001eight and we will reconvene in open session for tonight's uh regular scheduled schoolboard meeting on September 11th. We will start with a pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence and I will just remind everybody of the importance of today when you're saying the pledge of allegiance and taking your moment of silence. You can please stand up. Danny, would you lead us in the pledge? Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible and justice for all. Please be seated. All right. Right. So, we're ready for certification close session. >> Yes. Yes. All right. And the actions coming out of closed sessions. >> Uh, Mr. Chairman, there are several. What I'd like to do is propose since there are a couple
002of abstensions. Uh, the first are those that I believe all members would like to vote on, and those are, and I recommend those, um, as discussed in close session, uh, student discipline cases 9A, 9 C through 9F. >> Yes, sir. That's what I have. >> All right. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. All right. I have a motion and a second to approve student cases 9A 9 and 9 C through 9F. There is no discussion. All those in favor please say I. >> I. Any opposed? Chair votes eyes. We have is it 9B next? >> 9B is the next. I recommend as as discussed and presented in close session. I'll entertain a motion to approve 9B. I recommend we approve uh 9B as presented in close session. >> I'll second. You have
003a motion and a second to approve 9B as discussed in close session. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Two abstensions. >> No, sir. I voted I >> chair votes I one abstension. >> Sorry James I Mr. Kelly I couldn't hear you. >> And then uh last would be student discipline case 9G as presented and discussed in close session. >> I move we approve case 9G as presented. >> I'll second that. >> We have a motion and a second to approve student case 9G as presented in close session. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? >> I abstain. >> Chair votes I. >> All right. >> Were you able to hear me there? >> Yes, sir. I got you. >> Thank you. >> Now, we're
004on to the adoption of the agenda. Is there any changes that you all would like to make to the agenda tonight? >> Yes. Um I need to add um under section 12 action items uh 12D which is approval of superintendent contract. >> All right we have a motion to add under action items 12D is in delta approval of superintendent's contract. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Have a motion and a second to add item 12D action under action items the approval of the superintendent's contract. Is there any discussion? All right, hear no discussion. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> I. >> Chair votes I. Any other motions to uh change the agenda before we adopt it. All right. I need a motion to adopt the
005agenda with the addition of 12D. I move we adopt the agenda with the addition of 12D. >> All right. Second. >> We have a motion and a second to adopt the new agenda with 12D approval of superintendent contract. Any discussion? Hear no discussion. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Chair votes I. All right. We are on to the consent agenda. Is there anything that needs to be um pulled separately from the consent agenda? Dr. Kelly, anything we need to pull from the consent agenda? >> No, thank you. >> All right. I will entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I'll make a motion we approve consent agenda as presented on the packet tonight. >> I'll second that. >> Have a motion in a second. Any discussion? All right. Hearing
006no discussion. Um, all those in favor of approving tonight's consent agenda as presented, please say I. >> I. >> Any any opposed? Chair votes I. >> All right. Now, we were on to delegations, the Abrams project update. And I think I just saw him walk. Yep, there he is. >> Did okay. >> Well, as board members, as uh we have two two items in the delegations as Mr. Bowers is coming in transitioning. Let me just take a moment to address the second one. We've been through a a great process at the high school of accepting applications and interviewing 12 outstanding students, juniors and seniors at the high school who have applied to be the student representative to the school board this year. And um after conducting those and in accordance with the policy we have
007chosen one who has agreed to be your your student represent representative. His name is Ethan Richie. He's a senior. He's an exceptional young man. Uh he had a previous engagement tonight. There's a lot going on to high school tonight with uh with activities, sports, cross country. So he wasn't able to be here, but he will be with you next month. and I'm really excited to introduce him to you. I he did give me some words to share with you, so I'll I'll share those on behalf of Ethan and Mrs. Grasser was involved in interviewing Ethan as well, and she can certainly speak to to him. We we think he's going to be a really great addition to uh your work on behalf of the students. He's someone who's taken um a wide variety of academic
008coursework, CTE, honors, AP. He spent a lot of his time with a lot of different populations among the demographics at the school. Uh enabling him to really have a good understanding of where the student body is, what kinds of concerns they have, what kinds of things they're that are really going well for them. And he believes that's going to make him and we agree a really effective representative uh and liaison between the board and the student body. and he also really desires to pursue a career after graduating in public administration. So, I think this is going to be a really good experience for him. Ethan Richie, I'm excited to introduce him to you next month. And I will tell you that uh just as a point of interest, the 11 students who were not selected,
009I'm working with Mrs. Bruce to put together a student superintendent advisory committee that I can begin to meet with regularly at the high school and beginning with those students. I'm really excited about that, too. And I'll I'll keep you updated on how that goes. Uh Ethan's plans are to attend UVA and I support that. I'm a hokey, but I do support it very much and want to get behind him and and really looking forward to that work. So excited to introduce him. Mr. out. Please come join us. And uh he's going to give us an update on the work that has continued with the renovation of Abrams Academy. This also appears in your CIP update. So what kind of killing two birds with one stone, I think. But thanks so much for being here. >>
010Yes. I I thought I was arriving 15 minutes early and obviously I was arriving just on time. >> It's okay. >> Um good evening. Uh so tonight we're going to talk a little bit about where we are with the with the current project which is which is the first option. Uh so if you remember uh from our previous board meetings we talked about going from the larger overall project down to kind of more bite-sized pieces. Um so uh what uh what you see in front of you was the project that we're our goal is to not exceed $2.2 million which is the cash you have available for this project. Uh so based on our initial findings on the building itself and we're doing some additional survey um is that we don't see any issues with
011any structural because again the things that we're doing the metal stud walls with the gypsum wall board is intended not to add weight to it. Um plus also as as you look at future use you can remove this you know it is a very durable durable item but as you move forward and say hey you know we'd like to to turn this into another function or we'd like to open up this two these two classrooms into one big classroom you can do that without a whole lot of stress. Uh so one thing that we are um uh going to be proposing as we move forward is the toilet rooms. Um so there's there's some funkiness with the the both the student and the faculty toilet rooms. Um that they're not they're not exactly the most
012awesome. If you've been in the building uh they kind of have two both boys and you know they have adults uh men's women's toilet rooms and really only one of them them is being used. Um we're going to propose that that we use floor ceiling partitions for those to close them off. Um but also as we look at the um the ones for the students is to either use a a a a um metal stud partition with a with a wood door or to go with a Florida ceiling partition in there. Um and again part of that is the weight of it um is to not use concrete blocks. If we were if we're doing one in the high school or the middle school we would propose to do concrete block. We think the weight
013is going to be too much and that would add too much cost to the project. So, so I think from a schematic science standpoint, we're doing well, but at this point, we don't see any um unforeseen cost that is going to add um that is going to add to the project. Um so, we think we feel confident that we're going to be able to get the nice secure entrance um be able to give you the uh the seven classrooms plus the additional four um as an alternate um in hopes that the uh the four which are in orange on the lefth hand side that we're able to do them as part of the project. We're going to be bidding them as an alternate. Right now there are two classrooms and divide them into four. Uh
014but the uh so the goal is is to have them as part of the as part of the base bid. U so HVAC wise electric wise I think we're in pretty good shape instead of plumbing wise. Um do we have the other two uh phases? I don't know if um if uh that was discussed previously. Um so really quickly >> I sorry >> I believe we do. Uh oh. Thank you. Um so one of the things that um that was asked um was to look at in the future. Okay. So if we can do you know phase one what does phase two and phase three look like? So what we propose is that phase two we're trying to do these in blocks would be to um uh to renovate the uh the multi-purpose room and
015give you three additional offices. So as far as phase one goes we're doing three offices going into phase two. We would have six offices uh total uh giving one for each faculty member. Um and then the uh renovating the multi-purpose room and the stage. And then as we look at phase three, which is the final phase, then we're moving over to the right. That would renovate the uh the the the faculty work room, the conference room, um and also give the um uh and and renovate the space for the uh the CTE uh uh food service lab type of uh type of space. Uh so what we're trying to intentionally do is is give you your immediate needs, you know, for the 2.2 2 million um and then do the other blocks of renovation in
016pieces opposed to just being all scattered all over the place. Um and we feel this would be a very very good path as you're looking for the future CIP. Um then try to to share with the county what the costs could be going into the future on what that would look like because again we we believe that that no one was comfortable with jumping and and biting off the entire thing in one piece. So we're giving you in more bite-sized manageable pieces. So, uh, so that's say where we are. So, we think we're, um, we're we're moving along healthy. So, we have we do have to come back to the building and do some additional survey. Uh, one thing I do want to point out is there a couple items on the that are not
017really included in the phasing because they don't really fit uh, necessarily in any of the one uh, the phases. So, one of them is the roof. Uh, so the you have the the pitch roof, which is part of the original building. Um, and you have the flat roof, which is the addition. It's it's been maintained well. I said your your custodial maintenance staff have done really well with maintaining the building, but the a the building was um had a spray foam roof added on and it has about a 10-year lifespan and you're getting close, you know, to it. Uh now, it can be patched and the group is just out of Charlottesville. They can they can do the repairs, but you may want to look at that whether it's phase one, two or three. I
018said we don't right now have the the money for phase one. Um, you know, and then as we look at some technology equipment, uh, there's just some pieces that brick repair that were not really included any of the phases because you may decide, hey, we want to do this as a as a singular capital project that has nothing to do with the phase. Um, or we may find that there's additional funds um, and you want to be able to do it earlier than later, you know. So, those are costs are shown off to the to the bottom right on the sheets and I said they're not specifically assigned to any one of the phases because they don't really necessarily fit in any of the one phases per se. So, any questions, comments, thoughts? Are we
019flowing in the right direction as far as what the board uh what the board's thinking, what the superintendent is thinking? >> I believe so. Members questions. >> I think I'm aligned on this. Um for Dr. Stribbling, do we have any of these items included in our CIP plan for the next uh next couple years? >> Yeah, Dr. Kelly, Dr. Stribbling is not here, but I'm going to present those on his behalf, and they are represented in there. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Did Dr. Shibling uh I have your window minimized? Is he just out of the room for the moment or gone for the evening? >> No, he had to he had to step away for the evening. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. My question. Yes sir. >> Um just forformational
020purposes. Um how much liability is blue county public schools with with you guys so far? >> Liability I hope you don't have any liability. We're like to share >> moneywise. >> Um so far we Savannah County Public Schools is not expending any dollars towards uh towards our fee. Uh we will be um working on a contract because the what I can't do is I can't do design for free, you know. So we will be negotiating that u you know through the superintendent and through the board uh that one thing I do want to keep in mind that is included in the cost when we look at the soft costs okay a portion of that is contingency and permitting and other costs so this is not on top of the dollars that you're seeing here our
021fee is not on top of those dollars included in those total in those total figures so but as of right now county public schools has not paid us anything >> okay thank you >> uh Mr. Renhouse this this money this 2.2 two has already been allocated to the schools, so we would not need to request additional funds to do this. Do you do you have concerns or considerations that would lead you to think we would need to stop work for some reason? >> Well, just my opinion, uh, you know, I went to that school. I I don't know if anybody else in this classroom did. Some back there may have, but uh I I everybody's seen the movie Money Pit. You know, to me, you're putting good money after bad. Uh I don't know if
022it's worth putting the money into the school, but that's just my opinion. >> So, is your opinion that that we would cease to update and support this building? Is that what I'm hearing? >> Have you been through the whole building, James? Uh in the >> uh >> many many many times. >> Yeah. Well, I suggest everybody in here go through the building, look in the basement, see what's down there. But some places down there is quarantine. You can't even go in in those rooms. But that's that's just my thoughts. We've appreciated the process that you've led, the way you've engaged the community, and appreciate the ongoing communication. We're excited about the work and through the next step. Okay. >> I don't have any additional questions. Anybody else questions? >> No. Thank you so much and
023thanks for working within our um allocated budget. >> We'll give you an update uh as soon as you're ready. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anything else on that, Dr. Rex? >> All right. Now, we were on to uh public comment. It's our first round of public comment for tonight's meeting. Any Fluent County citizen or employee of the Fuente County Public School System is welcome to speak at and the expectations are that you address the board, not individual board members, that you provide your name, address, voting district, that you do not exceed three minutes, and that time is up on the televisions, and that you are respectful. The board will not interact with you during public comment, but you're welcome to ask us questions directly following the meeting, and there will be a second opportunity
024for public comment later on this evening. Um, and I only have two people signed up, but that doesn't mean you can't speak afterwards. Um, first on the list is Georganna Joselyn. Name is Geana Joselyn from the Cunningham District. I'm speaking here tonight because as proven both past actions and current circumstances, y'all as a school board may not be hearing or comprehending what your constituents are trying to say, but others in this community are. They may not be as vocal as we are here, but they are listening and they are responding in many ways to what is happening here. Frustrated parents and community members are tired of playing word games. We are tired of being called names and publicly shamed for trying to stand up for what we believe in. Parents and community members tried to
025go through the proper channels by speaking up when they first heard about something they were uncomfortable with at a PTO meeting weeks ago. They then emailed the administration and the principal with their concerns. They started putting together their own baskets to donate for the Central Fall Festival so the school wouldn't suffer a financial loss if one happened to be pulled due to our concerns. That article that y'all are referring to in your videos was time to be released the morning of September 4th. And I'll admit, my emotions took over and made me edit some of the wording as the news in Georgia unfolded before it was published. The response from both sides of the aisle has been overwhelming. What we are trying to do here is to look after the kids. That's all. Whether you
026agree with us or not, whether you think our concerns are valid or not, we feel they are. And we feel they need to be heard and addressed by the people that we address them to. We do not deserve to have an elected official publicly call us out as an embarrassment and to be told that our behavior is aborant and disgusting because we have a belief that differs from his. This is just the latest of such this is just the latest such incident. Parents and community members have previously been called many such things by some of our schoolboard members such as pedophiles, lunatics, authoritarians, liars, Antifa, crazy embarrassments, disgusting wizards, and hints. I like the last two of those so much I got the t-shirt. Recently, the news media has reached out regarding this story. Is
027this the kind of attention Fluana County Public Schools wanted? Probably not. Will this drive the sales for a certain hunting company? Most definitely. You can't buy this kind of advertising, but that's exactly what we don't want for a school setting. By all means, support this company and buy their merchandise if you want to. I hear it is excellent quality, but this is not personal and this is not about a logo. This is only about parents and community members believing that a name brand that is intrinsically associated with manufacturing a firearm should not be involved in a school sponsored event. Thank you. >> All right, next up is Ashley Crocker. My name is Ashley Crocker and I live in the Fort Union District. When we were back to school shopping this year, my daughter found these
028amazing light up rainbow shoes. She showed them to me, bouncing up and down with excitement to get them for her big first grade class. But I had to say no to those shoes. And I wasn't sure how to explain to her that someone might come to her school and try to kill her with a gun, and those shoes would give her away her hiding spot. So, I made up an excuse about why she couldn't have them. My heart broke seeing the sparkle go out of her eyes when I told her she had to pick something else. Every morning, I park my car and I walk my six-year-old to the front door of Central Elementary. She holds my hand as I cross the street, but she lets go when she sees the other kids because it's
029not cool to hold hands with your mom. As she bounces happily into her school, ready to go find her friends. I try to memorize everything about her. I try to memorize the way her hand felt in mine just a few seconds before. I memorize how her sweet voice sounds as she says, "Bye, Mom." I memorize how her body feels when she gives me a hug just in case I never get to chance again. As I tell her I love her and that I hope she has a good day, I say a prayer that it isn't the last time that I get to say those things as she walks away from me. Gun violence is the number one cause of death for children in America. That's thousands of parents who never get to hug their children
030again, who never see their children graduate from high school, who never get to have grandchildren, thousands of lives cut needlessly short because someone had access to a gun who shouldn't have. So, when I heard that a weapons manufacturer was advertising itself by donating t-shirts and stickers with their logo on it to an elementary school fundraiser, I was appalled and angry. Guns, advertising for guns, and the companies that make them have no business being anywhere near an elementary school. Let me be very clear. It does not matter who donated the items, what their connection to the company is or is not, or how long the items have been donated. It is wildly inappropriate to advertise a gun manufacturer with t-shirts and stickers at an elementary school. Period. I understand that Fubana County Public Schools cannot by
031itself solve the gun violence epidemic, but I would hope that they could clear the extraordinarily low bar of not advertising gun manufacturers to their six-year-olds. Thank you. All right. Anybody else wishing to speak Robert? >> My name is Robert Alrech. I'm live in the Fort Union District. I just wanted to thank everybody uh for the wonderful start to the school year and all that. I've had wonderful conversations with my daughter. Um, you coming home, it's it's really been it's really been enjoyable. I know it takes a lot to put everything together, a lot of transportation, meals, and everything, but so far the start has been overwhelmingly it's been joyful as a parent. Um, as far as um I don't even I don't even know about the situation. I don't think you have to have intimate
032details about I don't even know. These people were serious about school security. I feel like they would have approached the board months prior about any any concern. I've never heard I've heard so many other concerns, but I've never heard anything about school security or safety or anything like that. If there's a culture issue, you know, people should deal with that. differently or, you know, within their own realm. It doesn't need to go elsewhere. Um, my son has all the lightup shoes. My daughter will buy more. Um, never had the one thought in my mind about buying lightup shoes because it might be a safety concern. Um, I I would really I'd love if someone came forward with with some issues of of safety. Um, the one thing I would say from the school shooting uh
033recently is if we're not advocating for more, we're not we're not doing enough. Um, if we're doing the same as yesterday, we're not doing enough. But I haven't once heard anybody come come forward and say, "Hey, here's the issue here. Someone's going to get hurt." Never heard But I really want to thank you guys for, you know, everything that takes to put our kids in school, everything all day. I really appreciate. Thank you. >> Anyone else wishing to speak? >> My name is Phil Campbell. uh for Kenyan district. I'm going to try to um just quickly articulate some clear up some facts or clear up some um misstatements uh made by one of the previous speakers. We are, you know, I'm the person they're talking about obviously. Um you guys all know me. A lot
034of people know me. Um we are not a gun company. Hey, you know, Red Arrow TV is a company that promotes hunting, fishing, trapping, and conservation and getting people involved in the outdoors. That's that's what our t we do a TV show, national TV show. That's what it's all about. I happen to own a gun company. Uh the the stuff that was donated were Red Arrow hunting TV show apparel uh to raise money. And you know, we talk a lot about uh disagreements. Um and and I think that one side is trying to silence the other side. So it's it's more of a authoritarian type of move whereas, you know, if if you have these certain values and beliefs, we want to silence your voice. Um whereas, you know, that's not what we're all about
035obviously. Um so as far as there was no there was no thought of we're trying to promote a gun company. That's an absurd lie. Um, and the only thing we're trying to do is support the public school system. That's that's it. And we're not trying to promote anything else, you know, other than that. We were trying to give an item that was valuable that that many people would want to bid on um to raise money for the school and that was it. Um, so you know, you can you can get off in the the the ideological and and a lot of people on the other side are are idologues that have, you know, it's a cookie cutter set of responses and and I understand that people are going to differ and have differences opinion and
036we can we can openly discuss that somewhere else. This is about this is about promoting the you know or providing for the kids in our public school system and that's that's the only thing that we set out to do. Um, you know, as far as as far as the gun debate goes, we have an epidemic in this country of mental illness. Um, and and like the gentleman said before me, you know, if we had a bunch of people driving SUVs through crowded playgrounds, we wouldn't ban, you know, Chevy Taho the next day. We wouldn't want to go out, you know, you you work on uninventing technology. I'll go drain all the water in the pool so nobody drowns and make make pool water illegal. That's how absurd the conversation is. We want to talk about
037something that's actually going to do something. Control gun violence. We need to talk about security for our schools just like we would, like I said, if an SUV ran through the playground, we'd have barricades, you know, security officers, etc. So, a lot of misinformation before me, but I think Anyone else wishing to speak? Yes, ma'am. >> Good afternoon, Jamie Johnson. Um, I had no idea that I was going to speak. Um, but when I got the call, I felt like I needed to. Um, I have been knowing Ke Campbell for um, pretty much since I've been in school, all my life. I grew up with him. He has no idea that I was going to come here today and support him. Um, but I um remember his grandmother sitting at the front of Fork Union
038School. So that's how far we go back. And our parents were also um friends in school. So we go way back. And to hear um these attacks um was disheartening. And I'm trying to understand how we live in the country um and and and not um you know understand that these kids are going to come in contact with guns. They just are. Um I grew up in a gun household. My kids grow up in a gun household. Um we are in the country. We hunt, we fish, so on and so forth. I would let either one of my kids go with Kip Campbell and his mom at any time point blank in the period and feel fine. I am thankful to him and his company for donating. My kids do not go to Flubana. My
039son graduated from Fort Union and my daughter is in Open Door, but she will be transitioning. Um and and um my question is why are we not um going to Kip and asking him, hey, maybe we can do some hunter safety or some gun safety because guns aren't going anywhere. They're not. And it is your right to own one and and we're not going to allow people to take that right away from us. We're not. and um and so I think perhaps we we may need to utilize what we have in the community um in a different manner. He's a wonderful resource. I don't know what time frame or whatever he has, but perhaps he's someone that could perhaps, you know, go to one of the community centers and do a gun safety course. We
040used to have them in I don't know if we still have them, but my my dad used to do um hunter safety with my son. um my son fish and um he wants to do all these things. And so he immediately said to me before I knew anything about this, "Mom, who could I contact for some information?" And we automatically thought about PIP. And so again, we live in a country, we live where these kids are going to fish, they're going to hunt, um they're going to come in contact with guns. what are we doing so that they know how to use a gun appropriately or how to respond when their neighbors have a gun or when they see a gun? They need to have education about it. And I think that Red Arrow would
041be a wonderful uh opportunity to utilize them and do that. >> Anyone else wishing to speak? Anyone else? there's another opportunity towards the end of the meeting. Um, and with that, we will close our first round of public comment. We'll move on to reports from the superintendent, Dr. Gretz. >> Thank you to everybody for keeping it respectful. >> Thank you, Mr. Polland. Uh, members of the board. So, we have, uh, several items in my reports, and as always, I'm happy to address any of them. I'll just highlight for you. We had first of all it's been a wonderful opening to the year. It's been uh really smooth. A lot of positive things happening in our schools. I've had the opportunity to be in them multiple times each week and things are going really really well.
042I appreciate your support as we uh began the year. We have parent teacher conferences coming up. Um we've staggered them this year to be try to accommodate parents at the secondary and elementary levels. We've done that both ways and we typically try to follow the lead of our teachers and and get a pulse on what the best way to engage with parents is. But that's coming up mid and late September for a couple of weeks. And if any of you would like to be involved in those or just to kind of >> come through the schools, I'm I'm happy to join you to do that. It's a great opportunity to interact with some of our parents. We've talked a lot about the changes at the state level and I don't want to belabor this but
043I do want you to know that the state board has finalized its uh revisions to the state accountability model and there's a link here in my report. I encourage you to take a look at it. There are lots of changes and u you're aware I have strong feelings about many of them. The the thing I just would highlight is that what we have now is an accountability model that tries to differentiate between I won't say tries it does it different differentiates between growth achievement and then readiness and it does so at the three levels so there are measures of growth measures of readiness measures of achievement that are used for the first time to give a um overall summitative score or a grade if you will to the school. And the thing I would just
044encourage everybody to take a look at, we're going to do an extensive dive in the October meeting like we always do into our most recent results and all of our data. And during that time, I suspect that we'll we'll spend some time just making sure you're familiar with what's coming. But for anybody who's interested, who has kids in our schools, uh, you know, I'll give you an example. Readiness at the middle school level, readiness for high school, right? Um, right now we have a model that differentiates involvement at the middle school level in higher level math with readings. And I don't suggest that it's a bad idea to have students. There are many students who need higher level math in sixth and seventh grade. U I just have wondered and I've voiced this from my
045ability to do so during this whole process. I don't think it gives adequate attention to the fact that there are students whose aspirations and their skills and their futures are going to require maybe less that they have geometry at age 11 or 12 and more that they had the opportunity to do the hands-on STEM class and the robotics class that we offer at the middle school level. Do we have to pick? We don't. I just want everybody to understand that that is one facet that right now the state will give the school a score on the extent to which we're funneling kids into higher level math and it will not give the school a score based on how many kids we exposed to STEM hands-on robotics education. That's just one example. And so I think
046more than ever as we we've talked a lot about our strategic plan and what we're doing moving forward and I've been talking to you about that since I interviewed with you. Um, we need we need to have a vision for what we want for our students in spite of what the state and that's not meant to be disparaging of the state, but we need to decide what we think is important for our kids and to make sure more than ever that we're not being influenced by aspects of this model that don't line up with our vision for what we think is good for our students. That's all I'll say. You want me to say more? It can quickly become a box. I have a question. >> Okay. >> Do you believe that we will continue
047to be accredited under the new model? Are there certain components where you think that fluana will fall short and that you've made peace with? Or is this an and not a nor? >> No, I I don't think there are any specific places where I believe we will not be accredited. I think there's areas where we may have a challenge. My concern, Dr. Kelly, just to be to be candid is the accountability model in accreditation sometimes can put pressure on superintendent and then school leaders and then schools to do whatever it takes to get accredited. And I've seen that in the past to if you were holding me accountable as a dad for what temperature my son is going to have tonight and the stakes were high enough, I might be inclined to pack my son
048in ice for 20 minutes to make sure that he's got the right score on his temperature check rather than be really concerned about good habits and taking care of him and and overall health. The analogy is I just want to make sure that we keep our eyes on what really makes sense for kids academically and socially. And I believe that in doing that we're going to continue to be accredited. >> Did that answer your question? >> It does. So fundamentally, we're talking about short-term kind of jumping through hoops versus long-term growth. Will you continue to bring to us circumstances in which we must choose between jumping through those hoops and making good long-term decisions for our students? If it ever becomes an or can you be forthright and articulate to us this is this is
049what we would do if we were worried about accreditation and this is what we would do if we worry if we're worried about the long-term growth for our students so that we can make those choices and articulate them um transparently. Yes. >> Thank you. >> And and to be clear, I don't think those choices are going to have to be made. >> And to be honest, I'm not going to lose and you know, this is a public meeting. I can be quoted on it. I'm not going to lose sleep over us losing accreditation if the things that we choose to do for our students are better for their long-term growth, even if the state doesn't want to rubber stamp us. Don't don't let me speak out of turn, but I believe that um you have
050a board that agrees collectively to that exact same thing. And it I know Mr. Kelly is exactly right. Someone will misquote potentially what we're saying. We not that we don't care about accrediting, but you're the expert. And I want you I want to move everything out of your way so that you can do exactly what you know to do to make us you to provide to us what you told us you could when when we interviewed you and your vision. Um and I really don't care whether it's this administration or the next administration because all this stuff's going to change again. So I would rather just stay focused on fluana and what you know is best for us. >> Thank you. And again, it is it's literally going to change again once reappointed and they
051re-evaluate all this stuff. And we'll have this disc or y'all will have this discussion four more years. I I'll note that these um considerations and this inherent tension between um state standards and accreditation versus long-term growth and project- based learning are exactly the reason why I was excited to to work with this board to to hire Dr. Gretz. And so um that has not changed at all for me. So thank you. >> You um other other aspects of the report there I won't go through all of them but there's there are a lot of projects that have been happening this summer and are continuing the HVAC project that has carried with it some frustrations but is continuing to happen at uh Car'sbrook. We've got um of course the Abrams renovation that you're hearing about the
052turf and the track projects. >> How about how about the vape detectors? You just if you're vaping, you're going to get caught. So if you're watching, you're going to get caught. >> The the vape vape detectors are up and running and they're and they're working. That's true. They are working and so are the people who respond to those alerts. Um the renovations at Central Elementary are also we we've we're out to bid for uh for that project. So there there's a lot going on. I want to call your attention to something. It's actually not in my report, but it is attached at the bottom of um of the item in the in the board the the board agenda. Josh, sorry. >> Dr. I have a quick question while we're pulling that up. Do we have
053an ETA on when the football field and the track is completely done? you know, there's >> a lot of youth football players that would love to get back to that field. >> Yeah, I I'm glad you asked that. So, the turf is in great shape and has been played on and looks fantastic. The track, the base layer has is complete. And I think the answer to that question, the goal is for that to be done, all of it to be done in time for the next home game, which is October 4th. >> Uh Dr. Mr. Reed is probably referencing the middle school, which is where we were using using that field high school. >> That's you typically play their games, but they've been reallocated to Charlottesville. So, and the reason why was because the track
054wasn't finished yet. So, I'm just curious that way we can keep Fluana in Fluana. >> Yeah. No, I I I think I think there's a great chance that the track will be completed by that October 4th game. It's just it's somewhat dependent on what the weather does between now and then, but assuming there aren't any sidetracks, I think it'll be done. And we're looking forward at that game. That is the Hall of Fame recognition. >> But it's also a time that we hope to do some recognition of the folks, you included, and the supervisors, county administration that really pulled together to help make that possible. Not just to fund it, but to keep it on track. There was a special meeting, as you know, that was called at the county level to address uh problems
055that they found when they pulled up the first layer. And it it's exciting. It's a it's a great facility and we're looking forward to using it in October. What I wanted to call your attention to was uh th this predates me but my understanding is that the board wants to have very special consideration anytime students are going to be surveyed and so we are propo we're proposing to work with George Mason University George Mason I guess is is asking us to conduct some research that is spelled out in a one pager that's attached and I'm not going to read that to you here but also you can see the survey instrument itself. This would uh what they're hoping to do is to identify some of the ways that students who are part of the sources
056of strength program. And if if you remember that's in place at the high school and the middle school. It's a program that we've done in collaboration with Louisa and Nelson. And they've come in and done presentations for you and you've interacted with the kids. So what they want to do is give those students an opportunity at the high school in that program if they choose to indicate that they would be interested in participating in this study. And if they are interested and if you approve it tonight, it's not an action item, but if based on your feedback, they would uh take a consent form home. the parent would have the opportunity to read through the questions to see the study and if they signed off on the consent form, the student would then fill out
057the questionnaire and be involved. So, I am I am highlighting it for the purposes of you having the opportunity to read through this, not because you asked me to, but my understanding is that there have been past conversations about this. >> Yeah. um under under a previous um superintendent, we had I can't remember the exact example, but there was a concern for surveys. >> Sure. >> And we wanted to make sure that we saw them before they went home. And we also want to make sure that we had the parental consent before they were even after we saw them. We want to make sure that the parents consent. >> Sure. And that makes sense. So this this is a study that would be offered to members of the club wi-i which in and of itself
058it's it's a voluntary club but members of the sources of strength club would be given the opportunity to participate in this if they so choose. If they did express interest they would have to get consent from their parent. U you and every member of the public can see the questions that they would be asked. parents would see them. And I think it's a good idea to participate in the research. Nobody's compelled to do it. Nobody's forced to do it. But I think the purpose of the research is important based on some of the conversations we've had related to uh discipline, anxiety, some of the things that students are are are seeing. So I think it would be valuable. Um do you have questions for me about it or any concerns with with that? I'll just
059leave that there. Right. >> Um I have two things. Um the unrelated to to this last um item. Yes sir. >> So one of one of them is just clerical. So um if we anticipate five board members um or a majority rather appearing for the track and field dedication to the extent that we can advertise it to let folks know that we will be um collected together and that there's there there won't be official business but to the extent that we find it appropriate to andor legally necessary to notify the public that majority members will be together then I would ask that this board consider it. There have been a couple of situations where I would have felt better had we notified in advance of a public um gathering and I think that we do
060a good job after after photo ops and such of kind of dispersing and I'm pretty mindful of that but I suspect we would all be better off with public announcements. >> I guess it's no surprise that I agree with that. >> Sure. >> I'm always concerned with having >> happy to do that. We'll make a note of it. You you don't have to do it when you're not doing business as you noted, but there's no danger in doing that. So, >> my issue is the perception of business. Sure. And >> absolutely. >> I just I just would much rather let the public know. >> So, to be clear, am I waiting to hear who's attending and then we'll do it or do you want me to go ahead and send something out just saying you've
061been invited? >> Uh, I'm attending. >> This is the October 4th date. >> Yes. October 4. >> Okay. So, at least three. So, we'll we'll do >> Thank you, Dr. Kelly. >> Sure. And and the second item, you know, I was I was struck by um the public comments on on both sides of issues. Um to the extent that it is practicable, um I wanted to understand a little bit because I feel like I had imperfect information um this week as I tried to dive in a little bit. Can you can you talk me through a little bit about our policies as it relates to uh what information is shared within schools and then also how we manage and curate things that are donated to the schools. I don't know if it's the case that
062we have a policy at all um related to what donations can come forward. And I am in no way um I think that you know things I heard this this week include things like well what if it um what if something was donated and it had logos for I don't know Smeirnoff vodka or what if somebody donated to be sold um uh Joe Cool like Joe Camel or something like a tobacco company, right? And I think that there are um useful analogies that that make me think, okay, well, what is what is our policy and and what is it or what is the threshold at which we as a school would not accept something to be raffled? And so I would like to hear more about our policies and the way through which in in
063which we might moderate things. >> Absolutely, Dr. Kelly. I'm happy to speak to that. And uh so what I'll begin with is when it comes to items that would be donated to a school event and I know that right now what's on most people's mind is the fall festival at Central Elementary. And the events that we're talking about really are a silent auction. U people are invited to bid online on baskets or items that have been donated. And in past years, I don't think this year, but in past years, could have involved a raffle as well. And my understanding is that depending on what the item was, if a store gave a gift certificate in an envelope, that might be part of a raffle. If there were a few items, that might be part of
064a basket that would be in a silent auction. There is not a policy, there's no schoolboard policy that uh feel like I'm looking at the TV that addresses sorry >> donated to a school function like that doesn't exist what we have been advised to do what I've been advised to do and in any case like this um you know because I've shared with you but I'm always working with your legal counsel on issues like this advised to use the distribution of materials and information policy and the community the you community use of facilities policy because they both speak to they provide guidance when that enables us as a school division or a school in a case where there's a school sponsored event that is open to the community. meaning not just open to the community
065to attend, but open to the community to participate, open to the community to have groups who say, "I'd like to set up a booth at the uh back to school bash that we just had at the high school." Open to community groups who might say, "I want to participate in the silent auction and help raise money. We're going to give we're going to donate items." if it's open to the community, if it's school sponsored, the the school board doesn't have a policy that governs those things. And we have been advised that it if it's open to the community, we're not to vet the content of those things. Certainly not based on our personal preferences. And whose preference would it be? Would it be mine? Would it be the school boards? Would it be the majority
066of emails that we get? We've been advised to use the guidance in those two policies because they provide a framework by which the schools can I'm using the term vet but can evaluate the content in a way that maintains some level of control over what comes in but still respects equal access and first amendment issues related to an open event like that. So those two policies and neither of those policies are written I don't want to be redundant but they're not writ the the distribution of materials policy is not written specifically for items that are going to be denoted donated to a school event. They're written for when a community group or when an individual comes in and says hey I've got these flyers or I have these this opportunity there's a event at a
067a local community center. whatever it is, would you distribute this to your students or would you distribute this to your parents? Would you use your school avenues of communication to send this flyer home? So, you have a policy that governs that and we've been instructed to use that as we consider donations that are included to event. Likewise, the community use uh policy. So, if a community organization goes through the polic, goes through the the procedure of renting one of our facilities, fill out the paperwork, get it approved, they pay the fee, and they use the facility, there are equal access and first amendment issues that come into play. If as a school, we start deciding, well, I want that group to use them, but I don't agree with that group, so I'm not going to
068let them use the school. they they're either allowed to use it openly or you go by the policy. And so those are the two policies that we've been advised to use. I can keep going, but let me just stop there. Does that answer your question or are there more? >> I I mean I think that's a good start. Uh one uh one bit is could you include those specific policies in the public packet so that people can find them easier? um at mostly because I want to make sure that the public discourse is informed and that we're all pointed in the same direction when we're when we're talking about difficult issues. >> When you say, Dr. Kelly, where do you mean to put them? >> Uh just like as an attachment or as like in
069the board docs so that if if people are looking for those specific policies that there are since we've referenced them and we're talking about them just so that they are um easily available. Sometimes board docs can be difficult. People tell me they have difficulty finding my contact information or a particular document. So to the extent that we can make it easier for folks. So um let me ask an let me ask a followup question. So you know I think there's a head shop at the corner of what 15 and 250. I forget what it's called but I I know that I drove by one day and I saw I don't know I think a giant blowup joint or something. Um if if they had a basket that had their logo on it, um what would
070be the pro like would that just be um included in the silent auction? >> I think that we'd go through Well, I know we'd go through the same process of evaluating it against the guidelines that are in those two policies. And I'm honestly, Dr. Kelly, I'm not prepared to do that on the fly, but if you want me to, I'll pull them up and I'll do it. But I want to be given the the opportunity to take my time and do it. >> No, no, I want to I want to force you to do policy and legal evaluation in real time. >> I'll keep chatting. By the way, to make this very clear for about the fifth time, the logo that is involved in a donation basket is not the logo of a gun manufacturer.
071I can't say that any clearer to the community in all the different mediums and platforms that I have conveyed this so far. That should answer the question that we're all really dancing around right now. A gun manufacturer has not donated to the fall festival at Central Elementary School. >> Okay, let me rephrase my articulation here then. Um, if it was a YouTube channel of somebody who was smoking a bong and then that logo was on a >> on a t-shirt >> prior to tonight because I'm just curious. We're starting to really deviate away from this agenda that we have for tonight's meeting. >> I'm so terribly sorry. I'm asking policy questions that I think are relevant to the public discourse and to what we're all reading on the internet and what we heard in public
072comments. And I think my goal here is to have a framework so that the public understands the ways through which donations are evaluated. I understand that it may be unsemly or uncomfortable, but I'm focused on the policy implementation. >> Well, in the slightest. >> So, let's let's wrap this up. Um, so we don't current, so I I think what I'm hearing is we've been advised to use those policies, but that we don't currently have a policy related to referring or evaluating donations from individuals or corporations. How do other school divisions handle this? >> Mr. Kelly, I think you're asking questions that nobody was prepared to answer. >> Yeah. um >> and talking about them, Dr. Kelly, but I honestly I have not dealt with this specific situation in any of the other divisions where I've
073been. And I don't doubt that they have procedures. I I suspect they're probably very similar to ours and I can, but I don't know. >> Okay. Yeah, I think it would be useful. I'm what I'm trying to do is just make sure we understand sort of the the process through which these decisions are made and through which things ultimately get donated or sold and and ultimately who is the decision maker. These things are incredibly relevant. I' I'm not I haven't made an evaluative judgment on anything. This is about policy, which is ultimately important, especially when uh folks in the community are um excited by things on on multiple sides. It's important that we understand what measuring stick we're ultimately using. >> I understand you've been out of the country for a couple of weeks, but
074there's been a lot of conversation around this privately. >> Oh, I >> publicly. So, just I'm just catching you up to speed since you said you hadn't been. >> No, I'm I'm I'm intimately familiar. I've been on on social in the last couple of days here and I've only been out of the country about five and um and yeah, there is a lot of public discourse and I think that some of it is illinformed and my questions are aimed at at closing those information gaps. >> I have closed that information gap about nine times now. So, Just are we uh >> I think we got a good point to move on. Chair >> everybody good moving on to Dr. G. You have anything else under your reports? >> No, not unless there are other questions
075or other items that you would like me to >> All we're going to move on to VSBA policy updates, first review. >> So, there's several policies that we have for first review. The only one that I think has any substantive changes is the small purchasing policy. And I don't know we even need to pull it up, but it does assign uh goes from $200 to $300 and there three different buckets by which you evaluate your small purchases. The others are all just either legal reference changes or semantic changes. Nothing else that I feel the need to highlight for you, but you've seen them, you have questions, I'm happy to pull them out and we can talk about them. travel. >> Oh, I I'm sorry. Why don't you do that? Do you mind teeing that up?
076I'm so sorry because we added that later. >> So, >> could you pull up the last one, Mr. Gford? The travel reimbursement policy. >> The policy that's policy is the one right above that one. >> Thank you. So, we recently had our audit and in the audit we found that we had um in our policy we had a statement saying we had a certain cap for meals and we had reimbursed someone over that cap and it was literally by like a dollar or two. And the issue is because it was a specific dollar amount, they were saying, "Well, you violated your own policy." But in an effort to try to clean this up, what we've done is linked to the federal guidelines for meal reimbursement so that when those amounts shift, they automatically shift instead
077of if you have a policy that's older and you don't go back and change the dollar amount periodically, then you're going to find that you're out of compliance. So, we're trying to clean that up. And so we've linked that policy um to the federal meals reimbursement and we've got that link there with the PDM for that. And that also allows for um that government site also allows for different areas of Virginia because you might be able to get a meal in Charlottesville for less than you could get a meal at Virginia Beach. And so it kind of varies the dollar amount depending on where you are in the state. We do require people and we've always done this. If there's a meal as part of a conference that they're going to, then we don't reimburse
078for a meal because you already had lunch or whatever. If you choose to go get lunch on your own, that's fine and you pay for it yourself. Um, and then we changed the travel form to just have that same link on there so that we can um be on top of those PDM rates as they shift around. You have any questions about that? >> Thank you for remembering that. It's so important. >> We are now on to the fiscal year 24 budget update. So, this is the um where we see ourselves right now. I think we might have one or two requisitions that are outstanding. Um they're not a substantial amount, maybe $200 or $300 that'll come off of this. Um and then you'll see that um the expenditures per category kind of how that
079shakes out. Um when we go to the next page, those are the supplementals that we did throughout the course of the year with all the different grants and things. The following page is probably the one of greater interest to you. Um we have a pointer. Try that. Actually, I don't even know if the the Oh, yeah. Okay, great. >> Okay. So, the thing I want to point out because um when you look at the first page, you're like, "Oh, we had $5.4 million left. We got plenty of money." In reality, that's not the case because all of these are balances that you had remaining in different grants or funding that you didn't get that basically have backed out of your fund balance. So, like we didn't spend all of the all-in money. So, the money
080actually came in and it's sitting in the bank account, but it's not part of our revenue because we didn't do the expenditures. The big one that is there there's a couple big ones here that we've talked about multiple times. One being the um one being that school construction grant. Um we've talked about that. That's your a part of your ABS money that's sitting in the bank account. We the county actually already has that money. they're they've got it in the bank account, but it's not part of this whole revenue budget because you haven't had the expenditures. Um the but the big one is this change in state revenue right off the top. So basically we ended up getting a million dollars less than what we had anticipated. And you'll remember last year that there was
081just so much back and forth with how much money we were going to get. and we got an allocation in October which was actually after we had started budgeting and then um that money's then also got changed throughout the course of the year. Um and we had a lower enrollment than we were projecting as well. So that's where that million dollars comes off off of the top of that as well. Um so we had $5 million a little over $5 million in revenue that we did not get. Some of that's being reappropriated in supplemental appropriations, which is this $3.2 million here. So you're, if you go down to the very bottom of that, I'm projecting the fund balance is going to be about $425,000 when we're all said and done with, which I'm pleased with.
082>> Well done. >> And it's in black, not red. >> Yeah, it was a very difficult year. This was a really challenging year to do this for sure, but I'd be happy to answer any questions that you might have regarding this >> uh process. >> I got two things. >> Go ahead, Dr. Kelly. >> Oh, and I'm sorry. I have a bit of a delay and so I apologize if I'm speaking over one over anyone. So, first I just wanted to commend Miss Grasser for what you're doing. You know, in in business sometimes we use the phrase sort of building the plane while you're flying it. Uh, and I think the the right analogy here is like shedding plane parts as you're flying. What can we do without? What can we do without in order
083to keep things kind of moving forward? And the fact that we can uh lose that amount of money over the years um or throughout the year and end up with with far less revenue and still end up with anything in carryover balance is just absolutely incredible. So, um, hats off to you on that. Could you remind us to schedule for carryover requests? During which of our schoolboard meetings must we vote to ask the county for carryover funds in order to have them considered? >> Typically, the county asks me for carryover requests for their November meeting. So, I I would think that you would want to have a discussion in October about what you might want to do. >> Yeah. >> Gotcha. And I'll um remind my fellow board members if if you don't um my
084memory isn't great all of the time, but during the budget season um we were asked by the board of supervisors uh to articulate our continued need for bathroom renovations um at central through the carryover process that they didn't want to included in in um budgets but asked if we could do it peace meal. And I know um and I want to articulate my my incredible thanks for the um spot money that we received in order to finish our track project and I'm aware that that very well could impact um our ability to receive carryover, but in good faith in terms of getting through the bathroom project, um I would hope this board would consider making that request to the county. One more thing I'd like to point out on this one is um you see
085a line in here for security grant and it's kind of strange because I've got like a lower amount and then a higher amount for carryover. I trying to piece this all together. I think in June that the state had more revenue left at the end than they anticipated and they kind of did a final allocation for security grant and they put it in our endofear money that we received our June 30 money with the intention that we would carry it over to use it for projects for this year. So that's why you see that 77,000 there. And then they also so we got we got about $33,000 that was um a supplemental appropriation from the state that for this year we got this $77,000 and then another pot of money came um from the federal
086government for security. So there's you're going to see when we go to 25 like three different things that we're getting for security grant. It is incredibly confusing. One of them has a a spin deadline of 9:30, which I think we're on track for that. Another one has a spin deadline of of um December 24 and then and then another one has a spin deadline of June 30. So, it's just a lot to manage and we, you know, I just was frankly so confused and I was like emailing the state going, "Can you tell me what this is?" Um, and so it it's just it's very some of those things have been very complex for sure. But we can go to 25 unless you guys have any more questions. I think we're good. Let's go on
087to the uh fiscal year 25 budget update. >> So this is where we are at this point. We've run true July payroll. So just our 12-month people are in July. And then we've run the August payroll for all of our 10 and 12 month staff. >> Excuse me. I think I'm allergic to y'all because I never cough till I'm standing up here. Um, so it I think we're we're pretty much on track with where I see payroll running and those sorts of pieces. One of my concerns is when you look at the attendance report that's in the superintendence report is we're running low on enrollment. And the biggest grade that we're running low is kindergarten. I had thought we would I think we have like 207. I had projected we would have around 240 based
088kind of what we were seeing last year. Um we do have some pickup in the other grades but then we also have some grades that are down. And so it's just kind of continuing to keep an eye on that. If we continue to see that pattern, which right now I'm thinking we're pretty locked in. Usually after Labor Day is when we know this probably what we're going to have. Um then I'm going to have to look at some of the expenditures and kind of pull back some to make sure that we don't have a shortfall in state revenue. Um, >> I would I would expect that next year will be even lower because just another private school that's opening um >> and the more and I'm not opposed to this at all, but the more
089the more small schools that open, especially taking kindergarteners, >> sure, >> lower our enrollment is going to be. >> It's definitely easier to do a K5 school than it is to do a K12. And so that's part of what you see. Um, but it just kind of keeping an eye on that. Of course, you know, kindergarten's always the great unknown. We don't know. And and parents can hold their kids out a year longer to before they even start kindergarten and some people choose to do that. So, it's just something to kind of keep an eye on. We did do some shifting in staffing when we kind of saw this pattern because we had thought we were going to hire additional kindergarten teacher and we did some shifting around. So, I I think we're in good
090shape in that way. Um, but just so you know that I'm kind of keeping an eye on that at this point. Um, just to be sure. >> Miss Grasser, do we know when Colonial Circle will will ultimately start um, opening housing? >> I don't know. I I hear different things. One of the things that we've seen as a pattern so far is that the people that are moving in there are moving in there from another part of the county. So, so far the people we've picked up aren't new to Fubana. They just moved from somewhere else to there. So, I don't know what will happen as we progress. Um, but that's kind of what we've been seeing as a pattern right now. >> A lot of houses under construction right there. Yeah, there are. >>
091Yeah, we we really don't know what to anticipate. >> Yeah. And we've been looking at bus routes and those sorts of things to see if we going to have to make some adjustments there, but um that's just kind of where we are. If you go to that next page, oh, or maybe it's not a next page, but another I'm sorry, it's another uh Yeah, thank you. another handout. So these are this is a breakdown of the um supplemental appropriations we requested from the county. These are non-local carryover request and supplemental appropriations. And if you go to the next page of this, you see all the breakdown of all the different grants and whether they're supplemental or carryover and the different grants that are there. Um we still haven't received our title one allocation. So I'm
092probably going to have to go back with a supplemental for that. And I think we also have to do one for um four title four for a a supplemental because they gave us more money than we were projecting at the beginning. Um these are always a little bit tricky because they'll tell us they have to tell us by a certain timeline what they think they're going to give us and then in September they change it and so then you're kind of adjusting it as you go along. And the the the decrease in the SR3 is just that we spent more money in fiscal year 24 out of SR3 than I have projected when I built the budget. So that's where that difference lies. Do you have any questions about fiscal year 25? >> I do.
093So we're um tracking behind on student population right now. What are the areas that we would ultimately cut in our budget in order to accommodate the decreased revenue? >> Well, we've already changes >> to accommodate for that. Um, but really, I mean, once you once we do the staffing that we can do, the only other things you can do are your um materials and supplies and other supports like that. That would that's really the only other thing that you can cut. And I honestly it's a good question, Dr. Kelly, but I think it's too early to >> Yeah. >> to really identify these things very specifically. >> That's a fine answer. I was just curious about the sort of categorical and I I think Miss Grasser gave a lovely answer to that. Um just as
094we progress, I'd like to um kind of see how we're tracking against it so we can be um aware of of those particular areas. Thank you. >> Absolutely. >> All right. on the fiscal year 26 budget update. >> I don't have anything here, but in your packet, you have the um for uh action item is the um budget calendar. Um and I would ask um if um if we're going to do an October seminar date that you um kind of nail that down um tonight so that we can plan for that. >> Get your calendars out, >> Mr. Kelly. Get your calendar out. It's out. All right. Um, I know that Mr. Shibling isn't here, but we have a divi uh division capital improvements plan review. Saw the email. I think everybody got the email.
095So, it is it the board's desire that I go through those and or do you want me to just respond to questions or you've seen it? It's in there. I can do either. >> We've seen it so many times. I don't Does the board have any questions for Dr. Gretz? Only question I have is about the locker room. It says 2025. >> That's CIP. >> Yeah, let let's uh I'll spend a little bit of time on that. You and if you want to pull that up, that would be well honestly the the I don't know that you need the pictures. So, you know that we've been navigating for the past say 10 months conversations about uh what we're experiencing at the fieldhouse and it's specifically in the fall although it could be in other times
096and the difficulties that we're having and this is this is just factual information based on my historical knowledge or at my being told historical knowledge prior to me being here. I think the fieldhouse that we have was initially designed to be two stories and for whatever reason whether it was cost savings or another it it was turned into one. And so right now we have we we have a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that we've never had more kids coming out for um for sports in the fall. U which shows engagement that show I mean that's very positive. 100 110 kids coming out for football, upwards of 60, 70 to 80 kids coming out for uh field. The problem is that the facilities down there don't allow for both teams to access during
097that season. and the facilities that exist in the high school be because of because of the facilities at the high school locker room facilities I'm talking about their size and and what they can and can't accommodate and where the laundry is being done. It's virtually impossible to have a situation where football doesn't use the facilities down where the the field is. And I I can my preference would be for me to be prepared and have people come in and actually do a presentation for you about that. But essentially it involves them having to cart equipment down, bring it back up to be laundered, get it and take it back down and and it just doesn't make it doesn't make sense. That said, we do have some concerns and these are concerns that have been generated
098within the community, but they're also concerns that we've uncovered with legal counsel. And it's not I'm not suggesting that, you know, the board's attorney has said you have a title N issue. I I am suggesting that based on those conversations, we need to be moving towards a solution. And so the one that has been coalesed through the CIP committee, and I haven't been at all those those conversations, but there's representatives of the board, there's representatives from the the community, is to build another facility down there that can that can enable both teams and really any teams as they continue to expand. Because like we said last month in that presentation, our programs are expanding. We're adding and we're adding students. Uh, so I don't know how far you want me to get in the weeds
099on that, but this is what is right now being proposed. And you can see the the cost estimate that we've gotten from the architectural firms on what it would cost to do a fieldhouse. Um, those those square footage costs don't in as it indicates, they don't include anything that might have to be done to the land, uh, plumbing work, things like that. But this this is one solution that has been coalesed through your advisory committee to address that and I think there's probably a larger discussion to be had in the future. I I do think there would be a presentation that we would make at some point but let me stop there and that's fine. >> Okay. >> All right. >> I've got a question on this too. Um, y'all know I'm a diehard athletics
100guy, so this might come a little bit of a surprise, but there's a whole lot of athletics projects in here. I also know they need to be done. Um, listening to the folks here tonight who have expressed concerns about school security. We have metal detectors in here. Metal detectors are geared towards athletic events for this. um where we at with things like that for addressing those kind of issues. >> Yes, sir. Great question. And if you I if you keep scrolling, you'll you'll get to it. So, we looked at the open gate detectors last summer. We they came they they installed them at the high school temporarily so that we could see how they worked. We had members of the sheriff's. >> Is that the rap Raptor? >> No, that's these uh what's the >>
101Raptor is like the check-in system you go through. is the >> they send us emails every day. >> Okay. Got it. >> So that's that's the security clearance that these are metal detectors. They're um they're portable, but when you know when you when when you install them, they're they're pretty stationary, but they can be taken up and taken other areas. So we looked at these. They came and they did a demonstration. We had local law enforcement come and We initially asked for, you know, that each year the state releases money that we can apply for through the school security grant. And we asked for uh nine pairs of these so that we could have them in all the exterior doors of the high school and most of them at the middle school and they could
102be portable so that we we could if we wanted to take them down to the athletic facility and use them there. Um we were unsuccessful in securing that grant unfortunately. So the committee has recommended and I agree we put them in the CIP. Our thought about so four pairs is eight of these. Our thought is to begin with a pilot at the athletic facility understanding that they are portable and can be moved for a couple of reasons. One is there's a staffing consideration with these. You can't just install them at the front of the high school, just leave them there and have people come in. Um, we know that from the demonstration. Also know that because we went to see them in action in Louisiana. Somebody has to be there with them all the time.
103There's a few reasons for that. One is there's some items that that have to be passed around. Chromebooks, for example, every kid has a Chromebook. They can't go through these. uh three- ring binders a lot of times because of the metal uh will set them off. And so once that happens, it's very smooth. But there is somebody that has to be there at all times where students are just kind of handing things across. There's also somebody that has to be there throughout the day if they're really going to be functional. If a visitor comes in, a parent, anybody else comes through the door, we buzz them in and they go through these. If something goes off and somebody's not there to say, "Hey, wait just a minute. Can we see what's in your bag?" they're
104really not serving any purpose. So, security uh th this the timeline of your CIP projects to be submitted to the county and your process of coalesing a budget don't coincide in such a way as for us to solve the staffing issues at the same time as we submit the CIP request. So, we're hopeful that if we can secure these, put them in use where there are already people staffed and paid to be at the entrance of the sporting facilities to use them. We can we can pilot them. We can generate support for them based on how they're working and maybe that would help us secure more in the future for the other facility. That's my best response to that right now. >> Yeah. Um, >> is there an ETA on when we may be able
105to look at I mean, I know we've got to get through a pilot program first if that's the route we go, but >> next year, three years. I mean, I know we're looking at like a through a 2030 plan. I'm just curious. I mean, hearing security all over the place tonight and >> I love sports, but there's a whole lot of sports stuff in the CIP plan that >> Sure. No, I I think I mean anytime we can get them, we can start using them. I do think that there's uh there's a there's probably a budget discussion because there's not there aren't enough people who have the ability to to sit at these that we could staff them at probably at least paying a stipen or we just have to look at that. So, I
106don't think that's something I can do outside of the budget process. And in terms of of buying them, there's the CIP process. There's another round of security uh grant funding that we can pursue, but outside of those, I I don't know any other way for us to get our hands on them. And I just really don't understand how the state determines who gets what in that security grant. It just seems kind of all over the place to me. I don't either. >> Any other questions? >> Yeah, I have a couple on CIP. Can you hear me? Okay. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you so much. Um the first is and this may very well need to go into um ultimately into close session for for safety reasons, but I would like to hear more about
107and see some relative pricing on alert IDs. Um, we know from the shooting that happened in Georgia, um, was it eight days ago that, uh, some of the staff have IDs with with panic buttons on it. And to the extent that we are serious about school safety, that's one of the things I would like to hear more about and consider. Um, on buses, I see that we only have three buses per year in in the plan. And that may very well be perfect when we're operating about 61 buses right now, but I want to ensure it. It It felt a little light to me given we have all these um kind of years with zero buses and then one year we got like 11 or 12. And so, you know, the ideal format here, um,
108I I think I can speak for myself and also the board of supervisors in terms of predictability would be that whatever buses uh whatever bus we number of buses we ask for in a given year be consistent and predictable such that if we have a replacement cycle, whether it's 15 or 20 years, whatever our standard is, that um we should be replacing an even proportion of that is specifically 5% um every year if it's 20 years or I'm not going to do math today but what is it 7 and a half or something um for 15 and three feels a little bit light and so I just want to make sure that we are setting ourselves up to have a consistent replacement cycle that um yes we're going to need to work through some of
109the the high years and the low years but ideally we would be asking for the same number of buses every year so that um we remain consistent, predictable, especially when we still have 12 buses uh without AC. I want to make sure that these years aren't particularly light um and if they're light that they are light for um specific reasons or projects. Um and then also I saw as it relates to the fieldhouse and and granted this is you know Dr. Stribbling had informed me about um putting this on the CIP some odd weeks ago as we were kind of working through track issues and I do believe that it is um ultimately down the road we're going to need something there. Um and so I want to make sure that we are balancing that
110against other other needs and that the things that we are asking for in the CIP are in fact needs and not not just wants. So, I I think some further discourse on that is useful. Um, all of that aside, I saw that the recommendation here was a prefab metal building, which is a sort of a different aesthetic from what we have on our existing fieldhouse. And so, I was just curious why that was the recommendation as opposed to brick and whether or not it's um just a simply a a cost issue. >> I I think Dr. Kelly, those are great questions and suggestions. I think it is I think it's a cost consideration understanding that is a there's a separate facilities committee and I don't necessarily attend all of those meetings so I don't want
111to speak for all those committee members um and I don't want to put anybody on the spot here tonight but >> no I don't need answers immediately for them but um you know these are things that are going to be top of mind as I intend to advocate strongly for the school's CIP request as I do every year. I just want to make sure that I am sufficiently informed and can answer those questions uh when I ultimately go uh up the hill down the hill >> about it. It it will be different. I do think it can be done. We've looked at a few of them. It could be done in a way that that's aesthetically attractive, but it's certainly not going to the brick structures that are down there as you noted. >> Sure.
112and and that's that that was the very last item I asked you about uh because it it is the absolute least of my concerns, but it is um it was still a relevant question. >> Yes, great question. And you know, the last thing I'll note, the fifth part, it it's just it's interesting the things that we that you uncover even after decades of doing this. We it's the first time this past summer that I've dealt with bats in a building. Um, I'm happy to report they're gone, >> but we we have a and maybe everybody in here knows this. I didn't know that the the technical term for a group of buzzards is a committee, a committee of vultures have taken up their residents on the roof of Central Elementary and they're picking the roof
113apart and they are also a federally protected. So, >> you know, you could see the patching there. >> Skunks and remember we had the skunks and Abrams we had to track. >> So, um I you know I'm telling you that a little bit just to be light-hearted, but it's an issue. I mean there there's we have the patching on there and it's important to get that done, but um we'll be continue to do some research on what to do with vultures, a committee of vultures. Uh, is any of the um impacting solar panels in any way that we need to be worried about? >> No, that's a great question. They're right now they're only going for the seams for whatever reason. Um, >> how generous. >> There's some natural stretching that happens of those seams.
114And I I don't know why that's attractive to them, but that there's there's some raised portions that they pick at. the things we have to >> let's talk offline. >> All right. Anything else? >> So the these are you you have these in your action items to approve on first reading just to be clear. >> Thank you. >> All right. Is there any unfinished business for the board hearing? None. We'll move on to new business. Any new business for the board? I don't know of any. James, any new business? Or excuse me, Mr. Kelly? Any new business? >> I do not have any. >> All right. On to action items. 12A, approval of the division literacy plan. >> I don't have anything new to share with you about this. Uh, Miss Sorz presented it and
115we had some outstanding literacy specialists that were here to answer questions. I'm h if you want to go into anything here. I'm happy to entertain it. And I know Miss Sors is here as well. >> Any board members have questions about the literacy plan? >> Nothing's changed with it. >> Before we entertain a motion, of course, we can discuss it after we All right. I would entertain a motion to approve the division literacy plan. Any board member members would like to do so. >> I move we approve the division literacy plan as presented. >> Second. All right. We have a motion and a second to approve the division literacy plan. Is there any discussion? Hearing none question. All those in favor of approving the division literacy plan, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed?
116Chair votes I. Sorry, I'm waiting because I know he's on a delay. Um, all right. Approval of the FY26 budget calendar. Let's do this. Um, we need to we need to set an October date. Correct. >> That would be helpful. >> So, before we can have discussion, we need to make a motion and a uh and have a second so we can have discussion. Um the the other thing I'll just call your attention to if I could uh Mr. Chairman I forgot but in the last meeting it was requested that we put together a sidebyside comparison so you could see where the overlap is with the other and Miss Kryer did that and that's included in there. Just want to make sure you knew that was in there. >> It's on the other one. >>
117It's the other bottom all the highlights. Um what what was the date in October, Brandy, that you um had set for the the meeting in question? Was it what was the temp the uh the date that we uh discussed? Was it October 1st, Wednesday, October? >> 21st through 25th is what you had. I'm sorry. >> Sometime in that window that it doesn't have to be that. That's what's in there now. >> 21st through 25th. Yeah, if I may, we tend to we've historically or at least every time we've done one of these seminars, we've done them in the daytime on a Wednesday starting at 8:30 or 9. It looks like there is a Wednesday the 23rd >> in that span. Is that >> Mr. Crasher? This is the meeting that you that you were alluding
118to earlier. >> No. 23rd. >> It happens to be a Wednesday. It's not a necessity, but it has been our pattern. >> Okay. >> Good. >> All right. I think we're set. >> Stick with the morning. >> There you go. >> It's It's 9:00 in the Okay, great. 23. >> All right. So, we have that ironed out. Let's uh I'll entertain a motion to approve, >> Mr. Chair. But before you do so, um can we talk about the conflict with the board of supervisors meeting on 25? >> What was that on February 5th? >> Yeah. Um so I had inquired about overlap with the board of supervisors. As you know, some of us um advocate after we've passed a budget to um help the county and to ultimately try to to secure the funds for
119the schools to do so. we need to be sometimes two places at once. And so I'm curious about this 25 date and as to whether or not we could find a way to make it um possible for members to attend the board of supervisors at six that day. You're not >> you know my feeling on it, but other board members, >> you won't have a you won't be presenting your budget to them until 219. >> Although I know there's value in being at a board of supervisors meeting, they won't have your budget at that. >> Okay. So that just that's not a conflict on a specific budget. It's just happens to be the same day as it supervisor's meeting. >> Is that accurate? Okay. >> There may be items that have been discussed that you
120would want to address, but as Miss Grasser said, there won't be a budget presented to them for another two weeks. >> And your meetings at five, I'm not sure if that's a 7:00 meeting with them or or five. So, they're in it's potential that there's not a conf >> I think they move their stuff to six instead of five or something. I forget. They've changed their schedule up a little bit this year. >> Probably on that other page. >> We're good with uh the 5th of February then. >> Yeah. And what is the 49 date? Why is that one highlighted in yellow budget? >> So is that us? We have a meeting and it does conflict with a public hearing on the budget and the tax rate setting. >> Yes. So that to me is
121a more significant conflict. So how can we remedy that one? >> Can we do our meeting early like we have in the past and then >> I would love to do that. >> All right. So if their meeting starts at um >> we'll put a timeline on it. Dr. Kelly and >> yeah 4 or 4:30 and just as a start and then try to get out assuming that others could make that I know that >> Mr. The key says four, so let's go with four. >> Sounds great. >> So, >> oh, go ahead. >> Yeah, we're gonna have to we're gonna have to have the same discussion in January. >> Yeah. >> Uh, well, at least we can put a tenative stake in the ground. So, to help this along, I'm curious if I might
122be able to make a motion that we adopt the fisc year 26 budget calendar, including a 10:23 schoolboard seminar at 9:00 a.m. and that we uh tenatively schedule our April 9th, 2025 meeting to begin at 400 PM to allow members to attend the Board of Supervisors if they so choose. All right. I have a motion to approve the um FY26 budget calendar with 10:23 October 23rd at 9:00 a.m. being the schoolboard seminar. Let me pause. Yes, ma'am. close. >> Uh, up up to you all. I'm happy to be different. >> Andre says yes. >> All right. Um, October 23rd seminar at 9:00 a.m. and April 9th. Regular meeting starting at 400 pm and close session starting at three. Is that correct, Dr. Kelly? >> Yep, that is perfectly fine. Sorry, sorry to interrupt. I just
123got Ry's message. I'll second. All right. We have a motion and a second to approve the FY26 budget calendar with 10:23. Make sure I'm correct here. 10:23 being the seminar at 9:00 a.m. and April 9th regular meeting starting at 4 p.m. close session starting at 3. All those in favor, please say I. >> I. Any opposed? Chair votes I. All right. Um, approval of the division capital improvements plan for 2026 to 2029. >> My question is just do we lock into this tonight? >> Uh, there's so there's still a lot of flexibility there. >> Yeah, this this gets submitted to the county. The county has a process by which they coalesce. >> Okay. >> And then it goes to um a lot of cases >> the planning commission >> and they're going to give it
124they're going to rate it. >> But to be clear, if I think if the board's uncomfortable with it, now would be the time to address that because it's not that you're locked into it, but you won't have an opportunity for at least a month to take more action on it and they will be dealing with what you what we submit on behalf of you based on what you do here in a minute. Anyone willing to make a motion? >> I make a motion we accept the CIP improvement plan for 2026 to 2029 as presented. >> I'll second that. >> Any discussion? I just want to say that I do share Danny's concerns um regarding security and I know that it's there's a lot of um a lot of things that are fluctuating right now whether
125we we'll get those sooner rather than later, how we need to fund them. Um I I still have concerns with metal detectors. Um we won't go into that and publicly, but I do have some security concerns regarding the metal detectors and who you get to staff them. Um, but I also there's items that are probably a lot less expensive that that you can use to to um block the doors in classrooms and stuff like that. And um I mean we got some carryover funding and we'll have this very same discussion again next year with carryover funding. And I'd like to see us do something more to address that issue. I don't I don't know how much it cost. I'm speculating, but sure. Um I'd like to continue having that discussion for sure. Is as as
126as safely as we can publicly have that discussion without going too far into detail. >> Um any more discussion on that? >> Uh I'll just note that I intend to vote in the affirmative but that I am going to spend some time with Dr. Stribbling to talk about prioritization and uh specifically the fieldhouse. you know, we are pretty our aim is to be predictable in the CIP and for things that um that get added to it to to be sort of more distant items. Um and in this case, we have a fieldhouse that uh is particularly expensive that um is such a priority that it's in, you know, the immediate term. And so that begs the question for me, is is that a must? Is that a now? and what are the things that we
127are doing without in the interim. Um and so I'm going to vote in the affirmative now so that um others can rate and evaluate and and have discourse. Uh but I will be having some um back channel um conversations on that and and hope to be able to articulate outcomes from that uh at our next meeting. >> All right. Any more discussion? All those in favor of approving the division capital improvement plan for 2026 to 2029, please say >> I. I. >> I. >> All right. Any opposed? >> Chair votes I. Uh 12D, approval of the superintendent's contract. >> Thank approve the superintendent's contract. >> All right. I have a motion from Mr. Key to approve the superintendent's contract. Do I have a second? >> A second. And a second. Is there any discussion? Keep
128in mind that um the the matters that you discussed is a personnel issue to some extent. So if you have any discussion, please consider that. Dr. Kelly. >> Uh sure. Yeah. I'll just note that um I'm always happy uh when we're able to issue new contracts to our staff uh the leader included. And so I'll leave it at that. >> We don't agree on everything, Dr. Gretz, but we all collectively agree on extending your contract. And um we do so uh I think everybody here is motivated to do whatever we needed to do to make that happen. >> Appreciate that. I'm thrilled to to be here and to be with you. >> All right. So, we got a motion and a second to approve the superintendent's contract and that is until 2028. >> All those
129in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Chair votes I. And we are done with action items and we are moving on to our second round of public comments where the expectations are the same as the first round. Any Flavana County citizen or employee of the Fanny County public school system is welcome to speak and the expectations are that you address the board, not individual members. You provide your name and voting district and address, that you do not exceed three minutes, and that you are respectful. The board will not interact with you during these public comments, but we will be here afterwards if you have questions for us. Um, with that said, is there anybody wanting to speak during the second round of public comment? Anybody miss >> before my timer starts, can
130I say congrats? I'm excited about about that. You've always been wonderful to work with. Good news. >> My name is Tracy Smith. I live at Sandy Beach Court in Palmyra. Uh three months ago was actually my first time speaking here. Uh I was disappointed then and nothing has changed. Quickly before I get started, um my child text me during that whole board member exchange and was really shocked uh how that went down. So our children are watching. Um I'm a native of Lana, a graduate, and I come from a family that has farmed and hunted here for at least a century, which most of this side of the room likely knows. I'm a gun owner. And while it's not like any of this or me trying to justify to some of you who I really
131am matters, but to set the record straight, I'm not a ri liberal treehugging political operative. I'm not Antifa. I'm not any of the narrative that's that's been spun. What does matter is the way parents are treated for simply wanting a better and safer space for their children. Not all parents agree with this discussion tonight, and that's okay. School started a month ago and there have already been two lockdowns or a drill of some sort at the high school. Students have twice been reminded of the reality of a very real risk they face just trying to get get an education. It's a rational fear that not just students but parents have every day. These students are weighing in on the Facebook posts. They're sharing them around. And it's not just the adults. Students that may not
132hold the same sentiments feel like they may not be able to speak up or have a voice for fear of retaliation from their own peers. Many parents are scared to come to these meetings for the same reason. This board has created a division in this community that needs to be mended fast. Like one of you, my spouse is a teacher, except they teach in a neighboring county. They drive 45 minutes to be treated with respect. Teachers in other divisions are talking about you. None of this attracts new talent to our schools and the children are the ones who suffer for that. It doesn't matter how long policies have been in place or how long things have been donated. There are new board members, there's new parents, new me PTO members, and whether people like to
133admit it in this county, and some do try to stop it, things do change. We should be constantly evaluating and creating policies to cover the board and to be inclusive to everyone. In closing, my many families are capable of responsible gun ownership and educating their children with weapons. It's a conversation I've been having for 15 almost 16 years. But if the guns don't kill people crowd do agree that mental health is the concern, then maybe we can all agree that exposure or advertising at an event where potentially a child in our community who may be struggling with their own thoughts may be in attendance. Let's not contribute to the statistics. Let's look at the guidelines around donations and require better conduct from this board. >> All right. Anyone else wishing to speak? >> Campbell. I'm
134from the Port Union District. Um I just want to say first off, thank you to the board. You guys are doing a wonderful job. And um I just wanted to reiterate one more time that we're that the things that were donated are not promoting a gun company at all. It is a completely different company. It has no guns on the t-shirts that were donated. No guns on the t-shirts that or the hats that were donated. It is not to promote the company and it is not to promote gun violence. Thank you again to the board and to everybody who spoke tonight. >> Saw someone else getting up. I'm Ashley Crocker. I live in the Fort Union District. I didn't think that I was going to speak again, but I have a couple things to say.
135From all I've heard, Mr. Campbell is a great guy, running a beloved business in the community. Nobody wants to hurt your business. And if I had to take a guess, you've probably seen an increase in sales the last few weeks. But if you're really about supporting the kids, write a check. Advertising your company at an elementary school is just not appropriate. To the woman who spoke about including gun safety and gun classes and gun locks in the basket, a community member did suggest that. But as soon as it was suggested, the Fork Union representative stopped responding to her after what had been a robust back and forth. Why, I wonder. Just because there are different tax ID numbers does not mean that companies are unrelated. They are owned by the same person. They sell many
136of the same products. One makes a TV show about guns. The other manufactures those guns. The TV show is basically an advertisement for the guns. We have an ar we can have an argument about semantics, but don't try to paint your constituents as liars when they you are the one telling halftruths and omissions. The fork union representative is a smart guy. You know exactly what you're doing. >> Roger BS 5520 James Mountain Highway in 14. Wow. Um, number one, thank you Dr. Gretz and board members for what you do. It's it's it's high time that the board has each other's back. Some of these things have nothing to do with Red Arrow. They have totally dealing with folks that were not happy with the newly elected Fork Union representative. They were after Mr. Pulling for
137a long time. Mr. Writtenhouse, Mr. Key, they could be coming after you. So, I suggest very strongly that you guys get each other's back. And there's at least one board member that could speak up and have some backs that I haven't heard do that. And it's time for that to happen. The administration of the schools that I served as a principal of a school, so I know what it's like. The principles don't have time to stop people in PTA meetings and stuff like that to get them under control. The principles are there to help make sure that school is run right. And the superintendent, he doesn't need they've got bigger jobs. You've got bigger jobs to do than that. People are making accusations just because they are unhappy with the way things turned out. And
138before you make personal attacks, figure out who you're talking about. There's some real good people on this board and it's high time that the county gets behind all of Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak? Last call. Anyone else wishing to speak? All right, we will close the second round of public comments and we will move on to schoolboard member comments. And um Dr. Kelly, I'll start with you. Uh yeah, sure. Um you know, obviously I'm I'm happy for the start of school and I was able to get into every building briefly. Uh was it last Friday or the Friday before and it was lovely. Things were working like clockwork. Kids were happy. The buildings were being run great. I was excited to go and watch our football team on the new field. I believe
139it was that same evening. And so I am thrilled to be and to serve in Fluana and um are loving the direction of our schools. I didn't love this board meeting in some ways. I thought that uh in particular I think that people are super quick um to be dismissive of others opinions or to um think of them as inadequate or unworthy. And I think that there are some real concerns that parents have and that um we need to start from a place of understanding um before we move immediately to dismissal. I'll note that I don't play on social media as much as um some of my other board members. Um mostly because uh while it's a good way for us to communicate with our constituents, it very quickly becomes a a a place of
140um despair and ugliness and wind tunnels. And so I don't partake of um some of the more unsemly bits of social media. And I'll continue to reiterate as I did during COVID and in every other instance that no board member should ever be made to feel unsafe. Um I' I've heard that some might and um so I don't think that there is a place for that in public discourse. Uh I think that we need to treat one another with empathy and respect. start from a place of best intent and to ensure that that nobody's safety is um is threatened. All of that said, I do also think that my line of inquiry was rushed during this board meeting. Uh you all may not agree with my line of questioning as it relates to policies, but
141um as I would not interrupt or try to push us along in a conversation just because I felt uncomfortable or um didn't like what I was hearing. Um, the people of Paul Myra and I'm sorry I'm speaking. Uh, the people in the Paulmyra district, I'm sorry, this is board member comments. The people in the uh Paulmyra district deserve their representation and it doesn't deserve to be silenced and um I also believe that I've earned the respect to finish my schoolboard member comments without being interrupted. I really find that frustrating. Um, and it really just emphasizes the point I'm trying to make. Um, I expect better of my chair and I would ask you to treat me with respect. Your smirk doesn't help anything. Honestly, truly, how hard is it to wait till I'm finished with
142my comments and to >> reply in your own? >> Yeah. >> What's that, sir? >> I I said I have a question for you when you finish. This is board member comments and uh I am finished. Thank you. >> So, may I ask a question? You served as a chair. You understand Robert's rules of order. We can set a timeline for debate in the future if you'd like. >> That's I don't I don't understand your um your argument. and you can have three minutes and the other side can have three minutes and we can wrap it all up after that or we can let it go till it seems to like it's not going anywhere and it's becoming disruptive and and we'll end it. >> Oh, you mean procedurally during that section? >> We should
143actually set a time limit. I don't I'm not saying we need to go there. I'm saying if if we need to, if that's the question that I'm not correctly running the meeting, then we can just follow Robert's rules of order and we can set a timeline for debate on every single issue because that's technically what we're supposed to do. >> I genuinely don't believe that my questions or the length of that discussion was problematic in the slightest. And >> I don't think it's the length, James. I think when we start two board members start arguing and I don't see it going anywhere productive, it's time to stop, take a breath, and then we can have this conversation again. That's what I saw. >> Oh, I don't I didn't need a I didn't need a breath.
144I just >> I had questions about policies and uh as I was asking them uh it seemed like uh it might be one of the most uncomfortable positions I've seen some of you all in. And I'm saying that these are relevant questions to public discourse and it it shouldn't be that hard to to have them um to have them voiced. And so uh I I don't cut you all off or or or demand that we quote move on or what have you. So I just think we can do better. >> All right, Mr. Writtenhouse. >> Yeah. I just want to thank everybody on both sides for coming tonight. Appreciate your opinions and I support Danny Reid and Red 100%. Um, you're not doing anything wrong in my opinion. Now, that's my opinion. Everybody has one,
145but u that's all I'd like to get back to educating the children in the state all these issues. Um, that's all I got to say. Yeah, I'd like to just thank staff, everybody for getting this school year off to a wonderful start. It was great to be at the football game on Friday, seeing everybody cheering for the Flucos on the new field. Uh, I appreciate everybody coming out to speak. I appreciate everybody's opinions. I just wish that we could uh work better together to come up with a better solution for our kids. The sad part that we have to realize that what we do is affecting our kids. You know, we are our mentor to our kids. So, the actions that we do, our kids will replicate. So, I just want everybody to take that
146in consideration. I will continue as a board member to work as hard as I can to get us on the same page. Thank you, >> Mr. Reed. >> Yep. Um, just want to say thank you for everybody to come out that came out tonight. Um, appreciate the conversation being civil. appreciate different opinions being shared. Um, I'll just touch on playing on social media real quick. Um, do a lot on social media. I would not consider any of it playing. Um, like I mentioned in an interview I gave earlier today. I've been on social media very active, especially in video format since I announced running for the school board in April of last year. Y'all can see my demeanor. You can hear my tone. you can feel which there has been no aggressiveness in any delivery
147that has ever been provided. Um because you can't feel that reading words through a screen. So, if anybody has an issue with how I deliver my stance on a platform that is unrelated to the school and delivering on something this community has begged for, which is a transparent schoolboard member who communicates very effectively with this community, there's going to be a lot more of that communication coming and because it's not going to stop. That's what you guys want as Fluana County. That's what I want as Fluana County from our school board. I would love to see it from five schoolboard members. That's I'm not calling anybody out here. I just think we can do a much better job collectively as a school board communicating. Now, I will say I think there's a lot of agreement
148right now on people having different opinions and how we uh can agree to disagree. Um I will say when you're 18 months put through the ringer non-stop on social media, it's a little bit tough to acknowledge every single comment that comes in when you know who is behind that comment and some of the things that have been said. uh very publicly about you from that person. Um and I would also like to share this. I've received two emails and that's it as it relates to this fall festival situation. If we really want to communicate about an issue, one of which was just saying, "Hey, we want to buy your basket because we don't want it at the fall festival." I don't really consider that a good conversation back and forth trying to figure stuff out.
149The other email was phenomenal that there were emails this long that went back and forth between me and that other community member. Um, if we really want to get the details, I would recommend, and I'm creating more work for myself, but that's why I'm here. I would recommend us communicate with each other instead of bogging down Our administrators, and I feel strongly about this, are not paid to play PR. They're not. If they are, that's a really high PR spot and high paid PR spot. I think we'd have a lot of people interested in getting paid that much to play public relations for Fluana County Public Schools. they are not able to be administrators in our schools when we deal with something like this. I would encourage everybody whether we agree with each other or
150not. Let's have that communication. But we can't just jump right to social media in the court of public opinion without even asking a question to a schoolboard member first. Um I don't want to end on that. I want to end and just voice what some other of my fellow schoolboard members have shared. Um the school year is off to a phenomenal start. But unfortunately, it's clouded by a lot of this conversation we have. And I would recommend that we all do everything in our power to get back to focusing on these schools and these kids so that way we create the best environment for them possible because it is really an awesome school system that we have. We just need to focus more on that. Appreciate you guys coming out. Thank you. >> All right.
151Um, so a couple things, couple questions were asked of me um this past weekend. I I haven't received any emails either. So, there's no emails for me to correspond with because I didn't get any. Only thing I got is Mr. Gretz forwarding me communication. And as much as my email would probably be foyed, you guys will be able to see that. Um for me the question about changing policy to censure school board members from communicating one way or the other is um maybe three board members want to have that discussion but I think it'll be met with legal challenges. I know it'll be met with legal challenges. You can't censor a school board member from communicating a certain way just like we couldn't do that to to the citizens. It's it's their right just as
152much as it's your right. It's your right to say what you will on Facebook or whatever other avenue about us, true or not, that's fine. But it's also our right to respond and to respond so in a way that we think is is u is best. So for some people that may be a video, for some people um it may be something else. But I remember and I want you to think back eight years ago. We couldn't even get a board to agree to to publish these vid these videos or to have these live meetings. Remember that we had it was across the board when I came on this board. We don't want to have these these uh videos live streamed or these schoolboard meetings live streamed. And we come a long ways since then.
153um to I remember when I first started writing the notes and sharing them, everybody was happy, but a few people were angry. Don't share that. The public needs to be here if they want to know that. And we've come a long way and now we have people doing videos. So, in the terms of transparency, it's better than it's ever been in my at least in my eight years. And then prior to that, I've lived here my whole life. I think it's better in transparency than it's ever been. Um and you know, sometimes I don't like a video. You don't like a video. though it is what it is. Um for me it's not really about Red Arrow. I would say that um if you're familiar since everybody's so familiar with Red Arrow all of a
154sudden um I don't know there's anybody in this room more familiar with with me other than the owner because I got a lot of money ti tied up in the firearms I purchased and I can tell you that prior to Red Arrow firearms or what Red Arrow weapons you were donating Red Arrow merchandise because it's Red Arrow TV and for a long time it was Red Arrow TV and then a weapons company and I just thought about that earlier and it's only been there for a couple years. Um so again I you know and you all may disagree with that but at the end of the day a decision was made and uh we're going to move forward with that. Um but the it's not about red arrow for me. It's it was more about
155like the people that s sitting over here are like family to me. I mean I'm looking at the guy that gave me the first loan for my pickup truck. the guy who I lived with when my mom and dad separated and I lived with for 16, 17, 18 years old. The guy that employed my wife, teacher, best friends. Like, you're literally attacking people in the community that are very close to us. And it's not always it's not always true. You know, it's half true sometimes and sometimes it's not true at all. So, if you elicit an emotional response from somebody, I don't know what else you're asking for. You're attacking people that literally this is a a a a family in our community that have been here for generations. So, and we're going to defend
156them whether I'm on a school board or not. You I'm going to say something if you if you attack them, whether it's here, there, anywhere, especially if it's not true. Um so, for me, it's not about red arrow. It's just about doing what's right and defending people that that um did nothing wrong and did not ask for this at all. are just trying to help. Um, so anyway, with that, um, I will be here if anybody has any questions. I'll be here for a little while signing some paperwork after the meeting. And, uh, thank you all for being here. Thank you for keeping it respectful. And, um, I'm glad that the meeting went as well as it did, honestly. Anything else for the good of the cause? All right. I will entertain a motion to
157adjourn the meeting. >> I'll make a motion to adjourn the meeting. We have a motion and a second to adjurnn. Any discussion? All those in favor, please say I. I. I. >> Any opposed? Chair votes eye. We are jjourn.