001Good evening. Good afternoon. It is a pleasure for us to be here. Thank you for coming and joining us today. Um to our esteemed board of directors and supporters of Clayton County Schools, we thank you for joining us today. Again, my name is Patrick Smith. I'm the dance director. Today's show is going to be comprised of quite a few genres and I must add everything is student-led. This is student choreography that you will be witnessing today. Um and this is the result of something new, a new element that I've added within our curriculum where they explore small group uh choreography. They have the opportunity within each class to spend time in smaller groups to give each other direction and choreography and to choose their own styles. My curriculum is based on ballet, modern, jazz, and
002West African. Tonight's performers are a combination of 7th and 8th grade. Um but the choreography that you're going to see today is going to include uh contemporary and hip-hop elements that of which I do not teach, but I think it's great for them to explore multiple genres. Uh there's a note as far as the program is concerned. Uh Carmina Burana, which is our final piece, will not be in tonight's program only because I wanted to save some time for tonight's program so that it's only 30 minutes long. We plan to go swiftly and not be before you very long, so thank you for joining us and enjoy tonight's program. >> I know your word is law. Don't say you're right. That just show your face. Broken I am leaving you. I know how I feel.
003I want to hurt your mind. I want you to get out. Get your own home. Get on your knees. All right. I know I I am leaving you. I am on three. That just show your smile. Only you. I am telling you. Cuz I watch you in my home. I know I am good at your game. Watch your eyes. And he says it's my game. It's amazing what we do. I will break your house in nothing. Cuz I wait to die. I am mad. I am I am mad. Jump on. I am mad. I am mad. I am mad. I am mad. You know it. I am mad. I am mad. I am mad. I am mad. Jump on. I am mad. And the whole world has to answer right now cuz I tell you
004once again. Who's bad? Your word is law. You were wrong. Who laughs in love? What do love? I am buying lies. Don't say you're right. That just show you're listening love. Don't make fun. I know your talk is cheap. You're not a man. I know I talk is cheap. I don't want another man. But they say it's got to end. If you leave this man you will be nothing. Just a way to find another man. I'm bad. You know I'm bad. I'm bad. You know I'm bad. I'm bad. You know I'm bad. And the whole world has to answer right now cuz I'll tell you once again who's bad. I know I can change the world tomorrow. It could be a better place. If you don't like what I'm saying then why don't you slap
005my face? I'm bad. I'm bad. You know I'm bad. I'm bad. You know I'm bad. I'm bad. You know I'm bad. And the whole world has to answer right now cuz I'll tell you once again who's bad. You know I'm bad. I'm bad. You know I'm bad. I'm bad. You know I'm bad. And the whole world has to answer right now cuz I'll tell you once again who's bad. You know I'm bad. I'm bad. You know I'm bad. I'm bad. You know I'm bad. And the whole world has to answer right now cuz I'll tell you once again who's bad. You know I'm bad. >> And a little bit of mama. I said I want to go. Mhm. Sometimes I feel like a motherless child. Sometimes I feel like a motherless child. Sometimes I feel
006like a Long way from home. Yeah. Sometimes I feel like a motherless child. Yeah. Sometimes I feel like a motherless child. Sometimes I feel like a motherless child. I love way from home long way from home I feel like a little bitty baby. It gets so lonely sometimes. And that's why I cry. Hey! Why? Oh. Hey! Oh. Why? Oh. Why? from home a long way from home >> He was an archangel of love. He had good news, good news, good news for those dedicated in their life to the spirit, spirit, spirit. One love was the focus of the true message, message, message. Yeah. Free body felt attention. Time was fading, fading, Gabriel playing. Gabriel playing. Gabriel playing. Gabriel playing, playing, playing. But Gabriel >> Do you ever make it out of your head? Do you
007still swim in your thoughts? Do you still mistake your flaws for property? Something that just don't sit right with you. But heaven knows, heaven knows your wings can weigh you down. Angels make a way somehow. And if we fall, we fall on. Black girl black outfit, the black hair. Took a little sun kiss just to look like this. God said you're an angel. Angel. I'm a big deal. I can see it in their total and it is. Rich blood, you can probably see the gold in my skin. I'm more than a girl with all the troubles of the world. Come lay me down. But angels make a way somehow. But if we fall, Black girl hair, black girl with the black girl hair. Took a little sun kiss just to look like this. God said
008you're an angel. Some mind hating, they wait on your fall. They don't know there's a grace for it all. My flaws don't make me beautiful and real. Are you faking or comparing? Are you perfectly a masterpiece and all of me? Even my scars. Even my scars. Yeah. Black girl hair, black girl with the black girl hair. Took a little sun kiss just to look like this. God said you're an angel. Angel. Ladies and gentlemen at home, the club is full of ballers and their pockets full of dough. And all you fellas leave your girl with her friends cuz it's 11:30 and the club is jumping, jumping. Homie say you got a girl, yes true you got a man, but the party ain't going south, so let's take it high, high. Last week you stayed at
009home alone and lonely. Couldn't find your man, he was chilling with his homies. This week and you going out and about. Try to stop you, you going out and about. Hair done and your nails done tomorrow. Outfit and your feeling yourself. Cougar laying at the hottest spot tonight, you going to Find a baller rolling in the latest drop top Hummer. Homie say you got a girl, yes true you got a man, but the party ain't going south, so let's take it high, high. Ladies leave your man at home, the club is full of ballers and their pockets full of dough. And all you fellas leave your girl with her friends cuz it's 11:30 and the club is jumping, jumping. Ladies leave your man at home, the club is full of ballers and their pockets full
010of dough. And all you fellas leave your girl with her friends cuz it's 11:30 and the club is jumping, jumping. Homie say you got a girl, yes true you got a man, but the party ain't going south, so let's take it high, high. >> It feels so good to be alive. Got all my family by my side. Couldn't wipe this black off if I tried. That's why I lift my head with pride. I got a million miles on me. They want to see how far I'll The path was never laid with gold. gold. We fought and built this on our own. And can't nobody knock it if they try. This is hustle for survival. Look how we've been fighting to stay alive. So, when we win, we will have pride. Do you know how much
011we have cried? How hard we had to fight? It feels so so so good. I got all my sisters by my side. Black Opulence. Now we're sitting on top of the world again. Huh, I got a million miles on me. They want to see how far I'll go. The path was never paved with gold. We fought and built this on our own. And can't nobody knock it if they try. This is hustle for survival. Look how we've been fighting to stay alive. So, when we win, we will have pride. Do you know how much we have cried? How hard we had to fight? It feels so good so good. And we going to sit on top of the world. And again. With my tribe on my side. And I wouldn't trade nothing. And I wouldn't
012trade nothing. With my tribe. So baby, lift your head. Feels so good to be alive. Living is a celebration for you. Yeah. I have my tribe on my side. You doing everything they said you couldn't do. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. With my tribe. Lift your head. Yeah. Woo. Nobody pray for me. It been a long day for me. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Hey, I remember syrup sandwiches and grandma allowances for nits and nats and with some counterfeit, but now I'm counting this. Homie John with my accountant, listen back I'm counting this. Homie say with my boo bae taste like gourmet for the anal list. Girl like If I quit your BM, I still rock Mercedes funk. If I quit this season, I still be the greatest funk. My last stroke just went
013viral. Last stroke. Stack my money fast and go. Fast, fast. Fast like a Lambo. I'll be jumping out the stadium. Jumping, jumping. Hey, hey. The crowd better save them. Crowd rolling. Hey, hey. I can't believe we made it. This is what we made. This is what we thankful. This is what we thankful. I can't believe we made it. This is a different thing. How do you have a stadium crowd doing hey, hey? Give me my check. Put some respect on my check. Malfunction, malfunction, malfunction. The systems are all down. Full lockdown mode initiated. We seem to be experiencing a complete experiencing We seem to be experiencing a complete blackout. WHATEVER I SAY, Y'ALL GOT TO DO. DO, DO, DO, DO, DO. Oh lord, guess who's coming? Timbaland, aka Bill Drummond. Who going to get it
014crunk like me? Timbaland. Oh, my Scoop, aka Fat Man. We guaranteed to make the party people bounce. Fellas say "Ho." Girls say "Ah." Before we start to turn it out, you must first begin to Listen. Woo. Bring them out. Bring them out. Bring them out. Bring them out. It's hard to yell when the barrel's in your mouth. You're almost there. Don't mess this Oh, no. Thank you so This concludes our special program. Was that not great? I'm coming to see each and every one of those girls grades at the end of this year. Because they were out here partying. I think I'm going to give Chris Brown and Usher a call, see if he can and you know, integrate them into the concert. This was great. Let's give them another hand. Our kids Our kids
015are brilliant. They're great. Um I think we have to pull with Miss Rice. Where we at? Okay. Good deal. Is Miss Rice here? She's here somewhere. Miss Rice, are you here? Where are you? Tell me what I'm pulling this for. You have been noticed as an employee Kritika Askren Tech Week The Kritika Askren from Morrow Elementary. Is she in the house? All right. She's a fifth grade teacher from Morrow Elementary. Is it just Is there a student one also, Miss um Rice? You can read why the principal nominated that person. Oh, okay. You got it. Why are you recognizing Why are you recognizing this person? She is our February Teacher of the Month, and this is what her colleagues had to say about her. Ms. Askren did not hesitate to provide intervention support to her
016students. She consistently steps in to ensure her students receive the help that they need. She works well with her students and is very pleasant with the staff. All right, so congratulations to her. And that concludes our showcase for today. And now we will Do I have five board members in the house? If you can I got one, myself, that's three. Is there any other board members? Let me see your hands. All right, so if you give us a couple of moments to um get two more people, then we will call the executive session and get the meeting started. >> Mhm. >> Welcome to the April 13th, 2026 Clayton County Board of Education Board meeting. Hello. I want to welcome the staff and the children back from spring break. Hopefully it was restful. The time is
017currently 5:05 p.m. and we are calling this meeting to order. We have a need for an executive session. Can I get a motion for executive session so that we can discuss personnel, land matters, and legal matters. Ms. Hill second Ms. Tellis Cooper. All right. Can I get a vote? All right, we will be back shortly after the executive session. Thank you. Doing amazingly well. Thank you for asking. spring pink >> Mhm. >> Victory! >> Mhm. >> Thank you, Lord. Glory. >> Mhm. >> Thank you, Zachary. >> Mhm. >> Take it off, Tori. >> We're back, community. We're going to call this meeting back to order. The time now is 6:02 p.m. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands,
018one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. We now have board recognition, so if everybody would meet up in the front here. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As the board is coming forward, I would ask Dr. Keith Colbert, Dr. Adelphia Young, Dr. Tim Gainey, Dr. Lonnie Farmer, Ms. Anna Cox, and Dr. Deborah Green to please come forward and join the board. Okay. Last month, Clayton County Public Schools hosted the 2026 State of Georgia Spanish Spelling Bee. This year's event brought together 21 students in grades 4 through 8 from multiple districts and schools across the region and state. After an intense competition involving more than 200 words and 26 rounds, the top winner, who was declared grand champion of Georgia, is the with uh coming through spelling in the final few words,
019and that individual who is grand champion is Ms. Sherilyn Ford Flores of Babb Middle School. She will represent Georgia at the National Spelling Bee scheduled for Albuquerque, New Mexico later this year. So, Ms. Flores, if you'll come forward. It should be noted that Ms. Flores, I believe, participated in the National Spanish Spelling Bee last year as first runner-up for the state of Georgia. Take your picture taken. While her picture is being taken, I would ask three students from Morrow High School to come forward along with Dr. Pam Pitts and Mr. Harold, the principal of the school or his representative. As we will honor them for CTSO success. All right, so All right. One, two, three. Okay. One, two, three. Good. >> I'd like to ask Dr. Eldridge Horton to also join the group of school
020district leadership up front. Okay. Tonight we recognize some students from Morrow High School who uh accomplished a great success. Uh the they earned state championships in their respective career technical student organizations. The first student that we recognize tonight uh is a sophomore at Morrow High School. Uh in fact uh he is identified as an AP Honors sophomore. He earned his state championship in business communication. That would be Mr. Uriel Narahondo Barraza. Okay. Going down. The next student is a senior. And this is in the uh Career and Technical Student Organization Technology Student Association. Doesn't matter. Is this too loud? Um she is a senior. Yurime Canas Caraballo. And she she's out here. Okay. She won her state championship in the category of prepared presentation. And the third student that we recognize tonight is Miss Abril
021Miller. She was elected to the region six area for the Georgia Health Occupations Students of America. She will begin serving for the 2026-2027 school year. She's up. Okay. All right. So, come on. For this next group, while the pictures are being taken, I would ask those students that we're recognizing for the Georgia Science and Engineering Fair to line up on the far side over here. That would be both the elementary and the high school students that we're recognizing tonight. Line up on the far side over here. Miss Pitt, Dr. Pitts, I will excuse you. Okay. And uh I think everybody else we're going to ask Dr. Shanice Ratcliff to join us up front and Jawan Winfield to join us up front along with Dr. Zakaria Watson. >> Sharman Johnson Sharman Johnson, excuse me. Yes. I've
022got her down here. I didn't say her name. I'm sorry. Dr. Dr. Sharman Johnson, please join us as well. There's a lot of Okay. The Georgia College and State University K-5 State Science and Engineering Fair was held recently in Milledgeville. We have an individual who earned a state title in this event. He is a third-grade student from East Clayton Elementary School. His name, Harrison Ainsworth. And we'd ask him to come forward and be recognized. The title of his project was gear oil lubrication. Go that way. All right, one Our next group are students in grades 6 through 12. And I would invite Ms. Kemika McKinney to come forward to join the board along with Mr. Cedric Coleman, Mr. Sam West, who is not here. He is kind of busy in San Diego at a conference
023this week. So, we ask his representative from Elite Scholars to please join us up front. I didn't do that. Uh Ms. Laetitia Lewis and Mr. Harold from Morrow High School. If you would join the board up front. We now turn our attention to the 78th Georgia Science and Engineering Fair sponsored by the University of Georgia in Athens for grades 6 through 12. It should be noted that this marks the first year in Clayton County Public School Science Fair history that we have had the highest number of students to place in special and specialty categories receiving top honors. These honors are equivalent to first place state-level awards. Our first student is Maryam Diallo of Riverdale Middle School. Her topic, Speak to Detect. Can AI detect laryngeal cancer? She earned the Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Biotechnology Award,
024the Thermo Fisher Fisher Junior Innovators Award, and she earned the junior division best in category of medicine and health. Our next student is Melinda Worsham Kaserova of Elite Scholars Academy Middle School. Her work was beyond the battery HFC and EV on-road performance. She earned the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Award. Our next honor goes to Nia De Wet of Kendrick Middle School. Her topic, What is solar paint and how will it change the future? She earned the Georgia Aquarium Conservation Award. Notice we've been talking about middle school students. We're talking about another 4 or 5 years of greatness here. Next up from Elite Scholars Academy High School, Darian Awoula. He earned his awards for a topic of analysis of neuroprotective drug effects on memory. He earned the UGA Georgia Science and Engineering Fair Inspiring Excellence Award
025and he earned the Clayton County Public Schools International Science and Engineering Fair Representative Award, a program that will be held in Phoenix, Arizona later this year. And our final science fair winner from Morrow High School, Bi Lee. Her topic, low-cost diagnostic glove for nerve damage. She earned the Office of Naval Research Naval Science Award and the Clayton County Public Schools International Science and Engineering Fair Representative Award. Congratulations. We will excuse the principals that we called up with the exception of the representative for um Elite Scholars Academy and we would invite Ms. Brenda Ross Wilson to come forward, please. And while they're making their way to the stage, I would invite the um individuals that we're recognizing for the literary award. And I would also ask Mr. Gary Townson to join us up front. When you
026hear the name Georgia High School Association, you automatically think of football championships, basketball final fours, all sorts of athletic events. In fact, we just hosted the state wrestling championships here in Clayton County. But the Georgia High School Association also conducts and maintains championships of the mind and activity. Tonight, we recognize state champions in the division two class A division two literary competition. I would ask from Elite Scholars Academy junior Yoon Lee to please come forward. Yoon Lee earned a state title in the category of extemporaneous speaking. He's not here. Is he here? We're going to We're going to do one We're going to do one shot. Okay. >> Okay, finish your cigarette. I'll give up. Bring them up. Okay, I'll bring them up. Okay, she needs to go up to the center for a photograph.
027Miss Miss, she needs to get her photograph with the board. Okay, this way. No, no, no. I want you all up there. I'm going to bring the students up in a minute, but I wanted her to get a photograph with the board. You want me to go ahead and just call everybody up? Okay. All right. Best laid plans sometimes don't work. It's now my my uh to cuz I'm making sure that we've got everybody called. Here are the individual state champions from Stillwell School of the Arts. In the category of personal essay, Zoriah Moses. In the category of girls solo, Blessing Lester. In the category of boys quartet, David Gallo. Mr. Jones. Chaz Russell. Deantony Miller. Now, these are the individual state champions and there's a lot of different categories that come together to determine
028who wins the state title as a school. And this year, for the first time in the area of literary, it was Stillwell School of the Arts. Will the rest of that team come forward and be recognized? Admired Gaines, Serenity Long, Oluwasun Olubajo, Jefferson Hall, Peyton Braswell, and coaches Pamela White, Joel Laringer, Lauren Covington, and Charity Purvis Jordan. It should be noted that this uh that Stillwell earned the state championship back in 2004 in one-act play. So, this is the second state title for Stillwell School of the Arts. Now, we're going to excuse everybody else except the board at this moment. And we thank them for their time. And I would like to ask Ms. Blackwood if she would bring forward a special resolution. The It is the week of April the 12th through the 18th,
0292026, is Exceptional Children's Week. And so, we have a special proclamation that we are presenting to the school district in honor of that week. And I would ask that Trina Smith quickly come forward. Is it okay if we get her certificate? Um it should already be It would be at the other table. Okay, yeah. Okay, thank you. And now I present the microphone to Dr. Jesse Goree for a special presentation. Good evening, everyone. I apologize for the sound. Uh Mr. and Mrs. Wright, are you in the audience? Come on up, please. I have something special for you. First, is Mr. Courtland in the audience? I don't know what to do with this. Just hold it down. Just hold it down with your speaker. Like that. Hold that one. This right here. Hello everyone. Mr. Hill,
030could you come over here so we can Hello there. If you all don't mind, will you all just go ahead and let shake everybody's hand for me. Sorry. I have the Wright family on the stage here. I wanted to give them a very special for their son Kelsey Wright. And I also have Mr. Courtland, Mr. Corey. I hope so. All right, hopefully well. For Mr. Courtland, actually what we have here is a proclamation recognizing the life of Mr. Kelsey Christopher Wright. Uh I just want to say personally, Kelsey was a very valued employee of Clayton County Public Schools. He was like uh heart, second son to me. I've known him since he was a young man coming through Chick-fil-A every day, Riverdale High School. And uh I just wanted to honor him because this is
031from the board though. Um On January 13th, um Kelsey lost his life here on this earth, but he's looking down from heaven right now. And so what I want to do if I can get through this is this is a proclamation recognizing the life of Mr. Kelsey Christopher Wright. The Clayton County Board of Education and Clayton County Public Schools Interim Superintendent CEO of Schools Dr. Douglas Hendrickson Senior take great pride in honoring the late Mr. Kelsey Christopher Wright, a former Clayton County Schools employee who served the children of Clayton County from August 2015 to his passing in January 2026. And whereas Mr. Kelsey Christopher Wright was born on February 25th, 1992 at Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta to loving and devoted parents Harry and Beverly Wright of Riverdale. And whereas Mr. Kelsey Christopher Wright This
032is heavy. Let me see here. Where you at Mr. Hill? You supposed to be helping me. Come on up here Mr. Hill. Mr. Hill is a church member. Huh. Demonstrated from an early age that he was a lifelong learner from elementary grades at Harriet Tubman Elementary School to Point South Middle School to Riverdale High School. And whereas as Mr. Kelsey Christopher Wright attended Albany State University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Middle Grades Education and would later earn a Master of Education's degree in Middle Grades Education from Kennesaw State University. And whereas Mr. Kelsey Christopher Wright began his career with Clayton County Public Schools in 2015 as a social studies teacher at Riverdale Middle School where he was more than an educator. He was a builder of people. And whereas in subsequent years Mr.
033Kelsey Christopher Wright would serve as a social studies teacher and ultimately an academic coach at Adamson Middle School where his love of social studies rooted in his belief that understanding history, civic responsibility, and critical thinking would empower individuals to shape the future was a hallmark of his instructional style. And I'm going to pass the mic. Whereas in 2013, Mr. Kelsey Christopher Wright launched Amplified Youth Ministry and through his energy and determination created a space where young people felt seen, supported, and inspired to dream bigger than ever before. Whereas Mr. Kelsey Christopher Wright's personality was electric, fervent, and contagious demonstrating the rare ability to make everyone he encountered feel safe, valued, and capable of more. And whereas throughout his tenure, Mr. Kelsey Christopher Wright has served as an excellent example and mentor to colleagues and students
034inspiring them all with his dedicated commitment mentoring youth both inside and outside the classroom. Whereas Mr. Kelsey Wright through his positive life commitment transformed student performance, expectation, and in doing so lifted student achievement producing a quality of education that each student deserved. Whereas on January 13th, 2026, Mr. Kelsey Christopher Wright having fulfilled his earthly assignment with excellence and faith transitioned from his life. Whereas Mr. Kelsey Christopher Wright can be proud of the tremendous impact he has had. His legacy continues to resonate at Adamsville Middle School, throughout Clayton County Public Schools, Clayton County, and beyond. He has enriched our school district and our county with his service and he is worthy of our esteem and appreciation. Now, therefore, be it known that Clayton County Board of Education and Clayton County Public Schools Interim Superintendent, CEO of
035Schools, Dr. Douglas Hendrix Sr. gratefully and respectfully honor Mr. Kelsey Christopher Wright for his enduring service to Clayton County Public Schools. Presented this 25th day of February in the year 2026 by Mr. Benjamin Straiker, Chair, Ms. Mary Baker, Vice Chair, Ms. Jasmine Bowles, District 1, Mr. Mark Christmas, District 2, Ms. Jessie Goree, District 3, Ms. Victoria Williams, District 4, Ms. Deatrice Haney, District 5, Sabrina Hill, District 7, Ms. Joy Tellis Cooper, District 8, and Dr. Hendrix Sr., Interim Superintendent, CEO of Schools. To No, you go. I wanted to say now, the date that we said is not today's date. I made it on the date of his birthday. Okay? I just didn't have I was so messed up over this. I I couldn't bring myself to do it. But I knew that we had to
036do it because it's what 3 months to the day. Yes. So, on behalf of the board, I wanted to present this. And we had Mr. Courtland come and join us. So, on behalf of the board, this is for you. All right. And I also wanted to give you this as a token of my appreciation. Thank you all so much. What a lovely lovely young man. Okay. Thank you. >> Before Testing. Testing. Before I do the uh uh board roll call, um I would like to um ask the board if I can add an agenda item to the business agenda for vote tonight. That item is the um the student performance scheduling for the board meetings. Can I get a motion to add that into the agenda this evening? Ms. Baker, can I can I get
037a second? Okay. Ms. Sellers-Cooper, can I get a vote? Ms. Williams, okay. Ms. Haney, no. All right. So, we have everybody except for Ms. Bowles. All right, I'm going to read the ethics statement. In accordance with board policy BH, it is the duty of every board member to avoid both conflict and appearances of such conflict. Does any board member have any known conflict of interest or appearance of such conflict with respect to any matter scheduled to come before the board at this meeting or appearing on our proposed agenda? If so, please identify the conflict. Testing. Testing. If so, please If so, please identify the conflict or appearance of conflict and refrain from participation in the matter involved. All right. Roll call. District 1, Ms. Jasmine Bowles. Testing. Testing. Present. District 2, Mr. Mark Christmas. District
0383, Ms. Jessie Goree. Present. District 4, Ms. Victoria Williams. Present. District 5, Dr. Dee Haney. Present. District 6, Ms. Mary Baker. Present. District 7, Ms. Sabrina Hill. Present. District 8, Ms. Joy Telesco. Present. And myself. Present. Interim Superintendent, Dr. Douglas Hendrix. Present. Board Attorney, Mr. Clem Doyle. Assistant to the Interim Superintendent, Mr. Don Biles. And lastly, the Board Liaison, Ms. Ken Blackwell. Thank you. We're now going to move into public participation. Before going into public participation, I'm going to read The Clayton County Board of Education welcomes public participation and will hear any interested individual pursuant to the guidelines outlined by policy BCBI. BCBI Members of the public will not be allowed to discuss individual personnel issues or confidential student matters. Speakers must identify themselves and topics before speaking. Speakers will be given 3 minutes to
039speak and time may not be yielded from one speaker to another. Board members will not respond to comments from speakers. The chairman may respond as appropriate. Issues requiring possible action by the board may be added to future agendas. Issues that may need to be addressed by the administration will be duly noted. Noted. Abusive language and or personal attacks will not be permitted. My first speaker for this evening is Mr. Chris Hill. Is Chris Hill here? Mr. Chris Hill. Chris Hill one last time? Okay, next speaker. Ms. Marie Maria Marino. Ms. Maria Marino. Okay. Take your time, ma'am. Good evening, everyone. Members of the board. My name is Maria Marino, and I am a parent at Unidos. I have stood before this board for the past 2 years, and I still do not feel that the
040parents' voices are being fully heard. I am speaking on two issues tonight. Administrative autonomy at the school level and the lack of consistency across schools, both of which directly impact student safety and family engagement. While school leadership is important, there must be clear limits when it comes to school specific rules. When decisions are based on preference rather than consistent district guidance, it creates confusion, inequity, and potential safety concerns. Safety is not subjective. It is a responsibility. At a recent school council meeting, I proposed allowing vetted parents, such as those in a village on patrol initiative, to support supervision on campus as an added layer of safety. These are cleared, willing parents. The response was there is no necessity for parent presence. However, during cross country practices, students were running laps around campus with only one
041staff member supervising a large group, creating moments where students were left unsupervised. This highlights a gap that should be addressed with solutions, not dismissal. More trusted adults on campus strengthens safety. The second issue is consistency across schools. District guidelines support family engagement, yet at Uniedos, families are experiencing more restrictive practices than at other schools in the same system. Even with recognition as a top performing school, success cannot be defined by data alone. The success include True success includes safety, inclusion, and meaningful family engagement for all students. When focus is placed primarily on performance metrics, important student and family needs risk being overlooked. So, I ask you to reflect. Are we building schools where families are true partners or systems where engagement is controlled and selectively allowed? I am not asking for special treatment nor any
042of the parents at our school. I am asking for consistency, transparency, and equal access for every family. Because every child deserves the same opportunity to thrive and every parent deserves the right to be part of that journey. Thank you very much for hearing me tonight. Thank you. Ms. Kendrum Kendra Kendra Amerum Thank you. Good evening to the Clayton County Public Schools Board, Superintendent, and distinguished leaders. I would like to take a moment to thank each of you for your continued service, leadership, and commitment to the students and families of Clayton County. Your support does not go unnoticed and it plays a vital role in the growth and development of our community. I would also like to extend a special thank you to the following board members for their support of our initiatives. Ms. Jasmine Bowles,
043Victoria Williams, Dr. Haney, Mary Braheker, Sabrina Hill, Mr. Benjamin Striker, and of course Dr. Alicia Dunn and Ms. Russell. My name is Kendri Maram. I'm the founder and CEO of She Is the Village and also an advisor of Jonesboro Youth City Government. Through the Jonesboro Youth City Government, we're creating intentional spaces where youth are not only engaged, but empowered as leaders. They're learning real-world skills such as budgeting, civic responsibility, and community engagement. Tools that we will serve them far beyond the classroom. In addition, the JET program is focused on equipping our youth with financial literacy exposure for long-term wealth-building strategies. Our goal is not just graduation, but preparation for sustainable, successful futures. And at She Is the Village, our mission centers on restoring community and supporting families, particularly single mothers, because we understand when families
044are supported, children thrive. And when children thrive, communities grow. So, we look forward to continuing collaboration as we work together to build programs that not only educate, but truly empower the next generation. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you so much. Rebecca Rebecca Oliveras Oliveras Good evening, members of the board. My name is Rebecca Oliveras and I am a parent at Clayton County Schools. I have five children attending the Unidos Dual Language from when it was hindered strive through the transitions into Anitos. I also currently have a granddaughter at Anitos as well as a fifth and a third grader. I'm here to support the parents speaking tonight and the parents who couldn't make it. I share the same concerns. I also here to speak on the significant changes and the culture that's happening.
045Excuse me. Over the past 2 years, I believe that that we deserve that your attention because we became before the board for the last 2 years. As I as a long-standing parent in this community, I'm concerned about the directions of the school and the impact of the changes that it has made on the families. Thank you for your attention on this matter. Thank you. Just a quick check, Leticia Mitchell. I don't believe you're here. And um Ms. Valen. All right, that completes public participation for this evening. We now will move into the executive session recommendations. Platform is yours, Mr. Superintendent. I'm sorry. You I'm I'm sorry. Come Come on up. >> Good evening everyone and board members of Clay County Schools. My name is Fabiola Requenes and I am a parent at Unidos Dual Language
046School. And I am here today because my daughter's safety and well-being are my top priority. I wanted to be very clear. I am not here to attack anyone. I am here because my daughter deserves to feel safe at school and right now she does not. There was an incident at school involving student access and supervision that has directly impacted my daughter. As a result, she no longer feels safe in the school environment and feels let down by school personnel. I have raised these concerns with the school but I do not feel they have been addressed with the seriousness, urgency, or clarity that this situation requires. There has been no clear resolution that restores my confidence as a parent. Out of respect Out of the respect for my daughter and the privacy of all students involved,
047I cannot go into specific details in a public setting. However, I want to emphasize that this is a serious incident that has raised really safety concerns. I am asking this board to please prioritize my daughters and all students at Unidos by ensuring that safety concerns take seriously and addressed immediately a student supervision and campus access I are properly properly controlled. Parents receive clear communication and follow up when incidents occur. There is accountability when safety protocols are not followed. This is not just about one situation. It is about ensuring that every student is safe, protected and supported at school. Every child deserves that. Every parent deserves peace of mind. I respectfully ask you to take this matter seriously and act accordingly. Thank you for your time. Good deal. What what school are you talking about, ma'am?
048>> Unidos. Unidos, okay. Thank you. Before we move before we move on to the executive session, um there were some incidents that happened during our spring break. On April 12th, a Jonesboro High School student was struck by a vehicle. Um that student is in recovery now. And on April 10th, a Mundy's Mill Middle student was also struck by a motor vehicle. And lastly, um Tanaya Robinson on April 4th was in Piedmont Park and was shot and killed. She was a student of North Clayton High School. So, if we could just take a moment of silence to pray for these students, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you. Mr. Superintendent, the platform is yours. Yes, sir. Good morning, Mr. Chair. Well, good afternoon, I'm sorry. It's spring break here. Uh Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, Madam Vice Chair,
049members of the board. We brought a couple of things to you for the executive session. The first being an easement presented for your vote I'm sorry. All right, let me let me try that. Okay, I'm going to let the superintendent do that all over again. Can you hear me? Wonderful. And so, uh an easement was brought to the board as a recommendation, and now it's up for your uh privy. Do I have a motion on the easement? Ms. Tellis Cooper. Um I approve the easement. Can y'all hear me? In and out? Um a motion to approve the easement with Georgia Power for the property at 137 Spring Street in Jonesboro as discussed in executive session. I second the motion. The motion has been made and properly seconded. Can I get a vote? Okay. It's eight
050yeas and one abstention. Dr. D. Haney abstained. Next, we have the 2026-2027 school year coordinator and above assistant principal addition re-election list for your vote. Is there any um any items on that list that anybody wants pulled? The re-election list. You just said just for the principal. For the right. And the entire thing. The coordinators and above. Oh, okay. And it includes one principal addition. Yes, I I have several. It's the coordinator and above and this is for 2026-2027 with one addition of an assistant principal. It's the re-election list. Yes, I'm going to ask that we pull 23. Um Just a minute. 96. 118. One more. 73. Okay, we are voting on the re-election list. You You're making a motion? Are you pulling also? I move that we accept the list in the exclusion of
05123, 73, 96, and 118. I'll second. The motion has been made that we accept the list minus 23, 96, 118, and 73. It has also been seconded. Can I get a vote? Okay, I got Ms. Bowles positive. I got Ms. Williams positive. Myself, positive. Ms. Baker, positive. Ms. Hill, positive. And Ms. Tellis-Cooper, positive. And Ms. Gorey. Um Ms. Ms. Haney is abstaining, and You You said no. Okay. So, I got one no, Mr. Mark Christmas. I also have one abstention, Ms. Um Dr. Haney. And I have everybody else in the affirmative. You're good? Okay. All right. Now, we're going to do these one by one, with the um the 23, 96, 118, and 73. You want to do them as a group? Well, let's do one by one. One by one. All right, so let's
052start with number 23. Can I get a motion for 23? I got Ms. Baker. And I have Ms. Bowles. The emotion has been made and properly seconded for 23. Can I get a vote for 23? I got one, Ms. Bowles, myself, Ms. Baker, Ms. Hill, and Ms. Cooper. Motion passes. Um Okay. Go ahead. What's your vote, Ms. Ms. Gorey? She said she's going to abstain because it doesn't exist. You said no, end of story. And Ms. And Dr. Haney is abstaining. Any Any other Ms. Williams, you want to make a comment on your abstention? Okay. Did you get the count, Ms. Bowles? Okay. We're now doing number 96. Can I get a motion for number 96? Ms. Teles Cooper. I move that we accept the superintendent's recommendation. Ms. Hill. I second. The motion has been
053made and properly seconded for number 96. Can I get a vote, please? I got Ms. Bowles as affirmative, myself as an affirmative, Ms. Baker affirmative, Ms. Hill affirmative, and Ms. Teles Cooper as affirmative. Ms. Dr. Haney. You abstain. Any comments? Okay. Ms. Williams. Any comment? Miss Miss Gorey? And Mr. Christmas, no. Did you get that, Ms. Byles? All right, we're down to 118. I have 118. Can I get a motion for 118? Ms. Tellis Cooper? Ms. Hill? The motion has been made and properly seconded. Can I get a vote, please? We have Ms. Bowles as the affirmative, myself as affirmative, Ms. Baker affirmative, Ms. Hill affirmative, and Ms. Tellis Cooper affirmative. Dr. D. Haney, you're abstaining? Any comment? Okay. Um Ms. Williams? Any comment? Ms. Gorey? Any comment? No, okay. You got that, Ms. Byles?
054All right, we're up to our last one, number 73. Can I get a motion for number 73? Ms. Tellis Cooper? Ms. Hill? Miss Miss Baker? Okay, the motion has been made by Ms. Tellis Cooper and seconded by Ms. Baker. Can I get a vote for number 73? We got Ms. Tellis Cooper positive, Ms. Hill positive, Ms. Baker positive, myself positive, and Ms. Bowles positive. I'll start down here, Mr. No for Mark Christmas, Ms. Gorey? Ms. Williams? No comment. Dr. D. Haney? Okay. That completes our list. We now have the announcements. Madam Vice Chair, board members, Superintendent Hendrix, district administrators, and citizens of Clayton County. My name is Aleah Pierre and I am a sixth grade scholar at Forest Park Middle School. >> name is Alyssa Hernandez. I am also a scholar at Forest Park Middle
055School in eighth grade. We are presenting our board member of the month of April. April is National Child >> I would like to uh I probably My mouth is probably big enough. I just wanted to acknowledge a couple of our employees uh who recently had birthdays. Mr. Sam Colger and Dr. Charmaine Johnson. Wanted to say happy birthday to you. I hope you've enjoyed your special day. Thank you all so much. Thank you. Okay, board members, we have the approval of the minutes. Are there any changes to the minutes for board work session, February 23rd, 2026? No changes. Um board members, the minutes for board meeting, March 2nd, 2026. Are there any changes? Seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda. I'm asking that we pull item G from the consent agenda to vote on
056separately. Um is there any other items that need to be pulled from Go ahead, Ms. Hill. Okay. So, we'll be voting on A and G separately. Ms. Goree, do you have anything that you want to pull? I need to know if we have corrected item H. The GDOE local facility plan resolution. Who Who's Who's responsible for that? What is it? The spelling of the superintendent name? Good evening, members of the board. Uh yes, ma'am, the item has been corrected by the Georgia DOE. Uh we will email a corrected copy to the board members tomorrow. Thank you. All right, with that said, let's vote on the consent agenda. We'll be voting for the budget amendments, the SPLOST revenue report, the purchasing report, the SPLOST construction report, the capital purchasing report, the GDOE local facility plan resolution
057with the correction, and lastly, the personnel changes report. Can I get a motion on the consent agenda? A and G. Right. Did Did I say A? Oh, I'm sorry. Okay, so A is We're We're voting on A separately and G separately. So, we're doing the budget amendment, the Splash revenue report, purchasing report, Splash construction report, capital purchasing report, the Godot local facility plan resolution with the correction, and the personnel change report. Ms. Baker with the motion. And I have a second by Ms. Goree. So, I have a Um the first motion was Ms. Baker. Second was Ms. Goree. Let's vote on the consent agenda minus A and G. Okay, it's unanimous. Now, we'll do the financial report. Can I get a motion on the financial report? Ms. Baker. And Ms. Goree. Okay, the motion has
058been made on the financial report, and it's been properly seconded. Can I get a vote on the financial report? Okay, it is eight, and Ms. Hill, you're abstaining or you're Wait, hold on 1 second. I am abstaining from voting on our budget presently because I do not have a clear understanding of our financial stability, um the projection for the future, as well as our um $3 million that was paid to the convocation center, and now with the additional $3 million for our state supplement. I just want to have clarity. I believe it's coming out of our fund balance, but I just want to make sure that I am understanding our financials. Good deal. Thank you. The next item for vote is item number GD RFP for Fountain Elementary. Can I get a motion for item
059G? Miss Mr. Mark Christmas. Okay, and can I get a second? Miss Baker. Okay, the motion has been made and properly seconded. Can I get a vote? Okay, the motion has been made. It is eight affirmative. I am voting no. Okay, we're now on the business agenda for vote tonight. Um we are voting on policy series J, which has been updated and loaded onto eboard. Are there is there First, before we get voting, is there any other discussion necessary? Yes, Miss Hill. Hold on 1 second. Okay, repeat that, please. I would like to know before we as a board vote on this policy, have all boards that this pertains to, because this is dealing with our children, um have they reviewed it? Have they signed off on it? And are they in agreement with it?
060Because I believe before we vote on policies, that we should also have the input as a board as well as the departments. Thank you, Miss Garrett. Can you come up, please? If you're here. Actually, you don't have to come up those steps. That's okay. Good evening. Members of the board, Mr. Vice Chair, Madam Mr. Chair, Madam Vice Chair, members of the board, community at large, and Mr. Superintendent. Yes, so I believe that your question was have we received any input or has have all the members of the board had the opportunity to review it and provide any input as well as the departments and the divisions that are related. Yes, ma'am. So, under the process, there is not only an opportunity for the information that's sent to them for them to review it and send
061it back to our office. There's also a meeting for all of the units, departments, and divisions that have relevant uh policies, that have relevant uh procedures and protocols related to the policies. They have the opportunity, in addition to it being loaded on eBoard, for the first read, for the public to be able to submit, as well as the second read, in between the time that it comes down to you guys for the vote. We have received some input. We've made those recommended changes where possible that didn't violate um any of the state laws or any of the federal rules and regulations. So, it has gone through iterations and reviews from not only the departments and divisions, the administration, the board, as well as any public uh public input that would be provided. And then also,
062it's gone through opportunities for um 2-month review. One question. I don't think this has anything to do with the J policies, although I think the handbook may come from it. Uh what do caps and are caps and gowns included under this policy? Caps and gowns. Caps and gowns? You said say that again. >> Caps and gowns policy. Are they in policy? Under J. Are they included under the J policy? So, the J policy would be relative to um students and so it may be included under J. You may also see under I, but also if there's anything in terms of purchasing of those caps and gowns, that may also be incorporated in the D policies under purchasing and procurement. Some of those are business services policies. But specifically, I don't recall if there's anything that
063is identified relative to caps and gowns, but I can check. Is there Are you meaning how they're purchased or the requirement for them or anything in general? >> I I just have a concern. I think I'll be all right with voting cuz if not, I'll just sign up for public comment next time. Okay. And um and um if you have anything that you want to um have added, we can certainly bring it back at any other time. >> it's just in the handbook. I'll have a discussion. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other discussion regarding policy J? Seeing none, we can um now have Can I have a motion? Ms. Baker? I move that we accept the J policies as presented. Can I get a second? Mr. Christmas? All right. The motion has
064been made, Ms. Baker. The It's been seconded by Mr. Christmas. Can I get a vote on the J policy? Okay. Ms. um Bowles, are you abstaining? And I seen somebody else and that Ms. um Hill? Okay, we got two abstentions, Ms. Bowles and Ms. Hill. Everybody else is in the affirmative. All right. The last item on the list, um, board members, is the, um, student performance scheduling. Student performance scheduling. I got two emails today. I'll start with you, Ms. Goree, and then I will, um, pass it over to you, Ms. Hill, and then we can come up with some kind of resolution. Thank you, Godson, for the, um, showcasing my two the board. Why you want you sent the email today? Ms. Hill sent the She sent the email. I think that this is something
065we can table, but the the reason for the email was is that we were starting at 4:30 for student performance, and I just indicated that that if we are at about education and our core focus is students, all nine board members would like to be present and support and anytime we're doing something student focused. If you're asking for us to come at 4:30, it does not allow us an opportunity to participate. We went from 6:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and now 4:30 p.m. We need to have consistency and coherence and how we operate and govern in this district, and I think we start with us, and because of that, I wanted to bring that to, um, your attention, but it's something that we can discuss when we're talking about our board assessment. Is it Godson,
066I'm sorry. Um, I just like to say I have been attending those at 4:30. Um, I really like the fact that our students are up there for more than 5 minutes. I understand starting at 6:00 because for their performance, and I that was my statement when we first changed the time. I would like us to go back to a 6:00, but I want you all to be prepared to do it give them at least 15 minutes to perform because if you could have seen what they did tonight, they couldn't do it in 5 minutes. Yeah. Yeah. And and and that's what I'm just saying. Just let's make sure that we schedule them an appropriate amount of time to do their performances because these kids are incredible and I want all of us to see it,
067but I I don't want to hear at the end of the day, "Oh, well, we can't do that because we we got to hurry." Our business doesn't need to hurry. Okay, so we we have a decision to make this evening. >> I'm sorry, Ms. Williams. And my comment is to push it back to 6:00. Say that again. >> the performances back to 6:00 so we're all here. Do you want to put a motion on the on the floor for it to be pushed back to 6:00? I also uh concur with with what Ms. Hill said and it needs to I say that that also needs to go back to 6:00. I think as I think Ms. Baker said something about putting a time limit on it because not only I'm glad that we had a
068captive audience for those parents that were able to come, but nobody's thinking about the fact that parents also work. They also want to come and see their children. So, if they're having to come at 4:30, it means they need to take off from work to come and sometimes we have problems getting here for executive session at 5:00. So, when you make a decision, it's supposed to be made as a board anyway. >> That's what we're doing right now. We have never discussed it. It was a decision that was made by I don't know who, but that's Yeah, we're I'm discussing it now, so let's be respectful in having a discussion. Thank you. Okay, Ms. Williams, you want to make a motion that we move the um student performances back to 6:00 p.m.? All right, can
069I get a second? Okay, the the motion has been made that we move the student showcases or any performances by the students at the regular scheduled board time of 6:00 p.m. Can I get What was that? With a time limit. Um can the motion has been made and properly seconded. Can I get a vote? Okay, I got Miss Miss Bowes, you are abstaining. Um we have positive. Mr. Christmas, Ms. Goree, Ms. Williams, myself, Ms. um Haney, Dr. Haney, Ms. Baker, um and Joy Tells Cooper. Yes, ma'am. Okay. It It seems like we have a majority of the vote that says that they want it at 6:00. So, I think that we should move forward with the majority of the board's that the vote As always, I'm happy to go with the majority's final decision. But
070also as always, I think that we our scholars and our parents and the whole district deserves better out of all of us on so many things. When it comes to this particular issue, I think that if we start at 6:00, that's fine, but I think that's aside from the point, which is ultimately about collaborative decision-making. So, I find that even if this vote happens, and we move forward with the majority's final decision, that for me doesn't address, I think, other issues related to um um how this board shows up and shows out when it comes to what's best for our students and our district. The other challenge I'm having with this particular decision is I don't believe it was on the agenda. And maybe I don't I don't also don't think we decided as a
071group to put it on this agenda. It just kind of came up. So, if we add this to a future agenda, giving it the time and conversation it deserves, um maybe some feedback doesn't necessarily seem um offensive to everybody. I think feedback is a great way to hear other insights, not necessarily an opportunity for any of us to get frustrated or um want to move too quickly. But, that's my that's my rationale for my abstention. Testing. Okay. All right. So, it's seven um positive and two abstentions. Well, members, that completes our agenda for this evening. Let me check with Madam Vice Chair. Is there anything additional? With that being said, the time now is 7:23, and this meeting is adjourned.