001which is the highest score you can achieve on an AP exam. 14 of our courses scored above the state average and 12 scored above the global average. But one of the really important things about this for us in this recognition is the hard work of our students and teachers. but also this was the highest pass rate on AP exams that we had in the history of Northridge High School. As well as our A+ partnership, it offers great incentives for our students and teachers to to do as well as we know that they can do. So, I'm I'm happy to report that with this partnership, we awarded 320 $100 gift cards to our students for a total of $32,000 we we gave out to students through our A+ partnership just for their qualifying scores on the
002AP exams. But there's more with that that's really really great is that our teachers also receive incentives for their hard work. So, our teachers totaled $37,000 in incentives for their hard work and dedication. So, we're just very proud of that. Dr. >> Dr. Williams, before you Dr. R, you you said something that your highest pass rate on AP year to date. Is that correct? >> Yep. >> And your numbers for AP. Can you talk about where they're going? >> They they are continuing to increase. We are we're very proud that we are continuing to offer more AP courses. So last year we added AP research, AP seminar, uh AP macroeconomics. For the upcoming school year, we're looking to add in AP African-American studies as well as AP cyber security. So, we're continuing to increase those
003opportunities for our students to receive some of that rigorous curriculum and instruction as well as we're allowing any and all students that want to take an AP course to come join and take an AP course. If you are up for the challenge, we certainly sign you up and we put you in the course and we put you in the best position to be successful. >> And board, I just want to underscore why that's so important. You have your data book that we gave you last month. We have your data for the entire school system. So, at Northridge where you see your AP participation and qualifying scores going up equally. You see dual enrollment as high and increasing. So you are really seeing Northridge High School expand rigorous opportunities for all students in the school and
004that's coming out in their outcomes. >> And I think that's really important too that we offer students just a variety of different opportunities and that's just a testament to you guys and and how you support us and our schools just to allow our students to take some of the opportunities. They can do AP, they can do dual enrollment, they can do both. Um and I think that's just a great opportunity for all of our students. So, thank you guys for your support in those endeavors. We really appreciate it. >> And at the middle school, uh, the best way to explain the program is take the rigor of instruction and AP courses and put it in all of our middle school courses. So, while you don't get AP credit, you get AP level instruction. And so
005with the grant, this was our second year and the incentives, we had 120 students meet either their growth target or benchmark in both reading and math and they got a $50 gift card. So that was $6,000 provided to students. Our teachers by participating in the grant sign the LOA. They do things throughout the year, attend fall workshops. Um they go to they do instructional rounds, vertical team meetings, so they can earn stipens for doing reflections and follow up on that. But also we had a school growth goal and we exceeded that. So that's where the u the recognition of school of excellence came from was exceeding our school growth goal. With that came an additional $500 for each teacher. So, we had teachers getting as as much as 12 or $1,300 additional uh through this
006grant. And so, our total was was north of uh I think $21,000 that our students and teachers received this year. Uh what I love most about this is while it may not be seen, what we're doing is translating up to the high school. And since this is for all students, it's going to expand even more opportunities when they get to high school for all the courses that they're offering. My hope is that the demand for AP courses goes up because of what they're taking with them from the middle school to the high school. So, this is an ongoing thing. Um, we we will be ending our portion of the grant this year because it's a three-year grant, but uh thanks to title two funding, budgeting, and things like that. We're going to continue the partnership
007with A+ hopefully. And so, any new teachers we have come on, we're going to try and send them to the trainings in the summer. Teachers have not finished years two or three, we're going to continue that. So, this is not an end to the process. This is a beginning. It's a solid foundation for us to continue offering that high level of rigor to every student. It's everyone who walks in there. And so, we're excited to see this. Um, again, we we'll do the PSAT 89 in the spring. We'll have our data from that and we're hoping to be a school of distinction next year, which is the second level of the A+ awards. So, we hope to be a school of distinction and then with that foundation continue it and see the great things translating
008up to the high school when they get there. So, thank you for your support through um these grants and these initiatives and we're really excited for um all that comes with it. So, thank you >> Dr. Williams and Dr. You know, we want to say we're appreciative of your leadership. You you two at those schools the example example. You guys define the culture and you two walk the walk of leadership and it shows in everything that's going on in those two schools and we appreciate the the tone that y'all set for your schools. Wonderful job and we appreciate it. Um and look for much brighter and better things even going forward. So, thank you guys for what y'all do. >> Thank you. >> If I could just add, you know, I think it's great you're
009doing this in the middle school. It is very difficult to explain to students not to even think about trying to explain to their parents about AP and how the rigor and everything once they get to high school, you know, to have some of the skills and knowledge about going into it prior. I think this is a great opportunity for all of our students, you know, because uh I know when we were doing different things and you say, "Well, your child need to take dual enrollment." Well, he's in the 10th grade. I didn't hear nothing about it. and now they have the opportunity to learn a lot about it in middle school. I think this is a great opportunity for our system. Thank you. >> And to be clear, this is for all students. This is
010every one of our students. So, >> um >> I can only see so many benefits coming from this when they get to, like you said, when you get to high school. >> That should be the norm is taking AP courses, not finding excuses to get out of them, but finding reasons to get into >> get into them. >> So, thank you. Correct. >> APE students up to the challenge and they're willing to work hard to come into those classes and that is a testament to they're getting those skills and learning at the middle school. So when they get to us in the high school, they're ready to take on those challenges and succeed. So it's it's been a great partnership. >> Great job, guys. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you both. >> All right.
011Item number six, because I've had to pour through so many negative comments, we're going to move the um CSFO annual evaluation summary report to December the 16th. Um item seven, public comments. No one has signed up. Item eight,formational reports. Tonight, we're going to hear from Dr. Daria and we will receive and discuss the TCS Board of Education self evaluation. >> Thank you, uh Mr. Mr. Chairman, I I do have board members, I have homework for you [snorts] which is in this report. Um, we are going to do the board self-evaluation through AASB. Um, I sent you the document a while ago so you can kind of see the questions. This is just a good time to kind of pause and reflect on our our work as a board of education. Of course, we will use
012this as we do our Cogna board certification in the spring and doing this kind of review allows us to see what our strengths are as a board. some areas that we want to enhance to be even stronger as we move forward. So ASB will be sending those to you I think December 8th and you have to have them done by December 20 by December 20. So you got time. It's a it's an online board self evaluation. You'll give your individual reflections on the board and then ASB will pull that together and come back and kind of show some common themes. Um my what I suspect is we'll see a lot of really strong common themes, but it also gives us a chance to identify those themes of areas that we want to get stronger in
013and improve as a leadership team. So that'll be coming to you on December 8th and we just want to make sure you knew this was coming and we look forward to it. >> Thank you, Dr. D. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Item number nine, introductions and motions or resolutions for a first reading. 9A, discuss approved first reading of the 2026 to 20 27 academic calendar. Good evening, Dr. Cameron. >> Good evening. Uh, so this is a first read for our 26 27 academic calendar. It represents 177 student days, 187 staff days. And you've got um what was uh done on the calendar survey u that we sent out to our employees and to our families as well. Just a few things to to touch on. Uh 100% of them wanted two weeks for winter break.
014So you can see that uh within the the calendar uh 85% wanted the week for uh Thanksgiving fall break that's built in when the calendar we ended before Memorial Day as we did this year. We'll do it next year as well. And then we added a couple more three-day work uh weekends in there. Easy to do that because Memorial Day is a little later this year than it uh later next year than it is this year. So we'll add able to add those in there. Uh you'll see at the bottom uh we wanted to collaborate with the county. I contacted the county before Thanksgiving. They weren't anywhere with their academic calendar at this point. They were focusing more on their superintendent search. So, uh as they'll come in, we'll share calendars and we'll go from
015there. Hopefully, I've shared our calendar and uh they'll hopefully model as best they can after us. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Cameron. This is a first reading. Does the board have any questions for Dr. Cameron? How does it do you know how it differs really from 24 25 um 256? >> So, a few more um three-day weekends in there. We've added a three-day weekend. If you look at uh in October, we've got a three-day weekend uh and then we come back and have a staff day. This year, we just had the staff day. we didn't have the three-day weekend built off off of that. And then you look in February, we again got that three-day weekend. Uh teachers and staff come back. That next day in is the staff development day. So we built
016that in um coming forward and same thing in April. We've got a staff development day and then a three-day weekend going in. So, we looked at the calendar, saw what our employees were asking for, and we're able to build that in because we are that Memorial Day is is later this year. Uh, so we're able to do more. >> Okay. And then the final reading will be on the December 16th board meeting. Is that right? >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. >> So, if you have questions about the calendar, please get with Dr. Cameron before December 16th. Thank you, sir. >> Yes, sir. Thank you. >> All right. Item 10 is the consent agenda. We have Consent agenda item 10A. Board may have a motion to approve item 10A. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All
017in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? Be approved. Item number 11, regular agenda items for final adoption. 11A, approve superintendent recommendations regarding changes in personnel. Dr. Cameron. >> Yes, sir. Uh, we have the superintendent's recommendations regarding changes in personnel. We also have a supplemental list. I'll go through both with you. Starting on page one, you have five retirements, one new certified personnel, 11 part-time extended day tutors, one 2526 Paul W Bryant athletic supplement removal, and 202526 supplied resource managers. Takes us to the supplemental list. Uh you have one new certified personnel one new classified personnel, one 2025-26 fall semester academic incentives, one part-time extended day tutor, and one 202526 contracted coach. And what you will not see, it's been on here for a while. We don't have any resignations tonight, so that's a first for a
018while. Yeah. >> Very nice. Thank you, Dr. Cameron. >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Um, I think we have a set aside number six on the main and we have a set aside number six on the supplemental. Do we have any other set aides for a separate vote? All right. Hearing none. Accepting number six and number six on the supplemental list. Board may have a motion to approve. >> So moved. >> Second. Questions or discussion for Dr. Cameron? Hearing none, I'll call for a vote. All in favor? >> I Anybody opposed? >> And on that one, >> we haven't That's not the set aside yet. This is >> approved. >> Okay. All are in favor of the motion passes. >> All right. Board may have a motion to approve number six. >> Second. Questions or
019discussion for Dr. Cameron on this one? I'll call for a vote. We have one abstension with Miss Grant. So, I'll call for a vote. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? Motion carries. Number six will be approved. All right. Board, may we have a motion to approve number six on the supplemental list? >> Second. >> Have a motion. We have a second by Mr. Lucas. Mr. Simmons will be abstaining. Um I'll call for a vote. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? >> Number six on the supplemental list will also be approved. Thank you, Dr. Cameron. Item 11B, discuss approved TCS financial manual manual. Doc uh Mr. Duke, how are you, sir? >> Yes, sir. Doing great, Mr. Chairman, board members, superintendent, ladies and gentlemen. U this is just an um just an administrative function
020updating, adding, editing, modifying, tweaking if you will, the TCS financial procedures manual. [snorts] Um no major changes. It has not been updated. We looked back, we think since 2017. Uh but we do need board approval on some minor updates and tweaks. Um so we in this document we try to b uh balance financial equity between uh meeting audit requirements and uh employee uh functions and operations and employee reimbursements for example. Just trying to find a balance between making sure we make our employees whole meet audit requirements, state examiners requirements. And so, uh, again, no major changes. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Duke. Board may have a motion to approve. >> Second. >> We have a motion. We have a second. Any questions for Mr. Duke? >> Do we have a builtin auto review on that
021one date? Say every so many years. So, we don't we don't have that, do we? like on on the document >> just just yeah it said review >> policy review >> you know I'm not sure about that um but I've actually made a note to myself I think what I want to do is maybe um come back maybe at least once a year or every six months and just kind of freshen this up again it's it's probably been eight years or so since it's been brought up but but most of it hasn't changed so there's probably a good reason that it hadn't been brought up because there's been no major changes. I I'll give you one example of one reason we're bringing it up is the state increased the uh amount where you have to
022bid something from $15,000 to $40,000. So, we had $15,000 in the manual. So, we thought it was time to go ahead and hardcode that in at 40,000. That will change based on [music] some inflationary adjustments that the legislature made where it will go up over time. So we may come back in a year or so if if there's been any significant changes ask you to update it again approve the update >> and and I was admin to to make just just a built in every so many years review just so it just have a >> I think that's a good idea >> something just hey hey been two years you know let's put built in review >> Mr. Luke because I think at least once a year would be a good idea. Yeah, I'm I'm
023just Yeah, that'll be fine >> cuz I because I just think with audits, we just need to make sure if they come in on an audit, let's not have something sitting in that manual. >> And that's kind of what, you know, based on the audit each year, the audit report, we we take that audit report and look at our financial procedures manual, see if anything needs to be, I'm going to use the word, recalibrated, so to speak, because a lot of times what their audit is is a check against our own financial know we're supposed to be doing. >> Exactly. Good afternoon, Mr. >> Any other questions? Call for a vote. All in favor? >> I. Anybody opposed? >> Be approved. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Item 12, unfinished business. We do not
024have any unfinished business to attend to. Um, general announcements. There is ASD in Montgomery on Friday >> and Thursday for the >> delegates, right? Who's a delegate? [laughter] >> Wasn't Eric Wilson the ultimate? How you a bad guy? >> I think maybe so. >> Not sure about that. I We'll have to review the minutes. >> Clint said he might not come, so you going to have to show up. Uh we have do we have student hearings next week? >> Two two student hearings next Tuesday, December 9th. Our last board meeting before the end of the year will be in two weeks, December the 16th. And does any board member have any general announcements? >> Not tomorrow. I think there's a someone being recognized at the at the statement award. Is that correct? >> Would that
025be >> What time is it? >> Would that be Dr. Daria being >> Okay. >> Oh, okay. He's trying to move me along. >> What time is it? >> 11:30. >> All right. Um board may have a motion to go into executive session for the purpose of a school safety update. >> So move second. >> All in favor? >> I. We'll now go into executive session. >> Okay. We're set