001I PLEDGE 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. >> WE WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT'S MEETING BY REMEMBERING THREE STUDENTS WE WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT'S MEETING BY REMEMBERING THREE STUDENTS WHO PASSED AWAY LAST SCHOOL YEAR. ALTHOUGH WE CELEBRATE THEIR LIVES AND THE POSITIVE IMPACT THEY MADE ON THE GCS FAMILY, OUR HEARTS ARE EXTENDED IN GRIEF TO THEIR LOVED ONES. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WE'D LIKE TO EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND TEACHERS OF JURNEE SHOFFNER, BRAYDEN NEAL AND LOGAN FORBIS. JURNEE SHOFFNER WALKED INTO HER KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM AT ALAMANCE ELEMENTARY EVERY DAY WITH A BRIGHT, HAPPY SMILE ON HER FACE AND A HAPPY "GOOD MORNING" IN HER SWEET LITTLE DEEP VOICE.
002SHE WAS A KIND, LOVING, FRIEND TO EVERY ONE OF HER CLASSMATES AND MADE THEM ALL FEEL LIKE THEY WERE HER BEST FRIEND. JURNEE WORKED HARD EVERY DAY AND GREW SO VERY MUCH DURING HER KINDERGARTEN YEAR. NO MATTER WHAT CHALLENGE SHE FACED, JURNEE WAS ALWAYS WILLING TO TRY. SHE WAS BRAVE AND STRONG, TACKLING A NEW DIABETES DIAGNOSIS IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF SCHOOL WITH STRENGTH AND COURAGE. ALAMANCE ELEMENTARY PLANS TO HONOR JURNEE BY PLANTING A GARDEN OUTSIDE OF HER CLASSROOM WITH BEAUTIFUL, VIBRANT FLOWERS THAT WILL ALWAYS REMIND US OF THIS BEAUTIFUL, VIBRANT SWEET GIRL. BRAYDEN NEAL WAS A SPECIAL YOUNG MAN WHO WORKED REALLY HARD TO BECOME A SENIOR AT HIGH POINT CENTRAL HIGH. HE WAS AN AVID STUDENT OF THE LEARNING HUB DURING HIS JUNIOR YEAR TO KEEP HIS GRADES UP AND GET ON
003TRACK TO GRADUATE. HE ALWAYS ATTENDED THE MORNING LEARNING HUB AND WAS WAITING BY THE DOOR EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY MORNING WHEN HIS COUNSELOR MS. WHITE WOULD ARRIVE BY 7:30 A.M. BRAYDEN WAS QUIET BUT EXTREMELY RESPECTFUL. HE ALWAYS SAID YES MA'AM AND NO MA'AM AND WAS A JOY TO HAVE AROUND. HE HAD HOPES AND DREAMS OF PURSUING A WELDING CERTIFICATION UPON GRADUATION. LOGAN FORBIS WAS AN AMAZING PART OF THE SCHOOL FAMILY AT ALAMANCE ELEMENTARY! HE WAS WELL-KNOWN BY BOTH TEACHERS AND STAFF FOR HIS JOKING PERSONALITY. ONE OF HIS FAVORITE THINGS WAS TO HAVE A "RACE" DOWN THE HALLWAY WITH STAFF, AND SOMEHOW, HE ALWAYS WON! TEACHERS AT ALAMANCE JOKED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO START WRITING HIM SPEEDING TICKETS FOR HOW FAST HE MANEUVERED AROUND THE SCHOOL. HE WAS VERY POPULAR WITH HIS FELLOW STUDENTS, AND
004HIS PEERS ALWAYS WANTED A CHANCE TO HIGH-FIVE LOGAN IN PASSING. LOGAN TAUGHT HIS TEACHERS SO MUCH MORE ABOUT DETERMINATION, PERSEVERANCE AND JOY FOR LIFE THAN THEY COULD HAVE EVER TAUGHT HIM. HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS LOVE OF MUSIC AND DANCE PARTIES. >> ALTHOUGH WE WERE ONLY PRIVILEGED TO KNOW THESE STUDENTS FOR A BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME, IN THEIR OWN WAYS, THEY HELPED TO CREATE HEARTWARMING MEMORIES THAT WILL BE CHERISHED FOREVER. TO HONOR THESE STUDENTS, PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. >> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS OR SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES IN SAY IA ATTENDANCE SO THAT THE BOARD CAN OFFER CONDOLENCES. >> NEXT WE WILL RECOGNIZE KELVIN MOSES, OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. CLEANING AND MAINTAINING A BUILDING WITH 600 STUDENTS IS TOUGH ENOUGH ON ITS
005OWN. BUT WHEN KELVIN WAS TASKED WITH ADDING FOUR ADDITIONAL STUDENTS, MOSES, THE LEAD CUSTODIAN HELPED MODIFY AND CONVERT SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS AND STAFF FROM CLAXTON ELEMENTARY, WHICH IS BEING REBUILT. AND NOW, A MONTH INTO THE SCAL YEAR, THE BUILDING SHINES AND THE TWO SCHOOLS HAVE BLENDED SSEAMLESSLY UNDER ONE ROOF. MARY CONWAY WROTE, MR. MOSES DEMONSTRATED OPTIMISTIC LEADERSHIP IN A VERY CHALLENGING SITUATION. WITHOUT HIS LEADERSHIP THERE'S NO WAY THAT BOTH SCHOOLS COULD HAVE BEEN PHYSICALLY READY TO RECEIVE STUDENTS BY THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. HIS DEDICATION CONTINUES TO BE PARAMOUNT, NOW THAT OUR BUILDING HAS INCREASED FROM 630 STUDENTS AND STAFF TO ONE THOUSAND PLUS. HE LEADS THE TEAM IN MAKING SURE THE BUILDING IS CLEAN, HAS NECESSARY SUPPLIES AND ENSURES ALL MAINTENANCE NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED. MOSES RECEIVED A $50 GIFT CARD AND DURING THE
006MONTH OF OCTOBER HIS PHOTO WILL HANG AT THE DISTRICT CENTRAL OFFICE AT JESSE WARTON ELEMENTARY AND AT THE JAYCEES OPTION. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK DEBRA KNAPPER TO READ AUT OUT LOUD THE CERTIFICATE HONORING KELVIN. >> THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED TO KELVIN MOSES FOR EMPLOYEE OF MONTH, SPONSORED BY THE GREENSBORO JAYCEES OCTOBER 11, 2022. AND IT'S SIGNED BY OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD CHAIR. [ APPLAUSE ] >> MOSES, WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO COME TO THE PODIUM, MAKE A FEW COMMENTSER AND THEN DOUBLE BACK SO THAT WE CAN SHAKE YOUR HAND AND ANY FAMILY, FRIENDS, OR SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES HERE WITH YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY PRINCIPAL, MARY CONWAY, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ELSE. THANK YO! [LAUGHTER] >> WELL, THANK
007YOU. YOU'VE GOT FAMILY OR ANYONE WITH YOU? THEY'RE WELCOME TO CONGRATULATE YOU AS WELL. >> WE ARE NOW AT APPROVAL OF -- NO WE'RE NOT. WE'RE NOW AT PUBLIC COMMENT. AND HERE THEY ARE. AS WE'RE GETTING STARTED WELD JUST LIKE TO REMIND OUR AUDIENCE AND SPEAKERS SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, WE ASK YOU TO DO THIS SO THAT WE CAN HEAR EACH SPEAKER AND THAT THEY ARE ALLOTTED THEIR FULL TIME. AS YOU COME TO THE PODIUM WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS. WELD LWE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO E YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. WHEN THE AMBER LIGHT COME UP, PLEASE WRAP IT UP SO THAT WE CAN GET TO ALL THE PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT. FIRST ON OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS IS NATHAN CRABTREE FOLLOWED BY
008K KT WELLBOCK. >> I'M NATHAN FROM GREENSBORO NORTH CAROLINA. AGAIN, I'M A PRODUCT OF GREENSBORO COUNTY SCHOOL. I'M A WIELDING ELDER WHO JUST RETIRED AFTER 30 YEARS AS A PUBLIC MUSIC SCHOOLTEACHER WHERE I WAS SELECTED AS TEACHER OF THE YEAR, THREE TIMES. AND I JUST MOVED BACK TO BE CLOSER TO MY PARENT, MY CHILDREN, AND THE LGBTQ CENTER. ON THIS NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY I'M CELEBRATING FIVE YEAR OF COMING OUT PUBLICLY. I GOT SO MUCH SUPPORT FROM MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COLLEAGUES WHEN I CAME OUT. I'M SO THANKFUL I WAS ABLE TO LIVE AS AN OUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLTEACHER. I WORE A RAINBOW WATCH BAND AND REGULARLY HAD STUDENTS AND COMMENTS SUPPORT ME. ONE OF MY STUDENT'S MOTHERS WAS VOLUNTEERS AT THE BOOK FAIR AND TOLD ME HOW MUCH IT MEANT TO HER THAT HER SON
009FELT FREE TO EXPLORE PAINTING HIS NAILS BECAUSE HE SAW MINE PAINTED. NOT FOR SOME POLITICAL AGENDA BECAUSE HE LIKED THE COLOR AND LIKED TO PLAY THAT WAY. THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF STUDENTS AN TEACHERS ARE IMPORTANT. THEY SHAPE WHO WE ARE AND HELP OUR STUDENTS SEE US AS REAL PEOPLE. NO ONE GOS INTO EDUCATION TO BE A C CIS TEACHER OR A STRAIGHT TEACH, OR A LEFT OR RI RIGHT HAD TEACHER. WE HOPE TO TEACH ALL CHILDREN THE VALUE OF LIVING IN TRUTH. AS UNFOUNDED FEAR AND MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO DRIVE NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL RHETORIC, I URGE YOU TO STAY TRUE TO YOUR OWN POLICY WHICH STATES -- AND I QUOTE, THE GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ACKNOWLEDGES THE DIGNITY ANY AND WORTH THAT ALL STUDENTS OF EMPLOYEES AND TRYING TO MAINTAIN
010AN ENVIRONMENT FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND BULLYING AND ALL OF ITS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES. THIS INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, BULLYING BASED ON SEX, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MY NAME IS KAIT WELLBOCK. MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE/HER/HERS AND I'M A PROUD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELOR IN GUILFORD COUNTY. I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE MY KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE AROUND LGBTQ REPRESENTATION IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM, NOT ONLY AS AND ADVOCATE TO STUDENTS AND STAFF BUT AS A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY MYSELF. DUE TO THE NATURE OF MY JOB, I WISH TO RESPECT THE PRIVACY OF MY STUDENTS SO I WILL NOT BE SHARING SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF THE IMPORTANT OF REPRESENTATION. INSTEAD I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THIS. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE, POSITIVE,
011AND NURTURING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS CAN ACHIEVE THEIR FULL ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND PERSONAL POTENTIAL TO BECOME CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT CHILDREN EXPERIENCE INCREASED MENTAL AND SOCIAL DISTRESS. LGBTQ STUDENTS ARE TEN TIMES AS LIKELY TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE, EVEN AS YOUNG AS FIVE THEY HAVE SUICIDAL IDEATION. IT IS A REAL FEELING AND NO ONE IS EXEMPT. WE INTEND TO PROVIDE A SAFE, POSITIVE, N NURTURING ENVIRONMET FOR ALL. WE MUST PROVIDE A SAFE NURTURING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL. STAFF WHO ARE SEEN AS ACCEPTED ARE MORE LIKELY TO THRIVE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THAT COMMUNITY WITH INCREASED MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLNESS. AS EDUCATORS, WE MUST PRESS TOWARD COMPASSION. THIS EXPERIENCE IS NOT SOMETHING FOR TEACHERS OR SOCIAL WORKER, NOR JUST THE ADMINISTRATORS INDIVIDUALLY. WE MUST WORK AS A COHEENSIVE COHE'S ICOHESIVESYSTEM FROM THE. SO I'M HERE TODAY
012TO IMPLORE OUR BOARD OF EDUCATORS TO BE THE REINFORCEMENT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO THRIVE IN INCLUSION AND CELEBRATION. WE CANNOT GO BACKWARD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> JENNIFER RUPPE FOLLOWED BY DR. CHUCK MORRIS. >> MY NAME IS JENNIFER RUPPE. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GREENSVILLE AND ON TODAY, COMING OUT DAY, I'M ALSO AN OUT AND PROUD LESBIAN. TODAY IS NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY, IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THAT ALREADY. AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT GUILFORD COUNTY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WHO CAN'T BE HERE BECAUSE THEY FEAR RETALIATION IN THE FORM OF BULLYING, PHYSICAL ATTACK, OR BEING FIRED. LGBTQ PEOPLE EXIST EVERYWHERE. BUT GROUPS LIKE TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS WANT TO ERASE US. TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS ISN'T A GROUP OF ADMINISTRATORS WHO SIMPLY WANT TO USE A FALSE NATFALSENARRATIVE THAT TEACHERSE CREATING A
013CULTURE OF SECRECY FROM PARENTS TRYING TO INDOCTRINATE THEIR KIDS AND THAT THERE'S A NATIONAL ATTEMPT TO GET SEXUALLY EXPLICIT BOOKS INTO SCHOOLS. LET ME BE CLEAR. NONE OF THAT IS BASED IN REALITY. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THEIR PLAYBOOK IS WORKING. TEACHERS HAVE TOLD ME THAT TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS IS INFLUENCING OUR INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS MAKE DECISIONS. THEY SAY THAT SOME ADMINISTRATORS FIND IT EASIER TO QUIETLY TAKE DOWN AN LGBTQ FLYER, TO IGNORE A STUDENT'S REQUEST TO START A GSA OR TO TURN A BLIND EYE WHEN A TEACHER SAYS THAT BEING GAY IS A MENTAL ILLNESS. MANY STUDENTS HAVE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR IDENTITY, REFUSED TO USE THE NAME THEY GO BY AND REFUSE TO USE THEIR CORRECT PRONOUNS. STUDENTS HAVE REPORTED BEING OUTED BY TEACHERS, WHICH LEAD TO THEM BEING BULLIED BY THEIR PEERS. ALL OF THESE
014THINGS ARE IN DIRECT COMPETITION TO OUR POLICIES. THEY'RE NOT INHERENTLY PRONE TO SUICIDE RISK BUT RATHER THEY'RE PLACED AT HIGHER RISK BECAUSE OF HOW THEY'RE MISTREATED AND STIGMA ADVERTISED BY SOCIETY. STIGMATIZIZED BY SOCIETY. A STUDY HAD SHOWN THAT MANY LGBTQ YOUTH SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED SUICIDE IN THE PAST YEAR. IGNORING THE ISSUES WILL NOT MAKE THEM GO AWAY. WE'RE SIMPLY HERE TO ASK YOU THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD HOLD GCS ACCOUNTABLE FOR UPHOLDING THE NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICIES ALREADY IN PLACE. >> THANK YOU DR. CHUCK MORRIS FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL ROBINSON. >> SUPERINTENDENT OAKLEY, CHAIRWOMAN HAYES, CHUCK MORRIS. I'VE BEEN A SUPERINTENDENT AND DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT TO THE LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY AND RETIRED HERE FROM GUILFORD COUNTY. I'M TOO OLD AND TOO OUT OF PRACTICE TO BE UP HERE BEFORE YOU. BUT I'M PASSION ATD ABOUT PASSIT STUDENTS THAT'S
015THE REASON I'M HERE. I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THAT NUMBER. I WANT EVERYONE TO SEE THAT NUMBER. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER REPRESENTS? 30,000 OF OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT PROFICIENT IN READING AND MATH. WE'RE PREPARED TO BUILD A BUILDING TO HELP THESE CHILDREN CATCH UP. NOW, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT. AND NO EDUCATOR IN THIS ROOM SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK CHILDREN IN THE FACE KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT A BUILDING AHEAD OF CHILDREN. I'M UPSET AND I'LL BE FRANK WITH YOU. I'M GOING TO LOOK AT SOME OF YOU. IF I HAD SAID TO YOU 20 YEARS AGO I'M GOING TO PUT $25 MILLION IN A BUILDING INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT INTO CHILDREN, THE MAJORITY OF THESE CHILDREN ARE CHILDREN OF COLOR AND POOR. WE'RE PUTTING IT
016INTO A BUILDING. NOW, IF YOU WANT A SUGGESTION ABOUT HOW TO GET THE SAME THINGS IN THAT BUILDING OUT OF THE $1.7 TRILLION THAT YOU FOLLOWED THE CORRECT PROCESS ON, I'LL BE GLAD TO COME IN AND SIT DOWN AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT. BUT IF YOU VOTE TODAY, I WANT YOU TO GO BACK TO YOUR DISTRICTS AND TELL YOUR PARENTS AND THE CHILDREN IN THAT DISTRICT I'M BUILDING A BUILDING INSTEAD OF TRYING TO HELP YOU TO IMPROVE THE LIVE OF STUDENTS. I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M UPSET. I'M HERE BECAUSE YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY, WITH GOOD CONSCIOUS, TO HAVE SOMETHING FOR A BUILDING WHEN MONEY CAN BE USED TO INCREASE THE EDUCATIONAL CAPACITY OF THESE CHILDREN. I CAN'T BE HERE FOR YOUR VOTE. I HAVE TO GO BACK HOME. I WOULD HOPE THAT TOMORROW I WOULD READ
017THAT THAT'S BEEN TABLE AND THAT OTHER ALTERNATIVES ARE BEING LOOKED AT. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. I'VE HEARD EVERY EXCUSE. IT WILL COST US THOUSANDS TO RENT SPACE. IT'S GOING TO COST YOU $200,000 TO MAINTAIN THAT BUILDING. >> HELLO. I'M MICHAEL ROBINSON. I'M HERE REPRESENTING NCCJ. YOU MAY KNOW US FOR OUR WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH ANYTOWN AND OTHER PROGRAMS. I'M ALSO HERE AS A FATHER AND AS YOUR NEIGHBOR. AS AN EDUCATOR WITH GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR NCCJ I'VE SEEN HOW POWERFUL AFFIRMING SPACES CAN BE IN THE LIVE OF YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY YOUTH WHO BELONG TO OUR MOST MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. I SEE EFFORTS TO PUSH LGBTQ YOUTH BACK INTO THE CLOSET. THIS MAKES ME THI TH THINK OF SO NOW HAS A SUCCESSFUL CAREER AFTER BEING A CHILD LIKE THIS. I THINK OF
018LILY WHO JUST STARTED COLLEGE. SHE TOLD ME, BEFORE COMING OUT AS TRANS, I WANTED TO KILL MYSELF, I WAS AFRAID OF BEING WHO I TRULY AM. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHO I CAN BECOME NOW, NOW THAT I CAN FINAL I WILL BE MYSELF. FINALLY BE MYSELF. I COULD HAVE LOST TWO FRIENDS TO PREVENTABLE DECEMBERS. DEATHS.WE DON'T NEED TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHO OUR CHILDREN ARE IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEM. IF WE CAN WITHHOLD OUR JUDGMENT AND LISTEN, THEY'LL TELL US WHO THEY ARE. BANNING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT LGBTQ PEOPLE DOESN'T PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. IT HARMS THEM. IT SPREADS MISINFORMATION ABOUT WHO TRANS PEOPLE ARE, WHO QUEER PEOPLE ARE. IT DOESN'T PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. WHAT IT DOES DO IS SEND YOUNG PEOPLE THE MESSAGE THAT, IF THEY ARE GAY OR THEY'RE TRANS, OR IF SOMEONE THEY LOVE IS GAY
019OR TRANS, THAT MEANS SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THEM. AT NCCJ WE BELIEVE THAT ALL PEOPLE SHOULD BE TREATED EQUALLY, NO MATTER WHO THEY LOVE, WHAT CLOTHING THEY WEAR. WE'RE ABOUT PARTNERING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE ADULTS THAT LOVE AND CARE FOR THEM. WE'RE HERE AS A RESOURCE TO ALL FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY TRI-I,INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE L BOARD. TO THOSE WHO ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO SUPPRESS AND VILIFY LGBTQ PEOPLE, WHO ARE USING THEM AS PAWNS TO SCORE POLITICAL POINT, WE SEE YOU. YOU ARE NOT MAKING OUR CHILDREN SAFER. IT'S ALLOWING PREJUDICE, HATE, AND VIOLENCE TO THRIVE. WE WILL NOT STOP PUSHING BACK UNTIL EVERY PERSON IN OUR COMIEWFNTY -- COMMUNITY IS TREATED WITH THE DIGNITY AND RESPECT THEY DESERVE AS HUMAN BEINGS. THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> I GENERALLY GO BY KATY LIND. LIKE
020ALL OF YOU I'M INVESTED IN EDUCATION. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY WHICH, AS THOSE OF WHO WHO ARE EDUCATORS KNOW IS A KEY PART OF EDUCATION. FOR STUDENTS, THIS MEANS BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK, TAKING OWNERSHIP OF YOUR EDUCATIONAL GOALS. WHILE THIS MAY NOT APPLY TO KINDERGARTENERS, PERHAPS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE. THE SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD TOO. ACCOUNTABILITY MEANS BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROMISES YOU MAKE AND THE RESOLUTIONS YOU HAVE PASSED. IN 2005, THE GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT STATED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, QUOTE, INTENDS TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF LIMITED RESOURCES, INCLUDING ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES". IT GOES ON TO SAY THAT APPROPRIATE MEANS AND METHODS OF CONSERVATION SHALL BE EMPLOYED TO MINIMIZE ENERGY AND RESOURCE CONSUMPTION, INCLUDING BUT
021NOT LIMITED TO THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF VEHICLES IN ADDITION TO ENERGY AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION EDUCATION. THE 2005 POLICIES AND PROCEDURE, CRAFTED BY YOUR PREDECESSOR, EMPOWER YOU TO BE THE LEADERS OF THESE CHANGES. THE BONDS APPROVED IN 2020 AND 2022 AFFORD YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULFILL THESE CONSERVATION AND CON SU SUC S COFFIN CONSUMP. I INVITE YOU TO COMMIT TO 100% RENEWABLE PRACTICES BY 2050, A COMMITMENT TO CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 2050 IS NOT UNREASONABLE OR UNREALISTIC. IT MEANS INSTALLING MORE SOLAR PANEL ON SCHOOLS THAT WILL BEING RENOVATED OR BUILT, WHICH WILL REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS AND LOWERING THE COST OF HEATING AND COOLING THE SCHOOLS. IT MEANS ADDING VEHICLES TO ELIMINATE TOXIC FUMES CHILDREN ARE INHALING. THAT MONEY SAVED ON FUEL AND MAINTENANCE COSTS MAKES THIS ECONOMICALLY AND LOGISTICALLY SMART. IT MEANS PRIORITIZING LONG-TERM PUBLIC
022HEALTH THROUGH UPDATED HVAC SYSTEMS AND CONSTRUCTION THAT COMPLIES WITH LED SILVER STANDARDS FOR BUILDINGS. ALL THESE COMMITMENTS UPHOLD THE 2005 GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION POLICY AND MEANS BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. WE KNOW THAT A COMMITMENT FROM YOU, THE MEMBERS OF THE GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, MUST COME FIRST AND THEN THE PLANNING CAN FOLLOW. THAT'S WHY WE NEED YOU TO BE ACCOUNTABLE. WE NEED ENERGY EFFICIENT PLANS FOR EVERY SCHOOL. YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE GUILFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THE MODEL FOR OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN NORTH CAROLINA. I WI WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOG ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. PLEASE BE ACCOUNTABLE. >> THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] >> I'M LOUISE DIGH. I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF
023OF THE NCCJ TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE AS A QUEER STUDENT AT GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. I'M A JUNIOR AND I'VE BEEN OUT AS TRANS GENDER ANDERSON ALESS BEE YEN FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I KNOW MY EXPERIENCE IS UNIQUE BECAUSE I'VE HAD AN INVALUABLE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FROM MY TEACHERS. AND I KNOW NOT EVERY STUDENT IS ABLE TO GET THE KIND OF SUPPORT THAT I HAVE. WHEN I CAME OUT, I SENT AN EMAIL SAYING PLEASE USE THESE PRONOUNS, I KNOW THIS IS DIFFICULT. AND I GOT RESPECT FROM ALL OF MY TEACHERS. I DIDN'T THINK THAT WOULD HAPPEN BUT GRIMSLEY HAS CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE IT'S OKAY TO BE OUT AND QUEER, AT LEAST IN MY SIR CME. CIRCLE. SINCE I KNOW THAT IS NOT THE CASE EVERYWHERE, I WANT TO REMIND YOU HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS BECAUSE
024I WOULD NOT B HERE TODAY IN FRONT OF YOU SPEAKING ABOUT THIS IF MY IDENTITY HAS BEEN STIFLED OR REJECTED BY MY TEACHERS. I HAVE PEERS THAT ALSO ENCOURAGE MY IDENTITY. GCS NEEDS TO FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S SAFE FOR KIDS. I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T FEEL SAFE. I I'M LUCKY. THAT'S WHY I'M HERE, WHY I'M USING MY VOICE TO TALK TO YOU. IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE OUR NAME IN RECORDS. I HAD IT LEGALLY CHANGED BUT THERE ARE STILL PLACES WHERE IT'S NOT CORRECT. I KNOW IT'S A HARD EFFORT TO MAKE CHANGES TO ACCOMMODATE TRANS STUDENTS, BUT IT SAVES LIVES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU [ APPLAUSE ] >> DR. AIGNER MOORE. >> HELLO. I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE. I'M A SECOND YEAR PEDIATRIC RESIDENT AND NEWLY APPOINTED DISTRICT LIAISON FOR COMMUNITY
025CHILD HELD PROGRAM. I STAND BEFORE YOU TO ENHANCE CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT IN GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. $12,500 FUNDING IS MADE POSSIBLE TO IMPLEMENT A SIX MONTH PROJECT INVOLVING A SCHOOL, LOCAL PEDIATRICIAN. THE FOCUS IS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO SERVICES THAT LEAD TO OPTIMAL CHILD HEALTH AND WELL BEING AS IT RELATES TO CHRONIC CONDITION MANAGEMENT IN THE SCHOOL SETTING. THAT WOULD INCLUDE ANYTHING FROM DIABETES TO MENTAL HEALTH. FUNDED PROJECTS WOULD DEVELOP MEASURABLE OUTCOMES, THE ABCs, ATTENDANCE, BEHAVIOR, AND COMPETENCE, AND A PLAN FOR SUSTAINABILITY. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PEDIATRICS. I'VE SPOKEN WITH SUSAN HOKES ABOUT PREVIOUS COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS THAT EXCEL BETWEEN SCHOOL HEALTH AND THE COHEN CENTER FOR CHILDREN. I ALSO HAVE A NETWORK OF PEDIATRICIANS WITH SUSTAINABLE CLINICS THAT I WILL USE. MY RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE TO LEARN THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC,
026AND ENVIRONMENTAL DATA FOR THE CHILDREN'S SCHOOL AND TO LEARN THE PROCESS THAT THE SCHOOL IS ALREADY USING TO MANAGE CHRONIC DISEASE IN THAT SETTING AND THE CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS THAT THE SCHOOL CURRENTLY FACES. TOGETHER, WE WILL BRAINSTORM THE GAPS THAT THIS FUNDING WILL HELP ALLEVIATE. THE DEADLINE FOR THE GRANT IS OCTOBER 21. THE NOTIFICATION OF AWARD IS OCTOBER 28. AND OUR NOVEMBER 1-APRIL 30, THE GRANT PERIOD BEGINS. MY QUESTION FOR THE BOARD WOULD JUST BE, DO I HAVE YOUR PERMISSION TO WORK WITH A SCHOOL IN THIS DISTRICT? WHICH SCHOOL WOULD THIS GRANT AND PROJECT BEST SERVE? AND ALSO WHICH PERSON SHOULD I CONTACT? I CAN BE REACHED AT AIG [email protected]. THAT'S MY PERSONAL EMAIL. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU, DR. ROBIN. MOORE. OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS CECE FOYE. >> MY
027PRONOUNS ARE THEY/SHE. I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE QUEER STUDENT COMMUNITY OF GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME. I'M A JUNIOR IN THE IB PROGRAM, THE COPRESIDENT OF SEXUAL AND GENDER CLUB. I'M ALSO A HUGE FAN OF THAI FOOD I LIKE HANGING OUT WITH MY FRIEND. THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR ALL OF US NO DOUBT. BUT LGBTQ+ YOUTH HAVE FACED UNIQUE CHALLENGES. PERSONALLY, NUMBERS AND STATISTICS HELP ME. SO TODAY I HAVE STATISTICS FROM THE TREVOR PROJECT'S 2021 NATIONAL SURVEY ON LGBTQ MENTAL HEALTH. THEY SURVEYED 35,000 QUEER PEOPLE, AGE 13-24, OF WHICH 35% WERE PEOPLE OF COLOR. 38% WERE NONBINARY OR TRANSGENDER. 75% OF LGBTQ YOUTH REPORTED HAVING EXPERIENCED DISCRIMINATION AT LEAST ONCE IN THEIR LIFETIME. TRANSGENDER YOUTH CHO REPORTED HAVING PRONOUNS DISRESPECTED ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT HALF THE RATE AS THOSE
028WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR PRONOUNS DISRESPECTED BY THOSE THEY LIVE WITH. QUEER YOUTH WHO HAVE FRIENDS WHO RESPECT THEIR GENDER IDENTITY REPORT LOWER RATES OF SUICIDE AND MORE SAID THAT COVID-19 MADE THEIR LIVING TO BE STRESSFUL. WE SPEND ALMOST ALL OF OUR PRE-ADULT YEARS IN SCHOOL. ALMOST ALL THAT WE EXPERIENCE COMES FROM SCHOOL. MANY STUDENTS FIND RELEVANCE IN WHAT'S PROVIDED FROM HOW WORTHY THEY ARE TO HOW MUCH THEIR VOICE MATTERS. THESE STUDENTS ARE ALMOST ENTIRELY STRAIGHT AND CIS PEOPLE. FOR EXAMPLE, SEX ED OR FAMILY LIFE, HOWEVER YOU CALL IT, IS ONLY WRITTEN FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE CIS RELATIONSHIPS WHICH DEPRIVES QUEER STUDENTS THE ABILITY TO PROTECT THEIR SEXUAL WELL BEING. IT'S COMMON TO HEAR STUDENTS THROW AROUND THE GAY OR F SLUR. JUST YESTERDAY I HEARD A KID WHO I KNOW SAY BRO, YOU'RE SUCH
029A -- ENTER F SLUR. HOW DO YOU THINK THAT MAKES ME FEEL? MAKES MY QUEER FRIENDS HEAR A DEROGATORY SLUR USED WITHOUT ANY REPPER CAUTION CUSHION. REPERCUSSION. I KNOW BEING A TEACHER IS HARD. BUT BEING A GOOD HUMAN WHO DOESN'T STAND FOR DISCRIMINATION IS NOT DIFFICULT. SIMPLY NOT CONTRIBUTING IS NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED YOUR HELP. THIS IS ME ASING YOU TO CALL OUT THE UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR TO A COMMUNITY WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO EXIST IN PEACE, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. YOU ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES. PLEASE SEE US AS PEOPLE LIE EVERYONE ELSE WHO DESERVE A SAFE AND RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU! >> THIS CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. WELD LIKE TO APPROVE OUR AGENDA. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> WE ARE
030NOW AT THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THIS EVENING'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES THE: A. APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER MEETINGS' MINUTES B. PERSONNEL REPORT C. 2022-2023 BUDGET AMENDMENTS/TRANSFERS REPORT D. CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH METCON, INC. FOR EARLY STEEL AT KISER MIDDLE SCHOOL - REPLACEMENT SCHOOL PROJECT E. CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH D. A. EVERETTE-CHRISTMAN FOR BID PACKAGE #1B AT PECK EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING K-8 SCHOOL - REPLACEMENT SCHOOL PROJECT F. CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH SAMET-MEG FOR PRE-CONSTRUCTION/DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER PROJECT THAT CONCLUDES THIS EVENING'S CONSENT AGENDA FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> COMMENTS? >> YES, EXCEPT FOR F. I'VE BEEN VERY CONSISTENT. NOT JUST FOR THE PROJECT BUT FOR THE FUNDING SOURCE OF THE PROJECT. >> DEBRA? >> YES. >> BETTY? >> YES. BETTYE?>> YES. >> DIANE? >> YES. >> AND DEENA, YES. THAT
031PASSES BY A VOTE OF 6-2. WE ARE NOW AT REPORTS FROM THE CHAIR. GOOD EVENING. AND WELCOME. TONIGHT, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT OUR BOARD ROOM LOOKS A BIT DIFFERENT. PORTRAITS OF OUR FOUR FORMER SUPERINTENDENTS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, WITH ROOM TO ADD OTHERS IN THE FUTURE. WE WOULD NOT BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITHOUT THE WORK OF THESE MEN AND WOMEN, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND VISION. THIS WEEK IS NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK, CELEBRATING HEALTHY SCHOOL MEALS. NATIONWIDE, MORE THAN 30 MILLION CHILDREN ENJOY SCHOOL LUNCHES, AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR SCHOOL NUTRITION WORKERS FOR MAKING SURE OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE NUTRITIOUS MEALS EACH AND EVERY DAY. WITHOUT THEM, MANY OF OUR STUDENTS WOULD GO HUNGRY. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR MEAL BENEFITS, PLEASE APPLY AT WWW.LUNCHAPPLICATION.COM. GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS IS
032PLEASED TO BE A PART OF THE STATE'S FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM. THIRTY-FIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WILL RECEIVE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR SNACKS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY THROUGH THIS FEDERAL GRANT. COLLEGE APPLICATION WEEK RETURNS NEXT WEEK, WHEN DOZENS OF NORTH CAROLINA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WAIVE THEIR APPLICATION FEES. GO TO CFNC.ORG FOR A FULL LIST OF SCHOOLS AND HELPFUL TIPS ABOUT THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS. OUR COUNSELORS AND GRADUATION COACHES DO A GREAT JOB OF SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH THEIR STUDENTS AND HELPING THEM TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY AS THEY PREPARE FOR COLLEGE. FINALLY, THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH, A TIME TO FOCUS ON PREVENTING CHILDHOOD BULLYING AND PROMOTING KINDNESS, ACCEPTANCE AND INCLUSION. WE ALSO CELEBRATE UNITY DAY ON OCT. 19 AND WEAR ORANGE TO SEND A VISIBLE MESSAGE THAT NO CHILD SHOULD EVER EXPERIENCE
033BULLYING. IN HONOR OF BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH AND TO KICK OFF UNITY DAY, WE ASK EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD TO TAKE THE UNITY DAY PLEDGE. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, PLEASE STAND AND TAKE THE PLEDGE. >> I COMMIT TO EVERYONE FEELING SAFE AT SCHOOL IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND ONLINE, SHOW THAT I CARE AND AM AGAINST BULLYING AND UNITED FOR KINDNESS, ACCEPTANCE, AND INCLUSION, SEND A MESSAGE TO STUDENTS WHO ARE BULLIED THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE, CREATE A CULTURE IN WHICH MORE PEPEOPLPEOPLE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF. WE WILL EACH SIGN OUR NAME TO THAT. >> THANK YOU. THIS CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. WE ARE NOW AT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. >> >> GOOD EVENING. I WANT TO START OFF BY NOTING THAT OCTOBER IS NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH. AS BUILDING LEADERS, PRINCIPALS WORK TIRELESSLY TO SUPPORT STUDENTS, STAFF AND PARENTS. THEY
034WORK EXTREMELY LONG HOURS AND OFTEN DO NOT GET THE RECOGNITION THEY DESERVE BUT I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND EFFORTS TO IMPACT LEARNING AND LIFE OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS. PLEASE SHARE YOUR APPRECIATION FOR YOUR PRINCIPALS WITH THEM DIRECTLY AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR OTHERS TO SEE. CONGRATULATIONS TO CHRISTOPHER CARROLL OF STERNBERGER ELEMENTARY, WHO WAS NAMED THE DISTRICT'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR, AND PAUL TRAVERS OF WASHINGTON MONTESSORI, WHO WAS NAMED GCS PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THESE EDUCATORS AND WISH THEM WELL AS THEY CONTINUE IN THE REGIONAL AND STATE COMPETITIONS. VIDEOS ABOUT THEM ARE NOW AIRING ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND ON GCSTV. WE ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR OTHER OUTSTANDING WINNERS FROM CELEBRATION OF EXCELLENCE. THEY ARE: ROOKIE TEACHER OF THE YEAR JERICO CARRILLO FROM SOUTHERN HIGH;
035MENTOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR CHRISTINA SAPUSEK FROM WESTERN HIGH; SOCIAL WORKER OF THE YEAR BRITTANY WELLS FROM JAMESTOWN MIDDLE; COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR ASHLEY LOPEZ-DAVILA FROM ALDERMAN ELEMENTARY; AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR KIMBERLY LEIGHTY FROM WESTERN HIGH. GCS IS RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH. BEING AT SCHOOL IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP TO BEING SUCCESSFUL IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND. ATTENDANCE MATTERS, AND WE LEARN BETTER TOGETHER. BE HERE EVERY DAY TO REACH YOUR DREAMS. NEXT WEEK IS NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK, SO IT IS ALSO A GREAT TIME TO APPRECIATE OUR BUS DRIVERS AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS. AS THE DAYS GET SHORTER APPROACHING DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME, PLEASE BE EXTRA MINDFUL AROUND BUSES, ESPECIALLY WHILE THEY ARE LOADING OR UNLOADING STUDENTS. FINALLY, DURING THE NEXT 92 DAYS, I WILL BE
036MEETING WITH STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY. LAST WEEK, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH ABOUT 200 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING PRINCIPALS OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS, OPERATIONS STAFF, BUSINESS LEADERS, FAITH LEADERS, AMONG OTHERS. I INVITE YOU TO LEARN MORE AND SHARE YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS AT WWW.GCSNC.COM/BETTERTOGETHER. MY NEXT COMMUNITY CONVERSATION IS WITH PARENTS AT ANDREWS HIGH SCHOOL THIS THURSDAY, OCT. 13, AT 5:30 P.M. I'M THANKFUL TO HAVE FOUR COCHAIRS, INCLUDING DR. HAROLD MARTIN SR., DEBRA, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FROM THE GREANS BOGREENSBORO OFFICER, AN, COFOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LATINX-ED. THE NEXT COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH PARENTS IS AT ANDREWS HIGH SCHOOL THIS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, AT 5:30. AND I INVITE PARENTS TO JOIN ME. A SECOND PARENT MEETING WILL BE HELD
037THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10 AT 5:30 AT PAIGE HIGH SCHOOL. PLEASE JOIN US AND RSVP THROUGH THE WEBSITE. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING FAMILIES AT THESE MEETINGS AND HEARING THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR DISTRICT. THIS CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. I'M INVITE DR. LOUIS AND DR. KAY TO JOIN US FOR A STUDENT ATTENDANCE REPORT. >> GOOD EVENING. >> THANK YOU DR. OAKLEY. GOOD EVENING BOARD CHAIR HAYES AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. STUDENT ATTENDANCE IS DIRECTLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE MISSION AND VISION OF GCS, THAT STUDENTS WILL GRADUATE AS RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS, PREPARED TO SUCCEED IN HIGHER EDUCATION OR IN THE CAREER OF THEIR CHOICE TO ULTIMATELY TRANSFORM LEARNING AND LIFE OUTCOMES FOR ALL STUDENTS. TONIGHT WE'LL DISCUSS THE OH ON GOING PANDEMIC IN THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL CONTEXT, THE IMPACT OF STUDENT ATTENDANCE IN GCS, THE PRIORITY OUR
038TEAMS ARE PLACING ON ATTENDANCE IMPROVEMENT STRATEGIES, AND OUR NEW EFFORTS TO RE-ENGAGE STUDENTS. AS DR. STEVENS SHARED WITH YOU LAST MONTH IN THE REPORT, OUR TEAM IS HIGHLY FOCUSED ON MITIGATING THE ONGOING CHALLENGES WE FACE AND STRATEGIES TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO STUDENTS' SUCCESS. WE KNOW THAT ONE OF THE KEY CHALLENGES WE FACE IS ATTENDANCE. AND MAKING SURE STUDENTS ARE IN SCHOOL EVERY SIN SINGLE DAY. WE ALSO KNOW THAT, SINCE THE PANDEMIC, CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM CONTINUES TO BE CHALLENGE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE NATION AND GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE NOT IMMUNE. AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THIS CHALLENGE, WE WANT TO STATE CLEARLY TONIGHT IS THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH POLICIES THAT REQUIRED QUARANTINES AND ISOLATIONS HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON STUDENT ATTENDANCE. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IMPACTED STUDENTS NATIONWIDE. AND WE WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THE IMPACT THE PANDEMIC
039HAD ON LEARNING AND LIFE OUTCOMES FOR OUR STUDENTS. THE IMPACT OF ICE LAYING, QUARANTINE -- ISOLATION, QUARANTINE, AND OTHER CHALLENGES WE FACED AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC IS REFLECTED IN STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND STUDENT OUTCOMES ACROSS ALL GROUPS. OUR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO ADDRESS LEARNING LOSS. HOWEVER, WE CANNOT HELP STUDENTS FULLY RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC IF THEY'RE NOT IN THE CLASSROOM. JUST LAST WEEK, THE "WASHINGTON POST" REPORTED ON STUDENT ATTENDANCE AS TEST SCORES PLUNGED. IN ADDITION TO THAT REPORT, THE HECHINGER REPORT REPORTED THAT A THIRD OF STUDENTS WERE ABSENCE FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR. WE KNOW THAT NATIONALLY, LEARNING DECLINES SPANNED ALMOST ALL RACES AND INCOME LEVELS BUT WERE SIGNIFICANTLY WORST AMONG STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLED THE MOST. IN ORDER TO OVERCOME THESE DECLINES, EVERY SECOND COUNTS, THUS RAISING AN ALARM FOR ALL OF
040US THAT ATTENDANCE MATTERS EVERY SINGLE DAY. OUR STUDENTS DON'T HAVE A MINUTE TO LOSE. THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION COLLECTED DATA FROM PROXIMATELY 2,000 PUBLIC U.S. SCHOOLS AND FOUND THAT 72% OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS REPORTED THAT STUDENT CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND TEACHER ABSENCES INCREASED COMPARED TO PRIOR YEARS. MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS REPORTED IT WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO GET SUBSTITUTES THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. AND NEARLY THREE QUARTER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS FREQUENTLY RELIED ON ADMINISTRATOR, NON-TEACHING STAFF, AND TEACHERS ON THEIR FREE PERIOD TO COVER CLASSES. WE KNOW AND HAVE KNOWN THAT NOTHING BEATS A HIGHLY QUALIFY AND EFFECTIVE TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM. MISSING TWO DAY AS MONTH MEANS A STUDENT MISSES 10% OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. SO WE CANNOT SAY IT ENOUGH, THAT ATTENDANCE MATTERS. THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION AND THE STATE BOARD
041OF EDUCATION DEFINE CHRONICALLY PACK SENT AS STUDENTS WHO MISS MORE THAN 10% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DAYS THEY ARE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL. SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF I AM ENROLLED IN SCHOOL FOR 30 DAYS, BUT I MISS THREE DAYS OF THOSE 30, I AM CONSIDERED CHRONICALLY ABSENT. WHY DOES CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM MATTER? ACCORDING TO THE RESEARCH, FREQUENTLY MISSING CLASSES CAN BE LINKED TO POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, HIGHER RATES OF NOT FINISHING SCHOOL, SOCIAL PROBLEMS, AND POOR HEALTH. ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, BEING CHRONICALLY HAPPY MAY PREVENT CHILDREN FROM READING PROFICIENCY AND CHRONICALLY ABSENT STUDENTS ARE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO DROPOUT OF SCHOOL WHICH HAS BEEN LINKED TO POOR OUTCOMES LATER IN LIFE. SIMILAR TO OTHER U.S. PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS, GSC HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN STUDENT WHO IS ARE CHRONICALLY ABSENT DURING THE 2021-22 SCHOOL
042YEAR AT ALL LEVELS AND BY STUDENT GROUPS COMPARED TO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. IT'S WORTH MENTIONING AND REMINDING US ALL THAT STUDENTS ATTENDED SCHOOL FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING IN 2021-22 BUT WE ALSO NEED TO REFERENCE THE 2018-19 PRE-COVID DATA THAT PROVIDES A CRITICAL CONTEXT ABOUT TAIN ABOT ATTENDANCE PATTERNS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE FOR ATTENDANCE PATTERNS FOR 2021-22 AMONG ALL GRADE SPANS AND ALL STUDENT GROUPS. NOW, AS WE LOOK AT DAILY AVERAGES, CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IS NOT THE ONLY DATA WE TRACK. IN ADDITION TO THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS CHRONICALLY ABSENT, ROUGHLY TRIPLING IN 2021-22, GCS HAS ALSO SEEN BIG SHIFTS IN AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE. THESE LINE GRAPHS SHOW THE DAILY PATTERN FOR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE FOR THE LAST FOUR SCHOOL YEARS. EACH POINT REPRESENTS THE AVERAGE PERCENT OF STUDENTS PRESENT EACH SCHOOL
043DAY IN THAT MONTH. THE GRAY LINE IS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE TEAL LINE IS OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS. AND THE RED LINE ARE OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. WITHIN EACH BLOCK, YOU CAN SEE THE PATTERN OF DAILY ATTENDANCE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL YEAR. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, ATTENDANCE HAS REALLY BEEN SPORADIC. THE 2018-19 LINE IS WHAT OUR ATTENDANCE PATTERNS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR USED TO LOOK LIKE FROM YEAR TO YEAR. 2021-22 WERE BOTH DISRUPTED BY PERIODS OF REMOTE LEARNING. 2021-22 WAS FULLY IN-PERSON. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PATTERN HAS CHANGED. OVERALL, DAILY ATTENDANCE WAS LOWER FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR WITH A BIG DROP IN JANUARY WHEN S OMICRON HIT. THIS IS WHY IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE FOCUS ON ATTENDANCE AS A PRIORITY THIS YEAR AND WHY WE'RE REINVIGORATE STRATEGIES TO RESPOND
044TO THIS GREAT NEED. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP OR AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE BY MONTH IN OUR COMPARISON WITH THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, THE PATTERN OF DAILY ATTENDANCE FOR GCS MIRRORS THE STATE, BOTH PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC AND FOR 2021-22. BUT WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO. I'M NOW GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE. >> THE IMPACT OF ATTENDANCE, LIKE WHY DOES IT MATTER. THE IMPACT OF ATTENDANCE ON STUDENT LEARNING IS REALLY TREMENDOUS. WE KNOW THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS NEED IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION AND REGULAR INTERACTION WITH THEIR TEACHERS, PRINCIPAL, AND PEERS. AND OUR DATA -- THIS IS GCS DATS WITH VERY STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN BETTER ATTENDANCE AND BETTER STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES. THIS GRAPH PLOTS EACH SCHOOL'S AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE AND THE SCHOOL'S PERFORMANCE COMPOSITE. SO WE TALKED ABOUT
045THOSE LAST MONTH. THE PERFORMANCE COMPOSITE IS HOW STUDENT'S PERFORMED AT THE END OF THE YEAR, FOR 21-22. THE TREND LINES HERE SHOW HOW STRONG THE RELATIONSHIP IS BETWEEN THOSE TWO INDICATORS. THE PATTERNS ARE SIMILAR FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT VERY, VERY FEW SCHOOLS FALL IN THE LOWER ATTENDANCE HIGHER PERFORMANCE QUADRANT. EACH ONE OF THESE DOTS REPRESENTS ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS IN GCS. THE BOTTOM LINE IS WHAT WE ALL KNOW. STUDENTS HAVE TO BE IN SCHOOL TO BENEFIT FROM THE HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION THAT OUR SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS PROVIDE. WHEN STUDENTS COME TO SCHOOL, THEY FORM BETTER. PERFORM BETTER. EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, STUDENT ATTENDANCE WAS A PRIORITY FOCUS AREA FOR GUILFORD COUNTY. AND THE INEQUITIES HAVE WORSENED. THIS YEAR, FOR STUDENT WHO IS ARE SHOWING SIGN OF DISENGAGEMENT THAT CAN LEAD TO CHRONIC
046ABSENTEEISM IS A FOCUS AREA FOR OUR TEENS. CENTRAL OFFICE SUPPORT TEAMS AND SCHOOLS ARE WORKING HAND AND HAND TO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR STUDENTS TO BE IN SCHOOL FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL INVESTMENTS THAT THIS BOARD HAS MADE TO REALLY PAY OFF. AS A REMINDER, OUR LEARNING RECOVERY EFFORTS ARE BASED ON THREE PRINCIPLES; EXPANDING LEARNING TIME, HIGH DOSAGE TUTORING AND ACCELERATION, NOT REMEDIATION, MEANING WE'RE GIVING KIDS ACCESS TO ON GRADE LEVEL INSTRUCTION. WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THIS FOR YOU TODAY AGAIN BECAUSE, FUNDAMENTALLY, OUR NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED STRATEGIES, OUR EXTENDED LEARNING TIME. SO REGULAR ATTENDANCE IS A PRECURSOR TO THAT TIME. LITERALLY SHOWING UP IS HALF THE BATTLE. WE'RE ALSO HIGHLIGHTING FOR YOU OUR STRATEGY TO SUPPORT GRADUATION RATES WHICH, FOR THE CLASS OF 2022 WAS THE HIGHEST EVER. THIS EVENING, WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT ALL OF THESE
047STRATEGIES ARE REALLY ATTENDANCE SUPPORTS. OUR SCHOOL BASED TEAMS HAVE VISITED STUDENT HOMES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS SHOWING SIGNS OF DISENGAGEMENT. OUR LEARNING HUBS AND FIFTH QUARTER PROVIDED EXTRA LEARNING TIME. AND OVER THE SUMMER, T THE EXTRA COUNSELORS PROVIDED INDIVIDUALLY SUPPORT, RECRUITING STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXTRA LEARNING TIME. OUR DISTRICT ATTENDANCE REGULATION HAS BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ATTENDANCE AND THE DISTRICT'S SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT. THIS YEARTHE SCHOOL TEAMS ARE TG DATA AND PUTTING ACTION STEPS IN PLACE TO REACH THEIR GOALS. SCHOOLS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES FROM OUR SOCIAL WORK AND DROP-OUT PREVENTION DEPARTMENT. CENTRAL OFFICE TEAMS ARE SUPPORTING THROUGH TELE-MEDICINE AND THE GUILFORD EDUCATION ALLIANCE SHARED WITH THE BOARD IN JUNE. GUILFORD WAS GIVEN $2 MILLION TO EXPAND THIS TO MORE OF OUR TITLE 1 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
048WHICH SUPPORTS ATTENDANCE BY MEETING STUDENT HEALTHCARE NEEDS WITHIN THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR STUDENTS TO LEAVE SCHOOL TO GO TO THE DOCTOR FOR THINGS LIKE AN EAR ACHE. GCS HAS ALSO PROCLAIMED OCTOBER TO BE ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH TO BEGIN A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING IN SCHOOL EVERY DAY. THIS IS SO EVERYONE CAN HELP TO ELEVATE THIS MESSAGE. EVERY DAY A STUDENT IS IN SCHOOL IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, AND TO ACCESS SUPPORT. OUR STUDENTS HAVE TO BE HERE TO GET THERE. THE DROPS IN SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS ACROSS THE STATE AND NATION DURING THE PANDEMIC ALSO REVEALED THE NEED TO GO BEYOND THESE EFFORTS TO REACH OUT TO STUDENTS WHO DISENGAGED AT SOME POINT DURING THE PANDEMIC TO RECRUIT THEM BACK TO SCHOOL. THIS MAP PINPOINTS THE
049CURRENT RESIDENCES OF STUDENTS WHO WITHDREW FROM SCHOOL DURING THE PANDEMIC. FROM MARCH 2020-THIS PAST JUNE. THIS WAS CREATED TO VISUALIZE WHERE THE EFFORTS OF OUR STUDENT REENROLLMENT CAMPAIGN WILL BE TARGETED. AND THIS GRAPH -- THIS MAP LOOKS REALLY FAMILIAR. THE PATTERN OF WHERE DISENGAGED STUDENTS LIVES FOLLOWS THAT CRESCENT SHAPE WE SEE OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHEN WE LOOK AT PATTERN OF ADVERSE OUTCOMES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILY IN GUILFORD COUNTY. A CAMPAIGN IS UNDERWAY TO GET STUDENTS TO REENROLL. WE FIRST DETERMINED IF FAMILIES HAVE MOVED. AND FOR THOSE STILL REMAINING WITHIN THE COUNTY, WE'RE DOING DIRECT OUTREACH TO THEM VIA DIGITAL MARKETING, MAILING, AND DOOR TO DOOR CANVASES. WE ANTICIPATE THAT PROXIMATELY 2100 HOME VISITS WILL BE COMPLETED THIS FALL. AS CANVASSERS VISIT HOPES, THEY LEAVE A DOOR HANGER LIKE THIS ONE TO LET FAMILIES
050KNOW THAT WE CARE. AND I'LL JUST WRAP UP WITH SUMMARY POINTS. AND THAT REALLY IS THAT WE KNOW AND HAVE KNOWN -- WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME -- THAT STUDENT ATTENDANCE IS LINKED TO STUDENT SUCCESS. THE PANDEMIC HAS JUST INCREASED THE CHALLENGE. THE DATA TELLS US THAT CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND THE NUMBER OF DAYS A STUDENT MISSED INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE AB ABSENCES REMAINS A FOCUSF IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS. WE KNOW THAT INCREASING INSTRUCTION TIME IS AN EVIDENCE BASED STRATEGY BUT IT DOESN'T WORK IF THEY'RE NOT AT SCHOOL. STUDENTS BEING PRESENT FOR CORE INSTRUCTION IS FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR STRATEGIES. SCHOOLS INCORPORATE STRATEGIES THAT ARE TAILORED TO UNIQUE NEEDS. OBVIOUSLY, OUR HIGH SCHOOLS LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT, THE DATA, THAN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WE'RE TRYING TO ELEVATE THE MESSAGE BY RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS ATTENDANCE
051AWARENESS MONTH. AND WE WILL CONTINUE THIS RE-ENROLLMENT CAMPAIGN OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT COME BACK AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC SO THAT WE CAN RECOVER AND ENGAGE STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT SHOWN BACK UP SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND WITH THAT, WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU. KIM? >> I'M AWARE OF THIS ATTENDANCE. IT'S ONGOING. OVER 20 YEARS WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT ABSENTEEISM RATES. BUT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND. IS IT ELEMENTARY? ARE YOU PUTTING THEM ALTOGETHER? OR DO YOU HAVE JUST AGGREGATED DATA FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL? >> WHAT I THINK YOU'RE ASKING IS FOR THE REENROLLMENT CAMPAIGN, IS IT FOCUSED ON A PARTICULAR GROUP -- >> NO. IT MENTIONS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE UNENROLLED. >> STUDENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO BRING STUDENTS WHO WITHDREW DURING THE PANDEMIC IS ALL GRADE
052LEVELS. SO WE ARE FOCUSING ON EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT. IT'S NOT TARGETED AT A PARTICULAR AGE LEVEL. >> SO THE DEFINITION OF AN UNENROLLED STUDENT IS NOT NECESSARILY A STUDENT WHERE THEIR PARENT ACTUALLY UNENROLLED THEM FROM GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. >> CORRECT. >> BECAUSE WE USE THAT TERMINOLOGY. THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT -- THAT I ACTUALLY WENT IN AND SAID, OKAY, GOOD-BYE, GCS. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANY OF THOSE STUDENT, CORRECT? >> WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS WHO WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE -- THAT THEY HAVE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER CERTIFIED HOME STUDY PROGRAM OR ANOTHER SCHOOL, WHETHER IT'S PRIVATE, PUBLIC, OR CHARTER. >> RIGHT. SO THE NUMBER YOU MENTIONED WAS 2,000 STUDENTS. AND IF 2,000 STUDENTS WERE TO WALK INTO OUR BUILDING TOMORROW, HOW DO WE CATCH UP THOSE STUDENTS? WHAT IS THE STRATEGY
053FOR STUDENTS WHO WALK BACK IN. >> NO TWO STUDENTS EXPERIENCE LEARNING LOSS THE SAME WAY. I DO THINK IT HAS TO DO -- WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SCHOOL BASED COMMUNITIES THAT WELCOME STUDENTS BACK IN AFTER STUDENT REASSIGNMENT. WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE BACK INTO A NEW SCHOOL. WE'VE WORKED WITH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS ON THAT. BUT THE STRATEGIES THAT WORK ARE WHAT WE KEEP DOING, THE HIGH DOSE TUTORING, EXTENDED LEARNING TIME AND THE ACCESS TO GRADE-LEVEL CONTENT. IF STUDENTS HAVE BEEN DISENGAGED SOCIALLY AND HAVE ADDITIONAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, WE WOULD NEED TO INCLUDE LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING. BUT THE ACADEMIC STRATEGIES REMAIN CONSISTENT ACROSS BOTH GROUPS. >> MY LAST QUESTION. DO YOU THINK THE OPPORTUNITY OF HAVING A FLEXIBLE CALENDAR MATTERS? THE SCHOOLS WHERE WE HAVE ALL-YEAR LEARNING GOING ON, I WOULD ASSUME THEY DON'T FALL IN THE
054CATEGORY OF EXPERIENCING THIS HIGH ABSENTEEISM RATE BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY -- DAYS TO BE IN SCHOOL. IS THERE A A COMPARISON? >> SO FOR THEY'RE ABSENT MORE OR THE SAME RATE AS STUDENT ON THE TRADITIONAL CALENDAR. >> MY FINAL QUESTION ABOUT FLEXIBILITY. IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SCHOOLS TO CREATE A SCHEDULE WHERE SOME STUDENTS ARE IN SCHOOL MAYBE FOUR DAYS A WEEK AND MAYBE A HALF A DAY ON WEDNESDAY AND THINGS LIKE THAT? DOES THAT MATTER? HAVE WE TALKED TO STUDENTS ABOUT WHY MAYBE THEY'RE NOT IN SCHOOL? >> WE'VE HEARD FROM STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS ABOUT THE IDEA OF FLEXIBLE AND HYBRID SCHEDULING. WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT ADVOCACY AT THE STATE LEVEL WOULD BE REQUIRED BECAUSE THERE IS A REQUIREMENT OF 1,025 MINIMUM SEED TIME. AND WE WOULD HAVE TO COME UP
055WITH A WHOLE LOT MORE BUS DRIVERS IF WE COME UP WITH FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES. >> THANK YOU, WINSTON AND DEBRA? >> IS IT 2,000? >> IT'S JUST OVER 2,000 HOME VISITS, ONCE WE COMBINE MORE THAN ONE STUDENT IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD. >> HOW MANY STUDENTS DOES THIS REPRESENT? >> ABOUT 2400. >> PARDON ME IF YOU SAID THIS. HOW DO THEY BREAK UP IN AGE? IS IT PRETTY EVEN, ELEMENTARY AND HIGH? >> I DON'T WANT TO MISS -- I DON'T WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING UP OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. IT IS DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN YOU WOULD EXPECT. BUT WE CAN BRING THAT BACK TO THE BOARD AT A LATER TIME. >> I'LL COME BACK IF I NEED TO. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. DEBRA AND THEN DIANE. >> WE ARE STILL DOING THE VIRTUAL ACADEMY. ARE
056WE SEEING A HIGHER PERCENTAGE MISSING FROM THE VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION, THAN WE ARE FOR IN-PERSON? >> SO WE CAN'T REALLY -- IT'S TRICKY TO MEASURE CHRONIC ACCENT ABSENTEEISM DAY DAY DAY. WE'VE HAD TO DO MORE CORRECT CRIEWTING FOR VIRTUAL STUDENTS THAN WE HAVE FOR THOSE ATTENDING TRADITIONAL CALENDAR SCHOOL. BUT THERE'S A WILLING EVERY DAY. DR. MARCH SUPPORTS THAT OF WHO THEY'VE REACHED TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE REENGAGED. BUT IT'S EASIER TO NOT ATTEND IF YOU'RE ALREADY HOME. BUT WE WON'T HAVE DATA TO FULLY SUPPORT THAT UNTIL WE'RE A FULL MONTHS IN. >> AS OF NOW WE'RE ONLY PLANNING TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF NEXT YEAR IS THAT CORRECT? >> WE HAVE IT AS A CHOICE SCHOOL. >> SO IT'S A FOUNDATION. GOTCHA. AS OF RIGHT NOW, INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, ARE WE SET TO
057REPEAT THIS PATTERN OF THIS JUMP HERE? FOR 2018-19. YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT 10 TO 11% ABSENTEE RATES. AND THEN THE COVID JUMPS WHERE YOU SEE TRIPLE THAT NUMBER, ARE WE SET TO REPEAT THAT PATTERN FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR SO FAR? >> AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE DATA IS REPORTED, THAT'S A TRICKY QUESTION. AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM LOOKS LIKE. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT A SPAN IN TIME. I WOULD HESITATE TO BRING -- I WOULD LIKE TO BRING BACK THAT DATA BEFORE I MAKE A GUESS ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR. >> I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF WE HAD LIKE PRELIMINARY ANYTHING -- THEY'VE BEEN IN FOR SIX WEEKS NOW. FIFTH QUARTER, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN -- AND THIS IS ON PAGE 16 IN THE BOOKLET. COMING OUT
058OF OUR ESRA FUND, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WHICH ARE SET TO EXPIRE IN 2024. DO WE HAVE A PLAN OF SUSTAINABILITY FOR FIFTH QUARTER? >> IT WILL BE ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR. WE'VE SEEN THE EVIDENCE. THAT'S BEEN OPEN TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE FAILING A COURSE REQUIRED FOR THAT GRADE LEVEL OR FOR GRADUATION. WE'RE HONEFUL BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR THINGS THAT ARE WORKING. THAT INCLUDES FIFTH QUARTER AND TUTORING EFFORTS. >> DR. KAY, I JUST HEARD YOU SAY THAT THE NUMBERS TEND TO BE A LITTLE MORE EVEN -- I WAS EXPECTING TO SEE HIGHER ABSENTEEISM IN HIGH SCHOOL. SOUNDS LIKE IT'S MORE SPREAD ACROSS ALL SCHOOL LEVELS AS OPPOSED TO A CONCENTRATED LEVEL. IS THAT CORRECT? >> ARE YOU ASKING ABOUT CHRONIC
059ABSENTEEISM, AVERAGE DAILY ADATTENDANCE OR -- >> THE CHRONIC ACCENT SEET ABSE. WE'RE LOOKING AT TRENDS OF WHY THE KIDS MAY BE ABSENT SO MUCH POST-COVID. YOU HAVE A LOT GOING ON SOCIALLY NOW. YOU KNOW. AND I'M WONDERING IF LIKE THE OLDER AGE STUDENTS MAY BE MISSING CLASS BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT RECORD INFLATION. THEY HAVE TO HOLD DOWN A JOB TO KEEP FAMILY TOGETHER. MORE SOCIAL THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT MAY SUPPORT SUSTAINING A HOME OVER SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> SLIDES 10 AND 11 SHOW IT'S ALL LEVELS. >> ARE WE PICKING UP ON WHY STUDENTS ARE STILL ABSENT? >> WE LEARNED THAT EVERY STUDENT WAS IMPACTED DIFFERENTLY. SO SOME OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE VARYING STORIES. AS CANVASSERS ARE GOING OUT MEETING FOLKS, THEY'RE HEARING LOTS OF STORIES. WE KNOW THAT WE HAD STUDENTS
060WHO WERE IMPACTED BY THE LOSS OF A FAMILY MEMBER OR A CAREGIVE ARER WHICH HAS IMPACTED STUDENT'S ABILITY TO SUPPORT YOUNGER SIBLINGS OR CARE FOR MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY DEALING WITH LONG TERM COVID. SOME OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE GONE BACK TO WORK TO HELP THEIR FAMILY. LOTS OF DIFFERENT ISSUES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM PROBLEM THAT WE'RE ALL SEEING ACROSS THE NATION. >> YOU KNOW, THAT SPEAKS A LOT TO MAYBE THE SPREAD OF THE NUMBERS BEING MORE EVEN THAN WE WOULD THINK. IF WE HAVE OLDER STUDENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING CARE OF A YOUNGER SIBLING, THAN THE WHOLE FAMILY IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY -- >> IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THE GRAY BAR HERE, CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM WAS MUCH HIGHER -- IT WAS ABOUT TWICE AS HIGH FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL
061STUDENTS AS IT WAS FOR OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES. STUDENTS. SOME OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED WERE NOT NEW CONDITIONS. THEY WERE PERHAPS EXACERBATED BY THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE YOU STILL SEE THE HIGH LEVELS. IT WAS JUST HIGHER LAST YEAR. AND I THINK DR. LOUIS ELUDED TO IT. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, WE MADE A DECISION TO STOP INCENTIVIZING ATTENDANCE BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID. SO SOME OF THE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IS BECAUSE STUDENTS WERE QUARANTINED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT LAST YEAR, THAT WAS A BIG IMPACT STILL TOO. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD THE PERCEPTION THAT, BECAUSE WE AS A SOCIETY STARTED TO, YOU KNOW, RELAX COVID DID LINES A GUIDELIT SCHOOLS WERE GOING TO GEAR UP TO STRAIGHT
062UP NORMAL WHEN WE HAD QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE HAD TO FOLLOW. WHEREAS, THIS YEAR, THOSE HAVE ALL CHANGED. >> DIANE AND THEN BETTYE. >> I THINK Y YOU SAID WE'RE HAVG A HARD TIME. BUT IF YOU HAVE A TEACHER -- AND I'M NOT -- IF A TEACHER WHO IS OUT A LOT, DOES THAT IMPACT ON HOW HER STUDENTS ARE DOING? >> IT'S HARD TO QUANTIFY. YOU CAN'T CONTROL FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO CONTROL FOR TO DO A FULL REPORT OUT ON IT. BUT WE DID INCREASE OUR SUB PAY. WE PROVIDED INCENTIVES WHERE APPROPRIATE. BUT ESPECIALLY DECEMBER AND JANUARY LAST YEAR, WE WOULD HAVE A CALL EVERY EVENING TO SEE IF WE HAD ENOUGH BODIES TO HAVE ADEQUATE SUPERINTENDENT. THAT MEANT ART TEACHERS COVERING MATH 1 CLASSES WHICH, OF COURSE, TO YOUR
063POINT, WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON STUDENT OUTCOME. >> OKAY. BECAUSE -- AND I DON'T MEAN THIS IN A BAD WAY. BUT EVERY SUB THAT YOU GET IS NOT NECESSARILY -- YOU'VE GOT AN ADULT BODY. I'M TRYING TO BE NICE WITH THIS. [ LAUGHTER ] YOU'VE GOT THE SAME PERSON COVERING THE CLASS BUT THE QUALITY OF THE INSTRUCTION ISN'T THERE. I DON'T NEED IT FOR ME. BUT I'M JUST ASKING, DO WE SEE A RELATIONSHIP IN THE QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION WHEN YOU HAVE HIGH ABSENTEE RATE OF A TEACHER OR TEACHERS? >> . ANECDOTALLY, ABSOLUTELY.>> MY NA QUESTION BUT BACK IN THE OLD DAYS, I WAS A HOME SCHOOL COORDINATOR. THAT'S WHAT WE WERE CALLED. WE LITERALLY WENT OUT AND FOUND THE KIDS AND BROUGHT THEM. AND I WAS AT ONE OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AT HIGH POINT.
064AND WE CHANGED THE ATTENDANCE RATE FROM -- THIS PARTICULAR MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS AT THE BOTTOM. AND IN TWO YEAR, WE WERE IN THE 97% OF ATTENDANCE. BUT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, ME BEING OUT THERE LIKE A HOUNDDOG HUNTING AND BRINGING THEM. I BROUGHT KIDS TO SCHOOL AT A QUARTER TO 3. YOU KNOW, WHICH INCENTIVIZED THEM TO NOT BE EMBARRASSED BY COMING TO THE SCHOOL. DO WE DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT NOW? >> THERE'S NOT AN INDIVIDUAL THAT'S ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL. WE DON'T FUND A PERSON. BUT WE DO HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, PEOPLE OUT KNOCKING ON DOORS TO RECOVER STUDENTS. WE DO HAVE A COUPLE SCHOOLS WHO HAVE A FAMILY AND COMMUNITY LIAISON POSITION FOR THAT PURPOSE EXACTLY. >> AND WE DO HAVE 82 SOCIAL WORKERS TRACKING IT, STUDENTS WHO ARE SHOWING SIGNS
065THAT THEY'RE ON THE PATH TO CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM OR TRACKING THEM DOWN ONCE THEY'VE REACHED CERTAIN MILESTONES WITH THE NUMBER OF ABSENCES. THAT'S A HUGE PART OF THEIR ROLE. >> OKAY. >> WELL, I GUESS, FOR ME -- THAT WASN'T MY ONLY JOB. BUT YOU KNOW, AFTER WE TOOK ATTENDANCE, I LITERALLY WOULD LOOK AT WHO WAS ABSENT AND GO FIND OUT WHY. IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD REASON OR IF IT WAS BECAUSE THEY MISSED THE BECAUSE, THEY WERE BROUGHT TO SCHOOL. THIS IS A SUGGESTION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO WATCH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH HOUSING. BUT CITY OF GREENSBORO YESTERDAY A LOTTED ALMOST HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO BUY THESE BOXES. TO PUT FOLKS IN. BUT IT'S OBJECT FOR INDIVIDUAL,, NOT REALLY FOR FAMILIES. I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION.
066IN HIGH POINT, A WHOLE PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITY WAS ELIMINATED. BUT THERE WASN'T REPLACEMENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THE RATE THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES PROPERTY WAS ELIMINATED. SO YOU WANT A WHOLE COMMUNITY THAT WOUND UP -- I THINK THE LAST COUNT I GOT WAS THAT WE LOST LIKE 40 KIDS FOR ONE SCHOOL. OKAY. WHERE DID THEY GO? YOU KNOW, WHERE IS HOUSING? AND IT'S JUST LUKE -- AND I ASK THE QUESTION, IN LOOKING AT YOUR QUESTION ON PAGE 20, SOME OF THESE HOUSING WAS IMPACTED BY THE TORNADO. IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH THOSE AREAS NOW, SOME OF THE HOUSING HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED OR PUT BACK. SO THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT HOMES. MY POINT IS THIS, WE THESE TO BE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE DECISION MAKERS IN THE TWO CITIES, AS FAR AS WHEN THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT
067HOUSING BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT HOUSING FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT TRYING TO GET THE SINGLE PERSON WHO'S, YOU KNOW, ON THE CORNER OR UNDER THE BRIDGE. BUT THEY'RE NOT REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOUSING FOR FAMILIES. AND WE NEED TO ASK. THERE'S A NEW HOUSING COMMUNITY THAT'S GETTING READY TO OPEN ON THE CORNER OF GREENTOWN AND VAN DARY ROAD. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT MR. LEVY SAID YESTERDAY, IT TOOK TWO AND A HALF YEARS TO GET THAT PROJECT OPEN. WELL, PART OF MY CONCERN IS -- LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT ABOUT IT. I SAID OKAY, THE GOOD NEWS FOR THEM, THEY'RE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE GROCERY STORE. WE'RE WALKING DISTANCE FROM THE DRUGSTORE. BUT THAT'S NOT -- AS FAR AS -- THERE'S NO BUS LINE OUT THERE. AND I
068DON'T KNOW WHICH SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED. I THINK THIS IS FOR FAMILIES. I THINK IT'S 85 UNITS. SO IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT CENTRAL? OR IS IT GOING TO IMPACT WILSON? MR. LEVY SAID YESTERDAY THAT THEY HAD 900 APPLICANTS FOR 85 UNITS. SO THAT'S GOT TO IMPACT ON WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GO. BUT WE NEED TO BE TALKING TO THE DECISION MAKERS. AS FAR AS THEM THINKING ABOUT HOW WE HELP FAMILIES FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ANY -- OR VERY LITTLE. SO THAT'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT. >> GETTING BACK TO MISSING STUDENTS, I KNOW WE HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND FOR THE 10 AND 20 DAY COUNT. HOW EFFECTIVE WAS THAT THIS YEAR WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON WITH THE PANDEMIC COMPARED TO THE PAST? WERE YOU SEEING MORE STUDENTS RECOVERED OR ABOUT THE
069SAME? I'M SURE THERE WAS MORE THAT WAS MISSING. >> I THINK WE CAN -- I DON'T WANT TO GIVE HARD DATA. >> NO. JUST WHAT YOU THINK. >> YEAH. I THINK THIS YEAR IS ALREADY SO DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR. AND THERE'S A MUCH MORE CONCERTED EFFORT THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR TO RECOVER STUDENTS. WHEN WE WERE LOOKING -- I REMEMBER WE WERE LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS OF RESTART CALENDAR SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO WERE RETURNING. AND THEY WERE RETURNING MUCH MORE QUICKLY THAN THEY DID A YEAR AGO. DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT? >> WELL, WHAT HAPPENED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, FOR THE FIRST 20 DAYS, IS THAT THE SOCIAL WORK TEAM IS WORKING THOSE STUDENTS WHO BECAME DISENGAGED LAST YEAR. WE WENT FROM ABOUT 1040 OF THOSE STUDENTS TO ABOUT 700
070SOME BEFORE WE GOT TO THE 20TH DAY. >> SO OUR SOCIAL WORK TEAM IS QUITE EFFECTIVE AT THEIR WORK. AND THE ADDED LAYER THAT THIS WORK IS PROVIDING IS WE'RE CONTINUING TO FOLLOW UP ON THOSE STUDENTS SO THAT OUR SOCIAL WORKERS CAN WORK ON THE STUDENTS THAT ARE NOW KIND OF AT RISK OF DROPPING OUT FOR THIS CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR. AND THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PARTNER THAT WE'RE USING IS ABLE TO USE A LOT OF THE DATA THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW WHERE THOSE FAMILIES HAVE MOVED TO, IF THEY'VE MOVED. SO WHAT THIS MAP REFLECTS IS THE CURRENT RESIDENCE. SO NOT ALL OF THESE RESIDENCES ARE THE RESIDENCES WHERE THE FAMILY WAS LIVING WHEN THEY ENROLLED. SOME OF THEM HAVE MOVE AND WERE ABLE TO GO AND TRY TO MAKE
071CONTACT WITH THEM WHERE THEY ARE. >> OKAY. AND I WASN'T ASKING FOR DATA BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S HARD TO DETERMINE. WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON. BUT WAS 24, 2,400 STUDENT POSSIBLE BEING MISSING AND YOU HOPE TO DO HOME VISITS TO ABOUT 2,000. MOST OF THOSE HOUSES ARE PROBABLY HAVE MORE THAN ONE CHILD IN THE HOME. THE NEXT QUESTION IS, AFTER WE BRING THE STUDENTS BACK IN TO SCHOOL AND IF OUR CLASS SIZES ARE ALREADY AT THE MAX, ARE WE READY TO -- I THINK YOU ALL HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT ALREADY. I SAW YOU SMILING. ARE WE READY TO ADD TEACHERS? JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT IN AN OVERSIZED CLASSROOM? >> SO WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS CONSTANTLY. IT NEVER STOPS. AND WE'RE READY. I THINK WE STILL -- THE CLASS SIZE REDUCTION
072IS IN THE WAY. I MEAN, IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT AND DISRUPTIVE. SO YES, WE'RE READY. BUT THERE'S NOT LIKE A LINE OUT THE DOOR OF CERTIFIED TEACHER WHO IS ARE READY TO COME IN. >> THAT'S WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT [ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY. >> I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE TRUANT OFFICERS LIKE WE DID YEARS AGO. BUT I COMMEND BOOT ON THE GROUND. >> DO WE HAVE INFORMATION ON WHY KIDS ARE ABSENT? IF YOU MISS THE BUS, ONE, THERE COULD BE NO CAR IN THE HOME. TWO THERE COULD BE NO CAR IN THE HOME BUT YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN. I REMEMBER AT WILEY, THERE WERE A TEACHER THERE THAT COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY STUDENTS WEREN'T LEARNING THEIR SIGHT WORDS. SHE REALIZED THAT, WHEN IT RAINED -- AND THERE WAS
073A YOUNG CHILD IN THE HOME. THE KIDS THEY ARE DIDN'T COME TO SCHOOL OR CAME TO SCHOOL LATE BECAUSE THEY WERE WALKERS. WHEN YOU HAVE A CHILD IN THE HOME AND YOU DO OR DON'T HAVE A CAR, SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE -- WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST STAY HOME. I SAW A YOUNG KID WALKING THE OTHER DAY AFTER I KNOW THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT SCHOOL WITH THEIR BACKPACK. AND -- I DON'T ENCOURAGE KIDS TO GET IN THE CAR WITH STRANGERS. BUT I'M JUST WORRIED THAT THEY'VE GOT TO WALK BACK HOME. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THAT. I JUST THINK IF WE KNEW -- YOU KNOW, DO KIDS HAVE A JOB IN DID THEY GET A JOB DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THEY'RE WORKING? THAT'S A REASON. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
074IF WE CAN GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHY -- AND WHERE THEY'RE ABSENT. >> SO FOR THE WITHDRAWN STUDENTS THAT WE'RE DONG THE CANVASSING FOR, OUR CANVASSERS HAVE A SURVEY THAT THEY DO WHEN THEY MAKE CONTACT WITH THE FAMILY TO COLLECT THAT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE AND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEM. WE HAVE A SUSPICION, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT SOME OF THESE FAMILIES MAY THINK THAT THEY'RE HOME SCHOOLING. BUT IN NORTH CAROLINA, YOU HAVE TO BE AN ACCREDITED REGISTERED HOME SCHOOL PROGRAM. YOU CAN'T JUST STOP COMING TO SCHOOL AND DECIDE THAT YOU'RE HOME SCHOOLING. SO THE CANVASSERS ARE DOING THAT MORE BROADLY. I THINK ANECDOTALLY, WE HAVE A LOT OF -- WE KNOW A LOT ABOUT INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES BECAUSE OUR SOCIAL WORKERS AND OUR SCHOOL STAFF ARE DOING THAT WORK EVERY
075SINGLE DAY. BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING -- >> WE NEED MORE THOUGH. WE NEED THE STORY. WE NEED THE KIDS TO -- BECAUSE A CODE DOESN'T TELL -- YOU KNOW, APPOINTMENT OR -- LIKE I THINK TO YOUR POINT, IF WE ASK KIDS, JUST LIKE WHEN WE ASK THE 9TH GRADERS DURING REMOTE LEARNING WHAT WAS THE HARDEST PRT AND THEY TOLD US. WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA THAT MATTERS, LIKE THE ACTUAL STORY BEHIND THE CODE IN THE SYSTEM. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN AND SHOULD CAPTURE. BUT IN TERMS OF HOW STUDENT ATTENDANCE IS TAKEN AND WHEN IT'S TAKEN AND HOW IT'S TAKEN, IT'S NOT THE KIND OF DATA THAT WOULD LEAD TO SYSTEMS INFORMATION. >> WE USED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH GUILFORD COUNTY. I CAN IMAGINE THAT A LOT OF OUR LOWER-INCOME
076STUDENTS ARE PROBABLY OVERREPRESENTED IN THIS POPULATION OF KIDS. AND IF THERE'S A WAY TO SHARE INFORMATION, AS PEOPLE COME IN AND GET RECERTIFIED FOR FOOD STAMP, WHATEVER IT IS, THAT THERE'S -- YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE CAN SORT OF COOPERATE AND SHARE ALL OF THE METHODS AND MODES OF COMMUNICATION, I THINK, WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL. >> WOULD EMPLOYERS ALSO THAT ARE HIRING UNDERPAGED STUDENTS -- I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE DATA THAT SAYS I'VE HIRED SOMEONE 16, 15. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY CAN SHARE THAT. I DON'T KNOW. YOU MIGHT HAVE TO CALL McDONALD'S AND SAY, HOW MANY KIDS HAVE YOU HIRED RECENTLY. >> MY QUESTION IS NOT HOW WE GET INTO THE NUANCED DATA AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS. I'VE SHARED THE CONVERSATION ABOUT UNENROLLED STUDENTS IN THE HOME VISITS. WE'VE GOT
07720,000 KIDS WHO ARE 10% CHRONICALLY ABSENT. THAT COULD MEAN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. I'M VERY INTERESTED IN HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE 10%ERS. THOSE MAY BE KIDS ARE LIKE, I DON'T FEEL GOOD PARENTS ARE LIKE, OKAY, STAY HOME. PEOPLE GOT OUT OF THE HABIT. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSDS. YOU ADDRESS THAT ONE KIND OF STRATEGY. A KID MISSING 6 6-8 DAYS A MONTH -- AND AT ONE POINT WE WERE SEEING SOME OF THAT DRILL DOWN DATA. HERE'S THE KIDS MISSING 10%, KIDS MISSING 20%. AND I'M SURE WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE. BUT I WILL BE HERE ON THE BOARD AS WE MOVE THROUGH THAT. BUT ONE OF THE REASONS I THINK IT MATTERS SO MUCH IS BECAUSE THERE ARE STRATEGIES THE COUNTYU COMMUNITY CAN DO THAT DON'T REQUIRE HIGH EXPERTISE BUT VOLUME
078AND ORGANIZING. THAT'S PROBABLY A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE 10 TO 15%ERS. THEN THERE ARE CHALLENGES WITH THE KIDS MISSING 20, 30 OR 40% OF THEIR TIME OR THEY'VE ONLY BEEN ENROLLED FOR SIX MONTHS. THEY WERE GONE FOR SUCTION MONTHS. THEN THEY GOT SICK. THAT TAKES TRAINED STAFF. AND THERE ARE PLACES WHERE OTHER RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY CAN HELP TACKLE INFORMATION, CAMPAIGN, CHANGING HABITS, WHICH HAVE TO BE SOME OF THIS. WE KNOW SOME OF THIS IS SIMPLY THAT. UNABLE TO WORK VIRTUALLY AT HOME. WHETHER MY 6 YEAR OLD IS NOT A BIG DEAL. EVEN IF MY KID WAS A LITTLE LIKE, MY TO TUMMY HURTS, YOU WOD GO TO SCHOOL AND WE WOULD SEE HOW BAD IT IS AFTER YOU GET THERE. SO I LOOK FORWARD, AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS AND GET MORE EMPHASIS
079INTO THE NUANCE OF THE DATA SO THAT WE CAN CREATE SOME OF THE PARTNERSHIPS. AND SEEING HOW THINGS LIKE HAVING TELE-HEALTH AT SCHOOL INCENTIVIZES PEOPLE TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR KIDS CAN BE SEEN AT SCHOOL INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO TO THE PHYSICIAN, THE EMERGENCY ROOM. I THINK THERE ARE POSITIVE THINGS FOR US TO LOOK FORWARD. AND I THINK THE DISAGGREGATED DATA AROUND AGE AND PERCENTAGES, HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN ENROLLED, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEIR GRADES ARE, ALL OF THAT STUFF WILL HELP US DEVELOP STRATEGIES AND PEEL SOME THINGS OFF FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HANDLE WHILE THE SCHOOLS HANDLE THE HIGHEST EXPERTISE AREAS. THANK YOU. >> WE ARE NOW AT COMMITTEE REPORTS. WE HAVE A POLICY COMMITTEE UNDATE. I'LL TURN TO BOARD MEMBER BETTYE JENKINS. >> THE BOARD VOTED TO SEND
080THE POLICY OUT FOR A 30 DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 11-NOVEMBER 10. THAT POLICY IS 4201-021-7263 WHICH IS FACE COVERING. THE PURPOSE IS A REVISED POLICY THAT WILL BRING THIS POLICY INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE STATE LAW AND THE GUILFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPTIONAL ENVIRONMENT. I MAKE A MOTION TO SEND THIS POLICY OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT IS POLICY NUMBER 32 3241-5021-7263. THANK YOU. >> WHEN YOU RATTLE THE NUMBERS OFF IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S MORE THAN ONE POLICY. BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THREE POLICIES BEING COMBINED BOO ONE CORRECT? >> THAT'S THE WAY IT'S BEEN DONE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. >> THE WAY THAT THE INDEXING SYSTEM WORKS, EVERY POLICY THAT HITS A CERTAIN DEPOSIT GETS A NUMBER UNDER THAT DEPARTMENT. SO LIKE THE 7000 ARE STUDENTS. AND THE 4000 IS STAFF. IF THE MASKING HAS TO
081DO WITH SOMETHING FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF, IT GETS THE NUMBER ON THE POST. >> FOR CLARITY, STUDENT IS 4000. AND THEN T COMMUNITY IS 5 OH 0. 5005000.>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE E PEOPLE KNOW IT'S ONE POLICY. SINCE WE'RE CALLING OUT THREE NUMBERS. IT'S MORE FOR THE AUDIENCE'S CLARIFICATION THAN MINE. >> ALL RIGHT. WE'RE NOW AT -- I BELIEVE WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION. WILL WE BE COMING OUT OF CLOSED SESSION AND TAKING ACTION? >> NO. >> IS THERE A MOTION? >> YES. I'M READY TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO PRESERVE THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS PROTECTED BY STATE LAW AND TO GIVE ADVICE TO OUR STAFF AND ATTORNEYS REGARDING APPRISED OR OTHER MATERIAL TERMS RELATED TO THE ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY. >> SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY
082BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? >> WE'RE HEADING INTO CLOSED SESSION. >> ALL RIGHT. WE'RE BACK IN OPEN SESSION. >> I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND TWO POSIPOSITIONS, EXECUTIVE AND CH. >> I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT THERE WAS MORE. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. ANY OPPOSED? YOU >ALL RIGHT. DR. OAKLEY? >> IT'S MY PLEASURE TO COMMEND TTHE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, CONGRATULATIONS! >> WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER ACTION IN JUST A MINUTE. >> WE'RE DOING BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. BUT WE'LL COME BACK AND TAKE ACTION. >> WE HAVE A LITTLE LEGAL MUM BO JUMBO TO WORK THROUGH. >> I'M GOING TO PLUG OUR PRINCIPAL. I WORK AT THE GUILFORD EDUCATION ALLIANCE. AND FOR DECEMBER 7, REGISTRATION IS OPEN ON THE WEBSITE. AND PRINCIPALS ARE
083BEING INVITED TO SIGN UP TO HOST A GUEST AND COMMUNITY KAY MEMBERS ARE BEING INVITED TO SIGN UP TO BE MATCHED. WE ENCOURAGE BOARD MEMBER -- AND I KNOW MOST OF YOU HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PAST AND WE HOPE THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET INSIDE OUR SCHOOLS. WE WILL HAVE A PRINCIPAL FOR TE DAY. OUR SUPERINTENDENT HAS AGREED TO HAVE A SHADOW AND IS WORKING TO IDENTIFY A FEW KEY POSITIONS IN THE DISTRICT IN CONSTRUCTION, AND MAINTENANCE AND OTHER AREA OF OPERATIONS WHERE FOLKS CAN ALSO GET AN INSIDE LOOK AT HOW SOME OF THE OTHER ASPECTS OF THE DISTRICT ARE BEING MANAGED. SO DECEMBER 7, GO TO GEANC.ORG TO REGISTER. >> THANK YOU. LINDA? >> I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE YEAR RIGHT NOW. SO I'M GLAD EVERYONE ELSE IS
084OUT THERE WORKING HARD. I KNOW EVERYONE'S MOVING FORWARD. I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE IN SCHOOL AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE I DOING. >> THANK YOU, PAT. >> REALLY QUICKLY, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT -- I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT OF HARRIS TEETER HAVE EARLY. I WAS DOING A MORNING WORK OUT. AND I WAS JUST LISTENING TO THE RADIO BEFORE STARBUCKS OPENED. SO A TEACHER FROM GRIMSLEY HIGH SCHOOL, MR. MATT RINGROSE WAS ON THE RADIO AS HE IS OUR NORTH CAROLINA TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR THEATER. AND SO IT WA REALLY COOL -- AND JUST NOT TO GET INTO THE DETAILS, HE GRADUATED FROM GRIMSLEY. HE WAS A FORMER STUDENT. HE WAS ABLE TO COME BACK AND BE A TEACHER. AND HE'S BEEN THERE SINCE 2008. AND IT WAS JUST SUCH A HEART WARMING STORY
085TO HEAR ABOUT JUST HOW THEATER, THE ARTS, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY AND HE SORT OF HIGHLIGHTED WHEN IT WAS ALL VHS TAPES IT WAS JUST VERY LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES FOR FILM INDUSTRY. WE HAVE THE NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS HERE. AND IT'S A BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY. AND SO IT WAS JUST UNIQUE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO MATT RINGROSE. WE'RE ALL BEHIND HE AND ALL OF HIS STUDENTS AND THE FAMILIES. AND ONE OTHER THING I'LL LEAVE. YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LATIN TERMD MEANING -- IT'S ALMOST A FREE TO LEAD SORT OF ATTITUDE. IT'S TAKING ACTION AND ACCELERATING. AND SO TODAY AT WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY, PART OF A GROUP I'VE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS, COMING UP ON EIGHT YEARS -- FITNESS, FELLOWSHIP AND FAITH, IT'S A FREE TO ALL MEN. IT'S A
086MEN WORKOUT GROUP. BUT IT'S WAY MORE THAN THAT. IT'S REALLY DISGUISED IN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. WE'VE REALLY GONE OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, REALLY CHALLENGED OURSELVES TO LOOK LIKE THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT'S BEEN A REAL -- A GREAT LEARNING DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE FOR ME PERSONALLY TO SEE HOW THAT'S MANIFESTED ITSELF. BUT TODAY, WE WERE ABLE TO -- WE HAD AN INITIATIVE WE STARTED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. WE WERE LOOKING AT DOING SOMETHING IN A TITLE I COOL. SCHOOL.WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO RAIE MONEY. WE DID THAT. AND TODAY, WE PROVIDED -- WILL HAVE PROVIDED, THE THROUGH BEYOND SPORTS, OUR PARTNER, WE GAVE THEM $25,000 TODAY AT WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY. WITH PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR, PAUL TRAVERS AND THE STAFF, THE SUSPECT WAS THERE. SUPERINTENDENT WAS THERE. WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS OUT THERE TO CELEBRATE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
087SO THAT WILL NOT ONLY -- THAT'S NOT ONLY FOR WASHINGTON. THAT'S FOR EVERY TITLE I COOL, , ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT WILL GET BEYOND SPORTS, THE COMPLETE PACKAGE THAT CAN HELP THE TEACHERS FOR CASECAL PL EDUCATION. IT WAS JUST A GOOD DAY. IT SHOWS YOU, IF YOU WANT TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY, DO IT STREET BY STREET, SIP ZIP CODE Y ZIP CODE. YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF. AND YOU CAN -- WITH PEOPLE RIGHT AROUND YOU. AND OUR HEROS ARE NOT GOING TO COME WALKING BACK THROUGH THE DOOR. WE HAVE TO JUST LEAD AND -- IT WAS A GREAT DAY. THANK YOU! >> THANK YOU! DIANE? >> WE'VE GOT A CTE EVENT COMING UP NEXT WEEK. IS THAT RIGHT? >> AND I HAPPEN TO BE COMMUNICATING WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS ONE OF OUR U.S. CONGRESS
088PEOPLE. SHE'S VERY SUPPORTIVE OF CTE PROGRAMS. SO I INVITED HER TO COME TO YOUR I VEN, JUSTEVENT ON THE 19TH. SO I THINK THIS WEEK IS FIRE PREVENTION WEEK. WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION. WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF FATAL FATALITIESTHAT WERE ADULTS. BUT STILL, THE REPORT SAYS THAT WE MAY HAVE AN INCREASE IN FIRE RELATED CASUALTIES, PARTLY BECAUSE PEOPLE -- THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP THEIR HOUSES. THEY'RE GOING TO USE WHATEVER MEANS THAT THEY CAN, WHICH MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE SAFE. SO WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, JUST BE SAFE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT FOR BEING, BOTTOM ON THELINE THIS MORNING. SHE DID A FABULOUS JOB. THAT IS A TOOL THAT WE
089SHOULD USE. AND SOMETIMES I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU GET SOME OF YOUR OTHER STAFF TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW,, IF THEY GIVE YOU THE TIME, THEIR PROGRAMS. WE TRY TO CRUNCH A LOT INTO 58 MINUTES. YOU WERE RIGHT ON POINT. BUT YOU KNOW, MIDDLE SCHOOLS GOT A BIG [ INAUDIBLE ] THIS WEEK. NROCK THIS WEEK.I'VE NEVER SEENF EXCITEMENT OVER A ROCK BUT IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO ENCOURAGE OUR KIDS -- AND PLUS THEIR THEME IS GETTING PEOPLE TOWARD SUCCESS. SO I KNOW THE PRINCIPAL TIED IT INTO WHAT THEY'RE TRIED TO DO WITH KIDS OVER THERE. AND SHE WANTS ME TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE ACES PROGRAM. SHE SAID THEY HAVE THE BEST ACES PROGRAM IN THE DISTRICT. SO THE OTHER ACES PROGRAMS NEED TO STEP UP. OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING IS GOING
090TO BE IN HIGH POINT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THAT. I WOULD HAVE BEEN SITTING AT HIGH POINT TODAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS TONIGHT. BUT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME OUT BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN IN HIGH POINT IN TWO AND A HALF YEARS. YOU KNOW, PRE-COVID. SO I HOPE PEOPLE WILL APPRECIATE US, YOU KNOW, MAKING THAT OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE TO THEM. AND MY LAST COMMENT IS JUST THAT IT'S GETTING DARKER EARLIER. SO I WANT FOLKS TO BE SAFE OUT HERE. IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN HALLOWEEN AND THAT KIND OF STUFF, MAKE SURE THAT YOU FOLLOW SAFE PRECAUTIONS AS FAR AS CHILDREN WEARING REFLECTIVE CLOTHING AND THAT KIND OF STUFF. SO TSO THAT WE KEEP EVERYONE SA. >> I'M GLAD THAT WE'LL BE BACK IN HIGH POINT. IT'S BEEN
091A LONG TIME COMING. >> MY HUSBAND AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING THE BALL GAME. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR THE RECOGNITION AND FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THEM ALL THESE YEARS. >> THANK YOU. DEBORAH? >> THAT KIND OF STOLE MY THUNDER A LITTLE BIT. I WAS GOING TO CONGRATULATE MR. RINGROSE FOR BEING OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT GRIMSLEY. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO THESE GO AHEAD AND GET YOUR FLU VACCINE. IN THE INTEREST OF KEEPING OUR KIDS IN SCHOOLS AND OUR STAFF PRESENT, THEY'VE GOT THE FLU VACCINE OUT. IF YOU'RE TWO YEARS OR OLDER, THEY HAVE THE NASAL MIST AVAILABLE WHICH THEY HAVEN'T HAD IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. AND THE COVID VACCINE FOR THE LATEST MUTATIONS IS AVAILABLE. EVERYONE, PLEASE GET VACCINATED. FLU SEASON IS ALREADY A
092HIT. AND EVEN WITHOUT COVID, IT WAS ALREADY AS ME. ALL THOSE THINGS, STAY HOME IF YOU'RE SICK, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN PLEASE. ONE OTHER ASK I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL THE GUILFORD COUNTY STAKEHOLDERS, WE'RE HAVING A LOT WITH THE HIGH SCHOOLS OF SHARING OF VIDEOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF STUDENTS FIGHTING. WE'RE TRYING TO STEP DOWN EVERYTHING WE CAN TO DEINCENTIVIZE THE KIDS FROM FIGHTING IN SCHOOL, OBVIOUSLY. WE NEED OUR SCHOOLS TO BE SAFE. IF YOU COME ACROSS THESE VIDEOS, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT SHARE THEM. DO NOT RE-POST THEM. DO NOT RET RETWEET THEM OR PROPE THEM IN ANY WAY. PLEASE REPORT THEM SO THAT THE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES TAKE THEM DOWN. I SHOULDN'T SAY CHILDREN. THESE ARE USUALLY OLDER. SO IF THESE YOUNG ADULTS DON'T GET FIVE MINUTES
093OF FAME, THAT'S ONE LESS INCENTIVE TO PREVENT THEM TO FIGHT. SO PLEASE DON'T SHARE THEM AROUND. AND TALK TO YOUR KIDS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT THE WAY WE GO ABOUT SOLVING PROBLEMS. AND THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO BE FAMOUS FOR. THIS IS NOT GOOD ATTENTION. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T HELP ON AN ADULT LEVEL BRING DOWN ONE OF THE PIECES THAT MAY LEAD OUR CHILDREN TO DISAGREEMENTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. BETTY? E?>> I WANT TO THANK THE STUDENS FOR THE GIFT THEY GAVE TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS AT THE LAST MR. BRIAN MCCAIN INVITED ME OVER TO MCNAIR. HE'S DOING SOME GREAT THINGS AT THAT SCHOOL. IT'S HIS FIRST YEAR THERE. HE'S BEEN AT NATHANIEL GREEN FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS. SO WE STOLE HIM, OKAY. AND NOW HE'S AT
094THE BEST DISTRICT, DISTRICT 7. THANK YOU, ANITA FOR THAT. THE TITLE I PROGRAM AT BESSEMORE WAS A SUCCESS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE PRINCIPAL THERE FOR ALL THE WORK HE IS DOING TO MAKE SURE HE ENCOURAGES ALL THE STUDENTS TO STAY ON TARGET AND ALSO TO COLLABORATE WITH THE FAMILIES IN THE DO YO COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SENIOR STAFF FOR ALWAYS ANSWERING MY CALL AND ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS WHEN I HAVE QUESTIONS BEFORE THE BOARD MEETING. I TRY TO NOT PROLONG THE BOARD MEETING BY ASKING TEN THOUSAND QUESTIONS. THAT'S WHY I CALL YOU ALL BEFORE THE MEETING. I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. THIS WEEKEND IS DUDLEY HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING. AND I WOULD SAY, GO PANTHERS. THANK YOU! >> THANK YOU FOR MY BLUE SHIRT BLUFORD. IT SAYS LINKING, LEARNING WITHOUT
095LIMITS. I HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT THEIR SCHOOL AND HAVE A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH THEIR PRINCIPAL THERE. AND THAT'S ONE THING I REALLY ENJOY ABOUT BEING ON THE SCHOOL BOARD, THAT YOU DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND SEE THE CHILDREN, MEET WITH THE PRINCIPALS AND JUST SEE EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON. I STILL IMAGINE KIRKMAN PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEIR PRINCIPAL OVER THERE. AND AND SEEINGTHE NEEDS AT THATR SCHOOL, SEEING THAT THEY'RE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY. IT'S JUST LIKE NIGHT AND DAY. THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE JUST VERY GLARING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND I DID TELL HER -- I SAID JUST GO ACROSS THE STREET, INVITE YOURSELF TO HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY. MAKE YOU CAN BUILD THAT KIND OF PARTNERSHIP. AND I KNOW THAT PRINCIPALS
096ARE BRINGING IN OTHER RESOURCES TO OUR STUDENTS. SO SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE PRINCIPALS IN GUILFORD COUNTY. AND SHOUT OUT TO THE TEAM THAT YOU SENT THOMAS DONE YA. YA. -- TO MACEDONIA. IT WAS LIKE FOUR OF YOU THAT CAME IN STRONG, YOU KNOW. I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT. SO I'M SURE THE HIGH POINT COMMUNITY REALLY APPRECIATES THE FACT THAT YOU ALL CAME OUT TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS AND TO SHARE -- AND TO HEAR MORE OF THEIR CONCERNS. AND I HOPE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A FOLLOW UP TO A LOT OF THEIR QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAD AND UNDERSTANDING THE DATA AND WHAT IT SAYS AND WHAT IT DOESN'T SAY ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IN GUILFORD COUNTY. SO THANK YOU. >> I WANT TO READ SOMETHING THAT PERTAINS TO AN ISSUE THAT WAS BROUGHT
097UP DURING OUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PARTICULARLY ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER. IT SAYS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST OF PRIORITIES PUT TOGETHER BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, THURSDAY MORNING WAS THE GAP BETWEEN WHITEN AND MINORITY STUDENTS IN STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES. ON MONDAY, GUILFORD SCHOOL OFFICIALS COMMITTED TO COMPLETELY CLOSING THE GAP. 83% OF STUDENTS PASSED THE READING TEST. BUT ONLY AMONG BLACK STUDENTS, ONLY 58% PASSED. THAT WAS DR. GRIER'S FIRST BOARD MEEMEETING. MEETING IN 2000. THERE'S THREE PEOPLE HERE -- ONE BOARD MEMBER -- THAT WAS HERE DURING THAT TIME. ONLY BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED THE ARTICLE, ANITA. AND THERE'S THREE STAFF PEOPLE HERE. AND ONLY ONE IN THE POSITION THEY WERE IN 22 YEARS AGO AS OUR BOARD ATTORNEY. I THINK, ANGIE, YOU WERE HERE. AND DR. MORRISON WAS HERE. THIS DISTRICT HAS TURNED OVER -- AS A MATTER
098OF FACT, IF THIS IS DR. GRIER'S FIRST BOARD MEETING, THAT MEANS ALL FOUR WERE LEADING THIS DISTRICT. AND TO SUGGEST THAT -- BECAUSE THE SUGGESTION HERE IS TO CLOSE THE GAP WOULD COST MILLION OF DOLLAR, INCLUDING HIRING MORE SPECIALIZED STAFF AND ALLOCATING MORE MONEY TO SCHOOLS WITH LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS. AND SO WE'VE DONE THAT. TO SUGGEST THAT WE'VE MISALLOCATED OR NOT EARMARKED STUDENTS WITH THEIR FUNDS IS JUST WRONG. NOW I WANT TO READ SOMETHING ABOUT THE CENTER. IT SAYS THE NEW COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER WILL INCREASE THE POTENTIAL OF ACCELERATING LEARNING BY SERVING A HIGH DOSAGE TUTORING HUB FOR STUDENTS FOR HIGH-TECH LEARNING SPACES FOR GUILFORD COUNTY TEACHERS AND LEADERS. THE CENTER WILL PROVIDE IN-DEMAND JOB TRAINING FOR PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE'RE EXCITED TO WORK WITH NORTH CAROLINA A&T TO DESIGN A FACILITY THAT PRIORITIZES
099ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED BROADBAND, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO IMPACT STUDENTS. SO I JUST WANTED TO CORRECT THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE LISTEN TO THAT AND, IF YOU DON'T PUT ALL OF THAT TOGETHER, THEN IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH WE HAVE NOT PRIORITIZED THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN. WE EXPERIENCED A LOT DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT STUDENTS DID HAVE ACCESS TO A LEARNING COMMUNITY. THEY DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CONNECTIVITY. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION. AT THIS COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER, IT'S NOT JUST A BUILDING WE ARE PUTTING MONEY IN. >> THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. >> I MOVE THAT WE MAKE THE CENTER SURPLUS PROPERTY PURSUANT TO NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL INSTITUTE 115C-518 BECAUSE IT IS UNNECESSARY AND UNDESIRABLE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL PURPOSES. >> SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING
100AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? >> ALL RIGHT. >> I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE OFFER TO PURCHASE LA LUGHLIN PROFESSIONAL CENTER DELIVERED TO OUR ATTORNEY ON THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN THE OFFER TO PURCHASE AND THAT WE FOLLOW THE STATUTORY PROCEDURES REQUIRED OF SCHOOL BOARDS FOR THE DISPOSABLE PROPERTY INCLUDING OFFERING THE PROPERTY TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR FAIR MARKET VALUE. AND FURTHER, IF THE COMMISSIONERS DO NOT AGREE TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY FOR FAIR MARKET VALUE THAT WE COMPLETE THE SELL OF THE PROPERTY USING THE METHODS PRESCRIBED BY THE INSTITUTE. >> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? >> ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? WELL, THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. IS THERE ANOTHER MOTION? >> MOVE TO ADJOURN. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. >>
101AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? GOOD NIGHT AND THANK YOU STAFF AND PARENTS AND COMMUNITY