001and followed by a pledge of allegiance and then ask McD. >> Absolutely. Heavenly Father, please bless new beginnings. We begin this year with gratitude and a very positive sense of expectancy. We humbly beseech you, Father, to watch over our community, protecting all from harm. And we equally request that you give each and every one of us the courage and the conviction to fulfill your will. Amen. >> Amen. 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. Okay, our meeting today um is uh next on our agenda actually is going to be um the oath of office and so we have uh Jason Vincent is with us today and so we'll uh kind of
002have him sworn in and so I think he has some family with him as well if they're going to join join him. Lisa and Sarah and Meredith, welcome. And we'll take we'll do this right right over here. Jason, if that's okay, >> if your family, do you want to join? >> Left hand off, right hand up. And Repeat after me. I do solemnly swear >> I doly swear >> that I am dy qualified >> according to the constitution of this state >> according to the constitution of the state >> to exercise the duties of the office >> to which I have been elected >> to which I've been >> and that I will >> to the best of my ability >> discharge the duties thereof >> and preserve protect and defend >> preserve protect the
003Constitution of this state >> the Constitution of this state >> and of the United States and of the United States. So help me God. >> Congratulations. >> Absolutely. >> Congratulations. >> Well done. All right. So, next on our agenda is the election of officers. And so, the chairman presides at all meetings of the board and performs other duties as directed by law, state department of education regulations and by this board. At this time, do we have any nominations for chair? >> I'd like to nominate Jeannie McDaniel. Okay. Right. Do we have Do we have a second? >> I'll second. >> Do we have another nomination? Seeing none, all in favor of Miss McDeal serving as board chair, please raise your right hand. Okay. Any abstain? Yes. Okay. One. Okay. Great. Thank you. Congratulations. That's a
004a 40. All right, I can turn it over to you. Is that okay? Would you like >> Yes, sir. I'm glad to do it. >> Okay, great. Congratulations. >> Thank you, sir. And thank you and welcome, Jason. We look forward to having you and uh serving with you and working with you. And congrats to your family. Beautiful family, and we're glad you're here. Thank you. You'll see in your packet the minutes for the June meeting. Are there any? >> Yeah, we have a couple. >> Did I? >> Yes. And so next we're going to have to try to vote on our uh vice chair. >> I'm sorry. I am so Hey, Maria. I am so sorry. I was anticipating something different this evening. Do I have u right now? I would like a motion from
005the chair for nominations for vice chair. Are there any nominations? >> I'll nominate Cody for vice chair. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Okay. And um Nyx is the secretary. >> And if if it's okay, the secretary attends all board meetings and records the proceedings. >> At the discretion of the board of trustees, the board may employ an individual to record the minutes and proceedings of the board, which for the past year has been Miss Wifford Wells. So we but we still need to have a a formal secretary. Is there a nomination for formal secretary to represent the board? >> I'll nominate a man. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. Motion carries.
006Thank you. >> Anything else? >> That's it. That's it. >> Okay. Sorry. Thank you, sir. You have before you the minutes from the June meeting. Are there any additions or corrections that you'd like to make at this time? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> All those opposed? Any discussion? Motion carries. approved. >> I I might just add with those minutes that we put um when I when I was reading through that we put the actual um budget amount that was approved so we can use this as an anchor going forward. >> Yes, sir. That just one one little thing I just saw there. >> Now, do you want that under the second reading? >> Yes, ma'am. >> And that's um you want the original the approved amount Are there any
007other changes? Okay, thank you. Hearing um let's take a look at our agenda tonight. which is before you. Are there any additions or changes to the agenda at this point? As so uh as presented. >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? >> All those in favor say I. Motion carries. Hearing no public input or seeing any indication of it at this point, I will defer to Dr. Crockett. >> Great. Thank you. Um tonight for our um heart of a hornet, uh I wanted to recognize just a a local industry that continues uh to go above and beyond. This this company is extremely generous um and has really adopted the primary school and that's that's no surprise that's Odell Corp Cooperation Corporation. And
008just uh I have a a letter from from Rhonda Prince, the CFO. She says, um, on behalf of Odell Corporation, it is truly an honor to present where Scholes Primary School with a donation of $10,000 to help provide much neededed back to back to school supplies for your students. Since 2015, that's 10 years, we have proudly contributed a total of $65,000 towards educational resources and we remain deeply committed to supporting the students, families, and educators who make this school so special. We understand the importance of starting this school year off strong, and we're grateful for the opportunity to stand beside you once again in that effort. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this important mission and we wish everyone a successful and inspiring school year ahead. Uh respect respectfully Rhonda Prince
009CFO. Uh this this this company uh is is just jam up. They are uh filled with generosity um and giving and uh John John Strad and his team uh uh are just a class act and um just the the families that are touched um every year by their generosities. We don't we don't expect it every year but they continue to do it. And so for that we we're we're thankful. They have two representatives from from Odell here. We have Melanie Odell and we also have Michelle Gillard is here and they would like to present us a check and we're thankful that they are here. So come on come on up and we can do it right up here. That's right. >> Okay. Great. We'll do Ro here next. Gotcha. >> Okay. Funny face time. [Music]
010That makes me cry. The chair will continue to defer to Dr. Crockett for superintendent updates. >> Oh, Mr. Jefferson, thank you. It's good to good to see you. Thanks for being here. >> Thank you all guys. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. >> I love that guy. >> All right. So, so for our for our update, of of course it's back to school. I think right now we're at 61 hours, I think, till uh 8:00 that morning. So, the count the countdown is on and uh but who but who's counting, right? And so, we are and we are super excited to uh welcome in another year. And uh there is lots of things going on, but the most important thing that we can do, the most important thing that we can do is to remember what our mission
011is. And this is what we adopt as a faculty and staff and every one of us uh that that work in our district and even this board. Uh the mission statement for Wsholes School District 51 is that we be a dedicated community that provides a rigorous and a well-rounded education inspiring students to discover their talents and achieve their fullest potential through a commitment to excellence in all that we do. That means in our actions, in the words that we say, and in our effort, we empower our students, our staff and community to be confident and ready for the future. In Weshaw School District 51, every student matters and every student knows we care and that's what we're about. And so, uh, I couldn't think of a better way for us to be reminded of what
012our mission is and what what we're trying to do here. Um, and and our teachers are are ready. I' I've visited the schools. I've been through and and checking in. And there's just this attitude of um being of being fired up and ready to go. And uh, so we've done a lot here over the last couple days. And our theme this or last couple weeks and this theme for this year is exploration, discovering excellence together. And so we had actually had our uh full back to school kickoff with all of our staff and uh it was we had a wonderful time last Friday uh going over this over this theme. We have our classified employees of the year, uh, Miss Allison Ross, Miss Jan Wells, Miss Audrey Bishop, and Trevor Pulley. And so very very
013proud of them and what incredible work that they do. And so it was it was great to really really great to to honor them uh for the outstanding job um that that they do for us every every day. Just great just great people. Uh we also had uh play safe which are our community partner of the year and so obviously they they're the ones that are that support our student athletes uh their trainers on the field um provide you know uh rehab and also treat injuries as they as they occur and just takes a a burden off our coaching staff and really have a qualified people on our sidelines is is very very important. So we were honored to kind of recognize them for their work. We also had a guest speaker was Brent Calbert
014came up and really touched us to to remember what were the things that are truly important um in life and and what impact teachers make and uh just truly inspiring from um from from not only his words but more importantly his actions. Um he's he's he's driven um and courageous and I I just h I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and um and so does our so does our staff and so it was great great to see him and I appreciate him being willing to to be our guest speaker this year. We have a teacher of the year Robin Crawford and so that's been wonderful. Uh and so we we recognized her as well. I appreciate uh Mr. Rice being able to uh oversee that process and and we're thrilled to to
015to recognize her. We'll we'll bring her in a board meeting I think probably next month along with our classified employees of the year. But I just wanted to kind of share that news with you. Um and I wanted to kind of share with you what has happened over summer. Okay, we have six weeks about five days a week. So we're talking about 30 business days. So this is this is really what has happened by by the number. We have 64 uh security cameras and an upgraded server. We have ordered and they've arrived. We have 150 gallons of paint at Wear Sholes Mill that have been applied to the walls and it looks it looks fantastic. Uh we have 70 new radios, a repeater and FCC approved frequencies and they have arrived and they're here and
016being in the process of being programmed. appreciate Tommy Clamp um what for a job really well done and that's he o oversaw that process and and also this one with uh 1,488 window panes that have been upgraded with security film and so that's uh been a a really a wonderful thing to increase the security of our schools. um they were in they work really late hours and they've done a really nice job and it looks great especially uh some of the tinted film that they've been uh putting on some of the locations. It's been it's been really great and we've heard some really great feedback. Uh you had 30 Wel's primary classrooms that all the all the discs all the the the play areas things that are inside the classrooms all all were taken out
017and those classrooms were was stripped down and and those were waxed and they look great. They had 65 students that were taught uh in summer school and just uh really impressed with those teachers that were um sacrificially gave of their time to invest in our students to prepare them for the for this year and we appreciate what they what they've done a great job. We have 144 transactions on a new card reader, our point of sales and so registration was the very first time we were able to test it. We can take debit card, we can take credit card and um uh transactions now at each location. They have the ability to do that. And so uh we were I appreciate Michael over overseeing that and and really kind of getting that getting that going.
018We were hoping that things registration would go well and and and it did and um and so that was that's been been great and we have so many possibilities now that we can uh run with that. We have 36 lights installed in the high school auditorium and so we upgraded the lighting the stage lighting there and that was a really big need and that was that was taken care of and we have countless painting construction projects all across the districts and so in 30 days there are people that are are hey we're hustling our our custodial staff you know our our summer working staff our maintenance staff uh just very talented people doing and working really really if you have great great talent and they work. I mean, great things happening. You can see um
019just in in 30 days what what is what has take taken place and I'm so appreciative of it for sure. The place is looking great. Um this is a little bit you can see of the lights that are now in the in the auditorium. This is a little demo mode, but uh really it's just increase of lighting. Um we actually have a 9:30 meeting tomorrow morning uh where they're going to come in and calibrate it and do some things. But, uh, you can see that those were installed and and they look great. And the scaffolding, if you could just imagine how how high that was to put those lights in. And all that was done in house. And so, uh, Trevor and, uh, Miguel and and Michael and his team did did a really great
020job putting that in. The paint at the middle school, uh, this was just an image that I took just, uh, just this afternoon. It's clean. Looks good. Fresh paint on the walls. And so, we're thankful for that. And, and that builds excitement. Can't wait for the kids to see it. Uh we have CDL progress. We had uh another coach, our AD had uh earned his CDL license uh just a couple weeks ago, uh last week actually last week. And so we're glad to continue to make progress in that area and we appreciate him doing that. A few more uh coaches are still in the works to be able to earn earn their CDL as well. And then today um Mr. Wel Thompson and um Bob Drake from the the community foundation had given the the
021school um district a check for the Wshel uh Wshell schools hall of fame and and so to be able to to honor future our current inductees and future inductees down the road. Just a very very generous donation and it was in honor of of uh Dan Dan Brandon and who we all think so much of. So that was very very kind. So that will conclude the superintendent's update at this time. If there's any questions about that, I'll be glad to answer any of those questions at this time. >> Now I'm just curious and you may not have them yet. What's the numbers looking like for each school far as uh enroll? >> As far as enrollment, um we won't really have a good idea until the first day of school. >> Okay. Um we just
022and usually those those numbers um we we take a look at uh days 1 through 10 and then we take a look at the 45th we take a look at the 135 and then the 180 um like we've had several today so you never really know how how to compare but I was curious if it was about the same as last year more >> yeah I would say it's it's ballpark it's >> okay thank you sir appreciate you >> absolutely anything else >> next on the agenda. Uh Dr. Crockett, I would also like to defer to you to uh share with us booster club registration. >> Sure. Absolutely. Um a couple years ago, um our booster clubs were uh required to uh register uh with our uh board of trustees. And so really basically I
023just put in there for information u the booster clubs that we have um in in our school district. of course the um athletic association uh Melanie was was just here um as president for that and the Hornets Nest and the the wear band boosters and what an incredible job that they they all do. It's required that we um uh share the um financial officer of each of those organizations as well. And there's there's a a long list of things that that they can't have a a you know a felony or or a list of of of things that would disqualify them from doing that. And so now they're required to you know register with the board. And so I'm presenting that for information for you today. >> Thank you sir. Is that registration take taking
024place? >> Um this is actually considered the registration. They're just sharing hey that we want to continue to be a booster club and this is who who our officers are. >> That's great. Thank you sir. The action items that you will find under um tab one deal with an important project that we've all discussed in the past and that is the repair of the awning at the primary school that uh withtood a great deal of damage. Um Dr. Crockett, would you like to share with us where you are on that? >> Abs. Absolutely. And so on February the 17th, uh we had it's hard to tell if it was from uh Hurricane Helen had loosened things up and then another, you know, a strong strong winds came on February the 17th and but we did
025have uh the awning at the primary school um had had suffered some some pretty big damage. So those panels had been taken off and uh now it's at a point where we we did uh receive our insurance claim uh for that to to pay for that section. But we also now are at a situation where we're saying if we're going to replace a a pretty substantial section, you know, uh would it be beneficial for us to go ahead and replace the whole existing one that that awning and it's it's on the it's on it's on the screen. you can see that it was uh it's it's older and and it could use a a facelift for sure. And so we've we've done a little bit of of research. We've uh spoke with a contractor just
026to kind of see where we would kind of be for a ballpark. And we feel confident that uh we would be able to um uh to do a replacement of that awning for less than 150 $150,000. and so was asking for approval for us to solicit bids and to begin uh replacing the awning at the primary school. >> Uh through conversations too, you've uh really contacted several companies up to this point. >> We want just with one just with just with one contractor to kind of see what the scope would be and then after and and what really would be a general ballpark. And what we'll do at this point is we'll put it up for bids and uh to see see what's the lowest that we can possibly get before uh before proceeding. But
027feel pretty confident with that with that price uh figure of 150,000. >> The chair would request and would like to request a motion to purchase uh the awning at the primary school and financially not to exceed 150,000. I make a motion to approve the owning at the war primary to not exceed $150,000. >> Is there a second? >> I've got a second. Any discussion? >> Where's Where's the remainder going to come out of that? >> Uh it would be an unbudgeted. So it would come out of our fund balance fund balance. >> Yes, sir. Yeah, that's a great question. >> And what do we we I think I seen the financial report that got sent out. We're about five months. >> Yes. >> Is that right? >> Yes, sir. >> Yes. >> And it could
028be lower than that for for sure, I think. >> Yeah. It's recommended um three to four months is is a strong standard. >> But the biggest thing to keep in mind that, you know, we're going to have rain days. We need these kids to be able to get out of the car and be dry. >> Sure. >> So, in my my eyes, I see it as being a necessity that needs to be done. >> And to that point, it sparked it sparked something that I I missed and I I me that there was also an insurance claim made and we received a portion of almost a third of that already. >> I agree with the weather. Yeah, >> but we could fix that issue with the $41,880. that would cover that issue. I mean, we're
029talking another $110,000, which would take care of it for the next 20 plus years. I agree. I just kind of worry about hitting the fund balance that hard this early on. So, >> that's just my discussion. check. >> I think it's a good >> Do we have an idea of the age of the remainder of it? >> Like how long has that awning been there? Is it the same one that we walked? >> Yes. I I know that because you know I mean I agree. >> If it has been there >> Yeah. >> 30 years. >> Yeah. >> You fix this section then >> something happens to the remainder then you're looking at repairing that where if you could hit it all at once. And if you don't mind too, while we're doing it, I
030would like to see that it's like heavy stabilized so it can withstand strong winds because we we've had Helen and then we had that in February. So it's not like, you know, this stuff's coming more often. So, you know, make >> not to interrupt, but Helen could have initiated the problem, >> right? >> February come along and said, >> you're right. >> But I I would like to see that it's more stable. You know what I mean? Like I understand that's 30 plus years old, but make it make sure >> question >> bolted down like right >> make sure it's secured best. >> Little extra. >> Are there any other comments or suggestions? If not, the chair would like to call the question. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> All those opposed?
031Motion carries. >> Thank you. And so, um, we will try to get that off for bit as quickly as we can. And then even with the potential time frame of of a fall break, that might be a little ambitious, but that's kind of our timetable of where we'd like to be. >> Under tab two, again, Dr. Crockett, this is your night tonight. We I'd like to defer to you in the discussion of uh altering approved previously approved calendar dates. >> Yes. Thank you. Um in November, this past November, we approved a calendar for the 2627 school year and um and a couple things have come to light since since then. Uh we've had uh calendars from from neighboring districts that have have come out. We also have um a hundredyear celebration that's that's coming up
032and and we've been meeting as a a committee. my committee is formed and uh and mostly of our uh local residents that are kind of um helping me kind of work work our way through this uh 100y year cate celebration of war shells high and it's it's exciting it's great work so we meet the uh first Monday of each month and so as we as we kind of work our way through this we're we're saying hey it's it's important for our kids to really um see and participate in this hundth hundth year reunion or a hundth year celebration and there'll be reunions going on on the weekends and things like that. But turns out that September 30th is smack dab in the middle of our inter session that that we had planned. Okay. And so
033uh we're we're planning this on a a grand scale. I um I think we have two more meetings. Um and I think we'll probably have enough information to kind of really roll up the schedule as to what the what's going to look like. Um but but there's uh situations where we're we're looking not only at having a a rededication of our high school, but then to also start working on that following Friday and Saturday of having some reunions and class reunions and a all class reunion and um um all sorts of things homecoming for that football game, things of those need of that nature. So this is a a pretty big pretty big deal. 100 years only comes once every hundred years. So, so we're going to we're going to try to to really do
034this well, but um we had looked at at what if we were to continue school to that Wednesday. So, we have Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, those kids would come in in instead of having uh remediation or the inter session. Then we will move those days to one which is election day, November 3rd, and then we would have the whole week of Thanksgiving off which is something that some of our teachers had had mentioned that would be a perk as well. So we would take some of those days and then we'd still get a full week off at Thanksgiving. That's very similar to what uh neighboring districts are doing as well. Um but so I think there's there's u a lot of merit in switching those days. Uh we met with a administrative team to kind of
035look through this and see what the best case scenario would be and this is what we're uh presenting tonight. >> I think it's great and you definitely want our students to participate in that. That's that's amazing. The chair would like to request a motion to approve calendar dates as listed to be changed to allow students to participate in the activities of the 100year anniversary. >> I make a motion to approve the changes recommended by superintendent Dr. Crockett. >> Thank you, sir. Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, sir. Discussion. All those in favor say I. >> I. Motion carries. Under tab three, you will see a recommendation coming from the high school from Mr. um I guess it would be Senor Oscar Vincente who will be a Spanish teacher and is the
036uh form is requesting u employment for the 2526 academic year. Do I have a second? >> Have you got a motion? >> That was my motion. >> Well, I should have said it like a little bit differently. We have a The chair would like a motion to approve uh Oscar Piciente as the Spanish teacher for the high school for the 2526 academic year. >> I'll second that. >> Any discussion? >> Now, Dr. He will be here every day, right? It's not going to be >> in person. So, we will have >> Yes. >> Yeah. That's one thing I want to make sure. I want to make sure >> it was going to be somebody's going to be here every day. >> That's right. >> That's great. And he's highly if you look I'm sure you
037look through the material. Extremely qualified. >> Any further discussion? >> All those in favor say I. I >> opposed. Motion carries. Your tab four will be your dates for the board meetings for the 2526 academic year. And I don't believe there's any changes to those at all. So, and that brings us to the monthly budget review. >> We got to vote on the Do we have to vote on this? >> Do we vote on the dates? >> I I would just lock them in. if that's if that's okay. >> Sure. >> All those that are in favor of the projected dates for the 2526 uh year for uh district 51 board meetings indicated by May I get a motion? >> I'll make a motion to approve the regular schedule board meetings as presented. >> Is
038there a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you, sir. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. >> Motion carries. >> Dr. Crackett, I'm going to share this one with you in this financial update. Do you have any information you would like to share with our closing? Um, this is as we go over the general fund balance. The last page of that will indicate that there is um was it appears to be a surplus but that's actually a soft number. >> Uh yes it just it just means that uh the projected expenses that we we had for last year. Uh we were able to to meet that. We came in a little bit under what we were what we were projecting. So we're thankful for that. And so um that was good. I I
039know as far as the activity, high school activity account too, we starting off with a a positive balance in there to be able to start the year and that will go quick, but but also it's a it's a blessing uh to to be in that position. And so um right now we're strong and it's month zero right now. So, um, with a with a new year being excited and, uh, really trying to tighten up in some some areas as well to still continue to be able to do the things that we needed to do operationally wise. >> Um, Dr. Crockett, the state did readjust some uh, although it was a small amount, it was a u an adjustment from the percentages between uh, public and charter schools and that did reduce this number slightly. uh
040just just slightly just just slightly but we'll take we'll take >> we'll take it absolutely >> so that was I thought that that was a real positive other information um that we'll have will certainly be um forthcoming with but I always ask you to look on this fund balance um as you go as you get your reports anything that you have questions about to please raise them and it is so transparent. You can see every one of these numbers. I've had one parent recently say, "How do I know what they spend?" I said, "It's very easy." And this is where you go. You can see every single thing and it is listed. There's nothing hidden. Um, and they called back and said, "Wow, okay. It was all there." And that I thought it was a
041good question from the parent. You know, I don't know what they had heard or what they hadn't heard. was a it was a very positive conversation. But the last page will always show you at the top they'll give you a sort of an ideal percentage of where you should be and you can see sort of where we slant in every month and I find it to be very helpful and we have slanted in all year. Thank you Dr. Crockett. Right where we needed to be. >> Great team. Great team. >> Great team and um it's worth noting athletics starting in a black. Listen, it's the first time I've ever seen it. So, >> athletics starts in a black instead of red. So, that's that's awesome. >> Yep, it is awesome. Now, uh any questions pertaining
042to the lunchroom account? We've never had any, but again, familiarize yourself with those figures. Um Dr. Crockett, um in a lot of emails that I'm reading, we still have the free breakfast and >> we do um we qualify for the community eligibility program CP. Yep. >> And so that'll continue again this year. >> That's wonderful. >> And that's for all all of our students. >> Thank you, sir. And uh the act uh high school activity fund maybe my favorite this time because again we see uh athletics in the positive and it does go fast, but it's sort of like your own if you're like me, it's your own checking account, but it's good to see it when it's healthy. Do you have any questions about any of these categories? And again, I want to point
043out how much I appreciate that you actually put the bank balance and the the balance of the um auditing in house and they always balance. And that answers probably 100% of questions people have. >> I had one what uh student tech >> uh yes that's where uh school fees. So the the school fees >> okay >> where they come in >> school fees for >> let me see >> enrollment >> registration I that was the only thing I uh circled that I had a question on >> student tech it's for the laptops >> laptop program okay thanks So like like maintenance on the Okay, I got >> Thank you, Michael. Thank you for everything you do. That's amazing. And I have no further questions or um input. Dr. Crockett, do you concerning finances? >> No,
044ma'am. Hearing none, um it's time to adjourn. The chair would like to ask for a motion to adjourn this first meeting in 2025. >> I'm not going to make >> No, unless somebody else >> I'll make a motion to adjourn our first meeting and our new board member. Do we have a second? >> Okay, we have a second. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Thank you very much. Thank you, Dr. Cody.