001[Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Laughter] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat up here. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Hey, hey, Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] N. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Hey, heat. Hey, heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat up [Music] here. Heat [Music]
002up [Music] here. Heat up [Music] here. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Hey, hey, hey. [Music] Hello. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Hey, hey, [Music] hey. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Hey, hey, hey. [Music] Okay. Roll. Chairman Smith. Yes. Here. Mrs. Black here. Mr. Connor here. Mr. Dy here. Mr. Grown here. Mrs. Haden here. Mrs. Jones here. Mr. Keane here. Mrs. Schaefer here. Mr. Slater here. Ms. Thomas here. Superintendent Dr. Robertson here. Okay, before we uh uh I entertain a motion to approve the agenda, we got several changes. Uh so first under uh under item 8, board matters, subsection B one, proposed policy revision, second and final read is going to be removed. Does everyone see that? I I'll repeat that again. Under board matters which is uh section 8 B1 proposed policy
003revision second and final read. We're removing that item. Okay. Now go back to under section two. Uh we have several amendments here. Administrative business matters section 7 item D1 approval of fiscal year 26 budget. Uh you have this in front of you. Our finance chair Mr. daughter has requested to amend the memo to include addition of version three budget details addition of 0.5 FTE to act as board secretary. Good so far. Addition of use of 3.5 million out of our fund balance to cover a $2,000 bonus for all of our employees that are not covered by the final state position approval. That's a mouthful. You want me to read that again? Yes, please. Okay. Addition of the use of 3.5 million out of our fund balance that will cover the $2,000 bonus for all employees
004not covered by the final state position approval. Okay. Okay. Go ahead. Go ahead, Mr. King. Thank you. So, for the public's knowledge, uh, the governor has made available $2,000 for studentfacing instructors, teachers. Not all employees are studentf facing. Uh so to keep with the work that we've been doing over the last few years uh to allow a uh equitable raise for all. Uh we've we've got uh 3.5 million that we're putting toward uh this govern governor's money so that all can receive the $2,000. Just it's important to note that we did not make those choices. Gary's absolutely right. The governor's office um when they passed the law and they added in that section for teachers, they knew who they were. And that's part of the reason we've been waiting so long to pass this resolution
005is we were waiting for clarity of who those positions are so we could have a better understanding of the dollar amount needed to do what Gary mentioned to to to make it equitable across the board. So, um I also want to say that this is is all staff. So, it does include clerical. So, um so that is why we waited so long and that is what we're what that number finally reflects was numbers that we were given of who who the money goes to. You you want to speak to this too. Go ahead. I want to speak back to the half position as board secretary. Okay. It's my understanding that that is we're not having the board strategy position that's in the proposed org chart, but that the person who is going to fill that
006role is going to keep their current position and then we're adding the half position back. Is that right? No, ma'am. It is very close. So, we're adding half position to board secretary, which you'll see on the org chart where the normal board secretary is. It'll be a half position that this gets approved. will post and fill. Uh person stepping into that position will do the basically strategic projects like we have set up in operations and like we have set up on the teaching and learning uh side of the building. So it will serve as that same place and it's the same place that the person was in before in terms of the org chart. Uh but it will be in that kind of middle section where superintendent, overseeing finance, chief strategy officer and that whole
007line of it'll be moved down that position be moved down. Yes, it'll be replaced by.5 board uh secretary. Thank you. Okay. Okay. Also, one more uh addition of converting the associate superintendent to chief talent officer. Say that again. Addition of converting the associate superintendent to chief talent officer. Who is that? That's Dr. Brown. Who's that? I I can speak to that. Um to what? Yeah, I I can speak to that, Jackie. So So Dr. Brown, Zack Brown, chief of HR, um had an opportunity deservedly to get a promotion basically. Jackie and he has um really in as a sacrifice and willingness to do for the better good of where we are from a financial perspective uh postponed that or delay it in an effort to do what's better for the good. So um just a
008huge debt of gratitude to him and his willingness to sacrifice for the teachers and the staff in a very touch tough season. But that's essentially what it is. Dr. Brown, I appreciate your servant leadership. Thank you, Dr. program. All right, one more and I think we'll have them all. Under board matters, section 8, item B1, we need to strike the proposed policy revision, second final read. I may have already I may have already given. All right. Thank you. All right. Now, Miss Shirley, uh, just double checking to make sure I hadn't missed anything here. Okay. All right. So, with those changes, I will entertain a motion to approve the agenda. So, moved. Well, never mind. I had a question. I just wanted some clarification on that school board secretary. That's already it's going to be
009combined again with another position. Point of address it when we get to on the agenda. First approving the agenda. point of procedure. We need to go ahead if we're going to discuss further. We need to get the motion in the second and then have discussion. Okay. So moved. Okay. Second. Okay. Now, now we will discuss that further when we get to the budget discussion. Yeah. Everybody got that? Somebody. Y'all got that? Okay. Did y'all hear me? Uhuh. We did. Okay. Roll call. No, hold on. They didn't hear. So do we get the discussion right? So let's let's make sure this is clear. The question that was asked about the position the 0.5 schoolboard position will be discussed when they present this final draft final rough draft whatever it is of the spending plan coming up.
010So we'll get more information about that at that time. Okay. Just wanted to make sure we were in the right process of procedure now. Roll call. Okay. Mrs. Black. Yes, Mr. Connor. Yes, Mr. Dardy. Yes, Mr. Gran. Yes, Mrs. Haden. Yes, Mrs. Jones. Yes, Mr. Keane. Yes, Mrs. Schaefer. Yes, Mr. Slater. Yes, Mrs. Thomas. Yes. Chairman Smith? Yes. Mr. Tilllet, are you here? Yes, sir. principal of of my alma mater, Red Bank High School. Welcome. Welcome. All right. I've gotten a lot of advice on what I do in these next few moments. I don't know who to believe, but I believe we're doing the pledge first. So, if every please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it
011stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. And the second piece of advice was 30 minutes of meditation. So, all right. Well, when I was asked to do this, I was I was, you know, humbled and honored because this week when I was thinking about what to to kind of talk about, it's a special week, right? It's teacher appreciation week. And what better, you know, as I stand here and, you know, talk with you all to to think for a moment about that impactful teacher. Often times when I interview for for staff and teachers and so on, I ask them to to think about that teacher that that made an impact on them and and then what were there what were those qualities that kind of stood out. So
012think for a minute. This is participation time. So I'll calling on you, Mr. Allen, in just a just a second here. So not really. I know you're stressing out right now. So but a lot of times, you know, the the factors the things that the qualities that they brought brought forth that they would talk about were relational, right? There are things that connected with them. It's holding them accountable. It's it's loving them. It's pushing them. it's expecting more of them than what they felt like that maybe or or they believe they you know in themselves that they that they could do. And so I I think it's important as we think about this week, which again, I mean, an honor to to just be here this week, um just all those folks that we have
013in our building that are just intentionally impacting students every day. Um and all their roles and it all it takes is a smile in the hallway, the knuckle bump, the high five, you know, all those different things matter. And it's just an honor to get to serve at Hamilton County and be part of that every day. Appreciate you guys letting me work with kids. So, thank you. [Applause] Thank you. So, we have several exemplers of excellence this evening. So, Dr. Robertson, I believe you're up first. Uh, chairman, we uh did the student leadership council at the 4:30 meeting. Um, so we're moving on to uh the George Kilgore Initiative, which Dr. Bagby uh will present for us. Good evening, Bor. Thank you for having me. It is my great pleasure to be here tonight to
014spotlight Hamilton County School's third annual George Kilgore Initiative Award and recognize the amazing career and technical education student that have both shown a high level of initiative during the past four years while they have completed their career and technical education program of study but will also continue that program of study into their post-secary life. This award is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and commitment of those who strive for excellence in career and technical education. The George Kilgore Initiative Award is named after a great friend and teammate who dedicated his life to promoting career and technical education. Excuse me. A proud Saudi Daisy High School graduate, George Kilgore worked for Hamilton County Schools in career and technical education for 24 years. George has begun his career in education in education as a graphic arts
015teacher at Sequoia High School where he served for 15 years. George then transitioned to the district office working as a teacher on special assignment reporting directly to the CTE director. In 2000 in excuse me in 2021, George was elevated to the title of career and technical education program lead. Throughout his time with Hamilton County Schools, George placed success of Hamilton County CTE teachers and students at the forefront of every decision. He helped teachers ensure they were equipped with every resource they needed to be successful and advocate for every student's high school and career options. George S served as an instrumental role to four CTE directors over his nine years at the district level. each CTE director constantly commending him on his initiative to take action to get the work done. Without further ado, I am
016proud to introduce this year's recipient of the George Kilgore Initiative Award that has plans to continue their CT journey after high school, Peggy Chen. [Music] Peggy Chen is a dental assistant student at Hixon High School along with being a fantastic fourth grade math student when I taught her many years ago. Demonst she demonstrates an unwavering commitment to excellent excellence in academics and professional pursuits. Her passion for dental assistance has been evident in the numerous projects and initiatives she has undertaken during her academic journey. She has shown ex exceptional leadership skills, innovative thinking, and she has uh and strong work ethic, which all are essential qualities for a successful field in dental science. In recognition of her outstanding achievement, Peggy will be awarded a $1,000 assistant scholarship, which she can use to fund necessary equipment and
017supplies to support her post-secary journey. We believe that this award will help each recipient achieve their goals and aspirations in their chosen field. Peggy expressed in her application that she will use the funds for textbooks, lab supplies, and dental instruments that she will need throughout her pre- dentistry coursework at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. I want to congratulate Peggy once again and wish her the very best in her future endeavors. I also want to commend all the applicants of the George Kilgore Initiative Award for their hard work and dedication. They have all shown that the pursuit and excellence in career and technical education is not only worthwhile but essential for a better future. George would be [Applause] proud. Congrats. Congratulations. Congratulations. Thank you. [Applause] Okay. So, uh, Robert Sharp and, uh, I think Brandon,
018are you here? You guys would come forward. Good evening, Chairman Smith, members of the board. I want to recognize one of our uh bus drivers. Um M Mr. Smith, I know you know Mr. Jerry, but um if you don't know Mr. Jerry Green, he has been driving for the district for over 50 years. Done an amazing job for the district. I even rode his school bus when I was a kid going on field trips from CSA. Told you I was going to say it. But Mr. Mr. Jerry Green, awesome driver in transportation and the district appreci appreciates his service. Chairman Smith, ladies and gentlemen of the board, I thank you for the opportunity to be recognized for my services. I've spent 50 years and some years beside that, beside the will of a school bus.
019In that time, I've met many educators, coaches, band directors that are lifelong friends. And I'll never forget the service that I've had the opportunity to meet students that are now grown, have grandchildren that ride my bus, even some great grandchildren. So, it's been an honor and a privilege, and I thank you, Brandon, Dr. Robertson and the board for recognizing my services. And also, I'd like to thank my wife for keeping me at it. She's also a contractor for 25 years, and she's kept me in a saddle, and I thank her for that. Thank you guys. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] If I may, um, a couple things I want to add that that needs to be said. Driven over 1 million miles and has never had an accident of any kind. [Music] Uh the the other thing
020I want I want to say we mentioned a while ago u Zack Brown and his unselfish uh things that he's doing right now for this district. Jerry Green over the years has um all the ministries that I've worked with has taken kids all over the country uh and hadn't charged me and those kids. And so he's another. So Jerry, I love you, brother. Mr. Green, who going to advocate for the contract drivers now? His wife. I said, who's going to be the advocate for the contract drivers now? Cuz that was you. I don't know. But but I want to thank the board for giving the contractors an opportunity to continue on. Yes, sir. And I hope some of the new contractors are able to provide 50 years of services. I did. They better. Thank you.
021Thank you so much. I love your time. Thank you so much. 50 years. That's a long time. Okay. Uh Dr. Freeman, Dr. Rice, if you would come. Uh good evening, Chairman Smith and members of the board. Uh it's my distinct honor tonight to honor uh in teacher appreciation week, our teacher librarian. So speaking on behalf of our uh 80 hardworking librarians here in Hamilton County, uh we have our librarian of the year award. This award uh this year is labeled the read 20 librarian of the year uh sponsored by the side Daisy Community Library as one of our fantastic community partners. Um, this award goes to librarians who exemplify excellence uh in our school libraries, making libraries the center of our school, promoting literacy for our students, supporting their curiosity, meeting the needs uh that
022exist in lots of different places. Uh, this year's recipient is Charles Rbertton. [Applause] stand right here. Charles asked me to say nothing nice about him, but I'm gonna have to do so. Uh Charles is finishing up year 27 at Easter High [Music] School. Uh we had 70 nominations for librarians of the year. 17 of them were for Charles. So he is uh highly regarded among his peers, highly regarded at the school staff. Um, Charles uh exemplifies both our our focus on academic press and in promoting literacy and reading at a school as well as personalization, making uh the library a safe space for every student in Eastidge High School to come uh and get the needs they have uh met. So, Charles, thank you for your service. [Applause] Thank you. Congratulations. Congratulations. Thank you. Congratulations.
023I just want to say that Mr. Rapurn makes the library a home away from home for all the students at East Rich High School. [Applause] Okay, Mr. Wilkkey. Good evening. Before I start, I want to apologize for my in un in un in un in un in un in un in un in un in un in un informal dress. We had a house spirit pep rally today and elementary school in May is a non-stop adventure. So I left my I left my blue wig and my dolphin hat in the car. I figured I would at least do that much for you. Um so good evening uh board members. Uh Dr. Robertson. Um I'm here tonight um for a very special fun reason and that is to recognize this year's um principles of the year honores
024um for Hamilton County. Um it's a true privilege to recognize two colleagues who have demonstrated outstanding um performance leadership and dedication that has truly impacted not only their school communities but all of Hamilton County. So this year we have two to recognize and the first one will be for our elementary division and this year's winner of the principal of the year for elementary is Robin Bambry who was the she is the former uh principal of Hardy Elementary and she is now the current elementary teacher sorry director of teaching and learning and the K12 director for literacy. Good evening. I am Dr. Tiffany Irvin, the Midtown Learning Community Superintendent, and it is my absolute pleasure to just give you a little bit of information about Mrs. Bambbury. Um, it's an honor to stand before you to
025recognize Miss Bambry who embodies the very heart of education. Miss Bambry is not only a leader, but a true champion for every single child, every teacher, and every family in the school community. With a vision rooted in kindness, equity, and excellence, she continues to create school cultures where students feel safe, inspired, and empowered to grow. Mrs. Bambry leads with both courage and compassion. So much compassion. And under Miss Bambry's leadership, Hardy Elementary soared like the Eagles they are, reaching the academic achievement of a level five school. [Applause] This award is more than a title. Is a reflection of the countless lives that Mrs. Bambbury continues to touch every single day. Please join me in celebrating her, our elementary principal of the year, Mrs. Robin Bambbury. [Applause] I came I came prepared this time. Last time
026last time I was a mess. Um I'm deep I'm deeply honored to be recognized as principal of the year. This recognition means so much to me. But the true reward has always been the immense joy I have found in leading a school filled with dedicated staff, incredible students, and supportive families. Although my position has changed, I will always be a principal at heart. Thank you for this heartfelt honor. [Applause] Congratulations, Jackie. Great. [Applause] And it is also my honor to recognize our secondary principal of the year this year is Mr. Chris Tilllet, principal of Redbank High School, [Applause] Chairman Smith, ladies and gentlemen of the board, uh, as you can tell, Mr. Tilllet does not like the attention. Um, he's been recognized a couple of times, and each time just with humility, he talks about
027everybody else. uh his staff, the teachers, everybody that's there that supports him and all the other principles in our district. But I do want to say something real quick about Mr. Tilllet. Um when he came up and did the meditation, I thought it was just perfect because I don't have to say anything because you can tell what he's about in that moment. And when he talks about that personalization and connections with not only his staff, his family, his kids, you walk in Redbank High School and you see it every single day. And not only do you see it, you see it filter out, right? people look to the leaders uh and they look to Mr. Tilllet and then you see others following suit. So uh can't be more proud of Mr. Tilllet. Join me in
028congratulating him again. [Applause] While he's coming through the car wash, I'll say Principal Tilllet, I would I would That's what they call it ESPN when you go meet everybody and have shake all the hands. Uh I would clone Principal Tilllet if if given the chance. He is the model of a principal and is an amazing asset to our community, our district, and Redbank is a better place for him and we appreciate it. Thank you. And I would be remiss if I didn't remind everybody that last year Redbank graduated more children than they have ever in their history. [Applause] Okay, takes us down to our disclaimer. I think we only have one as I recall. I have a family member that work here in my No, it's not. Um, but I declare that I have a
029relative who works for the school system and that the board's vote on budget policies and etc. may have an effect on my relative's employment. Even so, I hereby certify that I will cast my vote in the best interest of the school system. Okay. Uh, ask for an approval of our consent agenda. Move to approve. Second. Any items to be pulled? No hands and no lights. Ro call off. Mrs. Black, yes. Mr. Connor, yes. Mr. Dy, yes. Mr. Gro, yes. Mrs. Haden, yes. Mrs. Jones, yes. Mr. Keane, yes. Mrs. Schaefer, yes. Mr. Slater, yes. Miss Thomas, yes. Chairman Smith, yes. Administrative business matters, Dr. Brown. Chairman, these are uh basically teachers up for eligible one and then teachers eligible for um tenure reinstatement and two. Uh and I think that you could probably vote on them
030both at the same time. Should be separate. Separate. Separate. Okay. So, uh so I entertain a motion for teachers eligible for tenure. So move. Second. No likes. Roll call. Mrs. Black, yes. Mr. Connor, Mr. Dy, yes. Mr. Grum, yes. Mrs. Haden, yes. Mrs. Jones, yes. Mr. Keane, yes. Mrs. Schaefer, yes. Mr. Slater, yes. Miss Thomas, yes. Chairman Smith, yes. Teachers eligible for re reinstating tenure. So move. Second. Roll call. Mrs. Black. Yes. Mr. Connor. Mr. Dhy. Yes. Mr. Groan. Yes. Mrs. Haden. Yes. Mrs. Jones. Yes. Mr. Keane. Yes. Mrs. Schaefer. Yes. Mr. Slater. Yes. Miss. Thomas. Yes. Chairman Smith. Yes. Okay. Takes us to uh uh entertaining a motion to uh name a facility. Uh maybe just so the public will know, just speak to that a little bit. uh you want to s uh
031we we've been moving towards uh future ready centers. We have a really great example of future ready center at Harrison Bay that's uh has a waiting list now and and is doing exceptionally well. We've made an adjustment uh to rename Sequoia the future ready center north river. Uh this is the gateway building that everybody's been calling the gateway building. Um, and this is just uh enshrining and and honoring uh two men, John Franklin, Dalton Roberts, for their uh contributions and uh asking the board to approve uh renaming the Gateway building the Franklin Roberts Future Ready Center. Okay. So, motion to approve. Move to approve. Motion and a second. Okay. Any discussion? I have a lot. I have a question. Does the Franklin family and the Roberts family know that they're that building is being named
032after them? Yes, we there was a reception held for I'm looking over at Mr. McClendon uh at the county before we rolled this out in any capacity. So, we've rolled this out kind of at a couple places, but uh spoke with the families, had a reception for them, so they are informed and I believe honored. So, okay. Just just asking. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Roll call. Mrs. Black, yes. Mr. Connor, yes. Mr. Dy, yes. Mr. Gro, yes. Mrs. Haden, yes. Mrs. Jones, yes. Mr. Keane, yes. Mrs. Schaefer, yes. Mr. Slater, yes. Ms. Thomas, yes. Chairman Smith, yes. Okay. Go ahead. Go ahead. Miss John, this is a question for the leadership. When we do these renamings, how does the other than this, how is the public made aware? The reason why I'm asking that is because
033I got a call the other day. Miss Black and I talked about this where and I remember voting for this for um the Howard Theater to be named after Mr. Roland Carter, but these were some prominent Howard alum that were completely unaware. And so I'm just trying to make sure like how how are they aware? That's why I asked about Mr. Franklin as well. Um yeah, I know Mr. Franklin is really near and dear to my heart, one of my mentors. But um are you talking about when the like when this stuff happens? So whether it's Skiller and Elementary or whatever, how does the public know other than just here? Like do we do some type of media? Like how how are they made known and or that should be up to us and districts
034or I mean tell us how to better do that because I was like we did Mr. Carter a couple years ago and they was like we didn't even know that was happening. And I was like so it it should be on the administration to put out uh statements. We've worked with the county on this. We did a press event up at um future ready center at North River. Mr. Slater spoke out and so we did a couple of press events with this one. I think what I'm hearing from you is we need to do a better job in the future of putting Yeah. uh through multiple medias and that that's on the administration to do. Okay. All right. Takes us down to some uh calendar adjustments. Uh so to approve the 2526 school calendar adjustments.
035Move to approve. I have a motion. Need a second. Second. No lights. No questions. Roll call. Mrs. Black. Yes. Mr. Connor. Yes. Mr. Dardy? Yes. Mr. Grime? Yes. Mrs. Haden? Yes. Mrs. Jones? Yes. Mr. Keane? Yes. Mrs. Schaefer? Yes. Mr. Slater? Yes. Miss Thomas? Yes. Chairman Smith. Yes. Okay. It takes us down to approval of fiscal year 2026 budget for presentation to the Hamilton County Commission. I think there were two calendars. Sorry. You got new calendar. There's two calendars. Oh, thank you. Thank you for that correction. Thank you. So, we do have have to approve the uh 26 27. Thank you for that correction. Then motion to approve. Motion to approve. Okay. Uh, second. Did you get that? Okay. Roll call. Mrs. Black? Yes. Mr. Connor? Yes. Mr. Dardy? Yes. Mr. Grown? Yes. Mrs. Haden?
036Yes. Mrs. Jones? Yes. Mr. Keane? Yes. Mrs. Schaefer? Yes. Mr. Slater? Yes. Mrs. Thomas? Yes. Chairman Smith? Yes. Now I'll entertain a motion to approve fiscal year 2026 budget for presentation to the Hamilton County Commission. Motion to approve. Second. Have a motion and a second. Discussion. Does that include the amendment? Motion to approve with the amendment. Discussion. Yes, ma'am. The amendment is is in your board packet. That's why it's redlined. Discussion. Okay. Uh I have Mr. Connor and then uh Okay, Mr. Connor. So, we've talked a lot about this budget um in a lot of different meetings and a lot of different versions and heard from a lot of uh people, including tonight. Um, and the budget that's in front of us is um is a flat budget, one that um one that doesn't represent
037everything that we truly need for our schools, for our teachers, for our children. Um, at the end of the day, I've said this and I'm repeating myself, but it bears repeating, is it's our job to make sure that our funding body and our community gets uh the proper request to our county commissioners. We we cannot raise our own funds. We are at the behest of our county commission to uh fund us and and to cover what the state funding doesn't and to do what's right for our community. They're they're the leaders of our community as as are we. And as we lead, it's our job to lead and to ask for what's right. So, I am going to make a motion. Before I say the motion, I just want to to explain what I'm making
038a motion about. Okay. So in front of each board member right now is a copy of an an amended copy to represent the current um dollar amount in difference between the valuesbased budget and the flat budget that we have on the agenda. Um, so basically for the community at large, what the values-based budget is is what was presented to us in last Wednesday's open meeting, finance committee meeting slashbudget discussion. I am going to make a motion. Again, I'm not yet there yet. I promise I'll let you know, but I'm going to make a motion to include this with our budget. So we will by making that motion what we will do is we will take a vote on the motion and then if that motion passes when we take a vote on the uh when
039we take a vote on the budget itself this motion will be included with that budget it will be one cent document. Now it does not the motion that I'm going to make does not make this required. It shows the county commission a road map to where we need to be. it is um since we have not had the opportunity really to to discuss back and forth um whether in an open meeting or or or even send a budget that maybe they send back with notes. We we haven't been able to do that. So, we need to make sure that the commission knows what it actually takes to educate the children properly without cuts to needed forward- facing positions to steal a term from uh the chair of the commission where the rubber meets the road.
040we need to make sure that we're not cutting. And so I am proposing this. So again, when I make the motion, what we will be voting on is whether or not to include this in our next vote for the flat budget with this optional allocart menu, if you will, of how we could fully fund our schools. So I move to amend the motion of approving the budget to provide that along with that budget we also submit a separate list this one of additional needs to be funded at the county commission election. Do I have a second? Second. Okay. So if I'm not mistaken, chair, now would we would open discussion on the motion and once discussion on the motion is finished, we can take a vote. I I think we uh point of clarification, I
041think that we discuss the amendment. Yes. First. So that's where we would be right now to discuss Ben's amendment. Say say your amendment again if you would. I move to amend the motion to provide that along with the the flat budget, we also submit a separate list of additional needs to be funded at the commission's election. Okay. Does everybody got that? Mhm. Okay. Got a lot of lots. So, uh, Mr. King. So, for clarity, this is basically saying we're going to send them a balanced budget that they can accept, but that it also has uh possible future needs that they could also address or that possibly uh the city uh commissioners could help with or uh in partnership with all three of us, the school system, the commission and the city council. So please, as
042the chair, do you wish me to answer questions or wait? My turn. Go right ahead. Okay, it's your motion. So this would specifically be for the county commission to choose items on here. Now, making it public absolutely makes the needs list public. And if there was something that they chose not to fund that we felt we needed through this document, then I would welcome someone stepping up. But my hope is that the county commission recognizes the fact that we are now uh over my just my term on the board, we are now in an 11 million hole of maintenance of effort. So my hope is that they recognize that and realize that we need to have the proper supports in line. Did that answer your question, Gary? Yes. Okay. Okay. M Jones. So when you
043say election, that means we can give this to them and they can elect to address it. They could elect to address all of it. They could elect to address one of them or none of them. Correct? Yes, ma'am. This is our needs list. And so my hope would be that the county commission would say we recognize your needs. A whole lot of hope in these be I Yeah, hope and pray. back. Um, I've also said at previous meetings that I feel like it's our responsibility to advocate for what our students and our staff need um, beyond just the goal of presenting a flat budget, but it's our responsibility to advocate for our students and our staff. This list does that. Um, there are different items for the public who don't know. um to reinstate the
044half position uh $2,000 um bonus for all the employees in addition to the employees that were left out of the state's bonus. A step longevity increase at 2% across the board raise the compensation study complete phase one capital maintenance um and two and a half% of employees back at central office staff. that is um a list of things that help out help our school system um function at the at the greatest possible level. For me, I don't feel good about voting for a flat budget that without attaching this as options for our county commission because I believe our staff and our teachers deserve the pay increase that they have earned. Um, they are professionals. We should pay them that way. We should respect them that way. um I do not feel good about sending them
045a budget without the option of increasing their pay so that they within their families can address the same issues that all of us are facing um which is rising cost of everything. So um ultimately that's why I'm supporting the addition of this list. Okay. Thank you Miss Black, Mr. around. Well, there there's some things in this um amendment, if you want to call it that, that I could agree with. But as long as I'm on this school board, I will not vote for a percentage across the board race. I just will not because we we've had this argument before. I've stated my case before that uh those at the top get a much higher raise than those at the bottom. And I want I will always vote for more funding to go to schools and
046personnel who deal and interact with students every day. So, I can't support, you know, two and a half% of employees back to the central office staff. Um, a compensation study phase one for $5 million. You know, we've done this before u recently. So, I just can't go with this. I don't I don't think it's necessary. I think our county commissioners have uh gotten probably just as many emails and phone calls as we have. uh when in my opinion uh the proposed initial cuts to the budget were deliberately meant to cause the greatest havoc in our community when we never really intended to do those things. So, for example, we can't tout school choice and then destroy transportation to the magnet schools at the same time. The the system that we built up to support school
047choice. Now, maybe that is a discussion for another time as we continue to grow our future ready um availabilities throughout the district to those four initially sites and we developed the gateway building which I would really like an update on that because that's a key thing that the board has been supporting this whole time and the county commission along with the mayor. Um, so when everybody anybody brings up a valuesbased judgment adjustments, the first question I have is what values and whose values. So this board has to decide on this document what our values are. I can't support it. And Miss Thomas, I have a question uh on here. The compensation study complete phase one. Has it already begun and you're wanting to in the stop in midpoint or that's five that's $5 million? I'm
048going to ask for a little bit of assistance on that one. Sure. And uh Zach, stop me if I'm doing anything wrong. We have already completed the study. So this is not to complete the study. We have recommendations from the study to to um address things that they found. So the addressing the first phase of that would cost $5 million. Meaning another possible increase for people whose compensation is not where the study said it should be. Okay. Oh, we have a great one pager not by me by the way. Um that actually talks through this. So phase one would crosswalk employees to the new salary schedule, implement new structures for the teacher and general employee schedules. transition roles historically placed on teacher schedule to the general employee schedule um like SLPs, schools psych, school administrators
049and clearly differentiate between roles requiring certification and classified roles. I would certainly want to see the de the details on all of that. Sure, for sure. Uh Jackie, you're your on Yeah, I did have some So, I I just want to be clear. So that compensation study which will give more money then plus a 2% across the board plus a step longevity increase plus a 2001 time for employees all of that is still all of these are mainly raises for employees though right I just want to make sure that actually let me let me do this in all seriousness we are already voting on this 3.5 being in there so everyone go ahead and just mark that one off because that's already in the hole. We have already voted to include that. So in reality,
050this number over here should be uh put math hat on. Two round 23 million eight 228. Yeah. Um with with 3.5 coming off. Yeah. Two 228. So again, the what you just asked uh Miss Thomas is the the third item on here is already in what we're voting on. So that could be taken off. And then the second part and it I'm answering you and I'm answering Larry. Uh the 2% across the board is actually um a contract that we would be honoring through PEKA with the student with the teachers because we entered into a three-year contract to agree to their step raises for three years. This is I'm not mistaken. So Mark, is this the second year she's Oh, she's at the party. I'm sorry. She's celebrating our teachers. Previous board. The previous board.
051It wasn't even the board. Forget Dr. Robertson. Would you like to talk about the agreement? Well, I I think that if I can start back and I these values were things that we put in front of the board as we were getting to the end of um a flat or a balanced budget, right? So, the these were things that you remember, you know, I I said they were things that I thought we should consider. Um, so to be clear there, the the step increase is part of Pekka and and we have a had a meeting earlier and put out a joint statement with HCA and between management and teachers that of course they would want to see a step increase, but they understand um, you know, given the budget year. What we would like to
052get to a point and and I've said this to many of you is we we feel like we're at a place where um we have the right staffing, the right programming. If we get additional funding, what we would want to invest in is the wages of our employees. To Mr. Gro's point, um we've always the percent or the flat. We had this debate last year. We could take that percent, turn it into a flat, and have that discussion, right? It's it's really just saying what the amount of money would be. Um and and like if we're talking about things to take off, if it helps the board get to a place of saying like we're willing to pass a a flat budget and take a list behind it, uh I'd say let's take off the
053the two and a half% back to central office if that helps get to a to a common place. Okay. Mr. Mr. Chairman, may I interrupt? So, Mr. Connor clarified that that the 2001 time for all employees should come off, but because uh Miss Black seconded, Miss Black, are you good with that clarification? Yes. Thank you. Okay, Miss Thomas, your light is so I'm sorry. Yeah, it's all uh I'm I'm struggling with all this just a little bit. I mean, I I I think we're close, but we uh you guys have worked so hard and have done everything I think that pretty much that we asked you to do. It looks like uh thank you for for all of you guys that uh have have worked so hard to make this happen. I I I guess
054where I have a struggle uh Mr. Conor, we're you and I agree on a lot of things. A lot of things we don't, a lot of things we do. We're real close here. I'm I'm just worried about the optics. You on on this document you gave to us, it says uh an alternative budget. We It would seem to me we got to take a budget up there. One budget. Not an alternative. A budget. That's that's a question, Mr. Bennett. Yes, sir. And and all right, so let me let me let me finish my point. Um I've kind of used the analogy of of uh if you keep up with NCAA basketball and you follow brackettology and they'll tell you the 64 teams that are in and then they tell you the the next four that
055are in it. It would seem to me that the best thing to do is to take our budget that we're about ready to vote on that y'all work so hard on that's balanced that some difficult choices have had to be made and and some things have been put back in that we asked to be put back in such as bonus for teachers and and and our uh Washington alternative and transportation and we put a lot of that stuff back in. So, it's been tough back and forth, back and forth. It would just seem to me that we take that budget up there, but at the same time, when you make your presentation like you do every year, that you have the next four in or the next whatever six, seven, whatever these are, uh, rather
056than than tying these two together. I that's where my struggle is, Mr. Chairman. I think that's what Mr. Connor is saying. I want to make it clear like the formatting and the wording of this if you remember I I brought this so you saying it's an alternative budget was a week old. I mean we've got a flat budget in front of you. I think and I don't want to put words so I'll turn it over to Mr. Connor but I think what he's saying is exactly what you're saying but use these bullet points and you can we can put in another document and calling first four in whatever. Sorry I didn't Mr. Coner I didn't mean to speak for you. No, sometimes you get it right. So, let me be really clear. This it needs
057to be sent with the budget is what I'm asking. And and I want to make sure that I'm saying this correctly. This needs to be sent with the budget so that it is options for the county commission that they can they can say I want to put this in. We we like I'm just since we're talking about phrasing, they can say we also value the reinstatement of these half positions at every school. So, we're going to put that on there. But if we don't add this list of needs is, and we talked a little bit about phrasing, I'm big on phrasing. If we don't add this list of needs to it, then there's no option for them. They just say they they we don't because we're passing a budget, it is allowed to have options
058as a part of it. I'm asking that we've pass Mr. Dory's flat budget and that we send this list of needs that is essentially an allocart menu but hopefully one that they share some of the same values with us and choose to put some of these in your first four in if you will. So that is what I'm asking and you I welcome you to mark off budget if you want to but it would be sent with our budget. So again let me state it one more time and try to be as plain as possible. We will pass a budget list following the law and sending a budget along. But we will send them this list of needs items that they can choose again as as written in the motion. If they elect to pass,
059they they may pass them. I feel like I might have used a thousand words where you used 100, but I'm saying the same thing you are. Sorry. I like to I'm really good at using a thousand words where 10 will do. You hadn't convinced me yet. Okay. I'm I'm still listening. So, it would it just seems to me and I' I've watched you do it. You and your predecessor every year I've watched you do it. You go up there and you make your presentation and then then you talk about other needs. Yeah. So, if if I may try to say just from the context of presenting it to the county commission, what I hear is that we have a you can call it flat, you can call it balance. We've got a proposal in front
060of you right now that's flat or balanced, right? That gets approved. I take that to the county commission and present it. But just as you said after I present the flat budget there's another slide that says but here are also some needs that are not in this budget that uh the board recognizes as needs. It's not necessarily it's almost an addendum to a budget but the flat budget gets passed. That's what's get gets presented. And then just as you said, the first four in, it gives the county commission that if they say, "Hey, we want to we want to contribute to the $2,000 bonus." We're not disagreeing. I except that I guess I don't understand why that needs to be a part of a a part of the original motion to approve the budget. I
061I guess that's where my struggle. I conferred with legal and I if it's a part of the same thing then it makes it options they can immediately choose instead of items that then the county commission would have to go and create a new resolution to then fund this and and I'll come full circle. I'll come all the way back. Right now we're talking about 22.8 million give or take a penny or two. We would not we would be talking about 11 million if we the maintenance of effort was there over the past two years and we're not really having much of this conversation. And that's something I've been saying a lot is that we do need to have a conversation to figure out the right funding and we need to figure out a percentage based
062instead of a dollar based. But right now, we need to send this in my opinion and it has to be attached so that they have the option to add these things in more easily. And and I've again phrasing this is a roadmap for county commission so that they can get to where they need to go. And and I'll say this out loud too. We don't have that meeting. Correct me if I'm wrong. The 19th we'll be presenting our if we pass a budget tonight, we'll be presenting in front of the county commission on the 19th. I would welcome and be ecstatic to have a joint conversation with the commission between now and the 19th to talk about my reasons, our reasons for why we want the things in our budget. Oh my gosh, I would
063love that. And hopefully that would make it so that it would be easier for us for them to to pass what we need. Um, and it may fall to being the flat budget that is all they consider we need after that meeting. But again, we don't know yet. It's our job to send what we what we need to run the schools. We're sending a flat budget because of this deficit, but we need to show them what we we need. We we have to. It's our job. We were elected to tell the county commission what we truly need. And this document attached to the budget shows them what we need. And in in all honesty, I'd rather pass the budget with this as the budget. But I'm making a concession here to try to do what's
064best and showcase what our schools need. Benry, thank you, Chairman. Um, Mr. Connor, you know, I appreciate and respect your position and we all fundamentally agree that there there's difficult decisions being made and um, you know, these these these suggestions are absolutely of value. I think it's naive us to to consider that the the county commission is not aware of these needs. I mean, they are they're listening. I mean, they are they the conversations I've had with multiple county commissioners. You know, we there's one budget. It's a balanced budget. And that's where I'm a little hung up on is is is although these are important, I agree with them. We have a in my opinion, I know we disagree on this piece, we have a a fiduciary responsibility to deliver a balanced budget. So, well,
065I Okay, but that's just where I'm at. So, I I appreciate I agree with the sentiment, but in terms of our responsibility, county commission, that's where I'm a little tied up on it. Oh, I'm not sure if there's another light or if I could respond as I've got several. Then, I'll make notes. I'll come back to you. Okay. Uh, all right. Miss Jones. So, Scott. Yes, ma'am. for public education. What is our fiduciary responsibility when we're when it relates to budget? Because Mr. Do I want to make sure that because we don't it's not to bring a balanced budget. It's to bring the budget that we it's not a balanced budget. That's not in the term, right? I'm not unless I've just been crazy for the last 10 years. Well, okay. So, you you do
066have to account for uh incoming revenue, right? So, so you have to make a a you have to make a proposal that that allows for incoming revenue. So, when you when you use the word fiduciary, that's where I got hung up. You're asking a policy question. It gets back to something that Mr. Connor said for for for months. What sort of budget should the bud the board submit to the commission? By law, you have to account for revenues that are coming in. And so if you if you ask for X, you have to match it with revenue from a certain source, right? But I want to make sure that people understand because I mean right now everybody it's so many truths out here that I want to make sure people understand. Okay. Um second to
067that, my question is um I guess my statement is um to my co my my my chair right here um Mr. Smith, when you were talking about your um not sure about the document um being added with the budget when I submitted my budget for my department at the city, I submitted appendices, supplemental information for them to review to see what um I needed. I submitted a balanced budget, a flat we because we we were asked the flatline, but I also submitted what my staff asked me for, which was above the flatline because we know that budgets go through several iterations. And when they go through several iterations depending on what the priority is of the mayor, I'm speaking from city government, but based off the priority of the mayor, the council, the citizens, as
068they're going through iterations, things become priority based on strategic plans, based on need, so forth and so on. And so all of that information I wanted them to have so that if some money was freed from somewhere else and something that I had put in place was something that was priority, then there it was. and they didn't have to come back and ask me for it. Now, whether they did something with it or not, but I had it for them so that in the event when they took it to council, they had everything they needed to support the ask. And so, I wanted to share that because I think for me, the only way I'm going to vote for a budget tonight is if this goes with it because I feel like they know, Mr.
069Dia, you're right. They know that the 577, they know that's what is balanced, flat, what, however you want to call it. But what they need to know is 603 is what we need. And I think if we never show them that, then they're always going to say, "Well, you didn't tell us we needed that." And I've lived long enough to know that I'm not crazy and I can assume people are listening and hearing. But in this day and time, I am no longer in the business of making assumptions because I am no longer in the business of becoming the ass, as my grandmama would say. Cuz when you assume, you make yourself and excuse my language to all the people in the public with children listening and so forth and so on. be my own
070child somewhere. But that's just a southern colloquialism and everybody's heard it. I don't want to assume that the district 5 commissioner, cuz I'm going to speak for district 5, knows that. I don't want to assume that. I don't want to assume that any of these commissioners know that. I don't want to assume that you all know that. I want to be sure that you're informed and educated on what the need is. And then from there, you make your decision and they make their decision. But I don't want to assume that because we could allow them to assume and their priority may be different from what our leadership's priority is or what our schools communities need. So I'm just going to say that I said that last week. I'm not voting for a budget that doesn't
071show them what we need. Matt, couple things. Um, if we're getting hung up on this thing, say budget, we could change it to values-based investment opportunities so that our county commission can choose to invest in education because that is also an option that they've always had. But if I and if I were them and I was voting on extra funding, I would want to know what it's being spent on and how much you need should I choose to invest because that's always an option that they have. They can choose to prioritize invest in education. I go to community meetings all the time. I get asked all the time, when do we get to vote? I prioritize education. raise my do whatever you need to do. I want to fund public schools. So, this is an
072option for them. And if it's voted on by the body that is sending the budget, it has in my opinion more weight than an extra slide presented by Dr. Robertson. Not to take away from your authority, but you don't get but but you don't like we're the ones that are supposed to approve the budget. So, if we're asking for extra, we need to vote on what we're asking for. And if there are amendments to this list for folks that you want, if you want to remove something from this list, let's have that conversation. And this list is like we can adjust this just like we can adjust our budget. But let's have the conversation of sending a budget with options for investment in public education that are a priority for us in this school system
073that we have approved. Because if not, if they don't really know what we're asking for or what that money is going to be spent on, it's a lot easier to say no than if we tell them how it's going to be used. That gives them a lot more options as a voting body. because it is they're the funding body for the entire county. it like they have to weigh and if like Miss Jones said if they're weighing priorities if they have to weigh and say like oh well the priorities instead of it just being like an extra dollar amount to schools they can say oh we think you know raises are for teachers and staff are more important than this other item in another piece of our budget we want we had rather put the
074money over here it's easier easier for them if they have this to look at. So, if we want to discuss if folks want to take something off, if there's something on here that you don't like before we send it, that's a discussion that we can have and we can amend this list as well. But ultimately, you don't get what you don't ask for. And I want all of our elected representatives at the county level to have the information that they need and the option to invest in education like we're asking them to do. Okay. M Shaver, we are proposing or passing a a budget that is a values-based budget. We are saying as a board what our priorities are. If we wanted to make one of these on this list our priority, then we should
075do that in our budget. We shouldn't be asking the commission to tell us what our priority is. we shouldn't be putting them in that position. So if we want to add back the half position in every school, then we should have taken the deduction somewhere else out of our own budget. We have a large budget. We have more money than we did two years ago and about the same amount of students. We have millions 577 million. So if we want to prioritize these things, then we need to do it, not put that on the commission. So I can't support this for that reason. Steve Slater, um I agree with Joe. First of all, we voted for Dr. Robertson to bring us a balanced budget and he did. uh attaching anything to it is not what
076we asked for. Now, if we want to go in front of the commission and just say something like, "By the way, here here's a wish list that we would love to have." Okay. But I don't think we can attach this to a balanced budget. That's not what we voted for him to bring us. Okay. M Thomas. Yes. I think, you know, we've been going back and forth on the wording of all of this. I do we did ask Dr. Robinson to bring us a balanced budget and he brought that. However, I think I think the attorney indicated that we can't attach this to the budget. This is just an an addition form that we're sending. And if we are saying to the county, I don't think it's anything wrong with saying to the county commission,
077here is the balanced budget that Dr. Robinson brought us. However, we would love for you to consider our true needs and pre and this is what we thought that this is what they truly are and present it to them as not necessarily attached to the budget but kind of like what all of us are saying a wish list and maybe it's the wording that we're trying to do but to just put it in layman terms for me and and what I think I'm hearing is that we have we're presenting you this balanced budget. However, we love for you to consider what we truly need. We balanced it because it was it was a he balanced it because it was a request, but that's truly not the need of the Hamilton County School System. That's that's
078how I'm looking at what this form says. And I think maybe it can I don't know, I guess be rewarded or however it needs to be said, but that's all we're asking. If am I clear on that? Just in layman's terms because we keep going back and forth. I'm just layman's term. Is that what we're wanting to do? that that's what your motion does. Okay. I just want to Isn't that correct? It does. And sorry, I'm in my next uh Go ahead. I'll go straight into it then. Okay. Mr. Conor, Mr. If I could just interject to be sure that because maybe I have the motion wrong, but I'm going to tell you what what we've got. So, I have a motion from Mr. Connor, seconded by by Miss Black to amend the motion approving
079the approving the budget to submit along with that budget a separate list of additional needs to be funded at the commission's election. My understanding is that the list comes from this document, but we're not submitting this document. It's just a list if I if I got that right. The document could be I I have listed what we need from our previous one. So essentially, yes, I've got a list, but it's not. Okay. And that speaks to the next item I was going to say. I I'm hearing a lot of people talk about how Justin should go and and Dr. Robertson should stand there and and talk about what it is, but what we want, but we're assuming and assumptions are not facts. Um, we actually have to take a vote on it because we, the
080royal we, this board, can't assume that he knows what we want until we have put it in the record and voted on it. So, as a board, he's our employee, but he's not our voice. Our vote is our voice. So, we have to vote on it in order for him to know what to take. So, I believe that is dead correct, Mr. Bennett. Okay. And if we don't vote on something, then technically he can't actually take anything because he's assuming and we can't do that. So, uh, I I'll get right to you. Kind of play this out for me to say. Yeah. So, wait a minute. Sorry. So, let for a minute, let's say that this motion that Mr. Connor has made fails. And so, we go back and we vote on the the original
081budget and that passes. Are we at that point Do we have to have some type of vote to say to him when he does his presentation to the commission that that he let's makes it very clear to the commission we'd like to have an additional 20 whatever it is 20 23 million and here's what we'd like to do. Yes sir. because without the board speaking to the to the appropriaten request, then the commission doesn't have anything to attach the appropriation to. Now, alternatively, I suppose what could happen is if if Dr. Robertson were to say, here are some other things that we might be able to do, the commission could come back to us and say, well, send us that list. But the but the commission cannot appropriate funds in a vacuum. It has to
082be attached to a request from us. So it would just eliminate a back and forth which is time and it would it would prevent being like the budget being pushed up against the end of June like it has the last couple years. They would be able to take action earlier. And to be clear about that, so as long as we have an operations budget that is approved, um, then then we are in compliance with the law. So as a for instance, if the if the if the board at some point down the road said we want to put capital maintenance back and the commission agreed to fund that, that is not that is not as timesensitive obviously as the rest of the operations budget. But on the other hand, if you were looking at some
083of these other I'm just gonna stop talking. Okay, let me go to Gary and then Felicia, I'll come to you. Well, after listening to everything, I almost wonder if it wouldn't be more productive to separate the two and vote on the balance budget first and then vote on the wish list, needs list, valuebased list second. It's not attached. He Scott just said it won't be attached to an appropriation. They can't it can if you then make an amendment to attach it after the budget is balanced after it's voted. If I could reward what you said, Mr. King. So I think you're moving to separate the two items to the budget and then and then the list and that would require the board a second and then the board to vote on that in which case
084it's now separate. you go vote to the budget and you come back to the list. To the point that I made earlier, at some point in time, if you want the the commission to consider this list, the board does have to vote to approve it. That's for certain. The question is if we went back to the original agenda and voted on a balanced budget and then Mr. Connor made a well if you if if the board wanted to separate this all it takes is a motion a second and a majority and then and then the amendment is set aside over here you go back to the main motion it it succeeds or fails and if it succeeds then you come to this to this list of additional priorities right so then the board votes on
085this okay I We're voting just to send that additionally. You'll be voting to sever the two issues. I move to sever the two issues. Second. Can we Are we in the middle of a It's setting this one aside to So So the board is clear. Just let me restate the motion. Miss Schaefer has made a motion seconded by Mr. Slater to to separate Mr. Conor's amendment to consider it consider it separately from the main motion. And so if the board votes to separate these then we would go back to the main motion and then we would take up Mr. Connor's motion separately. Okay. But it would take a majority of the board to separate it out. Okay. So the motion that's on the floor now is to separate and it's been duly seconded. So discussion
086about that. Okay, I please recognize you first. Well, I do. Well, I just want to say, you know, we didn't really have discussion, I don't believe, about what to put on this list as a board maybe because I would have added exceptional education on here as a wish list and it's not on here. And I know coach races have been, you know, talked about before and I'm sure other things. I almost feel like we need to wait till the next finance committee and discuss as a board what we actually want on our wish list as a board. That has to be it's it's on there. It is on there. Exad Well, XA's in the balance budget. It's on the balance, not on the Sorry. It's additional funds for exceptional. No, but I think your point
087is like if you have this conversation, you wanted to say we needed a million additional dollars to add to what we're already investing in Xed, right? So the extra funds, other things coach raises which I haven't you're discussing the next question. So, um, basically to be completely clear, in order to gain my support for the budget at all, I need to know that this is attached. So, waiting to vote on this means I won't vote for the budget because there's no guarantee, as Miss Thurman used to put it, we can make the front door, the back door, however she used to say it. And I don't know what will happen in the next vote. So, unless these are tied together, it doesn't have my support because this is that important. Go ahead, Miss Thomas. Even
088if even if it's going to the commissioners, but just not attached to the board, you it has to be attached. Even though you all are from what I think I hear you say, it's separate anyway, right? Because all we're required to do is to Well, yes, ma'am. But but what Mr. and Mr. Connor can speak for himself, but but I understand he's saying he's connecting the two issues because he wants these items to be funded. So the attack it's attached in his motion but the list is not attached to the budget. Oh, does that make sense? His motion's connecting the two but but they would go to the commission separately. Right. To to answer yes, they would this would be an addendum to our budget. That is possible. But to restate as I was asked
089to, I will not support the budget, the flat budget, unless I know that this optional thing is there. I won't because that's not the right thing to do. That's not why I the people that put me here do their votes want the right thing done and that's not the right thing. Okay. So, I have no more lights. Uh so, we're uh ready for a roll call. Make sure that everybody understands what we're voting what we're voting on. We're voting on Miss Schaefer's motion, seconded by Mr. Slater, to separate Mr. Connor's proposed amendment from the main motion and to take up his amendment separately after the main motion. Okay, does everybody get that? Okay, roll call, please. No, you Mrs. Black. No. Mr. Connor, no. Mr. Dy, yes. Mr. Grown, yes. Mrs. Haden, yes. Mrs. Jones.
090No. Mr. Keane, yes. Mrs. Schaefer, yes. Mr. Slater, yes. Miss Thomas, yes. Chairman Smith, yes. Motion carries. Motion carries. So, now we go back to our original motion. And then we'll take up Mr. Connor. And then we take up uh Mr. Connor. So, our original motion that was uh that was motioned and duly seconded was approval of fiscal year 2026 budget for presentation to the Hamilton County Commission. As is right is right with the amendment the administration gave. Yeah, the one not voting on I have no lights. So, voting on Mr. Conot then we're going to go back. Hold on. Actually, point of procedure. Point of procedure. Since my motion was second, it was separated. But technically, since the motion was done inside, we could vote on the motion and then vote on the budget.
091Am I correct? That's what I thought we were doing. The reason Well, that's why what I said right after you spoke was that I thought maybe it needed to be after the budget vote. And if it does, then then I'm not voting for this budget. So, so a motion to sever take takes the subordinate motion dusting off takes off takes the subordinate motion and severs it and sets it aside and so it it becomes a separate item of business. Okay. So the so the main mo we go back to the main motion the previously moved main motion. He's double checking me but I think I'm right. I am there's a lot of words in here. So give me a second but motion is to amend it may be more desirable to apply a similar process
092to something already adopted by the amend is probably well why you're looking uh Mr. Connor, I've got a couple of lights. So, u Miss Hayden, well, I want to discussion about the budget itself is what I'm waiting on. So, don't let the the the original budget. Yes. Okay. All right. Well, while he's looking for if you go and answer that question now, go ahead. Okay. Well, I had several things I wanted to mention about the budget. Okay. I don't think we um first thing I know that you know there was talk about community superintendent and all and I just personally want to give a shout out to the community superintendent because I've heard from quite a few people about what a wonderful job you all are doing and how valuable valuable it is and how
093common sensical I think it is to to have the communities in that line uh chain of command or responsibility. So, um, the second thing I just want to say it's really too late I think for the budget discussions because just this past week I've heard from multiple people about uh student success planning that is being required you know of our staff and our schools and it's creating a lot of time and I was going to ask Shannon to speak on it but I'm almost thinking that timewise maybe we should wait till the next meeting. Sure, we can have something together for the next meeting. Okay. And that's all I'll say, but I just want to let the public know that they've been heard and that we will discuss it, but it is too late for
094budget. Sure. Okay. And the last thing I want to mention um is about exceptional ed. Um You all have given us concessions and I appreciate that. Um what we really wanted the community and lots of public um response and we heard it tonight. What we really wanted was what we had before and what was working well. And so I have to say that I am disappointed it's not back to what we had in the beginning. Um and I'm disappointed I didn't have more support from the administration and the board on this. Um but concessions have been made and so we will just work on this this continuing year. Yes ma'am. Um, and maybe I would like for people to continue to reach out to me and so we can work on issues as they arise.
095And I know you put 500 plus in the budget, 500,000 to address needs as they arise in exceptional education. So, I appreciate some of what you did to um put back in for exception exceptional education. Um, and I think timewise I'll just keep it there. Mr. Chairman, may I interrupt for just You may. I stand corrected. I was I was going through my my parliamentary procedure. Mr. Connor's motion takes priority over the main budget because it was separated out. He goes to the top one, five. Okay. So uh so we need to vote now on on his list on on uh well we so to be clear he had he wanted to submit a separate list along with the budget. So it the board voted to sever the two issues. Okay. His issue takes priority
096and so now the board is debating whether to send a separate list. Let me restate that. Not tied to the budget. Miss Mr. Bennett, can I like just like talk in layman's terms and see if this makes sense? I I think that we're actually saying the same thing. It's just the order. Like if we were to vote vote on the budget first and then vote on a separate item to bring a list, all we're doing is voting on the list first and then the budget. Reason Mr. Connor wants to do this is because for him to support the budget, he wants support from the board to bring a separate list. That separate list is not attached to the budget. It's not part of the balance budget. It is a flat budget that we will be
097approving that if this goes will be a a separate list that then allows the county commission that if they come alongside us and say we want to contribute to that $2,000, it doesn't have to come back to this body to get approved. That's correct. I'm good with that. But I guess my only concern is going to be uh is everybody good with this list. Are there some things you want to add to it or delete from it or I'm not happy with the list as it is right now. That's why I think we need maybe a separate meeting or during finance or some other meeting to discuss what's on the list because um extra funds for exceptional education are not on there, coaches, raises. I mean, we're asking for everything that we might want that
098we don't have. And those are things and I'm sure other people can think of other things that we, you know, would like to have but don't have in the budget. So, are you asking to add if you if if if exceptional education was cut to add that back onto this list? What are you asking? Oh, I'm sorry. Police. What are you asking? Well, I'm I'm not really asking anything. I'm just saying I'm not happy with this list and I don't think we have time right now to devise a list that would that we all agree on. Mr. D, I agree with Fleece. I mean, there's probably a lot of things that other board members collectively would probably want to add in there. Mr. I know um the coach's stipen is obviously important to you and
099um I think this is probably a more complicated scenario than maybe originally was surmised and albeit important but I just don't know if we're going to solve it here tonight. So I'd like to make a motion to table and reconvene on this conversation at a later date. Second table budget. Tabling the budget. You're amendment, but you could table the budget. I mean, you don't have to have We're not the So there he's making a motion to table Mr. Connor's motion. Correct. And I got Mr. Jordy as it release the second table. Okay. So, I got a couple lights. You want to speak to that, Mr. Con? Sure. So, we've already all mentioned that time is is of the essence, and we also don't have another meeting where we will vote on anything before we get
100to present this budget to the schools. I'm sorry that you guys don't completely agree with the list, but as was mentioned also in the next meeting, we can absolutely add to it or add other things we'd like to wish for. I went off of what had been presented to us and what got us to the most needs-based in our in that presentation. And so much so has it been considered needs-based that one of the items on my list has already been put into the flat budget somehow. That's we added $3 million to the flat budget and it's still flat. So, I'm asking that we approve this list to send so that we can so that we have a roadmap for the county commission so that we have sent something along with that with this flat
101budget that shows, hey, we want everyone to be cognitive that we don't think we can do the job that the children deserve with the flat budget. These are the items that we need. This is the moment to do that because we're passing a budget. I have given us a list of things that are values-based that we need that we are considering to be implement and added wonderfulness to our children's lives. Sorry for getting passionate not and mixing words up, but we owe it to the constituents and the students to give the commission a roadmap to where we need to be. Mr. King, I'm just asking for a point of clarification, I guess. So, when when we say we're tableabling it, are we are we tableabling the motion but still voting on the budget or are
102we tableabling it to come back at a later date to vote on the the former? So, so if if this motion to table, Ben's motion passes, we go back to the original motion and that was to approve the the uh 26 budget. Correct. So, so we wouldn't present what we're saying we need at all if we table it though because that means we're not going to present that extra to them at all. I understand I understood that we're going to separate but to but we're still they're asking Ben to to not send the list at all right to you're going to table the list that we currently have and not send anything right that's what you're asking that we table the list what you made the Yes ma'am yes ma'am uh what I'm suggesting is
103maybe we find some time next week early next week prior to the county graduation honey and I'm not coming to no more meetings. I'm doing graduation. You already take it all out. I'm going have to take PTO. Okay. Just the budget. You can table it and vote in June. Have to vote now. The way I understand it is based on what you've said, if the county commission wanted to fund raises or give us extra money to spend, it has to be attached to something and if we don't send a list, then that it removes the opportunity for them to give us additional funds above the flat revenue neutral budget. Yes, ma'am. Now subject to the understanding that we can always talk. So sure so you know when whenever we have the joint meeting um or
104if at the commission meeting the commission I'm looking over at Mr. Clinton over there. Um if they indicate that they are of a mind to give more money, then obviously the board can come back and can prioritize and so you'll know that that an appropriation would be granted. But strictly speaking is black. You're right. It postpones the actual appropriation. Yes, ma'am. But if we send them the revenue neutral budget without asking for anything else and they approve it, isn't it done? Well, yes, ma'am. But the board can always ask for a budget amendment. So, so you need you have to have an operations budget to start the fiscal year. But, but let's suppose that that the finance committee meets and works through and decides, you know what, we've thought about this. We really do need
105to add back that million dollars in capital maintenance. We thought about this. We really need to do that step increase. There's nothing that precludes the board from making an additional appropriation request. It would be outside the regular budget obviously, but you always have the authority to take budget amendments. Usually, we're taking amendments to treat things up, but it would also come after they voted on the entire county budget. So, it's removed the opportunity from them to prioritize one of these items on the list over something else in another department's budget. Operationally, that is that that that's a a valid point that um there's a window of time where they can work things into the entire county budget. That's a that's a valid point. Now, okay, just so we are all clear, u Mr. Conger, are
106you are you Oh, yeah. Let's do this. So, what are we voting on? So, the motion on the floor right now is to table this list. Um, so to answer Mr. Doh's question about could we meet next week to talk, that's fine. We can talk. We still can't tell Dr. Robertson to take anything because we can only vote in an action item meeting. We get one of those a month unless we call a special meeting. Correct. Um you can call you can do that. We can do that which we would have to call a special action item meeting right during graduation to to do that when we have a list in front of us. The second thing is I I've already referenced her once but we can do anything we want via vote including add
107in stipens for the coaches if that's really part of what we want to make our true values that we want to send to them. If we're just looking for a list of everything that we absolutely want, that list could be 10 pages. I was trying to get to the nitty-gritty of what we need. And again, I'll repeat, so much so that it one of the items that I already had listed has been added to our budget. So clearly, these weren't just, and that's not even it, sorry. Clearly these weren't just things that I was on a whim going, that'd be great. I'm thought through them. They were presented to us. They are items that the team has thought would be good. But I'll I'll finish with saying we are waffling over this when we could
108send a message that we are giving you a flat budget, but the needs of the schools remain and we need to show them the needs. Um, Miss Black has mentioned it a couple times, Miss Jones has said it a couple times. We we need to give them the road map to what we need, not want, need to better service our children. And that's where we're at. Okay. Uh Mr. Dolly. Yeah, Mr. Connor. To that I would say when the county commission starts really deep diving in their budget once they've got everything on the table. If somehow someway, which would be amazing, they come up and say, "Hey, we've got X amount of extra money. We didn't see it. We were able to do XYZ." We're going to be notified and we have the ability to
109call that special session meeting and then we can really discuss it because at this point, we don't know what's possible. We don't know if it's 6 million extra 22. We don't know if it's flat like we are. So that's that's we have the ability to call that and and discuss it and have a better discussion outside of of this larger vote on the budget to get it moving through. Okay. So the motion on the floor is uh uh motion table Mr. Connor's uh list. Duly seconded. No more lights. Roll call. Mrs. Black. No, Mr. Connor. Absolutely not. Mr. Dy, yes, Mr. Groan. Yes, Miss Haden. Yes, Ms. Jones. No, Mr. Keane, yes. Mrs. Schaefer, yes. Mr. Slater, yes. Ms. Thomas, no. Chairman Smith, yes. Motion carries. So now we go back to our original motion
110which is to approve the fiscal year 2026 budget. And it was duly motioned and seconded as I recall. No lights. Roll call. Mrs. Black. No. Mr. Connor. No. I'm going to stand up. We need to put the right budget in front of our commission. I will not stop saying that. Mr. Dy, yes. Mr. Groan, yes. Mrs. Haden, yes. Mrs. Jones, absolutely not. Mr. Keane, yes. Mrs. Schaefer, yes. Mr. Slater, yes. Mrs. Thomas, yes. Chairman Smith, yes. 83. Motion carries. Okay. Takes us down to uh uh board matters. Those are all first reads there, I believe. So, there's nothing to uh uh to vote on. Uh, of course, we scratched the uh proposed policy revision. So, it takes us down to uh consideration of resolution, and I'll let uh or ask if uh Mr. Connor, if
111you would speak to this for us. This is a resolution for us to accept the $2,000 bribe that was added into the voucher bill. U so if we this is the first part of the monies that was set up to help them pass the voucher bill. Um we did not decide who would get this funds. Took us 3 months for them to even tell us who would get it. We now have that list. It's how we were able to delineate the $3 million that you guys liked off my list um to put into our budget. So um this resolution is basically just minutia. We are by res by resolving to this resolution, we are saying to the state that we accept the funds for the $2,000 for the people they've identified. This has nothing to
112do with our budget that was just passed that pays the other teachers. So in theory, if we don't accept this resolution, the first round of teachers wouldn't get that money. We we accepted it for all the other for clericals and everything else. So if we if we don't approve this resolution, we shot ourselves in the foot. Okay. So I'll entertain a motion to approve. Motion to approve. Second. Got a couple of lights. These may be old lights. No. Okay, Mr. King. All right. So, I' I'd like to thank Mr. Connor for understanding this because the public might not realize it, but there will be districts around the state of Tennessee that don't understand the legal jargon and will not act by presenting a resolution and their teachers will lose that $2,000. We had to legally
113present a resolution to be able to accept that money for the teachers. So, thank you. No more likes. Roll call. Mrs. Black, yes. Mr. Connor, yes. Mr. Dy, yes. Mr. Grown, yes. Mrs. Haden, yes. Mrs. Jones, yes. Mr. Keane, yes. Mrs. Schaefer, yes. Mr. Slater, yes. Miss Thomas, yes. Chairman Smith, yes. Okay, takes us down to events and announcements. I believe everybody has a uh a calendar of uh you want to tell us while I was in here, Miss Shirley, the graduation and your parking passes. Okay, chair. Forgive me. I do need to point of order. I need to call back to my Okay. All right. All right. Anything else? My birthday is Friday, May 16th. Happy 21st. Okay. So ladies and gentlemen, to present my presentation is basically to say that obviously everything's rolling
114up along with this resolution that we just passed. Um and things are being signed. There were things just signed this week. Uh in the next month and a half I'll have different meetings with the different bodies, class, TSBA uh for their understandings and u implementa implementations of laws. So, I will hold my meeting after all of those very smart people have shared their opinion with me about the way these will affect us. The reason I moved my update to now is it needs to be officially in the minutes. I I spoke with Mr. Bennett. Uh TSBA's called for all of the resolutions to be submitted to TSBA for consideration in the fall meeting. I'm sorry, not the fall meeting, in the statewide meeting. And this is notification to the board that our resolution passed in
115last month's meeting will be one of those resolutions sent forward. The resolution we passed this evening has no bearing as it is over starting on July 1st or June 1st, forgive me. Um, so only the resolution we passed last week will be sent to TSBA. Anyone have any comments? Seeing no comments, thank you for letting me put that in the minutes. Okay. Anything else? Nope. Goodbye. We stand adjourned. You want this folder back, right?