001It is now 6:38 6:39 and we calling our regular board meeting to order. And first we'll start off by reading the mission statement. We can all read together in unison. Okay. The mission of the city school district is to create and maintain a highly effective educational system in which every student receives the highest quality education. School employees and parents work together to prepare students to become caring, competent and responsible citizens who value education as a lifelong process. Thank you. M we will um review the agenda tonight and I'm going to ask for a motion to approve Hill. I need to um add something to the Okay. Um I'm not sure how it but I know that we had talked about doing um training and going totally um online for our meetings. So how do we
002add it up there? Um I guess we can add it under discussion online. I mean um technology training correct. So we TNA technology training 10 is that off? Yes. Okay. All right. So, we've added 10 A um technology trainer. Anyone else? Okay. Can I I would like to add Madam Chair the filling of Mr. Tank Williams. Okay. We'll add that as TB. Anything else? Can I get agenda I mean an approval? A motion to approve tonight's agenda with the um additions. I make a motion that we approve the agenda for tonight with the additions. Second. Okay. It's been a motion and properly second to approve tonight's agenda with the additions. Are there any questions? All those in favor say I. Any opposed? Eyes have it. And our agenda has been approved for tonight. The next
003item is open session approval of minutes. Can I get a motion to approve open session minutes? Make a motion to approve open session minutes for tonight. Okay. Okay. It's been motioned and properly second to approve open session uh minutes for um open session minutes. Are any questions? All those in favor say I. Any opposed? Eyes have it and go forth. Next we will have our recognition and upcoming school events. who hires Miss Angel Lee Easter who is absent tonight. That's right. We have Miss Dr. We have Miss Fletcher who will be standing in her place. Good evening board chair, vice chair, Dr. Shale, and all in attendance this evening. Welcome to another opportunity to hear about the great things that are going on in Wel City School. I will begin our recognition and acknowledgement with
004Welen Elementary Global Academy student of the month. Carter Springer is not here. Okay. So, we principal in Carter's absence. Con has adjusted well to recent changes and has made great progress. His teachers are so proud of him. Okay, next we will move to Welen Middle School. Cheyenne Robinson, sixth grade. She's not here either. Miss Tyler, the principal, will accept on her behalf as well. Wen Middle School is proud to recognize Cheyenne Robinson for student of the month. She consistently demonstrates quiet determination and a strong work ethic in all that she does. While she may be reserved, her actions speak volumes. She puts forth her best effort every day, completes assignment with care, and is a respectful and responsible member of our school community. Next for Welding STEM High School Realmies, we have Jaden Robinson, 10th
005grade. David consistently displays what is meant to be an awesome Charger. He comes to school ready and prepared. He excels within his lessons and gives 110% daily. He raises the bar for himself and for his classmates. He's a joy to work with and we are proud to have Jaden as our student of the month at Wel STEM High School. Next from one valley Early College, Micaia Fleming, 12th grade. She is an extremely hardworking student who is the epitome of an early college scholar. She understands what it takes to be a successful student, which is evident in her work habits and her tenacity. When faced with obstacles, she does not hesitate or give up. She adjusts and moves quarterly, which is a reason behind her overall success at Arvac. For student for these reasons and many
006more, she is the Arvex student of the year. Next we will move to employee of the month. Miss Valencia Turnage from Welding Elementary. We are thrilled to recognize Valencia Turner as our employee of the month for the month of April. Her dedication, passion, and positive impact on both students and staff made her an invaluable part of our school community. get you a picture. Yes, you do. Yeah. I was holding this back. I didn't want you to know what I was doing this morning. This is a hardworking young lady. Daddy would be here if he was alive in his suit. Next we have parent of the month, Miss Sally Jones, Welen Middle School. Miss graduated 2001 here before we time. Mr. Robinson, please add Mr. um Hi, Mr. B. Well, United come back. Y'all know it's
007like family meeting everybody. Congratulations. The last thing that you can is about our welding transition night. Yes, our team transition night was a great success. Thanks to our great team who worked so hard together as well as our wonderful parent who attended and making the welding transition night a success. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Now we we're on number six is public form. Dr. Sh, do we have anyone for public forum? Yes, ma'am. Miss Thompson. Okay. Thompson. Is Miss Thompson here? Yes, ma'am. Yes, sir. And here I was told I was going to wait. Um, my name is Jisha Thompson. I am developing the Village Enrichment Center. And I just wanted to take a moment to ask if you guys were interested in sharing the old prek building so that way I
008could put it to good use for the community. It is in good favors and good hearts and mental that I would like to develop workshops and I have board members that are already active 501 degrees here in the town of Welen and surrounding areas that are already active 5 years plus that are trying to help the community but they have to meet 3545 an hour away from the service area. I'm hoping to turn the old prek building into the village where all is welcomed. I would like to make sure that there is access for the entire community for our elders and our youth. After school programs and workshops, areas where it focuses on mental health exercise, not just your recreational purposes, but being able to learn, financial literacy to piggy back with the school system
009and the board of education. I have let some of the uh principles and counselors know for a couple of months here and there and the community that I am willing to do this and put my best foot forward. I was told that others tried it but here I am Thompson and I'm up for the challenge and I'm hoping you all give grace to the community and accept this major transition for all of us. Thank you so much. Next we will have our reports um superintendent report Dr. Dr. Sho. Thank you madam chair board members. Um we've already talked about the trans the prek transition night. That was really uh exciting. The kids uh got to um go and see what the kindergarten classroom looked like and we had uh parents there and grandparents and everybody.
010And it it was just a really good night all the way around. And then yesterday at uh Welen Middle High, we had a career fair where all the children in Weldon City Schools was able to participate. Uh elementary uh three 3, four, and five. And then our middle and high school students. We had all kinds of representation in there between uh business, school, um and uh trades. and they and the kids went around and really asked a lot of good questions and wanted to know what all was available. And we we did have a one of our vendors uh in the room right now with us. Mr. Davis. Yes, sir. Yeah. Somebody had told me that he was playing something money song one time. He had he has some good music going over there at
011at his place. Uh but it was really nice because the kids really did get to see what's available not only in Halifax County but in the surrounding counties as well. We had community colleges from a lot of different places, different universities uh that were here and it was just a really good uh experience all the way around. And then I have uh I'll send this down your way. You can give this to Mr. D, Miss Jenkins. This is the uh Well Middle High School updated schedule. Um and I know that it is extremely small, but uh right now for u substantial completion, we are still they still have us on um on the 14th of August. I'm sorry. I thought maybe you said I know what it was. I ran out of paper. My things
012telling me I'm said 8:14. Yes, ma'am. Completion day. Yes. you know, one of the I mean, they have not lo we gained we gained two weeks because originally it was going to be the first part of of September and we've gained those two weeks and in spite of the rain, they have been able to maintain the two week savings right there. What's happening is is that with the foundations that they're trying to pour the footings into, it gets flooded. Got to get the water out of there. And then when we're trying to do the compaction, you got to get it to 98% of what the number should be. And so what you'll notice right now in the next week or so, you're going to see u you're going to see the uh slab being poured
013for the two classroom wings because it doesn't have the uh the loadbearing walls on there. They're just on the outside rather than interior ones and it also doesn't have any uh plumbing in there. So that makes it a lot easier. So you'll see that going up. That'll be the first area that'll go up with the steel and then they'll work their way around. But, uh, what we're hoping for is I asked the question that in, uh, in January we should have a really good idea cuz we should be completely closed in, dried in, and be able to rock and roll. And what they've been able to do is that when they're having problems in one area, they go ahead and rotate over to another pad. We've got the pad broken up into A, B, C,
014D, uh, E. And so they make arrangements that way. But they're doing a lot of good work out there. They're also uh if you've noticed, I know I shared the uh drone footage with y'all for the last two weeks. They're getting ready for the uh ball fields for the football field, the track, and the softball baseball. They're work that big white machine out there is uh really grinding up the um the soil to get it ready to put out there. It's kind of it gives a kind of a cleansing and gets any impurities out of it. And so what we're hoping for is we're going to get the uh the walk the uh the seed and everything uh laid down and so we'll have it established uh for next year, next fall, fall of 26
015for uh for it to be ready for all the athletic events that when it happens over there. But we're just excited it's coming along and uh it's really nice to see things are starting to happen. So Dr. I do have a question. Okay. Um, you said that originally it was September. Yes, ma'am. I thought it was August, but we're supposed to been starting school in August, right? Yeah. Yeah. 2026. But I see something that says 10. Yeah. 10:13. Yeah. No, no, that's the final co. That's after we go through the punch list and everything. So, the kids So, our kids are not going to start school there that August. Doesn't sound like No, they you could go in with substantial completion. That's what's happening on the 14th of August. You don't have to have total
016completion. Substantial completion means we have a certificate of occupancy. And we've even talked about having partial occupancy in certain areas of the building. So if this if the whole if you if the vast majority of it's ready and one part's not, then that part that we just couldn't utilize. So what we're dealing with is one of those situations where they're underpromising and overd delivering because they built a school very similar to hires and they did it in 18 months as opposed to 22 months. We did get behind a little bit because the all the bids came in higher and we had to go back and do value engineering. But I I feel pretty conf our goal is to be that uh second week or first week in July so we have plenty of time for
017everybody to move in. So, so and that was one of the thing that like we get the classrooms ready, we could get uh people to move their things into their classrooms, but so that it's not all happening at one time. The calendar doesn't promise anything. You don't know. We don't know much, but that's kind of pushing it. Yeah. So, I mean, the calendar probably going to look a little different next week. And that was one of the items that we had was that in cuz they asked me when we typically do it and I said typically in January and I said in January we would be looking at the 26 27 calendar. At that time they'll have a much more definitive idea about uh what the project looks like. A lot of the trade uh
018uh subcontractors have already ordered the materials so that we're not going to be affected by the tariffs. Mhm. I mean, you know, and and so that's why we're getting it all taken care of right now so that we can get everything in before that that starts to happen. Uh but we I feel pretty confident that that we'll be able to get us in there in the middle of July. They're going to make up some time here because as as soon as they get the the uh the concrete set and they start putting the steel up, it'll start coming along. You'll start seeing it happen. I mean, with the school got built before, they've done the same thing. You know, they tell you it's basically the worst case scenario where you have the worst winter and
019the worst April of rain that you can ever possibly have for the project because originally we were going to start in uh at the end of September, 1 of August, and we didn't really get over there until November. So even with the and then I guess it's talk about it that even if we received clearance to go in, we wouldn't receive it until maybe the 14th of August according to this sheet. That's that's that would be the goal. But again, we would know if it was going to pass or not because the building inspector that we work with would let us know. you know, everybody everybody there has built a school, multiple schools, and so they know what's to be expected whenever people are coming in there to inspect it, to have it right. And
020that's the other reason why you have uh Mr. Hall coming in and also looking at it from the technical side to check it out to make sure. And that I mean, and we did argue about 18 versus 22 months. more than likely it's going to end up being at 20 because I'm telling you they built a school with the same amount of square footage, one story that they got done in months. 22 is just just really covering themselves a lot, but it's going to be nice. Okay. Oh, and and that's all I have for right now. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Any questions? All right. Next item, proposed current expense budget and capital. Yes, ma'am. And what I did the the budget that I handed out to you a month ago and then after uh I
021got the feedback from uh last week, we uh the the 5% that was included in in the athletic budget uh for coaching supplements. I put it back to the same amount for this year. So it does not include a 5% increase in that. uh it's it does still include um the proposed uh potential of a teaching uh supplement in there. And just just to put it in into context because of the reevaluation and and the uh supplemental tax uh that we have and they were and because revenue neutral would have been 17 cents and we were able to keep it at 20. the revenue has been coming in based on the last 12 months and this goes from April of 24 through the end of March of 25. We have uh received uh $2,576,395.73. Our
022proposed budget when we passed in November was anticipation of revenue of 1.6 million. And so this is setting you up to be able to have sustainable teaching supplementing to uh to occur. Your capital outlay, nothing changed it. Nobody gave me anything different on that. And so again, all of this is a proposed. We have to have a budget presented of our local current expense and our capital to the county commissioner by May 15. And so the the concentration right now is the are the two budgets that you have the most control over. And that's the current expense and capital. And so the rest of the uh everything else that that we went over in that current expense budget uh two meetings back are still the same with the exception of a coaching uh supplement. And
023that's it. And even on that budget, the anticipated revenue was based on actual revenue at the time. And I believe I had I had uh 2,198,000 as the uh anticipated supplemental tax for the current expense for that budget. and that and it shows 115,000 coming from fund balance because we're ahead of receipts. We're going to be able to put in a higher amount and that means that you will probably be having a current expense budget next year with no no fund balance appropriation. because the one that we had for 2324 was close to 759,000 that y'all were taking out of um out of fund balance, but we didn't ended up not having to do that. Um but that's what I have. Uh I I I am requesting if you could pass uh those two budgets.
024What we're going to do for the work session is going to bring you back the restricted the state and the federal because we were we got our preliminary a lotments last week. And so we're putting together uh staffing for the schools so that we can bring that to you. that will be pretty much this the set almost the set in stone budget so that you we will absolutely know how many teachers we can hire how many aids and everything else and cover the raises also the teacher raises uh and employee raises uh for natural increase I had 5% right now we're only looking at 1.23% based on the Senate budget so we've already overcompensated for that on here retirement is at 24.8 86% excuse me 20 24.74% and hospitalizations at $8,500 per uh full-time employee.
025So they kind of one's coming down, the other one's going up a little bit. So it's going to be almost a wash. Well, you just you do that. Yes. So, um well, this the pleasure of the board. Did you all want to vote on the budget tonight? If so, can I get a motion? If not, let me know. And this had to be to the commission by May 15. The next board meeting I mean sport meeting is the 15th, isn't it? Work session before then or call. Maybe we have another work session before then. Yes. Right. We don't but we do cuz we just decided that Well, that's that's going to put a wrinkle in a lot of things. It is. It is. So we just sell we sell on the even months. Correct. Yes.
026May is odd odd month, right? So I guess we'll have to do it after this. After May starting in June, what the budget? No, we have to do the what you were talking about the odd even stuff. Yeah, we we can start it then. We can start. So we'll do May. You want to talk about May 8th and then do action on it then or you want to do it in 9th? Can we do action on it in the May on May 8th? cuz you said it has to be there by the 15th, right? Statutory deadline is the 15th. I don't know. Often times the county manager asked for it earlier. The county is moving a little faster. Is that the case here? I mean, they they they knew it was preliminary. Have they given
027a like soft deadline that's earlier than the 15th? No, they're having their budget meeting on Monday uh evening. Yes. So we do it on the ETH then can we vote on it on that? Can we like do action on the ETH? I'm saying the the statutory deadline for a board of education to submit to the county commissioners is May 15, but oftent times the county commissioners are making decisions in advance of that date. And I think historically that's what's happened with uh Halifax County. Um it sounds like they're having they are having their budget meeting this coming and and that's where the uh the manager is showing all the proposals from all the departments that they fund. Yeah. Yeah. But they're not voting on it. They probably won't vote on theirs until it gets closer
028to the either the middle or the later part of May. I know but they they usually try to get it in place before June. So they can have it all ready for the July 1st for them. You know, my question would be that, you know, if if there's something that's causing some constrnation, y'all have got to tell me because nobody nobody has contacted me to tell me I don't like this in there. The only thing that was told to me was about the athletic stuff. And so I fixed it so that we can bring it back for approval. But there have been nothing else added. Again, this is just a draft approval that goes to them. your full approved official budget won't happen until September, right? Because come July one, we just simply adopt a
029resolution to say that we're going to spend everything that we spent this year until budget's done. And this is factored into Yes, ma'am. And that's right. This is the proposed budget. But but okay, but on that note, if you choose not to do that, then I'll have to come back to you and and say that we're going to be spending that money on something else schools. Okay. where is there a motion or did you want I make a motion to approve the proposed budget second for the 2526 school year. Okay, it's been motioned and probably second to propose to approve the proposed budget for the 2526 school year. Are there any questions? All those in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Eyes have it. That has been please shout out. Thank I appreciate y'all. The
030next one is teacher supplement action. Yes, ma'am. I am going my personal opinion. I would like to work on this a little bit more Dr. Shotwell. Um but I'm just one person, one vote. I do agree with the teacher supplement. I love it. I love the fact that we are about to start offering our teachers, starting off with our teachers first and then moving on throughout the districtwide supplement. I'm not against any of that, but I would like to still go back and look at those numbers before we even approve. And the numbers that you have on on the board agenda on assembly are actual. If you gave that supplement today, that's actual experience of of your certified uh individuals. That's everybody everybody who's certified except for administration and central office. So it's counselors, nurses,
031uh teachers that are included on that. And when you're looking at the uh the one with the highest amount, option A, it's 315,000. Even in the original budget when I was anticipating only 2.1 million coming in from the supplemental tax, that's still um that's still under the amount. You've got you've got an additional almost 400,000 more and you still got three more months of collections to go in this fiscal year. I like giving y'all actual numbers of what we received, not the projections. And so you're going to be able to comfortably do a substantial teacher uh supplement for you folks. What it does for us, it allows us to go ahead and start recruiting for for those positions. I mean, but if you'd like to wait, that's that's me. I'm just I mean, Madam Chair,
032what what is causing you falls about going forward at this time? Um because we have three choices and I'd like to look at those um three individual choices more closely. Okay. To choose which one is the one I'm going to choose to go with. Okay. And if you wanted to break the, you know, you adjusted years for me when I brought it the original time, but if you wanted to change, if you're if you want to do something different for 21 plus because you've got uh 14 14 folks that are in that category. So that's anywhere from 21 to 30 plus. If you want to extend that out, you can do that. Um, I mean it's it's a lot of different ways that that you can do. But Mr. Davis, that's just one person, one
033vote. And so if you all would like to pass it and tonight then your pleasure and board members I also totally understand with all the uh the changes and leadership that sit in this seat and and the leadership that's been in the district. But, you know, we're really bringing things to calmer waters. And I know and I know it's hard to trust, you know, when somebody says, "Yes, you can do this." I I promise you, I would not be bringing this to you if we couldn't sustain it because that's the worst thing in the world that you can do to a teacher is to give them something and then say, "You've got this wonderful thing and then, oh, the grant ran out. I can't do it anymore." I've always been a believer if you can't
034sustain it, don't do it. That's right. I make motion that we um table the proposed supplements for the 2526 school year um until well we'll discuss in our work session. I'll second. Okay. It's been motioned and properly second to table the teacher supplement until our work session in May 8th. Um any any questions? All those in favor say I. Any oppose? Eyes have it. And Madam Chair, can I have feedback on what I can if there's something else that needs to be added to it? Yes. Okay. Next item is the school nutrition program and I'm presenting that one to my um first of all I want to say that Christie Evans have done an awesome job for us and uh if you'll look at the presentation it's a poweroint Thank you. Just a little bit
035uh overview. This is a we've started out well with the uh with this year's program that's for the 2425 school year. Um the uh school nutrition administrative assistant is being mentored and supported by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction where their regional consultants. I can honestly tell you between CTE and child nutrition there's in EC there's so much support coming from the state whenever folks are are trying to make a program work and very much so here we have a fresh fruit and vegetable program uh the elementary school uh participated in the fresh fruit and vegetables program for 2425 uh school year the program was allocated uh for a grant for 22 for $20,777 and the students are served fresh fruit, fruit or vegetables 4 days a week in the afternoon. On the next
036slide, we have the summer feeding. Summer feeding has been uh has had an administrative review back in July 2024, which turned out well. So, there were no reclaims of funds, which is good. Uh, and so we will be providing meals again this summer to all children 18 years and younger at the elementary school for the months of June and July. And the meals will be delivered to the other schools that have remediation camps. And we're in the process of getting approved by DTI to deliver the meals to the public housing department. So we're taking the food out to the folks that need it the most. Our children, I feel like, and our elderly are the most vulnerable that we have in our community. and the more that we can do for them, the better that
037we're going to be able to survive. Um, and and and eating is is a is a necessity that everybody should have and we're going to try to provide that. And my own personal experience of seeing it, it it was it was this it was what they did during COVID that made a difference for a lot of our families that struggle. on the last slide uh you know two of the goals uh have been to uh work on revenue and participation and the meal participation you'll see uh for uh ARVC for breakfast is 35.78% lunch is 52.29% at the STEM high school uh breakfast is 48.23 lunch is 65.96 at the middle school breakfast is 65.67 67, lunch is 84.33 and then at the elementary school is uh breakfast is 75.09 and lunch is 87.36. The
038more that we have uh students participating in this, the better our revenue is going to be because we are a a C district eligibility program district. And so, uh, you know, and and I am I am torn between having them come through the line to claim a meal and then turn around not eat it. But then on the other hand, I need to be able to sustain a program for the kids that are eating to be able to pay for it. And and so that that's where my dilemma is. And what a lot of districts do is they say, "We you're going to go through the line." And they go through the line. And that way because all the reimbursements are based on the to the highest reimbursement rate uh for lunch and breakfast and
039that's what pays for the program and we do get commodities and a lot of times we get uh fresh fruit grants like this or farm totals. We'll get those that'll help us out with some of the cost. Do y'all have any questions on uh child nutrition? Thanks. Right. So, next is the U board chair report and I really don't have a lot but I would like to thank everybody for their efforts this school year. Um we are coming to a close and your hard work has not gone unnoticed and that's to each and every one of you all that's in here, those that are listening online and um just everybody that's involved within this district. I appreciate it. On behalf of the boards from um the bottom of our hearts, we appreciate all that you
040all have done and um like I said, the school year is coming to an end. Next month will be the ending of the 2425 school year. So, let's finish it off with the ban. Thank you. I know you're going to have a little bit of deja vu here, madam chair, on the next item. Yes. So you have before you the budget amendments. You've got state amendment uh 30 31 32 local amendment 9 and federal amendment number 10. Are there any questions? Uh I looked over most of them are just adjusting the grant. the uh the last one with PRC9, let's see, that was that's all the benefits and that's always going to be fluid because it's going to be based on actual use. Yeah, that's that's the state state number 30. All right. Can I
041get a motion to approve the uh financial and budget amendments to the budget? Okay. local man. That's it. All right. All right. Motion um to approve the budget amendments. Um the local um that Michigan just read off and the state. Are there any questions? All those in favor say I. Any opposed? Eyes have it. Next item on the agenda is going to be curriculum financial reports. Are there any questions? If there's no questions, um I present to you the financial reports for each of the departments. Any questions? All right. Next item on the agenda is for instruction. Dr. Benny. Good evening everyone. Good evening. I'm going to take a few minutes. I don't have a great deal to present tonight, but what I would like to do is just reiterate and remind you of what
042we do have planned for the summer that we're calling summer ventures 2025, which will start with our summer remediation June 2nd through the 12th and our testing will take place June 16th through June 18th. We will also have summer camp which is scheduled to begin on June 23rd and end on July 17th with testing beginning July 21st through the 23rd. We will also have credit recovery at our high school u beginning June 16th through July 17th. Um, our AIG camp is slated to be a week in June, June 23rd through June 27th. And our get moving culinary and heroes camp will also be June 23rd through June 27th. Our steam camp, we've made a slight revision to what was two weeks at one point will now be one week and it will only be at
043WEA which will be July 7th through the 10th. Our summer bridge camp program at Arvette will be June 23rd through the 26th and the high school bridge program will be July 21st through the 23rd. Our fifth grade transition, we are still trying to determine a date for that. So, I simply wanted to remind you all of the summer venues that we do have coming up. And we are I am working on a list of staff to bring to the board for the May board meeting. And we have a date set to have a meeting with all staff pending approval. Um, a preliminary meeting to talk about what the expectations will be for the summer of 2025. that way we're all on the same page, speaking the same language and trying to do the same things.
044So, we will have that um ready to present to you. Uh we are adding names and doing a lot of different stuff to try to make it fun but exciting and educational for the students this summer. Mission, let me go back just for a second. In addition to that, our AIG plan, Miss Fran, is currently working on the AIG plan, which will be due June 30th, if I'm not mistaken. So, that will be coming to you very soon for your review uh questions and your approval before it is submitted. We do have many students that I would like to just shout out tonight and say are demonstrating growth. A great deal of those students are at Wellland Elementary School. uh some of the classes some of those kids are growing 35 40 45 50 points.
045So we're really really happy to see the data coming in that looks like that and we are hopeful that that same data and that same uh growth and those trends that we're seeing in um in their assessments will also be the same things that we see in their end of grade and endor. Our intervention blocks um I believe are going well for the most part considering we put them in at midstream and principles picked it up and went with it. But I do believe it is a good um power hour I like to call it where they drop everything and they are focusing on uh intervention strategies and remediating the kids and working on those um skills that the children u have deficits in and trying to close those gaps up some. So, I believe
046that it is working. We will see the fruit of the labor in due season. Um, I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have about summer 2025. Um, question, Dr. Bone, I know that in the past we have opened it up to um, not only our staff, but we had like college students who are, you know, are from here or whatever that applied. Is that the same case or I heard you say you're going to compile a list of staff next week. So will it be open to So we are compiling the list. The list is just about already done. A great deal of them are our own staff members, but yes, it will be open to college students, but we are putting our cap on the number of college students that we have.
047So, um I'm really only looking at about three to four that is providing we can find three to four that want to do it because I think it would be good for them. So, yes, ma'am, but we're not planning to include anyone outside of college students, right? And we are only um say it. We're trying to select our strongest people throughout the district to work in these programs this summer because we want our students to get the full benefit of the best that we have that we can give to them. Yes, ma'am. Any other questions? Thank you all. Thank you Davis is good evening. Right for our CT updates. So, um on Monday, April 14th, we had about 10 students to graduate from um Pathways, which is sponsored by the Ronald Valley Chamber of Commerce.
048Um and that same day they um got their stop the bleed certification. So, you know, we're excited for them. We want to make sure we put that up there. Um we did have our college and career fair on yesterday. grades 3 through 12. I think we had about 35 colleges and businesses to like show up. Thank you, Mr. Davis, for bringing your business there. And I think the kids enjoy it. Center. Um, we have our FBLA National Conference June 29th through July 3rd pending um approval. And Takira Ivy is the student that um will be participating and this is like her second time going to National. So, we're excited um for her. and that's in Anahham, California. Um, egg and culinary students will be attending Central Carolina Community College on April 30th um to visit
049their farmtotable program. We have the clean energy high school career fair at the center for energy on May 2nd. Um, Latrice Taylor is our CTE teacher of the year for the 2025 school year. So she'll be in the process of applying through NC CAT to see if she can go further. And the local CTE plan is due in NC SIP by May 15 and P and needs board approval by June 30th. So it'll be presented probably at the May or June board meeting for testing and accountability. We're almost at the end. So we have EO at WGA um with dates April 7th through May 5th. Um EOG for WGA and Welen Middle School May 12th through May 23rd. Um NCSDN 1 May 12th through May 23rd and our end of course test is May 19th
050through May 23rd. Any questions for me? Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. There are some good things going on that we would particularly I mean I will tell you that again we have wonderful kids like that and we're going to the national good evening board members. I stand before you to present our EC report for this month. um in your packets. As you can see, our compliance as of April 7th was 90%, but I can tell you as of today, we are at 93.67% compliant. We did hold our equitable services private school meeting on April 9th with Halifax Academy because Victory Christian is no longer in existence. um they asked for occupational therapy services for next school year and they only have two students so we have agreed to provide speech
051and OT for them next school year we held transition night. It was a success. It was our first one. We had about 15 parents and students um to come out and tour WGA and talk with the kindergarten teachers. So, we're excited about that and we look forward to continuing that on next year. And thank you to everyone for help making it a success. Tonight, I'm excited collaboration with Miss Davis, the CTE department, Miss Forier. We have with us Miss Margaret Sharp, who is the president of Tri County Industries, which is located in Viking Mount, North Carolina. I'mma let Miss Sharp tell you a little bit about Tri County. Tri County and the services that they can offer our students. Feel free to ask any questions that you may have. Afterwards, we'll be asking for approval
052of the MOU. Thank you for having me. Good evening. Um, so I'm here to share with you, um, our official name is Tri County Industries with, but when you hear the name industries, it sounds like we made something. And so we have recently rebranded our company. And our tri counties is um, Halifax Edge Manache. Um, and our our rebranded name is TCI Works because we're about putting people to work and our um, motto is enhance lives through opportunity. This is our mission statement. um we work with people with disabilities or disadvantages and a disability is a disadvantage and so um I like to capitalize on that but so is the lack of transportation, the lack of work skills, the lack of um opportunities that they've been exposed to a variety of career options. And so
053we do this with through with work assessments, job training, and jobs job placement. We have contracts with local industries that bring work to us and we're um that's one of the pieces of our work that we do that we're able to do kitting work at TCI which is on Atlantic Avenue. Um I'm here to share with you about our pre-employment transition services and we call it PREIS. Um, PETS is a federally funded program that every student that has an IEP or a 504 plan is entitled to and it's to help with the career um career technical education component with students with um IEPs and 504s and we work with these students. We have a a team that comes in and we work with the students in the schools and we're sponsored by the local their
054their name now is um EIPD or employment for individuals with persons with disabilities which was the local VR office vocational rehab. They changed their name too. So, so um PED services and we also provide a spark program and a day program. This is our PET team. In the middle is Jacob Johnson. He is our paths director. He came out of an OCS classroom when he was in the classroom. And then we have um about four specialists that go into um the schools and works with the students. And then we have a community coordinator and her role is to um part of our program. We have milestones that we accomplish and we work with the students in the classroom on pre-employment skills which includes workplace behavior, how to dress, we do resumeums, we do um mock
055interviews. Um and we with roads, our community coordinator, we take students out to do job shadowing. So they get to express we work with them starting at age 14 or as soon as we can get them. And during that time they express their interest of careers and then they get to go and actually job shadow to see if it's something they really want to do. How many of us have started in a career and then made a shift or when you went to college you thought you wanted to do one thing and and decided you really didn't want to. An example of this we had a young man that when you took he wanted to work with small children so we took him to a local daycare to do a job shadowing. When he walked
056out he said nope not for me. So, um, we we take pride in the fact that we take the students and we provide the transportation. That's part of theou and the agreement. Um, we transport on roads or whoever it is that takes them out. Um, stays with them during the time that they're doing the job shadowing. and we have work um we have a lot of I'm I'm jumping ahead but we have we're just really proud of the opportunities that we're giving these students that um would not otherwise get it without these services. So, um, pre-employment transition services again is a partnership with, um, the local EIPD office. What your role or what we ask the schools to do, we just get the application. We work with EIPD. We're the middleman. We're contracted to provide
057the services. So, you don't have to do that. So um the benefits of paths for the students is career exposure including community outings, employment based instruction, practice with interviews, resumes and job applications and we also work on developing social skills and self- advocacy skills. We that's a big thing that we do at TCI. We promote self- advocacy and we allow the adults and the children that we work to develop a voice and um speak up for what they want to do. Um for the teachers, we provide I IEP data with the progress reports. We are constantly collecting our data and we um provide supports through additional instructors and we help with transition plans. um we attend IED meetings if we're invited or asked to do provide um input to let the parents and the students
058um know of the different experiences they had and the interest that they have and our goal is that when they graduate they have a plan. They have a plan and we we work with all um areas of disabilities so that the plan could be that they go to work immediately. It could be that they join our spark program which we provide employment coaching services on in the community. They could come to our day program. They could go to college. We have a a student at Rocky Mountain Prep right now. We helped her get a scholarship to go to Meredith College and she's getting um accommodations at Meredith or they could go into the military because we help prepare them for the ASVAT test, too. That's it. Okay. So, um, so again, it's um, is allocated
059by federal funding, but is filtered through the local VR office, and we're contracted to come in to provide the services. And we're very proud of the work that we do. I'm a retired educator myself and so we um we want to make sure that I heard you make the statement we only accept the best. We want to give the students the best of the best and have those opportunities so that they have a plan when they graduate and they know what they're going to do the next day or we capture them before they get out of school in in case they don't make it all the way to the end. We have a plan. You have any questions? That sounds real good. And this is the fourth year that we've been in. Um we started
060I was telling Lisa we started four years ago in Edgecom County with 17 students and a staff of two. This year we're serving Halifax, um, Edgecom, um, Northampton County, Ronet Rapids High, Rocky Mount Prep, Rocky Mount Academy, Northeast Carolina Prep, all the Edgecom County schools, several home schools, um, the North Carolina Virtual Public Schools, um, where we're working with some students there and we have about 130 students that we're serving and now we have a team of seven. So, we're we're growing, but we're growing with with the expectation that we're giving quality um services. Thank you. I look forward to working with you. So, if you don't mind. All right. Um we have to um that needs action. So, can I add um a motion to approve theou with tci? I'll make a motion to
061approve the tci. Second. All right. It's been a motion properly second to um approve the tci. Any questions? All those in favor say I. Any opposed? Eyes have it. And we look forward to working with you. Thank you so much. Next item is operations. Mr. Hunter is not here tonight. So, I told you about school already. And then the other part is we're getting really close to finishing up back here in the back. We're uh we're almost done. Take a tour. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I got to wait till I get all straightened up and get the dust out of there. Next item is u consent agenda. Can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda that has theou with um Halifax Department of Social Services, Global Recruitment Incorporated, Teacher Recruitment, and the FBLA National
062Conference. And there's only an aster on B uh pending final acceptance of the attorney's um suggestion. We're still asking for approval, but not until Jason said that that it's okay. Y'all still go ahead and give that pending. didn't. Yeah. Just for clarity on that too, it would not change the um cost per teacher who they identified with the district hired. None of the fee structures. We've worked with um that group in other districts. I'm not anticipating any push back on the changes I made. It's similar to what we've done elsewhere. Um but there is at least some uh finalizing to do on the floor plate terms and conditions. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? Before we approve that, is there something on operations notice that we we did operation other than I'm
063saying is it something other than what we were given on the screen. Is it something else other than of course I know he told us about the school or anything. Is it anything else? That's all he had. That and that and we're we're getting really close to finishing up back in the backyard. Yes, ma'am. Okay. I know Mr. Hunter usually said something about buses and all that. I mean, that's why I was asking. You y'all could tell a teacher vacation, huh? By the audience, with you in the crowd, especially directors. Okay. Can I get a motion to approve the consent agenda? I make a motion to approve the consent agenda. Second. Okay. It's been a motion and probably second to approve the consent agenda. Are there any questions? All those in favor say I. Any
064opposed? Eyes have it. And the consent agenda has been approved. Next item is break. We don't keep going have one. Okay. Next item is TNA discussion technology training. I know that was something that we had talked about. um getting framed because we were going to go move away from paper and just do technology. Has that been put in place? Dr. Ch, we've been in a holding pattern for for you all to officially say that we're going to do this all online because uh I started I think it was maybe two and three meetings back. I didn't make I didn't print things off and then somebody corrected me said we didn't tell you that. So y'all tell me the direction that you want to go. I really like it would really be very helpful to you
065as simply we said that um we're going to get some technology training from it. I know that's what Yes. So um uh are when we need to set something up so that we can get some training. Yes. Okay. Okay. So, I need some dates and times. If you want to do it maybe an hour or two before your regular pre-work session, you can do that and that way it'll be during the so May 8th at that May 8th. We already scheduled for five. So, it had to be four, right? You said an hour before. Um, yes. May 8th. And that's that's only if we needed the training, right? I mean, there's nothing new, right? To be honest, I don't she she'll do assembly, but what we need is [Music] we'll get it taken care of.
066We'll get it taken care of. Yeah. Foundations. Yes. Yes. We just we definitely need intro, you know. Yeah. Introduction. Okay. Yeah, that's no problem. From computer stuff. Yes. Okay. Okay. So, you said um you said 5:00. That's what I have in my calendar that we're meeting. I'm on the 8th at 5. Is that not correct? I had 5:30 on the 8th. Yeah. May the 8th I had 5:15. You got 5:00. I could leave you. Yeah. There you go. Okay. So, so what what what time did you all want to meet on the 8th? I think you said 5:15 to give you a chance to get here. Yeah, that's what it was. That's what it was. Okay. I didn't have any time, but I still have five. Make sure I get out of the building and
067here on time. Okay. So, um 3:00 3 or 4 4:00 on the May 8th is good. 4:00 for those that need the training. That's fine. Yes. 4:00 and I don't even know if that's enough time. Well, it may have to be more than one session. Yeah, it might one day might not work. We'll do the basics of navigating, getting attachments, those kinds of things. 4:00 on May 8th, and then if not, then start at 5:15. Mhm. And mine is at 5:15. Okay. Gotcha. All right. The next item is going to be board vacancy. Was that all it was for me? Okay. Board vacancy. It's not the same. Miss Jen, my thing is, you know, we did uh applications and we put it out there and I think uh well, since well, I think we just
068need to go ahead on and deal. That's me as a board. Okay. But we were supposed to have met last week. We we had interview schedu but only because we were going to still that was a work session night but because one of our board members was unable to make it that's why we re that's why we rescheduled right and then we haven't set a date yet. So we do need to come to agreement with another date in which we can start interviewing um the people that have applied for that position for the seat. So what are we doing on May 8th? What do we have something else schedu? Um yeah, the budget, right? We have the budget. You talk about the budget and um Okay. So maybe on May 8th we could talk about
069when we can do the interviews. We can schedule them on May 8th. Is that what you're saying? Miss Harrison. Okay. You said schedule them. Will it take place that night? No take place that night. I think I mean I think we probably need to go ahead and try to get on the calendar there because it's been it's been a while. It's been pushed out pushed out pushed out. So I think we can go ahead and schedule it. I mean it's not going to be May but schedule a date to go ahead plan to do it. So when did you all want to schedule it? Are we looking at We're looking at doing it all in one night, right? Okay. do a special I mean you could do it the same. I think initially we were
070thinking you do interviews you know one day and then at another meeting make your selection but you could certainly conduct interviews make a selection on the same same evening having all of the interviews in the same that's what I was not making the selection right I'm just saying do all of the interviews in one night that's what we were going to do last week yes I'm just saying you could do it together if the board wanted to you certainly Okay. So, what day are we looking at? Are we looking at meeting the 15, right? Yes. It does not have to be on a Thursday night. All right. What about um about Tuesday, May 20th? 35. What time work? Anybody okay with that night? What time? Tuesday. Tuesday, May 20th. May what? 20th. 5 actually. Yeah.
0715 or 5:30. Could you have Don't you have something on Tuesdays? No. Okay. So, um, what time is that? 5:30. Um, what were we looking at early? That's fine. 5 5:00 is fine. Okay. By then, I'll be on my 104. So, so May 20th at 5. Yeah. Right. Yes. We'll meet at 5 and maybe interview start at 5:30. You think? That'll be fun. Yeah. Y'all could eat during that time and get ready for it in that way. It's fine. May Yeah. May 20th 5:00 and we'll do interviews starting at 5:30. So, Mr. Jens. All right. So, and also while we're while we're talking about this, um I do want to bring your attention to um June and I realize that we need to change our date meeting date in June for our regular schedule board
072meeting. So, we don't need to get down in and and say, you know, we need to take care of it now because the conference will be going on that week. So, She said 24. We can reschedu that now. You want to push it out to the 26? Yes. Or do we want to go earlier? I would I would say this. If there are some uh year-end budget amendments, if you could do it earlier, it helps because it does take some time to get them all put in and then get the reports run right by midnight on the 30th. do June 12th. Is everybody okay with meeting June 12th? She'll already have it because we were spoke um scheduled to meet that night for work session. So June 12th, the 12th is going to be the
073regular board meeting. Regular board meeting and that's when we'll start um Yeah. Your finance folks be extremely pleased. Okay. All right. And that is it. Um, anything else? Any comment? Okay. Um, the next item is going to be action from close session. Um, we didn't have any. So, any comments from anybody? If not, can I get up? I have a comment, too. Okay. Give me time. You didn't give me time. I would just like to wish all our staff and our students uh happy Easter and enjoy your spring break with your family. Be safe if you go out of town. Be safe and come back to us safe and just enjoy your week. Get some rest and get ready for the rest of the year. Thank you. So great. [Laughter] No. Anybody else? Miss Jenkins?
074No. Mr. D, I just wish everybody happy Easter. Students, staff, enjoy your Easter. Enjoy your spring break. You worked hard. You deserve it. So, everybody needs a break. And it's time to take some time off. So, really enjoy it. Take some time to relax and refresh and come back and let's be ready to rock and roll. Rock and roll. Rock. All right. All right. Okay. Can I get a motion, Mr. Bennett? I just echo everybody else saying everybody have a happy Easter and when we come back, we'll be down here. Okay. All right. Both hearts and minds are clear. Yes, sir. I feel a motion to adjurnn. Second. All right. It's been motioned and properly seconded to adjurnn. Are there any questions? All those in favor say I. I any opposed? Uh seven and we
075are now journey at 7:54.