001Good evening. It is six o'clock and I'm going to go ahead and call this meeting to order. All board members are present. It is the practice of our board of education to begin our meeting with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance. We invite you to bow your heads in prayer and stand to join us in the pledge if you so choose. Let us bow our heads. Lord, we respectfully ask for your guidance and wisdom as we proceed with the business before us. Keep us mindful of our purpose of providing a quality education for the students attending Taylor County Schools. Amen. Wonderful. Uh, Dr. Stallings, do we have any adjustments or add addendums for the agenda? In fact, Miss Garvin, I do not. That is delightful. The superintendent respectfully requests approval of the agenda as
002presented. Miss Garvin, I would like to make a motion for U. item 5,000 to be a separate vote so that I may recuse myself. Certainly. Okay. Mrs. Gallow amends. Mr. Taylor seconds. All those in favor? I. Motion passes and we are amended. And moving on to the 1000 series information. We have one of the most joyful evenings, the recognition of our retirees. And Miss Helen Roberts has some things to say to us. and who did you bring with with you tonight? It says dedication to. And what are your next steps? What are you planning on doing? Anything exciting? And I'm sure help out with those grand boys. Those Yes. And Miss Donna Morgan, you'll come forward, please. I will say that. [Laughter] Thank you. And Miss Nancy Tonrey, you come forward, please. [Music] [Applause] And
003Nancy, what's your plans um for now after retirement? Good for you. Welld deserved. [Applause] I'm super um super happy to have had the opportunity to work with all of you throughout the years that you have dedicated to our school system. I know that I've had kids that have went through some of your classrooms and I've been able to see you mold them into successful adults and assist in molding them into successful adults. And um I have one now one now that is actually um a successful speech pathologist. I have one that's going to graduate college very soon. I have another one entering. So um along the p their paths in life and their learning, you guys participated and um have just dedicated your lives to not just thousands and thousands of children along the way.
004So we're just we've been very blessed here in Taylor County to have all of you and all of your hours that you've put forth for this county and the community. And I just want to say I thank you from the bottom of my heart that you chose to work here. Um because we have the best and you guys are part of the best. So thank you for all of the years you dedicated here. Well, congratulations on your retirement. Uh it's the beginning of uh a lot of activities that you didn't get get to do you uh in your previous time. So uh I hope you'll enjoy your retirement. Uh if you haven't already joined the retired school employees, please do. Uh and uh congratulations again. So, I just want to thank you as well for
005your years of dedication and um also for being instrumental in my ch children's lives as well. Um they're both graduates of Taylor County Middle School and uh Grafton and um I have one here that uh is going to be that you're passing that baton to. So, um, it takes a village and, uh, thank you for your words that I'm sure that they were very inspiring to him, um, as he will be getting ready to, uh, venture into his career at Taylor County Middle School. So, again, thank you for all your dedication. Really appreciate it for the headache, the heartache, the heartbreak, the hard work, the dedication. Class dismissed. Go on. Thank you for everything. Thanks for coming. All right. And uh moving on, the TCMS band director, Mr. Joshua Chido. Good evening, everybody. Um, I
006don't get to come here very often, but I feel like whenever I do, I always have to either brag on my kids or ask for something. So, I'm going to kind of do both tonight. Um, I brought some members of, uh, our band boosters, uh, these are our officers that are currently serving. One thing that I always strive with my kids to do, um, every year, beginning of every school year, is to understand the importance of hard work and dedication to their craft. whatever it might be. Uh if it's band, great. If it's art, great. If it's history, great. Do the best you can at it. And I always promise them that hard work does not go unrecognized. Not just by community, but by anybody statewide. In late April, I received a letter that our
007achievements have been recognized at the national level. Um, in just a brief moment, one of our officers will hand you a folder that will look like this. And inside there'll be some information. In late April, I received a letter from the National Veterans Day Ceremony Committee in Washington DC. Um, without reading the lengthy, it'll be in your packet. I'm not going to insult your intelligence and read all of it to you verbatim, but in the second um paragraph, it um says, "As part of the important event, uh the historic programs will be forming a ceremonial mass band. We invite the Taylor County Middle School band to be the representative for the state and community in the National Veterans Day ceremony in Washington DC this coming November 2025." So, um, what I I'm going to do
008very little speaking because, uh, these amazing women behind me that serve as our officers. The one thing I love about having a good group to work with is I don't have to do the work. I teach their kids. They smile and say, "Good job, Mr. Chadam." And then they do all the heavy lifting. And I just, yeah, I'm really indebted to them uh for the the leadership that they've taken on this. Um, So, if you want to go and pass out the floors and I will kind of turn it over to them, they can lead through this. But what we are uh looking for uh today is we just want to give you some information on everything that we have up to date as far as cost, as far as the dates, travel expenses, things
009like that. um and looking for some support and what we've already done up to this point to uh get support for uh our middle school band so they can be recognized at the national level. Um I cannot tell you the uh the amount of joy sharing this information with the students. I was trying to keep it hush hush till I had a chance to talk with our boosters to see is this something we want to pursue? Uh are we is it feasible? Are we going to be able to accomplish this? Um but once we decided, yep, we're all in. Let's let's see we what we can do here. Um the kids were just just incredibly thrilled to receive this recognition uh and in my humble opinion this honor. Um many of these kids may never
010ever get to put something like this on their resume ever again. So, um, this I'm gonna turn the one to you and you can just kind of lead you through it. So, uh, this is Miss Val Le. She is our band booster president for the year. Thank you for inviting us to come tonight and present this to you. Um, Mr. Taylor, when you opened um, you you pointed to our flag and asked us to stand and say the pledge of allegiance to the PE and remember the people who fought before us. And so it's very exciting that the kids get to go with that in mind. Coming from Grafton um they already know how awesome it is um from Memorial Day and now we get to expand on that and Veterans Day and this November.
011Um you might guess that this is not inex inexpensive. This is not this is an expensive trip. Um the itinerary you can find is on page two of your folder. It is four days and three nights. Uh the reason the reason for the long trip is they will travel in on Sunday. Technically, I guess if you traveled Monday morning, you could make it there in time to perform at the Air Force Memorial on Monday, but that would not be a solid sound. The kids would be exhausted. It would be awful. So, we have to get in the night before um for it to be feasal for it to work. Um so, they will get to perform at the Air Force memorial. You can follow in um on the itinerary. They um everything that we do
012will be have a guide with us the entire time. Um, we have charter buses held for us the entire time. Um, everything is in a pretty close proximity uh to where they will be. All their lunches, if you're looking at the itinerary that say dinner on your own or lunch on your own, um, will actually be part at the Ronald Reagan building, uh, which is right there in the midst of everything. It's a huge cafeteria. We play for the vouchers in advance. All the kids stay with us together. It's really fantastic. Um, and there's a multitude of things for them to choose from. So, all the meals were there. We're not looking for a culinary experience on this trip. We're just we're just going to get it done and get them fed. Um so yeah,
013Air Force Memorial and then later that night they get to do a um Washington by night guided tour. Um from my understanding and from what I've talked to, it's unmatched. Apparently it's an incredible tour. Um and the more we talked about this with the kids, the more the kids are like, "What's there to see at night?" They don't know. They don't realize just how awesome DC is. They have never I'd say 90% of these kids have never been to DC. Um, maybe more. Um, and I have a feeling the majority of that 90% will never make it there. Like this is a big trip. It's expensive. DC is expensive and we're well aware of that. Um, so we're pretty excited they get we're beyond excited. Um, if you move on to Monday or Tuesday, November
01411th, which is Veterans Day, the kids will get to perform at the Lincoln Memorial. Then they'll walk along the reflecting pool. Um we are told they're not allowed to march and play while marching as respect of the area. Um so they will then perform at the World War II memorial um as a mass band concert. Um Mr. Trida already has figured out some possible songs they can use at the Air Force memorial and the World War II that they will play by themselves as a band. Um and so he's he's working on that already and has a whole list I think of things he they could possibly play. um just as our own band, not as not part of the mass band by themselves. Um from there they get to go down to Arlington National
015Cemetery in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I remember being there in high school on a high school field trip and I still remember the event. I still remember it and I'm excited for them to get to see that. Um to wrap up their event, they get to do a dinner cruise. Um it's a dinner cruise out on um during the evening. Um so it's it's kind of formal and the will have to go prepared for that. Um but again something they will not experience otherwise. This is not yeah something they will not experience otherwise. Um the last day they if we can work it out to get them to the White House um at the visitor center we will absolutely do that but we have to go through our senators in order for that
016to happen. Um and I'm already in the process of that. But um yeah that's a basic breakdown of the itinerary um that they have listed. If you turn to the next page and I'm not going to go through this whole thing. Well, maybe I will. We'll see. Um, if you turn the next page, you can see the bracelet cost of the breakdown. Um, a kit the prices that we have, it comes out to about 645 a person. What we would like to do is a 5:1 kid to chaperon ratio. Um, so if you picture two hotel rooms, one hotel, there'll be two rooms next to each other that are joining. One room will have four kids. The other room will have three kids and adult. The four room of four will be split into two
017different groups. So, it'll be five kids to one adult. Um, as the ratio, we feel like that's a pretty safe number, especially since everywhere we're going will be with a guided tour or on the charter bus. Um, the numbers that we have involved that we've totaled up would include the parents. Um, I don't feel right asking for parents to come and spend $700 to watch the kids if they're I mean, it needs to be included. So, we included that into the into the price. Um, if parents beyond that ratio want to go, they're welcome to, but that's on their dollar. That's up to them. And We've actually had some parents say, "Yeah, we'll be there. We're not chaperoning, but we'll be there." I'm like, "Okay, we'll tell you what hotel we're in." Um the the
018bus charters, um I called around to multiple bus charters and I absolutely wanted to get one that had a West Virginia license um so that we could be taxexempt um since the bambooers is part of this group and the education board of education. So, um, this particular one is based out of Pennsylvania, just across, but she has a West Virginia business license as well. So, that is helpful. Um, this woman who is at budget charter, her name is Natalie. She is phenomenal and has been a great deal of help. She helped me find the Ronald Reagan building. Um, she has, um, told me where they can go and what they should do and that she knows how much the parking is and she knows all the details that I couldn't wrap my head around. Um,
019but she's been great. budget charters is how we came up with budget charter. Um, next page is Veterans Day meal planning. Um, so if you notice when you look at the itinerary, there's several meals not included. Again, I explained the Ronald Reagan building will buy all those vouchers online prior to the event. Um, it comes out to about $15 per meal, which is that's you can't go to Chick-fil-A. I mean, you can go to Chick-fil-A and get that basically in DC. That's about it. Um, yeah. So, the meals are pretty easy. Um, which I Carrie so wonderfully put on the last page is the meal breakdown. So, you can see you buy 20 and you get one free basically. So, that's nice. At the Ronald Reagan building that helps on the tab where two page
020two starts. Um, you're not the only ones we were planning on asking. We don't we're not going to stop here. Um this is the letter we have drafted up to go to businesses. Um I believe the last page has a list of some of the businesses we'll be going to um with our 501c3. They they can give money to boosters or they can and I made it so that we can give money directly to the band through the board of education. They can do it however they choose. Um, but I have not only reached out or we have not only reached out to you guys, we have already made contact with state government officials. Um, the capital's office and justice's office are doing what they can to support us. They'll do it through social media.
021Um, I'm still working on pushing that a little further. We have a direct contact with um, Senator Capo. Um, so that they're we're still working on that one. Uh, state president Randy Smith is searching for funds. We've got the secretary of affairs, veterans affairs, Ryan Kennedy, and the community relations director of Daryl Bis. He is also searching for funds. They know of some grants that they can use um specifically for this sort of thing when you're representing the entire state um as opposed to just our county. Um House Delegate Brian Smith um is also on board. He is ready to go to Taylor County with whatever we need um and ask for help. He's on board to do that as well. Um the Department of Education, my brother works at the Capitol down in Charleston
022and so he has been helping me find some grants. Um he found a thousand dollar transportation grant um from the department of education that's uh allocated for this sort of thing as well. And so he'll be applying for that for on our behalf. Um the West Virginia arts and culture is another way of direction we can go since it's banned. Um and so Matt is looking into that one as well. Uh again, my brother is looking into that one as well for grants available there. Um Taylor County Commission has said they would be glad to help us. We had we this was our first stop. They said go to the board first and then come to us before you can do anything else. Um we have already sent letters to the veterans of foreign affairs
023um the surrounding areas. U Amanda Bice from West Taylor has so graciously handd delivered all the um veterans affairs letters. Uh she went to the state meeting uh so she handd delivered all of those and anticipates them being willing to help. U American Legion letters have been mailed and their meetings are coming up the end of this month from my understanding. Um, oh, and the kids, um, the kids will do whatever we ask them to do in order to make this happen. So, we already have set Mariana's subs. We did it when the spring last year and it went beautifully is we will do it again. It's scheduled already for the beginning of September for that to happen. Um, some other discussion that has come out recently is we would have the kids do a
024fill my music note. Basically, it's a treble cleft on a paper. There's little bubbles on the treble cleft and it's like $1, $5, $10, $100, whatever. Um, the plan is to make their trouble cleft come up with a total per person cost. So 645 is whatever the bubbles on that trouble clip will be and they'll fill them in as people give the money. So if a friend gives them a dollar, they can fill in a dollar bubble. A neighbor gives them a hundred, they can fill in their $100 bubble. Um, not only will we do that, we anticipate doing a very large music note for the whole band in general. So if community members instead of reaching out to a kid wants to reach out to the band directly um they're welcome to do that
025and we are hoping to fill in our bubbles through u through the community and our giant uh music note that we'll have in the band room. Um three additional fundraising events that we have discussed um at length is the parents night out which is a babysitting event. Uh purse bingo which we have some a couple parents gung-ho to do that. I am not in that one. That's that's somebody else. Um and then a craft show, hosting a craft show. So, all of these are um ones that we plan on doing between now and before November. We've got a busy fall coming up. Um our parents are willing to do it. Our kids are on board. We'll do what we need to do to get everything paid for, but we're here tonight to ask for your
026help. I don't know what kind of budget this is, and I don't know where to start. So wonderful. This is just amazing. and so exciting and trying to control my emotions here, but um would you have a I I saw where there's like timelines where you have to have deposits and and things like that. So would you have a better idea on July 22nd's agenda or like what are your time frames when you need to have different deposits and partial payments and things like that to help us? Sure. The charter bus deposit has been made. We've already made that as um for the count the funds that Van Boosters already had which was a thousand. So we've already paid that. We've paid a um we have a check ready to mail to the tour company
027which is a $500 deposit. Um that's also already done. The um tour company um recognizes that this is a short stint of time that we will be trying to come up with all the funding. Um they are being very generous with the timelines. He was like listen beginning of your school starts when and we said end of August. And so he's he said great let me know beginning of September middle of September your final numbers. I'll need um a hotel list of names by middle of October or beginning of October. Um and then yeah, so the timelines for pretty close to it and he's they're being extremely gracious with timelines. So by so you would say maybe like September 15th, middle September would be a good time frame. Yep. So they they're not going to
028reserve your hotel rooms till the beginning of No, they'll pay for everything and reserve it now. Okay. Yep. They got that all under control. But I think we need to be mindful of your plans to go to Sailor County Commission because they want to see what you know we're going to contribute first too. So absolutely I want us to you know be mindful of that time frame for them as well. So thank you. I I'm in full support um of supporting um this venture for one as she said there are our our children have this opportunity it's also an educational trip and without a doubt um I think that the c it would be crazy not to support this monetarily with the county that we live in being as patriotic as we are in our
029roots. And we need to really continue to lead our kids down that path of honoring our veterans and understanding where we come from and our roots. Yes. I've heard people that have been on the Memorial Day committee say we need to continue to grow our young adults up into, you know, the volunteerism of the Memorial Day. And um so I just think going for the Veterans Day um invitation that they've had is just right up, you know, the communities, you know, right up our alley of the community that we live in. So, I'm in full support and I believe that we we should definitely help with this venture. I have a question for our financial person though. I'm just pulling it. I'm pulling the threads here. When it comes to budgeting for this amount and
030for the purpose that we're looking at it for, is there anything in our um lovey that could assist with these funds. Sorry, that's what I was back here trying to do rapidly was to look through some reports real fast to see where we were at for because we're here at the end of the year, see what we we're pulling forward into this year. So, just one second. I'm trying to remember trying to remember all the all the line items in our levy that we had and wondering if there's a line item this might fit into. There is a I was going to say there is a line item in the in the in the levy, one of the 13 items on the levy that has that uh specifically earmarks funds for such things as um
031that this activity we can certainly look at finding some funds from that to contribute. But I I don't want to miss an opportunity if I can just jump in real quick. This is to clarify this is representing the state, right? This isn't Oh, yeah. This is just one of many going from the state. We're all now going from West Virginia. This is us. Yes. Right. Yes. Right. Beyond beyond pleased to learn that detail detail that I hope is in the newspaper when you report on that. Just saying. But I I don't want to miss the opportunity. I know that what small contribution I might be able to do personal commitment is I know that I mentioned you have a subsale. I will commit to uh your first purchase for my administrative council meeting that happens
032in September. I typic I often will we will treat the administrators to a meeting and provide their lunch and apparently September's lunch is going to be whatever that Marina's subs Mariana subs you won't be disappointed they are phenomenal. So, we'll communicate. So, I don't I can give you an approximate number and you can let me know how soon I need to let you have that number, but please mark me down for at least that contribution. Okay. Uh that's a that has nothing to do with our board, but um I'm excited for you and excited I'm not the least bit surprised that our Taylor County Middle School band you're not either. And uh beyond it'll be Washington DC doesn't realize what they're getting. That's right. That's right. And so I, you know, I'm serving as a
033member of the Memorial Day parade committee, as you know, and um I too am trying to get the uh the county to return to some of that, you know, that wearing all white, the honor court we introduced and and uh participating in that those kind of activities. But um I'm not trying to steal anybody's information, but put me down for at least a September order of your subs. And we'll see where that goes. If if it's a popular thing, perhaps another meeting as well. But I'll let my recipients of that lunch make that call for us. But um please please allow me to be the the first of your responders tonight um for that. And I I don't know exactly what your ultimate ask will be because you all you've just mentioned you have a
034lot of people that you're approaching and a lot of people that have already made commitments. And so what I would ask Yep. Miss Garbin is that um well go ahead my ask yes after going is what are you asking for tonight so that you can go and try to find the rest ultimately um we would request from the board if we could do half and then we will figure out the other half which is a big number minus an order from h subs and based on this number half is approximately 37,000. That's correct. So I should mention that the number that we have written down as 85 participants um when we scheduled or for filled out the registration form with the tour company he told us to guess estimate less the number of possible participants.
035The max number participants we calculate as 99. if every single person from fifth grade continues on into the sixth grade band and if every single person is permitted to go would be 99. It's highly undoubt highly unlikely. Um a lot of fifth grade some fifth grade will likely fall back and that's okay um to pursue other passions and that's okay. Um and then some may not even be permitted to go from their family and that's okay too. And so our estimate was roughly 85. Um the tour company was like we can add but it's really hard to subtract because of hotel rooms specifically. So we're going with 85 one I want to look at our financial our financial manager trying to think and see if we can get his nod on this um out of
036the levy. I mean honestly if you look at a community there's so many opinions on having levies and you know we can't operate without a levy in this county right and I feel that our taxpayers would look at this venture and say absolutely that's something that I want to put my tax money towards as directly towards our children. Yeah. And so I'm looking at our financial manager to see if he's going to say that we're good to go. What I would say at this point I think I think I'm going to I want to caution you. Let me let me recommend that we work together to come up with that definitive number and I can in I can add it as a recommendation on your forthcoming agenda that will also meet their timeline. I'm I
037mean I was willing to make a motion. We we cannot do that tonight because it's not listed that way on the agenda. the the community and taxpayers need to know that if we were going to contribute funds or monies or anything like that, it just says TCMS ban. That's why I was suggesting allow me to put the amount of money cautious. I sort of disagree with that, but I'm fine either way. That way, that way I can put a definitive number on there so the community does know. I don't think anyone on the board I don't hear anyone on the board saying we don't like this idea. I just think we want to make sure that we're fulfilling that expectation as well. As long as we get it on there. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. I
038will commit to that. I apologize. I'm not a conversation with her. So, July 22nd would be our next one. Would you be okay with like the 30th or the 23rd or something like that? Depending on when would that be too late for you to go to them? No, that would be okay. Okay. Y that was my question was if you were to put it on the agenda for the next one, which is on the 22nd, would that give her sufficient time to go to the commission? Well, it's a great question. My other suggestion is I depending on your hard deadline. If the 22nd is is uh the only option we have and then you could go to the commission after you get this decision made by this board or you could wait till the very
039next one. You know, we have a couple in August and I'm not trying to delay. I'm just trying to make sure it's definitive for the general public to know what they're this group is doing, but then they can also hear you'll also be able to bring to us whatever you learned from the commission or your other I'm you see what I'm trying to do is let's gather everything in the binder is a is a great way to start this introduction of the process and so well done. Um so I'm just offering whatever sequence you are just I'll just ask Mr. Shadow and you um may I call you Valerie? Of course. Valerie, if you will work with me and keep me posted on when and how much okay that you're requesting and I can the
040recommendation comes from me. The board then makes a decision if that is an acceptable amount. So that's how that sequence is supposed to work. So I think that would be the county commission has made it clear not to come to them until a decision is made here. Okay. So the 22nd sounds like I'll put that we'll talk we'll still talk correct. So okay with your information please make sure that we have a definitive number by Monday or Tuesday of next week so I can get that on the following the agenda for the following. I must have it to them by Thursday of next week. So let's say by Wednesday if I have that to put on the agenda so I can get that to these ladies and gentlemen. Okay. It's just that requirement to get
041that on to them on time for three days before their next meeting. Okay. Right. Yeah. Beginning of September. Yeah. Yeah. Perfect. I think I just I'm okay with waiting. I just want to really support this. But I think if we're we're going to have I'm just going to try to help people out that come after you in the future. if we're going to have situations like this that honestly November's pretty quick and it's right around the corner. It is. We were kind of shocked by and so I feel like this is an imminent type of issue that maybe we should be able to move on. So if you kind of know what somebody is coming to the board under information for, if you know what their presentation was about, try to put more on the
042agenda. So that way if we get into a position where we have to make an emotion or we would like to make a motion then we can. Yeah. Because it said like consider contributing to trip or something like that. We can but we can't when it's just blanket like that. Yeah. I mean no I got you. Yeah, that makes sense because I mean there's Yeah, I might also point out that you are contacting Senator Randy Smith, but we have three other senators that you can contact. You should and I have contacted them, but I literally copied and pasted you know one. Yeah, I've copied and pasted from my notes and I completely forgot to put in your son's name. I'm so sorry, but I have spoken to him directly. You left him out. Okay, the
043deal's off. the deal. I'm so sorry. Nicely prepared. Thanks. Did a great job with the packets. I'm impressed that you've done all this work since when? The end of April. Yes. Yep. It's been a busy couple months. We were a little nervous with the timeline because I told her I said if we had learned about this like January, a lot more time to prepare and everything, but That's like I said before. I remember going to DC when I was in sixth or seventh grade. We were sitting outside Kmart selling apple pies and Like we we knew what we were doing. Like then they're going to know. They're going to be excited. Yep. I have one more question, please. So you said that one dinner cruise was formal. Semiformal. Okay. Yeah. Not jeans. Yeah. Oh, okay.
044Wanted to make sure that if there were kids in the band that maybe couldn't afford boosters will cover it. And we but we also have something at the high school that the principal keeps over there as some sort of a closet for some formal type of wear too that maybe actually Mrs. Mr. Chidto Mr. I say I will add um my wife started a couple years ago she myself included we keep a small clothing closet okay for our students when we perform concerts we teach them about concert etiquette and dressing appropriately to look like the performer. So, I can assure you that any student that may not have that type of outfit will be taken care of by one of us. Okay, good. Yeah, y'all are phenomenal. Thank you for all of this work. You'll
045get it on there. We'll get it. Yeah, perfect. Thank you. So, it's our pleasure and we're we're so excited. Just um and both of you mentioned the Memorial Day committee and it hit me as we're standing here. This is how my brain works and I apologize. Um it would be really cool if the so the you know the Memorial Day parade when our band carries our banner our Taylor County middle school marching nights banner um to have a banner that says Taylor County middle school marching nights Grafton West Virginia home of the 150 something something Memorial Day parade. Um it' be neat to have that part on there as an advertisement for our own county and our own uh for the parade too. So that might be something we have to look into for sure.
046for the committee. Okay, perfect. Thank you. The 14th. Got it. Seven. She says, "I don't know. It's in my phone." Well, I just want to say congratulations to your band. Yeah. Congratulations. this honor and congratulations on all the hard work that you guys put in and all the work that you put in so far to being able to make it on this trip. So, Thank you for having us and hearing us out. We appreciate it. Absolutely. Thank you so much for everything. Go find a boat to sit on, y'all. There's a downbeat someplace waiting for you, I'm sure. Um, okay. That brings us to superintendent updates, data reveal, shout outs for successes, and in case you haven't heard. Thank you, Miss Garvin. As you can see, we have been recognizing the the retirees. There were
04710 in total. Some of them had conflicts with this evening, but um we will still make sure their certificates and information will be provided to them. Um we appreciate having them this evening and their guests. Thank you very much. Middle school representative or marching band people and band member maybe leaving us right there. Very good. Um al so the and of course this is definitely a representation of the shout outs for successes both the retirees as well as this group's identification as a representative of our state. I'm I did not realize it was to that magnitude and I I'm very pleased for them. I provided also the handout. You should have received another brief update or overview of the updates from the various campuses we have starting with Anna Jarvis. I'm sure you remember I
048sent you the text and the video the little video clip where we actually had fitters footers being poured. I just happened to be by driving by at the time the first truck pulled in and I flipped the corn the corner the around the corner and walked across the the construction site without permission I guess but said are you about to pour concrete may I take a video of that because I I've been waiting since the 27th of January and they said sure come let's do this so I was like a kid in a candy shop and they were very accommodating that is as you can see the section referring to section B of the building the twotory section with most of the class classroom section. The frontmost east corner would be the administrative component is
049section A and behind it would be the commons area, cafeteria and uh gymnasium would be section C. So right now you are driving by and seeing the the concrete blocks being aligned for that first score that they'll put on the footer. We did remember or remind we do remember that we need can't go any higher than the intended height of the cornerstone in accordance with that other ceremony. But they are well aware of that. They just kind of smile at me when I say don't forget the cornerstone. Don't forget the cornerstone. But of course they are well of that. They've been doing this for many more years than myself. Um Flemington Elementary School has two things. The next steps have been initiated regarding the ad advertisement portion of the recently approved and much needed replacement
050of the HVAC roof units. uh that will be followed by as you're aware the the advertisement goes out. Then we interview for architectural firms to be the ones that when the bid for uh proceeding with that then we have a pre-bid with the potential contractors just like the other process. You're all familiar with this drill but all those are in the offing in the next couple weeks and months and then the initiation of the work that is needed to be done. Uh, also quick update. Uh, I'm I'm sorry to tell you that I've we continue to make attempts to make contact with more updates regarding the concession stand at Flemington. I will continue to do so, but I have not been successful to date. Uh, we are still waiting of I think the last time
051I reported to you that I was told that there were we were at the mercy of waiting until after the ending of the baseball playoff season. And I think we're in the throws of that now. So, so hopefully by the next meeting we'll be able to speak to that. Wes Taylor, as I mentioned, we have ordered and are planning and you have already approved the installation of a a weather type canopy for the back. It is in back order by the manufacturers until maybe October. that doesn't mean that the construction company can't start the uh infrastructure uh placement of the for the poles and things and they have assured us they can do that while keeping it safe for people to pass through there waiting for the that'll happen in October. Um Taylor County Middle
052School the lower parking lot has now been paved lines have been um painted so that it will be addressing and accommodating the traffic flow for the parent pickup that we're doing. In addition, they are in through I just spoke to Miss Miss Flu Hardy Guthrie today again and she has indicated that they are crafting some ideas, sketching out some places where they can increase some of the outside weather permitting activities for students to take advantage of such things as um and I'll be pres providing you that information. I have not seen any kind of sketches and things but we're trying to make sure all those were within sight of the cameras for security reasons. So in case there is an accident for any of the outside activities this weekend, these have it recorded for the
053brim. Um also Grafton High School, the work on the new facilities, the new restroom facilities by the baseball field I believe are in process. Um and they are scheduled to be finished in time for the planned paving of that area. Um lastly for Grafton High School, the final of the doors that are being replaced on the SAM board entrance there on the the uh westmost end of the building. Uh part of them were finished at the last board meeting. I believe the others are being finished this week. Uh that's what I've been told. And lastly, there were I did receive a text just yesterday exciting news kind of that we have a we had a visitor beyond deer and other kind of wildlife in the form of a black bear. And so um there I
054understand I've heard reports that they're across the county from time to time and I have a couple pictures that were sent to me by our groundskeeper Mr. Garrison who sent me a picture of that just to let us know we had a new visitor. But um uh so there you have the updates about our what I call our our all of our campuses including camp tolls. Thank you for your time tonight. Oh, I don't know that that's been started yet, but we're also you had approved the the uh additional parking which is opposite the current build the gift visitors in the visitor circle opposite and closer to the building. I went out and walked that when you had questions about that and there is significant depth in that yard there. I too had that question
055but um I can assure you there's ample space for a parking area to be there without it's not against the building for instance. So we're good to go with that. Yeah, I approved it but I'm really worried about it. I'm not okay until it's finished and crossing my fingers that it's okay. Here is my speculation. You have to tear it up to to pretty it up, but once that's finished and that grass grows back around that, just like other construction areas, you'll be pleased. And over time, people won't even realize we didn't have that to begin with. I'm I'm just worried about a lot of things on it. So, I'm anxious to see what it looks like. I'm worried about the safety of it being too close to the school. I'm worried about just the
056taking away from the look of the school, just everything. But, it'll probably be fine. My my guess is I voted for it. I can't take it back now. I share those concerns, but that's another reason that you I share your concerns and that's another reason to be assured that we won't just throw a piece of paving there and leave it alone. Thank you, Miss Garbin. Thank you. Um, do we have any board member updates or committee meeting reports? Delightful. Moving into the 2000 series minutes, policies, contracts, and agreements. The superintendent respectfully requests approval of the minutes from the regular meeting on June 24th, 2025. Mr. Daddy moves. Second. Mrs. Gallow seconds. Questions. All those in favor? I. Motion passes. We have a couple of policies and codes in the first reading, a couple more in
057the second reading, and a whole pile of them in the third reading. The third reading is the piece that we'll be taking action on this evening. The superintendent respectfully requests approval of items 2006 through 2027 in the 2000 series. Mr. Taylor moves. Mrs. Knots questions. I I do have one. Taylor Kn. Yes, I'm sorry. I have one. Now, this is third reading and I believe I read this policy before on the first, but before I vote final on it, I don't We don't have them. Do you still have them with you? I want someone to read to me the 8390. The one on the animals. Do we have it? It's been a few meetings since I've read that one. What's it permit? That's what I want to know. And what's I want to make sure
058that it permits therapy dogs because we've had therapy dogs in our schools before that have been brought in. I don't want us to utilize those. You know what I mean? I want to make sure it permits us to use it. Doesn't say that we can't. I'm sure it doesn't, but bomb dogs or drug dogs that we can still bring them in. Making sure of the language that we're not I'm sure it's a state policy. So what it So what is the question? I want to make sure what it's permitting us and what it's maybe telling us we can't do. Are we per still permitted to have therapy dogs? We've had therapy dogs in our schools. Are we um What about um support animals for our if a staff member has a support animal, is it
059telling us we can't have that? I'm sure it's not telling us we can't, you know, is it's going to still permit other support animals for students if needed. I'm sure it's not taking that away. It does not. It addresses the ADA issues allowing students. So, emotional support dogs, it says provide comments to student but are not trained to perform the specific task. definition does not include psychiatric service animals who are properly trained and certified as a service animal. Okay. It for students and staff. Correct. As long as they'll be still peritt as long as they are bonafideed certified and not just hey this is my pet and so trust me he's he's there needs to be uh documentation that they provide and and that's true of all those different categories. Okay good. And what about
060if we wanted to have um an educational day for our students like you know sometimes at the middle school we bring in the helicopters we bring in and we want to have a therapy dog or something like that. It does not restrict that but there are certain there are there are certain um I'm trying to find the to answer your question it does say that taking consideration that some animals can cause and exacerbate allergies and raisins and so those cases um there's may permit um be present in the classroom to support curriculum related projects such as you're suggesting it allows that but it needs to be cleared and if parents are so inclined that they say my child can't my child cannot do that then we simply make accom we don't say don't come to
061school we make accommodations not to have him or her uh participate in that activity I want to make I wanted to make sure of that that we could still do that and then bomb dogs of course and drug dogs of course correct and it talks about the docu documentation certification as as the various categories okay I just wanted to make sure because it been a probably a month since I've read down through And it's before I vote. Thank you. Yeah. I think the information just to clarify for you, the this version was merely an updated piece that had the inserts that the state was really um kind of a non-negotiable part that supersedes anything we were talking about. It just actually it just um shores up those kinds of things for that. That's what most
062of these policy revisions are doing. Yeah, that's what I said. If it's from the state, there's really nothing we can do. But I wanted to but as I just as I've read through them and we put them together to what I did as I took our current policy, that's where you see all the different colors that infuses those pieces that have brought to our attention. And as I read through those, if something bubbled to the top like that's not a good thing, we don't want to do that or that's awkward. It was um we we revisited or revised it. So, I didn't change the states dictates, if you will. I hope that's helpful. Yeah, I'm good. Okay, we have a motion on the floor. All those in favor? I I motion passes. 5-0. Resolve that
063the bylaws and policies printed and codified in the comprehensive document entitled bylaws and policies of the Taylor County Board of Education are hereby adopted and all that all bylaws and policies hereto for adopted by the Taylor County Board are hereby rescended. Further, be it resolved that in the event any policy, any part of policy or section of the bylaws is judged to be inconsistent with law inoperative by a court of competent jurisdiction or is invalidated by a policy or contract duly adopted by this board, the remaining bylaws, policies, and parts of policies shall remain in full effect. That is quickly becoming my favorite thing to do and we enjoy it. All right, continuing on in the 2000 series, got someus. The superintendent respectfully requests approval of items 2028 through 2032 in the 2000 series. Moved.
064Mrs. Gallow moves. Mr. Dowy seconds. Questions? All those in favor? I. Thank you. Excellent. Motion passes 5-0. 3000 series consent calendar purchase orders for the central office and transportation and a request to use facilities. Superintendent respectfully requests approval of items 3000 through 3002 in the 3000 series. Mr. Taylor moves. Mrs. Galla seconds. Questions? All those in favor? I thank you. Motion passes. Bringing us abruptly to the 4,000 series financial budget supplements and vouchers payable. Mr. Dolan, tell us some things. Great. inside of your packet, uh there was a uh in the 4,000 series, we had uh two budget supplements. We received two grants right there at the beginning of the month of July. Um one of them was for the LA Strive conference. Uh the other was for a grant award for CPR instruction uh
065to be conducted on our high schools. was part of uh West Virginia code 18-5-51 that was passed in during the legislative session of 2023 and they just now released that grant to us. So $740 will be going to help teach CPR in our high schools. Um before the meeting uh we handed out uh the packets of schedule of checks to be written and schedule of checks that had already been written uh just to cover all of our bills here for the first part of July and the and the new year and some were um bills from the month of June uh to finish out our FY25 year. Thank you very much. The superintendent respectfully requests approval of items in the 4,000 series. Mr. Daddy moves. I will second. Any questions? All those in favor? I
066motion passes. All right. Uh, we are now in the 5,000 series and item 5,000 is up for a separate vote. I will now excuse myself. The superintendent respectfully asks for approval of item 5,000 in the 5000 series. Mr. Daddy moves. Mr. Taylor seconds. Questions? Concerns? Do we need a debate? It's a big debate. All those in favor? I motion passes 4 Z. Congratulations, young man. Go get your mom and tell her she can come back in the room, would you? Well, did you hear the comment at the beginning of the meeting that those middle school students, seventh grade kids about killed her? That didn't change that that didn't change your mind at all. That was your one opportunity to bail. No, we already approved it. You can't now. Well, I guess you could until he
067signed his contract, right? But don't give him any ideas. Just All right. Continuing with the 5000 series, we have a number of extracurricular uh some additional employment, some extracurricular, extra duty, some resignations, and some service personnel employment, some transfers, some leave of absence, and more resignations. The superintendent respectfully requests approval of items 501 through 5,026 in the 5000 series. Moved. Mrs. Gallow moves. Second. Mrs. Not second. Questions, comments, concerns. All those in favor? I. Motion passes. 5-0. Brings us to the 8000 series board member comments and discussion. The first one here is a reminder of the importance of completing our board member self assessment. I sent the link. I have four responses. One of which I know is mine because I can see the answers. So, it's me. I thought it might be the problem.
068It's me. Do you need me to resend the link? Well, thank you for your confession. Yeah, please do. Okay. Who's got the $20 bill? Yes. Okay. I will u resend the link and the results and the discussion will be up on the next agenda. Um also here in the 8000 series what I'm going to do. Um anybody else have any questions or concerns about that particular level of self assessment? Okay, that brings us to the eight or still in the 8000 series, the dean of students. Now, it's my understanding that this has returned to this agenda as Dr. Decker has some information for us. Um, unfortunately, she's not here, so I'm going to have to call her. So, now I got to remember how the phone works. I can help. Oh, is this going to
069be a long one because Can I take Can we take a quick brief break or is this Yeah, we'll take a brief facilities rig. Hello Dr. How are you? We understand you have some additional information for us about know Can you talk again, please, Dr. Yeah. Can you hear me? Yes. Yes, you can. I was I moved my microphone closer to the phone and turned it on so as to try to hear you a little bit better. Perfect. I mean, not to be nosy, but like where are you? And are you having fun? Oh, no. I'm well, yes, I'm having great fun. I've been at the facilities conference today and I will be returning there tomorrow. So, it's been a wonderful day with our custodians and our maintenance crew. Delightful. All right, we are reassembled.
070Tell us some things, Dr. Decker. Great. So, I apologize last meeting that I was I was actually listening, but I was had spotty service. So, I could not get information to you as quickly as I needed to as questions were coming up. So I wanted to just clarify some information. So during last meeting the discussion of the dean of students came up regarding if we do not abolish it, do we need to post it? And so I think there was a little bit of misunderstanding in that. So if you look at Taylor County policy 3132 regarding vacancies, it clearly tells us that if we have openings established, existing or newly created, we have to follow a certain process. And the very first thing we have to do is post the position. And so I think
071that was a question that didn't get answered in the correct way. So I wanted to make sure that was an understanding to know what I'm supposed to do. So I'm not advocating one way or the other for that. I just I did not feel like you had the accurate information when you were making your decisions about that position. So from the I asked Dr. Song because of course I was not there. So I think it was a little bit of misinformation. So I said am I supposed to post the position? What's happening? And so we wanted just to clarify with you all tonight to know the next step to move forward. And I will say this to you. So the position um this position of course was being replaced with the itinerate counselor position and
072there are interview set for that position tomorrow as we did have certified applicants apply for that position. So I have a question just to clarify for me in my mind I I can't hear I don't know. So I have a question it's it's Mrs. It's Melissa not thank you. So we by what you're saying that we had that vacated then we would have to post it. So to me in my mind then it says we wouldn't have any vacant positions that we've chosen not to continue or not to fill in the entire system. Then correct we well this is what the policy 3132 states that we have to post the position at least one time if it if it becomes vacant or is new and then the superintendent determines whether we continue to post it
073or we fill it with a substitute. And so we we do continually post positions that are not filled with full-time employees. For example, you if you have looked in the past and you will see certain positions are posted over and over and over and over and over and over again because they have not been filled by a certified applicant. And so even if we have a long-term substitute in that position, he continually posts that position. And I I do that because we ran into a situation. If we have a position that we have a retired substitute in it and they reach their maximum amount of days, then we have to prove that we have continually posted that so they can remain in that position past their allotted days for retirement. So we have to do
074that in case that situation arises. So I that is the practice that we follow for all of our positions that are not filled by fully certified applicant or someone on a permit or someone that's seeking alternative certification. So yeah, so we should and that has been since I came into play about halfway through my first year there. That's when you start seeing the create and abolish on the agenda. So we had clear documentation of positions that we were newly establishing or if if you read upon um number or letter sorry it's letter E it says nothing provided here and shall prevent the board from eliminating a position but if we have a position then we are supposed to at least post it until we get someone to fill it. So, okay. So, then every position
075that we have on the books, we either have some we we either have a body in that position or we will continue to post it over and over and over again. Yes. Yes. Correct. There is not going to ever be a position abolished. Right. Right. Right. Where they or we abolish them and they're not no longer right. So now let me say this is where the kind of gets a little bit it's clear as mud, right? So it doesn't eliminate the that we have had that position. So we we don't have to recreate a job description. So let's let's just for example say we eliminate uh let's just I don't want to say this position because I don't want it to become misunderstood but so we eliminate any position um and so we need it
076back in in six months. we find that we have an increase in students and we need a fourth grade position back. So all that we do is then recreate a position to be able to post, but we have the job description and all the information needed for that position. We don't have to recreate job description, all of those things. We still have those on file, but it's not a job we are seeking someone to fill. Well, a fourth grade position, that's a little different in my mind because you've got fourth grade teachers across the county. So you have a body in that position. This one's different because there was only one person in it. So, we only had one in the county, right? Only one at this time. We did. There was a previous one
077before at Taylor County Middle School that um I believe that job description was still existence when this again all this state me when this student was created and again this dean of students was created for a two-year time span which does not follow code either. So again there's all that's why I feel like there's some been some confusion. So Howard will Howard Super will tell you that when you create a position, you can't say you're creating a position for one or two years. You have that position that you have to post and fill until you do one of two things. You risk that person out of it and you and and then you abolish it on a board agenda or you continue to have post and fill it. I know abolish seems like the wrong
078word. Like abolished seems like the wrong word. Like unused or unalloc or not allocated. Not allocated or something else other than abolished. It isn't. We're abolishing the job the job opening right now. Not we can always bring it back anytime. I was going to say don't it's not to be interpreted with making it extinct. It I think that's what that that that word must trigger to you. Abolish that suggests extinction. So that's not the that's not what we're finding out. So went just to clarify that was it that's where my thoughts went when I was not discussed I feel like I didn't make myself clear the last time we met. Um it was no intent to make something extinct. It was just that we were trying to fill code at that particular time. Yeah. And
079I wasn't I wasn't going to vote to abolish and make it extinct. That's That was that perhaps we uh weren't clear on making sure that I didn't realize that triggered you. I didn't realize that's where you went. Um yeah, that's where I went. I mean, that's where I went. That was where my thought was that if if we abolished then if the need came up, we would have to have it on the agenda to create the position then then post it. And then that was where my thoughts were. I don't know if anyone else was but you are correct in that I mean that is the process we have been following to to again clearly define when we are we are creating positions to be posted and when also to clearly outline for for finance
080that we are adding a lines that we have to pay. So all of these are positions that we have to account for and to demonstrate when we have someone that we have to um add to the payroll. So those are kind of trying to create clear lines of when we are paying things out and adding and taking away but not permanently depending on need. That's all that was supposed to be clarified and I did I will own the poor clarification in Dr. Decker's absent. So where does that leave us now then? Do we need to repeal this and and look at this again now that we have a better understanding. That was my question. That that was really my question to you as to how you wanted me to move forward at this position. So
081if I think you can give a recommendation to Dr. to do on the two you have you have two options you can say um it needs to be posted or you can say put it on the next agenda to abolish again that word I know is strong word but it's just to eliminate it at this moment and of course it can be brought back at any time well I I feel I might be wrong but I have a gut feeling that the discussion needs to continue because we're going to come to some points to where we might not always disagree I might not always agree with the superintendent all the time on your thought process at all times. I think there may be some people that's why there's not one person sitting here. There's I
082think there may be some people on the board that would like to pursue the conversation of keeping and still remaining staffing that position. Am I hearing a recommendation to put on the to continue the discussion for the next agenda? What? And it might come out of 35 one way or the other. I your pleasure. Yeah. or in a three two or one way or the other. Sorry. My feeling on the matter is that the faculty of that school would still like to have that position filled without question. And that was never intended to be, you know, the suggestion otherwise. Yeah. But that's that's I really think that it's a felt need at at that school. Whether whether the counselor's position uh helps with that or not, I I think the faculty still wants it. Well,
083I think at some point uh not just now but pre before this evening's discussion a clarification happened my intent was to request I for the just to clarify we recently met with the staff of another faculty about another concern that was raised and you had shared with me. Uh likewise I would like the opportunity to at least do something similar with that group and say okay what is it how are we crafting where are we moving and so I can bring that to your attention as well. I'm not by any means suggesting that the faculty would be ignored. Nor was that my intent ever. Um I feel like I need to give myself credit for that because that's not who I am. I may be interpreted that way by people to hear me say no
084you can't. But that's not my Thank you. I wasn't looking for a compliment but it sure was nice to hear. Um but we're not always going to disagree at all. Indeed. I just my goal as I have told you on countless times and not about this topic only is that as we are we are discovering and reading and understanding policy and code I have an obligation you know some of it I will tell you up front I don't like but we're still doing it because that's no one says what do you think John Stallings you want to do that no they say this is your expectation this is a just like the policies you just approved you know not everyone's going to like every one of them but we try to fulfill them until such
085time as they are changed. So that's why this is coming back. I apologized also to Dr. Decker because like I said a moment ago, I I think I did a poor job of making that clarification crystal. Um and if I may, for me that it it's really about setting uh the precedent of how we create and abolish jobs and fill and post jobs. For me it's not about one particular job. I feel like um I just need to explain the process so that we are following the proper procedure for creating jobs, posting jobs, and removing jobs that we no longer have a need for. It would just be an example of if we did not have a need for, like I said, a fourth grade or a kindergarten position, we would abolish a kindergarten position
086or a fourth grade position at XYZ school for that year if we didn't need it. And then again, we would bring it back when we needed the numbers again. So that just takes that that number off of the book and then puts it back on when we need it to clarify. As I have just spent the last week reviewing vacancy and filling data from 2017 until now. And so I think it's just really important that we keep accurate numbers to know how much local funding we are having to pay over the formula. Um so when we are having tough decisions about financial decisions regarding uh that type of thing during Richmond transfer season. We have an accurate count of what we are paying for through Taylor County funding and school aid funding. So it's kind
087of just creating clear lines for me. It's not about any particular position. It's just clear line. I think to clarify, yes indeed that was not by and if everyone if anyone interpreted that as an attack on a specific position that is clearly not what was intended and we're all just trying to do our our best what we think is best all of us are. And I'm sorry, clarify for me. You said yes, we had qualified candidates for the counselor position and those interviews are happening. Yes, ma'am. They're happening tomorrow. Okay. So, my goal is that they would be on the next agenda. I believe I will get a recommendation from that group that is interviewing by the deadline of Monday to add that position on to the next agenda. Those are scheduled tomorrow afternoon. Thank
088you, Dr. Decker. Yeah, thank you very much, Dr. Decker. Um, do y'all feel like we want to continue this discussion or does anybody have a a feeling on this. This is a lot of new information to process to make sure that we're using the same vocabulary. Um maybe without all the word um confirmation bias. I'm fine now with the explanations that were given, but I I do think we need to put on the agenda a discussion on if with along with our superintendent discuss if we are what each board member feels in their heart is best. or AJ. I I think what I'm trying to clarify though is we either have one of two options right now, right? That we have to make a decision for the next agenda. Correct. Either abolish the position. We
089have to abolish the position or we have to post it. Correct. So, so I mean it's pretty important. How is how are we having it listed? agenda. So my question to you is then the way this is listed on the agenda well it does it doesn't list it we can have a full out discussion on it tonight then the way that is we can I was thinking we needed to put it on another one and then whatever the So then the way this is listed on the agenda tonight we don't have to come back for a discussion on it. We can discuss it tonight and then so I think there's action that needs to be taken. Yep. We can go from there. Okay. Does anybody want to start that discussion? Well, wait a minute. I'm
090going to complicate and muddy the waters here a minute. I've been at this a long time. So, it says dean of students position. If we direct him to do something based on a discussion we're about to have, we were we we are making a decision to direct him to do something. Whereas with the CC TCMS ban, we couldn't make any type of movement at all based on the way it was listed. TCMS ban de students position. Did we had to ha have to have something else in addition to that or is because it's not really a monetary deal we can direct that that movement for next time. Does that make sense what I'm saying? It so we were not allowed to make any decision on TCMS band. Neither one of them have an actionable dash
091out from it. So, so can we have a f we can have a discussion, but can we direct you to put something else on a decision for an agenda next time is what I'm asking. I mean, I disagree with that in my soul, but if that's what the state's telling us to do, I guess we got to do it. I mean, Does it? No, I agree with you. Yeah, it would be my interpretation that we can't really take an action tonight, but that we can certainly discuss what we think we ought to do. Abolish. That's So, I am not doesn't I know and and I know what you're saying. I'm not arguing with you. Trust me, I'm not arguing with you. It's to I just feel like over the years things change so quickly at
092the state that I know numerous times. Words have been told that if Yeah, you can make a motion. Any board member at any time can make a motion. We've been told that many, many, many, many times along the way. And now it just seems like if it's not on the agenda, you can't I mean, why in the world have a board me board then if Well, I I do have an answer for you. You know what I mean? I do and I I do as you'll remember Mr. uh Sufer was here when actually before I believe the words he used that night were I happened to be invited to that meeting. I was at that meeting and uh you said something someone mentioned well Dr. Dr. Stallings is our new superintendent and I believe his
093words were because it caught me off guard. said, "You may have signed a contract with him, but until he is crowned, meaning sworn in, he is not your superintendent. You may have a signed contract between you and he, but he is not your superintendent." And then he went on to talk about the fact that the board of education's role is to respond, and I'm not trying to demean you. It is the essential component of the process is to respond either positively or negatively based on your majority vote of recommendations provided to you by your superintendent, not John Stallings, whoever he or she might be. So, in order for me to fulfill your make that opportunity available to you, I have to put it on your agenda. Miss Mrs. Gallow has mentioned that multiple times, but
094the the uh the expectation is trying to make it there. I'm boiling it down for me. Unless it's on the agenda, you you're not supposed to be even discussing andor voting on something of that nature. And that doesn't say I have all the power. It just means my responsibility is make sure that stuff's on the agenda. You know, you can tell me during a discussion, we would like to have you add things or consider things because we'd like to have you I think the word you use off of Mr. Taylor is we'd like you to investigate that more. perfectly legitimate. And then my job is to figure out what it is that the data is suggesting. And then I culminate and formulate some kind of a an item of recommendation. This is what I've learned.
095This is what it might cost. This is what it could do, etc. So the superintendent respectfully requests approval of and then he or she who's ever sitting in this chair waits him waits it out until you all make that final decision. There's a distinction when you recommend a person to us and we if we would choose not to uh accept that person we have been told by people like Mr. super that that person if we rejected them would have grounds to say that the superintendent respected them as the best candidate. Uh there's a distinction between a hiring and a policy of the board that we will do a particular act. If if we turn down a recommendation like an abolishment for example, then that's the board's decision to accept or reject that recommendation. Correct. And
096you know after that then you would have a responsibility of a different kind. That is correct. But that's but doesn't preclude me from returning to another forthcoming agenda with May I interact. Please do. So you do as the board have the right to reject a recommendation of a person of the superintendent but that super the superintendent then then rename that exact same person if that person is the best applicant for a position and state the reason why that is and put that back in front of you. And the only reason I asked to have this in front of you is because I feel there was incorrect information shared regarding the questions during the discussion of this. And so it would be my opinion to have the superintendent make his recommendation. If he feels like this
097job should not be re reposted right now back to you again before so you can make your decision or if he feels like it should be um posted he would he needs to tell me to post it. But I wanted to have a clarifying conversation because incorrect information was given at the last meeting regarding basically us holding positions out there that are not posted that we are holding and we we technically either have to post or we we have to not have it. The the point of my vote at the last meeting on abolishment was that I did not want to abolish the position and I preferred that it be filled. Uh that was that was the reason for my vote. Now, you know, if it comes up again, I'll have another vote. So, so
098be it. I will chime in and say I didn't feel that I would have to make a decision on this this evening. You don't? I know I don't. But I mean, I'm just talking. I'm just talking. Okay. I feel as if I've been on on the fence a little bit on this issue. I feel that the position should remain at Anna Jarvis. However, I don't want to shortch change our other schools. I feel that it's my responsibility to make sure Anna Jarvis has the staff that they need. I feel like it's my responsibility, ours, not mine, but I'm a board member, so I'm saying mine. I feel like it's my responsibility to ensure that Taylor County Middle School has the staff that they need and that West Taylor has the staff and Flemington, which we
099know we've been given some information on recently. So, what I'm trying to say and why I haven't really publicly I've been kind of vague on a lot of things I've said on whether I support the position or not, I do support the position, but if it means that we're going to use every single bit of funds for one position at AJ and we cannot support the other schools with similar positions, then I'm going to be in between a rock and a hard place because that's not what I want to do. I want to support AJ with the Dina students and also if the other schools need a Dina students or Flemington or West Taylor tells us we don't need a Dina students but for some similar issues we might need this type of position. I
100want to make sure that we're fair in our funding and our support to the other schools before I say staff the dean of students at AJ. I'm in support of it. I need them at AJ to have that position that they feel is going to benefit their students. But I need to be reassured before I can say that that we're going to give Flemington the support they need as well. That's just where I'm sitting at this moment. You know what I mean? That's where I'm sitting. I I totally get your point, but I was never under the impression that nobody else was going to get if this happened. I know. Okay. Because I I don't know if it was Timber or Tone, but something about the way you finished your statement sounded like you believed
101somebody had said that and I was never No, no, no one has ever said that. No one has ever said that. I just want to ensure that if we if I as a board member I want to I want to give AJ their Dina students. I'm in full support of that. But okay, we know how things go. We have it on the agenda next time. The superintendent's going to post the Dina students. West Taylor comes in at the very next meeting and says, "Here are our needs." But we don't make any decision to help West Taylor or even Flemington with something they're requesting. I mean, I I just want to make sure that we're fair across the board to every elementary school. Thank you. It's important for similar needs. If I might respond to that,
102I I want to assure you once again that uh all of my recommendations are based on um not opinion but on data. And I know I I I commit to you again to doing that. Um there are people that may be complaining to you as board members that we are not uh providing them what they want. But I I assure you that when I sit down and we look at that information in my with the people that are providing me the data and we're discussing those things and we are discussing those things with them in spite of what some are telling us. We that we don't just say I'm not doing that. I I we look at the data and we make those recommend recommendations based on that. That's my job. And uh as hard
103as it is for me to tell you this, I appreciate you trusting me to do that because I that's what we do. So there's your assurance. Again, I can I you can trust that I'm telling you the truth. I've never lied to you before. I don't have any reason to do that. Um that's my commitment. I committed to that when I signed my contract with you. That's the assurance I am offering you. I don't make decisions based on vendettas or I didn't someone were nice to me or I don't you know what I don't do that I don't try to ever ever do anything unfairly. Um sounds kind of corny but that's not who I am. Well, I mean, as a board, I think this board, we've been together for a while now, and we've
104been very generous. We've seen there in the first couple years that this board has been assembled together. We had a lot of requests for funding. We had band uniforms at the high school. We had what bike the bike club. We had we can just continue. They got to I mean I want to do that. That's one reason why we have our levy to help you know what I mean to help our community. But I'm what I'm trying to say is it just it's let me help you with that. I believe what you're wanting to say. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but here's my philosophy of that. The funding that comes to the school systems, not just Taylor, are intended to be utilized not for just a big bank account, but all
105the contributions and improvements and and all the things you've done across the county in the years I've been working with you. And um yes, we have spent a lot of money, but every one of those investments has been a need, right? Because you've made frugal decisions based on is this really something needed or wanted. We all want even more. That's just human nature. But I applaud you and congratulate you and the recommendations we're making. Those are it continues because right now and for the last two years at least, Taylor County's financial situation has been such as the community has stepped up and supported your levies. Let me say our I was a voter. Our levy. I am a voter. Um but all those things and and you're responding in kind. You're turning things around so
106the kids of today are benefiting from the monies those very same parents and grandparents are investing as taxpayers. I agree. And so all I to your credit you know I I always jokingly say well it's kind of half joked I say to Mr. Dolman do we have money for that? And he's monitoring those funds responsibly and so then we bring that to your table. we say this is what I understand. Just so you also know the the presentation from today um this folder that you received uh my my suggestion to them as they were asking me put on the agenda was please make sure that you provide as much background information as you can to the board because I know our board our board is very generous but expectant of what you've been doing and
107what's your skin in the game. What are your plans so you're not just coming with an empty hand as you've demonstrated time and time and time again? You've not said so you want a playground. Go build it. You said so you want a playground. We want to support you. What are you doing? What? And you're not saying so you must do a certain percentage. You're just saying what are you bring to us some assurance that you are actually contributing to your want. because you have and convince us it's a need. And so that's what's happened and that's what this is. This is more more a recognition of an acknowledgement of someone else saying you have a dynamite group here. And so but they are also coming to you with some money's in their hands. And
108I feel based on what you just said, I agree with you 100%. And I feel that Anna Jarvis has convinced me as a board member that they need that position. Hence my reason for saying I just I haven't had the opportunity. I have they have not approached me and that we have not had a conversation of that nature. I just think it's essential just like I did just yesterday with another campus faculty um that that would be helpful and a sentence and also saying to to remind you that you're also been generous of funding over 30 employees over the formula that Taylor County is using local funds, levy funds, and we've discussed this too. So when we're looking at need, we do have to look at the data that we're we're sharing and you all
109have generously done that for all schools. And so that's the continuation of the process that we are trying to be faithful to of being accountable for every person we put in over a formula that there is a direct need for that as we have to be frugal with our funding. And that's why I just want clear process. So that you all understand when we are adding and taking away from that because every time we put create on an agenda we are creating another person over the formula and every time we abolish we are taking one off and so that's the clear path I was just trying to make sure we have for everybody right and so that goes right along with my fear that I've been trying to explain is that if we're going to
110go forth which is what I believe we should do and continue with the dean of students at AJ that when we look at Flemington, Taylor County Middle and West Taylor's needs, similar needs, then I'm af I'm fear that we might hear at some point, well that's going to put us 32 over formula. we can't afford that to go 32 or 33 over formula when to me I've already voted for a dean of students at AJ and we can't give the same to some of the other schools that goes that's what I'm trying to to say what I fear the other thing is that um keep in mind that equal doesn't mean same okay um case in point we don't need uh let's use the number of faculty at Anna Jarvis compared to the number of
111faculty at Flemington Exactly. It doesn't we need to make sure we must guarantee that we have sufficient appropriate staff per building not same we we would you know the 80 some cars that go down in Jarvis I know wouldn't be able to park 80 cars at Flemington I'm just using that as examples. So equal doesn't ever necessarily mean same. And I think that clarification is important to be heard. And so that's why we look at the information based on need and make recommendations based on the data. I hope that's a helpful additional clarification. Anybody else have a comment or a thought or a any other pieces of this discussion that anyone feels strongly about having this evening? I think um just adding that yes It would be nice if we could just supply as many
112people as everybody wants. Um, but we do have a fiduciary responsibility and um our decisions as well as Dr. Stallings. Um, it's not easy and it's it's not that we take any of them lightly as we've been here discussing at length. Um, I do think that Anna Jarvis has shared some very valid concerns and um, their feedback is very important and and I feel confident that Dr. Stallings is going to take that into account and really um, look at what is best um, for them. And you know, we did just recently approve the counselor. So, um, and as Dr. Decker said, there's, um, interviews will be happening. So, it's a lot to take into consideration. Um, and yes, we know that there's other schools that have other needs. It may not be ADA students. It's
113something else um, that they may be requesting and their concerns are valid as well. um that's why we have entrusted you in that position and bringing bringing that to us. But um yeah, we I mean we want to hear from our constituents and and our staff and what they they need and stuff, but also to help support and strengthen those uh relationships between the board, the community staff, and our superintendent. So it takes all of us to make that those decisions and considerations. But I don't think I do I feel still don't feel that we've given so a couple times we mentioned whether we were going to make a decision on having an abolishment on the next agenda or a direction to post. I don't know. I think that's Yeah, I was to him, not
114the recommendation has to come from the superintendent. We can we can direct though. We've always directed we want to see this on the next agenda. I I think at this point if we say we want to see this on the next agenda, what we will see is my guess. don't know is a very similarly worded. If we say we are comfortable with where we're at and we don't want to see an alternate recommendation or a repeat of a recommendation, then that by default says post it. So I think that that's the way my brain is processing that. Um do so the question then is do we feel like this discussion is closed or do we feel like this discussion will be reopened next time? Stay tuned. Well, I mean because if if we all say
115this discussion is closed, you could recommend anything you want, but this discussion is closed. Um if we all say no, let's continue to discuss this then. Well, here we are July, it's the 8th. 8th. Yep. So, we're looking at the 22nd. I mean, something has to be decided because if it if it ends up having to be posted or going to be posted or whatever, there's going to be running out of time to have that done before the school year. Either way, there's still time this summer to address that. Okay. Either way, I personally would like to see it posted, but I think it's the superintendent's recommendation at the next meeting. And uh if he recommends to abolish, I'll probably vote against it. But, you know, that's either here or there. Mr. Taylor, I would
116caution you on disclosing in public how you're going to vote on an an item that's not even on the agenda. Well, yeah, I think I don't think we can go any further. Yep. I I would agree with that sentiment. Um, anything else for the good of the order in the 8000 series board member comments or discussions? Very good. Uh, moving into the 9,000 series. Future meetings. July 22nd, 6 o'clock here at the board office. August 5th, six o'clock here at the board office. August 19th, six o'clock here at the board office. September 9th, 6 o'clock here at the board office. And a reminder that um in August we will need to pick an additional meeting to set the superintendence goals, which I believe need to be done by September 15th. But just bring your calendar
117at the beginning of August and we'll make sure we do that. Okay. Motion Mr. Daddy motions to adjurnn. Second, Mr. Scallow seconds. All those in favor? I motion passes and we are adjourned at 7:53. Thank you very much for your time, your talent and your dedication. Go forth and enjoy the sunshine.