001Okay, it is six o'clock and uh we will call our meeting to order. Uh before we get into the agenda, I would like you to know that Mr. Willerson and Miss Harden are both under the weather, but they are here remotely. So, they're with us, too. Um first of all, if Mr. Richardson would do our invocation for us. >> Okay, let us pray. Heavenly Father, we just thank you so much for this day you've given us. Lord, just thank you for the many blessings you you give us in our lives. Lord, just ask that you would just be with us tonight. Lord, just grant us guidance as wisdom as we move forward with the business of the school system. Lord, just thank you again for all that you do for us. Be with us tonight.
002It's in Christ's name I pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> And Mr. Middleton's going to do our pledges. >> Ready? Salute. Pledge. Pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> George flaggs wisdom, justice, moderation and courage. >> Thank you. We do need to approve the agenda. Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. All those in favor? >> Um, special recognitions, Mr. Reigns. >> All right. So, I know based on the crowd that we have here tonight, they're all here to find out what the weather forecast is going to be. So, just waiting to see what's going to happen with school. So, I can tell you that we are we're in a
003path that could get 20 ines to nothing. So, milk and bread, get that taken care of. You'll be fine. No, we're actually here to recognize some students uh from Lefay Middle School uh in the uh their Rambler Radio Club. It's always a pleasure every time they have their competition uh to hear the results and I know they get so excited about the places that they touch. And so, I know Mr. Carter is going to switch out uh and he's got a PowerPoint to show the board tonight and let you guys see that as well. Uh he's going to introduce some uh amazing students and we're going to celebrate them tonight. Uh and then I'll I'll have a little story at the end and then uh we'll let you guys go. But thank you for being
004here, Mr. Carter, Mr. Crowley, if you guys want to come on up. Uh we can unplug and see if the current technology works. If it doesn't, we're going to blame it on Mr. Deputy because he's not here. So, I'll let you plug in there and let's see if this is going to ask for. >> Well, before we get started, I do want to brag on Mr. Carter or Mr. Padet. Um, so when I first came to Lefet Middle School, I heard about the radio club. I did not think ham radio club at all. I was thinking radio, like listening to the radio. So, I was like, okay, let's find out what this is about. And then I heard that the radio club, the ham radio club, got to listen and and hear people from the
005space station and NASA and then all the wonderful places that they got to here and listen to people talk. And I was like, I got to check this out. It's okay. And I got to uh got to actually witness some students uh you know, experience this and and watching the joy on the students face when they got to hear these people from all over the world. It was just an awesome opportunity to watch them connect with people all over the world and what what an awesome opportunity. So I really appreciate Mr. Carter, Mr. Padet for what they do for our school and what a great opportunity that they do. So I'd love to let you guys see this presentation that Mr. Carter put together and see what they accomplished this last semester. >> Thank you,
006sir. Uh thank you everybody. Thank you for being here. And uh I know some of you are here for other business reading reasons, but uh the parents, the students that are here, thank you for being here and seeing your accomplishments this year. We've got one gentleman who's here who is in ninth grade that carries three second place medals. And tonight he'll be receiving his first first place medal. Uh and this is not just first in in middle school. This is this is first in the nation. So, the Rambler Radio Club placed first in the nation in middle school division for October 2025 school club roundup. That's a that's a nationwide international competition of all schools, clubs from elementary, middle, high school, and college and university. So, we placed first in the nation in that middle
007school division. But more importantly, we placed second overall out of the 70 teams and outscored several teams. I will show you here alphabetically um that were colleges and universities. Not that we're trying to rev it in, but I mean, why not? Um, and we were only behind Purdue University. We brought that up, I think the last time we talked, that Purdue University has had influx of about $100,000 because they were really tired of this little school in Georgia rubbing it in their noses that they were out being outperformed, an engineering school, nonetheless, being outperformed by a group of middle school students. So, they uh now are their first place, but we're right there behind them. Uh they did that with $100,000 worth of equipment. We did that with our donated equipment from a concession stand
008storage room at a football field using two antennas and 100 watts. So if you look at it uh the effectiveness of our dollar versus their dollar cannot be uh can cannot be overcome. So, here are our students that have uh are here that are our competitors. We've got some that are here with us tonight. Uh we have Brianna Barfield, uh Jacob Johnson, Aubrey Maples, Griffin Pool, his brother Halen. Halen here tonight. Couldn't be here tonight. Uh and then Jacob D. Those are our our group that has uh been with us since sixth grade. And then we had seventh graders. Those seventh graders actually came in out of my room because on a lark they wanted to go and see what this thing was about. So because they made their contacts that week, they're on the
009team. So they're part of that group as well. So there's Maverick Willis, Piper Wooten, London Young, and there are sixth graders. Look how strong this group is. We've got actually we had it says seven there. We've got eight eight sixth graders who had never been on the radio before and they helped us to make uh the highest score that we've ever made in in any competition in school club roundup. Here are the schools that we beat alphabetically. I'm glad that first one was Alabama. That's so good. >> Well, uh I mean there are several SEC schools here. There are >> there are several uh there are several really big engineering schools here. >> Uh and some of them honestly if if I'm in an engineering class, I really don't have a whole lot of time
010for a competition. >> That's the excuse I would use to losing to a middle school team. Um here is here's the room. Okay. Now, we decorated that room. Uh it is part of a storage room there at uh at the concession stand at the football field. And you see some of our uh some of our stickers that are there. Uh it was all just kind of bland. And so we asked, "Do you mind if we put a few stickers in?" They said, "Sure, bring a few stickers in." So every time we go, we had at least one more. Um we've got some folks there on the air, right? So, we've got everyone from eighth graders there, sixth graders. We've got Allan. There's Allan sitting outside with with Emily at the football field. This is a
011closeup. I told Jacob I was going to get a closeup of Jacob, and that is about as close as he really wanted us to get without actually recognizing him. Uh there's Halen and a couple of our other high school students who came back just for a visit. Uh the only one that got on the air was Halen and the rest really just wanted to be there. Just wanted to be there for the situation that we we knew they knew were going on. You can see one of our antennas actually in the background. One is is going to a pole on top of the uh scoreboard and actually going across uh the field there. Uh there's wire antennas and those antennas were donated to the club as well. The radio was donated to the club. Uh
012our power the the power supplies and our batteries were from funds that were raised and were donated to the club. Uh the medals that these kids are receiving tonight are completely donated to the club. The community that we have of support is just impressive and and people have stepped up in ways and giving their time like Allan and Jack and Tony and all these other guys that are local that are that are amateur radio operators that they love this time as much as anybody else does. Uh I talked to to David who participated with us this year as as an adult. He's on his way to Texas uh for his job but he has said He's got that week. He's He's squared it away. He will be back for school club roundup week. And so
013he's going to work around his schedule. Now, he travels to every one of the 48 contiguous stages. That's part of his job. But he is he's dedicated some time because he realizes how much fun this really is. It's not something that you can really compare it to anything because it's kids who are getting on the air and talking to people around the world. It is a free global field trip that we take every day when we do this content. So, here we are, right? Right there in the middle, right? 20 254,968 points. Uh, and notice how it compares to the elementary school and the high schools there beside it. Those are all number ones. And then, how do we care compared to Purdue? Well, we really can't. Uh, they've got a million points. Uh and
014and they are there uh their location is on the 11th floor of the engineering building and all of their antennas which are directional and all of them costing well over a,000 to $3,000 a piece are all two floors above that on the roof. And so they could point them in any given direction. And so they they are probably running uh 1500 watts of power versus our 100 watts of power. We'll take it. So there we were. first in the nation. That was that's what I want to celebrate because that's the that's the third time this group has taken first in the nation. Uh the first time they took it, it was an all female team back during uh and as an all female team uh during the throws of COVID and the next year they
015defended their title the next February. This is the first time we've ever taken first place in October. And as I've had it pointed out to me by Aubrey Maples, let's make it two. She's already making wall space for February 2026. So, uh, I love hearing that. If if you think that only our athletes are competitive, we've got some competitive kids in all areas of our schools, whether they are in one act play, whether they are on a sports team, whether they are whether they're on the chess team. And you see that kid when they when they win and when they when they know that they've won, when they can celebrate their accomplishments and we can celebrate their accomplishments, it means so much. And for our students to hang their hat on on on where we
016operate and the group that we have here, I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of this group. And I know that [clears throat] when we have students that come to our meetings, we started with those 18 the next meeting after we found out we took first place, we had 21 students that showed up to the next meeting. And the last I checked, we have 30 students who have filled out membership forms wanting to be part of the club. Uh you don't have to know anything about radio. You don't need to know anything about geography because we want to teach them that while they're there. Who are you talking to? The last contact that we made in this event u was a special event station on board the battleship Missouri. in Pearl Harbor.
017And so when I get a chance to tell our students about the importance of both of those ships and those other ships that are there at the bottom of Pearl Harbor, it brings what we teach in school, geography, the math, the science, everything, all of it back home because we're talking to the world. And the folks that we're talking to are not only important where they are, they're really important to us. And we're finding out more and more that we're important to them, too. And so these kids get treated like adults when they get on the air. They don't know that this is a student. They don't know that this person has never been behind the microphone before. And unless you're sitting there watching their leg bounce up and down underneath the table, you don't
018know how nervous they are. But it's amazing to hear them when they get behind a microphone. Some of them have got some real talent when it comes to communication. Whether that be radio, television, social media, whatever is whatever is in their future, they've got talents that we're just barely touching the surface of. And as a computer science teacher, it excites me when I see students embracing that technology. And then also realizing the importance of communication. Just talking from one person to another, one person at a time to another person one at a time, listening, responding back, and then continuing that. And the respect that's that's felt on both ends is is amazing to me. I have medals. They have not been placed in the hands of these students yet because I wanted to save it
019for this time. So, I wanted to make sure that the two individuals that we've got here Let's get two individuals we've got here. They're ready to present those medals. Uh if if you'll come forward while I call your name, we'll go ahead and present those to you. I've got those those for the family members that are here. We can also get those in your hands as well. First, Mr. Jacob D. Brianna Barfield. >> That's awesome. >> Jacob Johnson. >> I'm sorry. Nerf >> Aubrey Maples. Dripping pool, Eddie Bracket, Serena Ballard, Edward Barnes, Emily >> [clears throat] >> If y'all will give THEM a picture of all you Okay, there's one in the blue jacket. If you can I can not see you. There we go. I just want to make sure I get everybody's face.
020Okay, right here on three. One, two, three. Let's get one more. One, two, three. Stay where you're at. And parents, I'll be Take one. You want me to get you one? >> Yes. I need one from >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Right here on three. One, two, three. Stay where you're at. One, two, three. All right. >> Thank you. Thank you. So, a couple of things I'd like to point out. One is I'd love to know since you have some ninth graders that come back and visit. >> Yes. >> What's the option of carrying this forward to the high school? That that's the first thing. And then the second thing driving that would be if you've got 30 kids that have expressed interest already, at some point those kids are going to be
021going on to the high school. So kind of like the robotics program and you guys have been growing it internally. So I want you and we can talk later about what that looks like. Um the other thing I will say is and I say this a lot because I know coming from the classroom and being a teacher without volunteers without teachers who give of their time because this doesn't just happen at school. This is something he works on constantly outside of school gathering donations. And I know he also does a great work with FCA there in that building if you don't know that. Uh and so there's a lot of connectors that offer opportunities for students. And so our teachers go way above and beyond. And so we always like to point out when that
022happens with our teachers. And I know Mr. Carter has been doing that for a long time. I always say when I'm in his presence, I was introduced to him my first year when I went to the middle school in the gym and we were waiting on I'm sitting there and I'm a space geek anyway. And he kept saying, you know, we we've got to wait till the space station is right over top of us. And I'm like, dude, it's going to be going so fast. It ain't going to be there long. So, you're g somehow you're going to have to get in. Then all of a sudden, we're talking to the astronauts on the space station. And I'm like, am I in Walker County? We're talking to the I mean that was a that was
023an amazing moment for those kids too to see that we were part of the bigger world from right here in our little hometown and that's exactly what you're doing. So we do something what I call we look for extraordinary and we give challenge coins out to teachers and to administrators and even students for going above and beyond all the time. And I want to give one to Mr. harder tonight because I just think that what he does is extraordinary and I want him to know how much I appreciate that and I know you guys appreciate that too. So, thank you. >> Oh, sure. >> Okay. One, two, three. Thank you. And Mr. I just happened to be in Mr. Carter's classroom today for an observation. Um it I was blown away um at the engagement
024in that classroom. And I shared with Adam the only growth area I had was that we have to have teachers come to his classroom because the enthusiasm that he showed up here today was what he shows every day with his students. And like I did not want to leave the class. The bell rang and I'm still sitting there and it's like the kids get up and leave and Mr. Carter's looking like, "Hey, you can go now." It's like, "We're done." But and then I stayed after and talked to him, but just his passion um for students and what he does in that computer science class. Um and we've asked him, I talked to him again about it coming up the steps, but I would like for him to lead a PLC on classroom management for
025middle schoolers because some of the things that he's doing just to keep them engaged, we need to share that with other middle school teachers throughout our district. So, it was fantastic today. Great. >> Well, much appreciated for what you do and for our parents and grandparents, friends that came out tonight to honor your children and to see them honored. We appreciate that. The trust that you are giving to us. And then the last thing I'll say is these are kids you really want to know because if you were a Verizon customer last week, just saying. So, I want to know somebody with a ham radio that knows what's going on if it all goes down, right? So, [laughter] this is a moment where we give you the opportunity. If you want to stay for the
026meeting, feel free. We've got a little bit of meeting ahead of us, but we give you the opportunity to sneak out because I know you guys want to get home and watch the way of the forecast. So, if you want to leave, feel free to do that. Thank you for coming tonight. >> Sure enough. I don't know. First grade. >> Wow. Okay. Uh, next on our agenda, Mr. Reigns, is the superintendent report. >> Just a couple of additional things. I know we had conversation about the calendar. So, you guys also had a five-day draft. So, my question is, typically we'll put together two drafts of a five-day. We send it out for feedback and then we bring that back to you with a recommendation. I have two questions. Are you okay with the draft that
027you got and do you feel comfortable voting on it? If so, we'd have to amend the agenda or do you want us to put together that we typically put together a 180day calendar and send that out to our faculty and staff and let them look at that as well. Do you want those comparisons this year and then we'll have that to you at the planning session in February? Is that >> I think so. >> Okay. All right. So, that that's what we'll do with the calendar. I wanted to make sure uh legislative session has started. I wanted to give you a couple of highlights of things that have already happened. Uh the governor has once again um supported uh educators and so he is giving uh all educators across the board a $2,000 one-time salary
028supplement. Uh this is coming from the coffers just based on the amount of money that's there. Uh that is in the uh amended FY26 budget. And so that's going to be happening. We assume that that will get it it'll be end of the session before it's actually approved. uh we'll start getting that paperwork in and and typically we try to get that paid the end of May before our um classified folks who work those 180 190 schedules they get that before they leave. Um the other thing that um was noted in some of the things he was doing uh was u the nursing funding we saw was cut a little bit. If you know, nursing funding's been going down because of the amount of money that was in that account that came from the lawsuit
029against the tobacco industry years ago. That money has been dwindling and they cut a a percentage away. So, that's going to be something we're going to have to work through. Um, state health benefits, they're showing another increase in state health benefits and in TRS. And so, that's two things that Rachel will be putting together some numbers on to show you what that's going to look like. They did fund bond buses again. I appreciated that. Uh I also noticed that there was no change to the promise scholarship that was started last year. Uh but there was an increase again in the special needs scholarship. It was a $14 million increase at the midterm and it's going to be a $14 million increase again next year. So, that's it's a lot of money that's going um to
030other places um that not necessarily staying here in Walker County, but we'll continue to keep you updated on the session as it progresses and uh let you know of things that we feel like you guys need to be aware of and maybe even contact elected officials. Um I talked to Dr. Willerson today. He's online with us now. Uh he's hoping that he will be able to go with me on the fourth. And so what we'll do is go down with GSBA. We'll have about an hour and a half meeting with them where they talk about the session and some things that that he can bring back to the board and then we'll have a meeting set up with our three elected officials while we're there so that we can have a little bit of their
031time that day. They they set aside time that day because they know GSBA is going to be there. And so we're looking forward to that. That'll be on February the 4th. And so we've already registered for that. Uh I mentioned the pending weather. The only reason I do that is because anytime there's a forecast like that, you know, it's a it's a guessing game. And so, we're just monitoring right now. But I did go ahead and send something out to our schools. And I have a list of any field trips Friday and Saturday. So, we've already contacted um the two teams that were playing Friday night to see if they'll move the time frame back. If you know, on a Friday night basketball, the times move to 7 and 8:30. We're trying to get them
032to wave the JB game and start those games earlier because we feel like the timing on Friday night, we may be able to get those games in. We still may cancel it if the forecast changes. Saturday is the one that's got me a little worried. Saturday is the GHSA wrestling tournament. Um we've got a group in the middle school that's going to a meet in Perry, Georgia. There's just a lot going on and so we're we're monitoring but we went ahead and put everybody on notice today that we may be cancelling some things and we'll try everywhere we in in the world to get kids where they need to be because I don't want anybody to miss out on an opportunity but I also don't want someone to get into an accident or get stuck
033somewhere. >> Where is the GHSA tournament? >> It's in Blue Ridge if I'm not mistaken. >> Lump. >> Maybe it is Lumpin up in the mountains. So, right, that and that's the thing that we were like, okay, wow, that not even vacant. So, we'll see. But I'll keep you informed of what that looks like. We don't have a lot of trips. Most of them are during the day. They're back home before route, but the athletic events and some of those other things we'll we'll continue to monitor. So, I wanted to make sure you guys were aware of that as well. Um, and then the other thing which is is really on the facilities report, if I can go right into that since Jamie's not going to be here tonight. Uh we had our five-year facilities
034review. You guys received this information over the weekend, I wanted to go ahead and get it on there as an action item. So, because we've got uh money connected in in entitlement money for projects coming up at Ridgland and at Gilbert. Um and I just really wanted to kind of point you guys to the comments that were made. Um they typically will give a couple of comments. Uh, but this team was very complimentary of the system itself, of Jaime's plan, the amount of work that he and his team put into putting it together, how we're utilizing the state entitlement funding. They were just very complimentary. And they mentioned a couple of things specifically to the board, commending you for your longstanding financial support necessary to provide safe and well-maintained school facilities. Thought that was big.
035The other one was the commitment to the uh entitlement funds and how they're being used with HBAC and lighting and updating our schools. They were very impressed with our schools and not only the amount of schools but just the condition that they were in. Um they they a long history for maximizing the effective use of capital of state funds. Uh commended the superintendent the board for his commitment to safety. Some of those guys who are facilities people in other districts, they're amazed by the amount of money that they've gotten and we've gotten, but how we've spent our money because when we started talking about not just our uh push button um badges now, but the Vicotta system, how quickly we've located things that have happened. Um, for instance, the little issue we had at Rossville
036Elementary School over the weekend, we were able to we were on top of that within minutes, whereas before you're out there driving out there, you're talking to fire department, you're talking to officials, it was it was almost instantaneous. And so, they were just very complimentary. So, I just wanted to kind of pass along some kudos to for Jamie and his department and how they keep in mind Chris Jones retired, Chris Wallace came, Chris Wallace left, and he inherited this and it had to be done. So, he and I'm telling you, this is jumping into the deep end of the pool right here. So, he did a really good job. The team validated ours and they commended us for a lot of good things. And so, I wanted to make sure you guys heard that one
037about his department, but also that's what you're going to be that's another action item tonight for you. So, and I'll If you have any questions now, I'd be happy to entertain those or or try to answer those questions for you before we get to the vote. >> Questions. >> Other than that, that's all I have for for both those report. Unless you had questions about facilities. I I ran past that one. Okay. >> Uh we do have two individual action items. Uh, first it's recommended that the Walker County Board of Education approve the financial report for the month ending November 30th, 2025. Do we have a motion? >> Motion. >> A second. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> Uh, and next, um, it's recommended that the Walker County Board of Education
038approve the five-year facility plan as presented. Do we have a motion? >> Motion. >> A second. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor? >> Okay. And then we have consent action items. Uh we do have a motion to approve the list of consent action items. Do we have a motion? >> We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? I will say the two that we had pulled, both of those are annual contracts. We've been in those contracts for years. Both of those companies aren't going to take that indemnification off. We've approved them in the past. Ron always tells us it's not a problem till it's a problem. We've not had issues with either one of them based on this service and so it's my recommendation that we move forward with them again
039this year. Just wanted to know wanted you guys to know we had followed up on that. Okay. >> Any more discussion? All those in favor? Uh, next, uh, new business. Um, Mr. Middleton, we'll start with you. >> Anything? >> I don't have any. >> No. >> Quiet. Quiet house tonight. >> All right. Mr. Richardson. >> No, ma'am. No need business. >> Okay. Mr. Willerson? >> No, ma'am. >> Miss Harden? >> No, ma'am. >> Okay. And I have none. Uh, next we have public participation. Um, and I think we do have one. Um, Mr. Reigns. >> Yes, ma'am. We have one that followed the procedures laid out in our policy. Uh, and our speaker tonight is Mr. Craig Puce and his um topic was financial and tax matters. >> Okay. And u I do want to
040remind you um I know you know this but uh of the parameters and u Mr. um Richardson will be keeping the five minute clock and he'll let you know when you have one minute left. All right. First off, uh, thank you very much our esteemed board here. I appreciate you having me again. Uh, as I mentioned in my first meeting that I'm here, what provocated my attendance has to do with property taxes, finances, the way things are spelled out. As I mentioned previously, moving over here from Lfield County several years ago, noticing higher property taxes being incurred, looking at the differences between the two. I notice we have a rather high budget here in the school. And so, I'm just here to do some digging, to do some research, and to kind of remind you
041from a taxpayer perspective that there are real things, real needs, real issues anytime you approve a matter that's going through. And I just want you to take that into consideration. So I'm almost a sounding board basically coming back to you. So you realize that these things that you're passing are spending monies monies that are coming from somewhere whether it's the east blocks that's in place whether it's from the state funding or whether it's like me a local taxpayer that's here or even the state where we get hit up from the income taxes that are are out there. So they do have real consequences. So let's get on with it this month. So, so far, um, I noticed in last month's meeting that approximately 14,219,000 was approved in spending. That had to do with a an
042overhaul in Ridgeland and a Gilbert uh renovation project that occurred, both of which got approved. And when you look at that, that's 25% of the local tax revenue that's pulled in uh for just those school renovation projects that are going on. Now, I think you had mentioned previously, again, I'm just digging and learning that a lot of these funds will come from East Boss or other sources, but in the meantime, when it comes to running an operations, the taxpayer, that's what I'm most interested in. And so when you compare this $14 million for this overhaul that's going to occur, that's 25% of the total revenue that you're spending on just these two projects out the door. That's no personnel costs. That's no um any other soft costs related to pencils, paper, you name it. It's
043$14 million that's gotten approved in just those two projects alone, let alone the funding that just got approved here this evening that we'll go over next month after I take a look at. So keep that in mind. Um, also under concern is I attended a planning session. I had learned from Superintendent Reigns that the real workhorse is the planning session. That that's what I need to get into. That's where a lot of these things come up for discussion. So I attended my first one uh last week on the 13th of January and I learned quite a bit on there. First off, I sincerely appreciate all the in-depth resources that you looked into just for consideration of moving from a five-day week to a 4-day week. How that would affect overall, whether or not it would
044be worthwhile to go to, how it would affect the students, and I heard from every single department how it would impact. It was incredible to be able to hear that and I appreciate the thoroughess of the report. What I was concerned about though is there was a lot of time invested in going into that. And so while it's good to be thorough, I think about how much time we're spending and paying money for people to do all of that research to make sure that it's something that's going to be very much worthwhile versus just standing back and taking a look at it. How did it work for this organization? Is it too soon? Do we really want to invest the time and going into all of those details over a 4 day week versus a
045five day week? But one thing that did concern me is I I heard a couple of comments that came out of that. For example, there was a particular construction project that was going on and it was denoted that the contract was coming in under budget the project. I was so excited. I was like, "Oh, this is wonderful. Saving taxpayers money." But then one of the board members spoke up and said, "Now, wait a second. We've already approved this amount of money. So, if you've got something else in there or something else you want to add to it, feel free to run wild with it." And those are the types of comments and attitudes that I have concerns about when you mention that because that's just blowing it for no reason. You know, if you approve
046a specific budget for a particular project, let's not take the attitude of if it's there, let's just go ahead and spend it. Spend it or lose it philosophy is what it comes down to. Anytime you have the opportunity to be able to save money, to have an eight million $8 million overage in your budget, that's an opportunity for you to be able to feed back into the taxpayers. the more you're making the taxpayers happy, the greater we can make this county overall. If we can find ways that we don't have to rely on an extra 1% tax so that we've got one of the highest sales tax rates in the entire state versus our neighboring county, Katusa, where my office is that has a 1% less. There's more business pouring into Katusa County and yet
047they're generating more revenue than we are over here. Again, some I'm still looking into. Why? If there's a way that we can back off east blast and find other ways to be able to accommodate it. >> Time. >> What happened to my middle warning? >> I Okay. Okay. I'm sorry. I didn't recommend it. All right. Well, thank you very much. I'll be back next month. >> Thank you. Um I guess we do have need for executive session for reasons of personnel. >> It's up to you guys. We sent the list out, but if you have questions, we either way. >> Okay. So, we do need a motion. >> Motion. >> So, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor? Okay. We are done to executive session. Okay, we are back in session.
048We have a recommendation of personnel for certificated, non certificated, and other. Do we have a motion? >> Motion. >> A second. >> Second. All those in favor? >> And now we need an a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Motion. I'm sorry. Second. >> All those in favor? >> We are adjourned.