001Board of Education meeting to order. I know this is the one and only time each year that I start the meeting uh because that is our annual organizational meeting um under North Carolina General Statute 115C-41. And so thank you to all of our board members for everything that you do. And um at this time we will verify that we have a quorum present by taking ro. Um starting with Janet >> uh present. >> Teresa Calhoun present. >> Josh present. >> Dian Elder present. >> Bobby Jones present. >> So for the record we have all five board members present. And so at this time, um, I'd like to, uh, call for the election of a board chair. Do I have any? >> You have to pledge. >> Oh, >> yeah. >> Yep. You're right. Skip that.
002All right. So let's start with the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic which stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. begin our organization officially. >> Let's not let me. >> So, let's start with the election of the board chair. Do I have the floor is now open for nominations for board chair? >> I nominate Joshua. >> I'll second. >> We have a nomination and a second. Any other nominations? The nominations are now closed. Um, let's call for a vote for board chair of Josh Roden. All in favor say I. >> I. >> 5 Z. Okay, this is yours, Josh. >> Okay, thank you board. Appreciate the confidence in me uh for that. Um, so from there, we'll go on to opening
003the floor for nominations for vice chair. Do I have a nomination for vice chair? Is Diane willing to continue? >> Well, I don't do a whole lot, but yes, I would be. >> You want me to? Yes, I would do that, Diane. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Ward. Have a nomination for Diane Elbert. Vice Chair, do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Jones. Have a second to the nomination. >> All those in favor of the nomination, raise your hand or say, "I." I. Five. All right. >> Feels weird for yourself. >> I know. It does. All right. So, we've got that underway on there. So, we'll hop in here for the approval of the agenda. Thank you, Dr. Cox, for starting us out there um on there. Anybody
004have anything to change or amend to the agenda? If not, I'll entertain a motion to approve the agenda. I make a motion we approve the agenda. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Eldrith. Do I have a second motion? >> Thank you, Miss Jones. Any questions, comments? All those in favor, raise your hand. Motion cares. All right, Dr. Cox, I'll turn it back over to you for comments from the superintendent. All right. So, we've had a lot of uh great things going on in Ash County schools over the last month and of course we're coming into our holidays. So, we do have quite a few upcoming events uh that are open to the community and of course to the board. Um, but I wanted to brag on Ash County High School uh for a little bit.
005Um the in the past couple of weeks uh the advanced placement scores um were released by the state and of course all across the state uh we've had um uh huge gains not only in the number of students participating um but also in the success of those students and Ash County High School exceeded the state and the nation in their advanced placement scores and so um it fant Fantastic. That means students who took advanced placement. So these are college level courses at the high school um scored a level three, four or five. And in North Carolina, a three, a four or a five um earns you in one of the 19 um univer colleges and universities, state colleges and universities course credit. And so that's really exciting for our students. But um over 75% of
006our stu of the tests taken by our students earned college credit. And even if they earned a two on the state exam, which is um a the rest of the 25% most of them earned a two means that they are college ready and ready for that particular course once they get to college. So this is fantastic news. Kudos to Mr. Farmer and the team at Ash County High School. uh teachers, students alike um for that remarkable uh showing. But in addition to that, over the past five years, which is an incredible growth of 25.6% increase in the advanced placement scores, which is um almost unheard of. So that's a huge gain over the last several years. And what that means is dollars to our families when they don't have to pay for those college classes.
007uh one lesson they have to take. That is a huge benefit. And then it gives our kids confidence that they can compete at the highest levels of education with students from all across the country because and actually all over the world um because these are um taken by students all over the world. Um congratulations to Mr. Aaron Nut, who's the assistant principal at um Ash County Middle School, and Tanya Greer, who um works in as an accounting specialist here in our central office on being voted by their peers for the November employees of of the month. And I can speak to both of them the way they've carried themselves. I know that uh Mr. Bot has been with us for a short period of time. Uh but in times of um in times of need,
008he's led with great uh compassion and empathy for his staff. And Tony Greer, I mean, I've known her since I've been here, and she's been here a lot longer than me. She is probably one of the most reliable people. Um and her entire family works tirelessly. So, um kudos to both of them for being recognized. And we had some fun. I don't know if I talked about it in the last meeting, but um Amy Walker and our media coordinators, myself, dressed as a box of Crayola crayons and uh for Halloween and handed out uh books to lots of kids. It's been a cold the last several uh years. Um but boy, we we had fun. And I just love seeing kids of all ages, high school, middle school to down to um kids that aren't
009even in our schools yet just light up uh with a gift of a book. And so how exciting that is for us to be able to do that um every year. Um we had a Veterans Day program since we met last as well and that Veterans Day program uh was was highly successful. I know our fam our families and um uh community members who may not have anybody in school enjoy coming to celebrate with our students and to be honored. And this year's um event was uh uh coordinated of course by the high school, but they had a drive-thru parade at Westwood Elementary uh leading into it. All of our schools participated and then Mr. Andy Cerillo, who is a a veteran of the United States Army and a math teacher at our middle school
010who has quite a he's really interesting if you haven't talked to him before. Lots of different experiences overseas, even outside of his army experience. Um, but he delivered some pretty inspiring remarks. So, >> what's that? >> His dad. Oh, that's right. His dad. So, he had some pretty inspiring um No, but he lived overseas, too. Mr. Strill. Yeah. Um but his dad had um uh just an amazing service um and he spoke to those. So kudos to him and all of our uh military members. Um our Christmas parade was held in November as well which was a lot of fun. Uh the Christmas parade of course uh was sponsored by the Rotary but we had huge community participation including Ash County Schools. Uh, we showcased our brand new activity bus, which you haven't seen that,
011it's it's really nice. Anyway, you know, I think about riding a bus when I was younger. This is not that same experience. It's it's really a nice bus. Um, but we had uh everything from cheerleaders and our ROC to some of us in the central office and all of our schools represented. Uh so thank you to all all who participated and those who we didn't see in the parade were actually sitting outside of the parade and so it was fun. I know that uh Janet Ward and Diane and I rode in the parade and waved. Um but it was fun to see everybody out there enjoying especially those that were dressed in costume. Um our early college um had a uh performance of the internet is a distract. Oh, look a kitten. Um, which uh
012had great reviews. U really funny, witty. Um um but our drama club or theater club at the early college was the one who um shared their talents at the civic center which was a lot of fun. Um we have Mountain View Elementary School who has started a podcast and this was from funds from the Ash County Schools endowment uh board. So, they received those funds from uh the fundraising that has gone on through our golf indoor golf tournament, which is really exciting. And the kids are um hosting uh this podcast twice a month. So, it's about 10 minutes long and sharing all kinds of things. Um and a lot of what their academic work is is is related directly to what they're doing on this podcast. So, if you haven't a chance to actually listen
013to it, um they're really talented. So, we have kids um who are able to share that creative voice and the uh link can be found on the Ash County Schools and the Mountain View um websites. Congratulations to somebody we have here in the audience right now, which is principal Dustin Farmer and um who was interviewed for the region 7 principal of the year. and he was he was one of six principles from the region that were selected to actually interview for this honor. So, we are really proud of him and um it's been a while since we've had somebody to even get an interview in Ash County Schools from a leadership standpoint. So, kudos to uh uh Dustin on that honor. uh the Husky men's soccer team. Um Pablo uh broke the single season goals
014record. How many was that? Do you guys know how many goals he scored? >> Over 50. >> It was over 50. That's incredible. In one soccer season. Um and they made it to the regional finals for the first time in school history. So, uh, we're really proud of, uh, proud of him and proud of the entire men's soccer team, um, for that, uh, uh, accomplishment. Now, I was at Newton Conover for their final game, and I'll tell you, um, they were quick, they were fast, certainly deserved to be there. Um and Newton Common were of course uh um won two to nothing, but I can't it's nothing for the Our boys left it all out on the field. I'll tell you that. They ran and played hard. >> So the Ash County High School hosted
015it as family night on November 13th and the center theme was learning, leading, and succeeding. and we had what over 200 people there that night which was an incredible showing um for a high school uh showcase of academics. Um and then we got to enjoy um excuse me a community day on the morning of the 18th uh to see things from the Spark Lab to what's going in in our CTE programs. A lot of exciting things going on at Ash County High School. And um I just want to share that we have also been focusing on quite a few things uh partnering with Ash, excuse me, with the Ash campus of Wils Community College. They had an auto expo day with NASCAR Hall of Fame. Uh they've had a health science day, tours of Levitton
016and West Jefferson and the Ash County Applied Engineering Technology with AEV. So, our kids are not only learning about these things in class, but they're getting real community work experiences to see if that's some place that they would like to um work when they graduate from high school. And there's a whole list of upcoming things from Westwood's school musical with Peter Pan, which we're really excited about. Um to um uh high school and middle school uh band concerts. So that's upcoming. And then we also have um uh Blige Elementary School has their December to Remember. So a lot of exciting things. The middle school has a winter fest coming up. So, uh, lots of ways the community can participate over the next, uh, two weeks here in Ash County Schools before we're out for the
017holidays. And that's it. >> All right. Lot going on. Busy month for December on there. We're going to keep up with new middle school updates with Miss Allison Kemp Sullivan. Good afternoon everybody's well. Um, >> so the rain and this ice is not going to help us this evening tonight. But, um, what we have been able to get done in the last month, um, I think we talked about this at the last meeting. Final layer shotrete was applied to the soil now wall. Um, installation of storm drains continue along with water line fire hydrant work. Uridge Energy has been on site and has been installing conduit under the road for the site lighting. Um we were able to get the first slab pour for the um area A. Um first half of that was done.
018Um the balance of the slab cannot be finished until the retaining wall separating area A and B is complete. Um two sections of that wall are finished. Um and they continue to tie rebar and um are saving worms and working on the rest of that wall. Um it's very dependent on rain and wind because they're having to climb up the rebar and work on it as they go. Um again, it's all very weather dependent. Um areas A, B, and C, they are putting stone down. Um, Monoi Construction is actually switching out their um, office trailer to get a larger one. They have extra staff there and we're going to um, we've been having our meetings at their main office um, in Jefferson, but they're going to start transitioning that over to just the job site.
019And um, we also were able to have our kickoff meeting before the furniture with the middle school teachers and the directors. And um, so that's just the beginning of many many meetings to come over the next couple years. So, does anybody have any questions? >> Any questions? >> I like the pictures again. Thanks. >> You're welcome. >> It's going to be a rough time of year to get stuff done and I know that's frustrating. >> It is frustrating. I mean, we have weather days built in. So, it's anticipated. Everybody on the team's worked through, you know, this kind of weather. So, It's anticipated. So, it's part of the schedule. So, >> do we know how much money we've spent so far? >> Going fast. >> Well, it's it's nothing we haven't planned for. So, it's
020not going faster than what we anticipate. So, I think right now the contracts we build, it's been about 9 million of the construction contracts that sell right now. I'm going by memory because I just approved the payout this morning. Um, >> and I haven't signed that one yet. So they're probably >> so that's about how much they are on the pay application. We've also been paying design fees and other costs too. >> How's the availability of concrete right now? >> It's it's gotten better. I can share that with you before too. Um but for everybody, you know, other people are wanting concrete too. You know, a lot of people recovering from home bridge building, that kind of thing. So all of that's going to slow down with the weather. But you know, the group that
021we're working with is they're very sophisticated. So we'll probably get it before other people because they just don't know how to manage cold. So we can still pour in colder weather as long as it's 40° plus and they know how to manage as far as like covering the concrete and accelerators in it, those kind of things. It's something it's kind of a game day decision every day if they pour. So I mean even the concrete side that we did more we had to adjust that a couple of days wasn't done when they had to. So it had to be shifted. So we'll see how it goes. I don't tomorrow. >> So you have to build a bloom around it to be able to report. >> I appreciate the pictures too. I'll keep saying. >> All
022right. Thanks a lot. >> We'll jump on in here to action items for the board. The first item under action is our consent agenda, which includes the Western Governor's that Western Carolina Governor's MOU. >> Western Governor's University. >> Okay. All right. Well, I thought it threw me off for a minute. Western Governor's Universityou the minutes for the last meetings and the special call the uh gear up 2.0 subwords policies the 2627 budget calendarwell community collegeou overnight state beta competition trivet trip trivet know where that come from but and thenouc and f c. >> Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? I make a motion that we accept them. Okay. >> Thank you, Mr. Calhoun. Do I have a second? >> I second. >> Thank you, M. Ward. Any questions, comments? All those
023in favor, raise your hand. Motion carry. Next, we've got personnel on the agenda. Anybody have any questions for Dr. Mo on the personnel? I don't think we had an addendum to this. No. So, it's just personnel. I just have a general question that is concerning personnel. How many physicians are we still looking for? >> Um, we are not looking for any classroom teachers at this time. We are always looking for bus drivers and bus substitutes. That's our primary thing. >> And substitutes. >> Yes. >> No teachers at this time. I knew there were some people changing over. So that's good. >> Well, do I have a motion to approve the personnel? >> Mr. Chairman, I'll make a motion that we approve the personel. >> Thank you, Miss Jones. Do I have a second? >> Second.
024>> Thank you, Miss Elder. Any other questions, comments? All those in favor, raise your hand. Motion carries. Next, we've got our 2425 audit presentation. Come on up. Good afternoon. Thank you for having me here to present the 2025 policy. The first thing I wanted to explain is that the copy that you all have right now is still not draft. This is due to the government shutdown. There were federal documents that did not get signed until literally the day before Thanksgiving. So, we're reviewing those now and they should be finalized by tomorrow, but as of now, it was just a little bit of a rush to try to get that finalized between getting those documents Wednesday with the holiday and everything. So, it's still in draft format, but we do not expect any changes and we
025should have that submitted to the state and finalized freehole hopefully tomorrow at the latest by Wednesday or Thursday. So, all right. I'm pleased to report that Ash County Schools has an unmodified opinion for the June 30th 2015 audit. This is the best opinion that you can receive on an audit and this has been a long-standing opinion that Ash County Schools has had. So, congratulations to the finance department and staff as this was a collaborative effort to and then we have the Everyone wants to approve. >> Thanks. >> Yeah. >> Excuse me. Are we going to receive a hard copy of this of it? >> Yes. Once we get the draft off of there and get it submitted to the state and approved and everything, then we'll send the hard copy when it's out of the
026draft once it's completed. >> It's the other one. I think they're one is the presentation and the other is that the one we can go to the next slide. Next slide. Go back to that one. All right. significant accounting estimates. Most of these are the same for all schools across the district, all districts across the state. There was one change in county estimates this year relating to sick leave. Now, sick leave balances for employees have to be considered a liability on the governmentwide financial statements. This shouldn't affect your fund balance as to what you all can spend as this is only on the accounting side of the governmentwide fund balance. So it shouldn't affect any of your cash or fund balance per fund that you can spend. It's really just an accounting thing for how
027the financial statements are presented. And >> all right. Then there were no misstatements or disagreements with management this year. So we asked for a lot of documentation and they did a great job of getting that to us. So they were really good to work with. Now go to the next slide. All right. Now here you will see your fund balance for all your governmental funds. And the general fund is the one that y'all have the most control over as far as not having too many restrictions on what you can spend that on. You added approximately $4,000 in fund balance this year. So, you're staying pretty steady, which we like to see. Y'all aren't burning through that or spending too much fun balance. So, as of now, y'all are holding steady. So I think y'all are
028doing good job of managing your general fund and not overspending more than what you have. The capital outlay fund which is where all the construction projects are done such as the new build school and everything. You spend about $16,000 out of that which is very good considering the new school and everything. There's we're expecting more revenues and expenditures in that fund for this year and next year with the construction of a new school because that's obviously the biggest biggest expense for capital that any district will have is building a new school. >> May I ask a question about that? Um yes. >> So the our money comes help me. I'm just trying to understand this Amanda. Our money comes from the county to pay that. So it goes in our capital. No, it stays at
029the county level, but we still have to book it on our books as an expense. >> Oh, okay. >> Even if the county pays directly to the vendor, we just still have to put the revenue and expense to show that they're building this school on behalf of the district. So even if the cash never comes into the school's books, so it pretty much washes out revenue and expense. So you shouldn't be spending any fund balance on that. It'll just be just to record that yes, the county is building this school on the school's behalf and then eventually it'll be booked as a capital asset for you all. So we need to show you that's something coming in as far as revenue expense for when it does get booked as a capital asset when it's complete.
030>> And so for three years it's going to look like we have a lot more money than what we really do because it's already tied up in the school. >> Yeah. Yeah. And it should all balance out because you should have the expenses coming in with any revenues that are >> and these are estimates, correct? What we put in there for the >> the budget >> for the budget, right? Actual number. >> This should this should >> this is accurate. Yeah. >> Yep. This is what's on the 2025 audit here. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. And then of the fund balance for the general fund a approximately 1.2 million was appropriated for the 25 26 budget. So that leaves about 2 million for future expenditures and that appropriation is just for what's been budgeted
031out of the fund balance in the preliminary budget for 2526. And I should know the answer to this. Do we have somewhere where we can go to see exactly where all the money is going to? >> Well, it depends on the >> I mean, I didn't know that if we have a file that we could just see or we just go by this. >> Um, I mean, it's all public record. I mean, >> oh, okay. It's public record. Okay, that's all I needed. >> I mean, there is you want to look on the financial statements. won't be exactly, but it'll say this is like operating expenditures, curriculars. >> So, it'll be a higher level, but not >> I'm sure they a man will have to file to see exactly where >> they went from what
0329 to 36 on as far as the numbers that outline. So, there's more detail to it, but it takes a finance officer to really read it unless you're in all the time. perfect for me. So, >> yeah. >> And then school food service fund. Go to the next. Okay. There's the balance sheet. As we talked about, 1.2 million of that general fund fund balance is budgeted for 2526 expenditures, leaving about 2 million there. that is still in fun balance. Go to the next one, Amanda. And then that'll give you I guess that's not super detailed, but we will break out instructional services, systemwide, ancillary services just to get a little bit more of a picture of the things that those expenditures are spent on. As we can see there, everything was none of the none
033of the expenditures were overexpended based on y'all's budget. So there is no finding for that. Everything will look good there. Go to the next one, Amanda. All right. Then school food service fund, which is your child nutrition fund. We recommend to look at cash for financial performance rather than fund balance due to the accounting standards that govern the school food service. They work on full approval. So they have to have liabilities for annual leave, sick leave and all that incorporated into their P&L. So we recommend looking at the cash flow statement to get a better idea of what's been spent out of that fund during the year. So, the district did spend approximately $125,000 out of the school food service fund during the year, leaving them still with 1.1 billion in fund balance. And we've
034seen this is a pretty normal trend across the state of declining food balance and child nutrition just as after COVID the reimbursement rates for student meals have dropped considerably as well as participation >> expenses have gone up >> and food costs have gone up. >> We're off for we were two months. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, a lot of factors going in that we expect hopefully to rebound in the next year, >> but it's not not unusual to see. >> Will this be affected by the any federal kinds of monies or is this is this part of the incomplete the draft? >> Those numbers will not change. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah. The documents that we're waiting on from the federal government are more just rubber stamp documents that have to get signed before we can
035send everything out. We don't expect any changes. It's just we can't by law undo the draft stats until those federal documents were signed, which yeah, they're usually signed in like June or July, but I don't know what was taking them so long this year. Then the shutdown came and all wasn't getting them, but they got them out on Wednesday. So we should have everything finalized this week. >> All right, we go to the next slide. All right, findings and questions. There was no findings this year for anything. So good job by the finance department and really every department because a lot of those more compliance sort of filings can be from anywhere in the district. So everybody did a good job from finance, HR, and all your federal programs. Go to next one. Go to
036the next one. That's just a little right here. We just have a breakdown of governmental funds by state funding, federal funding, county, and other. And if you look at the gray bar, you can see how much larger that federal bar was from pretty much 2022 to 2024 compared to 2025 as the COVID funding is going away that that bar is probably going to be closer to those 2019 2020 marks than it will be to those after that. So just keep in mind that that funding probably might not be coming back anytime soon. So there'll be a little less federal funding for the foreseeable future. We can go to the next manual and here's just expenditures by type. As you can see, most of the expenditures for the district are for instructional. So that'll be teacher
037salaries, teacher assistant salaries, benefits, obviously salaries and benefits are the majority of what the expenditures are for the entire district. Then systemwide support that will be more bus drivers, janitors, the people that aren't necessarily directly teaching kids but are there to support. Then capital outlay that's probably a little larger than it will be in other years just due to building the school this year that we hire and other is just that very small slice of the pie. And there is your local fund balance over the last 10 years. As you can see, that's stayed pretty consistent. So, I would say that you are doing a good job controlling your spending and doing the best with the money that you have. So, doing a good job there. And if there are any questions, just let me
038know. I'm not hearing any. >> Thank you. >> So, we do need to approve this. >> Switch screen. So, do we have a motion to approve this audit? >> I make a motion we approve the audit. >> Thank you. >> Seconded. >> Thank you, Miss Ward. So, we've got a motion and second. Any other questions or comments? All those in favor raise your hand. carry get back to my agenda now. >> Yeah, I'm going in and out of presentation. So, so next we've got up after that is the school improvement plans. So, I've been nominated to speak tonight or this afternoon. What's great to say this afternoon, but we're coming back as a we're coming back as a caregiver from last month's uh item where we really broke down the details and the specifics of
039not I won't say the new format, but it is a state driven format that's aligned with the state goals and the district goals. And uh hopefully you had opportunity to read through those. I told you last time we would get it in one document, but with the changes in the way the format um was putting out the data. We wanted to give you two two articles of information per school rather than just one. And I think that goes into more of the action items and some of the processes there that we wanted to communicate and share out. So again, I want to commend our schools. They've worked really hard. They've worked really hard over the last two or three months and specifically the last four to five weeks um they've each gone through coaching sessions
040not just with us uh because we're still learning the process but with DBI the folks that are there helping to monitor to help write and help and help implement this and that was very beneficial and appreciate their help at different levels and and on the kind of a short notice too we would call and say hey can you could you work one in so we worked out a plan as soon as uh Mr. Taylor came back. I believe she was at a conference. As soon as she came back, we put several meetings in place there. We appreciate DPI support with that. So, on behalf of the principles and our six schools, um we're here tonight to asking approval of the six school improvement plans. Miss Ward, that's been has been taken care of. We'll get
041it uploaded in the agenda. It was a typo. >> I kind of choke, but anyway, it's okay. It's okay. >> It was fun. >> It was. It really was. >> I found it for you. >> So, it's actually it's in one document, not the other. But I need the second document to upload. So, we only got one of them uploaded. It's not too >> The R direction report has it in it. >> You got to watch them. I know with policy they've been >> the word is missing. >> Yeah. >> In the comprehensive report, it needs it probably it needs switched in there too, not just the our direction. And it may be It's two different on that's that's one of those things when you make us correction in one area you have to make
042it out a couple. So if there's any >> any um corrections as such we will get those we will get with any approval we will get those corrections updated and get everything posted out to the to the website. And I I would like to comment, I know it probably wasn't required from everybody, but for the schools that gave the um bar graph charts on the um goals and baselines that I found that helpful to interpret the and and it's easier to see the pictorial. So, I appreciate those links. It made it much quicker and easier for me to find the info. >> I have read them very carefully, as you all know. And I just have a few questions about some in um some uh things that I just want to know how it's going
043to work. Can I ask a few of those? Um the first thing I wanted to ask was how many um exceptional children I think we use another acronym now for those. Um >> I'm sorry I was clear about that. I didn't hear what you >> could you repeat that. I went just I just wondered how many um early college students do we have that have been identified in those air um those areas. That's part of the goal AIG. >> So exceptional children would be under the reporting amount. So it would be under 5%. So we can't tell you the number because it might identify the student. >> Okay. >> And um >> I don't know. We'd have to look it up in the system. >> So I can answer this. The only subgroup the early
044college has is the economically disadvantaged subgroup. That's a that's a safe safe way to answer that. >> Okay. So we have subgroups in the other schools then >> and that changes yearly. >> Yeah. >> It depends like yes. >> But this year >> it's in all the schools we have to subgroup AC. >> Yes. Oh >> except for the one. >> Except for this one. Okay. That was another question. Okay. How many of those are the subgroup? And um let me see. >> And that will change depending on the year. So for example um some years in a fourth grade we might not have a certain or in a tested subject we might not have a certain number of a particular subgroup and other years we do but consistently we have EC and student and
045economically disadvantaged across all schools except for the early college. their their numbers are so small anyway that it's hard to get enough to consider a subgroup even when they do have serve those children. >> Okay. I I read in the high school plan that they were going to do um staff development after school for certain programs. I think let me look back here and see. >> Correct. >> That's right. So, how is that going to work with the coaching situation and the number of things that go on? um they extracurricular >> they're expected to come to to meet with admin the next day. So >> um if they're gone for an athletic event, they're expected to come meet the following day session that we had after school. >> Will there be any compensation for PD
046after school? >> No, I think most of the rest um have after school meetings. We've just never traditionally done it at school. So, um, so we we decided rather than just do it during planning periods that we could do some crosscurricular stuff, we started having it one one afternoon a month of PD after school. >> I was I just knew that was different. I just wanted to ask what that looked like. And then um, anybody else coming? Is it just me? Come on, people. Um, also I guess for the middle school are when I looked at their goals, are we talking about assessments in just the testing areas or all areas? Um, let me go to the middle school thing. My computer doesn't like me today. Sorry. just kicked me out. So, I'll go back
047in. It doesn't want me asking anything. And these are questions, guys. I I'm I'm very supportive of what you It's just questions I have as being as things change and and I guess my biggest question is how are we going to differentiate? That's differentiation in the core classes and all the classes. Um I guess um I looked at some of the manuals and how are we going to differentiate for our uh EC population during um core classes I guess is my question because we've we've done it through um the flex plan. So is that going to be different for core? How's all of these address core courses? Are you talking about the middle school? >> Well, all of all the schools because that's a goal except for the one. That's a goal for all of
048them. So, how is that going to be differentiated? >> Well, I think differentiation happens all the time and and that's actually, you know, you think back when you taught and we we differentiate naturally as teachers as needed, but then we also now have the MTSS process on that. Mr. Penn, did you have a comment? No, >> ma'am. We were just talking about the six core classes. Okay. So um of course you know with MTSS students have to get instruction. They have to if not we are constantly keeping them behind and doing a big disservice which honestly I think back in my career we have lots of conversations about that and how we would hold those kids back because we put them somewhere else and water it down. So the whole uh premise of MTSS is
049that they're getting more instruction grade level and then the more plus more and even sometimes plus more. So different schools do that different ways. Um the majority of the instruction should be on grade level instruction. >> Core core has to I mean core that's the whole push for the state. We have to strengthen the core so that it does allow them to have that fighting chance. And I think you know when you talk you think about kids we they do have a learning disability that doesn't mean that they don't have the intelligence to hear things. In fact some of my EC students were the best listeners I ever taught through the years. So what exactly are you >> I guess what you mean? I guess I'm I I've been looking through some of the the
050materials and I guess I'm just wondering um you know the scaffolding seems to be minimal for for some of the uh language arts stuff. And so I'm just thinking, okay, we've got this kid, we're doing sixth grade stuff and we got this kid reading less than a first grade level. How do we differentiate to make those classes meaningful? And I I hear what you're saying because I've done that myself, but I'm just wondering, are there going to be other opportunities because Flex is only 30 minutes a day? So, there has to be some differentiation in within the core program for them to meet those needs. How does a sixth grader that's reading on a first grade level be able to participate in some of that uh material? Because that sixth grade material is quite challenging.
051It's very um I like the rigor. I do like the rigor in the program, but I'm worried about our kids who are not there yet. And it's very frustrating for a teacher to be teaching rigorous sixth grade material and yet have this kid over here who cannot >> What are we going to do to re be reinforce that? What are we going to do to help those? >> Well, I I will say our teachers do differentiate because you know with the with even in reading we have the growth. Um, so it's not that they're leaving it behind. I I do know teachers don't do that. Guarantee they worry. Um, we get asked that question all the time and we send um we send lots of solutions. And I think one of the things we're doing
052right now um I don't know if Terry wants to talk about it now but a lot of the schools are focusing on um high level instruction and how to differentiate because when we say that word it's used as if some people think it's very hard and and but then some people take it as okay I differentiate because I put only 10 questions on the test versus 20 and so the idea is not defined in of itself the way that people think of it. And so what we're doing now is um and Terry, if you want to talk about it in a minute, feel free, is just giving teachers more training on how to do that, on how to scaffold instruction. >> And students who would be that far behind would also have service time with
053with a teacher who is trained in exceptional children, too. Um but their core instruction has to be the core or else they're never going to get there. So they have to be taught on grade level first and that's all children. And so just like a student who is academically gifted, they receive their on-grade level instruction, but then they also receive that higher level instruction that um uh would allow them to operate on the level in which they can. >> And it doesn't have to be the 30 minute flex time. and CDPI have contacted and talked a lot with them um as far as um core versus the specially designed instruction and specially designed instruction can happen within that 90 minutes of core. Um as soon as this um teacher has taught the core instruction could
054take 15 minutes one day, 30 minutes another day and then they have practice time and guided practice and all kinds of things that they do to differentiate in their classroom. Children can go out and receive a specially designed instruction outside the classroom or they can teacher can go inside the classroom and provide that specially designed instruction to help support them while why um others are learning at different levels. And our um our high leverage practices um training PD training is an all year training. It's um on um two um um PD days um for two and a half hours and then two other times one hour after school for um all the all the um instruction and it's a very a very very impactful um training. We've already had CTE and all the EC teachers
055had the first training and um middle school and Blige are going to have the training starting on January 6 and it's through um DPI and it's through our EC department through DPI to help make sure that um teachers are understanding what the differentiation is and what kind of practices they can use within that classroom that are also um high respon to get high responses and interventions um research archbased interventions are being used. Um, but they're getting the supports within the classroom and the kids are coming out of the classroom to get more supports. And the key the key with our MTSS was to make sure that the students are not just going from um the core instruction and then they they become EC students and there's nothing in between. They'll get the core plus more
056plus more. >> So when are they going to get the more? Well, if it's a 90 minute, if it's a 90 minute um language arts, they're going to get it somewhat within that 90 minutes and flex time. Um they can also get it during um alternative times throughout the day. Now, we try not to make sure that they're missing their enrichment and things like that, but if a child needs more, then we have those critical conversations with the IP team and the families and and um make sure that they get what they need as far as academics first. I did I just don't see a lot of time built in that structure for more um you know they they account for every minute in your in uh five minutes for this part 10 minutes for
057this part 20 minutes for this part. So that's the whole class period seems like. So there we're going to find places. >> I think the way they present those though is up to the teacher. Like I saw a seventh grade teacher in LA. Uh this was last year after after the hurricane and she she had a student that probably was three or four grade levels behind. Had had lots of issues with rating and she was just brilliant the way she uh was able to take what was there and then adapt it so that she had groups because it's not whole instruction all the time. There's it's very varied if they go by it. So when you're a good teacher, I think you know those times where you can optimize and she made sure she was
058going over to him. There are times when teachers have taken the text and they let silent. There's so many cool things they have now that we didn't have when we were teachers that they can take the text and drop it in the computer whether it's AI or another program and it drops the Lexile level down. Same story just different Lexile level. And so teachers do thosely. >> Yeah, they're very the tools are awesome that they have now to to help us with differentiation. So definitely we're cognizant of it continually working on it. U the better we get with the curriculum, the more familiar we get with it, the more they're going to be able to differentiate that. >> Um you know, it's like a good math teacher. uh they can teach it where the majority
059gets it, but you still have a few that don't, they teach it a different way. And then if you're a really good math teacher, they know how to get that last little percentage because they have so many ways that they can teach it. And I think that does come from experience. Although I will say I've seen some of our new teachers do really well with differentiation within the classroom and sometimes I think that's just a natural thing for them. But um definitely the training is going to help. I wish I would have had that because people used to just say differentiate. Well, okay, what does that mean? And then I had my own take on it. But um I do think we're getting better at it and working on it. And I definitely know all
060the schools are cognizant. Terry's been working hard. Casey and I were in the first training um with Tracy McManes with the CTC teachers and it was very good. Very good. I would like to actually sit through it again. Um, and I'm going to deliver. She's just good and uh, it resonates with teachers because it's things they can do right off. >> I guess I come from a new unique background because I had a certification and all of the above. So, it really helped me with the regular classroom. But, um, I know that it's really hard sometimes to pull kids that are way behind up. And so I'm I'm glad we're focusing on those children and um so I'm not discing what you're saying at all. I I just wanted to know how it was going
061to work because these are new plans there for two years. Correct. >> Well, we turn them into the state every two. They're constantly working on them for sure. I mean, every year they're tweaking every month. They they they add in their meetings. Every month they're looking at their progress. their agendas will have which indicators they're going to talk about and then within that meeting they they will discuss the progress that they're making. So it's much more calculated than it was years ago. So even if the platform's not that great, I do think the process is better because it's not just a book somebody puts on a shelf like it was 30 years ago. And honestly, that's sometimes how it failed. I do feel like the schools do a good job of really analyzing what they
062need to work on. almost to the point where they drive themselves insane trying to fix it because some of the things are not quick fixes. It just takes a little bit of time, but they are doing a good job to work on it. >> And you know, with our TSI schools, that's a three-year pro with our TSI schools, that's a three-year process. So, once they entered this cohort of uh >> TSI schools, >> the the two TSI schools, but anyway, that that it's a the long story short, it is a continual process. Now, Miss Elders, you had a question earlier about which assessments, I believe, at the middle school that were going to be monitored or looked at or sometimes want to be sure all your questions were answered about that. >> Um, let me
063look back at my notes here. >> So, this might help at the middle school, we have six um, excuse me, we have five EOGs and one EOCC's. Um, seventh grade language arts, so forth and so forth. And then you have your science and you have your eighth grade math. So that's where that differentiation and those are the data points that will be uh that will be monitored with that. >> And I guess I was also um interested to hear how it was going to work MTSS at the high school level because we've never had a formal MTSS procedure there. So I was just wondering >> what was that chocolate chip cookie that sounds good right now. >> Only if we can all have one. Okay. I I do think the hospital's working really hard. They
064the MTSS team just as long as everybody else. It does look different. We I don't think we can think about it traditionally and even DPI talked about this with us because we want to treat it like an elementary school model and it's not um and so we have to definitely not that we don't because we do but look at the whole child attendance behavior can sometimes trump everything else when it comes to high school because they have to come to school before they can do the academics. So that team does look at a lot of different things and I think they've made a lot of progress with with their team um and even trying to find the right screeners and what's going to work best and and really I love how they're opened. If something's
065not working, they will try something different. And that's why they're Husky Hall has looked different throughout the years. They're really working to try to make it better. And I I know in the since I've been in this position that it's gotten better every year. So Husky Hall is going to be a major kind of identifying kind of place to get some help for some of those kids. >> Yes. >> Husky Hall. >> Well, of course they core is always first, but yes, that is um where they can remediate. And then here again, that goes back to training because high school teachers do not have the kind of training that we have, especially elementary because they're the pros at it. um on how to reach kids that could be potentially five or six years behind because
066they're also very much content experts >> trained in the science of reading but but they're getting training in that. That's where I think >> there's also um a course each um semester individual curriculum course for our students that need a more specially designed instruction and it's um been identified through CDPI for them to be able to have an elective. And I I would like to say that this is more work to go through for all of us and I'm sure a lot of work for you guys, but I definitely appreciated the broad spectrum differentiation focus that you're doing having to work I always had classes that had everything from the very bottom to the very top. One of my competition teams was the lowest in the senior class and the highest in the senior class.
067So, um, giving these teachers the support to accomplish that and the purposeful pairing them together. I really appreciate seeing that and the work you've done on it. >> They're working hard. >> Well, I appreciate the rigor once you hold on to it. and high school seems to me like they sort of group themselves up because you still have the basic classes and AP classes and honors classes and so on and so forth. But to me, and this is a quote I learned to live by, is low expectations is a subtle form of discrimination. I expected my lowest kids and I've had some in ninth and tth grade that couldn't read uh to do the same work as the other kids did and my basic kids would come to me and say, "Miss Jones, you're making
068us do the same thing that the honor kids are doing. Why are you doing this? You're going to take the same test, aren't you? You're going to be out in the same world, aren't you?" He said, "The only thing different is you might not have to read an extra novel." So, I had a kid that passed the writing test in the 10th grade. only test he it's the only test he ever passed and all the test he ever took in a hospital one test and if that kid can pass that rhyme test another kid in that school shouldn't pass it >> because you know I've had kids could but it's how the question is to me how do we let kids get to the ninth and tth grade and they're still reading on a fourth
069or fifth grade level I know that's what you guys are working on down there is trying to stop that has to be the greatest advancement in education that we could have if we teach those kids to read on grade levels they come and some kids can read beautifully and don't understand what they read. I had a kid that could read better than me and close grade. He could read Emerson. He could read the road beautifully. Had no idea what he read. He had some kind of a learning disability that I can never get fixed. So it's it's every day is a challenge because all the kids are different. They just for sure that's for sure. >> Wish I could still do it, but I can't. I wish you could too. >> All right. So I've
070got a motion for Miss Ward to approve the school improvement plans. Do I have a second to her motion? >> I think I have two coming in there. >> Yeah. Teresa, I got Miss Calhoun's there. Any other questions, comments? >> No, I appreciate all the hard work. You can tell that there's been a lot of thought and a lot of >> work, >> planning, and and I appreciate what you've done and sorry about the questions. They've all done it. They did a great job. >> Thank you guys. >> All the hard work. Before you get all the way gone, all those in favor raise your hand. >> All right. Now you're good to go. >> Next time, I'm glad you are cuz you're up next with the school instructional calendar committee. >> Okay. U I
071want to talk about the weather forecast tonight, but anyway. >> Oh, he said it. >> Yeah, I didn't say it. >> But thank you for pulling up. So, folks, it is that time of the year. We've started, we talked a little bit about it last month. has time to to officially get started on this and it's we there's some meeting dates that we have set we'll start in January and hope to bring this to the February 16th is that a special call budget meeting when is that Dr. policy meeting, one of those meetings, we'd like to bring we'd like to bring it at that time. And um again, the committee, we have representation from all levels, parents, uh community, schools, teachers, the classified the classified folks, they all come in and we work together with
072this. We start with the template. We go over the uh we go over the legislation, which is nothing really changed with that this year. We start with that and we look at some non-negotiables that we've worked with in the years past, meaning start school when the legislators tell you to start school, things like that. And then we we put out a template because we we follow the school calendar law for number of holidays, number of annual leave days, says in there you must have nine teacher work days, two of which you can use compensation time with. Just different rules like that. We go over those and and we offer out a template. Schools go back, they gather data, they talk to their parents, they they survey whatever I mean the autonomy they use to gather
073the data and then we come back for a face toface meeting and there last year we had calendars all around this room. We went around and kind of played played a little cards game and moved moved ideas around and thoughts around and then came back with a came back with a with a good solid calendar or at least options and gather feedback back from the community, from the schools, from families, whatnot and we zoom back together, discuss that feedback and decided upon a calendar to improvement or considerations for so I think the two things we're looking for is permission to go ahead and proceed with this and Dr. CS. >> Yeah, we just need one uh board member. Um last year it was Teresa who was in on that process. So um we just need
074a board member to be a representative on this larger committee that considers the calendar. >> You want to do it again? Anybody else? >> Sure. >> Good. >> We need to get our feet wet more. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. got the appointment of Miss Calhoun to the committee on there in the shaking of hands. >> How many people are on the committee? I mean approximately it looks like a lot. >> They're probably 30 maybe. I don't know. >> Yeah, we have the from the prek to the high school and we have representatives from all different groups. um then several district representatives from different departments to help consider different things. So yeah, it's they're there they're there quite a few and then we give a chance for everybody to give feedback when we put
075it out there uh to um to our families and even the community >> and we usually hear back from 250 300 I want to say families. So we have a good representation. It isn't 100% but it is a good representation of that. We break that down and chunk that together. We chunk that together into common thoughts and ideas. Any examples folks are really uh feel really strong on the length of time to Christmas when Easter break occurs, spring break, how consider that >> having Memorial Day as a holiday versus not. >> Veterans Day of course is the holiday. We have to fall. I think next year will be on Wednesday, I think. >> So, just some things like that. >> But I'm learning too. There's not much you can do with it. You just have
076these days and there's not much you can do with it. So, I say just you go at it and then bring it to us. >> So, we have a wonderful idea. Well, you know, we do sit down and create a calendar that matches all the rules and there is some flexibility in there, but for example, um, yeah, I told Earl, um, as we were looking at it, uh, families would rather have a longer Christmas break versus a shorter Christmas break. But then you got to find time. So, two weeks versus less than two weeks, right? But then you got to find time in that first semester to make sure you have enough days in. Um, which I I still wish the state would allow us rather than one week, start two weeks earlier because then
077we could get a full semester in uh before uh the Christmas holidays, but even more so. Um that way we can have our exams before Christmas because January it snows for us. I mean that is a huge inclement weather month and so that helps our students um be in school more when the weather is better >> which I would still love to have a conversation and I know he doesn't like it but year round school and I know Miss Eldrich doesn't like it either but I would love >> sure how I feel about it too >> because I would I think it would be a good option you know you know most most of the year round schools are elementary schools and not high schools and so you know the the balance there is um
078making sure that we have one calendar because families have kids at all different ages. So, we'd have to find a way within the calendar rules to meet meet those needs. And you know we have a huge percentage of students that participate in community college classes which of course are not year round and there are summer classes and stuff but then oftent times and usually what we have about 200 kids this semester about every semester maybe more than that when you include the early college that are taking those classes. So, they don't get a break on a year- round calendar so much because their times are their times. And so, we might have an intermission in October and then they're still taking their college classes. And same way with athletics, athletics follow a traditional calendar. And
079so, middle school and high school um students who we have a lot of students who participate in athletics um don't get that same break. So those are the things that I worry about, but it's not something that we have to complete. There may be a way to do it. >> Yeah. >> Well, I worry too that we missed the whole month of January. >> Last, you know, last year I believe we missed three weeks and so it's really hard to do a year year round school and then have that three-week >> window there. So, uh, what does it look like for the high school right now? We'll finish exams and all that stuff before Christmas 19th. if if and when weather cooperates. >> Yeah. >> Is this we have several predicted days coming up and
080the 15th through the 19th. Um you we um the exam schedule it's it's completed, right? We have a set day for each one. Um and then the 19th are makeup exams. But we can do makeup exams like last year. I think we did makeup exams in January. We did them uh before the window in December when we were foreseeing that, but not always can you do that, predict when somebody's going to be. >> Last year during the hurricane, we moved this into first semester to to January. It's still >> fairly things because >> Yeah. >> Well, I know having um it's better to get all that done in one semester. That that break just kills it. So you really if any way possible we need without breaking the law you need to get that first
081semester in >> what does it look like this year today's day 69 this semester of this school year um the high school the the first semester the high school has 83 days slated in it so >> okay >> and there's more the second semester but uh 83 we're starting as Dr. said was starting on that first starting on the date that it's mandated. That's about as far as we can squeeze. >> It would be so nice if they would just let in the ones who apply for the and receive the inclement weather waiver to have two weeks rather than one because we traditionally on a normal year uh if you even take you have to take last year out of it because that was abnormal. But on a normal year, we miss at least 10
082school days due to weather. And so that's two full weeks. And so it just makes sense for us to be able to start earlier. >> We need a campaign to get our legislators to put that kind of amendment into the law. We've tried >> Yeah. It's really three districts that have that much weather. It's Ash, Wataga, and Avery. And we're the ones who seem to get the brunt of every storm that comes. Let me circle us back a little bit. So we need a motion to proceed with the calendar and appoint Miss Calhoun to that committee. So we can do that all in one motion there. So I have a motion to that effect. >> I make so move. >> All right. Thank you, Miss El. >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Ward. Any other
083questions or comments? >> No. Thank you for your explanations. Appreciate it. >> All those in favor, raise your hand. Looks like you can go and your appointment. >> Thank you. >> Welcome aboard. >> One thing with the agenda that we've got here, I know we're a little early. We did have public comment slated at 5, >> but we do not have any public comment today. >> Oh, we don't? Okay. So, if it's okay with the board, I'd say let's go ahead and bump into updates and discussion items. And we've got a new FEMA update if that's okay with you all. So, we do not have public comment anyway. So, we'll just keep going. of maintenance and FEMA updates. >> Good afternoon, guys. Um, thanks for having me up again. Just kind of going over what
084what was submitted in the packet and feel free to stop me and ask questions as I go along and I'll be happy to answer the best I can. Uh yeah, first item I had there was we're still working through the Ashant Middle School project in Baitment where we remove the building from that site. Uh the thought process through that is to control the erosion um based on the back side of that. It's just the rain eventually will pull the the bank apart and the parking lot. So we are working with an engineering firm out of John City and they should have us a proposal or multiple options here soon. Um, and I got an email right before Thanksgiving. I I didn't bank exactly the day on when he'd be getting back, but I'd say in
085the next week or two, we have those proposals back on what options we can look at doing uh for that space over there. Uh, which kind of me wrapping that up. U moving in to the early learning center roof. Uh, we're working with Teraccon, which is also the company working with middle school. Uh, they're in the process of designing some options there. They came out and visited us uh in the middle of last month and did some site inspections. Um you guys are kind of getting becoming old pros at roofs, but they're going through that process now. Um again, this would be funded through FEMA. Um >> will that have to be approved by the state as well? >> We'll have to go through DPI. Same kind of process. Yeah. Uh so we're learning, you
086know, what the time table looks at that. um trying to become a little more aware of it myself and stay on our vendor about it as well. Um not a whole lot to get to share there, but it is moving along. I did speak to Terry Conro today about trying to drive where those are at and they are moving along. So, >> oh, well, I got a question for you on there. I was reading the the note will determine whether FEMA will support the repair. Is there a question that they won't support the repair? >> Well, there's there's the type of repair we're shooting for. uh they will uh odds they never guarantee that they will do >> anything right >> so there's there's that u there's that the area that we're shooting for is
087a metal roof replacement that would be a longer >> repair or higher quality repair than putting shingles back on where we where we spend a lot of labor right now replacing shingles and we we all understand the environment we live in the the goal would be to go back to put a metal roof on it um since I wrote this there's actually some state funding that might be optioned close the gap but we haven't gotten closer to that. So, um, we we plan on finding a a roof repair that will go, but it's just kind of a managing Yeah. with FEMA and their language, >> right? >> I understand that. >> A little bit of a dance. >> Yeah. >> Kind of win win-win for us. >> Thank you. >> Um, >> we have to
088have FEMA's approval of what we put back on there. >> So, you want them to thank >> Yeah. >> part of it. Just kidding. I thought >> I The way they word is we can do whatever they want. Well, whatever we want, but doesn't mean >> pay for it. Pre- disaster cost, >> right? >> So, to put it back like it was >> and then then you have to go back to them for an improved project. And there's no guarantee they'll do the improved project. We're running into that with another project with them. So um it could be you know we have to put some money with it to get the place that's choose to go or >> which state has some funds that I was actually able to attend the workshop last week but
089I'm not complete deal with details the state has funding to close some of those gaps still available and I don't know what those are but that's definitely an area that I'm going to start trying to figure out what's available there. That was a hopeful coffee. >> Anything Anything? I'll go after it. Yeah, >> that's our culture here. Go get the money. >> Yeah. Uh see uh we are working to to finalize the bid process and um we think we're pretty close on replacing the building that we pulled down from the middle school to put a metal building there. Um it's been confirmed we need to move the building that we did and replace this the building that we had before. So, we're looking at uh the best option was u kind of between the bleachers
090and the current concession stand if you guys are familiar with that. Um with the new with the new FEMA flood plane, it almost came up to the base of the bleacher and I'd be happy to share that map with you sometime. FEMA has a new flood plane when they when the hurricane happened. So, the flood plane came over well into the field now. So we we kind of were limited in spaces of where we were allowed to put this building. But I think it will will be a good spot at the end of the day. We'll put that to have a rollup door and a a standard, you know, single door access to this building is the goal and we're working through FEMA with bugs that's been submitted. We've submitted two quotes on that. We
091feel from the state representative side we are a pretty good pretty good spot for for moving that project forward. I think Amanda and Lincoln would agree with that. Yeah, they're nodding heads. So, I feel pretty good with that project. >> And I asked you a question about the middle school. It's not about the roof, but um I I had to go over there the other day and it looked like that the tennis courts are still intact. Did I Did I not hear you say that those would be re redone completely? >> Yes. Yes. Yes, they are. Uh and we we have signed a contract with M middle school uh roof um forgive me, I forget the name of the vendor that we have. uh their recommendation was to to wait demo based on the timeline
092when we sign the contract. Okay. >> To uh push us into the spring spring for demo. Um so that that will happen. Yes. Uh we haven't set a date on it because we're talking about thawing and then repouring concrete space. So we we have set a date for for timeline set up huddle up meetings to happen as we get closer to the spring where we go in and we're going to re do a demo that that t space put down to the courts and resurface and refence. So that that fencing that that funding has all that funding has all been u received. Yeah. >> So we're sitting on just waiting on pulling the trigger to to do do the work. >> Yeah. and >> we have a larger window of not being able to work
093on exterior construction type projects here than other places. Same thing with the new middle school build. >> Yeah. And FEMA's aware of that and they just asked us to to give them an update if there anything that goes later and they're aware what climate >> we have to deal with. um Westwood fire hydrant uh water tower project. Uh we're actually meeting with our project team tomorrow morning. Uh we have a group of people that consist of some people from the town of West Jefferson. Um the fire inspector Dr. Cox is there. Myself, some of our team are there to help uh us get a good lens on with uh Mega Matter and Craig, which is the engineering group trying to make sure that we're scoping this project right. Feel like we are in a good
094spot uh to to get us to DPI approval and other regulatory approval today or other appro regulatory approval that's needed. I talked to Josh about that. earlier today. I'm kind of lining up where those will need to go. I feel like >> after our meeting, this will be the same. >> This is This is Steelman. Steel. >> Sorry, Josh. Yeah, I apologize. >> You had me turning in here. I was going I talked to you. >> Apologize. Yeah, the fire fire marshal. Um >> there's a lot of in >> but uh so yeah, the fire marshall will we'll be working to get those through approval once we get that submitted. I I guess in my mind I'm not sure what is the solution was was I don't remember is there a solution or are we
095still exploring what we do? >> We feel we have a solution. Uh it was a matter of specking the right equipment to make sure the operation was best for our team and the town of West Jefferson and compliance with the department the fire department as well. No Dr. So, I just wanted to share it has not been brought to you. So, you're not crazy. You have not seen it yet. So, this is new information. So, after the meeting tomorrow, we should be closer to what that is. Um, but we don't want to bring something to you and then have a change yet again. So, these are we're getting pretty close to what we think is going to work and we've appropriated some funding uh for it for the what's that? But, it's not going to
096be enough. So, we want to get it as close as possible to make sure that the fix is going to take care of it. So, that's You guys, you're not crazy. Haven't seen it yet, but it's because they've been back and forth with the engineers and the fire marshal and the >> town West Jefferson. We had we've had two two draft designs um with different size tanks, different size pumps uh to make sure we're ensuring the best success for all kinds of different situations that are in code. So we can make sure that it's going to work appropriately. We don't have we we've thought about the weather. >> We thought about drinking water versus the other water that sits there in the tank. I mean there it's complicated. >> Yeah. as opposed to explaining every
097change to you. Our plan will be to share what what the new >> design what the proposed design will look like when it's completed. >> If you really want to come down, I can >> then we have to go through the whole bid process too before we even know how much that's going to cost us. So, we'll put it out for bid um with your all's blessing and then bring those back to you uh once we have an idea. >> Does that pot of money you were talking about, can we apply it to this? >> No. That was just for uh >> um >> that's I mean that I do think that we are moving in a good direction. I think that's and and and the group has been very vocal through email um about
098trying to move things along and I talked to Randy from Greg and Mor this morning um and uh we we we have a rough thought but it's just a matter of trying to see how it moves through compliance and and sign off and in the boards that it heads through too. So, >> um my last or not, the last uh roof replacement again talking with Stu, uh the DPI actually ended up having two hits. So, it did through one one pocket of engineers came back for review and then actually ended up going through another pocket of engineers. Uh and when I talked with this morning, uh he said he should be submitting to their final draft, well hopefully another final review with the same group this week. Um, and we should be hearing something pretty
099soon from DPI to go out to bid on the middle school. >> And that would be in January. >> Yeah. >> Which is still in the timeline that gives us all the bubble that we heard back when we originally were talking about >> was the other one. >> Yeah. More. >> Yeah. And that's that's uh definitely on our minds as it's coming down to we are December one. scheduled the chiller installed at the high school for uh December 29th. Uh we will turn the power off so it'll all be a little weather uh dependent. Well, we'll have a lot to weather dependent because we can't lose the bowlers uh and lose the heat in the building as well. So, we'll hope for some non- snow days. U >> right now ice is predicted for that
100day. >> That's well that too. long range forecast. That's where we will be. >> We have we'll have to get that step back in front if we have to move that. But um that's that's where we're at right now. Then they're scheduled to come. Sorry. >> If you can't do it that week, when would be the next opportunity? >> Uh spring break. >> Yeah. Yeah. Because we'll have to we'll have to shut the power off on the building for two days. Uh, unfortunately there's a bigger logistic lift too with moving food out of freezers. You have to move all the food out of freezers up to here and then move them back. Logistics Teddy and her teams >> have been really great about that and I'd hate to ask them to do it twice but
101we wouldn't want to do it twice. >> A lot of work. >> That's a part of logistics. >> It's a lot of work. >> Yeah. >> Josh again. >> I'd do it again. But uh it's too hard to eat froze were set up for that pretty pretty well. I think the you know they'll be on site for about a month doing the work. So you'll you'll see them more than just the week there but they'll be doing the crane pick the schedule crane pick that week after Christmas is what the plan will be implementing wire which will be the biggest impact to the facility itself. uh the install will be kind of inside and you'll see people floating around for that for a while. But uh and then we'll have uh JCI come back and
102help with programming which will help you know manage the the system which will be a technology piece. No, that's that's everything that I had to update on. If anybody has any questions, we have to answer. >> We've been very busy. It's it's a great team, too. Again, every month I think lower than my team. It's been a good two more. >> I appreciate the work on the the sprinklers out there. I know that's been something that's kind of been a slow go, but it's kind of been you're picking it up and the updates are very nice and appreciated on that. And let us know. Some of our commissioners are very adamant about that and and and and we understand it. We all are, you know, on there. But I think you've had a lot of
103traction from the get-go, steers. >> Yes. >> Josh, may I say something? So Jody and uh Greg actually went in between all of this other stuff that they have to do. Uh they went down with several of us to visit the New Valley Cruises School uh to talk to them about their equipment and how things work and pull and wire and stuff like that just to have this forwardinking view on what we might be able to um do today versus um after the fact. So, um I appreciate him and the rest of the team who uh putting that kind of time into um that work. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anybody have anything else to come before the board? Don't have anything on my list. So, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >>
104I'll speak. >> All right. Thank you. Do I have a second? >> Second.