001going. We'll call the workstation to order here and if you will, we're going to we'll stand have a moment of silence and then we'll do our pledge of allegiance. Hey Josh family over there. Just want to make sure that we keep the Birch family the loss of their son and the community in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you all for that. Now >> to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Appreciate that. Um, now we got a packed house for some recognition. It's getting that time of year and I know I see some familiar faces and I'm always excited to see what folks has done. So, I'm going to turn it over to the director
002for our recognition here. >> All right. So, we'll get started. Uh we'll go down. We'll start out with the Jefferson Middle Swim Team. If y'all can come forward. After that, we'll have the Jefferson Middle School Beta Club. Um then we've got uh scope. We'll do boys and girls wrestling and then we've got skills to end it. So that's how we'll go. Come on up. >> So tonight we at Jefferson Middle School are proud to host um middle school swimming in our school. However, it is a countywide team, but we do a lot of work at Jefferson Middle School to support them. We have like the best coach in the world. I'm sure that these students would agree. Coach Josh is here and so I'm gonna turn it over to him to let him speak about
003middle school swim for just a minute. >> Yeah. Um I came here first I think two or three years ago to talk to the board about um getting approval to form a countywide swim team and since then uh we haven't lost a duel or a try meet. So we're super proud of these kids. We don't have very many here tonight. A lot of them are at their club team practice because they're very committed or for other sports. Um, but over the past two years, we've beat 13 different schools in the Knox area. So, very proud of >> we get a picture. >> No, you're fine. >> There we go. Hold on. >> Wonderful. >> Thank you all very much. >> So, in November, our beta club at Jefferson Middle School went to Nashville. Thank you
004for approving our overnight field trip. And um we did this. This is the second year we did it. It's hosted at the Opry Land Gay Lord Hotel. Um and the kids work really hard um to go um not just financially but also their hard work. Um we um came away with a lot of awards. I'm proud to say that Jefferson Middle School walked away with lots of awards. Um beating out lots of private schools and other schools in our surrounding area. So we were super excited for that. Um, I'm going to turn it over to two of our Beta Cup sponsors, Mr. Chris Justice and Liz Grogen, and let them tell you about what we've won. I think they've got a an outstanding student here with a an award she won as well. >> Yes.
005So, we're really thankful to be able to be here again, we uh got to talk to you'all last year, um, which was our first time going to state convention and had a very successful round that first round. And this year, we took even more students and competed in more academic and creative and leadership activities and competitions. So, we came back with um eight state awards um in which they competed against over 7,000 um other students from across the state. So, this is Riley Hill um and she actually placed first place in jewelry design. Um, and then some of our other awards, we won second place in digital art, uh, fourth place in seventh grade computer science, fourth place in eighth grade social studies, and then for some of our club awards, we won first place
006for accessorized design, second place for service learning showcase, second place for two-dimensional design, and fifth place for threedimensional design. And all of those qualify to compete at nationals um, in June. So, we're very proud of all of the hard work of all of the members of our club. Um, and then just in addition, the big highlight of Beta Club at JMS is our service to the community and to our campus. Um, so each month we do community projects, whether that's at school or in the community. We just volunteered at the pow-wow yesterday at the high school. So, not just working academically and creatively, but we're also uh developing lots of leaders and servanthearted leaders. So, we're super proud of them. So, thank you all again for letting us come out. >> Kick her out of
007the way. >> Who's next? >> Let's go. Tell us what we got. >> Okay. Um, I got to take three ladies to Belmont University, Nashville. The state of Tennessee holds a conference every year, scope conference, which is student conference on policies and education. Basically, they get to go through what it is like to vote on policies and hold a mock school board meeting that's all student le and they had a great time. Tell them what you what you talked about. Um we got to debate within like small groups and then a bigger group. So one of our topics was like um if school's funding should go towards more CTE things or um the arts like theater things like that. And then within the big group, we also debated um what was it? It was sports.
008>> Yes. So like policies like that um where if you do a club sport outside of school, should it be counted as like a school um event or credit? So we just got to go through things like that, build some leadership skills and meet new people. So >> wonderful. Darren, >> I'll tell you this. I think how many when did we start this? >> Four years ago. Uh I remember Darren approached me. We had maybe a boy, we had boys uh rrestling and uh he approached me and I think we kind of had a girls team that just ran around with the boys cuz we only had one or two and he said, "Hey, you give me a subs make me the girls coach and I will build the team." Here they are. So, uh
009what all have we done this year? Tell me all about it. >> Let's see. Four years ago, we started out with uh two girls. Uh this year, we ended up with 16. Uh the past two years, we've taken uh four girls to start to the state tournament. Um Gabby Newton, fourtime uh state medalist. Also won her 100th match this year as a senior. Um, we're just looking to build, get bigger and bigger. Thanks to uh, Dr. Arnold. >> No, no. >> Coach Newton, my assistant coach. He's the one that that steers the ship. >> Gabby's been working hard. She always works hard. I've probably caught 150 candy bars off Gabby over the years. She came up in the football stands one year and we bought her whole box, whatever. So, we try to continue support.
010Um, Leslie's in here. How are you, Elizabeth? Good. So, great to see these girls being successful and proud of them. Good job. Put her in the bag. Luke skills. >> We need the boys. >> No boys wrestling. >> I I usually wouldn't have missed it if Coach Bronson would have been here. >> He's not here tonight, unfortunately. You're stuck with me. Coach Bronson's a little high energy like the core when we hire. >> So, those of you who don't know me, my name is Matt Moore. I'm one of the assistants here. Coach Brunson can't make it. Um, we were able to take three wrestlers to state this year. Uh, luckily for me, one of them was my son, Brian. We've got Kayen and we've got Zeke. Uh Bryant also secured his 100th win this year.
011Um which is a huge milestone for for any wrestler whether boy, girl, or you know, 100 wins is a big deal. Uh we've got our 19 or excuse me, 18th regional champion or district championship out of the last 19 years this year as well. So, lot of success on the boys side. Um Bryant's going to be going on to Ottawa University this year uh or next year to to wrestle in college. Kayton's still trying to make up his mind where he's going and maybe we'll get Zeke talked into it and a couple other boys there as well. So, love to see this continued success of our wrestlers outside of high school, moving on to college and doing great things after uh after completing school here at Jackson County. So, >> congratulations. >> Thank you. appreciate.
012>> Now, now, sorry. >> Skills, >> tell us what Tell us what we got here. >> Oh, Lord, there's a bunch of heard a lot of us couldn't make it today. Um, some of y'all I've talked to before. Some of y'all scored up here two or three times. Uh, Skills USA is a state and national organization uh for career and technical competitions, both hands-on and testwise. Um this year we had a record number of people um so I don't forget anybody um for MLR for Kger and Noi maintenance light repair Tyler Cyl Tyler couldn't make it. Um then we had he got second then we had two gold medals for HOSA. We've got Payton Howard did medical assisting. And then we've got Lotus Quack did practical nursing. They both got first place. Beat everybody at
013every high school in the state. Um then we've got the computer science kids. Uh I know them best. So I've been in front of them guys quite a bit and we've brought a lot of computer science kids. So we've rotated some in and out the past couple of years. So this was our rebilding year and we've won more medals than we've ever won. So in no particular order um in telecommunications cabling that's running the network cables doing the fiber optic doing the infrastructure that AI is never going to replace. We got first and second this year. Um, we got Marley Bordon got first and then we've got Kylie Worth got second. Um, they beat everybody, even the college kids by over 70 points. >> They were close, but we're not going to say how close.
014Um, then we have uh Robbie Carlton. Um he did internet networking which is once they run the wires he sets up all the switches in the infrastructure. He got first. He beat everybody except for the college winner. So he has to do a program and do some hands-on and do a design scenario. The judges told him he would have meddled at nationals the way he performed. Um then we've got our cyber security team. So over the past couple of years, we've first in cyber security three times. We've got national medalist. Um we've got Sean Canfield and Finley Lewis. Uh since we don't have everybody, some people's holding wrong banners. They got first. Um all of these kids are sophomores. So, um, Marley, Sean, um, they were the first sophomores to win gold for us. Um,
015we've got Eli Arie. He was our first computer programming gold medalist. We was able to teach him things that you can't learn from a website, you know. So, he Yeah, he he got first in computer programming. Uh, we've got Aubrey Garcia. She's not here. She won IoT. That is uh smart things, Alexexas. She's going to mount TVs, do antennas, program that all together. She's got one of the more rigorous competitions. She beat everybody except for the college kids that got first. The cyber security kids, they got 924 out of a thousand. They beat nine college teams. The only people that scored higher than him were the first and second place college student. Then we've got Emory Richards. Um he kind of got through into it. Uh he did awesome. Uh he does it services which
016is troubleshooting computers digitally. Uh he ended up second. Um hopefully he gets his bid uh his invitation for nationals. Um then we've got Verona Webster. She ended up third. She was so brave. Um, we did customer service. It was the first year that we did customer service, so we didn't know what to expect. So, she was kind of a pioneer for us. Uh, but she got 940 >> 940 out of a out of a thousand and still ended up and that was out of people that had been doing it for years and years and years and years. So, she she got it. Um, but yeah, this is our skills team and we thought it was a rebuilding year, but they sure build a good foundation of >> We've got we've got two two kids to
017tell you what to >> wonderful. This is Marley. She's a sophomore. She's every bit of this tall. Um, she beat all of the college kids. She one of the ones by 70 points. >> I just wanted to say like how important it actually is to me to win at state because when I first got into Mr. Dan's class, I had no intention in ever doing this and now I want to do it as a career even after all the mistakes I made at state and still winning. Like it just it it means a lot to me. Um, it was very fun this year. I went last year with like everybody and it was fun. My sister and my boyfriend got me into it and it was really nice and just, you know, they're a really
018good group of kids and um the opportunity, you know, is wonderful and thanks to Mr. Of course, >> our is our networking skills leader. She's like the skills mama. Hopefully, we're going to be able to bring her as an observer to nationals that kind of help bring a lot of these kids and keep all these sophomores in line. >> And I just want to say how none of us would have been able to win without Mr. He is by far the best advisor and best teacher I have ever had. >> Is that a hard >> Don't move. If >> if um y'all want to talk >> if if Emory if Emory qualifies, Jeff County will be representing every single computer science event at Nationals for Kenny. >> All right. So, those of you here for
019recognitions, you're welcome to stay for the meeting, but you don't have to. So, if you're leaving, now would be a good time for me. >> Let's go. >> We're going to go home make >> Oh, you do. Congratulations. >> How are you? Good. Oh, now it's starting. All right. Thank you all. Appreciate it. >> Yeah. I'll say I'm I'm always impressed when Mr. D shows up. I mean, since I've been on here, he's been coming and bringing state winners and national winners, and I'm I'm really pleased we can see all these different teams and these groups. Um, and I mean that's that's what it's about getting these and I love hearing what what the young lady said about, you know, this was something that she wants to turn into a career now because that's that's
020what you're working for when you're when you're in the classroom and especially in CTE stuff. We want to see those students pick those skills up, go into that. And I I really like it and I appreciate it. I got a feeling that they won't tell you, but no school computer is probably safe from these kids. They can probably get at them and take them and do all sorts of stuff. Might need y'all look at mine cuz I can't update it to the next version with all the locks on it. So, >> I teach them ethics first. >> Yeah, that's that's good. But I I'm I appreciate y'all and I'm I'm I'm so happy of with our with all our teams. You know, we got swim team, got ba. I mean, I I remember when Beta
021Club when I was in it, it was just Beta Club. Now there's like this huge competition and things. So, I I I was totally impressed. And the girls wrestling, I I mean, 20 something years ago, if you said girls was wrestling, I'd be like, "What?" I mean, it's like WWE or something like that. But so impressed. And to know how well they're done, I mean, I'm I'm very very very proud. So, um that takes us then to the public input portion and we got uh three minutes per person on any lay. Now, I do want to say this cuz um we've got and and this is actually going to I guess this policy is going to be changed a little bit um over the next month or so, but as of right now, I want
022to read about appearances before the board and what our policy is. So, um, individuals speaking to the board shall address remarks to the chair, um, me and may direct questions to individual board members or staff members only upon approval of the chair. So, you come for us, you're talking to me, and if I so choose, I can let you speak to an individual board member or staff member. Um each person speaking shall all state their name, address, and subject to presentation. Um individuals desiring additional information about any item on the agenda shall direct such inquiries to the office of director schools. um with the public input period. The the thing I wanted to point out um the chair shall have the authority to terminate the remarks of any individual who is disruptive or does not
023adhere to board rules. Personal attacks of board members or school employees will not be allowed. So I believe in civil discourse. Um, I think that's one of the most important fundamental rights we have in this country is be able to address your elected officials in a civil manner. But it needs to be civil. No one in this room wants to be talked at. Like I say, talked at like a dog. We're all well most of us in here are supposed to be adults and we should be able to talk to one another in that fashion. If you can't, we can let you, you know, I don't know if one of the officers here tonight, but she might drag you on out of here. That's only had to happen one time since I've been chairman. I
024I I want you to be able to get your point out, but I want you to be respectful of the board and I want you to be respectful of the school employees when you address. So, please keep that in mind. Remember, three minutes on your subject. So, we got anybody >> just one person Victoria. >> All right. You're fine. >> Remember name, address, no >> name, address, and roll. >> There you go. >> Yeah. >> You have to just let me know when you start. >> Okay. >> Good afternoon, you guys. My name is Victoria Schuper and I live on Fort Giggy Road in Jefferson City. Um, I am a parent of of two children in Jefferson County. I have had the privilege of experience three different districts. So, um what I'm here to speak
025about is just bullying policies. I'm not here to attack a single person or particular person. I'm just here to address the fact that we have a lot of falling through the cracks with the policies and the state laws that we were put in place to protect these children. That's what I'm just speaking out about. I have had my own personal issues with school um issues in in separate each separate district. Um I've addressed many you know people I know there's been a lot of people standing in the same place as I have and also address the board as well. Um, so with me, where I'm coming from with the policies is it seems like a lot of parents in in this community don't feel like the way that certain bullying things are being taken care
026of that it's a zero tolerance policy. Now, per the Tennessee state law, it is a zero tolerance policy across the board in all forms. when you pull and you read that section 46 uh whatever it's it it is is the whole it says you know how you're supposed to treat the incident how we're supposed to document it how we are supposed to start an investigation how what we are supposed to do from that investigation what action plan we are supposed to put in place with whatever student that might have either been confirmed to be bullying or not confirmed to be because you find that from the investigation. Um, but it seems like a lot of documentation of these problems are not being it's not being done. And I don't know, you know, like I said,
027just from the concerns I'm getting from the community and parents is that it seems like a lot of it just slips through the cracks because it's not being documented at school. Parents are not being called and told that their kids said something malicious to another kid or did something malicious to another kid. What we're seeing in a lot of the schools throughout the district, and it's not just this county, it's everywhere. You know, it's it's a common problem everywhere, is that we're sitting these kids down, and we're talking to them, and we're saying, "Hey, what you guys you guys don't need to be like that. You guys need to get along. We need to whatever." But at this point now, the community is mourning the loss of a little boy that has been dealing with
028bullying in and out of school. So that's where I'm coming from. Whereas what it what exactly is it going to take that we take the law seriously and the policy seriously because instead of sitting down kids and saying hey let's talk about it let's make it whatever let's make it a zero tolerance toler toler tolerance across the board. You saying something mean to another child you get reprimanded for it. >> All right. Thank you. I told him to ride. >> Yeah, that's great. Um, Chase Rich live on Ross Drive. Uh, I appreciate y'all giving me the time to talk. Um, I had spoke to a couple of the board members about maybe and Dr. Arnold about getting higher education back in schools. Um, previously Miss Tally taught it at Marty Middle. I think Miss Fipps
029taught it at the high school, but um, that was well over 20 years ago. Um, last year they passed the law that requires the general firearm safety in the schools, no matter the grade. They just and I I researched it today. They the governor did sign a law where it has to be hunter education, not just firearm safety. Hunter education has to be available for anybody from fifth to 12th grade in this public school system. Um what I would like to try to do and hunter education is something that I'm very big about and it's we use the term hunter education but at the end of the day it's not just for hunters. It's just firearm safety in general. Um that class consists of treeand safety and um things like that that bodess towards the
030hunting which is a requirement for anybody um that would be in the school age at this time. Um I would like to get this class put into the curriculum and what I've been looking at and I talked to Dr. Arnold about was nth grade, everybody has to get their wellness class. Um, we can teach it each semester in that wellness class and uh you can get everybody in the county in 9th grade to go through this education class. It's a week of time for me for the other officers that would be involved. Um but what what we have seen since 2020 co hit most of our hunter education went to online and our hunter our hunting accidents and firearm incidents in general have started climbing again whereas prior to 2020 we were almost at zero
031especially in the hunting accident world. Um so whenever they go online is it truly them taking it. Is it is it their parents? You'll never know. But, um, at least that hands-on learning, uh, the videos, the experiences, actually taking them out to a range and letting them shoot a gun, uh, just to say, "Okay, you know, you picked up this gun. What do you do with how you handle it safely?" That's that's what I watch trying to get pushed through uh, in the school system. That would be something y'all are interested in. >> All right. I appreciate that. I've been wondering about how we going to sort of go about handling that. I've always thought about we used to do something similar. I I'm sure Dr. >> M. Maples used to teach Mr. Maples and
032Mr. Martin used to teach in high school and Maples retired. Martin's not the wing class just sitting there anymore. So it's just something about consider. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> That was it. All right. Appreciate everybody coming speaking tonight. So that brings us down to the board approved agreement. No, I'll turn that to Dr. Arnold there to >> Yeah. >> talk about that. So, um, keeping up with a little bit of a policy change, um, that any board approved have to go through two work sessions before they end up on the business session. So um on the fair lease that is a board approved it says within thatou that the lease will continue unless the board takes action. So that's why you don't see that listed here. Um so it's up to
033the board to take action to stop that renewal of the fairies within theou for um mental health. It says that the board will review the yearly extension. Therefore, it is placed on the um work session agenda. Um and will be on this work session, next month's work session, and then the business session. And um you could you either take action to extend theou or you take no action or vote down be up to you all as a board to consider thatou at the this is April meeting so it would be at the May meeting and and that's what this would be on here if you voted to extend theou It would just be the sameou that would be um a date change to the following year or you know you could vote to modify but
034that's totally up to you as a board. I just wanted to to remind you why it's on there. Um any questions on that? So, one thing I was looking over this I know last year when we were developing this um big thing that I was concerned about was the background checks. If I'm not mistaken, I think anybody that has direct dealings with our students have to fall into the same type of background that our teachers or anybody else in the schools. I don't see that in here specifically. I think it just kind of states, and I may be wrong, so I'm kind of asking Dr. Do they get their fingerprints done? Is it the identical I think it's called? Is there do they do their own and just let us know? How does that work?
035So um all all businesses are we do not do the background checks of another entities employees. So we only background check our own employees. Um, and I can look now or I can send that to you all later as far as the background check responsibility that's listed in the Is it? >> So 5 A says the contractor agrees to comply with Tennessee code annotated section 49-5-413 as required under statute. The contractor will provide fingerprinting and criminal history record checks conducted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for employee subcontractor personnel and volunteers of contractor that will enter the grounds of any Jefferson County school or property owned by Jefferson County School System in performance of services of this agreement before permitting the employee subcontractor personel or volunteer to have contact
036with students or enter the school grounds when students are present. Criminal background checks will be conducted at the expense of the contractor in accordance with TCA 49513. Contractors shall m maintain background check records in accordance with applicable laws. So that tells me that they would follow the same statute that um TCA49 is a educational um background law. So that's the same background check that our employees receive. >> Okay. I only bring that up because I know uh with private duty nursing there's a little bit of a discrepancy between the private duty nursing and then with the therapist here but this one just I just wanted to make sure because I know the private duty nursing hasn't fallen the same and I think that they're still the same type of they're still around the students. So,
037I'm just kind of inquiring about that. I don't know if private duty nursing needs to be updated. >> Yes. >> For this. >> So, we did update the private duty nursing. Um I know there was the first time we had that. There was a little confusion. the first time that that was acted upon after updated. But um going forward, private duty nursing would fall under this same thing in their uh agreement with the board or with the county. And u if it was a speech pathologist that was from a outside contractor doing services, they would fall under the same agreement. >> Okay. which are the same background checks that the teachers get done. That kind of >> the same background check that all school employees. >> Yes. >> Somebody else has a question. >> I
038understand it says on B contractor shall maintain background check records applicable laws. Does the school district ever get to see these background checks? for our own information. Uh some way to at least take a look to make sure that those contractors coming in to our schools to work with our kids um are are all up and up. >> We do not house the we we do not view the records of other systems employment. So they have to verify to us. So whether it's the mowers or the construction workers or uh whichever contractors are performing duties within the system um under the statute they they are in charge of keeping those um there are certain requirements within federal law. I remember whenever Mr. Bennett was here one time. He mentioned it, you know, you should not
039um receive the records of another entity's employees. Um so that's not our duty. Um it's our duty to put the standard on the um contractor, but it's not our duty to do their job for their employees. >> So So if there happens to be a contractor that perhaps has something background. We don't know about it. It only stays with just the contractor. Am I understanding that correctly? So the contractor would have to verify that their um employee was suited to work on school grounds. If something came back on their I mean I I would not imagine that a contractor would take a chance on an employee. You know, if um Blaine Construction came in here to do work, I don't think they would take a chance of the publicity to put an employee on a
040job site with kids that was a registered sex offender. >> Certainly not. >> Yeah. I mean you know the uh um that would not be I mean you know compromise your entire company over that would not be >> so it's a matter of trust we are >> it is >> putting our trust and faith in this company to make sure everything is good >> we are >> I think that goes for I mean like you said that goes for all >> that's >> um Can if if we have a question about a specific individual, can we can we request the background checks? If something came up against an employee, we would and we have um questioned the one incident I was that comes to mind happened before the the employee was under consideration and we
041brought it to the company's attention, shared some stuff with them that would not even have come up on a background check. It was just some information that was shared with us. So, we shared it with the company and and they made that decision. So, I noticed in there, I just want some clarification for this term. It says volunteers. I would assume uh I'm looking for clarification. Volunteers of the contractor. Would this be purpose that might be in training. >> I've never had that. I think that's just legal jargon that Bennett put in there to cover anybody that would um be on site. So for instance, I we so even if we host a a an event um a a registered especially registered sex offenders should not be on school grounds. That's a law. So this
042is a cop out to um if we give a school for instance you host an event at the high school you you that entity can allow somebody that's not allowed on the school grounds to be there because there's always somebody at that high school usually 2 in the morning till 2:10 in the morning there's not somebody there but other than that somebody's at that high school doing something all the time where they're hitting softball, baseball, they're dropped off waiting for a ride or something. You know, school's kind of in session. So, that's a protection in there. Um, in my time, you know, volunteers, we have that's just thrown in theou as coverage. I just wanted to make sure that then I as far as a volunteer maybe doesn't have their license yet and their training
043because from what I understand they need so many hours to before they can get their license. >> We have that >> we do have some interns but they go through the same background checks. Well, I'm not talking about the background checks as far as that. Um, I'd have more concern about somebody who's actually not a licensed therapist doing a therapy session by themsel McNav. >> To my knowledge, they are not necessarily by themselves. They have another therapist who is above them that oversees that process. >> Yeah. Just like whenever we have counselors, student teachers, uh you know, those types of there's somebody with them providing oversight. Kind of like whenever you go to the doctor and they bring in a sometimes they'll bring in a uh somebody if and they're like, "Hey, such and such
044is with me today. Do you have any concerns or issues?" >> But that doctor's providing oversight. I just want to make sure that, you know, in case a therapist happens to call out last second, you know, that we don't have somebody in training who's not really licensed to do that yet. That's >> Yeah. Same thing for our school counselors. Same thing for our student teachers. Um, you know, whenever that teacher's absent, we don't say student teacher just take the class. We put a school employee in there to over provide oversight. So, just remember it's not voted on Thursday. I mean, you've got another whole month to consider whatever. Make yourself comfortable and we'll go from there. >> It's not actually about theou. I do have a question about our health. So I don't know if
045you want me to wait till the commissioner items for discussion or with the incident that happened last week. Did they provide us with an emergency crisis team at restaurant students and teachers? >> Both. Uh Carrie, you want >> So I asked um because allied is a presence in restaurant schools. Come on up, Carrie. >> Carrie, that's one thing she's been waiting a long time. >> She loves to stand in front of groups. >> That's the last thing I like. Um, so because of last week, I asked Alli to only be present for the students that they see at restaurant and to help with our adults in the building. So they had extra support in um restaurant school last week to help with that because of theou I was trying to be extra cautious and I
046didn't want unless there was an overflow of students. I didn't want any mixing of um you know I didn't want them to see kids that they didn't already have parent permission. However, I will say there were a couple of kids who went to them and they did see them and contacted parents afterwards. There were two um otherwise we had extra school counselors in the building all last week. We had some today and then we'll have some more tomorrow. So there were other school counselors who work in our district who went to restaurant to support them. >> I do know Thursday night Helen Ross will be at First Baptist Church >> for anyone that needs to talk to him or anything. So we do know that. >> Thank you. Yes, thank you for that. Know that
047very difficult situation, especially for such a young individual. Good have those folks. Um, but I will point out too, remember that that's there's twous in there with Helen Ross McNav and Alli. So, wasn't just one, that was two to be looking at. Um, special committee reports. Um, just reminders on meeting times. Uh, joint school board county commission committee meeting May 21st, 6:30. Courthouse. Usually we have it at the Baker County. We had to do courthouse here. Building maintenance committee. Um, we'll be meeting April 14th, 5:30 month and that. All right. Appreciate the folks serving on these committees. Um, that brings us down to director's input on busy session agenda items. So, I shared u the Talin Elementary project update by email. I also gave you a hard copy today. Um, starting to see some things
048move along a little faster. Uh, with some roof structure going on. Um, brick work, a lot of that mostly done. Um, so we are looking at we move them off of restroom and gym renovations till the end of the year just so we don't conflict with with events going on at the school, various things. We have TECAP testing coming up, so we, you know, we'd want them in there beating and banging during that. Um, but it it is moving. If you've been by there, it's moving along at a a better pace. We've had better weather. Um, we do have I know in there we had a completion date that was sometime end of this month or something. We had several weather days there with snow and cold and rain and different events, especially during the
049concrete and block work and brick work stage that delayed some things from moving along faster. Um so they've got several weather days that's extended the project um further out but we're still on schedule to finish in June uh end of June around 1 of July. So plenty of time for the the beginning of school in there. That's TA Jefferson Elementary School. Um, we talked before about u design development has pretty much ended right now. Blankenship is trying to get a cost estimate. That information is out to a company in Atlanta to provide a cost estimate from where we're at now. So initially we got a rough draft estimate as we begin this project based on the board's scope of work based on people coming in uh contractors engineers looking at the project giving estimates uh
050in the beginning. Now that development design phase is is at the end we'd like to get another cost estimate to see where we're at. And uh there's just a lot more detail known that we can get a closer estimate on. And um um we we talked about that construction documents have to be drawn out and finished before a bid can happen on on the renovation and full renovation and construction. So that's probably not going to happen till late July. So what we want to do is pull out the abatement of that school. And we are uh looking at a company that will give us um abatement spec specifications so that we can bid out the abatement of that school over the summer. The building will be ready for renovation starting whenever a contractor is hired.
051So, u if you were in Walmart, Jefferson City, whenever the renovation there happened, whenever they took up the floor tile and and kind of uh took up the mastic and and you were kind of on concrete floor for a period of time that's very similar to to what would happen at Jefferson. the the tile would come up, the mastic that glues the tile down would come up. You'd have a fresh concrete floor to uh be on and it would be a cleanable surface and um be able to go from there. You know, there's some um pipes. Most of the pipes are external. They're not um hidden behind plaster. There's only a few uh that would need, you know, some type of access hole to be able to access those pipes to remove the insulation. We
052have to leave the piping in place. That's our boiler pipe, water pipes, but we would move the the asbesus material while school is out during the summer and and get that done so that construction could move forward once a contractor is in place. You know, if you remember a little bit about the Talbert project and and um we have to go through board approval of construction documents. Um then the bid happens. Um if it comes in at or under budget, then we approve the contractor to which would be a low bid to move forward and then um attorneys get involved with the contractor. Uh contracts have to be signed. So it has to go through the schoolboard attorney, county attorney, then Miss Elder, myself sign those documents and it it's a cumbersome process to at
053the end whenever you think where we've got a contractor, but then those those documents have to be signed whenever the lawyers get involved, it does eat up a little more time. But that's kind of where we're at on Jefferson. Um it is going to be you know a lengthy process. >> Um for those of you who weren't at the last um meeting um the nature had some good news uh Dr. Arnold already um touched on that where you know most of the asbesus is in the floor tiles which are easily accessible and on the piping which is easily accessible. Um, so it shouldn't be as difficult a job for that abatement as we may have thought otherwise. It would be. Also, if Dr. Brown, if you could mention the the roofing struts, they were worried
054that those would be wooden rather than steel and they found out they were steel. >> All of them. >> Yes. So, um, one thing that we ran into at Piedmont was there's still some wooden decking. Um, and some of that had to be taken out. So, we were concerned about that at Jefferson because we didn't have detailed records whenever that roof was put on. Um, and we found out that it is a metal decking. U, there is no wood surface. So that saves removal or extensive fire protection of sprinklers on that wood decking. Um that's a great thing. Uh we were concerned about asbestos in the in the window caulking asbestous in the u plaster. So none of that came back hot with asbestous. Anything else, Austin? >> So, we knew the floor tile, we
055knew the insulation. Um, even on the um insulation, there's a lot of it that's already been done. So, there's not as much work on that as we anticipated either. Still a big job. There's a lot of floor tile. >> Oh, yeah. A lot of floor tile. So that removal of the tile, removal of the mastic uh through a liquid gel removal process would have to be done. >> Thank any other. So with the lack of all the other stuff uh having the asbesis, does it look like they're definitely then going to be able to do all this this summer if they >> I mean I I don't know. I mean I I'm always hesitant of of what may happen, you know, until it's done. Um, you know, just like I thought Duke was going to
056win. Um, and you know, that last second will get you every time. So, um, you never know what's going to happen. Um, so, you know, Duke lost, Tennessee ball baseball led by five runs going into the ninth inning and they lost. I mean, so um you know, we could get in there and find something or something happened and and and it's a delay. But one thing about it is we're not going to abate. We're not going to get in a hurry and sacrifice anybody's safety. So if we got in there and we didn't finish a wing, then we'll just start construction, do whatever we can and we'll abate next. Uh so we're not going to push something or waste the uh um we're not going to save time at someone's expense or chance of um
057so that would not happen. um a do I a building at the high school. Um we have poured concrete on that a building. Uh they are setting up a form for the manure shootute. Uh little ramp and pad and then the company comes in and gets exact measurements of the um slab and then they ship the the correct materials that's needed. So still on schedule to have that done when we start back in August. Um, so that that's a very positive um item for the high school. There's $25,000 allocated once we finish that building for supplies and equipment for the building. U we've not run into anything major in that project. Um this morning I met this morning. This afternoon I met with Perfection Group um and we talked about they were here over spring
058break and went through Jefferson Middle School with a fine tooth comb checking every HVAC unit and it's a lot more cumbersome time consuming process than Talbot I mean than rush drone where we just pick the unit off the roof set it over there and put another unit on, retro a curb adapter, hooked it up and moved on. Um, so this is both inside outside units. There's some demo inside units. Um, so we can't just go into a classroom like we did at Rush Strong on the roof and and get a lot done. So with that inside outside work, we can't do it whenever students are there. Uh so that's going to be a big push during the summer to get that as much accomplished as we can. Plus, you don't know if it's going to
059be 36 or 86 this time of year. So um during the summer, there's nothing going on at that school. we can push forward, get a lot done, and then we can come in the fall. Um, Miss Simpson has a few um she has a couple extra rooms. So, if we get in the fall and we miss six classrooms, we can move people into a a spare room for three days, finish that room, move them back, and then just keep that process going. So, we do have a plan for that. I don't have a time frame and schedule yet for Jefferson Middle School or for Mari Lining, but um I've told Matt whenever he gets that, get that to me so I can uh plan for so you'll know whenever people ask >> anything. Yes, sir.
060>> Is the u has the uh shelter what whatever the awning at restaurant been done yet? >> Not yet. They ordered that Austin. Any issues yet that you've heard? >> I haven't heard anything. >> We'll check on that with them. I know they finished up at >> White Pine. It's the same type awning. Very, very good looking awning. Up at White Pine on the gym side. And then uh we've got some bleacher work um that has been awarded um I don't know a time frame on that either. Have you heard anything from >> is that the Mariers? >> Yes. Mari in the high school one section at the high school and then um we'll find out on that. I I've not heard any but it has been awarded to the company to be a deal.
061Um >> restaurant is still on the list to have it. >> So um Jessica and I spoke about that a little bit going into next year's budget. um with we talked about wheel tax money that's given by the county >> for um capital projects and including that in in that. So the board made a motion to next year budget address bleachers in the small gym at rest off the top of my head. Does that sound about right? So, so we would look at that out of um wheel tax money designated by the county for capital projects of the school. One of the projects to include somebody look at that yet. Austin, we guess estimate. >> Yes. >> They we Oh, yeah. We did have a quote on that one. So, we had a design and
062a quot of those bleachers to be able to budget. So, Anything on that >> question? And I may have overlooked it. What >> what what gym was it? Had some floor got damaged. >> Forgot about that. High school. >> Water on. >> A weird thing. Um I don't see how the pipe held together this long. Do you Austin? No. So, copper piping, you insert a male into a female and and you solder it in. Uh, these two, this pipe was instead of inserted, it it actually just stuck up against it and they soldered around it. >> I mean, I don't know how it held together this long. So, we have some pictures of it and um but it flooded in the behind the gym in the wellness hallway in the boys's locker room uh busted
063on sometime Saturday early Saturday morning and luckily our ROC was leaving at 6:00 a.m. They came through there at 5:30 and stepped in water and called us and we were able to get there and shut it off. So, insurance has awarded some damage. Um, I've not seen a check yet. >> We haven't either. >> Yeah. So, so they have awarded us some some damage money of an amount. Um, and then we have met with some companies. Um, they pretty much all said the same thing, a 17 by the length of the gym area that needs to be removed, replaced, and then the entire floor would be sanded to match and refinished. >> Did we not have this same problem about four or five years ago when Dr. Edmonds was here? Didn't we have water on
064the floor? >> That's whenever Dr. Johnson was here. That was at Patriot Academy during that hard freeze. We had a we had an issue at Jefferson County High School. >> That was during the renovation in 2016. There was a roof leak that damaged the floor and that was >> when it replaced the whole thing at that time. >> There were I I wasn't It was 2016. Nobody Jessica wasn't there. I believe the entire floor was replaced at that time under insurance by the company. Um, >> was that during Dr. Johnson's? >> No, it was during Edmonds 2016 or so. During the renovation, >> the renovation of Jefferson County High School >> that we replace the floor academy two years ago. >> Oh yeah. Two year ago. Patriot Academy during that was during that freeze. >>
065That was Christmas morning. When did I call you? >> It was either Christmas morning or Christmas Eve. >> Christmas Eve. It was Christmas Eve. Um, so there was a ticket booth room that the uh heater in there had failed. Pop sprinkler pop froze, busted. Um, yeah. >> So, the top gym hadn't started yet. It will start during the summer. >> Correct. During the summer, gym and the and the bathroom renovation. Yes. So, anything else? >> Last thing I think I have is budget >> Dr. Arnold. >> Oh, >> we got it checked today for the the flight. >> Check 89,000. >> 78,000. >> So, it came in this afternoon. >> There you go. 78,000. So um we'll work so nobody knows that amount then we talk and we'll disclose that amount. So hopefully they're not
066listening. >> If if I was listening I know >> I just told you the wrong amount so don't worry about it. >> That's not it. >> Yeah. But um the budget came out. So you've seen an initial budget. Um had some conversations with with some of you all. Um you know, as you dig into it, look around. Um I know that um Paul and I had a discussion today just about um at the board retreat I shared a document that showed some reduction in students. Um, you know, every year we evaluate the number of teachers that we have in our district and and we um we kind of have a student teacher ratio that we we like to stick with. Um, you know, in early grades, K through two is smaller than 3 through five,
067which is smaller than middle school. um as you move up. So um we have we address that every year. I believe this year we had five reductions of um certified teachers. So we did not terminate anybody um just through attrition of of an employee retiring. we were able to to cut a position out of the budget and uh and move forward. But, you know, we addressed I believe it was over the past 15 years on that sheet was a 9% reduction. Um the majority of that occurring during COVID was a big big year for reduction of that. Any questions there? Um but you can look in there of um especially on the front sheet which is the revenue page. One thing that I sent you an email on was you see the variance. That's where
068things have increased. Um down at the bottom you see a 1.2 2 million increase from the uh high performing bonus that we received. Just remember that money's in there this year to make the budget. Um I I had reminded you that the high performing bonus had changed um going into next year. You have to meet two matrixes. That's going to be very difficult to meet next year. um you know that's not something that's a gift that's not something we count on. So we were it was able to help with the budget this year but um we don't anticipate that every year. And then um you see we had a $1 million TISA base growth. I do want to remind you that employee raises cost about $2.3 million this year. Um so with roughly 560 certified
069positions um over 600 hourly positions. So, um the governor's initiative for those classified employees was one of the largest raises that we've ever given uh to get beginning teachers to $50,000 due to our step increases. We're going to $50,200 which is our step right above 50,000. We don't have a $50,000 step. So that is occurring. One thing that I do want to note is on that revenue page at the top you see current property tax. The property tax amount is the same from 2025 26 to 2627. Currently we do not know the growth of the penny. Uh remember that the pennies worth so much money. the county commission all lots the school system so many pennies um whenever the penny grows then our revenue grows um so Jessica has not been issued that amount uh
070within that email that I sent you I just let you know that student technology student devices did not make the budget this year nor did buses Um, so I just ask that whenever you consider on April 9th approving the budget, um, would also ask you to consider a motion to allow Jessica to, um, add buses and electronic student devices to cover that growth of a penny, whatever that whatever she happens because what's going going to happen is somewhere during the ninth meeting whenever you're considering it and approving it and somewhere between the next 24 hours she's going to meet with Susan Gas and they're going to determine some information and and she's going to share with county commission um information. So, um, we the time I've been here, we always have a a little growth
071to meet maintenance of effort, uh, for the county and and I would anticipate that growth being in there. >> So, does the property tax uh figure here reflect the existing worth of the of the penny as of this year? >> It does. Okay. Yeah, it's estimated this fiscal year at $242,500. >> So, you just projected that without knowing >> for next year. >> I haven't projected anything within that. Um it's it's the same amount. >> She'll she'll give me the growth and then I'll insert that and and we'll know. So, potentially um average it's been 3% but a lot's happened in our county. So, so I'd like to I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing some budget. >> Um, one thing that I also want to talk about in the budget is uh whenever we have
072rollover. Um, so rollover happens for various reasons. Um during COVID there was a huge influx of federal money into our budgets and a lot of times federal money replaced state money or or local money and and of course we spend someone else's money before we spend our money. We spend grant money just like now there is school safety grants. We also receive um there was money in the BEP that's tied to school safety that's in 141. Um we always spend that grant money first and save 141 money. So um that we also there's um unfilled positions a few unfilled positions that happen like right now in the budget there are two positions in the budget in case they're needed. I don't have to come to the board and ask for a position. So come August
073the whatever we start back and a kindergarten classroom's projected at 45 kids at new market and there's 60 kids show up. I need another teacher tomorrow. I can't come to the board. I can't do a special call meeting, wait 10 days and try to hire a teacher. I've got to have that position. So, if we don't need that position, that's $70,000 or more with associated cost that rolls. Um, also there, you know, um, we talked about some of our big property tax and sales tax. um you know we we project that conservatively and in years past there's always been more revenue come in in those categories than is budgeted. So that's excess money that occurs and is rolled insurance benefits. Um also here recently paid parental leave. So whenever Uh now at the state whenever
074an employee has a birth or adoption of a child the state pays for 30 paid vacation days. 30 days off. So that money is already in the budget to pay that employee. They have a circumstance that gives them paid parental leave and the state send us this money. Last year $350,000 was collected that that went back into the budget or went into the roll. Um so that is money that um we've received additional TISA funds. So right now we're budgeting TISA money off an estimate and um in years past the TISA has come in higher than budgeted and and there's been money there also. So there's various ways of of how that role happens that has allowed the board to do roofing projects um renovations and and various projects that you all have have funded
075through those rollover um money. I can't, you know, it was over, it's over $50 million in the last six years that we have invested um without request for county money. The first request for county money came in splitting the project at J Elementary. So, the Talbot, I mean the roofing projects, the u the big ones, I gave you a list at one time. HVAC. Um, yeah, the roofing projects, the Pemont renovation, Talbert renovation, various other um a building, culinary, um, all kinds of projects that have been accomplished um, without a burden on taxpayers, without a request for for county. So, um, that's a great accomplishment. Great use of money to be able to do that. About to lose my voice. I'll quit talking. All right. Appreciate all that. A lot of information to digest. So,
076then that'll bring us down to commissioners items for discussion. Has anybody got anything? >> Uh, just a couple things. The communications director, have we started interviewing for that? I know it's in next year's budget, so I'm not worried about the >> We have interviewed one round of interviews. A second round of interviews for finalist is tomorrow. and then um we'll go from there after tomorrow. So, we're getting close. Um you know, I don't know where the candidates stand as far as being able to um being able to or when they they could start versus what they're doing now. So, um, but definitely no later than a July 1st start date and earlier if they are available. >> Thank you. U, one, one last thing I'd like to say is when I got the U text
077from Dr. Arnold about the 11year-old G Strong and that terrible situation, my my heart just sunk. Uh, I would like to go on record as just extending every, you know, every uh condolence, every blessing, every prayer to that to that family. It's got to be a terrible thing. Thank you. >> Um, yeah. Um, concerning bullying, um, what is the current documentation process? >> I can send that to you. So, um, on your table today is is the bullying policy and I can send you the it talks in there about investigative. I can send you a u investigative document that is utilized. Um so there is a process paperwork um whenever it is termed um bullying um or not it's all documented in there. Um, and are is there any followup for parents of the victims
078of bullying? >> I think there's there's a disconnect. Um, usually the biggest concern that I hear when I do hear about bullying is that the parents don't know what's going on and and are wondering is there followup like a phone call or something to let them progress is moving forward or something like that without going into student disciplinary action. I understand we can't do that. >> Um but like just kind of something to >> give the parents of the the victims like a heads up, you know, just to let them know that progress is being made. >> Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. whenever I mean whenever a bullying is um determined I mean that's a even whenever bullying is not determined um parents are notified through u information um either phone calls from principles information sent home
079um you know we look today at at um bullying reports. There's um 145 bullying investigative investigations that have been started this school year alone um at schools and um some of those result in bullying determination, some of them do not. you know, you can see in your board policy that it dictates um what what bullying consists of, but even if it's not bullying, even if there's an event where it's some sort of conflict that's spur the moment and happens, those are still addressed. And you know our goal of all of our administrators, we all talk about um communication to parents, information given to them. Um so our goal is to communicate because without giving that information to parents, um you know, we can't do it alone. Uh we can't stop um we can't stop bullying
080as a school. I mean, we see a kid, we're in session, less than 180 days, less than seven hours a day, we have that kid in in in our school system. So, you know, it takes the work of parents have to know whether that's bullying, whether that's, you know, misbehavior in the school, on the school bus, whatever. It is important that those parents are aware of that situation, whatever it may be. you know whether it's lack of academic success, student effort, uh missing work, informing those parents is his priority to be able to get solutions. So that's our goal is to inform parents and >> Okay. So um I know that there are some bullying cases that move forward with law enforcement and in that out of our kind of out of our hands from
081what I understand >> um we still are involved even whenever law enforcement I don't know about bullying so bullying and threat assessments law enforcement's mainly involved in threat assessments >> right >> yeah so bullying is more u a school team of an administrator teacher counselor whatever that may be on on that team whereas law enforcement's more involved in the threat assessment team. So even though it anything that moves to law enforcement that's a school matter, we're still acting on it at a school level. >> So are our parents notified at least at least the you know the the student that has been threatened by another student, you know, and it's been it's moved forward. It's out of our hands. Are the parents of the victim child at least notified? You know, it has been handed
082over to a different department that's >> Yeah, we and we never I I would say we never wipe our feet of any situation that involves our students. Um, we had an incident at Jeff Middle the other day where Carrie, myself, Melanie, um, the assistant principal, we were all involved, u, and, you know, Melanie made phone calls to the person that was doing the um that made the threats. And then she made calls to the parents of students who were threatened. Um four or five calls to five parents called. Um so you know it is our intention to always make those calls. Um even whenever it's not bullying but especially whenever there is a threat a credible threat we're going to make those calls. >> Thank you. Anyone else for input? >> Um, I understand we
083have a policy. It's pretty detailed. It's three pages long. Yeah. As a board, we we deal with policy. Um, yeah, I'm just going to encourage the board. I'm going to challenge everybody to really look over it and see if we can strengthen it, put some teeth into it, look at the discipline side of things. And I, you know, was saying that also state side of things that you know that we abide by with certain time limits of investigations and how we approach things too. But uh you know our responsibility as a board is to uh the govern district through policy and uh you know I'm not going to sit here and try to point the finger at any one reason for why it happens. happened. I graduated in 85 and it happened back. But I
084do think that we should, you know, just take a moment to sit back at some point and take a look at it. Just see what you think, you know, see where we can maybe improve our story, but You know, it's me being in our backyard, you know, but it doesn't matter if it's our backyard or if it's clear across the county and white still change that we could, you know, look at how we're doing things and maybe sharing things. And I'm not saying we're doing anything wrong, but I think that's our responsibility as as a board. And I'm just going to encourage everybody to take we have it here and look at it. I do have a question kind of looking at across the nation just low incidents and bullying stuff. Do we have any
085program that we currently do as far as anti-bullying program? We have still in the I haven't really seen anything in the state. >> I was going to ask the same question. Is there something students to get involved in? >> So, our school counselors are required to do um bullying prevention lessons at least once a year and encouraged to do them more if needed in their school building. So, teacher comes up and says, "Hey, my class is having an issue." And there's to go in and address those things. Um, they use different things. Again, we don't have a formalized curriculum, but they piece apart things together that will impact their students based on our state standards. So, there's not a formalized curriculum, but they are required to do a class specifically on anti-bullying every year with
086everyone. are teachers um and I have no idea do they go through some kind of like maybe at the beginning of the year go through a bullying >> so all our school employees um have a training it's called safe schools training and there is a section in there on bullying how to recognize it and things like that so all teachers and employees in general know what that is and how to report that >> I have a question we have zero tolerance. Correct. Okay. If we have a child that is fully another child and gets reported to our principal, what do we do? >> So, so the term zero tolerance is a that's in state code and and there's only four ways that zero tolerance can be enacted on. Um, and that is here we go.
087uh drugs, assault, >> weapon and threat of mass this violence. Those are the four zero tolerance type of issues. So within um that fall under state law that that get zero tolerance whenever we can mark zero tolerance on a form. Now we've had remember we do four year olds to 19 year olds within our school district. So um policies on um what is you know conflict or bullying fall under different types of of categories as we try to teach kids um right from wrong and and and how to interact. So it is very important that you know I've seen bullying incidences that have resulted in in a 365day expulsion from school which is the same um disciplinary action for a zero tolerance offense. you know, we've also have incidences that result in um you know,
088in schools, out of schools. So, there's a variance depending upon what what the bullying is and the age of the child and the um action that the child the the what they did. Um >> let me is real quick and tell me if I'm wrong. I could have swore when I was at that legal institute, not this past summer, but summer before, but they were talking about students who might have IEPs or um receive services like that that sometimes that will affect what you can do. You can only suspend them so many days, you know, even if you know, maybe if they were >> I'm just saying if they were the bully or How how does that work? >> Sure. There's different protections. So, uh, a child who has an some sort of disability where
089they fall under a 504, an IEP or suspected disability, um, whenever they commit an action or that that causes a disciplinary action by an administrator. If it goes over a 10day suspension where they've been suspended 5 days and 4 days and then you're going to suspend them again and once it crosses that 10th day, they have to have a manifestation determination meeting and and then once that manifestation determination meeting is held, then then the action, you know, if you were going to suspend them further or change their placement to a alternative school setting, you can do that once it's determined that um their disability did not cause them to um to the discipline that occurred. Um so it it is safeguards for for kids in place with IEPs, 504s, suspected disabilities. You know, I may
090not should say this, but a lot of bullying starts at home. You know, parents is supposed to teach your child. You don't bully. You go to school to be taught. But if parents don't teach it at home, a child's not going to care. You know, back when I was little, you got your terrible. I mean, that's But we didn't have bullying in school. When we was in school, if you had a problem, you went out, sp it out, and then went back to class and became friends. But nowadays, parents, you know, I don't whip my child, you know, that's that's up to a parent. But I still say a lot of the bullying starts at home. Correct your child at home. >> That's all I got. Yeah, of course those devices don't help kids escape
091um each other. So, you know, one thing I've I've always warned parents about is, you know, they say that they may not let their child have a phone, but they let them have an iPad, let them have an Xbox, and there's still communication um on those hand. anything that connects to the internet they can communicate on and share things and you know we see it all the time where people post things on social media that you know they wouldn't say in person or or or act away on social media that that they don't act in person and that is a learned you know it is a sad thing so but uh within the bullying policy the school supports whether it's um if it affects a child's education. If something is done at home and and
092it comes into the school, cyber bullying or bullying at the bus stop or wherever it may be, you know, that's outside of our scope. We can't control it, but we still support that child and try to get them the the help and support they need. But, you know, we need to just like the sheriff message, if you hear something, see something, say something. Um, that's helped us a lot. It's the same thing. You know, we we have to know. Um, you know, a lot of times we have to catch kids in the act of something because people don't tell us everything that's going on, don't share. Um, but I can promise you um that, you know, we're here to help and support kids. We we don't want to see anything bad happen to a kid.
093It's just heartbreaking. >> Mr. check the issue >> in our bullying policy. How much of that is state regulated, statemandated? How much of that is left up to our local discretion? >> With if you look on that back page, there's 14 codes that are referenced. Uh so it is very extensive in in those 14 codes. Um, and then there's also cross references over there on the side that talk about 504s, IEPs, but you know, it's just not this policy protects all. It's not just students, it's not just the bully or or or you know, it's employees. It it affects everybody. um you know we've had cases of both kids and employees um that we have dealt with over the the years. So you know it's it's very important to understand that this policy protects all
094um not just students. >> Thank you. Could we look into different possible polling programs? I think it'd be a good idea. I mean, if we're not doing now, I briefly mentioned something about looking across the country. I think it was North Dakota. I may be wrong. I think it was North Dakota had the lowest bullings incident reports. and uh was looking into that and they have incorporated some kind of programs and I don't know if it's one programs throughout the state or if it's each district has to kind of do their thing. I think it'd be worth looking into see what kind of programs can we have somebody look into it. I don't mind looking into myself. I'm not educational enough to know what would be more effective, but uh you know, maybe just see.
095>> We'll be happy. I mean, you know, Carrie, she she has a lot on her right now. U but yeah, we we'll be happy to look into that. Carrie's background is there. She got a lot of connections for you. We can see. >> Sure. She has a lot more expertise than me. I I think something like I always think about their program. I love that growing up there. Something like that. I think it'd be good. I mean, and of course, we know kids attention spans is just like that. So, you got to get something that's going to get them to pay attention and it's an important thing. And I I agree with Danny. I'm I'm a person that believes that parents have a right to be involved in their child's education. You also have a
096right to do what is right for that child and every other child that that kid's around, too. I mean, it just don't stop with I'm concerned about their math scores or their English or something like that. Um, we're trying to put well-rounded citizens out of these schools. And you you I if you think that it's the teacher's job to do that, you know, I can only do so much. It's got to be reinforced at the home. So, I agree with any I feel like, you know, it's it's a hard situation that get put into. We we faced something similar last year. a colleague of mine, his grandson committed suicide, same about the same age, three bullying at the middle school cards and um I mean that whole family is just devastated and it's it's a
097difficult difficult situation and and I I would not want anybody have to go through that and and I I feel terrible these folks have to go through it. anything we know. So once again, I agree with you, Paul. I'd like to see if we could if we could get something get them kids involved, maybe maybe make a little bit more pressure on their mind. So thank you for bringing that up. Anyone else? Um Doug, when was your policy meeting? >> Policy meeting. policy meeting is um before the next work session in May. I don't have that date. >> What's that? >> It's 27th. >> 27th. It's uh it'll be at 5:30 and we do have enough um policy uh on there to discuss to have the meeting. So, it'll be at 5:30 before the next
098work session. >> All right. Um, so dates and everything, just to make sure everybody's up. So our business session will be April 2nd, 6:30. Then we have the special called meeting for the budget, April 9th. >> What time is it? >> 6:30. >> Is it 6:30? >> Yeah, 6:30 also. >> April 9th, 6:30. And then the next work session will be April 27th, which Doug just talked about. That'll be um when policies that'll be April 27 6:30. So >> any other policy >> 530? >> Yes. >> Um Chase come back to ask. So, um, when you're talking about doing like doing a wellness class, would this be something that you would be willing to come in and do yourself like you somebody else? >> Um, so be any cost to the school district as you
099teach this, right? >> It wouldn't be any cost to the school district. High education is paid for through federal grants and things like that. They pay the agency. Um, we've got volunteer instruct instructors that we it's We can bring in a lot of them are retired law enforcement. Uh but the agency each each wildlife officer is required to be education instructor. So there's four or five of us locally county wherever we may be that would be the ones that would come in and do it. So and this would also be a couple things. one would be probably satisfying the state requirement. >> I don't know if there's any certain amount of hours we have to do that or anything. I would imagine as long as we're at least doing >> uh the class is an
100eight hour class and I I don't know the exact requirement on the law that they passed last year. I know like the K through two was like five minutes of hey you see a gun don't touch it. Um as it as they got older it progressed more towards what we teach as hunter Um, I'm not super familiar with what they passed last year. I just know that it's been implemented across the state, but it it it would require the 100 would that would be satisfactory for that. >> And on top of that, I've done this. I've actually taken it with your dad doing it at night. >> Took me all week to do it. >> Yeah. you know, so but but it would also help, you know, that was that was hard as as a
101parent. I mean, it's a great course. I've done it with my kids and, you know, I did it when I was, you know, 14 years old with my dad. Um, I think I was probably about 40 years old when I did it with your dad. And I learned stuff. I probably did things about every year. >> So, I'm a big proponent of getting kids outdoors, hunting, fishing, shooting. They don't have to hunt, but just I think it was when was it when 2004 when you and dad the board and we actually shoot program I don't know grandson has been involved there's been several hundred kids go through it and part of that requirement is their education they travel all over the shooting. It's a good time. So, it's it's one of those things I'm a
102big proponent for getting kids outdoors because if they're outdoors, they're not in front of those also get their safety >> that would that would satisfy safety which uh January 1st everybody born after that has to happen. Um and what I always tell people is if you never hunt and you've had the class you at least If there's a gun laying on this table, I know what to do with it. I know how to handle. >> But I also think too that, you know, somebody ignorant as far as not knowledgeable of a gun is way more dangerous than somebody that at least knows how to handle a gun. There's kids and I don't trust guns more than adults. Thank you. Anything? So, we'll be our business session. I believe >> this Thursday have a good week.