GCS Board of Education Meeting 11/09/2021

0019, 2021. >> GOOD EVENING I WOULD LIKE TO CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER. I'LL TURN TO BOARD MEMBER DEBORAH NAPPER TO GET US STARTED. >> STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. >> 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 ARE -- IS THERE A MOTION HOLD ON, WE'RE NOW AT RECOGNITIONS AND WE HAVE A INVESTIGATION SPECIAL RECOGNITION THIS EVENING TONIGHT TO PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 2021 AS AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS IS HOME NATIONAL OBSERVANCE. GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS IS HOME TO MORE THAN 750 AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENTS, AT MORE THAN 100 SCHOOLS, REPRESENTING MORE THAN 30 TRIBES AND NATIONS. GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS ALSO EMPLOYS MORE THAN 80 AMERICAN INDIAN

002STAFF MEMBERS. DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, GCS IS PROVIDING RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO CELEBRATE THE CONTEMPORARY, RICH DIVERSITY OF AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITIES, IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: HIGHLIGHTING OUR AMERICAN INDIAN STAFF ON GCS SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS; COLLABORATING WITH FAMILIES TO PROVIDE A TEACHING GUIDE AND DAILY ACTIVITIES CALENDAR; WORKING WITH THE GREENSBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY TO PROVIDE BOOKS AND PROGRAMMING FOCUSED ON AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURE TO FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS; WORKING WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY MUSEUM TO PROVIDE FREE VIRTUAL AMERICAN INDIAN SPEAKERS ON NOV. 19 TO ALL TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO ARE INTERESTED; AND COLLABORATING AND HIGHLIGHTING INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS CENTERING AMERICAN INDIAN CULTURE THROUGH THE MONTH. I WILL NOW ASK BOARD MEMBER KHEM IRBY TO READ ALOUD THE PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING NOVEMBER AS GCS AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH. >> DECLARING NOVEMBER 2021 AS AMERICAN INDIAN WHEREAS, GUILFORD

003COUNTY HERITAGE MONTH. WHEREAS, GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS IS HOME TO MORE THAN 750 AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENTS, FROM MORE THAN 100 SCHOOLS, REPRESENTING MORE THAN 30 TRIBES AND NATIONS AND WHEREAS, GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS EMPLOYS MORE THAN 80 AMERICAN INDIAN STAFF MEMBERS AND WHEREAS, THESE STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS REPRESENT AN IMPORTANT FACET OF THE CULTURE, HISTORY AND COMMUNITY OF GUILFORD COUNTY OF NORTH CAROLINA AND OF THE UNITED STATES AND WHEREAS NOVEMBER IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS AMERICAN INDIAN H E RITAGE MONTH HISTORY AND CULTURE OF NATIVE HONORING THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF NATIVE AMERICANS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THEREFORE, WE, THE GUILFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, HEREBY RECOGNIZE THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER IN THE YEAR 2021 AS GCS AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH TO SHOW RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION FOR OUR NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS AND STAFF. S

004I G N E D T HIS NINTH DAY OF NOVEMBER BY DEENA HAYES OUR CHAIRPERSON AND DR. SHARON CONTRERAS OUR SUPERINTENDENT. >> THANK YOU KHEM. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE SOMEONE WHO NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION IN THE COMMUNITY BUT STEVEN BELL AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATOR TO COME FORWARD AND SAY A FEW WORDS. WELCOME. >> BEFORE I BEGIN I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRADITIONAL HOMELANDS OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ON WHOSE GUILFORD COUNTY IS THE HOMELANDS FOR THESE TRADITIONAL PEOPLE I ALSO WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO MY ELDERS IN ADVANCE FOR SPEAKING AHEAD OF YOU AND FOR THOSE IF I SPEAK INCORRECTLY. GOOD EVENING DR. CONTRERAS, CHAIRWOMAN HAYES, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS EVENING. MY NAME IS STEVEN BELL I'M A

005PROUD MEMBER OF THE TRIBE AND AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATION COORDINATOR HERE AT GCS. I HAD THE BLESSING AND PRIVILEGE TO WORK ON OUR NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO WORK TOWARDS ESTABLISHING A CULTURE OF EQUITY ESTABLISHED BY OUR OFFICE OF DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION. I'M COMING TONIGHT AT THE REQUEST OF OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY WHO ARE HERE IN-PERSON, HERE VIRTUALLY AND HERE IN SPIRIT TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE NOVEMBER AS AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH. I WANT YOU TO THINK BACK TO YOUR SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSES FOR SOME OF US THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE FARTHER THAN OTHERS. IF YOU REMEMBER THE U.S. SIGNED TREATISE WITH VARIOUS COUNTRIES THE U.S. ALSO SIGNED TREATISE WITH NATIVE TRIBES AS WELL. THEY SHOULD BE VIEWED AND TREATED WITH THAT SAME LEVEL OF RESPECT. I WANT YOU ALL TO THINK FOR A MOMENT

006TO YOURSELF I WANT YOU TO NAME 8 COUNTRIES IN EUROPE. NOW AGAIN THINKING TO YOURSELF I WANT YOU TO NAME THE 8 TRIBES OF NORTH CAROLINA. FOR SO MANY US OF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO ANSWER THAT SECOND QUESTION. AND FOR THOSE THAT CAN'T ANSWER THAT SECOND QUESTION WHAT DOES THAT SAY THAT WE CAN NAME PLACES THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY SEPARATED BY AN OCEAN THAT SOME OF US MAYBE HAVEN'T BEEN TO BUT YET WE DON'T KNOW THE 8 TRIBES WITHIN A 3 HOUR DRIVING DISTANCE FROM HERE. WE DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE EASTERN BAND OF CHAIR KI, THE LUMBI, AND MANY OTHERS. ILWE DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY, THE PEOPLE OR EVEN THEIR NAMES. OVER THE LAST YEAR IN THIS POSITION I'VE HEARD FROM MANY STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE SHARED I'VE WORKED IN GCS FOR

007OVER 15 YEARS AND NO ONE'S EVER ASKED ABOUT MY NATIVE IDENTITY. OTHERS, OTHER STUDENTS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED PAIN FOR NOT KNOWING THEIR NATIVE HISTORY THEN OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN DENIED THEIR IDENTITY BECAUSE THEY WERE TOLD "THEY DIDN'T LOOK NATIVE." WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT ERASURE LEAVE ON STUDENT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELL BEING, THERE ARE DESIRE TO SHOW UP OR THEIR ENGAGEMENT IN LEARNING? NATIVE SCHOLARS AND MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHOW THAT CONNECTION TO CULTURE IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST OUTCOMES FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS, POSITIVE SELF-ESTEEM AND A DECREASE IN MENTAL ILLNESS SYMPTOMS FOR NATIVE STUDENTS. THE ERASURE AND STEREOTYPICAL MESSAGES OF ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ANY IDENTITY WE KNOW TO BE UNWELCOMING AND HARMFUL. THE OPPOSITE OF OUR DISTRICT'S VISION OF TRANSFORMING LEARNING AND LIFE OUTCOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN. WHILE ERASURE, PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION EXIST PRIDE, STRENGTH

008AND RESILIENCE STILL RUNS DEEP. IN THE 1970'S GREENSBORO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENT DROP-OUT RATE WAS 95 %. A COMMON STATISTIC THAT WE SAW ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN URBAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS THE 1969 INDIAN EDUCATION REPORT BY THE U.S. SENATE NOTED THIS DISPARITY TO BE THE LACK OF CONNECTION FROM THE INDIAN RELOCATION ACT, A LACK OF CULTURALLY RELEVANT COURSE WORK, A LACK OF INDIAN FAMILY PARTICIPATION AND ANTI- INDIAN ATTITUDES BY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS. IN 1972 THE INDIAN EDUCATION ACT WAS PASSED PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM TO ARRIVE IN GUILFORD COUNTY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT WAS ALSO AT THE TIME THE FIRST INDIAN ORGANIZATION IN NORTH CAROLINA WAS FOUNDED, GUILFORD NATIVE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION. AS A CLOSE PARTNER GUILFORD NATIVE WORKS TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES AIMED AT ACHIEVING SELF

009EFFICIENCY, SELF DETERMINATION AND STRENGTHENING THE NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE. TODAY NORTH CAROLINA IS HOMELANDS TO 8 HISTORIC TRIBES AND HOME TO OVER 122,000 AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLE. GUILFORD NATIVE WAS ALSO JUST HOSTED THEIR 44TH ANNUAL POW WOW AND THE PROGRAM IS GROWING IN AWARENESS AND COLLABORATIONS WITH A NATIVE GRADUATION RATE OF 95 %. THIS IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST NATIVE GRADUATION RATES WE SEE IN THE STATE AND THE HIGHEST GRADUATION RATE FOR ANY RACE OR ETHNICITY IN GCS. WHILE I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE CREDIT FOR ALL OF THIS THE CREDIT BELONGS TO THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND FOLKS LIKE ANGELA AND DERRICK, PAT AND KEITH AND MANY OTHERS WHO CAME BEFORE ME. GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS IS HOME TO OVER 700 AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENTS, 80 AMERICAN INDIAN STAFF REPRESENTING OVER 100 SCHOOLS AND OVER 30 TRIBES AND NATIONS.

010AS WE STEP INTO AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH I ASK THE SCHOOL BOARD TO MOVE FORWARD IN MAKING THIS HISTORICAL DECISION AND APPLAUD THE SCHOOL BOARD IN MOVING FORWARD IN MAKING THIS DECISION TO JOIN MANY DEPARTMENTS LIKE COMMUNICATIONS, LIBRARY MEDIA SERVICES, SOCIAL STUDIES, STUDENT SERVICES, MTSS AND COUNSELING AND SCHOOLS LIKE NORTHWEST GUILFORD HIGH SCHOOL, JONES ELEMENTARY, AND MANY OTHERS WHO ARE RECOGNIZING AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH THIS NOVEMBER. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH OUR INCREDIBLE STUDENTS AT GCS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU THIS EVENING. FOR DR. CONTRERAS AND CHAIRWOMAN HAYES I HAVE THIS GIFT TO YOU. THIS IS OUR NORTH CAROLINA NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH POSTER THAT'S PUT TOGETHER BY A COLLABORATION OF THE UNITED TRIBES OF NORTH CAROLINA. SO I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THIS TO YOU AS

011WELL. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. I THINK ANITA AND I WERE THE ONLY TWO PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THE BOARD WHEN THE BOARD AND DISTRICT MADE THE DECISION TO ELIMINATE ALL OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN MASCOTS FROM OUR SCHOOL AND UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS A REAL BATTLE BUT FORTUNATELY WE PREVAILED AND WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO AND A LOT OF WORK TO DO. IT'S NOT JUST THE ELIMINATION OF SYMBOLS AND IMAGES BUT IT IS ALSO THE INTEGRATION OF THE TRUTH AND HISTORY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE RECOGNITION OF THE FIRST PEOPLE OF THIS NATION SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORKING WITH YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> WE ARE NOW AT OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE HAVE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE SIGNED UP ABOUT 24 AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO

012REMIND EVERYONE SO THAT WE CAN ALLOW THE FULL SLATE OF SPEAKERS TO HAVE THEIR TIME TO PLEASE LIMIT THEIR TIME TO 3 MINUTES AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH: GOOD EVENING. >> I GUESS YOU GUYS -- ARE YOU READY? >> YES. JUST A MINUTE M R. JONES. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK AND THEN WHEN YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS LEFT AN AMBER LIGHT SHOULD SHOW THEN WHEN YOU'RE TIME IS UP A RED LIGHT SHOULD SHOW. BEGIN BY GIVING US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND WE'LL START THE CLOCK WHEN YOU BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS. >> NOLAN JONES. >> SPEAK INTO THE SPEAKER SO THE LISTENING AUDIENCE CAN HEAR YOU. >> IS THAT BETTER? >> YES,. >> HI I'M GOING TO REPRESENT TO YOU GUYS A KEYBOARD THAT'S REVOLUTIONARY AND IT'S SO INTUITIVE THAT A 2 YEAR

013OLD CAN USE IT AND I PUT THIS IN FRONT OF THE KIDS ALL ACROSS THE NATION AND THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO TYPE ON IT INSTANTLY. WITH ONLY 20 SECONDS OF DEMONSTRATION SHOWING THEM WHAT TO DO. AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE ON THE RIGHT, THE CHILD, THAT'S A KINDERGARTENER. HE'S GOING TO START OFF WITH THE CORDI KEYBOARD. WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS THAT HE HAS -- WELL YOU'LL SEE. I DON'T KNOW THE LAST TIME YOU HAVE BEEN OUT TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WHEN THEY TYPE THEIR ABC'S ON THE KEYBOARD IT TAKES THEM 2 MINUTES OR MORE AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE HE'S TYPING WITH A CORDI KEYBOARD AND YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW THIS EITHER BUT IT'S ALMOST 150 YEARS OLD, THE DESIGN. AND WE'RE STILL USING IT. IT'S INADEQUATE. THE KIDS HAVE EXPRESSED TO ME IN

014THESE DEMOS -- YOU HEAR THEIR REACTION. THIS KID RIGHT HERE, HE'S TYPING, STILL ON THE CORDI AND HE'S HALFWAY THROUGH AND HE JUST PAUSES. HE'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE OTHER LETTERS. THIS IS OVER A MINUTE HIM DOING THIS, TRYING TO TYPE HIS A, B, C'S. WHAT I DO, I COME IN AND I SHOW THEM EXACTLY HOW TO USE MY KEYBOARD. I GIVE THEM 20 SECONDS OF INSTRUCTION AND HE'S READY TO GO. AND WHAT I WILL SHOW YOU NOW I'M GOING TO START UP WITH A FIRST GRADER WHO IS TYPING AND A PRE-K. THE FIRST GRADER TYPED IN 18 SECONDS HER A, B, C'S. CAN ANY OF YOU DO THAT? THE PRE-K WAS ABLE TO TYPE HIS A, B, C'S WITHIN 26 SECONDS AND 4 SECONDS TO CHECK HIS WORK. THIS RIGHT HERE IS THE

015WAY THAT TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT CAN SAVE THE SCHOOL BOARD OR GET YOU GUYS TO REALLOCATE $10 MILLION A YEAR JUST BY IMPLEMENTING THE KEY STACK KEYBOARD GETTING RID OF ALL THE BAGGAGE OF THE CORDI SYSTEM. P THE CORDI SYSTEM NOT ONLY IS IT ANTIQUATED IT'S ILLOGICAL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> BY THE WAY -- THE U.S. PATENT WAS APPROVED THIS YEAR, APRIL AND THE KOREAN PATENT APPROVED THIS YEAR IN APRIL FOR THE KEY STACK KEYBOARD. >> THANK YOU MR. JONES. NEXT UP IS RICHARD HARMON FOLLOWED BY BRAD SIMPSON. GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. AS YOU'RE APPROACHING YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS. WHEN YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS LEFT THE AMBLE BETTER LIGHT COMES ON AND WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP THE RED LIGHT COMES ON. IF YOU WILL BEGIN

016WITH SAYING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. >> SURE RICHARD HERMAN, 901 JENNIFER LANE, HIGH POINT NORTH CAROLINA. I TEACH GOVERNMENT, HIGH POINT CENTRAL AND I'M A FOOTBALL AND WRESTLING COACH AND I'VE BEEN DOING THIS THING FOR 25 YEARS AND I APPRECIATE IT, ENJOY IT. SO I SPOKE TO THE SCHOOL BOARD BACK IN JULY. ON THE INEQUITIES OF THE LOCAL GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS TEACHER SUPPLEMENTS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THAT OR NOT BUT I DID AND FIRST OF ALL I CAME HERE TO THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT. YOU GUYS FIXED THAT PROBLEM AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU YOU GUYS DON'T GET ENOUGH THAWNGS BUT YOU FIXED THAT PROBLEM AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT. THEN AS THINGS HAVE COME UP AS YOU KNOW I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE LOCAL BONUSES THAT ALL THE OTHER

017SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE. AS YOU KNOW EVERY ADJACENT SCHOOL DISTRICT IN GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS IS DISTRIBUTING RETENTION BONUSES TO THEIR EMPLOYEES, THEY BONUSES RANGE FROM $2,400 TO $5,000 PER PERSON. I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION FRIDAY WITH ANGIE HENRY ON THIS TOPIC AND WE DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE, SHE'S FANTASTIC. AND IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE POSITION AT THAT TIME WITH GUILFORD COUNTY WAS THE BEST WAY TO SPEND THE ONE-TIME FEDERAL COVID MONEY WAS DIRECTLY ON STUDENT LEARNING AND NOT ON TEACHER RETENTION BONUSES. I UNDERSTAND THIS POSITION. I HOWEVER WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE POSITION THAT THE BEST WAY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS IS WITH HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM. EVERY CLASSROOM IN GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS AND WE ALL AGREE WITH THIS AND WITH WITH THIS POSITION AND I KNOW GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS

018AGREES WITH IT OR WHY ELSE WOULD THEY BE OFFERING UP TO $2,500 BONUSES FOR TEACHERS TO COME TO OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT WE NEED AND WE NEED THESE FOLKS. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S EASIER I THINK TO KEEP HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND EFFECTIVE TEACHERS THAN TO TRY TO HIRE TEACHERS FROM EXISTING SCHOOL DISTRICTS. OFFERING A RETENTION BONUS WOULD DEMONSTRATE THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT RESPECT AND GRATITUDE TO THE GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL EMPLOYEES. AS OF LAST FRIDAY THERE WERE OVER 135 LICENSED VAGRANCIES IN GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. I MAY AND OTHER TEACHERS HAVE TAKEN ON EXTRA RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHING A FOURTH CLASS DUE TO STAFFING ISSUES. WE'VE HAD OTHER TEACHERS THAT HAVE COERING 3 OR 4 CLASSES. I TEACH AN EXTRA CLASS BECAUSE ONE OF OUR TEACHERS LEFT TO GO TO AN ADJACENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR MORE MONEY, A BONUS AND

019HIGHER POSITION. I JUST IMPLORE YOU GUYS TO LISTEN TO YOUR EMPLOYEES. I KNOW YOU. YOU LISTEN WELL AND OUR STUDENTS NEED THE BEST. IT'S EASIER I THINK TO KEEP THE BEST EDUCATORS THAN FIND NEW ONES, A BONUS WOULD HELP REFLECT THE VALUE THAT WE BRING TO OUR STUDENTS EACH DAY AND I I SAW ON THE AGENDA YOU HAVE IT ON THE GEN ED TODAY SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR DISTRICT AND STUDENTS. THANK YOU. MR. SIMPSON BEGIN BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BRAD SIMPSON I LIVE ON LAWNDALE DRIVE IN GREENSBORO. I'M HERE AS A CONCERNED PARENT AND TAXPAYER HERE IN GUILFORD COUNTY. I WAS HERE AT YOUR LAST BOARD MEETING WHEN I WAS ASKING

020ABOUT A PUBLIC REQUEST I HAD MADE THAT I SUBMITTED BACK TO SEPTEMBER 9. I WAS TOLD AT THE LAST MEETING THAT MY REQUEST WOULD BE ANSWERED BUT Y' ALL WERE BACKED UP. I PUT IN A SEPARATE REQUEST TODAY AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR REQUEST NUMBERS ARE SEQUENTIAL. MY FIRST WAS 119 AND THE ONE I DID TODAY WAS 156. SO THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT YOU HAVE ONLY RECEIVED 37 QUESTIONS FOR THE LAST 60 DAYS. I'M JUST WONDERING WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE BACKED UP WHAT YOU'RE MEANING THERE. I THINK THE RECENT ELECTIONS MAKES IT OBVIOUS PARENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S BEING TAUGHT TO THEIR CHILDREN. MY REQUEST WAS FOR THE CURRICULUM FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE I WANTED A LIST OF THE APPROVED CURRICULUM. THAT WAS MY ORIGINAL REQUEST. I'VE BEEN ASKED TO CONTINUE TO COME TO

021THE BOARD MEETING UNTIL WE GET ANSWERS TO WHAT WE HAVE REQUESTED. I CAN TELL YOU SOME PARENTS ARE BEGINNING TO FEEL THE BOARD IS TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING. I'M JUST AS I COME IN AND TELL PEOPLE WHAT I'M COMING IN HERE FOR THEY'RE CONCERNED THAT THE FACT YOU WON'T LET ME HAVE THAT INFORMATION OR LET THE PUBLIC HAVE THAT INFORMATION. THAT IS THERE SOMETHING IN THE CURRICULUM THAT YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO SEE? AND AGAIN IT MAY NOT BE BUT AGAIN JUST EVERYTHING WE'RE HEARING ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY TODAY THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNED PARENTS OUT HERE. I DON'T KNOW THE WAY YOU COME IN BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNED PARENTS. IF THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE I CAN CHECK WITH OR ANOTHER RESOURCE I CAN REACH OUT TO-DO GET THIS REQUEST FULFILLED? >> THERE'S A

022MEMBER OF OUR STAFF DR. ROBINSON THAT CAN TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THAT AS SOON AS YOU'RE FINISHED. >> OKAY, I MEAN I CAN TALK TO THEM AFTER THAT AGAIN I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY AND ON THE WAY IN JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE TELLING ME THEY KNEW I WAS COMING IN HERE AND WANTED TO DO AWAY WITH THE MASK MANDATE. THEY WANTED ME TO MAKE SURE I BROUGHT THAT UP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. WELCOME. >> BEGIN BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK. >> MY NAME IS BRAWNIE. I BROUGHT A SPEECH BUT I WILL CHUCK IT BECAUSE I WILL SPEAK FROM MY HEART. I'M HERE TO REPRESENT MY 3 GRANDCHILDREN WHO ARE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK HOW MANY

023OF YOU WEAR A MASK 7 HOURS A DAY? NO ONE. I SUSPECT. MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE WEARING A MASK 7 HOURS A DAY AND THE ONLY THING THIS MASK DOES IS HOLD BACTERIA I HAD A MOM TELL ME LAST NIGHT HER DAUGHTER IS SICK FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN 6 WEEKS. HER DOCTOR HAS DIAGNOSED HER WITH MASK FACE. HER FACE IS BREAKING OUT ALONG WITH MANY OTHER THINGS. NEVER IN MY LIFETIME HAVE WE WORN A MASK FOR ILLNESS AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CHILDREN WHO ARE THE LEAST AFFECTED BY THIS VIRUS HAVE TO WEAR A MASK FOR 7 HOURS A DAY LET ALONE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE THAT IT'S DOING TO THEM. TO BE AFRAID TO BREATHE AIR AND BE AROUND PEOPLE WHO DON'T WEAR A MASK. IT'S ABSURD AND OUR CHILDREN NEED TO BE ABLE

024TO BREATHE FRESH AIR. THEY NEED TO SEE THE SMILING FACES OF THEIR TEACHERS AND THEIR FRIENDS. DOES ANYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT? IT'S TERRIBLE. CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE WEARING A MASK. AND SO I'M HERE TONIGHT TO REPRESENT ALL THE PARENTS OUT HERE AND PARENTS ACROSS THE NATION WHO ARE TIRED OF THEIR CHILDREN BEING ABUSED BY THIS. IT'S NOT ABOUT A VIRUS ANY MORE IT'S ABOUT CONTROL AND IT'S ABOUT POWER AND IT'S NOT ABOUT OUR CHILDREN. AND I NO LONGER BELIEVE YOU'RE QUALIFIED TO BE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT TAKES CARE OF OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. SO THANK YOU LINDA AND ANITA FOR STANDING UP FOR OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. JOANNA FOLLOWED BY TESSA. TESSA FOLLOWED BY AMY. IF YOU WILL BEGIN BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK AND WHEN

025THE AMBER LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE 16 SECONDS LEFT. REFRAIN FROM MENTIONING THE NAME OF STUDENTS OR STAFF. WE ARE REQUIRED TO PROTECT THEIR CONFIDENTIALITY. SO YOU MAY BEGIN. >> MY NAME IS TESSA AND I LIVE AT 1309SPRICE DRIVE AND TEACH AT UNION HILL ELEMENTARY IN BELLAMY-SMALL'S DISTRICT. DESPITE WORKING WITH CHILDREN IN SOME CAPACITY IN NEARLY EVERY JOB I'VE HAD I SPENT MOST OF MY 20'S DETERMINED I WOULD NOT BE A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER. SO AFTER GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE I SPENT 2 YEARS WORKING AT A NONPROFIT. I WAS SERVING NEWLY ARRIVE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE CHILDREN AND DOING MY BEST TO HELP THEM LEARN THE ENGLISH THAT THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES NEEDED TO KNOW IN ORDER TO SURVIVE HERE IN THEIR NEW HOME. THOUGH IT TOOK A BIT LONGER THAN I NOW LIKE TO ADMIT, THE

026WAIT OF THIS REALITY LED ME TO THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WHILE IT'S FINE TO BE WELL INTENTIONED, THAT ONLY GOES SO FAR WHEN IT COMES TO MEASURABLY IMPACTING PEOPLE'S LIVES. THEY NEEDED AND DESERVED FOR ME TO BE A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR IN FACT ALL STUDENTS NEED AND DESERVE QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL EDGE EPA INDICATORS. THIS TRUTH IS WHAT MOTIVATED ME TO SEEK MY MASTERS IN EDUCATION AND IS ULTIMATELY WHAT HAS LED ME HERE TODAY. UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS ANOTHER TRUTH THAT WE MUST ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE. MORE AND MORE OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE LEAVING THEN EVER BEFORE AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE COMING TO REPLACE THEM. THIS WILL NOT CHANGE UNTIL WE DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THIS A SUSTAINABLE PROFESSION. AND WE MUST ALL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ENSURE THAT THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE ALL STUDENTS NEED AND DESERVE QUALIFIED

027PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS. I STAND BEFORE THIS BOARD WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT APPROXIMATELY 60 % OF THE FUNDING FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMES FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THAT AROUND 30 % COMES FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND REMAINING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE NOT GENERALLY SPEAKING A FUNDING BODY. BUT ESSR HAS CHANGED THT. IT MEANS YOU ALL ARE NOW UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO BE MORE THAN WELL INTENTIONED IN HOW YOU RESPOND TO THE MORE THAN 3,000 EMAILS YOU HAVE RECEIVED IN THE PAST WEEK. WITH THIS FUNDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FUNDING YOU ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A MEASURABLE IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF EVERY SINGLE PROFESSIONAL IN GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. NOT JUST THE ADMIN, NOT JUST THE NEW HIRES BUT EVERY SINGLE PROFESSIONAL FROM TECH SERVICES TO

028CUSTODIAL SERVICES TO TRANSPORTATION TO SEL. EVERY SINGLE PROFESSIONAL WHO WORKS DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS GET WHAT THEY NEED AND DESERVE. ALL STUDENTS NEED AND DESERVE QUALIFIED AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS AND RETENTION BONUSES FOR ALL STAFF ARE A STEP TOWARD ENSURING THAT QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS STAY IN GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR STUDENTS. >> THANK YOU. >> AMY HARRISON FOLLOWED BY KENYA DONALDSON. WELCOME. YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK WHEN THE AMBER LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS LEFT. IF YOU WILL BEGIN BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS >> AMY HARRISON, 7385 WHICH IS PERFECTING DRIVE. I'M A TEACHER. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT ABOUT USING ESSR FUNDS TO PROVIDE BONUSES FOR ALL GUILFORD

029COUNTY SCHOOL EMPLOYEES. AS YOU KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC AND MARCH 2020 WE HAD A WEEK TO TOTALLY SWITCH OUR CLASSROOMS TO A VIRTUAL SETTING SOME OF US WERE MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS HAD HOT MEALS DAILY. OTHERS DELIVERED THOSE MEALS AND PROVIDED WIFI AND SCHOOL BUSES. SOME OF US CALLED AND VISITED STUDENTS SOCIALLY DISTANCED OF COURSE, WE PARTICIPATED IN CARAVANS TO VISIT OUR STUDENTS AND LEARNED HOW TO ENGAGE THEM ONLINE. WE WORRIED ABOUT HA WHAT SCHOOL WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE FALL. HOW WOULD WE MANAGE TO BE SAFE AND STILL DO WHAT WAS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS? HOW WOULD OUR STUDENTS REACT TO WEARING MASKS? COULD WE BE BACK IN-PERSON SAFELY? WHEN WE HAD TO TEACH ONLINE AND IN-PERSON AT THE SAME TIME. I KNOW I FELT LIKE LAST YEAR WAS MY FIRST

030YEAR OF TEACHING ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO HONOR ALL THE EMPLOYEE'S HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. I REALIZE THAT ESSR FUNDS CANNOT BE USED FOR SALARY INCREASES BUT THEY CAN FOR BONUSES. I WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT NOVEMBER 22 AND 23 WERE CHAIDGED TO ASYNCHRONOUS DAYS. THIS SHOWS YOU VALUE THE MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS AND STAFF. VOTING FOR BONUSES FOR ALL STAFF WOULD SHOW YOU VALUE OUR HARD WORK AND LOYALTY TO GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD TO SAY THAT I WORK FOR GUILFORD COUNTY. WHEN OUR BOARD DECIDED TO SUE THE STATE WHEN THEY TRIED TO TAKE OUR DUE PROCESS RIGHTS AWAY WHEN WE HAD THE GRADUAL REENTRY PLAN AND WHEN WE VIEWED SCIENCE TO DETERMINE NEXT STEPS DURING THAT PANDEMIC ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF WHEN

031I'VE BEEN PROUD TO WORK FOR GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. PLEASE MAKE TONIGHT ANOTHER PROUD MOMENT FOR US. AS ALWAYS I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT AND YOUR SERVICES TO THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND CITIZENS OF GUILFORD COUNTY. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES. KENYA DONALDSON FOLLOWED BY SHELLEY. >> GOOD EVENING DR. CONTRERAS AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M KENYA DONALDSON. I STAND ON BEHALF OF THE EDUCATORS OF GUILFORD COUNTY THAT ARE MAKING EDUCATION LOOK EASY IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC. STANDING WITH EDUCATORS IN OUR OPINION IS ALSO STANDING WITH OUR STUDENTS. OUR STUDENTS DESERVE EDUCATORS WHO WILL FINISH THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH THEM. RETENTION BONUSES WILL SLOW THE NUMBER OF EDUCATORS LEAVING OUR DISTRICT DURING A CHALLENGING YEAR. DID UNCUS STOWEDDIANS CONTINUE TO BE CLEANING BUILDINGS AND

032CONTINUE WITH THEIR REGULAR DUTIES. DID YOU KNOW TEACHER ASSISTANTS MIGHT AS WELL WEAR ROLLER SKATES TO SCHOOL BECAUSE WHEN THEY WALK IN THE BUILDING THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE SMPLETS URFING OR FACILITATING INSTRUCTION. ELEMENTARY TEACHERS PLAN LUNCH DURING THEIR PERIOD PLANNING PERIOD TO SPREAD OUT DESKS SO STUDENTS CAN SOCIALLY ENGAGE DURING LUNCH AND REMOVE THEIR MASKS. ADDITIONALLY THEY PLAN SMALL GROUP OUTDOOR LEARNING EXPERIENCES, NOVEL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN SMALL GROUPS SAFELY. OUR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS HAVE INVESTED IN DESKS WHERE THEY CAN SIT OUTSIDE, THEY SANITIZE THESE AT THE END OF THE DAY SO THEY CAN BE USED DAY AFTER DAY. MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS WORK TO BALANCE REASONABLE APPROPRIATE RESPONSES WHEN CHILDREN FORGET HOW TO WEAR THEIR MASK. A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER VOLUNTEERS FOR ADDITIONAL PREPS, YES, PAID PREPS BECAUSE THEY KNOW OUR

033CHILDREN DESERVE QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. OUR CHILDREN DESERVE EVERY OUNCE OF THIS ENERGY JUST AS OUR EDUCATORS DESERVE RECOGNITION FOR THEIR COMMITMENT. OUR EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SUPPLEMENTAL RAISE AND YES INDEED THEY ARE. THIS INCREASE HAS COME AFTER MANY YEARS OF NOT RECEIVING ONE THIS RAISE HAS PROVIDED SOME REPRIEVE. WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS AN ESSR RETENTION BONUS, A BONUS THAT IS AN AMOUNT OVER AND ABOVE WAGES. THIS BONUS CAN HELP STABLIZE THE WORKFORCE WHERE WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE WATCHING THEIR TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS AND PROFESSIONALS IN THEIR BUILDINGS LEAVE DAY-TO-DAY. WHY BONUSES? BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN DESERVE STABLE ENVIRONMENTS WITH LOW ATTRITION RATES. WHY BONUSES? BECAUSE CHILDREN SEE HARD WORK BEING DONE TO BRING LEARNING TO LIFE DURING A PANDEMIC. WHY BONUSES? BECAUSE THE STAFF OF GUILFORD COUNTY IS

034THE LABOR THAT CONTINUES TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN IN OUR BUILDINGS. WHY BONUSES? BECAUSE CHILDREN DESERVE EDUCATORS WHO ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THE WORK THEY DO DURING THIS PANDEMIC. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION TODAY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE RESULTS OF YOUR DISCUSSION. >> THANK YOU KENYA. SHELLEY FOLLOWED BY JIM. WELCOME. >> HI. >> YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS IF YOU WILL START BY GIVING US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. WHEN THE AMBER LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS LEFT. >> SHELLEY, I LIVE IN CHAIRPERSON HAYES' DISTRICT. I'VE BEEN A TEACHER FOR 8 YEARS I'M ALSO A PARENT OF TWO GCS STUDENTS. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK THE BOARD TO CONSIDER USING ESSR FUNDS TO PROVIDE RETENTION BONUSES FOR STAFF WHO ARE IN OUR DISTRICT. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO

035TELL YOU A STORY. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN SHOPPING FOR A CAR. AS WE RESEARCHED NEW CARS WE LEARNED ABOUT TO SOMEONE DRIVING A BASE MODEL SUBARU FROM 2009 IT'S LIKE MAGIC. IT REDUCES THE NUMBER OF SECOND BY SECOND DECISIONS A DRIVER HAS TO MAKE BY BLEW MY MIND. I IMMEDIATELY CONNECTED THIS CONCEPT WITH TEACHING. SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATING THE MILLIONS OF MICRODECISIONS WE MAKE EVERY SECOND OF EVERY MINUTE THAT WE ARE IN OUR CLASSROOMS OF WHAT MAKES [INDISCERNIBLE] BOTH AN ART AND SCIENCE. IT'S NOT ONLY THE LESSONS THEMSELVES BUT THE INFINITE NUMBER OF INSTANTANEOUS DECISIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE TO NOT ONLY EFFECTIVELY MANAGE A GROUP OF KIDS BUT ALSO ENSURE THAT THOSE CHILDREN ARE SUCCEEDING AT THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL. SEASONED EDUCATORS ARE THE AUTONOMOUS DRIVERS OF OUR SCHOOLS BUT AS YOU'RE ALL AWARE

036NOTHING ABOUT THESE PAST TWO YEARS HAS ALLOWED ANY OF US TO DO THINGS AS WE'VE DONE THEM. THE DISRUPTION AND TRAUMA [INDISCERNIBLE] PUBLIC EDUCATION. THE TRUTH IS AUTONOMOUS DRIVING ONLY GETS US SO FAR. ON TOP OF THIS WE HAD NEW CURRICULUM, NEW TECHNOLOGY, NEW PROTOCOLS AND WE ARE NOW UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE TO MITIGATE [INDISCERNIBLE] ACCELERATING OUR INSTRUCTION. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND TOO MUCH TO HANDLE AND EDUCATORS DECIDED ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. IT IS IT HARD FOR EDUCATORS TO MANAGE AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE LEAVING THIS PROFESSION WE LOVE [INDISCERNIBLE] BLESSED TO HAVE A NUMBER OF EDUCATORS MYSELF INCLUDING WHO REMAIN [INDISCERNIBLE] PANDEMIC. WE WANT TO BE HERE. WE LOVE OUR KIDS AND WE HAVE THE SKILLS TO HELP THEM. WE ARE ALL EXHAUSTED AND WE SHOULD PROBABLY TALK ABOUT WHY AT SOME

037POINT BUT I DON'T THINK TODAY IS THE DAY FOR THAT. RIGHT NOW WE FIND A WAY TO MAKE THE EXPERIENCED EDUCATORS WE ALREADY HAVE WANT TO STAY. AND FRANKLY WE DESERVE MORE THAN [INDISCERNIBLE] OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. WHEN WE SEE DISTRICT AFTER DISTRICT AROUND US REWARD THEIR STAFF WITH BONUSES AND WE SEE OUR OWN DISTRICT HAND OUT BONUS TOSS PRINCIPALS AND LARGE HIRING BONUSES FOR NEW STAFF IS DIRECTLY IMPACTS OUR MORALE AND HURTS. WHEN WE SEE OUR SACRIFICES AND HARD WORK AREN'T CELEBRATED. WE WANT THE MOST EXPERIENCED AND SKILLED EDUCATORS TO STAY IN GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. RETENTION BONUS IS ONE WAY TO MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR BEING IN MY DISTRICT AT PECK ELEMENTARY. JIM FOLLOWED BY KALISHA. WELCOME. JUST LIKE TO REMIND YOU YOU HAVE

0383 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS WHEN THE AMBER LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS AND START BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. >> JAMES MOORE 7707 CREED CEDAR CHASE DRIVE, GREENSBORO. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MASK MANDATES. I WANT TO SAY IT SEEMS VERY [INDISCERNIBLE] TO FORCE OUR KIDS TO WEAR MASKS WHILE WE ADULTS GO AROUND SPORTING EVENTS, CONCERTS AND IN STORES WITH NO MASK OR IMPROPER USAGE OF CLOTH INSTEAD OF N95 MASKS. KIDS ARE SO SCARED AND THESE MANDATES HAVE CAUSED ANXIETY, FEAR AND DEPRESSION FOR WHAT? LET'S GO OVER THE STATS. THESE ARE FROM THE GUILFORD DASHBOARD AND THE CDC. CURRENTLY WE'RE AT 68 PERCENT PARTIALLY VAXED, 79 PERCENT 12 OR OLDER. 4 PERCENT POSITIVITY FOR AT LEAST THE LAST 3 WEEKS. TO MY KNOWLEDGE I HAVE 3 GIRLS IN MIDDLE, ELEMENTARY AND

039HIGH SCHOOL AT NORTHERN THERE'S BEEN NO OUTBREAKS OR TRANSMISSIONS BETWEEN STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. SEVENTEEN DEATHS TOTAL OF 576 FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY JANUARY 1 OF 20 TO 11/21 OF THIS YEAR. AVERAGES IF YOU PUT IT PER STATE HAD ABOUT 6 PER STATE AND THAT CAN FLUCTUATE DEPENDING ON THE STATE'S ACTUAL NUMBERS WHICH I DON'T HAVE. BUT FLU IS WAY MORE. THERE'S NO MASK MANDATES, NO TESTING FOR FLU, THE NUMBERS BETWEEN 2017-18 WAS 11 DEATHS IN NORTH CAROLINA BUT NO MANDATES FOR ANY OF THAT SO I'M HOPING WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND FOLLOW HOPEFULLY THE COUNTY WILL DROP IT ALSO AND WE CAN GO WITH THEM NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT MAPS. DID THE BOARD APPROVE MAP F? >> NO. OKAY. WITH THAT THE MAP F WAS APPROVED BY THE GUILFORD COUNTY COMMISSION ON

040NOVEMBER 4 THAT WAS I THINK A 6-1. IT WAS A COMPROMISE. MANY PEOPLE PUT INTO THIS, MANY PEOPLE COMPROMISED. COMMISSIONER ALSTON SAID NOBODY'S GETTING EVERYTHING THEY WANT AND WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT. WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER IN THIS COUNTY. CONSERVATIVES, DEMOCRATS, LIBERALS, ANYWAY -- INDEPENDENTS, BUT IF IT IS NOT CHOSEN IT WILL BE BLATANTLY OBVIOUS THIS WAS AN ATTEMPT TO SILENCE THE CRITICS ON THE BOARD BY FORCING THEM IN OTHER DISTRICTS DISALLOWING THEM TO RUN AGAIN. IF YOU DON'T GO ALONG WITH CHAIRMAN ALSTON AND THE BOARD'S YES VOTE ON MAP F WE WILL HAVE TO APPEAL TO OUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO LOOK AT UNFAIR REDISTRICTING PRACTICES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. AS YOU'RE AN APPROACHING YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS. WHEN THE AMBER LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE 15 SECOND LEFT

041AND BEGIN BY GIVING US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. WELCOME. >> GOOD EVENING MY NAME IS KALISHA, 1903 GREEN MARKET COURT, GREENSBORO, K IN. I'VE BEEN TEACHING FOR ALMOST 17 YEARS AND GCS COMPETES FOR TEACHERS FROM WAKE, DURHAM, MECKLENBURG AND FORSYTH COUNTIES AND NEIGHBORING ROCKINGHAM ANALYSIS MANS COUNTIES. WE HAVE WATCHED SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS RECEIVE PUBLIC BONUSES AWARDED THROUGH FUNDS BONUSES UP TO $30,000 HAVE BEEN USED TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR THE NEW HIRES IN OUR DISTRICT WHICH I SPOKE POSITIVELY ABOUT TO THE PRESS. THE THE GREATEST MAJORITY OF OUR LOYAL STAFF WHO REMAIN COMMITTED TO GCS HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED ANY BONUSES WHATSOEVER. MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANSWERED THE INCREASE IN DEMANDS OF WHAT IT MEANS TO WORK DURING A COVID PANDEMIC. NINE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALL WITHIN DRIVING DISTRICTS OF GUILFORD COUNTY ARE GIVING THEIR STAFF RETENTION BONUSES

042UP TO $5,000. BE A PART OF HELPING OUR STAFF FEEL APPRECIATED AND NEEDED IN OUR DISTRICT. I REMEMBER READING A QUOTE SAYING EVERYBODY NEEDS GOOD TEACHERS AND SO IT'S A COMPETITION EVERY YEAR. NOT JUST DURING A YEAR THAT'S UNIQUE LIKE THIS ONE. SO IF OUR ADMINISTRATORS FEEL THIS WAY WHY NOT BOOST MORALE OF SO MANY HARD WORKING DEDICATED GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL EMPLOYEES AND SEE WHAT WE ARE REWARDED WITH THE BONUSES THAT SHOW OUR WORTH. I SUPPORTED MANY DECISIONS MADE FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN SUCCESS FOR ALL. WILL YOU BACK UP YOUR EMPLOYEES WITH RETENTION BONUSES THAT REFLECT THE SUCCESS WE ARE GIVING TO ALL OUR STUDENTS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS DISTRICT. CHUCK FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL. I'M SORRY ELIZABETH NICKELS FOLLOWED BY CHUCK.

043GREAT THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING CHAIR HAYES AND MEMBERS OF TH BOARD. >> GOOD EVENING. >> I'M CHUCK WIN FRIDAY, 100 SOUTH ELM STREET. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN ABOUT REPORTS IN THE MEDIA THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING ADOPTING A SET OF DISTRICT LINES THAT DO NOT MATCH THE DISTRICT LINES ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS LAST WEEK. THIS IS APPARENTLY DESPITE YOUR RESOLUTION A FEW WEEKS AGO TO ADOPT THOSE IN PRINCIPLE. FOR AT LEAST 30 YEARS THE COMMISSIONER DISTRICTS IN GUILFORD COUNTY AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DISTRICT IN GUILFORD COUNTY MIRRORED EACH OTHER. AS A FORMER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT HELPED ESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONS AND THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RESPECTIVE MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS AND I ASSUME THAT'S ALSO BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE. AT THIS POINT IT SEEMS THAT YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES. ONE IS TO

044ADOPT THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN VETTED AND ADOPTED WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OR TWO ENGAGE IN A TIME CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE MAP DRAWING EXERCISE BEING CAREFUL TO ADHERE TO THE MANY LEGAL ENVIRONMENTS REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH DISTRICTS. DRAWING YOUR OWN MAPS ALLOWS YOU TO HELP YOUR POLITICAL FRIENDS AND TARGET YOUR POLITICAL ADVERSARIES IT ALSO INCREASES THE DIFFICULTIES OF ADMINISTERING THE ELECTION. BECAUSE OF THE IMPENDING DEADLINE OF NOVEMBER 19 ALSO TO ESTABLISH THOSE DISTRICTS YOU WOULD NOT RECEIVE ANY MEANINGFUL PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY PROPOSED DISTRICTS. THIS COURSE OF ACTION WILL ILL SERVE GUILFORD COUNTY AND WOULD INVITE LEGISLATIVE AND PERHAPS JUDICIAL INTERVENTION. PLEASE DO YOURSELVES AND GUILFORD COUNTY A FAVOR AND RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO ENGAGE IN MAP DRAWING EXERCISE INSTEAD THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT AS YOUR OWN. THANK YOU SO

045MUCH. >> THANK YOU. MICHAEL FOLLOWED BY FREDDIE. MR. LOGAN THANK YOU. JUST A REMINDER YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS. WHEN THE AMBER LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE 15 SECOND LEFT. BEGIN BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS >> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MICHAEL LOGAN I LIVE AT 5202 RAMBLING ROAD, GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME A CHANCE TO SPEAK HERE AT THE BOARD. I SHARE -- EXCUSE ME. I SHARE MY ADDRESS AND IT MAY BEHOOVE SOME MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD TO SHARE THEIRS. SINCE THE COUNTY MISSIONERS PREVIOUSLY DRAWN MAPS SEEM TO HAVE MISPLACED SOME BOARD MEMBERS [INDISCERNIBLE] WHERE OTHERS LIVED. AS AN EDUCATOR I AM HERE TO BRING ATTENTION TO SEVERAL ONGOING THINGS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. ONE IS I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU. YOU PROVIDED A

046STIPEND TO THE TEACHERS COVERING CLASSES AND TEACHERS ARE COVERING A WHOLE LOT OF CLASSES AND TEACHERS FEEL APPRECIATED IN THAT. ALL RIGHT. BUDGET TALKS OF A BONUS. IF IT IS AWARDED I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION TWO SITUATIONS LAST YEAR AS AN EDUCATOR. MOST EDUCATORS EITHER WENT INTO WORK, DID THEIR WORK AT THE SCHOOL, RAN THEIR CLASSES FROM THE SCHOOL AND IN SOME CASES A LOT OF EDUCATORS DID IT FROM THEIR HOME. MY BIGGEST EXPENSE LAST YEAR WAS GOING TO WORK EVERY DAY. SOME EDUCATORS SAT AT HOME DID ALL THEIR WORK FROM HOME. NOW I WILL TELL YOU AS A 25 YEAR EDUCATOR THESE SCHOOLS LAST YEAR WERE THE CLEANEST I HAVE EVER SEEN THEM. WE HAD BUS DRIVERS CLEANING, WE HAD THE MAINTENANCE -- THEY WERE CLEAN, SPOTLESS. TEACHERS SHOULD HAVE

047BEEN AT THE SCHOOL AND PART OF THE REASON TEACHERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE SCHOOL IS THERE WERE OTHER THINGS GOING OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL. THERE WERE TEACHERS THAT WERE TEACHING FROM THE BEACH. THEY WERE TEACHING FROM EXTENDED VACATIONS. THEY WERE NOT IN THE SCHOOLS. NOW THIS IS APPLYING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE WHEN BROUGHT IN THE YOUNGER LEVEL KIDS EARLY IN THE YEAR. AND I APPLAUD THE SCHOOL BOARD FOR DOING THAT. AND AS THE SCHOOL BOARD PUSHED FOR MORE GRADE LEVELS TO COME IN THERE WAS A PUSH BACK. AND THE PUSH BACK WASN'T FROM THE PARENTS, IT WASN'T FROM THE STUDENTS. IT WAS FROM [INDISCERNIBLE] THAT PROVIDED APPLES AT THE VOTING BOOTH. NOW THOSE APPLES CAME FROM A TEACHER ORGANIZATION THAT IS A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION. AND THAT WAS NOT FAIR. THAT WAS NOT FAIR TO

048OUR STUDENTS. THEY DID NOT FOLLOW THEIR GUIDELINE IN SUPPORTING EDUCATORS OR SUPPORTING THE STUDENTS. AND YOU WILL HEAR TONIGHT FROM THEM ASKING FOR EXTENDING THE MASK MANDATE. WE NEED TO STOP THIS. IT SHOULD BE OPTIONAL FOR THE STUDENTS AND FOR THE THE STAFF. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR JOB AS AN EDUCATOR. >> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A VERY HARD DRIVE. >> FREDDIE FOLLOWED BY MELANIE. WELCOME. YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK AND WHEN YOU SEE THE AMBER LIGHT YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS LEFT. BEGIN BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. >> THANK YOU MY NAME IS FREDDIE LEWIS TEACHER AT EASTERN GUILFORD HIGH SCHOOL. MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH TEACHERS MY DAUGHTER GOES TO GRIMSLEY I WANT TO START BY THANKING ALL OF YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND CAREFUL DIRECTION FOR

049TRYING TO KEEP STUDENTS AND STAFF SAFE DURING THIS PANDEMIC. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A TRYING YEAR AND A HALF FOR YOU AS WELL AS ALL THE EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR GIVING P SCHOOL EMPLOYEES RAISES ESPECIALLY FOR THE CLASSIFIED STAFF ASKED TO DO SO MUCH FOR SO LITTLE. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE CRISIS AND MORALE THAT IS AFFECTING THE DISTRICT. THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY EXHAUSTING. WE HAVE GONE ALMOST 4 YEARS WITHOUT A BUDGET, TEACHERS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO BUILD A PLANE WHILE IT'S IN THE AIR, WE HAVE WORKED LONG HOURS WHILE CONSTANTLY WORRYING ABOUT OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND OURSELVES. WE HAVE ENDURED BUS DRIVER SHORTAGES, CAFETERIA AND SUBSTITUTE SHORTAGES. TEACHERS ARE LOSING PLANNING TIME WHILE WE TRY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR COLLEAGUE'S CLASSES

050WHEN THEY'RE ABSENT. AT MY SCHOOL WE'VE NEVER HAD ENOUGH SUBS. THIS WAS TRUE BEFORE COVID AND NOW CRITICAL. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE DISTRICT HAS FINALLY DECIDED TO PAY US FOR THE COVID WE DO BUT THIS IS NOT A LONG TERM SOLUTION. WE ARE TIRED. IT IS NOT JUST THE DEMANDS WE FACE IN THE BUILDING. DURING THE HEIGHTS OF THE PANDEMIC WE HAD LARGE SIGNING BONUSES FOR TEACHERS TO COME HERE. THAT LEFT US ASKING WHAT ABOUT THE TEACHERS ALREADY HERE. IN THE END [INDISCERNIBLE] KEPT TEACHING. [INDISCERNIBLE] WE SUCKED IT UP AND KEPT TEACHING AND COUNTIES OFFERING 5,000-DOLLAR BONUSES BUT WE SUCKED IT UP AND KEPT TEACHING. NOW WE'RE HEARING ABOUT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALL OVER THE STATE GIVING BONUSES. I'M SURE IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FAILS TO GIVE US A BONUS I'M SURE WE WILL

051SUCK IT UP AND KEEP TEACHING BUT WHAT COST TO OUR MORALE. THAT'S NOT ALWAYS TRUE. SINCE WE FIRST WENT OUT ON MARCH 13, 2020 MY SCHOOL LOST 16 TEACHERS. TWO TEACHERS STAYED IN THE DISTRICT BUT 14 JUST LEFT. THEY EITHER TOOK EARLY RETIREMENT, LEFT TEACHING ALL ALTOGETHER OR DISTRICT FOR GREENER PASTURES. THAT'S A ZIMBABWE TOTAL OF POOR MORALE AND IT'S NOT JUST THE TEACHERS THAT LEFT THAT ARE FED UP. WE ALL FEEL UNDER PAID AND OVERWORKED AND FEEL LEFT BEHIND AND IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FAILED TO PRODUCE A BUDGET BUT EVERY TEACHER THAT LEAVES IS ANOTHER TEACHER'S CLASS TO COVER. IT'S ANOTHER PLANNING PERIOD LOST, ANOTHER CLASS DISRUPTED, IT'S ALSO FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT THE THOUGHT IN EVERY TEACHER'S MIND IS MAYBE I SHOULD LEAVE TOO. THERE'S SO MANY THINGS BEYOND THIS BOARD'S

052CONTROL AND I'M HERE TO ASK YOU FOR SOMETHING THAT IS. PLEASE SHOW US THE SAME APPRECIATE THAT TEACHERS IN OUR DISTRICTS ARE EFG IS. DON'T YOU THINK SCHOOL EMPLOYEES IN GUILFORD COUNTY DESERVE A BONUS TOO? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS DISTRICT AND SUPPORTING OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU. AS MELANIE -- KRISTY SMITH, BOARD MEMBER MCGREGOR REMINDED ME WE LIMITED OUR COMMENTS TO 30 MINUTES. I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED A MOTION TO ALLOW TO EXTEND THAT TIME -- >> YOU CAN DO IT HOWEVER Y' ALL WANT TO DO IT AS LONG AS YOU MAKE IT CLEAR YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION TO WAIVE YOUR POLICY BUT YOU CERTAINLY CAN. >> IS EVERYONE CONTINUING. >> I DID NOT REQUEST WE LIMIT IT. JUST A GENERAL DISCUSSION

053BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED PREVIOUSLY FOR ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SPEAK. WE HAVE NEVER LIMITED IT TO THE 30 MINUTES SO. >> ANYONE THAT OBJECTION TO ALLOWING ALL THE SPEAKERS ON -- THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT THANK YOU. KRISTI SMITH FOLLOWED BY SUSAN. YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS AND WHEN THE AMBER LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS LEFT. BEGIN YOUR SAYING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. >> KRISTI SMITH AND I LIVE AT 19 CEDAR BRANCH AND I WORK AT GUILFORD TECH. SO I SEE THE PRODUCT OF EDUCATION FROM GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. AND I FIRST JUST WANT TO SAY WHAT A PLEASANT MAN IT IS IN THE PARKING LOT ADDRESSING EVERYBODY BUT FOR PARENTS WHO HAVE NOT SEEN THIS ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING I HAD TO SHOW MY DRIVER'S LICENSE AND COME THROUGH A

054METAL DETECTOR IN ORDER TO GET HERE SO I WONDER WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR CHILD AT SCHOOL. BUT I TEACH HEALTH AND PE AND I ADVOCATE FOR HEALTH AND HEALTHY EATING AND EXERCISE. BUT NONE OF THOSE THINGS ARE CONSIDERED HEALTHY ANY MORE, IT'S CONSIDERED HEALTHY FOR YOU TO GET A SHOT AND FOR YOU TO WEAR A MASK. WE ARE EVEN SUBJUGATING OUR CHILDREN THROUGH SAYS MY SESAME STREET WITH BIG BIRD TELLING THEM THEY NEED TO GET A SHOT TO PREVENT THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY FROM DYING. SO WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE IS THAT TO SEND TO A CHILD WHENEVER YOU ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT HEALTHY EATING OR EXERCISE ON A SHOW SUCH AS THAT AND WHEN I LOOK AT THESE PACKED STADIUMS AND NOBODY IS WEARING A MASK HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SEND

055YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL AND THEY HAVE TO WEAR ONE FOR 8 AND 10 HOURS A DAY? AND AS A HEALTH AND P ETEACHER I HAVE TO WEAR ONE TO WORKOUT. AND IT IS SOAKED IN SWEAT AND I CAN PROBABLY CHANGE MINE OR I CAN GO TO MY OFFICE AND TAKE IT OFF BUT HOW MANY OF MY STUDENTS LEAVE MY CLASS WITH THAT SOAKED RAG ON THEIR FACE THAT IS FULL OF BACTERIA THAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO CAUSE THEM HEALTH PROBLEMS LATER ON SUCH AS SINUS INFECTIONS, BONGAL ISSUES AND OTHER PROBLEMS RELATED TO THEIR RESPIRATORY HEALTH. AND I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU GUYS WE ARE SENT HERE TO LOVE, WE ARE SENT HERE TO BE CREATIVE AND WE ARE SENT TO BE OF SERVICE TO OTHERS AND WE HAVE FAILED OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE WE ARE

056TOO BUSY WORKING AND WE TAKE THE PARENTS OUT OF THE HOME AND IN ORDER TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD SOME OF THEM ARE WORKING TWO JOBS AND OUR CHILDREN ARE LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES AND OUR PARENTS ARE BEING DISTRACTED WITH THEIR CELL PHONES OR HAVING TO WORK. WE ARE FAILING OUR CHILDREN. WE ARE TEACHING THEM NOT TO BE CRITICAL THINKERS BUT RATHER TO COMPLY. AND I PRAY FOR EVERYBODY THAT IS ON THIS BOARD THAT YOU MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR CHILDREN AND THE BEST INTEREST OF THESE PARENTS BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION NOT THE GOVERNMENT. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SUSAN FOLLOWED BY KATHRYN. AS YOU APPROACH THE BOARD -- THANK YOU

057-- YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS WHEN THE AMBER LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE 15 SECOND LEFT. >> GOOD EVENING SUSAN AND I LIVE IN GREENSBORO AND HERE I AM AGAIN. A BIT OF BACKGROUND I'M THE DAUGHTER OF TEACHERS MY FAWR WAS A PRINCIPAL AND SUPERINTENDENT. I TAUGHT SCHOOL FOR 9 YEARS IN GREENSBORO CITY SCHOOLS, STOPPED TO RAISE A FAMILY BUT HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING IN OUR SCHOOLS SINCE 1979 WITHOUT A BREAK. SO I DO THINK I HAVE SOME VALID THINGS TO SAY. I'M HERE AS A MEMBER REPRESENTING TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS REPRESENTING THE FAMILIES OF OUR COMMUNITY. I'M NOT HERE FOR MYSELF. MY CHILDREN ARE LNG OUT OF THE SYSTEM AND MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE IN PRIVATE SCHOOL. AS THE SCHOOLS ARE IN SUCH DISARRAY THAT THEIR PARENTS COULDN'T AFFORD TO FAIL THEM BY

058SENDING THEM TO PUBLIC SCHOOL. I'M HERE ABOUT QUESTIONABLE DECISIONS YOU HAVE MADE. MANY THAT ARE UNETHICAL. I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY SO FOR NOW I STOP SHORT OF SAYING ILLEGAL. WHAT ARE WE TO BELIEVE? YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO FILE THE REDISTRICTING PLAN THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VOTED ON BUT NOW YOU'RE NOT. YOU TURN A DEAF EAR WHEN PARENTS ASK ABOUT CRT YOU DISGUISE IT AS SEL SAYING YOU'RE NOT TEACHING CRT YET SEL IS ALL OVER YOUR WEBSITE. PARENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY SEND THEIR CHILDREN THEIR NEAREST AND DEAREST TO YOU TO EDUCATE NOT I KNOW DODGE TRI-NETTICS NATE AND NOT INDOCTRINATE. OUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN AND TEACHERS ARE BREATHING IN CARBON DIOXIDE ALL DAY WHILE MOST OF YOU ARE SOMEWHERE IN AN OFFICE MASKLESS YOU'RE TELLING KIDS THEY SHOULD GET THE SHOT EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW MANY

059PARENTS FEEL IT'S NOT SAFE AND PARENTS SHOULD BE THE ONE MAKING THAT DECISION, NOT YOU. YOU HAVE GIVEN THE SUPERINTENDENT ALMOST TOTAL CONTROL OVER OUR TAX DOLLARS. DOLLARS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE USED TO HELP EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS AND THEN YOU TURN AROUND AND ASK US FOR MORE AND WE ARE TO TRUST YOU THAT OUR MONEY WILL BE SPENT APPROPRIATELY? COULD YOU JUST REDIRECT YOUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM YOUR PERSONAL AGENDAS BY EDUCATING AND PREPARING OUR STUDENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE? AT THE RATE GCS IS GOING THERE WILL BE VERY FEW FUTURE MECHANICS, DOCTORS, TEACHERS, CEOS AND PLUMBERS AMONG OUR GRADUATES AND MANY OF THOSE WILL HAVE DIPLOMAS THAT REALLY DON'T REFLECT A VALID EDUCATION. WE'LL HAVE A PILE OF FOLKS WHO BLAME FAILURES ON EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING EXCEPT THEMSELVES. THEY'LL NOT LEARN THE BUCK STOPS

060HERE AS IT SHOULD HERE WITH YOU. THANK YOU. >> KATHRYN FOLLOWED BY JOHN. AS YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS WHEN YOU SEE THE AMBER LIGHT YOU HAVE 15 SECOND LEFT AND IF YOU WILL BEGIN BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU MY NAME IS KATHRYN EDWARDS I LIVE IN THE WEST WOOD NEIGHBORHOOD HERE IN GREENSBORO I'M A-LONG GUILFORD COUNTY RESIDENT. I ATTENDED CITY SCHOOLS AND ALL OF MY CHILDREN HAVE. I'VE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT HOW OUR DISTRICT IS BEING LED AND MANAGED FOR SEVERAL YEARS BUT HAVE NEVER BEEN LED TO COME AND SPEAK UNTIL TODAY. THE GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ESTABLISH POLICIES THAT GOVERN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM INCLUDING CURRICULUM, FACILITIES, FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL. THE BOARD EVALUATES THE DISTRICT'S ACHIEVEMENT AND MONITORS ITS PROGRESS MAKING

061SURE THAT GOALS ARE MET. IT'S YOUR JOB TO HOLD OUR SUPERINTENDENT ACCOUNTABLE. ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONFLICT INTEREST. THE SUPERINTENDENT SITS ON THE BOARD OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S LED BY YOUR VICE CHAIR. MY QUESTION IS IS IT HARD TO HOLD SUPERINTENDENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR MEETING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES IN THIS COMMUNITY ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AS SHE SITS ON YOUR BOARD? THE BOARD BOARD CHAIR SAID THIS IN JANUARY. THE DISTANCE THAT EXISTS BETWEEN PEOPLE IN MODERN TIMES AND THOSE LIVING DURING THE TIMES OF SLAVERY AND JIM CROW DOES NOT MEAN WHITE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT. YOU DON'T GET OFF BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T DO IT. YOU ARE TIED TO THINGS, TO THINGS THAT WERE DONE IN YOUR NAME. RACISM ROBS WHITE PEOPLE OF HUMANITY BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN THEIR NAME.

062SHE'S YOUR BOARD CHAIR. IS THAT THE CONSENSUS OF THAT BOARD? IS THAT WHAT ALL OF YOU BELIEVE? THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DIVISIVE STATEMENT AND IT PUTS INTO QUESTION WHETHER YOUR CHAIR AND IN BOARD TRULY HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL STUDENTS IN MIND AS YOU MAKE DECISIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THEM. THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE HERE FOR. RIGHT? FOR THE INTEREST OF ALL STUDENTS AND ALL TEACHERS. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE YOU ARE CONTINUING TO USE COVID AS A WAY TO CONTROL AND ORGANIZE. AS YOUR CHAIR ALSO SAID IN JANUARY, ORGANIZING IS BUILDING, A BASE OF POWER SUFFICIENT TO CHALLENGE EXISTING POWER. YOUR CHAIR EMPHATICALLY DENIED THAT WHAT EVERYONE IS REFERRING TO AS CRT IS BEING TAUGHT IN GUILFORD COUNTY WHICH IS GREAT. THAT'S A RELIEF. HOWEVER SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TEACHERS WHO ATTEND THEIR RACIAL EQUITY INSTITUTE

063WHICH IS RUN BY YOUR BOARD CHAIR, I GUESS WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR A MOVE TO FRAME THE CURRICULUM WITHIN GUILFORD COUNTY AND THE DISCUSSIONS IN THE CLASSROOM AROUND A SOCIAL JUSTICE IDEOLOGY OR PHILOSOPHY. THE CITIZENS OF GUILFORD COUNTY ARE ORGANIZING AS WELL. WE ELECT THIS BOARD, YOU REPORT TO US. NOT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND QUITE FRANKLY NOT TO THE BOARD CHAIR. >> THANK YOU. JOHN FOLLOWED BY JOANNA. JOHN IS NOT HERE. JOANNA FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE. WELCOME. AS YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS WHEN THE AMBER LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS LEFT. BEGIN BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. >> JOANNA, 4003 CULTSWOOD DRIVE, GREENSBORO I'M A PARENT OF 3 GCS STUDENTS AND ALSO THE LIBRARIAN AT BRIGHT WOOD

064EMINDUSTRY SCHOOL. FIRST I WANTED TO THANK THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF TEACHERS LAST SPRING WHEN WE AS EDUCATORS AND BOARD MEMBERS AND DISTRICT LEADERSHIP CAME TOGETHER TO DEMAND THE FUNDING THAT WE NEEDED FROM OUR BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. OUR COMMISSIONERS MANY OF WHOLE WE WORK TOGETHER TO ELECT CAME THROUGH FOR US. AS CLASSIFIED STAFF RECEIVED BONUS TOSS GET THEM UP TO $15 AN HOUR AND CERTIFIED STAFF AN INCREASE LOCAL SUPPLEMENT. THOSE ARE WINS AND WE CELEBRATE THEM WITH YOU. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE LARGEST PART OF THE WORK REMAINS IN MOVING OUR STATE LEGISLATURE TO FULLY FUND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ANYTHING WE DO LOCALLY IS JUST A STOPGAP TO MAKE UP FOR WHAT OUR STATE IS ROBBING FROM OUR SCHOOLS EVERY DAY THEY REFUSE TO PASS A BUDGET. BUT I'M HERE WITH

065MY COLLEAGUES TONIGHT TO ALSO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE KNOW THERE ARE LOCAL FUNDS IN PLAY AS WELL FROM FEDERAL ESSR FUNDING. WE HAVE SEEN SCHOOL BOARDS IN OTHER COUNTIES GRANT THE ESSR BONUSES TO THEIR STAFF RANGING FROM $1,700 TO $5,000 AND THAT'S JUST A SAMPLE OF THE COUNTY NEAREST TO US. WE HEARD OUR PRINCIPALS AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION TELL US TODAY THAT OUR DISTRICT SHOULD NOT BE PROVIDING BONUSES ALONG WITH SUPPLEMENT RAISES WE WON LAST YEAR BUT YOU HAVE ALSO HEARD US TELLING YOU THAT WE NEED IT. OUR PEOPLE ARE BURNED OUT AND LEAVING. A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS. OUR RETENTION BONUS WILL NOT FIX THE WHOLE PROBLEM BUT WILL HELP STOP THE BLEEDING AND YOU HEARD IT TO A TUNE OF OVER 3,000 EMAILS IN LESS THAN A WEEK. I

066THINK I SAID WHAT I NEED TO SAY ABOUT BONUSES AT THIS POINT BECAUSE MY COLLEAGUES SHARED ELOQUENTLY AND I WOULD LIKE TO END MY COMMENTS BY THANKING THE BOARD FOR KEEPING OUR STUDENTS' STAIFT AS A TOP PRIORITY. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST YOU VOTE TO KEEP THE OF COURSE MAYING MANDATE IN PLACE FOR NOW SINCE WE ARE STILL IN A PANDEMIC AND ENTERING FLU SEASON AND WE HAVE AN EXTREME SHORTAGE OF STAFF AND SUBS AND THANK YOU ALSO FOR SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS TO TEACH TRUTH TO OUR STUDENTS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH INFORMATION CONSISTENT WITH THAT TRUTH AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU: THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR DISTRICT. STEPHANIE FOLLOWEDLY SHERRY. YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS. WHEN THE AMBER LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE 15 SECOND

067LEFT. IF YOU WILL BEGIN BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. >> SOMEBODY LEFT THEIR MASK. >> OKAY THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING MY NAME IS STEPHANIE MITCHELL I LIVE IN GREENSBORO. I AM HERE TONIGHT PROUDLY REPRESENTING TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS GCS. TACK BACK OUR SCHOOLS IS A MVEMENT TAKING PLACE ACROSS OUR COUNTRY. WE ARE NOT JUST A GROUP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS BUT PARENTS OF STUDENTS MADE UP OF VARIOUS ETHNIC GROUPS AND BACKGROUNDS WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO MAKE OUR SCHOOL SAFE PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. WE WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR ALL STUDENTS, TEACHERS, BUS DRIVERS, CUSTODIANS, KAVANNAH CAFETERIA STAFF, SECRETARIES, GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, ADMINISTRATORS E-S-R-OS AND ALL EMPLOYEES. WE BELIEVE EVERY STUDENT DESERVES A GREAT EDUCATION FREE OF VIOLENCE, HARASSMENT AND RACISM ALTHOUGH IT IS DISAPPOINTING THAT OUR GROUP HAD TO FORM IN THE FIRST PLACE IT

068HAS BEEN MY HONOR TO HELP HUNDREDS OF PARENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS WHO COME TO US BECAUSE THEY FEEL BELITTLED AND SHUT OUT BY ALL OF YOU. I WILL I HAVE I HAVE GOOD YOU A FEW EXAMPLES. WHEN TEACHERS AND OTHER STAFF HAVE LEGITIMATE COMPLAINTS AND FEAR YOUR RETRIBUTION THEY COME TO US. WHY? WHEN A STUDENT WAS GIVEN A COVID SHOT INSTEAD OF THE COVID TEST THEY CAME TO US. WHY? WHEN CRT IS NOT BEING TAUGHT IN GCS YET STAFF COME TO US WITH PROOF SHOWING THAT IT IS. WHEN YOU VOTE TO REQUIRE CHILDREN TO WEAR A PIECE OF CLOTH FROM HOBBY LOBBY OVER THEIR FACES FOR 7 PLUS HOURS A DAY REFUSING MANY MEDICAL EXIPTIONS WRITTEN BY PHYSICIANS, HEARING HORROR STORIES ABOUT CHILDREN EXPERIENCING BACTERIAL RASHES AND HAVING TO WEAR MASKS THAT HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED

069BY BODY FLUIDS YET BOARD MEMBERS WHO VOTED TO KEEP CHILDREN IN MASKS POST MASKLESS PHOTOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHILE INSIDE LOCAL BUSINESSES DURING A MANDATE. PEOPLE COME TO US. WHEN VIOLENCE ON A CAMPUS WEAPONS, WHEN VIOLENCE AND ON CAMPUS WEAPONS ARE VERY REAL THREATS AND MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS PARENTS AND STAFF FEARFUL OF THEIR CHILD'S AND THEIR OWN SAFETY AND CONCERNED ABOUT LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THEY COME TO US. WHY ARE THEY COMING TO US AND NOT TO YOU GUYS? I CAN'T FIX ANY OF THIS. WE FIRST BROUGHT ISSUES TO YOU 4 YEARS AGO. YET WE ARE HERE TODAY WITH THOSE SAME ISSUES. WE TOLD YOU THEN HOW TO FIX THINGS. AND WHEN I WALKED THROUGH THE DOORS I SEE YOU TOOK MY ADVICE FOR YOURSELF BUT YOU DIDN'T TAKE IT FOR MY KID WHO HAS BEEN

070DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD. WENT TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING TO FIND POLICE OFFICERS ON CAMPUS AND SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GET OUT OF HER CAR. YOU'RE NOT DOING YOUR JOBS. WE ARE GOING TO KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING WE'RE GOING TO KEEP POSTING THE TRUTH. I'M GOING TO KEEP CALLING IT OUT UNTIL YOU DO WHAT WE ASK YOU TO DO AND THAT'S FIX IT. >> THANK YOU. SHERRY FOLLOWED BY GAIL. AS YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM REMINDER YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS. WHEN THE AMBER LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS LEFT. BEGIN BY SAYING YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS >> OKAY, SHERRY. >> I SAID YOUR NAME WRONG. >> OH, OKAY. SHERRY 7804 ROBINSON ROAD AND I AM PART OF TAKE BACK OUR SCHOOLS. AT THE JULY 13 SCHOOL BOARD MEETING I KNOW IT'S BEEN

071A WHILE, CHAIRWOMAN HAYES MENTIONED ONE SENTENCE THAT THOMAS JEFFERSON HAD WROTE NEW HAMPSHIRE A 200 PAGE NOTES OF THE STATE OF VIRGINIA IN 1781 AND I'LL REPEAT IT. I ADVANCE IT AS A SUBURBAN ONLY THAT THE BLACKS ARE INFERIOR TO THE WHITES AND ENDOWMENT BOTH OF BODY AND MIND THE STATEMENT WAS MORE OF AN OBSERVATION BECAUSE NOW I WILL TELL YOU MORE OF THE TRUTH. JEFFERSON'S DEALINGS WITH BLACK PEOPLE AT THIS TIME HAD BEEN WITH SLAVES WHO WERE DENIED AN EDUCATION. HE LATER WROTE IN THE SAME NOTES WHERE HE MADE THE STATEMENT HE SAID IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR DOUBT TO HAVE BEEN MORE TENDERLY OR HESITANTINGLY EXPRESSED BY WHAT WAS IN THE NOTES OF VIRGINIA AND NOTHING WAS OR IS FARTHER FROM MY INTENTIONS THAN TO ENLIST MYSELF AS THE CHAMPION OF A FIXED OPINION

072WHERE I HAVE ONLY EXPRESSED DOUBT. AND THESE NOTES OF VIRGINIA JEFFERSON JOURNALED OBSERVATIONS SUCH AS THE INHABITANTS, RIVERS, LAND, THE MONEY BEING USED, THE LAWS AND HE ALSO WROTE ABOUT A PLANT THAFTS THAT WAS DISCOVERED IN VIRGINIA TO HELP KEEP THE NATIVE AMERICANS WARM AT NIGHT DURING COLD WINTERS. IN THE EARLY 1770'S THE AMERICAN COLONIES COULD NOT PASS ANTI- SLAVERY LAWS AS LONG AS THEY REMAINED PART OF THE BRITISH COLONIES BECAUSE THE KING OF BRITAIN STRUCK THEM DOWN. AS THE SEPARATION FROM GREAT BRITAIN WAS LOOMING CLOSER JEFFERSON WROTE A PROVISION IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION FOR VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION FOR VIRGINIA THAT NO PERSON COMING INTO THE COUNTRY SHALL BE HELD IN SLAVERY UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. THOMAS JEFFERSON FOUGHT TO ABOLISH SLAVERY UP UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1826. BLACK ABOLITIONIST FREDERICK DOUGLAS OFTEN INVOKED JEFFERSON TO AN

073ASSIST IN THEIR EFFORTS. AT A SPEAK IN VIRGINIA DOUGLAS SAID THESE WORDS. JEFFERSON WAS NOT ASHAMED TO CALL BLACK MEN HIS BROTHER OR TO ADDRESS THEM AS GENTLEMEN. AND HE ALSO SAID IT WAS YOUR OWN THOMAS JEFFERSON THAT TAUGHT ME ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL AND I JUST WANTED TO END WITH THIS SHORT QUOTE. FORGIVENESS IS SIMPLY ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERY ONE OF US IS BOTH INHERENTLY GOOD AND INHERENTLY FLAWED. WITHIN EVERY SEEMINGLY HOPELESS PERSON LIES THE POSSIBILITY OF TRANSFORMATION. >> THANK YOU. AND OUR LAST SPEAKER IS GAIL. WELCOME AND AS YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM A REMINDER YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS WHEN THE AMBER LIGHT COMES ON YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS LEFT. >> GOOD EVENING, GAIL DUNHAM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE FOR YOUR WORK. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

074TO EVERYONE TONIGHT. I JUST GAVE A BUSINESS CARD WITH THE SECRETARY TO MAKE SURE EACH OF YOU HAVE THAT. I SERVED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD IN ILLINOIS WE'RE THE FASTEST GROWING DISTRICT IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES. WE PASSED HUGE REFERENDUMS AND PASSED THEM ALL BECAUSE WE TOLD PEOPLE THE TRUTH. TOLD PEOPLE WE NEEDED THE TAX INCREASE FOR THE EDUCATION FUND TO STAFF THE BUILDINGS AND TOLD THEM EXACTLY WHAT SCHOOLS WE WOULD BUILD AND WHERE AND WE KNEW WHAT THEY WOULD COST AND WE WERE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AND RESPECTED BECAUSE OF THAT. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST OF LUCK. MY PRIMARY CONCERN TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO DECIDED THAT CANCELING SCHOOL CLASSROOM LEARNING FOR THANKSGIVING WEEK WAS A GOOD IDEA. GETTING MY BUSINESS CARD IF ANYONE THINKS TELLING CHILDREN TO STAY HOME AND SEE

075IF THEY CAN FIGURE OUT ON THE INTERNET ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT A CLASSROOM TEACHER I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT'S AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN. THE KIDS YOU'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH WITH COVID I KNOW THAT YOU'RE TRYING HARD. THE LAWS REQUIRE WE MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL THE STUDENTS AND THAT MAKES YOUR JOB THAT MUCH MORE CHALLENGING BUT PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL CLASSROOM LEARNING AND THINK THAT STAYING HOME AND BEING ON THE INTERNET FOR 2 DAYS AND TRYING TO TEACH THE KIDS THEMSELVES IS GOING TO REPLACE THE CLASSROOM. AND I THINK THAT THE TEACHERS ALSO -- I THINK THE TEACHERS ALSO FELT THEY NEED THE CLASSROOM TIME TO TRY TO TEACH ALL THIS INFORMATION. PLEADS DON'T MAKE THIS DECISION AGAIN. CALL ME WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT. WHO MADE THAT

076DECISION? I DON'T THINK WHAT THE THINKING WAS BEHIND IT. >> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MEMBER FORMER BOARD MEMBER AND VICE CHAIR OF THIS BOARD AND IF IT'S OKAY WITH THE BOARD HE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS AND SINCE WE'VE ALLOWED OTHER FOLKS TO SPEAK THAT WEREN'T ON THE LIST AND EXTEND OUR 30 MINUTES IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT OBJECTS PLEASE LET ME KNOW. ALL RIGHT WELCOME REPRESENTATIVE QUICK. WELCOME. GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME UPDATE. I HEARD SEVERAL OF THE SPEAKERS. I LIVE AT 529 FOX RIDGE ROAD, GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA. I HEARD SEVERAL OF THE SPEAKERS REFER TO THE STATE BUDGET AND AS THEY ALLUDED TO IT IS NOT YOUR

077FAULT THAT THE STATE DOESN'T HAVE A BUDGET YET JUST WANT TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE LATEST UP TO DATE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE AS THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC WHIP THIS AFTERNOON IS THAT PERHAPS IN THE NEXT WEEK OR 10 DAYS WE WILL BE VOTING ON A STATE BUDGET. HOPEFULLY THAT HOLDS TRUE AND SOME GOOD THINGS IN THE BUDGET THAT WILL ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ABOUT SO LET'S KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT COMES TO BEAR AND THAT WE'LL HAVE A STATE BUDGET AND THAT BUDGET WILL INCLUDE HOPEFULLY SOME TEACHER PAY INCREASES. THANK YOU. >> GREAT THANK YOU VERY MUCH REPRESENTATIVE. WE ARE NOW AT THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE.

078>> THANK YOU WE ARE NOW AT THE CONSENT AGENDA. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ANYONE THAT THERE WAS ANY QUESTIONS -- >> I JUST WANT SOME INFORMATION ON C, A LITTLE MORE DETAIL AS TO WHAT THOSE BIG PROJECTS LOOK LIKE. >> OKAY WE WILL PULL C FROM THE AGENDA. >> I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PULL C TOO BECAUSE I THINK THEY COULD USE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION TO MAKE THIS WORK BETTER. >> OKAY. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA A, B, D, E, F, G, H AND I. >> IS THERE A SECOND. YES. >> DR. CONTRERAS. >> GOOD EVENING MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THIS EVENING’S CONSENT AGENDA THE BOARD. THIS EVENING’S CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDES -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHICH ITEM WAS PULLED. ITEM A. C. PLUS

079APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER MEETING A. APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER MEETING MINUTES B. PERSONNEL REPORT D. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLANS E. TRANSPORTATION CALL CENTER F. CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT FOR THE CHILLER REPLACEMENT PROJECT AT WELBORN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY G. CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH THE GUILFORD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR THE PROVISION OF FIVE SCHOOL NURSES FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR H. NEW TEACHER CENTER CONTRACT 2021-2022 ADDENDUM I. A N D ENGLISH LANGUAGE INTERPRETER I. ENGLISH LANGUAGE INTERPRETER SERVICES CONTRACT FOR 2021-2022 THAT CONCLUDES THIS EVENING’S CONSENT AGENDA FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> THERE WAS A MOTION AND SECOND. PLEASE VOTE USING YOUR ELECTRONIC VOTING METHOD. ALL RIGHT THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM C. MS. WELBORN. >> THERE'S SOME HIGH-LEVEL DOLLARS WITH NOT A LOT OF EXPLANATION AS TO HOW THOSE DOLLARS -- I SEE SCHOOL NUTRITION I

080THINK WE SHOULD EXPLAIN WHAT WE'RE USING THAT FOR AND DOWN THE LINE. >> SO HERE'S -- I'M TAKING SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT -- I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT INFORMATION. IT'S A GOOD IDEA. THE WAY THAT THESE FUNDS WORK MAKES THIS WHOLE PROCESS KIND OF CUMBERSOME FOR THE STAFF IN THAT WHEN THE MONEY GETS RELEASED THERE'S A CERTAIN WINDOW TO APPLY FOR THE FUNDS AND SO SOMETIMES THE MONEY MIGHT BE RELEASED AND THE CONTRACT THAT MIGHT BE INVOLVED IS $19,000 OR $30,000 BUT THERE'S AN ASSURANCE BOX THAT THE STAFF IS REQUIRED TO INDICATE THAT THE BOARD HAS APPROVED THE FUNDS. SO I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE US ALL SO WE DON'T HAVE TO MEET MORE OFTEN THAN IS NECESSARY TO ACCESS THESE FUNDS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE THEM SPENT AS YOU KNOW IN A FAIRLY SHORT

081WINDOW AND WE DON'T WANT TO MISS THOSE WINDOWS. FOR YOU TO SET UP SOME PROCESS AND I THINK ANGIE AND WHITNEY CAN HELP BUT SOME KIND OF PROCESS WHERE YOU KNOW WHAT THE BUDGET INCLUDES AND AUTHORIZE THE STAFF TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS AND APPLY FOR FUNDS AND THEN PROVIDE THE REPORT TO THE FULL BOARD AS SOON AS THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN APPLIED FOR SO THAT RATHER THAN HAVING TO MEET AND VOTE EVERY SINGLE TIME, YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE A 20,000-DOLLAR CONTRACT FOR CLEANING EQUIPMENT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET TOGETHER IN ORDER FOR THEM TO HIT THE BUTTON TO ACCESS THOSE FUNDS WHEN THEY'RE RELEASED BY THE STATE. SO I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD LOOK AT SORT OF BIG CATEGORIES AND COME UP WITH A SYSTEM OF APPROVAL OF THE CONCEPT OF THE BUDGET

082AND THEN REPORTING WHEN THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN APPLIED FOR BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE -- OTHERWISE I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE MEETING MORE THAN YOU WANT TO. >> WHAT IS INCLUDED HERE THESE ARE APPLICATIONS THAT WE HAD TO SUBMIT WHEN WE GET ALLOCATIONS OF ESSR DOLLARS SO WE'VE BEEN GETTING THOSE FROM THE STATE. WE GOT THE BIG ESSR2 AND 3 APPLICATION THAT WE SUBMITTED LAST YEAR AND BROUGHT TO THE BOARD DURING THE BUDGET AMENDMENT PROCESS AND WE CONTINUE TO GET THE SMALLER ONES AND TYPICALLY WHEN WE GET THESE WE HAVE A VERY SHORT TURN AROUND TIME TO GET THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED TO DPI HOW WE WANT TO SPEND THESE DOLLARS. THE TIMING OF HOW THIS WORKS IS DPI TELLS US THAT WE HAVE -- THIS ALLOCATION USUALLY IT'S SHORTLY AFTER A STATE

083BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING WHERE THEY'VE APPROVED WHATEVER FORMALLY THEY'RE GOING TO USE TO ALLOCATE THESE DOLLARS TO THE DISTRICT. THEY GIVE THE DISTRICT NOTIFICATION THAT WE'VE GOT THIS -- THIS ALLOCATION AND THEN WE'RE DIRECTED TO ENTER AN APPLICATION INTO THE CCIP, THE BUDGETING APPLICATION SYSTEM THAT THEY'VE GOT. TYPICALLY IT'S A VERY SHORT TURN AROUND. AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE'RE DOING THAT WE HAVE TO SUBMIT A BUDGET FOR THAT. BUT THE BUDGET DOESN'T GET ENTERED INTO OUR BUDGET UNTIL AFTER ALL THIS PROCESS IS COMPLETE. SO THE APPLICATION THAT JILL MENTIONED WHERE WE DO HAVE TO CHECK THE BOX TO SAY THE BOARD HAS AUTHORIZED US TO MAKE THE APPLICATION, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THE BOARD HAS APPROVED THE APPLICATION OR APPROVED THE BUDGET BECAUSE THAT COMES WHEN WE GET THE BUDGET ENTERED INTO OUR SYSTEM

084AND IT COMES TO YOU THROUGH A BUDGET AMENDMENT. SO THESE DOLLARS THAT YOU SEE HERE ARE SMALL ESSR FUNDS THAT HAD BEEN ALLOCATED TO GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. WE'VE HAD A VERY SHORT TURN AROUND TO GET THE APPLICATIONS IN AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS APPROVAL TO SUBMIT THESE APPLICATIONS PLUS ANY ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS THAT COME IN WITH THE SAME SHORT TURN AROUND TIME KNOWING WE'RE GOING TO BRING YOU THE BUDGET AS PART OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT PROCESS ONCE WE GET TO THAT NEXT STEP IN THE APPLICATION. SO FOR THESE SCHOOL NUTRITION -- IT'S INTENDED TO GIVE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT INTENT INCENTIVES TO SCHOOL NUTRITION STAFF. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS PRC174. THE SUMMER BRIDGE ACADEMY DR. OAKLEY MAY HAVE TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS BUT I'M ASSUMING IT'S

085SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID THIS PAST SUMMER AND WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE READ TO ACHIEVE EVERY SUMMER WITH THOSE DOLLARS. >> IT APPLIES TO TRANSITION. SO 6 AND NINTH GRADE. IT'S SPECIFIC TO TRANSITION YEARS. THIS PARTICULAR POT. >> THE SUMMER CAREER ACCELERATOR PROGRAM? >> THAT'S TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CTE STUDENTS COMPLETING CAREER PATHWAY CREDENTIALS DURING SUMMER MONTHS. >> THE OTHER 3 ARE SMALLER AMOUNTS. THE HOMELESS FUND IS A SMALLER AMOUNT BUT SIMILAR TO WHAT WE GET AND THE LAST TWO ARE FOR SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN AND AGAIN THESE ARE THE ONES WE'VE GOT TO SUBMIT NOW BUT THEN AS WE MOVE FORWARD THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE WITH THE SHORT TURN AROUND BECAUSE THE STATE'S GOT A DEADLINE HOW QUICKLY THEY HAVE TO GET THESE ALLOCATED TO SCHOOLS AND THEY'RE GETTING

086CLOSE TO MEETING SOME OF THOSE DEADLINES. >> THE CATEGORIES ARE DETERMINED BY STAFF THAT THIS IS WHAT -- >> THE STATE DETERMINES THE CATEGORIES LIKE EC? >> YES. >> THESE COME TO US VERY SPECIFIC. >> THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD WAS THIS THE STATE OR IS THIS -- SO THIS IS THE STATE MONEY FOR NUTRITION.OU SO MUCH >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THAT HELPS A LOT. >> SO COULD WE INCLUDE -- I THINK THE LANGUAGE IN THE RECOMMENDATION ATTEMPTS TO DO WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT BUT I WOULD INCLUDE A LITTLE MORE LANGUAGE TO JUST SAY INCLUDING BUTT -- BUT NOT LIMITED TO SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO MAKE THESE APPLICATIONS WITHOUT CONSTANTLY COMING BACK IN AND APPROVING ANOTHER SLATE OF 6 THINGS EVERY TIME THEY RELEASE THE

087CATEGORIES OF FUNDS. >> BUT WE WOULD GET A REPORT? >> SURE. >> AND YOU CAN ASK FOR WHATEVER REPORT YOU WANT. KEEP THE TRAIN MOVING. >> EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE COME FROM A BUDGET AMENDMENT. >> IS THERE A MOTION? TO APPROVE AS AMENDED. >> SO MOVED. >> I'M SORRY KHEM YOU DID HAVE A QUESTION. >> THE WAY THESE FUNDS ARE COMING IN -- THE WAY THESE FUNDS ARE COMING IN IS IT ANY DIFFERENT, UM, LIKE WHEN YOU GOT THE RACE TO THE TOP GRANT. HAVE YOU DONE THIS BEFORE? >> THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE RACE TO THE TOP GRANT BECAUSE THAT GRANT CAME -- WE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION DIRECTLY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THAT. WE DID HAVE SOME RACE TO THE TOP DOLLARS COME TO US THROUGH THE STATE THE WAY

088THESE ARE BUT THESE ARE DOLLARS COMING -- THEY'RE ALLOCATED TO THE STATE AND THE STATE HAS TO COME UP WITH A FORMULA HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE TO EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE AND THAT'S HOW THESE ARE COMING TO US AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE. >> WE'VE -- THIS BOARD HAS DONE THIS BEFORE, THIS PROCESS? >> RIGHT WE'VE -- WE ALWAYS HAD FEDERAL GRANTS THAT COME TO US THIS WAY. TITLE I, ALL THOSE OTHERS WE NEVER HAD THIS VOLUME COMING IN THIS QUICKLY AND NEEDING TO GET IT TURNED AROUND THE WAY WE HAVE WITH THE ESSR FUNDS RIGHT NOW. >> SO MOVE TO APPROVE. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE ARE NOW AT -- I THINK MY COMMENTS. YEAH. THANK YOU. THIS

089IS TRYING TO GET THROUGH GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. THE AGENDA GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. THE GUILFORD COUNTY DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH WILL HOST A COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINIC ON THE DUDLEY HIGH CAMPUS ON SATURDAY, NOV. 20, FROM 9 A.M. TO 6 P.M. THIS CLINIC WILL OFFER THE LOWER-DOSE PFIZER VACCINE THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR CHILDREN AGES 5-11. APPOINTMENTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE NOV. 13 AND 14 AT THE GREENSBORO COLISEUM. PARENTS SHOULD SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE THROUGH GUILFORDVACCINATION.COM OR BY CALLING 641-7944. A SIMILAR CLINIC WAS HELD ON SATURDAY AT ANDREWS HIGH. TODAY AND TOMORROW, GCS IS JOINING IN THE CITY OF GREENSBORO’S VIRTUAL MINORITY AND WOMEN ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT WEEK, ALSO KNOWN AS MED WEEK. A NETWORKING EVENT IS HAPPENING TONIGHT, AND TOMORROW IS A FULL DAY OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PRESENTATIONS FOR MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES. WE ARE PROUD

090TO BE A PARTNER OF THE EVENT. LEARN MORE AT WWW.GREENSBORO-NC.GOV. NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT MONTH, A TIME TO RAISE AWARENESS AND CELEBRATE FAMILIES' IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE EDUCATION AND WELL-BEING OF THEIR CHILDREN. GUILFORD PARENT ACADEMY PROVIDES RESOURCES AND INTERACTIVE WORKSHOPS TO ASSIST FAMILIES IN HELPING THEIR STUDENTS IN THE JOURNEY OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS. FINALLY, GUILFORD PARENT ACADEMY IS CELEBRATING THE SEASON OF GIVING BY GIVING AWAY FIVE $100 GIFT CARDS TO DESERVING FAMILIES. VISIT THE PARENT ACADEMY WEBSITE TO NOMINATE A GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS FAMILY WHO WOULD BE BLESSED BY AN EXTRA $100 THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. NOMINATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH NOV. 19, AND WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON DEC. 10. WE’D LIKE TO THANK THE CLEVELAND ELAM FOUNDATION FOR PROVIDING THE FUNDING FOR THIS INITIATIVE. THIS CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. WE ARE NOW AT THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORT,

091GOOD EVENING. THURSDAY IS DR. CONTRERAS. GOOD EVENING. THURSDAY IS VETERANS DAY, AND I AM PROUD TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN THE MILITARY, INCLUDING OUR OWN PAT TILLMAN. WE KNOW THAT FREEDOM ISN’T FREE, AND WE ARE THANKFUL TO THOSE WHO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS AND THOSE OF OTHERS AROUND THE WORLD. GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS HAS ANNOUNCED THE SCHEDULE FOR THE 2022 GRADUATION CEREMONIES. GCS WILL HOST 31 GRADUATION CEREMONIES BEGINNING IN LATE MAY. CEREMONIES WILL PRIMARILY TAKE PLACE IN THE GREENSBORO COLISEUM’S FIELDHOUSE AND SPECIAL EVENTS CENTER. VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR A COMPLETE SCHEDULE. THIS WEEK IS NATIONAL SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY WEEK, AND I’M PROUD TO RECOGNIZE OUR MORE THAN 50 SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, WHO PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF VALUABLE SERVICES TO OUR CHILDREN. THEY ASSIST STUDENTS IN CRISIS, SUPPORT CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND PROVIDE GROUP AND

092INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING. THEY HAVE A TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR SCHOOLS AS WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. AND SPEAKING OF MENTAL HEALTH, I’D LIKE TO REMIND FAMILIES THAT OUR YOUTH CRISIS HOTLINE IS STILL IN OPERATION SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FROM 7 A.M. TO MIDNIGHT. STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, ABUSE OR OTHER TRAUMA ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL THE HOTLINE AND SPEAK WITH A TRAINED COUNSELOR. THE NUMBER TO CALL IS 336-332-7295. THAT’S 336-332-7295. NEXT WEEK IS AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK, AND WE JOIN THE NATION IN HONORING SPECIFIC TYPES OF EDUCATORS WHO OFTEN GO UNRECOGNIZED, INCLUDING PARENTS, EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS AND SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS. LIFT UP THE GCS TEAM AND JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AT G-C-SCHOOLS-N-C. FINALLY TONIGHT, I’D LIKE TO REMIND OUR FAMILIES THAT WE

093WILL USE THE MONDAY AND TUESDAY OF THANKSGIVING WEEK AS A TIME TO CATCH UP ON SCHOOL WORK BEFORE THE FINAL WEEKS OF THE SEMESTER. THESE TWO REMOTE LEARNING DAYS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE OUR ALLOTTED INSTRUCTIONAL TIME IN WAYS THAT BENEFIT ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF, MANY OF WHOM HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR NEED FOR A MORE FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE. WE HOPE ALL FAMILIES CAN ENJOY BEING TOGETHER AND REFLECTING ON THE THINGS FOR WHICH THEY ARE TRULY THANKFUL. I WISH ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, FAMILIES AND BOARD MEMBERS A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING. THIS CONCLUDES MY REMARKS. >> THANK YOU DR. CONTRERAS. WE'RE NOW AT AN ACTION ITEM. I WILL ALSO TURN TO DR. CONTRERAS TO PRESENT A RECOMMENDATION ON OUR MONTHLY REQUIREMENT REGARDING UNIVERSAL FACE COVERING AND MASKS. >> AND I WILL AGAIN TURN TO LEGAL COUNSEL TO EXPLAIN THE

094MONTHLY REQUIREMENT, STATE LAW. >> BOARD MEMBERS AS YOU'LL RECALL THE NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE PASSED A LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT EACH BOARD RECONSIDER THEIR MASK POLICY AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. AND SO WE HAVE PLACED THIS ON OUR REGULAR AGENDA TO COMPLY WITH THAT REQUIREMENT. >> IS THERE A MOTION? >> MOVE THE ITEM. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> WHAT'S YOUR -- MOTION IS TO CONTINUE THE FACE COVERING BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION? >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> ANITA. >> JUST CURIOUS THE COMMISSIONERS ARE VOTING I THINK OR SAID THEY WOULD HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF SOME KIND I THINK ON MONDAY ABOUT THE COUNTY-WIDE MASK MANDATE. WE WON'T BE MEETING AGAIN, WE'RE NOT SCHEDULED TO BE MEETING AGAIN IN NOVEMBER. IF THEY RELEASE AND IT MAY NOT CHANGE THE VOTE OF THIS BOARD AT ALL BUT

095IF THEY RELEASE THE COUNTY-WIDE OR CEASE THE COUNTY-WIDE MASK MANDATE WHAT KIND OF POSITION DOES THAT PUT US IN? >> IT DOESN'T AFFECT YOU IN ANY WAY. MOST OF THE PLACES WHERE THERE ARE SCHOOL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS DON'T HAVE COUNT-WIDE MASK MANDATES. IT'S COUNTY-WIDE IN A FEW COUNTIES IN NORTH CAROLINA AND WHO SCHOOLS STILL HAVE MASK MAIN DATES SO THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY LINKED. BECAUSE THE THEORY WAS THAT CHILDREN ESPECIALLY 5-11 WERE NOT EVEN ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINES SO THAT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT BUSINESSES OR RESTAURANTS REQUIRE MASKS. >> I KNOW SEVERAL OF OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES HAVE GONE -- WE DON'T HAVE THE OPTION UNTIL THE COMMISSIONERS RELEASE THEIR MANDATE ANYWAY. BUT I KNOW THAT SEVERAL OF OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES HAVE GONE TO AN OPTIONAL MASK AND THE WAY I'M SEEING THIS UNTIL THE COMMISSIONERS

096CHANGE THE COUNTY-WIDE WE COULDN'T POSSIBLY DO THAT. COULD WE? >> CORRECT. >> PAT. >> YEAH I KNOW WE'VE HAD -- THIS IS AN ONGOING DEBATE AND, YOU KNOW WE TALK ABOUT DATA DRIVEN AND FOR FOLKS THAT DON'T KNOW ACROSS THE WORLD THE UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, ITALY, NETHERLANDS, SWITZERLAND, GERMANY, MANY OF THOSE SCHOOLS HAVE GONE TO MASK OPTIONAL AND ACCORDING TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION THEY'RE EVEN AT ODDS WITH THE CDC BUT JUST IN SEPTEMBER THE HEADLINE FROM THE CDC SCHOOLS WITH MASK MANDATES DID NOT SEE STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENT RATES OF COVID TRANSMISSION FROM SCHOOLS WITH OPTIONAL POLICIES. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SIGNS, IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT REAL DATA THEN LET'S DO THAT. AND I'VE BEEN CONSISTENT ON THIS ISSUE FROM THE BEGINNING. I THINK GUILFORD COUNTY CERTAINLY ONE OF THE

097LARGER SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WAS ABLE TO GET BACK IN-PERSON. AND SO I JUST WOULD APPEAL TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS LET'S JUST NOT THINK OF THIS MASK AS MUSCLE MEMORY AS PART OF OUR EVERY DAY APPAREL AND I REALLY -- I BELIEVE AS A PARENT WITH KIDS, I MEAN I HEAR THESE STORIES OF KIDS BEING SENT UP TO THE FRONT OF THE BUS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR BECAUSE THE MASK DIPPED DOWN BELOW THEIR NOSE. THIS KIND OF STUFF IS GOING ON AND I KNOW YOU HEAR IT AS WELL. AND IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. THEN I'LL READ ONE LAST QUOTE FROM THIS SAME RESOURCE. I'M HAPPY TO SEND THIS LINK OUT. DO'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION'S WHOSE CHILD MASKING GUIDANCE IS SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE CDC'S RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE RECOGNIZED

098THE DECISION TO MASK STUDENTS CARRIES WITH IT POTENTIAL ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL HARMS FOR CHILDREN AND MAY LACK A CLEAR BENEFIT. AND I QUOTE. MAY LACK A CLEAR BENEFIT. SO I'M GOING TO SIDE WITH DATA, HAVE ALL ALONG SO I WOULD JUST APPEAL TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS LET'S REFRAIN FROM MAYBE THE AUTO RESPONSE OF JUST KEEPING MASKS ON WHEN WE SEE THAT THE DATA IS OUT THERE ACROSS THE WORLD. WE SEE IT AND THERE'S NO SIGNALING OF OUTBREAKS. SO I WOULD BE SUPPORTING MASK OPTIONAL TONIGHT AND FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE UNLESS SOMETHING DRASTIC CHANGES AND I WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE SCIENCE AND JUDGE THE DATA FOR WHAT IT IS. >> AND JUST TO REMIND BOARD MEMBERS THE REQUIREMENT TO WEAR MASKS ON BUSES IS A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT NOT A LOCAL OR A SCHOOL

099BOARD REQUIREMENT. >> ANITA. >> WELL IN LIGHT OF WHAT JILL JUST SAID, I'M GOING TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE MOTION THAT IF THE COMMISSIONERS DROP THE COUNTY-WIDE MASK MANDATE WE MOVE TO MASK OPTIONAL. >> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT PLEASE VOTE. AND THAT FAILS BY A VOTE OF 5 TO 4. SO THE FIRST MOTION IS TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE DISTRICT THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO REQUIRE THE USE OF CLOTH AND FABRIC FACE COVERINGS. >> YOU JUST VOTED ON THE SUBSTITUTE MOTION. >> NOW WE WILL VOTE ON THE MOWING THAT'S IN THE RECOMMENDATION. >> MADAM CHAIR. >> YES MA'AM. >> I DON'T MAKE AUTO DECISIONS. I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION PLUS STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE OUT FOR A WHOLE WEEK SO THAT'S GOING TO, YOU KNOW, PUT US TO ALMOST

100WHEN WE HAVE OUR NEXT MEETING IN DECEMBER, WHICH I THINK STILL IS GIVING US TIME TO REVISIT THIS IF NECESSARY AND THEN EVEN AFTER WE HAVE OUR MEETING I THINK STUDENTS ARE BACK OUT AGAIN FOR A WEEK AND A HALF 10 DAYS AFTER WE HAVE OUR MEETING. SO IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN SCHOOL FOR REAL LONG PERIODS OF TIME IN BETWEEN THESE DECISIONS. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> OKAY DEBORAH. >> JUST REAL QUICK. YEAH THIS IS DEFINITELY BEEN A BONE OF CONTENTION BETWEEN DIFFERENT BOARD MEMBERS WITH DIFFERENT THOUGHT PROCESSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I DO WANT TO SAY I'VE HAD A NUMBER OF TEACHERS REACH OUT AND ASK WE CONTINUE THE MASK MANDATE AND THEY ARE THE ONES INSIDE THE CLASSROOM WITH THE KIDS AND ALSO FOR MYSELF PERSONALLY

101THE REASON I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THIS FOR ANOTHER MONTH IS FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS WHO DO WANT THEIR YOUNGER CHILDREN VACCINATED TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT BEFORE UNMASKING. >> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS WE CAN VOTE. WE HAVE TWO VOTES THAT ARE NOT THERE. CAN YOU RESET THAT? ALL RIGHT THAT MOTION PASSES BY A VOTE OF 6 TO 3. THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW AT THE RECONSIDERATION OF DISTRICT BOUNDARIES. AT OUR BOARD MEETING WE VOTED FILL SOFIST I CANALLY PHILOSOPHICALLY TO BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND AT OUR RETREAT WE VOTED NO ON A MAP THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR MANY BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE WE HAD NOT HAD SUFFICIENT NOTICE ABOUT A MAP THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MAP WHEN

102WE AGREED TO BE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SO NOW WE ARE RECONSIDERING BEING IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THEN WE WILL VOTE -- >> RECONSIDER SATURDAY'S VOTE ON DISTRICT BOUNDARIES. >> IS THERE A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? >> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT PLEASE VOTE. THAT PASSES BY A VOTE OF 8 TO 1. NOW WE NEED A MOTION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO ADOPT MAP F. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO ADOPT MAP F APPROVED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. >> SECOND. >> AND TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION RELATED THERETO. >> THE RESOLUTION THAT ACCOMPANIES IT. >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. >> IF THE BOARD IS CLEAR WE WILL CAST OUR VOTES. AND THAT PASSES BY A VOTE OF 8 TO 1. WE ARE NOW AT DISCUSSION I'LL CALL ON BOARD MEMBER DEBORAH

103NAPPER TO LEAD A DISCUSSION REGARDING STAFF BONUSES. >> WELL I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THEY KIND OF STOLE MY THUNDER. TEACHERS SPOKE VERY WELL FOR THEMSELVES. FIRST UP LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO DR. CONTRERAS BECAUSE WE HAD A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS IN THE PAST WEEK, 7-10 DAYS ABOUT THE STAFF BONUSES THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN OUT SO FAR. THANK YOU TO ANGIE FOR TALKING ABOUT THE RAISES WE'VE GIVEN TO STAFF TO OUR TEACHERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND WHILE TALKING WITH THESE LADIES ABOUT THE RAISES VERSUS THE BONUSES MY POSITION WITH IT WAS I HAD BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF BOTH THE RAISES AND THE BONUSES, RECRUITMENT RETENTION ALSO BE A BIG ISSUE IN MEDICINE. AND I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE TEACHING GO INTO THE SAME CYCLE I

104SEE WHERE PEOPLE WILL KIND OF HOP. WILL GO TO ONE PLACE FOR A BONUS, COME BACK FOR A RAISE WANT TO GO TO ANOTHER PLACE BECAUSE THEY SEE THE BENEFITS AND THE THINGS THAT ARE GIVEN TO STAFF IN OTHER FACILITIES OR OTHER AREAS WHAT HAVE YOU. AND THEY WANT THAT RECOGNITION AS THE TEACHERS MENTIONED WHEN THEY WERE HERE SPEAKING. I DO -- I ALSO SPOKE WITH JILL, THANK YOU JILL, ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR PULLING BONUS MONEY FROM THE ESSR FUNDS AND I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS THAT ARE BEHIND PULLING THAT MONEY FROM ESSR. AND MY CONFLICT WITH THAT IS THAT WE HEARD AN ENTIRE LIST OF COUNTIES, EVERY COUNTY NEIGHBORING US THAT HAS DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND PULL TEACHER BONUSES FROM THE ESSR FUNDS. SO I WONDERED OUR HESITANCY IF EVERYONE ELSE THINKS IT'S SAFE.

105DR. CONTRERAS DID PUT FORWARD TO ALTERNATE SUGGESTIONS PLACES WHERE WE COULD POTENTIALLY PULL MONEY FOR FEATURE BONUSES. I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AND APPLIED FOR THE RETENTION RECRUITMENT BONUSES FOR NUTRITION STAFF BECAUSE I DO THINK OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF ALSO ARE DESERVING AS THEY ARE JUST AS MUCH IN THE SCHOOLS EVERY DAY, THEY DO JUST AS MUCH STUDENT CONTACT AND AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER THE CLEANING THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DO NOW IS -- YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS OF THAT IN THE FACT THAT IT WAS ALSO MENTIONED THAT OUR STUDENTS INFECTION RATE IS VERY, VERY LOW. SO EVERYONE IS PERFORMING AT PEAK. AND I THINK THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND GIVE THEM A BONUS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEIR WORK IS QUALITY AND THEY DESERVE SOMETHING

106FOR THAT EFFORT. SO -- AND THEY WERE NOT JOKING ABOUT THE EMAILS. SOMEBODY OUT THERE ASKED IF WE HAD ASSISTANCE TO HELP US TAKE CARE OF THE EMAILS. JUST FOR THE RECORD KNOW WE DON'T AND THEY WERE NOT JOKING ABOUT THE VOLUME OF EMAILS. SO MY SUGGESTION TONIGHT IS THAT WE VOTE TO REQUEST DR. CONTRERAS AND HER STAFF BY THE NEXT MEETING MAYBE HAVE A PROPOSAL IN HAND FOR BONUSES FOR STARTING OFF FOR OUR TEACHERS AND THEN TO EVENTUALLY WORK IN OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF. YOU KNOW THERE AGAIN NUTRITION STAFF BEING CARED FOR ALREADY THERE. AND A PLAN TO PULL THOSE FUNDS. JUST BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LOOP US OR CLOSE US INTO A BOX AND SAY THIS MUST COME FROM ESSR OR THIS MUST COME FROM SMALL GRANT ALTHOUGH THE IDEA OF APPLYING FOR

107A SMALLER FUND IF THE ESSR MONEY IS OFFERED DEFINITELY HAS MERIT. SO I SIDE TRACKED MYSELF. ISN'T THAT LOVELY. DIFFERENT SUGGESTIONS HAVE DIFFERENTLY BEEN PUT FORWARD ON PLACES WE CAN PULL MONEY FROM TO ADVOCATE AND TO GIVE TEACHER BONUSES. TO REWARD OUR STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND TO RETAIN THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE HOLDING OUR CORE. THEY REALLY ARE. AND WHEN NEW STAFF COME AND THEY WANT TO APPLY AND THEY SEE WE ARE HOLDING OUR POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE, WE ARE HOLDING OUR CORE STRONG AND THAT OUR TEACHERS WANT TO STAY WITH US, THEY WANT TO BE HERE AND WE REWARD THEM FOR HOLDING THE LINE FOR US THAT IN ITSELF IS A RECRUITMENT TOOL I BELIEVE. SO BACK TO THE SUGGESTION. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE VOTE

108TO REQUEST THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HER STAFF TO HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR US BY THE NEXT MEETING WITH AN AMOUNT FOR TEACHER BONUSES, A TOTAL BOTTOM LINE SOURCED WHATEVER YOU SEE IS PRUDENT AND BEST AND A PLAN TO LAY THAT OUT AND TIMELINE BEHIND IT. >> SO THAT'S A MOTION NOT A RECOMMENDATION? >> OKAY. >> UM CAN WE GET A SECOND? WE NEED A SECOND BEFORE DISCUSSION. >> SECOND. >> OKAY ANITA. >> OKAY. MY QUESTION IS WHO ARE YOU INCLUDING IN THAT REQUEST. ARE YOU INCLUDING THE CUSTODIANS? ARE YOU INCLUDING ANYONE WHO HAS NOT ALREADY SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE A BONUS? >> I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE EVERYONE, YES. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE TEACHERS MADE THE PRIORITY MAYBE WITH TEACHER BONUSES COMING FIRST THEN AS ESSR AND THINGS SET SETTLE OUT BONUSES FOR CLASSIFIED STAFF LIKE

109BUS DRIVERS AND NUTRITION STAFF. WE HAVE NUTRITION STAFF CARED FOR WE CAN PULL IN THE EXTRA POSITION AS THEY COME SO OKAY SO IF YOUR MOTION INCLUDES CLASSIFIED STAFF THAT'S CLERICAL, TA'S, CUSTODIANS THEN I'M ON BOARD. BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO BE SO FAR IN THE FUTURE AS THEY FORGET WHAT THEY GET THE BONUS FOR. >> BOARD MEMBERS THERE ARE SPECIFIC LIMITS ON WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THESE FUNDS. IT'S NOT JUST LET'S GIVE EVERYBODY FUNDS THEY HAVE TO BE TIED TO FUTURE PERFORMANCE, THEY HAVE TO BE ASSIGNED CONTRACTS. THEY'RE VERY SPECIFIC WAYS TO DO THIS AND SO I THINK NOT GETTING -- AND THIS DISCUSSION TRYING TO GUESS WHAT THE LAW SAYS AND GIVE THE STAFF TIME TO LOOK AT IT AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT BUT IT'S GOING -- IT'S

110NOT JUST GOING TO BE A BONUS IT'S GOING TO BE TIED TO YOU HAVE BEEN HERE X TIME SO THEREFORE YOU GET THIS BONUS IN THE FUTURE NOT TODAY. SO IT'S MORE COMPLICATED THAN IT SOUNDS SO I JUST DON'T WANT EVERYBODY TO START ADDING PIECES TO SOMETHING BEFORE THE STAFF HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A PROPOSAL. >> AND I UNDERSTAND THAT JILL BUT I DON'T WANT ANYONE LEFT OUT. >> AND THAT'S WHY I DON'T WANT TO PIGEONHOLE THIS INTO SAYING WE NEED TO TAKE A BONUS FROM ESSR FUNDS. YOU AND I TALKED AND I DO UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS BEHIND THAT AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TIME TO PROPERLY FRAME THIS. IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, DO IT RIGHT. >> EXACTLY, THAT'S MY POINT. >> KHEM. >> UM I KNOW THAT THE

111EVAL SPECIFICALLY ASKED US TO USE ESSR FUNDS BUT WE'VE ALREADY ALLOCATED AND VOTED ON A BUDGET, AM I CORRECT FOR THE ESSR FUNDS AND IF WE DECIDED TO DO THAT WOULD WE HAVE TO DO SOME TYPE OF AMENDMENT THEN GET APPROVED ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL OR THE STATE LEVEL LIKE I DON'T KNOW ALL THE WEEDS ABOUT THIS BUT I KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING SOUNDS EASY AND IT MAY NOT BE. >> YEAH SO JUST A COUPLE THINGS SO THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THIS. THE SURROUNDING DISTRICTS GAVE BONUSES BECAUSE THEY DID NOT GIVE RAISES. GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS GAVE RAISES THAT HAPPENED IN PERPETUITY. UNLIKE A BONUS THAT HAPPENS ONE TIME. SO THEY GAVE -- YOU GAVE RAISES THE RAISES HAPPENED IN PERPETUITY AND THEY COUNT TOWARD THE RETIREMENT. I THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO ASK STAFF JUST TO

112FIND THE MONEY. I THINK IF THE BOARD WANTS THIS TO HAPPEN THEY OUGHT TO IDENTIFY TONIGHT WHAT YOU'RE WILLING TO CUT SO YOU HAVE TUTORING, YOU HAVE COUNSELORS, NURSES, COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER, YOU HAVE SUMMER SCHOOL AND I THINK THERE'S ONE OTHER LARGE ITEM IN THERE AND I THINK IF YOU DIRECT ME IF YOU MAKE A MOTION HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO GIVE AND WHAT YOU WANT TO CUT THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. >> I THINK THE MOTION WAS FOR YOU TO DEVELOP THAT PLAN. >> FOR WHAT? >> FOR YOU TO DEVELOP THE PLAN. WE WON'T KNOW WHAT WE WANT TO CUT UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST AND WE CAN'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TILL WE HAVE A PLAN. >> WELL YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME SOME DIRECTION. DO YOU WANT TO

113GIVE THEM $5,000, $1,000, THE ETCH TOO TEACHERS ONE AMOUNT. EVERYONE WHO GETS A BONUS SHOULD THEY GET A SECOND BONUS? YOU HAVE TO GIVE US TRICKS WITH THAT. >> WE HAVE KHEM STILL SPEAKING. DID YOU GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED? >> NOT YET I GUESS IN REGARD TO -- LIKE I SAID THEIR EMAILS SAY SPECIFICALLY DIRECTING US ASKING FOR THE ESSR FUNDS, I'M SORRY DIRECTING US AROUND THE ESSR FUNDS AND I KNOW THERE ARE GUIDELINES AROUND THE ESSR FUNDS AND ARE WE CLEAR ABOUT THE GUIDELINES -- I GUESS WE CAN USE THE WHOLE POT OF MONEY FOR STAFF AND FOR BONUSES. I DON'T BELIEVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GAVE US THIS ALLOCATION OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS TO DO THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHERE I CAN GET -- EVEN IF YOU CAN DIRECT ME

114TO READ THE INFORMATION I'M OKAY WITH THAT. WHAT THE ESSR FUNDS WERE DESIGNED FOR AND NOT FOR. >> RIGHT SO I THINK THERE'S A DIRECT LINE THAT I SENT YOU TONIGHT DIRECTLY FROM THE GUIDANCE ON WHEN AND HOW YOU CAN USE IT FOR BONUSES. >> I THOUGHT WE DISCUSSED THAT BEFORE. >> WE HAVE DISCUSSED IT BEFORE. >> I'M OKAY NOW. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. PAT THEN WINSTON. >> YEAH MY QUESTION -- I MEAN TO USE DEBORAH'S STATEMENT TO DO IT RIGHT. SO LOOKING AT THE MAP I MEAN YEAH WHAT ARE THE SPECIFICS AROUND IS IT $1,500 AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU MULTIPLY IT OVER 10, 12,000 EMPLOYEES AND ARE WE GOING TO EXTRAPOLATE IT OUT AND THOSE THAT SERVED OUR COUNTY 10 YEARS VERSUS 15 YEARS, 5 YEARS. I NEED TO

115SEE THOSE DETAILS AND I THINK TOO I GET IT WE LOOK AT OTHER NEIGHBORING COUNTIES WE'RE ALWAYS LIKE HEY LOOK WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE NEED TO PAINT OUR OWN BARN, YOU KNOW AND MAYBE NOT -- I'M NOT SUGGESTING THIS IS ONE OF THE TIMES BUT I THINK THIS IS NOTABLE AND I'M GLAD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT. JUST LIKE THE TWO DAYS OF REMOTE LEARNING. OTHER DISTRICTS ARE DOING IT. WELL THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT. AND THAT'S A DECISION THAT -- ANY BAY -- NEIGH WAY THAT'S ANOTHER DISCUSSION BUT I REALLY NEED TO SEE -- AND I THINK TOO AND MAYBE SOMEONE CAN ANSWER THIS. OTHER DISTRICTS -- I'VE TALKED TO TWO, UM, ONE COUNTY IS NOT -- IT'S NOT ESSR FUNDS. THEY HAVE SOME SORT OF -- >> FUND BALANCE.

116>> THEY'RE DIPPING INTO RESERVES. SO LET'S JUST ALL BE AWARE OF, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE FAMOUSLY SAID YOU CAN HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING YOU WANT. SO I JUST -- I'LL BE CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THE STAFF AND SUPERINTENDENT COME UP WITH AND HOW WE SORT OF STRATIFY THAT. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WINSTON. >> YEAH I HAVE CONCERNS WITH THE MOTION BECAUSE OF SAYING TO THE SUPERINTENDENT WHO BROUGHT US A RECOMMENDATION ABOUT ESSR FUND WHICH WE APPROVED AND GIVE EVERYBODY A RAISE AND TELL US HOW YOU THINK YOU SHOULD DO IT WITHOUT US GIVING GUIDANCE TO THAT. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEBULOUS NATURE OF THAT, THE AMOUNT OF WORK IT WILL TAKE STAFF TO DO BETWEEN NOW AND EARLY DECEMBER WHEN THERE ARE A VARIETY OF OTHER ISSUES. I AGREE

117I THINK WAKE COUNTY USED $40 MILLION, I READ SOME NUMBER OUT OF THEIR RESERVE FUNDS NOT ESSR FUNDS. I THINK WHAT'S LOST OFTEN IN THIS CONVERSATION IS THE NUANCE OF RAISES OVER 3 YEARS BECOME EVEN MORE THAN WHAT A ONE TIME BONUS IS. THERE'S A VARIETY AND I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION ABOUT THERE'S $20,000 RECRUITMENT BONUSES COME UP A LOT IN COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS, HOW MANY OF THOSE HAVE WE ACTUALLY DONE EVEN IF IT'S AN ESTIMATE DR. MORRISON? THREE. SO WE'VE DONE 3 $20,000 BONUSES. IT'S NOT AS IF WE SPENT $20 MILLION ON BRAND NEW TEACHERS TO THE DISTRICT AND WE'RE NOT HONORING THE CURRENT TEACHERS. SO I ALSO AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY -- I'M HEARING TEACHERS SAY IT BETTER BE $3,000 OR NOTHING AND WHEN YOU

118DO THE MATH ON THAT KIND OF BONUS OVER 3 YEARS AND IF WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO OFFER WHAT'S MEANINGFUL WE END UP IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'VE ROBBED LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO PAY OFF OVER TIME TO OFFER SORT OF BROAD-BASED BONUSES THAT DON'T MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO REALLY MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY AND TO SOLVE THE MORALE PROBLEM. SO, UM, I DON'T PRETEND THIS IS JUST EASY. UM BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT BEING LOST IN THE CONVERSATION, UM, AND I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT PUSHING -- I HAVEN'T TALKED TO YOU DEBORAH ABOUT THIS. WE HAVEN'T HAD A WORK SESSION. YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE FIRST ARTICULATION HERE THAT I'VE HEARD OF THIS LET'S DIRECT STAFF TO GO CREATE BONUSES SO I THINK THAT'S A

119REALLY NEBULOUS AND SORT OF PROBLEMATIC, UM, MOTION FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE. I THINK WE DO NEED TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE MORALE OF THE WORKFORCE. WE NEED TO HEAR AND UNDERSTAND PERHAPS MORE DEEPLY FROM THE STAFF ABOUT THE PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE AND HOW OVER TIME THOSE MAY SHIFT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SHIFT MORALE OVERNIGHT I THINK THERE'S JUST A LOT THAT'S BEEN LOST AND NOT CONSIDERED BROADLY IN THE COMMUNITY AND THAT HAPPENS IN ADVOCACY AND I DON'T THINK WE OUGHT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALTERNATIVE NEXT STEP THERE IS TO CONTINUE TO BE LOOKING AT COMPENSATION AND MORALE BUT I HAVE CONCERNS WITH THIS PARTICULAR MOTION AND THE NEBULOUS NATURE OF IT. >> THANK YOU, DEBORAH, DIANNE THEN ANITA. >> I WANT TO SAY FIRST OFF I

120HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY SAY YOU GIVE ME THIS MUCH OR I WON'T BE HAPPY. >> I GOT IT IN A TEXT TODAY. >> FAIR ENOUGH. BUT WITH THE OPEN ENDED NATURE OF THIS I WAS TRYING TO, YOU KNOW GIVE AS MUCH ACCESS TO WHATEVER RESOURCES THAT DR. CONTRERAS AND HER STAFF THOUGHT MIGHT BE USEABLE. YOU KNOW I DEFINITELY DID NOT WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW THIS MUST COME FROM ESS R FUND BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THE MISGIVINGS BEHIND THAT. THE FLIP SIDE IS IF WE WIND UP NOT USING YOU KNOW ALL OF THESE $20,000 NEW EMPLOYEE SIGN ON BONUSES THAT'S MONEY LEFT OVER. YOU KNOW WE HAVE UNFILLED POSITIONS THAT MAY BE MONEY LEFT OVER. ARE WE GOING TO GET MORE OF THESE SMALL GRANTS LIKE WE HAVE FOR RETENTION RECRUITMENT OF THE NUTRITION STAFF THAT WE

121MAY BE ABLE TO PUT SOME MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE. I WAS SIMPLY TRYING TO GIVE AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS GENUINELY POSSIBLE BECAUSE I THINK JUST SAYING OH YOU MUST PULL X FROM Y AND Z, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT IN MY OPINION THAT WAS MAKING IT UNNECESSARILY DIFFICULT BY DRAWING TOO HARD A LINE. >> THANK YOU DEBORAH. DIANNE. >> OKAY I'M PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE POPULAR TONIGHT BUT THAT'S OKAY. THE FIRST THING I THINK THAT'S NOT BEING HEARD HERE IS THE FACT THAT ALL CLASSIFIED STAFF GOT RAISES IN AUGUST AND THOSE RAISES WERE BASED ON -- >> YOU SAID WHICH STAFF THE TEACHERS -- >> CLASSIFIED. >> NO. NO. NO I'M SORRY. CERTIFIED. TEACHERS, YES. ALL TEACHERS GOT. >> YES. >> AND THOSE RAISES WERE BASED ON YEARS OF SERVICE OR JUST WHAT? AS FAR AS

122HOW MUCH DIFFERENT TEACHERS GOT. >> SO THE LOCAL SUPPLEMENT SCHEDULE WAS REVISED TO INCREASE SUPPLEMENTS AT EVERY STEP -- THANK YOU -- AT EVERY STEP AND TO GET EVERYBODY UP TO A MINUTE UM OF $610 A MONTH FOR THEIR LOCAL SUPPLEMENT. >> SO YOU'RE SAYING THE RAISE WAS $610? >> WE WORKED TO GET EVERYBODY TO AT LEAST A $610 SUPPLEMENT. THE LOWEST WE HAD WAS $409 A MONTH SO WE BROUGHT EVERYBODY UP TO AT LEAST $610. >> OKAY AND THAT'S THEIR RAISE. >> A MONTH. RIGHT. THEY HAVEN'T GOT THEIR STEP INCREASE FOR THIS YEAR BUT THEY HAVE THE LAST TWO YEARS ALL CERTIFIED STAFF HAVE GOT THEIR STEP INCREASE WHICH IF YOU'RE UNDER 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT'S A THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH AND AGAIN THAT'S JUST CERTIFIED STAFF, CLASSIFIED STAFF HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY KIND

123OF STATE SALARY INCREASE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS TEACHERS RECEIVED AT LEAST A THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE A MONTH FROM THIS IN THEIR PAYCHECKS? >> NO. NO. THAT WAS -- NO THAT WAS -- FOR 21/22 EVERYBODY GOT AN INCREASE IN THEIR LOCAL SUPPLEMENT. SOME GOT MORE THAN OTHERS DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY WERE -- WHAT STEP THEY'RE ON. BUT WE BROUGHT EVERYBODY TO AT LEAST $610 SO THEIR SUPPLEMENT IS AT LEAST $610 A MONTH. IT'S NOT $610 INCREASE IT'S SO THEIR SUPPLEMENT IS AT LEAST $610 A MONTH. >> THE SUPPLEMENT IS PAID OUT HOW MANY TIMES? >> ONCE A MONTH. >> SO THEY DO GET THAT AMOUNT EACH MONTH? >> FOR 10 MONTHS. >> IT'S NOT A RAISE. YOU NEED TO FURTHER CLARIFY THAT. >>

124IT MIGHT BE A $200 A MONTH RAISE. >> IT -- IT'S A DIFFERENT AMOUNT INCREASE DEPENDING ON WHAT STEP YOU'RE ON. >> OKAY. SO I AM TO UNDERSTAND THAT MORE MONEY WAS PUT IN THE POCKETS OF EACH TEACHER AS OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR. >> EXACTLY, YES. >> OKAY AND THAT WILL CONTINUE? >> YES. THAT'S $8 MILLION THAT -- THAT THIS BOARD VOTED IN AUGUST TO GO AHEAD INCREASE THE SUPPLEMENT FOR TEACHERS PERPETUALLY. >> THAT MEANS -- AND I KNOW I'M NOT THE MATH GENIUS HERE BUT THAT MEANS THAT IF A ONE TIME BONUS WAS A THOUSAND DOLLARS AND THE SUPPLEMENT IS $600 A MONTH. RIGHT? >> THAT'S NOT THE INCREASE IN THE SUPPLEMENT THAT'S THE TOTAL SUPPLEMENT AMOUNT. THE INCREASE IS DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHAT STEP YOU'RE ON BUT IF YOU'RE INCREASE WAS $100 THEN

125YOU WOULD GET A THOUSAND DOLLARS OVER THE YEAR. >> OVER THE 10 MONTHS. >> UH-HUH. >> OKAY BUT IT'S MORE LIKELY THAT PEOPLE GOT MORE THAN THAT. RIGHT? >> I DON'T WANT TO SAY -- I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS OF WHO GOT HOW MUCH AND HOW MANY GOT HOW MUCH. SO I DON'T KNOW THOSE NUMBERS. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY BUT WHAT I'M TRYING TO ESTABLISH HERE IS THAT IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE NOT HEARD OR TRIED TO ADDRESS TEACHER PAY. AND IF I UNDERSTAND HAVING SOMETHING OVER 10 MONTH PERIOD AS OPPOSED TO A ONE TIME BONUS THAT COULD BE AS LITTLE AS $500 OR IT COULD BE AS MUCH AS $5,000 IF YOU CAN FIND THAT MUCH FOR EVERY TEACHER WHICH I KIND OF DOUBT. IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE TO PUSH AT TRYING

126TO GET THAT SUPPLEMENT INCREASE EVEN MORE FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR THEN ONE TIME BONUS THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE GIVEN AGAIN. AM I MAKING ANY SENSE HERE? OKAY. >> SUPERINTENDENT HAS CERTAINLY PUSHED THAT WITH COUNTY EXHIBITIONERS AND COUNTY EXHIBITIONER FUNDED $8 MILLION TO INCREASE THE SUPPLEMENTS WHICH AGAIN ARE THROUGHOUT A TEACHER'S CAREER. SO AGAIN IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THEIR PENSION WHICH IS FOREVER. AS LONG AS THEY'RE RECEIVING THEIR PENSION. SO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S WORKED WITH COUNTY EXHIBITIONERS TO PUSH TO GET 5 YEARS THAT SUPPLEMENT AMOUNT UP TO THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE. SO THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE BENEFIT IS IN MY OPINION FOR TEACHERS. >> OKAY THEN MY NEXT QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH DO YOU RECALL IN THE LAST AT LEAST TWO YEARS HOW MANY BONUSES HAVE WE GIVEN AT

127DIFFERENT LEVELS FOR STAFF? I DON'T CARE WHAT -- IS THAT TOO MUCH OF A QUESTION? >> SO IF YOU MAY RECALL IN THE 2019/20 BUDGET AS WE ENDED THE BUDGET THE BOARD APPROVED USING THE FUND BALANCE TO PROVIDE BONUSES FOR BUS DRIVERS AND THEN SO THOSE WERE PAID IN 2019/20. IN 20/21 AND LTS IN 21/22 SO BUS DRIVERS GOT $250 OR $500 BONUSES DEPENDING ON WHEN THEY'VE BEEN PAID. ARE YOU ASKING ABOUT ALL BONUSES? OKAY. IN 2019/20 IN MAY 2020 ALL OF OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF EXCEPT BUS DRIVERS AND SCHOOL NUTRITION GOT $535 PROCEED RATED FOR PART-TIME STAFF. IN 2019 OR JUNE 2020 OUR ACES SITE COORDINATORS WHO WORKED IN THE CHILD CARE CENTERS RECEIVED A BONUS IN FROM DHHS. IN 2021 OCTOBER 2020 OUR PRINCIPALS RECEIVED A STATE BONUS PAID BY NCPI DEPENDING ON SCHOOL

128PERFORMANCE IN DECEMBER 2020 OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF RECEIVED A BONUS RANGING WHERE THEY WERE ON THE PAY GRADE WITH THOSE IN THE LOWER PAY GRADES RECEIVING A HIGHER BONUS THAN THOSE ON THE HIGHER PAID GRADE. DECEMBER 2020 OUR BUS DRIVERS RECEIVED A BONUS OF $500. OUR CLASSIFIED STAFF WHO EARNED LESS THAN $15 AN HOUR RECEIVED A BONUS IN AUGUST OF 2021. THEN WE HAD RETENTION BONUSES FOR PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS IN JULY OF 2021. >> OKAY THANK YOU. SO BASICALLY WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS THAT GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS AND THE POLICY OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE BOARD HAS BEEN [INDISCERNIBLE] BECAUSE I THINK YOU NAMED OFF DIFFERENT TIMES THAT BONUSES HAVE BEEN GIVEN JUST OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. >> AND LET ME SAY THIS. WE PRO BONUS AT THE EXCLUSION OF SALARY INCREASES. WHEN WE

129HAVEN'T HAD THE FUND AVAILABLE WE USED THE DOLLARS WE HAD TO GIVE BONUSES TO OF STA. WE RECOGNIZE A STALL RIGHTS ERA INCREASE IS PREFERABLE TO THE BONUS IN THESE INSTANCES. >> I GUESS MY POINT IS I THINK GUILFORD COUNTY HAS BEEN LOOKED AT AS NOT BEING SENSITIVE TO BONUSES IN COMPARISON TO OUR OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE. WHAT WE CAN'T SPEND WHAT WE DON'T HAVE AND I THINK FINANCE AND THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS DONE A GOOD JOB IN TRYING TO FIND MONEYS TO GIVE BONUSES WHEN THEY CAN AND STILL MEET THEIR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES. YOU JUST CAN'T, YOU KNOW, ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL AND THIS [INDISCERNIBLE] PRO EDUCATION. I KNOW THAT'S SIMPLE BUT WE'RE TRYING TO PUT OUR DOLLARS INTO THE TOOLS THAT HELP US TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN. NOT SAYING

130THAT PAYING STAFF AND TEACHERS IS NOT IMPORTANT BUT THERE ARE OTHER TOOLS THAT WE ALSO HAD TO INVEST IN, INCLUDING OUR FAILURE -- NOT OURS NECESSARILY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN NOT KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS UP TO PAR. SO YOU HAVE TO BALANCE WHAT YOU'VE DPOT TO PAY FOR. WE APPROVE TONIGHT A KILLER SYSTEM FOR A SCHOOL. NOW I KNOW ALL THIS BACK IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER GOT BUNCHES OF EMAILS FROM FAMILIES IT'S TOO HOT FOR MY CHILD TO BE IN THE SCHOOL. WE'RE GOING TO GET EMAILS WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE DROPS AGAIN THAT MY CLASSROOM IS COLD. WE'VE GOT TO DECIDE HERE HOW DO WE DO THIS ALL. WE HAVE TEACHERS STAND UP HERE AND TELL US WHAT THE CONDITIONS ARE LIKE WHETHER IT'S PUTTING TRASH CANS IN THE HALL TRYING TO RAISE BOOK SHELVES TO KEEP

131MATERIALS FROM GETTING WET. SO WE JUST CAN'T JUST SAY BAM, FIND SOME BONUS MONEY. THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS. AND I WOULD RATHER HAVE A CONSISTENT PAYCHECK AND RAISE THAT'S GOING TO BE MINE UNTIL I DECIDE TO RETIRE AS OPPOSED TO GETTING A BONUS CHECK THAT YOU CAN BUY TWO THINGS FOR CHRISTMAS AND IT'S GONE. YOU CAN'T EVEN FILL UP YOUR CAR 5 TIMES. IT'S GONE. WHICH DO YOU WANT. THIS INSTANT GRATIFICATION STUFF HAS TO STOP AND IF IT HAS TO STOP WITH US IT HAS TO STOP WITH US. AS FAR AS PEOPLE LEAVING IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE NATIONAL TRENDS ARE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC PEOPLE [INDISCERNIBLE]. AND SO IF SOMEBODY DECIDES, YOU KNOW THEY'VE GIVEN TO TEACHING AND NOW THEY CAN MAKE MONEY ON TIKTOK AND, YOU KNOW, SHOW HOW TO

132MAKE COOKIES THEN ALBEIT. YOU KNOW. WE ARE A SOCIETY AND BELIEVE IN BEING ABLE TO MAKE MONEY. SOME PEOPLE FIND THEY LIKE BEING AT HOME. OR THEY LIKE NOT HAVING TO REPORT AT 7:30 IN THE MORNING. STAND IN THE COLD AND WAIT FOR THE BUS OR KIDS TO GET OFF THEN BE IN THE CLASSROOM ALL DAY. SOME PEOPLE [INDISCERNIBLE] SO WE DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD THOSE OPTIONS UNTIL THE PANDEMIC SHOWED US. SO WHEN YOU SAY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING -- PEOPLE ARE LEAVING ALL KINDS OF INDUSTRIES. IT AIN'T JUST EDUCATION. THEY'RE GOING TO OTHER THINGS THAT THEY DO AND SOME OF US UP HERE I'M SURE FOUND IT'S EASIER TO WORK FROM HOME [INDISCERNIBLE] EVERY DAY. SO ALL I'M SAYING IS LET'S NOT -- LET'S BE LOGICAL ABOUT DECIDING AT THIS TIME DO WE NEED TO

133GIVE BONUSES. AND IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T CARE ABOUT OUR STAFF. WE TRIED TO ADJUST OURSELVES IN EVERY WAY. WE SEEM TO FORGET THAT THIS SYSTEM, OUR SYSTEM -- WHAT WAS IT DR. CONTRERAS 90 PERCENT OF STAFF EMPLOYED WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE SHUT DOWN. NOBODY ELSE IN THE COUNTY DID THAT. NO BUSINESS, NOBODY AND WE CREATED JOBS FOR -- WE CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO WORK THAT -- LIKE THE BUS DRIVERS WERE HELPING THE CUSTODIANS. BUT WE DID THAT. SO ALL I'M SAYING IS BEING ILLOGICAL ABOUT -- YEAH AM I PROBABLY GOING TO GET CUSSED OUT TONIGHT YEAH BUT I'M TRYING TO BE LOGICAL ABOUT HOW WE SPEND THE DOLLARS WE HAVE. WE HAD REPRESENTATIVE QUICK SAYING THEY MIGHT PASS A BUDGET THIS NEXT BEAK WEEK. THREE YEARS LATER. IT'S TAKING TOO LONG. AND, YOU KNOW,

134HE SHOULD HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY -- NOT YOU -- I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE HERE OR I WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT YOU -- YOU AND YOUR FOLKS IN RALEIGH SHOULD NOT REQUIRE US TO PASS A BUDGET Y' ALL CONVENIENT PASSED ONE IN 3 YARS. YOU NEED TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE. IF YOU GOT MONEY IN YOUR BUDGET FOR US TO GIVE BONUSES PLEASE GIVE IT TO US. BECAUSE WE NEED IT. >> IF I CAN JUST CLARIFY A COUPLE POINTS HERE. I THINK WHAT IS ALWAYS UPSETTING ABOUT AN UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT THESE CONVERSATIONS IS IT SORT OF PITS NEIGHBOR AGAINST NEIGHBOR IN THAT EVERY BOARD MEMBER ON THIS DAIS HERE THE SUPERINTENDENT, THE STAFF HAS WORKED TO MAKE SURE STAFF IS COMPENSATED FAIRLY IRRESPECTIVE OF POLITICAL PARTY THIS IS ONE POINT WHERE I THINK THE BOARD HAS AGREED AND

135WORKED ON THIS. AND THE TEACHERS RECEIVED A RAISE. THERE WAS STAFF WHO RECEIVED BONUSES. THERE'S ANOTHER GROUP OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING YET. AND WHEN THE DISTRICT STARTED DOING IN BONUS MODEL THERE WAS NO IMPETUS FOR THE STATE TO FIX THE FUNDING PROBLEM AND THAT'S WHAT THE REAL ISSUE IS AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, UM, PASTOR QUICK BUT I BELIEVE THERE'S AN 8 BILLION-DOLLAR SURPLUS IN RALEIGH. $8 BILLION. SO FOR THE MINUTE WE CAN BRING SOME RELIEF, SOME JOY, $500, A THOUSAND DOLLARS, SOMETHING. BUT IT DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM IN JANUARY WHEN YOU'RE STRUGGLING AGAIN OR NEXT YEAR. WE'RE NOT ONLY HAVE WE BLOWN OUT THE ESSR MONEY BUT THERE'S NO MONEY IN THERE ANY MORE FOR SUPPORTING STUDENTS. I GAVE THE BOARD A REPORT TONIGHT ABOUT HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE PROJECTED

136NOT TO PASS THE STATE TEST IN MATH. YOU CAN SEE FOR SOME GROUPS OF STUDENTS AND IT'S DISAGGREGATED BY RACE, IT'S UP TO 91 %. SO THE TEACHERS WILL HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH THAT AS WELL. THAT'S CAUSING STRESS IN THE CLASSROOM. THAT TEACHERS HAVE TO TRY TO CATCH STUDENTS UP WITH NO RESOURCES. WE WENT BACK AND DID WHAT YOU ASKED AND PUT 25 CHILLERS IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE AIR CONDITION. WE PUT $18 MILLION IN CAMERAS, SECURITY CAMERAS. SO EERYONE KEEPS ASKING TO SPEND THE SAME POT OF MONEY OVER AND OVER BUT NOBODY'S DEMANDING THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COME OFF THE $8 BILLION AND FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS FAIRLY. AND THAT'S WHAT THE CONVERSATION SHOULD BE, NOT THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOU, NOT THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT DOESN'T CARE BUT

137THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MASS $8 BILLION AND HASN'T COME OFF ONE DIME FOR EDUCATORS. THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE ANGRY ABOUT. I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO GO BACK AND DO WHATEVER YOU ALL ASK ME TO DO FOR THE BONUSES BUT YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HURT SOME OTHER AREA AND THAT'S FINE BUT I ALL WANT US TO KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TORE CRYING ABOUT THIS AGAIN IN A FEW MONTHS. SO I JUST NEED SOME DIRECTION ON WHAT I SHOULD CUT. >> ANITA THEN BET BETTYE. >> THESE BONUSES ARE NOT BONUSES. THE KEY WORD IS RETENTION BONUSES. UM, OUR TEACHERS HAVE BEEN UNDER EXTRAORDINARY STRESS LEVELS. YES THEY APPRECIATE THE RAISES. THERE'S NOT ONE WHO HAS SAID OTHERWISE. BUT WHEN THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH IN A CLASS THESE KIDS WERE OUT OF SCHOOL FOR

138A YEAR. THAT HE FORGOT HOW TO ACT AND THE TEACHERS ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THAT. THE TEACHERS HAVE LOST IT BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE. THEY'VE LOST PLANNING TIME. MORALE IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW. TEACHERS ARE TAKING RETIREMENT WHEN IT'S POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO DO SO. TEACHERS ARE RESIGNING BECAUSE IT'S HARD WORK. AND IF WE CAN DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THAT STOP THEN WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DO IT. IT'S BEEN SAID MANY TIMES IN THE PAST THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE DICTATING THE HOW, JUST THE WHAT. SO FOR US TO SIT HERE AND SAY WE WANT X DOLLARS OUT OF THIS POT IS NOT FAIR TO THIS BOARD. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION FOR. >> BETTYE. >> I HAVE HEARD EVERYTHING THAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID AND AGREE WITH MOST THINGS THAT HAVE

139BEEN MENTIONED HOWEVER I REALLY DO THINK WE NEED, IF WE CAN, FIND SOME MONEY -- I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY SAYING WELL YEAH AND HOW MUCH. I DON'T KNOW WHERE AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH BUT HOPEFULLY THERE'S A MAGIC ROCK SOMEWHERE, WHERE SHE CAN FIND SOMETHING AND IT MAY NOT BE WHAT WE WANT TO GIVE OR WHAT THEY DESERVE BUT I JUST HOPE WE CAN FIND SOMETHING FOR THE RETENTION FOR THE TEACHERS. THANK YOU. >> DEBORAH THEN KHEM. >> AND THE THING OF IT IS I'M NOT GOING TO TELL ANY OF YOU THAT YOU'RE WRONG. YOU KNOW DIANNE YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. IT'S A SHORT TERM GRATIFICATION IT SURE IS BUT IT MAY BE A REALLY REAL ONE. IT MAY BE A LITTLE MORE AT CHRISTMAS. IT MAY BE A MANI PEDI. OR A NIGHT OUT

140WITHOUT THE KIDS. JUST ME? OKAY, GOT IT. AND DR. CONTRERAS YOU'RE NOT WRONG IT CERTAINLY DOES FEEL LIKE ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL AND LIKE I SAID THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO LEAVE THIS OPEN FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO AND ANGIE WITH HER APPARENT GOLDEN GOOSE TO WORK HOWEVER WE COULD. BUT WHAT I'M HEARING FROM A LOT OF THE TEACHERS IS THAT THEY ARE RETIRING EARLY AND SOME ARE LEAVING THE PROFESSION BUT I'VE HAD MANY, MANY, MANY TELL ME ALL I HAVE TO DO IS CRSS THE COUNT LINE AND I'LL GO GET THAT BONUS AND THAT'S WHAT I DESPERATELY WOULD LIKE TO AVOID. YEAH. I REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH ELSE TO SAY. OH ANGIE CAN I ASK YOU ONE QUESTION? THANK YOU FOR THE LIST OF BONUSES THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL. HAVE WE GIVEN

141THE TEACHERS ANY DIRECT BONUS? NOT THE RAISE. I'M THANKFUL FOR THE RAISE AND THEY ARE TOO. HAVE WE GIVEN THE TEACHERS A DIRECT BONUS? >> I DON'T KNOW IF YOUR MIC IS ON. >> OCTOBER 2020 THE TEACHERS GOT A 350 TLS BONUS FROM THE STATE AND THAT SAME YEAR A STEP INCREASE ABOUT 1.2 PERCENT SO A SALARY INCREASE AND BONUS THAT YEAR. >> OKAY. >> THE QUESTION ISN'T IF WE CAN -- I AM CERTAIN WE CAN FIND SOME AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR A GROUP OF EMPLOYEES. I NEED TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE. WHO YOU'RE ASKING ME TO GIVE BONUSES TO. I NEED A DEFINITIVE NUMBER. IS IT THE TEACHERS? IS IT TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF? WHICH WOULD INCLUDE LIBRARY MEDIA PEOPLE. COUNSELORS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS? IS IT BUS DRIVERS? IS IT THE DATA MANAGERS WHO

142WROTE TO YOU TODAY SAYING THEY'RE WORKING AT 2 AND 3 SCHOOLS AND DOING ALL THE EXTRA WORK? IS IT SCHOOL NUTRITION WORKERS? WHO IS IT YOU WANT ME TO FIND THE BONUS FOR? >> KHEM THEN DIANNE THEN WINSTON. >> WELL A CAVEAT OR IN ADDITION TO THAT UNDER THE USE OF ESSR FUND YOU WOULD HAVE TO SPECIFY BY POSITION OR GROUP LIKE THAT IN ORDER TO DO IT. >> AND IF IT'S A RETENTION BONUS IF THEY WERE TO LEAVE THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY IT BACK. >> OKAY. UM, I'VE BEEN HERE I GUESS ALMOST 10, 11 YEARS IN GUILFORD COUNTY AND THIS HAS BEEN THE CONVERSATION. I'VE BEEN A PART OF GCAE WHEN WE'VE GONE TO RALEIGH AND BEGGING THESE LEGISLATORS, YOU KNOW TO DO RIGHT BY EDUCATORS AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT COMES BACK

143DOWN TO THE LOCAL. YOU KNOW THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. AND IT'S NEVER -- I JUST DON'T SEE HOW IT'S EVER REALLY GOING TO BE ENOUGH FOR THE EDUCATORS AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO. UM, AND I DO THINK THAT WE DO NEED TO BE ADVOCATING FOR SOME TYPE -- FOR A LONG-TERM GOAL OF HOW NORTH CAROLINA IS GOING TO TREAT ITS EDUCATORS AND ONE THING WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE'RE MOVING FUNDS AWAY FROM STUDENTS, AWAY FROM INSTRUCTION, AWAY FROM TEACHER DEVELOPMENT, AWAY FROM THOSE THINGS IT THEN IMPACTS THE ABILITY OF THE TEACHER AGAIN. UM, WHEN WE MOVE THE RESOURCES OUT OF THE CLASSROOM FOR THOSE SAME INDIVIDUALS. AND THEN THEY WILL COME BACK AND SAY THE OBIOMA IS GETTING HARDER. WE TALKED ABOUT THE TEACHER PIPELINE AND I BELIEVE THAT'S PART OF THE ESSR

144FUNDS TO TRY TO CLOSE THE GAP AND, YOU KNOW, RECRUITING TEACHERS AND GETTING TEACHERS AND CREATE A PIPELINE OF TEACHERS OF SUSTAINABILITY OF GETTING TEACHERS INTO THE DISTRICT. AND LOTS OF TIMES I KNOW THIS BOARD WILL SAY OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY WILL COME INTO PLAY THEN WE'LL SAY WELL THE SUPERINTENDENT DIDN'T MEET THIS GOAL BUT THEN WE PUT THE RESOURCES AND WE DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH THOSE RESOURCES SO THEN IT IMPEDES ON THE SUPERINTENDENT MEETING THOSE EDUCATIONAL GOALS. SO THESE ARE ALL THE MOVING PARTS. I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT. AND IF WE WANT TO HAVE A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION IN ANOTHER RETREAT SESSION TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE FEEL AROUND BONUSES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE I THINK THAT'S THE CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AS OPPOSED TO DECIDING BECAUSE I'M NOT WILLING

145TO PULL ANY MONEY FROM ANY KID OUT OF ANY CLASSROOM OUT OF ANY ONE OF MY SCHOOLS. I'M NOT WILLING TO DO THAT. I'M JUST NOT WILLING TO DO THAT BECAUSE OUR BOTTOM LINE IS EDUCATION. SO WE HAVE TO HOLD STAFF TO THAT BOTTOM LINE BECAUSE THOSE SAME PARENTS WILL COME BACK AND SAY THIS IS HAPPENING AND THIS IS HAPPENING AND YOU GAVE THE TEACHERS BONUSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU TOOK MY KID'S MONEY AND YOU DID THIS WITH IT. SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND I THINK WE NEED A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION, A SECOND CONVERSATION AROUND THE WHOLE DYNAMIC OF BONUSES AND RAISES AND THAT WHOLE DYNAMIC AND HELPING THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT AND WHEN WE CREATED THIS BUDGET I DON'T REMEMBER TOO MUCH ABOUT TEACHERS COMING, YOU KNOW EVEN WITH

146THE ESSR FUNDS SAYING WE NEED BONUSES. THEY DID ADVOCATE AND THERE IS SOMETHING IN THERE. SO I'M JUST, YOU KNOW I NEED US TO COME TOGETHER AND RETHINK HOW WE'RE GOING TO APPRECIATE OUR TEACHERS AND THE WHOLE STAFF REALLY. YOU KNOW, BUS DRIVERS, EVERYONE. EVERYONE IN GUILFORD COUNTY. ALL 10,000 ARE IMPORTANT TO ME. AND WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. YOU GAVE THIS ONE THIS AND YOU DIDN'T GIVE THAT ONE THAT. THOSE ARE HARD CONVERSATIONS AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE US TO CONTINUE TO BE IN THOSE HARD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STAFF. WE DO APPRECIATE THEM AND I DO BELIEVE WE WANT THEM TO HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO HAVE AND TO DO THEIR JOBS AND WE WANT TO LIFT THEIR MORALE AND MAYBE THERE ARE OTHER WAYS WE CAN LIFT PEOPLE'S MORALE. AND IF

147I'M RIGHT AGAIN WITH THE RETENTION BONUS I'M GOING TO ASK A QUESTION. WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR? AND WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW GO TO THE END OF THE YEAR OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE ALLOCATED IMMEDIATELY LIKE I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT SO I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF IT. >> IF IT'S UNDER THE ESSR FUNDS IT WOULD BE REQUIRED -- THAT SOMEONE BE RETAINED FOR A FUTURE PERIOD OF TIME NOT THAT THEY'VE ALREADY WORKED FOR YOU. SO WHEN YOU PAY IT I THINK YOU WOULD STILL HAVE -- THAT COULD BE DECIDED BUT WHAT YOU WANT TO MAKE CLEAR IS THAT ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T FULFILL THE AGREEMENT LOSING IT. SO IT GETS DEDUCTED FROM THEIR LAST CHECK. SO IT'S A

148CONDITION OF STAYING IF IT'S A RETENTION BONUS AND IF IT'S USING ESSR FUNDS IT HAS TO BE TIED TO FUTURE PERFORMANCE NOT JUST YOU'VE BEEN HERE SO HERE'S SOME MONEY. >> IN OTHER WORDS IT COULD NOT BE ALLOCATED IN YOUR LAST PAYCHECK IF YOU'RE A 10-MONTH EMPLOYEE? >> YEAH IT COULD. IT COULD. >> YOU KNOW I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF WHAT YOU DECIDE TO DO IS AS LONG AS YOU'RE STILL HERE IN JUNE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME MONEY IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LONGER TERM GOAL THAN THAT I WOULD THINK. >> THANK YOU, DIANNE, WINSTON THEN ANITA. >> OCCUM ABOUT [INDISCERNIBLE] I CAN PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. HOW EFFECTIVE IS -- IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE AS FAR AS BEST PRACTICES HAS RETENTION BONUSES BEEN? AS YOU'RE COMING UP WE HAVE THIS BAD

149HABIT OF LATCHING ON TO WHATEVER THE FLAVOR OF THE DAY WORD IS. SO RIGHT NOW THE FLAVOR OF THE DAY WORD IS RETENTION. OKAY. BUT IS IT EFFECTIVE? DO WE HAVE ANY DATA THAT TELLS US IT IS? >> I DON'T HAVE DATA IN FRONT OF ME AT THIS MOMENT THAT SHOWS THAT IT IS. I THINK THE FACT THAT WE ONLY HAVE 3 PEOPLE TO ACCEPT THE $20,000 BONUS SPEAKS VERY LOUDLY TO WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT PAYING ME TO COME. >> WE'VE DONE RESEARCH ON IT THAT IT HAS TO BE A VERY LARGE BONUS. >> A LARGE AMOUNT. >> LIKE SMALL BONUSES DON'T RETAIN, IT HAS TO BE A LARGE AMOUNT TO GET PEOPLE TO STAY. >> THERE IS $6 MILLION IN COUNSELORS IN THIS BUDGET. YOU CAN GIVE EVERY EMPLOYEE $600. >> OKAY. THE OTHER

150POINT OF THIS IS THAT SOMETIMES BONUSES HAVE NOT EXACTLY BEEN APPRECIATED IN FACT I SAW AN EMAIL TODAY WHEN WE GAVE I THINK IT WAS ACE'S MAYBE BONUS AND I THINK IT WAS $150 OR IT MIGHT BE FOOD SERVICES ANYWAY $150 AND BY THE TIME TAXES WAS TAKEN OUT IT WAS LOWER. YOU KNOW IT WAS OUR NUTRITION STAFF AND OUR BUS FOLK WHO WERE OUT THERE ON THOSE BUSES DELIVERING FOOD AND STUFF WHEN TEACHERS WERE ABLE TO STAY AT HOME AND BE SAFE. I MEAN, YOU KNOW THAT WAS THE REALITY OF IT. BUT WE DIDN'T COMPENSATE THE NUTRITION STAFF NOR THE BUS DRIVERS AT WHAT WOULD BE THE SAME LEVELS WE DID TEACHERS. AND WE DON'T. THEY DON'T GET PAID AS MUCH AND YET THEIR JOBS DOING THAT PART OF THE PANDEMIC FOR US WAS

151CRITICAL. WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE WHAT WE DID. WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH AS MANY CHILDREN IF THOSE BUS DRIVERS SAT ON THE BUS WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING -- BECAUSE I SAW THEM. THEY WEREN'T COMPENSATED WITH BONUSES OR PAY BECAUSE WE HAD TO FIGHT TO GET THEM $15 AN HOUR AND I'M NOT SURE ALL UNCLASSIFIED STAFF ARE GETTING $15 AN HOUR. WE'RE GIVING EVERYBODY OR IS IT I GUESS THIS IS HR AND FINANCE QUESTION. OR IS IT STILL BASED ON QUALIFICATIONS? OR ARE WE GIVING EVERYBODY WHO IS A CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE $15 AN HOUR? >> NO WE STILL HAVE SALARY SCHEDULES THAT START LESS THAN $15 AN HOUR. >> ALL RIGHT. SO WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE UNDER $15 AN HOUR. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME. >> YES, WE ARE USING

152SOME FUNDS TO IN THE PLAN YOU APPROVED TO BRING THOSE PEOPLE UP TO $15 AN HOUR FOR THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR BUT THAT'S NOT RECURRING. THOSE ARE ONE TIME FUNDS THAT WE'RE USING TO GET EVERYBODY UP TO $15 AN HOUR. >> SO AFTER THESE TWO YEARS ARE OVER IT'S POSSIBLE THEIR SALARIES COULD DROP BACK? >> RIGHT UNLESS -- UNLESS THE STATE HOLD TRUE TO THEIR PROMISE TO MOVE EVERYBODY UP TO $15 AN HOUR IN THE SECOND PART OF THE BUDGET AND WE HAVE LOCAL FUNDS TO MATCH THAT FOR OUR LOCALLY FUNDED STAFF. >> IMED LIKE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION TO MY COLLEAGUE. IS IT NECESSARY FOR THIS TO BE A MOTION? I THINK THAT THE STAFF ALREADY HAS HEARD US AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW WORKING ON TRYING TO SEE CAN THEY FIND THIS

153GOLDEN ROCK Y' ALL SEEM TO THINK IS OUT THERE AND I THINK IT WOULD BE DONE IN GOOD FAITH AS IT HAS IN PREVIOUS TIMES. EVEN WHEN WE DIDN'T ASK THEM IF THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND ADDITIONAL MONEY TO GIVE BONUSES THEY DIDN'T TAKE -- THEY CAME TO US AND SAID HEY WE FOUND THIS POT OF MONEY WE WOULD LIKE TO USE IT FOR BONUSES. SO -- I ASK IF YOU WOULD RESEND YOUR MOTION AND JUST ALLOW STAFF TO COME BACK -- I DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBT THAT THEY HAVEN'T HEARD US TONIGHT AND THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME BACK WITH WHATEVER RECOMMENDATION THEY CAN GIVE US. >> WE HAVE WINSTON AND ANITA THEN DEBORAH WITH CAN RESPOND. >> I AGREE WITH DIANNE'S MOTION A CONVERSATION AROUND THIS IS GOOD AND I THINK WE NEED

154FURTHER CONVERSATION. I THINK IT'S AN TENABLE CHOICES BUT I SEE THE DESIRE TO FIND THE MAC ECUMENICAL WOK. I KNOW YOU ARE USING A YOU'VE EUPHUISM BUT ANITA SAYS IT'S OUR JOB TO SAY THE WHAT NOT THE HOW. WE PASSED THE ESSR PLAN AND BUDGET SO ARE WE DOING A MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE BUDGET AND ESSR PLAN. WE DON'T MAKE UP NEW STUFF TO SPEND MONEY ON AND TELL US HOW TO DO IT. THAT'S NOT GOOD GOVERNANCE WE HAVE A BUDGET PROCESS AND ESSR PROPER HE IS IS. CLEARLY WE HAVE ADVOCACY AND I UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WORKS. AND I UNDERSTAND HOW IT PULLS ON OUR DESIRE TO DO SOMETHING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AND I THINK ONGOING DISCUSSION ABOUT MORALE AND COMPENSATION AND OUR UNDERSTANDING THE PRESSURES THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE LEADERSHIP TEAM ARE

155UNDER, UNDERSTANDING THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS ARE IMPORTANT. AND SO I THINK THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN GOOD BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A MOTION UNDER ALL OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. >> THANK YOU, ANITA. >> [OFF MIC] -- WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY IS NOT GOING TO BE POPULAR BUT I'M GOING TO SAY IT ANYWAY. WE SPENT AT LEAST A YEAR, PROBABLY TWO WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO DEVELOP A MASTER FACILITIES PLAN. AND WE'VE RECENTLY ASKED I THINK -- I THINK WE ASKED FOR $1.7 BILLION ASK OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO FUND THE NEXT STEP OF THE FACILITIES PLAN. THAT PLAN INLUDED A NUMBER OF NEW FACILITIES AND A NUMBER OF RENOVATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THEY ARE NEEDED. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. THEY ARE NEEDED. WHAT WE DIDN'T INCLUDE WAS AN EDUCATION CENTER AND THAT PLAN.

156SO WE RECEIVED $307 MILLION IN ESSR FUNDS IN THE ESSR PLAN WE APPROVED AND IN THAT THERE WAS 34,999,998, DON'T ASK ME WHERE THAT FIGURE CAME FROM. I WOULD HAVE GIVEN THEM $2, TO BUILD THAT COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER ON THE HAMPTON -- I THINK THE HAMPTON SCHOOL SITE. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FACILITY STUDY, SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE MASTER PLAN. I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT ESSR MONEY WAS FOR. ESSR MONEY IS TO RECOVER LOST EDUCATION AND I THINK OUR TEACHERS HAVE EARNED THAT THROUGH THEIR DILIGENCE AND THEIR HARD WORK AND THEIR CONTINUING DAY IN AND DAY OUT. WE CAN'T GET SUBS IN THIS COUNTY. OUR TEACHERS ARE HAVING TO COVER -- I'VE BEEN TO 12 SCHOOLS NOW AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM WHEN I ASKED WHAT THEIR GREATEST NEED WAS, THEY SAID

157SUBS. THEY CAN'T GET SUBS. THEY NEED SUBS. TEACHERS ARE GIVING UP THEIR PLANNING PERIODS TO COVER CLASSES BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS. SO I'M SAYING ALL THAT TO SAY OUR POOR PLANNING RESULTED IN ALMOST $35 MILLION OF ESSR FUNDS BEING SPENT FOR AN EDUCATION CENTER THAT WE MAY NEED. BUT I KNOW THAT IT WON'T MATTER IF OUR TEACHERS ALL BAIL OR A NUMBER OF OUR TEACHERS BAIL AND EXACERBATE THE PROBLEMS WE ALREADY HAVE. >> LET ME CORRECT THAT. SO IT WAS INITIALLY IN THE PLAN. WE HAD TO CUT $600 MILLION OUT OF THE PLAN TO GET IT DOWN TO 2 BILLION. THAT'S HOW GREAT THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT WERE. SO IT WASN'T POOR PLANNING AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT BECAUSE YOU SAT ON THE COMMITTEE. THE 35 MILLION YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN USE FOR

158THIS. THAT'S UP TO THE BOARD TO CHANGE THE BUDGET. >> BETTYE. >> THE CENTER ON HAMPTON PROPERTY THAT WAS IN THE PLAN. THERE IS HARDLY NOTHING GOING ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF GREENSBORO. AND THAT WAS IN THE PLAN. >> THAT WAS NOT -- WHICH PLAN? >> THE ESSR PLAN. >> YEAH I KNOW BUT I'M NOT SAYING THEY DON'T NEED IT AND DESERVE IT, I'M SAYING IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE MASTER FACILITIES PLAN. IT IS A BUILDING. I CAN'T HELP -- >> I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT WHEN WE ALL LOOKED AT THE ESSR BUDGET. >> I DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT -- >> IT WAS THERE. SO THAT COMMUNITY CENTER WAS IN THAT ESSR PLAN -- >> I SEE IT. I KNOW IT'S IN THERE. BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS WHEN WE DEVELOPED OUR FACILITIES PLAN AND

159BY THE WAY SHARON I GOT TAKEN OFF THAT COMMITTEE BEFORE IT WAS FINALIZED SO -- >> YOU WERE THERE WHEN THAT WAS VOTED ON. >> I WAS NOT. WHEN THE FINAL PLAN WAS MADE I WAS NOT THERE. BECAUSE I ASKED TOO MANY QUESTIONS SO I GOT TOLD TO GO DO SOMETHING ELSE. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. UM, SO ANYWAY THAT'S A BUILDING IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FACILITIES PLAN. WHETHER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST 300 MILLION OR THE NEXT 1.7 BILLION OR THE NEXT 2 MILLION OR WHATEVER IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THERE. >> SO DEBORAH BEFORE YOU RESPOND TO DIANNE'S REQUEST TO CHANGE YOUR MOTION TO A REQUEST FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF TO COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS, THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO DO IS PIT EMPLOYEES AGAINST EMPLOYEES, PARENTS

160AGAINST PARENTS AND ANYBODY AGAINST THE DISTRICT OVER THIS. THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX SITUATION. THIS IS A CULTURAL ISSUE. WE HAVE SO DEVALUED EDUCATION IN THIS COUNTRY THAT NO AMOUNT OF RAISES AND BONUSES WILL ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE OUR EMPLOYEES FOR THE THINGS THEY DO. AND WE CAN'T FIX THIS WITH THE NICKEL AND DIMING THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE TWO DECADES THAT I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD. THE MORALE ISN'T GOING TO LAST VERY LONG. I MEAN AND THE EXIT SURVEYS WITH COMPANIES AND HUMAN RESOURCE AGENCIES SHOW THAT THE MORALE DOESN'T LAST VERY LONG AND COMPENSATION IS NOT THE PRIMARY REASON WHY PEOPLE LEAVE. I MEAN PEOPLE HAVE DECIDED ALL KINDS OF THINGS. I THINK AS DIANNE AND PAT HAVE SAID I MEAN CAR DEALERS, YOU KNOW ARE HOLDING ON TO THEIR CARS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE

161ENOUGH INVENTORY. WOMEN, I MEAN IN HUGE NUMBERS MILLIONS OF WOMEN HAVE DECIDED NOT TO RETURN TO THE WORKFORCE IN ALL KINDS OF POAGS. PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXECUTIVE POSITIONS IN MAJOR CORPORATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY'RE ABLE TO MAKE DIFFERENT DECISIONS BECAUSE OF WHAT WE LEARNED DURING THIS PANDEMIC SO TO ACT LIKE GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS IS THIS ALONE ENTITY THAT PEOPLE ARE LEAVING BECAUSE WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THEM IS EXPLOITATIVE. THE CENTER AT HAMPTON THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO TO REPLACE THAT FACILITY IN THE COMMUNITY. AND AMONG MANY THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR EMPLOYEES IS THAT THEY HAVEN'T HAD THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ASKING THEM TO DO. THERE'S READING PROGRAMS, MATH PROBLEMS, THINGS WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE

162HAVEN'T HAD THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. AND SO I'M ALL FOR THE COMPENSATION. I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO STOP ACTING LIKE IT'S GOING TO FIX THIS, IT'S GOING TO FIX MORALE, IT'S GOING TO FIX, YOU KNOW, THE STAFFING ISSUES THAT WE HAVE HERE BECAUSE IT IS NOT AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT. I GOT AN EMAIL TOO DIANNE SOMEBODY WAS LIKE OH THAT LAST BONUS YOU GAVE US I COULDN'T GAS UP MY CAR TWICE WITH THAT. BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE UNDER VALUED AND UNDER PAID THAT HAPPENED WAY BEFORE ANY OF US GOT ON THIS BOARD. SO I THINK IT'S A HUGE ISSUE AND UNTIL WE HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE AND VALUE ASSIGNED TO THE COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES THEN WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN THE SITUATION. ALWAYS. AND I

163HOPE AS A BOARD WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND NOT THE CONVERSATION THAT IS ACCUSING AND EXPLOITATIVE AND PITTING OUR EMPLOYEES AGAINST EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE WILL START GETTING EMAILS FROM OTHER SETS OF EMPLOYEES HERE THAT ARE NOT GETTING ADEQUATE COMPENSATION RIGHT AWAY. THEN WE WILL COME BACK AND SAY WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR THE SCHOOL NUTRITION WORKERS, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR THE BUS DRIVERS, THE CUSTODIANS, THE TEACHERS, THIS GROUP? WE WILL GET THOSE IMMEDIATELY. SO WE HAVE TAKEN SOMETHING VERY COMPLEX AND NUANCED AND TRIED TO MAKE IT SO SIMPLE WE THINK IT CAN BE FIXED OR SUGGESTING IT WELCOME BACK FIXED BY FINDING SOMETHING SOMEWHERE INSTEAD OF BRINGING OURSELVES TOGETHER TO SAY WHAT CAN WE DO KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE UP

164SOMETHING ELSE. WHAT CAN WE ALL AGREE TO SHAVE TO GIVE UP THAT WE ALL KNOW AND BELIEVE IS IMPORTANT. IF THIS IS WHAT IS IT THAT WE WANT TO DO SO I HOPE WE BRING A BETTER SPIRIT TO OUR DECISION MAKING BECAUSE THIS IS THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS PEOPLE ARE UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE RIGHT NOW AND NOT JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT SCHOOL BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AT HOME AND WITH UTILITIES AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN, ALL KINDS OF THINGS ARE IMPACTING EMPLOYEE MORALE. SO DEBORAH IF YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO BOARD MEMBER BELLAMY-SMALL'S REQUEST. THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. >> I WILL BUT AS WE SPEAK ABOUT EMPLOYEE MORALE, I MEAN PLEASE DON'T SELL WHAT WE'VE ALL ALREADY DONE SHORT SO FAR. HAVE YOU GOTTEN THANK YOU EMAILS FROM TEACHERS

165ABOUT THE TWO ASYNCHRONOUS DAYS FOR THANKSGIVING. THAT'S ONE OF THE GOALS HERE IS TO GET A MORE HOLISTIC PICTURE AND DR. CONTRERAS YOU ARE SPOT ON WITH THAT SUGGESTION. THEY'RE THANKFUL FOR THAT TIME TO BE ABLE TO WORK. I'VE HAD STUDENTS TALK TO ME AND THANK ME AND SAY THANK YOU. I'VE GOT TIME TO CATCH UP ON MY CLASSES. I AGREE WITH YOU THIS IS NOT A ONE STOP AND SHOP -- ONE STOP DONE SHOP BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE TREATING IT THAT WAY EITHER. I THINK WE'RE GIVING OUR EMPLOYEES A LITTLE MORE LIKE I SAID HOLISTIC APPROACH THEN JUST FLING SOME MONEY AT THEM AND BE DONE. WE'RE AT LEAST GIVING THEM THAT RESPECT I HOPE. THEY SEEM TO BE TAKING IT IN SUCH MANNER. RESCINDING THE MOTION. WOULD THAT MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR

166YOU DR. CONTRERAS TO STEP BACK FROM A MOTION AND SAY CAN WE LOOK AT SOMETHING NEXT MEETING -- >> I CAN TELL YOU THAT I CAN TAKE ANY OF THE POSITIONS IN THIS BUDGET AND CHANGE POSITIONS INTO MONEY FOR BONUSES. I STILL CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH UNLESS YOU TELL ME AS A BOARD WHAT YOU WANT THAT TO GO TO OR WHO YOU WANT IT TO GO TO. SO IF YOU SAY SOME DISTRICTS GAVE IT TO ALL EMPLOYEES. AND THAT'S THE OTHER THING I THINK WE DON'T HAVE A SENSE OF. MOST OF THE SURROUNDING DISTRICTS AREN'T NEAR THE SIZE OF GUILFORD. SO GIVEN $5,000 TO A DISTRICT WITH 500 EMPLOYEES IS NOT THE SAME AS GUILFORD COUNTY SPENDING 37 MILLION TO GIVE EVERY EMPLOYEE $5,000. IT'S JUST DIFFERENT. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE CAN

167FIND ANOTHER 8 MILLION IF WE REMOVE THE COUNSELORS, THE NURSES, THE MOBILE BUSES FOR TUTORING. WE CAN DO THAT. BUT I NEED TO KNOW IS THAT JUST FOR TEACHERS OR IS THIS FOR ALL 10,000 EMPLOYEES. THE. >> GIVEN THE FACT WE'VE ALREADY GOT BONUSES BUILT IN FOR NUTRITION STAFF AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHY DON'T WE FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE MAKE THIS -- LET'S LOOK AT TEACHERS. >> AND SUPPORT TEACHERS LIKE SUPPORT STAFF LIKE COWNLTS AND LIBRARY MEDIA PEOPLE BAWG THEY'RE ALL IN THE SAME BUILDING. >> YEAH. THAT SOUND GOOD. >> HOW MANY PEOPLE IS THAT IN TOTAL? >> THERE AGAIN -- >> [OFF MIC] >> OKAY. APPROXIMATELY 5600 PEOPLE TO PROVIDE BONUSES FOR. >> AND WE DO HAVE HOLES IN OUR CURRENT STAFFING. SO IF THERE'S ANY EXTRA MONEY FROM PERSONNEL THAT FROM POSITIONS THAT

168WE AREN'T PAYING OUT -- WHAT ELSE? YOU KNOW I'M A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR THE COUNSELOR AND NURSES POSITION SO I THINK YOU GUYS KNOW THAT'S BEEN A THING FOR ME. >> YOU MEAN THE ESSR BUDGET BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TAKE THE STAFFING MONEY IN THE GENERAL FUND. IS THAT RIGHT? >> THE STATE IS -- WE CAN'T CONVERT THAT FOR STAFFING. FOR TEACHER POSITIONS IF THEY'RE VACANT WE CAN'T USE THOSE DOLLARS -- WE CAN'T CONVERT THOSE DOLLARS TO OTHER DOLLARS. FOR BONUSES. ALSO WHAT WE'RE SAVING IN LOCAL TEACHER POSITIONS WE'RE SPENDING ON THE SUBS AND PAYING THE TEACHERS TO USE THEIR PLANNING TIME TO COVER SO WE'VE ALREADY REDIRECTED THOSE DOLLARS. >> GREAT THANK YOU. 5650 TO PROVIDE SOME BONUS FOR 5650 PEOPLE AND THAT'S THE TEACHERS AND SUPPORT AND I WOULD LIKE DR. MORRISON TO PLEASE

169TELL US WHO THAT INCLUDES SO THAT THE BOARD IS CLEAR IN WHO THE SUPPORT STAFF ARE. >> WHAT'S THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR? >> THERE'S NOT A MOTION. >> LICENSED PERSONNEL IN SCHOOLS AND THAT WOULD BE YOUR TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, MEDIA SPECIALISTS, YOUR FACILITATORS, YOUR INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES, INSTRUCTIONAL FOLKS IN THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS. >> CAN YOU SAY IT AGAIN. >> THIS IS INSTRUCTIONAL LICENSED PERSONNEL IN THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS THAT'S LIKE YOUR COUNSELORS, YOUR TEACH TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, MEDIA SPECIALISTS, INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES, FACILITATORS -- THESE ARE NOT YOUR LICENSED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE LEVELS. >> SCHOOL-BASED LICENSED PERSONNEL -- PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL. >> THOSE STAFF IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS. >> THEY INCLUDE SOCIAL WORKERS? >> YEAH. >> DIANNE. >> THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT MADAM CHAIR YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T WANT BUT I WOULD HAVE TO SAY OKAY YOU'VE GOT

170TEACHERS ASSISTANTS IN THE CLASSROOM SOME OF THEM COVERING CLASS BECAUSE OF THE TEACHER SHORTAGE. OKAY YOU'VE GOT OFFICE PERSONNEL WHO ARE THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE COME IN CONTACT WITH SO THEY'VE BEEN ON THE FRONTLINE. I MEAN IF YOU START DOWN THIS ROAD, YOU KNOW SOME OF US ARE GOING TO CATCH IT FROM CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WE WOULD DO THIS FOR HALF OF OUR GCS FOLK AND LEAVE THE OTHERS -- THAT'S TALKING ABOUT THE DEVALUING OF CERTAIN POSITIONS. THERE ARE PERSONS [INDISCERNIBLE] AND EXPOSING THEMSELVES TO PICKING UP MASKS. I NOTICED THAT MASK IS STILL THERE. NOBODY'S TOUCHED IT AND IT WAS LEFT HERE NOW I'M SURE THAT THE CUSTODIAN STAFF WHEN WE LEAVE HE HAS TO DO IT. SO IS HE NOT VALUABLE? SHOULD HE NOT GET A BONUS? >> YES HE

171SHOULD. >> I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU SART DOWN THIS ROAD THEN WE NEED TO DO ALL 10,000 EMPLOYEES. [ SPEAKING AT THE SAME TIME ] >> MAYBE A MOTION INSTEAD OF PICKING WHAT IT IS YOU'RE WANTING TO CONSIDER. >> YOU'RE DOING -- WE CAN'T SIT HERE AND DECIDE WHO SHOULD AND WHO SHOULDN'T. >> LET'S VOTE -- >> I CALL THE QUESTION. >> WHAT'S THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR? >> YOU CAN RESTATE YOUR EARLIER MOTION OR MAKE A NEW MOTION DEBORAH IN LIGHT OF THE CONVERSATION. >> I BELIEVE THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR WAS TO INSTRUCT THE SUPERINTENDENT TO BRING TO THE BOARD A PLAN TO PROVIDE BONUSES BUT THEN THERE WAS AN AWFUL LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IT WAS AND WASN'T AND WHO WAS INCLUDED SO BEYOND THAT I COULDN'T TELL YOU. >> I

172DON'T THINK THERE WAS A SECOND. LINDA, THAT'S RIGHT. >> I SECONDED HER MOTION. >> [OFF MIC] >> TO -- I SECONDED M RS. NAPPER'S MOTION TO ASK THE SUPERINTENDENT TO INVESTIGATE WHAT OPTIONS WE HAD TO PROVIDE BONUSES TO THE TEACHING STAFF. THAT WAS WHERE WE WERE. NOW IT'S KIND OF GOTTEN A LITTLE BROADER BUT THAT WAS WHAT I BELIEVE THE MOTION WAS. >> SO THAT'S THE MOTION YOU'RE STICKING WITH? ALL RIGHT. PLEASE VOTE. >> WAS THERE A DEADLINE? WAS IT -- >> NEXT MEETING. >> BY THE NEXT MEETING. OKAY. >> AND THAP PASSES BY A VOTE OF 5 TO 4. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOW AT CLOSED SESSION. IS THERE A MOTION? >> I MOVE WE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO PRESERVE THE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE AND TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS PROTECTED BY STATE LAW.

173>> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? WE NEED TO COME BACK IN OPEN SESSION? WE WILL? >> WE HAVE TO VOTE. >> OKAY WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK IN OPEN SESSION? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. >> DO YOU WANT TO DO YOUR CLOSING COMMENTS? >> NO WE HAVE TO COME BACK. >> WE ARE NOW AT BOARD COMMENTS AND I WILL START WITH DEBORAH. >> FIRST OFF I WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I HATED MISSING THE KNIGHT HAWKS GAME LAST FRIDAY. I SAW CLIPS AND EVERYBODY THAT WAS THERE SAID IT WAS LIKE AN NFL GAME SO CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE WHIRLIES FOR TAKING IT. IT WAS A SIGHT TO SEE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AFTER TONIGHT'S DEBATE YOU KNOW I JUST WANT TO SAY WE'RE --

174WE RATHER ARE GENUINELY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SHOW OUR STAFF WHAT THEIR VALUE IS AND HOW WE APPRECIATE YOU STICKING WITH IT. THE EXAMPLE THAT COMES TO MIND IS MY DAUGHTER SABRINA'S TEACHER WHEN COVID FIRST HIT SHE HAD JUST GRADUATED FROM A&T IN DECEMBER, TOOK OVER THE CLASSROOM WAS IN THAT CLASS FOR 6 WEEKS WHEN COVID HIT. AND IN ONE WEEK HAD TO GO FROM JUST SETTING UP HER CLASSROOM AND MAYBE STARTING TO FEEL LIKE SHE HAD HER FEET UP UNDERNEATH HER TO A COMPLETE PIVOT WITH 7 DAYS PREP WORK INTO DIGITAL ONLINE LEARNING. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TO WATCH HER AND I KNOW THE EFFORT THAT WENT INTO THAT AND I KNOW THE EFFORT ALL OUR TEACHERS PUT INTO ALL OF THIS COVID EVERYTHING AND WE JUST WANT TO FIND A GREAT WAY TO

175SAY THANK YO. AND WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT. EVEN IF IT DOESN'T WIND UP BEING MONEY. PLEASE KNOW ALL OF US AS DR. CONTRERAS AND DEENA MENTIONED, ALL OF US SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING. AND ALL US ESPECIALLY PAT AND MYSELF THOSE OF US WHO ARE KIDS SITTING IN THE CLASSROOM AND SEE FIRSTHAND EVERYTHING THAT'S BEING DONE. IT'S BEEN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND KNOCK ON WOOD, HOPEFULLY THE LIGHT OF THE END OF THE TUNNEL THIS TIME WITH THE COVID MESS IS NOT ANOTHER ONCOMING TRAIN. AM I RIGHT? I THINK THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. >> THANK YOU. ANITA. >> I HAVE BEEN ENJOYING MY FRIDAYS NOT THIS ONE BUT THE PAST SEVERAL VISITING SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT. UM, WHAT I HAD SEEN IS LEARNING GOING ON, KIDS AND TEACHERS WORKING HARD. I'VE SEEN CLEAN FACILITIES,

176OLD BUT CLEAN. I'VE SEEN SOME PRETTY SAD THINGS WITH THE SHAPE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE IN. THE PHYSICAL SHAPE OF THE BUILDINGS BUT THE KIDS ARE AMAZING. UM, YOU SEE THE OCCASIONAL PULL YOUR MASK UP BUT FOR THE MOST PART THE KIDS ARE GOING ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL DAY AND LEARNING AND OUR TEACHERS GOING ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL DAY TEACHING AND I WAS IMPRESSED TO NO EPPED BY WHAT I SAW IN OUR SCHOOLS AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERY SINGLE TEACHER, PRINCIPAL, CUSTODIAN, OFFICE WORKER AND THE SCHOOLS THAT THAT I VISITED AND THE ONES I'VE YET TO VISIT FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THEY PUT IN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. PAT. >> THANK YOU. HAD AN OPPORTUNITY REALLY TO BE A PART OF SOME COMMUNITY DIALOGUE WITH BROOKS GLOBAL AND KAISER MIDDLE THANK YOU DR.

177OAKLEY AND DR. MARCH AND THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED SO I HATE TO START NAME DROPPING. BUT IT'S BEEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. I HOPE WE CAN GET MORE FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE AND I NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF HIGHLIGHTING THAT AND GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT BUT IT'S BEEN REALLY GOOD TO REALLY HEAR INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY MANY HAVE LIVED IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS A VERY LONG TIME PARTICULARLY WHERE BRAX WILL GO, THE OLD CRAVEN SITE AND TO HAVE HIGH CAPS IN ALL OF OUR PARTNERS, THE ARCHITECTS TOGETHER ON THE CALL THE QUESTIONS AND THE DIALOGUE HAVE BEEN REALLY EYE OPENING AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MORE OF THOSE AS WE MOVE ALONG AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THOSE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS TO JUMP ON

178AND AGAIN I'LL DO A BETTER JOB OF GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT AND GETTING THOSE LINKS OUT. ALSO IN LIGHT OF CELEBRATING AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH LONNIE. SOME OF YOU KNOW AND MANY YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE DON'T KNOW FIRST DAY OF AMERICAN INDIAN TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE ON THE CITY COUNCIL. HE REALLY PUSHED EARLY ON WITH HIS CONTACTS AT THE STATE LEVEL TO HAVE MORE NATIVE AMERICAN REPRESENTATION ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. ACTUALLY AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW I PLAYED A LOT OF SOFTBALL OVER THE YEARS AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HIM WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO GREENSBORO. THE HURLEY FAMILY, THEY WERE BIG SUPPORTERS OF HIS AND REALLY PERSUADED HIM TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE HERE SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT. THANK YOU EVERYONE

179FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING. ALL OF OUR TEACHERS AND AS WE HEAD INTO KIND OF THAT LAST STRETCH BEFORE EXAMS JUST ENCOURAGE THE STUDENTS TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE YOU'VE GOT MORE TO GIVE. I KNOW SOMETIMES THAT FEELS LIKE YOU DON'T BUT YOU DO AND JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE COUNTING ON YOU. THANKS. >> THANK YOU, PAT. KHEM. >> YES I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW I'M GRATEFUL TO ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS, OUR PRINCIPALS. YOU KNOW AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC AND I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY NOT OVER UNFORTUNATELY AND IT'S MORE WORK FOR US TO PUSH FORWARD, UM, TO DO, UM, I JUST ALSO WANT TO SAY TO THE SCHOOLS THAT I REPRESENT I KNOW THAT, UM, I HAVE BEEN SCARCE, UM, SIMPLY BECAUSE I'VE HAD TO DO SOMETHING FOR

180MY FAMILY MEMBER, MY MOTHER I'VE BEEN TAKING CARE OF MY MOM GOING BACK AND FORTH AND TRAVELING. SO DON'T THINK THAT I DON'T WANT TO COME OUT TO YOUR SCHOOL. I DO WANT TO BE ENGAGED WITH THE SCHOOL BUT I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING. UM, I'M AN ONLY CHILD I'LL LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT SO THE CARE IS ALL ON ME FOR MY PARENTS SO DON'T THINK THAT I DON'T WANT TO COME TO YOUR SCHOOL AND PLEASE DON'T SAY THAT I DON'T CARE AND THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. SO JUST, YOU KNOW FEEL FREE ALSO TO REACH OUT TO ME AND INVITE ME TO COME TO THINGS BECAUSE I WILL NOT JUST SHOW UP ON YOUR DOOR. I BELIEVE THAT I NEED TO BE EXTENDED AN

181INVITE TO COME TO YOUR SCHOOL BECAUSE SCHOOL IS HAPPENING AND BECAUSE SCHOOL IS HAPPENING REALLY DIFFERENT NOW, DEALING WITH COVID. I DON'T WANT TO BE CAUGHT UP IN, YOU KNOW, A QUARANTINE RIGHT NOW. I CAN'T AFFORD TO BE CAUGHT UP IN A QUARANTINE RIGHT NOW SO I'M ALSO BEING VERY CAREFUL ABOUT MY MOVEMENT AND BEING EXPOSED OR OVER EXPOSED OR NOT EXPOSED AND JUST BEING CAREFUL. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY YOU MAY NOT SEE ME OUT IN PUBLIC AS MUCH OR AT YOUR SCHOOL BECAUSE I'M CARING FOR A 77 YEAR OLD MOTHER AND I DON'T WANT HER TO BE EXPOSED. SO JUST KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ME PERSONALLY AND THAT I DO WANT TO COME OUT AND AS SOON AS THAT IS TAKEN CARE OF FOR HER I WILL

182TRY TO COME BACK OUT TO YOUR SCHOOL BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I SEE YOU. I DO SEE YOU AND PLEASE, UNJUST REACH OUT TO ME. I DO ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MR. MCQUERY SMALL. THE PERFORMANCE, YOU KNOW NOT JUST BECAUSE MY SON HAD A SOLO FOR THE FIRST TIME BUT IT WAS IMPRESSIVE TO HEAR THE VOICES AGAIN AND TO BE AT -- I WASN'T AT THE PERFORMANCE UNFORTUNATELY I HAD TO WATCH IT ONLINE BUT JUST TO SEE FAMILIES OUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW ENJOYING THEIR CHILDREN AGAIN. IT GAVE ME SOME HOPE THAT WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR JUNE THIRD GRADUATION. THAT'S MY DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY WHO LTS GRADUATED FROM KEN GRIFFIN DR. CONTRERAS SO THERE'S A LOT OF PERSONAL LITTLE THINGS THAT ARE

183HAPPENING FOR US THIS YEAR. I HAVE A SENIOR AGAIN GRADUATING FROM KEN GRIFFIN SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HIM FINISHING STRONG AND AGAIN THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT THE EDUCATORS ARE DOING AND PRINCIPALS. I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN. >> THANK YOU. BETTYE. >> HAPPY VETERANS DAY TO OUR VETERANS AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE FOR US. I WANT TO THANK ALL MY PRINCIPLES PRINCIPALS. I WANT AROUND TO ALL 16 SCHOOLS AND TOOK THEM A LOVE GIFT TO SHOW THEM HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THEM FOR ALL THE HARD WORK. AS FAR AS OUR COMMUNITY SESSION FOR THE HAMPTON PERFORMING ARTS I WOULD SAY THE ONE WE HAD WAS PHENOMENAL. WE HAD A LOT OF INPUT, A LOT OF COMMENTS AND WE REALLY MADE A CONNECTION WITH OUR COMMUNITY

184AND SO WE DEFINITELY WANT THEM TO COME BACK TO ASSIST US WITH IDEAS WHEN WE HAVE OUR NEXT ONE. TO OUR TEACHERS, OUR COMPLETE STAFF FOR GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING AND WE KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. WITH THAT BEING SAID I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. UM, BETTYE. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE, UM, THE, UM, INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH. BY ALSO SAYING THAT WE DON'T HAVE A PRETTY HISTORY AND I KNOW TALKING ABOUT HISTORY HAS TURNED INTO SOMETHING BECAUSE INFORMATION IS NOT TO BE TOLD IF IT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL BAD. SO WHILE NORTH CAROLINA IS HOME TO THE LARGEST POPULATION OF NATIVE AMERICANS AND AMERICAN INDIANS EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI IT IS HARD TO ACTUALLY CAPTURE NOT ONLY THE NUMBER AS WE

185HAVE LAWS AROUND BLOOD QUANTIFICATION, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NATIVE AMERICAN OR AMERICAN INDIAN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE FACT THAT THAT'S THE CASE IS NOT BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST DECIDED TO GO CERTAIN PLACES BUT ANDREW JACKSON WHO IS THE AUTHOR OF THE INDIAN REMOVAL ACT WHO ORDERED THE FORCED REMOVAL OF NATIVE AMERICANS FROM LAND EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI TO LANDS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI. THE TRAIL OF TEARS WHERE THOUSANDS AND MANY, MANY MORE AMERICAN INDIANS, NATIVE AMERICANS DIED IN THAT JOURNEY BUT WERE RELOCATED OFTEN TIMES TO BARRON LAND TO A LAND THAT WAS NOT SUITABLE FOR THEIR CULTURE AND WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE FOOD, THE MEDICINE, THE TRADITIONS AND THEIR PRACTICES OF THEIR TRIBES. AND SO WHILE WE'RE CELEBRATING WE ALSO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHY WE EVEN HAVE TO RECOGNIZE CERTAIN

186PEOPLE IN THE SOCIETY BECAUSE OUR GOAL WAS EXTERMINATION AND THE EXISTENTIAL OF AMERICAN INDIAN PEOPLE. YOU KNOW THE WHOLE BOARDING SCHOOL PLAN WAS TO TRY TO KILL THE SAVAGE AND SAVE THE CITIZEN OR THE PERSON. SO WE JUST HAVE TO BE ACCURATE. ONE OF THE SPEAKERS JUST INCREDIBLE DISTORTION OF HISTORY TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT THOMAS JEFFERSON AND, YOU KNOW ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL AND AT THE SAME TIME FATHERED CHILDREN WITH A NEGRO WOMAN THAT HE OWNED. I MEAN I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU MAKE THAT RIGHT. SO WE HAVE TO MODEL HOW WE CAN BE HONEST, HOW WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE AMERICA'S PROGRESS AND AMERICA'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ALSO SOME THINGS THAT WE GOT REALLY WRONG. AND WE CAN DO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. WE CAN BRIDGE THIS DIVIDE OR WE CAN DRAW LINES IN THE SAND AND

187CREATE A VERY DANGEROUS SOCIETY WHICH I'M AFRAID WE'VE DONE. SO I HOPE THAT WE WILL WORK TOGETHER ON HOW WE TALK ABOUT OUR HISTORY IN WAYS THAT REFLECT THE TRUTH AND IN WAYS THAT DON'T MAKE ANYONE FEEL BAD BECAUSE THE INFORMATION THAT IS REFLECTED IN OUR HISTORY HAS MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL BAD ABOUT WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY COME FROM. AND NO GROUP OF PEOPLE OF ANY DIFFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO FEEL THAT WAY. SO WITH THAT SAID I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO JUST SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN, UM, A VERY DISTURBING MONTH OR 6 WEEKS OR 2 MONTHS AS THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS NOTIFIED MYSELF AND VICE CHAIR WINSTON MCGREGORYER OF SERIOUS SITUATIONS AND FATAL SITUATIONS INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE. AND SHE IS ON THE PHONE, SHE IS GATHERING RESOURCES FOR DOOR DASH

188AND INSTA CART AND HOTEL ROOMS AND WE WERE WITH MARSHALL LAST NIGHT AND GREG LAST NIGHT AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT CONE. CONSOLING FAMILIES AND SUPPORTING EACH OTHER AND SO WHILE WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING BEHIND THE SCENES IT IS UNBELIEVABLE TRAGIC THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND THAT'S A LOT FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT TO -- AND HER STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED LONG HARD DAYS THEN SHOW UP IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT THE SCENE OF A CASH AT THE HOME OF A FAMILY MEMBER TO OFFER THEIR SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU DR. CONTRERAS FOR THE WAY YOU SHOW UP FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THANK YOU TO YOUR STAFF. THANK YOU MARSHALL AND GREG AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE, ALL OF YOU THAT I HAVE SEEN YOUR TEXTING MESSAGES,

189SROS WERE THERE, MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PEOPLE REALLY TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. >> I HAVE ONE UPDATE I JUST WANTED ALL OF THE STAFF TO KNOW BECAUSE WE ALREADY SEE SOME COMMENTS OUT THERE THAT THERE WILL BE NO RECOMMENDATION THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE FROM ME ALL 10,000 EMPLOYEES. SO I DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO THINK THAT WE WILL -- THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT WOULD PICK AND CHOOSE ONE EMPLOYEE GROUP OVER THE OTHER. THAT MIGHT MEAN THAT THE AMOUNT YOU RECEIVE ISN'T VERY LARGE BUT IT WOULD INCLUDE ALL 10,000 EMPLOYEES AND I WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THAT'S WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION WILL BE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND? >> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

190>> AYE. >> ALL RIGHT THANK YOU AND