001We'll call this meeting to order. Um, we'd like to go in close session for reasons stated in the online agenda. Do we have a motion to go in close session? >> Motion to go in close session. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> All right, we have a motion and a proper second. Any discussion? All right, all those in favor? I >> I >> opposed. All right, motion carries. We will now be in close session. Emma dog service and overseas from London to the streets of Kevin St. Can two stressful.com is yours. Just 24%. Insect has too soon. All right. Thank you. All right. We'll go move right down to recognitions. >> Good evening, Chair Athetherton, Vice Chair Padilla, Dr. Jones, all members of the board and folks who are gathered here. As you
002know, the start to this whole school year has been busy and filled with lots of activities and we're going to try to catch you up quickly um and succinctly but thoroughly on all the things that have been going on. And that means we're going to pick you up with the start of the school year in year round calendarsboro Elementary School. As you saw in the abstract, we're just going to share a few images. You see the the theme for the year is what they call dolphins diving deep. And uh in in order to help you get into the spirit of what's going on this year with the dolphin dialogue and how everything is happening in the dolphin pod, we have asked our uh assistant principal Alexis McIll to be here. Principal Jessica Naj couldn't be
003with us this evening, but Miss McIll is going to share a little bit about what it means to dive deep and maybe take one minute to tell you what's been going with the school year as a lot of new staff and new students have been coming into the community. Hi, good evening. So, dolphins diving deep. We are diving deep into relationships into instruction, learning, everything that we're doing. Um, we're going deeper and um and that includes going into um explicit instruction. Our teachers this year have really hit the ground running. Uh they're meeting with their PLC's and looking at data and tracking student progress. and we've already seen some great things happening. >> Miss Mcigill was excited to tell us that there aren't any staff openings, which is really exciting way to start the school
004year as well. And when we get to the last picture in the bunch, I think you might see what dolphins diving deep means. And dolphin dialogue, I think it's that picture right there, Mr. Miller. Thank you. you know, instead of just saying something and walking on or expecting people to listen to you, there's been a push to ask students and staff alike to explain why they think something is so important and really cultivating this spirit of listening and mutuality. So, we're excited. Thank you, Mrs. McIll, uh, for bringing this and we're excited to share that the start of the school year has been smooth at year round Hillsboro Elementary School. There's been a lot of activity. Dr. Jones and others have been doing walkthroughs. Uh there have been some celebrity visits as well that you'll
005be seeing in uh the coming days and weeks. And so we're excited. Back to school fair. Again, just a very quick review because we know you have a long agenda this evening, but we are excited to celebrate the first ever back to school fair in Orange County schools on Saturday, August 9th. Um we were very very proud and pleased through the leadership of the family and community engagement committee. Uh Mrs. Kim, Miss Kim Degraphenreed, Dr. Jessica Dreer, Dr. Laneir's team, many, many people contributed and there were presenters in dozens of sessions over the course of a day between 12 and 4:00 on a very exciting day. All told, there were almost 300 individuals who either registered or attended. And that meant that there was so much interest being shown. Those 300 individuals actually represented 750
006or more students in the district. And so anyone who came during the day saw the activity, saw the positivity. And this is in the same spirit as the uh preparing for middle school event which was back in March where we had 350 middle school students and their families coming out literally just to learn more about transitioning to middle school. And so in the spirit of helping families and our community, because this event was open to everyone in the entire community, any family, regardless of their residence, regardless of their enrollment status, regardless of age, any family, children, and adults could come and participate and just get to know what's happening in Orange County schools. And they did. We had people representing homeschool, representing private schools, representing charter schools coming from outside the county. a really exciting
007opportunity for us. And so, um, it's we're looking forward to more and more engagement activities like this because the family and community engagement committee has brought together a huge calendar of events that you're going to be hearing about more and more this year. So, just celebrating the fact that that is designed to spur energy for openhouse, which is coming up on August 21st. And as you see in the abstract, and we encourage everyone to keep following this material on our on your page on assembly, we want to remind everyone that elementary school open house is from 4:30 to 6:30 Thursday night. Middle school open houses from 5 to 7:00. High school open house is from 5:30 to 7:30. And you can find all of this information. We risk repeating ourselves because we've emailed it a
008few times to our community, but we want to remind everyone the back tochool guide is your best source of information and you can go anytime you want 247 to orangeountfirst.com/backtoschool and you'll find many things that are clearly helpful there because the response has been hugely positive. So, thanks for letting us share that update with you. Finally, Mrs. graph. We want to call out uh the finance team because um congratulations are in order and leadership really does matter. Under the leadership of chief finance officer Ronda Wrath, the finance team has earned the certificate of excellence in financial reporting for their uh fiscal year 2024 annual comprehensive financial report given out by ASBO, the Association of School Business Officials International. And it's a big deal because not everyone who applies wins. There are three results when you
009apply for this certificate. You could be awarded the certificate. You could be granted a provisional or conditional certificate with things to correct. Or you could be denied. Orange County Schools earned the certificate and has earned it for a number of years in a row. In fact, we kept looking back and I don't think we we didn't find the bottom. So, um, hugely proud of the finance team because you have to prepare your financial statements following GAP, right? the generally account uh generally accepted accounting principles, issue that report and submit it for evaluation in this rigorous program. Uh the letter had a quote that we wanted to share with everyone and we sent it to the news because we think this is really important for folks to hear. Your continued participation in the certificate of excellence
010program is a testament to your district's commitment to transparency and highquality financial reporting and it's an objective program. Um, these are reviewed by school finance professionals who are experts in their field and reviewers can't be from the same state. So, this is a really important process that testifies to the work of the finance team and the overall approach of the district. So, we want to recognize and ask you to recognize Mrs. Wrath and the finance team for their award earned in service to Orange County Schools and to the whole community. Thank you. Those are our recognitions this evening. Thank you. >> Yeah, I would just like to add we would our district wouldn't be in the financial stability without your guidance and your support of all of your staff with hearing about all the challenges
011in every other district. I just want to express gratitude for what you do and making it transparent for all of us to understand and the tradeoffs of anything we look at. >> I appreciate that and I just want to come up here tonight to say it is not me. It takes all of us and that includes you as well as all of my colleagues as well as everyone who is in the district. So this award is all of us. So, um, we have a great district, we have a great finance team, and and thank you. But again, congratulations goes to all of us. >> Absolutely. [Applause] All right. Um, next we have our agenda adoption. Um I do know uh pulling the board committee structure to make a a minor change. Uh are there other
012uh items to pull >> to pull the finance um five and six off consent? That was the budget um let's see five is the is the um budget approval and the sec second six is the federal programs. >> All right. Uh board, are you okay adding those items directly after uh approving consent? Hearing no concern, we will move those to right after um approving the consent agenda 3, five, and six. All right. Do we have a motion to approve the agenda with those changes? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> We have a motion and second. Any further discussion hearing? None. All in favor? I >> I >> opposed. All right. Motion carries. >> Mr. Dia, do we have any public comments tonight? >> We do not have any public comments. >> All right. Thank
013you. We'll move on uh over to board comments. Um Miss Hower, would you like to start us off? >> Sure. Um, first I just wanted to start by welcoming back our students, teachers, and staff. And I hope everybody had an incredible summer. Um, Orange County Schools is clearly in full swing. Um, Miss uh, Mr. Smith mentioned the back to school event which was fantastic. We had the summer careers academy graduation, dolphins diving deep. I mean, these are great things, but it all came together today um, at the OCS Stars Conference. And I would just say I could not be prouder to be in service to Orange County schools after today. Um it was great to see all the Orange County school stars in one place supported by community sponsors. And I just had to do
014a little shout out to Grace Church who upgraded our AV system and it made it possible and made it we were sure that everybody heard every important word that was said. It was fantastic. and then the Han Education Company who gave a $20,000 classroom makeover to one of our teachers and there was even a little trailer outside that had samples of everything. So, some of us had a little shopping trip during the conference. So, it was great. So, it was a great day for Orange County Schools. >> Thank you, uh, Miss Purcell. >> Well, I would like to reiterate what um, Miss Hower said. That was a absolutely fantastic day there and I appreciate all the hard work that our um uh leadership team and Dr. Jones has done to get this up and running
015and and there today. It was it was absolutely phenomenal. Um I would also like to give a shout out to our um summer careers graduation that we had on August the 7th. We had about 15 students that graduated after working with uh various companies during the summer uh getting experience, some of them getting jobs that are um hopefully coming when they finish school or if they are had already finished school. Uh that was exciting to see and um I enjoyed being a part of that. And I'd just like to say welcome back to school to everybody. It is um a fun time of year. I remember the excitement and the um the apprehension that comes with it, but it is also um a really great time of the year, great time to be an educator,
016great time to be a student because it's um starting something new and it's um it's new for everybody and everybody's excited. So, welcome back to everybody and thank you for what you do. Um, summer went by really fast. Um, but today was um, great at the Stars of Education conference and um, I just wanted to um, appreciate um, some of the messages from the speakers um, at the morning session. Um, Dr. Jones, you and Mr. Johnson both well I really appreciated that you spoke about collective teacher efficacy as the thing that makes the biggest difference for students which is really about groups of teachers working together believing that it is possible for them to impact every single student in their classrooms and then working together to figure out how to do that. um just really
017uh appreciated you calling that out and and the energy in the room was very positive and I hope we see lots of collective teacher efficacy um this year. So uh happy back to school everybody. >> Thank you. um some of the same things that other people mentioned. Um couple schools I got to see uh at different points this summer. I just want to give a shout out to our operations team and um it's exciting to see things um come to completion like the renovation of the band room and that whole wing at um Orange High School and just see schools ready to receive students um and um just hear how responsive staff has been to um students uh with situations over the summer. Um and we had a great board retreat. I found that to
018be um a really constructive time together. Um and also I got to uh go to the the fair. I thought the fair was excellent. It was really robust. Um and there were so many different um groups represented at tables and engaging people who were there. Um as well as I was um I was really inspired this this morning um at the um the the Stars of Education kickoff. So, um, just a lot of positive energy, um, that I think really reflects well in the work that's being done in our district. So, hoping everyone has a great start to their year. >> Excellent. Yes, I uh I attended at a lot of the events that they were mentioned today and I want to say this morning I was super pumped and inspired by the speeches and
019um I will share the sections that were not mentioned that I attended. Um they're all community- based. I attended a um gala with Leela over the weekend that supports the LGBTQ plus AI. their main focus is supporting the Latinx community and their families. Um, I also enjoyed the board retreat. I thought it was u very we are going to learn to work better together which is exciting. Um, I attended the Orange County opio opioid settlement um annual meeting on Saturday. Also, I went with Bonnie. Bonnie worked really hard the Efflin back to school bash which was fun. Um, and I attended uh the virtual chair and vice chair for the whole state of uh North Carolina with the chair. And um I like to share something. It is an honor to be the vice chair
020for this 2025 2026 school year. I look forward to collaborate in finding ways to empower our community in in our in um in our student body and let's make it a great year. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So, just wanted to start by saying uh thank you HS. You've already started the year, got us going. It was great to see the teachers as everyone mentioned. uh at the stars of education conference. I just wanted to thank staff for all the hard work putting that on. It shows. I remember the first version of that and how much it's evolved and just the energy and excitement and talking to staff and hearing every event they wanted to go to, what they were going to learn, whether they were teaching in it or whether they were there
021to learn. And there was a lot of excitement around the new math curriculum and how that's going to fit and uh was really excited to see that and also all the different areas for all staff. Um I really enjoyed seeing that. So thank you all for everyone that put that on and helped u put it together. Um I did want to mention as well um the Orange High School renovations. Uh very impressive. Uh I just want to mention the fieldhouse that has been long overdue. It is great to see that that is been brought up to date. The cafeteria looks really nice. Uh all the painting in there, the band room looks larger. Uh I think it'll be a lot easier to get in and out of. Um and also the student area. Now they
022have a nice area right outside where they can gather, uh have their lunch. So, it's really nice to see a lot of those improvements. I do know we had lots of other improvements at schools and uh really excited to hear about those. Um I also just wanted to share um the appreciation of the board retreat, everyone coming in and sharing their thoughts and ideas around how we can work better together. And really appreciate the time of staff coming in and talking about um our strategic plan. uh this is the last year of it and how we're going to engage the community and ensure that our next strategic plan is our community's plan as well. So with that, thank you all for coming tonight as well. All right, superintendent. >> Good evening, Chair Atherton, uh Vice
023Chair Padilla, members of the board, students, staff, and community members. Well, as you have heard, it is an exciting time in Orange County schools and uh we have had lots of great events. Thank you, Miss McGill, for being here to represent HS. They have had a wonderful opening. Um we are excited about all the work that they are doing to dive deep for the students that they support. Um we've also, you mentioned the back to school fair. I was very pleasantly surprised. I brought my daughter who was here from uh out of town and she enjoyed herself very much as well. Um but that took a lot of work from staff along with um today's event with um our uh stars of education. And so I just really want to thank all of the staff
024for um just being considerate and mindful of all of the things that our teachers and staff have asked for. Today's event was professional development for every single staff member in our district um to be able to support the students in in in this community better. And so, uh, I just really appreciate the intentionality around that and all of the work that it took. We did have a lot of great sponsors. And so, I've I think I've said before that this Orange County Schools is very unique and when the community needs to come together, they come together. And so, we are looking forward to that positive energy um, going throughout this school year. Um, this is what we pro is going to be the best year yet for Orange County schools that we're walking into. Um,
025I do want to reiterate that this fall we are going to begin the year-long process of looking at our strategic plan again and aligning our goals and priorities. There will be lots of opportunity for our community to engage with that, for our students to engage with us and our staff. So, we're very excited about that and crafting that so that that can set the stage for the next five years of what we hope to accomplish. Um, and we're also looking to um engage our community on these bond projects that are coming up, especially the new school. Very excited about that. Um, it is a process. It's going to take a minute. It won't be here next year, but um we're excited to get thoughts and ideas from our community. Um, it has been a productive
026summer. It's going to be a great school year. We're off to a great start and, um, I'm just super proud of, uh, the staff and all of the work that they have done. I wanted to thank Miss Wrath for all of her hard work. If you want to hear no a couple of times, walk into her office. She'll tell you. We can't do that right now, but um, and it takes a lot of courage to tell me that. Yeah. So, thank you, Miss Wrath, for your leadership in our finance department. Um, and that concludes my comments. I I do want to just thank the board for a great retreat and for all of your support and for being here today to support our stars of Ed uh conference and the back to school fair. Um,
027it it's great for people to see you out in in support in that way. and you said, you know, the retreat was to help you to work better together, but I think you you are really doing a great job of that and I appreciate it as your superintendent. That concludes my comments. >> Thank you, Dr. Jones. All right, we're now at our consent agenda. Uh, do we have a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> We have a motion, a second. Uh, any further discussion hearing? None. All in favor? I >> I. >> Any objections? All right. Motion carries. We have uh next the board committee structure. Um I would just like to add uh Miss Wendy Padilla to the Family Success Alliance. Um as uh it was a mistake missing from
028that. Um so I'd like to recommend uh that change to the board committee structure. Uh do we have a motion or any further discussion on impro approving that >> motion to approve? >> We have a motion with the change. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. Uh all in favor? I >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Uh next we have the FY 2026 final budget approval >> uh budget resolution. Mer. >> Yeah. I I wanted to I pulled this I I just um am incredibly grateful to Mrs. Wrath for our budget and you know Mr. Atherton mentioned one part of it. The other part is that our staff it creates a very stable and predictable environment for our staff and if
029you talk to staff in other districts you'll learn what it's like to not have Mrs. Wrath at the helm. So um but and so if you look at the the consent agenda Mrs. Wrath is asking us to approve the budget tonight without a state budget approved. And I thought it was important for you to just give us a minute on on why that's important to do that and and what does it allow you to do that you wouldn't be able to do without the budget. >> Sure. So, um, this allows us to put a pin in the map, for lack of a better term, as as a starting point, um, for the district, uh, for going forward as far as a fund, uh, spending plan goes. We know what our funds are from, um, our
030local appropriation. We are operating up under the continuation budget and the mini bill that was just passed from the state. Should the our legislators come back into session and pass further legislation after you have approved your budget this evening, we will just amend your budget going forward. So, um, again, this is a a a starting point, um, for us to be able to to start as our spending plan, uh, going forward for this fiscal year. >> Thank you. And just to clarify the the this will allow you to implement step in salary increases, so years of service increases that our staff gets, but of course, we know the state has not provided any raises. So the mini budget bill did allow for the step increase only. So um that is what that state mini budget
031bill um implemented which we will then move forward with implementing as well. It will also um allow us to implement the uh classified uh 38s of a percent step increase that is in our local classified scales. It will um allow us to do that as well. >> So, so bare minimum, but it allows us to do something. I appreciate that. You you mentioned there's two two questions about fund balance. You mentioned a capital fund balance and I I had actually never seen that before, never noticed it before. um what what is that and how much money do we have in it and is it encumbered and also what happened to our operating fund balance? >> So um we have fund balance in both um so for lack of a better term you have a savings
032account that is in your operating and you also have one that is um associated with your capital. The capital um is roughly $1.8 8 million is what is there uh currently um that balance has um been at that for a good little period of time. It's basically um from those recurring capital items in previous years where we received those funds and um they weren't spent in the year and so they were rolled into fund balance. Do we have a requirement to keep that or could we if there was a need could we use the capital fund balance? >> So you can use the capital fund balance uh for one-time expenditures. Um there is not a requirement to keep it. Um I would just heed caution. >> Yes, we like that. We like that. Um and
033then on the operating fund balance, where is that? So, um, we're in the process of closing out our fiscal year, uh, currently that ended on June the 30th. Um, so basically keeping not getting too much in the weeds, but we continue to receive invoices from our vendors all the way up to now that even proceed to work that was done in June. So, we have to apply those to last fiscal year. So until our audit is complete, that continues to happen. So we won't really know what our fund balance is until our audit is totally complete. Um we ended last fiscal year with um approximately 3 million as our fund balance. Um I am anticipating that you will put money back in fund balance this fiscal year. >> Okay. Thank you. I have. >> All
034right. Can we get a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve. >> Can we get a second? >> Second. >> Uh, we have a motion second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I >> I opposed. Motion carries. Thank you, Miss Rob. >> All right. Next we have the uh federal grants program uh consolidation applications for title one, two, three, and four. >> Miss Hower? >> Yeah. I just just some really simple questions and of course thank goodness the federal government has not has has not frozen those funds and we are getting all of them. Correct. >> That that is correct. That that has been released the ones that were frozen. >> Yes. So, um, they're a little bit less than they were in prior years, and I'm just cur all of them were,
035and it's all in the agenda packet. I just c curious why they're they're declining. I'm going to interject a little bit and then I'm going to let her step in. So, last year, if you'll recall, a lot of our federal budgets did have ESSER still in them and a lot of ESSER carryover. So our federal budget was higher um last year when you're you know comparing it to a previous year because ESSER expired in September 30th of 2024. So uh that's your primary difference when you're looking at your federal bud budgets and then of course as as the narrative has said uh we are seeing federal those b other budgets decrease and um so that is result of where we are now but the primary decrease is associated with those er funds that are not
036there any longer. And also thinking about federal funds are budgeted across the whole nation and across our state. And so how uh other districts are doing in our state as far as their growth in poverty or their growth in EL even if the same amount is allocated across the state when different areas go up and down it will impact our funding because it's a piece of the whole. So that happens nationwide and also statewide. And so we'll see fluctuations in our funding, federal funding due to the demand load across the whole system as well as our enrollment. >> Got it. Got it. Thank you. I um that's very helpful. So we should expect that we should expect this to continue. >> So I would say that uh so sorry. I would say that every year
037is depend it's a depends answer right uh we do see that federal uh funds in title two and title four are decreasing they're not being funded at the rate that they were previously while um title one is holding pretty steady um the we're not sure about title three after this year so we'll just have to see when uh you know so every year as it depends in terms of what's being allocated and then again across the whole system as it's distribut buted um the rates of if if another district in our um in our area or in our state is growing more rapidly even though we're growing there that it may we we may see funds decrease because of the load on the system in another area. That makes sense. >> Interesting. >> And and
038just one other question, this is really helpful. Um on our C schools, the free and reduced lunch percentages are very high. Is that because they're C schools? >> Yes, that is why. >> Got it. All right. Any I have no other questions. >> All right. Can we get a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve. >> Get a second. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion second. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I >> I >> opposed. Motion carries. We're now down to our work session, starting with our bond and capital planning update. Good evening, Chair Aan, Vice Chair Padilla, uh Frederick Dave operations. Uh I just wanted to uh narrate and set the stage before we have our subject matter experts come and do the presentation. Uh tonight before you
039is kind of an anchor. Um this presentation is intended um for the board and the community with a high level approach or roadmap for the next three to four years as Dr. Jones has indicated on a strategic journey toward building a more efficient, sustainable and right-sized school district. Today's discussion focuses on immediate next steps um project proposals uh and a part of the broader phase effort that includes modernizing school facilities to support support student learning and involving instructional needs. Right sizing our infrastructure to align with current and projected enrollment patterns. Maximizing the impact of limited capital resources by prioritizing investments with the greatest long-term benefit. increasing operational efficiency across the district through more intentional use of space and resources. Um again, over the next several years, we'll move from planning, design to implementation, and construction
040guided by data, community input, and ongoing board engagement. Uh this is a long-term effort, and today's presentation is meant to be an anchor uh to the path of head. Uh we did receive those questions from Dr. Jones. um they had some specificity in their answers uh and I hope that the presentation will clear those up. However, if there are detailed questions after the presentation um led by Mr. Hess, I will come back to uh answer any of those questions that you may have. With that, I'll turn it over to Mr. Hess. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Davis, chair, vice chair, members of the board, Dr. Jones and the staff and community. Thank you. Uh my name is Steve Hess and I'm honored to be here tonight and we're going to provide a brief update
041on capital improvement plans for the next year. So we have four initiatives uh for the 2024 bond that we're working on this fall. The first initiative is the school attendance zone. We have engaged with OED who will uh speak a few minutes uh in a few minutes to um to restart their study of school attendance zones with a an engaged look at understanding the impact of the new Gral Hill Grally Hill Elementary School and um also in incorporate the Walpert study. So what they'll be doing is looking at attendance zones across the facilities uh across the portfolio but specifically the impact of the new uh elementary school as well to help us guide our decisions and that information will also be used later on when we engage a design team for the master plan of
042the overall portfolio. The second in initiative that we're taking is a new elementary school at Graly Hill RFQ, a request for qualifications for a design team to design uh the new elementary school. We anticipate having that RFQ out to the public per state procedures in September, shortlisting and interviewing and selecting a team in November to begin design the design process in a public engagement process for the new elementary school at Grley Hill. Uh the third initiative is a project management RFQ that will be uh an RFQ for project management and some staff augmentation for uh the facilities team to help administer the design processes for the new elementary school and for the master plan portfolio as along as well as capital improvement projects for the rest of the uh year and the fourth initiative is
043a portfolio management RFQ. So the process uh or the intent of the portfolio management RFQ as we have talked about in the past is to bring on a design team to look at the rest of the portfolio with the tent pole being Graly Hill Elementary School and figuring out how to best allocate the remaining uh 2024 bonds to efficiently improve our facilities across the portfolio. And that team will work handin glove with the O red team to make sure that we're, you know, aligning school attendance zones with facility condition assessments of projects. See, in the short term for 2025 2026 CIP planning, we're uh focusing on bundling projects that are informed by the facility condition assessments. And we want to bundle these projects to provide a greater efficiency in cost and time uh for our
044team. And what we're look our guiding priorities are comfort, safety, and service for the students and staff of Orange County schools. So comfort, we're looking at roofing projects and HVAC projects primarily safety, security, vestibules, life safety systems, fire alarm, and electrical upgrades. And then for service, we're looking at the media center at AL Standback and Orange Middle School improvements as well as the AL Standback uh middle school track in conjunction with the other two tracks. We've spoken with the athletic director and we have a a a plan in place to bundle those projects. And then um what I'm going to do now is introduce Mr. Palmer from OED to talk about how schools and communities can work together. Mr. Palmer. Thank you, Mr. Hess. And um good evening, Chair Atherton, Vice Chair Padilla, Dr. Jones,
045and members of the board as well as the OCS community. Um ORED is a public service planning consultancy. We're housed at NC State University. With me tonight are Mr. Thomas Dudley as well as Mr. Brian Godfrey. I wanted to just give you a general sense of how we work between schools and communities to get it right. Uh we have been working with Orange County our team for almost the past decade. And one of the things that we've talked long about is the growth for student enrollment in Orange County schools with particular emphasis on certain areas of the county that are growing rapidly. In so doing, when we look at that enrollment forecast, oftentimes the simplest way to think about planning for schools is a is a fraction of a numerator and a denominator. In the
046numerator, we have kids, our students, our young ones, all the way from kindergarten on through high school graduation. In the denominator are the capacities, those fixed assets of your buildings and your schools. Um so what we do within NC State within OED is we look at both the numerator denominator from a perspective of for student enrollment not only who has enrolled who's in the system today but who is likely to be so over the next 10 years to if you will meet the puck where it's going not just look at today's snapshot enrollment or the number of births that you had 5 years ago particularly given that it was a co year right we have to be looking at not only who who is currently in OCS, but who's going to be here in 10
047years to make sure that the number of seats that denominator matches the numerator. On the denominator side, um, one of the things that we're looking at with Orange County Schools is the development of a classroom database that's across all campuses. And what that will do is bring in those attributes from some of the work that you've already done. We don't want to spend time or your effort being redundant. We really want to build on the efforts that have already been deposited on behalf of Orange County Schools. That includes working with your academic leadership as well as operational leadership to make sure with absolute certainty that the buildings fit not only the students but your academic programs, right? Make sure that we have the proper spaces for all of your specialized programs, whether that's EC, ESL,
048AIG. Really looking at your instructional pedigogy and how you're teaching. So those two factors, how many students and how many seats sounds so simple and you all know it's not, right? In particular, the many layers of consideration and regulatory compliance you have here in Orange County. Uh we are here to be your partners through the journey to fit together not only at a district level, not only at a school level, but at a classroom and grade cohort level. HB90 in that class size is a huge indicator of your actual capacities by grade. That gets us into the right side of this slide and we're trying to take a lot of material and put it in one slide. But it it does help to have a conversation about where we're trying to get which is making
049sure that we've helped you all fully and completely identify the problems that you're trying to solve. Often times in public education it's in essential that we have the issue fully and transparently tacked down to say these are the things that we're trying to do. These are the options that we have. There can be conversation on both ends about the problems we're trying to solve as well as the solutions that are in your toolbox to solve those problems. Those solutions might include the adjustment of school boundaries, which has been a conversation in Orange County for some time. Modification of facilities, that's thinking about what is not only the seated capacity of a school, but what is the core capacity? thinking of car, thinking of the size of your cafeteria, thinking about all of the attributes of
050those school buildings to make sure that the schools in Orange County are designed, planned, and built under Mr. Davis's leadership as well as that of Dr. Jones to support academic instruction under Dr. PAC. This is really a team approach that we bring to you tonight. Uh and ultimately that does help inform the allocation of those capital funds. Recognizing that of the many responsibilities you have as a board, your fiscal stewardship um stable hands on the steering wheel, if you will, for the county and our kids, um is is what we're all here for. So, we're here to bring you good information, make sure that the problems you're trying to solve and tackle as a community are clearly laid out, the options are there with them, and to really bring some of the best work in
051the country here to Orange County Schools. I think with that um Mr. Hess I believe you're still here. Mr. Davis as well but um our team is here. This is again an overview of the services that we provide um and here to answer any questions you may have. >> Thank you Mr. Palmer. And with that I know you're itching to ask questions but just want to reiterate uh under Dr. Jones's leadership. I spent quite some time with her last week. Uh we are working on a cadence. This is all a part of a strategic goal of the board and the community. Uh and the the end game is a right-size efficient excellent school district in the name of facility utilization. Um I am certain that you will be the envy of the state when it
052comes to board leadership dealing with these task a new school and uh right sizing your district. Uh and so uh while we have a lot of questions posed in terms of specificity and details uh tonight we just wanted to lay out the groundwork uh breadcrumbs to the end which will be in 3 to four years from now. So any questions you have at this time we'll answer. >> I'll let others I'll let others go. >> Any Sarah? >> Thank you. Um, okay. So, let me go back. I think my question, um, it's probably for you, Mr. Davis. I'm not sure. Um, so on the I'm thinking about the the various initiatives and the various RFQS and sort of an overarching question I have, you know, there's a new elementary design. Mr. H talked about what
053other uses to put the bond money to. And the original, you know, uses that the county set out for us were two new buildings and like a major addition or restructure of one. Um, and so I'm a little concerned that we're talking about, it sounds like one school and potentially projects at the other. I know we don't know yet. I know we don't know yet, right? But, but it leads me to like how are we as we are putting out these RFQS for the new elementary, the project management, and the portfolio master plan. How are we what strategies are we using to build in cost control? Like how are we controlling costs intentionally in how we're even pursuing each of those things or the set of things so that we have enough money left to
054do big work with it beyond the one elementary school. >> Yes. Uh thank you for that question. Um and so uh the main goal was what would be the first priority out of the bond and the board established that the new elementary school would be that priority. Um and so once we set the parameters to establish that budget, uh that will be a fixed cost in which we will aim to provide a new school under that fixed cost budget. Um but because we know that time, scope, and money change, we want to make sure that we effectively plan the next round of projects that will include or have some uh metamorphosis on how much the money will go. And so, uh, I will say at this point, uh, the goal is to make improvements to
055our secondary schools and other major life cycle cycles throughout the district. However, uh, if we don't plan, we won't be able to adjust to the global economy that may uh, limit some of those uh, much neededed asks that we we set out to do. If that answers your question. >> So, is it um, how are we sort of aiming to control cost with the elementary school project in particular? >> Yes. So one of the things that we're doing is uh working on educational specifications uh mirrored with DPI which is state guidance along with our community and board impact uh to have us one utilization efficiency um in terms of energy efficiency. These things go into our master specs. uh they provides a guideline to our designers and our construction manager at risk to really make
056sure that our CCAP which our construction uh budget stays within the threshold of what we're uh setting to do. So getting a design team in early uh and also getting a construction manager team in early will help uh ensure that we can stay within that uh budgetary uh item for the new school. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. And then you're saying that doing the sort of master planning is a strategy for >> Yes. >> maximizing the rest of >> in some districts. Um you would see we just figure out the new elementary school and see whatever monies are available to then plan for the remainder. But what we're doing is planning simultaneously uh with the redistricting so that uh we're able to touch a multitude of schools uh in some way so that all communities uh
057ensure uh capital expenditure. >> Okay. I'll just be careful on that. I'll just say like that that last point I like I resonate with and the commissioners were like big projects not touch every school was their general orientation and you I think you know that and so yeah but we'll have to do what we can with the money that we have. Thank you. Yeah, I just want to piggyback on that because um we've we've been on this road before and it didn't go so well for us, but the an expectation was created with the voters and who just got their tax bills, but the voters who approved the bond that the bond money, you know, the commissioner said they would allocate a certain amount of funding for maintenance and maintaining all our schools, a portfolio
058of schools, but that the bond money would be used for major renovations to outdated schools. And there was a um an expectation and again we we don't have the details. We we have a report but um what the the reviews that were done of our schools um said that some of our schools were were really beyond being maintain maintainable and that they needed to be replaced. And so how are we going to with the portfolio? How how are you going to revisit the state of our schools and this conversation with the commissioners? >> Yes. So we're in constant dialogue uh with um the county manager. Um we actually are working together on how to provide the information to answer and address some of those questions with the community. Um I will say that Dr. Jones
059has put together an exceptional team that has built a numerous schools in a short period of time. Um and so while uh it may be new to some um we're in a good position here in Orange County uh to get this done right. Um so um I'm not answering your question not because I don't know. I just don't want to spill the beans. You want to look to the end of the story, but we're developing the story. And so I can say that yes, we are following all the things uh that we have to do to be successful. We we're just they're just it's just a simple concern that the county wants us to start replacing old schools and if we're not going to do that or how will will we have will we get
060a readouts along the way so that we know what you're learning about our schools and if the plans change how how will the board be updated? >> Yes. So uh in our strategic uh board retreat uh we set out cadence of information that you will receive and in those meetings uh we'll provide those muchneeded updates as well as decision-m to the board so that you're constantly informed uh so that when it's time for you to make a decision you have all the data to make that decision. So yes we set out we're working with Dr. Jones and I have worked uh to make sure that you have the appropriate information at the appropriate cadence um all along knowing that the end result is going to take 3 to four years. And so I think some
061of the questions that we're asking tonight uh we can't answer until we go through the process. But uh you can be assured that yes, we will. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Mr. Davis, I want to thank you and your team for working on this. I know that we have to be patient and I'm glad you're working with the city manager so um everyone is aware as to what we're doing and uh thank you for your work. >> Thank you Sarah. >> Um I have a question I think is ORAed related. So, um I've had the fortune of being on the board for um going on eight years now and so um I've been through several um partnerships with ORID and trying to work towards getting some redistricting re boundaries changed and and re school reassignment
062happen. Um and um I guess I'm curious like what what might be different this time? And also I just the the one thing that struck me last time that I think might have been challenging in sort of the ways that you approach the the boundaries is I I um there are like two things that I think the board has um brought up various times. One is uh sort of a desire to balance student achievement across the different schools and sort of have some consideration of that. And then the other one is um uh you know wanting to make sure also that we're really efficient with the bus routes and minimizing the time that the kids are on the buses and and trying to achieve both of those things. And so I think at one of
063these rounds we were sort of asking about like well how long will the bus routes be and can you test out some other ones and see if there's a more efficient way to do the but you know and it seemed like there were some limitations there and sort of what we were able to do with that. So, I guess I'm just wondering um uh how that piece would play out and are those both things that when we go through this process, we'd be able to um make sure that we were maximizing. >> So, I can just speak briefly. Um I do have some history and and I and that question resolved around that transportation was not at the table uh the last iteration. And so, uh, we we've identified that along with some other, uh,
064key essential personnel that weren't at the table when crafting, um, what, uh, reboundaries or redistricing may look like. Um, and so that's a lesson learned that I can assure you, uh, will play into the modeling that ORED will do. In fact, we had a conversation um, just last week to that uh, effect that uh, transportation was not at the table. Um, so there will be uh to your question, academics, transportation, all those that support the school uh will be involved in the planning with the or study this this time. >> I'm I'm very glad to hear that. Um, so will will you all be able to work like with the TIMS information or like directly to sort of play out some different models or >> Absolutely. And I appreciate that question. Um, we're in a
065I think a really great space at the beginning of the school year and at this time in the history of my organ my organization because we do have such a strong team together now to be able to address exactly the the questions that you're alluding to. So speaking to the busing efficiency and logistics point that was something uh let's see 20 or let's see yeah 2016 2017 we did some exploration with the TIM support staff that are also part of our office and uh that was not revisited as part of the most recent iteration but we now um have a excellent opportunity to be able to also include that as part of this goound. >> Great. Um so I definitely appreciate that uh from a technical perspective also looking at the achievement side very uh
066comfortable and and looking forward to to that component as well and being able to achieve your goals. Absolutely. >> Great. Thank you so much. >> Sounds >> Yeah. Um I wanted to I was very interested in your comments about programming and after um we after we terminated the redistricting work last time um Dr. Dr. Jones and her team did a deep dive into how our schools are being used. And what we found is some of the schools that quote look underutilized actually had some deep programming in them like like separate setting EC prek classes and others that use a lot of space. And we're curious if you'll be looking at and that was something that was really missing for our board. We ask all the time. It was missing from SAPO as you know. Will
067you be looking at that? >> Yes. >> Easy question. Okay. And then the utilization data that because there was some questions that were raised because you know you guys were projecting, excuse me, it's a New York term. You all were were projecting a um increase in enrollment and when Mr. Davis and his team looked at utilization. They actually saw a decrease in enrollment and just curious how and so there was some data that was attached and we have a year- round school that's a choice school that's actually as many as we have a wait list for so how will that does that get factored into this? I'm gonna ask. >> Yes. Um, Becky. >> So, as part of our iterative process looking from from project to project and year to year, we uh take a
068very deep dive, a very deep look at how cohorts are moving up through the system where there were um, you know, for lack of a better word, errors in the forecast. and um just looking back at some of the historical forecasts and things, we are looking forward to diving into that very granular data and learning exactly, you know, where where things didn't align exactly the way we thought they they were going to. So, um I think that is one of those points in the process questions where we aren't uh prepared to dive into that to the extent, but I'm I'm definitely personally looking forward to >> diving into that data and understanding the why behind uh why the numbers don't exactly align with where we thought they were going to. >> Thank you. And just
069to to build on that, I I had a similar question about the utilization table and were I assume charter school pullouts were incorporated in there? I mean, did did you all >> were you just looking at population and not assuming students were leaving or what what was the what were some of the factors or do you not know yet? So looking back at the most recent uh utilization table, the added capacity table which is the school level forecast. The big difference there that you'll notice uh compared with other consultants work in the time since was the uh official application and approval of the charter school on the western side. So looking forward that's uh a reality that's going to be incorporated into any further work. >> Thank you. Any other questions? >> Just have one
070when one when we get the proposals the on the different projects, will they include an an a timeline and an an explanation of when the of community engagement and how that will work and board engagement? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Okay. Good. I hope so. >> I just had one additional question. Many of mine were answered. Um, one question is, do we know if we need to do any resoning? >> Zoning in terms of the uh the the propert. Yes. So, we're working uh with the county um planning s and I met and we're meeting again. Um it will be some uh interesting collaboration. Um but I think it'll be successful. Um we are tying into their capital improvement plan with improvements to the soccer park. Uh and so we hope to build on those synergies.
071Um um we're looking at the whole landscape including Grley Hill Middle and the soccer field uh our existing. So yes, there'll be some reasonzoning and some moving. Um, but we are lucky to have a a partner in the county um that has interest. So, I don't think that would be an issue for us. >> Okay. >> But we're working on that now so that by the time the school is built, it'd be right size and right zoned. >> That's fantastic to hear. I know we had some issues with them on a pole barn trying to get that through and all the steps. Yeah, we're learning, but uh we >> we're still doing some good work. So, >> absolutely. Well, thank you for the presentation. Thank you for your time tonight and as always we look
072forward to seeing the progress and having further discussions. Thank you all. Thank you. >> All right. Next we have our student wellness update. >> Good evening. Good evening. Sorry about that. It's been a long day, but wow, what a great day to be in Orange County schools today. What a day. It was fantastic. If you came out and joined us, it's fantastic things going on. In fact, what a great summer. This is my first summer here and it has been incredible. I will say that. I've been in two other districts and this was an incredible summer this year. Dr. Pack told me early on, she said, "Oh, no, no more summers off for you. You're no longer a teacher. You're on board." And boy was she right. And it's been very exciting. And so I'm
073privileged to stand here tonight and give you a little student wellness update. Uh as you are aware uh student wellness uh in in policy 6140 consists of five elements student health uh advisory council as well as nutritional promotion, nutritional education, nutritional standards and guidelines uh physical education and physical activity and really any activity that approach promotes uh wellness among our students. Uh our members consist of in the student health advisory committee of local health uh department representatives, school board representatives, uh school system administrators, school system food folks, physical education teachers, school health professionals, and certainly students, parents or guardians or the public are welcome to join as well. We're really excited going into this year because we're really going to focus on some really cool things. Uh we have the opportunity with North Carolina Department
074of Public Instruction rolling out the new uh standard course of care for uh physical education and activity and health. Uh so we are rolling that out. I am so excited today. We had 100% participation from the P and health department uh health teachers today uh and our professional development and so they are excited to roll this new one out. Uh they are excited to be looked at and actually heard. So they they had a lot of uh energy today which was fantastic. Uh this upcoming uh year we're going to focus a lot on social, mental and emotional health as well as female uh student health and wellness. Uh over the years since 2012 in the old standard course of study, they sort of just put everybody in one box, if you will, and didn't realize
075that we needed to focus a little bit more on females as well. and that females and males have different and unique problems themselves, especially when it comes to student health and wellness. Uh we're also focused a lot, we're going to be focusing a lot on vaping and electric non-tobacco prevention uh because that is now such a prevalent problem in in all schools. Uh we'll continue obviously to influence students to lead healthy lifestyles and activities that promote wellness as well. our school uh nutritional promotion and education where their universal breakfast for K5 continues uh this July 1st where school nutrition has been updated to uh for our afterchool snacks that is now in the school lunch program and that was effective one July this year. We've also gone back and looked at all uh our concession
076stands and we've put in guidelines now that is consistent with Orange County Health Department guidelines so we make sure our kids stay safe and uh and with all the extra food they eat afterwards and athletic events uh physical education and uh and physical activity. We've already incorporated uh from kindergarten to 8th grade, middle school uh a great increase in at least 30 minutes a day of activity as well as in high school increasing that to 60 minutes a week. Uh continue to work on that and and really push health as well, not just the physical activity. And also, as you may be aware, we just uh recently mandated that we put a fitness program back in or a fitness assessment. Uh the state now is looking at determining which one they would like to use
077and we'll implement that as well. So, we're very excited about this year especially with student health advisory committee. Got a lot of plans going on. We've partnered with the folks you're getting ready to hear on a mental health update. uh very excited about that as we had them come out today and talk to PE teachers as well and just excited to partner and put everything together to make it better for our students. So, at this time, any questions that I can answer for you, >> Molly? >> Great. Yes, thank you for the update. Um, and I'm glad it was a great day today. Um, uh, a very simple logistical question. I'm going to be on the shack committee now. Um, and so when are those meet like am I going to just get added to
078an email about the meetings and stuff? >> I'll get an email. Okay. >> We are actually working on the schedule now. We should have those. We we want to increase it to monthly. So we will see if that really happens, but uh uh we're currently working on the schedule with a partner about three different partners trying to figure out everybody's schedule. >> Awesome. Okay. And then um the new standard course of study or the update to the standard course of study for um uh healthful living or um whatever it is called. Um uh what is our health curriculum right now? like what do we have a specific curriculum that we're using? >> We do. It's it's been there all along. This is just a much more updated version of it that really can includes uh
079like vaping prevention as well. Uh non uh you know it used to in 2012 we only talked about drug and alcohol. Now obviously we're going to encompass way more than that as well as like I mentioned the female health concerns as well as emotional and mental health. >> Yep. But that's not the not the course of study like not the standards but do we have a like a curriculum like out of a box curriculum or something like that we're using at the middle school or the high school level or how are we addressing like the health standards? >> It's we do not and that was one of the things we addressed today that we don't really have a curriculum. Uh I have already have about four uh PE people and health people within our school
080district that is coming together to develop just that in our PLC's over this year. >> Okay. The good thing about this is this year we're just trying to implement it. We have actually a five-year plan uh to put it in place and sort of craft it the way it works out best for Orange County schools. >> Okay. Okay. um the the and some of the um pieces that are especially uh on my mind and that I want to make sure students get accurate information for are like comprehensive sexed like a high quality sexed kind of um curriculum. Um I know that at different points we've worked with the post center um on like puberty, you know, there's different there we've done some different programs. There's been some uh the Orange County Rape Crisis Center has
081some uh programming, I think. So, I'm not sure whether we're currently partnering with them or um you know, I just think like I want to make sure that um uh I'm glad that there's a set of teachers that are going to be working on this and I just really want to make sure that it's um like we're using like high quality evidence-based curriculum. >> Yes, we had a grant with Post Center like you mentioned and it ended this past year and so of course we don't have that. we went back to teaching uh that aspect of physical education and health uh from our teachers because it's been in the curriculum all along. Uh but we do need to develop one that we like for us and what our kids need. So that is also part
082of that plan and I'd love for the student health advisory committee get involved with that as well. >> Okay. Okay. >> It' be awesome. >> Thank you. >> Just just to add on that a little bit. um did is the post center not offering as many grants now? Have they had reduced um monies for grants or because that's that's that has been a longstanding partnership we've had. Um my >> I don't have a good answer for that if they're offering it or not. Uh that's something we certainly can look at. Again, I know the teachers enjoyed it, that's for sure, and it was very beneficial. >> Yeah. Um, and then I'm curious about what what you're talking about with more focus on female students. Is that um like at every tier or do we know
083exactly how that's going? Is that still under development or >> It is still under development, but it is at every tier. Everything that's unique to females. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Simple question. There are some community organizations that are offering after school programs for our kids and I was curious if they would have access to the nutritional guidelines because they're also providing snacks for the kids. It's out they're outside organizations like the community centers. I think we have a program at Gateway with our New Hope kids. So just curious if if the guidelines that you're setting that you've set up are available. Uh yes, they are set they are available and there are groups that we have already looked at like I hope this year we're going to partner with a lot of other folks
084because you know it it is a team effort obviously and we ought to be able to do that throughout our community. So >> fingers crossed it is going to work out >> and Mr. Newman I think if they were to contact the health department they would get the same guidelines. >> Yes. >> That's where our guidelines came from. That's why we went that's why I went one of the first things was to make sure we are following all the health department guidelines. >> So we should go to the we should send people to the health department. >> Yes. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. >> Um just one question for me. Um you had mentioned vaping as a large concern and my time on the board is definitely a big concern. In fact, being in the
085middle schools, uh, other students have asked me about, you know, how, you know, what can we do because it's very prevalent. Um, you know, we did see a program that was brought to us, the ADAPT program that's at Orange High, which looks at not being punitive, but supportive and helpful uh in the students and letting them um share their challenges and struggles and getting them support. I I'm curious um as we look across our schools um h how are we looking at kind of addressing the vaping and uh being more inclusive of the student in this in this very very tragic device that's in our schools. >> Unfortunately, you are correct. But I will say that that program that's going on in sort of a pilot or initial stages at Orange has been fantastic. Yes,
086it has. as we talked about that that this past year in student at uh health advisory committee. We would like to actually incorporate that across the board. Uh there's some plans to do that. There's some talks about doing that as well. >> Note with our new enhanced security system, the uh we have vape detectors and in all of our secondary schools. So um coupled with the program, hopefully that will make some headway on on that issue. Thank you. >> So the only secondary part to that is I hope through this we come up with plans to educate the parents because there's I mean it was very eyeopening the first time they brought in vape devices and we were able to see them and I know I was stunned at some of the devices and you
087know the other thing that adapt really came across that I could relate with is how to talk to your kids about it >> and I think you know, making sure we're inclusive of our community in that discussion, I think, will help, especially um, you know, as we try to figure out what's the right balance and trying to be restorative as we find students vaping because, you know, it is addictive and they're going to need help beyond, you know, being punitive. So, I hope we look at ways at being very restorative through that those challenges as we >> Yes. And part of the program that's underway at Orange is actually involving the school psychologist as well and the parents and bringing them in instead of being punitive like you mentioned. It's more of a how can
088we support this? >> Excellent. Thank you very much. We appreciate the update. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next, we have under our discussion action the mental health plan update and approval. Good evening uh to our members of our school board, Dr. Jones, um cabinet and OCS staff as well as community members. Good evening. We are here before you today um to discuss and uh request approval for our um school-based mental health plan. I do realize that we stand between you and your homes and so we will try our very best to be as quick as possible but be as thorough in our information sharing this evening. So, as we're looking at our priorities and our strategic plan and how this mental health plan aligns, um we'll look closely to uh strategic plan. Priority four,
089which is empowering culture, specifically goals one and two um around out of school suspensions and reducing chronic absenteeism. Looking at the purpose and overview of this mental health plan, it is required annually by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction um and grounded in North Carolina School Board of Education Policy, SHLT00003. It's guided by a statewide template and centers the mental health and emotional and social development of our students as essential to academic success and well-being. This plan um again as I mentioned before is structured around state templates. So we have been shared information um on the questions the proper questions to ask um and information to share in this plan. We align our local efforts with state policy, national best practices, and multi-tered system of supports um through district level and school level collaboration.
090Our vision um is aligned with our district mission and vision as well. We're committed to whole child support um and this plan reflects a multi-pronged approach to get there. Um our goals in student support services as well as those um in educators are to make sure that we are serving our students so that they are healthy, they are active um and ultimately they are achieving while they are with us in school. And so we continue to align our goals of this mental health plan to our district plan, strategic plan, our mission and vision to make sure that we are doing the best that we can to serve our students academically, socially and emotionally. And now you hear some of the components for our plan. >> All right. So, good evening. The next set of slides
091outline the key sections of our required district mental health and social emotional learning plan that will be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Each section reflects a different component of how we support student wellness. All right. Strengths and needs. So we use data from the youth risk behavior survey, panorama say something and internal reports. Our strengths include our school-based mental health network, our social emotional learning curriculum, structured psychotherapy for adolescence responding to chronic stress, also known as sparks, and staff professional development. Our needs include more trauma-informed training, restorative practices, and re-entry protocols. It's also important to understand that the alignment and that research shows that restorative practices foster belonging and reduce exclusionary discipline um which is directly linked to improve academic outcomes and reduce suspension rates. All right, moving on to prevention
092and curriculum highlights. So, Rethink Ed is implemented districtwide to support tier one social and emotional learning. Youth mental health first aid is required for all specialized instructional support personnel which are our counselors, social workers, nurses, and our psychologists. and it's offered as optional professional development to other staff. Team mental health first aid is also taught to all ninth graders. We're also expanding our alcohol and drug abuse prevention team which the teenagers actually decided last year to rename it the awareness development advocacy and prevention team which is what we call adapt um to all secondary schools reinforcing the importance of early substance use prevention. Other efforts are also included on the screen and are all grounded in research on building protective factors and reducing risk behaviors. All right, moving on. How are you building and aligning
093infrastructure? So, we have a comprehensive training plan and a suicide risk protocol. We're assessing specialized instructional support personnel staffing levels to ensure the adequate support at every school. stakeholders um including our families and community partners are engaged in this work to help us build aligned and responsive systems to meet the mental health needs of our students and how do we monitor and evaluate um this information. So another piece of our required uh part of this report um is the specialized instructional support personnel annual report which is also a new um aspect to our mental health plan. This report our counselors, social workers, nurses and school psychologists all are collecting data um weekly throughout the year on services that they are providing to um our students. And so there are a number of areas um that
094that covers um such as covering basic needs, providing clothes and supplies, making parent contacts, and doing certain interventions um as well as collecting how many um students that are um identified under special populations um are receiving these services as well. Um it is not collecting personal information. So we do not know the students names, their grades or any of that information. It is raw data. It is just numbers. Um almost, for lack of a better term, a tally sheet of when those services are provided. Um and this is included with our mental health plan um as a piece of information of what we are doing in our district um as well as an advocacy tool um for our state leaders uh to be able to see what we're doing and know what we're doing as
095well. So, as we're collecting this information and preparing to send this report to DPI, I wanted to give you a sneak peek of what those numbers look like. Um, again, this is by incident. It is not by total numbers of students. Um, and because it is so robust, um, I could not put it in a chart for you, but I did want to share some highlights with you about that report. So, under cases, looking at basic needs, um, so again, meeting basic needs. um last year because it was not required, we wanted to do a pilot to prepare our staff um for this report because again it is robust. Um so this data is from January 1, 2025 until June 6, 2025. um covering basic needs under our cases and again this is just the
096number of cases um and it could be repeated by student 389 um incidents of um basic needs being met for students under interventions family contacts. So anytime a family was contacted or had a need um for a student 2,18 parent family contacts were made under referrals. Um so anytime referrals were made um to different agencies for assistance and services in this case mental health care 78 referrals under mental health care and then special populations um so working with those students that are identified in our special population areas for this particular um number again for our exceptional children 887 um students not students I'm sorry cases or incidents of services were provided to students who are identified under exceptional children. Again, these numbers are not students but cases or incidents of services that are provided to
097those students. And all of this will be compiled and submitted with our mental health plan. Starting this year, it is a annual report. Um so starting the first day of school, so July 16th for Hillsboro Elementary and August 25th for our traditional schools, um all of our specialized instructional support personnel will begin to um collect this data so that we can submit it with the report um every year. Additionally, um we'll uh have a data evaluation plan and this is just how we collect all of the information that we're looking to look at whole child. So, for example, looking at um when we're doing our panorama surveys as well as looking at attendance data, looking at discipline data um and so on and so forth, which is was included in the abstract. you'll see of
098every months of the year or quarterly where we'll be collecting that information to take a look at um what needs are needed, how we need to change the services that we're providing, if we need to change the services we're providing so that we're making sure that we're meeting the needs of our students effectively. Um, and we'll be checking in with our student instructional support staff um to make sure that we can provide any technical assistance that they may need um as well as um helping them in supporting them um with providing those services to our students. All right. How do you align and school mental health with academic objectives? So, Rethink Ed is integrated into our multi-tered system of support, healthful living as well as in school suspension and restorative sessions, physical education and health.
099Teachers receive required training earlier today during our start of education conference. Optional training sessions are also made available to all other staff during the conference and will be available throughout the school year. All staff will also receive a new scope and sequence for the 2526 school year. Additionally, ISS coordinators received their first day of training today from Boomerang on Restorative Practices. These steps are extremely important as research shows social emotional learning directly impacts academic outcomes and school climate. Students with strong skills perform better academically, have fewer conduct issues, and experience less emotional distress. Physical activity in the classroom. So, it has been confirmed that physical activity improves focus, behavior, and overall cognitive function, especially when it's integrated into the classroom routines. Physical activity strategies vary by level as you see on the screen. So from
100yoga and brain breaks in elementary to movement based discussions and ridge panther time in high schools which all support student regulation and engagement early intervention. So we track attendance behavior and social emotional learning indicators through our multi-ter system of support to dunify students in need. Supports include check-ins, groups and referrals and we regularly review our crisis and discipline policies to ensure that they are trauma-informed and equitable. treatment, referral, and re-entry. So, we work with community partners and our school-based mental health providers for care. We have a re-entry protocol and work to ensure smooth transitions and wraparound support for students returning to school with equity and accessibility in mind. We understand the value in collaborating with our community partners to support and reach every student, ensuring that there's constant care and expanding that network of support
101beyond the school walls. and our schoolbased mental health. So providers are assigned by feeder pattern to ensure consistent access. This year we've added Andrews Counseling and Daybreak Health as another inperson and virtual option. You all received an agency update from me this past May and will receive the same information in June with updated data on numbers and referrals. Our goal is to maintain strong responsive access to care for every student in every single building. As we close, I want to emphasize that this plan is more than a requirement. It's reflection of our district's commitment to whole child wellness. It's grounded in equity, informed by real data, and align with our vision of supporting every student every day. We've built on our strengths, identified clear needs, and brought together partners across schools, families, and community agencies.
102This is about creating a sustainable, caring system where students are not just surviving but thriving academically, emotionally, and socially. Centering student voice, supporting staff wellness, and building systems of care is how we create the future our students deserve. And so, it is our humble request that you approve our 2025 Orange County Schools mental health plan. And upon your approval, this plan will be submitted to the Department of Public Instruction um for their review and approval as well. Thank you. Any questions, >> Mr. D? >> Um thank you so much. Uh this is uh like a very multiaceted plan and I know a lot of these approaches overlap and that that's kind of the point so that students don't get lost um when they're struggling. Um I have a couple just spec specific questions. They're just
103they're brief questions. Um, and I know that not every initiative can be like in every classroom because it's just too much and tracking every type of data. But just um I'm curious the the need of traumainformed practices, more training. I'm curious like what the goal is on which how many and which staff members would you want to be trauma informed? >> If I had a magic wand, Miss Doyle, I want every single staff member in Orange County schools to be able to get that. Um but just with timing, funding, all of that. Um right now our focus is of course our student support staff. So making sure that um our SISPs have that training um and are available with that. Um also just today um because we um were doing our training, was able to
104give them some literature on that and some books um around trauma-informed care as well. Um, but we'll have them um to deep dive into that training um with the hopes of them being able to share that wealth um with their staff um and then build on getting everyone else trained as well. >> I have two more like that, but I can wait if you want to do others first. >> Yeah, I I wanted to just jump on the overlap. You know, it's a um it's just great to see this stuff. Thank you for this work. I think the plan looks fine. I the thing that the question is the overlap and so like the mental health first aid is uh going I heard you say we're doing that with the counselors and social workers so
105we have kids in class every day with teachers who who is noticing that there's a challenge and how does you know and I don't know which acronym or which program is informing that so you know but that's where it starts right somebody's noticed that there's a problem and then they send um the process going. >> So um there were two sets that we spoke about today. So we spoke about youth mental health first aid that is for the adults. Um so all of our student support staff are SISPs, I'm sorry, um are trained in that and for those that are new to us will be trained in it. Um and um myself and Mr. current picket are certified trainers in mental health first aid and intend on getting into um our school buildings to train
106it as well. Um but I will say it is about a 6 and 1/2 hour training. >> Um and because it is quite lengthy again there's scheduling and things involved where we need to work with school schedules and staff schedules and other PD schedule to be able to get that in. Um but our um folks are trained um as well as we're training our high school students as well in team mental health first aid so that they are able to see that um we're training freshmen. Uh thankfully last year we were given the green light um from our national center to be able to train ninth graders. Um and so every year we will train 9th grade. So, in well, three years now because we're in year two, um students grades 9 through 12 will
107be trained in it and will be able to recognize those signing symptoms and know how to report it effectively. >> I I'll just add that our teachers are trained in that way as well. So, they make referrals for the counseling department and they're able to intervene as needed. >> I did want to add to that team youth material first aid is also op offered as professional development for our staff. So that's for teachers, principles, whoever would like to sign up for it, >> right? This is a long it's a long >> it's a long day. >> Yeah. >> But a good day. >> All right, Miss Doll. >> Um Yes. So that was one of them as well. And also um I just was curious, is ADAPT going into all schools? And once upon a
108time when my kids were in some of these schools, we also had the DARE program. Is is the DARE program still there? Are they just kind of working side by side or is it all are we doing fully ADAPT and not partnering with DARE? So adapt will be the goal is to get it in our middle schools and high schools. There was once upon a time where it was in all of our middle school and high schools in our district. Um due to staff turnover, it's been hard to kind of keep staff in those positions. And so I've spoken to admin as well as our counselor and social workers today about getting that started back up. I'll be sending out emails so they understand it's coming and partnering them getting them partnered with Orange Partnership.
109Um we do not have DARE. We have safe clubs which are students against violence everywhere which I think might be similar to to that but they work closely with our adapt. Um so any of our schools who are using our say something anonymous reporting system should also have a safe club in their schools >> and we're also uh working with orange partnership who has created a list of um platforms and curriculum items that we share with the schools every year um so that they are able to continue in those lessons. um similar to what DARE would provide. >> Thank you, >> SP. >> Um thank you for this presentation and the plan and it yeah it's very comprehensive. Um I'm uh appreciate the data points from the pilot of the tallying system and it it
110clearly is an effort but I think it's going to be good advocacy for um school professionals um in terms of the volume of work that they are uh managing and stuff like that. Um uh one question I have um one of the things that you mentioned uh Mr. Karns Picket was um involving families in sort of um I don't know evaluate not evaluating the program but like improving it or something like that like how how are you involving families in um >> are improving our approach to mental health? >> Absolutely. So we um I believe it's called Orange Partnership. Um we have a it's a group of providers in the area, Orange County, Hillsboro of community partners, staff members, and families. Um and we meet every single month. Um talk about our needs, assessment, what's
111going on, what's happening, what's not happening, so we can kind of come to a consensus on what we need to improve on or what's already going well in Orange County schools. >> That's great. That's great. >> Yeah. >> Thank you for the work you're doing and it's much needed. Um, I just like please to have an example as to what a basic need is. I have my own interpretation, but I'd like for you to give me just one example. Thank you. >> Sure. So, meeting a basic need might be clothing. It might be food insecurity. Um, it could be needing hygiene um items. Um, so is anything meeting the basic human needs um are examples of those things. >> Okay. Thank you. Saler, >> I'm not sure if I wasn't paying attention, but this is
112the first time I've seen MTSS, the social emotional side of MTSS really folded into the plan. That's really exciting to see. I wanted to thank you for that. Um, I was curious if this if we're going to see that in the school improvement plans and if they'll be integrated into this plan. >> Yes. Nice. >> Oh, he's certain. I guess we are great. >> All right. Uh, any further questions? I wanted to thank you as well for including all the acronyms and terms. Uh, that is very helpful, especially given there are plenty. So, thank you for that. This is an action item, uh, board. So, do we have a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. Uh we have a motion and second. Any further discussion? Hearing
113none. Uh all in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. All right. Thank you all very much. >> Thank you for your support and for your um action tonight. >> Great job. >> All right. We are at the end of our agenda. Um I believe there's not a close session necessary. Um so with that, do we have a motion to adjurnn? Motion to >> We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> We have a second. Uh any further discussion? Hearing none. Uh all in favor say I. >> I opposed. >> This meeting is adjourned. Thank you all. >> Have a great night.