001All right. >> Exterior finish insulating system. Yeah. But paper. Do you have paper? >> 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. Uh let the record reflect that all board members are present. We will have a prayer by Mr. Hillyard followed by the pledge by Mr. >> Chris. Father, we thank you for the state you've given us and it's time that we can come together and discuss the workings of our school system. Father, we're thankful for our students, our employees, and we pray that they will all have a safe and healthy remaining of the year, school year. We pray that we will make the best decisions for our school system. We ask that you watch over protect
002us. I pledge algiance 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. >> We have an agenda before us. Do I have a motion to accept the agenda? >> You do. >> Can I get a second? >> I'll second. >> Mr. Chris gives the motion. Mr. Young seconds. Any discussion? >> All in favor? It's unanimous. All right. Superintendent. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. So glad to have East Limestone with us tonight. and their bowling team is here and they thank you. So, this is pretty exciting. On January 30th, the East Limestone Lady Indians bowling team had the comeback match of the year at the 2026 AHSAA state tournament. In a match against the number one South
003region team, Orange Beach, the East girls were down by 83 pins. The East team has seven seniors this year. Seniors, raise your hand. >> Wow. Okay. >> Wow. most of the team, >> seven seniors this year. So, they decided if if this were their last frames they were going to bowl in their high school careers, they would make it a strike. Not only did the team get one strike, but five strikes. In the end, East defeated Orange Beach by one pin. How about that? [laughter] [applause] The East girls went on to finish as the 1A through 5A state runnerup for 2026. This is the East girls second state runnerup title within five years. And we know East does a great job um with their bowling teams and we'd like to congratulate them and um that's
004a fantastic story and I hope seniors it should be one that you remember forever. Um it's great. Thank you. All right. So, first we have Naa and Zelmo. And Zelmo, if you'll come down. We've got a certificate to give you down here. [applause] >> Miley Dickerson [applause] Violet Johansson, [applause] >> Hayden Manlo, [applause] Alli Mazur, [applause] Caitlyn Shelton, [applause] McKenzie Thompson, [applause] Callie Thrasher [applause] and the team is coached by Michelle Bolander. [applause] You must have jumped up and down or something, did you? [laughter] >> Congratulations. >> Thank you so much. >> And Mark Ferris. [applause] [laughter] Get the superender pose. [laughter] >> [laughter] >> Great job. Thank you all so much. >> [applause] >> Okay. >> Yeah, we are going to talk about an addition at um east in a little bit. You might
005want to stick around and hear about that. So, so tonight um we also get to recognize um Career Tech and um whereas a proclamation I'm going to read, the Alabama State Department of Education and National Education organizations have proclaimed February 1st through the 28th, 2026 as Career and Technical Education Month. And Vince and John's here um to to receive this proclamation. Whereas profound economic and technological changes in our society are rapidly reflected in the structure and nature of work, thereby placing new and additional responsibilities on our educational system. And whereas career and technical education programs in the Limestone County school system have become a rigorous, progressive, and vital part of the total educational system, which is committed to providing students with rewarding opportunities to learn valuable career and life skills. And whereas career and technical
006education programs in the Limestone County School System are successfully partnering with domestic and international businesses and industry to ensure that students are equipped with the advanced communication, time management, and leadership skills required for lifelong career success. And whereas career and technical education programs in the Limestone County school system are continually providing students with opportunities to gain invaluable hands-on experience through apprenticeships, internships, and cooperative education programs. And whereas career and technical education programs in the Limestone County School System have shown a genuine commitment to prepare students for their lives after high school by providing them opportunities to earn advanced diplomas, explore their individual career options, and receive college credit. And whereas two out of every three high school students in Alabama currently participates in a career and technical education program. And whereas career and technical education
007programs in the Limestone County School System are committed to recruiting highly qualified and focused educators who are dedicated to ensuring that all students are engaged, enlightened, and empowered. And whereas the mission of career and technical education teachers in the Limestone County School System is to provide resources and services to enable students to succeed in life and work. Now therefore, I, Randy Cheryl, superintendent, do hereby proclaim February 1st through the 28th, 2026 as Career and Technical Education Month. John and Vince, if you come up, please. [applause] Thank y'all so much. Moving on to superintendent report, we have S McKe with us um tonight and he's going to talk about the renovation and renovations and additions at um East Limestone High School. So, >> yes. Well, thank y'all. Can everybody hear me? I think she's going to
008load this up on the screen. Uh but I have given copies uh to y'all there. But uh once again, thank y'all for the opportunity to be back in front of you here today. And it's always great to be uh in service to the Limestone County Board. And I'll wait on Does that load up? And we'll wait on it to load. >> A little song and dance while we wait. [laughter] >> I wish they had bowling when I was in high school. That's pretty cool. You watch the screen watches pop. What technology? I tell you this, we could have a story about one of our teams winning a at every meeting. I would enjoy that. Just come. Yeah, that that gets you back. I mean, you could be there when you roll. win by a pen
009against team you were an underdog to presumably >> wait just a second >> we got we got all [cough] these folks from east that want to see Yeah, >> you can do a great job describing what they're talking about. >> I can come up. She's just fantastic when it works. >> Exactly. Yes, it is. Yes, it is. >> You can't have one of these. You can't have one. >> No, you will not. You can have a honey drop. You can't have one. >> That's so true. That is so true. >> You can't have one. in [laughter] >> I don't know what y >> [clears throat] >> You want to do the financial work on this? >> Yeah, we could. >> Yeah. So, while they work on that, we're going to go ahead and do the
010financial report really quickly and maybe they'll have that up and running by the time we finish with the financial report. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, we'll go ahead with the financial. Miss Hover is not here um tonight. she's at a meeting learning more about um appropriate bidding and finance and all those good things. Um um so she will come back with lots more knowledge um coming back from the state conference. But um this is the report is on um month three in the fiscal year and um so 25% of the fiscal year basically um have passed on this report and local revenue is now coming in more steadily. You might know may know of course with property taxes um they're due and most people pay between October and and December. Um as shown on
011the local revenue analysis spreadsheet um we did continue to get um additional funds um from interest on our money market account. Um total expenditures for the year or 40 million about 26% of the budget. Um she did say that this includes um the $1,000 we gave our employees before Christmas. Um but we're right in line with where we need to be. Most of the spending, of course, um or a lot of the spending takes place early in the early in the fiscal year. The total fund balance of 42.6 million, one month fund balance is 13.1 million. So we're at 3.24 months fund balance at the end of December. And um we are making um progress. You know the chart that she puts at the end, we are making um some positive moves there financially. We
012did put the 500,000 into capital projects. Um so I think we're about 1.6 million there now for the year with a with a budget of six million there um moved over each month. But um all in all a good report I think um on the budget I will just mention um I did spend a little time in Montgomery and I know this year you know there's some positives to the budget with transportation if it all passes um the way they're predicting um but they are cautioning us that things are are slowing down a little bit as far as revenue goes. Um they do believe that advancement technology funding will be here this year but after this year that may be something that we have to watch closely. Um but but all in all nothing it's
013not falling off a cliff at the state level. It's just going to kind of settle down a little bit from the tremendous growth um the state has experienced before. But um of course transportation if that's funded at a higher level by the state that will certainly help Limestone County out a great deal. Thank you. >> Now, >> our growth seems to be a slower rate in 206 as opposed to 25. >> Got any reasoning for that? >> I do not. No, sir. >> Do you want me to keep asking questions? >> You can if you like. [laughter] >> I can find that answer out. I'm suppose um we had, you know, additional revenue. Well, we're we're only slightly higher than we were in December of 25 against a much higher one-mon fund balance, >> right?
014>> So, your relative rate of growth has to be a lot less, right? And we're still not looking like the chart did in 20 >> even 24 honestly as far as the trend upward. I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> No, I understand. >> In other words, we're slowing down, too. >> Yeah. Yeah. We see it. Yes, we do. >> Well, thank you. Thank you. Can everybody hear me? >> Great. >> All right. First off, uh I'm once again Sul McKe, Leam McKe Architects. I'm going to walk y'all through the site plan. I've got floor plans and to describe the scope of work that's happening on campus. Uh what you're looking at the uh gray building is the main building of the high school. Uh kind of on the north side to the green to the left,
015that's the proposed addition. I'll show you all a floor plan of that in the beginning. Uh for those of y'all who don't know, the board last summer, I think secured a piece of property on the south side, uh the board brought that's where this addition is going. Uh we're rerouting uh the traffic around this new addition that you see there. We're adding a parking lot um to the south side of this building. We're also completely reworking uh the driveway that comes across the front of the building. And when we get to the main building, I'll show you some of the things we're doing in the front office area. But in general, your site plan, we're going to repave u 99% of the campus, so to speak. So, you'll have all new black top, asphalt, striping,
016all of that. We're also adding about 50 parking spaces that go along with this building. So, this is the main body of work sits in this 23,000t new addition. And in the main body of the building, plus the cafeteria, there's about 55,000 square feet of work going on. So, we're going to touch close to about 80,000 square feet of buildings up on this campus. Um, so maybe we can go to the next one. Um, so what this is, this is a represents a floor plan of your existing building that's on campus. The green is your cafeteria to the back. Um, we're updating the serving lines, redoing all the finishes in the building, ceilings, lights, those things. It's very hard architecturally to depict a renovation. So, I kind of wrote the scope over there. Uh, what
017you see going on at the front, and you'll see this in the renderings in a minute. Uh, we're completely redoing your front office, adding a whole new front to the building. We're adding a conference room onto the front office, adding a secure vestibule, so now when you walk into the building, you can't just traverse the whole building. You have a barrier there that you're able to interact with the receptionist. Uh, and then the receptionist, if deemed worthy, can buzz you into the rest of the building. All of your classrooms are going to get new ceilings, new lights, new storage, new marker boards, new tackboards, new doors. We're replacing a lot of the windows throughout the building. Uh, a couple things, we're completely redoing the science lab, uh, very similar to what's been done around the
018county. Uh, one of the things that you get, your current fax room will be renovated into a life skills room for your, uh, special ed students. That'll come in the second part of this once fax is able to move out. that'll be renovated. Uh but that's the general scope of work that's going to go on take place over the next two summers in the school building. So come fall of 27, uh you'll have a completely renovated school, new ceilings, new lights, new floors, new paint, all of that is going to look like a completely uh different atmosphere. Well, whoever gets to pick the colors, it may have different colors. It may have the same colors. So it may be the same thing, just looks a little fresher. So that's the scope of work that goes
019along. and you'll understand the front a little bit when I get to the rendering. So, that's what's going on in the existing building. Now, go to the floor plan of the new and I apologize. The area in yellow that you see, and you'll see this a little bit in the rendering, is a new per multi-purpose room. Yeah. Well, it helped a little bit. I don't know why it got so washed, but well, it helps. So, the area in yellow is a multi-purpose room. It has a portable stage that goes in it. It can seat 400 people, 420 people in a seated lecture style environment. It'll seat 250 people in a banquet style environment. It has multiple storage rooms. It has a catering kitchen for after hours function. And you'll see this in the rendering up
020to the upper part of the page. That's a lobby and a and a uh two bathrooms up there. So, this building can be used after hours uh without people having to go into the rest of the school. So any of your banquetss, functions, speakers, art day, career fairs, all those different things are envisioned and planned to go in this room uh that you see there. This room also serves as your storm shelter for this edition. Going up the page, uh the orange at the top is your new art lab. Your blues are regular standard classrooms. The two at the top are two career tech components. At the top of the page is the business ed. At the bottom of the page is the fax lab. And then to kind of help plan for future growth,
021we're going to take an alternate bid to add two more classrooms to the building. Um, so I'll pause there and see if anybody has any questions or comments. >> Where are you going to be adding the alternate classroom on the left side of the of your >> towards the back across from the shop, so to speak? Shop and band room area. Yes, ma'am. >> Uh, yes. We're completely redoing the serving lines, which is going to also add some capacity for your seating, and then it's also going to get an aesthetic upgrade as well. >> Uh, there's other than uh the general work I just described, nothing else will be done other than the updating of the finishes, the ceilings, and the lights and those things. 99% of the existing school, the walls are going to
022remain in place. It's everything's just going to be updated and uh obviously the lighting upgrade is a kind of an infrastructure feature at the school. Okay. Um so if you're sitting out on the highway, this is the renovated front. If you if you're familiar with the front of the school, you have two ramps that come up either side. What you're looking at right there on the left by the gentleman in the green shirt, that is actually the new enclosed conference room. Uh we're also securing the handicap ramp on the right side. Uh taking down uh we have some structural things we're doing, fixing the roofs, the windows, and all that at your parapit popup, the clear story windows that go up. Putting a new front, putting in a new uh video u school sign, video
023sign out there. kind of redoing all that area that sits out the front. Next, so if you're standing on the south end of campus, you can see the front door there. That is the front entrance to the new multi-purpose building. Uh we're kind of following the same architectural rhythm of what's there. Uh just kind of creating a use. One thing about that multi-purpose room, it does have a 20 foot ceiling, so there's lots of things that can go on in there. I happen to like athletics or majorettes can be in there. You can throw flags in there. You can do lots of different things in that building should you desire to down the road. And then kind of a perspective. Uh the left side is the south side of campus. That is the new addition.
024You can kind of see the front door of the new school. We are connecting to the building on the south end through those steps. So this will be completely enclosed. Um you know in that regard. Go back to the floor plan. And I want to mention one thing. We also have to the top of the page, you see the connecting quarter to the existing. We also have a secure courtyard out there. You can't really see it on the plan, but those classrooms also have access into that area. We're actually going to have a covered art patio out there. So, there'll be opportunities for students to be in a secure courtyard environment to be outside. All that area is going to get repaved, regraded, all that type of stuff. So, uh, you do have kind of
025an interior shakure courtyard which will be a wonderful feature for your art classroom. Go back to the renderings. What's the floor of the banquet room? >> Uh, it's polished concrete and we have added uh we have a sound system. We're using some acoustical ceiling tiles and putting some uh acoustical panels on the wall. >> A sidewalk along the road or >> Yes. um to make the picture look good. No, sir. >> Nothing. >> Mailbox. Yes, sir. >> Uh but there is a sidewalk. Go back to the site plan. There is a sidewalk that traverses down very first one uh in between the two buildings. So, you'd be able to get on a sidewalk and walk from the front door all the way down to the multi-purpose building. >> So, that's the right there. What you're
026looking at is the existing building in place. >> I don't know why there's a a step there. Yeah. That I think that's just the the artist playing artist on the rendering. >> It is elevated above street level. >> It is. It's very much elevated above the street level. >> That's actually a little retaining wall on that plaza where that sign uh will sit. Okay. >> Any questions, concerns, comments? >> The timeline on this is fall of 27. >> Timeline completion as we sit now, we're prepared to get bids on this project in April, start our contractor in the month of May. Um certain parts of the renovations will go on this summer. Obviously, the new addition will be being built during that time and then the renovations will finish in summer of 27. Um there
027are a few things that can go on in between uh and we'll work out all those details of with the school staff of getting in certain spaces earlier potentially depending on um availability of those rooms. Could >> you tell us when this went out to bid? >> April. We'll receive bids back in April. We're [clears throat] different. It your uh hopefully the award will be at your April board meeting. Let's put it that way. I say send it out to that's when we publish the plan from the contractors receiving bids. It's usually green houses are behind this road back here. It's not going to impact your green houses. One of the things that we're doing, um, complete utility upgrade that current driveway that runs down the southside water s there's three water lines in that
028road. Uh, three water lines, power lines. Uh, we're doing some consolidation, long-term utility consolidation just over the years. Everybody's brought utilities through there. We're going to have a brand new power service. All those overhead lines that you see on the south side, all that stuff's going away. underground power uh consolidating water lines. You know, there's some infrastructure work um that is going to benefit the school long term um by adding this addition there too. So, there is some infrastructure upgrades that have to be done to build the building in that location. >> So, you're doing away with the telephone driveway where it is now. >> Yes, sir. That's actually >> Yes, sir. [laughter] >> I can keep them if you want. >> But your power transformer comes in, lands at the back of the building.
029We're feeding all the middle school buildings in the back of campus underground back to some power poles uh that are existing in the back side of campus. >> Okay. So, how you How are you changing the power to the >> right >> of the existing building? >> Uh well, power company will come in, they'll take what's there, put it in a pad mount transformer, and then back feed. We're going to back feed out of that pad mount back into the school. >> So, everything's going to the to the back transformer. >> Yes. A brand new one. Yes, sir. And it sits Well, you can't see it on that one. Right behind the multi-purpose building. The new pad mount. The new pad mount transformer sits there. And then we're back feeding back to this pole and
030picking up these. >> And we've coordinated that all with the utility company and they're on board hopefully to help. >> Good. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> And this would be a good time. Yeah, I was going to say this is a good time for students to leave if you want. Gets a little dry from here on out. [clears throat] >> Congratulations everybody. >> Congratulations. >> Yeah. Four seniors. She's making it. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we are at >> agenda item six. >> Close that door. >> The consent agenda. Do I have a motion? >> I I'd like to make a motion and I'd like to pull out 6C2, please. >> 6C2. Okay. Do I have a second? Second. >> Okay. Any discussion besides Mr. Chris pulling out 6 C2? >> 6B2. >> 6
031B2. Okay. Anything else? Okay. So all in favor believe it's unanimous. Item seven discussion approval of >> we got to do 6C2 now. >> Oh you pulled it out. I'm sorry I was not I'm thinking you were just abstaining. You pulled it out. Okay. So let's discuss 6C2. You need to >> or do I need to do a motion? Do a motion first. Okay. So, can I have a motion for 6C2 maintenance department renovations to the oldest Armore High School gym? Motion. >> What are we doing? >> I'm not sure. I'm I'm kind of >> So, he's he just pulled, you know, I want to vote individually on the Ardmore project. Okay, >> so I'll make a motion. >> Okay, >> I'll second. >> You'll second. All right. Any discussion? >> Do we want to
032spend $2 million on a 71-year-old building instead of putting $2 million into a new building? That That's the question I want to ask. How much longer are you going to make a 71y old building last by spending $2 million when you know if you spend I I don't know. I I asked for the footage. He didn't know the footage. Steve, do you know the footage? >> 10 to 12,000 ft. So what was your rough estimate? >> Square foot. What are we bas typically paying per square foot for new construction? >> 300 $300. $300 roughly. Okay. That didn't help. You said 12,000 times, >> but I don't think you could build a >> That's 3.6 million. >> 3.6 million. You couldn't put that struct that same structure back. >> Yeah. All the other things you have
033to do. >> Do Yeah. When you build a new building and we forgot about storm, >> let's say it cost twice this. Let's say it cost four. Let's say it cost 5 million. and that structure lasts 71 years. How long is the 2 million structure you're going to spend going to last? What are you spending less on over the life of the building that you're going to have when you're done? I mean, if everybody's for it, everybody's for it. I understand. It doesn't seem like a strong financial decision to me. >> What all do the renovations entail? >> Well, you're going to get three classrooms. They're big and I'm sure they'll be nice, but you're going to get three classrooms and a multi-use space. >> You're gonna >> with a stage and >> you're going
034to condition it, redo the floors, take the bleachers out. Um, you know, just be a lot more usable space. Redo the bathroom >> and it'll look way better. It's It's not a nice looking building. You know, it's a nice looking campus with a ugly building in it, >> I think. No. Did we get a picture of that or was it just all >> I have a picture of how it looks now or how it looked about 2 o'clock today. >> I got want a new picture. >> Well, I was just Okay. So, we're want to go from that to >> this on the outside. And so, >> it's pretty unsightly in the way, >> but that's what you're getting. You're spending $2 million to make that building look nice. That That's the majority of the
035money. It seems like it's still 71 years old and I >> and then >> I would be for it if it was a new building. Like I'm seriously even with a lot more money. >> You're retrofitting an old building for a modern purpose, right? >> Well, I I don't know. I mean, a a multi-purpose room is a big room. It obviously being a gym has a big room, right? But and and I was a I don't like the idea of three gyms, but I I met with the principal today. He told me nobody practices in it. It's truly a multi-purpose room. I believe him. So, I'm okay with that part of it, but it's still I mean, Bradley's seen it, right? I mean, it's not an it's not in great shape, right? I mean it
036>> it's not where the bathrooms are currently can be utilized for like a public function, right? >> Well, you know, it's like our gyms used to be. I think it has two toilets in it or something. You know, >> they're pretty >> be a line out the door if you had a real game in it. >> I guess the qu I mean >> the structure itself is still sound. The foundation is still sound. We're not concerned at all about >> the whole building same. It's just >> I mean if you get 20 years out of it, you probably going to have to build a new school somewhere else because your population is growing so much. >> Grow your building your area. >> We don't have anywhere else to grow there, >> you know. >> So
037our other alternative would just be to tear it down and start over in the same spot basically because we don't have land there either, right? >> But if we outgrow it, are we going to tear down the new structure too? Well, if we outgrow it, we're gonna have to move somewhere off campus and do something new somewhere some at some point. I mean, we're talking down the road. So, I don't you know, I don't know. >> I just feel like it's best if what we're doing at Arbor probably for the next 10 or 15 years. >> All right. So, any more discussion? Okay. All in favor? >> Did you c Did you catch all that? Anthony finally raised his So, >> okay. And all opposed. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Item seven, discussion, approval of
038personnel actions. >> All right. Any discussion? >> H4. >> Seven. >> H. I thought you said H4 and I couldn't figure that out. H4. Right. Anybody else? No more discussion. All right. All in favor? Unanimous. Um, that brings us to item eight. >> Discussion and approval of the settlement agree. >> Do I have a motion? >> Yeah, I'll make it. >> Do I have a second? I'll second >> discussion. >> I know I have to hold my nose and do this too. Um, we keep asking at what point are we going to stand up and say enough is enough. But but um at the same time I understand what the financial reality is. Should we uh do that? So all in favor all opposed Mr. Hillyard. >> All right. Motion passes. >> Grudgingly brings us
039to item nine. Discussion approval planning committee for the seal of bi literacy. Do I have a motion? Do I have a second? >> All right, Dr. Maple seconds. Discussion. >> Somebody help me understand what this is. Well, I I would my question is kind of uh is this just for students who are basically English as a second language learners or or are American students going to be able to learn a second like truly learn a second language and get this too? >> Michelle, you want to give that answer? >> Okay. >> You you have to hold one second. Train coming. Okay. Because it kept talking about the WEDA and the things that I know. >> Yeah. I would think in industry as well. I would think so. >> Department have So tonight we're just basically
040approving making the committee. >> Are those people on this committee volunteers? >> Does my vote tonight make someone show up at a committee meeting? That that's the question I'd like to know. >> No, I think they're all They're enthusiastic about it. >> They're enthusiastic volunteers. They're not begrudging volunteers is what you're tell. But this is not just they made A's in their English class. I mean in their Spanish class. offering these languages and then how many people going to hire to >> have to teach the languages, right? >> Okay. All right. So, all in favor? Anybody opposed? I think it was unanimous. All right. >> I'll offer item 10, adjournment. I have a motion. >> All right. All in favor? Good night, everybody.