001We're so excited to have you here for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of our new esports lounge. [Music] I'm very excited because it give a way us young people to connect and it brings out a good environment and everything and I learned yesterday that people can have similar hobbies and that can start a friendship or maybe a possible career for them in their own future lives to be able to have a space that's across the street from JAG right next to Danley uh in the center of our community right? Uh with 30 different systems uh that if you walk in there, you know, I was I was asking some of the youth that came in the space earlier how it felt to them, right? Like how did make them feel? They said, "Oh, it's
002unbelievable." Right? For them to be able to have smiles, sit down, and be able to feel comfortable in a space in a YMCA. Uh that's what we that's what we're doing it for. And so, uh I'm excited for what this can be. I'm excited for to be able to open up the avenue for esports teams through the high schools, uh to be able to come and have this as their home base, right? like to be able to say, "Hey, we got the best uh esports space in the entire country, right? Like you you can't compete with us." And so that's what I want. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Good evening and welcome to the Montgomery County Board of Education meeting. The t today is June 10th, 2025. The time is now
003five o'clock. This meeting is now called to order. At this time, we will have Pastor Henry C. Davis Jr. Uh, Jr. from Big Roxanna Baptist Church to come and provide invocation and prayer for us. May we pray. Father God, we thank you for this day. Lord, we thank you for things being as well as they are. But now we live in some perilous times. Lord, critical issues on every front. Each day is filled with so much uncertainty. But now for just a moment, Lord, we come into your presence just asking that you will find favor in these board members. Lord, give them wisdom and knowledge. Strengthen them where they are weak. Build them up where they may be torn down. Lord, give them a desire in the heart to seek the answers that are needed
004to better serve our children in this community. Father God, let them come now not for personal grandisement or for personal edification, but Lord, let them come forward now to make decisions that will be better for our community. Bless their efforts now. And then Lord, we ask that where we can't make a difference, you step in and take total control. For as humanity, our wisdom is infinite. But we we think that you can solve all issues according to your word. You you promised us whatever desires we have, all we had to do is ask. Lord, as the capital city, we should have the best school system that the state would want to see for others to model after. And now during this time of rest for our children during a summer break, Lord, let it be
005used now so that when school starts in September, that a difference will have been made. new standards, new leadership, setting standards for our teachers, our principles, that Lord God, we can rise to a higher height. That Lord God, if we seek your face now, elevation is sure to come. Have your way even in this meeting. Bless it, ordain it, and then Lord, give it increase. These things we ask in your son Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you so much, pastor. At this time, we'll ask you all to join us in the pledge of allegiance. If you would stand. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the stands nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Um, looking around, we have a quorum established. All members of the Montgomery County Board of
006Education are present. At this time, I will take a motion for the approval of the agenda. Madame President, I move that we approve the agenda as is. There's a motion on the floor. Is there a second? I second it. There's been motion and second. All those in favor do so by showing of hands. It is unanimous. At this time, we will go to president's remarks. If you will give me just a second. This past May, we have had the absolute joy of witnessing hundreds of Montgomery County Public School students take the proud walk across the stage on the graduation stage. Each step a testament to their hard work, resilience and determination. The energy, the excitement, and the hope in their eyes reminds us of why we do this work. These students are our future. They
007are innovators and change makers. And we stand beside them with the with deep confidence that they are ready to walk into their purpose and chase their dreams without hesitation. But even as we celebrate, we also pause in solemn reflection. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the tragic passing of one student who did graduate but sadly lost his life after graduation, leaving this world far too soon. Another student is also fighting for his life. So we pray ferently for his healing and recovery. In this moment, just for a short 30 seconds, if we will bow our heads in silence. Thank you. I ask that we continue to hold space for them and their families and all those whose hearts are burdened by this loss. We also extend our deepest condolences to families who have lost
008loved ones, who dedicated their lives to serving MPS. Our educators, support staff, and mentors who shape generations with wisdom, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our students. Their legacies remain etched in the halls of our schools, in the hearts of all who knew them. Yet, even in sorrow, we find strength and community. We find purpose in the paths laid before us. And we find hope in the boundless potential of our students. May we continue to uplift one another, stand together, and move forward with faith knowing that our shared dedication to education, excellence, and unity will never waver. And at this time, if the presentation is available, if it's not, it's okay. I'll read it. But this is to also share with you all about our June 2nd and third board retreat. So I'll just touch on
009that lightly. The purpose and vision of this leadership retreat. It marked a turning point. We emerged more united, more focused, and more committed to transformational leadership. It was grounded in collaboration, transparency, and a shared vision of excellence for all students in the Montgomery for the Montgomery public schools. In day one, we strengthen our governance. We participated in a DISC assessment to better understand our team dynamics and communication styles, laying a stronger foundation for teamwork. We reviewed and clarified governance roles and responsibilities aligning ourselves with the national best practices. We evaluated our board commiti committee structures to ensure each committee is focused on advancing student achievement and district priorities. We strengthen our communication protocols to ensure our work with the superintendent, staff, and community is clear, consistent, and responsive. On day two, we had strategic alignment
010that we looked at. Superintendent Dr. Bird and his team presented his first 100day plan which focused on listening, learning, and leading with purpose. We held a candid discussion on our expectations for the first year leading to strong alignment and clarity of purpose. We began shaping a fair, transparent evaluation process that promotes accountability and support for the superintendent's um success. Our commitment moving forward, we will govern with a clear focus and equity on equity, accountability, and academic excellence. The public can expect continued transparency, collaboration, and communication. This retreat is just the beginning. We are building a stronger system that Montgomery's families can believe in. And that is my president remarks. At this time, we'll share the superintendent remarks. Good evening, board members, and to everyone that's joining us on today. I want to take a moment
011to express my sincere gratitude to each of you for your time, your energy, and your engagement during our recent board retreat. It was a powerful opportunity for us to step away uh from the day-to-day demands and focus intentionally on our shared vision, our values, and the future of Montgomery public schools. The retreat was not only very productive, but it was very meaningful. I appreciated the honest dialogue, the thoughtful questions, and the collective commitment each of you brought to the table. Your insights and perspectives affirm just how dedicated this board is to doing what's right for students, families, and our employees and our community. We cover critical areas from instructional improvement and student outcomes to communication strategies and governance priorities. This feedback and the idea, the feedback and the ideas shared will serve as a solid
012foundation as we continue to refine our strategic plan and also address the priorities of the 100-day plan and beyond. More importantly, the retreat reaffirmed our alignment around the belief that MPS can and will be a high performing district, one that will consistently put students first and models excellence at every level. Again, thank you for your time, for your leadership, and your trust. I look forward to continuing this journey together, and building on the momentum that has already been established from our retreat. Again, board members, I truly want to thank you all so much for this opportunity, and I'm looking forward to this forward journey. Thank you all. Thank you. Um, our next agenda item is Miss Jay Jones. She will bring recognitions. Good evening, Madame President, board members, and uh Dr. Bird. Uh this year,
013Booker T. Washington Magnet High School uh recently suffered the loss of one of his most remarkable educators, and that is the late Mr. Richard G. Walker. Tonight, Dr. Ruffin and her team have a special presentation just for you. Dr. Ruffin Superintendent Dr. Bird and welcome back. Thank you, Madame President, Miss Watkins Smith, Madame Vice President, Miss Portoris, board members, MPS, Montgomery, and to all that are viewing. I am interim principal Dr. Ruffin and I have joining me tonight. And on the behalf of BTW, the faculty and staff, we are here to pay tribute to one of our true pioneers in education and to recognize three scholar artists for their contribution to the BTW community. As you are aware, BTW took many hits this year from settling in on the new campus for first full year
014to change and then change again in leadership and then the loss of the late Mr. Richard Walker who served until he could serve no more as the media specialist impacting scholar after scholar. Upon my learning of his passing, I immediately reached out to the visual arts specialist, Miss Kayla Devid. Unfortunately, she is not able to join us tonight. However, I did ask Miss V if she could possibly have a few scholars to collaboratively create a token of love to offer the family of Mr. Walker and one to keep as a keep a keepsake in remembrance of him at the school. We are here tonight because there was no hesitation in the production and these three scholars did not disappoint. Lauren Rice, if you all would step up, Olivia Holt, and Lucon Prespony Sto captured every
015detail of a photo where a student was caught asking Mr. Walker for assistance. This work is entitled Ask Mr. Walker. And I would like to thank Olivia, Lauren, and Lucon for their excellence in all things. [Applause] So this is just proof that no matter what our students go through, they have the grit. They have what it takes to succeed. Thank you. Wow. Amazing. Amazing. Madam President and board members, Do you mind joining the girls for a quick picture if you don't mind? Bird members, you can stand on the platform so we can see you. There you go. And girls, y'all back just a little bit. Thank you all so much, young ladies. Thank you all so much for our beautiful, beautiful, beautiful portrait. Madame President. Our next agenda item is schedule public comments. Public comments
016requests must be made in advance in writing to to the superintendent's office by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, preceding the meeting date. Requests must have specified the nature of the business to be taken up with the board and the name of the person who will address the board to be added to the agenda. Communications must be respectful. Discussing specific students or employee matters will not be allowed. Individuals who have concerns that are inappropriate to be solved in this venue are welcome to seek a problem-solving meeting with the superintendent. Immediate feedback by the board may not be provided. However, you may be contacted for followup by the superintendent or designate. Public comments may not exceed three minutes. The board chair has the full authority to terminate the remarks by any person whose comments contain personal attacks, exceed
017the time limit, or are otherwise inappropriate. A speaker may be considered disruptive who continues to speak when their allotted time has ended when asked to stop speaking by the board chair or is otherwise inappropriate. If a person fails to comply when asked to terminate comments, he or she will be escorted to their seat out of the auditorium and or off of MPS's property depending on the level of disruption. At this time, we have Mr. Toddover grading inconsistencies and lack of transparency in communication with students and parents. Mr. Holliver. Mrs. Holliver. Our next um agenda, our next community public comments will come from Miss Fedra Carson Foster. Portrait of an MPS graduate. Smart enough to know better and do better because we've always been enough. Good afternoon MPS board of education members and welcome Dr. Bird.
018My name is Fedra Carson Foster and I stand before you as a proud graduate of Montgomery public schools class of 1987. Two years ago I served on the portrait of a graduate committee, an effort meant to envision the ideal MPS student. But the voices most uplifted were those of business leaders and other community leaders. Not the students with the dreams of who they wanted to become, nor the families who look into the students eyes and want the world for them. I was invited to speak on behalf of families as a PTA leader. But it became clear that my role was to check a box, not to contribute. That process ended with a wall of words describing the graduate MPS should produce. But those words already describe many of us. The problem isn't that NPS hasn't
019produced excellent graduates. The problem is is that we keep starting over and the system refuses to see us. Instead of honoring our stories or putting our pictures on that wall, too many in power lean on stereotypes instead of amplifying our excellence. They act as if we always need to start over and that nothing worthy came before. That's not just oversight, that's eraser. I know several of you sitting here today are also educated and accomplished products of this system. We are not rare. We're not spun gold. I hold two graduate degrees, including a masterers of legal studies from Washington University School of Law, one of the top ranked law schools in the country. I serve as a full-time faculty member at Alabama State University and I've done so since uh 2012. I've taught dual enrollment and
020remedial English. I've helped students close gaps they never should have had. Many were brilliant. They just needed someone to believe in them. I've taught your teachers. I've taught your parents. I'm teaching your future teachers and parents. I am also a parent and a volunteer. In 2019, I helped launch a brand new PTA and in a short time today, I serve on the national governance team for uh the PTA. Our mission is to make every child's potential reality. And my MPS experience fuels that commitment every day. But that wall of words over there is going to mean little if the community leaders don't truly see the students that they're serving. You can't say portrait of a graduate on one hand and use negative words to describe graduates of this system on the other, especially when we
021raise valid concerns. Students deserve to be valued. Parents deserve to be heard. I've stood before this board more than once asking that circumstances surrounding fraudulent school records be investigated. Referring to past scandals doesn't excuse these present issues. It's just a red flag. I'm smart enough to know that when academic records Ms. Carson Foster, your time is now up. Thank you. Um, if you have anything additional, you can reach out to the superintendent. Thank you. All right. There are no citizen comments. So, our next agenda item will be Mrs. Jana White with the examiners of public account for the fiscal year 2024 audit report. Good evening. In accordance with the provisions of act number 2006 196, commonly referred to as the school fiscal accountability act, I am here on behalf of the examiners of public accounts
022to present our audit report on the Montgomery board of education covering the audit period of October 1, 2023 through September 30th, 2024. We conducted our audit in accordance with a generally accepted auditing standards and governing government auditing standards for the purpose of rendering an opinion on the financial statements and to determine whether the board complied with applicable laws and regulations. We also conducted an audit on the board's federal financial assistance program in accordance with those same standards and the requirements of the uniform guidance. We issued an unmodified opinion on the board's financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended for September 30th, 2024. This means that the financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, we issued an unmodified opinion on the board's major federal
023financial assistance program, which for this fiscal year was education stabilization program. The local schools that were selected for comprehensive testing were Bellingrath Middle School, Blunt Elementary, Booker T. Washington Magnet High School, and Forest Avenue Academic Magnet School. All other schools were subjected for limited testing. We reported one finding in our audit, finding number 20 finding number 2024-001. The board failed to bid and purchase the installation of a crisis alert system in accordance with title 39 and the code of Alabama and its procurement policy. Our entire audit report is available on the website at www.examiners.alabam.gov under the audit report tab. This concludes my presentation. I would like to thank you and your central office staff for assistance and cooperation during this process. We look forward to seeing you all next year. Thank you, Miss White. Our
024next um agenda item will be Miss Pamela Watkins response to audit report as well as FY2025 increase of reserve account as well as 2025 amended budget as well as April 2025 financial statement. She'll be with us for a minute. Good evening. Um Superintendent Dr. Bird, board president, Miss Smith, and board members. Normally, when we have an audit um finding or respon u we don't normally give a response. However, with the audit finding and the remarks that were made with the finding, I'd like to provide the response that was submitted to the state department. The Montgomery County Board of Education respectfully disagrees with the audit finding that the purchase of the crisis alert system should have been bid under public works law. The purchase was initially evaluated by the CSFO, the chief of operations, and our
025procurement supervisor. It was determined that the project be treated and processed as safety and security, which would have fed up fell under the competitive bid law. This determination was made largely in part because 90% of the overall cost of the contract was actually licensing and monitoring um that was paid over a 5-year period. The contract is for 5 years and we felt that it did not implicate the type of construction, renovation or physical improvement projected under the definition of public works. In light of that, while the board respectfully disagreed with the finding, we do acknowledge the importance of clear procurement processes as well as being fully and legally compliant with the public works law and bid laws. The following corrective measures will be implemented to avoid future audit issues and ensure compliance. Public Works BIT
026Law Review will seek legal guidance for purchases exceeding $100,000 to confirm compliance and correct the issue of the bid law. Additionally, we will include bit law guidelines as part of our annual summer financial training with staff. The anticipated completion day that we provided to the examiners is September 30, 2025. Additionally, we have already sought state direction on additional training and guidance in our understanding of the public works law. The additional training included or will include the district CSFO, our chief of operations, as well as other finance staff deemed necessary. Next agenda item. Madam President, may I say something? Sure. All right. I just wanted to say um Miss Miss Watkins, I appreciate you being up there and explaining and standing up. I sat uh in that meeting with you and I know you acknowledge the
027fact that the the uh the board members that were there did not necessarily agree with the audit. And although I appreciate audits, know we need audits, I do publicly want to state that I think um that it got down to a matter of splitting hairs. It was not it was is this attorney right or is this right? And um I'm glad you're fixing it, but I still feel the same way I did when I sat in that meeting. I think the same way everybody else did feel. I think we were having a a small power struggle. I'm not always right. Um but um in this case I think we have to agree to agree to disagree with somebody who demanded to be right. That's all I have to say. Thank you. Any other discussion? All
028right. Hearing none. Our next agenda item also from Miss Pamela Watkins um the fiscal year in um increase of a of reserve accounts. Yes ma'am. Tonight, I'm recommending an increase to the district reserves. As I've mentioned over the last few weeks in the board updates, this recommendation involves increasing our reserves by $12 million. However, before making that recommendation, I would like to provide the context and rationale for why this action is both necessary and prudent. It is essential that we continue to position ourselves to support our teachers and students in overall operations in the face of financial uncertainty. While our student population loss has slowed, we still experienced a decline this year that resulted in the loss of state funding of approximately 1.2 million due to the reduction in those earned units. Additionally, things to
029keep in mind as we move into the budget season. The education trust fund, our primary source of state revenue, is funded in large by state sales tax and income tax. Recent presentations and communication from the state department had in have indicated that these revenue streams are beginning to level off, meaning that we need to be mindful of our revenues and expenditures as we budget for the upcoming year. Additionally, the cost of capital expenditures continue to rise. For example, the projected cost that we know a couple of years ago for Percy Julian High School was estimated to be between 70 and $80 million. That figure has now more than doubled with an approved contract of $142 million driven by inflation, tariffs, and broader economic pressures. Lastly, we must remain diligent in maintaining our fiscal responsibility. Personnel
030costs continue to represent the largest portion of our expenditures and we must carefully manage both staffing levels and the cost of goods and services in face of inflation. We anticipate a significant increase in employee benefits this year with projection projections indicating continued growth in this area over the next several years. Given these realities, now is the appropriate time while we have funds available to strengthen our financial foundation by increasing those reserves. Currently, our total reserves is 21.1 23.1 million with 15 million being in capital, 4 million being in technology, 3 million being in security, and 1.1 million in vehicles. The recommended $12 million increase is intended to strengthen our long-term financial flexibility and ensure that we are better positioned to observe unanticipated expenses and economic downturns without disrupting essential services. It's also worth noting that
031our efforts to maintain a healthy reserve were positively recognized during our recent credit rating review. The credit review agency specifically cited our commitment to financial stability as a strength which helps secure a favorable rating for the district. Again, I'm recommending that we increase um our reserves by $12 million to continue to proactively safeguard our financial future and preserve the quality of education and services for our students. Thank you, Miss Watkins. Is are there any questions, concerns? I just want to say thank you and and to your staff and the superintendent for remaining diligent in strengthening our finances by um those additional reserves to ensure that there are no disruptions so that we can continue the work of what we do for children. And that's just my comment. Yes, ma'am. Our next agenda item also will
032be brought to us by Miss Watkins. Um, this is the April 2025 financial statement. Um, okay. I'm sorry. Amended budget. I budget amendment. Okay. Um, tonight you or you should have before you um the budget amendment for fiscal year 2025. We normally prepare our budget in the summer of the prior year. So, our budgets are due to the state department by September the 15th. However, after those original budgets are submitted, we usually receive during that time, between that time and now, various state grants and allocations that we don't receive in time to be included in the original budget. So, you will notice um in the information that was provided to you, there are various fund sources that were received from the state department after the original budget was submitted. And so, that's the amendment for
033the state funds. Additionally, with the special revenue funds, there are carryover dollars that we are not completely aware of until after we close out our fiscal year. So, carryover funds are automatically included in our budget amendment. Um, you'll note that there were carryover funds for various fund sources um that include our title one, CSI, N&D, and title two amongst some other smaller title one or federal funds. Um we also have um an adjustment to our capital fund as well um that include the reserves. And so that that is the um budget amendment for fiscal year 2025. Are there any questions or concerns? All right, hearing none. Our next agenda item will be the April 2025 financial statement. Last one. So you should have before you financial statements for April of 2025. Included in that financial
034statement is a snapshot analysis. This is a high-level overview of the district's financial position as of April of 2025. It highlights our revenues, our local revenues, our payroll expenditures compared to the same period in time last year, and our general fund balance. At a glance, this allows the board and the public to quickly assess the financial health of the district. Also included is a general fund budget recap. Um, you will notice on the snapshot analysis that it has our general fund balance with $124.9 million. However, it's important to note that in the recap, it breaks out what those funds are. A lot of the funds in our general fund are specific to the funding sources that the state has awarded to us and can only be expended based on the line item that's represented there.
035So for example, although we have $124.9 million in our general fund, 6 approximately 7 million of it is transportation, one and a half million is OSR. And um if you keep on down, you'll see what each line is dedicated to. So our local general funds that are at our discretion is actually at $93.9 million. We have our monthly percentages head here. So for the month of April, April represents the seventh month of the fiscal year. So our expenditures should be at about 58.33%. Um, just as a side note, so when I do the financials and analyze the reports monthly, I look for the specific line items to be around that percentage. If they're not, then it lets me know that there's something that maybe we didn't budget correctly or there may be something showing up
036on a line item that it should not. The district tracks, we track this for the district as to whether spending and income are on pace with our expectations. Next, you have a monthly and annual comparative statement of our revenues and expenditures. The comparative statement shows current and monthly year-to-ate figures of revenues and expenditures and compares this information to the same period in time in the prior fiscal year. We also have our statement of cash flow which provides the cash that has actually come into the district in the current month compared to the prior months as well as the expenditures that have been made in the current month compared to the prior months. We have um a visual of that same information with our inflows and our outflows. And the last section are the F reports.
037This is based off of the information that we upload to the state department. We're required to upload to the state department monthly and it produces these financial reports um that are produced from the state department's website. Are there any questions? Thank you, Miss Watkins. Our next agenda item will be Miss Sonia Floyd curriculum and associates contract amendment. I ready elementary math. Good evening, Superintendent Bird, Dr. bird. Madame President, Miss Smith and board members, under the Alabama Numeracy Act, which is our ANA, elementary schools are identified as limited and full support schools are required to implement a high quality instruction based on evident evidence-based comprehensive mathematics during their tier one instruction. MPS has selected RCL for the curriculum as the core curriculum to provide a structured and data-driven approach. The overview of the textbook has been
038recognized by OMI, the office of mathematics instruction, I'm sorry, mathematics improvement, and to make sure that the curriculum is rigorous, purposefully connecting to real world and mathematics teaching practices are embedded for teachers and students. The expected outcomes of this curriculum with the strategies to discuss, connect, and try it. Teachers use assessment data to analyze their data. Student data making inform instruction in order to make sure that they're adjusting their classroom instruction to ensure tier 2 and tier 3 instruction is embedded throughout the week and also support your EL students English learners along with MTSS support for students and teachers. When we look at our data, we've seen growth with using I Ready along with RCL. It is more so of a I I say a a marriage because with RCL the I Ready portal helps
039support teaching and learning. And if you notice for the midyear for the beginning of the year to the end of the year, we've seen growth with ouru students. Notice that 21% at the end of the year showed growth and that would be mid or above grade level. For early on grade level students, there was a growth from 5% to 16% from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. Also, when we look at our one grade below, there was a total of 52% which decreased to 45%. Once we get to one grade level below, we want to see a decrease in the blue for the end of the year. And notice by the three or more grade levels below, we have 6% students 6% of our students scoring three or more grade
040levels below for our elementary schools. Highlights for our curriculum aligns to the Alabama course of study. There are consum consumable handson interactive online components for our students and teachers and aligns to again the MTSS and allows teachers and students to use the digital resource to prepare for the AAP. Any questions or concerns? Yes, ma'am. for I Ready for the elementary. This will be the the actually second year for the RCL year. So we've been using it more than that length of time. Yes, ma'am. We have Miss Bis. All right, Miss Foris. Thanks, Miss Florida. I have a question with quantity. I I know one time we had to uh increase the contract because our numbers ran over. Are they flexible and if I if we have a decrease at one school, they can move that
041number to another school? Yes, ma'am. Okay. Yes, ma'am. What what I tried to do is make sure that 10% to 15% books are ordered per school. Uh as well as grade levels and we do have uh surplus in logistics just in case we need extra You're very welcome. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Our next agenda item will be Dr. Bird, the memorandum of understanding between Alabama uh Alabama Education Association and Montgomery County Board of Education. Yes, ma'am. Board members, we are excited uh and honored uh that we have one of our very own uh that has been elected uh president of the Alabama Education Association. Uh and as a result uh we have anou uh that's before you on tonight between MPS and A.E.A. uh thisou uh it has been reviewed uh by our
042attorney and so as a result we're asking for your approval on tonight. All right. Thank you Dr. Bird. Consent agenda. Well members uh superintendent requests your approval uh for of our consent agenda items A through G. Superintendent has made a recommendation for the approval of the consent agenda items A through G. Is there a motion? Madame Chair, I move to accept the superintendent's recommendation to approve items on the consent agenda item A through G. Second. Second. It has been motioned and second. All those in favor do so by showing of hands. Is unanimous. All right. Our next agenda item is again Dr. Bird. consider for approval. Thank you, Madam President. Superintendent rest. Uh, superintendent requests your approval of the personnel report certified personnel pulling item number 34. The superintendent has made a recommendation for the
043personnel report certified personnel with the pulling of item number 34. Is there a motion? a motion to accept um the superintendent's recommendation for 17A personnel report certified personnel and that's with pulling item number with item number 34 uh pulled. Thank you. All right, there second. It has been motioned and second. All those in favor. Oh, I'm sorry. Discussion. I'm sorry. Item 165. There's nothing here. 25. Yes, ma'am. Yes, sir. Thank you so much for that. It is. She confirmed it's 2425. So, on item 165, we do need to add effective date, which the effective date is 2024. That's 2025. So, the superintendent is now recommending the personnel report certified personnel pulling number 34, adding the effective date for number 165. All right. Now, is there a motion? I accept I'd like to accept the resignation
044res. Okay. Now, I'm completely confused. I would like to ask that we accept the recommendation for the personnel certified report pulling number 34 and dating number the last one number 165 165 for 2024 2025. I second. It has been motioned and second. All those in favor do so by showing of hands. It's unanimous. Thank you. Superintendent requests your approval of the personnel report certified addendum. Superintendent has made a recommendation for the personnel report certified addendum. Is there a motion? I'd like ask a question, please. All right. Um, go ahead. I would like to ask these are listed, but where are they? Just let me get the motion first. Is there a motion to approve the superintendent's recommendation? Madame President, I move that we accept um that we accept the superintendent's recommendation for the amendment, personnel
045amendment. All right. So, there's a motion to accept the superintendent's personnel report certified addendum. Is there a second? I second it. Any discussion? Yes. Um, we don't know where they are, where what the locations are. We don't know the locations of these personnel contract. It's just not listed. Is there a particular number? [Music] We're missing a column. M is going to provide a little bit more clarity. Thank you, M. There's not a location listed in the addendum because the uh principal the contracts are specific to the position as a principal in the district. So they can be transferred at any time. They can be reassigned at any time. So the contract's not specific to a school. Thank you. Thank you for making that clarification. Thank you. Um the mot there has there's a motion on
046the floor has been moved and second. Any other discussion? All those in favor do so by showing of hands. It is unanimous. Dr. Bird personnel report classified person. Thank you so much. Yes ma'am. Superintendent request your approval of personnel report classified personnel. All right. Right. The superintendent has made a motion for the approval of C personnel report classified personnel. Madam President, I move we accept the superintendent's recommendation for classified personnel. As has been moved and second. Any discussion? All right. All those in favor of the superintendent's recommendation of personnel report classified personnel do so by showing of hands. is unanimous. Thank you so much. Superintendent requests your approval of the personnel reports for our teams contracts. Superintendent made a recommendation for the approval of the personnel report teams contract. Is there a motion? Make the
047motion to accept the superintendent's um recommendation for the personnel report teams contracts. Is there a second? I second it. It has been moved and second. Is there any discussion? Yes. All right, Miss uh Clown. Uh I there are like on number for an example on number 27 advanced three-year um and then on number 28 advanced three-year there's a huge difference in the uh the salary and you Yes. So that may be contributed uh to the number of years uh as well as the degree that they hold. Um there's just several that Yes, ma'am. jump pretty like on uh 20 47 and 48 both advanced three-year both science and you've got a large difference. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. So, that's the number of years that someone's right the number of years as well as the degrees
048that they hold. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Thank you for that clarification. Yes, ma'am. All right. Any other discussion? I just have another comment and and a lot of times you'll see it with math because we are trying to steal people with higher degrees to help in the district with math. So and science also. Yes. Thank you. Any further discussion? Hearing none. And we have a motion and it's been second for the approval of the personnel report teams report. All those in favor do so by showing of hands. It is unanimous. All right. This meeting the where am I? The board meeting is now adjourned. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. All right. Thank you all. The next session will be the board Montgomery County Board of Education work session. It is now being called to order. There is
049still a quorum. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? I move that we approve the agenda as is. All right. There's a motion. Is there a second? I second it. There's been motion and second. Any discussion? All those in favor do so by showing of hands. All those in favor. It's unanimous. All right. At this time, we'll receive as information from Miss Laura Penn. Vocart Vulker update. Uh, good evening. Here we go. All right, let's start off. Uh, first project, phase one of the Percy Julian High School relocation of Todd Road. Project is currently 69% complete. Uh the city of Montgomery planning commission approved the dedication of the new Todd Road at last month's meeting. And then we've got the project vacation packet anticipated for review and approval at this month's city council meeting
050next Tuesday. This is just a a great aerial view of the new Todd Road. And the road actually borders the upper tree line. Uh in the picture, our second aerial uh video um sorry picture shows the limits of improvement to the boulevard median work and that median started the end of last month and it will continue through July. photo here is of uh the demolition, road demolition and storm pipe actually being placed there in the median of uh the boulevard going into our phase two uh which is the new campus for the high school. Uh we kicked off the start of the project with the pre-construction meeting on May 22nd. Foster's notice to proceed will be issued the 16th of this month and we have an anticipated substantial completion slated for December 2027. The GC
051has staked uh property lines. Our site contractor has started clearing and grubbing of the property and the demolition of the existing structures uh which is that residential home uh and barn has actually been taken down. Here's another. It's actually our first aerial photo of the entire uh school site prior to construction starting. So, I think it's going to be a great uh photo just to see the progress as we go each month. And this view is actually if you're standing at the boulevard kind of shooting Yeah. facing uh east In this aerial uh photograph, the bottom left hand side of the photo shows the demolition of the existing re residential home which was located right there at the um old Todd Road. Moving into the Park Crossing Fieldhouse project, we've got final cleanup progressing. Uh
052the GC is addressing punch list items. We've got installation of the door signage in progress and the owner provided hardware and cores are being installed by the GC. And then we've got final inspection with the state scheduled the 18th of this month. The interior photograph taken right at the entry of the fieldhouse. There's a secondary interior view of completed work. It should be noted that our wall graphics have been installed. Um the actual shot on the on the right is uh entering into the head football coach's office. Here's a view of the entry and conference room. Um, since this picture has been taken, uh, Chad and his team has actually been out and we've got graphics along that that window wall, which looks amazing. So, if you haven't had a chance to go by there,
053pop in and just see it. It looks really good. Again, another interior view of uh the offensive uh film room and locker room. And then the rubber flooring for the weight room has been installed and we're currently waiting on the weight equipment uh to be delivered. Rolling into South Lawn Middle School gym edition. We're currently tracking at 68% complete. So our biggest progress since last month uh has been the roof install and the interior walls receiving primer and paint. But we've tked the GC for the goal of this month is to get the building fully enclosed. We need to get the HVAC units fired up and we need to get uh the building uh acclimated to the cooler temperatures. We also need to start getting above ceiling inspections and schedule scheduled for for the um
054building. Interior view of uh the main gymnasium which has received the first coat of paint. Again, photo on the left shows accent paint being applied and that's in the interior of the concession room. And then here's a secondary view of the wait room. We've got minimal visual progress shown from last month. However, we do have overhead um electrical and mechanical ready for inspection. So, that's one thing that we need to get checked off this month. And then for our MBE DBE participation, our overall monthly participation, there's been no changes captured this month. However, next month, uh, there will be a significant increase for the amount shown on the construction contracts since receiving the PO for the Percy Julian High School project. Uh with that update, we will also update Douster's MBE DBE participation on the
055GC side and um and hopefully capture that for y'all next month. Any questions or comments? Any questions? Yes, ma'am. Would you give me a date um of completion for South Long one more time? We are anticipating the contractor completing that in October of this year. Currently, their current schedule had them completing in July. And we are between uh the architect and the Vulkar team. We are currently under review with some days that are due to the GC. Any other questions? All right. Thank you, Miss Ma'am. Our next um agenda item will be brought to us by Dr. Sibi, CTE textbook selection and adoption. Thank you. Good evening. Um President Watkins Smith, Vice President Poris, esteemed board members, Superintendent Bird, educators, community members, and friends. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of Montgomery
056public schools career and technical education department. I am Lata Sibi and I have the honor of serving as the CTE director and I will present the work of our CTE textbook adoption committees led by my team members Mrs. Nquila Taylor Adams and Dr. Erica Bush who are CTE education specialists. In response to Alabama code 163662, our department began the textbook adoption committee process. As part of this process, our department collaborated with principles and organized three dedicated CTE adoption committees. The committees included arts, auto visual, technology and communications, health science and human services. Each committee engaged in a thorough and structured review process to ensure the recommended textbooks are fully inigned with the Alabama State Department of Education CTE program standards, reflect current industry expectations, and support the academic and career success of all of our
057scholars. Selected textbooks displayed on the screens prioritize instructional quality and real world application with the goal of preparing both students for both post-secary education and workforce entry. The arts AV committee has chosen graphic communications, digital design and print essentials. The health science committee has selected two key textbooks. Introduction to media terminology and introduction to health science for the human services committee. The selected textbooks is apparel, fashion design and construction. All selected from the Goodart Willcox Company incorporated. These recommendations represent the collaborative work of experienced educators, students, and parents who are also professionals in business and industry working together to ensure that the materials meet student needs and uphold the integrity of our CTE programs. We are requesting board approval for the state adopted CTE textbooks full list provided by ALSDE. This ensures alignment with state
058standards and allows flexibility to purchase test books based on program needs as CTE pathways may shift due to student interest, industry demand, or state requirements. Full access to the list supports timely, cost-effective decisions. Thank you for supporting our scholars in both college and careers. I'm happy to answer any questions. Are there any questions from the board? I just have a comment. Okay, Miss um Dr. Keith and Miss Cordis. Okay. I just wanted to thank you um for those textbooks, specifically the uh health science because there's so many students um that do not understand that field at all and it's a relatively new field probably within the last you know seven eight years and there's a lot of of girls even guys that is that um dream of being nurses but when you look at their
059TE's test scores and stuff like that you you you know they're not going to be nurses and this field is a great equalizer and I I I say that because when I was at South University for 12 years it was my job to you know I I can't tell you how many students would go my I promised my grandmother I was going to be a nurse and blah blah blah and they didn't realize that this is the field in fact I talk all three of my student my kids my own kids are in this they either have a master's in it or a bachelor's, but each of them did something with health science because it's such an open field where you can work with the elderly, where you can work with teens, where you actually
060work for, you know, and do human resources for hospitals because I remember saying to them, wouldn't wouldn't it be nice that you would be the one hiring the doctors and nurses? And somehow by sitting them down and saying that, it was it was a great way to make them understand it. So, I'm glad you're you guys are doing the two textbooks. I think is is great and it's the title of the one at least lets me know that they're going to know what it is because a lot of people are like, "What is that?" Yes. Thank you. And thank you, Dr. G. Oh, yes. Did I understand you just say that you had industry there were industry people on your committee? Yes, ma'am. The parents were Okay. from industry and business as well. Um, also
061do they not require safety a handbook for our safety kits? Um, not that I know of. Okay. I can check on it. Yeah, because since safety is such a and I know we have all that nice equipment over there at impact and the students are doing such great work. I was just wondering what we could get to support them if if we needed if they needed something. I guess Dr. I mean Mr. Daniels. Ma'am, thank you. Miss Porz. Okay. And I had one question. My question was is the cost per student. What is the cost per student and what is included in the cost when it comes to the dig the print, the digital, the teacher edition and and everything along that line if you have? Yes, ma'am. We have quotes available and we got
062quotes for uh physical textbooks as well as ebooks to meet the diverse student needs. Um, and I can provide those quotes to you. um this time or another time I have them. Okay, that's fine. And then the other thing and you can provide pro provide this later too. What is the licensing duration for the digital material? And the reason I bring it up a long time ago when I first got on the board, that was one of the things that was brought up about our digital um licensing and if you can provide what the what is the dig the licensing duration for the digital material and are the updates included in that? I'll get that information to you. All right. And then one last question and I I may have missed it but the content
063um is this content current with today's ind industry standards and technological advancements? Yes ma'am. Um the committee were provided with these current standards as well as the industry needs. And so when they were doing the review of the textbooks they had it all laid out. We had committee meetings and they went through each one and they uh reviewed them and rated them. Thank you very much, ma'am. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Chad Anderson, facilities update. And after Chad, it will be Dr. King with the charter school update and renewal process. Yes, ma'am. Good evening, Dr. Bird, Mrs. Watkins Smith, Miss Portoris, and members of the board. If you'll look at your spreadsheet, your capital project spreadsheet with me. Uh, we've discussed the darker areas, the darker gray areas with the Vulkar capital plan. Uh looking down
064below at the Morning View and Davis HVAC projects, those projects are beginning to mobilize. We've have all the contracts signed. We actually have the uh pre-construction meeting scheduled for Monday. So, those are going to be pushing forward hot and heavy. We did get a request from the Morning View contractors. They want to move ahead with storefront windows and instead of the um pre-fabricated panels that like we typically used at uh Goodwin, we offered that to the Davis as well. The difference being there's a lead time on the pre-fabricated panels and the contractors at Morning View wanted to get ahead and get started. The contractors at Davis elected to stay with the pre-fabricated panels. So there will be a you'll see a little bit of a lag as far as the wait time as far as
065what's going on in each of the projects, but each one will will move well once they get started on their on in their respective uh type of scope of work with that. But the contractor that's actually at Davis was the one at at Goodwin as well and they completed their project ahead of schedule. So we anticipate uh the same thing here pending weather and and any kind of delays. We'll keep you posted on that. the Park Crossing turf and track replacement. Uh we actually met Monday to go over the uh the turf instructions, turf care and maintenance instructions. Uh the turf is complete. They weather they had planned on putting the second coat of uh paint on the track this week, but with the weather, they're looking for a clear day or two to be
066able to put the second coat of paint. And then shortly thereafter, they'll put the striping on the paint for the lanes. They anticipate to be completed with that next week and will allow the school to be able to utilize that fully. The Carver High School turf and track replacement, if you've been there, they've been working on removing the surface off the track and also uh working on analyzing the the subsurface with that. And so we we will be bringing a uh change order to you for the subsurface because you don't it's an unforeseen uh circumstance there with what's underneath the track. You don't know until you pull that up, but that's why we did unit pricing on that. And uh we're still under budget from what was allocated for that project at the onset of
067it. Uh they have started to cut around the the track itself. They're going to be pouring a concrete curb uh similar to the one that's at Park Crossing in an initial construction. It wasn't uh put in with the um with the original construction. So, that's one thing that'll really maintain the life of the track and help help that with it as well. And then they'll they're also going to be removing the dirt in the middle of the field once it dries out a little bit from the weather that we received. The Forest Avenue roof replacement and South Lawn Elementary roof replacement. Both those designs are being completed as we speak. We're a little further ahead on the Forest Avenue roof replacement uh design. and they're taking that to DCM for for their final approvals and
068we'll start advertising that as quickly as possible. Southon Elementary, there were a few things with elevation. They wanted to look at the parapits that are around the building and make sure that we fit those correctly and and do the things that need to be done to make that as watertight as possible. And then the JAG athletic improvements, uh we're going to be budgeting, as we talked about before. I know we weren't able to go as far down on our capital plan with the cost of construction uh that was going on, but we're going to be utilizing ATF funds to help us with the athletics and PE improvements to those field areas behind JAG. Uh so we're going to take that off in phases to uh make sure we can get all of that complete as
069well and keep working down our list of the capital improvement plan. But we've released the architect. The design was complete. They just wanted to make a few adjustments and tweaks to things to some cost savings measures that we thought would would benefit the district on that, make our funds stretch a little further. And uh we should be bidding that out here pretty soon, I would say, uh first of the school year, early fall, that we'll have something out on the street for a bid and approval and then we'll be bringing it to you for uh for final approval. Thank you, Mr. Anderson. Are there any questions? All right, Dr. King. After Dr. King, we'll have Miss Jamie Wilson with the 2025 2026 proposed school calendar amendment. Wanted to also say one last thing. Um, one
070of the when um, Miss Laura Pin was talking about the graphics. Those graphics were completed by two students from Brute that we've been able to hire on for summer help and they are awesome. I wish we could keep them. uh they're going to be heading to Alabama and Tuskyu respectively and but they have really helped us propel ahead with the design and graphics over there in maintenance. Just their young fresh eyes and and what they do they they just pick up things so quickly but they've been an awesome addition. That's it here. Thank you. [Applause] Good good evening uh Dr. bird uh uh President Smith, Vice President Poris, and all uh board members. Uh the purpose of the night is just to share with you uh to give you an update on the charter school
071uh renewal timeline for NPS uh and um and to just go over some uh uh data points. I mean not data points, but just to go over this. So, uh, our timeline, uh, for 22, I mean 20, uh, 2024 2025 charter school oversight. Uh, we've, uh, looked at data, complaints, and document review. Uh, from August 5th, 2024 until May 31st, 2025. We finalized uh core frameworks and letter of correction corrective action sent to life academy and MEF MCS uh uh incorporated on May 30th 2025. So one of the requests uh for all schools u is to approve I mean they must have an approved school improvement plan CGIA uh either done by Cogna or other researchbased comprehensive school improvement process uh that focus on report card indicators which look at academic achievement growth and ac
072uh chronic absenteeism. Uh the other just uh highlights in terms of other things we're looking at is lifemies and mef MCS incorporated financial audits which are due to the state examiners annually uh and then uh uh life academy outstanding invoices payable to NPS uh and then uh present uh which we we shared with you the corrective actions give recommendations for renewal or non-renewal by July 8th uh 2025 during the work session. Uh and we and and and in our interpretation, we must notify charter schools by July 15th. That's why on July 8th, we will uh come to you. Now, uh Life Academy uh what we look at is uh our response to our inquiry especially when we get uh uh complaints from the state uh any investigation. So it's our job as authoriz authorizers to
073look into that and then we report back to the state. They do have uh this year had a report card uh a grade of a D. Uh and then uh we do look at academic achievement which is a report card grade. Uh we look at a number of other things too such as number of student withdrawals within the period uh culture and climate uh based on what we can uh glean from that uh discipline and attendance and we look at due process absenteeism and truency. So the financial concerns uh that we've uh gleaned so far is that uh Life Academy has not paid outstanding NPS uh uh invoices and and that is I think it's 2% of the operating cost and I think Pamela is here. She can speak to that. I'm not uh in
074her domain. There are annual audit reports missing at at the state or I think it's it's we call it the state but it's really is the examiners of u the state examiners. I think the the the office that presented today we were under the pressure that it was as uh the state department because we send all of the communication to the state department. It's the charter school and ST STC department. So there are some corrections we can make but that's what our assumptions were. Um so then uh when you move Oh, I'm sorry. I'm on the next page. I'm sorry. I'm already on the other page. I'm sorry. So when you move to uh uh life academy uh in terms of the corrective actions uh we they they have submitted their uh a school improvement
075plan we originally sent out the communication in December of 2024 at that time we just gave them hey we recommended it wasn't necessarily like we said it's a must. So life academy is the only one that responded and did give us a school improvement. So we will be looking at that. Uh and so again we're looking at report card grade. That's the weight that we look at. Uh and then academic achievement growth and chronic absenteeism. Uh and paying of outstanding invoices to NPS by July 1, 2025. all pending annual audit reports that have not been given to the Alabama State uh education and the Alabama Department of Examiners uh of public accounts. We we we've asked for that. Uh we also have asked for the compliance monitoring reports uh since opening and and so because
076we uh we really rely on information from the charter schools and they get this information from the state but if we don't ask for it we may not get it. So, we've asked for it and so we want the final reports uh and that's what we followed up and asked in our corrective action or uh in our corrective action uh enrollment audits of also special subgroups data and that deals with federal federal programs that they are supposed to provide these services and inventory records and the importance of this is that any funds bought or purchased and uh we just want to make sure that's you know if they're using title funds that they actually properly inventorying and then uh keeping up that for the sake of the students. And so switching to uh Davis again
077they have a report card of an F. Uh again we're looking at academic achievement uh there are in terms of culture and climate things that we can uh consider discipline and attendance uh number of student withdrawals uh financial concerns uh etc. So uh from until since I've been here I haven't seen any information uh from MEF in terms of their financial uh I think uh well let's not think for the most part we get what we provide them in terms of the budget that we give them but in terms of uh MEF's financial information uh I uh believe we're entitled to that uh the MEF PLA systems are not compatible with NextG and that has really created more work for Pamela. As you know, when Pamela was doing two roles, she was actually getting the
078information and interpreting it and trying. So now uh we when you see in the corrective action, we it's a must that they adopt nextgen. It's not optional and that's going to be a part of the consideration for us uh uh moving forward. And we also need the annual audit reports just like we've asked for uh uh life academy. Uh so Davis corrective action again we needed a a school uh improvement plan and again we sent out the same letter in December saying hey we we provide technical assistance but we strongly recommend that you do this but again um we we did not necessarily receive see that um and so uh we asked for all pending annual audits that were due to the state and then also due to us and then I just want to
079like at the bottom of it. Uh the annual audits it is a year behind. So 2024 won't be until next year. So but again we're still have contracts with them. So I just making it an advanced uh knowledge of that. Uh then uh Nixon corrective action uh they they actually uh still even though they're not on the renewal, however, they still we still gave corrective action for them to start this year because this time next year we'll be looking at whether or not we're going to renew uh Nixon and Bell &Raph. So that's why you see a corrective action. So they're not in renewal for this year, but it's next year. But we want we want uh or we expect some uh improvement before we get to this time next year. So again, um all
080of these things are pretty consistent. I do apologize on the uh Oh, I'm still on Davis. I'm sorry. I'm talking. Uh so this is Dixon. uh and again uh annual audits and uh I do have a a mistake there and I I I will correct that on the year because uh from 2021 since the uh since the schools have started it's really is a year uh after they started and so um I have and I don't have the exact date when we started but this is just an anticipated in terms of the audits that we need. Uh again, Bell &Rath is in corrective action. It's also a CSR, a CSRR school, which means it's one of uh it's one of 10 schools in the state that has identified as need an additional uh uh on
081the uh comprehensive school improvement list, which means they also the state pay for their cognia uh review, diagnostic review. So the state uh provides that support uh for them. So that's one thing that uh they are going through now um because we attended a meeting uh with them earlier in the year and again these same indicators in terms of what what we'll be looking at academic achievement chronic absenteeism and so I mean uh I'm sorry that's on belliger yeah and so in all pending audit is pretty consistent but I just want to highlight the reason why I I put that there is to understand each school is different but if if it's the same, you know, same comment. I just want to be clear that we're asking for it even though it's the same for
082all three schools because MEF oversees all three schools, but I just uh make sure we we request that information even though it it may be the same, but uh it's the same company, but it's just different schools. So, uh in other words, if they if they had one school, it would just be one company. You know, if it was three different school, three different companies, we would request the same information. So, that's why you see that duplication there. Uh and then uh contract amendment which is going to be very important. Uh contract amendments are important because of some of the things that uh we notice within the framework. Uh we put we there are different categories by which you can judge a particular school. Uh and so there are some cases where a school could
083say exceed standards but yet they have an F report card. So we we have to reconcile that because that that is sort of it doesn't give the true picture of what's happening in the school. So that's one thing we are going to correct and this this is based on the national standards that originally gave us the framework. I'm not sure how the the expectations was lowered when when they adopted the framework, but we definitely will uh address that and it it'll be a lot uh well to in our view it's going to really compare apples to apples and what what you really are looking at in terms of data, terms of student attendance, truency and one thing that was not on there which we in our own school we hold uh schools accountable for is
084attendance. um like why wasn't attendance in there? So that's one thing we're going to add to it because if your truency weight is over close to 30 or 40%. That's an issue. Then when you look at student withdrawals and how often students are going leave and then uh how often you know whether or not truency truency protocols are being followed. That's one of the things that we're putting in there. So these are some of the highlights. Uh certainly some of these things are federal guidelines uh in terms of federal documentation of recordkeeping uh staff uh parental rights to know similar to what we follow through staff qualifications in terms of federal reporting uh and then also it's really important uh in terms of the special the the enrollment of the special subgroups and then making
085sure that they have services and so uh and and I just like to say because uh when when uh Mr. Isaac actually joined our team. He actually brought a whole I mean a whole different wealth of knowledge in terms of some compliance things that's just going to strengthen what our accountability and oversightes will be. So I just want to share that also. It's important that even in our own schools there's no fees for federal funded items or services. That is if it's a title one school they're re receiving services we cannot charge parents or students for participation. That creates an inequity. uh ASIP and uh tied to budgets. I want to also highlight this. The ASIP is a form of a a school improvement plan. However, what we're talking about is you got to take
086it a step further beyond that because if apparently if the ASIP was effective, it would show improvement. So, we're asking for something beyond that. And that's why we said either Cognia or you could get a researchbased uh company, but that's that's on them to decide. we just provide uh technical assistance. Now, we did say that in December. I said that in December. Uh and again, I want to reiterate only one uh schools uh responded and so we'll go from that. And then the federal financial and programmatic requirements and then the foster care plan which is a part of uh federal programs. So, core performance framework amendments. These are some of the things we're going to uh talk about uh that is going to be revised and again the the standards are aligned with what in
087some national uh uh national frameworks which we use is how we should measure this. So student progre progress over time reading and math subgroup uh reading and math which we do measure now it's just that the percentage is low. So it can like again you can show you exceeding but yet you have a F report card. So the goal is to reconcile those two. Uh and so we want to make sure of that and we're going to uh make sure we're schools replying with reporting require requirements governments and reporting culture and climate because one of the things you want to do is just like we give our surveys we want to know how the parents are doing and just like Dr. you know, we get stakeholder feedback, we're going to actually make sure that those
088parents' voice are heard. So, we'll look at that, too. U and then uh discipline u establish the criteria, but then also making sure that students rights are are protected and that parents rights are also protected. Uh especially when it comes to due process and hearings. Uh and so uh evidence of at in terms of teacher evaluations uh that's one indicator if you're going to improve instruction is uh you got to look at teacher evaluation. Uh and again parent engagement and this is a another thing in terms of the response rate. uh and this response rate because it's important that you get a represent sample of the majority of your parents and our uh uh uh people that you that has a that are stakeholders in the school. So, this is some of the things that
089we're going to we we're putting in here. Uh and that's all I have for tonight. And I I I think that was I think well they they say I talk too much but but Yes. I don't even know how to respond to that. Dr. Thank you. You're welcome. Are there any questions? Yes, ma'am. I just have a question on how did the reconciliation get so far off uh with with the uh the uh frameworks? Yes. I'm I'm not sure because I'm not sure how the framework was developed. uh it when you look at the the national uh charter school association that actually recommended it, it is different. It's a lot more strenuous. Like for example, uh if you're looking at math growth for example, it's at 90%. Not at 25%. The way we or or
090that's not even you know measured. or if it says um you know um there are some like attendance is a part of those in terms of measuring people's attendance. So I can't I I wasn't here to know what that was. It's just some of the things that since I've been here looking at it and then we did our own research and found the original the same framework and so that's how that informed us move in this process now. So we also in terms of what we learned like from oversight and the the burden that it it's on us to kind of be accountable to the state when we get complaints. It's just some of the things if we could put in place and have it as a regular ongoing expectation then it's a lot easier
091for us and it's a lot easier for us to make a recommendation for you to the board and then have some data points that which you can inform your decisions. Um I just you know just being new to it I didn't I just we just discovered it like uh you know in our research that's how we found it and then I mean that's fair. Um and the other thing lesson learned will there be some rhythms put in place um to do process checks? Oh, definitely more frequently, definitely, definitely. We did hire, thank you all for approving. Uh, we hired the charter leaison uh in April. So, definitely and um um that's what her work is now. And uh we did and and I just want to state for the record we we received um uh
092you know uh I would say a number of documents I mean stacks of documents that we reviewed. So we looked at what they presented uh to us and so we took that into consideration and then we have a team very capable team of knowing uh what the expectations are. So I just am I'm proud of our team in terms of taking that but yes ma'am it it is important. Yes ma'am. Madam point I just like to make a point that I think the ball was sort of dropped uh when we were under intervention and we were not we did not realize that we were authorizers and that we had this information. the state department just one day said that um we are authorizers and I think that's pretty much where the ball was dropped and
093they had already put the uh the the charter school in wheel was in place. So therefore we had to pick up from what they had put in place and we weren't there at the beginning for the setup. So now this is a good time for us to reset. Madame Chair, I'm very much aware that Dr. Keith had her hand up next. Uh my comments are in the same ballpark. So thank you. What I'm hearing, and I think we're all three in about the same place, when we talk about being in alignment, are we comparing the standards, the national standards with the data or information or set points that were outlined in the proposal? And that's why we can have some excellence and very goods, you know. Well, no, two things in the contract in the
094contract between uh Montgomery public schools and the life academy and then MEF uh MCS. It speaks of parameters by which are we engaged in relationship and then Erica could speak to some of the contract language. In the contract it states that you would follow the annual performance framework as uh one of the conditions uh that you agree to. So the performance framework uh is out it's a part of it but it it is different. It's like an attachment and amendment. But the contract talks about uh for example, we as authorizers, I can request any information uh about investigations, parent complaints. We we we need information, we request information that way. But it's the framework was developed um by that it was adopted because from this national organization NASCA or something like that I think that's
095the acronym. So, I hope I answer your question, but it's outside of it's a part of the contract, but the contract really are those things that we agree to on both sides. And then there there's two things. The contract there are and and Erica can speak to this, but the contract is things that if it's breached, then there's remedies and then there's the framework. The framework is how we evaluate their performance. So, it's two different It's sort of one and the same, but not one and the same, but it's a part of it. So, I don't think I did a good job of that. Thank you, Madam President. I'm going to begin with two words. I'm frustrated. Okay. And and it's um I sat in this meeting, too. I came to this meeting with the
096charter schools. You were there. Um let me ask let me start with a few questions and then I'll get to my point. Um, when we were looking at your PowerPoint, you had Dave, you had uh the first the first school, the Life Academy, then you did Davis, and you gave us their grades. I realize the other two are not up for renewal, but you didn't tell us their grades. Yes, ma'am. Yeah. And I said it was F. Uh, I'm sorry. I didn't hear what um Bellingrath was. Belling was a F. I apologize. I didn't hear what Nixon was. Nixon is a D. And it's also not on like on here, so I missed that. So, I apologize for that. Yeah. And I didn't say that. All right. And my my problem with this is we
097did we had acknowledged back in March because I went that was when the meeting was that we had dropped the ball. We did not get the letters out. We had a a certain time limit. And I looked like the butad, you know, to put it nicely. I could say something else, but I'm not. Okay. I I said, "Are we going to get that letter out? Is every school going to get that letter? Is Nixon gonna get it? Is Bellingraph gonna get it? Did they get the letter? Did they all get the letter or did That's what I'm asking. Yeah. Well, that's the December letter I was speaking to about. So, in December, I sent out two letters in December. Uh and the December letters were like recommendations at the time because of technical assistance and
098we hadn't finished the the uh we hadn't finished allowing them to give as much information to us to be to look at them fairly. So that letter went out in December and that's what I was referencing when I said see my you know we can make excuses all day long. Nobody said co we've got intervention. I was here before intervention and I I don't buy the intervention thing. It's nothing against my colleague because I love her, but I don't buy that at all. Um I I think we keep making excuses and we keep spinning the ball because the data and we supposedly have a new superintendent that is data driven. So I want it noted today that I'm asking for data. I you know I I don't want I want to know attendance of each
099of these schools. I want to know the withdrawal rate. I don't want a yearly report. I want a quarterly report. I was that person that pushed the charter schools mainly because I wanted to show hey this is this is what's wrong with NPS. They're they're a competitive um you know entity to us and I don't have I can't you know now when when I hear and I'm having to hear D's Fs I'm not trying to look for proof against MPS. I mean but why are we supporting things that we're not getting the data? Why are why are we continually saying we dropped the ball, we dropped the ball. Why are we continually jumpst starting and rejumpstarting? I was at that meeting in March where we said that was the jump spark start. Here we are
100in June and I'm hearing well let's start again. Yes, sir. I'm I'm frustrated. No, I understand that. And I think rightfully so. Yeah. And and I understand Dr. Oh, go ahead. Can I just I think we missed but there was a report when we sat in that meeting the we have sent them a letter according to your information did they not get a letter for corrective a action the corrective action didn't happen until May because we we have an obligation as an author writers the burden of proof is really rest with us so we wanted to make sure that we've done all we can in terms of uh reviewing all of their data points, you know, because that is what is required of the from from our understanding the state statute. But I think that's
101what she's asking. No, no, no. I heard when I left that meeting, we had a we were time was of the essence. We had if you were there, we had to get the letter out within the next week. And now you're telling me May, right? I'm not No, that's two different things. There's two different things. We we didn't have at the time that we met we were not ready for that because we were still in the process of reviewing Frank. But but why tell me we were getting a letter? I I went are because I remember being like I am now. I I went are we getting the letter out in the next and I was given a yes. Well, I apologize for that, Dr. keep but uh that was well and I understand that
102but that was not um you know that was not the intent so I looked at the timeline uh it you know in terms of what our timeline was we follow the timeline and that's a lot you know and I understand your frustration so I I do that but in terms of to answer your question yeah quarterly reports will will be a part of that did these last two schools. Did every school I'm ask I'm going to go back when we discuss this again. I'm going to pull this up. I'm going to have it on my phone. Did Nixon did Bellingth did all these schools get a letter in May then? Yes. Okay. Thanks. Yes. Yes, ma'am. U Miss Cloud, thank you. It's a timeline. There's there's years that when you go through monitoring that you
103start and it's almost like a self-reporting. You tell what you're going to do, then you do the second year, then then you do the third year. It rolls into that. With federal programs, because they do accept federal funds, they have to follow those guidelines and those laws and rules and procedures also. So they don't only have the ca the charter school commission to go to, they go deeper because they're receiving those funds just like a private school would do if they receive federal funds. They have to go through the same hoops. So what he's telling you is there's a cycle that we have to get to. They have those opportunities checkpoints. If we're if we've fallen out anywhere, it might have been the checkpoints, but we can correct that because now they've got a corrective
104action plan, which all schools that receive any kind of federal funds have to do a corrective action. They correct it, then we do a review one more time and see where they are. That's the best way I know how to explain it. Thank you, Miss Cloud, and help with the clarification. that it did because I mean it is required of us as the authorizer to provide that opportunity for them to respond to it. But I do understand but thank you uh board member cloud. Are there any other questions? All right. Thank you Dr. King. Now we'll have Miss Wilson. Good evening, Madame President, Dr. Bird, members of the board. Um, I have two items uh to discuss and to present with you. The first one is an amendment to the 2526 school calendar. Um, specifically,
105we are recommending the addition of two asynchronous learning days on Friday, September 19th and Friday, February 6th. Um these days serve two purposes. We have some dual purpose in these um asynchronous learning days. Student um can participate in meaningful assignments, catch up on schoolwork, um have some digital supports uh that have been structured by teachers beforehand. Um oftent times they are finishing projects, large paper assignments um and re uh sometimes interventions happen at that time as well to reinforce reinforce key standards and efforts to support our staff. Um these days are dedicated to professional development and collaborative planning. Um, teachers and staff use this time to analyze student data, uh, refine instructional practices, and we've talked a lot about participating in job embedded training, and we've already started to begin, um, the process to develop
106a plan to support our staff during these additional days. Um, if you look at the calendar, Friday, September 9th falls about six weeks into the instructional year, allowing teachers to assess early progress, make some instructional adjustments, and for us, we're able to capture some new hires in that time period and perhaps have a new teacher orientation at that time. February 6 comes at a natural midpoint in the spring semester uh following winter assessments. So the midyear assessments, but right ahead of the high stakes state tests that happen in March and April. And so we look forward to that day as well. Um scheduling these on Fridays minimize disruption to the instructional week um while students preserve high impact opportunities for staff development and student reflection. And so it makes sense for students to know there's
107asynchronous learning on a Friday as opposed to any other day in the week. Uh we believe these two added asynchronous learning days uh will support our mission to strengthen teaching and learning across the district. And I just respectfully request the board's consideration for approval on this calendar amendment. Thank you, Miss Wilson. Any questions, Miss Clown? need to put together. Even if we they're ready to do testing, then have spring break. A lot of school systems are moving to that state assessment time. Either we pick up early state assessment dates or because we're shooting ourselves in the foot. We're lit we're it's like at Christmas, you know, Christmas time, they have two weeks off. They come back, they're walking around like, "Okay, I'm going to get back into the rhythm to the routine." That's across the
108board. PreK through 12th, they're all coming back trying to get back into the rhythm. We're We have got to pay attention to letting them have that time off that full week and then bringing them back for state assessments. I just feel like that's almost unfair to all of us when we could work hard, push to the finish, give them the reward of go through state assessments, and then let them have a week off. I know it's close to time for them to get out, but again, I see it being we're shooting ourselves in the foot. That's that's really I think you would see a big difference in state assessments if we kept pushing through even though I know that's time and we can't change calendar now, but it really has been a concern of mine
109for years and years and years because what are we telling our children subconsciously? We're working hard, working hard, go have a break. then come back and you're testing so I don't know. It concerns me. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Cloud. Any other discussion? All right, Miss Wilson, you also have um the wireless communication device policy. Yes. So, um we are proposing I mean this is for your re review to be uh approved at a later date. Um, but we the beginning in July, the Senate Bill 92, also known as the Focus Act, which refers to freeing our classrooms of unnecessary screens for safety, um, has been has passed into law. And so that states that all school boards must adopt an internet safety policy that addresses student access to the internet on district-owned devices and
110prohibits the use of and operation and possession of wireless communication devices on public properties unless a legally approved exception applies. So, all wireless communication devices must be turned off and stored away from their students person in a locker, vehicle, or other secure storage area for the duration of the instructional day. Um, this bill does apply to all public school property. That includes classrooms, hallways, buses, um, and any other area designated on school property. So, what's an instructional day? Right. So um the period of time which a public elementary or a secondary school is open in session for the purpose of meeting the minimum instructional days or hours. So this includes the whole day. And so for students any students or parents listening that includes lunch transition time uh once you enter into our school day
111that is considered the instructional day. Um so that is the period of time which cell phones have to be turned off and stored away and off their persons. Um the wireless communication device does allow for exceptions under this law. Exceptions would include the use um or part of a student's IEP 504 plan or individualized health plan. The device is uh also uh allowable for educational purposes in the activity as staff supervised. Um and there is an emergency part in this law that says there is an emergency that threatens the life or safety of a student or other another person and that is the language um straight from the act. So, what that says for us is that starting in the 2025 2026 school year, students are not allowed to use or operate wireless communication devices
112in any elementary or secondary building or on school grounds during the instructional day. Students may not bring wireless communication devices to school unless it is turned off and stored away from the students persons. Currently, our policy states that students may possess a cell phone on school pro property, but use of such cell phone during the school day is not allowed. So, our school district, the board has approved for us to require students to keep their phones off and away anyway. So, we are already aligned um with what the bill proposes and has passed to um follow. However, I will say um we use pouches at the secondary level. Um, and what we're going to wait on is a little bit of clarification from the State Department, which they said is forthcoming, about whether a pouch
113is considered off their person. So, we know that it's in the pouch. We know that it's locked up for secondary, but they keep it with them. They keep it in their book bag. That is not considered at this time off their person. We are not the only school district who has questions. In fact, all um school districts have asked for clarification of this. We know when something passes, we want to make sure that we follow the law, but we also want to make sure that we are mindful of what that looks like um applicationwise. So, what does that look like for students? What does that look like for parents? And we want to be um this is urgent for us. So, we definitely want to bring it forward to you. And also, um we are
114already beginning to plan whether pouches are allowed. We'll have a plan for that um to put in our student code of conduct. And if pouches are not allowed, we'll also have a plan for that. Currently, our K5, they do just what this bill says. They have cubbies in their classrooms, so cell phones are turned off in their book bag and in the cubby. And that's why um that off their person is is easier for K5. It's the secondary, middle school, and high school. As you know, they'll have their book bags. They carry that around with them. They carry their pouches around with them. Um so, we wanted to bring this to you. Um there was a presentation in the board connections where I tried to do a voice over. I don't know um if that
115was an irritant to you, but uh just trying to make sure that you're informed um as we go to pass this policy later this month. Miss Cloud, I understand this is very very important, but I am going to bring this up. We have students that have for their diabetes, they have a monitor on their arm just like my brother does that has to have that phone because it tells him when his blood sugar and what he needs to do. Let's say that they're up in a high school that has three levels. I worry about them. I do. We do. And that's an allowable exception for the individualized health plan. I think though that that needs to be so that parents won't be concerned. We're open with parents if we're going to put it in the
116handbook. We need to assure the parents that it due to medical there will be an allowance for that. That's all I was trying to get to is that part. Thank you. Um and if just to clarify, so if you go to section C of the policy draft, you'll see where we do um Miss Cloud list that out for individualized health plans. I have one question about Okay. The instructional day, the children that do things after school, that's outside of the instructional day. Yes. So, they can have their phone. Yes. Okay. Any other questions? Thank you, Miss Wilson. Thank you. It's good to speak to you. Um, we will have an update on the teacher retention recruitment committee by Dr. at least the key. Okay. Um, good news, bad news. I don't know which y'all want
117first, but on the on the I almost feel like the the what what I just got upset over. I'm I'm a you know, I I will tell you by the end of the time I have with this, which is short, it won't be long, I think I know the direction we need to go. I've met with uh teachers. I've met with uh Dr. Angie Pelton. I uh met with uh tech support Sydney. I actually even went and met with the the new teachers or the emergency teachers and I know Dr. um uh Bird went right after I did and they are precious. I can see why Dr. Pelton has her whole heart and soul into what she does. But here here's the issue and I think it's something that that that we all have to
118understand. Everybody has to be a part of those teachers whether they're emergency certified, new teachers, whatever. And when you look at the assignments and books, it it's almost like well the right hands handle it or the left hands handle it and the right hand thinks the left hand and nothing gets done. And what happens is we as a board have to to to do some things first before with policy. Example, you've got people in these these programs for like three years and we're losing them because we don't have policies in place. For example, you you've got these teachers making promises that where they're not accountable. They they come here, they collect a check for three years, they get into these expensive programs that we're funding and running out of funds, by the way. And and
119I'm not finished because I I want to tell you some of the things that just I'm giving you the bad news first. Okay? You you cannot take teachers out of the classroom away from their students and expect them to come down here and learn because you're taking them out of teacher classrooms. then you we change it to well let's put them in at 3:30 and they don't want these teachers the ones I've talked to including even even uh uh Dr. Pelton said, "You just don't have a 100% of that teacher's mindset at 3:30. They just got off from teaching 180 kids. We've got to do we've come up she's come up with a great plan where we can stagger it, especially if they're on the block schedule and they won't they won't they might miss
120a classroom one time and then you bring them the next month and they miss another classroom. You bring them the next month and then before you know it, semester's changed. So it would actually work and instead of making what you're doing and I' I've got a list here I made it these teachers these new teachers have no idea what code of ethics is what confidentiality on grades are what Alabama core teaching standards are students rights teacher bill of rights that that incidentally we all know that came out but the teacher bill of rights they don't know that within 10 days you have this law that the we've got to have a meeting and I'm telling you ladies, it's got to be about accountability. And instead of, and I said this about the charter schools, instead
121of reporting once a year when it's too late and we're not behind the ball, we've got to have quarterly checkups. We have to make demands as a board that says these courses will be taken the first year if you're if you are allowed into this program. Number one, think about it. They're getting a stipen and a healthy stipen, okay, that is running out. So, if they're getting the stipen, but they're not doing the classes, okay, guess what? It's our fault because we didn't make the policy that said, "Did you take A, B, and C?" So, we've got to meet if if I've done anything with this committee, and I know y'all went, "No, you didn't." I did. Okay. I did, ladies. I did. I did my homework. We have got to do the policy on
122this and it has to start with accountability of of this is what courses I don't care you know we have a list but some you have to show us proof that you're worth that stipen and we do need we need uh more funding for these teachers because as y'all know we have too many teachers in the program and like I said if we oh one last thing I promise I'm almost done, but this is this is big. This is huge. I need to say this. Instead of having teachers, this is one of the things that I talked to them about. And they came, it's not my idea, but I love the idea. We need to contract out coaches instead of making these teachers coaches who don't know the code of ethics, bill of rights, all
123that kind of stuff to teach it. If we have if we contract it out, we're not hiring because my idea was, hey, what do we need to hire? Do we need to hire a couple of coaches? Do we That's then they came back. No, Lisa, we don't need that. We need right now. We need to You You can't The words were because I took this down. I'm I'm proud of myself because I really did work on this. Um it Okay, we have to do a better job, you know, because we're we're wasting time and money. And it says our teachers are, you know, in year three and then they're leaving this and it says we need policy for accountability. We need um what was No, where's my big word here? We can't start with a
124system. We have to build small and move up to build capacity. We have to start with the core courses. In other words, some of these things that they said were wasting. I'm not taking away from art. I'm big time into art and music. But in that is something that can happen over time. We need to start with your ESLs, your math, your reading, things like that, and then build and move and and pull in more more, you know, people into the program as we move. But we've we've got a contract out. I think it was a great idea to contract out coaches. Update, Dr. Keith. Well, I don't know. I think we trying to talk to all at the same time. So, I'm going to No, Dr. Bird, you go ahead. I just want to
125say thank you so much, uh, Dr. Keith. And I believe that you were definitely in our heads because everything what in that you just said is something that we've already uh talked about uh and is also what in our recruitment and retention plan. You're exactly right. We have got to increase accountability. Uh, and so we have that in our plan. We have KPIs with that are in our plan that we have the supplement. I'm sorry. Got you. Well, I'm gonna say this and I hope I'm not going to get anybody in trouble. I am. But if I do get them in trouble, I've told them you call me immediately if you get in trouble. Yes, ma'am. I did. I did. We if we've got title two money set aside for this much for this right
126here. Yes. And then you're taking it and you're allowing title two money to be spent on this this and this. You've taken away from the big picture. We have got to have good teachers. And you're not going to have good teachers without good coaches. And if you're going to spend this title two money and you and you start weedling out to this, this, and this, it we got to go, hey, if you've been hired to be over this title two, that's your job. then let some people do the job that they were hired to do. Absolutely. Absolutely. Yes. They're going to kill me. Doc, Miss Cloud, we have Miss Porters and then um Dr. Keith, thank you for all of your hard work and um but one of the things too that might ease up
127the professional removing them from the classroom for the professional development. I know new teachers need to be modeled. There needs to be somebody. You can't remove them from the children. They need to see what you we need to see what they're dealing with when little Johnny won't sit down and they don't really have good classroom management yet. They'll get it and if they have somebody to model our retired teachers and and you're one of them, right? And I know you've talked about that a lot just to go in the classroom with them to model a class to stay with them to give them some support. And then the accountability piece, these building leaders are going to have to know who's in their building and who needs help and then provide that form. And and I'll
128tell you this, not that I'm I didn't mean to interrupt, but when I talked to these teachers as a group that that day that I went in, it was some sometime in May because I know you went in right after me. They're I felt like I was looking at 10 year olds. They were so excited that we were excited. And when I was watching uh Dr. Pelton, I mean, she's in the right she's got the right job. We we have the right person in the right job there. I will tell you cuz her heart and Sydney's heart are they're 100%. They want so much. But that we it's the policy that's not there in place that's hurting us and that's on us. But at least, you know, to me, I think I think they were
129honest enough to say, "This is what we got to do so we can retain them." And that's that's the title of this teacher retention. We've got to we can retain, but with retention comes accountability. And that's got to be said by us. Absolutely. Miss Cloud, I'm listening to this and I think that puts us on the right track. Um, even the teachers that are the master teachers and they've got their own classes. So, we do probably need those retired teachers or even the Bailey group has a set of teachers, master teachers that maybe and we don't have to keep them forever in a day. Just enough to train our trainers or get the right things into place to tell our retired teachers, bring them forward, work together for a year, then they can go out
130because there's only one Angie Pelton. She can't do it all. So, but title two funds that's I think being cleaned up. We've been using that for class size reduction which we really don't need to. That needs to go into teacher retention completely and and PD. Thank you. All right. Our next um agenda item will come from Dr. Brenda Damas Coleman on school board policy um update in relation to the conference. Okay. When you put that extra piece in there, minus that extra piece, I would we we talked about but scoop, let me go back. Uh, school board policy update. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, there was a little confusion and I should have recognized on the agenda uh the person preceding and the person following me, it said committee. Um, and this one only said
131policy update. But if you will indulge me, uh we have been assigned committee assignments and some of us thought that well I thought that we were a policy committee when we were a goal and objectives committee. And so the uh report that I prepared speaks just minimally to uh some of our committee work, but I do talk a little bit about policy and I'll try not to keep us long. I was hoping not to have us over 7 o'clock. So uh I will try and give you the cliff notes, but thank you again. and I do proudly co-chair the goals and objectives committee with board member Pamela Cloud. uh as we continue working toward a unified vision for academic excellence, for equity, and for our operational effectiveness across the district. It's important that we reaffirm
132our roles and responsibilities that might be in alignment with established governance principles. As board members, we do proudly serve as stewards of policy direction, not as the administrators of day-to-day. And when we engage with the district policy committees, we attend uh and this was important to me as we move uh forward, we are in an observatory and a collaborative capacity. We need to make certain that we work in transparency in oversight and again in alignment. I spoke about the assignment uh during our February broad retreat. We discussed those goals and objectives and Ms. Cloud and I uh were tasked with pulling together all of those goals and objectives. We did so and we submitted our findings and our our work together to our colleagues. You all have had an opportunity, I hope, to look over
133those and we will hopefully get a chance to pull those together uh and refine those. It's important to note that according to the directive uh I said our charge according to our charge uh we were to look at our audit as well. Well, no, our audit and those statements that we made collectively, but in addition, uh, Miss Cloud brought in the 2023 uh, commission report for the Alabama Governor's uh, commission in 2023. So, we use Okay, when I looked it up, it said 2023, but she's saying now 2024, but we we'll look at that again. But we did look at the Alabama Governor's Commission report, and I I think it's important that, you know, we were trying to cover all bases uh get in great detail. And so, you know, I I I wanted you
134all to know that it was a collaborative effort. You have that collaboration in front of you and hopefully we will use it in a in a positive way relative to policy. Okay. Uh I am in frequent communication with district administration uh Dr. Williamson and Miss Johnson regarding our policy updates. Recently I did attend a meeting of the policy committee to observe and participate in discussions that were related to behavioral policies uh curriculum updates and state compliances. My representation uh at those meetings as as a member of our board reinforces our commitment to securing and maintaining consistency and making certain that we are aligned with the district's strategic framework. I have attended meetings nationally and statewide along with several of our colleagues right here today. I think at least four of us have worked collaboratively um
135across the state and the southeast as well as uh the Washington meeting. When it comes to policy, I have we have brought back information and so far I've had a chance to collaborate with operations. I've sent information or spoken with Mr. Anderson. Uh academics, I know Dr. King is tired of me uh sending uh notes and messages to him about things that I've learned. But you know that's a part of what this is about sharing the information that we get and um I'm really excited about the work that we are doing um in collaboration with innovation and technology. Dr. Powell has been extremely receptive of the information and um even though we think we're learning new things, we have experts right here uh on our our campus and in our district. Many of the things
136uh he he knows about already and we are already doing. But it does help to as uh Miss Portoris loves to say go out see what other people are doing and when we do that we realize that we are doing just fine. Uh again many of us have been around uh and have learned new things and we are bringing those things back to share with each other. Hopefully we will uh not only go and learn but come home and implement these things in our committee work as well as share them with district leadership. I'd also like to add that and we briefly discussed this at a retreat, effective boardmanship also includes advocacy. Uh and I'm encouraging advocacy at the local state and national levels. So, I look forward to us making certain that we work
137to improve funding, equity, and retention, digital access, and student safety across the board. Understanding that our policies do shape the learning environments that our students and our teachers uh task to work with. and it's up to us to hold up the integrity as we govern uh for greater impact. Thank you. Thank you so much, Dr. Coleman. At this time, we will have board member Miss Claudia Mitchell on Capital Outlay Committee report. Okay. Thank you. Uh today I have approximately 10 pages before me with information on all of the things that we have done but because uh Mr. Anderson in operations and vocurt gives us a a very detailed monthly report of facilities, grounds and operations. I will definitely give you the cliffnotes version. This is just just a trip down memory lane to think about
138five years ago. There was a study done called the Dong study and they found out that we had over $500 million in deferred maintenance access in MPS. And since that time, we have come a very long way. As we sit and look around in this room of the things that we have accomplished in those five years, uh most of we have made uh tremendous progress and I'm just going to share with you some of the major major capital projects and some of our additional improvements quite quickly here. Uh some of our major capital projects includes uh the new Booker T Washington Magnet High School, the renovation of this facility that we're sitting in today. Uh we have also renovated our logistics warehouse, the children's center, and the construction of the new uh 9th grade academy
139at Carver High School. And we also have had athletic improvements uh at at uh all of our high school facilities. Now, some of the additional improvements that we've done, we've had roof replacements in 31 schools. We had HVAC upgrades in eight schools. And we have replaced over 300 units in our schools. uh parking lot uh pavements in about 20 different schools, LED lighting upgrades in 10 schools, playground renovations were completed at 11 schools, library renovations at four schools, and we have four more that are currently in the design process. So, you can see that we have truly uh come a long way. And uh as you look around the city, you can notice on your own that there has been significant landscaping improvements. Our schools truly look a lot better than they did. The the
140maintenance on the grass and everything, it just really looks great. And uh in operations in spring of 2024, a comprehensive reszoning study was completed. And this study focused on improving the vertical alignment within the school feeder patterns and also optimizing the building capacity. Now in its findings uh its findings will support that our future decisions so that we will be impacting transportation curriculum and our capital investments. Now, uh there are planned renovations at our transportation department which will include infrastructure for two electric or EV charging stations and they will have uh capacity to add two additional stations in the future. Uh we also now are excited to have an inhouse printing divisions and that's just a few of the accomplishments that we've made over the past few years. Madame President, thank you so much. Thank
141you ladies for all of your hard work and due diligence. And there will be more to share as we continue to do this committee work. So thank you so much. Um the next agenda item is coming from me. Um this is on the general counsel contract annual review. Okay, give me just a second you guys. We're very proud. All right, I just got to find my notes here. Um, all right. My apologies. The attorney contract is uh I did want to clarify some things. The attorney contract is not set to expire until June 2027 and that um based off of the email that you all received. So, we would not need to negotiate it at this time. The negotiation for a new contract will take place in June 2027. While I fully support and welcome
142performance evaluations as a part of professional growth, I believe that the conduct that conducting a formal evaluation of her role at this stage would not provide a fully equitable and accurate measure of her performance. I respect and suggest that a traditional evaluation um at this time also wouldn't capture the full scope of the context of what has been accomplished while she's been here. And by her, I'm referencing attorney Pal. Since beginning her role as general counsel, she has had to build the legal department from scratch with no existing structure. Um, she's had to find adequate office space. Um, she's been limited in resources uh upon her arrival and she's had to also build uh and is continuing to build a support staff while simultaneously managing crisis level responsibilities. So despite those limitations, she has met
143and exceeded expectations as we all are aware. She stood in the gap for a lot of things and she was a onewoman show. Therefore, I'm requesting uh consideration for a salary adjustment based on performance and equity that better reflect both market value of the position and the performance delivered under exceptional and um circumstances. And that is my report. The next course of action will be I will have to um get with I'll have to get legal counsel another a different um legal firm to work with me as we negotiate this contract so that we can make sure that we are in compliance and following what we have in the contract that does exist and to look at those adjustments. But it will not just be me, it will be all of us. So, I'll definitely
144keep you all updated. And there will be scheduled meetings um individually um to go over the contract um especially if you have questions and concerns as we begin looking at just the salary adjustment. Are there any questions? All right. Oh, go ahead. I'm not sure if if I'll come up with a question, but I was concerned about uh us stating uh no evaluation even though there will be no formal evaluation. Uh would it not be acceptable to submit anecdotal remarks regarding uh the experiences and the work that has been done? You named some of the things that would go in such um an evaluation or not an EVA an assessment, but the anecdotal records would show that um we were not just sitting and allowing a person to work without any kind of assessment. Well,
145thank you. I'm glad you brought that up because my next sentence that I did leave off is if the board so chooses a formal evaluation or review can be conducted once the um once we have that opportunity to sit down. So I recruit you to work with me so we can get that done if you're okay. You've done this before. due to the sensitivity of some of her work, we have to be careful because, you know, some of that's good name and character and also some very sensitive issues she takes care of. But, you know, that that we can't completely report out on all of that, right? Well, I think too that she deserves a raise for dealing with board members like myself because I I'm I'm not kidding. The fact that she has dealt
146with me since the day she got here and the way she's dealt with me has been meticulous and I'm so proud of her. They don't want to print enough money in the US Mint to pay. We have Miss Porter. She has a comment. My only comment is I I just want us to make sure we're doing the same thing across the board. However, we if we evaluate before we um provide any raises, then we need to do that across the board to make sure we're in um you know compliance and doing it right. Yes, ma'am. That is duly noted. All right. Any other questions and concerns? Hearing none, this meeting is now adjourned. Our next board meeting will be um July I don't know in July. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]