001Welcome to the Muscogee County School District. Serving approximately 29,000 students across 56 schools and programs and supported by nearly 5,500 dedicated professionals, MCSD is committed to excellence in education. Our vision is to be a beacon of educational excellence where all are known, valued, and inspired. Our mission is to inspire and equip all students to achieve unlimited potential. Together, we are building brighter futures for every student [music] every day. We are the Muscogee County School District. Great schools [music] start with great teachers. And in the Muscogee County School District, excellence is happening in classrooms [music] every single day. The Muscogi Educational Excellence Foundation is proud to celebrate the educators who go above and beyond [music] to inspire, challenge, and empower their students. Congratulations to our top 10 [music] teachers of the year. Doy Moore, Baker Middle
002School. Chris Brier, [music] Clubview Elementary School. Kimberly Grant, Diamond Magnet Academy. Mandy Chase, Double Church's Middle School. Melvin Jackson, Jan Vocational College and [music] Career Academy. Amber Marcus, Lonnie Jackson Academy. Carolyn Bingham, Martin Luther King Junior Elementary School. Jamie Holes, Matthews Elementary School. Joshua Bowman, Spencer High School, Katie Morell, Winton [music] Arts Academy. Congratulations to the Muscogi County School District's top 10 teachers of the year and thank you for making [music] a difference every day. During Georgia School Board Appreciation Month, we proudly thank the Muscogi County School District Board of Education for their leadership, dedication, and commitment to the success of every student. >> [music] >> Good afternoon. Welcome to our regularly scheduled board work session March the 9th. Gosh, Mark March already uh 5 o'clock pm. Want to thank all of our um building
003leaders who are here with us. And I know that Maryanne Richton from the library is here in Allen Center, a replacement, Miss Price. Thank you so very much. And everyone else, the other the other three or four of y'all welcome. [laughter] All right, we will turn it over to our superintendent for board appreciation week. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. It's my privilege and pleasure to recognize this week along with Governor Brian Kemp, who's issued a proclamation uh for this week, which is schoolboard appreciation week. And the proclamation reads, "Whereas the ed uh the education of Georgia's children is the key to this state's continued prosperity and success. And whereas for Georgia in con to continue to grow, we must commit to our state's students by providing high academic standards, trained teachers and staff and adequate
004resources to all schools. And whereas Georgians serving on school boards have demonstrated a strong commitment to quality public education by securing necessary resources, providing uh promoting academic standards and fostering partnerships within communities. And whereas Georgians elected to boards of education collaborate with school systems, parents, businesses, and community leaders so that students can become educated, productive members of our state and nation. Now, therefore, I, Brian P. Kemp, governor of the state of Georgia, do hereby proclaim March 8th through 14, 2026 as school board appreciation week in Georgia. And then he has his signature on this. and we just I want to add my appreciation for your leadership and commitment to our children and the community at large. In honor of the appreciation week, we do have some things. We have a box of cookies that are
005provided for you as well as a book that's been provided for each one of you. So, please accept our greatest appreciation for all that you do on behalf again of our students and our community at large. Thank you. >> Thank you. And thank you all for the the tokens. We truly appreciate it. And you said cookies. >> They're really good. [laughter] >> So, we already know. So, um, we will appreciate some creative camera work so we can sample our cookies and conduct the meeting all at the same time. So, thank you so very much. Um, first we have up our public agenda. And no one has signed up this week, but I will like would like to take this opportunity to read our our rationale for the record. All official meetings of the board shall
006be open to the press and the public. However, the board may meet in executive session. Speakers remarks should be directed to the board and shall be limited to five minutes. Citizens are encouraged to address items on the board agenda or to initi in initiate presentations of or issues appropriate for schoolboard consideration. If an individual desires to speak, they may contact the superintendent's office to be placed on the agenda. Board meeting or the work session is not the appropriate place to address either criticisms of particular employees or individual parent complaints when such complaints have not been first addressed to the attention of the appropriate administrator for resolution. Citizens are encouraged to follow the normal channels to address individual parent complaints or problems. And we don't have anyone uh this week. Maybe we'll see them next week.
007Up is the education committee and there's uh >> nothing not an item on there but >> but we will have an extended presentation on our March 23rd uh work session yet. Okay. >> Following the board training. >> Okay. And then next we have our discipline committee, Marggo Slack. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. There are no items submitted for the discipline committee. >> Thank you, ma'am. Policy committee, Miss Nikki Tillery. >> Um, thank you, Madam Chair. Revised policy, EGAA, workers compensation. Based on continual review of board policies, the administration is re revising board policy EGAA, workman's workers compensation by adding the word full to the existing policy. This will ensure that the day that is addressed in line item two is not included in the count of days in item three of the policy. This is
008to ensure clarity of how the days are counted. adding the words at the time of injury aligns with Georgia workers compensation law. Further clarifying when the um count actually begins. Do you want me to go over the policy or just >> the change the changes? >> So I Yeah, I read all I read all that. I just didn't see it where it was in here marked. Oh, okay. So, number three, lost work time for the first full seven calendar days will not be paid by workers compensation. Beginning with the eighth full day of absence, workers compensation will pay 66 23% of weekly salary at the time of injury or a maximum as prescribed by law. And item that was on number two and I think that was that was it. Yeah. Are there any questions?
009If not, I will move on to item number two. Revised policy IFCB, internet acceptable use. Based on continual review of board policies, the administration has revised board policy IFBG, internet acceptable use. This policy was originally revised in compliance with SB 351 from the 2024 general session involving social media. The statute requires that the local policy be submitted to the state by April 1st, 2026. Um, the superintendent's recommendation is approve revise board policy IFBG, internet acceptable use based on the Protecting Georgia's Children on Social Media Act, as dictated by policy BDC, policy adoption. The revised policy has been on the table for 30 days and is ready for the official board action. Do you all need me to go over that one again? Do you want me to read the just the red part or do
010you want me to >> for the first they're taking off and at the end? >> Not Yeah, I was going to say not the not the word smithing, but whatever is different. Um, it doesn't hurt for us to take the time to say it here. They, of course, the employees always get it and they sign off that they understand it and read it. Um, but if it's word smithing, I would skip that part, but they're highlighted. And if >> Yeah. And that's fine. >> Did you read that? Did you read >> and number nine? I can read it right now. >> Okay. Number five, prohibitions against students accessing social media platforms through the use of computer equipment, communication services, or internet access that is operated, owned, leased, or made available to students by the school
011district. Students shall be permitted to access social media platforms only. A as directed by the school personnel, B for the exclusive purpose of um accessing and utilizing age appropriate educational resources or C under the supervision of such school personnel and During the course of a school related activity. Six and seven and eight are just changing the beginning of the statement. And number nine, it says provisions in the code of conduct providing punishment for student violating this pro uh policy. >> Sorry, my eyes are not working. That's why I keep moving back and forth. [laughter] >> You being your own you're doing your own focusing. >> I'm doing my Yes. [laughter] I will say I think where it looks like it says age- appropriate I think that second slash should not be in there. That should
012just be age appropriate >> because that does make it look like it's dealing with apps or something. So we can make sure that gets changed. >> Yeah, I thought it said age appropriate. Yeah. >> Again, are there any questions? >> Okay. Okay. If not, I'll turn it back to you, Madam Chair. All right. Thank you very much. >> Okay. We see that St. Elmo is here, but we thought somebody was ill tonight. So, I see that you pushed through and you're here to present anyway. So, please call up and join us and we'll go ahead and have our presentation on a gifted update. And let's try. Good evening. All right. Um so thanks for having me here tonight. Good evening board. And um happy week by the way. We do appreciate everything you do. And
013um I'm here to provide tonight the gifted department update for the school year. And I'm Dr. Jennifer Row St. Elmo, director of gifted education. So, um, this is also another special month because March is gifted child month. And did you know that Muscogi County has over 300 gifted teachers and 2,661 identified gifted students currently? That's pretty awesome. Um, in fact, if you are a gifted child or you have a gifted child or you've taught a gifted child or a gifted child is influencing you some way, will you raise your hand for me? Are awesome. That's a lot of people. All right. Wonderful. So, um, one of the things that I'd like to celebrate is that and and showcase is that gifted children have make an impact um, in our school district and every day. So,
014currently St. It's part of gifted child month. We are we are trying to focus on community service. I know that that was one of the things that our uh, teacher of the year for the state of Georgia wanted us to do a like a gifted I mean a service day, the community service day on March 18th. So, we decided to adopt that for the month. Previously in the school year, we did um something with Hope Harbor in the fall as part of a PBL unit on homelessness and students created love packs and gathered donations for Hope Harbor. This month, we are in honor of gifted child month. We are doing a food drive for Feeding the Valley and giving back to our community through that food drive. How are gifted students making our mark throughout
015the school district? Well, the St. Amo robotics team placed ninth in the state competition at Georgia Tech in February. Last year, the um St. Amo team, OM team placed seventh in the world. Uh there's currently a gifted student that's a young author's winner that's heading to nationals. That's and another gifted student who is our spelling be winner. Um so they definitely make their mark in the district. Some of the goals for our gifted program is to engage students in evidence-based instructional practices that support personalized learning and differentiation. We want to build relationships with all of our stakeholders to improve communication in order for all students to reach their unlimited potential. And we definitely want to continue to accurately identify gifted students from populations and improve services for our students. So, what is the elementary gifted
016experience like here in Muscogee County? I know a lot of people may not know about that. So, we wanted to show you something that this was put together by our very own St. Elmo gifted students with the assistance of some of the staff members. It's St. Once a week, we cruise over from our home schools, ready to explore, create, and discover the world in new ways. >> St. Normal Center for the Gifted is in Columbus, Georgia. It is home to more than 900 amazing gifted students. >> Gifted means learning in ways that make us think deeper and bigger. It's where I meet people who think like me. Did you know only about 10% of kids are gifted here? We don't just memorize facts. We ask why and how and experiment and imagine what's possible. It's
017different from my regular school, but in the best way. At Siello, learning goes way beyond textbooks. We dive into STEM, literature, and the arts. Discovering new ways to think, build, and solve real world problems. We build robots, write stories, and take on challenges like Odyssey of the Mind. Last year, our team won regionals and plays seventh in the world. Gifting learning is all about connection. Connecting what we learn to the world around us and to each other. Students from 29 elementary schools in Muscogi County come together here to explore, create, and grow side by side. At St. Elmo, curiosity is celebrated, ideas are respected, teamwork is encouraged, and every voice matters. Every day at St. Elmo is a day in the life of extraordinary. The future doesn't wait, and neither do we. I can't wait
018to come back next week. Our adventure at St. Elmo is just getting started. >> [snorts] >> Today is the best day ever. It's St. >> Just a little sneak peek into what um that experience is like for our kiddos. Uh the curriculum at St. Elmo um is used is taken from a plethora of researchbased initiatives to prepare our students for the real world and we use project-based learning, personalized learning, Odyssey of the mind is included as well as STEM and robotics, social emotional learning, uh gifted programming standards and then of course there's Georgia standards of excellence as well. So other gifted services secondary. So there are some changes that are coming to our gifted service models for next school year because collaboration is no longer going to be an available service model. Many services are
019many students in second year are currently receiving their services through this collab model. And so the plan is for students to receive gifted ser services through advanced content resource IB AP and cluster models next school year. In an effort to prepare for next school year and the changes, we have sent approximately 50 secondary teachers through the gifted endorsement process this school year so that we would have more teachers available to serve these students. Um this school year we had uh 100 total of 195 94 excuse me for 2025 school year students qualify for gifted services. And this year was a little bit different because we adjusted our window ref of referrals time frame. So we actually had three windows. We had a fall 2024 window. We had a spring 25 window, but then we ended
020up having a May 25 window that um which was our fall window to adjust the time frame. We found it was easier to get all the students tested and to make it more manageable in terms of kindergarten referrals and then serving the students at the semester marks. So in the spring 25 gifted referral window, we had 419 students that were referred, 127 students qualified. And then the fall 2025 window, we had 239 students that were referred and 67 students who were qualified for services. [snorts] Currently, as I mentioned earlier, we have 2,661 identified gifted students. Last year, we had 2,438 gifted students in Muscogi County, showing a 9% increase in our gifted population. Our gifted students represent approximately 8% of our district's total enrollment. And this is align in alignment with the established present percentage
021range for gift identification gifted eligibility and best practices. One of the reasons that I feel like we do this and do this well in our school district is because we have some processes and procedures in place. First of all, gifted students have to be um assessed in four different areas. Georgia is actually one of the toughest states to qualify for gifted services because they are multiriteria with assessing in mental ability, achievement, creativity, and motiv motivation. We do have reciprocity students. So, if a student's already gifted in another public school um district in Musco, I mean within the state of Georgia, we will honor that. Or if they're active military, we will honor that as well. Professional de development is something we try to provide to help teachers identify gifted students and characteristics. We also give
022them a a PD on the referral process. We use a variety of state approved assessments for gifted eligibility as well. And one of the things that we do is we have those screeners in place. We do the Kogan first grade to identify early and every first grader takes that and then the PSAT is used in eighth grade. Um the online referral process is very unique. Uh we just found out when we went to GCC that we are one of the only school districts that has an online referral process in the state of Georgia which has made it much easier to refer students. Um and communication with administrators often often occurs just to encourage referrals. We can't find the kids if people don't refer them. spring 2026. We currently in this new window have 610 referrals
023pending and students in grades 1 through 11th grade are in that referral process currently for testing. And did you know oh I already told I told you this facts county is only one one of the only districts in Georgia Te's online application and one of our own St. Elmo teachers, we just had the um opportunity to attend GAGC, which was in Columbus this year. Again, Meredith Urkart presented at the Georgia Association for Gifted Children's Conference in March this year, representing our school district. Well, do you guys have any questions for me tonight? >> Okay. Uh yes, thank you. Um I my only question is what do you do for the the students who are certified gifted from another state? Okay. So, if they're certified in another state because there's not reciprocity between the states, we
024will look and see first of all if there's any eligible test scores that they what they've taken in their state that are on the approved Georgia list that we can use those scores and then we will um enter them into the testing process if the parent is that that's what they wish for them to be tested for gifted. But lots of times people assume that you know they can just oh they're gifted in Alabama they can be gifted in Georgia. So we have to explain it doesn't work like that. What test scores do you have? Do you have any eligibility with uh testing information that we can use? And then we usually the parent would wants them to be tested within the Georgia uh guidelines. >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Chambers. >> Yes. >> Thank
025you so much. Um in your presentation, you said that collaboration for next year would not be available. What exactly do you mean when you say collaboration won't be available for next year? It is no longer a legal gifted service model. It has been up until this time. So now all we have is resource which is pull out which St. Elmo does. Um and we have cluster which is where you have gifted and non-gifted students in the same classroom being served by a gifted endorsed teacher. But there's class size limits on that. Only six to eight of the students can be gifted in that class. And then we have the other models. You know I mentioned advanced content IB. So with Collab going away, Collab was quite popular because it was a non-gift endorsed teacher collaborating
026with the gifted endorsed teacher sharing strategies to serve that student. Um and so we knew that that was going to be a potential issue. And so it is no longer legally a service model, nor is it a funded model in the future. >> Okay. [snorts] But the program at St. Elmo won't change. It will be registered the exact same way. It has always the kids will continue to come to St. Elmo for their services. >> That's correct. Because St. Elmo is a resource pullout model. So it's going it's still a legal service model. So that won't be affected. Primarily I see forces secondary schools being affected by the collab model. >> Okay. Perfect. Thank you. >> When you said that about other states, you said that there was an exception for active military. They don't
027have to. >> Yes. So if students are are parents who are active military, there's a national military compact where it doesn't matter what the test scores are or what those previous states if they said they were identified gifted. We every state has to honor it. And that is throughout the nation. So if you, you know, if somebody says, "Oh, this kid's gifted," we'll say, "Well, is your parent is the parent active military?" And if it's a yes, we automatically have to accept the scores and put it into our system into our gifted eligibility report. >> Okay, that's good. Thank you. Yeah, >> want to ask a question about um again the collaborative model and um in high school. So um I was thinking that we did but then I thought back to myself that we
028did mostly collaborative in high school but then if you have a gifted endorsed teacher let's say um because they probably take uh advanced classes AP so we satisfy them with more advanced classes right would those teachers have to be gifted certified >> that's a great question so high school's actually not as effective ed as much as middle school for a couple of reasons. High school, they have options like dual enrollment and so they can be served that way. And any teacher that is certified to teach AP or IB courses as long as they take the 10-hour gifted course, it counts as being gifted endorsed. They're not actually gifted endorsed, but allows them to serve the student in that capacity. So for example, if a English teacher teaches AP lit, their AP, if they're not gifted,
029the AP lit class, as long as they have the 10 hours, can be counted as a gifted course. Their other regular English classes cannot. So one of the other things we have done this year is to make sure that all of our high school teachers that have AP and IB have that 10-hour to make sure that they are able to serve all those students in that capacity as well. So between the APs and IBS and the the options that high school offers, typically they're okay in terms of gifted service. It's our secondary. It's our middle schools that don't have as many options that we're preparing for. >> Okay. Now, let's go to middle school and then maybe elementary school with the collaborative model. >> Sure. >> Uh was the is that rationale to not have
030that came from the state department? >> Yes, that was from the state. Is that rationale because u they're fearing that these kids are not being served? >> That's absolutely correct. So they did a a survey and um reports came out in 2023 and they've been working towards it since that kids are basically just being served on paper in that model and um they're not happy with that. They want the students to actually have gifted service that's appropriate and so they started phasing that model out and this next school year will be the first official year that it is no longer allowed. >> Okay. Well, one more question. Sure. >> So, um, let's say I have a I'm a parent with a gifted kid. Would I have to withdraw my student from the gifted program if
031say some parents may not want their kids to um parents may like like the collaborative model as a special ed teacher when I was doing LD. I liked it too because I didn't like my some of my kids coming out of the classroom. I liked them kind of in the classroom. So would a parent have to withdraw their kids from the special ed from a gifted program if they want their kids to not go to St. Elmo and to stay in the classroom? >> Well, it won't it wouldn't affect St. Elmo. The collaborative model wouldn't affect St. Elmo at all because we're resource pull out. But parents always have the right to um make decisions in gifted education for their students whether they want them to temporarily inactivate services or withdraw for various reasons. They
032can do that for whatever personal reasons they have, but the collab model won't affect St. Elmo >> temporarily inactivate their student that their kid if they don't want them to be pulled out for resource. >> Oh, I see. >> You're talking about elementary or middle school or any >> elementary most middle school. >> Yes. So, we have had parents before for various reasons that maybe the child's going through something personally or um that they and it's they don't they are not having a hard time transitioning into different settings that have asked to have a temporary and active for a couple of months to allow them to focus on academics at the home school before transitioning back into St. Elmo. That does happen sometimes, but it's not very oft it's it's pretty rare. >> So, our
033there's a lot of cooperation there. >> Correct. Correct. Any f any further questions? >> Thank you. So appreciate the update. >> All right. Now we'll go um to our personnel committee, Miss Vanessa Jackson. >> Um we have one item which is the personnel report and there is four attachments. Are there any questions hearing? None. Back to you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you so very much. The property committee, Miss Frank, Pat Frank. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. We'll start with the library report. a couple of interesting things um on the library report as always from the past month, but I think the uh the coolest one is when a customer came in um and came into the uh service desk at one of the libraries and was trying to communicate and pointed to ears and then
034the uh staff member responded with ASL. So it the customer felt at ease and was smiling and was like, "Oh, they can communicate with me and removed all the barriers to to access." So that I just thought that was really really really cool. Um lots of other stuff. If if you ever want to uplift, look at the library report um every month. It's it's really cool stuff. A mother mother had her child take the first steps at the simple steps at the North Library. That's pretty cool. Yeah, I can only imagine what that would feel like. Um next we'll go on to our museum report and Marian's not to be outdone by Alan, that's for sure. Uh lots and lots of cool stuff. Of course, the p puzzle of politics that the honorable Calvin Smiley
035and the and the exhibition featuring him and his 40 years of public service and the conversation that happened between him and James Blanchard on that night um talking about service and just community uh building community and the uh the family festival for Black History Month where the Spencer and Carver High School art clubs were there and Society was there, Liberty Theater and Car Community Partners, um the Alma Thomas Society purchasing some new works of art and the U glass blowing classes that were just took place on February 26, 27th, and 28th and they'll be back in April, he told me. So, there's always something to do in Columbus, Georgia. And and for the most part, most of it's free. So, lots and lots of good things going on there. Any questions about the library or
036the museum? >> And that that is worth mentioning again that our public library and museum are free. >> Are free are free. >> They are free to >> and serve thousands and thousands every month. >> Yes. >> And ironically, I think they serve more people who are not from here >> than they do of people who are from here. >> So, let's uh make sure that those of us who live here take advantage of that. And then we'll move on to the surplus and used vehicles, which is item number three. Uh the Department of Security seeks approval to declare the list of vehicles, of which there are two, as surplus to MCO County School District. These vehicles have exceeded their useful life, and the cost of maintaining them now outweighs the remaining value. Vehicles will
037be disposed of via competitive bid process, public or online auction, donation to eligible public entities, or sale to another government agency for an agreed upon fair market price. And there's two items listed. Um, two vehicles, both of them Ford Fusions, one of them 2012 and one of them a 2013. Um, so the SE superintendent recommends that we approve the declaration of these vehicles as surplus for vote next year. Any questions? Jaylen, thank you. And back to you, manager. >> I just like to add my thanks and publicly appreciation, public appreciation for director Harkness and his staff for hosting the youth art exhibition all last week in the U in the library. It was a great turnout of parents and students. Sarah was very proud of their work as indeed they should be. But it was
038a great exhibition and we thank them for hosting that. >> Yeah, the parents really appreciated having that parking, the ease of parking and getting there. So that was a that was good. >> Miss Buckner, >> the parents at the library also appreciate no fees. Yeah. >> Late late returns. >> No late fees. Yeah. [clears throat] Okay, [laughter] everybody >> and board members. >> Yep. No pressure. >> Okay. Next is um construction. Mr. Mark Cantra. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Moving on to item number one, the construction committee is the campus enclosure budget. The Department of Construction seeks approval of the campus enclosure project budget phase one for Baker Middle School, Jordan Vocational College and Career Academy in River Road Elementary School developed by the approved construction manager Grady Construction. The budgetary impact funding for this
039purchase includes $959,612 and will be expanded from the capital projects fund in the east plast. Superintendent's recommendation approve the budget amount for the campus enclosure project budget phase one for Baker Middle School, Jordan Vocational College and Career Academy and River Road Elementary School. Any questions, ladies? If not, we'll move on to our next agenda item. H2, the auditorium upgrade budget. The Department of Construction seeks approval of the auditorium upgrade project budget developed for the approval construction manager Carlile Construction. The upgrades will take place at Shaw High School, St. Elmo Center for the Gifted and Whitten Arts Academy. The budgetary impact funding for this purchase includes 2,130,851 will be expanded from the capital project fund east. Superintendent's recommendation approve the budget for the auditorium upgrade at Shaw High School St. Elmo Center for the Gifted and
040Winton Arts Academy. Any questions? If not, we'll move to agenda item H3. The sewer line replacement. A portion of the sanitary sewer line in the Fort Middle School kitchen has experienced failure. The Department of Construction seeks approval to to issue a purchase request to Peach Engineering to oversee the sanitary sewer line replacement project. The budgetary impact on this project, the funding for this will not to exceed 248,000 will be expanded from the capital projects fund east blast. >> Has it already been completed? Oh, so it's functioning. >> Okay. >> Temporary solution. Thank you. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> The superintendent's recommendation approve the purchase request to Peach Engineering to oversee a sanitary sewer line replacement project in the Fort Middle School kitchen. Any questions, ladies? If not, move on to our next one. Agenda item
041H4, Gentin Cafeteria HVAC replacement. The construction department is requesting the board to approve Peach Engineering to design the HVAC equipment replacement in the kitchen of Gentin Elementary School due to partial equipment failure, rendering the system in need of replacement. The impact will be funding for this purchase not to exceed 248,000 will be expanded from the capital projects fund east blast. The superintendent's recommendation approved Peach Engineering to design the HVAC equipment replacement in the kitchen of Genten Elementary School. Any questions on it? Yes, ma'am. Kia. >> I just have a question about um the $248,000 that is for the HVAC that only serves the kitchen. Yes, ma'am. That is correct. That would be the HVAC system that serves the entire kitchen. >> Okay. >> Yeah, that's that's a little pricey. So, that includes the when it
042says construction budget, the architect, and the owner contingency. >> Yes, ma'am. that is the the design professional, the engineer that we hired to design the replacement, the construction of it, the materials, and the the the contingency that we have in case the problem arises >> and that's about normal what we pay for. I know the ones the AC HVAC units that we put on the roof are pretty pricey. Is the kitchen the same type? I'm just imagining a different type of a HVAC in a kitchen. I >> I'm going to defer to Mr. Odum on that one because he's a little more of an expert in the HVAC territory. >> Okay. Thank you so much. >> Absolutely. Good evening. Yes, we have multiple rooftop units. There are a few wall hung and we have some
043air air fresh air units on top of the roof that have to be replaced >> in the kitchen. >> Is is this one of them? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, it is sort of a rooftop type Okay. I know those are expensive. Okay. Thank you for answering. >> Is there a temporary solution going there? >> Yes, we currently have >> We got to have our AC in. >> Yeah, we currently have a temporary solution in place until >> first. Thank you. >> Thank you, Sarah. >> Superintendent's recommendation approve Peach Engineering to design the HVAC equipment replacement in the kitchen at Gingen Elementary School. Agendum item H5 Blackman Road roofing project. The Department of Construction seeks approval to issue a purchase request to HFH Pashan SN Nelson and Associations LLC to the Gordian Source Wall EZIQC
044National Corporation contract for roofing at Blackman Road. Well, that's a lot of stuff there [clears throat] at Blackman Road Middle School. The impact will be 1,771,31 will be expanded from the capital project fund east plots. Any questions on this ladies? Superintendent's recommendation approve the purchase request for [clears throat] roofing the project at Blackman Road Middle School. We want to thank all of our East Blasts and our the citizens of Columbus for allowing us to do all this work right here at our schools. I mean, it keeps them up to date. They're I have seen them and they are in better shape today than I believe they've probably been in 60 years, all of our schools. And that's wonderful. Agenda H, item 86, construction status report. The construction report is attached. Mr. Ward Aldum ODM will
045present a slideshow covering ongoing ongoing projects. Ward. Good evening. So, our Bim monthly slideshow for March. We're going to go through here. I want to start, you know, with Ket Stadium upgrade project. Of course, this is a view uh that we have uh as it was with the track and the field being complete. And then, of course, we got the home and the visitor side. Visitor side is on the left side of the screen. >> This is where we and I'm going to flip them on you here. So, this is the visitor side is now on the right hand side of the screen. And as you can see, the demolition of the old has taken place. We've got a mud seal in place in the in the concrete bleachers are underway going back up. And
046on the left hand side, we have a mud seal that's put in place. I'll show you in just a second. Uh that was the demolition of the visitor side, this is where we currently currently reside. So where you see the kind of the plastic, that's where the steps are going back in the actual bleachers. And of course the muds on the back side. You can see the building in the background. That's the new concession building on the visitor side. This is the home side of the project. That was the demolition picture. Uh this is where we're at currently right now with the mud seal in place. And of course, they'll be putting the the bleachers in place here shortly. Uh we had the Rothschild gym upgrade project. This was a uh demolition ceremony we had
047a couple weeks ago. Uh there was a couple of people there ready to jump on the excavator, knock it down. And of course there was the student athletes that we had in represent there. There's the building. There's actually >> actually they were the champions. >> They were the champions and and in fact if you go back to to see they just recently won a championship right out in front here. So >> cool. Absolutely. And that's Miss Cox on the left here at wife of Chris Cox the gymnasium. Of course this is the building as it resides uh when we had the ceremony and demolition has begun. So there's where we are right this minute. Probably another couple weeks I'll be entirely on the ground and in rubble. Then we have an exciting project coming up
048that uh we're getting ready to launch taking uh stakeholder engagement uh planning and designing the the project. Um and we want to make sure that we invite the public out. Uh this is the double grade the double churches upgrade and we have a community information meeting on Thursday March 12th 2026 6 pm in the cafeteria of double church is the second one. So we had the first one over on the 3rd Tuesday a week ago. Then we have a few additional projects upcoming. We have the auditorium upgrade at Shaw St. Winton which y'all saw the money on this evening. uh Blackman Road and downtown HVAC and the Rigdon Road uh cooling tower upgrade. And as always, we thank the citizens for passing the East Blosser without which none of these projects would be feasible. >>
049Thank you'all. >> Great job. >> Thank you. Thank you. Yes. >> Any questions, ladies? >> If not, I do for the construction committee. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you so much for the move to finance. Dr. Kia Chambers. >> All right. Um finance committee. Uh first item is the budget parameters. Um the fiscal year 2027 budget parameters are outlined in the attached document and the superintendent is seeking board direction on defining these budget parameters and we will hear from our CFO um in reference to the parameters. >> Good evening. Janice Bworth, chief financial officer. Uh I'm going to give you a quick update on where we are with the 2026 budget and then look at the budget parameters for 2027. As you'll look here, here is um just a quick um snapshot of
050the >> um if we see the >> Yeah, I do like >> snapshot. >> That's [laughter] a snapshot. >> There we go. Thank you. We like that other snapshot. Yes. >> Going on vacation. [laughter] >> All right. Unfortunately, this is the snapshot [laughter] >> of the um the 2026 budget. You can see um I have a column for the adopted budget and then I have a column for the where I project at this point midway through the year on where we're going to end up with the 26 budget. Uh you can see that um there's going to be little change in revenue but a a slight increase. This is coming from uh slightly higher property tax revenues than what we had in the original budget and um additional uh some additional grant money that was
051for security in the uh state funding piece. And then with the expenditures, you can see that um just a slight decrease in those uh expecting both uh salaries and benefits and other operations to come in just slightly lower than what we had budgeted. So um projecting a $21 million change in fund balance. We began the year atund um close to 105 million which would leave us a projected uh $83 million almost $84 million of fund balance to start the FY27 year. Looking at the budget parameters that we have um we've separated these out a little bit differently this year. We have the strategic plan priorities and then we have the fiscal commitment ones. So this is the start of our strategic plan priorities and we're going to prioritize resource allocations focused on student achievement instruction
052and whole child alignment with prescribed law and the district strategic plan. We're going to be emphasizing funding for early literacy and numeracy improvement, differentiated resources for students and schools based on datadriven needs, reduction of chronic absenteeism, full option graduation, college, career and workforce readiness, safe and supportive learning environments, recruitment and retention of effective staff and continuity of core services. So these are the um strategic plan priorities that focus mostly on um what we're doing in the schools. Then we have the not so fun stuff um or fun stuff, however you want to look at it. We do have um we are not planning to um increase the mill levy. We um will plan to hold that um at the rate that it is now. We uh again will uh allocate the 1.5 mills to the
053Chattahuchi Valley Library system. We will uh designate $500,000 to capital projects and these are for our non um Eastloss projects. They would be things like this building here, um the Whitesville Road campus, uh those sorts of things. And then um the last one that we have are one of the last ones that we have here is to maintain um a minimum unassigned fund balance um of 60 days. So that we will try to have that. Um there was also in the actual um there they are that the TRS and health insurance are both going up again this year. So we'll be looking to fully fund those increases as well as um maintain the step increases within our salary schedules. So um there will be those small step increases that are included in that salary schedule.
054So overall that is all of our budget parameters for this year and if there's any questions. >> Thank you so much for that presentation. And I do have one um question. If you could clarify um when you talked about the $21 million that was coming out of fund balance. Yes. >> Can you talk a little bit about where those funds were allocated? >> Well, when we um budgeted the uh at the beginning of the year with the adopted budget, we had budgeted that we were going to use $25 million worth of fund balance. And at this point, we're budgeting um 21 million. So, a lot of that um increase came last year with the um salary increases that we gave at the end of last year. Um pushed that number up a little bit. But
055there was also just some other operating things that um we were doing. Um providing additional supports for classrooms and that sort of thing that um has caused us to project to use fund balance. >> Health insurance. >> And health insurance. Yes. Thank you. That was another big increase was the health insurance. >> Sounds good. Yes. Goes up every year. >> Yes, it does. >> All right. Thank you so much. Miss Buckner, you have a question. >> Uh could you pull that back that uh first slide with um this one? >> Yeah, that's it. That slide. And you were saying that you were separating it this year. Yeah, just from the strategic strategic priorities from the fiscal stability and required commitments. >> Okay, >> this is kind of the fun stuff. This is what we have
056to do. >> I understand that, >> right? This is what we have to do. But I want it clear because we used to somehow make sure that these this is what we do to support the first thing. The main thing we said the main thing be the main thing. Go back to that first line. This is what we do in education. This what education is. And in order to do this, you have to do that other stuff. >> Yes. These are the things that um >> and we and our reference had been this was the main thing essential and the other stuff were supports. That's how we referenced it before. >> Yes. We kind of made the main thing the main thing this year. >> And I just, you know, I just want This is
057the focus right here. This what we do. >> This one here. Yes. >> This is what we do. That's all I wanted. This is it. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Yes. >> Any more questions? >> Okay. Thank you so much for your presentation. >> Those parameters. >> Anyone? I think we still have time to sort of let you know if there's an addition or something to the parameters. Well, what pretty quickly what what >> what time period? Yeah. >> As soon as your thoughts >> when do you want us to not you know we need to get our thoughts together by when? [snorts] >> Possible next week. >> Next week. So, please review the parameters. Get your questions answered. >> All right. Thank you so much. Moving on to number two is financial assistance.
058The Financial Assistance Committee is requesting two requests for assistance, a total of $3,000. Any questions? Okay. Um, Miss Buckner, do you have a question or >> Lights just on. Okay. Moving on to item number three. This is purchase exception A and B. Um, the first item is for science class kits, grades K through five. I'm excited about it. That is attached. The funding for this purchase is totaling 166,521 um and it will come from instructional function of the general fund. Item number two. >> Oh, I'm sorry. You have a question, Madam Chair. What is similar for um five grades 6 through 12 secondary? Is there something similar of the science experiments? Do we use something similar? >> No, they should be using something different. >> Good evening. Christine Hull, executive director, curriculum instruction, pre-K through
05912. That's a great question. We are starting with elementary and so next year's budget, you should see it coming for secondary as well. We currently have in secondary multiple courses of different iterations of science. So that planning out of what do we do differently for biology, from environmental science, for AP, just strategically marching that out over the next year with our science adoption which will also be coming next year so that everything is done in a strategic way that if we adopt a new science resource for secondary that we also know the manipulatives, the equipment, the lab equipment, all of those things will match together instead of them being separate. So we currently have some some manipulatives. >> Yes. >> That um >> or some of them are computer or web- based that's for experiments.
060Correct. >> Yes. So our secondary science core resources discovery ed which is predominantly an online resource >> that has additional pieces like at middle school they have consumables that the students can use. But we have also recognized and with the change in standards as well that we need more materials for hands-on manipulatives for lab equipment to make sure we upgrade those to make sure that they are not only upgraded and updated but that they're safe that they're inventoried properly kept in the labs properly and that teachers also have training on those for professional development. So secondary is coming. We're starting with the elementary now. >> Thank you ma'am. >> Absolutely. Any additional questions, board members? Okay, moving right along. Item number two is a supplemental resource prek teachers. This is a funding purchase totaling $18,996
061coming from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction for PreK. Hearing no questions, I'll go on to item three, which is student reading resources. This is the superintendent is asking the board to approve purchases from this particular vendor for fiscal year 2026. The total amount is 290,000. Funding for this purchase is not to exceed 50,000. including this item on the current agenda that is a pending board approval. The total expenditure would be 340,000 with this same vendor Overdrive Inc. for ebooks and audio books. Any questions? Okay. Item number four is licensing um software for the library and that is attached. And item number five is also for the library. This is um library collection software and that is attached. Any questions? Hearing no questions, I'll go on to section four which is our purchase exception D.
062These are all our renewals. The first one is a Ruba license renewal. You have a question, Miss um Mcgra. curious what this is because I can't read any of that's like what that means. So, it's more specific >> Impact Solutions LLC >> quote. We have someone coming to the front to give an explanation. >> Good evening. So, um, that amount represents the renewal of some licensing for our, uh, wireless networking gear and some of the wired networking gear. So, it's it's software that helps it to operate and helps us to administer it, make changes, etc. >> I guess I know I say this a lot, but there you I didn't weren't familiar with the company and I didn't know what Aruba was but >> except the island. You thinking about the island? >> I didn't
063think we were doing anything going on vacation. >> Yeah. As much as we can. [laughter] >> Tell us tell us your name and title. >> Casey Herget, senior director for enterprise technology. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Good. Thank you. All right. Any more questions about the license renewal? Okay. Item number two, software maintenance and support. Um, this is for P school. This is the the department of enterprise technology seeking an approval for powers school group for the renewal of maintenance and support for business plus. Hearing no questions, I'll go on to item number three, emergency vehicle equipment, and that is attached. This is from the Department of Security. Okay. Hearing no questions, I'll go on to our fifth section which is our purchase order increases. There are six of them. The first one is for
064ESS. This is our um what used to be subfinder, but this is how we fill our vacancies including this item, this current agenda item. The total expenditure for ESS will be $5,751 75122. Any questions? >> I know we were provided some information on this already. So, it's already been discussed, but I do hope that we continue to really look at this for the new next budget cycle and ways that we can reduce this amount of money um to a third party vendor. Thank you. >> Is this also an item that's going to be we're going to get some additional information in our extended work session? >> Okay. All right. Any additional questions about ESS? Okay. Moving right along. Item number two is Gold Creek LLC. This is a food product and this is um for
065processed chicken products. Yes, ma'am. >> But is it because chicken prices have gone up or are we just eating more chicken? >> Because two of them there's there's two different ones that are for chicken products. >> This one and the next one. >> Yeah, >> it's just because we are using more chicken from those particular vendors and so we have to get the purchase order increase so we can buy it from that vendor. It's a better pricing for us. >> Okay. Well, I'm glad to know the price is not going up. We're using more and we don't have the deep fryers anymore. [laughter] >> How is that happening? >> Our oven baked chicken is delicious. >> I just want to know if something was different. I can start back figuring out chicken day on Thursday.
066You know, >> we still have chicken day. It's just oven fried. >> It's just oven fried steel. >> It's delicious. [laughter] >> Okay. Item number three is rich chicken ink more chicken products and that is yes and so they have the amounts but no attachment board members um JTM is number four commodities products this is the from the department of school nutrition as well >> this one is not >> yes >> discriminating [laughter] >> beef or chicken. Okay. TWWC, Inc. Maintenance Service. This is also from the department of um school nutrition. And the last one is for um gas um LLC is for fuel purchase of propane fuel for buses. Any questions about the purchase order increases at this time? All right. Hearing none, I will I'm sorry, Miss U. >> With the increase in
067in gas prices, do we anticipate the propane will continue to go up? >> At this point, our vendor has not indicated an increase in propane. We are preparing for an increase in diesel. >> And we did top off all our tanks early in the week as much as we possibly could. I should have been so smart. >> Should have been so smart. >> All right, hearing no more questions, I'll move on to purchase exception F, which is the invitation to bid. The first item is facilities maintenance districtwide. This is funding for this purchase not to exceed 275,000. This is for maintenance and operation function and it's coming from the general fund. Okay, hearing no questions. Number two is playground equipment at selected sites and it is a not to exceed 790,000 and this is for
068downtown Lonnie Jackson River Road South Columbus and u Miss McCrae you have a question? Yeah, for all of the these three under six were they bid out because there's no information about the >> this >> included at least >> limitation to be >> and are we working off some kind of rotating list? So, so to answer the for the playgrounds, is that the >> three of them? The >> facility, playground, and the turf cleaning. >> They are they're they're pre-bid. They're co-ops [clears throat] that we have. So, um for the first impression initiatives, we've got multiple vendors that do softwashing. Most of them are on a co-op. And so, uh the Suds is up, rolling Suds is up under a co-op. So, we get quotes from them and then, you know, get their services provided
069not to exceed amount. Okay. So, how does that differ? Sorry, break that down for me from our regular bid process. >> Usually in these we see, you know, who >> attachment >> Travis Anderson, chief operations officer. So, what he means by co-op is that there's a state bid process. It's already gone through the state bid process and we are able to tag onto that bid and get the discounts that the state is already authorized for all school districts to use. So, it has gone through a bid process. We um by doing that we save money by not having to do our own bid and we're able to compare to local vendors as well as our national vendors or state vendors and so it gives us a much wider variety but our local vendors can participate
070as well but it is going through a bid process. We're just not managing the bid >> but our mean our local vendors are bidding through that too even can be added. >> Our local vendors are participating as well. smaller vendors locally because they might not want to bid out for something that would be statewide. >> They might want to bid for us. >> It does not. So being a part of the cooperative does not necessarily mean that they have to be a full wide state vendor. And so we are able to and we have a local representative that helps our local vendors get a part of the state process even if they only want to work with us. >> So really it's just an opportunity for them to sign up to make themselves eligible to
071be considered. Not that they have to participate in any bids. So that way when the school district looks at these particular items on this >> co-op [clears throat] >> then they can find local >> local vendors >> and the reason that helps us primaril so let's look at the playground >> vendor for I'm sorry I go if they're in Muscogee and they're small if some surrounding county also pick them up that helps them. Yes, it is very helpful. >> This is a big opportunity for them. It's a win-win. >> Absolutely. >> I'm sorry, sir. >> Any additional questions? >> No, but it's really helpful for our playgrounds because we don't necessarily have local vendors that produce playground equipment and the other vendors that um Mr. Odin referred to, they are actually all local vendors that
072we have helped get on the process to make it easier for them and so they have more access. >> Let me ask you something about the process. When it first started out, they did not have any kind of membership fee or anything like that. Is that still the case? >> 2% of whatever when they get a job, >> contract value. >> Oh, that's that's not bad. >> Not just not not they don't have to pay 2% when they're not bidding or receiving any >> just a 2% membership fee. It's the contract value. >> That's great. >> What would you say? Um, is the percentage that we use the state site to bid versus what we're bidding with a local vendor? >> I can get that for you. I'm trying to tell you now to making
073it up. >> I was just wondering. >> We try as hard as possible to do what's best for the district as well as for our local vendors. And so we try to help them become become a part of that process to expand their exposure and access. Um, but I can tell you we can get that number for you. >> Okay, sounds good. Thank you so much. Appreciate you. All right. If there are no more questions about those items that um fall under invitation to bid it, we'll move on to exception G, which is our professional services. There are two items under professional services. One is for psychological services and um this is an item um funding for this purchase is not to exceed 25,000. So they're asking for an increase there to include this item.
074Um the total expenditure with this vendor would be $39,500. Any question about the psychological services? Okay. The ne next one is this works counseling services. This is um funding for this purchase is not to exceed 185,000. This will um be expanded or expended from the pupil support function of the general fund and this will be the new expenditure will include a total of $1,168,465. Okay, Miss McCrae, >> I know I ask about this one a lot because we seem to have the works on here a lot of months of the year and I know that we frequently have to adjust as the year goes on, but I don't feel like we have as many other vendors that we see with this frequency. So, I'd like to kind of better understand that. And then because it
075says for services from February till I guess May, I can't remember now. And I know we voted on and approved some expenses last month in February. So just would like to better understand why so frequent. >> This in particular is because of a grant that we got that we have to spend the money um before the end of the year. >> Um so that's why it came back up because this is a different set of services based on a different grant >> than the one we had last month. >> Yes. So, very new grant. >> Well, it's it's not new. It's it's one that we found out about in September and we have to have everything spent um this fiscal year. >> Do we have someone finding these grants? Who do we who how did
076we discover the grant? >> This one was done by the governor. >> Okay. Specifically for counseling >> down to schools for Yes. For >> counseling for Yes. Okay. So, this is something in that mental health range that we haven't had before. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> All right. And so, seem to me that it would differentiate if it's grant money. >> Is it all we can put it on there? Yeah. >> I don't have a problem with it being listed by vendor. the vendor, the total amount that this vendor is receiving through the MSCO County School District should have a couple more lines on there. X amount from grants, X amount from >> I I will read this. It says, "This request is supported by fiscal year 26 state budget signed by Governor Brian Kim,
077which establishes a $19.6 6 million for student mental health services and subsequent approval of grant allocations by the Georgia State Board of Education on August the 20th, 2025. >> That's what I was wanting you to elaborate on, sir. >> So, yeah, >> it's at the top. >> Go ahead, ma'am. >> Okay. Yes. So, my name is U. Kenya Gilmore, director for prevention and intervention practices. So, like u Mr. off explained this grant came out at the end of September. Um we were not aware that it was coming and when we got it they explained to us that we had to provide behavioral ser behavioral health services and mental health services to students with the grant. We got a total of around $420,000 to provide those services at our middle and high schools. So in January
078we brought another vendor that's also going to be providing services under this grant. and this works is the second vendor. Um since we had the funding and we wanted to put some more services in place at Marshall Success Center to support some of our students, reduce recidivism of course and then some of our other schools that do not have the restorative practices and social emotional learning. So that's why we're trying to expand the services through this works >> and kind of what >> hold on >> what were the parameters of the grant about how it needed to be spent. >> All of the services have to be direct services. So we have spent some of the funding toward providing some tier one social emotional services through a um online platform called Compass. Um and then
079we're going to do some direct services, small groupoup um counseling, individual counseling and social skills building for students. >> Does this does it support um services for families or just the students? >> Just students and direct services to students. >> Do we have any idea if this money will continue next year? >> Um what we've been told is that it's going to depend on the statewide usage of the funding that is being provided. So, this is statewide and it's being offered to all middle and high schools in every district. Um, it's again, if you don't use it, you lose it. So, what we hope is that throughout the state, people will utilize the funding so that it will be available to us again in the following years. >> Okay. And could it I mean I
080know it's hard to use grant money for positions within the district because it could go away but is there any limitation on that or could that be could it be done more for >> Yes. So, we could use the money to fund positions, but of course when you fund positions. Um, if the grant goes away, then we lose that and people would lose their jobs. But also, when we fund positions, we end up spending more for salaries as well as benefits. >> Thank you. Any additional questions, board members? Okay. I am happy to see that they are providing mental health grants. >> Absolutely. >> I hope it stays and continues. >> Yes, absolutely. >> And really expand to at least fifth at minimum fifth grade. >> Yeah, we need it at elementary >> or earlier,
081but yeah, at least fifth grade. >> Okay. Um, moving on to our soul source and volatile services. Number eight, you will see there are two items. One is for fuel per um purchases and that is attached and number two is for new police vehicles and that is attached and Miss Buckner you have a question. Yes. >> Yeah. I want uh for these two new police vehicles. And then going back to let me find it where it talks about um emergency money for emergency vehicle. Oh, that's emergency vehicle equipment. Okay. My and it says department seeks approval of purchase of new police vehicles from way. The board approved it. Okay. So, that doesn't have the new emergency vehicle equipment. And it says for new we have equipment for new police. Uh when we get a new
082police car, there are things emergency stuff that we have to do for new cars. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Like, >> so the cars typically don't come outfitted with the emergency equipment. So, we have to go to an upfitter and have that added later. >> Police stuff. >> Excuse me. >> Okay. Like police stuff. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. [laughter] I'm sorry. Police stuff >> and and these >> like like sirens like sirens and lights. >> Yes, ma'am. [laughter] >> And some bumper guards car. You go. Okay. >> And these two vehicles that are on the agenda tonight are to replace two that were involved uh in u some traffic accidents. So, >> okay. All right. Any additional questions about the new police um vehicles? All right. Hearing none. Number nine, budget adjustments. We have one
083for McKenna Vento funding. This is a budget adjustment. The original allocation was $82,136 and the adjustment is for 96,776. We're just adjusting the budget there. Um, number two is for the Woodall Center. >> Is there um, are we experiencing an increase in students in the McKenna Vento? >> Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead. Um, Janice, you want to answer that? >> Probably students. Which one of y'all both lights are on? Let me turn you on your >> one. I will say I I I'll let you answer as far as whether or not we're increasing the numbers, but this this funding is we're receiving this funding as it's a carryover from last year's grant that they're now giving us those funds back again >> for Mckin Vento or >> for Mckin Vento. Yeah. >> Okay. So, is
084that the answer, >> Miss? [laughter] >> Okay. [gasps] >> All right. Thank you so much. Number two is for the Woodall Center and that's a budget adjustment as well. And the last one is um GNET state funding budget adjustment as well. Hearing no questions. There are there's one item under new budget and this is for Oxbow Meadows. This is um a budgetary impact of $4,930. Number 11 is our monthly financial statements. That is good. And number 12 are our donations. We want to thank the public and businesses for knowing that schools can't do it alone. So, we appreciate your donations. All right. And that concludes the financial committee. I'll turn it [clears throat] back over to you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you so much. And so we will um we have some two items or
085one item under information. Uh turn over to Dr. Lewis regarding the proclamation. >> I think that was the proclamation I just read earlier. Is that correct? >> You read it. >> Oh, >> the military child. >> Oh, the military child. That's for next week. >> Next week. All right, >> Dr. Lewis. >> Yes. Uh several things we want to bring to everyone's attention. Uh we have a regional spelling bee champion uh Amiia Singh from Veterans Middle School. She's a middle she's regional and moves on to the state level. >> Outstanding. >> Hardway girls basketball. The Lady Hawks move on to the state championship that'll be played this Saturday in Mon at 11 o'clock. So best of luck to them >> again. again. >> Again, >> Columbus High School uh became the state decathlon champions and
086will now move on to national competition in California this summer. So, congratulations to them. [applause] >> OCS. >> And finally, I'm pleased to announce that our own Mike Barton is the sole finalist for the superintendent position in Harris County. Congratulations, Mr. Barton. [applause] >> Congratulations, Mr. by remember you applied for this. All right. Anyone else? Okay. We next week we'll have our regular meeting and then again on the 23rd our extended meeting. We have another meeting next >> the 16th and the 23rd. Right. >> Correct. >> 16th and the 23rd. We shall meet again. I I need a Well, we can just wave goodbye for an adjourn. We are now ajourned. Good night everyone. Thank you. See you next week. Heat. Heat. N.