001Good evening everyone. Uh we will call to order the uh Glen County School Board work session for February the 5th. Um I'm going to stumble through leading us. Uh Mr. Hoy is um out dealing with some sickness. So I'll uh be leading us through and so we'll start off by turning over to Mr. Black. >> All right. And we will go ahead and jump straight into our agenda. Starting off with Miss Cody with the December 2025 financial [clears throat] report. [snorts] >> Okay. All right. So in December um we did not have any budget amendments for the general fund. Um so our general fund continues to be in a strong stable position as we move through the fiscal year. Revenues were at 68% of the annual budget while expenditures were at 46. The budget position
002as of December was 50%. Um this alignment is consistent with where we would expect to be at this point in the fiscal year. In December, we received $3,136,27.82 in sales tax collections reflecting November activity. This represents a 9.45% [clears throat] increase compared to the amount received in December of 2023. [clears throat] Overall, December reflects continued financial stability and we will [snorts] continue to closely monitor both revenues and expenditures as we move into the second half of the fiscal year. There any questions? Okay. And then moving on to the investment analysis. Uh in December, we earned $647,128.3 [clears throat] in interest. And as you can see, it's a pretty big jump from the month before. And that would be the property tax revenues. [snorts] Any questions? >> Any questions? All right, we will move straight ahead
003to facilities update with Mr. Haywood. the uh PowerPoint on the Mr. >> Brick. >> Just start talking. >> All right. I'll start [laughter] with the East Bloss projects. Um we'll start with uh College of Coastal Georgia Performing Arts Center. Um construction is still progressing well. Um window installation on the front is building is still taking place. It's just about finished. Um the platforms for the retractable seating came in and they are currently assembling those as we speak. Um the projection screens and all the speakers have been installed. The carpet in the balconies have been installed. It's laid on both sides. the partitions and sinks in the restroom, I mean in the gang bathrooms is installed. And um now the projected completion date has been pushed further back into March due to some shipping delays with
004the snowstorms and the ice um that uh we had to kind of deal with. Um to this point, we've spent 79% of that budget of the $20 million. So we're right at about 15.8% 8% spent with the remaining of $4.2 million of the of the $20 million uh dollars. Um the Glendale Elementary replacement as you all saw at the groundbreaking ceremony is progressing well. Um, when you all were out there, they had not started laying the blocks yet, but they have laid they've started laying the blocks on on wing one, which is the cafeteria and one of the classroom hallways. The footers have been poured for wing two, which is will be the admin area, and another wing. And then the third wing, um, they'll be pouring those footers soon, which will be the gym
005and the third wing of the school. Um so again it's everything is progressing well out there. Moving on to our local capital uh funded projects. The BHS fieldhouse edition. The wait room is complete. Um and the team started using the facility this past Monday. Uh so coach Slack was very excited about that and the boys were very excited about that. He said they spent about the first five or 10 minutes um walking around looking at everything, taking pictures, and he was like, "Hey, we got to work out, guys. It's time to go to work." But anyway, they were just they just fell in love with it. It's it's a really nice facility. So, now we'll start focusing our attention on um the landscape. The irrigation is in. We got to get some landscaping done on
006the exterior of it um and some audiovisisual equipment um on the inside. So, we'll start on that in the coming weeks. Uh, board of education office, wing four, we're really close now. The furniture has been delivered. It will be beginning installation on Tuesday of February 10th, next week. And um, that's where we are on the board office. Any questions about any of the four projects I just listed or just discussed? And I had some pictures. And so I'll move on. While we're doing that, I will move on to the good report. And we will go to page six [snorts] of the good report. And as you can see, our latest collection, we took in 3,449,6301. And this is a little over 300,000 more than we took in the last month. And this is our, as
007you can see, this is our third highest collection um with East Bloss 5. To date, we've collected um a little over $29.5 million in East Bloss 5. So um and you can see the comparison from two years ago where it was at the three just under 3.1 million to where it is now uh each month with collections. Any questions on the good report? >> We now have your hand. >> We are good. So, let me refresh. >> Thank you, Miss Brit. [clears throat] >> All right. So, this is everything I just talked about. And now you get the the visual. All right. Again, the performing arts center. Like I said, these windows have really been a big deal. And you can see they've also installed the awning over the front main entrance right now. [snorts]
008That's the biggest difference. Windows and this awning being installed is the biggest difference on the exterior. Right now on the inside again to the left this is the platforms that the 1000 retractable seats will sit on. And again they are installing them now. And this is just a look from upstairs in the balcony from the rear of the facility. And like I say those platforms will be put together and then those seats. So, they'll install the seats and that will be able to retract back and forth depending on what event they're having at the at the performing arts center. This is a look at the restrooms. The last time all they had was the light fixtures and the towel done. Since then, they've installed the sinks in the bathroom partitions in both gang bathrooms. And
009this is a look at uh the projection screen is up. This is where the stage will uh be in this area. And again that will be a movable stage. I asked the guy he said ballpark the stage will be about 60 by 40 and it can be made into a smaller stage if need be contingent upon the event that's going on. But it will go in this area and it's about a 60x 40. This is a look from the balcony. The carpet. This is carpet here. They've have it on both sides. Um, they've got that completed. Then moving on to Glendale Elementary replacement. [snorts] Again, when we came out there, none of the blocks have been put up. And I took these pictures on Tuesday, so I know a lot more blocks have been laid,
010but this is wing one cafeteria and wing one of Glendale. This is the fieldhouse again. It is now complete. um a look at all of the weights and setups. And this is it. And this is a look at again where the office, the two offices are on the other end, the training room. We've got the ice machine installed. Um so everything is ready to go and it's in full operation. And then lastly, BOE wing 4. As you can see, the they've been grinding the floors and they'll look exactly like the floors throughout this building at Terazzo. Um, a look into the little kitchenet here. And then I just added a couple pictures. There'll be five PO rooms on that hallway on the right. This is one of the PL rooms, professional learning rooms. [clears throat]
011And then this is just one of the office spaces in that uh in-wing 4. Like I said, they'll be bringing furniture. Well, the furniture is here. They'll begin installing Tuesday, February the 10th. So, thank you, Miss Brit. And that is all I have. Any questions [clears throat] for Mr. Haywood on the facilities update? If not, we'll call Dr. Deppenheart up with the Skills USA chapter update. [clears throat and cough] Good evening. >> Good evening. >> So this year our Skills USA chapter was recognized by the state as a chapter of excellence. And as we prepare to head to the state championships in two weeks, we brought our Skills USA officers in to give you an update about our chapter. We're going to start off with our vice president, Miss Raven Seals. Hi, I'm Raymond Sil,
012Skiiera Geka chapter vice president and we have had many opportunities uh by being at Skills USA. One opportunity we had, we got to go to the fall leadership conference which was in North Georgia. We connected with lots of people um in different chapters across the state. We in this the fall leadership consort conference we went to we did different sessions dealt with leadership skills, emotional skills and teamwork skills. Um we also were recognized as chapter of excellence in level one and now we're leading up to go to level two this year. We have met our goals. Now I have my secretary, Miss Stephanie. Hello, my name is Stephanie Soladad Hernandez. We have raised over $6,000 for the Skills USA chapter with the Halloween um haunted house, the Texathon, and as well as our barbecue fundraiser
013for the Super Bowl. And we've had several blood drives throughout the years and this fundraisers will be helping students to go to the state competition in Atlanta and as well as fund advance events like the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coke. Next up is our president, Abby. >> Hello, I'm Abby Edney. I am the Skills USA chapter president. So this year we have 82 people that have joined or students that have joined our chapter and then 14 of whom went to regions and won first, second or third. And then we have 31 students going to Atlanta to compete at state and if you scroll down you can see our competitors who won regions. >> Yeah, short short and simple. Oh, do you guys have any questions? >> Congratulations. [applause] >> So, you have 31
014students going to state. >> We have 31 >> competing in how many various >> Pathways. [laughter] >> 31. >> Close. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, basically one for each. >> We've got we've got 31 students going and each one is competing in a different pathway. Um >> we've [clears throat] got some that are doing film. We've got some that are doing automotive, diesel, all that stuff. So, we've got we've got a lot of different um some of our students out of the 31, the 14 uh competing in regions. Um and then they have a chance to compete in state and if they win in state, then they get to go to nationals. Uh the rest of the students will just be competing in state competitions. So, they worked very hard to get to this point.
015We're very proud of them. >> That's great. Thank you for coming to SHARON [applause] to because I know the the the the authority the um Brunswick go golden Glen County um development authority just did a report on the $40 million projects that they were going to bring and it's going to bring a hundred jobs and they're dependent on the talent and development from Gickham to get some of those jobs. They specifically named G. >> Awesome. It took off. [laughter] >> I gotta go practice. >> Okay, we're we're going to go back to Mr. Haywood for a little while. [laughter] >> Yes. All right. Uh, first up, first up, I'm asking the board to please approve the guaranteed maximum price of $359,950 [clears throat] from RH Tyson Construction. And again, this is for the board renovation
016of phase five. Um each wing has been a different phase and now we're moving into phase five which is the old cafeteria which we now call the large training room and some a little bit of work here in the boardroom and in the executive conference room. Um RH Tyson has uh received proposals for phase five for the BOE renovation and those are listed on the attached document. The funding source will be local capital outlay. Um, and just to hit on just some of the uh in the large training room, we'll be replacing the windows that are in there. We'll be replacing the lights, updating the HVAC system, getting the those barred units out that are you trying to have trainers in there and they're very loud. So, we'll be taking those out. Of course, we'll
017be uh grinding the floor, the Terazzo. will be painting um the walls and ceilings, replacing all of the interior doors. Um and also in that price uh that GMP price is a $20,000 kitchen brick repair allowance. There's a some structural damage over the existing kitchen where the roof is is not the roof, the the brick is leaning a little bit. So, there's an allowance in there because we don't know exactly what it's going to cost until they get in there and can see what causes that brick to shift like it did. So, there is a $20,000 allowance within that budget um of $359,95. So, I'm asking the board to please approve the um GMP for phase five of the board office renovation. >> Is that the last plan phase? >> Yes. For the renovation, >>
018this is it. So about [clears throat] when do you expect it to be completed? >> Well, um we're going to work [clears throat] around of course board meetings because in here we're going to replace where it's all windows. There only going to be four windows in here now. They'll be evenly spaced out. There'll be one window in this room here and then the work in the um the work that'll go on in the uh cafeteria large training room. Um, I don't have a definitive date on that work right now, but I will make certain I get it by our next board meeting. >> We're trying to arrange it so we can [clears throat] still have our meetings in here and not disrupt everything. So, kind it it may >> there may be a period of
019time where there's no work going on just as we're kind of waiting for a window of opportunity. You know, maybe that >> that week during or that month during July when we really don't maybe don't have a meeting or sometime during there. So, >> yeah, that makes sense. >> Strategically planned. Will the kitchen remain in the old cafeteria? >> It will. It will remain, but it won't be used as a kitchen. >> Okay. So, you won't be replacing any of that? >> No. No, ma'am. >> So, that $20 million is a max. So, there's no change over >> 20,000. That's a max. >> That's a m Yes. >> So, you looking at millions. [laughter] >> Yeah, we we dealing in thousands today. >> Yeah. >> There's also a little bit of a contingency in there.
020We also have some contingency funds that are left in the in the phase four budget that if if we did have an issue with there would be more than enough to handle any problem that may be occurred. >> All right. Our my second request is for the Glenn Middle School gym for gym floor replacement. Uh, please approve night hardware flooring uh out of Lawrenceville, Georgia to replace the gym floor at Glenn Middle School in the amount of $165,985. This project is being funded through East 5 and it is contracted through Sourcewell and you can see the contract number and just a summary of it. The the current gym floor uh has some extensive termite damage. Uh we noticed some buckling outside of the plane uh surface, plain court. Um and we took a decent section
021out and did some observation and uh saw some termite damage underneath. So we're just going to go ahead and demo that entire floor. Yates Astro will come in. We've gotten that estimate. Yates Astro will come in. They will treat the slab. They will treat the perimeter of the building as well. Um once they get done, their treating will take a day and a half or so. Then night's flooring will come back in and install the new flooring uh back at Glenn Middle School. This will be a summer project and at max it'll take about a week and a half. And we're very familiar with night flooring. They do good work there. They did the gym floor at the auxiliary gym at Glenn Academy. So, um >> that'll be a summer project. I'm just shocked by
022the age of the school and these termites. What was done proactive rather than now we're reactive? What? >> Well, the the we get a you know when you get a school built you get a warranty and then once that initial warranty runs out then it's kind of on us um to take care of it. We don't we had some issues at Burls Mlette. Same thing with termites. And we came in, Yates came in and treated it, put the bait stations out all around the school and that's kind of remedied the the problem. But, um, we've had some issues out there at at that site. >> Is it location? Is that kind of >> I honestly feel like there it's it's a lot to do with location out there because of what was there prior to
023the >> school being built there. >> And with schools in general, I mean, they they come in through the slav just like they do in your house. in a school often just due to the nature of sometimes they're not detected as early as as you might in your house um because most of it is masonry construction so stuff doesn't start you know showing it showing the sign of it until again until it's >> floor is buck >> you got start the floor starts buckling and then >> my my orchid man came on Friday at my house and now there are three kinds of termites I didn't know that but I've got those little green stations everywhere and inspect everything and I thought it was right after I read this and I'm going >> how did
024that happen there? >> So, so now Yates Astro will provide another warranty for that. Um, yeah, >> once they do it. >> What What about Jane making? That's the next one that we're building right after Glenn. They have any termite damage if we have any? >> We have I don't know who had termit. We've had a lot of honey bees in that one. >> Yeah. As long as it's not bad. No termites yet. >> Don't get in woods and bats. >> No termites yet at Jay Making and hopefully it stays that way. Um >> the areas where we do find them, we use we we do usually get the bait stations installed. Glenn Academy, we have a lot of the buildings there are covered with it. But >> like I said, Burls Mlette was the
025most recent one um that we had to go in and put bait stations around that entire entire facility. How often do you inspect? >> Um, kind of like Mr. Blackbeard was saying, it's kind of at a as needed. I mean, as need once the warranty wears out because they just don't show themselves because it's block walls, masonry, and you know, once you see the first sign of then we get them to come in, do an inspection, and they'll say, "Hey, they're in this central area right here, located right here, or we need to do the entire building." So, do you is it every 3 months or 6 months? >> Well, on the buildings where there's actually a warranty, I mean, the the company they I think they may go every four every quarter maybe or
026something is the way they do it. Um, yeah. >> Will we have a contract with them that they would check it? >> Oh, yes. Once they once they complete this work >> uh this summer, yes, >> they they have the warranty back. You continue to pay. >> How long is the warranty? >> It's as long as you pay. That's what >> Just like she pays for working at her house. else. >> All right. The next one I have is surplus vehicles. Um [clears throat] asking the board to please approve the attached list of surplus vehicles. The attached list of vehicles will be auctioned or disposed of in accordance with the Glen County Schools policy. We have five uh vehicles that are no longer uh being used at this point and you know have some issues
027and but I'm asking that we that the board approved for these uh vehicles to be auctioned off through gov deals. >> What kind of mileage do we get out of them? >> Um >> just ballpark. 180 200,000 it just but I mean again those are those are all you know city miles they're not on the road so even some you may have 150,000 miles but 150,000 miles just riding around the city >> is a lot >> so um we we definitely get >> uh our money's worth out of all of our vehicles before they're surplused out >> when when you auction them out Gov deals. >> Gov deals. You get 100% of the proceeds. >> Yes. They go back to >> they they get a processing fee. It's very minimal. >> 2%. >> It's 2%
028or something like that. Depends on how you how you arrange it. But the gov deals allows you to um it's more of a convenience thing because they can pay they pay gov deals with a credit card or PayPal or that and then Gov deals for the money the funds on us after after they've picked up the vehicle. They have to pay gov deals, then they come pick up the vehicle, then we tell gov deals the vehicle's been picked up, and then they >> It keeps us out of title and any kind of that. Perfect. >> It's worth the worth the ad. >> And the last one, this is the Sterling Elementary replacement roof. Uh, I'm asking the board to approve Southeast Roofing Solutions or SRS out of Statesboro, Georgia to replace the roof at Sterling
029Elementary [clears throat] School in the amount of $2,425,000. The RFQ was posted on the Georgia Procurement Registry and on our Glen County Schools website. Um, seal proposals were accepted and opened on January 20th of 2026. Uh, in addition to Southeast Roofing Solutions, we had two more proposals from Skyline Construction and RTOR uh, Contracting. And we are I'm asking that the board approve uh, SRS to do that work. Their timeline to do it is to begin, they want to begin in late May. And again, because of that [clears throat] testing time and students in school, they will work after hours and on the weekends um in the month of May. And then once the last day of school, they'll work all day every day to get it completed. Um if they have to go, possibly they
030may have to go into uh the month of August. if they have to go into August, they will just be doing gutters and downspouts and flashings and copings and different things like that that will not require a lot of banging and a lot of noise and different things like that to disturb the the learning environment out at Sterling Elementary School. So, um asking again to approve. >> What year did that school come online? >> 9 22. >> Is this the first 2006 2007? Yes, the first >> this is the first this is the first roof replacement >> pretty much standard life 20 years. >> So this >> well it's actually it's a shingled roof now and we're going back with a standing seam metal roof. >> So we ought to get more life out of
031this roof and it'll be up this this school Sterling will be up for renovation in around 2028 or so. >> So the roof portion will already be taken care of but um like I say it's a shingle roof now. We're going back with the standing seam metal. >> So, the difference in price, I'm seeing the note that says SRS was going to install with attachments to the steel >> to the bar joist versus the tectum deck and you know with living on the coast and the threats of hurricane and the wind we have um the Mr. institute and had some conversation with a structural engineer and it would be better to fasten those to the to actual joist versus a tectum deck that gets >> right. So we we feel a lot more comfortable um
032going with them and they've done a lot of work. Um they they did the re-roofing at uh Needwood Satillaa and CB Greer and all three companies are are good companies. Um, but like I said, SRS has done a good amount of work for us and we feel very confident in their approach, their timeline, and them them making the recommendation to go into the bar choice versus the technum decking. >> And that is it. That's all [clears throat] I have. >> We'll move to Mr. Benson. Microsoft enrollment. So, good evening everybody. Um, tonight we're asking for your approval with the Microsoft Enrollment for Education subscriptions. Um, these subscriptions include what we call the A3 license, which is the Microsoft Office suite. So, if you're familiar with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and those other um productivity software solutions
033that Microsoft offers, these licenses offer afford our staff the opportunity to use that software. The quote also includes the A5 license, which is the um network security, internet security, uh Microsoft Defender, that type of um internet safety to make sure that we're safe. um all around as part of that. And so um and then the last thing here is you'll see in the quote there's a bunch of additional other items that kind of cover both software device and cloud services. Um so these are things that we are currently using and believe it or not um we are getting ready for next year. [snorts] So the license term on this quote would be from May to next April. So this is an opportunity to try to bring things forward um as we begin to prepare for
034next year. Be be happy to answer any questions. >> Is the cost fairly comparable to what we saw in prior year or because are we adding things? >> So it has gone up. Um unfortunately when we started with this suite a year or two ago, there were some things that were included that are no longer free. Um and so we are now paying for those services. The student services or the student quotes that you see listed, we continue to if we buy things for faculty, we get the service the student quote for free. >> We'll move away from money for a moment and we'll go to Miss Haywood with an attendance update. We need to take action on that. >> Yes. Next Tuesday. >> What's that? >> Next Tuesday for action. >> Yeah, >> Tuesday.
035Yeah, gotcha. >> Good evening everyone. Um, tonight we wanted to give you an update on attendance from the 20, excuse me, the um first semester of the 2526 school year. In the past, historically, we've given you updates um for each semester on our student attendance. Um, but we want to present this data a little differently to you because we're wanting to take a different approach for how we monitor and respond to student attendance. As you all know, Senate Bill 123 was passed by our our state legislature this past year. And as a state, we are looking at attendance in a completely different way. As opposed to looking at the number of students that miss zero to one, five days, six to nine days, 10 plus days. We're really making a harder focus at trying to
036look at chronic absenteeism. And so tonight, we want to talk to you about what exactly does chronic tism mean. Well, chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10 or more percent of days enrolled in school regardless of whether they those days are excused or unexcused because at the end of the day, if students are not in school, students are not learning. And so we're wanting to [snorts] work on how can we address and how can we be more proactive in ensuring that our students are at school so that they can learn. Why is chronic absenteeism the focus? Well, here's a quote from um President Pro Tim John F. Kennedy when he introduced the legislature in February 2025. The number of students chronically absent in Georgia doubled between 2019 and 2023, which again was a clear indicator
037of a growing crisis across our state. 21.7% of students, nearly 336,000 young people missed 10% or more of school days. [clears throat] So the other part of that is that Georgia law addressing chronic absenteeism had not been updated in 18 years. And so because of that, we are now looking at it through a completely different lens. So what does that mean for Glen County Schools? Well, last year the state of Georgia's overall absenteeism rate was 19.5%. Thankfully, Glen County was at 15.9%. And so what we're doing this year is we're looking at instead of looking at how many kids have missed 0 to 5, 6 to9, 10 plus, we're wanting to look at what is our chronic absenteeism rate each day, each week, compared to what it was the year before, trying to work and
038strive to keep our rate at 10% or less. Um because that is exactly where we want to be. We want to make sure that we're at 10%. As of January 26 when this report was ran, we were at 15.53% which is less than where we were last year at 15.9 at the end of the school year. So, we're monitoring this daily by school. So, we wanted you all just to kind of see where we were um and to give you an just kind of an idea of how we're monitoring our student attendance as compared to how we've monitored it in the past. So that's just kind of want to give you an update as to how we're monitoring it and why this report looks very different from what you're accustomed to seeing um traditionally. >>
039I think it's a good move to look at it this way because this is really the problem that we're trying to solve in looking at this data. Um [snorts] so when [clears throat] you look at it by individual schools and monthtomonth if you're seeing big swings in that or is that being addressed with the administration for maybe why what's happen what's going on? >> Yes we are missing >> one of the things that we realize is that we can't necessarily address some of the indicators or things that are happening that are keeping kids from school but we're monitoring the data to see exactly what is it that's impacting what's going on. Some of the things we found is that data is not necessarily clean. Um we had a conversation yesterday where we recognized where there
040was some students that had unenrolled from our schools that were actually enrolled in different schools and we just needed to make those updates within Infinite Campus to ensure that those days were corrected. Right. >> Some of the other things that we're doing, we've implemented school and district attendance review team so that we're regularly monitoring. It's actually something that has been required as a part of Senate Bill 123, but it's also a proactive way of being able to make sure that we're constantly [snorts] keeping that data in front of us. It's also also being embedded as a part of our multi-tered system of support through Georgia NTSS. We're also providing ongoing professional learning to our attendance clerks, our admins, and also to our SRO's to make sure that we're keeping that information fresh and re reviewing
041those systems of how we are monitoring attendance, how we're responding to attendance, making sure that those truency um filings are being done on a regular basis and that we're keeping that data and keeping that communication with parents, making sure we're responding to those parents and making sure that we're keeping that data fresh within Infinite Campus. We're also proactively one of the other things that we've recognized compulsory attendance applies to children ages 6 through 16 doesn't apply with prek and kindergarten with children who are starting school. So one of the things we've also recognized is how do we start early? How do we start kind of building those habits for our parents for our babies? And so we've started proactively addressing that through prek. Um working closely with our pre-k director and with Miss Renee with
042providing that um intervention and that training with our teachers and with our parents, helping them understand early the importance of attending school. So we've started putting some protocols in place and kind of adapting some of our practices that we do with our K through 12 with our prek program. Um, we also, and I think I may have shared this with you all before, that we've identified one of our school social workers who works directly with attendance, and she has been a vital part of some of the changes that we've been making within our district as it relates to attendance initiatives. Um, we're also making sure that we're in a compliance with SB 123. There are some things that we have to have in place by June 1, 2026. So, we jumped on those things first
043thing this summer once those things were rolled out. Um, we're also continuing to participate with our student attendance and climate um, initiatives with juvenile court and with the solicitor's office, which several of you thankfully will be a part of that next week when we meet. Um, again, just making sure that we're staying um, in partnership with those agencies and also working very closely with our law enforcement friends and with our SRO. So, we're trying to do everything we can to be proactive and be preventative as much as we possibly can to ensure that we are getting our kids to school. >> That's an exhaustive list and and and good response. Is there anything we can help you with to improve upon it even more? >> When you see children or see parents with children out
044during the day, ask them, are they taking their babies to school? >> Oh, yeah. [laughter] >> How many do you think we really see? >> I don't know. I'm just saying. Um if you do I it's just you know I think it's just important that we just continue to impress upon our community the importance of school attendance. Um because if children not are not in school they can't learn and you know the importance of education is that we're preparing our future leaders and if they don't have education is the equalizer and they've got to learn how to read. They've got to learn how to be able to to to do what they need to do in order to be the future that we need them to be. If you come up with any ideas of
045how we can help, let us know. >> Absolutely. >> I know I've harped on this before, so I appreciate all the efforts. And I do think a key is, like you said, kind of training the parents. You don't I mean, I remember when mine started into real school and you know, you don't think about the impact that it can have when it starts when if you Well, let me back up. If you start with bad habits early, it's hard to break those bad habits later. So starting early, setting them on a good path towards consistent attendance is great. And like you said, we're training these people, these children to be part of our community and workforce. And we want our employees and to and our employers to show up every day and and it's just
046the way the world works best. So thank you for taking this on. >> Yes, ma'am. Well, certainly if you all have any questions for us later after afterward, we'll be happy to answer those at any time. So Thank you. >> All right, we will move to Miss Cody. Copy your lease renewal. >> Okay. So, for the 66 systemwide copers, um we're recommending awarding the new copy lease to Golden's office equipment, whose main office is located in Brunswick. Selecting this vendor ensures access to local service technicians for pime primary support and faster response times. The lease term is 36 months with an annual cost of 2879172 for a total three-year cost of $863,7516 plus any applicable overages. Also included in the lease is paper cut support maintenance along with required licenses and additional card readers at
047a cost of 1194956 per year for a three-year total of 3584868. Um has provided the pricing through the source well purchasing contract. >> How does that compare to previous years? Excuse me. >> Go ahead. Um so the the um pricing has gone up about 27% for the copier lease and about 22% for the paper cut portion. >> Did we use Golden in the past or is this a a new >> We have Golden Isles currently. >> And how much did it go up? >> 27%. >> So we we have any other companies that have um that reply to the RFP? >> We didn't put out an RFP. We did it through the source wall purchasing contract. >> Okay. >> Did you recommend we do anything differently? >> I mean, >> as far as getting a
048quote, >> I mean, it this really is consistent with what we're seeing with everything. I mean, it it's just I mean, prices are going up. Uh we did actually add an additional copier which I mean obviously is not that much of a of a difference but um you know when we go through the purchasing contract I mean we're pretty much guaranteed that we're getting a good price. Um so and it it I I mean that that's just the recommendation. >> So the 25 million how do y'all come up with that 25 million copies >> that you know that's exactly what it is right now. Okay. I I don't know if that's something that's standard. Um but that right now we're we're at 25 million and to my knowledge I I don't think we go over
049that. >> So the the 25 million and the 500 color isn't is adequate for three years. >> So I mean based on past experience it has been >> okay >> and we're keeping the money local. >> Yes. So >> I like to do that too. And then when something go go goes wrong, you got somebody to call up. >> Right here. >> A lot of time they can be competitive a lot cheaper, but when stuff breaks, you want somebody here. >> I like using local. >> Yeah. You want somebody here. >> Okay. We will move to Mr. Waters with the training for school resource officers. >> Okay. Good afternoon. [clears throat] I think I'm the last person to ask for a few purchases today. Um the first one is for our school resource officers and
050um Chief Davis has done a lot of research on this, but we try to do training for them to keep them as prepared as we can in case of a crisis. And um this year he has asked us to u purchase a software and a training program from Inverous Training Solutions who's um respected around the country and the world really for training um officers and public safety. Um the software would be $151,874.17 and it's basically a virtual reality software and um I think all of y'all have been invited tomorrow to a training session if you'd like to come get trained on that but um I think Chief if you have any questions >> I'm familiar with the fax machine city used to have one they went through another program now but yeah the fax machine
051gives you different scenarios you put the headset on have the gun >> it's real it's is I know it's that was back in early 2000. I know it's very advanced now. >> It's really advanced and it it gives us a chance to go and go into a building like our buildings. It'll scan our buildings and we can go in see buildings just like ours and and have to find the bad guy. You know, it can throw 50 people in a hallway and you have to identify who you're after. So, it gives them really good training and um it's basically like as close to real life as you can. So they would they would once we get this they'll um do the training um obviously when school's out and be have that done by next school
052year. >> Next. >> Okay. Next is um a purchase of new transportation software. would like to ask the school board to um approve the purchase of this new transportation software from Tyler Technologies for $371,76 and this technology would begin next school year uh for the 26 27 year. Um just a couple of things. Uh right now we're using the edgelog system. Um and on a yearly basis if going to Tyler Technologies once the initial upfront cost is there we'll save roughly $34,000 a year um going to Tyler over Edgelog. Um Tyler right now is being used in Brian County and in Effingham County with great success. And um the keys to it are mainly the routing software that it offers. It's up-to-date routing software um for our bus drivers. Um it's real time software right
053in front of our bus drivers on tablet. So um just the software and also it gives you the the choice once we can implement it to um scan every student as they get on a bus and off a bus which that's obviously going to have to be piloted, start small and grow. But um that's our goal eventually for the safety of all of our kids is to track them and scan them when they get on the bus and off the bus. So this is up to date. Uh, one thing I do want to tell the board is in year one, we would like to pilot this program. So, we'll still want to keep edgelog for a year and run this system for a year. So, we be so we're sure we have our feet on
054the ground before we just dive into this head first just in case we do have some some growing pains. But, u, we do feel like this is state-of-the-art. U, the new technology out there and the the software is going to be great for our drivers. Could you just bullet points only? Zap zap zap. What does it do for us? >> All right. So, >> ask Mr. Hson to come just to go over that. >> What I would tell you is that um the current software we have uh is a is a computer-based software that is on whatever computer is on that's the computer we use for that routing for the routing system. We don't have anything on the buses that would give our drivers turnbyturn directions. Um, when our drivers have to cover a route
055or they're getting new route sheets, we give them a sheet of paper and it has the streets or the addresses that we want. >> So, that's one that's one thing there. What else? >> This would put a tablet on each bus that would give us turnbyturn directions. Um, and also like he was talking about, it would also give us the ability to be able to scan our students on with RFID cards on the bus and off the bus. It would tell us in real [snorts] time who is on the bus. So, I would be able to go into a computer and and uh and look and see who scanned on that bus and who scanned off, where they scanned off at, and what time. So, if I have a parent that's looking for their child,
056I'd be able to tell them that they weren't on the bus or I would be able to tell them where they got dropped off at. Um, the other thing that this does is because it's a cloud-based system, um, we can use it on any computer. So, I could be anywhere in the school system and use it on my laptop or I could use it I could log into a computer here at at the board office and see it. Right now, we only have five computers that we're able to use at at the board at the transportation office to access the routing system. Um, this would give me the ability to be able to have it at have unlimited. Um, >> so I'm going I want to say something about that. Going back to the the
057first couple of days of school this year, we had a fiber cut where we lost internet access to transportation. many of our facilities, Miss Renee, Miss Benson, others, they tried to man, we rerided the phones and tried to man that, but we had no access here to the bus software. So trying so we're trying to answer questions uh over the phone without access to it and it was it was a lot of juggling. This this eliminates that. I want Mr. Holy on the line. He also um asked a couple question had a couple of comments and uh Mr. Mr. Charles, I'm going I'm going to try to address some of that, but at the same time, correct me if I asked the wrong question. The um students as they're scanning on, scanning off, um if
058they're scanning on to the wrong bus, they get an alert. Correct. Which tells them that >> that would also alert the the bus driver that this student's not. >> But if it's a if there is a bus change, there is a method in place for >> correct. >> For if the bus changes or if a student needs to get on a different bus where their barcode gets basically gets transferred to the other bus. >> Absolutely. So it's the same same thing. So whenever uh this they have a system this system would allow us to put in the bus changes it would load up to the pad with the students if we have bus changes or or if we have a combined bus that we have to put uh two routes on then those students would
059all be train they would know that those students are scanning on and off the bus. And once once we're fully operational with this, there there is still a uh is there is there a parent portal, a parent alert process for like like the here comes the bus type app? >> It comes with a uh with a with a parent app as well that is also um updated in real time as we're doing it with with pads. >> Mr. Holy, is that your questions primarily? >> Yeah, I think so. Yeah, because right now um if a student has a bus change, like I could go on the app and and it looks like my child's bus is sitting at the busy yard and I know that can't be true because they're on a bus somewhere, but
060we don't know what number it is or where it is actually because it's tracking that bus they're supposed to be on, right? >> Normally, but we know buses break down and drivers change and that sort of thing. So, we'll make sure we can update it to make sure those kids. So there will still be some >> there will be still be some of those issues but but at the same time uh this this software is a little more friendly to be able to make those changes in a more timely manner. >> So how you okay thank you >> how does a scan work? Do they have to have a different card that the barcode can be placed on their >> ID? We've looked and you know there's just there's not a system out there that
061has barcode that has been successful. >> Okay. >> Um just because the it's the the and I I've been dealing with this since I've been at transportation trying to find one that because I know that our our cards have the the barcodes on them and trying to get them just to to you know trying to find one that works. The issue is is that it those those type scanners are not durable enough to to handle the bumping and and uh the ride um apparently that that buses tend to have. So these are RFID cards. Um, so each the the bus the students would have to have an RFID card to scan on the bus and scan off the bus and um and so I talked to Tyler Technology about this because I have a lot
062of concerns about it. They have uh done it successfully in uh in Bib County uh with uh and I talked to the director up there and he said he's had a lot of success with it. Um they um we we would be part of the that you have for that year one would be purchasing um uh the RFID cards as well for the students um for for um for the for the scanning on and off. So there's something else they got to keep up with ID and possibly. >> Yes. Well, I mean policies are even know the ID cards they got. So it's >> Yeah. >> But the the other thing is is that if they don't have their card, >> the driver can go on and and load them manually. >> If they have
063the ID, the school ID, they can >> Yeah, they can do that. >> Will hold up. >> It would take a little bit. Well, there'll be most of them have like a roster and they would just if if they're already on that bus roster, they just have to click on the roster on the name on the roster. >> Yeah, [clears throat] >> exactly. Um and and we and I, you know, I approached uh Edgelog, which is the our current routing system about, you know, giving me a quote on what this would cost the same type thing. Um year one with them was going to be about $372,000, which is comparable to what um what Tyler Technology is is quoted us. But then every year after that annually, it's going to be $186,000 a year, which
064is about 60 $65,000 more than we're paying currently for the software system that we currently have, which is about $120,000 a year. What we're paying for the Aelock system. >> Do they have cloud technology? >> They do. So that would include the upgrade uh to uh to the Athenum. Um, I haven't gotten there's not really good reviews on it. There's not many systems in the state of Georgia that are using it. Many of them that are using it whenever I call them about it, we're looking at something they're trying to do something else. Um, this this system that that they have has got really good reviews. Their customer service support is like 4.9 out of five. Bless you. >> Um, whereas Edelogs is about a 2.8 So, we're really looking forward to having the support
065that we need to be able to implement this. Great. >> I have a question. It sounds like they have a lot of features built into this that are going to help with the efficiency of loading the students and tracking and all that, but I I know um I mean it's been a few years, but I don't think anything's changed. Kids in elementary school, they're constantly having bus [clears throat] changes, riding home with a friend or whatever, and maybe middle school, too. So, is there a way for like the admin and the school when they get the note from the parent to be able to log it so the bus um roster is updated for the afternoon on something like that or is it just going to be a manual note still? >> Uh I don't
066know. Okay. I haven't I didn't ask that question about that. I do know that that as bus changes happen, we can load the we can. So even if I split the routes and put these stops on one bus, it'll load into the tablet and those students who are on those stops will be loaded onto that that particular tablet >> on that bus. So they will those those drivers will know those students, >> right? But you're talking about bringing >> bringing notes home with a friend >> all the time. Correct. All the time. >> So sometimes that that has that's that's probably not going to change because um many of those students aren't registered for a bus. >> Yeah. >> And so they're not registered for a bus. >> They're not going to be in the
067system. >> So it'll just be a paper note still at that point. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Probably. >> Sounds good. So making sure I'm clear because I I love the scanning on scanning off in real time but am I understanding correctly that we might not be doing that in the first year. >> All right. So the the the roll out piece u that's the toughest part. >> Okay. So, what our plan is is is we're getting those routes loaded up into the system, getting the tablets on the bus, right, day one, [clears throat] and and and getting getting the um the routes started with the with with the kids on the stop, the the um the scanning on and off the bus, the wrership piece. Um what we want to do with that is is
068we want to try to um to pilot it um in the fall with a couple of uh some of our elementary schools, >> okay? >> And try to become successful, get the bugs out, make sure that we we're not uh we've got what we need. Um and then then start adding schools to that uh process so that by the end of the year hopefully we have every elementary school on and maybe even the middle schools. But the cost for spreading it out is is in this >> even though we might not be implementing it across the board at the beginning. >> That's what I'm sure by by the fall of that we will have we'll fully implement that program and we'll be we'll be running >> without additional right >> cost. Got it. Thank you.
069>> Additional cost. >> Thank you. >> Having survived a new transportation software implementation and Mr. Demsdale he he lived to tell about it as well. The biggest hurdle is that first year making sure your map is correct and your routes are in there correct because it is not a seamless process to just upload those in there. There is a lot of just manual verification because you know I I would bet you that some of the roads out where our new school is where they're building those neighborhoods, those are not on the map. And you have to so so you have to go through and verify every road and then then once our routes are in there we have to verify that they're actually going in the right direction turn. So it's it's a it's a
070tedious piece >> and this system the system we have now we actually have to draw those maps or we have to call and get edog to somebody from that system to draw the maps. Um, this with the iCloud technology, they do a bimonthly or a by yearly, excuse me, a bi-yearly uh map upgrade. Um, so hopefully, you know, my hope, fingers crossed, is that that's that's going to be a much more up-to-date system. So, and it's uh from what I understand, it's all Google map oriented. This has nothing to do with that, but it's only require a quick answer. How are we as far as having drivers? >> Well, I'm always hiring drivers, so you are interested. [laughter] >> I don't think I can, >> but you need them. In other words, >> and we're
071very lucky that um that we have >> um very good trainers that can train folks who are interested. We have I also have two third party testers who can test those those who are that we train and get them their CDLs through the through the DDS. So, uh just depending on how motivated they are, we can get somebody on the bus and driving about four weeks. >> But you have everybody you need right now. >> We're in good shape. We're in good shape right now as I speak. I just wanted to be sure to answer that question for somebody. >> I thought I knew the answer, too. >> All right. Any other questions on transportation, >> Mr. Waters? >> Thank you. Last thing is we'd like to uh ask the school board to approve 25
072AEDs in the amount of $72,500 for each school resource officer to have with them um as they travel from day to day. So these SRO's will go directly to our police officers. Um they are mobile so you can transport them. So we'll keep them with them all day long. So if they're at an athletic event they're going to have an AED. If they're at school they're going to have an AED. if they're out of play, they're going to have an AED. So, basically, they're mobile um AEDs and they we will be using the school safety grant for the this fund. >> Are these operated by batteries? >> Uh these are actually like everything new technology. So, they alert us when the battery goes low. Now, we have to check every AED in our school system.
073>> So, we have to go around and literally look at them to check the batteries and the pads and all that. These will update us on our cell phones when they need new new pads or new batteries. >> So, are these replacing the ones we already have or they're just the mobile ones? >> These will be additional, more mobile than the ones we currently have. >> Okay, that sounds good. >> Those batteries are expensive, too. >> They are very expensive. Cody and I spend a lot of money every year on those. >> Expensive. >> They last about three years. >> They do. Yeah. if if you're lucky. Yeah. >> All right. Final item is Miss Seals with a staff attendance. >> Good evening. >> Um the staff attendance for um fall semester. And I have
074to say that um for each grade band um you'll note that the overall attendance for um school schools at each grade band um overall is 96% some being a little higher um than 96% but overall our staff are for the most part are coming to school are coming to work. This only measures school certified personnel at school locations. Only the certified personnel at school locations and program sites. Um but this lets us know that our staff members are coming to school. You'll note that it did dip a little bit um with our um program sites, our program school teachers, but even at 94.99, you're talking about approximately 95% of our teachers are coming to school. This is again only for fall semester. Um so um I want to thank those schools who have implemented um
075various strategies in order to encourage staff members to come to school. Um one particular school I'd like to just note is Glenn Middle School. Um they really have kind of put some pieces in place with their teachers um to provide them with different cards if they have perfect attendance. They're doing in various incentives with them. And at even at other schools, principles are reviewing that data regularly. They're providing incentives as well, [snorts] different recognitions. And um I'm just thankful that the principles are reviewing that data. Um and they are talking to staff members if there's a concern. >> Any questions? >> Is there any way we can get Wait, first first question. What is the recommended uh percentage that the state has? State they have a number >> not for staff members not for attendance
076with staff members >> but as an organization that's something we come up with for a strategic plan and we can measure. Yeah, I mean that that definitely could be part of strategic plan that we could we could >> and my second question is um is there any way we can get uh our bus drivers, our custodians, our um cafeteria workers, classified folks because we're getting ready to look at look at some challenges um by making some changes about you know pay and stuff like that. We definitely want to have that data right there that we can look at to see if anything that we do would impact that uh that number if it has impacted. >> So basically our um classified staff. >> Any other questions? I just wanted to note, I mean, real quick,
077um, like you said, there's a little bit of a dip with the special programs, even though they're, you know, fairly in line, but if you look at the, um, the 10 or more days of absences for elementary and middle, they're both 3%. For high school, they're 5%. I feel like that, and I know this is just a semester, but I feel like that's better than what we've been seeing in years past. And then the special programs is 10%. So close to the single digit. So that looks good. But um when my older son was in sixth grade, one of his goals was to have perfect attendance. And when you when he was wearing braces at the same time and it about drove me crazy trying to make sure he was at school every minute. But
078>> [laughter] >> um so I'm looking and there are two schools. Goodyear has 27% of their staff with no days absent. Am I reading that right? And that was through the holidays. Um, and then the other one is Rzley at 23%. So, whatever they're doing, maybe we need to, you know, it's hard to, it's hard to get perfect attendance. It's good to still see the one to five days, but the zero, that's to be applauded because I know it's tough. >> So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right, >> that concludes our agenda. [clears throat] >> Very good. We um entertain a motion to enter into executive session for land, legal, and personnel. >> So move second. >> Motion by Mr. Jackson, second by Miss Lee. All in favor? >> Unanimous. A motion to
079return to regular session. So move >> motion by Mr. Jackson. >> Second by Miss Lee. All those in favor? >> I. >> Unanimous. [cough] >> All right. If there any other discussion, anybody needs to or anything? If not, we'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. So move. >> Mr. Jackson makes the motion to adjurnn. >> Second. Second by Mr. McBy. All those in favor? >> It's unanimous. >> I didn't even