001I would like to call this meeting of the public schools uh Roberts County Board of Education to order orders. Is March the 11th, 2025 at 6:07. Um first we will have a moment of silence. Um before then I want you to remember the Miss Lisa Gails this custodian at Lumberton High School that recently passed away. Also um once again keep Mr. Henry um in your prayers, thoughts and prayers him and his family. Now would like to have a moment of silence. Thank you. Now we'll have the pledge of allegiance by Oxidon Beta Club. Please stand. Attention. Salute. Pledge. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Will you all please let them introduce
002themselves? My name is Bishop and I'm fourth grade. My name is Marley. Um, in sixth grade. My name's Haley. I'm in sixth grade. My name is Jaya and I'm in sixth grade. My name's Kaylee and I'm in fifth grade. My name is Winter. I'm in sixth grade. And they all talk louder than that. I don't know why they're so shy now. Thank y'all for the opportunity. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Um before the adoption of the agenda, I would like to say Bradley Phillips is on virtual. All right. Um adoption of the agenda. Motion been made by Miss Melissa Osh to adopt the agenda. Second been made by Mr. Crystal Monroe. All in favor? All oppose? Approval of uh approval of open session Bets. Yes. All right. Um a motion made by Mr. Craig Lowry.
003A second been made by Miss Mr. Trey Brick. All in favor? All oppose? That was unanimous again. All right. information items. We have um Women History Month. I'm Miss Jessica Cely. Good evening, Chairman Leech, Dr. Williamson, and board members. March is Women's History Month. This is a time when we celebrate the contributions of women to our society and our world. Many rights women enjoy today are the result of trailblazers who work tirelessly to advocate for women's rights as individuals and as Americans. Through their courage and tenacity, they opened doors for women and they worked to ensure that women had a seat at the table where all the decisions were being made. This month, we acknowledge their voices and we celebrate Women's History Month. Thank you. Thank you. Now, we have Beta Club winners by Dr.
004Deborah Dallas. Oh, I'm sorry, Dr. L. Um, Dr. Emanuel, I I just wanted to add a caveat to her Jessica's statement. Women's month is every month and every day. Thank you. Thank you for that, Dr. Emanuel. So, good evening, Chairman Leech, Superintendent Williamson, and board members. We are excited to share that we had several public schools of Robinson County students who earned top honors during the recent National Beta Club state conventions at the Joseph S. Curry Convention Center in Greensboro. Students from various schools within the district completed competed with other students across North Carolina for top awards in various categories. The events included team competitions and individual showcases. So tonight we are going to just recognize these students. So from deep branch they did receive in the junior beta convention category of robotics. They placed
005fourth. Fair Grove Elementary School. In the elementary beta convention category, they had sculpture elementary. First place was Noah McFadder. Speech Elementary. Fourth place was Jeremiah Stevens. From Magnolia Elementary Beta, we had elementary performing arts solo duo trio variety act. Fourth place was David Rendan and Khloe Cook. And for Junior Beta, we had the junior performing arts solo duo trio vocalist. First place, Natalie Oxundine and Aaliyah Hunt. For the premier performer vocalist, we had Natalie Oxundine. And we also had, as I said, Aaliyah Hunt. of congratulations to Magnolia for Oxendine. At the elementary level, we had science fifth grade. First place was Connor Gillespie. Was it for oxen? Congratulations. At Penrook Elementary, in the elementary beta convention category, we had visual arts handdrawn uh elementary that was third place, Marinda Perry. We had mixed media elementary,
006third place, Brayley Harris. On-site art drawing elementary, first place, Olivia Hunt. Visual arts painting, fifth place, Olivia Hunt. Performing Arts Elementary small group was second place. The premier performer elementary dancer was Jaden He. Hearnden. The premier performer elementary singer was Gage Oxendine. And the premier performer elementary singer also had Jaci Lambert. We had visual arts recyclable art that was fifth place, Charlie Oxundine. Visual arts two-dimensional design elementary. That was third place as a group. Third place also for Songfest. Visual arts jewelry. Fifth place was Brinley McNeel. And for academics, fifth grade science, third place was John Mark Jones III. For St. Paul's Elementary in the elementary category of performing arts elementary solo duo trio instrumentalist. First place was Tiko Villanoeva Perez. At Townsen Elementary um we had the elementary category accessorized design elementary. They took
007second place. Performing arts solo duo trio vocalist was first place. Jeremiah Lleair, performing arts elementary large group, they took home second place. Painting was fourth place, Dyla Chestnut. Our premier performer elementary singer first place, Jeremiah Lleair. And the premier performer elementary singer first place was Michaela Hines for Union Elementary. In elementary category, best of show Elementary was first place. Dean Bowen for digitally enhanced photography elementary was fourth place, John Landon Samson. Fiber Arctics, Fiber Arts Elementary, third place was Kylie Todd. Performing Arts Elementary solo duo trio vocalist. Second place, we had the premier performer elementary singer. First place, Hayden Lleair. Quilling Elementary, fourth place was Kaden Lowry. Recyclable Art Elementary, first place, Dean Bowen. Service Learning Showcase Elementary was third place. They also have a junior beta group. And they had accessorized design junior, that
008was third place. Black and White Photography Junior, fifth place was Isabella Dial. She also had color photography. Fifth place, Isabella Dial. Jewelry Jr. fourth place was Isabella Maynor. And mixed media junior fourth place was Cash Swark. So congratulations to Union Penrook Middle School with their junior beta. We had computer science principal sixth grade. Fifth place was Sedia Carter. Jewelry junior third place was James Bullard and recyclable art junior fifth place Emily Oxendine. Prospect Elementary with a junior beta. We had campaign skit junior state fourth place. That was Misha Gabriella Hunt. Living literature junior first place marking and communications junior fifth place and woodworking second place Braden Clark. South Robinson Middle with their junior beta we had vice president student officer Dartanian Davis. We have campaign skit junior third place Dartanian Davis handdrawn junior fourth place
009Carly Goens performing arts junior solo duo trio vocalist fourth place Spanish sixth grade second place Brenda Morales Various and premier performer junior singer first place Josiah Curry [Applause] for Pernell Sweat High School. In the senior beta category, we had campaign skit senior. They took home fifth place. Living literature senior third place. In mixed media division 2, fourth place, Kirsten [Applause] Scott. For the early college, we had digital digitally enhanced photography division two. Third place was Emma Scott. Drawing division one, second place was Marley Pigen. Jewelry division 1 place Naa Bullard. Marketing and communication senior third place math grade nine. Second place, Zachary Xany. On-site drawing division third place, Jalissa Lleier. Premier performer senior dancer first place, Isabella Floyd. Poetry division one second place, Vetica Zope. Recyclable art division 1 second place, Ureli Medina Verona. Sculpture
010division 1 fifth place, Raymond Fountain. Social studies 10th grade, fourth place, John Hunt. Spanish 9inth grade, third place, Helen Perez Hernandez. Spanish 10th grade, second place, Brian Diaz. Speech Division One, fourth place, Jameson Smith. And threedimensional design senior, they took home fourth [Applause] place. In St. Paul's High School. In the senior beta category, we had drawing division 2, fourth place, Sebastian Hernandez Arianis. So, congratulations to them. And we would just like to say a very, very special thank you to all of our Beta sponsors. It is a lot of work and we appreciate what they do for our children every day. The experiences that they provide, those are experiences that will last a lifetime. So, we appreciate them. And once again, we'd like to congratulate all of our teams and all of their our students.
011Thank you, Miss Melissa Ocean. And just a quick statement, I was able had the honor of attending this event. Um, and it is it was a real experience. Um, the kids are they're awesome. They are awesome. Um, public schools of Robinson County really went and gave it their all. So I just thank you for letting me be a part of that. Definitely memorable for our students and the adults. It was I remember always. Good. Thank you. Now we have the 2024 2025 student of excellence or Dr. um Deborah Dallas and Miss Valerie Hammond. Okay. So good evening Chairman Leech, Dr. Williamson, and board members. We are excited to share in recognizing 12 amazing students this evening with several of our Chamber of Commerce organizations for our student of excellence celebration. We would like to thank
012all of our Chamber of Commerce members for supporting our students and for being here this evening. At this time, I'd like to ask Miss Valerie Hammond, our lead AIG teacher, to come forward and we will continue with our recognition. Thank you. Good evening, Chairman Leech, Dr. Williamson, and board members. This evening, the Public Schools of Robinson County's academically intellectually gifted department along with various Chamber of Commerce organizations are honoring two students from each high school. Two applicants were chosen by each chamber organization as a student of excellence for the 202425 school year. and each winner will receive an item of recognition based on the choice of each chamber group. So, everyone's already in order. Um, what we're going to do is we we'll take pictures when you receive your item and then we'll also take
013a picture with the chamber member when both students are recognized. Okay. We will start with the Lumberton Chamber of Commerce representative, Mr. Tim Little who will present the winners for early college at RCC and Lumberton Senior High School. Thank you, Valerie. As she said, my name is Tim Little. I'm representing the Lumberton Chamber of Commerce. I also work with Robinson County Partnership for Children and I am honored this evening to be able to recognize these bright young people. First from early college be recognizing Carlos Yumana Karanza who is in the 13th grade. He has an unweighted GPA of 4.0, three outstanding accomplishment activities. During the last two years, he had been the captain for the robotics team number 6,792 at early college. He mentors other high school student high school robotics teams across the county.
014He was a finalist at the 2024 UNCC Pinroke District Event Robotics Competition. His future plans after completing undergrad and graduate studies at UNCC Chapel Hill, he plans to work in research concerning environmental issues. Are your parents here this evening? Congratulations. [Applause] [Music] Certainly. She's so cute. Congratulations. [Applause] [Laughter] Next from Early College. We have Cammy Lo Samson. Cammy is in the 12th grade. She has an unweighted GPA of 4.0, three outstanding accomplishments, activities. She's a 2023 college horizon scholar and essay award winner. She's a part of the project indie choice tutoring consultants program. She's maintained a 4.0 0 GPA while attending early college and in the future she plans to become a certified nurse midwife. Are your parents here tonight? Like come up. [Music] Congratulations. Hold on. Hold on. Hold up. There you go. [Applause]
015from Lumberton High School. First, we have Leslie Sto Flores, a 12th grader. Leslie has an unweighted GPA of 3.7. Her outstanding accomplishments and achievements are she's a member of several school clubs and serves as the battalion commander of the junior reserve. She is team captain captain of the varsity cross country team. She's participated in many community events through junior ROC beta and national honor society. She plans to become an officer in the army with a major in business administration and human resources concentration. Are your parents here? I wore heels today. Congratulations. [Applause] Finally, from Lumberton High School, we recognize Caitlyn Foil, who's in the 10th grade. Caitlyn has an unweighted GPA of 4.0. Her outstanding achievements are she's a member of several school clubs, the 10th grade ad ambassador for the key club. I'm Quanian.
016So, thank you. She's currently in her first ranked first in her sophomore class. She's an elite level gymnast who's traveled extensively to compete and will be competing this month at the South Carolina State Championships. In the future, she plans to become an orthodontist and open her own practice. Are your parents here tonight? Yes, sir. I thought I saw them. [Music] Y'all can move faster than that. Somewhere somewhere. Congratulations. [Applause] [Music] Thank you. Now we will have the Fairmont Chamber of Commerce representative, Miss Whitney Johnson, come forward to present the winners for Fairmont High School. Good evening, everyone. I'm so excited to pronounce these um awards for the Fairmont High School from the Chamber of Commerce. Our first recipient will be Miss Hana Lleair from the ninth grade. She has a 4.0 GPA. She's the Beta
017Club vice president and has been a member since fifth grade. She's a junior Miss Fairmont Farmers Festival Queen and she volunteers for the Fairmont Rotary Club auction each year. Her future plans are to attend college to become a pediatrician. your parents. Mom, where are you? Come on, Dr. [Laughter] Park. Congratulations. [Applause] Our next recipient couldn't be with us tonight. That's Miss Jordan Hunt from the 11th grade. She has an unweighted GPA of 3.6. She's the president of the Robinson County Teens Democrats Youth Advocacy Council with NC Children. She discusses youth mental health with people her own age. She is a Robinson STEM Ambassador. Her future plans are to attend UNCC Chapel Hill or the University of Southern California, then attend law school, and Dr. Barton will be accepting her award for her tonight. [Applause] Thank
018you. Now we will have the Pinch Chamber of Commerce Representative Miss Carol Richardson come forward to present the winners for Pernell Sweat High School. Good evening everyone. Um, thank you so much Valerie. I'm Carol Richardson, vice president of the Pimber Area Chamber of Commerce. And on behalf of the Pimber Chamber, in the absence of our president, Patrick Strickland, we would like to thank you for this opportunity. Um, our first recipient is Lindseay Lleier, 12th grade from Pernel Sweat High School, GPA 4.0, three outstanding accomplishments. She has been an active member of Beta Club for eight years and served as a junior marshall. She has um been playing tennis for three years. She volunteers at various local school and church events, future plans, attend the University of North Carolina at Pimrook, earning a bachelor's degree um
019in biology. Do you are your parents here? [Applause] Good job. Our next recipient is Gabriel Chavis, 11th grade. Sorry. Our next recipient is Gabriel Chavis, 11th grade at Pernal Sweat. Um, unweighted GPA 4.0, three outstanding accomplishments. He has been an active member of Beta Club for four years. He has been a member of the National Honor Society for two years. He volunteers at Southeastern Veterinary Hospital every Thursday and volunteers at his home church every other events. Um future plans attend North Carolina State University obtaining an undergraduate degree in pet veter um vet later attending North Carolina State College of Veterinarian Medicine earning a doctorate degree in veterinarian medicine. Congratulations. Is your parents here? Congratulations. Thank you guys. Now we will have the Red Springs Chamber of Commerce Representative Mr. Chris Lleair come forward to present
020the winners for Red Springs High School. Thank you everyone. My name is Chris Lleair. I'm president of Red Springs Chamber of Commerce. I'm glad to be here. Thank you for having us. Glad to acknowledge all the students here tonight. Uh and so first um we have Miss Elena Oxendine. She's in the 12th grade. I think Miss Elena's unable to be here with us this evening, but we have someone to stand in for. Uh so she has an unweighted GPA of 4.0. Three outstanding accomplishments, activities. Um she's a junior chief marshall in 2024. uh received superintendent academic award in 2022 2023 2024 for straight A's achieved all conference in soccer in 2023 24 and her future plans attends to she plans to attend college to become a teacher [Applause] you got a contract Thank you. Thank
021you. And for our next our next student, uh, Mr. Noah Kaitton. know is in the 11th grade and has an unweighted GPA 3.14. Three outstanding accomplishments activities certified in fire operations 7 search and rescue with the Red Springs Fire Department. uh president of National Technical Honor Society uh battalion staff in junior ROC and future plans he attend he plans to attend Greensboro College for fire safety degree and do a cross enrollment at UNCC Greensboro for Navy ROC then become a Navy helicopter pilot. All right. and uh your parents family here. Congratulations. [Applause] Nice to see you. Our final presentation will be from the St. Paul's Chamber of Commerce representative, Miss Doris McClean, who will present the winners for St. Paul's High School. Chairman Leech, board members, and distinguished guests. My name is Daris Mlan, and
022I'm vice president of the St. Paul's Chamber of Commerce. And on behalf of our president, Libby Ferguson, who couldn't be here tonight. We want to thank you for allowing us to be a part of this ceremony. Our first award will go to Janet Hickman. She has a GPA of 3.9. She has re been on the AB honor role uh from elementary all the way through high school. She has served as vice captain on the middle school volleyball team. She has done volunteer work at helping the orphans thrift store and ran a marathon for breast cancer. She plans to attend college in Indiana while pursuing a master's degree in psychology to become a mental health therapist. She would also like to travel to Australia to experience some of the spectacular attractants it has to offer. Is
023um have family members [Applause] Our second award goes to Jenna Alman. She has a 3.0. She was elected a future farmer's American officer in 10th grade. She has volunteered at the hospital for two years in a row. She also volunteers with different organizations in order to distribute food to those in need. She's also an ambassador to the St. Paul's Chamber of Commerce. She is instrumental in helping us with our parade and our banquetss and anything else we ask. She plans to attend Robinson Community College for their two-year program to become an honology nurse. Jenna has a fan club here tonight. So, I don't know if we can get them all up here. So, all this section over here, if you'll stand up [Music] and this is her mom and dad. So, And we also have
024our principal who we're very proud of, Jason. Let it know. Yes, I do. You do. Thank you. Congratulations. [Music] The high school AIG specialists would like to thank each chamber of commerce organization for their time and cooperation in this endeavor to honor these students and also Dr. Williamson, Dr. Carr, Dr. Dallas, and our esteemed board members for the opportunity to present this evening. Thank you. Please join me once again in saying congratulations to all of our recipants tonight. Congratulations to all of you. Thank you. Also, thank you to the local area Chamber of Commerce for your support of our students. We appreciate all you do. Thank you. [Applause] Young Now we will have the yand pouch references by Dr. Freddy Williamson and Miss Jessica Cely. Mr. Chairman and members, last month we introduced to you
025two bills that would restrict cell phones use in public schools. Our intent as we share the information is not to take cell phones away from students but to have the capability of locking those phones up and the students will keep uh the phones on their person during the school day. What you have in your package is letters of reference from those school districts that are currently using the yand pouch their recommendations. And again, it's just for your information for tonight. Uh hopefully maybe in the April board meeting we can have it on again for information. But again, the first step that we shared with you was that we would provide you with letters of references from users. We also have from the superintendent in Chattam County Schools, Dr. Tony Jackson. He sent us this virtual
026video reference. Hello, this is Anthony Jackson. I'm the superintendent in Chattam County Schools. Um it's my joy to share with you our journey with Yonder and the use of Yonder pouch. It has been a transformative tool for us. Uh we're excited about uh what it has meant for uh instruction in our schools, for engagement for our students and most of all uh giving our classrooms back to our teachers. It has been an amazing turnaround from the beginning of the year to now to see the reduction in discipline referrals, uh the increase in the number of kids passing their classes at the pilot schools, uh and the reduction in suspensions in our schools, the reduction in fights. Now, we can't tie it all to Yonder, but we can say that uh we believe that it's part
027of our tool uh kit that has made uh doing this um worthwhile and meaningful for our schools. So, if you're planning to use it, we strongly recommend that you give it a strong look as a tool to help manage the use of cell phones. Um, and that it can in fact be a great toolkit to also helping increase engagement for students and uh potentially elevating their academic performance. We strongly recommend it. Thank you. I hope this helps. You also made a request of us that we research other companies and we've done that and Jessica will share with you what she's found. So, it's we're kind of in a situation where it's not as popular right now to find a bunch of companies, but one that we have found um is Velcro and I can provide
028that for you this evening as far as quotes, but this one is far above the rest yonder is. And did you tell them about the recommendation? Okay, I'll take any questions. M Mr. Terry, if this bill passes, is there um a mandate or a requirement in that bill that we actually purchase something or or there are there other options um other than uh purchasing purchasing something like this which would cause which would cost a a good amount of money and and and it's my understanding that as it stands this is a a unfunded bill. That that is correct and as I have read both bills what their intent is to pass the bill and then it becomes the obligation of school systems to make that a practice um to do that and this method while
029it will be a one-time cost um we think is the best way to secure student phones leave it on their person and then in the case of an emergency they will have the phone on them rather than collect those phones and put them in some type of item as as a whole group. But it's up to us in terms of how we implement. Is there any timeline on when it may be u passed and signed by the governor? No. You know, those bills normally say it becomes law when passed and signed. So, we're not sure. This is Trey Brick. That's what I was going to say. What Dr. Williams said. I was looking this afternoon and there is actually one in the House and the Senate right now, I believe. And um I don't think
030it's been fully out. My thing is I think my personal opinion is wait and see what happens with the general assembly and then move forward from there. And I actually I think it was Gordon, which is actually a personal friend of mine who is a product of Robinson Public School, Robinson County. Um, he said, "I think they pilot at a couple schools first." And I like the idea. I think definitely think we need to do something eventually, but I like the idea of pilot instead of just going full blast all the high schools. Um, Mr. Craig Lowry. Um, so Dr. Williamson, if you know the bills that are upfront now, if they're passed, are they saying cell phones are banned? How how is it worded? Are they banned? That's a great question. The wording is
031they're banned for use during the instructional day. That's the language. And so what you're looking at or what we're looking at here is with the company Yonder, the students would actually keep the phone in their possession during the day. That's correct. It be locked in that pouch that um they cannot unlock it. Okay. Well, I'm just going to say, you know, going forward reading these different items that we had, there was different methods on how they dealt with the phones far as students locking them up, keeping them or they've been put in one place, right? So if we pilot it somewhere orever how we go forth with it if it's approved at a later time that we have a clear pathway of what we're going to do so that once it's put out there that
032we're not having knee-jerk reactions because we did this and it didn't work. I know that could always happen, right? But it would be nice to have, okay, this is what we're doing. This is how we're doing. This is how we're going to pass them out, take them up, whatever happens with pouches or if it's something else. That's fine. Craig, that's one of the pieces that led us to look at Yan and that we want to be able to have the same practice in every building in the district as a whole rather than allow individual schools to make a decision of how to implement those policies. That's why but again this time we're kind of waiting to see what the legislature does. That's that's correct. again just for information and as the bills move through the
033general assembly, we'll pick it up again on the conversation. All right. And and I'll add to it. Um the the other vendor that I looked at that was kind of comparable still like it does it blocks the cell phone, but it's velcro so it's not as secure as this Yonder system would be. Yonder would give more control. Um, and they also offer medical pouches which would just be readily available for students that might have medical needs. So, those would not be locked. And I know that might be a concern for parents who know more about Yonder, but anyway, and they have a wonderful communications uh team and they would help us help guide us through every step of the way. So, um, wonderful packet, wonderful package. Um, we hope you'll consider Mr. Kirst Monroe. I
034I just um I've been to a comedy show where they have them where you have to turn them in your phone when you go in and they have like the lock kind of almost like your clothing that they take off. So is that how they these are? Right. It's kind of magnetic. Yes. The magnetic and they have they have the mechanism that unlocks those. Okay. So Okay. All right. That's it. All right. Thank you. Now we will have the North Carolina High School uh Athletic Association realignment by Mr. Glenn Patterson. Good evening, Chairman Leech, Superintendent Dr. Williamson, and board members. Uh every four years uh the North Carolina High School Athletic Association realignment committee um gather they collect the ADMs from every member school uh which is the first it's the attendance for the first
03520 days of the school uh calendar school year. And once they collect this data, they um determine then uh which athletic conference that each school each member school will participate in. Uh so on March the 3, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association realignment committee heard final request considered of conference placement in the realignment plan. Afterwards, the overall realignment plan for 2025 through 2029 was approved. And up on your screen, you also have a copy in your packet, but up on the screen, um these are the five Robinson County school conferences uh that they were placed in. Uh as you have the 3A, 4A, 5A conference, which consists of Fairmont, Red Springs, South Columbus, West Blade, and Whiteville, and South Brunswick. In the 5A6A conference, you have Douglasburg, St. Paul's, E Smith, 71st, South View,
036and West. And rounding out the 6A7A conference is Graves Creek, Scotland County, Terry Sanford, Kate Fear, Lumberton, and Pernell Sweat. Are there any questions? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Glenn. Um, there are public comments. There are none. Um, hello. Uh, hello, Mr. Bobby. You got one information item. All right. Mr. Schwarz got one information item before we the um this is new information. The um US Department of Education uh just a short while ago uh late this afternoon uh announced that it's going to be closed tomorrow and will reopen Thursday after they have fired 1,315 employees at the US Department of Education today. Um the US Department of Education started uh the year with 4,133 employees. 572 of them took the voluntary separation package that was offered by the Trump administration. 63 probationary
037employees were terminated in February and 1,315 were fired today. Um so that reduces uh the uh department of education to about half the size of that it was in January. Um with no information about how uh various functions are going to be realigned or uh what the impact is going to be on local school systems. All right. Now we have action items by um Mr. 202526 school calendar by Mr. Bob Ller. Good good evening chairman Leech, Dr. Williamson, board members. So, um bring before you the our suggestion for the calendar for the 2526 school year. And just to highlight the school calendar law, uh again, uh this is we must start students must start school Monday the closest to August 26 and dismiss by Friday closest to June 11th. There are no educational waiverss or
038weather waiverss at this point in the state of North Carolina for any school calendar. uh all calendars uh in order to adjust the time in school all schools must be closed within the calendar or delayed starts. We must cover a minimum of nine months and this is where the flexibility that we do have within the calendar is that we must have a minimum of 185 student days or a,025 hours of instruction. must have nine teacher work days, two days that teachers can work off uh or take off, I'm sorry, uh and have a minimum of 10 annual leave days. We follow the equivalent number of days that the state personnel commission uh designates as state holidays. So, this is typically where we have questions as to why some state agencies have Good Friday off and
039we do not is we play with that Good Friday to try to complete two whole weeks at Christmas because we've heard that's very key. Um that's a a large want across the district. So, schools can't be held on uh Sunday and we must have uh we must take Veterans Day off. So, uh again bring before you the calendar that we are suggesting or requesting that students begin on August 25th. The last day for students would be June 9th. Uh so if you look at the box at the bottom, we have a total of 177 student days. We have 11 holidays, 10 annual leave days, and 17 teacher work days, which which gives us a grand total of 215 days. Uh so again, when we build the calendar, we build it with a couple of parameters
040in mind. One, first is the students in terms of having the 185 days or,025 hours. Uh then next we must have a calendar that teachers get paid for working 215 days whether those are student days, teacher work days, uh annual leave days or holidays. All right, Mrs. Trey Brick, Mr. Bobby, what's different from this calendar last month? There is no difference in this one than the one we presented last month. Okay. Well, we voted no to the one of last month and that's my understanding. Um my question is this then why was there not any discussion with board members that voted no since we majority voted no on this calendar? That's my question. Right. So during the time we did have conversations with school leaders, especially high school leaders because they would be the ones
041that were most affected by this and the outcomes uh of the test scores at their school. So we did reach out to school leaders. School leaders as in principles. Principles. Yes, sir. Okay. Mr. Attorney, Mr. Schwarz policy 3300 states that the local school board will establish the school calendar. That's correct. So it's up to us 11 to establish the school calendar. Am I correct? That's correct. So this is just a suggestion is what you're saying. The uh uh the both the statute and the board policy require that the board shall adopt that's the language in the statute. The language in the policy is will establish a school calendar that meets certain requirements that are set forth in the statute. Um and the only uh restriction on that statutory requirement besides comply complying with the start
042dates and dates and that sort of thing is that local boards of education shall conduct with shall consult with parents and the employed public school personnel in the development of the school calendar. Let me ask you another question. And that's usually done through a committee and a process established the administration. Understand? But 3,300 the first sentence says the local school board will establish it. But now my question is this. If somebody's at your law firm and brought something to you, you said no to it and then in return they bring the same thing right back to you again. How would you feel? Would depend on the situation and I would ask them um what their uh rationale was. That's my exact and then in return I've had a whole month go by and nobody has
043reached out unless somebody mistaken about this calendar who passed this calendar out right here. I'm going to go ahead and tell you now and call like I said the Facebook post I put out I did it for a purpose because I wanted to show people that the teachers I've checked I ain't found one except inside this building where people want the exams after Christmas. I checked with students, students as well, parents, the same exact thing. Now, my thing is this. Am I wrong with Mr. Schwarzen saying that it's the school board decides the calendar? The school board has to decide the calendar. Yes. Mr. Schwes also says in that policy now that the board has to vote on calendar submitted by the superintendent as part of it. Correct. I'm going to need proof to say
044that because I don't see that in there. It says principles in there. I see. But I see the first sentence states the local school board establishes school which is us 11. Well, the ones that are here tonight establishes it. Now, my thing is we can sit here and do nothing if you want to and we are in the situation that is with teachers or we can actually do something that the teachers actually want. And let's tell the truth even more. I've got people within this building that work here every day that have reached out to me oneon-one and said, "Trey, you're right. But now I'm asking this board, what do y'all want to do? If y'all want to go with us, find it. My votes no to it." And I'm being upfront and telling y'all
045it's no because it's not what the people want. In 2019 and 20, we went to that calendar that I mentioned of, which is the same exact start dates. It's nothing about the closest to the 26th or whatever the law states, but exams were before Christmas. And in return, I understand a study has been done of exams before, exams after, there's no root difference. But now my question is, what about inclement weather? Because we have more inclement weather, I believe, in January than we do in December. And you've already got the two weeks and a half that they're out for Christmas break. All right, Mr. Mr. Terry had his hand up for a while. Then we get back to you, Dr. Whis. I'm sorry. Yeah. Um, so I I took it upon myself to go do
046some research and um, this ch this uh, calendar that I'm proposing, this alternative checks all the boxes. Uh, with the largest employer in the county, um, you can look at your personnel packet tonight and look at the look at what's going on. We've got uh, almost 30 people leaving and uh, 20 coming in. And of the 20 and there's there's nobody retiring. uh the biggest chunk of the people that are leaving this system uh the teachers that are leaving this system are going to teach in another system. Uh we used to hear in the past that well they're having retention problems everywhere and that's probably true but um if if they're having retention problems everywhere, we're having them uh three times as worse because you got people you got teachers leaving this county and going
047to teach for other districts. So our teachers need to feel like they're being listened to. uh they're being heard and this board is responding to their needs. And of the uh of the 20, we're we're hiring 20 people tonight. And of the 20 people we're hiring, only 20 of them from the United States. I don't have anything against these uh international individuals coming in, but look at what Mr. Schwarz just said. These individuals are on what they call um they're on J1 visas. And with these J1 visas, uh, you know what's going on in in Washington, with a stroke of a pen, uh, that could that could put those individuals in jeopardy. Our teachers need to be heard. Um, this board needs to respond to them. Um, you there there's for the past several years,
048um, from that podium, there's been, um, discussion about this calendar, and they say, uh, research says that, uh, research says that they do better if they take tests in January. um test scores are better but I hadn't seen a thing u I haven't seen a report a chart um any study or anything um I conducted my own research for this I'm a data driven individual and the research that I conducted um it was unanimous uh teachers want to change they want to know that we're be that they're being listened to and um and this is a way for us to do it Dr. uation. I want I want to be clear. I rather test before Christmas. I'm not saying I don't want So I want to be clear on that, please. And then we never
049said that. What we said was testing at Christmas or in January. There's basically no difference in the outcomes. That's what we said. So the only question on the table and we can frame it around what our employed teachers want and we support teachers 100%. But we our job is to do what's in the best interest of our students. That's our job, our primary job. Now you'll never convince me that an 80day semester versus a 100 day semester is in the best interest of any child. So, we're going to deny 20 days of instruction or to a group of kids or 10 days of instruction. We can't afford to do that. They have a right and the demand is that we be as equitable in what we do as possible. Again, I'm not against testing before
050Christmas. I realize there's no way to do it that we don't create an imbalance and or ask this board to violate the calendar law. The issue is not our debate. The issue is the problem with the calendar law. We need to ask the general assembly to make that a local decision as has been in the past. Mr. K, Mr. Curry, thank you. Um, Dr. Williamson, I wish I could have spoke before you. Um, Mr. Bobby, are we still obligated to when we can start school? Like August the 25th or something? What is that start date for students? Yes, sir. That is still the law. The Monday closest to August 25th. We can't back it up and start August the 15th. Okay. Uh folks, I just cannot. Now I understand what we say teachers want and
051students want and I did some checking too but and I heard some of both but I cannot see why you going to let do a semester first semester and they be 70 days in and this kid takes math one for 70 days and then the second semester kid takes math one for 100 days that there's just something wrong with that picture in my mind and it's gonna stay there. So Mr. Rich, you said you wouldn't vote for this one. I wouldn't vote for the other one. And I'll say one more thing. These things ought to be decided in this boardroom instead of Facebook. And I'll leave that at that. Um I think that's fair. Uh but I'm good with a calendar that's even that's got, you know, close to the 90 days in each semester.
052And I'm not going to sit here and vote for a calendar if it's a possibility it breaks the law. Now, I don't think it might break it because it say we're going to go ahead and start when we normally start. We're just going to end up with like what is it 79 or 80 days first semester and 100 days second semester. And I just don't see where that is being fur to students. I just you can't convince me where that's fair to a student. And I'm not being ugly when I say this with teachers, but uh you know, I look at doing this with the student. Now, let me go back if I didn't say it. I think we should test before Christmas, but I just can't vote for it when our calendar law says
053when we can start. If we could start August 11th where we get in our 90 days, fine. Let's test before Christmas because we know how many kids are going to study during Christmas holiday. Probably the same amount I did. None. I'll be honest about it. In most cases, we don't. They don't. Uh and that's a known fact. But again, my problem is with the time that kids will lose if we test before Christmas. And I don't if you can convince me how we can get around that, then I would support something different. Uh we got Mr. Bradley Phillips um got his hand raised. Unmute yourself, Bradley. Well, we'll go to Miss Crystal on Monroe, then we're going to come to you, Mr. Tri. I'm sorry. So, my question is is of course I don't want
054to break any laws or have to, but when I'm counting, unless I'm counting wrong, and I I pulled up Carmelain County's schedule because theirs is pretty much lined up. They start on the 25th. They get out at the end of May. Um, kind of the and they do their testing before. So when I was counting the days per semester, they're pretty much very similar. Like I have now I may be counting wrong. So that's why I want to know. But like when I'm counting between hours and theirs, it's like 3642ish between each semester. So there's not really a big gap of this 80 and 100. So, I'm just trying to see where that's at that's at to if that's even if that is a thing because from what I'm counting if I and I could
055be counting wrong, there's not a big difference between the semesters. So, Chairman Leech, may I add to this conversation. So, as the one that has stood here for 20 years presenting the calendars, I need to give all the information as the work we've done. We have been lucky the last three or four years not to deal with hurricanes in the first semester. And so the years that we have dealt with hurricanes in the first semester, it has pushed us back into February testing. So anytime we anytime we uh end the semester prior to Christmas and we lose a day, two days, three days because of a hurricane, uh we're we're risking those children's opportunity to have instructional time in there. Now, yes, we can push it back, but then we're right back where we were
056today. But also looking at this calendar that was passed out, just to remind you, any day that a student is not sitting in the building, cafeterias and bus drivers lose money. So, if you look at this, there are 27 teacher work days, cafeteria and bus drivers do not work on 20 on teacher work days. So, there are 10 days that those folks would go without pay compared to this calendar. All right. Hey, I'm I'm good to go now. Can you hear me, Mr. Chairman? Yes. Bradley Phillips, you on? So, I I've asked um central office about um pay that if we simply change how we test, does it affect cafeteria workers or does it affect bus drivers? And in an email, I was told no. And every time we discuss this or it's been discussed,
057it goes from 70 instructional days to 80 instructional days to the first semester. Well, when we come back after Christmas, we're losing eight days. Ain't nobody's learning anything. In my mind, that's not even an instructional day. That's that's reviewing to pass a test that we just set a whole semester through to pass. And that that's not I don't that's not doing the what the teachers want, what the teachers need. And I don't feel like it's fair for the children. I've had so many discussions about this. I ain't had a single person and I've truly looked for a single person to tell me that this is not in the best interest. And I haven't. I mean, we went circles and circles around on this and it was obvious that the reason why this was voted down
058last board meeting and then we get presented the same calendar again with the same, you know, discussions about it again. I mean, it just seems like a slap in the face. Mr. is Trey Brick. Terry, where'd you get this calendar from? And and I guess part of my thing is it's the principal involved to this too because at the same exact time there's been a month went by and not a nobody has discussed this thing. Nobody. But now here's the thing. 2019 and 20 was the last time the exams were before Christmas. And I know there was some weren't in this building. Some were in this building and voted for it. But now at the same exact time, I've thought about it. I've looked at it. But when I was growing up, when my daddy
059said no, it meant no. But to bring it back again, it's like Bradley said, it's a slap in the face. And I'm more ticked off about it more than anything because there's board members on here that are being ignored. And at the end of the day, does this central office work for us or do we work for them? Because it's been placed in front of us and we're supposed to automatically say yes to it. It's something we need to discuss cuz like you said, it's up to this local school board. What are we going to do? We got Dr. Emanuel. Yes. Um I will not repeat Mr. Craig's speech and Dr. Williams' speech because I feel the same and I guess it's because I've worked in education. I do want to ask you, Mr. Trey
060and Mr. Bradley, how would the teachers feel to extend the school day the first semester to make up for those days missed? How would they feel? Like for example, if they're missing three or four days ever, how many days, Bobby? The first semester. If we got out before Christmas and took the exams, how many days is it off the first semester? So, Mr. Chairman, if I may, just a quick count, and I could be wrong, but looking at what was just handed out, there's a difference of about seven or eight days between the two semesters. And that's just a quick count. Okay. Thank you so much, Bobby. Let's say, and this is just me thinking out loud, if we extended the school day, they had to stay to 4:00 4:15 every day to make up
061for those seven days so we could get out before Christmas. How would they feel about that? That's just me thinking out loud. To make up for those days, extend the school day. What would be their feelings on that? I'm asking you, Trey, since shoot. All right, let's go. Hold on. But it's like I said, Dr. Manuel, my problem is there's been a whole month go by and there was no discussion on this whole issue. We could have ironed all this out here beforehand, but there was no discussion. Now, there we go again, but the teachers have no input in this. So, why are we asking do we want to extend the work days or whatever when principles are the ones in whatever committee is basically being the ones putting this together? Well, okay. Well, let
062I guess let me finish. I I I appreciate you the passion that you have, but I have to agree that the school calendar is made for the students and I I appreciate the teachers. I understand where they're coming from. I understand it. They want to test before Christmas, but the calendar is student oriented for the stimulus. And I I have to support that. And and you have a right to vote how you feel. You have a right to be passionate. I I I respect that, but please respect us too that agree that the students need that amount of time as well. Dr. Manuel, like I told you, I went to high school students because this is mainly what it is with exams. I have not found a one that said they wanted exams after and
063I'm at Lumberton High School with a various number of students a lot. We we has we had some good dialogue about the calendar about this. Um let's go ahead and bring it to a vote and let's see where we at this ter we want to bring this to a vote. You need a motion. Anybody Anybody making a motion to accept school calendar? Okay. I'm sorry. I'll make a motion that we um approve the alternative calendar that was handed out. I second Terry's motion. Point of order, please. Yes, Mr. Fields. Um, a motion on the floor by Mr. Terry Lley to accept um he made a mo a secondary motion to accept the alternative calendar. He sent out a sac been made by Miss uh Christy Fields. Yes. Okay. Uh discussion. Yes. I just put you
064on. Okay. Make sure I know what I'm doing. This calendar here was presented by and Bobby clarify. This is a new calendar we just got tonight. Is that correct? I'm I'm sorry. Is this new? I I have not seen that, Mr. Mr. Terry. This the calendar Mr. Terry u passed out. You all nobody had input. Mr. Terry, where did this come from? Wait a minute now. And so you're asking us to approve this calendar and we just got it. Wait a minute. But this didn't go before our committee. Our committee here at the board that you have the calendar committee. In all due respect, it should go before that calendar committee and it should be one of the options for them to look at. I mean, in my opinion, that's just a Mr. Dr. Williamson.
065All right. Um, Mr. Mr. John Simmons, I'd like to make a section two motion that we um table this calendar and call a special meeting. That way we can discuss it more. Second. All right. Uh all of So John made a secondary motion substitute motion. No, the substitute motion goes first. Yeah, substitute motion going first. So a substitute motion been made by Mr. the John Simmons. Let's table the the calendar um the current the current calendar for more discussions and it be a second be by Mr. Trey Brit. All right. Discussion law states have due by April the 1st, right? The DVI. No, our um uh our policy states no later than the April board member will approve a calendar for the next school year. There's not a law that dictates when the calendar has
066to be approved. All right. I All right, Mr. Craig. So, I'm assuming wrong on word that if we're going to have a meeting that we will compare teacher work days, holidays, and all between these two calendars to make sure they're in there and where they supposed to be. I think Mr. Terry, did you say this was seven days less on the day thing? Seven days. Okay. Then my question and I couldn't have voted on it neither not seeing it because I got to know that. Okay. Do we have the teacher work days in? Do we have the holidays in? Do we have all those days in that we need to have here for the staff? And do we have what's required like the veterans day? You know, there there's nothing around that. Veterans Day is
067whenever it is. And so if we're going to look at all of that, then, you know, I'm fine with at least looking at it um and then bringing it back before whenever it's got to come back. Yes, I'm fine doing the same. So, we got a secondary motion on the table. It's been um it's been seconded by Mr. Trey Brit that that we take another look at this calendar and decide decide on have more discussions. All in favor? The the motion was that this be tabled at a special meeting held to address this? Yes. Mr. Chair, if I may point of clarification and and so if we have that meeting, I want to clarify who's going to be a part of that. So, it's a conversation that it would be the board and central service
068staff that would sit down and have that conversation. I want to be clear on that. Otherwise, we know what's going to happen. It' be a special board meeting just like a regular board meeting just for this limited purpose and anything else that the board decides to add. Well, we're talking about a work session but not a board meeting. No, the the motion was for a special board meeting. The mo the motion was that this that this be tabled and a special board meeting held to address it. So I was thinking that the request was that we would have a work session to work through all of this and then whatever is decided from that group comes back in April as the calendar we ask the board rather than a debate in them. I can work
069like that. um make a sub make a substitute motion to have a a work study done for the calendar uh with the board and the calendar committee. We've already had the first and the second on the first one, right? I'm changing mine. We're still making the second substitute motion, but I'm just changing some wording in it. Yeah. Go ahead. U M Mr. Simmons, are you are you trying to uh amend your substitute motion to table this and have a work session? Special work special board meeting is a work session to discuss this. Yeah. So, amend this motion. So, we need a second on that. All right. Or or if uh if Trey will Trey, would you agree to that uh to that amendment to the motion you seconded? Okay. Then then that'll be an amendment
070to the motion by Mr. Simmons, approved by the person who seconded it, Mr. Brett. that that the board will be will table this and have a special board meeting work session to address it. All right. There's Mrs. John has amended his motion to have a um special work session, special board meet work session so we can further discuss the calendar and the calendar days. And it's been um seconded by Mr. Trey Brick. All in favor say I. All oppose. Okay. All right. Eyes got it. Unanimous. All right. I think I was muted. I had a I as well. I'm I'm sorry. All right, Mr. Craig. We move on from the calendar. One more comment. Just my only comment is not about that. Okay. Okay. If u So we saying this is a board, we're going
071to do that together. Can we decide right now on a date? instead of throwing the date out or or we talk about it and decide when at the end. If when we leave here tonight, we got a date. Yes. Yes, we'll look at it. We'll look at it before the night come up before the night's over with. I will come up a couple of days that we can have. All right. Next on the agenda is the Lauren um Lauren contracts uh 2025 2026 by Mr. uh Babel Lley. Yes. So included in your I'm I'm sorry, Chairman Leech, Dr. Williamson, board members. So we advertised it was time for us to advertise again for our long care services. Um we have grouped our schools into six different groups. Uh we advertised um the request for proposal
072on our website also in our local uh local paper. And so I have given you what um what we're asking or the companies we're asking you to approve uh to complete that long carry service for 2526 or 2526 school year. And so just to walk through these group A gator Gator um worked with us last year with those same sets of schools. Group B, Bethesa's lawn care again worked with us last year with that same group of schools. Group C, but they also worked with those same groups of school last year. The next two are two new individuals and I have checked their res list uh as as well as reached out and checked their equipment list. Group D, we're asking Freeman's Landscaping. Group E, Scott's Family Landscaping. And again, we worked with Gator last
073year on group F. All right. Mr. Bradley, uh, Phillips got a question. So, on this on this the list that's proposed the way it is with uh recommendations, what what drove to these recommendations? Were these the lowest bids or there are there are three different three different categories that we looked at this one of course was the lawyers and the response lawyers responsive and responsible. So the re responsive would be they they fully complied with the RFP. And so some of the companies, excuse me, um you could just tell that they did not go out and look at the lawns because it was the same price for everyone. It might be 600, 600, 600 for every one of the lawns. And there's just various sizes of lawns within this. Other companies I reached out to
074just request because request that they had walked the site so that they visually put their eyes on that they had not and again that was highly recommended within the RFP because just looking at the Google site for these schools is not going to allow you to see all the property there and the last one will be responsible and that is where we have a good relation because it's from my it's from my understanding group A B C D and F another vendor was way cheaper. I mean almost $100,000 cheaper and is a credible landscape service as well in my understanding. Mr. Mr. Bob, do you want to um Yes. that. So going back to that again, there were there were issues with had the property been walked in the response that was nerve uh and
075also there was such a discrepancy and again and I've done this with other ones as well. There's such a discrepancy in the price that I know individual would not have look at the property. And again just looking at something Google map or looking at the GIS you are not get a full picture of the work that needs to be done and also part of some of the vendors turned in that they would some subcontract. Okay. And I I don't think that's the case with with this group as far as as far as subcontracting either. But, um, you know, I feel like if if there's someone that that considerably cheaper and it's a, you know, a legit company, you they're insured and bonded to abide by a contract that that we're setting in place, you know,
076we should at least give them a a chance on a few to, you to prove their yourself. I mean, that's a considerable amount of money that we're not willing to make a change on. Just my opinion. All right, Mr. Craig. Then we're gonna have Mr. Miss Christy Fields. Uh Mr. Bobby, one of the issues we've had has been um in various places uh weed eating. Um what do you spray um like around fences or do you weed eat it? Uh edging around campuses. Um things like that besides just cutting grass. Now, is that totally explained in the contracts that these folks have and there what kind of communication is there for that? Because I know there were some situations by last August around some of the athletic fields u at the middle school campuses. The
077grass was so high if you sprayed it, it was just going to fall over and be dead there on top. So, but is there things in place for all that to be taken care of? Yes. So within the within the RFP that was placed out, weed eating was described of trimming in in another term was laid out in there and also prior to it executing any contract. Then it is our recommendation that these individuals have a conversation with the principal if if they need to extend that conversation at the walk in the properties to ensure what needs to be done. And we've also implemented last year a sign off list per a sign off per cut that the principal agrees that the work's been done to satisfaction. Okay. Thank you, M. Christie uh fields. So,
078some of the complaints that I have is that they are mowing the grass when students are outside. How are we making sure that that's not going on? That is a co in within the contract. It does say that the vendor or contractor can develop a schedule with the principal. So that would just be a conversation we need to have with the principal. All right, Mr. Melissa Ocean. Then Mr. Trey. Uh, okay. Mr. Trey, it' only be right for me to say this because I was a coach in this county for 10 years, but we got to keep in mind, too, and I'm just throwing it out there that way I can say that I did and have a clear conscience. But we got coaches that cut fields numerous times and they're getting paid the same
079thing that is at some point we have got to look at this and help these coaches out. I know there's probably some coaches that agree with me 120% probably all of them do. All right, Mr. uh Melissa make a motion that we accept the law services award proposals as presented by Mr. B. Uh motions on the floor to accept the the lawn care motion by Mr. Melissa Ocean to accept the lawn care contracts as presented by Mr. Bobby. A second then made by Mr. Craig Lowry. All in favor um can we go by the showing of hands? All in favor? All oppose. Eyes eyes. I oppose here. All right. So we have two. Did you oppose? U we have two opposed. Okay. and and six and I'm accepted. Okay. So, eight in favor, two opposed.
080Yes. I'm sorry, I said the wrong thing. That was Mr. Lleair and uh and Mr. Phillips. Yep. Mr. L, Mr. Phillips. All right. The audit year end June 2024 by Mr. Erica Settzer and Mr. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah. Yeah. 2025 2026 capital outlay projects by Mr. Bob Lley, Miss Ericson. I'm sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Thank um thank you again, Chairman Lee, Dr. Williamson, board members. So, uh cap uh construction and finance committee met last night and approved our list of uh capital outlay projects for the 2526 school year. So, I will walk back through those. So, uh, the proposed projects at this point are to replace the roof at Pernell Sweat Auxiliary Gym, replace the roof at Parkton Gym, replace the roof at Union Chapel PreK building, which was the old cafeteria. IA received the grant
081several years ago, and they have continued to see receive additional funding. Uh so now they have a funding for a walkway but do not have the funding to complete uh two handicap parking and some uh a sidewalk there. So we're proposing that that's going to cost about $15,000. The other is we've all made everyone aware the uh potential work that needs to take place at our high schools based on a recent CTE audit. And so within that um we are projecting approximately $196,000 to replace the bleachers at Fairmont High, Red Springs High, St. Paul's High. But as we get into this work, uh because we our folks are still working on the CTE stuff that if it looks like some items are going to cost more or we hit a snag of some sort, then
082we would start with Red Springs High because those are the sets of bleachers that are in the most need of replacing. So that gives us a grand total at this point of $1,72,000. And again, that's all projected. If you know how capital outlay projects have worked over the last few years, some have gone way under and some have gone way un over. So again, that's where we're at at this point. The construction finance committee also included a list of 2526 uh school request projects. So, as we uh begin to check off items in the approved list above, we will begin to move here and see if it is feasible to address some of these other concerns because Miss Erica has allotted us approximately $2 million for capital outlay projects. So, we have about a million
083to play with uh to tackle some of these other things. And we will have our maintenance department to walk through these and prioritize these as uh from most needed on down. And I also included for you just for your uh just for your information again additional capital projects and answer projects that have been completed over the last five years uh at your at your desk as well. And just to add, we Eric and I spoke briefly today and we did not add this last night, but in Erica's current budget, she does have a line item for restoration and repairs. So, if something pops up at a school and we need to tackle it um that is outside of what has been approved, then we will use those funds to take care of that. All right.
084And so, we're I'm sorry, Mr. Leech. So, we're asking for approval for those projects. We got a couple questions. Miss Christy Fields and then I'll come to you, Mr. Terry. Miss Erica, give me the school names again that you weren't able to put on the line item under the ESR3 funds where you use their school codes. I've updated it now. It's showing there. It's Oxendine, Pinroke Elementary, and St. Paul's Elementary. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. All right. Mr. Weeks, may I add to that? I'm sorry. So, just so everyone's aware again, Oxin is the old hallway. I think it's part of the original school as you come in the main entrance. Pinch Elementary will be the entire school. St. Paul's Elementary will be cafeteria and gym. All right, Mr. Terry, would this um after we finish
085with the uh the staff parking that's listed here, will that be all of the uh will all of our staff parking throughout the district be paved? No, I don't think central office paid neither. No, we still got a lot of issues with parking lots. No. So, are we are I'm asking about staff parking in particular. Are we prioritizing parking at the soccer field at at Lumberton over our staff parking at some of our schools? No. at the at at last night's meeting. I think the comment that was just left on there again as funds become available. All right. Um, any more questions for Mr. Bobby? Um, thank you, Mr. Bobby. Now we have the audit. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mr. John, Miss Simmons. Hit your button. Make a motion to approve cap outlay projects
086for 25 and 26 school year. Mr. Chair, this comes as a recommendation from the finance and construction committee. So, it doesn't need a motion or approval. It's a recommendation from the committee by a motion or a second. It's a recommendation from the committee. All right. So, we still got the vote on it, correct? Yes. All right. So um Mr. Mr. Bobby has propo Mr. Bobby has the recommendation from the finance and the finance and the construction committee has been that we oppose the the 2025 26 capital outlay projects. All in favor? I. Everybody did everybody vote? All in favor? Could you put your hands up? I unanimous. Okay. Mr. Bradley, Miss M. Monroe is okay. Miss Monro Mr. Phillips and Mr. Row. Okay. Yes. So, M. Monroe and Mr. Phillips have both left the meeting.
087Yes. Okay. 8 Z. Okay. Thank you. So, that's approved. 8 Z. Thanks. All right. Now we have the audit by year ending 20 June 2024 by Mr. Eric Sets and Mr. Lee Grimson. Good evening Chairman Leech, Superintendent Dr. Williamson and board members. Um I'd like to bring up Mr. Lee Gryom who is our lead on our audit team for S Preston Douglas and Associates to give you a general report for our audit year ending June 2024 and then we can take some questions. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Um, first off, I'd like to thank the uh business office and Erica and Hugh. Um, the audit's a seven-month process. It's not an easy thing to go through. Uh, and this year was a good audit. So, we issued an unmodified opinion, also referred to as
088a clean audit opinion on the financial statements. Um, we tested internal controls as required with governmental auditing standards. We didn't have any inter no internal control findings and then there were no uh compliance uh findings noted. So a clean audit, a good audit. Um we issued the report December 31st. So um last couple of times that I presented uh we had issued the report later. So um you know Erica really worked hard in December over the holidays and making sure we got the report out by December 31st, 2024. So we did not have a late audit finding. So um that's one month better than the previous year and three months better than two years ago. So continuous improvement as far as getting the records to us. Uh so big improvement there. Uh couple of notes
089on internal controls. Um there was only a handful of journal entries. So that signals good recordkeeping by your staff. Again, no material weaknesses. Um overall the there's good monitoring in the individual schools. Um there's kind of internal audits that that Hugh is still a part of and there's usually minor things that are caught, but I think that process has been working really good in our experience. Um good good internal controls over purchasing, bank reconciliations, and again uh the records were in good shape. Very few journal entries that we had to make. A couple of housekeeping items. Management provided full access to records. Uh there were no significant changes in accounting policies. uh no material journal entries as I noted, no disagreements with management, no illegal acts and we do not consult with other auditors and
090from a financial standpoint this is primarily a compliance audit which it matters more than probably the numbers on the financials. Uh there was one area of weakness and I don't know if Erica wants to possibly provide context related to the school food service fund. it the net position did decrease by almost $3 million in that in that fund and that would be uh a needs improvement. Maybe Erica would comment on that. Right. As I'm sure you've seen all across the state of North Carolina and other states, the child nutrition department um has not been able to keep up with rising food costs and rising uh benefits and salary costs. And it is an enterprise fund, meaning it has to be self- sustaining. So, while we do still have a little over a one-mon operating balance,
091that is a cause for concern. As we've mentioned before, we have not been able to charge indirect costs to child nutrition because they have to maintain at least two months before we're able to do that. So, one of the things we've all talked about internally is and our only way to increase revenue in child nutrition because of our all our students eat free. So, we can't have any conversations about increasing pricing because we don't charge students. But we do have to have the conversations about increasing participation. Children can get meals whether they bring their lunch, whether mom and dad bring them lunch. Still, please go through the line in the cafeteria because the child nutrition program does not get reimbursed unless students receive a meal. We don't get reimbursed based on the amount of food
092or meals cooked that day. It is the amount of meals uh served to children. So that's something that we want to um take the initiative on and have that conversation with principles and schools as much as possible moving forward. And I did pull the numbers in that fund. The fiscal year 23 there was only a minor loss. It was it was 93 93,000 of a loss. And in fiscal year 22 uh the school board reported a 581,000 to the positive. So a little bit of a kind of an outlier in the last three fiscal years. Um, but other than that, the numbers were otherwise good on the financial statements. The net position improved by $12.8 million overall. Uh, your local fund general fund increased by a million dollars. Uh, your your general fund unassigned fund
093balance is about two months in reserve, uh, which is pretty strong. Um, and your governmental funds combined are about $16 million. So, um, everything else from a financial metric standpoint was good. And again there was no compliance issues, no internal control issues and again we did sub uh issue an unmodified referred to as a clean audit opinion. So um and we also they were able to issue the report uh one month early which is always really positive. So is there any questions? No. Thank you sir for that. I did want to mention that one of the ways we were able to increase our fund balance um was due to still having er fund availability that we will no longer have. So moving forward, we don't have the expectation that we'll be able to continue that
094increase in fund balance, which leads us back to why we have um asked for that increase with um our county. All right. And I can answer any questions anybody has about the audit report at this time. This has been uh sent for approval and approved by the local government commission as well. Uh motion been on the table to approve the audit report by Mr. Trey Britt. A second been made by Melissa Ocean. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Thank you. Unanimous. Mr. Chair, if I may, I want to say thank you to Mr. Grisome and his team for your work. We appreciate that so much. And then say thank you to Erica and your team for your work year in year out and we appreciate that that you provide information that we can
095make decisions for and about kids. But thank you for your leadership and your team. Thank you sir. Thank you Miss Now we have the monthly financial report by Mr. Erica. The monthly financial report was included in your packet and I can answer any questions anyone has concerning that document. Mr. John Simmons, anything change, Mr. Eric? No, sir. Make a motion to approve. Second. A motion been made to approve the monthly financial report by Mr. John Simmons. A second been made by Mr. Craig Lowry. All in favor say I. I. All oppose. Crystal. All right. 2024 2025 budget resolution. Miss Erica. I've included the budget resolution also in your packet and that summarizes the budget that was previously approved by the board into purpose functions which is what our audit team uses to determine if we're
096over or under budget compliance. and I can answer any questions anybody has about that document. Mr. John Simmons. Uh motion being made by Mr. John Simmons to approve the 2024 2025 budget resolution. A second being made by Miss Melissa Ocean. All in favor say I. All oppose. Same thing. 90. Well, now we have budget amend amendments 2024 2025 of Miss Erica. So, the state um public school fund, we received um new funding and uh or changes to existing budgets with revisions 50 through 77 and I'm asking for approval of that and I can answer any questions anyone has concerning the the budget amendments. Miss Melissa motion. I make a motion to approve the budget amendments as presented. Um, a motion being a motion being on the table to approve the uh 2024 2025 budget amendments
097by Miss Melissa Ocean. A second been made by Mr. Crystal Monroe. All in favor say I. All oppose. Same thing. Thank you. Yep. Miss Melissa Ocean, I move that the board of education for the public schools of Robson County go into close session for the purposes of discussing certified and classified personnel, North Carolina general statutes 143 through 318.11 and six and to consult with their 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 through 318.11A13. A motion been made by Miss Melissa Ocean to go to close session and second been made by Mr. John Simmons. All in favor say I. All oppose. Close session. motion to come out of close session.
098Uh motion's been uh made made by Mr. Craig Lowry. Uh second been by Miss Melissa Ocean. I know Miss Monroe made the motion early. He already did that. Came at a close session. I know we got to do it out front. Miss Monroe made the A motion by Mr. uh Craig to come out of close session. The second by Miss Maro. All in favor say I. All oppose. All right. Motion to approve the close session minutes. I have motion by Miss Crystal Monroe to approve close session minutes. We have a second. Second by Mr. Trey Brit. All in favor say I. Eyes. Got it. A motion to approve classified as certified personnel as presented. A motion being made by Miss Crystal Monroe and a second been made by Miss Melissa Ocean. All in favor say
099I. Uh do we have a motion to adjourn? All right. Yes. Let's let's set that meeting date for Let's look at the calendar. I'm sorry. Discussion. Let's look at the calendar right now. [Music] Yeah, I got one. 18 on. All right, I want everybody look at your um calendars. Uh but we want to come next Tuesday the 18th. Seems like Tuesday's work for everybody. Is anybody good with that? Next Tuesday 18, um 6 o'clock. All right. Oh, you want to do it at five? Yeah. Yeah, that's fine. Okay. That's what That's good. We'll do it. We'll do five o'clock Tuesday. What about Monday? Look like 17. So what? So anybody got a problem with Monday? Yes. Let me see. Yes. Do you got a problem with Monday? All right. Let's go on Monday on the
10017th. We say five o'clock. That'll be our work session with the with the with the board members and the cabinet Monday at 5:00 on the 17th. Uh word session, we can include uh we can include the cabinet uh a board meeting. It just be only the board members. All right. We had a motion to adjourn by Miss Crystal Monroe. We had a second by Miss Melissa Osha. All in favor say I. All right. Discussion one more time. Hold on for one second, Mr. Jamal, before we close. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you, Chair. Just want to um make one quick announcement. On this coming Saturday from 9 to 12:30 at Lton High School, we'll have our annual career fair. So um anyone who's listening, this is where certified and classified staff will be hiring. So please come
101out from 9 to 12:30 at L High School for our annual career fair. Thank you. All right. So let's go. Meet adjourned. Wait, you gota