001Good evening everyone. Welcome to our regular meeting for March 2nd, 2026. As all board members are seated, we have determined that there is a quorum. Board members, please take a look at the agenda and let me know your pleasure. Make a motion to approve. >> Motion by Mr. Beck to approve. Do we have a second? >> Second by Mrs. Taylor. Any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor indicate by saying I. I. Those opposed, nay. Eyes have it. The agenda is approved. Mr. Camp will be handling our board invocation and moment of silence tonight. >> Just bow your heads for a moment of silence. Heavenly Father, we just thank you for this for for this country that we live in where we can live in liberty and freedom. We thank you for this
002state that supports our parents and our families and our students. And I thank you particularly for this this county, for our dedicated teachers and principles, administrators and uh U staff, all the the county workers, Lord, that that work for the welfare of our kids. God, um we pray your blessings on everyone, Lord, uh who is uh who is working to uh to educate, to inspire, to teach our kids. Lord, we pray for I pray for the board. I thank you for my fellow board members, Lord. I pray you guide all of us to make good decisions, make right decisions, to uh to follow you and to lead well as we uh lift this meeting to you and uh pray for your blessings in your name. Amen. >> Amen. >> Please stand for the presentation of
003colors and pledge of allegiance. 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. Board members, we are now going to move to the front of the the board. Good evening, Madam Chair, members of the board. Thank you for giving us the chance to acknowledge some student achievements tonight. On Thursday, December the 18th, we had the pleasure of hosting the elementary school speech competition at Old Rock School. And I'm glad to announce the following winners. First place for notable speeches, Brody Britain from George Hildebrand. first place in original composition, Miss Eleanor Vu representing Glenn Alpine. first place in poetry unfortunately is not able to be with us tonight. She had a prior commitment, but that's Miss Ellie
004Talent representing Salem. And finally, and finally in the category of pros, first place, Miss Adeline Haynes from Salem Elementary. Feel free to come up. And students, before you go back, we're going to give you the opportunity. Would any of you like to perform your speech tonight? >> Okay. We We have one. We have one. It's all yours. >> Have you ever had a new student in at your school? This is what happened when there was a new boy at Juny B school. Juny B. Jones loves Hans and Warren by Barbara Park. Chapter 1. My name is Juny B. Jones. The B stands for Beatrice. Except I don't like Beatrice. I just like be and that's all. I'm in the grade of kindergarten. My room is named room nine and I have two bestest friends at
005that place. One of them is named Lucille. She is way more beautiful than me. That's because her nana buys her fancy dresses. Plus, also she has lacy socks with ribbons on them. My other friend is named Grace. Me and that Grace ride the school bus together. Also, she has pink high tops and fast feet. That Grace is the fastest runner in all the kindergarten. She wins me at all of our races. I'm a good sport about it though, except sometimes I call her the name of cheater pants. Me and that Grace and Lucille play horses together before school. Horses is when you gallop and draw and snort. I'm brownie. Lucille is blackie. And that grace is yellowy. Only today me and that Grace couldn't find a sale anywhere. We looked all over the place for
006her. Darn it, I said. Now we can't play horses that good, cuz two horses is not as fun as three horses. Maybe she's just late, said that Grace. Or else maybe something went wrong at her house. I tapped my chin very thinking. Yes, I said. Maybe her grandpa brought a parrot to her house and Lucil was getting dressed for school and the parrot flew into her room and got tangled up in her hair. So her grandpa had to call 911 and a real life fireman came to her house and cut the parrot out of her hair with scissors. Only that left a teeny baldy spot. But guess what? If you wear a big bow, no one can even tell the difference. That grace looked fiercely at my big bow. I did a gulp. Yeah, only
007pretend I didn't even tell you that. I said very soft. After that mean that Grace kept looking for Lucille. And guess what? I spotted her. That's what. Hey, Grace. I see her. I see Lucille. She's running past a water fountain. I shouted. That Grace spotted her, too. Hey, somebody's chasing her. Juny Bee, she shouted. Who is that boy? Who is that boy who is chasing Lucille? I squint in my eyes very harder. It's an evil stranger boy, Grace, I shouted back. An evil stranger boy is chasing Lucille. And so now you and me will have to go save her. I waved my arms in a fast circle. Come on, yellowy. Let's go. Let's go save Lucille. Then me and that grace springed into action. We galloped our fastest after that stranger. That grace called up
008to him speedy quick. Go away boy. Go away and leave Luc alone, she shouted. Yes, I yelled. Leave Lucil alone or I will tell Prince you cuz me and him are personal friends and he will pound your head. Then me and that grace kept shing our arms so we ran away. Then we did a high five. Hooray! We shouted. Hooray! Hooray! We saved Lucille from the evil stranger boy. All of a sudden, Lucille came stomping at us very angry. "Why did you do that?" she hollered. Why did you chase away that boy? Now you've ruined everything. Then me and that grace mean that Grace looked surprised at her. But we thought you wanted us to do that, said that Grace. We saved you from the evil stranger boy, explained very proud. Lucilo made a bad
009breath. He is not an evil stranger boy, Juny B. He's a new kid in room 8 and his name is Warren and he's the most handsomest boy I ever seen. He's even been in a TV commercial before. Me and that Grace raised up her eyebrows. He has said that Grace. He's been in a TV commercial before, I said. That Grace stood up on her tippy toes. Where'd he go? I didn't even get a good look at him, she said. Me too, I said. I didn't get a good look at him, too. How handsome is he? Blue. Is he handsome like a movie star? Just then, that grace jumped up and down very excited. There he is. There he is. He's over there under that tree. See him, Juny B. See him? As Quinn in my
010heart is at that guy. Then my eyes practically popped out of my head cuz he was handsome like a movie star. That's why. Wowee wow wow what a chunk. I said, "I would like him for my new boyfriend, I think." Lucille made angry eyes at me. "No, don't say that, Juny B. He can't be your boyfriend. He can only be my boyfriend cuz I saw him first." I thought it over very careful. Yeah, only. Here's the problem, Lucille. I said, "Me and that Grace didn't actually get a crack at him." "Yeah," said that Grace. "We definitely need a crack at him. So now you're going to have to introduce us. That grace stomped her feet. No, she yelled. No, no, no, cuz you guys will ste away from me. And that's not even fair. Plus,
011Juny be already has a boyfriend. Remember, you already have Ricardo. Remember? I did another peek at Hansel Warren. Yeah, only. I think I may be ready to move on, I said very quiet. That's when Lucille's face got boiling mad. She stomped away from us speedy quick. Only me and that gray didn't even care. We just kept peeking and peeking at that handsome boy cuz he was beauty to our eyes. >> Great job, Adeline. We also had the honor of recognizing a winner of the American Heart Association and UNCC Blige Heart Art Winner, Miss Sophia Fana, representing Ray Children's Elementary. Come on down, Sophia. Good evening, Madame Chair, vice chair, and members of of the board. Thank you for the opportunity to present some awards from secondary tonight and to recognize the efforts and talents of
012our students. Students, when you are recognized, please come forward to receive your certificate and please stay at the front for a photo. First, we would like to recognize the 2025 speech contest winners winners. Also want to go ahead and say that we have several students who are on a field trip this evening and we also have several that are attending ball games. So, we do have a few folks that are not here tonight, but we still want to recognize them. In the interpretive pros category, the first place winner is Charlotte Raila from Table Rock Middle School with the speech entitled Like Mom, Like Kid. In the recited oratory category, the first place winner is Brooklyn Sour from Liberty Middle School reciting the eco. In the interpretive poetry category, the first place winner is Ada Clark
013from Liberty Middle School, reciting television. In the interpretive duo category, our winners are Isabelle Hennessy and Whitley Strange from Liberty Middle School, presenting Evil Twin. And last, but certainly not least, the winner of the original oratory category is Beckett Britain from East Burke Middle School reciting Family Superlatives. Congratulations to all of our winners. Our next award tonight is for our district science fair that was held on January the 13th. We had middle school and high school students competing across eight categories. And tonight we would like to recognize the scientist and their achievements. Students, please come to the front to receive your award when your name is called. In the category biological science A, our first place winners are Sydney Berles and Hayden Berles from Walter Johnson Middle School with a project titled The Art of
014Influence. In the chemistry category, our first place winners are Alio Riso Him Street and Fischer Collinsson from Walter Johnson Middle School with a project titled Battle of the Cleaners in the category Earth Science. The winner is Scarlet Rogers from Liberty Middle School with her project entitled Farm Funk or Asphalt Junk. In the engineering category, first place is Adeline Thomas from Heritage Middle School with a project entitled Spin to Win, testing rotor design for maximum wind power. In the physics category, the first place winners are Luke Lman and Connor Branch from Heritage Middle School with a project titled Taking Out the Trash, a study of the most efficient weightbearing trash bags. In the technology category, our first place winners are Hugh Hoth and James Russ from Walter Johnson Middle School with a project entitled Real or
015Rendered, "Can our minds tell the difference? In the high school biological science A category, our winner is Nolton Lee with a project entitled Speed Kills. Lastly, in the high school earth science category, Gabby Fiser from Patton High School with her project evaluation of Hurricane Helen impact on the eastern hillbender in North Carolina. Congratulations. Our next award tonight is a one-of-a-kind and presented to Maya Garul from East Burke Middle School. As Maya is coming up, Maya competed in the North Carolina Art Education Association's Youth Art Month Flag Design Contest. This statewide event is a yearly entry where students from across the state submit student design flag entries to the youth art month chair. And Maya was chosen as the middle school division winner. CONGRATULATIONS, MAYA. FOR the last award this evening, I will piggyback off of
016the presentation from Chartwell a couple of weeks ago regarding students students who have been completing a culinary internship. Tonight, we are recognizing these students and their achievements. As you know, this partnership with Chartwell and Navigate provides opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in the food service and hospitality industry. One student, Elen Dole, worked the lunch runch lunch rush at Patton High School, where he helped in the kitchen and restocked items as needed. Another Patton High School student, Alex Diaz, would start their day at 6:00 a.m. in the cafeteria, helping to prepare breakfast and lunch before going to class. Alec also helped run Claw's Cafe, the coffee shop at Patton. And last but not least, we'd like to recognized Vanessa Moa from Drawn High School, also starting her morning in the cafeteria at 6 a.m.
017She also helped to prepare breakfast before her classes each day. Each of these students also earned CTE internship credit for their work as well. Please congratulate them and thank them as well. All right. Good evening board. for our next session section with staff recognition. Tonight we will be proudly recognizing the outstanding achievement for the most recent recipient for national board certification for our teachers. So with the addition of these 11 individuals that will increase our total across the county to 122 nationally board certified educators in Burke County. That's great. So, at this time, as I call your name, please come forward. And again, we do have a number of folks that are either on field trips, uh, chaperoning or ball games and other events. from Liberty Middle. Angela Barnes from WA Young. Tiffany Cook from
018Table Brock Middle. Brittany Davis. >> Proud father. Proud father moment. from Mount View Elementary. Amber Ellis from Freedom High School. Allison Hudgins from Patton High School. Jennifer Johnson, East High School. Linda Lure, Freedom High School. Sarah Pucket from Liberty Middle. Amber Rickerson. from Drone High School. Donna Simmons, North Liberty, Lorie Wheeler, and from Drexel Elementary, Susan Winkler. Congratulations. Good job. I had to come out. >> Wow. What is going on? All right, moving on. We have public comment. Mr. Woff, do we have anyone signed up? >> Yes, we have one. Before we start, let me read something real quick. Persons will speak in the order in which they have signed up to speak. Each speaker during the public comments section of board meetings shall have a maximum of three minutes for his or her comments
019at which point the speaker will be politely asked to bring the comments to a close followed by thank you. State board policies, state law and federal law have established se separate and distinct procedures for forms for resolution of employee grievances, employee complaints against individual employees, people suspensions and appeals and political campaigns. To avoid circumvention of these separate proceedings and ensure fairness of all parties concerned, the person should speak regarding of no person should speak regarding one a filed grievance. Two, pending employee complaint filed with the school district of an outside agency. Three, complain against uh individual employees. Four, employee disciplinary action, suspension or termination, or five, pupil suspension or appeal, which may ultimately reach the board of education. Additionally, prior to elections, no person who has publicly announced or filed as a candidate for public
020office may speak during public comments concerning his or her candidacy. The board chair or designate may terminate any presentation that is not in coordinance with any of these criteria except as limited by the previous provisions. The public comments will be allowed during the public comments period on any subject that is within the jurisdiction of the board. And so we have one speaker and that is Missfield. >> Vice Chair Woff being that we only have one speaker um I would like to make the motion to suspend the time rules. >> Do I have a second? Second. >> Second by Mrs. Taylor. All those in favor indicate by saying I. I. Those opposed, nay. Eyes have it. You have the floor. >> Thank you. Hi everyone. My name is Alyssa Hintfield and I am Miss Morensington. It's
021such an honor to be here with you all and to speak in front of you. Just a little backstory about me. I have been competing in pageantss since I was seven years old and they have given me the confidence to be who I am today to even speak in front of you right now. I'm competing in the Miss America opportunity where I will compete at Miss North Carolina's teen in June. I have won over $5,000 in scholarships through that and I'm excited to hopefully earn more this year through scholarships and other fun things like that. Do being in pageantss. We have something called a community service initiative which is where we go out in our community and we help a cause. My cause is dyslexia. I was diagnosed in the first grade and have struggled
022ever since. and I'm asking to work with you today to help better implement our dyslexia laws throughout Burke County. I don't know a lot about what the dyslexia laws are here, but I'd love to work together to better implement them. I have wrote two children's books that go along with dyslexia and how we can empower our students to have the confidence to know that they can do anything they put their mind to. With my CSI being named Yes, you can. It helps students just know that they can do anything they put their mind to. Helping them know that yes, you can do the hard things. Yes, you can do what's coming for you and all of the things like that. With these books, I've also made a curriculum which I got to go to Mule
023Elementary School today and present. It was such a hit. The kids loved it. They had lots of color, lots of engaging things, and they got to create their own magic object, which goes with one of my books, Alexandria and the Magic Pencil. Like I said, I'd love to work with you guys to better implement our dyslexia laws and to get my curriculum and both Alexandria the Empower and Alexandria the Magic Pencil in all of our elementary schools. >> Thank you. That concludes our public comments. >> Thank you. >> All right, moving on to consent agenda items. We have open session minutes from February 9th as well as close session minutes from February 9th. What is the pleasure of the board? >> Make a motion to approve. >> Motion to approve by Mr. Beck. Do we
024have a second? >> Second. Second by Mr. Johnson. All those in favor indicate by saying I. I. Those opposed, nay. Eyes have it. The consent agenda has been approved. Uh, next we have discussion and action items. We have the Burke County Public Schools finance audit results with Mr. Keith Lawson. >> Good evening, Madame Chair, Mr. Vice Chair, members of the board. Hope you're doing well this evening. It's a wonderful evening of recognitions tonight of both students and staff. Excuse my voice. I'm struggling a little tonight. Uh sound worse than I feel though. Uh I come before you tonight requesting uh your consideration and approval of uh the 2425 external audit as presented at last week's work session by Mr. Jim Louderdermilk and Mr. Rick Hammer of Loudermilk Churching Company. I have my same four questions
025that I would like to ask if that's all right with the board. All right. As we have received the highle overview of our financial audit, can you clarify whether any material issues or irregularities would have been identified during this audit process >> according to the responses of our external auditors? Uh yes, that is correct and none were discovered. >> Thank you. Second question, if there had been any mismanagement of funds or irresponsible or reckless spending, would that have been detected and flagged as part of this audit? >> Again, as stated by our external auditors and they're confident in their opinion uh that uh no uh issues uh or uh management u uh of any material uh substance was discovered. >> Thank you, Mr. Lawson. We're halfway there. Has the entire Burke County Public Schools budget
026been included within the scope of this audit? And were all funds and accounts fully examined as part of this review process? >> Yes, ma'am. All known funds to Burke County Public Schools uh were examined during the u um uh this audit. >> Thank you. And last question, I understand that there have been questions about whether anything may have been hidden within our financial planning or budget. Can you clarify whether this audit would have identified any such issues? >> The purpose of an external audit by an external company is uh one uh primary purpose is for the for that reason and uh none discovered. >> Thank you, Mr. Lawson. And with that, what is the pleasure of the board? >> Motion to approve by Mrs. Rocket the financial audit result. Do we have a second? >>
027Second by Mrs. Taylor. Any further discussion? All those in favor indicate by saying I. I. Those opposed, nay. Eyes have it. The finance audit result has been approved. Thank you, Mr. Lawson. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Second, we have uh the personnel board action report with Mr. Recker. Um, if you have any questions regarding a specific individual, please remember to use the number associated. And if no questions, I request your approval of the action for this month. >> Make a motion to approve. >> Motion to approve by Mrs. Taylor. Do we have a second? >> Second by man. >> Just pick one, >> Mr. Johnson. Any further discussion? All those in favor indicate by saying I. I. Those opposed, nay. Eyes have it. Thank you, Mr. Recorder. Next, we have the EC resolution with Mrs.
028Jesse Grall. Good evening board. Thank you for the opportunity to be here this evening at your seat. You found your inclusive talent show tickets as well as your t-shirt for disabilities awareness week which we will proudly celebrate next week in Burke County School. So you can join us and wear them. Um, and we ask for approval of the EC resolution where we reaffirm, the board reaffirms its promise to the families in Burke County that every child regardless of ability will be welcome, supported, and empowered to achieve their fullest potential in Burke County Public Schools. >> Thank you, Mrs. Gral. Do we have any comments or questions? >> You have a comment with Mr. Wyoff. >> Um, let me just say something kind of quickly here. So during this month, um, developmental disabilities is recognized all
029over the state of North Carolina and even over the country as well. So as a parent of a child with disabilities, I want to acknowledge how important that public schools are for or for children like mine. Um, unless private schools are dedicated specifically to serve children with disabilities, most are not equipped to support many children with special needs. However, public schools are. In public schools, we open our doors to every child and we provide services like speech and occupational therapies, uh, specialized instruction and indiv individualized supports that many families might otherwise not have access to. In Burke County Public Schools, we accept children that some schools can't. And not simply because we accept them because we're required to, but because we want to. And because we believe that every child deserves the same opportunities as
030others. Our children deserve not just access to classrooms, but access to opportunity, to friendships, to confidence, to growth, and the future filled with possibility. So on behalf of my family and families just like mine, I want to thank Burke County Public Schools for affirming that every child belongs here. And thank you to our teachers uh that love and care for our children and they go well above and beyond their required duties every day. And so tonight is not just the end of advocating for our EC kids. It's not the finish line, but it's going to be a foundation. And it's a commitment to continue to to listen, improving, strengthening services, raising expectations because our children deserve the best and nothing and nothing less. So, I want to thank Burke County Public Schools, U, Jesse Grall,
031and all the EC staff for choosing to go well beyond the minimum to lead with dignity, inclusion, and hearts. With that, I'll make a motion to adopt all ability support every child belongs resolution. >> We have a motion on the table by Mr. Wyoff. Do we have a second? >> Second by Mr. Camp. Any further discussion? All right. Hearing none. All those in favor of adopting the EC resolution signify by saying I. >> I. Those opposed, nay. Eyes have it. The EC resolution has passed unanimously. Thank you. >> Next, we have the resolution for arts in our schools. Dr. Swan. >> Yes. As uh went over last week, our arts and school resolution. Um, I'd like the app to ask the board for the approval for the arts and resolution. >> All right. Do we
032have any questions, comments? Motion. >> Motion by Mr. Johnson. Do we have a second? >> Second by Mr. Beck. All those in favor of adopting the arts and schools resolution signify by saying I. >> I. Those opposed? Nay. Eyes have it. The arts and schools resolution has passed unanimously. >> Thank you, Dr. Swan. You're right. Okay. Sweet. Third reading for the board policies 1510, 4200, 7270R as well as 2335 and 3460 are up for. Is this final reading? >> This is final reading. They will become policy after tonight. >> All right. Do we have any questions, comments, concerns, or a motion? >> Make a motion to approve. >> Motion by Mr. Beck. Do we have a second? Second by Mr. Wyoff. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor of adopting all three policies
033indicate by saying I. I. Those opposed, nay. Eyes have it. All three policies have been adopted. Do we have need for close session? >> Awesome. Do we have a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion to adjurnn by Mr. Beg. Do we have a second by Mrs. Rocky? Do we have any further discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor of adjourning indicate by saying I. I. Those opposed, nay. Eyes have it. Meeting is adjourned. Good night everyone.