001stands one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. I'd >> like to thank everybody for coming. I'd like to call to order the board of school trustees from Graph County School Corporation. Our first meeting is the tenative agreement that we've done for the teachers and I'd like to call it to order first. Um is there any presentation from the tenative? >> Yep. I'll take that. >> Okay. Um we have reached a tentative agreement for the 2526 school year. Um tonight is just a public hearing to go over that tentative agreement. Um and then explain the process um to get to the ratification of the master contract for the teachers for 2526. Um and so a summary of the agreement um is really just organized into two sections. One is language. Um we
002in there that accumulated sick leave, paid parental leave, must be used before applying it to the sick leave bank. Uh there's language if a teacher's been employed for less than 12 months, they're ineligible for FMLA and has a need to take a leave that would otherwise be a qualifying reason under FMLA, then the teacher may use any of their personal sick or accumulated sick leave at the discretion during their leave. In order to receive retroactive pay, a teacher must be employed by the corporation on the date the agreement is ratified by the board. And then bargaining unit members hired without certified classroom teaching experience, but has relevant work experience um to their assigned instructional content area will receive one year accredited experience for every three years of their actual years of experience in the field.
003So that is the section about language and then um usually the large portion is about compensation. Um and so we have several items here that deal with compensation. In the event a substitute's not available, our certified teachers will receive the ancillary duty hourly rate of $35 when they cover another regular teacher's uncovered instructional assignment. So that's how current teachers uh are asked to cover. um on their prep, they will be compensated at $35 uh per hour. We have all bargaining unit members will receive a 1500 base salary increase. All eligible bargaining unit members will take a step to the next row on the salary schedule. Eligible bargaining unit members in the bachelor's column who entered the step this year are still behind steps based on their years of experience will be fully caught up to
004the appropriate row and then eligible bargaining unit members in the mast's column who after the step this year are still two or more steps behind based on the years of experience will take an additional step. eligible bargaining unit members in the mast's column who after the step this year are 0.5 steps behind will be pulling caught up to the top of the scale and all three of those are an attempt to be able to um do a catchup if you remember um there are there are a group of teachers that have chosen to stay with Brown County schools um for many many years and there was a freeze in any salary increases for quite some time this is an attempt to be able to honor um their years of experience and for them staying with
005us. So um we also have this year because of legislation bargaining unit members will hold who hold the literacy endorsement will move horizontally into the instructional leadership column with a base increase of $250. We will increase our ECA schedule by 3% across the board. Some positions have moved groups and one high school student council position has been added. And then the hourly rate for working school sponsored ECA events will increase by $10 for each group, $35 for less than three hours, $55 for three or more hours, $75 for six or more hours. That is a summary of the agreement um that this summary was posted on our website on October 14th, 2025. Um the the association met with um other members in the association and um came to this tentative agreement. I agreed to it.
006Um tonight is just a public hearing for the contract and then um the board I will have a recommendation for the board to officially approve the master contract for 2526 um on November 3rd. So with that, is there anybody in the audience that has public comment on the teacher tentative agreement for the master contract? >> Anybody? >> Can I get a motion to close the tenative agreement meeting? >> Second. >> I'll second. >> Doug, >> yes. >> Carol, >> yes. Vicki. Yes. Amy, yes. Julies, yes. >> Okay. Now, I'm going to call to order. The motion carries. I'm going to call to order the regular agenda meeting. Um, any modifications to the agenda? No. Okay. This is the section where we come to recognition of visitors and comments from the audience. Let me remind you,
007you have three minutes. We do not answer questions. You can make your statement, tell us what going on, how you feel, or whatever it is. And that's that's how it's going to be. First person up is Clifford. Mr. Clifford. >> First. >> Hello. Um, just >> you have to come up. >> I'm sorry. Where do I need to stand? Where do I need to be? Front and center. >> All right. Awesome. Um, just a couple just a couple comments. one um as you guys move towards doing this I would be um beyond shocked if uh it's at being advertised or partially sold to the public as not just benefiting football which is primary one track but also soccer that the field is a true regulation size field. Don't let the company short change you on
008that by coming in too small. Um if you're going to spend that money, spending money, make it an actual legitimate soccer field. Um, two, um, you know, I'm worried about next referendum. This county doesn't forget anything. Um, I don't feel like the last two were very good. I don't feel the public was informed enough or in the correct manners. Um, so it was a slim margin that I got by. So that's the second concern I have with this is uh, yeah, the public not forgetting. That's it. So thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Cla. Next, uh, Courtney Hugh. >> Mine was a question, so never mind. >> Faith Couch. >> My name's Faith. I have two boys that play. All of our boys, all of our boys, they do great. Um, things I'm concerned about
009as far as the football field as it sits now. It dips the holes causing ankle knee injury. Um outside of the football field, the whole track, the entrance, there's as far as handicap accessibility, there is none. Parking, there is none. My dad is 80 years old and cannot come and watch my boys play ball anymore because he can't get in and out to the stadium. So, it's not just about the build. It's about getting our fans in there that can't get in there right now. The bathrooms, you can't get a wheelchair in there. So, we're limiting who can come and see our kids play. Um, so that was my my concern. >> Thank you. >> Next up is Ian Price. Is that correct? >> Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. >> Uh, I already spoke on
010this here in one of our prior engagements, so I'll keep it pretty short. This project is pretty huge for our community. Uh not only just our community engagement and everything we do on these fields, but bringing us all together. Uh our student body uses this fields continuously. It's a major safety issue right now for our students, especially even just in gym class. Uh running a mile. I know they still run a mile gym class because I hear about it from my boys all the time, you know, and we got what six inch dips coming off parts of the track. some points them running the mile and leaving class because they just broke an ankle. That's a major concern. New improvements are very necessary. Our athletic use, so we got track team that's out there. We
011got our band teams at work out there. Our football team is out there. Everybody's out there using this place. Improvements. Our students, our athletes, they deserve better equipment, better fields. And then again, I'll just address the safety. Safety of our athletes and students are paramount. Let's keep them safe. This is a big way forward in keeping our people safe. >> Thank you, >> Tony Bale. >> Hey, thanks for having me again. Um, I just want to say that as we embarked on this challenge a little over a year ago that, you know, I was very hopeful that it would get to this opportunity and I just want to point out that this is a really exciting time for us. Um, the kids have known about this for a while and the excitement and the thrill
012that they have not only just for football but for all sports and just gives the kids a little bit sense of pride and knowing that um they can have another opportunity that many of the schools surrounding us we have the privilege of of having. Um, I don't look at it from a financial standpoint. I know that that's something that you guys have the big responsibility for. I look at it from a satisfactory standpoint and giving our kids the best opportunity to be successful in any plane surface on anything they do. If it's in the best interest of them, it's always in the best interest of my heart. And, you know, I'm I'm thrilled to be a part of this project. I'm really thrilled to see the advancements that we've done with what where our intentions
013are. And I truly think it's going to be a great blessing for all the kids, the community, and just the overall satisfaction that we'll get once this project is completed and we get through think back of just how how much it is a joy to see our kids, the smile on their faces because we haven't had a very successful football season, but we've had a lot of kids come and support them and we've had a lot of kids that have worked hard and the joy of that they have on a daily basis of having this opportunity is is really Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Missy Smith. >> Well, I guess now I'm a little I'm a little more concerned that the kids have known about this for a year and the community has it.
014I I do know that in the spring I heard a little bit about it. I was told that it was a grant. I think a lot of people are confused about whether it this was referendum money, grant money, or bond money. And a lot of people are mistakenly thinking that a bond is free money and it's not. It's it's basically us taking out a mortgage. Also, it's a little disingenuous. You know, I heard it's not going to raise taxes. If we don't do the bond, will it lower taxes? I mean, when if you don't have a bond, it does lower taxes. My other concern is for the flooding on Grazy Creek. I mean, we just had a whole thing down about somebody wanting to use property and Nashville's a bucket. Nashville is a bucket. Well,
015you're going to work with DNR, but have there been studies done to tell us what's going to happen when we divert more water down Greasy Creek because you have families down there, too? I think this is a needless expense. I mean, I've looked at I've looked at studies that show that turf causes can cause more injuries. MRSA torn ACLs because it's a harder surface. And I think this is a small community with a declining population. And you're us on the hook for a for a football field. I'm 1986 graduate of Brown High School. There were championships being being won then, champion state championships in music, state championships in in sports on on probably an even worse field. Also, what happens to will people be able to will the track be open for people to walk?
016Will fireworks be able to happen over a plastic field? the environmental aspect. I I'm so I'm so befuddled that environmentalists aren't going, we're taking our Brown County green space, ripping it out, and putting in plastic. I feel like it's been a little disingenuous the way it's been proposed and put out. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else? >> Okay. Uh there are no presentations. Uh there's no discussion items. Can I have a motion to accept the minutes of October 6, 2025? >> October 6th. >> Second. >> Vote. >> Doug, >> yes. >> Carol, >> yes. >> Vicki, >> yes. >> Amy, >> yes. Jenise, >> yes. >> Motion carries. That brings us to action needed items. I have the recommendation to approve the athletic facility project as presented from the design build team sports. >> Do
017I get a motion to accept? >> I shall do. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> That opens this up for discussions. >> Would you like to start, please? >> I can start. Um I fully appreciate um what the team has done and put together and pulling Tarquhead together for the proposal um of this project. I am a component of change. I can get around 95% of it but I can't get around that last 5%. Um, so I don't know. It it's been weighing heavy on me as we've, you know, had these last couple weeks. So >> um, I am just really excited about the opportunities for the project and I certainly understand some people's hesitation with But um we have been talking about this for about a year and this st the the stage that
018we're at right now is approving the design and I think you know the money was approved back in April and I think that the design that we've been given is really exciting. I'm I'm really looking forward to seeing it and it's going to remove one of the largest problems which is getting it out of the flood plane once and for all. And I think that that um was one of the major considerations when we first started this. And so I'm really excited. >> Thank you, Vicki. >> I'm excited about um we need something done because I have boy grandsons of play and every time I talk to him, well, so and so twist an ankle or something. No, we need something done. Our track is terrible. You know, I have a grandson that runs track
019and he just says the track is terrible to me. I feel like if we're going to do something, we might as well do it good. Um just in comment to some of the comments that have come across. One of the things that I definitely push for ADA accessibility as in the proper ramping for the um for the concession well for the home stands and and to ensure that they still have the um ramp for the visitor stands. um this facility will be elevated. So therefore, if you are parking in the front parking lot, you are not coming down a long ramp to go down to the ground. That's going to be raised up. So it's going to be much more level than what it is currently. Um and as um as Miffy was saying is
020that you know the the facilities as far as the the track and the field um where they currently are contribute to in injuries or uh opportunities of injuries where where um which is awful hard to um keep the grass level um like it should be so that you aren't running into little holes and things like that. And um I I think in the long run it's going to be um opportunity for different sports um and including track um because we do have some significant um track events that go on during track season and um and I appreciate the comment about the soccer size. Um, that'll be one of the things we want to make sure that it is properly sized for soccer. Um, and the opportunity to be able to sit more comfortably and watch
021what's going on. Um, and I want the kids to have the best opportunity here that they can have during their life here before they move on to the next section. >> Thank you. Well, judging by some of the social media comments and things like that, I have some things I'd like to talk about that includes the new fields and stuff like that. You know, it's been I feel like that uh Antifa is coming after the school board right now in a lot of situations. You know, it's been said that we don't feed our kids. It's been said that we don't have good curriculum. There was comments made about a C4 um how the school board's worthless and that's deeply concerned me on a lot of situations. Um my my great-grandfather served on the school board
022in Brown County. My grandma was born in the park before it was a park. My great uncle was a superintendent at the school. And for some reason, I decided I thought it'd be a good idea to run for school board. Um, I will start off by saying, um, I'm going to eat a lot of crow sometimes, and I'm pretty good at eating crow lately. And, uh, I remember when I was a freshman here at this school. Um, I walked into a brand new gym down here. Did we have a powerhouse for a basketball team? No. But we had a new gym and we were proud of it. Um, I remember when Eagle Park was bought. Look what it does now. I remember just I remember being a child or kid, which you might find that
023hard to believe, and I still kind of am. Matter of fact, one of my football coaches are back in sitting right there. Um, sorry about throwing you in the bus like that. Um, I I have a problem with A lot of the situations that's been thrown at us in this whole ordeal. I think back to how it was when I was at school here. My parents went to school here. I think about how our kids are looking at what is being said online. You know, I've heard things about how the community doesn't support us or I hear things about we don't support the community. I want to go back to the one where we don't feed the kids. Well, last I checked It's not our responsibility responsibility to feed your kids. And if your kid
024comes to the school and goes home hungry, that's their fault because last I remember we had a paid lunch thing that was well well above what we should be paying. So there's a lot of things that I've been totally aggravated about last is something that's not new. This has been we've known about this since October. You have all the keyboard Rambo bandits that decide to put in their two bits on how the school board runs this. Most of them don't have a clue on what it's like to be on the school board. I'm still learning. Uh you can ask Emily. At one point in time, I was against the turf and because it wasn't a flood plane. And then I had to sit down and think about where I stood with I don't have I
025I got a son. He's two. He might go to school here someday. And then we got to as a board we got to sit back and think what are we doing for our kids? Now I get I don't like paying taxes. Not one bit of me does. My me and my family we pay good taxes. I'd rather see the tax money stay here in the county. Yeah. You say, "Well, you're contracting with somebody else." It's still going to be something out here in our county. You know, I I get kind of upset with the some of the comments coming from our own elected officials, our county council, and some other guys that have thrown their two bits on how we don't know what we're doing. Well, you know, I don't remember anybody stepping up to
026run against Janine or Amy in the last election to be on the school board. So there I got a lot of hard feelings against a lot of you know I'm not very excited about what's being said about our school system and I sometimes feel like our county you know it wasn't last what three months ago when we had the tornadoes and everything I bragged about our county because there was a lot of people that come together and then we have to deal with something like this and maybe I'm getting on my own soap box and going off a little bit on some stuff but you know I'll tell her in long enough and uh you know this facility is not just for football. This facility is for multiple stores, multiple uses. It's going to make
027the town look nicer. We haven't touched uh I'm trying to think. We put a new press box and new bleachers in in I'm not I played on that football field. I've been out of school 30 years. That's one of the things in our school system we haven't really touched. And so for it to what really concerns me is the beat down I've been taking on. Um, you know, this is for our kids. I don't like it, but I'd rather see my tax money stay here. Goes to the kids. You know, I bust kids. I'm a farmer and I drive buses. I'm not in it to make everybody happy. Just kids. And uh that's how I feel about the whole situation to be honest with you. I was totally against it. I've done a lot of
028soulsearching, talked to God about it and uh I made up my mind. I'm ready to vote. >> Yes. >> No. Motion carries. >> I have the recommendation to approve a donation of $500 for TEDex schools from TM Financial. >> A second. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? >> Just want to thank them for their support. >> Doug, >> yes. >> Carol, >> yes. >> Vicki, >> yes. >> Motion carries. I have the recommendation to approve the transfer of Morgan Young to include district communications in our current job description which encompasses athletic ECA high school ECA and financial responsibilities with a 260day contract and an annual salary 52,000 effective October 20th. >> Do I get a motion to accept? >> Move to approve transfer of approve second. >> Any discussion? Yeah, I just I want to
029thank uh the board for the support of this position. Um Morgan um has been very adaptable and um she as you know has come to central office um in a new location and we're just trying to figure things out with the transition um of of the new treasurer and um the new her new office location and um we are in desperate need of somebody to take the lead on district communications for the district. Um this will be in an attempt to streamline and um strategically engage a social media presence. It will be a continuation of our quarterly eagle eye magazine um right uh submit stories for the Democrat on a weekly basis um and to be at events and take photos and just to be that one person um to to rally. So this is
030a this is a win-win for the district and excited to to Morgan and her creativity. >> I'm very excited about it. That that's a position I've I've been advocating for for a couple of years. So, I'm glad we've found a way to work that in and um working in with our current staff and I think that's really creatively um making that happen. So, I'm excited. >> More discussion. >> Doug, >> yes. >> Carol, >> yes. >> Vicki, Amy, >> yes. Jice, >> yes. Motion carries. >> I have the recommendation to approve the 2026 budget ordinance. >> Get a motion to accept. >> Any discussion? >> Yeah, this is the last two meetings. Um we had the budget presentation um for policy analytics and then we had the public hearing um on October 6th. Um the
031budget ordinance is where we ask for the um budget from the DLGF. Um and then December January they come back with the 1782 notice that tells us exactly what what the us ordinance is the different funds. >> Any more discussion? >> Doug, >> yes. >> Carol, >> yes. >> Vicki, >> yes. Amy. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> The recommendation to approve the 2026 bus replacement plan resolution. >> I get a motion to accept. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> This is the same bus replacement plan that was presented at the last two board meetings. Um it is it's just the resolution stating that we have put the schedule aside um if we need to order new school buses for the district. um they're really expensive and you have to have a plan strategically laid
032out for the the next 12 to 15 years so you're not buying five of them at once. >> And didn't it take a year for them to make the bus after you ordered? >> Yes. >> So this is just our 2026 to 2030 bus replacement plan. >> Any more discussion? >> Doug, >> yes. >> Carol, >> yes. Vicki, >> yes. >> Amy, yes. Yes. >> Motion carries. >> The recommendation to approve the 2026 capital projects plan resolution. >> I get a motion to accept. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Yes. This also um has been part of the budget presentation for the last two meetings. Um the capital projects plan is required by state statute um for us to be able to set money aside for capital projects. We have building equipment for 2 million,
033technology equipment for 2 million, and safety equipment for 2 million. >> Any more discussion? >> Vote. >> Doc, >> yes. >> Carol, >> yes. Vicki, >> yes. >> Amy, >> yes. Janice, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> The recommendation to approve the present year budget reduction resolution. >> I get a motion to accept. >> So moved. >> Second. Any discussion? >> Yeah, this resolution just states that the board of trustees, they wish to impose the most appropriate tax rate on the patrons of Brown County Schools to ensure appropriated levies to fund the school budget. This gives the superintendent the authority to reduce the balance of appropriations where necessary that more accurately reflect the necessary expenditures. >> Any more discussion? >> Vote, Doug. Yes, >> Carol. >> Yes, >> Vicki. >> Yes, >> Amy. >> Yes,
034>> Janice. >> Motion carries. >> I have the recommendation to approve the resolution to transfer amounts from the education fund to the operations fund. >> I get a motion to accept. >> I move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Yes. This is just the resolution um that grants authority for graph schools to transfer no more than 15% of the total education fund over to the operations fund um Reimburse operations fund for expenses that are not allocated to student instruction and learning. >> Any more discussion? >> Vote. >> Doug, >> yes. >> Carol, >> yes. >> Vicki, >> yes. >> Amy, >> yes. Jice, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> And then the recommendation to approve the 2026 transfer resolution. >> Do I have a motion to accept? >> Second. Any discussion? >> Yeah, this resolution
035is just stating that you're granting the superintendent the authority to be able to transfer from one fund to another fund. Um whether it's intra or inter. For example, when we do the appropriations for the budget, um there are some funds within the hundreds of funds uh where we spend more, let's say, in professional development, and that could go in the red before we get to December 31st. This resolution grants me the authority to take a fund where we have an excess balance of and transfer it over to cover that red. >> Any more discussion? Vote. >> Doug, >> yes. >> Carol, >> yes. >> Vicki, >> yes. >> Amy, >> yes. Chenise, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> And the recommendation to approve Hannah Thomas double coach um to due to Mandy Grime's absence. >>
036Can I get a motion to accept? >> Any discussion? >> Yes. I am going to add in the minutes before you approve them at the next meeting um that it should have the elementary school attached to that so you know where it's coming from. >> Doug, >> yes. >> Vicki, yes. Amy, >> yes. J, >> yes. >> Carries. >> And then the recommendation to approve the donation of $200 to each teacher of the year winner for their classroom needs totaling 1,000 between the five schools within the district. The teachers of the year, Stacy Harden at Hensburg Elementary, Jessica Spurgeon at Spernica Elementary, Annette Fields at Van Beern Elementary, Kevin Rash at Brown County Middle School, and Cassie Pontius previously at Brown County High School. >> I get a motion to accept. >> Any discussion? >>
037Yes. >> Thank you. Agree. >> Yeah. Yeah. And they always want to honor them and I think they thoroughly enjoy going into the classrooms and and presenting it in front of the kids so they can see it as well. Um, I just wanted to reiterate that these were last year's teachers of the year and Cassie Pas is no longer with us at Brown County High School, but um, we have made the decision to grant that $200 to the yearbook. >> Any more discussion? >> Vote. >> Doug, >> yes. >> Carol, >> yes. Vicki, >> yes. Amy, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Consent agenda items. We only have personnel this evening. It's a separation of Helmsburg Elementary School pair professional week and effective December 10th, 2025. >> Motion to accept. >> Any discussion? >> When
038is when is the last day of school in December? >> 19. >> I'm not counting down. [Music] 19. >> I just was wondering how close it was to >> vacation. She's retiring. >> I know. I love >> call this meeting in order right now. >> Any more discussion? >> Um, we vote. >> Doug, >> yes. >> Carol, >> yes. >> Nikki, >> yes. Amy, >> yes. >> Motion carries. There are no appointments, no transfers, superintendent report. >> Yeah, I just short this evening. Um, first I just want to thank um the board for their support um the community for coming out and expressing um thoughts, asking questions um over the last couple of uh months. I would say um it has been a journey to get where we are um this evening and like like
039so many said I am incredibly excited um for this project and what it's going to bring um the community together. Um but I also appreciate the the thoughts and the questions that that have come along and will continue to come along um and help steer us um as we go through it. So I just want to thank everybody for that support. Um, I want to thank Tarquette, their their design build team. Um, they have been relentless and um, have covered every single step and question along the way and couldn't ask for a better team to to walk alongside us. Um, I want to thank uh, County Educators Association again. Um, it's just such a great relationship collaboration to do what we need to do for teachers um, so we can do what we need to
040do. So, I think it's the last couple years have been really really exciting to be able to do what we have. And then, um I have a whole new appreciation for the treasurer position at Bre County Schools. Um Megan started last week and um just has hit the ground running and just done a phenomenal job. So, it's been fun to learn along the way, although frustrating and stressful at times. Um, but she's doing a great job and everybody is ecstatic that that she's she's there and in the thick of it. >> So, that's all I have for tonight. >> There are no planes. >> Yeah, making sure you guys pay attention. >> Can I make a motion to this meeting? Oh, I mean >> can I make a motion to accept the claims? >> So
041move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Doug, >> yes. >> Carol, >> yes. >> Vicki, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Now, can I make a motion accepted the meeting? >> Now that you've paid the bills, you can do that. So move. >> Second. >> No. >> Doug. >> Yes. >> Carol. >> Yes. >> Those carried. Meaning over.