001So, I get to do it here a little bit because I'd like to wish everyone uh in the next week or two a happy Easter, happy Passover, and most especially a wonderful spring break. Uh do want to thank our board members for their flexibility and everyone for their flexibility today. Obviously, our meeting was supposed to be yesterday. We had a great legislative financial uh group uh trip yesterday. Uh a lot of uh I see Dr. Morgan walking in and he was there and we had a great group of central office. We had a great several board members uh and central office folks and especially uh some great teachers and uh we had a wonderful principal but most especially we had nine wonderful students that were there. Uh we did speak with um legislators on both
002sides of the aisle uh about you know the aotment formulas and especially EC aotment formulas. Yeah, I got you. Yeah, I got you. I was like that's what I'm going to talk about. So but u and I think it fell on some very uh good ears. Uh so hopefully we'll see some positive uh motion from that in the in the days and weeks to come. But uh a good trip. Uh, I do want to uh give a big shout out to all those folks that rode on the bus. Oo, that's a long ride on the bus. Uh, but uh, at this point I'm just going to ask you, would you please call the role? Mr. Pete Wabore, present. Mr. David Perry, Miss Judy Justice, hopefully she she said she'd be here, so hopefully she'll be
003here momentarily. We'll go ahead and start with our pledge. I've asked Mr. Perry to do that for us today. I pledge algiance 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. We will not have an indication today, so we'll have a moment of silence. We thank you for that. All right. At this point, we will entertain a motion. And there's only two. I'm looking at you because it's just the two of us. Uh I will entertain a motion to approve the agenda. Yes, ma'am. I'd like to ask. Okay. So, we have a motion to approve the agenda. I'll second that. Mr. Perry is here to just go ahead. Oh, yes. I would like to make my
004email open. I think that probably added this in the package. Good morning. We have two wonderful principles here. I do want to thank you all for being here today, too. Morning, Miss Justice. How are you? I'm fine. Mr. Okay. 4150 4150 41 I like to make a motion to add uh uh under new business 4150. Okay. All right. So, I'll second that. Any discussion? 4150. I'm not sure what it is. I I read it over. I had a request. I guess we'll clarify when we talk about it. This is in regards to the lottery selection for uh our year round schools. Okay. There's 4150. Let me open it up. Wow. At this point, we just motion to add it to the agenda, but let me pull it up. My proposal Uh it would be on
005policy 4150 under B in addition to line B2 additional language to be added under the lottery assignment. Okay. All right. We have a first and second. Any other discussion of 41 You said 4150, right? Correct. 4150. If not, all in favor of adding 4150, we'll add right there at the end after 7,300. All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. I. All oppose. Like sign. That passes 30. Where were you placing it? Right at the end. At the end. Okay. Close. I can figure out left on my in my house. All righty. We will carry on then. Uh we have a motion to approve the now amended policy. We have a second. Any other discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. I. All oppose. Carries again. 300. I'm trying
006to find the beginning of my listings here. We do not have Dr. Barnes here today. So, um, I I'll ask Miss Justice, would you keep us up to date on the pages, please? You mind doing that? Oh, these pages. Yes, please. I I'll have to do it for myself. So, I will try to do that off. I appreciate that. I was actually having a competition with Dr. Barnes before. Maybe I can you. Perfect. Perfect. We kept each other in our We certainly do appreciate that. Uh next uh bit of before we jump into that though, uh next bit of business is to approve your minutes. Do I hear a motion? I move. Okay, we have a motion. I'll second that. Any discussion? All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. All opposed. Again, we're
007carrying three. Very good start. Um so our first policy in front of us is 1720. Uh we have the policy in front of us. Take a moment to look it over. All right. Um could you hold just a I will remind board members that you know what we do here is we carry on stuff to the board that's our job and then after that if there's further discussion um you know if we want to discuss uh individual words and stuff we can discuss it here uh before it goes up or we can discuss it once it gets on the dis um 1720 uh I think after hearing the board um at last meeting on a similar policy Um, I would make a motion we push that on up to the board removing the word biological.
008Is there a second? Okay. Go ahead, M. Justice. Right. Where is 1720? Thank you so much. Not doing a very good job. Mhm. Um, you said page 24, I believe, didn't it? All right. So, we were at the time concerned about the word biological and our advice to remove that. Is that what we're discussing right now? Exactly. That's what I just said. We'll move seven my my motion is to move 1720 on to the full board removing the word violence. Okay. Um I would just like to have a brief discussion about um deleted um portion sexual orientation and gender identity. Good. Okay. I believe is she point of order. Is she seconding the motion so we can enter discussion? Second so we can Okay. Is there a second to move policy 1720 on to the
009full board removing the word biological? So we're finishing this first. We have we have we need to get a second. So we I second it. Is there a second? I none. I entertain another motion. Oh, you did second. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. All right. Yeah. I'm you know maybe you should not have assigned me this. All right. Now we have a first and second. So Miss Justice, go ahead. Your discussion, please. Uh I think it's it's sex is fine. There's no reason to put biological in there. Okay. It's It says what it says. Okay. Um why add extra words plus confusion? Sounds good. Okay. Mr. Perry, I'll reiterate what I've said before on this. Um I believe there are while respecting our attorney's advice. I believe there are risk either way we go. If we're
010not clear, if we leave the term sex as ambiguous and left up to the ninth circuit, current current uh uh grim case reading. Fourth circuit, sir. Just to correct you. Fourth circuit, not ninth circuit. I Oh, did I say that? I'm sorry. I meant fourth. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. um that you know there's a if we add the word biological there is a pro there's a possibility that we could uh you know encounter a lawsuit but we also have the possibility by not being clear um by not stating what I believe uh what the what they ruled in the Tennessee versus Cardona case and reading it pretty thoroughly over the weekend. It pretty much says that sex means both male, female, that's it. So, if we're not clear, are we really abiding by the dear colleague
011letter? Do we risk possibly losing money if we just leave it wide open for interpretation? So, I want that people to to know that. Um, and uh I do have a question for the attorney in regards to um the language. Um I said parenting status. I think I added parenting status and removed a couple other ones. Um, do we even need to have those? Is that part of the law that we need to include pregnancy, child birth, blah blah blah blah blah? Well, can we just say sex because it says including so in parenthesis. So, Mr. I I think the the addition of pregnancy discrimination, child birth was reappropriation on the basis of sex against female students. And it's and you know the rationale for that is obviously male students can't be pregnant. Um so
012you talked about a um if you differentiate treatment based on that you're differentiating based on sex fairly directly not it's not just an indirect but but are we required to say that I mean it's more like here are some examples that we also mean here too uh or or can we just leave it as vague as it is? I mean certainly the the term sex tracks the statute you know it's that's the way the statute's written on the basis of sex. Um and you know I guess if our interpretation is always going to include pregnancy and child birth then you know we we'd be fine in practice. Um the the reason and I don't want to get back into biological sex part too much. It's just just as but but that that's the rationale for
013it in there. And I mean, like I said, I don't think you're going to um you know, you're going to dramatically run up your likelihood of of any kind of liability by um taking those words out, but at the same time, they really don't detract from anything. And I think it makes it clear that we include um non-discrimination against our pregnant female students or or ones that um have had children in our protection for um non-discrim. Oh, thank you. So, from a legal perspective, I'd like to make a motion to amend um Mr. Wboard motion just to remove everything uh all the including stuff and just leave it uh as sex because every because we're removing sexual orientation and gender identity and all. Why do we need all these examples? If we're going to be
014vague, this what I was trying to stress at last board meeting is why do we need all these identity groups? Why can we not just treat everybody equally? Of course, we're not going to discriminate against a pregnant student. Of course, we're not going to discriminate title nine perspective. Just saying sex. We might as well just take all these examples out of it and just uh Okay. Just leave sex. Okay. All right. So, you're making an amendment to to the motion. Is there a second? Hearing none, we will carry on. Um, so we have a motion in front of us to push uh 17 or move 17, not push 1720 on uh deleting those words and deleting uh the board biological first and second. All in favor, please signify by saying I I I a signify
015by saying no. Okay. I'm sorry. I I I did I I was listening. So, we have a motion and to move 1720 on to the full board. Uh deleting the words u biological, sexual orientation, sexual gender. Uh we have we have voted. We just need a yay or a nay for we I wanted more discussion. So, okay. Okay. Well, we we've already pulled the question, so it's kind of late to that. It was the way it was read the I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm having trouble understanding. I thought you were just talking about sexual about the biological and that we were moving to the next. I didn't realize it was together and what? Okay. All right. I have no problem. We'll step back. Okay. Go ahead. All right. Because I believe that we definitely do
016need to leave sexual orientation and gender identity in there. I'm coming from the perspective of the real world in the schools with our students and our staff and our parents and our community. And this is a reality. their gender, different gender orientations. Um, and there definitely are uh different gender identities. And one of the problems we have in the schools is this problem with children being bullied, uh, staff being unhappy with trying to protect them and not having the ability to, and we're going to be talking about that later. And this this ties right into it. To think it's just sex, period, biological sex. there's more to it involved and that's why it's spelled out originally. I think we need to leave it that part in there and that is to protect a lot of
017people that historically weren't and over the last 50 years they have been. And to go back in time sends a really bad message to our schools and to our community that we are not addressing the reality of the world and the respect that all people deserve and that our experiences as humans in this country in America has shown that we need to be including them instead of isolating them and pretending that they don't exist and then all these problems arise around that. So would you like to make a motion? Yeah. I I move that we leave the that we leave that in there that we do not remove the terms sexual orientation and gender identity. Okay. So, we have a motion uh amendment, excuse me, not a motion, but an amendment to leave sexual orientation
018and gender identity in. Is there a second hearing? None. We have a motion and a second in front of us to move 1720 uh to the full board for further discussion. Uh removing the word biological, removing the words sexual orientation and gender uh identity. We have first and second which we had before. Yes sir. So she since Miss Justice got an opportunity to um make amendment. Make amend I I don't want to necessarily make amendment. I'd like to just speak on um the fact that we this is title 9 and we have other policies with regards to bullying and harassment for all the other different characteristics individual characteristics that we're talking about. We don't put up with bullying harassment for any student for any reason. So it's not like we don't care but this is
019specifically about title guide which is about this. So, I'm going to go ahead and vote for this with even though I uh because we need to get this going and we need to get it out. Even though I would like the word biological, I'm going to go ahead and just vote for it as it is. Okay. And and just a reminder, Mr. Perry, we you know, even no matter what we vote here, we bring it on up to the full board. It can be redised at that point. So, we can bring back that point up. Okay. So, we have again we have a first and second uh to move 1720 onto the full board. All in favor of doing that with again to be to totally clear with removing the word biological also sexual orientation
020and sex uh gender identity. All in favor please signify by saying I I all opposed. Opposed. Okay that passes 2 to one. So we'll move 1720 uh on as amended. 1920. We'll go to the board for the next meeting and we are carrying on. Next uh policy is 3540. What page is that? 28. Thank you. 3540. Page 28. Thank you, Miss Justice. Page 28. All right. So, we have this policy in front of us um with some uh red parts here. uh change instruction to gender identity will not be included in health education program at any grade level. Instruction or on sexual activity or sexual sexuality will not be included on health education program uh kindergarten through four fourth grade. And our chief academic officer has uh an update that she would like to share
021with us at this point on this policy. So I will turn that over to you please. Thank you Mr. Bavore. in the revisions of the policy, I believe that the um got sent back from the full board last time included under section B, the last section under B where it says parents or guardians of high school students shall receive a letter from their child's school. I believe it was felt that um it was sent back because there was a question about that section which was not changed from the original um policy that the high school students are still opting out with this current policy. I believe that their concern at the full board meeting was there was an indication that the desire that that be opt in um be included. Since the full board meeting,
022we have had a bill sent to um the the House Bill 595 which would if become a law currently it's just a bill um students in grades 7 through 12 would not participate in instruction on gender identity, sexual activity or sexuality without prior written consent. So, with this potential, um, if we do not change and we leave our policy as it was originally written about opting out in high school, if this does become a law, just want you to know that we would have to look at that again. Um, does anybody have a copy of that? Three, sorry, I did have a copy of that. Pass those around, right? And again, it is only a bill and I know we can't, you know, every time a bill comes out, we don't need to necessarily change
023our policies, but just wanted you to have an awareness of that. I appreciate that. I also have the health standards for grades 9 through 12. Of course, health and PE is a graduation requirement for us. So, I have those. And in this section I have highlighted six on page three and the top of page four the you justice I hope you'll take one and pass that around please. Yeah paper distribution period. H. So if if we do leave it opt out or if we go with opt in, whichever I've highlighted on page three and the top of page four the standards that parents have the ability to opt out of. They're the interpersonal communication and healthy relations standards. Um so I've highlighted what the parents at the high school can opt out of since this
024is a graduation requirement. Mr. P. Um, so I This is probably where I'm going to want to ask attorney um for some recommendations here. Um, what what you're saying is is that it's required and so we can't have it to be uh opt in um more or less. Um, but we made a vote as a board that it would be opt in and we specifically voted that way. Not just the policy committee, but we specifically we where we decided to redo the I don't know we did for 9th grade though. I don't think not for n Yeah, for n Yeah, for nth grade. We did not make a change for high school. that is on the second page of policy 3540 and it's the last part of I'm not saying any section B and we
025did not make any changes to that right above C there when we were having the discussion in regards to the merging of the programs and uh it wasn't a week ago but probably the the month prior um that Miss Bradford I believe made a uh specific motion to make it opt in and that was passed as far if I can recall about ninth grade though. Well, um, it happens to Miss Bradford is in attendance, so maybe we can ask her. Miss Bradford, do you remember that by chance? Did you happen to be in attendance? We can ask you specifically. I don't remember that we moved to 9th grade because I don't know that we could, but I may be wrong. Thank you. Okay. So I think it was left at as ninth grade was was
026not was opt out and everything else was opt in. Correct. Right. Yeah. Because it is state curriculum. I mean that's part of the healthy you know. Okay. Well let's look back at the policy we have in front of us. Again this is only a bill. So this is not necessarily something that we have to you know react to yet. If it becomes law then obviously we will. Um but we have in front of us policy 3540 uh with uh paragraph three uh changing um and then paragraph 4 deleting the words uh withheld consent paragraph five deleting s deleted I don't know what that is believe oh some things there and two courses in six through Eight. Paragraph six. The family life education is elective program. Parents and guardians must explicitly opt their child into the
027program. Therefore, uh parents and guardians will receive a letter from the child's school that includes authorization form that must be received by the school before the students allowed to participate in family life or u program. This authorization must be renewed each year school year. Furthermore, the letters also include a listing of the different topics that were covered and the authorization form shall provide a space for the parent or guardian to opt their child out of any topic that they deem inapprop that is appropriate for their child. So, I'm going to make a motion that we pass 3540 on to the full board. Yes, sir. Let's see if we get a second first and then we'll go from there. A second. Okay. Now, a second. Mr. Um, given what we've been told in in Miss Bradford's
028confirmation, I'm I'd like to make a motion to amend the uh the paragraph under B uh just to say uh the 8 family life education program is elected program. I think it actually says right here. Oh, it says not you. Okay. So, you want to add K8 there? I think that's a good idea. I'll second that. So, that would be under fee, you're saying? Yeah. Um, is that at the top of 30? It looks like it is, but that says actually five through nine. Yeah. But he's saying that really the elective program is really five is K through well K but five through eight but or K through eight whatever you want to say because really ninth grade is not a I think his point I don't want to speak for you but I think
029his point is that nine is not really an elective program it's a required program. Correct. Right. So it's five through being told 5 through eight. Yeah. Okay. That makes sense. Okay. All right. So we have a first and second to pass 35. Did you get all that? Sir, I made a motion to Okay, we we have the motion. We had second. So, uh we have policy 3540. Uh moving on to the full board as amended with the second with the second amendment in addition to all the amendments here. All in favor, please signify by saying discussion. Oh, yeah. Okay. I thought we were done. Go ahead. Sorry. I'm not done. Oh, yeah. No, I'm not done. Okay. Okay. Um I'm objecting to the hill deletion here. Uh the instruction on gender identity, sexual activity, and
030sexuality will not be included in the health education program in kindergarten through fourth grade kindergarten. Um that's what's being deleted. I would like I don't want I don't think it should be deleted. I I I don't understand why we're trying to keep our children ignorant of reality and normal human development. Um that's what this is denying that here and that doesn't help our kids especially kids that are um ar I guess you can't culturally traditionally um in a a role that this going back in time is more you know how they would be I guess experiencing school we're living in 2025 not uh 1955 five. And I'm, you know, this is very concerning to our children and our staff, too, because their staff is with the kids every day and they're not going to be
031allowed to answer questions. Uh they're not going to be allowed, that's the main thing. Questions are looking around. That's what kids do. They need to know information. And we're keeping information from kids, healthy information, normal information. Would you like to make an amendment? Yeah. Well, I don't I don't think we should pass it this way. Okay. That's the heck with the amendment. We we need to just leave it the way it was before they brought it here with the deletions. Okay. All right. That's I like it original. All right. Then we'll we'll go ahead and vote on it. Except for the eighth grade part. That was good. Okay. All right. We have the amended motion. Uh all in favor of passing 3540 as amended on to the full board. Please signify by saying I. I.
032I. All opposed. Opposed. Okay. That passes two to one. We'll carry on to our next policy which is 30 no 430 by my one. Is that right? Yes. 4303 which is fair and consistent discipline administration. We have a cross out you know in the second paragraph. Could you say that one more time? 33. Uh 4303. Page 35. Let's move. I'm doing your job for you. 35. And she's helping me over there, too. She is a great helper, too. I know she is moving around. All right. So, we have 433, fair and consistent discipline administration. Um, we it is it does have a section crossed through here in the second paragraph. Uh, and I think that's the only change we have. I'll make a motion we carry 4303 on to the full board as amended. I
033second it. Second. Any discussion? Yes. Oh, wait a minute. I don't I saw two hands at the same time. So, go ahead. Well, were you doing something illegal before I had something to say? I think you can do your legal first. So, it might support what I'm about to say. Um even though this um statement is being removed um this process is a requirement under federal legislation under IDEIDA individuals with disabilities education act and is still a major function of the special education team analyzing discipline around students with disabilities. Okay. Very good. So it's bas that part is going to happen anyway the IDA part right. Yes. And it is about over representation um specific specifically to students with disabilities by race. Okay. So if we so now my discuss so if we leave we
034need to leave it in our policy because it's federal law. Correct. We're going to um comply with federal law um because it it supersedes and we can't our policy can't negate federal um regulations. So if it if it's removed from policy, we're still going to have to comply. So why remove it from policy? Why not only keep the federal law? Mr. Fair, we took a vote on this respectfully to remove this language, right? And and and this is we expect that if we pass policy that you obey the policies that we create. All due respect there. We have a counter order from our we have we have a the dear colleague member says get rid of this stuff. So whether you like it or not we're following that. I would already voted to follow that.
035So uh justice uh can we talk to our attorney uh legal legally that dear colleague letter was not legally binding. Um, and at this point the federal law is that Congress passed and they're the ones that make the laws, not an executive order that's vague. So legally, we should be following federal law that's spelled out and hasn't be rescended by Congress. Okay. And we, you did mention asking our attorney and he's here for a reason. Um, the issue raised where I talked to There was um Miss was um about not race and as disability status. Is that right? That's the primary concern. The primary is disability and it's disability by race. You know, if you wanted a neutral way to say it, if you really you could simply say that the board will comply with
036federal law, but Just the suggestion that that um would be a innocuous way to affirm that we'll do what we're required to do is we get the guidance on what that exactly is going to be. Say that again. That's the the board will comply with federal law. So, I'll make a amendment that we delete the wording as provided here and we concur with our attorney saying the board will comply with federal law. Is there a second? Second. First point of point of uh uh inquiry. Are you saying uh we're still removing the uh strength language? Yes, sir. and just replacing with so basically everything just crossed through we would replace with the words the board will comply with federal law we're going to do fine okay all right in favor of passing 4303 wish I
037didn't get another more discuss I'm sorry um have too much fun today there's a problem with that you're fine now we'll just keep going okay 4303 with the uh amended lang with deleting that language and the amended language being inserted again the board will comply with federal law. We'll get back here. All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. I. All oppose. We actually passed that one. 1430. Uh 30. Very good. Carrying on to page 39. Policy 4329, bullying and behavior. 4329. [Music] and we come to the word biological again. Um, sir, Mr. Perry. Yeah, I like to make some amendments. Okay. This was my original language that I proposed. Um, but these are under section A in relationship to other policies. I think we can just leave uh all these other things in
038parentheses uh on say discriminate on page 39 bottom under a discrimination harassment. We all we really need to say is if it's covered by uh you know uh if it if it's prohibited by federal law just refer to this policy. We don't have to say all these other things. We don't have to name every identity group. This is just a reference to other things to other policies. Again, with title nine, we don't really we could probably remove all that. Um, it just we we don't need the parenthesis prohibiting biologically sex based harassment. It's enough just to refer it to if it's title 9 or if it's some other federal law then it goes get it get it get get re it get gets referred to uh these other policies and that the bullying harassment um
039in this section 43297311 is every other kind of harassment for any other reason. So you're b if I if I'm understanding you correctly your your uh motion is to pass uh deleting everything that's in the parenthesis in under section A and probably when we get to B I think we can again this is a reference to what um when we get to to B3 again we don't need all that basically it's saying this this that uh differing per personal characteristics by a person's association. Um but why are we we don't need to name all these identity groups. It's just every individual student that we have is unique. We don't need to peg them into identity groups. Okay. So, so let's get rid of all that stuff. So basically I'm trying to make sure I understand
040what you're saying. Uh remove everything on three from um starting uh differentiating crystal characteristics include but are not limited to etc all the way down to uh all the way down to sensory disability and just and then the rest of the sentence. Okay. We just don't discriminate period. Okay. And then also but you're also saying the parentheses on a the first two. Yes. Okay. And and then we then remove any other place where I think biologically sex. All right. So that's a motion. Is there a second? I'll second that. I mean we lose the discussion. I don't know how many times we're going to have a student discriminated against being 40 or older. Um hopefully we don't have very few of those. I'm hoping we get very few of those. Yes, ma'am. Okay. You and
041I have both been administrators. We know how this goes. This is a heck of a lot easier to deal with what's going on in a school in a certain setting. When you've got a kid doing a specific thing that you can point right at, make it real vague. Then you're going to get wiggle room and you're going to get complaints. Could you talk to your attorney again? is the reason all these these different situations are in here is because there is no vagueness then even though there could be even more. Could you please comment on what's going on here? Um first you know we've had the discussion a little bit earlier about removing the biological the term biological sex. Now looking at A versus B in here, these different parts of it, you know, I
042think you're probably better off leaving it as just sex in A, but in B, in B, the concern that you had to to make sure that you're complying with grim, whether you, you know, in this one, adding the term biological in B, I don't think really makes a difference because you're catching the other things after that. But That's I know that seems like a weird distinction to make. Your point about um needing to have something in policy is is a welltaken one though from the disciplinary look looking at the back end of it. What happens? How does the the administration deal with bullying? Well, the first thing when you take a disciplinary action against a student and they appeal, what's the first argument? not in the policy on your policy evol and and so from
043that perspective yeah you're right that that's a a good point that's a consideration happens all the time that you should have and you know I'm not an expert I'm not in the classroom dealing with that or or in the principal's office but I think the staff's view of it or the people experience being staff is probably a good place to look for whether that's a imagined um problem or whether it would be a real one. I I I don't know. And I have outstanding folks sitting right across the table from me who can answer that question for us or hopefully give us some insight. So would our two principles please speak to that for us? One or both or trio or not trio duo? Yes sir. You want me Well, go ahead. Okay. um when
044you're they wanted to remove um this particular policy. We'll use the one that the attorney had just pointed out under B um conducted uh conduct that is considered bullying or harassing behavior. They want to remove on three um certain types of uh language that points out further what bullying or harassing behavior includes. uh such things as um socioeconomic status, academic status, physical appearance, sexual orientation or mental, physical, developmental or sens sensory disability. Um bullying and harassing behavior can violate this policy regardless of the student's motivation. The point is that this this is spelled out the different ways that they can bully a child, harass a child in language that that's very clear and straightforward. So, you know, and bullying is a big problem all the way, you know, from one K all the way through
04512. And so, you have a situation and you have students and you have explanations and you have something like this written in clear language. You can point at it and say, "You were harassing this student according to this policy and read it out according to the behavior that children were just carrying out." That would that would and I did it when I was in administration and it just made life quite, you know, straightforward. Well, to be clear, this doesn't just pertain to students. This also this does not just pertain to students. No, it goes it goes across the board. But I was using students as an example as from a p perspective as a principal. Well, that's why I think the language is important is because it doesn't just pertain to students. It also pertains
046to the adults. If it does, I think having that language in there does matter. Yeah, it Well, that's my opinion. Yes, that's my opinion also. Thank you. And uh we do have I'm just going to get one more. Did you have anything you want to share? We have two principles here and Yeah. No, I I just am going to second and and even like yes, outside of students, but even but especially for students, um having everything specifically laid out makes it much easier to stand on. And I'm actually going to look over to Dr. Morgan, too. Uh he was recently a high school principal because we we have, you know, kind of the elementary feel here. And I'm I was an elementary principal, too, so I concur. But um like you also get the high
047school maybe idea. Yeah, I mean I would agree. I think I think the more that you can lean on policy for things like that, the better. Mr. Perry, I find it very weird this whole section. Um, number three B, it goes on and on about giving examples of motivate motivations for that's somehow important. But then at the very last sentence, it says it doesn't need to have any of those motivations. It's still bullying, you know. So why are we listing this? You know, this is there's always going to be something that isn't on our list. Okay. Oh, the kid you're picking on some kid because he's a you consider him a geek. Well, that's Oh, geekness is not on here. Sorry, we need a new identity group. Sorry. This is not how it should go.
048This is you you you harass or abuse another student. You know, let's set standards of conduct regardless of motivation. That's where I'm just Okay. He went on and I think he sort of clarified what he was saying as far as what his concern was about the very last term in there regardless of a student's motivation. Um he just clarified it. I'm the legal one. All right. So what we have in front of us right now is some first and second to uh pass 4329 with um deleting all the things in the paragraphs or excuse me the parenthesis in the first and second section on page 30 on the under a under page 39 and then deleting everything uh with differentiation personnel. believing in bullying and harassment behavior can violate this policy regardless of students motivation.
049We have heard from our attorney uh several experts uh in presence all in favor of passing that as as provided there. Please signify by saying I I all oppose signify by saying no. Did you just leave that biological set the biological my motion? I think he's no. All right. So, now we still have and I'll say no. Also, I think that we've heard from our experts here that they'd like to have it left in. So, I'll make a a motion that we uh pass 4329 uh eliminating the words biological in the two uh on page um 39. Excuse my voice. And then on then on page point of order. Yes, sir. Um, if you you're eliminating the word biological, you're eliminating everything in B2 B3. What is it that we are what exactly is left?
050There's no changes. No. If listen to my my motion here again, my motion is to uh under uh A just to eliminate the word biological, leave everything else there. under uh section C to delete continue to delete the words gender, gender identity and biological sex. So that's basically what we have in front of us. Just deleting the red section and continuing to delete gender and gender identity. Is there a second? Okay. All right. Hearing none, we will carry on. Is there another motion like to be made? So at this point it's it's left the way it is until I have to make a motion to table this until the um our next call to Okay, I'll second that. So we'll table 40. Uh we have to vote. Any further discussion on it? Hearing none. Uh
051we have a first and second to table 40 to hold in policy 4329 until our next meeting. All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. All opposed. passes 300. So, we'll hold 4329 in policy. Carrying on. Thank you. I thought we were going to stand here all day and I know we have another meeting behind us, so we can't be too too long. Next policy is uh 5220 5220 52 Excuse me. I can't read 5240. Okay. My my apologies. That's on 46. Somebody needs to start wearing his his reading glasses, I guess, because Anyway, or maybe a little bigger. Anyway, I'm kidding. All right, so we have 5240, page 47. All right, right now in front of us, we have deleting the words sexual orientation and gender identity. And the discussion is whether we
052leave the words uh biological sex in and parenting status. Mr. Perry, I'd like to make a similar motion as I made um uh last week that we remove on part B uh starting at the word such as language, deleting everything until the end of section two ending with disability and and leaving all else there. Okay, I'm I'm a little lost. Can you say that again, please? Remove everything in in point B2 begin at the word such as language defaming a person's character, race, religion, ethnic origin, biological sex including pregnancy, child birth and parenting status, family death, disability and delete keeping all remaining things from three and the rest of okay. All right. So again deleting uh all the such things under you have that M just I I heard what he said. Okay, you got
053it. Okay, you got it. All right. So can't so basically uh personal lios statements personal attacks abusive language and then we start deleting at such as language defaming a person's character race religion ethnic origin biological sex including pregnancy child birth and parenting status family status or disability. That's a motion. Is there a second hearing? None. I will make a motion that we pass policy 5240 on with uh removing the word biological sex and continuing to delete the word sexual orientation and gender identity. Is there a second? Second. Thanks. Justice once more. Deleted. Taking out sexual orientation and gender identity. It's not right for our schools. It's not right for our staff and it's not right for our kids or their families. I mean, I can talk about this over and over and say the same
054thing over and over again, but we're really going down the wrong path here. Um, and it's been proven if you look at what's going out inside this door right now, these decisions are not good for society. Now, on a macro level, too, not just a micro level in our schools. Thank you. We have a motion and a second to pass 5240 on to the full board for further discussion. and vote. All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. I. All oppose. Opposed. Passes two to one. All right. All right. Next, we got 7360. Crowdfunding. We were in strange times. All right. I think the only change we have in this policy No, we have several changes. I'm sorry. Yep. I apologize. Okay. We have a change uh a proposed change uh in section uh
055C1 to change the word from inequity to discrepancy. And then further in section C2 delete um or because the judgment superintendent or designate proposed campaign would produce uh unacceptable inequity in the educational environment. Is there a motion? Yes, sir. I may make a motion that we accept changes with the to discuss it. Okay. All right. and I'll second that and go ahead and discuss. I I just want to kind of understand where this is coming from. This is a policy on crowdfunding, correct? And the uh the the piece that we are re moving unacceptable inequity in the educational environment. Um what is that referring to? Can we get any? Yeah. Mutton's here. So M would you speak to that please for us? So this was a policy we discussed at the last policy committee meeting
056and u myself, Mr. Farum and Mr. Henry were asked to go back and come up with some proposed wording changes to the policy. Um and so the concern I believe from the last policy meeting with this policy was that um through fundraising um one school might have an unfair um advantage over another school. And so we were just trying to um adjust the language to account for those differences and then also um use a different word other than inequity. um on page 52. And so we didn't think um in on page 53 that area that's being deleted would um we felt like it was extra wording, not actually needed because in our procedures there's actually a form that principles complete. And so that's more of a procedural thing that we handle through that form. So
057we didn't think by deleting that language we were taking anything away from the policy. But if anyone else would like to speak No, thank you. Thank you. Justice, can I ask you are you talking about the language on page 53 at the end of parag I guess section two maybe? Yes, correct. So you said by removing that lang I'm just trying to clarify what they decided to do. Um so so by removing that language it's it's not necessary language in your opinion. It's correct. The it's been said above that and that's just redundant. Correct. And also that's something that we look for when the forms come to finance for review of fundraising. We look to see if there's any inequity that this um fundraising could um produce and have conversations with Mr. Henry as well
058to make sure there are no title n issues we need to consider. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Any other discussion? If not, we have a first and second. I'm not done with this. Okay. The H went back. Okay. No, but I do appreciate the clarification of the changes there. Uh, once more. Here we go. Discrepancy. Inequity turned to discrepancy. That's ridiculous. There's no legal basis for any of this except for that co dear colleague letter that once more is not legal binding. So silly language changes. Inequity is very clear and straightforward. discrepancy is a little, you know, you want to go ahead and allow somebody to bully us into using bad language, you guys can. I'm not there. First and second, all in favor of passing 7360. Yes. On to the full board, please signify
059by saying I as amended. I And all opposed? Opposed. 7360 carries on as amended. Two to one. All right. Uh, next policy I have on my list is 8220 and that is correct. Gifts and bequest. We have uh quite a few changes in section one uh in the red. I'll make a motion we carry it on um as provided uh deleting the word biological. Is there a second? Second. Okay. There's a second. Any discussion? Uh, you're saying to remove it, right? Right. Just the word biological, but all the other ones. All the everything as as provided as provided. I totally agree with what's putting in here. I I said I going to have to keep repeating myself, but I think you get the gist of it. I think by taking this language out is extremely
060inappropriate. I think that you you're bowing to bullies and it's not legal. Uh if it was I would feel because I believe in the constitution you know that and I believe in the separation of powers and I believe we're a local body here and I think we should be doing better instead of being bullied by somebody who's right now trying to bankrupt our country. Thank you ma'am. Any other discussion? If not yes sir this is very very similar to what which is the last policy. We just we want to we want to make sure that uh that there's I use different language than you use unequal advantage compared to yours but I think it's the same idea. Uh we want to make sure that there's not one school gets a whopping big advantage over other
061schools. So uh I'm for this uh and while I would have liked to cut the biological I'll be happy to go on with getting any of it at this point cuz no no use beating a dead horse. Right. All right. Thanks sir. All right. All in favor of moving 8220 as amended on to the full board, please signify by saying I. I. All opposed. Opposed. Passes two to one. Board members, not board members. Uh committee members, we just let you know we are one hour into our two-hour meeting. So keep May I make a motion that we take a fiveminute break? We can take a fiveminut break. Uh so moved five minute break. Please be back at 5 after 11. Yes. That clock is fast. art critic, but I will do my best. Another Just
062a second. Actually, um I I just was told that u Dr. Morgan's ready to speak on this too. So maybe we can get a tag team on that. Dr. Morgan, welcome. Yes, sir. I apologize. I thought maybe you referring to one that she just talked about. Um I I just wanted to remind the the committee that um the way that the current policy reads 4925 does align with state statute um that state shall have verifiable 10% goal for the participation not excuse me by minority businesses in total value of work for each state building project. Um, the other thing I think is worth pointing out is within that statute and I think with uh in the policy as it's currently written is the notice that if if a minority business contractor does not submit a
063proposal or bid that is the lowest responsible responsive bid, then we're under no obligation to accept that one. So there's no preferential treatment for it. But the goal is um or the law says that we have to have a verifiable 10% goal of of participation from those organizations. So I just wanted to throw that out there because the way that it's currently written I think reflects that accurately. Okay. So you mean in the the beginning or 9125 as currently written not with the changes? Yes sir. Correct. Sure. Thank you. All right. Sutton we go to Sutton. I had presented at the last policy committee meeting a recommendation. It was a one pager, but I don't see that in here. Um so, um I wanted to leave the wording that talked about we would maintain a
064um commitment to fair and open competition um in in our contracting processes. Um, so I don't I wonder so those changes aren't in here. So I'm not sure if we just decided we didn't like the recommendation. What were they in the previous the second hiation? See if we can pull that back up and maybe we can put that on the board so we can It was a handout that I provided during the meeting. Yes. So, we have a copy here, but I don't I didn't make copies for everyone. Sorry about that. Let's let's let's just uh delay for one second. Maybe we can get some copies for Yeah. Would you mind reading it to us? Well, I mean this this is the one that we've already copies of this correct. So she's making copies of
065that. Um but my recommendation was to um include in the heading um let's see I'm trying to see um the board is committed to provide committed to promoting equal opportunity in the school systems building um construction contracts uh equal opportunity commitment. And so if you go to what's marked out on page 60 um um under B, this writing is very small. Um it's not exactly the same. I'm sorry. So I'm just going to read from the handout. Um the the board ensures that information about the school systems formal and informal bidding processes is readily accessible to all interested businesses. Devel number two develops and implements outreach plans to inform all businesses about opportunities to participate in building projects. Three, advertises bids and media outlets that reach a broad audience to ensure wide dissemination. Four, encourages
066contractors to attend scheduled pre-bid conferences. Five, designates a school official to attend pre-bid conferences to explain the school systems commitment to equal opportunity. Six, provides timely notification of all interested businesses about bid opportunities, including descriptions of the work, submission deadlines, contract information, and access to bid documents. Number seven, ensures that all interested parties have access to necessary bid documents. Eight, maintains documentation of outreach efforts to all business firms. Nine, reviews bids for compliance with all legal requirements prior to recommending contract awards. 10 encourages businesses facing challenges with bonding, licensing, and bid deposits to utilize resources and assistance offered by local, state, and federal agencies. And 11 provides information to biders about certification programs for historically underutilized businesses. And so, um, and then also B talks about non-discrimination. Um, the board will award public building contracts
067without regard to race, religion, color, creed, national origin, biological sex, age, or disability. Nothing in this policy should be construed to require the board or contractors to award contracts to subcontractors to business that do not submit the lowest responsible responsive bids or bids. So, keeping this language allows us to comply with federal and state requirements. um that we would have to do anyway. So, there's some some things that we're required to do by the state. And so, if we could at least leave this language um and and we could um and eliminate the others, I feel like we would still be in compliance um with what we're going to have to do anyway. We wouldn't be going against the board policy. I'll make a motion that we accept the proposed uh policy as revised by
068Miss Sutton 9125. Is there a second? I'll second that. We just want to get that that part done. So you can go. Go ahead. You're part of the discussion. You're good. Okay. So what you're what you're saying is this is like the bare brief minimum that you were able to find that already. Okay. So which legally though the original policy closer to the state and federal items I would agree with that that that language is more closely aligned with what's in the state and federal language written by legiscept Thank you, Mr. Justice. Mr. Perry, um I Yeah, I I see nothing in this uh uh I I Well, I think the original one that I came up with was just a non-discrimination uh clause would be good enough. I think I I don't see anything
069wrong with section A of uh the Sutton and therefore would support it. Um, we are we're not going we're basically doesn't mean it doesn't mean that we're not going to let uh minority businesses know about stuff, but it doesn't obligate us either. And it's not nor does it conude that we might give them uh the bid and equally low bid situation. It's just that we're going to we're going to be fair to all of our local uh vendors hopefully. And uh so I I I support this. All right. Um yeah, I'm not uh I mean obviously we should be following our own policies. So if if in a particular instance uh we choose to not follow our own policy, I mean that would probably mean maybe we need to revise the policy, but um and
070make exceptions, but I I would probably be in agreement that we need a super majority um to uh to not comply with our own policy. uh and and what uh obviously I think the uh if there's a dispute on that I guess we would ask the attorney of whether we are actually violating our own policy. It's not just left up to any individual board member's discretion as to whether we would be doing that in a particular instance. Is it Mr. following the question basically you're saying here you write that you should leave it as is because no I'm not saying I'm fine with having a super what what I'm asking though is who gets to decide whether we are violating the current board policy anyway let me let me yeah let me yeah basically Perfect
071example of this is you know we have set a 4 hour limit one example many many examples but we've set a 4-hour limit to our regular board meetings. So basically we once we get a 4 hours by policy we should end unless we vote to suspend the basically at that point which is in my opinion we're suspending the policy that says 4 hours and we're done to say okay we'll vote and we'll add you know so right now it's it it requires a majority. So if there's seven uh board members present and four of them say yes, let's continue the discussion and add another 15 minutes or something, we can do that. Uh what this what the request from that one board member is is we make that a supermajority. So if four people said
072yes, let's continue the discussion and that wouldn't that wouldn't pass. you'd have to have uh the person you'd have to have five people that agree otherwise we couldn't you know suspend the rules but I'm guessing it could h not just I mean that's a pretty practical um board policy which is but could we I'm guessing there's probably more egregious or or more not gregous is not the right word um you know, we could violate a board policy could be something a little bit more substantial than just a time limit. Correct. Another example could be that that I've seen because uh you know in my six years on the board or not six years but four years now um um would be like we used to have we have an hour for the uh call audience
073and if we had two or three extra people we you know we could suspend the follow. In fact, we had a board member that used to get very upset that we would say, "Well, we got three extra people here and we'd vote, but again, it would be 43." My thought on this is, you know, the majority is the majority. I don't think we need a supermajority to be able to suspend the rules. But no, I'm I'm thinking more in that particular instance. I don't have any problems with it a majority deciding but could you say you know oh well uh you know there are other instances for instance when we have a um like for instance if we if if we've already adopted the agenda and then we want to add something to it later
074we need a currently we need a super majority but could we decide to at on the fly to uh not do that uh supermajority and just decide let's do it by majority. Well, that see this this would not that would this would not change that to the other way. It wouldn't delete the need supermajority. I think in that case we do need a supermajority and it's well uh well uh it's it's important to be able to have that. You need at least five people to say we're going to add something on the fly as you said but for most things I think a majority is enough. And justice had her hand up so I want to go. Yeah. Did we make a I was gonna make a motion? We hadn't made a motion yet, had
075No, that's true. Okay. I was going to discussion. Wait a second. What's motion? Okay. Well, I move that uh we move this to uh you know, move this forward to the general whole board. Is there a second? So, you second. Sure. Second. Okay. So, now get back to the discussion. All right. Further discussion. Yeah. Um, I too have been on the board for a while. That's right. And then I got to see from the outside before I came back again. I've worked with different chairs under different circumstances with different bodies with different makeups of not just politics but personalities which you also um I think a supermajority is a good idea because I have seen abuse by a simple majority um over those many years of situations where they push things through that if it
076took a supermajority it would have been more thoughtful process now I don't have the examples right off the top of my head. Your two good examples were good though. Um it's just more of a safety factor so that nobody mismuses power so that we can do things in a more cohesive as a group uh outcome. That's that's why I would like to see the super majority. I mean I I don't think somebody actually I think somebody from the outside brought this in and was might have told asked me if I'd put it on but you know that's what they that's what our job is. Okay. So, you know, I I would personally think after having been on the board and gone through enough votes and saw just a simple majority force things through that weren't
077good for the schools that maybe especially if it goes against policy, and it's mainly if it goes against policy, I think it'd be a good idea to have a super majority. Okay. All right. We have a first and second to pass third uh 2450 on. And again, that would be uh deleting the word uh majority vote and making it or adding the word super in front of majority. So, not deleting that. Uh all in favor, please signify by saying I. I. I. And I will vote no. That passes 2 to one. So, that will go on to the full board with that change. All right. Next, we have 3,200. Uh again, this came from another board member. Um and the change that uh was I don't think it's in here, but I think the change
078that he was looking for is to right before D uh to delete that whole paragraph. Okay. Right before D. So the the paragraph that was added, and I do want to point out that um uh you know, it is on here. we're going to discuss it. But, you know, this the same person uh wrote a uh an email to the board just uh few days ago about relitigating things that have recently been passed. But now we're he's wanting to do that exact same thing, relitigating something that has recently been passed. But anyway, seems like it never ends. I'm going to put that Yeah, I'm going to put that out there myself. Um so, uh is there a motion before we go on? Um I Go ahead. Well, I move that we take it to the
079whole board. I have no idea why I'm missing part of it's on page 68 is the part removing point of order. Removing the last paragraph before before D, right? Removing the words principles and teachers shall limit displays in classrooms. Thank you. It's so small. Um yes, exactly. Okay, that whole paragraph. So yeah, I want to remove that whole paragraph. Okay, that's your motion. Is there a second? Hearing none, we will uh I'll make a motion we leave policy. I don't think we need to make a motion, but I'll actually I'll second it just for the purposes of our very quick discussion. Okay. All right. the I I just want to to um to one sense I I just want to respond to our chair's u comments in regards to this this display policy. While I
080I certainly am not recommending any changes to this policy at this time, I just wanted to just say that none of the there are three new board members on this who didn't vote this in. So I think to it's not exactly relitigating um because we we weren't here. So um so that's one of the reasons I uh seconded to be discussed today. Um but as it is I am not for any changes. Okay. All right. Well obviously I wasn't on the board if they added this. Okay. This is any further discussion. Yeah. This is a this is a huge embarrassment and a problem. It hasn't served any purpose except to u harm the culture of our schools. Um it I'm gonna be straight with you. It was created by a small majority of people in
081this community. It's a form of censorship. Uh we're currently and I I'm not going to give specifics, but we're currently having some issues with staff because they're not allowed to express their first amendment rights. It's harming our students. they feel like that they can't express themselves as their authentic selves, healthy selves. It tends to um cause conflict um between those different groups in our community that doesn't need to be it. Its original intent was bogus. The idea that we're going to have problems with the Palestinian flags in schools didn't never happened in our school. Never had been. So, it was put in here for I believe political reasons and I it's just a fact. And um the same group of politicians right now are trying to control our language of the 20 2025 trying to
082go back in time and it's really making it difficult for our students especially who live and have grown up in this much more democratic open society. to deal with these kinds of censorships and control over their personal first amendment statements. And there's staff members that just about I would say most if not all that love our kids and will protect their rights and want to be able to feel have them feel comfortable. And I'm going to use the the pride flag for example. That seems to be the main goal originally when this was initiated. it wasn't a Palestinian flag. Um it's something that certain members of our um community are not happy with and I'm sorry about that. But there's a lot of things I'm not happy with either, but that doesn't mean I have
083the right to impose my will over what truly is something a lot bigger than me. Okay. So, you know, I I think it's really sad that it's even here, that it was even proposed. It's caused more energy to be taken away from what our true goal is, which is to educate our children in a very safe, you know, welcoming environment with their rights according to the Constitution, which one of them is their first amendment rights. Thank you very much. And I'm going to speak to this um because unfortunately, as Mr. Perry said, and you he was 100% correct. Uh you guys weren't on the board. Uh, I was on the board when this came through. And um, Miss Justice, I I with all due um respect, you're wrong. And you're wrong just because um I
084was on a a graduation podium where a student came forth with a Palestinian flag. So that whole, you know, line that is not not happened. I was there and the principal stepped up and said, "You can't do it." Uh, here. he was going to wrap himself in front of uh students from Israel and students from Jew with Jewish backgrounds and make a mockery of the graduation. Um so with all due respect again um at least the one time that I was witnessed to I saw that this policy as it has been amended uh or is was was amended that time actually was stopped probably a fight and probably a really bad situation for a school. Uh instead of having a graduation become a mockery the graduation was carried on uh very well. the principal did
085it extremely well uh inter intervened was able to do it uh without it becoming a um a big problem for our students for our parents. Uh so um I think that it is as it is written is is good. Um you know as far as coming in saying that there's other um things that were in here. I mean I think overall at least that one time we were able to carry on with a graduation. uh and I'm sure there's others, but at least that one time we were able to carry on with a graduation uh that was a very positive graduation. Students were able to be there and not to be um embarrassed or in get into a a major what could have been a major altercation. So, uh at this point, I'm going to
086call a question. Um all those in favor of um moving policy 3200 on to the full board, please signify by saying I. I all opposed, please signify by saying no. No. No. That is defeated. One to two. So that will not go on to the full board. [Applause] I do apologize for being heated about that, but I was there. So we'll discuss this out because both of us have been involved in a lot of graduations. I Yeah, I hope we both. Yes, we have. I appreciate that. Thank you, man. I appreciate that. Um, and 7,300 is the last policy, and then we have one more that we've added. Um, and I'm not really 100% sure. What page is that? It's the last page. That's page 72. 72. Yep. And I don't see any changes to
087it. And responsibility. I don't know why I probably was one that asked it to you put on, but I don't remember why. Oh, I think I did find something. Oh, was this part of the PL? I think this was part Yes. Oh, okay. This is probably more flag stuff or the PL stuff. Okay. It was attached. It was Yes. Okay. All right. Well, does anyone want to discuss that? We make a motion to discuss this. Well, I exactly knew where it was and now it's that it was attached to the Here it is. I Okay. Um, general responsibilities. This is what I wanted to look at. Uh, 7,300. Okay. Uh, a um, paragraph I limit displays. I would like to have this removed. um where the staff has to limit displays in the classrooms, school
088buildings, ball fields, school grounds, and buses such as signs and flags to materials that represent the United States. They have to limit it to this to United States, the state of North Carolina, New Hover County, the school name and mascot, postsecary institution, school sponsored events, sponsorships, military flags, family photos, student art, and or the approved curriculum. This is the my motion is to remove I Okay. Is there a second for for uh uh since we've already discussed that I will not second. Okay. Hearing none that's defeated. We'll carry on to the last policy we have which I don't have in my hand but that's the one she Oh, here here they come. Here they come. Oh, 4150. Thank you. I believe Mr. Perry, you brought this forward. You can hold on to this. Well done.
089Yes. Thank you. Let's let one on screen, but I'll take the physical one because I always read better with paper. I'm a book person, even though I'm a computer guy. I got you. All right, Mr. Perry. Uh, you brought this forward, so would you please? Yes. It's come to my attention that uh which I didn't know um that when we were doing lotteryies for um our our year round schools uh that the uh lottery based off the uh uh student assignment plan that the lottery is weighted uh presumably based off uh the education level of the parent or the the financial um you how much they make their uh the parents make and presumably, you know, poor students or and and perhaps even zip code um which is outlined in the student assignment uh uh
090plan. Miss Keski, is the student assignment um plan? Well, that's the policy, but the this one 4150 actually refers to the student assignment plan, but that's a separate document, I believe. Oh, is this under? Okay. So, if we go down to where the lottery part is, uh, okay. So, let's uh Can we Can we Can we I can't see it. Uh, I'm far away, though. So, anybody could read that for us? Yeah, awaited lottery. The reason I bought this is I don't think this is fair. I think uh as having a grandson in one of our year round schools, I think this is a great program for all kinds of students. I wish we had more of them. I think not only uh uh are there benefits for family life, but there are also benefits
091for with the with the lack of a big huge summer vacation uh learning is retained more. So, I mean, I hope in the future we can have more of these schools, maybe even middle schools or high schools with this kind of calendar. I think it it's good for all kids. I know we only have limited resources now, but also one of the other things that it does is is help kids who may have broken families and you know a one of their parents may live completely out of the out of the area and I know for my grandson his father lives in Colorado so and he goes to Cottington and one of the great benefits is he gets to see his father a lot more often and his side of the family and his family
092is in his his dad's family is in Pennsylvania. So these aren't, you know, right around the corner. So he my grandson gets an opportunity to see his dad and a lot more frequently than under a normal calendar situation. I think that's something. But, you know, broken families aren't, you know, limited to people of a certain income or educational level. you know, broken families crosses all spectrums and and uh I think each of our kids needs to have an equal opportunity um based off of uh in this lottery without all this weighted stuff. I also believe that this kind of weighted stuff probably is a backdoor to kind of diversity, equity, inclusion that we were instructed to get rid of which in the dear colleague letter stated very simply, very clearly that any kind of backdoor
093attempt at DEI was was not good either. I don't know how these zip codes are being used if it's just to the proximity of the school. Hey, do we favor kids who are closer to the school thing or if they're being used them to target certain demographics from certain sections of town? We want Wilmington downtown or certain sections to try to back door do back door DEI. But I think it's important since apparently our lottery is coming up very soon. I think we need to correct this, make it an equal lottery so that all of our kids have an opportunity to have an equal chance of getting into one of these year- round schools. You'd like to make a motion, sir? Yes. I'd like to make a motion that we adopt the just the two
094sentences under um uh under two under lottery assignment. Uh it says the student assignment plan shall detail the procedures of how the lottery assignment process will work. All lotteryies will provide an equal chance to all students to be selected. No weighted preferences shall be made save the students geographical proximity to the school. For purpose of discussion, I'll second that. I would like to talk to Miss Barnum, get her opinions on this, please. Miss Barnum. Uh, yes. So, this has been a um long-standing priority for the board and um is consistently approved in the student assignment plan. Um the student assignment plan for 2425 is well underway. The process is actually set to be complete prior to the May board meeting. So all parents would receive notification in April. Um but um and certainly the weighted
095lottery was created to mitigate risk factors that can interfere with students student access and student success. But of course it's the will of the board. My only concern would be the timeline for processing applications now as if there is a delay it will interfere with the um successive timelines through the um enrollment timeline process that's been communicated to the board. Yeah, I think you know and I'm speaking then I'll skip a few but I would think that we would this you know if we won't even discuss this as a board until May we would leave this year's process alone and we would you know this would be for the future. Yes sir. I actually um since we have a special meeting on Friday I've actually I I have not got a response. I actually was
096asking the chair if we would pass it whether we could have it added to the agenda for Friday. Um I'll double check with our parliamentarian today, but I'm 99% sure that especially called meeting can't have the agenda amended. So I don't think I don't think you can that would be Mason chair chair Mason. Uh, I mean I like So anyway, I think this is uh I I I certainly don't want to disrupt this year's process if we get to it early, but I do think we need to uh fix this uh and do the more fair. Okay. All right, Miss Justice. Wow, I was waiting for that. So many multiple things here and really to have it brought in and I know where it came from. A friend of ours discovered this was happening and
097he was concerned and wants us to talk about it. maybe change things, but it's it's been happening fast. We don't have it in time to really do fairness to what the process that's already in place in my opinion uh as community member and as a professional educator. Uh and there's going to be a lot of discussion because there is a reason that it is set up like that. And as far as the year- round school program, I totally agree with you. I wish we had more. Believe it or not, the reason we don't is because parents won't buy in. uh especially when it get to middle and high school because of all the conflicts of schedules. I I love that idea. We talk about that too sometime. Uh but right now I think it's possibly
098best that we take this into policy and look at it later when we have more information since it just came right here in front of us and with the expectation that we can't really it wouldn't be fair to disrupt at this point all the work that they've already done. Got 46 schools. There's a lot going on here. try to try to change that now at this late date would just not be fair to everybody. So, you know, just let's hold on to this in policy and bring it back. That that would be my because, you know, that's a discussion we're having. And I would concur just just an total aside, but I concur with you. We actually had a time when I was principal at one of the elementary schools that, you know, the whole
099group met, you know, the high school, middle school, and every single principal was like, "Yes, we want to do year round schools. We're all so everybody was on you. You know what I'm talking about." The whole group were like, "Yep." And then we as we said we went to parents and like yeah that happened and I actually worked in a year out school so I know what you're saying. I loved my kids got like his grandson it was great but he Yeah. We need people want to do it. Miss Farum you want to say something. So Miss Farnum I just I just want to add in um the way the wording is written and I know just for um discussion sake um where it says all lotteryies will provide an equal chance for students to
100be selected and no weighted preferences shall be made. I think there needs to be some stipulation. Is this just talking about the year- round schools because we do have other um weighted lotteryies? So, I think that would need to be considered in the discussion. Uh yeah, I mean I think Yeah, I for what you mean for like specialy high school programs and such things like that? Yes. Yeah. Um yeah, I think they should be just equal uh equal equal opportunity for all our students. Are you saying for all you know not only for year round schools but for all schools? And and the um notifications for um signature schools have already been completed. That process is already completed for this school year. So that would even be for this year. It it would not be
101able to be this year. Okay. All right. I mean I think it's worth bringing up to the board and letting them decide. So we have a motion and second ahead of them ahead of us. Uh all in favor of moving uh 4150 as as uh amended at least at this point on to May meeting please signify by saying I I is it we'll leave it up to discussion of the chair correct as to when it will get scheduled. Well right I'm well to our next available meeting. Is that okay? Board meeting. I'm confused. Yeah. Yeah. Board it would not committee meeting but board meeting. Okay. Okay. I I I want wanted to amend it. Oh, you want to amend? Okay. I wanted to amend because obviously Okay. I wanted to amend it for us to
102bring it back during the next policy meeting to discuss further and have possibly more information cuz it literally just walked in here last night. And there might be even more information that way we might need before we pass it on to the full board. That's all. Okay. So, your your motion is to uh hold it in policy. Hold it in policy until next policy. Okay. Is there a second? Hearing none, we'll carry on with the original motion. I so and I will vote I. No. No. Okay. So that passes 2 to1. We'll carry 4150 on to full board at the next available meeting. And believe it or not, we made it by 15 minutes. Good job. Uh I will entertain a motion to adjurnn. A motion. So moved. And I will Oh, second. We're all
103on the same page. Yeah. All right. All right. All in favor signify by saying I. I. We are journ. Thank you. Board members, please don't forget to look at your pictures. Oh, yeah.