001Today is um December 17th, 2025 and we have a special board meeting to discuss the foundation lease, the academic calendar and some items during the executive session which will legal and personnel possibly land. Before we start, I'm going to do two things. One, I'm going to do the roll call first. >> District one, Miss Jasmine Bose, >> present. >> District two, Mr. Mark Christmas. >> Present. >> District three, Miss Dr. Jesse Rury. >> Present. >> District four, Miss Victoria Williams. She's on her way in. She should be here in the next 20 minutes. District five, Miss D. Haney. I believe she's on her way also. District six, Miss Mary Baker. >> District seven, Miss Sabrina Hill. I think she's going to be absent today based off of the communication. >> She's on her way. Um,
002District 8, Mr. Joy Telis Cooper who's walking >> and myself, District 9, Ben. I also have the superintendent, Dr. Anthony Smith. >> Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Douglas Hendricks, >> board liaison, Miss Kim Blackwood, >> present. >> Assistant to the superintendent, Miss Alicia Battle. >> Present. >> Assistant to deputy superintendent, Miss Dorne V. uh attorney Clint Doyle and we have all of our interns here. Okay. The first item that is on our to discuss lease list is the the lease to the um foundation in the convocation center. So we'll discuss that first before we go to the academic calendar and then after that we will part from the cafe and meet in the conference room over by our area to conduct the executive session. At the end of these two items that we're getting ready to speak
003about, we all will depart from the cafe and meet in our conference room to have an executive session. Okay, let me read the ethics statement before we begin talking about the billies. In accordance with board policy BH, it is the duty of every board member to avoid both conflicts of interest and appearances of such conflicts. Does any board member have any known conflict or in 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 or appearance of conflict and refrain from participation in the matter involved. At this point, I I'll turn the um platform over to our attorney, Clen, so that you can begin the discussion on the lease. >> Uh
004also, uh Mr. Chairman, uh members of Mr. Vice Chairman, chairwoman, members of the board, I just passed out, uh just some information, uh centered around what we plan on discussing in full detail at our retreat on January the 10th, just for your knowledge. Um so, uh if there's pending questions more, more than likely it might fit one of those categories that will be presented at that meeting just for you to have that information. >> Mr. Chairman, before you he starts, can we just I just want to acknowledge the fact that Miss Cer gave us a gift and I don't think she's here, but we may be televising this. If not, we do want to say thank you for Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair, Madame Vice Chair, members of the board, Dr. Smith, Dr.
005Hendris, members of the community. I'll just be very brief and mainly recap, I think, uh, some of the information you have before you. We're talking about the school district's Clayton County Public Schools potential lease for the upcoming convocation center which is under construction and nearing its completion. And the proposal at hand that the foundation has come forward is to lease on certain terms. And there's been a lot of discussion in the last several months, even one year plus on that issue. The um lawyers on both sides, if you will, have done their uh done their work and proposed terms. You saw that my office drafted some provisions. We forwarded that along to the foundation and the foundation's attorney has um offered suggestions, different ways of considering leads and um I gave everyone a handout hopefully
006board members and super deputy superintendent Dr. Hopefully you have the packet which really just represents emails you've already gotten with uh with the terms and the discussions. And so um that's kind of the recap. That's where we are. And then in terms of next step it'll be for the board to decide how to approach this lease subject and u sort of what guidance to give me on completing that process. And that that point pause and allow you know the board and superintendent to have any conversations questions you may have. >> I have a question for the chair. Uh so our purpose for having this meeting is to just have a discussion but not to vote this evening because >> the original purpose was to vote on the lease. That was the original purpose, but I
007would like to hear from all of the board members first before even making that decision on whether what what the next step should be. So with that said, I want to start on that end and hear from everybody and then we can all collaboratively make a decision on what our next our next step will be. Miss Bose, are you prepared to to have a discussion? Sure. >> All right. Go ahead. Chrisville Baker Hill and then >> uh good evening. I doubt that what I say will be comprehensive of all that I think. Um but I have several issues with the least with the lease. chief among them now is an opportunity uh that you'd like to pull the board and I find that a better opportunity could have been before the lease was signed. >>
008It's not signed. excuse me, not signed but before the um agreement was even drawn up. And I think that the time between Sorry, did you have a question now or did you want me to I was referring to something got >> a good opportunity could have been before the lease was presented as is. there have been opportunities where the whole board could have chimed in and or had cleanse issues addressed. Um some of those are including but not limited to the idea of rent and revenue sharing. um we already own this building and so I'm having a hard time understanding the concept of a rent pay in that scenario. I also have a challenge with the revenue split and I think that that challenge is exacerbated by confusion with the existing between us and the
009foundation. Um, we've there's an attempt to promise money or funds that no one can anticipate properly. And I just find that this agreement is not what's in the best interest of our scholars, our district or our budget, which has already not had the time and attention it deserves. Um, I think that there are several other issues including um the use of the space, who does what in the space considering all of the lack of clarity between us, the foundation, and then we've also um set aside time and days for the county as well. And I think that there's just more due diligence that needs to happen before entering or deepening the existing chaos. >> Thank you. U Mr. Chair, uh clip um the attorney's office sent us eight different bullets that need to be addressed
010and should we address those and and make it beneficial for us as a county, I'm not going to vote on any of this. Um there's a issues within this lease and he got eight particular bullet points but maybe 20 issues uh within this lease and I'm not prepared at all to uh even consider voting on this. >> Good evening everyone. I want to just really just dto summarize everything pretty well. Uh, I'm not willing to vote on it because I I I have continually sent emails regarding this from the very beginning all the way back to theou that was drafted by someone other where the board didn't have any input even all the way back to advocating for someone from the board to even be a part of the foundation. So, at this time I
011don't want to vote on it. Uh, I want to uh reiterate one of the points that Mr. Doyle sent to us today because I believe in what was presented uh there was something about an automatic renewal within 5 years and I believe and and I spoke to him because I wanted to be clear on what he was sending which basically says that the board can't even enter enter into a um a contract uh for that term. we should be able to get out of it annually and at the most I would even considering entering into agreement with them would be for two years anyway because if you look at their bylaws they will change people on the board uh their constitution says they can do that every two years. So there are a whole there
012are myriad of things that we need to discuss going all the way back to their bylaws. they they don't exist. Uh if it's not for the board of education, we don't put anybody on their board. And as it stands, we really don't have anyone who has ever done this before. And back to Miss B's point about this whole thing about paying to use your own building. If anything, we should have set down, we should have written down the terms. We should not be negotiating with another attorney to tell us of what to do with our building and particularly since the attorney for the foundation is somebody that they hired with our money and then a revenue split because they haven't come to the table with any money. We gave them money to to operate and
013so it's a no for me this evening. I I think we have a retreat coming up and even prior to us coming into this meeting tonight. We have Miss Mr. Doyle's recommendations and we have recommendations from their attorney. We don't have a piece of literature that states anything. In fact, we just have to rough draft. So, it's a no for me. >> Good evening everyone. in regards to my my being of this honestly no and the reason being is that there should have been prior discussions um with us as a board and the foundation also though Dr. since he came in and gave us a description of what's going on. I have always been asking what is the fundamental role of the foundation versus the board where this responsibility lie with each entity. How much
014do we have? How much leverage do they have? There was no answers to that. And so therefore, I think that we need to have further discussions. we need to do a quote unquote deep dive so that we can get more clarity that we can be more solid when it comes to this decision regarding this this big building over here. Um, also I have thanks about rent. Um, just as what Dr. Gloria and my colleague Miss B mentioned, there's a lot of uncertainties with that and I just don't feel like we as a district board that is should be paying for something that we technically built. I mean, that just that does not register with me at all. And so, I also just want to see their bylaws. I want to see more of what they're
015doing and what they're contributing because you're demanding something that you're not even giving an input or output on. And so, therefore, you're putting us we're your employee in essence. And I just think that's not fair to us as a district, as a board, and even as a community because we have an obligation for the community as well because the questions are now stern. the building is almost complete and here the students are even questioning will we be in there and so it's just a lot of uncertainties that we have and I just want us as a district as a board and the foundation to be more solid in this and not blame and cast responsibilities on one entity and then there's another and then you want to take the pride and joy when it's all
016said and done that's not fair so I'm going to say no to that and let's just have a more um in-depth conversations a more transparent conversation between attorneys and I do appreciate attorney attorney clamp for bringing this to us and giving us different options as to what his office is opposed to what they're saying. But in the meantime, I think there should be further discussions where we as a board, not just chair going to the meetings, but I think that it should be where the board has some type of say so or even listen to what is going on so that we can come together back and say, "Hey, we have this decision. We have this question here." And we can run those questions to our chair and vice chair. >> Thank you. Um there's
017a lot of dittos along the way. Um I personally am really really frustrated because this building was supposed to open in May or June and this should have already been done. We should be looking at it now. It should have already been done. Um then Miss Goreie and myself uh foundation people and uh Dr. Simpson met earlier in the year and we made it perfectly clear of some of these things that we're talking about now about if I'm paying the mortgage, I'm not paying the rent and if it's a paperwork option, then it should be stated like that. But um I think we Clint got left out of this, him and his firm got left out of this too long, too late. Um, I appreciate what he and his people have done and I I
018truly agree with that 100%. But I think this board has told them some of the problems that we have with this and yet here we are still. And then um maybe several weeks ago um after discussion I wrote down what I believe was everybody's um position of of you know we own the building, we are the board, what the foundation does, what should be at this more or less fundraising and then the operator operates and um I was told that we would be have that clarified and yet here we are and we now we have a lease in front of us that's not clean it's not a clean lease and I don't know who's taking their sweet time but it's frustrating on my part I just want to make one thing clear I received this
019lease at the exact same time that everybody else received Clint send this directly to each and every one of us board members, not me, before anybody else. So, I could not have gotten the lease to anybody prior to when I received it. He also sent out an email asking everybody for discussion on this. He then called me and said, "I received no discussion. I'm going to move forward with sending this to the attorneys." Am I correct about that, accountant? That's all I have to say. >> That's That's not true. That's not true. >> That's not true. I I've been sending questions the whole time. >> I apologize. Uh we've we've all sent questions and uh my understanding is what he sent back to us >> was he sent back a response to what the um
020>> foundation >> the foundation said and then and since that point that still doesn't it's not to say that the nine of us haven't done our due diligence because just because they sent something does not mean that we agree with I have one point. That point is that I'm getting information at the exact same time that everybody else, right? So that was my only point. >> Okay. >> Good evening everyone. Um, I share the sentiments of my colleagues this evening on not voting on this lease, but I raised the question that had we followed protocol and allowed the foundation to do the RFP that would have eliminated us being here today because I think we were out of order at that time when um we as a school district took the initiative to launch the
021RFP resulting in only two operators, one who totally disqualified and the one that we lander with. Now, I believe that the lease is one-sided. It does not represent Clayton County Board of Education and certainly does not represent the interest of our students um in our core business of education. Um, I would like to see us put all of this on hold until we have a clear path. Um, and even understanding if legally we can be doing any of this knowing that the RSP was not done properly at the initial time. So I would be um really concerned if we entered into any other legal obligation that would land us in a position that would cost us more money when in essence we are the owner and we have autonomy and how and what this looks
022like. So I think as a board collectively we should start leading and stop following what other people would like us to do and stand on the position that we have and that is to show good stewardship over our convocation center and making sure that we do it correctly from the beginning to the end. >> Good evening. I think um I echo everything that everyone here has had to say tonight. I do not want to vote on it either. I have some questions about it. As uh everybody pretty much has said, this is pretty much a one-sided contract. I think it puts a lot of risk on us um revenue-wise, audit wise, accountability as far as with even with the operator. So, there's a lot of things that I think that we need to discuss. Also,
023I would like uh for our attorney to be a little bit more they need to be working with him very closely from this moment on as to what happens with this contract. You brought up a good point. I didn't think about it. We have to be able to start a process from the beginning to the end correctly. And um we're here now. Of course, like we said, this is a new business for everybody. Um, but we need to self-correct and we owe it not only to the children of Klay County, but to the community and also to ourselves. So, >> Mr. Chairman, >> yes, ma'am. >> In regards to the statement about the RFP and the list, the lease, those are two separate uh items. It doesn't the RFP has nothing to do with the
024lease. The lease is uh is something that was going to happen irregardless. So, the so those are two separate things that we're talking about. Although I will agree with you that it was the RFP according to the way it started was supposed to be done by the foundation. But that those are two different things. And if you just really want to talk about the order in which things were done, the whole process from the beginning uh basically eliminated uh the input from the board the which is the owner of the of the facility and the whole process. >> Good deal. We've heard from everybody tonight and everybody is pretty much in the same place. Um we do have a retreat coming up on January 10th in which all of those different um entities will be
025in the same place to have this discussion. So my recommendation is that we wait until January 10th to see if we can get some of this stuff cleared up and um and then move forward thereafter. Is anybody okay with that? >> Yes. Um, I I understand why we need to do that, but while we're waiting on this one side, I need somebody to be planning a graduation. We can't we can't wait. This has got We've got kids who we have promised they're having graduation there. We're not making deals with our former place. So, that needs to be going on at the same time. However, we need to do that. I don't know. The paperwork that needs to be done, the waiver needs to be I don't know. That's not my job. leave that to CL
026to make sure that we can get that done. But at the end of the day, if we wait till January, we still need to figure out how graduation is going to be done. >> All right, if you close us out. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice Chair, only members of the board. Um, thanks for your input. Um, I'm fine with what everyone has said. Not a problem for me. Um, I just want to respond to uh Miss Baker uh Baker's statement and also bring to your attention uh something else centered around the the venue. Uh graduations will occur. The plan for all of that. Uh we don't need the operator. We don't need the foundation. We don't need anybody uh to help us uh put that together. We have Dr. Simpson, Dr. Cobert,
027Dr. Young, all of those folks. Uh uh Mrs. Trice uh they're fully involved in ensuring uh that we have those graduations there and the building will be absolutely completed by then. And in addition to that, I want to thank Dr. Simpson and uh Dr. Aaron Jeter and Mr. Patrick Smith for their work uh because they're forging ahead and uh uh on February 11th through the 12th or 13th, Dr. system. If I'm not uh mistaken, due to their great work, we're going to be able to um have an event there that will be extraordinary. We've signed a contract with the Georgia High School Association uh to have the state championship wrestling tournament there. and the people in making uh very upset with us because we stolen that business from them that generate $6.5 million to the
028local economy over a period of two two days. Not to mention the widespread marketing benefit that we will have. In addition, uh because they've not been uh u um burdened with all of the legal minutia that's going on, uh also have uh submitted contracts with the MIA conference, which is a H.B.C.U. conference, >> SIC, I'm sorry, uh SIC conference uh which u entails uh some uh very uh formidable uh H.B.CU PCU universities and colleges uh that will uh will be of great marketing value to us as well and bring in uh a degree of um um money to the local economy. Clayton State University and they're in talks with other folks on the athletic side. So uh so the the the interest with that this facility is generating is amazing. Uh and as soon as
029the board is comfortable with whatever direction we go in from an operator foundation standpoint, uh we'll we'll have something special. Um and I just want to say this is complex. It's not um you know it's just no no example to point to. Um and and and and within this complexity um is bringing about some some some some burdensome situations that I hope that within the next month with our attorney, foundation attorney, whomever is involved that we can get this settle move forward. Thank you, Dr. Smith. And with that said, we'll move on to the next item. That's the academic calendar 2026 2027. Mr. White, if you could take the podium, please. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Go ahead. >> There's one coming. I just um I meant all that I said the first time. And I
030also want to acknowledge the incredible opportunity that this could present for us in our community. And I say that because I recognize, I'm sure many of my colleagues feel the same way. The reason one of these questions answered is in order to move forward. So, I feel excited about what you just shared, Dr. Smith. Um, and simultaneously have more questions. I'm delighted and honored that we get to host incredible conferences like statewide championships and even attract new attention from SIAC or build relationships with H.B.CU. These are things that matter. I still though wonder with the excitement about the possible 6.5 million that follows these opportunities, how and have we clarified cost sharing, revenue, revenue splits. Um the very thing that you all are saying is still under construction and we're tableabling until early next year.
031Um, I'd love to to be corrected if I'm wrong, but I do are we not in a relationship with an existing um operator of some type and is if so would love some clarity there. And you know, I just think we just had two contradictory I I'll speak for myself. um share your joy and your excitement about moving forward, but the entire conversation before that announcement was about how we shouldn't. And so I'm curious. I'd love for you to help me understand what I'm confused about and maybe even um help me understand that this has already been thought through and talked through and oh the cost split goes that way or that's why this or we've got a um a a middleman account that kind of acts like a escrow or we like I just
032don't want to have those two comments and conversations go back to back without and then we go to the academic calendar. that didn't seem um like they match. >> Well, Dr. Simpson, I if if you're asking for more details about those events, uh we can get Dr. Simpson to provide that. Um >> I kind of I think the events are great. I have I'm less curious about the events and more curious about how if we have questions about patronage, hosting, all the things that come with this, how then do we simultaneously have existing contracts? I think that was one of the things you excitedly shared was um we've signed a contract with the state wrestling championship folks and I'm I'm >> so like over a year ago within a year or so ago the foundation
033hired um two individuals to go out and get athletic this is not this is strictly athletic events strictly athletic events uh not associated with an operator or any of that uh even though moving forward I'm I'm sure some involvement will need to be uh cemented from both sides, but um but I was just merely sharing with you the work that they're doing. They move forward and and and have really uh done a great service uh and and we're prepared to utilize that building. I'm not so sure I understand what response you're asking of me other than more details about those athletic events. Well, I hope um that you all can see how careful I'm trying to be and respectful I'm trying to be to acknowledge that I I appreciate the hard work that Dr. Simpson
034and his team are doing. Um and I don't want to take away from that. Two things can be true. They're making great connections out in the world having contracts and people come here and it can still be true that the first 30 minutes of our meeting with these cost share challenges exist and since those two things are true at the same time I don't want it unsaid that that is unacceptable and and to the extent that we can preempt and prevent challenges. I think we should be really thoughtful about that. And again, I I say this um equally meaning both. This is great. New folks coming, all the money spent here. Awesome. This is kind of why we built it. At the same time, it is not smart as fiscal stewards to have all these
035questions on the table and be signing contracts with third parties without clarity on cost share. I mean, that's a and and I think perhaps per perhaps this is a longer conversation, all these things. Um, but I love your point about this being exclusively sports related. I think that is a key point. And perhaps that's also I'm equally concerned. Um I think our sports environment here at CCPS also needs some attention on the finance uh intake side and just making sure that everything's going where it should, everything is in the right manner. um and that if there's any contract with Clayton County Public Schools, we're clear, but if there's any contract with any other Clayton County entities that we're clear and that we just have all our eyes dotted and teas crossed. And I think, you
036know, final thing I'll say on this is um I I I am still excited about this convocation center, but I feel quite responsible, which is why I have to ask all these questions. I think it is our responsibility with such a large opportunity and such a large financial commitment. Um it's my job to ask all these questions. >> Thank you. >> Uh to her point I I'm not sure she quite if she I'm not sure what impression she made. I I understand what she meant by her statement, but I'm not sure she understood what you were saying. Dr. Jeter and Mr. Smith were hired by the foundation prior uh when we first got theou and I kept raising questions about theou from the very beginning. They were already hired. So, this is not something that
037Dr. Simpson did, you know. Initially, we ended up putting Dr. Simpson over the building, but the people that got those contracts were hired by the foundation. Uh to your point, your concern is like, okay, when they bring the revenue in, who gets the money? Because right now, we don't have a clear definition of who gets the money. the foundation, I guess, was of the opinion that what they put in their contract was going to be agreeable to us. So, to her point, I mean, we're happy that we're getting this, but even when this happens right now, we don't know how the money flows because, you know, we didn't they Then an assumption had was made by the foundation. Basically the whole idea of the foundation running this was an assumption that we felt like we
038needed and to Mr. Jos and that that's been the question that I've continued to ask basically his answer was we don't. But I guess we've entered into an agreement. We just let people continue to do things on our behalf but not really have us at the table and it's just one big snowball that keeps rolling and rolling and rolling and we do need to get a finite answer as to what is going to happen. >> Well, thank you for clarifying that some of that. Anyway, >> because as you recall, there was also uh the foundation also thought about when we originally said something about a golf tournament that u they were going to do enterprise that as well. >> Yeah. Well, you and you're right about when Dr. Jeter and and his teammate uh got
039involved that that was hired through the foundation and the foundation once we met in Stone Mountain some years ago and we we we hatched out uh what what we thought at that time was aou between the foundation and the board of education. No operator conversation or none of that was was even on the table. And so they move forward and the revenue sharing at that particular time I think was 15% to the foundation of anything that they generated and 85% to the board of education. And so from an athletic standpoint that is the spirit in which they're operating in terms of going out getting business that meets that financial structure that profit sharing structure. Now, of course, it's gotten very complicated since then, uh, with the operating merging and all of that. And, uh, to
040M. B's point, uh, we do need to have to have conversations about how do we merge all that together? How do we update that, I I guess is a is a word that I would use, um, to make it make sense legally and otherwise, but that was what they would probably operate under that uh, initial agreement. >> But back to that point, still, Dr. the that 8515 is what that was their assumption. I don't recall anybody ever saying that to us and I don't recall any of us ever agreeing to that. >> I I think we did. As a matter of fact, Mor, if I'm if not if I'm not mistaken, um, you bumped it up from 10%. I've never I've never had a conversation with anybody about uh about >> Well, we have robust
041conversations about how the profit sharing would look between the foundation and board of education and the athletic individuals that were hired um or operating under that assumption. So, whatever we generate um is what probably will happen unless legally y'all come up with something different. So I don't know how it's respond >> and and that was going to be my question. Um hearing all the conversation taking place um the fact that we are not voting on these and that we already have two contracts that are in place and what would be the obligation? How would we do it to um Miss B's point? How can we say no to one aspect of it if we're not in agreement and then say yes to contracts that were already entered? Um, and how where are we at this
042time legally and what would be the responsibility of the board >> and as Dr. Smith said there's a lot of complexity particularly that has entered into the scene in the last few months. I would say that before some of the legal obligations. It's clear to me the board wants more communication and information about um not just the legalities but the history and the future and what's the vision of this. Uh I would encourage the board to get some financial projections on a spreadsheet so that whoever is doing this knows they have to play against that. And it's one thing to get GHSA wrestling. We all could have found GHSA wrestling. We can find GHSA basketball and things like that. But there's a lot of questions there um and a lot of information that's needed because
043of the change in circumstances. The um contractual aspects are going to have to be revisited. Um and I don't have all the answers to that. What do we do with the RFP issues to the questions about that? Um the the task for today is the lease which uh we I could get um you know, we could come to a place, but there might have to be an understanding that the asset is owned by somebody and um and so these demands do not seem reasonable at all. So that's a discussion we have to have. Um and and hopefully in in getting that resolved, we we move to some of the other things and I have not worked on that, you know, in terms of what do the work Dr. Simpson and Dr. have been doing with
044the operator and the foundation. Those are issues. >> At this point, I would like to offer a point of information, please. Are we now on our next topic? >> We'll be will after after you guys are finished with your discussion. Well, I'm calling for a point of information to table the discussion. >> Okay. >> And I think we reached an end as well, Mr. Chair, >> so that we can move ahead. >> Any questions that we think of >> and also remember January 10 is that event in which everybody's in the room and we can come out with some sort of consensus at that point. Not that vote needs to be done on January 10. What you'll be hearing from the from the actual individuals on January 10. All right, Mr. White, the podium is
045all yours. Thank you. Uh Mr. Chairman, Madame Vice Chair, members of the board, Dr. Smith, and other members of the uh administration. Uh tonight you have before you a recommendation for a calendar for the 2026 2027 school year. This is the product of several months of work that included uh activities that took place uh per your instruction over the course of time. We submitted three surveys in the community and on all platforms. We engaged the public and the uh as far as parents and students and of course our staff both administrators and teachers and had more than 10,000 responses to those surveys. And so the product that you see before you is the result of that information discussion on the leadership level. And it is something of a compromise uh that allows us to do
046the things that we were asked to do that and I want to point out that we also gave people on the surveys an opportunity to offer comment. I have 60 plus pages of comment from individuals and it's really tiny type and there's a whole lot of them per page and out of that comment out of those comments came three key points. One of course was to continue the work that we're doing as far as educating our teachers during the course of the year. So we're putting forward a high quality education for our students. The second was to try to come up with a calendar that was in some way in align with other calendars in the region because many of our staff people live outside of Clayton County and they would like for us to
047have that kind of continuity uh when it came time for holidays and breaks. As you will note in this calendar, that is the way it has worked out with the exception of fall break. Fall break is a crazy is a crazy quilt of different weeks in all the different school districts in this region that we surveyed. And so we went with what we felt was an effective time because of our FTE count. This way by setting it for the week of the 12th of October, we are not affecting adversely our FTE count and therefore have an opportunity to gain the most optimum amount of funding for the district. The final item was a week off in February. There w that was one of the things that was mentioned the most. uh they really wanted to
048have a week off beginning with President's Day in February of 2027. Now, I will tell you that every other county in the region that we surveyed has a week off during that time. So, we looked at the calendar, we decided how we're going to arrange the dates. We had conversation with some of the board members and in those conversations we found out that maybe our folks did more than just one day of postplanning. So we managed to work it around to come up with a second day of post planning. We also had some conversation about pre-planning being seven days. That is something that our leadership has really requested strongly because they feel it's important with all the work that we're doing and trying to do to improve our students performance. Our staff needs to have
049a maximum amount of opportunity number one to be educated on these programs and also number two to have time in their rooms so that they have the opportunity to set things up, get the room set up for a proper educational process when it comes time for students to return. With that being said, it is I am placing before you a recommendation from the superintendent that you approve this calendar for the 202627 school year. Um I'm uh you have all the information in the executive summary. If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them. >> I have a question. >> Yes, ma'am. And I'm I'm pleased with um I'm very pleased with what you came up with and you did answer the major questions. Uh my only question and I don't and this probably
050has nothing to do with you. I do not understand why we still have ELBC days. And in particular, if you look at the first one that we have happens on the 24th day of school and then uh I'm sorry, the 16th day of school, the kids haven't been in 16 days and then we turn right back around and have another one on uh the day after Labor Day. It takes so many days of teaching for a child to even uh you know understand a skill and here you are starting off breaking it up. I mean you don't really I I'm just not understanding also the fact that we've also taken up our devices from our elementary kids. So technically what are they with this EOBC day uh what are they even using? And I think
051that basically what we do with this ELBC day is really more of a crutch. And I think we need to really just in the year after maybe not have them. That's just you don't have to answer. That's just my opinion. I'm ready to I'll pass the mic to Miss Baker. We're ready to make a motion. Okay. You know that I appreciate you more than I say. And I offered to buy you a big bottle of Tylenol and I think you did. You can't make everybody happy. I know that you can't order pizza. All these people make money. I will tell you that my concern is that winter break and I know that everybody's telling me how much they wanted, how much they needed, how much, but they tried this when my children were little. And
052they sent home packets of homework for them to do. And when I said, "Oh, you told me you're going on vacation. Why does my child have homework?" They said, "Oh, well, we're going to be testing and we don't have enough days to teach them all the they have to do. So, they all get packets. If you send home packets, I will scream at the top of my lungs on the top of this building. I swear to God, I will. Now, if somebody wants to opt in, that's fine. But if you expect the children to do homework when they need a break, I don't want to hear it. Otherwise, you need to stay here and teach. And that is it. Plain and simple. I have had you come back the day before a Christmas break for
053my daughter to turn in a project that she had to work on over Christmas and I didn't she didn't turn it in the day we got back. She had to turn it in the day early. I had to drive down to love joy to do it. So please, whatever you do, you need this break, take the break. We all need a break. And that's the point. We all need a break. And that includes the children. And they don't need to go to grandma's house with their laptops or their packets or whatever it is. So just that that's it. Is there anybody else that has a comment? >> I just wanted to um follow up with um in the ELBC days. Um I have asked in the past if there was any evidence or any information
054that shows that our scholars are still learning more productive at that time. Um or is it that this just doesn't count as instructional days? I do I would like clarity on that. Good evening. Good evening, Mr. Chair. M colleagues, um we do not have collected information to see how well our students are performing on the ELDC's. The ELC days are derived to continue to provide an opportunity for our staff to receive As you know, training is continuous. Um, the ELBC was scheduled throughout the calendar. Obviously the first 24 days our students will be completing the beginning of the year map data that gives our faculty and staff an opportunity to uh analyze the data make instructional moves instructional adjustments go back in and provide instruction based on that map date. So those days were scheduled
055um strategically throughout the year to provide our staff with opportunity to receive continuous training. Okay. But to follow up, I get that, but how do you have one in August and then you turn right back around and a week later you got another one. >> What What is that? >> You have one on the You have one on August the 16th. That's the 24th day of school. And then they go, they go four days, then they go another week, and then Labor Day comes up and then you have another one. >> You have one on right at the day after Labor Day. I just don't get that one. But I mean, you have it's in there and you know, we'll deal with it, but I just don't see I'd like to make the motion to
056accept the superintendent's recommendation to accept the 2627 calendar in I believe version 4. Version yeah version four updated version 4. So do I have a second? Move the motion was made by Miss Jasmine BS and seconded by Mr. Mark Christmas. Can I have a vote for the drafted version 4 update? It's unanimous. Okay, with that said, we're now moving into the executive session. In the executive session, we will all part from the cafe and meet in the conference room of the um the board section. So, I'll see everybody over there. I move that we enter matters. >> Good deal. And I got Miss Hill with a second. Motion has been made by Miss and seconded by Miss Phil. Um, can I get a vote? >> Right. Yeah.