Board Meeting Regular Session - 5/27/25

001Good evening. It is uh Mercer County Board of Education is in session for our public budget hearing at 5:00. Our regular session will start about 5:30. Um, so I'm going to turn this over to Mr. Toman for the public budget hearing. I have uh Mrs. Wellman here to uh start the process with the budget hearing. So any information that you want to kick it off? Getting a microphone for you. Thank you. Good evening. Um, as you know, I have the team here who helped build this budget. We have Lauren Crook and Jordan Angel. Again, they're phenomenal um real assets to Mercer County Schools. I think you'll speak with anyone. Um the team, they they work really well helping with our grants. Jordan, especially with MCT and with Gear Up and several of those and Lauren

002is our title expert and and is becoming a special ed expert. But um so at any rate, they they worked really well this year as as they did last year. You have in front of you two documents. The first is a color PowerPoint document, and that's what we'd like to review with you first. Um the second is a Weeas printout, and that's what we will be asking you to approve during the regular meeting tonight. Um frankly, we had the work session a couple weeks ago. We've made no material changes since then. Um, we're still waiting on a few things, primarily some of our federal programs, but we've made no significant changes. We did do a little bit of a tweak to some miscellaneous revenue as as well. Our projected revenue for fiscal year 26, which

003is June July 1st of 2025 through June 30 of 2026, is 132 million. As we discussed during our last work session, um that we did ha have a decrease from 25 um and that was due to esser that we no longer have those funds and you'll see those in our headcounts and other expenses as well a little bit later. Fund 11 we see is 93.5 million. That's our general revenue f fund. Again, that's from primarily tax collections, the regular levy tax collections and some unrestricted funds from the state. Our state aid is included in that. So, all all of our primary funding other than federal programs grants is in this fund 11. Fund 12 is our excess levy. We do anticipate that going up um about half a million dollars next year to 16.7 million.

004That is the amount that was approved by the county as well as by the state auditor's office. Fund 41. And again, this is revenue. These are not fund balances. This is revenue. So, this is what we're anticipating next year. Fund 41 is our capital improvement fund. That's $650,000. That's those are the funds that we have designated in our excess levy that we will transfer into our capital improvement fund. I will point out that we do have some um QABs or those leaked purchases that we're paying. We paid off Pike View Middle School this year. We still have one for a small one for Mountain Valley and we have one for Bluefield Primary. I mean, not Bluefield Primary, Timberwood that that we're paying on. So, that's typ that's primarily what that regular transfer does is just

005pay for those No, this is just the revenue that we transfer from the excess levy to to do new construction. This is the fund that we use for setting aside money for um like any needs project that you all would want us to apply for. For example, fund 51, that's just our um construction fund, and that is where uh Timberwood is is. We anticipate we'll have about another million dollars in expenses after June 30 this year for this project. And fund 61, again, I mentioned that was our federal programs, 19.9 million for a total of 132 million. If you'll go on to the next page, this breaks it down. Um, our state aid is 54.5 million. I do want to point out that 1.48 million is included in that state aid total, but we have

006an immediate allocation that we have to pay that back for charter schools. So, it looks like we've gotten a little bit more revenue, but that is going right back out. It was 300,000 in FY25 and going up to 1 point almost 1.5 million next year. That is actual student allocation. We I think we had 190 um on our state allocation in charter school. Again, that's not hope. That is just truly the charter school allocation. PA retirement that is going up again. They give us the money for a portion of that and that is going up about a million dollars next year. Regular le levy is going up about half a million dollars and miscellaneous revenue we are that's interest or other small revenue. Um we do anticipate half a million dollars next year for that.

007So with fund 61 um with our federal programs with title one, title two, and title um four, we're looking at approximately or close to $5 million. We did receive um those preliminary allocations last week, and the state did uh receive a reduction from the federal government. The state took approximately about an eight 8% decrease from their federal programs. um two, three and four um and five um did receive a 20% decrease. Title one is approximately an 8% decrease for the state. So we have not um worked on those final um allocations um in this budget. So we are only looking at salaries um in this budget. Um we will be working on those those are u we'll have those final allocations final comps at the beginning of July. IDEIDA, which is our special um education,

008um approximately $2.7 million. Child nutrition is um at about $9 million and 1 million of that is will be funded with our county contribution, which the county will transfer to take care of child nutrition. Um JOTC is at about $210,000 and again, our federal programs allocation will be um anticipated at the beginning of July. On to expenses. As is almost always the case, almost 80% of our expenses go directly towards salaries. Um, so we have almost $103 million going uh to salaries and fixed costs. And as we mentioned during our work session, family coverage for PEI, right now our portion is $19,000 a year. Uh we again budget exactly what the revenue is from child nutrition out and $9 million for child nutrition. Transportation expense is a total of 7.7 million. Only 2.9 of that

009is operational costs. The rest is included in the salaries and fixed costs above. Building maintenance. We discussed this during our work session as well. $2.5 million. These are some of the major projects we anticipate next year. We already have a grant for the PMS manra. We'll bid that out. Pike View High School paving um Pike View High School HVAC and we still are unknown. So, we have set aside some funds in next year's budget for flood repairs and and any structural issues or anything that we might need to address. Utilities, we we mentioned that the increase that we budgeted for next year totals 3.9 million. Our hope is we keep textbooks at a million and a half next year or below. And then all of the others such as robotics and you know different expenses

010like that um are in that 9.3 million. And on the next page you can see a graph that shows very easily uh color coding the majority of our expenses are salary and fixed costs. What is transportation utilities etc. Looking at this expenses by category, it looks like we've only got about 7% of our budget that we can actually use. Yes. Fix repair, fix by purchase, robotics, uh sports, all that stuff, right? Yes. Yes. Exactly. When you were talking about salaries and fixed costs, the fixed cost is the PEIA and the uh all the other inclusionary type things like retirement and the that's your fixed cost. Yes. So it would be PEIA, retirement, workers comp and social security. Damn. So as you look at uh the projected headcount for fiscal year 26 um out of fund

01111 we have a professional budgeted um count of 652.4 employees. So as you look at that uh we have an overage of 14.05 employees. Um and then for nonfederal with a total professional or and then if you look at fund 61 we have professional employees of 111 11.6 employees for total professional employees of 764 in the county. Um and whenever you look at professional employees it with professional it doesn't matter if you're 200 day 261 day. Now, we do have to pay for with state aid formula, they only pay up to 200 days and then anything over 200, the county does make up the difference with that, but we have 764 um professional employees within the county. Non-federal um service budgeted employees, we have 493.86 um employees and uh we have an overage of 49.66.

012If you look at feder or fund 61, we have 6.4 with a total service employees of 500.26. Um again with um service employees, if it's a 261day employee, we do have it's more FTE than just the one. So we are at um more than one FTE there with a total um uh full-time employees in the county of 1,264.26 employees in the county. for fiscal year 26. Okay. So, yeah. So, with the um professional employees, like I said, we were 14.05 over in professional and with the overage in service were 49.66 over and some of that with the service is contributed to the 261day employees. As has been the focus of many discussions, um our enrollment trend continues to decrease. So from a funding perspective, the you you will see in the next chart and graph,

013our funding started back in 18 at 8960 down to um this year we were funded on 8,231 students. That's a drop of 249 since last year. That's anticipated or that's are we always a year behind? We're a year behind. So that is October 25 less October 24. So it's clear that the actual student population in Mercer County is staying stable or actually rising. People are just choosing other options. Is am I not correct about that? A large majority of that is absolutely. they're choosing other options. Again, the charter school that we mentioned, the 1.4 million, those are students that are have chosen a different educational system, the public school. Um, and again, I don't I think the hope credit was around 230 as well for this year or for next year for FY26 is what

014we heard. So really um in the budget we do continue to focus on steam. We plan to um continue to fund basin learning and the robotics program. The robotics program for FY26 will be 100% funded through the excess levy um due to the title cuts, the federal program cuts. All of the that title funding that you that that did come from elementary allocation for title one will now be funded through the excess levy. We will continue to fund I ready testing and curriculum mastery prep. This is the last year of the third grade success act initiatives. We have those additional aids. We have 23 additional aids in the budget this year for third grade and um primarily using uh step seven funds will continue to focus on teacher mentorship and leadership. Sheesh. Any questions? And

015the weave print out is simply a weeus rendition of everything we've just talked about, right? Yes, exactly. That that is what will actually be submitted to the state. We just summarized all of the funds and and the balances um the revenue and expenses for all of those. Any other questions, comments, thoughts? John Lesie, Lauren, Jordan, thank you. Work. Has there been any thought given to um I mean we've got children in students, children and their families here tonight that are part of Mercer County Schools. They come to school, they do their work, they participate in all these different programs, and then you know they're successful and we're here acknowledging them. But we're looking at at our enrollments going down. And in a conversation I recently had with someone else, it's home schools. It's private schools.

016It's it's things that that we don't that we can't control. And I understand that. And and I believe in my heart of hearts that every parent in here has the right to choose what they think is best place for their children. But at the same time, we've got opportunities here that may not be available to other places. Is has there been given any thought to a strategy or something we might do in the public to let people know that, hey, there's a lot going on here. I know that I just I just saw a pretty lengthy video for MCT and it was really good. showed every program we've got over here and and and excited by it. But dag on it, you know, how do we know that that a child with all the emphasis

017the state is putting on the K3 programs, how do how do we know that those kids are getting what they need? We don't because they're not held to the same standards that Ernie and all of his teachers are. So, what do we do? Don't everybody jump at once. So, I mean, that's that's just that's me venting more than anything else. I just I just it just bothers me that we're looking at 249 less students this coming school year. 250 kids that aren't going to be a part of Mer County Schools. I I will say that there is um one thing that we do not have in this current budget, but after speaking with u Miss Farmer, there's a very good process in place right now. But should a student not be enrolled in Mercer County,

018we there there was a um legislation passed this year that we are required to build those students if they receive hope credit. And if they do not receive hope credit, we we will have to come up with a strategy for FY26 of that. We did not take that into account for the budget, but the legislature did pass that. And I'm I met four students in the office earlier this year. They all were bragging that they're homeschooled and they're all here learning welding. They don't care about the the what the the homeschooling stuff. They want to learn to weld so they can go out and get a job. Those are situations that if you know, if they are not enrolled in Mercer County Schools by law, we will have to start billing them going forward. I'm

019off my soap box. Thanks. All right. Anything else on the budget? All right, then we're going to take a about 12 minute recess and we'll start back up at 5:30. So, Greg You got it. Just start speaking. He'll get him. Got you back here. I don't have a red light, green light, yellow light up here, so I can't do that. Folks, you got it. It's like a room full of third graders. If all of them are talking normal tone, it's still really loud. So, if everybody could uh uh quieten down so we can reward all our wonderful students cuz this is our favorite part of the the uh being board members. So, this is uh May the 27th, 2025 regular session of the Mer County Board of Education. All board members are present with the

020exception of Miss Smith who sent her regrets because she had a long planned vacation. uh she regrets missing this because she particularly likes these these things as well. So, what we're going to do is the board members are going to come down here. Now, parents, you want to get pictures, that's great. Just be try to be as organized as you can cuz we're crowded in here. Uh we want you to get as many pictures as you want. We're going to call them up by schools and groups. So, uh if board members will come down here, we'll get this thing rolling. Ready doctor. Thank you. Okay. As Mr. Prudish said, it's always our favorite part of every board meeting when you have an opportunity to recognize staff and students. And we do appreciate everyone in this

021room, uh, coaches and parents and families and kids. It's such an exciting opportunity and we're very proud of our robotics program. Uh, we do have the best robotics program in the state. We have the best equipment. We have the best uh, setup. We have the best coaches and leaders. And, uh, Mr. Prudich, he would never take claim of it, but he is uh, what our lead judge and does a really great job with that. And Brent, I think I do need batteries, so I'm starting to die up here. But we are going to start with certificates of achievement. These are VEX State Robotics Championship. The following students team students and teams from Mercer County Schools were being recognized for competing at the 2025 VEX State Robotics Championship at Fairmont State University in 2025. And again,

022Mr. Prudish said we're going to do this by school and we'll start with Spanishberg. Go ahead. All right, let's go ahead. Okay, we are going to start with our Spanishberg team and I am not going to read those big long team numbers but we have Clay Fields, Xavier Coffee, EMTT Logs, Richard Robertson, coach is Jesse Meyers and coach Lane Mills. This is our Spanishburg robotics team. That looks good. So, what do you like about robotics? I like robotics are having fun. You like building the camera? [Applause] Okay, next we are going to move to Melrose Elementary which has two teams and students are Duke Roberts, Winter Cecil, Addie Jones, Jesse Gallinger, coach is Rhonda Thomas and our second team is Jacqueline Sudd Colton B Jordan Lifey, Jonah Jackson, Brody Blankenship, and Rhonda Thomas is also

023the coach for that team as well. Those are our two Melrose teams. [Applause] Okay. Our next school will be Mercer uh school and we have three teams from Mercer. Our first team is Brantley Farmer, Jacob Selenus, Zamaria Singleton, and London Kenzen Vance, and their coaches, Donna Seismore. Our second team is Finley Workman, Jason Flanigan, Isaac Lindberry, Olivia Ball, and Sage Booten, and their coaches, Matt Bailey. And our third team is Leo Harmon, Jace Down, Ethan Wilbur, and Nolan Bailey. and their coach is also Matt Bay. Those are three Mercer teams. [Applause] I do want to point out something that I think is particularly cool about robotics. See a lot of young ladies in robotics which is wonderful. And I see quite a few all girls team which is pretty awesome because you know there's that

024old thing of girls been teaching guys do mathematics. Well you know girls favorite parting. What about building problem? [Applause] I apologize. Those were our first three Mercer teams. We have three more Mercer teams. Um the first team is Avery Bailey, Emma Graham, Everly Mitchell, and Aubrey Mitchum. and their coach is Scott Nestrom. The second team is Weston Richards, Alli Mlanahan, Bentley Goins, Jackson Mounts, and Bailey Spicer. And their coach is also Mr. Nestrom. And our third Mercer team is Jackson Dylan, Titus Hanley, Josiah Hurt, Scarlett Rickman, and Amy Yamamato, and their coaches Christy Croy. Those are our next three Mercer teams. [Applause] I don't know if it's true of this year, but last year we had more robotics than Mercer County than the state of Vermont had in the entire state. Just to show you

025how big this program is. other counties county board members get together period training and we counties are always smile big now. All right. What about you guys? What's your favorite part? Everything. What about Cody? Anybody like There's time to stop. [Applause] I'll also add to what Mr. Prudish said is um west the state of West Virginia had eight qualifying spots for the worlds and Mercer County had three of those eight. So I think that's very impressive. We're going to move to Straley which had two two teams. Uh the first team is Sha Walter Grayson for Straley. Oh, sorry. It's four teams, but the first two teams are Janiah Shoalter, Grayson Shoalter, Gavin Ule, uh Nate Scott, and the coach is Jamie Saroski. And the second team will recognize is Landon Bean, True Brown, London Herald,

026and Sawyer Healing. And the coach is Melanie Meechum. These are two first two Austral teams. Thank you. What about this? What do you like best? Did you like building them? Did you like them? Did you like Well, I have to ask this question. What did you like about working? Good job. Our next two teams from Straley is Colton Baker, Sawyer Smith, Amir Crawford, Keley Starer, Jamie Gibson, and Nolan Ule. And their coach is Jared Johnston. And the next team is Tyler Gibson, Lillian Vaughn, Kennedy Honeaker, Adeline Martin, and Mr. Johnson is also their coach. These are the next two teams for Australia. [Applause] What do you like the most? [Applause] Okay, we're going to now move to our two teams from Oakville. Elementary. We have Kendall Neely, Emily Swim, Bethany Bennett, Alana Snider, Josiah Blankenship,

027and their coach is Kendra Mullins. And our second team is Whan Slatten, Caspian Lusk, Noah Garcia, and Kaylee Snider, and their coach is Elizabeth Shaw. Those are our two Oakbell teams. [Applause] Look over here. Hey, Oakley. We're now going to move to our middle school teams starting with Pike View Middle School. The first team from Pike View Middle is Brody Evans, Luke Graham, Reagan Lester, Abby Nolan, and their coach is Daniel Hodes. And the second team is Max Atkins, Samuel Cury, Samuel Mayorga, and Shawn Teeman, and their coach is Heather Shrewsbury. Those are our two Pike View Middle School teams. [Applause] What do you guys like? That's after all the hard work been done. [Applause] Our next set of middle school teams are from Princeton Middle. We have four teams from Princeton Middle. Bring up

028the first two. Princeton Middle. Uh first team is Brody Taylor, Dawson Peterson, Xavon Dodson, and the coaches Lake and Lucas. And the next team is Reed Mitchell, Augustus Frink, Jonathan Morgan, and Dylan Donathan. And their coach is Barbara Mills. First two teams from Princeton [Applause] Middle. All right. What's your favorite part of the robot? [Music] You do have to build the robot, right? That's the hard work. Our next Princeton Middle School teams are Grayson Coleman, Declan Hanley, Jackson Justice, and Wade Stanley. And their coach is Stephanie Hanley. And then our next team from Princeton Middle is Axel Jennings, Samantha Carpenter, Levi Barlo, and their coach to Barbara Mills. Those are next two teams from Princeton Middle. [Applause] All right, we are now going to move to our two teams from Glenwood. We have Jordan Stafford,

029Ya Afra Burka, Jackson Noble, Elijah May, uh coach is Sarah Anne Faulner, and our second team is Tanner Shaw, and these are the and Ya Akoma Burka, Elijah Shrader, Owen Riggs, James Roland, and their coaches, Eric Pascowski. Those are two Glenwood teams. Is this your first year? What about you? Good job. [Applause] We're now going to move to Blfield Middle School. We have two teams for Blfield Middle School. Tyler Bramfield, Maggie Valerial, Gavin Wagner, and the coach is Sher Bradley. And our second team is Sudter, Gerald, Braden Nun, Jude Lily, and their coaches Christina Clark. Those are our two Bluefield Middle School teams. [Applause] I love this t-shirt. What's your favorite part about this? The journals are really important. They matter. In fact, I haven't judged them. I do remember [Applause] Our last robotics uh

030team that we're going to recognize before we move on to the worlds is Montcom High School's team with Allan Austin, Charlie Wyatt, Drew Kirk, Dalton Neil, Michaela Locha, and the coach is Tabitha Austin. [Applause] [Music] John, how many of you look like a lot? Anybody thinking a career is now? All right. Okay. Well, now we're going to move to certificates of achievement for students attending the World Robotics Championship. The following students and teams from Mercer County schools are being recognized for qualifying and competing in the 2025 VEX World Robotics Championship in Dallas, Texas on May the 6th through the 14th, 2025. And we will start with our qualifying team from Mercer. We have Leo Harmon, Jace Down, Ethan Wilbur, Nolan Bailey, and Coach Matt Bailey. [Applause] going to Dallas meet people from all over the

031Well, I don't blame you. I don't want people to drive. People don't like your proud. [Applause] Our next qualifying team for world the world robotics championship is from Staley, Landon Beaman, True Brown, London Herald, Sawier Hill Healing, and coach Melanie Meechum. Nothing wrong with that. Long pretty young probably. So, did you have a good time in government? Did you enjoy the experience of being around people? Did you meet anybody from China? Anybody from Europe? here. You hear a lot of different languages. [Applause] And our third qualifying team for the World's Robotics Championship is from Montcom High School. Alan Austin, Charlie Wyatt, Drew Kirk, Belton Neil, Michaela Locha, and coach Tabitha Austin. [Applause] The hell was that? You got to show them what you cut probably [Music] understand. Okay, we are now going to move to

032certificates of achievement for state science fair first place winners. The following students were first place winners at the state science fair held at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center in Charleston, West Virginia on March the 10th, 2025. And we are going to start with Maline Browning and Hadley Smith and they are from Glenwood School and their project title is Sweet Statistics. [Applause] Tell us a little bit about everybody. What did you do? And color appears most frequently in the everybody knows there are more than any other. Congratulations. [Applause] out there. You are with a lot of projects that have gone through a lot a lot of work and a lot of effort and proud. Our next our next first place winner at the state science fair is Zoe Brown from Mountain Valley Elementary School and

033her project title is the shape of sound. I got to tell you something. And all the [Applause] way to sound waves can make us more. This is by making the sound visible by using a listening vibration in order to make it happen by using sound in order to see it be able to interact more. You can also find different colors also. [Applause] Our next first place winners at the state science fair are Molly Steel, Trey Hagermanerman, and Allayia Lamey from Montcom High School. And their project title is which blade design produces the most energy? That's project windmill. engineer maybe. We are now going to move to certificate of achievement state social studies fair first place winner have Zoe Brown a fifth grade student at Mountain Valley Elementary School won first place at the state social

034studies fair in the Charleston Coliseum Convention Center in Charleston West Virginia on April the 11th 2025 for a project titled the Phantom of Flatwoods. [Applause] So this is about the plat monster. Is that right? That's interesting. When I was young, I really got into tell everybody just a little bit. So medicine is the first ever because of common science in the end. This happened for about many [Music] different influence during I know a few people and myself also based off [Applause] Our next certificate of achievement is for the Western Union NASA Space Camp. Madison Think Miller, a ninth grade student at Princeton Senior High School, has been accepted to the Western Union NASA Space Camp program with a focus this year on rocketry. Madison will be introduced to NASA missions from NASA engineers and scientists.

035learn to design, build, and launch a range of model rockets and so much more. [Applause] When you come back, we'd like to come [Applause] to Our next certificate of achievement for outstanding industry educator award. Danielle Farmer is principal of the Mercer County Techno Education Center. Was presented with the outstanding industry educator award in recognition of her work since 2022 to bring explore programmings to Mercer County middle and high school students. Mrs. Palmer is a critical asset to the new river region and an essential part of their outreach e efforts. [Applause] We're very proud of our offers and what how it's growing out of building. We need more money. Get there early. She's a hard worker and she really deserves this. We're really proud of it. Yep. That concludes our board recognizes. Now he's going to

036the bathroom. If I'd had him in my classroom, he he's been after he'd been staying after class a few times. Yeah. Yes, I'm I just completely fluffed that one. Completely fluff that one. Good job. Hi, Jeffrey. I can put that in the hallway. I pulled at 6:00. I did it all. Now he's going back and demon stack. The breaks the breaks. Got to take advantage of it. All right, we back in. Okay, we're back from our brief brief recess uh uh of our May 27, 2025 regular meeting. Uh, let's do the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Next matter on the agenda is the superintendent's opening remarks.

037Yes, President Purich and members of the board. I just on your uh desk, I did put the Mercer County mission statement and the Mercer County Board of Education goals there. I got it kind of stapled down so it'll be there if you ever need to look over at that. I seen that uh somewhere and I thought that's a good idea if you ever need to look at that and something we'll just keep it right there for you if you ever need it for guidance or reference there. I think something there with the state watching us also sometimes throughout all 55 counties. I thought you have them right there if you ever need to quote those. They're right there in front of you. So, I wanted to share that with you. Also, all high school graduations

038are this Friday uh on the 30th. The second annual uh Mer County Central office end of the year picnic is Thursday, June 5th at 4:30 at Glenwood Park, I believe number seven. Uh the last instructional day for students is Tuesday, June 10th. The WBASA summer conference is June 17th through the 19th at Stonewall Jackson Resort. Also, we have uh invited to the Jason National Conference. Again, that's July 1st and second in Leburg. And uh with that contract that we'll bring to you in the coming days, there's five spots for that that they uh before we sent some more, but we're looking to keep that uh a little lower this year. And also you have an update from Timberwood on Timberwood Elementary School by Mr. Atkins if any questions that he wants to give you. They

039had a meeting there today about the furniture and uh went over some of those things there. But anything else on that Mr. Atkins looking for the microphone and this Dr. Bowling has it. There you go. Thank you. No, basically the only thing I have to add is if uh you want to see before it all gets buttoned up, it's it's time. So, we're getting really close. ZM DCI, they're really working hard to we're going through punch lists and things at this point in time. So, uh like you said, we're furniture is ordered. We're waiting on technology. Uh it's it's it's coming to coming to a close. So, if you want to see it before it's all said and done, now's the time. Do you have any anticipated delivery time for the furniture? Um it depends

040on when we actually So, the furniture is on the agenda tonight. However, we did not get to actually see the the furniture samples and final layouts until today. So, we are asking you to approve that contingent upon the changes that were made today. The cost will go down, if anything, not up. Um, so the furniture is to be ordered this week, we hope. So, will we approval? Can they guarantee we'll have it so we can open school before school starts? They assure us that we can. They're working directly with the manufacturers and seeing them assures us that they can. Good job. I believe after that, correct, Mrs. Wilman. Once we get the furniture figured out, then we'll start looking at a ribbon cutting date. They're they're talking about that and trying to get some things

041finalized. Once we get those things, we'll we'll start working on those that date for you all. What's substantial completion now? What are they saying? So stro completion hasn't moved. It's uh 17th I think of June. Okay. So they're still thinking then obviously there's always punch list but they'll they'll they should be handing over to us around that time. Yeah. Zian, they've already done four of their punch list. They did their above ceiling plumbing last week. We're going through punch list. They're kind of getting things at this point in time. Their inspections, not their punch list. And so you know they're they're going through it. There's not been a whole lot so far. So things up and and I will add that the last meeting we went to Mark Miller from SBA came down again and

042he said I just really want to want to everybody who's been involved with this from ZM to SWO or SW excuse me DCI M county schools everybody's done a great job and he said this is one of the best smoothest builds he's ever seen and and Jean Bowers who's who's overseen a lot of school builds for us he said Tom this is probably going to be the best school that you have in M County he said this is a wellbuilt school. All right. Good to know. Good to know. Has the U slip issue back the wall a resolution in the back building? Yes. We Well, we actually you asked me that we did the back with rip wrap. Yeah. Um it looks great. Not moved, no water. There was an additional one where they had

043the spoil road that came to fruition and before it got any worse, we wanted to address it. So, we we went ahead and had them put in some rip wrap there. We do have a we have a little wet a little wet corner back in the spot that Mr. Shers pointed out the other day. He doesn't feel it's a point where it's it's not steep enough that's going to slip. So, he just said it'll probably just be a soggy area. But yeah, all all of those have been have been addressed. Thank you, Mr. Thank you, sir. And those updates I said you can't help but smile when you shoot those out on a Friday or Monday morning. It's just how much change every week is amazing. So, thank you. ready for next. So with other

044uh it for you on your Yes, sir. That's all my remarks and citizens input and then we'll we have no citizens input that I'm aware of. So we're at policy 2322 updates. Dr. Atkins. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Just have one thing uh to share this evening. We will have our third grade success act summer learning academy again this summer for students in grades K through three and that will be the first two weeks of July July 7th through 11 and 14 through 18. There will be same as last summer. We'll have a regional site at Princeton Primary School and a regional site at Bluefield Primary School. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. We'll have regional bus stops and this again is for qualifying students under the third grade success act um

045guidelines but very very similar to last year was very successful last year and we're going to be offering it again this year in those areas. You didn't bring this up but I do want to ask will there be a comparison of the I Ready with the summitive tests? Yes, we can going into next year. We can do that. Last year we had over 100% uh predictability on that, but we we will definitely we'll get that from my ready actually after after all the data is public and that type of thing. Okay. But internally it's last year it was even greater than um 100% correlated. Okay. Mr. Mitchell, you had an update you said for on cell phone policy. I believe I can and I want to mention too that um through the mastery prep we

046are offering this summer two boot camps. Um they that proved to be very beneficial to our kids that did it this year. Test scores have come up there. You know not anything real real large gaps that we had but but we did come up. We had about 20 points for each of the schools in their English and language arts and two of the schools in math. Um we've got a lot more promise scholarship um recipients eligible this time than we have had. Um Ashley's done a good job keeping up with all the data and um updating it as it goes. And then the other thing was the cell phone policy and we hope to bring to the June meeting um the first reading of what changes we have looked at as a committee for you

047all to look at. What I will say is that in meeting six times within this school year, we have basically found that the policy we have right now is a good policy. It's just not enforced. And in doing surveys, we've done two. Uh the first survey, the majority of the people that responded were uh staff in Mercer County. 97% agree there's a problem. We need to do something. But 0% of the staff feel like they're responsible for what's happening with the cell phones. They don't feel like they have the backing they need um when they try to take a a cell phone away. And when they said that, they said, "It's not that our principles don't support us. It's they're busy with so many other things. We don't have one person to just go to

048when it comes to the cell phone." So, those are some little things that we want to put in there that we start having um maybe some in the high school level some people that would be in charge of whatever policy we're going to follow that they'll update that and monitor it to make sure we're enforcing it. Um we just finished another survey today. It closed today. I haven't looked at it closely. Amy's been working on the results, but the results this time seem to be coming more from students. Students do not think we have a problem with cell phones. They think it's fine that we have them. However, they agree that we need some kind of a system for punishment that we have some kind of tiered progression and that it is followed at all

049the schools um so that everybody's doing the same thing. Um high school or middle school and elementary schools are what what we're doing there is good. I mean in middle school they don't have the phones on them. They're in their locker. In elementary school they don't have them on. They're either in book bags or they're in little cubbies. Um, so they've not had them out. So we're going to bring to you what changes that we're recommending, but it for the most part what we have everybody has agreed is a good is a good policy. Comparing it with other places out of state. The only thing that heirs lacks would be that the clause that no one will have a cell phone and that we collect them at the beginning of the day. and teachers are

050very reluctant to that because they're saying it's going to take instructional time to give them out, instructional time to get them back. So, those are the things that we've talked about, but we will have um in more detail for you in June. So, you can look at it. Um I will say that everybody agrees that the only way these things work is if you bring the community in and have meetings and explain and and let the parents understand why we're enforcing a rule more than just this is what it is and hand it to them. So, Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else uh have any update on 2322? Anybody else? We're all good. All right. That's it. Present footage. All righty. And we'll get into our agenda. Approval of minutes of the May 12, 2025

051a.m. meeting and May 12, 2025 PM meeting. Is there a motion to approve? So move. Is there a second? Second. It's a motion and a second. Questions, comments, or discussion? Then on the motion, all in favor signify by saying I. I oppose. Likewise. That motion carries. Four in favor and none opposed. Under all business, we will start with board memo number 345, which is additional cost for orange frog, the happiness advantage certific certification. Uh we got a a a good explanation last meeting about what orange frog is and how it works. uh the initiative and the focusing on positivity and resilient organizational culture. There are additional costs associated with it for the training kits and for the certification coaching staff. Uh the training will be delivered in sessions of 16 to 24 participants at a

052time. The 70 kits will be used to extended period to facilitate training across multiple employee groups and it will start in central office. Funding comes from county funds. Uh the superintendent recommends approval of the proposed purchase of the 70 training kits and the associated travel costs for the orange frog staff and the and the total amount of 19,95 to support completion of this program. Is there a motion to approve? President approved each one possible amendment step seven that could be funded from instead of county funds too if uh if the if uh so if you all approve that that's not a problem. So step seven. Okay. All right. Step seven. Then was that a motion to approve? Move we approve. Okay. Is there a second? Second. Motion and a second. Any further discussion? Yes, sir.

053Am I correct? Wasn't that a 100 kits last night? Yeah, the last one we saw was 100 kits and $25,000. We're down. Okay. And this is in addition to what we already approved for the the the frogettes to go to wherever they went to frogs. So was a to what was the total what was the total overall expense for the whole thing and how come we didn't know that on the front end? So that the initial cost was about so the initial cost was about $14,000 um for the travel and expenses registration and and the kits. Um I there was some negotiation on the the the number of kits that we would have to purchase and that was brought down to 70. Um I I don't think I know I was not aware of the

054entire cost of this or I would have brought it initially. Absolutely. Um so this is I I can add too. So we looked at 100 kits and 100 people supplying those kits. We don't need all that Mr. Bailey starting out for one year, two years or possibly three. So talking with the four um incredible ladies that came back at the end of uh at the beginning of May excited and what they've already transformed some things at our office just in in that little bit of a time. Um, if we did 24 training this year, maybe 24 next, and what difference that makes in a in a three-year process or two or whatever, that just does a heck of a improvement to uh to the system. I've seen some change so far. I think if you

055ask any of the people involved, I know Mrs. Huddle, Miss Huddle's not here, and uh Miss uh Angel's left also, but uh Dr. Phil Pecex here and uh that's it, right? So, got there's four of them. Huh? No. So, I think anything we could add, we did a presentation the last meeting and again the pleasure. I think if you look at our goals, your all's goals, I think if anything we could do to make improvement, I see the improvement that happened there. I think I trust uh our leadership and support this I think would be huge. Other questions, comments, thoughts? No. Then on the motion, all in favor signify by saying I. I oppose. Likewise. Yes. Thank you. That motion carries. Four in favor. None opposed or three in favor. I didn't hear everybody. I

056said I. Oh, okay. I couldn't I couldn't tell. I just want to make sure. All right. So, now that we got the consent agenda, not a bad guy. Board memo number 367 is bid number 960. Diesel fuel, gasoline, and heating oil renewal number one. Uh, this renewal pricing was requested from RT Rogers and World Fuel Services. There was no increase from either vendor. Fuel expense for 2324 was $899,03. Student recommends approval of bid number 960, diesel fuel, gas, gasoline, and heating oil to RT Rogers and water fuel services. This is paid for with general funds. Board memo number 368 is placement of a student from Marshall University. Marshall University is requesting to place a student to complete 15 hours of field experience for CISP 422 differentiated instruction. She will be placed at Sun Valley Elementary

057School. Placements as always are contingent upon the appropriate forms being completed acceptable background check and a university naming a site supervisor. Superintendent recommends approval. Board memo number 369 is proximity learning proximity learning for summer school instruction. This is through the SCESC. Uh there's a package for summer school instruction for 25 that includes a teacher for each of the core subjects of English language arts, math, science, and social studies. Students in grades 9 to 12 can be enrolled and have no limit in the number of students enrolled in each subject area. Uh students use summer school instruction for failed courses or for original course credit. Proximity is willing to work with us on the specifics for middle school if needs arise. Live instructions provided for 30 minutes 5 days a week. Uh the uh cost is

058198 per credit scheduled. Uh that's what parents or guardians will be charged. If financial need is presented, then the cost is reduced to $99. Last summer, we had 37 students grades 7 through 12, and 31 of those obtained credits in their courses. Uh, summer school 2025 will be funded through excess levy funds. The SEC's administrative fee of 3% and payment for any student has demonstrated financial need. Superintendent recommend approval. Do you need a brief uh Yes, sir. We'll take a very brief recess. We're back out of recess. A a board member had to excuse themselves from the meeting. We still maintain a quorum. So, we're going to proceed forward. Board amendment number 370 is bid number 972, walk-in freezer, Princeton High School. Uh this is to obtain competitive bids for a tear down of old

059and installation of new outdoor walk-in freezer at Princeton High School. Uh two local newspaper were advertised with bids. We received bids from two competitors. Uh the superintendent recommends bid number 972 to Douglas Equipment of Bluefield, West Virginia for 50,45850. Funding is approved from the state revenue match grant to child nutrition. Or amendment number 371 is an auction of surplus textbooks. We have surplus textbooks and superintendent has declared them surplus, recommends they be declared surplus and offered for sale through govdills.com. Uh superintendent recommends approval to offer these obsolete and surplus items for sale. Board memo number 372 is view sonic interactive displays for Timberwood Elementary. Uh, in compliance with our policy, the director of trans technology is seeking authorization to purchase 21 View Sonic interactive displays with Wi-Fi modules for Timberwood Elementary. The total cost is

060$48,222. Superintendent recommends approval of the purchase of 21 Vusic interactive displays for Timberwood in the amount of $48,222. This will be funded through the 21st Century Technology Grant. Board memo memo number 373 is roofing and system repairs or roofing system and repairs at roofwood high school. Uh we requested pricing from Tekka America Carolas under the cooperative contract to repair 9700 square ft of the roof and installing a fully adhered 60 mil tpo roofing system to Bluefield High School's auditorium. A 20-year warranty is included. The price is 204,57222 which includes bonds. Uh there's an additional quote regarding 340 linear feet of existing metal edge metal and install new fascia gravel stop edge metal and clear metal to deter wind damage. The price for that is $30,48. Uh this is being done directly with the vendor without

061competitive bidding as they are a legitimate government purchasing cooperative. Superintendent recommends approval of the installation of the roofing system for Bluefield High School Auditorium in the amount of 205,57222 and repair of the fascia for 30,048 to Tecta America Carolas. Excess levy funds are being used for this project. Board amendment number 374 is RFP 334 standardsbased online assessment program renewal one, excuse me, renewal one pricing uh for RFP 334 with standardsbased online assessment program was requested from curriculum associates. The renewal pricing for fiscal year 2526 is $39,4885% which is an increase of approximately $12,57. Superintendent recommends approval of RFP 336 standardsbased online assessment program renewal 1 to curriculum associates in the amount of 309,48805. This is a blending blended funding situation where title one early literacy third grade skills act and local funds are used to

062pay for it. RFP number 375 is a request to secure an agent of record for workers comp. The successful agent contracts with an insurance agency to act as agent of record for purposes of processing our workers comp claims. Uh RFP was sent to four vendors and advertised in the telegraph. We received three responses. The evaluating committee sat down and reviewed the responses and concluded that USI was the highest ranked the selection committee with an overall ranking of 98. Superintendent recommends the award to be made to USI Insurance Services of Charleston, West Virginia as our agent of record. Board memo number 376 is Timberwood Elementary Furniture that we were discussing a little bit earlier. This is cooperative pricing. Um it is through Capital Business Interiors in Charleston, West Virginia. This includes delivery and setup in the

063specified rooms. Uh furniture type and brands were not available at the time. Uh however, the total is $757,52012. Once again, this is done without a competitive bid because this is a legitimate purchasing cooperative. Superintendent recommends purchase of furniture from Capital Business in the amount of $757,52012. Board memo number 377 is the payment of invoices for the month of May. These are the amounts that have actually been written and are being held in the Treasury Office until consideration by the school board. Checks will be issued to the vendors upon schoolboard approval. uh you have had for review an opportunity to look at the list of vendors and amounts. Superintendent recommends approval. Board memo number 378 which is the last item on the consent agenda is the PECAR transactions for your approval. The superintendent recommends approval. Is

064there a motion to approve the consent agenda? So move. Second. Motion and a second. Questions, comments, or discussion? Yes, sir. Um, number three 370 walk-in freezer. Sorry. Walk in freezer. Hey, Lesie. Tom, same product. Why is there a $32,000 difference? I mean, they both met the spec, same thing. Yes, we provided the same specifications. There was nothing major of no to us, but yes, we we've already put in the concrete pad. We're expanding it a little bit and um Wow. No, no explanation. It has that walk-in freezer been replaced before or is this clearly this in the original that was put in when the building was built? Is it? I don't know. It hasn't been replaced since I've been here. I've been here 15 years, so it's been the same one since then. But I

065don't know if it was when the addition when that annex was built. I'm not sure. We get our use out of these things. That's for sure. Yes, we do. Yes, we do. And and again, we learned we're going to put the unit, the condensing unit on the ground instead of on the roof. That's what's been the problem is on that one. It's caused the roof to sag and leak. So, we're going to put that. So, will the old one not be usable anymore? No. No. We It's been shut down for a long time. Actually, a lot of their food has been stored at Princeton Primary and they've been having to go back and forth this year getting it. I have a couple questions. I had it written down on paper. I'm going from memory. If

066you don't know this, don't worry about it. I'm just curious. I saw one of the invoices. I kind of skim them and I saw one for yoga and meditation. You remember what that was about? I believe that was a grant. Um, Miss Alof worked with WV WVU, I know she's back here. Um, and we we had um a healthy WVU and the CDC had a healthy schools grant. And so the schools were granted $3,000 for health and wellness and and they were approved budgets. We're working with WVU on those. And um Angela Watkins is our rep on that. Anything else? So like some teacher did that in her class or it was for teachers and staff as well as students. So you you know most of the schools gave a little to I bet Trump

067would approve that this time. Okay. And something else about Warm Water. I forget the rest of that. I thought Warm Water is the company that we rent the AB from. The Warmwater Investments is the name of the company we rent that building from. Oh, okay. But some of some of those it was healthy and it's mental health and wellness and um schools. Some of the schools had run clubs and different things. They've all done different things with these grants. That's all right. Is there anything else? Anybody else? 374 standardsbased online assessment program. This tells me they want another $300 and some thousand. Can somebody explain to me that? That's I Ready. That's annual I Ready cost for grades K through eight. And no, it doesn't. And we did the same thing last year that uh

068it's a big long name and we need to add already in there. But it is a required screener. Actually, we cannot put Ready because we cannot bid a specific product. So that is the assessment program and I'm ready. Next time this put on there, Jim, you'll remember what this is. We will do that. But I do want to know. I doubt it. I doubt it. with the third grade success act. Um that budget pays about half. So we we dedicate almost 100% of that allocation to that assessment. That's that's required by law for K3. Yes, sir. Yeah, we don't have an option. We don't. Okay. Okay. 376. Um, I understand why it says this may be the cooperative or whatever it is, but was there no reason to look at see what else was available

069and possibly save some money? I mean, 3/4 of a million dollars and I understand that it's all it's like Prago. It's in there, but is there no reason to look at other products? It would it would have been this is the responsibility of the architect and I did request additional funding but or additional quotes and it was too late. Um I actually started working on this in October. I requested the first meeting in October by email and we're just getting it done and they are aware of my disappointment in in the process. Good girl. I mean, okay, that was I I was just surprised that you don't want to get that phone call from last week. Yeah. Okay. I knew you were on top of it, but it just it just kind of surprised me

070that we're going to spend almost a million dollars and we didn't have some something else to compare it to. Yes. Okay. Thank you. That's all I've got, sir. Okay. I think in theory the idea is co these cooperatives we get a better price. That's the idea. But we don't really know until we go out and look. And again you you asked back in October and it's now May by my watch. So it's it is a complicated process and I do not want to minimize that to get the right furniture in the right spaces with the right measurements that meet all the prek laws all the way up to you know the needs and special ed and different things. It is a process but um we we are disappointed and and everyone including the SBA is

071aware of that. Good. Okay. Okay. Wasn't fussing at you. I know better. Anything else from anybody else? All right. Then on the motion on the consent agenda, all in favor signify by saying I I oppose. Likewise. That motion carries. Four in favor and none opposed. Three in favor. I'm sorry. Thank you for correcting me. Three in favor and none oppose. I can't count anymore. All right. 379. Next action item on the agenda is board amendment number 379 which is appointment of a treasure and attendance director. Superintendent re recommending appointment of Leslie Wellman as treasurer and Russell Lipincot as attendance director for the fiscal year 2526. Uh superintendent recommends approval. Is her motion to approve? Move approve a second. Okay, there's a motion and a second. Any discussion on the motion? You want this job? Look

072at 15 years now. 15 years. That's why I always say if you can get them past 10 years, they're kind of stuck, you know. Gotcha. There's nothing else then on the motion. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Likewise. That motion carries. Three in favor and none opposed. Board a memo number 380 is appointment of an audit committee which is required by law. Uh the procedures manual for procuring and conducting audits and reviews. Uh we're required to appoint this committee to serve a two-year term. One member of the committee shall be appointed by the entity body to serve as a primary contact person in the audit procurement process. At least three members uh of a committee must exist, no more than five. Superintendent recommends appointment of Lesie Wellman to senda Santon Smith and

073Lauren Crook as the committee for the 2627 fiscal year or for the period of 2627. Is there a motion to approve? So move. Is there a second? There's a motion and a second. Questions, comments, or discussion? And on the motion, all in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed? Likewise. That motion carries. Three in favor and none opposed. All right. Board amendment number 381 is the 2526 proposed budget which we went over in the budget hearing. The budget has been included for the general current expense fund, special levy fund, permanent improvement fund, capital project fund, and special revenue fund. Salary schedules remain unchanged from the 25 fiscal year. Superintendent recommends approval of the 2526 budget. Is there a motion to approve? So moved. Sec. There's a motion and a second. Questions, comments, or discussion. Then

074on the motion, all in favor signify by saying I. I. Post likewise. Motion carries. Three in favor and none opposed. Thank you so much for all the hard work you do because I know that's a beast and I particularly appreciate the fact that you kept it simple for those of us that are not accountants. Um it's understandable and readable and and that makes a lot of difference. Even after you've seen them year after year, they're still It's still a beast. Still a beast. Thank you. Board memo number 382 is the Mitchell Statement Stadium youth usage agreement. I'm choking on this one. Um you ought to. The term of this agreement is for a 5-year period from July 125 to June 30, 2030 for the use of Mitchell Stadium by the board for preseason and regular

075season games and practices. The board shall pay an annual fee 62,400 for 25 and a 2% increase thereafter payable on or before the first day of August each year. Also in the lang also included is language that says this contract is subject to the availability of funds. Should board not have sufficient funding available to performance obligations under this agreement board may terminate this agreement within 60 days notice to the city. and President Py check comment. We checked with legal uh advice through uh Jason Long with Dinsborn and Scholes and that was recommendation he asked that we put on that contract. So, we'll prove that. If you all approve that, then we'll take it back to the city and uh propose that to them. I think it it has to be in there. I don't think

076it should be in there. I think it has to be. Well, gotcha. Okay, let's get it on the floor and then we can discuss it. Is there a motion to approve? I reluctantly move we approve. Is there a second? And I reluctantly second it. Okay. So, let's go to page two, number 2B. This one's always bugged me. The city will determine the practice schedule for Bluefield High School. And it doesn't seem like we actually get much in terms of I mean, I know they have a place that they practice, but do we not have trouble at times with this issue? Yeah. Well, and I I saw this and heard about it a couple weeks ago when it when it broke the news Facebook and started sir on Facebook. Uh may have been I don't know.

077But um the reason that they have to be consulted is you're you've got Bluefield State and Bluefield College using it for practice every day and then they've got games on Saturdays. All Bluefield High School has asked for is one day week Wednesdays when there's a home game to be allowed to practice there. You used to have to share half the field with Graham. Now you don't have to. So they can that's that's what their issue is. But when it broke on the news, there was there were comments that were made about uh the cost of keeping the stadium up. There was cost for the new lighting and the new new sound system and everything, the big screen and all that. And I could be wrong, but I thought that it was done with the uh

078with grant money stuff they got from and I don't know, they could have gotten it from shots and whatnot, but you're an accountant obviously. Do you include depreciation in some in in cost of you know an annual expense cost to run a place or is that does that reduce if you're a wise planner you start planning immediately to replace something okay just because replace the replace the rugs about half a million dollars and it's got it in normal use we were told cuz I was on the city board when they first put it in there and they told us 12 years. I was going to say 10. We we got about 10 here on one here. So, um but you've got two universities using it three or four hours every day and you've got a

079high school that's using it two hours, two and a half hours on a Friday night. You've got a middle school that uses it on a Monday. So, there's just no way. But when they came out and made this big hoopla about the new contract, they just threw a bunch of stuff out there. They didn't give Mercer County schools, Tazwell County schools the opportunity to discuss it. My question to you, can we sign a five-year commitment? So, I I I had that exact same question and um we have an option. Typically all our contracts we have vendors sign a WB96 and it's a lot of different and that was my suggestion is since this clause wasn't here I want to use that. We did consult our attorney and he said in this case if we add

080this language he thinks it satisfies that and that we yeah we weren't consulted about the details of the contract or anything like that but all all we can say is we can sign this contract as long as we can cancel it and we do have the excess levy for another five years. Yep. That's hundred grand. I was told, don't know how whether it's true or not, that Tasel County is going to sign a three-year contract, but they're going to pay $100,000. That could be wrong. I don't know. That's just one of the rumors that I heard. Well, they're building their own facility. They're going to be out of there completely soon. Well, they better find 20 million bucks laying around on the My concern is this is slowly creeping towards six figures. Yeah. That's my

081concern. And and the reality of it is and I'm not picking on any of our local facilities. One of these organizations that wants to use this hasn't used it very long and they're in Virginia and the Beavers have been playing in Mitchell Stadium my entire life and the city should take that into consideration and make the city out of state university pay a little more and let the county pay a little less. That's my view. They should also be a little more accommodating when it comes to practice. Once again, Bluefield University is a Virginia University. They don't pay taxes in West Virginia. Uh we all do and all the kids that use the facility and their parents do. They need to think about those kind of things when they do this. Um should be more

082accommodating to Bluefield. Bluefield's built that stadium. Uh it w it won the stadium, high school stadium of the year because of all the people in Bluefield, not Bluefield University. Uh so I've said my piece, we're kind of stuck because we don't have an alternative and that's part of the problem here. Um well, another thing that's on here though is we're we're also pre as a part of the agreement is soccer, baseball, track and field. We don't we don't do any of that at that facility. Neither does the middle school because I contact them to find out. Um and the press box, I know that's kind of chancy. Yeah. But um we're supposed to we're renting the place, but we're supposed to keep part of the press box available for city board members and guests. And

083guests. That's correct. Well, you know, you know, it's kind of hypocritical. When I was on the city board, I sat there and it was nice, especially when we beat we're in 2004, but um there's just there's just I guess the biggest thing is why didn't they call Ed and call Chris and say, "Guys, come and let's sit down and talk about this. Show us. We're going to lay we're going to be totally transparent. Here's what our expenses are to run it. Here's what it cost is now. Some of it's a moving target like the the labor rates and things like that. You got to have a lot of people for Beaver Graham game. After that, you don't need as many people. And Blue High School only has three home games this year. We got seven

084next year, but this year we've got three. So, we're paying 20ome,000 bucks a month. And that's that's kind of tough. You know, we we revenue share with Graham, we revenue share with Princeton, and we revenue share with Pike View. So, we're just hoping that 12,000 people show up for the Beaver Graham game this year because we're going to need it because we're the only money-making sport at the school right now. Everybody else is losing. Well, and again with respect to our universities, I suspect, in fact, I know that the crowds that come to the Beaver Games far exceed the crowds for either of those. They do. And what are they paying? That should be public record. I think they're paying 8786 or $87,000. It's again it's it's a u but they've got five or six

085day a week use. It's also a supply demand. They have their spring ball. They have all they have a lot more usage than than high school by usage then we're paying more than they are significantly more than they are. That's correct. Again uh they need to keep in mind that Bluefield citizens are the taxpayers. um doesn't matter and utilize the facility, but it's, you know, it's a captive thing. You know, one of these days somebody's gonna hit the lottery and build a new Mitchell Stadium somewhere and say goodbye, you know. Okay. So, all right. Do you like all the terms in it? I've gone through them. I don't love the uh city will supply the a sufficient number of police officers to work the pregame game and postgame. That'd be great if they didn't all

086stand together in one spot. they need to be spread out to out the stadium. Um, you know, that's just a comment. Uh, don't have to love it, but it's what I observe. Um, the soul discretion thing bugs me. And then a border risk is up to a million now or just half a million. We provide a million when we when we're asked for a certificate of insurance. I know for them, but the border the board of risk goes to a million. Yes, we do that with anyone now standard. We require that from our contractors, too. And it's fine. I just wanted to make sure because I I somewhere in the back of my mind, I thought half a million was the most the border risk would do, but I guess that's changed and as time

087has gone on. Okay. So, let's see if there's anything else. That's all I had. When you're captive, that's what happens. You got to pay the freight. All right. So, we've got a reluctant motion and a reluctant second. All in favor reluctantly vote. I oppose. Likewise. Motion carries. Three in favor and none opposed. I mean, I get they have costs, but it'd be nice if there was a little transparency between the two of us and we had a little more in the past this year, a little more communication about what's going on and why it's so expensive. Um, board memo number 383 is the first reading of policy J10, attendance policy. No actions required at this time. So, I'll turn it over to superintendent. Yes, President Putin. And u any information you need? We're thankful to

088have our new uh reappointed attendance director, Mr. Lipot. So, thank you, Russell. Any anything you want to add from the changes from last year? And thank you for being here, sir. Sure. Um, only thing I would say is obviously this policyy's to make sure we're in compliance with state policy 4110 that they recently uh wrote. There are some significant changes uh some of them including quarter day absences which will be starting to take into effect next school year. Currently, from my understanding, no state legislation is challenging that as whether or not we can legally do that as a state uh from a department of education standpoint. Uh JC's law has been implemented which is part of appendix A which helps support our pregnant and parenting teams. uh our SOS plan is now required which is

089our system of support but has to be a plan developed by each school to effectively help address absenteeism chronic truency through the multi-tered system of support which is also the plan adopted by the state which involves universal pre prevention targeted intervention and our intense intervention which is the whole campaign awareness that the state's coming out with to help effectively address our chronic absence living issues. And the one thing that we've added that we would kind of like additional input is the exam exemption. That's the only thing we didn't include in speaking with a lot of our secondary schools on page 15 of the attendance policy. We did include an exam exemption for those because they've been requesting it. Um, and it does kind of fall in line with our chronic absence and what we're trying

090to get accomplished there and reward system. We've spoke to several principles and included recently that some of their AV honor role students have 15 16 days of absence. Doesn't mean that they're unexcused, which you know, legally is the only thing that I can address. That's from a chronic standpoint. You know, they surveyed some of those kids and they said yes, if there was an exam exemption policy in place that they would have not missed as many days of school. So, we did include that. Of course, we're out asking for input on that after the first reading. But um other than that, that's up to up to date with the 4110 and the implementation of this. Russ, where I like that we Rosemary and I and different ones had been talking about it for a long

091time to try and get the good kids to stay in school for no other reason than don't have to take exams. One conversation that one of the principles said was what about we have in 9th 10th 11th 12th one for each we have a a core class for each they take one is that included no that's not included that's what I was saying like I would love the additional input I think we can add that if it's if it's required one per grade level just we mention which which one is actually required per grade level and say you're exempt other than what's mandatory for that grade level and then we go. The problem is is if you're a senior and all you've got is English got civics and that's the one that that you might

092have got it sooner though. I mean you can get to your senior year now and have just English and that's all you need to get out of there. And so if you do it I mean you got to you got to I'm telling you you set up a bunch of rules and people will drive a freight train through them. Then consider have a list and you you must have one of one of each, you know, four of these and over the course of four years you have you have completed a final in one of these. So if I'm taking civics in my junior year, I take, you know, I take civics. I'm sure there's a way to work around it. I'm just pointing out we got to keep in mind that that's one of those

093things that's floating out there that people will use. They'll they'll go, "Oh, okay. Well, I'm just that's the one I'm going to not take." Well, the government the the state now is requiring a finance class for everybody before you can graduate. Yeah. In their infinite wisdom, those that can do, those that can't legislate. Um, did I say that on record? A boy. Um, okay. So, that will go out for first reading and we'll come back and see that in the future and and public comments and all, but that's that's a, you know, I I don't disagree with it philosophically. Um, all I can think of when I see things like that is me sitting there coughing in bed and my dad going, "You're not sick. Get up and go to school." Um, but my favorite

094one, and I'm going to embarrass my son, but when his son was doing the same thing, he said, "Get up and go to school." And a few an hour or two later, he gets a phone call from the school said, "Your son's got a temperature of 103. You need to come get him." I will say that it's different from our old one. Our old one used to be have three and a C, three unscused or three absences. two one or one in the city, I'm sorry, three in a we changed that to coincide with the state and their whole chronic absenteeism. So it's just a total of five absences period excuse or unexparked in the past and then we got rid of it and then might be time to try it again just to see

095what we can do. Damn. Okay, time to buy books. Board amendment number 2 385 is the purchase of McGraill social studies material. Uh this is for grades six and seven, US studies, world studies, contemporary studies, civics, personal finance, economics, geography, psychology, sociology, AP US studies and AP civics. The price includes digital access, teacher guides and student print edition and digital. Uh the adoption is for social study projects as I said from 6 and 7 for the period of July 1 25 to June 30th of 31. The cost of the complete program and all supplemental resources is 578,489. Sorry. This is funded through the excess levy and the superintendent recommends approval. Is there a motion to approve? So move. Is there a second? There's a motion and a second. Somebody want to give us a little

096info? Yeah, I suppose I have a question, but go ahead. Yeah. Okay. Well, I can I can tell you what I can tell you is that we adopted we've decided to go with um the majority of our books coming from McGraw Hill. Everybody wanted to be on the same platform because it's so many books. They wanted to um just have I guess it easy to transition from subject to subject. Um we are going to have trainings uh this week and next week for the teachers. We will also be giving them their TE so that they can work on those over the summer. Um, the only other subject that was not on here is the eighth grade West Virginia history and that's going to be it. It's more specialized as you know. RA here probably doesn't

097do it. They don't they don't we only had two vendors that offered that. So, we're going to go with Gibb Smith and um that's really it's it's the all the same basics. It works with Schooly. Um, we're really just buying classroom sets of the textbooks and the rest of it digital. And but Gro Hill has uh agreed to give us five workbooks for each subject at each school just so that if the teachers wanted to make copies, they could. But if we would have went with the workbooks in print print edition, it would have been an extra like $170,000. So son of a we did do the best we could to be cost effective. Now in the past each subject area when it come up like US history teachers would choose a book and geography

098teachers choose a book. They didn't do that this year. We just said let's all go they did. I mean we went to the caravan they looked at all the vendors but they were all in agreeance that they wanted to use just one vendor and they felt like McGraw Hill met all of their needs. Um they have great textbooks, they have great online platforms. So yeah, and the service is phenomenal. So this includes the AP classes. That's it does. We do have one additional AP class that will be up on next uh board agenda. It's going to be for AP geography. Um Rosemary and I were not aware that they were wanting to teach it at Princeton High. We had we had not done that in the past, but they have a teacher who is certified

099in that and they have enough students signed up to take the class. So, we're going to order them uh 15 books and that will be with a different company. That will be BFW. Just your air expertise. So, we're deferring to you. Well, I don't know. I mean, it could be a wonderful book, but AP, you need to have a book that's really a college book, basically. So, and you don't have to build from one thing to the other to get your history. Yeah. Okay. Well, McGraw, they they dabble in everything McGraw Hill does. So, I'm sure that their books are good for the AP hopefully. Anything else? Then on the motion, all in favor signify by saying I. I oppose. Likewise. That motion carries. Three in favor and none opposed. So board memo number 386.

100If I skip 385 here, let me see. 384. I missed one, didn't I? I knew I had missed one. I just couldn't figure out which one it was. Board amendment number 384 is the purchase of Western Union history textbook and digital bundles for eighth grade. Uh this includes teachers guides, digital access, student print edition, and digital. Uh this adoption will be for July 125 to June 3031. The cost of the complete reprogram and all supplemental resources is $84,000, $262.30 for the life of the adoption. It's funded through excess levy. Superintendent recommends approval. Is there a motion to approve? Move to approve. Is there a second? There's a second. Okay. questions, comments or discussion? And on the motion, all in favor signify by saying I. Opposed likewise. That motion carries. Three in favor and none opposed.

101Where is three? I can't see. I don't see it. Is this it? There it is. Okay. I see what the problem is. All right. I didn't have my bookmark spread out enough, so it wasn't I didn't see the number. All right. So, board member number, come on here. 386. 386. It's being contrary for Yeah, I had to find that. Uh is purchased ready classroom curriculum associates assessment material. Uh these are cons this is for consumable products. Uh the digital products were purchased in the previous year. Uh this is for math grades 6 through 8th for the 2526 school year. Materials for this adoption must be renewed annually because they're consumables. This is year two and it's $42,8175 and would be funded through the excess levy. Superintendent recommends approval. Is there a motion to approve? So

102move. Is there a second? There's a motion and a second. Questions, comments, or discussion? Yeah, Lesie. This mentions already right there. I knew that was coming textbook. This is the math text. Okay. Versus what? The other was soft. Purchased off state contract. We didn't actually do a bid for this. We just purchased this directly off. Just seeing if you were sharp. Just letting you know I was paying attention. I appreciate that. Okay. Thank you. Anything else? And on the motion, all in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Likewise. That motion carries. Three in favor and none opposed. Board amendment number 387 is budget supplements and transfers for the February, March, and April 2025 consideration. Budget transfers are $94,771. Budget supplements are $1,277,136.36. Superintendent recommends approval. Is there a motion to approve? Move to approve.

103Is there a second? Second. There's a motion and a second. Questions, comments, or discussion? Then on the motion, all in favor signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Likewise. That motion carries. Three in favor and none opposed. Board amendment number 388 is employee discipline. Mr. Toman. Present privilege. John, board member 388, I'd ask for your approval of a 3-day suspension without pay from Jamie Farmer, a bus operator, and he served that time May 15th, 16th, and 19th, and that's a violation of employee code of conduct, and uh which is Mercer County policy G24. Ask for your approval. Is there a motion to approve? So move. Is there a second? Second. Motion and a second. Questions, comments, or discussion? Any need to go in executive session? There appearing to be none on the motion. All in favor

104signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Likewise. That motion carries. Three in favor and none opposed. Board a memo number 389 is employee discipline. Mr. Tony. President Prudich. On uh board member 389 ask for your approval of a 3-day suspension without pay for bus operator Samuel Carroll. Again, u violation of employee code of conduct and already served that time. agreed to that on May 13th, 14th, and 15th. Ask for your approval. That's a suspension without pay. So move. Is there a second? Second. There's a motion and a second. Any desire to go in executive session? There appears to be none. On a motion. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppose. Likewise. That motion carries. Three in favor and none opposed. Board man number 390. Mr. Powman. There's a privy on board member 390. Ask

105for approval of Linda McConnell. uh an aid at Princeton Middle School be suspended for 3 days without pay for May 16th, 19th, and 20th for a violation of employee code of conduct. And again, uh she waved her um right for hearing and agreed with this suspension. So ask for your approval. Motion to approve. Move to approve. Second. Second. Motion and a second. Any desire to go executive session? There appears to be none. And on the motion, all in favor signify by saying I. I opposed. Likewise. That motion carries. Three in favor and none opposed. Last action item on the agenda is board member number 391, which is the personnel agenda. Is there a motion to approve? I got to step out. Okay, go ahead. We still have a quorum. Once the quorum is established, it's

106established. Not vote. Yeah, you probably should do this just so we don't move. Move. And I'll second that motion. All in favor signify by saying I. I oppose. Likewise. That motion carries with the odd number of two in favor and none opposed. Okay, Jim. That's the last action item on the agenda. Uh that will move us down to Sun Valley. [Applause] So you have in front of you a breakdown of this pro of this project. Um is it time to start seeking grant funding? Let's Yeah. So Tom, yes. Are you satisfied with the plan from a facility standpoint? with the budget we have in this. That's legitimate. U there's a parking lot on here, but this does not include the parking lot. It does not. It does not. That's that's the only thing that I

107really think is important that that isn't included in the plan. All right. There's nothing that prohibits prohibits us from doing that ongoing. It's just right now with the the gym as the primary focus it seems to be. But it's not something that that I don't think is something outside of the scope of what we could do. Gotcha. Okay. We've also got the septic system that we have to deal with. Correct. Well, we we've already appropriated that money for that next year. You all approved that. So, that's not included in this, which did bring down the cost quite a bit. Okay. And I I was supposed to receive a call today about a guy coming to look at it that he didn't. Yeah, because it says unknown at this time, but the reality of it is

108is we've set aside money for that project. We have Yes. Okay. All right. But what say the other board members? Do we want to use ZNM? ZMM with all the problems you've had, the fact that they're um I mean, I know they're looks like the architect of choice these days. We have a bid. So, we do have a bid in effect until March of 2026 with them. There is a different person helping us with this. He was more responsive and is new. They've hired someone new and appears to be more [Music] than, you know, you two can't do it all. I mean, as as good as you want to be. Thank you. You can't do it all. Um and that's why I just wondered I mean they've well at at this point we are not

109ready to proceed with structural plans etc. you know having those design buildouts we could begin raising funds though and and that's I think the first step and I think that's kind of what I was hoping we could get to if the board wants you to start looking for the grant funding. Yes, we have some we we still need some pretty documents to or pictures to help, but those folks out there, they've done a yman's job raising money and you know, they deserve to to see something. Oh, yeah. Um there's still a lot more to Yeah. get the big money people out. Yes. But that's what we have to get to this point before we can approach, you know, the foundations. not we I I can't approach them, but before individuals can approach the the larger

110foundations for donations and and the you know we'll match of course certain funds and once we get closer we'll come back to you for that. Well, I just from my perspective uh I think it's time to move forward. I think you just just did a spectacular job on on reducing the expense. Uh and that's great. Uh but we we still we need to raise funds. So what says you guys you ready to move forward in what in what fashion? To find seek other funding grant funding. And who's going to do it? Well, typically the way you do it is you do it by a written proposal to the organizations. Is that not correct? I mean might want to hear from Miss Horn. I think she's already talked to some people. I don't know if she

111want to talk about that or not, but Lisa is here. Well, then just just keep in mind we're not discussing the amount of the bid because we don't want contractors to know what we're thinking. I have spoken with Honeyut and they are willing. They just need something. I think they are waiting to see what the board will give and then I told them I I can get a letter, but I just need the okay to send them a letter asking for a certain amount. Yeah. That's fine. I'll ask for it all. That's right. That's exactly unless you don't ask. So, so I think the the appropriate way to do it is just to get it on the agenda at the next board meeting and then have a formal approval of the of the process of

112raising the additional funds because I do think can be my impression is the rest of the board is just and just my feeling and talking and listening is everybody wants us to go forward. It's just a matter of uh when you went and Danielle both you all went to the the grant funding program. Are there USDA? Are there other funds? not right now or other opportunities to find, you know, any kind of funding for something like this to where I mean, city of Bluefield used to get USDA funds to buy police cars. So, come on. You know, why can't they help build under a different administration right now, right? Federal funding has been cut quite a bit for for grants. Um, a lot of them frown upon construction. uh they don't want to pay for

113construction. There's, you know, you've got Well, we're talk we're going to hit some privates up here. What about other privates around the state around Hell, Bill Gates is giving away billions of dollars. Why don't I contact him? I I'll give him a call tomorrow. A girl. I mean, I'm I'm just curious because I mean, this is in the scheme of things, this Oh, absolutely. I mean, we'll leave those turn. We're going to hit the two big ones here locally and um go from there. Okay. You might reach out to um the Skus Foundation through Ron Campbell. Okay. They're they're a smaller foundation, but they will give money sometimes. Um you've got the Miss Ethel Bowen. Good deal. Is it 7:30 in scholarship at first first community? What is it? What's that place called now? Burton

114Ernie. Burken her Burke and Herbert is the name of the the new bank, but it's still being managed up there. Um I don't know if it's the same board members that are on the shot board. You've got the June shot. I mean, she gave the city of Bluefield the initial money to build to put turf at Mitchell Stadium. Um, what's the one? The Ogleby people up in Wheeling. Uh, I can't think of any others right now. But we got two we got two weeks to come up with. Yeah, there's no there's no grant money coming right now for anything at all. I saw where the city was waiting. makes basically we're told the EMS consolidation money it's on indefinite holding so I think we can count on the federal government at this point that's what

115I'm see private privates is where we're going to have to yeah get some help well it's a worthy project and we're moving forward so we're getting where we we need to be so once on the agenda so we can move formally move forward and and uh have direction gotcha all right okay so tell Tell me about the sale tower at Bluefield High School. So, for um a little over a year, we've been approached from a company who wants to lease our land, some of the land at Bluefield High School for a cell phone tower to improve coverage in Blue. We referred him to Mr. Collins and the team at Bluefield High School. They did find an appropriate location and they they think they'll raise anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500 a month lease for this. It

116would be a great revenue source for the school. they want to have a a building and um what we would like to do is continue exploring that option and unless there would be some major objections. I don't have objections because they'll secure the pad appropriately but can we enter into a indefinite contract with somebody in the lease of our land for revenue? That's a good question. I would have to have not done that. That was my initial reaction was well can you should we do it's one consideration but can we do it is before you even get to should I haven't actually asked the attorney that I'll I'll reach out to them because that's a I mean once they put the tower up there they're expecting that to be an indefinite agreement that's not subject

117to options for renewal they they that's a good source of revenue for the 1500 that's you know that's pretty good hunk of change every year source for them. Yeah. And we wanted to make sure that it wasn't I know they want to raise money for a building. They've been doing that for a long time for their athletes. So, um that would be a good way for them to help raise money for that. Do do you know the location, Tom? Do you know the location? Yeah. Whereabouts are they talking about it? Uh it's towards there's a maintenance shed, I guess, for lack of a better term. It's where they keep the mowers. It's right beside that. right in the left se left field of u. Gotcha. Gotcha. Just got to be real secure cuz you know

118teenagers love to climb into things for some reason. But yeah, I mean I that was certainly worth investigating to have put it would have been in the corner of the track, but then they'd had to tear up and build a road all the way in there for construction and that was not accepted. They should have put it in Brville Middle, Brewfield Primaries above their sinkhole, but they didn't think about it then either. Yeah. So, what would they do, Tom? Would they put a chain link or something around it for for security and that's it? Well, we have one um behind our shop and it's I think it's 10ft chain link with barb wire on top. Gotcha. That's pretty secure. Thank you. Good deal. Administrative updates. Any other administrative updates? Any administrator have anything? No, I'm

119good. No. You got to Thank you. Anybody else? Mitchell, Dr. Atkins, I just have um one thing to say. We've only got um a couple of individuals left on our recall list to recall. Um so, we're really excited that everybody will have jobs and we can look at some new people hiring them very soon. Uh Amy, maybe we should send something to the uh uh media. telling them that all these people that they said we were getting rid of have jobs. We didn't get rid of them. We figured it out. Okay. Over here. Um, I just wanted to make you all aware that, um, we have three students in our county who are English language learners who took a test to, uh, certify that they are biliterate, which means they can read, write, speak, and

120listen in two languages. So, three of our EEL English language learners are proficient in uh two of them are proficient in English and Arabic and one of them is proficient in English and Spanish. So, if you see a cord that has it's a blue and gold cord, they they get a chord and they also get a certificate from the state because we turn this the scores in for the testing to the state. So, we're hoping to grow that a little bit. Uh these three are seniors, but we are going to be um paying a whole lot more attention to those students in terms of their biiterate abilities and making sure that they get that that seal and they deserve it. That's awesome. That's it, sir. That it appears to be no other business to come

121before the board this evening. Move we objection. Nope. Good night everybody.