001e Dr Hut we're ready good evening ladies and gentlemen this meeting will come to order and like to welcome you to the Tuesday April 9th meeting of the Burke County Board of Education now would be a real good time if you would to set your cell phones your devices on vibrate or mute so is not to interrupt us as we go through and so your neighbor can hear everything that going on as well we have a crowded agenda tonight with a lot of really uh really good stuff to do and that's recognize uh our dedicated teachers and staff and and a lot of our students too it's always a happy part of of doing what we do so so welcome um Madame secretary uh I have made the determination of Quorum is present with the
002exception of Dr hre Who will be absent tonight and other board members are present any in place so with that determination we'll proceed in regular order now members of the board you have received copies of the agenda um and I'll let the floor for any additions or Corrections and I actually have a couple um we need to add and this was should be on your your desk when you got here item number 7 D Roman numeral 7 and D which uh indicates the supplemental funds for Teacher compensation procedure and then item 7e which is uh one addition to the Personnel action report that the superintendent requested be added are there any other additions or Corrections hearing none all those in favor or I move then that these be uh be reflected in the uh revised
003agenda is there a second second um Madam Clerk's been properly moved and seconded to amend the agenda as indicated any further discussion no further discussion all those in favor send the C by saying I I all oppos no eyes have it the motion is carried and we will proceed in regular order Miss uh beer if you would provide us with our invocation this evening sure uh if we can take a 30 second uh moment of silence all right dear heavenly father as We Gather in this meeting we are grateful for the presence of our community members and staff thank you for joining us in this important Endeavor to support the education and well-being of our students grant us Clarity of mind and empathy of heart as we engage in deliberations that impact our school community
004may our decisions be guided by a commitment to fairness compassion and the greater good we extend our gratitude to the community and staff for their dedication and contributions to our schools your presence here tonight is a testament to our shared commitment to the success of our students we also ask for healing and comfort for those who were impacted by the recent bus bus accident May they find strength in the community and support and solace in knowing that we stand with them during this trying time may this meeting be fruitful and productive and May all present be guided safely on their Journeys home when our work is done in your name we offer this prayer amen amen uh ladies and gentlemen if you would stand and join me in receiving our colors and Pledge of Allegiance
005and remain standing until they retire you I pledge Al 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 order on right turn [Applause] and thank you alrighty uh Dr Swan yes exciting evening we're going to move forward with our student recognitions Dr Brett Wilson please come forward let's uh uh let's the board meet us yes if the board could come down to the front please it's one of my favorite evenings as meeting with the board when we get to recognize student achievement and tonight we get several groups of students that we'd like to recognize our first is going to be our elementary math counts winners first of all I'd like to recognize our individual winner Mr
006Lincoln Baxter fourth grade from Mountain View Elementary Lincoln come on down our first runner up in the individual competition Miss Michaela ho fifth grade vales [Applause] Elementary for our team competition I would like to recognize Maul Elementary that came in first place as I call your name please come forward fifth grade aah Clark fifth grade Charlie Moses fifth grade Jackson Pucket fifth grade carrian [Applause] subtles fourth grade Maxwell Olen fifth grade Judson Wilson and fifth grade Hunter Bowman congratulations M par you're welcome to come up take pictures if you like before before they go down can we bring their can we bring their coach up okay and we'll recognize the coach of that team Miss Laur [Applause] gegan this time we' like to recognize our elementary science fair winners first place representing vald Elementary Virginia
007[Applause] Anderson second place representing George hildbrand Elementary thaniel [Applause] Powell and we had a tie for third place from ier Elementary fourth grade Cassidy [Applause] gladen and representing vald's Elementary fifth grade Adeline [Applause] Thomas [Applause] right good evening tonight we would like to celebrate our middle school science fair winner first place from Table Rock Middle School Bailey Heap in the category of biological science a from Liberty Middle Shay Young from Liberty Middle kalayn [Applause] Hennessy also from Liberty Middle Dev Patel and Miss Gabby fiser from liby Liberty Middle School all our first place winners competed at the state level as well and we're very proud of these young students [Applause] so I'm very happy to announce our Battle of the books winners for this year um they did a great job they always do the
008best that they can possibly do I will recognize them but I would also like to mention that our third place winner Mountain View and our second place winner Forest Hill we had a great showing on a Saturday of people coming out and putting in time and parents visiting with us as well so right now we'd like to recognize our winners our winners of the 2023 2024 Battle of the books Mall Elementary I will I will call out each one of you individually and you'll come up and receive your um certificate Hunter Bowman who could not be with us this evening Harper buris Mar I'm sorry a CL Isabelle Hennessy Samuel Idol Charlie [Applause] Moses Maxwell Olen Jackson Pucket carrian subtles Judson Wilson and a very special thank you to our two coaches who devote a
009lot of time and effort to uh make sure that these students are reading 25 books during the course of the year and uh we really appreciate them Lauren pal and Katie [Applause] Young one more one more [Applause] at this time I'd like to present Dr Melanie Honeycut uh with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction technology director of the Year award um hold on this award is decided by her peers underscores Dr hyut outstanding contributions and commitment to lever leveraging technology to enhance learning experiences across the district I think we see that on a regular basis the honor is given annually at NC ties North Carolina technology and education Society conference in Raleigh Dr Honeycut was selected by her peers as a top technology director for the State's region seven of which Burke County is
010part of she then competed against seven other region across the state congratulations Dr honey cuton thank right we [Applause] have the North Carolina school public relations Association was on honored has honored Burke County public schools for excellence and communication with seven Blue Ribbon awards for outstanding and effective communication so we're very honored to have um Bethany Duncan and Miss Cheryl shuffler on staff with us um they do a phenomenal job with our TV ads our commercials our advertisement uh a lot of your children students you see them in the classroom on a regular basis so and then miss shuffler I can't do the Justice the voice well but Burke County public students were on a two-hour delay that's Miss shuffler uh does a phenomenal job you'd rather much rather hear that voice than this voice
011in the morning um so Burke County Public Schools received one Gold Award two silver and four bronze level Awards the golden award was the marketing category for the pig rig joins the cafeteria lineup uh Burke County Public Schools marketing plan the silver awards were in photography category for Middle School first responder day and mystery reader the bronze awards were an electronic media for surprising Miss frell with the pink heels firet truck excellence in writing peer-to-peer mentorship help newcomers ease in the high school life and digital media engagement postcards from Summer and Burke County Public School Valentine the Burke County Public School communication team is made up of once again M chery shuffler and Child Nutrition marketing communication specialist Bethany Duncan congratulations [Applause] other good evening in January of this year we learned from Western North
012Carolina Public Schools Risa and the Dogwood trust will be offering $2,000 scholarships to current student teachers in Western Berke County Public Schools and all Western public schools in North Carolina there was was a process that our folks went through they submitted essays our team reviewed those and we selected one which we were able to submit after selecting that one we sat and thought and we feel felt compelled to submit a second just in case we could potentially get an additional Grant and we did those folks will receive $2,000 each 1,500 for tuition assistance and then 500 for instructional supplies while they complete their student teaching both of these individuals will graduate in May and we look forward to their successful careers to Berke County as teachers so on behalf of the selection Kitty of bertke
013County Public Schools West Risa and the Dogwood trust congratulations those individuals are Miss Jess Jessica saso Andrade she is at Valley's Elementary and then Morgan Webb who is currently at Mount viw Elementary they were concerned that they could not be here this evening because it conflicted with their um evening class I do see Morgan here so she made Arrangement so Morgan please join us come forward please [Applause] I'm kind of tall [Applause] at this time we will also recognize our beginning teacher of the year at each of our schools as well as our Bert County Public Schools 2024 teacher of the year as well this process begins in January schools send out forms where our folks can vote and then through that selection committee at the school level they nominate those folks they then come
014to the county level our committee then completes a packet analysis of all of our folks and through that we select five folks to interview from those five interviewed we then select our representative for Burke County that will then go on to the regional and if you watch social media with Miss shuffler U you can see that we always recognize that on Facebook with Dr Swan and Dr Aon with a surprise on campus always a good day so with that said we're going to start with our Berke County Public Schools teacher of the year for the county Mr guz he's in the back a little bit about Mr gutiz he has served the students of Burt County public schools for 33 years he began his teaching career as a visiting Spanish teacher at Hillcrest in George
015hilderbrand he was split he did that for four years he also has served as an ESL teacher at Hill Crest Elementary Chesterfield Elementary WA Young Elementary Walter Johnson Middle Patton high school and currently serves at Freedom High School during his time with bit County Public Schools he has also taught and I found this out Earth and environmental Science Biology math and American history a man in many traits Mr G also shared that he has provided professional development for teachers in Burke County our local police agencies churches Community organizations and currently is working for a trip for a third group of teachers to go overseas and study culture and how it impacts their schools and how we can bring that back and impact our communities here in Berke County there's a little perk with Berke County
016Public Schools teacher of the year on the other side of that wall over there is a brand new 2024 Hyundai courtesy and with a partnership of Paramount Ford and vales so we appreciate that partnership again Mr guer Will Go On on to the regional level he'll represent Bert County Public Schools we wish him luck it's Mr guz on behalf of Bert County Public Schools thank you for your past current and future support your guidance and your teaching of the young minds you have impacted many lives for that thank you and [Applause] congratulations [Music] [Applause] that would be great yes what your family up here with us oh family than for our elementary teachers of the year if you would please as I announce names we'll hold our Applause until the end if you would come
017forward on behalf of Dr Swan Dr Aon and our board and accept your gift we'll start with Drexel Drex Elementary Chelsea Anderson Forest Hill Forest Hill Elementary Melody low George Hilder Bram Britney pick Glenn Alpine Gina Hill hildbrand Elementary Terry penin Hillcrest Elementary Elizabeth Pearson ier Elementary Britney Watts Mountain View Elementary Amy Chapman mole Elementary ruthanne Connor oill elementary McKenzie r ray Childers Elementary Madison Keem Salem Elementary Jennifer kerson vald's Elementary Madison wood w Young Elementary Amber Young please join me in congratulating [Applause] them oh you're good [Applause] and now for our secondary and County Wide schools from eastberg midddle Jackie Clark from Heritage Middle Katherine wizard Liberty Middle Nathan Castle Table Rock middle Phil pedo Walter Johnson Middle Pamela barrier North Liberty Wendy Williams Burke Middle College Timothy barns Alberton Academy Susan Ericson drone
018High School Donna Simmons eastberg High School Kayla Hughes Freedom High School Daniel guz and patton High School Robin bias please join me in congratulating them [Music] I [Applause] [Music] want [Applause] [Music] all [Applause] um Mr recer is going to walk you out to your [Music] yep Dr Alton the second reading of lockone policy please yes so tonight we do have a policy um let's get your microphone okay need to pull it a little closer I think yeah [Music] just thank you thank you okay let's Okay so before you tonight we do have the second reading from policy 521 6132 7238 the emergency use of nxone which is also known as Narcan and so if there are any um comments or suggestions to this policy otherwise I ask that we move this to the consent agenda
019any objection all right I so directed we'll have that to the consent thank you m secretary Dr Swan yes sir thank you chairman hump members of the board uh so in our work session we discussed um next steps um for our facility evaluation on the Eastern end of the campus for regarding two elementary schools uh so what I did I created a timeline for the board I'd like to go over that timeline so we kind of have a better understanding of some of the the thought process behind um our recipient our receipt of the $42 million um DPI Grant um so back in 2017 um uh Burke County Public Schools purchased land with the intent uh to begin planning for an Eastern Burke County Elementary School uh in light of safety and logistic issues of
0201930s and 1950s construction campuses uh in 2018 um we found that our former board passed a resolution of the Burke County Board of Education improving certain contracts and expenditures related to here again new new Mountain View Elementary School uh 550 510 South College Street the new potential East Burke school project um 2021 um Burke County Public Schools we filled out a needs-based capital Grant uh we submitted it and it was not funded 2002 uh we created a board subcommittee was formed to begin discussion on moving forward with plan for a new school in the East um 202 two the subcommittee determined that the current property that was designated that we purchased in 2017 for the board was not conducive for new school recommendations were made by the subcommittee to begin exploration of other property um
021asked that George hildbrand be excluded from the plan in 2022 needs-based Capital Grant submitted and once again not funded uh in 2023 our subcommittee met with Hamilton Court to review various designs and layouts for new school Construction ruction in 2023 we submitted a grant for the third time and which was funded and wed uh to Burke County public schools in 2023 once again a couple months ago we reached out um to the mayor Wendell hilderbrand uh to begin conversation about intentions for a new school in hilderbrand uh in 2023 once again a couple weeks ago we invited the mayor and Town Council and town manager to tour Mountain View Elementary School and share the vision for our plan with the Eastern ber County campuses um so we we kind of that's a kind of a
022a highlight of what we've done uh thus far any questions I want to uh outline very very quickly the I guess you call it a process um That We Came Upon receiving the $42 million we actually didn't know that that's what it was going to be until the superintendent of Public Instruction showed up correct with that check um and uh and this was after uh a few phone calls from um our state representative he Blackwell and I had discussed a couple of things and um it was still rather nondescript uh about whether or not it was going to be offered or not and and um the day that we got the board together first of all was not uh it was it was a ceremonial meeting that was actually called by the superintendent of the
023Department of Public Instruction not the Burke County Board of Education um nobody was prohibited from coming in and um we had a fairly decent group press was certainly represented here that day and um so the superintendent comes in with that big check and that was the first time really that it was confirmed now I can understand a lot of concern because it's kind of a backwards way of of of uh backing into a major project um and as a product of state government for 30 some odd years um I'm familiar with that it's still unsettling the point is we couldn't have actually begun doing anything until the point the money had been received and then at that point uh so I mean I acknowledge that it is not like a nice little box tied up
024in a nice bat it's just not uh and so we had to get the money first and so that's uh that's what's happening now now was there there some timelines Dr SW yes sir we um shortly after the probably a month after we received the uh check um we received an email from DPI um stating that they would relas some documents for us uh and that recipient receipt of that email we had 2 years to begin ground construction breaking ground uh essentially um so we just received those fin those documents this past Friday um we'll present those to the board uh at our may work session and was there not something about a 60-day there was a 60-day signing period um but we spoke to Department of Public construction and we're okay on that um
025since they just sent it to us on Friday okay yes all right so miss gaspie you wish to be heard as well yes sir um good yes sir um I just wanted to go over um the requirements under North Carolina General ener statutes um for the consolidation or closing of public schools um the statute 115 c72 uh governs this process um and it involves three steps the first being a study so prior to the closing of a school the board has to have a thorough study done on the impact of such an action um and it must consider primarily the welfare of the students to be affected by the proposed closing and include consideration of certain factors including geographic conditions the anticipate anticipated increase or decrease in school enrollment the inconvenience or hardship that might
026result to the pupils to be affected by such closing or consolidation the cost of providing additional school facilities in the event of closing or consolidation and other factors that the board considers d remain um if there are multiple schools being considered for closing or consolidation a study has to be performed for each one um or the study must include the above factors for each school um so it can be a singular one the next step is a public hearing um which should be held by the board prior to the entry of an order on closing or consolidation um and should be held prior to a vote on that um the hearing should be specifically about the consideration of the proposal to close or consolidate schools and the public must be given an opportunity to express
027their views on the matter um we generally recommend making A draft copy of a study public um prior to that hearing for the Public's consideration so they have an opportunity to make an informed comment um the third and final step is a vote um so after the first two steps have been taken then the board may take a vote on the closing or consol idation of schools um and at the meeting when that vote is scheduled we recommend providing the finalized study on consolidation the board must actually vote and approve the study on consolidation prior to taking a vote on the actual action of closing or consolidating schools um and that is the statutory process for undertaking that well I tell you before we get into discussion I'm going to move that the board direct
028the super intended to develop a preliminary study is required by General statute for the board to consider the possible School consolidations of ier Elementary and hilderbrand Elementary into a new school can I have a second second it's been properly moved and seconded uh now any discussion questions at what point in the timeline do we conduct the public hearing and not so much as after a than b in terms of the year when are we looking at that around about month I will tell you that there's no statutory requirement on the timeline it's just recommended that after the study has been processed enough that there can be public comment and there's information available depends yeah I'd like to do the study first find out how long that study is going to take after talking to Dr
029acard uh and then come up I'd want to share the study with the board of course make it public for our community and then discuss Poss dates uh and and have Community meetings actually at both schools that we'd like to do do we know roundabout how long these studies typically take Dr acard depends on they're they're going to go in Miss beer and look at uh the roofing the HVAC asbes lead within the walls and within the pipes so it's not going to be a a an overnight project I'd say within two to three months we would have some results so I'm looking at a fall timeline and that's just a quick possibly um maybe sooner we already have that done do we not a lot of it with the annual facility reports we have
030some of it done yeah the the architect I believe court would have to go in there or whoever is working on that study would be the one to go in there but yes the annual study there's a lot of stuff they could pull from so potentially sooner and a lot of it will be up to um two schools and getting that information back to us any other comments All right you have the motion before you and properly seconded um all in favor of that motion so indicate by raising your hand I'll oppos no vote 6 to zero Madam clerk thank you C thank you for that um you have before you two the consent agenda items um I would move approval of those are there any uh anyone want to be heard on that before
031we vote chairman hunt if I may um our two additions are DN sorry you're right I was looking at something else just uh well let's let's go back I'm sorry 7 D was the uh Allin promise Dr Swan that is correct and you want to be heard on that real quick Mr Lawson good evening chairman hunt members of the board thank you for allowing this late addition to your already packed agenda I appreciate your time uh What uh you have before you is just a formal adoption of a state legislated supplement for all certified staff for Burke County Public Schools uh this is a recurring uh budget item again awarded by the state and it supplements all instructional staff and instructional support staff uh that is in addition to our local supplement well based on
032that then I move that we add the PRC c071 to um and authorize you to to pay out based on the low wealth bonus as you have just described is there a second I second that been properly moved and seconded any discussion or question hearing none all those in favor Syndicate by raising your hand all those oppose no eyes have it the motion is carried the vote was 6 to zero thank you thank you sir um and finally the the um Personnel action request item 7e that we talked about um any questions or comments and if you do please refer to it by number kind of easy to remember it's one any comments anyone want to be heard on that uh I move approval as I submitted been properly seced by Vice chairman Johnson all
033those in favor Syndicate by raising your hand and all those opposed like sign 6 to Zer thank you now let's get back to the consent agenda items you have those in front of you and I I move that those be approved is there any discussion or comment or anyone like to be heard all right hearing none all those in favor n saying I I oppose no eyes have it motions carried the consented and the items are accepted now uh we're down to the uh do we need to take a a quick recess we do we'll be in recess for about 5 minutes and set up we got some setup to do for the uh public hearing so we'll stand easy for a moment thank you e at which point the speaker will be politely asked
034to bring comments to a close follow Follow by thank you School Board policy state law and federal law have established separate and distinct procedures and forums for the resolution of employee grievances employee complaints against individual employees pupil suspensions and appeals and political campaigns to avoid circumvention of these SE those separate proceedings and ensure fairness to all parties concerned no person should speak regarding a filed grievance pending employee complaint filed with the school district or an outside agency complaint against individual employees employee disciplinary action suspension or termination or pupil suspension or appeal which may ultimately reach the Board of Education additionally speak prior to elections no person who is publicly announced or filed as a candidate for public office may speak during public comments concerning his or her candidacy the board chair or designate May terminate
035any presentation that is not in accordance with any of these criteria except as limited by the previous Provisions public comments will be allowed during the public comments period on any subject that is within the jurisdiction of the board our first Speaker tonight Mr John Flood John flood all right our next speaker will be Belinda Norman thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak here this evening my wife for speaking looks a little different than go those that have gone before me and I'm referring to the March 11th meeting although I do have to say I appreciate when individuals advocate for children I have a child in the Burke County Burke County public school system and I advocate for children daily in my place of employment so I will start off by saying to the
036board School staff as well as Community speakers thank you for caring and advocating for children now back to my wife for speaking here tonight as a Christian and someone rooted deeply in my faith watching the Schoolboard meeting from March 11th was very disheartening to me as Christians we are called to speak the truth in love and while I'm not putting all speakers from March 11th in a box I will say I did not hear a lot of love in the room that evening and for that to the board members and all School staff who were present I want to say I'm genuinely sorry as Christians we're called to be the light we're called to bring God glory and we're called to stand firm in our faith and speak up for those who can't speak for
037themselves absolutely 100% but we must be mindful of our methods offering that apology is my main why for speaking tonight but let's get to the how how do we move forward from here how do we get back to working together for a start let's look at all the good happening in our schools sometimes all we need is a shift in perspective there's been a lot of good shared this evening of all the positive things going on in our schools so to the board superintendent principles and all School staff I just want to say thank you there are a lot of great things happening in our schools and that needs to be acknowledged now back to being mindful of our methods no matter the role of anyone in this room we can Advocate we can be
038passionate and we can take a stand but we're called to do that out of love there are many references made on March 11th about the Bible being the infallible word of God so if you believe the Bible to be true and I do as well the word clearly states if we don't have love we're nothing more than clinging symbols and I would assume that n of us want to be clinging symbols as a Christian the goal is to bring folks to Jesus or it should be so let's examine our methods is our speech turning people towards Jesus or is it turning people off we must all be mindful of how we choose to get our point across and here's the thing we're humans and sometimes we mess up so here's my suggestion if you're on
039the board and if you made some bad choices go to the people you have wronged and ask for forgiveness if you're a community speaker and you think I really shouldn't have said that go to the board and ask for their forgiveness then accept that apology part part of that whole love thing is showing each other Grace when we mess up let's apologize and we've been wrong forgive each other and move forward I'll end by saying that I had several reasons for speaking here tonight but I'll share just one my main reason for speaking that is that I'm hopeful that these words may encourage some who have May sworn off Christianity maybe after tonight they would be open to giving it another shot and if that's one person in this room or online then that goal
040has been met the Bible talks about the Good Shepherd leaving the 99 sheep and chasing after the one who was lost it then states there will be more rejoicing in heaven over the one one lost person coming to Jesus than over the 99 righteous persons I'm completely fine stepping away from the 99 tonight and going after that one because that's what Jesus would do 1 Corinthians 13:13 says now these three remain faith hope and love but the greatest of these is love now let's all work on putting that into practice thank you thank you thank you m Norman our next speaker Kei m gupton than is H thank you chairman hunt and the Burke County Board of Education officials superintendent Swan and all of the rest of the administrators teachers and the fellow Community leaders
041and attendance my name is Kendon gupton I am a senior at Freedom High School and a boy scout from Troop 199 which meets at oakill United Methodist Christian Church I'm coming before you tonight because I'm excited and eager to embark on an Eagle Scout project I have partnered with mull Elementary School to help help them Empower their vision of an outdoor classroom from the age of 6 years old when I first became a Cub Scout I've been afforded many opportunities to explore the outdoors learn in nature and benefit from God's creation we cannot deny that today there are all too many things that Captivate Us through technology screen time social media and feeling closed in by the walls that surround us exiting that space and experiencing the freedom and fresh air of the outdoors has
042a calming and focusing effect that supersedes tradition classroom learning it's no secret that people in our community struggle with mental health problems today it's everywhere that you turn a bestselling author by the name of Richard Lou has written many books one of which was the foundational last child in the woods saving our children from the nature deficit disorder or he Chronicles how he believes that many behavioral problems and mental health issues stem from kids not being outside enough I can see this Outdoor Classroom at mull Elementary help to provide a resit for kids teachers parents as well as anybody else as it sits below the trees surrounded by the healing power of nature I am ready to provide the sweat and manual labor that is needed for this project and to save the county some
043money as well as but where I need your help is the funding that it will take to complete this project the inspiration for this project comes from a project very similar to mine that has been completed completed in ruford college right behind the town hall it includes a couple dozen couple dozen benches in a stage seated and stained and submitted into the ground some landscaping and a couple of pieces of GRA gravel one of the best features of this project is that the future of it is very bright placing this Outdoor Classroom at a school means that the maintenance crew can help maintain it for future Generations too many Eagle Scout projects have fallen into disrepair and do not stand the test of time this project however has the potential to have a very lasting
044Legacy thank you again for your consideration any and any financial support you may allocate to this project thank you Mr gton thank you thank you sir Dr Swan do we know how to get in touch with this young man contact information thank you thank you Mr gton our next speaker Sherry vanoi good evening I'd like to thank each of you for the forward thinking that you have shown in approving naren to be placed in all our schools there's no doubt in my mind that at some point you will find out that you've saved some child's life that being said I want to ask for more from what I've understand and it's going to be placed in certain areas in the school and I feel like with the the way that that is administered and the
045the critical need for it that it should be in every classroom every teacher should have access to my knowledge there is no downside to having it if you don't have drugs in your system it has no effect on you at all so if someone got their hands on it there would be no issue and I'm asking more and I want to tell you why um 6 years 2 months 18 days 0er hours 43 minutes and 1 2 3 4 seconds ago I lost my 30-year-old son to an overdose of heroin laced with fenel the tragedy and so there's so many what ifs that go with that the biggest one to me is what if the people with him had noran EMS was there within minutes they administered many many doses they worked on him for
046over an hour and they could not save his life my fear is that if the situation came up and they had to take time to go and retrieve this it might be too late and I don't want another parent to have that phone call his his name is William Carswell thank you thank you thank you ma'am thank you miss feno our next speaker will sharp hi thank you for allowing me to speak tonight I'm will sharp I've lived in Burke County for 34 years I have three sons who started first grade and graduated from high school here two from Freedom one from Patton and I am here not because I've got a child in school today but because I have deep appreciation for what education can mean for an individual so I want to thank
047the teachers and the staff and all of you for your commitment to all that it's just huge and so thank you but I'm here to talk tonight about books probably not your favorite topic because you've heard a lot about it um and I'd say just this is just a personal thing I'm not big on book Banning or removing books because I think societies that do it will ultimately limit their society and it doesn't appear to have gone well in other places around the world over history but I do think age appropriate and looks at things as very important and parents and new staff and board should have confidence in that so as I looked at your school policy and the revisions you made to it I think it's exceptional I mean it's really good and
048so I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time time to do it it appears to me it's working because I saw the list of books that have already been removed and stick at it I did attend the meeting that was referenced earlier that must have been a very unpleasant night for all of you no matter what you felt about it because the opinions that were expressed were clearly heartfelt and I don't think they had much appreciation for policy or process but having been involved in a lot of organizations as I think everyone in the room has you just can't move forward certainly not in something the scope of Burke County Public Schools without policy and process so while I know they wanted to W or wave over it and make it just
049the way they want to do it the loudest voice in the room is not always the one that's right the process needs to play out so again I'm just thanking you for that the other thing that I was surprised that night was I never knew that you needed to identify your faith if you're were going to speak to the school board but clearly that night you needed to and so about this time is probably when if many of those in the room that night who don't appear to be here tonight were here they'd be saying get that Heathen off the microphone so I just should clarify I'm a Christian too have been for 47 years and so my thoughts about all this I feel like it does need to be shared in love and um
050so with that stick to your point keep the books under control but Le don't let people just tell you from the thing I don't know that they're always the majority to it and then then I didn't think I'd say anything about it but I will now the thing about the new school in the eastern part of the state give our kids the best you can the best facilities the best opportunity because it's a tough world out there and I know I would probably be attached to a school too if it was where I went and where my kids went or my uh grandparents had gone but there's a future and we need to give them Hightech good quality places that are safe to learn so that's my encouragement thank you for give me your time
051thank you thank you Mr Sharp thank you Mr Sharp and our last speaker Dana Rin good evening board thank you for the opportunity to speak I hope all all is well I did want to just use the for just some general public comments to set the record straight from my heart to what went on transpired on March 11th and March 25th um we've made some progress I know that there were some that gave comments that were a little bit um harsh perhaps it sounded to certain school board members uh setting the record straight for themselves but I see that as passion and we're all different how we speak we're all different how we present ourselves and present our stories and our concerns so I want to say say one thing about um Pastor Paul Adil
052who was given an opportunity to speak twice and that opportunity the last opportunity that he had to speak on March 11th was not special treatment for him that was simply because our Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson needed something to say and he was simply the spokesperson so I wanted to address the um News Herald which uh wrote some pretty nasty uh comments uh used some pretty nasty adjectives for that meeting they used a lot like religious rhetoric and ludicrous claims fire and brimstone church service and if you're here tonight uh News Herald uh that's not what happened if you knew what fire and brimstone was you would be saying no that isn't what happened but ludicrous claims there were some factual things and very factual things that occurred from these books that you all have done
053a great job in taking a lot off so I appreciate that as well for our kids you know we have to break the delusions so we see clearly and uh you know Mr Hunt with all due respect sir I did want to address something that I witnessed on March 25th sir when you did mention that um we were talking about censuring a school board member at the time on the board here and you had we we you had mentioned what does this have to do with the kids anyway and and I heard you say that and I sir I just again with all due respect I wanted to respond to that it really has a lot to do with it as children when we see children being bullied that's that's not good they go into
054withdrawal they go into depression they could they want to commit suicide we can't let that happen we have to be the responsible persons that they look up to we have to make sure they're safe and secure and when adults Broly other adults that is an issue and so we have too much Integrity for that as adults we can't be doing that if I had a child in the public schools I'd be concerned how I saw one board member act that I um would be upset about because as uh adults as pastors as teachers we have to be very careful with our kids so thank you sir for letting me just to respond to that I will say that one thing for sure is that Jesus when he went to Calvary and I address all the
055board members there was room for all of you in his heart he loves all of you I've heard a lot of love spoken tonight how we should be speaking love and that's true he has forgiven all of us if we come to him he will not grab us by the collar and expect but we have to come for him and he's very forgiving there was room for him but he does say in the word I set before you life and death blessings and cursings choose life and choose blessings so I do continue to pray for all of you thank you very much for your time I rest my case thank you ma'am board audience Mr flood is present now Mr flood if you'd like to come on up sorry I stepped out and I didn't
056get back in in time you're fine my name is John flood and I'm here to speak out against book Banning and against any group be they Christian or non-Christian imposing their and demanding their religious beliefs on our schools books are such important gateways into our children's minds they teach them to be open to new and different ideas and ways of seeing the world they teach them to be inspired they teach lifelong learning to build understanding of others experiences and perspectives and to be challenged un and even uncomfortable to hear different ideas controversial ideas and to discuss them with teachers who know what they're doing Banning book Springs up fears for me of closed-mindedness people knowing that they're right and anyone who disagrees is wrong fear-based motivation God is on our side thinking I'm amazed and
057appalled and I I have heard and I I guess this is not I can't give you a specific quote of people saying and believing perhaps things about our Public Schools about teachers exposing children to pornography teachers grooming children to be homosexuals teachers teaching kids to be socialists a candidate for the state superintendent position has said that our public schools are socialist indoctrination um centers and said that the person who she defeated in the primary had let pedophiles flourish in their schools she also call for the execution and the killing or the killing of political leaders like President Obama Clinton and Biden I feel like this is fear-based and if you believe it you haven't spent much time in our schools or you haven't met any of our teachers who dedicate themselves to teaching our students
058and work hard incredibly dedicated people this board I think has bent over backward to ensure that books or that parents have access to their children's books or to books being taught in our schools and the ability to control what books their children read in their classrooms and I appreciate that you have done that I would say that if people want to care for and be concerned with abused and neglected children they should volunteer here to be a guardian ad Liam in our court system and speak for abused or neglected children or to volunteer at the Children's Advocacy Center or become a foster parent I felt that what happened in this board meeting was religious bullying and I don't think it's right thank you thank you thank you Mr Floy Mr chair that concludes the public
059section for tonight's meeting thank you Dr Swan do we have need for a Clos session we do not all right uh I move then that we adjourn is there a second second we're properly moving to second at adjournment all in favor indicate with saying I I all oppos no we'll stand a j