001guys. Are you >> all right? Good afternoon everyone. Uh, I would like to call to order this meeting, organizational meeting here for Valuchia County Public Schools. As secretary of the school board, it is my honor to call this meeting to order. This time, it is now 12:33. Will you please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, which will be followed by a moment of silence. Algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. You may be seated. Item 2.01, election of chair to Valuchia County School Board. Thank you. The service of chair of the board is truly an honor that brings very special obligations and responsibilities. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of
002all students and staff to extend our warmest thank you and appreciation to Miss Jamie Haynes, our current chair. Not only has she provided leadership and dedication to this position this past term, but we know that Miss Haynes has a special heart and a strong commitment to every student here in Valuchia County. Miss Haynes, on behalf of the entire team, we want to say thank you for serving as chair. [applause] Every every good chair needs a good vice chair, right? So, Mr. Cologne, we want to also extend our sincerest appreciation to you for your dedication and for serving as the vice chair of Valuchia County Public Schools. We also know the heart that you carry and the love and appreciation that you have for every student and staff member. Thank you so very much. >> [applause]
003>> The agenda now calls for nomination for the position of chair of the board. So I would like to see if we have any nomination for chair of the school board. >> Miss Haynes, >> I'd like to make a nomination for um chair of the school board. I'd like to nominate Mr. Ruben Cologne. >> Okay. I have a nomination for Miss Haynes for Mr. Ruben Cologne as chair. And I was going to ask if there is a second. And I see I have Miss Goodrich. >> I would like to second that. >> So I have a second by Mrs. Goodriidge. And Miss Bromer, I see that you had pressed also. Would you like to say a few words? >> Actually, I intended to nominate Mrs. Thompson. >> Okay. Um, so you you pressed right after
004Miss Goodrich and I have a a nomination and I have a second. [clears throat] So, can I let's finish this. All of you in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Okay. So, I'm I think I'm hearing four to one. Is that correct? I want to make sure. >> I'm not sure what the process is. If we're not doing a a second nomination, then I I will say I as well. >> Okay. So, I'm going to ask again. Is that okay, board? Okay. All in favor for Mr. Ruben Cologne as chair and Mrs. Goodri as uh would second that that nomination. All of you in favor for Mr. Cologne being the chair of Valuchia County Public Schools. Please say I. >> I. >> Okay. So, I'm hearing the motion passes five to zero. >> Thank
005you, >> Celeste. You've got that. Okay. So, I'm going to clear my list now. Now, we have item 2.02, 02 which is the election of the vice chair of Valuchia County Public Schools. The agenda now calls for nomination for the position of vice chair of the board. Is there any nomination? I see Miss Haynes. >> I'd like to make a nomination to nominate Christa Goodrich as vice chair of the school board. >> Okay. I have a nomination from Mrs. contains for Miss Christa Goodriidge for vice chair. Is there a second? And I see Miss Brosmer. I will second. >> Okay. So, Miss Goodrich is second by Mrs. Brosmer. Is there any discussion? Okay. With no discussion, all of you in favor, please say I. I. I. and the motion passes five to zero Celeste. Okay.
006Okay. So, now we are going to conclude this section and we're go I'm going to pass the gavl. >> We still have board action items, >> but you you'll do that. >> So, you'll pass the gavl. >> Yes, I will pass it. But could I do this? Mr. Cologne, we adjourned this first session. First of all, board, thank you so much for the honor uh and the privilege to serve. All right. Next board item is 3.01. Board faximile signature. Whenever there is a new school board chair, we need to approve the signature pursuant to state statutes. Uh, is there anybody in the public who would like to speak on this item? All right. Is there a recommendation from the school board secretary? >> Chair Cologne. [gasps] I request approval to use the fastline signature of
007the chair of the school board on checks and teachers contract pursuant to statute 116.34. >> All right. Do we have a We've heard the recommendation of the superintendent. Is there a motion? >> I motion to approve. >> Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> All right. Uh any comments? If not, all those in favor, please say I. >> I. All those opposed say nay. Motion passes. Next item 3.02, board meeting dates for 2026. The next item on our agenda is the approval of the 2026 calendar year meeting dates. Uh is there anyone in the public who'd wish to speak on this item? >> There is none. And so is there a recommendation from the superintendent? Chair Cologne, I request approval of the school board meeting dates for the year 2026 as presented. >>
008All right. You've heard the recommendation of the superintendent. Do we have a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve. >> All right. Do we have a second? >> I'll second that motion. >> All right. Any discussion? >> Yes. Um, this is how I feel about this. So, the new calendar, for those of you that haven't seen it, takes everything down to one meeting. And so, I'm going to share my concerns. I've shared them previously, and since this is up for um a vote, I'm going to share my concerns again along with a few others. Number one, um, when each of us were elected, we I would hope everyone did their homework and knew that this school board ran with two meetings a month, occasionally one meeting a month when it fell during a holiday thing
009um or the summer. Now, beyond that, there are some of us live that lived through having four and five and six meetings a month when we went through COVID, which we didn't expect, but we did. Here's where I'm at with this. Yes, we're here to do the business of the board to keep the district running, but beyond that, our first priority other than like safety and security of everyone is to honor our students and our staff, our community members, the individuals that make the difference um in Valuchia County, the reason why we're here. And so, we have removed so much of that. We're no longer honoring our students in board meetings unless they earn an award at the state or federal level. We're no longer allowing um individuals that are going to be appointed as
010assistant principles or principles to have more. We're giving them one minute, you know, no photos with the board, one minute and out the door. And I still think there's a lot of individuals on our schools that have no idea that this is where we're at and what it's come to. And I don't think our public knows either. So I'm stating I will not be voting for this calendar because I've already had the statement asked of me just even when this process started. So you're going to go down to one meeting a month and yet you're being paid how much money? And so the reality is, you know, no matter what you choose to do or not do, whether you ever step on a campus to visit a school, whether or not you go to the
011events when we recognize teachers of the year or, you know, hand out grants or anything, that is your choice. But if we're going down to one meeting a month, there are going to be times, you all need to know, there may have to be special meetings called because the federal government sends out something that has a timeline and we may receive it two days before a board meeting we're holding, but it can't go on the agenda because it won't meet the law. And yet, it may be due before we have another board meeting a month later. And so, they're going to have to call a special meeting. and we're going to need a quorum for those special meetings in order to vote on it. So, I will be voting no on this. I knew what
012I was stepping into when I stepped in to do this position. And if we want to talk about optics or things such as that, this doesn't look good in my opinion. Is as on top of and relentlessly willing to to give all kinds of accolades to students and teachers at every school for every possible reason. Uh my only hesitation in our new structure is that um I don't think as board members we should be limited to only one opportunity to comment a month and and that's what it changed into. Um I do think there should be just the same as we had the the discussion about whether members of the public should be able to comment during a workshop. Um, I think it applies to board members as well that if there's an issue that
013that we want to bring up, we should be able to do that. I don't think board members should be restricted to one five minute opportunity a month. Um, but beyond that, uh, this is a business board and and I think this is a an efficient way to approach that business without leaving anything out. >> Thank you, Miss Goodrich. >> Um, I'm gonna agree with all the statements you made about honoring students. I think we do a fabulous job of honoring um our students, our teachers, our administrators. We are very active, more so than um I I agree any district I've ever seen. It's pretty phenomenal and we should be really proud of all that we do. It is a business meeting and I'm getting very different um feedback from the people that I speak to
014that absolutely yes knew what we were signing up for with this job. And part of that job is specifically, we all know I love to talk about finance as being extremely financially responsible. And I I think we're saving the district dollars by not having the entire staff sit here just because we always have done two meetings a month or because um we want to add an assembly to the beginning of the meeting. There's it's this is a business meeting and this is where the business of the school board is conducted. And so I have no issue and I I doubt anyone has any issue if there's a special meeting that needs to be called. If we need to vote on something that's pressing, it's our responsibility to be here for that and to attend when
015that comes up. But to just have two meetings a month because that might come up. It's just a I think it's a waste of taxpayer dollars. And so I'm I'm going to be voting for this. >> Thank you, Miss Thompson. >> Thank you. So I do agree with that because we do the business is why we're here. However, I know that in previous discussions, we had talked about having maybe an east side and west side or assembly and maybe recognizing new admin to schools or if students have made, you know, accomplishments, whether it's athletic or the arts or whatever it may be. I do love that part of it. I don't mind going if no one else from staff can go, I will go to each and every one of those. Um, I do think
016they're important, but I would like to see some sort of calendar for that or someone working to get that established because, um, yes, we do go out and we give all kinds of awards to students and staff. But, um, I do like the, you know, if they want to have a picture with the board and that is special, too. So, I'd love to see a calendar for that. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> I I just would like to second that. I think um, we don't need to change our meeting schedule in order to accommodate that. um possibility and that's something that we can add into our structure. So I think we can do both is is my only point. >> I'd like to third that. [laughter] >> That's it's a great idea
017and we we need to follow up on it. We need to not just talk about it but follow up on it. Yeah. >> So Miss Miss Haynes, as you know and every and I've been very vocal. I agree with you a thousand%. Uh however, what we're voting on today is the calendar and the board whether it in the board, let me rephrase that. The board made this decision to streamline uh again we all brought our individual thoughts to that. However, it the board decided that this is what we were going to do. So, uh, for that reason, even though I don't disagree with you one bit, um, I'll be supporting this calendar. So, uh, did we have a motion already? >> And a second. >> All right. Any further discussion? All right. All those in
018favor, please say I. I. >> All those opposed, please say nay. >> Nay. >> Thank you. Motion passes 4 to one. Next item 3.03, 03 board representation 2025 2026. The next item on our agenda is approval board representation for the 2025 2026 school year. This is a listing of school board member representation of the Felicia County schools on state, county, and district committees, boards, and organizations. Is there anyone from the public who'd like to speak on this item? All right. Hearing none. Uh so there's one area that needs a volunteer. This is the Valuchia County PTA, also known as VCC PTA. Last year, Miss Goodrich did a great job in serving on the on this uh committee. Uh and Jamie Haynes was her alternate who would like to volunteer to serve or continue to serve
019on the BCC PTA for this year. >> Yes, ma'am. Miss, >> can we nominate someone? >> Absolutely. >> I'd like to nominate Miss Thompson. >> I guess first [laughter] >> I said I guess I should have gone. >> Who would you like to nominate? >> You said you like to nominate. >> I was just going to nominate Christa to stay on it because she's done a great job. >> So to discuss it, I want to be fair and I I do work full-time. It's not a secret. And so if I'm going to do vice chair, there's going to be things I'm going to need to step in. I'm assuming at times to attend that I wasn't doing last year. They're an awesome organization. It's been and I'm happy to um be the alternate. It that
020would be fine. But um there were things I missed and I I don't want to miss things for them. Their voice is so important. So I just want to be realistic about that. And >> I'll second her nomination as long as she's willing to do it. >> I will accept the honor. >> Wonderful. And so all those in favor, is there a vote for this? No, this is consensus. All right. So, uh, we have Miss >> alternate. >> Jesse Thompson with Christa as the alternate. All right. And other than that, is there a board member? We got that already. Motion to approve the representation. All those in favor say actually we did that. It's by consensus. I don't know that that one is a vote. Is it? >> We could just do it all. >>
021I make a motion. >> I'll second the motion. >> All right. Any discussion? >> All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All those opposed say nay. >> All right. And so we will adjourn immediately following this meeting. We will hold the Valuchia County School Board Leasing Corporation meeting. Uh it is now 2 12:52 and this organizational meeting of Valuchia County School Board is adjourned and we will pass the gavl back that way.