001Are we good? All right. So, it is Monday, August 14th, 6:00. We're going to start our regularly scheduled August board meeting. We'll start with the pledge. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And now a moment of silence. All right. Amen. All right, Mr. Martin, I'm going to turn it over to you, sir. All right. Welcome to the August board meeting. And we survived our first day of school. Yay. It went outstanding. Everyone um did a great job. We didn't shut the town down track, I don't believe. So, it was a good day. Everything kids enjoyed it. I know the staff did as well, and I'm sure parents did, too. Sending
002their kids back. Um, the first thing on our agenda is the consent agenda, financial report, board minutes. Are there any questions? Okay. With that, I'd like to make the recommendation that the consent agenda, financial report, and board minutes of the regular board meeting held on July 10, 2023, and the special board meeting held on July 31st, 2023 be approved as submitted. All right. So, we have a recommendation. Do we have a motion? I'll motion. All right. Motion by Sarah. Do we have a second? Second. Second by John. Any further discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Up next, um we have action items. First is approved purchase of school vehicles. Um we have the opportunity to purchase um two bands. um one using um special ed funds and one using homeless funds to help those that
003um to help um transport both our special ed students and other students needing um services. We have have a conundrum with that. Buying a van's not as easy as it used to be about 2 or 3 years ago and you have to get on a list. So, while we do not have a van, two vans to purchase, we need permission to purchase vans so that we can actually um get on the list to buy a van because you get on the list and then the van comes in and you you take what they have. And so, you know, we're very um we'll have a spec sheet for them. We're not worried about color or anything like that. Um we'll probably buy either two Toyota Siennas or two Honda Odysseies. Okay. Odysseies. um you know they're
004they're really high quality bands will be anywhere between the 40 to $50,000 range and the majority of it I believe on the homeless it's a 50/50 split with u homeless funds and operating and in the special ed bus to help transport special ed students during the day it's vast majority special ed funds and only a small percentage of general operating and so these are in addition these are two new. Yes, ma'am. Not replacing anything? No ma'am. Okay. We we currently have two vans in our fleet. One has roughly 150,000 miles. The other has about 170. They're starting to age and we're need to not only replace but just grow because they're gone constantly. Yeah. And we can use them for professional development opportunities like during the summer in the evenings where they're not being used,
005but during the day they're they're kids there. Okay. Any any more questions? Okay, with that, I'd like to make a recommendation that we purchase give permission to purchase two vans at the cost of4 to $50,000 each. All right, so we have a recommendation. Do we have a motion? I'll motion. Motion by Sarah. Do we have a second? I'll second. Second by Ryan. Any further discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Um, let's approve out of state travel. um that has been pulled. They are not going to be unnecessary for cross country week. Okay. So, we we'll move on down to um drivers pay. One of the things that we've been working with is increasing um our drivers pay. And what we would like to do is our drivers who are regular drivers to get approval
006to pay them their their regular route hourly route pay instead of 1750 an hour. And then if it's a sponsor for a club or something that they continue to get the 1750 an hour. That allows us to pay our drivers more and reward them for um taking our kids places, you know, off out of school, out of school hours. And that's Oh, that's also our shuttle bus. And we also take um kids to therapeutic day treatment maybe down in Springdale. And that will allow us to pay the driver that same hourly rate that they get while they're driving the regular route as well. So, um, what you're saying is we are going to just open up hours so that bus drivers who are already driving can get paid to do more when when needed. Is
007that what you're saying? They're already doing that, but they're not getting paid. We pay them 1750 an hour right now. I believe our beginning route pays right at $20 an hour. And then we have some drivers who have been with us for well 30 years. Taylor just got 30 years with us and pay them what their hourly rate is compared to the instead of the 1750 flat rate. We might have a driver let's say makes $23 an hour if they take a band trip or a choir trip or a football trip reduces to 1750. Oh. So they're taking a cut and pay. They're driving in town on a daily basis of $23 an hour. Gotcha. our kids to Little Rock and back 1750. That's where I wasn't quite following. We also created financial challenges at
008our office because we paid them for it and what was the rate and all this and that. So, we can just tie the rate to the driver. Okay. I I didn't realize it wasn't already that way. Okay. So, what you're saying is if you're a $21 an hour driver, no matter what you're doing. Okay. Gotcha. Okay. Yes. And then coaches and sponsors are going to still be at that$,750. Okay. which is was erased for them when we did it a couple years ago, but they also are already getting paid for. Okay. Okay. Any other questions? Okay. With that, I'd like to make recommendation that we approve the special transportation trip pay as presented. All right. So, we have a recommendation. Do we have a motion? I'll motion that. Motion by Jessica. Do we have a
009second? I'll second. Any further discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Next on the agenda is for the board student transfer. Um we received these over the past month. Um we have room for these students. Um this will be the last month of all grade levels being considered. We will I will not be recommending at the current time grades K in grades K one two and I believe 10 right now because we're getting close to capacity there and whatnot allow us the opportunity to grow um we're going to grow students as the year goes with new houses coming in and everything. So we need to make sure that we have we have room for for those for families that are acting in district. But I believe we have eight students who have applied for board
010to board transfer and we have two students um requesting transfer out and we have space in each one of the grade levels. Okay. So just to clarify so Arkansas says space and headcount, right? And you're saying we still have space and headcount. However, in the future K12 and 10, we although we may have headcount, we're out of space. Yes sir. We are we're above that 95% threshold of capacity. Let's say you have um let's let's just use grades 1 2 and three 25 teachers 25 kids classroom. Um we have eight teachers that's 295% capacity would be 190. And so we're we're all within that range. And I feel that when we're in when we when we are in that ranch, we need to keep those spots open for people who are living in district and
011residing here because if we go over, it requires us to hire more staff. And not only is it the financial impact, but it's also the the personnel impact finding someone that that can be difficult with school already starting. Great. Thank you. Can I ask a question about that? Because I mean, you see construction everywhere going on right now. I mean, whole subdivisions are going up. So, I'm assuming it's kind of staggers when the houses are done. So, let's just say like a family is live renting in Bentville waiting on their home in P Ridge to be completed. it they have a contract sign now with the builder or they have what I consider a construction loan and it has an address. Our policy allows them to go ahead and enroll. Okay. So, they're probably already
012here is what you're saying. Okay. I just wasn't sure like how that would work throughout the year. But what we usually have is especially after Christmas, let's say a family, they're moving in, you know, it's Marchish around spring break, they may want the the kids to stay in Rogers or Bedville or Bel Vista. And we always work with school districts on that as well because to finish out the school year. Okay. Any other questions? Okay. With that, I'd like to make a recommendation to accept the board of the board transfer in and the transfer out as presented. All right. So, we have a recommendation. Do we have a motion? Motion. Motion by John. Do we have a second? I'll second. Second by Sarah. Any further discussion? All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Last that what
013I have on the agenda is personnel. Are you meeting California session? I didn't see a need. Did y'all see a need? No. Nope. Okay. Um Okay. With that, we have no resignations. Um we have two employments. Um I'd like to make the recommendation that we employ Emily Barrett and Phyllis Wiggins. All right. So, we have a recommendation. Do we have a motion? A motion. We have a motion by Jessica. Do we have a second? Second. All right. Second by John. All right. So Emily is going to be the school counselor. Yes, ma'am. At what school? And it's it's replacing Miss Thomas. She was the college and career one. So it' be a kind of a little bit helping at all camp at all campuses. And Miss Wiggins will be working with our virtual mass students
014at the high school grade seven. Grade seven. 7 through 12. Okay. All right. Thank you for the clarification. All right. No further discussion. All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. Just that's all. All right. So, I'll entertain. There we go. I'll second that. Were you out? Thanks, guys. Be a short. It's budget time. No, no, no. I appreciate