001It's 6 o' and we will call our meeting to order at this time. Mr. Wilshshire, will you do our invocation, please? >> That's great. Father, again, we thank you for the opportunity of being here this evening and to honor these students who worked very hard. And out of this room, there are different people with different thoughts, with different persuasions. But that does not mean that we cannot come together and work together for the best interest of our county schools. And father, that's what we ask this evening. We ask for wisdom. We ask for strength to follow your precepts as we do pray. Bless the events of this evening. Bless everyone that's here. Father, we give you the praise for all you do. It's in Jesus name we pray. Amen. >> And Mr. Richardson, will you
002lead us in our place? >> Absolutely. Will stand. Pledge of the American flag. Attention. Salute. Pledge. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Now the Georgia flag salute. Pledge. I aliance to the flag and to the principles for it stands. wisdom, justice, moderation, and courage. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> At this time, we do need to approve the agenda. Do we have a motion? >> We have a second. All those in favor and special recognitions, Mr. R. >> Yes, ma'am. So, we have um a group here tonight from Middle School. So, I asked Mr. Crowley if he'll come on up. And I know M. is here and she's going to probably
003do most of the talking I would assume. Uh but she does such a great job with our students in FFA. And I I try to make sure folks understand that doing this at the middle school level creates more opportunities for our kids when they get to the high school level and they're already plugged in and connected and you can see they look great with their uniforms on and I just love it when they're here and they've done some amazing things. So I know you guys are going to talk about that. So, I wanted you guys to know it always takes that teacher who's going to step up and do that additional work to make sure this happens. And I want Miss Madison to know how much we appreciate her and all the folks that help
004her that as well. So, Mr. Crowley, thank you'all for being here. >> Well, I think Miss Rain stole a lot of the words that Sorry. That's okay. That's a good thing. So, I'm not going to look at my notes because I think he stole exactly what I was going to say. Miss Madison does an awesome and wonderful job for our school and I'm so blessed that she is on our staff and I I'm so gracious that you guys are on our in our school and I think you guys do a great job in representing us. And Miss Massie, I know I' I've got prepared what to say, but I want you to say the awesome things that you are doing because it's it's great for what our school is is about. And if you don't
005mind sharing what what um our school is representing and stuff, I want everybody to hear the awesome things that her about it. It's great. I'm excited to share today. We have our president Hardwick here. We have our treasurer, Lexi Huskkins. We have our reporter, Delaney Thurman. We have our sentinel, Brendan Madison. We have our chaplain, Malik Bell. and we have our historian Sophia Wolves and our parliamentarian Lillian Fer here to represent our FFA chapter. So this year we were lucky enough to to be awarded the national chapter award gold level and we are so excited because we get to go to Indianapolis Indiana to the national FFA convention to accept this award and this convention has over 80,000 FFA members from all over every single state in the United States attends this convention in Indianapolis
006and we are so excited to be able to go this year and represent W County. So uh we to uh be eligible to receive this award. It is a combination of all the activities we do throughout the year. Uh community service and um FFA activities involvement and everything all added up together and only the top um chapters in Georgia h get to receive this award for Georgia and then each state has a few recipients as well. So we will headed on Wednesday, October the 29th to uh the National FA Convention in Indianapolis. And uh so thank you so much for having us. >> So So just get give you guys a heads up. So I I actually went north uh over the break for just a little bit. I've got family that live in Ohio
007um just close to Indianapolis. And so I was sharing some of this results with some of my family members and also uh just random people just to talk to just because I think this is an awesome uh thing that they they've accomplished and people knew from up there. It was a little town called Circleville, Ohio. It's 30 minutes south of Columbus about 2 hours from Indianapolis. And they knew all about it. They know about the conference and all that kind of stuff. And and I said you know Georgia that's where my my school is and this kind of stuff and they knew all about it and they were all excited about it for you guys. So, like I said, I was bragging in Ohio over the weekend, over the week. So, but you guys have
008accomplished that, Miss Madison. You have accomplished that. So, I think that's amazing. And I'm I'm so excited to brag on you guys anytime I can. So, >> is the entire team going to Indianapolis? >> We have five students off of our officer team that are attending. >> Okay, good. Good. And you'll be there the 29th through that >> 31st. Okay. So, you trickor treat there or >> we're gonna try to have them home in time for trick-or- treat. >> Well, congratulations and good luck as you go up there and accept this award and we definitely appreciate all that you guys are doing and can't wait to see you finish up middle school and then go on to high school and continue what you're doing now. That's that's amazing. So, thank you, M. Count of three.
009One, two, three. Let's get one more. One, two, three. And stay where you're at in case you got ahead. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Congratulations, guys. Congratulations. And I'll make sure you guys know just in case because it is a school night. This is the end of our recognition. So if they they can hang around or obviously they're heading out the door. So feel free to travel along with them. But thank y'all for being here tonight. We appreciate you guys coming. Okay. Uh, next on our agenda, we have the superintendent report. >> So, really just a couple of things probably that uh we talked about uh the planning session, which seems like a long time ago since we're at fall break in the middle uh that I'll just bring back up to your attention and
010then um I'm also going to be doing the facilities update for Mr. Debuty. He's not going to be able to be with us tonight. So, I'll I'll kind of fill in some of the gaps there as well. Um, we discussed at the planning session the potential of a policy revision uh actually to policy DJ. It would affect the um um the R word. I can't think of it right now. I believe in the um exhibit, not is it the exhibit? >> Regulation. Sorry. What exhibit doesn't start with an R? That would have been my clue. um to move it from the current $25,000 threshold up to a potential of $75,000. And we had a little bit of discussion prior to just talking through that. Um I I'll give you an example. We had a an
011estimate uh to do some work on the front of Rosville Elementary School. That estimate came back at $52,000. Okay. So with current thresholds, what we'll have to do, we have to put that on 28 days to advertise that. We have to open those bids if we we've got a price but we'd have to open bids on it. You have to involve the architect and engineer. So there's an additional cost to that. It sits 28 days and by the time you get to the to the actual project, it's probably going to be somewhere around December the 1st before we can start. That would be weather permitted. Whereas if the threshold was a little higher, we would still go through all that process. The only thing that would be left out would be the 28 days sitting
012on as an advertisement. And you can see $52,000 10 years ago might have been under that threshold, but costs are up so much now that it's just not. So, it takes more time. So, it was just for the board to consider that. So, I you know, we can continue that discussion. We did talk with the attorneys. We feel like that is something that's a substantial change and it would need to sit for 30 days. So, on the Rosful example, it doesn't really help us because we just got the price code. We'd still have to wait 30 days, but we're fine with that. So, that was the one that I wanted to get some additional feedback on. The other one that I'd asked uh about was the Bluebird purchase of the 15 buses. Those are still
013sitting there waiting on us, but we have to make a decision because he's ready to sell those to someone else. And so, uh we had made the recommendation that we could use our reserve fund balance to purchase those buses. So, that's that was the other one. Athletic supplements, we went back over that. Uh didn't get a lot of response. So, I didn't know if there was any next steps that you wanted us to look at. Those contracts have already gone out. They've already selected whether it's a monthly pay or whether it's a um a lump sum at the end. This may be something that you just want to wait and consider for next year. And I'm fine with that as well. Um the AU that you guys set for 30 days, the changes to the
014AU which included the complaint resolution process was successfully submitted to the DOE by the 15th. Uh so now goes to the state board. They'll review all 180 plus of those uh over the next few months and then we should know something back. We have a plan to get that information out to our parents. Uh it'll contain a lot of other pieces, but it'll specifically talk about the changes in the AU and there's really no big change other than if there's an issue with something, there's a a process now that they can follow for complaint resolution. And so, uh we did get that taken care of. Then the last thing I'll mention before I get to one piece that we didn't do at the planning session, Bootstrap is this week. It's in Athens. So I'll be
015leaving after Backpack Blessings tomorrow night, traveling to Athens. We're there all day Wednesday, half a day on [snorts] Thursday, and then I'll be back on Thursday afternoon evening. Now, my plan is that I hope nobody It's being recorded. I shouldn't say. My plan is that the softball team from Lefet High School wins an outright Wednesday. I don't have to worry about it. But if they don't, I can make it back for the Thursday night ball game. I'm hoping I don't have to make it back for Thursday night. The other thing is the volleyball team is playing in Augusta. So, I'm mapping out a route from Athens to Augusta to go see them on Wednesday night, too. So, I'll at least get a chance to be around them hopefully as they all continue winning. So, very
016proud of them as they continue to move forward. Um, and so all of that's going on this week. So, I just wanted to kind of update you. I'll pause a second. The last thing I wanted to do was give Rachel the opportunity to talk through the finance report since she wasn't here on Tuesday night and I know there's been a week and a half elapse and I'd ask her if if there were questions she could fill in some of the gaps for you. So DJ-R1 changing that. Is there any thought on that at this point uh to move forward tableabling that for 30 days or is that something you want to continue to consider? Again, the example I used was the Roswell Elementary. It's not going to really help us in that case because it's
017going to be more than 30 days anyway. So, we can go ahead and advertise, put it out on the web, go through that process probably before we get the contract, I mean the policy revised if we choose to do that. Um, or or you want to hold where it is and leave it alone. I'm just going to kind of open it up for you guys to discuss. >> Um, I think we were talking before the meeting a little bit. U my concern was that it needed approval before it was actually um given um or awarded. But obviously, we're still going to do that. All we're doing is cutting out some of the bid process so we can actually cut out some architect fees as well. Right. >> It it would definitely help with the architect
018fees, but it would also just speed the process up. And what what we'll have to do is come up with a procedure similar to some things that we do where we email the board and let you know, you know, who the award's going to, what the cost was, uh, who was the next closest bidder, when they're going to start the work. That way, we get some level of approval from you via email, unless there's a a meeting plan, and then we could do it at the meeting, but you would officially still approve that. So, none of that would change. People can really just help on the timing. For instance, on this one, 52 under the 75, we could go ahead and give the contractor after you signed off on it the right to go ahead
019and move forward and we can get the project started. So, it the timing really is more than just the approval part because we're still going to keep all that in place. >> Construction project. >> We're talking about construction project. >> Bid process for construction if I'm not mistaken. I think that our threshold for that is >> it is, but it's only in an emergency. That's that's part of the threshold. You can go up to $100,000 without that level of of sitting for 28 days if it's a true emergency. >> Yeah, it it's it's one that uh it's great that it's in there, but we don't have a lot of emergencies. Like this isn't necessarily an emergency. It's just something that needs to be done. And the longer we wait, it potentially does become an emergency,
020but it's really about the timing. And I know my memory kind of slips from time to time, but what I remember is when I was here 20 years ago in that role, it was at $25,000. So you're talking 20 years. To me, inflation cost is going to look at least three times. So I I have no problem going for 25. >> Okay. So what we'll do is we'll get that together. make sure that we get that in front of you so it sits for that required 30 days and then this project we'll probably just go ahead and go through the normal protocol um with the one we just currently received and that way we can at least have that one moving forward. Okay. Any thoughts on the purchases of buses? >> I saw some of
021our buses on the road today. We need some buses. >> We're definitely in a in a place where we could use and the problem is problem is not the right word. The bigger opportunity is these are sitting ready to go. If we order buses and we do the spring, we're we're three to six months out before we're going to get them. And so that that does put us into a little bit of a bind. 15 buses sitting there ready to go. We just have to go with cameras and things like that. But still, that puts you put them on the road pretty quickly. >> Knowing that we've it's been a few years since we purchased regular ed buses. I think 15 is a is a fair number. The pro the only thing that I I
022would like to I guess encourage you know everybody to look at is there needs to be a plan in place to buy a certain number each year to replace those that way you're not buying everything in bulk and then down the road you know when when they wear out 10 12 years down the road you're having to replace sure you know 15 20 buses at a time. So, you know, if we could do, you know, eight a year, 10 a year, you know, kind of kind of map that out, look at the year models we've got and kind of plan be proactive in our plans. >> And typically, we do five a year out of East funds. So, by the time you get to the end of a five-year period, you've replaced 25 buses. And
023so, and that way you're not, to your point, you're not replacing 15 one year when they all get to a certain mileage or, you know, whatever. Maintenance becomes an issue. So, that that's a good recycling plan. And again, knowing we've not purchased them in a couple years, I'm sure I'm good with 15 right now. >> Okay. >> Now, and again, 15's sitting there. We're not we're not um um we're not on the hook for 15. We just know they are there and available. And 15 would definitely give us a nice shot in the arm with some of the buses that we have currently running routes. The other thing, if you remember, we changed the procedure to where any of the buses that are newer would be the ones that take our kids on trips and
024that way they would swap out the new with the old on routes around town versus having one of those older buses going, you know, south. So, just make sure we do that as well. >> I keep looking at Rachel. Rachel, we can afford this, can't we? [laughter] >> Do you want me to go with the financial? >> She said yes. um you know fund pallets built up when we had all those extra funds and I don't know if you want me to did you want me to go through the summary like I usually do at planning or y'all have y'all have the summary the financial >> I didn't have any questions >> no questions and you know our fund balance was pretty high of course with the costs going up on health insurance right now
025we do have that but I think we do need to proceed caution, but if we need buses, then it's in the fund balance on. >> I think the only other consideration in my opinion is we're about to bond money. Okay? So, we're going to have an influx of cash that's has to be spent in three years and buses fall into the referendum and so we can continue that cycle with that money, but that's going to be the spring. Then you're going to tack on three to six months to get them manufactured. It's going to push it put us all the way into next school year before we get the buses. So this isn't immediate, but going forward, you wouldn't be taking that money out of fund balance. You would be using your bond money that
026you qualify for. Typically for us, it's one bus, and it's not enough to pay for a bus, but at least it's one bus. And then you would be adding that additional four for that five recycle plants. >> These 15 that are there, are those what they call bond buses, or are they built out, you know, too too close to what our specs have been over the past several years? They're they're built out to our specs. We would just need to be adding cameras and radios like we do typically. Yes, sir. But they're ready to go just like we would have spec them out. Yes, sir. >> So, what would [clears throat] be the if if we said if we said today or in the morning we want those 15, how long would it take before
027they were on the road? 30 days. >> I would say safely 30 days with where we are right now. I mean, you may have some of them that hit the road earlier than that, but all of them would be fairly functional and operational within 30 days. Yes. >> But typically, when we order a bus, it has taken a year to a year and a half to receive it. So, usually they're not sitting on the lot. >> No, no. You remember the last four activity buses, we ordered those in 22 and they're just now going on the road. So, I mean, it it took them a while. >> I I guess my question would be then, is there any way that we could maybe let Bluebird know that, hey, we're planning on >> Oh, yeah. >>
028five a year. So, for the next five years, we're going to buy 25 buses. Obviously, there's not a bulk compared comparatively speaking 15 versus five a year. But what is there, you know, if we agree to buy five a year, does that make it any more cheaper or also does it also get it to us. I mean, it validates that we can get those five every year. I guess >> I think that's really based on the availability of parts and things. I mean, if you go back and you remember it was u computer chips, couldn't find computer chips, so everything was not not necessarily for buses, but my point being the assembly process. And so for them to be able to say to us right now that if you place an order today, it's three
029to six months. That's a world apart from where we were two years ago. I mean, when they were telling us, I can't guarantee them for a year and a half. There's just nothing you can do. So, you purchase, we actually I say we I'll include myself in that. We had two show up that we forgot about and we had ordered those in 2021 and they showed up. We're like, whose buses are they? We look back, we had ordered those buses. That's how long it took to get those buses. So, it just for them to say three to six months right now, we're in a really good spot. Plus the fact that that bond money is going to hit about the right time to start doing that additional recycle plant. So I think we're in a
030good place >> which I basically have been driving Mr. Reigns crazy >> driving no pun intended there. >> Driving the state capital outlay funding that we've been waiting and waiting and waiting on and we finally received the state owes us anymore. So, I've been driving you crazy saying, you know, we we can't keep spending squats if we're not going to get reimbursed for what we've done, you know. And we finally on October 7th received 1.7 million of the 5 million we've been waiting for. Now, I'm not sure how long it's going to take to stay on the rest of it, but that gave me crazy. >> No driving me crazy at all. This tweets has been here for a long time. So I I feel very comfortable. I wouldn't come to you and say we
031need 15 buses and we have the ability to purchase them now and have them on the road within 30 to 45 days if we didn't truly need them. We we and you guys are seeing that as well. And so it's not been from a lack of attention to it. It's been a combination of not being able to get them putting our money into our special needs buses which we had to do. And then the other thing was the activity buses, trying to get some at the high school so that they have other options instead of just waiting on a route bus. It's been a kind of a perfect storm. This is a nice place for us to see 15 ready to go. We can get them on the road pretty quickly. >> Plus, we can
032get state funding on at least. What is it about? I think there I know there's at least one that the state owes us on and then it could be two at this point. I don't remember. >> Could be. Yeah. So we have statements not all the amount but what they give us in the bond would offset a little cost. >> Anything else? planning need anything from from her >> questions on the financial report that was submitted. >> Any other questions or comments on facilities or financial >> uh we do have three action items tonight. The first one, it's recommended that the Walker County Board of Education approve the financial report for the month of fiscal year ending June 30th, 2025. Do we have a motion? A second. >> Second. Any discussion? All those in favor.
033>> It is recommended that the Walker County Board of Education approve the financial report for the combined months of July and August 2025. Do we have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All those in favor. And then it is recommended that the board uh review proposed changes. Is that right, Mr. Rings? >> To policy JBD. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Just to review the changes. >> These go ahead and help me with JBD. This is from planning session. We talked a little bit about um absences. >> This is we were adding the nurse practitioner. >> That's correct. nurse practitioner and physicians assistant. Currently, we only have medical doctors. This will add psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and physical physicians assistants to sign up for homebound services. Uh that is the current trend with our doctor's
034accessibility right now. Uh this is a modernizing of the language which is definitely necessary. >> Okay. So, do we want to review the proposed changes or approve them? >> Uh at this point, will review them. >> Okay. >> Uh to sit for 30 days. This is a substantive change. So we will be considering the board's approval at our next meeting to enact these expanded rules for the identification services. >> Okay. So we really don't need an action at this time. Correct. This is not an action item. >> Okay. So then we will move on to our consent action items. Um, we need a motion to approve uh to approve um the listed consent action items. Do we have a motion? >> Do I have a second? Any comments, questions, discussion? >> We discussed several change
035orders. They're listed there. I I know you guys have looked through them. Um, the rest of them, I think, are are pretty standard of what we talked about at session. Do we need a motion? >> All those in favor? >> Uh, next on the agenda is new business. Um, Mr. Middleton, we'll start with you. Do you have anything? >> So, um, went to the, uh, Rosville Alumni Association meeting on Saturday and they're going to donate, uh, $6,800 for speakers in the, uh, theater. Last year they donated 6,000 for new microphones. Uh now this year they're going to donate $6,800 for new speakers. Is that right James? >> Um and so uh we are when I was there I told them that we were very appreciative of those guys taking care of that. And also tomorrow,
036no Wednesday, sorry I'm uh Tuesday, Rinsland's uh is having a theatrical performance um at 430 >> 30. Thank you. 430 4:30. So at the reception after >> Yeah, reception after. So they're wanting um I think everybody got an email to to come to that. So >> that we are as far as I think it's the theater and performing arts is doing well at we're grateful for the job no one is doing so that's it for me >> Mr. Richardson >> no ma'am I have nothing to get this done >> sorry do not Mr. Willerson >> um [clears throat] Mike Cardi, one of the drivers in the town, he brought to my attention. Of course, obviously we all know that but but their need was running really bad. He said they he and I didn't know
037anything about this, but he he said there were two that was approved, but they could not bring them aboard until December and I could not answer any questions about that because I didn't know. So I told him I'd ask at the session tonight what Paul was involved with. So I didn't I mean, there's a a large process with getting your CDL. Um, there's class time that you have to go through. Uh, there's a test you have to pass. Then there's driving that goes along with that without students on board with a trainer on board. And then with students on board with a trainer on board before you're released onto your own route. Um, I can get all that information from uh from from Dena and make sure you in that loop on that. It's not
038that we hold them back at all. There is a process of things that state says you have to do and then we also say that you have to do before we can release you to be driving a bus with with special students on yesterday. There was a little bit of a um limitation on the 14 plus ones. You didn't have to go see some through some of the same um training. Um and that's why we kind of moved that way is uh to eliminate that for some of the folks that not necessarily the training but the CDL component that so it takes a little bit of time. I'll get that for you. >> And I do not have anything. >> Do we have uh public participation tonight? >> No one signed up for a public
039participation through the policy. >> Okay. Uh and we do have need for executive session for personnel and >> that's all >> personnel. Uh do we have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. All those in favor? We are Executive session. Okay, we are back in session. We have a recommendation of personnel for certificated, non-certificated, and other. Do we have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. All those in favor. And we need a motion to adjourn. >> Motion. Second. >> All those in favor? And we are ajourned.