NHCS Board of Ed. Finance Committee Meeting | Aug. 7, 2025

001Oh, and with Livian online, she can't hear us unless we speak into the mic. So, we're going to start with the roll call. >> I am here. >> Pete Wilder, >> I'm present. >> Josie Barnhard >> here. >> Kim Clark here. Paul Slavic, >> Hannah Moon, Phillip Sutton, >> Charlene Thompson >> here, >> Jared Worthington >> here, >> Stephanie Walker, Rob Zapple >> here, >> Eric Cradle >> here. >> Amanda Kuziaak here. Lisa Wartzbacher. Okay, we have pledge of allegiance and invocation. Next, Mr. Wore is going to do the pledge and Mr. Worthington is going to do the invocation. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Let's pray. >> Heavenly

002Father, we thank you for the opportunity to come together as we continue to serve our community. We thank you for uh each and every person that is here with uh good intent and passion to see things happen uh that lead to success for our students. And we pray that we put our students first in every decision that we make. God, help the uh conversation here to be uh beneficial to all within the community and in Wilmington and greater New H. We ask these things in your name. Amen. >> Amen. >> Next is approval of the agenda. You should have gotten that by email. We are saving trees and didn't print it. So, if I could from voting members, if I could get a motion to approve the agenda and a second. >> I move. >>

003All right. All uh we have a motion to approve and a second. All in favor say I. >> All oppose say no. >> No, I didn't print any because it was so long. The Isaac Bear the Isaac Bear update was emailed to you and if I'm pretty sure my three copies are still on the seat of my car. So if anyone wants a printed copy of the Isaac Bear report, >> there you go. Oh, is that the agenda, Brian? >> Okay. But if anyone wants a copy of the the the report from several years back on Isaac Bear, I have copies in the car. I just didn't bring them in. Um, >> you're welcome. So, we've approved the agenda. All right. Same with the minutes. Can I have a motion and a second to approve

004the minutes? >> Second. >> So, we all in favor of approving the minutes say I. >> I. >> All opposed. So, that's going to segue way us into the Isaac Bear committee update. And I will tell you, I don't believe the the committee has actually met yet. There's been a lot of phone calls and a lot of conversation. So, we're going to lead off with Dr. Morgan to tell us where he is on that. >> Thank you. Uh, yes. So, Miss Bradford's right. We have not met. I sent a couple of emails to those who were identified to be a part of that ad hoc committee. Um, excuse me. One of the reasons that we haven't met is I was trying to identify the best person to communicate with at UNCW so that we could

005have somebody who could actually speak on behalf of UNCCW and possibly make decisions on behalf of UNCCW uh as part of our conversation. Um, and the reason I think that was important is because after talking with Mr. Alliance and a few others at UNCW. Um, we've really got a lot of what we need to be able to move forward with um discussing a building, a new building at at UNC on UNCW's campus for Isaac Bear. We've we've um got schematic designs. We've got quotes. Those quotes are a little a little dated at this point. So you you know you would add add a little bit to the numbers there for inflation, but essentially we've got everything we need to be able to begin moving forward except for funding and identifying a funding source. And so

006we kind of put a pin in that just so that we could get in front of some additional UNCW people to make sure that that faking is correct. So, for example, I've spoken to Mark Morgan who's uh associate vice chancellor for facilities about um where we left off and you know, he and I have talked about the possibility of getting together in the weeks ahead so that we can learn a little bit more about not just that project and where it left off, but other things that maybe have maybe going on that, you know, could potentially overlap. So, I you know, as far as reconnecting, Dr. Barnes and I met with um Dean Linderhome at Watson a few weeks ago and this was one of several topics that we talked about. Um and so again,

007it sounds like a lot of the conversation kind of just came to a halt when we got to the point of okay, this this plan looks great. How are we going to fund it? Um and so included in the agenda is the advanced planning document. It's very long. So, I I talked to Ashley and Jenny about I don't know if you necessarily want to print it, but I think it'd be worth including so that when we when I say we've really got a lot to work with, you can see exactly how much it is. I'm sorry, Mr. Zapple. I don't have a printed copy for you, but uh be happy to show you. Um >> and I have one in the car that I can get. I just I just mistakenly left it in the

008car. And if I remember correctly, in that report, it's something like 32 to40 million. Am I right? my memory correct? >> Yes, that was that was that quote from and that report was I think that was presented in July of 2023. >> Okay. Um Dr. Barnes, did you have anything to contribute to that? >> Yep. >> Always. >> One of the other things we are talking about is whether or not there's a way to maximize sharing of space at UNCW as well to sort of widen our footprint a little bit. um because sometimes classes get scheduled at all kinds of different times. Is there a way that we could utilize space share sharing that space? So that's one of the other things we're talking about >> and I will just make a personal comment. Don't

009know if this is well grounded or not but my initial I wanted to stay out of that committee but I haven't completely um one of my initial thoughts is that perhaps it all broke down over what I call big eyes. they couldn't agree on how much good stuff to throw in there and um so it just sort of failed to go forward because well the conflict between who owns you know the land and the building conflict there and then just that huge expense. So my goal for today as we're going to move into budget, my goal for today is to talk right about finance. The finance that we have to look forward to where we are today, where we go go next. And then our very next meeting is going to be totally on bond.

010The one at the end of August is going to be totally on bond because um I want to say it's the 27th. >> Yeah. Um >> 27th at 12:30. >> Yeah. You already have your invite. it it went out a couple weeks ago um or at least a week ago, but I want to focus totally on that because if I understand it correctly, by October, we're supposed to know what we're going to ask. So, we have to we have to get everything off our plate right now. Talk about budget. Dr. Barnes has a has a bunch to share. That's a really fluid topic right now. Um it's constantly moving and so we'll talk about that. And I had asked him and he hadn't answered me. But we had a listening tour um meeting in here.

011It was supposed to be for teachers and there were maybe eight or 10. And so they joined the parents who had all come. There were eight or 10 of them here already for that meeting. Before it was over it was 60 70 people. And he asked specific questions and they answered them. And I thought it might be fun to literally go around to all people seated and Livian and say and answer his questions so that you'll understand where where the people who attended what they thought our biggest need was. And my impression is, you know, we've got this financial situation over here that we have to solve, but we also have to look at we did that meeting before last or last where we we as a team identified what we thought our capital needs

012were for a bond. We've got that part. So, the next thing is going to be the logistics of it. I mean, heavily on the two of you for that. I know Eric's going to have a presentation this week or next with his board and then we'll get that information and we're going to have to really drill down hard at this next meeting on bond. So, we come up with some kind of draft idea that we can then the staff can put it into a real draft and then then we're there y'all. We're there. Um so, with that said, Dr. Barnes, >> do you want me to start with sort of an update from what we talked about Tuesday or do you want me to do this first? >> Um I Well, it's up to you.

013We can do this first. So, I will tell you that um a year ago, I felt like I was swimming with a cinder block and then somebody handed me a baby. Um we I had a listening tour last year specifically to at the heels of a of a climate survey that we received, we had to talk about what wasn't working and what we needed to do. So, we spent a year doing that. So my conversation with the folks who came last week was okay where do we go now? you build a foundation, let's build a house, right? So, I asked them several questions about where do they want to see the district to be a year from now. And it sort of spun into a lot of conversation about budget, of course, because that is

014to some extent where we are with the tail wagging the dog. But the first thing I said is, okay, what do you think is the thing you don't have? What is the thing that you need? And what is the place you want the district to be a year from now? because I've been working on working with the board to develop my goals for the district and for myself for the upcoming year. So, I did ask the board for the latitude to have three goals that I narrow down on and then one extra goal that is chosen by the stakeholders of this district if they didn't hit one of the three already. And I'm pretty sure these three are fairly broad strokes that I think you're going to find that everything we do is going to

015wind up in them anyway. But just because this group has been working together for better part of a year as well. If we're sitting here a year from now in August, what do we want that we don't have now? What do we want to do differently than we're doing now? And I think that's where we kind of started the other week and then we went from there. >> So, why don't we do this? And I mean, I could go either direction and both of these are going to be experts. So, I'm going to give Eric the last say or Dr. Barnes the last say and start with Well, I guess start. No, because you're want I mean, >> where do you want the district to be a year from now? >> Okay, but nobody else

016can skip. >> Go ahead. >> No, no. >> August 2026. Where do what do you want? What do you want? >> I'm the treasure at high school. So they normally come to meetings for need to make sure we have the money cuz they thought saying yes to everything without checking me first. Yeah. So, um there's always lots that is one of them again. Well, more so for the coaches that have been there for a while. They're wondering why they get the same stipen as a beginner coach. So, they're wondering if there can be a step based on year three. Okay. >> I try to get anything that they need expo markers, paper, you know, stuff like that. Even if it's their favorite pen, you know, I'll get you their favorite pen and make you happy.

017You know, >> people do have favorite pens. I can't believe that. >> Yes, we do. >> Says the pen thing. And this doesn't ha you don't have to keep this in an academic academic sorry financial space either. >> This is sort of a wide ranger. I don't expect you guys to only put this in financial. >> So repeat the question. >> If you're here a year from now, what do you want to say this district is different about or better about doing? >> Improve test scores, increase graduation rate, reduce dropout rate. Okay, that's goal one. You already got it. >> Yeah. Well, and I I don't know what it is, but in the last 3 weeks, I've had a dozen conversations unprompted by me. People say our high schools need to go back to having

018a trades program. It's I mean, it's completely unprompted. And it might be because I mentioned my kid is now an electrician and he he's a couple of weeks away from receiving full benefits. um and he's leading the team and kid had no experience and so it's and and I maybe that's what triggered somebody else saying they need to put the trades back in high school. So I you know when I was at Laney we had carpentry and you know Hanner had auto mechanics >> right >> and I was at a table last two nights ago and the guy said well I would hire we have anything >> so which just isn't true but okay >> well this was back in 1989. Oh, okay. Gotcha. Gotcha. Yeah. But it's some of this is how do we

019package and how do we disseminate information like that? >> Because we have trades programs at every one of our schools. We have kids going through amazing programs. How do we highlight those enough that that becomes the narrative? Right. Good. >> All right, Chris. Well, it's something uh fairly specific, but I know we've got um a school bond um on the docket. So, you know, having clarity around that school bond and having effective messaging for the public because I think people can see >> the growth in this area, but you have to put it in plain speak to people, you know, what your uh plans are, what your goals are, and I think that can be done. And I just um I hope that we're able to do that effectively because um that's going to have

020a big impact on the confidence that people have that we're doing the right things >> and the and the nuances behind what can I say about the bond, what I can't say about the bond. You know, there's a lot of rules about I can't promote the bond myself or I can't financially invest and promote. It's it's very nuanced. But now you hit goal number one and you hit goal number three. You think you can take goal number two home? But you literally named the two go two of the three goals I have. >> Okay, Paul, here we go. >> All right. So, we are in a place now where we are the best option. Uh, number one, hands down, public education is where you need to send your children. We are competing with um, and

021I don't think that's going to stop. We are going to compete with other counties, with other schools, other options for parents. So, we need a clear plan. We have aging schools. We have staffing concerns. all the things I think that people are mentioning right here, but a more robust and a clearer plan moving forward of where New Hover is going to stand and how we are going to continue to be the best option for our parents moving forward. >> You did it. That's goal two. That's awesome. >> Rest of you can go home. No. >> Yeah. >> No, >> Rob already knows these goals. Rob already knows these, too. So, >> do not pander to the boss here. Rob, tell us what your want is. >> What? What? What are we talking about? Um I

022so I think from my perspective we've got two things. One there's there's an ongoing concern about aging infrastructure and that's likely to continue just because of the size of our of our school system and the age of some of the buildings. But then I think um from a staffing perspective, we've got quite a few positions that are hard to fill because our entrylevel pay um doesn't it doesn't really rise to the level that they can get in the private industry. So things like mechanics um we've also obviously continue to have a shortage of bus drivers. I know that is not specific to us, but I think I think it often boils down to what does the entry- level pay look like for those positions that are looking to join us? >> Um, Ryan, would you

023like to comment? >> You have kids in the system. >> I think we need to offer prek for every family that wants it. and um you know, our loss of the Head Start grant and and it it was terrible. And I'd like to see us at some point, maybe within the next year, who who knows how long, be able to offer every family with a three to 5year-old the ability to go to school because I think that's the most important time frame for education for our children. >> It's funny that you mentioned that. Um, Chair Chair Mason sent out a revised committee assignment list last night and it reminded me that I am the liaison for Head Start and I've done nothing with it, but I think I'm going to I'm going to put my

024attention towards that. I know we've got a long uphill battle to get that back, but I don't mind challenges, but I I agree with you on that one. But I had forgotten that I was that committee person. >> Am I allowed to offer an afterthought? >> Yeah, of course. I'm not in charge. I I wanted to I wanted to say also to piggyback on Mr. Hennet was saying, I think part of those hard to fill positions we're talking about are also trades positions. >> Oh yeah, for sure they are. For sure they are. >> Can I spin yours just a a shade, Brian? >> No, your buddy next door. >> I think prek expansion while making prek a financially viable entity on its own, if that makes sense. Like we need to find a way

025to do both. We want to expand prek. We have to way to expand it in a way that's financially solvent on its own. >> Cool. >> All right, Mr. Worththington, you're up. I know just got here, but I guess we're having a pre-K discussion. >> We're actually we're actually going around the table and everyone is saying where they want to be August 26. So, we'll come back to you and we're going to pick up Liv August 2026. >> Oh, thank you. August. Miss Mason's joined us and she's she's an exeicio member. So, we'll get her pick her up last. Mr. >> Cheerio >> Worthington, you're up. >> Cheerio. I I look at our current system right now and know that we've got schools and principles that are are just maxing out in effort and maxing

026out in reaching accomplishing the goals that they want. Uh but we also have uh principles as a group with big dreams and um small windows and small uh alleyways to reach that. And in order to get to some of the big dreams that they have for their individual schools, we have to figure out a way to increase a lotments, increase staffing, increase budget flexibility for those schools. When we talk about trade opportunities, we talk about specialty programs. My granddad taught industrial arts for 40 years. I had would know nothing about carpentry if it hadn't been for him and my dad. And I think about all of the opportunities we have at high school levels and and those opportunities can continue to increase. I'd love to see that at middle school. I'd love to see opportunities

027grow at elementary schools. We have schools that want to have an identity as something that they can be. The Freeman School of Engineering. Imagine if they had more flexibility in their spending. What could they do uh at that school or the school of the arts at Snipes? Um, so creating opportunities is what I'm really hoping that we that we get a chance to do here within this group over the next year. I just want to see when I go in to sit down and talk to a principal, they say, "Man, I really want to do this at my school. If only we had this." And so my goal is let's get them that thing that they want. >> Thank you. So I have two. one um is that we have a targeted effort to ensure

028that students who've been through successful qualified pre-K programs don't lose everything that they've they've received by the time they reach third grade. And the second is that we would have uh a communications andor education campaign slashproduct that would ensure the community is an advocate for our school district. very last year. But I would say back to last year they have along that was our staff as well as um to create a safe environment for all schools, not just but I know that comes with some some some money that's going to need to be spent to create that in some uh especially those high schools. Um, but that also to create safe environments and positive environments, it's more than just buildings and security. Uh, it's more staffing because if you're going to be able to know

029your kids and your students and what their goals are and what's going on with them, you got to have more more people and create those relationships. So, um, those are the things I think we need. Yep. Uh I think on my wish list is I kind of listed a number. Um first off, and I'm just delighted to hear from the other members of this committee. Uh in my mind, it's stabilizing the prek funding. Uh and I would include that from 0 to four. Early childhood education starts, you know, at birth. uh and with a clear path forward to a universal prek that being the goal. So I hope within a year that we can come up with that with that plan. Um we cannot have the same situation that we started this year and I

030thank you Dr. Barnes for doing some major scrambling. U that's ridiculous. I think everybody here recognizes the importance of prek and the benefits. also uh which was just addressed by Dr. Sutton. Uh o an open >> Oh, excuse me. >> Not yet. >> Sorry. Excuse me. >> Principal Sutton. Yeah. Uh an open and fully functioning New Horizon School, which I know we're there. I happened to drive by two days ago, saw the scaffolding down. If you haven't gone by it, I would reh recommend. It looks spectacular. I mean, the uh the highlights, the brick work, uh the masonry work, it just made me suddenly feel proud and not just being elected official, but being here in New Hover County, I said, "Oh, that's what they must have felt like 103 years ago. It really looks

031great." Um, >> thank you for the funding. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. Well, well, that's why we're here as partners. uh also a clearly identified communications marketing promotion organization for the proposed bond. All the work we're doing here will go nowhere unless we can find that organization that will put the you know shoulder to the wheel or whatever metaphor you want to put in there to get it out. We've seen what's happened, especially with the transportation bond of a couple years ago. When you don't have it clearly identified and out there in the community, it it will not it will not work. We can have the best ideas and we can create a a bubble here and we'll all agree with each other, but there's 238,000 people uh out there in New Hover County who don't

032know what we know. we have that's got to be a major focus for us and has to happen well within that one-year period. Uh also an agreed upon plan for capital improvements which also I know it figures in into the bond. I mean uh we've seen all the options we've gone through them. We got to do the hard work and I'm sorry I'm stepping out of my lane. This is up to the school board to what are your priorities? We know what all the options are. I think they're laid there, but it's time to cut bait or whatever. Uh we need to know what that plan, what are the priorities, where do we want to focus this bond? And the last one, uh is an expansion of the dual enrollment program with Capefir Community College,

033which I again I think is absolutely fabulous. We have this wonderful resource here in New Hver County. Uh and I think would somewhat address some of the issues, John, that you were talking about. Uh we have, you know, fully functioning trade uh classes, especially up in the north campus. Just expanding that program and making use of what we already have here. And those students who have identified and want to go that direction, let's do it. Uh you I think it's u good. I know there's some issues as far as the enrollment process uh there. I just happen to have the personal experience of walking through it with my grandson which ended up in a panic run down to the Capefir Community College uh getting a just a miserable piece of communication from CFCC saying that

034all their classes would be dropped if they did not pay uh by 5:00 p.m. and given, you know, less than 12-h hour notice. I mean, I know that has nothing on you. That's CFCC that's doing it, but my gosh, it's such a great program. Can we not get some clear communication? It all worked out, by the way, but it just was a kind of a useful reminder to kind of go walk through it. And while I was there, there was a full line of other people who had gotten the same call and were in mild panic, you know, trying >> to this to this. >> Yes, you Oh, you're you're right, Pat. And that was the end. Yes, it is. I could talk for a long time too, but I'm going to try not to.

035So, Mr. Zapple, you can nudge me. Um, but I think the biggest thing for me is focusing on continuing that um closing that gap. We only have six failing schools and I know that's going to slowly continue to decline and to see the number of schools that are meeting or exceeding growth. And I think um two big things that come to mind when you talk about how to do that is creating those opportunities and maintaining the staff and I was I I've said it time and time again really pleased to see our turnover rate lower than where the state sat and so how can we continue to do those things how can we um ensure that stability not only for our staff but for our students too because when they see that consistent face that's

036how collective efficacy is built and things like that so that we can focus on closing the gap. And of the Big 12 districts in the state, we were number two in retention out of the Big 12. And we miss being number one by less than a percentage point. >> Huh? >> Wake. >> Sorry. >> Well expressed, ma'am. Well expressed. >> Yeah. Um, I'm going to say retention. I agree with everything everybody else says. I'm a big fan of early intervention. My background is in special ed. Um, and I know the power of early intervention and I'm a huge believer in that. Um, and just to also piggyback on Dr. Morgan, the other not comparable salaries I would say with classifides are data managers and our treasurers. They are impossible to find, impossible to keep because

037the pay is not what they are asked to do. So I know teachers are yes we talk teachers but um when you look at TAs and you look at treasurers and the if you really looked at the amount of turnover um when it comes to treasurers and data managers and the amount of work that they're putting forth right now is I don't believe that the the paycheck matches what the effort that they put in and how crucial they are to the success of a school building. >> I think it's Barnhart. Short. Wait a minute. I got to I got to point that out. Big go hard cuz I'm not short. >> You're the expert on short. >> Oh, that's good. That's good. I like it. >> We'll talk later. We We'll talk later. Um I

038just want to agree number one with prek. I mean, I think that prek prek prek uh we need to have more, not less. Um, number two, uh, what I heard from the town hall was very, very clear that we need more folks. We need more folks in the classroom. We need more teacher assistance. We need more nurses. I mean, we're losing a whole bunch of nurses. I mean, we actually had somebody at our regular meeting kind of call me out that, well, you agreed with the budget. Well, I sure didn't agree with losing TA u, excuse me, uh, prek or nurses. I will say that. I've said that on uh, repeatedly. I don't you know we need you know um I was a principal of a school that had a nurse half the time so

039we told kids sorry you can't get hurt or sick on these days because we have nobody here. I was also uh at TR when TR didn't have a full-time nurse back in the day 100 years ago. We rode our horses in on those days. But um I was the you know the one that you know I had to leave my kids to go run because we had a we had a diabetic young lady that would go into diabetic uh situations and I was the one that had to go and somebody else had to cover my class. We ended up with you know 75 kids or 80 kids with one teacher because I was running down the hallway. So there's no easy way to get around that. We need nurses in each and every school. Got

040to get that. And I mean, and the third thing which leads to answer those two other questions is I think we need to go back to a close relationship with our county commissioners. I mean, without a doubt, um, I know that, you know, our our leadership met with them and that kind of thing. We used to have times that we all met everybody on the board, met with everybody on their board and got to talk and have breakfast and all that kind of stuff. And breakfast doesn't have to be part of it, but I think we need to get back to those those meetings. So, you know, as soon as we can so that we can have those everybody on both boards can fully understand what's going on and what we need. And I know

041that's just more meetings and that kind of thing, but I mean I think it needs to be all of us uh because all of us have to make decisions. So, that's what I think. >> You don't get off the hook, ma'am. Um, if I could see anything happen by August 2026, I was just pie in the sky, but I'd like to see updated funding formulas. >> Updated funding formulas. >> And and that would be local, state, and federal. >> Oh, yes. I have that right there. Thank you. I think um assuming that we move forward with the GEO bond, it would just be having a fiscally responsible bond along with um good community support. >> Thank you. Do you want to say yours? >> So now now that you guys know the three things that

042I committed to focusing on, one is the only places where we did not grow in our initial testing results. It's reading reading and third grade math one. There are 12 or 14 I think areas that get evaluated or get measured. We grew on 12 of the 14. I'm feeling pretty good about that. And the work that our teachers have done in regards to retention and m maintaining staff. I've been here for this my fourth year. It'll be the end of fourth year in October. We only replaced three principles this summer. Every other year has been seven or eight. The year before I got here was 15. So retention starts by making sure people know that they're valued. And so it's a great testament to the work that's being done. Uh so my three goals, one

043was academic. I mentioned that. Second one is culture and community. making sure that we are focusing on listening, making sure that we are being transparent and communicative with our stakeholders and our staff. And then the third one is continue to lead this district in a financially fiscally responsible way with an eye towards one increasing enrollment and two levering a bond. So those are the three things that we need to be here a year from now. Sir, >> uh just a clarification on the three principles replaced because of retirement. >> Great reasons to have to find folks. And I say that with two baskets of chocolate sitting right beside me here. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And I'm going to get the last three of you in the order that you came in. So Livian, are you

044on? Can you contribute? >> Yeah, I'm here. Um interesting listening to everybody. you know, having a son that's been out of school for eight years. You know, my focus I was on the 2014 bond committee and felt like we didn't ask for enough then. I know the constraints. That's a different topic, but I've seen the numbers of needs and a lot of the needs or the wants. y'all go. The education side of it is not in my thoughts right now. It's more about funding and the priorities of the school system because what was priorities in 2014 are still priorities now. So, I think it's great that New Handover, I mean, they need they need something whether it's rebuilt, renovated, but there's still a lot of other schools out there that had the needs. How many

045years? 12 years ago. Um, back to what Natalie said, and I think Rob touched on this is with us needing to have an answer in October about the bonds and priorities. The PR side of it is very important to get ahead of it. And I don't know that we have to hire a firm. I think if you put some folks that are on this committee together, we can strategize with that. That's something that really has to be thought out. I mean, y'all know I do a lot of development projects and I hear the one of the main things I hear now is people concerned about their kids and overcrowding, etc. So, when it comes down to that vote, those are a lot of people that are going to show up to vote. Um, and I

046know there's other needs and I'm appreciate everybody that's on the committee. They're paying attention to those other needs. My main thing is thinking about the bond and the funding sources, research. I mean, I'm sure y'all have done research about other funding sources. Um, we're meeting on the Isaac Bear project with the vice chancellor next week. So, um, those are my two cents and I appreciate you listening and I'm sorry and I'm I'm not there. >> Mer time to really think about this. Um I this is on second I mean I would say first and foremost um that we are all on the same page about important how important our public schools are as a former school and now in the um you know a lot of our budget dollars in the county do go to

047schools um I really think I'm challenged with the kind of thoughts of how important how control our schools are to our economy to our growth to everything in between. And so I I would like for us to all and and to Pete's point get together more and talk about it because I find the barrier a lot of the times is the communication side of it. And if we can we can all get on the same page. I think Dr. Barn you've done a fantastic job this year with your >> you're starting early with the budget getting prior. Well all of you okay and Ashley of course Ashley >> I do what Ashley tells me. >> I know. Well well Ashley then >> um but I I'll just say um it is very helpful. Like I

048said, I sat in a city council meeting the other night and I mean the disconnect with communications and understanding of what everybody's doing. I think meeting more would help with that tremendously. And but just just understand the value of of our public schools because I mean they're heart and soul. There's I don't know what the number is this year, 25 plus,000 kids. You multiply the parents by that. There's a lot of people that are invested in what we do here in the county. And I just think being on the same page in the value is important. Um, number two, definitely the prek. That is huge. And I've been hearing some good things. You know, I'm bringing the e-word up, endowment up that they're working on on the pre-K realm side of that. I know that

049the former turnaround task force elevate every child committee, which I know Melissa comes to, Pete sometimes gets to come to and welcome to anytime. Um, are working, you know, there's a whole eco group that are working on that. They've had consultants that look at it. There's so many working parts to that conversation, you know, it comes to the quality and the capacity and everything. So, it's a big big issue. I mean, Rob's been on this for a very long time. I was very heartbroken that that the six classrooms were cut. I was heartbroken when the Head Start grant was lost, but I was extra obviously heartbroken this time and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was I'm still upset about it. I'm not going to lie. So, um we need to fix

050that because I think the earlier we start with our kids, the better. Um, to your point on, you know, intervention and early intervention, the earlier the better, I say. And I think we can do that. You know, I mean, I'm not going to lean just on a down looking at now over here. We've got we've got folks out there in the community that are they're very generous and very caring and want to look at this issue. So, I think we all need to work together. You know, I've been on a couple inner city visits now and that that seems to be the theme that comes out of it, like how do we collaborate together a lot better? Um, third thing obviously is New Hover High School. Y'all know how I feel about it. Um, but

051I agree, Rob. It looks It looks It's beautiful. The front looks as best I've ever seen the front look, at least even when I went to school there. But those kids deserve the school and the staff deserve a school that they can be proud of that matches um the pride that school has. And you know, and I I say that goes back to alumni going back I don't know how many years that do care so much about the school. Um, but that leads to the bond discussion there. right now with the bond cap we have, there's no way with the needs that are out there that we can fix all of it with just a bond. So, we got to be creative and smart and and figure this out. And I like the fact that

052I've seen I'm going use the e-word again, go a little bit into the kind of capital side stuff of that. I hope that continues. Um because I just don't the county can't do it. The voters, even if they want to, we can't do all of it. Um, and I'll lead into Isaac Bear again because, uh, Olivia just said it. You know, they've been in trailers for how many years now? Like, it's going on almost 20 years. That's not That school does tremendous job. I mean, if anybody has not had a >> that's that's crazy. If anybody's had ever had a tour, and if you haven't, you know, call up principal lines and go in there, y'all would be horrified. I mean, honestly, I mean, I think the the custodial unit, they kind of share the

053snack room. I don't know. It's just it's a lot, y'all. And they need attention, and I hope this committee we can work towards that. I know that was kind of a fourth, but uh >> that when we first got here, our next meeting is going to be totally focused on that's already got to, right? >> I'm prepared. Yeah, because I I think we talked about October, but I think I felt like um our county manager said that that would be for the primary election, but does it have to be on the primary bond, Eric? >> It has to be on the the 2026 election, >> right? But that's November. >> Oh, right. Right. So I didn't know because we have a deadline of October but I felt like Chris >> we had suggested October 31st

054of this year to come up with sort of the project scope >> and then over the next three months to develop those cost but the January 31st is sort of the really harder deadline that we push back the October 31st date for the project cost we can do that it just shortens the amount of time that we'd have to u hone in on what the cost of it would be. My goal would be that we come up with a draft of the scope among ourselves this next meeting before we go home. We have that and then let the staff work their magic and with the county and then by our October meeting or yeah our September meeting, late September meeting, we have something we can look at and really really go to town with. So

055that's that's the goals. I know they're lofty, but I'm in a panic over that deadline right now personally. Um okay, Sher Mason. So my goals come from three different areas. One is what I've heard from staff, one is what I've seen in the schools, and one is just um so I'll start with um a couple mention that they had and one of the things that really stood out to me was um the EC teacher who told us he has no prep time. Um they need more bodies. They need more bodies. and my because my heart's with EC, that's where I'm like, let's just let's give them as many as they we can possibly do. So, ideally, I'd love to see um our EC program be top-notch um and have everybody that they need and have

056our teachers because it is though an amazing and rewarding job, it is still very taxing emotionally sometimes. And so making sure that they have we don't lose anybody that I mean that's another way that we can retain our people is to not burn them out and um we can do that by giving them some more support that way. >> Can I attach some numbers to that? >> You surely can sir. >> So back when we had esser funding okay we ran at about 215 special education teacher assistants. We and even then we didn't feel like that was enough. Last year we got down to we could afford 150. We know that that wasn't going to work. So then the first thing we did was assign all of the a lotment of third grade regular ed

057teacher assistants over to EC. I think that got them 20 more. Then in October when we were able to put some money out uh when we scrimped and we saved, we were able to put that towards TA. So we got up to about 195. This year currently we're at 186. But it's a good example of what's the best for the kids in the building. Student with autism does better in a regular education setting because primarily they are going to learn new behaviors. However, sometimes you need someone to go with that kid to shepherd him through that process. If we don't have those people, that really limits that child's ability to be in that other regular ed classroom. So, things like that where we find ourselves scrimping and saving and sort of we may have cut

058to a place where we're not maximizing what the kids' ability is. Thank And we don't want to rub Peter to pay Paul because those gened teachers, they they need the staff as well because there's going to behavior and you're going to see behavior issues and then you're going to have some of those PC kids that are not necessarily in self-contained class. I'm glad you brought that. That are not in that self-contained class that need additional support, too. So, >> I put a pin in that for a second. I would remind you we had that um school specialty specialist report earlier in the year and and remember I I I emphasized to all of you particularly Commissioner Zapple that at the back of it it talked about the drastic situation we were in with our EC

059staffing that everyone was working flat out maxed out and he his I'm going to put my words to his report. We're going to hit burnout and start to fail in our ability to serve kids if we didn't immediately deal with that. So that was we got that in the first part of the year. So here we are lingering. Just don't overlook that. It's for us as board members, it's a constant concern. >> Um and kind of along those lines, I move into my own experience within the schools. So if you don't know, I go and I volunteer with um a deaf classroom. My background is in deaf education. I was a speech therapist um for 13 years. And so when I talk to those people, like they're my people. Um, and so talking to some

060of them, there's concern for me, especially when we look at the fact that we sometimes have to hire agencies to cover some of the speech, the PT, the OT, and the interpreters that we have in our schools. That's expensive. So, um, I would really love to and I know that I've started having conversations with some of the senior staff about how do we retain those positions so we're not spending more on them through an agency. Um, and so I'd really love to be able to cut those costs and make sure that we can have our own in-house interpreter speech PT and OT. Um, because we need to save the money. we need to be able to but also it gives what I've what I've learned talking to some of these individuals they're hired from an

061agency sometimes it's I go in I do my job I come out but if they are inhouse they are in that community they are invested they know the families it's a much better um Dr. this morning when we were at a training was talking about it's about relationship and when you have somebody that's in house there's a relationship. When you have somebody that's from an agency there may be a relationship but it's not going to be the same because they're not they're several different places. So really figuring out how can we retain that and save money that way. And then um the last one is just a a me thing and it kind of goes along with what Mr. for example has the expansion of um a program with not just but also with language.

062I love pipe dream to have um an ASL class as another language for our kids to be able to take. We do have about 50 death kids in our district and it would help them feel more involved in in and valued in our community and so just providing that for our students and giving them an opportunity for other avenue that they can take. We there is an interpreting program at Capefir Community College if they don't take American Sign Language and so we can kind of work through uh get that in there. That's just my selfish what I would like to have. >> Okay. Um, and I would not disagree with any of these. I would agree with everything that we've heard. And it's awesome to me that, you know, what we didn't do was look

063back and say, how are we different from we were August of last year. And I think as a district, we're we're radically different than we were last year. We have improved communication. We have improved test scores. We have improve improved relationship with the county commissioners. We technically have an improved relationship with the community. although you wouldn't know it on Tuesday night, one month a one one week out of every month. Um we have improved relationship with the staff. So I'm really grateful for all those things and I would hope all of those things just continue to advance everything continue to advance. Um, I think besides the state and the federal and the local funding formulas, my biggest concern, which is is it is what we heard the other night when you hear people that are

064desperate for minutes in their day been there. You're up against a wall and when especially when it's an EC um teacher saying, "I can't do another thing. I have no planning." And some of them will say they don't have time to go to the restroom. you know, it it just I want another adult in every school, which was, you know, that 42 positions we asked the endowment for. So, I would really hope somehow we can fund more adults in schools because that was the my big takeaway from the other night. Um, among all these other things that we've said is we just got and and Dr. Barnes is right. You know, eight kids equals a million dollars. So if we bring back more kids, >> eight kids equals one teacher. >> Oh, excuse me. Eight

065kids equals a million dollar. Wait, wait a minute. That is not right. He's one teacher. So if we if we can come if we can come up with eight times 45, you know, we've got that goal and we're headed in the right direction. I think we're definitely not we're not shedding students as rapidly we has in the past, but um those things are are are just vital to if we if we can become the excellent school district that we know that we can be. We certainly have the staff, we certainly have everything in place to do that, then we will attract more students and this thing will correct itself. And so I guess that's where I want to be in August of 26. >> Can I say one exciting thing? Yes, sir. >> Jared, I'm

066gonna apologize first to you because this is going to come to you and and uh Kim and Paul and and Philip. Sorry about this. Um Robin Hamilton is our chief academic officer. She came up with an idea the other day which I think is really powerful. She um found she was the principal at Mason before she shifted into this job and she found out about a student a parent she had known who brought her kid back from a charter school to public school and she called that parent. Thank you for choosing public school as your option. It matters to us. You know, can you share with me why you came back? which led us down the road to we're going to be asking our supervisors and principles to share with us. Every student in the

067district who's returned from a charter school will get a personal phone call to find out why. because that's the key to built ma'am well who's returned to our district who's chosen public school intentionally to find out why to appreciate the fact they're there and see what we can do about bringing more students back. So that's going to be something that's going to be happening over the next month or so as those numbers continue to fluctuate in. But I think one of the things that came out of the town hall last week was a parent saying people will stay where they feel like their kid is valued. So that's part of that initiative to try to do that. We may find information we already know. We might find out things we don't know, but it'll at

068least make my heart feel better if I can actually get my thumb on how many students did we bring back because that's going to help capitalize on what we're doing. >> Madam Chair, Natalie. >> Oh, sorry, Natalie. >> Yeah. So, I just want to um because I'm in this space about employees for my members all the time >> and we've talked a lot about more people. Thank you. Sorry about that. Um there aren't more people, y'all. We got to figure out how we solve some of these PE problems differently. the we are we are at a a retirement cliff where we're going to see fewer and fewer bodies available for the jobs that we have. So you're going to be competing >> with every employer on the face of the earth. And so while we're

069talking about more support needs, Madam Chair, we've also got to be facing the reality that nobody is going to have enough people. And so what are the creative solutions to address more people needs and I get that that that our students, our children are are the most important. They are to me. Mine's 21. He's still the most important thing in my life. Um and and >> no I I think I agree with that to some extent. I will tell you that there are places where we struggle to find enough employees, bus drivers, uh CT teachers, EC teachers, math, science, foreign language. We have not reached our saturation point with other positions to that point yet. um when we put out 20 ecta positions, we get 20 people back in. We we have not reached that

070saturation point yet. >> Period. >> Oh, to to the nation. I I understand that. But I also want to tell you that 38 of our 45 schools are fully staffed or only have one vacancy. That's incredible. >> So, yes, sir. >> I'm not in charge. Sorry. I know. >> Sorry. >> You know, as most of you know, I used to be a principal in another county. I won't county, but it was amazing to me back in the Thank you. uh back in the day that, you know, New Hampshire County paid better. So, I'm like, why is my staff staying here? It's because of the culture of the sta, you know, this the school and it wasn't because of me, it was because of the the them. But that's the thing is if we can build

071a great culture where people want to be and love to go to school and are proud of their school, then people are going to want to say even if they don't get quite as much money or they don't get this or that or whatever else. So that's and I think we're I think we're moving in the right direction and you know I'm going to point back over you but I think that that's it comes from the top and and all the folks but I think it really is a it's getting better in New Hmer County and I think we're moving in the right direction. We just need to keep keep the, you know, the the locomotion going in that direction or the train going in that direction because I think we are moving in the

072right direction. Of course, you know, we could use more money. Absolutely. I'm not saying that teachers are well paid cuz they're not or principals or anybody else. We could, you know, pay folks better. But at the end of the day, I think there's the money is a big factor, but I think the culture is even a bigger factor. >> And we're going to about segue into budget and he's going to tell us where we are right now. But I have a question for Amanda or Eric or both. If I'm not mistaken in a meeting in the past couple of months, I think Eric said something about sales tax and I've been ruminating on that. I think why is sales tax down? Why is sales tax down? It can be because we're such a wealthy county

073and we have, you know, $50 billion worth of a taxable base and so on. And then I realized I do almost all my shopping online. And I asked and I believe I'm correct that there's no sales tax coming to the county when I shop online. So you am I correct that you said that sales tax is down and you forecast it to continue to be down or did I just make that up? >> It's been more flat. It's been the trend line. We're up a little bit over last year. The last few months have actually been pretty good but the trend line has been flat. We had a couple good years 21 22 where it was you know up 10 12 14% but it's really it's really flattened out since then. And what's the ramification

074to the county with a flat sales tax? >> We're not able to sort of keep pace with inflation. If it's the same number of dollars are coming in and costs are going up, it just makes budgeting more difficult. >> I just don't think that's something we ever think about as as residents. I don't think we ever think about that. I don't know that we'll stop shopping online. Um but is it true, Eric, that we don't the county doesn't get online sales tax? Because I know we collect sales tax from companies that have an excess in our state. So it's not like nothing nobody gets sales tax. Does that trickle down to I bought it here online so therefore New Handburg County gets it? >> I should look into that. My understanding has been that the

075state collects the sales tax and allocates it to the counties where that it does get allocated to the counties. But I could be wrong on that. >> Wouldn't it seem logical that we're all shopping a little bit more this year than we were last year? >> Sure. I think we're getting that revenue that but well then I would ask the county why is it flat? What is your expert opinion of why it's flat? >> So we're seeing it across the state. Um and we are actually fairing a little bit better than some of the bigger counties. I know when I've talked to some of the budget officers like in Wake and some other ones, they're actually decreasing. they are having to cut their budgets because sales tax is not coming in. So, it's really based

076on sort of your tourism, your industry, what economy you have in your little niche section of the state. Um, and the other thing I would say is people are buying more online, but people tend, especially right now, are buying stuff. Whereas if you buy experiences, so you go out to a nice dinner, you park on the street, you go to a movie and everything, all of that sales tax is more local and stuff, and you're also supporting the businesses, some boles and other revenues. Whereas if I just buy even a sofa online, I'm getting the stuff and I'm getting one tax. When you're people are out buying experiences and doing things, that's what leads to the more growth economy. What you're going to see more in sales tax coming back to you. So it's those

077economies that have the experiences and the stuff. You tend to see them do a little bit better on sales tax um than places that are a little bit more flat on the experiences. Yes. >> Sat through a presentation by Dr. Machine Gatavi from UNCW side of Paner County. And so that's the technical term is called leakage. And so the money that's earned here is spent in an adjacent county. And so >> halfactly 52% >> live outside of New H County. And so one of the studies he did while the bridge was down for renovation was that he saw Brunswick County brewery sales spiked because they realized they had breweries in their own hometown. They didn't have to come across the river. And so I didn't want to have an alcohol discussion, but it's just a

078good example. Um, and and I'll I'll mention just one industry stat that he noted was that in the industry of finance, for every 100 jobs they're created in New Hmer County, 75 of them come from outside of New Hmer County. So the the the workers are moving to town. Um and I think the what was the statistic he said we in the last since 2020 we've added 50,000 jobs in our tri county area but we've only built 30,000 houses and so housing is always going to be a discussion when you're talking about trying to hire people and >> no period housing period. >> Yeah. Um, we were at a homebuilder presentation with Dr. Machine Govi last quarter and a small business owner stood up and it was like the light bulb just went off. No

079wonder I have my employees keep asking me for more money. They can't afford to live here. And so it it's become a the business community is starting to see this. And so it's it's going to be more difficult for you to compete for employment employees unfortunately. But it's if we're gonna have a discussion about sales tax in N County, I think it's important to understand that h more than half of our employees in New H County don't live in Hendrick County. So they're taking that dollar they earn here and spending it. >> They're going to understand the finances that we have to deal with and draw from. We need to understand that. Thank you for sharing that. >> They're probably not taking all of that dollar and and there are people who um live here

080and work there. I mean there's I mean there there's a lot of dynamics to all of that and and it's unfortunate that we have to think about whether it's education or affordable housing or child care or I could keep going on down the list inside county lines um because our economy is regional. >> Yep. >> We have to >> it's the Costco effect, right? As long as Pender County doesn't build a Costco, we're good. I mean, but >> John, the flip side of this too, we hear it at the county level when you go outside of New Hand County or Pender or Brunswick is that the complaint in other counties is that their citizens work 50 weeks a year and then on two weeks out of the year they come down here to Writesville Beach,

081Carolina Beach and they spend all their discretionary money and the continuation of That thought is that's why we think you should give us some of your sales tax. I'm not making that up. That's a that's a discussion happening up at the legislature. And we say, "No, it's, you know, the investments we've made." >> No, sir. >> The investments we've made is what attracts people. >> Why don't you try investing in your county and maybe we'll come to you. But anyway, I'm just telling you that's the other side of it. There's a lot of resentment that's, you know, from around the state. You know, why is New Hover County, you know, the golden child, uh, for, you know, they get everything for free there? I'm exaggerating, but I'm just saying there's a another side of it.

082>> All right. Well, with that, let's see. >> I'm sorry. >> Can I say one thing? >> Yes, ma'am. Before we end, >> I just want to parlay on Rob's comments. Most people that are moving to Brunswick or Pender because of cost of living are not coming to vacation at Rachel Beach or Carolina Beach. >> There's Surf City that's growing, Oak Island that's growing, Holden Beach. So, you know, I I I think there's Raleigh and Charlotte people coming here. >> Um maybe they drive down for the day to enjoy a different scenery. And I mean, I've gotten so I go to Brigal sometimes to do that. But I disagree with their coming and taking their week or two weeks off to vacation when they don't have money to live here. Sorry, Rob. You and I

083always like to banter. >> That's just my two cents. Sorry. >> Well, it is notable the number of New H county that go to higher elevations for their vacations. It is quite notable. So, Dr. Barnes, bring us up to date or where we are by the minute with our financial picture. So, first off, we talked about building stronger relationships with the county commissioners, with the chamber. The best way to do that is to give everybody a common enemy. So, let's do that for a second. But first, I know that the question comes up of how careful are we being with our funding? So, I wanted to share with you a little bit just about the fabric of this in the state. Guilford County announced that they are going to begin closing schools in an effort

084to consolidate because their funding streams are not sufficient for their students. Winston Salem, and I may have mentioned this in this group before, Winston Salem for Scythe County Schools is facing a $50 million budget deficit from last year. They have cut hundreds of people from their staff and they have are still in a deficit that they cannot figure out how to pay for. Wake County, they cut $18 million out of their budget and they asked their county commissioners for $40 million. Durham County asked for $16 million and now they're facing a $6 million deficit. the the education law center every year does a footprint for each state and North Carolina ranks 48th out of 51 states in the nation for funding level the average per pupil funding from the state is $11,777 we are four

085ours is, excuse me, I'm sorry. When you put everyone's money together, 11,777 per kid, state average. The national average is 16,645 for every single kid we have. And if you want to go ahead and do that math just to bring us someone do that, pick up your calculator. We have 24, we're going to say 245 24,500 students. Multiply that by 4,868. That's the difference between the North Carolina funding and the national average. How much money is that? >> 119,266,000. >> Don't worry about the bond. I got it covered. If we were making the national average, it would significantly change that narrative. And I'm not going to say the state is the issue. But to some extent, what it forces districts and county commissioners to do is to play chicken with each other >> because I

086had to come to you and say, "Don't you care about kids?" Cuz you're the only people I can prove do. So, this is not simply a problem that we're experiencing in New Hover. This is a problem. Okay. It's a nationwide problem, but it also has to be coupled with what you said, John, which is the fabric of the nation is changing. What you said, Natalie, there's less workers the education is is enrollment is on a decline. Our job is to not decline here because that is the safest way to ensure funding. So I was all hot and ready uh about a week ago. I called Mr. Kudray and said, "I'm coming. I'm coming. I need the money and I'm coming for you. >> We're going with it." you know, and and I said, I really

087wanted to go back and ask you guys for a graduated stepdown for the pre-K classroom, number of pre-K classrooms, simply because a rapid change of altitude drops out the oxygen masks, and that's a lot to sort of reconcile all at once. But I took a minute and sat back and and really did some some looking at things. The federal funding currently has been promised to been been released. The title two, three, and four, that's $1.6 million. We were not we were sort of not given. That money has been delivered to the states. It has not delivered been delivered to us yet. So, I was kind of like, okay, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I said, I I'll wait till I see that money first, but we are expecting

088that that money is going to come back. Whether we like it or whether we don't like it, the state approved a mini budget that the governor Stein did Stein today. The mini budget approved for a 1% or what was basically called a step increase for all staff, which would be less than we budgeted for. Now, we can't just go rogue and say we're going to pay our people blleh because this we have to follow some of these state structures, but it does mean that some of the things that we were worried about passing may or may not have passed in the same way that we expected it. >> We anticipated a 3%. >> Do I think our teachers and staff and and bus drivers deserve 3%? You bet. Will I say that 1% almost seems

089a little bit like an insult? Well, I maybe not go that far, but I don't want, you know, I said it on Tuesday night, and thankfully that got in the paper, which I don't know why they quote me in this regard. It's important to mow my own lawn before I complain about what my neighbor's yard looks like. Before I go back to the county and say, "I need more funding," I need to be 100% sure that I've looked through every pocket of my laundry for change and turned over every rock before I say, "We don't have money." Now that's balanced against I have people to answer to too and it's the community that I that we serve and they are concerned about the level of number of adults and eyes on kids in buildings. So,

090I don't want to say wait and see, but I think until the state budget gets signed, until all these things shake all the way out, I don't I want to come back to you when I know that I'm out, when I'm tapped out, not when I think I might be because I want to be fair to you folks, too, because quite frankly, the nurse thing is a hit. It's a significant hit. I I can dance and bob and weave around prek a little bit. I can figure out the the stipen and the supplements, but nursing because they don't come from us is is a hit. But I also know that a year from now, we're going to be coming folks with a a bond that we know our kids need and deserve. And I don't

091want to I just don't want to I need to make sure that we've been fiscally responsible before I ask for other people for that funding. We have moved a prek classroom. Um, we had a prek that that did not have students in it at Writesboro. How has a waiting list for four-year-olds. We can maximize more students and more funding if we move that empty classroom to how. So, you guys have that in email right now, by the way. You see it? So, there are things that we can try to do to make this fiscally responsible on our own. If I don't feel like we can do the best thing for children or that we cannot keep children safe, then you realize that that's going to be something we're going to come back and talk about,

092but I don't think we can say that yet without budgets that are signed and approved. >> Can I ask you to put a pin in it? And >> can I just ask one follow? What's the timeline look like for that? I mean, >> for the state passing a budget, >> mowing the grass and the change and all that stuff. Yeah. I'm just curious because budget thoughts for next year will start probably >> when when will we know more? >> For next year. Yeah. Okay. >> When will we know more? Is that what you're asking? >> Right. Right. That's what I'm >> I'll kick that one over to Ashley. >> So, I just want to add a couple of things and then if I can circle back. So, um the governor did sign that house bill.

093I think it was 125 which is the mini budget yesterday afternoon. So, that unless they come back with something else that is the state budget. I I don't know that there. So, we're planning to move forward assuming that is the state budget. um one of the so 1% right versus our conservative 3% estimate on raises right so I just don't want everybody to think there's all this money so let me just keep going um God I hope I didn't impress so I just want to make sure so um the state reduced us for our local supplement support because our tax um assessed tax values now that threshold is beyond fund. >> Um, so we don't qualify. We're not eligible for that funding anymore. So that was a little over 2 million. So >> $50.7 billion

094in our taxable including the personal property tax. >> So we're running numbers now on the budget side, but um we've been talking I and I think we're going to be pretty close at 2% that we had put aside for salaries. But I think now we're hopefully be able to use that for the supplements because that we were also hoping talk to the county that maybe that the county in the state budget would increase that threshold because that was a threshold from the prior year but that was not included in the state mini budget. So I'm I do not anticipate we would get that support as we have in the past. So that's where we're so I just want to make sure you guys know we do have a plan for that 2%. Um, and then

095circling back to your question, was that about next year's budget or was that this year's budget? >> Dr. Barnes is saying he's going to after all these decisions get made know exactly where you're going to be in order to know if you need to come back to the county. I was just wondering what a timeline look is that this this year >> before the end of this this fiscal year, not fiscal year. Could it be I don't know. Well, some of that I'm I'm waiting in line before they approve the budget, right? So, like the state wanders their budget somewhere between July and October, like you know, so we don't know. I think that we've got to the other factor that I don't think we can measure is that until we get to the 10th

096day, >> right? Okay. Because one of the other things we budgeted for is to have blank number of kids. If we have more kids than we projected for what 10th day means. >> Okay. Sorry. Um the state measures our enrollment after the 10th day of school because kids filter in in the first week or so. So next year's funding level from the state will be based on our 10th day enrollment. Correct. No, our PMR best one of two, which is basically month one and month two enrollment. But be that as it may, just work with me here. So once we get to our 10th day, if we have a hundred more kids than we expect, then that's money that we can then utilize and spread around. So it may not be we may be able

097to hoist this freight ourselves without going back to the county. But you should know within the next three months if I feel like, you know, because it's also got to be we get to October, November, we've run some payrolls, we know what we're looking like. Okay, let's map this out all the way to June. Do we make it? Because honestly, last year we were able to scrimp and save a million dollars that we put back out into schools. And poor Ashley heard that from me today. She I want to find that money again that we can, you know, be careful and save and not travel and do what else can we do? But we just don't know that until we get our enrollment finalized. So, but my thing is I will talk to the board.

098I will talk to Chris and you folks. Nothing's going I'm not going to pop up at a meeting one time with a with a bill. >> So, Dr. Barnes, the >> the 10th day this current school year will be the day after our next meeting. Is that right? >> Uh, no. Because you've got we have like 11 different calendars. The 10th day is sometime after Labor Day. >> Okay. So, traditional school starts back on the 18th though, right? >> No, traditional school starts back on the 26th. >> Okay. What starts back on the 18th? >> Hang on. >> C Tech and Wex. Okay. Teachers. >> Yeah. >> Oh, teachers come back. Yeah. Yeah. >> Yes. Miss Barard. >> In preparation, a couple things. I think um this board has has been advocating for a lot

099of things that brought was brought up in this room at the state level. And so, I hope that you can join our advocacy. I know many members from this group took a trip to Raleigh. I've been up there numerous times and we have a legislative agenda because we understand that we want to advocate for change. So, this is not coming to you with a onetime fix, but as along the lines of bond and capacity needs, I know this is what we're prepared for this next meeting. Um, looking at the capacity and safety up to date is very important and make sure that these individuals have the information. But in addition, um I would like to offer how often have we shared the capacity of our current facilities with our both our county and our city

100leaders because what I'm seeing the trend is we're kind of maintaining and like you have said and I I want to encourage that if students are coming back to our schools to get that funding and sort but what I have seen just from mom life in our community is an explosion of growth in certain areas of the county and not so much and So in addition to trying to find the best management possible for our students, we're seeing difficulty in some areas to even house the students that we have in other areas not. And so um the conversation of obviously redistricting will happen with a bond. Um but I don't think it's smart to do it and then a year later potentially to do it again. And so I if there's a way to send

101to our partners at the county level and at the city level the consistent capacities of our schools more often than we're currently doing, they need to know this while they are um addressed with the potential of reszoning for different needs. And I'm saying both at the county level and the city level. And so I don't know if there's a way that we can do that on a monthly basis, but they need to see the most accurate up-to-date numbers of the capacity of our students and of our buildings because while these decisions are being made and um we will serve the students the best of our abilities, but there are some schools that it's extremely difficult for spacing wise to maintain them and if they are zoned in our district, we're required to serve them. And

102so I think it's we need to open that pipeline of communication a little bit more as we go and navigate this together. >> Can I just respond to that just quickly? Uh I think we see that information certainly on a monthly if not every two weeks at every commission meeting when we have a uh whenever we have a land use issue like a conditional zoning or special use permit. One of the pieces of information they give us is the school capacity wherever in the county that land use issue or that resoning is happening. Now whether it's the most upto-date >> that's what I'm concerned with. >> Well then impossible but we we consider you know school capacity as a critical infrastructure. It's an issue that I know that I've brought up and uh Commissioner Walker

103uh in our, you know, deliberation on on reszonings. So, if if it's not up to date, I I hope that we can make it up to date. >> I think it's up to date. I just don't think maybe we as board members have as much access as we want to it. But >> we certainly ask >> if I'm if I'm mistaken, I thought it was we were sending on a on a annual basis and I'm saying that I think maybe we need to re-evaluate how often we're able to update those versus an annual basis. >> We can do that, but I don't capacity doesn't change monthly. Our enrollments may change monthly. Um, and based on what our projected enrollments are going to be for the upcoming year, those capacities may change. Um, but you know,

104as far as I I can't speak for the city, and that's something I can look into in terms of how often we share that with them, but I I I know I wasn't here last year in this role, but I know Rebecca Roth and we've talked, she receives that information um on a regular basis, and it's something we can talk about. if it if the county would like to see it more often, we can. But I also worry about the idea of inundating you with information that hasn't changed drastically. Um enrollment figures um typically and and I'll just speak from experience at the high school level, it at the beginning of the year, the enrollments fluctuate, but it's not fluctuating 200 kids, right? It's it's a it's a 10 here, 15 there over a span

105of a few months. Would you agree with that, Mr. Sutton. Um, >> sure. Sure. >> Yeah. And maybe maybe maybe we can get you to include it in our our our updates when we get those weekly from the superintendent. We're about to run out of time, but I just want to point out I have a snack here. It has pretzels and it has peanuts. I have never asked him or her if she had a peanut allergy. But if our students parents pack this snack and their school doesn't have a school nurse, we have a problem. I just want to point out that one little fact. School nurses are still a burning issue for us. Take it away, Dr. >> I would agree. >> I would I would say I don't the commissioners in this room

106understand that fully. too. We have certain students that have to have in their medical safety plan. You know, so many of the issues that we're talking about here relate back to the other side of the argument to us when it comes to funding is we're we're meeting the state standards or meeting the state minimum >> and they're out of date, >> right? So, I think the focus of the school board >> and this committee uh could be talking to our state representatives and saying these uh minimums are out of date. But that's what we hear back during the budget negotiations is, "Oh, we're just going to default to the state minimums." And we say, as both Commissioner Walker and myself until we're blue in the face, those are not enough and certainly not enough for

107New Hmer County where we have the ability to get a nurse in every school. How did we end up here? >> Okay, Dr. Barnes, take it close us out. I want to make sure you guys understand that that we do have some availability to sort of move things around. Do I think we need 50 more positions in schools where they can support kids? Yes. But if I get that from if we achieve that through our endowment request, that maybe takes the pedal off the gas a little bit with the county. I mean, there is some shifting around that can happen. If we find ways to make prek more viable financially on its own, then we can redirect that title one carryover money that we have earmarked to support prek and put it back into our

108other title one schools. So there is some movement that can happen and and more than anybody I've ever met, Ashley's good about maneuvering those things around to make them fit in the best way possible. That's the other reason not to go back to the county because I don't have, you know, my back's against the wall, but it's not pushed against the wall yet. Okay. And I think that that's where my dialogue and remember uh Paul and and Kim and Philip last year, we went we sat down at a principal meeting and we talked about budget for a long time and they gave me 25 things that they needed and that was easy. The hard part was I said, "Okay, now rank them." and that that conversation was a whole lot harder. But at the same

109time, there's the people in this room who struggle with I shouldn't be trying to figure out whether I need a social worker or a nurse if I know I need both. But I have to be realistic to the world we live in, the population, >> the funding, and all those other things, too. So anyway, that was all to say we're meeting with the endowment again today. We've already put in our application. Go endowment. >> Yeah. All right. So, we already have a date set for our next meeting. So, I would ask you to look forward into September and tell me it Yes, sir. >> I I just want to make it a a point for everybody to know the next meeting is scheduled for August 27th. Correct. >> So, that's the second day of school

110for our traditional calendars. uh principles are very busy during that time. So, we might have to have some flexibility whether or not they're able to attend. Um just note that second day of school is it's a lot going on on those days. >> Kind of like the first day only. It's the second day. >> We did not take that into consideration, but with a group this large, I'm always loathed to move a meeting. Um >> and I I think it's okay. And if they're able to, we have a virtual option for them to attend, too. and and yeah, that might be the best way >> at but if you guys look at September if we could look at that if we're meeting on the we're meeting it it's the 27th right I have it myself

111it's a Wednesday so it's an off day for us um but that September meeting is going to be pretty important too because we literally we would we would you know I'm looking to see um you know the scope at least in a concept Not not completely drafted but in September. We need to have the scope >> and project with project cost. Is 18th word of September for everybody? Thursday to 18th? >> Ashley says no. >> Well, I just wanted to ask Eric a question because I was thinking that um the priority list needed to go to our board for approval before it went you guys. And I I was thinking that was what we were trying to get done by October. So, I just wanted to make sure if we bring it back to this

112group and have another discussion. I'm sorry. Yeah. If we bring it back to this group in September, so if we talk about the 27th and then come back in September and talk again, it does it still need to go to our board for approval before we can kind of send you that list. So, you know, >> again, the October 31st is not a hard and fast date. We got a little bit of flexibility there. >> Okay. >> More definitive that list is as close to that date as possible. That gives us more develop what the costs are associated with it. >> Right. >> By January 31st, we've got to have the list of projects and the dollar amounts associated with them. And that's again that's that's sort of the the deadline that doesn't move. We

113got a little bit of flexibility. >> Okay. But we it needs to go to our board and our board needs to approve before it goes to you guys, right? I mean I think that's the way >> I would think. Yeah. This being we present to the board and we bring it >> and our board can be like all boards are wild card. So we need that flex time. So how do you feel about the 18th actually? >> Yes. That's good. Anybody else had a right big concern with the 18th? >> And pencil it in, please. >> Yes. >> Pencil it in. >> Principles, just as an aside, your building comes first. Yes. We appreciate you guys being here. This is val to have your input, but kids come first. Yeah. >> May I ask a

114timing clarification question? So, um, don't we already have the costs of all of the facilities that we I feel like we got that early on in this process. >> Yeah. I mean, I I have some of that here. I don't think that's a heavy lift. I think it just has to be has some polish maybe, right, Rob? because I guess I guess the you know to when we talk about what happens and when we have to get it to the county I certainly want to give the county staff all of the time that they need so that it it will be the best list as possible and I just wonder if we're not closer than October 31st requires but but I'll leave that between y'all. I mean, I think we may be answer question. >>

115Okay, if we're done, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. >> Meeting a journ. Thank you very much. Did we get did we get our rankings that we did last time? >> He's not giving them back to us. He's been a little