PSRC Board of Education Meeting: 4/8/25

001Um, good evening. I would like to call this board of education uh meeting of the public schools of Robinson County to order on April the 8th, 2025 at 6:02 p.m. Now, uh we will have a moment of silence. Now we will have the pledge of allegiance by Fremont High School JRTC. A pleasure. Allegian to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Now we will have the adoption of the agenda. A mo a motion been made by Mr. John Simmons to adopt the agenda. A second been made by Mr. Craig Lowry. All in favor say I. All oppose. Yep. 10. All right. N Hold up. is um do we got Miss uh Melissa Oshia and Mr. Henry

002on virtual yet? All right, we do have uh Mr. Hen Brewer on virtual and Miss Melissa Ocean, she should be coming up shortly. So, Mr. Hen Brewer is on social, I mean is on virtual. All right. Now, we have the approval of the open session minutes. Uh motion has been made to approve the over session minutes by Mr. John Simmons. A second been made by Mr. Miss Crystal Monroe. All in favor say I. All oppose. All right. Information items. Um North Carolina DPI beginning teacher monitoring technical assistance visit by uh Mr. Jamal Campbell. Good evening, Chairman Leech, Dr. Williamson, and the members of the public schools Robinson County School Board. I'm here to provide an update on the recent beginning teacher support program technical visit conducted on March 21st by Dr. Casey Contri from NCDPI.

003This is a follow-up visit to inquire about updates we have made to improve our beginning teacher program and support. We have made several updates to ensure we are providing targeted support within our beginning teacher program. The updates and changes include one our new training. Human resources has provided comprehensive training for principles and academic coaches and mentors. Number two, monitoring system. A checkpoint list has been developed by human resources to continually monitor our niec's progress. Three, communication. M's progress information is regularly shared with our principles quarterly. Four, mentor support. Academic coaches serving as mentors are reminded of NIC's progress and regular PLC's. Five, on-site monitoring. Human resources have conduct visits to ensure beginning teachers receive proper instructional leadership team support. Six, district beginning teachers meetings. Monthly meetings are held to discuss topics of interest as recommended

004by BTS and prior surveys. And lastly, principal support. District level admin coaches engage in conversations with principles to support beginning teachers based off on based on their needs and remind them of upcoming NIS's deadlines. These updates have enhanced our support for beginning teachers, demonstrating our commitment to their growth and development. We're witnessing progress in in the training of our personnel and optimistic about their continued improvement. This visit also highlights the crucial role of the human resource department in providing additional layer of support within our schools. Our presence is not just to address issues but to actively contribute to the development of our teaching staff. Our continued mission is to maintain and build upon these positive changes. We are dedicated to ensuring a skilled and thriving teacher workforce in Robinson County. By continuing to invest in

005our beginning teachers, we are securing a bright future for our students and our community. And I want to say thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to excellence in education. Thank you. Any questions for Mr. Jamal? No. Thank you. All right. Next, we will have um Distinguished American Indian High School student by Dr. Connie Lleer. Yeah. Board members. Go come up. Go up front. Good evening, Chairman Leech, Dr. Williamson, board members, and fellow guests. I am here tonight to recognize Mr. Rodri De's Jr. He's a senior at Fairmont High School and an enrolled member of the Lumbi tribe of North Carolina. Roger is an intelligent young man who has demonstrated academic excellence through his commitment to his schoolwork. He has been ranked number one for all four years of his high school and many

006college and career promise college and career promise classes in order to prepare him for college. He is a member of the Beta Club, the National Honor Society, and has made it to the final round of Gates. He just had his last interview Sunday night. He called me and said everything went well. So, we're hoping he's going to get this scholarship. Academics is a part of Rodri's educational journey, but qualities such as determination, working well with others, leadership skills, and leadership skills are demonstrated in his extracurricular activities on and off campus. He is an avid sportsman. He plays baseball, basketball, runs cross country, and has demonstrated his leadership capacity in serving as captain of the baseball and basketball teams. He has participated in the North Carolina Native American Youth Organization and serves as president of the

007Fairmont High School American Indian Student Association. He participates in the public schools of Robinson County Indian Education Program and he currently serves on the PSRC Indian education parent committee as a student representative. In November of 2024, he served as a North Carolina governor's page. He also volunteers in his community by helping those in need. He began by cutting his grandmother's cla grass and when she passed, he wanted to continue that legacy and to honor her. So what he does is he cuts the grass of those in his community who are in need. Roger is an exceptional student, but most importantly he is an exceptional young man. There have been many obstacles in his way and at times things have been difficult for his family. It would have been easy for him to give in to

008all the social factors that he had facing him. but instead he rose above them and he's focused on becoming a positive role model. He is smart and athletic yet humble and kind. At the North Carolina Unity Conference, Rodri was recognized as the North Carolina Distinguished American Indian High School senior. He has a baseball game tonight and his first thought was, "I can't let my team down." So, all of you sportsmen understand that. Um, I asked his mother to come tonight. I don't know if she's here. Miss Christy Deans, are you here? But if not, Mr. um, his principal is here, Dr. Barton. This young man is Sometimes education can get tough, but he reminds us of why we do this work. I'm very proud of him. [Applause] Thank you. Sorry. Now we have um Battle

009of the Books by Miss Cindy Humphrey. Good evening, Chairman Leech, Superintendent Williamson, board members, and cabinet. I'm here to present our 2024 2025 Battle of the Books winners. The goal of Battle of the Books is to encourage reading, teamwork, and critical thinking while making the experience fun and engaging for participants. The North Carolina School Library Media Association sponsors competition at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Public schools of Robinson County also sponsor a second and third grade competition. We are the only district in the state of North Carolina that does. We have our first place winners with us here tonight. Our second and third place winners names will be called and their plaques will be presented at the school. First we will start with our second and third grade winner WH Knuckles Elementary. We

010have Halana Hunt, Kaziah Makuspack, Kamani Mloud, Kobe Pierce, Brandon Stanley, Maximus Witton, Elijah Williams, Coach Angela Stevens, Taiisha Dixon, Diva Mlan, and principal Dr. Steel. And I apologize in advance if I mess up names. And if we have any parents here with wh [Music] any parentulations, thank you parents. Where you want them to take picture in front? You part of this, too? Come on. Get right there so another. Yeah, hold on one second. You got another pair. Hold on. You can be singulations. [Applause] Congratulations. Um, Knuckles. At this time, I'mma go I will call the second place winners from East Robinson. And those plaques will present at the school. Daniela Diaz Aquino, Angel Garcia, Landry Hunt, Harrison Keaton, and Brilen Samson. Coaches Leticia Hunt, Christina Blackwater, principal Mr. Chad Brewer. And our third place winner

011was Tanglewood Elementary, Elanor Bayer, Oliver Hedgep, Solomon Khalifa, Muhammad Nile, Kia, Kamari Stanley, Destiny Williams, Samia Zabal, Coach Chris Cynthia Hammonds, and principal Dr. Floyd. Now for our elementary level, our first place winner was El Gib Middle School. Come on up, Carol. We have Lilyiana Cobalt, Lily Anna Kobel, Justice Ingram, Price Jacobs, Brea Mclaney, Coach Aaron Hunt, Adrien Sinclair Davis, and Mr. Christopher Burton, elementary. At the elementary level, we will move on to the regionals. So, Carol Middle will represent our district at the regional competition on Thursday, April the 10th at Flettech Community College. Let's give Carol Miller a hand. And if we have any parents, if you would please come up. Any parents from Carol Middle? Congratulations. Tell the Lord not came to see me financial literacy. Are you ready? Congratulations. Thank you again,

012Carol M. And if you have some time on Thursday, please go out come out to Fever Techch to support them. Our second place winner for elementary was Long Branch Elementary School. We had um Colton Bernett, Kayiana Hunt, Kimella Lane, Jackie Oxidon Jr., Riley Ste, Coach Amelia Sher, and principal Dr. Lesie Harris. Our third place winner was Littlefield Middle School. Members were Kennedy Chavis, Lacy Lewis, Da David Luke Mlan, Iman Richardson, Kinsley Rogers, Bruce Stars. Coaches were Courtney Chavis, Shandor Chavis, and principal Mr. Kendall Hamilton. Now for our middle school division, our first place winner was Littlefield Middle School. We have Madison Chadwick, Allison Cruz, Brooke Flurry, Brooklyn Hunt, Bryson Jones, Zeriana Rogers, Coach Courtney Chavis, and principal Mr. Kendall Hamilton. Littlefield represented our district last week during the regional competition hosted by public schools of

013Robinson County and they placed fourth out of eight. If we have any parents for little field, please come up for a picture. Y'all get in front. two. Congratulations. [Applause] And our second place winner for the middle school division was St. Paul's middle school members were Giovani Andre Day Na Batistic, Ariana Claudia, Audrea McNair, Naomi Malikica Yani Paduma, Lizzie Perez, coach Jenny Starky, and principal Miss Amanda Hastings. Our third place winner was Lumberton Junior High School, Jana Aabe, Bana Bedella, Carmen Mariah, Michelle Ortiz, and Brian Zacharies. Coach was Doshi Kirkwood, Jennifer Paul, and principal Dr. Germaine Watson. Now for our first place winner, St. Paul's High School and today St. Paul's competed in the regional competition at West Columbus High School. I am proud to say St. Paul's place first and we will represent Sand Hills

014region 4 in the state competition on April the 28th at Unity Center in Statefield, North Carolina. This is the first time we have had a team from Rosson County to represent at the state level. And those members are Brillan Fininkley, Caitlyn Flores, Katie Flores, Alexander Hernandez, James McCoy, Mia Lopez, Raina, Joseph Ramos Salas, and Jasmine Ttopia. Coach Bonnie Rogers, and Tiffany Scott Hower. Principal Mr. Christopher Suggs. So, let's give them a big round of applause. And if we have any parents here, please come up. All right. [Music] Thank you. Congratulations again, St. Paul's. Okay. I was there today and I was on scores. Of course, Mr. Suggs was sitting over there behind me. We was on our last round. I said, "All we needed was 11 points to win. The kids started missing questions at

015the beginning." I said I said, "Y'all, we only need 11 points and they pulled it off." So, I am so happy and I know they just want to say something about about that team. Those are great kids. I'm telling you right now, we we work it out where they can go there in the library. They read. And if you've never been at a Battle of the Books competition, it ain't just reading a book. It's saying something like, uh, in this book, little Jenny was walking down the street in the dark. That could be any book, but that which one had little Jenny walking around the street to dark with red shoes on or whatever. It goes to the detail they got to read and the time it takes. So, I'm just telling you, anytime you

016get to go to a competition, please do it because it is it's it's crazy just to see those kids and the answers they can. I mean, it's it's awesome. I don't see how the word to do it. I can't remember that much. So, but like I said, thank you. Thank you. And also want to um recognize second and third place winner, second place of Peress Wit High School, Melissa Kasanova, Kirsten D, Maria Flores, Chlory Llear, Constance Lleier, Lacoma Oxidine, Sheridan Oxidine, Coach Dwan Lleair, principal Mr. Clyde Levana. And our third place winner was the um early colleges at RCC, John Murphy, Susan Argan, Amy Ortiz, Ashley Phelix Perez, Jalisa Rodriguez, Salabus Shmica, and Jayla Wilkins, Coach Shantine Jones, and principal Andrew Davis. And I would like to thank everyone. Um again, if you have time

017to come out on Thursday to Fever Tech, come support Carol Middle. And on April the 28th in Statesville, North Carolina at Unity Center, St. Paul's High School will represent Sand Hills region and public schools in Robertson County. Thank you. Let's give Miss Humphrey a round of applause for the work that she put in for the Valley of Brooks. We just want to thank you. Okay, the books. All right, now we will have the high levels of learning for all. Dr. Deborah Dallas. Good evening, Chairman Leech, Superintendent Williamson, and board members. As our district continues its efforts to prepare all students for college and career readiness, we would like to share a document recently provided to our principles and counselors during our career center planning meeting. The high levels for learning for all document underscores the

018importance of collective responsibility in ensuring high levels of learning for every student regardless of their background, learning pace or prior knowledge. The focus is not on choosing between college or career readiness. It is about ensuring both for all students as part of a unified conversation. In the discussions with our principles and counselors, we identified key connections between the district's college and career readiness goals and access to rigorous coursework. There was a shared understanding that all students must have access to college and career readiness pathways by eliminating below grade level instructional tracks and foundational courses. This approach aligns with the district's emphasis on expanding dual enrollment CCP opportunities, CTE programs, which all equip students for both postsecary education and workforce demands. It also aligns with our approach to having our students take math one in 8th

019grade and expanding course offerings through the North Carolina School of Science and Math. The document also highlights the importance of differentiated support based on individual student needs. Recognizing that students learn in different ways, schools must provide additional time and tailored assistance to help them meet rigorous expectations. Many students will require this extra time and support to succeed. Our team continued the conversation around our effort efforts to build these systems of support in our schools during the school day and how to build a failure is not an option culture. Ultimately, this document reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting all students in accessing challenging coursework. The district has an emphasis on creating career pathways and fostering advanced learning opportunities for all of our students. Our current eth graders will now have a career development plan in place

020as they transition to high school. Our goal is to align their career interest to credentials, certificates, endorsements, college credits, and associates degrees so our students are prepared for life beyond high school. We know that collaboration among staff and shared accountability are vital to ensuring every student achieves success. So the document that you have um it's it was our talking points with our group. So we hope that you read this and kind of realize this is really what we're working towards in our district. And the other day when we had our conversations with principles and counselors, it really cemented the work that we're doing here for for all students. questions. Miss Christy Fields. So you you talked a lot about junior high high school. What are we doing K6? So when we look at that document,

021right, it really talks about K12. It's that idea that all students need to get that extra support along the way so that we don't lose anyone. So we've talked before like in K5 that we do those daily intervention blocks, right? We're making sure that we provide rigorous instruction to our students. And how do you do that? Well, first of all, our curriculum is very aligned, very applied, very rigorous. So that's our starting point, always starting with that core, that differentiated core. Then from there, when we have students who can accelerate or students that need some additional support, that's where our intervention block comes in. That's when we start really tailoring that instruction to our students. So when you say tailoring, are you in the class tailoring or are you pulling them out of the class?

022It's a little bit of both. It could be both, right? So it could be small group within the class. Sometimes we do it between classes and we might mix kids up based on one teacher might be addressing this standard, another teacher might be addressing that standard. So we try to keep that really flexible and dynamic for our teachers to to kind of make it work for what they have to do. So it's a little bit of both. And how are you relating that to the parents who feel like their child might be qualified for AIG? So for AIG, it really comes down to whether they need that advanced learning. So when we look at our intervention block, there are kids that are going to need support, right? Because they're not meeting the standard. And then

023you're going to have kids that already knew the standard before we even taught it. So intervention is that time where you can actually ramp up your instruction. You can do some different things. You can do more advanced learning that comes through in a in a AIG students DP, right? They have a plan that would show some of the things that we do with those students. Um teachers would communicate that with with teachers and parents as well. So um mainly in the DP is where your interventions for AIG students are documented. And for the people who are listening what's the D? The developmental ed education plan. It's similar to like how our EC students have a plan ML have a plan. This is the plan that we try to tailor for our AIG students. Thank you.

024Mr. Chair, if I may, let me ask Dr. Car, will you talk a minute about career readiness? what we're doing K12 and how we differentiate between those grade spans please. So good evening chairman Leech, Dr. Williamson and board members. So part of what we do when we look at career development, we are starting much earlier. So part of what we have we are doing with every grade level is we are starting that career exploration early on. So, kindergarten through fifth grade. Right now, there's a lot of um opportunities for students to learn about careers through our career days, um different lessons that are incorporated in social studies. But then starting in fourth and fifth grade, which we um just recently presented, we have major clarity that we're using, which is a career exploration website that

025allows students explore many different jobs and find out what their interests are. Um, so part of what we have to do with the state is also have a career development plan for every eighth grade student before they can leave eighth grade. And so in that they actually um take various assessments, determine what their interests are, what's a good fit for them to explore different pieces. And so every eighth grader now has a career development plan before they move on to the high school. Um and then when we think about 9th through 12th grade, they also have to in um 10th grade revisit that plan because we know kids do sometimes change their mind once they explore and start taking more courses. This um offers an opportunity to retake some of those assessments and then really

026get into revising that career development plan, but also looking at FAA pieces um and all those other pieces that a student needs to determine what they want to do. So if they want to go and take college classes or if they want to take things at the career center, it helps us really look at that plan and say this child really is interested in engineering. what classes do we have either through our courses, through CCP, through North Carolina School of Math and Science that we can help them explore that opportunity to widen and really allow them to see what is out there because sometimes all they see is what they see in their community. And they may only think about police, teachers, hospital, nurses, and so how do we provide them those opportunities to explore

027those different pieces? And so that career development plan lets us develop that. And now they can start in major clarity in fourth grade starting to do those explorations. So they don't wait till eighth grade. So now they can explore many different careers as they move through each grade level so that by the time they graduate they will have a much better idea of where they want to be. So we don't have students that end up that lost opportunity where they've gotten through the high school and just don't know what to do once high school ends. Um Dr. Emanuel Um, she answered my question. So, all right, there. Thank you. Um, next we'll have um SR3 U liquidation extens extension cancellation by um Richard Schwarz and Miss Erica. Good evening, Chairman Leech, Superintendent Dr. Williamson and

028board members. I guess I'm going to get started, Mr. Schwarz, or did you want to go first? Whatever you'd like. Okay. So, um, we received communication, I received a communication on April the 1st through a newsletter ednc that had been sent out that on March the 28th, Miss Linda McMahon um, submitted uh, information stating that as of March the 28th, the SR3 extensions that had previously been approved um, by the US Department of Education were no longer approved. Um, we found that out Monday. We started investigating, okay, what does that mean? We sent everyone on the board an email with the letter that we received from Miss McMahon at that time. And we've been working with DPI since then to to gauge where we stand in those projects. When ESR 3 was originally allotted to

029us, there was always a conversation about an extensial an an extra extension of 14 months after the um ending of those grants. We received three different allocations, SR3, SR2, gear funds. All of the states were able to and receive extensions for the other grants. However, the only one that was ever uh told to districts that we would have an extension or possibility of extension was SR 3. That was always clear. And like I say, we received communication on February the 21st from DPI that those extensions had been approved. So, we were moving forward with the projects that we had in place. and we have brought before the board those were finishing the two buildings at Perno and St. Paul's High um window projects at the three schools we mentioned Oxendine Elementary, St. Paul's Elementary and

030Pinroke Elementary as well as the completion of the HVAC project at Lumberton Senior High School. We received an email from Miss Bennett today actually at 509 detailing the next steps we have in place. Um, we had to submit detailed information on those projects in November and DPI has that and they have six steps that they're going to provide directly to the Department of Education. And they have given us two pieces of information that include a description of how the extension is necessary to mitigate the effects of COVID and a justification why the department should exercise its to its discretion to grant a request. Of course, we're going to work together with our attorney with DPI to get that information in and see where we stand. So, um I want to give you a little bit

031of uh the legal aspect of this and um just how extremely unusual unprecedented this action was by the US Department of Education. So, on Friday afternoon, March 28th, the US Department of Education, the Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, sent out a letter, um I believe it was sent out after 5:00 p.m. notifying chief state school officers, so the state superintendents and their equivalents in all 50 states that the previously granted extensions for using SR3 monies were revoked effective at 5:00 p.m. on that day. There was no notice whatsoever, no indication whatsoever prior to this letter going out that that was under consideration, that that was a possibility. Um, it was just completely out of the blue. A letter sent after the fact saying, "As of right now, your authorization to use this funding, which had

032previously been approved by the US Department of Education, is now revoked." And what I want to give you a taste of how this letter read and what it said. It said um the Department of Education previously granted a discretionary extension of the period of liquidation. That is the time you can use up the funds. But the department has reconsidered your request. After careful review and there's no indication that there was any review going on, the department is modifying the liquidation period to end on March 28, 2025. That is the date of the letter. The department has concluded that the further extension of the liquidation period for the aforementioned grants already well past the period of performance was not justified. You and your subreients, so this is going to the state agencies. So the subreients would

033be the local school systems, Robinson County being one of them. You and your subreients have had ample time to liquidate obligations. Indeed, the applicable regulation provided clear notice of the deadline for liquidating all financial obligations incurred no later than 120 calendar days after the conclusion of the period of performance. Well, that's just wrong. Okay, the initial grant does include that, but there's something called the tidings amendment period that extends that period of time um for these kinds of funds. And then beyond that, the department granted extensions in response to a request from a US Senate committee um asking them to allow extensions so that the funds could all be used and obligated and then the Department of Education granted those requests. Um, so it goes on to say, "By failing to meet the clear deadline

034in the regulation, you ran the risk that the department would deny your extension request. Extending deadlines for CO related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds years after the COVID pandemic ended, is not consistent with the department's priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion. Now, all of the funds for which extensions were granted to all of the states had to have been already under contract and obligation by September 30, 2024. And yours were. And all of the states that sent in requests for the extension had to submit information justifying the extension and showing that the funds were obligated and under contract by the original deadline of September 30, 2024. And there were a whole bunch of different reasons for not only your funds, but for all funds for all the school systems

035across the country that are involved. things like supply side problems or finding mold or mildew or asbestos and having to delay um performance of contracts until the summer months when students aren't around. Um just all kinds of of of different reasons. And then this goes the letter goes on to say the department's initial approval of your extension request does not change anything. Well, it changes everything. Um, it means that the funds that we had obligated that we thought we had funds to spend to approve to spend that we did have approval to spend, we now can't complete those projects. But the letter just blindly says this extension, the original extension request doesn't change anything. The extension approval was issued recently, so any reliance interests developed are minimal. Well, they're not minimal. For Robinson County Schools,

036they're 14.6 million. So letter goes on to say so you could not rely on the department adhering to its original decision that is the department of education sent you a guarantee saying you've got this extension you can go ahead with your contracted obligations and we'll provide the funds but then this letter simply says well you can't rely on us to adhere to the original decision which I find quite frankly mindboggling It goes on to say, "This is especially true because the extension was a matter of administrative grace." Well, that ignores the fact that there's the tidings amendment and other um provisions that went into the original approvals um after requests were submitted and justifications for those requests were submitted and approved. goes on to say, "You were entitled to the full award only if you

037liquidated all financial obligations within 120 days of the end of the period of performance." Again, that's not true. That's not correct. It says you failed to do so. Then it says any reliance on a discretionary extension by the Department of Education subject to reconsideration by the agency, which there's no grounds for reconsideration by the agency, was unreasonable. Accordingly, on reconsideration, the department amends the period of liquidation to end on March 28, 2025 at 5:00 pm. There is so much wrong with this letter legally, morally, ethically, um that it's mindboggling. Um, now the department goes on to say in this letter, um, even though, uh, the time period has now ended because we decided in this letter that it ends at 5:00 p.m. on this day, the department will consider an extension of your liquidation period

038on a case-byase basis. And to obtain an extension, you have to submit a statement explaining how a particular project's extension is necessary to mitigate the effects of COVID on American students and their education and why the department should exercise its discretion to grant your request. Well, the department has already previously exercised its discretion and granted the request. One of the things that was in the legislation and that was in the request by the Senate committee that led to the further extension was that there be no burden on the school systems. No unreasonable burden on the school systems. Now what they're doing is saying even though we already asked you to justify this one time around, you had to submit your uh your request and we had to review it and approve it. We're asking you

039to do the same thing again. So, there are um uh a lot of moving parts here. So, this was on Friday afternoon, March 28th. Um and you know, it went out after the fact and and everybody's gone over the weekend and all of a sudden people find this in in the this went to the state and then it trickled down to the LEAS, the school systems. And uh so I was on the phone with a whole lot of people. I'm sure um Erica and Dr. Williamson were as well um trying to figure out what what are we doing here? What's the impact on North Carolina? Well, it was initially thought that there were five school systems involved in North Carolina. Turns out there were four. Um and of the four, the biggest impact by far

040is on Robinson County Schools. We have $14.6 million of projects that were previously approved and under contract. Richmond County Schools has approximately 1.3 million. Halifax County Schools 886,000 and Leno County Schools 252,000. So the impact on Robinson County schools is enormous compared to everybody else. Um and this is going on all over the country now. So every state got this. There are billions of dollars at at issue here. And uh so we were working to try to coordinate with the state on what's the response and the state board of education had its regular monthly meetings scheduled for um Wednesday and Thursday, April 3rd and 4th, the following week after this letter went out. Um I worked with uh some folks at the state board level and um uh the attorney for the state board of

041education, Allison Schaefer. Um and uh we uh the state board of education and state superintendent Mo Green issued a letter to uh US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon uh asking for reconsideration of this decision in this letter. One of the um uh Kentucky uh sent in the first letter. Uh they sent the letter their letter in on April 1st. uh New York sent one in immediately thereafter and North Carolina was the third state to send a letter in requesting reconsideration of this and citing some of the legal issues involved. Um because the department said in its initial letter that they would they would consider on a case-byase basis individual projects. So it's not just individual school systems, it's individual projects that are obligated u for our $14.6 million for example. Um, so they're going to

042reconsider that on a case-bycase basis. Uh, the decision has been made that since the letter went out to the state and the states of the grant recipients, we're a subreient that the state is going to respond on behalf of all the subreients, the four different school systems involved in North Carolina and they're gathering information and have been gathering information since April 1st, I believe, was the first day they started gathering information. Um, is that correct? That's correct. Yeah. Um so um the following Tuesday after this letter went out the state started gathering information. They're still gathering information um working through um uh uh the division of business affairs. Um the school business direct DPI school business services is collecting the financial information from um the LAA finance officers and uh the federal programs office will

043submit the response for the state to the US department of education. Um we probably have to go through that process in order to exhaust administrative remedies. Um but there are legal remedies beyond that. um if we don't get dispensation uh by going through this process. Uh one of the arguments about going through this process is we already went through this process. They're asking us to um resubmit the same information that was submitted um with one additional twist to it um explaining how uh a particular project's extension is necessary to mitigate the effects of COVID on American students education. um after the pandemic is over, supposedly over. Um um I know three people who got COVID in the past couple of days. So um but uh be that as it may, we've got to go through

044this process. We probably have to go through this process. There are conversations going on with state different states attorneys general um to decide whether or not to sue on behalf of their states or whether a number of states will join in on that. Um that's uh a consideration here in North Carolina. But what North Carolina is going to do first is go through this process of uh a project by project appeal to um see if we can get the funds uh restored that were previously promised and obligated. Um I just find it absolutely astounding that the Department of Education says you could not rely on the Department of Education adhering to its original decision um with no change in facts or circumstances whatsoever. Um, and one of the things that's cited in the letter from,

045um, North Carolina is, um, uh, I'll just quote you something from the April 3 letter. It says, "The school districts entered contracts and proceeded with approved projects in good faith and reliance on the commitment of funds and the extension of of the liquidation period. They're now left with unpaid bills and unfinished projects because of your action to terminate immediately funds already promised. These are funds and these weren't just promised. These were approved in writing. Goes on to say, "These are some of the lowest wealth districts in our state. They will not be able to pay those bills or complete those projects without the promised federal funds." You indicate in your March 28 letter that the state should not have relied on representations made by the federal government to honor its previous commitments. This is a

046very troublesome position for you to take. North Carolina and its public schools rely on the federal government to honor its commitments in order to implement the programs we're legally required or authorized to provide. We rightfully did rely on the US Department of Education representations regarding the extended liquidation period and we believe you are legally obligated to honor these prior commitments. It goes on to site some legal uh case law going back to 1983 in a in a US Supreme Court decision. It says an agency may not reconsider a previous decision without any change in fact or law. Citing Motor Vehicle MFRS Association versus State Farm, which is a US Supreme Court decision from 1983, there has been no change in fact or law that would impact the provision of this the provision of this liquidation

047period. Also, before your department may lawfully withhold these funds, due process, including prior notice and a hearing, must be provided. That's under the Administrative Procedures Act. that was not done either. So there are a whole lot of arguments, legal arguments, strong legal arguments against what the US Department of Education has done. This is an unprecedented move by the federal government, by the US Department of Education. Um and um uh it really came out of nowhere. It blindsided everybody. Um, I was at the National Council of School Attorneys meeting in Atlanta, um, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday talking with fellow school attorneys from all over the country, and nobody had a clue this was coming. The deputy general counsel for the US Department of Education was supposed to come speak to us on u on Friday

048and u, he canled last minute. Um, my guess, I've known him for a long time. My guess is he didn't want to take the heat that he was going to be getting. Uh, or somebody at the Department of Education told him he couldn't come. I don't know. But, um, this is an absolutely outside the box, incredible move by the Department of Education. All right, Mr. uh, Terry Lley got a question. I don't know where to start. Um I'm it came as a it it came as a surprise when I found out that they had cut this funding out. It was it was a surprise for about two seconds for me and then I realized okay there's been a lot of unpreced unprecedented things going on lately. But um I'm just trying to figure out how

049did any other board member know that we were leveraged to the point of 14.6 six. I mean, Miss Erica probably told us that we had filed for for an extension, but um but maybe that went over my head that that amount. Um you know, there's only four districts in the in the state of North Carolina um that that are in this position. But four districts, 17 million and 14.6 is Robinson counties. That's 85%. So, how do we got 85% of the entire state's um stake in this situation? So, we're kind of hung out to dry. And if I'm a legislator, I'm looking and saying, "Well, we give them money and every school district in the state received it and they hadn't spent it." If I'm a contractor, I'm saying they had the ribbon cutting on

050these buildings January 25th and now I'm waiting on my money. Um, so, so Dr. Williamson, how in the world did we did we get to where we are? Well, it probably went over your head because we shared all that information. Bobby, if you don't mind, talk about where we are in those. Is there any other board member that that knew that the situation that we were in 85% of the entire state? Erica, start with how much money did we receive for SR3 alone? It was over $und00 million and all the districts spent the funds different ways. Um there are a lot of more wealthier districts that didn't have the HVAC needs and didn't have the other needs that we did. Um we followed every letter of the law that DPI sent out. We followed all

051the procedures. We met all the deadlines. Um, and at the time, no, we didn't know what other systems were doing because we were concentrating on what we were doing. And we did everything according to what they asked us to do. And there are a lot of things that are embedded in those contracts. The HVAC, it took 58 weeks to get a custom chiller for Lumberton Senior High. Um, it took once they started the projects, they found other things that had to stop and things like that can't be done when kids are in school. All of that's been documented. So, um, we we did go over the dollar amounts. We went over when we did the extension. Um, but we did not know how many other districts were affected at the time. I appreciate you, Miss

052Erica. Good evening, Chairman Leech, Dr. Williamson, board members. So, to touch base on the three projects that are remaining, um, the bulk of that money is remaining at Lumberton Senior High. And part of the rationale is Mr. Erica has already u touched on a lot of the HVAC work that was needed to be completed in Lton Senior High could not be done while students were in the building. Uh so therefore a lot of the work and the work is still continuing at night and over the summer months. Lumberton Senior High is probably the largest oldest high school in the state. that HVAC unit piping that was in that building is the original piping from when the school was there in the mid to late 60s early 70s. So with the addition of these funds, we

053tackled projects that we knew we could never touch again in this district without this funding. So, what we decided to do at Lumberton Senior High, and this is a massive project there, is to convert that school from a two-pipe system to a fourpipe system, which means we have hot and cold water flooring at the same time to improve the efficiency within that building. Again, once we got into the ceiling, once we got into the work, there's as best as there were situations where it may have been mold. If you remember last year, we had a conversation where the entire ceiling and part of the building was removed so the work could be done. uh as Miss Eric's already touched base, chiller for that was a six 58w week lead time to switch gears for that

054particular building was almost just as long. So again, we were not we did not hesitate in moving forward with the work. Uh Snyder Electric has been on site at Lumberton for at least three years now completing this work. So again, the bulk of our HO back work was completed at Lton Senior High to the tune of about $11 million is what we're going to have there once we're finished. And in terms of the other projects, when we all high schools got HVAC revamp work, Lington High just happened to be the largest project. Uh also the windows at we partnered with Snyder to do window replacement. So we chose the three schools that were in the worst condition. Again, replacing windows cannot be done while students are in the building. So again, there were a lot

055of moving parts as to where we're at in this timeline, but it has nothing to do with we were stalling or waiting. It was working with the contractors. It was equipment delay. It's the fact that we only have two months in the summer to do some of this work or to do a lot of this work. Holidays, weekends, Snider's crews have been on site. If you've been by Lington High over the last two years, they're out there at night. They're out there over the holidays. They're out there on the weekends. So again, the massive amount of work that had to take place there is one of the reasons we're sitting here with asking for or requested the extension when it was first grant when it was first opened up. So Bobby also because all of

056our buildings um so old that we can never go into those buildings and do any work that we don't have a problem with I'm I'm sorry and that and that is correct. Uh ran into asbestous abatement last summer which delayed the progress of them moving through the building because they could not replace sections of pipe until they were able to remove the best. two of our window projects. We're in the same same boat we are right now. Oxenine has asbestous in the windows that we're going to replace all of St. Paul's. We're going to have to go through a best abatement there as well. So again, I you know, it's not that we drug our foots. it is that a lot of this work could not be done while students were in the building and

057massive delay times because everybody when all everybody across the United States when they got this money knew to invested in HVAC because that was the highest need that was our highest need to a tune of over almost $25 million across the district. So again there was just no way for us to anticipate being here. Bobby, also we want to make it clear for the public that even though there is asbestous in our buildings, that does not pose a risk for our students as long as we don't disturb it. That that that is correct. And anytime we are working uh anytime we are working to abate that as best as best in the building if if individuals are in the building, those areas of the building are contained. But again, we do not attempt that work

058while students are in the building. All right, Mr. Trey Brick. Um, I've got four things, I guess. Number one is transparency. I guess my thing is that I don't I don't know of a better time we should have probably called a merchant meeting that way. It was out ahead of public schools hadn't even made a statement yet to the public. And my thing is it goes out to internet. Next thing you know, it's spreading. And who gets the phone calls? Just going to be honest. Central office is not getting the phone calls. We're getting the phone calls. And I may think one thing, Dr. Emanuel may think one thing, Crystal may think another, but it' have been better if we'd probably met last week as emergency meeting. We'd all been on the same page. And

059if there ever been a time emergency meeting should have been called, I think this is it. Um, number two, I've got where it says in this email, we believe that the responses to these question will have a significant impact on decision to approve. Who's coming up with the answers to these two questions is my question for that part. Uh we're working together with the administration to help get that information into DPI and then DPI will submit it to the state to the uh US government. Are we going to see these statements ahead of time before they're actually submitted? That's up to you if you like if you like to. Sure. Third question is on Miss Erica. Obviously these contractors with the buildings that we've built at Pernell Sweat and St. Paul's are probably want their

060money. Where is the money coming from that we're paying and what line items and things of that nature is that money coming from to pay those people? That's going to be the next conversation we had once we finish with the questions here. It's going to come from Capital Outlay. Okay. But if I could there is so when all of that happened DPI let us know what had we encumbered or what could we show that was paid invoiced prior to that. So currently there is $2.2 $2 million owed to Msquare. 1.1 of that we have paid out of capital that we should be included by the March 28th deadline for us to get reimbursed. Are these contractors going to charge those interest? No. Okay. Fourth thing is um because those some of those weren't build until

061recently. We we were not behind on um any of the billing outside of that first uh 1.1 million. The remaining balance has not been invoiced yet. Okay. And then me looking at the cup at a full cup. Let me ask this question. What are we going to do if we don't get approved for the money? I mean, I wish I had an answer for that at this point. We'd have to go the legal route. If Yeah. If if it's not approved project by project, then the decision will have to be made at the state level whether or not the state is going to pursue this. And then at at the local level, if the state doesn't pursue it, um we'd have to make a decision as to whether or not we would pursue legal redress.

062So now we're spending more money. Well, I think the state would be involved in making that decision. I think the attorney general's office, the North Carolina attorney general's office would be involved and there are ongoing discussions now among different the there's a there's there are individuals in the US in the North Carolina Attorney General's office who are in communication with counterparts in other states about um legal avenues to pursue um based on this really unprecedented ruling. I mean, this is a yank the rug out from under you um like nobody's ever seen before. Um we've granted you the extension. You can rely on the extension. You've got until March uh you know 28, 2026 to use this money. It's already obligated. You had to prove it was obligated. You had to submit it to the

063US Department of Education and demonstrate that it was obligated and it was contracted for before you could get approval for the extension. we granted the extension and then they sent a letter saying, "Well, you shouldn't have relied on that." Um, and of course, everybody did. Everybody who's in the same boat as you all across the country relied on it. So, um, I'm appalled. I mean, it's legally legally this is appalling. Um, I think ethically this is appalling. Um but this is just unprecedented and u it it's I'm still flabbergasted um at the way this was done and the arrogance with which it's been um done. All right, Dr. Wson, I don't want to clarify why we did not call a special board meeting. We thought about that. We did meet with the finance chair and

064the construction chair, but the money was allocated to the state. So, they had to take the lead and we had to follow. Richard, that's correct. Yes, that that is correct. And also, I want to tell you that there were there were a lot of moving pieces and um a lot of confusion when this came out because stop and think about this. We we are at you know Tuesday. This came out a week ago, Friday. Okay, Friday, a week ago, March 28th, at the end of the day, okay, um by Monday and Tuesday, we were communicating with the state to try to find out, okay, you know, what does this mean? And on this appeal that they said we can do, does that is the state going to handle that? Are the localities going to handle

065that? What do the what do the grants say? The grant went to the state. Does that mean the state has to appeal or we have to appeal? Um the state board is meeting on Wednesday and Thursday. Is there any way we can get the state board involved in dealing with this? Um so there were a lot of discussions going on. There were discussions going on between DPI and the North Carolina Department of Justice as to whether or not um the first route would be to go um you know with uh uh uh an attempt to get into court um or whether we should try to exhaust the administrative remedies that are the quote unquote administrative remedies that are suggested in this this letter. Um and so a lot of discussions going on and okay let's

066see what the state board is going to do. Is the state board going to take action that may impact what we're going to do in the meantime. Um business uh operations at DPI was collecting information um from uh the various people involved just first of all first thing I had to do was try to figure out what's at risk and how many school systems are we talking about and how much money. So they were just collecting information. So, there were a lot of moving parts um all last week um you know leading up to this and you know we're we're able to give you a lot more complete information now than anybody would have been able to give you last week. Last week it would have been a whole lot of questions with with a

067lot fewer answers. Now we at least know the process that we're going to have to go through and there's a plan to collect the information. Who's going to submit it? What information is going to be collected? what route we're going to take um for the appeals uh coming from the state level on a project bypro basis before um any further legal action is considered. Um there are still a lot of moving parts. There are a lot of states that aren't anywhere near as far along as we are in trying to figure this out. North Carolina is trying to move ahead with a sense of urgency. Um and um so uh you know we're just we're kind of way ahead of the pack. Um it it's Kentucky, New York, and North Carolina were the first three

068out of the gate on this. All right. We um there was also um discussion when it first came out. There's 41 states impacted for over $2 billion. The state of Maryland alone has $418 million that they are looking um 300 of which has already been spent. So we are not by far the worst state in this in this group. But there are 41 different states for over two billion dollars that are impacted by this decision. It's close to three billion. Closer to three billion. All right. We're going to have um Dr. Emanuel. Then um after that we're going to have Mr. Hering Brewer. Then Miss Melissa Ocean. both of them got the hand raised in that order. Am I ready? I am simple minded. Um, so you're going to have to break some things down.

069I understand what the feds did, but what I'm not understanding it is is how it's going to impact us. Okay. Miss Erica said that she got the money out of Capital Outlay. Okay. What I want to know, $14 million is a lot of money. Did you get any money out of any other pot? Let me clarify that. I did not get $14 million out of capital outlay. $14 million is the total of all the projects. I understand that. But you said you got $2 million out of capital outlay. Now, my question to you is Miss Erica. Yes. I know we're I hope Lord we get this money back tomorrow, but say we don't and I read some negative uh media that it may be like FEMA that it might be a long time getting it

070back and we may get it back. Hopefully we do. But how is it going to adversely affect the public schools of Robertson County financially? Right now, Miss Erica, how are you going to operate with this $14 million deficit? We can't operate with a 14. We don't have $14 million in capital outlay. If we took all of our local funds and capital outlay fund balance, we wouldn't have enough to cover $14 million. So, the $14 million we owe, is that just for buildings and everything? You didn't take in out of any other pots to pay anybody hoping for reimbursement? No, only for the two buildings. That's the only amount that the district has spent. The other is part of contracts and incumbrances that were approved. Make sure I'm getting I need to make but have not

071been spent yet. Okay, let make sure I'm getting I understand what that part but you haven't paid up front hoping to get reimbursed. No. No, ma'am. Okay, so Oh, except for Except for what? The the two buildings. the two buildings for um at Lumberton. We have not paid $14 million. We paid out a total of 1.142 and need to pay an additional 1,71 for a total of 2.2 to finish those two buildings. That's the only thing that we're obligated at this point that we've been invoiced and we have to write checks for. Everything else is work that's pending that has been contracts have been um awarded and the materials have been ordered that we haven't paid yet. Okay. So, you paid 2.2 million hoping for reimbursement of our money. Is that correct? Correct. Not it

072was approved but they when we had an approval we were authorized to spend that money. I understand. I'm not saying anybody did anything wrong. Yes. I'm just trying to say where do we go from now to survive? In other words, right now we can't survive paying $14 million. Erica, if I may, please. So, so again, as Erica said, we only obligated 2.2 million of the 14 million. Yes, sir. That's all we have obligated. We want to pull those funds out of because we have not yet owned all of it out of our capital reserve. So our capital reserve does not have an impact on our day-to-day operation. So your question how will we continue to operate out of current expense money not out of the capital reserve. So we won't see an impact in our

073day-to-day operations. You answered my question. Thank you. All right. Now Mr. hearing bro hear me now. Okay. First of all, first of all, I want to uh apologize for not being there face to face, but my question is now, how is this going to affect the CTE school? It it will not those monies are already secured and in place. Yeah. the the new technology high school, we have a needsbased grant that's a separate pot of funding for the that is not included and can only be used for the school. We were awarded grant funds for the school. It won't be impacted at all. Good. And that's state money so we can rely on it. Right. Oh, yeah. Miss All right. Miss Melissa. Um Ocean. Okay. Dr. manual answer. Ask my question. I'm good. All right.

074Well, well, thank you. Thank you. All right. Uh, Mr. Craig, Mr. Craig Lowry, I'm sorry. Turn your request on again, Mr. Craig. Um, what I'm going to ask or say is pretty much already been said, but I think it needs to be said again. Um, this has never happened that I know of where you had money approved and then it gets taken away and never happened that I know of in the school system and these projects since the money was there if it's 14 million 15 million okay the money is here you're going to get the money go ahead and do the projects you got an extension until da da da whatever date it is that was what y'all were told and then that's what that say Mr. John and I came down here. That's

075what we were told. But we've been approving those extensions. It wasn't just told. It was in writing. In writing, too. But I'm saying that was communicated to us. All of that was done. And then all of a sudden on March 28th, they go yank the money away. And that's because of where we're at now. So I want the public to make sure they understand that we weren't didn't go in debt like this just like we're spending this money, spending this money. We were told and it was written that the money is there to take care of these projects. And again, you mentioned that chiller at Lumberton. Uh I think it was 58 days before it could come in or somethings. Weeks 58 weeks, I'm sorry. So had to wait on that. And uh the asbestous

076folks, we know if you go to any school in this county, probably you gonna find asbestous. And then when you start digging, cutting around windows and stuff, you can't, like you say, do that around with kids being there. So that's delayed where we're at now with all of that. Um, I mean, it's just Yeah, I'm like Mr. Terry, you know, I mean, when I heard this and seen this, it's like, what have they done? They've just taken this money away. Never been done, and that's never had something done in the school system in that sit like that. It's just unprecedented. Now, where are we going to find money if this doesn't take care of itself or we get some help? You know, we don't know. And Mr. Schwarz, I was going to ask you this

077question. I I know it's probably one you can't answer, but uh any idea of a timeline when with what the state does or whatever. I mean, we talking years, we talking months, any idea? That's a great question and there's no no real answer for it. There was no timeline given for the reconsideration that the department said it would it would um go through. Um there was no deadline to apply for a new extension included in the letter, but the Department of Public Construction in North Carolina has said we want to move this forward with a sense of urgency. Um so they're trying to get all this information compiled and submitted very quickly. Um the um you know once these appeals are filed we have no idea how long the US Department of Education is going

078to take to um make decisions on them. Uh if they want to drag their feet they can drag their feet. Um uh or they may, you know, start saying denied, denied, denied, denied, denied. We have no idea what they're going to do. Um or they may start saying, "Okay, we'll since you appealed it, we'll approve it because we didn't really have the authority to do this in the first place." Um um but you know, if nobody appeals it, then we'll save some money. Um I have no idea what they're going to do. This is, you know, uncharted waters um uh in waters that didn't even exist um uh you know, prior to this crazy letter going out. um the u uh you know and then the next step is going to be uh somebody's going

079to take taking the court um and that'll be probably a coordinated effort among various states attorneys general because as you know as Miss Settzer told you there are a lot of states involved um and some of them have a lot more money at stake than North Carolina does. So um you know we'll wait and see what happens. I have no idea what the timeline's going to be. Um but uh you know with every day with every passing day construction costs are going to go up and uh you know project costs are going to go up if we do get this money. All right. Uh Dr. Wish Richard you and I had a conversation earlier today and the question was what is the next step for this board and the district? So you and I talked

080about to draft the letters to our congressional delegation uh to voice our concern. Right. It's been um you know there have been some um I've been in touch with a lot of people on this and one of the things that's been suggested to me by several people is that um the Department of Education might be responsive to um political pressure from uh congressional delegations. So, one of my suggestions for tonight is that the board direct um the board take action to direct the um superintendent and board attorney to uh draft a letter requesting support from our congressional delegation uh the entire congressional delegation from the state on this. All right, Mr. Bradley Phillips. Miss Erica, the out of the $11 million for the HBA system at Lumberton High School, have has that already been paid

081or are we paying that as we go or We're paying it as we go. So, the remaining balance for that is $7,526,000. When's the next payment on that? Do do you have any idea off the top of your head? No. No, sir. Because they've had to stop. They didn't plan on finishing that work until over the summer because they can't do it while the students are prison. The uh 2.2 million on the building funds. If we're able to take that from from capital, do you know when the next payment or will that complete? That will complete it once we have a um have paid 1.1. We owe 1,71,000. That gets us to the 2.2. So once we do that, the building will be complete. All right, that this is Terry. And this the last um

082thing we're going to have to move on. Mr. Terry, Miss Erica, Mr. Bobby, um the rest of the cabinet, y'all do a wonderful job. I know you are your jobs are stressful. Um you only do what you're asked to do and and I I appreciate you. I just wanted to let you know. Um thank you. And we did share with the board since COVID came into effect, we've gotten multiple different PRC's. I think I shared with you we've spent had allocated $173 million that the public schools has spent. We spent all the ers. We followed all the guidelines. All those funds were zeroed out. We were always told we were going to have this extension and we got approved for the extension. So we will not obligate funds that we didn't rely on the federal

083government um allowing us to spend. So Mr. Mr. Chair, our action tonight and our request after this information is that we amend the agenda so that we can pull $2.2 million out of our capital reserve to pay the obligations that we have obligated ourselves to at this point. That would be the amendment for the agenda. and we would still be requesting reimbursement under the previously approved SR3 funds for that. All right, Mr. Trey, then Mr. Terry, I'm sorry I turn it on. Dr. Williamson, question then. Maybe this is Erica question. Um, how much is in capital reserves? We have a How much is in capital reserves? So we have around six million if you include what we have in um lottery projects that can only be used for certain and that is on hand. Yes.

084In the bank. Mr. Terry, how would that impact the um the projects that we um that we voted to approve um in the last couple of months? right now it won't have an impact because if nothing else we should get this $2 million back because we met the deadlines or based on the way we did the um journal entries of DPI. Um but we will have to monitor that as we go. At this point we're moving forward. We already implemented starting with the bleacher projects um at Red Springs High. It could mean that some of the things that were on the alternative list we can't get to. But everything that was approved as far of the um CTE audit we should be able to move forward with because it's still that was always anticipated across

085two budget years. Um most of that coming up August and December being due. So we wanted to start some of those now. Is that something that has to be done tonight? I mean why can't we have a finance and construction subcommittee to discuss it a little bit more? Mr. Sure. M Mr. Chair, if I may, so the projects that were approved through the U finance construction committee were the three roofs and again all three of those are currently leaking. So if we delay those, we're just going to create more damage to the building. The other project is the bleachers and again that will overlap into next year part of the CTE audit. And the additional project that we're only working on will be the two handicap spaces over at IIA to tie into the ramp

086that's currently been done. Other than that, the wish list of projects um those have been put on hold and those are the only ones that we are addressing. I'm not suggesting that we cancel anything. Right. So to answer to Car's question is those projects will be based on this year's allocation of capital funds. So we have not from um county commission received this year's budget. So that money is a different part of money that we have yet to receive. This is why I feel like we should have had a special call meeting because it seems like every time there's something that we that we have to throw on the the agenda at the last minute, two weeks from now there's something going on where we we probably should have did something a little bit different.

087Mrs. Trey question Mr. Bobby, where does that stand with the OCR audit in? So, so we are still a lot of that work is being done inhouse. Uh, the one major thing that we're addressing is the bleachers because they are in the worst shape. And again, as Miss Erica stated, we were going to spread that out over a couple of years. So, we were not going to do all three sets of bleachers in one year. But now, the stuff that was due December, end of this year, we Yes. So, we're going to be able to complete it. Yes. We'll start a new budget. We'll start a new budget cycle July one. So when I was just asked that question, the I called it the CTE, I apologize, the OCR, it won't have an impact on

088anything that we approved at our last meeting. We can move forward with that. All right, Mr. Henry, unmute yourself, Mr. Henry. Mr. Henry, unmute yourself. Okay. Um, is this something that we need to put county commissioners on alert or is that just premature at this time? In our discussions, um, I have already talked to the county manager. um we have not moved it to the level of commissioners and the board of education because we still have other steps we have to follow before we can bring to them with final totals. But we have been in I have been in conversation with county manager Miss Blue. Thank you. All right. Any any other concerns or anything? Do anybody want to move the action item to put the $2.2 million in the capital outlay fund? Mr. Craig,

089let me ask a couple of questions if I may. U Miss is it six over six million we have in capital outlay? Correct. In the bank. That's the That's the fund balance. That's the fund balance. That's the fund balance. That's what we have in there now. 6 million we owe MM square. What is it? Two. What's the total we owe them? We have paid them 1.142 and owe them a remaining1,71,600. And that's the one bill we have, correct? To be due. Okay. And that would mean $2.2 million coming out of capital outlay. Okay. So 2,ion21398221 to be exact. So if I ask the question, okay, we owe them that money. Um suppose we say we're not paying right now because we don't have it. That puts us in a legal buying. Am I correct, Mr.

090Schwarz? If we owe that money and say well we're not going to pay it right now legally, we got problems. Potentially. Yes. Potentially if if the money's ow. Um, and again, I'm going back. All of this stuff was done and approved and written that the money was there. You can spend the money and then as they say, they yank it out from under correct. So, I'm Terry, I appreciate you saying, you know, let's have a meeting about all this now, but I'm still looking at the fact with this year, this has got to be paid. Yeah. This this part here has got to be paid. And that's where they were looking for action on that tonight. Now, if we want to have a a meeting in the next week or so, finance construction, I'd be

091fine with that. But I do think we need to take care of this tonight because it's got to be paid and it's going to sooner or later we've got to pay this bill here. Correct. And then u hope that somebody in Washington gets a little sense in their head. I won't go any further with that. All right. You need a motion? Yeah, we need a motion. You want to move to action items, Mr. K? I make a motion that we move the um semester 3 money to action item for a vote concerning paying the bills for MC. Is it MC? M square. Second. Second. Well, motion's been on the table that we um use our capital outlay money to pay capital outlay reserve. Well, it's just move it to action first. Move to action. Yes.

092A motion been made that we move to action to capital outlay reserve to pay our outstanding bill with M square. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Can we go by hand vote? Because all in favor let me hear you say I. I. By the show, raise your hands. I forward ocean. I mute yourself. Miss Ocean, are you muted? No response. So we'll we'll move this to that's 100. Yeah, 100. Okay. So we'll move this to action item right before right after um sold soul source. Let's do it first before we talk about summer. All right. Well, we'll do we'll do it first and we'll move to action item first. And again that dollar amount is 2.2 2 million 2,213,9821 and I'll bring that forward in a budget amendment at the next board meeting.

093All right, Mr. Trey Brett, then we're going to move on. I'm sorry. I just need to clear my mind now. You said it's 2.2 million, but now we've already paid a million. We've already paid 1,142, 38164. Why do we need to pull that other million out then with it if you understand what I'm saying? Why do we need to pull 2.2 out if we've already paid a million? Because that amount meets the um criteria to get reimbursed and we're not sure about the additional million. But either all either way there's going to be an impact to 2 million right now to capital. The 1.1 was paid out of capital and not era. Correct. Correct. So capital will be $2.2 million. 1,71,600. Correct. Because it's a part of the budget, but if I'm going to do

094the budget amendments, I just wanted to do it as a complete picture. But that is correct. All right. Thank you, Mr. Erica. Thank you, Mr. Bobby. Thank you, Mr. Schwarz. Now, we're gonna Next item on the agenda is IEA Center ESHPF grant update by Mr. Bobby Ller. Good evening again, Chairman Leech, Dr. Williamson, and board members. wanted to take the opportunity to provide you an update on the IEA ESHPF grant and that stands for emergency supplemental historical preservation fund grant and Dr. Connie was responsible for writing this I believe approximately four years ago to do some work over at our AEA center in response to uh damage that was received during the hurricane. So, uh, on January 21st of this school year, we had a monitoring visit with Dan Beaker and he walked through the

095work that has been done over there and upcoming projects at the at the site. So, um, he was pleased with the work that has been done and our recordkeeping. We did have to supply him with some additional documents that just needed to remain on site at IEA and we have since done so. So, uh, there were several projects that were listed or several needs in the scope of work that was originally placed in the grant writing and that was to replace uh deteriorated mortar joints um to repair damaged brick masonry with replacing in kind or whatever's necessary to repair or replace wooden doors and also to replace some of the windows within the building. So currently we have two projects that have not been completed over at IAA. One is the replacement of the doors

096and that cost is uh $98,000. We're also uh we're not replacing we're actually building a handicap ramp so that individuals can access the building. That cost is going to be approximately $150,000. part of our construction finance committee meeting, we did obligate approximately $15,000 to provide two handicap parking spaces over at IEA for access to the ramp. Uh we will be able based upon I spoke with Jason Bullard today, we will be able to modify the front entrance so that we can secure it just like we do our other school so that the building does not stay open at all times. But again, just wanted to provide you an update on the progress of that work and uh the funding that's being spent. All right, good question. All right, thank you, Mr. B. Thank you. Um,

097next we have public comments and we have one and Mr. Marvin, uh, Mr. Marvin Ray. You will have super sir, you will have um three minutes. All right. Uh my name is Marvin Ray and I'm speaking on behalf of the people that used the community garden in St. Paul's. U if you can imagine a place where people share a space to fellowship and volunteer. uh where people can rent a raised bed inexpensively and grow whatever makes them happy, whether it's herbs or herbs or flowers or food. Where people can experience healing by creating a memorial bed to a loved one. Where once a year the community can gather for an event and show the community the garden where people can buy, sell, or swap plants or seeds. where master gardeners and extension agents come and

098answer questions about gardening. A beautiful place, a peaceful place with seasonal flowers, a pola, a garden tower, a fountain with the sound of water, and a charming shed with a porch to sit under. St. Paul's area ra residents don't have to imagine this is the St. Paul's Community Garden and so much more. The community garden started nine years ago from a grant. It was a partnership between a group of interested citizens, St. Paul's High School, the FFA of the school, and the town of St. Paul's. Uh the high school a science class built and installed all the raised beds. Um there are 34 raised beds that we rent. And last year, due to our growth and use from the community, every bed was rented. Our fruit trees planted years ago were growing and just starting

099to be productive. Uh last year, St. Paul's the the St. Paul's High School principal contacted me and said the school needed the property for a game soccer field and the garden would have to go. I contacted a board member and asked if a new soccer field had been approved by the board and was told not at this time. Uh from our garden shed is 250 yards to the new fieldhouse. Uh and from the shed to 301 is over a 100 yards. So there's a lot of room out there. Uh those of us maintaining the garden would like for any future plans to consider the garden. The garden is an asset to the town and the school. The the garden could downsize or change shape, but the garden, if we have to move, it will cease

100to exist. Uh please take a look at the garden before you decide to do away with it. Uh, ask your county a and horiculture teachers. Uh, if they had a nice community garden on their campus, one that someone else maintained, would they use it in their career? We think they would. Thank you, Mr. Ray. Thank you for your consideration. Uh, I've got a bulletin. I mean, a brochure. Can I pass out brochures? Yes. just pass them right here and we'll pass them down. Thank you sir. Um now we move the action items and the first on on the action item is to take the capital capital outlay reserve fund to pay Msquare um in the tune of $2.2 million. Mr. Craig Lie, I make a motion that we use capital outlay funds to pay M

101square $2.2 million. The reserve fund in reserve fund. Second. Second. All right. Uh, a motion been on the table to take the capital outlay um reserve fund to pay Mquare in the tune of $2.2 million Mr. Craig Lowry. A second been made by Mr. Henry Brewer. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. That's good. Yeah, 10. Yeah. You want to ask Miss Ocean? Mr. Melissa. Miss Oian, unmute yourself. Let's go with 10. All right. ne next on our um um under this excuse me under this item do you also want to uh take action to direct the superintendent the board attorney to uh contact our congressional delegation regarding these uh this ess I'd like to make a motion that we give them the leniency to direction to take take care of that. All right.

102All u Mr. Hing made a motion that that we give permission for the superintendent and our uh attorney all in favor to contact congressional delegation and federal officials regarding the withdrawal of these funds. Is that the motion Mr. Mayor? Yes. Yes. All right. The motion been on the table of Mr. Henry. Uh they give um our attorney and Dr. Williamson to contact the congressional congressional delegation and federal officials and federal officials about our ES funds reimbursement. Um and a second been made by Mr. Craig Ly. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Okay, got it. All right. Next, we'll have the summer testing by Miss Cynthia Lewis. Good evening, Chairman Leech, Superintendent Williams, Dr. Williamson, and board members. Uh, it seems like the last two weeks has just been one surprise after another. Uh,

103in the testing department, we've had multiple changes and updates in the past two weeks. And I'm sure that a couple of you may be surprised to see a re a school year readministration plan in your packet when we've already approved a summer test plan. Um on April 2nd, NCDPI shared with us a new opportunity for the current year for our students in regards to EOCC and EOG testing in reading and math this year. Tonight we're presenting that new plan to you for school for the school year readministration of EOGs in reading and math. That would of course be reading four through eight and math grades 3 through eight. the district curriculum team met on April 3rd with principles to get some input from them and they uh agreed or the K the K8 schools agreed

104that we should uh move forward to administering our summer test plan as a readministration during the school year on uh the fourth and 5th of June. Um, so if you approve the new plan that you have in your packet, uh, our students will actually test during the last 10 days of the school year in addition to taking the regular administration. So they'll take the regular administration and then they will be readministered the math grades 38 and reading grade 48 EOG test. high schools decided to remain with the summer plan that you've already have in place and they will test on June 19th and 20th. All right, Mr. Henry, Miss Lewis, uh my question would be what is the subtle change in reference to what we had before? So before they were not allowed, our kids

105have never been allowed. Well, I won't say never. Since I've been in testing, the kids have never been able to test during the school year. We've always been required to test after the school year ended. Hence, we remediated during the summer work days and tested during the work days. Mr. Craig, then we got Dr. Million. Mr. Craig, then we got Dr. Million, Miss Lewis, with the the EG testing with the KA on that retest. How is it counted? Can it help improve the scores at the school? Which one? It does help proficiency. Proficiency. It does not help growth. Okay. So, again, it works just like the summer program testing. It would help our proficiency, but not our growth. Well, but with the fact that we're you're asking to do it while we're still in school.

106Yes, sir. Uh that that's good because sometimes we lose a lot of the kids once they go home, they don't come back to take the test. So that's what you're asking that. I definitely think we should uh go along with doing that. Thank you, Dr. Mayor. Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion. I'd like to make a motion to approve the amended summer testing calendar. All right. A motion been on the table by um Dr. May that we approve the amended testing calendar for e uh for our EOG. Um a second been made by Mr. Trey Brit. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. I forward. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Lewis. All right. Next, we will have the uh AIG plan by Dr. Deborah Dallas and Miss Valerie Hammond. Good

107evening, Mr. Chair. May I say something? Yes. Yes, you can. You can. And and anyone can add to this. I've reviewed it and it meets all the specifications. Um it's a great plan. Anybody can add anything they want to, but I would like for them to talk about inclusion. What does it mean when we say we're using inclusion with our AIG plan? Now, you can say anything you like about your plan, but talk to us about inclusion. That's the MO model that you all use to present the uh AIG services to children. Right. So in K2 with our talent development, we do pull out. Yeah. Sometimes in third grade we do pull out. It depends on whether they're they are departmentalized or not. So inclusion was when an AIG specialist pushes into the classroom. So

108we ask our principles to try to cluster some of our AIG students together in a room, right? So that way when they're doing their service delivery, they would push in and they would be able to work with that group of kids. Sometimes it's more one teach one assist, sometimes it's more small group, sometimes it's just checking in. So it's very similar to the EC inclusion model, right? There's different ways that you can do that. So that's what they're doing is they're pushing in. And a lot of times, Dr. Emanuel, they're giving the teacher ideas and strategies, right? It's hard. they have they have almost I think up to this point,444 students, right? So when we cluster them, it's the most efficient way, but when they go in, they do have to be strategic on how

109they're giving those supports. Can I may I do a followup? Follow up. What about high schoolers? How what how is that done? So high schoolers are really their their services are more because of their advanced learning courses that they're able to take. So they're taking honors courses, they're taking their CCP courses, their college courses. So a lot of the high school work there is more consultation. They're pushing in, they're monitoring because they're already receiving that differentiated instruction or that advanced learning because of the courses that they're taking. So it looks different a little different at the high school than it does at the middle school. So in summary too, they receive services through basically pull outs. Yes. and up through the eighth grade that it's inclusion like or Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And then high school

110advanced placement. Yes, sir. Okay. Now, as I said, I look through it and I'm sure most of you have as well, but it's a well-ritten plan and unless you want them to read all of it and go through it. Can So, this is Can I just say this is our AIG team. These ladies are phenomenal. I do. Can I introduce introduce those ladies? I would like to. That's why I've asked them to be here. They are a phenomenal group of educators. They're beautiful ladies as well. And they're hardworking there, Dr. Emanuel. Very hard ladies. So, I've asked them, I prompted them that I'm going to call their name and I'm going to ask them to stand because I'm very proud of the work that they're doing in this plan. So, Margie Emanuel, she has the

111right last name. Excellent. Valerie Hammond, Kimberly Jacobs, Shirley Johnson, Karen Johnson, April Mayor, Bobby Joe Mlan, Linda Oxendine, Holly Walton, and Tammy Wilkerson. And like I said, PSRC is extremely fortunate to have these ladies on board. They are champions of our AIG students. They are. Good job. Thank you, ladies. Are there any questions? No, I just got one comment. Uh, Miss Tammy Wilkerson was I was her first class in the third grade. She was my teacher. I first class down there. No, in sixth grade down at Roland Middle School. That was the first first grade. Some stories there. He did, Mr. Chair. Yes, Mr. Go ahead, Mr. I think this is a this would be a great improvement for our system because we're already doing inclusion with um with the uh EC departments and from

112what I've heard, you know, as long as teachers get training, it's awesome. Yeah. Uh Miss Tammy wanted she can say something. Yes, Miss Tammy can say something. Go to the mic because they can't hear you. Come on up, Tammy. go to the mic because they can't hear you. No, I just um I just that was my first class and every time I would see Vonte um Mr. Leech, I would say, "Please forgive me. Just forgive me, please." Mhm. Um but he was very gracious and and I always told Bonte and he can remember this. I said, "Bonte, you're going to go somewhere and when you do, don't forget me." Oh, thank you. And he did. And I still can see him doing that thing on the field going, you know, making those snow angels and

113that's my Vonte. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you. Isn't that sweet? Vonte, you can pay her ladies. Thank you so much, ladies. I make a motion that we approve the AIG plan. Um motion being on the table by um Dr. Dr. Emanuel that we approve the AIG plan and second been made by Mr. Crystal Monroe. All in favor say I. I 10. Thank you. Thank you. Now we will have the RCC and PSRCOU by Dr. Wendy Dorsy Carr. So tonight we're seeking approval of our RCC PSRCOU. Um every year we have get together with RCC to develop a newou that focuses on how we support our students taking CCP courses. Um, and so these are the courses that we take where our students go to RCC campus or they take some of those through

114at the career center. So, I'm sorry, jumping ahead. Hold up, Mr. Uh, hold up for a second, Mr. uh, Craig Larry. I'm sorry. That's fine. U, Chairman Leech, I make a motion that we accept this memorandum of agreement between RCC and PSRC. A motion a motion been on the table of Mr. Craig Lar Lari that we uh accept this agreement between PSRC and RCC. Um the second being made by Dr. Lenny May. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Thank you. Next we will have the naming of the track um the David Shaw track by St. Paul's High School. I got you. Miss by Mr. Glenn Pass. I got you. Good evening, Chairman Leech, Superintendent Dr. Williamson, and board members. Uh former written request was made by a community group to Jason Suggs, principal

115of St. Paul's High School uh proposing that the track be named in honor of former uh St. Paul's High School track coach David Shaw. The request was approved uh for St. Paul's to move forward uh to host a forum. Uh Mr. Suggs um put the um the uh information on St. Paul's website. He also used the thrill share robocall system to inform the parents and students five days prior to the form. The form was held on March the 6, 2025 at St. Paul's High School cafeteria. There were several people in attendance. Everyone in attendance agreed that we should move forward with this proposal. Uh, at this time, Principal Suggs and the community has fulfilled all the necessary steps to move forward with naming St. Paul's High School track in honor of former head track coach

116David Shaw. Now, each of you should have received this proposal in your packet. Uh, so on tonight and at this time, I'm asking that we move forward with this proposal and I will turn it back over to Chairman Leech and the board for a decision. Miss Crystal Monroe got a question. Um, I just wanted to approve the name of the David Shaw track for St. Paul's High School. Second. All right. A mo uh a motion been made by Miss Christie Monroe to approve the name of the track to the uh the David Shaw track at St. Paul High School. A second been made by Miss Dr. Linda Emanuel. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. All right. Now, that vote was uh 10 Z in favor of naming the track. All right. We'll run

117right along. Now, the 2025 2026 high school calendar by Mr. Bobby Lley. Good. Good evening, Chairman Leech, Dr. Williamson, board members. Uh I placed in your packet a proposed high school calendar uh based upon our last couple of meetings. Uh this is the calendar that I believe was brought brought forth by uh Mr. Terry Lleier and I just placed those dates that were in that calendar on our template. Uh Mr. Terry, I'm going to make a motion that we u that we use the calendar that was proposed by board member Llear. I'm going to make a motion that we uh apply that calendar for grades K through 12. So, ho ho, we already did voted. We already voted on Wait a minute. We already voted on the elementary calendar. This just this just uh this

118just the high school calendar. We we we can't go back and vote on the elementary calendar unless somebody who vote on elementary calendar changed their mind. Mr. Schwarz, what is your legal guidance on that? Can we modify a vote that we uh voted on last month? You need a motion to reconsider that. I need I would like to make a motion to reconsider uh the vote that was brought forth last month. So I have to have a always looking it up. Yeah. Second and the two3. But somebody But you got Don't you have to have somebody who voted against it to break it up? Yep. You got to have somebody that voted against that v voted for it to change their vote. Mr. Richard, Mr. Craig, you got this uh discussion or anything, Mr. Craig?

119Then we got Dr. Man, then Mr. Trey Bre. Hello. Go ahead. On Mr. Terry, so I I didn't hear part of what you said. The calendar that's in our packet, you're asking that we vote on this for K12. I am. Okay. I want to make sure that was clear. And as you said, we voted on the K8 calendar last month. Now, and I think Mr. Schwarz is looking it up. But on my understanding to change something off of that, it usually has to be somebody that voted against it to make a change. Motion to change it. That voted for it. For it, I'm sorry. That voted for it to make the change. Make a change. Do Dr. Man, then we got um Mr. Trey Brick. Okay. Let let me say something. This calendar, Mr. Bobby,

120that you just presented to us. Are the semesterers even? No, ma'am. All right. It's my understanding there's a law now pending. It's saying that we've got to make the semester's even. Did I misunderstand that? So, m Mr. Chair, there is a current bill that is in the house that would require it um that if you follow that modified or that particular calendar in the law, then both semesters must be equal. Okay. Well, my my thing is but they're also moving the starting date. That that is correct. The current version of the law, I do not have the exact date, but would move this up five days and would require us to end um prior to Memorial Day. But in But I'm sorry, but go ahead. Both semesters must be equal if you follow that version

121of the calendar law. M the law's in in he's involved in something right now. So, how in the world can we sit here and vote something that's going to be against the law? Because I feel like just hearing legislators talk that they're going to vote for it with it. I think it's tomorrow. If it's against the law, Mr. Schwarz, let us know. Hold on. No, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait. He's doing something. But we sitting here. Why in the world would we vote for something and tomorrow there's going to be a decision? Well, let's let's vote the table the calendar all together. That's an option. Uh Mr. Mr. Trey, I'll make a statement. But I'll wait for the law and the superintendent. I'm not I'm sorry. Okay. So, I'm sorry. Um what you

122need is a motion to resend the previously adopted calendar. Um and since no notice was given u of the intent to make this motion in advance, it requires a twothirds vote um or a vote of the entire membership of the body, which would be uh majority vote of the entire membership. So it' be six votes um of the entire membership or a 2/3 vote of what we've got here which is um would be seven. So um first you need a motion to resend the previously adopted calendar and that would require a second. I missed it. I just want to make a statement if and I know we don't have the other calendar in front of us, but um I would compare the two since our last time or whatever and I like the calendar that

123Terry presented. This is my personal opinion now. Um I just don't think it's fair with the calendar that we approved which I know it's already been approved K through eight, which takes a whole lot more preparation far as classrooms and everything else that we gave those teachers two work days ahead before children are coming. I think two or three, Mr. Bobby, the other proposed calendar would have five teacher work days. There's five teacher work days. Okay. Maybe I looked at it wrong, but um and then this one here, you've got two weeks. I just I don't like that part of it because I don't think that's fair. But uh Mr. John, Mr. Simmons, uh it's for Dr. Williams or Mr. Bobby. This calendar here is basically favor C County's calendar. They're on a different bail

124system. Are we going to change to their bail system also being that we're going to their calendar? That's up to the school, right? No, not really. It is going to create a major one transportation issue for us because many of our buses run multiple routes. So, that's going to be a problem. It could change bail systems which means not only will we penalize employees uh 10 days of salary. It's going to impact parents too in terms of having to be home with kids, changing the bail schedule, can't get. So there's a lot of negative impact to that. And then to answer the other question, Barbara, we have a requirement by law that by April one, we have to send to the state board a beginning date and ending date. So we're already behind that in

125that statutory requirement. I'm I'm I'm sorry, Dr. whimsome but yes that is correct uh by not having a a solid calendar our transition to infinite campus has been delayed so uh I would say to address table and this would only delay that process and we've been able to exce receive one extension I'm not sure that our implementation team will allow us to to delay this any further trade you asked him the last time when we had the okay I thought you did maybe well Okay, Dr. Was it Dr. Emanuel? Uh, the lawyer was busy while ago. I need to ask him something. All right, we're voting tonight about a decision on the calendar. When do you think the law the legislature will meet about this new calendar law? Have you heard when they're going to

126meet to vote? There's a committee meeting tomorrow, I believe, um in the Senate. Okay. On the Senate bill, um which would allow a one week earlier start as long as you get out by Memorial Day. Um that legislation may or may not pass the general assembly this year. Um it also has a lot of penalties involved if the board does anything outside of what's allowed in the law. Um, and this calendar doesn't uh this calendar complies with the current calendar law. That calendar you're looking at now the the one that's been presented does comply with the current semesterers are not even though what about what about it would not comply with the new legislation. Okay. It wouldn't comply if that legislation passes but it does comply with the existing calendar law. Okay. But not the

127new one if it passed. Let's say if it passes, what would happen if we adopted that would not comply? What what what's we'd have to come back and and re and go for something different that would comply with that new calendar law. If it passes. All right, Mr. Chair, you got your Oh, I thought your mic was on. I thought you had something to say. All right. You do not have a motion pending right now. No, Mr. Chair. Yes, Mr. Mr. Henry. I'm sorry. I I didn't know if you recognize my hand or not. U got a question for Mr. Schwarz. Being the situation we're in with the fed federal government and now a lot of it's reverting back to the state. Do you think they would give us an extension until a decision is

128made in the Senate on the start date of the start and finish date of our school? But I understand that we we have a uh and and and correct me if I'm wrong, we can um manip manipulate five days as long as we in accordance with coordinating with the state and keeping our ground. I'm not sure I'm not sure what the question is. I'm not following the question. uh the federal government has caused us a a miraculous change right now. So with that and it reverting back from the federal government to the state legislators, do you think we can get an extension on letting them know what our schedule will be? This has nothing to do with the federal government at all. federal government's not involved in setting the school calendar. Mr. Chair, may I

129offer clarification for that? Go ahead. So, we've shared with you, I think a couple of board me ago, that we are transition from Power School to Infinite Campus. One of the details that uh must be entered into infinite campus so that that conversion can continue to take place is a beginning and end date for our schools. That's right. that was due April the 1st. We have missed that deadline. We have asked our implementation implementation team to bear with us until after tonight's meeting. Uh and they have worked with Miss Angela and her team. I cannot guarantee that our implementation team will work with us anymore. And if we do not get a calendar date in the in infinite campus, that will almost stop our conversion. All right, Mr. Melissa Ocean got her hand up, then

130we're going back to you, Mr. Chair. Melissa, I'll mute you. How about now? Yeah, I can hear you. Okay. So it it appears like our indecisiveness has is causing a lot of issues. Um we are at the point now where this has been delayed for months and I I personally feel like it's time to make a decision. Um with the new legislation that's coming to pass and reading that information that was shared. Um there's some very strict um ramifications for board members if they are outside of that policy which you know we'll know more about that tomorrow. Um but they can totally dis disband a board for not following you know for not following the line and having and following these guidelines. Um I think it would just be to come to put this new

131calendar in play for first off it's not fair um have to come back again. I'm I'm at this point I'm tired of discussing the calendar. This has been an ongoing thing for the last three meetings. Um, we need to make a choice and and stick by it. The the calendar that we've been using has has worked. It doesn't have anybody missing out on any money. It's not causing a disruption to our transportation. And it's basically right now what's in the best interest of our kids. We are looking basically in what what adults think instead of what's in the best interest of our children. So, and to cause them a total disruption. They're on a schedule different than their their their um their siblings is is is too much. All right, Mr. Chair. So, I would

132have to make a substitute motion or what what kind of motion did you say, Mr. Schwarz? There's no there's currently no motion pending on this issue to vote on making it K uh K12. If you wanted to revoke the previous action, you'd have to have a motion to rescend the previously adopted KA calendar before we could change this. And the reason I'm trying to um get us on the on one calendar is because it would cause a lot of issues, I think, with transportation. So, I'm going to make a motion to resend the previous action. Somebody that voted for it got to do that, right? Yeah. Somebody that voted for it. I voted for it. I voted for the KA. the K calendar. It was unanimous. Dr. Okay, Dr. Emanuel. You need to find out

133if there's a second on that motion. Yeah. Is there a second? Anybody? All right. Um I second by uh motion been on the table by Mr. Terry Lley to uh approve resend the previous resend the previously adopted KA calendar. Ka Calner and a second been made by Miss uh Miss Christie. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Nobody show hands. All right. We we need a we need a show of hands for all in favor say I. Raise your hand. Raise your right hand. All in favor. um resend resending the first motion of the K8 calendar that we voted on last meeting. Yeah, we we got to see if we're going to resend this first. The motion resend resend the previous calendar K8. See the votes need to need to show hands. Yeah, we're

134trying to get all the calendar stuff together, but we Discussion discussion miss um discussion by put your mic on Dr. Lind uh Emanuel Dr. Mayor. Okay, Mr. law, it wouldn't it be clear if this this calendar right here is to let us propose both calendars because this is not the one that I'm going to vote for. This is the one for the semesterers are not even. We need to bring I think you tell me if I'm wrong. We need to bring the other one up as well because there's another one that some of us are going to vote for that where our semesterers are even. You see that you're only presenting one here. We have one option in front of us and you see there's another one going to come that where where some of

135us are vote for another one. This is the one where they get out early for Christmas and the semesterers are not even. Okay. The one that Bobby and the cabinet presented before is where the semesterers are even. So what is you all stacking the deck against us just showing us this one. We're voting to res anything. I know you're not. Somebody's stacking the deck. We're voting to resend the previous vote where we can vote on Okay, I know that. But you see what you just said? You said you're voting to resend the vote. I understand that. So you can vote for this one. So we can vote on the new one. Exactly. What about what when are we going to vote get a chance to vote on the other one as well? You you can

136make a substitute motion. There's a substitute motion. When you make the when they make the motion, you somebody can make a substitute motion, vote on another calendar that you want. Exactly. That's what I'm saying. If you just say, "We going to do away with the K." I understand that. And then everybody's going to vote for this. But no, no, that's not how it works. We got to give us some give me a chance to make a substitute motion or show another calendar cuz I want to vote for the one where the semester is a balance. Meaning they won't get out for Christmas. You understand what I mean? before Christmas unless the law changes something cuz that's stacking the deck doing it like that. But that's probably on us. We didn't put the K8 calendar back

137in the board package. Um because depending on your vote, then the request would be the K8 calendar that we will have just two calendars early college and then the K 12. Exactly. Thank you, Mr. Trey. You got it. Mr. Craig then Mr. Tra Mr. Craig was up here first then you Trey I might have should have cut it off here I sit here so long um go ahead to someone else and let me All right Mr. Dre Brick um I was going to be honest Dr. Emanuel, it was voted on twice and we it didn't get approved. The calendar that you're talking about that's not in this stack that it was not put in here. It got voted on twice and it didn't get approved. All right. Uh a motion a motion being on a

138motion is on the table and it's been a second by Miss Christy Fields to resend the previous calendar voted on for K8. Correct. Now let's go by the short of the hands. Who in favor of this to resend the K8 count by the show of hands? The eyes. I need I need by the show of hands. The eyes. Call for the eyes. I Yeah. If you're in favor of the motion to resend the previously adopted KA calendar, please show your hands so we can record the vote. No, the motion is simply to resend the previously adopted KA calendar. That's the current motion. That's the current motion. That's the only motion we got right now. Just to resend the K calendar. Okay. Let's go by the show of hands. All in favor raise your right hand.

139Okay. One, two, three. Hold on a second. Let me get the We got to record the votes. I got M Miss Fields, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Lleair, Monroe, uh Mr. Henry, how how are you voting? Melissa, how are you voting? Chairman, I'm I'm going to have to vote like I intended to stay within guidelines of the requirements and our previous calendar meant that even though we done testing there in January. So, is that a nay? That's a nay for me. All right. Miss uh Miss Melissa, how do you vote? as far as the the calendar presented is it's a nay for me. No, this this is for the So rescending the calendar is a Yes. All right. So, we got we got the go by show hands of the nays. Okay. Okay. We got Miss Do

140Dr. Emanuel, Mr. Lowry, Mr. Simmons, Mr. delete. So motion fails. It's going to be attached. So the motion to resend fails. So five to six. That was 55 then. Oops. No. Six. Six. Yeah. Just said no. He said he didn't think the chairman voted, but I said it was a five. It was a 55 on it. You voted right? Yes. Yes. Okay. So it failed. Five to six. Now, on the on the high school on the high school calendar, do we got any any motions out there for the high school calendar 2025 2026? All right. Sorry, Mr. Chair. I make a motion that we um approve the high school calendar um as presented as present. This current calendar that we're looking at this one right here. Yes. I just want I just want to make

141sure that everybody's on the same page. All right. All right. Dr. Man need a second. You need a second first. You got Do we got a second? All right. There's been a a motion on the table by Mr. Terry. A second B I made Mr. Cro Monroe. Um, you got something, Dr. M? Okay. So, we got Mr. Dr. May want to make a substitute motion. Then we're going to have a discussion. I make a substitute motion that we approve the original calendar and the uh cabinet based on that would follow the law that the semesterers would be equal. So I make that substitute motion. Do we have a second? All right, Mr. Dr. Emanuel have made a substitute motion that we do the original calendar that presented by do Mr. Bob in the cabin. We

142have a second by Mr. Craig Larry. Now we're gonna have a discussion by Mr. Trey Brit. And when we vote, we will vote on the secondary motion. Dr. M. Dr. Man, what you just said, that calendar is not in front of me. So there it is again. It's not in front of me. But now I will say this, this was my original discussion. Um, I hope this is different next year and I hope it's more thought out and planned and the local school board is involved in the school calendar. I think this is a lesson for everybody here tonight. I'm being honest. Now, what are we going to do? All right. Um, Mr. Terry, Mr. Trey, Mr. Trey, the only way that we can avoid these long drawn out conversations and all of this stuff

143is to have real ongoing subcommittees. That's the purpose of subcommittees. We've got to get them going. So my question, Mr. Schwarz, um either of the calendars, the one that I presented or the one that Mr. Bobby present, is either of those illegal right now? No. I don't know where in the world that came from, but um yeah. Anyway, so um there's a mot there was a motion on the table. Uh there a question by Mr. John Simmons. My question is is we're going to change the time. Come counter starts at 8:30 and get out at 3:45, 3:30, I'm sorry. So the this calendar here, we going to follow that calendar any time. Well, we going to have to vote on it first. I mean, we're going to have to vote on it. It needs to

144be in there be known. All right, Miss Mrs. Trey Britt. And here's another thing. Last time we met when we had that meeting, we made a motion that was approved to have exams before Christmas. There's got to be something done to that, too. All right, that's it. Mr. Terry, you got something? Well, one of the things that's caused mass confusion among this group is there's two ways that you can cond that you can adopt a calendar. It's either by hours or by instructional days. If I'm looking at the law curriculum, Mr. Schwarz, there's a big O in in that calendar law. It's the number of days or hours within certain parameters. That's correct. And and this calendar meets the instructional hours. The entire time that we've had this conversation, hours and days have been convoluted

145and hours and days and that whole thing has been convoluted you and used at um at selective times. Even with the term uh legal, there's been certain things used at certain times to create confusion among this group. So next year we better get together in um in subcommittees and discuss these items before they're all right. Mr. Melissa Ocean then we're going to bring it to a vote. Okay. And this will be my last comment. [Music] As far as things being I don't I not I understand the concept. I don't like it. So, I don't like the the change that it's going to cause for our staff or the disruption it's going to cause for our students. So, um my my view is not convoluted. I understand the difference between hours and days. I I just

146don't like the schedule. I I don't like I don't like I don't like the calendar proposal. All right. Now, we f to um bring it to a uh a vote. Now, Miss uh motion's been on the table and the second been a secondary motion been on the table by Dr. Linda manual the that we go with the original calendar that u Mr. Bobby and the cabinet has presented has been seconded by Mr. Craig Larry. All right. Yes. You No, I know. But they Okay. Well, we have to we we have to go back. We have to go back. How long? You have to go back on the We have to go back on the test. We can't go back on the test. No, no, we never approved. We never approved the calendar. What was approved

147last at the last meeting was to direct the administration to bring forth a calendar that would have testing before Christmas. And they've done that. Yes. But there's been a secondary motion on table. There's been a secondary motion on the table that we adopt the first calendar that was original calendar that was presented. Right. the the what was approved at the last meeting, excuse me, was to direct the administration to bring back a calendar that would have testing before Christmas. They've done that and submitted it to you. There was not a motion approved last time to have testing before Christmas. I don't believe so. Let's see. We got got the minutes. Let me check here. Well, that was done at the March 17 meeting. We don't have those minutes. Mr. All right, Mr. Henry, before we

148make the vote, we This is the last thing we need to come to a vote. We I think we didn't spent three three or four board meets on this uh council the whole board meet. We just need to go to a vote. Mr. Henry, Mr. Chair, u my concern now is the misalignment between the elementary and high school. That's going to create more chaos for parents. Put it to the vote. All right. Well, let's go ahead with the vote. State again. Motion uh secondary motion been on the table, Dr. Lind Emanuel to do the original calendar that was presented by the cabinet. A second been made by Mr. Craig Lowry. So, all in favor of doing the original calendar, do by say show hand say I. Okay, let me get the vote recorded. We've got

149I. We got Mr. Brook. Got Miss Ocean, Dr. Emanuel, Mr. Lowry Simmons. Anybody else? Okay, that's fine. That's five. All right, I'm going go with it. And Mr. Leech. Okay, the Naz. We need to record those nays. We got one, two, three, five. Okay. Mr. Phillips, Miss Fields, Mr. Britt, and Miss Monroe. So, that motion passes. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Now let's move on to PRC071 additional teacher to the supplement by M Erica Sepsson. Now the calendar Good evening again. Um in your packet you will find uh the detailed information on PRC71. This will be the third year that the state has supplied that funding um to districts. And I included to show you there's a funding formula the state uses to determine the maximum amount that each district those teachers will receive.

150And I included that for all the districts. As you can see, there are a few who don't receive any funding at all. And the lowest outside of zero is $915 for Union County and some districts receive as much as 5,000. For PSRC, the max is $3,335 um per teacher. That would also include instructional support personnel, as I've identified in that information. Um certified teachers and instructional support had to be in pay status as of April 1st to be eligible for any portion. And it'll be prrated for anyone that didn't begin in August. and it will be be paid on June 13th um as a separate payment outside of the regular supplement. And like I said, this is all um determined by the state and the state gives us funding for this. It's a PRC 071

151additional. So, Dr. May, I I just have point of clarification. Miss Erica, do you development specialists fall under that social workers guidance counselors? No, ma'am. They're classified employees. This is only for certified employees. Okay. How about Okay, it says they will not pay preschool. Can preschool use their enterprise monies, their monies to pay preschool uses title one funds to pay this. Okay. Are there any other persons that they have to be out at a school? They can't be central office employees. Okay. That's the only other caveat. Principles and assistant principles are high eligible. Yeah. I was trying to think of anyone else that would not be outside the regular scope. That's all. Thank you. Uh Mr. Terry, then Mr. Chris in my room. I thought guddess counselors were certified. Guidance counselors are. She said youth

152development specialist. Developments Indian Ed works. Okay. So, guidance counselors are included. Correct. Guidance counselors are youth development specialists are not. Yes, guidance counselors are included. Yeah, they they have to be considered instructional support personnel to be eligible for this certified licensed licensed. Miss Kristen Monroe, I just had a quick question. Um, so the highest pay as you said is 3,330. Now, does everybody get that straight across the board for that or is it like different amounts to different people? So everybody that started in August and works through June will get it may not be that total. What I have to do is take the total number of eligible in June and divide it by the money we have. In the last few years, whatever the maximum was, we've had to reduce it by say maybe

153$100 to ensure that everybody's eligible gets it because they give us the money based on the number of employees we had in December, not the number we have when we decide to pay it. So no one will get more than that. Um and then it's prrated. So if somebody started in um December, they're going to get a separate amount. If somebody started in any other month, it's prorated by 10% each month that they are later in the year. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Craig. Mr. Craig L. Um Miss Eric, I know y'all do a great job in this, but I would say to continue to do this that to remind people this comes from the state. It's not something that comes from the county because we're going to have people that's not going to receive this

154money. and then they're going to question why are you giving it to them and not giving it to us. You know, that's not our decision. This was decided on by the general assembly and the rules concerning who is eligible were decided by the state board of education and sent to us as eleas. Okay. Thank you. All right. A motion been made by Miss uh Christine Monroe to approve the PRC071 additional teacher supplement. Second. A second been made by Miss Miss Fields. Miss Christy Fields. All in favor say I. I. And I will email this information out to all staff like I have the previous two years. Miss Ocean, what was your vote? Unmute yourself. It was I I Yeah. Okay. 11 110 11. It was 110. All right. Soul source. Uh open up resources by

155Mr. Erica. Um a question. Hold on for a second by Mr. Terry Lley. I didn't see your hand up. I'm sorry. Mr. Terry, that's okay. I was going to ask a question about this. Um open up resources. Is this e curriculum material? Yes, it is. Dr. Clark can Yes. It's consumables that um are part of the ELA. So based on our current numbers, student decodables for K2, we're going to be short. So ensuring that we have enough for those for the upcoming year. All the other materials are already there, but we were short some decodables. So this is just to buy enough decodables to cover the ones that would not have any decodable text. So if you vote on this, okay, this is I got you. Um Mr. Uh, Dr. Manuel. Oh, I didn't. All

156right. That was from the last time. Okay, Miss Christie. Miss Christie Fields. So, this is material. This is not material we're using this year. It's for the upcoming year. It's for the upcoming year. So, based on projected numbers, we're going to be short of decodable text. We have everything, teacher materials, the module books, everything. But the decodable books were going to be short if we don't place the order for those K2 students to have enough decodables. And what is this material going to do? This is what they use in their reading centers when we look at actually teaching the phonics and phony awareness. It's just the student books that they use for that. So it's 10 sets per classroom. Mr. Sim, Mrs. Trey, Mr. Trey, then Mr. John, I'm sorry. Dr. Williamson knows my feelings

157on this EO curriculum. So, I'm just being honest and you know what my votes going to be. Mr. John, Mr. Simmons, make a motion to approve. Do we got a second? A motion a motion's been made to approve the soul source uh open up resources by Mr. John Simmons. A second bid made by Mr. Craig Lowry. All in favor say I. Let me get Can we get a clarification? The the uh uh the recommendation sheet says this is for approval of the soul source vendor for the 2425 school year. Should that be 2526? Well, we're placing the order now and we could receive the materials now. They will just be and they'll be paid for in this calendar year. They'll just be used for the next year because you can't guarantee delivery. Okay. So it

158should be for the 2425 fiscal year. Correct. Okay. Mr. Chair, if I may, I want to clarify. So we have one year left on our contract. So we're simply adding material for the year that's left on our contract. I did want to clarify that. All right. A motion has been on the table to accept the soul source open up resources by Mr. John Simmons. A second been made by Mr. Craig Lar. All in favor say I. I. I. We got the uh all oppose. Let's go by hand raised. All in favor say I. Raise your right hand. All in favor say I. The uh vot the soul source open up resources. We order more materials. All in favor say I. Hands. Hands. Hands by the short. Okay. We got Mr. Brewer. How about Miss Ocean?

159Miss Ocean. How do you vote? unmute yourself. Yeah, this thing is working crazy. As long as it's just a a re up on resources, I vote I. All right. Okay. And the others were Okay, we got Mr. Brewer, Miss Ocean, Dr. Emanuel, Mr. Lowry, Mr. Simmons, Mr. Leachch. All oppose. That's it. Sure. Raise a hand. M Christie Fields. Okay. Miss Fields. Mr. Mr. Phillips. Mr. Phillips, Miss Terry, M. Christie, Crystal Monroe, and Mr. um Trey Brick. Okay. So, it passes 65. Yes. All right. Budget amendments uh 24 25. Mr. Ericson, I presented a budget amendments for state funds um that have been received since the last board meeting, and I can answer any questions anyone has about that. Dr. Megan this if it's not appropriate ask tell me have you received any cuts or any

160innuendos about any kind of federal federal cuts from the what's been cut out from the federal government for next year well now or anytime other than what we got the other day other than that we haven't received any clear indication of any cuts well the reason I'm asking I just heard where they were going to cut grants existing grants and I was wondering a lot of times when our people write grants and this and that the other they were cutting out some of those and I was just wondering if you had heard anybody say that they received anything about their grant being cut or anything like that. There were some other districts that had I don't know if they were federal um uh for like um juvenile justice and some other things but we have

161not received any notification of any of our grants at this point. Now, I'm not saying that couldn't change between now and their new fiscal calendar will be October one, but so far all of our communication with DPI as we're moving as we would normally in preparation for the next school year. Thank you, Mr. You got a question? Anybody else? Um, do we got a do we got a motion to approve the amendments? Do we got a motion? We have it. Um, a motion being made by Mr. John Simmons. Uh, second being made by Dr. Linda Mang. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. I um how you vote. Henry and Melissa. I I unmute yourself. She raising her hand so that I don't. Okay. We need a voice vote from Miss Ocean. Say 10.

162Miss Ocean, can you unmute yourself? Let's go. 10. We need to change it. We'll change it now. Monthly financial report is it was 100. That vote was 100. The budget amendments. uh monthly financial report by Mr. Erica. And I've also included the financial report in your packet. If you have any questions, I can answer those at this time. A motion been made to approve the monthly financial report, Miss John Simmons. A second been made, Mr. Trey Brit. All in favor say I. All oppose. I miss Melissa. That that vote is again is a 10. Thank you. Who's going to do that? Trey. Trey. I move that the board of education for the public schools of Robinson County go into close session for the purposes of discussing certified and classified personnel on North Carolina general statutes

163143-318.11A1 and6 and to consult with attorney retained by the board in order to preserve the attorney client privilege between the attorney and the board of education for the public schools of Robinson County North Carolina general statutes 143-318.11A1 and3 and to discuss the pending litigation with the board's attorney and Khloe Oxen diverse the board of education for the public schools of Robinson County 23 3 CVS 3094 and to consider student maps that are confidential to North Carolina General Statutes 143-318.11 A1 and 115 C-402 and 20 US code [Music] 1232G. A motion been made by Mr. Trey Brit to go into close session. We got a second. Second. All in favor? I I Mr. chair. Second by Mr. Simmons. Hold on. We got a um a discussion about Mr. Henry. If there's a addendum coming out to

164the personnel, ask Mr. Jamal if he can send me that. We He say he sent it already, Mr. Henry. Okay, then. Thank you. All right. So, um a motion be on the table by Mr. Trey to go into sec close session. The second been made with John Simmons. All in favor say I. Close it. John Simmons. We had a second by Miss Crystal Monroe. All in favor say I. All right. That's 90. 90. That's 90. Um, a motion to uh accept close session minutes. We got a a motion been made by Miss John Simmons to accept close session minutes. A second bid made by Miss Christristen Monroe. All in favor say I. Another n. All right. Uh motion to accept classified and certified employees as presented. A motion been made by Miss Christristen Monroe. A

165second been made by Mr. Bradley Phillips. All in favor say I. Got anything else? Nope. All right. Uh we got a announcement before we go. Miss uh Wendy Darcy Carr. I just want to invite everybody to Special Olympics tomorrow at UNCCTP football field starting at 9:00. All right. UNCC uh Special Olympics at UNCCTP football field tomorrow starting at 900 a.m. All right. Do we got a a motion to adjourn? Motion to adjourn. Mr. Trey Brick. Do we got a second? A second by Mr. Craig Lowry. All in favor say I.