Board Meeting Work Session - 7/24/2025

001There's >> three Good afternoon. It is 1:36 p.m. on July the 24th, 2025. The Mer County Board of Education is in session for a work session today. We'll be taking no action, but we will be discussing a lot of things. So, let's start with the pledge, please. 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. >> It's it's our intention to go through the agenda and get as much done as we can, but we're not going to rush. We're going to take our time and get each object or subject dealt with as much as we want to. Uh we will probably adjourn around 4 o'clock. So if you're watching the streaming enjoy um

002you'll be very much informed. There's a lot there going to be a lot. So you'll get a lot of information. So let's start with the most important thing we do which is achievement. Uh so we'll if you've got anything prepared then we'll let you tell us what you got prepared and then we'll follow up. >> Are they working? I'll just do a brief uh just intro. Dr. Bowling passed out the Mercy County Schools end of the year snapshot. This is a lot of the information off our data wall and she formatted. You had a PowerPoint before that uh like a snapshot that she showed you. So, she put this together today along with uh I think Dr. Atkins has been involved, Mrs. Harrison, everybody put some pieces in there, but just wanted to share that

003for you to look at. But a lot of a lot of information that uh I'm I'm proud of of what the team has done with that and uh meaning the team from clear down to from the classroom to the kids to everybody. It's a lot of a lot of things I look at that wall and say what can we do now next year to do better and uh it's pretty neat the information that the staff has said that uh we can we can knock it out. We can do a lot of different things better. So that that's something to state. I was at a board of governors retreat today with President uh Martin and again he said a lot of superintendents can probably he says I'll say this but uh where are they at on

004their data and I said no I can tell you exactly where are we how do we know and what's the data show and I shot him our our wall and uh that's something that uh we take great great pride on show where we're at and making sure we're making that progress. So, with everybody that's here that's on our staff and everybody out there that's uh listening as part of the staff, they have they have done that along with the kids. So, thank you. Just wanted to share that with you. It was pretty neat. Uh proud of that. Matter of fact, I had an old board board member text me last night and said that's pretty good. And a shout out for us being one of the nine that was recognized with the literacy that uh

005he sent me a text there, Warren Grace, president that I know you know know well. So, >> good deal. But thank you. >> All right. >> Yeah. uh just dovetail on that with with that data. Um we did Dr. Bowling organized it based on the building blocks for effective schools. You know that's based on the includes the seven West Virginia standards for effective schools and we try to use those as a framework for everything that we do and we really like um the breakdown into the three building blocks of instructional standards, leadership standards and foundational and last year we wrote uh Mr. Mr. Tman wrote his goals under that framework and then we did the same and so what are we doing in our position to support those areas. So the achievement um or the

006performance outcomes are organized in that way and I think that um that shows and helps us keep focused and helps us keep our eye on every aspect of education and we did have strong growth there. Um, as you all know, GSA data is still not finalized um and still embargoed, so we can't really um talk a whole lot about that. Um, in general, you know, we do expect to have um some growth on both sides in ELA and math. Um, always not as much as we would like, but uh we have known areas that we can do better in and uh we have some schools that are going to need some additional support. So we are working um to develop a plan for that. Um not anything punitive or negative of course but proactive and

007supportive and those principles are aware of that and are looking forward to that um additional support in any way that that we can. Also had a conversation with a community member today uh in Bluefield uh Dr. Bill White that is going to work with us to help provide some additional after school support from the community and to help uh increase student achievement and uh do other things in that way. I do have scheduled something these are all different things that we're doing. um do have a a principal round table, something I've never done before, but for schools that are overachieving or higher achieving schools um that are at or above the state in at least two of their three measurable grades and we're going to get those schools together and those principles together and I'm

008just going to ask them to tell me what you did. you know, what did you what do you think you and your teacher and your school did to be able to to achieve these results that are equal to or higher than um the rest of the state on the same assessment because we can only compare oursel on, you know, RGSA is a West Virginia assessment. So I think we compare ourselves to ourselves and I think that's fair and um then we will use those best practices and strategies to identify common denominators and then we'll share those with their peers at a later date you know to see you know what can be replicated in other schools what ideas can they take and make their own or maybe it'll validate some of their pro some of

009their own uh procedures but we'll definitely use that for our schools that are going to you know receive a little bit of additional support. So those are some things that we have planned, but we'll have more detailed data on that later. Board members. So early observations on our strengths, where are we doing well or or better? We are stronger in literacy than we are in numeracy. So we're stronger on the ELA side than we are on the math. And um I think that's to be expected because that you know has been been our focus for the uh last three years. We did pivot some to numeracy last year along with the state and we also started a new math curriculum last year that was quickly and unanimously picked by a team of teachers and uh

010in elementary and in middle school and I know Dr. Von I think was part of that process but the middle school actually selected that uh curriculum before elementary did but the other neither one knew that and so this is the first time that I'm aware of that K through8 has the same curriculum and it is the uh ready math curriculum through curriculum associates that aligns with I ready uh diagnostic so we have all of the things in line um that will complement one another we did not get um the growth, high achievement growth in year one, which is typical. We did have a meeting with the company and those were the questions that I asked. You know, typically it's they said it's, you know, up to three years when you start a new curriculum. I

011told him that we wanted two and I feel like that, you know, we had been a year ahead with uh Mr. Dr. Hodes had recommended the mathematical mindsets um that we did for two years and we brought in our numerousy leaders had some great teachers and principles that have been involved with that. So I feel like we're a year ahead with that because it's all the same types of skills and strategies. It's kind of like the science of reading for math when you're talking about mathematical mindsets and the building thinking classrooms. And so I I do feel like that we will see that growth. But we do have five elementary schools that I feel like are going to be at or above the state that are going to be part of that principal roundt discussion

012so that I can say, you know, what did you do that you were able to do that in one year, you know, that you were able to get where we wanted to be that quickly and see if we can we can identify some things, which I feel like we'll be able to. >> How many schools of concern do we have? We will have um three or four that in elementary that will receive some additional and intentional support and um right now >> you are from the state from >> us. Yeah, this it's internal. Yeah, >> it's uh again positive and proactive >> and um >> all the principles are all in and they know this is not uh punitive that is something that we want to do together and work together. Our schedules now have

013supervisors in buildings instructional supervisors every other week. Um and so these schools will have a title one instructional supervisor every other week and then we'll have our elementary supervisor the off week. So, they'll have someone there each week. And then we're going to look at what other supports and what other types of things we can do uh to help to help these schools because uh and these are schools that um are not at the state or did have not had growth for a couple of years in two or more grade levels. So, you know, there's a there's a method to the selection, but just to provide some additional supports What can the board do in terms of policy or funding to help with achievement in the elementary schools? You know, we we do face a

014lot of and this is a conversation that that we have very often at the office. This is obviously um Leslie's wheelhouse because she's uh deals with finances all day every day and we are facing a lot of federal programs cuts that um have typically been used in elementary for most of those things and you know so we will see um some things that we're going to have already planned to absorb. you know, last year, uh, we used, correct me if I'm wrong, Leslie, excess levy funds, I think, to pay for after school tutoring, um, because historically we had done that with our funds with ESSER funds actually, and we we, you know, once that was gone, um, I think they had always been used for secondary, um, to do that. So, that's another benefit of

015our excess levy that can help provide um, after school tutoring um, and also we provide transportation at the request of the board where needed, you know, and and we use that based on need. And we've had anywhere from two to four schools that the need was there. And that's that does change um from year to year, which I can't explain that, but you know, we just base it on what parents uh put on the the application when they do that. But we will um you know, times are going to get tight, I think, financially in a lot of different ways. We're trying to find a lot of ways that we can reduce costs and to save money, but we also have to balance that with keeping our focus on student achievement. So, you know, the

016the main thing is we have to have I think after school tutoring is is crucial and then we're going to try to do some things differently. Um, a lot of the elementary teachers who have the highest percentage in the state um that we will receive some recognition for a lot of things in science of reading very soon um through the WDE. We spoke about that before where they came down and did some videoing and some interviewing with some of the incredible staff we have at Princeton Primary in Oakville. um that we have 78% of our staff doing the letters training which is science of reading and the ones they've started that and they say it's incredible and the ones that are very knowledgeable of science reading um that have done many trainings before have have

017really talked about how this is going to make a tremendous difference. It's a two-year commitment and again we have 78% that are participating and that includes teachers, title teachers, um, special education teachers and principles that are participating in that. So that helps offset some things because the state's providing that. We're going to use some step seven funds for some incentives there. So um, you know, we we're trying to be very mindful of expense without um, taking anything away that may affect student achievement. Okay. >> Overall, are we getting buy in from the parents and families for those students who need after school tutoring and extra support? >> I I think that the best thing that that has happened with the third grade success act is that it does at a very early age um really

018promote and include parent engagement. And so it just formalized processes that we had done our whole careers but it's has enhanced it and has increased that parent involvement and engagement >> and as long you know our biggest barrier to after school tutoring was in my past transportation >> right that's why we talked about that you know I was big on that bus you know uh you were a big advocate of that and so you know again being cognizant of cost we don't want to provide buses as if there aren't children on. But if we have schools that parents say >> and and it's often in town that the parents uh they go to daycare. >> So if we can take them to daycare on a school bus at 4:00 and or 3:30, then they can

019stay for tutoring. So uh we we seem to have that hasn't been much of a barrier or a problem with having them stay because we provided transportation and then we often work with Christa and have after school healthy snack to go with it and the kids love that part. I'm sure >> you know because they're hungry um after school um >> regardless. And so uh we we seem to have a good result and I know it's not immediate results. I was talking to an intermediate principal today and the second graders this year have been going to school under the third grade success act since kindergarten. So that doesn't affect third grade this year, but the next year, you know, we should see the results of that. And I think we're going to see students that

020are far better prepared uh and and and more a higher percentage on grade level than we have historically. And so I really think that that's that is going to make a difference for us. >> Great. >> This does address or relate to achievement in a in a indirect and direct way. Have we had conversations with faculty and staff about the the new disciplinary measures that the statute has put in place? Not yet. But you know that is part of our plan. That will be that's I spent a lot of the time today looking at that myself. Um what I did you know we use AI to do lots of things to make us more efficient and better. So I took the slides from a training that I had attended about Senate Bill 199 and put

021it into an AI tool and just said make me a stepbystep um guideline for the requirements of this of this bill. And so I was going and they did a very good job. I was going through it and making sure that it aligns with um what I know we're going to do because some things are this person, this person or that person can do, you know, whatever they're asking to do. So I'm trying to tailor that. Also on our uh back to school admin meeting, Jason Long will be doing legislative updates and I'm certain that will be step one of admin being trained on that and then we will do it in our elementary breakout and then principles then will do it with their staff on their um first day meeting. Um one thing that

022we have done I know Emily's behind me. We are going to train at one of the recommendations in the bill is if we're going to have a lot more you know functional behavior assessments and behavior intervention plans. you know, that's part of that requirement and we historically have done that with one person. One person can't do the number that we could have, you know, and it's hard to predict, but we know that it'll be more than what we >> typically have. >> Yes. >> Um, so our school social workers will be trained in how to complete the FBAs and the VIPs. Um, they are part of those meetings anyway. Um, that's part of their role. So again, just formalizing what we've been doing and do it better and I think that that will probably get

023good results. So we have worked a lot with that, but no one has been officially trained yet. >> When do we anticipate the uh GSA data? >> They usually don't approve it until the state board meeting in August. I wish they did it in July because we don't have formalized data until I mean before our beginning of the year admin meeting. Dr. Javon, you think that'll be correct? But >> I think that'll be the same. >> Yeah. And I I don't know. Is that the Mr. Toman may know the second Wednesday? >> 14th, August 14th, I think is when they have >> something like that. So that's my head. >> They don't they don't take the embargo off until then. And then we want cleaned up data. You know, they have to finalize that, take

024out the non-continency enrolled to also integrate in the alternate assessments and things because those things typically help us and clean, you know. So we we don't want to report it. We want to report out that that best score. >> Okay. Have you seen the raw data? >> Yes. >> We don't. Okay. >> I I think we expect uh um >> Hey, I know you can't tell me any specifics, >> but you can we can do the broad. We can do the broad. Are we doing okay? >> I think we will see growth on both sides in ELA and math as a district. not as much growth as we had hoped, but I do think that there there are going to be areas um whether it's a grade level or a school or some or a

025certain specific area that we will be able to identify and to provide some additional supports to to help keeping keep us going in the right direction and I do think we'll get more fruit after year or two on the new math curriculum. >> Okay, other members have questions about achievement. Okay, then we'll work we'll move on to what we were discussing uh partly with uh Dr. Atkins and that is future funding issues. Uh you know we don't want to get in a situation where we uh are doing fine and then suddenly we're not and I I know Lesie and and our treasur won't let that happen but we need to be aware of potential problems so we can start thinking about them. So we'll just start with that. just give us a general feel of

026our finances and uh areas concern you currently. >> I just want to mention too that Leslie has a mentor Dave Mccclure and the State Department lady. I'm sorry I can't remember her name. >> Our our coordinator is Lacy Petri >> and Lacy Petri. caught me before Leslie came into the room and just wanted to let me know and I just want to say so Leslie can't brag about herself that I do and her staff but they want they mentioned of all the people that uh are new treasures that they're training and working with the state says what Leslie and her staff has done is exceptional and they are a role model that uh they share with others. So I just want to share that with you too. So that's how when she walked in the

027room I they mentioned that but Dave Mccclure and I just want to share with you all. So I think uh right there that's a that's a key to kick that off. So I just want to share that with >> we're we're glad but not really surprised. >> Exactly. We would expect nothing left. But congratulate >> Well, thank you. And again, we have a good team. And as I mentioned at the last board meeting, we didn't build this. We have built upon what was already here. And and if we all didn't work together, maintenance, facilities, personnel, you know, Dr. Vaughn was in my office this morning. We work very well as a team and and we are very aware that we have future budget cuts coming this year. We expect um basically this budget will be

028a balanced budget. We will we estimate with the federal funding cuts and the payment for the final timberwood that we will have very little carryover if any at the end of this year with the losses we just faced. You're talking 2526. >> 2526. Yes. And again, that does include about $2 million in expenses for timberwood that we still have to pay. >> Um what my goal was was to look and see if we had a a balance balanced budget after these cuts and we do. I also met with um Russell Lipincot, our attendance director, and with Amber Refe, our prek coordinator, and we estimate we're down about 300 students right now over this time last year. >> Wow. >> Now, that's preliminary. That does not mean that that's where we will land. We hope that's

029a very conservative number, but that equates to close to $2 million as well. that will be for the 26 27year funding after Dr. Philipe does the certified list and we get the certified enrollment numbers as well that we will receive you know significant cuts and wanted to bring that to your attention as well. >> You still estimate that on 7,000 8,000 a kid is that what what are you looking at? >> I estimated 6,000 about 6,000. >> Gotcha. remember the 8,000 one time in my career, but I didn't know where we went on that. So, we got six. >> So, that's what we're using right now. >> So, 2.4 if we go eight, I think, is what? Yeah. >> Yes, I did. I think 1.8 was so somewhere between 1.8 and 2.4 million that we

030will receive less than 2627. We as um as administrators have have already met addressing this, there are some things we can do. We are very lenient about travel to to um trainings. Everyone takes their own car. They don't carpool a lot of times. Those are little things that we can do. We can focus on less travel for training and more teams meetings for training. And and Mr. Toman actually brought that up to the federal programs as well. The cost for many of these trainings is free, but we pay stipens. We pay their, you know, a stipen for them to attend if it's outside of contract or on a Saturday. We also pay mileage which which adds up. Then we pay hotels and pdium rates and things like that. So we're already aware of that. Um

031I have asked for budgets from you know different departments um secondary and um with Jenny Collis with the her coordination and with Mandy Aliff and I just asked this today of Angie Gross Close and she was going to talk to Dr. Vaughn as well. We're trying to better manage to a budget versus a lot of times this training pops up we want to do it. We have not always given each department leader a budget, but that's what we're anticipating doing. So, they have that budget. They can manage what trainings they go to versus just coming up, hey, this is a good training, this is a good training. They know they have a finite pool of money that they can spend. Um, with that said, you know, my concern is of course we we still need

032some new schools. We still need improvements. So, we need to be cognizant of that as we move forward as well. How much do we get a year from uh the levy that attributed to construction? >> $550,000. >> Okay. >> Is what we have designated in the levy. >> So about a half a million each year goes into the fund to cover new construction. >> Yes. >> We also have a separate fund for maintenance and construction. How much goes into that one? Um top of my head I want to say two and a half million. >> I was thinking it was in that vicinity. >> It's very it's a it's a large budget and and we typically spend that. >> Well, there's a lot of maintenance. >> There are there are a lot of buildings and

033requires a lot of maintenance. >> Has the the federal programs that were frozen, the afterchool money was released. Is that not correct? >> Yes. But we do not have that. >> Don't have it yet. and they've said they're going >> We do not have that program. >> Oh, okay. >> That's a different program. >> So, the programs that have not been released that are being held up, the approximately $5 billion nationwide, do we know how much of that we would normally get? Do we have an idea how much that is? >> Yes. 24 and five. We anticipate that's close to $2 million that we're going to have to fund. Um, school resource officers, social workers, um, our tisses are paid for, were paid for. We've already been told to move those out of federal programs

034and put those out of general funds. Um, so this year we are funding all of those positions out of county funds, but that's part of carryover that we normally use for carryover. We will not have that. Those are funding our social workers, school resource officers, tisses, >> some aids maybe. Dr. Atkins, >> maybe one one or two staff at the maj. >> Okay. I thought that was one. >> Are have we been told that money is not coming ever? >> No. >> That money has been appropriated by Congress, >> right? >> However, there is nothing by in law that says they have to release that money by any certain date. Can I quote what they told us or kind of paraphrase what they told us, >> please? >> Which is they can release it but

035not in time for us to spend it this year. So technically they will be abiding by law. we won't have time to encumber and liquidate those funds within our state code >> and within their rules. So they would retain the money. >> Yes, we would have to forfeit that money because it will be released too late. That's that is a concern that the state department of ed had and and that's what they voiced to us and why they told us to to go ahead and anticipate funding that um through through county funds or other sources. We are we are you know again we're in a very sound position and can absorb that cost. >> So for this year >> for this year >> we can't backfill with that money when we get it. That is

036not They didn't They told us that they anticipate it not being released in time for us. They are concerned that it will not be released in time for us to spend it. >> When would the When would the date be that they released it that we wouldn't be able to spend it or backfill or use it as a [Music] >> spend that >> much money? Um, >> you know, primarily it's salaries. So to bid it, I would think maybe March. >> If we could spend it, we would have to spend it for, you know, something else. >> Are we permitted to go back and cover the expenses we've already incurred with that money that should have been incurred with that money? >> The state indicated they did not think so. >> Okay. >> Because each

037one of those titles have certain things that it can be spent on as well, >> right? And it's not like where we can just reimburse ourselves basically. How does that be? >> That was essentially my that's essentially my request. That money should have been coming out of that fund. We'll just reimburse ourselves. >> We we the ideal but the state has >> I don't I mean I guess cautioned us or advised us not to plan on that. >> Okay. Just one these positions basically the situation unfunded legally we know we get mandates that are unfunded position these positions we have to find funding for >> this year we do >> because of the rules of the state >> personel on 18A and all those timelines that we have in March. And that's >> yes, >>

038other states may not have the same problem. I don't know their rules, but we certainly and every county is in this situation. >> We're in a condition where we had to meet the state's guidelines and now by doing so and following state law, >> we have positions that we have to find money for. >> Okay. >> Because they're unfunded. >> Yes. and and legislature is asking some questions about 18A to the superintendent association. They're they're looking at sending a response back, but uh there's some questions from the house leadership of education asking about 18A a lot whether they revise that when things come up and I did mention that they're doing the interims at pipes then this year wanting to maybe that'll be November but you know that that may not happen for this year

039when Dr. Philip Peek has to do letters and notification and all those things. We still got those same rules that's going to make it difficult. >> Well, the shame of it is is we >> that money has was appropriated. We created the positions based on the appropriation and then we're basically told we're not going to give you the money >> and and we've passed deadlines where there's nothing we can legally do about it. >> That's the real kicker to me. That's a shame. >> There was a article in the paper this morning where the federal government Trump administration has cut 25 million from West Virginia education. You already considered that 25 million or is that something additional? >> I have not seen that article so I I cannot The only thing that I'm aware of

040that we've been cut is is this. >> That's probably this money. >> I think it's for the whole state. I bet that's this. >> I believe it was in the Telegraph, but it might have been Gazette. I'm not sure. >> The article I read mentioned the individual counties like some counties losing two and a half. >> Most of them are doing the same thing you just got to talking about. We have to fund these people one way or another. >> But some counties obviously are not in a position where they can do that and stay solvent so to speak or as you said um >> be able to make it up somewhere. >> Yes, that's exactly. >> I remember two or three counties that were in that position. What else can we do other than

041what you've discussed? I mean, I know you've thought about this. So, where do we need to be more cognizant of of expenditures? >> I mean, I I don't think we're just wasting money. I'll say that publicly and openly. We don't just waste money. >> No, we do not. We absolutely do not waste money. Um and and um >> it's going to come down to positions, isn't it? >> It's going to come to positions. And quite frankly, it we have a costly school district because we have so many facilities. It costs a significant amount of money to manage these small facilities. And when our studenttoteer ratio is smaller in these schools, >> that takes funding out of of other schools. So, we're funded, you know, at the maximum classroom level. So, we the state assumes that

042if it's kindergarten, they have 20 kids. If it's, you know, first grade, I don't know all the rules, but 25 in first grade, when we have 10 kids in a classroom, >> that means we're having to pay for a teacher. >> We're having to pay for half that teacher ourselves >> and not only the facility cost, >> but also um you know the additional cost. We are we will have to continue to look at positions becoming more efficient. um focusing on a lot of the back-end support, making it more efficient and and developing our electronic forms, making things a lot more timely, having that work well and be be able, you know, we still even though we make something electronic, we are still held to the fact that that has to be audited and we

043have to have the appropriate signatures. We have to have the appropriate docu documentation and be able to access that. We can't become efficient until all of that is in place. That will help the central office be more efficient, particularly the business office. Um, but again, this we also have a very antiquated financial system. I can, you know, speak primarily for myself. It's very antiquated. It requires a tremendous amount of manual work that you have people that have to do that. Um you know luckily we had already started that process two years ago really three years ago. Um and I say that within central office and personnel and there there many of us have had already started that. Are there are we going to have to start looking at programs? Some of these um useful and

044helpful programs that we have to shell out tens of thousands of dollars for to to provide every year. >> Yes. And and that is something that that we have talked about as well. $10,000 adds up. >> $10,000 here, $10,000 there. >> But we're looking down the road, not not this year, right? No, not this year. >> So, we're looking down the road. We don't know what will happen with this funding uh going long term because Lord knows it's a mess right now with the way with the way that it's uh >> many of these programs. For example, um we have one program that started that was fully funded. It is um community in the schools for example and it was a declining grant. So each year they reduce the grant and required us to contribute

045that to the point that it does reduce that. Um I want to say that's $235,000 and you know those are programs that we may not be able to fund going forward if we we have a choice to make. Yes, we get what about 50% of their salary, >> but the rest of that >> still a lot is us. PIA increases are astronomical this year. Our portion of of course. Um so when we look at a position, we have to look at what the cost of PIA is. You know, $20,000 if it's family coverage is what our portion is. >> And for each position, you're you're looking >> you have to look at the whole package, not just the salary. So again, yes, and and I hate to say it, you know, but but we need

046to monitor how much the software is being used, how much after school programs are being used. If we have 10 kids attending, is it really worthwhile? A couple of things that we talked about and and it's kind of jumping ahead on the agenda. Our bus runs. We pay bus drivers and take our big buses around for MCT, for example. We believe we could use MCTech funds to buy some of the smaller vans and let a teacher drive those students versus a full-size school bus that does that will when you're paying for diesel and those buses get 3 to four miles a gallon. That's a savings. That's a significant savings. But that that is is a decision the board's going to have to make because we've been directed that we have to use a bus first.

047And um so so that is one of the reasons we put that on the agenda is I know it's not an action item, but it's an item that we ask you to consider is that we utilize teachers more to drive when it's not a CDL or you know a bus driver required by law to to help to transport those students. >> Um yes, the little white ones. We those little white ones are we've been told that we're not that schools are not allowed to use those unless a bus driver is not available. But we'd have to look at like an item analysis to see how much savings that would be because you're going to have added cost >> such as comp to compensate the teachers. They're not want they're not going to want to do

048it for free, are they? >> It's during their regular workday. They can drive on the bus and they absolutely would like to drive. >> Oh, they would >> 100%. Um 100% they would like to. It's more efficient. Then they have the the bus avails that they said there wasn't a driver to pick them up in the evenings. there's one to take them and this is when they're and Freddy you might be able to speak to this even better than I when they take them to their internships and things of that nature. >> A teacher is riding that bus but they have to wait on the bus driver. They have to >> sometimes they don't show it's it's for our healthcare students our very own and and so forth and it's not just once a week

049for these students it's multiple times a week that they have to go to the hospital multiple schools they go to throughout the county. >> We're not talking about the midday, morning, midday, evening runs. We're talking about something entirely different. >> Okay. So, you're not talking about the get to MCT and back. You're talking about once they're here. Okay. Well, that makes >> Well, that Yeah, cuz you're only going to have small numbers going to different places and taking a whole bus is not very >> That seems to me a little different. We're not That's That's different than a typical run for >> Absolutely. It's just these extra runs like this. >> Yeah. And sports teams, for example, too. um you know that the coaches would like to as well. They could leave a little bit

050earlier in the day um >> because we're only doing that whenever there's not a bus available. >> Yeah. Or if it's a small team, but the and the coach is willing to do it. Let the coach drive. >> Does MCT have MCT has funds available to purchase things like that? >> They do. They have funds this year. Um again, that's one of the things that we were told as well. Adult funding. We were told not to be prepared not to put that in our budget next year. That's one of that 25 million that's one of the things that one of the biggest expenses the adult fund dollar. >> Yes. Right now um you know our AB and our spokes those are 100 those are funded by grants 100%. The rent is included. We pay nothing

051for that but we also recognize some tuition from from that to help >> um offset some of our costs. You know in the evenings they have to have supervision in in some of the adult classes and things like that. Um, >> so it gets back to positions again. >> Okay. So, >> can I change yours just to >> just let me Yeah, just so the van thing requires a change of policy. That's what you're telling us >> to do and purchase the van >> to do this. It's more a procedure that that's the direction that we've been told that our understanding is that's the direction the board wants us to go is if there's a bus they have to call out first and if no one's available for that then they could check out the

052van one of those small vans or small buses. I'm not sure at least I wasn't thinking about these particular types of runs to internships and to the hospital for for nursing or to a school for I wasn't thinking about that because doesn't make a lot of sense to get a bus with 72 seats in it for three kids. That really wasn't in my mind at that time. >> I'm sorry Mark, >> you had a question. >> Oh yeah. >> Can it be excused? >> My apologies. >> It's okay. Um, I'm just wondering, so something concerns me is the entire food programs for the kids. I've read a lot of things, you know. >> Okay. Can I say one more thing about the the buses before I talk about the food? Um, we had an instance

053where we had um one of the great programs we offer like an all county or a reading bee or math. A principal at one of our more rural schools did not have parents who could take their students. They wanted to ask they wanted one of these vans to take their students and they were going to drive and they were told no, they could not. They would have to get a bus, pay the extra hourly rate, all the um you know the the addition that's a case when you have four students going to a reading fee that the principal should be able to do that. Again, I don't think that was really >> something we can change. >> I don't think that was really our thought process that I think we were talking about designated runs

054that we have scheduled in the county, morning, evening that you count on all the time >> and and I know the sports runs too um are important, but that is that is another thing that I had had on my list. And um >> so we we'd have to purchase bands. >> Yes. and at least clarify our position on this policy. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. >> And as for child nutrition, um we anticipate that that we will pay about a million and a half dollars out of our pocket to feed the out of our pocket out of county funds to pay that is frankly it's hard to get down much lower than that. I have challenged um Christa Kesser. She is really thinking outside the box to use more of the USDA the the

055donated foods per se in her actual menus versus kind of as addendums. Um but there's always equipment and again it gets to so many facilities. A steamer goes out at one school and then you have to you know that's $30,000 at this school. You know a serving line goes down on another school. So, um, child nutrition, that that is part of that $1.5 million. The cooler or the freezer at Princeton High, for example, this year it was out. They stored most of their food over at Princeton Primary and had to go back and forth to get it. We had no choice. We had to put, you know, a hundred plus thousand dollars in that freezer. Um, so those are those are required out of county funds in the excess levy, too. How much do we

056normally you said it's going to probably be one and a half million. How much would we normally have spent without >> We reduced that by about early estimate. We don't have financials closed but we cut it by about $150,000 last year over the year before. So that is a significant savings. >> Um one of the other things that we have talked about and I'm kind of jumping around again. I'm sorry. It is on the agenda. however, is absences and subcost. Our sub cost is um I want to say our sub cost was about 3.3 million last year >> and we are not funded for that by the state. We are not our substitute cost is is not as high as it should be. However, >> does that include long-term subs as well? >> It includes

057long-term subs as well. Yes, absolutely. >> But I'm sure you've heard this with many, many times. um employees, the newer employees cannot carry forward their sick days and use it towards retirement or use it toward insurance payments. That has hurt every county in the state. Every treasure, every I'm sure that the others hear that, especially Dr. Philip Pek, I'm sure hears that. That's one of the major problems. I'm sure um you know Tom hears that as well. We have no one here because they they use their 18 days, the sick days, and then they get 21 vacation days. That's a significant amount of time. When you need to move to school, when you need, you know, something goes down, you have to have personnel here. And so we have a high sub cost. Um teachers

058receive from the state if they miss five or less days, they receive a $500 bonus at the end of the school year. We have talked about um proposing something similar. It will help us because we will have people here to do the job and two it will reduce our sub cost. We don't have a lot of people who meet that and it's >> I was just going to ask do we have many that get that? >> No, we it it was under a hundred >> people this year and it's only teachers right now. It's only available for teachers. teachers receive the $500 if they miss five or less sick days. We have talked about proposing that for service personnel as well and maybe increasing it for teachers to give them a more meaningful um increase

059it to a,500 per perhaps. I ran the numbers last year. This was proposed. We we met with our legislators um and and we mentioned that to them and they understand and agree. They thought they were going to do something at the state level, but it didn't make it out of the committee. To my knowledge, it didn't make it to the floor. >> Keep in mind, they were the ones that changed the policy. >> Yes. >> To begin with. >> Yes. >> Which created the problem. >> Yes. So, if teachers or staff in general, if they're new, relatively new hires, if they don't use those days, they lose them. >> It's not even that new anymore. It's >> they can 10 years old, 12 years old now. >> They can carry them forward. they just can't

060apply them to their retirement. >> Yes. So, so what benefit if you know if it's someone who is let's say a younger teacher who plans on having kids >> and wants to use those sick days while she's on maternity leave that's great. We have many many teachers who do that. >> Um but if we could incentivize others to do that but again >> you know we hear very very frequently well I can't use them for anything else. Ba basically what it and this was in my time frame when this happened. Thank goodness I was I mean I when I retired I was able to add a significant part part of my time to either my insurance or my time served for and so it is now just a truly a use it or lose it

061situation for the teachers which >> when they did that it made no sense. I I guess financially maybe they thought on the back end it may make sense because you're paying more retirement or you're paying for insurance purposes and but uh >> it really >> if you had a little foresight you'd know that is also going to cause a problem of having a lot of >> teachers out uh when they may not necessarily needed to be out which >> except the state's not paying that. >> Exactly. So, yes, >> it's not it's not a burden on the state budget. >> Yes, I'm sure that that was due to the retirement. Um >> Oh, that's that was the conversation is it's going to save us on the back end and and West Virginia's teachers retirement system

062is the best funded in the United States because they had that long-term plan and they've thrown money at it kind of like the UPS thing. Um, you know, UPS actually makes money, but they got to put $5 billion in the retirement fund every year. that's where they lose money. So, it's the same idea here. >> Absolutely. >> We're funding funding funding for all these retirements that haven't even taken place yet. Uh and pushing the cost on to the counties. >> So, is that a policy you'd like us to consider? And and >> I mean, it's one of those things. It it's it's hard to take something once you give it. So, if we do it, then we're kind of stuck with it. And if we're not saving much money, then we've just added more to

063our budget. >> On the other hand, everything's worth a try. But if you make it if you make it clear up front, this is contingent on it working and it's temporary and we'll do it yeartoear. We're not doing it permanently. >> Then I think that's if you take that approach and everybody knows that, then you can make a judgment each year on the budget and say, "Well, it's not working. that we save $50,000. It's not worth it. >> Well, you could design the policy so that you look at your cost for your sub versus your cost of payback to the teachers and and whether you make it a 50% part or whatever that you al obviously create the policy so that in the long run or in the county's they would save money. >> Absolutely.

064And I do believe it will. I mean that that additional $500 um versus >> probably saved uh 40%. Is just what come off the top of my head, but I don't know if that's my math's not as good as some others. I'm sure in here >> it is. >> If you make it enticing enough, that's the trick. If it's not $500 nowadays, people go that's one trip to the grocery store. I'm taking my sick day >> after taxes as well, right? So it's like I'm taking my sick day. >> Yeah. Um, I did do a survey for of other counties and and I think there were about 20 other counties who already do this. They already have their own policy that they supplement what the state provides to teachers, professionals. They they do give that

065to professionals as well. So, it would be to all employees. And now, that would not save us a lot of sub costs because we don't often get subs for principles and things like that. But um for service personnel and and teachers, you know, it provides better instruction when we have an, you know, certified teacher in the seat versus a sub there. There are also a lot of other benefits as well. >> Do they say they save money by doing it? The other counties or is it a wash? >> It has helped. All of them are are supportive of it, but they still have the issue. >> It's not going to go away, right? But the the even if it's a wash moneywise, if more people are not taking sick days, it benefits the county. >>

066It absolutely does. And after taxes, you know, $500, you're looking at $300. It's not. But for many of them, it's a nice vacation fund. They receive it at the end of the year. So, um, and I know >> instead of going to Myrtle Beach, you could go to the Keys. >> That's been requested. >> Or you could have dinner while you're at Myrtle Beach. Yeah, maybe that's it. You can do a seafood the calabash or something. >> There you go. Um, >> and it's been requested by the SPA and the MCA also every year. >> The other side of it too is pretty obvious as a building principal. I think you're in a lot of cases you're dramatically hopefully increasing your learning that's taking place in the classroom because I was a former teacher. I

067know what my lesson plans look like in my physics class on a day that I had to be out versus what would happen in a normal day. So, I think instruction would definitely increase. >> Absolutely. >> Long term. >> Okay. >> Can I back up and ask a question for William when you first began pretty much you said our financial system is in the Queen. That's Mercer County. >> No, sir. That is the state. >> Okay. >> That is that is Weeus. some of us on in >> you started going after talking about how you did improvements. I said, "Okay, maybe it was us." >> Oh, okay. No, no, no, no, no. It is the state and um the the student section has been improved. It's web- based now, but we still use the old

068green screen in personnel and finance and um >> wow, >> it is and it's hard to get data, manipulate data, etc. So this the state department of ed office of finance has been working on that and they hope within two to three years to upgrade that >> as well. >> It's crazy >> and and that should bring a tremendous amount of efficiencies as well um which will help us with headc counts but um >> okay thank you um let's move on to personnel. We've kind of covered part of that. >> Thank you. >> And that everything you told us in spite of the fact that a lot of it wasn't hopeful this we need to know the public needs to know. So Dr. Philipac, >> well we just don't like what Leslie is saying, but

069we know it's all true, >> right? >> Yeah, that's pretty much where we're at. But um as far as personnel is concerned um right now we still have vacancies that we need to fill for this year. We're right on target for where we were several years in a row now. We're about at 43 positions that we need to fill. Um, I've been pleasantly surprised that we are filling some of the positions that I thought we may not because we're getting outside individuals applying for jobs that are in special ed, agriculture, music, things that we haven't been able to fill in, uh, a year or two. And so, um, I'm pleasantly surprised about that. Now, I do have all these concerns that Leslie's talking about and Dr. Atkins is talking about moving forward with our staffing

070for next school year. that um is is concerning to me and where we're going to be with our federal funding and the AB and all of all of those things encompassing social workers um our SRO's and all of that. So, um we are going to do our best to to minimize the cost this year um across the board. If we can cut, you know, 5,000 10,000 here and there, we're going to try to do that. I think that's everybody's mindset. So, if it saves a position or more positions next uh school year, that's what we're all in the mindset to do. And so, um but I am um this is probably I've been in this position 14 years. This is the most concern for the next year of staffing that I've had in a while.

071So, any particular questions that you all have? >> Most concern with getting the spots filled. >> I'm sorry. >> Most that's This is the most concern you've had with getting the spots filled or with funding? funding moving forward when we do staffing in in this spring. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> I just wanted to make sure I understood. >> Well, I mean, philosophically, my view is is you start with the non-eing positions and you work from there. I mean, I you hate to, but >> yeah, >> the bodies in the classroom is the most important thing we do. >> And you know, some of the things that we do widespread, we may not be able to do widespread. it may be more targeted for the areas of need. And so, um, we've been blessed to

072be able to cover a lot of things through, and Dr. Atkins has mentioned title one services. You know, that's something that I know he's going to be looking at and and seeing if we can um do some things differently next school year. And so, >> so with title one, uh, the biggest expense in title one is funding positions, right? And it's based on population that relates to low soio economic status. >> Yes. Our funding is uh for title one federal programs is based on you know your economically disadvantaged. And three years ago we had zero schools in our district that were over 75%. Last year we had three. This year we have six. uh we have two more that it doesn't really make sense why they're not along with the others in their community. So

073we could be up to eight and in the title one world that means they're required to be served and they're required to be served above all other. And so we've been in a situation for the last three years where we've served all elementary and as funds reduce and as our economic disadvantage percentages go up in certain schools, you know, we that may not be sustainable. And we've also brought a middle school back in this year because they went in beyond se above the 75% with Bluefield Middle School. So, you know, again, things are changing rather quickly with uh you know, where those funds are. Now, it doesn't affect is correct. We'll have, you know, a lot of decisions to make staffing time. Uh especially what happens with they told us to anticipate 20% cuts in

074two, four, and five, but we have a 100% cut right now because we don't have any um you know, they haven't been released, but we do have title one and we're able to to do that this year. and we had to cut some things to make it balanced based on the cut that we had after we knew our initial allocation. >> So if that money came back, Dr. Philipek, it wouldn't look as dire. Is >> that correct? But I I would say I would like to say this and for those that are listening outside of this room, um you know, for our our teachers that don't have a lot of seniority, I would be looking at other practice tests that you could take to make yourself more marketable. Um so you can look at the

075list of jobs that we have available now. If I've said that we've had these types of jobs last year and the year before and it's it's continuous and historically we've needed special ed teachers um you know I would look at maybe taking some practice tests in those areas so that if in fact let's say a title one school happens to get cut and those individuals have obviously some seniority um then that's going to bump one of our less senior teachers. Well, if they only have elementary ed, that doesn't make yourself more marketable. You need to add to that marketability and therefore hopefully you would have a job with us back, you know, um because you've made yourself um you've had more certifications to choose from that you could apply for jobs. >> Okay, that's a

076solution. What other ideas do you have? I mean, it's all funding really. I mean, I know you're kind of constrained by that. >> Yeah. So, what else have you thought about possibilities to try to u manage our funding better? I guess >> I mean it it it really all goes back to us all being mindful of what we're doing. Um because every like Leslie said, every $10,000 adds up after a period of time. So if there's things that you know programs that we would love to have that we may not just we not we may not need this year. Let's just see where the funding comes up comes out. Then I think we need to start there. This the travel that we spend the money that is spent on travel is is a lot. Um

077and I think all of us at the central office need to be mindful of how many trips we take out of county every month. And and I'm not saying we do that abundantly, but we there are things that we're required to do and things that it'd be nice to do. Um so I think we have to be mindful of that. Even even down to um just inventory that we have um buying things. Now, we're not going to let any school go without anything. I know that's a fact, but you know, if we don't need excess, let's not buy excess to have it stored in a store room or something. But I I don't really know how to answer your question, Greg, because there's so many different ideas that have been floated out there. You know,

078I used to say I would say, well, we would look for more grants to fund positions, but you know, that's kind of been put on hold, too. So, I I'm not sure that that's a a good answer anymore. >> State Department have any answers other than we don't know? >> I No, I have I have nothing. >> Okay. >> I have nothing. >> You're being nice. I don't have to know >> when it comes to federal funding. Who does know at this point? I wonder >> what will happen with a lot of these, you know, they're talking about abolishing our department of education altogether and I that just blows my mind. Of course, you know, grown up with it, >> but uh >> Secretary WWE knows. >> Some people get that joke. I >> I

079get the joke. you know, our our secretary of education, her was running WWE with her husband. >> Yeah, I understand. But, uh, >> you wonder I don't know how much of these like title one, two, three, how much of is codified in law? Whereas if some funding goes away, then what happens? I this at this point I have no I have no clue. I don't know if you all do, but but uh where are we going? It's >> it's worst case scenario. >> Mhm. >> 30 to 60 is what you normally look at from service freshman. >> Makes perfect sense to me. >> Where do you cut that? You don't have it. If you if you plan for the worst and you get >> and you get rid of >> If you plan for the

080worst and it doesn't come, then you're better off. >> Yeah. >> Plain and simple. >> So So title funds are title one funds are okay for this year. Is that what you're saying >> at our normal? >> Yeah, they were reduced. The the final allocation was um a little less than a 6% cut. >> Okay. >> But we were able to make some changes to to allocate. >> So for this year, we're okay with title one. Basically, we funded that through county funds, >> the 6% that's down. >> I mean, it's not saying that that it's great. It just means we had to take it out of another pocket. Um, so >> and we're lucky that we have a pocket to take it out of, but our pockets are going to be empty if we

081have to do everything that way. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. and and um one one other facet that I didn't mention and I know I've mentioned but next year those eligible for hope credit also increases to anyone can be eligible whereas now you've had to have been enrolled in a public school but all homeschool students um next year the 2627 will be eligible for that. The WBDE mentioned to us that they expect a minimum of 200 million, could be 300 million. Um, we don't know the impact on that on our budgets. Um, but as a state, that funding has to come from somewhere. >> Well, I did read that they've done some studying and it looks like at least as of right now, the vast majority of people getting hope were already out of the school

082system. they were in private schools or they were already homeschooled. That's the majority. So, what we did is we gave people money that were already opting out of the system and now we're encouraging more to leave by giving them money um without any oversight. Without any oversight. Yes, Dr. Vaughn. Um, just so you know, we do have about 200 more students in hope for next year. Our numbers right now are sitting at around 515 kids and they can still get up to or 75% of the funding through August 15th. So, they're still coming in. I mean, it's >> 550 is the projected for >> 515. And we had about 200 less than that this >> we had 30 and some. Yeah. 308 307 308. >> Yeah. >> And they're coming from, you know, it it's

083incoming kindergarteners. It's not any one school. They're coming from, you know, high performing schools. Our and and every school. So, >> yeah, it's not >> it's not pocketed anyway. No. >> Well, we'll continue to do what we do with the resources we have. Um, anything else on personnel? Anybody? Anything else? Dr. Philpac. All right, let's talk construction. Let's start with our current projects that are ongoing. >> Let's start with Templewood. Where are we there? >> Well, we need to mow the grass. We've already discussed that. Um, uh, just a few little things. I mean, we're we're pretty much ready to roll. Um, DCI's finished up all their work. They haven't really finalized everything and handed us the keys or whatever if you want to look at it like that. It's not ours yet, but it's

084uh it's we're we're doing we did some training yesterday for the cooks, I believe. Uh we just got the internet working yesterday, Brent. >> This morning the internet's finally working. Uh which has put us a little bit behind on getting our HVAC controls in place and some of our security, but uh everything everything's smooth. um >> fire marshall set to come. You >> Yeah, I reached out to Zm this morning. Yeah, they uh they were um that was you know that's not something we do. We don't we and that's why we have ZMM to to take care of those kind of things for us. But um he he reached out to DCI and Kurt was waiting on the internet because the internet had to be in place for the security system to work properly. So,

085the fire marshall really couldn't come give his blessing until that was in place. >> Um, >> have we thought about a school sign or a flashing school light on Airport Road. Have we I know that's not us, that's Do. But have we even thought about that? Cuz that's 55 miles an hour right there. >> I thought about this morning when Dr. Gross sent me an email. It's the f the first time I I thought about it. Yeah, >> honestly. >> Yeah. uh you know in in all of our construction by bi-weekly construction meetings. I wasn't thinking about that. Nobody mentioned it. Um there is some grant funding out there that the uh uh they used to provide it. I don't know if it's still there, but we were we had grant funding for Mercer School.

086We were trying to get some there. Uh and then I I had a turnover in my office and that that project didn't get completed. Um, but that money was earmarked for us and it may be something that we could double down on because we're one of few counties that doesn't have them in every location. That's what >> we can't put our own sign up. That's Department of Highways. Is that Am I wrong about that or >> uh No, we can put flashing. We put flashers up. >> Okay. >> Yeah, we did it at Sun Valley last year two years ago. >> We did that. That was Department of >> Yeah, we did that. Okay. We well we coordinate with the department of highways but we we got the grant from the department of highways and

087then we have to coordinate it with them and get their blessing but we paid for it and then they reimbursed us. >> Okay. Okay. >> About $20,000 for a set of those. >> Yeah. >> Speaking of flashers of Sun Valley, they were on yesterday. >> Yeah. That's odd too. See what what we do with that program. We send them our school calendar and they upload our calendar into it into into it and it's supposed to pull straight from there because that's that's a newer nicer one. Um my guys go around my electricians do I told them at end of school make sure they're all turned off. We'll turn them all back on you know when school starts. Um but that one randomly we've had some communication troubles with that with that >> system. It's a

088it's a somebody called the office I think three times the other day about that. So, >> um, >> nobody was paying attention to it. >> Well, I I I went through there the other day and, uh, people were slowing down because the lights were on and I think it was a Saturday and I thought the same thing. We need to look into that. >> But, um, Joel Reese, he he's been great for us to he kind of helps us with getting it all into the system and working with the guy from you know the name of that company, Brent? >> I don't. It's a c it's a company that oversees it and we have we have online controls but not not great. So the the long and short of it is I've thought about it

089once today. Leslie and I talked about it briefly and there there definitely needs to be school signs. Yeah. If nothing else. Uh and we do we do have some decent ones at Bluewell currently. It might be something that we could look into moving. Actually >> true. Those were grant funded. That's a good point. >> Yeah, that is a good idea. So >> legally um would the since it is a school area school zone with the speed limit shouldn't it come down some rather than being 55? >> I don't think so. >> I mean that's >> it's a good question. Is it I guess my question is it technically a school zone because it's actually on a different plane highway and on a different plane. >> So when you do like Sun Valley The speed limit

090there is reduced when the lights are on. >> Correct. >> That's that's why we have to coordinate with the Department of Highways. >> Yeah, that's I mean that's a good point because it is 55 as soon as you go through that red light. >> Mhm. >> And when you've got bus traffic that's I mean like for example on Crumper Hill that section because of all the businesses it drops to 45 right >> on a four-lane road. >> Mhm. And so it looks like that because a lot of people >> maybe that's something should be inquired about whether and it it doesn't matter if you're coming through Crumbcracker Hill during business hours or not. It's still 45 miles an hour. >> Correct. >> So I think that probably possibly getting that section of road reduced to

091begin with would be >> I I'll reach out to department highways tomorrow. >> I'm sure they have some reasons but Crumper Hill is a perfect example. It's fourlane road and it drops to 45 night or day. >> Anything else on Timberwood? Any other questions? Uh what about ongoing or anticipated work that we expect? >> Uh for us or expenses, is that what you're talking about? Expense wise >> for the county. >> Uh we we've earmarked or dedicated money for Pike View. They're they're still running the original HVAC. Uh we changed the cooling tower Leslie six five or six years ago but we didn't >> we didn't change any of the internals. So we have a cooling tower that cools the water and gets it back to the water source heat pumps but they are um

092they're old and we bought four we've bought six units um and they're they're supposed to be direct swap and none of them have directly swapped. Uh, we've had to change duck work and do and I have the blessing to have Steve Thornton back and he knows the facility and he knows it well, but he's just one guy. So, we're having to pay labor for another company to come help him because we don't have enough manpower to to to manage that and keep the other schools operational as well. Um, we have a boiler being installed currently at Princeton Middle. had a um a failure crack in one of the sections that couldn't be replaced. So, we had to replace the whole boiler. Uh they actually pressure tested it yesterday and it's it's doing well. So, they're

093um nearing completion on that. They're doing the masonry project at Athens school right now. They're basically grinding every mortar joint and repointing all of those. Uh they cleaned it a little bit. It's not great, but you can't really high pressure that stone. So they it's more like a soaking type cleaning. They put it on the top and it just kind of runs down. Um not the it wasn't the result I was hoping for, but that's that's all they could do as far as cleaning that. Uh it looks really good. The company's done well. They they've made it made a few messes, but when you got those big lifts in there and you you're having to drive around the yard, it's it's going to make a mess. So, but they they'll fix they know they have

094to fix that before they leave. Um >> floor central office. We met they met yesterday. I met again with Mr. Herps today. Um August 4th is when the material should be in. We uh anticipate that it won't take as long as we had originally planned. We we were going to try to polish the concrete. Uh we had a lot of concerns with that due to noise moving people trying to keep an operational office at the same time. Uh I recently found a new product that we're going to give a shot. We're going to give a shot at Oakville where it got flooded. Um a room here at MTech and then we're going to do the same. It's a luxury vinyl. It's not it's not LVP. It's not planks. Uh we did that a few years

095ago before I was in maintenance and uh I think it's not been successful at all. So this is more of a it's uh of course I I was with a salesman but it it it did win product of the year for the flooring industry for 2025. So it is um basically and it sounds wonky until you see it. uh you peel it and stick it down and if it gets wet, it has capsules built into the bottom that suction. So if for some reason it were to get wet, it it adheres better. So and and I skeptical. I get it. Brent Brent was at a hotel this past weekend and he told me that they had it in there and he didn't know what it was called and I said, "Well, it just so happens

096while while you were out galley vetting, I I uh I I was working and found this amazing product." So, we're we're going to try to Oakville. It was price-wise is way better than polishing concrete. So, um, the the central office is hopefully I'd say mid to late August would be be finished. There's a couple areas with putting it in. I would imagine >> less. Definitely less. So, it'll be good. >> Um, if you if you've been around construction and you've heard polishing concrete, it's uh it's almost impossible to hear yourself even think. So, I couldn't imagine them trying to work in that environment with that going on. But the guy who bid it out, he he was kind of at a loss, too, because he couldn't even rent the equipment to to polish. He didn't

097own it. He was going to have to rent a ride on like you ride and you get the tile up. Uh he couldn't he couldn't get one. He couldn't find one anywhere. So, he was he was grateful that we found a new product that we wanted to try. So, and I think and I have samples of it if you do want to see it. But uh we have we have fixed all of the flood cut at Oakdale. Uh we have drywall in place. We've been finishing it now. Uh flooring should be in soon. He hopes to have it all in within two weeks have it and he said it'll only take about two weeks to finish it up. So I'm hoping Oakville's back operational. We uh I met with a company yesterday to clean one

098of the HVAC units that was damaged. We do have a bid. No. Do we have a bid? We have a quote on two bard replacements for two of the classrooms that were flooded. Uh but we just haven't moved forward with those at this time. What's in place is working. Um but we were advised that we needed to change those out because they did get water inside them. Um >> Spanishber uh we've not gotten specs back yet on that. We haven't put anything out to bid on Spanishber. Um there is a plan that we're going to use a portion of the building for for county storage which is you see series on your your agenda there. Uh as we know when I brought up that we had the shooting there I really wanted to move away

099from seriesir series and any building that is unoccupied and not used is going to fall apart and and series is is is dangerous. It's very dangerous. Not not just the clientele but the building itself is dangerous. >> Plus it's a magnet. It's Yes, I ran lots of homeless people out of there several times. Um, but it is uh the the guy who does surplus with us in Dayton who owns Sunbrite, he um they've been working over there for about 3 weeks straight and they've they've cleaned a lot of it, taken a lot to Spanishber. uh if you walk in the front door, basically the wing to the right, there was only one classroom in that wing that was being utilized for instruction and she was able to absorb it into the other part of the

100school due to the size of the school is is is great for the the amount of students that go there. Uh so they've they've done an amazing job with organizing it. So, it's not it doesn't look terrible currently, but uh I am in conversation with ZMM and the state fire marshal about building a wall so that you can't see that section of the building when you walk in. It'll it won't be an eyesore. It was my mind. I don't you know, Lash Meat, we have storage in the bottom of Lash meet currently and um that part of the building's not used at all and there there are already doors there at the end of that hallway. So students aren't really seeing that and that that's that was my concern and the concern of the principal

101as well. Um but you know we're we're we're trying to work through some some subtleties there and uh uh >> Mr. Atkins also that they did organize that very well from the chairs to the size of different uh furniture. Everything was very very neat. Kevin's great like and I give him very little I give him a lot of freedom to to do things because I know he's going to do them right. >> They did they did a good job. Absolutely. What you said. >> Yeah. They and they're and they're still working. They we have two rooms full of um old technology at series that that Brent's been working on with Kevin and they're going to try to get it sold or recycled. Uh it's just I mean it's it's a lot of lot of technology

102that's over there. Uh but we are we did we we ran out of room at Spanishburg so we're going to have to put probably one more room at last meet that we're going to have to put storage in but I think soon we'll be at a situation where we can we can do what we want to do with series whatever >> what do you recommend >> so is the thought to >> tear it down >> what if we can sell >> okay >> because I've got a man contacted me about two week >> about series >> I think the concern has been in the past though that when we sell old buildings that are in disrepair They're often sold to buildings that don't persist and then the school system ends up getting blamed for leaving

103an old building in the area. I know that's been a concern in the past and why we've torn down. Now, if it was it's a functional building like Cumberland Heights, that was a different story. >> Ramsey School. >> Yeah. >> This is a person that that wants it for the storage space. >> Yeah. My concern would be though, do if if they keep it for three years and then they abandon it and it's empty then everybody in the county thinks oh the school system I'm just sharing that's what's happened in the past. >> Well, so >> I mean you have to auction it anyway. So I mean you know that would be the thing and and I know when we did Ramsay school we required them to give us an idea of what their plan

104was and what they were going to do with the building before we would agree to the sale. And we sold that one online. >> That was before my time. >> Y >> I will say that I inherited Australia. >> Is that where I remember meeting him? >> This is a local man and he's got the >> financial we have to do some work on some of those things that >> taxes didn't get paid and so the buildings became became abandoned. Frankly, Whitethorn and Memorial were in much better shape than series and blue and brush for >> we tore those down and sold the property. We didn't make money on it, >> but I am confident that those residents in Bluefield are happy happier with that. >> That's my inclination is to tear them down and

105then sell the property, buy the property. I just feel like the long-term impact is not going to be good for the school system if we sell buildings that are in huge disrepair are just my opinion. But >> he just said it was dangerous like me. If you're going to take it over and use it for storage, you're going to have to spend a lot of money on it. Wonder if he realizes >> he's got it. >> He doesn't. But does he want to spend it on that? >> If he's got that much money, he'd want a better building than series. I'll tell you that. where his other buildings are. >> Maybe if well would he want the land though and he could put his own building on it if we tore it down? That that

106would be my problem. >> Again, you got to put it on the the problem is is you have to put it at auction. Then you get somebody else that out bids him and gets it >> and they don't have a plan for it and now we've got a derelch building sitting there or they thought they had a plan and it doesn't work out. They couldn't get the bank loan, they could get funding, uh, whatever it might be because we've got the two out buildings sitting there too beside it. It's not just the main building, although the main building is atrocious. Um, I'm sure the main the side buildings are not any better >> or worse. >> Uh, I don't know that I would go inside of them one of them myself without assurity that I

107wouldn't fall through the floor cuz I'm a big guy and I could fall through the floor. So, um, >> never to be seen from again. >> Yeah. never to be seen from again. Um, >> now we're not taking a vote on that either. >> So, um, um, we do need to decide with the three buildings what what we have a plan for and what we're going to do. I know Brushborg seems to be fairly easy. Uh, because I mean half the building is unusable anyway. >> Okay, hold on. Uh the I I don't disagree with that. And we have had contact with a with a a local uh >> I don't know if he wants me to tell anybody. So there was a had a contact with somebody that would really like to see it

108turned into a community park. Uh you know the >> fresh >> Yes. You tear the building down and then transfer it to a governmental agency that would then take it over and treat it as a community park. >> I'm not sure. But in Mercer County, do does our local government have the ability to condemn buildings to begin with though? Or I know some places. >> Yeah, I think so. >> Well, if they're condemned, you'd have to tear them down. >> I mean, I'm just >> Well, I don't think neither Whitethorn or or uh >> memorial were condemned. We just chose I'm saying that if if they were condemned, then our options would be limited. I think it's when I was on Athens Town Council, we talked about condemning buildings and I think it could be

109that >> if you need to go that route. >> Neither of none of these buildings are in an incorporated area. So, it would have to be a county and I'm not sure county has condemnation proceedings or not. I know they they give you money to tear down sterling buildings, but >> take a few screws out of brush work. It's going to fall down. >> We're putting out invitations to apply I think we had to have bids, right? Didn't we have to have bids, Leslie, for tearing down the building? Like when we tore down Memorial Whitethorn, >> it was like a bidding process. >> He's talking about the the county project that tear down. It's tearing down building. >> Tearing down to >> Oh, I see what you're saying. >> They do it for us. >>

110Oh, >> well, the way it was put to me was they want us to tear the building down and then they want us to transfer the property so they can turn it into a park. and and I understand that whole perspective. It would be nice for that community to have a park because it really doesn't have a park. Uh and there's a lot of people that live around that school. Uh it would be and it would be off, you know, the park part would be off of us. We would we wouldn't have to pull that. Well, I'd be a little concerned if they don't have enough money to rebuild the casino with a token where they come up with the money to do >> a community park out. >> You know, it's like anything you

111budget. You budget based on what you want to do if you're in the position of authority. >> What's the connection between Moka and Bush? several, you know, a month or so ago when they were doing some of the final demolition down there, there was a gazebo kind right there as you came down the hill and take a left. There was a gazebo gazebo that was there and somebody decided that it needed to be torn down. So while they had the equipment down there finishing the building, they trucked it across the street, put that one on the ground and it caused a big stink with the county commission. H. >> So, you're talking about the county commission. >> You were talking about a local person. >> I'm just No, I'm >> I'm not talking about talking

112about I'm not talking about who I'm talking about. >> I was talking about local business about Siri. >> Yeah, I know. >> Greg's on he's on another, >> right? So, it's it's a thought, but I I think what we I mean, and that essentially what we've got to do is the board has to decide what we want to do with the buildings. Our recommendation, as I understand it, is that we demolish the buildings. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Is that your re That's your recommendation? >> Yes. >> That's I I do I do if if we did save one to try to sell, it would be Blue Well, and there is interest in people buying Blue Well, and I think it's due to the ATV community. Um, but I mean I think >> it's

113not in great shape either. >> It's not in great shape. It's much better shape than brush fork sadly, but it's uh it is it's you if you look at the front of the building, it kind of it waves in and out the whole front wall of the building. >> And just from a philosophical standpoint, uh I don't know that we want to drop an ATV resort right in the middle of that community right there. That I I understand it. And there's there's tons of land down there that that people can buy and build on if they want to. Indeed. >> If we tear it down, they can buy it and build whatever they want. >> Well, yeah, but then it's in it's in a bid situation or we can or we can hold the property.

114I mean, I I just I it's I I I just wouldn't want to be three doors down from an ATV resort, you know? I mean, I get it. It's beneficial to our community. That doesn't mean you have to drop one right down in the middle of a community either. The other side of that also I agree 100% someone who lives side. >> Right. >> So I guess the process is you get bids for us and then we decide based on those bids if we want to tear them down or not. >> Okay. >> At that point since we're not doing any decisions today. Um >> uh I still have more construction. If you want me to continue, >> please go right ahead. >> Uh they just finished putting on new roof on the uh blue

115auditorium. Uh we had a pre- bid the other day for uh HVAC upgrades. Uh the auditorium wasn't included when we did the upgrades in the project that we did with our ESR money. Uh had seven rooftop units and only two of them are working. They're 20 I think 25 years old and we have one big unit in the auditorium working. It cools the stage. Then there's two that cool the auditorium itself and they're not working. So uh we we had the pre-bid when when does that end Leslie? Do you know >> 29th questions have to be back 29th? >> Yeah. should we should have some information by the 1st of August on uh how my my goal is and I I told Mr. Collins I told him to reach out to the community is that

116we'll have heat before Christmas. That that's my goal. Uh lead time's still long on HVAC units. Uh several of the guys talked about that in the pre-bid. Um, we hope that we can get it in there and get it done as quickly as possible, but I feel confident by the nutcracker season, we'll have heat and and the community will be good and all be well. Uh, and while we have those off, too, I'm going they have to coordinate with our roofing co-op that we use and they're we're going to spray that back section so that uh we have some some pretty bad leaks back there. So, they're going to spray that when they put down the curb adapters. >> Yes. That part that was added on the back where the offices and everything are. Yeah.

117leaks bad back there. >> Um >> they had workers up there, but they were up there 89°. >> Yeah. And and and they work hard. the the the the crew that we we have, they've been a great crew. The guy who uh heads it for us, he actually came down here yesterday. We've been having a leak in in the main building here, and he personally went up there and with with my guys, and they found it, he fixed it, and uh they they've they've been a good partner. Uh the And you you would see something that we did, not construction update, but you know, that brush hoging that we did around the track, I think looks great. Mr. Collins has done a good job with Yeah, it was uh we we we took that flail

118mower down there and uh on our um McTex excavator and uh cut up about 8 ft up in there and cut clear off a bunch of trees and Mike said it was something that he doesn't remember being that way since he was in school. So I I think that was a good thing. We did discover or I discovered yesterday the detention pond at Bluefield Primary is starting to have an erosion issue. Uh, I took the tractor down there yesterday and and put a bunch of stone into the hole hopefully to uh fix some of that erosion. Not fix it, but slow it down. But I think eventually we'll have to put some sort of drainage in that parking lot near the tennis court because it it just runs it funnels straight down to that detention

119pond and that we can't have that retain. If that if that fails, we're going to be in big trouble because if if I know when the hurricane came, we were we we got lucky and but we've been keeping it clean and it did its job. So, uh we're we're lucky there. But um lot a lot of uh issues and Leslie I think was about to mention this earlier when she talked about personnel but one of the things too that I've asked for a couple years is there possibility of looking at policy to allow 261 employees to carry over more vacation. Uh my guys come June they know they can only carry over 10 days. So they say, "Well, I'll see you in July." >> And and then when July comes, they get their new vacation

120>> project done. I summertime's absolutely awful for me. And I have been blessed to have some subs this year, but uh it it's it's a time and as principal, I know you put in all your work orders at the end of the year, and you think, "Oh, when I come back, everything's just going to be great." And it's hard. Like I had no electricians today. Everybody one's out on leave and and two were sick. So it's just it's a difficult time. And um if if we were allowed to carry over 20 or just have a larger number that can carry over, I think that a lot of my guys would would would definitely take advantage of that. But there there's a few that just take it because they can't if you you lose them. If

121you don't use them, you lose them. So they take them. >> The thing with carryover, it only helps the first year though because then it just, you know, >> they'll take off the semester. >> Yeah. Exactly. >> Yeah. There needs to be there's something there has to be something they're working towards to carry it over. But >> yeah, you could say you can carry I mean the solution to that is you can carry over 20 but you can only acrue so many in a given year that constantly gives you until you hit 20 which would be a few years down the road. Um I don't know >> it's a good that's a good problem. >> Yeah it is. >> Um and I don't know there's a good solution. Our paving looks great at uh Princeton

122Primary, Princeton Highlock. Um they're they are going to come stripe it real real soon. They they didn't quite do what we wanted at Bluefield Intermediate and they have to come back at the end of this week or beginning of next week. Uh we're widening widening the bus circle. Uh they didn't do that, which was one of the big things that we stressed to them. They had to cut that curb and widen it, but they're going to come back and fix fix that. Um we we have um two gym floors going in. Bluefield Bluefield Intermediate's getting a gym floor and um Princeton Primary is getting a gym floor. They unfortunately it's going to start right when school starts. So they're going to they're going to try to they're going to start at Bluefield Intermediate and then

123they'll do Prince Primary after. Um the I'm just trying to go through my head of all projects. >> There's a lot going on. >> There's there is always a lot going on. Um >> the structural >> Yeah, we're still waiting on um geotechnical testing from >> primary >> Spanishber >> and Princeton primary. Yeah, we have we're having if you don't know, we're having some settling issues. we'll call it, for lack of a better term, settling issues uh due to the drought and the floods and the raining season and and they've seen it in multiple locations across West Virginia. And uh unfortunately, it seems like that when the new wing of Spanishburg was built, they had they raised it because it was in the the floodway, but uh we're not sure that they did the greatest

124job of compaction testing when they when they built that section. So, it's uh unfortunately it's it's cracking in places that it shouldn't be cracking. And it's uh uh we're waiting for some data back on that to find out, you know, how bad and what their recommendations are and are we going to have to go put pillars in underneath it to >> say unless they put pillars underneath the end of it whenever you >> Yeah. >> a substrate. >> Yeah. >> Water will make it settle. >> Yeah. Well, it's like timberwood's built on pillars. It's not going anywhere. It actually timberwood can the whole building can move the way it's designed. It >> probably put on a small pads, >> right? Underneath it structure, >> right? Yep. I think that's I think that's the issue. I

125mean, we had a river running through and around Spanish. >> Keep in mind >> Yeah. Even if it was compacted, that soil that's in that section's got to go somewhere. So this is going to pull right down, >> right? >> That situation. >> Yeah. >> When are we going to pull those out? >> End of this week. End of this week. First of >> Oh, yeah. We we've finished paying. >> We paid in June and you've not paid since. They just they were supposed to come June 23rd and there was a little confusion on the the one of the power poles. So they came back but we've not paid. >> Yeah, that's on them. >> We told them we're done. Come get your stuff. That's on the shell and everything inside there we put in

126to accommodate children. So all that inside desk, tables, chairs, whatever else is gone. >> Yeah, we took all that out. Custodian did a lot of it. custodians did and then my guys went and removed doorork knobs and things that that were specific to us. And that's what we're doing now at Brush Work and Blue Well. We're we're basically robbing parts so that we could use them in different locations and uh just just trying to save money and and some of them are just they're just things that it might not help us save money, but might be things that we can't replace anymore because they don't make them anymore. >> Right. >> So doorork knobs and closers and things of that nature. Apparently, it's that's what they've always done when they close the school. They just

127go take out the good things and what we might need and >> Sure. >> But then but then it comes into a dumping round of where you put it all. >> They have more stuff to store. >> Well, I mean, you wouldn't believe the amount of stuff that's at series. But, uh, you know, we're we're sorting through all that and and I think the communities, all of them will be a lot better off if we do >> out all the kitchen equipment and everything. all those >> it we'll say we >> sorted it last week or >> well we've already we've already used the motor out of the dishwasher we took it out of I think pressure fork and we installed at Sun Valley I think so if we haven't done it we're in the

128process of doing it so yeah and my guys are great about knowing you know you know this washer this dishwasher's the same as we have over here and we might need this motor and and and they're they're pretty good about working together some of especially the older guys that are more familiar with our schools. >> Okay. Is that kitchen? >> Kitchen. >> Does that get you? >> My accent is horrible. >> Finished. >> Does that get you? Is what I was trying to >> Oh, yeah. Sure. Okay. I'm good. I'm good. I I'm sure there's more. >> I guarantee you there's more that I didn't talk about. But >> if I said, "Are you done yet?" It would have been horrible. >> You know, like, "Wow." Wow. Where did he grow up? Um, >> all

129righty. So the needs project will be on a future agenda since we're not >> needs. >> The needs projects >> SBA project have like the 25th of September dead. >> All right. Which leads us into um purchasing real estate. like to move to executive session to discuss that. >> So there's a motion to discuss the purchase of real estate. >> Second. >> There's a second and we're doing so based upon West Virginia code that permits us to go in executive session for the purpose of purchasing real estate. All in favor signify by saying I. >> I oppose. Likewise. That motion carries five in favor and none opposed. We're going to go into executive session. Lesie, we need you. Dr. Atkins, we need you. Tom, we need you. We're back from executive session uh about a

130minute ago, just long enough to get the streaming back up and uh all we discussed was what we talked about which was the purchase of real estate and we're going to go on to the next matter on the agenda which is uh updating Thank you. updating and revising our policy manual. So, that one's one I figure we can tackle pretty quickly. If you guys recall at the last meeting, we uh Dr. Okall met and discussed with us about the the policy manual. So, I'm going to turn it over to Dr. Bowling and let her tell us what's going on to go forward. Um, I talked to Jason Butcher today actually. Um, and the next steps as far as, you know, what needs to be done is for the board to decide yes, we want to

131go this route or no, we don't. Um, once that decision is made, it would be about two-ish weeks to become live. And by live, it is using our Microsoft um, suite is what they're going to put it on. So everything will be accessible. um we could determine the superintendent can determine who has access to make those changes to our policies or to add or delete anything. Um and Mr. Butcher will grant that access via our emails. Um there will be clickable links within the document. And so he said like on the left side it would have the chapters with the like um finances and you could click on that and then it would bring stuff over for a drop-own menu and you could go to those policies um and click on it. There would be

132embedded clickable links to go maybe to a um West Virginia policy that you know to link those and so everything's matched up. Um, they're also putting a search feature. So, if you have a keyword that you're looking for on that main page, you can type it in and it'll take you directly to where you need to go. Um, and then I asked him about the procedures, um, as far as because our policies have the policy and then our procedures as a county. And he said that, um, that would be up to us if we wanted to handle the procedure manual in house or if they wanted we wanted them to do it. He said that would be longer if they do it versus if we have somebody in house that can do that. Um, and

133>> we can or we can leave it like it is. >> Correct. >> That's another option. >> Yes, we would just have to I know the way it's done now, those procedures are not in there. So, they would have to put those back in. >> Okay. >> Um, and then we can also add links to connect the two. So, it would have the policy, then here's the link to go directly to the Mercer County procedures for that specific policy and go back and forth that way. Um, but it would be all online. Um, and we would have somebody whoever Mr. Toman wanted would be able to have access to make those changes. >> So when we changed policies as time went on, >> correct? >> We just go in and change them that way. >>

134Yes. >> Where where will the where was it actually this docu this what you call document design >> on the Mercer County website >> on our computer? >> Mhm. on everybody's just like it is now just like how we access the policies now but you have to go back and forth in all the folders >> so we're not going to have some kind of long-term fee we have to pay for >> correct >> once >> one fee >> well that's I I it's amazing how much money we put out to places in Texas >> to host or something like that >> basically host information this is us correct So, so it's clear the policies that they basically organized them. They took our policies and organized them. So, we'll be looking at our policies. These aren't

135modified policies. >> Correct. And I did ask him for any um for a list of the deleted policies that they've taken out of what we provided them. Um and he sent an email to um Dr. O'all and Victoria. I'm CCD in that and I have not gotten a response. Once I do, I can forward that on to you and let you know what was delete, what they did delete. >> And the reason being the board needs to make sure that there are things they deleted, we might we might actually want to keep it >> so we're fully informed when we deal with the policy. >> This helps us basically do it in one bite because really all we're doing is reorganizing. >> Correct. >> And then of course what I call the preamble, those first

136nine pages, >> which quite honestly, I love Dr. call is a little verbose and a little >> can I say halalutin maybe is that the right word this the language needs we need to like a writer needs to get in there and kind of >> say the same thing well not even that just >> I mean there's there's a couple places where he cites Latin and I'm like that's a dead language dude come on and again I love him but but u he's smart guy he's a smart guy and so that that shows through u >> he's overseen your association, >> right? He is he's good. He's been a good leader in our schoolboard association. So, but it's it's one of those things where we probably need to look at that, too. And >> and

137and kind of make it a little less uh verbose and a little less uh >> um put your finger over here. I'll cut it off. >> It It's shoot I was always told you should shoot for the fifth grade level when you write something. That's what I was always told even back when I was back in school back in the 20s. Um, >> 20. >> So, um, >> you were in your 20s. >> He acts like he's old. >> I think this one is Hey, I get Medicare in eight. I get to I'm away from PIA. >> Finally. >> I get Medicare in month and a half. Dude, >> you a good supplement. >> Oh, I don't worry. I'll have a good supplement >> and I can work on those first few pages um and

138send you some samples of how we can >> we don't want to change the thought process because I understand what he's doing. >> The public needs to understand how a board works. You've got a CEO who's a superintendent and you got a policym board that makes policy and and does the things the statutes require. Yes. >> And the two work together to run the system. >> Yeah. So, I'll take that and then um >> I'll work on that and get you a draft of >> Okay. >> Maybe we could change it to fit >> our area better. >> Right. Right. And I and so I think the the my impression is is we want to fix our policy manual because it's a mess. >> Just that's what happens when you it's kind of like a

139church builds on a side building here and then a building back here and then one over here and then goes two stories here and you look at it and go, "Who designed that?" Mhm. >> Same idea. It's just a It's a mess. >> It's a mess. >> Yes. >> So, um, any other policy manual discussion, comments, questions? All right. So, goals and mission statement. Do we have anything with us? Did anybody plan or prepare on that one? Cuz I'm afraid I didn't. >> You got them right there, but we don't have anything written. >> Oh, the ones in front of us. Well, we actually have them right here in front of us. But if you want to have a rough copy to scratch on >> if you want to write on it. >> Well, let's

140do that. Let's do that cuz this this can take a while and it can go quickly. I just want to see which we're going to be. >> Is it going to take a while or are we going to or be quickly? All right. So, these are our current goals. We've not been big on making massive changes year to year, but I'm not objecting to that. I'm just saying that's kind of been our our ways. Um, >> are you going to make these changes now? >> No, I want you to talk about them because it has to come back on a meeting when we can take action on it. So, if we we can discuss it and and make alterations and then turn it back in and let the let the administration bring it back to

141us for a vote. That's simple and easy. >> Your survey, the complete next, >> it's done. That's been done. We already approved it on the board agenda, I don't think. Did we? >> We got do >> I thought we did everything we were supposed to do with the board survey. She's already checked. We already got the email. She checked off on us. >> She looked on our website cuz remember Amy, you communicated with her. >> All right. >> She She said, "It's on your website. We're good. Good luck." >> Now, we do You're right. We do have to acknowledge it in an open board meeting. So, it needs to be on >> August. We'll do that. >> That'll work. That'll work. >> You got to do that by September. I think that's what I was

142looking at. >> I didn't remember that. Gotcha. >> Yeah, I saw. >> Yeah, we did that. We did that survey. >> Oh gosh, we did survey in April, maybe. >> I thought we had done >> Yeah, I've learned I actually learned how to do it >> because it took a long time to figure out what was wrong with it. >> Oh, I kept You guys kept getting emails and it were like, I'm sorry, it's not working. I'll try again. I think I did that four times before I got it. But I got it. Um, >> so everybody's seen the board goals. >> What says the board? Do we need to make dramatic the dramatic dramatic changes? Do we need to adapt? Do we need to change language? Do we need to shorten? Well, >> you

143have something with finance. >> How soon we have to get this done? Something with that with the time. Take this home and think about it. >> Well, that's fine. That's absolutely fine. I got noility. I got no >> personnel and finance of whatever to put you, you know, the accountability there with your goals to make sure we look at that. And that's >> Are we gonna be having another one of these work sessions or did we get it all done? >> We didn't. We've got We have two big >> secondary that you wanted to hit. >> We got two big ones. >> I'm hoping the cell phone will not be on the next >> not board meeting. It's going to be a work session. >> It's going to be a work session. >> What's the

144other one? >> The expulsion. >> Expulsion hearings. >> Yeah. So we need to have session for >> income streams because we're not going to make it. >> Well, that's also secondary. So that >> and that's secondary. So that works. And then promoting the school. So >> I can give you a little update on promoting school that Amy has done something kind. >> Before we do that, let me finish. >> Okay. I'm sorry. >> He said one second, Mrs. Harrison. He's going to >> I just wanted to So Paul's suggestion that we take these home and scratch them. make your changes and then send them to Dr. Bowling and let her kind of put something together and then we can have options and and >> just to just send comments directly to Amber. >> Yeah. Okay.

145>> Yeah. >> And I would suggest anywhere >> I'd suggest too to look at personnel finance that the accountability there because if we don't have the funds, we'll need your all support of what we got to do some tough stuff there too. So that goal would be huge. >> Okay. And something if I may make a suggestion of those building protective schools use standards for effective schools and that framework for our goals and everything we do hinges around that. So maybe kind of partner that with it possibly in your thinking and how that's organized >> with leadership instructional and then foundational which would include of course what Mr. Toman's talking about with finance and personnel. How >> about the possibility of y'all sending us some thoughts on this >> right here? You got that one

146right there. >> So that thing you're just talking about. >> Well, we can work it we can work it into our calls. >> Just just a framework. We kind of hang our hat on that. >> And if you want to send me your thoughts, I can organize them into those three. >> Gotcha. Okay. >> I can get it in that order. So I I was shooting for four o'clock. Amy, you have according to my watch eight minutes. >> Got it. >> I can do it in less. >> All right. >> 25 words to lose. >> I have put together um kind of like a little slideshow uh why Mercer County Public Schools something that we could put on social media >> and it's something that we could also pay some money to boost so that

147it uh reaches people that don't necessarily follow the Mercer County Schools page, >> which would be a good thing. And I just wanted to share with you, I'm going to send you the link so that you can see it. But the very first part says, "Considering options for your child's education before deciding on homeschooling or private school. Discover what Mercer County Public Schools offer that others can't match. Keep scrolling to see why we're not just keeping up, we're leading." >> And each slide goes into all the different things that we do as a county um that aren't available in other places. uh heavy on the arts, uh sports, uh STEM, dual credit. >> How about teacher teacher certifications? >> Well, that's something that I have not added, but I was looking Well, maybe I did.

148>> It's been a while since I've worked on it, but I I will send you a copy of it. But Dr. Atkins, when he looked at it, he said, well, he likes the general overview. That's kind of like a taste, but then eventually to take each section and expand on each section as well. >> Yeah. But I will send you the link for this so you can take a look at it and feel free to email me your thoughts. >> Is it a business? Because you and I have talked several times about >> promoting. >> And then, you know, once I was told we can't get Ashley to give us the contact information for all these homesooled kids and and load them up. >> Yeah. But You know, I I' I've went online twice and

149there are companies, advertising companies and that do strategies and they specifically work with K through 12 to do branding, >> you know, and they've got all kind. It's not just it's just not just Facebook or anything like that. They've got different ways. And I know it comes at a cost that Leslie won't give us the money for, >> but you know, it's it >> it's it's thinking it's thinking about outside the box. I mean, we've got over what is it 1,200 kids >> that aren't in Mercer County schools anymore. >> And um I talked with Jason Butcher and I talked with our proximity guy and they have worked with some of the other counties to figure out to to get information out and not get in trouble with the homeschool group. >> We've done that.

150Amy, >> yes, you can. >> Amy's minutes. Good. >> And I'm I'm sorry. I I will be fine. I'm good. >> But we have worked with Jason and Ken and Charlie at the SCSC. We've had meetings during the day and um actually sent invitation to all of the homeschool families. We've done that three years in a row. Um what I will tell you, we had a few homeschoolers enroll in one or two classes. no full-time students came back from homeschool. Um, so in our county that was not um I hate to say profitable, fruitful I guess is the better better word. >> So um I and we're talking like last year we had three different meetings. We had you know an AM PM and then an evening meeting. Most of the people who showed up

151were people who were already in public school that just wanted to know what the virtual program was about. Um, but that information has been put out. Um, and we've had those meetings and worked with Jason to do that. And I'm I'm not saying that because I'm opposed to doing it it again. I'm saying it hasn't it hasn't proven to be fruitful for us. >> Um, I think the ones that are doing it are doing it for their own reasons. whatever those reasons may be. Um, going along with Amy's campaign, and I told Alicia I would not steal her thunder because this has completely been her, but she has been designing um, two billboards, one for Princeton, one for Bluefield area. Um, to be based on the McKini Vento Act and just get the message out

152that we have resources with Mckin Vento to help students. Um, and we all know that the homeless definition is very broad. um it does not just mean street homelessness, but um when she showed this to me the other day, um she had no matter what, school is for everyone. And I said, "Why can't we put public on there?" And she said, "We absolutely can put public on there." So, um I know at least one of these is going to be at a stoplight. Um she's been working with Lamar to make it really pop and, you know, be eye-catching. Um but just putting that out there and and so people do see it and um cuz we're here for everyone. We don't get to pick and choose. >> Well, some of the reading that I've done

153and Ernie and I have talked about this. If you don't get them in the first two or three years, you're not ever going to get them back, right? >> Unless the kids are are gifted or talented in some certain area that they can only really thrive in the public school setting, >> right? And with with our successes, I mean, every what you're doing, by the way, is phenomenal. I pass it on. If I see it come back from somebody else, I send it out again. And I'm probably only have 10 or 12 friends, so you know, you don't know who's seeing it anyway. >> But but there's What did you say? I thought it said >> we took her mic away for a reason. I'm kidding. He's one of your 12. I think is what

154he said. He's >> But you know that those are really really good. But I don't know, you know, I I am I try to talk about or I don't try to talk about how wonderful we've done as a county where we are in the state. Then we had one of the teacher workshops and I said, you know, look at look and see what our teachers and administrators are doing to make school better. And I want to say, so why would you teach your kids at home? But I don't think that's appropriate. >> Probably not. Well, we've always That's a >> good question. >> We have always had a strong homeschool group in Mercer County. It's always been in the hundreds. >> I've got on this board in 1998. It's always been in the hundreds. >>

155It's not That's not the group that's blown up. >> The group that's blown up is we have two private schools now instead of one. >> I mean, in two years, you've gone from zero to it'll probably end up being around 550 600. Is that I mean that's my estimate. >> Has anybody heard that the Catholic Church is thinking about opening a school in in Bluefield? >> Yeah, but that's down the road. That's not that's not imminent. He's got to get it with the priest is new. He's young. He's a really nice man. He came from a school and you know there the only Catholic school in southern West Virginia is in Beckley and it's a K8 and I think you know that they're looking at hope like everybody else. But you listen to the the

156>> people in government in West Virginia that understand budgeting. They say they're going to be changes just like the promise. They're going to be changes. This is not going to be a free-for-all. Can't afford it. >> On Monday's agenda, you will see >> create another uh lottery ticket or something that you can you can sell and put that money in it. I was just going to say on Monday's agenda, we do have a policy. It's a new policy up um that Leslie and I have worked together on. Mercer County is all obviously we're already registered as an educational service provider with Hope. Um but we didn't have a policy in place to bill those students for extracurricular activities or the classes that they're coming in and taking. Um, so we do have that up for

157the board's consideration and we know that that may be a band-aid, but um, it's recouping anything we can at this point. >> We have we have quite a few coming to vote, do we not? >> Yeah. And basically, >> I had four boys that were in welding last year and all four of them were in homeschool and they said it was a joke >> that pop no pope something whatever that home school Probably pen Foster. >> Yeah, Pen Pen Foster should be outlawed. Poke P. Start with a P. You know, >> but that >> Where were you working before here? >> Where were you working before and Raleigh and it's the same there and this is Canala as well. So we try to be consistent with those other totals and that would be for sports

158too. Um sports, sports, sports, and etc. >> It's only fair. >> I mean it is only fair. It goes to the state not to the person or it goes to the >> So we would bill we could bill hope if so it is law that we have to do this as well. So they did pass a law that we are required to charge them now um for sports if they're a hope scholarship recipient. We can bill hope directly if they haven't paid all of it out, but if not >> thousand bucks, >> they would have to to pay. And it's 17th >> for whatever class or sport they would pay in. It's 17th of each item. >> 17th of what? >> 17th of >> the total scholarship amount. This year, the scholarship in full >>

159uh is $5,200 and change. So if they decided they wanted to play basketball, it's 17th. >> So each class is 7 752 >> for each class that they would take. >> Okay. >> And then so when do when do parents get that money? I'm not familiar with that. Like the hope people. >> So it's by semester. So they would get one at the beginning, you know, first semester and one second semester. So that would be >> So if there was some left that they hadn't already been dispersed, you could get directly from hope. Yeah. Otherwise, the pay the parent would have to pay before they could be entered into the sport or the >> Yes. >> Okay. >> If they took a couple classes and did a sport, they could be heading to half of

160their >> statuto. He'll give it away. >> Hope is we'll talk about that afterwards. Hope is entirely statutory. So, they can do pretty much anything. So, uh, our IT, our special ed, and our teched will hit another time because everybody wants to go home. We've been here two and a half hours. We've covered a lot. Uh, we'll cover more in another uh, work session very shortly. >> Do we want to schedule that now or we want to have Let's do it on the Let's do it at the board meeting on Monday. >> Sounds good. >> All right, >> Amber, put the make a note. >> I got it already. >> Gotcha. Good. >> Paul, move right there. Do >> Is there a second? Any objection? >> Thanks everybody. It was a very productive meeting.