001Can you tell me the title? Here, I'm going to give you guys [Music] Okay. Okay. [Music] I don't know. Well, but now I'm usually going Yeah. Sometimes like when it's dark on one time somebody woke up and came out of the bushes and Another girl walking by, but no harm. We're working on some technical issues with a board member that's attending remotely. So, just like all technology, it was working 30 minutes ago, but when you need it to work, it got moody. So, just give us a moment, please. We had him in here. [Music] That's what he said. I don't I'm already [Music] No, this party. [Music] I just sent it to the school. [Music] That's good. What's the Did you watch this? I did it for [Music] We got this show. How do we
002Is it do this for three more Keep working. [Music] Did you get it? He was in on his before. [Music] He thinks the issue is on. [Music] No. popped over here. Okay. [Music] I just that's the link. I don't Hey, what's the link called when you get to the website? [Music] Oh, okay. Please remember [Music] I've never seen Hey, my egg girls put together a pamp. [Music] Cool. Sure. That is excited. [Music] If you'll plan on attending, we would love to have you there. comes any cows and pig show Tuesdays sheep Wednesday and then there's usific on Friday. This is what we give to buyers. The kids have been going out to companies and so we wanted to invite you guys to definitely not asking for money on there. What the companies want to look
003for tax write off and stuff like that. Um but lunch is at 11. Usually it's burgers, something on the grill, and then the fail starts at 12:30. Even if y'all don't want to buy an animal or anything, if y'all come and support if you're able to. How many animals we have? Um, animals in the sale. How many we have? Show. Show them. Yes. Yes. How many? Oh, okay. So, not all of them are in the sale because multiple kids have multiple species and they can only put one in the sale. So, I think so. 13 and make the sale. total shows. Oh, great. Wow. But we wanted to invite yall if you're able to come or if not the premium sale, come after work. If you have kids, grandkids, we'll let them pigs and the
004goats. They eat it up. Okay, [Music] I see you. Thank y'all for Mr. Tucker. Jeanie. Mr. Tucker and Jeanie. Hey, Wayne. Yes, I I see them eating. She stepped away for a minute. Okay, hang on just a second. Can I guess? [Music] Good evening. The time is now about 6:18 and we will begin our regular meeting, monthly meeting of the eleator school board. We ask that you would turn your phones down or turn them off so they won't be a distraction to anyone. And with that being said, we will begin our meeting with Mr. Tucker giving us a construction update. Okay. So, we're moving along on the Ela Intermediate School. So, here's an update for September the 8th. What you're looking at in the dark I'm color blind. That's probably dark gray. In the dark
005gray areas are sections A, B, and C in the front. And then the long line that goes to the back is section D is divided up into four areas. We have a concrete pou foundation poured on all those areas. They will pour the PE area for the gym uh probably this week and then student dining the week after that. They're grading it out right now and bringing in compact. So it's things are moving along. Some pictures. This is the drive that goes in front of the school that this sub foundation is actually reused concrete that's been crushed from the old high school. So it'll be underneath all the asphalt that's laid at the new intermediate school. This is section C that does not have metal on it yet. Be getting metal here pretty soon. This
006is looking from the south towards the north. That is once again section C. This is a part of section uh B. You see the part that's erected and the part that's still working. All that is section B and there's a little bit more section B to be completed. I think the metal on it is about 40% done. Another picture of section B. Section A that is the schoolbased health center classrooms, bathrooms, offices and that is looking from the northwest corner basically from the construction house that you see there from Timberland. And thanks to our uh our a team, they took their drone that they use in a and did a fly over this afternoon. So this is a very recent photo. That's cool. is going backwards heading towards the north. So you have second floor
007decking that is put up on section A and you're looking from the west. No, you're not. You're looking from the north. Sorry. South. Looking from the north to the south. See the green over to the left? That is the uh the gym that will be poured. There you go. So that's the construction date that we have today. They're moving right along. Everything's on time. So we just wanted to stay that way. Yeah, that looks great. Any questions or comments about construction update? If not, our next item, Mr. Tucker, again, you're off for board terms. Oh, yes. Let me pull up my Yes. Okay. And in policy, a few months ago, you voted on six-year terms. Act 503 requires, this is a new act to where you have more than one board member being voted on
008across the state each election time. So, Act 503 requires a 322 format for six-year terms. Our attorney Whitney Moore recommends having the members in zones one and six draw straws for two terms expiring in 2028 and one term expiring in 2030. Right now both their terms expire in 2029. So that would end up with two elections in 26, three elections in 28 and two elections in 30. So I have Mr. Gibson is attending remotely right now and Miss Dobson is over to my right and I have show this missville. have have two popsicle sticks that have 28 and one with 30. And so whichever one stops and draws that'll be her her election term and the other one will go to Mr. Gibson. Okay. It is 2028. So I will adjust it in the document.
009Her expiration will be 2028 and Mr. Gibson's will be 2030. Oh my goodness. Take care of yourself. Before we go any further, we would like to take this time to recognize Mr. Gibson. We know he's on here remotely, but today he has been on the board for 35 years. [Applause] So for Mr. Gibson, we want to say job well done. Thank you. You keep doing what you're doing at least to 2030. I I want to say from a personal note, Mr. Gibson has been a great mentor to me. Words of wisdom and he does so across the state. Anytime you go to board member trainings, Mr. Gibson is the one they come to. Uh he's been on the ASBA board. He's been president of ASBA and he is very well respected across the state and
010we respect him as well. So very happy he's here till at least 2030. Mr. Gibson, you have anything you want to say? I just just thank you to to each of you. Thank you. I'm going through this PT and OT um rehab right now. Keep it up. Our next item on the agenda is um recognition of student of the month, classified employee of the month, and teacher of the month. Mr. Simmon, this is something Mr. Gibson usually do. So, y'all bear with me if I make a mistakes. Uh we want to definitely keep him in our box to recover from his medical procedure. Student of the month, Miss P. gonna read some things. Just stay right here. Um, so Samantha Hutson, a senior at EHS. Sam is student council vice president, a member of the
011National Honor Society, and will be honored before the football game Friday night for being in the top 5% of her class. Yeah, let's give her a hand. She is also a part of the Horizon and volunteers in her classes, I'm sorry, in the nursery at her church. She is also the daughter of Barton Junior High librarian Sarah Huston and her husband Bobby. Miss Kamacho stated that Samantha is an amazing student. is dedicated to being the very best she can be. Sam always has a smile on her face and a positive attitude. She works hard and succeeds at pretty much anything she puts her mind to. Miss Strickland says, "Since she was little, Samantha has always gone above and beyond. She is not only remarkable student, but also an outstanding person. Samantha has the sweetest personality
012and the most caring heart. She truly embodies the Wildcat way. Resilient, responsible, and respectful. From the moment she walked through the doors of EHS, Samantha greets everyone with a smile and willingness to help any Wildcat student or staff. She is a silent shining example of what it means to be part of the Wildcat family. And we are so proud proud to recognize her as student of the month. Mr. Jameson says Sam is one of those students who make everyone around her better. She is the epitome of the Wildcat way. I remember Sam going to Bon in the afternoons when she was in kindergarten. And I'm proud of the young lady that she has grown up to be. She is one of my seventh period office workers. And the workers often forget we can still hear
013their conversation. But s Sam's true character, maturity, wisdom, and kindness continues to impress me. Would you like to have anything? Our classified employee of the month is Miss Valerie Jacob. [Applause] Our classified employee of the month is Valerie Jacobson. Miss Jacobson has been at EHS for 14 years, serving in nearly every role except superintendent. Watch out, Mr. She has been a long-term sub, a floating sub, credit recovery, second chance girls AC. Now she serves as the data processor for each school and attendance officer for EHS. She has been married to her husband Jay for 37 years. [Music] They have four sons and a daughter as well as eight grandchildren. She loves spending time with her family and completing the many projects that she and Jay have going on. Her colleagues say if you need anything
014done, ask Valerie. She doesn't stop until she has a problem resolved and she knows she will find a way to make things happen. Miss Jacobson is a workhorse and a e school wizard. She has helped me and kept me in line more times than I can count. I appreciate her more than I have probably told her. Mr. Jameson says, "Valerie makes my job so much easier. There isn't a report or piece of data that I need that she can't find. She is one of those people who is hard to find these days. She will be the first one in the building ensuring everything is done before everyone else arrives. So, she will be ready to help. Her willingness to do for EHS is one of those things I respect about her. There's nothing beneath her
015or not her job. She is willing to do anything from cleaning floors to hall duty to lunch duty and even answering the phones when needed. Would you like to have anything? Thank you so much. [Applause] Our teacher of the month, Miss Lorsha Car. [Applause] Teacher of the month, Miss Porsche Carter. Miss Carter is in her 17th year in education, her seventh at EHS. She is married and have three children. Taylor, a senior at EHS, Haley, a eighth grader at Barton, and Devin, a fifth grader at Washington. Excuse me. Miss Carter says she never wanted to be a teacher. Growing up with her grandparents taught her to serve others, even when it isn't convenient for you, seeing the effect her grandparents' kindness and ser service had on her decision to be something bigger than herself. She
016says that realization led me to education where I get to be a part of a system that supports, uplift, and empowers others every day. I may not have set out to become a teacher, but I'm incredibly thankful to be on this journey. Sean Lankan Beard, special education director, shared that Laora has a special way of connecting with her students, building trust, earning their respect, and showing them every day that they are seen, heard, and valued. To her students, she wears many invisible hats. Sometimes she's a therapist, sometimes she's a nurse, sometimes she's a mother, and always a safe haven. Her students no doubt realize she genuinely cares and want them to succeed not only at school but in life. When a parent and student show up to my office specifically requesting La Porsha to be
017the teacher that speaks volume to the positive impact she's made on not only the student but the parent as well. I'm not sure she even realized the huge impact she has on the lives of these students daily. She is a true bridge builder in education. Always visible, always handon, and always going above and beyond. Not only for her students, but for her fellow teachers as well. She is truly an asset to students, their parents, Elora High School, and the special education department. Mr. Macho says, "Loria goes above and beyond for both students and staff. She is very welcoming and willing to lend a helping hand. Students rely on her guidance and support. She is outstanding. Mr. Jameson said it's the things she does behind the scenes that makes her amazing. She is one of the
018most beloved teachers at DHS. She doesn't care who, what, when, or where she is needed. Her heart is in helping people. The one thing that I hear most from students is that she is real. and coming from high school students and adults. That is a compliment. I believe this is why she can connect with students that no one else can. EHS is a better place when she walks in every morning. To many of us at EHS, Porsha is so much more than a colleague and she is so very deserving of this recognition. Miss Far, would you like to say [Applause] Thank you and congratulations to all of you. Um our next item on the agenda is to approve the minutes for the meeting here August 11. You have a the minute to look at are
019there any I mean if you want to skip No, let's back up. Mr. J. So, I promise you that all three of those people talk a lot more than what they just acted like. I can guarantee you from sitting in my office today. All three of them talk a lot. First of all, I just want to say thank you all. June 30th this year, I completed the most fun year of my career I've had yet. And so, I just want to say thank you for the opportunity to lead over a high school. Um, The second thing is the last time I was in front of you, I may have made a very bold statement that uh I would bet my paycheck on the success of high school. Just so you know, you got to pay
020me again. So because we did it, we grew. That's what I promised you we would do. Um so some of the things that we're we're working on this year is improving us that proficiency number with a focus on the bottom 25%, improving our quality of CTS by implementing the 15-day challenge. I know y'all y'all heard about the 15-day challenge last month and what that was and improving RTI by specific data opportunities best for our kids. What we what we did is we took the data that we got luckily this year we got scores back a lot quicker identified some deficits of kids that was going to make them unsuccessful in the current grade and started RTI with them that first week of school or the skills that they were missing so that they would be
021caught up without having to wait and then try to get as we go. Um just some current opportunities I wanted to share with you. My predecessor always talked about all the opportunities that high school offers. Um so currently we offer 245 courses. The state requires that we offer 38 and a half. Say it again. The state requires 38 and a half. Y'all give us the opportunity to offer 245 different courses. Of that is 21 AP courses. There are 60 concurrent credit options that our kids have between uh general studies, nursing, welding, automotive, and industrial engineering. Six this year, 16 of those courses are on campus where students having the ability to earn 50 college credit hours while on campus at a high school. That's a great opportunity. I I still think we're putting 18 year
022olds into college, getting ready to go into their junior year of college at 18, but most of those kids that have 50 college credit hours are premature. So, I I'm I'm excited about that opportunity that we have a less we have less students driving back and forth across town every day, which makes my life a lot better. um 21 clubs and organizations, 25 extracurricular activities available to those kids, 43 CTE courses. So, 43 different career technical education courses that we offer. Um and then one of the big one of our big focuses this year is to utilize the people we have and provide kids some more opportunities. So, beyond high school exposure, this year we'll have a college fair that will host 31 different colleges be on our campus for kids to go talk to
023them and find out what goes on at their college, those kind of things. We'll do that October 21st. Um, we already have 15 different college visits scheduled for us to take his to the college, let them see the campus, and they they start those the 17th. So next week, two weeks from now, they'll go to UCA and Hendricks, spend a night, and they'll get up and drive on up to Fagville. And so they'll get an overnight trip where they get to see three colleges in two days. Those kids always have fun. They come back talking about all the things they saw, how big University of Arkansas is, which is it's fun to see that. Um, we also have a career fair in February where right now we have 30 or more career different career opportunities
024and colleges coming back to us in February. Uh, as they set up the cafeteria and our kids can come through and talk to different jobs and careers and just see what they're about. Uh this year we're also going to we're going to be part of the the green career expo. Um it it will focus on agri environmental science classes, our engineering courses, all the different careers that are that come with anything green forestry. Um I just went completely blank on all of them that they missed for me today. Just a in general. Um so we'll be taking kids to that expo there too. U we have also set up industry tours this year with Amber Cable, Milbank and Polyane containers where we'll be able to take kids to see the actual plants. Um see what
025the job look like and what it's what it's like actually there in their career. We also have be pro proud. We will do the they bring a truck that's full of VR stuff. It's pretty cool. You can sit there and operate an excavator, stuff like that in the back of an 18-wheeler. And kids get to actually feel what it feels like to operate some of this machinery and stuff like that, exposing them to careers. So, we'll have that on campus for two days. We run that through the ad classes. And then we also in the spring, we have um they call it draft day. They come in, they do another thing, and our kids fill out information. Last year, we had 12 kids that got interviews on the spot. We're offered interviews on the spot
026with different companies from Arajet, Bill Bank, quite a few of them just right there on the spot. They said, "We want to set up an interview with you right now." Um, it was kind of fun to watch the kids the day of their interviews come to school nervous and they halfway dressed up nice like they were they but then they had never experienced that. Um, and so it was pretty cool to see that that experience and that exposure in high school. Um, so talking about one of the things on that first slide, there was a a again for the fifth or sixth year in a row, we're the we're recognized by US World News Report as one of the best high schools and that's for our our AP scores. Um, so this year we hit
027a five-year high on a on an average of students or percentage of students that are a three or higher with a with a 38.06 pass rate of students with a three or higher on test. Just to get into a AP a little bit more, fiveyear highs, you have AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP Kim, AP Lang, AP Lit, Physics One, AP Precal, which is in second year, and then we missed AP World by two 100ths of a point of being a five-year high in all of those. Um, just as I go a little bit further, we had 118 threes this year. We had one without naming any names of surrounding districts. We had one class that had more fives than one district had total passing scores. So, wow. And I say that because I'm connected to
028a lot of different communities and there's always a lot of talk about who's getting a superior education and I guarantee people we're giving kids superior educations. U AP Biology, they had an average score of a 3.24. They beat the whole Arkansas and the global score. Uh percentage of threes was a 82.4 and AP bio. They beat Arkansas and the global. AP calculus uh had a 100% three or higher. Beat Arkansas and beat the global. AP Kim had an average of a 3.13. We beat Arkansas and our percentage of three or more. Beat Arkansas in the global. AP pre-cal beat Arkansas and the global in both those categories as well. So, we got some really, really good things happening in those AP classes. Um, we also had 39 AP scholars. In order to be an AP
029scholar, you had to make a three or higher on three AP tests. So, at high school, we got 39 kids that have made at least a three or higher on three tests. We had nine AP scholars with honors, means I made a three or higher on four or more and averaged a 3.25 on all their AP tests. We have seven AP AP scholars with distinction which is a three or more three or higher on five or more AP tests. We have one that is on track to get an award I've not seen and that is a national AP scholar that is a four or higher on eight AP exams and we have one that is on track for that seen all it's all on last year's AP test. Wow. The one that is on track
030is a junior and is currently sitting with three fives already. That's impressive. Yeah. I took a couple AP tests and I didn't get any college credit for high school. And so a three is pretty impressive and a five is just that's for for a kid in their junior year to be already at that point. That's impressive. So talking about some neighboring districts and if you want to know what neighbor one two three four five six is I can tell you after board meeting but just looking at our ACT. This is the ACT that we provided kids in February of last year. The red are the areas that did not beat high school for the surrounding six districts. We had five students that had on that test scored a 30 or higher. We have eight students
031at Ela High School with a super score of 30 or higher. 27 of them scored a 25 with 31 of our kids having the super score or higher than a 25. Three students that are eligible for the Arkansas Distinguished Scholarship, which is a 32 or higher on the super score. 82 students are eligible for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship, which is a 19 or higher. So, our kids, they showed out, which is which makes my job really fun because I get to come brag about all the good things they do. Um, this is one of the things that I want to throw in there and and I'm gonna brag on some of my algebra. Well, just one of my algebra teachers, but last year on individual growth, when we looked at our kids, this is
032the percentage of kids that had had growth individually on their test last year. In algebra, we had 80% of our kids have growth. Geometry had 70% of their kids, 51% biology, 44% in LA 10, and 42 in ELA 9. And so this I know that's a lot of numbers right there. I'll try to make it make a little bit more sense to you in just a second. So this is us compared the state with our kids that are proficient. We beat this. We were 2% below the state in ELA9. And when you think about a percentage of a class, you're talking about 1% be three kids. So we were six kids away from tying the state. Um, in ELA 9, ELA 10, we were three kids away from tying the state. Reading was, this is
033the first year that we've gotten a reading score. Um, we were one percentage point away from the state there, 2% in 10th grade. Algebra 1, um, that's one kick butt. I could not find an area that we were low in in algebra 1. They were 5% higher than the state. Geometry was 3% higher than the state. And biology, we were 1% higher than the state. And then when you look at it and comparing us to by the previous year, previous year's growth, we were ninth grade ELA went down 3%, 10th grade ELA went up 6%. Algebra went up 12%. Geometry went up 9% and biology went up 10%. on our pass rates from the previous year. Um, and then if you start looking at cohorts, what the kids did in ninth grade compared to what
034they did in 10th grade, our math scores went up 1%. Um, our math scores went up 1%, English went up 1%. But if you look at that bottom one, um, I didn't Here it is. The state actually went down 5% in math and we went up 1%. So compare cohort to cohort I would say our kids pretty good. Um and then if you just look at district proficiencies there we are again the red is the area the schools in our neighboring areas that did not beat us and then our schools that did not lead us beat us in the below proficient area. So when people talk about our superior education or what we're providing kids educ academically, we got data and we're we're doing it. Um so just some extra things I'd like to brag
035about quite a few things. When you start looking at Atlas data, I I was sharing this stat with Mr. Tucker today. I took the the schools that scored or that tested 200 or more kids in ELA because ELA is by grade level. It's not advanced or not. So score schools that scored that tested 200 kids or more. In our ninth grade class last year, our algebra ranked number seven in the state for our ninth graders. Our ninth graders that took geometry last year in advanced course ranked number four in the state. And our biology for ninth graders taking biology in a year early were number one in the state of Arkansas. Wow. And so that and that that's schools ranging from Bentonville at 877 nth graders to Male at 210 and we're right there in
036the middle of that. The number of kids we tested and math and science we we did the thing as the kid say. So we and we're right there we're right there with everybody else right in the middle of the pack in 10th grade. And yet we we still had growth. We still had scores. One of the things our top 10 top 10% kids will be honored the next two home football games. Um GPA is going from a four to a 4.26 this year. Seven of our teachers had merit paid um I think more of my staff should have had merit pay based on the scores that I just showed you because we we push kids out of their comfort zone. But that's it show that it works. Um Coach Hill wanted me to add this
037in there. Last year we had 10 kids in SIP. This year we currently have two. One was a move in and one was one that decided to play ball late. So they're in it that we that's the only two kids that we have in SIP be eligible for sports. Uh to give you a little bit of data on some self on the cell phones because I know that's a big topic for y'all. Uh of September 8 of 24 we had 33 cell phone referrals at El High School. As of today we only have 16. So it is it is helping and most of 16 or it went off in class. It did turn it off when I was supposed to those kind it's not a blatant because I got it out. Um I want I
038like giving youall an aggra update every year just because that it's a fun program. Last year we had 300 kids and about 10 animals that we had throughout the district and at home. This year we have about 315 kids in our egg program and we've tried to count a while ago about 50 animals that we have under our care this year. So we have multiply that rapidly. We have rabbits. So that does happen. Just some things I wanted to share with y'all. Um some of the good work that our teachers did. These are our teacher excellence nominees and winners. Um, and so I want to remind you, I know most of y'all are there to see that, but just so you have those faces in front of you, the people that did good, great work.
039U, Miss Hurley asked me to give a little update on the promise. 178 kids, alumni from high school that were new in the promise, turned in their transcripts this year, and 178 of them had a 3.2 or higher. 14 of those 178 had a 4.0. 36 had a 3.75 or between a 3.99. 60 had a 3.5 to a 3.74 and 68 had a 3.2 to 3.49. This is spread over 40 different universities across our country. Wow. So our kids the what we're what we're producing is holding on to what we're providing on the spot. So that that should that's another testament of the superior education that we're given. Um and then just this is just some things that have happened since I saw y'all last in February. Um, I talked to you in February about
040our Wildcats United, our our merge between general education and special education club. That's all of our staff supporting autism awareness month. Um, and then our all states. There's Sam. I promise y'all she talks a lot more than what she act like. All state boys and girls. Of course, we were we also got the best overall growth. For 2024, we had a girl state track championship. And then those eight students you see right there that just got done welding, they got their national certification in welding at competition at SAU. So we had eight kids that came out nationally certified welders. And so just some upcoming events. My staff knows that I like to send out an email every weekend just reminding everybody what's coming up. So I'm reminding y'all what's coming up. You're supposed to be
041at the high school for me to show you all these really cool things um at lunch on Thursday. top 10 top 5% will be in the state championship recognition this Friday night start at 6:30 at the game and then the girls told you about the the livestock show next week and then homecoming October 10th it's going to be it's early it's a it's early one this year so it be nice and warm still for the parade other than that I on behalf of high school thank y'all for everything you allow us to do um we We thoroughly enjoy getting to see kids do things that they've never got to experience before and that that's only that's only possible because of things y'all let us do. So I want to tell you thank you for that.
042You got any questions? I have one. Okay. and you probably answered it while you were speaking, but on your AP um classes, the students that take your AP courses, is that a a qualification based or Open enrollment. Well, I had one graduate in May and I never saw I thought maybe you were holding him back. The parents sign off to cats conference every year. Anything else? Thank you so much. Thank you. [Applause] Thank you, President Jameson, for all the updates. Sounds like some good stuff going on. Next item on the agenda is approval of the minutes for the meeting here, August 11th. As I said earlier, we've had them in our package. Are there any corrections, amendments? If not, I need a motion and a second. So, second have a motion by Mr. Watley, a
043second by Mr. Smith. that we accept the u approval of the minutes for the meeting held August August the 11th. All in favor? I opposes eyes carry. Our next item is the monthly to pay the monthly bills for Are there any questions, comments? as much as I like. Motion by Mr. Watlin, second by Mr. Clemens that we pay the bills for the month. Um, all in favor I I Gibson. I car. Our next item on the agenda is the TW 2026 27 calendar. Hannah Carton. Hello, I'm Hannah Carton. I'm the chair of the personnel policy committee and um we met and developed two calendars for the 2026 27 school year. This is done every year as dictated by Wall. The calendars were put out to vote for the staff. The results were 74.3% voted in
044favor of the alternative or year- round calendar and 25.7% voted in favor of the traditional calendar. The PPC met last week and voted on what we would like to see and 100% voted in favor of the alternative year round school calendar. Although the term year round does deter some people, I would like to take this time to call attention to the fact that both calendars will serve students for 178 days and both include 190 contract days for teachers. With there only being a week and a half shift in the start time after summer break, the term year round is not the best description of what this calendar actually is. Um because our teachers and staff have voted in favor of this calendar, I Hannah Carden, the chairperson of the PPC, am recommending to the Elora
045School Board to vote for the alternative yearround calendar. [Applause] I think it's the name of it is ridiculous because we're going to school in July and June, which we are now. I mean, we're not going to school in July, which is almost exactly the same thing. I mean, so year round, it's not a good name for it. I It's not. Yeah, but that's what the state makes us call it. I mean, two months. Yeah. I mean, I I agree. So, uh, Miss Carden, you did a good job. Um, she I never know if she's nervous or not because she can always talk. It's not nervous talking, it's just talking. Okay. So, uh, she shared the staff vote with you. I'll share community survey response. It was 57.7 in favor of alternative year round, 42.3 in
046favor of traditional. Um, if alternative calendar is approved, the district will provide child care during the first break, excluding Labor Day for students in grades K through six at a rate of $25 per week. Um then decisions regarding child care during sub subsequent breaks will be determined based on the participation level. Uh for additional context I consulted with hot springs magnolia school districts both are which are which in their second year of implementing the year- round calendar in both districts. Staff approval increased from 75% in year one to 90% year two and the community approval rose from 60% to 75% during the same period. Both districts also reported decreases in staff and student absenteeism. The Hampton School District and Pinebuff School District have similar data. And so, and at this time, I'm not aware of
047any districts that have discontinued the use of a year- round calendar from last year. It I will say this, it you know, there are a lot of studies out there. Studies don't really show a difference in test scores. I that is accurate. Um, I think absenteeism, lowering absenteeism and students and staff is always a beneficial thing. Like Miss Pardon said, there's 170day instructional days in both. And uh, both calendars, you're in school the same amount of time and out of school the same amount of time. There's a one and a half week difference in both calendars. So my recommendation would be the same as Miss Carden. I would recommend the traditional I mean I'm sorry the year round alternative calendar. So you may vote on this matter tonight or defer your decision until the October
048meeting. You said one and a half weeks. Yes sir. Uh so the year round calendar starts one and a half weeks earlier than the traditional calendar. So there's only one and a half weeks difference in start time. That's the only difference I saw. Yeah. Yeah. And those days, that one and a half week is divided out throughout the school year. But there's still 178 days, you know, on both calendars. Both calendars you're out of school, same amount of time. And uh you know, we did a PD here a while back and there's num number of calendars you can go with. Uh we have one district down the road does a 4 day a week calendar. I I hope we never do that in our district. My opinion, we need our kids six days a week.
049Um there are districts around us that use a a minute calendar where you count minutes and they end up going 168 days, so 10 days less than what we would be going. I honestly I I don't think that's a good fit trail rate either. Um you end up extending the school day and then going less days. Like I said, I I'd like to have our kids six days a week, you know. 450 minutes a day if we could. But and so another option of course would be the year round calendar which is like Mr. Watley said a terrible name. But uh and I will say this, some schools throughout the state make it the year- round calendar. They go to school in July, you know, and get out in June. But uh I just don't
050think that's a good fit either. So I I'm pleased with what the calendar committee and PPC came up with. I know there were comments on Facebook and surveyed. I'll address some of those. Uh why why are we doing this again? We already did this last year. Well, y'all already know this. They don't. By law, we have to do this every year. By law, we have been doing this every year. Um it it is what has to be done. I know another comment that was made on Facebook was uh that a lot of people said they were sad to see that Good Friday was not taken out, but Good Friday and 27 is during spring break. So in spring break, and I know people don't see that, but spring break is dictated by the states. We
051don't get to pick when spring break is. So anyway, you have my recommendation. Questions, comments. Second. And I I would recommend as well, Madam President, that we do a roll call vote since Mr. Gibson is remote. Be a little bit easier for him to hear. Well, comment. Um I am I I struggle with this calendar. I struggled with it last year and u I'm yeah I'm still struggling with it same concerns um child care um just the unheard voices that um don't speak up um and I just don't know I I mean, I love teachers and I know that I know that there are concerns on their side, but I I also have concerns for those little faces and uh the effects that this has not only on on those children and their families, but
052our community as a whole. This is this changes a lot in our community in my opinion decision. We have to make this same thing every year. Correct. Yes. [Music] Yes. And since we're going to vote by roll call, we have to Okay. Mr. Smith, no. Mr. Gibson, yes. Miss, no. Miss Dobson, no. Mr. Clemens, no. Mr. Yes. Miss Skinner, yes. four and three. Yes. Okay. So, by default, the uh traditional calendar will be accepted. And uh I want to say thank you to each board member. I understand y'all y'all vote from your heart. You vote how you feel. And I respect that. I respect your point of view. Our next item on the agend. Okay. I have Christy Parker wanting to transfer her child, a 12th grader, from Junction City to Elorado. It's a legal
053transfer and I recommend second. We have a motion by the Second by Mr. Cleman that we accept the recommendation of the transfer a transfer. All in favor? I. Okay. I have Miss Denton want to transfer her child from Parks Chapel Elorado 11th grader. It's a legal transfer and I recommend second. We have a motion by Mr. Clemens and second by Mr. that we accept the uh transfer that has been presented. It is the legal transfer. All in favor? I. Any opposes? I car. The next item this this concludes the regular monthly meeting of the school school board. We will now go into executive session where we will talk about matter but no votes will be taken while ma madam president may I say something? Yes sir. I I know each each board member votes their
054own their own conscience, but uh again, this is just one person's personal opinion. I think we made another mistake again this year going against the wishes of uh our educators. Thank you. [Music] Mr. Gibson, thank you for attending. Thank you. We'll go ahead and sign you off. All right. Thank you all for indulging me.