001discussing personnel issues there and have opened back up into open session for the board. So, first item under open session is comments from the superintendent. So I am going to first uh um introduce Claire Hal who um is going to for about three minutes share some of the great things going on at the high school and then she needs to leave for this evening but we didn't want to uh um have a meeting without good things. Um Addison Dollar would have been here, but she is on the swim team and they are preparing for a big meet. And as you know, we're not swimming here in this county. So there's a little bit of a drive um for them to have access to an Olympic size pool. So clear Um, I would like to preface
002I just had a filling done, so I look silly. I'm going to talk silly, so I'm sorry in advance. You look great. >> Thank you, Dr. Cox. I'm going to try my best. Um, so I don't have a whole lot of updates, but I still do have some good news. Um the biggest thing is I would like to congratulate Mr. Farmer. Standard was named the Northwest Reges Principal of the Year. So that was really awesome and I love seeing all the pictures on Instagram. Congratulations again. [laughter] Um another recognition and award I would like to talk about is Mr. Klein, our men's uh soccer coach for this season. He was awarded the uh Mountain Valley Conference Coach Award and the NC Coaches Association 4A State Coach of the Year, which is pretty awesome. So, congratulations
003to Mr. Klein. And as everyone knows, the soccer team did great this year. So, I definitely think that he deserved it and so did the team. Everyone was great. Um this was on when was it? December 15th, we had our early graduate ceremony and we had 28 students that graduated early for the 2026 school year. So, congratulations to all of them. Um, and then early December, we also had our eighth graders uh that came to visit the high school. That was a lot of fun. I got to participate in a lot of games and help with tours. It was It's so exciting to see some of the new students we'll have. Um, another congratulations, Miss Lambert, Sarah Lambert was December's employee of the month at the high school. So, congrats to Miss Lambert. I love
004her. Um, let's see what else. Okay, so student council and Beta Club both bought items for the Ash County's Elderly Star Project, which we were all very happy to participate in. It's an amazing thing to do. So, I definitely wanted to mention that. is a great project to be a part of. [snorts] Um, even in all of our snow zooms, it was it was crazy. It was like two weeks long it felt like. Um, but I know Miss Roberts, our math one of our math teachers, she dressed up as a snowman during the Zooms and I know a lot of kids liked it. So, I was like, I had to mention that because sometimes being on Zooms is just so gloomy and tiring. So, Miss Roberts definitely brought some fun with that. So, I was
005like, she she did some recognition cuz that was awesome. Um, and then I know to end it, another thing, I know uh some students at the high school that are a part of Beta Club also celebrated the holidays by helping out in certain events that were hosted. Um, I don't exactly know where. I just know that there were a lot of Beta Club members that went around to different events that were hosted throughout Ash County during the holidays and they helped dress up and meet Santa Claus and help with kids. So, [snorts] there have been a lot of fun festivities. So, yeah, we'll be back in a month to give you more. Thank you guys. Thanks, Claire. So, it's always great to hear from our students and the things that some of them I was
006like, "Wow, I'm getting ready to share some of that, so I don't." Um, but it's always nice to hear from their perspective, the things that they enjoy like Mrs. Roberts dressing up uh to keep our kids engaged uh during our snow day zooms. So, I know that we had quite the December um for Zoom weather. Um, so we are really excited for Mr. Farmer on December 19th. Um, it's hard to keep that secret, by the way. Um, but, uh, Mr. Farmer was honored, uh, by the state, uh, current state teacher of the year as the regional um, principal of the year for region 7. And um I know we haven't done we did a social media post but not a press release yet as it's going to be a big press release coming up uh
007next month once all eight regions are announced um in um uh the state of North Carolina. North Carolina will be taking taking um excuse me, we'll be taking that on and then Dustin in May um will be um a part of the regional honores for the state principal of the year. So, he will be competing for that um title and that will be sometime in May. Do you have the date yet, Dustin? >> Um it's out there, but I can't. >> Okay. Me neither. Um but anyway, congratulations to Mr. Farmer. uh very welld deserved. I was personally excited the first day was snowed out because then all of his children um were able to attend the surprise announcement um of his award um on the 19th and I I was afraid that one was going
008to be sned out too. So, um, we're also very excited to share, as you know, um, we write a lot of grants in Ash County schools. Um, a lot of them are necessary to provide some of the positions that the state does not provide for us. Things like social workers and, um, behavior specialists and, uh, school psychologists. Um, you know, we do get limited funds for each of those things. However, in order to fully support a school district, we're writing grant funds for I know it says that um this particular department of education safe and drug-free schools communities grant uh was awarded to Ash County Schools in the amount of $2.8 million. It's actually $3.4 million. So, we had gotten an additional um announcement of 600,000 and um uh that ended up being the total
009amount. That was the early award that they were given us. So, we're very excited that we're going to be able to hire a school psychologist. Um, another one, uh, fun behavior specialist positions because, as you know, some of the behavior specialists that we have for this year, it's a grant-f funded temporary position. And so, we're going to be able to continue that yet another school year. um and uh hopefully among other things be able to strengthen a pipeline that we have uh for mental health services for students. And so uh our ask center has been something that's been ongoing for a long time. Um uh that's a part of what it will allow us to pay uh for but also um help us continue that partner partnership, excuse me, with um Appalachin State University. So
010we're very excited about that. Um, not only was Sarah Lambert uh named the employee of the month for the district, uh, but also Mr. JD Walton from Mountain View Custodian was named um, employee of the month for uh, uh, December. And so, you know, we're very proud of all of our employees. Uh, these two were nominated by someone with a compelling argument as to why uh, they should be named. And of course, no arguments uh there um for Miss Lambert and JD Walton. And of course, Mr. Walton has uh since retired. So, congratulations to JD on your welldeserved retirement. Um preschoolers from the early learning center um were went to carolling and if you had the opportunity to see them, the crowd that we had um was really outstanding. Uh so we had a bunch
011of people that gathered at the caboose to see their own children, their grandchildren, their friends children. Uh just people stopping by to see them sing uh the carols and the kids did a fantastic uh fantastic job. Uh thanks to Terry and her entire team there that made that happen for the kids. Um [clears throat] our uh band and we have our band director from the high school here uh this evening. Um, but our band, middle school and high school musicians and singers, uh, put on a a Christmas uh, concert and we are so very proud of how they've grown. Our middle school, remember, marched in the parade in November um, alongside of our high school as well. So, we are growing those arts opportunities for our kids. And so, uh, thank you to um, thank
012you to, uh, everyone who showed up to support our students. at the middle school. Um they have their very first blessings box and so Sherry was so excited. It's finally up and texted me that day. Um but this is uh located next to the gym parking lot and open to anyone in the community who needs a helping hand. And um there uh uh food items in there. Sherry, is there anything besides food? >> Hygiene items. >> Everything. So, uh, the blessings box again is at the middle school. We're really proud of our middle school who, um, and Parker's building supply and, uh, the Paul's time food drives. Um, the, uh, Parker's building supply of Glade Valley, uh, donate the materials to actually build the blessings box. But, um, you know, they are um, the middle
013school is continuing to keep it funded, so we're excited. And then of course the graduates, all of our board um was present for the ear for the early graduates for high school. Um outstanding to have that many students who were able to graduate early. Um some of them a year early, at least one of them was a full year early um from high school. And so we're making those opportunities happen for students. Some of them are already entered into post-secary this semester. Some of them went straight into the workforce. Um, and we're just really proud of all of them and they have the opportunity to walk in June at our um, graduation at the end of this school year. So, very, very proud of them. We have lots of upcoming uh, dates, but not as
014many as normal. Today, um, we had um, our teachers came back for a work day. Um, they have a professional development day uh, tomorrow. Uh, and there's all kinds of professional development. I put that on on the list for the upcoming dates. Students come back to school on January 7th, and the weather looks great. First time since I've been here that this week hasn't included snow. So, I'm very excited about that. And then, of course, January 19th is the Martin Luther King holiday. Um, so that's a Monday that students will not be in school, but it's a holiday, so nobody will be in school. Um one more thing. So today principles, assistant principles and uh directors were in a um strategic planning session. Um we had invited uh uh Dr. Leslie Een um who's with
015Franklin CVY so does you know seven habits of highly effective people. So that company to help us to work through our next version of the strategic plan. Um we will be uh working on that strategic plan over the next several months and asking for continued feedback. We've already gotten some feedback from teacher leaders um from each of the schools to help us to get where we are now. Um but we're going to be taking the goals that we had um over the last five years um looking at what we need to do next and asking for some feedback. And so we're going to be going out to schools, we'll go out to local businesses, uh we're going to get student feedback, and then we're going to have opportunities here for um parents and others who
016might not have had another opportunity to come in and um share what they think about uh where we're going and where we need to go next. um how we can not only meet the educational goals of students, but what that might include so that they're well prepared for life beyond Ash County Schools. Um and that was it except we have national board certificates and renewals. So, as you all know, we have um a lot of teachers that have their national board certification and this is like earning another another degree. And the national boards um provide an opportunity um for teachers to reflect on and showcase their work. And it's a huge portfolio um that they have to complete. It's evaluated um by um an independent group and they get feedback and we have quite a
017few who either are new national board certificate earners or um or who have renewed their national board certificates um this year and pretty significant number for the number of teachers that we have in Ash County schools. and Casey is going to present the certificates tonight. So, Casey, >> okay. I'm so excited that I get to do this. Um, and I'm I'm so honored and p privileged to be able to come and and give this exciting certification um and just a token of our appreciation to our wonderful teachers. Um we do have several recipients um in Ash County schools, but North Carolina holds the record for national board certified teachers in the country. So that's pretty big. Um and for me being a national board certified teacher changed the way I taught. Um it's one thing
018to go to school and to learn and and to learn all the theories. It's another thing to practice it. And when you do go through this process, you have to learn how to reflect on your learning. You have to learn how to reflect on your teaching and how it impacts your students. And that changes you. Um, so, um, I just wanted to honor these ladies and gentlemen, um, for their perseverance, for their persistence, for leaning into that reflection piece that a lot of times we don't have time to do. Um, and we don't give ourselves time to do, but also the feedback piece. Feedback is hard. It's hard when you get your papers back after, you know, someone's read them and it's full of red ink. Um, but that's okay. That's that's that productive struggle.
019Um that's that learning piece that we all um we all need to get better at. And um so I just want to make sure that we recognize these people for their amazing work that they've done um and for their efforts in Ash County Schools. Um also before I I do that, I also want to thank our network of support that we have in this county. Dr. Mogen, um Kieran Walker from ASU, Dian Eldrith, several people, mentors at the school level that read and read and read and coach and coach and coach because we want to pass along that same thing to you guys. Um so, um with that being said, we're going to start with Charles Johnson. He is an EC teacher at Lidge Elementary School and he is newly certified as an exceptional needs
020specialist in early childhood through young adulthood in severe and multiple disabilities. Oh, >> I know. [laughter] Charles, >> can I want to say something about Charles? And I know I've probably said this before, but every time I go to his classroom, kids rush to the door, not just to greet me, and part of that's their leader in me training. Um, and this is a self-contained classroom, by the way. They can't wait to share with me what they're learning every time. Every time. Thank you. >> Such a happy classroom. >> Okay. Our second recipient is Taylor Ashley. She's second grade teacher at Westwood Elementary School and she has certified in literacy, reading, and language arts, early and middle childhood. and all that in the middle of having a child. And next recipient is Leanne Drop. She
021is a seventh grade science teacher at Ash County Middle School and she is newly certified in science early adolescence. I also want to say about Leanne. I thought you had yours long ago. That's how much of a master teacher I think of you in the classroom. Our last recipient for newly certified national board teachers is Taylor Hulk. She is a six sixth grade ELA teacher at Mountain View Elementary School and she is certified in English language arts early. >> [laughter] >> I know. >> And now you're adding an AI >> an AI. So again, when I was looking at her certifications, it's literally a laundry list of everything and I did not know that you got and AIG as well. >> One more. [clears throat] >> Congratulations. >> And we need we need more people
022to do that. Thank you. >> Our next recipient is for maintenance of certification, also known as renewal. Um, and it's for Michaela Warren. She is second grade teacher at Westwood Elementary School and she is certified in as a generalist early childhood. I >> think McKenna has been helping some other folks get theirs, hasn't she? >> Yes, she is part of the support network. She comes to our interest meetings. She shares her journey. She offers her help and coaching. So, we are appreciative of that, too. And she's paying it forward. Our last recipient who was not able to be here for maintenance certification is Terresa Goodman. She's first grade teacher at Mountain View Elementary School and she is certified as a generalist early childhood. >> If I might say so. Casey has done a wonderful job.
023I can remember back in the day that we had no support for um national board. we didn't have that support and I do appreciate how much that this has meant to our teachers to have those committees and that you have see out help for them and uh I think the support is there and so if anybody else I'd encourage them to do so but thank you Casey for all your hard work. >> I just want to pay it forward and other people do it too. That's it. >> All right. Starting the year off fully. So, next we've got new middle school updates. I think I saw Miss Allison Kip Sullivan in the bag. I came down by Lowe's Hardware the other day going to Mount Jefferson Road and I looked up and I saw Steel.
024>> Yes. >> From out of the Grand Finally. >> And I think it was on Facebook today, too. >> It was. >> Yeah. I didn't >> we did we put it on Facebook as soon as we got it. I'm like let's put it on >> Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. It's on there. >> Well, as long as the wind's not blowing too hard, we've got steel going up. But um I didn't send you the picture of the port and the sediment facing. So that's when the wind's blowing too hard. So [laughter] >> I hope it was empty. >> I tell you. >> Okay. >> I meant I meant with a person. Sorry. Sorry. >> Thank you. I meant I stepped into that one. >> More ways than one. >> It's like Walmart parking lot. It's pretty windy
025up there. So, yeah. Let's get started on Go ahead. Go ahead. [laughter] Well, with the steel, um they had obviously delivered crane and several other lip to help them um erect the steel. So, we are moving forward. That's over the concrete slab that's poured in area A. And so, classroom wing. >> That's right. The classroom wing. Thank you, Dr. Cox. [clears throat] Um they they started right before Christmas and so they're already sending beams for the for the roof. So they've done quite well and they worked weekends um when the weather was fit. So um they they you know I think progress has been pretty impressive. Um in the other portion of area A they've continued to work on foundations and the elevator pit has been completed. um the main electrical duct bank from the
026electrical room serving that wing has um been completed and it will those that electrical duct bank will um go over towards area B which is where the retaining wall is separating the lowest level from the rest of the building. Um the contractor um made the decision to go ahead and put asphalt down. It's just a temporary surface that will um uh be in place until they put the permanent um surfaces down. And does everybody recall that's now Bulldog Way? It's existing street with the new roadway in place. Um I did reach out to the county to find out when they were going to sign up. It's not up yet, but any so we have a you know surface from the existing street all the way up to the site which is now paved. It's exciting
027too. So, you're not walking in mud, which is cool. Um, some of these things I feel like it's very redundant, but I'm going to be saying these things till next summer, but we're continue to install water line. We're continuing to put storm drainage in. Obviously, we're continuing to do um foundations. Um the retaining wall separate AB for the most part's done. There's some exterior retaining walls that are outside of the building footprint. Those are continuing to be worked on, but they are have moved into the area. um be working on foundations in that section now. So um even though weather's you know hit or miss, we are making progress which is pretty good for January. >> Um guess anybody have any questions? Is that the retaining wall that I see? Um the soil nail nail
028soil, which oneever it is? Um in that picture there of the the big one with the construction stuff on it. >> Is it the vertical concrete wall? >> Yeah, >> that is the I'm pretty sure what you're looking at is the >> It's okay. That is Let's just in the picture. That is the wall separated classroom wing from the rest of the >> part of the building. >> Yes. Okay. >> Yes, it is. Yes. That's one they've been working on for on for months now. >> It looks great. We got stuff that looks so good. >> Anybody have any questions for Alice? >> All right. Thanks. Okay, >> next we've got public comment. I don't I didn't see anybody signed up for public comment. >> We'll jump right into action items for the board. The
029first item under action is the consent agenda. Under the consent agenda, we have the minutes for the December 15th and December 1st meetings. We've got the Odyssey of the Mind overnight trip competition. We've got the approval for overnight state hosta competition event. Approval of the high school band overnight trip, technology request for Ash County Middle School, High School, Ashkan Earlage College, laptop refresh, and we have the policies to in the consent agenda minus the 3225 uh-4312-7320. [laughter] Uh that was taken out of that earlier um on there. So under the that's all under the consent agenda. Do we have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> I move we approve the consent agenda. >> Okay. Thank you, Miss Ward. Do I have a second? >> Second, >> Miss Calhoun. Thank you. Other questions or
030comments? >> Hearing none. All those in favor, raise your hand. Motion carries. Next, we've got personnel. Dr. Mochen, do you have anything to add to that? Any questions for Dr. Mochin? Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to approve the personnel. >> I'll make the motion that we approve the personnel agenda. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Jones. Do I have a second? >> Have a second. >> Thank you, Miss Eldridge. Any other questions or comments there? All those in favor, raise your hand. Carry. Next, we've got the learning through play uh annual food contract. Good. >> You're walking better. >> At least I'm walking, not rolling. >> Exactly. Well, I'm just asking at this time if we can have an approval of the learning through play contract where we, you know, cater to their daycare.
031>> Do I have a motion to approve the contract? >> I make a motion that we approve the contract. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Calhoun. Do I have a second? >> A second. >> Miss Ward, thank you. Any questions for Miss Woods? >> Has any of the prices changed for this? >> It'd be increased with this contract by 50 cents a meal. >> So, what they'll pay is 50 cents more per meal. >> Yes. >> And right now, how many are we doing? >> Uh the contract is for 60 students. Now, does that go to June or the end of >> That's a year. >> Okay. >> So, it'll be next January. >> Okay. >> Any other questions? Hearing none. Uh, see, we've got a motion in a second. All those in favor, then
032raise your hand. >> Okay. You're good to go. Thank you. Motion carries. >> Last under action that we have here is the approval to purchase a maintenance van. Jod and Miss Cold Iron coming up. >> So, we had a little accident with one of the vans. Thankfully, it was the one we needed to replace. >> The deer ran into it. >> Deer ran into it, but you know, our driver was fine, so I'm thankful for that. Um, Jody has been researching different prices and he thinks he's found one um locally. Is it in Wils or is it >> uh it's actually the state school, but it's >> it's with Brandy Marian. Um but it comes with the racks and everything already installed inside it. Um that's that's pretty expensive cost when you have to >>
033to buy those separately, but it's going to come in at about $47,588. This probably should have been um you know Jody came in after we had already done some wass a budget request. So this probably should have already been submitted to the board as a request since it is the next on replacement. But um it wasn't. So what we'd like to do is go ahead and move forward with this. Now I you know my goal is to never spend any fun on that balance. That's just how I'm geared. Um, but we may have to dip into fund balance a little bit with this large of an expense in this fiscal year. >> And are you um repairing and trading in the old van? How much are we going to be receiving as a trade? >>
034Well, the Kelly blue was about8 $8500 on it. So, we that fact go for this one. >> And is the price um after that deduction or before the deduction? >> That's before the deduction. until we be around today. >> Jody, would you talk to me a little bit more about the condition of this van because my car has a lot more mileage on it than the van. So, I figured there were some other conditions other than the deer hitting it while we're moving want to move forward with >> like Amanda said, it is the next uh vehicle in our fleet to to be rotated out. So, there is some rust um showing on the bottom of the van and it's starting to get to that time that where we to look at replacing it. As
035we were saying, it it wouldn't be coming up in in a regular um budget rotation as the next vehicle we would replace anyway. So, we knew that we knew that it was going to be put into the budget request plan, but having the deer hit it has now just kind of expedited. And now we, you know, the value of putting money back into it to get it repaired and then go back and ask for a new van when we knew we were going to ask for a new van ahead of time kind of didn't make sense in that kind of rational that it could be fixed for $500 deductible. Is that what what it says here? >> You know, one of one of the things is make sure anybody that's using our vehicles are safe.
036And I worry with this van, we've had several repairs on it. Um it's just >> it's depreciated out as well. >> Yeah, it's depreciated out as well. >> What um model what is the difference in terms of the make and model of the of the vans? The one we're breaking in >> looking to buy it. It's it's a 2024, but it's new. It's only got 34 miles on it. >> Okay. Okay. Um, the one that we're looking to replace has 127,000 miles on it. >> Now, what is the the model? Who makes these two different vans? Is it the same company? I'm concerned for >> um, um, we've had a little more trouble with our Ford vans than we have with our Chevrolet. Yeah, I would definitely after the experience we've had with our Ford,
037it's just not been I mean we we really paid a heavy price [clears throat] to get it worked on when Johnny left for retirement. There was issues with it and Bryce was really kind of dug into it. So, it's going >> Johnny's is well the one that was Johnny's Grady has now, >> right? >> But this one is Greg Lines's van. So, um it is his turn for >> right and that's why we were looking to stay with the Chevrolet is we've not had the same punches for whatever stand because a lot of us uh the Ford van has had to go back in for service quite a bit more often than the Chevrolets have. And that's not because I'm a Chevrolet guy or a Ford. I'm just you can look at the numbers on
038what we spend. So, >> is this van the one with the most mileage on it right now? Uh, I'm >> Or do you have other vans that have more mileage? >> No, this is this is the this is the one with the most miles. >> Amanda, I am also concerned about the fund balance because we've we've been very very reluctant to do that. Is there a good chance we can find that money somewhere besides the >> I am working hard. >> You are. >> You know, we're halfway through the year now, so I can get some more solid projections what the rest of the year is going to look like. long as we have nothing major. This will be >> this will be current expense funds that will not be capital outlay funds you know
039capital we are sort of low on capital money so we would use our expense you know we're sitting currently right around 3 million in there but a lot of that is restricted for scholarships endowments um different things so I I hesitate when I say three million it sounds like a lot of money but it's really it's not available. >> So, your professional opinion, would you say we're in a good place to be able to pay that? >> I do. Yeah, it is. Yeah, we'll we'll be fine and we will work to find other ways to save. Um Jody is he's just been phenomenal since he got here. I I have to speak his praises. Jobs have moved forward and and he's always trying to um find the best way to do them at the best
040cause. So, I've got to give him kudos for that. He uh super proud. He just jumped in. You know, his first day here, he had to go to a FEMA meeting. So, baptism, >> and your crew worked during Christmas break in the school with the pictures that were on Facebook. Wonderful. >> Yeah, that'll be that's >> good team all the way around. >> And I appreciate your thorough report and awareness of long-term planning, too. That that's very good. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate the extra details. I just wanted to know if the van was in that bad of a shape. >> I think, you know, anytime you get one starting to rust underneath, you risk a frame. And >> if we can get 4,800 4,700 out of it, we're doing well, aren't we? >> I
041I think we can get a little more than that. >> I think we can get Yeah. a little more out of that. I'm surprised that Blue Book so low, but I think we can probably get that the Blue Book out of it. I mean, there there are a lot of people in the area looking to pick up a van like that that to do trades. So, I think I I mean, I can't say for sure. I'm not in the car business, but >> I don't know. Can we sell that privately or do we have to go through the deal? >> We have to put it out for bid or we can trade it. >> And the other option is you can give it to another agency, but okay. >> We really need the funds out
042of it to go back toward it. So, we'll we'll put it up for bid either on deals or um trade it. Okay. I make a motion we purchase the van. >> All right. Thank you, Miss El. Got a motion. Do I have a second? >> All right. Got two seconds. That's a promise. Um there. So, um any other questions or comments? >> All in favor, raise your hand. All right. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you. >> Let's see. Jody, I don't think you need to go far. You're up here somewhere. Are you next? here next. So, come on up. This one updates, discussions, and items for the board. We've got the update for January. So, >> okay. Well, again, thank you for letting me speak to you guys this evening. Again, it's been a
043real um busy holiday time. Um tried to share some of the photos on Facebook today. So, if you haven't haven't had a chance to go and look at the Facebook page that we have, we've uh done a lot of projects that that I'm really excited about for the students and, you know, the community to be able to experience and things moving forward. Uh, you know, we'll speak out real quick before I start getting into the list here. You know, the chillers did get set today, so that was a nice feeling. Anything that big coming off the trailer getting set couldn't couldn't have issues and it didn't. So, we're we're moved along there. We did a power ride just last week and last thank our uh our nutrition team Tammy and her group and the custodial
044and the team and Amy and her team that helped support that because um we did have to make some changes due to the weather with the power out and her team was able to come up and support us. So, um, while this might just look as a maintenance lens, it has reached out to other other departments and I want to thank them publicly cuz I appreciate it. We can't do it without their help. Um, and even I'll say with Dustin, his his group, we had some young students who actually helped us move some food to our program. Want to thank them again, too. Um, they've been real helpful. you know, when you're um moving 70 to 100 and some boxes multiple places, any extra sets of hands is super grateful and and I know my
045team and myself appreciate it. I definitely throw myself in the middle of that, but we appreciate any extra sets of hands um that were there. So, that was really great. Um I I'll dig into the update and kind of hit some highlights on this. Please feel free again as I go through to ask questions as I as I hit on some of these items. Um we are looking at kind of working through this uh bank stability project over at the middle school. We did get the uh soul report back. Um right now the recommendation um is looking to find a soil nail wall designer. Probably be reaching out to Allison or someone Venoi to design a soil nail wall. Once we get to design, we'll look to put it out for bid at that point
046and then we'll work with FEMA on what that process looks like. We've not heard any negative feedback or push back on on what that would look like, but there's a timeline that we'll try to put that together. >> Where is that located on campus, Jody? >> So, you remember where the building that we demoed was at the bank behind it. That means that road right there, the little dirt road there, it's falling in. >> Yeah. So that bank eventually will will saturate and give away. Um the report kind of gave us some detail about what was needed for drainage and the score as well. So we'll have a drainage uh system installed in there. The soleno wall will go in and then uh we'll look at having some kind of barrier that will help with
047stability of the soil the soil in place on the bank as well. Um because I think that's popped up. >> Has that covered by FEMA? >> That will be a FEMA project. Yeah. Mhm. [clears throat] Yeah. Uh the early learning center roof, we're still in the middle of trying to work uh that out right now. See Miss uh our learning process with that is uh kind of in in the works. We've not got the report back from um um I apologize yet. Um but we are we had conversation with him about that today. uh the middle school building replacement. Uh we've had some conversations with FEMA. We feel like we're end up getting funded for the building. Um unfortunately, it probably will not get funded for power or slab underneath it. Um and our plan
048is to submit it to the state to see if we can cover the cost for that, but we probably will end up getting the building is what it looks like. Would you add anything to that? Will the soil nail wall have to be in place before that building can be replaced? >> Right now, we're we're actually going to move the building to in between the bleachers and where the fieldhouse is at lower and lower field. >> I remember. >> Yeah. So that won't impede on that project. >> Um another important item that we've continuing to drive since the last meeting, we did have a I guess we'll call it the the group of people that we stakeholders we pulled together. Dr. Cox was able to be there. um a number of people in the community
049of the town uh commissioner was there talking about uh the water tower. We've come to a conclusion of where we're at and we've sent a contract into our lawyer and it's in the lawyer's hands. Greg and M ready to draft um their design so we can get it into DPI for review and all other health agencies for review so we can hopefully get that out the bid. >> Since we've not seen that plan, I believe I asked last board meeting to give us a direction that we might be going in on this plan. >> Yeah. and they've not designed it yet. So once once uh Greg Mannard gets the final design, it'll go in front of this board for approval and then we'll move forward. Before >> can you talk about are we going to
050make the tower higher? Are we going to do the what seems to be the current plan just to give me an idea? >> Yeah, be happy to share. Um, so the the the adjustment to to make sure the water the fire hydrants are going to hit the flow rate is we're going to pull a the drinking water out of out of the system, so to speak, and put a drinking or put a bigger tank in for the drinking water and put a pump in so it'll bypass the drinking water and the the fire hydrant water will all come from the tower that's there. So, the drinking water will will be in a 5,000gallon tank. I think that's what we decided we'll go with was a 5,000gallon tank. And there'll be a small building up on
051the hill where this is housed. Um, and that's how we'll we'll meet that. So, the pump will push push the flow rate down through the hydrants, which will meet the the flow rate that we need to hit for the specs for the for the hydrants. That's the way it's going to work. It was decided that the drinking water needed to be separated because it can't sit for that long in order to have enough water in for the pressure. We had to have two separate tanks. >> Yep. >> So So will the town have to keep that tank full? >> The town will keep it full. They won't they won't worry about it in the same manner that they will have. >> They won't because it won't be >> Yeah. [clears throat] >> It'll just sit
052there for >> long. Yeah. Because before it couldn't sit there, so you couldn't keep it full because then it wouldn't be drinkable water. >> Mhm. >> Well, this is better. >> Forgive me in advance, but any timeline on this thing? >> Uh, right now I mean is it's with legal right now. So when I when I get >> I talked to him today, so I'll fill you in in um later, but essentially uh when I talked to Fred this morning, um it's really going to go directly back to Madern and Craig because some of the information needed to be filled in, but the forms are fine. >> Okay. Yeah. So that's that's most of information I get from them. And then when they have design back, we can, you know, get it into DPI, which
053I've already talked with the DPI. They're aware the project's coming. So, and I don't don't have any dates. Wish I did, but not yet. >> Well, DP sometimes doesn't work as fast as I'd like. Sorry. >> Yeah. Um, any other questions about the fire hydrant or the Westwood project? Uh, the middle school project. I know there's been some emails about out that what's the timeline again. Um, on the 12th we should go out for um >> bid um on that project. So, that should be be good move. And then in February, we'll we'll open bids. Correct. February around the 14th I think is the day we're going to open bids for 14th. So that those will be dates that will be harder. So we have that moving along which is good. >> Well, so what
054is Terracon's role in that? I thought we'd already decided it was Terracon. >> Yeah, they're the designer. So they've been designing it and they'll help us with that bidding process. Um but right now >> the contractor, right? >> No, can't do. So once we got the um information back that the designs were approved by DPI, then they could use um that information to design what needed to go into the bid documents. And so that takes a little while to prepare. And um so first of next week is when those will go out be advertised. >> 12. I talked with Eric Conrad today um and you know he was ready to reach out to he reached out to seven contractors last week and he said all all seven were interested in the project. So I feel
055feel confident we'll have at least the three or four to choose from. So that's that's good news. Um again the next item we have is the you know chiller project. Again shared a little bit that that's gone really well. We've got the wire pull for that last week. Um they pulled the old chillers out today and installed new chillers. Next mileston we're going be hitting is they're they're fabricating pipe at their shop this week and our electricians will come in and tie um power back to the chillers probably tomorrow. Let's move along and then we'll have some control processes that we'll tie into the new chiller and getting the startup going from that. So, we we hit a really good comfort spot today with that with them [clears throat] sitting the new chillers, which is
056which is a big that's a a big thing for us to hit. Um, I did I did want to kind of uh start bringing out some information. Um, as I've been here um I guess nine or 10 months now. Uh, it's the end of the year. Um, we have a uh a Google Sheets. A lot of people use a CMS computer as maintenance management system. We don't really have that yet. something we've looked to grow into, but it kind of shows some of the work that we do in our and the way our department works and some of the things that we complete. I think it's important to share that with um people in our community with our leadership. Um and you know, I pulled some numbers roughly. Um we don't put in what people
057refer a lot of times to as preventive maintenance or plan maintenance. We don't generally enter in that into our system. So there's a lot of that work that you may not see in these numbers. So again, as as we grow and find efficiency opportunities or um ways to continue to add data to this information, some of these numbers may change and we'll talk through why. But I think it's good to kind of help provide those to us as we kind of develop as a department because it takes time for for me to you know get this data and then as we get the data we can kind of learn what we're doing well what we kind of do well and then you know unfort you know learn what to ask for and learn what to
058plan for. So I think this is what kind of wanted to share with you from some of this. So, I won't like read everything um to you, but uh we we did around 1500 tickets from the last time around I came in. Again, that's not not not including the preventive maintenance like where we do every week, for example, in the in the summer. Uh we have the mowing once a week or uh we check the waters at uh the middle school and the U Blue Ridge every twice, three times a week. We don't include that those tickets in there. Um, so there's lots of other work that is preventive that we need to start planning in to make sure we hopefully increase the life of some of our equipment. Um, we we don't have filter
059changes included in here too. So that's and that's certainly a big portion of work when you're talking about HDAC equipment and those kind of things. This kind of also gives us some of the information that you know where we're doing it at which schools and again that's kind of going to help us plan on you know making decisions as more information will come into next month's meeting and I kind of want to get that out in your heads as well. We do have the facility assessment uh gentleman come in to present on the uh BASA is the name of the company where we've submitted we'll we'll submit it to the state on what our five-year plan looks like on some of the facility needs that we would like to start looking at or what we've
060talked about looking at and where we need to start going. So kind of aggregating this information together hopefully will start giving us a better chance for success and maybe long-term improvement as far as what happens to our equipment or where we start prioritizing projects and pieces like that. Now nobody has a magic eightball. Nobody can predict what's going to happen tomorrow, right? Uh but we're just going to we're going to gather the best data that we can hopefully as efficiently as we can. Um, some of the things I'd like to point out, what I didn't put it on your notes, but I did I did uh I did and I'm I like to use chat GBT and it's really kind of neat on what it can do. So, [laughter] it pulls numbers together kind of
061creatively, but we are we are in about 86% completion uh rate from these tickets for month over month. So, what comes in on that month, we're able to complete about 86% of those. Um, and I think that's been a real testament not just to to um to my myself but our team. And I don't think we have lots of woes uh from from our from our school or our teachers. Uh, I think sometimes they almost get really accustomed to our quickness and our ability to respond to things to where a lot of times, to be honest with you, this number may may drop one day when we start putting in permitted maintenance tickets, but we can start to understand why it's going to drop. And dropping is not bad. It's just how do we address
062what's dropping and where what drops. So, um, but again, like we'll jump back to where I was say some of these tickets that we're not completing are ends up being parts that are on order. So, we have between I think um I pulled the report uh between 8 to 13 days sometimes the lead time on parts. So, if something comes in on the 22nd, well, we may not get the parts to it until the following month. So where this report shows month over month, it's just showing the snapshot of that month from like say December 1 to December 31 or or whatnot. So it doesn't give you like always the most concrete idea and kind of snapshot the best you can with with just an Excel sheet. Um, but there are some things that we
063are working to try to develop with key performance indicators so we can show our team and and I do think in our morning meetings our team does like to hear about where they're being successful and and what they can continue to do to be successful. Um, and that's been helpful for our group. Um, I will back a little bit to um some of the photos. I hope you guys were able to see them. Um, the hallways at the high school um we were able to paint those over the break. I think that's been really a nice >> way of difference. >> Yeah, I think Dustin and the teachers have had a lot of positive response to those. I think it brings some life to the hallways and I hope the students feel it too so
064that they can start to, you know, to me the white was really kind of like [laughter] >> institutional. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Institutional. Um, it's a little more hospital vibe than education device, but um, I definitely I think that was a nice touch to our school and our hallway. Um, and it'll bring, I think, some student culture back to that piece. Um, and then the dugouts that we were finishing. I know we talked about those previous months. Um, I think those have turned out really nice. We got to finish up the walk with the contractor. Um, but we were able to get some fencing and netting along both sides of the uh right field line and left field line. So hopefully I know it was mentioned earlier about trying to keep balls in. Um, we
065we did we did keep that in mind in the design. I promise I can't say we'll keep every ball in out of the >> but uh we definitely are nice. It's a it's a nice layout and I think that this athletic team and baseball softball team, excuse me, will be able to enjoy the spring with some with some pretty good >> spring starts February. >> I don't [laughter] >> I don't know the company that did it, but they were over there on the weekend and even, you know, right at the end of the holidays working >> the fence and getting the fence and everything done. >> Yeah, we we were really happy to see the outcome on that and that's that's been a good project over there. I think again I think uh athletic director
066and and the teams will be happy with the look of it. >> We had five super >> we did. Yeah. Again, thank you and her team because again it's a it's a group effort in all those meetings. >> Eva was not real cooperative without him. >> I think we're going to save some money on some softballs too going in the creek of it. >> Yeah. that again. I think that >> gas >> um >> driving. >> But uh yeah, that's that's all the update I have for you guys. >> You also have the C the next is a CTE bathroom renovation. >> Okay. I didn't know that was a second. >> All right. Yeah. So, um, you know, while we show what we do, you know, unfortunately, uh, some of this stuff going to cost
067money and we we know we knew before I came in here there was a budget approved item to work on the CTE bathrooms to remodel those. Um, and as we've all seen, costs have risen. Um, we know we were two years ago we were $250 a square foot. Now we're over $400 a square foot for building spaces. Um, so what we did was talk with Dustin and we've modified some of the scope of what the requests would be to work on the CT bathrooms and we were wanted to remodel those and I did get quote for that. Um the previous uh we we shrunk the teacher bathrooms out of it and we were just going to look at remodeling um the bathroom space, putting in new preditions, new tal new tile and working on some
068new new urinals and toilets in the men's and new toilets in the in the women's bathroom. Um and then some aesthetic stuff with a heater box that's in there. It's exposed. It just kind of looks um dated. So, we were looking at trying to put a box around that um and then paying to space, which um wasn't actually included in this, but we were going to pull it out of our operational funds. But we we we we [clears throat] did come out with with several quotes. The lowest fortunately was was higher than what was originally approved by the board. So, I wanted again to bring it to the board's attention and hopefully get approval on it. So, this is within the scope of what I can approve, but since it was a raised cost over
069what you all had originally seen, I asked Jody to bring it back um because it is an increased cost and it is uh around 49,000 and my limit is 50 u without bringing it to the board just informing you. So, um rather than just informing you, I wanted you all to know that there's a significant cost increase because of time. Jody, what things were eliminated that had been planned? Because >> the staff bathrooms were pulled out completely. We pulled those out. We're not We weren't going to look to add the staff bathroom. >> So, we're where those people have to go back upstairs to the >> Those will still be in place remodeled. >> They still have bathrooms, but they're they were not in as rough a shape as the student bathrooms >> um in
070that area. So, this allows us to do the student bathrooms first um and then, you know, we'll look for other funds at another time to do the staff bathrooms. It was a significant cost difference. >> I think that might be important to make sure that we don't forget about those staff bathrooms there. I mean, considering the type of supervis supervis supervision that's needed there, you don't want your teachers having to go all the way up. >> They're so usable. >> Yeah. But, you know, we don't want to treat them like secondass citizens either. No, I I mean I I use those bathrooms when I'm over in there and they're and they're really not >> the the plumbing is in need in the in the student space like when the urinal water is out of balance.
071Um there's there's only one one toilet in both >> bathrooms. It's a very private bathroom for the staff in there. Um the you know the labor cost is where it kind of starts punching you on what we would do in those spaces. Um I think I think there's some bigger conversation that we could have about the whole um CTE wing at some point. Um about how that would look. Um and Dustin, I've I've tagged Dustin through the months about what growth and what that looks like and what plans could look like there. And that could be definitely something we and that would be definitely something we'd try to tag into a project, I think, if we plan it out correctly. Um, >> well, it's it's the oldest part of the building. It's been there a
072lot longer than the regular high school. >> I guess we kind of got pushed aside too >> over the years, >> right? And I'd hate to see that neglect. I mean, I want us to do what we can for sure. And u if that's that's part of the staff bathrooms, I'd like continued maybe later when we get more money or find find an additional funding. Maybe is CTE are they allowed to use any there? I didn't think so. I was that was wishful. Thank you. [clears throat] >> And it's not been taken off the plans. It's just not at this time because of the significant increased cost. And we've got to do things that aren't going to cause water to be all over the floors and kids not to be able to flush um toilets.
073So, uh that's not the issue in the staff bathroom, although it does need a facelift. >> Well, I move that we approve the increased costs. With all the inflation that we're having, I don't think we have a choice. I have a second a motion. Okay, [clears throat] >> Amanda, how will we come up with that money? >> The public school building repair and renovation money. So, you know, they give us an a lot of a quarter of those. So, we we'll be fine on that. >> Okay. >> And quick question. So, with the 49,000, would that fit into what your future plans are maybe with the CTE? Would that all kind of all would this go in that kind of plan to where it wouldn't have to be redone or something later? >> It would
074be if we if we did a focus on phasing in a remodel of that area. Yeah. This we could just say as our first area. >> Okay. So, this Okay. >> Be a approach to that. Yeah. And there and there's some layers to that whole building that we're talking about um that we'll need to address. um that don't become that become more mechanical of an issue and push extreme costs. Um that are included in our facility assessment plan that's coming up and we'll share with you guys next month and that'll be also one of my main points to put in my budget of next year is an area we need to to address because we're we've been bandating the area in the basement of that bowler room for a long time. So again, it's, you
075know, we're talking roof to floor. Um, and we and we know the gravity of all our spaces and we kind of have to, you know, gather all this information and select it in the best most mindful place and way we can. So, and sometimes it's just a it's a moving target. >> Jody, we moved on before I I had one more question on the other thing. is the reason that we only have 3.3% of the early college things. That's because it's not owned by us. Correct. >> Correct. A lot a lot of times that's we and we have what I would define as um event support um where and and we're happy to have where we help take drinks over to to to our staff meetings and and little things like that. And that's why
076it might be done because I ask them our ad in minting to put those tickets in in there because we have a lot and I say help me keep track of this because it's it's there. So it's little things like that. We don't do any facility maintenance in in that building and all. It's it's all owned by the by the college. But it's just a matter like, you know, hey, we we need or we had an art teacher want us to move some wood that we bought into his space over there. he put a ticket in, you know, little things like that. So, yeah. >> Okay. >> Thank you for that clarification. >> Sure thing. >> Any other questions? We had a motion and a second on the floor. No other discussion. All those in
077favor, raise your hand. >> All right. Good to go. >> Yeah. And by the way, we're looking to to do that work this summer. So, that would be something to be able to come back to the fall in and be able to to have that space. >> Mind, how old is that career center over there? I know the school's 25 years old and that >> I think it's the 70s, isn't it? I think it's early. >> I know it's old. I remember it's built >> to Northwest 83. It was there before that. >> I think it's >> it was 70s. >> There's a sign in there when it was there's a plaque in there and I think it's 75 72 or 75. and the area that he's talking about um for a little while has
078has um been nurtured by our maintenance department to keep it afloat. And so um you know, we're going to have to put some in and and do some of the preventative maintenance before it gets to this shape on our other buildings. That's some of the things that he's talking about. >> Thank you. Next under item, we've got Warnsville property considerations. >> Okay. So, I don't have anything in there yet because I haven't had a chance to physically put it in there. Um, but when I talked to our board attorney, um, and I will put this in here and so I'll make sure that all of you have this in writing. Um but uh for the Warren Soul property uh now that the county commissioners have um provided us um with a note that shares that
079they have no use for the property. So they've given up their first right of refuse. They have the first right of refusal. Um we did get that in written form and um so we must have a public sale process. So there are options that we have in this public sale. So, we can schedule a public auction um and advertise it for 3 weeks. Um we do uh um we do not have to um take whatever is um it's not like it's whatever the highest bid is there at that time. If it's not what we think the value of that property is, um we don't have to accept it, but the board does they must you must approve um whatever that price is that it is sold for. So you that's one of your options. Another
080option is to put it up for sale by the board of education, advertise it and see what bids come in and uh you all decide um if you accept those uh that bid wherever that might be. Um we can retain the services of a realtor and place it on the market. Um, and of course, um, if you received an offer to accept, we'd put an ad in the paper that says that we have received an offer, and then anyone has essentially 10 days after that ad runs um to put in another offer within those 10 days. Um, so that's another option. uh if we have a realtor uh in place for the sale, then obviously there are commissions that come out of what the board would make that would go to the realtor negotiable of
081course. Um so, you know, again, we could do it ourselves without having a realtor involved if that's the case as well. And then um a fourth option is actually that if there was another governmental agency that wants it, we can give it to them similar to what we did with the Warrenville Fire Department. So um whether EMS or fire or some or uh the town um you could take it um if that's the case. Um again, the county of course gave up. They they said they had no need for this property. um it would be asis. So they would assume whomever wanted it would assume full liability, you know, once that uh paperwork and process was done with. But those are essentially the four options uh that the board has. [clears throat] And so I
082wanted to share that with you and so we'll bring to the next meeting um so that you guys can vote on what you would like to do with that property, what process you'd like to use. So, if you want to go and research any of it, if you want me to get some information to bring back to you all what that would look like, um, happy to do that for you. Um, but since you're hearing it for the first time today, we didn't put it for action. >> We done anything on the surveying or whatever so we can determine what the value might be. >> We haven't done a thing yet because we just got the, you know, was December and I don't know how much money we want to invest in it. Um but
083if if we want to do >> the tax value >> the there is a tax value we can we can get the tax value and obviously um it you know bring bring all of that to back to you all so you can make a decision and we can get that pretty easily within the next couple of days. >> Any questions there? We'll have more to come on that. All right hearing nothing else. I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> I move we adjourn. >> Thank you, Miss Ward. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right, got two seconds. >> Three seconds. Now, let's all vote. All in favor? Everybody's good. All right. Thank you all.