001Call to order the January 20th 26 regular school board meeting. I ask Brad um Commissioner Bradley Bedwell to lead us in a moment of silence. Is he here? All right. Can I call on Vivian Daniels? Commissioner Vivian Daniels. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Is Commissioner Kirsy here? Will you pray for us? Please open a prayer. Let us bow our heads. Dear Father God, we come to you ask you for information, ask you for utterance. Most of all, we ask you for transparency and honesty in the decisions that are made. We ask for you to have clear minds and give us clear minds and clear hearts with the decisions that are made today. We ask that you give great understanding and compassion to all the school board members who have vital decisions to make tonight. And
002we pray for solidarity and unity. And we pray that love is always given through the name of your son Christ Jesus we pray. Amen. >> Thank you. Commissioner Herz, please stand for the pledge. >> And the pledge will be led. The pledge will be led tonight by um Slingliff Elementary fifth grade student Harmony Oliver. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you, Harmony. That was Harmony Oliver from Slingluff. And thank you, Mr. McKay. Okay. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda and proposed agenda modifications? >> Madame Chairman, I move that we approve the agenda with agenda modifications. >> Do I have a second? Do I have a
003second? >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> Motion carries. Okay, now we have board comments. Anyone? >> I just wanted to thank everyone for coming out. We need your support, not just today, but every day, every board meeting in our schools and I'm truly grateful for those that are activated to assist Dothan City Schools in becoming better. I also want to thank the principles that courageously stood last Tuesday and gave their experiences and their recommendations on the plan. So, thank you to all. [applause] >> Anyone else? >> Not at this time. >> Okay. Um, now we have the superintendent's report. Dr. Ascu going to turn it over to Miss Harmon for our recognitions this month. >> Good evening everyone, members of the board. Tonight, I just want to take a
004few minutes to highlight some really great things that are happening across our district. um investments that are opening doors for students and meeting real student needs. First, I want to talk about a big win at Doth Tech Center. Doth Tech was recently awarded more than $94,000 um of innovation and modernization grant from the Alabama Department of Education. This funding is going to support equipment upgrades across seven high demand programs. That includes adding a forklift that will be used across programs like automotive, aviation, construction, HVAC, engineering, and welding. And this gives students hands-on experience with the same equipment they'll see in the workforce. The automotive program will also receive new instructional equipment and culinary arts will benefit from upgraded commercial kitchen equipment to improve both efficiency and safety. These upgrades will be rolling out over the
005coming months and will help ensure our students are graduating with real world skills and industry relevant experience. I also want to highlight a creative investment at Dothan Prep. Dothan Prep was awarded a $6,000 arts grant to support an eightweek visual arts unit focused on print making. Students will explore hands-on techniques like screen printing, mono printing, and the project will wrap with the student art exhibition in May. Together, these grants, more than $100,000 combined, showcase both the innovative and creative work happening in Dothan City Schools. And we are proud to recognize both of those schools tonight. So, can we please have uh the school representatives join us on stage for a picture? Let's clap it up for them. [applause] No, you we'll get it all >> and then I'm going to scoot out of the way.
006>> [applause] >> Okay. Okay. And board members, don't go too far because we have one more. Um, lastly, I want to share something happening at Kelly Springs Elementary that truly speaks to the heart of our schools. Kelly Springs recently created a resource called the Fresh and Fabulous Food and Hygiene Closet. And what I love most about this initiative is that it was inspired completely by students. After participating in a service project to help families affected by natural disasters, students shared how meaningful it felt to help others. And that sparked the idea to bring the same support back to their own school community. Today, the closet provides food, weekend snack bags, hygiene items for students and families who might need a little bit more support. Families simply reach out to the school and staff work quietly
007and respectfully to make sure students have what they need. No spotlight, no stigma. This is one of those initiatives that may not always be visible, but it makes a real difference every single day. It reflects the compassion of the Kelly Springs team and their commitment to supporting our children. We are incredibly proud of their work and the care that they show to all of our students. So, come on up. >> [applause] >> All right, Mr. Mallerie. >> Good evening. So [clears throat] this is the time where we will recognize our employee of the month for the month of January. Um this employee was nominated uh by Miss Beth Buchard, the principal at Highlands Elementary. Um this month's winner is Miss Emily Breedlove. She is I believe she's with us. So um she's a kindergarten teacher
008um at Highlands. A little bit of information about the nomination um from Miss Buchard. It states, "Mrs. Breedlove is a caring and compassionate kindergarten teacher with a tender and generous heart for young learners who are just beginning their educational journey. She spends extra time with each individual student to build strong, loving relationships and ensures a smooth transition from home to school. Through consistent communication with parents, she builds trust and confidence, helping families feel informed and supported. In addition to providing effective instruction, Mrs. Breedlove knows her students well beyond academics. She can readily share personal details about each child from from favorite snacks to hobbies and pets, which allows her to support their social, emotional, and academic academic needs. She is a literacy expert who is continuously engaged in professional development to grow as an educator
009and improve student outcomes. Mrs. Brie Love also tutor students after school, demonstrating her dedication to the success of all learners. Her ability to speak Spanish has been an invaluable asset to the school, assisting students, families, and staff in numerous situations. Students and parents alike are comforted by her kind, gentle, and professional disposition. The relationships she builds are long lasting and meaningful. Even older students stop to greet her or give her a hug when they see her in the hallway. She is always smiling, always positive, and always willing to help. She is humble and never seeks attention, consistently placing students, colleagues, and others before herself. She truly embodies what everyone hopes for a teacher and lives in her name. breed love every day. She is deeply deserving of this recognition. Miss B love, if you'll come
010forward, [applause] one more. And last one. Perfect. Thank you. All right. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes for December 16th, 2025 regular school board meeting? Make a motion that we approve the minutes from the December 16th, 2025 uh regular school board meeting. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> Yay. Motion carries. All right. Um, we had a monetary donation of $500 from McGee Firm to the Hidden Lake Primary School for field trips. Do I have a motion to approve donations? >> Make a motion that we approve the donations. >> All right. Do I have a second? >> Second. Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> All opposed? Motion carries. Okay. All right. Do I have a motion to approve the December
01125 monthly financial reports? >> I move that we approve the December 25 monthly financial reports. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> All opposed. Okay. Motion carries. Okay. Do I have a motion to approve the December 25 financial reports for Head Start? >> M. Madame Chair, I'd like to mo make a motion to approve Head Start uh financial report. Do >> I have a second? Second. >> Is there any discussion? [snorts] >> All in favor? Okay. >> All opposed. Motion carries. U do I have a motion to approve the Head Start menu for January 2026? I move that we approve the Head Start menu. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> All
012opposed? Motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve the Head Start enrollment and attendance for December 2025? >> Madam Chair, I move to approve the Head Start enrollment and attendance. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> Okay. All opposed? Motion carries. >> Do I have a motion to approve the Head Start monthly summary report for December 2025? Madam Chair, I move that we approve a Head Start monthly summary report. Second. >> Okay. Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> All opposed. Motion passes. All right. Do I have a motion to approve the overnight field trip for Doth and Preparatory Academy Junior Beta Club students to attend the National Beta Club Convention in Birmingham, Alabama in February 16th through February
01318th? >> Motion to approve the overnight field trip for Dothan Prep. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> Okay. All in favor? >> Yay. >> All opposed? Motion carries. Okay. Do I have a motion to approve the overnight field trip for car 9th grade academy students to attend the Dolphin Island Sea Lab in Dolphin, Alabama, March 13th through March 16th? >> I move we approve the overnight field trip for Carver 9th grade academy. >> Second. >> All right. Is there any discussion? >> All in favor? >> Yay. >> All opposed. Motion carries. Okay. Okay. We have the personnel agenda, Mr. M. [snorts] We have one deletion will be C3. C is in cat three and that's a deletion. We have correction to previous action three non-acceptances one terminations
014three resignations 11 additional or temporary employment 10 transfers three conditional and appointments nine appointments 11 and then verification of higher degree two. >> Do I have a motion to approve the >> Madam Chair? I I make a motion to approve personnel as presented by Mr. Mallerie. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? >> I would like to pull F3 and discuss it in executive session. >> Say that again. >> Yes. I'm sorry. I make a motion that we pull F3 and discuss it in executive session. Okay. Okay. Right. So, do we have a motion to approve? Is that what we do? Approve it all but F3. Is that what we need to do? >> F3. >> Okay. Do I have a motion to approve the personnel agenda all but F3?
015Do I have a motion? I move that >> approve the uh personnel agenda without um F3. >> Okay. Do I have a second? Second. Okay. Any discussion? Okay. All in favor? >> All opposed. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next, we have the assistant superintendent contract. Do I have a motion to approve the assistant superintendent contract? >> I move that we approve the assistant superintendent contract. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. Um, any discussion? Okay. All in favor? >> All oppose. Motion carries. Okay, next we have the custodian job description. Mr. Mallerie. Okay, [clears throat] these three job descriptions are um the job descriptions that come before you guys back I believe it was in November and we went back and made the changes that request that
016were requested. So, this is just being brought back for the vote at this point. [clears throat] The real change to it was the report, too. >> Okay. >> All right. Do I have a motion to approve the um custodian job descriptions? >> I make a motion that we approve the custodian job description. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? >> Okay. All in favor? >> Yay. [clears throat] All oppose. Motion carries. Okay. Losing my plate there. All right. Um, the next is behavior specialist. Do I have a motion to approve the behavioral specialist job description? >> I move that we approve the behavior specialist job description. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. Is there any discussion? Madam Chair, I would like to say something. Okay. >>
017Um, I'm all for this and I'm grateful that this is something that we are doing moving forward. My concern with it is that only three of our 10 elementary schools will have a behavioral specialist. So, this is something that I would like to look to the future of adding more to make sure that we have it at all of our campuses because I do think that this could be a valuable asset to especially our elementary school campuses. So, breaking it down, seeing that was only going to be at three of the 10, um, I would like to look at possibly putting it at more campuses. >> I agree. >> Okay. All right. Is there any more discussion? All right. All in favor? >> Yay. >> All opposed. Motion carries. Okay. Executive Director of Schools and
018Student Sports Services. And it says to call on Mr. Mallerie. >> That one. >> Oh, thank you. >> So, this is this [clears throat] is one of the job descriptions that within Dr. Ascu's 100 day plan. Uh, this was Make sure. So, this is over the um student support. Um this would be a new position um from what we have and it would add an executive as opposed to a director in that role. You would have um the all of the school support that would report into that position. But this is a part of the 100 day plan for that position. This is just the job description that that goes along with it. Do I have a motion to approve the executive director of schools and student support job description? >> Madam Chair, go ahead.
019>> I move to approve the executive dire director of schools and student support job description. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? >> All right. If there's no discussion, all in favor? >> Yay. Okay. All opposed. So the motion does not pass. Does not pass. >> Okay. All right. Do I have a motion to approve the mental health coordinator job description? >> Madam Chair, I move that we approve the mental health services uh position. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> Madam Chairman, may I speak on this? >> You may. This was presented to us as um a possible replacement of Spectraare and it is one position. Um after doing a little digging on what Spectre does for us, I don't think that
020this is something that can be replaced with one position. Um, Spectre has full-time counselors, several across our school district that are in our schools and they serve more than 300 students. And that's just not something that is um replaceable with a single position. So we would still need spectra care for say like emergency situations where we send a group of counselors to a school and there would be some other specialized services but it would greatly reduce our reliance on spectral care because we would use this position to provide direct services to students. It wouldn't just be a facilitator. >> So um madam chair may I speak? >> Yes ma'am. >> I gather that Dr. ask you this is a position that you feel is necessary and you are making that recommendation. >> Correct. >> Anyone
021else? >> And what is the financial impact on that? Dr. Ask you. So I think currently we're spending about $262,000 per year on Spectra Care and for the mental health coordinator job I think it was somewhere around 98,000. Is that correct Mr. Mallerie? >> 96. >> Madam Chairman, may I say one more thing? So, I looked it up to see how much we paid just to be exact with the numbers that in 2025 we paid 193, but I think in the previous year it was uh slightly above 200,000. So, >> and Stephanie can speak to the totals currently. >> Madame Chair. >> Yes, ma'am. I I'd like to know how did Miss um Ashley pull this up? >> It's on the vendor list that Stephanie provided with us uh months ago. >> Okay. So, Madam
022Chair, so this would be something that Miss uh Stephanie would know about the salary, how much we've been paying. >> I meant that what we've been paying. >> Okay. And so so tell us how much. Can you do that now? >> Okay, take your time. Today we paid $42,000. and $225. >> Okay. So that's okay. So mathematician, how much that come to? [laughter] Well, she said she so one she's not talking to me. >> Okay. No, I'm not talking to you in English. [laughter] Okay. All right. Okay. And so before we go any further with this, uh, so Dr. Excer, do you uh still maintain that this is a a needed position that would be better for for our school? >> I do. It's a common position in many school systems. Um, and it'll allow
023us to have a person inhouse to service our students >> and staff. >> Madam Chair. >> Yes, sir. >> May I ask Well, I ask you, you can ask U. >> Yes, sir. >> Miss Walker to repeat the amount we've already paid for 26. >> Yes. Um, 42,000. >> Okay. Is there any further discussion, >> Madam Chair? Um, so if Spectra Care is servicing 300 students on average per year, hiring a the mental health coordinator, they would be the sole person responsible for servicing those 300 students. There's multiple people at Spectra Care that's servicing them. So, it would be that one person's responsibility now to service all of them. >> They would be the point person for the district. As I stated previously, there's going to be times, of course, that we're going to need
024Spectra Care, but our reliance on them is going to be reduced significantly because we'll have a person in house. >> Madam Chair, >> yes, sir. >> I was just going to ask, so the number that was given for 2026 was 40,000 and we're just in January. So, if we do a run rate for the full year, I don't I don't know exactly what happened in January um to drive that number, but that would be 480,000. Can anybody tell I know there Yeah. per year? >> Oh, okay. Okay. Thank you. Okay. So, um one more time. So, for the record, I just want this for the record. We want to uh uh Dr. Escu is making this recommendation. uh the person would be paid around 96,000, you know, and I'm I'm still seeing a savings. So,
025um I want to make sure that that's on the record. He is still making this recommendation. Is that correct, Dr. Escu? >> Correct. >> Okay. Is there any further discussion? All right. If there's no further discussion, all in favor? >> Yay. >> Okay. All opposed? >> Nay. >> Okay. Motion does not carry. All right. Do you want me to call on Patrick for all of these? Does he need to speak? Okay. Mr. Mallerie, if you'll speak on director of school improvement, job description. Okay. So, the director of school improvement will be another position that is in Dr. Ascu's 100 day plan. Um, this reports to the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. Um, it would provide strategic leadership and oversight for the most intensive title one schools in the district. Um, ensure that evidence-based practices
026targeted supports and innovative models are implemented to accelerate student outcomes. Um, strengthen leadership capacity and those achievement gaps. Um would also be responsible for um development develop and implement a comprehensive vision and improvement strate strategy aligned to district and state accountability goals um for all innovation schools. Conduct thorough evaluations of the most intensive title one schools to identify areas of need and prioritize school improvement efforts based on evaluation findings and data analysis. Do I have a motion, >> Madam Chair? >> Yes. >> I move we approve the director of school improvement job description. >> All right. Do I have a second? >> Second. All right. Is there any discussion? >> Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Dr. Asky, can you please explain the current staffing at central office because I definitely think we get a lot
027of questions saying there are however many assistant superintendents in different roles at central office. Can you please explain the current staffing and how you've seen it work successfully elsewhere? >> Sure. So, currently we have one assistant superintendent, Miss Jacobs. Um, we've added another tonight, so that'll be a second one for curriculum instruction. Um, in our curriculum and instruction department outside of that assistant superintendent, um, we've got two coordinators and we have two instructional coaches. >> And can you, and I don't know if she would be Oh, I'm sorry, Madam Chair. Yes, please. Please. >> Um, can you describe the current assistant superintendent, what her responsibilities are? I don't know if it would be better for her to >> Sure. to lead the curriculum instruction efforts across the district. Um, there are many facets. There's, you
028know, pacing guides. Um, there's resources, there's scope and sequence. Um, and then of course making sure all of our programs across all of our schools are aligned. there's certain requirements um that we have from the state in terms of programs that we should be using for various levels of intervention, tier one, tier 2, and tier three. Um so aligning all that work, of course, testing falls under that as well. Um so it's a huge job. It's setting the strategy for what we do with curriculum instruction as it relates to the director of school improvement. Um that's a more specialized position. Um as you guys know, we have a number of schools on the state and federal list um for mathematics and for reading literacy. um this person is really the spearhead um for that work.
029Um making sure we're providing the specialized PD um for the teachers and the schools as it relates to that, monitoring that data and providing support for those principles. >> Okay. Is there any other discussion? >> All right, Madam Chairman. >> Yes. >> Um this was a position that you had Dr. Ask you to hire to at the end of next year or for end of 27. um the assistant superintendent, the new assistant superintendent that we have approved the contract for tonight. There are several overlaps in the job descriptions with this new um director of school improvement job description. I personally would like to see what the new assistant superintendent does, where that gets us. If this is something that we are voting on tonight, but not actually planning on hiring for another year and a
030half is something that I would like to reassess. I do think that it is a needed job, but we're a year and a half out from that. And so I would like to see where we are with our new assistant superintendent and then reassess that at a later date. Um I've expressed this already before that I think it's futile to vote on something now that we would not be implementing for for a year and a half. Um that's where I stand with that. >> Sure. And I think um the vote now allows us to plan forward. And so knowing that we have that position coming um we can start to build the professional development and the modules that that person will carry forward um once hired. And you know, not saying obviously you don't go
031into it saying who your candidate's going to be. Um but obviously we can start to train people who might have an interest um internally for that position. So as we approach it in 2027, we've got good candidates inside and we don't have to look outside to hire. So those are some of the advantages of going ahead and having the job description on the books. >> Is there any more discussion? >> So Dr. Ascu, it is your recommend is it your recommendation uh to um hire a director of school improvement? Do you see the need for this? And like you just said, uh it gives us the opportunity to start uh preparing for this. Uh we can have changes as things come along because this is going to take place in 2027. So we have we
032we have that time, but we can start the planning. >> Exactly. >> Okay. For the record, Dr. Ascu uh is recommending the director of school improvement. Okay. Is there any more discussion, >> Madame Chair? Yes. Once we vote on an item, it is really hard to go back and amend that item. Um, so tableabling something or voting on it at a later date, continuing the discussion. Just because we are not doing something that this date does not mean that we cannot move forward with it. We did not vote in all of these items yet. Dr. Ascu provided us with a 100 day plan. He moved forward with coming up with these items. we can still move forward with planning to have that position at a later date without having to vote it in. If we
033do vote on it and we voted in, then we are locked in with what we voted in. Um, and it is a lot harder to change things that we voted in. >> Madame Chair. >> Yes, ma'am. >> For the funding on this, did I hear correctly that um it's 90% funded from Title One? Are there any expirations on that or how would that work? >> So, you know, those funds could change year to year um obviously, but the plan is to fund it out of title >> 90%. >> Madam Chair. >> Yes, sir. Uh would you uh inquire from our attorney, you know, if we can postpone, I mean, lay on the table something for a year and a half. How does that fit with Roberts? >> Right. >> Can we table something for up
034to a year and a half? >> You can postpone it for as long as you want. You're the board. Okay. >> Y'all can move it back six months, a month, next week. As long as y'all put a motion to table, it's really up to the board of how long y'all want to table something. >> Okay, >> ma'am. Uh, usually, you know, it takes place the next month, you know, once you table something. So, so we're going to table it for 18 months. >> He said we could table it as long as we check. I mean, we could table it as long as we choose. Um, so if you want to bring it back up in six months, we can as long as we make that motion. We just have to make the motion for however
035long we choose to motion it to table it. >> Yes, that would be my understanding. If you somebody wanted to bring it back up next month, Yeah. >> could just make a motion to add it or just add it to the agenda for the next meeting if you wanted to six meetings from now. As AASB says, this is a board meeting. >> Y'all are in control. >> So, we could we could table it for as long as >> we made a motion to table it. Is there any more discussion? >> Um, madame madame chair and I'll go back to you Dr. Mass ask you you have looked into this and this is something you feel that is needed at needed and you have the timeline. So are you making this recommendation? >> I am. Is
036there any more discussion? >> Madam chair, I would like to make a motion that we table this. >> Okay. >> And you have to have a vote tableling of that issue. >> Thank you. >> Will you move forward? >> Okay. Do I have a second to table the director of school improvement job description? Do I have a second? >> A second. Tabling the director of school improvement job description. >> All right. Is there any discussion? >> Yes, madame chair. Um, to Dr. Ask you, I'd like to know, you were talking about the planning. What is about the latest that you would need to kind of plan ahead for this person to come in winter 2027? >> So, I would say we're in what, winter 2026 now. So, fall of 2026 would be the latest. >>
037But he's made his recommendation. >> Okay. >> So, you would say August of 2026. >> Okay. Madam Chair. >> Yes, ma'am. So getting back to it, I just want to uh make it clear that the uh superintendent has made the recommendation of what the needs are at this time and make sure that that's mentioned in the in the uh minutes so that we can have that to to look at as time as as as we go forward. >> Yes, sir. Miss Hendricks, you have that. Okay. Thank you. All right. Any discussion on tableabling this? Okay. All in favor? >> Yay. >> Okay. All opposed? >> Nay. >> Okay. So, we'll table this. >> Did Do we get a date? Don't we have a date, Madam Chair? >> We did not have a date. >> Well,
038then we We can't just stay with it forever. >> Madam Chair, I think our attorney said that we could add it at any time that we could choose as a board six months from now, one month from now, a year from now that we want to add it back to the agenda to redisuss. Okay. >> Is that correct, Mr. Fowler? >> Well, let's make it clear, Madam Chair. >> Yes. Let's make it clear. Our attorney has said that we can in table it indefinitely. Is that what you're saying, Miss M Miss? Uh, our attorney, >> y'all can bring it back up next meeting, two meetings from now, whenever the board decides. >> But you're saying that we can table it indefinitely now. >> Yes, >> because no date is being given, >> right? but with
039the caveat that you can bring it back up at any time. If you wanted to put it on the next agenda if something changed, you can bring it back up. That would be my understanding. Again, as AASB says, this is a board meeting. Y'all are in control to a degree of your agenda. >> We Madam Chair, we know that um Miss We know that uh Dustin, but we are asking for your advice cuz you know that's why you're sitting there on payroll right now. I get it. I get it. I I see. I I would I'll research that if you want me to and get you an answer by tomorrow, but it is a board meeting. You are in control of your agenda and what motions are tabled and which ones are not. Madame Chair,
040>> I ma'am um quickly looked up can you table a motion for a year and it says no under Robert's rule of order newly revised. It said lay on the table is designed for temporary delays. It's designed for temporary delays to handle urgent business and expires after a short time. If a motion is laid on the table, it must be taken from the table by the end of the next regular meeting if within a quarterly interval or it dies. >> But the definition is is it urgent at that point in time? What's going to be deemed urgent? >> Thank you. Surely if it's if if it's not going to be put in place into in uh until 2027, the urgency is not here. >> I would agree there's no urgency in what uh board member
041Walton said. If there's no urgency, the wording she uses, if it's urgent, then I would agree you could not table if but if something's urgent would be a question of fact for the board to decide. >> Do you deem this to be urg that urgent in nature? >> Madame chair. >> Yes. Dr. Ask you. So we know it's planned out for a year, but would you consider this urgent to start planning now? >> So the key is, you know, and one of the items that are on or two of the items that are on the agenda tonight as well are the consultants for literacy and math. And so there's got to be a spearhead for that work. So whether we have the consultants and that person then you know would study under those folks like
042I said we have people internally already who would be learning and then ready to step into the role or whether we go ahead and say we're going to approve the role and whether we have those expert consultants or not um we can still start to train our folks so that when the time comes we do have somebody in place um to lead the work. Again, it's a common position in many school systems. Um, if you want to do the school improvement work, and that's the thing, our curriculum instruction department um is not staffed adequately. And so, that leads to a question that you asked previously. And so, this would just be another support there um specialized on that school improvement work. >> And I think uh Madam Chair, I think with that said, uh Dr.
043to ask you. I I gather you're saying that if if you had not thought it was something that we needed to go ahead and approve now, you would not have put it down on the agenda. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> Okay, >> Madame Chair. >> Yes, ma'am. So um and of course we've been receiving a lot of different comments and feedback and one of the pieces of feedback I've been receiving is you know we have internal resources internal talent here. So to me if Dr. Asia is saying this is an opportunity for someone internally to train under the experts that we bring in potentially or whoever to start training. Now, to me, this sounds like something that would be along the lines of what people have been asking for to promote from within. Okay.
044Well, we voted to table it. Can we put it on a future agenda? >> What's your suggestion? >> It was We were just Excuse me, Madam Chair. We were just making it clear. It It has already been tabled. The votes The votes tell us that, but we just want to make it clear that uh this is not what Dr. Ascu is asking. is by a board member and uh it was voted on and so we have to accept that >> would it be that the board could could agree to u revisit this in August >> madam chair >> I don't want to change what you say just leave it I don't want to Dr. ask you, I do not want to change what you what you have said. I just want to make it clear
045because a lot of work has been put into your 100 day plan. A lot of work has been put in your recommendations. And I want to make it clear to I want to make it clear for the record that this is what you said. And I mean, we can get up here and we can we can bounce it around three and four times. We all got we all have our thoughts about what we should do. But I'm not the superintendent. I don't think any of us have uh we don't have anybody, you know, up here who has what you have has the credentials that you have to do the job. So, >> I do. >> No, no, no, no, no. [applause] Okay. Excuse me. Excuse me, madam. Madam Chair, I'm not just saying uh a
046doctorate degree. I'm saying credentials because Dr. ask you has worked in turnaround schools and that's what we're all about the turnaround schools and [applause] nobody else. [applause] >> Hey everyone by the way instead of using motion to table which is the usually the vernacular used to use something as to postpone indefinitely or postpone to a time period which is a kissing cousin to a motion to table. But then if you do that, you're going to have to have a vote if you want to postpone indefinitely. Most people say to table, but if we want to get technical, it's got to be a motion to postpone and then a second and then a debate and then a majority vote to pass. Most people say table, but technically you would have to say a motion to postpone
047to clarify that. >> Madam chair. >> Yes, sir. Uh I believe Robert's order said you lay it on the table. >> Okay, >> that's the correct grammar. >> He is correct to lay it on the table and tonight, you know, we would take it off and and since our attorney also said that we can take this item up at a later hour tonight, as long as all the regular business has already been taken care of, we can revisit this tonight. >> Okay. You can and you can also do a motion to postpone which is again a little bit different than tableabling but you got to have a debate you got to have a second then you got to have a vote of what you want to postpone >> may I please >> I mean are
048we postponing >> you can make a motion >> we've said table but if you want to make a motion to postpone it >> you Well, I don't I don't know very much, but I do know some things. >> Yes, you do. >> And I know what I just said is correct. Uh >> we you know, we can revisit this at the end of this meeting. >> Okay. >> After all other business has been taken care of. >> All right. You know, I I know that to be fact. >> Well, let's move along then. >> Okay. >> But if the goal is to postpone, that is different than tableabling. A lot of people use that [clears throat] interchangeably. So, if you're going to do a motion to postpone, that's got to be by motion and then
049voted upon to postpone indefinitely. >> Madam Chairman, may I ask a point of order? Did we not already vote to table it? >> We did already vote to table it >> already. >> This has already been voted to table. >> Go. >> All right. So, do I have a motion? >> Madam Chair, I would like to say something as well. Um, we do have a superintendent and he does make recommendations to us. Um, but there would be no point in having a board if we just blindly voted yes on everything that the superintendent said. We wouldn't even need to be here if we just voted in everything that the superintendent said. We are also here for a reason. He's one voice. We are also voices. We also listen. We hear things. So, just because the
050superintendent brings forward a recommendation doesn't mean that we as a board have to blindly vote that in. And it's also our job to do research, to talk to other people, to do our due diligence to find out if this is something that we want to vote in and that our constituents and the public and our system want to vote in. So saying just because our superintendent has recommended it past four years on the board and even things before that, you multiple of us voted no on things that the superintendent brought forward. So just because the superintendent brought it forward doesn't mean that we have to blindly follow it as board members. Madame Chair. >> Yes, ma'am. I don't think anybody said vote blindly on everything that the superintendent brings forth. I think at this time
051before I say anymore, I want to bring back this question and I want to bring it to Dr. Ascu. >> Yes. >> And it was Dr. Ascu, you were hired in part because of your exper experience with struggling schools. Is that not right? That's correct. >> That's what we hired you for and I was one of the ones that voted because of your turn because of the turn around schools. >> So will you tell us again your experience with turnaround schools? >> Sure. Um so again um my first experience I was principal of Lithia Springs High School in Georgia. Um when I took it it was one of the lowest 5% of performance schools in the state of Georgia. We moved that school two letter grades, got it off the state needs improvement list. Um,
052had a lot of kids win a lot of big scholarships out of there. Um, in Palton County, which is where I first met Dr. Dewalt when she was consulting there, we had a district-wide literacy turnaround K through 12, um, which saw a significant increase in our kids Lexile scores as well as their achievement on our state accountability test there. Um, and then of course in Clark County in my most recent position, uh, we had a full system turnaround of our instructional framework as well as our staffing model under Dr. Robbie Hooker there. So, three times in my career. >> Okay. Thank Thank you. And um, I don't think anyone up here on this board has that kind of experience. Madame Chairman, would you mind telling us about how you turned around a school system? You
053and other people in our system. [applause and cheering] >> Madam Chair, was Mrs. Guilford done speaking? Were you done speaking? >> No, ma'am. >> Okay. >> I was just >> We're completely out of order. >> We are out of order. We need to get back to business. Um, we need to vote on Do I have a motion to approve the board certified behavior analyst description? >> I didn't finish. >> Madame Chair, I move that we approve the behavior certified behavior analyst. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> Madam Chair, I have a couple of concerns on this matter. Um, I have spoke with multiple companies in this area that work with BCBAS and RBTs and have spoke with multiple people within the system and with outside the system
054about this. My major concern on it is that one BCBA cannot handle a system of our size and a BCBA cannot do their job without RBTs. the companies that I have spoke with would not be willing to give us their RBTs to work with our BCBAS because they are not the ones our BCBAS would be the ones writing the plans for the RBTs to then roll out with. Um and so they would not we would still be having to contract out for a lot of that. We wouldn't be able to do everything in house. One BCBA would not be able to do the whole entire job and we would also need to hire RBTs. I'm not opposed to doing all of that. I think that there I know that there are a lot of systems
055that do do all of that, but that is a much bigger picture than just a BCBA. Um, so hiring multiple BCBAs for a system our size as well as RBTs is something that we need to look at. Their other concern talking to these companies that do run BCBAS and RBTs was that you can be paid so much more in the private sector that it's really hard to hire people into that job. Um the county tried hiring this position and it took them three years to find anybody because we don't have a comparable pay to what they're getting paid in the private sector. So, I feel like at this point, hiring just a BCBA is not going to do the job that we need it to do. And we would still be having to outsource a
056great deal and probably run into a lot of um snags along the way because the ones in our area who run the BCBAS and RBTs would not be outsourcing the RBTs to us when we also aren't outsourcing the BCBAS, if that makes sense. That's a lot of anagram. Sorry, a lot of letters. >> Is Miss Dyer here this evening? >> Alyssa, could you come to the podium? >> Good evening. Um, would you describe for the board exactly how we would use the BCBA? >> Right. So, I do understand your concern and our goal would be to um train staff that we have already who are working with our students to become registered behavior technicians. That would be um I feel like a good use of some of our pair of professionals who are experienced in
057this field and who have been working side by side with our contracted BCBAS. If we were able to carry that out and provide that training, then this school-based BCPA could oversee those uh pair of professionals who would be trained. It would provide us with access, but it would also grow the staff that we have. >> I feel like we need a large number of these. And I know I know that you know that. I know that that special education department is already very undermanaged um just across the board. I know we need more help in our classrooms. I know we need more help in the schools. Um I feel like there's just a lot more to this, a lot more pieces that need to be hired to really make this effectively work. So my concern
058at this point is just hiring this one piece and not having this the other pieces in place yet. So for me it's not a no, we don't need a BCBA. It's a I feel like there needs to be some deeper work and research and more pieces put in place in order to do that. Does that make sense? [laughter] >> Madame Chair. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Madam Chair, are we to get permission from the floor before we speak? >> Yes, ma'am. >> I think we all need to consider that. >> Yes, ma'am. >> All right. Now I've heard this madam chair I heard this word multiple and I am really sort of tired of hearing multiple. Can you give us a name the companies? It's always I've talked to multiple this or I did multiple that
059but we don't have any names for these multiples. We like to have some names. [applause] [cheering] Is there any further discussion? >> Yes, madam chair. >> Yes, ma'am. >> So, Dr. Ask you, how would this position, the BCBA be funded? Or is that a question for Mrs. D? >> Strictly through IDA funds. That's federal money. >> Okay. So, if those funds are not utilized, what happens? Gives back. we would lose them, but we use all of our IDA funds yearly. Yeah. Okay. >> There's no >> no problem there. >> Yeah. >> Madam Chair, just one follow-up question. So, um, Mrs. Jenkins mentioned we probably need more BCBA. So, is this something we could amend the motion to add more or that's just a suggestion since she mentioned that? >> I'm sorry, your question was to
060whom? Um, well to you, Madam Chair, but you know, referencing what Mrs. Jenkins said about we need more than one BCBA. Yes, ma'am. >> Can we amend the motion to try to retain more than one? >> This is just to approve the job description. >> Okay. This is just to approve the job description. Okay. When would we hire? >> All of these are just job descriptions. They would have to be a hireer that would kind of recommend. >> What's our hire date on this? Patrick. Patrick. >> Mr. Mallerie, what's the hire date on this? It's 27. What was >> winner 27? >> Okay. >> But now we can move that forward if that's the board's will. >> Okay. Winter 27. >> There's a lot of planning that has to go into it from from their
061side obviously. So, um, this is another one of those situations. We're just trying to get the job description approved and then there'll be planning and then there would be a recommendation that would come back with the WHO. Madame Chair, um I think my concern is that I I know that the special education audit is ongoing, that that's not all been finished yet. I know that there was um some Zoom meetings last week with some of the parents um that that that's still something that you're doing a deep dive into like you did with some of the other programs. So, I feel like this is something that I would like a more deeper in-depth plan, not waiting a year and a half, but this is a much bigger picture than just one person and a lot
062more things that it entails, even amending something to add more jobs in. There's a lot that goes into that and I would like to see how we could work that out and could we hire more of these because I do think that this would be good to have in-house and I do think that it would take a load off a lot of people and I do think it would be a good thing to have in the system. Um, but I think there's just a lot of moving parts and more people that we would need to hire with that and I would like to see that plan as a whole. I think voting in just one job description is only a small piece of the bigger puzzle to that and I would like to see the
063full puzzle before I vote in a job description. >> All right, Madame Chair. >> Yes, ma'am. >> You gave us a list of rules that we need to follow. >> Yes, ma'am. >> And one of those rules say number 42.12. No member can speak more than twice on the same question in the same day. >> Oh, did that happen? Yes. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I >> just Yes, it did. It happened. >> All right. Nobody can speak more than twice on the same question. >> Forgive me. >> Oh, that's right. >> Thank you, Larry. >> We got a lot going on up here. >> Yes, ma'am. >> All right. So, with that, thank you, Miss Brenda. All right. With that in mind, if there's no more discussion, >> uh, one thing I just want to
064say before we vote, Dr. Escu, is this your recommendation that we hire a board board certified behavior analyst? Is that your recommendation >> to approve the job description? Yes, >> the job description >> so we can begin the planning. And then, of course, you know, funding will dictate how many we can hire, but this allows us to get started. >> Yeah. Just for just for a point, I mean, we have a job description manual that has multiple jobs in it. Sorry. We have a job description manual that has multiple jobs in it that we don't have filled right now. This is just for the job description. >> Yeah. >> Once we there was a recommendation made to hire, we hire however many people off of whatever job description we have. We have like for instance,
065we have a teacher job description. We don't get a new job description approved every time we get a teacher job. We just hire off of that job description. So, all we're doing is getting the job description approved. It would still have to come back before the board as a recommendation on who you hire and how many you're going to hire in that category. >> Um, may I add something so the audience can know and the board can know as well. Whenever you spend any federal funds before we approve the EGAP, Miss Jacobs loves E-GAP, I'm sure, which is the electronic gap and the electronic grant application. Before you can pay any salaries on it, the person at the state department of education, where you all know that I spent more than a decade working, we
066have to have a job description uploaded into the documents library so we can know exactly what you're paying. That's at the state. I say we because that was my last employment. And we do that so we can know exactly what you're going to pay. So, if you're paying for classroom class size reduction teachers out of title one or title two or if you're paying for a special education teacher or if you're paying out of for a school improvement person, we have you have to upload the job descriptions. So that's what this I know that's what this would be is that this if you're going to pay for title one using this this would be a job description that Miss Jacobs would have to upload before she's allowed to pay use title one and even get
067her title one budget approved her specialist at the state department is going to ask her for this job description correct okay because that's one of the things she will have to upload in her document library. So, um, that's one of the things she has to have in order to get her federal funding approved in her e- gap. So, that's something that makes life easier for you. Yeah. And I do know that they do hound her when she doesn't upload it because I have hounded you before. [laughter] So, that's that's to make it easier um for your federal programs coordinator. It makes it easier for the specialist at the state department who is reading your federal funding because they have to have these job descriptions if that makes it easier for the board members. So, >>
068Madam Chairman, may I speak on this? >> Okay. So, I initially was against this because I viewed it as an additional central office position. Um, after speaking with uh companies that do this exact job, they said it would be advantageous for us to have this in-house. However, a BCBA is useless without the RBT. They go together. The BCBA makes the plan. The RBT executes the plan. So, if we don't have a job description out there for the peer professional that is certified as the RBT, I keep having to look back at the alphabet and see what it is. If we don't have that also, then the BCBA is useless. So I would like to have both of those things at the same time. And again, as Ari said, one BCBA is not going to make
069much of an impact for us. But I I am okay with going ahead and approving the BCA BCBA alphabet. The BCBA job description on the condition that we also have a pair professional job descript. Is that how you were saying you were wanting to set it up with the RBT requirement? >> Right. We would we ideally would like to have um the employees that we have already uh become certified as an RBC because they could be overseen. Um this was just a starting point. >> Okay. >> So >> is that something we would pay for their training? I know that there's a certification class >> that would I mean that would be something that could be considered. >> Yeah. And so that's that's where I am with this is that I want the whole plan
070laid out because like I said, one without the other is is pointless. You need both of them. >> Is there any more discussion? All right. So all in favor? >> Yay. All oppose. The BCBA job description. We're just voting for the job description. So, all in favor? >> Yay. >> Come on. >> Yes. >> Yay. So, motion carries. [applause] All right. Do I have a motion for the teacher recruitment and retention initiative in Dothan City Schools hiring and retention policy? Patrick Mallerie, you are on the hook tonight. I'm here and this is I guess this is the initiative I mean obviously that we presented last week during the um the work session. So I know we talked in depth about it. So um this is the recommendation to approve those items. So, okay. If >>
071you guys have any questions, I'm here. >> Do I have a motion to approve the Dothan City Schools hiring and retention policy? >> Do I have a motion? >> Madame Chair, I move that we uh approve the uh teacher recruitment and retention initiative. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Is there any discussion? Now, I do have a note that Dr. ask you has removed the international part. >> So >> um >> number two >> that was number two. >> Number two >> yes we have the hiring and retention policy. >> Okay, >> right. This is just for the hiring and retention policy. >> Right. >> Okay. So the motion is So we have a motion. Do we have a motion? And I need someone to make a motion to approve the
072Dothan City Schools hiring and retention policy. >> Okay. Uh Madame Chair, I move that we approve the Dothan City Schools hiring and retention policy. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. Do I have any discussion? All right, Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Um I'm all for this. I just want it to be more in the future. Just throwing that out there. I would like it to be more than 3,000 in the future. Well, where is that on the same one or is that the next one? >> That is one. >> This is for the new hires and for the existing. >> So, I would like for us to look forward to adding more to that. >> Okay. >> If there's no more discussion, all in favor? >> Yay. >> Okay. And
073then all opposed? Motion carries unanimously. [applause] All right. Next, we have the emergency certified training pathway. >> Yes. And this is and we are already doing some of this from the emergency pathway. What this does in the financial impact of it is is if we need to add additional mentors, we would have some money available to do that. >> Okay. Do I have a motion to approve the emergency certified training pathway? I move that we approve the emergency certified teacher certification pathway. Do I have a second? >> Second. All right. Is there any discussion? >> Madam chair. >> Yes. >> Again, I just want it to be more. [laughter] >> All right. If there's no further discussion, all in favor? >> Yay. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you. >> Unanimously. >> You've earned a seat,
074Mr. Mallerie. >> All right. Next, the reading center contract. Do I have a motion to approve the reading center contract? >> Madame Chair. >> Yes, ma'am. >> I move that we approve the reading center contract. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Is there any discussion? >> All in favor? Yay. >> Yay. All opposed. >> Nay. >> Motion does not carry. All right. Um, Swan Math Contract. Do I have a motion to approve Swan Math Contract? Madame Chair, I move that we approve the Swan Math contract. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> All in favor? >> Yay. >> All All oppose. >> Nay. All right. Do I have a motion to approve the technology improvements initiative? >> Madam Chairman, I make a motion to approve
075the technology improvements initiative. >> Do I have a second? >> Do I have second? >> Okay. Is there any discussion? Madam Chairman, I just wanted to thank Jeremy Green um for doing exactly what we asked. We asked you to bring it to us in a policy form, something that was clearly outlined that we could vote on and view in policy form, and you did exactly that. So, thank you for bringing it to us that way. I greatly appreciate that. >> Yes. Okay. Any other discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> Okay. Was unanimous. So, motion carries. governance initiative. Do I have a mo motion to approve the governance initiative? >> Madam chairman, I move that we approve the governance initiative. Do I have a second? >> Second. Is there any discussion? >> Madam Chairman, may
076I speak? >> Yes. I am not opposed to a governance initiative but a governance initiative needs to be initiated and agreed upon by the board and that's who needs to be the driving force of constructing that. So okay anybody else? Okay. All in favor? >> Yay. >> All oppose. >> Nay. >> Motion does not carry. Okay. Resource initiative. >> Do I have a motion to approve the resource initiative? >> Madame chair, I move that we approve the resource initiative. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. Is there any discussion? All right. If there's no discussion, all in favor? >> Yay. >> Okay. All oppose. >> Abstain. What' you say? So motion abstained. Motion fails. Okay. At this time we have um delegations. We have some delegations from the audience who wish to speak. >>
077Madam Chair. >> Yes sir. >> Uh did that motion fail? >> It did. Yes sir. We had four abstaining and three. Yes. Okay. At this point we have um hold on just a second. We have one, two, three, four delegations who wish to speak. Um, we have you have three minutes. Caris has our timer for us. Um, and you have three minutes in which to speak. First, we have um hold on a sec. I have to I'm old, so I have to take my glasses off to read. Um, Leticia Jackson. Madam Chairman, point of order. Could I ask that you go over the rules for speaking for everyone? Yes. At the quorum and >> Yes. Um, please stay on topic and please keep your please keep your um comments kind. Thank you. >> I'm sorry.
078Keep my comments what? >> No name calling. >> Oh, yeah. Okay. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> My name is Leticia Jackson and I'm a proud product of Dothan City Schools and a graduate of Dothan High School, class of 1974. The strong foundation that I received here prepared me well for the journey ahead, especially when I stepped onto the campus of Clark College. Before I begin, I want to take a moment to apologize for my outburst during the last meeting. My passion for our students sometimes gets the better of me. Please know that it always comes from a place of love and deep concern for our children and our community. I want to thank the citizens of this community for showing up today. You all needed to see this. You need to see how the
079business of our schools are being conducted for our children. I'm glad you were here. [applause] Staying engaged and involved is critical. So, your presence matters. Earlier today, we delivered a packet of of letter a letter to the board urging them to support Dr. Ascu's 100day plan. We had 257 uh signatures and some still coming in even as we speak. Many of the people you see in this audience supports that and supports that plan. And Dr. Ascu, thank you for what you're trying to do for us. [applause] I wrote this I wrote these the my message to thank you because I really really believe today that you all would do the right thing. Unfortunately, you did not and I'm really sorry that you didn't because I think that our children are worth an investment of of
080a of about $100 each and I think that it was a tragic mistake for you not to do so. >> I think that you know we've been hearing about hiring consultants and what that means but if you hire a housekeeper and they don't do a good job would you decide to never hire a housekeeper again? If you go to the doctor and he misdiagnosed you, would you refuse to ever see a doctor again? If you hire if you had a HVAC contractor and they failed to fix your air conditioning, would you just suffer through the heat and never call anyone again? Of course not. You would find someone qualified and reputable to do the job. [applause] >> [cheering] >> Likewise, because a consultant prior to this board may not have met expectations, it will be
081foolish to swear off all consultants entirely, especially when you have a team that was brought before you of highly qualified professionals with proven results. But let's let's not lose sight of the bigger issue. Dothan City Schools have had five different superintendents in 11 years. That kind of turnover speaks volumes. What we just witnessed today is a part of that. The board is the governing body. The superintendent is hired to hand to manage daytoday operations. >> Miss Jackson, your time is up. So we I would ask you to let the superintendent do his job and stop micromanaging him. These were simple job descriptions, not hiring people. Simple job descriptions and you all sat there and refused to let him to even approve a job description. [applause] You should be ashamed. Thank you, Miss Jackson. [applause] Next
082we have Courtney Haney. Is Courtney Haney? Oh, >> okay. You only have three minutes. And um >> have three minutes when she starts it. >> Yes, when she starts it. remember to stay on point and be nice. >> Okay. Yeah. Okay. So, um I want to speak tonight about accountability. Accountability in our programs, in our required trainings, and in how we can better listen to and support our teachers. Um I have found that if we are account if we um are accountable in these things, we see amazing results, especially in math and reading. I taught in this district last year and I saw firsthand how capable and dedicated our teachers are. We have amazing teachers and educators, yet we are losing so many each year to the county and private schools. If if we want
083to retain teachers and recruit new ones to the area, we must listen to their needs and support them better. When proven programs are used with determination and followed up consistently, students thrive. I have seen the impact of accountability through MSIT meetings, tier 2 and tier three monitoring, and monthly data reviews. I have seen how no student is left behind when we follow through. Ask the teachers who have taken letters training. It is a long and demanding one. Um it is a long demanding commitment but it is vital in teaching children how to read and and it works. However, teachers cannot be expected to do all of this without support. The struggle sorry the the struggle getting substitutes for them is real. We need to incentivize substitutes to provide adequate um and provide them with adequate
084pay so they can attend these required teachings so our teachers can can do that. Title two funds can be used in a variety of ways to support teachers and principles through additional trainings, recruiting new teachers, and lowering class sizes by adding classroom support. These are all things that teachers have suggested. These funds can also be used to support individuals who want to teach or who want to who are let go dur while they are working to improve qualifications and get um certified. Um they can also get teachers who are seasoned teachers. We could have them working towards their master's program. Um I also want to address the narrative that if we don't vote for a consultant, you don't care about children. I strongly disagree. I strongly disagree with that. Teachers sacrifice every day for these
085students, but they are overwhelmed by the volume of what is being asked of them. Listening to these teachers is caring about children. They are in the trenches. They hold the key to our children's success. But as the poll reflected this spring, most teachers went against it. These are also multiple examples of doing this previously that has not worked. My timer went off, right? >> Yes. Well, thank you so much. I appreciate your time. >> Thank you, Miss Amy. [applause] >> All right. Next, we have Anita Dawkins. And we ask you to stay on point and be nice. First, I want to ask the community villagers children to come up front. If you're a community village child, please come up front and stand up front. Let them see. See, every time you vote, their future depend
086on it. >> Good evening, Madame Chair, board member, superintendent Dr. Ascu, educators, parents, and members of the community. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak tonight. First, I want to acknowledge and thank each of you for your service. Servicing on a school board is not easy. It requires sacrifice and willingness to make difficult decisions that impact thousands of children and families. I want to thank our superintendent, Dr. Ascu, for stepping into leadership during a critical time for our district. Tonight, I am not here to attack anyone. I am here to advocate for our children. The data before us is clear and cannot be ignored. Nearly 60% of our students are reading below grade level. Over 40% of our students are uncert 40% of your teachers are uncertified. Our students are struggling across the
087board in math. These are not options. These are facts. Our principles, the people closest to you in the classroom have come before you and asked for help. They have spoken honestly about their needs, their challenges and the reality inside the schools. When leaders on the front line ask for support, we have responsibility to listen. This conversation is not about politics. It's not about personalities and it's not about pride. It is about our children. Hiring consultants does not mean we don't value our teachers. It means we are supporting them especially those who are new. uncertified and overwhelmed. Our teachers cannot do the work alone and they should not be expected to. We must stop framing this as consultants versus teachers. This is about resources versus no resources. This is about intervention versus inaction. Every year we
088delay our children fall behind and they do not get the time back. As a community, we are asking you to leave with courage to vote for objective, not subjectively, to make decisions based on what is best for the students, not what is comfortable. >> Miss Dawkins, your time is up. >> Thank you. [applause] [applause] And last we have um Mr. Robert Jones. >> Okay. >> Do y'all want to do executive session and then come back and let him speak? do executive session and come back later. >> Okay, he's coming. All right, we're waiting on you. Take your time. >> Take your time. Thank y'all so much for waiting on me. >> Yes, sir. You have three minutes, sir. >> My name is Robert Love Jones. I pastored the North Holland Baptist Church, 47 Houston Street
089in North Dan, Alabama. I've been there for 42 years. >> Wow. >> And I've I've enjoyed every minute I've been there. Now, I'm not one of those who come to schoolboard meeting every now and then. I come every time I can get a chance to come. I want to thank you all for your service. I'm having problems, y'all. Because as I sat there tonight, I heard more about money and opinions and Robert rules of order. And I heard little about children. It's more about them >> than it is about us. Dr. Ascu came to Dothan when our system was flawed. >> And can nobody in this building blame him for the problems we got in the school system? [applause] We hired him to come here to fix the system. >> Because it was broken. >>
090I heard that lady there say we've had five superintendent in the last five years. >> 11 years. >> However many it I stood to ask you all, our leaders, since you have hired him to come and fix the system, >> why in the devil don't you let him do that? [cheering and applause] >> [cheering] [applause] [cheering] [applause] [cheering] [applause] >> Thank you, Mr. Jones. Um, if you have a tag, excuse me, if you have a tag number A2XR65, you have someone blocked in and they have an emergency, they need to get out. Again, that's A2XRX5. Um, you have someone blocked in and they have an emergency and they need to get out. What kind of car is it? They didn't tell me what kind of car it is. >> GMC. >> It's a white GMC
091truck. >> And the person that you have blocked in, they have an emergency. And it's a it's a white GMC truck and it's a 2XR65. So, we don't want to keep anybody in that has an emergency. So, if you have a white GMC truck, you need you need to move your truck because they need to get out. >> Is that the tag on the truck? It's the tag on the truck. The tag on the truck is A2XR65. So, if that's your tag number, you need to move your truck so they can get out because they do have an emergency. All right. Thank you. All right. Um, so we do we do need to go into executive session for that personnel that we pulled. So, do I have a motion to adjourn to executive session? >>
092Madam Chair, I move we adjourn to executive session. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. Okay. Is there any discussion? All in favor? >> Yay. >> Okay. It'll probably be about five minutes because we only have one issue, one um maybe 10. They said maybe 10. Okay. So, maybe 10 minutes. We'll be right back. Come >> [crying] >> on. There How are you? Don't go nowhere Oh my goodness. Come on. Thank you. All right. office. Okay, I call this back to order. I call us back to order. >> All right. No. Who? No action was taken during the executive session. Um we do need to vote on the personnel um item. >> Mot we need a motion to reconvene. Madam Chair, I move that we I move that we reconvene the regular session. >>
093Okay. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> All in favor? >> Yay. >> Okay. Motion carries. And we do need to take action on the personnel item F3. Um do I have a motion to take motion on personnel item F3? >> Personnel item F3. No, no, it was the F3 personel. >> Make a motion to vote on personnel item F3. >> That correct? >> Okay. Um, do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? All right. All in favor of approving F3. Right. All opposed. >> Nay. >> All right. >> What is F3? >> Approving F3 for personnel. >> Yeah. Hold on. >> That was the personnel F3. >> Let me see. Okay. >> What page is that? >> Yeah. What are they doing? >> I'm sorry.
094I have to correct that number. It's F1. >> It's F3. >> F3. Yeah, let me see that. >> 20th meeting. >> I think you're on the minutes. >> I'm on the minutes. I'm on the minutes. >> M3 not approve it. Yeah, they took it out. They took out. >> Okay. So, all in favor to approve it. >> Madam chair, we already voted, correct? >> Yes. >> The vote has already So, yay. >> Okay. All oppose? >> Nay. All right. >> Okay. All right. Miss Davis. Yes. Madam Chairman, I make a motion to withdraw the tableabling of the director of school improvement job description. Okay. Do I have a second? >> All right. All in favor? >> Yay. >> Madam chair, I make a motion that we postpone the director of school improvement job description. >>
095Okay. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> Yay. So, that was unanimous. All right. Okay. Um, we're getting out here before 9:00, people. That's great. Um, all right. So, new business. Um, we h we do not have any new business except for Tuesday, February 17th at 3:00, the board work session for accreditation training and Tuesday, February 17th at 5:30 regular school board meeting. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Do I have a second? >> Is there any discussion? >> All in favor? >> Yay. Motion passes. We're out of here before 9:00.