001[Music] December 12th 2023 board meeting to [Music] order Miss uh Dance all board members are here um Mr Wooten must have stepped out but he'll be back in just a second but all we do have a quum we will begin the night with the invocation by Mr Johnson and The Pledge of Allegiance by Mr tippet your dear heavenly father we ask your blessings as we make decisions that impact our children and we humble ourselves and ask for your wisdom and gu guidance Lord as the holiday's approach please watch over our children students staff and families until they safely return in January we pray Lord if one does not know you they come to know you through your son Jesus Christ amen amen join to the flag of the United States of America and to the
002Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liy and justice for all thank you I will now entertain a motion to go into Clos session Madam chair I move to the meeting Clos session Pur to General St statute 14331 11 13 five six and 8 to prevent the disclosure of confidential Personnel files under General statute 115 C- 321 to consider matters relating to initial employment of an individual employee to discuss school safety plans and emergency responses and to consult with the board's attorney in order to preserve the attorney clown privilege I have a motion do I have a second second second by Mr Wooten all those in favor please indicate by saying I I all opposed 70 thank you we are now in closed session [Music] [Applause] some students in Johnston County
003got a little bit uh dirty today while fundraising playay Middle School hosted the fundraiser event the color games this is so fun their goal is to raise money to get collaboration Labs on all grade level hallways the included a pep rally games and other creative activities we couldn't tell also included lots and lots of color principal Sandra Morris also got in on the fun she was wrapped in toilet paper and covered in color powder I've done a a Color Run it's not really a run you just like well you run from Station to Station just to get color all over you like this but it's really fun [Applause] [Music] when I got in cor hold High School I was there as a custodian and um I just ran into so many positive male figures in
004that building because growing up I had [Music] n and so to run into teachers in there I had some positive figures that I could pattern my life after and they were doing some great things uh not only in the school but in the community and I like this is something I want to do and those men started pointing to me and I started telling them this is what I want to do and they push me even more [Music] if you know who I am you know I have a bit smile I have a big voice and everywhere I go I want to make sure that I put my hand out and just appreciate every staff I run across every day I I thank you I appreciate you whatever you need need me to do I'm
005there to support you and I'm motivate every day I'm going by the classro what do you need is anything I can do for you today that is my way supporting them and inspir them to be the best they can be but there was a guy in build Nam John do he the band direct Smith Middle School and uh he's the one that introduced me to music on a corporate level in a group set and so I was in the band over there and he's the one that told me to keep it up I got to high school [Music] my creativity comes through music I think that's really push me help me out through all my studies because of that [Music] creativity I'm not done yet uh I got biger fish to fly I'm enjoying what
006I'm doing now it has been very rewarded for me John county has opened so many doors for me and I'm I'm just continuing my process and my progress to be the best me I can be and that's what I'm here to do I'm here to change the bloodline of my community [Music] May today be the beginning for a future generation current and future generation of students at Trip s for this to be a place of learning of enjoyment and fellowship that will enhance your lives for the years to come just as this facility behind me has enhanced my life this is indeed a day for celebration a day that marks a significant step forward for our school and our community it's a moment of great pride and I'm honored to stand before you to mark
007this Milestone the construction of this auxiliary JY has been a long cherished dream for our school our current JY is great but what an addition it's construction ofest to our district commitment to providing the best best possible facilities for our students and our first of all this wouldn't have happened without the great partnership that the Johnson County Commissioners have with the uh Johnson County public school syst and that's why we're Partners in this as we move forward always been Partners we're not done yet and uh we're going to move forward continue schools until every single child is out of the mobile classroom I I want to thank everybody for making this day possible and folks this is a special special place a beautiful school with wonderful students and children and you can feel the history
008I can feel the history when I walk down these Halls anybody that's around me for a little while knows I like to talk about academics and the importance of academic success but I'm smart enough to know that well-rounded children perform well academically and absolutely Athletics helps to make a worlded student with this gymnasium we have laid a strong foundation for the future I can't wait to see all the amazing achievements that will take Place Within These [Music] Walls now positively Carolina so typically a drop in visit by your boss is not really something that you want to see happen for kids in one johnon County school they love every second students Riverwood Elementary got a surprise visit from the superintendent of John County schools and several other school leaders the school district says these visits
009have become the norm as they work to encourage and support students to try and meet the district's goals which is have all schools obtaining a school grade of a b or c by the end of the 2023 2024 school year the district has only eight schools left to meet that goal and I feel bad saying this but at their age I would have had no idea who the super you know what that's probably true i g the principal of the school until third grade when I got at the time a good reason why you cannot be acting up in class you never drop you just never know know [Music] [Applause] [Music] Joker works is such an awesome event for our eth graders as a former High School CTE teacher and now Middle School principal to
010be able to expose our eth graders to an event like this and to possible careers um that they may be interested in the future before they're looking at what classes they want to take in high school it's so important [Music] it's important that we work with these students we get them in we train these students and um and get them that career in the future and just the feel of everybody coming together for a wonderful event something that no one else is doing across the State Community JC is eth grade is a pivotal year for students to be exploring their careers they are getting ready to enter High School where they will select classes based what they think they want to be when they grow up and they really don't know so this event is
011designed to give them experiences to help them think about you know all the opportunities right here in johon County what that educational pathway is and what income potential might [Music] be we want to bring our young people up in this County and showcase what this county has off them once they move on with their educational path I absolutely love the event personally I tell everybody that comes to volunteer you're going to love it you're going be exhausted when you get home and you'll want to come back and do it again the next day and we do we were thrilled to be a part of it every year it really did open my eyes on how many career paths I could choose to like do and that there's just like a couple at the back of
012my head I really did I found out that I wanted to be in the medical field by the CTE program Joker works is a career Expo for Johnson County Public School students mostly for eth graders who are about to enter high school and needing to make some decisions about what courses they take and what CTE career Pathways other electives and core courses they want to take in high school our mission in Career and Technical education is that every Johnson County Public School student graduates with a plan for want to do after high school and the knowledge skills and aptitudes to make that a reality this event plays a significant role in helping to achieve that Miss [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] he [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] oh oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]
013[Music] some students at Johnston County a little bit dirty today while fundraising Middle School hosted the fundraiser event the color games this is so fun their goal is to raise money to get collaboration Labs on all grade level hallways the event included a pep rally games and other creative activities if you couldn't tell also included lots and lots of color principal Sandra Morris also got in on the fun she was wrapped in toilet paper and covered in color powder I've done a a color run before it's not really a run you just like well you run from Station to Station just to get color all over you like this but it's really fun [Music] when I got in cor High School I was there as a custodian and um I just ran into so many
014positive male figures in that building because growing up I had [Music] none and so to run into principle at that time princip some teachers in there I had some positive fig that I could P my and they were doing some great things not only in school but in the community and I like this is something I want to do and those men started poting to me and I started telling them this is what I want to do and they push me even more [Music] if you know who I am you know I have a bit smile I have a big voice and everywhere I go I want to make sure that I put my hand out and just appreciate every St I run ACR every day I say thank you I appreciate you whatever you
015need I need me to do I'm there to support you and I'm motivate my every day I'm going by the classroom what do you need I can do for you today that is my way of supporting them and inspiring them to be best they can be but there was a guy in that building named John middle school and uh he's the one that introduced me to music on a corporate level in a group and so I was in over there he the one that told me to keep it up when I got to high school [Music] my creativity comes through music I think that's really push me and help me out through all my studies because of that [Music] creativity I'm not done yet I got biger fish I'm enjoying what I'm doing now it
016has been very rewarding for me has opened so many doors and I'm I'm just continuing my process and my progress to be the best me I can and that's what I'm here I'm here to change the blood of my community [Music] May today be the beginning for a future generation current and future generation of students in Trip s for this to be a place of learning of enjoyment and fellowship that will enhance your lives for the years to come just as this facility behind me has enhanced my life [Music] this is indeed a day for celebration a day that marks a significant step forward for our school and our community it's a moment of great pride and I'm honored to stand before you to the construction of this auxiliary gym has been a long cherished
017dream for our school our current JY is great but what an addition it's construction of Testament to our district commitment to providing the best possible facilties for our students first of all this wouldn't have happened without the great partnership that the Johnson County Commissioners have with the uh Johnson County public school syst and that's why we're Partners in this as we move forward always been Partners we're not done yet and uh we're going to move forward continue bu schools to every single child child is out of the mobile classroom I I want to thank everybody for making this day possible and folks this is a special special place a beautiful school with wonderful students and children and you can feel the history I can feel the history when I walk down these Halls anybody that's
018around me for a little while knows I like to talk about academics and the importance of academic success but I'm smart enough to know that well-rounded children perform well academically and absolutely Athletics helps to make a worlded student with this gymnasium we have laid a strong foundation for the future I can't wait to see all the amazing achievements will take place these [Music] walls now positively Carolina so typically a drop in visit by your boss is not really something that you want to see happen for kids in one John County school they love every second students at Riverwood Elementary got a surprise from the superintendent of John County schools and several other school leaders the school district says these visits have become the norm as they work to encourage and support students to try and
019meet the district's goals which is have all schools obtaining a school letter grade of a or C by the end of the 2023 2024 school year the district has only eight schools left to meet that goal and I feel bad saying this but at their age I would had no idea who the super you know what that's probably true to the principal of the school until third grade when I also a good reason why you cannot be aced up in class you drop you just never know [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Joko works is such an awesome event for our eighth graders as a former High School CTE teacher and now Middle School principal to be able to expose our eighth graders to an event like this and to possible careers um that they may be
020interested in the future before they're looking at what classes they want to take in high school it's so important [Music] it's important that we work with these students we get them in we train these students and um and and get them that career in the future and just the feel of everybody coming together for a wonderful event something that no one else is doing across the state nor the community Jon eth grade is a pivotal year for students to be exploring their careers they are getting ready to enter High School where they will select classes based on what they think they want to when they grow up and they really don't know so this event is designed to give them experiences to help them think about you know all the opportunities right here in johnon
021County what that educational pathway is and what income potential might we want to bring our young people up in this County and showcase what this county has offer them once they move on with their educational path I absolutely love the event personally I tell everybody that comes to volunteer you're going to love it you're going be exhausted when you get home and you'll want to come back and do it again the next day and we do we were thrilled to be a part of it every year it really did open my eyes on how many career paths I could choose to like do and that there's just like a couple at the back of my head I really I found out that I wanted to be in the medical field by the CTE program Joko
022works is a career Expo for Johnson County Public School students mostly for eth graders who are about to enter high school and needing to make some decisions about what coures they take and what CTE career Pathways other electives and core courses they want to take in high school our mission in Career and Technical education is that every Johnson County Public School student graduates with a plan for what they want to do after high school and the knowledge skills aptitudes to make that a reality this event plays a significant role in helping to achieve that mission [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] he [Music] it's [Music] oh oh [Music] w [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] some students in Johnston County got a little bit dirty today while fison Middle School hosted the
023fundraiser event the color games this is so fun their goal is to raise money to get collaboration Labs on all grade level hallways the event included a pep rally games and other creative activities we couldn't tell also included lots and lots of color principal Sandra mois also got in on the fun she was wrapped in toilet paper and covered in color powder I've done a color run before it's not really a run you just like well you run from Station to Station get color all over you like this but it's really fun [Applause] [Music] when I got high school I was there as a custodian and um I just ran into so many positive male figures in that building gr I had [Music] none and so run at time sister teachers in there I had
024some positive figures that I can patter my life and they were doing some great things not only in scho in the community and like this is something I want to do and those come me and I start telling them this is what I want to do and they push me even the more [Music] if you know who I am you know I have a big smile I have a big voice and everywhere I go I want to make sure that I put my hand out and just appreciate every St I run ACR every day I thank you I appreciate you whatever you need I need need me to do I'm there to support and I'm motivate every day going by the class you need do for you today that is my way of supporting them
025and inspiring them to be the best they can be but there was a guy in that building Nam John gotand at SM middle school and uh he's the one to introduce me to music on a corporate level in a group set and so I was in there told me to keep it up got to [Music] school my creativity through music I think push me help me out through all my because of that [Music] creativity I'm not done yet uh I got bigger fish to I'm enjoying what I'm doing now it has been very rewarded for me John county has opened so many doors for and I'm just continuing my process and my progress to be the best me I can be and that's what I'm here to do here to change the blood of my
026community [Music] May today be the beginning for a a future generation current and future generation of students at Trip s for this to be a place of learning of enjoyment and fellowship that will enhance your lives for the years to come just as this facility behind me has enhanced my [Music] life this this is indeed a day of Celebration a day that marks a significant step forward for our school and our community it's a moment of great pride and I'm honored to stand before you to Milestone the construction of this auxiliary JY has been a long cherished dream for our school our current Jam is great but what an addition it's construction of a testament to our district commitment to providing the best possible facilities for our students and our [Music] first of all this
027wouldn't have happened without the great partnership that the Johnson County Commissioners have with the uh Johnson County public school syst and that's right we're Partners in this as we move forward always been Partners we're not done yet and uh we're going to move forward and continue bu school until every single child is out of the mobile classroom I I want to thank everybody for making this day possible and folks this a special special place it's a beautiful school with wonderful students and children you can feel the history I can feel when I walk down these Halls anybody that's around me for a little while while knows I like to talk about ACS and the importance of academic success but I'm smart enough to know that well-rounded children perform well academically and absolutely Athletics a [Music]
028student with this J we have laid a strong foundation for the future I can't wait to see all the amazing achievements that will take Place Within These Walls now positively Carolina so typically a drop in visit by a boss is not really something that you want to see happen for kids in one johnon County school they love students at Riverwood Elementary got a surprise visit from the superintendent of johnon County schol and several other school leaders the school district says these visits have become the norm as they work to encourage and support students to try meet the district goals which is have all schools obtaining a school letter grade of an A or C by the end of the 2023 2024 school year the district has only eight schools left to meet that goal and
029I feel bad saying this at their age I had no idea you know what principal of the school until third grade when I got good reason why not be acting up in class you just never know [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Joo works is such an awesome event for our eighth graders as a former High School CTE teacher and now Middle School principal to be able to expose our eighth graders to an event like this and to possible careers um that they may be interested in the future before they're looking at what classes they want to take in high school it's so important it's important that we work with these students we get them in we train these students and U and get them that of future and just the feel of everybody coming together
030for a wonderful event something that no one else is doing ACR State Jon eth grade is a pivotal year for students to begin exploring their careers they are getting ready to enter High School where they will select classes based on what they think they want to be when they grow up and they really don't know so this event is designed to give them experiences to help them think about you know all the opportunities right here in County what that educational pathway is and what income potential might be we want to bring our young people up in this County and showc what this county has to offer them once they move on with their educational I absolutely love the event personally I tell everybody that comes to volunteer you're going to love it you're going be
031exhausted when you get home and you'll want to come back and do it again the next day and we do we were thrilled to be a part of it every year it really did open my eyes on how many career paths I could choose to like do and that there's just like a couple at the back of my head just I really did I found out that I wanted to be Med field Joo works is a career Expo for Johnson County Public School students mostly for eth graders who are about in high school and needing to make some decisions about what coures they take and what CTE career Pathways other electives and core courses they want to take in high school our mission in Career and Technical education is that every Johnson County Public School
032student graduates with a plan for what they want to do after high school and the knowledge skills aptitudes to make that a reality reality this event plays a significant role in helping to achieve that mission [Music] [Applause] [Music] he [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] some students in Johnston County got a little bit dirty today while fundraising Clayton Middle School hosted fundraiser events the color games this is so fun their goal is to raise money to get collaboration Labs on all great level hallways the event included a pep rally games and other creative activities you couldn't tell also included lots and lots of color principal Sandra moris also got in on the fun she was wrapped in toilet paper and covered in color powder I've done a color run before
033it's not really a run you just like well you run from Station to Station just to get color all over you like this but it's really fun [Applause] [Music] fun when I got hold High School I was there as a custodian and um I just ran into so many positive male figes in this building gr up I [Music] had and so run into princip time teachers in ja I had some positive figures that I can pattern my life and they were doing some great things uh not only in the school but in the community and I like this is something I want to do and those men started to me and I start telling them this is what I want to do and they push me even [Music] more if you know who I am
034am you know I have a b smile I have a bit voice and everywhere I go I want to make sure that I put my hand out and just appreciate every IUN every thank you I appreciate you whatever you need I need need me to do I'm there to supp and I'm motivated every day going by class you need I can do for you that is my way support and Inspire them to be the best they can be but there was a guy in that building named John he was the director at Smith Middle School and uh he's the one introduc me to music on a corporate level in a group and so I was in the over there he the one that told me to keep it up got to high [Music] schol my
035creativity comes through music uh I think that's really had push me and help me out all my St because of that [Music] creativity I'm not done yet uh I got bigger fish to I'm enjoying what I'm doing now it has been very reward joh county has open so many doors and I I just Contin my process and my progress to be the best me I can be and that's what I'm here to do I'm here to change the blood line of my community [Music] May today be the beginning for a future generation current and future generational students at Trip s for this to be a place of learning of enjoyment and fellowship that will enhance your lives for the years to come just as this facility behind me has enhanced my [Music] life this is
036indeed a date of Celebration a day that marks a significant step forward for our school and our community it's a moment of great pride and I'm honored to stand before you the construction of this auxiliary gy has been a long cherished dream for our school our current J is great but what an addition it's construction of a testament to our district commitment to providing the best possible facilities for our students and ourth [Music] first of all this wouldn't have happened without the great partnership that the Johnson County Commissioners have with the uh Johnson County public school system and that's right we're Partners in this as we forward always Partners we're not done yet and uh we're going to move forward and continue school to every single child is out of the mobile classroom I I
037want to thank everybody for making this day possible and folks this is a special special place a beautiful school with wonderful students and children and you can feel the history I can feel the history when I walk down STS anybody that's around me for a little while knows I like talk about academics and the importance of academic success but I'm smart enough to know that well arounded children perform well academically and absolutely Athletics helps to make our world [Music] student with this gymnasium we have laid a strong foundation for fut I can't wait to see all the amazing achievements that will take Place Within These [Music] Walls now positively Carolina so typically a drop in visit by your boss is not really something you want to see Happ for kids in one John County school
038they love every second students at Riverwood Elementary got a surprise visit from the superintendent of johnon County schools and several other schol leaders the school district says these visits have become the norm as they work to encourage and support students to try and meet the district goals which is all schools obtaining a school letter grade of an A or C by the end of the 2023 2024 school year the district has only eight schools left to meet that goal and I feel bad saying this at their AG had no idea you know what it's probably true the principal of the school until third grade when I got also a good reason why you cannot be acting up in class you just never know [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] works is such an awesome event for our
039eighth graders as a former High School CTE teacher and now Middle School principal to be able to expose our eth graders to an event like this and to possible careers um that they may be interested in the future before they're looking at what classes they want to take in high school it's so [Music] important it's important that we work with these students get them in train these students and um and get them that of the future and just the feel of everybody coming together for a wonderful event something that no one else ACR State Jon isth grade is a pival year for students toing their careers they are getting ready to enter High School where they will select classes based on what they think they want to do when they grow up and they really
040don't know so this event was designed to give them experiences to help them think about you know all the opportunities right here in County what that educational pathway is and what income potential might be we want to bring our young people up in this County and showcase what this county has off them once they move on with their educational I absolutely love the person tell everybody that comes to volunte you're going to love it be exhausted when you get home and you'll want to come back and do it again the next day and we do we were thrilled to be a part of it every year really did open my eyes on how many career paths I could choose to like do and that there's just like a couple at the back of my head
041I really did I found out that I wanted to be in the medical field by the CT program Joo works is a career Expo for Johnson County Public School students mostly for eighth graders who are about to ENT high school and needing to make some decisions about what courses they take and what CTE career Pathways other electives and core courses they want to take in high school our mission in career in technical education is that every Johnson County Public School student graduates with a plan for what they want to do after high school and the knowledge skills aptitudes to make that a reality this event plays ific Ro in helping to achieve that mission [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh [Music] he [Music] w [Music] welcome back uh each of you we're sorry the that
042we went a little long but um we're so glad you're here we have a little bit of business to take care of before we get started but um we're so honored to have all of you here with us tonight um we have uh already had our invocation and our Pledge of Allegiance and at this time Dr brace I'll turn it over to you thank you Miss Andrews good evening everybody thank you for being here tonight I'm Dr Eric bracie superintendent of Johnson County Public Schools momentarily the board will begin its organizational meeting to determine this next board chair and vice chair Miss Dan I would like to note that a quorum has been established and that all seven board members are present according to board policy 2200 if necessary at any meeting to elect officers
043I as a superintendent will serve as chair of the board for the purpose of electing a chair once the board chair is elected that individual will preside over the election of the vice chair and then proceed to residing over the meeting according to board policy 2342 voting methods before the board may vote on any matter there must be a motion and a second to the motion with that said I now open the floor for nominations for the office of chair Dr bracie I move that L Andrews remains as board chair are there any other nominations for the position of board chair I nominate Ron Johnson are there any other nominations for the position of board chair hearing none I will entertain a motion to close nominations for board chair all those in favor of closing
044the nominations indicate by saying I I those oppose say no nominations are closed all those in favor of Miss ly Andrews as board chair indicate by saying I I I those opposed indicate by saying no no five in favor of Miss lean Andrews being board chair to oppose congratulations Miss Andrew you're a board chair I will know hand the running of the meeting to you to conduct the election of Vice chair okay I appreciate the appreciate this opportunity as always to serve uh I will now open the floor for nominations of Vice chair I'll nominate uh teror tippet to remain Vice chair okay have a nomination do I have a second second Mr Carrol or any other nominations for vice chair I'd like to nominate Ron Johnson okay they have a sec okay a nomination
045in a second all right uh any other nomin nominations if not I'll entertain a motion to close the nominations for vice chair some move uh motion by Mr Donovan second by Mr Johnson all those in favor please indicate by saying I I I no okay for the first one I will um ask all those in favor we'll do a hand show in here if we could all those in favor of Terry tippet as Vice chair of the board please indicate by raising your hand all those opposed congratulations Mr tippet continue to serve as Vice chair okay we will now move to a real special part of our board meeting uh and I will call on Mr Carr good afternoon superintendent Gracie uh chairman chair Andrews and vice chair tippet members of the board Miss Cornetto
046thank you all for entertaining this special occasion on this evening we've got some very brilliant people to acknowledge and um we also want to thank Miss Carolyn Enis for working so hard to make sure that these Living Legends that we're about to talk about for the next few minutes uh or get the recognition they deserved um this year we celebrate the 20th year of honoring extraordinary Living Legends um whose lives and work have greatly impacted Johnson County Public Schools Platinum is the symbol of a 20th anniversary Platinum symbolizes strength and endurance our honores here today have demonstrated strength and endurance for a number of years as Educators and today we celebrate them first up um Miss Ethel Armwood if you would please join me ma'am and while she's joining us if she has any family
047members that would like to come behind the board to take pictures while she's being recognized feel free to do so miss Armwood worked for 30 years at her one and only school as a teacher Pine Level Elementary and we could tell by the Joy on Mr sasser's face that that is where she worked for real um the school was her home away from home she taught kindergarten through third grade very energetically those who know her know that she is like the Energizer Bunny always enthusiastically moving and involving ing her students she said I was a very happy kindergarten teacher and I wanted my students to be happy Learners Miss arwood's love uh Miss Armwood loved children so much that after she retired she returned to Pine Level and ser served as a substitute teacher later
048she served as a substitute in Wilson County Schools the most important philosophical Point she has shared with new teachers is to Simply believe she believes every child can learn and that every child has a gift Miss Armwood believes that old uh Johnson Central High School motto that every child has a chance she believes it is the role of the teacher to explore ways and find the gift in each student so that they can reach their Highest Potential the students can learn by providing Learning Centers for reading and for math in the classroom you was see the growth in students by building a student centered environment where they can learn and have fun while learning if the teacher believes that the child can learn they will learn if the teacher believes that the child cannot learn
049they will not learn small children can understand body language and many can discern what the teacher thinks of him or her Miss Arwood is married to Bernard Armwood and they have one son Miss Armwood is a graduate F State University she is a member of Jackson Chapel First Baptist Church in Wilson North Carolina and she is a member of gamma beta Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority also known as AKA she uses her energy and enthusiasm to help others in the church and the community when you are in the presence of Miss Ethel Armwood there is never a door moment congratulations Miss Arwood for being a platinum living legend of the Johnson County public schools on our 20th [Applause] anniversary you probably don't remember me but when I when I started traveling around the
050county as a an adapted physical education instructor I met you high level and to watch you walk those children from place to place around that c campus it was just most evident of your love for them and you you've touched many a generation and we thank you this will congratulations on being named a living legend thank you for your service at Johnson County Public Schools [Applause] right here now we right what should I say okay I I am proud to being um an educator for several years and I like to say that um I enjoyed being an a a teacher and I also enjoyed um giving children my attention giving people youngsters my attention and I also hope that everyone um along with me and other educators will help to uh make a positive impression
051on young people so the in Johnston County Schools thank you [Applause] we we were in we were in the back with Miss with Miss Armwood and she exuberates humility um so we greatly appreciate her um next we're going to celebrate Miss Ruth ha Miss hi if you would please join me miss high is certainly an educator we were in the back and she was um giving off that educator Spirit um she was she was asking all the details and finding out who we were and I said yep she's an educator so all right next excuse me next to be honored on this 20th anniversary uh of the Living Legends of Johnson County Public Schools is Miss Ruth Miss Ruth High miss high is a graduate of meredi College East Carolina University and North Carolina State
052University she taught in grades K through six but primarily at the AIG Center where she served as lead teacher and AIG director her Philosophy for being a successful teacher are these few things first you must love and respect each child secondly you must have a passion for teaching next you must have the belief that there is no one career path have incorporate EMP empathy introduce critical thinking skills inclusive of Common Sense incorporate life skills by implementing Hands-On learning curriculum she believes that a vital aspect of teachers of a teacher's Legacy is their willingness to make the future brighter one child at a time she also believes a successful teacher needs the support of the administration parents students and Community miss high has countless honors and awards for her service as a teacher church member and
053Civic participant she is an active member of First Baptist Church in Smithfield North Carolina Coral Society she serves on the mental health board and numerous other religious and Civic organizations she received the department of psychology distinguished alumni award from meredi college wow she is married to Mark Hy Jr she has no children except for the hundreds of children that she has taught year after year as a teacher and several and she has several here she says congratulations Miss rof high for being a platinum living legend of Johnson County public schools on our 20th anniversary [Applause] that you will ever meet that don't make me cry and she but but she's touched the lives of so many young people she believed that we need to we need to um seek out and draw out from every
054child what they're capable of doing and you did you did just that not only in your teaching career but in your coordinating and running of the AA AI the a Center that we had here several years ago but um you are um so well-deserving of this Living Legends because you have committed your entire life to to the Next Generation in you know it's GNA do just fine in well she's all deserving of this we're so happy for you pleasure good to meet you pleasure meeting you congratulations on being Nam the living legend thank you for your service at Jon County Public Schools ma'am thank you so much he Wasing well I prepared a very short speech but I even can tell it's even going to be shorter the funny part is I practiced with the
055cat and he ran to the door so maybe it's just a good thing that I'm just going to add live this I want to say that the AIG program during my time and with our children and the wonderful staff would not have occurred without this board or the mon County School Board wonderful superintendent assistant superintendent and an awesome staff and Lisa G is here well she left so but anyway I just wanted you to know she was here um this staff was awesome and real funny story about Bruce buun when we first started the center we didn't have any furniture and Bruce had some and my husband Mark I'll tell you about him in a minute had a big red truck that's what the children called it the big red so we went to Bruce's
056school he and Frank and I loaded that truck so every teacher and every child had a desk so thank you I better stop thank [Applause] you thank you again miss high for your years of service right last uh living legend that we're going to recognize tonight is Mr James bun if you would please join me sir that Bruce Mr Bruce bun okay Mr Bruce bun I apologize if we were to share all of the information on the resume of Mr bun we'll be here for another hour those a Miss in's words I I feel like she dos you she's already told me y he has done many many great things and served in many capacities as an educator including teacher intern principal assistant principal and principal after retirement Mr bun returned to JCPS as a
057temporary administrator serving as an intern principal and assisting in Human Resources according to his record he was a proficient and efficient in all the positions he held he stated I believe that every child is capable of learning it may not be on the same rate but every child is capable of learning given the right conditions and circumstances the effective teacher gets to know every student in the classroom teachers must believe that every child can learn and proceed accordingly that is their job to find the most appropriate way for each child to learn students don't care how much a teacher knows unless they know that the teacher cares the same goes for teachers teachers will perform their best when they know that the school administrator cares for them and is willing to help them be as
058successful as they can be in helping students learn end quote Mr bun is is a graduate excuse me Mr bu is a graduate of Appalachia state in East Carolina University he taught social studies in grades 6 through eight his last school was West Clayton where he was the principal he has served as a deacon at Mar swamp Free Will Baptist Church was named jca EOP administrator of the year and as Johnson County principle of the year his professional summary includes a few of these outstanding qualities he's dedic he's a dedicated administrative professional with successful experience he's a hardworking team player with expertise and offering staff support he has a keen attention to detail and strong decisionmaking skills he is a ex um excellent communicator and and he plans well and prioritizes skills that were were
059demonstrated through 36 years of performance congratulations Mr Bruce bun for being a platinum living legend of of the Johnson County public schools on this 20th [Applause] anniversary for what she said yeah I was looking forward to this one right here uh I've known Bruce oh Lord Bruce how long forever and um he ran a wonderful School a tight ship I know couple of s we didn't agree on things and he let me know and um and we we worked it out we still love each other we do um but Bruce um you're the best absolutely the best scraped the bottom of the barrel well got me no but when you walked into your school at West Clayton I will forgive you the time you par I parked in your spot and you parked behind me
060so I couldn't get out but um because nobody parked in Bruce Bun's spot but um anyways consequences but anyways um when you walked into your school felt you inside that school because you took care of the children you took care of your teachers and in that regard your teachers took care of your students I hope so and they did and they did so congratulations my friend thank you congratulations service County Public Schools take a picture then we take picture first yeah than you appreciate your m front you that was hard I'll share that with uh I was gotten away with when I got uh Dr brac's letter uh but I will take it to heart he said keep your comments short I tell everything there's no secrets uh this is absolutely a wonderful school system
061I'm an example I think you're an example aren't you or not we came through this system and uh look where are we look where we are today uh there are so many other people that are more deserving than me uh they are on the Forefront they're those teachers in the classroom they're are teachers like Suzanne Phillips Diane Parker Betsy McKenzie all those that are they're still some of them are still out there working uh but uh you can't Dr BR you couldn't have come to a better school system in the State uh I've always put my teachers at uh West Clayton Elementary and the teachers of Johnston County up against anybody in the State uh with that I'm gonna shut up that's as short as you g to get it thank you if y'all would
062please let's celebrate our Living Legends one more time and we're going to have our next group uh enter um and so we'll we'll wait for our children to come in so we can recognize our carot ed students congratulations again yes sir wa e e first of all thank uh we like to thank all the parents for uh having your students here um if you would like you're more than welcome at this time to come stand behind the Das behind the board members um so that you can take pictures of your children as they're being recognized so you can do so now if you like um same thing for the principles if you would like to join us back there that would be great um if we would would if all of the car ed students
063would please come join me up here and stand either to this side or this side all right today we'll be recognizing five um Exemplar students um one of them was not able to join us but we'll still recognize them nonetheless right each month the Johnson County Board of Education recognizes students who have zipify good character in their schools um we'll recognize each of these students and then we'll celebrate them all when when we conclude recognizing each of them the first student we're going to recognize is Miss Tinsley Pate a fifth grade student at uh Glendale Kinley Elementary where Kelly h is principal Tinsley is recognized for being self-disciplined Tinsley stands out as a shining example of dedication responsibility and un unwavering commitment to personal and academic Excellence her consistent display of self-discipline has not only
064contributed to her own growth but has also set a positive standard for her peers whether facing academic challenges extracurricular activities or personal responsibilities Tinley consistently exhibits a remarkable ability to stay focus prioritize and maintain a strong work ethic beyond the classroom Tinsley's involvement in various extracurricular activities showcases her exceptional organizational skills and commitment to personal development Tinsley's exemplary behavior extends to her interactions with peers and teachers she is known for her respectful demeanor effective time management and the ability to navigate challenges with Grace and determination her peers look up to her as a role model and her teachers appreciate the positive influence she brings to the classroom environment sounds like I need to hang out with Tinsley next we're going to acknowledge and recognize Mr Jake Barnes a fifth grade student at micro Elementary where
065Carson cotti is the principal Jake has been recognized for self-discipline Jake is a terrific young man who displays every positive character trait every single day with emphasis on those words from Miss Catal AI he has con consistently demonstrated a love for helping others regardless of any situation presented to him in or his peers or adults when Jake's peers are presented with a difficult problem in class they feel comfortable seeking him for help this proves that Jake is a trusted rational and natural Problem Solver and a great classmate not only does Jake show self discipline compassion and great problem solving skills he is also extremely respectful there are so many students in the fifth grade class who called Jake a friend Jake is also respectful to all adults and his sweetness brightens their day immediately Jake
066is truly one of a kind we all know that he will be going far in life and accomplish many great things congratulations Jake next we'll recognize Shan Smith who is a 12th grade student at North Johnson High where Belinda Proctor is principal and Shawn was unable to join us this afternoon Shawn has been recognized for patriotism Shawn is a deputy Cadet commander in North Johnson's High Roc his teachers describe him as dependable and respectful his leadership dedication to the RTC program and love of country are laudable and evidenced in the work that he has done at our school in November alone he led a 18p person formation to march in the annual JCPS Veterans Day ceremony before a crowd of nearly 500 people and I'll add this he did it with no sweat in addition
067on November 18 He successfully LED his drill Rifle Team to a second place finish at Terry Sanford drill meet in fville and contributed to an overall third place finish for the entire competition he is a competitive member of the Cross crunchy team and this season he is on the wrestling team Shawn has just been accepted to Belmont Abbey College for next fall congratulations Mr Smith next we'll recognize Mr Preston Thompson Mr Preston if you would raise your hand I thought it was Preston y next we have Preston Thomas to who is an e8th grade student at North Johnston Middle where Heather Anders is principal Preston has been recognized for compassion Preston's teachers and peers describe him as Dependable responsible and courageous one spe specific character trait that Preston exemplifies consistently is compassion Preston works hard
068to uplift and encourage his peers his teachers and anyone he encounters he is quick to share a kind word complim M or smile with others he also can be seen helping others who he sees may be struggling Preston's teachers and administrators would describe him as a kind student with integrity and a great sense of humor Preston serves as the president of the National Junior Honor Society at North Johnston Middle School aside from being a high academic achiever in the class room Preston maintains a positive outlook despite any challenges that he may have faced Preston's peers would describe him as a loyal friend who is always there for them Preston is an outstanding young person who is deserving to be recognize congratulations Preston and lastly we have Abigail Workman who is a fifth grade student at
069Pine Level ele Elementary where Allan saster is uh the hman of the ship Abigail is being recognized for being responsible Abigail is a student that has worked so hard to exemplify good character traits this year she shows respect in the classroom when she displays a genuine interest in listening to what her classmate have to say she is open-minded and respects to viewpoints of others Abigail shows responsibility as she is working hard to complete her work in class as she continues to grow more and more responsible she is finding success in the classroom on a daily basis and she is leading others to do the same she shows compassion to other students when she offers uh to help them with an assignment or to be their partner if they don't have one she does not exclude
070anyone and tries to be friends with all students Abigail has worked very hard this year to be the best student that she can be at Pine Level and Pine Level is so proud of her congratulations to our car dead students for December 2023 [Applause] conratulations we appreciate all of you and thank you to your parents that were here and administrators um we're so grateful to have you here with us all right the last group that we're going to recognize today are our plc's of the month I do not think those groups are with us so we'll read a little bit of about them and recognize them in that manner all right the first grade PLC at palenta elementary exemplifies the trait of collaboration each week the team gathers together in to review common assessment data
071so they can identify common Trends across the grade level and plan next steps for instruction in order to continue to help their students grow and improve congratulations to the PLC at palenta elementary secondly we're going to recognize the Middle School PLC which is the sixth grade social studies PLC at Clayton Middle School the words that were shared about this team was this team hit the ground running this year starting off with a social studies archaeology lab in our Courtyard during which students participated in the guided did for Content related artifacts they have collaboratively planned uh putting a great deal of fora into potential challenges that some students may have had with learning task this group has really make an impact in the school and on the sixth grade students and today we would like to
072celebrate the sixth grade social studies PLC at Clayton Middle and finally the high school PLC of the month is the english team at Cleveland High School the Cleveland High English to PLC Works tiously diving into Data to identify students in need of a remediation and acceleration seeking to grow them in all areas the PLC has developed many lessons to Target standards and skills specific to uh student strengths and opportunities for growth while keeping a focus on student engagement and rigor this group is making an impact in the halls of in the classrooms of Cleveland High School and today we celebr celebrate them as well this concludes our recognitions for this month congratulations to all the students and to the teams that are making an impact in the lives of our [Applause] students good evening Madam
073chair Vice chair tippet Dr bracie and board members Miss Cornetto it brings me great pleasure to be here tonight to recognize our employees of the month for the month of December we'll start with our classified Employee of the Month Laura Ooa Miss AOA is an instructional assistant at micro Elementary School Miss sooa is a bright spot at micro Elementary School she is a fantastic teaching assistant and colleague she always has a smile on her face and is willing to help with everything from coverage to translating for our Spanish families she works closely with the teacher she supports in kindergarten to ensure students receive highquality daily education we appreciate her today and every day for her un selfish commitment to our entire School Community congratulations Laura Ooa classified employee of the month [Applause] next we have
074our certified employee of the month for the month of December Mr chase frell Mr frell is our auxiliary services and safety officer at administrative and auxiliary Services Department Mr frell has worked in Johnston County public schools for numerous years in various positions and capacities currently he serves as the auxiliary services and safety officer among his duties his most essential and least excuse me his most essential and least recognized responsibility is his priority to keep everyone safe in Johnston County Public Schools with all of his professional development training and Communications with various stakeholders we hope we never have to implement his training often this goal is the reverse in most educational practices typically we train to implement but in this case we train in the hopes that we never utilize it in his role he communicates
075possibilities and what is scenarios to firm our understanding and practice drills to know what to do when we don't know what to do some whatif situations and training include several inclement weather procedures potential threats real life threats best safety practices and the all encompassing and unknowing situations we couldn't imagine or foresee School administrators must think and prepare for these events at their schools too but can one imagine the weight of Mr frell's role for a school system although a daunting task Mr frell is a realist and he is an optimist he doesn't train us to be fearful he trains us to be prepared he encourages us to be ready for anything but he also understands that we must always keep the main thing the main thing if you've ever been to any of his trainings
076he always says let's keep the main thing the main thing and that for him is safety we are here to educate and grow our students academically in a safe and secure environment he is both communicative and collaborative collaborative use utilizing the strengths and skills of a variety of stakeholders like our police our Sheriff departments our emergency services our businesses our Public Information Systems our Johnston County Public School staff students and communities at large just to name a few he understands it is a team effort to promote safety security and educational Partnerships as a leader he is grateful appreciative and humble he would not want recognition for his efforts and he would give all of the accolades to those around him but it has to start with someone and at some time he is the one
077and the time is now I once heard a saying regarding the police some people stay awake at night so that we can sleep Charles faral and his United Team of unsung heroes they are the lead leaders that do that we are fortunate to have Mr frell in Johnston County Public Schools we can go about our days and nights because we have a Watchman keeping the potential of harm at Bay by recognizing Mr frell for his efforts we also acknowledge his team who assist him daily and nightly in a world that can be frightening we can breathe a little easier knowing that we have a host of people who keep us safe and well informed I know this has been a long speech but Mr frell I had to read every bit of this speech that
078was written for you you deserve it you deserve a lot you make all of us feel safe and feel better about the place that we live and work every day and your efforts are greatly appreciated I've watched you from the time you were named principal at corth holders high school and I've seen you grow into a fantastic wonderful leader and I appreciate you congratulations thank y'all at this time for because of the time frame that we're in we're going to move to public oh go ahead I'm sorry you wanted to give us some updates also in your in your agenda I won't stay long but there are a few dates that we felt were important to for you to be reminded of um which include the Christmas Break dates when the kids return back to
079school but then also um special recognition event where we'll be doing this in a better fashion bigger Fashion on January 23rd 2024 at Smithfield Selma High School we'll share more details in the future thank you so much we're going to move now into public comments just because of the time so we'll let those people get in here welcome to those of you who are here we appreciate it we're going to move now into our public comments before we start you know I have to read a little little bit here so tonight we have seven speakers signed up for the public comment citizens who have signed up to address the board during the public comment session will be recognized in the order in which they signed up each speaker will have three minutes to present comments
080to the board however the public comment session will not exceed 60 minutes total except by a majority vote of the board the board suggest that specific Personnel or student matters be addressed to the school principal the Johnson County Public School System official responsible for the program or facility or to the superintendent citizens who address the board shall not use language that is obscene profane threatening contains fighting or inflammatory words or otherwise disruptive to the orderly conduct of business any person who willfully interrupts disrupts or disturbs an official meeting and who upon being directed to leave the meeting by the presiding officer willfully refuses to leave the meeting may be found guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor pursuant to the North Carolina General statute 14331 1817 our first speaker for tonight is Ben Chapman hello to
081the Johnson County Board of Education thank you for listening to me thank you for being here um I am once again here to advocate for lgbtq plus johnstonian uh two months ago I had a simple and small request that the board or any one of you issue a public statement directed towards lgbtq+ staff and students I told you that a message of Tolerance and acceptance could go a long way to reassure students staff and faculty faculty at Johnson County that Johnson County public schools are a safe and welcoming place to work live and learn no matter your sexual orientation or gender identity I have heard a deafening silence I'm here to speak up and support members of my community the lgbtq plus community of Johnson County has been subjected to a series of coordinated attacks
082this year on the 1st of June unknown persons mounted three transgender Pride Flags above I9 the Stones Throw from here they were painted with red and yellow paint the red paint eluded to mass shootings and the yellow paint was a white power symbol I went to address the Smithfield Town Council and the day that I spoke the Human Rights Campaign declared a national state of emergency for all lgbtq plus Americans I'm here as a library professional when I was at UNCC Chapel Hill School of library information science I recall we had an annual display for band books week the most unique aspect of this policy is that provision defining library books as supplementary materials I cannot emphasize enough how concerning that provision is to a field of professionals who are waiting and watching to see
083how you implement it when you leave the meeting today you may see some rainbow hearts uh we created approximately a thousand hearts on the ground to represent the number of LG gbt high school students enrolled in Johnson County Public Schools this holiday season I urge you to consider these students and their lived experience in Johnson County North Carolina thank you for your time thank you our next speaker is Sergio Benita ladies and gentlemen from the school bard of johston County I st here before you two guys today is the representative or Latinos activate Joo uh representing a vibrant part of our community and constitute nearly the Tor student body the Latino uh population We Are W to the fabric of the County schools and those that vibrant strong and Essentials however today with a heavy
084heart I bring this to light I bring this to light a troubling pattern the Shadows are Hol and and incidents in our school systems and violence I have bruised the hearts of Latinos students and their families our children's dream for Education should not be darkened by fear or harm or prejudgment within those walls they promis growth and learning we are reaching out we hope seeking dialogue only with met with the silence and speaks value we ask for meeting a simple gesture to begin meing what has been turn yet we stand with no date set and no dialogue dialogue initiated I ask you to not not as merely official but stewards of the education and guardians or our children's future to look beyond the numbers and their faces the hope is potential for the being overwhelmed
085and in actions let's come together to the next month let's come together not to the next month not to the next week but now for the safety and dignity of every students under our care let us set the date not just in the calendar but in our hearts where we can commit to turning the tie against violence toward the nring environment every child deserves this is a plea our hands extend and partnership for the future of our childrens's and the Integrity of the schools and with and the soul of our community thank you for your time time guys thank you so much our next speaker is Kathy picarella did I say that right picarella hi you guys um I want to say thank you in advance for the opportunity to speak um I had a
086speech prepared but sitting here I just didn't listening to Ben um I just feel like I want to talk to you guys for a second as a parent um and as a child that was raised in Johnston County Schools um my parents work for Johnston County Schools I've ran the halls of different schools and out here you know when it used to look a lot different um I'm seeing some changes in the schools that are concerning me that are scaring me uh when I was in school I don't think that there was so much um fear for being who we were um we were accepted and uh we found our groups and I'm representing a parent of uh the lgbtq community I have a fantastic uh transon that's a junior at Trip s um very
087involved uh involved in Avid um groups like The GSA um mural motive um a fantastic student I'm so proud of them um but the new SB 49 has me terrified and I'd love to know where my County stands on supporting my family because I'm scared every day already to send my child to school to the park to the store anywhere out of my sight because hate crimes are up um so much and I fear that over implementing this new law is going to put so many kids in danger because my kid has a safe haven at home but all kids don't and things like outing pronouns um that's going to get children killed um it's going to get them bullied it's going to get them harassed it's going to have them treated differently like they
088already aren't um and basically even though I know you have to implement the law there is a degree into which you have to do it and where Humanity still exists and that's basically what I'm asking you guys for is uh some security in the humanity for my kid and my kid's friends because it's already dangerous enough for them um I want them to feel as home in Johnston County Schools as I did Growing Up so um I need your help thank you thank you our next speaker is Reagan [Music] picarelli um I am her kid I am the Junior in high school like she said most of my friends are some form of queer and most of them aren't out to their parents and their only like Safe Haven and safe space is a school
089because they can't be themselves at home if this is like implemented more that safe hen is destroyed and they're in so much Danger and it's just it would force them to be outed and take away the safety that they had there's a reason they haven't come out to their parents and it's because they feel like they would be in danger they if they come out to their parents or if they're forced to come out to their parents they could be abused they could end up like being kicked out or killed if you take away the safe space from my friends they're in danger basically and my friends are humans they mean so much to me are you going to kill my friends I just that's all thank you our next speaker is April Lee good
090evening chair Andrews Vice chair tippet Dr bracie and members of the board um I'm April Lee I'm a teacher in another district and I'm a parent to students who attend jnon County Public Schools I came tonight to say that students deserve to be safe and that means so much more than weapons detection the first priority of the teacher code of ethics is student safety our students should be safe to be exactly who they are current legislation requires me to violate my first commitment in our teacher code of ethics just because a law is passed doesn't mean it's a good law it doesn't mean that it's a safe law and it doesn't mean that it's going to protect our children and while I believe that parents have rights I believe that our students have rights as
091well and their right to be safe in an environment outside of school and inside of school uh is a top priority for me as a mom for me as a teacher who interacts with children every day and now I interact with high school kids every day um so I understand that you guys have to develop policies surrounding the new state law however um as you move forward I want you to keep our kids at the Forefront because that's who we're here to serve we're not here um to serve of our legislators and bad legislation and bad faith legislation that has been written our number one obligation is to our students and um and I just my heart goes out to anybody who is struggling with that right now because I know that kids don't feel
092safe I teach kids who don't feel safe um and it is terrifying so thank you thank you our next speaker is Kelly Blanchard hello um I'm here tonight to express my deep concern and request your immediate intervention regarding the delay in providing necessary testing and services for my son at Forex Elementary School since the beginning of the school year I have been actively seeking educational testing for my son I initiated this process by submitting a formal request in writing to his teacher at the welcome back to school event in in August sequentially a meeting was held where it was agreed to move forward with the testing my son is currently receiving intensive inhome services and has been prescribed medication to assist him in coping with the school environment he's in the first grade despite repeated
093requests from his teacher myself and our treatment team no testing has been conducted today date so we're past the 90 days this is not the first year we have count we have encountered such challenges last year despite numerous parent teacher meetings discussions with the school principal and an email to Dr bracie which Miss Edmonson had to follow up to assist me and ongoing reports of my son's behavioral issues because what they're thinking he has is autism it was only to end the end of the school year that Mr parish and excuse me I'm sorry um acknowledged the school's failure per his statement to adequately support my son this was the last day of the school semester or sorry the day before the last day in a face to-face meeting it is disheartening to observe that
094this year seems to be following a similar pattern with little action being taken beyond what has been implemented in his classroom by his school teacher thank God for Miss bass this situation is not just about my son I'm a former social worker for Johnson County GSS I served this County for over 10 years I have been on the other side with these parents and have fought and I have worked with a partnership for children my kids club and several other things as well as going and meeting with these parents who are struggling to get these services for their kids and it's unacceptable it is a broad issue affecting many children parent and Guardians who find themselves trapped in a seamlessly endless cycle of excuses and delays in receiving evaluation and Services I am here advocating
095not only for my son but for all those who are caught in this distressing situation our children cannot afford to wait indefinitely for the support that they need and are are titled to I urge the Johnston County School Board to take immediate action to address these delays and ensure that proper testing and support services are provided promptly your assistance in this matter is crucial and much needed thank you for your time and attention thank you our last speaker is Holly Atkins my name is Holly Atkins president and founder of Hope for teens as well as a mom I appreciate the difficult position you are in by feeling the need to comply with s sp49 which is hate filled exclusionary and overall wrong quick reminder according to General statute 115c 7616 C2 disclosure of changes to
096names or pronouns are not required when a reasonably prudent person would believe that disclosure would result in the child becoming an abused juvenile or neglected juvenile as those terms are defined in general statute 7B 101 for those wanting to verify it's page seven of sb49 further please also remember Title 9 we all go through the training and while some may want you to violate those protections afforded under federal law doing so is an illegal act even the State Board of Ed attorney has stated they lack authority to enforce it they say the squeaky wheel gets the oil but what if that squeaky wheel is a metal roller skating wheel from a pair of skates back in 1962 what if that state that skate no longer functions overall and poses so many safety concerns it has
097been updated to the skates we have now with rubber wheels that Glide better have a means to stop and are overall a better fit for all in other words those old pair of skates are irrelevant and so are their squeaks a lot of pacifists have made their point without being that annoying squeak and I am quite surprised some have forgotten what it feels like to be excluded ostracized and bullied all for being who they are Martin Luther King Jr wouldn't have had to be a peaceful protester for equal rights if racism never was an issue neither would Malala for women's rights Harvey Milk for LGBT rights and all the other many people in the past I grew up in a biracial family in New York YK City and I remember bullying firsthand my dad being
098pushed off his bike because he was riding with a white woman being called an Oreo and a domino all through elementary and middle school because my dad was black and my mom was white I have empathy because of my past experiences and I have seen that racial disparity first hand but now people feel the need to place that hatred on the Q Plus Community without remembering the pain of their own past at least 1.8 million Q Plus youth age 13 to 18 in the US seriously consider suicide each year out of a popul of 25.2 million in the US or 7% more than 15% of our teens identify as part of the Q Plus community and are four times more likely to consider suicide over the CIS population 86% of trans youth consider suicide Q
099Plus teens that know they have support and advocacy from adults decreases anxieties thoughts of suicide and depression our teens are watching politicians be hateful exclusionary and wrong all for wanting votes from narrow-minded uncompassionate voters talk about stress this is the opposite of what the school board has indicated in terms of wanting the best mental health for our students please work on making the school safer for all who Walk The Halls teachers and students ask for help if you need it please don't decide these issues in a vacuum like the legislature did also remember that some of the impacted students will be voting next year Mr Wooten and Mr Johnson thank you so much that concludes our public comments we appreciate all of you that come forward to speak um um we will move now into
100our agenda uh we are we left off at the place of approval of minutes I will note that we're going to table the approval of the closed minutes for November 7th until next time we have not reviewed those minutes so I will entertain a motion to um approve the minutes from the November SE SE 7th excuse me regular session me meeting yes I'll make a motion I have a motion do I have a second second any discussion all those in favor please indicate by saying I I okay then we'll go to the November 15th 2023 special session meeting I would entertain a motion to approve those minutes some did somebody say something okay U Mr Carroll and oh Mr Wooten and then Mr Carroll second it any discussion all those in favor please indicate by
101saying I I all right we move to the adjustment to the agenda any Ms would you be okay with me just when Vice chair tippet gets to the policy um committee updates to request the policies I had questions about coming out at that point or would you want to adjust it at this point can you go ahead and say it now and are you talking me about pulling them out yeah can we go ahead and do it now that just gives us the ability he can write it down and be ready yes ma'am Madam chair if if you would I'd like to look at policy 5210 non School material and policy 3102 online instruction and remote learning couple questions about those to um with the pulling out of those two um entertain a motion to
102approve the agenda as it is move second indicate by saying I 70 okay uh updates from our chairman uh Finance Madam chair I have move nothing to report report uh Mr Carol legal committee no report uh Mr tippet okay we have uh two policies on second review 8325 daily deposits which changed the the MTH they can keep us score from 250 to 1500 again and that's basically a um a housekeeping thing so they basically they don't have to go to the bank throughout the day that's what that is and and Mr Johnson you mentioned 5210 um did you have a specific question on that a a specific issue with that no issue just a question like was there a reason because it it appeared to me and again I was messaging last night trying to
103find it but it appeared to me like we kind of bypassed a reading because of the discussion length am I correct in that no we had it um we had it on second read earlier um like I think two three months ago and uh we had a discussion earlier in the in this at during this time of our meeting on that and that's what the uh the things that we talked about in that meeting uh if if you're looking at policy uh that there's not a lot of changes in it and I was going to just note the changes in there um uh we we made that there was some issue with uh groups that are using uh school property and we noted that that wouldn't fall under this policy we wanted to be specific
104with that um as long as they're falling 5030 Community use facilities um there was also some some issues um in in uh I'm going I'm going down here um we we include the statement materials distributed are are displayed must comply with Board of policy 5220 Collections and solit solicitations and the the the conversation there with the committee is that what we don't what we didn't want to have is materialists given out um directly asking uh for funds for to join the group that was presenting or whatever and that's why we we kind of we we pulled that out to use it um to make sure we we made a reference to um we also added in in section e um D yeah in section e um we added the word close there uh the thing
105that was concerning to us was that when we have clubs in school we want to make sure the material that they they're passing out also goes through this policy um before we may have had some clubs they were passing out stuff on their own with with the club and that's why they were that's why the clubs were included in this policy so that the the material that's been placed that that's been passed out by the clubs follow the same policy and and it's just covers everything um there was some some things in there um again it's it's um Allah lot was left to the principles and so we included the superintendent or his or his design um and again uh before that's um we we added the statement there in on number two um in
106the event the principal superintendent or super design need will permit the material to be distributed or displayed the principal superintendent or superintendent does it need was notified the board chair no less than 48 Hours PRI material being distributed or displayed so the board sees it gets to the chair the chair no thei the board and and so that the board sees the material that's being passed that's being distributed it was It was kind of there were some assumptions that that was going to happen but it wasn't spelled out right and and then that's that's mainly the changes that are that are there again if anybody's got any any specific questions we'll address those but those are the um and we talked about those I can't remember what month it was um maybe October when we
107when we discussed this and and that's why we went back and that's why we brought it back to Second read because that was the and basically because I didn't because I haven't heard any comments from any other the board members since then miss anine has some questions some comments during that meeting and would we spoke about those addressed as and I think some of those may be in here not the way the the decision the way the the committee felt we needed to go so it's that's where we are I'm just a little confused because I think in October you were talking about the principles having too much control you just said that again but they had no control it was all the superintendent was the only language inside that policy you added in principles
108we had we actually added in superintendent throughout um the pr where they said as you can see where it says the principal are superintendent design on D1 yeah and it's all in red it says principal or superintendent was existing added in principal no the the the black was already there the red is what was at in are you on are you on D1 where you looking at I'm looking at c c yeah C2 that's where the first that you addition of principal came in right for and we and we did that for claric for clarification purposes uh because it didn't it didn't it didn't coordinate with what the next section said um one section basically said princi one section basically say superintendent designate so we did was make sure in all areas we added principal
109and superintendent or superintendent designate so that every area every area should match now well I mean when you look at D1 and the language they're the principles were just making sure that there wasn't anything that would violate you know it had nothing to do with Viewpoint it had nothing to do with anything else just making sure there was nothing indecent that was being handed out everything that was con content related was up to the superintendent prior to the passage or future P passage of this policy so you actually handed the principles more control with the language you inserted here not necessarily against it or for it but it just didn't seem to try to make it match yeah I think it it makes it match and also what it does is is to make sure
110that we have a a paper trail going from that principal to the board chair the principal the principal regardless of whether who is when I look at the language of this the principal was only responsible making sure no V nothing vulgar or anything got ped anybody and and when in but the superintendent was in charge prior to making sure if the principal if the principal refused it then they went to the superintendent basically was the the the the perception that was there which isn't the perception that we wanted we wanted the superintendent involved as well by policy already was so I just I I'm not understanding the necessary changes inside this and um the I think the general reason why it was brought forward and changed at least from what I could tell was that
111you had a group that wanted to hand something out and there was some conflict within that ask and um and um the language under F which was non-school material because this is all about non-school material this is like a club or something that wanted to hand something out or a leadership program that wanted to hand something out um so the actual um you know what would be what would be considered under this policy hasn't changed at all and and and that actually your your statement actually is isn't is isn't accurate uh it didn't come because of that uh we have a list of policies that come before every committee and I will say it it came at the same time we had some other questions but we didn't we didn't pull this policy to look
112at that time this policy was on the list of policies to be looked at like like the others that you see on here if and yes it it did come out when there were some questions on something else but but it wasn't pulled for that purpose I just don't see the the changes inside the policy have um anything have improved anything or or changed anything substantially enough to make a make a reason to change it but you know that's your thank you for bringing it Forward no that that was like I said that that was the uh the position of the committee and and the attorney so any other questions we will vote on these policies now now since we've presented them so uh I uh is that what you P I thought you okay
113just 5210 okay sorry was there two pulled out it's fo so you want do you want to vote on this one alone yeah oh that was this was the second read I thought 52 oh so we didn't pull we pulling that one out to discuss it on first read I get that okay go ahead um and the other well we don't vote no let me let me do a vote for 5210 okay I'm sorry if y'all are confused you're in good company okay um let me I need a motion for uh approval of policy code 5210 some motion by Mr Donovan second by Mr Carol any further discussion hearing none I'll call for the vote all those in favor of approving policy 5210 please indicate by saying I I any opposed no okay 52 okay
114and then the uh the next section and I'm just going to Mr Johnson I'm just going to go over all of them and then we'll pull that one at the vote well actually it's not a vote on let let me let me find those again here okay the the next um those are only two second read first read again uh and I remind the public these are on there for comments from the public as well uh we'll look at those uh going to the list 3100 curriculum development um there wasn't a great deal change in in in that policy um um it's pretty much a legal reference uh policy 3102 is the one Mr Johnson had a question about you have a specific question about that I mean I think it would be for the
115benefit of the group if we would read it aloud but my specific question is the way it's written now is would this take the board's authority to keep children in school or take them out of school would it negate the board Vote or because it looks like it delegates that responsibility to the superintendent and I'm just curious okay let me let you B all right and and what Mr Johnson is talking about is FOC is talking about remote learning uh it says when warranted by extension circumstances Emer circumstances unapproved by the superintendent schools May temporary temporarily transition to remote instruction implemented by law again um and and the thinking for that is if we have a snow day all of a sudden if we have we didn't have any hurricane days but if we have
116any of those and depending on how we are in Johnston County the superintendent has authority to to call remote day what you're saying what's you're referring to is like Co and and no it it doesn't affect that at all um and it's just some wording that you think uh uh implies that it does affect that no but there is I just didn't read any limitations on the duration of it and just maybe if it's going for a second read maybe it could be reviewed to maybe put a Time cap on it or maybe put some specific parameters around five days I mean that's I I I see what you're saying yes sir and we and and we can um Mr chair uh if I could just interject there's nothing that relaxes the standard of the
117Constitutional requirement for the hours and days and so the superintendent would be held to that standard just like the board but if the board wants to put in more um discretion uh criteria that's certainly something the policy committee could review but those hours and days would be met we look atend it comes to the board after a certain amount of time if we continue using it yes am I right yes sir you're absolutely correct okay and and I don't have a problem looking at I think we can Dr Pierce will you make a note of that that we can look at that um because I I I do I see I see your point understand what you're talking about on that and and and we can we can look at that and and look at
118the um so they comes to the board after X amount of days or whatever just as a review okay I also had a question on that one um of course you do um so I'm just wondering if it affects our Virtual Academy at all because you are you strike the line that says you can conduct classes remotely for all or part of a school year a temporary transition this I'm not the policy is online instruction look at the policy wa it's got it has it's versal in it um and tell me what you're asking so the policy is online instruction okay right I've read the policy it's it's pretty short um I want to make sure that it doesn't interfere with our Virtual Academy if we are um creating a problem for our our eles
119by striking out the line and I don't know why we struck it that says um conduct classes remotely for all or part of a school year I I I I think that was actually goes into what Mr Johnson asked because um and we'll go back and look at that because I think what that's referring to is the superintendent so the superintendent is not going to make that call but it does have an effect on Virtual right and some of our some of our students have been remote learning not because of covid or not because of us snow day but because of behavior issues other issues and they need to stay remote and they might need to stay remote all year I'm just wondering why you struck the full line that's all all right and and
120and you know the other area that it's the policy is a meant to affect Choice Academy or Virtual Academy and I think that's what you're asking to make sure that to make sure that it's not that that's we we're certainly we'll certainly look at that to make sure that at that um yes this is a specific statute that was added um this last session and this is designed to align with that and we can look at it again if there's any confusion that is generated by the school boards Association recommendation okay what just what just um if you just note those questions Dr Pearson and the committee at the next meeting like we always do what would take any kind of questions in into consideration and and and then go from there okay um the
121other policies that we have um student promotion 3420 student promotion iability again there are some changes in there um there are pretty pretty generic changes um again you you got the next month to get any questions for these that these are not these are first read uh 3640 student voter registration was just legal references 4050 children of military families and and that's just basically to make sure that if we have children of military families that everything's in accordance with that the biggest thing in there is 4100 age requirements um and some states have different age requirements for starting school if we have a military family coming in the middle school year and that student didn't start it at an earlier age then we allow then we continue with that it's it's just cleaning up some
122things to make sure that we don't have any issues and that's all the um the first read okay we we do not need to vote on those things Bond committee Mr Carol we have not uh called a meeting yet but it's my understanding that as we've said we've been waiting on an updated report from our OED folks about our growth and potential growth and it's my understanding that that uh Brooks Moore will be meeting with them on Thursday to go over this and we should get the report maybe to us on to the system on Friday so we will be trying to schedule a meeting we may not be able to get it before Christmas but uh we have been in conversation informally with the County Commissioners but we will schedule a meeting hopefully by
123our next meeting legislative committee I have no report um we'll probably meet as soon as long as the Committees stay the same and that's at the chair's Leisure um I plan to have our next meeting in January likely and um right now the legislative body is not in session really um it's kind of performatory it's not really actually doing anything so no report otherwise okay thank you uh M don't really have a lot of updates I I would encourage you if you uh our Fine Arts departments are doing a great job out there with band concerts chorus concerts there's still a few left that will be done between now and um next Wednesday when the buses roll out midday for Christmas break um but if you have a chance go to go to one of
124these events and support our Fine Arts departments they're doing a tremendous job um and that's really all I have to say but um we certainly um are uh as Mr Johnson said in his prayer we as we break for Christmas here in a few days we certainly pray that everyone stays safe and has a wonderful Christmas all right we will move now to uh our advisory appointments uh Mr Carrol Madam chairman Dr Angela Hill from Dixon Road Elementary School has recommended the appointment of three folks for three-year terms to their advisory Council um Miss uh Kelly forani for a three-year term Lauren tart a three-year term and Andrea Bachelor for a three-year term okay I'll use that as our initial motion Mr Wooten uh principal Elizabeth Patton has recommended and Council has approved and recommended
125Jennifer kenu for a three-year term who's a new appointment and Vicky Andrews for a three-year term which is a renewal okay uh and Mr Donovan Mr chair uh Mr Weaver from South Johnston has approved and recommended the following applicants for the advisory Council Tina Lee for three years uh Jamie Pierce for three-year term elen alfer for three-year term Melissa Finch for three-year term Susan Beasley for one-year term Christy Carter for one-year term and Elaine Voyer for one-year term okay I'll entertain a second for these nominations mine was a second oh yours was a second okay that's F all right any discussion all those in favor of these advisory appointments please indicate by saying I I any opposed okay Dr bracie Madam shair at this time I ask that the board approv consent items numbers one
126through eight I I have a motion by Mr Carol and a second by Mr Johnson um any discussion all those in favor please indicate by saying I I any opposed Mr Moore everyone tonight I have four items for you my first one is to provide public sewer to Corinth Holders El Elementary School it is our last school that's on on the onsite sewer treatment station and dis dischar Char charges to The Noose River the design of this project will provide a pump pump station and approximately 14,500 ft of force M to tie that school in into the public sewer system uh proposal was negotiated in partnership with Johnston County P public utilities um with their consultant CJs conveyance uh the first proposal was for $643,000 but after negotia we are recommending a proposed con contract
127price of $441,500 and a $40,000 contingency to cover um testing and O other items that arise during the design and construction of this project and this is a FY 2324 Capital funded project for approval thank you I'll entertain a motion of approval so Mo motion by Mr Wooten a second by Mr Johnson any discussion all those in favor please excuse me Madam you just way ahead on me I'm sorry uh we have uh we a These funds out of next year's Capital correct out of this year's Capital okay uh we've got the funds to do it thank you very much any other discussion hearing none I'll call for the vote all those in favor of the S this the cor toer Elementary School sewer project design please indicate by saying I I any opposed okay
128all right my next next item is the first package of the Ada access in improvements this this package will provide improve improvements at North Johnson High Princeton Middle High Smithfield Selma senior high school and in inov academy uh recommendation is to contract with the low low bid from Daniels and Daniels construction for a contract amount of $540,000 and the content tendency of 100,000 is requested as well and this is a local funded project this is an action item I'll entertain a motion some motion by Mr Donovan second second by Mr tippet any discussion yes when you say local is coming out of our Capital funds yes sir loc local funds because we are making repairs to those sites it's a repair not a new construction are these these things are already there in place um
129they they will be improved so they are in compliance with a a Da Law okay yes sir I only asked the question because I do have some differences of opinion of what should come out of local funds and what should come out of capital and there are a lot of things that they restrict us to Capital that would fall exactly into this category that we should be able to deal with sure just just a protest on my absolutely and is is every dollar in this item necessary and pertaining to actual Ada access improvements oh yes I've I've got a report of quite a few P PID pages of Assessments and recommendations okay so a recommendation isn't necessarily requirement though is that correct um that's a tricky question I would say so so would we be
130out of compliance if we don't do it the it the items that recom that are recommended are not within compliance comp correct but they're not required necessarily required by law yes but they're existing so they're not necessarily required right like if you're going to build them today yes required recommended to fix yes yeah you got it I believe you so there's no gr grandfathering with a ADA requirements it's a it's it's a law not a building code but it will make it make it a safer well it makes it accessible to it makes it safer I'm assuming that we're upgrading it to be a sa it makes it a for an accessible person yes the only reason I ask is to bring um Mr Carol's Point home that we make sure that we're budgeting in
131the correct pot and we're pulling money from the correct place that's all um but I think Miss Andrews pointed out this was in this current Year's budget line item as you wrote it so I don't have a problem with it okay any other discussion hearing then I'll call for the vote all those in favor of the Ada access improvements please indicate by saying I I any opposed okay all right thank you my next next one is the purchase f furniture from inter interior systems for Benson Elementary School 17 classroom addition it is on scheduled to be complete in this up upcoming summer and open for the 2024 25 school year next fall uh the contract is to purchase is for 53 and that also includes new cap cap cafeteria tables as well and that's a
132cafeteria T oh lo locally funded purchase I'll entertain a motion so Mr Donovan a second by Mr Johnson any discussion I have cafeteria tables where in the cafeteria at Benson okay yes ma' know if we'd switch schools or something I'm just so part of that project is a c c cafeteria expansion okay so instead instead of putting new I'm thinking of addition okay new with old tables has been there 255 years we're purchasing all new are we going to move the old tables to another school like we do with Princeton oh yes if if do Dr Pierce's team has it has a use for him any just Mr Moore aition was built with that sir yes Furniture paid for locally correct yes sir per Steven Brit any other discussion hearing none I'll call for the
133vote for the furniture for Vents and Elementary addition all those in favor please indicate by saying I I I any opposed thanks and my last last item is one more package uh package four of the controls upgrades to our hbac systems at Benson McGee Crossroads and Penta elementary schools um we are also changing out some children and hot hot water pump packages along with the V variable frequency drive systems as well with this project uh Rec recommendation is to award this to pedmont service group and I am requesting a not to exceed amount of 2,6 70,000 because we are current currently doing value engineering with them them to cut some some cost cost as well so it's it's for a not to exceed amount this is an action item I'll entertain a motion so Move
134Motion by Mr Wooten second by Mr Donovan any discussion Brooks does this does this take care of the control issues across the county or we still got a lot more we still have we the MS doll situation those are in process yes and we're about a third would would B these packages how many packages do we have this is four so we we have two more pack packages that have eight schools in them okay and they bid next week okay are we going to get those in with Esra funding that's the goal is that the plan yes sir do you know what the total amount of Esra funding we have left for that um those projects are um so we have about 2 million left we're we're we're around 28 million of our 30 million
135uh but we have have discussed um sharing some technology funds to get this these packages finished that passes the grant plan to swap out like that yeah I won't answer for the s yeah any other discussion hearing none I'll call for the vote all those in favor of the hbac controls upgrades please indicate by saying I I thank you Miss Lee good evening Madam chair Vice chair board members Dr bracie tonight we bring for you your consideration a three-year contract Insurance Brokerage uh award for Alli Insurance Services we conducted an RFP and at this time I would like to introduce Mr Henry Smith our risk manager to go over our presentation good evening everyone board members Dr bracie thanks for your time so we're going to cover the uh Insurance risk management RFP that we
136started back in September of this year do I have control the slides here yes okay all right so so we have our current risk management program we have two providers Sur insurance which covers our work comp property vehicle flood and cyber and then the North Carolina Schoolboard trust which is our uh a RIS pull for school boards and it isn't technical insurance program it's an immunity program uh Siri a little background on them they've been a vendor with us for Two Plus decades they're insurance agent for Liberty Travelers EMC chub and others um the trust is not true insurance is maintains immunity and we've been a member of that program for approximately two years um the current uh cost Arrangement um our premiums are roughly 3.8 million of that 1.1 is in the work comp
137Arena and we have potential areas for Johnson County Schools to assume some risk and then obviously reduce our insurance cost and we'll cover that uh here shortly U to address these concerns uh under Dr bracie we Consolidated risk into one Department uh we hired of person in Risk Management that's me conducted an RFP for insurance broker services and contracted with Consultants reviewing coverages um to assist us with RFP process I have both members of the Consultants with me here tonight John Scaro and Jim Brit Scaro and Brit the insurance and risk RFP is a commit as a committee was formed to review the RFP with the Consultants the committee members were Brooks Moore construction Chase frell over student Safety and Security and auxiliary Services Jif for Lawson's School nutrition Marlon Watson student transportation and Henry
138Smith and risk management Steven Brit and Cynthia Rivera were non-voting observers and the voting members of the committee represent all areas of risk from student safety to transportation and had little prior direct experience with the incumbents going down to the next slide um we have a risk management timeline so we wanted to show you the timeline of our RFP we started again back in September and we're coming to our conclusion here tonight um some of the goals with our risk management program we wanted modernize our expenses uh progress in cost management and we followed of course a process with this RFP timeline and of course with the process we want to develop new long-term strategies with initial placements of insurance going forward uh Insurance renewals and Risk Management Services to address safety needs and so
139forth and improve loss control and loss prevention measures the insurance and risk RFP resulted in four responses the top three were given the opportunity to make 90 minute presentations to the committee the result the committee unanimously recommends Alli as the broker while we're training the trust for the liability the Alli scoring notes this is all in the RFP the evaluation criteria a creative path to an unbundled program uh they displayed that through their quantitative analysis U and they scored you know 20 out of 20 the stewardship process and periodic category reviews they did a excellent job of that expressing their presentation how we would get you know through through our renewals and so forth and achieve our goals and the breadth and depth of underwriting it was impressive underwriting team a lot of cohesiveness and
140a lot of solutions and potential options going forward the broker and team chemistries it was a very tight presentation a lot of unity uh and very cohesiveness um like they were almost a family uh the fees for services again with that uh so they have a performance bonus if they don't meet certain criteria they will reduce their fee by 20% so we have that as part of the contract uh as well um if they don't meet it so they if they there's eight criteria if they miss out on one it's going to drop that one by 5,000 and so forth and so forth um we look at the current Johnson County Schools insurance program Alliant model the current program as seen here and discuss how risk and analytics we can navigate and move to positive
141Financial change here in the district um couple of the key highlights here is work comp optimization uh we have some premium dollars that we definitely can save there uh as well as some enhancements on our Schoolboard trust program uh with some excess coverages and so forth and then as well as that a Stalone active as salant policy and then uh looking at some areas of improvement with our insured values per building location um and then a probable maxable loss uh do we need to increase that or decrease that increase or decrease that number and last but not least the risk control and clim claims advisory Services they offer are pretty Rob robust uh they pretty large organization and they have a lot of In-House resources uh expertise um that can assist Johnson County Schools when
142we look at uh the considerations again we talked about the quantitative analysis is the one of the first pieces they displayed of where we can save money at um I've worked uh in guaranteed cost and self-insured programs uh the program on the left side is a fully insured program with our losses developed uh going back four completed Years Around 1.5 million and our premiums for that are roughly four million so there's some definite savings on that side and then looking at the uh excess work comp program on the uh right side a l displayed you know some of the areas we can save on those numbers I think are are conservative uh but with quality um very big on return to work and assisting employees and helping them after injuries and showing value and uh
143you know that's a key component to working one of these programs and moving it Forward uh program consideration uh you know they brought forth I'm going to start with consideration number two that's something we're pretty much very familiar with not much change here just the excess work comp program we want to optimize on that as well as adding some additional layer uh into our general liability program with some enhancements and the active assent program as well as Standalone policy regarding that um those are some of the considerations along with some adjustments with property looking at um increasing our insured values per location then adjusting our um catastrophic loss limit if it needs to go up or down based on that maybe be some offsets in premium there and then consideration number one uh this is
144a program that I've worked with for about six years um it's got a potential over the long run for um some potential increased savings as well um something to look at uh as well only difference here with this program versus what I talked about it's got a protected loss fund uh which covers general liability U sexual abuse Auto garagee Keepers uh also property and excess work comp go into that um to display the loss fund we looked at our losses over the last five years uh the losses uh in work comp range about 302,000 the GL Auto around 50 and the property at 161 so we would have a proposed loss fund so the key with the thing about a protected loss fund you take your fixed cost which are your premiums and then you
145take your loss fund and then that gives your your total cost of risk and then your Finance Sofer Steven brick can you know tighten tighten it even more with that type program as an option down the road and then we look at the evaluation of the RFP including the broker fees it's you know not just a fee but there are five components to the RFP um the evaluation price factors in value price services and deliveries based on number one we talked about this on the scoring sheet earlier the unbundled creative path to a high performing program through the qualit quantitative analysis the stewardship process and the periodic service category review and then the breadth and depth of underwriting access and services um they have a lot of capacity uh within the market as far as
146that goes to get uh great terms and conditions and then again you know one the component listed below there the fee for services which is you know about 5% of what we're spending totally in premium so it's not just about fee it's about the overall and improving uh the current program where it's at and then the final slide of the recommendation all factors considered Alliance proposal should save money for the overall insurance program without compromising quality or service and the savings over the next five years could be significant with the greatest rate of um return on the investment and um our recommendation from the committee is to award a line with a three-year contract with two one-year optional extensions upon contract review by Miss Coronado and is also recommended that the school remains with the
147Schoolboard trust for liability with the potential for supplemental coverage provided by all do you have any questions let me get a motion okay do I'll entertain a motion some okay I have a motion do I have a second second Mr Wooton all right now any discussion any question I on for the broker fees the public might be looking at those and in our pre- agenda work session you covered this and um the different and disparity between a 72 $772,000 and 190 as large um but there were some questions about just not unresponsiveness by Siri who was our prior carrier broker um and the unresponsiveness was about fees and different things that cost us money so um that's why I think the board when we spoke about it earlier were comfortable moving into a larger fee
148because of the information that you had shared with us so you know over since from 2019 to 2023 you spent about 10 million in premium and your losses are around 2.9 Million which is a 30% loss ratio so even before I got here you're already pretty favorable for an insurance company uh so I would take advantage of the loss history and you know we can improve this program uh from where it currently is um so just wanted to add that if um you got more questions I can ask John or Jim to come up the only the other thing I wanted to talk to you about was the um activist sent policy which we do not have is that correct we don't have you do not have that right um and we spoke briefly with
149um some of the auxiliary Services people and we have a lot of different things in place to protect our schools and our children it's priority for this board for our employees um if there are things that our the our Brokers could utilize to bring that policy cost down I know that our auxiliary services are willing to work with them so we want to know if there are things that we can do to help bring our coverage cost down yes so as as far as addressing that yes AI has resources to assist us with addressing those matters yes ma'am is there any other discussion or questions none hearing none I'll call for a vote all those in favor of awarding the three-year contract to align insurance services please indicate by saying I I I any oppose
150thank you yes Miss Edmonson okay go ahead good evening again so I have two items for you this evening my first item is the superintendent's Personnel recommendations so first I'd like to present the candidates um that are being recommended for an assistant assistant principal position uh the each of these if approved will receive a two-year contract we have Stefan katanos for Cleveland High School Lorita Harris Webb Corinth Holders high school and Edgar Herrera at South Johnston High School I'll entertain a motion for the approval of these individuals so motion by Mr Donovan second by Mr Carol any discussion all those in favor please indicate by saying I I any opposed okay next we have an interim assistant principal right recommendation Melissa buts for Corinth Holders Elementary I entertain a motion motion by Mr Wooten second
151by Mr Donovan any discussion hearing none I'll call for the vote all those in favor please indicate by saying I I I any opposed Central administrator recommendation maren Hanah director of talent acquisition and retention I'll entertain a motion so Move Motion by Mr woot do I have a second second by Mr Johnson any discussion hearing none I'll call for the vote all those in favor please indicate by saying I I I Central Personnel Zachary Armstrong project manager with facilities design and construction I'll entertain a motion for approval some Move Motion by Mr Donovan second second by Mr Wooten any discussion hearing none I'll call for the vote all those in favor please indicate by saying I I any opposed then we have an internal transfer Joshua Woodard uh transferring from HVAC supervisor to HVAC coordinator
152oh oh okay okay thank you all right our next item um we have a presentation that I'd like to share with you on a program called Elevate K12 this is a virtual platform for live teaching this button right here all right so just to give you a little bit of background so Johnston County Public Schools as well as other districts ac across North Carolina continue to experience a high number of certif c ified teacher vacancies so here I have some information for you from 2022 and I'm comparing that information with 2023 so if you look on this slide um you will see the vacancies for approximate vacancies for September 1st October 1st November 1st and December 1st of each of those years and as you see the number are increasing uh on December 1st under
1532023 that should be so so so what are we going to do about all of these vacancies how can we help our students to uh receive instruction having a certified teacher to deliver that instruction the answer is Elevate K12 which is live teaching through a virtual platform form okay so few details about Elevate K12 with this program students in each class would be be uh scheduled in those classes at a ratio of one teacher to every 30 students par professionals would be provided by the school district and they would be trained by Elevate k12 and they would be there to assist with supervision supervision of students this instruction would be received by students 5 days per week and our middle schools would receive instruction for 45 to 60 Minute periods high schools would receive instruction
154for 80 minute periods there are three different types of course offerings that we will consider for this uh one is standard classes premium classes and special education classes and here is a chart that shows the course offerings for Middle School in each of those classes and this is a chart that shows all of the course offerings for the high school so the services provided by Elevate K12 would be that they would offer us high quality live teaching with teachers who are certified they also would offer us a full service live class delivery management so this we'd have a school classroom setup and implementation provided by Elevate we would have day-to-day management of online teaching classes we would have quality control provided by Elevate of all of these live classes we would have training and management
155of the par professionals and in some cases we might not use par Professionals in some cases we may have to use some existing staff during their planning period it depends on how we or organize this at each School depending on each school's needs um we would also have support for grading and pacing and school meetings the lessons would be State align lessons that are written by curriculum experts and we would have Live customer service 24 hours a day seven days a week and support for our par professionals or those that are covering the classes during their planning Elevate would provide um several staff to assist us with this they will provide us with a highquality live teacher they will provide us with a K12 operations manager that is dedicated to each school for continuous onboarding
156implementation and support and a dedicated academic coach who guides and quality audits the live teacher for the school they will also provide us with equipment to facilitate this instruction they will provide us with high-end speakers powerful classroom microphone and a high-end camera that gives a full classroom view so that the live teacher when they're teaching they can see the entire class Johnston County Public Schools would be responsible for providing a classro manage manager which is the par professional or in some cases a teacher that's covering during their planning period and we will provide a point of contact at each school and then we will have a district level manager or monitor that will be provided through CIA the equipment that we are responsible for providing is the classroom space a screen or a projector uh
157adequate internet access and we have checked with our technology department on this and looked at all of those requirements and made sure that everything met and then each student would be provided with a laptop or a Chromebook is acceptable and we have those and then we will provide class rosters and aail schedule this is the breakdown of The Proposal um as you see we have broken it down into premiums periods and standard periods for high school and middle school and then for EC the prices up there for each of those periods um just to let you know if we don't use all of those periods we will not be charged for those we're only charged for the ones that we use we've asked for pricing to implement this at 22 schools and Elevate has waved
158the implementation and setup fee uh in addition to that they've given us an additional $50,000 for trying their program if we agree to go that route for a total of 2,688 40 and this would be paid out of Esser funds thank you any questions and I do have Nora Nao here tonight from Elevate K12 if you have any specific questions that she might be able to help you with as well th this is an action item first I'll entertain a motion so moved oh motion by Miss Anton do I have a second second second by Mr tippet now any questions I I think I want to thank you for lining something up so our kids have some instruction instead of just having study hall string periods that they need to be instructed on we know
159that this isn't sustainable you can look at those numbers and see it's not we talked about it again at the work session we we are investigating I think as a board and asking superintendent to take it under his wing to figure out what's happening and why we're not retaining as many as instructors as we'd like to I think some of us brought up discipline and some other things so hopefully in the in in the New Year we can kind of dive in and I also want to thank you as well as bringing on a recruiter a new recruiter because we had our last one apparently resigned her position so now hopefully she can help us with this too uh I know I know you probably can't answer this question but um I I know this
160is geared toward middle and high and I think we all agree that this is not th this is a fix for right now this is to try to help the situation right now I'm not thinking so much about high school but would there be a middle school student who this is the entire instruction they would get for a class period no I mean St all day right for that student I know this is you can't answer that question for me right now but my concern would be I can see if it's a social studies class and we're missing a social studies clure but my fear would be that it would be all the way through or especially in the those core classes uh I don't know whether Mr bird can you don't think that would
161happen Okay I I don't know we don't know where all our vacancies are but I just you I I hope I'm making sense so our vacancies are all over the place and this is actually a collaborative project between human resources CIA and the area superintendent so what will will have to happen is the area superintendence will identify the best places to use this resource and what we hope to do is to use it in more of the non-tested courses the non- Intercourse test areas um um yeah are are just while we're here um your special education offering I don't know that we're going to use that uh obviously your specialed teachers are certified um okay our teachers are certified special ucation te or certified grade level that they'll be teaching um and then we will
162obtain North Carolina state certification as well um if they don't already have that right or they will they be required the paper workor that has to be done so uh for so we provide the data and then so that so someone else would have to do the I and I meetings yes so what will happen is we'll meet with the County team to kind of vet further especially with special education and see which area specifically because we won't be the best fit for special education in some cases absolutely right so we'll just have to collaborate on that is is uh is this program in any local counties to Johnston uh Wayne County actually we actually visited Wayne County and looked at this program that is being implemented in a middle school and a high school
163we went to Eastern Wayne middle school and Easter Wayne High School okay if we do this when is is this going to be implemented to begin the second semester or what are we looking at this is for the spring semester I mean spring the second semester so it's it's going to be ready when we get back from Christmas or January whenever this next semester starts if you approve it tonight we're going to start on it tomorrow okay and and parents would be notified that instruction's going to take place this way somehow I'm sure okay yeah I want to make sure that we're clear on how we're paying for this we're paying for this with Esra funds right that is correct so next year we don't get this opportunity I we've this is it this is
164right now this is for spring semester only yeah all these teacher vacancies that we have have to be filled because next year we don't have this opportunity I'm not a fan of this remote learning I'm not a fan of kids sitting on Chromebooks how how long are they gonna sit on Chromebooks a day if they do this well each period they'll be on a Chromebook the entire time so the whole class is it going to be monitored do we know what the kids are going to be doing on the Chromebooks because I can tell you what they're doing in class right now that's what the pa professional is there for it's to Monitor and they are trained on that monitoring process so they do get training and in some cases it will be certified teachers
165they might be not be certified in that area like it might be a a Spanish class and you might have a science teacher covering we would and I know we're also going to ask our teachers that are currently in our schools to do more already than what they're on top of would would you hire would a sub do this well we could hire a sub to do this we could that is an option so but we're going to have to look at you know how many sections we've got and how is the scheduling because you don't want if it's only one period at one school then you don't want to hire somebody full time for that yeah but at the same time I realize that our kids don't have the teachers in the classrooms which
166is a problem as well but this is not a solution permanent this is just it's just this year I think great solution I mean the the solution is face tof face teaching that's always best practice but this is the best alternative we have right now I think I think we have in some classrooms where we've got sections that are being combined so we've got two sections of social study students it's just too large of a group especially in these middle schools and instruction is compromised for everybody so at least it's answering part of the question yes do we have a plan for this year right now on how we're recruiting teachers I know we just hired a new one for recruitment do we have a plan we got some things in progress give me a
167little bit of time any of those any other questions and I hatte I would hate to have to leave it at that because in close session you came in and you very passionate about your ideas and your pathway to getting a staff so I don't want you to just get short Changed by saying we got a plan you do sincerely have a plan and hopefully in the next six months to a couple of years we can kind of get this knocked out time is definitely of the essence well our here the plan starts now I mean it's actually already started um we've got a plan but I had to have the person approved to implement that plan so there are some things that um you know starting tomorrow we're hitting the ground running with some
168of the the plans and and we're not only planning on how to recruit certified stuff staff but classified staff as well because we've got to work on both areas I just want to play the role of Step brck since he's not here there there will be vacancies next year we hope the recruitment process picks up but he if he were here he would say you can't afford this program next year decide what you're going to give up to keep this money for this particular program for example this cost $2 million what are you willing to subtract from your budget next year to afford this program so that's something we just got to keep in mind but the goal is to fill all these vacancies and as many as possible we all know that and we're
169hoping that you will what we're going to require miss edmon that you come back here and present your recruitment plan to the board and Open Session as well we appreciate that any other questions about this particular item here none I'll call for the vote all those in favor of elevate K12 virtual platform for live teaching please indicate by saying I I I any opposed you vote no 61 yeah yeah 61 that's fine that's fine I thought it was Dr bracie that said thank you Miss Evans we're gonna take a five minute break then we come back and address the last issue thank you appreciate it e e e welcome back um we have one last item to address which is board member requests board members um I emailed you um several requests that have been
170made by board members in regards to grievances or complaints about other board members and because we do not have a policy that addresses this I am bringing this to the board to make this decision about whether or not to pursue um these actions um so you have a folder and you have them numbered one so number one um I've just have you read over that um I hope you've already read it but and just in case you haven't the one is a email and with some attachments so make sure you have the attachments we're going to go through this is number one we take each one separate I guess the question is do we want to pursue this Madam chair I would make a motion to take items one through four have them reviewed for
171by our attorney for potential policy violations and then move this for a discussion once a complete investigation has been done I'd make that motion there's a there there's a motion do I have a I'll entertain your motion do I have a second second any discussion I'm willing to go through with these if you are with the the motion the motion is on the table to table these items and have our attorney look at them and then come back is that what you're saying Mr Johnson do a little bit more complete and throw investigation Beyond emails there's been alleged policy violations and impropriety before we jumping the gun I think I think that's what these are asking for and that's what I'm coming to the board to ask for because I'm not going to expend local
172dollars without coming to the board in a situation where we have board member asking for something on another board member so that's that's why I understand what you're saying I do have a motion in a second any other discussion hearing none I'll call for the vote this would be to suspend this discussion of one through four correct and have our attorneys look at that and then come back I I don't know if you're asking for the attorneys to investigate them yeah you're bringing these items to the board so my motion would be just have the attorneys to look into them further ask clarifying questions delve a little bit deeper into the alleged policy violations and then come back with a more full report instead of discussing it on the Fly that I just do not
173think that's going to end well and the ambition to go and discuss it now may be motivated by a motion and I don't want to negate all the good work we just did by having a back and forth here I agree with you completely but I I think misunderstand I I think what I I think you can make the motion for each one is to go through because I don't I don't think need to be done all four but but it again look at the first one and say hey like she's doing now is there any discussion on that whether it needs to be to move to the attorney I think that's the issue because it's a board member and board member if if if it was something else and maybe we need a a
174maybe we need to look at policy commit needs to look at a policy for doing this we need a policy meeting for a policy yeah for a policy yeah well so I mean but but I understand what you're saying I think you can I look at each one individual and S make a motion if we don't think it needs to go to the attorney they make a motion and go to the attorney well reading the first one I mean not let me get can we get can we vote on this okay I do have a motion in a second and we've had any other discussion about the motion that he made all right none okay I will entertain the vote to table one through four and send it to our attorneys have them look at
175it and come back to our board did I summarize that well okay uh all those in favor of that please indicate by saying I I any opposed no okay now um let's look at number one okay um and again these are being brought to you for the board to vote whether to send these to the attorney to look at these situations I would assume that this would be read publicly is it has to be done in public I know are we going to knowing what agre no we can I'm just saying I'm just if everybody's looked at it and they want to discuss it we'll discuss it I mean should we read the email out loud we can I don't think I'm not hold on one second hold on one second please I I would
176make a motion on Grievous one that we do not refer it to anything this is just uh you know I might be on this is something that was on Facebook and it was a I think a response from a board member just made a response to something another person said I I just think it's uh something that is you know we don't even need to discuss it it does not even need to be looked into it's not a grievance situation it's just a he said she said maybe everybody on Facebook should use a little more discretion a little more maturity and we wouldn't even be here with that one so I would make a motion that uh we do do not refer that for any kind of well I would at least say that we
177should okay I have a motion I have a motion let me have a do I have a second do I have a second for the motion that Mr Carrol just made I do not have a second so that that motion dies his motion right that's the motion I need a second before we could discuss it okay I do not have a second so that motion would die Madam chair I'll entertain a motion to have the first email grievance put forth be looked at by an attorney to determine if there's any policy violations made and then report back further okay I have a motion do I have a second the first has a one on the side of it the one about me I'm sorry no it's actually the one that should not even be read
178in public that's why we should not even be discussing the T donst I have a motion do I have a second the motion would be yes sir to send it yes sir the motion would be to have the first email presented to us with a one in the right column identified as a grievance to be looked at further by our attorney for potential policy violations based on the allegations and I guess supporting documentation in the next two pages to determine if there's any policy violations or anything that the board should be made aware of I think that would be okay so that's the motion has been seconded any discussion my question is apparently I'm not going to get a motion in can we just go through through and say what it's about that way the
179Public's aware because everybody's sitting here going what the hell is this about it's not about public humiliation um the submission of it no I don't mind I don't mind admitting that I said I do mind I do mind Mr Donovan I do mind having other board members talk about me sexually online I do mind I mind very much so yes it's a problem for me if this triggers you we can go through a picture book I've got Madam point of M whoa whoa how about we talk about you being sexual with other people you're a married man too we have a motion and a second now we're not going to do this here you have my promise we're not going to do this if you're out of order I'm gonna have I'm gonna have a
180vote to have you remove we have a motion and we have a second do we have any other discussion is the motion to send it to the attorney yes it is what I was trying to I don't know how I'm going to word it Miss anine you made this request do you want this request to continue I yes I would like it looked at I would like it looked at it doesn't mean that it has to be broadcast to the public frankly an apology is enough and and and and and and and and moving forward not to talk about each other in such an uncivil way crude way so so if we're going to do that then we'll bring up a policy for all board members and everything that's been said on on Facebook of
181all things I can't believe we're going here speaking of bullying and kids this is ridiculous I've already admitted that I said it I didn't agree with or disagree I just said it was funny okay so the motion we have before us is whether or not that the motion is to send this to the attorneys to be further investigated for violation of board policy that's right yes I I'm just going to add we've already spent enough money on legal issues we don't need to continue with this you are quite happy to spend all kinds of money pursuing me over stuff that was not true when I have evidence of you breaking policy you wanted to be held to a standard that was higher just a few short months ago when you aren't even complying with the
182board policy of board members to have civil discourse with the public about the board issues okay we're on this one right now all right so just to be clear Madam chairman um he as I've read the the the grievance Mr Donovan did not make the sexual allegation his comment was just in reference to he just said it's funny now he did not make the allegation that you you were referring to and I understand you're um not liking it I wouldn't like it either but Ju Just Just to be clear uh you know he he was just a a comment on somebody's post and I'm I'm not I just don't know that a comment on a post Rises to a policy violation sir he engaged with the public in a way about me having a sexual
183relationship with another Bo member untrue he engaged and said quote funnyest I've read all dayc you're grievance should be with the wor person that posted the allegation of no sir sir the public has every single right to go and say what they want about me and they do it publicly and I don't mind they have every right to do that it's called the First Amendment he is held to a different standard he is held to the code of ethics of this board and the code of ethics says that he should be discussing civil and engaging civil with the public that's not civil discussion talk about talk in the manner that they were talking and laughing together yeah the the biggest the the miss an the the the issue that I have Miss Anton you said
184some pretty bad things about me on social media can can you tell me go ahead tell me what they are yeah no I'm not not that's my question are we are we setting a precedent that question it's not a precedent here's the thing I've never spoken about any of my fellow board members in the way that he's speaking about crude rude to talking about I will talk about policy all day long you're absolutely right I will talk about our decisions in this board I will talk about policy I will express my concerns but I will not talk in the way that you spoke and the way you engage the public will you talk about our children going to public schools and public schools turning into trans will you talk about the autistic children first of
185all that's a private account second was before I was elected to the board I was not elected to the board you were a board member an active board member sir you were talking about not only me but another member of this board being sexual I called a question Madam chairman please I agree folks we're not going to go here the reason that these things have been brought to you was because they were requests that were made for investigations of one board member on another board member we do not have a policy that addresses that so I brought this to the board to make the decision of whether or not we send this to our legal council to do the investigation instead of me saying go do it I'm bringing it to the board I would
186hope that we could have a civil conversation about this yes ma'am now you know this is crazy and and I I think that I think the chair has the the authority to make that decision on her own but I think it's also something the board should decide rather than absolutely aair I mean that's feel strongly that's my personal feeling otherwise I wouldn't be put through this and I know this this may not be the best thing but but like I said it's Madam chairman prev previous chairs may have you done it on their own okay I'm going to call for a vote ma'am please ma'am um just one last thing in this email Miss Antoine specifically mentions sexual harassment and we can't arbitrarily and discriminatory choose what incidents we do investigate or do not investigate
187and so I just wanted to be heard on that if she's making that claim and we I would think we would have an obligation as a board to at least look into that claim before we brush it aside but I'll be done with that the claim that I said it peret perpetuated it sir I think that I think I'm not going to speak for her I'm just saying my interpretation of what I'm reading is that you perpetuated it based on your commentary that's that's what I'm interpreting saying something something's funny doesn't mean that it's perpetuated all right we have the question called let's vote all those in favor of sending this item number one to the um board attorney or to and their agency to investigate this situation please indicate by saying I I all
188opposed no no all right number two number two is an email uh in regards to uh Michelle Anton sent in regards to uh a visit by two board members to some schools and a comment that was made at the schools um in regards to the board um and an email that was a response to an email that was sent by Ronald Johnson right but it had to do with um uh a comment that was made by uh two or one or two board members um about the rest of the board well that well I mean that's I I'm I can speak to that because uh that's one of the as Antoine request an investigation into me um and and uh is I'm reading it here no I mean you're an allegation it was an allegation
189it wasn't an investigation into you personally it was it was not and the reason it's here is because it says I am asking Miss Coro to open an investigation to this allegation involving Terry tippet that's me and Kevin Donovan and Kevin Donovan I'm I'm my bad my bad I'm glad you think it's so hilarious and funny ridiculous mad chairman these stem back in June you're out of order and that's your only warning you're out of order and and I will uh I will say that the Mr Donovan visit every school in the county I made um comments to every school in the county I welcome teachers back I thank teachers for coming I made comments that we're all on the same team and and um and I made the comment that uh if you're not
190willing if you're not working make Johnston County Schools the best in the state you shouldn't be here um I also made the statement that the majority of the board is working to make Johnston County Schools to best in the State uh there was one school um that took offense to that and contacted Mr Johnson Mr Johnson questioned it and then miss Antoine asked did that be investigated for ethics violation that's that was the context of that obviously there's no investigation needed because I said it and and I mean I mean there's the investigation I mean I'm not sure what there is to investigate but if the board wants to do consequences do consequences I respect the board but so why we're I think we would need a motion to discuss or or something I need
191a motion first I need a motion of some sort whether to pursue this or not to pursue it I again make a motion that we do not pursue number two okay do I have a second you can't discuss it till you have a second the motion dies any other motion so we just let that one go we don't have a motion on the floor about that if you read on in the email it just simply said to we don't have the right to investigate on our own I was getting there was a an email sent as a report that these things had been said to me and I said investigate it just's look at it and see if it happened that's all that's all the cross said then I'm not calling up for open investigations
192on Terry tippet that is not the case so with with that being said I did you know for context I did put out an email expressing my lack of appreciation for those comments cuz I felt like they were directed at me predicated on previous events now if Miss Antoine's proposal is correct that this is a policy violation and Mr tippet you're saying that hey yeah I did it it is a policy violation shrug what are you going to do no I didn't I didn't say it was policy violation okay I get it I said I I said I admit to make I I take responsibility for making the statement and let me well let me let me unpack and correct that if you're saying I take responsibility for making that statement then that is indicating
193that there there are people on the board that you don't you think want to hurt Johnson County Schools or doesn't have the best interest and you're telling that in an official capacity to a group of employees who have to be there I mean I didn't certainly ask to do this in public but I was sending an email expressing my lack of appreciation for that so if you're you're saying you said that and Miss Antoine is saying that that could rise to a policy violation if it in fact does ra raise itself to a policy violation then you're saying okay if it does then I did it I committed it basically that's it what are you going to do I mean not in those words but that would be the way it comes across to the
194individuals who well let sorry let's just put it in context okay Miss Edmonson stood up here and talked about the live teaching okay six of y'all voted yes I voted no the majority of the boards supported the public school system right there there's nothing in here saying that there's anybody doing any wrongdoings so it's just the majority of the board supports the school system but okay so when you say that on your own accord to the news media to a group that is not forced to be there based on like some pre-arranged meeting by their school so if I'm a if a principal calls a faculty meeting and people have to be there and then you show up as a board member and you say things like that do can we agree that would be
195problematic I mean in our official capacity when employees are forced to be in a certain place not you it's not appropriate to go in there and kind of spew our political thoughts our educational thoughts on how we vote so in all honesty I don't I don't really foresee this being looked into I mean Mr tippet you said I said it Miss Antoine claims there's a policy violation I mean I hope you would agree that if teachers are forced I quot I quoted the policy which was that any person speaking in their official capacity which you two were at the schools and teachers were required to sit there and listen they shall conduct their assignment from the standpoint of the best interest of the board the school system and the community and not as a representative
196as his or her own feelings that clearly is your own feeling that the that this board doesn't support the schools I certainly do I think Mr Johnson does in fact I think we all do um that was my only take on it and I said I don't we can't do investigations as a board which is the only alternative is to look he was make Mr Mr Johnson was making the complaint I said we can't investigate this have the attorney look at it that's all it was yeah and I okay I never said it I'm telling you as I was there that's how I perceived it okay not any any wrong do I have a motion about this particular thing or do we need to move forward with this particular one Mr Carol's I will again
197make a motion that we dispose of every one of these things and just just we do not no they know all we're going to do is repeat this process on every one of them it is shameful it's disgraceful it's childish now you know these are things that one board member could go to another board member and get it straightened out without this you know I'm embarrassed I'm ashamed my motion I'm going to second that motion and here's why thank you I'm sick and tired of us bringing our garbage in this boardroom and not focusing on kids now I sit here and I've taken it as much as I can take it and I'm sick of it we need to act like adults and focus on what we need to do in Johnson County Public Schools
198or I'm leaving I don't want to be a part of it I have a motion in a second wait a minute Lan we can settle this outside of this boardroom Kevin Michelle Ron Terry take care of it outside of the boardroom here's the thing I don't know how I engage with somebody who's talking about me sexually online I don't know and I'm serving on a board with them so I understand your frustration believe me I'm equally as frustrated and it's the only reason why I forwarded it along because frankly I don't want to be involved in it but I don't like getting these messages sent to me in screenshots I don't like having to engage it I don't like my name tagged to these things about my ass being in the air it's disgusting and
199I just not I you know it's easy for people not targeted by other board members to sit here and say that but when you're a Target it's a different story and I wish it would end and I would just accept an apology and move on I didn't want to bring it to the public I asked Lynn if we could do it outside the public if we could just vote on them outside the public view because I really don't want it out there you understand why we could and I'm not I'm not downplaying that I'm just saying that we got to focus on what we're here to focus on I have a motion and a second to uh I think the motion is for the rest of them for two three and four to forego uh
200any further discussion on these things and let this be uh let this be done now I'm not going to agree on the fourth one because I have a comment on that 2 three and four IG right discuss right and my discussion is I don't want I would prefer the fourth one not to be included because there is inaccurate information in there and when a board member uh calls W and use an observer and ask and tell and calls for my resignation then I have an issue with that and I want all factual information shared and since we're still in discussion I would again caution the board I agree with the sentiments of Mr Wooten I've agreed with them for 17 months now all right for for the last year and a half I've totally agreed
201with your Notions however I do want to caution the board Miss Antoine has raised some concerns of sexual harassment it is not our place to say that is not sexual harassment it is sexual harassment it would be more in line with what an attorney would do so I would caution the board by just brushing this to the side without doing its due diligence so that would be my caution to the board and my concern but again I I I lend credibility to what you say Mike it it needed to be over 16 months ago any other discussion so we have a motion about tabling two three and four or just not discussing them um I'll call for a vote all those in favor of doing that would you please indicate by saying I opposed so
202three four uh let's do a show of hands all those in favor of tabling Two Three or not table them but just not dealing not not discussing them individually um repeat your motion not referring them to the attorney and being done with it that you second okay all those in favor of that please indicate by raising your hand all those opposed okay three four that was right all right number two um I will entertain a motion on number two a motion to either have it addressed or not have it addressed I'd just like to share that that was from August the first one was from I think it was brought it was brought in June and then the email was sent in July and this is in August these are long like long ago I
203thought they had died I agree so it was surprised to me when I got the message from the chair that we were going to take them up at all and again my email response was to an email sent by Mr Johnson which um was making these claims and I said we can't investigate these claims as a board they need to go somewhere else that's it Madam chairman make a motion to uh for item two not to be sent to the um School Board lawyer for a review I have have a motion I have a second second by Mr Carol any more discussion all those in favor please indicate by saying I I all opposed no 52 number three uh this is one dealing with um that was supposed to go to close session I thought
204um does that need to go close session session number four I'll just bring that back we'll just bring that back to close session number four um deals with uh an email to uh Miss cornado and myself dealing with social media um it's really a a situation of making a statement in support of violence um in regards to Mr tippet and um this is uh what occurred at our um special board meeting in September um you have the information before you um I'll entertain a motion as to what to do in regards to this Madam chair I'm going make a motion that this does not go to the school board lawyer but we have discussion on it I have a motion do I have a second second any discussion yeah the the only the the discussion
205that I have other the comment is that I have uh was it appropriate for me to stand up at where I was sitting and address Mr Johnson no was it appropriate for Mr Johnson to to say the things that he did that I heard him say no did I engage in the violent rhetoric that Miss Antoine accuses me of I repeated the exact words that Mr Johnston said so I'm not sure I guess if I guess we both did if is if Miss Antoine thinks is violent rhetoric I guess I mean I can't if if if my repeating the words that Mr Johnson said to me is violent rhetoric uh and Miss Antoine uh in in her uh discussion with the public uh only gave half only gave part of the information she didn't share
206comments that Mr Johnson made afterwards to continue to uh request to engage in a fist fight with me as Miss John as Miss Antoine said no don't put words in my mouth I didn't I didn't hear that I don't know what you're talking that's that's your exact words Mr Johnson after the meeting in front of multiple Witnesses Mr Johnson said I'm and I quote I'm leaving but I'm only going to block Miss Antoine said what is that Miss um Andrew said what does that even mean is that a guy thing to which Miss Antoine said it means they're going to have a fist fight so now if I'm going to be accused of things and and I I made a statement I should I should I have stood up no that that was I will
207admit that but but I'm not going to sit here and have Miss an want and share information on social media unless we talk the unless we talk about the whole ordeal during the meeting and after the meeting now if Mr Johnson or I had a thought we either one were threatening each other and obviously we wouldn't come to the next meeting I didn't take Mr Johnson's comments you know as a serious threat I don't think he took my comments as a serious threat otherwise we don't show up at the next meeting with and conduct business it was a I mean it was a misunderstanding but but again I'm not going to sit here and have and be and be accused of things and and not have the entire story be made public so to respond
208to that without going down too far that of that road typically when things get tense in this boardroom and they have gotten very tense for me with people charging me yelling things at me not I'm not saying you charge me I'm saying in the past people have charged at me people have yelled things at me people have came at me I'm always very loud about my next move and I'm not going to call out any law enforcement officials but many times when things gets tense I will say I'm going to the bathroom I'm going to my car I'm going I announce it all right now I don't know what Miss Antoine's interpretation of that was or that discussion that you had or you said she had what I'm going to tell you yeah we never
209really we have not discussed this or hashed this out but I didn't it did bother me that you stood up I mean words are words and to give insight into my thought process I felt like we were deviating from General statute 153 a-40 which is part of the special session which I've I've emailed miss Lynn Andrews about that a couple times I've emailed her that was my concern and things just perpetuated it's too tense that's why we don't need to be doing what we're doing right now it's to tense and no matter what words come out of anybody's mouth nobody has the right to stand up and say you know to roll their fictional sleeves or whatever it was I mean nobody has the right to that words don't make you do things like that
210so I don't want to go too far down that road because I'm passed it but not should have happened no absolutely not but what Miss Antoine is saying makes perfect sense no matter the reasoning behind it if we're going to hold people to a certain standard we just passed a policy two months ago that was saying something to the effect that we will conduct ourselves in the way our employees conduct ourselves so my question would be if this was a faculty meeting and that happened would there be no investigation would there be no consequences would there be no inquiry into this and I believe the answer is no you couldn't do that same thing going backwards into these other allegations we we adopted a policy in a 5 to2 vote that said we will model
211our Behavior the same way our employees are expected to if if Miss Antoine was an employee or she was held to the same standards and Mr Donovan was held to those standards that you guys passed then you would open an inquiry you would open an investigation we can't put ourselves in a position to arbitrarily and discriminatorily apply policies to people that we pick and choose so that's what I'm saying look dude I'm past it and and I understand what you're saying and you've uh you made reference to my standing up and my my my concern with that is is my was my standing up equivalent to your laughing pointing winking behaviors that you do when people are speaking this soid that did happen it's very different because 14-33 subsection a says that you can't engage
212in any physical activity that would invite a physical confrontation or invoke Violence by standing up and moot with your hands to come forward that by North Carolina General statute is inviting a physical confrontation which is in conflict with North Carolina law it is very different than smiling at someone or putting on a happy face if someone wants to tear you down that is two totally different things you can't you very well can't stand up motion for somebody to come I did motion for you to come okay we we can go back and look at but it was it was instigated okay let's discussion about I'm Mr tippet asked Mr Johnson are you interrupting me Mr Johnson's response was what are you going to do about it breaking the law what are you going to do
213about it he was breaking the law in my opinion listen what are you going to do about it then after the confrontation at the end of the meeting you stood up right there and looked right at him and you said I'm fixing to get in my car I'm going east a half a mile anyone want to meet me so if there's going to be an investigation investigate the whole thing but you know you're talking about you know what I heard from you was equivalent to what Mr you accusing Mr tippet of you invited you invited him half a mile down the road whether you like it or not no one directed that commentary at him okay all right I have a motion I have a motion and any other discussion that the motion is that
214we do not pursue this with our attorneys I'm a little bit surprised that he's defending standing up in the middle of a professional meeting a board of education that oversees 37,000 students and threatening a physical fight with somebody and the only thing that should be coming from Mr tippet frankley is an apology and let's move forward and I would be happy with that okay a motion in a second any other discussion hearing none I will call for the vote all those in favor of not pursuing this with an investigation with our attorneys please indicate by saying I I all opposed no um no I don't think so we don't need to oh yeah uh I'll entertain you want to go okay I'll entertain a motion to go into Clos session I need a motion Some
215Mo I need a motion oh I don't do I you're restating the motion going I just need a motion to go into a close session do I have one for personel just for personnel reasons Madam I make a motion that we move in closed session uh to consider matters relating to school person in order to preserve their turning clown privilege I have a motion or have a second second second all those in favor indicate by saying I I all opposed all right we're going to close session [Music] for [Music] he [Music] some students in Johnston County got a little bit of dirty today while fundraising Clayton Middle School hosted the fundraiser event the color games this I'm with so fun their goal is to raise money to get collaboration Labs on all grade level hallways
216the event included a pep rally games and other creative activities if you couldn't tell it also included lots and lots of color principal Sandra Morris also got in on the fun she was wrapped in toilet paper and covered in color powder I've done a a color run before yeah I it's not really a run you just like well you run from Station to Station just to get color all over you like this but it's really fun [Music] when I got to cor holder High School uh I was there as a custodian and um I just would ran into so many positive male figures in that building because growing up I had none and so to run into the principal at that time the sister principal and some teachers in there I had some positive figures
217that I can pattern my life after and they were doing some great things uh not only in the school but in the community and I like man this is something I want to do and those men started pointing to me and I started telling them this is what I want to do and they push me even the [Music] more if you know who I am you know I have a bit smile I have a bit voice and everywhere I go I want to make sure that I put my hand out and just appreciate every staff member I run across every day I say I thank you I appreciate you whatever you need I need need me to do I'm there to support you and and I'm motivating my staff members every day I'm going by
218the classroom what do you need is there anything I can do for you today that is my way of supporting them and inspiring them to be the best they can be but there was a guy in that building named John willing doc will he was the band director at Smithy middle school and uh he's the one that introduced me to music on a corporate level in a group setting and so I was in the band over there and he's the one that introduced told me to keep it up when I got to the high [Music] school my creativity comes through music uh and I think that's really has really pushed me and helped me out through all my studies because of that creativity [Music] I'm not done yet uh I got bigger fish to fry
219I'm enjoying what I'm doing now uh it has been very rewarding for me Johnson County has opened so many doors for me and I'm I'm just continuing my process and my progress to be the best me I can be and that's what I'm here to do I'm here to change the bloodline of my community [Music] May today be the beginning for a a future generation current and future generation of students at Trip s for this to be a place of learning of enjoyment and fellowship that will enhance your lives for the years to come just as this facility behind me has enhanced my [Music] life this is indeed a day for celebration a day that marks a significant step forward for our school and our community it's a moment of great pride and I'm honored
220to stand before you to mark this milestone the construction of this auxiliary gym has been a long cherished dream for our school our current jym is great but what an addition its construction is a testament to our District's commitment to providing the best possible facilities for our students and our [Music] athletes first of all this wouldn't have happened without the great partnership that the Johnson County Commissioners have with the uh Johnson County public school system and that's right we're Partners in this as we move forward always been Partners we're not done yet and uh we're going to move forward and continue build schools until every single child is out of a mobile [Music] classroom I I want to thank thank everybody for making this day possible and folks this is a special special place it's
221a beautiful school with wonderful students and children and and you can feel the history I can feel the history when I walk down these halls and anybody that's surround me for a little while knows I like to talk about academics and the importance of academic success but I'm smart enough to know that well-rounded children perform well academically and absolutely Athletics helps to make a well-rounded [Music] student with this gymnasium we have laid a strong foundation for the future I can't wait to see all the amazing achievements that will take Place Within These Walls now positively Carolina so typically a dropin visit by your boss is not really something that you want to see happen but for kids in one Johnston County school they loved every second of it students at Riverwood Elementary got a surprise
222visit from the superintendent of Johnston County Schools and several other school leaders the school district says these visits have become the norm as they work to encourage and support students to try and meet the district's goals which is to have all schools obtaining a School letter grade of an a b or c by the end of the 2023 2024 school year the district has only eight schools left to meet that goal and I feel bad saying this but at their age I would have had no idea who the superintend was you know what that's probably true I don't think I knew the principal of the school until third grade when I got sent for the first time also a good reason why you cannot be acting up in class cuz you never know you going
223to just drop by you just never know [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Joko works is such an awesome event for our eighth graders as a former High School CTE teacher and now Middle School principal to be able to expose our eighth grader to an event like this and to possible careers um that they may be interested in in the future before they're looking at what classes they want to take in high school it's so [Music] important it's imperative that we work with these students we get them in we train these students and um and and get them that peripher in the future and just the feel of everybody coming together for a wonderful event something that no one else is doing across the state no other community college is doing jonc is on The Cutting Edge of
224doing that 8th grade is a pivotal year for students to begin exploring their careers they are getting ready to enter High School where they will select classes based on what they think they want to be when they grow up and they really don't know so this event is designed to give them experiences to help them think about you know all the opportunities right here in Johnston County what that educational pathway is and what um income potential might [Music] be we want to bring our young people up in this County and showcase what this county has to offer them once they move on with their educational path I absolutely love the event personally I tell everybody that comes to volunteer you're going to love it you're going to be exhausted when you get home and you'll
225want to come back and do it again the next day and we do we we were thrilled to be a part of it every year it really did open my eyes on how many career paths I could choose to like do and that there isn't just like a couple at the back of my head there's I really did I found out that I wanted to be in the medical field by the CTE program Joko works is a career Expo for Johnson County Public School students mostly for eighth graders who are about to enter high school and needing to make some decisions about what courses they take and what CTE career Pathways other electives and core courses they want to take in high school our mission in Career and Technical education is that every Johnson County
226Public School student graduates with a plan for what they want to do after high school and the knowledge skills and aptitudes to make that a reality this event plays a significant role in helping to achieve that mission [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] he [Music] h [Music] oh [Music] he [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] welcome back we're in Open Session uh I will entertain a motion to adjourn motion by Mr Donovan do I have a second second second by Mr tippet all those in favor please indicate by saying I I I thank y'all Merry Christmas if I don't see any of you before