001[Music] 25. >> All board members are present. Uh Dr. Atkins is here today for Mr. Tobin who is on the road >> and I I had my mic off. I'm sorry. So, let me do all that again. It's July 28th, 2025 at 6 PM and the Mur County Board of Education is in regular session. All board members are present. Mr. Toman is absent today. He is out of town. So, Dr. Atkins has taken his place today. So, let's stand for the pledge of allegiance. 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. >> So, as we always say, the best part of the board meetings are board recognitions. So, uh because it's summertime,
002we at least have some people here to be recognized. So, we're going to recognize the ones that have come. Um it might help us quickly if we can identify who's here and then right we can go straight to him. >> Hodgees and Taylor >> Hodgeges and Taylor >> Brody Taylor and Silas Hodes. All right, let's let's do it. Get this done. Give them a a >> clap. vacation >> vacation >> they don't want to think about school >> okay as Mr. Prudidge said we our favorite part of any board meeting is when we get the opportunity to recognize staff students or community members so these two young men they are uh awards for certificate of achievements at skills USA which is a national competition Skills USA participants in the annual National Leadership and Skills Conference
003held in Atlanta, Georgia from June 23rd to June 27th, 2025. This competition is a showcase of career and technical education students for more than 17,000 people including students, teachers, and business partners participated. The following students from Mercy Tech Center participated and placed in this competition. So, we have um and these are national placements. Fourth place nationally in mobile robotics is Brody Taylor from Princeton Middle School. And 11th place nationally in urban search and rescue is Silus Hodgees from Pike View Middle School. >> Tell a little bit about the experience. What was it like? >> A lot of people there. Did you like that or not like that? >> That's okay. Did you meet some interesting people? >> Make make a couple friends. All right. So, how what was your competition like? >> Where did you
004go for this? >> Atlanta, Georgia. Have you ever been to Atlanta, Georgia? >> It's a big place, isn't it? How about that airport? >> Oh, you drive you. Oh my god. >> I ride a charter bus. >> Okay. Well, that's not so bad. You didn't have to drive us. So, how long were you there? >> Did you get to do anything interesting? >> Was that good? >> See a shark. >> Well, we are really proud of you guys. You did very well. You should be very proud of yourselves and continue what you're doing. Okay. >> Thanks for coming. Y'all have to stay here. You can't leave. >> Yeah, you you can go on and go now. You don't have to sit around here if you don't want to, but you're welcome to stay if you
005want to. So, we had a bunch of those national places, but it's summertime and people have lives and they're doing things. So, we'll get them back here again sometime soon. And we also want to congratulate a a native Princeton Senior High School young lady who won the Miss West Virginia USA pageant yesterday evening. She will represent uh West Virginia and Mercer County and Princeton uh in the Miss uh USA pageant. So, we're really excited for her. She's worked hard to get here. This is not easy stuff she's doing. So, we're very proud of her and we wanted to take the opportunity to congratulate her. And her proud mom is sitting here, too. So, that's always a good thing. >> Like mother, like daughter. >> Oh, thank you. >> All right. That's what my husband. >>
006There you go. All right, superintendent's opening remarks. >> Thank you, President Prudich. Um, we do have several remarks here that Mr. Toman left. Um, update for Gear Up National Conference, Sunday, July 11th to Wednesday, July 16th in San Francisco. I think that's something that when um Mrs. Mitchell is with us and some of her team will hear more about that. Also this Wednesday we have uh Mike Mlanahan's Adalorum LLC purposedriven management. It's our first large group session. It will be here at the seminar center leadership IQ. Um it's Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. Uh followed with small group sessions on August 6th at the central office in the conference room. All of our principles and most of our central office staff will be at the SCESC 2025 summer principles academy this Thursday and Friday, July
00731st and August 1st at Tamarack and Beckley. And we did provide you with a draft agenda. Uh really good agenda there of instructional leadership and other aspects and have several U members from the department of education presenting on those days. Our back to school administrators meeting is at Pike View High School on August 4th. And then correction there, our breakouts on August 5th. Secondary is at uh Princeton High School in the media center. And elementary breakout on August the 5th will be at Princeton Primary School, also in the media center. Update for Timberwood Elementary and ribbon cutting date is set for Thursday, August 14th, uh 2025 at 11 and says the invitation, Miss Dr. Bowling is going to provide that now. And that's something that Mr. Toman has continued to work on uh with ZMM
008and trying to make some progress with that. >> Yeah, they also were mailed to the homes. >> Yeah, I got one. >> I got one I got one at somebody. >> I got mine at the house. >> And then uh I like an extra one. Yeah. One additional item uh that I did add is that at the end of the day on Friday, we did get an email from the state federal programs director that most of the federal funds that were being held have been released. So, we're very excited about that. I know that was a big part of our discussion during the workshop we had last week and that it would be the title 2, three, and four funds. And we use those funds to support a lot of instructional staff and uh resource
009officers and social workers and different types of staff in all of our grades and and mostly in secondary for those titles. And then title five always comes later. Um but we do expect that as well. So that's a large sum of money, huge uh relief that we were trying to figure out. We had the ability to to incur that, but you know that's not sustainable. So we're excited about that and just wanted to announce that publicly. and uh I know Mrs. Wellman's much relieved. So, thank you, sir. >> Thank you. Uh, next item, uh, there doesn't appear to be any citizen input based on the last time I looked. So, we'll go to policy 2322 updates. Are there any this evening? [Applause] >> Yes, sir. We have in your packet um and for elementary and
010secondary there are charts of the beginning of school um training sessions for all staff professional and service and there are in charts there and you can see that a lot of the focus this is August 18th our first day back and a lot of the focus will be on our new social studies textbook training and that's of course K through 12 and you can see that and then in elementary. We're also placing a focus this year on training teachers with their ECATs, their assistant teachers, and that's in grades preK through three. So, it's it's tremendous to have that additional support in our classrooms. And we're going to try to start doing more training with them together. So, they will be together all day that day. I think Miss Huddle also has the special ed aids
011with their teachers that day for training. So, that's also a great thing. And then for secondary uh in addition to the social studies training and other trainings they have available, they have Weston Keeznik coming to do some training. And he uh we saw him a couple of years ago at WSA and he has some great work on engagement uh and particularly with secondary students. So I think that'll be really um great for our middle school and high school staff to see. But as always, board members are welcome to attend any of these um sessions that interest you. Uh I don't think we have all of our U service set in place right now, but we will have that and that will be posted and shared uh when we receive that. But that is our 2322
012for this evening. >> All right. Can I speak? >> Anybody I was going to say anybody out here want to give us a 2322 update? She has something. Um so today our office of special education along with Kelly Stanley at Princeton Primary, Raven Hubard and um um Rebecca Robertson presented the Strive Academy and that's the special ed edition. So we went over the referral process for getting into special ed, the MTSS process, then how you evaluate a kid for special ed, those exceptionalities that the state of West Virginia recognizes. And then we did um the training preparation for behavior plans. And so that was a large focus um for some of our elementary staff. Um we started that blueprint for behavior and there will be follow-up trainings on this throughout the year. And then discipline
013students with disabilities and that's just the discipline paperwork. There is paperwork that has to be filled out when you suspend a student over those that on that 11th day as you all are aware of. And then we finish the day out with specially designed instruction and then effective communication with parents. Each year we pick a theme in special ed that we want to focus on and this year our theme is customer service with parents. So that's how we ended our day. >> And who was it the training? >> The training was um principles and then the school counselors. Okay. And so um counselors were paid a stipen to attend and some of our principles are already back and they attended. And so for high school and middle school, it was the special ed principal that
014handles that. So is their assistant principal. And then we will do and you you all are more than welcome to attend. We're going to do another. Last year we did a special ed summer academy with our special ed teachers. And so this year we'll do another one on August the 13th and 14th at Princeton High School. >> Is that for new teachers or all teachers? >> All teachers. You just have to pre-register with us. And so on the 13th it'll be different things um regarding behavior, writing IEPs, um instructional strategies, and then on the 14th of that morning, Dr. Jim Harris from Marshall will be coming to present on behavior. >> Sounds like we're cranking up. >> Y thank you. >> Getting ready for the new year. Anybody else on 2322? All right, then we'll
015move right into the agenda. The next item on the agenda is approval of minutes for the July 14th, 2025 meeting. Is there a motion to approve? >> Is there a second? There's motion and a second. Are there any additions, corrections, or deletions? >> There appear to be none. Then on the motion, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Opposed. Likewise. That motion carries. Five in favor and none opposed. Under our consent agenda, board a memo number 20 is the fire alarm system for Pike View High School. The director of maintenance is seeking authorization to purchase install an addressable fire alarm system at Pike View. This is under a source well contract uh which doesn't require bids. The cost is $72,9341. The superintendent recommends approval of the purchase and installation of this system to
016new tech systems. This purchase is funded through the excess levy. Board amendment number 21 is mastery prep for grades 9 through 12. Uh Miss Mitchell and Dr. Von are requesting approval for the purchase of mastery prep resources through the prep equilis cooperative contract. Uh this provides digital SAT assessments, practice and prep for students as well as live professional development for teachers and administrators. There's a whole bunch of stuff in the packet. The quote attached is 44,916 and it's purchased through the Equalis Cooperative. The quote is $24,771 less due to the assistance of a gear up funding uh provided part of the access to mastery prep for 9th and tth graders. Superintendent recommends approval. Board amendment number 22 is a continued subscription to travel tracker transportation software. This is from by board cooperative uh for travel
017tracking routing and travel tracker trip software. The renewal cost is $84,198. Uh, superintendent recommends approval of the one-year continued subscription. For the amount set forth therein, excess levy funding will be used for the subscription. Board amendment number 23 is a purchase of Frog Street prek curriculum uh in this in this adoption cycle for Case West Virginia. This is a one-time purchase for the curriculum for 13 collaborative classrooms that are housed in Case West Virginia locations. Case will be purchasing a curriculum for additional classrooms they fully fund. The amount uh will be paid for with levy funds in the amount of $49,859. Uh the adoption material is used for a 5-year period. Superintendent recommends approval. Board me number 24 is integrated pest management services with Orcin under an Omnia contract. Uh this is a com a
018uh legitimate government purchasing cooperative so it doesn't require bidding. The price is a source well contract. Uh the price remains the same as 2324. The total cost is $1,972 per month for all locations. Superintendent recommends approval of integrated pest manage services to Orcin, Inc. from 8125 to 73126 under this contract. This is funded by the excess levy. Board me number 25 is uh the 2526 rental agreement with the Chuck Mathenina Center to use for a venue for 2526 school year school activities. The current cost with which includes technology for the events is $53,36. This is an increase of $4,95750 from last year. Superintendent recommends approval. Board member number 26 is the placement of a student from Levi University to in the Mer County Schools to complete hours in an applied research uh ed class. The
019individual will be placed at Bluefield Intermediate Schools. Placement as always is contingent upon completion of forms acceptable background check and the university naming a site supervisor. The superintendent recommends approval. Board amendment number 27 is the purchase of API communication expansion rooms as they're called. Rooms by Apigy is a streamlined communication tool that allows teachers to securely message students families with all communications being automatically archived. The rooms supports class announcements, scheduling translations, and push notifications. It's a one-stop shop solution. And apt is, as the board knows, but the public may not know is on the platform we use for website and communications. The cost is 26,985 for onetime onboarding and development fee of $8,450 for a total of $35,435. The rooms will be paid for by 21st Century Technology Funds. Superintendent recommends approval. Board member 28
020is a Bonner Scholars placement from Concord University for fall of 25. Students listed there uh are being placed in Merch County Schools for the fall semester. They're required to get 8 to 10 hours per week of direct community service. Superintendent recommends approval. Board amendment number 29 is Vestus Matt's uniforms. This is under a cooperative contract uh with Vestus, formerly Aramac, and it remains the same as the fiscal year 2425, which is 25,24871. Superintendent recommends approval of the rental service for Mats and Uniforms from Fesus, Inc. for 8125 to 73126. Board amendment number 30 is payment of invoices which you have a copy of. The actual checks have been written or being held pending consideration and approval by the school board. Superintendent recommends approval. Board amendment number 31 is the purchase purchasing card transactions. What we
021call PCR transactions. You have a list of those transactions and the superintendent recommends approval. That is the last of the consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> There's a motion and a second. Questions? >> Okay. >> The fire alarm system. Are we replacing what's there or are we updating or >> we're replacing what's there? >> What I I just kind of remember having to replace my last year or two there. I don't know if it was just a bandaid fix or >> it's the original system and that could have been I know we have to know we put those in Um, but our hope is to get this in as much as poss if but prior to school if we can. >>
022And Tom, >> no, I know, >> Tom. >> I mean, it may have been the original hardware, but I know that it it was worked on and it worked fairly well the last year or so that I was there. Tom sent an email earlier about that because he knew he wasn't able to be here. He said the system is original to the building and the parts are obsolete. Is the reasoning for purchase of Edward's addressable system? >> Okay. Maybe then the portion that I'm thinking about was the bail part of the system. >> That absolutely re-rel. >> Okay. But I know we had less problems with the whole system after that. >> Absolutely did because we used to have to pay them to come down to do bail changes and >> I recall that as
023well. You're absolutely right. That's just a I didn't remember it well enough. Thank you. >> Okay. >> So, I have a question about travel tracker. >> Yeah. What are we? >> It's getting really pricey. This is a lot more than when we started. Uh are we saving $85,000 >> by using it? He's not doing that. >> That's not fair. I mean, >> well, I mean, you give me your best I'm always I always ask your best judgment. I'm not Is it worth $85,000 of our money to have Travel Tracker? >> Greg, I have a question kind of adjacent to that. Also, how many programs are there are there to choose from when considering >> Well, personally, I think we should evaluate how much it's used before we renew it next year. We did hire someone
024to help, but we were running about 20% of the drivers using it this year at a max. So, in my opinion, I think that but we should use it this year. We do have an employee there half a day that is paid for with transportation funds and I think the transportation supervisor should be reviewing reports to see what the utilization rates are and report back to the board on that. >> So when does this contract expire? Current one. >> It's expired. >> It's done. >> Yes. They they received the renewal a couple months ago and and it's for this year. >> So remind me when it does. >> There is a tablet. What should happen is every bus route should be managed and mapped out and a tablet that basically guides their route drives. Especially
025for substitutes, it would be very very helpful to have that in place. Um, and it does also allow us to bill trips through that, but they manually have to log in and out to do that. So, I'm sure there are other options for that. Um, >> did it originally help us re look at our routes and kind of >> in some ways it did what is actually happening and Brent might want to jump in >> because Chris works for him part-time too, but he's manually putting those routes in because, you know, some of our buses can't go in the rural areas and those drivers know this route or that route. It's really not giving us the mapping efficiencies that we had hoped >> that were promised. >> That was one of the major things I
026thought. >> Yes, it was. >> That we did it for the the substitute issue is an issue obviously. >> Um, >> we need to know if the substitutes are using it though, too. We need to know utilization on that. I'm not expecting you to know, but we need to know whether if they're not using it, then >> I agree. Then the anyone have an answer to the question I ask is there other options? >> This is not that does exactly what this does. We have not found any comparable because it it is they've got a system that's Yeah. There's not many other people out there on the market. So what does it do again? What for 80 what was it 75 >> 84? It's 85,000 basically. What are we getting? I mean, $84,000 could fund
027a employee. >> I didn't really ask for details. I just asked if they wanted it renewed, but again, I know last year they did not have the resources to fully implement it. Um, until we hired Mr. Constantino um and and he has done a great job, learned the system. >> Was last year the first year we had it? >> The second. >> Okay. You said something earlier to the effect of you wouldn't recommend it next year. Do you mean this year or the year after this year? >> The year after this year. My my recommendation is we try it one more year. That's just my personal opinion. My my professional opinion actually is that we try it one year now that we have the full resources, but that we should have some type of reporting.
028Brent and I ask for it when we meet. Um, we asked for it from Chris, but um, >> well, I can I can just tell you if the usage rate's not closer to 75%. I'm a no going forward. If we're going to use it at 25, 30, 35%. There is no point. >> I agree. I think that's a good >> Are the Are the drivers and everyone trained well enough to understand how to use it? >> They are trained >> and it's on the docket this year, too. So, they're trained at the beginning of the year. And then the followup on a irregular basis kind of like drug testing. Is it is there is there any no rhyme or reason when they check and see if Jim knows what he's doing and if Amy knows
029what he's doing. >> Well, they should have a record of who's using it. >> Yeah. >> Those reports are given to the supervisor. >> So the system who is and who isn't. >> Well, for an experienced bus operator, why would they need to use it for example? I mean that I guess that's what I'm thinking. If you if I've had this run for eight years, >> I don't need to look at this thing to know where I'm going. I know where I'm going. >> And that's how keep in mind there there's two pieces to it too. There there's the trip side and the route side. So the the trip side is used for every trip. That's how they schedule trips. And I think that's that's a piece that's very beneficial, too. The athletic director can
030schedule the trip and get the bus assigned and that's how they assign the >> bus. That doesn't seem to be working because we keep hearing that we're not getting buses. >> So, something's not working. >> Well, I mean, that that's another thing we need to look at. >> If that worked, then I Yeah, they'd be great. But how many calls I got last year? We had to take our kids to this sporting event. >> Well, I think that's from a lack of drivers more than anything. That may be part of it. But I mean, if this works, we should know be well before the date >> that there's no driver, not the day before or the evening before. >> Earlier, we had a hearing of a bus driver and we had all kinds of video
031and information. Does this have anything to do with recording, keeping up with him? >> It doesn't, but there is a tie into that. There is a We're looking into a pre-trip piece of this software that um actually Chris was checking on it today. We're waiting back for an answer of whether it's provided or whether it's another add-on and another fee. They do have a piece that the drivers can complete a pre-trip check and they use their tablet to go on a checklist and do and it's documented of every one of those things for their pre-trip checks. Uh I think it's pre and post and so that is a piece of the software too we're looking at. Um it has the capability to do it. We're trying to find out or we've asked if there's a
032charge or not to that software. Um, >> one additional question again in accordance to West Virginia code 21-3C. I didn't look that up. That's why I wondered my first question. What does that code specify? Is there again is it just one option to satisfy >> what's that code section >> 21-C >> 21-3C >> is that what was on Oh, it was on the >> I'll tell you real quick. >> Well, maybe not so quick, but I will tell you. >> I remember when this first came up. >> Well, that can't be right. figure out that we didn't have as many bus drivers as we needed. This this system was supposed to have kind of analyzed the routes >> to where we could get the biggest bang for the buck for the number of people that
033we had. >> And you know, I didn't remember it being 85 grand. >> It was. >> Yeah, that code section is not right. There should be another dash and another number. >> Okay. >> 23-3C- something else. >> Leslie, do you remember how much it was around the first year? Any guesses or I know it's hard to >> I think it was about that. >> It was stumped there >> as close to what it is now. >> Yeah, it hasn't went up uh >> tremendously. >> It was very pricey though. >> Yeah, it it has been. I wanted to say closer to 6570. >> Okay, I was thinking that too. >> Um >> did we use Miss Smith's question? If the bus drivers have it on, then at least there's communication, there's tracking, there's information back
034to the bus garage if they will at least turn the tablet on. But >> now, is that provided that they have internet service or Wi-Fi or cellular service? >> Cellular and Wi-Fi. >> And so there's a lot of part of a lot of our county that doesn't have >> Right. But they have to at least have it on >> that picks up and it uses the GPS on the tablet. That's almost has GPS has a much better signal than the fly than the cellular. So then when the cellular when it gets back into range, it will pick back up on the route. So it kind of picks up >> buffer the information. >> Yes. And then it it writes it back. So it it does have pretty decent coverage in the county. >> I'm assuming
035at this point they haven't been mandated that they have to have it on. >> They have been. Yes, >> they have been per Mr. Rose. Yes. We need >> but nobody's making sure that they do if only 20% of them are using it. I mean >> I think Okay. >> Yeah. And we Mr. Rose could speak better too. >> Mr. Rose needs to come back to the next meeting so we can talk about this. I think I don't know if anybody else thinks that but >> I think Mr. Tom can talk. >> Well, I mean or either if we can get some type of feedback about >> Yeah, we need we need some feedback. If you're if if it's supposed to be on and it's not on, then that needs to be that pre-trip checklist.
036Cut it on. Um, anything else on that one? I just wanted to comment on the, you know, we we do spend a lot of money at the Chuck Matina Center, but I'm telling you what, bang for your buck. There's three three spreadsheet worth of events. three spreadsheets worth of events. >> Our um employee benefits or our employee banquetss are free. So, >> it's all done at a reduced >> it's a reduced rate for the school system. >> It's a wonderful deal and it's it's works for both of us. It's a nice place to to to have these events. It's good for the kids to be in these kind of places to have these events. I mean, it's just we just I just wanted to comment on we appreciate the Chuck Mtheina Center >> for for
037what they do and the price has really not gone up extraordinarily over the time we've been doing it. It's >> and we've actually added something this year. It was for um Pike View High School is going to do head there this year. >> I saw I did see that. >> What are they gonna do? Borhead. >> I saw that. That should be That's great. >> Head. It's a >> It's like Christmas. >> I think it's a Yeah, it's it's it's a like a medieval >> It's a Christmas program where we have meals and so forth, right? >> Well, no. I think they're going to be on the stage. >> How are they going to get the audience to interact and all that stuff? >> I don't know. Maybe they're >> That's what Bor's head is.
038From 5 to 10 set up and cutting and tear down. >> It's an event. It's $315 per head. We used to well obviously that would probably per hour instead of per hour on >> we well when I was principal there Borshead was a three event >> happening because we didn't have room to put it all in there. So I think that's a good move. >> Logistically that's up to I guess Mr. Shrewsbury. God bless him. But uh it's a it's a big community event. >> Well, I remember at Poll I was there 85 years ago, but um I was imageria and it was a big event too where there was a lot of interaction with the audience. >> Was that Linda Hawkins by chance? >> Was that Linda Hawkins? >> I know. She was my
039choir director, too. >> Uh yeah, it was not. It was a great event. It was I love the clothes and the >> just the whole environment. Um >> it was a jester. I you remember the gesture? Yeah. >> On the uh Chuck Mathe Center, the technology package. Is that just a way of phrasing practice time? >> Not necessar Well, it can't, but not necessarily. Anytime they have to turn on the lights and you see audio equipment inside the auditorium, right, it's pretty costly. So, >> that's the technology pack. >> Do they have to provide a person there also to do that? >> Yes. But it's well they're all just a standard amount. I noticed that. So I figured it was >> okay. >> There are so many shows there done by individual schools but also
040county coral events. Uh it's a it's a really nice thing. It's a way of it's again it's the community working together for the benefit of our children. And I just wanted to mention that because I think it's just a great thing. >> I love the center board. So I'll share that we have a meeting. >> Please do. >> We have a meeting this week or next week. much appreciated. It's it's a wonderful uh wonderful thing that that uh they do for us and we do appreciate it. >> Any anything else? >> 29 of those technology package events on here. >> Yeah, that's standard I think for any event that they have there. Also, that that includes your your projector and your you've got audio >> TVs or if you have them out in the >>
041the other area, >> somebody's got to cut them off, cut them on, monitor them, make sure they're working, fix the mic, put in batteries. >> So, >> and they got to get paid. >> On to your next one. >> Anything else on the consent agenda? >> The aptagy. >> This is an expansion to rooms. Is this something that will make Is this something that'll make communicating with with parents or with family members easier? Yes. >> How's it being done now? >> Well, >> you're a teacher. Do you call the parents? How do you >> Well, normally, well, it's been a while since I've been in the classroom, but yeah, I would call the parents and then if I was lucky enough to remember to write down, I spoke to this parent about this on this
042date, you know, couldn't go into much detail, but what this does is it allows them to have two-way communication with family members. And another thing that's so great about this is if you have a kid that's in elementary school, middle school, and high school, you go to our app because it's going to be housed within our app and you can toggle between, you know, your children's classrooms. It will have their schedule. It'll have each of their classes and if the teacher needs to contact them, that's how they contact them. And it's archived. >> Do we have any idea how much usage it gets? The app does. I mean, I look at it all the time. Right now, nothing's posted on it. >> It hosts our internet. >> I'm sorry. >> We APG is our internet
043page. >> It's on our website. That's correct. Well, how many how many parents do we know >> that that use it? And how do we find out? How do we let them know? We're going to spend another $35,000. >> Yeah. Clicks are clicks are available. >> Yeah. It's >> also, Mr. Bailey >> for our enrollment. >> It it also for your extracurricular. So this will give the ability finally for coaches, for band directors, for after school clubs and things to communicate as well. And so all of those will be able to communicate in the same >> because some people use Remind and some people use this and that and the parents are having to go through 50 different >> applications to get the information they need when all of it will be under the Mercer
044County Schools um app. >> It's also archived which means we have a record >> so there's no debate about what was said to whom about what and got it. >> It also gives the protection of the the teacher or the coach. They're not giving out their cell phones, which is you >> against policy to start with. Right. >> Right. Right. You don't the parent doesn't have the cell phone number. It It's all within the app and that cell phone number is completely hidden. It's not there. >> Another thing that um Amy and I really liked when we were talking to her was that you can set up um trigger words that parents can say um or students or coaches or whoever that will send a notification automatically to the principal or Mr. Toman or Dr.
045Atkins, hey, you all need to look into this. Um, this has been said and it keeps that you're kind of on more proactive than reactive. >> I think that's great, >> you know. And Aptigy connects us to other social media, does it not? >> So, you can do it's a one-stop shop. You put in you put in a message and it goes to different >> different u all calls you know when schools are are closed for snow days inviting the people here. It didn't work this that well this time but inviting the people here for board recognizes um any kind of information that needs to be put out it goes through apag >> I'm not sure we could duplicate it for what we pay or you think Brent? >> No >> I didn't think so.
046>> Hold on. No, we cannot. I was muted. Sorry. That was a knee-jerk reaction, but no, no, we we do not have the ability to to do what this can do. Um, they've definitely got the they've got the tool. We we do want to highly publicize its use, though. It's going to be uh it's going to take everyone's buy in to to use it >> um and to use this standard, but it makes it so much easier, as Amy said, on the parent that's got multiple children. That's where we're coming from with uh it makes it so much easier on that parent to have a one-stop shop rather than to have all these different tools. They've got to flip back and forth to get communication. So, that's huge benefit. >> We use respond for our
047football team. There we have to let Remind. >> Remind. Yep. Remind is >> um and it's an app. >> So, they look they look on their on their phone and they see the screen and it's on that app. It's got a you know a one on it or might have whatever notification. So, they go to it and look at it. Uh do we know if that will change? It will be all every like I know as a parent I have remind class dojo >> the county app game changer and there's another one team I have five and I have one kid but with this app I would have one app and I'd be able to have the little league the everything in one app and still get those push notifications on my cell phone >>
048as far as that's concerned. I used to use Remind and I really like the program. I have parents and all the different signins and I can send a specific message. Let's say I need to send a message to uh my junior parents. >> Does this have the ability to do that? So because one of the problems if you're just sending like the boy who cried wolf if you just send messages after messages and it doesn't any of it apply to you then what's going to wind up happening >> like the bus closures >> the bus is very difficult >> the buses is very difficult >> um I'd like to just make a general statement I think probably and there's with our limited staff here we all been thinking about what we weren't going to have
049and probably some of us been thinking thinking ways to uh tighten the belt so to speak and so it's not directed necessarily toward you but again just thinking long term but I think about these things anyway as far as being responsible for with our money and I do think that going forward the one thing that's in my head is all this money that we put out to the services I I'd really like to see some utilization Okay. >> Going forward to make sure. >> Yeah. Because >> you I just >> having it one thing, knowing it's being used is another, >> right? And if it's not being if it's not beneficial in relationship to the amount of money, then we we probably should look at it. or either if it is that important like the
050bus then we uh >> right >> should make sure our administrators or whoever's are utilizing it and that go I want to talk the 2320 the mastery master threat for 9 through 12 >> before you go there I I just wanted to follow up on that statement I agree with you but you can't always quantify a training or you can't always say what did you do with that information specific specifically. Now tell me you can't always do that. Sometimes training is just that you've learned, you've listened, you've thought and you integrate it. And if someone I mean I go to I have to go to trainings all the time and I hear things and if you ask me today a training I went to six months ago, I've already integrated that into my workplace. So
051if you ask me what did you learn from that training? My response is going to be I don't really remember at this point. It was six months ago. But I integrated it in and was using it and have been all along. Uh so it it it has to be a case by case. You have to look at every one of them and go okay what's the what's the inherent value of this? Not just it costs too much. Um because again sometimes it's hard to quantify. >> What I think I'm talking about is more um >> utilization. If if we're paying $84,000 and only 20% of our bus drivers are utilizing it, then to me, we need to look at something else or either we need to >> mandate it use. >> If we're responsible for
052the money, >> let's give it up, >> then we need to make sure that it's being utilized. That's the way I feel about it. Now, I understand exactly what you're saying. >> And I don't disagree with you either. I mean, I I do think that and that that's going to something that you'll see on a future agenda here probably in the next few months. It's going to relate to expenditures that the board reviews. >> So with our elementary test scores, uh I had a smile for three days after seeing some of that information. Proud proud of the teachers, proud of the administrators, proud of all of you all for doing the job. And I think looking at this the mastery prep uh it's it's not that much money if we get some if we can
053get results out of it. Of course, Rosemary's not here, but uh I think really we need to look at utilization of this because it directly I think affects possibly could affect our 2320 information on our test scores for our high school. >> Agreed. >> So just Mr. Toman could know that I probably will be asking like for a schedule when some of this stuff will be utilized in this. Fair enough. >> Well, and something that we did, we met last week, Mr. Toman, Miss Mitchell and I and all of the um instructional leaders and we set our beginning, middle, and end benchmark dates to align with I Ready and Mastery Prep so that when we provide those reports the middle and end of year, it will be more timely. If you remember last year, they
054were off by at least a month. And so because it was the first year of messy prep, so they had to do some front front end work, but we'll be giving that information, you know, at the >> more time. >> Yes. And and at the same time, and you know, and then they have uh they have some other benefits with mastery prep as well that I'm sure Miss Mitchell will share. >> Anything else on the consent agenda by anybody else about anything? >> Are we going to like a heard one of these steers out of the brow, so to speak? when we vote on this. >> What do you mean? >> The one see the one thing that we had to question about >> the travel thing. >> You talking about the travel thing? Well,
055the recommendation is that we leave it there this year, try one more year. >> And I mean, if you course, >> it's the pleasure of the board. I mean, we can we can remove it from the consent agenda and bring it back if that's what you guys want to do. I'm just >> What's the What's the time frame? You said it's already expired. So, >> we could wait and bring it back next week if that's what you would like. I mean, next board meeting. I I don't think it would impact us operations for this year. >> Well, maybe >> the concern is we're obviously not using it right now. >> No, we do we do need to do this now. >> Say what? >> We do not have time. I was I misspoke. In order
056to utilize this for the start of school, we need it approved tonight if we're going to use it. >> And we could definitely have >> Well, my thinking is we go ahead and leave it in there like we put pressure on whoever we got to put pressure on to use this stuff >> and then we find in two weeks from now we can ask Dave and whoever else to come in and talk to us about it about the issues that we have. >> Yeah, that's what I was already saying about that. >> I get it. Well, and just explain to him that's what we expect going forward. >> I will. >> I have no idea what date it is. Apparently, >> you've had a busy weekend. >> I'm sorry. >> It is July 28th. As
057we said at the very beginning, >> this was the first meeting in August. Um, so there is time if you would like to wait and and have him come back on the 11th. I apologize. >> Everybody wants to push it. >> Okay. So, to do this correctly, then we have a motion and a second. A motion from uh Chinda and a second from Mark. Do you agree to remove that portion of the consent agenda from your motion? >> Yes. >> Okay. Then that will be put on the next agenda. >> All right. Then on the consent agenda with that specifically being removed, all in favor signify by saying I. >> I oppose. Likewise. That motion carries. Five in favor and none opposed. All right, let me get to the next. It's actually board amendment number
05832 and it is a first reading of a new policy DO9 and that is the education service provider under the hope scholarship program policy. That's a mouthful. >> All right. So, do we want to hear about it? >> Is this what Dr. Yeah, this is the one. Yeah, Dr. Von, >> we're going to start charging hope for this is required by statute that >> so it's clear to the public this is required by statute. If someone with the hope scholarship uh wants to have a specific class in Mer County schools or wants their child to participate in uh athletics that includes vocational technical training. If they want any of that, then they're required by law to pay the county school system. Uh, and it's my understanding it's 17th of the annual scholarship amount >> Per
059activity or class? >> Activity or class? >> You say they have they're required to pay. Do they pay it or the state? >> We talked to Ashley about that. The state if the state has the money, they pay us. And if the parent already has all the money for the year, then they will pay. We can we can bill the hope scholarship. So this is just for hope scholarship recipients. We can bill if there's money still in their account. If you know the private schools, charter schools are build by semester. If it's before the second semester and there's funds available, we can bill that. But if not, we will have to bill the parent or um guardian directly. >> All right. So here's >> an issue with the policy right out of the gate. It
060does not say what happens if they don't pay in time for the classes to start. >> A kid would go right, wouldn't it? >> Well, I mean, we have to we we have to have it in policy. If we're going to have policy, we have to define what happens if we're not paid. >> It must be paid before the start of the class or activity. I would say >> it doesn't even say that. So, we have to define the parameters. So, it's clear that um >> who wrote the policy? Dr. Vaughn. >> Dr. Von and I a and we've we did use um other counties as well as a template. >> Well, >> I think Greg's right. We have to say what has to be done and what's going to happen if they don't or
061else you being the lawyer in the group. I just look at it and go, well, there's a problem. >> Okay. >> Nobody knows what happens if it's not paid and when it has to be paid. >> I thought of that each other like they don't pay. >> Can they get a bill? I mean I can see myself being a parent and I want kid to take this class. How how much in advance how much advanced notice would the county know that a kid is going to take the class or does this this includes participating sport also? >> It includes sports. >> You don't know who's going to show up? >> I I can I will have to check on that. >> Are they going if they go out if they go out for a team
062um >> and don't make it. I mean I can Logistically, this will have some uh issues. >> So, if if they go to Danielle for for MCT for half a day or however long and then they come over to Princeton to play football, is that 27th? >> That's 373. >> They take two classes with me. >> That would be three. >> We ought to encourage them to come back to school. >> You would >> can't do that. Can you >> be surprised? We've got almost 40 last year that were in home school or private school. I'm sorry. >> We had almost 40 that were either home school or private school. >> I met four kids in your in your office that day the homeschool program and they said, "It's a joke. We're here to learn
063how to weld." >> But at that point, they weren't required to pay. >> Y >> and these kids were homeschooled. They weren't >> they were not on the hope scholarship because you can get hope scholarship for homeschooling, right? >> So, what about what about homeschooled that don't have the scholarship? This only applies to hope. >> They are enrolled as a part-time student. So the county gets 0.5 FTE. So for every two homeschool kids, that counts as one. >> Okay. So So we're So we get compensated. >> As long as we're being compensated, that's fine. >> Um Okay. So that'll go out for first reading and we need to to work on these issues. >> Okay. >> Um so we can get it straightened out uh so it's clear to the public. And again, this is
064statutory. This isn't something we came up with in the middle of the night. This is required by law. Um, okay. Board amendment number 33 is the needs project, the MCT building, which we proposed last year. Uh, Mr. Tomman, it's due in a month and a half. We still don't have property for the other project that would be competing. So, uh, we need to make a a decision on whether that's going to be our needs project or we have no needs project. >> I think we res I I sub >> I think we need to try to get MCT again. >> Then make a motion. >> I make a motion that we again spend the time to resubmit the needs project of the MCT building. >> All right. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a
065second. Further discussion. I just have a good feeling about it this year. Sometimes you got to go back a couple times. >> Yeah. >> I mean, we've done that in many times before. >> The other thing I think um in the last probably five, maybe longer than that, but at least the last three to five years, I think our public starting to understand probably after co how important our uh vote services are to the public. I mean, as far as getting degrees and we always we're talking about AI. I don't know how many places I've seen, well, AI is not going to fix your plumbing >> or it's not going to come and fix your air conditioner. And there's a lot of >> to that. D Russell stopped me at Kroger the other night. We
066were just talking about things and he said he had just read an article that the next generation millionaires were going to be plumbers and electricians and carpenters. >> Believe it. >> Those are going to be the next generation's millionaires. And I thought, yeah, there are already some of them. Uh, so yeah, it's it's um it's much needed. The trades are are um there's a a lot of need and and of course in con conjunction with that, we've got the dual credit program and and now we've invited New River to come on campus. So this is a one-stop shop now. We we're we're creating an environment where kids can get their college, they can get their their um CTE and and and their high school credit all in one place. >> We'll have Concord on campus
067for one class a week and Google State for one class a week. >> Oh, great. >> There we go. >> That's a start. >> It is. >> Let me make a comment. It's probably wrong, but maybe the f first time for everything. Um, see, back last year when we talked about this, all I heard was the wonderful things we were telling him about what we're doing. Maybe we ought more about problems and weaknesses because if everything's wonderful, they think, "Shoot, they're doing great." >> Spend money on that. >> We told them the problems were we've outgrown our campus. We don't have room. That we're putting kids on weight list, which we shouldn't be doing. kids are having >> on that this year. >> Yeah. And and it it >> you know as one of the
068comments we made to them and I and I stand by that and that's this in a in a time in our state when we're cutting cutting cutting cutting cutting and funding things that are being cut because we're losing population. It's time to reward a success. You know, you're doing everything right and you need more space. It's time to reward that. It's not time to say, "Well, there's others that, you know, we're sorry. You'll just have to do the best you can." It's time to reward success. >> I bet everybody on that committee's faced the problem of not being able to find anybody to do this type of work for, >> right? And we hit last year, part of our problem was we hit Cana County needing money for three schools. >> They had they had
069bit the bullet and closed schools and they needed that money and you knew you just knew going in they were going to get the line share of the money. >> We've had some issues too and can speak to this. You know, just in the past month, we've had maintenance here three different times. Well, we can't fix that. It's too old. We can't We're going to have to do this. I mean, our building is old. So, I think that too, you know, you're talking about the problems. We have problems and they're documented. So, I think that's a good angle to go at. >> You're saying your all's fire alarms not working anyway. >> Listen, we don't have we don't have a PA system, you know, like for us to talk, you know, >> that's true. We
070communicate when we communicate with our teachers, it's on the mind. Like if we have to go on a lockdown, it's a text message that's sent to our teachers. >> It'll be apty now. >> It'll be apty from now on. >> We don't have a security system. You know, our bowler is currently leaking, which is if you've ever walked in the office and you notice all this glue that's in the front office. Well, the problem is we have so many steam leaks under the building. It keeps that glue and causes that glue to rise which is why all the floor in our front office like we have to put rugs down everywhere because it's >> sticky. >> We've got issues that can be >> Yeah, I think Paul's just saying to point those out. So, >>
071absolutely. Yeah, we will. >> I think we should. >> We will cuz we'll go back up again and and put the full course press on again and remind them that they loved it last year. >> Uh, and it's just remind them to love it again. But again, this is part of the process, guys. I don't think there's been a school where we went the first goround. >> Yeah, Bluefield Primary was because that's what happened with we had just done Mountain Valley and we thought we'd have to present for Bluefield Primary more than once and we got that's why they were backtoback projects. I'm sure Leslie can attest to that. That's why it was D. Those were double. >> But of but of eight projects, that's the only one. >> That's the only one. >> And
072and Oakville was three and a half times. >> If Logan County hadn't forgot to buy real estate, we wouldn't have done Oakville. >> Timber was twice, wasn't it? >> Timber was twice. It's It's You just have to work it and you have to keep showing them what a good project is. And we were just one down from >> the the best project. So, we'll be all right. We just have to go do it. So, we've got a motion and a second. Uh, all in favor signify by saying I. >> Opposed? Likewise. That motion carries. Five in favor, none opposed. >> Last action item on the agenda is board member 34, which is the personnel agenda, which you should have in your packet. So, is there a motion to approve? >> So, move. >> Is there
073a second? >> Second. >> I did it backwards, but I guess there's no need to go into executive session. Okay. Any further discussion on the the personnel agenda? Then on the motion all in favor signify saying I opposed likewise that motion carries five in favor and none opposed. That's the end of the action items on the agenda. Is there anything else to come for the board? I guess right now it's administrative updates and >> um >> administrative updates please. >> I don't have any but Dr. Bald >> um we did reschedu >> it is >> okay. We did reschedule um the second workshop and it is going to be August 15th at 9:00 am here in the MC 8:30. >> Why did you say that? >> I've got to leave town at noon. >> What
074What time would we go to? >> I just have to leave if we're not finished. >> Well, it's got I mean there's two indepth issues. Yeah. cell phone and I mean we can do >> expulsion and then there's the uh monetizing athletics. Um but it and people hear that and they're like, "Oh, no." Well, it's already been monetized. >> Mercy County Schools just didn't get it. We're not getting our part of it. We're the product and it's going to everybody but us and our children, which is where the money's going to end up is with our kids. >> Better equipment, better places for them to play. And you know, honestly, I understand the need to make profit. I understand everybody wants to get their share, but you know, I've heard some stories that just blow
075me away. It's like, here's a check for $500 for doing all your sports this year. Are you kidding me? Those days are over. We'll figure it out. And if you want to, you know, if you want to promote and sell your product, then you're going to need to come to the table and discuss it because it's just it's not fair to the kids ultimately. All right. So, do we want to do 8:30 or 9? >> I mean, whatever. Sorry. >> I can't promise to be sane before 9:00, but I'll be here. >> Would 8:30 help you? >> 8:30 would help. We have training scheduled that day. >> That works. That works for me. >> So, that would help us as well. >> So, 8:30 to like 11:30. Is that what we're shooting? >> Probably about
0763 hours. >> Y'all would go to 7 then. >> Oh, yeah. Mark would be the only one conscious for that. He always up at our trainings at 6 a.m. getting coffee. >> That's the principal. >> So 8 8:30. >> I don't think I've been up at 7:00 in 20 years. >> I have, but I'm being sarcastic, but I don't I don't I don't do well in the morning. >> That's kind of >> I'm not a good morning guy. >> At night, I have to if I want to watch something on TV, it has to be recorded because my All right. >> So, is there anybody else out here for administrative updates? Anybody? anything. >> I just want to emphasize how great it is. We got that funding and how much it it helps us and
077helps us with the needs project as well. So, um I I'm sure that our elected officials in in Congress helped push that. So, we appreciate that greatly. >> Very much so. >> Thanks for your help with the needs. Do we have money that we can put in a good share because that's a huge factor. >> Yes, sir. We have we have four million reserved in um our capital projects fund for this. >> Actually, I I'll tell you a little bit later. Um I probably should say it. It is an important factor, but a lot of systems get almost 100% funding for their projects. >> Oh, worked way for us. If you go back and look, well, you know, we we've done well with the SBA. I got no >> I got no complaints. They're they're
078fair and reasonable minded and and they've done they've done right by us and and and we're getting ready to open a new school thanks in large part to them. So >> So you're looking at a poor county. I think they >> that's the thing is you just look you got to kind of look at you know who's got the resources because everybody should get things >> and a big part of that thanking our community for supporting our school system >> right >> and the excess levy. >> And the levy >> absolutely the excess levy is what allows us to do this. we wouldn't be able to do it. >> Yeah. >> Uh if there's nothing further to come before the board tonight, >> move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any objection? We
079are returned.