001To announce the start of the regular school board meeting on July 14, 2026. Mr. Payne will lead our prayer. Let's pray. Dear heavenly Father, I want to thank You for the opportunity to be here tonight . Lord, I just pray that You will join the school board, our superintendent, as they make decisions that will affect our community, that will affect our school system. I just pray that You will guide them in making a decision that is in Your will, Lord, that will benefit all of us and our community and our children. Lord, thank You for this rain that You have given us. Thank you for the nourishment it brings. Lord, I'm just praying for all the items on the agenda tonight . Lord, may Your hand be with all of them, and may You guide
002us in the right direction . In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Please stand to support the pledge. Good. Do I have a motion for approval of the agenda and proposed changes to the agenda? Madam Chairman, yes. I propose to amend the proposed agenda and add the following item. Motion to notify District 1 Councilmember of the council's intention to reprimand her at the next regular council meeting on August 18, 2026, for reasons to be submitted to her in writing by the council secretary. Good. Do I have a suggestion for an addition? I mean, do I have a second suggestion? Sorry. Second proposal. Are there any discussions? Good. Are you all in favor of adding the item to the agenda? Yes. Yes. Everyone "against"? No. Good. The proposal is accepted. Right. Good. Um, I have
003a motion to approve the agenda with an added item? I have a motion to approve the agenda with attached and proposed changes to the agenda? Madam Chair, may I make a motion to approve the agenda with the changes added? Good. Do I have a second suggestion? Second proposal. Are there any discussions? Everyone "in favor"? Yes. Yes. Everyone is "against". The proposal is accepted. Good. Um, is there anyone who would like to make a comment? Yes, Madam Chair. Yes, ma'am. So, obviously there's a lot going on with what was just added that I know nothing about . I can't speak for the other council members here. So, hmm, that's too much for me at the moment. But, um, I'll let the person who I think was assigned to make their comments. This is another example of
004how this council is not functioning as it was intended to, and I am certainly outraged at this point. I have prepared comments for our next working session on Monday, July 27th. She has to discuss the past academy. This is a very important conversation. I invite the community, parents, and educators. As a board member, I hear concerns from educators about the lack of discipline and behavior problems in classrooms. I also recognize that our district has a long history of concerns about disciplinary inequities. So these are complex issues that deserve thoughtful discussion . I have submitted a series of questions and concerns to help us fully understand the implications of any decisions we face . So just a reminder to our community: please come to the Pass Academy workshop on Monday, July 27th. Anyone else? Good. Since,
005uh, a motion was made to authorize, uh, a board member, and that board member would be me. I think, uh , this is the first district. Uh , I'm shocked and surprised. I think it was a decision made by the four of us, it always has been, and it seems like there's nothing we can do about it because the three of us never even questioned the issue. I have no idea . It was a surprise, and, uh, I think it needs to be addressed, and I'll do my best to make sure it's addressed. Uh, this is just a real surprise. This is no different from anything else that has happened, it seemed like a board meeting was being held without the entire board present and they were making decisions. Uh, here's what happened. This is,
006uh, something that people, uh, have implemented , and I think we all see that, uh, we've been asking for help with this. But if you've attended these council meetings, you've seen that it's always the same thing . Four against three, and it's, um, terrible that you know this is going to happen, but that's how it is. If anyone has an idea how to fix this, that would be well appreciated, but at this point it is definitely wrong. Good. Anyone else? Just adding to this . Madam Chairman, this happened to another board member and four other people from the last term . I had no idea, coming to this meeting, that this was being done. So, this is not a new thing for the council. This is something that has been going on for a long
007time on this council, where council members don't communicate with each other, and some of them don't even try to communicate with each other. So this is not a new problem. This is an ongoing problem that we dealt with last term in this council. Madam Chairman, yes, ma'am. So I would just like to say that you know I can't talk about what happened at previous council meetings, and I've said that repeatedly. Um, at some point we're going to have to do something different. So if this was an issue at the previous council meeting, let's find a way to move forward at this meeting. So, this is my comment in response to the question: "Does anyone else have any comments?" Good. Um, and can I say something? Yes, Madam Chair. Good. And I think that this very
008statement shows that there is revenge. There is, uh, we have a council that believes in punishment, and they do exactly what they say, and you know it , and I know it, and that's it. Good. Um, now we move on to the report of the head of the education department. Dr. Askey, I call Miss Caris to the podium. Good evening everyone. I have good news tonight . I would like to recognize the outstanding academic achievements of the 9th grade students and staff of Carver Academy. On the 2026 Advanced Placement Modern World History exam, 24 out of 35 students received a qualifying score of three or higher, and four students received the highest possible score of five. Carver's GPA of 3.25 also exceeded the Alabama average of 2.91 and the world average of 3.21, reflecting the
009exceptional work being done in the classroom. These impressive results are a testament to the dedication of our students and the outstanding teaching provided by AP World History teacher , Mr. Justin Hendricks, and Miss Brenda Roberts, his AP World History English colleague. Together, they taught AP students throughout the school year, and their collaboration helped achieve these outstanding results. Now let's give the Carbonite AP World team a well-deserved round of applause by inviting them to the stage for a photo with the board. Thank you. I would also like to highlight the opportunity for our future eighth graders at Dothan Prep Academy. DPA's summer reading program began last week and will run from July 15-16 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The program provides students with engaging literacy instruction that strengthens reading skills, builds confidence in the classroom,
010and prepares them for a successful school year. Participants also receive breakfast and lunch daily. And if you are a parent or guardian of an eighth grade student at DPA, you still have time to get your child involved. We encourage families to take advantage of this opportunity and help their students start the school year with confidence. And before I conclude, I would also like to remind our families in the audience or those watching online that the Alabama sales tax holiday is just around the corner. The sales tax holiday will take place this weekend, July 17-19, giving families the opportunity to purchase items like school supplies without paying taxes. To help families prepare for the new school year, school supply lists for 202627 for each Dothan school are available on our district website. We encourage everyone to
011take advantage of the sales tax holiday and visit our website to find a list of school supplies for your student before you shop. This concludes my report. Thank you . Thank you. Um, I'd like to pass on the word... Okay. Um, um, Miss Walker for the audit report. Okay, while Miss Walker is coming, Madam Chair, I have a question. Since we have a lawyer here, I want to ask our lawyer, Dustin Fowler, if the sensor, uh, is made like this , is it legal? Uh , you were asked then if that was the case, since you introduced it, it was Mr. Childers, you asked , or you were asked? Good. Please ensure this is reflected in the minutes. Absolutely. Mrs. Walker . Good evening. Probably so. Uh, I would like to recommend to the board
012that they obtain the audit report of McDaniel and Associates for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025. A copy of the audit report is attached to this item in your report , and you have also been provided with a bound copy. State and federal law requires an audit of Dunn City schools . This audit for the fiscal year ending October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025, was conducted by the board's auditors, McDaniel and Associates. Mr. Josh Riley, Partner, will present his opinion to the Board, and the Board has received an unequivocally positive opinion on this report. I represent Mr. Riley, thank you. Good evening. So, I think you all can hear me just fine, right? I think you have financial statements in front of you. Um, don't worry, we're not going to sit here and
013read all of this in full or anything . You have a pretty long agenda already, but I just want to take a moment to introduce myself. I'm Josh Riley from MCO and Associates. I'm an audit partner there. I was very involved in this year's audit. Um, I met, um , three or four of you, I think, during the time that I came and met, and, um, it's been a real honor for us here at McDaniel to be able to serve you all on this, and I just want to thank all of you that you know for choosing us to do this. Um, I also just want to thank your staff with Stephanie and her staff for this. I think they did a great job and were very helpful to us in this process, and I
014just wanted to extend that to them. Um , if I have these audit reports in front of you. Um, as she mentioned, you got the unmodified conclusion, and I'll just walk you through them for a second so you're familiar with them. Um, you can see this unmodified conclusion on page four of the financial statements . And this page is the reason why you will need to undergo an audit. So we can stick this on your financial statements, stating that the statements are presented without material misstatement. Um, if we go a few more pages, um, I think it starts about page seven right here. There will be discussion and analysis from management. Um, this will just give you an overview of the financial statements for the fiscal year. Um, again, if you just want to get
015a decent idea without trying to read everything, that's what I would spend my time on. Um, but if you want to go to page 15 , I'll skip that and we'll talk about it for another minute. I'm leaving here . I promise. Um, right here on page 15 , it's more like what you would consider a balance. This is your net worth statement , where we list, you know, what about cash and, you know, investments, inventory, accounts payable and things like that . Um, I'm looking at your past financial report, um, you've really stayed consistent on assets, which you know makes sense. There were some, I think you were more into, um, capital assets. It was, um, this. And you've also saved up some cash. But overall, after you deduct depreciation expenses, it's pretty much
016the same. Um, I wo n't bore you with the next one, which is about the pension calculation that the actuary makes, um, through the RSA, that figure will fluctuate from year to year, um. I will say , notice that at the bottom of this page, where you see liabilities, one of the sections that I'm sure you're all very concerned about is long-term liabilities, where debt is mentioned. The debt , you know, increased due to, you know, principal payments, that is, excuse me, decreased due to, um , principal payments in the current year. And I say all this to show what happens on the next page, on page 16, um, that year after year you don't see this because these are annual reports, your net position is increasing, which means you're accumulating more assets and fewer
017liabilities; in other words, we know you are moving in the right direction , in simple terms. As for income and expenses, you will see them on the next two pages. They are actually presented as one report together. Hmm, for this report. Hmm, and everything looks good, you know, with that. I think we saw about 37 million, roughly a grant, meaning grants and contributions. Hmm, that looked pretty good. And then on this page 18 you start to see all the different taxes and other things that go through you. Um, and you'll see on page 18, third line from the bottom, this net change . You can think of this as a net profit line. Um, so you're not operating at a loss when it comes to this. If you see 8 million there. Um, and really,
018I mean, I think the reports look good. You know, we obviously didn't know what to expect when we came here, but I really think your finance team is doing a great job. Um, I think that's, you know, in this reporting you'll see that we didn't have any findings on internal controls. Um, for the federal programs that we reviewed through the single audit, we didn't have any conclusions on that. Um, we did n't have any compliance issues or anything like that noted in the audit. Um, so I would say that overall your audits reflect, you know, sound management, um, and ongoing, um, stability. Um, and I would just say, keep monitoring the situation, guys. But if you have any questions for me, I can take notes. Does anyone have any questions? I don't have a question.
019I just have a comment. And I definitely want to thank you and your company for joining in on this with this board's last- minute vote on changing, um, the accounting firm. But I think it demonstrates that there was sound financial management in all the enterprises or in all the, um, administrations . So it's good to know that the previous accounting firm they chose showed the same results, and this firm, your firm that was chosen, shows similar results. So thank you. Yes, ma'am. Anyone else? Good. Thank you. Call Dr. Thompson to the stand. Good evening, Madam Chair, members of the council, and the chief of the ace. Tonight, I'm excited to share an update on our Transition Literacy Specialists. As part of the district's commitment to improving literacy outcomes, we have identified Beverly Middle School ,
020Fame Elementary School, Gerard Elementary School, Dothan Sixth Grade Academy, and Dothan Preparatory Academy as schools that will receive additional literacy support based on student achievement data and identified instructional needs. To ensure a strong start, the district hosted a Transition Literacy Specialist Kickoff Event on June 10, which featured our specialists and professional development focused on their roles, instructional expectations, and district priorities. The specialists officially began work in their schools on July 1. So today I'm pleased to introduce our transitional literacy specialists. When I call your name, please stand up and I will call the school and its name as well. Beverly- High School, Lena Lacey, Fain-Elementary School, Shane Robinson, Gerard-Elementary School, Nikki Burns, Milton-Sec, Tiffany Fowler and DPA, Kylie Dawkins. So we are very happy. Let's give them a round of applause. We are very happy
021that they are with us. Today, we met with the principals of the five participating schools to set shared expectations for implementing and strengthening each principal's role in championing academic expectations, as well as supporting classroom collaboration and monitoring student progress. This work aligns with the Delton Way program and our district's commitment to strengthening first-grade learning while providing targeted literacy interventions for students who need additional support . Student groups are formed using multiple data sources, including AAP results, beginning-of-year tests, and data on classroom performance, teacher input, and attendance. This approach ensures that learning solutions meet each student's current needs, and also allows us to adjust our support as students grow. While AAAP results remain preliminary and have not yet been verified by the state, the data is already helping us identify strengths, prioritize supports, and plan interventions
022for the next school year. Our intention, I'll repeat it again, is to start the first day by working with our students. We will continue to monitor implementation, support our schools and provide the board with future updates on certified outcomes, as well as student achievement data, as it becomes available. I want to thank you and I would be happy to answer any questions. Does anyone have a question for Dr. Thompson? Thank you. We look forward to your work. Okay, Miss Jacobs, for an update on Cogna. Good evening. So, I just wanted to give you an update tonight on the status of our accreditation. I provided you with some information by evening so that you could review the full report, but I would like to provide you with a short version of it with a brief summary.
023See, here it is. Just to remind you, I know you've had some training, but to remind you, what is accreditation? Sometimes it's not always clear to the public, but it's an independent research assessment of our system. It looks at several things such as leadership, government, teaching and learning, student support, resource management , organization, and continuous improvement. So why is this actually important? Well, honestly , it gives the public validation that we are doing what we are supposed to do and that we are constantly improving. And the other part is that if we did n't do it, we would lose the partnership with it. I mean, being accredited and maintaining it is an important thing. It's a six-year cycle of work that you keep doing over and over again . Uh, you're also progressing, and at
024the end of this cycle, you have to show them where you started and where you ended up, thank you. So to give you an idea of how it all started, the path takes about a year to start the process where you start your review from about June 2025 to January. We constantly worked with a team of leaders. We met constantly. We extracted data. We analyzed them over and over again. And, honestly, it's good self-reflection and self- evaluation. You get to a point where you look at whether we are really where we need to be. There were wonderful conversations. We discuss the performance standards that Cognia sets for us, and it took about six to seven months. And then, once you're done with that, you start writing your stories. You provide feedback to an external team
025for review. And then you go to the data collection window, where you need to collect everything that supports what you said. And the final step is an external review, where the team reviews everything you submit to them, over about four weeks. Dr. Asku was supposed to give a presentation to them. We had to consider several points. Of course, we identified things we thought we needed to work on and things we thought we were doing well. And that's how we talk about our 100-day plan, where we're going with school improvement and so on. And that, in a nutshell, is the timeframe we've gone through. So the good part is that we are accredited. Okay, we did it. So let's just start with this part. Flag. We are finished. We won't have to do this for another
026six years. But it was a good process, but a very tiring process, I'll tell you. But just to give you an idea, you get the score, and you see that we have a 293 out of 400. That's a range of 280 to 319. Historically, most public schools have a score of 270 to 280. So, we were above the average for public schools in our scores, which means we met all the cognitive components and reflect a strong and well-run organization. So, the three things they pointed out to us that they thought were successful for us were that we are a well-run organization. We are student-centered and have a culture of striving to continually improve and move forward. So , every time you do a self-assessment , there are good points and opportunities for growth. So, we
027have three areas, and I think they won't surprise you because these are things we talk about all the time, which is strengthening our communications both internally and externally, recruiting and retaining our employees, and professional learning. So I would like to tell you about what we are already doing and what we are moving forward with, strengthening communication. One of the things we've started talking about and are planning is to bring back DCS University for parents and community members, where they could come, come and spend some time with us in the evenings. They visit some schools and we break down our departments and what's going on and what's going on at the school. Not everyone always has a true understanding of the inner workings of what's going on , and this would allow for providing that to
028the public, as well as opening up channels of communication with them. The other part is that this year we started our community service initiative for leaders. So, some things you may have seen, but back in November, we as directors and board members went and volunteered at a food bank for a day, handing out food. We organized it. We loaded the cars and trucks. And then just recently, this summer , we did a backyard reading program where we visited three housing authority sites where we were able to do activities for the kids. CMP provided them with lunch. During these three days, we served every director. We had directors. We had assistant directors . They held events outside where children could participate. At the end they would get a book to go. We had art classes. It
029was a good 3-4 hours where you could just get into their area, where they are, talk to them, and just hang out. It was some of the best conversations I've had in a long time with some parents, and I think it was really good for us. I saw a lot of coaches come and recruit there. They were trying to get players to work in the summer, and we were solving some problems. So, ultimately, I'm very proud of that. I am very happy about this. We're going to continue this and hopefully we can share it with some other places. And then another thing is just an extension as we continue to do this. Good. The second part that we are going to work on as an opportunity is recruiting and retaining staff. And you know, we've
030already set up a lot of things in this area because we knew it was necessary. So, as you know, we have a staff retention incentive program that we are implementing in our three target schools. We created targeted incentives for our special education staff to retain them. We have implemented an online practice correction program and also reimburse practice expenses. And then we continue to hold job fairs and events, trying to attract more staff. And finally, an area that we will continue to pursue and we are doing very well. I think we definitely improved our professional learning this summer. As you hear Dr. Thompson say at every board meeting, it's the Dothan method, the Dothan method. And she and her team developed a teaching system that will be implemented in all schools and classrooms. And with that
031comes professional training. This is probably one of the greatest years I have seen in professional learning and training. People can't just say they didn't get trained because I'm telling you she created the program and they're following it. So, it's a great program that she's got, and I think we'll continue that professional development and leadership. So we'll have meetings with leaders and we're going to bring some in, but also we're going to try to start working on leadership internally, develop it internally and move it forward, and then do coaching, mentoring, and continuous improvement. After all, that's what we're here for–to continue learning. So, in conclusion, we are accredited. We are moving in the right direction . We do good deeds. And accreditation is not the finish line. It is our commitment to continue to improve. And
032that's exactly why we're here. Does anyone have any questions? Congratulations. I know it's hard work. Thank you. I appreciate it. Before we move on to the agenda, I want to acknowledge, Ms. Su, wait, don't go yet. Um, we have three of our new directors here tonight, and I would like to recognize them, um, and welcome them to DCS, and also give the board an opportunity to, um, at least congratulate them at this time. So, first we have Dr. Anderson in D6. If you'll just stand up, and Miss George from Fain Elementary, Miss Sue, who will lead Beverly. Welcome again to Dothan City Schools. We are glad to welcome you all. Good. Welcome. We are glad you are all here. Good. Hmm, let's move on. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes of the
033regular school board meeting on June 29, 2026? Madam Chair, I propose to approve the minutes of the regular school board meeting of June 29, 2026. Do I have a second offer? Second proposal. Is there a discussion? All in favor ? Yes. Yes. Everyone is "against". The proposal is accepted. Do I have a motion to approve Head Start's financial statements for June 2026 ? Madam Chair, I make a motion to approve the Head Start financial report for June 2026 . Do I have a second? Second. Is there a discussion? Good. Everyone "in favor"? Everyone "against"? The proposal is accepted. Um, please make a motion to approve out-of- state and overnight trips for athletes for the 2627 school year. Madam Chair, I move a motion to approve out-of- state and overnight trips for athletes. Do I have
034a second? Second. Is there a discussion? Everyone "in favor"? Yes. Everyone is "against". The proposal is accepted. Good. Good. Um, I have a motion to approve the monthly financial statements for June 2026? Madam Chair, I propose to approve the monthly financial report for June 2026. Good. Do I have a second? Second. Everyone "in favor"? Yes. Everyone is "against". The proposal is accepted. Good. Do I have a proposal for approving the list of educational materials to be removed from textbooks? Madam Chair, I propose approving the list of educational materials to be removed from textbooks. Do I have a second? Second. Is there a discussion? All in favor ? Everyone "against"? The proposal is accepted. Do I have a proposal for approval of the LEA Consolidated Plan for 2026-2027? I am making a motion to approve the
035LEA Consolidated Plan for 2026-2027. Do I have a second suggestion? Second proposal. Is there any discussion? All in favor ? Yes. Everyone "against"? The proposal is accepted. Do I have a suggestion for approving the city of Dothan for summer travel? Madam Speaker, I move a motion to approve the City of Dothan and the Recreation Department for summer travel. Do I have a second suggestion? Second proposal. Is there any discussion? I have a few questions about this . Yes, ma'am. Hmm, so everyone knows what we're talking about. This is a memorandum of understanding to lease, essentially, our buses to the city of Dothan for their summer recreation programs. Hmm, what's the bet? We charge them $160 per mile . Is that correct? As far as I understand, we haven't charged anything before . Hmm, obviously I
036want the kids to have a bus so they can go on field trips in the summer. I question why we are doing this for the city. Are we in the bus rental business ? I'm concerned about our, uh , liability and our risk. Hmm, because we've been told repeatedly that we need to be more careful with insurance and bus accidents . Hmm, I also question the amount of money we charge. $160 per mile is not much. And if we're doing it for the city, do we need to do it? I asked this question about the list. So you make a note. If we do this for the city, are we obligated to do this for other organizations? What if the church asks? What if the kindergarten asks? Hmm, why are we doing this for the
037city and not for anyone else? So, I would like to invite Dr. Hall to the podium. Hmm, she can talk about the program and what led us to this. Good evening, Madam Chair, Board members, Dr. Asku. Good. $160, uh, percent per mile–that's what the state tells us we're charging. We charge this fee for all field trips, uh, for schools. As for the leisure services that use our buses during the summer, that is something I inherited when I took up this position. Uh , investigating what's going on because the City of Dothan Recreation Services added more rides over the summer, uh, I started to question more about what we're getting out of it because we have to change tires. We have a lot of wear and tear on our buses, so they used our buses, uh,
038in previous years. So I looked up what had been installed in previous years and investigated, and found that, uh, nothing had been installed. So we want to, uh, try to get it set up for this summer and then, uh, finish it at the end of the summer, in August, and, uh, from that point on, anything that happens next has to be brought to the board. Okay, Madam Chair , I also have a question. Does this change anything? So, we have a plan with the state where if our buses are less than 10 years old, we get a certain amount back. Does this change anything, considering we are not the only ones using our buses? No, ma'am. We still need to, uh , update the fleet, it's still, uh , update the fleet. However, again, what
039we charge the school for the field trip is what we ask to be charged for leisure services. Uh, I know there was a question about whether there was another organization that was asking. Uh, in previous summers we had other organizations that asked, and of course we sent bills, just like we did to the schools in previous years, and they paid them. Uh, just for example, last summer we catered to Haw Houston and took them on a tour. We also, uh , ran boys and girls clubs, but again, it's a new board, a new chief, so we want to make sure everything is in order. I have one more question. Uh, for example, when you rent a car, you do a pre- check of the bus and then after to make sure everything is the same.
040I'm worried about the wear and tear on our buses because they now run year-round. Hmm, is this what we do when they take them away? This is the condition in which you receive our bus. We expect it to return in the same condition. The city of Dothan uses our bus drivers. So they hire our bus drivers for this in the summer. So we don't use any other drivers from another area or our own drivers. We use our bus drivers. They must adhere to the same standards. So they have to go through a pre- trip check and everything else. I don't think the contract says they have to hire our bus drivers. It says they can hire anyone who is a qualified driver, but the contract doesn't specify any qualifications. I usually encourage them, if they
041are going to use our buses, to hire our bus drivers. I don't know how many bus drivers are still not working for us. I do n't know if they'll be able to find anything, but I also informed them that, you know, our bus drivers are insured. So, okay, they usually try to follow our drivers. So, our insurance is another issue. I understand that the contract states that the city identifies us. But it's an additional risk that we take on because the third party isn't going to say, "Oh, well, they had a contract, so we're going to go to the city." No, they are definitely going to contact us. So I'm a little concerned about the liability, um, because it's not the qualifications of one of our bus drivers, um, and something happens, or an accident,
042or something happens on the bus, um, that worries me. Yes, ma'am. Again , um, this was something, um, like I said, that I inherited, so I wanted to go to the boss, ask you to fix it. Yes. And I want to admit it. I appreciate you telling me what's going on here? We need to confirm something in writing and do it right. I am grateful. Anyone else? Just two things about how many buses run on average in the summer? Uh, they're using four buses now. Only four. Yes, sir. And secondly, it probably provides some stability of additional income for some of these people who got that time slot in the summer, and that helps and is probably good for maintenance, right? Yes, sir. Yes. So, do you have more than that, who would like to
043do this on average, who would like to drive in the summer? I would say, do you have 10? We have quite a few people applying for this, uh, summer position in leisure services. Uh, and uh, so you know they have to, of course, go to the city website to apply. So from this perspective, maintaining transport is beneficial for us, providing them with additional income. Yes, sir. Yes. Good. Good. Any other discussions? Good. Everyone for it? Hooray. Everyone is against it. The proposal is accepted. Good. Personnel. We have corrections to the previous action: 11 non-acceptances, one resignation, 14 retirements, one team contract, one additional or temporary employment, three transfers, 10 conditional appointments, 25 appointments, 39 and confirmation of higher degree, two. Good. Do I have a proposal for approval of the personnel agenda? Madam Chair, I
044propose approving the personnel agenda. Do I have a second chance? Good. Is there any discussion? I have a question. We never have deletions. So I just wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything. There are no deletions from what we have. Correct . No, there are no deletions. Good. It's just rare. This does not happen. Make sure I didn't miss this. Thank you. Yes, we had almost all the meetings, but we don't miss anything. So, um, second question C12 and 13. Sorry. Repeat this number. C12 and 13. I know we talked about this . Can you give us any information as to why they are still there? Yes, they are there. Um, these two people refused. Good. Thank you. Okay, if there is no further discussion, everyone is in favor, yes. Yes. Good. Everyone is
045"against". The proposal is accepted. Good. Um, the next thing to do, Mr. Mallery, is the Carver 9 contract. We have a recommendation to the board to approve, um, the attached trial prime contract, recommended by the director , for a one-year trial prime contract for core carbon. Do I have a motion to approve the Carver 9 master contract? Madam Chairman, I make a motion to approve the Carver 9 master contract. Do I have a second motion? Second proposal. Are there any discussions? All in favor? Yes. Everyone is " against". The proposal is accepted. Good. Um, DHS baseball coaching contract. It is a recommendation to approve the attached Dothan High School Community Base Coach Contract, as presented and recommended by the Chief of Staff. Um, the purpose of this contract is a community-based coaching contract to fill
046the head baseball coaching position at Dothan High School. Good. Do I have a suggestion to approve the DHS baseball contract? Madam Chair, please make a motion to approve the contract of the DHS baseball coach . Do I have a second suggestion? Second proposal. Is there a discussion? Everyone "in favor"? Yes. Good. All "against" . The proposal is accepted. Good. I have a proposal to approve the job description of the Executive Director of School Support, Teacher Development and Leadership? Madam Chair, I move a motion to approve the job description for the Executive Director of School Support, Teacher Development, and Leadership. Do I have a second suggestion? Second proposal. Good. Is there a discussion? Good. Everyone "in favor"? Yes. Yes. Everyone is "against". So, a draw. Who voted "yes"? And who voted " against"? I vote "yes".
047So, the proposal is accepted. Good. I have a proposal to approve the contract with a retired Dothan High School counselor ? I am making a motion to approve the contract with a retired Dothan High School counselor . Do I have a second suggestion? Second proposal. Is there a discussion? Everyone "in favor"? Yes. Everyone is "against". The proposal is accepted. I have a proposal to approve the extension of the security coordinator's contract? Madam Chair, I am moving a motion to approve the extension of the security coordinator's contract. Do I have a second suggestion? Second proposal. Are there any discussions? Everyone for it? Yes. Everyone is against it. The proposal is accepted. Hmm, of course. Dr. Hall, please address this issue. Before we begin, can I make a comment? This is a little off topic, but I
048would like to commend you on how well you handle drivers. Hmm, as someone who had a relative who traveled for you, he really appreciates working with you. So I would like to Thank you. We are trying to start a family, and I think we have succeeded. And you have... Well, I'm standing before you. Good job, Dr. Neil. Thank you. I stand before you again tonight, Madam Chair, Board of Directors, and Dr. Esco, to offer a recommendation for the purchase of a minibus to support our school's athletic programs, as presented as a recommendation by the Superintendent of Education. Now, why do we need a minibus? As athletic participation continues to grow and scheduling demands increase, our current transportation resources are no longer sufficient to effectively meet the needs of all of our student- athletes. Many of
049our sports teams, such as bowling, golf, and junior varsity teams , are made up of a smaller number of student- athletes. Currently, these teams are often transported in full-size buses, which is not the most efficient use of our district's resources. Additionally, these sports teams often have back-to-back travel schedules , which creates logistical challenges and limits bus availability for other routes and programs. These restrictions result in inefficient use of fuel and transportation assets, increased wear and tear on larger buses, scheduling conflicts that can delay departures and returns, and additional workload on drivers and transportation personnel. The minibus will directly address these issues by providing a more practical and flexible transportation option. Purchasing a minibus designed to accommodate smaller groups of athletes will allow the district to better align transportation resources with team size and scheduling needs.
050This vehicle will be used for small team trips to sporting events, for back-to- back games that require quick turnaround, for supplemental transportation when full-size buses are not available, for supplemental transportation to transport small numbers of students throughout the district, such as our Superintendent's Student Association or students who may have missed their morning bus from regular transportation and need a ride, for students who attend after-school programs, and for students who use shuttle services. The addition of a minibus is a practical and necessary step towards increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of our sports transportation system. With small teams traveling and schedules becoming increasingly complex, this investment will provide long-term value for the district if the board proposes moving forward. All sports coaches will be able to get their licenses and feel more comfortable behind the wheel, which
051will not create a burden on the department in terms of providing a driver and the need to cover routes. So, in conclusion, investing in a minibus will provide several key benefits. Economic efficiency that will reduce fuel consumption and maintenance costs of full-size buses. Increased flexibility, the ability to handle overlapping and consecutive sporting events without disrupting other routes. Resource optimization . Freeze the use of larger buses for high-capacity needs, such as daily routes and large team trips, and improve the student experience, ensuring more timely departures and returns, minimizing time associated with improper instruction. However, since this bus will not be used for the route, it will not be subject to fleet renewal. This is my presentation. You can answer your questions. I didn't know we didn't have them anymore because we had two for decades. Is
052one enough? Because I know we used it quite a bit, and even on academic trips, as far as the academic team, I would take them all over campus in these minibuses, and, uh , on campus tours and so on. So is one enough? We'd like to start with one, uh, just to see how this one, uh, works for us. Hmm, we have, like I said, we want to be able to accommodate our smaller sports teams, so we would like to start with one. Hmm, another suggestion, I think it will pass, but it would be great to wrap it like our larger bus. I think that would look really cool. and if we decide to use it exclusively for athletics, but since I was talking about flexibility and being able to pick up students who may
053have missed routes and also use the afternoon, then we'll have to leave it yellow so it can be flipped if you're doing routes. No, sir. Any other discussions? Um, I just wanted to thank you for that, because I know as a parent of athletes last year that several big teams made it to the playoffs but ended up having to travel on some of our not-so- good buses, while some of the smaller teams had great sports buses. So I know it was a concern that we were using a giant bus to transport 10-12 kids compared to 30 kids on the other team. So that's great. I appreciate the work you put into this. Thank you. Any other discussions, Dr. Paul, how many , maybe you said this and I missed it, but how many students will
054the minibus carry? We're looking at a Collins, um, Collins DH400, which is a 24- passenger bus. Good. And I know you talked about athletics and runs in the afternoon, but this will be available to all students, clubs, bands, honor bands, etc. Okay . Good. If there is no further discussion, do I have a motion to approve the purchase of a Class A school bus? Madam Chair, I move to approve the purchase of a Class A school bus. Okay. Do I have a second? Second. Good. We have already had a discussion. So, everyone is in favor? Hooray. Hooray. Everyone is "against". The proposal is accepted. Good. Um, do I have a suggestion for approval of the Development and Technology ETF? Um, approval of the budget for fiscal year 2026. This is number 17 on your agenda.
055Madam Speaker, I propose approving the ETF Development and Technology Fund for the fiscal year 2026 budget. Okay . Do I have a second? Good. Is there any discussion? I have a question. What was our funding from last year to this year? What was the difference? Sorry, I can't hear you. I have the voice of an accountant. my teacher's voice. Um, it's down about 2 million, a little over two million. We expect this decrease to continue because these are additional funds that typically decrease throughout the year, and they have been preparing us for many years for it to continue to decrease. So we try not to rely on them and do our best with them as soon as they become available. Good. Good. Thank you. Are there any more questions? Good. Everyone for it? Yes. Everyone
056is against it. The proposal is accepted. Good. And now we have a public debate , and we have only one, Miss Letitia Daniels Jackson. Good. Good. Um, we have a closed session to review the trial. Do I have a motion to adjourn the hearing to a closed session for the trial to be considered? Oh, yes, we need to do that first. Um, we had an addition to our agenda. Do I have a motion to notify the District 1 Council member of the council's intention to reprimand her at the next scheduled meeting on August 18, 2026, for reasons to be presented to her in writing by the council secretary? Madam Chair, I move that the District 1 Councilmember be notified of the council's intention to reprimand her at the next scheduled meeting on August 18, 2026,
057for reasons to be presented to her in writing by the council secretary. I have a second question? Second question. Is there any discussion? So, I would like to understand the rationale, and I think the community deserves the right to understand the rationale, because given the dynamics of this board, we have two board members who are currently in litigation. Therefore, in my opinion, it would be incorrect for something like this to arise at this time. So I would obviously like to understand the rationale. Ms. Guilford will be given the reasons in writing, and I think it's her, uh, decision whether or not to share it publicly . You said Miss Guilford would be provided or had already been provided. No, ma'am, the board secretary will give it to you. Right. And that will be Dr. Asku.
058Yes, ma'am. So I would like the doctor to ask you if this, uh, or this, uh, have you discussed this with the board members? No. So how can this be presented? I will give Dr. Asa the letter, and he will present it to you. So how do we have enough information to vote on whether to approve this proposal or not? We only approve of giving her 30 days' notice. So we'll come back to this in 30 days, once she gets the notice and she can address it publicly or not. It depends on her whether it's in writing. And then we will continue voting. So, for the board, every board member here worked on transparency, on making sure there was no corruption, there was no revenge, and so on. You are trying to tell me that
059we are trying to censor a board member, and you can't provide any explanation when you added it. As I understand it, it will be Miss Guilford's prerogative whether she shares this publicly or not. But you are making a remark as a board member. You are giving a recommendation. You are, and it's not your job to do that . Yes, ma'am. That's right. Any member of the board may recommend a vote of no confidence. You've been through this before. So, I think you remember the process. What about the board secretary? No, ma'am. The secretary did not make a motion. Only a board member can submit a motion. The Secretary must provide reasons in writing. Right. He provides them and Dr. Asher said he didn't discuss it. But for now, but for now you're sorry, but for
060now you're giving this, uh , recommendation for now . However, he said he hadn't discussed it with you all. You obviously haven't discussed this with him. That's right. But I don't think he should approve of the cause or not. This is a decision made by the board and the secretary will simply provide you with the information. And just to clarify, this is not a board recommendation. This is a recommendation given by you. This is a recommendation made by me, supported by the majority of the council. But no, Dr. Ask. So, you guys discussed this. You said that the majority is happy. So, the four of you discussed this, voted to add this to the agenda, because these decisions need to be discussed publicly. So, all four of you discussed this, we voted to add this
061to the agenda, and I just want to make it clear for the sake of transparency that Dr. Askum knows nothing about this . So we didn't discuss it with him at all . I think you said he didn't know anything about it, but yet you presented it as if it was being discussed. This is a professional. No, it's a process. He must provide you with the information I will provide him. So, you make the decision. I have made a proposal, and the council will vote on it, as before. You know, it's amazing that this is happening, but it's happening. I think we have a council member who has a vendetta over a sensor installed last year. We did it. He wasn't censored, and he can thank me for that, but he wasn't censored, but, well,
062it was like a recommendation was made, you know. So I think it's a vendetta. I think we need to see what's going on. Uh, and we, and I think, you know , the state will have to, well, hear about this. This will go to the state after the council votes to approve it. If the council votes to censure, we must notify the state. Is there any further discussion? Good. Everyone for it? Yes. Everyone against it? No. The proposal is accepted. Good. Do I have a motion to adjourn the hearing to a closed session to consider the trial? We have a lawsuit. We need to discuss. Do I have a proposal to move the meeting to a closed session? Madam Chair, I propose to adjourn the meeting to a closed session to discuss the pending trial.
063Do I have a second? Second. Is there a discussion? Everyone "in favor"? Yes. Everyone is "against". The proposal is accepted. And we will be back. Hallelujah. If we can invite all the board members to the closed meeting room. Ms. Jenkins, if we could invite all the board members to the closed meeting room. Good. Do I have a proposal to postpone the meeting to another date? Madam Chair, I propose to postpone the meeting to the next meeting. Do I have a second? Second. Is there a discussion? Everyone "in favor"? Yes. Everyone is "against". The proposal is accepted. Good. No decisions were made during the closed meeting. Um, we have an announcement about new cases. Um, we have a board meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. And on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 5:30
064p.m., we will have a special school board meeting. Do I have a proposal to postpone the meeting? Madam Chair, I propose to adjourn the meeting. Do I have one more word? One more thing . Is there a discussion? All in favor ? Yes. Everyone "against"? The proposal is accepted.