001I now call the U B County Board of Education meeting to order. Will you please stand? Mr. Marco Winners is going to say the prayer and we will follow that with the pledge of allegiance. >> Heavenly Father, we thank you for the day and for your blessings and Father, we thank you for just always being there for us and always showing us the way and and just just watching over us and giving us our health and and the and the things that that make us happy. We thank you for that too. If we we thank you for family and friends and fellowship that we have one another with the even with the board here and uh and and all the ones that are present. I pray father be a good meeting that that would be
002pleasing to you and I pray father that what we do and say even in this meeting or any other time that that it will also be pleasing to you that we always look to you for that. And I pray father for all the ones that are not here and please be with them if they they may be doing some other things. I pray for the ones that are sick and shut in, ones that need special prayers, especially for Tim, Tim Height. Pray for him and his family. And there's there's many in our school that that need those prayers. Also, once again, I ask that you please be with us in this meeting. And uh and I ask that you be with Florence as he leads us. And uh and once again, I ask that you
003forgive us for our sins. And in Jesus name we all pray. Amen. >> Amen. To the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Miss Michelle, will you please call roll? >> Mr. Wyinners here. >> Mr. Hyatt. Miss Kennan >> here. Miss Arnold, Mr. Hedge, Mr. Mills, Miss Douglas >> here, >> Mr. Marks >> here, >> Mr. Blue >> here, >> Mr. Thornton >> here, >> Mr. Vargas >> here, >> Mr. Livingston >> here, >> eight present, four absent. >> With eight present, a quorum has been established. Next on our agenda is the approval of the agenda as well as approval of the consent agenda which includes approval of October minutes, approval of substitutes pending background checks, approval of November
00414th, 2025 as superintendent appreciation day, which is a youth press day, approval of um Britney Davis and Jessica Mothers as bus drivers pending state requirement. and approval of Jonathan Williams as a volunteer CJ baseball coach. >> I'll make a motion we approve tonight's agenda. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to approve tonight's agenda as well as the consent agenda. Um all those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All oppose, please say no. Eyes have it. We have approved tonight's agenda and consent agenda. Next on our agenda is approval of the transportation committee report. >> The um M County Board of Education Transportation Committee met on Thursday, October the 16th, 2025. Those present were myself, Shauna Kennan, Marco Winters, Brad Mills, Judy Arnold, Ben Marks, Chad Douglas, and the transportation
005supervisor and the director Mark Florence. Uh the committee met to discuss the following the future of student transportation and available options. Uh the committee recommended director Florence request additional information from school of transportation contracting companies to meet our student transportation needs in the meeting journ. I would make a motion that we approve this committee report. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to approve the transportation committee report. Um any discussion at all? No. If not, we will vote. All those in favor of approving the transportation committee report, please say I. >> Any opposed, please say no. Eyes have it. The transportation report transportation committee report has been approved. Next on the agenda is approval of the policy committee report. I will read that in the absence of Mr. Hot. The Benton County
006Board of Education pol policy committee met on Thursday October 16th 2025. Present were Robert Livingston, Shauna Kennan, Marco Wyers, Brad Mills, Judy Arnold, Ryan Blue, Ben Mars, and director Mark Florence. The committee met to discuss the following. TSBA email regarding policies, a new policy 3.221, which is video surveillance, and the committee recommended policy 3.221 221 be added to the November 2025 BOE meeting agenda for approval on the first and second readings. All approved. Meeting was adjourned. I moved that um we approve this policy committee report. >> Second. >> Then um moved and seconded that the policy committee report be approved. With no discussion on that, we will vote. All those in favor of approving the policy committee report, please say I. >> Any oppose, please say no. Eyes have it. We have approved the policy
007committee report. >> Next on our agenda is approval of policy 3.221, video surveillance on the first and second reading. >> Make a motion we approve the policy on the first and second reading. >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to approve this policy for video surveillance on the first and second readings. Do we have any discussion? Mr. Point, do you want to explain what this is and how it came about? >> Yes. With with us putting all the new security cameras in, even though we've had security cameras for 20 years now, with the update with the new cops grant, all those have been installed. So, um, not many districts in the state have them, but I reached out to TSBA and they sent a few samples and after talking to a few
008directors kind of took the one from Cerville and use most of that. And so, we just thought it would be a better um idea to have that in policy. So, that's that's where that came from. It's just a policy on how video is handled and settings for administrators and parents to have. I'll be glad to answer any questions. Any further discussion? And remember, we are voting um on the first and second reading. So, if when this passes um with a roll poll vote, they already have holes in them. So, it will be active and we will put them in our policy um >> finders. Miss Michelle, will you please call roll? Remember, we're voting on the video surveillance policy first and second reading. >> Mr. Wyers, >> yes. >> Miss Kennan, >> yes. >> Miss
009Douglas, >> yes. >> Mr. Marks, >> yes. >> Mr. Blue, >> yes. >> Mr. Thornton, >> yes. >> Mr. Hargus, >> yes. >> Mr. Livingston, >> yes. >> Would anyone like to change their vote? >> Eight yes. >> With eight yes. That policy has been approved on first and second readings. Next on our agenda, approve it of the budget resolutions. >> Motion to approve. >> Both. We have a motion. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> We have a motion and a second to approve both budget um resolutions. Mr. Point, would you like to explain? Um first the first one just health services having to increase contracting funds when we decrease equipment. And then the other one that $25,000 that's a grant that Miss Joy Christopher applied for for our um guidance counselors and
010um that's just extra funding for them kind of like a retention um promotion or retention and a um grant for our guidance counselor. So that's just something that was available from the state. Thanks, Miss Joy, for putting the work in to get that guy. It's very deserving. >> Any further discussion on our budget resolutions? With no further discussion, Miss Michelle, will you please call roll? >> Mr. Wyers, >> yes. >> Miss Kennan, >> yes. >> Miss Douglas, >> yes. >> Mr. Marks. >> Yes. >> Mr. Blue. >> Yes. >> Mr. Thornton. >> Mr. Hargus. >> Yes. >> Mr. Livingston. >> Yes. >> Would anyone like to change their vote? Eight. Yes. >> With eight yes. Our two budget resolutions have been approved. Next on our agenda is the director's report. >> First of all, thank
011you, Miss Amy, and your staff for having us tonight. This is something that the board put in their strategic plan probably six or seven years ago for us to continue coming to Big Sandy and holidays. So appreciate I know this puts a lot on you and your staff. So thank you for doing that. Um congratulations to our CHS cross country girls team for qualifying for the TWSAA state competition. Cadence Christopher, Caitlyn Martin, Katie Ramlo, Satie Fry, Jaylen Haggler, Lois Wood, and Ambulan Arnold all qualified as a team. Also, Miss Cadence Christopher would have qualified as an individual as well. So, they'll be going to the state. I think they're leaving Wednesday evening and compete Thursday and Friday. Also, Matthew Arnold qualified as an individual. That's Miss Judy's grandson. and Matthews actually qualified four years in
012a row. So that's quite a accomplishment. So congratulations to them. Um congratulations to our band. They had a great uh fall during competition. They completed their season as far as competition goes this past weekend at state competition. Numerous awards throughout the um year. And I had the privilege of going over I guess two or three weeks ago on at Huntington and and watching perform. I wish I could tell you I know a lot about it. I don't. But I can tell you the parents that were there that do said that's a fine old machine. So I think that's a tribute to our band and to our um River and Miss Elizabeth. So thanks to them and Stone back there. They're working hard. So our football team will be playing at West Morland on Friday night,
013the first round of the playoffs. Um we tried really hard today to reserve um charter buses, but our big yellow buses are going to give us more money to spend on our kids. And it was just um mindboggling what two charter buses to go to West Morland cost. Um but we're going to we're going to stick with our new air conditioning Bon County school buses for for this trip. So, we tried, but that was um kind of a shell sock shock what that cost. Um, congratulations to our 2025 teacher of the years. I think they all know now. Do they all know, Miss Brandy? If they check their emails today, >> okay, so they they may be surprised to find out because this this is hot off the press. Camden Elementary School, Glenda Hicks, Briwood,
014Miss Erica Johnson, Big Sandy, Brianna Taylor, Camden Junior High, Lorie Eaton, Camden Central High School, Sarah Kamuzi, and Holiday, Miss Macy Fur. Um, TSBA conference is November the 13th through the 16th. I think um Chairman McKinnon and Marco Wyers are planning on attending. So, we'll let y'all maybe give us a report in December. And then also, if you asked to sign up for the Utrust dinner, you you signed up and you should have received an email. If you didn't, just let me know. Um we do discuss fall planning. Um I put you some dates on there. Thursday, November 20th. Thursday, December the 4th, or Thursday, December the 11th. There's no magic date. If we want to have our fall planning in the winter and do it in January, that's okay. But I think it would
015be a good idea. Marty Spears is going to come and go over interest rates with us. Um, you know, we've talked about possibility of a new elementary school. Interest rates are quite a bit lower than they were um last year. this time when we were talking, but once we set that, he's going to plan and kind of go over that again with us. I know we've met with him before. Um, I've also reached out to TLM and and ask them to give us more up to-ate um drawing, but we did they come into our fall planning. So, it does not matter to me, but those are Thursdays are usually good. I put we could probably meet two to six and cover what we need to. I think I would like to get the supervisors to
016go over the data that's just come in, but that that's we can do that probably in 30 45 minutes. A lot of good news as always things we have to work on, but we we do have some encouraging news there. Does anybody have a preference? >> Not the 20th. I will be out of town on the 20th. >> Okay. Y'all want to shoot for the middle? The only thing I don't know is about a junior high basketball game. But if we go two to six, we'll be done. >> That's true. I'll get the important stuff done so they'll have time to get there. How about the fourth? That sound good to everybody? >> December. >> 2 to 6. >> 4th. >> December the 4th from 2 to 6. I'll send you a reminder. And if
017there's something you would like covered during that, the fall planning, please let me know. And I'll probably see if Mr. Kaggel can maybe um meet with us for a few minutes during that time, too. >> Thank you. >> 2 to six. I think we've done this in the past, but I I just want to make sure with our shortage of bus drivers, if we if we happen to have someone move in that has all their certifications, they pass their background check and it's before a board meeting, um I would like for us to put in the minutes that you approve the director to or the executive committee to approve that person. that hasn't happened, but we have had a couple people come in that um that are thinking about moving and and boy, if they
018move in and with the shortage we have, that would be um it it would have your approval and we would put it on the next month agenda, but they would have to meet all the requirements. They'd have the background, they'd have the physical. Um they can't get a license until they do that. But if if we have someone move in November the 11th and they are willing to drive and I have to wait till December 2nd, that could put us behind the eightball a little bit. So I don't know if we could get a motion and just get >> I make a motion that we give y'all the authority that authority to go ahead and and hire the bus driver on the spot. >> Second. So we have a motion and a second to grant
019the executive committee the authority to hire bus drivers >> on the spot qualif Michelle can you read that you have >> let's make sure we all got that >> oh way to put me on the spot right there >> I should hang record I >> you might be mine. >> Yeah, I got you. Well, now I'm going to write it out. I just make notes and write it as I go, just so you all know. So, Commissioner Livingston made a motion to approve to allow the director or no to allow the executive committee to hire a bus driver as long as all requirements are met. >> On the spot. >> You already put on the spot. How about prior to next meeting? >> Prior to next meeting. I can do that. >> We have any
020discussion? two new drivers would pretty much alleviate our help. >> So, the two that were on, >> but they're it'll take >> probably two months to get approved when they don't have >> one of those used to drive, >> right? >> So, they have a lot better opportunity to maybe get qualified in a shorter period of time. Any further discussion or questions? Michelle, are you >> I can >> what >> you want to take roll call? >> Yeah. Can we um Can you say the entire motion again? >> Y'all really stressing me. >> We've got to know what we're voting for. >> Okay. You are voting on allowing the executive committee to hire a bus driver prior to the next meeting as long as the bus driver meets all the requirements. >> Yes. >> Okay.
021And it was seconded by Commissioner Marks. That's what you're going to vote on. Are you ready? >> Okay. >> Mr. Wyinners. >> Yes. I'm I'm just thinking about when it was read read, but that's okay. I'm okay with that part. Don't say yes. They said bus drivers and so a bus driver. >> They could just do it twice. >> Okay. Okay. Yeah. So, I'm still Yes on that. So, I'm not trying to cause you too many problems. Yes. >> Miss Ken. >> Yes. Uh, Miss Douglas, >> yes. >> Mr. Mars, >> yes. >> Mr. Blue, >> yes. >> Mr. Thornton, >> yes. >> Mr. Hargus, >> yes. >> Mr. Livingston, >> yes. >> Would anyone like to change their vote? >> What a team. >> Eight. Yes. >> With eight. Yes. That motion has approved.
022>> Um, the HVAC project phase one is complete at Briwood. That means all the classrooms now have um many splits plus the library. Um phase two we hope to have complete by Christmas. There's a chance it doesn't get completed till spring break. Getting the units in because those are the that that will require that big unit going into the basement where the chiller and stuff is. So that could take more time. We hope to have it done um by Christmas, but it could be spring break. I do feel like they will get the principal's office in that area. They will get that completed during Christmas, but the entire phase it could be spring break. The asphalt around pickup at CHS was repaired during fall break. Uh the new Vigilon camera systems have been installed. We're
023slowly getting everybody trained on that and we'll probably take a little bit of our fall planning just to show you what they'll do. Not a lot of time, but I think it'd be important for you to see that we do have a couple areas that, you know, when you have a project like that, there's always, why did we not have a can put there? So, we'll probably have to add two or three. But all in all, it's amazing what they'll do. And then um I added something to um my director's report. Um when Miss Ryan and Marlo walked in, they said that Mara got the news today. She didn't have to go back to the doctor for three years. So, we always start our meetings with good things. We're going to end that one with
024great things. So, good news, Miss Marvin. But continue those prayers. They're they're very important. And then, please keep Tim in your prayers. Um, I did talk to Brent today and he talked to Tim said he looks much stronger. He's doing better, but they're still I think he goes Wednesday for his next appointment. Probably get a better detailed plan of what's coming. So, just continue to keep Tim in your prayers. That's all I have um next on our agenda is um visitors before the board and I have two on here. Individuals speaking to the board shall address remarks to the chair may direct questions to the individual board members or staff members only upon approval of the chair. Each person speaking shall state their name, address, and subject of presentation. Remarks will be limited to two
025minutes unless time is extended by the board chair. The chair shall have the authority to terminate the remarks of any individual who is disruptive or does not adhere to board rules. Individuals desiring additional information about any item on the agenda shall direct such inquiries to the office of the director of schools. First on our list, and I'm getting my clock up just so y'all know what I'm doing. Um, Miss Nikki Holland I understand the members of the board have been given access to the district's sworn deposition testimony. Those depositions don't just raise concerns about how student safety has been handled. They they expose a pattern of neglect, misplaced priorities, and a culture of silence that reaches far beyond individual incidences. When children aren't protected, and when district resources aren't used as intended, that's not just
026a failure of policy. It's a failure of integrity. Families deserve more than polished statements and closed door decisions. They deserve transparency about how investigations are handled, how money is spent, and how those in position of power are held accountable. Families families deserve transparency, honesty, and confidence that their children are safe at school. They deserve to know their rights under Title N and to trust those rights are being upheld consistently and without bias. Title N is not a suggestion. It's the law. Financial integrity isn't optional. It's a duty to the taxpayers who trust you. The people of this community are watching. Accountability is coming. Whether it begins in this room or somewhere higher, this district needs to hold themselves second ability for the safety of our kids. This is not just one incident. This is not
027two incidences. This is multiple in incense. Incidents >> incidences of of a failure of of a system systemic failure to these children. My name is Har Little and I have a voice, one that hasn't often been heard. What does it mean to have a voice? When I say I have a voice, I don't just mean the sounds, words, and syllables put together to make meaningless sentences like asking to go somewhere or a privilege. I mean, I have a voice. A voice that tells a story and a voice that always hasn't been heard. A voice that hasn't always been there. A voice I'm able to put those simple words together at times. A voice that needs and will be heard. A voice that needs to be taken seriously. There are many teenagers, groups, and people that
028have voices. Some that have stories that are unheard of. Some voices broken or scared to speak up. Some even ashamed of their story, just like I was and still am at strength. There's strength in a voice and there's fear and sometimes silence and tears. There are scars from the times my voice felt weak and where I felt like I couldn't do it anymore. A voice. My name is and I have a story when that is always hard to tell. And sometimes I lose that voice because of the story. When I say I have a story, I don't mean a book off my shelf or an article I saw. I have a story. A story that has made me lose sleep and a story that has put scars on my body and life itself. A lot
029of people have stories, some hidden and ignored and some unbearable. A story that carries many emotions, actions. It takes a lot of strength to tell a story and yet you can't say exactly what happened or you can't get the descriptive words out of your mouth. Strength halfway through your story should that make it not true. A story strength is hard to find sometimes. And no, I don't mean visible strength. Sometimes I lose that strength. No one deserves to be unheard and no one deserves to carry a burden of a story that should have been heard of or shouldn't have been in the first place. >> Thank you both. Um, give a couple of reminders. Our next meeting is Monday, December the 1st at 6:00 PM at our Benton County Board of Education Support Center. Um,
030in is it next week or it's next week that TSBA is, right? >> Yeah. The end of next week, um, Mr. Marco and myself will be in Nashville at TSBA convention. We always learn a lot. And we always come away with the fact knowing that our school system is um much better off than many others. We are um fall planning. We have Thursday, December the 4th, room 2 to 6 at the Benton County Board of Education conference room or support center. Um keep Mr. Tim hot in your prayers and we are so thankful that Miss Marlin got the report she did. Um with no further business will the chair will entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Well I move we just >> miss Betty Joj Mr. Mr. Mark seconded. All those in favor of adjourning
031please say >> I moved. May he has started.