerous as the high school floor would be because Mountain View is a more of a composite floor, right? >> That's correct. But I'd still say there's some risk with the way wear and tear of that floor. >> I'm sure I'm just go away from the composite floor. I think they're >> but I think that's more um >> that's for later on. >> And then you also have the early learning center gym.

094That's >> Anyway, I mean that's yet another one that our community uses a lot for different things, not just our schools. >> Are they are they having any problems with >> things upcoming? I mean, is it shorting out? Is it unreliable? Is it >> okay this year? And I came March of last, you know, about ready to hit my >> I mean, we made it through football season. >> So, I made I didn't see any issues during football season. Now, I know there's pretty strong when they kick those things off and on. >> I know there's there's some conversations that have gone around that, but this is just a rebur. I didn't again. >> Yeah, I think they're using the same poll in the past. Well, I wish the state would um pass the budget

095>> and I wish they would support the schools like they need to do. >> I don't want to get off on that be will have to have her sleeping bag if they get started on that. >> Sanded last year. >> How long is a sanding? Well, you know, we could just leave it hanging. But, you know, usually until you ask usually does that for us. You know, different different vendors depending on price. >> Do you think the floor last time maybe? >> Yeah. Well, they've got a vested interest. >> You need to do the dome and the flooring and let the lighting go. >> That's what I said, but >> I'm with I'm with Theresa on that one. >> All right. Let it be on >> that lot of talk and >> it's not doesn't

096mean it'll go through. >> I know we several um issues with that. >> No, we're not taking it through. We're going to take Jim for say we'd be giving you that money. you can ask. >> So, we have a request from student services um for a vehicle for the social workers. They're using our fleet cars right now, which are not really made to go up in the hallways and hills to check on children. And I think we have one that's really high up off the ground. We do have an opportunity. We have talked to Scott Rub. They're not using their Highlander. The staff is the staff struggles to use it because it was Jennifer's car and Scott struggles to use it because it was Jennifer's car. So we have asked him if we could purchase

097that from him, you know, at a fair market value because it was school money that purchased it and use that vehicle for the social workers. And they, you know, they they're delivering food. They're picking up kids and taking them to school. They're they are constantly on the road. is every morning they're coming to get a fleet car key just to go make sure the baby gets to school. >> So we' had to buy it from >> So each school has their own >> they purchase their the vehicle the principal drives and purchase with school funds they have raised their sale. >> Okay, gotcha. Can we not just assign that one all-whe drive vehicle to the >> which all drive? It says there's one. >> It's a Subaru though and it's so low on the ground

098when they >> don't clear. >> They really need something that's dedicated to them as much as they go. >> Oh, let's send it through and see what they say. >> Okay, we've got more than one. I mean, we have more than one person doing that. Yes, we have two social workers. So, >> they Well, you know, if you transfer a child, two people have to go anyway. Okay. >> You can't you can't employ can't transfer a child. >> Well, I said take the school counselor. But we did notice after or something. >> Yeah. Sro I go. Whoever can go, we go. But we did notice last year after the road maintenance and stuff, there were just areas that were had always not been good roads and now are terrible. um >> they just have a

099hard time getting there and we're doing a lot of food delivery and child pickups and those things. >> And I think Jennifer would be proud that that's what we were using it for because I remember a tale of her going to pick up a child and she literally had to climb up the tree to get the child out of the tree to get into school. So if you Jennifer, you know that was >> Yeah, the kids were always first for her. >> Well, how much is the new How much does this How many miles does this one have on it? >> I can't find anything on the Huh? >> 127,000. >> 127. >> I'm sorry. I see another vehicle. 87,000. >> 87. That's not bad at all. And that's a Toyota. >> Yeah. And that

100was the fair market value actually around 18 >> um >> I thought it was higher. >> This all came about after we have >> okay good >> worked on this. So I think that much or if you you all are okay with it if we come up with some money at the end of the year could I go ahead and refund Westwood for it? I mean that's >> absolutely >> okay. I think so. >> I think so. Yeah. >> Good use of that. >> Yeah. >> So, we'll send this on through. >> Aren't we going to get math books? >> Well, they pushed up the adoption date. So, we're not going to until they decide what the standards are. >> That's funny to think about. I know we've all laughed about it. >> It's ironic.

101It's just the way they're operating makes it funny. Not that that's funny, but it's just >> one good thing is they are they are planning as of now to keep the standards for 10 years rather than just follow and that will prolong our usage of whatever we buy because they know people can but also it allows us to get to know the standards before they flip them >> because really you didn't get five years. you would go into a revision year at the third year >> and then uh all the surveys and looking for things. So I do I think every every CAO is happy that they're going to keep them a little longer. >> That's the plan is the last >> I think they can keep some of this even longer than that. They

102weren't so reaching for the big shiny things. just me >> and if they can integrate the standards. >> Absolutely. >> You know, I've read something that um some of the questions in math were on a fourth grade reading level, but it was on it's a second grade class. Math class. >> Yeah. >> Somebody that >> Yeah, the textbook publishers. Yeah. >> So, we'll wait for that. But that's gonna be major. >> Okay. Support services. >> It is. It is time to get a different vehicle for Dr. Cox. Hers is >> It was new to me to her. Yeah. It wasn't >> It was not a new vehicle when it was purchased. >> It um >> What year is it? >> It was a It was a used It was a used vehicle. have a whole

103>> It didn't have a whole lot of miles on it, but it was a >> It was kind of like a >> Was it a demo? >> A demo or something like that. >> I mean, it's been it's it's been fun, but it's >> I the other day and I was I wouldn't go off the mountain in it, but it's a little braver than I am, but >> Exactly. How many miles does it have? There's >> It's like 106,000. >> It's about 106,000. car. I worry about you out there, >> which you know, I've driven vehicles for a lot longer than 106,000. But I think we have a use in the district. >> We do have a use in the district >> so that we can switch it, it's fine to drive around here, but

104if you're going to Raleigh or having to go to Greensboro or having to go off the mountain for anything, those are um >> We went off the mountain that one time. The break was a little >> Yeah. Well, it's it's been a lot of things like that. Yeah, she was had it last week. It's got a little she accelerates. It's got a little hesitation going on. So, >> which is a transmission more than likely. >> If that's the case, I am just saying >> it we won't be able but the little old bread subwe that we have used and used. It finally blew up >> Two weeks ago. So, that was being used transport food to the early learning center and learning through play. So, if we could repurpose her old car to for child

105nutrition to use, then that would take care of that need and it would be fine for running back and forth between Mountain View and Early. >> It's big enough. >> It is big enough. >> Big enough cuz they were forester. >> Okay. >> It's about the same. >> They use the all-wheel drive. >> Oh, we'll try. >> Yeah. >> What kind of vehicle did you have in mind? >> Well, she didn't. I put this record. She wouldn't put it on there. >> I wouldn't put it on there. >> What'd you pick out, Amanda? >> I didn't pick out anything. Um, you know, you'll just have to see what's available. We need to look at state contract and see what's on state contract. Jody actually beat state contract by going to a dealership. So, >> may,

106you know, it's just she's not a BMW. I promise. I feel weird driving a BMW. >> So, do we want to go ahead and send this one through? >> Toyota. >> Good luck with that. >> Thank you. >> Hybrid. >> I wouldn't go electric. >> No. I I not get a new rail or new Highlander. They're um hybrid. >> Hybrid. Well, that's okay. There's no infrastructure full electric. >> No. Well, the I'm not feel excited about buying a battery. The battery is very expensive. >> Okay. So, we're to maintenance. Both his request for public school building and renovation funds. He can speak to them better than I can. I can't talk for the maintenance language. But the first one is the sewer repairs. You know, we've had some struggles um with that system and >>

107don't get me started. >> That is very frustrating, but um this should take care of a lot of the problem. So, Jerry, you want to speak on it? >> Yeah. The vault that's close to the school was corroded and really needs to be replaced. It's time for this would include also replacement of the media bed and camera to see what any longterm repairs that would need to be done. Doesn't look like there was anything that needed done. But that vault needs to be replaced. >> Um, >> can we not replace the whole thing? >> That would be that push us into like a million dollars or more things like that. >> The bugs at Blue Ridge are horrible. Um, you know, the nets are ungodly. um the smell um just the whole system is just

108not what I would like for our public school system. But somebody made that decision long before me but um for us there's no way we can get that that's a much bigger ticket. I don't like to look at some options like that by now. I think month two I walked into the plumbing that one in that space which kind of nerve because again that's waste so we need to be able to handle it appropriately. So we have it up and running but we need to be able to make sure the space is safe and the bulb needs to be replaced. Um the bed needs to be replaced that may or may not help with the smell. uh just rain hitting badge any any septic system. I mean I I grew up running on the greenway

109in Boone, you know, every time you run past there, it's >> that was many pounds ago, but I did run that. But yeah, I mean um uh because we're >> so uh I don't know if that's going to be what we're going to win with, but I do know the system itself is isn't at light and we really need to do some work on that. >> What can we do about the gnats? >> About the what >> the gnats the bugs that it generates. Um >> I can look into some stuff that maybe we can treat over there. Um, but this this would be a that would be a maintenance thing and I can handle into like I maybe incorporate with with the team over there or just figure out what we can spray. I

110can do some research on it and see if that's makes it more manageable. >> It's much worse there than it is any other field in the county and I've been on a mall but it's just so bad there. Um, so would you all like if we take this part of it, but really get a bigger quote on the whole thing for you? I mean, obviously it's far more than what we could handle out of the public school building and renovations, but if we're going to bandaid it, um, >> this is this is >> this is a replacement. >> This is a refurbish of the space. Basically, we're going to refurbish the space, you know, reconstruct the vault since so not to get into too much. The waste runs out of the school into one vault

111>> and then it's separated in two separate vaults. >> Yes. >> Okay. So then it's held like the the water waste and then um >> Solid waste. Solid waste is caught in the first vault and the second ball is called the water and that's what's running through the ball that the water is that really needs to be replaced. And we're talking like after time and time the lid on it is starting to wear through it. And I don't like the idea of having to put a fence around it. You can see them walking over there to fall through the vault just because we have, you know, because that's that that could be a potential in the future. I don't think it's there right now, but I already have a fence up there. I don't want

112to spend $15,000 on on a fence to block that whole area off and then just wait and go back and replace it. So, I think it's the time to do that. Um I mean, this town doesn't have a a waistline out there. We would tie into that. So, that's kind of part of where we're at with natural gas, too. >> There no um >> Yeah. So, that's kind of one of those things that this this may be the only option to have a system like this the way it's set up. >> I think the last time I checked, we were the only public school in North Carolina that had this kind of a sewer system. >> Surprising. >> Yeah. So, I have a question then, Jody. So, does the solid waste fault does not need

113replaced? >> I don't think it's corroded on in the lid the same way as the um water waste. And it's odd. It's just the where the tree fall and the water and the rain acid rain has hit that and it's just the corner of it, but it is it's completely almost rounded off at that point. >> And you know, if you have a two or 4 inch block and it's rounded off that much, it's not going to be that much longer before you can see inside of it. >> And yeah, I mean, you got kids that run around those spaces. So again, we we need to make sure that space is safe. Um, >> yeah, >> I think this is a pretty I think this is a smart move for us in the right direction

114until we see more utilities go that direction. I would love to have natural gas out there so we wouldn't have had to spend on all that money on that buller the water heater, excuse me, that was spent out there. >> So, we have quotes on this already for the $71,146. It would come out of public school building and um and uh renovation funds which both Josh and the county has to sign off on and being 71,000 you guys would have to approve it. Can we move it? Sounds like something more urgent than some of the others. >> Well, I mean it would be nice to spot this summer to do some work out there, but again I have to I have to time it with some schools that will be won't be using bathrooms. So

115if this is the case, what I what my point is is we don't even have to take it to the commissioners other than for a signature. We have the funds in the public school building and renovations fund to utilize it. So it would be nice once they spec it, we'll bring it back to you for approval beyond this. >> It works and that way we can get it. >> That way you'll know >> and we know and then we'll know if it's bigger than that if the other needs to be um replaced as well. Sounds good. >> The second request we have is a high school pump system upgrade. >> Yes. So the on the CTE side, it's understand it's been talked about for a while. Um and we run we're running pretty risk with

116all that pipe corrosion on there. We need to we need to redesign the pipe that's in that heat space underneath where their coolers are sitting um to make sure I mean it's leaking right now. It's going to be a m it's a matter of time where we're going to come in and ask for a mechanical vendor to repipe a section because something's broke loose or we're going to fix it. So um it's it's been mandated for years and it's in a really poor design right now and these and the part of this will be incorporated with JCI who is our BASville and automated systems controls. So that controls you can you can log in the web and then there will be some energy efficiency pieces that will win a little bit with this too. you

117can control it better the way it's designed now. And it's really, you know, being that it's in a retrofit in the building, it's in a really bad spot to try and work on it. You have to climb up on set of scaffolding to get to these seven different pumps that are layered up in the air about 10 or 12 feet. So to work on pumps that they go quite go down quite often. Actually, I think five of the seven went down within the first seven months that I was here. So, they're going down. So, we're having to pull pumps out of there already. Um, the pump got with, but the piping is is in need of change and we we would like to do that. That's that's a that's going to be a need. I

118mean, it's going to run into it. You know, we're going to get caught replacing one pipe here and there and it's not enough. It's going to cost a lot more. >> All right. Okay. So, do we want to go ahead and send that first? >> Is that the same way with money there for that? >> Oh, okay. Yeah. >> Yeah. Go ahead. But can we try first if it's something that we can take to uh and use it out of that pot of funds. We do that for before we bring it to the commissioners. So, we try to use other sources of funding rather than our local sources. >> Gotcha. key machine. >> The key machine. So, the one he has is is pretty old and we're still making a lot of keys. >> Well,

119I know where to come now. >> Do you guys actually make keys? >> Oh, yeah. >> We do. And is aged. And unfortunately, we waste money more often than I like to >> because of because of the key machine we have. It just doesn't cut a true key. >> And knowing we're going into the middle school, it'll have some keys. Um, but we continue to cut keys. I'd rather cut keys that we know because key boxes are not new keys boxes are not cheap. They're, you know,$1 $150 for a box keys and you just throw that money out all the time. Um, so I'd rather not waste keys on a back cut when you're talking about, you know, a $25 key every time you cut it. >> Go ahead and send that. >> So most

120but most of our system works on a keypad, right? Well, it's a hybrid. I mean, we we we would always default to the manual key in case that, you know, our down, but we do have key fob system. >> Yeah. >> The people that need keys have key. >> Yeah. >> When that goes down. >> Yeah. And you and you you always want a key >> in case the power goes down. >> For sure. The fire department has to have a key, too. Thank you. >> And they have FBS and keys, I think. >> Okay. >> All right. Everybody good with that? >> In the greater scheme of things, that's not a big deal. >> LED request of LED lights for the high school start the conversion there. We've done pieces and portions across the

121county of LED lights. Um, it is a good investment as far as getting our energy costs lower. So, where are these all the interior lights or just some of them? All of them at the high school. >> I would say that I called the Alageney County's director and Alageney High School did theirs for 194,000. >> Schools was last. >> Yes. >> How'd that happen? >> Because we priced it. >> They just a company that's >> Yeah. I think they they went with another company that bogged a lot of other work into it. So they there's some increasing the price and I think the way we st it >> I mean I >> we're buying the bulbs with that price out of our end. They have a solid resial with the vendor and then we found

122a electrician that well quoted them replacement per light almost $20 cheaper per light than other vendor which I still think's a a good price. I think it was around 31 to $33 a light but I think it's you know fair market. >> What other schools need still to be converted? Uh, well, I I haven't got a great list of where we're at in all the schools, but we've done some of them since I've been here. We we've created we've converted all the hallways at Westwood and one of the classrooms and then some of the other schools have already been done per classroom. Um, so it's not been this like suite of schools. I've looked at it is our biggest utility bills right now are the high school and Westwood. So, I'll try to try to

123look at finding savings there. Um, again, I mean, I don't want to overshare and promise something that's not true, but the same company that's worked with Caligi said there was $31,000 in savings first year when switching from LED. Now, I'm not saying we'll give that, but if we were to save $20,000 in savings, >> I mean, for three years, it would pay for a sale. I think that's kind of a hard >> a better light, >> a hard thing to turn away from. Um >> I did I did modify one piece of it like in the commons. We'll pull out those UV lights and just go with a flat panel light. Those U shape lights in there are just nightmar. So we'll save maintenance and utility maintenance cost too. >> So the little one's like

124in a hand. >> It's it's Well, this one's a little different. It's like a y along the U and it's the way it's wired. You can't figure out what was hot not. So if you put in the wrong way, you burn it up. You're done. >> So I just we're just going to stop doing that. >> I found out the hard way. When you wire the hot and cold together and you put it back, it don't work. >> This will be done at night. >> So that's got money for that, too. And then um finally, so we always take the benefits increase to the county and it's, you know, honestly going to savings, they give us a percent. That's usually how it works. But I do take it because they need to know what we're

125up against as far as the benefits increase. The retirement rate, it's crazy. It's a quarter of a salary. So it it's just who who does this involved? >> Everybody everybody. >> Well, it's local mainly and then little dollar a lotments that we're already short in like non-instructional support which is office support and custodians. >> Um our 027 our teacher assistance. >> Who is office support? >> Secretary's the secretar's invoke. >> Yes. Okay. Um well, most all of the dollar a lotments are underfunded. >> And so all that's in local. >> Yes. >> So yeah, when you run out of money in the state, where you going to go to get it? You got to go to local. >> Help me here. I'm trying to understand and I get confused all the time about which fund

126everybody comes out of. So at the CO I call still call it CO the support services who how how much does the state pay and how much are we >> right now $600,000 >> so it's a a money amount not a position amount >> in the central office. So it is a mixed mixed funding for central office >> and then some it depends like Jamie and Harry are both out of different pots of funding. Um, we've got Spurl that's also out of different pots of funding. Um, like we've got people that are in like we piece it together because we have other funding sources pay for some of it, but we have to pick up stuff in local in order to be able to fill those positions because it's never >> local covers her salaries

127cover cost from federal programs. So, that doesn't come out of any of our local funds. Um I mean we've got >> state's mechanics come out local. The bus garage mechanics come out of state. They are covered there. But you can't pay the director salary out of transportation. You have to pay it from >> local. >> Even though to have one. >> You have to have one. Yeah. Just Yeah. The bulls are crazy. legislature should have to go to a school board meeting on finance. >> They need something. >> They really I'm just thinking they have to go. They should have to go see >> and I think I mean it's just our part too. We need to understand their funding as much as they need to understand our funding. >> But our teachers didn't get

128their race yet, have they? >> Nobody got an experienced step. >> They were the only ones that got anything. Yeah. Nobody wants to get >> So what's that? 500 less than 500 bucks. >> Yeah, probably. Way less. >> Yeah. >> But we have teachers that are paid out of all of the pots of money. So we have to um make up that difference. So it's not it doesn't necessarily come from the state because not everybody's a state paid teacher and teachers can't help where they're paid out of. You know, we play the shell game. How does that weigh out with like last year's request? >> Um, it's a little bit higher. >> That's okay. >> But the insurance went up from 8000, 8,300, it went to 8,500 a person a person. Retirement went from 24.04

129to 24.67. And when you're talking about a $20 billion a year payroll, just that little percent makes a difference. >> Mhm. >> So, we're talking about all of um the mechanics, the >> what Jody's mechanics, maintenance, >> maintenance. >> Um we have about this year we probably had nine to 10 teachers in local. We've got several um office support people in local. Custodians. >> Custodian. No, I don't put custodians. >> Oh, because we're going. >> Yeah, sorry. Going down the list. We paid for some APS out of local because you know, as Dr. Clark shared last year, we don't get enough position a lotment to cover that. Um, then I'll have to go back. I don't remember how many directors are in there, but there's three or four, I believe. And I'm like, Some members

130try to when she writes a grant she's tries to get a portion of her salary in there to well some of them >> administrative some of them require it >> some of them require it >> what was that different salary comes out three different grants >> that's fun >> I've always said I wasn't going to let somebody more than two two ways but >> Jamie always challenged I'm just me. I just like it. >> And and we have several directors that are out of two pots of fun. So now like Earl, >> um Terry, um who else? >> I use one pot. Anyway, >> it's a it's a puzzle. >> Headache is good. piece of work that frustrates me the most is that we're paying the teacher that way >> and that's responsibility. >> We

131pay them out local and out of federal. >> There's 14 there's 14 of this title war teachers >> but that's how we keep our class. It's a good thing. >> A lot of places don't use our title funding one small class size for another program. >> That's relative that size. >> Anything else? >> You'll be back later. There is a few in there that showed you we'll have to make some modifications to it based on today's discussions but the following numbers will not be active but when I updated actually it'll be encompassed in the >> you okay you'll have to approve it before we send if it's okay. We'll take a like a five minute recess and then the board will come back in close session. So we'll have a motion to bring the close

132session back personnel purpose. Now you're on talking loud, too. >> All right, we got a couple minutes after six. You are really glad they turned the switch on. Nobody was listening. So, um, we'll call this meeting back to order. We've been in recess after coming out of a closed session for personnel purposes there. So, we are in open session for this board of education meeting for March the 2nd, 2026. So, with that, I'm going to turn it over first things for Dr. Cox from Comments for the Superintendent. >> So, thank you. Um, first of all, I want to uh uh excuse me, share that I heard that we're good for weather tomorrow. So, I know we've been monitoring that all weekend and it looks like, knock on wood, that we should wake up to temperatures

133that are warm enough to still be in school. Um, we've been holding our breath this weekend over that one. Um, but I also wanted to um give families um uh some information on how some of these decisions are made and the why. And um you know, we talked about this at the last board meeting. However, um I just wanted to put this out there so everybody can hear it if you're listening, but it's my belief and I think uh I can probably speak for most people that students learn best when they're physically present in school. And uh that belief actually guides our decisions each year as we develop a school calendar and navigate winter weather. and Ash County schools terrain. I mean, Ash County's terrain is vastly different in topography, vastly different from one part

134of the county to the other. And road conditions can differ significantly from one area of the county to another. And safety must always be our first priority. Every child matters. And I don't say that lightly because I do believe that every child needs to have the opportunity to be in school and learn uh in school. Excuse me. Um I think it's really important to uh note that decisions are made with the understanding that conditions affecting even a portion of our county um have to be carefully considered. And so, uh, I've heard some things about, um, you know, calling, uh, different types of days. And while where I live, I look out oftent times and see that there's nothing on the ground. And then, uh, where Teresa lives, um, oftent times there might be in the

135same day six inches of snow on the ground. And, you know, that can make a big difference. So when developing the school calendar each year we intentionally build in hours um to instructional hours to account for inclement weather. Some years we miss only a few days and some years uh like this one disruption is greater. To date students have missed 22 days of in-person instruction due to weather. That's a lot of in-person instruction that's missing. And after another number of closures and weather related disruptions we've experienced, including delays and remote instruction, because they were far fewer hours than a regular school day instructional, the built-in instructional cushion has been nearly exhausted. And so, and it's still winter. You know, some of our biggest snowstorms have come in March. We've gotten snow in April before. Uh

136there's a chance for ice. You just never know. And it's hard for us to predict. And so North Carolina um requires school districts to either provide 185 instructional days, which this year our calendar I think had 180 to start with. >> Yes. >> And that's one of the most we've had to start with um in a while. Um or 1,025 hours at a minimum. So given the instructional time already missed, calendar adjustments are are necessary to remain in compliance with state law and to restore meaningful in-person instruction for our kids. So when structural days are missed due to weather, our options under state law are limited. Either we adjust spring break or days that we have out um add days back into the end of the school year or hold Saturday school for a pickup.

137And but that must be done the same week that the closure occurred. and many of the days that we could have potentially held Saturday school, which I know a lot of families are not fond of. Um, we've also had inclement weather preventing students from uh and staff from going to school. And so, um, this year we've added, um, excuse me, this year we've added days to the end of the school year to provide families with time to plan and restoring in-person instruction. um other years we have taken away spring break. We also believe that remote learning has become an important tool during inclement weather to maintain a learning continuum when students cannot saf safely travel to school. We are permitted because we have a winter weather waiver of having 15 remote instruction days under that

138waiver. We've used 10 this year. That's a lot of days for students to be learning online for that long period during the day. And I know there are some people who love it and some people who don't. While it's while it serves its purpose and allows con instruction to continue, um it doesn't replace in academic or social benefits from being in school. And I think that's really important to note that, you know, we want kids to be able to work together, uh, play together and learn together in school. And so that disruption is, you know, very real for kids. And again, that happens better when they're physically present in person. But they do provide an opportunity for us to not extend the school year longer in some cases. And with the number of days that

139we'd have missed, we would have already been extending the school year had we not used those um remote instruction days. So while schools provide instruction, uh we also provide meals and we provide uh safe transportation each day. And when students are not in school, those services are interrupted and the employees who provide them are unable to perform their regular work. So extending the school year helps to restore not just the instructional time um but it also allows us to maintain that stability for students and the staff who work in those roles. We've also had um or operated on 16 days of limited bus service this year. So that's when we call for the limited routes in certain areas. And you'll notice there's been a trend of how many different roads have been impacted. Safety decisions

140are often made and uh uh Brandon and Earl I know this all too well as well as uh many of the bus drivers and other staff members that contribute to this learning. But safety decisions are made after early morning road checks across the county and are always centered on student and staff safety. Um you know we have what over 200 kids that drive themselves to school um at the high school. So that's another safety consideration. um for getting kids to school. Weather decisions are complex and very difficult. I know even this morning, you know, there was a threat of potential ice. Um and they were saying part, you know, they might get down in the little spaces across Ash County. So, what were we doing? Texting each other at 3:30 this morning. um because our

141decisions have to be made by 4:00 a.m. so that we can get a call out to the appropriate people and make sure families aware because we have kids that actually um ride buses as early as 5:00 a.m. >> And so, you know, when we are um and buses who leave at that 5:00 a.m. hour and it takes about 30 minutes to cycle through um the uh calls in order to get the notice out to everybody. So, we have to be up really early doing that. Sometimes we'll get it right and sometimes because we've aired on the side of caution, uh we don't. But in in my feeling, I'd rather kids get to school safely than not. And so, sometimes that'll happen. Uh last week, we had uh clear roads in part of our district, but

142we had 10 full bus routes affecting about 200 kids um that could not be run safely. And I'm unwilling to continue to leave kids at home when it impacts a third of our schools. I mean a third of our um uh students. And that's across all of our schools. So from um Blue Ridge Elementary to the high school to the middle school to the early college, we have a lot of children that ride the buses and those are the ones that are mainly impacted. So I just want to say um you know we we will prioritize safety. Um, we will prioritize um the ability to maximize that in-person learning because that's really important for our kids. Um, we'll support our employees um to make sure that uh they are safe too and that they are

143getting a paycheck because some of our employees have to go unpaid um when we're out that many days because they don't have the days left in their uh uh to use or their leave left to use. And I think the entire board also supports maintaining and compliance with the law. We do that when building the calendar now. Um we are limited when we can start. I'd love to be able to start another 5 days earlier or even 10 days earlier so we can go to school when um it's nicer outside and then be able to get out um later or earlier, excuse me. Um but right now that's not possible because we don't have that calendar flexibility. um we apply for the winter waiver so we do start one week earlier than everybody else. Um

144but when you get at least uh 15 days or more every year really we should have the flexibility to um uh to do that and make that decision for the students in our county. So I just want to say thank you to everybody out there who uh listened uh to this. Um, I also want to say thank you for your partnership and to help us to continue to navigate these winter weather days. Um, thanks to dispatch and others who forewarn us. Um, our emergency management sends out um, emails to us that allow us to start to plan earlier um, for our snow days. Um, but also thank you to the families who um, you know, we do have some calendar changes that are impacted this year. Thank you for working with us because you know

145we want kids in school, we want kids learning and we want to make sure that they're safe on a daily basis. So I did want to say that. So in addition, I have some good news. So grants. So we were newly awarded the North Carolina Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund uh grants in the in the amount of $95,000. So, uh, this grant will focus on recovery and readiness efforts for Ash County schools, and it supports, uh, emotional health after hurricane Helen and a and through afterchool tutoring, summer transition programs, and inschool mental health services, uh, del uh, delivered by licensed professionals. Um grant funds will cover contracted mental health providers, instructional staff for afterchool tutoring, and summer camps with purchase of supplies and educational materials for these programs. In total, and it impacts about 450

146students, uh that will be served through these programs. So, uh I thank my team, especially Jamie over there, who continues to uh write so that we have additional supports to um provide our students. Uh we did um have the project serve grant uh that we shared um uh earlier today that was extended through June 30th of 2027. So some of the funds came through for the state for summer school last year. So that means we got to carry over those funds so we could also do summer school this year. Um so I'm excited. Uh please look for all the information on summer school. We're really excited that we're celebrating America's 250th birthday. Um and uh a lot of the camps that we're going to be offering students will be themed um to celebrate and so

147we hope that we have a lot of students that are able to participate as a result and uh kudos to the entire team on receiving a clean monitoring of the US Department of Justice stop grant and so we got the letter back today that uh we are good with our money and everything all the documentation that goes along with a federal grant. So kudos to Jamie and Amanda and every Lincoln and everybody else who know that happen. And then we've had lots of success in our district. We've had quite a few elementary school winners for the New River soil and water uh conservation essay and poster contest. So from um Blue Ridge Elementary School, we had a fourth grader Spa uh secured first place in the poster contest. Mountain View Elementary had a fifth grader

148Charlotte and a third grader Ellie who both won first place for their posters. And Westwood Elementary School sixth grader Luke received a first place in the essay competition. And I noticed that if you're looking at this online, there are a couple letters that are probably sticking on the computer that we use. So, there's some vowels missing in some of those. Uh, we had a district contest night or have a district contest night coming up on March 9th at 6 PM. Uh the area contest night is March 19th at 6 PM. Both will be held at Midway Baptist Church. And we've had students from uh middle school, Blige Elementary School represented our district with uh excellence in the regional math counts. Um so that was held at Cwell Community College um and technical institute. Both ACMS

149teams advanced as top four finalists. So we had two teams in the top four. That's pretty incredible. Um, and a special recognition goes to Thoren for placing eight out of more than 75 uh competitors. That's fantastic. And Thoren, Aiden, and Adeline um earned medals for three consecutive years of participation. And um we just are really proud of our students who go out of their way to uh do some uh or to excel in some of these extra activities. And shows that we have great students in math competitive in the region. So yesterday, I'm going to look this up. Um Casey was texting me um while several of us were in um church about the spelling bee and um you know, we had a diff a district representative of the spelling bee. Oh, I think you

150tested this one. I've got you here. Let me tell you all about it because the words I don't know that I know all the words here. They were pretty incredible. But I think if you remember that uh um Ben from the middle school um was the um county winner for the spelling bee. And we're going to post some of this online with his great smile of being just an extraordinary participant. But this is one of the furthest that our kids has gone in the regional competition yesterday at Panther Stadium. And um he made it to the third round. He went out on the word um Xer. How do you pronounce that? >> X checker I think. >> Okay. So I don't know what it is. And X checker. >> Yes. Because he spelled it the

151way it sounded instead of the way >> instead of way I instead of the pronunciation that I had. Um but let me let me share with you some of the words that were in this um third round that kids went offline. So there so only 10 kids advanced to the fourth round if that tells you from all around the area. All the schools that participate are only 10 and um uh X checker. Oh it is X Checker uh Telnosis um uh Elon. Okay. and Jind. >> Okay. Yes, exactly. >> And so they were they must have been from the real script spelling be um uh competition. So they were extremely difficult at the that was at the third uh round. So he made it through uh to that third round. And um that's incredible. So

152I just wanted people to understand that we have some really smart kids here in Ash County and who do very very well. And I think I would have been tripped up on that word, too. >> That's right. Yes. >> So, and only Paulie Jones. There you go. Anyway, and I was a good speller, but that was a little beyond me. >> So, um, Ash County Middle School has received a 10 out of 10 great schools rating. So, if you guys see um online, if you go to the website, that is outstanding. They've had a long um term of success over many, many years. And so, a 10 out of 10 is fantastic. Uh the seventh grade Lady Bulldogs team won the Blue Ridge Athletic Association Middle School Conference Championship. So, congratulations um to everyone who

153participated. Um, all right. So, we have a celebrity in the house sitting up there by Miss Teresa. So, um, our uh, Addison um, who's sitting here at the end, our student representative here was a regional qualifier for the swim relay team along with Anna, Sienna, and Leah. And they qualified in the 200 yard freestyle relay. And so, congratulations. You guys have worked so hard. And I think that was the first time in Ash County School's history that we had somebody to qualify for the state in swimming. >> Was Yeah. >> And first time or the highest someone has ever qualified um and placed fourth in the state for tennis. And then you also had a team that um qualified or kind of qualified or something for track. >> Oh, for state. Yeah. for safer track.

154So, we've got an outstanding athlete sitting among us here. Um the wrestling team gave an outstanding performance at the regional tournament last month. We had six students to qualify for regionals. Um and we also had um senior captain Gabe who earned regional runnerup honors and he advanced to the state where I think he came in uh third. So outstanding um to be in such a competitive uh conference. Um last week at Skills USA, I had the privilege of um seeing some of the kids compete um there in Wilson Community College um for Skills USA and they were things like welding um and carpentry and electrical. And um congratulations to Owen for earning first place in carpentry. and he advances to the state competition in Greensboro that will be held next month. So, we have a

155lot of great things going on within academics and our schools. Um, and we want to say thank you to everybody who came out for our AC parent night um last uh month which was really fantastic and had a guest speaker. Um, we had community partners who helped make youth mental health first aid training available um on February 13th. Um how many people did we have participate in that Jamie? >> Um I think we had about 20 in the training but for the Smith system I think we had eight. >> So we had eight different people who attended that total. Um for our school system Jamie says third about 30 uh 20 uh total. So that's fantastic showing for us. Um the early college community breakfast was highly successful. Kudos to um Miss Williams for u

156making that possible and all the students who much led the entire experience for our community to tell all the great things that are happening there. They also had a national beta club induction and an open mic night that night as well. And then um uh Battle of the Books is tomorrow. So we're excited about uh that uh competition tomorrow at Ash County Museum and Historical Courthouse. that begins at 9:00 a.m. and we have a lot of students who are have read 13 15 books over the uh course of the year so far and who are going to be competing against each other elementary and middle school. Um kudos to our social workers. It is National Social Worker Week appreciation week. So Britney Perry and Autumn Chamberlain uh we're very thankful for what you do for

157children and families across the district at school maintenance. Um, worker appreciation day is coming up this Friday. So, Jody, you and your team um kudos to you all for not just keeping the wheels on in so many different areas, but also um by uh doing some things um that help keep us um uh operational on a day-to-day basis and help make our learnings environments um much more um inviting for students. pre-K screening. If you have if you know somebody who is going to be four by what's the date? >> August 31st. Um please come to our NC prek uh screen. We have the dial screenings March 16th through the 19th. And uh this is eligible for placement in NC preK classes. We also have a paid prek um opportunity. So, even if you don't qualify

158for um the NC preK, you can come to our prek if if your child meets those criteria. Kindergarten screening is uh coming up. So, if you know somebody who's going to be 5 years old on or before August 31st, you can call any one of our elementary schools or even our central office and we'll get you enrolled um in school and uh have the ability to do the screening dates. It's March 31st at Mountain View Elementary School. April 1st at Blue Ridge Elementary School and April 2nd at Westwood Elementary School. So, um we're really proud of all the things going on and there's some great dates coming up. >> Still busy, always busy. >> Next, we've got on the agenda for the new middle school update. Uh we've received word from Miss Allison Kemp Sullivan

159that she's under the weather this evening. So, the board has that report in your agenda and it's going to be agenda online as well. So, that stand for the record. Next, we've got public comment. Nobody, as of 12:00 noon, had signed in today for public comment. So, we have nobody for public comment. So, let's just jump into action items here. First, under the action items is our consent agenda. We have the overnight trips for the CTE competitions, gear up summer opportunities, request for permission to apply for grants for the 2627 school year, the trienal assessment update information, and the request for bid reviews for child nutrition. All that will fall under the consent agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> I make a motion that we accept the approved agenda.

160>> All right. So, I got a motion from Miss Calhoun. Do I have a second from the other motion? >> I'll second. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Eldrich. Any questions, comments? All those in favor, raise your hand. Motion carries. Next, after that, I've got the 2627 calendar on there. So, I see Mr. Pennington. >> Okay. Can you hold on a second? I'm sorry. I forgot to uh let Addie talk about her time and I know she has to uh uh leave. So, if we could do that, I'm sorry. >> We really have. >> Okay. I just have a couple things. We've already talked about a lot of them, but that's okay. So, good evening everyone. Um I've not been here in a while, been busy with sports, but I'm Addison Dollar at

161the Early College and I'm the student body president and I'm excited to share a few highlights. We hosted our community breakfast which was really successful. We had over 60 community members come including schoolboard members, county commissioners, local business representatives, WCC staff, and many of our other partners. It was a great opportunity for us to showcase what our students are doing and to say thank you to everyone that supports us. We also had our beta induction ceremony which we inducted 34 new members. We are really proud of these students for their dedication to academic excellence and service. And we would also like to wish our Henry Hernandez the best of luck as he runs for STA or state Beta Club president. He currently serves as our school's Beta Club vice president and the Northwest District Vice

162President and we're excited to support him along the way. In addition, we had a very fun and successful open mind night with several of our students and teachers showing their talents and it was a great way to celebrate the creativity in our school. We um Oh, yeah. We hosted an open house for our rising freshmen. All the students except two that were accepted were able to attend, which was a great turnout. They had the chance to tour the school, meet students, meet teachers, explore clubs, and to learn about the classes they'll be taking in the upcoming year. And then looking ahead, we have a college visit to ETSU this Friday, a trip to the Barter Theater on March 20th to see the Three Musketeers, and on March 27th, we will be learning to line dance

163with Jennifer Paisley Smith to get ready for a prom on March 28th. And just thank you for your continued support to Ash Early College and we appreciate everything you do for the students. >> Thank you. While Earl is coming up, I will make a note. So Addison was sitting on the end of our table for us. So you notice the absence of Miss Ward. Uh Janet Ward's unable to be with us tonight. Her father is not in the best of health. So with that being said, kind of remember her in your thoughts and prayers as you go forward with that with her absence here at the meeting this evening. So Mr. Pennington, sorry about that. >> Sure. That's fine. I wish Miss Ward and the family the best. Um before we jump into looking at

164consideration of the 26 27 school calendar, I would just like to thank everyone that formed the committee that came together parents to administrators to teachers to faculty and staff and Miss Cal. Thank you, Mr. R. Thanks for joining us in one night and all the other folks that made this. It's a team effort and and I just appreciate everyone's input in doing this. uh before you in your board packet, you have the 26 27 draft that we're bringing before you tonight for consideration. First and foremost, uh it it follows the rules as far as our hours, as far as our minutes, as far as the starting date, which is always really important. One thing I want to point out in your draft, you will see that the student hours will say 1,152. After we've done

165some modification on what an instructional day looks like, that will be reduced to 1,146. Why? Because on the early release days, that's a great question. Uh because on the early release days, um students are not in class in instruction. We have to take out for class changes and lunches and so forth. And we hadn't done that. So we modified that on disk and it'll be that way moving forward for each concurrent calendar. So um still a really good calendar with almost with with 1146 hours and 180 days. We did some compromising. We took two drafts and uh put it out to the community and they were neck andneck. It was one day draft A was in front of draft B, one day draft B was in front of A and they were really really close.

166And at our last Zoom meeting with the committee, we we pulled out and we looked at, okay, what what can we compromise? What can we move around? Everyone worked um together um everyone worked together and we came up with this compromise um as one draft. Draft A had spring break in one week and then draft B had spring break broken up into two smaller breaks. And um there was many many pros and cons for each one. And so, like I said, there was compromises moving things around because it it really is a long time to go from April 2 till June 3 with just Memorial Day break there. So, we we've added in some added in some time. One of the things that we had feedback on was uh professional development and having those during

167the day. So, we've implemented several professional development half days in there. Uh some of those are uh some of those are coded in purple and some of those are allowing teachers to have word days as well too. So and those are flexible as things come up and as initiatives come up and as we need to as we need to do trainings and have meetings we do have flexibility with that. You'll also see the two weeks there at Christmas. That is something that's been asked for numerous years as we've done this and uh our holidays fall as they should as well too as well as the annual fees. Does anyone have any questions, comments? Crickets, >> it's quiet. I just I just had had some folks say that two weeks at Christmas makes it harder to

168uh on parents who only get a couple of days. That's the only comment that I've heard there. But I've also know that it's a good break for our school personnel >> to regroup and rejuvenate. So >> we tried a shorter Christmas break one year. We won't do that again. I I we tried but that was but that has been something that has been um at the front because we talk about negotiables, we talk about mandates and we talk about negotiables. That's one of the things that always comes up there. >> So it's interesting when day where days fall so either you take it that week of Christmas which is always very difficult to go that far into it makes it hard on some families who might travel or have shopping to do. And then in

169January, although this January was fantastic, uh it that first week until it wasn't, >> it was great. >> But this uh fourth and fifth um uh we do need to transition in between semesters, especially for our high schools. Um because they're teach, you know, they're teaching all the way through, but then um you know, based on what happened first semester, second semester, sometimes there is a transition period necessary. And of course, our high school teachers are sometimes teaching completely different courses and subjects and they get full new um class rosters of kids. And so they need those first um they need at least a day. We have two in there um uh so that we can do some professional learning and regroup after Christmas as necessary. So um it's hard to make it uh shorter

170unless we do it on the front end and that's often not popular. So, >> I just want to make a comment, not really a question, but uh so Miss Calhoun was our representative from the board on that. She was unable to attend to a dual conflict at the one of her child's schools. Um but uh as my first time setting in on one of those meetings, so kudos to all of those committee members that was on there. I just sat over here on the corner of Miss Jones's seat and listened to them talk. I mean, they really got input from their folks and their teams and things like that and it it helped me as somebody that's not had to use the calendar outside of being a parent understand it a little bit more. So,

171all the complexities without me having to ask Earl too many questions. We started with annual leave days and holidays falling in and then giving teachers a voice and administrator's voice is something as simple as can we please have the PD day before the annual before the work day so we can get that done get that over so we can get to business and get our classroom ready for the next day. So just just small things like that that and when you're 12 month employee don't think about necessarily because every day is every day is is kind of that but we do appreciate the input of everyone. Another thing we always try to do at each at the end of each nine weeks, have a day so the teachers or a day and a half so

172the teachers can finish their grades and recruit for the next nine weeks as well. So that's um that's traditionally been on the calendar and days that we try to hold tight to. >> There wasn't a whole lot we could do with Veterans Day this year. It falls in the middle of the week on Wednesday. >> Last this previous year that we're finishing up, it it fell on Tuesday, so we had a longer weekend there. Uh this one we did not but again listening to the input of the committee we were able to move around some days there in October to get a long weekend for for our families. Not necessarily for the teachers there is PD day there and a optional teacher order day but you can convert that into a three-day weekend and that's

173better than a two-day weekend anytime. Mhm. >> Uh I see there's only that one optional day in February, but I pretty sure we'll have some more days that will >> it's there kind of like to be moved around like chest piece wherever we need to follow and and that day is there to give super >> some >> and if not it's you know long Valentine's weekend and with a romantic at heart there. Is Christina listening? >> Yeah, she knows. No, I'm just kidding. So, does anyone have any questions? Any further questions or comments? >> I appreciate also the hard work. I know it's not easy to put all these little puzzle pieces in place, but it looks very balanced to me. I was asked to see what about the December, all the the days, but

174I think our school people need it. And really they're pretty much two days because we have three holidays or excuse me three annual leave days or four actually total in there before Christmas and then the week between New Year's. And um you know I I do want to hold true to our teachers who especially at the high school in um having that day um two days really in January to plan um new new courses, new kids. It's a different world at the high school and early college. So, >> and and again, the holidays follow what is prescribed by the state. We have some flexibility, but we like to follow what's we like to follow what's prescribed. That way, we all say employees are off at the same time. But >> okay, >> there's any representatives

175out there listening, we'd really like to have that extra week before school starts. it would you know our first semester is always shorter than our second and then when we get inclement weather in December it makes it really really tough so we're down to uh very few days um that we have flexibility um you know when we get weather beforehand and I would love to start a week earlier our you know even when you think about students and learning they're not in school as much first semester and it does impact our high school kids >> so Mr. Mr. Pennington, if I um nominate Mr. Broton next year for your calendar committee. >> Sure. >> Do you think you can be able to teach him for >> do that now or we can wait about December

176and do that? >> I can nominate them now. >> That's the board's pleasure. >> If you can work with them. >> Sure. And I will just say I'd much rather design a new calendar clean than try to keep up with all the um um holes and two-hour delays and early releases and so so forth and so on that we've had this year, but it's been Nash County weather. So Ash County winter zone. >> Oh, and thank you by the way for one calendar. I know the board a couple years ago >> we came back with two and appreciate that. So, uh, on Do I have a motion to approve draft a calendar? >> I'll make the motion to approve this calendar. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Jones. Do I have a second? >> Second.

177>> Thank you, Miss Calhoun. Any other questions, comments? Hear none. All those in favor, raise your hand. Motion carries. >> Thank you. We'll get this out to the community this week. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next, we've got the personnel agenda for the board. You've got that attached in your agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the personnel? >> I'll make a motion we approve the personnel. >> Thank you, Miss Elders. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Jones. Any questions, comments on that? Everybody in favor? Raise your hand. Motion carries. Next, we've got the Warsville property considerations there. So this was what we had um brought to you I think back in January after um a couple of uh uh different um considerations and essentially you will have

178a couple of options um to uh utilize a public process to sell the surplus property as is and uh you have essentially four um excuse me um four options there. Um, you know, of course, we've already received the first right of refusal from the county and so they do not intend to or they do not want to use that property or um acquire that property from us. So, we can go through the pro um process of a sale. And our options are a public auction, a sale through a realtor or upset bid process, uh direct sale, uh or for sale notice, and um transfer to another governmental entity. I am not aware of another governmental entity that might want that. However, we could put it out to other governmental agencies beyond the um beyond the

179county commission now if we wanted to. Um, but these are your options at this point. >> And if you're not ready to determine it, we can put it off for another month, too. >> What's the board's pleasure? >> Well, a realtor is going to charge us. >> And that property, I think we've got have had two people express interest in that property. So, um I'm for a direct sale myself. I don't know of any other government entity. We we've already um taken care of the fire department there with uh earlier. So, to me, a direct sale and to be honest with you, I'm surprised we have two people interested in that property because it's going to cost them some money to get that property ready to be used. So, I'm very That's I've looked at

180this and I've thought about it, but >> number four and two quick. >> Would we not have to have it um >> advertised? >> Well, before that, are we going to have to have it appraised so we know how much to >> we can potentially do that? Yes. >> Or can we look that up on something that's already been done? >> Yeah. But um see if we're getting the right value. Well, maybe, but I think we'll be lucky. Excuse me, I shouldn't say that. Um, we will be very thankful if someone is interested in that piece of property >> page county and just get a ball for that. >> Is it now considered to be in the flood plane? >> It is. >> Since they changed that. Okay. Is it record? >> It should should

181have records. >> So, it'll have a worth. >> It'll have it. >> It'll have like >> value, >> right? >> Well, if that's the direction you want to go, I can have Fred give us a step by step on what has to be done next. >> I think I'm fine with three. >> Yeah. direct >> that just seems to be the reason. >> Do I need a motion in that effect? Do I have a motion? >> Make a motion that we go with the direct sale for sale notice to get um see if we can um transfer that property over to a one who needs >> All right. Thank you, Miss Elders. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Jones. Any other questions or comments? All those in favor,

182raise your hand. Next, we've got the approval of endowment board members. >> And so, as you all know, um we have an Ash County Schools endowment board uh that works to support our schools via um uh uh grants for teachers and we've held a golf tournament just about every year. Last year was a little bit interesting because of the uh um hurricane and so it was postponed a few times. Um so we hold it off cycle. Um but this is the list of names um who would be on the on the um endowment board. Um but you also have three what are we called members >> at large? No, they are exio that's it which are Amanda Cold Iron, myself and then uh Rhonda who um acts as someone who can answer phone calls and

183um make copies of things when necessary. And I think myself is also an advisory kind of >> and so Diane Elder at the bottom there is um as as a member of the board of education. >> Do I have a motion to approve these endowment board members? >> I would like to make a motion that we approve these. This is the biggest list that we've had in a long time and I'm very thankful we have the community members willing to step up and serve. >> Right. Thank you, Miss Elders. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Calhoun. Any other questions, comments? All in favor, raise your hand. Motion carries. All right. Now, going to when I think of endowment boards, I think of them playing golf. So, needless to

184say, the next thing we're going to go into is a parking lot hole at the high school. I guess you could hit a golf ball in it. Is that right, Mr. >> Oh, you could put a person in. Can >> you put a golf ball in hole? Maybe it's gonna get bigger. >> Park the bus in here. >> Let's not do that. >> So, as you can see there, and you we have any questions? Um, but we have um several um uh pictures in there of the actual hole itself. And wait, is that the right picture? >> I've got pictures of kids. Okay. That's Well, that was not good. >> That's a picture of you in there, isn't it? >> Yeah. There's a picture of >> that. Yeah. >> Those are gonna be deleted. Put

185it in. I don't know what happened. >> Let's share them. >> Yeah. There you go. They're they're over there. So, um >> it was it was so that was that was at the high school kids that competed in Skills USA. And >> they did. All right. >> We have them in an email. >> So, you have them in an email. >> Yeah, we're good. >> And they essentially look like you could fit a small car in it. Not really, but there's definitely a person. Um the hole is getting um has been repaired a few times. You've had parking lot holes repaired there, but this one is a significant hole. It is blocked off. Um, but this really needs um this really needs done immediately. So, not something that I feel like we can wait on

186um given the amount of work that's going to be need be done. Um we did ask for an assessment from uh Tri County Paving. One of the pictures that I will make sure that you get right now um um is uh has a like a metal plate over it and um that was brought over by um the person who came and did the assessment for us. Um, and those are quite expensive but very temporary. And so there's some work underneath that needs to be completed as well as the paving on top. And you have the estimates um uh for that right now. Jody, anything else to add? >> Jody, my concern would be that with other sinkhole like situations like this, there's an underlying reason. Do we need to address that? it won't do any

187good to fix it if you haven't addressed whatever is causing it. >> So, I know we spoke I spoke briefly earlier about some of the planning for your facility assessment survey. One of the components that I complete that I that I recommended in that survey was was a civil assessment and that would be going out and looking at some of our properties based on what we've seen from Mountain View and the sinkhole there >> and now we are seeing this there. There are some drains down lower in the park lot. They're starting to do some of the same same things. However, trying to plan to attack the problems based on just where they pop up is probably not the best way to approach it in my mind when finding a civil company that can come

188in and hopefully kick a camera in our in our storm drains which are like these are normally 25 to 30 years. >> We're there, right? >> We are there if you're looking at >> Exactly. and you and you see some of the some of the things especially when we have heavy storm water stuff that we've had during the hurricane and other times. So, you know, for now we need we need to address this this because of the location. It's a safety issue. It really needs to be covered. I wouldn't rip the cover off except for if a car drove across it, it could have bottled out a car, caused an accident. The bus fell in it been really bad. it wasn't the right thing to do and so believe the right thing to do right

189now is get this get this one repaired. I've already today reached out to some civil engineers hopefully to try and get assessment price to start approaching that across our camp our campuses all all the way around. Um but I don't want to come to a plan or come to the board and say let's fix this little piece, let's fix this little piece. Let's learn more about what our conditions are surveys and our campus program before we just start trying to pick little problems up. But as they as they happen unfortunately like this has happened we need to address it and I think this will be the best best way to do this. >> Now Amanda do we have money that we can do this for? >> Not really. Not in capital without using balance. >>

190I'm sorry. >> Not not in capital without using fund balance. So, one one of the things that um you know, we did save a significant amount of money for the commissioners um when we put in the chiller was it the chiller and we had that much higher estimate and so um there's still some funds from that unless now we we don't have them. The county would have to approve them >> but we would have to go and request them. um uh you for this uh for this additional amount. But again, I think it this is far this would still have us uh had save them money, significant amount of money even with this request on top of it. >> Again, I define this as an emergency repair. I mean, the hole in the ground eventually

191the walls are going to fall in from the concrete block that are inside. And if that damages the iron and the pipe underneath it and gets too far back, then you have to get bigger bigger and scope more, it's going to grow. Um, it's not a good place to be in, you know, pinch point for us, but I would encourage the board to prove this. >> Well, that's where you've got a majority of the heaviest vehicles. >> All of our buses are back there >> on there. And I noticed in the one picture where the grate was, each corner, you can see a crack. >> Yes. >> Way out there. So it it Yeah, it's >> this is not this is not something we want to sit on. >> So >> has to be fixed.

192>> Yeah. >> Is there any way we can fix this that would we wouldn't be just be undoing it later? >> Well, that's the way we're planning on doing it now. from the assessment with Tri County, they came out and someone walked it was used probably wasn't DO is not DOT rated and we're going to put back a vault type system that will hold more weight for the buses that we're going to that are going across it. So, it was probably not as strong as it needed to be when it was installed. No, it's got us to 25 years, you know, give or take. So, we can't say that it would be beyond life, but it's time that when they when they reinstall it, they'll install with a different concrete sleeve like the vaults that

193we were talking about here, something similar to that. So, it'll be a cast vault that will sit down in there and they'll stack it on top of one another. >> So, that's what that's what D would use or a block or brick. >> I know it's it's masonly block. It's got open in the middle, which is unfortunately weaker, >> but water will dig away in anything. I mean, we've all seen a cave. You know, water eventually find a way no matter what. Everybody see the sink holes. >> Yeah. All the water we had during hurricane. So, >> I make a motion that we get this fixed um as soon as we can. Whatever funds we need to access to do that. It's a safety issue, I believe. >> Right. So, we've got a motion. Thank

194you, Miss Elders. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Calhoun. Any other questions or comments? All in favor? raise your hand. Motion carries. Nothing we have under updates or discussion items uh for this board meeting. So that being said, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> All right. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor? >> It's not bad. Got it turned