001officer at Goodwill Industries um of Arkansas and we are so incredibly grateful for y'all inviting us to share with you some incredible stories um with some recent graduates. Um I have the distinct honor of introducing them um with just a a quick update on the Excel Center. So, the Excel Center is an adult high school. It's the only adult high school in the state of Arkansas. We um are under the charter umbrella and um definitely appreciate you all and your support of what we do every day. Um currently, we just started term one as of Monday. Um our uh school director Ashley McDonald is here with us as well as our life coaches. We have Courtney Jackson, Maver Street, Becky Lockett is our chief or our lead um life coach and um they are responsible
002for ensuring those wraparound services for our Excel center students. Um starting term one Little Rock, we are sitting at 216 students um as of Monday and super excited about that. We also have a campus in Springdale. So, um, one thing we were really, really proud of last year is we had over 2400, um, credits earned by students, um, in the Excel Center. Again, we are an in-person 9th through 12th grade curriculum high school for adults that provides, um, on-site free child care. We provide uh wraparound services with our life coaches um career navigation with our career services team um as well as uh transportation vouchers because we're trying to remove all of those barriers. Without further ado, I am excited to introduce um some very very special graduates. Um we have with us Miss Audrey
003Palmer. She graduated June of 2025, this past June. Miss Palmer, if you want to stand up, come on up here. >> We have Miss uh Pat Nesby. She graduated in June of 2024. And we have with us Miss Robin Turner, also graduated in June of 2024. So, these um ladies are a testament to hard work, dedication, and commitment, and we could not be more proud of them. I'm going to give them the microphone for a minute if you all have any questions um or anything um you all would like to say. Okay. I'm Audrey Palmer. I'm 73 now. And it was a long struggle for me because when I started school, I started with a walker, a cane and oxygen. And I would go down from hall to hall, class to class with that walker
004and the cane and all together. I was the chairman. This is what I wanted to do. I lost my son four four years ago and he asked me did I want to go back to school and I said no I'm too old for that. So he passed a month later and my daughter didn't get to make me no feel no better. She jumped right at it. Mama, you want to go back to school? I said no. Then she said but mama I said okay okay find me at school just I thought she was going to wait at least about three weeks. She jumped off the bed and went there and come back. She said, "Mom, I have your school. I have your assessment. I have everything. Your first date and everything." I said, "Okay." I
005said, "Look like the tables is turned." She being the mom and I'm being the child. She take me to school, pick me up in the evening, help me with homework at night. I cried a many days in class. But at the end, it was all worth it. I cried and I looked at my mom. She had to have her legs amputated two years ago. So I look back at her and I she's smiling. I'm going like if my mom can smile after this, I can smile and go ahead and do what I have to do. So I did it. I have nine grandkids and nine great grands and they keep me on my toes. But I'm I'm very grateful to all the staff because they you know they say uh uh it takes a village
006to raise kids. It takes a v bigger village to raise grown folks. I'm attest to that. It takes a bigger village cuz you have 19,000 different attitudes every day that you have to deal with. You don't know what kind of attitude you going to get. So, I did my best to stay focused and I cried a lot, but Miss Max says she didn't care about my crying cuz she was going to make me walk across this stage. And that's what I did. And I'm grateful to all of them. I'm just grateful. >> And what a role model. >> Good morning, everyone. >> My name is Patricia Nesby. I'm 68 years old. Years young. >> But um I I saw the Excel Center on television, but before I saw that uh I talked to my oldest
007daughter before um she passed away. We were going to go to school together. She was going to go for her education. She wanted to be a teacher. So, she was going to go back to get her teacher's license and I was going back for my high school diploma. So, before that happened, she passed away. And uh about a year later, I sat there and I was thinking one day I said, "Okay, Tama, you gone. We were going to do this together, but I'mma get up and do it anyway without you. and I'm gonna prove you prove to you that I can I can do it. I did it. But it was such a I mean 60 68 way back then. Hadn't been to school. Look at this algebra the one two and I'm sitting there
008like oh my god. you know, and I went to do it and the teacher said, "No, we don't do it like that anymore." I said, "Oh, Lord." So, she showed me and it was a task. My that math, it got me. But I did it. But I just thank God I I took the step and I went back. And not only that, I went back to get my um high school diploma after sitting up at 2 and 3:00 in the morning trying to do that math. Miss Mac is one my math teacher, I used to call her at 11:00 at night. She said, she said, "Delta Queen, go to bed." She telling me to go to bed. I said, "Okay, Miss Mac." But it was so much fun and and even with the map of
009Arkansas. I know I know the everything all the states. But when she gave me that map and said, "Y'all fill in the states. The only state I could fill in was Arkansas." But she said, "We having a test." The the next day I got that map. I went home. I sit in that bed and I studied and I studied. Went back to school and made a 95. >> I said, "Look up here." That proved to me that I could do it. Hi, >> my name is Robin Turner and I am 71 years old and I found out about Excel Adult Education and I found out about them through my niece. She was going there and so I wanted to go back to school. I tried in 82 92 and I kept falling out, dropping out,
010dropping out. So I said this time I am going and I'm going to make this happen. And just like it was when I went in there and took that test. I didn't think I was gonna pass, but I did. And the guy said, "You start Monday." I said, I I was so happy. And the only reason I went back because I want to go back because of my son. I have a disabled son to take care of him. And I went back because I encouraged my son and my grandkids to get that diploma because you going to need it through life. You got to have that diploma. I said, "Let me go back." I encouraged them. Let me go get mine. So, I went on back and to get my diploma and went to school
011and everything. And then like this I said I got this beat because back then things were then easier for me than is now I know it had changed. And so when I got in there and the first thing I thought was that math I was good in math in school when I was younger. I got in there and I said I got this this ace. And so I got in there excuse me Scooby-Doo. I said uh oh ab and d subtract multiply divide. I got this. And when Miss Mac put that paper in front of me, I she said, "Oh, you gonna get I" said, "We ain't like this. I don't know about this." She said, "Oh, you gonna learn this." And I learned it. And I'm so grateful for Excel Education, Adust Center. And
012I would tell anybody, and I tell them all, HL Adust Education Center is the best school you can go to. They are wonderful. And I enjoyed the staff. Even though I made y'all laugh, but I enjoyed it. Thank y'all again. Thank you so much for letting us um have some of our students share their stories. That's kind of a sto that is a story of generational change. You heard about the number of grandkids, children, all of the lives that are affected that those children are now going to see the importance of a high school diploma and continuing their education. So, hats off ladies. We are so incredibly proud of you. Thank you all so much for letting us have this opportunity. We appreciate you. >> You guys have any questions? >> Well, I I don't
013have a question, but I just want to say y'all are probably the most fun group we've ever had come up here and talk to us. This is this is wonderful to hear about and uh congratulations first of all and thank you so much for giving up your morning and coming over here and and sharing that with us. I hope that that you will keep telling your stories. I hope the department will tell your stories. Uh y'all are a real inspiration, not just to your families, but your entire community. So, thank you so much. >> Wonderful. >> I don't think I could pass algebra again. Very like if you told me you have to go back, I'd be like, I guess I'm not being a graduate because I cannot do it. We would love to get
014a picture with you guys if that's okay. If you just want to come up here and we'll come down there. No, I'm good. I'm gonna stop it there. You got room, Kevin? Do I need to go back? There we go. like three One, two, and three. I'm going get it. Great. Okay. >> Everything after that is just going to be a dud. Like that starts the day. Um I think we have next we have Uh Courtney Salis Ford with the department. She's going to do some master principal designations. >> Good morning. Yes. So, we have another great recognition of two of our principles that have earned the master principal designation. Um and so really I'm going to pass it off to Mr. Bradley Weber who directs the Arkansas Leadership Academy and can tell us a
015lot more about that program and how we came to honor these two great principles. Thank you, Courtney. Good morning, everyone. I'm honored to be with you um this morning to honor two phenomenal building leaders in the state of Arkansas. Um first of all, if you're not familiar with the Arkansas Leadership Academyy's master principal program, uh one of the things that we've been tasked with, uh is to develop strong educational leaders in in our Arkansas public schools. And so that is a three-year commitment. Uh we're going to welcome 65 new principles just in about two and a half weeks to start. Um over the course of our three years together, we work on leadership capacity. We talk about stakeholder support and involvement. And then finally, the last part of that is systems development to make sure
016that even when these phenomenal principles are gone from their buildings, the things that they've done to develop teachers, um to develop staff, to develop stakeholder relationships continue in those buildings. And so once a principal moves through those three stages, principal McDonald is a P3 graduate. We're looking forward to her application from the Excel Center here in the next couple years, um they can apply for designation where they write to all the highle things that they're doing in their building and then based on that we'll come and conduct a site visit where we talk to anybody and everybody who will give us the time a day. That is food service workers, that is janitors, that is bus drivers, that is parents, that is community partners, um that is kids. Those are probably my favorite conversations. We'll
017talk a little bit about those here in a second. Um, and then those site visits are scored against our rubric as well. And so today, um, we got to have two site visits back in the spring. The first one was at Don Roberts Elementary here in the Little Rock School District, um, where we got to see Principal Steven Helmick and his team in action. U, some highlights of that visit are the the mantra encourage, engage, equip are everywhere across that building. They talk about how are they going to encourage students to be their best each and every day? How are they going to engage them in rigorous personalized learning? And how are they going to equip them on the next step of their educational journey? Everywhere we turned, um there was just dynamic community and
018family partnerships. When I say there was a waiting line in a packed out cafeteria to talk to us from his parents and community partners, um that line went about halfway from the back of the building in the cafeteria all the way to the front door. People who wanted to brag on the staff of Roberts Elementary for the work that they were doing with their kids. They also have a very unique way of delivering professional development. Uh we've been to a lot of faculty meetings during site visits. I have never sat in on a podcast recording of PD that's going to roll out. Um, Principal Helmick told us he goes, "We've got to recognize that our teachers like lead dynamic lives. We've got to meet them where they are." And so what we do is capture
019um the things that we want to see in classrooms and roll those out so that they can listen to them while they're at soccer practice with their kid on a walk with their family walking the dog at night or as they drive in in the morning. they have just tremendous uh student supports in place whether that was win-time intervention teams that are working or collaborative teams um to implement high quality instructional materials and the result of that is they sit at the 95th percentile for student value added growth in the state of Arkansas and so for those reasons it is an honor today to recognize principal Steven Helmick as a master principal in Kansas. >> Well, state board, it's an honor to stand before you today um as a master principal in the state of
020Arkansas. Um I do want to talk a little bit just about encouraging, engaging, and equipping in our building. So, our mission is pretty simple, but it's profound. We want to encourage, engage, and equip students in educational and personal excellence in a diverse and global community. At Roberts, we have a,042 kids coming to us next week. But we consistently say in our building that out of a,042 kids, every kid is someone's 100%. And so each and every day, I work with a tremendous staff of 115 people that all are headed in the same direction to make a difference in the lives of kids. And so, um, super grateful, uh, for my team. I have a tremendous, um, AP team that I trust completely. Our teacher teams, it's complex in our building. We have six to eight
021teachers per grade level. And as the lady said here earlier, adults can be complex, right? And so, when you've got eight people on a team working collaboratively together, there's got to be a lot of systems and supports in place to ensure that they're doing what's right for kids. Um, I do want to also highlight uh, my associate superintendent, Dr. Dr. KK Bradshaw. Um she has been a a tremendous blessing to me in terms of pushing me and engaging me um in district work. And then also I do want to talk and highlight the master principal program and the Arkansas Leadership Academy. Bradley will never say this, but his team is phenomenal. This has been a four-year journey for me. And when I look back and I've talked to my wife Carrie multiple times, we've said
022if I never designated as a master principal, the process would still be worth it. I have never had professional learning as a building leader like I have over the past three to four years with Bradley and his team. Part of that is because what it does is it brings leaders from all over the state of Arkansas who are doing tremendous work in all of their buildings and we get to go and be real with each other in safe spaces and say, "This is what I'm struggling with. This is what I'm having a hard time with. This is what's working." And we rub shoulders with each other. We encourage each other. There were 36 in our first class. We finished with 12 in our group. and the 12 of us have a group chat that constantly,
023even with back to school stuff, we're encouraging each other. We're finding ways to make a difference in schools all across the state of Arkansas. And so, um, I am grateful for the Arkansas Leadership Academy. I'm a better person and a better leader because of it. Um, I know that our school would not be where it is without the support that I've received. And so, um, it's an honor to receive this reward or this award today. Um, but I'm one person in the midst of 115 Roberts Elementary staff that are proudly um, master principles and master principal uh, recognition with our entire staff. It's just an honor to be here. So, thank you. Hey, but but before uh Stephen goes too far, I just want to interrupt and say it's a it's another day and it's
024another honor for Stephen Helmick. And um I most of the people on this board may already know my affection for Mr. Helmick. Uh but if you're new, I want you to know that Mr. Helmick is maybe the finest principal in Little Rock and maybe the finest principal in Arkansas. Um, I'm extremely biased in that because all three of my kids were under his leadership at Robert's Elementary School and they all love it and they all miss their days at Roberts. They're all middle schoolers now or high schoolers, but their best days were at Robert's Elementary School. And Mr. Helmick, the culture you have there is second to none. And you're you're a wonderful principal. You're a great friend, too. Love you both. >> Yeah. I I would like to echo what Mr. Woods just said.
025You know, he said he's biased, but what he said is true. I'm less biased, but my knowledge of you, you're renowned in the school, you're renowned in the district, you're renowned in the state, you're renowned in the local community, and I wanted to just uh share with you my respect and esteem for what you're doing at Roberts. Thanks, man. It's hard sitting over here not to notice that he's got his Robert's baby eagles on his socks this morning. Next up, um we got to take a site visit to Cabbat Public Schools and spend time at Stage Coach Elementary where we met uh Principal Carol Skiba and her team. And I will just tell you that from the minute you pull into that parking lot, there is music going. There are teachers on roller skates. It
026is a party from the time you pull in. Um, and you know, it's going to be a good day. U, as we walk through the halls of of Stage Coach, we heard so many dynamic things that were happening, not only on behalf of learning, but also just in welcoming families to the community. Stage Coach is a Purple Star school supporting military families in the area. Uh, one of the things that Miss Gibba told us as soon as we walked on campus was that while you're here, you're going to engage in a culture of reading. From the second we get a kid, whether that's in kindergarten or they move here in another grade, they know there's going to be a book in their hand and they're going to develop as a reader. Not only that, they've
027gone through the process of STEM integration across every content area with a ton of optional activities, after school activities, and embedded curriculum activities um to work in some of those other concepts. Also going through the process to become a capturing kids hearts model school nationally. They have a reputation for building and mentoring new leaders. Um, when I say that, I actually got to see Carol earlier in the week at the administrator's conference, um, alongside what I thought was her assistant principal. Um, but her assistant principal has actually moved because of the skills and the things that she's learned under Carol's leadership to another campus. There are multiple principles in the Cabbat School District who were once assistant principles for Carol Skiba because she's the kind of leader that makes other leaders. And so it's for
028those reasons and the fact that all that work has yielded a 92nd percentile ranking when it comes to student value added growth that I'm excited to recognize Carol Skibo from Stage Coach Elementary in the Cabbat Public School System as a designated master principal. Okay, short girl problems. Thank you, uh, Bradley Weber. Um, and I have to say thank you to the Arkansas Leadership Academy. Um, it has truly taken my leadership to the next level. And I just want to reiterate what Stephen said that it is the best professional development in the state of Arkansas for educators, for leaders. Um, and so I want to thank you so much for all of the learning that took place in the three years that I was there. Um, also, uh, just want to say thank you to the
029unwavering support of, uh, the people in my district who have supported me. I have Mr. Randolph, Aaron Randolph here as my assistant superintendent and Stacy Allen is with me. She is also um she was my principal when I became an assistant principal for the first time. So she's definitely mentored me and helped me in my journey. Also Andy Sullivan uh back here I have to recognize. Thank you for being here Andy. He also um has pa played a big role in my leadership encouraging me to uh become a part of the AESP board and also just mentoring me as a leader and also my mom have to give uh I have to give credit to my mother who always encouraged me to reach for the stars and so I'm thankful for her um in my
030life. Uh Stage Coach Elementary is an amazing school. I'm so proud of the work that we have done there. It is uh it's just I call it the best school in the state of Arkansas. I may be bi biased, but that is uh what I truly believe that is the best school. I have a wonderful staff uh the best students and parents and community partnerships and definitely could not do this work by myself. It is a group effort and I'm just so I wish they could all be here today to receive this designation with me because they work really really hard for the students of Arkansas. Also want to thank you guys, this board, uh, for all the work that you do to support educators and leaders and students in this great state of Arkansas.
031Thank you so much. I'm very honored to receive this designation. Thank you. So, I say the master principal program has been in existence since 2001. And on behalf of the ALA, our partners, the Arkansas Public School Resource Center, and Arkansas State University, we're excited to name number 46, number 47 to the role today on our master principal designate list. So, thank you for having us. You guys don't get to skip out on a picture either. So, if both of y'all could come up, we would love to get a picture with you. Hallelujah. You want to get along with your family. Did you notice One, two, three. You're good. You're good. You're good. The roller skating. >> Okay, moving forward. Do we have any changes to the agenda? No. Okay. All right. Then we will move
032ahead with our action agenda. I'm going to invite Mr. Schultz and Miss James forward. Are there anybody other than attorneys that are going to be testifying in today's hearing? If so, I will need to swear you in. Go ahead and stand up. Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give to be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? >> Yes. Thank you. You can be seated. All right. Um I will just and my colleagues, we are here to review the record and we are also here to review the sanctions that were imposed. So, as they go forth and give testimony, keep that in mind. Mr. Schultz, >> thank you, Madam Chair, ladies and gentlemen of the board. Uh, just a brief reminder of the procedures for this proceeding.
033A review of a PLSB action is conducted pursuant to section uh 114 of the rules governing the code of ethics for Arkansas educators. In this case, the educator has elected to appear and present oral argument through his attorney. The educator or his attorney is given 10 minutes to present oral argument. The PLSP attorney will also have 10 minutes to present oral arguments. The chair may allow either party additional time for good cause shown. In this hearing, the state board is to consider the transcript, the pleadings, and the oral argument only. However, at the request of the chair of the state board, the educator and the PLSB uh investigator uh for the case may provide testimony. No other testimony should be heard. All testimony from the educator or the PLB board investigator is to be given
034under oath. Thank you, Mr. Yes, sir. Is the department gonna go first? >> Educator goes first. Okay. first of all um like to say good morning and it's uh a pleasure to be back before you. I say that tongue and cheek. Um and I'll just cut to the chase. >> Can you introduce yourself just for the record? >> I'm sorry. My name is Cayenne Eddings >> uh for the record and I'm here appearing on behalf of um Mike Staxs, Michael Staxs who's the now the superintendent equipment school district. Um I'll just get right to it. uh because I'm sure that the the board has um been apprised of the the pleadings filed in the um case associated with the um last time I was here uh Danny Mars and I believe that those two cases
035are inextricably linked um and because of what's alleged in those pleadings um I believe that um that this entire board should recuse and I and I'll tell you why. Um, pursuant to uh an FOIA request that I sent to the AD several weeks ago, I've determined that in response to that for your request that there were some text messages that was provided and it's demonstrated that at least one perhaps two board members have engaged in exparte communications with uh two witnesses in the investigation in this matter um involving Mr. Michael Staxs. Um these communications were not disclosed to the parties um as alleged in the Mars complaint. Um those communications included uh procedural coaching. Um those communications included u legal strategy. As a matter of fact, there was a text message to from a member
036of this body to one of the witnesses asking, "Can you find me the statute uh related to removing um this body's authority to consider disciplinary actions when a probation when probation is recommended when the educator doesn't appeal uh uh to this board for review?" Um and then and then those uh text messages also included uh evidence of uh emotional um manipulation. There's also included in those text messages uh commentary post-hering commentary uh related to the Mars appeal. Um I believe and I believe that the court will determine that such communications create at minimum an appearance of bias. Um, and that clearly violates Arkansas code annotated section 2515 uh 209 and uh the established right of my client's uh right to due process. Um, going further um as demonstrated in the the record in the Mars
037hearing and again I believe those two cases are inextricably linked. They they included the the same witnesses, the same school district, the same investigator, and some of the same claims. Um, as evidenced by the record in the the Mars hearing, uh, one board member asked questions that are not that were not supported by the record, which indicates a clear reliance on sources or discussions outside of that record and more exparte communication. For example, um during that the time that Mr. Mars appeared before this body, there were questions posed to Mr. Mars um regarding uh an investigation report uh that began on page 451 of the record in that case that that investig that same investigation report begins on page 454 in this case. Um, Mr. Mars was asked questions related to um pictures of a
038student on a commode being shared. Um, that a student spreading pictures of kids on the toilet. Um, and then he was questioned uh about whether or not that kid was removed from the football team. And the response was that uh from from a member of this board, Mr. Wood, you in particular said his story was not that he was removed from the team at that time. His story was that he was asked to stay on the team and that you were going to throw him off the team. Referring to Mr. Mars and he said, "Wait, no, never mind. I can't throw you off the team. I need you." And that's a statement that's attributed to Mr. Mars. And that is contained nowhere in the record in the Mars investigation. Um, and then there was also
039a query about um the um the lawsuit that Mr. Staxs and Mr. Mars uh filed in in Cleveland County. And on page of the record and of the the transcript in the Mars hearing, um there was um a back and forth between Mr. Mars and you, Mr. Wood, wherein you said that Mr. Mars got a warning from the judge that his case was in trouble and that he voluntarily dismissed it, although he had the right to refile. And that also is contained nowhere in the record in the March. Um, I'm sorry to interrupt you. I'll give the members of this board an opportunity to recuse, but I really would like to stick to the record here, and I think that you owe it to your client that's here today to present his record. >> So,
040obviously, there is litigation related to another client. And so, I just want to give the client that you have here today his his due diligence and his time. So, if we could stick to what's here, we've got three minutes left and I'll give a little bit of time for interrupting. >> All right. Well, well, well. At this time, I'd like to move for the admission of those text messages that I received in response to my for your request into the record in this case. >> That is denied. >> That's fine. Um, so going to the merits now, that seemed to be since I've got three minutes left, there seemed to be a whole lot of discussion uh during the Mars hearing about Mr. STAX's discretion, the discretion that he exercised uh in um allowing um
041students after they were placed on um probation by the court uh to continue on the football team the following school year. Um and and there was a a query back and forth between Mr. Wood and I uh regarding the advice that I gave the the school district uh in in the interpretation of their policies uh particularly policy 6.1 and uh for you lawyers on the panel you know that um the you know the first key of statutory interpretation is that statutes must be read um harmoniously. They must be read to be consistent. they must be read to be sensible and to give the uh effect to each and every part of the statute. And I believe that that's the the same the same uh as it relates to the interpretation of policies of school districts.
042Now, um there was a lot of time focused and spent on policy 6.1, but in Mr. STAX's hearing, uh, he was able to delve further into the entirety of the equipment school district policies. It's policy 7.1 and I believe 7.2 that also gives um the principal discretion particularly uh as it relates to uh students who have special circumstances and Mr. Stax can can talk to you more about that and how he um took those those po parts of the policy into consideration when he exercised that discretion. And I also like to point out that uh in the in the minute and a half that that I have left that um I believe that the the PLSB evidentiary subcommittee um they found well well first of all um like a trial court they were the ones
043who were there and able to um assess the credibility of the witnesses. Uh you all uh I believe act more akin to an appellent court where you review uh the record and I mean of course you also have the ability and authority to uh question Mr. stats, but um the the ethics subcommittee um assess the credibility of the witnesses and I I find it very telling now, Miss Fox, Melanie Fox and I I've known Miss Fox for a long time. I count her as a friend and I hope we'll still be friends after this. But I found it very very telling that uh of all the uh people that were that appeared to testify in STAX's hearing, um the one person who's never met Mr. STAX, the one person who's never even been to Quipman
044was the one who's chosen to come and testify at Mr. Stax's hearing. And if you if you read the testimony of Miss Fox, um I think that the the transcript the 11-hour transcript of that hearing uh clearly indicates that much of Miss Fox's testimony lacks uh foundation. Um she relied on uh hearsay. Um and she relied on in some instances uh double hearsay. Particularly uh when she one of the assertions that she makes is that that the district misled uh you secretary Oliva and the attorney general when it when it um submitted to you a timeline of the the um the events and incidents in this in this case. And I took Miss Fox line by line through that uh that submission and asked her to point out the lies. And at the at the
045end of that uh testimony, I believe that >> Mr. Ed, could you draw it to a conclusion because your time is up >> and I I know I interrupted you, so I'm affording you some more time, but if you could just some >> Thank you, Miss Wood. But but uh in conclusion, this this this case I believe arose from a um as I stood before you the last time, this was a a deeply unfortunate series of student interactions. Um this case is, I think, about navigating, you know, complicated events in real time in a small school district with legal uncertainty and and of course there was community uh tension. I believe that the uh PLSB ethics subcommittee uh they took a measured and wellsupported approach and their recommendation uh reflects both accountability and proportionality and
046I don't believe that there's any need for this board uh factually or legally to override the credibility determinations made by the PLSB board uh to amplify or depart in any way from the recommendation that they made. Thank you, Miss W. Thank you, fellow board members. >> Miss James, >> Whitney James with the PLSB. Uh Michael Staxs is a veteran educator who's been in education for over 24 years. At the time of the allegations in this case, he was a principal, athletic director, and the assistant superintendent at the Quipman School District. The complaintants in this case have made multiple allegations regarding incidents that occurred on campus, specifically in the locker room. The complaintants have alleged that Mr. Staxs did not properly respond to incidents in the locker room. The initial recommendation by the ethics subcommittee in
047this case was for two years probation, training and coursework, reading, written reflections, and quarterly reports. This was based on a violation of standard two of the code of ethics. Mr. Staxs had an evidentiary hearing in this case at which time the PLSB argued that there was a preponderance of the evidence to support the ethics subcommittee's findings and recommendation. A hearing was held on June the 4th, 2025. The ethics hearing subcommittee found that Mr. STAX violated standard two of the code of ethics. The ethics hearing subcommittee found that Mr. Saxs should receive probation of his license for three months and provide proof that the educator has requested training on bullying uh by DESIE by August the 1st of 2025. Today the PSB states that there is a prepoundonderance of the evidence that Mr. Staxs violated the
048code of ethics. Thank you. >> Okay. So, at this time, we're going to go into questioning. You may be asked to testify. You can just stay there. Um, so I'll start with on my right, Mr. Brag. Do you have any questions of either Mr. Edings, Mr. Sack, or the department >> for Miss James? >> We're strictly talking about the reporting here, aren't we? That's the issue. >> The standards that were initially authorized were standards one, two, and three. and the ethics subcommittee when they reviewed um found that Mr. stacks violated um standards one. Let's see. I believe one and two. I can go back and look at that. Um oh, I'm sorry. Two and just standard two. And then at the ethics at the evidentiary hearing, they also found that he violated standard two. Okay.
049>> Does that answer your question? >> So that's strictly about the reporting issue though, isn't it? Is it >> that was authorized for us to investigate, but neither group found that there was a failure to report a violation of standard three. >> Okay. >> Miss Kener, we'll go to you. Do you have any questions? >> Not just yet, >> Mr. Wood? >> Sure. I got some questions. >> Um, Mr. I'll begin with uh just some factual stuff. What what has happened since the passage of the law requiring recording devices to be installed in locker rooms? Where is equipment in that process? >> Uh we just completed this week installing fiber from our high school to the Quipman football fieldhouse which was about a uh I want to say board approved about a $30,000 project to
050get fiber installed out there. We have cameras. Um after uh this incident, uh we immediately began work to install cameras in the with audio in the common areas of the fieldhouse, but we didn't have fiber there. So, it's been a challenge trying to take satellite to satellite from building to building and so the summer project uh was approved and the board has installed fiber. >> When do you think that recording devices will be recording student activities in locker rooms? >> I would hopefully hope very soon. We we've got to get bids on the devices themselves. Our first step was to get fiber there. So, we we we just didn't have luck with the cameras trying to use satellite. So, we want to be sure that the fiber is going to be effective and then we'll
051get those. Um my next question is for the uh for the department. I I would like some clarification on you know, Mr. Bragg brought up the the reporting requirements. My my understanding in in this situation is that there's consideration several laws at play. >> Yes, sir. >> You have uh the DHS reporting uh requirements. You have questions concerning Title 9 investigations. >> Yes, sir. >> And there was also bullying laws uh discussed in the record. So, just briefly, could you could you help us understand maybe each one of these? Can you tell me how how would a Title N investigation begin? what what are the requirements of a school when they what do they have to know before they begin? Just can you give us a primer on how that would take place? >> I
052don't know if I'm the appropriate person to explain those laws. Um I do believe we covered that in the evidentiary hearing and we kind of went through all of the steps. Uh my understanding as far as Mr. Sax's involvement with Title N is that he was on the Title N team and they would have met to determine if the conduct that had been reported met the definition of Title N sexual harassment. Um, and as far as the failure to report, >> Well, can we stay on Title N? Sure. >> Yes, sir. >> Go on. So, when does it become a requirement for a school to launch a Title N investigation? >> I'm not sure I'm the appropriate person to answer that question. >> Does the department have someone that can answer that with authority? I
053I don't really I don't want guesses. I'm just wanting good advice. I'm going to recommend that no one from the department come up and speak on that because it was not part of any of the testimony. It's not anything that's in the record. Um and so we're not prepared to speak on that. >> That's fair. How would the PLSB know what the requirements of Title N were? Whenever we conduct our investigate when we conducted our investigation in this case, we did interview the Title N coordinator and talked to her about the steps and based on Mr. Stax's interview and the Title N coordinator's interview when the ethics subcommittee looked at this, they reviewed that and decided if they thought he violated the code of ethics in terms of title N. Does that >> I guess
054but you're talking about the equipment >> review. Is that right? They >> correct? >> They reviewed the facts to determine whether a title N investigation should have begun. >> They were looking specifically at based on what they had Mr. Stax's role in that and if anything he did or did not do violated the code of ethics. Does that help? I guess I just it it it leaves me a little frustrated that there have been two proceedings before ours. Um and a a one important question is what were the requirements of the school district with regard with what were the requirements of individuals carrying out duties in the school district with regard to title N. And I feel like we don't have an answer to that here. How how could the PLSB have known whether or
055not there was a violation of the students rights under Title N, whether certain individuals did not carry out their obligations under Title N. I I guess I'm frustrated by that, but we'll move on from Title N. What about a DHS investigation? Um, what types of Let me start over. The DHS report what? Start over again. What type of conduct should be reported to DHS by a school administrator? >> That again might require me to go into an explanation of the law. Um, our ethics subcommittee and our evidentiary hearing subcommittee are involved in education and I believe that they're aware of the mandated reporting laws. Um, and so their job is to look at the facts and listen to the testimony and make a decision. >> Talking about PLSB. >> Yes. Yes. >> I I guess
056my my concern is similar to the N then what standard were they explained applied to a school administrator? How how would they answer the question was this properly reported? >> If you in the rationale it does explain that let me find this here. As far as failure to report, it does say that there's no um there's no evidence that the educator knew of any allegations regarding potential sexual contact contact until May the 15th. I believe that is going to the duty to report. >> Fair enough. I agree. I disagree with the conclusion and I'll get to that later, but I'm not I guess I'm frustrated by the process. How could anyone review what occurred? You take the facts that you learn from the ground, from the situation, and then you need to answer the question,
057was a report properly filed, but you are never advised as to what the requirements are. H how would PLSB know how to answer that question if they weren't explained the legal requirements? If they do have a question about the law, I try to help them answer that. Is that what you're looking for? The best the best that I can. >> Yeah, I guess I'm asking for that. I mean, >> should should a school administrator report any conduct that appears to rise to the level of mistreatment or does it have to be sexual in nature? I think that um I believe the law that would the law has different requirements when it is students versus an adult and a student. And I believe that the PLSB came to the conclusion that because it was students that
058the obligation to report did not arise until there was sexual contact alleged or the educator learned of that. I believe that was the conclusion. >> Okay. Does that help? >> I don't know. >> Okay. >> Not sure how what what about what about concern of a lack of supervision? If a school administrator learns that bad things happened under his watch, is he obligated to go tell DHS, "Bad things happened in our locker rooms, I was the supervisor. You might should investigate whether I properly supervised." >> I'm not sure I know the answer to that question. They found that he did not he was not aware of anything until May the 10th whenever he >> May 15th. uh May the 10th as far as the conduct in the locker room and then sexual May the 15th.
059Yes, sir. >> Okay. Well, then move on from DHS reporting and ask about the bullying laws. >> Yes, sir. >> What What is a school district's obligation under bullying laws? >> Yes, sir. We covered that step by step in the evidentiary hearing. Uh we went over every single step of the law and Mr. Saxs did admit in the evidentiary hearing that there were some steps that they did not take and he admitted to that and the evidentiary hearing subcommittee did find that he violated bullying law. >> Yes. Okay. All right. >> Is there a separate law for hazing? >> I don't >> Does it have a separate legal definition? >> I am not I am not sure. I can't answer that question as I stand here today. >> I I think for now that that's
060all the questions I have right now. >> Yes, sir. >> No questions. >> One more, >> please. >> An incident occurs that needs to be reported. Who is responsible for reporting? Everyone that works in a school is a mandated reporter. But >> I mean, is it the first who who would be the first person, the one that sees the incident and knows about it? >> Yes. >> Okay. There's no chain of command. You don't have to have permission to report. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> I do have one follow-up question for Mr. STAX. I know that you had to do the bullying training by today. Have you completed that? >> It I had to request it by today. >> Oh, request it? >> No, ma'am. I have not yet. >> Okay. assuming you will. >>
061Yes, ma'am. Absolutely. Yes, ma'am. >> Yes, Miss Kener. >> Yes. Thank you. Forgive there's background noise. I apologize. I'll get back on mute as soon as I can. But I was I had a question from Miss James on um district policy part of the PLSB hearing and and the decisions. Um we've heard about the different laws um you know for DHS. What about district policy? Is that on them to determine whether he followed district policy to a te >> on the uh part of the PSB? >> Yes, ma'am. They would review the district policy and make a decision regarding that. Yes, ma'am. So, and maybe I missed it, but when as I'm looking through the policies that were provided by Mr. stacks um on you know 522 is the bullying policy, 523 is the sexual
062harassment policy, 61 of course includes participation in football um that it shall coincide with the AAA rules um the court order probation. Um again it in 67 it mentions abiding by the rules and regulations of AAA it's article 2 section one. Um I mean there's I've got a list of probably 12 things here that it seems based on the things that were provided there were district policy violations but I didn't see anything in the two groups in their findings. Did I miss? >> Yes, ma'am. The ethics subcommittee did review the policy, specifically the policy regarding uh continuing to participate in extracurricular activities while on criminal probation. And the PLSB ethics subcommittee read both parts of that including the part where I believe the principal has discretion and they found that it was clear that they
063should not have been allowed to participate in extracurricular activities while on criminal probation. However, the ethics hearing subcommittee heard testimony regarding that and read the policies and found that the principal did have discretion. What about did they review I didn't see anything on the bullying policy or the sexual harassment policy or any of the AAA policies. Did they review those as well? >> If they were in the record, they did. Yes, ma'am. >> One of the district policies is um on weapons. We've read a lot about that. um or really just any of the infractions and consequences that you know the class one infractions and force play, class two fighting and bullying, class three weapons, physical injury, hazing hazing, sexual harassment, terrorist threatening that all of those things have specific um consequences. >> I did
064did was any of that in there? If again if it was in and I would have to look at the record and verify, but if it was in the evidence, they did review it when they made their decision. And so are we to assume that because it wasn't mentioned in the two um RS that it Well, I guess it's hard to say that we can't assume anything. um because they didn't mention that they found that he violated them or not as opposed to the other things where they were clearly stated we did not find an evidence of any evidence of this. I guess my what I'm trying to get at is um the aggravating factor of multiple violations. Um we know that there was severe negative impact to the students. I also believe that it
065was negative, you know, moderate to severe impact on the community and multiple stakeholders, multiple violations and we know that the educator has experienced veteran for veteran educator. And so to me there are so many aggravating factors here that yes, even though just a single of the what three standards were found to be true in the final R with those four aggravating factors. I believe that it needs to go beyond just a threemonth probation. >> Yes, ma'am. And I will say with the ethics subcommittee when they stated does not have any prior violations, that's likely prior ethics violations. >> Um really all all I can tell you is what's in the rationale and I'm I'm sorry if that's frustrating. >> Thank you. I know we're do we're all just doing what we can what we've been
066given to read and understand. And so I know a lot of my questions are hard to answer, but um just trying to figure out the best um way to look at aggravating factors particularly um when it's a single standard violated multiple times. >> I understand. Yes, ma'am. And I do want to add that during our ethics subcommittee meeting, I can't do this at the evidentiary hearing, but I do stand ready with the law in hand if there is something that is um an alleged violation of the law. So, I do provide that information to them and I'm there to answer questions if that if that helps clarify. >> Well, and does that include AAA? you know, in their district handbook, in the student handbook at in multiple spots, it it says that um the district
067shall abide by rules and regulations of AAA that um participation shall coincide with the rules and regulations of AAA. And so then when you look at the AAA things, I I didn't know that I don't know that PSB got that granular. So I wasn't sure if that was included. I can go back and look at the record, but if it's something that's in the record and the state board wants to consider whether or not Mr. Staxs followed that, that's that's up to you, but I can go back and look on on that. Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. >> I have a follow-up question regarding school policy for Mr. Stacks. This is uh I I have a hard time, you know, my position from the Mars hearing is that I have a hard
068time finding ambiguity in here that subject to interpretation that gives a principle the ability to override some of these. So I want to ask you about one in particular 6.1 point A number one says participation in intercolastic activities shall coincide with the rules and regulations of the Arkansas activities association. Was it the principal's discretion to disregard that and not require not require that intercolastic activities would coincide with the rules and regulations of the AAA? I >> I what particular AAA policy are you talking >> any of them? Did the principal equipment high school have the ability to override the AAA rules and regulations? >> No. and and can can I speak a little bit about these policies in our handbook? So, so this this policy first came up in question in this situation um in
069the summer. So, it would have been the summer of 24 and I'd had a staff member who came to me and said uh did you and showed me a a social media post. Ali Alen had posted something on her social media that that Mr. tax was violating policy equipment in specific in regard to uh this allowing students on parole to participate or on probation, I'm sorry, not parole, probation to participate. So, um I was familiar with the policy and knew that, you know, in the past this this had come up uh and and had always been told or believed that that was within my discretion according to our handbook. So, I went to my superintendent and said, you know, here's this post uh in regard to this situation that's going on. I want to be
070sure that you agree that that I have discretion where this policy is concerned relating to these students who are on probation. He did he agreed that's a polic that's the way that we had always uh followed that policy. just in case he recommended, you know, we call Friday firm, ask him his position uh in and belief around this policy and and he conferred with us that yes, that that I have that and and and to speak more on that, I mean, honestly, in this situation especially, I'm I'm glad that we have a policy in place that allows me to use my discretion as principle because situations with kids are not black and white ever. And you have to be able to take into consideration a student's home life, a student's history, a student's behavioral history,
071a student's 504 IEP, behavior plan. All of which four of these students had 504s, IEPs, behavior plans, and and those things have to as a as an administrator, we have to be able to look at that uh and and take those kind of things in consideration when we are considering discipline for kids. And thank you for allowing me to elaborate on that, but that that's where I stand with that policy. >> Well, I I disrespectfully disagree. I I >> what can I can I ask what you would have had me done differently when I when I go to my superintendent and ask my superintendent to interpret this and then we also go to our legal counsel and ask them to interpret and I get answers of yes you have discretion should I have should I
072have said I'm sorry no my superintendent you don't know and my legal counsel you don't know either >> I'm I'm happy to answer that in fact I think that's a large part of what we're doing today is reviewing this I believe you should have enforced policy 6.1.8.11 as written. Any student that is on court ordered probation will not be allowed to participate in any extracurricular activities. It's black and white. It's super simple. Um, I think that you should have not allowed the perpetrators of violence on the victims to have participated in football activities with the victims. And I don't think that you should have chosen days where the victims couldn't come to practice because you were creating a pathway for the perpetrators to come to practice. >> I did not. We did not. >> You
073You were the athletic director at Quipman Public Schools and I I'm sure that Coach Mars answered to you. I'm sure I'm I have a hard time getting into an argument with you over who created the practice schedule. It's not about the practice schedule. It's about the enforcement of the policy. If you had called Coach Mars and said, "Hey, kids on court ordered probation can't play football." So those kids you know, tell them to keep working out and come back next year when they're off of court order and probation would have been a very simple solution. And I suspect that coach Mars probably would have and sorry to mean interrupt, but but also you're saying that I should have done that. So even though like student six and I forget the other numbers, I'm following their
074IEP behavior plans that that tell me that with IDA and least restrictive environments, I'm supposed to exclude them from those things when their their behavior plans and their IPS tell me I cannot. >> They excluded themselves, sir. They acted in a manner that got themselves in front of a judge in Clebrurn County who ordered that they were on probation. And the school had a policy that said if you are on court ordered probation, not only just court order, we're not talking about these kids did something out in the community, they were, you know, underage drinking or had other substances that they weren't. It's not something that just happened off on a in a field on a Saturday night. We're talking about things that occurred in the locker room to the kids that this policy protects
075the most. And you chose to overlook this policy to create a pathway for the perpetrator to infringe on the victim's right to be on the football team free of intimidation and threat. >> No, sir. That's not at all what I did. >> It Well, you can argue that that's not might not have been what you intended to do, but it's the it's the effect of what happened. >> No, sir. But I don't have any other questions about the policy. >> Any other discussion? >> I do have more things to say about the overall situation. I believe that Mr. Staxs had prior knowledge of significant problems in the athletic department and this comes from uh his document that he produced. It's uh bait stamp stacks_00006. It's an email of September 15, 2023, which was about a
076half a school year before the events in question. He told Coach Mars, "We have a problem. Do not leave kids unsupervised." In addition to all the other issues we've had with this group already this year from mistreating locker rooms. And then he goes and say, "I'm getting very concerned. I need you to handle this and get this group under control. Kids cannot be trusted." But the record then is is replete with examples of significant misbehavior occurring in the athletic department throughout the 2023 2024 school year. Kids were shoved in lockers and hit with footballs. They were shot with Orbee and or BB guns some claimed that they were whipped with a bull whip. Others Others simply said a bullhip was present to intimidate them. There were boxing matches in the locker room that school year.
077I deduced the fact that it occurred that school year. Mr. Mars told us that it happened a couple years before. I was not quick enough on my feet with the evidence to know the file name of that video includes a date 2024 0326. That's March 26, 2024, just a few weeks before the May the May 10th revelation. So in the school year, you have a boxing match going on in the locker room. There's fighting. There's video that was provided to us of a very large kid beating up one of the victims. You have one of the victims claiming to have been beaten with a shoe on his bare bottom. And then of course there's the almost endless, almost daily descriptions of humping. And we have video of one of the instances of one of the
078victims being held down, having his mouth held open, and the perpetrator telling another student in the room, "I've got his mouth open. Put your balls in his mouth." The investigative report that Quipman hired attorney Emily Renan to investigate. And you know, Kai, you you have exception with the fact that I know the complaintants, but I also know the investigator for Quipman. I went to law school with Emily Ren. I I like Emily Ren. I consider her a friend, too. >> I'm sorry. Can you go to the microphone? I can't hear you. >> You have communicated with the complaintants on on an almost ongoing basis since before this investigation began. >> Yes. Nine years. Kai, I've worked I was on the Little Rock Community Advisory Board with Melanie Fox regarding regarding this the the the case
079that we're here to talk about. >> And some of the communications that you've complained of occurred on the day that the parents appeared before us and spoke in the public comment. You your argument would seem to suggest that the mother's presence at the state board meeting in September of 2024 disqualified this board from reviewing. Yes, it is because it's the same thing. They they stood here and and made their pleas to us and it got our attention that started the investigation. And that evening, one of the formal complainants, who's not one of the mothers, sent me a text showing me a picture of the size difference between the boys. This is this is minor stuff that you're complaining about, Kai. But I only pointed out that I also know and respect the investigator that was
080hired by the Quipman public schools. But her investigation reported that it was more than boys, occasional boys will be boys. She said some boys endured more than that. Uh the district athletic program should aggressively and proactively address this issue. She concluded supervision was not as conscientious as the district should expect. My belief is that the response to the allegations of May 10th and the days following that was very poor. On May 10th, 2024 at 7:57 p.m., this is in the record. It's page 89 of the report of investigation. A text message from one of the dads tells Coach Mars, "I've talked to two kids besides my son, and these guys have actually stuck their dick to butt and whipped them with bullhip. I'm beyond mad. I'll be at practice Monday." That text message to Coach
081Mars was at 7:57 p.m. One minute later, Coach Mars, according to records provided by the educator. One minute later, Coach Mars called Coach St called principal staxs, athletic director Staxs, and told him what the father had reported. A DHS report was not made for five more days, not until May 15, 2024. This was excused by Mr. Stax, Mr. tax's boss Dennis Dennis Trxler superintendent excused this 5-day passage of time saying in documents in the record that this amount of time was necessary because the district needed to investigate the claims to know whether or not a report needed to be made after that after coach Mars received that text message not only did he call Mr. Mars that night >> I mean not only did he call Mr. stacks that night. He called the parent back
082who who sent him that text message, >> but he didn't call DHS. >> Neither did Mr. Staxs. >> He he called the parent back. >> That's that's irrelevant. That's not the question of failure to report, Kai. The question of failure to report is what did they know? When did they know it? And what did they report on May 10th? >> I think I think the relevant issue is what did Mr. Mars know after he had the conversation with the parent after he received that text message. Let's not also that I think that's important. >> And I know you're speaking about Coach Mars, but the conversation that Coach Mars and I had never never spoke of any type of sexual assault allegation. It it spoke quickly, as you said, a minute later, of a conversation that
083he had just had it apparent that he was going to address first thing Monday morning when Miss White appeared in my office on Wednesday, May the 15th, and she alleged, and I can tell you her alleged allegations, penises on butt, student sexually abused, whipped pear bottom, whipped bear bottom, penetrating with fingers, all of those things, all of which did not happen, sir. All of which were exaggerated. When she alleged those things in my office and gave me reg reasonable suspicion to report, I immediately reported >> and and and also from your own testimony just you just described a two-day date because you reported it on May 15th. You're saying that you learned you're saying that you learned it on Monday, May 13th. >> I learned about the No, no, no. Coach Mars when Coach Mars
084called me Friday night. >> No, no information about any alleged sexual conduct. than when I met with Miss White in my office the next week. I believe it was on Wednesday when she alleged all of these things even though I wondered if they were all true because our investigation had not turned that up those days that we had done the investigation. I reported immediately and also to speak to you if you don't mind about your knowledge and friendship and communications with the complaintants. Sir, I never had an opportunity to text or call you. I've never I've never had that same opportunity to call and tell you that that many of these things are exaggerated and that Ali Alabah I believe has a deep hatred for me prior to all of this and that this exaggeration
085and all of these things that have been said afterward began when she began began getting involved. >> You actually could have emailed me because lots of people from your community have emailed me >> and emailed every member of this board I suspect. >> I can't text you. I can't text you and call you. You said you'd had hundreds of conversations with her. I can't do that. Coach Mars could >> over a 9-year period of time. >> Still, I have not had that opportunity. Had I known I could have called or texted you, I would have been on the phone with you. >> You had people saying are not true. >> You had people from your community. >> I didn't know that that was even an opportunity. I thought that was exparte and improper for me
086to do. >> Okay, I'm gonna interrupt because I'm done. Here's here's where we have to decide. Did he violate the standard of ethics? I do have a question for something you just said. I I want to go back to it. So, you said the complainant came to your office on Wednesday, but you said you were you thought it was questionable because your investigation had not brought anything to light. What did you know at that point when you met with her? >> I knew that there had been a large cases of bullying. >> Okay. >> Students picking on other kids. Um I knew at that point that a student had had allegedly brought an Orbeez gun at some point. >> Okay. Um, I knew that there was an allegation of a whip, although the kids denied
087it at that point. >> U, >> so was the first time you learned about the sexual allegation was that Wednesday? >> Yes. >> And you reported it on Wednesday, May the 15th. Okay. >> That's what I need to know. >> I'll be honest. We had a 377 page transcript. We had a 470 page investigative report. >> I had an 11 hour hearing. >> 11 hours. >> But I just want you to understand. Yes, ma'am. >> We've read 700, At least I have. I can only speak for me. I've read 700 pages of this report. Do I think that you violated the standard of ethics? Yes. >> So my question to the rest of my colleagues is we got to figure out is it one, two, three, all of the above? Is it just one, just
088two, just three? And then we'll move on to the sanctions unless there's any other discussion and I'm open to the discussion. >> Dr. Arnold, may I follow up with something? >> Yes. Go ahead, Miss Keener. >> Okay. Um, this is a question for Mr. Stax really quickly. Um, two things. Tell me about the decision you made to allow one of the students, and forgive me, I've got all the numbers mixed up in my head as well, uh to be excused from semester exams that may >> his mother requested that >> that he not she she she told us that he would not uh return to campus, that he feared for his safety, and she did not want him having to look in the eyes of his I think the word she used was assaulters, and
089that he would not return to campus. and she asked what we could do about semester test. And so your decision to allow that ex, you know, to allow the excusal would >> what I did is when she made that statement and she asked that question, I left my office and went and reviewed his um his days, his absences, his grades, and his test scores to see if he we we have an incentive program equipment where students can earn uh reward days based upon their tests if everything else aligned. and he had uh met those requirements when she left. I I told her that, but I needed to consult with my superintendent to be sure that that was okay. And that's what I did. >> So, stop. Um there's no commentary from the crowd. >> The
090essentially you agree that the unwelcomed contact effectively permitted the student to be denied access to the educational program or activity. Essentially, it'll it was such an extenduating circumstance that it allowed for the child to be um excluded from academics or an activity, which is the exact definition of when a Title 9 investigation should be initiated. So, I think that your actions in allowing that further prove that that should have been initiated. So, I >> correct. I had that conversation with our Title N coordinator as well. Yes. When Mr. Trxler and I met with the title N coordinator and that is she informed me of that as well. Yes. >> Okay. So the other thing is that I just wanted to comment before um I kind of pass off is you asked earlier what should you
091have done when your council your superintendent all are saying yes you do have that discretion and I agree that when Mrs. read in its entirety, you absolutely had discretion. Um, and according to your district policy, which references AAA policy, that does not excuse you from your responsibility. And I think that's what's happening here is yes, you absolutely had the discretion to make the decision that you thought was right. Unfortunately, we believe that you're standing here today because you are responsible for that decision. And this is, you know, we clearly disagree with that decision. >> Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. We do. And and again, I would just point back to like for instance with four of these six kids who either have IEPs, 504s, two of them have behavior plans that that I believe that that's
092why that is in place to give me the discretion to look at those things to best meet the needs of all my kids because those are not black and white situations. And Miss Miss uh Kener, if you don't mind, while while I have you on on something that came up in Coach Mars' hearing that I was here for that that I would like to have the chance to respond to because he was uh in a situation where I think he was really taken back and couldn't think. But you mentioned the culture of our school and that's something as as a tenure principal at Whipman Schools that's very important to me. And so I would I would like for you to to know that culture is something that I take very seriously and it has led
093to u the great successes that we've had at Quipment because I think as you know as an educator student performance and culture go hand in hand. If if you've got a poor culture in a school district you're you're not going to have high performing kids. And and I'd love to invite you to Quipman. And if any of you have never been, please please please come just just show up any day. Culture and student performance we know are directly connected. Our kids are excelling at equipment. We have three schools at equipment. An elementary school by the most recent AD report card is a B. Quipman Middle School an A. Quipman high school an A. Almost 50% of our elementary students for the first time are reading at grade level or above. over 40 athletic and FFA
094state championships or runner-up state championships in 10 years. Our FFA and our football programs are the fastest growing programs on our campus. We've had 500 students, almost 500 students school choice to us in 10 years. In the last two years, 150 students have school choice equipment, including Miss White and Miss Edwards's boys, who are both school choice students. We've grown from over 600 from just under 600 students to almost 1,000 in 10 years. Things like these things don't happen in schools with poor cultures. And and I and I say that not for me, but for the staff that we've been able to put into place, including Coach Mars, who care about kids and who do what's best for kids. Are we perfect? Are we going to make decisions in error sometime? Of course. But like
095with this situation with the policy where I questioned it, I immediately did what I knew to be best was to go to my superintendent and go to our legal counsel who assured me that I was following policy. >> And I'll just I'll make a comment on that. Do I do I my opinion did you have the discretion? No. But I don't fault you because you went to leadership just like Mr. Wood said. If you had gone to Mr. Mars and asked him to do something, he would have followed it because you were his supervisor. I don't fault you for that. I do disagree to an extent that a 504 plan overrides school policy always. And the reason being if they were to harm another kid, just because their 504 plan doesn't mean you just leave
096them in the room. >> Okay. And and I and I respect that because he had had a behavior plan as well. And he's the only one of the one with an IEP of the of the the kids that they call what he calls the perpetrators. one one has an IEP, one had a 504, one is a homeless student, and uh the other severe trauma. And and so I I just again >> those are not things that I'm comfortable putting out and identifying kids with them. But as an administrator, I I I'm thankful for the policy that gives me discretion to be able to consider those things when I'm talking about punishing kids and giving up on kids and and doing what's best for kids. It is hard to hear an adult say things like that
097because kids need punishment for bad behavior. It is not giving up on a kid to suspend a kid from one football season in the eighth grade or the seventh grade. >> They were severely punished. Sir, I can tell you exactly the consequences because I I I bet in my your conversations with Audi, she did not tell you all. >> I had conversations with Audi, sir. >> I I can I can tell you the consequences, sir. >> So, I I've read the record. I I've I've I've spent a week reading this record. The the students who were most severely involved did not compete or participate for the entire remainder of that school year through the summer. And then the primary student, he he dressed out in a locker room. the student with the IEP and the
098behavior plan dressed out in a locker room by himself for the entire next school year until a point at which I talked to council about it and he said that's enough. >> Listen, you can get mad and >> no, I can get hurt and and and and it's it's not that I'm angry. It's that I'm I'm hurt for how you've spoken about our school. you've never even been and that I haven't had the same opportunities with you that they've had, sir. I haven't gotten to text you and plead to you. >> I have not had >> three conversations with Audi Allen boss since last September. Okay. So, this this idea that you're painting that she and I talk every night to plan how we're going to punish Quipman schools is ridiculous. Okay. She talked to
099me on the day that two or three moms came to us. There was no investigation. There there was no procedure in place. It was not exparte, sir. She sent me a picture of the size of the two boys involved. One very little, one very big. You've seen the picture, >> but Miss Kener and Miss Fox have had the same conversation. So, it's not just you. It's It's Miss Kener, and Miss Fox, I've seen the text message. >> That's not part of the record, so we're not going to >> Okay. >> Yeah. No. No. >> It just seems very unfair. And I think that that's where my passion comes in and and my feeling of being severely mistreated and coach Mars also being severely mistreated before this body passing down judgment upon us for things that
100that for based upon information that you may have gotten from somewhere else or not completely read the record and not considered the great things that have also happened at our school. >> Madam Chair, >> so Jeff, may I respond real quickly? >> Hold on, Miss Keener. Dr. Arnold defer to you next time. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, go ahead. >> The I just wanted to speak some context here. Um, and it may be elementary. It's not going into the ACU uh the exact details, but it kind of frames things for me uh going into the questions that you've called us to consider. Um, I'm relatively new to the board. I'm not a lawyer, but I have been in school leadership for years uh in a similar positions as you. Um, I want to go on
101record of saying I respect the PLSB and their hard work. They carry the water. They do an enormous amount of work uh to supervise cases that are brought to them and to make decisions. Uh, but this particular decision as u Mr. Mars's decision uh case was pulled and once it's pulled, it's our duty as state board members to revisit and to review. is just duty and that's what we're doing here. Uh attorney uh you mentioned the words uh inextricably linked. So going on that phrase, there is linkage here. Uh bad deeds were done. Questionable decisions were made. You know that's in the document stating so. So this is where I land right now for my own thinking that in your roles as assistant superintendent, principal, athletic director, there's an enormous amount of supervision and responsibility
102that comes with that to to lead these events uh to uh uh a a reasonable end and to be on top if not in advance of situations and to protect um students involved. And so, uh, it seems to me that through our deliberations with coach Mars, he took the hit big time, uh, for this whole narrative after it was revisited. And so in that they're inextricably linked. It seems to me that your roles as assistant super, as principal, as athletic director is even more highlighted as the supervisor of that person that has been uh disciplined. So, it's just funky for me to see those three roles, and I'll say it for the third time, athletic director, principal, and assistant superintendent kind of um reduce the levels of responsibility that were placed upon the coach. And
103and if I can speak to that, sir, I think that kind of goes back to what one piece one very small piece of that too is also back to Mr. Wood's email that he read aloud a moment ago uh that I had sent to coach Mars. That document among along with many other emails, many weekly newsletters, many evidence of staff professional development, multiple copies of uh written reprimands that I had issued to staff members just over the course of one year. about my expectations for supervision. So that that email is not the only email that was provided. There are multiple emails in there, like I said, multiple newsletters, evidence of our staff professional development, evidence of professional development that I have with coaches every year that in highlight and include my expectations, strong expectation for
104supervision. And that's what that email was indirected to. And I think there was a maybe even a basketball coach on that email as well for not leaving kids in a gym or a fieldhouse unsupervised at any time. Not being at your assigned duty when you're supposed to be on lunch duty or breakfast duty. And in those reminders and I didn't just send emails or hold professional developments or or have trainings on them. I wrote staff members up like I have for 10 years and evidence of I think there's three of them in one year that all included evidence and I filed filed an ethics complaint against one coach because he let a student leave campus and wasn't being supervised. So it's not like in my role is those three pieces I sat back and just
105expected them to know. I held them accountable. I monitored them. I wrote them up as it was necessary. And I know that that that you're right. That's that's it it it is a very important responsibility that I have to ensure that but at the same time even as an administrator I have a cafeteria duty in the morning I have a lunch duty in the afternoon and I have over 600 students as a principal that I supervise I can't be everywhere at all times but I can follow up with my staff and monitor my staff and work to ensure that they are supervising kids who are directly under their supervision and their responsibility and write them up when they don't or don't renew them when they don't or send the necessary reminders and follow up and
106and I do that and I have done that for 10 years. >> Yeah. Well, at least one wasn't listening and it shows little respect for your voice. >> There were five over there though, sir. There were five coaches in that locker room at all time. And in their interviews, you could see that they they're all pretty consistent about what they knew and what they heard and didn't hear. >> Miss Ger, did you have a comment? >> Um, yes. Um, I want to respond to the the um, sorry, I know there's a lot of background noise to the the culture discussion earlier. Um, I have visited equipment actually spent some time with forgive me I don't know if she's still there but you have a phenomenal elementary STEM teacher that uh held a robotics training and
107I came and spent time and learned and and got to know people that supported me in my role. Um it's been 10 years though I would love to come back because I love a good school district. Um, and I think it's highly possible that you can have phenomenal things going on and a poor culture within the locker room, which is what I was referring to that that culture within the team. Um, that's not what we're here to decide today, though. I think it is um we know that there was an agreed upon violation of the standards. Um, I also believe there to be aggravating factors that perhaps should have led to more severe consequences on your part. Um, so getting back to that, let's maybe I'll defer to the chair on um the next steps
108for what our um action should be. >> That's where I was going, Madam Chair, and then I I stopped. But the not listening to the mandates of the athletic director, principal and assistant superintendent seem to show a lack of respect and therefore that does impugn to some extent this so-called healthy culture. It's just not fitting together that their strong leadership over these kinds of aberrations. Is there any other discussion? Okay. Well, then on that note, we have three things to consider, which is whether or not the code of ethics was violated for discussion. >> Would you remind me of the the three? I know one was inappropriate conduct, which I don't there was none. number two or number three. >> Uh I can tell you the standards that were authorized and then I can just
109briefly go over the decisions of both groups if that would be helpful. Um the ethics subcommittee initially authorized us to investigate standard one um regarding a professional relationship with each student inside and outside the classroom specifically in appropriate interaction with students. And the uh the other standard or second standard was standard two uh competence regarding his or her professional practice inclusive of professional and ethical behavior, skills, knowledge, dispositions and responsibilities relating to his or her organizational positions specifically exhibited inappropriate disposition inclusive of professional and ethical behavior and then violated district, state or federal policies or law. And then standard three was the last standard that was authorized and that was addressing the failure to report and the um the honestly fulfilling reporting obligations. And then the ethics subcommittee found that there was a violation of
110the two subp parts of standard two but not failed to report or inappropriate interaction with students. The ethics hearing subcommittee found that there was only a violation of standard 2, specifically district, state, federal policies or law. >> Just a quick question. And they the they found he didn't fail to report on title N and for the DHS as well. No, >> it was specifically specifically DHS. Okay. For failure failure to report the title nine would have been included in standard two. >> Oh, in standard two. Okay. >> Yes. The failure to follow federal law. >> Okay. >> So, are are you ready for a motion? >> Yes. >> Okay. I'll make a motion that we find that he did violate standards 2 A and 2 B. Okay, we have a motion from Miss Keenir that
111Mr. Saxs violated standards one standard two 2A and 2B. >> Correct. >> Do I have a second? >> Second by Mr. Wood. >> Just do a roll call on that. Mr. Bragg. >> Yes. >> Mr. Henderson. >> Yes. >> Miss Kener. >> Yes. >> Miss Hunter. Yes. >> Mr. Wood. >> Yes. >> Dr. Arnold. >> Yes. >> With that motion passes. >> All right. Section. >> Well, the current recommendation is three months probation. >> That is the most recent recommendation. Yes, ma'am. >> Can I make a motion that we find that there was a violation of standard one? >> I think that would have been in our motion. That would have been in the previous previous motion. >> Okay. >> Do you want to add standard one? >> Well, I I guess my my proposal
112would be to vote on each of them separately. Is that possible? Is that proper? >> You typically do all of the violations in one motion. So, if we want, we can we >> could do another motion that there was a violation of standard one. >> Yeah. Oh, >> then I would like to do that. >> Hold on. Do we have to vacate the previous motion? >> No, you I believe you could just do another one. Repeat standard one then. >> So that's what you want. So motion on the table. >> Well, no, I'd love to hear it. >> Sure. Standard one is that an educator maintains a professional relationship with each student both in and outside the classroom. >> Yes. >> What's your basis? What evidence on that one? >> Sure. >> Just like your
113rationale. >> Sure. That uh Mr. Staxs failed to protect younger, smaller students from bullying, hazing, sexual harassment by older, bigger students. that he showed a preference to bullies and court-convicted perpetrators over victims. >> We would just if if you could just vote on standard one and then we can add the rationale later and I will try to ride as fast as I can to get all that down. >> No, I understand. >> Okay. I'm just curious. Oh, yes, ma'am. I understand. >> Yeah. That's the reason for the motion that he did not maintain a professional relationship with each student by >> making decisions that did not protect the victims of the bullying and harassment and sexual harassment that occurred in the locker rooms. >> Is that the intent of number one? I mean, you know,
114or is it more about improper interactions. >> Yes, ma'am. It is more about interactions. However, it can include lack of supervision. Um, but it seems like the rationale that you described would go more to standard two. However, when we get to the rationale, you could add make that part of it because originally in standard two, they voted no and so we just voted yes that he had violated that. So, we can do another motion or we can call that under your a either one. >> I'm I maintain my motion. Okay. But that's fine. >> I I'm one of seven here. So, >> okay. >> I suspect I need a second. >> Yes. I was Yes. there. Okay. Motion violated standard one. Motion made by Mr. Wood. Do I have a second? I think hearing none.
115Your motion fails. Is that correct procedure? >> Okay. Any other motions, violations? All right. Let's move on to sanctions. Miss Kener, did you have a recommendation based on your violation motion? >> Um, yes. I'd like to uphold the ethics subcommittee's um recommendation for a two-year suspension. >> Uh, it was a probation. So, do you mean a two-year probation or a two-year suspension? >> Wait, I'm sorry. the that the hearing subcommittee >> the hearing one was a the original was a was a two-year probation which Mr. Stack rejected and then they came back after the hearing with a three-month probation. >> Am I right on that? >> Yes. And I would ask u Miss Kenir if you're making the motion if you would include the trainings coursework and fine if that is if that is what
116you uh what you were asking for ma'am. I think I need just another second. >> You're fine. Does anybody else have a recommendation? >> So, what were what she's moving is our way to consequences already. Okay. In this interim then could the sorry to take the time but the potential mitigating factors and potential aggravating factors be considered please. >> Yes. Mr. Wood, did you have I thought you were about to say something >> I and I'm referencing page three of appendix D of the sanctioning guidelines. >> Could we go ahead and vote on the sanction first before the rationale? Would that be >> I think they're trying to determine what that's going to be based on the aggravating circumstances. >> Okay. Yes, ma'am. >> Did you have any Dr. Arnold that you wanted? Oh, I
117thought we would just look at that list >> and I didn't know if it was worthy of reading or just um citing. >> So, I think I' I'd like to kind of meet in the middle. Um looking at the guidelines based on the two Let me pull them up. Sorry, I've got a million tabs open. So based on the violations, the only the beginning sanction is probation understanding um that aggravating factors can escalate that. So, um I think I'd like to move that for a one-year suspension with given trainings and I think the I think that the excuse me the hearing subcommittee said no fine but given the um previously recommended trainings and then I'll do the rationale after. Is that correct? We'll wait for a second if there's one. >> Yes, ma'am. Would you
118like the $250 fine recommended by the ethics subcommittee? >> The hearing subcommittee said no fine. Correct. >> Correct. They only recommended the proof of Okay. So, just just the trainings and coursework recommended by the ethics subcommittee. No fine. >> Correct. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. I just want to confirm. You're saying suspension and not probation. >> I am. I'm thinking one year suspension >> not followed not followed by any probation >> followed well um >> might I suggest a two-year probation miss Kener >> suspension >> that would mirror the sanction that we imposed on coach Mars >> so a one-year suspension the two-year probation or just two years probation is what you're asking. >> One year suspension probation >> and two years probation to follow the suspension. >> Okay. >> Is what I'm suggesting to
119>> Yes. And for acoustic sake given the zoom and the the background noise. Can we just restate what we just said? >> All right. I want to make sure I have Miss Keener has made a motion for a one-year suspensions of his license followed by two years of probation as well as the recommended trainings provided by the subcommittee hearing. No. Fine. Yes. Okay. Miss Keener has made that motion. I need a second. >> I'll second. >> Seconded by Mr. Wood. We'll do a roll call vote. Mr. Bragg. >> No. >> Mr. Henderson. >> Yes. >> Miss Kenir. >> Yes. >> Miss Hunter. >> No. >> Mr. Wood. >> Yes. >> Dr. Arnold. >> No. to me and my vote is no. All right. Do we have a new motion for sanctions? So, I'll make a
120motion for a twoyear probation of all of the learnings and trainings and trainings. Yes, trainings and no time. Well, actually that $250. So, basically reinstating the ear the ear. Okay. So, I have a motion by Miss Hunter for a two-year probation, the recommended trainings of the subcommittee, and then a $250 fine. Do I have a second on that motion? hearing none. >> Second. >> You want a second one? >> Okay. Second by Dr. Arnold. We will do a roll call vote. >> Mr. Bragg. >> No. >> Mr. Henderson. >> No. >> Miss Kenir. >> Yes. >> Miss Hunter. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wood. uh I will reluctantly vote yes. >> Dr. Arnold, >> yes. >> That motion passes. >> All right. Now, we have to vote on the rationale. >> And I'm happy to review
121the rationale from both groups if you would like. >> Could we do the ones from the original since that's what this mirrors closest? >> Yes, ma'am. It's it's long. Um exhibited inappropriate disposition inclusive of professional and ethical behavior. The educator failed to ensure that there were proper supervision procedures in place because procedure safeguards were not put in place. Students were negatively impacted. While the educator followed the letter of the law, he failed to properly follow the intent of the law. Failed to follow district policy. Specifically 6.1 point a.11 any student that is on court ordered probation in school suspension out of school suspension or assigned to alternative school for disciplinary reasons will not be allowed to participate in any extracurricular activities field trips or overnight activities in the student handbook. Educator violated licensed personnel policy
1223.27 and that he failed to put proper supervision policies in place. The level of negative impact on students was low to moderate for some students and high for a few students. The school put in place procedures and additional safeguards to ensure the conduct did not reoccur. There is no evidence of malicious intent or willful violation of the code of ethics. However, he should have known his actions violated the code of ethics. There is no evidence that the educator was aware of any misbehavior in the locker room until May the 10th. There is no evidence that the educator knew of any allegations regarding potential sexual contact until May 15th. The educator has 24 years of experience. The educator does not have any prior violations. So I make a motion that we adopt the rationale as just
123describe with the exception of there is no evidence that the EV educator was aware of any misbehavior in the locker room until May 10th. I think that needs to be stricken. >> I have a motion by Miss Kener to adopt the rationale except Miss Hunter sorry um except to strike the proposed language that he did not have awareness. Do I have a second? >> Seconded by Mr. Henderson. We'll do a roll call. Mr. Bragg. >> I >> Mr. Henderson. >> Yes. >> Miss Kenir. >> Yes. >> Miss Hunter. >> Yes. >> Mr. Wood? >> No. >> Dr. Arnold? >> Yes. >> With that motion passes. >> Okay. Got it from us. Thank you. You're welcome. With that, we will move on. Thank you, Mr. Sack. I'm gonna I'm going to recommend a fivem minute break
124for bathroom and everything else, and then we'll come back and we'll do consent. Okay, I have Miss Stephanie White. Good morning everybody. My husband has not been able to come. He provides for our family. Um he asked if I could read a statement for him today. Do any of you object to that? Quinton White, father of Eli White. I would like to start by thanking each member of the board of education for your commitment to ensure the safety of the children in our schools. I wish I could be there today, but I don't hold three paid positions or have a bank full of educational money to use and abuse to defend my unethical behavior. So, I've asked my wife to read my public comment. I want to begin by saying that me and my house
125served the Lord. I've raised my children in a Christian home their entire lives, and I'm not a vengeful person. On May 10th, when I heard about the abuse Eli had endured that day, his head was slammed into a locker seven times while he was fighting to get away from these boys so he wouldn't be held down for defending his friends and abuse. I had had enough. I contacted the coach. He reached right back out to me. Concerned at the time, he assured me that he would handle it. And from what I understand, two players received punishment of five days of suspension. I never wanted the boys to get in trouble where this would follow them the rest of their lives because I knew the only reason this happened is these boys were unsupervised for long
126periods of time in offseason. What we discovered was that this has been a pattern at the Quipman locker room for years. Three out of the six boys charged with assault, battery, and harassment testified that this behavior has gone on for years and that it in fact happened to them personally. Coach Mars contacted me three times. I suggested putting a coach in the locker room to make sure this didn't happen again, and he told me more than once it was against the law. As this case progressed, Mr. Staxs never spoke to our boys. Not one time. But he sat with, high-fived, and supported each of the offenders time after time again in juvenile court. This is a red flag. My children went to Quipman for three years and during this time a principal was having sexual
127relations with students and allowed to resign. She should be in jail. This is a red flag. I can assure the abuse that we came forward with is 100% true. Six boys were convicted in juvenile court. This has gone on for years. This was not an isolated incident. This is a red flag. I grew up in Quipman. I love Quitman. I went to school there and it was a good school and it has potential to be a good school again with a change in administration. I cannot see how Quitman can continue to be a good school under their unethical leadership. The results of how this case would ha was handled 100% came from the top down. They have proven to go out of their way to defend the offenders and turn our back their back on
128the victims. From day one in juvenile court, they looked for a loophole where the offenders could continue to play football. Why can't they admit their fault instead of standing up with their ethics and take their punishment instead of suing my family and now suing your board? They have made derogatory remarks against the children and their families trying to discredit them and their reality of what happened. >> Miss White, can you wrap it up? Yes, ma'am. >> They have also tried to discredit our advocate and our team of hearts that have helped us tread through these very muddy waters. It is sad that we have to have advocates to help us advocate for our children. But I'm so thankful that we have the best. Their actions from this case alone should be enough to revoke his
129license. But I want it noted that he has a pattern of disregarding bad situations, sweeping things under the rug. But it's time darkness comes to light. >> Thank you, Ma. >> Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Uh, Angie Edwards, sorry. I had a great speech today, but I want you all just to be aware that you've given us a voice. I have never discredited Quipman School. There are amazing teachers at Quipman School that care and love about those kids. Unfortunately, a principal who holds they wear he wears many hats. He is not a representation of what Quitman can be and is. I watched that man in when I first met him in the in his office when this whole thing came to light. He was upset, but he didn't shed a tear until he started defending the
130coach. And then the tears fell. My son hysterically crying sitting next to in front of him, but he didn't shed a tear until he wanted to defend the coach. That is where this issue begins. His pride, his ego stands above and beyond the kids that were hurt. I watched this man in a courtroom high-five and hug these perpetrators because that's what they were. They plead guilty to their actions. Mr. Staxs hugged them, high-fived them, told them good job, and not one time acknowledged the victims in any of this. Not once in a school where the victims still remained did he ever acknowledge them. Did he ever check in on them? Did he ever ask if they were doing okay or if they needed anything? Instead, the victims had to watch him give rides in golf
131carts to the perpetrators as they passed the victims as he handed out hats for Quipman school to perpetrators while the victims stood there with nothing. He went above and beyond to throw this in their the victim's face to say this is what we do. These kids were not didn't ask for any of this. The perpetrators didn't ask for special attention, but they were given that because the morale and I believe wholeheartedly pride and ego gets in the way of this. This is where the ethics comes in. I don't I can't quote all the all the jargon in a big thick binder. I can't I have personally witnessed the ethics of somebody who is in charge of a whole school of hundreds of kids take this to a level that is mindblowing. Instead of humbling himself
132and say I messed up I am the leader and I didn't lead well. He did not stand up to this. He still denies that anything wasn't carried out as it should have been. No apologies have been made by that man to say, "I dropped the ball. I should have done something more." No apologies have been made to me, to the victims, to any families. He will still stand by his actions and never admit that he he failed. And that is where an ethics charge. That's where the heart comes in. And that's where we stand to this day. And I thank you all for listening. >> Victoria Sabrina right? Oh, okay. >> Hi, my name is Victoria Davidson. I've been a member of Quipman since I was a little girl. Both of my kids have went
133to Quipman. We have since pulled them out due to some um predicament. We My daughter was sexually assaulted outside of school. Um she had to go to the school with her perpetrator. We have sent multiple emails to stacks or to the administration. I was told we did not need a meet. They disregarded everything about the safety plan that I had. He she had to walk the halls every day with my with the thing. She was supposed to have a 504 plan. He does not care about that. He was on his phone on Facebook the entire time we were in the meeting. It really peed off me and my husband. We wanted to say something. But every time we would come to the administration or say anything, we get retaliated against. I have been escorted out.
134I have been told my daughter's a liar. if she would just kept her mouth shut. She wouldn't be suspended. He suspended her within a week three times for coming to him about bullying. She had got called a everything under the sun. Nobody would help us. We finally kept it quiet until we started seeing people come forward because we were getting retaliated against. Um, I have emails from where I had begged for a meeting to put a safety plan in stall because the person that she had to walk beside is literally passing her every day. And he looked at me and my husband and I baldled and I did cuss him out. I did. He told me there is 956 students in this school. He is not worried about two. if the court system wants to
135say anything, they can send him something. While this person still proceeds to be in the band, but also what really got us is this happened outside of school. He testified against my daughter in court and he had nothing to do with it. It really upset us that he had the enough nerve to defend this perpetrator that was representing his school to the point we have completely for the last three years have stayed away from Quitman. We moved all the way to Hot Springs just to get out of the county. So, we have had a lot of issues with this administration and I will not let my kids go back until he is either gone or somebody else steps in because we have had so much hurt and anger towards this. And I've been there. I
136graduated from Quitman. Never had a problem with it. Loved it. My daughter gets told she's a liar in front of the counselor. She gets told that she deserved it. Like what person will tell you that you have 900 and something kids when there is a court-ordered safety plan in place and you refuse to listen to it or meet with me and send me to coach B which at the time was supposed to be another person that was acting as an academic profession professional or coach or whatever. I'm like, "This is something serious that we wanted to address and we just got shunned away." And I just feel like something needs to get done with him because these kids are not going to get their justice. These kids, it's going to keep happening and these kids
137are afraid to stand up like my daughter because we're afraid that they're going to be retaliated against and that's not fair to the kids. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Woods. Jason Woods. How you doing today? My name is Jason Woods. I'm a current me or a current parent and a former parent of equipment school of students. Um I'm just going to cut to the chase. My 13-year-old daughter is raped at school at in equipment schools. Stacks knew. Resource officer knew. They coerced her into saying it was consensual because it would hurt the school's image. I finally got pushed and pushed and had to get to get charges against this kid who was expelled and in the alternative school and still allowed to be on campus finally. And so with the school's recommendation, he only got
138probation. Now the history of this kid the year before he raped another girl at the school stacks school resource officer staff didn't protect him. After my daughter, another girl was raped by the same person. They didn't even talk to that kid's parents. They went to some mother's boyfriend. Nothing is done. You tie this into what's going on now. As the young lady just said, it's about ego, pride, and the competency of our football team over the safety of our students. Mars bullies students in class, my son, for not being a great athlete. Your job as administrators, the school board is to protect our children. You oversee stacks. You oversee this. And until something is done and they are removed completely from children's lives, children equipment won't be safe. Something has to change. This is not
139a one-time incident. This is a culture of allowing abuse and corruption to control Whitman and the school district. So, if you vote against suspending him or firing him, you're not protecting these kids. You're just allowing more hurt. And thank God my daughter has recovered from this, but you have no idea what we went through to get her to. So I ask humbly take your oath seriously and take this case seriously. STAX is not qualified to manage a school or children period. Thank you very much. >> Mr. Rice. >> Good morning Secretary Lever. Uh to the state board of education to Chair Woods. My name is Cedric Charles Rice. I'm a proud resident of Palmouth, Arkansas, a taxpayer, uh a zebra graduate, and I have the fun job of being chairman of the Pamela School District
140board of directors. And so I'm here this morning just to continue to talk about the magnificent journey of the PLA school district. We've come out of state control. We passed the millillage and now with community support, we're building a state-of-the-art high school. I also want to talk about that recently we within a board member we within a board meeting we had public comment. Now we've always had public comment but this was different because of the law change and I was just excited about that because the board worked very very hard to establish some rules of decorum because we know that children are present. We know that we also want to be respectful and so that went very very well. So, I want to send kudos to our team and also kudos to our superintendent. I
141just want to talk about the fact that we are galvanized as a board to move the school district forward. We have an awesome superintendent that has vision for us going forward and we're still focusing on student success. So, just keep keep watching in the magnificent journey of the Pine Bluff School District. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> That I think we're going to move on to board reports. So, couple things uh on the board reports. I want to provide some updates to the board because I know at previous board meetings the board's asked for some updates especially for some of our schools under state control. But since Miss Wiloxinson's not here to do her teacher of the year update, I asked Capri Salam to dust off her teacher of the year hat and come in
142and provide a quick update because we had some exciting announcements that this past week and she agreed humbly to go ahead and rewear that crown. >> It's always humbling to stand here and bring the mic down how short I am. But good more good morning. Um, I always love being on this side of um of the stage, so to speak. Um, and I was so humbled that Secretary Leville would ask me to share some of the things that we've been doing in the Atoy program because I am now the teacher of the year coordinator and some of you all joined us on Monday, which was exciting. But we had our 2026 Arkansas Teacher of the Year recognition ceremony and Secretary Lever included in his remarks, but I don't know if everyone knows our teacher of
143the year program is over 65 years old in the state and so we have a long uh standing legacy. So want to >> I've also heard it's one of the best from the teachers of the year. Yeah, not to toot our own horn, but um it is one of the better programs in the state and I'm so happy that we recognize and celebrate great teachers. Um and we have a lot of them and so every year is so hard um when we start accepting applications from our district teachers of the year. Thank you. Oh, look at me. All right. So, on Monday, we had afternoon tea with the teachers of the year, and we recognized our top 15 finalists. So, it was held Monday, July 28th at 2 p.m. in the governor's mansion. And this
144elegant afternoon te served as a fitting backdrop to honor and celebrate the top 15 finalists. So, these are exceptional educators whose dedication and impact are shaping the future of education in Arkansas. And so, we included some pictures um uncanded shots there on the right. And then on the left we have Secretary Leva, our governor and first gentlemen with our 15 finalists from all across the state. And so I love being able to celebrate them and all of their hard work and dedication and what they do in our classrooms to grow our children. And during this ceremony, we had five state semi- finalists that were announced. Uh some states uh call them like the Fantastic Four or the Fab Five, and I think that's so fitting. So, we're gonna call them the Fab Five this year.
145Um and they are, if you see the picture on the left with Secretary Leva, we have Alana Ashworth. Uh she is at PG. So, yes, Prayer Grove. And then we have Stephanie Williams at Benton. Then we have our governor, Gretchian Frien Hovind is at Greenbryer. Elena Weaver is from Bryant. and Chanel Dale is from Fagetville. And since Jeanie could not be with us today, I still want to include her. And so there is an action shot, she did a wonderful job of including her remarks and just being thoughtful and celebrating the hard work that our teachers do each and every day in the summertime, late hours into the night. And so we were so happy. Uh I also included a photo because we invite former teachers of the year and we had quite quite a
146few. So uh we were only missing three and they were actually out of town and so they the past 10 years and there we all are and we lined up in order of our years and so that was something special because it's rare that we all get a chance to get together. So we look forward to this every single year. And to include on our last slide, I hope that Stacy does not mind me sharing this, but she posted on social media and I thought this story was too good not to share. So those are actually two of her former students and they are top 15 finalists. And so great teachers make great teachers. Um, so, um, she was the 2019 Arkansas Teacher of the Year and she's pictured with Caitlyn Smith who is the
147district teacher of the year at Conway and Victoria Golden is the district teacher of the year at Little Rock and that's where Stacy was teaching at the time was Little Rock School District and they're both her former students and they both um, made it to top 15. So, talk about a grow your own program when you grow exceptional teachers and so I thought that was just too good not to share. Hopefully next year. I know um that Dr. Arnold was able to make it and Miss Lisa was able to make it and so I hope next year that we can have even more people come and experience our our afternoon or brunch um with our teachers of the year. And so that means that we have five that will be competing so to speak this
148fall um and one of them will be announced as the 2026 Arkansas Teacher of the Year. >> Thank you so much. Thank you, Capri, for that update and for coordinating this whole program. You're doing a wonderful, wonderful job. And and it's true when you look at states that really celebrate and elevate the profession and really buy into the teacher of the year program. We are one of the best. And I'm just going to go ahead and put that out there. And we're really proud of the work that you're all doing. So, thank you. >> Well, thank you so much. And we really do have a great team because big events like this um are not a one-man show. And so I really really have a great team in educator effectiveness and lensure. Everyone always pitches
149in and um it's it's one of those things that really bonds us and brings us close together um because it is a lot of hard work but we love doing it. We love to celebrate teachers. So thank you all. >> So the the next item what I'd like to do is um bring Miss Whit up. I she shared a PowerPoint that has some of the data on all the schools that we've been providing frequent updates around. um state takeover, our school improvement efforts. But for today, I'd like her to spend a little bit more time talking about kind of the journey we've been on Bllyville to make sure that we're ready to welcome our young scholars. I know there's great interest from the board on that and Mr. Henderson's been been a big big help
150in making sure we're getting everything across the finish line. So, there's been a lot of progress uh over this summer and the last few weeks the team's been on on ground. And then um as we're starting to hear from the different schools under our authority, we have Dr. Hodo here from West Helena and uh he's gonna talk more specifically about his school and and what they're doing to prepare for the opening of the school year. So, >> right, he he told me I couldn't do all these slides. me. No, we do we compile he asked us to compile this just kind of an update on where we are and and the timeline with each of the district so you have an idea of who is currently under state authority receiving level five intensive support and
151where they are in in their journey. So there's a lot of information in there and if anytime feel free to contact me if you have questions about any specific districts or where we're going with those districts. But yes, we've been bl um it's been two months since I I think that I' I've been with you and we have been we've been very busy. We've worked a lot in um the business office because we needed to work with contracts uh you know in the initial report in May that we there were contract um salary schedule issues, stipens, those things. So, we've been we've had uh board several board packets, several board meetings to update and get those things updated. We've also been having meetings with teachers and staff to explain the contracts, explain their job descriptions,
152explain why if this is your job, there's it's part of your job and it's part of your salary. There are not additional stipens that go with that because it's during your contracted day. So being respectful and having those conversations so people understand why these changes are happening. The positive that I'm going to share with you today is what we're seeing in the community and the outreach within the community and the feedback that we're getting and Mr. Henderson will probably want to share some too because he's involved in in the meetings that we're having. But we're hearing from industry. We're hearing from the business community and they're ready to support and excited about the ideas behind the transformation contract. Uh the interim superintendent, Dr. Brent Miller, has been meeting with civic groups and giving them updates
153on the work that's going on in Bl. So we we're working on getting systems in place. We're as far as staffing interviews are still going on. Um we you know we lost 86 students last year. So, as we look at our numbers, we know that that decline may impact some of these areas where we think we have vacancies. We may not because we may not have the students there. We've we've had to I will share this too that um and I don't know if the last update if you shared about the facility the middle school and our water incident but we had a a situation where the water the water company and they did on it that they redirected the main and it went into a water line underneath the the middle school building and
154it it burst and caused a lot of structural damage. So, we've had uh we did the district did not have a construction manager architect. So, we've hired them to come in and they're helping with the design. We're waiting until the the um our contract transformation contract is done so that that team can come in and help with the design of that and how we may restructure some of that as well within that building because there were a lot of uh temporary walls. They weren't weightbearing walls. So, those have had to be removed because the floor literally raised up and and separated from the roof. It was it was unbelievable damage for such a very yeah bad mistake. So we're that's we're working on working on that right now and and getting that we we have
155a plan for the students and redirecting it didn't impact a lot of regular classrooms but it did have a huge impact on that side of the that side of the middle school building. But we did do a configuration there were five leas we now have three. All of those have been moved. We're there's still boxes in the hallway but they're working on it. they have a a company that does the work for them for maintenance. And so they're they're working hard to get people in to help so that we can get everything moved in and ready. Uh when students arrive on August 11th, uh the staff arrives on August 4. Tomorrow, Dr. Mr. Henderson, you might want to share with them what's going on in in BLE tomorrow, if you don't mind. Oh, >> sure.
156Um thank you, Miss Wow. Um tomorrow we're having a Bl County city youth back to school program and it's annually and that particular uh group that gives that event they've been doing it for over 30 years so we have a huge turnout uh at that event typically you have you know you have politicians you have Senator Wallace he's he attends annually Joey Carr uh the mayor Logan previous mayors and department of education is going to be you will represent. Yes. >> So, really excited about that event creating a whole lot of uh uh just good feeling in the city, you know, with the school uh you have the stakehold stakeholders include uh the business owners u private sectors and just the overall community and u you know we really appreciate uh everything that department is
157doing. We appreciate the uh just the overall environment in feel in the city of Law with the school district. >> I I don't want to underscore the commitment that Sheil and her team has made to to getting through the day-to-day operations of that school district and have to dismantle and uncover the dysfunctional mess and the state of the state that that district was in. It became very clear when we started getting in there rolling up our sleeves that that was a place for adults to have jobs and make money and kids to just hang out and nobody worried about what they were doing. >> And we had to undo that and we have to reshape and set a new bar and a new culture. We reformally requested um leg audit from the state to do
158audits to get a handle on the books because they've been doing private audits and it it doesn't look right. Like something usually when something doesn't smell right, it's not right. And um those conversations were really hard to have when people were used to getting random stipens for no reason. They're not getting that anymore. And those are those are uh tough conversations and it takes a lot of courage to say today is a new day and you're going to do your job. Your job isn't going to Sonic three times a day. It's to do your job. And um this this has been a big task that we've taken on, but it's the right task and it's the it's the right thing for it was the right thing for our board to do and it's the right
159thing for that community and and the students deserve that. And um we're hearing stories from students that are telling their parents and Sheila's team that they are the most excited they've ever been to come back to school this year because they feel like they might actually have a chance to learn something. >> And so we cannot take our foot off the gas. Our board tasked us with identifying and putting out a procurement for external operator. I think we provided that update at the last meeting that we have identified somebody. We we're in finalizations with contract negotiations and they plan to start being on site Monday. >> Right. >> So, we are moving with urgency to provide some systems and support that are going to make a difference in the lives of those students and um
160and it's welld deserved. So, also the co-op, right? Like we really rolled up and said to the co-op like we we need boots on the ground. when we need help. Pam Caster and their team have been there elbowto elbow with us every single day there. No excuses. We We've got a short window to make sure when these scholars come back that they're ready to come back in a safe high quality learning environment where we can hit the ground running on day one and we are going to achieve that. >> When you say external operator, do you mean an interim super or do you mean like a transformation contract? >> Do you want to speak? >> Transformation. The transformation contract. Absolutely. Yes. So, it's similar to the situation with Marvel Lane where we knew there wasn't
161enough leadership capacity to run the day-to-day operations. So, we put out um a similar request almost to say we're looking for somebody to come in, run day-to-day operations, make sure things are working the way they're supposed to be, train our folks. Um we we have a a network that that applied. Um it's the school of math and sciences. I always get them backmies of math and sciences. >> Um they they have some some small presence here in Arkansas. They're mostly based out of Arizona and they're going to come in with a professional development program, a curriculum supported with our Atlas progressing system. Um their their their track record of success is very very high and we put together a community forum. I think Mr. Henderson was witnessed part of that. And when when we identified
162the top four people because we had about eight people apply, our agency looked at like the top four based on qualifications and then sent them to the community and the community represented representatives um from the district, the businesses, the chambers, um the faith-based organizations. We put together a committee and all four of those companies had to come in and do interviews and talk about what they were going to do. and that community selected pretty much made the recommendation of who they were going to select and it was unanimous that they found somebody that would understand the needs of BL >> because that that group did their homework and I you may want to speak to the process but we we did a clear and transparent process to say we're going to get the best. >>
163Yeah. And uh to your point the process was very clean, very respected. Uh there was no outside influence and it felt really good to see the community come together and say this is what we want. >> Yes. >> You know, it's pretty good. It's very good feel and very good process. >> And I think that's one thing with all everything that we've been doing. We've been very transparent and that has been voiced often from community members. They they appreciate the transparency. They they like that they know what's going on and they're also getting a voice and and having a voice and we're listening. And students are feeling the same way about that. students having that voice. >> The one thing that I really respected the uh the group that made that decision >> represents the
164community. >> Absolutely. >> It was it was certainly uh it was a lot of diversity in the group and it was a group of leaders and a group that represent the school district and represent the city. >> And they was an entire day, wasn't it? They gave up an entire day. It was there all day. So that's so we're we're close to completion of that contract and then we'll start that transition like we did with Friendship because we did something very similar with it wasn't as quite as long with Friendship with Marvel Elaine but we'll do we'll have a transition. So our presence we will still be there during the transition time as they begin then to to really take over and and manage the the district and select a superintendent. I'll I'll always remember
165that at the end of our decision, we received a standing ovation or the stand or the decision received a standing ovation. That really makes a statement and Randy, I know your mom's happy. >> She is. >> So question about how just so I'm thinking about I mean and this is very exciting to have an external operator come in and just kind of >> get things in order and and really demonstrate how are supposed to be. How does that but that does not replace the need ultimately for a board. Is that correct? Because these are administrators and operators not the board. Is that correct? >> That's correct. So if you look at kind of where we are with level five, we dissolve the board, right? And then >> um as we start looking at maybe a
166fiveyear plan, as we hit benchmarks and milestones along the way, we would want to start establishing limited authority board so that we can do a gradual release back to the community. So that that probably won't happen in year one or two. We let's we got to be honest about our expectations, but by year three, we feel like we should see be at a place where we want to start getting back gradual control to the right systems in place. Our our conversations with when we do a transformational contract and bring in colonel operator, our goal is for them to put themselves out of business where we don't need them anymore. And they know that going in like this isn't a long-term solution. This is we got to get some things in place now and then gradually
167get this district self- sustaining so that they can be supported on their own. >> Well, and and thank you. We're and we must be thinking about things the same way because you know I do think about the board and the fact that some point at some point they will have to stand on their own and they will have to all be elected at the same time and you know I feel like getting those board members in place in, you know, with enough lead time ahead of the end of the five years, >> um, that they will have a chance to train and make a name for themselves in the community so that then the community can, you know, make good choices. So, um, you know, not just about fly, which is really on the beginning
168of their journey, but I think Whenever I look at dates here like Lee County who is uh coming to an end of their state authority, you know, in 2026, I mean, what are we doing >> from that perspective with their board? Yes. So, runway is very >> So, we're get we're getting ready to have to have an advisory board at Lee County. We're working on that right now. That's that's on our timeline. Earl has an advisory board and so they they meet very similar. Uh Mr. would you you referenced LR Little Rock and you were on that advisor. They work in that same capacity like you did at LRSD in that advisory capacity. Um Helena has a board but their board has limited authority on on personnel. So all of the personnel decisions are made
169are brought to Secretary Lever for decisions and then of course Marvel Elaine at this point does not but they're they're under the management of the friendship. They're beginning their this year will be their third year. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> So, um, like to introduce to the board Dr. Hodo. I don't know if this is his first time, uh, coming in front of the board, but, uh, he stepped in. We had a little bit of leadership transition in West Helena last year and then he stepped in as a as an interim for a few months and then we we decided we liked them. We thought we should keep him around and uh, formerly named him as as the superintendent. He he finished out his a school year on a high note and is doing
170some some really really impressive work and we're really lucky to have him here with us today. >> Well, thank you guys. Um board of directors, I really am excited about being here today. Um I want to say a couple highlights. Um first of all, I want to let you guys know that you do you do a lot of good work. Um don't get bogged down in what people may say. You do a lot of good work and we appreciate what you do. Um, next thing next thing I want to actually just take a point and just highlight the actual department of um of education because people like you know Kney Pride and and Jane Green and Matt Su and and you know Hope those individuals make my work easy and I know oftent time they
171don't get the actual just accolades for for doing it but they make my work easy. some of the things I provided with you guys for the the highlight booklet. Um you will see it's we do that every um nine weeks. And so those are just highlight things that you will see that we've done over the um last year. And um I just do a couple just high high level things on what we've done right now. Right now we have as of last Monday we've had an increase in enrollment 18.24% since quarter 1 of last year. And this is the first year we received increasing enroll money which I I saw zeros all the way down and I was like wow that's you know that's that's really good. I probably shouldn't say that but it is.
172Um also um I did want to make note too last year we actually um we we have 17 teachers that became certified standard licensed teachers. Um, one of the things we >> one of the things we do believe is that every student deserves a high quality teacher in front of them each and every day. And so we're committed to doing just that. Um, additionally um I want to just uh to to make it known that we have u in the works we have a new school JF wall we're actually looking to um to actually build. Um this is over 60 years old in this past time and so we actually um had our open bid last well yesterday and so we'll be breaking ground on JF Wall really really soon. Additionally um because of the
173increasing enrollment we're potentially looking to actually start a have a middle school um of six through eight middle school because of the the enrollment we're actually having. I have an amazing team. Um the the department they and Miss Whidow, her team, they do an amazing job with supporting us. And I just wanted to give you guys just a high level things of what we've done um this um year. And I just want to thank you guys for the opportunity. >> And I'm sure the board may have some questions because I know they're going to probably want to ask about student performance ultimately that that's on our >> our priority list and graduation rates and maybe some new programs. So >> well, I I'll begin. We actually started our middle college academy where we actually have
174um we'll have our first scholar graduating with the associate degree from the actual um school this year. Um we started middle college academy which allowed our students to receive associate degree um from Philips County Community College and that's a great um and and a lot of the parents are really excited about it to be able to receive a college degree while still in in high school. That's that's amazing. >> And that's something that was not offered before. >> No, it was not offered before. >> We're setting more accelerated opportunities even in the Delta. We know these kids can do it. If we build the right system, they're going to be successful. >> That's correct. Also, we've um increased the number of advanced placement courses we're offering. We're offering six more advanced placement course um than
175we had um last year. Um we had our teacher just coming back from the actual um Arkansas um the AP training and so they're sending actually just a few minutes ago sending actually certificates and so we're excited about that opportunity. It's not just the academic part. Also, we have the AP art we're looking at. And so, just providing opportunities for those scholars because zip code should determine what opportunities you actually provided. And we look to provide every opportunity we can for those scholars. Um, as it relates to our Atlas scores, you look at it, we actually are, you see around the war, we actually increase the number of kids that um on grade level, decreasing the number of kids who are in level one. And that's what we're trying to do. Um, it's it's hard
176work, but it's hard work, and we'll continue that hard work um each and every day. Thanks. >> Thank you so much. >> No problem. Thank you. >> I'm sorry. Lee, did you have anything? No. Okay. >> Oh, since we're here, just uh a compliment back here. You've held up your team. It's called co-elevation, a real strong uh descriptor of leadership. And so, I want to make sure that you get credit for stepping into this and making a difference. I can tell immediately how your persona can influence a system for the good. >> Appreciate you. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> So with that, I I think we look forward to our next board meeting. We we'll probably bring Earl I want to hear I think I heard another district we have questions around
177timelines on and get an update on on transitions and hear from those leaders and and make sure we we stay the course. By then, I think we may actually have some learning gains data that we'd want to share with the board that should be coming out. I know um we were able to share achievement level data at the last board meeting, but then when you calculate in the learning gains, there's another process, but that work is moving forward and we're excited to share um when we issue school grades, we're going to be issuing district grades as well. So, I think the board will have great interest in that. And then also want to just thank the Desi team for their hard work. Everybody across the spectrum this summer. They they were out in schools working
178side by side with leaders and teachers and um about two or three weeks ago hosted a summit uh that was about three or four days of professional learning that had well over a thousand people attend. And the feedback we we've received has been extremely positive and and it's just a commitment to to raising excellence in the state. I I know for me, beginning of August is one of my most exciting times of the school year because schools are opening and and if you've worked in schools in the summers and you've been an administrator, um there there's nothing more rewarding than hearing those little voices back in the hallways and opening up our campuses and and getting ready for schools to open. So, um thank you to all those leaders, teachers, um schoolboard members, everybody that's
179going to make sure we start off this school year great. But I always like to remind people when when school starts, we need to have patience because we got a lot of new families learning new routines and a lot of new car rider lines, busers are back on the road. So if you see uh flashing ahead, make sure you stop. Let's respect school zones. Let's put our phones down. It's going to be a wonderful school year with everybody working together. So thank you um board for another wonderful meeting. I look forward to the next one. Okay, with that I was gonna bring up Did you have anything else? >> No. Okay. Um, are we having a virtual meeting? I knew there were some rules that needed to be voted on, I think, before school started.
180>> Yeah. I think we're still coordinating dates at this point. Okay. But just for everybody on the board, we may have a virtual meeting before before our September meeting. Anything else Lee? Anything? No. Okay. Well, with that, I think Do we need a motion to adjourn? Yes. Kim's like, "Yes, you do." >> Anybody move to move to end the meeting? >> So moved by Mr. Wood. >> Second by Miss Hunter. >> All in favor say I. Meeting ends at 11:59. We're