001And I'd like to ask you all to join me as we begin with an invocation. Heavenly Father, we come to you today with thanksgiving in our hearts and our minds for the wonderful successes our district is experiencing. We humbly beseech you to keep us strong in our commitment to give our very best to each and every member of our community. With you all things are possible. Amen. >> Amen. >> You will join me for the pledge. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> You have before you the minutes of the last board meeting. Are there any additions or changes you wish to make? Hearing none. All those in favor of
002approving the agenda say I. >> I. >> Those opposed. Motion carries. You also have before you the agenda as it appears in your packet. Are there any additions or corrections to that uh document? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed. Motion carries. Hearing no public input. Uh and at this time the chair recognizes our superintendent in the recognition of the heart of a hornet. >> Great. Thank you. Good evening everybody. It's good good to see you. There's a lot of excitement in our schools and across our district. And one of the things that just most recently happened as of this past Friday was some excitement in the area of cross country. And we're extremely proud of our uh cross country team. We have some region champions. So, a banner will
003be continued to be put up and they'll be able to look at that banner for years and years to come and show their kids say, "Hey, I was part of that region championship team that's up there." And so, that's wonderful. We also have um we had some all region runners. We had also some allstate runners. We had uh Braxton Brown came in second. And it was a foot race to the very very end to the finish line and uh to come runner up at in the state championship which was which was incredible. The the voices of all of our family members and parents that were there are still horse because we were screaming these kids on to uh to success and they certainly just did that. We also had a Dia Gillespie came in third
004place. Um is that correct? That was third, right? Third. Yes, third in in the state in 1A. And so just a a a fantastic program. Uh we we're appreciative of their coach Kobe Berdett. This is his uh first season. Was also recognized as all region coach of the year. And so I'd like to congratulate him for uh the work that he he's done this season. And uh and really in cross country, you can't hide. It's just it's just you. And it's a the clock starts and when you cross the finish line, that's what you earn and you can't hide. It's no one else to blame. And so, uh, that's what I really love about it. And these kids just continually, um, improve and, uh, have just just had a fantastic season and we'd like to
005recognize them tonight if that's okay. And so, if I call their name, I'll let I'll come up. Um, back I think. Yep. Right here. This is the crew right here. uh on last Friday and um and and boy it was it was fun to see them excited and uh it was it was it was certainly a a great and exciting time for me. >> I'd like to say Mr. Rodney Free will be representing the board this evening. >> Great. So first of we'll ask Braxton BROWN [applause] and Josiah Gillespie, [applause] Wy Crockett, [applause] [applause] Matthew Holt, John McCarthy, [applause] Landon Knights, [applause] [applause] Dia Blesby, [applause] and our senior Ahabel Bulkov. [applause] Get up there. Look, >> Mr. Rice, we'll wait for >> you. [laughter] Get in there. >> There we go. One, two, >>
006three. [applause] >> Very proud of you. Well done. Well done. What a great recognition. Great gift. >> Thank y'all so much. >> Thank you, coach. >> The chair continues to ask our superintendent if he will join us for his update. >> Sure, absolutely. And that was just one of a gauntlet of great things that's that's taken place. I I can't uh I can't start anywhere else except to to start here with our football team. And that was uh an incredible 10 and two season, double digit wins, just uh uh uh phenomenal. And um this is a team that a lot of people rallied behind. There was [snorts] a lot of uh folks even in other communities. Uh there was a lot of alumni uh that kind of visited town again to come back and and
007caught the excitement of the season that we had. Um these are these are great athletes. They and they have great great coaches, right? >> But these are great kids. Yeah. >> If I'm not mistaken and and and things change and this gets dangerous, but I think five of our seniors are in the top 10 of their class. And so academically, uh, they're they're wonderful. The character of these kids is fantastic. Um, and and having great leadership, uh, is is really the key to success uh, on these on these teams and and they set the standard for our underassmen. They now know how to work and what it looks like and what success looks like. And so just very very proud of this team and and what a season. What a season it has been. And
008um it's it's tough to see it come to an end, but boy, we're we're uh we're always thankful these kids have a have a chance now to always come back and know that they're they're a part of one of the one of the better teams that have have come through where Scholes and uh and so that's just been been fun just to see these these great kids doing doing great things on the football field. We also have a million-dollar band. I think since last time that we were here, um we did have our state championship and and again, wonderful kids um that are doing a great great job. They they've uh earned a bronze medal, something they had aspired to do since the 19 years that I've been here. They've been trying to to track
009this down and to see um their their excitement um on that uh final night was was something I won't forget. They they just were so proud of themselves. Yeah. You know, which was such a great thing to see and uh it fuels our fire to keep working hard for them and just very very proud of of them. I want to give you an update on their fundraising as well with because they have a big trip that's coming up. So, they are now just shy of $30,000 of being able to uh work towards that trip. They have 13 13 months uh remain. and they have some uh fundraisers that are still still coming up, some gifts that are still coming in. And so they're well on well on their way to to doing that. And so
010we're we're excited to see that. I want to thank Western Lawrence Fire Department for their uh for their volunteering. They they gave time off on they've used their personal vacation days or days off uh to come to the fire station and help our students with our fire safety um in October. And that was just a great thing. We also were able to use work through some of our emergency plans, our bus evacuation plans, our reunification attendance recovery uh plans, things like that. So, uh we we use this day to the max, but it's also a great opportunity for our kids to to get out and learn about fire safety and and so we appreciate uh Chief Arsenal and his team over at Western Lawrence and and the things that they're doing there. Um a shout
011out to WHS Middle School. What a what an incredible gene. What an incredible group uh of uh of kids that you had in student council that kind of led that effort. Um Miss U Mary Beth Hicks as well did did a great job kind of coordinating that and just uh it was special to honor our veteran. This is this is what the lessons that our kids need to learn. All right. is is patriotism, a love for country, and um and so that this gets me fired up when we see things like this. And and this is the type of citizens that we want in in our town, in our community, one that love our country, and one that respect our veterans. And so this was a a really great thing to see. Really well done.
012Uh veterans honor walk. All of those things were were were were fantastic. And so um a big shout out to WHS Middle School. We uh there's some smiling there's some smiles on Miss Wells's face. Our auditors have have just left >> [snorts] >> uh last week they were here. They spent the majority of the week here. And I know it's a lot of work for the the ladies um in the district office in in finance and accounting, but it's so important. It it and I'm so glad to see them because year after year there's there's only one way that as as a board and and and as a district that we can say that we're being financially responsible and that is through a third party and outside vendor to come in and audit our books
013to see that we're spending uh funds the way they're supposed to be uh spent. [laughter and cough] Our our federal funds, state funds, county appropriations all are being uh accounted for and so we're thrilled that they come. It's work, yes, but it's rewarding as we're able to showcase and you'll get that report by December the 1st that that that report is due from our auditors, but they have just about everything they need. They're going to do a few more reports and a few more inquiries. Um, but for the most part, that audit has been done and now we just await their their findings. So, which is which is great a great spot to be in. Uh, we have some upcoming dates just want to share with you. We [clears throat] have Christmas for Kids basketball
014fundraiser. It's taking place tomorrow night. Uh the wear middle school has a wax museum. Eighth graders will be putting that on on December the 4th. On uh if you can't get in the Christmas season, you're having a tough time getting into it, come come to the high school on December the 9th. The band um the middle school and the high school band will be playing their Christmas concert. I I I love it. It's great. It's fun seeing our uh sixth graders trying to learn their instrument for the first time and being put on the big stage. And yeah, there's a couple squeaks and some things like that. Uh but but they're trying and they they do a really good job. And then uh I also want to make sure that we're upcoming is that we
015have a half day on the 17th for for our uh Christmas break to start. And of course next week um next Wednesday there'll be a Thanksgiving break will start for our families this year. And so uh lots of great things taking place, lots of stuff to be grateful for and thankful for. And so, um, we're we're just in a a really great time in in our district and I'm very thankful for all the things that are taking place and that if there's any questions about those things, I'll be glad to answer them. >> Hearing none, the chair will recognize now Dr. Paula Taylor with her update from the Worshield Primary School. Thank you, Dr. Taylor. >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Mr. Rice and I are going to give an overview of our school report cards.
016And so those were issued um earlier this school earlier this month. It's been a Monday. >> Yeah. And so you can see here um just to begin, we want to review the criteria for the school ratings. And so it ranges from excellent to unsatisfactory. And um we're going to go to the next slide. instruction. So wear shells primary has four criteria that is used to measure their school. It includes academic achievement which is the student performance on SC ready ELA and math for third and fourth grade students. Preparing for success is SC ready science performance for fourth grade. And student progress is growth from third to fourth grade and SC ready math and ELA. And then last the school climate and those are surveys that we give to our students, our parents and our teachers.
017And so you can see all four of those areas where we kind of fall. We're average in all except for preparing success which was unsatisfactory. And that averages out to an average score of 46. We were designated as an average school the previous school year. So there's not a change in our designation. A few things I'd like to highlight for you. These are our scores on SC ready ELA and math. Again, this is our third and fourth grade students and their performance. So, if you meet or exceeds uh the expectation here, you're included in these graphs that you [cough] see. So, you can [clears throat] see as a school 79 out of 130 students that tested were performing at meets or exceed. So, that was 60.8% of the third and fourth graders. And that's an
018increase of 17.3% from the previous school year. Our teachers have worked diligently with a new curriculum going through letters training and have worked to differentiate instruction to make this happen. >> That's great. That's awesome. >> The students have worked very hard. They are adjusting to new curriculum and expectations and rigor that have increased. And our parents have been very supportive working with their students at home and asking how they can best report. So, we're very proud of that growth that we've had and you can see it's right at the state average of 60.3%. Below it is our math score. So, for percentage of meets and exceed, we had 55 out of 130 that scored beats or exceeds just slightly below the state average. And it's almost identical to where we performed last year, which was
01942.5%. We do have a new math curriculum that we began this year, as well as professional development. We also have some instructional strategies put in place for interventions for math. Um, I love this picture. This is from a celebration, a pep rally for SC ready before students took their test. Um, this is back in the spring and you can see how excited everyone was there to see their teachers and see Dr. Crockett there, Mr. Vickerson, and they were all encouraging our students really to do their very best. And part of doing their very best as a fourth grader is we want you to grow from third to fourth grade. And so this is a bar graph that shows growth from third to fourth grade. This is called median annual targets. So where you've performed in
020third grade, did you positively grow into fourth grade? So even if you were slightly below and you were in that approaches category, did you make growth the following year? And so you can see that 50% of our kids met those targets. That's right. And when you look even further into the lowest 20% of kids, that's where the majority of our growth came from. So those kids who were in third grade scoring a does not meet me or approaches, they're moving up into approaches and meet. So they're on that positive trajectory to make growth and hopefully meet grade level expectations. >> And you can Oh, can you go back just a second? I'd like to point out too that 50.7% of our students met their targets. And when you look at the state, the state is
021lower. So our kids are outperforming those that are around them as far as meeting their goals that are specific to them. >> Okay, that's it. Uh for school climate, this is an a 10 points. Again, that comes from our parent, student, and teacher surveys. So you can see we earn 7.63 points of those. It's again above the state average. And I think I'm most impressed by this bottom number here, the student safety portion. This is not part of the calculation, but of our parents, 100% of them feel like their child is safe at school. >> Oh, thank God. >> Yes. So, we're very blessed um with parents who support our school district, who support Rick Shaw's primary, who believe in the teachers and educators that are there working with their kids every day. Uh lastly,
022I just want to share this information with you. Again, this is isn't part of the calculations, but I think it's important for us to recognize that the gifted and talented program nearly doubled in the percentage of kids that served from the previous school year. So, we went from 4.7% to 8% >> of the third and fourth graders that are at being served by gifted and talented and they have to meet very strict qualifications to become part of that program. So, we're very pleased and excited for all the work that happened from kindergarten up to third grade. so that those students will be ready for that program. >> Have any questions? >> Thank you. >> Wonderful. >> Good evening. Thank you for letting us come and and share with you a little bit. I'm going to
023talk to you about Worshold Middle School and Worshold High School. Um the Weshold Middle School is is their report card comes from academic achievement which again is the ELA and math scores on SC ready. uh preparing for success in the middle school is um based on their science scores I think this last year student progress is how how we're growing and then of course student climate is is a perception of of of how um safe and what the climate that teachers and students um how they perceive the climate. So um some good scores there. Uh last year for 20 uh for 23 24 the score was 54. So it was a good so we didn't increase our overall score but we did have some improvements that we want to highlight um going forward. First um
024the if you look at areas of improvement um our SC ready scores in 23 24 our ELA they scored 54.5% I mean excuse me in in uh yeah in 24 23 24 they scored 54.5 25 they scored 59%. And again, that's the number of students that are uh meeting or exceeding grade level expectations in ELA. Um our math scores stayed about the same. Um they they 39.2%. Um scored about the same from the previous year, so there wasn't an increase there, but I know our teachers are working hard. Um they're we're we're sending them to conferences. We're sending them to other schools to see what other schools that are um really doing well, what they're doing. Um, I think there's actually a math conference might be the end of this week. I think we have
025some teachers going to a math conference the end of this week. Um, or it's coming up soon. So, we're, you know, they're they're really trying hard. They're really looking for avenues that they can improve their their instruction and help our kids even more. Another area of improvement um is our the next one is school climate. Uh, last year school climate was rated as good. This year we jumped up to excellent. Um and again that is the school climate space on surveys measuring how students and teachers perceive the school's environment which is includes safety, instructional focus um and working conditions. So our teachers love it, our kids love it, the parents love it. Um so you know that's great that our you know we've got a great climate, great culture in the school. Um been over
026the middle school a lot the last few weeks and there's always something going on. There's always, you know, um, today was underground, the eighth grade had an underground hat day. One of my certain kids were and teachers were wearing hats, but it's just that, you know, something to give them that, >> you know, just that feeling, you know, um, and I think this week was also >> self-care week. They had uh the happy duck truck was out there when I went over there this morning. And um I miss uh Miss Webb made a comment about the Happy Ducks and I I didn't know what that meant so I got [laughter] um I I got a coffee. It was it was great. So um but anyway, so just things like that. The kids love it, teachers
027love it, you know, it just improves the the overall culture of the school. So um another So areas of strength um our SC science SC ready science scores. Um they didn't have a rating last year but or excuse me 23 24 there wasn't a rating for science but for 2425 our kids um our kids scored an uh what they score they scored an average but if you notice it's above the state average so they're doing well in science >> um and also our student progress how our kids are growing. Student progress is a measure of how much students are academically growing in ELA and math from year to year. So, how effectively we're growing our kids. Um, you know, we have some improvement to do, but we're still, if you notice, we're above the state
028average, which I think that's always a good thing to be above the state average. So, all right, where Schultz High School, they get um evaluated on six different categories. Academic achievement, which is ELA and math scores on the end of course test. preparing for success is um our science and our social studies EOCC's social studies is the um US [clears throat] history our graduation rate career and college and career readiness high school student success and then of our our school climate um academic achievement if you notice it's it's an average it was an average last year but we did make some improvements go to the next slide our ELA scores improved from 61.3% the year before to 64%. Again, 64% of our students scoring C or higher on the end of course test. >> That's
029great. >> Um our math increased uh the year before was 28.2% scoring C or higher. Uh for 242 it was 39.1% scoring C or higher. So making some improvements and our teachers are really doing a good job looking for ways to improve instruction. Okay, our next slide is graduation rate. Um, this is all Miss Tyer and Miss Campbell and our front office and our teachers. Um, increasing that graduation rate. Uh, the year before graduation rate was 79.2 and this year it is 83.8. I do want to point out uh this is the slide I took from the the school report card on the on the on the state department website. the slide's not right. Um, they didn't have and we Dr. Taylor called about this and they were supposed to fix it. I don't know
030if they did or not. They're actually the graph is showing the previous year's graduation rate of 79.2 and it's showing that our >> if you notice the it down below the dates are wrong. >> Yeah. >> So, our 25 graduation rate was actually 83.8. So, we've increased from 79.2 to 83.8 which is good. still a little bit below the state average, but we're making improvements, and that's always a good thing when we're making improvements. And [cough] I know doc I know Miss Tyer and Miss Campbell, um they're worked tirelessly to try to keep those kids in class, get those kids to graduation, and that's our goal is get our kids once they start to get them to graduation. >> Absolutely. >> So, we want to we're going to continue to increase those graduation rate. All
031right. Another area of improvement, if you notice, our college and career readiness, we saw improvements in each of those categories as well. Our college or career ready um increased uh to 68.8 from 64.6% of our kids being college or career ready. >> That's great. >> Um college ready increased from 25% to 31.3%. And then career ready increased from 56.3 to 57.5. So, we made some improvements there as well. Um, we've been in talks, Miss Miss Tyer, Miss Campbell, myself, um, looking at ways to increase those scores, especially the career ready. We feel like we we've got we can do a much better job there than 57.5%. Um, and with the new career clusters, they've gone from 16 to 14 career clusters and a new tiered system for certifications. So, we're looking at different ways to
032get our kids not only career ready, but get them some kind of certification when they walk out the door. Um, so we're working on those those areas. Um, doing a great job, and we've got a lot of opportunities coming forward. One more thing, area of strength is our school climate. It was excellent last year, it's excellent this year. Our kids love, our parents love where Scholes High School, our teachers love working there. It's great. So, um, you know, just some good things going on at both the middle school and the high school. Anybody have any questions? >> It's wonderful. >> Okay. >> Thank you, sir. >> Absolutely. There's a tremendous growth across our our district. I think it's evident that we can uh with confidence say that uh the kids when they're when they are
033here they're learning and um and and the conditions are set for uh kids to be successful and uh we owe it to them and it really comes down to the hard work of of our leaders but the hard work of the classroom teacher um is is the biggest uh variable in the success that we're seeing. So, we're so so thankful for for our staff and and uh everyone that plays a part in that and uh and so it's it's exciting to see for sure. >> Next on the agenda are the action items and Dr. Crockett will present to you the policies that he is requesting approval for. >> Sure. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, sir. >> The uh the first policy that is in your packet, it's labeled VA, live streaming of board
034meetings. Um this is um a result that comes from uh new state rags that all school districts are to uh live stream their board meetings. Um not only their board meetings but also their uh board workshops. Anything that takes place with with a quorum of a board is supposed to be live streamed. Now, we've been doing this for years, and we're thankful that we had the infrastructure uh and the uh bandwidth to be able to do that and the expertise from some IT folks to be able to to pull that off. And so, um this is a not only are we doing it, but now, uh districts are required to have policy that clearly outlines it. And so, this is first reading of of policy BA live streaming of board meetings. You'll also see if
035there's some contingencies, if we have an internet outage or what what we would do is is simply we would record it the best we could and then within days afterwards be able to upload it to our site. So there's some contingencies plans in here as well. So um or I'm asking for approval for first reading of policy BA. >> Uh Dr. Crockett, would it meet your approval if we voted as we go? >> Um I think that would be that's up to the board, but that would be convenient. Okay. >> Yes. I just the only thing I have about it is if we have discussion or question about one specific thing. So, we would need to stop. >> Yes. >> We're going to ask for >> Okay, we'll do it right now. >> Yeah. A
036motion and stop. >> Okay. All right. >> You've seen and heard Dr. Crockett's request for the approval of policy BEA. Do I have a motion for a first reading of approval? >> I'll make a motion to approve BEA policy. >> Thank you, sir. Board meetings. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. Thank you sir. Is there discussion? >> Yeah. I just wanted to ask is this does this work in conjunction with foyer request? How would that work? >> It's separate from they have their own little unique things. >> So I mean I guess could this be I guess what I'm getting at is would a recording be used as part of a foyer request if they ask for it? >> Yes. All of our and all of our I see where I think I
037see where you're going with that. All of our vid all of our um events, our board meetings, they're all online right now. There's a library of years of them right now. >> I'm just that's what I if they have access to that. >> Should it limit their requests potentially? So, okay. >> Good question. >> It's a great question. Any additional conversation concerning this policy? All those in favor of approving policy BEA for a first reading signify by saying I. >> I. All those opposed. Hearing none. Motion carries. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. All right. The second policy that we're bringing uh forward today is policy GCLE, unencumbered time. And uh simply the only had an existing policy for un uh un unencumbered time. It means that those that are in uh teachers that are
038in kindergarten through fifth grade um are um and special special ed teachers uh throughout the district are required to have a 30 minute unencumbered time as as according to according to code. And so um most recently what has happened is uh we're now required to uh give that encumbered time to our school nurses as well. And so they fall under that umbrella as having a 30 minute unencumbered time as well. And so I'm bringing first reading. The only thing that's changed you'll see in red is just simply um the word school nurse. School nurse. School nurse. And and also uh we're including a way for uh people to report if there is an issue. Okay, just to put that in policy. And so um I'll be glad to uh answer any questions on that or
039um but I'm presenting that tonight for GCLE uh unencumbered time. >> Thank you, sir. You have heard Dr. Crockett's recommendation to approve policy GCLE unencumbered time reflecting on the change with the addition of the school nurse. Is there a motion? Make a motion for GCLE on time. >> Thank you, sir. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, ma'am. Is there discussion? Hearing none. Motion carries. Thank you, sir. >> All right. Just hang in there with me. We got a couple more. Okay. This is u uh now it's pulling some policy out. Some some some policies that have expired. We do have like polic that does does share um about uh how to um how to maintain buildings and and and responsibilities and and all of that. But we have some specific COVID
04019 policies that have been in there now for for se several years. And I I think it's important for us um since we uh would no longer kind of follow those procedures to make sure that we update our our policy manual and and and revise and actually repeal some of these expired policies. And so under tab three, it's we have a policy in place right now with EB R, which is maintaining healthy environments related to COVID 19. And that's uh tab three. And so this is uh simply talking about the spread of of the corona virus tells us what to do if we have confirmed cases and things like that. It was good policy at the time but but it's just something that has kind of expired and we thought it's appropriate time to to
041kind of repeal that policy if it's um to the liking of the board. >> I'd also like to thank you for the maintenance of our policies at that status. >> Sure. You've heard the request by our superintendent for policy J E >> J E R A R student attendance to repeal this policy since it is no longer valid for the circumstances we find ourselves. Is there a motion? I make a motion to uh repeal U policy EB R maintaining healthy environments concerning CO 19. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Is there discussion? >> Can we keep this one close by just in case? [laughter] >> Sure. I guess we we'll keep it on file. Hopefully never That's right. We'll we'll know where to go to look for it. >> All those in
042favor of approve of approving the removal of this policy signify by saying I >> I motion carries sir. >> All right. Along those same lines uh policy jer a r as student attendance related to co 19. >> Okay. And so very very similar. It talks about um hybrid schedules which we don't use virtual attendance how to handle truency with co 19 and issues like that. So we feel it's this time it's appropriate for us to uh to remove remove that policy from from our policy manual. >> It's uh hearing Dr. Crockett's explanation of this policy J student attendance. Is there a motion? >> I'll make a motion to repeal uh a Jer A student attendance related to CO 19. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, sir. Is there discussion? All those
043in favor say I. >> Motion carries. >> All right. The last one. Thank you for hanging in there with me. It's um IHA-R opt out of online instruction related to COVID 19 and that's tab five. And so um this again just simply goes uh you can even read within the first line as the corona virus disease of 2019 continues to threaten the health and wellbeing. So, uh, I think what I'd like to to do is to recommend that we we pull this. We again, like Rodney said, we can have this on on on file if we ever need to pull it back in. But for our live manual that we have, it would be nice. I'm making the recommen recommendation uh to the board that we we pull this policy from our policy manual. >>
044You've heard the reason for the repeal of this policy. Is there a motion to repeal policy I H A R A R? >> I make a motion to repeal the policy presented by the superintendent. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Is there discussion? All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Thank you. I appreciate >> I'm sorry I got my alphabet mixed up there for a minute. >> All right. Um the other action item that's bringing before you today is this uh is the topic of conversation revolving around employee bonus. Yes. and we have 142 very loyal employees in our in our district and we could not do it without them. Our our classified employees, our certified employees, everyone plays a role in our success. I'm thrilled that we have success
045of course on our our athletic fields. I'm thrilled that we have it in our academics that you saw tonight. um any anything that you see is a result of people working very very hard. And so um what I would like to do is is to bring up some some ideas to consider our fund balance in comparison to where we were this time last year. We're in a little bit stronger of position. Okay. That being said, we do not know we do not know how the 45th day adjustments going to going to be handled. We I don't I don't know. In fact, when we made the request to ask when those numbers should come. Um we said likely mid January. So that's going to be quite some time before we have a true figure as to
046how much of our um um our state funding could potentially be be cut. But right now holding strong right now in a situation where we're trying to cut some some areas as far as um typical budget spending. Uh trying to be very conservative. We have some projects out there already in all transparency. We do have a flooring project that was approved last month. We do have um uh some progress being made on the awning. Um and so we're excited to see that. We also have uh some film grant um have some film grant uh that we uh apply for the grant was able to receive. They gave us a check in the fund balance and now we just paid that check or paid that uh the rest of that balance. uh this past month. So,
047we're still in a spot where despite all of that, we're in a little bit better uh spot right now uh due some due to some um you know, hard work of our our staff for sure. And so, what I would like to do and and the recommendation that I'm making is is that um we show those 142 employees that we we sincerely care about them. It may not be the the most that they've ever seen, but a gesture on our part their hard work is is being recognized. And I'd like to recommend that uh all of our employees, all 142 receive a $300 Christmas uh stipen uh for for uh this year that will be given out a little bit before the Christmas break and probably closer. I I don't want to make promises as
048quickly as quickly as we can logistically as quickly as we can so that they'll be able to use that for what they need with the upcoming holidays. You have heard the Christmas bonus proposal as directed from our superintendent, and I'm asking for uh a motion to accept his recommendation of a bonus coming in at $300 for all um employees of our district, 142 in in total. Is there is there a motion to that effect? I am going to recuse myself from this vote. >> I make a motion to do the 300 as presented by the superintendent for all 142. >> Is there a second? >> Second. Is there discussion? I'd like to say and I think I speak for everyone in this room that we I wish it was $5,000 per person and they do
049too and those days are going to come back. I don't know if the 5,000 will come back but uh those days are in the process of coming back and it's painful because it was painful at the beginning of the year for us was a personal loss for us as well and that's difficult to um vocalize sometimes. But we have an incredible district and this is more than a gesture. It is a a statement from a budget that is in deficit waters. And I don't know how your checkbook looks all the time, but when mine gets in deficit waters, there's not a whole lot that goes on. So, it's a it's a strong statement for a for a district that would even consider going outside the boundaries that have been absolutely encouraged uh budget-wise. and there
050isn't one person in this district that isn't worth it. So, I thank you. It's a courageous move based on what we've been told. It's not everything we want to give, but it is only the beginning and we deeply uh appreciate you and we're very proud to say we love you and not ashamed to say it. Um, so with that being said, I will call for we have a first and a second. We've do we have additional discussion from members of the board hearing? None. All those in favor of recognizing the best employees of the best district in the state of South Carolina say I. I. Motion carried, sir. That brings us down to our monthly review. And I know you're going to be terribly disappointed if I don't draw your attention to the general fund
051balance. But first, I can uh I had to think of our activity balance and the athletic total and the ending balance. I don't know in the history of this district if it is ever funded at $31,79567 and it will probably all disappear just like that. But um it's good to watch something disappear that you have. Um wonderful things happening. Uh are there any questions pertaining to the activity uh budget? And I think about you, um, Miss Ty, with, uh, Christmas for kids coming up. I know there's a lot going on, uh, good fundraiser for you and I'm really happy for you. Any questions pertaining to any of these categories on this sheet? >> We have any plans set for our football field? I've noticed that there have been uh patches of sand placed out on
052the field and it's my understanding that has been requested over the past couple years that we get these holes filled in because I mean we're looking at a safety issue >> on the football field when there's four or five pockets of sand to level that section of the field out. That's something that we need to look at uh not only for our football team but for our soccer team and our baseball teams. Okay. It's not just one team that uses uses the field. So, uh and those things will only get worse if they're not handled properly. >> Rodney, how is that treated? Is that something that the environmental group can look at? >> Yeah, we we we we call in some experts to do that. I think that's a great point. I tell you there's
053um in a It's uh I'm I'm glad you brought it up. Um one one of the things that we have done within the last 60 days is uh we we asked our athletic director to give us a long list of [cough and clears throat] what are our priorities, what are the things, what are the needs assessment of our programs right now. >> And and so that's always subject to change, right? I mean um and uh one of those things was exactly what you just mentioned. Another one was um the the lip in the baseball field and to import some some things that are uh clay that's coming up for for that season. Some odds and ends equipments things like that even volleyball all all kind of stuff like that has been has been mentioned. Now
054just like you had said quickly it can disappear. Okay. And so trying to trying to prioritize one will always be safety though. We I think everyone in the room will always agree that the things that are are safe um and we had safe safe conditions, but it it is has a potential there. So, it needs to be addressed. We've been patching it and it's been safe to play, but to do um some serious maintenance to it. Um absolutely. I think that's something that's on our on our list of things things to do when when the opportunity comes. But it's a very very valid point for sure. >> Is there a priority when when does soccer begin? I know your practices and >> February. So, we got time. >> Yeah. And baseball usually get out there.
055>> Spring sports can start officially in February, but January will be open season. So, I'm sure baseball will be out there training in January. [cough] >> Great. [clears throat] >> And we also um we know that we have things look like is there time for an upgraded um activity bus? Is there times all all those all those things are are things that we're pondering and questioning and what can we do to best support um our our student athletes and things like that. But yeah, absolutely good good point and um I'm glad that we can say that hey we we've kind of are looking at those things and have somewhat of a a soft plan in place to tackle that. >> Well said. Uh, have you shared with them about the activity bus? And >> uh,
056no, we're we're still we have a a bus that's in the shop and uh, and that's that's no fun. We we pass by it. Sometimes I I'll drive through Lawrence and see it see it parked in there and that's a sad day to see that park parked there. Um, but but we're just right now trying to see what um, is the extent of the issue uh, with our activity bus. And um, and we had an issue as we were going to Friday night. our van uh broke down and safety protocols to and I appreciate um all the people and all the logistics that go into making sure kids are safe. >> Yeah, >> we had an administrator uh Miss Ty stayed with them. She was driving to the game, stopped, stayed with them till the
057last kid was on another bus coming back home. our our bus driver did an absolute textbook uh procedure on how to secure that bus and um on on that where he where he was located and um and so it was it was good to see your emergency protocols come come into play when you when you need that but you don't want to see an activity bus go down so we don't I don't know what the extent is we just know that's at the shop right now I don't mind giving a board update as soon as we have a a good idea as to what the [cough and clears throat] extent of it is so hoping It's minor. >> It's not the same bus that we've had trouble. >> That's right. That's right. >> That's a
058plus. >> What year is it? You know, right? >> This one is a 2019. >> You mechanic? >> I'm not a mechanic, but I wish I was. >> Um, but we'll we'll give you an update as soon as we find. >> Absolutely. And thank you for the update or the suggestion on the field. Uh, I couldn't agree more. Um, there's gen generally never a question, but I always want to ask um from Miss Man's lunchroom account. And the final figure that we look at is the general fund balance. And I hope you pay very close attention to those figures because everything that is spent is on these pages. There's no secrets. And I I haven't had question about that and maybe several months. I think that's a good sign. But you can see at the
059bottom that we are running um probably a little higher than we uh the ideal remaining percent but certainly within the ballpark. And I also want to say that the projects that we're undertaking are not random projects. They've been voted on before the school year and they are um primarily focusing on the maintenance of the buildings which is our first priority as a board to make sure it takes place. So um not to say that we don't take employees at equal value but uh we want you in a safe building as well. If there are no questions on the financial end, Dr. Crockett, do you have any? No, I just uh was encouraged to think especially especially academics sometimes get gets um you know o over you know over glazed by by lots of other exciting
060things happening but the I appreciate the report card updates from from the two of you today and the hard work of our schools and um administrators and principles that are here to to see that um academics is strong in our district. So thank you. If there are no other points of discussion, can I receive a motion to adjurnn? >> Can I make a motion to adjourn? >> A second. >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> None. Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you. >> Um our next board meeting is if I'm not