001Uh it is 6 o' and we will call our meeting to order. At this time, Dr. Wilson will say our invitation. >> We need to pray. >> Father, we want to thank you today for what you've given us. We have the freedom to assemble and at this time we want to pray for our men overseas. There are fighting for freedom for us to do this and we appreciate that. Your word tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Yet life is a vapor. It appears for a little while and then it vanishes away. Yesterday was New Year's. Tomorrow it'll be Christmas. And in between that time, we have to do what we can to make life count. And so, Father, as we gather the chief staff to be with us, give us wisdom because
002we indeed want to do best that we can for the teachers of Walker County, for the students of Walker County, and with the constituents of Walker County that put us in office. We have vowed and declared and doing the very best that we can. And so, Father, we ask for wisdom. We ask for understanding. And we ask for patience as we try to do what we can. And Father, there's a number of people that have gathered here this evening to say rewards for the hard work that they have put forth in determining what they want to be and what they have accomplished. So, Father, I ask that you might bless this time. Bless each parent that is here that has raised for these kids to be successful as they are. And in doing that, we
003will give you the praise for all you do. For it is indeed in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. >> And Mr. Wilson, if you'll lead us in our pledge. >> Yeah. Stand with me. >> Ready? Salute. Pledge. for algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> The Georgia flag algiance to the flag and to the principles for its wisdom, justice, moderation, and courage. Thank you. At this time, we do need an approval of our agenda. We have a motion. Second, >> all those in favor. >> And now we have special recognitions, Mr. Ray. >> So, a little surprise tonight. We uh based on the day that we had today, which was a
004little bit of an unusual day for us, uh we made contact with all of our special recognitions. A lot of them had some concerns about driving this afternoon and evening and so we just let them know that we'll find a way to recognize them and we've already already touched uh base with Mr. Mirage. The spelling be winners I will go by saddle ridge with Miss Samples and we will congratulate both our first and second place winners. Skills USA will do the same thing at high school CPI and then trying to figure out how we'll do the uh star teacher and student because that's a big honor. So, we'll try to get them rescheduled maybe for April. Um, you guys know April and May gets really busy. So, recognitions we want to do, but we did
005a lot of them. So, we're going to try to reschedu some of those, but uh made sense today we had that we rescheduled some of them. >> Okay. Thank you. Um items of information of facilities support. Uh the only thing we need to follow up with is LA last week is the two sign off letters for Leette and Rox and then again approval for Roswell Elementary. Other than that, I don't have any new information unless you guys have any questions from last week. >> Any questions or comments? >> Thank you, Mr. R Superintendants report. >> The only addition would be the folder that Mr. Deputy has presented to you guys. It's not for you to look at tonight. And obviously it's for review before the planning session. If you remember, we revisited the athletic supplements
006and so we that's the presentation that Mr. Debby's worked on. So wanted you guys reviewing that as we get into planning next month because there will be a budget implication with that depending on which direction you guys want to make sure you have that. The other thing is I wanted to mention that the combo field dedication is coming up after spring break. So that'll be on April the 9th at 4:30. They're on site at uh the new combo field at um on the campus of Regional High School for Losville Middle School. Uh so I wanted to make sure you guys had that. And then the other thing is I'll just throw out, you know, certain days are unusual days, right? Uh so um 3:30 this morning, we're up monitoring the weather with all the storms
007that went through. That was a scary time for us. Um especially anytime there's the word tornado mentioned. Then, of course, a two-hour delay, which made sense this morning for us to get a little more daylight on our our routes as our drivers were out there driving and our student drivers. Fast forward to getting school started and looking out the window and it's snowing. It's like, come on, are you kidding me? Um, so if you saw any of the pictures from the mountain, within about 25 minutes, we had a mess quickly. um to the point where the road department was calling us saying, "You're either going to have to hold them in place until we can brine the roads or you need to get them home now." So, I made the decision to go ahead and
008mobilize, get our kids home. The second thing we did was we sent our student drivers home that lived on the mountain. And then the third thing was our high school drivers cuz I like to get them off the road. Luckily, we didn't have major issues, but it was a decision that I made. You make those decisions with the best information that you have and you move forward. Um, we always do it thinking about safety of our students. And so I I appreciate the team as they jumped in today and did what they're supposed to do. Got every kid home. We did have an accident. Kevin, we were talking about that before. Um, a bus rolled into the hitch on a car of one of our employees. It's always one of our employees, right? Um, no
009damage. Nobody was injured. The GSB served the accident, let everybody go on their way. But you always worry about those and on days like this as well because you hope they're not weather. So just to kind of add some context to the day. Um with all that that's happened so far, pretty sure the horn's going to sound tonight and Jesus is going to come. So we might as well just all get ready for it. So it's been that kind of a day today. So um anyway, I wanted you guys to know that because a lot goes into making those decisions during the course of the day and uh again, you make the best decision that you can with the information you're presented and you move forward with it. And uh I just appreciate the team
010and how quickly they responded and mobilized and got our kids home safely this afternoon. We ended up being about 10 minutes ahead of typical dismissal for both elementary and then secondary schools, but everything worked out. So just >> no proper etiquette, but I have a question about that dismissal >> and that that's not proper etiquette. So if you want to talk to me afterwards, you may. Yes, ma'am. So just wanted you guys to know what happened today and we'll continue working through that as it happens. Thank you. Uh, next we have an individual action item. Uh, it is recommended that the Walker County Board of Education approved the year-to- date financial report for the month ending January 31st, 2026. Do we have a motion? >> Motion. Do >> I have a second? Any questions, comments?
011All those in favor? Next, we have our list of consent action items. Uh, it's recommended that these be um approved. Do we have a motion? >> A second. >> Any comments, questions? All those in favor. Next on our agenda, we have new business. Mr. I'll start with you. >> Believe it or not, I don't have any at this time. >> Okay. Mr. Richardson. >> No ma'am. No need business. >> No ma'am. Mr. Williamson. >> No ma'am. >> And I do not either. Next is our public participation. Mr. Rice. Um, our next item on the agenda is public participation. Do we have anyone signed up to speak this evening? >> So, we did. We had multiple individuals who followed the procedures laid out in policy PCBI public participation in board meetings to address the board. Uh
012all these notifications were received by the Monday at 10:00 a.m. according to the policy. Uh I will point out a couple of unique things about this evening. Um we had a number of folks sign up and they signed up under uh similar topics and so uh hopefully they were able to see the protocols that number six states where several concerned citizens or employees wish to address the same topic or issue. They shall designate a spokesperson to speak before the board. Um I I contacted one person that had signed up. We had a conversation via email about uh stating that there needed to be a spokesperson. And so we've broken them into three groups. Uh so I wanted you to know that um going into this. Uh and what I did was I listed the spokesperson
013and then anyone who signed up under that group designation uh for both the first two. Then the third speaker um signed up under something that was a little bit different, but I wanted to make sure that because it didn't fall into the first two categories that we included that as well. And then of course the final speaker uh had signed up under finance and tax matters. So um but that's kind of the breakdown. I wanted to make sure that we pointed that out as well. >> Okay. And also under that same policy I do want to remind everyone that under number seven of that policy the board will not permit anyone to become personally abusive to individual board members, board employees or any other persons. Okay. Um, and also for our speakers, and I'll just
014do this before we call the first one up. Uh, the parameters for addressing the board is copied and it's laid there for you to read before you begin. You'll get 5 minutes. At the one minute mark, Miss Harden or Mr. Richardson will raise his hand and let you know you have one minute to wrap up. Okay. Uh, our first speaker is Stephanie Walker. Good evening. First, thank you to the board for letting me have the opportunity to speak tonight. After learning that not all of us would be allowed to speak on the same subject, I also want to thank the cheerleaders and my parents for trusting me to speak for them. My name is Stephanie Walker. I am a 2004 graduate of Lfett High School and a 20-year employee of Walker County Schools. My first
015year working under Maggie Staltz as the assistant principal at Lefet High School, two people quit due to the nitpicking, backhanded, devious leadership that left them in constant fight or flight. These two employees have served Walker County special education students faithfully for years. One of them wore blue jeans and the other one read a newspaper at breakfast and was African-Amean. Those were their crimes. I'm going to use a phrase that Miss Schultz likes to use. I'm going to take my employee hat off now and put on my parent hat. Nicole Harris has been a student of Walker County Schools, a lay coach, a pair professional, a teacher, a certified coach, and now an assistant principal, a position that she was asked to apply for and interview for. A position that she made sure was legal for
016her to have while still coaching cheerleading at Lefet High School. her new position and her coaching position were approved by the board. Miss Stoultz did not agree with this decision. That is when all of this started. In June, I received a phone call telling me that Miss Stoultz had begun contacting people about coaching cheerleading at LHS. One of the people that was contacted stated that Amber Maderas had already expressed interest in wanting the job, a job, remember, that did not need to be filled. Coach Harris wanted to coach and be assistant principal and had this decision approved by everyone here except Miss Douls. Nicole worked her way up through the ranks at Walker County Schools. That was her crime. Instead of celebrating her, congratulating her and being proud that a coach at your school was
017promoted, she put a target on her back. Is this really the type of leadership that we want in Walker County? Fast forward to December, and this is all brought up again. Parents were called in for a two-hour parent meeting where Miss Stoultz tried to act like this was all our idea. We wanted a winning team. We wanted separate squads. We wanted a different coach. Coach Ethan Thompson led the Ramblers to an 0 and10 season and showed very little, if any, outstanding qualities toward his players and assistant coaches. If it was really about winning, why wasn't this a football parent meeting? Several parents spoke up and we were clear that we all wanted Coach Harris to stay. We all agreed. She had built this program and built it well. She should get the chance to say
018goodbye to it. Coach Harris asked to be able to train someone that could eventually take over. She asked for two years. Coach Harris has remained quiet and professional throughout all of this. A coach who has poured 24 years into a program to up and leave. Aside from Jeff Subtle, Nicole is the longest standing coach at LHS. And she not only leaves, she leaves without a goodbye, without any celebration. She deserved better. Rambler Nation deserved better. I made a Facebook post on Thursday about smalltown politics affecting my child and have since then been contacted by nine former Levette High School coaches and or employees with eerily similar stories. There is a common theme, however. They were in search of a promotion. They were African-American or someone else wanted their job. They are all alumni of LHS
019except one. Miss Doultz would then use any tactic she could to push them out so they would ultimately resign and she could place the blame on them for leaving. Doesn't this sound very similar to what is going on with Coach Harris? Of the nine employees that contacted me, five of them stated that Mr. Ron knew about their situations. situations involving IEPs not being followed, involving students being mistreated due to their interest or situations beyond their control, involving money being mishandled, involving affairs between employees, regarding athlete grades being changed so they would be ineligible to play sports, regarding faculty meetings called to discuss Miss Stoultz's sexuality. I'm not going to stand here and pretend to know all of the legalities of the board of education and the process behind not renewing principal contracts. Amen. >> But
020if these allegations are true and one nonrenewed contract would have fixed it all, then why does it continue to be renewed? Luke 12:3 says, "What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be complain proclaimed from the roofs. I had hoped to be able to touch on every single issue that has been brought to my attention this week. I had hoped to bring daylight to the darkness that has become Lefet High School. However, due to my 5minut time limit, I will just remind you all to look at the email I have sent you. After today, the blood of these employees and students will ultimately be on your hands. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Mr. Reigns, board
021members, cheerleaders, the parents for the opportunity to stand here tonight on behalf of some amazing young ladies and certainly a beloved coach who make up our Red Cheer program. My name is Ronnie Chandler and I'm a parent of Levette High School cheerleader as well as an alumnest of Levette High School, class of 1989. I want to address some of the current issues and decisions that are impacting the LHS cheer program and our cheerleaders. We are deeply disturbed, distraught, and angry with a recent decision to force Coach Harris's constructive resignation as the LHS head cheer coach. Coach Harris is an alumnist, a teacher, and a current administrator in this school system who has exemplified a journey of what being a true rabbler is all about. And I would even say she has exceeded those expectations of
022what it means to be a Ramper. Her dedication to cheer didn't just start when she became a coach and built this program 24 years ago. Oh no, it started when she herself was a Lefett High cheerleader on the mat and under the Friday night lights for our beloved Alma. She cheered in college and returned, demonstrating her dedication to this school and giving back to our girls and to our community. Whoa. Lefett does not know Nicole Harris. Coach Harris has built this program on several of the core values reflected in our mission statement, describing who we are and who we aspire to be as true Raptors. I think we all in this situation certainly could benefit from reading these again, even starting with our administrators. She has led our girls with integrity, respect, confidence, determination as
023evidenced through the many voices here tonight representing current, former, and future athletes. The echo of her legacy may not be measured by how many state titles she holds, but more importantly through the relationship she has built with her girls in this community. We all certainly want to win, but isn't winning off the mat just as important as winning on the mat? Many leaders speak and reference various leadership principles and characteristics in our school system and in life. However, the proof is always in the pudding. How we as administrators, professionals, leaders in the community, and as parents model these virtues and ethics will always determine our character and the way we conduct ourselves, even in these situations. Coach Harris may not have utilized the latest leadership talking points from an Amazon reading list, but more importantly,
024she has instilled and modeled what many others can only talk about. I recall a personal note that I sent to Coach Harris after watching my own daughter perform in her first showcase, celebrating the heroes of 9/11 and our local first responders as a starting freshman flyer. Riley had just been under coach Harris's leadership for about six months. I remember that day very well, very vividly. I had never seen Riley perform with such confidence, boldness, and enthusiasm. I couldn't let that moment pass by and as after they finished their showcase, I immediately took my phone out and I didn't even have her number. I got her number and I sent Coach Harris a note to thank her for her influence which was already so evident under what I'd already seen in a short amount of time.
025Coach Harris's response was gracious and humble and she spoke about the potential that all of our girls have to be winners on the mat, off the mat, and most importantly in life. That's exactly the kind of coach I want for my daughter. So that win that day wasn't measured on a cheer rubric. It was measured on a dad's scorecard. Back in December, the high school administrator called a parent meeting regarding the cheer program, apparently with a motive of moving the program in a different direction. And I found it very odd out of character for Coach Harris not to be present at that cheer meeting. Why would I find that odd? Because as parents and supporters of this program, we all know the heart of Coach Harris. She would certainly be there. Sadly, after listening to
026the principal share her thoughts and feelings, I quickly realized along with the other parents that there was another motive to that motive. >> I'm sorry. I'll be glad he made this. First of all, I want to thank you all for having thank these cheerleaders. They've been, man, they've been outstanding. Um, parents, everybody that's been involved in everything. Mine was a little different because I have gotten so many responses from past coaches from the past, employees from past. It It's just phenomenal. Well, I can show you message after message after message and some of these people said, "Hey, now's the time to step out. We don't care." My thing is I want to know I want to ask you guys a question. What policies and procedures do you have in place that tends to fall in
027line to when you want to remove somebody or when you remove a principal? Do you have policies and procedures that you follow to get that done? Because apparently those are not being done. And I'm asking you that because does being involved in somebody's personal life, their personal business, like you need to be at home, being a dad, you need to focus on your newborn baby, you need to focus on your son that's got things going on. Um, we would rather you just resign. Is that the way that we approach somebody that we want to dismiss or try to attempt to be let go? No, I know better than that and I know you all know better than that. That's not that's not legal and it's and virtually a form of discrimination. Um I know there's
028policies and procedures. I stood up at 3:00 this morning reading boards of laws on this type of stuff through the board of education through the department of education to the point that my eyes hurt and tried to make sure that I was in line with the things Mr. Ray has put in place for us to be able to say here and do today. So, and I'm going to be honest with you, I made a post Friday night at the cheer banquet after seeing all these young ladies squall their eyes out because they're coached. They're losing it. And that just don't sit up with me. And I also called for the resignation of Maggie and Mr. Reigns as well as if he couldn't control this and get fixed and taken care of. If he has no
029control over that, I apologize to you. But if you do, let's do something about it. It's time to It's time to reinstate our chairs tonight to make this happen to make these cheerleaders and the upcoming cheerleaders be involved. This that gives them something pr proud to have that they've been working so long in these school years and the lower grades moving up. All you hear from these kids, we want a coach. We want coach Harris. We want to be on her squad. They look up to these girls that spends their time going to these other schools just, you know, seeing them as they come to school and get dropped off, their eyes light up. They love that. They love what Coach Harris has built for these girls. But when it comes down to it, it's
030further than coach Harris. There's coaches that's in the past that we've lost, very good coaches. There's players in the past that we've lost from the football team, and cheerleaders, from soccer, from basketball, going to other schools because they don't have the same politics that we're having with this school system, but in particular, Led High School. And man, it's troubling. And my thing, my question is to y'all, are y'all going to let this stand? Are you going to hear these cheerleaders and this audience for Nicole Harris and reinstate her as that head coach? This is crazy. >> We ready for five? >> Yes, sir. All right, let's do this. See the gentleman on board. Thank you so much for listening to me once again. I treat you. We are coming up on budget season. You know
031that's why I started visiting here last October. So I I apologize. I don't know who coach Harris is. I certainly wish you well and hopefully get reinstated. But in the interim, it's it's something that I was thinking about on the way over as we've been talking about the budget and we've been talking about the millions of dollars that are going out to a few different projects around the county. I'm I'm calling on you. This is something I've been praying about. I'm calling on you as we're going into budget season. I just noticed on March the 2nd we started a call to budget. Please invest more in teachers and less on features in this coming year instead of ball fields, instead of lighting uh for these ball fields, etc. I need to see an investment going
032on in our teachers. I want to see a greater education, a greater output, a greater passion. You're hearing a great passion right here for the people. They would be able to endure a little less lighting on the ball fields and a little less uh nice green green turf over here to be able to have a great coach to be able to have a great team, a great educational experience. And so as I came to you originally and when talking about concerns for taxes and on behalf of the taxpayers saying, "Hey, 60 cents of every dollar that comes out of property taxes goes to you guys." I want you to keep that in mind. And I ask you and beg of you challenge Dr. Reigns, who's going to be, I'm sure, an integral part of this
033board putting together a budget because he is your top man. He's the one you put in charge of making sure that all these facilities keep running. What do you need as far as resources go? And Dr. Reigns, I challenge you. Come up with cost effective ways to make sure that we can limit the budget. I notice in 2020 our budget was $20 million. Here we are 5 years later the 25 budget was $34 million. That's an increase of $14 million, almost doubling in a matter of 5 years. Something's going on here. And I don't know if it's that we just haven't done any investment, but I was just discussing this with a few teachers in the room. They're not seeing the end of it. So, let's find ways in the upcoming budget in this next
034year to be able to invest in good teachers, in passion of education, and hold back on some of these features that are going on. And in the meantime, you'll also help your other constituents out there that aren't represented and walking in this door yet. The taxpayers, the ones who are looking at their property tax bill go up every single year, the ones who say, "Oh my goodness, how can I afford this year's taxes to the point where we're almost seeing a mortgage payment, an extra mortgage payment or car payment coming out of our property taxes?" So I ask you please, please, please work on the budget this year. Keep in mind and focus restraining yourselves. If you have a surplus, consider reducing. You don't need a massive reserve sitting there. Just please consider the taxpayers
035as you're going through this entire process. Take the opportunity to be cost effective. Treat it like it's your own money, not somebody else's. Let's f not find new ways to create attacks or add on to splast or uh increase the millage rates. Let's find ways to be cost effective. A few months back a gentleman came walking in. He was 75 years old. He sat over in this area and he said, "Hey, how come in Walker County I still have to pay property taxes, but we don't in Kadusa County or we don't in Witfield County. Both counties exempt those that are over 75 years of age. Why don't we have that option? We'd like to reward these people who have been part of our community for years and years and years. And the more they live,
036the less money they have. They are on fixed budgets out there and they're hurting. And I know that for a fact because I run the tax and accounting office, which is why I keep coming here every month to talk about tax and finances. And so I'm hearing from the people of Walker County say, "Hey, property taxes are killing me. I have to put them on the tax return obviously so I know about them and I'm having these conversations with these people and they're saying please tell them on behalf of me do something about this. Let's get our property taxes reduced. Let's be more effective in our spending. Let's find passionate ways. Let's find ways to be able to invest without spending a ton of money like the Rambler radio club. It was incredible. Thank you
037so much for your time. I'll see YOU NEXT MONTH. AT THIS TIME, WE DO HAVE a need for executive discussion for personnel litigation. No personel motion. >> Second. >> All those in favor. We are journ. Okay. We are back in session. We have a recommendation for personnel to go certificated non-certificated. Do we have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All those in favor. >> So I will say that the board has had a lengthy discussion. First of all, let me say I appreciate you being here tonight. I appreciate what you guys have said and what you brought to our attention. So I want you to know the board has looked at that and talked about that extensively tonight. um they have asked me to look into this further and so that's what I will
038do for the board um and the board doesn't make these decisions that's something that's done through a procedure and so um because you brought something to our attention they've asked me to look into it so I wanted to let you know that before we let you go >> okay we need a motion to adjourn >> second >> all those in favor we are adjourned