GCS Board of Education Meeting 02/08/2022

001. >> I'M CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER. GIVE ME ONE MOMENT FOR COUNCIL APPROACH THE BENCH ACTIVITIES. OUR CHAIR MS. HAYES IS WITH US BUT HAD A FAMILY MATTER SHE HAD TO ATTEND THIS AFTERNOON. SHE IS WITH US VIRTUALLY. I ASK FOR YOUR PATIENCE IN LEADING THE MEETING THIS EVENING. WELCOME TO THE STAFF, THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OTHERS WITH US IN THE ROOM, OUTSIDE AND VIRTUALLY. WE ARE GOING IT START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND FOLLOW WITH WITH PARS3 A MOMENT OF SILENCE THANK YOU. . >> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE BOARD ATTORNEY JO WILSON AND OUR CLERK, DR. KIMBERLY THUNDERBURK FOR HELPING ME KEEP THINGS STRAIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO THE RECOGNITIONS AND TONIGHT WE START BY HONORING THE LIFE OF A GREAT CITIZEN, FORMER PRINCIPAL, NAMESAKE OF ONE OF OUR

002SCHOOLS, DALE MET Z. DALE SERVED AS PRINCIPAL AT PILAR ELEMENTARY THEN AT GATEWAY EDUCATION CENTER FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. GALE RETIRED FROM GCS IN 2004 BUT REMAINED A STAUNCH ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN IN THE SPECIAL NEEDS COMMUNITY CHL HE SERVED AS DIRECTOR AFTER GATEWAY AND CO-FOUNDED THE HANDI CAPABLE NETWORK WHICH IMPORTED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO REFURBISH COMPUTERS. IN 2011 HE RECEIVED THE ORDER. LONG LEAF PINE, THE STATE'S HIGHEST CIVILIAN ORDER. AEDS LONG TIME STAFF PERSON FOR OVER 20 YEARS, HE WAS ALSO A GENEROUS DONOR TO MANY NONPROFITS. HE GAVE OUT OF HIS PIRPBL RESOURCES VERY GENEROUSLY TO NONPROFITS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND HE DID THAT REALLY QUIETLY. TITD I WOULD LIKE TO ASK BOARD MEMBER BETTY JINKINS. >> WHEREAS GREENSBORO GUILFORD COUNTY AND GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS LOST A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR SOME OF OUR MOST

003[INDISCERNIBLE] STUDENTS IN THE PASSING OF DALEJ. METZ. HE BEGAN THE FIRST PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND EDUCATION OF RELATED DISABILITIES AS WELL AS CREATING PARENT CLASSES AND THE COMMUNITY TUTOR PROGRAM WHILE SERVING AS PRINCIPAL AS PILAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WHEREAS HE SERVED AS THE FIRST PRINCIPAL OF THE NEW GATEWAY SCHOOL WHEN IT OPENED IN 1983, A SCHOOL PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS GREENSBORO SARAH FODLEY AND ORTHOPEDIC SCHOOL. WHEREAS MR. METZ RAISED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO DEVELOP GATEWAY AND LEADERSHIPED IT DEVELOP INTO A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED DISABLED PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT THAT HE ASSIST IN CASTING GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PROFESSIONALLY SEEN ADULTS AND IMPROVE FOR LIVES AND PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE IN DEVELOPMENT OF INTELLECTUAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. WHEREAS IN 2011METZ WAS AWARDED THE ORDER OF LOK LEAF PINE AWARD, THE STATE'S HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOR. WHEREAS IN 2013,

004GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS OPENED THE METZ EDUCATION EDUCATION CENTER. IT SERVES STUDENTS THROUGH 8TH GRADE. WHEREAS HIS WORK TOWARD CREATING A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL CHILDREN CONTINUED EVEN AFTER RETIREMENT FROM GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS, SERVING AS A [INDISCERNIBLE] OF THE NONPROFIT GAITD WAY AS WELL AS CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE HANDI CAPABLE NETWORK AND WHEREAS HE ALSO SERVED ON THE BOARD OF VOLUNTEERS AT VARIOUS AGENCIES IN OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE GUILFORD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON AGENT THE ART OF GREENSBORO AND HOSPICE OF PIEDMONT. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT WE, THE GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION OF DALEJ. METZ AND SEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY THIS SIGNED ON THE 8TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2022 BY BOARD MEMBER CHAIR DINA HAYES AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT, DR. SHARON L.

005CONTRERAS. >> THANK YOU, BETTY. I THINK WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF DALE'S FAMILY HERE TONIGHT. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED? HI, YOU LEAVE SUCH A LEGACY [APPLAUSE] I REALLY THINK HE WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS KNOWN FAR WIDER THAN HE KNEW, PERHAPS, CERTAINLY MORE THAN HE MOVED IN THE WORLD WHICH WAS GREAT HUMILITY AND JOY. SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING HIM WITH THE WORLD AND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO YOU IN THAT LOSS. I JUST WANT TO AGAIN NOTE OUR CHAIRPERSON, DEENA HAYES GREEN IS WITH US ON THE PHONE. SHE'S HERE OOPBDS WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HER SPECIAL WISDOM AND I THINK BOARD MEMBER DIANE BELLAMY-SMALL, PARDON ME FOR NOT MENTIONING THAT EARLIER AND SHE IS PARTICIPATING. BOARD MEMBER SENT A THOET HE IS RUNNING LATE, HE IS HELD UP AT WORK BUT WILL

006BE HERE SHORTLY. IT IS -- GET MY PAPERWORK STRAIGHT HERE. THIS NEXT THING IS IMPORTANT AS WELL. WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE OUR FEBRUARY EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE PRINCIPAL NOEL KEENER TO COME TO THE PODIUM PLEASE. MRIEK THE PRICE IS RIGHT, COME ON DOWN, PRINCIPAL KEENER, AND I'M ASKING BOARD MEMBER LINDA WELLBORN TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT YOUR EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE. >> TERRIBLE WITH THIS. BRILLIANTLY SMART AND GREAT AT HIRING GOOD PEOPLE. THESE ARE THE WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE NOEL KEENER, PRINCIPAL AT NORTHEAST HIGH, WHO WAS NAMED THE FEBRUARY GCS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. MISS KEENER WAS NOMINATED BY A FORMER GCS TEACHER AND CURRENT SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, MARK SCOTT, WHO WROTE MISS KEENER IS INTELLIGENT, HAS HIRED A GREAT STAFF, IS A SUPERB LEADER, CAN BE SEEN IN THE HALLWAYS

007OF THE SCHOOL AND IS APPROACHABLE. HER DEMEANOR HAS TRICKLED DOWN TO THE ENTIRE STAFF AND HAS APPARENTLY TRICKLED DOWN TO THE STUDENTS BECAUSE AS A WHOLE THEY SEEM TO BE AS GOOD AS ANY STUDENT BODY I HAVE WORKED WITHIN IN A PUBLIC SETTING. TEACHERS AND STAFF EVERYWHERE ARE TYPICALLY NICE BUT EVERY STAFF MEMBER IS UNBELIEVABLELY COURTEOUS AND KIND AND WHEN I MENTION THIS TO STAFF MEMBERS THEY SAY, IT STARTS FROM THE TOP WITH PRINCIPAL KEENER. HE SAID SHE IS NOT ONLY BRILLIANTLY SMART -- THAT'S TWICE -- BUT IS GREAT AT HIRING GOOD PEOPLE. KEENER WILL RECEIVE A $50 GIFT CARD DURING THE MONTH EVER FEBRUARY, HER PHOTO WILL HANG AT THE DISTRICT CENTER OFFICE AT NORTHEAST HIGH AND AS GREENSBORO JC OFFICE. I'M GOING TO BRING DOWN THIS CERTIFICATE AND EVERY WORD OF THAT WAS

008TRUE. EVERY TIME I GO OVER THERE, EVERYONE IS HAPPY. [APPLAUSE]. >> AS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU SAY A FEW WORDS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, THANK YOU TO THE BOARD, THANK YOU, DR. CONTRERAS, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AS WELL KEEPING US ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW, MAKING SURE WE ARE ALWAYS DOING THE RIGHT THING. NORTHEAST HIGH IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE. ALL MY FELLOW PRINCIPALS, [INDISCERNIBLE] SDROIF SUCH RECOGNITION. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE [APPLAUSE]. >> AND FOR OUR FINAL RECOGNITION, GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS SEEMS TO BE MAKING A HABIT OF WINNING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS WHEN IT COMES TO FOOBLG. WE'RE GOING TO SLEB BRAITD THE DUDLEY HIGH FOOTBALL TEAM BECAUSE OF SPACE CONSTRAINTS THE ENTIRE TEAM COULD NOT BE WITH

009US TONIGHT, THAT'S A BIG GROUP, BUT WE ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DUDLEY HIGH TEAM. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO ASK DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS LEE HUBBARD AND HELP RECOGNIZE STUDENT AND THE COACHES FOR THIS EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT. >> ALTHOUGH WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT THINGS HAPPEN SINCE WE RESTARTED IN OCTOBER 2020, IT'S KIND OF ODD NOT BEING HERE AND CERTAINLY TO RECOGNIZE A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM. AS YOU MENTIONED NORMALLY WE WOULD HAVE A ROOM FULL OF ATHLETES HERE. IT'S A GOOD FIRST STEP. UNDEFEATED IN THE MIDSTATE CONFERENCE WITH A RECORD OF 7-0 THE DUDLEY PANTHERS ENTERED THE PLAYOFFS WITH THE THIRD SEAT. THEY DEFEALTIED THEIR OPPONENTS BY A COLLECTIVE SCORE OF 0 TO 120. >> THAT DOESN'T SEEM FAIR. >> WHEN YOU GET TO THE PLAYOFF THERE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE. [INDISCERNIBLE]

010WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE REPRESENTING THE SCHOOL. PRINCIPAL TIMOTHY MCLAUGHLIN. PLAYERS STEVEN DAVIS THE SEGD. JAHMIER SLAID, TREVON HUMPHRY, ASSISTANT COACH CALVIN DAVIS, ASSISTANT COACH ANTONIO HALL, BRANDON ANDERSON. THE TEAM REPRESENTED GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS AND GREENSBORO VERY WELL. BEGINNING IN 2008 THE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AND STAFF ALWAYS MADE VERY POSITIVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE TEAM AND ESPECIALLY ABOUT COACH DAVIS. THEY REALLY LIKE HIM DOWN AT THE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION. I OFFER THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO ALLOWED OUR SPORTS TO PLAY DURING THIS CHALLENGING TIME BUT GIVE MY OUTSTANDING THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE. >> COACH DAVIS, DID WE MISS ONE PERSON? THERE'S ONE PERSON WHO WE MISSED. >> I'M SORRY, COACH RICHARD POWELL. >> I WANT TO THANK ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND I KNOW ALL THE LEADERSHIP IN THE DISTRICT AND CERTAINLY PARENTS IN THE

011COMMUNITY TO THE COACHING STAFF FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS. I KNOW THIS IS -- THAT'S WHY WE PAY YOU THE BIG BUCKS, AS THEY SAY. YOU PUT YOUR HEART AND SOUL AND SO MUCH TIME INTO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND BRING OUT THE BEST IN THEM, CLEARLY. WE ALL HOPE THAT YOU WILL CERTAINLY REMEMBER THIS, I'M SURE TONIGHT IS NOT NEAR AS FUN AS IT WAS TO RUN ON TO THE CENTER OF THE FIELD AND CLAIM THE VICTORY, BUT THAT IT WON'T BE THE BEST THING YOU WILL EVER DO, YOU WILL DO MANY GREATER THINGS AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR LIFE. WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT YOUR TEAM AND YOUR EXPERIENCE. >> WELL, THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE. IT'S JUST BEEN A TREMENDOUS SEASON THIS YEAR AND ESPECIALLY FOR ME. LIKE THEY SAID,

012WE WON 5 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS SINCE I'VE BEEN AT DUDLEY, BUT GUILFORD WAS EXTRA SPECIAL BECAUSE MY SON WAS A SENIOR AND HE WAS ON THAT TEAM. HE HAD BEEN WITH ME DURING THE OTHER THINGS AND IT WAS EXTRA, EXTRA SPECIAL. I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO MY COACHING STAFF FOR A TREMENDOUS JOB THEY DID COMING OFF COVID AND PLAN TWO SEASONS IN ONE CALENDAR YEAR. THOSE GUYS DID A GREAT JOB HAVING THOSE GUYS PREPARED TO PLAY IN THE FALL. THANKS TO GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS AND MY COACHES AND OF COURSE ALL OF MY PLAYERS. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, GUYS, AND GO HOME AND DO YOUR HOMEWORK. ALL RIGHT, WHERE AM I NEXT? PUBLIC COMMENTS. I THINK WE HAVE 11 FOLKS SIGNED UP THIS EVENING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

013EVERYBODY WILL HAVE, I BELIEVE, 3 MINUTES, IS THAT RIGHT? AND SO WE WILL EXPLAIN THAT AS THEY COME IN. THE ORANGE LIGHT GIVES THEM 30 MORE SECONDS, 50? HAND SIGNALS BACK THERE. CHERYL BEASON, MISS BEASON, THANK YOU. AGAIN, YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES AND THERE WILL BE AN ORANGE LIGHT, WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP YOUR MASK ON BECAUSE OF THE MANDATE AND WHEN THE ORANGE LIGHT BLINKS YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS. SAY YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, THAT DOESN'T COUNT AGAINST YOUR TIME. >> I AM CHERYL BEASON IN HIGH POINT, NORTH CAROLINA. I WANT TO THANK YOU, DR. CONTRERAS AND BOARD MEMBERS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I GREET YOU THIS EVENING IN SUPPORT OF OUR DISTRICT'S DEDICATION TO PROVIDING THE BEST EDUCATION FOR EVERY SINGLE STUDENT. BECAUSE AN ON-GOING DEDICATION TO EQUITY IS A SURE WAY TO ENSURE A

014THRIVING SCHOOL COMMUNITY. I ASK TONIGHT THAT YOU FUND TWO LIBRARIES TO PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS WITH CURRENT AND DIVERSE VIEWS. IN 2018 HALF -- HALF OF THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS OF PUBLISHED IN AMERICA FEATURED WHITE MAIN CHARACTERS. 27 PERCENT OF THOSE BOOKS FEATURED ANIMALS AND A REMAINING 23 PERCENT OF THE BOOKS PUBLISHED IN AMERICA IN 20018 FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS, 23 PERCENT COMBINED DEPICTED CHARACTERS WHO WERE BLACK, ASIAN, OR NATIVE AMERICAN. THIS BECOMES ESPECIALLY PROBLEM MATDIC BECAUSE 72 PERCENT OF GUILFORD COUNTY STUDENTS ARE CHILDREN OF COLOR WITH THE AVERAGE PUBLICATION DATE OF OUR GUILFORD COUNTY MEDIA CENTER'S COLLECTION BEING 2003, IT IS CERTAIN THAT OUR MEDIA CENTER STRUGGLES TO PROVIDE BOOKS THAT REPRESENT THEIR STUDENT ENROLLMENT. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RESORT TO DONORS TO STOCK THE SHELVES THEM YET THIS HAPPENS. IN ADDITION

015TO EXAMINING RACE AND ETHNICITY, WE MUST CONSIDER OTHERS IDENTITY THE MARKERS, OOTS QUESTIONS CHILDREN HAVE HAD FOR GENERATIONS INCLUDING GENDER AND SEXUALITY. THANKFULLY AMERICAN AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS HAVE CREATED HIGH QUALITY AGE-APPROPRIATE LITERATURE TO HELP STUDENTS RECOGNIZE THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE AND THAT LIFE IS WORTH LIVING. IT IS OFTEN SAID THAT BOOKS SERVE AS WINDOWS AND MIRRORS FOR STUDENTS. MIRRORS SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THEMSELVES AND FEEL VALIDATED, REPRESENTED, HEARD AND SEEN. WINDOWS SO THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT OTHERS AND THEIR EXPERIENCES AND BUILD EMPATHY. IT IS VITAL THAT INSTEAD OF PULLING AWARD-WINNING LITERATURE FROM OUR SCHOOLS WE MUST DO JUST THE OPPOSITE. WE NEED TO STOCK THE SHELFS, WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN AND TO PARTNER WITH FAMILIES. THE BOOKS WE SHARE WITH STUDENTS CAN SERVE AS WINDOWS INTO

016OTHER LIVES IF WE CAN GIVE OUR STUDENTS OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD COMMUNITY TOGETHER, READING BOOKS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT THAN THEY ARE, WE HAVE A CHANCE TO BUILD THAT EMPATHY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. CATHERINE HOLCOMB. WE HAVE 3 MINUTES, WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP YOUR MASKS ON, WE ARE UNDER A MASK MANDATE HERE IN GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS AND GUILFORD COUNTY. IF YOU SAY YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS IT DOESN'T COUNT AGAINST YOUR TIME. WHEN THE ORANGE LIGHT BLINKS YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS REMAINING. >> I'M CATHERINE HOLCOMB, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME PEEK. I COME TO YOU AS A CITIZEN WHO INTERACTS DAILY WITH STUDENTS OF GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS AND A FORMER MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER HERE IN THE SYSTEM. MY FOCUS IS THAT ALL GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE PRECIOUS AND THEY

017ALL NEED TO BE KEPT SAFE AND TAUGHT THE TRUTH. TWO THINGS. SAFE FROM DISEASES AND SAFE FROM VIOLENCE AND SAFE FROM HARMFUL BUILDINGS THAT ARE CRUMBLING. TEACHERS HAVE THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB OF ALL CAREERS, EVEN MORE THAN DOCTORS. THEY MUST PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIVING AND COMMUNICATING IN THE CITY OR STATE OR COUNTRY, EVEN THE WORLD, NO MATTER WHERE THEY CHOOSE TO LIVE. TEACHERS CANNOT DECIDE TO TEACH THEIR FAVORITE CURRICULUM, THEY MUST TEACH THE WHOLE TRUTH IN MATH, IN ENGLISH, IN SOCIAL STUDIES, SCIENCE AND THE ARTS SO THAT WHEREVER A STUDENT GOES TO LIVE, HE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH FOLKS IN TEXAS, DO BUSINESS WITH PEOPLE IN ALASKA OR EVEN IN ENGLAND. THINK ABOUT THE TEACHING RESPONSIBILITY. IT RESULTS IN GOOD, INFORMED CITIZENS WHO HELP OUR COMMUNITIES OR MAYBE DROPOUTS WHO MAY HARM OUR COMMUNITIES. WE SHULD

018PAY TEACHERS THE TOP DOLLAR FOR THIS RESPONSIBILITY. WE SHOULD ALSO LEAVE TEACHING TRUTH TO THE TEACHERS, NOT THE PARENTS. PARENTS SHOULD SHARE THEIR VALUES, THEIR DISCIPLINE AND THEIR EDUCATION, BUT PARENTS ARE NOT EQUIPED TO TEACH THE LATEST MATH, HISTORY, ZUPBLS, COMMUNICATION SKILLS. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE. I WAS A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS. WHEN I HAD MY CHILD WITH SPECIAL ABILITIES I THOUGHT I KNEW THE BEST KIND OF SCHOOL FOR HIM. I ASKED NO ONE, I SIMPLY MOVED HIM TO A MAGNET SCHOOL WHERE I DEEMED HE WOULD BE GREAT. THIS TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY BAD DECISION. WITH GUIDANCE THE NEXT YEAR, HE WENT TO A SCHOOL WHERE HE CAUGHT UP WITH WHAT HE HAD MISSD FOR A YEAR. THAT WAS MY PARENTING THAT WAS NOT NEARLY AS GOOD AS THE JUDGMENT OF A TEACHER. OUR

019TEACHERS KNOW WHAT OUR STUDENTS NEED. : SAFETY AND TRUTH. EDUCATION IS A HUMAN RIGHT. UP WITH TRUTH, DOWN WITH FEAR, OPEN MINDS ARE NEEDED HERE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MR. PAGE AND MISS HOLLAND. MR. PAIPK AND MISS HOLLAND, PERHAPS NOT HERE. ROBERT BENSON, YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES AS WE SAID WHEN THE YELLOW LIGHT GOES ON YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME THAT WON'T COUNT AGAINST YOUR TIME. >> ON THE WEB SITE IT SAID MASKS WERE OPTIONAL, THAT WE COULD PULL IT DOWN WHEN WE WERE SPEAKING. >> CHECK THAT, PLEASE, REBECCA CAN WE GET WITH WANDA SO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE CONSISTENT INFORMATION. >> THANK YOU, MY NAME IS ROBERT BENSON, I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW PICTURES OF MY 5 CHILDREN, 3 ARE BIOLOGICAL, TWO ARE ADOPTED. I HAVE KINDERGARTENERS ALL THE

020WAY UP TO HIGH SCHOOLERS AND UP TO 2020 WHEN COVID STARTED THEY WERE BENEFITING FROM GCS SCHOOLS. I WANTED TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE TIPPING POINT TO BRING ME OFF THE BENCH AND THE FACT THAT THE MASKS HAVE TO GO. I SAT MONTH AFTER MONTH AND LISTENED TO MEETING AFTER MEETING, I LISTENED TO THE MEDICAL ADVISORS QUOTE STUDIES FROM THE CDC TRYING TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE USE OF MASKS. ALL OF THOSE STUDIES HAVE MORE HOLES IN THEM THAN SWISS CHEESE. NONE OF THOSE STUDIES CAN PROVIDE ANY REAL SCIENCE. ALL I'VE HEARD IS TRUST THE SCIENCE, TRUST THE SCIENCE, TRUST THE SCIENCE AND YET TIME AND TIME AGAIN THE SCIENCE IS IGNORED AND THE MASKS ARE MANDATED. HOW DO I KNOW? I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SITTING IN HERE WATCHING

021MONTH AFTER MONTH, EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS ON THEIR PHONE, NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO ANYBODY SPEAKING SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAD EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION. AND BEING THAT WAY AND BEING FROM THE MILITARY, I CAME PREPARED. SO I WENT AND DID THE LIBERTY OF PRINTING OFF A JOHNS HOPKINS STUDY THAT MOST OF YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW EXISTED AS OF JANUARY 6 THAT SHOWED IN OVERALL DETRIMENTAL HARM THAT THE LOCKDOWN, THE MANDATE AND THE MACHK HAVE DIND TO DO TO OUR XHIRPB. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY ZERO PROOF IS THAT THESE MASKS HAVE PROVIDED ANY SUPPORT FOR ANY KIND OF PROTECTION FROM THIS DISEASE OR THIS PANDEMIC AND I BROUGHT COPIES FOR EVERYBODY TO LOOK AT. POINT NO. 2 FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, THE CASE AGAINST MASKING CHILDREN. I PRINTED COPIES OF THIS AS WELL

022AND HOPEFULLY I HAVE A FEW MINUTES HERE AND I WANTED TO POINT SOMETHING OUT TO YOU AND I'LL READ QUICKLY TO YOU. CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO TRANSMIT COVID FAR LESS THAN ADULTS DO. A NORTH CAROLINA STUDY CONDUCTED BEFORE VACCINES WERE AVAILABLE FOUND THAT NOT A SINGLE CASE OF STUDENT TO TEACHER TRANSMISSION WHEN 90,000 STUDENTS WERE IN SCHOOL. ZERO TRANSMISSION FROM STUDENTS TO TEACHERS. THESE MASKS HAVE TO GO, I PROMISE YOU IF YOU DON'T VOTE TO ELIMINATE THESE MASKS TONIGHT, EVERY ONE OF YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF, SHOULD LOOK FOR ANOTHER JOB AND I PROMISE YOU IF YOU ARE IN MY DISTRICT YOU WILL BE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB IF I CAN HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> SUZY WILLIAMS. YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK AFTER YOU STATE

023YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. >> MY NAME IS SUZY WILLIAMS, MY NAME IS SUZY, I'VE LIVED IN GREENSBORO MY ENTIRE LIFE AND I'M A GRADUATE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. OF THE MANY STUDIES I HAVE READ ABOUT RACE AND FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, I'VE READ RACE IS RARELY A MATTER OF CONCERN FOR OUR WHITE STUDENTS. THIS HAS CREATED A GENERATION OF PEOPLE WHO THINK ANY DISCUSSION OF RACE IS AN ATTACK, A WAY TO DIVIDE. WHITE FAMILIES ARE SO USED TO NOT TALKING ABOUT RACE OR BEING RACIALIZED IN ANY CAPACITY WE THINK THAT'S THE NORM FOR EVERYONE. WE THINK WE GET TO DECIDE CONTINUING AS WE HAVE FOR DECADES, IGNORING RACE AND RACIAL HISTORY IS THE WAY FOR US. DO WE BHIET OUT THE COURAGE OF THE AMC4, DO WE DELETE STORIES OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD OF

024GUILFORD COUNTY? I WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR FIGHTING FOR THE TEACHERS, TRUTHFUL HISTORY AND THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN. GUILFORD COUNTY IS SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE A SCHOOL BOARD WHO KNOW A QUALITY EDUCATION DIRECTLY CORRELATES TO A QUALITY OF LIFE. A LOT OF WHAT IS SAID ABOUT ME CAME FROM A TEACHER OF THE GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. MR. WILD TAUGHT ME LEARNING COULD BE FUN. COACH SMEDLEY TAUGHT ME THE PERFECT PUSH UP. I OWE IT TO THOSE TEACHERS TO BE THERE FOR THEM AS THEY WERE THERE FOR ME. PLEASE KNOW THAT PARENTS ALL THROUGHOUT GUILFORD COUNTY HAVE IMMENSE GRATITUDE FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR CHILDREN. YOU ARE CREATING THE FOUNDATION FOR AN EQUITABLE COMMUNITY, WHICH MEANS EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO [INDISCERNIBLE] REGARDLESS OF THEIR ORIGINAL CIRCUMSTANCE. I WILL CLOSE WITH A QUOTE

025TO MY FAVORITE ENGLISH TEACHER. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. SYLVIA PLAT-WHITE, 3 MINUTES, STATING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS DOES NOT KOUBLT AGAINST YOUR TIME. WHEN THE ORANGE LIGHT BLINKS YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS. >> SYLVIA PLAT-WHITE WHILE DRIVING I RECEIVED A CALL ASKING IF I HAD HEARD BUT I MUST BE HONEST, I WAS SAD DENED, I WAS HAPPY FOR HER BUT NOT GUILFORD COUNTY. USUALLY YOU WAIT UNTIL A PERSON TRANSITIONS TO SAY WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT THEM SO I WILL NOT SPEAK ON THE SUBJECT OF TEACHING THE TRUE HISTORY OF OUR NATION DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PERSON THAT EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT IN 2016 AND SHE WAS MAKING HISTORY AS THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE A LATINO SUPERINTENDENT. EVERYONE WAS EXCITED TO HEAT HER. WERE YOU ALREADY PLANNING

026THE DATE YOU WOULD VOTE TO TERMINATE HER CONTRACT. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME SHE MADE HISTORY. SHE MADE HISTORY WHEN SHE BECAME THE THIRD PERSON OF COLOR TO BECOME SUPERINTENDENT. AS I RESEARCHD ARTICLES ON DR. CONTRERAS I CAME ACROSS A DOCUMENTARY ENTITLED DEFINING UP. THEY DESCRIBE HER AS A PASSIONATE ADD 0 KAITD DEDICATING NEARLY 30 YEARS OF HER LIFE ENSURING CHILDREN ARE PROVIDED WITH A QUALITY EDUCATION AND ABLE TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY. I SEE HER AS ONE WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR EQUITY AND INCLUSION FOR ALL CHILDREN IN ALL OF THE NATION'S LARGEST SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THIS COUNTRY, WHICH MEANS THE STUDENTS IN GUILFORD COUNTY COME FROM ALL ETHNICITIES. CAN YOU HONESTLY SAY THAT THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE WITH THIS BOARD ARE FOR ALL CHILDREN? DR. SHARON CONTRERAS HAS A VERY IMPRESSIVE RESUME'

027BUT HAS PRESIDENT MEANT ANYTHING TO SOME OF YOU ON THIS BOARD. DURING HER TENURE, ACCORDING TO ANOTHER ARTICLE, DR. CONTRERAS HAS FACED NUMEROUS OBSTACLES INCLUDING BUILDING RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS, AND MORE RECENTLY TARGETED ATTACKS FROM RIGHT WING GROUPS. IN JUNE 2021 IT WAS REPORTED CONTRERAS HAD RECEIVED NUMEROUS THREATENING MESSAGES FROM THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS. AS I CONTINUE READING RECENT INTERVIEWS OF DR. CONTRERAS I HEARD HER USE THE TERM DREAM JOB. DR. CONTRERAS, I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOUR FIRST DREAM JOB WAS BUT I HOPE IT WAS NOT HERE BECAUSE TO ME THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE. THE BLATANT DISRESPECT AND COMMENTS MADE BY CURRENT AND FORMER BOARD MEMBERS DOES NOT SPEAK WELL FOR THEIR CHARACTERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR DISTRICT AND THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS. HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

028>> THANK YOU. DAIRL MCNEILL, 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, THAT DOESN'T COUNT AGAINST YOUR TIME, WHEN THE ORANGE LIGHT BLINKS YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS. >> I'M BILL MCNEILL, I LIVE IN GREENSBORO. I'M ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE GREENSBORO SOLAR POWER NOW COALITION AND A MEMBER OF NEW GARDEN FREE SPEECH. I'M PROUD TO HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS WHO GRADUATED FROM GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. IN LATE 2019 OUR SO LAR POWER NOW COALITION CALLED BY CITIZENS TO ENCOURAGE THE GREENSBORO CITY COUNCIL TO GET TO THE GOAL OF 100 PERCENT RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 2040. THE CITY COUNCIL RESPONDED BY ADOPTING THAT AS A GOAL AND INITIATING A STRATEGIC ENERGY PLAN THAT IS NEARING COMPLETION NOW. I'M SURE YOU APPRECIATE THE VALUE OF ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE. WE KNOW THE CURRENT GENERATION OF STUDENTS AND THEIR FUTURE.

029BUT AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, WE KNOW THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL AND THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS COMING TOWARD US WITH IMPACTS THAT ARE ALREADY BEING FELT. CONFRONTS THE CLIMATE CRISIS WILL REQUIRE LONG-TERM COMMITMENTS AND ACTION ON EVERYONE'S PART. EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT, EVERY STATE, EVERY CITY, EVERY COUNTY, EVERY FAMILY, EVERY CORPORATION, EVERY AGENCY, EVERY INDIVIDUAL AND EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM. DAUNTING TASKS BUT YOU ARE IN A GREAT POSITION TO STEP UP TO THIS CHALLENGE. FOLLOWING YOUR GOALS FOR SCHOOL SYSTEM'S UTILITY NEEDS VOTED $300 MILLION. WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP THE COUNTY COMMISSION HAS NOW PLACED ON THE BALLOT FOR SPRING 1.7 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS. ALL OF THIS CONSTRUCTION SHOULD INCORPORATE THE VERY BEST ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES TO TAP INTO RENEWABLE SLOR POWER TO MEET THE SCHOOL'S ENERGY NEEDS. WITH

030YOUR OWN REPORT DOCUMENTING 53 AVERAGE AGE SCHOOL FACILITY, REPLACING AND RENOVATING SCHOOLS AND OTHER CLEAN GREEN DESIGN MEASURES WILL SURELY REDUCE OPERATING COSTS OVER TIME. YOU NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SET A POLICY GOAL OF TRANSITIONING TO 100 PERCENT RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 2050, TO SET A CLEAR BEACON FOR STAFF AND THE CONSTRUCTION TEAM THAT WILL SHOW YOUR COMMITMENT TO CONFRONT THE CLIMATE CRISIS WITH POSITIVE ACTION. I URGE YOUR CONSIDERATION. DRAFT POLICY THAT ACCOMPANIES MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, [INDISCERNIBLE] FUTURE OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. >> THANK YOU. DR. KAY GUTHRIE. YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK, WHEN THE ORANGE LIGHT BLINKS YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS. >> MY NAME IS KAY GUTHRIE AND I AM HERE TONIGHT AS AN ORDAINED PASTOR WHO HAS MOST RECPBLTLY SERVED AT A COUPLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES. LAST NIGHT AT

031DINNER MY 6-YEAR-OLD, THE KINDERGARTEN, ASKED IF SHE COULD SAY THE BLESSING. DON'T GET ANY IDEAS, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TOO OFTEN AND IT WAS GREAT. HE WANTED TO DO THIS CALL AND RESPONSE TYPE PRAYER WHERE HE SAID SOMETHING AND WE REPEATED. ONE OF HIS LINES WAS GOD HELP US TO HELP PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM US. MY MOM'S HEART SWELLED AND MY PASTOR HEART SWELLED AND I THINK THAT PRAYER WILL GET HIM PRETTY FAR IN LIFE. WE ALL KNOW WE NEED HELP LOVING PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM US. BUT I NEED TO KNOW WHEN HE IS 18 AND HE HAS FINISHED HIS PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION THAT HE WILL HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THAT LOVING PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT THAN US MEANS BEING SERIOUS ABOUT THOSE DIFFERENCES. IT MEANS LEARNING TO SIT WITH DISCOMFORT, IT MEANS

032LEARNING TO TELL FACT FROM FICTION. MY DAD CAME HOME WITH SOME VHS TAPES OF THE DOCUMENTARY EYES ON THE PRIZE. AND HE LET US SIT ON THE SOFA WHILE WE WATCHED HIM PREPPING FOR HIS CLASS. I DID SEE SOME THINGS I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. I HEARD STORIES I HAD NEVER HEARD BEFORE AND IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE. BUT LEARNING ABOUT THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND SOME OF THE HISTORY OF COMPLICATED HISTORY OF RACE IN OUR COUNTRY, IT DID NOT CRIPPLE ME, IT MADE ME CURIOUS. IT MADE ME WANT TO LEARN MORE AND HELP ME THINK CRITICALLY. THE THRUST TO KIDS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS NOT CRITICAL RACE THEORY BEING TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS. THE REAL THREAT IS NOT TEACHING OUR KIDS TO THINK CRITICALLY, NOT TEACHING OUR KIDS TO BE CURIOUS, NOT TEACHING

033OUR KIDS TO SIT WITH DIFFERENCE. PLEASE, I NEED HELP WITH THIS BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE. AND ONE FINAL THING I WILL SAY, THIS SWEET LITTLE 6-YEAR-OLD CAME HOME LAST THURSDAY SAYING HE HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID IN HIS CLASSROOM. WE ARE THRILLED ARE IN SCHOOL IN PERSON AND WE WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. WEARING MASKS HAS KEPT HIM FROM GETTING SICK. IT'S NOT EASY BUT MAY YOU THINK CRITICALLY YOURSELF. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. STEVE PRUITT, YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK. IF YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS IT DOESN'T COUNT AGAINST YOUR TIME AND WHEN THE ORANGE LIGHT BLINKS YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS STEVE PRUITT, I LIVE IN GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA. I LIVE IN GRANT'S DEPARTMENT. ONE THING IS I APPRECIATE [INDISCERNIBLE] BACK IN

034DECEMBER Y'ALL PASSED BONDS AND I WANT TO KNOW WHEN WE'RE GOING TO GET AND IS IT ANY TIME SOON, PEOPLE ASK ABOUT IT, MYSELF INCLUDED, I WAS TOLD WE WOULD GET $1500 AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. ARE WE GOING TO GET THIS ANY TIME SOON, IS IT GOING TO BE 3 OR 4 MONTHS NOW, WE WERE TOLD IT WAS JANUARY, WE WERE GOING TO GET OUR BONUSES, WE GOT A THOUSAND DOLLARS AT CHRISTMAS TIME, IT WAS REALLY APPRECIATED. WE GOT $500 BUT I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE OTHER $1500 THAT Y'ALL PASSED BACK IN DECEMBER FOR US. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET THAT, THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW. WHEN IS THAT GOING TO BE APPROVED, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THAT? I WAS HERE, I ASKED SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE

035ASKED, WE JUST WANT TO KNOW WHEN IS THIS GOING TO BE APPROVED. I WORK GROUNDS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD, KEEP THE SCHOOLS CLEAR OF SNOW, WE WORK HARD FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, HARD WORK AND EVERYTHING, BUT I JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THE BONUS PART THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD PASSED BACK IN DECEMBER, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO RECEIVE IT? THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW. I'VE BEEN HERE 9 YEARS, I WORK IN MAINTENANCE AND WORK HARD TO MAKE THINGS LOOK GOOD. I'D LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THE BOND SITUATION, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO RECEIVE IT, END OF THE YEAR OR FEBRUARY, I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE GET THE 5 PERCENT INCREASE IN PAY, SERIOUSLY I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT MY MAIN CONCERN ABOUT THE BONUS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN ARE WE GOING TO RECEIVE IT AND

036WHEN IS IT GOING TO COME THROUGH. THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT, EVERYBODY IS ASKING ME, I'M ASKING Y'ALL. I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHEN WE'RE GOING TO GET IT. EVERYONE IS ASKING ME AND THAT'S MY RESPONSE ABOUT THE BONUS SITUATION. YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO KNOW, THEY'D LIKE TO KNOW, IF Y'ALL COULD PLEASE JUST LET US KNOW, WE GOT EMAIL BACK IN DECEMBER YOU SENT US AN EMAIL SAYING IT HAD BEEN APPROVED, WE ALL GOT THE EMAIL, I GOT THE EMAIL SHOWING IT, HAD SOME OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. WE JUST WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE BONUS SITUATION, ARE WE GOING TO RECEIVE IT, ARE WE GOING TO GET IT ANY TIME SOON, ARE WE GOING TO GET IT ALL, WE'RE GETTING LEFT OUT SOMETIMES BY THE SITUATION HERE. PEOPLE IN XWROUPBDS, WE WORK OUR TAILS OFF

037EVERY DAY TO MAKE THINGS LOOK GOOD. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHEN THE SITUATION IS GOING TO BE AND PLEASE LET US KNOW. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR HARD WORK. I'D LIKE TO ASK SHIRLEY MORRISON TO MEET WITH YOU PERSONALLY, SHE CAN HELP YOU AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. >> WE'VE ANSWERED EVERY REQUEST THAT HAS COME IN AND WE SPOKE TO THIS DURING THE BOARD MEETING. THIS FUNDING IS EXTRA FUNDING, IT'S APPROVED BY THE STATE, BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. AS SOON AS THE BOARD APPROVED IT, WE SENT IT OUT TO THE STATE FOR APPROVAL. I BELIEVE WE RECEIVED APPROVAL EARLY THIS WEEK. WE JUST RECEIVED APPROVAL THIS WEEK. SO WE ARE TRYING TO QUICKLY TURN THIS AROUND TO GET THIS INTO THE FEBRUARY PAYCHECK. BUT WE COULD NOT SEND OUT THE BONUSES

038UNTIL DPI APPROVED IT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR EMPLOYEES DESERVE AND NEED THIS, BUT WE HAD TO WAIT FOR DPI. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS SHIRLEY MORRIS CAN TALK TO YOU. >> MR. BOSU, IF I DIDN'T SAY THAT PROPERLY, PLEASE -- YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK IF YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS THAT DOESN'T COUNT AGAINST YOUR TIME. WHEN THE ORANGE LIGHT BLINKS YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS. >> GREETINGS, I AM [INDISCERNIBLE] BOSU, GREENSBORO AND I AM A GCS 10. I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH I BELIEVE YOU GUYS SHOULD PAY EVERYBODY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM A WHOLE LOT MORE FOR THE OUTSTANDING WORK THEY DO. ADDITIONALLY IF YOU DECIDE TO DO THAT, START FROM THE BOTTOM UP. I SPEAK AS A 15 YEAR EDUCATOR IN NORTH

039CAROLINA. I WOULD LIKE TO USE MY TIME TODAY TO STAND RESOLUTE WHILE YOU HAVE YET TO PASS ANTI-CRT LEGISLATION, IF IT DOES, STAND RESOLUTE. TRY YOUR BEST TO GIVE OUR CHILDREN A FIGHTING CHANCE AT EQUALITY AND EQUITY IN THIS COUNTRY. TO THIS END I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT A SERIES OF QUICK QUESTIONS. WHY ARE THE ANTI-CRT WHITE PARENTS WORRIED ABOUT HISTORY, IS THE PURPOSE OF OUR CURRICULUM TO MAKE WHITE STUDENTS FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEIR [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> I THINK THE FINAL SPEAKER THIS EVENING IS MR. BLAKE ODOM. WELCOME, YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, IT DOESN'T COUNT AGAINST YOUR TIME AND WHEN THE ORANGE LIGHT BLINKS YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS. >> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS BLAKE ODOM, I AM HERE TONIGHT JUST TO ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO BE AN EXAMPLE

040IN PUBLIC EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. ONE PLACE THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO END UP ON IS THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY. HERE WE HAVE ASSEMBLED POLITICAL LEADERS WHO SERVE ON THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION WHO HAVE POWER TO ALTER THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR STUDENTS' FUTURES. I ENCOURAGE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THE RIGHT THING. I AM SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING ABOUT THE HISTORY THAT WE CHOOSE FOR OUR CHILDREN TO LEARN. COURSES LIKE HISTORY MONTH, WE CAN TALK ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND ALL THESE OTHER NAMES THAT WE ATTACH TO WHAT SHOULD BE AMERICAN HISTORY. SO I ENCOURAGE THE BOARD AND IMPLORE THE BOARD TO DO THE RIGHT THING. FOR EXAMPLE, TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO USE GERMANY. GERMANY TEACHES ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST. THEY DON'T WAIT FOR A SPECIAL MONTH TO DO IT. THEY DON'T

041WATER DOWN THE TRAGIC HISTORY THAT HAS HAPPENED IN AN EFFORT TO PROTECT THE FRAGILE FEELINGS OF OTHERS. I WANT US TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. I ALSO WANT US TO KEEP IN MIND EQUITY. AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY AND WE'RE IN A VERY SPECIAL PLACE HERE IN GUILFORD COUNTY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT BEING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY, MAKING DECISIONS THAT DO NOT BENEFIT THE LEAST OF US WILL PUT US ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY. I WANT US TO KEEP THAT IN MIND WITH EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE. MAKING DECISIONS WITHOUT THE LEAST OF US IN MIND ARE THE THINGS THAT PUT US ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY. SO I'M HERE TONIGHT TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO CONTINUE TO

042DO THE RIGHT THING. LASTLY, I WANT TO SAY TO DR. CONTRERAS, I AM 100 PERCENT IN SUPPORT OF YOUR LEADERSHIP FOR GUILFORD COUNTY. DR. CONTRERAS IS ONE OF THE BEST SUPERINTENDENTS IN THIS COUNTRY. TO BE LOSING SUCH A STRONG LEADER, IT REALLY IS GOING TO SET US BACK A BIT BUT I WANT US TO REALLY THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT DR. CONTRERAS HAS DONE TO GET US WHERE WE ARE TODAY. IT BUYS SOME TIME TO QUIETLY THANK HER FOR THAT. I GIV MY TIME, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. I'M GOING TO KEEP US MOVING ON IN THE INTEREST OF TIME. NEXT IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION -- >> SO MOVED. >> IS THERE A SECOND. >> SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR

043OF THE AGENDA -- DO WE NEED TO RAISE OUR HAND? VOICE VOTE, ALL THOSE? FAVOR. . >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? I'M SORRY, DIANE AND DEENA, BOARD MEMBERS ONLY. >> THANK YOU. >> NOW WE MOVE TO READING OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. . >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS. BOARD, THIS EVENING'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES THE APPROVAL OF JANUARY 2022 MEETING MINUTES, THE PERSONNEL ROT, A CONTRACT WITH SPECTRUM WIDE AREA NETWORK SERVICES, 2022-23 ACADEMIC CALENDARS AND CLASS SIGNS WAIVER REQUEST. THIS CONCLUDES THIS EVENING'S CONSENT AGENDA. >> MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> IS THERE A SECOND? . >> WE SHOULD VOTE. IF YOU'LL VOTE APPROVAL OF THE KUPB CEMENT AGENDA, LINDA WOULD YOU VOTE AYE FOR ME? DEENA >> YES. >> AND BOARD MEMBER BELLAMY-SMALL. >> YES. >> DEENA IS A YES SO THAT PASSES

044UNANIMOUSLY. Y'ALL WANT ME TO ENTER DEENA'S VOTE? SHE CAN PUSH IT ON HERS -- NO, LINDA PUSH MINE. WHERE IS IT? I KNOW BUT IT'S NOT LIT UP, THAT'S THE PROBLEM. DEENA VOTED YES, IF YOU CAN CORRECT THAT RECORD THAT WOULD BE GREAT. NOW WE MOVE TO ACTION ITEMS. OKAY, I SHOULD HAVE CALLED THIS WHEN WE WERE DOING THE AGENDA. I KNOW DR. MARTIN IS HERE FOR A AND T AND I WONDER IF WE CAN REVERSE THE ORDER OF THE WESTERN GUILFORD COUNTY -- HE HAS BEEN WAITING. DO I NEED A MOTION FOR THAT? DOES ANYBODY OPPOSE THAT? . >> I MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE HEAR THE NORTH CAROLINA A AND T LAB SCHOOL PRESENTATION BEFORE WESTERN NAMING. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE. DEENA AND DIANE >> AYE. >> DR. MARTIN, THANK YOU

045FOR YOUR PATIENCE. IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD I THINK FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM ABOUT THE LAB SCHOOL. YOU HAVE A COLLEAGUE WITH YOU, THE DEAN OF EDUCATION, I BELIEVE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE WHILE I TRY TO FILL DEENA'S VERY LARGE AND FANCY SCHOOLS. >> IT'S NOT A PRESENTATION, IT'S A TIME FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS TO THE CHANCELLOR. . >> WE HAD A PROSECUTATION AT OUR WORK SESSION SO ARE THERE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WHO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LAB SCHOOL PRESENTATION? LINDA? . >> NOT REALLY A QUESTION, BUT I DID RE-LOOK AT THEIR PRESENTATION. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT. I THINK YOU ARE SPOT ON WITH WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, I'M EXCITED FOR THOSE CHILDREN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO

046SEEING IT MATERIALIZE INTO A REAL PROBLEM. >> THANK YOU. >> IF ANYBODY WANTS TO GO AND LOOK BACK, WE DID ASK QUESTIONS AT THE WORK SESSION ON JANUARY 22ND AND THAT IS ALREADY POSTED IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT WE ASKED. >> ONLY ONE QUESTION I HAVE WITH REGARD TO ENROLLMENT. THAT'S 100 STUDENTS IMMEDIATELY OR IS IT ROLLING ENROLLMENT? HOW ARE WE DOING. >> OUR ANTICIPATION IS IN PARTNERSHIP WE WOULD DISCUSS ENROLLMENT BUT WE HAVE CAPACITY TO ACCEPT UP TO 100 AND THAT WOULD BE PRETTY MUCH THE CAP, WE WOULD START AT 100 AND STAY AT 100, SO NOT THE MODEL WHERE YOU KIND OF GROW EACH YEAR, IT WOULD BE 100 AT THE START AND THEN TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT. >> SO ARE YOU SAYING IT WOULD BE THIRD GRADE, FOURTH GRADE -- WE

047COULD ENROLL 50 THIRD GRADERS AND FOURTH GRADERS. >> ?OO IT WOULD BE THIRD, FOURTH AND FIFTH. THE ANTICIPATION IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE SMALLER CLASS SIZES SO THERE WOULD BE ABOUT 15 PER CLASS AND SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 2 AND 3 CLASSES PER GRADE LEVEL, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE ENROLLMENT WAS. >> ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IS THERE A MOTION? . >> SO MOVED. >> ANITA HAS MOVED FOR APPROVAL, SOMEBODY SECONDED. JENKINS. WE WILL CALL FOR A VOTE, PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTH CAROLINA A AND T UNIVERSITY. >> DEENA, I VOTED FOR YOU. HOW DID YOU VOTE? SHE VOTES YES. AND BOARD MEMBER BELLAMY-SMALL, NO. MR. THOMAS ENTERED BELLAMY-SMALL'S VOTE SO THAT PASSES BY A VOTE OF 8-1. THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE PARTNERSHIP, I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK IN A RELATIVELY

048SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME BUT YOUR STAFF TEAM AND OUR DISTRICT LEADERSHIP AS WELL AS THE FORMING OF A GOVERNOR'S BOARD AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THAT WORK WITH YOU AND APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. >> AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH MY WORKING THROUGH THIS. WE ARE BACK TO THE NAMING OF THE WESTERN GUILFORD MIDDLE CAFETERIA. IS THERE A PRESENTATION ON THIS ITEM. >> MR. MARSHAL MARTIN. >> DEBORAH IS CHAIR OF THE FACILITIES NAMING COMMITTEE. >> AT THE REGULAR MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 14 WE POSTED THE NOMINATION FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS TILL JANUARY 13 TO RENAME THE WESTERN GUILFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL CAFETERIA THE THOMAS B. SIMMONS CAFETERIA. NO PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE POSTED. THERE IS A SMALL DELEGATION OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WISH TO HAVE TIME TO

049SPEAK ON THE MATTER. >> EXCELLENT. WHY DON'T WE HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS SPEAK FIRST AND THEN YOU CAN PROVIDE CLOSING COMMENTS. ANITA, DID YOU EVER A QUESTION? OH, OKAY, AS WELL? THANK YOU, IF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN COME FORWARD AND JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AT THE PODIUM AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE NAMING OF THE CAFETERIA. THANK YOU. >> MY NAME IS ANDREA SIMMONS JOINER, I'M HIS DAUGHTER. I THOUGHT HE WAS A WONDERFUL MAN BECAUSE HE WAS MY FATHER, BUT WHEN I WENT AROUND TOWN WITH HIM I FELT LIKE I WAS WITH A CELEBRITY BECAUSE ALL OF THE KIDS WOULD RUN OVER TO US AND SAY COME HERE, COME HERE, YOU GOT TO MEET THE PEACE MAN. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT MY FATHER DID ON OTHER PEOPLE, I JUST KNEW BECAUSE HE RAISED

050US TO BE GOOD AND WONDERFUL. THIS PERSON. >> MY NAME IS MARVIN MCQUEEN, I BEEN IN SYSTEM 20 YEARS. MR. SINNONS, I WAS COOK THERE FOR 5 YEARS. HE TOOK ME UNDER HIS WING, HE ADOPTED ME AS HIS SON. HE WAS A GREAT MAN, HE WAS A PEACEFUL MAN. >> MY MOTHER JUST JOINED HIM ON JANUARY 14TH. SHE MADE IT FOR THEIR 70TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, I'M THANKFUL TO BE HERE, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE ON SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THEIR FATHER. MR. PEACE MAN TO ME WAS ALSO, HE WAS A FATHER FIGURE, A MAN OF FAITH, JUST AN AMAZING HUMAN BEING. I'M 29 YEARS OLD, I RUN MY OWN BUSINESS. I HAVE A COMPANY CALLED REACH [INDISCERNIBLE] TO WESTERN AND A BUNCH OF SCHOOLS

051IN GUILFORD COUNTY AND ALSO IN OTHER STATES. IT'S JUST BEEN A BLESSING. OVER THE COURSE OF MY LIFE I'M THANKFUL FOR PEOPLE LIKE MR. PEACE MAN WHO WAS ABLE TO EXEMPLIFY THE PROPER CHARACTER YOU NEEDED GROWING UPMENT HE ALWAYS HAD SOMETHING IN HIS HAND, HE WAS ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP, A SMILE, GO THE EXTRA EFFORT MAKE SURE THE SCHOOL WAS INTACT, HELP EVERYONE GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TIMES WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, THE WORLD COULD ALWAYS USE SOMEBODY WHO LOVES TO LOOK AT MORE OF THOSE EXTRA EFFORTS TO HELP OTHERS IN NEED. AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH IT REALLY BRINGS ME TO TEARS TO THINK SOMEONE LIKE HIM SHOULD BE HONORED. HE SHOULD BE REMEMBERED BY SUCH A WAY IN A SCHOOL HE LOVED THE IMPACT. NOT

052JUST PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME BUT PEOPLE WHO COME FROM ALL DIFFERENT SITES, HE WAS A MAN OF CHARACTER, DID HE GO TONIGHT, INTEGRITY, TO MEET HIS SONS AND HIS DAUGHTER TONIGHT, IT WAS JUST AMAZING TO SEE HOW IF YOU LEAD SOEONE IN THE PROPER WAY THE TRAIL THAT YOU CAN BLAZE BEHIND IS TRULY AMAZING. SO I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT MR. PEACE MAN AND THE LEGACY HE LEFT. I THANK Y'ALL FOR THAT. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, I'M ELIZABETH EDMONDS. I BEGAN AT GUILFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL IN MARCH OF 94 SO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HIM OVER 20 YEARS. YOU'VE HEARD PEOPLE REFER TO HIM AS PEACE MAN BECAUSE THAT WAS HIS MOTTO, HE WOULD MEET EVERYONE AT THE DOOR WITH PEACE, MAN. HE WOULD ALWAYS HANG

053OUT IN THE CAFETERIA. HIS GARBAGE MIGHT GO IN THE SCHOOL TRASH BUT HE HAD AN YOU ULTERIOR MOTIVE. HE WAS MEN TORING. HE WOULD GIVE THEM A LOOK AND THEY WOULD STRAIGHTEN UP. HE WAS ONE OF THE FINEST MEN I EVER MET IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. NOT ONLY WAS HE A VETERAN, HE HAD RETIRED FROM A JOB IN CALIFORNIA WHEN HE CAME HERE TO WORK FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT 25 YEARS. MARRIED TO MISS ANNIE 70 YEARS. AS HIS FAMILY SAID, TO KNOW HIM WAS TO LOVE HIM, WHEN I POSTED WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS, IN A MATTER OF MINUTES I HAD NEARLY 200 LIKES AND SHARES AND THAT HAS QUADRUPLED OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT THE PEACE MAN. HE DIDN'T GET ANY BIG

054REWARDS WHILE HE WAS LIVING BUT HIS BIGGEST REWARD IS THE LEGACY HE LEFT BEHIND WITH THE STAFF, THE ALUMNI, IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY LIVES THAT MAN TOUCHED. SO WE COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING MOREFITTING THAN TO NAME THE PLACE HE LOVED AFTER THOMAS SIMMONS THE THIRD. >> GOOD EVENING, I'M PATRICE BROWN, PROUD PRINCIPAL AT WESTERN MIDDLE SCHOOL. I WANT TO JUST END WITH THIS BECAUSE AS THE BRAND NEW PRINCIPAL COMING INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL FROM HE WILL AEPLTARY SCHOOL, VERY NERVOUS, MR. SIMMONS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE I MET. HE IMMEDIATELY GAVE ME THE PEACE SIGN AND I KNEW I WAS WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. EVERYONE CAN BE GREAT BECAUSE ANYONE CAN SERVE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE TO SERVE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE YOUR SUBJECT AND VERB AGREE TO

055SERVE, YOU ONLY NEED A HEART FULL OF GRACE, A SOUL GENERATED BY LOVE. AND THAT WAS MR. THOMAS SIMMONS, OUR PEACE MAN. WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND HONOR AND WE WILL PROUDLY REMEMBER HIM EVERY TIME WE SEE THAT HONOR IN OUR CAFETERIA, WHICH IS IN A CENTRAL LOCATION IN OUR SCHOOL. >> BOARD MEMBER SHARP. >> I JUST WANTED TO QUOTE OR TO READ WHAT OAKWOOD MAY HAD TO SAY ABOUT MR. SIMMONS. HE WAS A LONG TIME VERY MUCH REVERED PRINCIPAL AT GUILFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HE WROTE, WHEN HE CAME TO WORK HE IMPRESSED EVERYONE WITH HIS FRIENDLINESS AND WORK EGTDIC. HE GREETED FACULTY AND STUDENTS EACH DAY WITH A BIG SMILE AND A PEACE SIGN. HE WAS EVER NOT IN A GOOD MOOD OR DID NOT FEEL WELL. IF HE WAS EVER NOT

056IN A GOOD MOOD OR DID NOT FEEL WELL, NO ONE KNEW. HIS JOB WAS TO OPEN THE SCHOOL IN THE MORNING, WE NEVER KNEW HIM TO BE LATE OR OUT SICK. AND IF ANYONE NEEDED ANYTHING DURING THE DAY, MR. SIMMONS WAS THE PERSON TO CALL. THAT'S HIGH PRAISE COMING FROM A HIGH-RATED EX-PRINCIPAL. >> BOARD MEMBER. >> AS THE FACILITY NAMING COMMITTEE YOU WILL SEE ALL THE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION THERE, THEY HAVE BEEN POSTED THERE FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS FOR EVERYONE TO REVIEW AND THEY REMAIN THERE AND THEY ARE HIGH PRAISE INDEED. HE DID TOUCH BASE WITH BOARD MEMBER IRBY, WHO IS THE WESTERN REPRESENTATIVE, NEITHER HER NOR I HAD ANY QUESTIONS OR EVEN ANY DOUBTS POEDSED ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE ACTION. EVERYONE HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY THRILLED WITH THE SUGGESTION AND I AM

057GLAD TO PUT IT UP FOR CONSIDERATION. >> I WILL MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE RENAME THE CAFETERIA AT WESTERN GUILFORD MIDDLING. >> IS THERE A SECOND. >> I WILL SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT, WE CAN VOTE. . >> DEENA, YES. >> BOARD MEMBER BELLAMY-SMALL, YES. AND IT IS UNANIMOUS AND THE CAFETERIA HAS BEEN RENAMED THE THOMAS C. SIMMONS CAFETERIA. [APPLAUSE]. >> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND REPRESENTING THE LEGACY OF THE PEACE MAN. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE MONTHLY VOTE REQUIRED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE RECOVERING THE MASK REQUIREMENT. THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION LAW 2021-130 AND THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION LAW 2021-130. ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? LINDA. >> I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU GOT THE YOU TUBE OF DR. WYNN, WHO

058STATED -- AND IT WAS ON -- THAT IT'S TIME TO RECONSIDER THE MASKING, THAT THERE IS HARM IN CHILDREN WEARING MASKS ALL DAY LONG. SO, UM, SHE SAID CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE, THE ALL OMNICRON, YOUNG CHILDREN DO NOT SPREAD THE VIRUS AND WE HAVE TO WEIGH THE CONCERN OF RISK TO THE BENEFIT OF DOING THIS AND THE HARM TO CHILDREN. SO THERE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT IS TIME AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE START TO GO RECOGNIZE IT. MY SON EVEN CALLED ME FROM RALEIGH AND SAID I GUESS YOU ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE MASK VOTE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH NEWS OUT THERE THAT THE WIND IS SWITCHING AND THEY ARE RECOGNIZING WE NEED TO SWITCH THE MASK. I'M HOPING THE BOARD LOOKED UP AND REALIZED THESE CHILDREN NEED TO BE ABLE -- ACTUALLY HEARD FROM A

059FATHER TODAY THAT HIS SON GOT SUSPENDED FOR NOT WEARING A MASK. SO THAT IS DOING ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD, WE'RE SUSPENDING CHILDREN FOR NOT WEARING A MASK. I HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THAT, ALL RIGHT? BECAUSE EVERYONE, EVEN DR. FAUCI, SAYS EVERYONE IS GOING TO GET IT. THESE MASKS DO NOT PROTECT YOU FROM IT. ACTUALLY VERY UNCOMFORTABLE RIGHT NOW. SO I THINK PARENTS WANT TO KNOW WHEN THE OFF RAMP IS AND THE WIND IS SHIFTING. SO I'M ASKING THIS BOARD TO PLEASE GIVE CONSIDERATION TO THESE CHILDREN. WE SHOULD NOT BE SUSPENDING CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT WEARING MASKS BECAUSE THESE PIECES OF CLOTH DO NO GOOD. THEY ARE NASTY, NOONE WANTS TO TOUCH THEM AND WE'RE KEEPING THESE KIDS IN THEM. THAT'S MY OPINION, MY VOTE, NO. >> OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? DEBORAH. >> WE ALL

060WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE OFF RAMP IS. I THINK EVERYBODY IS EXHAUSTED. THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO PUT OUT THERE IS OVER THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS I'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL EMAILS, PHONE CALLS, TEXT MESSAGES AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET RID OF THE MASKS BUT THE MAJORITY OF MINE HAVE REQUESTED THAT WE KEEP THE MASK MANDATE. I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I HAD IT ALL WRITTEN DOWN AND THEN I LEFT IT HOME. MOST OF THE PEOPLE GETTING REQUESTS ARE STILL TEACHERS AND TEACHERS UNDERSTAND THAT IN WE DO NOT PROVIDE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY REQUEST THAT THEY CAN SIMPLY GO ELSEWHERE. AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD, NONE OF US WANT TO SEND A CHILD TO AN EMPTY ROOM AND WE'RE DESPERATE TO KEEP OUR TEACHERS. THE TEACHERS REQUEST THAT WE

061KEEP THE MASK MANDATE IN PLACE FOR THE TIME BEING. MASK COVERS ARE WORKING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SO IF THAT MAINTAINS, I'M READY FOR IT, I PROMISE YOU. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD COMMENT IS THAT I DON'T KNOW FUNCTIONALLY HOW IT WILL WORK BECAUSE THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MANDATE IS STILL IN PLACE. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WOULD WORK TO PULL OUR MANDATE DOWN WHEN THEIRS IS STILL IN PLACE. OUR ATTORNEY IS SHAKING HER HEAD AT ME. >> I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE RESCIND OUR MASK MANDATE BASED ON WHAT DEBORAH SAID, BUT WE RESCIND OUR MASK MANDATE AT THE SAME POINT AT WHICH THE COMMISSIONERS RESCIND THEIRS. THERE MAY STILL BE SOME COMMENTS, BUT -- >> MOTION ON THE FLOOR. >> BUT WE CAN STILL HAVE DISCUSSION. BUT I SECOND. >> PAT,

062DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT? . >> YES, I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE ALL LOOKED AT THIS, TRIED TO REASON. I KNOW I HAVE, I ASSUME EVERYONE ELSE HAS. YOU CAN SEE AROUND THE COUNTRY GOVERNORS THAT ARE ALREADY RESCINDING THIS MANDATE. WE TALKED ABOUT LEADING AND BEING INNOVATIVE AND I JUST DON'T THINK WE SHOULD WAIT BUT I THINK WE CAN MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS. AND I WOULD URGE OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO DO THAT. I MEAN, WE TALK ABOUT THE SCIENCE, THE MEDICAL DATA. IT USED TO BE THAT DENTISTS TOLD YOU TO PUT MERCURY IN YOUR MOUTH AND WE DID IT, JUST SOMETHING THAT WE DID. SO LET'S NOT GET ALL WOUND UP ABOUT MEDICAL ADVICE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT CHANGES AND I THINK SOMEBODY SAID BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY, I WOULD ARGUE THAT

063WE ARE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY RIGHT NOW WITH THIS MANDATE. IT'S NOT NECESSARY. IT'S JUST NOT. YOU LACK AT STUDY AFTER STUDY, IN SWEDEN, 1.9 MILLION CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 16 ATTENDED SCHOOLS WITHOUT MASKS FROM MARCH TO JULY, YOU HAVE YEAR-ROUND SCHOOL THERE. 1 IN 130,000 DEVELOPED COVID. NO ONE DIED. AND NOW WE SEE JUST THIS WEEK ACROSS THE SUNDAY TALK SHOWS, YOU NAME IT, THESE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS THAT WE'VE ALL OBVIOUSLY PUT OUR TRUST IN, AS WE SHOULD. I'M NOT AN EPIDEMIOLOGIST. THEY ARE SAYING IT'S NOT NECESSARY. I KNOW WE WANT TO STAY IN PERSON LEARNING, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ALL FOUGHT FOR. I BELIEVE WE CAN HAVE IT MASK OPTIONAL AND WE WILL NOT SEE A RISE, WE WILL NOT HAVE THESE FEARS THAT WE'RE AT ONE TIME WERE CERTAINLY LEGITIMATE AND

064WORRY BECAUSE IT'S THE UNKNOWN. IT'S JUST TIME TO DEMASK. I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. >> DEENA OR DIANE, DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS? . >> I DO. HOSPITAL UPDATES LAST NIGHT, 199 COVID PATIENTS AND IN JANUARY IT WAS THE HIGHEST THAT IT'S BEEN SINCE APRIL OF LAST YEAR. AND DECISIONS MADE ABOUT YOUNG CHILDREN OR OUR ELEMENTARY AGE STUDENTS, THIS IS ABOUT ADULTS IN THE BUILDING, ALL THE CONTACT, UNABLE TO USE SOME OF THE MITIGATION STRATEGIES SUCH AS SOCIAL DISTANCING, VIRTUAL LEARNING AND REAL REMOTE AND COVERAGE FROM CNN 12 HOURS AGO, CNN STILL RECOMMENDS UNVERSAL MASKING THROUGHOUT OUR SCHOOLS. THE NUMBER OF CASES COME DOWN, TODAY THEY HAVE 199, IN JANUARY THEY HAD OVER 200. IT'S STILL HIGH. AND WHEN WE HAVE THAT MANY PATIENTS THAT ARE UTILIZING MEDICAL RESOURCES, AS WE SEE THE NUMBER OF STROKES AND

065CANCER CARE AND OTHER AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASES AND IT'S JUST NOT AS SIMPLE AS A CERTAIN POPULATION. SO I AM IN FAVOR OF REVIEWING THIS INFORMATION, WE'VE BEEN HAVING A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING, DATA SHOWS THERE'S BEEN A DRAMATIC DROP IN THE NUMBER OF COVID CASES AT THE HOSPITAL THAT I AM IN SUPPORT OF MAINTAINING THIS RIGHT NOW BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE. >> THANK YOU. >> I JUST WANT TO ASK ATTORNEY WILSON TO CLARIFY FOR THE BOARD HOW RESCINDING THE MASK MANDATE MIGHT CHANGE THE ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE RULE. >> OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE KIDS IN SCHOOL. THE CURRENT GUIDELINES FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DHHS, ARE THE ISOLATION QUARANTINE GUIDELINES. IF THIS LEA HAS A MASK MANDATE, IN OTHER WORDS THEY ARE INQUIRED BY STUDENTS, IF A STUDENT IS EXPOSED TO A STUDENT OR ADULT

066WHO HAS COVID IN THE CLASSROOM THEY DO NOT HAVE TO ISOLATE UNLESS THEY ARE SYMPTOMATIC. IF THEY ARE A MASK OPTIONAL DISTRICT EVERY EXPOSED CHILD HAS TO ISOLATE SO THEY WILL BE OUT OF SCHOOL. AND SO IF YOUR GOAL IS TO PUT KIDS IN SCHOOL THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE TO HOW MANY KIDS YOU WILL BE PUTTING OUT OF SCHOOL IF YOU LIFT A REQUIRED MANDATE. >> DO WE HAVE AT THIS POINT IN TIME ANY CLASSIFICATION OF EMPLOYEE WHO HAS NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE VACCINATED. >> I DON'T BELIEVE -- THAT'S THEIR CHOICE. CERTAINLY THEY CAN BE VACCINATED. >> WOULD THE MOTION TO FOLLOW THE COMMISSIONERS PROHIBIT ANYONE FROM WEARING THE MASK IF THAT WAS THEIR CHOICE. >> NO. >> THANK YOU. >> I DID HAVE A COMMENT. MILDRED, DOES ANYONE HAVE A COMMENT OR

067QUESTION. >> AT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING. >> I'M SORRY, I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. >> THE 18TH. >> FEBRUARY OR MARCH. >> YOU'D THINK I'D KNOW THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BUT I DON'T KNOW. AND TO ANITA AND JILL'S DISCUSSION, I GUESS IT WOULD BE IN THEIR DECISION AT THE POINT OF THE NEXT MEETING WHERE THEY PULL DOWN THE MANDATE ALTOGETHER OR I GUESS NO MATTER WHAT, MASKS WOULD BE OPTIONAL. IF YOU CHOOSE TO WEAR ONE YOU AL HAVE THAT OPTION. >> YOU COULD WEAR A MASK 6 YEARS AGO. YOU CAN WEAR A MASK ANY DAY YOU CHOOSE. >> MAKING SURE. I KNOW THERE WAS A STRUGGLE I THINK IT WAS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA WHERE THE STATE TRIED TO TELL SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS NO MASKS. THAT DIDN'T SHAKEDOWN WELL.

068>> THERE HAVE BEEN GOVERNORS WHO HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PASS MASK POLICIES OR STATE DIRECTIVES THAT FORBID THE WEARING OF A MASK. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN SOME GOVERNORS RECENTLY THAT TRIED TO PASS STATEWIDE MANDATES BUT ALLOWED DISTRICTS IS TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS. >> ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE WOULD SHUT DOWN OUR SCHOOLS SO I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. BUT EVEN IF WE AGREE TO GO ALONG WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WE STILL ARE UNDER THE MANDATES TO VOTE EVERY MONTH. SO IT COULD BE REPRIEVED. EVERY MONTH THERE'S NO GETTING AROUND THIS. >> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT, YES, THERE ARE SOME GOVERNORS RESCINDING AND OTHER GOVERNORS NOT AND SOME DOCTORS ON CNN AND THE WINDS ARE COMPELLING AND ALL THOSE THINGS AFFECT HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THIS. I DO BELIEVE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES SHOULD WEIGH THE

069BROAD BODY OF EVIDENCE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I AM INCLINED TO FOLLOW THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. BECAUSE MEDICAL ADVICE DOS PBLTD MEAN I HAVE GIVEN UP ON ALL MEDICAL ADVICE. ANY ONE OF US CAN DO JUST AS WRONG AS THE DOCTOR OR SCIENTIST THAT YOU CLAIM IS WRONG. IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF OPERATING, I UNDERSTAND. I WILL RELY ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS AND [INDISCERNIBLE] COUNTY RESCINDED THEIR MASK MANDATE, ENDED UP WITH 10 PERCENT OF KIDS SICK AND HAD TO REINSTITUTE. THE KIDS WON'T BE IN SCHOOL AND THAT WOULD BE DEVASTATING AS WE MOVE INTO THIS CRITICAL FEW MONTHS SO I WILL SUPPORT THE MASK MANDATE. BUT WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO TIME OUR RESCINDING WITH THE COMMISSIONERS. >> CAN I MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION OR DO WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT? I

070WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT AFTER THE NEXT BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING WE DO A SPECIAL CALL MEETING TO CONSIDER WHAT THEY HAVE VOTED ON RATHER THAN IMMEDIATELY ASK THEM WHAT THEY DO. >> IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? HEARING NONE, THEN WE VOTE ON ANITA'S MOTION. >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION ON THE MOTION? . >> SURE. >> AFTER A SECOND CAN YOU ASK QUESTIONS? . >> TECHNICALLY, YES. >> I WILL SECOND IT THEN ASK THE QUESTION. ARE YOU SAYING IF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CHANGE THEIR VOTE OR THE VOTE STAYS THE SAME, NOT MANDATE WE WOULD NEED TO -- IF THEY CHANGE IT DO YOU HAVE THAT SITUATION IN THERE OR JUST PERIOD. >> YOU CAN'T DO -- KEEP IN MIND YOU CAN'T LIFT A MASK MANDATE THAT'S COUNTY-WIDE SO

071LET'S FACE IT, IT WOULD BE ONLY IF THEY CHANGE IT. >> THERE YOU GO. IF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LEAVE THEIR MASK MANDATE IN PLACE WE WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW SUIT. IF THEY WERE TO CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR MASK MANDATE ON THE 18TH WE WOULD THEN HAVE A SPECIAL CALL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO SEE WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS WOULD BE. >> DEENA HAS SECONDED THAT MOTION. >> KEEP IN MIND YOU ALREADY HAVE A MEETING THAT'S BEEN NOTICED ON THE 24TH. >> THAT WAS MY QUESTION BECAUSE EVERY MONTH WE MEET AS A BOARD. >> WE MEET TWICE A MONTH. >> I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU I COMPLETELY FORGOT THERE WAS A WORK SESSION. >> WITHDRAW THE MOTION? . >> NO, I WOULD NOT BECAUSE IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, ANITA, YOUR MOTION CALLS

072FOR THE IMMEDIATE FOLLOW OF WHAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SAYS. YES? AND IF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES INDEED RESCIND THEIR MASK MANDATE I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANOTHER DISCUSSION AND VOTE AMONGST US AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION RATHER THAN JUST AUTOMATICALLY FOLLOW ALONG. THE RIGHT WAY TO WORD THIS. >> JUST A MINUTE, I'M GO IFING TO CALL PARLIAMENTARY TIME OUT. ANITA MADE A MOTION. >> I DO NOT BELIEVE THE COMMISSIONERS COULD BE MEETING, I BELIEVE IT'S FRIDAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF YOU CAN EVEN GET IT NOTICED. >> I KNOW IT'S NOT A FRIDAY. >> THEY ARE MEETING ON A FRIDAY? . >> VALENTINE'S IS MONDAY. >> THE 17TH MAKES SENSE BECAUSE DHHS IS GOING TO DO -- >> I NEED A GAVEL. I GOT A DIET COKE. >> SO WE

073STILL HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR A CALLED MEETING SHOULD THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RESCIND THE MASK MANDATE. THAT'S THE MOTION AND DEENA HAS SECONDED IT. >> SO THE SOONEST YOU COULD CALL A MEETING WOULD BE THAT MONDAY AND YOU WOULD MEET AGAIN ON TUESDAY. >> THAT'S THE MOTION. ARE WE VOTING ON IT OR YOU WITHDRAW IT. >> LET'S VOTE ON IT, SEE WHAT EVERYBODY SAYS. >> SO WE'RE VOTING ON THE MOTION THAT SAYS IF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WITHDRAW OR RESCIND THEIR MANDATE WE WILL HAVE A CALLED MEETING TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE. DEENA, HOW DO YOU VOTE? . >> NO OH, BOARD MEMBER BELLAMY-SMALL. >> NO. >> ANITA, YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE? IT FAILS 7-2. . >> CAN I CHANGE THAT TO BECOME MASK OPTIONAL. >> ANYBODY CAN WEAR A MASK ANY TIME

074THEY WANT. >> OKAY. >> DEENA, NO. . >> I'M A NO. >> BOARD MEMBER BELLAMY-SMALL, NO. >> IT FAILS BY A VOTE OF 6-3. SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO KEEP THE CURRENT MANDATE IN PLACE. >> IT DIANE BELLAMY-SMALL MADE THE MOTION, BETTY, WOULD YOU OFFER A SECOND. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A SECOND BY BETTY JENKINS. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. IF A CHILD, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER REFUSES TO WEAR THE MASK, WAS SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL, ACCORDING TO WHOEVER WROTE THE EMAIL, AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHO IT WAS, THE CHILD WILL BE BACK IN SCHOOL TOMORROW WITH NO MASK AND WILL BE SUSPENDED AGAIN. HIM OR HER, I DON'T REMEMBER. IS THAT GOING TO BE OUR PRACTICE. >> I DON'T BELIEVE YOU COULD ANSWER BY ANY PARTICULAR -- OR SHOULD ANSWER ABOUT

075ANY PARTICULAR CHILD. I THINK IT DEPENDS -- THAT CHILD CAN SRTLY VIOLATE SCHOOL RULES BY THEIR RESPONSE TO AN ADULT OR A POLICY. AS I UNDERSTAND MR. MATSON, WE HAVE INSUBORDINATION. >> SUSPENDED. >> CONSEQUENCES IN OUR DISCIPLINE POLICY. >> HOW THEY RESPOND TO AN ADULT. >> NOT FOR NOT WEARING A MASK, IT'S FOR INSUBORDINATION. >> WITHOUT KNOWING THE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE, IT WOULD BE FOR SOMETHING LIKE INSUBORDINATION BUT I WOULD REMIND THE BOARD IS THAT THE POLICY OF THE BOARD IS THAT ALL PEOPLE IN A SCHOOL WEAR A MASK WHICH MEANS IN ORDER TO BE IN SCHOOL THEY HAVE TO WEAR A MASK, JUST LIKE THEY HAVE TO WEAR CLOTHING. SO I DON'T KNOW THE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS BUT WE'LL LOOK INTO IT. BUT BOTH THINGS CAN BE TRUE, THAT THERE COULD

076BE SOME EXACERBATING SITUATIONS WHICH COULD BE THE REASON FOR A SUSPENSION, I'M LOOKING INTO IT, OR IT COULD BE IT'S SIMPLY A REQUIREMENT THAT EVERYBODY IN SCHOOL WEARS A MASK. >> I WILL LOOK INTO THAT. >> OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, WE HAVE A COMMENT FROM [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> SO IN SOME OF THESE THINGS LIKE GRANTING STAYS, UPHOLDING MASK BANS, FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE -- >> I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY COURT THAT HAS UPHELD THE MASK BAN. THE GOVERNOR'S POWER TO ISSUE IT BUT A NUMBER OF SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE ALSO CONTINUED TO WEAR MASKS. SO THAT'S KIND OF A MESSY PLACE TO USE AS AN EXAMPLE AND IT ISN'T THE LOCAL POLICY, IT IS THE GOVERNOR ENTERED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT HAS BEEN CHALLENGED. >> TRUE. >> BUT IEP NOT AWARE OF ANY

077INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGE TO A MASK MANDATE THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL. >> IT'S ALL KIND OF MESSY, ISN'T IT? IN TERMS OF OUR LEGAL LIABILITY GIVEN THIS SITUATION HYPOTHETICALALLY OR WE KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE STATE LAW GUARANTEED PUBLIC EDUCATION, THIS IS A -- IT IS A MANDATE BUT I WOULD ARGUE IT'S DIFFERENT FROM WEARING CLOTHES. >> THINK ABOUT IT IT'S NOT DIFFERENT FROM HAVING A TUBERCULOSIS VACCINE OR GOING HOME IF YOU HAVE CHICKEN POX BECAUSE YOU ARE CONTAGIOUS OR OTHER HEALTH HUMAN SAFETY DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE STATE TO PROTECT STUDENTS WHO GATHER IN GROUPS. THERE ARE MANY, MANY EXAMPLES OF SUCH THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED AND NOT CHALLENGED SUCCESSFULLY BECAUSE THE STATE -- YOU ALSO HAVE A COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE. IF YOUR CHILD IS MANDATED TO BE IN SCHOOL, WE HAVE A DUTY

078TO KEEP THAT CHIDE SAFE. COMPETING RESPONSIBILITIES. AS LONG AS THERE ARE SUPPORTS AND YOUR DECISION IS BASED ON A RATIONAL BASIS AND CONSIDERING THAT WE HAVE BOTH A MASK MANDATE IN GUILFORD COUNTY AND TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS THAT RECOMMEND MASKS BASED ON FINDINGS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, WE CLEARLY HAVE A RATIONAL BASIS. >> OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO VOTE ON THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR BY BOARD MEMBER BELLAMY-SMALL. DEENA -- OH, WE'RE VOTING, WE'RE VOTING. I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD A QUESTION. YOU ARE THE CHAIR, POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> I THINK IT WAS -- I'M SORRY. THIS IS FOR DIANE'S MOTION. >> TO CONTINUE THE MASK MANDATE UNTIL NEXT MONTH. >> YES. >> BOARD MEMBER BELLAMY-SMALL. >> YES. >> LINDA WELLBERPB WANTS TO CHANGE HER VOTE, HOW DO YOU DO

079THAT? ARE WE REVOTING? POINT OF ORDER. THIS, A YES VOTE CONTINUES THE MRAFK MANDATE UNTIL WIE VOTE AGAIN NEXT MONTH. A NO VOTE IS AGAINST CONTINUING THE MASK MANDATE. SO DEENA WAS A YES, WINSTON WAS A YES, BOARD MEMBER BELLAMY-SMALL WAS A YES. WE HAVE SOME CONFUSION ON THE DAIS, SURPRISINGLY. THAT PASSES BY 6-3. THANK YOU. WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT MONTH ON THAT ONE, FOLKS. CONSIDERATION OF REVISED POLICIES, D UNDER ACTION ITEM. IS THIS COMING FROM MEMBER JENKINS, POLICY COMMITTEE. >> I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT POLICY NO. 3225-4312-7320, WHICH IS TECHNOLOGY RESPONSE USE. >> I SECOND. >> ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? WE WILL MOVE FOR A VOTE. LINDA, I'M A YES. DEENA, YES. BOARD MEMBER BELLAMY-SMALL. >> NO. >> PASSES BY A VOTE OF 9-0. BOARD MEMBER HAYES AND BELLAMY-SMALL, IF YOU

080HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, CONTACT US. >> THE NEXT POLICY, I MAKE A MOTION TO ADAUPLT POLICY 9030, WHICH IS THE CONSTRUCTION CHANGE ORDER. >> SECOND. >> ARE THERE QUESTIONS? WE CAN VOTE. LINDA, I'M A YES. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? . >> TO DO THE $500,000 CHANGE ORDER TO MARRIOTT, CORRECT. >> CORRECT. >> I DON'T KNOW OF MANY PLACES THAT GIVE THAT LEVEL OF APPROVAL DURING -- THIS IS WHERE THE SCOPE OF PROJECTS GET OUT OF CONTROL. SO I'M JUST GOING TO SAY I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS TO DO IT AT THAT LEVEL IN MY VIEW. >> THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER JENKINS. >> DO WE GET ANY [INDISCERNIBLE] ON THIS 930? . >> I WOULD HAVE TO REFER TO REBECCA K ON THIS BUT AS THE BOARD CLERK'S EMAIL WE HAD ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE

081POLICY. >> AND THE ONE COMMENT WE RECEIVED WAS ACTUALLY ON THE TECHNOLOGY RESPONSIBLE USE POLICY, WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION WE ARE AWARE OF ON THE CHANGE ORDER. >> THANK YOU. >> I DID NOT SEE THIS. >> CAN YOU TURN YOUR MIK ON PLEASE. >> I DID NOT SEE THIS ON THE AGENDA? WHEN DID IT GET PLACED ON THE AGENDA? THAT ONE TIME IT WAS JUST THE TECHNOLOGY. >> WAS IT ON THERE FROM THE ORIGINAL? . >> I COULD SWEAR WHEN I SAW IT, IT DIDN'T HAVE THAT ONE. IT WAS PUT ON THERE. I WILL TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT. >> WE WILL VOTE. YES, LINDA. DEENA HAYES, YES. BOARD MEMBER BELLAMY-SMALL, YES. MR. TILLMAN. SO THAT PASSES ON A VOTE OF 6-3. NEXT THERE WAS AN ITEM PLACED ON THE

082AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION BY BOARD MEMBER LINDA WELLBORN ABOUT COVID TESTING FOR ATHLETES. >> OUR CURRENT SITUATION, STUDENTS ARE CALLED OVER THE LOUD SPEAKER FOR ALL IT HEAR TO GO TO A PUBLIC PLACE SUCH AS A GYM WHERE THEY STAND IN CLEAR VIEW OF THEIR PEERS FOR 20 MINUTES OR OVER AN HOUR FROM WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO ME, RECEIVE TWO TESTS, A PRC AND AN ANTIGEN TEST, NEITHER FULLY APPROVED. THE PRC TEST HAS PENDING EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION SO BASICALLY HAVING NOTHING VALIDATING THE USE OF THAT TEST AS ACCURATE. ANOTHER ARTICLE CAME OUT RECENTLY THAT THE APPROPRIATION -- THE REPLICATION COUNT FOR PRC IN NORTH CAROLINA IS ABOUT 37 WHICH IS MUCH TOO HIGH, IT SHOULD BE 30 TO 33, WHICH MAKES A LOT OF FALSE POSITIVES. STUDENTS GO -- HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GO EVERY TUESDAY

083AND THURSDAY DURING CLASS TIME AND INSTRUCTIONAL TIME AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS GO WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY, WHICH MEANS STUDENTS ARE LOSING UP TO TWO HOURS OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME IN THE SAME CLASS EVERY WEEK. CORE CLASSES THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE. INFORMATION ON THE REGISTRATION FORM STATES THE TESTS WOULD HAVE A MINIMUM OF EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION. THE PCR TEST IS PENDING, IT DOES NOT HAVE APPROVAL. PCR RESULTS TAKE 24 TO 72 HOURS, WHICH MEANS IN SOME CASES WE ARE NOT REVEALING THE RESULTS PRIOR TO GIVING ANOTHER PCR TEST TO THESE STUDENTS. WE ARE GIVING THESE STUDENTS 4 TESTS A WEEK. FOUR TESTS A WEEK WITHOUT ANY LOGICAL REASONING FOR DOING THAT. I BELIEVE THAT IS EXCESSIVE. NOW LET'S LOOK AT THE AGE GROUP, THE AGE GROUP, THIS IS NOT THE AGE GROUP FILLING UP OUR HOSPITALS, NOR

084ARE THEY MAJOR SPREADERS. THEY ARE LOWER SPREADERS THAN THE ONES THAT ARE VACCINATED. WHEN IT FIRST STARTED THE UNVACCINATED WENT FIRST, BUT THE UNVACCINATED QUICKLY CAUGHT UP TO THEM. WHEN I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH IT'S PRETTY EVEN. STUDENTS FEEL THEY ARE BEING SHAMED AND PRESSURED INTO GETTING VACCINATED. SOME STUDENTS BY THEIR CHOICE DECIDED NOT TO GET VACCINATED AND DECIDED THEY WOULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE TESTS WEEKLY. IT IS A SHAME THAT THEY HAD TO MAKE THIS CHOICE. EXPERTS HAVE CLEARLY STATED THAT EVERYONE CAN GET OMICRON, INCLUDING FAUCI. VACCINATED STUDENTS AND UNVACCINATED STUDENTS GET THE VIRUS THE SAME. LET'S STOP THIS UNFAIR PRACTICE. >> I'D ACTUALLY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ONLY TEST -- IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, I THINK LINDA EXPLAINED IT VERY WELL. THIS IS PART OF THE SORT OF MADDENING

085EFFORTS THAT REALLY THERE'S NO SUBSTANCE IN THIS. IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, RESPECT PEOPLE'S PRIVACY AND THEIR HUMAN RIGHTS. I HAVE HAD COVID CALLS, EMAILS, THESE PARENTS ARE -- WE SHOULD NOT LOWER OUR EYES OR DISMISS WHAT THEY ARE ASKING US TO DO AS PUBLIC SERVANTS. WE OWE IT TO THEM AND LISTEN AND WE SHOULD DO A LOT MORE LISTENING AND A LOT LESS DEMAGOGUING AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED. SO WITH THAT, GOING TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ONLY TEST ATHLETES THAT ARE SYMPTOMATIC. THAT'S IT. I THINK THAT'S FAIR, IT'S REASONABLE. THESE KIDS ARE MISSING AP TIME, 30, 45 MINUTES. THIS CREATES THIS ANTAGONISTIC -- WE TALK ABOUT TEACHERS IN SCHOOL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO NEED AS MANY BECAUSE TEACHERS ARE LEAVING THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE NUBERS DON'T LIE, MADAM VICE CHAIR, DON'T

086TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN IT. THERE'S REASON BECAUSE WE'RE MARGINALIZING PARENTS AND KIDS. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT. WE CERTAINLY MAKE PROTOCOLS AND I THINK THIS IS A REASONABLE REQUEST. THIS DOESN'T DO AWAY WITH TESTING AT ALL BUT IT CERTAINLY PREVENTS THIS VERY EMBARRASSING, FRANKLY, FOR A CHILD TO BE CALLED OUT SORT OF IN THAT REGARD. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME. THAT'S THE MOTION. >> THE MOTION IS -- >> ATHLETES THAT ARE SYMPTOMATIC ARE THE ONES TESTED. >> DEBORAH, OTHER COMMENTS? DEBORAH THEN KIM, DEENA DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS? . >> I DO. >> PASS, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WITH OMICRON VARIANT THERE IS A 3 DAY WINDOW CALLED THE INCUBATION PERIOD WHERE A PERSON CAN BE POSITIVE BEFORE THEY DISPLAY SIGNS THEY ARE CARRYING THE ILLNESS. THAT'S TYPICAL OF VIRUSES. BEFORE

087THEY BECOME ACUTELY ILL AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ARE VACCINATED OR NOT. I DO AGREE THAT PULLING THEM OUT OF CLASS, IT'S A MISERABLE THING TO DO. IT HAPPENS TO A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS. WE PULL OUT PEOPLE WHO ARE, PULL OUT STUDENTS WHO ARE BEHIND IN THEIR SUBJECTS FOR ONE ON ONE TUTORING. WE PULL THEM OUT FOR COUNSELING, IT IS AN ALERT THAT THEY NEED COUNSELING. I KNOW WE HAVE SOME SCHOOLS THAT ARE TESTING BEFORE SCHOOLS ACTUALLY OPEN, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF DR. CONTRERAS THAT IS A PRACTICE WE CAN EXPAND BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE IT ANY TIME A STUDENT HAS TO MISS CLASS. AND I ACTUALLY HAD A PARENT SUGGEST IT, BRING UP THE SAME, A LOT OF THE SAME POINTS THAT STUDENTS ARE FEELING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST AND THAT SAME

088PARENT SUGGESTED TO ME THAT RATHER THAN ONLY TESTING UNVACCINATED STUDENTS WE SIMPLY TEST ALL OF THEM. TEST ALL THE STUDENT ATHLETES. IF WE HAD THE RESOURCES FOR THAT I THINK IT'S A FANTASTIC IDEA. VACCINATED PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY CAN CATCH 0 KID. UNVACCINATED HAVE PROVEN TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE ILL THAN THE VACCINATED. I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TEST ALL ATHLETES. >> CAN I MAKE ANOTHER SUGGESTION? IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, THAT WE ONLY TEST ONE TEST INSTEAD OF 4 TESTS. WHY DO WE NEED TO DO 4 TESTS, TWO EACH WEEK. WE'RE TESTING THEM WITH AN ANTIGEN, A PCR, AN ANTIGEN AND THE PCR >> THAT'S WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE TOOL KIT IN OCTOBER 2020 AND THAT'S WHAT'S STILL IN THE TOOL KIT. >> YOU ARE LITERALLY GIVING THESE KIDS 4 TESTS A WEEK,

089EVERY WEEK. EVEN THE HOSPITALS DON'T DO THAT. >> WITH THE FOLKS, I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE ARE HERE. WE HAD A SUGGESTION BUT NOT A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. PAT MADE A MOTION THAT'S BEEN SECONDED THAT WE ONLY TEST SYMPTOMATIC STUDENTS WITHOUT INDICATING -- ATHLETES IN WHAT WE'RE CALLING HIGH CONTACT SPORTS. WE'RE NOT EVEN TESTING ALL ATHLETES. MADE A SUGGESTION, IT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE MOTION. >> I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE OTHER COMMENTS. >> I HAVE LOST MY ORDER NOW. >> I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY STUDENTS THEN ARE WE TESTING SO FAR. >> WE HAVE 4,000 STUDENTS IN WINTER SPORTS. ONLY 800 ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE TESTING PROGRAM BECAUSE THE OTHERS ARE VACCINATED OR HAVE HAD COVID WITHIN THE PAST 90 DAYS. >> OKAY, SO IF WE TEST ALL STUDENTS THEN WE WOULD BE

090TESTING ALL 4,000 STUDENTS EVERY WEEK. >> EVERY OTHER WEEK. >> EVERY WEEK. >> FOUR TIMES. >> YOU WOULD TEST 4,000 PER SEASON EVERY WEEK. IS THAT RIGHT? . >> IT WOULD BE 4,000 STUDENTS GETTING 4 TESTS. >> CAN YOU GO OVER WHAT'S IN THE TOOL KIT AGAIN. >> I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THOSE TESTS. ONE IS THE [INDISCERNIBLE] TEST, 80 PERCENT, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BECAUSE DR. VANN IS NOT HERE. YOU TEST 80 PERCENT. WHAT YOU DON'T CATCH WITH THAT, THE PCR WOULD THEN CATCH. >> 80 PERCENT MEANS IT WILL BE -- >> 80 PERCENT, MY UNDERSTANDING, 80 PERCENT OF THE TIME YOU WOULD TEST THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HAS COVID OR NOT. >> OKAY. >> IS THAT RIGHT? MRS. NAPPER, ABOUT 80 PERCENT ACCURACY, WITH ABOUT 80 PERCENT ACCURACY THE RAPID

091TEST. >> I'M TRYING TO THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO EXPLAIN THAT. >> THAT'S WHY YOU WOULD THEN DO THE PCR TEST. SO IF A STUDENT TESTS POSITIVE WITH THE RAPID TEST YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THE PCR TEST. >> OH, YOU DON'T. >> IF THEY TEST POSITIVE WITH THE RAPID TEST BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEY HAVE COVID. >> YOU CAN'T GET A FALSE POSITIVE BUT YOU CAN GET A FALSE NEGATIVE. >> THAT IS NOT HOW IT'S WORKING. THEY ARE GIVEN BOTH TESTS NO MATTER WHAT. >> OKAY, SO IN REGARDS TO THE SCHOOL KIT, THAT'S WHAT'S COMING DOWN TO US FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. >> THE TOOL KIT HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE IT WAS AMENDED THE LAST TIME. SO WE ARE FOLLOWING THE TOOL KIT RECOMMENDATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> BETTY. OH, DEENA

092>> YES, I WOULD [INDISCERNIBLE] DR. CONTRERAS SHE AND THE STAFF ON ALMOST CONSTANTLY, IT HAS TO BE JUST MADDENING TO NAVIGATE AND NO ONE IN THE WORLD WOULD WANT TO PUT COACHES AND STUDENTS AND TEAMS THROUGH THIS FOR NO REASON. I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT [INDISCERNIBLE] PERIOD AND NOT JUST STUDENT ATHLETES. WE HAVE CONCERNED STUDENTS BUT SOME STUDY ON THE STIGMA AND THE CHALLENGES OF OF THIS BEING PUT OUT FOR SPECIAL SERVICES. I TOLD OUR STAFF, I AM CONFIDENT THAT OUR STAFF IS DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN, DO THIS WITH THE UT MOTE DECORUM AND IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN THERE ARE THINGS IN PLACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE COUNCILED AND ADVISED HOW TO HANDLE THOSE THINGS. I FELT AS SUPERINTENDENT, THE PERSON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF COVID I AM

093STILL IN FAVOR OF WHAT THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED AND ARE DOING AT THIS TIME. >> I DO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, SOME OF THE DATA YOU REFERENCED, 4,000 KIDS IN WINTER SPORTS, 800 PARTICIPATING IN THE TESTING PROGRAM. THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS 10 PERCENT POSITIVITY RATE ON THOSE 800 KIDS, IS THAT TRUE OR IS THERE OTHER DATA YOU CAN SHARE. >> ACCORDING TO MR. HUBBARD AND MR. ROBINSON WHO PROVIDES THE DATA, 10 PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS WITHIN 2 WEEKS TESTED POSITIVE, 84 STUDENTS OF 800. THAT'S A PRETTY HIGH NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO TESTED POSITIVE AND THOSE STUDENTS ARE IN HIGH CONTACT SPORTS, MEANING THOSE COULD VERY WELL HAVE BECOME CLUSTERS. JUST A REMINDER, WE'RE JUST FOLLOWING THE NORTH CAROLINA TOOL KIT AND THE GOAL HERE IS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS

094SO THAT WE CAN KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN, NOT TO MAKE THE LIVES OF OUR ATHLETES MISERABLE. WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS, WE WANT OUR SPORTS PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE, AND WE WANT SCHOOLS TO REMAIN OPEN. THAT'S THE POINT OF THE TESTING PROGRAM. >> CAN YOU SHARE THE CLUSTER DATA THAT I ASKED ABOUT TOO AND HOW THAT WAS RELATED TO ATHLETICS. >> SINCE WE STARTED COLLECTING DATA IN JANUARY 2021, 44 PERCENT OF THE CLUSTERS IN GCS ATHLETIC TEAMS ALTHOUGH STUDENT ATHLETES ACCOUNT FOR 13 PERCENT OF THE STUDENT POPULATION. FOR THE FIRST MONTH OF SCHOOL, 75 PERCENT OF ALL CLUSTERS WERE IN ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. >> OKAY, SO ANITA AND THEN LINDA. >> OKAY, I HAVE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS. WHEN WAS THE TOOL KIT LAST AMENDED. >> I CAN'T TELL YOU OFF THE TOP

095OF MY HEAD. SIX MONTHS IS MY GUESS BUT I DON'T REMEMBER. >> JANUARY OF 2022 THE TOOL KIT WAS AMENDED AND THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE KEPT IN PLACE BY THE STATE. >> DOES THE TOOL KIT ACTUALLY CALL FOR TESTING ATHLETES? . >> I THINK IT'S ON PAGE 12 AND 13, YOU CAN PULL IT UP. >> OKAY, THANKS. WHICH ATHLETES WERE NOT, WHICH SPORTS ARE NOT BEING TESTED? . >> IF THE TWO OF YOU COULD COME UP TO THE TABLE. >> WHAT ARE THE NON-HIGH CONTACT SPORTS. >> WE ARE TESTING ALL SPORTS AT THIS TIME, WRSTLING, BASKETBALL, CHEERLEADING. >> SO IF NOT BEING TESTED, IF THE 4,000 ATHLETES WE'RE ONLY TESTING 800, WHO IS NOT BEING TESTED. >> THE ONES NOT VACCINATED AND THE ONES WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE IN THE LAST 90 DAYS. >> WHAT OTHER

096SYSTEMS ARE TESTING THEIR ATHLETE US. >> WHAT SYSTEMS? CHAPEL HILL. >> THEN JUST A STATEMENT. MY SON HAD COVID 4 WEEKS AGO. LAST WEDNESDAY WHEN HE WAS ADMITTED TO RACE HOSPITAL, HE STILL TESTED POSITIVE. HE DOES NOT HAVE COVID, BUT HE TESTS HE HAD IT 4 WEEKS AGO AND STILL TESTS POSITIVE. SO WE ARE SAYING SOME KIDS ARE POSITIVE WHEN THEY AREN'T. >> WE EXCLUDE STUDENTS WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE IN THE LAST 90 DAYS. >> BUT WE DON'T ALLOW HOME TESTS. >> CORRECT. >> BUT IF THEY HAD THE VIRUS IN THE LAST 90 DAYS THEY ARE PERMITTED -- AND ARE NOW ASYMPTOMATIC THEY ENJOY THE SAME STATUS AS A VACCINATED STUDENT. >> CORRECT. . >> CORRECT, BUT ONLY IF WE TESTED THEM. >> AS LONG AS IT IS A CONFIRMED POSITIVE TEST. >> BY WHOM?

097. >> THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. >> WE DON'T ACCEPT HOME TEST. >> BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. >> THE GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN US THE HOME TESTS TO USE. >> LINDA AND THEN KIM. >> OKAY, THESE STUDENTS ARE CALLED OVER THE INTERCOMTOK TO THE GYM. THEY ARE STANDING THERE IN NO PRIVACY AND THEY ARE PUBLICLY CALLED OVER THE INTERCOM, I HAVE HEARD THIS FROM SEVERAL PARENTS. I DON'T CONSIDER THAT IN ANY WAY BEING CONSIDERATE OF THEIR PRIVACY. THE FORM THESE PARENTS WERE GIVEN TO REGISTER FOR THIS PROGRAM SAID THAT THE MINIMUM THE TESTS WOULD BE EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZED, AT A MINIMUM. THE PCR TEST BEING USED IS PENDING EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION. AND THE FDA SAYS IF THEY ARE NOT -- THAT'S WHAT'S ON THERE, ON THEIR SHEET. THAT'S WHAT'S ON THERE. WHEN YOU GET THE PCR WE HAVE

098THE EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION FOR THAT COMPANY. >> IT'S NOT ACCURATE. >> RIGHT, ONE DATED APRIL 16 AND THE OTHER WAS APPROVED OCTOBER 14, 2021. >> THEN THEY NEED TO CHANGE THEIR PIECES OF PAPER BECAUSE IT SAYS STILL PENDING. THAT'S WHAT THESE PARENTS ARE GETTING. THAT'S A MAJOR -- THAT'S WHAT'S ON THEIR DOCUMENTATION WHEN WHOEVER THEY ARE, THEIR PAPER SAYS EUA, EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION PENDING. THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS. I'M JUST SAYING. AND THE OTHER ISSUE AGAIN, THERE WAS A BIG ARTICLE, ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA PCR IT'S LIKE 37, THE RECOMMENDED IS 30-33 AND IF YOU READ THAT SCIENCE IT SAYS WITH HAVING IT SET SO HIGH WE ARE OVER-- WE ARE FALSE POSITIVING A LOT OF STUDENTS BECAUSE IT'S TOO HIGH. SO I'M JUST SAYING WE'RE DOING ALL THE -- I DON'T BELIEVE -- DO WE KNOW,

099IS THERE ANY FOLLOW-UP ON WHETHER THESE KIDS HAVE SYMPTOMS AFTERWARDS? ONCE YOU GET THAT, I GUESS THEY GET A FALSE POSITIVE BUT IN A WAY THAT'S A POSITIVE BECAUSE THEN THEY WON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING FOR 90 DAYS AFTER THAT. I'M NOT SURE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, I HAVE HEARD THERE IS SOME -- THAT THEY ARE NOT GETING THE TESTS BACK. A LOT OF THEM ARE TELLING ME THE PARENTS ARE NOT EVEN GETTING THEM. THE STRUGGLE, THAT COMMUNICATION PIECE SEEMS TO BE STRUGGLING IN WHO IS GETTING THE PCR RESULTS BACK AND MY UNDERSTANDING IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO TO BOTH THE PARENT AND THE SCHOOL. BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT'S HAPPENING. SO IF THAT'S NOT HAPPENING I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON. BUT ANYWAY, I THINK THERE AGAIN CALLING THESE KIDS OUT OVER THE INTERCOM, THEY ALL

100LINE UP IN THE HALLWAY, THEY AR ALL THERE FOR EVERYONE TO VIEW, IS A SHAME. IT'S JUST SHAMING. ANYWAY, I'VE SAID I THINK I DOUBT THESE PCR TESTS, I'M NOT SURE THEY ARE VALID AND WE'RE JUST MAKING MISERY FOR CHILDREN. >> KIM. >> I REMEMBER US -- I'M NOT GOING TO SAY US -- THE QUARANTINE NOW FOR EVERYONE, WHETHER YOU ARE VACCINATED OR NOT VACCINATED. >> YES, MA'AM. >> ALL RIGHT, THAT WAS THE ESTIMATION WE LEARNED EARLIER. NOW PCR TESTS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD KNOW, BUT ARE THEY THE SAME ONES THAT HOSPITALS USE? LIKE IF YOU GO THERE AND YOU TEST FOR COVID, ARE THEY USING THE PCR OR ARE THEY USING THE RAPID. >> I DON'T THINK WE CAN ANSWER THAT. I KNOW THAT THE RAPID TESTS HAVE BEEN MORE DIFFICULT TO

101COME BY. I KNOW SOMETIMES WHEN I'VE WANTED A TEST THEY HAVE HAD RAPID TESTS, SOMETIMES HOSPITALS HAVEN'T -- I DON'T KNOW WHERE IN THE -- >> NO, I WAS JUST WONDERING BECAUSE MY BOARD MEMBER WAS SAYING THEY WEREN'T APPROVED AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I'M TRYING TO DRAW A CONNECTION BETWEEN HOSPITALS AND THE USE OF TESTING. SO STUDENTS THAT ARE ATHLETES, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR, ARE RECEIVING 4 TESTS EVERY WEEK THAT THEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN THEIR SPORT. AM I CORRECT? . >> YOU ARE CORRECT. >> THAT ARE NOT VACCINATED. >> CORRECT. >> FOUR HAS NOT -- OR HAS HAD COVID OH, SO THEY DEVELOP THEIR NATURAL IMMUNITY. >> AND YOU WANT A RAPID TEST BECAUSE IF YOU JUST GIVE A PCR THEY COULD HAVE COVID AND YOU ARE WAITING DAYS. >> [INDISCERNIBLE]. >>

102SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, I DPBTD HEAR ANYTHING FURTHER FROM BOARD MEMBER BELLAMY-SMALL OR CHAIRMAN HAYES. THAT MOTION IS THAT WE TEST ONLY SYMPTOMATIC ATHLETES, I BLAEFRB THERE WAS A SECOND ON THE MOTION FROM ANITA. SO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT MOTION WHICH WOULD BE A CHANGE IN POLICY. DEENA, NO. LINDA, I'M A NO. BOARD MEMBER BELLAMY-SMALL, NO. FAILED ON A VOTE OF 6 TO 3. I DO THINK WE'VE HEARD SOME RATHER STRONG CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROCEDURE UNDER WHICH THE CURRENT PRACTICE IS BEING IMPLEMENTED AND I THINK CERTAINLY STAFF I WOULD IMAGINE WOULD TAKE THAT UNDER SERIOUS CONSIDERATION AND CHECK ON THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT POLICY. CHAIRWOMAN HAYES' POINT IS VALID. THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS STUDENTS ARE PULLED OUT. INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT OR LACK OF THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED IN SCHOOLS

103BUT I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME EXPRESSION OF THAT, I SEE SHAKING OF HEADS FROM STAFF, WE ARE ALWAYS DOING OUR BEST TO PROTECT STUDENTS, FOLLOW THE LAW, TRUTH AND RESPECT, THANK YOU. NEXT ON THE AGENDA, WE DO NOT HAVE A CLOSED SESSION THIS EVENING, AS I UNDERSTAND IT. I HAVE SOME COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR UNLESS DEENA, YOU HAVE THEM YOURSELF I'M HAPPY TO READ YOUR COMMENTS, I THINK THEY ARE HERE. >> YOU DO? . >> THEY'RE IN YOUR NOTEBOOK, I THINK, BUT I HAVE TO FIND THEM. . >> I WILL GO AHEAD. >> THE SUPERINTENDENT COULD MAKE HER COMMENTS. . >> GOOD EVENING. I JOIN WITH CHAIRPERSON HAYES HONORING THE GRPB GREPB 4 LAST WEEK BY NORTH CAROLINA AT&T'S THEIR STA TUE. PENN-GRIFFIN SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS ALSO WILL HONOR ITS HISTORICAL PROTEST, WHICH TOOK

104PLACE ON FEBRUARY 11, 1960, WITH A MUSICAL PERFORMANCE AT 7PM ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10. EACH OF THE SCHOOL'S ARTS THEMES WILL BE FEATURED AND A GUEST SPEAKER FROM THE HIGH POINT COMMUNITY WILL BE THERE AS WELL. NAIPK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN LAST WEEK'S VIRTUAL MAGNET/CHOICE SHOWCASE. MORE THAN 60 SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS WERE REPRESENTED GIVING PARENTS AND STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION TO HELP THEM DECIDE WHICH SCHOOL IS RIGHT FOR THEM. THE APPLICATION WINDOW REMAINS OPEN THROUGH MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, AT 5 PM AND APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT GCSNC.SCHOOLMINT.NET. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO THE MORE THAN 200 SCHOOL COUNSELORS FROM GCS WHO PREPARE OUR STUDENTS SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND ACADEMICKALLY FOR THEIR FUTURE. GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS AND SAY YES GUILFORD WILL HOST A WEBINAR TO HELP STUDENTS PREPARE FOR THE SAT AND

105ACT EXAMS. THIS FREE EVENT IS OPEN TO ALL SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS AND SENIORS IN GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. THE WEBINAR WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, NR 6 TO 7.30PM. REGISTER AT WWW.SAYYESGUILFORD.ORG/EVENTS. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ACADEMY AT NIGT, NORTHEAST GUILFORD HIGH AND WEAVER ACADEMY. THESE SCHOOLS WERE HONORED WITH A FEMALE DIVERSITY AWARD FROM THE COLLEGE BOARD. THESE 3 SCHOOLS ACHIEVED 50 PERCENT OR HIGHER FEMALE REPRESENTATION IN ADVANCED PLACEMENT COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES. PROVIDING FEMALE STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSES IS CRITICAL TO ENSURING GENDER PARITY IN THE INDUSTRY'S HIGH-PAYING JOBS AND TO DRIVING INNOVATION CREATIVITY AND REPRESENTATION AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR OUR EFFORTS TO REACH THAT GOAL. THE SUPERBOWL IS THIS WEEKEND AND SEVERAL FINALLY, I WISH TO EXPRESS MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND LOVED ONES THE COMMISSIONER CAROLYN COLEMAN. SHE

106WAS A POWERFUL VOICE FOR CHANGE AND THE CONSUMATE PUBLIC SERVANT. HER LEADERSHIP IMPROVED THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS GUILFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE IN OUR GCS FAMILY AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS. SHE WILL BE GRADELY MISSED. THIS CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. >> THANK YOU, DR. CONTRERAS AND I NOW HAVE TWO COPIES OF CHAIRMAN HAYES'S REMARKS. I WAS ASKED TO READ THESE ON HER BEHALF. FEBRUARY MARKS BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEARN ABOUT THE HEROES OF GUILFORD COUNTY WE ARE ONLY A FEW DECADES REMOVED FROM A TIME WHOA OUR STUDENTS DIDN'T ATTEND THE SAME SCHOOLS, COULDN'T SIT TOGETHER ON A LUNCH COUNTER OR ON A BUS. WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY BUT SO MUCH FURTHER TO GO AND UNDERSTANDING OUR HISTORY IS ESSENTIAL TO MOVING FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY. AS WE LOOK AHEAD

107TO THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR, SEVERAL GUILFORD ACADEMY SCHOOL MEETINGS COMING UP MAY BE OF INTEREST TO PARENTS. RISING SIXTH GRADERS AND THEIR PARENTS ARE INVITED, A SIMILAR MEETING FOR RISING 9TH GRADERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, FROM 6 TO 7.30PM. VISIT OUR WEB SITE. RISING 9TH GRADERS WHO ARE IN THE ACADEMICKALLY GIFTED PROGRAM, A SESSION ON FEBRUARY 10 AT 6PM HELP FAMILIES UNDERSTAND THE OPTIONS THEY WILL HAVE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND SOME OF THE SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES THAT HIGH SCHOOL ADVANCED LEARNERS MAY FACE. A SIMILAR EVENT FOR RISING SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS WAS HELD ON FEBRUARY 1. SHE OFFERS HER SYSTEMPATHY TO HAVE WORKED WITH CAROLYN ON A RANGE OF TOPICS AS OUR BOARD COLLABORATED FOR ALL CHILDREN. AS AN ARDENT ADVOCATE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND EQUITY. OUR WORK HAS GONE HAND

108IN HAND FOR DECADES AND I PRAY HER FAMILY FINDS PEACE DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME. . >> VERY INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITIES SO ANOTHER LOSS TO OUR COMMUNITY [INDISCERNIBLE] THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU AND I THINK NOW WE MOVE TO CLOSING COMMENTS. I SEE SHAKING OF HEADS. I THINK WE'LL JUST GO IN ORDER. BOARD MEMBER SMALL SMALL. >> PASS. >> MINE WILL BE MERCIFULLY SHORT, WALKING IN THIS EVENING I WALKED RIGHT BETWEEN ALL THOSE VERY TALL YOUNG GENTLEMEN AND I WAS NEVER SO ACUTELY AWARE OF HOW SHORT I AM. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THEM WHEN THEY FIND THE DALLAS COWBOYS THAT THEIR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WOULD LIKE MERCH. HONESTLY TONIGHT I'M JUST TIRED, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FIFTH GRADER SABRINA THAT HAS EXTENDED THE EXHAUSTION HOW SHE READ A STORY WHERE THE MAIN

109CHARACTER CARRIED BACK IN TIME IN 1994 AND THE LOOK ON HER FACE WHEN I TOLD HER I WAS BORN IN 1983. >> THANK YOU, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MCNEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR THE TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WEEK. ALSO MY THOUGHTS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY OF TAYLOR WHO WAS A STUDENT IN THE E LEARNING ACADEMY, ALSO SEND MY CONDOLENCE ALSO ALONG WITH BOARD CHAIR HAYES AND SUPERINTENDENT CONTRERAS FOR THE LOSS OF CAROLYN Q. COLEMAN AND DR. GEORGE [INDISCERNIBLE]. THANK YOU. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY I AM GLAD WE'RE IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY. I LOVE TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY AND I HOPE THAT THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING FOR ALL OUR STUDENTS IN GUILFORD COUNTY. BUT I, TOO, WANT TO TONIGHT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE, YOU KNOW, DR. CONTRERAS IS BEING ADDED TO

110THE LIST OF HEROES FOR GUILFORD COUNTY AND I WAS VERY EXCITED WHEN YOU GOT HIRED HERE, PROBABLY BECAUSE YOU COME FROM NEW YORK BUT -- AND THAT'S OKAY. THAT'S OKAY. BUT I WAS VERY EXCITED FOR YOU MAKING HISTORY HERE AND WHAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE TABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS HERE IN GUILFORD COUNTY. YOU KNOW, I LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE DONE I THINK YOU ANONYMOUSLY PAID FOR THE LUNCHES OR THE FOOD FOR THE STUDENTS AT HIGH POINT, THAT WAS REPORTED OUT. YOU WERE NOMINATED POSSIBLY TO BE THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION. WE HAVE A REAL TREASURE IN YOU AND I'M JUST GLAD THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU AND I CELEBRATE YOU FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH. >> I JUST AGAIN ALWAYS WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERSHIP

111IN THE DISTRICT AND THE STAFF WHO GO TO WORK EVERY DAY. YOU ARE JUST WORKING SO HARD EVERY DAY, INCLUDING DR. CONTRERAS, YOU ARE NOT GONE YET, SHE IS STILL WORKING, ALL OF YOU ARE, WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR SERVICE AND ALL THAT YOU BRING TO THE JOB. SO THANK YOU. >> I APPRECIATE ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES. I'M EXCITED THAT NOEL KEENER GOT THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, I THINK THAT WAS GREAT, I'M HAPPY FOR OUR FOOTBALL TEAM CHAMPIONS, I THINK THAT'S AWESOME AND APPRECIATE A LOT OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE HERE. I DO HAVE TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SAID. THE SEEKER SAID THAT TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS WERE PART OF THE THREAT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THAT IS TRUE. THIS GROUP IS

112-- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD PARENTS CALL WHAT WAS IT, DOMESTIC TERRORISTS BECAUSE THEY DISAGREE WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW. THE FACT IS THEY HAD A RIGHT TO DISAGREE. THIS GROUP IS A GROUP OF PARENTS, GRAND MOTHERS AND PARENTS. WHETHER THEY AGREE WITH YOU OR DISAGREE, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE LABELED UNLESS SOMEONE CAN PROVE TO ME THAT THIS LOCAL GROUP HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THOSE THREATS I THINK IT'S AN INJUSTICE TO SAY IT. ACTUALLY THEY WANTED, THEY PUT IT ON A FACEBOOK PAGE IF ANYBODY KNEW OF ANYBODY THAT DID IT, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW. I FEL COMPELLED TO SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY ZERO EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. ANYTHING. >> PASS. >> I THINK BOARD MEMBERS HAVE

113PASSED SO DEENA, YOU GET THE LAST WORD? ?OO I'LL BE BRIEF. I WANTED TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE THIS BOARD AND PUT ME IN PROXIMITY TO SOME OF OUR EDUCATION PARTNERS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN A MEETING WITH THE EDUCATION ALLIANCE THIS MORNING, LAST WEEK COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOL AND THEIR EXTENDED PARTNERS AND UNITED WAY, I HAVE BEEN A LONG-STANDING MEMBER OF THE [INDISCERNIBLE] TASK FORCE IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SERVED ON THAT COMMITTEE WITH MEMBERS OF THE GUILFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE AND IT HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO ME TO BE IN OUR COMMUNITY'S PROBLEM-SOLVING STATE WITH SO MANY LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WANT TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ALSO WANT TO THANK THE MULTI RACIAL COALITION OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER ACROSS THE CITY TO

114SAY THAT WE DO WANT, IT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL STUDENTS. WHEN THAT ORGANIZATION HAS PUT ITS NEW INFORMATION OUT THERE AS YOU KNOW ABOUT, AS A BOARD MEMBER YOU HAVE THE DUTY AND OBLIGATION TO CORRECT THAT MISINFORMATION. IF YOU WANT PROOF OF THAT I WILL BE GLAD TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU BUT I THINK YOU ALREADY HAVE THAT. AS FAR AS THE SPEAKER TONIGHT, I AM NOT AWARE OF THAT, I THINK WE CAN BOTH ADMIT THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME MISINFORMATION COMING FROM THAT DIRECTION. THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYONE'S PATIENCE WITH ME STEPPING INTO DEENA'S SHOES. I APPRECIATE ALL THE BUSINESS WE GOT DONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND BY KIM. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. [MEETING ADJOURNED