001Ready. Let me call this board meeting to order. >> Is there anything special at this point? >> You should have memoriz memorized by now. >> You've had three public notices. >> You've had three meetings. >> Three meetings. I should have memorized. >> It's okay. >> Yeah, that's true. >> We are on TV. just it's just >> just remotely. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> The Limestone County Board of Education meeting is called to order. Notices for the meeting were properly posted and provided to those who requested direct notification. So, let the record reflect that all board members are here except for Miss Fqua. We'll have a prayer by Mr. Chris followed by the pledge given by Dr. Michaels. Bow with me. Heavenly Father, we come before you tonight. Ask forgiveness for our sins.
002Lord, we ask that you guide us as we do the business of this county. Lead us in all thought and action. We pray for our students and our staff, Lord, that you keep them safe. And it's in your name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Agenda item five, we have the superintendent report. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, we did have an individual that was going to address the board. He has decided not to address the board at this time. >> We need to vote on the agenda. Okay. So, do I have a motion to accept the agenda? >> I'll offer. >> I'll second.
003>> And any discussion? >> All in favor? Okay. Then information only CSFO report >> say somehow did we get Miss Kim in that process? >> No, not yet. >> Getting to her now. >> I messed up. >> I'll do it. Um, so I handed out and y'all got it when the board agenda was uploaded. This is January we're looking at tonight. This is the fourth month of our fiscal year, which is 33% of the way through the year. If you look at our local revenue, it was 20.8 million, which is 63% of our revenue. And we're going to talk about local revenue in depth a little bit and just when I get through the rest of this, if you look at our expenditures, there were 52.7 million. We budgeted 150 million and that's about 35%.
004If you look at our fund balance, we're at 50.9 million. One month's fund balance is 13.1 million and we're sitting at 3.87 eight seven months at the end of January. If you look our capital projects, we've moved $2 million over for these first four months of the year from sales tax. So, it's sitting in capital projects. And then if you go over to the page where I do the pretty charts and I put one year, we do comparisons. We'll look at FY26. So, the one thing I really wanted to look at is in January, we got a check from the city of Huntsville for 1.2 million. >> They had called >> 1.2 million. >> They had called me in December um from the city of Huntsville. This wasn't the schools. This was the actual city
005of Huntsville and said that the TIFF 6 had closed out. Well, I wasn't here when the TIFF 6 was created. So, I had to go back and research to see exactly what that was. So, in 20 5 2016 the city of Huntsville financed some money around $14 million to do things to their infrastructure. And how this involved us was it had to do with Polaris, Amazon, Mazda, Toyota because they were coming into town. They had to do some infrastructure work and rework that. And they did they did a couple other things, but that was that was the big thing with Polaris, Mazda, Toyota, and Amazon over around Greenbryer. So, they were supposed to pay this money back. They went to the bond market. They were supposed to pay the money back in 20 years. Well,
006it turns out property values rose so much in this area and there's Limestone County property there that they were able to pay it off 13 years ahead of schedule. So, in August of 25, they were able to close the tiff out so they could redist redistributing some of the money to everybody where they said, "Hey, we're not charging property tax right now. we're giving you a break to come in. So, we got $1.2 million. When she called me, she couldn't tell me how much we were going to get. So, I didn't know if I was fixing to see because I didn't know what it was. Were we going to see $30,000? Where are we going to be? And she was like, I just I just can't tell you that. So, when the check came in,
007we got an additional $1.2 million that we did not know was coming. And the way I've read everything is now that the property values are up that we'll start seeing more in advorum taxes. Now I've got to wait until next year so we actually see that. But when our advorum taxes rise, so does our 10 mil match rise for the state that we have to give back to the foundation. So we're just going to have to see all how all that falls out and see how much money it really is. But you know, when I came here in 18, everybody talked about all the revenue that was going to come from Mazda, Toyota, and all that. So yes, it now I say it has driven property values up. So we should start seeing that in
008our advalorum that comes in. So next year I should have more information since it's a year in a rears and we'll see we'll see where it goes. So if you look on down on our my sheet um money market interest is on there and we're already at the end of January up to almost a million dollars. We got 231,000 in January. So if you look at my I wanted to point out I know I was at my conference last time but I said the way the timing sometimes of some of the sales taxes and some of the advalorum tax between October, November, December and January you kind see different swings in fund balance and then once we get to January and February usually it kind of starts leveling out. So if you look at the
009yellow on my chart you can see how much we've risen especially above January of last year because We're already over 50 million in our fund balance. Do y'all have any questions? So, item six is the consent agenda. Do I have a motion to accept the consent agenda. >> Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion we uh I'd like to make a motion of the consent agenda, but I want to pull item 6 C 2B 6. >> I think that's what I want to pull. A lot of numbers and letters on here. >> The old old Arbor gym. >> Yeah. >> 62B. >> All right. >> Like to vote on it. Set that aside. >> Okay, >> I'll second. But I also need to abstain from 6B1. All right. Can I get a second? As
010we've motioned, you've already second. Oh, you did say that. Okay. Any discussion? Okay. All in favor? Unanimous. Okay. So now item C 2B EMW construction for renovations of oldest Armore high school gym to multi-purpose facility at a cost of basically $2.2 million. I need a motion. I believe >> I'll make a motion >> and a second so we can have a discussion. >> Second it so we can talk about it. >> All right discussion. >> I don't I mean I talked about it last time. I just want to be consistent. I voted against it when we set it out to bid. I'm going to vote against it now that we're accepting a bid. I made the points I need to make then. basically because >> well you know we're spending more than we said that
011night, right? But it ended up being 2.2 million on a 71y old metal building. Like I said, I'd raised my hand for a new building, but not not for a 71y old building. >> How much building? >> Well, I think we talked about four million that night. Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong. 4 million for a new building versus 2.2 to renovate this one, but we are sure it's structurally sound. >> Foundation is good. >> Now, Stephen, >> how are we sure structure is sound? >> They didn't core drill a footing or anything like that, right? And the renovation that we're proposing tonight is going to fix those bathrooms. Okay. So, all in favor four. Did you Were you able to get that? >> Were you able to get Okay. And all opposed? The
012motion carries. >> Okay, we'll move to item seven, discussion, approval of personnel actions. Do I have a motion? >> I'll >> and a second. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? unanimous. Item eight, discussion approval of the 2026 27 Limestone County School Student Handbook. Do I have a motion to approve? >> And a second. >> Okay, it's all the way on the back page. Back page. I had to come in and put notes on mine. I need some of those. >> Um, so I have a motion to and a second. All right. >> So, any discussion? >> All in favor? >> I don't know what it is. >> Okay. Just abstain. >> You got all that. All right. So, we're on the back page of our agenda. >> We're at item
013number nine. Item nine, discussion approval of the adoption and purchase of I have no idea how you say that. Galipade social studies for K5 at a cost of >> 3,69,000. No, sorry, 369,560. Anyway, >> it's all there for six years. We're adopting this for six years. >> I have a question. >> Okay. Is that books or is that software that we're purchasing? >> Okay. So, I think >> so we um can I have a motion? >> A second. Are you seconding? Okay. So, now any discussion? >> All right. All in favor? It's unanimous. Item number 10, discussion, approval, adoption and purchase of the art of education university lex pro for K through five at a cost of 66 almost $67,000 for six years. A motion. >> Make a motion >> and a second. >> Second.
014>> Any discussion? >> That will that is software, right? It's software. >> Yes. >> And is that for the educators or >> forucators? >> Okay. >> Because I I think it I we're in discussion mode, right? I think at some point we want to have a discussion about how much time students are using especially in K through five on the computer because all the research that's coming out is saying we have ruined children by putting them on these computers at early ages. So >> made them dumber. >> I think we've ruined adults. I think we have, but but especially I mean it's especially showing up in elementary students that they're spending that that the time spent on these computers is not what we thought it was going to be at first. So, all right. So,
015all in favor opposed. Oh, I think it was unanimous finally. Okay. >> Mot motion passes. It's unanimous. Uh item 11, discussion approval of the adoption of Quaver Ed and music play online and the purchase of music play online for K through five at a cost of $7,000. >> I'll second. >> All right. Any discussion? All in favor? Item 12, discussion approval, adoption and purchase of McGraill Social Studies for grades 6 through 12 at a total cost of just over $800,000. Not going to read all that. >> And second, >> I'll say >> second. Any discussion? All in favor? Unanimous. Item 13, discussion, approval of board work session and board meeting schedule for June 2026 through May 2027. >> I'll make a motion. >> Have a motion. How about a second? >> Second. >> All right.
016Any discussion? All in favor? All opposed? He doesn't like the skate. >> We didn't want to discuss. What is it that you didn't like about that? I need to know what >> he's doing it for. >> Just did it for meanness. >> No, I think the budget meetings are too late in fiscal year. >> Too late in the fiscal year. Okay. >> Yes, >> that's true, too. >> Expressed that lots of times. I felt like the point had been made. I was just going to vote against >> Okay. Well, for us, well, I guess I'm not really a newbie anymore, but kind of a newbie. I don't know if I knew that you were opposed to that. Item 14, discussion, approval, resolution concerning the purchase of certain real property. Motion. >> I make a motion.
017>> Second. >> I'll second it. >> All in favor or any discussion? All in favor? opposed. Okay. Item 15, discussion, approval of updates to fiscal year 2027 salary schedules. >> I'll make an >> I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> I will. >> I have a second. Uh any discussion? >> What do we expect this to do to the items we've already voted for? In other words, your capital plan, that sort of thing. >> Well, I I'll just say first of all, I think the, you know, condensing the salary schedule from from 35 years to 25 years is going to be, you know, a positive for all of our classified employees in our district. Um, so in other words, they they get to the top pay quicker um than they would if
018we had 35 years. And so, you know, our employees for next fiscal year will receive some raises. Um, the >> I'm sorry, >> classified class, >> right? >> It'll be for the next fiscal year, but it starts in June, right? >> October one. >> 12 months starts in July. >> We need to look at the supporting documentation on this. >> So, you have some that are, you know, 240day employees, which would start July. You have some that are >> so it affects this budget. >> It would be next year's budget. >> October. You >> gota explain that to me. I'm sorry I I interrupted you. Go ahead. >> But that is part of that. So it is next it is FY27 um as far as when this comes into effect. But we do have some
019people that start earlier um because they're on 240day contracts. So >> and their pay always changes. >> Yeah. Yeah. motion second. We've had discussion. I >> I I've got a question out. What's this due to the things that we voted on? >> I'm going to get there. So, I also um would like to talk about the special ed teachers. We're also um giving supplements to them. You know, special ed has been an area that we've had difficulty um filling a lot of those positions. And so this allows us to give supplements um for our behavioral unit teachers which um has been a tough area um to fill. It also um gives uh funds to AAA self-contained um additional funds there. 10,000 for behavioral units, 8,000 for the AAA self-contained and $2,000 a year for all
020special other special ed teachers. And um so when you look at these two together um it's a,725,61580. Um based on what our budget, you know, the last several years, what we've been able to handle um financially. Um, we did have some of our bid items come over um, as far as construction projects, but I believe that um, you know, when you look at it as a total picture, um, I believe we have the funds of course for our capital projects that we approved tonight and we'll also have funding available um, for the salary increases, the the 1.7 million. Um the state of course is currently working on the budget, but um all indications. We're going to be a winner in several different areas. Um you know, and of course that's not been totally approved at
021this point, but um based on our current fund balance, based on what we have in capital projects, you know, I think funding will be secure for for these projects. If we based it on the budget that we approved, I think the variance was 3.9 million to the good and we're looking at an increase in 1.7 million in FY27, which is 43% of the overage, right? And one of the ways we pay for our capital project is to move $3 million a year from the excess at the end. So our numbers don't mathify somewhere >> you know of course >> as a whole >> of course as we look at our fund balance currently um it is trending um in a positive way. Um additional funds have come in of course you mentioned the million dollars
022additional that we received. I think if you look at the state budget we can be a real winner in several different areas as well such as transportation. Um, so the funding, you know, I know what you're saying as far as what the budget actually shows, but in my indication of looking at the budget, it's trending better than what we we budgeted for so far. And we don't have the final state numbers yet of course but but local as you mentioned um state and um you know the sales tax and property tax of course has trended up >> more discussion. saying all the teachers because of this change all the teachers >> it's classified classified employees right so they're going from a 35 year salary schedule to a 25-y year salary schedule which increases their pay
023at a faster rate so when you look at like classified employees and the salary schedule you know we create that here in Limestone County you know We decide what we want to pay our employees. Of course, all employees are supposed to make $15 an hour, but we decide what we're paying our employees. We adopt the state salary schedule for our teachers and then we put a supplement on top of that um for our teachers. So, the state salary schedule is now 35 years. And so we are going to keep that salary schedule for our teachers but reduce the number of years for our classified staff because we have very few classified staff members that that have over 25 years experience. And so this would reward them sooner than later >> effort to keep them in
024their position as well, >> right? And hopes to retain and recruit really. incentive. It's an incentive. So, are we any more discussion? Any questions? All right. All in favor? >> Okay. Passes unanimously. All right. >> And item second. >> Third. >> All in favor? No discussion. We don't even do discussion. >> Well, that I do want to talk about while we're leaving.