001kind of worried. I'm worried about him. All yours. Are >> we ready? >> All right. Let's go ahead and call our special meeting of the Wayne County Board of Education to order. It is 4 o'clock. And if you'll stand, we'll say the pledge. standledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Let the record show that all board members are present in person except for Mr. Ashworth who's joining us by phone this evening. And we can begin with our local school improvement council presentation from Wayne Middle and Wayne High School this evening. [Music] >> And I'm gonna set our live stream out here so that pick up a little bit more. [Music] First,
002we want to welcome everybody to our LS. We're going to have handouts from each of us right now. Those are just all the answers to the standard LS questions and will be giving their lobby. This evening, we're both going to focus on the importance of community in our schools. And we're each building community in different ways. In the age of school choice and social media, it's important to have connections both inside the building and outside the building. I mean, we have to make school more than a place come to read, write, learn, all the things. We have to make it a place of community, a place to invest our parents and all of our stakeholders in all the things we're doing in the school. T and I are going to talk about some specifics that
003we do at Wayne Middle School before Joanie and Robbie talk about the community for building Wayne High School. We each have different strengths and programs for our specific stakeholders to build communities in our schools. At Wayne Middle, one of our focuses is meeting the basic needs. Students can't be learners if they're cold, they're hungry, or selfless. Middle school is nothing but three years time of your life. Um, and it's true at any age, but really middle school is where it's at. And that's where the barriers come to the forefront to keep the kids from being learners. All the things about not having to send clothes with people, not knowing how to take care of yourself, learn to do your hair, all the things. So, Tish want to share with you how we address all those
004needs with our families so they can be successful when they come to us and be learners and talk about all the intentional factors that have to happen before students can learn and be good in their career. So, one of the things we uh take very seriously is our role in the community. Um, and I think that this time of year is probably one of the most um biggest roles that we take in that from our food baskets to angel true kids and food baskets at Christmas. We have um 51 food baskets going home to our kids that we have prepared. Her kids donated all things donated and they're ready to be picked up this week. We haveund 100 angel kits on our tree this year and as of today left so we'll take care of
005those by the end of the week. Plus they also get food baskets at Christmas as well. Parents are very appreciative of that. And we also talk about the importance when we talk to them about helping them out over the holidays about them coming to school and having that need there met when when they come. Um, one of the things that um we also do is our discipline and as of today I think it was 29 something like that. It must have been level on >> level one disciplines. Um there's a few other higher level ones that we've taken care of with our administrator, district administrators, but 29 is all we have and those are for things like um force play, you know, disturbance in the classroom and our teachers take care of that with lunch
006detention. But one of the things that we've tried to to make happen in the last couple of years is when a kid comes into the office, we talk to that kid with parent on the phone. So they know what's being said while they're there. Um and it kind of has a little bit different meaning with the parent when they know you want to work together. You're not hiding anything. Now, don't get me wrong, there's parents not happy with accountability, for sure, but when you when they hear their child and what we say to them and the child is talking to them and they can join in that conversation, it builds a relationship between us and the parent and they're more apt to help us control whatever behavior we're having issues with. So, that's made a
007huge difference, I think, in uh the discipline part of it. Um, okay. Oh, one more thing I'll talk about, sorry, is that part of our community, maybe it's not within our school sport extracurricular, but just for example, the turf bowl this past weekend. Um, we had all but two players in our school that was on that turf bowl team. So, we had a pep rally for them, which the parents really did love. and and there was a lot of us that could make it to the game and and support them and and be there for them and do things that we really show support outside of our school. So, just being a part of the community like Lori and I both try to do whether it's through sports, church, you know, charitable events, things like
008that, that's made a difference, too, and and get to know the parents a little bit more. Um, so that's just one example. And we did invite the parents for that pep rally. They came in through the back. They weren't through the school and then left right after the football part of it that we announced and did the little cheers for and they were super pumped about that. So that's just another thing that we try to make happen because those are our baits and so we want to make sure that they um are recognized for things like that outside of the school as well. So, academics, we had I'm really proud. We had a record setting here in math. It was our highest math course ever. High science scores over in a while. We had a
009three star rating on school. I think what it was called. So, we've got all those things feather in our hat. I'm also a school beta sponsor. If you don't know what Beta is, it is, and I can say this because I'm a sports mom. We stop the world for sports with kids and recognize accomplishments in sports. Sometimes we don't do that for our kids that are artists or the ones that excel at academics. So Beta is the area where all the kids that excel at arts and academics and all the things that are not sports get to shine. And we go to the state beta competition every year. It's a huge undertaking. We took 56 this year and that was not our biggest group. In the past we've had up to 70 going and they
010stay overnight in a hotel in Charleston. Takes about a million people to make everything work but it always comes into place and our kids are stay winners consistently. This year we have over 20 place stating the qualify international and that includes kids that are in art um quilling photography, fashion design, academics, quiz bowl, all kinds of different things, the whole gamut of the talent that our kids have. So we're really really proud of everything they do. Lily's actually one of our former Davis. She is on the high school console team and she's a rock star on there. She doesn't give us credit. So Wayne Middle School also had the state junior beta president last year that served as served the year as the state president. So we were super proud of her as well. >>
011And there's data in our pack. It's the same data we go with our teachers. It's just apples to oranges comparison and apples to apples comparison. You can see how our kids grow from year to year and how they grow from the time of elementary school to middle school to high school. And as I said with that said, I'm going to turn it over to Miss Ross and Mr. Thompson and I want to say as an invested stakeholder they're doing a great job this year and there are lots of great things happening. >> You go right ahead. >> One more thing I wanted to talk about is the fact that the improvements been made at our school thanks to all you guys and help with that. We have of course been closer to buildings which you
012all sprinkler system the painting that we have this year. It's total game changer for us HVAC and our bleachers which is wonderful. And things that Mr. Alexander is taking on now is to do some investigation on repair of our uh gym floor. And a couple of things that we wanted to say may be a need is a locker room for our sports team. We don't have that. They use classrooms and we we have the space for that um inside our school without construction basically. And then um one of the parents just so happened called us today about a shelter out out front as they're waiting on the buses in the corn today. So >> we've talked about that before heard that we discussed that phone calls tonight because you already did. I just wanted to
013mention that you might be ready for those are coming. >> Well, the the uh the shelter's coming. >> Oh, is it? >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. We've got the uh we've got the roof trusses for it. So you you'll be seeing it soon. >> Meeting a meeting. >> So excited. >> And we do encourage you if you're on Facebook to come on to the Wayne County Wayne Middle School community Facebook page. We do post a lot of good information there about kids and what we do in the community and um week before Christmas, we'll be handing out angels. So, if you want to come and hand out some of gifts, you're more than welcome because it's an undertaking. I think that's all we gave. Um, we have the folder there that has everything. Um,
014there's a page that has everything. If I didn't I didn't have it all typed up because I created like some charts and stuff that answer some of the questions. Um, so I I don't want to take the thunder, but Mr. Thompson has really spearheaded the attendance. Um, that and just to brag on our school and what we've done. We had a fantastic year starting and um, so we're just going to highlight a few of those things um, and building on that community like Miss Dailyy said. Um, I have a kid at Wayne Middle and they are doing fantastic job as well. I had one come through and I've got one starting sixth grade and um she loves it and so for her to be happy that means they're doing something right because she's never happy.
015So they are doing fantastic over there. She's loving it. Um and we are excited for the partnerships that we can build for our kids and we take those kids that are coming over from them and it's just making a a better future for us and so we're super excited with what they sent over to us. Um so the things that we have tried to um start we you know things we've had already but talking about that community and that sense of community I've met with several parents we had a parent meeting you know back about the good standing policy and um Holly was here for that and we had a conference room full and we all came together and we were able to really sit down and say what is best for um the students
016what works for the families and still hold them accountable. able and make sure that we're getting our job done here academically. And so we hashed out everything from um the excused absences versus unexcused to um tardies. We hashed out our whole good standing policy that evening and it was so funny because so many people asked me afterwards like how did it go? How did it go? I was like it was fantastic. We had such a collaboration with our parents. Um and we came away from that saying this is how we want to build our school and this is what we want to do. Um so when we reach out we've had um when we reach out for LSIC members this year we had several businesses. Wally Smith is from level one fasteners they have been
017coming and working that's something else that Miss Rain and Miss Bootton have created those relationships with them but they have been coming from Miss Rain's engineering program. They're here once a week once a week. Yes. um she always lets me know when they're in the building and um a wallally has been very um great to work with and anything we need. Um so we try to build those relationships because if we want our school to flourish so that the community can flourish and um and our kids are the future. I know it sounds cliche but um that's what we're doing here. And um so things like that that we try to build and even to we started new clubs. We we got the clubs up and running again this year. I don't know if you
018follow the sparkle squad. They are going to the nursing home and Miss Bader takes a group uh twice a week or twice every other week. Fantastic. They go over there, they do makeup, they do nails, they do pamper, and the kids are loving it. The um staff has said it has just been a whole new thing. Um that I mean it's really just talk about community and everything we're doing. Um we couldn't really ask for anything more. And so, um, that's just a little bit of bragging about things that we're doing here. Um, a few things we've implemented new. I think the biggest thing has been our one-hour lunch. Um, something kind of different that we haven't seen. And I think it's had a lot to attest to our attendance, our discipline, um, our overall
019engagement. And so, um, that's something that we're going to talk about, but I'm going to let him talk about the attendance because it really has been his big thing that he's been, um, at the forefront of. So, Mr. Thompson, >> and just also, we have a few student council members here, um, with us that we invited to come. We've got a few that showed up, so I want to thank them for attending as well. Um, as Miss Ross said, attendance has been a huge focus for us this year, and I think it's a one of the major goals for the district as well. So, in your folders, you've got a few different sheets related to attendance. Um, one of the things that we have implemented was the good standing policy, which there's been a lot
020of talk about, but not only do we want kids here for whole days and half days, one of the big issues that we've had uh historically at our school is kids coming in >> after first period or leaving before seventh period. >> Yes. because whether it's they don't like the class, they just want want to get here a little bit later in the day, whatever it may be, that's been a big issue historically. And in my opinion, if you can get them here in the morning on time, they're more likely to stay the whole day. I mean, it's more likely to impact the attendance as a whole. So, the good standing policy, part of that is period attendance. It's not just being here the whole day, it's being here for all of your classes. So,
021uh that is one of the requirements the charact or the the characteristics that students have to meet is being uh in their individual classes to cut down on coming in late and leaving early. And this chart here, you'll notice this is an analysis that we went back and did comparing late check-ins from last school year to this school year. >> Last year, of course, we had more students and that's taken into effect. Our enrollment was 529. I think is your 502. So last year on average, the daily average last year 15 over 15% of our students were checking in late. 15% on average 80 kids came in late every single day. That's a significant number for that many students to come in late every single day. So this year with a smaller population of course,
022but still this is just this is percentage based on the total population. Our daily average late check-in percentage is down to 8.7% or 44 kids per day coming in late. That's a 42.7% decrease in the number of late check-ins. Um the late or the early checkouts also is a similar number. It's a little bit harder to track just the way the way we user portal works, but it's a pretty similar number between 40 and 50% decrease on the number of kids leaving early. And uh that a lot of that goes back to good standing because the kids know that if they're they're missing that seventh period every day or so many times a week or a month that that can really impact their good standing and whether or not they're allowed to participate in extracurricular
023activities. >> Wow. >> Um we know that one of the the big goals for the district is a 5% decrease in chronic absentee. And again, we're honestly when we saw these numbers, I think I was stunned. I think Miss M Miss Ross probably about the 20 days. >> Yeah. The 20-day number, we were down. Our chronic absentee rate was down 8.65%. >> Which was >> Yeah. For the 20day. >> Yeah. >> And that number continued to decrease uh throughout the school year so far. So, our most recent update, November 15th, which was day 60, our chronic absentee rate has declined 14.55%. Which is >> I just I never never would have thought that that was even possible. Our daily attendance rate has increased um around 2%. And so, it's not quite where we want it,
024but still any increase is is positive. But really, that chronic absentee rate is just astounding to me. And I really think it has a lot to do with the fact that we have we're having high expectations. We expect our kids to be here on time. We expect them to be here the whole day. And by having things like the clubs, things that they want to do when they're here, I think that really has a large impact on improving these numbers even more. So we hope that we can continue that. We're looking forward to day 80 and see where we stand. So hope it continues to that uh increase continues to >> Yeah. >> continue in a positive. >> That's that's tremendous. And the middle school's doing really well as well. I think you guys are
025under 20% right now, aren't you? >> Right. >> Which is which is great. But um both both I mean where that number is right now is impressive. >> Well, and if you look there's a chart in here in 20 in 23 24 school year. Of course, this was at the end of the year. So I mean we're still we're not to that point yet, but for the 23 24 school year, our chronic absentee rate was 61.4%. Last year it was 49%. So we're at 22% right now. So that's great. >> Um I know we're not to the end of the school year. Anything can happen, but we are well well ahead of where uh where we were last year this year. So >> that's great. >> When we talk about like the impact this is
026having um we have one thing I want to talk about for a second is our discipline. Now I jinxed myself and I was bragging to Mr. Miller at our last principal meeting cuz it was the end of the second six weeks. I was like, we made it two six weeks without a fight. Like historically in the last five years that has not happened. Um and so but heck on that super moon got us and it was like I blamed it on the super moon because we had four fights in two days. However, so I went back and tracked it a little bit. I still think um we're on the right track. And so whenever I look at this, so Mr. Um Thompson has broken down the discipline for you, you will see a large chunk
027of it. We did go no cell phones this year. Um we went no cell phones um or anywhere. And so when they step into our school and the things that has done for our school has been amazing. Um the kids have asked for clocks in the hallways and I was like I never thought of that but they want to know what time it is. They went and bought um actual cameras, >> Digital cameras. I didn't even know they still made them anymore to take their selfies in the hallway and stuff. And they're doing homework. They're working together. They are playing games at lunch. Like I mean >> reading, >> they are reading books. I mean it's fantastic. It's like I grew up in the 90s and it is right back in the 90s and I'm
028pumped about it. Like they have um said they were like we made friends this year we didn't know we had. And so I was like that is everything in the right direction. when you walk by a classroom, you don't see kids like looking down. You see all kids like straight ahead. And so that's exciting just to walk the hallways and to see that. Um, so >> it's a game changer. >> Is is really and the drama and I think that has something to do with our discipline because they are not like picking each other back and forth like with those phones. Um, and so our teachers have been really good to enforce that and really stay on top of that. So you will notice we have do have cell phone violations because our teachers will
029take them if we see them out in the hallways like and so they get them taken for the day and then it kind of builds from there. But Mr. Thompson I have to give this all to him. He will go in each day and he will update weas. So Weevas has every time we've taken a cell phone it's in Weeas like every single one. So and like I said that is totally him. Um but like when you look at like I said we got those to have on four or five they did apologize the boys who went outside um of the mornings the first fight they said when we took it outside we didn't they came back together and they said we didn't want to get blood on your floor I'm so sorry and um
030but we just took care of it and I was like I still have to handle it like they was like but we didn't want to get anything on your floor and we didn't want you to break it up so we took it out back and I was like >> thanks >> thank you for being considerate you know. So, >> I mean, it was super, >> you know what I mean? So, so we took that. We was like, "Okay." So, we didn't actually break anything up. They break themselves up and then >> came in and told us about it. So, I'm like, "Hey, like there's some positive there." Um but so I just I just noted because I wanted to see like what that looked like over the years especially since you know I've been in
031the office since um COVID hit and so um you know so we had our first fight started back at 2023 school year. First fight was August 31st and then September 7th and then September 29th and then our first one this year was November 6th. >> I love that there's a record of that. I went back and I told I told the kids because I went back through Leas >> I mean it's great >> and I went back and looked like and then I told him I said all these discipline incidents are are juniors now we're freshman um back then and so I was like oh remember when you got kicked out of class look how good you're doing like I do remember that we had this discussion in the hallway today at lunch and um
032so that's why 2425 um weas was not kept up to date very well. So, I didn't have a a accurate number to go off of from there. Um, but it had it had I think the first two incidences put in for that and then there wasn't. So, I didn't include that. But 118 and up to this point in the school year. This is not old school year. This is up to this point. So, up to this point we had four. Like I said, the the super moon, I blame it, but um then we're still looking pretty good and I'm pretty proud of that. um overall things are happening that I never thought we would see and so we are super excited for that. Um then that leads to um one thing I wanted to talk
033about a little bit was when we talk about academics how this all rolls together. We had um you have the math and ELA scores. Now this year we are doing the u we have our benchmark in September. It is on progress learning. So, I did have to take and convert that. That is not 100%. So, it gave me a 40% on math and that was 40% overall average score. So, I had to convert that to what that would look like on mastery for the SAT. When I look at that, it's our juniors. We only have 102 juniors this year, which is super crazy. But those ninth graders when they started, they were I don't what they I knew every one of them and I knew them well. They were um a very active group. And
034so the ones who have made it to junior year, there's 102 actual juniors. Now, some of them will jump from 10th grade to 12th grade. They'll kind of skip junior year officially in credits. But when we look at that, I went through and I was able to look at their scores that met um comparable SAT scores for the math portion and we had 15%. For September of their junior year, that's fantastic because that puts us right with where we had 15% mastery last year. So, I'm think that's our first benchmark within the first month of school. like. So, I'm excited to see where that is in January um when we take our second benchmark and then where they end up in the spring for our SAT. Then our English, which always kicks math butt. I
035don't know why. Um I'm just partial to math, but English uh is at 56% mastery last year and already we are showing a mastery of 58%. So that if that trend keeps on, that's just going to be fantastic for our year. So we're really excited to see where that goes. Um and that was the progress learning converted over to the comparable SAT data. So I think it all goes back to the things that we're doing and I think that um some things that we want to incorporate and I haven't even talked to Wayne Nettle yet about this um but we are having regular PLC's. Um Mr. Alexander has given us some guidance on that. We have the principal PLC's things that the that's happening in our county. We are very lucky as a first year
036admin team to have those PLC's, the principal PLC's. Um Robbie and Tom were up one today for assistant principal. I go on Thursday for principal PLC's and that really models what it should look like in our school that we should do with our teachers. And so I'm I am very lucky that we got on that um that it came in whenever we came in as a first year team. And um so having those PLC's regularly, having them data driven, having them look at those strategies um I think is just going to make the world of difference and I think we're already starting to see it happen in our classrooms. So that's we're excited for this year. We've had a great year so far and we're really pumped to see where it ends up. So um
037I don't think there was anything else we were going to talk about kind of uh things we need. Of course I'm super pumped if we're getting the awning out front. That has been my thing. I wanted to take a crate of umbrellas out my first year and give them to the kids that didn't have them and they were like, "How are you going to handle it?" I don't know. But I just feel bad for those babies out there without umbrellas. So, I mean, it's down for him. So, I'm super pumped. That was on my wish list first off. Um Mr. Harmon put together a thing with the um upgrade that's happened. He takes care of all the athletics and keeps me posted about that. Um the HVAC, Mr. Alexander has got all that. We've had
038some issues with the electrical. I think we've got that >> ironed out. Um it was kind of a crazy crazy start with that. Um the tile has been a thing that we would like to see with the new tiles and replace some of the old patchwork tile um in the three, four, five, 600 wings in classrooms. Um what was some other things? I have them listed there, but I was trying to think off top of my head, but those are some real big ones um that we would like to see. Can I say as a parent who has worked with the lockers the last three years, they really need some lockers and the kids have been using them. >> They are getting back in the habit to use them. >> The ones that use them
039really enjoy them and I worked on them for the last two years and they're a mess. >> They are. We got the new Yeah, >> they're a mess. >> I mean, my fingers were bruised. >> You weren't listening. >> You did. And they they don't even have you know how a locker has a key that you can change the code every year. They don't even have that because the keys are gone. >> We looked through everything and they don't have that. So I mean >> once you once you've lost the code >> when you and I had to take last year, >> let me tell you something. We need to push left and right >> in our instruction. But I'm serious because >> I had to give these kids a list of five combinations and
040say, "Okay, you guys are going to have to help me." We didn't know which code it was. They weren't marked down. They weren't. And I'd be like, "No, no, baby. You got to go left, right, left. No, no, left. Towards the door, baby. Towards the door." >> So, we need to push left and right. It's a problem. It's a real problem. >> It's this. Okay. Listen, I would tell them I would hold my hand up and say the one that makes an L is a left. >> Yes. >> But they don't know. They don't >> postbody. [Laughter] >> They don't know. And it was I go, "What if something of yours is stuck behind the combination lock? What are we going to do here?" I mean, it's >> I'm just lucky. I taught my mom
041taught me how to do that in her class. >> There you go. Yes. >> I don't know. I know they're expensive. Even if you did them section by section, some of them are real bad. Like missing tops. >> Yeah, >> they are. >> And they're gross and rusty and >> yes, they need attention. >> I mean, I got no dog in it. My kids got a little over half a year and I got more kids and school, but it needs to happen. But she did make us a code book like from what she found and we have the code book so we know actually what combination goes to what locker. So Amy >> one for each one. You get what you get and you don't throw them. So that's that's what we're doing. follow the
042hospital that leads to. >> Yeah. So, we're super excited. Like I said, one thing I haven't talked to them about that we would like to get to the point where we do we have next steps and that's what me and him talk about. We always have um ideas of was like one thing at a time. We all get like we want to do this and that and then we like we got to get this in place first before we do something else. Um but the teachers and we talked about maybe getting our ninth grade teachers together with like our eighth grade teachers at the end of the year so they could be prepared for who's coming up and start our vertical PLC's between the middle school and high school. So, >> and it would be
043and with us with this proximity like it would be f, you know, so easy. So, that's something that um that I'd like to see make happen. >> It's not true. But yeah, just that communication there and that collaboration I think is going to be a good piece for us too. So that's all we have. Mr. Holmes, do you have anything? >> Thank you guys. We appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Megan, why don't you tell us a little bit more about Fast and All and their partnership with your class? >> Yeah. So, so this is my first year taking over engineering program. Um, a goal that I had set out was to get our machinery up and running. It has it has actually been over there since 2023. >> Okay. And it had never been
044operational. So that was one of my goals. Level one fasteners come in once a week and they are teaching me and the kids how to run our CNC machine. We code. Last week we did some threading. Um it it exposes them to some real life like skills and employment opportunities. So, I'm very excited about what we're doing. And like I said, we're just getting start. I'm learning myself. So, this is a whole new thing for me. Um, I came in over the summer and I walked in the room and I was like, "Wow." Like, this is a lot, but I'm ready to take it on one step at a time, like she said. So, we are once a week meeting with level one. Wall-ally actually sends out one of his best machinists. So Ace is
045actually in our class so she can kind of talk a little bit about what we've been doing. Um so each week they kind of have a different task. So last week we thread it, right? The week before that we learned about 10 cycles. Um and it incorporates math which I love. So to me it's kind of the best of both worlds. But I really feel like that was a space that was not being utilized. So that was one of my goals like how can we get this up and running? How can we make it more beneficial for the kids? And machining is a big a big part. I mean PLTW is actually coming out with a machining course. So that you know machining >> is a big opportunity for our kids and I felt like
046we've got the supplies, we've got the area, let's put it to use for our kids. Great. Yeah. Any questions about >> So, so how many students do you have in the program right now? >> So, I have 12 seniors in the program. >> Uh, they meet with level one once a week. So, every Wednesday I have 10 juniors in the program and I'm incorporating them twice a month. >> Okay. >> So, I started with my seniors, >> right? >> But I'm phasing in my juniors slowly. That way next year they'll be able to kind of leave and I can bring in my new juniors. So >> kind of cater to the junior senior classes and then >> because right now my uh I teach two senior engineering courses. >> That's fantastic. >> So yeah, I'm
047excited. I'm learning a lot with the kids and like I tell them in class, I'm like guys, this is new to me like it's new to you. So you know, don't be afraid. We're all in this together, right? So, yeah, it's it's a learning curve, but I'm very excited. So, and I welcome you guys to come in any Wednesday. So, Wednesday mornings at 9:30 is when we start. We go to about 11. >> Okay? >> So, I just uh got a new whiteboard set up. So, he demonstrates they, you know, the different activities. They have an assignment that goes along with it. So, I welcome any of you guys that like to come out and see what we're doing. >> Fantastic. >> Thank. Thank you, >> Mr. Smith. Thank you so much for >> for
048coming in and helping me out and volunteering your time and your your people. >> Yes, >> that's that's huge. >> What do you think about the play? >> It's very interesting. I did not know you could I did not know the process of writing like an actual screw. I had done a presentation last year, but I barely remember yesterday. So, that doesn't make it very relevant. So the hands-on is a little more sticks with you a little longer than just the presentation. >> It's a lot easier to do like hands on rather than like type on a computer all day, which is already what I've had to do, >> but it'd be easier if I did it hands on, >> right? >> And it's it's kind of neat because they are getting the opportunity to
049like, you know, he'll have me come up and they'll code on the machine. they'll, you know, start it up and oh my gosh, it does this, you know, like >> what you told it to do, it's doing, right? >> You know, so that's that's really neat to see all that come together. >> I'm very excited about what we're doing in the program and where I would anticipate. >> Fantastic. >> Our ladies from student council, anything you want to share? >> How's how's your year going? Any >> positives? as a senior especially and I feel they play incredibly well underass and they are really used to transition everyone is teachable very good at pushing out. They work very well with all of us and then we build a bridge between the other students and administration staff
050that way. >> Fantastic. >> Thank you. >> My son, I said, "Where you where you going?" I said, "LSIC meeting." He said, "What's that?" Like I haven't gone for 85 years. I said, "Local the school improvement council. He said, "Tell him we want the vending machines back." >> So, is that all he has to say? >> That's That's not too bad. >> That's what he said. Tell him we want the vending machines back. I'm like, "All right, I'll tell him." So, there >> Christie, any additional updates on the internship program? >> Um, sure. Um, so this year our numbers are down a little bit, but considering how fast and how much that we grew in the first three years, that's to be expected. Um, Wall-E actually hosted 12 of our interns last year. So, he
051was a big that was countywide both in the office and on the floor and he has students. So, he's been a big part of our internship program. Just today, me and Missy met with Marshall Health Network and they have graciously offered job shadowing experiences for her bio students and we're going to start that in the spring. Um, and also I think this is a big deal. So, um, our Medex program is one of only two in the state. And tomorrow we have visitors coming from Mississippi who are wanting to start a program that mirrors the Medex program and they're going to meet with school divisions, our students, and to the hospitals as well. So, that's great. >> I think that's great that we get to be involved with them. So, we hope to keep growing
052and growing in some different directions. um going through a few growing pains right now, but like I said, that's to be expected. We'll just keep keep at it forever. >> You know, we were at a meeting this past weekend for this uh school board and one of the main focuses was economic development and they had this idea that if we could get uh partners out in the community to work with our students, that would be a great opportunity. We're sitting there thinking, "Oh my gosh, you've been doing that for three plus years now." So, so it's catching on. What you're doing here is being noticed. So, just just know that. Right. >> Those soft skills alone are a huge game changer for these kids. Just learning how to show up and how to introduce yourself
053to someone to be responsible. Exactly. So I mean that alone is a huge >> socialization. >> Yeah. Exactly. >> Right. But you take those phones away >> and they learn how to socialize it. >> And so we have Mackenzie too as far as she's one of our junior men um that just started this year. So Mackenzie, you want to tell a little bit about your experience with the the first year? So definitely the first year we honestly think you had like so much pressure on you and I can wholeheartedly say your junior year is the year you got to you got to like really lock in and do your work, keep up on it. But honestly, medex is probably the best like thing that's happened to me because it's getting me prepared for my nursing
054and your junior is so much of really an eye opener for the matter program because you get to see all these skills in nursing that you didn't even know you could even go for, >> right? >> And I'm so thankful for getting accepted into the manage program. Hopefully I continue to stay up. Really make me preserve my grades. Mr. Thompson on my attendance definitely on my attendance. But yeah, I love MedX and I'm so happy that I get to be part of the second class of Medex. It's a great opportunity. >> The seniors definitely probably having so much fun with it. They'll get paid second with me. But >> I love that. That's just a great program. And if you wanted to go into nursing, >> all it's like that's that's >> fantastic. Great. >>
055She was she helped me get in that she interviewed me. So they was moving. >> There you go. >> Did you have something else? >> Uh yeah, I don't. So um Wall-E level one fasteners actually are making a donation to our program. So they are donating us another machine >> that we can get up and operational for me and the kids to use. So >> a big thank you to them for the support and the donation and that's forthcoming. So I just wanted to mention that. >> Yes. Thank you very much. >> Thank you again. >> Have we had any of your have any of your interns went to work for you after graduation from Wayne yet? >> One. I was gonna say, is he still there? >> That's all right. That's all right. >>
056Yeah. >> Absolutely. Government [Music] >> can't Right. >> Figure it out. >> That is fantastic. Any other questions for our guests? Well, thank you all very much. It sounds like you're on the right track and we appreciate all the hard work and all the >> innovative ideas that you're coming up with. I think it's fantastic and it's obviously showing. So, >> Missy, I'd like to say just one thing. I have a little bit of time invested in this school and uh couple weeks ago on a Friday. I just dropped by take a visit, walked down the hallway and I want to say that everything that I saw was excellent. I went and told Mr. Alexander about it, you know, I said I looked into classrooms, teachers were teaching. I didn't see hardly any kids in
057the hallway. Very, very few. I saw one person with a cell phone. I told him to put it away and that was Mr. concert. [Laughter] >> I was really I was impressed and I don't mean to blow you guys up, but >> like I said, I've had a lot of time in this school and I'm so glad to see it, but I feel like it's on the right track. >> That's encouraging numbering. >> Listen, I think that Wayne gets a bad both middle school and high school get a bad reputation and I'm always like somebody said something the other day about the swamp out there. they can do whatever they want. And I go, "Hey, wait a minute. I've had three kids go through there. I'm here once a week. I walk the hallways. I've
058been sitting in the office. I see what goes on." And I'm like, "It's a good school. It's a good country. We know your kids. They all know who the kids are and love them. And as a as a someone who went to Capital Midland and no one even knew my name, this is where I want my kids to be where they do know their teacher. I think they're just jealous. >> I don't think we have a bad school anyway. [Music] Yeah, you're doing the right thing here. >> Well, and that's I will always defend. Now, anybody who knows me knows that I have problems. I'm going to tell you and then we'll work it out and we'll move on. But I really have not had I said, >> but just like >> just like Missy
059said, when we go to these trainings at Charleston with, you know, 35 counties represented and they'll be giving us this stuff that these counties need to do this, this, and this. And you look at each other and they're going, we're already doing that. >> Yeah. talk to somebody else. It's like repetition we're doing if you want to really see it in >> they need a sample. >> I think I've given Christiey's number to two or three different delegates recently because they were just in shock and a hall that we have this already up and running. So >> it is an awesome program. I've watched my girls are here and it's a great thing. >> Yeah. So it's it's fantastic. >> I think we're ahead of a lot of counties. I really do. Well, there's there's
060good focus from both schools and and Mark Mark reed about Wayne High School which certainly deserves it. But I'll say a word for Wayne Middle School, too. Um that school digger ranking is the highest ranking that the schools had going back as far as you can see back to 2008. We can't see any further than that, >> right? >> So there's progress being made and that progress is going to pay off when those kids are here, >> right? So the the academic the academic arrow was pointed up and we appreciate you all's work. >> Absolutely. >> Sure. We did. We got it. And start to my program first year. Second year to a So we'll have two. >> Fantastic. >> So we are excited to have some things. Not only the kids, but also to
061get some standards they have to follow there. So, they'll already >> great. Excellent. Way to work together. coming as a student from like my middle school it was it was rough but honestly I can say with like pitch you know me well >> we we know but I obviously think it's like at that time it just felt like you're a kid, you don't understand. You go through so many things. The drama when I was a little was so bad for me. Like M's talking about, she knew our names. She knew why was my heart. And it was because like how bad like it was. But honestly, if it probably wasn't for kids, I probably wouldn't be the way I am right now because she would call me in the office and I knew I did
062something. I don't know what, but I did. But like she was stern on me, but it was a good stern. And it like it leads you in a direction that >> you need to do good. It's not like we're just downing you. It's really like I'm trying to prepare you for something. >> Yes. >> And I think that followed along a big way in my high school because I'm in nursing. I'm getting good grades. I'm in all these different like activity sports. And I'm thankful because I shoot your dish. Even though sometimes I was like, I don't like this woman. I am too smart. Do you think >> Oh, yeah. Phone definitely did. That's the biggest thing I love like you did. Yes. I love my phone so much. But it really does help. I
063don't have to look at that >> because >> it was it was so like everybody just so draw, right? But now I see a difference and I'm so glad. I'm going to miss it because I leave next year. But like the middle school does deserve some credit. Like actually that was the time for you. >> You realize your middle school year that is like it's really preparing you for your high school when you're adult life. >> It was so bad. my class. I remember the lunches where we had to sit no talking alphabetical order. Girls on one side, boys on the other. >> It's the drama, the vibes, the nonsense. It was all >> It was It was It was bad. It was But my class has grown. I will say I know there's not
064a lot of drama. There's still that like quite a little bit but it's if you just take yourself out of it >> I'm 62 >> they was active >> so they yeah I think we definitely gave you a >> sounds like they're growing up we gave that >> well thank you that for that anything else board members All right. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. [Music] >> Let me see if we have other business. Nope. >> None. >> Nope. Motion to adjurnn. >> Motion to motion carries. >> Zero. >> Dennis, you voted to adjourn. Right. >> Right. >> All right. 5 to zero. >> Thanks, Dennis. >> 454. Mark, we're good. >> I want to get a picture with you guys. >> Want to get a picture? [Music] >> So, sorry. [Music] Sit back
065and [Music] I call [Music] Oh, [Music] Are you ready? [Music] Oh Lord. [Music] No, he's nervous. I was like, I remember [Music] Oh yeah. How much longer? [Music] All right, let me show you. [Music] This morning, But he didn't know. But he This blood.