001We're ready to start our meeting again. Um before we get started, we'd like to say the pledge of allegiance. Those that wish to participate are invited to stand, face the flag, remove any hats, and place your right hand over your heart. >> I pledge aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Right. This evening, we do not have any recommendations or recognitions. Recommendations. Sorry. >> All right. Next are questions from the floor. At this time, any person wishing to speak on any question previously discussed through administrative channels and not on the agenda will be granted three minutes to make a presentation to the board. Do we have any? >> We have one. >>
002Right, Vicki? >> Probably not saying that. Come on down. >> You can come on down. While you're coming down, I'm just going to read this to you. The board encouraged comments about the district from members of the public. A person speaking during the public comment period may voice their thoughts and concerns, including offering objective criticism of the district operations and programs. The board will not hear comments regarding any individual staff members or students in public comment. The board president will direct the participation in the published uh complaint procedure for consideration um of a legitimate complaint involving a staff member or student. Each participant is granted three minutes to address their topics. The board will hear the public comments but will not respond. Please remember that the board may not discuss or act upon any issues
003that are not published on our agenda. The board directs that participants not use insults, abuse, or profanity or defamatory language. Failure to comply with this request may cause the public comment to be terminated. The board has adopted policies to provide prompt and equitable resolution of complaints and concerns for employees, students, their parents, and the general public. Copies of our district policies and procedures are available on the district website. Maybe you're >> sorry about that. If you wanna go up to the mic so that we can hear you copies. >> Yeah. >> When I was in high school, I learned that you should always cite your references when you're giving a research paper or something. So, I have these and I'll just um give them here and you can take one and pass one down. These
004>> Thank you so much. contain um references to um whether sexual explicits are pornography or not. And these are references to >> if you wouldn't mind state your name for our records and Amy will then set the clock for three minutes for you. >> All right. Thank you, Amy. I'm Vicki Gustavson. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I think we'd all like to see those characteristics in students. Some things contrary to these are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, witchcraft, drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I researched the question, do any reputable resources say sexually explicit materials are helpful for minors? The answer. There is no scientific consensus that exposure to sexually explicit material has positive effects on children's development. Reputable health and legal or organizations do have consensus that sexually explicit material or
005pornography is not sex education. In fact, medical databases, international organizations, and research report negative effects when pornography or sexual explicit materials are introduced to minors still developing cognitively, emotionally, and socially. Some of the developmental problems are earlier sexual behavior, anxiety, shame, confusion, reduced academic performance, bullying, distorted views about sex, relationships, intimacy, consent, gender roles. It is addictive, causing neural changes in the brains that are similar to addiction to cocaine, alcohol, and methamphetamines. Tolerance to the addicted material leads to more extreme stimulus or satisfaction. The public school is pro commended to provide a safe learning environment for students in view of the harmful effects by experts uh that they reported sexually explicit books are not compatible with that. Some organizations are pushing an agenda and creating messaging to accomplish it. In 2020, legal counsel for the
006American Library Association laid out their plans to bring sexually explicit content into schools. her own words. Quote, "The thing that needs to happen most is sustained messaging messaging that reframes this issue that takes it away from the idea that these are sexually inappropriate for minors and promote them as diverse materials and programming that are about inclusion and fairness and protection of everyone's right to see themselves. What will be our guide? messaging with an agenda that has no documented benefit or reputable med medical organizations and documented research warning of the harm for minors exposed to sexually explicit materials. >> Thank you. >> All right. Our next item is presentations on agenda items. Any person wishing to speak on any items on the agenda agenda will be granted three minutes to make a presentation. Seeing none, we'll
007move on. Our next item is consent agenda. The consent agenda is utilized by the RA board of education as means of dealing with routine matters which must be considered by the board of education but require minimum of discussion. All board of education members receive, review, written information supporting the items listed on the consent agenda well in advance of the meeting. While any board of education member is welcome to remove any item from the consent agenda for a separate consideration or discussion for any reason, normally all items on the consent agenda are provided or approved, excuse me, in one motion with a minimum of discussion. Tonight we have items A through E. Do you have anything you want to pull out? >> Yeah, just real quick. Um, might mention under contracts um you see Medley equipment
008there. That's a forklift. That's a RTI um equipment grant. And so typically we replace those as the timing allows and then shift those other forklifts through the district through maintenance, food service, other places. Um and so uh that's uh that's what that piece is. Um you'll see your MSBA policy maintenance agreement there. And then I wanted to mention the solution tree contract. So, that's a professional development uh group that's going to come in uh talk about health and wellness, work life balance. Um that's one of the things that came out of our uh professional uh development needs assessment that went to our staff. So, that's one of the pieces that our staff ask for. So, all certified staff will attend. That'll be open to support staff as well. And um uh that is uh funded
009through our uh health insurance program. So, part of our wellness dollars uh that are set aside in that program are funding that. So, wanted to uh bring your attention to that piece. Happy to answer any questions about anything in there. >> I make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I'll second that. >> All right. All in favor say I. >> Those oppos say no. >> All right. Before we get to old business, I do want to take a minute to um to acknowledge some uh retirements that we accepted with regret in close session. We have Michelle Brandt, uh, five years at Raleigh Public School, 13 years total in education. Michael Hill, 15 years at Raleigh Public Schools, and Dr. Stacy Reid, 27 years at Raleigh Public School, 28 years in education. For our
010staff, we had um Russell Reed at two years at Raleigh Public School and Robin Stockdale with eight years at RA public school, 18 years total. We'd like to wish them all the best in their retirement years to come. All right, moving on now to old business. We have our long range facility update with Dr. Bolton. Good evening everyone. >> Good evening. >> Come to you this evening just to uh to give you an update on our projects. Um, so as you all know, we are actively working on our early childhood center out at Blue Lake Parkway. Again, rendering, but the more exciting work that nobody can see is going on inside. So, um, I am so grateful to our company because they take all the pictures and I don't have to be the photographer and
011they even tell me what they're doing. It's amazing. So, I don't have to guess. So, as you look at this on the lefth hand side, that is demo of the entryway slab. So that's where they're working on the concrete and all of those items because at that level we're going to be putting a second floor in there. So that what you see on the left on the right hand side you are looking at duct work going up, brand new duct work for the HVAC system as well as they have de demoed the concrete to prepare for the plumbing for the restrooms that will be going in in that vicinity. Puffs Plaza that's where you know the lunchroom is and that's where the great room will be. So that room has taken quite the formation. On
012the left is where they have taken up all of the concrete in the hall. It's just kind of interesting where they did that. And this week we started demo and concrete in the in that area right by the elevator area. So a lot of work moving forward preparing for plumbing and all sorts of different footings and things that will be going on in there. Did I get that right, Jim? >> Yes. >> Okay. Just making sure. Second floor. While there is a little bit of work going on up there, this was the best photo I could find because this was what was third grade classrooms when Wyman West was there. It was the um the science labs that is demo. You're actually standing across the hall for those some of those pictures, but they're um
013demoing the wall to for the electric rough in for all the electric work that's going in there. So, exciting times there. If you have driven down 10th Street, you will notice that we are working on that football field to replace the turf and address the um drainage issues that we've had there. So, that's just another picture from 10th Street angle of the wall that has come out. Um we are waiting on some pipe to come in for the rest of that to get cleaned up and and start work, but it is on order. And then that picture on the right is a softball field from this morning. What you can't see is there is a skid steer in there and they're pulling out that existing concrete. So that rebar is on its way in and
014they'll begin you'll be seeing some more work coming in >> um after our weather apparently from this next week. So So that is very exciting times that that is working going forward. >> Questions about that? >> Um I might mention I'm sure that um you guys would like to get out into the early childhood building to take a tour. Uh it's really not safe right now. So once they get finished cutting uh and kind of get some areas uh better secured, we'll we'll get a time set aside to get you out there. >> Well, we'll get you a new wardrobe when you go. >> You're going to have hat, you're going to have glasses, and you're going to have vests. So, just saying. >> And it it's really good for safety, but it changes the
015way you look. >> It does. >> So, tonight I am coming to you to talk about our Mark Twain cafeteria and storm shelter bid. As you know, we have been talking about that. We took bids um as of last week and have been working through that process. This is district recovery because that's exactly what we're looking at with a little bit of extra possibly with your blessings. A reminder of the timeline that we have been dealing with that the drawings were issued mid December. They came back early January. They were due on the 14th. We did a bid opening here and I'm bringing to you tonight those bids. Companies bidding the Mark Twain project were SM Wilson, Wright Construction, Prost Builders, KN&S Associates, Buildte Construction, and Alexander Construction. The base bid is what the what
016they um the tornado took out. So, it is insurance reminder approved us to replace the cafeteria on the corner with a cafeteria storm shelter, but we're moving further south down there for that, replacing all the windows facing Salem Avenue. In the base bid was demo and cleanup of the existing concrete pad where the where the cafeteria stood and adding of siding to make that existing interior walls of the old cafeteria and exterior space. That's what that base bid covers. What does the storm shelter look like? Again, a rendering. It's just to give you an idea of what that will look like. That is down near closer to Leonard Avenue. Leonard and Salem. This is a reminder that this is a rendering of what that all of Salem Avenue will look like whenever we replace the
017new windows. This is alternate number one. So when they bid it, this was an alternate. This is where the old cafeteria stood. They are want we are looking at replacing the old cafeteria here with two classrooms. So that actually makes that a little bit room for um some expansion. looking at making those a choir and a music room up in that vicinity with it connecting into the current um entryway right there and it will make that area look in my opinion a lot more cohesive and better. So alternate two. So the drawing up above just that is a drawing from the architect's proposed cafeteria um storm shelter plan site plan. All of our cars line up on Salem Avenue to unload and load every day. So within that Whoa, Amy, I pressed a button. [laughter]
018Sorry. Thank you. Um we are asking at for alternate one is to construct this asphalt driveway. It would make the cars come in off of Leonard Avenue come through getting all of our um students off of Salem Avenue to drop off and pick up every day. They come in through there and they come out on Salem Avenue. Questions about that? Alternate three is to recircuit an existing data rack. So, we have some power issues and things that we need to address there and technology issues. This is a smaller version of the bid tabulation that I gave the board, but it does have all of the information and not on 11 by 17 sheet. You will notice there that we have put them in order. SM Wilson um being there at top with the base bid
019and the performance bond for $6,10,000. Uh, alternate one was the classroom infill at a million. Alternate two being the asphalt drop off lane at 80,000 and to recircuit the existing data rack of $5,200. As you can see underneath, the one underneath right is number two, 5,944,000 with 37,000 in base bid, making it $5,981,000. Alternate one, $1,55,000. alternate to $13,000 for the drop off lane and $5,100 to recircuit the existing data rack. I'm not going to go much further. You can see that what's there right now. The decision [clears throat] tonight is to decide which alternates we choose or if any and if so which company. Any questions? Any discussion on that information I just provided you? Did you point out that we have a kitchen associated with that cafeteria? >> I did not, but we
020will. We'll have a brand new kitchen in there. And those those ladies at Mark Twain in the cafeteria are going to be in heaven. They will I sharing they for the last year and a half they have shared a cafeteria or you know a year. They are going to be totally excited to get a cafeteria and it will be set up like the junior high. It will look like that with all of the bells and whistles. They are very excited and Mr. cross and that staff is very excited to have a cafeteria so it's not in their gym and they don't have to set up and tear down every day. >> That's right. >> So >> sure appreciate everything that the building has done and their staff has done to adjust and adapt and >>
021I think I stood before you um at you know last year whenever [clears throat] earlier whenever I gave the update and we moved back in all of our buildings and >> all of our teachers are the true heroes and rock stars. I mean, they worked very hard and adjusted and adapted and um but the cafeteria staff is continuing to do that every day. They have a van that they take that little van and they drive from junior high to Marchway. We just now got 300 miles on it. So, um we're just now for the first time building up gas in about six months. So, [laughter] um they are grateful for that as well. They are they're doing very well, but we need to get them their own space. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Any questions? Oh,
022I would like to make a motion to uh award a contract for the base bid plus the performance bond and alternates one, two, and three to the low bidder SM Wilson and Company in the amount of 7,95,200. >> I'll second that. >> All those in favor say I. >> I. I. Say no. >> Yes. Important to point out to everybody that six million of that is funded. >> Oh, absolutely. So, yes, six million of that is actually funded from our insurance company. They have been gracious to allow us to come back with storm shelter. So, that is insurance funds paying for that on the district will be the other mill$ 95,200. >> Thank you. All right. Thank you. All right. Moving on now to our Go ahead. >> Oh, okay. Sorry. Moving on now to
023our final 202425 audit report. This is Atinson. I don't have a presentation this evening so just kind of keep this I don't normally call out the federal audit part of the audit but as a reminder uh when we presented and you approved the audit report in December it was complete but not so due to the federal uh government shutdown in what was that October September October the guidance for what federal programs and how those should be audited was not released in a timely manner. So by the time uh we had to approve legally for DESIE uh requirements the audit the auditors had just received that guidance. >> So we've been working on that since then and all the way through actually Tuesday I think Tuesday Wednesday couple days ago and final audit was finally issued
024and so basically it is a one-page thing that's been added to the full audit report. It is on pages uh 36 and 37. So, it's just the federal audit, also known as the single audit. So, every district that receives and expends $750,000 more or more in federal funds has to have a single audit. So, of course, that's us. In the FY25 school year, we actually receive 4.3 sorry, 4.3 million in federal funds. So, of all of those programs, the auditors select um two two to three every year to be specifically audited in more detail. So this year they selected the federal food service program and the federal special education part B program. So as an example for the federal food service program, we had to pull uh we pay staff with federal food service dollars.
025Um so I had to pull time sheets and payroll data, expenditure data as far as invoices and purchase orders, but also we had to work with Mrs. Megan Duncan um our core data student information person. She had to pull free and reduced lunch applications and also data from that um cafe enterprise the program that that is entered into an infinite campus as well. And we had to submit that through a secure portal for the auditors to review that to make sure that the information that we're receiving and requesting from our families is what's required by the federal government to qualify for free reduced lunch. So, it's actually quite extensive the amount of work that that's done and the things that they select. Um, same thing with the part B uh program time sheets, payroll data,
026confirming that the clock in and clock out for the people paid with federal funds is to the right code at its source. If it's not, they want to see the journal entry, understand why we had to do a journal entry, etc. So, that's what we've been working on for the last couple of months. And so, it's all finally complete. There were no findings. the dates on the whole audit report changed to January 21st from November or December, whatever the original date was. So, it's now done, but I do need um approval unless you have questions. >> Okay, no questions. >> Questions? Can I get a motion then to approve the 2425 audit report? >> I move that we accept the 2425 audit report. >> I'll second. All in favor say I. >> I. Those oppos.
027>> Thank you, Mrs. Atinson. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> All right, moving on to our next item. We had a meeting scheduled Yep. >> on January the 27th um which is no longer needed since we have our final report. So, can I get a motion to cancel that special meeting for January 27th? >> I'll make a motion to cancel that meeting on January 27th. >> I second that motion. All in favor say I. >> I. Those oppos say no. >> You pass this action ever. [laughter] >> I love it. All right, new business staffing requests. Dr. Fton, I don't know about this. [clears throat] It seems like I'm going to be up here a lot this evening. Gee. Okay. All right. So, I'm coming to you this evening. Due to additional enrollment
028in our district, we have had some students move in and um within that additional bus needs. So, our uh transportation department right now has many special needs bus routes. We have five of them. Some of our kids are on there for almost two hours. It It's a long ride. But right now, we're asking, which will alleviate next year, we are asking for you tonight for another special needs bus driver, special education bus driver with a budget impact of $6,420 for the rest of the year to put a sixth bus route in for them, which will also allow movement off of those other buses and reduce their ride and their time. With that, I know you're going to say, "Well, what about a parah?" Well, we have one that we're going to be able to move
029off because of this. So, we're good with that. >> So, tonight I need approval for one special education bus driver for the remainder of FY206. >> And highlight just clarify. So, the at the end of this year, those student enrollments will change with the early childhood building and so then this need will shift. So, this driver could shift to be one of our early childhood drivers. Correct. So, >> yeah. I'll make a motion to approve the special education bus driver. uh for the remainder of 2026. >> Okay, >> I'll second that. >> All in favor say I. >> I. Those opposed? Say no. >> All right. Next up is aspiring leaders update. So that would be Are both of you going to present or is it just >> I think I'm standing and she's talking
030too. So we decided to share it. How about that? Instead of one of us sitting down and getting back up again. So um whenever I interviewed and I know with Dr. Dar's wishes we had talked about a way to develop our own leaders in our district and that came to fruition. We worked on it for several years and with Dr. Welch um depend deciding what we wanted to do, how we wanted to run that program. So this year we um began our two-year aspiring leader program in the district. With that it's two-year program designed to grow and support future leaders across our district. Now, does that mean that they are all building administrators? It does not. It could actually be anyone being a director, um, a curriculum specialist leader for Dr. Welch, or it could
031be just teacher leaders at the elementary and secondary levels. So, what are the benefits of developing those leadership skills such as communication, decision- making, conflict resolution, team building? I didn't add teacher evaluations there, but we're having them, you know, learn more about that process. Um, what could they do? and I talked about that a few minutes ago. Um, this also allows some of our staff to build the confidence they need in taking on new and different responsibilities throughout our district and we're pleased to tell you we have a great team. What is this program look like? It believe it is one year they teachers have to have sorry minimum of one year experience at R public schools a minimum of three years of three three years classroom teaching experience and they have begun or completed
032a master's program in school administration. Now that's not it. if they wish to do something in curriculum, we'll we'll let them in as well. So, working for that higher level candidate expectations when we were sitting there the we know they have a big job. We want them to educate our students, but we also know that being out of the classroom is hard. So, we over two years we're looking at them being out 8 to 10 days, but that includes job shadowing. It includes um subbing in different different buildings, going to professional development opportunities. Many of them in February are going to the aspiring um principles conference that will be hosted here by MOASSP, the secondary school principles and the elementary school principles groups. They'll go to some principles conferences. They'll go to other PD relevant
033to what they would wish to do. Um each candidate knows this upfront. It was put out in the application process for them. So their year one experience is in two semesters. So where we'll take them out four times for meetings with us. Number one is a PD experience, a full day where they come and they spend time with us. And I say us, I mean the three of us and our leadership team. We're not talking at them all day long. We're bringing in speakers and we're allowing them to learn from others. So half a day they're with us. We have orientation PD topics and then we send them out to job shadow in buildings that are not their own. So, our elementary people went to the high school and our high school people went to
034the elementaryaries last last semester. This semester um on Tuesday, we're actually dividing them up again. And so, they are coming back in for another experience. We're assigning them places to go and things to do. Um they will then have PD topics with us for the other half of the day. So, they get us in the morning the first time. This time, they'll be with us in the afternoon. So, we're bringing in more principles to talk to them and and share that experience with them. um the what are topics are we covering with them? Well, discipline, supervision, what does that look like? Because supervision is different whether it be during the day, after school, lunchtime, those aspects. Confidentiality, that is huge when you were in in these leadership positions. Um safety, so what do you do
035if you have an emergency? How do you operate? Where do you find those plans? Who do you go to in those buildings? And then a leadership style and profile that we have been working with them on. that [clears throat] will come back into play at the end of at the end of the time. Semester two, um, coming up next week, we're going to talk about them about communication. So, we're bringing Mrs. Zervos in to talk about effective communication. What does that look like? What things do you communicate? Instructional leadership, we're bringing in the principles from the middle school to talk about how they evaluate teachers, how do they organize their day, what's the process, what are the look fors, and we're going to have them score um, a teacher evaluation off of our knee system
036has videos and PD topics. Um, so that's where the teacher evaluation comes in. And then instructional leadership, what does that look like? How do you accomplish that? How do you work with teachers? And then Dr. Dar will follow up with a legislative process and impacts because it's very important that they stay a breast of all of those topics as it affects us every day. Year two, again, I say semesters three and four, but this is year year two. So next year they'll have um PD experience three with half a day again PD topics, reflective discussion, and out job shadowing. Um, we are asking them to substitute for a principal. I know at middle school they're asking me, well, can I already have some of those aspiring leaders to sub for me when I go to
037conference? Absolutely, you can. So, we're working with them with that. That's when you will see them to attend and reflect on a schoolboard meeting. And we will work with them on developing a resume and an entry plan if they desire to be a principal. Semester four, um, different PD topics, reflection, discussion, a program exit survey. Um, we will ask them to facilitate a district PD session at Elevate and again substitute for a principal. Mandy, is there anything you'd like to add there? I don't think so. Other than just trying to think about um different opportunities that give them kind of a nice well-rounded uh experience. many of them have already completed a program and so um really want to give them some things that they can do here to connect, build relationships, see other buildings,
038see other leaders. It has been fun as we have been planning to think about um our building leadership team and the expertise that they bring uh the knowledge that they have. Each of them have strengths as well and so it gives us an opportunity to highlight them and and just let them come in and share things. So, I think it's a a nice robust experience and I hope at the end that they will feel like it was of value and that they've learned something um and that they've had some meaningful things that will help them develop and really think about what it means to be a leader whether that's in a building principal position or like um Dr. Fulton mentioned something you know in curriculum or something else a teacher leader in their building. So,
039we've got a great group and they are um fantastic in this first year. we've let them know like we want your feedback so how we can make this to be the best experience and so they they've been a very lively group we've had a lot of great conversations with them and so we're looking forward to the remaining opportunities so >> great >> leadership topics on [clears throat] year two will be finance hiring processes HR managing people um time management work life balance because and any principal knows that is literally an issue for you of managing how how do you keep that going um preparing to interview so and then we'll asked them to do some self- evaluations and an exit survey. Who do we have? We have uh Mrs. Lewis from Wyman, Mr. Flattley from
040Wyman, Mrs. Wells from Wyman, Mr. Voit from the middle school, Mr. Lambeath from junior high, Mrs. Franks from high school, Mrs. Richter from the high school, and Mr. Cook from the high school. >> A very, very good group to start with. >> Good questions. >> Um, I actually have just a few for you. So, can you maybe explain a little bit about the application process? like how did how did they go about doing it and then how did you choose them? >> So we sent out a welcome email to the entire staff along with the outlines of what would be expected and we asked them to sign up on a Google on a Google form on a Google sheet and then we reviewed the applicants and I will tell you we were wanting to not
041make our group so large that we couldn't manage them but everyone that applied got in. >> Nice. >> So it we didn't have to choose anyone. We would have probably figured it away if we had because we want everyone to have the experience. So we have a very manageable group. All of them met those qualifications. So it's wonderful. It's exciting. >> Now, do you Oh, I'm sorry. >> Go ahead. You another question. Go ahead. >> Um, do you assign them like any homework or do they have anything like any expectations outside of attending these sessions? >> We do. We try not to add too much because we don't really want to add to their plate. We want to give them a well-rounded experience. So, whenever they get done with their um job shadowing, they have
042a reflection sheet that they will come back to us. to make that relevant. We will hold a discussion with everyone over their expectations and maybe what they saw, what they didn't see, what they wanted from this, what they didn't. So, we're going to start off Tuesday afternoon when they come in talking about that. What did you see? What did you learn? What would you like to know more of? So, trying to make it very reflective for them and learning for us as well. So, they do have to fill out a sheet and reflection pieces. They'll have to also if they sub for a principal, they have to give feedback to that principal. And we'll ask that principal for feedback from what they saw and how we could help them improve. >> But I don't want
043it to be like book studies and reading and adding to their plate. No, we did not. >> Wanted to know one more question and then I'll I'll pass on. And that is um do you think maybe at some point when they're done with their program, they can come present to the board and kind of just give us an idea of what their thoughts were and if they found that it was valuable? We can that will be yeah that will be part of their presentation expectations. So elevate you'll remember happens on one of our professional development days and those are sessions that our staff put together and our staff have the ability to sign up for and attend based on their interest. So we would like for them to be able to share with anyone who's
044considering this as an option what was the value for them? What did they learn? What were the takeaways? Um, I think it's important for the staff to hear from those folks who have participated the value and hopefully that will get others excited or they'll be able to just ask questions of their peers um to help them make that decision if they want to participate in the future. >> Sounds good. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Is it your plan to do this every year? So we start another cohort cohort next year that would be in year one while you're finishing year two or this are you doing two years and then >> we want to do two years and dedicate our time to this to see what this >> one group so we won't
045have a year one group next year finish year two and then start a year one >> and then we'll start cohort number two. we really want to develop our time in them and not overwhelm them and go from there and as you know as well as the year one because I think that gets a little much not only for them but our admin team >> because really we're using them to help us with that. >> And I would add we when we first sat down and started planning this our plan was to do a one-year program. as we thought about what we wanted them to [snorts] experience and do. >> It's a lot. >> And so we that's why we kind of pivoted to the two-year program and >> again to make sure that they're
046fulfilling their professional duties and finding some some life balance there. But just also spreading out their experience a little bit so that we can make sure we're getting them in other buildings that they're not accustomed to other grade levels. >> Uh you know the first thing we sent our high school kids to the elementary and our elementary or high school kids our high school teachers to the elementaryaries and our elementary teachers to the high school. We wanted them to see the different world. So, >> um, some of them had never even been in those buildings past a PD day or anything. So, uh, I think I think that was, uh, our goal was to, um, >> provide them those experiences without overwhelming them, trying to cram it all in one year, and we didn't want
047to give up anything. So, >> I think it's a great opportunity. >> I really like this program. >> Sounds great. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Bolton and Dr. Welch. All right. Summer school. Are we >> I know it's hard to believe in hard to think about >> impending snow doom but also summer school. [laughter] >> How ironic. >> Yeah. So, uh the no formal presentation but the proposal of course is there for your consideration. Uh very comparable programming to what we've offered in the past. We did make some adjustments last year. You might recall at the high school uh our seated enrollment in that afternoon session had declined. A lot of our students like the flexibility of the online offerings and so we did pivot last year and try
048that where we just had a morning session for our high school students. Went very well. Um we had comparable if not slightly higher enrollment and so um we're proposing to do that um same format again at the high school this year. Uh obviously summer school is that month of June. It's 20 uh half instructional days. Uh so it'll start on Monday, June 1st through Friday, June 26th and then we do have that extended July session for our high school students only that is offered in the virtual environment. Um the application process for teachers will open on Monday. So I'm assuming if we get all the snow that they're saying we're going to get, they'll have something warm and cozy to think about as they submit their application for [laughter] teaching summer school and perhaps whatever
049enrichment courses they would like to propose. Um we are meeting and doing some planning already as an administrative team just about the processes and things that we can you know clean up and make better on the in inside of that for our folks as they work through that um work. Um summer school is a lot of work on the front end but it's so much fun. So once it gets here it's a blast and everybody has a great time. But any questions? >> Anybody else? Thank you very much. We look forward to summer. [laughter] >> We don't need to. >> All right. >> Oh, do you say do you need a motion to approve to have it? Yeah. >> Oh, okay. >> Apologize. Would someone like to make >> I'll make a motion to accept
050the 2026 summer school proposal as presented. >> I second that motion. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Those opposed say no. >> All right, moving on. All right, Ashton, it's your turn. >> I'm excited. Welcome. We're excited to have you here. >> So before we begin, I'd like to say in advance that I I wasn't able to contact the other principles in time to get like a wide ranging feedback. So this is mainly just the high school. >> That's great. >> Next time I'll make sure to do more widespread. So let's begin. This is the agenda. Just a general idea of where this is going to be heading. um feedback, court warming, new clubs emerging, then student representation. Okay, so obviously yesterday we had citizens academy. I know some of you are
051there. I enjoyed it a lot. I I hope the community members enjoyed it a lot. And so I just wanted to get some student feedback from other students like me who were a part of it. And so I >> talking talk sorry. >> So I I got with some local students like Cammy and I asked for their opinions. And overall it was widely accepting and very a lot of enjoyment came out of it. I think it was a very much a success from the student perspective of the ones who participated in the program. >> Great. Wonderful. >> And then up in next is courtwarming in the horizon. A lot of obviously nominations are already come out for students for juniors and seniors. A lot of preparation has already started to happen for clubs here at
052the high school and for teachers setting up for it fee February 7th. And so I can already kind of feel the excitement in the student body kind of going through. And so that's something that's currently on on the minds of students a lot. I'm excited personally as well. One thing I really wanted to show though is especially this month there's been a lot of new clubs emerging emerging in the high school. So I just like to take an opportunity to present them to you including the karaoke club which I have the honor of founding. [laughter] It's it's been going great. >> That's awesome. Then the running club uh hosted by David Fox. I wasn't able to get a quote from him, but he says it it went pretty well the first meeting and I'm excited
053to see where it goes. And then Turning Point USA ran by Daltton Daltton Well Belts, sorry. Uh I'm very excited to see this club and how it fosters. I think it's a great way for our community to to show that they clearly have growth and commitment to our clubs. And then the last thing I'd like to talk about is um is my I'm initiating a student feedback form right now as a trial run here at the high school. And I because obviously as a student adviser, my main role is is to voice the student body's opinions practically and impartially. And so to do this, I need to have wide ranging sources of information. And so I I've been trying to initiate um ways for me to gain this information. And so a student feedback form
054is something I had of interest and I'm excited to get it out there as a test trial for the high school this semester and see where it goes. >> Thank you so much. >> That for that link is just to the high school students. >> Yes, only the high school students. >> Very good. Very good. >> If it if Okay. >> Yeah. Very good. >> Okay. >> It doesn't take them there. Right. I just wanted to say I was so proud of all of you last night at the the forum and I think that's probably a general consensus. It was great. You guys were very well spoken and just really enjoyed hearing >> so such great feedback from you guys about your high school experience. It was great. >> I can say from not just
055my my perspective but from others that I talked to after that they enjoyed it just as much. >> Very good. >> Good. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. All right, your turn, Mr. Deer. >> Okay, just a couple of quick things. Uh, one, just a little context for um all the the things we're talking about there. So, we had our fourth fourth session, I think, for Citizens Academy last night, and uh we titled this one high school experience, basically. So, we had about a dozen high school students represented um all walks of life um and and programs, uh different ages, uh different uh backgrounds, all kinds of things that and so our uh community group of uh there's about 30 people in that group. They weren't all able to be there, but they
056came in and and uh Gina facilitated that and moderated that and asked the students some questions. Uh I I would echo the sentiment. Our students did a great job. uh they were honest and uh shared their life uh in their experiences, the things that stress them out, the things that they're proud of. Uh we have some amazing students and they do some incredible things and so uh I think um uh our uh our citizens academy people enjoyed it very much. Uh and um appreciate uh very much appreciate the students that were there are all busy and uh very active uh including Mr. there and so appreciate them willing uh being willing to give up their time to come in and share with our community about um their experiences. We ended that um the night with
057tours of the high school. So uh just as a reminder with that citizens academy, we try to shuffle around to different buildings um to let our citizens have some some walk through the building and kind of see some of the great things happening. So super uh happy with how that went and again very appreciative of our students and their uh input. Uh just a a reminder to everybody, we are actively in screening season. So uh preK and kindergarten student screenings are available. That information is on the website. Um and uh uh appointments are are scheduled out for the next few weeks, months, but they fill up quickly. So if you want some flexibility there, uh you may want to go ahead and get an appointment done. Uh and then another reminder uh for February 24th,
058our community conversations session. Uh we have Mr. Josh Barner coming in to talk with our community about mental health, our friends and uh partners at Compass Health and Prevention Consultants coming in to talk about local resources and accessing those. We are expanding that a little bit. So, uh looking to do somewhat of a vendor um support fair uh prior to that meeting. So, we're inviting community uh groups that offer family supports, um anything around those basic needs because the mental health piece can't happen if we're hungry, tired, uh don't have a home, those kind of things. So, uh we're hoping to have those folks come in. We'll set up some tables, let them share their um products, missions, processes, all the things uh while we have some light refreshments, and then we'll we'll um have
059Mr. Varner uh talk to everybody in the auditorium. So, that's the 24th of February. There is we are asking people to sign up uh just so we can make sure we have enough refreshments and and enough seating for everyone. So uh again that information is out on our social media and website. Uh if you have any questions about any of that information you can always also call. We do still answer the phone. So that's all I have for tonight. I'm just going to maybe suggest we remind everybody that all students preK4 in the district [snorts] are uh eligible to attend for free. >> The the expansion of our early childhood program will mean if you have a four-year-old next year, they can attend our program free of charge. Um we do ask that they complete
060the screening process, but we're excited to offer that service to our community and looking forward to expanding that program. Great point, Jim. Thank you. >> And no, I don't know if we're having a snow day on Monday or not. >> How about tomorrow? >> Come on. [laughter] >> Can't you predict the weather? >> I do have to give you a big shout out though. So, I've had two different messages about our school calendar. A kudos to Rala for our thought that was put into the calendar. And there's schools that are envious of our calendar. So, >> well, that's very gracious. I can get you a couple of others that aren't as happy, but that's [laughter] >> maybe I shouldn't brag about it then, right? >> You might have some new hires from other districts. >>
061No, that's good. That's good. >> We're just happy. Somebody's happy. That's >> you. Students are [laughter] >> good. Any board members have any comments? >> Yeah, I do. Um, just February 13th is our core breakfast. It's going to be at the Raleigh Middle School in the auditorium. Uh, we're serving muffins, bagels, and fruit and doughnut holes. So come and have a little light breakfast and then hear about core February 13th 7:30. >> Wonderful. Okay. Anybody else? Any comments? Been to see any of your schools? >> No. But somebody sent me a a message that Ashton is a prince candidate for court for me. >> Oh, [laughter] congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Excited. >> I hope I get it. [laughter] >> You'll have to let us know. Oh, >> okay. >> All right, then we'll move on.
062We have some uh just one written report. It's our substitute teacher list. And then just a reminder for our February meetings, uh we have one February 5th and our second one will be February 19th. Both of those will start at regular time at 5:30 for close session. If we have nothing else, can I get a motion to go into close session? >> I move we go into close session. >> I'll second. >> All right. How do you vote? >> Yes. Yes, sir. I went out of order. And Larry, >> yes, >> Larry. [clears throat] >> And yes. >> All right, we got you.