001I'll call the uh August 18th board session work session to order. Good morning. Let's get started with uh our invocation. So, if everyone will please stand. Mr. Bate, would you lead us in prayer, please? >> I will. Heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you for this day. We thank you for all your many blessings. Thank you for this opportunity to come together to work for the students, families, and staff of Hart County Schools. We pray that you would bless this time together and lead us and guide us in everything we do. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. Miss Gay, would you lead us in the pledge of allegiance, please? >> Yes, sir. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under
002God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. You may be seated. >> Mr. Chairman, I move that we approve the agenda as presented. >> Have a motion and a second. Is there further discussion? Hearing none, the chairman votes I. >> Abate I >> gay I >> Godfrey I >> hearing no nay votes the motion is is approved and the amenda the agenda rather is approved as presented. Next we have discussion items and we have a few of those on our list this morning. So our first one uh is student enrollment at Over Hills High School and that will be Mr. Matthews and Mr. White. >> Thank you Chairman Pal. Uh members of the board, I know we uh I wanted to uh follow up just a little bit on some public comments
003that we received at our last meeting uh regarding uh Over Hills High School and the perception of uh overcrowding at the school. And I do know uh you know there was a time that um Over Hills High School would be capped when it reached a certain level of student enrollment and uh so I asked Miss but we have not done that since COVID because quite frankly our overall numbers have not recovered to u the level they were prior to COVID but uh we may be getting close to that now but anyway I asked Mr. Germaine White to look into that uh to get an idea of what we might be looking at. So, I'll just turn it over to him to share what he discovered and then share with you what we uh kind of
004decided as a as a senior leadership team to recommend this morning. >> Thank you, Mr. Matthews, Chairman Powell, and members of the board. Um, in looking at Over Hills High School and the uh reaction to the public comments in addition to speaking to the principal and student support staff at the school, we anticipated a day one enrollment of about 1,960 children. Uh, we fell short on day one by I think about a 100 or so kids that day. And as you can see with the information that Mr. Matthews passed out this morning, we were at 1706 for day three at Over Hills. Um and so we've been monitoring that situation pretty closely really for about the last six or so months just to make sure that we were prepared for um opening school and that
005parents would be able to uh for their students to receive schedules and then go through uh the normal routine of what it would take to be able to enroll at the school. Um, I was out there on the first day to be able to evaluate um, the processes that we attempted to put into place and I'm very pleased with what we were able to see um, with being able to get parents in and out and making sure they were accommodated and those sorts of things. Um, but the reality of it is um, with the way that students move in and out of the building um, that it's very easy for us to be at 1706 now and and potentially at around 2,000 students um, before we get to month two or month three. Um and
006so we really need to look at the potential of addressing this matter there um and looking at some longer term solutions um to be able to assist with that. Um moving forward we we've looked at um some potential things to be able to um assist. For example um when we capped over hills um probably about 10 or so years ago, am I close to that number? about 14 14 15 school year um we were moving students from um Lynen Oaks which is our military installation um and sending those children to Western Hornet um and providing transportation for those students to be able to go to Western Hornet. Um in speaking with Mrs. Sullivan about the situation and potential preparation of that possibility should we move forward with um capping over heels. She felt pretty comfortable
007that they would be able to accommodate um and based on information and speaking to Mr. Pearson and others um that we're probably looking at reasonably 80 or 90 kids moving forward from that area that would go to Western should we decide we want to to cap over heels for the remainder of the 2526 school year. And so, uh, again, while 90 children doesn't seem like a huge number, it does make a difference, um, especially when families begin to PCS into the area, um, over the next few months, um, we can be able to point them in that direction without having to burden over heels with the, um, task of trying to find space to get those children enrolled. Um, and so again, that's kind of what we've discovered and what we've looked at and want
008to bring it before the board to to be able to assist with making a decision. Mr. Rapids. >> Thank you, Mr. White. And I also u had having had the opportunity to uh be in the principal's chair at Western Hornet High School uh during a year when the uh overs was kept um uh I had the ability to see um see what capping overs how that impacted Western and I that reminded me that Mr. Pearson sat in both those seats during a year when the schools were capped. So, I thought I'd give him an opportunity this morning to share his thoughts as well. >> Yeah, thank you, Mr. Matthews. Um, so I was principal at Western for several years when they would cap over Hills. a unique challenge there in that you have students coming
009and uh literally bus routes changing daily because you have an over hills attendance area bus that was kind of grabbing students um coming from there and then the issue of when we lift the cap does that student get to stay at Western or go back to Over Hills do we give them that choice kind of thing um so some unique impacts on Western on the Overhill side um I would agree with what Mr. White saying that um you know we're we're capable of you know 1,900 to 2,000 students there. I think once you cross that 2,000 threshold you're probably starting to to feel it. They uh expanded the cafeteria at Over Hills a number of years ago and part of the part of that was to be able to do four lunches and you can
010now fit all the students you know approximately 500 students times four lunches um for the 2,000 there. That was a big part of the cap. they were running five or more lunches, which really throws their daily schedule off prior to that cafeteria expansion. So, um, you know, I think that that number of,900 2,000 is is manageable. If we have to go over and do the cap, I I think we just need to consider uh the impact of that on Western and and how they what we want as a long-term plan for when those when we lift that cap, what those students options are. Happy to answer any questions you have. And I think to uh just to follow up and close it out and give you an opportunity to ask questions, um that uh the
011uh information I put at your places this morning uh as of Friday, which was our third student day, the number at Over Hills was 1706, 1,76 students. And uh after Mr. White and I had talked, we basically decided to, as as all of you know who have have sat on this board for a while and have worked in this business, u what seems to be a crisis a lot of times on day one, two, and three. By day 10, uh it's an afterthought as things seem to work themselves out through the first couple of weeks of school when uh routines get in place and things settle in. So, Mr. White and I discussed it and and basically uh our recommendation would be to uh wait until our 10day numbers are in and uh discuss this
012further uh at the September board meeting as to what if anything you would like to pursue with regard to looking at a cap on Over Hills High School and I if whatever questions you have for any of us uh we'd be glad to entertain them. >> Are there any questions for Mr. Matthews, Mr. White or Mr. Pearson? or any further discussion. One question I had uh and if I understood it correctly, just see and if it we did reach the point where we did need to implement this cap at Over Hills, uh the students uh going to Western Hornet, they would not be already at Over Hills, this would be new students moving in. Correct. >> That is correct. >> Okay. >> And we would also just kind of based on Mr. uh Pearson's recommendation
013look at putting a structure in place so that students don't have the ability to kind of move back and forth between schools, right? And so if you make the commitment to go to Western, it may be for the remainder of the 2526 school year with the potential to be able to remain beyond. And with Holland kind of being on the horizon, um we have an outstanding opportunity to be able to kind of make the shift we need to make um to ensure we don't have extreme um overcrowding and overs moving forward the next few years. >> Okay, any other questions? >> Okay, thank you. Next, we have a revision to homeschool participation procedures. Mr. Pearson, >> thank you chair uh chair and f members of the board. Uh you may remember a few months back
014we shared this document with you and this was just putting some procedures in place for a policy that we already have. Um we have the board policy in in regards to homesooled students that need to be 50% enrolled with us in order to participate in athletics and other extracurriculars. um kind of with the growth and and variations that we're seeing in the virtual academy, some of the things that Mr. White has been doing um with with some of his homeschool kind of outreach. We just wanted to add the virtual academy uh in here. And so you see the red line items are simply um the same procedures, but just applying those to the virtual academy, not just our traditional middle schools and high schools. Um and so if we have students in the virtual academy
015that want to participate in these things, we're kind of opening that door for them. Um, so just want to share these procedural changes with you, get any thoughts and comments you have prior to us making them public. >> Okay. >> Any comments or questions for Mr. Pearson? >> Thank you, Mr. Pearson. >> And if I could add one thing, Chairman Pal. >> Yes, sir. >> U Mr. White is going to share with you some of the u innovative things he is embarking upon and uh doing to work with uh some of our homeschool families and homeschool population. Uh so anyway, I will leave that to him. But uh uh this is um this uh change in this procedure would help uh with some of the um um positive points that come about with regard to
016his effort. >> Okay. Thank you. Next, we have Carolina Academic Leadership Network, Mr. Matthews. >> Thank you, Chairman Pal. Uh, Chairman Pal and I both received an email from this organization several weeks back, I guess, and the chairman asked me to look into it and to uh get some further information to share with you. Um, I um I asked Miss Johnson, the board secretary to or board administrative assistant to reach out to her colleagues and see what other districts might be using this and get any feedback that she could. Everything she found out came back very positive uh ones that are are aligned and working with this uh this leadership group uh basically said they had nothing but positive things to say about it. was very legitimate group. Uh it is the Carolina's academic leadership
017network CALN and basically their website said is is is a nonpartisan non ideological training and resource center for schoolboard members in North and South Carolina. Our commitment is to advance student achievement, parental authority, and superior schoolboard service in the Carolinas. Uh it it would be uh an opportunity for you to uh have online training to receive uh your u what do we call those cus that that that you're required to do every two years. Well, I think it's 10 hours every two years to remain uh in in this uh position. And it is uh it's membership wise fairly minimal uh $200 a year if all of you uh join. So it would be $1,000 for the board to have membership there and have access to the training. You could go in and pick and choose
018what you wanted to to uh look at and wanted to participate in. Um and some of the things that they mentioned um such things as staff search and recruitment, model policies, consulting a parliamentarian, curriculum review, uh suggested webinar topics, smart goals, resource hotline, etc., etc. So, they do have a a number of things to uh go along with the the training that they give. So anyway, I just present that to you uh for your consideration. If you would like to uh for us to uh get that membership so you would have access to that, then we'd be glad to do so. And I don't know that that's necessarily anything that requires a vote. If uh if if y'all agree in the affirmative, I'll have Miss Johnson go ahead and get everybody signed up. >> Okay.
019>> Any discussion? >> I've attended several of the free ones, so I would love to have this. Yes, >> please. >> Yes. Well, I know one very well-known and very wellrespected organization through the state through which we're offered training offers very good training as well, but some of those are very expensive. They're like $3 and $400 per course. And if we can get this for 200 for pretty much unlimited courses and it never hurts have and like Miss Gayy, if you've already had some of these courses, they're well and it's a well respected organization. So, uh, with the consent of the board, I'd like to, uh, ask our superintendent to go ahead and enroll us with this. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Sounds good. And, and I failed to mention it. This does in no
020way jeopardizes our participation with the North Carolina School Boards Association. We still be a part of that organization. This will just be another uh, uh, resource for us to be able to take advantage of. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Moving along to u action items. And our first uh item under action items is review and consider approval of a G81 additional services form for the Flatwoods Middle School project. Mr. Pearson. >> Thank you, Chairman Pal. Um these additional services, this is all to SFNA. This is not change orders to the construction project u from the Metcon side. This is on the architectural side and you will see in your board packet the bulk of this is related to the information we received that the DOT was going to require a roundabout to be placed
021at Joel Johnson Road and 401. And um those actual design services fees there um are also going to go to the Timmans group who is in charge of kind of that routing and shaping and so that will take care of our design fees there. Uh the others are some changes we made to the scope of the building that required architectural services uh with auditorium changes and things like that. But again, this is not Metcon's um overall guaranteed maximum price. This is design services from SF LNA, mostly including of that roundabout. Uh which on the back end of the project, uh we do anticipate the roundabout costing us about $2.5 million. On the back end, the DOT uh will reimburse us for that, but that's a little ways down the road. Okay. Any discussion? [Music] I'll
022entertain a motion. >> Mr. Chairman, I move that we approve a G81 additional services form for the Flatwoods Middle School project as presented. >> Sir, we have a motion and a second. Is there additional discussion? Hearing none. Chairman votes I. >> About I. GI >> hearing. No, no votes. The motion carries. Next, we have review and consider the approval as of SL LNA architects as the design consultant for the school nutrition freezer cooler project. Mr. Pearson >> and as mentioned um last month's meeting we approved the site survey services uh kind of the the engineering and underground work that needs to be done. This is for the architectural design of the cooler freezer because we have moved this to a freestanding building with a very specialized foundation that is required in these freezer settings. Um
023we uh solicited services and you can see the rubric there in your um packet. So this is just uh to move forward in coming up with a price for them to design this for us based on that rubric. >> Okay. >> How we entertain a motion? >> Mr. Motion to approve S7 architects and design consultant for the school nutrition free cooler project as presented. Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there additional discussion? Chairman votes I. >> Abate I. >> Gain I >> hearing no nay votes. The motion is approved. Next, we have review and con consider approval of GreenAC Power and Light LLC as a contractor for the sports field lighting upgrade replacement project at Haret Central High School. Mr. Pearson, >> thank you again. Um, we have discussed using uh
024county CIP money over the next several years to bring all of our uh athletic fields up to to lighting standards. Um, we approved the Triton project at the last meeting. Uh, this is our first football stadium project. Uh, did solicit quotes and um came back here with with this Garamat group which is NGU lighting. Very excited about what they're offering. Uh, and you can see the pricing there. Also, one of their representatives is here today. If you have any questions uh for them about the project, I'm sure they would be happy to answer. >> Yes, sir. Okay. Yes, sir. Chair recognizes the representative. >> Hey, good morning. Yes, I'm absolutely here to answer any questions that you guys might have as far as this project at Central, which we're we're very excited about as um
025uh Mr. Pearson said earlier. >> Okay. Yeah, our last project we approved at Triton, I know we the cost was accelerated somewhat because we had to replace the poles, I believe. Is that the same case here? Are we going to be able to use this poles that we have now or >> Yeah, so all of our uh stadiums have metal poles, so we should be able to reuse those poles. Um, so we have more lighting structures here than we would on a softball field, but on the cost is not, you know, per per lighting structure is not as much because the poles are reusable. >> So old traditional wooden poles that are at most of our baseball softball fields are going to have to be replaced with metal poles. >> Got you. >> And also,
026do you have any idea of what uh savings we would realize by uh moving over to these uh LCD lightings as opposed to what we presently have? >> Yes, sir. That's a great question. Um, the fixtures that we're coming back with are are 680 watts where traditionally you're going to have 1,000 to to 1500 watts. So, if it's 15, you're looking at at roughly, you know, close to half, let's call it. But, um, with this LED technology overall, um, we've seen anywhere between 60% to 70%, especially having existing HID infrastructure. The other great news is, you know, the, um, there there's been obviously a push to to convert from older technology. um a lot of the cost that I really can't capture is is the u uh the really the the scarcity of bulbs and
027ballasts. So, you know, that adds that additional cost that you might be with. Now, um this project again, like you said, is a retrofit. So, we're not messing with the poles. They're they're going to stay, but the cross arms uh and the new new uh material, new LED lights will come up. Um, this this number does include the uh the fan experience and color package too, which is uh very exciting for certainly the community, but a push you see certainly in the southeast for um schools that are moving over to have, you know, color to create that uh that that fan element. And uh I guess you can't really recruit in in high school, but but it does give you an added, you know, element of that. and and um again we um I came
028in uh gosh about this time last year working with uh Mr. Wester and the team, Jamie and Lance. Um so I've gotten to know, you know, fairly intimately the the all all the schools, you know, and this I think is a good great project um to to get Central going and then certainly try to be a partner for you guys in the future for other conversions you might have across Triton, Western um the balance at uh at Central and Over Hills. So after our initial investment to install the LEDs, we would should see a significant savings in our power bills for sure. >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And we can, you know, we can certainly take a look at that. Certainly once once they're charged and, you know, some some bills coming in uh to
029see that, but if if anybody at the uh the maintenance office, we can certainly give them our our you know, call it ROI if if need be. Yes, sir. But you'll you'll absolutely see see savings and and and a lot less maintenance, for sure. >> Okay. Mr. Chairman, I move that we approve Greenac Power and Light as the contractor for uh the Harness Central High School football field light upgrade project. Second, >> we have a motion and a second. Is there additional discussion or questions? >> So, I was asking beforehand, but this these lights are similar to those at Carter Finley >> and we'll have do like a show and all with it. >> So, >> pretty excited. >> Big upgrade. big improvement. >> Yeah. And and I I do want to to mention from
030from the NGU side, um even with that inclusion, they were still um the most affordable option. So some of the other vendors did not offer that option and were higher without that. >> Okay. Any other questions or discussion? Chairman votes I. >> Abate I. >> Gay I hear no votes. The motion is approved and thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Next, we have review and consider approval of the purchase of two Minotaur 14 passenger buses. Mr. Pearson, >> keeping you guys busy this morning. Uh, thank you for all these uh these needs. U, we did two of these last year. These are smaller 14 passenger buses that do not require a CDL to drive. We received them in uh about December. Um, and I can tell you that they were heavily used.
031Um, lots of good feedback from CTE programs, elementary school, you know, Battle of the Books teams, these groups that are trans transporting five and six students and not having to have a CDL and the large bus. Um, so Miss Korea maintains a signup log for these and they stay used. And so the goal was to eventually get one of these to each high school. This would get us there. We have two in district that we're sharing centrally. Um, and now this will put park one at each high school for that attendance area to access. And again, this is using additional capital outlay money from the county. >> Okay. >> Any discussion? >> Mr. Chairman, I move that we approve purchase of two divided tour 14 passenger buses as >> we have a motion and a
032second. Is there further discussion? >> Chairman votes I. >> Abate I gain I Hearing no votes, the motion carries. And we'll go back to Mr. Pearson for review and consider approval of the Hornet County Sheriff and Municipalities SROU referrals. >> Thank you. I do believe this is my last item. Um this is a renewal of our annual agreements with the municipalities and um sheriff's office. No, no significant changes, just date changes here um to kind of continue working with these groups. Um you know, over the years, I think we've kind of fine-tuned our relationships there, but uh we do have to annually uh you know, renegotiate and re resign ourus. >> Okay, >> Mr. Chairman, I move that we approve the removals of the county sheriff and municipalities SRO as presented. >> Second. >> We
033have a motion and a second. Is there additional discussion? >> Hearing none, the chairman votes I. >> Abate I. >> Gay I. >> I hear no votes. The motion is approved. And we'd also like to thank Sheriff Coach and for also the different uh our five different municipalities here in Hornet County for agreeing to provide us these protective services and uh working so well with us. >> I got one question, Mr. Chairman. >> Yes, sir. >> Mr. Pearson, do you know right off if we're going to have a school resource officer at each school this year or if they're still going to be sharing at some schools? So, we continue to fund a position at every site. Staffing at the sheriff's office doesn't quite have us there yet. Um, so we have a couple of
034vacancies currently that are signed up for offduty. Uh, but the money is there and as soon as the people are there, we should have someone there daily, the same person. So, like for instance, uh, Johnsonville went pretty good ways last year with a shared officer late in the year, got one, and that person is there on site every day. So, yep, that is our goal and the sheriff's goal. I believe to have same person every day versus offduty sign up. Um but I will follow up to get you the exact number of current vacancies. The last conversation I had we were around three. >> So Ben Her and John was not having a sheriff one. >> No. No. The goal is to have them to have their own daily. Yep. >> And if I might
035follow up, Mr. Chairman, I I did talk with the sheriff. Uh it's been two or three weeks ago now. Uh but uh at that time he was very encouraged. I think they were down to two vacancies at that time and uh if I'm remember correctly he had one that in the wings so to speak. So I think we're in better shape than we have been opening school the last few years. Uh but I'm I'm not sure that we're quite at 100% but we do have 100% funding when those folks are able to be hired. >> Okay. Thank you. All right, for a change we're going to move away from Mr. Pearson and move along to number six and review and consider approval of the global teaching partners and that would be Miss Thompson. >> Chairman
036Pal, members of the board, this is an additional partner for us to use for our international uh teacher selection. I'm not saying that um this is going to mean that we're going to have more an additional group of teachers coming in. It just gives us more flexibility around the teaching um partners that we have. As you know, uh participate only has elementary teachers. So that puts us with um working with the educational partners or EPI to get our high school and other middle school teachers and which is a a great need especially in certain areas, math, science, those kinds of things, special ed. And so Global Partners, to my understanding, currently has some visas left. And so, uh, for some of our EC vacancies, I feel like this might be helpful. It will broaden our
037scope. Um, they are approved by DPI to use. And so, I present that for your approval today. >> Okay. Are there questions for Miss Thompson or further discussion? >> Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion. >> Mr. shown. I move to approve Google teaching partners as presented. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there additional discussion? >> Hearing none. The chairman votes I. >> Abote I. >> Gay I. >> I. >> Hearing no. Nay votes. The motion is approved. And now we'll go back to Miss Thompson for the review and consider approval of the participant learning contract renewal. >> Chairman Powell and members of the board. This is our annual renewal for our teachers that we are bringing over with uh participate learning. This is the invoice. This is our bill today.
038>> Okay. I will entertain a motion. I >> move that we approve the participate learning contract. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there additional discussion? Hearing none. Chairman votes I. >> Abate I. >> Gay I. Hearing no nay votes. The motion carries. Next we have review and consider approval of Eureka math workbooks for grades K2. Miss Ferguson. >> Chairman Pal, members of the board. These are our student consumables for K2, our core instructional math materials. The cost is approximately $29 a student. And um we use we've used these the past couple of years. >> Okay. I'll entertain a motion. >> K through second. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there further discussion? Hearing none. Chairman votes I. >> Abate I. >> Gay. I >> hearing no votes.
039The motion carries. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Chairman. I move that we go into close session pursuant to general statute 143, 31811, A1, A3, and A6 to prevent the disclosure of confidential personnel files under GS15 C 321 to consider matters relating to initial employment of an individual employee and to consult with the board's attorney to in order to preserve the attorney client privilege. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there additional discussion? Chairman votes I. Abate I >> Gy I >> hear no votes the motion is approved. We're now in close session. Following a motion and a second, we're now back in uh open session. Do we have any additional business today, Mr. Matthews? >> Uh, none for me, Mr. Chair. >> Okay. Or from the board. If not, I'll entertain
040a motion. >> Motion to adjourn, Mr. Chairman. Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? The eyes have it. We are adjourned. Thank you.