001Call to order the August 18th, 2026 regular school board meeting. I will ask Commissioner Vivian Daniels to please say a word of prayer for us. Father tonight children pray for our children. Father, bring our entire community together for the sake of you. Remind us that we may come from different neighborhoods, backgrounds, positions, and perspectives. thereunication. Rebuild relationship. Bless this meeting. Bless every name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. Thank you. Please stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Please be seated. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda and proposed agenda modifications? >> Madam chairman, I make a motion to approve the agenda and proposed agenda
002modifications. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> All in favor? Yay. >> All opposed. Motion carries. Okay. Superintendent report. Dr. Rescue. >> Call Miss Caris Harmon to podium. >> Good evening everyone. Tonight I'm excited to highlight several accomplishments across Den City Schools. And I'll first begin by looking back at something remarkable one of our students did over the summer. At just 13 years old, Jahaden Franklin, now an eighth grader at DPA, saw a need in the community and decided to do something about it. He organized a completely free kids day at Doug Park, creating a space where children and families could come together and fellowship. Not only did his event provide free food and activities, but his vision went far beyond one afternoon of fun. Kids of all
003ages and their families had an opportunity to connect as community members and provide uplifting, encouraging messages to kids as they prepared to enter the new school year. What makes this accomplishment so powerful to me is that Jiaden did not believe he had to wait until he was older to make a difference. He had an idea, turned it into action, and showed all of us what student leadership can look like. And he's not here with us tonight, but if he is watching, I just want to let him know thank you for using your voice and your heart for service to make a difference in our community. We are incredibly proud to have you representing Dothan City Schools. And let's just give him a welldeserved round of applause. And next, we're celebrating Selma Street Elementary School for
004receiving a $1,000 Spark Good local grant from Sam's Club of Dothan in support of the school's Let's Recycle Crew initiative. Now in its fourth year, the initiative empowers students to protect the environment while taking pride in their school campus, which promotes lifelong sustainable habits. Fourth and fifth grade students are selected for the crew through teacher recommendations based on their work ethic, responsibility, social skills, and academic performance. Every Wednesday morning, student crew members put on their leadership vests. They grab their collection carts and travel through the school gathering recyclable materials. They then sort the items and help ensure the campus recycling area remains clean, organized, and safe. The grant funds will be used to replenish collection and storage supplies along with the safety and cleanup care students need to continue their fantastic work. Through this initiative
005and the school's partnership with the city of Dothan's waste management division, students are learning that environmental responsibility begins with the choices they make each and every day. So, congratulations to C Street's Let's Recycle crew on this welldeserved grant and the lasting impact they are making on their campus and their community. And at this time, we would like to invite Street Elementary School principal, Miss Dion Blair, to join the board on stage for a photo. And let's give S Street a round of >> applause. [applause] >> [cheering] >> One, two, three. >> [applause] >> And before I conclude, I do want to remind everyone that Friday Night Lights are back this week. Our Doan High School Wolves will host Bay High for the first home football game of the season this Friday, August 21st at Repuse.
006Stadium gates and concession stands will open at 6 PM with kickoff scheduled for 7. and fans are encouraged to arrive early to allow additional time for parking, ticketing, and stadium entry. Now, before attending, please visit the Goen City Schools athletics website for our complete game day guide. There you'll find the full game day timeline, ticket purchasing information, parking details, the district's clear bag policy, prohibitive items, and additional stadium procedures. We also have our know before you go guide on our district and athletic social media pages there for you, too. We look forward to seeing every everyone Friday night and go Wolves. Thank you. >> Now we have board comments. Does anyone have any comments? >> Madam Chair. >> Sure. >> I want to address a serious concern regarding the legal guidance being provided to this
007board. The question of how many votes are required for this board to take official action was first raised during our June 29th board meeting. The same question arose again at our July 28th special called meeting when I specifically asked whether a motion required a majority of the members present or majority of the entire seven member board. This was not a hypothetical question. The answer determines whether an official action of this board passes or fails. Yet, after this issue was raised at two separate board meetings, I still did not receive a clear answer from our board attorney. The following day, without any request for me, legal counsel for the Alabama Association of School Boards contacted me after watching our live stream and hearing my question. He provided the answer and cited Alabama code 16-11-5 which states
008that no motion or resolution may be adopted without the concurrence of a majority of the whole board. He further explained what that means for Dothan seven member board. Every motion requires four affirmative votes whether four, five or six or all seven members are present. If fewer than four members vote in favor, the motion fails. What concerns me is that this question was raised during two separate board meetings. Yet, I ultimately received the legal guidance unsolicited from AASB after the second meeting rather than from the attorney contracted to advise this board. This is not about receiving the answer I want. I want to be clear about that. I may not always agree with the legal advice we receive, but I do expect legitimate legal and procedural questions affecting official board action to be answered whenever reasonably
009possible before we vote. And if our attorney believes an ethical or legal limitation prevents him from answering a particular question, then I expect him to explain that limitation and advise this board on how we obtain the independent legal guidance necessary to proceed. We make decisions affecting approximately 8,000 students, thousands of employees, and millions of taxpayer dollars. We cannot afford to make decisions first and determine afterward whether we follow the law. This board needs timely, objective, and reliable legal guidance before we act. Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Madam Chair? >> Yes, ma'am. Um, I would like to ask that our CFO, Miss Stephanie Walker, uh, share with the entire board the invoice of our attorney from January to the current time. You can share it with us online uh, later, but we want you to
010share it with us. >> Yes, ma'am. I shared that information on the um board communication document that shared with all the board members earlier this week when it was requested and um I put your um the information you had requested and then addressed it with that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any further comments before we move on to our first item um and that is the censor of a board member. The first item before the board is consideration of proposed censor of a board member. And before we proceed, I would I want to explain clearly what a censor is and what it is not. The process that has brought us to this point and the possible outcomes of tonight's vote. What a censor means. A censor spelled CN su is formal expression of
011disapproval by governing body concerning the conduct of one of its members. It's important to distinguish between censor and sensor. to censor spelled C N S O R generally means to suppress, prohibit, or restrict speech or information. That is not what is before this board tonight. A censor does not silence a board member. It does not remove a board member from office. It does not take away the member's elected position. It does not prevent the member from representing his or her constituents or exercising the rights and responsibilities of board membership. Rather a censor of is a is the board's formal determination that specified conduct warrant if the specified conduct warrants an official expression of disapproval under the standards applicable to the members of this board. Now there is a statutory process. The Alabama legislature has established
012a specific process governing the censor or reprimand of members of local boards of education. Under Alabama code 16-1-41.1, the board may consider censor or reprimand when a member fails to satisfy applicable standards of boardmanship or other statutory duties under the circumstances constituting neglect of duty or willful misconduct. The law also establishes procedural protections for the board member who is the subject of the proposed action. On July 14th, 2026, the Dothan City Board of Education voted to provide notice of his intent to consider a formal center of Mrs. Brenda Guilford. Following that vote, the secretary of the board provided Mrs. Guilford with written notice specifying the reasons for the proposed action and providing the required advanced notice. The law further provides that the member have an opportunity to respond orally or in writing before the board
013takes final action. Miss Guilford has exercised her right to respond in writing. Her written response has been provided to the members of the of this board and will be preserved as part of the board's official record. Tonight's proceeding is the final consideration of the proposed censor. The July 14 vote was not a vote to censor Miss Guilford. It was a vote to begin the statutory process and provide the required notice. Tonight, each board member must independently consider the notice, the information available to the board, Miss Guilford's response, and the applicable board policies and the requirements of Alabama law. This individual responsibility entrusted to each is entrusted to each of each member on this board. Miss Gil, Miss Guilford has responded in writing and your your response has been received and will be considered by the
014members of the board. Now, I will entertain a motion concerning the proposed resolution of Sens. >> Madam Chair. >> Yes, sir. U before most substantive discussions begin, I I don't I would like to request that the exact century proposition or resolution the board is being asked to act upon be read aloud or otherwise stated in full. >> Okay. >> The request is not a motion. Its purpose is to identify the proposition before the members to discuss or act on it and to prevent the record from resting on an unidentified or shift in central text. >> Sure. So you would like us to read the >> everything that's certainly been in charge with. Yes. >> Okay. >> All right. Okay. This is the notice that was sent to Miss Guilford. >> Would you like Dr. Rescue
015to read it? >> Okay. I think I think that's the procedure that the secretary of the board uh has to do the presentation. The letter is addressed to board member district 1, Miss Brenda Guilford, Doan City Board of Education. It was delivered via mail, certified mail, and email. Mrs. Guilford at its regularly scheduled board meeting on July 14th, 2026, the Dothan City Board of Education approved by majority vote its intent to proceed with consideration of a formal censure regarding your actions during the executive session of the board meeting on May 28, 2026. Pursuant to the school board governance act and following approval of this motion, you're hereby provided 30 days notice of the board's intent to consider censure as directed by the board to the secretary of the board. The basis for the proposed censure
016by the Dothan City Board of Education is outlined below. First, you failed to recuse yourself from a discussion involving an immediate family member who is employed by the Dothan City Board of Education as required by the Dothan City School Board Policy Manual 5.2. 2.5. During the discussion, you specifically asked fellow board member Mrs. Ari Jenkins what consequences should apply to individuals who failed to report an incident involving allegations of child abuse. After Mrs. Jenkins responded by referencing the interim assistant principal and the Title 9 coordinator, you were advised by the board attorney that your continued participation in the discussion could be an ethical conflict because your daughter serves as the Title 9 coordinator. You were specifically advised that continued involvement could constitute an ethical issue. Despite this guidance and repeated warnings, you continued to participate
017in the discussion and failed to remove yourself from the matter. Second, your demeanor, body language, and tone during the meeting were inconsistent with the expectations and responsibilities of a board member and were contrary to policy 2.7, team governance operating procedures, which requires a board and superintendent to treat one another with dignity and respect. Specifically, you raised your voice directly toward Mrs. Jenkins and positioned yourself standing over Mrs. Jenkins chair, grabbing the back of her chair and accosting her while continuing to raise your voice. The nature of this interaction caused concern among those present, resulting in other board members verbally and physically intervening due to concerns regarding the escalation of the situation. Your actions frightened Mrs. Jenkins and other board members. Mrs. Jenkins asked if you were threatening her. You replied, "That is not a threat.
018It is a promise." Furthermore, you attack Mrs. Jenkins character based on matters unrelated to board business. Elected members of the board of education hold positions of public trust and are expected to model professionalism, ethical conduct, respect for governance, procedures, and adherence. Respect for governance procedures and adherence to established board policies. Maintaining public confidence in the board requires each member to uphold these standards, particularly particularly during difficult discussions and matters involving potential conflicts of interest. Your lack of boardsmanship is unacceptable. For these reasons, the board will consider and vote upon the proposed censure at the regularly scheduled meeting in August. Prior to any vote being taken by the Dothan City Board of Education, you shall be afforded the opportunity to respond to this notice either orally or in writing transmitted on behalf of the Dothan City
019Board of Education pursuant to board action adopted July 14th, 2026. Respectfully, Carrick Ascudd uh the secretary said this was conducted in a meeting What meeting was that? >> It was May the 28th in executive session. >> This action that was just read took place in our meeting. >> It took place in executive session. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. So, is is that also a meeting? I mean are we to share all these things that happened in executive session with >> We do not share everything. No sir, >> ma'am. >> We do not share everything in executive session. We do not. But there are some things that we needed to address. >> Madam Chairman, point of order. This should be taking place during the discussion portion, not now. >> Yes. So we need to have a
020motion and a second. >> You had not called for a vote. >> Yeah. Before a motion, Madame Chair, I formally request that you voluntarily recuse yourself from presiding over, deliberating upon, and voting on this matter because because you are currently a defendant in pending litigation filed by Mrs. Guilford involving involving allegations concerning her ethics, reputation, and board service. Your participation in an action that would formally condemn Mrs. Guilford's conduct creates, in my view, a significant appearance of a conflict of interest and raises legitimate concerns regarding impartiality and public confidence in the integrity of this board's decision-making process. Regardless of whether legal conflict requiring recusal ultimately exists, I believe these circumstances warrant your recusal. At a minimum, I request that you abstain from the vote. >> [cheering and applause] >> and Dr. Turner. Dr. Turner, I
021respectfully request that you also state your decision on the record before we proceed. I believe that I have the ability to separate my personal life from my professional life and I will not refuse. >> And so I will >> there will be order or we will there will be order or you will be removed. So, you're threatening the public that we serve with removal because they are questioning your ability to separate personal from business. No, I'm stating this will be an orderly meeting. I deny recusal. I'm able to separate my personal from professional life. So, Dr. Ascu, Dr. Ascu, as the board secretary, please reflect that I made the recusal and chair relief request, that the chair declined it, and that I object to the chair serving as procedural decision maker in this matter because
022of the personal pending litigation. >> Noted. [applause] Madame Chairman, I make a motion to move forward with the board member censure of district 1, Representative Brenda Gilford. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Is there any discussion? >> Yes, definitely. Miss Guilford, I'll let you go first if you I don't want to speak before you. >> Okay. Um my phone. >> Yes. >> All right. Madam Chairman, how much time is allowed for discussion? >> Each each member gets 10 minutes. So if you >> Pardon me, Madam Chair. >> Madam Chair, I object to Miss Ashley telling you how to handle this meeting. [cheering] [applause] >> You may speak. Thank you. >> Okay. Now, is it is it is it my time? >> Yes, ma'am. It is. >> Okay. I'm waiting to everybody
023up here to get quiet. >> Okay. Before I before I address the specific allegations in the proposed censor, I want to put it on record the context in which we are here today. For more than a year, I have endur endured repeated attacks, public criticism, social media bullying, and efforts to certain members of this board to discredit my character and my service. >> Some of those actions became so serious that they ultimately ultimately resulted in pending litigation between me and the board chair. and we are here now. Today's accusations are being made bas are being made based largely upon the statements and the characterizations of some of very some of the very individuals with whom I had these ongoing disputes. I am being asked to accept their version of all events. Just simply take it
024as fact. I cannot do that. There is no evidence. This four member board is attempting to censor me for false reasons. According to the official minutes of the May 28th board meeting, we adjourn into executive session to discuss the good name and character of personnel item A1 and pending litigation. Personnel item A1 was about the termination of an employee. At no time were we to address another matter. It was it was the time that the board me that board member Jenkins blurted out I think we should not I think what who should be uh who we who should not report this should be punished after saying this twice with no reaction from the board. My question was, board member Jenkins, specifically who are you saying should be punished? I contest the censor in part on
025the basis of these of this allegation that may made about my behavior in executive session. The session was not related to board business. Okay? And that is when board member Jenkins identifi identified the interim principal and title N coordinator, my daughter. It should be noted that four days later on June 2nd, my daughter was arrested. As you can see, we have two different conversations here. Asking someone who they are referring to after they announce the people that need to be punished is not the same as asking the person what punishment is imposed. Yet somehow by the time the conversation made its way to my sensor, board member Jenkins statement was a punishment disappeared. My response would rewritten and I became the person who supposedly initiated the discussion about consequences. No. Again, you can see that
026we have two different accounts of what happened. You cannot remove a statement that prompt my question, change the substance of my question, then present the rewritten version as an established fact. The board's own governor's procedure required transparency regarding the purpose of executive sessions. At the regularly scheduled board meeting proceedings on May 28th, the executive session, the chairperson announced that the board will enter executive session to discuss a legal matter. In no time was the public or I informed that the executive session would specifically address others involved. The board cannot fail to disclose the subject of an exe executive session in advance and then rely on undisclosed matters as the basis for censorship. And that is what is happening here. The allegation I violated a recruit recusal requirement is misplaced because the subject matter of the
027executive session was not disclosed before the meeting. Board members cannot be expected to anticipate matters that they are not identified in in advance. The absence of prior disclosure is central to the procedural unfairness of this proceeding. >> [applause] >> Okay. All right. I am a 76 year old lady and I'm considerably younger than most of the ones on this board and and on the face impli this is implausible and likes credibility. I have dictated my service to the board with dignity and respect. The characterization of my conduct as threatening or physically aggressive is inconsistent with both the facts and physically reality of the situation. There are those of you who attend this board meeting on a regular basis and you have never seen me act in an unscept unacceptable way. This was something that was
028done behind these closed doors in a room with no windows where people say what they want to say and then they come out and bring it out as a sensor. Okay. All right. The sensor the sensor also alleges that I attacked board member Jenkins character based on matters unrelated to board business. This vague allegation lacks specificity and does not provide me with significant information to respond meaningfully. Throughout my service on this board of 20 plus years, I have strived to uphold the high standards of boardmanship. And finally, the claim that I like boardmanship is a joke. After presenting all these disputed allegation, the notice concludes by declaring that my lack of boardmanship is unacceptable. I have approximately 20 plus years on school board governance experience and have achieved master school board honor. I do not
029need a lesson in boardmanship from a document that cannot even accurately recount the conversation it relies on or to accuse me of misconduct. Boardmanship does not mean be silent. It does not mean agreeing with the chair. It does not mean surrendering my independent judgment. It does not mean that another board member can make an accusation and I must sit quietly while the accusation is transformed into official findings. And it certainly does not mean that I must accept all allegations about myself simply because they have been typed up on board head letter head. I understand Accountability requires evidence. So I'm asking I'm not asking for any kind of treatment. I'm asking something simpler. If I said it, prove I said it. >> If I did it, prove I did it. If I violated a policy, identify
030the specific conduct and show how the policy applies. And if the evidence does not support these allegations, then this board should have the integrity to say to say so. I would not allow 20 years of service, my reputation, and the trust placed in me by the citizens who elected me to reduce to be reduced to take our word for it and let it go. Their word is an allegation. Evidence is proof. Today I'm asking the board for the latter. [sighs] We have members of this board identified by local newspaper and the news as creating a hostile environment using profanity around children, therefore expelled from youth programs. Those are that's are the kind of members we have on this board. And you say you are intimidated and afraid of me. [applause] We have a board. We
031have a board member who has demonstrated his character a flaw. when votes don't go the way he wants it that he can pick up the refrigerator out of our boardroom and place it on this stage where it remain throughout throughout a meeting. >> And you say you are intimidated by me. [applause and cheering] >> We I'm not intimidated. >> We have board members captured on video defaming me and telling lies to discredit my character and reputation. and you say you are afraid afraid of me. It should be noted that proper boardmanship requires the new board members to take eth uh ethics training which is part of roles and responsibilities within the first 20 days. Yet we have board members who waited until March and June to take this course. and you question my boardmanship. Everything
032here that I have said here today, I have evidence. I have no thought about whether I should say it or not because I have evidence to prove everything visual and in writing. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Madam Chair. >> Yes, sir. Dr. Jones. Uh yes. Uh just a couple of things please. I I wrote a letter to the state superintendent in in support of Miss Gford and I would like to read a portion of that. >> Yes sir. >> Uh during Okay. >> During my 18 years of service alongside Miss Dford on this school board, I have witnessed other instances of disruptive behavior during executive session. On two occasion, a board member stood from their seat and loudly yelled profanity across the room. Notably, that same board member who supported this centure
033against Miss Gford did not support a centure regarding those incidents involving their colleague. Uh, a few things about Miss Gford over my 18 years. Miss Brener Gford, the most senior member of the Doan City School Board and the most trained member probably in the history of this board. She has always encouraged new board members to attend the Alabama Association of School Boards Academy, myself included. When I shared with her after a meeting, I'm going to straighten out the cheerleader problem once and for all, and she said, "No, you're not. That's not your job. Your job, your main job, she said, is student achievement. Then she said, "The first thing you're going to do, Franklin, is go to training at ASB and learn what your job is." So, I did, and I now I know my
034job. Miss Gford earned the master unroll level awarded by uh by attending five consecutive years in perfect attendance. In 2022, she was selected by ASB as an all state school board member, the highest honor achieved by any DNA city school board member. She has served on four state committees during her tenure. The AESB Academy advisory committee, the state level teacher of the year selection committee, the AASB master for first time mentor for firsttime convention participant, a presenter at the annual convention on communication communications to create change and she was selected by Governor K. Ivy to serve on the state text textbook committee for English and language art. She served with honesty and integrity for one year. Recently, Miss Gford insisted that we discuss only the items on the executive session agenda because all business must
035be conducted in the public. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Madam Chair, I have a statement as well. Um, and I also have a written statement which I will hand out um to the board members and I'll email as well. Um, I'm going to summarize my statement here so it won't be as lengthy. So for the record, I request that my full witness statement regarding the proposed censure signed and dated August 18th, 2026 be adopted as it is my account of the events I personally observed and request that it be identified in the minutes as material before the board. I have provided copies of this statement to my fellow board members just now and will email as I said to the full board and the board secretary Dr. As before we vote tonight I need to
036state for the record why I cannot support this censure. I have no intention of discussing or disclosing the substance of what was discussed during the May 28th executive session. My purpose in addressing this matter publicly is to rebuke specific assertions contained in the notice of intent to censure that do not accurately reflect what occurred and to address my concerns with a process that has brought us to this vote. First, regarding the allegations that Mrs. Guilford failed to recuse herself. The official minutes state that we entered executive session to discuss good name and character personnel item A1 and AD litigation. Based upon the matters identified for executive session, there was no reason for Mrs. Guilford to proceed that a matter would arise that would require her recusal. That context is important when evaluating the assertion that
037she should have recused herself. Second, I want to address the allegations regarding physical contact. Mrs. Guilford did not grab or touch another board member's chair, and she never made physical contact with anyone in that room. I was present I was present during this exchange, and I want the record to accurately reflect what occurred. I also have a significant concern with the process itself. When the notice of intent to censure was considered on July 14th, the board chair participated in and voted on that action despite being a defendant in pending litigation filed by Mrs. Guilford. I raised my concern at that meeting and my view the chair should have recused herself from that matter. At a minimum, those circumstances created a serious appearance of a conflict of interest and called into question the impartiality of a
038process involving a board member with whom the chair is personally engaged in litigation. That concern is especially significant because the July 14th vote initiated the very censure process before us tonight. Censure of a duly elected board member is a serious action. It should not be based upon inaccurate assertions or a process that raises legitimate questions about impartiality and conflicts of interest. A centra becomes part of the public record and carries the weight of this board formally condemning the conduct of one of its elected members. Based on the facts I've witnessed and my concerns regarding the process by which this matter was initiated, I cannot support this censure. Our responsibility should remain focused on governing this school system effectively and doing what is best for our students and educators. Continuing down this path only further divides
039the board and distracts us from that responsibility. For that reason, I will be voting no. >> [applause] >> Is there any further discussion? All right, we're going to have a roll call vote. Um, Miss Hendricks will do the roll call and that way we'll make sure where everybody stands. Yay. Excuse me. I have one final thing to say before we go into uh the voting. Okay. Before final action, I request that the official record identify and preserve my written and oral my oral uh uh response. The signed written statements submitted and adopted by Dr. Jones and Mrs. Walton, the exact sens are acting upon every material point of order and rulings, including any rulings on a new allegation. My participation on my vote and each member final vote abs uh absent abstension and recusal disqualification
040or absence. I further request preservation of the complete audio, video, document, documentary, and electronic record associated with this item. Item number 16. >> Okay. Want a roll call? Yes. >> Dr. One thing. >> Okay. Yes. >> Um, Dr. Ascu, you were at the meeting and that letter has your name on it. Would you agree with the everything that's the way you saw it in the meeting? >> You read it. >> Oh, here I have it. >> So, for clarity for the audience, um the letter is authored by the board. I've transmitted it on behalf of the board as the secretary. Also, I will state I have not been called as a witness by either side and respectfully prefer to remain in my institutional role as superintendent and secretary. if the board determines that my testimony
041is necessary, the chair will need to make that determination. Also, please note that questions about events or statements made during executive session are protected by law, and I'm not comfortable revealing those without a determination made by legal counsel. Madame Chair, Madame Chair, I'd like to ask our board attorney if he has any legal guidance on what Dr. As you just mentioned. As I previously told you involved in >> I I could not get involved with Chairman Children's when he was censored under the rules of professional conduct. I'm not going to get involved in this and you know this because I sent you an email. I have to play by the rules of ethics under the rules of professional conduct and no supersede your wishes, the board's desires or anything else. >> I sent that email.
042>> And for the record, I know you sent the email. I do read my board emails. I wanted it on the record for the public and for the record. Thank you. >> Yes, please. But on the record, I follow the rules of professional conduct by the Alabama State Bar. Absolutely. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. There will be no more discussion. Are we ready to vote? >> Okay. Um, >> we're going to do a roll call vote. >> Madam Chair, one more thing. Uh since s one more thing since he mentioned uh putting things on on the record, it should be noted that there could be a vendetta because not only does the ch the um attorney speak of of u of uh children being uh at the process of being censored last uh
043last year, but also two of our other board members mentioned that. So this could be a vendetta because of this because they continued to say that uh well uh nobody mentioned this when chairman uh children was going to be uh censored. And it should further be noted and if it should further be noted that I was the one that saved chairman children from being censored. Okay, >> Miss Hendricks, we will do a roll call vote if you'll recall the names, please. [snorts] >> Yay. >> If it's okay for me, if it's okay for me to uh I know uh our attorney said that he wasn't going to get in there, but is it okay for me to vote >> since it's on me? Huh? >> Again, the reason I brought up when he was chairman
044shoulders, I can't give you advice as an attorney. If you have an ethical conflict, I represent the board as a whole. I fight external battles for the board, not internal battles. I am bound by the rules of professional conduct. I put that in the email. I'm not violating my ethics at all. I have a high rating with my ethics. I'm going to keep it that way with the bar. I've never been reprimanded by the bar. I can't give advice. As an attorney, you either have a conflict or you don't. I have a conflict. So, I have to honor the rules of professional conduct that supersede these rules or questions or anything else. Every attorney does. >> So, you can't tell me whether I should vote or not? No, ma'am. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay.
045>> So, go ahead. Are you going to vote or not? >> What's the question for voting? >> What's the question of the children? >> I vote no to for for the uh sensor. Of course, >> no. >> Yay. Yay. >> Okay. So, the motion to censor carries by four days. Okay. All right. We move on to curriculum instruction. Dr. Kesha Thompson. Good evening. >> Madame chair, members of the board, superintendent ask you. Tonight, I will provide an overview of the 2026 AAP proficiency results in our three-year performance trends along with ACT and advanced placement outcomes. I would like to clarify at the onset that these are the assessment results from Alabama State Department of Education. They are not the 2026 report card. The state report card information has not been released. Rather than read every
046percentage displayed tonight, I will focus on the major trends, what the data tells us, and how these findings are informing our instructional priorities for 2026 2027 school year. So here are the things that we will cover tonight. We re we will review moves from our districtwide results and grade level and school level trends, student groups, specific academic skill areas and our high school ACT and AP outcomes. I will conclude with the instructional support already underway and all our priorities moving forward. Before looking at builtin city schools, I would like to provide some statewide context. The Alabama State Department of Education released system and school level 2026 AAP participation and proficiency results. English language arts proficiency increased 57.1%. Mathematics increased to 34.3%. Science increased to 47%. Again, these are statewide AAP assessment results and should not
047be confused with the state report card, which has not yet been released. With the statewide context in mind, Dothan's three-year results show continued improvement in English language arts. While mathematics has not experienced that same growth, our direction is clear. We're going to continue building on our literacy progress while increasing our instructional focus in mathematics. So, as we look up here at the three-year district proficiency, the graph shows us the district trend over time. ELA has demonstrated steady improvement over the three-year period. Mathematics remained relatively stable initially and then declined this past year. As we move through the remaining slides, you will see that mathematics patterns appears across multiple grade levels and skill areas, which is why we're approaching it as a districtwide instructional priority. ELA proficiency by grade. When we examine ELA by grade level,
048there are several encouraging trends. Grade 8 experienced and as you can see, 12 points. Grade five currently has our highest proficiency. Grade four, however, remains relatively stable over the three-year period. Just want to remind you this is 2023 to 2026. It's very important that we look at trends across several years and not just one. And overall, our ELA data shows progress that we want to protect, strengthen, and replicate across all of our grade levels. Mathematics presents a different pattern. Performance varies by grade level, but the overall results demonstrate that our focus cannot be limited to one particular grade. The data points us towards strengthening foundational mathematics skills in the early grades while also providing targeted intervention and support as students progress through the middle grades. Where are the gaps the widest? As you can see
049on the chart, our students with disabilities, black students, economically disadvantaged students, and English learners show wide achievement gaps. These results are important because district improvement must include improvement for the students who need our academic supports the most. This information will continue to guide intervention, instructional support, professional learning, and of course, resource allocation. So, as we look at our three-year change by school, ELA and math, this visual allows us to examine school movement in both ELA and mathematics without reviewing individual percentage. Several schools demonstrated improvement in both subjects. The most common district pattern, however, was ELA improvement and less progress in mathematics. That consistency across multiple school campuses reinforces that mathematics is not an isolated school issue. It requires coordinated district response, i.e. Carnegie learning. We also have schools to watch as well as greatest opportunities.
050This slide highlights both areas of strong performance and areas presenting opportunities for additional growth. We have schools demonstrating practices and results that we want to study and replicate. We also have schools and content areas where additional instructional support will be necessary. These school level results have already been part of our ongoing conversation with principles as we establish priorities and supports for the new school year. This table provides the complete school by school comparison. I will not review every percentage tonight because those details are available on the slide and also in your board materials. The purpose of including this information is to provide a transparent view of each school's three-year movement, both ELA and mathematics. The AAT results also allow us to go beyond an overall proficiency score and examine what academic skills we need to
051focus on. In ELA, we are seeing strength and improvement in areas including fluency and writing. However, text dependent writing remains an area for continued focus. This involves students reading a text, then using evidence from the text to support their written response. That gives our teachers and instructional leaders a more instructional target than just simply saying students need to improve on reading. When we look at math, the mathematics skill data gives us an equally important picture. The need is not concentrated on one mathematical concept. We see opportunities across operations, fractions, geometry, number systems, algebra, and other areas. This is important because it supports the comprehensive approach to mathematics instruction rather than attempting to address one isolated standard or grade level. As we transition into ACT AP results, we also need to know how all of this
052correlates from K to 12. This allow us to examine student readiness across the entire K12 system and consider foundational skills developed in the earlier grades. I'm going to say that again. and the earlier grades ultimately connect to high school outcomes. As we look at Dilton High School ACT results, our ACT results show reading as the strongest tested area. English and mathematics represent areas where we have additional opportunities for growth. The broader message is that ACT readiness does not begin in grade 11. It develops over time with strong instruction, grade level standards, intervention when needed, consistent monitoring of student progress through the K12 experience. We also looked at our data performance by gender gender and race ethnicity. We also review ACT performance differences between male and female students were relatively small. We do see larger differences
053among racial and ethnic groups. These differences are another measure we will continue to monitor as we work towards stronger outcomes for all of our students. Because some student groups represented very small numbers of test takers, we also careful not to draw conclusions from sample sizes that are too small to provide reliable comparison. When ACT performance is viewed through the proficiency levels, ELA remains the strongest of these three areas represented here, followed by science and mathematics. Again, mathematics emerges as an area of sustained attention. What is important for us is that the pattern we see at the high school level is consistent with what we observe in the AAP mathematical data that reinforces the need for K12 approach. AP exam advanced placement provides another measure of student achievement and access to rigorous coursework. Our students completed
054440 AP exams across 15 courses and more than half earned a qualifying score of three or higher. Rather than review all 15 courses individually, this table provides the complete results for the Boris reference where AP strengths and opportunities. Several AP courses demonstrated particularly strong outcomes, including pre-calculus, biology, and seminar. Other courses provide opportunities for continued improvement. We will use these course level results to examine student preparation, curriculum alignment, instructional practices, and the supports available to students enrolled in advanced coursework. The same math pattern kindergarten through 12th grade. This is one of the most important connections of the presentation. The mathematic challenges we see in elementary and middle school do not exist separately from high school achievement. Foundational skills students develop in the early grade support later success in algebra, ACT, advanced placement and ultimately college
055and career readiness. That is why our mathematics work must be viewed as a long-term commitment for K12 and not simply elementary or middle school initiative. I want to emphasize we have new supports this year which we started out last year with some of the things that are listed up there. Much of this work needed to respond to the results are already underway. In literacy, as you all know, we have the turnaround literacy specialists working with students, supporting instruction along with structured literacy supports in mathematics. Our district math coaches are supporting campuses through a coaching cycle and Carnegie learning. We are also using I Ready and K8 to provide diagnostic information and personalized instruction based on the identified student needs. And underneath all this work, I'm getting ready to say it you guys. The Dothan way,
056the Dothan way are four pillars of instructional practice. The goal is not another initiative. The goal is consistent implementation of the systems and supports that we already have in place. Our district priorities going forward. Our ELLL priority is to sustain the progress we are seeing while providing additional support and grades and skill areas where the data indicate a need. We will continue building our literacy strengths by strengthening areas such as text dependent writing in mathematics. Our priorities include strengthening foundational number and operation skills, ensuring consistent implementation of our mathematic resources, providing coaching and intervention, and monitoring student progress through middle grades and into ACT and AP performance. In addition to that, curriculum and instruction will be going out to schools to monitor the work that we're talking about tonight. We are in our schools. We
057are giving action plans as well as looking at the Dolan way and all of the instructional resources that the board has provided us. Our focus is on using the data to become more precise about where support is needed, what support is needed and whether that support is producing results. The old thing that I used to say as a principal, we have to inspect what we expect. So last but not least, these results provide both evidence of progress and a clear direction for our continued work. We are encouraged, I'm going say this again, by the movement that we see with our ELA, our English language arts, and at the same time, the mathematic results require sustained attention across the district. We will continue to protect our literacy momentum, accelerate mathematics achievement, address persistent achievement gaps, and
058use student performance data to guide instructional decisions and district support. Most importantly, we will continue to monitor the implementation of these supports throughout the year rather than waiting for the next year's state assessment results to determine whether our strategies are working for our students. I want to thank you, Madame Chair, members of the board, superintendent as you. I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Does anyone have any questions for Dr. Thompson? >> I don't have a question, but I just wanted to say thank you for the data sheets that you provided to us. They were very well done and very helpful. >> Thank you. >> And I wanted to say that I have heard from several eleas around us about the Dothan way. So kudos to you for that. >> Thank you. >> [applause]
059>> All right. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes for the July 14th, 2026 regular school board meeting, minutes for the July 27th, 2026 school board work session, and minutes for the July 28th, 2026 special called school board meeting. Madam Chairman, may I make a motion to approve the minutes for the July 14th, 2026 regular schoolboard meeting, minutes for the July 27th, 2026 schoolboard work session, and minutes for the July 28th, 2026 special called Called Schoolboard meeting. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. All opposed. Motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve the July 2026 financial reports? >> Madam Chairman, I make a motion that we approve the July 2026 financial reports. Do I have a second? Second. [snorts] >>
060Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> All opposed? Motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve the July 2026 financial reports for Head Start? >> Madam Chair, I move that we approve the uh financial report for Head Start. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> All opposed? Motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve the Head Start monthly summary report for July 2026? >> Madam Chairman, I make a motion to approve the Head Start monthly summary report for July 2026. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> All opposed? Motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve the Head Start menu for August 2026? Now, >> chair, >> I move
061to approve the Head Start menu. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. All opposed. Motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve the Head Start ERA training? Madam Chair, I make a motion that we approve the Head Start ERSA training. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> All opposed? Motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve the eligibility and income verification criteria? >> Madam Chair, I make a motion that we approve the EL eligibility and income verification criteria. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> All opposed. Motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve out of state
062and overnight field trips for Dothan Tech for 20 2026 and 2027? Madam Chair, I move that we approve the out of state and overnight field trips for Delton Tech for 26 through 27. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> All opposed? Motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve the purchase of technology infrastructure equipment? [snorts] Make a motion to approve the purchase of the technology and infrastructure equipment. Do I have a second? >> Second. Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> All opposed? Motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve the final site contract? I make a motion to approve the final site contract. Do >> I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> All in favor?
063>> All opposed? Motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve themer emerges contract for staffing services? I make a motion to approve the emerges contract for staffing services. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? Yay. Yay. All opposed. Motion carries. Um, next is personnel. Mr. M. >> Good evening. Okay, we have correction to previous action five non-acceptance is two resignations 16 supplement assignments seven additional or temporary employment 44 teams contracts one reassignments two transfers, seven conditional appointments, six appointments, 17 verification of higher degree three and then we have the special education recruitment, retention and incentive contracts 56 and then the recruitment and retention and incentive contracts for Beverly Gerard Elementary and Fain 32. That's it. >> I'm sorry. Do I have a motion to approve the
064personnel agenda? >> Madam Chair, I make a motion that we approve the personnel agenda. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> Okay. All in favor? >> Yay. All opposed. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Do I have a motion to approve the construction facilities and skill trade specialist job description? >> I make a motion to approve the construction facilities and skill trades job description. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> Dr. ask you um would you mind explaining the purpose of this role? >> Sure. So, this position um would add a level of expertise in our district um that we do not currently have. Um per the job description, this person will not only be a skilled tradesman um but would
065also hold a degree um in one of the construction um industries. It'll give us a person who will be able to help us with bids on construction projects as well as oversee small construction projects um within the district as well and then work within the facilities department too. [snorts] >> Any further discussion? Okay. All in favor? >> All opposed? Motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve the retired secretary for instruction and curriculum contract? >> I make a motion to approve the retired secretary for instruction and curriculum contract. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. Is Is there any discussion? Okay. All in favor? >> Yay. Yay. >> All opposed. Motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve the retired C counselor contract for Dothan Preparatory Academy? >> I make a motion
066to approve the retired counselor contract for Dotham Preparatory Academy. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> All in favor? >> Yay. today. All opposed. Motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve the interpreter part-time contract? >> Madam Chair, I move to approve the interpreter part-time contract. >> And do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> Okay. All in favor? >> All oppose? Motion carries. Okay. Now we are to the public comments. Um, Miss Rachel Jordan. >> Hello. My name is Rachel. Um, I have not done this before, so bear with me. Um, my claim is that the Dothan transportation system is unnecessarily putting children in danger. The Dothan city schools children are in danger. Um, Thank you for hearing me today and
067I hope there's a way. There's always room for improvement. This is very important. I hope you agree. I looked online and I tried to find it, but I cannot find a law or policy stating buses have to stop 100 ft from a stop sign. My children have been at the same stop for three years, and they've always been able to safely get on the bus. Uh they're the only children on my street. They will not anyone else other than my child's safety. So I do not see a law or policy that states that a bus has to stop 100 foot from a stop sign. In my research, I did find that all buses must give 100 foot warning before making a stop. I will say that my bus um that comes to pick up my
068child children do not stop um at the 100 foot mark. I marked it myself because I want to ensure their safety. Um they're off of a street that is busier than a regular neighborhood. So, for some students, it may work out well for them to go to stop signs and wait, but one size does not fit all. Um, let's see. I've expressed my concerns by reaching out to the director of transportation, Erica Hall. Um, the state representative over Eric Hall. I can't remember his name, so I'm sorry I didn't put it here. Um, Commissioner Philip Kurtsy, District Representative Franklin Jones, chairman Julie Turner, and uh the mayor's assistant all since June 11th with no real resolution yet. Um the state of Alabama is the 14th most most dangerous state for pedestrians in America. The 14th
069out of our 50 states in America. We are the most dangerous for pedestrians because of our infrastructure. Um the transportation department does not communicate well with parents. They told my nyear-old to meet at the bus stop at Alice Street and not the parent. My 9-year-old tells me 15 minutes before the bus comes that they have to stand there. Now, I was worried and I had some questions. So, I asked the driver. Um, I waited at our normal spot. The driver flies past me. We chase her down. Um, she told me that she's doing what she's told and that I would have to contact her boss. I ask for the number. Um the boss uh the director Erikica Hall she says this is not a new thing and that they stopped close you know to our
070home out of courtesy and when the driver did not meet that 100 foot requirement I was told 100 foot from the stop sign is just a courtesy is safety just a courtesy the 100 foot mark is 100 foot spot is marked she should be able to see it but she turns her head away from me and my husband and goes past the on too close to the road. >> Miss Jordan, your time is up. >> Um I Okay. Um I don't feel like that they're prioritizing the children's safety. I think that the uh parents safety concerns should be taken more account because not one size fits all. And I was also told that there are smaller children, younger children walking longer distances um and in busier streets than mine. And if that's the case, my
071it's not just my children that are in in um you know affected by the safety. It's a lot of children. So when the parents come with concern, it shouldn't be because I told you so or because I said so that this is a one-sizefits-all. There is no law or policy. >> Miss Jordan, your time's up. Thank you. >> And I would just like to see that it be recommended. Um, I think that one voice says a lot and the voices of the transportation, if they have a voice to say no, y'all have a voice to tell them otherwise. And so, one of y'all's voices could really make a difference in the children's safety. >> Thank you, M. Jordan. >> All right. Next, we have um Brandon Fontil. Be sure to try to keep this at
072three minutes. So, I'm going to read. Uh, chair, members of the Dothan City Board of Education, superintendent, and citizens of Dothan, thank you for the opportunity to address you. My name is Brandon Fondo Johnson. I'm an attorney and principal at Iris and Rooster. I represent um Miss Guilford as a duly elected district one member of this board. I will address three points. Children, voters, citizens. Alabama law is clear on the school board's governance role. The school board governance improvement act requires that decisions be guided by student and system interest. that all members views be considered and that members serve in a position of public trust. Dothan City Schools has a similar mission to supervise and administer public schools and advance the interest of the district and the children it serves. Children Dothan City serves more
073than 8,000 students. The district also, as we just saw, faces significant academic challenges. These are not criticisms but contexts reflecting the stakes of everyday decisions the board makes. When barely half of the students are proficient in reading and only about one in five in math, focus is essential. Every meeting matters, every relationship matters and the credibility of this board matters. A distinction has been raised between censure and censorship. This distinction is legally correct, but it should not obscure what a censure is. A formal governmental act of condemnation. It does not remove an official office from office, but it carries weight and authority of this body. That brings us to voters and citizens. This agreement is a part of public service, but institutions must be guided by law and process, not personality or personal conflict. The
074question tonight is not whether a majority can act, but whether the action meets the standard for legitimacy. Were the allegations supported by evidence? Was the governing law applied consistently? Were all members views meaningfully considered? Was the process fair? And is the public record clearly reflect the basis of the decision? A majority can decide outcomes. Only fairness and consistency and transparency make them legitimate. This is what the children of Dothan deserve. This is what the voters deserve and this is what the citizens are entitled to inspect for their government. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> Um Samuel 2. I'm not an attorney, but I do have a record of 361 and one against the city of Doie. Um, you know, I've always supported the three and now support the four, but it shouldn't be where
075I come here and know how the votes going to go. According to procedural due process of the law, uh, you have a right to a notice, an appeal, and a hearing before a neutral judge. That didn't happen tonight. It it's skirting on unconstitutional when you make a decision and I know how the votes going to go. I don't know what she did wrong. Maybe she was disorderly. You could have called the police. But you also skirting on federal law 18242. When you deprive someone of a right is criminal on your part. If you deprive someone of right and they're physically injured like they were when one of your security guards assaulted me, it's a felony. But there just needs to be a fair process. It shouldn't be where I know how the votes going to
076go. I respect Julie Scott, Ashley 100%. But this ain't about 43 or 34 like it's been forever. We're not educating kids by fighting together. Let's take this fight out of this room and put it in front of a neutral judge. We got a flag that thousands of people died for. You know, I've been in the hospital 173 days from fighting for what's right. And you're not going to shut me up. The city's not going to shut me up. And the mayor's wife who assaulted me ain't going to shut me up. But, uh, we just need to find a more fair process. This this isn't good. You know, if they formed an allegation against Ashley and they had the deciding vote, I know how the answer is going to go. That ain't how our legal system
077was meant. It's not. But I pray y'all will work together. We can fix this situation, but we're not gonna fix it like this. But whether it's 4334 or I recuse myself or I don't, we have to do better for our kids. Y'all need to find You ain't built Hold on. You haven't You haven't built a new city SC school in 25 years, and you allow the city to build a 57 million building without permit. Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. Please. You allowed the city of Dothan to build a $57 million building without the permits to build it where it's being built. I subpoenaed him. That's all I got to say. Thank you. Leticia Daniels Jackson. She She left. Okay. All right. William Guilford. >> Good evening. Many of you know my name.
078I'm William Guilford Jr. I'm the son of board member Brenda Guilford and my father, William Senior. He's sitting right back there. And I'm sorry, I have to disagree with Mr. Two. I don't think that these four on this side of the board are going to do what it takes to get this board back together again. They just their actions tonight don't show that they're making that effort. What this board did to Brenda Gilford tonight is not right. Brenda is a pillar of the Dolan community. When she pours into something, it not only blossoms, but it explodes into something magnificent. In the early 90s, my Brenda founded an organization to help juveniles who were involved in the criminal justice system. My mother Brenda would often bring me to her program just to see how things operated.
079I remember seeing my mother coordinate these programs for the youth to give them alternatives to jail. Many of those young people turned their lives around and it made me so proud to see my mom be a part of that. My mother, Brenda, went on to start one of the most successful daycarees in southeast Alabama. Many people would often come to me and ask how they could they talk to my mom to get advice on how to start and operate a successful daycare business. And my mother would be glad to always talk to them. Most of my friends and many, many others sent their children to my mother's daycare. And many of those children went on to accomplish great things in grade school and beyond. So for me to see board chairman Julie Turner lie about
080how my mom's daycare got her success and the work that she put in really upsets me. And I spoke about it last year. I say this to remind the people here tonight what's going on here in Dton, Alabama. My mother is a successful black woman and we have all seen what happens to successful black women throughout America. We see how they talk about Michelle Obama, Jasmine Crockett, and others. Even when our black women try to stay out of the way like Michelle Obama is doing now, they still own luxury suites inside their detractor's heads. My mother's daycare has been a success since the 1990s. She has never needed this board seat to further her business at all. If anything, this board seat has taken away from her business, having to deal with lies from people
081like Julie Turner and others. In fact, I have been trying to get her to get off this board for the past eight or nine years. But she won't listen to me. For the same reason my mother started the alternative to incarceration program in the '9s, for the same reason she participated in freedom rides and sitins in the 1960s. My mother doesn't do any of this for her own benefit. She does what she does because she truly believes her community needs her. And the more I see what she's going through, the more I see that she is right. Not too many people can endure what she has been through and what she is going through. >> Mr. Gilford, your thumbs up. >> One second. Respect to Miss Walton and Dr. Jones for that same commitment. I
082will leave you all with this. any black person of consequence has been hated on and told to be silent and even far far worse. This board should have done their part to help stop that cycle tonight and they didn't. The community demanded that you do and you didn't listen. God bless. >> Thank you. [applause] Okay. Pastor Pastor Kenneth Glasco. >> Good evening. >> William Junior, you got me a monkey already, man. But tonight, this boy vote is 43. 43 the session miss and the vote has been taken but the question surrounding the vote is still not over. Four members of this board formally condemned the woman who was elected by the people in district one. And I want everybody listening to understand something. You may have censored Brenda Guilford but you cannot censor the people
083that voted for her. And you cannot censor our votes. You cannot censor and erase our representation. We done suffered so much representation, taxation without representation, and we just can't take it no more. The citizens of Dothan, Alabama, we pay our taxes just like everybody else. Our children go to the school just like everybody else. Our families in our community, we have We are here just like you. I can't call y'all at 10:00 at night. I can't call y'all at 11 o'clock at night when somebody need help. Our children going through something or a mother can't take care of her child. She ain't had no papers all day or no milk or food to feed her children. BUT I COULD CALL PRETTY guilty and we I'M GUILTFUL OVER THERE. I BE LIKE, WHO THAT? THAT'S Glasco
084need help. Okay, that's all right. I can't do that with y'all, but I can do that with her. So remember when you voting the censor and going through your own little personality conflict, the first thing up there in your belief system and your belief statement said all decisions will be made for the best interest of the students first. What was best interest for the students in censoring Miss Guilford tonight? If anybody CAN MAKE ME UNDERSTAND THAT, I WILL GLADLY SHUT UP AND WILL not even speak anymore. As the children say when they talking to me, make it make sense. >> I don't know what belong the laws and and board policies and none of that. I I I'm not even going to go there cuz y'all might try to lock me up again and say
085something else about unlawful practice law. But what I do know is that the vote against Brenda Guilford, it it changes the dynamics of how we look at this board. >> For the last two or three years, we've been seeing infighting. We've been seeing all kinds of fight. WE JUST SAT UP HERE AND witnessed Miss Guilford. I want to salute you cuz you made history tonight. THE FIRST PERSON IN DTON, ALABAMA TO GET CENSURED AFTER YOU DEFENDED HIM FROM GETTING CENS. AND HE STILL VOTED AGAINST YOU. But you made history. AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU HOW YOU MADE HISTORY BEFORE I GO. FIRST OF ALL, if you wasn't EFFECTIVE, NOT EFFECTIVE, BUT EFFECTIVE, they wouldn't want to censor you. THE ONLY TIME YOU ATTACK PEOPLE, ADDRESS PEOPLE, AND TRY TO CENSOR people or arrest people
086or come after people is when they become effective more than they are effective. >> Pastor Glasco, your proven minutes is uh Thank you, sir. >> First to allow you to choose our leaders anymore, but before I go, I got a question. Where all that money at? the consultants $600,000 of money that jump. Let's talk about that next time. [applause] >> All right. And um Robert Jones Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to come before the school board and speak. I've been sitting there looking at your belief statement and I wish all of y'all just said that I notice the bottom the bottom line says that all students will meet and exceed high standards not low standards. Now my first question is how can you all expect students to meet and exceed high
087standards >> when you all cut the food like y'all have cut it tonight. [applause] >> I don't get that. Now I'm old and hag blind and crippled, but I'm concerned about children and I want to see them well educated. Last year, the school board hired a superintendent. Now, I don't know whether y'all know it or not, but anybody can get to be a school board member. You can be a pimp, and if you get enough folk to vote for you, you can be a member of the school board. But in order to deal with a school system, you need a professional. And last year y'all went to Georgia somewhere and found Dr. Ascuit >> and by a 43 vote you hide him. One or two months later, you gave him a fiveyear contract and you
088hired him to fix the system here. It was down and he came here with a plan to fix our system. >> And he brought before this board. I was I was here He gave you all a plan of how to fix the system. >> And three board members on this side voted no >> to the plan and three on this side voted yes to the plan and somebody in the middle broke the tie. >> So the vote was 43. And here we are here tonight. >> Mr. Jones, your three minutes is up. >> Ma'am, >> your three minutes is up, sir. >> My minute. My time is up. >> Yes, sir. >> I respect that. I'm coming back. >> Yes, sir. I look forward to it. >> Now, let me say this before I said
089I am. >> Yes, sir. >> If you were to go to heaven tonight, >> Yes, sir. You will not find in heaven no better people than Brenda and Nicole Gford. >> They I've been pastoring them for over 43 years and I know the kind of folk they are. So stop making these meetings about Brenda and her daughter AND START FIXING THIS SYSTEM so we can have children who are adequately educated. Thank you. >> Okay. Do I have a Do I have a motion to adjourn to executive session for pending litigation? Do I have a motion? >> Madam Chair, I'd like to hear exactly why we're entering executive session so we can have it on the record. >> Pending litigation. >> Excuse me. Why are we entering executive session? >> Pending litigation. >> Okay. Thank you.
090>> How many items? >> I'm sorry. >> What's on the agenda? >> Pending litigation. >> One, two, three. >> Um, Mr. Turning, can we say the pending litigation? >> He asked the number. He didn't ask the name of them. He asked >> Oh, I'm sorry. There's two. >> Yes. Because we can't discuss litigation. The privilege goes with the board out in the open. The attorney client privilege. >> Okay. >> The board as an entity is the client, >> right? >> So, you can't discuss legal strategy, procedures, what we're facing, or anything else. That's axiomatic. You can't you can't expose that to the public. >> Yes. He wasn't asking that for clarification. So when we um enter executive session, I'd like to know what those two are so we can stick with the matters on the
091agenda. Thank you. >> And madam chair, I'd like to um I'm a little nervous about going into executive session uh because you know back there uh you when you got four to three any kind anything goes and so you don't know what's what's going to happen. So I would like to say that when we executive session shouldn't take us over 15 minutes if he if we stick to the topic but when we're in there longer than that believe me other things might be coming up. So let's look at the time uh frame and when uh our attorney gives us whatever information he's going to give us, we can uh be back here on time and we are not talking about what we ate for breakfast and what we what we're going to have tomorrow. >>
092Do I have a second? Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> Who made the motion? >> No. >> Oh, well. Do I have a motion to go into executive session? >> I make a motion that we go to executive session to discuss pending litigation. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? Yay. All opposed. Motion carries. All right. Anybody? Awesome. Another This is not That's Is that right? Okay. Do I have a motion to reconvene into regular session? >> Re reconvene in regular session. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> All opposed. Motion carries. Um, no action was taken during executive session. However, we do have a motion. Do I
093have a motion to move forward to litigation? >> Madam Chair, I make a motion that we move forward with litigation discussed in executive session. >> Do I have a second? >> Could you repeat that? U what your >> a motion to move forward with litigation >> for did you get did you say for what? >> That's an executive session. >> For what we discussed executive session discussed? >> Yes. Okay. Do I have a second? We have a motion from Ari. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> All opposed? Motion carries. Um for new business, um we have a September 1st special call board meeting. um Tuesday, September 8th, regular school board meeting and second public hearing for the 2627 annual budget and
094Tuesday, September 27 22nd, um a special call board meeting. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> I make a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> All opposed. Motion carries.