001outside. >> No, it's not coming. >> She's herself. >> She said, >> "I'm okay." I was that was I was doing >> it is now 5:00 and I would like to call this meeting to order. We would like to begin this evening with our invocation from principal Charles from Wayneboro Primary School. Pres. Heavenly Father, we just thank you for this day, Lord. Thank you for the opportunity again to come here, Lord, for this night, Lord, to help make decisions that were going to shape our future for our children. Lord, we just pray that every decision is made, Lord, we'll do it in unity and in love and support for the future of this county, which is our children. Lord, we just thank you for our community and continue to pray, Lord, that they will continue
002to be strengthened in love and bind together, Lord, in times of good and times of bad. We give you all the praise and all the glory in Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen. Thank you, Mr. Charles. Let's now stand for the pledge of allegiance. I 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. >> You may be seated. We are now ready for a roll call and please let the records indicate we are all present. And before we do our adoption of agenda, I have one thing I need to add under old business and that is the FCCLA fundraiser from the high school and Dr. Williams will share that when that time comes. So I
003need a motion to adopt the agenda for this evening. Okay, Madam Chair, I move that we adopt the agenda with the addition. >> Thank you very much. We need a second. >> A second. >> Okay, we have a second. There's no discussion. Let's vote by show of hands. Okay, records may indicate we have it. Next, we have approval of minutes. I need a motion to approve the October 21st minutes. I make a motion to approve the minutes from our regular board meeting on October 21st. >> Thank you very much. We need a second. >> Second. >> It's been second. Any discussion? No discussion. Let's vote by show of hands. Okay, we are in agreement. We are now ready for our financial report from Ms. March. >> Good evening. Tonight I have the financial report from
004October of 2025. With the completion of the month of October, the fiscal year is 33.33% complete. If you'll please turn to your first page, total revenues through the end of October were $7,65,030. Please remember, we're approaching the end of the calendar year. And so as soon as we get into the new calendar year, we should start to see those revenue numbers increase quickly and significantly. The next page represents expenditures. As of October 31st, 2025, total expenditures were 25,180,457. This does represent 30.59% of your general fund budget. and compared to the completion of the fiscal year. You can see that spending is just under that. The next page shows the general fund balance sheet. As of October 31st, 2025, total assets were $278,673,087. Total liabilities and fund equity equaled the same amount. The next page shows
005changes in general fund equity. End of period general fund equity at October 31st, 2025 was $276,392,880. The next page shows investments in all funds as of October 31st, 2025. Total investments were $266,193,42748. The next seven pages represent your purchase order incumbrance report. These are cumulative through October 31st, 2025. And if you compare to last month's report, you can see that some of those incumbrances are getting satisfied as we move throughout the fiscal year, which is what you want to see happen. >> The next several pages shows your vendor activity report. These are vendors that reach $5,000 by vendor for the month of October. Are there any questions about the vendor activity report or the overall financial report? >> I don't have the >> Okay. I don't but I do have reconciliation report. We hadn't gotten
006a report from primary school in several months. Is there >> like a bank statement? >> Yeah. I hadn't seen it on our end. been a couple of months since July. >> Okay. I will have to check on that. Those don't run through here and I can certainly facilitate that. And you say since July, you think we'll follow up on anything else? >> I have no thank you. >> Thank you. We need a motion to uh accept the financial report. I so move. >> It's been motion has been given. Need a second. Second. >> It's been second. No other discussion. We need to vote by show of hand. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. At this time, we are now ready for our public participation from the Burke County Public Library. We'll hear from Miss
007Joy Thomas. >> Good evening. >> Since 2014, the Burke County Library has operated under the Columbia County Library System, known as the Greater Clark Hill Regional Library. As of July 2025, Columbia County will no longer be a part, excuse me, of the Greater Clark Hill Regional Library System and will begin operating on its own independent system starting in January 2026. This change directly impact the Burke County Libraries as well. A portion of our funding was received through the Columbia County Library. Such support. Such support was library manager salaries circulating materials and several databases. After multiple meetings involving the Burke County Commissioners, the Burke County Library Board of Trustees, representatives from Warren and Lincoln counties, and members of the Greater Clark Hill Regional Library System, a decision was made for Burke County to also move forward
008as an independent standalone library system. This change will officially take place July 2026. Before we can officially become a standalone system, several state regulations must be met. One of the most critical being adequate funding. We are asking TW we are seeking $286,000 to help us reach the required $1 million threshold necessary to qualify as an independent county library system. Currently, the Burke County Commissioners provide about 80% of our total funding to meet the state mandated minimum minimum and ensure continued operation and service for our community. We respectfully request 286,000 additional dollars. These funds will be used for the continued operation of the Burke County Library covering areas previously supported by the Columbia County Library System, including staff salaries, library materials, and vital online databases. Thank you for your continued support of the Burke County Library
009and your commitment to ensure that our library remains a strong and sustainable resource for the citizens of Burke County. >> Thank you. Thank you, >> Miss T. I do I did have a question that request was that would that be a one-time request or an annual >> That would be annual. >> An annual ask. Okay. Thank you. We will certainly take a look at it. >> Okay, >> we're going to move right on now to our old business. We have two um items to be added there to be discussed there. One is an amendment to uh Blake Elementary School's field trip um list that was approved back in August. Um the field trips range between November and May. Um some are holiday uh performances, some are LGP honor for spring concerts and things of that
010nature. So there are a total of five between November and May. So asking the board to approve that agenda for Blake Elementary. >> Okay. And I did note that most of the field trips are on weekend. the Voices of Blake. So, I'm excited for some of those places that they will be attending and performing. I'm looking for >> and I usually attend >> Yeah. So, >> at uh Payne College. >> Yes. >> For that December 13th and 14th Christmas concert. >> Yes. >> It is excellent. >> I'm a music person and that music you would think it was a college choir. >> Yeah. Um, also >> the Augusta Corell, >> the Augusta, it's called the Augusta Corral. >> Yes. >> And we always come back with honors at the statewide honors celebration there. And then
011May the second, excuse me, May 2nd and 3rd, the spring concert that pays as well. >> And I know that you could not submit the dates earlier because they had not set the dates with the car, >> right? >> So some of these things as we were looking at all these field trips, I had a better clarification on some of them. They try all these places and they already committed. It takes almost two years to get a good trip planned and to get on the calendar. So, a lot of these places are booked and we can't get there because other people see those trips as valuable as well. So, I did get a lot of clarification on that while we were in absentia. Uh, so I support this. >> Okay. >> So, let's make a
012motion. I don't know what the he saying. I don't know. >> You okay? All right. We need a motion. >> And I know he's a music to approve your addendum for Blake Elementary. >> Okay. We have a motion and we need a second >> and we've already discussed it person >> and I love some of those places there too. >> But they play. >> So let's show. >> So we listening to hear good things. Yeah. Okay, Dr. Win, we have another one. >> Yes. Um the second one is off the press. >> Um LCCLA. Um it's a fundraiser request actually and um it is coming from Miss Noble at High School, one of the CTE teachers, and it is um ornaments that they want to sell with Burke County Bayer logo and etc. on them.
013Um the prices are listed here. Um $10 for a single ornament, 18 for two. Um and the uh funding will support the chapters programs and activities. So all of the CTSOs have to participate in some type of >> that's the LCCA >> the um family career and community leaders of Mexico. Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. So, um, but all CTSOs are required to do fundraisers. So, this is their fundraiser that we need a motion. >> I so move that we accept that person >> and motion. Need a second >> and I don't think there's any discussions. We vote by show of hands. Okay. We can follow new business. Right. Are they head miss? >> Yes. >> Good evening. >> Okay. So, we have the October report for early serve. Our funded enrollment is at 94.
014Our actual enrollment is 93. We had one mom to move from on-site to home base uh during the whole government shutdown issues that were going on. So, we've since filled that spot for her. Um average daily attendance for the month is at 87. Our number that's on the waiting list right now is nine. Our number of transitions, our three-year-olds that'll be moving on for Head Start, um right now is at 12. We have a number of pregnant women at eight. Our health checks are up to date at 97%. Shots are up to date at 100%. We have no monthly reportable center health incidents. Um, our number of children with disabilities is at 12, staff training activities three, parent involvement activities five. Our in kind um left to collect is at 39%. And we have a
015school nutrition report which were serving an average daily amount of 47 children. And then we have our budget report for January through December of 2025. And our balance left there is at $290,482.83. For the month of October, we have several um Walmart spendings. Uh October 1st, we spent $14744. The second $10.95. On the third, $23.91. the 7th, $74.31. On the 8th, $442. The 20th, $75.24. The 22nd $194.94. And on the 29th, $27.40. For the month of October, our expenditures, the total was 176,513.74 for the month to date January through October 31st is going to be total expenditures is1,473,728. $8.95 and our incumbrances to date we have a total of yet we pay out 34,37822 and I always bring a little positive note so um we partner with Peach State uh health van they were at
016they would be we come to our school every month they were there yesterday and today and we served a little over 20 families. Um right now we're just partnering with them for dental care. So both parents and children can be seen for dental. But starting January 2026, we'll have a dental and medical van there that'll serve uh families and students. Children will be able to get dental, immunizations, uh health exams, physical exams right on site. So, I want to send a little picture around today so you all can take a look at what they were doing there and how the mobile van looks. Pass it around and thank you all so much. Okay, any questions? No questions. I just want to say thank you to you and your staff for the beautiful >> Thanksgiving activity
017that you presented. And uh you know I had to go in the classroom. So thank you for allowing me to go. >> And all the children bombarded you. >> Yes. And I did get to host some mail until they started crying. >> Yes. >> We had approximately 85 families to show up for the Thanksgiving. So it was very very packed. >> Yes. Good event. So and good in kind. >> Thank you so much. Thank you all. Yes ma'am. >> Do you know roughly how many families you service? They service today with them. >> Today with the van, we serve 20. >> Sorry if you already said that. >> Yeah. Yep. We serve 20 and they're there monthly. So, it's whatever services they need. Um both parents and students, but I'm sure the number will increase
018in January because we'll be offering medical services and dental. And a lot of our families, what we're finding is that they just do not have transportation. So, they're actually um they've been walking over >> from the community and coming directly over um and we've been having our home visitors and family services go out and give flyers to say the services we've offered. So, majority of them, maybe one or two families, but the majority of them walk over. >> Yep. And receive services. So, I'm very excited about that. >> So, every month, twice a month, we'll have the van there. >> Fantastic. Thank you so much. >> You're welcome. We need a motion to accept the early head start report. >> Make a motion to approve the early head start report. >> Need a second. >>
019Second. >> Then motion and second. And now we need no discussion. Un. >> Thank you very much you all. >> Thank you. >> All right. Also early head start. um had spoken with the board sometimes back about a salary scale. So you'll notice there that there are um three documents. One of the documents uh that you have access to there is actually the head start policy and regulations that address pay parity. So it mandates by 2030 2031 we're going to have to do something. However, I think we're all in agreement that um we know we need to do something and we need to do something immediate. We have teachers at Early Head Start with bachelor's degrees, 15 years of experience, working 230 days a year and making less than $25,000. >> Um they could actually
020come into the school, work as a parent for 190 days with a high school diploma >> and make more money. So, we know we have to do something and and the reason for the discrepancy has primarily been because they are grant funded only. >> And so, I I do appreciate the board's um entertaining um the the salary scale and supporting that. So, what you have in front of you there um is the 2025 salaries. The names have been taken off, but you can see examples there. And then what you have on the other side is the proposed um salary schedule that I want to um put before you. I have sat down with Alice. We've talked about it in great detail. I sat down with Miss Miss Willis. We've talked about it in great detail.
021And I think what we have there is something that um that is fair to our um employees at Early Head Start. It will uh fairly compensate them for what what it is that they do. It will hopefully help with um um >> retention >> because what's happening is that they are either trying to leave early head start and come into the school system because they know they could come into the schools, >> right? >> Um because they know they can make more money or in some cases leaving altogether. And so, um, I think this is is really going to help with recruitment and retention, and it's going to support those people who have, um, dedicated their careers to infants and toddlers >> and not force them to have to leave and go work with an
022older, um, population just for the sake of salary. So, I hope that you will um, >> now, which one are you proposing? Because I see two. >> That's the current. This is this the current one here. This the one that No name just gives you examples um of what they're currently making >> and some of these people have >> and then the proposal is okay one did I omit >> um the she's called the office manager fiscal analyst >> no ma'am she's on there >> where is she located we I went up and down and I missed it right here >> office manager highlighted. >> Oh, so you call him the office manager instead of that. Well, >> that was such a fancy name. That's why I missed it. >> Well, I went with the
023titles that was kind of on the salary scale or either on the scale. >> Oh, that's I missed it. Let me take a look here. Um, let me turn this around. Um, so on this scale, that is what she was called. office manager slhr office manager/fiscalan analyst HR is what they have there right >> but her title according to the grant is office manager >> okay that's why I missed it I apologize but I was looking all over for that uh analyst >> and that's and I looked at that very low salary because she's been there for a number of years I looked at that too um and looking at a lot of things so we can talk about closer. >> Yes, of course. You want to hold that until Yes, we'll hold it. >>
024Okay. Continue. >> Um, electronic devices. That's Mr. Haidider. You have that in front of you. Policy and procedure. So, I'll let Mr. I have to talk about the policy and then I can >> go ahead >> discuss. So the procedure the excuse me the policy you may require that the legislature enacted the distractionfree education act the cell phone bill that requires that by January the 1st to 26 you have a policy in place that addresses uh what they call the bailto bail ban on cell phones and other devices in the schools for K through eight. Dr. Williams recommendation is that you extend that to K through 12. And so that's what your policy proposed policy says. >> Otherwise, this is just a barebones policy that is um compliant with the statute. Of course, the devil's
025in the details and that will be in a procedure enacted by the superintendent. She says she's put that up for you to review as well. uh the policy itself uh is there for your consideration and it's supposed to be in place by January 1. This is plenty of time >> and the procedure as um Mr. I've alluded to is so you all of course approve the policy but then we have to have a procedure or how we're going to implement the policy um consequences what happens um what that looks like on a daily basis and we also included and um Terra Cooper worked on this along with me um what um a Q&A for panelists who may have have u specific questions and so we can continue to add to procedures because that's not a
026um that require approval but this This is what we put together as to how we will implement the policy if so are free to other but the frequently asked questions were extremely meaningful and and uh those questions did shed a lot of light on the current policy. And again, all of this is law. Some people call it the cell phone policy, but it's the electronic devices, and it goes well beyond, >> right, >> cell phone. And in fact, I put a a link there to the actual bill >> with all the details in >> the free whatction? >> Yeah. And I looked at um some of the reasons and some of the problems that some of these things are causing within the school system. I did look at some of those things. >> Right. And
027then there's a a new thing out there, a new wave I call it, and I know Mr. Wright knows what I'm talking about. They mentioned it on Good Morning America's Verse. It was a special about this new program that's luring children. They target our children and they get them to do awful things to bully and to even kill >> and and it's a threeletter something. I just can't recall it because I didn't take notes, but um that's something that's going to going to come up. So for us to have a policy in place, I think it's going to be meaningful. And they're also asking parents to pay attention to their children and how this new thing whatever it is uh has taken over a number of our kids bullying and killing. Yes. >> I won't
028even talk about what AI is doing in the music industry. >> Okay. At this time we need a motion to adopt the revised policy JCDF. I'd like to table this discussing if that's possible. >> I'd like to table this one for some additional research if we can get her. >> She would like to table this >> uh and your reason. >> I'd like to do some further research and she would >> she would like to do some further additional research. Okay. >> Okay. We don't have we don't have bring to us at another time. >> A question about the policy. policy is law, >> right? Procedures we can play with, but the policy is law, >> correct? >> Okay. Okay. All right. >> We'll move on. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um the utility digests I
029shared with you all the email that I received regarding the um public utilities division and their kind of timeline. I think they have a meeting scheduled for this coming Friday. Um and then they are saying that it'll probably be the following week before they get the information to us or um then of course our tax commissioner has to massage the data and get it to us and Alice has to massage the data before the board and that kind of thing. So, this was primarily um asking the board to perhaps look at your calendar um about dates because we're going to have to um obviously have a call meeting um sometime within. And so, um when I spoke with >> Miss Jackson today, she feels like she can if they follow their timeline that she can
030get us what we need, get get it to Alice by December 3rd. >> December 3rd. >> Yeah. She's out the whole week of Thanksgiving. She'll return to work on the 1. thinks that she can get it to us by the third. Alice will then need a couple days. So, um >> they'll be help fourth and fifth. They're gonna be at GSN. So, >> yeah, Alice will get it on the third and play with it. So, I'm thinking the following week. >> The following following week. >> That sounds good. >> Um if it's an afternoon, um it's going to be clear for me because I checked my calendar today just making projections. So next the next week if it's in the evening you know maybe well afternoon would be four o'clock 6 o'clock is evening so
031whatever you all can do I'm looking at all of you who have jobs >> is is there any way that we could do the eth >> the eth >> is that too soon >> the eth >> no that would be fine >> sounds I can do it earlier in the day on the 8th. >> Okay. >> Anything else that that week is going to be late after six o'clock. >> Oh, no. >> We going we going to go with his suggestion. >> The eighth is fine. Yes. >> Is that all right? >> Now we need a time. >> Y'all can decide the time. 12 time 4:00 >> earlier is you now you have to work so I started a new job today and I'm a little more flexible now so my my time is >>
032yes >> congratulations heard congratulations so that means you can come earlier >> you guys four will be fine >> four will be fine okay so we going to set the time for 4 o'clock December the 8th >> okay move Oh, that's it. Oh, you're report superintend. Okay, we need to go back. It was decided or suggested that we do get a motion for the policy for the policy. It was tabled and >> so we need to the minutes will have to reflect that the the policy was brought before us and it was discussed but we have tabled additional discussion so it needs to reflect. >> Okay. Oh, until you do your research. Okay. So we need you made the motion. >> I made the motion. So >> and Jamie can second. >> Thank you. >>
033Sounds good. >> Just so we'll know that it was brought before us. >> Yeah, >> we can't put it out through. >> Yes, let's vote. >> Okay. Has show in agreement. Thank you very much. Thank you, Dr. set up. >> Um just a a few things in my report. Um last month I reported um enrollment at 3715 as of today that same report 3,711. So um enrollment remains steady. We have a little over,00 kids at the high school. Um a little over 800 at the middle school right at 700 at Blake. A little over 900 at the primary. And then a little over 180 at SGA. Um, governor's honors um is open to juniors and sophomores who demonstrated high aptitude and high interest in specific areas of nomination. And they are also expected to have
034um experience in that area outside of the normal classroom. Approximately a dozen um areas of nomination are possible. It could be something as simple as math or science. I say simple or it could be something like visual arts, theater, world language etc. And so students participate in a local process. Um that process was led by Dr. Stan Dodson um art teacher at the high school as well as two of the counselors, Miss Chansy and Mr. Lee. And as a result, um these eight students were nominated to compete for place in the governor's honors program. So they will then go on to complete a safe application um and participate in interviews and auditions if if selected. So just congratulations to these students. >> Thank you. Okay. The REACH program, um, if you're not familiar with REACH,
035it's a $10,000 scholarship opportunity. um school systems that have an active reach uh participation agreement are responsible um for providing a share of the scholarship um that's provided. And so each year the Georgia Student Finance Commission will notify us about how many slots we have and also what is our required uh portion of the scholarship. This year we were given five slots and so these five students um were selected for the reach scholarship and we want to thank Miss Adrien Salsbury who's the assistant principal at the middle school who leads this process along with Miss Shannon Lenoi counselor and then of course Miss Sandy Broen is our district coordinator. Um and then we also want to recognize the scholars because we also again as I said earlier we have to provide um or to come
036up with a certain amount of the fundraising in order to submit. And so we want to thank Overthought Power Herf Jones and then BCHS alumni for um contributing those funds um so that we could move forward those application and thank you Miss Nietman for being present for that ceremony and representing the board. >> Thank you. Thank you. want to share um CCRPI data that we've been able to um get thus far. CCRPI no longer um provides an overall score per school, but what they do is give a score for five different categories. >> Okay? >> And so kind of want to go through those numbers here with you briefly. Um the first is content mastery. And content mastery is um how well the students score on the milestones assessment in the four content areas ELA,
037math, science, and social studies. And although Wesburg Primary does not administer milestones, they are held accountable for Blake's third grade ELA scores since that is a theater school. So even though they don't have um GMAS, that's what you'll see here. The red arrows just indicate the score um whether it went up or down. red or green arrow from the previous year. And so we can see there for content mastery um how the various schools scored this uh this past year. If we compare those to state numbers statewide, the numbers for elementary, middle, and high school are all in the 60s. And so you see where we fall. This is the 20 uh 420 23 24 score. the 2425 score, but for 2425 the numbers are in the 60s per state. In the area of progress,
038uh progress shows how much growth the students make and it only measures that growth in ELA and math because those are the only assessments that are given annually. It also shows how well the English lang English language learners are um moving towards proficiency. And so again, you want numbers the closer they are to 100 um the better. These numbers um the progress is great across the board even though it's less than the previous year because again the highest you can get in those areas is a 100 in a perfect world. And so we see the progress across the board um for each of the various schools is um ranges from 70.6 to 77.3. If we compare that to um state statewide these numbers range around 80 for these different areas. Closing the gaps. You'll notice
039there that there are no arrows. Um, closing the gap measures how well um the various student groups meet their targets. And so when I say student groups, that is divide by demographics such as black students, white students, uh, English language students, students with disabilities. And so targets are set for those various areas of various demographics. And so students um closing the gaps uh determines how close they came to um meeting in those target areas. And so you can see those numbers across the board. Again, because of some changes in the metrics, it's not an apple toapple comparison. So you'll notice there that there are no errors. Um looking at the state numbers, what you'll find is that elementary um state average is around the 70s for elementary and high and it falls around the 80s
040for middle school. and you'll see those state numbers in just a minute. And then finally, in the area of readiness, or not finally, next in the area of readiness, um there's a whole bunch of stuff thrown into that area. Readiness includes students reading at or above grade level. It includes student attendance. It includes um students taking beyond the court classes um in the pathway assessment um dual enrollment just a number of things there. Again, great scores in that area. Um even though some uh most of them took the a downward trend slightly and some a little you know above. um for statewide those numbers fall um in the 80s for elementary and then 70 elementary and middle and then 70s for high school. So you see those numbers kind of align. And then finally, graduation
041rate is the fifth category. And of course, that only applies to the high school level. And it includes both your four fouryear and fiveyear graduation rates. And this data was shared earlier in the year. Um graduation rate for Burke County High School was 90.2. The state average was 87.2. So above the state average but also a great increase from the previous year. Now I did say that CCRPI doesn't do a single uh score >> but the governor's office of student achievement is required to um compute a single score for every school in every district. >> Don't know where they get the number from. They sent us an email today. no timeline really but um they will at some point calculate a single score for all schools and districts. They will share those uh numbers and
042then districts and the state DOE are required to publish those numbers but those numbers are separate from DOE. DOE does not calculate pace and these are the numbers that I referenced earlier um the statewide numbers so you can see how they compare. So I'll leave those there for you. Um since we last met we had two of our schools uh receive recognition from the Georgia Department of Education. As a reward school we have SGA. um that school that award goes to title one schools making the most significant improvement in the state and that data um is lagging so it's based on the 2024 data but they announced the reward in 2025 so congratulations to SGA and uh Burke County Middle School was named a math leader school um that is given to schools who demonstrate
043exceptional um or or exception to attainment or growth in math during the 2425 school year and that goes to B County Middle School. Um, Superintendent Woods will be here on Friday um at the high school for um an academic pet rally and you all have an invitation there in front of you um requesting your RSVP so that we have the seating and that kind of thing. Um, right. But one of the things he wants to do while he's here is to at the high school is to acknowledge those um students who were eighth graders at the time that they was uh received this award. So they those students were currently in ninth grade and then he wants to leave and go to the high or to middle school to actually present the award to Dr.
044Atkinson. So if you can make it, please do. >> And so where will we meet at? >> In the gym at the high school. Yeah. Um, a couple years ago, you may recall that the we had a group of students who put together a video for the Georgia School Board Association video contest and they placed. So, we had another group of students who did a video this year. >> And while they did not place, we're very proud of their product. Um, and so I've shared it there, put it there for you to uh go through. It's about a minute and a half long. And so, I want to recognize Miss Christina Willis. Miss Christina Hillis, I'm sorry, graphic design and journalism teacher. >> Um, and Mr. Mark Flowers, audio video production who work with those
045students to put that video together. So, it's there for your viewing. >> Thank you. >> Yes, >> I saw that. >> Um, staffing. Some of these are um few of these are repeats from last month, but these are all of the positions that we currently have on our um postings and some of these you'll hear about tonight will be actually filled with your with your blessing. But um we're doing quite well. Very few vacancies. Um HR is doing an amazing job with this piece. And the last one you see over here is a substitute teacher. And if you did not have the opportunity to uh attend, I know you were there, Miss Miss. >> Yes. What a celebration. >> Dr. Collins and her her team put on an amazing event and I believe every sub
046left there feeling >> appreciated. Yes. >> Um they were ready to talk and interview and get on camera and >> and even dressed for the occasion. >> Yes. But there were several things going on for that day, but um the principles took time to step in, most of them. Yes. Um and Miss Collins, Dr. Collins may talk a little bit about that later, but um that was a great event. >> It was. >> And then to give you some construction updates, um let's see, we have the auditorium that is coming along um beautifully. >> Um they are putting down now the um carpet in the aisles along with the lights and they have a few things to do on the stage, paint the stage, put the Hback up, that kind of thing. But it is
047coming along very nicely on schedule. Um the media center they are finally occupying the media center. They have moved in it. It is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. >> Um so if you haven't had an opportunity to um check that out, maybe you can do it Friday while you're >> um let's see. I do want to say that it looks like we may be exceeding our we say will be exceeding our contingency on that auditorium. Um there were a few things that were not in the um document that have been that have have we need them. They have to be added. Um and so we we'll talk more about that. The high school roof um Buckley is working on the drawings. Remember that is a state project. So uh quite a bit of that funding will be
048coming from the state. But we have to have that completed and everything submitted by uh March of 2027 in order to get our um money from the state. And along with that project um we will be replacing the um bus canopy at the high school. I don't know if you paid it any attention but it looks like it may give at any minute. >> Yeah. >> And so um so there will be some work done at that bus canopy as well. um life center um on track for an approximate January start. They're telling us it's about a 14-month project. Once it starts, um the move to the back hall was delayed for some issues with flooring. Uh Mr. Williams thinks they're going to be able to get the move during Thanksgiving break. Demolition then will
049begin shortly after that on those first two um wings. um and they're telling us that they can actually start working on the gym as they are um doing the demolition for those first two two buildings. So things seem to be moving along with that. And then with the athletic fields, we kind of paused because it seems like u we were kind of spinning wheels. Nothing was getting done because too many things were going on at one time. But as soon as the um work starts on the life center, then we will certainly resume with that. We do have copies of the layout, but the actual drawings are not complete. Um, so we're waiting with those. And then what's not up here, we have um several other things that need some attention. So Miss Cooper and
050I along with Mr. Williams will be putting together a three to fiveyear facilities plan to bring before the board about some things that need to be upgraded or modernized so that we can continue to keep our facilities um up to date. And then just a few other things going on um with technology. Uh Mr. Wright and his team were able to get our servers updated or upgraded during the fall break. Um so that should help with some of some of that. Um finance department has been moving along with some automations of um some of our processes and I think they're very proud that's um moving moving along some things a little quicker. Um, fine arts has brought home some um, individual and group awards from their participation in um, a one act play recently. >>
051Band several superiors and excellent ratings and the partwell from >> the Burkar Invitational that they participate in annually. And then with athletics, I hate to start talking about because I'm gonna miss somebody, but we know that volleyball and cross country. Um we're both region champs, softball region runnerups. We have some stills on. So we're hoping that with uh Friday night, we have some additions. So thank you for supporting the >> early release um on this coming Friday. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And um last but not least, I always like to keep you updated with um information provided by the county. They're telling us as of October 29th, the broadband um project that they will been work have been working on is at about 90.6% complete, but also that they just got another chunk of money.
052So, they're going to be able to spread broadband either even further out in the county. That's not our responsibility, but I just thought I'd share. >> Okay. >> And that is my report. >> Thank you, Dr. Williams, for your report. And before we go into uh close session, I would just like to publicly thank Dr. Sebrook, Miss Broen, Dr. Evans the other night. I was over at the school for that uh uh parent uh curriculum. It was fantastic. And Dr. Sebrook, thank you for taking the time out to take me to the auditorium and tell me what was going on one strand by the other. So, thank you for that. And I just want to thank all of you for the great work that you're doing. If I have not made it to your school
053for some activity or whatever, does not mean that I'm putting you on the back burner. I'm on my way cuz I'm seeing great things that are happening and very proud of all of you and everything and all the hard work that you're putting in. So, please know that we do appreciate I appreciate it. I've seen the system come a long ways and believe me I taught 35 years in it and I can see the difference. Thank you very much. >> At this time we'd like to uh have a motion to go into our close session to discuss um real estate >> motion and personnel. >> Okay. Did I get a motion? I >> Okay. Did I get a second? Second. No discussion. Let's raise your hand. You all have a great night. Thank you.