001Good evening, everybody. The Merch County Board of Education is in session. It's 4:00 p.m. It is May the 2026. Uh we have a budget session. All board members are present. The superintendent is present as well as a lot of staff. So, we're going to jump right into the board budget work session. Uh So, I will turn it over to our treasurer. >> Great. Thank you. Um I would first like to say thank you to Dr. Filipek, Dr. Adkins, Mrs. Mitchell. Uh lot of our budget, as you know, is based upon staffing, and that is the first thing we always do is cover staffing in our budget, and they did a very thorough job. As you know, we lost over 300 students from year to year. Um so, we needed that as the foundation for our
002budget, and and I wanted to thank them especially for that. Mr. Toman gave us a goal, and they met the goal. So, that that's that's what it what is a is a great team. The first thing I'd like to do is um help explain how we build the budget. So, we printed um some of the instructions from the state. Basically, the state does a review of our budget, which is how we should build our budget, and that is looking at year-over-year expenses to make sure that we meet we have enough budgeted for utilities, we have enough budgeted for transportation. Then they also provide us our comps, and that those that's the state funding formula that we have all the different steps. So, that's how we build the budget. The document that Jordan is passing out
003right now are some of the key things that they check for. They check for vehicle supplies, they check our property tax revenue to make sure that our levy was budgeted as it was approved by the state um auditor's office and the and the county. And retirement, those are types of things that that they are going to check. So, as we build the budget, the first thing we do is look at revenues. Dr. Adkins receives his funding for federal programs through GPS. We budget those. Those are basically a net funded between salaries. The majority of of those funds are used for salaries and expenses. So, after we layer in all of our mandatory expenses, our utilities, our, you know, PEIA increases, any raise increase, that's when we actually can uh can really start to look at
004our discretionary funds um to to present those to you. One of the things um it's actually I think on page five of the document that you just received is something new that the state is implementing this year. And ironically, it's something that we've done the past 3 years, and that is reconcile our head count through RIFs and transfers to make sure that we account for the correct number of employees. Um so, we will be completing this this year. Basically, how many did we cut? How many were actually abolished? And then how many were added? We actually um I have a graphic for you to show just what we've done for that today. But in essence, what I've done will be transferred over to this as well. This, of course, is for them to help ensure
005that we are as our state aid decreases, our enrollment decreases. They're just doing you know, a double-check to make sure from their perspective that we're we're meeting the cuts and changes that we need to make. So, with that said, I also have a staffing summary that will show you by professional and service the staffing changes that were recently im- implemented. I um we started with our certified list in October. And then I reconciled all of those positions in professional and that's in blue and then in service in green. And you will see that in the budget initial budget that we are working on um in essence we had a cut of about 19 professional positions and service positions. 29 and a half service positions. And I'll I'll let you take a look at that and
006um in essence we had you know we are ending our head count with 1,194.5 positions it is what is in our budget right now. For professionals as you know we cut the CIS positions we had various other positions that were primarily vacancies. We do know that we need to add one and a half more school resource officers, an English teacher at Bluefield Middle, a commercial sewing instructor at Mactec and a guidance counselor at Mactec as well. Again you have to approve all of those but that's what been submitted to us. >> It's my understanding and and somebody correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't the state pay for our program for 3 years? >> It will. >> Okay. >> But again we still have to account for our head count positions as well. When I
007submit the budget I have to account for all head count positions whether it's grant funded, federal funded, etc. But yes the commercial sewing instructor is going to come out of Perkins for the first 3 years. She also received a $2,000 grant a couple of weeks ago to help offset some of the expenses for the instructor as well. >> Good. >> Um again I'm just presenting now the preliminary where we are and all of these will will be up for discussion unless you want to stop me. I I um will be glad to stop for questions or if you want to to discuss any of that. >> I have a question then. >> Yes. >> From my opinion, I can't I can't keep up with all the initials. CIS what's that? >> That was this community
008in the schools program. Those were the security aids in green. We cut none of those positions. >> Leslie, on the professional staff box, second one down, teacher/vacancies, minus 16 and 1/2. We cut We cut the programs. >> Some of that I really just didn't um list out all of those positions, but those were all of those that were approved on the last agenda. That did include the McTech positions. I think there were three from there. There were six vacancies, I believe, at Princeton Senior High, Dr. Fillipeck. Um then we had the position at central office. It included that. I didn't take time to spell all of those out, but those are all included in that 16 and 1/2. >> So, Crystal, if those are vacancies without, we're talking teachers. >> Yes. >> Certified teachers or
009the ones in an alternative certification. So, if the classes are still being offered, then we'll put subs in. >> So, >> Is that a fair question? >> I'm not sure which how to answer your question. So, if you have a true vacancy where we don't have a certified teacher there, and we cut the position, then those students will be absorbed because the numbers are low and not for other teachers to absorb those numbers. That's our vacancies. Now, as far as us cutting positions where a teacher was physically certified in that position, it's because of low enrollment numbers as well. >> Okay. >> And so they can be absorbed as well. >> Okay. >> So there will not be subs, is what he's asking. There will just not be those classes anymore. >> Is the goal
010to be as close to the state aid as we can get? Is that the goal? >> For we will never be 100% there because there's so many of our positions that are not funded through state aid. Um but our goal is to be as low over as possible. >> Okay, that's what I thought. I just wanted to make sure. >> Yes. >> Absolutely. And again, because of our excess levy, we are able to do this. >> Right. >> If not, um you know, we still have social workers, we still have, you know, Title 1 pays for a lot of things that may be extra that we we can use because we can use the levy for so many other things. >> Uh-huh. >> Um but >> So this question's probably more for Dr. Filipek and
011that is have are there any professionals that are seeking employment that don't have it at this point? >> So we will have um of course our social workers that will be they're on break fall and we don't have enough positions for them. >> Okay. >> Um right now um all of our elementary people should be back. I mean, I don't think there's maybe one or two and that's because there's specialty like the certification here in the tech center. Those are the ones that I'm thinking of. >> How we doing on on service? Not as well, I take it. >> Service, our aids will be um a problem because we don't have enough positions for that. Um but we do have other positions other positions that are available. They would just have to take a classification
012test and and go outside of classification right now. >> Okay. All right. >> But, you know, right now we do have um some aides that were on transfer that have taken secretarial positions. And so, that helps bring back more aides back into the >> And that it creates an opening. >> Yes. >> All right, good. Good. Could I go back to the security aides then? Um Most of those security aides, where were they most of them located? And are they high schools or across the board? >> Secondary. >> In secondary. And how were they hired originally? Help me out with that. >> They were hired as aides with supervisory. So, um it would say aide and then in parentheses we would have instructional or we would have aide with parentheses security. So, that way we
013knew if they were going into the ISS environment or whether they were actually in security. >> So, did we eliminate all of those or were just cutting back? >> So, we um eliminated all of the security aides. We still have the ISS aides. >> Okay. Thank you. So, how many are we over now? What is our What is our number over formula? >> So, that's a good question. >> kind of see that on this one. So, >> I brought that in separate scratch sheet. Sorry. >> We have scores for campuses but we don't have any aides. >> So, probably We're still over about 40 >> That's right. So when they look at professionals, it's just the the classroom teachers in state aid funded. So when you're I didn't really look at those, but most of
014the positions we cut we were 10 over starting off in just classroom teachers. So I think we're right at the classroom teacher right at 10. So we're right at it for professionals. Right right at zero for professionals. Maybe plus or minus one. Um but again, then you have to look at all of the others, which are not in when they publish how many you're over, we are not included in that total. They do not include any of our positions that are required by law, but not funded. >> Got you. So um >> So if you look at our total of 1194, it's going to show we're significantly over. But in the com- analysis that the state presents, they don't include any of us. >> Right. So the overage in service is partly due to the
015261-day employee uh option that we chose a few years back. >> we calculated 30 about 30 of those positions are just from the 261. >> So we're in we're in really good shape then on numbers. >> We are in excellent shape. >> And so anything over that 200 day, you know, was calculated there. >> It's half a a half an employee, right? >> So yes, the 261 does impact it, but we would have been impacted anyhow had we had 204 days, 210 days, 220 days, whatever it is. >> So we're consistent with past years then in terms of uh I mean, we're actually below where we typically are on professionals. >> We are. >> about where we would be with actual bodies, not the half for 261s. On service, okay. >> I think 55 about
01655 in service. 30 of that 55 is just 261 versus 200. So, about 25 extra in service. And we are going to have that. We will as long as we have the the number of facilities we have, we're going to be over. >> Okay. >> I I find it interesting that Mr. Atkins, I mean, I like our HVAC guys are some of these that went to from 261. A lot of Weren't they two 220s? >> 240s anyway. So, you add >> We We've got about five positions. The difference between 240 and 261 for the whole district is about five positions. >> So, it's five positions. >> Mhm. >> Okay. >> But our turnover has We have seen a decrease in turnover between that and the additional pay scale or indexes for those certifications. He still
017struggles. >> But What do you say the last >> He still struggles keeping people, but not nearly as bad. >> Well, I mean, I know being part of the community, I know guys that help influence their decision whether to go or stay or actually to come back >> Good. >> in private industry. And so, I think that's I mean, accomplish but honestly >> How do you do? >> there's any money well spent, you got to have a roof over your head. So, >> And heat and air conditioning. We know that. Absolutely. >> So, I think that's a plus. >> So, any other questions? This may change but by the time we present the budget um because uh I do think of things that we may have to add a few back or MLA in special
018ed. I don't know that I put her speech head count in here as an add back and I might have to do that. So, um at just I'll throw that as a caveat that might change a little bit, but um if not, it is a significant reduction. As you can see, she eliminated speech tele- the special ed tele-speech positions because we were doing tele-speech, so she had to have an aid escort the students and be present with the students. So, she's going to move those over to professional and I did not include that head count, so I will tell you I need to change that. >> And members of the board on on the agenda at 6:00 you have a action item to approve a position. Any new position we will bring to you just
019other today. That's the only one that's going to start possibly July 1. So, therefore, that we brought that to you, but Dr. Philbeck has the others from the uh Carhart, the sewing, to the uh counseling here at the tech center. Those will come later. We just didn't put them packaged into this agenda that quick. >> Got you. >> You all, but anything we abolish, we we add, we bring that to you. You guys got that in the minutes that you approved that. >> Got it. One last position we'll be interested in is um the ag position, the possible position at Pike View High School. What's the Where are we with that? >> So, we continued to advertise for that position last year. We had a candidate um this past week and and so, um >>
020Thank you. Thank you, sir. >> advertise now. We have a non-segment And I've you know, when you've got 40-some jobs, I try to skip through them to see what I have. >> If I'm not mistaken, we do have a certified applicant. Now, whether or not that applicant wants to come to Marshall County or not, I'm not sure. But, we'll we'll know soon. >> When we were in training, they were talking about alternative certifications and they particularly mentioned CTE as being a place where it might be beneficial. If if we can't fill that position, then maybe that's something we need to look at. Approaching a alternative certification for the acquisitions. >> So, my understanding, there are certain positions that you cannot just um fit into the the alternative certification and I thought CTE was one of
021those. Now, there may be some things that are different. >> This is a new statute. >> Yeah, it may be up and coming, but nothing has been rolled out to us as of yet. >> Well, when we were presented we looked at each other and a light bulb went off that we were going >> heard it last week. Just last week. It's It's brand new. >> And it's It's already passed. It's Yeah, it's statute. It's It's passed. So, of course, the State Department, which is not currently issuing any rulings or policies because of the issue with the lawsuit, everything's kind of frozen. Uh so, we would be on our own trying to figure out what the statute means and how to approach it, but it's certainly uh when it when we get some better guidance,
022it would be good. I'm hoping that the certified ag instructor wants to come to Marshall County, it solves our problem. >> Absolutely. >> We had a brief discussion among Mrs. Mitchell, Dr. Atkins, and I with this weekend. I had an old connection at W the ag the head of the ag program coached his son at Morgantown High, but I don't know where Dr. Garten's at. I was going to do some checking there, but that was just a quick drive-through discussion this week. I think Friday or Thursday there we talked about that, but that's absolutely right there on our on our info. >> And I know that um we already reached out to Virginia >> I was going to say Virginia Tech has a huge ag program, so >> The state says we need somebody, so
023somebody in the So, um Mr. Adkins just distributed our our IT software needs, but before we start that, I want to mention that that as I said utilities, I'm increasing 5% for next year, transportation expense 5%. We also are required to put in a 3 to 5% contingency. I have built in the maximum 5% contingency. That's $7.1 million. That is recommended a minimum of 3% maximum or up to 5% for our budget to help fund any unknown um contingencies. So, that is built into the budget. In addition, we discussed internally and would like to present um for your consideration increasing our the bonus to employees who take um five or less sick days per year. Right now, professional >> Listen, will it get louder and clearer if you just get closer? I'm sorry. >> I
024feel like I'm so loud. I'm sorry. Okay. Um >> We're all >> Okay. I get it. Okay. >> I hear just fine, but I guess I'm being loud. >> There must just be a lot of feedback. It seems Does it seem loud to you? It seems really loud to me. So, at any rate, um so, did you hear about the contingency that's built into the budget? >> Think about it. >> We've also the service personnel union has requested this, and as a leadership team, we've also considered this. We have no incentive for employees for service employees not to use their sick days. Professionals, by law, receive $500 if they take five or less sick days per year. What we would like to consider is designated $100,000 in this budget to increase the professional bonus to
0251,000 and offer service employees $500 if they do not use five if they use five or less sick days per year. We paid about 40,000 38,000 dollars last year. So, we would double that and then add um a 50,000 or so in I think that's a concern you know, a very conservative number that would cover that. That's built into this budget as well. Again, you don't have to we can discuss it, but I just want to give you all the components that are built in and then we would have a policy to to bring to you regarding that as well. >> So, we get 75% of the year and we're still sitting on 6 million dollars in contingency. Do we just roll that over to the next year or can we start deciding on projects
026at that point? >> Well, the contingency is in our financial statement. So, that's what they want to see us as a reserve every year. If we have any from this year, then we can spend that at the end of this year. And so, I'm what I'm talking about today does not affect this year at all. But, we will have some contingency for this year. >> the end of the year, if we've got 4 and 1/2 million dollars left in that budget uh that's money that we could utilize for projects if we chose to. >> Yes. >> But, you have to wait till the year's out. >> But, you got to wait till the year's out. >> Yes. Basically, we'll true it up. We will not record another 7 million dollars next year. We will just
027keep that balance. So, whatever that is that fluctuation is, yes, we could do that. You we can roll that over, absolutely. Um so, the other thing that's built into our budget is software. Um Mr. Toman and Mr. Murphy have worked very hard with uh Dr. Adkins and and Mrs. Mitchell and their teams to compile a list of all the software and IT needs that we have. At this point, we have about $2.6 million built in, and these are from various funding sources. Some of these come from excess levy, some of these come from step seven, some of these come from title one. What we did is ensure that we have funds in each one of these projects or in our county to cover all of these. >> Brent has the microphone, huh? So, on the
028student device yearly refresh, how often do students get new laptops if they're not damaged? >> So, we we have a 4-year refresh cycle. That's what we use. But, unfortunately, to make that happen every year, we have an annual expense. We refresh the second grade, the sixth grade, and the ninth grade every year. >> Okay. >> So, that that starts them in the second grade. Um then, of course, then 6 to 8, and then starting in the ninth grade, they get the the new devices as well. >> Okay. >> But, every year we have that expense. So, we There have been discussions of trying to stretch that out. >> Mhm. >> Um because we this year alone, the student device cost went up $100, and that was a negotiated price. It should have went up $160
029for purchase price. So, essentially, we're paying $423 a device for laptops for student laptops. >> Okay. >> These have gone up 170% since 2018, 2019, Brent? Is that what we looked at? >> Every bit of it, yes. >> For comparable for comparable technology in current day times, I guess. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> And so, that's And so, we're using Windows-based >> Mhm. systems. If we went to Chrome, we would save money, would we not? And we would save significant money, would we not? >> We could. Yes. >> Okay. But then we've got the issue with a Microsoft environment and a and a Chrome-based a Google-based system. >> the student devices, one of the we actually had this discussion this morning. One of the the kind of the philosophical things that we wanted to when
030the student graduates from Mercer County Schools as a senior, we want to prepare them for the business world. And if they're going to the business world, they're using a Microsoft device. They're not going to use a Chrome device in a business world for the most part. And that that was why we we were trying to better prepare the the students for a business setting. Um however, that was 2017. So. >> It may get to the point where the price they price themselves out of the >> Absolutely. >> the market. >> And so the and and to the Windows with the Windows device, we're just going through a Windows 11 upgrade this summer. That um essentially, the operating system kind of dictates what kind of hardware you use. Uh Windows 11 won't install on a a
031device that was 5 years old. Just won't do it. It won't work. So, uh and and when you mentioned Chrome, Chrome will. Chrome Chrome's still about 8 years. Um right now, they're running on like an 8-year cycle where an 8-year-old device will still load Chrome and still work and do the things we need to do. >> Okay. If you decide to uh go to the less expensive option, would it have to be a gradual roll in, or would the whole county have to be done the same time? >> Actually, the good thing is um in the last um I think 3 years, these last generations that we bought of these Lenovo 100Ws will support Chrome. You can load Chrome on them. So, we can use same hardware, we could run a different operating system on
032the same hardware. So, that is an option. But, it it is a very it's something that not to enter lightly because you enter the you basically pick an ecosystem, you pick a Microsoft ecosystem or or Google ecosystem, and then there's Gmail accounts and there's a whole other set of things that you And and and Apple's another option. Apple's got a a $500 laptop now that's a very good option, but that then you have an Apple ecosphere. That's that's a different. >> We still have iPads for the younger kids, right? >> Yes. Pre-K to Pre-K to 1 have iPads. And they are on a much longer refresh cycle. We found that the devices that don't go home um will last quite a bit longer generally. And generally those devices stay in the schools. >> I'm sorry.
033>> I could imagine that. I'll say maybe Apple devices last longer. You know I'm pro-Apple. Brett doesn't like Apple. >> I'm staying neutral, but >> It's starting to sound like it's a bomb. >> positively they have a better resale value. The the ones that we bought the first time, I will give them that positively they they sold at a much higher rate than than the Lenovo device. >> So, which changing which one of these is our phones? Is that Communications Consultants or somebody else? >> Both. So, the Frontier Communications is on there for $210,000. >> That's for the service, right? >> is for the phone service. And so, the maintenance of that is Communication Consultants. >> All right, so that's $75,000. >> Yes. >> Have we looked at or thought about doing that in-house? >>
034That that has been looked at. Keep in mind though, that is cabling. So, there's several aspects to that. They actually they work with Frontier to be our kind of our uh our middle person in any circuit issues, any troubles, anything like that. That's one piece of it. The other piece of it is they do all of the cabling and the programming for the phones. So, if a fax line's out, if something's out, that's what they do as well. So, yeah, we would have to we would have to absorb all of that work. >> Okay, so it's 75,000. Um >> Well, now, keep in mind that's not just labor. So, that's parts as well. So, every new phone phones are like $300 a piece. >> Right. >> If we have to replace a phone, that's included
035in this cost. That's all I think that 75,000 is the complete cost that we pay Communication Consultants all in. So, any cable they run, they supply the cable. Any phones they replace, they supply the phones. So. >> So, have we actually looked into what it would cost us to to just either cross-train or just hire another person that did it in-house? >> Um I don't know the labor on that. I No, I don't think we've separated the labor from the cost. >> All right. >> I don't know that answer. We can look at it if you Yeah. >> We would pay more to bring it in-house. Now, then we would have additional time, of course, too, that they could work on something else, too, because >> Contractor rate versus yeah. >> Cuz it wouldn't be
036a full-time position. I mean, not just for doing the phones. >> Well, and I think historically, and this is before my time, it was finding that person. >> Yeah. >> Finding a resource to do that was the was the issue. >> 100%. I walked in and some of you can still remember Low Brothers. It was low bid and we had no phones that worked. >> Uh >> An electrical company got the bid. >> Yeah, I've been there, but I also use um What is the company that I'm using now? I bought two phones up them in I put in some data and I have phones that work every day all the time 100% of the time now you know if there's just two phones it's not what 700 800,000 how many there are but I
037mean I'm most of these are voice over IP is that not right is okay just looking for money savings. >> Absolutely I think the big cost the big cost is the frontier cost the 210,000 is a is a big chunk of change that is legacy PRI is that are around through Frontier there are other ways to do that for sure and so we we are looking at some options there as well because that's a that's a big chunk of change would like a company like Optimum I think that's how you say it would they be able to pick up. >> All the schools they there's several out there there's there's multiple providers that can provide dial tone the the issue is the on-site service they can provide the dial tone from Dallas Texas and and
038get you the service but when that fax line breaks who's going to fix who's going to go out and rewire that that fax physically when that cable gets cut that's what we have to have a resource for to do that 75,000 couldn't be interfaced with a new. >> What different carrier they won't supply the labor they won't the ones that I've talked to I haven't found a one that will do a full it's a they provide using now is exclusive to Frontier no no so so it's different so right I think maybe I'm misunderstanding I was understanding that you wanted a all-inclusive contract for okay then yes there is a forklift replacement for Frontiers out there yeah Mul- carriers can do that. Absolutely. Because Frontier doesn't do any work like the Frontier guys don't do
039the repairs for us. They That's That's Tony. That's Communication Consultants. If If a phone is down, they don't come out and physically do anything in the schools. They're just providing the service the phone service to us. >> So, outside of new construction, how much cable is actually pulled in our county? >> Quite a bit. >> What are we doing? >> We move a lot. >> Okay. >> Cameras are moved. >> answer. Well, they they move. Our folks we we And we did one in-school suspension room this week was a brand new room that hadn't had a camera in it. Just Yeah, things move change in the schools. We'd love not to. >> I understand that cable and cable is the least liked thing in IT, y'all. >> It's Yeah, I get that. >> But yeah,
040it's for whatever reason grade grade level changes special needs classrooms move that require cameras and phones and >> Okay. >> Any other questions about that? >> I I just um Just an observation. I Quality labor is kind of hard to come by. When I look at savings, I honestly have to look at some of these software programs that we purchase. Because I I just really would like to see true utilization, how much we're really using some of these things going forward. Um I know some of them are quite useful and then I wonder about some of them. If they're used at all, of course you all would know more more about that than I do, but I maybe Um Some of this money stays in our county and helps our county to grow. But most
041of the software money goes to kind of like our natural resources. They go to somewhere outside their area and they don't help our local economy. They don't uh I wonder sometimes how much they are benefit to our teachers and staff. Now, I know some of the things you all talked about that really been beneficial, but then some of them I just you know. >> For budgeting purposes, we did not delve into any of that at my level. >> Right. >> They met separately and my understanding is they felt very good with the recommendations that that they gave me that we needed to fund. Um I will say one thing that I have asked is we are trying to truly build a budget to manage to a budget. In the past, it was very it was
042frequent to come in and we start something mid-year, we need funds for this. It would be very helpful we can build a contingency in for those types of things, but it would help us to manage that and I have asked that if we start new contracts, we do it July 1st so that we're not overlapping fiscal years, so that we have time to plan and adapt over the summer as well. Um it doesn't mean that we can't if they want to do a 3-month contract to finish this year, but don't overlap fiscal years. It we are trying to stay Lindsay and I didn't introduce her. I'm sorry. Lindsay Streby is with us. A different face this year. She is our new purchasing director. She will be Lindsay Lucas effective Saturday, so we're very very excited
043for her. Um she and Justin are getting married and and he's they seem to be a great pair, but at any rate, Lindsay has noticed that as well. When you have mid-year renewals, it's very difficult. Vendors don't understand, they want us to pay in advance and we can't. So, we did discuss that this this at the leadership team. So, that is something else we're we're trying to go to. >> I guess just in a nutshell, this is I agree with that 100% about the the year. But, the two things is utilization and streamline. Are there some services that we're paying for that are um duplicated in services sometimes. I and I don't know that. But, uh >> That's a Dr. Atkins, Mrs. Mitchell. Those are their questions. So, um I know you're looking at me,
044but I I I will defer to them if they want to answer that. >> expect an answer. I'm just thinking in the year going forward, um >> I think we've spent the last several years trying to eliminate those types of things and many many programs and platforms have now been pushed down pushed back to the individual school level. That budget is to cover things that weren't used across the entire board. So, >> We've been spending secondary >> Well, one thing I think about is the bus um contract for some of that. I mean, we as a group kind of questioned that and we came back with uh what? $30,000 or more in savings? That's >> significant. >> That's um a little bit of savings there, and I think Yeah. Yeah. Well, I'm talking about our
045whole system. I've >> Well, it >> I've brought that one up. >> There's I counted 23 if I counted right district softwares in a county our size that doesn't seem to be enough actually. I mean, that's that seems to be pretty good. I don't seem to be it's over over kill or what. Uh cameras, would they would they not be IT soft hardware? I don't see them on here. >> Uh they're on the bottom. There there's a security piece that um district hardware >> Security upgrades under projects. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. That's um >> Actually, that's a good section. Maybe Brent, you should talk about the projects. >> Yes. I think that's uh >> Where are you at? >> Oh, back page. >> the back. I was going to say I I know
046I put it on there. >> Um yes, so one thing so we broke labor uh labor support and parts are in another section. So that's more of the support piece. The Cox security piece is that's the money that we spend to keep the cameras in repair and and to replace. That includes hardware as well, but that's cameras break, cameras go out a lot. Um they're outside, they're they're harsh weather, things happen. Um so that that keeps them running. Um we did allocate $100,000 for security upgrades. Um that is um that is in addition to a visitor management piece. So we've got two two large security pushes that we want to look at this year. We believe the visitor management's a big one where um that includes a system to any visitor at the schools. That
047that does a background check that uh creates some accountability for that visitor at the school and and also um tags them in, tags them out, make sure they go to the office and there's a process in place for that. So um it vets them out as being a uh a person that's okay to to go inside our schools or or to like if they need to sign a student out or or what they need to do. >> Okay. >> So that's one piece. Um the security cameras though is another one. Those are just upgrades. So we did budget for $100,000 for upgrades. Normally those cameras are running between $1,000 and $1,200 per camera um to replace one. Kind of depends on where it is and how much cable has to be run for that one.
048But that's um so that kind of gives you an idea. 100 cameras seems like a lot, but it's uh it's actually not. Um I did account Princeton High School has 94 cameras now. And um that's just and we still don't cover the baseball field and we only cover the softball field with two and we still got some we need to add to the the soccer complex over >> Wait, that $100,000 is that um just to maintain what we have? >> No, no, that would be an addi- that would be to add or upgrade what we have. So, uh keep in mind too, we've got cameras that are um we've got some analog cameras that are circuit 2010, maybe a little bit older. So, they're fuzzy. So, when uh they may be there, they may be
049working, but when something happens and we need to pull footage and it's grainy and we can't really tell what's going on. >> So, like when we at Timberwood, all that that that would have been separate from $100,000 That's what I'm that's what I'm asking. >> Yeah, so a new school build would be separate from it. It'd be a separate project. Yeah, this this would be looking at our existing schools and upgrading our existing schools. Um, I can think of nearly all schools have a few cameras that that need to be looked at and kind of prioritized and upgraded. Uh we try to do that every year, so we uh we don't have a a ton of upgrades in any one year, but we do upgrade continuously. >> The that Verkada cameras >> Yes. >> Are
050they in here somewhere or >> Yes, they're at the uh front page. I think it's at the very top. >> district software, I didn't know if that included the hardware. >> That's the license renewal for Verkada. So, everything and and that's an annual cost. Unfortunately, they're they're not cheap. Um, that includes the vape sensors, that includes the cameras, um that includes a few access control pieces that we have with Verkada as well. >> Okay. >> But that's that's all in for any devices. I think we're almost 700 cameras that we've got with Verkada now. Um, I don't have the sensor count, but it's probably environmental sensors which are vape sensors. >> Okay. >> Could you go back to visitor management again? >> Absolutely. >> I don't understand. You mean like if a parent >> Yes.
051>> comes picks up a kid >> Yes. >> then you do a background check? >> Yes. >> What if they found out they are on probation, in jail, or something? >> They don't come in. >> Uh uh yeah, I don't uh yeah, it flags them. Yes, sir. >> And how soon does that happen? >> And it's been out It's been out there for several years. I mean, when I went >> County already? >> No, not Mercer County schools. But you have to when you present, when you walk in the office, you got to give them your ID. You don't get your license back till you leave. They put it through, they run it through. You get a patch right on you. Uh it was in Loudoun when Dr. Atkins and I went to Loudoun County
052with the the Jason Learning uh or uh ASA. It's been out there. I don't know if any of you've been a part of that. Uh but it's been out there in several systems. And if you go to several systems, they require that everywhere. Just that accountability. And it gives you Absolutely. It it'll flag you right that quick, run a report, and you don't get that patch to put on to go visit her in in the school. So, I I didn't mean to jump on that, Brent, but I got a little excited about it. >> We have uh Sergeant Clements has been working with us as well on the the safety aspect of to standardize with all schools. >> It uses your driver's >> It uses driver's license. >> recognition. >> It It can do both.
053>> I I but I have I have serious issues with facial recognition. It does not work the way it says it does, and it can create all kinds of havoc for people. >> Uh the driver's license is what it scans. The facial recognition is what For example, if you had a person that had a clean record, but for whatever reason had an incident at the school, um had a a maybe a restraining order, or maybe had something that the school just would not allow them on school premises. You can put that face in the database. When they come to the office, it flags it. It sends an alert and says this person is not allowed in the school. >> So, which one of the twins do you put in? That's my That's my point. There's
054a lot of people look like a lot of people out there. >> can they can tell between both. >> Well, >> uh sometimes it Go through airport security now uh through customs. >> That's not the same facial security we're going to be using. >> It it it um >> It's an entirely different thing. >> Well, here's my question. It's All right. So, we get a flag. Is there a security person there that's going to be able to handle it? Or are you expecting uh >> School, yeah. They'll They'll have to be procedures at the school that >> Yeah. But, they they would stop that the >> doesn't doesn't stop somebody. >> Well, but right right. This is This is a way to again And we we've got to work We've got man traps and we've
055got things that we've got to upgrade at the schools. But, this is a stop gap between right now all we have is a log book that that has a signature at the schools. So, this is a step in the right direction of security that it's not going to be the end all be all. >> But, when they when that individual gives their license where are they? They're already in the building? >> Yes. >> They're in our safety entrance. >> Yeah. >> You know, we're we're trying to build a safety protocol. A and we're trying to plan for the future. And one of the things is many of our secretaries don't even ask for a license. We're not consistent. So, that is one of the things that we have a management team have really been focused
056on is we've got to standardize. And having systems that really help take the weight off of them. I have to have your license. It means it's not them personally. It means Sergeant Clements has put this in place because of this system. Now, I'm not saying you have to do it, but that's part of why we're doing this is to try to standardize. Many of the schools have tried to buy their own, and we don't want them to have to buy it out of their funds, either. We'd like to standardize it a and if possible. But, again >> our community is pretty small and most of us we know each other. Where I can see this would be beneficial if you get a stranger coming in the building. >> Well, absolutely. And if you have a
057sub-secretary and you know, we're we're really trying to focus on eliminating visitors and and risks. Um so one of the things has to do we have to implement it correctly though. Implementation, you can have the best product, but if you don't communicate and you don't train, it's not effective. But, really standardizing is so important. >> And this will this system also, I think we mentioned about the printing of the badge too. It prints a visitor badge. Most schools have a way to designate visitors, but not all. There's not a standard procedure now to if you if you sign the book and and go and and read to a classroom, you're walking down the hall, how do they know that you're a visitor or or what you're there for? So, it prints that badge, they stick
058it on the they're identified now in their schools. >> We need to We need to talk to our liability carrier and make sure we got the right kind of coverage. Cuz if we misidentify someone and cause a problem we have a liability issue. So, we'll need to talk to them too. Cuz there's all kinds of coverages out there and there's all kinds of exclusions. And well, you don't have that coverage, sorry. We're not paying. So, we need to make sure that is if we proceed forward with this that we taken care of those issues as well. >> And on a personal note when I go into Oak Grove to read what's going to happen now? >> You you would do the same system. Now, >> I have to give my driver's license >> Once you're
059checked >> every time? >> Yes. Yes. But, once you're checked once, then you are authenticated through the system and identified as being uh you're you're already vetted. >> You're safe, in other words. So, it's a much simpler process the second time. >> I still have to show my driver's license every time. >> Uh >> I I don't know that for sure, honestly. And it depends on system to system. It's different. But Do what now? >> You've got access to the schools and the school board office with the disc. I would just go to the office first right off the bat anyway, but >> But right, and that's what That's what we want to get to, whether it be a technician, myself, or whoever goes in the building, their very first stop has to be the
060office to go through a process. >> But school employees would not have to show their >> And I think as Mr. Hodges too as a board member, they know who he is, he signs in. I don't think you'd have to they'd have to scan you as a guest. You know, I think we do need to work on if you're not going to the front desk and signing in, we probably would do that. >> They have to go to another building. Yeah. >> I always say hi to I have to check to see But Go ahead. Well, never mind. I forgot what I was >> But it's standard. And again, a sub secretary in that scenario may not know you. And and you may not know, so >> Well, that I'm sorry. >> Again, it's a
061standard process that we're trying to we're going to make it as simple as possible, but again, a standard safe process to to keep our kids safe. >> If I'm vetted the first time and the second time and the third time and in between the third time and the fourth time I break into a building. If you're not checking every time, you're going to miss that. >> Yeah, true. >> Right? >> True. >> So, I mean, those are the things we have to think about as we proceed down this road. It's there's a lot of >> A lot of ifs >> a lot of things that can happen that need to be addressed before we start down the road. Um Because there's going to be a lot of people that are not happy about having to
062get out an ID when they go into the building to get their kid. >> Well, Mr. Acklin >> I actually would feel good making sure they knew they were at least sending my kid to me. So, you can look at it both ways. >> I would feel worse about them not asking. >> Yeah. >> And I agree with all that, but but shooters don't go to the front desk and check in. >> But it's not >> That's not how it happens. >> A person Our our fear now is that if the right person could go to our school and and get a kid that's not theirs and leave the premises with that that child. And that's that's the our our fear. >> primary focus. So, if we can avoid that, we're winning. >> I don't
063disagree with that. But my question is why would that happen anyway? >> Well, I was a what >> Even if there's a substitute secretary, that should not happen. >> It it shouldn't. But again, without systems in place, how do we know that >> that they're checking licenses to make sure that that person is who they say they are. And we don't have a system in place or procedure in place that they do that right now. >> Well, in in individual schools like this >> Some do, but we do not have a standardization and >> standard protocol when you came in to get a kid, first thing the secretary should do is pull the emergency card to see if they're there. >> that. >> Second thing should happen is the secretary or whoever's greeting that person
064needs to ask for identification. >> Does that happen? >> Well, it >> I have worked here 16 years and I've never seen that happen. >> they probably know you, but I'm talking about >> No, I've never seen I've I've done school audits and I've never seen someone ask for an ID. That doesn't mean that they don't, but they don't do it consistently. There is no procedure in place that that happens. >> Is there a way to like flag people that >> Yes. >> So, if there's a restraining order >> Yes, there is. >> That was part of the emergency card. That's again, it was a piece of paper and we would have them marked with a a highlighter and the highlighter would indicate that uh >> And the schools know They do a very good
065job with that. They absolutely do. >> And we probably handle five to 10 of those a year on someone does does not and they're challenging us and called Dr. Atkins Mr. Mitchell. We get those I'd say one every two months probably something like that. >> I guess the most important piece of this is the person. I mean the technology I can see but still it's hard if you've got well trained people and people who understand the risk like you all are talking about that's the most important piece. >> And we so again this is a project that we don't have anything formally even to bring as a proposal of a vendor. We have not we haven't really vetted the vendors. It's something that we we want to look at and we want to plan for
066but again we haven't done any of the leg work to to select a vendor or anything like that. >> I'm just asking questions cuz lawyer brain kicks in and and you know all of a sudden I'm thinking well what about this and what about that and what if this happens and what if that happens? Because all those things do that's why there's 1500 law books in my in my law office that have cases in them because unintended consequences. So that's that's the reason I'm asking questions. >> I assume you have talked to some of these firms that do this cuz that seems like to me a pretty reasonable price. >> It is and and that was something that um complete transparency Verkada is is the the cost of that. That's something we looked at to
067add on to our existing system. But again we um we would have to look at the multiple vendors and you know like a selection but that's a that's a ballpark number that Verkada could do it for. >> So for now it is in the budget it is funded. Any other questions or you want to move on? >> I think we can move on if nobody else >> one >> other thing that's in the budget is something new this year. And that is And I think we've discussed about this. We have a need to assist with playgrounds. And we would like this year to start in our budgeting process building in funding and giving schools incentives to help them fund their playground upgrades. Um the first step was um Lindsey actually has a playground inspector. We
068don't have the report yet, but we are quite confident that the worst playground in Mercer County is Glenwood. Um it is original. It is steel. It is many of the pieces are broken and shut down. Um and they have been raising money for quite some time. So, we accepted grant grant applications basically and got them for most of our school our elementary schools. We considered all of the criteria that you can see it kind of summarizes. We asked them how much money they could contribute, the age, how many students, etc. And And the two recommendations that we would like to recommend are Glenwood and Oakvale. Both of those were really the only two that had funds already raised. We would have probably recommended a few more, too, but this is a great start. Um Glenwood
069had already raised $62,000 towards their playground. We would like to match them with the 65,000 or almost 66,000 dollars. Um >> Is that enough to do a playground? >> It is. Their playground the playground that they had had planned for is 120 almost 128,000. I will I will also say in addition to this, we are already have the equipment part part of the equipment for Bluefield Intermediate is already at maintenance and the other has been ordered, Lindsey, right? >> Yes, that's right. >> And so that is separate from these. That is still being funded. We'd like to give about a hundred under a hundred and fifty thousand dollars to both of these schools. Um they're both in desperate need. Oak Hills has been flooded. And we did no work for for them for that other
070than gave them mulch that we had extra from Timberwood. Um so they have new mulch, but their equipment is lacking and it's used by the community considerably as well. >> Would it be put in another first spot since it flooded? There's no other spot to put it that won't flood. >> So within the budget, again, this is something else. >> It is It's It's not in a I mean it's in a place that isn't flooded. Come on. You know, it's as far away as you can get. >> Yeah. >> one thing above the flood is the school department. >> Right. Okay. I'll just Got you. >> I know you mentioned mulch. Should we be getting away from mulch? >> We have evaluated everything. We have used pea gravel, we have used rub- rubber mulch pellets.
071Everything gets tracked in. Everything mats down or gets misplaced. Um >> There's There's not usually a recommendation from the state level or from Brim other than there needs to be some sort of fall material, I think is how the way they put it. >> We >> It always spills out over, no matter how big the side boards are. It's It's everywhere and it has to be replenished yearly. >> We have changed. We don't use regular mulch. When When we buy we buy engineered mulch, so it's been cleaned and is not as shaggy and doesn't stick as much. Um but the schools frequently have to buy the cheapest they can because they they fund that through PTOs themselves. Uh, the the procedure or practice has been we don't do anything on playgrounds. And frankly, that's a
072lot to ask of the schools to raise this significant amount of money. I I personally feel that that that this is a need, especially as we're trying to build the best. We're trying to be a the one of a really strong choice for people and playgrounds are important to parents um for their kids and it's great for the kids. It makes them happy and um now we have the presidential fitness test that we have to pass as well. So, we'll be funding that as we get guidance from the state for that, but this is something that I think will help our communities. It will it will be paid for from the excess levy and we we have funds to support this. >> Yeah, I just don't I just don't think it's possible in 2026 to
073get PTOs to be able to fund that. I mean, it's such a huge change even in the last 15 years since I first became involved with PTO. I mean, it's >> The amount of funding a a really nice playground is a half a million dollars. >> Yeah. >> We can't, you know, support that, but we have been really we learned from the first school. We should have put it a really good playground in in Mountain Valley. Um, we learned from that. Um, we learned a little bit more at Beautiful Primary. We learned even more at Timberwood is you know, we we did the pre-K. We did the separate um and really all our schools should have that. We have pre-K that needs some some additional funding and support as well. >> It's long this is
074a long needed approach and >> A- >> Asking the community in the current economy in this part of the world to raise $50,000 is asking >> That's a lot. >> A lot and it's going to take years to raise it. >> And and many of our foundations are very supportive if we provide matching funds as well. So, um I think it will also give schools incentives to help match because we did weight it heavier. These two schools were the only ones that had funds right now. >> Yeah. >> And we weighted it heavier based upon that. But, we'll give them another year or two and and build up a balance to help support. That's our plan is we're really trying to build a 5-year plan. We have, you know, including this year we started investing
075in, you know, Blue Ball Intermediate. We did Timberwood this year. So, we're trying to look at at hitting and and I think we can hit all of our schools within the next 5 years. >> I was going to mention that about the foundations cuz I remember when Athens raised the money, they were close and and I reached out to Adam Sarver and the Honeycut Foundation. I asked them if they would complete the project which was I can't remember. >> $30,000 to complete. Okay. And they actually gave more and actually when they went out and looked at it, they added things that >> Oh, yeah. That included the 30. They paid for it. >> think maybe they needed like 20 or something to finish and then they ended up doing even more because they but the
076key to it was that Athens had already raised more than half the money. So, they they most of the foundations want to see a contribution from the school level. And I I I think that's appropriate. I mean, obviously different schools are going to be able to contribute different amounts, but I think some contribution we can't do them all at once. And so, that's a good way to I like this criteria. >> Well, and you can tell Oakville, you know, that's a small school. They raised $16,000 and kudos to them for doing that and the community for doing that. >> And one thing that we did consider, too, is is more of a standardized playground. So, that we have one vendor, one type of of slide that we can if something does happen, we can get
077a replacement. We're not one off buying off of Amazon and trying to piecemeal something together. >> Absolutely. And then you know it's good quality, you know it's safe for the kids and yeah. >> Absolutely. And I will give our friends Raleigh County kudos. They've been doing this. I'm I didn't invent this process. I I inherit or stole this from Darren Butcher. >> this grant. >> They they do these grants every year and they do phenomenal playgrounds. Tom and I went and and looked at their playgrounds. They're just amazing. And one of the things they do is incorporate the special ed um equipment so that regular ed kids use it so that special ed and regular ed can play together and we literally saw that. >> That's wonderful. >> And it kind of gives me chills.
078Special ed has been very helpful. They have raised money for for their own schools to to buy things. So this is a help for for all of our kids, I believe. >> I think that I hope all of you can remember being this age, but I definitely can remember I always point out that that from elementary school the one thing I could tell you was when recess was. It was at 10:00 and 2:00. And when you got to the second floor, it was at 10:15 and I think 2:15. Now, if I can remember that at 65 years old, it was important. And why it was important because I I equate a kid like a caged animal. >> I'd like animals in a ball and asphalt. >> If they don't have a way to relieve some
079of that physical energy, then their energy they're they're not going to learn as well. I think this is great and and I >> Okay. >> great >> Well, again, it it was not just my idea. Our senior leadership team has really been working well together to to have meaningful long-term changes and I really appreciate the schools for this. They The next thing that Mr. Atkins just distributed is the next thing that we did. We asked for each school to list their capital ex- the projects that they feel they need the most. I didn't filter this. So, but I did rank these with Mr. Atkins, with Mr. Toman, Dr. Atkins, um and and Mrs. Mitchell. We ranked these. In blue are the things that we believe are a priority. Um one is the highest priority, of
080course. The total amount of the requests are $6.9 million. So, we cannot fund all of these requests, needless to say. Some of them had no dollar amounts. I did plug a few estimates when I knew. For example, the bleachers at Bluefield High School. We know those are needed. He He had a lower estimate. Mr. Atkins knew it was going to be half a million dollars cuz we've got a quote. So, those are types of things. The subtotal for the the just the one priority that we have prices for are $2 million. I do not think that that we can necessarily fund all of these, but I will say you will see a lot of student desks and um student chairs. We have a significant surplus stored down in Spanishburg. And um Lindsay has taken ownership
081of our surplus and is doing an amazing job. She has gone through, sorted, gotten rid of things that maybe we didn't need to keep. We have a large number of chairs and desks. They do need cleaned, and Mr. Atkins and she have talked. We have a process. We want the schools that need the elementary schools first to try these. Um we've got them sitting there. They may not match exactly. They But we have enough for classrooms complete. We have hundreds. Hundreds. Um so, we're going to ask them first. But then we'd also like to start a rotation outside of this capital expenditures that we have a fund. I would like to designate $250,000 if you approve it in the budget to help fund um replacements for our furniture. And then we start the same cycle
082for replacing, you know, some of our high schools. Princeton High probably has some original desks and chairs. Bluefield High needs a significant number. So, as you look for this at this list, understand that we hope to take care of those separately either through surplus or we are going to start replacing these. Um, if you agree, we designate $250,000 out of this excess that we have right now towards that. Right now, I think we have about $3 million that's not budgeted. And that is really to me what the the biggest point of this meeting is is you give us direction on what you'd like to see done with that $3 million. We have about $10 million designated right now between in our in our um, capital expenditure which fund is that in 41 capital projects? 51.
083So, we have in our major improvements fund that we can use towards construction. 5 million of that is for Mactec. We have $5 million already that we could use towards a new school. We don't want to touch that. If we want to match another $5 million over the next 4 years, we need to designate $1.2 million 1.25 each year for the next 5 years so or 4 years so that we will have funds. I I estimated 4 years. We could back it up. Whenever you think that we need to apply and have that funds ready, I would like to take part of this to build that fund so we have the money for a new school. Again, that's my recommendation. Just just throwing ideas out. So, we have $3 million that I'm coming to you.
084I got that part. So, it's the $5 million. You say we have $10 million in the capital improvement fund right now. So, you want to set aside five of that for the new intermediate. The new intermediate school. But then you talked about another $5 million. That if we go to the SBA, we had to pay about 11 million dollars. Um a new school is 25 million dollars if we're looking by the time we would build it. So, Mr. We talked about that this morning. >> about an additional five toward the new school. >> And I'm talking about like for the over just like the general fund. I would like to build the fund by another 5 million over the next four years so that we have that money set aside for our match. For the
085SBA. >> Okay. So, 10 million instead of 5 million. >> Well, I said four, but we can back it up. Just understand we need to put more money towards it if if that's we need to designate and fund more. And it could be from you know, our carryover this year. We could do that. But right now I have 3 million dollars that's not budgeted. I would like to use at least a million dollars towards capital projects. Whether it's what you you agree with us that Bluefield High needs bleachers or you look at these additional um and decide some others. >> Yeah, we >> unknown is Sun Valley's septic system. We've been told it's 800,000 to a million dollars. That will take take a significant amount of this 3 million dollars if we have to to
086do that. Um that is highlighted in blue. I think we should prepare for that. We can use that for something else if not. Or you all can decide, you know, to handle that differently. We could take that out of the capital um projects fund, the major I'm not sure who's in that. I don't have fund 51. Um we can take it out of fund 51, the 10 million that we have. But 5 million is is out of of That is for Mactec. We cannot touch the 5 million. >> Right. So, how do we refresh that other than taking it out of our >> That's how we refresh >> carryover. We don't There's no money going into that from the excess levy. That's the other >> Yes, the The 41. >> Okay. All right. That That
087I want to make sure >> Yeah. >> I think I might have it backwards. Fund 41 is what you vote on for carryover. And then fund 51 is what we we we can use it for any project and we can move it in and out of fund 51. So that's typically where we put it in as 51 because we can move it back in and out. >> We have freedom of use. Okay. >> So where where are we now on the Sun Valley mess? >> So I got an email today from Thompson Litton. We're back to not square one, but we're back to the original contractor who dug the the before we ever had an A&E firm that I had contacted. Uh brought the excavator out, dug the hole. S- uh He he sent into
088the state. It's It's A. Michael Royce is the name of the company, but he sent in an application for the state for a a new system and it was denied because they said it wasn't designed for enough flow. And he said that's all he was legally allowed to design and install, so we needed to get a firm to come in. So the company didn't show up about a month ago. We gave them another chance. They still didn't show up to come do the perk test. So um Joe Pack from Thompson Litton just got back to me today and he finally agreed got back with A. Michael Royce to come and do an official perk test so that we can move forward uh with mo- even even Randall His name's Randall Cesco, but Randall even said,
089"I can come do a perk test, but it's not going to perk. But I'll come do it if that's what you really need me to do." And he said, "Yes, that's what we really need you to do." So he said, "Hopefully this week we'll have a perk test." So that that That's where we are. >> Okay. And I'm uh What I'm understanding is we can't move anything forward. The gym can't move forward until we get a s- >> Oh, absolutely not. No. >> No. >> We've We've We've just been pumping sewage out of their their current holding tank this year because it's not seeping. It's not It's not going into the ground like it's supposed to. So, no, we we can't design and put anything else onto that when we currently can't even take care
090of what we what we're giving them now, what our septic system. So, our our systems basically I think we've talked about before and I hate to just keep circling back because there's so many unknowns, but um they've talked about a a a brief 5-year fix, which we'd be doing the same thing again in 5 years, >> to do that. >> which nobody wants to do. Uh if for some odd chance it were to to perk and the ground was to say, "Yes, we can put uh water back in here and manage our sewage this way." We could just put in a new system and it wouldn't be nearly the cost of what we've been trying to budget for. Uh but we're we're all operating under the assumption that we're going to have to pump our
091uh treat our stuff our treat our sewage and then pump our excess water onto an adjacent property. And all of that's going to require uh cooperation with the neighbors and quite an expensive system to get the water to pump off so that we can manage the the runoff cuz there's not It's not like Spanish Fort and Oakville. We can't put a wastewater treatment plant in cuz there's no stream flow. There's nothing there where we can dump water into. And so, we have to come up with a new system where it has to be ultra filtered and pumped almost above ground and someone has to agree to allow us to do that. >> Okay. >> So, everything >> told me something about taking that off >> That's the That's the 5-year fix. >> Is that going
092to be clean water or what kind of What are we putting off in the somebody else's land? >> treated >> Well, I like I said, it would have to be ultra treated. So, what basically what we would be putting off onto someone else's property would be a which I mean, let's be honest. With most of us in here own property and not many of us would say, "Yeah, sure, let's try that." Just dump dump your potential waste onto my property, even though you're saying it's clean. So, uh what it would be it'd be ultra treated in some sort of elevated plant, and then it's once the the sewage is taken out of it, and it's purified and cleaned, and it's just water runoff at that point in time with no contamination, it would be pumped
093onto their property and to hopefully it would flow downhill and downward towards >> a stream. A stream. >> So, I hope we're going to find some really cooperative neighbors in there. >> Yes, sir. See, and and pumping one way is a long a long distance, and pumping the other way is up and over a hill. So, it's that's kind of why we're budgeting so much for the potential. >> And we don't know where it would be spatially to the school, so we can't put a building there until we know where we're going to put this treatment plant, as well. >> And then it I I mean, let's be openly transparent, if none of the neighbors say yes, then we've got a huge problem. Okay. >> Um on this list, I think the board's going to
094need a little bit of time to I'm not sure we can tell you today. We need a little time to absorb it um individually, and then perhaps at the next board meeting we can give you guidance. That's a couple weeks. Is that too late? >> You must approve the budget the next meeting. >> What's the gray? Did I miss that? I know about the blue, but >> Oh, it's already in process. >> Okay. >> And gray, we we already have bid that this year. We've taken care of some like equipment. Princeton High needed a scrubber. We Tom called and ordered a scrubber for Bluefield Middle School already. Bluefield Middle School does not have anything on here. They were in between principals, so you know, we will work with Dr. Meyer as he, you know, determines
095what his needs are, but he he already pointed out he needed an auto scrubber and a buffer and those are already on order. >> Okay. What um The last sheet we talked about the parking lot >> Yes. >> situation. >> Mhm. >> It's not graded or glued or >> Okay. Dr. Atkinson, uh we've worked on this several times with Ms. Taylor all year. Uh you're you're going to be getting in in one of the things you're voting on tonight is paving and it's included in that paving what we we we've There's nowhere really to put it, but we we've come up with the best option what all three of us and our paving company who's going to receive the bid what we have a great plan for what >> actually should >> Yes. Yes, that
096should be in there. So and and there may be more of that's included. This was this was Uh we worked off this in one one group setting and at that point in time we've continued to to chip away at some of these things. >> Yeah, and I just failed to highlight last week. That one's in process as well. I did Pikeview Middle, for example, same thing. We in the paving bid tonight you will receive information that we're going to do the first phase of that, which is just grading, excavation, and putting stone down and then we'll pave that next year. So some of those we went ahead. Pikeview Middle, for example, we all know the traffic there it's dangerous and we block traffic even to the interstate. So that as a team um we included
097that in the paving bid that's being approved tonight. We have funds available this year, so we'll go ahead and do it this year. >> Much like we did over here at Twin Honeycutt and um Princeton Primary. Give it time to settle and then come back and pave. >> So does this have projects for every school except for Bluefield Middle? >> If they submitted them, okay. >> Some of the schools did not submit and and some of them were late and I did go ahead and include them on here, but some of them did not submit. >> But your suggestion would be to the ones that are furniture and equipment Is those to be considered separately in a separate fund? >> Yes. That that we budget $250,000. And the fact is we could change these. Ultimately,
098right now, I just need a dollar amount, but I will need I mean I need I need guidance as to how to budget it. >> And your suggestion in the million for capital improvements and 250,000 for furniture and equipment, is that correct? Am I remembering right? >> Yes. Okay. >> So, as far as telling you which projects, we don't have to do that. We just need to have a dollar >> now a dollar >> I need I need it soon, but but yeah. >> Sure. >> Um >> Well, what I mean well >> The Bluefield High School gym is a big one. Do we want to try to tackle that? That's half a million dollars. That's really the biggest one. The others >> a better summer project, too? Or is it the same? >> It
099yeah. >> Is that with the understanding that the we're going to play basketball there? >> Yes. >> What what happens Where is the gym floor we purchased? Is that going to be sold? >> Put it out on GovDeals. >> Yeah, you missed that. You missed that meeting. >> Yeah, I was at the last meeting. You weren't at that meeting, right? >> I'm sorry. >> And we don't know how much we're going to recover from that sale at this point. >> Mhm. >> No, we haven't started. I mean, there's a potential we could trade it in on the new gym floor for Pikeview High School as well. You know, there there are options. >> yeah. >> If we don't If we don't get we can set a minimum price on GovDeals. And if it doesn't sell
100for the price we think, we can try to sell it later or sell it or trade it in on a gym floor. >> Well, here's my worry. The The agenda just says budget workshop. So, the question that I have to comply with the open meetings act is can we specifically assign specific projects under the heading of budget workshop? >> You can tell me and then approve them on on the next meeting. I'll officially bring the entire budget with projects to the to the agenda. Or we can pick. >> I I get it. >> I have the budget it somewhere, so I can >> that. What I'm saying is is is that is actually the exact thing that the the open meetings act says we're not supposed to do. Cuz if it's not on the agenda,
101we're not supposed to take action that would be later something we would vote on. That's my concern. Because it's such a broad statement. It's arguable that we could do it, but it does it just says workshop. Um >> We're not voting on anything. >> I bet you will be. So if you make decisions today about what you're going to be voting on in a future meeting without proper notice to the public, that's where you get in trouble with the open meetings act. >> These are the blue ones that are the >> Cuz the work sessions say act potential action. >> Not just a What we would be voting on. >> The 26th The 26th And the budget is required to be submitted by the 30th. So >> think we can get away with giving you
102an amount. Now that's clear. I'm just not as convinced that we can start saying it's specifically for these. I don't want us to get in trouble >> have to do that anyway, right? We'll just budget it and then if you want something different, that's fine. I I I have to make a recommendation, however, as to what's going to be done. So if you disagree, I would like feedback that um I think we need to start building up towards the new intermediate school. >> Well, this I'm not sure what your recommendations are, I guess would be my comment. You you've got to if we're going to give you a million dollars, which of these are you guys recommending? >> In blue. They're in blue. >> They're more than a million. Right? So if we get So
103if we So are Are asking for more than a million or you >> Valley has to be separate. >> Okay. So, if we take that out, then >> Yes, Sun Valley has to be separate. >> Okay. When you say You have I'm not trying to be difficult, but you have blue strips and then you have blue dollars. >> They're highlighted differently. >> Okay, so this is This is what you're referring to. >> Yes, the blue strips. >> Okay. >> I said I plugged the blue numbers because they didn't give me totals. So, that's how I identified it that I estimated that they didn't have any idea. >> So, that the If you take out Sun Valley, that's only 560,000. >> So, then you would go back and pick other ones to total the million. I
104I thought this was for discussion. I didn't >> It is. It is. >> Because before you all told me you wanted a gym floor here, you want this here. >> Yeah, we are discussing. >> um and someone actually called and said, "How can you build a budget if we haven't met yet?" So, that that was probably my misunderstanding. I thought that you all wanted to discuss the discretionary funds. >> Yeah, we do. >> We do. >> I think you're fine. You didn't do anything wrong. >> Yeah, we just can't tell you I'm just trying to be extra careful with the open meeting act. >> I'm just trying to understand what's going on. I don't I don't I'm not worried about I mean, not that I disregard the open meeting act. >> I just know in
105the past you all have come after the fact and really for our financial statements, we we should have a plan. We should have a plan on how we're going to project especially for the summer. >> 100%. >> You're right. My question was just I'm just trying to understand what's happening. So, if like if if we allocate a million dollars, your recommendation would be to do these blue things be first and then that would give you some leeway to spend on other items that you deem to be appropriate later. >> Or if you all see projects from this that you feel like you would like expedited that maybe we didn't move to the top. >> Excluding furniture and equipment cuz we're talking about that as a separate budget. >> Yes. >> Cuz a lot of this
106is furniture and equipment. >> Yes. This is This is just the budget. This is not not taking action. Before we do a bid or anything, we would, you know, we will bring it to you before we would award the >> Specific project. >> all your ones, if you exclude Sun Valley, and that has to be separate, I don't think all your ones add up to more than a million dollars. >> 1.9. It's on the very back sheet. The subtotal of one projects is 1.9 million. >> Okay. There we go. >> But that includes Sun Valley. >> Yes. >> Okay, so it's 1.1. >> Yep. So, all those all those >> The gym seats are they happen to be elementary or are they the same ones that was there when I was in school? >> They
107probably were. Um, when I saw this, none of us had heard that they were bad. And um, so we found out that they weren't being inspected. We inspect all our gyms every year. And so, we have nothing that has ever said they're bad. They're the same at Oak Hill, for example. So, um, Don Green did have them go back and and Arm Huffman's giving us a report on those. >> So, let me ask you a hypothetical. If if you funded all the ones that have a dollar figure on them, that's 1.146544, does going over a million that much give you heartburn? Is that something that you would go, "That's not a good idea"? >> I I feel very comfortable. I I will tell you we built a very conservative budget and feel Jordan is Yeah.
108>> Okay. >> We feel very good. I feel like we have a better handle on the budget than I have in the past 3 years, to be honest. So, >> that would exclude the Bluefield High School furniture, the desks, which we've talked about, the three Glenwood projects where we don't have numbers, and the three Lashmeet Matoka projects where we don't have numbers. But every other one could be funded at that 1.149. >> It could. And some of these are maintenance projects and and some of these had never been submitted by work order. Um this is I just wanted you to have the complete list so that you would know uh we have LSSEs, we have, you know, different feedback, but this is truly what they said. Again, this is not absolute. This is the first
109year we've ever done this and they will learn and they will see that we're taking action off of this. >> past they've given us a list and nothing's really happened. Right. So, I think what Greg was trying to get at, would you be more comfortable if we if we approved 1.2 million for instance to cover all these number ones from a financial perspective or are you more comfortable with 1 million? Is that what you were trying to get at? >> I Yeah, I'm I'm asking her if we've got the if we have the room to go to 1.2 and that would cover all the ones except those that don't have specific numbers to them. >> I would not recommend funding all of these projects. We have not vetted We really just looked at the big
110big capital projects that looked that affected kids, that affected the majority of the community. Um for example, some of them have decals. Well, some most of the schools have raised funds or gotten donations for the decals. >> talking about number ones only. >> Yeah, we're only talking about ones. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah, we're only talking about 1.2. 1.2 would cover all the ones except the three from Glenwood and the three from Lashmeet that don't have numbers. And if you got 1.2, that's going to give you a little bit of additional wiggle uh to potentially cover some of those. >> Cuz these were ranked by the administrative team, correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. So, yeah, we're just talking about number one. And we're not saying that you have to spend it on these things cuz
111we can't even say that according to open meetings act, apparently. But if we we're we're just wanting to know is it better to approve 1 million or 1.2 million? From a financial perspective. >> Either one is fine. I mean, I would say we should plan some discretionary that that, you know, maybe we fund 800 in projects and then the remainder 400,000 we frequently have small things come up. Again, Bluefield Middle's not in there. They might need things that we could bring that 400,000 or so back to you, you know, later or you may have a need that you see. I mean, that happened like at the gym at Bluefield Intermediate. We didn't know how bad their bleachers were, for example. >> are also estimates. They haven't been bid, so who knows how how accurate they
112are. I mean, it's just you don't know till you bid on them. >> So, it's a budget workshop. We can certainly give you direction on the amount. >> Okay. >> Without any issue. >> Okay. >> So, is is the board good with the 1.2? >> I am. >> I would be long as we do it the way she says. We're basically saying 800,000 >> initially. >> And then leave some money, discretionary money. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm good with that. >> So, the 1.25 going into the permanent or the the capital projects fund, do you like that? Do you not like that? Do you want to lower it? >> to say this. I love this. But it's kind of what you've heard me on my soapbox for as a former principal where we get
113asked for these lists, these wish lists, and they're looked at and >> All right. >> And so, we've talked about this. We've talked about this this whole year. So, I think this is a step in the right direction. I don't care what we have to do to make it happen. I think it needs to happen because it gives us a direction, a path which we're going this one to improve the schools. So, I >> Okay. >> I I if it's if we need to do whatever we need to do, I think it's a step in the right direction. >> And I can also take some out of contingency. I have the highest amount in there. If you if you want to take these step these all these ones, I'm abso- you know, I'm I would
114support that, too. Absolutely. Tom, you know, we'll have to work through it. Some of these are maybe not the most important. Maybe I put them as a one, and going back, they're not really a one. I tried to do it like if it's kid-facing, it's a one. Um, you know, if it's a student need or something like that. But, you know, I would be >> are furniture, too. >> Yeah, some of them are furniture. Absolutely. >> the one thing I would like to say, I don't know how it used to be. I know what I used to do. I would call Joe, or I would call Todd, and I said, "Todd, I got 40 chairs here that the cracks are pinching the kids' butts, and we got to get and he would take care of
115that." I don't know how he did it at that point. That wasn't my job. >> That's why we're trying to stand up for this. >> we are >> why we're doing it. >> the kind of problem and if you are able to have a amount of money, then it's no surprise. You can order them. I was at one of the elementary schools, and they were talking about the size of the chairs they had, and that it was not appropriate. And they thought that those chairs could be moved to uh, maybe a middle school or a high school situation, probably middle school, and then maybe they could get replacements. And I think that's exactly what this is going to enable us to do. >> Absolutely. I would like to to designate $250,000 to do that. And
116then, if we want to take a million dollars towards other capital projects, and and we would recommend, based upon selling Bluefields, to to try to do that. And we can bring that. >> What what a way to do this then is would be to talk about the money in the next appropriate meeting. But, we're not We don't have to talk about this, couldn't we? It would depend upon our administration to decide what a number one and a number one B and one C. Is that not appropriate? >> had no idea when we looked at it weeks ago, how much money we would have. I And that's why I wanted to introduce you why we start with personnel and why I don't come to you until I know how much discretionary funds we have. >> Well,
117I'm tickled to death. I see a lot of positive direction that we're going in. >> Let me say amen. It's about time we pay attention to the schools We've been ignoring that for years. >> The intent was always there. We just sometimes when you're so far in the weeds, you can't step back and figure out how to make it happen and we really do work well as a team. This was not just me. This was the administrators. This was Mr. Toman's support. You know, this was our team. >> I think previous projects were a little more haphazard. Wasn't built into the budget at the beginning. It was here's a new project we want to fund. Let's find it. >> And Leslie, if you're in the weeds, you can't see where you're going. >> You can't.
118>> we're going to get the fields mode until we've got the contingency plan till >> So if I if the board correct me if I'm wrong, if I understand what the board's approving in terms of the this funding for these projects is 1.2 million. >> Okay. >> And and anybody say I'm misspeaking? Okay, well there you go. >> And then >> Now the 1.25 that you want to set aside for future construction >> We can still do that. >> Uh members? >> I like that. >> Sure, yeah. Every year you're talking about, right? >> Yes, every year. And then >> Absolutely, yes. >> And and this year we may have we will have carry over and you may want to do that with that put more in if we want to accelerate it. You know,
119we we haven't but we haven't paid for the property. We haven't you know, there are a lot of costs outside of that as well and I we will have carry over this year that that we can have some for that, too. >> Oh, yeah. The 250 for furniture. >> 250 for >> For board members? Agreeable with that it's to be built in the budget. Is there any other that we missed? >> And once you put these things out for bid like the gym and some of the others. There's possibility that they could come under these numbers and >> Absolutely. >> Probably going to be over. >> Well, the principal he can he can address that, too. If you're over a little bit, you you may arrange some adjustments for it. >> Absolutely. >> That's kind
120of why >> I just to point out on here like when we said we didn't bid all these, when the principal submitted him on the parking lot 350 by 150, he didn't even have that much space. So, when he recommended or estimated $250,000, as you'll see tonight, our total for all of our places are nowhere near that price. So, we're just this was just a "Hey, what how can we help you guys?" >> Where's he putting that parking, by the way? >> If you're pulling up to to the school before you get to the sign on the right >> Oh, where is >> It's happened has happened a little bit as a as a practice area, band area, but which could still be used as such. Not for practice, but band. >> Kind of overflow
121for ball games and things. >> Yes, 100%. Uh National Honor Society dances, all the stuff where people are parked all over the place out on Eads Mill. >> And and he can also stage try He can stage pickups. He can expand the pickup loop so that get people off of Eads Mill Road and things like that. >> That'd be good. >> Like we did at Melrose. That was a huge improvement if you'll remember. >> It was. It's >> So, that is all I have. I I will say again, Jordan Angel is phenomenal. I can't say enough good things about this young lady beside me. She is the future. Um Lindsey Streiby is phenomenal. You guys, she's she's exciting. She gets it. Um Lindsey Streiby. >> For now. >> Lucas, Lindsey >> For now. >> She
122did get Oh, yeah. You know her. I forgot you know her. Um yeah. Yeah. Very good team and and um excited kind of excited about it. So, thank you all. I appreciate >> Well, your team and the the leadership have done a great job in bringing us a thoughtful approach. Planning is really important and we've talked about that before how important it is that we plan as we move forward. So, we appreciate all the work. >> Thank you. >> Before we >> to give a shout out to Mr. Toman. I was rather nervous. I've been up since 4:15. He came in. He's like, "You don't have to talk for 2 hours." I'm like, "What do I talk about for 2 hours?" Mr. Toman calmed me down this morning. >> This is a brief and you
123mentioned the library thing. Do we need to discuss that in this meeting? >> Actually, that would be a great topic for discussion because I could build that into the budget. Actually, that reminds me of two things. The Honeycutt Foundation, we have never raised the amount that we contribute. They are willing to double theirs if we were or contribute an additional 25,000. We put 50,000 in right now. That is as asphalt prices go up and things. They have requested that. The public library at Princeton has requested additional funding. Would Would you be interested in me budgeting additional funds for those? >> Yes. I I would like to suggest that if you can find it in the budget, that we I think make it even. I think we're all agree probably ought to make it even. But,
124I think both libraries ought to have additional funding beyond what they get because evidently, from everything I've seen, it's been years and years and years that we've had the same amount. Meanwhile, we've had every year inflation inflation inflation. We ought to bump it up some, I think, for next year's budget. And this is I don't know if it For example, I don't know I don't know what their budget is or their responsibility, but Princeton The city of Princeton gives like over 128,000 dollars to Princeton library and they increase it every year. Uh we can do better. That's all I'm saying. >> I agree with you. I I support that. I I believe we in other discussions individually we have all said that we have not adjusted that for years. >> they submit a request for
125that though? >> They send an invoice. Yes, they send an invoice. But it's based upon what we built into the budget. And And we we do have additional funds. I have been conservative in several of our other estimates. So, if you'd like to increase that, we can increase it. >> And in my understanding that Is it possible we can equal that up to 10,000 this year or we got to wait till next year to make any corrections? >> We We make budget transfers and all the time. I can bring that to the next meeting if you would like me to. A proposal. I I can get with the library and work with them. I'll get with both libraries. >> Well, by the way uh Laura will be here tonight to make a presentation to us
126tonight. >> Okay, well, that's even better. That's even better. Perfect. >> Cool. All right. If there's nothing else to come before the board, we're going to go into a recess. We will be back for our regular session at 6:00. So, we got about 20 minutes.