GCS Board of Education Meeting 01/11/2022

001>> WELCOME. WE ARE NOW CALLING OUR MEETING TO ORDER. BOARD MEMBER DEBORAH NAPPER AND ILL. I'D LIKE TO CALL ON BOARD MEMBER LINDA WELLBORN TO OPEN US UP. >> I 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 CAN HAVE A FEW MOMENTS OF SILENCE. THANK YOU. THOUSAND WE WILL BEGIN OUR RECOGNITIONS AND TONIGHT WE START BY HONORING THE LIFE OF SOMEONE VERY SPECIAL TO GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. FOAMER GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER SHARON OZMENT PASSED AWAY ON DECEMBER 19, 2021. SHE WORKED HER UP FROM COPY MACHINE OPERATE RR TO EVENTUALLY BECOMING THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AFEKZATELY KNOWN AS OZ, OZ PLTS WAS NAMED THE GOVERNMENTAL CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE

002YEAR BY THE TRIAD BUSINESS JOURNAL IN 20 TEP AND WON NUMEROUS ACCOLADES FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS AND THE GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL OFRSER ASSOCIATION. WHEN SHE RETIRED IN 2012 RPBLTION SHE OVERSAW A 68 MILL QULUPB DOLLAR BUDGET, THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, MAINTENANCE AND BUILDING SERVICES AND CHILD NUTRITION AND NORTH CAROLINA'S THIRD LARGER SCHOOL SYSTEM AND ONE OF THE TOP 50 LARGEST SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES. THANKS TO HER COMPASSIONATE AND GROUND-BREAKING WORK AS ONE OF THE FIRST FEMALE FINANCIAL OFFICERS, I WILL NOW READ ALOUD THE RESOLUTION HONORING THE SHARON'S LIFE AND WORK. WHEREAS SHARON OZ OZMENT, A BELOVED GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS LEADER AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTARY PASSED AWAY ON DECEMBER 19, 2021 AFTER A VAL YABT BATTLE AGAINST CANCER AND WHEREAS OZ RETIRED IN 20 HE 12 AFTER A STELLAR

00338 YEAR CAREER WITH GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS, HAVING WORKED HER WAY UP FROM COPY MACHINE OPERATOR TO CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND WHEREAS AZ WAS A PROUD PIRATE WHO JOINED US AS A NEWLY MINTED BUOYANT AND WHEREAS AS OZ HAD FORMIDABLE WILL SBEL SILENCE AND WORKED HER WAY THROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE WITH A DEGREE IF ACCOUNTING AND WHEREAS THOSE WHO KNEW HER BEST SAY OZ' SUPERPOWER AS A LEADER CAME FROM HER DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF PEOPLE AND HER FERVENT BELIEF IN THE IT DIGNITY OF ALL WORK AND ALL WORKING PEOPLE AND WHEREAS DESPITE HER MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS OZ WAS HUMBLE, STRONG AND KIND AND WAS KNOWN UNIVERSALLY AS A GIFTED STORY TELLER WITH A WICKED SENSE OF HUMOR AND THE ULT MALLET TEAM PLAYER, AN ATTRIBUTE HONED DURING HER DAY SZ AS 1 OF MAIPBLG HIGH SCHOOL'S STAR ATHLETE AND

004AS A THE MATE THE TRARK OF HER LARGE FAMILY AND WAS LOVED BACK, PROMOTING HER SEVERAL TIMES AS SHE WORKED HER WAY UP FROM IT COPY MACHINE OPERATOR TO SUPERVISOR OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING TO DIRECTOR OF FIE INACTION ACCOUNTING TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL OFFICER, BEING NAMED CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND THEN INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT IN 2008 AND WHEREAS OD WAS TRULY SCHOOL SCHOOL'S OWN WIZARD OF OZ WITH ONE MAJOR FAIFRPBS, WACHS BEHIND THE CURTAIN WAS REAL. SHE WAS KNOWN FOR ALL FINANCIAL DEALINGS AND HELPED ESTABLISH THE DISTRICT'S STORIED HISTORY OF CLEAN AUDIT, A TRADITION THAT CONTINUES TODAY. WHEREAS. OZ WAS NAMED [INDISCERNIBLE] AND WPB NUMEROUS ACCOLADES FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS AND THE GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL OFFICER ASSOCIATION AND WHEREAS OZ SKILLFULLY LED GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS THROUGH THE DEVASTATING GREAT RECESSION, ONE OF THE WORST FINANCIAL

005DISASTERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND WORKED DILIGENTLY TO FIND JOBS FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, AVOIDING THE MASSIVE LAYOFFS SEEN IN OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA AND NATIONALLY AND WHEREAS OZ AS A LEADER DID NOT BACK AWAY FROM TOUGH DECISIONS AND DIFFICULT DECISIONS, MANY CREDIT HER ELOQUENT AND PASSIONATE ADVOCACY WITH TURNING A BOARD VOTE FROM A POSSIBLE NO TO A RESOUNDING YES IN FAVOR OF THE STEM EARLY COLLEGE AT NORTH CAROLINA A AND T STATE UNIVERSITY. AND WHEREAS THANKS TO HER VISIONARY COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP, HER EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE TO TRANSFORM OUR STUDENTS' LEARNING AND LIFE OUTSCUMS FOR YEARS TO COME. WHEN SHE RETIRED IN 2012 TO CARE FOR HER MOTHER AND HER BEAUTIFULLY DIVERSE AND BLENDED FAMILY, SHE OVERSAW A $6 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET, MAINTENANCE AND BUILDING SERVICES, CHILD NUTRITION IN NORTH CAROLINA'S THIRD LARGEST SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND

006WHEREAS THE GUILFORD COUNTY SDOOLS AND THE GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION THANK HER FAMILY AND HER BELOVED WIFE KALEEN FOR SHARING OZ WITH US FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED WE THE GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO ALL THOSE WHO KNEW AND LOVED OZ. PLEASE KNOW OUR MORE THAN 9,000 EMPLOYEES, 70,000 FAMILIES AND GUILFORD COUNTY COMMUNITY GRIEVE WITH YOU AND THAT OUR DEEPEST HOPE IS THAT ALL WILL TAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING OZ' LEGACY OF WILL YOU HAVE AND LEADERSHIP WILL REMAIN CHERISHED AND IMMAKTFUL FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. SIGNED THIS DAY, 11TH DAY OF JANUARY 2022. WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF SHARON'S FAMILY HERE TONIGHT, FAMILY MEMBERS WILL YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU .D I JUST WANT TO [APPLAUSE] LIFT UP SHARON, WHO WAS SOMEONE THAT WAS

007VERY BELOVED PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY IT ME. I GOT TO KNOW ALL OF YOU THROUGH HER AND LOVE YOU ALL AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND PLEASE ACCEPT OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES. I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALSO THE LIFE OF DALE METZ, A FORMER GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND NAME SAKE OF THE HERMAN METZ LEARNING CENTER WHO PASSED AWAY, WE WILL CELEBRATE HIS LIFE AT A LATER MEETING. OZ WAS TRULY A FIXTURE HERE AND JILL AND ANITA AND LINDA AND OTHER THAT IS WORKED UNDER HERE, WHITNY, ANGIE, USE WAS AMAZING. SHE COULD FIX JUST ABOUT ANYTHING. SO THANK YOU, THANK HER AND WE LOVE HER. WE WILL NOW RECOGNIZE OUR JANUARY EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, MICHELLE PERRY, WILL YOU PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM. WELCOME. CAFETERIA MANAGER MICHELLE PERRY WAS WITH

008HER STAFF AT NORTHERN ELEMENTARY ON WEDNESDAY MORNING AS SHE IS EACH SCHOOL DAY MORNING, READY TO SAMPLE THE MEAL THEY PREPARED FOR THE STUDENTS. IT'S A RITUAL THAT SHE AND HER TEAM CONTINUE EACH DAY TO ENSURE FOOD IS DELICIOUS AND READY TO SERVE. BUT THAT DAY WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE PERRY WAS SURPRISED WITH THE NEWS SHE HAD BEEN NAMED GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. MRS. PERRY IS AN MAZING MANAGER. MOST OF ALL SHE CARES. WE NOTICED MR. PERRY AND HER STAFF EACH LUNCH PRIOR TO THE KIDS COME CANING IN. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THIS, SHE SAID, THIS WAS QUALITY CONTROL. SHE SAID SHE WOULD NOT FEED KIDS FOOD SHE WOULD NOT EAT HERSELF. IF SHE TASTES IT, SHE CAN TELL IF THE TASTE IS OFF. THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING I COULD APPRECIATE AS

009A PARENT AND BE A PRINCIPAL. THE FOOD IN OUR CAFETERIA IS SO GOOD DE LA MOST DAYS I AND OUR STAFF BUY CAFETERIA STOOD. THEY DECORATE BASED ON HOLLIDAYS, INTERACT WITH STUDENTS AND NEVER RUN OUT OF HOT FOOD. SHE IS DEFINITELY DESERVING OF THIS AWARD. SHE RECEIVED A $50 GIFT CARD DURING THE JOY CEASE, HER PHOTO WILL HANG AT THE OFRS OF NORTHERN ELEMENTARY. AND I WOULD LIKE LINDA WELLBORN TO READ ALOUD THE CERTIFICATE HONORING MICHELLE. >> [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> THANK YOU GIES FOR PRESENTING ME THIS AWARD, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU, MRS. PERRY. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO THAT IT, I'D MAKE SOMEONE ELSE TASTE SOMETHING I THINK WILL BE BAD. FINALLY TONIGHT WE WILL HIGHLIGHT OUR DISTRICT'S COMMITMENT TO ARTS EDUCATION. THE ARTS ARE PART OF A GOOD EDUCATION. ACCORDINGLY ALL

010STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO AN ARTS EDUCATION THAT INCLUDES DANCE, MEDIA, THEER AND VISUAL ARTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY PROVIDERS. SXIET BEING PART OF A WELL-ROUND ED CASE AS STATED IN FEDERALED CASE LAW THAT EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT, TOO OFTEN ARTS EDUCATION IS MARGINALIZED. THE ARTS ARE KEY TO REIGNITING STUDENTS LEARNING IN A POST COVID-19 ERA. TO WIT, ARTS EDUCATION NURTURES HEALTHY INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES WHERE ALL POINTS OF VAU ARE RESPECTED, PROMOTES CULTURAL AWARENESS AND CIVIL DISCOURSE, PROMOTES THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS AND FOSTERS A SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT AND A COMMUNICATION OF THEIR IDEAS. GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS HAS LONG MAINTAINED ITS COMMITMENT TO THE ARTS INVESTING RESOURCES AT A TIME WHEN MANY OTHER DISTRICTS WERE PULLING BACK. GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS HAS BEEN NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COMMUNITIES FOR MUSIC EDUCATION FOR 3

011YEARS RUNNING. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL COALITION FOR CORE ARTS STANDARDS WE PLEDGE TO SUPPORT AND GROW OUR AWARD-WINNING EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR AND BEYOND. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ASK BOARD MEMBER KIM [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> THANK YOU, CHAIRWOMAN HAYES. ART WHEREAS ALL STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO AN ARTS EDUCATION THAT INCLUDES DANCE, MEDIA ARTS, MUSIC THEER AND VISUAL ARTS TAUGHT BY CERTIFIED ARTS EDUCATORS [INDISCERNIBLE] POST COVID-19 WORLD. WHEREAS ARTS EDUCATION HELPS NURTURE HEALTHY INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES WHERE ALL POINTS OF VIEW ARE RESPECTED, WHEREAS ARTS EDUCATION SMEERPBSES HELP STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THEIR OWN CULTURAL ROOTDS AND APPRECIATE OTHERS' CULTURAL ROOTS AND TRADITIONS, WHEREAS ARTS EDUCATION SUPPORTS THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS AND FOSTERS A MORE POSITIVE SAFER SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. WHEREAS ARTS EDUCATION IS PART OF A WELL-ROUND ED CASE FOR EVERY STUDENT

012AS OUTLINED IN THE EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT AND IN STATE LAW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION P IS DEDICATED TO ARTS EDUCATION AS PART OF A WELL-ROUND ED CASE. >> WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE AMAZING PEOPLE IN OUR DISTRICT THAT LEAD OUR ARTS EDUCATION AND OUR STAFF FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO. WE ARE NOW AT PUBLIC COMMENTS. I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN USHERED IN, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COLD OUTSIDE BUT SO MANY ARE HERE THAT I DON'T WANT HAVE TO REPEAT FOR SOMEONE COMING IN, YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS, WHEN THE LIGHT IS AMBER YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS LEFT AND WHEN YOU SEE RED, YOU WILL HEAR A BEEP AND PLEASE WRAP UP SO WE CAN HEAR

013THE OTHER PEOPLE SIGNED UP TONIGHT. AS YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU CAN GIVE YOUR XWHEPBTS. THE FIRST PERSON ON OUR LIST IS JOHN MOYLE, FOLLOWED BY CHERI PIKETT. >> I AM JOHN MOYLE, I LIVE AT 3901 BATTLE ROAD AVENUE, APARTMENT 54, HERE IN GREENSBORO. AND WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, I WAS TAUGHT AMERICA IS A GREAT COUNTRY BECAUSE OF TWO IMPORTANT THINGS. : THE OPEN DEMOCRACY ON WHICH OUR COUNTRY, OUR GOVERNMENT IS BASED, AND THE DIVERSITY OF THE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP AMERICA. I STILL BELIEVE THOSE THINGS ARE TRUE BUT IF THE 60 YEARS SINCE I WAS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS I HAVE LEARNED THAT BOTH OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR SENSE OF COMMUNITY ARE LIMITED AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES IN BOTH OF THOSE AREAS. SO

014THE QUESTION IS WHAT DOES A GREAT NATION DO WHEN IT REALIZES IT HAS FALLEN SHORT? IT GETS UP, ADMITS ITS ERRORS, MAKES WHATEVER LENDS AND CREATES WHATEVER REMEDIES ARE REQUIRED AND MOVES FORWARD. NOW, I WAS ALSO TAUGHT A PUBLIC EDUCATION IS A CORNERSTONE IN THE FOUNDATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND THAT IS WHY I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TONIGHT. I AM DEPENDING ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO CONTINUE TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR MAKING THINGS RIGHT IN THE UNITED STATES. WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AS ONE STRONG TIGHTLY UNITED COUNTRY TO FACE THE MANY ISSUES WE WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DECADES. THERE ARE 3 THINGS THAT I AM SPECIFICALLY CONCERNED ABOUT AND THAT I'M ASKING THE BOARD, I'LL JUST SAY THAT, SINCE MY MEMORY HAS FAILED ME. THE FIRST IS I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE

015IMPORTANCE OF THE TRUTH. PLEASE TEACH OUR CHILDREN THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR PAST AND TEACH THEM WHAT THEY CAN DO TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS SO THAT WE CAN ALL MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER. THE SECOND IS EQUITY. LET EVERY CHILD KNOW THEY ARE VALUED AND A NECESSARY PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND DEMONSTRATE THIS BY PROVIDING EACH CHILD IN OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY WITH A COMPLETE AND EQUITABLE EDUCATION. AND THE THIRD IS PARTICIPATION. DEMOCRACY IS NOT SOMETHING YOU HAVE, IT'S SOMETHING YOU DO. TEACH EVERY CHILD WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN REAL FREEDOM, EQUITY, AND JUSTICE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. I'M NOT A TEACHER AND I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO TELL YOU HOW TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, OKAY? YOU KNOW BEST HOW TO PROCEED BUT I AND MOST OTHER PEOPLE HERE IN GUILFORD COUNTY WILL STAND IN

016SUPPORT OF YOUR EFFORTS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. CHERI PIKETT. WELCOME. >> GOOD EVENING, CHERI PIKETT, SUMMERFIELD. I AM A MEMBER OF TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS AND I AM ABOUT TO TELL YOU A STORY THAT MIGHT MAKE SOME FEEL BAD. IT IS ABOUT OUR MODERN DAY 2020-21 TRAIL OF TEARS. IT BEGAN IN EARLY 2020 WHEN GOVERNOR COOPER SHOULD DOWN OUR LIVES. IT WAS NOT WE WERE ALL IN OUR HOMES, ISOLATING OURSELVES FROM OUR CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES AND FEELING FEAR TO THE POINT MANY CHILDREN LOST HOPE AND HAD KILLED THEMSELVES. YOU ARE CONTINUING US DOWN THIS PATH BY FORCING MASKING, TESTING HEALTHY CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT SICK, SITTING DOWN IN QUARPB FEEPB ISOLATION ROOMS SOMETIMES MAKING THEM FEEL LIKE THEY ARE CRIMINALS AND INJECTING CHILDREN AGAINST PARENTS' CONSENT CHL 50 PERCENT OF PCR

017TESTS ARE FALSE POSITIVES AND I CAN GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION. GCS EMPLOYEES ARE INTELLIGENT ADULTS AND FULLY INFORMED OF THEIR BODIES YET ARE FORCED TO WEAR MASKS, GET TESTED AND GET COVID SHOTS AGAINST THEIR WILL. AS WITH THE FIRST TRAIL OF TEARS, THIS HAS FORCED PEOPLE TO HAVE TO MOVE, LOSE THEIR JOBS MOVE TO UNKNOWN PLACES NOT SUITABLE TO THEIR TRADITIONS, UNABLE TO PAY FOR FOOD BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, PAY FOR MEDICINE AND THEY HAVE LEFT FAMILY BEHIND. HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE WEB SITES RUN BY THE CDC UNDER THE COVID 19 VACCINE TAB, ONE MILLION ADVERSE REACTIONS FROM THE COVID SHOT, 21,000 DEATHS, 3,000 MISCARRIAGES, 36 PERMANENT DISABILITIES, JUST TO NAME A FEW. AND IT IS ILLEGAL TO FALSELY REPORT ANYTHING ON TO THIS WEB SITE, SO IT IS CHECKED OFTEN AND

018THE INFORMATION IS ACCURATE. THE COLD TRAIL ALSO 5,000 LIVES WERE LOST IN A SPAN OF 30 YEARS. THE NEW TRAIL TODAY, ONE HALF MILLION LIVES LOST IN A SPAN OF TWO YEARS, NOT COUNTING THOSE WHO TESTED POSITIVE AND THEN DIED WITH COVID. WHY DOESN'T DR. ZAHN TALK ABOUT TREATMENTS? OUR CHILDREN ARE THE VICTIMS HERE, NOT ME, NOT YOU OR DR. ZAHN OR THE COMMISSIONERS, BUT OUR CHILDREN. THEY ARE SUFFERING FROM THE ADULTS' GREED AND ARROGANCE. THANK YOU. >> PETER SDEKERES, WHO IS NOT HERE. WELCOME, MISS DEBEER, FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH BIDDLE >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TRICIA DEBEER, I AM A MINISTER, I AM NOT A PARENT OR A GRANDPARENT OF A CHILD IN THE SCHOOLS BUT I HAVE CONCERN ABOUT ALL THE CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY. WHAT DO WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO LEARN?

019WHAT DO WE WANT THEIR VALUES TO BE? I HOPE THEY WILL BECOME ADULTS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE, RESPECTFUL, AND COMPASSIONATE. THIS IS WHAT INFORMED MY HUSBAND AND ME AS WE MADE DECISIONS ABOUT PARENTING. I'LL TELL YOU A STORY. ONE DAY OUR 12-YEAR-OLD SON DECIDED TO VANDALIZE AN NOT TO BE GUILTY, BUT TO BE ACCOUNTABLE. WHEN THE OFFICER REQUIRED THEM TO CLEAN THE BIDDING AND DO OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE WE WHOLE-HEARTEDLY SUPPORTED THAT REQUIREMENT. OUR PRIORITY WAS NOT OUR CHILD'S COMFORT BECAUSE AN IMPORTANT LESSON LAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF HIS DISCOMFORT. I DID NOT TRY TO MAKE HIM GUILTY BUT I DID WANT HIM TO BE ACCOUNTABLE AND THANKFULLY HE TURNED INTO A BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BEING AND FATHER, LIVING THE VALUES OF RESPONSIBILITY, RESPECT AND COMPASSION. NOW THERE ARE SOME PARALLELS BETWEEN THIS STORY OF PARENTING AND

020THE CURRENT ISSUE ABOUT WHAT AND HOW OUR RACIAL HISTORY SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN SCHOOL. I BELIEVE THAT THOSE WHO PRIORITIZE A CHILD'S COMFORT ARE MISSING THE FACT THAT SOME IMPORTANT LESSONS LIE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT DISCOMFORT. BECAUSE WHEN WE LEARN SOMETHING NEW OR SOMETHING THAT IMPLICATES US IN THE DARKER PARTS OF OUR HISTORY, THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR GROWTH. GUILT IS NOT THE POINT. ACCOUNTABILITY IS. I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS IN GUILFORD COUNTY WANT TEACHERS TO BE FREE TO TEACH THE WHOLE TRUTH AND TO RAISE THE ISSUE OF EQUITY AS CHILDREN LEARN. I ASK THAT THE BOARD SUPPORT TEACHERS IN RAISING THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE OFFICE OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AS A CRUCIAL RESOURCE TO TEACHERS IN THIS DIFFICULT TASK. OUR DEMOCRACY, OUR FUTURE, EVEN, DEPENDS ON RAISING

021UP ADULTS WHO HAVE THE VALUES OF RESPONSIBILITY, RESPECT AND COMPASSION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. >> THANK YOU. ELIZABETH BIDDLE, FOLLOWED BY REPRESENTATIVE REVEREND AMOS QUICK IT. >> I MOVED HERE TO ATTEND TWO OF OUR AREAS OR CITY'S, FIRST FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDIES. I MET MY CURRENT HUSBAND AND STAYED. I WANT TO CONTINUE TO STAY. I WANT TO RAISE A FAMILY HERE. I CURRENTLY VOLUNTEER IN MY COMMUNITY, I HAVE VOLUNTEERED FOR GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS, I AM AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF A LOCAL RELIGIOUS CONGREGATION, I WORK FOR A LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESS. ALL THAT IS IT SAY I SEE THE BPB FITDS OF MAKING ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS THE BEST THEY CAN BE FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. PUBLIC EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT. IT REALLY IS AN ISSUE OF FREEDOM. WITHOUT EDUCATION, YOU ARE NOT FREE IN

022MANY, MANY WAYS. EDUCATION TELLS YOU ABOUT THE WORLD AND THE POSSIBILITIES IN LIFE. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS POSSIBLE IT IS HARD TO SET GOALS. IT IS HARD TO LET ALONE THINK OF THE FUTURE AND PROSPER. EDUCATION ISN'T JUST ABOUT FILLING YOUR HEAD WITH FACTS OR MISFACTS AS WE HEARD EARLIER, IT GIVES YOU ACCESS TO MULTIPLE SOURCES, ALLOWS YOU TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS. UNFORTUNATELY OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION HAS NOT BEEN EQUAL FOR ALL STUDENTS. AS MUCH AS I LOVE GUILFORD COUNTY WE ARE NOT UNIQUE IN MANY OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE. AS YOU ALL KNOW AS BOARD MEMBERS, GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL SZ HAS AN ACHIEVEMENT TEST. THAT MEANS STUDENTS OF COLOR, BLACK, LATINO, ASIAN AMERICAN ARE NOT HAVING THE SAME OUTCOMES PRE-K ALL THE WAY UP TO GRADUATION AS THEIR WHITE

023COUNTER PARTS. WE NEED TO ASK WHY. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? EITHER WE BELIEVE THAT HOUSEHOLDS OF COLOR ARE SO INEPT AND THEY ARE THE ONES TO BLAME, ALTHOUGH I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE OR ANYONE HERE BELIEVES THAT, YOU HAVE TO LOOK DEEPER. WE HAVEN'T ASKED WHY. UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE TRYING TO STOP AND FRANKLY BAN THAT CONVERSATION EVEN BEFORE IT HAS HAPPENED. WE NEED STRONG LEADERSHIP. DR. CONTRERAS, OUR SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR GREEN AND VICE CHAIR WINSTON MCGREGOR HAVE BEEN WORKING TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. WE NEED STRONG SUPPORT BRINGING US TOGETHER ACROSS OUR POLITICAL DIFFERENCES, OUR RACIAL DIFFERENCES, OUR SOCIOECONOMIC DIFFERENCES WHETHER WE ARE BLACK, WHITE, LATINO, NEW COMER OR FIFTH GENERATION, WE HAVE TO SEE OUR COMMON HUMANITY. THOSE WHO WANT TO GOOD FOR PROFIT WILL END UP HURTING US ALL. I URGE YOU

024TO COME TOGETHER AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE ALREADY. >> REPRESENTATIVE REVEREND AMOS QUICK. >> AMOS QUICK, 529 FOX HILL ROAD, GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA. I AM HERE TO OFFER ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT TO YOU AS A BOARD AND TO DR. CONTRERAS AS A SUPERINTENDENT DURING THESE TRYING TIMES. RUNNING A SCHOOL BOARD IN THE BEST OF DAYS IS DIFFICULT, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU RUN ONE THAT IS THE SIZE OF A LARGE NORTH CAROLINA CITY. I HAD THE BENEFIT OF RUNNING ONE WHEN WE DID NOT HAVE A GLOBAL BAN DECEMBERIC, ECONOMIC UPHEEFL AND POLITICAL TURMOIL SO I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE TO THIS BOARD AND TO THIS COMMUNITY AND TO DR. CONTRERAS FOR HER LEADERSHIP. I WANT TO APPLAUD YOU ALSO FOR THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS AND THE GREENSBORO

025-- CITY OF GREENSBORO AND HIGH POINT. I HAVE VISITED BOTH BUS DEPOTS YESTERDAY AND TODAY AND I WAS NOT SURPRISED, I WAS ENCOURAGED AND ALMOST OVERWHELMED BY THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT THE STUDENTS WHO WERE RIDING THE CITY TRANSPORTATION HAD FROM NOT ONLY GCS STAFF, THERE WERE PRINCIPALS WHEN I WAS THERE, AN SFO WHEN I WAS THERE, OUR CHIEF OF SECURITY WAS THERE WHEN I WAS THERE AND MANY VOLUNTEERS WERE THERE. SO I WANT TO JUST APPLAUD YOU ON THAT EFFORT, THAT PARTNERSHIP, THAT WE NEED. I REMEMBER, ANITA SHARP AND CHAIR HAYES WILL REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE CITY ABOUT CROSSING GUARDS. IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE CITY COMING TOGETHER AND PROVIDING THIS TRANSPORTATION OPTION TO US. TO DR. CONTRERAS I WANT NOT TO SAY TO YOU PUBLICLY WHAT I

026SAID TO YOUR TWO PREDECESSORS, IN TIMES OF TURMOIL, THE BIBLE SAYS IN SECOND KINGS, CHAPTER 6 THAT THE PROPHET ELIJAH AND HIS SERVANT WAS BEING BOMBARDED. THE SERVANT BECAME VERY, VERY NERVOUS AND AFRAID AND HE SAID TO ELIJAH WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE ATTACKING US. THE PROPHET ELIJAH PRAYED TO GOD THAT HE WOULD OPEN HIS SERVANT'S EYES SO HE WOULD SEE THERE ARE MORE FOR US THAN THERE ARE AGAINST US. I SAID THAT TO PAUL GREEN, TERRY GRIER, DR. CONTRERAS, I SAY THAT TO YOU. ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES IT MAY SEEM THAT THE MAJORITY IS NOT ON YOUR SIDE, THE EVIDENCE IS THERE. OVER 70,000 STUDENTS WHOSE FAMILIES TRUST THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND NEVER, EVER FORGET THAT. GOD BLESS YOU, STAY COURAGOUS

027AND BOLD. >> THANK YOU, REVEREND QUICK. CJ BRINSON. >> HARD TO FOLLOW SUCH AN ACT. CJ BRINSON GRILL STREET, NORTH CAROLINA. GOOD EVENING TO THE SUPERINTENDENT DR. SHARON CONTRERAS, THE BOARD CHAIR DINA HAYES GREEN AND ALL OTHER ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I HAVE THEPRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING BLACK CLERGY MEMBERS AND ALSO A YOUTH PASTOR AT GENESIS BAPTIST CHURCH. BUT TONIGHT I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A FATHER, A FATHER OF 3 CHILDREN WHO ARE STUDENTS WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. I BELIEVE IT WAS THE PHILOSOPHER GEORGE SANTIANO WHO SAID THOSE WHO CANNOT REMEMBER THE PAST ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT. AS I LOOK AROUND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR NATION, OUR STATE, HERE LOCALLY AND EVEN HERE AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS IT APPEARS TO ME WE ARE HEADED ON A COLLISION COURSE TO REPEAT THE MOST HORRORS OF

028OUR HISTORY. WE ARE DOOMED BECAUSE THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH RESTRICTING OUR HISTORY. THIS IS DISHEARTENING BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT CHILDREN TODAY THEY ARE THE RESULT OF A COMMUNITY WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO UPLIFT ALL PEOPLE, AFFIRM ALL PEOPLE AND TO LOVE ALL PEOPLE. CHILDREN ARE MORE TOGETHER TODAY THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEEN BEFORE. THEY ARE THE RESULT OF THE BABIES OF A HIP HOP GENERATION, THEY ARE ALIGNED WITH AUTHENTICITY, THEY ARE RECEPTIVE TO TRUTH NO MATTER HOW HARD OR HOW HARSH THE REALITY MAY BE. THEY ARE RECEPTIVE TO THE TRUTH ABOUT HORRORS, THEY ARE RECEPTIVE TO THE TRUTH ABOUT VIOLENCE, GENDER BIAS, AND THEY ARE BETTER INDIVIDUALS, THEY ARE BETTER IN COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE BETTER HUMAN BEINGS. TONIGHT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR DR. SHARON CONTRERAS AND FOR

029YOUR BEYOND COMPETENT LEADERSHIP, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO CHAIRWOMAN DINA HAYES WILLIAMS, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE WORKED AND ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT ALL CHILDREN RECEIVE A CULTURALLY RELEVANT EDUCATION HERE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO TRUTH, FOR WE KNOW THAT THE TRUTH SHALL SET US FREE AND KNOW THE TRUTH PRODUCES HOPE, THE TRUTH SHAPES COMMUNITY, THE TRUTH DEVELOPS CHILDREN AND THE TRUTH DEVELOPS BETTER HUMAN BEINGS. I AM CJ BRINSON, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, MADAM SUPERINTENDENT, STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE GUILFORD COUNTY XLUEPBT, GOOD EVENING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. MY NAME IS DARREN MITCHELL, A MEMBER OF THE

030FAITH COMMUNITY AND A DIESEL US ADVOCATE OF PEACE, JUSTICE AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN FAMILY AND I BEG LEAVE TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING REMARKS. AMIDST A VERY BLEAK AND ABYSMAL PERIOD IN HUMAN HISTORY AS WE NAVIGATE OUR WAY TRAU A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, COUPLED WITH A VERY DECISIVE ORDER, I STAND TO OFFER WORDS OF CONCERN. WITHOUT CONCERN YOU HAVE MADE BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW, YOU HAVE PIONEERED AND PERSEVERED. BUT THE TRUTH IS THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY JOURNEY FOR ANY OF US. AS A FAITH LEADER WE BRAVE THROUGH MANY CHALLENGES AND PRESSED OUR WAY THROUGH A MYRIAD OF OBSTACLES. WHILE THE CONCERNS ATTENDANT WITH OUR CURRENT SITUATION MOUBT DAILY, IT IS IMPORTANT WE RAISE OUR VOICES AND [INDISCERNIBLE] ACIDIC RHETORIC BEING SPEWED AND SPREAD AROUND THIS COUNTY AND BEYOND. WHILE THERE ARE BEAR VARIOUS VIEWPOINTS

031REGARDING THIS PANDEMIC, THE NUMBERS DO NOT LIE. THIS VIRUS IS SURGING FEROCIOUSLY AND MANY ARE CONTRACTING THIS VIRUS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. THE LANGUAGE SURROUNDING THESE AND MANY ISSUES IS EXTREMELY EXPLOSIVE AND AS A LEADER I OPPOSE THE INCENDIARY TACK STICKS THAT ARE USED TO CREATE KHACHLS AND CREATE THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS OF EQUITY, JUSTICE AND PEACE. WHAT IS RIGHT OUTWAYS WHO IS RIGHT AND I STAND FOR RIGHT. I ALONG WITH MANY FAITH LEADERS IN THIS COMMUNITY STAND WITH YOU AS YOU TOGETHER, ASYOU BRIDGE THE BREACH AND SPAN THE GAP THAT IS WIDENING ACROSS THIS COUNTY AND ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. THE WORK OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND THIS BOARD IS TO BE COMMENDED AND WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL WE REDUCE THE XIG JEPBS SI OF THIS VIRUS AND NAVIGATE NIECE SOCIAL CHOPPY WATERS OF THIS

032VIOLENT SOCIAL ORDER. MY WORD TO YOU AND TO ALL OF US IS THAT WE MUST STAND FIRM AND WE STAND WITH YOU AND BE REMINDED THAT GOD STANDS FOR THOSE AND GOD STANDS WITH THOSE WHO WILL NOT BOW NOR BEND IN THE CLUTCH OF CIRCUMSTANCE WILL YOU CONTINUE TO PRESS YOUR WAY, KNOWING THAT THE FAITH COMMUNITY IS WITH YOU AND THAT WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR YOU AND WHATEVER COMES AND WHATEVER GOES, WE STAND IN THE TRADITION OF THE ONE WHO REMINDS US THAT IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, REVEREND MITCHELL, REVEREND CARDIS BROWN, FOLLOWED BY REVEREND BRADLY HUNT. WELCOME, IF YOU CAN GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS. WHEN THE AMBER LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE

03315 SECONDS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM CHAIR AND ALL OF YOU WHO ARE PRESENT TONIGHT. I AM CARDIS BROWN, I AM A RESIDENT OF GUILFORD COUNTY. I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE PASTORED THE NEW LIGHT MISSIONARY CHURCH NOW FOR ALMOST 47 YEARS. I HAVE SERVED AS RELIGIOUS CHAIR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA FOR THE NAACP AND I STAND WITH THOSE OF THE FAITH COMMUNITY. REALLY, AFTER HEARING MY BROTHER, DR. DARREN MITCHELL, SO ELOQUENTLY LAY OUT WHAT I WOULD SAY AND I WOULD ONLY BE REPETITIVE TONIGHT, I DO WANT TO SAY TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT THAT I SUPPORT YOU, I THANK GOD FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS, FOR YOUR RELENTLESS AND UNTIRING EFFORTS TO MAKE THIS COUNTY BETTER, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR CHILDREN. YOU GET SO LITTLE PRAISE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR YOUR LABOR. I COME MORE THAN

034ANYTHING TO ENCOURAGE YOU TONIGHT. AS DEBORAH, STAND EVEN -- THERE ARE THOSE WHOSE FORCES SEEM TO BE SO LOUD AT THIS TIME, A TIME WHEN ALL OF US ARE STRESSED, DEALING WITH A PANDEMIC THAT HAS TAKEN THE LIVES OF SO MANY. AS ONE OF THE FAITH COMMUNITY I CANNOT TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF EULOGIES I HAVE DELIVERED, FAMILIES WHO ARE GRIEVING BECAUSE OF OUR INSENSITIVITY TO EACH OTHER, WE ARE EVERYTHING BUT AL TRUISTIC IN OUR CHILDREN. I HEARD SOMEBODY JUST TODAY WHO HAD HAD THE CORONA VIRUS TWICE THAT SHE REALLY DIDN'T CARE IF OTHERS CONTRACTED IT. I TRULY BELIEVE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT OF ASSEMBLY, THE RIGHT OF RELIGION AND THE RIGHT TO PAETION. I BELIEVE IN THOSE RIGHTS. BUT WHEN SOMEONE ELSE'S RIGHT ENDANGERS ME THEN IT SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR TO ME THAT THEIR

035RIGHTS ARE NEGATED BY THEIR ACTIONS. I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO INTO A CROWDED THEATER AND HOLLER FIRE. THAT'S A VIOLATION OF LAW. AND IN THE HUMAN ORDER, NONE OF US HAVE THE RIGHT TO CLAIM SPACE THAT OTHERS HAVE TO SHARE AND ENDANGER THEM. THAT'S JUST COMMON SENSE. PROBLEM IS I THINK TO MANY OF US HAVE GOTTEN SO COMMON, SO IN LOVE WITH THEIR PURPOSE INDEED THAT THEY FORGET THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS. >> THANK YOU, REVEREND BROWN. WELCOME, REVEREND BRADLY, WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, MY NAME IS BRADLEY HUNT AND I RESIDE ON GRIFFIN STREET, GREENSBORO. I SHARE IN DR. BROWN'S REMARKS AND OF COURSE WITH OTHERS WHO COME BEFORE ME THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH ELSE TO SAY. I DID WANT TO OFFER MADAM SUPERINTENDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION THE

036BOOK THAT I LOVE TEACHES THAT YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE. WE FIND OURSELVES WHERE IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH THE TRUTH FROM LIES AND LIES FROM THE TRUTH. THE TRUTH IS EVERY CHILD DESERVES AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. FURTHERMORE, EVERY BLACK STUDENT DESERVES ACCESS TO EXCELLENT TEACHING AND EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENT. WE NEED STRATEGIES TO ADVANCE THE SUCCESS OF CHILDREN OF COLOR. WE MUST NOT ALLOW THE LIES AND DECEPTIONS OF OTHERS TO DISTRACT US FROM THE THINGS WE MUST DO TO EMPOWER OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS SEASON. I INVITE YOU TO STAND FIRM ON THE TRUTH AND BE TO EXPERIENCE THE LIBERATION THAT ONE CAN ONLY FIND IN THE TRUTH. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. DR. FRANK THOMAS, FOLLOWED BY JL BARBON. >> THE BIBLE RIGHTS

037-- FRANK THOMAS, MOUNT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH. I AM NOT A CITIZEN OF GUILFORD COUNTY, NOR DO I HAVE CHILDREN WHO ATTEND GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS, BUT MANY OF YOU KNOW I CO-CHAIR THE SCHOOL BOND CAMPAIGN AND I'M WORKING EVERY DAY TO TRY TO MAKE SURE OUR SCHOOLS ARE ADEQUATE FOR OUR CHILDREN. ROMANS 10, WE MAY KNOW IT FURTHER I KNOW IT I BEAR THEM RECORD THAT THEY ARE THE ZEAL OF GOD BUT NOT ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE. THEY BEING IGNORANT OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE NOT SUBMITTED THEMSELVES TO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, 94 GOD -- FOR CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH. WE CAN HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS BUT WE CANNOT HAVE DIFFERENT FACTS. I SUBMIT TO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THAT YOU ALL KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS

038THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED IN OUR COMMUNITY, SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU THIS EVENING TO NOT STAND BY AND ALLOW THIS AND MISINFORMATION TO GO FORWARD IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW THE TRUTH. WHY WOULD YOU ALLOW PERSONAL ATTACKS AGAINST OUR SUPERINTENDENT WITHOUT SPEAKING AGAINST THEM BECAUSE I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY THAT YOUR SILENCE IS AGREEMENT. SO WHEN YOU STAND SILENT TO THOSE COMMENTS YOU ARE SAYING TO THOSE WHO ARE SPEAKING THAT YOU AGREE. I WILL OFFER TO TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS GROUP, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE DOG THAT CHASES THE CAR, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN YOU CATCH IT. I SAY TO THE TAKE BACK SCHOOLS GROUP FROM WHOM ARE YOU TAKING IT AND TO WHERE WILL YOU TAKE IT. TO THOSE WHO SAY THE 300 MILLION BOND PASSED IN 2020 HAS NOT

039BEEN USED OR IS BEING MISUSED, YOU KNOW THE TRUET. THAT 300 MILLION WAS JUST A DOWN PAYMENT ON THE TWO BILLION BILL IN THE MASTER PLAN. SOME OBJECT TO WHAT OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING TAUGHT AND WHAT OUR CHILDREN NEED TO BE TAUGHT. I WOULD ASK, WHAT'S SO TERRIBLE ABOUT YOUR PAST THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR FUTURE. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DON'T STAND AND SIT IDLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE ATTACKING OUR DISTRICT. WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT, THEY ARE ALSO ATTACKING YOU. >> THANK YOU. WELCOME, MISS GARVIN >> GOOD EVENING TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, DR. SHARON CONTRERAS AND THE REST OF THE ESTEEMED BOARD MEMBERS. [SPEAKING SPANISH] IN ENGLISH THIS MEANS THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY. I

040AM JAELLE GARVIN. I AM A STUDENT AGENT LAET ON BOTH VOLLEYBALL AND TRACK TEAMS. I STILL PARTICIPATE IN THE SPANISH IMMERSION PROGRAM. IT IS A GIFT TO BE ABLE TO BE EXPOSED AND TO LEARN SPANISH. BUT I DON'T WANT TO ONLY LEARN SPANISH, I WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THE HIFLT INDUSTRY OF ALL CULTURES AND THE WAY WE ARE ALL CONNECTED IN HUMANITY. I WANT TO LEARN THESE THINGS AND OTHER THINGS THAT WILL HELP PREPARE ME FOR A GLOBAL WORLD. I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE I HAVE NEIGHBORS FROM THE LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES AND THE DECEMBERIC NATION OF CONGO. MY FAITH COMMUNITY IS ROOTED IN SERVING THOSE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND ADDRESSES SOCIAL INJUSTICE. BECAUSE OF MY UPBRINGING AND THE TEACHING OF MY PARENTS I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF LEARNING THESE THINGS.

041AND THE TRUTHS THAT ARE NOT TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS ABOUT THIS COUNTRY. THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS IN THIS COUNTRY ARE DENIED THAT PRIVILEGE IN OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE TAUGHT THE TRUTH. IT HELPS PREPARE US TO BECOME ANALYTICAL THINKERS. I AM INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL TO LIVE IN A COUNTY LED BY DR. SHARON CONTRERAS AND OTHERS WHO WANT TO HELP US PREPARE TO BE THINKERS AND LEADERS IN EVERY WAY. SOMETIMES AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT IS GOING BACKWARDS INSTEAD OF FORWARD. [INDISCERNIBLE] GRACIAS, THANK YOU, HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> THANK YOU, I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS A STUDENT AND I'M PARTICULARLY PROUD OF SWAN MIDDLE SCHOOL IN DISTRICT 8. >> DR. CONTRERAS AND OUR BOARD CHAIR, DR. GREEN, I AM MONICA WALKER, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EQUITY INCLUSION WHERE I TAUGHT FOR 8 YEARS.

042I HAVE WATCHED AS BOTH A MEMBER OF THE STAFF FOR THE 12 YEARS IN WHICH I SERVED BOARD MEETINGS AND IN OPENING COMMENTS EVERY BOARD MEETING, DR. CONTRERAS IT SEEMS AS IF YOU HAVE MORE POWER THAN YOU PROBABLY EVER IMAGINED BECAUSE BASED ON THOSE PUBLIC XHEBTS THAT ARE OFFERED, IT APPEARS THAT YOU MAKE IT SNOW. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THAT, THEN YOU MAKE THE STREETS UNABLE OR UNSAFE TO TRAVEL. YOU ALLOWED SCHOOL STRUCTURE TO DETERIORATE AND THEN REFUSED TO GIVE THEM MONEY TO FIX THEM. YOU MUST ALSO NOT LIKE TEENAGERS BECAUSE YOU ARE HAVING THEM RIDE CITY BUSSES TO GET TO SCHOOL BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU DID TO THE BUS DRIVERS. THE LIST OF YOUR FAULTS ARE ENDLESS. IF THESE SOUND LUDICROUS TO ANY OF YOU, IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE. NO RATIONAL PERSON

043SHOULD BELIEVE OR ENDORSE THOSE IDEAS BUT APARPBTLY HERE THEY DO. DR. CONTRERAS THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOU AND YET AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF COVID EVERY ONE OF THESE ISSUES EXISTED BEFORE YOU CAME AND WILL BE HERE TO GREET THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT WHEN YOU ARE GONE. TERRY GRIER, AND MO GREEN, THESE ISSUES MRAIG EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THIS NATION AND DON'T BELONG TO ANY ONE SUPERINTENDENT BUT BLPK TO THE ENTIRETY OF THIS COMMUNITY. THEY ARE DEEPLY EMBEDDED ISSUES AND THEY ARE COMPOUNDED BY RACE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DOGGED PURSUANT OF EQUITY IN SPITE OF ALL THE ATTACKS THAT HAVE BEEN LAUNCHED AT YOU. NO MATTER OUR RACE OR WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD WE ARE FROM, MOST OF US RECOGNIZE THAT TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINE

044DOING THEIR BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN, NOT JUST AS A JOB BUT A CALLING AND A WAY TO HELP ALL CHILDREN SURVIVE BUT THERE ARE THOSE OF US THAT SOMEHOW OUR SCHOOLS, FULL OF TEACHERS WHO LOVE STUDENTS, ARE PROGRAMMING OUR CHILDREN TO BE RACIST AND TO HATE THIS COUNTRY. THAT'S ABSURD. DR. CONTRERAS YOU WERE APPOINTED TO LEAD IN THIS DISTRICT AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO ALL THOSE WHO CAME TO THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU WERE CALLED TO DO. THANK YOU. >> WELCOME, MR. HERMAN. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M RICHARD THURMAN, PROUD MEMBER OF THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM AS A TEACHER. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE VOTE THAT WAS MADE LAST WEEK, LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OF THE SCHOOL BONUSES FOR THE TEACHERS AND GCS EMPLOYEED. I WAS AT THE LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AND WAS AMAZED AT

045THE DISCUSSION AND TO BE HONEST THE LACK OF PREPARATION THAT WAS ON DISPLAY ABOUT THIS TOPIC. I KNOW THE SCHOOL EMPLOYEES SPOKE ON THIS ISSUE AT THE NOVEMBER SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. THANKFULLY AT THAT MEETING, A PROMOTION TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, IT WAS SO DISCOURAGING TO HEAR THE CONVERSATION THAT THE BOARD HAD ON TO ISSUE OF THE TEACHER BONUSES AT THAT MEETING, CONTRERAS CAME UP WITH A PLAN THAT BARELILY PASSED. ALL 5 ADJACENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, INCLUDING THOMASVILLE AND ASHEBORO HAVE ALL AGREED TO PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES AN AVERAGE $3,000 BONUS. GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD AGREED TO PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES A $1500 BONUS. YOU WERE BROUGHT TO THAT DECISION NOT BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS DESERVE IT BUT BECAUSE WE WERE LAGGING. I TRY TO TEACH MY STUDENTS TO ACT ON THEIR CONVICTIONS IN LIFE. DO NOT ACT SIMPLY BECAUSE OTHERS

046DO IT. WE PASSED A BONUS NOT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO, BUT BECAUSE WE HAD TO. HERE'S WHERE WE STAND NOW. IN DR. SEUSS' BOOK THE LORAX, THE LORAX SAYS HE WILL SPEAK FOR THE TREES. I WILL SPEAK FOR THE TEACHERS. OUR TEACHERS ARE LEAVING AT AN ALARMING RATE BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENT IS BETTER AT ADJACENT SCHOOL SYSTEMS. THE ONLY PEOPLE HAPPY RIGHT NOW ARE THE OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS BECAUSE THEY ARE RECRUITING OUR TEACHERS IN MY SCHOOL, THE SCHOOL I REPRESENT, JUST ON MY FLOOR WE HAVE LOST 4 TEACHERS SO FAR THIS SCHOOL YEAR, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, TO ADJACENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS. BECAUSE THE JOB AND THEIR PAY IS BETTER IN THE OTHER DISTRICTS. I ALSO KNOW OF 4 MORE TEACHERS ON MY FLOOR -- JUST ON MY FLOOR, NOT MY BUILDING -- THAT HAVE

047A HIGH POSSIBILITY OF LEAVING THIS YEAR FOR MORE MONEY GOING TO ANOTHER SCHOOL SYSTEM. THESE SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE RAIDING OUR EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY CAN SHOW THEM THE INCREASES THEY ARE OFFERING. EACH TIME I ADDRESS YOU I AM THANKFUL FOR MY SERVICES AS A SCHOOL EDUCATOR, I APPRECIATE THAT, BUT THE VALUE SPOEBLG LOUDLY AT THE LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. >> THANK YOU, MR. HERMAN. AUTUMN WEBB, FOLLOWED BY JIM MORRIS. >> I LIVE IN GREENSBORO. I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST SAY I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE WHO THINKS YOU MADE IT SNOW BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BUS DEFICIT. AS A PREVIOUS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION RIDER I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AS FAR AS PUTTING THEM ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. WE PUT THE WHERE'S MY BUS APP, WRITTEN PARENT PERMISSION TO GET ON AND OFF AT

048DIFFERENT STOPS TO ENSURE THE SAFE ARRIVAL OF OUR STUDENTS BUT WE'RE NOW ASKING THOSE SAME STUDENTS TO SIT NEXT TO POSSIBLE PAROLEES, OVER AGE CITIZENS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE ON THE SEX OFFENDERS LIFT. IT WILL NOW BE COMP PROMIETZD AS MANY OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS TRAVEL TO AND FROM HOSPITALS AND COVID TESTING SITES AS WELL AS THOSE COMPLETELY UNAWARE AND UNRESTRICTED BY THE SCHOOL'S PRECAUTION AREA MER ERRS. DUE TO OUR CONCERNS I'D LIKE IT NAME A FEW OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WE THOUGHT OF. A LATER START TIME INCLUDING BUS TRANSPORTATION IN THE AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE, MOVING SOME OF THE DRIVERS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS, MAKING LONGER ROUTES AND MULL PELL ROUTES FOR THOSE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE MORE DRIVERS SO THEY CAN ACCOMMODATE THE MOVE. THOUGH THE CURRENT PLAN WAS EXECUTED WITHOUT MANY MAJOR

049DISCREPANCIES MONDAY AND WITH ALL HANDS ON DECK, THEY WON'T CONTINUOUSLY BE THERE IT ASSIST. AND DPA AND PARENT DRIVERS CANNOT BE THE ONLY VIABLE OPTION. I IMPLORE YOU TO REVIEW SOME OF THESE OPTIONS SO WE CAN ALL ENSURE SAFETY. THANK YOU. >> JIM MORRIS, FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL LOGAN >> HI, I'M JIM MORRIS, I WANT TO SAY THANKS FOR TAKING MY COMMENTS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. WE JUST FOUND OUT THAT UP TO 40 PERCENT OF COVID PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED ARE THERE FOR REASONS OTHER THAN COVID AND THAT OVER 75 PERCENT ARE FROM PEOPLE WITH 4 OR MORE COMORBIDITIES AND WERE NOT THAT WELL TO BEGIN WITH. ALSO AT THE LAST COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING, JUNE UPCHURCH MADE SOME GOOD POINTS IN ASKING OUR HEALTH DIRECTOR WHERE WAKE, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND BRUNSON COUNTIES HAVE MORE CASS THAN

050GUILFORD COUNTY, EVEN THOUGH THEY KEPT THEIR MASK MANDATE AND WE DIDN'T. SHE DIDN'T HAVE A RAL ANSWER TO THAT. ON FACE THE NATION JANUARY THE 2ND OF THIS YEAR, FORMER FDA COMMISSIONER DR. SCOTT SAID AND I QUOTE WE NOW UNDERSTAND THAT A CLOTH MASK IS NOT GOING TO PROTECT YOU FROM A VIRUS THAT SPREADS THROUGH AIR BORNE TRANSMISSION. IT'S TO PROTECT YOU FROM DROPLET TRANSMISSION IN SOMETHING LIKE THE FLU, BUT NOT CORONAVIRUS. HOW THESE MANDATES ARE HURTING CHILDREN, THE CDC ALSO REPORTED THAT SUICIDE ATTEMPTS FOR TEENAGE GIRLS ARE UP 51 PERCENT COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD OF 2019. ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE ALREADY WILL ALTERING COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR OUR YOUNGEST AND NOW THEY HAVE TO WEAR MASKS ALL THE TIME. KIDS WILL BE PAYING THE PRICE FOR OUR COVID POLICIES THE REST OF THEIR LIVES AND

051HOW THAT IS UNDERREPORTED. THEN SHE WAS QUIETLY CENSORED BY HER OWN NETWORK. WHY DO WE KEEP PERSISTING IN THIS? IF ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET THEIR CHILDREN VACCINATED HASN'T DONE SO BY NOW THEY REALLY DON'T WANT TO. ALL OF THE REGULATIONS ARE KEEPING KIDS MASKED. IF THIS IS TRUE THERE'S A SERIOUS CONFLICT OF INTEREST PUTTING MONEY BEFORE KIDS' BEST INTERESTS. IF YOU CONTINUE PURSUING THIS TORTUROUS MANDATE THAT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO LAST THIS LONG, THERE WILL BE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS. IF I COULD PULL MY CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL I WOULD BECAUSE 5 YEARS AGO I WAS PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT. PLEASE LEAVE OUR CHILDREN ALONE. >> MICHAEL LOGAN, OUR FINAL SPEAKER. WELCOME, MR. LOGAN >> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK HERE, MY NAME IS MICHAEL LOGAN. WE HAVE

052A BUSSING PROBLEM IN GUILFORD COUNTY. NOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM YOU NEED TO HAVE A SOLUTION AND I THINK WE CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. FIRST OFF, WE NEED TO WORK ON THE EMPLOYEE, POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES WE CAN HIRE FOR BUSSING. THE SECOND IS RETENTION. IF WE DO NOT DO THOSE TWO THINGS ARE BUS DRIVERS ARE GOING TO BE AGING OUT AND WHAT WE'RE FACING IN GUILFORD COUNTY NOW AND ACROSS THE STAE AND ACROSS THE NATION. AS GUILFORD COUNTY WE SHOULD BE A LEADER. BE A BUS DRIVER YOU NEED TO BE 18 YEARS OLD, 6 MONTHS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE, HOLD A CLASS "D", CLASS C, HAVE A P AND S ENDORSEMENT, HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL BUS DRIVER CERTIFICATE. THOSE ARE ALL YOU NEED. NOW, IN CALIFORNIA THEY'RE THINKING OUT OF THE BOX. AT THIS

053TIME THERE IS A SCHOOL, PATTERSON HIGH SCHOOL IN PATTERSON, CALIFORNIA, THEY HAVE OPENED UP A CDL PROGRAM IN THEIR SCHOOL. MOST OF OUR BUS DRIVERS WHO DRIVE FOR US NOW, MY AGE, LEARNED BUS DRIVING WHEN THEY WERE 16 YEARS OF AGE. THEY ARE AGING OUT. LET'S BRING HIGH SCHOOL KIDS IN. LET'S TRAIN THEM. WE CAN PROVIDE MORE TRAINING FOR THESE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS, WE COULD TRAIN THEM FOR THE WHOLE YEAR OR FOR THE SEMESTER IF THEY ONLY BROUGHT SCHEDULE. THEY WOULD RECEIVE MORE HOURS THAN THE AVERAGE BUS DRIVER NEW HIRE. INDUSTRY EXPERTS SAY IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY, WHICH IS VERY RELEVANT TO BUS DRIVING, THE AVERAGE AGE IS 54 YEARS OLD. DO YOU WANT TO BE DEALING WITH DISCIPLINE ISSUES ON A BUS, THE DISCIPLINE ISSUE, A YOUNG PERSON WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE

054THE DISCIPLINE. THEY DO NOT KNOW THE DISCIPLINE AND THAT'S WHERE THE RETENTION COMES IN. WITH THE RETENTION, THE DRIVER OF THE SCHOOL BUS IS SUBJECT TO -- AND THIS IS LAW, NORTH CAROLINA LAW -- IS SUBJECT TO THE DIRECTION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, SHALL HAVE COMPLETE AUTHORITY OVER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OPERATION OF THE BUS AND MAINTAINING OF GOOD ORDER AND CONDUCT. UPON SUCH BUS AND SHALL REPORT PROMPTLY TO THE PRINCIPAL ANY MISCONDUCT UPON SUCH BUS OR VIOLATION OF THE DRIVER'S INSTRUCTIONS BY ANY PERSON RIDING UPON SUCH BUS. THE PRINCIPAL MAY TAKE SUCH ACTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE MISCONDUCT UPON THE SCHOOL BUS FOR ANY VIOLATION OF THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS OF THE DRIVER AS HE MAY TAKE MISCONDUCT OCCURRED ON THE GROUNDS OF THE SCHOOL. IF WE HAVE DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS ON THE BUSSES, WE WILL RETAIN DRIVERS.

055>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC SPEAKING SEGMENT OF OUR BOARD MEETING. WE ARE NOW AT APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION. >> MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. >> IS THERE A SECOND? THANK YOU, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? WE HAVE TAD TILLMAN AND BELLAMY SMALL ON ZOOM. DO THEY HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING BACK TO ME? . >> DO YOU WANT IT IN THE CHAT OR DO YOU WANT IT VERBALLY? . >> DO YOU WANT TO PUT IT IN THE CHAT OR SAY IT VERBALLY. >> YOU CAN PUT IT IN THE CHAT AND DR. FUNDERBERG -- HE NEEDS TO SAY IT WITH HIS VOICE. HE SAID YES AND DIANE SAID YES. >> HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET BETTER WITH THIS. >> WHOFULLY PEOPLE COME IN. >> IT'S GOOD THAT WE

056HAVE THIS OPTION WHEN THERE ARE HEALTH ISSUES OR OTHER EMERGENCIES THAT KEEP THEM AWAY FROM A BOARD MEETING THAT THEY CAN STILL PARTICIPATE. >> THERE WAS A REQUEST TO HAVE AN ITEM PULLED, THAT ITEM WAS PULLED. >> YES, YOU DO. YOU DID. >> I WILL TURN TO YOU, DR. CONTRERAS, FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THIS EVENING'S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES THE PERSONAL POINTS, THE CITY OF HIG POINT EASEMENT GRANT AND CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS FOR CHILLER REPLACEMENT PROJECTS. THAT CONCLUDES THIS EVENING'S CONSENT AGENDA FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> MADAM CHAIR, MAY I ASK ONE QUESTION? . >> YES. >> ON THE CHILLER REPLACEMENT I CAN'T TELL FROM THE INFORMATION GIVEN WHAT ALTERNATES WERE CONCLUDED. >> SHE SAYS SHE CAN'T TELL FROM THE INFORMATION INCLUDED WHAT ALTERNATES WERE INCLUDED. >> THIS

057IS IN REGARD TO THE CHILLER. >> YES. >> SO THE ALTERNATES, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF THOSE, THEY WERE MAYBE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PAPERWORK. WE CAN DEFINITELY GET YOU A COPY OF THOSE. >> DID YOU INCLUDE SOME OR ALL? . >> NO, ALL. >> OKAY. >> ALL OF THEM ARE IN THE PACKET AND ONLINE. >> MOTION TO >> M OTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA . >> LINDA, YES. TIM, YES. BETTY, YES. ANITA, NO. PAT, YES. DIANE, YES. >> AND DINA SAYS YES. SO THAT PASSES BY 8-1. 7-1. >> ON THE RECOMMENDATION COVER SHEET WITH COMPETENT SOMETIMES TOTALLY 526060, GO OVER TO THE BID TAB, THE BASE BID FROM COMFORT SYSTEMS -- MAYBE SOME OF THE ALTERNATES ARE ADDS AND SOME ARE DEDUCTS BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR. >> THANK YOU. YOU CAN

058ADDRESS THAT WITH MISS SHARP AT SOME MOIPBT. IS THAT OKAY, ANITA? THANK YOU. >> WE ARE NOW AT ACTION ITEMS. MISS HENRY, SHE'S WITH US ON ZOOM. THIS IS WHAT I THINK MISS SHARPE, I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD -- IS THERE A MOTION? . >> I MOVE. >> SECOND. >> APPROVE THE PROJECT ORDINANCE. >> YES. >> I WILL SECOND THAT. >> DISCUSSION? MISS SHARPE. >> ON EACH OF THESE PROJECTS THEY ARE, WHAT, 15, MORE THAN THAT, PROBABLY, I DIDN'T COUNT THEM. SOME OF THESE THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF MONEY THAT ARE BEING MOVED. ONE OF MY SCHOOLS, HIGH POINT CENTRAL, 1.362,000 IS BEING MOVED TO EITHER SYSTEM WIDE ROOFING OR THE NEWCOMER SCHOOL. THERE'S AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AT CENTRAL. SO I'M NOT SURE ABOUT ALL THE OTHER PROJECTS BUT

059I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT ONE, SO WHY WOULD WE TAKE THE MONEY OFF OF THEM THAT WAS APPROVED IN OUR BOND, I BELIEVE, AND MOVE IT TO PROJECTS THAT WERE NOT APPROVED IN OUR BOND? THAT'S NO 1. AND THEN THE HIGH POINT NEWCOMERS SCHOOL WAS ORIGINALLY SLATED, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE BOARD VOTED OR NOT, SOMEBODY WILL HAVE TO TELL ME IF WE DO OR NOT, TO PLACE THE NEWCOMER SCHOOL AT ENDERS. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AT ENDERS, IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE TOMLINSON BUILDING AT HIGH POINT CENTRAL CAMPUS AND THAT CAME AS QUITE A SURPRISE BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT THE PLAN. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT CAUSED IT TO BE CHANGED AND WHY WE DIDN'T SPEND THE MONEY IN THE PROJECT ORDINANCE THE WAY IT WAS APPROVED BY THE

060VOTERS? . >> CAN I TAKE THE FIRST QUESTION FIRST? . >> YES. >> THE MONEY THAT'S LEFT HERE IN THE HIGH POINT CENTRAL PROJECT, THESE ARE DOLLARS THAT WERE PUT THERE TO DO THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM SO THAT, FOR THE PERMITTING. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE BACK ON THE BOARD AT THAT TIME. >> I WAS. >> WE WERE DOING SOME RENOVATION AT HIGH POINT CENTRAL, THE CITY OF HIGH POINT DECIDED THAT WE NEEDED [INDISCERNIBLE] THE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE IN HIGH POINT CENTRAL WERE PLACED THERE TO DO THAT WORK ON THE FLOOR THERE AT HIGH POINT CENTRAL. WE DID ALSO HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH THE STAIRWELL AT HIGH POINT CENTRAL, BUT ALL OF THAT WORK, THE DOLLARS MOVED THERE WERE COMPLETE. THESE WEREN'T BOND DOLLARS ORIGINALLY MRAIPBTED AT HIGH POINT CENTRAL IN THE BOND IN 2008,

061IT'S THE RED LIGHT CAMERA MONEY THAT WE HAD HELD FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN ANTICIPATION OF SOME KIND OF CAPITAL NEED. THOSE ARE THE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE MOVING OUT OF HIGH POINT CENTRAL BECAUSE AGAIN THAT SPRINKLER PROJECT AND THE STAIRWELL PROJECT HAVE BEEN COMPLETE. >> DID WE DO ALL THE WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AT HIGH POINT CENTRAL? WILL THERE BE [ECHO]. >> TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO AVOID THE FEEDBACK WITH THE ZOOM IN THE ROOM AND OUR MICS. DID SHE HEAR ME, THAT QUESTION. >> I DIDN'T FINISH MY QUESTION. >> SHE DIDN'T COMPLETE HER QUESTION. GO ON, ANITA >> DID WE DO ALL THE WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AT HIGH POINT CENTRAL OR IN THE 1.7 BILLION DOLLAR BOND IS THERE ADDITIONAL WORK FOR CENTRAL. >> THERE IS ADDITIONAL WORK FOR

062CENTRAL IN THE 1.7. I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE CENTRAL FALLS BUT IN THE MASTER PLAN THERE IS A RENOVATION. >> MISS HENRY, WE DON'T HEAR YOU YET. HOLD ON. >> I UNDERSTOOD WHAT SHE SAID. >> YOU CAN CONTINUE, MISS HENRY. >> THANK YOU. SO THERE IS ADDITIONAL WORK TO BE DONE IN THE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN AT HIGH POINT CENTRAL, THERE'S A FULL RENOVATION PROJECT THERE AT HIGH POINT CENTRAL. DOLLARS WILL BE TRANSFERRED FROM HIGH POINT CENTRAL FOR THE STAIRCASE PROJECT AND THE SPRINKLER PROJECT. >> PULL MONEY NOW, THE SOURCE OF THE MONEY IS NOT OF GREAT CONCERN TO ME. BUT WE'RE GOING TO PULL 1.3 MILLION DOLLARS NOW AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TURN AROUND, IF THE BOND PASSES, AND RENOVATE THIS SCHOOL. IT MAKES SENSE TO ME. ANOTHER QUESTION, WE RECEIVED 2 MILLION DOLLARS FOR

063THE SALE OF A PROPERTY ON [INDISCERNIBLE] CHURCH ROAD. WHERE IS THAT MONEY? . >> IT'S IN OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY FUND RIGHT NOW. >> WHY WASN'T IT USED TO FUND THESE TWO ITEMS? . >> THOSE DOLLARS WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THEY BE TRANSFERRED TO THE STEM CENTER AT K-8 STYLE WEST AREA. >> ANGIE, IF WE CAN'T HEAR YOU, I CAN SHARE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING THOSE FUNDS BE USED FOR THIS SCIENCE CENTER AT THE NEW, ON THE SITE OF THE NEW K-8 BUILDING, SOUTHWEST BUILDING. >> GO AHEAD, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU. >> WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW MUCH IT WILL COST FOR EACH OF THOSE 4 SCIENCE CENTERS -- FIRST LET ME GO BACK A LITTLE BIT. WHEN WE WERE DOING THE PLANNING WE WERE ADDING SCIENCE SPACES IN EACH OF THE ELEMENTARY BUILDINGS, WHICH

064WOULD HAVE COST OR CAUSED US TO INCREASE THE 2 BILLION TO INCREASE EXPONENTIALLY. SO WE DECIDED, AS YOU MAY RECALL, TO CREATE 4 STEM CENTERS. AS WE LOOK ACROSS THE COUNTRY OUR SCIENCE STAFF AND CTE STAFF ACTUALLY VISITED STEM CENTERS TO DO STEM AT ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL YOU NEED DIFFERENT SPACES. ELEMENTARY SPACES AR DIFFERENT FROM MIDDLE SO WE NEEDED TO EXPAND THE BUILDING SO THAT IT HAS ELEMENTARY SCIENCE SPACES, MIDDLE SCHOOL SPACES AND CTE SPACES. SO WE ARE PROPOSING THE BOARD CONSIDER USING THAT 2 MILLION DOLLARS SO THAT THE SCIENCE CENTER IS APPROPRIATE FOR ELEMENTARY SCIENCE, MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE AND K-8. >> IS THAT ONE OF THE 4 STEM CENTERS. >> CORRECT. >> WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER THREE? . >> THEY ARE IN THE NEW BOND PROJECT. >> I STILL HAVEN'T HEARD AN EXPLANATION

065OF WHY THE NEWCOMER SCHOOL IS [INDISCERNIBLE]. >> SO THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR ANDREWS WAS JUST TO PLACE A FEW CLASSROOMS IN ANDREWS. BUT AS WE LOOKED AT THE NEWCOMERS POPULATION, IT'S TOO LARGE TO JUST HAVE THAT MANY STUDENTS AT ANDREWS AND YOU WOULD NEED TO RENOVATE A SIZIBLE PORTION OF ANDREWS AND AS YOU KNOW THERE'S A PROPOSAL TO MAKE ANDREWS, TO RENOVATE ANDREWS TO BE A PUBLIC SAFETY HIGH SCHOOL. SO TO INVEST THAT SORT OF MONEY INTO ANDREWS WHEN WE KNOW WE WOULD THEN HAVE TO MOVE THE NEWCOMER STUDENTS AGAIN IS A WASTE OF MONEY AND ALSO UNFAIR TO MOVE THAT POPULATION OF STUDENTS AGAIN WHEN WE HAVE A BUILDING WHERE THEY ACTUALLY LIVE, THE POPULATION WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ACTUALLY LIVE CLOSER TO THAT, TO THOSE BUILDINGS. >> THERE'S SO MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

066ANDREWS AND CENTRAL, HOW MANY CLASSROOMS WOULD THIS FACILITY HAVE? . >> DO YOU KNOW THAT NUMBER, DR. OAKLEY? THE ENTIRE BUILD WITHING. >> 6 CLASSES ON THE SECOND FLOOR, IT WILL HAVE ONE CTE CLASSROOM, 3 ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS AND THREE MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS. >> AND HOW MANY WILL ANDREWS NEED? . >> WE WON'T KNOW THAT UNTIL WE DO THE BUILDING. >> ALL RIGHT, IS THERE A MOTION. >> THAT'S RIGHT, WE ALREADY DO THAT FOR DISCUSSION. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE AT VOTING. LINDA, NO. SWEPB SUN, YES. BETTY, YES. ANITA, YES. CHAD, NO. DIANE, THAT PASSES BY A VOTE OF 5-3. WE ARE NOW AT THE UNIVERSAL MASK COVERING VOTE. WELCOME, DR. VANN >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. >> GOOD EVENING. >> I WILL BE BRIEF TONIGHT. I DO HAVE TWO ITEMS THAT I

067WOULD LIKE TO MENTION TO YOU TONIGHT. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE IN GUILFORD COUNTY AS FAR AS METRICS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE A MONTH AGO. A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED WITH THE METRICS AFTER THE CHRISTMAS HOLLIDAYS AND WE ARE SEEING THE HIGHEST SURGE OF CASES IN METRICS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC. WE ARE SEEING APPROXIMATELY 900 NEW CASES EVERY DAY. THIS IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER SINCE THE BEGINNING. PANDEMIC. IT STARTED THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WE ARE NOT SEEING A PLATEAU IN THOSE CASES JUST YET, SO A LOT OF WOK THAT IS BEING DONE IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS ALL THE CASES THAT ARE BEING REPORTED TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. POSITIVITY WE ARE AT 26 PERCENT POSITIVITY RATE AS OF TWO DAYS AGO.

068THIS IS THE HIGHEST 14 DAY POSITIVITY RATE WE HAVE EVER HAD AGAIN DURING THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC WITH ONE DAY POSITIVITY RATE AS HIGH AS 32, 33 PERCENT. WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE FOR THIS POSITIVITY RATE TO START GOING DOWN IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS SINCE WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE DAYS THAT ARE STILL REALLY HIGH OVERALL. THAT MEANS THAT ALMOST A QUARTER OF ALL TESTS THAT ARE BEING PERFORMED RIGHT NOW ARE COMING BACK POSITIVE AND AGAIN THIS IS THE SECOND METRIC THAT HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBERS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. AS FAR AS HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE CONCERNED WE ARE RECEIVING REPORTS FROM OUR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE OVER 215 INDIVIDUALS IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW WITH COVID 19 RELATED ILLNESS. A GOOD PORTION OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE IN THE ICU AND AS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM

069THE 3 CEO'S OF OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TWO DAYS AGO THEY HAVE A LOT OF CRITICAL NEEDS IN THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS RIGHT NOW WITH ISSUES AND CONCERNS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM DEPARTMENT, UTILIZATION AND WAIT TIMES, CRITICAL STAFFING ISSUES AS WELL AS A VARIETY OF CHALLENGES WITH ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW. AND THEN ALSO WE ARE HEARING FROM OUR OTHER CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE, THEY ARE ALSO HANDLING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THE SURGE OF COVID-19. SO THIS IS JUST A VERY BRIEF UPDATE WHEN IT COMES TO THE NUMBERS, HEALTHY GUILFORD.COM IS THE BEST PLACE FOR OUR DATA HUBS TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE METRICS WE ARE REPORTING ON RIGHT NOW. THE SECOND PART THAT I WANTED TO MENTION TO THE BOARD TONIGHT

070IS THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLLIDAYS AROUND THE CHANGES IN THE QUARANTINE. ALSO IN THE NEW TOOL KIT IT IS VERY MUCH HIGHLIGHTED THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS AROUND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS TWO YEARS OLDER AND STAFF AND TEACHERS IN SCHOOL SHOULD WEAR FACE MASKS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND UNIVERSAL MASKING IN SCHOOLS. THAT INFORMATION IS INCLUDED IN THE TOOL KIT, THE NORTH CAROLINA DHHS TOOL KIT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. JUST TO MENTION TWO OF THESE AREAS THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON RIGHT NOW THAT ARE REALLY SURROUNDING VACCINES AND MASK WEARING, STUDENTS CAN RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER 5 DAYS IF MASKS ARE WORN DURING DAYS 6 TO 10 AFTER A POSITIVE CASE. SO IF SOMEBODY IS TESTING POSITIVE THEY CAN RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER 5 DAYS

071OF ISOLATION IF THEY ARE WEARING THE MASK DURING THOSE LAST 5 DAYS. AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO EXPOSURES AND SOMEBODY IS EXPOSED TO SOMEBODY WITH COVID, MASKS ALSO PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT -- CRITICAL ROLE, ACTUALLY -- IN BEING ABLE TO KEEP THE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL. IN DISTRICTS WHERE MASKS ARE REQUIRED THERE IS NO EXCLUSION FROM SCHOOL IF THERE IS AN EXPOSURE IN THOSE CLASSROOMS. AND ALSO IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHERE MASKS ARE REQUIRED IF THERE IS AN EXPOSURE BRIEFLY WHERE ONE OR TWO OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS IS UNMASKED SUCH AS DURING LUNCH TIME, FOR EXAMPLE, BUT THE DISTRICT HAS A MANDATORY MASK MANDATE, AGAIN, THOSE STUDENTS WILL NOT BE EXCLUDED. WE ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE UP TO DATE ON THEIR IMMUNIZATIONS, THOSE ARE NOT GOING TO BE EXCLUDED AND ALL INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE

072TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID IN THE LAST 90 DAYS, THEY HAVE RECOVER ARED AND NOW COMING BACK IN THE SCHOOLS, NO EXCLUSION IS NEEDED IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE AS WELL. SO I JUST WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ON THE NEW GUIDANCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE ARE IMPLEMENTING RIGHT NOW FOR ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE AND HOW MASKS ARE PLAYING A CRITICAL ROLE IN KEEPING THE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL. AND THAT IS MY UPDATE FOR THE BOARD TONIGHT. >> ANITA >> I DON'T KNOW WHO TO ADDRESS THIS QUESTION, BUT WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT CANNOT BE MASKED, IT'S DANGEROUS, THEY CANNOT WEAR MASKS. IF SOMEONE IN THEIR CLASSROOM GETS COVID AND THEY ARE EXPOSED, THEY ARE OUT OF SCHOOL FOR 10 DAYS. >> THAT IS CORRECT. THIS PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATION DOES NOT APPLY IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE MASKS CANNOT BE USED. >> WHAT CAN

073WE DO FOR THESE KIDS? THEY CAN'T MASK, THEY CAN'T GET VACCINATED SO THEY ARE PAYING DOUBLE THE PRICE OF KIDS WHO CAN DO THOSE THINGS AND THEY CAN'T HELP IT. THEY ARE SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS, THEIR NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL IS AS GREAT AS ANY OF KNOW. SO WHAT DO WE DO? . >> THAT PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCE IS REALLY DIFFICULT BUT ALL OF THE MITIGATION STRATEGIES WE WOULD NORMALLY PUT IN PLACE IN ORDER TO OVERLAY THEM FOR PROTECTION OF THE OTHERS CANNOT BE PUT IN PLACE SO WE HAVE TO GO WITH THE STANDARD RECOMMENDATIONS. >> WE HAVE TO, OR WE ARE? . >> WE ARE. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. >> I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION THAT CAME UP IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S MEETING. MY UNDERSTANDING IS IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THE SUPER NUMBER OF

074DAYS FOR QUAIRPB TEEN, YOU MUST HAVE THE MASKING IN PLACE. YOU CAN'T HAVE A MASK OPTIONAL POLICY OR IT DOESN'T WORK. >> THAT IS CORRECT. IT HAS TO BE, LIKE I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING, IT HAS TO BE THESE PARTICULAR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE A MANDATORY MASK IN PLACE. >> OTHERWISE WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE OLD 10 DAYS. >> YES, THAT IS CORRECT. SO WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THEM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE GUILFORD COUNTY IS STILL UNDER A MANDATORY MASK MANDATE SO WE ARE ABLE TO APPLY THESE NEW RECOMMENDATIONS. >> MADAM SUPERINTENDENT, THESE STUDENTS, THE GATEWAY, PER THEIR IEP, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, SPEECH THERAPY, ALL THE THERAPIES, THEY AREN'T GETTING TLEPL. WHERE DOES THAT PUT US AND WHERE DOES THAT PUT THE CHILD WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR IEP . >> I

075AM UNAWARE OF THOSE STUDENTS NOT GETTING THEIR THERAPY. >> THEY CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL SO THEY CAN'T GET THEIR THERAPY. CHILD NO. 2 THEY CAN BE OUT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE SERVICES THAT THEIR IEP SERV ICES THAT THEIR IEP SAYS THEY SHOULD HAVE . >> I WOULD HAVE TO ASK OUR LEGAL COUNSEL. >> WE PROVIDE COMPENSATORY EDUCATION IF THERE IS REASON TO DO THAT. I DON'T KNOW OF AN EXAMPLE OF A CHILD WHERE THERE'S SOMETHING WE HAVE DONE THAT DENIES STUDENTS SERVICES THAT WE HAVE NOT COMPENSATED. I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY. >> IF WE WON'T LET THEM COME TO SCHOOL THEY DON'T GET THE SERVICES. >> IT'S RECOMMENDED, IT'S NOT REQUIRED. >> WE FOLLOW THE DIRECTIVES OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND IF THEIR -- I AM NOT

076AWARE OF ANY EXPERIENCE THE STUDENT HAS HAD THAT THEY ARE DENIED SERVICES WITHOUT HAVING COMPENSATORY SERVICES THAT ACCOMPANIED THEM. >> BUT THAT WOULDN'T BE DIFFERENT THAN A STUDENT WHO HAD, THAT WE DIDN'T ALLOW TO COME TO SCHOOL FOR A VACCINATION OR RINGWORMS OR LICE. WE HAVE TO SEND STUDENTS HOME FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS. >> YES, THIS IS SLUETDLY CORRECT. WHATEVER MATTERS IN THIS CONVERSATION, I HAVE A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THAT RECEIVES SERVICES AND HE COULDN'T BE GO TO SCHOOL FOR A WEEK WHEN HE WAS IN QUARANTINE AND WE WORKED WITH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO HIM WHEN HE CAME BACK TO SCHOOL TO KEEP UP WITH HIS IEP SO I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. >> ANITA, BY AND LARGE IEP'S DON'T SAY YOU WILL GET SERVICES ON CERTAIN DAYS.

077IF HE MISSES HIS 10 DAYS OF SCHOOL, DOES 10 DAYS WITHOUT ANY SORT -- >> NO, I THINK THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS BEING DONE. OUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN -- MAYBE YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF A CHILD AND THEY SHOULD CONTACT THE SCHOOL, BUT IF THEY QUALIFY THEY WILL GET COMPENSATORY SERVICES. >> ON THE SPECIAL NEEDS, OKAY, THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE FACT THAT A CHILD GETS OT, PT AND SPEECH, GOING WITHOUT THAT SERVICE MAKES HIS PROGRESS DECLINE, OKAY? THAT'S REAL LIFE BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T GET THE SERVICE IN A TIMELY MANNER, YOU WAIT 2 WEEKS OFTEN THOSE PARENTS IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ROLLING, THE CHANCE OF THIS THING SPIRALING. I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH THIS PARENT JUST BEFORE THE MEETING, THAT'S WHY I WAS LATE. >> WHAT I DON'T LIKE,

078WHAT WE NEED TO SAY IS WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT. IT IS A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN AND YOU HAVE HEALTHY CHILDREN. THIS CHILD IS NOT CAPABLE OF DOING, YOU CAN'T DO OT AND PT REMOTELY. AND THE PARENT IS VERY CONCERNED AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE PROVIDING, I'M SURE THE PARENT IS WATCHING. WHAT WE SHOULD BE SAYING, PLEASE LET US KNOW, WE WILL WORK WITH THAT PARENT AND MAKE SURE WHATEVER -- >> LET'S BE AWARE OF WHY THAT CHILD IS SENT HOME. THEY'VE BEEN EXPOSED. ARE YOU GOING TO SEND YOUR EMPLOYEE IN THERE? IN A PANDEMIC WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT OUR EMPLOYEES, WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS, WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT OTHER STUDENTS FROM GETTING EXPOSED. IT IS A DIFFICULT SITUATION. BUT A CHILD WHO HAS SERVICES IN THEIR

079IEP -- >> I WILL BE GLAD TO PROVIDE THEM WITH SOME INFORMATION ON STUDENT, THE PARENT IS VERY CONCERNED. WE NEED TO DISCUSS HOW WE PROVIDE THE SERVICES. THE WAY THIS THING IS SET UP THEY CAN GET IN A HAMSTER WLEEL. I'M VERY CONCERNED. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IF A CHILD IS EXPOSED DOESN'T MEAN THE CHILD NECESSARILY HAS COVID. THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED. NOW THEY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THAT CHILD GETS A POSITIVE PCR TEST UNTIL THEY CAN COME BACK. I BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE, CORRECT? IF A CHILD IN YOUR CLASS HAS BEEN EXPOSED, NOT NECESSARILY HAS COVID, WHAT HAPPENS? . >> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE MASKING MRAUS SAYSES ARE IN THAT CLASSROOM. >> WOULD NOT BE MASKED BECAUSE ALL OF THEM ARE SEVERELY DISABLED. AS FAR AS I KNOW NONE OF THEM

080ARE MASKED DUE TO THEIR CLINICAL SITUATION. >> THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE TESTED AT 5 DAYS FOR EXPOSURE. >> SO THAT KID IS OUT FOR 5 DAYS AND SOME OTHER KID IS EXPOSED. ACTUALLY SUCH A CHILD IS NOT VACCINATED SO THEN YOU GOT A MAJOR -- NOW IT'S 10 DAYS, SOMETHING CAN HAPPEN IN THE 10 DAYS AND IT JUST ROLLS. I'M JUST SAYING, SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN NEED TO BE DISCUSSED AT LEAST AS TO HOW WE UPPORT THESE CHILDREN BECAUSE IT IS DETRIMENTAL FOR THEM. >> FOR COVID AND ALL THOSE CHILDREN, ALSO WHEN THEY ARE EXPOSED NEED TO BE PROTECTED FROM COVID. SO WE HAVE LOTS OF THINGS TO CONSIDER IN HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PANDEMIC RELATED TO CHILDREN WHO ARE FRAGILE. >> THAT'S FINE BUT THEN WE NEED TO PROVIDE SERVICES AT HOME. >>

081SPEECH SERVICES AT HOME, DO VIRTUAL THERAPY. SOME OF THE OTHERS WE DO NOT BUT WE CANNOT JUST SEND STAFF INTO THE HOME. >> BUT WITH THE EXPOSURE AT SCHOOL -- >> OKAY, WELL. >> IT'S A CHALLENGE. AND GOING ONWITH THE MASK STUFF, AGAIN THERE WAS A STUDY OUT IN AUSTRALIA, A STUDY OUT OF ENGLAND AND ALL OF THESE STUDIES ARE SAYING THAT THE MASK DOES NOT NECESSARILY, EVEN THE GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE SAID THIS COUNTY HAS BEEN MASKED 100 PERCENT AND THEY HAVE TREMENDOUS MORE THAN WE DO. I JUST DON'T SEE THE EVIDENCE THAT MASKS ARE PREVENTING AND I DO BELIEVE THEY DO MORE HARM TO CHILDREN. KIM. >> I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND EVERYONE HAS THEIR DATA ABOUT MASKS. SOMETIMES YOU HEAR SOMEONE SAY A CROSS MASK AND THEN WE

082SAY THE MEDICAL MASK SO CAN YOU, LIKE, GIVE ME A PARALLEL MAYBE OF WHAT TYPE OF MASK IS BEST TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF ANYTHING COMING FROM MY FACE. >> YEAH, SURE, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 3 CATEGORIES OF MASKS THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT. THE FIRST ONE IS THE CLOTH MASK THAT WE KNOW HAS THE LEAST LEVEL OF PROTECTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S NOT MADE OUT OF THE CORRECT MATERIAL AND IT'S NOT A TIGHT MATERIAL THAT HAS REALLY TIGHT KNIT AND IT DOESN'T HAVE THE NUMBER OF LAYERS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE. THEN WE MOVE INTO THE MORE MEDICAL CLASS SURGICAL MASK THAT USED APPROPRIATELY OVER THE NOSE AND MOUTH AND IS WELLFITTING AROUND THE FACE IT'S POSSIBLE ARE WORKING VERY WELL. THEN WE MOVE INTO THE N 95 GRADE MASKS WHICH ARE THE ONES THAT WORK THE

083BEST IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OMICRON IS SO MUCH MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN ALL THE OTHER VARIANTS AND THERE IS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AVAILABILITY FOR THE SURGICAL MASKS WE DEFINITELY RECOMMEND EVERYONE USE THE TYPE MASK WE RECOMMEND. >> WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY JUST SAY MASKING. SO DO YOU THINK THE BEST RECOMMENDATION FOR US IS A TYPE OF MASK IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE 5 DAYS? BECAUSE I CAN SEE IF SOMEONE IS NOT WEARING THE MASK THAT PROVIDES THE MOST PROTECTION, STILL BEING OUT A LONGER TIME AS WELL. >> THE GUIDANCE DOESN'T NECESSARILY SPECIFY THAT YOU NEED TO WEAR A PARTICULAR MASK. HOWEVER, MY BELIEF IS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SURGICAL MASKS IN THE ENVIRONMENT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW ARE THE BEST CHOICE THAT WE HAVE. >> THANK YOU, BETTY >>

084I WANT TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE IEP FOR STUDENTS. AS FAR AS THE STUDENTS WEARING MASKS OF COURSE THERE IS DUE TO THEIR PHYSICAL ELEMENT BUT AS FAR AS THEM RECEIVING SERVICES THEY CAN STILL RECEIVE, SOME OF THEIR SERVICES VIRTUAL. I HAVE A GRANDSON SO HE WOULD RECEIVE HIS SPEECH VIRTUAL. HE ALSO HAS A CHEAT SHEET THAT THEY CAN USE WITH OT OR PT WITH THEIR PARENTS. IT'S VERY LIMITED BUT THEY CAN RECEIVE THE OTHER SERVICES WHEN THEY GO BACK TO SCHOOL. IT'S A MATTER HOW MANY HOURS THEY HAVE IN THE IEP FOR THAT PARTICULAR QUARTER OR THAT PARTICULAR MONTH. SO THEY CAN PLAY CATCH-UP, WHAT I'M SAYING IS THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LOSE THEIR SERVICE, STILL GET THEIR SERVICE BUT THEY WILL GET IT LATER WHEN THEY RETURN BACK TO SCHOOL.

085>> ONE OF THE SPOKERS, MORRIS, QUOTED A STUDY. I THINK HE SAID WHERE DR. FALCHI SAID MASKS DO NOT REDUCE COVID 19. DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. >> NO, I WAS NOT HERE. AND I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT -- >> I THINK HE SAID IT WAS FROM THE CDC SITE, BUT I CAN'T -- UNLESS WE CAN DO A REPLAY, I CAN'T -- I DIDN'T WRITE THAT DOWN. >> HE SAID FACE THE NATION. >> IS THAT WHAT HE SAID? . >> YES. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, DR. VANN, WE ARE NOW READY TO VOTE ON THIS. IS THERE A MOTION? . >> MOTION TO CONTINUE THE MASKS. >> I SECOND. >> ANITA, NO. BETTY, YES. KIM, YES. WINSTON, YES. LINDA, NO. DO YOU HAVE PAT OR DIANE'S VOTE? PAT, DO

086WE HAVE YOUR VOTE? PAT VOTES NO. DIANE'S VOTE. >> NO. YES. I TRIED TO VOTE FOR EACH ITEM. >> I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN YOUR VOTES ON THE OTHER ITEMS, THANK YOU. MY VOTE IS YES. IT PASSES BY A VOTE OF 5 TO 3 AND WE WILL VOTE ON IT AGAIN NEXT MONTH. WE ARE NOW AT REPORTS FROM THE CHAIR AND I WILL BE AS BRIEF AS I CAN. GOOD EVENING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. I WAS HONORED TO PARTICIPATE IN AN MOR CONVERSATION ABOUT SAFETY WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS AND OUR SCHOOL LEADERS INCLUDING DR. CONTRERAS MATTERS PLEDGED TO PROTECT WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO DELVE DEEPER INTO THE ISSUES THAT FACE OUR SCHOOLS AND THE STEPS OUR COMMUNITY CAN TAKE TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. YOU CAN WATCH THE DISCUSSION ON WFNY WEB SITE. [INDISCERNIBLE] OUR WLERPBING

087HUBS ARE GAINING NATIONAL REPUBLIC INITIAL, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEB SITE AND CLICK ON THE APPROPRIATE PHOTO TO READ A PHOTO FROM NPO ON HOW THE LEARNING HUBS ARE HELPING. WE ARE OFFERING AN ATTENDANCE BONUS FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS. SUBS TUETS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR $1,000. WE HAVE ALSO INCREASED OUR ATTENDANCE BONUS FOR BUS DRIVERS. DRIVERS WHO WORK EVERY SCHOOL DAY EACH MONTH WILL RECEIVE A BONUS OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THAT MONTH. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE OUR DRIVERS AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE. GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE AK TICHLY SPEAKING PEERS. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, COLLEGE STEW DOEPBTS AND RETIRED EDUCATORS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OTHERS GET BACK ON TRACK. GO TO WWW.GCSNC TO APPLY. FINALLY, IN HONOR OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING'S BIRTHDAY, WHICH WE WILL CELEBRATE MONDAY, I WILL SHARE THIS QUOTE. IF YOU CAN'T

088FLY THEN RUN. IF YOU CAN'T RUN, THEN WALK. IF YOU CAN'T WALK, RUN. WHATEVER YOU DO, WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD. AS WE APPROACH NEARLY TWO FULL YEARS OF THIS PANDEMIC WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD. THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT. >> THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. I WANT TO START BY EXPRESSING MY GRATITUDE TO COMMISSIONERS SKIP ALSTON OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE CITIES OF GREENSBORO AND HIGH POINT FOR THEIR QUICK RESPONSE IN HELPING OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACCESS PUBLIC TRANSIT. WE KNOW THIS PANDEMIC HAS NOT BEEN EASY ON ANY OF US, ESPECIALLY OUR FAMILIES, AND THE SCHOOL BUS CRISIS IS JUST ONE MORE DIFFICULTY THAT YOU HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH. WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR PATIENCE AND THIS FLEXIBILITY AS WE NAVIGATE

089THIS TOGETHER. TO NEIGHBORS WHO ARE HELPING TRANSPORT OUR STUDENTS WE THANK YOU. WE HOPE TO HAVE OUR BUS DRIVERS BACK TOO FULL HEALTH AND DRIVING AGAIN SOON BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO EXPLAIN THE SCHOOL BUS CRISIS IN ITS FULL CONTEXT. GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS ROUTES 39,000 STUDENTS AND OUR BUSSES TRAVEL 41,000 MILES DAILY. WE HAVE 486 BUS DRIVER POSITIONS BUT LIKE EVERY OTHER DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY WE HAVE VACANCIES AND I ALWAYS ASK PEOPLE TO DO A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH, I ASK THE PRINCIPALS TO JUST PUT INTO THE GOOGLE -- TO DO A GOOGLE SEARCH SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE AND TELL ME HOW MANY HITS THEY GET. AND YOU CAN GET UP TO 13 MILLION HITS, THAT'S HOW MANY ARTICLES AND STORIES THERE ARE ABOUT THE NATIONAL CRISIS. I KNOW SOMETIMES WE TEND TO NOT PAY

090ATTENTION TO WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND THE STATE LEVEL, BUT THIS HAS BEEN A CRISIS FOR A LONG TIME, ESPECIALLY SINCE, AS I SAW ONE OF THE PASTORS SAY, SOMEONE DRIVING A 15 TON VEHICLE WITH 70 STUDENTS IN IT FOR LESS THAN $15 AN HOUR WHEN YOU CAN WORK AT WAL-MART AND MAKE $15 AN HOUR JUST STANDING MANNING A KIOSK AND ALSO GET TUITION REIMBURSEMENT. FOR THOSE WHO SEND TO THE BOARD THE EMAILS, WHY DON'T YOU JUST PAY THEM MORE, I WANT TO REMIND YOU THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DOES NOT SET THE SALARY SCALE. SALARY SCALES IN NORTH CAROLINA ARE SET BY THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, NOT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THERE'S PLENTY YOU CAN BLAME THEM FOR AND NEED FOR, BUT NOT THIS ONE. IF WE PAY MORE THEN THE STATE

091FOR BUS DRIVERS, IF WE'RE ABLE TO CHANGE THE SALARY SCALE, IT'S BECAUSE WE RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THIS PAST YEAR UNDER COMMISSIONER SKIP ALSTON, THIS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DID INCREASE PAY FOR THE BUS DRIVERS BUT WE STILL STARTED WITH 60 BUS DRIVER VACANCIES, WE HAVE 52 BUS DRIVERS ON LEAVE OF ABSENCE AND YESTERDAY I BELIEVE WE HAD ANOTHER 57 WHO CALLED IN SICK WITH COVID. SO ON ANY GIVEN DAY WE ALREADY HAVE ABOUT 115 BUS DRIVERS OUT JUST BECAUSE OF VACANCIES AND THOSE ON LEAVE OF ABSENCE, LEAVING US WITH MANY ROUTES UNCOVERED. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING -- THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. IN GUILFORD COUNTY, IN DURHAM, IN WAKE, ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY THERE IS SUPERINTENDENTS ANDBOARDS OF EDUCATION PULLING THEIR HAIR OUT TRYING TO

092FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE GET CHILDREN TO SCHOOL? AND IT'S AT A CRISIS LEEL NOW BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE ISSUE THAT THESE BUS DRIVERS HAVE A SKILL AND A LICENSE THAT IS HIGHLY DESIRABLE, THIS COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT TRUCK DRIVERS HAVE WHILE THERE'S A SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUE AND DELAYS AND CORPORATIONS CAN PAY THEM $35 AND $40 AN HOUR TO BECOME A TRUCK DRIVER. SO FOR THOSE WHO THINK IT'S AS SIMPLE AS SIMPLY GROWING THEM HERE, THEY CAN MAKE MORE THAN $15 AN HOUR AND NO HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM IS GOING TO CHANGE THAT, NO DISCIPLINE PROGRAM WILL CHANGE THAT. PAYING THEM $2 MORE AN HOUR ISN'T GOING TO CHANGE THAT. WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE NEED TO FUNDAMENTALLY RETHINK HOW WE TRANSPORT STUDENTS TO SCHOOL. FOR THOSE WHO SAY, WOW, WHY DIDN'T

093WE GET A CALL EARLIER? BECAUSE PEOPLE CALL IN WHEN THEY CALL IN. THEY CALLED IN ON THURSDAY NIGHT BETWEEN 5:00 AND 9:00 PM WHEN THEY GOT THE RESULTS OF THEIR COVID TEST AND THAT'S WHEN WE TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY. WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD NOT TO CLOSE SCHOOLS BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO FIND CHILD CARE. SO WE DELAYED THE START OF SCHOOL FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL SO THAT WE COULD KEEP SCHOOL OPEN. WE CAN'T DO THAT EVERY DAY BECAUSE IN NORTH CAROLINA YOU MUST HAVE SCHOOL OPEN FOR X NUMBER OF HOURS EVERY SCHOOL YEAR. SO WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO JUST CUT TWO HOURS OFF OF THE SCHOOL DAY EVERY DAY. IT'S NOT PERMISSIBLE. BUT THOSE WHO ARE ANGRY AND SAYING SUPERINTENDENT, WHY DON'T YOU JUST CLOSE SCHOOLS, THE SUPERINTENDENT IS

094NOT LEGALLY ALLOWED TO OPEN AND CLOSE SCHOOLS. I HAVE NO LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO SO. ONLY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAN DO SO AND IN THIS CASE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CANNOT BECAUSE WE ARE ONLY ALLOWED BY STATE LAW NOW TO TRANSFER 5 DAYS INTO REMOTE DAYS. SO FOR THOSE WHO ARE SAYING JUST GO TO REMOTE EDUCATION, THE STATE LAW HAS CHANGED WHERE WE CAN ONLY GO TO 5 DAYS OF REMOTE EDUCATION AND YOU MAY RECALL THAT YOU ASKED US FOR TWO DAYS DURING THE THANKSGIVING BREAK AND WE DID THAT. SO WE HAVE 3 DAYS LEFT. SO ALL OF THE IDEAS YOU ARE THROWING AT US, WE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THEM. THERE ARE A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT THESE THINGS. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN OTHER DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE, THEY

095GOT AN EMAIL THAT SAID, WE'RE SO SORRY YOU WON'T HAVE ANY TRANSPORTATION, PLEASE DO YOUR BEST TO GET TO SCHOOL. WE TRIED TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION AND THAT SOLUTION WAS TO TRY TO WORK WITH PUBLIC TRANSIT AND TO USE OUR TRANSPORTATION FUNDS FLEXIBLELY. THE CITIES ARE NOT PAYING FOR THIS, THE DISTRICT IS. THE DISTRICT IS USING THEIR FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. AND FOR THOSE WHO SAY THEY ARE SUCH BAD PEOPLE ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, I CAUTION THEM TO REMEMBER THOSE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR PARENTS, WHO ARE GETTING TO WORK WHO MAY NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR A CAR. AND YES, I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, OF HIGH CHARACTER ON A BUS. THEY ARE ALSO IN THE MALLS, AT FOOTBALL GAMES, THEY ARE IN CHURCHES, THEY

096ARE EVERYWHERE. BUT TO SAY THAT OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR PARENTS, PEOPLE TRYING TO GET TO WORK EVERY DAY ARE HORRIBLE PEOPLE AND SOMEHOW THOSE WHO RIDE THE BUSSES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE CARS ARE OVERREPRESENTATIVE OF SEXUAL OFFENDERS AND DEVIANTS IN SOCIETY, IT'S UNFAIR. BECAUSE THEY ARE OVERWHELMINGLY POOR, OVERWHELMINGLY OF COLOR. IF THERE AREN'T ENOUGH STOPS THEN IT'S TIME FOR US TO PUSH ON OUR MUNICIPALITIES TO EXPAND THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM SO THAT IT IS MORE ROBUST. BUT OFTEN TIMES WE DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT UNTIL IT KNOCKS AT OUR DOOR. BUT THE PEOPLE -- THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN TELLING US FOR A LONG TIME THAT THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS INADEQUATE AND THAT THEY NEED MORE STAFF. AND WE HAVE TURNED A DEAF EAR TO THEM BECAUSE IT WASN'T AN ISSUE FOR US.

097BUT NOW IT'S AN ISSUE FOR EVERYBODY. I ALSO WANT US TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE YELLOW BUS SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE HAS MANY SHORTCOMINGS FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST PARTICIPATION RATES IN THE STATE OF DUAL ENROLLMENT FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THAT MEANS WHILE OTHER DISTRICTS, IN OTHER DISTRICTS THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE GAINING COLLEGE CREDITS BECAUSE THEY CAN GET TO A COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND TAKE COLLEGE CLASSES AND GRADUATE WITH AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, OUR STUDENTS DON'T PARTICIPATE BECAUSE OUR YELLOW BUSSES CAN'T GET THEM THERE. OUR STUDENTS CAN'T STAY AFTER SCHOOL BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE YELLOW BUSSES TO GET THEM HOME SO THEY CAN'T GET TUTORING. MANY CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN BAND, IN CHORUS OR ZERO PERIOD FOR AN ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSE. THEY CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN SO MANY ADVANCED PROGRAMS OR OTHER KINDS OF

098EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS BECAUSE THE YELLOW BUS SYSTEM CAN'T GET THEM HOME, TO AND FROM SCHOOL OR BACK HOME. SO TO UTILIZE THESE SERVICES OF PUBLIC TRANSIT MAY BE A SILVER LINING. AND I WANT TO THANK OUR LEGAL COUNSEL WHO WORKED HARD WITH THE CITIES AND THE LEGAL COUNSEL FROM BOTH CITIES TO COME UP WITH A GREAT RATE TO ALLOW OUR STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY 50 CENTS A DAY TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL AND FREE SERVICE IN THE EVENINGS SO THEY CAN GET TO WORK, TO INTERNSHIPS, APPRENTICESHIPS, TO GET TO GTCC IF THEY NEED TO TAKE A COURSE AND FREE RIDERSHIP ON THE WEEKENDS IF THEY WANT TO ATTEND SPORTS AND, AS I SAID, TO GET TO WORK. THIS IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE NOT HAD BEFORE BUT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SWIPE THEIR ONE CARD ONCE

099WE PUT THE EQUIPMENT ON THE BOXES. AND WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH GREENSBORO. AND I THANK THEM BECAUSE THERE IS FORCING US TO BE MORE INNOVATIVE AND PROVIDING OUR STUDENTS WITH MORE OPTIONS WHO DON'T HAVE PARENTS WITH THE FREE TIME. IT IS NOT AN IDEAL SITUATION BUT WE HAVE A NATIONAL CRISIS, NOT A LOCAL CRISIS, NOT A GCS CRISIS, NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED OVER NIGHT, BUT THIS HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING AND THE PANDEMIC MADE IT WORSE. SO I AM SORRY THAT WE CANNOT RESOLVE THIS BUT AS A COMMUNITY WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE BEST OF IT AND WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET OUR STUDENTS TO SCHOOL. I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO PRINCIPAL KATRINKA BROWN OF JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL WHO WAS ANNOUNCED FRIDAY AS THE PIEDMONT

100TRIAD REGIONAL PRINCIPAL FOR THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. THIS MAKES HER ONE OF NINE FINALISTS FOR THE TITLE OF NORTH CAROLINA PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR. WE ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MIN MCNICHOLAS, ONE OF 27 FINALISTS FOR THE STATE'S BEGINNING TEACHER OF THE YEAR TITLE. WE ARE PROUD THAT MIN, KATRINKA AND TEACHER OF THE YEAR, LEA COOPER, WHO REPRESENTS THE BEST OF GUILFORD COUNTY. THIS FRIDAY MARKS THE OPENING OF THE 2022-2023 MAGNET APPLICATION WINDOW, WHICH WILL RUN THROUGH MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21. APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLINE THROUGH GCSNC.SCHOOL NET.NET. JANUARY IS SCHOOL APPRECIATION MONTH AND I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO EACH OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS. THIS IS A DIFFICULT JOB DURING THE BEST OF TIMES AND CERTAINLY ALL THE HARDER DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC BUT I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU BRING

101TO YOUR ROLE. AS A TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION WE HAVE A GIFT OF ART WORK FROM SCHOOLS IN EACH OF YOUR REGION. YOU CAN TAKE THOSE OUT AND STARE AT THE ART WORK THAT THE STUDENTS MADE FOR YOU. THANK YOU TO OUR STUDENTS FOR DESIGNING AND CREATING THIS ART WORK FOR OUR BOARD MEMBERS. >> BEAUTIFUL. >> FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE BY SHARING MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES FOR THE FAMILY AND LOVED ONES OF FORMER CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER SHARON OZMENT AND EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN DALE MET Z. BOTH LIVED THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS AND MADE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT OF THOSE WHO KNEW THEM. THEIR LOSSES WILL BE FELT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE KNOWN THEM FOR THE TIME WE DID AND HUMBLED BY THE LEGACY THEY LEAVE IN

102GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. THIS CONCLUDES MY REMARKS, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DR. CONTRERAS. I'M ADMIRING MY GIFT OVER HERE AND THINKING ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE GOING. >> WE DO HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE COVID TESTING WE HAVE DONE IN THE SCHOOLS THAT DR. OAKLEY WILL DO. I'M VERY SORRY, THANK YOU. >> DR. OAKLEY. >> I WILL BE QUICK. FOLLOWING DR. OAKLEY, MISS HENRY WILL PRESENT THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT. >> GOOD EVENING, I'M GOING TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW WHERE WE ARE WITH COVID TESTING AND THEN LOOK AHEAD AT WHAT WE'RE PLANNING AS WE MOVE FORWARD. >> WHILE THEY'RE GETTING THAT HE SAYS I'VE BEEN PINGING THE ZOOM TO MAKE A COMMENT. STUDY REFERENCE, SHE WAS ON FACE THE NATION OTHER THAN FOR DROPLETS LIKE SNEEZING, ET CETERA, ANYWAY. >> THANK YOU. I'M SORRY OUR

103TECHNOLOGY IS NOT WHAT WE'D LIKE IT TO BE. >> JUST A BRIEF UPDATE ON COVID TESTING INCLUDING CURRENT TESTING AVAILABLE FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS, UPDATE ON ATHLETIC TESTING, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND SELF-ADMINISTERED TESTS. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO INCREASE COVID TESTING TO REDUCE COVID WHILE MAINTAINING OUR COMMITMENT TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN IN PERSON. COVID TESTING SITES OPEN SINCE JANUARY 3RD, TESTING IS SCHEDULED TO LAST AT LEAST THROUGH FRIDAY, JANUARY 14. WE WILL OPEN THESE SITES UP TO THE PUBLIC STARTING JANUARY 13 WITH A SEPARATE LANE FOR GCS STAFF AND STUDENTS SO THEY ARE STILL ABLE IT ACCESS TESTING WITHOUT A LONG WAIT. AS OF YESTERDAY MORE THAN 5,500 GCS STAFF AND STUDENTS HAD TAKEN ADVANTAGE TO THESE TESTING SITES. WE WILL EXPAND THIS TO THE PUBLIC. ATHLETIC TESTING, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR ATHLETES,

104THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE UP THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF POSITIVE CASES ACTUALLY IN SCHOOL. WE HAVE HAD, LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VENDORS, THE SUPPLY CHAIN DEMANDS, THE ACCESS TO PCR TEST CHANGES WEEK TO WEEK AND SOME STAFFING SHORTAGES WHO WERE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH ATHLETIC TESTING. AT THIS POINT OUR TESTING IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN A SET OF SCHOOLS AND WILL INCLUDE THE RAPID ANTIGEN AND PCR TESTS. TESTING ALSO INCLUDES UNVACCINATED ATHLETES IN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MARCHING BAND. ONCE THE TESTING CALENDAR IS FINALIZED THESE WILL BE POSTED AND SHARED WITH FAMILY SO EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHEN. A PARTNERSHIP WITH HUB HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH HAS RECENTLY HIRED 15 COSHID-19 COORDINATORS THAT WILL BE PLACED IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS. THEY HAVE BUDGETED FOR UP TO 50. THIS IS TO TEST INDIVIDUALS WHO

105HAVE BEEN EXPOSED OF COURSE WITH CONSENT AND PARENT PERMISSION. [INDISCERNIBLE] THESE SCREENINGS GO ON TOP OF ALREADY STRONG HEALTH AND SAFETY MEASURES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE INCLUDING MASKING, HAND WASHING AND ACCESS TO SYMPTOMATIC TESTING FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS WHICH IS WHAT'S HAPPENING AT OUR EXISTING SITES. GCS STAFF AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO START WITH, WITH PARENT PERMISSION, CAN OPT INTO THE TESTS WHICH WOULD BE ADMINISTERED AT CENTRAL SITES. GCS IS PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE TEST FOR PARTICIPATING STAFF AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH PARENT PERMISSION. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT PRONGS OF A COVID 19 TESTING PLAN THEY COVER WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO ALL, WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO ATHLETES, WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL AND THAT INCLUDES THE UPDATE ON TESTING AND WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. >> THANK

106YOU FOR ALL OF THAT AND EVERYTHING EVERYBODY IS DOING. I HEARD FROM SOME FOLKS THAT THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT DELAYS IN GETTING RESULTS, SPECIFICALLY AT THE GRIMSLEY SITE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT. >> I CAN SPEAK TO WHAT THEY TOLD US. SOME FOLKS THAT TESTED EARLY WHEN THE SITES FIRST OPENED THERE WAS A 48 HOUR RETURN. FOUR SEASONS IS NOW AT A 5 TO 6 DAY TURN AROUND, ARTS HAS 72 HOUR UP TO 96 HOUR TURN AROUND, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE TIME WHICH THE LAB RECEIVES RESULTS. PEOPLE WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS GET A TEXT MESSAGE, PEOPLE WITH POSITIVE RESULTS GET A PHONE CALL AND A TEXT MESSAGE SO SOMETIMES THAT PART TAKES LONGER. >> THEIR LABS WERE REDUCED BY THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS THEY HAD WHO WERE OUT WITH

107COVID THEMSELVES. EVERYONE IS BEING IMPACTED, EVEN THE LABS DOING THE TEST RESULTS. >> THANK YOU, KIM. >> CAN YOU REMIND ME OF THE REASON WHY, LIKE, STUDENTS THAT ARE NOT VACCINATED HAVE TO BE TESTED OR OUT LONGER THAN STUDENTS WHO ARE VACCINATED? . >> THAT'S PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE. THE ATHLETIC TESTING WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD A FEW MONTHS AGO. >> NO, I KNOW WHAT WE APPROVED. >> UNVACCINATED STUDENTS FOLLOW DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS, THAT'S NOT A GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL RULE, THAT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH RULE. >> ARE WE AWARE OF TESTING THAT CAN HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY WITH SOMEONE WHO IS ABLE TO GET THOSE RESULTS, WHAT TEST IS THAT? . >> THAT'S THE RAPID ANTIGENERAL TEST. AVAILABILITY OF THOSE IS DECLINING EVERYWHERE. IT'S PART OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN WE'VE DEALT WITH IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. >> FINALLY AT

108THE TESTING SITES CAN STUDENTS WALK UP TO GET TESTED OR DO YOU NEED TO BE IN A CAR. >> WE HAVE A PLAN AT EACH SITE TO WALK UP. WE ARE ENCOURAGING THE CAR BECAUSE IT'S LESS EXPOSURE AND IT'S COLD BUT WE WILL NOT TURN ANYONE AWAY. >> ARE WE ASKING PEOPLE TO GET TESTED OR ARE PEOPLE SAYING, I THINK I HAVE COVID SO I WANT TO GET TESTED? IS THERE SOME OTHER MANDATE FOR EMPLOYEES, LIKE WHAT -- >> THERE'S NO MANDATE FROM GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. PUBLIC HEALTH IS ENCOURAGING EVERYONE WHO IS SYMPTOMATIC OR HAS BEEN EXPOSED SO WE HAVE BETTER TO REDUCE THE SPREAD. >> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT, MRS. IRBY, SOMEONE GOT UP AND SAID WE WERE FORCING EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS TO BE TESTED AND THAT IS FALSE INFORMATION. >> OKAY, LINDA.

109>> WHICH IS ONLY A PRC TEST BEING CONSIDERED FOR NEGATIVE? WHAT ARE WE ACCEPTING AS A NEGATIVE TEST IN GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. >> GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS DOESN'T DETERMINE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE. THAT COMES DIRECTLY FROM PUBLIC HEALTH. IN MOST CASES, THE 4 SEASON SITE IT'S A RAPID ANTIGEN TEST AND PCR >> SO THERE'S RAPID TESTING AND THERE'S PCR TESTING. >> AT THOSE TWO SITES THERE'S PCR TESTING, ONLY PCR TESTING. >> BUT WE HAVE ASKED. >> NONE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS -- VERY FEW SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY CAN GET THEM RIGHT NOW. >> MY QUESTION OF WHEN IT COMES TO THE STIPULATIONS OF WHEN SOMEONE HAS TO BE QUARANTINED, WHAT TEST IS REQUIRED, IS IT ONLY PCR >> THAT'S DEPENDENT ON THE CASE AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE. IN MIDDLE EAST CASES THEY ARE GIVING BOTH

110WHEN THEY CAN, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE THAT ONLY ONE IS ACCEPTED AS A NEGATIVE. >> I WOULD SAY WE NEED SOME CLARIFICATION FOR THE PUBLIC AS TO WHAT -- BECAUSE I'M HEARING TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. I'M HEARING IF YOU ARE POSITIVE THEY WILL TAKE A RAPID TEST OR PCR, BUT IF YOU ARE NEGATIVE THEY WILL NOT TAKE A RAPID TEST. I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHICH WAY IT IS SO I GUESS FOR THE PUBLIC I'M ASKING THAT WE CLARIFY THAT. THEN ALSO I'M QUESTIONING, I HEARD YOU ARE GOING TO PUT 15 -- DHHS IS GOING TO PUT 15 COORDINATORS. >> GUILFORD COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH IS HIRING COORDINATORS TO ONLY TEST, TO PROVIDE TESTS -- >> REPEAT TO ME WHAT THEY ARE DOING. >> THEY ARE ALLOWED TO ASSIST PUBLIC HEALTH WITH

111THE CONTACT TRACING WITHIN THE SCHOOLS AND THEY ARE ALLOWED TO TEST SYMPTOMATIC STUDENTS, THEY CAN ALSO -- >> WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR BECAUSE I DIDN'T HEAR IT IN THE FIRST EXPLANATION BECAUSE WITH ALL THIS COVID TESTING AND PEOPLE BEING EXPOSED, ADMINISTRATORS IF THEY ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH ALL THAT, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THEIR SCHOOL OR WE'RE GOING TO EAT UP TOO MUCH MANPOWER WITH THEM TRYING TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL THAT. ONE OF THE ONES THAT ASKED FOR THESE COORDINATORS I'M HOPING THAT'S GOING TO HELP OUR ADMINISTRATORS ON SOME LEVEL. I'M GLAD I HEARD, THAT WAS WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. >> THANK YOU, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS UNLESS PAT OR DIANE HAS A QUESTION. GIVE THEM A MINUTE. >> PAT HAS A QUESTION. >> OKAY.

112>> IS MY AUDIO HERE? . >> UH-HUH, HI PAT. >> IN TERMS OF A CLASSROOM OR A SCHOOL, IS THERE A NUMBER, A CHAT WHERE WE MAY HAVE TO SHUT THINGS DOWN? CAN WE JUST CONTINUE ON WHETHER THERE ARE TWO STUDENTS IN THAT CLASS, [INDISCERNIBLE] CONTACT TRACING, ET CETERA, OR IS THERE ANY POLICY OR PROCEDURES WITH REGARD TO CONTINUING EDUCATION IN PERSON? . >> GOOD QUESTION. MR. TILLMAN, WE SPECIFICALLY HAVEN'T SET METRICS. WE CAN TELL YOU WHEN YOU GET CLOSE TO ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF YOUR TEACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF OUT IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO COVER AND OPERATE THE BUILDING SAFELY. BUT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS HAVE DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF STAFF AND SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVEN'T SAID, YOU KNOW, IF 25 PERCENT OR 30 -- BECAUSE YOU COULD BE IN A SCHOOL THAT HAS, YOU KNOW,

113A LARGE NUMBER OF SUPPORT STAFF. OR YOU COULD BE IN A SCHOOL WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF SUPPORT STAFF BUT THEY ARE EC SUPPORT AND WE DON'T PULL THOSE SUPPORT STAFF TO PROVIDE CLASSROOM COVERAGE. SO WE DO NOT CLOSE SCHOOL BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY STUDENTS OUT, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON WHEN THERE ARE TOO MANY STAFF MEMBERS OUT TO RUN THE SCHOOL SAFELY. WE ARE ALSO NOW THINKING ABOUT HOW TO USE THE SWIVEL TECHNOLOGY AGAIN WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY STUDENTS OUT THAT THE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION SO THAT THE STUDENTS AT HOME CAN PARTICIPATE AND ALSO THINKING ABOUT THE LESSONS THAT WE PRERECORDED AT THE BEGINNING ON THE PANDEMIC FOR SOME OF THE LARGEST COURSE OFFERINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, MATH 1, MATH 2, MATH

1143, BIOLOGY 1, ELA CLASSES, GRADES K THROUGH 5, MATH K THROUGH 5, THOSE SORT OF CLASSES SO THAT OUR STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE FROM HOME SHOULD WE HAVE LARGE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE QUARANTINED OR ISOLATED SO WE WILL BE WORKING ON THAT IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS BUT WE HAVE BEEN INUNDATED WITH ONE SITUATION AFTER THE NEXT, JUST TRYING TO GET TRANSPORTATION AND STUDENTS TO SCHOOL, TRYING TOGET TESTING PROTOCOLS UP TO KEEP THE VIRUS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE OUT OF SCHOOL SO THAT WAS A PRIORITY AS WELL. BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO START LOOKING AT THE SWIVEL AND PRERECORDED LESSONS SO THAT WE CAN DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF STUDENTS WHO CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE CLASSROOM. >> THANK YOU. I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE [INDISCERNIBLE] SPENT MONEY ON, WORTH IT, ALL THAT CONTENT IS SOMEWHERE

115IT CAN BE USED. >> I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WAS THROUGH AUGUST. WE DID THAT FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR AS WE WERE PREPARED FOR GRADUAL REENTRY. NOW WE'RE IN THE WINTER AND WE'RE AT A DIFFERENT PLACE WITH PACING SO IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE WOULD HAVE TO REBID AND REENGAGE BE IN. WE DIDN'T DO THE WHOLE YEAR BECAUSE WE BEGAN BRINGING STUDENTS BACK. >> THANK YOU, DR. OAKLEY, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. >> WE'LL TAKE A 10-MINUTE RECESS, RETURN IN 10 MINUTES. [BRIEF RECESS]. >> ALL RIGHT, WELCOME BACK. . >> THANK YOU. AGAIN, THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO BRING TO YOU OUR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT. THAT'S A NEW ORDER OF THE WORD, YOU ARE USED IT SEEING COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL REPORT. THIS IS ONE FOR JUNE 30, 2021

116AND WE DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVE FROM OUR AUDIT FIRM HERE TO HELP US PRESENT THIS THIS EVENING. BEFORE YOU DO THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO ONCE AGAIN THANK THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE FINANCE OPERATIONS OF THE DISTRICT AND OF COURSE TO SUPERINTENDENT CONTRERAS WHO SETS THE EXPECTATIONS FAIRLY HIGH FOR OUR PERFORMANCE IN THE FINANCIAL ARENA, ALWAYS ENSURING WE DO THINGS COMPLETELY. THIS EVENING WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT THE JUNE 30, 2021 FINANCIAL REPORT. . >> THANK YOU, ANGIE, I AM NOT ABLE TO SEE THE POWERPOINT ON MY SCREEN. FAITH, CAN YOU SEE THE POWERPOINT ON YOUR SCREEN? . >> ONLY BECAUSE I'M VISITING MOM AGAIN. >> I WONDER IF SOMEBODY MIGHT BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE TECHNOLOGY SO THAT I CAN SEE IT. >> WE'RE WORKING ON IT, HOLD JUST ONE

117SECOND. >> YEAH, SURE. OKAY, IF YOU CAN TRY NOW. >> I'M TRYING TO SHARE IT NOW. IT SAYS IT'S SHARING ON MY PHONE. >> I STILL CAN'T SEE IT ON MY SIDE. . >> LET ME TRY SOMETHING, APRIL, AND SEE IF IT WORKS. NO, I CAN'T DO WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO. OKAY, I'M GOING TO TRY TO SHARE IT. I HEAR THEM BACK THERE WORKING ON IT. >> I SEE IT. OKAY. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU. I WILL START BY THANKING THE BOARD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU THE REPORT OF YOUR FINANCIAL REPORT AUDIT AS WELL AS SINGLE AUDIT FOR JUNE 30, 2021. [INDISCERNIBLE] APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THIS PRESENTATION WITH YOU. LET ME START BY THANKING HER ENTIRE TEAM, THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD

118IN THE PAST, GONE THROUGH THE PRESENTATIONS AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BOTH SINGLE AUDIT AND THE [INDISCERNIBLE] ON GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. THE REPORT I WILL SHARE WITH YOU THIS EVENING IS A REFLECTION OF THE FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BUT ALSO THE ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM. THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND KIND OF [INDISCERNIBLE] I WILL SIMPLY GO THROUGH THE AGENDA OF THE INFORMATION WE'RE GOING TO SHARE. WE'RE GOING TO START BY DISCUSSING THE RESULTS FROM THE AUDIT, THEN WE WILL MOVE INTO THE COMMUNICATION REVIEW OF THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD, WHICH IS THE SMALLEST DOCUMENT THAT YOU RECEIVED. WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS SO INSTEAD OF TAKING TIME TO GO THROUGH ALL THE DETAIS IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT, WE'RE JUST GOING TO SEE SOME OF THE FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS AND SEE

119THE DATA AND COMPARE THE RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2021 AND FINALLY WE WILL SHARE THE RESULTS FROM THE COMPLIANCE AUDIT. TO GET US STARTED, I WILL SHARE THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT. . >> AGAIN WE WANT TO SAY ALL THE WORKERS ON THE FINANCIAL TEAM AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN WORKING ON THE AUDIT TO ISSUE AN OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ON THIS SLIDE THAT SHOULD BE SHOWING UP SHORTLY, WE HAVE A SUMMARY OF OUR AUDIT WHICH IS CONSIDERED TO BE AN UNMODIFIED OPINION. WE ARE NOTING ALL THE FUNDS IN THE SCHOOL BOARD ARE AUDITED AND ALSO WHERE WE ARE REPORTING ON THE CONTROLS RELATED TO FINANCIAL REPORT. THE UNMODIFIED OPINION IS THE OPINION YOU WANT TO SEE AND GIVES SOME INDICATION THAT THE MATERIAL IS ACCURATE IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THIS IS

120FOUND ON PAGE 1 OF THE ANNUAL REPORT. MOVING ON, WE HAVE THE REVIEW OF THE COMMUNICATIONS TO THE BOARD. THERE ARE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE AUDIT PROCESS WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE TO THE BOARD WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE BOARD MEMBERS. THE REPORT WILL LIST OFF ANY SIGNIFICANT [INDISCERNIBLE] WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THESE AS BEING THE PROPORTION LAT SHARE OF THE LIABILITY AND ALSO THE RETIREMENT PLANS. NEXT, ANY DIFFICULTIES WITH MANAGEMENT WHICH WE MAY HAVE HAD DURING THE AUDIT PROCESS. THANKFULLY, WE HAVE NO DISABILITIES OR DISAGREEMENTS IN THE REPORT, WE DO APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THE FINANCIAL TEAM PUTS INTO THE AUDIT, WE HAVE NO ISSUES TO REPORT. WE REPORT ANY UNCORRECTED STATEMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ENCOUNTERED THROUGHOUT AUDIT PROCEDURES TO INDICATE ANY MISSTATEMENTS THAT MANAGEMENT MAY HAVE ELECTED NOT TO

121MAKE. WE DO HAVE ROUTINE ADJUSTMENTS, LASTLY PROVIDING YOU WITH REPRESENTATIONS MADE TO US BY MANAGEMENT, THE COMMUNICATIONS REPORT INCLUDES THE REPRESENTATION LETTER SIGNED BY MANAGEMENT AND SHOWS THE REPRESENTATIONS THAT WERE GIVEN TO US THROUGHOUT THE AUDIT PERIOD. WE WILL NEXT MOVE ON TO A FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS SECTION AND TURN IT BACK TO APRIL. >> THANKS. I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU NOW SOME FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS. IF YOU LOOK IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT ALL THE FUNDS THAT ARE WITHIN GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE COVERED WITHIN OUR AUDIT AND IN FINANCIAL INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. SO WHAT I'VE DONE HERE IS JUST PULLED OUT SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT SHE JUST HAS ONE FINANCIAL INFORMATION IN THESE CHARTS AND GRAPHS, WE ARE SHOWING 3 YEARS OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION BECAUSE

122WE THINK IT'S HELPFUL FOR YOU TO HAVE SOME BENCHMARKS AND INFORMATION. THE FIRST CHART THAT WE HAVE HERE IS SHOWING THE SOURCES OF YOUR REVENUE FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. YOU WILL REMEMBER AND UNDERSTAND FROM THE BUDGET THAT THE SCHOOL FUND AND THE FEDERAL FUND ARE FUNDS WHERE YOUR REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES AGREE, YOUR REVENUES REPRESENT THE MONEY YOU HAVE ACTUALLY SPENT TODAY. YOU WILL NOTICE AN INCREASE IN BOTH THE STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND AND THE FEDERAL FUND AND INCREASE IN THE STATE FEDERAL SCHOOL FUND RELATE TO MONEYS THAT WERE RECEIVED RELATED TO COVID FUNDING, INCREASE IN THE STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND AND INCLUDE A 10.8 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT THAT WAS RECEIVED FOR COVID-19 CALLED CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND. IT'S FEDERAL MONEY YOU RECEIVED THAT PASSED THROUGH THE STATE. YOU WILL SEE YOU HAVE AN INCREASE IN

123THAT [INDISCERNIBLE] WHICH IS FEDERAL FUNDING AND THAT INCREASE INCLUDED $22 MILLION COVID-19 GRANT THAT YOU RECEIVED FROM THE DRFT AND THAT GRANT IS CALL ED CASE IMPLEMENTATION. WHAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THE STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND AND THE FEDERAL MONEY, THAT IS MONEY THAT YOU RECEIVED FROM THE [INDISCERNIBLE] THIS NEXT CHART THAT WE HAVE, THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS FOR THE LEA ARE STATE MAN DATED CHARTER ACCOUNTS FOR TRANSACTIONS. 2349 STATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR IN THAT CHARTER ACCOUNT FROM THE LASU, WE HAVE 5,000 WHAT WE CALL OVEREXPENDITURES. ON THIS CHART HERE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH YOUR EXPENDITURES RELATED TO INSTRUCTIONAL, OTHER TYPES EXPENDITURES, YOU DID HAVE AN INCREASE IN YOUR FISCAL YEAR 2021 EXPENDITURES FOR INSTRUCTIONAL XHUERS. THIS INCREASE REALLY RELATED TO THOSE COVID FUNDS THAT YOU RECEIVED FROM

124THE STATE GOVERNMENT THAT WAS USED PRIMARILY FOR INSTRUCTIONAL EXPENDITURES. ALL RIGHT, THIS NEXT CHART REPRESENTS THE FUND BALANCE AND WE HAVE A FUND BALANCE GENERAL AND SPTION REVENUE FUND. THE STATE FUND AND THE FEDERAL FUND SO YOU HAVE FUND BALANCE, THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND [INDISCERNIBLE] FUND BALANCE HOOR YOU CAN SEE THAT YOU DID HAVE A DECREASE IN YOUR TOTAL FUND BALANCE. AGAIN, THAT'S YOUR FEDERAL FUND THAT YOU HAD A FAIRLY CONSISTENT AMOUNT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JUNE 30, 2021 OR I SHOULD SAY JUNE 30, 2021. IN MAY YOU ACTUALLY BUDGETED FOR AN INCREASE OF 18.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN YOUR BALANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021. YOU ACTUALLY DID NOT HAVE A DECREASE THAT MUCH, THE BALANCE ONLY ABOUT 4 MILLION DOLLARS SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FUND BALANCE 4 MILLION DOLLARS AND THE AMOUNT THAT WAS

125BUDGETED, A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, RELATES TO SAVINGS THAT WERE RELATED IN THE YEAR 2021. THIS NEXT CHART IS YOUR FUND BALANCE OF A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR EXPENDITURES. THAT'S SOMETHING WE LOOK AT AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN FUND BALANCE IS EXPENDITURE CONSISTENT PERCENTAGES. YOU SEE AGAIN FROM 19-20 YOU HAD AN INCREASE IN YOUR FUND BALANCE, IN 21 YOUR BALANCE DECREASED RIGHT DOWN TO AN AMOUNT COMPARABLE TO JUNE 30, 2019 FUND BALANCE AND AGAIN THAT INCREASE IS NOT ALARMING OR SURPRISING BECAUSE IN FACT WE WERE EXPECTING AN EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT FUND BALANCE IN FISCAL YEAR 2021. AND THE LAST CHART THAT WE'RE GOING TO SHARE RELATED TO FINANCIAL RESULTS IS THE [INDISCERNIBLE] FUND. THIS IS THE FUND THAT HAD WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN OPERATIONS. YOU CAN SEE HERE IF YOU LOOK

126ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE CHART YOU CAN SEE THAT YOUR [INDISCERNIBLE] ALMOST DROPPED OFF COMPLETELY FOR 2021 AND THAT REALLY HAD AN INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION IN FISCAL YEAR 21. SO WHILE IT CONTINUED TO [INDISCERNIBLE] INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION. YOU WERE ABLE TO HOLD YOUR FEDERAL REVENUE FAIRLY STABLE AND YOU ALSO HAD A DECREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 FOR YOUR EXPENDITURES. SO THE RESULT, NET RESULT FOR THE YEAR WAS A SMALL DECREASE IN WHAT WE CALL YOUR NET POSITION IN THIS FUND. SO AGAIN FAIRLY COMPARABLE RESULTS TO THE REPORTS THAT YOU HAVE FROM 19, YOU CAN COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES, SO YOU CAN COMPARE THIS FUND TO YOUR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL FUND BECAUSE YOUR FUND ACCOUNTED FOR [INDISCERNIBLE] WHICH MEANS RELATED TO HS AND YOUR FUTURE LIABILITIES ARE SHOWN IN THIS FUND DIFFERENT THAN THEY ARE IN THE GOVERNMENT

127FUND. WHAT YOU WILL TYPICALLY NOTICE IN THIS FUND IS THE LOSS THAT THIS FUND HAS, INVESTMENTS FROM THIS YEAR TO NEXT. THAT'S WHAT YOU WILL SEE IN THIS FUND. THAT'S THE COMMENTS RELATED TO FINANCIAL RESULTS. THAT IS FROM THE COMPLIANCE AUDIT AND WE WILL OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] BASED ON THIS ANALYSIS WE NOTED 4 FEDERAL MAJOR PROGRAMS WHICH WERE OUGHT I HADET. IT WAS SPECIAL EDUCATION CLUSTER, THE EDUCATION STABLIZATION FUND, THE SUPPORT FOR ALL CAUPB AND DESERVES ALL OTHER TESTING OF THESE PROGRAMS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MUCH OF THE FUNDING THAT WAS RECEIVED FROM THE TWO COVID-RELATED PRACHLS WAS RECEIVED WITHOUT MUCH INSTRUCTION HOW TO USE THE FUNDING. COMPLIANCE SET FORTH THE TYPICAL PROCEDURES FOR TESTING THAT ENSURED THE FUNDING WAS SPENT APPROPRIATELY. THE FINANCIAL TEAM WAS ALWAYS GREAT WITH EXPLAINING

128ANY VARIANCES WE MAY HAVE NOTED OR ANY QUESTIONS WE MAY HAVE HAD HOW THAT FUNDING WAS SPENT. AGAIN WE REPORTED NO REPORTABLE FINDINGS OVER ALL THIS TESTING. WE ALSO EVALUATED ALL STATE PROGRAMS TO DETERMINE ANY THAT MAY QUALIFY FOR MAJOR PROGRAMS IN THE CURRENT YEAR. AS A RESULT OF THAT PROCESS WE SLEKTDED THE STATE SCHOOL FUND AND TESTED FOR COMPLIANCE, WE HAD NO REPORTABLE FINDINGS THAT WERE A REPORT OF THIS TESTING FOR THIS PROGRAM. AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION THIS AFTERNOON. WE ARE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >> ANITA >> THE SERVICE FUND, I LOOK TO THE SUPERINTENDENT ON THIS ONE, IS THAT BECAUSE SO MUCH OF OUR FOOD SERVICE WAS FREE DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME? DIDN'T WE INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FREE FOOD DURING 2021. >> THIS IS ANNIE

129TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. ALL STUDENTS WERE ELIGIBLE, ALL CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 LIVING IN GUILFORD COUNTY WERE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A FREE BREAKFAST AND FREE LUNCH EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY THAT WE WERE IN SCHOOL SO, YES, ALL THOSE FREE FOOD SERVICES. WE DID WHEN WE CAME BACK TO SCHOOL WE MAY HAVE HAD SOME A LA CARTE OPPORTUNITIES IN SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS THAT STUDENTS MAY HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF, THE ADULTS, THE SALE OF MEALS TO ADULTS, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE FOR FREE. >> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS, YES. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DO PAT OR DIANE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? KIM. >> WHEN YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME VARIANCES AND THE STAFF WAS ABLE TO EXPLAIN MAYBE SOME QUESTIONS YOU HAD, DO YOU HAVE ANY EXAMPLES OF MAYBE SOMETHING

130YOU WOULD HAVE QUESTIONED AND THEN STAFF PROVIDED THE PROPER INFORMATION? DURING OUR AUDIT PROCEDURES WE LOOK AT ALL DIFFERENT WAYS, WE HAVE ANALYTICS ON OUR SIDE TO COME UP WITH WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT. IT'S THAT EXPECTATION THAT WE COME UP WITH VARIES AT ALL FROM WITHIN A THRESHOLD OF WHAT WAS ACTUALLY THE CASE, WE INQUIRE OF THE FINANCE TEAM AND ANY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AS TO WHY THE VARIANCE IS THERE. IN THE CURRENT YEAR, MANY OF THE VARIANCES WE NOTICED WAS DUE TO COVID BECAUSE IT'S EXTREMELY HARD TO PREDICT WHAT WE THINK THE NUMBER SHOULD BE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF YEARS COMPARED WITH LAST YEAR, STUDENTS MAY BE IN SCHOOL AND PURCHASING THE MEALS OR NOT THERE THE NEXT YEAR. IT MAY VARY A LOT DEPENDING ON WHAT SCHOOLS ARE OPEN. THAT'S WHAT I REFERRED

131TO WAS VARIANCES, IT'S NOT AN INCORRECT VARIANCE, IT'S JUST DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. AS WE'VE LEARNED THERE'S NOTHING PREDICTABLE ABOUT THE PANDEMIC AND HOW IT AFFECTS EVERYONE. >> THIS QUESTION IS PROBABLY FOR ANDREW BUT THERE IS A RECOMMENDED AMOUNT OF FUND BALANCE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE IN GUILFORD COUNTY THAT WE SHOULD SUSTAIN OR MAINTAIN. >> THE LOCAL COMMISSION DID NOT ESTABLISH A FUND BALANCE RECOMMENDATION. OUR FUND BALANCE LEVEL FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS BECAUSE WE DON'T ISSUE DEBT SO THERE'S REALLY NO STANDARD THAT'S IN PLACE FOR THAT. LIKE THE FUND BALANCE IN CASE WE HAD AN EMERGENCY, HOWEVER THE WAY TO BUILD FUND BALANCE IS TO NOT SPEND THE DOLLARS THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PROVIDE AND THAT CERTAINLY DOES NOT APPEAR AVAILABLE WHEN WE RELY ON THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR FUNDING AND

132WE ARE NOT SPENDING IT. WE TRY TO BALANCE OUT WHAT MAKES THEM NOT CARRY TOO LARGE OF A FUND BALANCE. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THIS WITH GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. ALWAYS THANK YOU TO ANGIE HENRY AND HER TEAM AND TO THE SUPERINTENDENT. THIS IS WHY WE ARE RECOGNIZED FOR OUR ACCOUNTING PRACTICES AND MANAGEMENT OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ALL RIGHT, WE ARE NOW AT THE COMMENTS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT WERE PART OF DR. OAKLEY'S REPORT ON THE TESTING SITES SO WE HAVE DONE THAT. WE ARE NOW AT COMMITTEE REPORTS AND I WILL HAND OVER TO OUR POLICY COMMITTEE CHAIR, BETTY JENKINS. >> AT THE MEETING IN JANUARY THE COMMITTEE VOTED TO SEND ONE POLICY

133OUT FOR A 30 DAY PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS POLICY IS 4150, WHICH IS THE SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS REVISION IS IT ALIGN OUR POLICIES WITH THE ELECTRONIC SCHOOLMINT PROCESS. THIS REMOVES OUTDATED TIMELINES AND DETAILED INFORMATION FROM THE PROCESS WHICH IS ONLINE. THESE REVISIONS ARE NECESSARY AND WE NEED THOSE IMMEDIATELY AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE NEED TO ALIGN OURSELVES WITH THE POLICY AND WE WILL DO SOME EXTENSIVE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS IN THE FUTURE. AGAIN, THE PROCESS WE PROPOSE OR THE REVISIONS ARE TO UPDATE THE POLICY AND TO ALIGN OUR DIGITAL SYSTEMS AND RELATE THE TIMELINE. AS A REMNDER, THIS POLICY WILL COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR DISCUSSION AT THE MARCH 18 MEETING AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENTS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO OFFER COMMENTS. >> ANITA >> IS A MOTION IN ORDER FOR NEEDED? . >>

134GO OUT FOR 30 DAYS. >> I WAS GOING TO MOVE THAT. >> SO IT'S GOING OUT AND COMING BACK AND APPROVE IT THEN. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MRS. JENKINS. WHILE WE'RE ON POLICY, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO ADVANCE OF A MEETING THAT I THINK WE NEED TO ADHERE ABOUT THE POLICY FOR 30 MINUTES FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING. IT'S CONFUSING TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY THINK WE'RE PICKING AND CHOOSING WHEN PEOPLE CAN DO THAT IT. WE REALLY HAVEN'T. IF ANY BOARD MEMBER WANTS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO EXTEND THAT, BUT WE DO HAVE A POLICY THAT WE ARE NOT ABIDING BY. SO THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT WE WILL BE ABIDING BY OUR POLICY AT OUR NEXT MEETING AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE STAFF AND WE HAVE STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT ARE WAITING

135TO GET TO AN AGENDA ITEM AND IT COULD BE 2 OR 3 HOURS, 27 SPEAKERS, 30 SPEAKERS IN THE PAST AND WHILE WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE WE HAVE BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF AS WELL AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC VIA EMAIL AND PUBLIC SPEAKING AND OTHER KINDS OF COMMUNICATION AS WELL SO WE KNOW IN ADVANCE OF OUR NEXT MEETING. ALL RIGHT, WE ARE NOW AT BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND I'LL START WITH YOU, IRBY? ARE YOU NOT READY? . >> I DON'T WANT TO HOLD IT UP NOW. I'M READY. HAPPY NEW YAER TO EVERYONE AND WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL. IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE. I JUST WANT TO ANNOUNCE 2 EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN GUILFORD COUNTY. MARTIN LUTHER JUNIOR DAY OF SERVICE IS HAPPENING ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 16TH,

136AT THE STUDENT CENTER AT NORTH CAROLINA A AND T STATE UNIVERSITY. PARKING AT THE STADIUM IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC BETWEEN 1:00 AND 3:00 AND A AND T STUDENTS BETWEEN 3:00 AND 5:00. THIS IS A DAY OF SERVICE WHERE PEOPLE GET TO PARTICIPATE WITH THEIR LOCAL OTHER NONPROFITS AND DO A WHOLE JOINT COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY. AND AT HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY PRO BONO PHYSICAL THERAPY, LEARN ABOUT WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR INDIVIDUAL. ALSO ENJOY GROUPS FROM THE GUILFORD CARE NETWORK, THE NAACP, YMCA AND YWCA. THAT MONDAY, JANUARY 17 BETWEEN 8:00 AND 12:00 WHICH WILL BE AT HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY PROBONO PHYSICAL THERAPY CLINIC, LOCATED AT 1030 LOOP ROAD IN HIGH POINT. I WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN BOTH OF THESE EVENTS AND HOPEFULLY I'LL SEE SOME OF YOU IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. >> THANK YOU, KIM. BETTY.

137>> THANK YOU. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ALSTON LANDSCAPING AND ALSO THE DELIVERANCE TEMPLE WORSHIP CENTER FOR ALLOWING ME TO ASSIST WITH 37 CHRISTMAS GIFTS. THANKS TO ALL WHO SUPPORTED THE GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT SUPERINTENDENT. WE ARE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX, THINKING HOW TO GET OUR PRECIOUS CAR GO TO SCHOOL. THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT CONTRERAS AND ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORTED YOU AND WORKED WITH YOU. >> HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE, I WANT TO TAKE THIS TO REMEMBER SHARON OZMENT. SHE WAS A GOOD FRIEND TO ME, SHE WAS HONEST, OPEN, FORTHCOMING WITH WHATEVER INFORMATION I ASKED HER FOR. SHE GOT IT IN A FORM THAT I COULD UNDERSTAND AND SHE TAUGHT ME SO MUCH ABOUT SCHOOL BUDGETS AND SHE WILL BE SORELY MISSED. AND

138DALE METZ, WHAT CAN I SAY, I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYONE WITH SUCH A HEART FOR EXTENSIONAL STUDENTS. HE DIDN'T TALK IT, HE LIVED IT AND I REMEMBER THEM BOTH FONDLY. AS EVERYONE KNOWS, I'M NOT A FAN OF CLOSE THESE SCHOOLS BUT THE SUPERINTENDENT STILL HAS EMERGENCY POWERS IN EFFECT. WE'VE NEVER RESCINDED THAT, THEY ARE STILL THERE. YES, SHE CAN MAKE A DECISION TO CLOSE SCHOOLS AND DOESN'T NEED TO INVOLVE THE BOARD. >> AGAIN, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREAT LOSS OF SHARON OZMENT AND DALE METZ, TWO GREATS THAT WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED. I WISH THE NEW YEAR HAD STARTED OFF A LITTLE -- COMING BACK FROM CHRISTMAS HAD COME BACK WITH MORE POSITIVE SITUATIONS. I DO ASK EVERYBODY TO TRY AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE IN DIFFICULT TIMES. AND ON A POSITIVE NOTE, I HAVE TO

139GIVE A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO OUR LADY FALCONS WHO WON THE HAY COVE CHAMPIONSHIP AND TO COACH RACHEL CLARK FOR ALL THE GREAT THINGS SHE WAS DOING WITH THESE YOUNG LADIES. THEY ARE ROCKING IT. >> THANK YOU. WINSTON. >> HAPPY NEW YEAR, I THINK JUST A WORD OF THANKS TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS AND ALL OF OUR STAFF FOR PERSEVERING, TO OUR PARENTS WHO ARE ALSO PERSEVERING AND IN THE MIDST OF SOME OF THE NEGATIVITY AND THE VITRIOL, I APPRECIATE THE FAITH LEADERS THIS EVENING, I WAS WITH VARIOUS FAITH LEADERS WANTING TO KNOW HOW THEY CAN HELP, COMING UP WITH BUSSES, HOW CAN THEY GALVANIZE CONGREGATIONS, SAYING WE'RE HERE, WE WANT YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WORKED OVER CHRISTMAS BREAK, I KNOW YOU DID, THANK YOU FOR

140ALL OF THAT TIME AND ENERGY AND PLEASE KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF FORCES OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU. SOMETIMES THE CRITICS HAVE A LOT OF VOICES BUT WE CAN USE THOSE VOICES TO SPUR OURSELVES FORWARD, TO BE INNOVATIVE AND AS LONG AS WE STAY FOCUSED ON THE KIDS WHO ARE WORKING HARDER THAN ANY OF US AND WILL CERTAINLY FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS TIME MORE THAN ANY OF US WILL. WE'LL DO RIGHT BY THEM, SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, WINSTON, AGAIN JUST WANTING TO LIFT UP THE MEMORY AND LEGACY OF OZ, WHO WAS JUST AMAZING IN THIS DISTRICT, AND DALE METZ, BOTH PEOPLE ARE TRULY LEGACIES. DALE'S STORY IS SO INSPIRING TO HEAR ABOUT HIS VISION AND WHAT HE WANTED FOR CHILDREN THAT HE FELT WERE NOT GETTING THE EDUCATION THEY

141NEEDED AND I THINK IT HELPED MAKE GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS A PLACE FOR PEOPLE WITH UNIQUE AND SPECIAL CHILDREN WANTED TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN THERE. ANGIE HENRY IS PART OF OZMENT'S LEGACY, THEY ARE PARTNERS IN CRIME -- NOT CRIME. >> NO CRIME, NO CRIMES WERE COMMITTED. >> I PUT THAT OUT THERE AND WE'LL GET EMAILS ABOUT FIND THE MONEY, THE MONEY IS HIDDEN, ANGIE DIDN'T FIND THE MONEY, OZ DIDN'T FIND THE MONEY. I JUST WANT TO LIFT UP TWO OF MY FAVORITE SORT OF ARTS AND CULTURE EDUCATORS IN THIS DISTRICT, DORINDA CARVER, WHO HAS BEEN AN EDUCATOR IN THIS DISTRICT, I THINK SHE LEFT MY DISTRICT AND SHE'S AT WESTERN GUILFORD, BUT AN AMAZING ART TEACHER. DONNA BROWN JUSTIN, SHE HAS DONE THE CHOREOGRAPHY AT OUR KAISER SCHOOLS, SHE TEACHES DANCE AND CHORUS AND IS AMAZING.

142THOSE ARE JUST TWO, ALL OF MY FRIENDS ARE, LIKE, YOU DIDN'T SAY ME. THOSE ARE TWO OF MY FAVORITES AND THE GIFTS FROM THE STUDENTS ARE AMAZING, I WILL USE THEM TO HIGHLIGHT THEM IN MY HOUSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PAT AND DIANE DO NOT HAVE ANY COMMENTS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNING SAY AYE. AYE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF. [MEETING ADJOURNED