2023 12 13 School Board Meeting

001a decision on this tonight. A fair decision. Um, so yeah, I'd like to move it to reports where we can discuss it, but I need more time. I'm sure I'm not the only one that needs more time to to speak with these people. >> Other discussion on this? We're talking about uh appointing people to the learning resources committee uh and we've been talking about it easily since last month the last meeting and the people who came with concerns about this issue uh seemed very interested that we uh find some resolution as quickly as possible. So I have had enough time and I feel like out of respect for their request, we should take care of this as soon as possible and put this committee in place to look at resources. Did >> So you had

002enough time to reach out to all the people in the 14 district to make a decision or did you already know who you were going to choose prior to this meeting? >> I don't plan to reach out to everyone. I've got information here and I've seen it a couple of times. This is not I didn't just see it yesterday. You just we were just presented with these names yesterday. >> I've seen a list in progress before yesterday and people have contacted me and we don't have to choose anyone on the list. So I feel prepared and I feel like out of respect for the people who had grave concerns, we should address this tonight. >> And the concern for the 14 district who rep who elected your successor that is that important? I think the

003timeline of the people who wanted this addressed, I feel perfectly capable of doing it. I don't feel like I need to pass it on to the next person. And the timeline is more important than that to me and I assume to them. I will note that Miss Johnson's term doesn't end until the end of the year and she's entitled to all of the >> all the responsibilities and and benefits um related to that employment until the I don't disagree. I just note that typically when we have a decision to make, we don't make it immediately and literally 24 hours after we have a list to make a decision on. I mean, I'm not I'm not understanding why we're pushing this, but it is what it is. >> Just like >> maybe I do understand it

004that I haven't seen this, but one day I got it on the email yesterday and got the paper today. it it is um legitimate, you know, to respond quickly, but I have 11 people on my list and I've talked to a couple of them, but they're all uh valid, you know, people that would be on this um committee. Um I don't see where one more month would would hurt anything, my my opinion. Yeah, I would like to have more time to reach out to everybody who's on my list and have a conversation with >> and and to be completely honest after I got the list I had to get Mr. Gretz to help me download the list because I couldn't get into Google Sheets and then I had to go call another person that was

005interested. They haven't even responded to me whether they're whether they for certain want to be on this list or not. So, I'm I'm still working this as sounds like other people are and I only have two and I've had others reach out and say they want to be added to it. Um, so I I couldn't in good conscious make a decision right now. Any further discussion? All right. All those in favor of passing the agenda with the revision that 12 C be moved into reports instead of action items, please say I. >> I. >> All those opposed opposed, excuse me, please say no. >> No. We now have an agenda with the revision of 12 C being moved into reports. Uh we're now at the consent agenda. Um as per usual, my short-term memory is

006is not fabulous and so I don't recall exactly who was at the table with any particular but if you have a reason to sever any of the items in the consent agenda, including the minutes for any absences, uh please feel free to to make the motion according length. Um, do we have any motions related to the consent agenda? >> I move we pass the consent agenda as presented. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Any um discussion orformational requests? All those in favor of passing the consent agenda, please say I. >> I. Hi. Any opposed? The consent agenda is approved. We are now on to number seven, public comments. So, this is the point in the meeting where we invite members of the community to come forth uh to stand at

007the lectern and to um address the board for up to three minutes each. We ask that you provide your name and address, not direct your comments at any one particular board member, and to treat one another with respect. There will be a second round of public comments later in the evening. You are welcome to um to provide commentary at either or both. Is there anyone who would like to come forth and be heard? >> Good evening. I'm Chesca Jackson. A retirement blessing by Barbara McAdam. You started on this journey so many years ago and now is time to leave behind work you've come to know. You sought divine direction and a heart to do his will. Your work became your passion as you used your gifts and skills. You set the highest standard for yourself

008and others too, showing honor, pride, and dignity. They saw the best in you. So don't waste one more minute wishing for things that might have been. Rather, watch the seeds you've planted grow and feel God's peace within. I pray God keeps you safe and well wherever you may turn, surrounded by your loved ones living out the dreams you've earned. And in the quiet of your heart, may you hear God softly say, "My good and faithful servant, I'm so proud of you this day." To Perry, thank you for all you've done. >> Miss Jackson, thank you so very much. That was just lovely. Thank you. Uh, is there anyone else who would like to come forth and be heard? Seeing none, I'm going to close the first round of public comments. We will again have a

009second round uh towards the end of the meeting. And on that note, uh we are on to eight presentations and recognition. Um, it is noteworthy that this is Miss Johnson's final meeting with us after eight years of service on this board and 25 years um in education before that. And uh for those unaware, we had a ceremony preceding this at 4:30 um which honored that outgoing um treasurer uh two board of supervisors and Miss Johnson. And so we had a moment to say lovely things and to provide a plaque which uh we've already given her which I imagine is probably in your car and not here >> with my cake. >> There was some cake. Uh and so we presented Miss Johnson with a legacy award as well as Miss Booker for her service in

010in public education and in the county as well. Uh, and so, uh, without much formality, I just want to say that, uh, Miss Johnson will be missed on this board. Um, I can honestly say that, um, I can't think of much that we've accomplished over the last four years and eight years, um, and the four years before me, um, that didn't go through or wasn't influenced significantly by Miss Johnson's passion um, for public education. And so I certainly uh we certainly welcome new members um as necessary and as appropriate next month, but um you'll be missed and I hope uh my colleagues will similarly um express some thanks and goodwill. >> Absolutely. Thank you so much. And I'd just like to say to everyone here, thank you for being here tonight. This is so important

011to me and I'm thrilled to see important to you. Please, please stay active and thank you. >> Any other board members inclined to >> I'll say. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I like to say thank you, Mr. M. Johnson, for all your hard work. It's impressive to see somebody with all the years of service and continue to serve our community. Well, >> thank you so much. >> Yeah, I would echo the same. We appreciate that. I I'm not a board member, Dr. Kelly, but I'd love to just uh say, Miss Johnson, you're the first person I spoke to >> in Fluana. Uh the first person who called obviously to give me the good news that you were going to as a board invite me to be a part of this team in this community. And uh

012excuse me, losing my voice. You've you've approached everything you've done uh thoughtfully. You've thoroughly considered everything. You've been an invaluable help to me. and uh you've been just exceedingly kind to me and to my family and just appreciate so much having started my time here uh with you the work that you've done. Really appreciate it and I hope that uh our interactions won't stop now that you're not seeing the future work with you and continue to gain from your expertise and wisdom. >> Thank you Dr. G. >> Absolutely. I will also note that um or not Miss Johnson's retirement from this chair um some odd years ago, I would not have had this experience or perspective. And I will note um how difficult sitting in this seat is and what a tremendous pest um I

013was in my early years here. And uh so I thank you for the opportunity opportunity to to mature on this board and and to lead it and uh I know that it is um thankless but I thank you. >> All righty. Um so we are then on to nine reports from the superintendent. >> Thank you. Uh board members, you can see I'm not going to go through everything, but u there's a link to the superintendent's blog. The staff advisory committee meeting was a little bit later this month because we had put it off from before. So I'll have those minutes out um well this week before so tomorrow and you'll be able to go to the website and see there's a link to the blog. You can see those things in the December report. Um,

014I'll just simply say there's there's quite a bit going on. We have a lot of events as we do every time this year. We've got a lot of projects underway. Uh, the HVAC is moving forward. We're working with the design team for the Abrams renovation that's going a little more slowly than we had hoped. But, um, if is there anything in the report that you'd like me to highlight specifically? If not, I'll just simply leave it there for your reference. >> Uh why don't you highlight what happened at the board of supervisors last week? >> Okay. Well, the supervisors con uh considered the request that this board approved in November to ask for uh year-end funds to support two things. One was to support the renovation of the bathrooms, four of the bathrooms at Central

015Elementary. And I don't have that in front of me. the skill and you might be able to is 4 and >> it was our carryover >> 400 what we returned less 30,000 >> 480,000 or so which was approved the secondary request was a enrollment projection and housing study that would be done by a firm to try to put the schools in a better position to respond to the impact of recent development in housing and and what that might do with regards to student attendance and facility capacityations. That was $30,000 that we were estimating that that one was not approved, but it is something that we'll want to consider during the budget this year, which is what the supervisors during their discussion indicated is that they would prefer to handle that in the budget process. Uh

016I can't emphasize from my point of view how urgent I think that is and and late we are in doing that candidly because I do think that's something that's information we need and so as we go through the process this year I'll work with the board and advocate for that and we can make our decisions according but that that's what happened at the meeting. So, the great news is those bathrooms are going to be renovated and there's uh bidspec being developed a scope of work as we speak. >> It's about 49 >> 490. Okay. >> And these um I'll note that during the discussion uh uh Mr. Sheridan and others noted that these are the original bathrooms that they used when they were students in those schools and particular attention from Chris Fairchild to note

017that he did not overlap with Mr. Sher >> Mr. Uh yes, just for clarity, that's for correct. >> That's right. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I believe the CIP for the entirety of Central Elementary is northwards of a million or one and a halfish. So, this will get the four oldest bathrooms in the schools done, but not the remainder and none of the individuals. >> That's right. And and honestly, I think the key offenders, if you will, in terms of the of the odor and some of the things that are, you know, in the floor with regards to just decades of urine. Um, I don't know any other way to say that. Anybody that's raised elementary school boys, you know what that looks like in um the other thing I'll say about uh the 490,

018Mr. written houses. That That's the amount and it's based on it's based on a conceptual estimate that we got. Um an architectural firm came out and they took some measurements and they talked to us a little bit about scope and by no means does that mean that's what it's going to cost. They'll come out and they'll do an actual scope of work. >> I know that you can't see stuff behind the wall. >> Well, that's true. That's true. Uh but they'll they'll work with our team to to design a scope and then we'll take that and we'll get bids from contractors and they will give us proposals and this board will approve any expenditure before it ever happens. >> The the restrooms on the new wing of what I call the new wing the newer

019wing of central th those are still in good condition. Correct. >> Are those included in this? >> No, they're not included in this. What what would you call the wing where the others are? Dr. struggling. There's the two right right across from the >> the older bathroom. So that there was the boys restroom across from the main office, the girls rest at the end of that hallway and then directly up those schools. Uh the other ones are currently involved in the CIC request and they require all of them require a different amount of support and that's not external. once we get in there. So, this will at least get the oldest buildings or the oldest bathrooms done and um obviously the the rest will be left to the to the CIP and the the planning

020commission. Um the bad news in that is that we won't have the population study which is unfortunate. Um hopefully this board will be able to come to terms with the fact that it is a necessary thing given the um development that's happening around the county and um knowing how many students we're ultimately going to get whether it's from um Colonial Circle or other developments that have opened and or or planned uh is critical to understanding our our space and where students will ultimately go uh when they arrive here. Um, anything else on the superintendent's report we want to double click into? I'll note that I was at the second grade pod one um, holiday concert last night and it was quite lovely. It's a nice way to spend an evening and um see a bunch

021of really energetic, enthusiastic, and excited kids on stage. It's hard to imagine that's only half of the second graders. Um I see it all the time, but still when I see that many students on stage in tears and it's still just half of them. Um just how massive that that grade level is. Uh and >> there's some pictures of that event on my blog. >> Oh, love it. Alrighty. Um, so now we're on to the naming of the Fluana High School auditorium. Uh, Dr. Griff. >> Thank you, Dr. Kelly. You you will remember board members that this was something that had come before the board several months ago. The collective decision was that it would be postponed until after the election season. And I believe specifically in those minutes, it was asked that we bring

022it back up in in December. And so we put it on the agenda accordingly. Nothing's changed with the proposal. You can see in the agenda there's the uh the proposal and the note that's been written by that team and there's a list of people that they've included endorsing the proposal. If you look at the u naming of facilities policy that the board has and that is policy FFA uh it indicates that it's the school board's responsibility to name facilities. Um it doesn't define facilities. So whether talking about schools or fields or in this case an an auditorium, you have flexibility to decide that. Um but that when those proposals come to you um suggestions regarding the name of a school or a school facility must be in writing as this is must state the name

023of the person or group making the suggestion which you have and must state the reasons supporting the suggestion that's included in the letter as well and then the school board may don't have to may create a committee to make recommendations to this board about that proposal. So you have the proposal in front of you. You can discuss it. You can think about how you'd want to proceed. You can appoint a committee to consider it further or you as a board can simply consider what you have further or you can certainly direct me however you'd like. I'm the one who asked for it to be postponed until after the election. And when I did that, I said in December, I'll make the motion to support it. and I stand by my word and I'd like to

024move this to an action item. We discussed it in depth then and um I think it would be important to you to do this tonight, wouldn't it? >> Um no, generally uh I am not in favor of naming facilities. >> Well, if if anybody would agrees with with me, I'd like to make this happen tonight if we could. >> Any board member may make a motion. I'm I move to to move item 9B to action items. Is there a second? >> All right. So, uh thank you regardless of whether it's for the sake of discussion. So um so what I'm hearing is a wish to move um this directly for action. Um I do not have the same reservations about naming facilities for individuals. Um so I am inclined whether it becomes an action item

025tonight or whether it becomes an action item in a future meeting. I will be voting in support of this. I actually also didn't have the reservations about needing to move it because somebody was running for for public office. Um but I understand that that was the sentiment and so um thoughts about uh thoughts from other board members as to whether you wish to pick this up tonight or for it to appear on a future um agenda accordingly. >> I know we've been thinking to break this for a while. a couple of minutes. That being said, I'd like more time. >> I have a question, Mr. Pull. You were very interested in my pred my uh Mr. Reid making the last decision. Do you not feel that he should be included in this decision in the

026same way? I mean, we discussed this in in in depth months and I mean, what would have been June? >> In Miss Johnson's defense, we've been talking about book committees at Nauseium for five months here, including, you know, most of the people coming up to lock was or between Kent Store and and um Cunningham District. Um, so just just wanted to point out that like, you know, expediency works a number of ways. Um, and so I >> Well, I said when I asked for it to be postponed, I said that in December I'll bring it back up for action. I did say that, correct? >> No, you did. You did. I'm not like >> So I stand by that. If if anybody feels differently, that's fine. But I said in December, I'd bring it back

027up regardless of the outcome. And um honestly, I didn't notice at the bottom. Um I would have I would have made the motion earlier if I didn't notice it. >> Uh Andre, any thoughts about whether you'd like to tackle this this evening? >> Yeah, I would like to move forward decision. >> Okay. So for the sake of housekeeping, what I have is a motion and a second. So a motion from Mr. Pollen, a second uh from Mr. Key here to add action item 12E, which will be approval of the naming of the Sorry, I just want to get it all right. Uh, so to add add to item 12E, approval of naming of the Fluanic County High School Auditorium. Is that does that encapsulate it? >> Yes, sir. >> Motion second. Any further discussion? All

028those in favor to add that additional action item, please say I. >> I. All opposed? >> No. >> 41. We will have an action item 12E later on in the meeting. Is there anything left to discuss here um beyond that for the moment? >> All righty. So, uh we are on to 12C which is the fiscal year 23 budget update. Miss Gillum. Good evening. I don't have anything to add to 23. I think we've already discussed that. So, we can move on to 24. >> We finally have a uh we finally have a mic system that works with you in the seats and you're at the lecture. Okay. >> Thank you. uh fiscal year 24. >> Um so this is our most recent update after we've run um November payroll. We are seeing that payroll

029is running about $3.6 million a month um when everything's included which is um higher than it was uh the previous year. We're running without all of the um all-in money and um the funding that we got for school construction, the payroll is running close to 80% of the budget. So when you look at the budget, you talk about, you know, planning for next year, just a large portion of our current budget is the payroll. Um it always has been, but it is higher than it had been in the past. Um I looked at that with Dr. regrets the other day and we could just kind of see the trend um in terms of where that's been fallen. So I if when we talk about um funding for next year and we're talking about staff increases

030and those things, that's a big part of where that's all going to come from. >> Sorry. Say again. So our our our payroll is trending higher than than expected. And that's a product of >> well not higher than expected but higher than it has been in terms of the percentage of the overall budget. >> It's going from I'm going to say 70 about 74% to 78 or nine. >> Right. >> Yes. which is a sign of real income growth for staff whereas the more fixed cost things have stayed relatively level by comparison like in a relative sense. >> Yes. And I guess the danger in all of that is that we understand that the fixed cost items, the other items that are part of your budget that are not personnel, we we know from going

031to the grocery store that those are going up. And so it it just stands to reason when we start planning for next year that we need to look at compensation, but also on that other side of things, those factors that are increasing. Um, and when you look at our I've been analyzing the the line items in the budget and looking at those pieces of it. Um, I think we're in fairly good shape right now, but the budget is so tight with personnel that if it there's unexpected things that come up, it make it very it makes it very challenging. Of course, um, we're still working through federal revenue. So, we don't have federal revenue in here at this point, but we are getting state money and the all-in money has started to come in as

032well. Any questions that you have? The operations budget looks like a lower expenditure, but that's because that 1.7 is in there for that construction money. And then this is all the supplemental appropriations that have been approved by the board of supervisors today. And I don't anticipate any more at this point, but it's just all the federal grants and state grants that have come in. >> And you see all the different things that we're managing in terms of um different grants. Um, special thanks to Miss Sorz and Miss Valentine for working on those and making sure that we're in compliance with a lot of those things. Um, but a lot of that's a lot of work in terms of trying to get reimbursements in and revisions to grants and those sorts of things. So, those have

033are definitely a challenge. Yeah, this is uh overwhelming in a lot of ways the just the sheer amount of line items and and supplemental appropriations that you all dispatch with um let alone on top of that that the health care system that we'll talk about soon. >> Yes. >> Uh anything on 24 before we move to 25? All righty. And then the only thing you have in your um packet for 25 is the um budget calendar. And I do need a um budget work session in January. Um I don't know if you want to wait until you do your January board meeting to make a decision on when that will be. But um that's going to be a real tight turnaround in terms of um the January meeting and then having to have a presentation

034at the start of February for the budget. I'm anticipating that either this week or the end of next week we'll get the governor's budget. I don't have a timeline on that and that will definitely give us more indicators in terms of what we might see in terms of compensation and those pieces that might be built into that. >> I mean do we have any faith in an accel in a normal timeline by comparison to last year? >> Well he they the governor always releases his budget at this time. So that part we won't have an issue with. The issue is going to be when they get to the House and the Senate. And I don't know. >> Yeah. I mean, this year was an outlier and honestly just absolutely ridiculous. >> We do have the

035LCI. It did drop slightly. Um, which when it drops that means the state share is higher. So that will benefit us, but I don't have a good feel on how much that's going to benefit us until I see that governor's template. >> Is it fair to say that that's an indication of relative poverty by comparison to surrounding and other divisions in the state? >> Right. So it's all based on the it's basically a comparison with other um counties across the state. And so that means that other counties are performing or have more income than we do at this point. But it's all a ratio that they use. And so it's it's kind of hard to say. I did um have a conversation with Miss Jones um last week and she's indicating that she does think

036um her um what she's hearing from the state is that um if if our numbers stay the same as they are now that all of our schools would bunch next year um because of the um ability to pay. Um, obviously that's still something to be determined, but certainly would make would have an impact on us in terms of us looking at the debt that we're under and then also just the um ease of doing the lunches for students and this and the access to food. >> Yeah. One thing I had heard is that the um FDA when when it's when it's free lunches that the revenue we receive from the federal government is actually significantly less than what we charge and so that would have implications for balancing their budget. >> I don't know. I'd

037have to ask her that. I don't >> Okay. Could we just like poke at that assuming that that we're going to be free and reduced across all schools next year? Making sure that we have enough revenue in their independent budget to um staff it. I mean, if it's free lunch, there's going to actually I would hope that there would be more students going through the line taking advantage of it. There are more meals to prep and so that's actually more staff time. So, it would be decreased revenue and increased demand for for staff. I just want to make sure that those things >> balance out as it relates to um to their budget. >> And we're also adding that staff to our um salary study so that we make sure that the compensation is adequate.

038>> Yeah. I mean, part of the difficulty is that is it's required to be a self-sustaining budget or like at least we vote on it but it's not part of our revenue. >> Yes, it's not part of our revenue. it's an enterprise fund. >> And so it's kind of one of those things where um we can we should and we'll add it to the to the salary study. We just have little agency over it in some ways if what we get from the federal government in terms of revenue doesn't cover increased pay >> and we just want to because we've had some issues in the past with turnover there and some staff saying well I could get a better paying job if I go here. So just trying to make sure like we did with

039all of our staff that that the compensation is is consistent with what it is with the neighboring counties. >> Yeah, totally. And none of my questions are actually negative in connotation. It's just about the like supply and demand and balancing a budget and >> sure >> if we get less money, can we can we still pay staff more, which we absolutely need to. So thank you for that. Mhm. >> Um trying to think if there's anything else on your radar for 25 regrets. >> Do we want to Let's talk about the budget. Well, shoot. We're going to need to email because not everyone is in the room. So, we can't really set a date um without our newest member. And so I know that we each have um an email from Mr. Fritzer printed out

040related to um dates between January 16 and January 26th. I don't know to what extent this has gone to our newest member or if we need to wait for them to get sworn in before we can do that communication, but uh did you say it has or Excuse me. >> Excuse me. >> Okay. Yeah. Go ahead, Dr. GR. >> I have a meeting with just happen to have a meeting with him on Friday. >> Uhu. >> So, I'm h if the board wants to set tenative dates, I'm happy to try to coales those with him when I when I meet with him. >> Okay. So, we need to do it between the 16th and the 26th. It strikes me that um you know, that's a short duration. I wouldn't want to So, it seems reasonable

041to do it either on the 10th or the 24th of January, maybe. Um, given we meet on Wednesday nights, maybe just adding the fourth Wednesday could be an option or do folks have availability on Wednesday evenings? >> I can do the 24th and he said he's flexible. >> Oh, are you okay? >> Said he can do any of those days except for Friday night. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Reid. I'll just look to the sky since that's the microphone, but I I imagine you're elsewhere. Um, Mr. Renhouse, you're the 24th. >> The the 24th. >> Yeah. >> Mr. Okay. >> And you talk about making that a night meeting because in the past we've done that during the day, but >> Oh, I'm just asking. >> I guess that's that is true that we we

042have historically. Um, >> where is they prep? >> Yeah, I have a prep meeting in the morning that that particular day. Is there is there a reason we assuming that that availability is is for evening? Is there a reason we couldn't do it at 6 or 6:30? Like I guess it's just additional burden for staff. >> That's fine. Anytime you think Mr. King >> uh we're I was thinking at similar time to this. So but let's say like 6:30 here on Wednesday the 24th of January. Okay. So, I'm hearing 6 6:30 on January 24th. Good. >> Did you get that? >> And Mr. Pullen and Mr. Reed are both good for 6:30. Okay. We have a seminar date. January 24th, 6:30 p.m. here. And please understand depending on how much we're able to get done

043and what we're kind of consensus we're able to come back to it might be it might require additional meetings being scheduled. >> Yeah. In which case would we have the availability to we anytime before the 7th we could book another a second meeting? >> Yes. >> All right. Yeah. I think that works then. All right. So, um, we will see folks for a regular meeting on the 10th here at 6:30 and then, uh, a bonus meeting on the 24th in the evening as well. >> Excellent. Thank you for that. And, uh, sorry to make it an evening one. Um, sometimes the morning ones are difficult anyway, but I appreciate your flexibility. Uh, so I think that unless others have questions. Um well actually one of the things that we'll we want to talk about and

044it'll be more appropriate for the 10th is scheduling our meetings. Um I I continue and I know that there's differing opinion on the board. I I fully believe that um a board who is making proposals for budgets and asking for money should be in attendance when those things are being discussed and that we can't be in two places at once. So, I hope that as we look at adopting a calendar for the school board in 2024 that we look and overlap with the board of supervisor so we know when there are overlaps. Um I I'm hopeful that or rather I would be interested in having that information when we set our calendar um next month. I'm curious if we could have staff um kind of jot down where those overlaps would occur if we stay

045on a Wednesday evening schedule. >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Great. Then we are on to the health insurance update. >> So um had the opportunity to meet with all of you since that time we did get a quote from local choice. Um we looked at that with our consultant. Um when you add in the runout um prescription drugs and dental envision, it was not any really difference between that and what we had in the Jefferson Health proposals. I'd be happy to answer any questions or attempt to answer any questions that you might have that have come up since the time we talked. >> So what's your recommend? We all heard you. That's a kind of nonbogling, you know, six or seven million dollars. >> Yeah. Uh I do think it benefits us to stay self-insured

046by staying self-insured if you even if your rate is higher than was your um anticipated claims. You retain those month those monies. You don't give those away. Um and then they have an opportunity to grow interest in your account. And um the claims are the claims. So, you're really just you're paying for the claims. We can negotiate with the um carriers relative to the administrative fees, but those are really a small portion of what we're paying. It's really comes down to the claims. My recommendation would be to stay self-insured. I do think um we talked um just for the benefit of the audience, we talked about um Jefferson Health is managing the financial side and the claim fund. um BPA was doing the the TPA work um and processing the claims. We had concerns about

047BPA. They've since been bought out. Um it was our intention, that was really why one of the big reasons we went out to RFP was the poor customer service we were getting from BPA. Um so if you decide tonight that you're going to continue with Jefferson Health, we do have to let them know by the end of December if we're not going to continue with them. And then if we do decide to continue in that route, then what we would do is interview TPAs um and bring a recommendation to you for which TPA we'd want to use. One of the options would be Wellnet, which is the company that bought BPA. And then there are two other options there that we can take a look at as well. >> How does that end up with

048your participants? everybody that that gets insurance. Will the rates stay the same? >> Well, that would be a discussion for fiscal year 25. Right now, we're projecting a 10 to 12% increase, which would be about um if you count in the prescription rebates. I think it would be about $450 to $500,000 added to the budget. Um so, you would have to decide whether you wanted to pass that on to the employee or absorb that. um we've done in the we've had long stretches where we did not pass those rates on to the employees. I think two years ago we did um pass part of the rate increase on to employees um and last year we did not. So that would certainly be part of the discussion for the board. Yeah, I think some of the

049difficulty here is the fact that, you know, if the state is um ultimately looking at 4% increases for staff on salaries and we're looking at, you know, let's say a 10% increase in our health insurance. So, right now, I think the cost for a family plan is about $1,000. So, if we do, you know, a,000 times 1.1, that's an extra $100 a month. So, that's a $1,200 decrease in pre-tax income and a 4% increase on a $50,000 um teacher salaries to grant. So, it eats over half of the pay increase if we ultimately pass 100% of the um healthcare insurance increase on. So when we tackle this next year um and setting our budget and making those decisions um I hope that we will consider the impact like the real net impact of what we're

050giving as an increase and then what we be taking as increases in um healthcare expenditures. >> And I think >> just I'm sorry go ahead. I was just going to say I think what you saw when we were looking at the different proposals is there wasn't much difference between one proposal to the other there it's more about the customer service because of the claims history that we have. >> I was just going to just want to clarify with everybody that your decision tonight really is related to whether or not you can stay with Jefferson Health. If you do, you have time for us to actually bring in those that made proposals, interview them, and go a little deeper in those negotiations. So that you you don't you aren't choosing tonight between the proposals that you

051looked at when you came into meetings except >> I mean we are fundamentally so you're choosing between three of them or one of them. >> Yes. >> Right. So it's do we stay with Jefferson Health or not? we have that proposal from what was it first choice and and so we're ultimately choosing on that and then we'll subsequently get to determine who's going to manage the the TPA who's going to actually do do the processing for us but your recommendation from everything I've heard is to stay with Jefferson Health and that is the that is the only thing that we intend to vote on tonight >> is that correct >> yes on Friday self-funded with Jefferson Health and we've we've had they've done our financials for the last three years and we've had no issues

052with them. Um they're a nonprofit um that are that work with um public entities and so I do feel like they're well equipped to help us with need help within that arena. Thanks. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Poll. I think I can help. >> Good to go. >> Trying to clarify. >> The acronyms are horrible. >> Yes. I was getting BPA, TPA. >> Um, can you go ahead and um for for the benefit of anyone who's not in the room as well as those in the acronyms TPA and BPA? >> BPA is benefit plan administrators. They are the the um TPA, our current TPA. And I'm going to look up what TPA stands for because I don't want to tell you wrong. third party administrator. Thank you. >> So, we have Jefferson Health, which is

053our self-insured insurance model, and then we need a third party administrator to effectively execute the plans with Jefferson and deal with all of our paperwork. Their name happens to be BPA. >> Yes. >> Which is confusing with TPA, but so be it. We're choosing tonight whether or not to stay self-insured or go through a fully insured model. And then subsequent meetings, we will decide on our TPA, our thirdparty administrator, whether go with BPA, who has been bought out by another company, so we'll never have to use that acronym again, or whether we want to use one of the other proposals. >> Yes. >> Cool. >> I have music the music man rhymes in my head now. I think P stands for pool. All righty. So, we're on to G. Uh, the art history textbook adoption.

054We're under first review. Miss >> G fast. I'm sorry. >> Um, so we are teaching APR history for the first time this year. We'd actually tried to do this as a dual enrollment class. Um, but we weren't able to get approval from um, Pedmont for that. And so, we decided to go with an AP model. this um by teaching this class, it gives us the opportunity for kids to um more kids to earn an associates degree at the while they're in high school. It's part of that whole pathway for that. Um so the teachers been to training um this summer and then um she came back with resources and the committee looked at the different resources that were recommended and they are actually asking that we use this um website that is free of charge

055um for the images for the AP art history course. Um, this of course saves us from buying a textbook, but I think, you know, they felt like there were way more images there than there would be in the textbooks. Um, and so this is for um information this month and action next month. And they do start the course in January, but I've told them, you know, not until after it's been approved can they begin using the resource. And not to be flip about this because we're going to talk about it um a bit more. Um but like I don't know how you do AP art history without some nudity especially in oil painting. And so to what extent do we just need to like guess up the old learning resource committee? But while the part

056of what we have in our curriculum now is anytime there's um any kind of nudity or things that might that parents might have concerns about that they have the ability to opt their kid out of that. Um because this is an AP course we are there are some periods of art that you're going to have to go over in the course. The parents of course would have the opportunity to say I don't want my kid to take that class. Um, but you're right to totally avoid and studying Michelangelo is probably not an option. Um, so but it's of course we're not talking about um >> an AP class >> pornographic images, we're talking about nudity and so that there is a difference. >> I agree. Thank you. >> But you don't have an actual copy.

057You have to go online. It's it all of the re it all of the um images are online. They're not and then and they're my understanding is they're from like the National Gallery of Art and um Library of Congress and you know they're public images. >> I thought the committee did a really thorough job at giving all those reasons why they didn't choose other >> Yeah. >> resources. They definitely worked hard on this um before making a recommendation for sure. >> Well, thank you to the committee and we look forward to considering this further um next month as an action item. Um I'll note that I looked at my watch because I got a text from Dr. Gretz, but I think it was minutes ago and my watch is on delay, but uh as it

058relates to local composite index, we are going from 402 So that means that um historically we would be responsible for 40% of the um revenue. We as a county would be responsible for 40% of the total state plus county revenue um and that it is going down to 39.34%. And so Fluana, Louisa, and Palatin based on the acronym are going to drop. And Alamar, Charlottesville, Buckingham, and Nelson have all increased on CPI. Is that is that an accurate depiction of what I'm watching here? >> That's that's what I found just quickly looking at the two banal >> super fascinating. Um it's >> interesting >> there's a rate that they do across the state. So like all of the schools average out to% can't be more than 80% >> or lower than 20 >> right? So

05920 to 80. And so us going down is either well it's a it's a number of things but it it it either means well it means increased poverty relative to everyone else whether or not our poverty has increased or stayed the same and others have increased in their income. So >> the state regards us a little less able to to pay for schools than we were. I think that was actually perfectly said. Thank you. >> All right. Uh we're on unfinished business. Uh continue discussion of the student representative for the school board. Did >> I'm sorry Dr. Kelly did was >> oh H sorry thank you. Sorry, I have written down here uh 9H being we're going to discuss the learning resource committee, >> right? >> Was was moved under reports. >> So let's there's

060discussion that >> I'm sure there there is further discussion. Um so we heard from the community just level setting. Uh we we sat through a a number of meetings in which um we had parents come in and talk about the material in the classrooms and read some titles, some of which were and weren't in our schools and um have genuine considerations around um age appropriateness and uh whether something should be in a library. So we heard from them last month. We made a motion and adopted uh a policy and provided forms as it relates to um how one can challenge materials as well as how we would ultimately put together that learning resource committee. uh even set terms of a year and uh and then it was on the agenda for tonight preceding the um

061before adoption of the agenda as an action item. Uh is there any >> Well, I I guess I uh and I'm sorry I didn't think about this sooner. You you really have you have two separate issues that you're considering as a board. one is if you want to include so you if you see what Dr. Shibling has pulled up here. You have a certain number of advisory committees that are already in policy. >> So if the board wanted to do the learning resource committee that is added to these. So there are some policy revisions associated with your decision that you had approved on first reading and and so one issue is to approve those again on second reading. the policies >> is that required is that required by law for it to be voted on

062again? We don't vote on things twice generally regardless of whether it's first or second reading. >> You do policies, but whether that is legally required, I honestly don't know. You you invariably vote on them. My point in in bringing this up is you have two issues. One is to policies and the second is appointing people to the committee. >> Sure. >> That's in these policies. >> So let's tackle the first one first. So did we not approve the policies last month or is my memory faulty? >> You did on first reading, >> right? So >> this would be the only policy that you've these would be the only ones you've ever not approved on two readings. >> Can't imagine that's the case. We have taken up other issues and expedited them. >> Issues. Yes. Policies.

063No. You always do policies on two readings. >> And I'm I'm not uh I'm not pressuring the board to do that. No, I'm just I'm happy to add it assuming there are other board members and to take action it on again to >> take action on these policy revisions that that doesn't impact whether or not you approve committee members. >> No, no, of course. So, I'm happy to be different and to put it back on and take the same vote again on second read. >> If you do, I would love to call your attention to something that that maybe you would discuss. You have discussed it and maybe we could resolve that. >> Okay. Well, let's set aside the committee members, the individuals for a moment, and why don't you call our attention to what

064it is you would like us to pay attention to. >> Okay. So, Dr. Stribbling, if you back up, you'll notice there are three policies that are impacted by the decision to have this committee. One was just up there. The other is uh KB. That's the first one. Dr. Stribbling, you can clear that up. So, this is the one that actually outlines the procedures associated with complaints. And so, what I'd like to call your attention to is paragraph number two. And so, you'll notice the the red is either an addition or a strike through. So with the revisions, what this says now is a review committee consisting of the principal, the school library media specialist or librarian. So the first thing I would ask you to consider since in the high school we have two. You

065you could put parenthetically after librarian an S. So it's either librarian or if there are two just why not do that to give you the flexibility of both. the classroom teacher if involved and then instead of a parent and student it now says a representative from the school's parent teacher organization and then the division instructional supervisor and stricken the complaintant and then we have the members of this new committee um having spoken to some of our staff and you talked about this last time and I remember Mhm. >> At least two of you, I believe, who felt like the complaintant should be part of this process. The attorney's reasoning for striking that was not anything related to legal implication, but rather her reasoning was, you've got a complaintant who has made their opinion about the

066resource known. Why would you It would be redundant to put them on the committee. You already know how they feel. I've heard mixed feelings about that from staff and and I would love to hear from you and if you do want to I I think I would recommend having the complaint you be a part of it and they certainly could abstain if they didn't want to but there's an investment on the part of anybody here is going to have to read all the materials and I think it could help with the outcome if the complaintant has been part of the process to see how it's been considered that it's been done thoroughly that it's been done thoughtfully rather than just waiting and then getting a response and an answer. Uh, but my point in bringing

067it up is for you to discuss it and just make sure you do want that struck. And I'm suggesting that maybe it'd be a good idea to to unstrike it. >> Thoughts? What if they were a non- voting participant? Well, you bring up an interesting point, uh, M. Johnson, because this policy, if you notice, uh, Dr. Striveling, if you scroll down, um, I believe it's F, point F. In the process, this the responsibilities of the committee are to A, B, C,DE, EE, F says make a decision. doesn't say they vote. Um, and we discussed that today. It it are they literally voting or are we just coalesing or it doesn't specify that. I'm only bringing that up because if you're going to specify that one is a non- voting member and they don't really vote,

068they just kind of vocalize and discuss and coales that I don't know how that would be. I mean, >> but to your point, they could they you could have them just be so the way this is written now, the complaintant is struck from the committee, but if you'll notice under letter D, the responsibility of the committee is to talk with persons who may be knowledgeable about the material in question and similar material including the complaint. So there the intention is for the complaintant to be involved in that to that degree. The discussion I had this morning with some of our leaders was you don't necessarily want to have 10 people with their responsibility to go out and have a conversation with a parent. Would you not want to just have the parent be in the

069room to begin with and they can maybe further explore their their complaint or their concern >> rather than potentially 10 people individually seeking out a parent to get input? >> I mean, doesn't doesn't the form and the challenge in the first place provide the opportunity to voice the considerations around why material should or shouldn't be in a classroom? Well, in this case >> does >> objectively shut up. >> It does. >> I the the policy is is tasking the committee with digging into that a little further. I think or at least saying that is a responsibility. >> I mean, I'm happy to strike including the complaint. Um I think that if somebody challenges the material, they're saying, "Hey, look here. take another look at this and that the then the committee made up of staff

070and appointed individuals from our respective district should should do that independently. The complaintant has other opportunities including um including challenges or appeals accordingly. So their role is not is not finished with the the form in and of itself. But I mean I I think it is it is fine for the role of the complaint to be hey you should take another look at this and then for a committee that doesn't include that individual to to do the work. So I'm not in I'm not inclined that they should be in the room nor should it be um nor should the um committee be responsible for communicating with the complaint. Like I think that if the complaint is this book is inappropriate, I think they read the book and that gives them the information they need. >>

071When whoever the person is makes this complaint, where does the complaint go to? Who who who leads that investigation? >> Well, it goes to the principal, but this committee is uh this committee is comprised of all those people. And I think in our case it would be that instruction supervisor be the facility. >> I see both I agree with what Mr. Kelly is saying for a different reason. Um and I see I see the importance of making your argument for why you believe the book um should be reviewed. But I also understand why some people may feel the need for anonymity. I I get it. Um it's >> it's not anonymous. It's foyable and the work of the committee is public. >> Okay. But the per the person probably doesn't want to read about themselves

072online in all these various groups. So they make their complaint. They probably pull back if that's what they so choose. So I'm I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just dis I'm I'm I'm saying for different reasons. I understand why. But the the the principal would have to gather some kind of information other than what's on the paper. I'm guessing >> I think that's what the policy is assuming is that there would be some some back and forth to maybe >> depends on how thoroughly they fill it out. >> That's what I was going to say. I don't know how you if they don't fill it out well, someone's going to have to follow up with them and say, "Can you specify your complaint? Can you point me in the right direction? I my my thought

073truly about it was and I don't I don't feel strongly either way to be honest with you. I think it's fine for them to be in the room. It's fine for them not to be part of it. My thought was just on the other end, especially with a situation like we have now where I think it's it's been very polarizing maybe to a degree at least it's a lot of passion on both sides of the issue with whether the books stay or don't. Um, and so if the person has an opportunity to be involved and to witness the way it's done, they're I would think there it would be less likely if the decision was not in the complaint's favor um for them to immediately appeal based on uh maybe I don't know. I I'm

074thinking that if they see that it was done well that there could be more investment on the back end if they But I don't know that to be true either. So I don't want to belabor it. I just >> probably depends on the the specific it does situation, the specific person who >> that's entirely up to you. just I guess um I think you have I think you have the flexibility as a board to not do a second reading. I I just don't know that you've done that. If you do a second reading and you have thoughts about D or number two, I wanted to call your attention. And I would say if you do change number two, then number three probably be removed, which basically says you'll notify the complaint if they were going

075to be a part of the process that that needs to be. >> Was this the only um change that you wanted to address between all of the policies? >> Yes. uh further discussion on this >> and the other the other thing you're adopting is the form itself and you can see there's I mean the changes are really semantic they're not changed from what you approved in November changed from what you had already Yeah, it seems like it adds opportunity for the individuals to articulate their considerations. All right. So, um, one, I if if it's the case that we've never adopted a policy without a second read, then I'm inclined to to vote again on this. Um, and because we're practically up against um, action items anyway to dispatch with the policy piece of this, I'm

076going to make them. >> I thought this was considered under >> it's it's not include. So, I'm sorry. Mr. Pullman's asking if it would be included in the policies that you are going to approve on second reading. They're already under action items. This one was pulled out individually. >> Oh, okay. >> Um, if you do want to take action on them that way rather than because it was its own action item, could just >> include them in your motion on a under 12. >> Or since we're in the in the midst of this broader, thicker, stickier discussion, I'll try this. Why don't I make a motion that we accept policies Klb BFC and Klb E with the change that on trying to get to the right one with the change that on KLB we strike

077from 2D including the complaintant Is there a second even for the sake of discussion? >> Give me a moment. >> Um, I'll second for the sake of discussion. Certainly. >> I was trying to wrap my mind around. >> Okay. So, what I'm saying is we're we're in the middle of a discussion on this issue. We're severing the like who's getting appointed to the committee with the fact that what I'm hearing from Dr. Gretz is we need we need to take action on it again because we don't traditionally vote on things policies on first reading. I'm saying cool let's go ahead and vote for this thing and I'm I'm articulating that like I don't think that the complaint should be in the room. They fill out the form, they say what they think is wrong with

078the book, and I'm saying that the the prof professionals in the room can do the rest, including the the committee that we're putting together of community members. So, my motion was to strike D the comma, including the complaint, please. That this is a this would be public. >> Which part? >> The meet the meeting of the committee. We discussed this before. This would be public. It would be foable. So, you wouldn't be able to tell the complaint that they couldn't be there, >> but they wouldn't have an active role in it. >> Yeah. Anybody could attend. >> Yeah. I just wouldn't be able >> and that was what I was hung up on. I I I wouldn't want to remove them, but they would still be able to participate voluntarily. >> I mean, they could

079show up like, but much like in our meetings, like if somebody were interrupting, it >> still provides for transparency. They can see what's happening in front of them. All of it's foyable. Um it's an appointed committee, therefore everything is on public record. >> I'm okay with that. >> they just wouldn't have an active role in it. Yeah. But they could still show up and listen. And if if in the moment the committee were inclined just as we are from time to time to ask a question, certainly there's no prohibition against that. >> Okay. So from policy perspective, we second read. We have a motion. We have a motion and uh a second I think over here. Yes. >> Was it you? Okay. Mr. Key >> to accept the policies with the strike of comma including

080the complaint on 2D on policy KLB. Um any further discussion on this? Okay. All those in favor of adopt of readopting these policies with that change, please say I. >> I. Any opposed? We have a policy revised very slightly. And so all of that is dispatched with and we got a bow on it as it relates to any consideration around second read. So now we're at the now there's the second. So >> we had the committee. We voted on it twice. So it is twice endorsed by us. Now, it's the matter of committee members. Um, I actually tend to agree with Miss Johnson that um we've been hearing about school resource committees and and books that should or shouldn't be in libraries for for months at a time now. Um, my assumption was that we

081were going to move forward with appointing individuals this month. I believe that if it was so important that that people felt compelled enough to come in the boardroom and and articulate their passion for particular books or hatred for particular books um that it is important enough to be dispatched with as quickly as possible. Um so I am prepared to to make a nomination of individuals uh if others are inclined. Um, but this would be the time to to have that discussion. >> We've removed it from action. >> Any board member may make a motion at any time. Just because you removed it from the agenda doesn't mean that somebody else couldn't make a motion to do it. It just means it's not on the agenda. >> Okay. >> Which part? Well, actually, when we make

082a decision, the the people that are on the dissenting side, this is Robert's rules of order, would have to bring that back up. >> We're not reoting on the agenda. >> Your motion was for the agenda. >> No, I mean, >> you're fishing and and Robert's rules of war. When a decision is made, you have to the dissenting party, we've had this discussion time after time, has to bring it back up. It is not it is not the same issue. If I wanted to revise the agenda, that might be the case. I'm not making a motion. I'm saying that individuals could and it would not it would not violate Robert's rules. >> Go ahead. >> What's unclear? >> Oh, it's very clear. It's very clear. Go ahead. >> Is there an issue? >> Go ahead.

083So anyway, so this is this would be the time to discuss or voice considerations as it relates to appointing individuals whether or not it happens this month. It was removed from the agenda which was the vote. It doesn't mean that individuals couldn't make the motion but is there any further discussion on that point? I'll concur with Andrew. You know, 24 hours is not enough time for me to make a decision of 11 people which one I want choose for this committee. That's that's my point. Thank you. I've known for at least a month that we agreed that we would appoint someone and I've been looking and discussing and talking to people and we got a our first spreadsheet Friday I think and I've I've got myself ready to make a decision. >> Yeah, I got

084a list of people. I would like to give everybody the opportunity. I would like to reach out to everyone to give everybody a fair opportunity before I decide. So all right so then we are on to sorry my page here is a mess. Uh unless there's anything further on that then we'll move to 10A unfinished business. So the board has discussed in the past, we discussed in November the possibility of having a student representative. We brought this sample policy with some striketh through. You had asked me to get some information from some other divisions nearby about how they select the student and what kinds of things they ask the student to do. And I have found that everybody does this differently and some don't do it at all. So I don't think that's probably helpful

085to you in to the degree that you wanted to mirror what others are doing. >> Yes, sir. >> We've had student representative here before. How did had it this school system do it before the principal picked a student or >> It hasn't happened in in my tenure. So I can't speak to that. I do know that the policy um said that the principal would choose based on students who had submitted some work. Um I I can't read it from here. I can pull it up. Um but do others remember? >> Yeah. The principal appointed. So the the policy you have here, students who are nominated as a student liaison to the board must be a student at Fana County High School. Students submit may submit okay so this doesn't require it may submit a written

086essay, video recording or slide presentation detailing the reasons they would like to serve as a student leazison to the school board. what they can contribute to school. Um >> it started out this like this but then as we went on they the decision was made to use officers of the SGAA and they were rotating who was coming in. So they really weren't following this policy. >> And the second paragraph explains that the principal of the high school would nominate up to four and then they would have an opportunity to submit supporting material. I I've seen this I I think this is uh I think it's a good opportunity for students. It it gives them a snapshot of of how this kind of process and how the process of committees uh excuse me community members being

087involved local government. It gives the board an opportunity sometimes. I quite frankly now I know that there are students who would come in and would not be this way at all. But typically I've seen that students are a little bit sheepish about speaking during a schoolboard meeting. But if you had a question that you wanted to get a student perspective certainly that student would be able to represent the entire student body to you, but it gives them an opportunity to interact with you. they don't have, and it specifies in the policy, they're they're certainly not part of close session. Um, and the board would have the opportunity to provide flexibility. I've seen that in the past, too. If a meeting ever were getting to a point in the evening where you thought it would be

088better for a student to go home, uh, you can give them the flexibility to leave at that time. And, um, you could ask the the student to do a report to the board. I've seen that before. I've seen where students just come and they attend and they watch and listen. I've seen where school boards have asked uh the student to come prepared with a report. And it's this maybe this is uh a secondary reason, but it does it does give the student an opportunity to add that to their uh their high school experience when they're submitting applications to jobs or other opportunities, colleges that they served in that capacity. How how soon can we get it going? >> Uh I mean we could do it probably as soon as you the board would like us

089to if you want to approve the policy. Uh could have it in place in January and probably I don't know if you'd want to select somebody to serve for the rest of the just the spring. We could certainly do that or we could start fresh next year. It's totally up to you. I don't think it would it would be hard for us to bring you candidates. >> I believe they changed every month. I believe isn't that right? >> Uh I think the last routine we had was Yeah, they changed each month when we had the SGA office >> for the whole year be much of a burden on the student especially if they had sports and stuff like that. I think a new representative monthly would be would be fine. It could be a problem

090with the population of the high school. So then you would need to amend the second paragraph here because the the last sentence in the second paragraph says student representative serves a one-year term. >> You need to amend that if you wanted to do it monthly. Is the board inclined? Is there consensus that um you would like to give students an opportunity to rotate through such that a student would be a representative for for one meeting during a school year? >> I think that's a kindness to the students. >> Mr. Pen, >> you're involved. >> Okay. Could we have revised language on that in the January meeting? and uh and then it's a policy revision. So, does this count as a first read and we take action on on it in January? >> Sure. >> And

091then we'll have um I also don't expect students to attend during summer months. So, to the extent that that's necessary to specify if we can see a second read um indicating that it'll be a one month thing. Uh, everyone good with the the principal being the nominating piece of this? >> Okay. So, uh, >> revised policy in January under our policy updates for action and then we'll have our, um, first seated student representative in February. Uh believe that is all for unfinished business. What about new business? Anything? All righty. Then we're on to action items. Approval of the SBA policy blue policy updates. Uh Dr. regrets. Is there anything in particular you want us to >> Nothing new. >> I've already seen these and nothing's changed with the Certainly. If you have questions, we can

092dive into them. Uh I'll entertain a motion if no one has anything specific they want to look at. Look, can we approve the BSBA policy updates as presented packet? >> Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Uh, any discussion on these policy updates? >> I have a question for you, Mr. Pollen. It's a little snarky, but uh, we've known about these policy updates less than we've known about appointing someone to a learning resources committee. Do you think that I should defer my decision- making to Mr. Reid on this? Also, >> let's put it in context. Miss Johnson, we're making a decision on a one-year term on names that some of us have had for less than 24 hours and the importance of those people. Um, for me, um, Mr. Mr. Kelly's right. A

093lot of people came in here and spoke. Not a single one of the people came that came and spoke that I know am I even considering. have I considered I'd like to invest some more time in something that's been so so important. Um I I did not know until last month that we were selecting a person from the community. We we discussed that last month. We didn't discuss that months and months and months ago. We discussed the possibility of it for years, but we didn't finally make a decision and and decide to collect names until 30 days ago. And so some of you may have had people in mind and again that just contributes to the politics of this this whole thing that part >> having names in mind and and discussing people before you

094even have them. >> First of all, you said I had a name in mind without discussing it with people. >> Well, there's a lot more names were added since you mentioned the people that you'd already chosen. I mean are still coming in. This document that we were given was to assist us in making our decision. It wasn't the source of our decision. >> Okay. Well, that >> we asked Dr. to do it to help us. >> I've been looking into people ever since I knew that was going to be my responsibility. >> Okay. Well, I'm using the people that reached out either to the school system or to me. None of which spoke. None of which um I think you'd be surprised about the people that I'm considering because they probably don't think exactly like

095I do, but I want to give them the the opportunity to sit down and talk with me face to face and tell me why they think that they're best suited for that position. And I have 24 hours. I had to literally left work to come here to go back to work tonight. I haven't been off work since we got the list. I need time to sit down and talk to these people. That's an important decision. So it that's there's three people that have all felt the same way. And again, that's that's my decision. I feel passionate about sitting down and looking these people in the eye and asking them why. In fact, I might do that tonight after this meeting with one person. >> Understand? So I did not make a decision before this meeting.

096>> My question now is you suggested I might want to defer that decision to Mr. Reid. Is there anything else on the action items here you think I should consider deferring to Mr. Reid >> over my own decision? >> You're you're taking this out of context these policies. Okay, disregard and the argument could be made that you're trying to push something through before someone else takes office. I'm not making that argument, but you we can look at both sides of it here. I'm asking and other people have asked for more time >> and I'm asking what other action item here do you think I may be trying to push through and I should defer to Mr. Reed rather than decide for myself. >> I'm gonna be honest your argument is falling on deaf ears right

097now. I think we just moved >> confident that's the case but um you know board of supervisors routinely I mean I was just at a last meeting in which um two board members who were retiring appointed somebody to a four-year term. >> Okay. Okay. Well, >> with 24 hours of you know what we're arguing, you're literally trying desperately to get someone else to agree with you to push this through. Let's move on. It's not on the action items. >> Oh, I'm neither desperate nor um really trying to >> then let's move on and end this meeting. We have three other things or four other things on action items. Let's move forward. I'm not going to sit here and debate with you for the next hour. Let's move on. So, I believe that we have a

098motion and a second as it relates to VSBA policy updates, a robust discussion about um lame duck sessions and um some lack of decorum. So, all those in favor, please say I. >> I. I. >> All those opposed on the policy updates, please say no. >> I don't know if I heard you, Andre. Was I? >> So, that's 50 on the policy updates. Moving on to 12B. It's SY24. Should that be FY? Sy F does say SY. Uh I believe we're on the SLEOU. It says SY 24, but I have to maybe it maybe it's FY. >> Uh, it is school year. Okay, so we're on >> Sorry, I was Yeah, I was missing. >> No, it's okay. I just went as I was reading it, I thought it might have been a typo. So,

099we're on the SLEPOU and uh this is theou between schools and law enforcement related to school resource officers. It hasn't changed from last month. It was in last month's packet informationational. If you approve it tonight, I'll sign it and pass it on to the sheriff to sign as well. Did you want to open? >> I think he was motioning for it to be larger on the screen. >> Are there any sections of it that you have questions about? Scroll. Scroll down. Mr. Sure. >> Goes over the purpose of the program, the roles and responsibilities of the sheriff's office and schools, the different expectations regarding what's provided. Is anyone inclined to make a motion on this item? I move to approve the SLEP uh memorandum of understanding as presented. Is there a second? I'll provide the

100second for the I don't you didn't say anything, did you? >> Oh, no. I mean, it doesn't matter. Uh I will uh if you'll accept the second we'll award it to you Mr. Key. >> I'll make second. >> Thank you. Um any discussion as it relates to the uh All right. All those in favor please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Cool. >> All right. So 41 uh SLAPOU is passed. All right. So uh C we was removed. So we are on to 12D. Approval of decision of whether or not to remain in a self-funded insurance plan. Um, >> is anyone inclined to make a motion? >> I move I move that the FA County School System move forward with a self-funded insurance model using Jefferson Health. >> Second. >> Thank you. Uh,

101any further discussion? >> All those in favor, please say I. I. >> I. Any opposed? 5. We are staying in a self-funded model with Jefferson Health. We are now on to the second round of public comments. This is again the point of the night where we invite members of our community. >> One more item. >> Oh, shoot. H. I'm so sorry, Miss Jackson. Thank you. So, um, we have action item H, which is the, uh, naming of the Fluana County High School Auditorium. Uh, is there a motion? I move to name the Fa County High School Auditorium the Scrugs Auditorium after Mr. Scrubs. >> Um, may I make a friendly amendment as it relates to the exact name? There is a petition that has a Here it is. Would you make a friendly amendment that

102it be called the Horus Jefferson Scrugs, the third auditorium? >> Sounds good. >> Is there a second? I'll second. Thank you. Um, any discussion? >> All righty. All those in favor of the naming of the auditorium accordingly, please say I. >> I. All those opposed? >> No. >> I'll abstain because though I approve of the choice, most certainly I don't agree that any choice should be made at all. Thank you so much for that. So, three uh one one abstension. We now have the Horus Jefferson Scrugs III auditorium. All right. Apologies folks. I was looking at my computer, not my scribble notes from tonight. And we've had a bit of change as it relates to the agenda. So, now we are on to public comments. This is our second round. We invite members of the

103community to come forth and be heard for up to three minutes. Please provide your name and address. Uh don't direct your comments at any one board member etc. So thank you so much. I live at a 19 Ashton Road. I'd like to comment on the um item that you discussed tonight, the student representative to the school board. Um the suggestion was made to make it a one month at a time appointment. Um the individuals that would be interested in these appointments were probably um most interested in getting some experience with working with government entities and also um to have something uh substantial to put on their college resumes. Having a month by month doesn't really give an individual enough time to um situate themselves in the issues of the school, get to know uh discuss

104amongst themselves and then make reasonable and thoughtful recommendations to the board members. Therefore, I would recommend that it would be on a semester by semester basis either uh quarterly or semester, but at least give them a little bit of time to settle in, get their feet wet, and then try to make some actual substantial impact. that way they can have something actionable on their resumes. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Uh is there anyone else who like to come forth from beard? >> I really only came tonight just to recognize period but um just want to make a few comments on the learning resource um committee. I'm glad that you all are having a second reading because I really think you have to be very thoughtful and how you do it and um

105just how it's organized. I'd like to um recommend one that um when there's a meeting, it is a public meeting as you said it will be, but also that there's um comments allowed by the public and that announcement goes out as to what books being considered so that not just the one person who's against it can speak, but maybe even students who are the ones who actually are going to be using the library that they can speak and other people can speak. So, um, also on the committee, um, I guess I'm I'm unsure or concerned. Are they making recommendations to the school board or are they actually making a decision? And I think that's something that you all really have to consider if um, most things that um, become policies or whatever, it usually is

106approved by the school board. They're not other committees making those decisions. So that's just something to think about. Also, um when there is I think also you have to also as you're being thoughtful think about is it a library book or is it a classroom instructional book? Those things you have to really um look at that and not just any book but what is it being used for? And also since the committee is going to be tasked with um having hopefully to read the book, not just one page of the book, that means that school board is going to have to provide copies for the book. And if there's only one in the library, you're going to have to have a fund to buy the books. So I just think you have to be very

107thoughtful. I understand that this committee is going forth, but I'm just not sure um that a lot of thought about the logistics have been made and that maybe you all need to really think about it and revise some of those policies. >> Is there anyone else who like to come forward? >> This may not be appropriate because it's really a question rather than a comment. I'm Keith Wymer. I live at 330 Jefferson Drive. Um, and as a parent, I'm just curious based on some comments I heard, are is membership of the learning resource committee to be confined to those who filled out the form that superintendent Gretz sent around or is it possible that others would be because I had the impression that the form needed to be filled out and that the list of

108names would be drawn from the form? No. Okay. I don't know if you want me to run that, but >> I'm not sure if that's appropriate to answer or not, but I did have that question because I had the impression it was like a requirement and then it sounded like this more of an optional thing. >> It it was it was my offering to the school board to to do that survey, >> okay, >> if it would be helpful to to give them names. It wasn't >> meant to be an exclusionary list that only people who filled out the form could be considered. >> Okay. But as you're considering people in your voting district, if it's helpful for me to give you the names of people who expressed interest, here they are. Okay. So, it

109it could be people that didn't fill out the form. Has to be somebody in the voting district according to what was passed. Okay. All right. That's that's helpful and important to know given some of the different comments in the debate that I heard. Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there someone else who like to come forth and be heard? Seeing none, I'm going to close our second round of public comments. >> We are on to school board member comments. Uh would anyone uh does anyone have any comments this evening? I had some last parting words for the last nation. You've been here with me the longest eight years and you've always you know been a friend companion and um always appreciated your perspective as an employee as a teacher looking from the teacher side and

110uh long-term employee of the schools and thank you for everything you did. >> Thank you so much. other board members. Uh I'll note that um so first I want to thank the county for their carryover funds as it relates to the um central element bathrooms. That is a remarkable donation to the schools in order to fix things that are in dire need of being fixed. Um, I'll note, I think I said this earlier, I um thoroughly enjoyed the second grade concert on Tuesday. Uh, tomorrow it's my understanding that the um extension co-op will be in the at Car'sbrook doing a um trying to come up with the right words for it. um effectively like a a store if you will like a I think where they give students like I'm going to butcher this in

111fact I was just c talking to Kim Mayo at the at Miss Johnson's event and um but effectively an opportunity to to act as it relates to budgeting and other things and so it's like a financial slashstore experiment with the kids so I will be going I'm I hope to go tomorrow morning um around 9:00 and experience this and then be able to report back a little bit on that as well. I know that Thursday there is the um high school band concerts and so uh I look forward to being attendance for that as well. Uh and just a phenomenal amount of lovely things going on in the schools um throughout my recent visits and um as I you know celebrate holiday things and performances. So, I'm remarkably grateful and happy to um witness much

112of this. Um as I indicated earlier, uh Miss Johnson, I've really enjoyed working with you. I am confident is not our last discussion either. And so, um thank you again for that. Uh any last words, Miss Johnson? There's no plank or blindfold, I'm afraid. It's uh it's been an honor and I'm grateful to know all of you and have worked with you. >> Unless there are any others thereformational items in your packet and I'll uh give Mr. Pulling the opportunity to make his motion for adjournment. I'll move to second. >> All those in favor, please say I. I. Andrew, don't drive angry, man.