School Board Work Session - 8-25-25

001session to order. Um, if everybody will, we'll stand for a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance. Ask you if you will to uh remember Coach Bradley. He started some treatments for cancer and everything. He's not able to be here tonight. So, please remember him. So, we'll have a moment of silence. Thank you for this. 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. >> Thank you all for that. I'll turn it over to the director for some recognitions that we've got here today. >> Sure. Mr. Dave, you want to come up? Yes, >> sir. >> Bring your guest with you. >> So, on behalf of Jefferson Elementary School, I'm Craig Day, principal Jefferson Elementary

002School, and we are very honored and blessed uh to recognize Pastor Mark Campbell. He is representing Faith Baptist Church. Uh we've had a partnership with Jefferson Elementary for about probably seven, eight years now, I think. And uh so we are just very grateful for them and for all that they've meant to our school. Uh they have provided things like backpacks full of school supplies. Uh they have provided snacks at field days uh free for all the kids to have. Um they have provided Chick-fil-A for the teachers as we begin the school year. So that's always nice before Mr. A gets up to talk. Uh they have a little chicken in their in their mouth. So they they're enjoying that. Uh and then this year uh they offered a wish list to our teachers uh for

003them to purchase and they were able to provide everything that was on the wish list for the teachers to provide in the classroom for our students. So uh once again we're very blessed and honored to have Faith Baptist Church as a partner with Jefferson Elementary School and I think he deserves a round of applause. Here we get a picture right here. Just walk. >> Yeah, >> appreciate that. Um Let's see. Now we're on public input. Um so public input for the work session, three minutes per person. Any item related jur school? Um now on our agenda, we got Mr. Charles Hicks. Is there anybody else signed up? >> Yes, there are two others. >> All right. So we'll let Mr. Hicks come up and start his mic. the microphone. >> Yeah. on. >> I want

004to thank you again for this opportunity to be here and I was so grateful that you let me have my three minutes where you give me four last time I was here and I thank you for that. But I want to tell you tonight a little bit of what's happened since I was here before. I've had quite a few doors shut on me, but I've had a lot of doors open for me. And I am here to tell you that there's not a doubt in my mind that all the nights that I've been laying awake and twisting and turning going different ways want to know why is this happen to me. I'm here to tell you that without a doubt before this is over. We will have Jesus Christ back in our school rooms the

005way it's supposed to be. I've had some doors open up for me I didn't even know anything about when I was here before. I didn't even know what a podcast was, but I found out pretty much what what that is. And I've already had the opportunity to to speak on one. I've had somebody else to contact me to see if I would speak on theirs. And then I just had somebody from down towards Middle Tennessee to speak. But I'm here to tell you, I am not interested in anybody else but Jeff County. And I need you to please help me. help me get prayer back in school the way it once was. Some of you all can remember. Some of you can remember when prayer was in school. A lot of you can't, but I

006remember in my heart when there was prayer in school and it's it it meant something me to me today to be able to stand here and talk to you. And I told my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that if he would let me retire and have the help to do it, I will never stop until I get back to school. And now I've been told that just maybe I get to go to Nashville. I think I've been there twice to watch a UT ball game. But I get to go back to Nashville and I may be getting to knock on some doors because I think I'm going to have a bill that's going to be there. And I want Jefferson County people to please pray. I wish to God that this school that this school

007board members could could pray openly. We have a prayer instead of have to say something private. It's like we don't believe in Jesus. We really don't. And Jefferson County is much better than that. and we can actually stand together as Jefferson County people and set an example for the whole state of Tennessee that we're not going to neglect our children. We're not going to neglect them. if they had that opportunity over a microphone every morning like I remember to see it and what I got to be a part of. A child would say a Bible verse, then a child would say a short prayer and then they would be a child that would tell everybody to stand up and everybody stand up and say please that may still be in the school. I don't know.

008Less than three minutes. less than three minutes and we're telling Jesus Christ, you are allowed back in our school. And I know that the last time I was here that I heard a comment about other religions. Well, our religion was found on one, our almighty God and his son Jesus Christ. And I guess that's all I've got to say. Thank you for this. And I do hope that you'll remember and pray for me and pray for this school board because it's gonna happen. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Move to our next person. >> Next person is please and she will be speaking about Do I wait till the timer starts? >> Go ahead. Let's start. >> My name is Jen Alger. I am the PTO president over at Mar Middle School and I um

009I'm here tonight to talk to you about online platforms for fundraisers and payments. Um this was recently shut down and so I did a little bit of research. Um and according to the model financial policy for school support organizations. It does allow for PTO's to utilize online platforms such as PayPal. Um, now when I read this last year, I actually did a little bit more research to see what would benefit a nonprofit organization such as such as PTO. And there is an online platform called Zephy. Um, Zephy is strictly for nonprofits. We keep 100% of our proceeds. We can set up um fundraisers. We can set up events. We can set up online registrations for anything that we have going on with our schools. And the only way that Zephy earns any sort of funds

010is through tips. So what I had read was as long as there was some form of a receipt for whatever is being purchased and a way to track it that that online platform could be utilized. So I actually made copies and I can pass around if you like to take a copy for yourselves. Um it shows the money was directly deposited into the PTO bank account. It shows when uh purchase was made through the account and it also gives a receipt for whatever was purchased that was set up through Zepy. So I wanted to understand um what in what capacity can this PTO have to utilize an online platform to to raise money for um fundraisers again to support our teachers and our staffs. And last year this platform was utilized and it was a

011huge success for us. Um now recently again it was shut down. So I'm just trying to understand um and get a better feel for why it was shut down and give us that option back. So we have that um that ability to use online payments for anything that we have going on. And next is Diana Harvey speaking on registration. Hello. Welcome back school board. I want to take a moment and thank you to you for your time and service to our students and staff. I know first sacrifices that are made to be in your position and I appreciate and respect each of you. Something happened during the registration process, not just this year but over the last few years that needs to be addressed. The issue was that the links provided during the registration process

012do not work. You know the ones parents have to agree to. It included the following policies. Internet usage policy, attendance policy, COPA compliance statement, discipline policy, bullying policy, health screening policy, dress code policies for kindergarten through fifth grade, and also for six and also the one for 6th through 12th grade. To each of these links, I got a logged out/ session expired notice. When this happened last year, I sent an email to the suggested address, which returned with a request for which links weren't working. I responded saying I had spent hours already on the process and didn't have time to do it again. That was their job. This year I contacted several people within JCS for help. Even some who were surprised to learn of this and even didn't believe me until they tried the

013links on their own. Mind you, I had tried this on both my laptop and my phone. This was still happening in even on the first day of school. So my question is this. Did any of the people notice this that assisted parents with the registration process over the summer? I have concerns about this for two reasons. Number one, parents have to click a button to agree or not agree to these policies. And although many parents do not bother clicking links, I personally like to know the facts and what to expect. Number two, you are asking parents to agree to the these new policies that are being adopted tonight. something that should have been disclosed before they agreed. Number three, should a problem arise with a student over such policies, Jefferson County schools will have a

014difficult time proving that the parents actually saw the policies. In addition to these, there was a spot to agree to the span the student handbook on the registration process, which no one ever sees until school begins and only if the parent thinks to ask their child to see it. And then again this year, several of the paper handouts for parents to fill out contain old links that do not work. One for a QR code for an app that parents can use to keep us informed. That QR code also does not work even today. I know this seems like a very minor issue to most of you, but for me, having a child with an IEP, being expected to agree to policies that I don't have access to and that ultimately violate his IEP is egregiously

015deceptive. JCS not addressing these issues perpetuates the dispute that JCS does not provide transparency and it undermines public trust and puts except exceptional kids at risk. And I have um I'm going to hand out these to you all that the um the papers that um that I was hand out the those are ones that all parents to fill out and papers are marked where the link on the bottom here's copy of my statement. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, >> Mr. Chen. I'd like to remind everybody to please turn your mics on and to speak into the mics. We are being recorded and videotaped. Thank you. >> Thank you for that. >> Get on top of it. All right. Um so we have items for information next on the agenda. Um you can see

016that this was included in your work session packet. Uh monthly financial report will begin in September. Uh district enrollment policy review which um policy committee just met for this meeting. Monthly threat assessment schoolboard strategic plan assessment results and credit exam information for Jefferson County High School 2025 2026. So, I'll turn it over to the director to have his input on these items for information. Thank you. Um, so down through here, we've got district enrollment is listed. Um, it's a it's a few higher than uh what it shows. Um, currently we're just a few higher, but that's fluctuating from day to day. We're about 45 students down from where we were uh this time last year. So that's where that that stands on the enrollment process. Um and then strategic board plan. Um we're not going

017to do any items for information there, but Trevor is going to discuss that whenever we get to director's input. Um, number seven, uh, one thing I wanted to add there, that's some items for information on the credit exam information. So, that was, um, a sheet of paper or so that was excluded from our previous meeting that should have been in there. So, um, that has been added just to to bring to the record there. All right. >> And then Miss Elder's here, but um she's going to share the uh financial report which begin you have anything for next meeting September. No, >> they can if they want it. >> We'll see. >> We haven't closed our books yet, right? Completely. So, we have till the end of this week. >> And it takes it um

018especially We're still trying to spend some from last year. So, thank you. >> All right. Well, and that brings us down to the director's input on the upcoming business session agenda items. So, let him run to that, too. >> Before I get too much on the agenda items, I'm going to let Trevor, you ready, Trevor? Trevor is going to come down and just give us some where we're at on on what we can update so far on the five-year plan versus our assessment information. It's not all out yet, but we want to kind of give you We've given you some information and uh I think Trevor, you got a packet for him. >> Should be on the desk. >> Here he comes. >> He said 45 minutes. >> Four. No, four to five. >> Four

019to five. Sorry. just take us 45, won't you? >> Um, so you do have a packet print out. You'll put it in a small folder there. Um, if you would like access to this and it's not so we can't keep up with me half time. >> So, um, as we run through this, when we met to build our strategic plan, we chose several academic indicators, um, to look at over a five-year period. And we chose those about in the middle of the year. So um we were ambitious. I said we wanted to pick goals that were reasonable but also ambitious in its making. So in your packet what I've given you is the first page that's there will look like slide to the back of this never fails to this room. Carrie will you go

020up and run my laptop? more bodies you can actually is apologize for that. There we go. That's where I want to be. Then we'll slide back. >> In the front of your packet, you have our trends over the last seven to eight years. And I feel like that captures for you a pretty good understanding of where we have came from precoid coming out of COVID. And what I would draw your attention to is at the bottom of the chart where it says 2425. Those are the percentages of students in each grade level who reached proficiency as defined by the Department of Education on last year's TCAP assessments. We will talk about the term proficiency in just a second. But what I do want you to know is that is has a thorough understanding and ability

021to apply grade level standards. Right below proficiency is a term known as approaching and and that means they have a partial understanding of the grade level standards. So it's really important to draw a difference between being proficient on the test as a third grader means you have full grasp of the standards. scoring approaching on the third grade test means you can read. You may not be able to read to the full depth and breadth of the standards, but you still have an ability to interact with and access those grade level standards. So, what you'll see is as a quick overview, anywhere where you see that yellowish color represents the highest score that we've achieved as a district since 1718. And this is all the same test. That's why 1718 is the starting point for that.

022So you can see the journey from 29 and 610% in third grade to 45 and 610% on last year's assessment. If you'll pay special attention to the 38 and 610 to 45 and 610 that's one year's time and that's about a um math in public about a 7oint gain year-over-year. That's that's a huge um accomplishment. So for us it's not 100%. It's not 75%. But it's a 7% gain in one year's time. And that puts us about four percentage points over the state average. Like I said for us in one year's time and you can see out to the very end representing grades three through eight. You see that last year 40 and 4/10% of our students as a district were scoring proficient on the end of the year test and that is our highest

023um achieved score over the last six to seven years. uh you will see a very similar story for us. I pulled out the high school assessments. You can kind of see the same trend here. They go um to 9th grade, take algebra 1. You can kind of see the 27 one that's represented there. And then what I would draw your attention to is across the board out of all six tested subjects in high school. I would draw your attention to um English one where over 50% of our students are proficient on the state test and then English two where it's 55 to 810%. Um that English two test is the final language arts test given by the state of edge of Tennessee to our students. So 55 and 810% of students scoring proficient on that

024assessment. >> Hold on. Go back. Did you get that? >> That's okay. >> You got it. If you want a picture, you got it. >> Back up. You need it. >> It's okay. It's there. >> Sorry. Thank you. >> Go back slowly. I don't want the computer confused. >> All right. So, when we started the process um last year, the number one way that we said we would measure the instructional core that is instruction and teaching in Jeff County schools for grades K through 8, we said we would use I ready and we would be looking at students who scored on grade level. So, we set a five-year target of 75%. and we worked our way to from where we were at 58 and 210% to 75% over those five years. Um what I will

025say is last year our goal for 2425 was 61 and 410. We did miss that goal but what I did for you below that was I tried to break out in places where we showed improvement or regression. I tried to show those for you so that you can see that it wasn't that everyone went down. Some grade levels did go up while others may have flatlined or went backwards a small amount. You can see in grades um three and four, you can see that improvement that I showed you on the state test a minute ago. You can see those grade levels achieving higher scores as we move through. Again, our goal being by the time we reach 2829 to be at 75%. Um, we have done some work in grades K 1 and two. And

026you can also see in those grade levels that higher percent of students being on grade level. That's representing some of that work feeding up as we move up. K, if you hit the arrow button for me. Um, the other big piece of this that we decided to take on was we said we would look at Sorry, one more time here. We said we would look at chronic absenteeism. And if Doug recalls, I said we spent about an hour and a half or more talking about chronic absenteeism. And we went around and around and around the table. Um and um Dr. Lame Sandy Rainey, we talked about precoid chronic absenteeism in in the district for elementary grades was about 7%. That number has doubled or tripled or since co and if you remember back back to

027those days we told kids if you feel sick stay home stay home for two weeks. Um sometimes people still have that thought in their head. Chronic absent Josh knows how that is. Chronic absenteeism is missing 18 or more days out of the school year. So that that term is actually defined in our school plan. So it's not missing five days for a sickness or missing two days for an extended vacation. It's missing 18 days total. So, we set a goal this year to reach 18%. And what I want to really kind of call out here is we did a lot last year based off of our school plan. If you read our um central office update, saw some of the things we were posting, we started celebrating and rewarding daily attendance in elementary school. Um

028we saw a reduction of one point in in grades K through eight. And the high school had been going down for three years. So we did not focus heavy on the high school and what you can see there is as the elementary school went down the high school actually went up by about two points like I said so that that attention's already been drawn when we met this summer in our data reviews I said with principles that was one of the things we called out and schools are working individually on promptly out of school while also we're going to continue that at the district level with our attendance prizes and those types of things. So again, we did miss the measure, but where we worked, we did see that reduction of six by about 1%

029in most grades K through eight. Several schools are now down around the 14% mark from around 2021 2 to three years ago. So we have seen a reduction year over year over year, just not the reduction we wanted to see last year in great skate debate. And again, that is 18 plus days. That's that's when you become chronically absent. Can you do it one more time? Thank you. I got it. Um, so grades three through 10, when you lump those in together, what I wanted to show with this slide, as you think about those measures, so we chose chronically out of school, and we chose um, I ready. There's two other measures there, college and career ready. I can't release that information to you yet because the department hasn't finished up their review. And the

030other being the ACT. We're also waiting on the department to finish that. So, of the four measures for our district plan, two of them are still embargoed and they will be released in the coming days. Um, this is ELA performance. It's that same number I showed you a minute ago. And what I would draw your attention to here is you want to see fewer kids in below and you want to see more kids meeting or exceeding expectations. What you will see with that is in this chart we have that trend occurring and we saw last year three and a half% more students scoring on grade level scoring proficient than what we did the previous year. So again that's the pre we want to see and remember below expectations is telling us that those kids pretty

031much don't have the ability to access grade level standards. So, we want that bucket to be the smallest bucket that exists on these state tests. Um, call out three grades. These are what we like to refer to as like major transition grades. Um, grade three, again, you see that 387 to 456. That is the first time students test. It's the first big test they take. The retention law is tied to it. You remember all doing the big ordeal with that two to three years ago, working through that. You can see those outcomes there. um sixth grade you can see that is representing year to year. So again an increase in sixth grade and then ninth grade um that's where you see the largest increase there from 438 to 523. So again that is 9th graders

032in in this district. I'll show you a state trend in just a second here if you would. So math kind of the same thing again I'm giving you the bird's eye view. You can see again what we're after is a reduction in the below category and we're looking for increases in met expectations and exceeded expectations. We had a roughly a 1.5% increase last year in math proficiency with major increases in grades three, four, and five. Like I said, year end over year end. Same thing here for you that view of um those major transition levels. Grade three from 411 to 473. sixth grade 261 to 355 and then ninth grade algebra 1 called out this summer and we've been working on it since June. We saw a reduction in proficiency in algebra 1 and we

033are doing some work in that area to improve that. Algebra 1 um is the currently the lowest proficiency rate across the state as they continue to work through that process. Carrie if you would. Um here the slide that I would like to show you is again there are four levels with our state test below approaching meets and exceeds and the words that I've highlighted for you. A met expectation is a thorough ability to apply the standards. Thorough is a big word. They have they have the ability to do that on any type of grade level standard. If you go look at an eighth grade ELA test, a thorough ability to apply that standard is saying something like it is a difficult test. It is a lot of inferencing and a lot of drawing main ideas.

034I mean, it's a tough test to take. It is grade level standards. We are moving students to a higher rate proficiency on those. But what I would also call out is an approaching expectations level is a partial ability. So they're still able to work with the standards. They just have not got to a place where it is a thorough application. And again, we want to see more kids move into approaching, but we want to see more kids overall move into that met expectations and exceeds expectations category. Giving you a little bit of narrative in your packet that you can read. If you have any questions with that later, I'll be happy to answer those for you. Um our trend is where we would want it to be. We have um this last piece here for

035you that kind of show you the state trend versus our trend. Um grade three the state average is 417 we're at 456. Grade 6 395 375. Grade nine again a big transition grade for us 392 523 and then 10th grade we are also scoring above the state average. Each of those areas are a transition grade for us. And um I kind of want to point out that I did not cherrypick the data. I gave you the same consistent data points. And if I were going to cherrypick data, it would not have been sixth grade. It would not have made the list. So again, of the four that are up there, three of them are above state average. Two of them quite a bit above state average. So um we put out at this point two

036to three press releases that are out there with more of this information in narrative form. Um Tivos, which is a growth measure, will be released later this week. So you can look for that press release to come from Dr. Arnold before we send it out. Um our I'll say our growth is good. What the other measure the state uses it is a very solid measure this year. We're very excited to release that in the coming days. Our schools have done a ton of work to be where they are. Um if you look since co again Josh has a perspective of working as a teacher in a different district. We were able to stand at the beginning of the year and roughly um twothirds of our twothirds of our tested subjects scored above St. Average. We

037were able to celebrate those scores with our teachers. So that concludes my brief presentation. Anybody have any questions I can answer before I seat? >> Yes, sir. >> Um just on that last chart that you had there, see grade nine and grade 10. Um I see our we went up I guess that the ELA proficiency went up by 3.5%. But I see the big jump in the state goes actually like 15.1%. Why do you think it was such a big jump in the state? And not that ours is bad, we only jumped 3.1%. >> You're talking year to year. >> Yeah. From the grade nine to the grade 10. I just noticed a big jump in the overall state. um that 40 that 543 is fairly consistent for the state. English 2 has a lower

038cut score. So like it is easier to demonstrate proficiency on the 10th grade test. Us being at above the state average is one of the first times we've ever been there. So our English nine is usually really strong and then we kind of um saw on English 10, but it is a cut score issue there. Okay. >> So, so really the the states overall and I and I know that to get that 39 average some exceed that way above it some below it. >> Yeah. >> I was just kind of wondering why the states overall was such a big difference. >> Think about um 33 questions to get right example not concrete quote 33 questions to be right on the nth grade test 30 questions right on the 10th grade test. >> So that that's

039kind of what explains the big jump that's there. >> Okay. And that's typically what we see across the state. >> I'm just kind of curious. That's all. >> Good question. >> My only other question is on the uh chronic absenteeism >> 18 days. I mean I I don't think I've missed 18 days my whole entire school career. Is this common? >> It is. >> That seems like a lot. >> We've got a crash course in it. It is a national and international issue at this point and it has been so since co so every if you read educational literature every district every state every country right now is grappling with how to get students to leave the mindset of if you've got a cold stay home. you've got a suspected cold stay home. So, it's

040been it's been three years worth of work trying to get our numbers down and it is um we're trying to do a lot of public service announcements because it is you're right 18 days is a lot. It wasn't like that before CO though. Overall, >> it was seven 7% for us like I said as a as a as a district and elementary grades preco. >> Um I have a little bit more background with with this because I sat in endless meetings, you know, coming up with this. Um as I recall when we started putting these numbers together, sixth grade was always a concern. >> Yes. >> Even back then. >> Yes. >> All right. remains a concern. Um, and I I I don't want to take up time here because we could do that in

041the committee meeting when we next meet. But there is something about the sixth grade that I in in our district, I don't know if it's statewide, but in our district that just doesn't seem to be clicking. And um I don't know if it's because of the kids coming in as they came out of the CO era hadn't caught up to where they should be. So they end up in sixth grade and all of a sudden by the time they're sixth grade all that COVID fog is kind of behind them and so they go on to seventh, 8th and 9th and and do very well. But that's that was something that was a concern then and it seems to me based upon these numbers still a concern now. So I will point out that yes, when

042we met at sixth grade, ELA and math were major concerns. I will point out the big jump in sixth grade math, which is one place where we focus heavy on last year. We did a lot of PD, a lot of teacher pulling together, a lot of work there and that score did come up. So we felt like we have a really solid plan to repeat that this year in sixth grade math and we're also doing something very similar in sixth grade. So we did we did see some of the fruits of the effort from that work because and again keep in mind that our two largest middle schools that is a transition period for two of our largest middle schools. So they are going from several elementary schools to Jeff Middle and to Mari middle.

043So you will see some school districts have fifth grade as their l their their sweet point because that's where some schools do transition at. Others will see sixth. Some who do seven will see seven. So any transition year can be a cause for decline in proficiency. And I don't know if this should be a a question for you or Dr. Arnold. You mentioned algebra one statewide is is is a weak link. Is that because of the programs that the Department of Education is recommending that we're using or is is there some other reason? >> Um I would say a transition year 8th grade to 9th grade. Um and like they begin to prioritize other things in ninth grade whether that be other courses or other interests. Um the ninth grade algebra one assessment would is

044also extremely extremely difficult. >> Are there any school districts that you know who's overcome that trend? >> We have been up until this past year a leading district in the east region. Last year was an if for us >> anything else >> how I can't remember I've had to pro but how how long is that algebra one test >> it is three to four subp parts 45 to 50 minutes each subp part one portion no calculator and I am telling you what it's a tough part of the test >> yeah it's I know I see kids like just sitting they're struggling theirelves. I'm not good at algebra myself either, so I can only imagine what it is these days, but those tests been, you know, pretty much an hour long for three or four days.

045Not not a I don't know. It's not a good way to measure whether getting those. >> I'm okay with the test, like I said, but it is a tough one. It's hard. >> Anyone else? Thanks so much. >> Thank you. All right. Um, I wanted to talk a little bit about Tavern Elementary School project. Um, so we have sent you an email. We have bought that property that joins Talbot Elementary School. Um, that has worked out very good in order for us to save more space. Talbit's tight as far as the amount of space the kids have for the playground. So that property we're going to use it as a construction entrance. So we're not going to have to move down and take property for a construction entrance. We're probably not going to have to

046move that piece of playground that's located up there on the corner. Um so um they sent us a diagram of the fencing uh today. So, just prior, I don't know what time today they sent that. It was late, so I didn't print that off, but I'll forward that to you just so you have a reference that shows the construction entrance and the fencing they're going to put in to secure the layown area. Uh we we are taking right now they landar in that area that we're building and taking as a layown area. So, we've talked to the school, we've talked to about additional options. Um, of course, they don't land on gravel, but we've since paved that area over there for a parking lot. So, they're looking at that area to be able to use

047during the day and um anytime school's not in session to be able to to land. They're looking for alternative options also during this construction phase time frame. Are we going to be able to complete a road around the school? >> So, that is in the plan to be able to have a secondary access u go all the way around the school >> around the school into the uh where the construction entrance is where that comes into Miss Hill. Miss Hill >> Miss Hill's property that we purchased. >> Is that property on the White Pine Road? >> Yes, it is. It's right there where the the >> light blinks. >> It's where that oak tree is. >> Some big ones. >> We'll throw that down next week. >> We ain't >> we will >> that's out

048of our >> So, >> yeah, that that is uh is going um we're starting to see some some movement. Um, so skilled services will u be coming in with some fencing. Um, we'll probably start taking down some of that property line border of fencing and trees. So, you'll start seeing some stuff over the next few weeks. Um, there any questions on tal? >> Yes. Do we have like a projected timeline of when we may be starting? Actual starting it. >> Define starting >> actual doing work to build the additional foundation stuff like that. I get you know it's going to take some time to >> stage it and everything but actual people out there actually start. >> Yeah. So um I think they are working right now to u site contractor for site work. Um,

049so skilled services working with a site contractor, they'll come in and there's some trees right there that behind the school that have to be taken out. So, you'll see those trees removed. There's a maple that's right, I don't know, 15 20 feet from a tree from the building. Um, I think there's four trees that have to be removed. Then they'll take out the soil that's there. uh bring in some suitable soils to compact. So I would say you'll see that in the next 30 days. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> And did I did I see correctly? I think you sent us a like a progress report the estimated time of completion is May of 26. Is that right? >> Yes. Um so I think we put that May 1st. So initially we had a March

050date and then of course we had some uh time that it went through fire marshall office to get approval somewhere around five and a half weeks of fire marshall approval that it took a little additional time. It's very complicated. So it's not the architect's fault. It's not fire marshall's fault. So basically they're they're communicating by uh diagrams, emails. So they're not sitting at a table. It'd be like all of us being at our uh homes typing emails of what we mean and and drawing pictures and trying to get our point across. So people interpret different. Once they all got on the same page, fire marshall put their stamp of approval on it and passed it on. But it it took a little time. So we extended skilled services to match that start time to what

051they agreed to. Thank you. >> All right. Jefferson Elementary School. Um I came to county commission and spoke a little bit just on on that. Uh, you know, there's there's been a lot of people um anticipate that whenever county commission passed the funds that we were going to begin and you know that's just not the way it works. Um nor you know could we abate this summer and u and remove all materials and still have school. Um, so it's a process, you know, it's going from the time the board approved it, county commission approved it, we hired a um architect, we hired a construction manager. you're looking at three years uh to be able to get the plan in place, bid it out, and then uh two years of of construction kind of like at

052Pedmont. So, it's a process. The um right now we're in the schematic design phase. So, the next thing I'll update you along the way of schematic design, but you all will get a schematic design putt in front of you, Mr. blanket will come. He'll give presentations. Um Scans will give cost estimates on that schematic design to make sure that we're somewhere in the budget of where we need to be to to so that we bid it out. It's not like way off and we got to regroup and and and redo a lot of stuff. So, uh, you know, you're looking at at least probably four, three and a half months to get to schematic design. Four months to be able to bring it to you for approval. And then once we get approval of schematic

053design, then we're moving forward. So, um, that'll tell us what we're going to do, how we're going to do it, and to what extent. Um, and then they'll do design, development, um, contract documents, construction documents, bid documents, and and then once we get those bid documents, we'll place it out to bid. As long as it's under budget, we're moving forward just like TA and going forward with that. >> Mr. Chair, um, I understand that our building manager came in substantially under budget. Is that is that not correct? >> Uh $200,000ish $180,000 under budget. >> That's >> Yeah. Yeah, that's good. U I guarantee you something's going to come in above budget. >> Oh, sure. >> So that's one thing that you know I remember at Piedmont something would come in I'd be like yes. And

054the next day they hit a a septic tank underground. U it's amazing what it costs to get rid of a septic tank underground that's has to be disposed of by EPA standards. So yeah, you win some, you lose some. Hopefully we'll win more than we lose and uh and keep moving in those directions. There's so many unknowns. Um, you know, there's a uh like a cavern underneath that school that u is a confined space. Nobody's been in it. Somehow we're going to have to get something to go in there and either somebody with a confined space certification. We're going to get a robot and you know, we got to go under there and find out what's going on. So, but there's just a lot of unknowns once you start digging in and figuring out exactly

055what has to happen. But, you know, the good thing is we have some space at that school. So, it's not it's not um every class is not as jam-packed as as Pedmont was. Uh so, we'll have a little more space to work with. And then also we have some classrooms that were built in 2000. Nine of those that are hazard free of of asbestous and lead paint those things. So that's a good thing also to have that space. Um you know I will I sent some information to the teachers uh shared it with Mr. Mr. Day went to his boys football game. So, uh, but I shared some information with Mr. Day. He shared it with teachers just where we're at. But there's hadn't been that much to share here labeling, right? >> Um, once

056we get some stuff, I'll set up kind of a town hall meeting share with similar to whenever we went to New Market that time. And and you know, whatever the public wants to know, we'll give them any information we have. I know there's a lot of concern. Um, you know, I always have concern anytime we're in a project. Um, at Pedmont, a, you know, individual, a a contractor got, you know, ran over, severely hurt. That's nothing in our control, but it's, you know, on our grounds and and that individual later, months later, passed away from his injuries. But um you know, you never want anybody u anybody to get hurt or or anything on any job site, especially a school. So, we'll take every precaution that we possibly can to ensure safety um will be

057our first priority. So, we've already let that be known and we'll go from there. Yes. >> Um I think this I'm going to say back October, November, December, somewhere in there when blank, Mr. Blanket should kind of present us with a kind of a timeline when things would start, how kind of the process of the whole thing >> and I know quite a delay of approving things and getting it going. Could we get an adjusted kind of timeline, but knowing it's just, you know, not set in stone, but >> Yes. And we'll have that at um So, we had that August 4th kickoff. He's looking at getting that to you all. So, we had requested that. So, he's going to get us to um to be it to where we bid it out. So, then

058we won't have anything as far as a start estimate yet. But, but he's going to get us to where we bid it out to hire a contractor to move that project forward because then based on when that is and based on who the contractor is, u start dates vary. Uh, so you may have a a $20 million bid that says they can start in a 100 days. You may have a $24 million bid that says they can start tomorrow. U, it just varies on that. So So that'll be part of it. We'll go from there. But he'll get us to to P. Okay. Thank you. >> U, any other questions on Jefferson? on the next one, director school's performance evaluation instrument. So that is included in your packet. Um it's what we used last year.

059I have that on the uh business agenda for approval. You have time to look at it. If you wanted to push it off till October, September, October, you can. That's up to you all. We would need to approve it by October. Um because it then I would need that approved so that I can prepare my stuff for you, have meetings with you if you so choose. And then in December it would be um in front of the board you would turn it in. It would go to TSBA and and and on in that direction. But, um, I've put that. So, each of you have done that at least one time. Um, where you mark it up. Um, if there's something that you want modified or changed, then I believe that would go in front of

060the the board for approval. Um, if you want to change anything in there. Any questions on that? roofing updates. Um, these come in. So, pull this up for so I don't so based on what I Mount Horbs, Mari and Mount Horb and Mari are 100% completed. Uh Rush Strong still has a few uh units that need some flashing. They had to adjust some height on some HBAC units. They need flashing. And um all metal components are installed there at Rush Strong, but um there are still a few things that that need to be just a very few, but But there are some issues there where they have to adjust those flashings on those units. If you remember, we put all those units in new. So, we really want to ensure that everything's to spec. So,

061the roofers have suggested that a few of those get raised and reflashed just to be in compliance with with standards and ensure we don't have issues. So, um, and then Jeff Middles right now about 75% complete. All demolition of the old roof had been removed. Um, so we were able to get that around back for the start of school. Um the screw the crews working on installation of the U cap sheet and all metal components including new gutters and down stale. They're looking at about three weeks pending weather at Jefferson to complete that. So the good thing is they've pretty much completed Rush Strong, completed Mari, completed Mount Horb. So they got a lot of people moved into that Jefferson job now in three weeks is what they're planning on. >> Any questions on roofs?

062>> Yes sir. >> The units that have to be raised on restaurant, is there going to be an added charge or how did that work? >> No, there was not an added charge. U it was very minimal. most of it some reflashing. Um so whenever um there was only a couple that needed raising so that was very minimal. The reflashing is um I I don't know how but some of it was not to their specs. So they're they're doing reflashing on those curves instead of just recovering. They're actually the u he'd have to explain it. I Austin talked to him, but that's minimal expense for them, but it's time, >> but they're they're willing to cover that. >> So, that's within their their scope of work. >> Mr. is since this has to do with

063the HVAC, is perfection involved in >> They are. >> Yes. >> So, they're work that's they know what these what their units need to have and >> Yeah. But they were on so they're not there on a daily basis. They were on site with uh Matt Emery, our roofing specialist. They were on site with Scola and Perfection Austin. Uh James Franklin was down there. So they were all walking and having a discussion and came to agreement on what to do and and then Escola moved forward on completing work. >> Great. Thank you. >> Yes. capital projects list. Uh so I made some copies. I'm not sure where they're at. So we we are modifying based on what's in here. So what is in your packet I will send you an updated version of that. >>

064Okay. So I took capital projects and included $640,000 of capital projects and we have $640,000 but finance gets particular. So we have $400,000 of 141 month and then we have $240,000 of 177 capital projects that came from wheel tax u addition that we get money for this year. So, what you're going to see is in the updated version, you're going to see $400,000. These same projects pretty much $400,000 that is spent out of 141. And then you're going to see capital projects in the 177 account. That is uh bleacher replacement and awning at restaurant. That's that's more uh not the bleach or repair. It's more capital stuff coming in being built, constructed uh in the 177 account. So yes, sir. >> You say we had more money available in their fund that has not been

065spent. >> So um >> do we have more money than 64? >> No, we have 640,000. We don't have >> not in the budget. No, no, not in the budget. So, um, of course, if something comes up, we have fund balance and then, you know, sometime in the near future, >> we did have a fund balance. >> Jesse will be talking. We still have right at $2 million unassigned fund balance. So, and then she'll speak. I think we got we'll have at least $1,000 to roll from last year. >> That's so So that'll happen. But that's my mistake. Um, as far as new money, um, I did I did not realize I did know that, but I just took capital projects as that money, but realizing that county commission's will tax money's designated for 177,

066which has to go towards capital expenses. So uh some of these are not capital like stadium repair that's pretty major uh and has to be done but it's not considered a capital expense per se as far as going in there and you know capital expense is more the creation of something new and constructive. Any questions on that? >> Yes sir. Good. Um the I went down and looked at the one of the capital thing is it's it's a smaller one seal crack. >> Yes. >> I I went down there and looked and I've got some pictures here just in case. U there there's kind of two cracks. There's a crack that you if you stood a quarter on its side, it could probably fit down into it. That's about how wide it is. And then

067there were like hairline cracks. You know, this first one is the quart what I call the quarter crack. The second one is the hairline crack in case those of you haven't seen it. Now, most of those cracks seem to be on the first two courts. It looks like there was some settling run on or I don't whatever. And then there are some hairline cracks in the in the courts that are further on. And the $10,000 would be for seal crack and seal coat. Is that the entire tennis area or just certain courts that need >> just so what we'd be looking at right now is and and I may even remove that from this project and just pay for that out of uh general maintenance funds based on what it comes in at. But it

068would we would be just like your driveway or anything. um it will get filled, tarred, and then repainted in that area. >> So, we're not talking about doing the whole tennis area. >> That is correct. But right now, we're not talking about doing the whole tennis area. We're talking about protecting those cracks from um freezing, thawing, water infiltration to be able to to take care of that. >> Yeah. And I I'm all for that. And like we said, you know, you take care of things when they're small and they don't get big. Uh, I just wanted I didn't know some of you who weren't right close to the high school would see that and I didn't know I didn't think $10,000 would take care of that whole tennis area >> for resurfacing. I just wanted

069to ask the question. >> Um, my second u comment would is has everybody has anybody seen the bleachers at war? Um, if I could, Mr. Chairman, could I ask the lady from the TTO to come up? She has been very very focused on this. She can kind of explain what what you know what the bleachers at Lori what they need and kind of what the dangers are. >> I know you weren't prepared for this. >> I I was not. That's okay. Um so the bleachers at Mari have um if you can just for those who have not been which I'm assuming the majority of you guys probably at Mari and have seen our pictures um are the main concerns that me as a parent and also as the PTO president advocating for our teachers as

070well as the students um some of the gaps in of the sections when we have parents or kids or whomever and say someone goes and slips there there's enough of a gap in between of those sections to where their foot or even their knee I mean they could fall through those cracks and you've got a major major problem and you're calling 911 and it could turn into a larger um a larger problem. So this has actually been something that's been on my limelight over the last year. Um it was brought to my attention last year when I was voted on as president. I'm still focusing on it um as opposed to trying to raise money strictly for the bleachers. It's now just school improvements as it was previously suggested. So um part of the reason

071why well aside from the online platform that I spoke about earlier, I wanted to come and listen to what the plans were to try to get those bleers replaced for um for our students and our staff. So that way it eliminates the safety concerns for anyone who was there visiting any of our students on our rollers. And um and again I was just curious to see what the plan was. >> Thank you. >> And I spoke to Miss I know Miss Gwyn talked about having you know we need some more space. I said well actually you'll probably have less space less seating than you have right now. Just whenever I mean, you know, you have ADA compliance, uh, railing, a lot of things that go into new bleachers and safety. And it so whenever you

072put wheelchair accessibility, whenever you put railings in, it it removes seating possibilities. Also, >> I'm trying to remember it. Mari, don't they have all the bleachers just on one side? >> That's correct. >> The other side's like a stage or something. I mean, I've been there, I think. just >> Yeah, we actually had that in a uh a few years back whenever um Dr. Johnston was here. We had a leak in the boiler system over Thanksgiving that damaged the floor. We had an insurance claim. Insurance paid. There was some additional money remaining but insurance made us give that money back. So, we were looking at doing the bleachers in 2021 I believe it was uh 2022 2021 and um but we had to give the money back so we couldn't do that but money towards

073it and then um there was just some things that took precedent over it at the time so it didn't happen but you know we're looking to make it happen now. So, I want to jump back to the tennis court. I was actually down there Friday when the game was stopped by to actually notice the crack you were talking. It's a pretty significant crack. I think it was in the first might have been the second. >> I think the first one there was some minor cracks. >> Is that something we're planning on doing before winter? Trying to get those addressed? >> We would like to. Yes. >> We would like to. >> So, I was kind of looking through the budget stuff and all that. I don't see anything in there that like how do we

074how does the tennis court, the tennis team, how do they get funded? How do they fund projects? >> Football, basketball. Uh so it's like cross country and track and soccer and you know uh students pay fund raise and do things like that. But I mean you know really and truly your u I mean it's self-funded but as far as like transportation we give the school money for transportation. I mean obviously the tennis team doesn't make enough money to you know pay for the facility and pay for the lights and uh so that tennis court is a what is considered a community um courts. It's open um so you know Danny and Bill can go over there at 11 o'clock tonight and turn the lights on and play a game of tennis. >> Sure. So, so

075it's open to the public. Um, >> but so like I know when they have tennis matches, so I was kind of looking into this >> and I and I don't think I don't think this is a forward policy thing. I think this probably comes more from the association maybe like they can't charge there's no I was looking to see if there was any kind of admission fees the you know >> I mean there's certain sports we don't charge for >> uh it's the same way at colleges too it becomes more expensive for us to charge admission to have people there and to count money and all that stuff, then it, you know, if we have 42 people come to the tennis match and and we have to pay somebody to set up there for three

076hours and pay them overtime, it's more expensive for us to to charge than it is just to have a free event. So, there's certain things we don't charge for. Um, I don't think we charge for we don't charge for golf. We don't charge for swimming. Uh we don't charge for track >> cross country u so we charge for track I think some things so track baseball soccer um but some things we do not charge for. >> So when I was over there like I noticed one of the nets have a hole in it. Um you know on top of I'm sure they have to buy their own tennis ball. Don't know if you've ever have had to buy tennis balls. They're not on top of their regular stuff. I'm just trying to figure out I

077mean how much fundraising do they need to do to take care of that stuff if they're not getting anything in obviously for you know admission and what separates the fact that they're probably 40 yards or less from the football field yet I don't think I would be able to go up and play a pickup game of football in our high school stadium would I make sense what I'm So just the football. So Nick, the tennis courts was built using a grant that was for number one, the tennis courts was built on where the county pool was located. So there was an agreement between the county, the school board to build those tennis courts using a diabetes funded grant that paid for that. One of the stipulations within the grant was that we had to have

078those tennis courts open for public use. >> Okay. >> So uh you know can you come No. I mean, I don't know, but there's people who come in and walk our track on Saturday morning or in the evenings. I mean, there's a lot of things that go on just like at Jeff Middle School. You can go in there in the mornings or in the evenings and people are down there walking that track. U you know, you're not going to come there between 8 and 3 and walk the track. Steve Cameron will not let you in. Uh so there's just no way he's going to let you in. Um because our PE classes are using it, those type of things. >> Well, I meant like on a Saturday obviously we can go down and use the

079tennis courts, right? Right. It >> be public. >> You could use you could go walk the track if you wanted to. I mean, >> could I take a Thanksgiving break, have a turkey ball on the football field? >> No. Nor on the tennis courts. >> No, but I'm just saying like turkey boy as in I'm talking about like turkey boys. Oh, >> a football game, >> you know, that I'm just trying to figure out what separates it. I didn't realize it was done with the grant. Yeah. I just >> I feel like that the tennis may be just withheld from some funding that could be used for them. >> Just trying to kind of grasp around how it's funded. >> Yeah. I I don't I've not had the tennis team come and ask for uh

080funds. I know that they have they do some through co coordinated school health they have some fundraisers. Um they have some tennis camps that they able to put on for kids to raise money. U one year they were able to do through a grant they were able to do tennis grant. Um and that tennis camp any kid that came to the camp got two dozen tennis balls, a free racket, a bag. Uh so um there is some support there for the program and you know we don't ask the we don't ask the football team to uh maintain the turf. We don't ask the track team to maintain the track. We don't ask the tennis team to maintain the the courts and the nets. So, you know, there may be some issues with some of the

081facilities. It's not perfect. None of it is. But but we will put forth money and and uh pay their way. >> Okay. Were those facilities not named in honor of someone to begin with? The swimming pool and the tennis court and and weren't was that project named after someone in our county? >> Mr. Not to my knowledge. >> Was Mr. Willix was he the chairman of the court for a long time? I don't do you know anything Randy >> there there was a bench person with his name on it I know about >> there was a bench with so they did something as far as a recognition >> with his name >> not not the facility itself >> not not the present facility >> no the one before that >> not to my knowledge the

082swimming pool was taken out and filled up when it was Yeah, not to my knowledge. Um, couple of things pass this out. Um, so I told you sometimes you win some, sometimes you lose some. So, we are currently, this was the bid that came in on these um the A building that we're looking at behind Jeff County High School that the board appropriated initially. Uh $200,000 for we spent some funds and and getting some um drawings, different things in there. Um, one thing whenever you build a egg barn, you're putting kids in it. There's different regulations. So, some of this is enclosed. Um, climate controlled, water, electricity. Uh, so it's 40 by 80. 40 by 40 is enclosed. 40 by 40 is open for livestock. So, I've asked Austin to hold off just a little

083bit. Um, I mean, obviously, we don't have the money to move forward on this. We're we're way short, but we could negotiate with McPaden. Uh, a ton of this is is um concrete materials. um that concrete's expensive. Um very expensive. So some of that is what what drives this cost up. Um but we had two bids. Um so I don't feel like it was just one bidder came in and and highballed the project. Um but this is where we're at right now. So, you know, we have roughly about $180,000 sitting in account for this and the low bid came in at 618,000. So, um, so there's, you know, site work, there's access to get to it, there's a lot of things that have to happen in order to do this. So, um, we could always

084look at decreasing the size some. We could look at, um, you know, decreasing some of the sight work, some of the concrete to it, replace it with gravel, do some of that work ourselves. But, uh, but that's a that's where we're at there. Um, I've asked that, you know, we we can look at that down the road. I just wanted to give you that information. They opened bids last late last week, >> I think. So, >> last week, so we just got these in and and that's where we're at. So, I've shared this with with you with principal with the egg teacher and in Austin right now, but that's where we're at. >> Can I can I ask Josh that you're in the egg education business? Um, are are you familiar with the with what

085they're asking and that you're feeling that I mean do you see anywhere that either we could change the structure or or whatever? I don't know what you know an egg program would need as far as this kind of thing. >> Me personally, I look at this and I'm thinking county's got something very similar and it did not cost this much. So I'm wondering what in the world what's going on. So, I don't I don't know. But once again, I don't know much about construction business, but you know, I'm I think about when we had our joint commission meeting and we were talking about building two bays onto the the bus garage, you know, at near the landfill and the big discrepancy there and what somebody said would be and what was, you know, so I

086don't know. I I would like to you know, see what the the teachers themselves have to say about it myself. I didn't get to talk to anybody yet about it. So, I mean, if I had a half a million dollar building at my school, I'd be really happy. I don't think nobody's going to do that anytime soon, but I don't know. This seems pricey, but I don't know. I don't know what's actually involved or included in what all they wanted besides size. >> Do you know when the Wonder C was built? It's been within the last two three years. >> Two years I visited that whenever it was getting completed. Um it's it is much smaller. So initially the first diagram that we had was 120 by 60 and we brought it down to 40

087by 80. Um, Counties is um just an enclosed um area with a little bit of exterior ground. So, it's not fully covered. Um, I can find out that information from up there. So, it doesn't have the uh covered pins where you would work large animals in um as much as as this. It's probably I would imagine it's probably 40 by 40 maybe or or 30 by 50 tops I would say. So a lot less square footage and uh it was built on a site where all the basically you just drive up to it already um kind of on the end of a CTE building already had the asphalt everything to it. Um, but yeah, I I'd be happy. I'm sure they'll share that information with us. U we visited that site. I believe whenever Austin

088first started working, uh Missy can get that she'll work to get that information from them. Did you go miss? Yeah, we went. >> So, u, of course, Granger County, they build a much larger scale beef production. Um that was funded by a they were in partnership with a farmer over there and they rotate through gosh five pens of 50 head at a in a pin and feeder lot and sell them out. So it's a it's a major production over there. It was a a lot more expensive than this. So, and this goes way back. I mean, like I said, initially it was uh Dr. Johnston was here and did some design work with somebody and then I picked it up as as I came in um and started moving forward. So, we cut down from

089what the initial size was because I knew there was no way we could afford that. uh initial building, but I I just wanted to bring that to your attention so you would know that we're not moving forward on that project yet, but we'll continue to gather information. We'll grab some stuff from Cop County u look at what they did and they'll share those costs and we'll go from there. Thank you. So this is sounds like it's no less than four years in the making, maybe longer. >> Probably four. It was during co >> It was like 2021 I think he originally made that motion to move funds. >> Yeah. >> Been a while 2020 something like that. >> Why was I mean if it was Did we ever bid back then? >> We didn't have

090enough money to even bid at that point. I don't believe there was a there was it was kind of like the culinary project initially. There was a discussion about it and some diagrams of it and then there was a u >> a grant. >> There was some talk of grants. >> He was trying to get a grant. So he originally put some funding up because you had to have like a match. So we put the matching portion which was like 15% or something which didn't come anywhere near anything. and we didn't get the grant >> and we didn't get the grant. So that's whenever I came in there was no grant available. Uh so then I think initially whenever Dr. Johnson was here he was looking at below the softball field. Uh well that site

091they said was going to be very heavy on site work cost. So then we looked at alternative site. Um we reduced the the size of the building and uh talked with Adam Martin. Um we also had the culinary project that we needed funds on. So we took the money from u the egg building put it towards the culinary project moved that forward because that greatly impacted the instruction whereas this project was not impacting instruction of students and what they were able to get certified in. So, uh, we put that project as a priority, moved it ahead, finished culinary, and then we moved on to this project. >> So, so what do we have basically other than just submitting biz on this? Do we have any drawings? Do we have >> Yeah, we do have drawings.

092Where was the drawings from? >> Um that was uh Lewis group too. >> Um we reduced the reduced the size. We're still four and a half times over the budget. >> Yeah. So that budget, remember like Jesse and I was talking, that initial budget was set at a 20% cost to go with a grant by the board that we did not get. >> Did we did we submit for the grant? >> Yes, we did. And then since CO has went away, that money has went away within some of those federal grants. So that grant's no longer out there. uh 2021 into 2022 was the last time that grant was available. So, it's not been available since. >> So, do we have any money put aside for this at all? >> Uh there's currently about $180,000

093that is available for this. Uh but yeah, just remember that $200,000 was set initially as a 20% match for the total cost of the project. So it was never intended that that would cover the whole project. >> Have we uh have we had anybody look into any new grants, I'd say, from the state that may be available to offset some of this possible. like the Department of Agriculture or or something. >> That's who we initially had the grant that we it was a competitive grant. They gave out a few of them. Um and um and we just did not make the grant in there. So I've not seen any other grants uh that are available for this project that they were doing. >> And that was when when did we get turn when did we

094submit to get turns out? I believe that was I 2021 2022. >> So about five years five four or five years ago. >> So there I'm just wondering if something since then has come around that maybe we haven't looked at >> I don't know. >> Yeah, I don't know either. I just ask some questions. >> Yeah, I know there was a conversation with a group. You know, these grants were out there hot and heavy whenever we moved on this project, but that sense has gone away. So there was a lot of money available, you know, during that time period. >> You recall how much money you paid to move this already for any of this? >> $18,000. >> What have they gotten us so far? >> The drawings and the bids. >> Yeah. >> Can

095we get those Can I get a copy of the drawings? >> Sure. >> We can send it. Yeah, I don't remember when that was those were submitted, approved, and we move forward. I don't even know. I've lost track of I mean like said that's four or five years ago. So, four goes faster than that. All right. Well, that brings us to school commissioner for discussion. Anything chairman, what do we need to do to proceed with the prior school? >> I'll ask Mr. Hicks since he's pursuing that. Well, only thing I can say is that it's got to start here. Come up here so we can hear you. Please I don't really know why it's such a big issue. I mean, like here, we're all adults and why we have to not be allowed to pray.

096you have a moment of silence. Is that just something that we choose to do or is it a law that's where you're not allowed to have open prayer or what? Why is it that we just have a moment of silence? Because see, my problem is is like the school system. Our country is founded on Jesus Christ. I mean, that is our belief. And I I mean, I know people don't want to believe and trust in God anymore. And they really don't care. we need. It's kind of like we feel like we don't have time for God anymore. But I mean, our children need it more than anything else. And to me, it was it would start with the school board, a school board that would want to really truly fight for this. And and the

097and the fact of the matter, the whole issue is it's not that big of a deal. I I mean only thing it would be ask less than three minutes and it would be child le and that way Jesus is saying you know what you took me out of school and I hear so many people our age my age majority are a lot younger than me but I hear so many say our kids is not worth their crap they don't want to work they don't want to go outside and play anymore only thing they want to do is sit at home and play video Well, that's not our kids' fault. That's our fault. And and they don't know a single thing anymore about what our country is founded on. But I mean, everything else we can

098have the ability to teach them that not what we need in our schools. >> Did you say that? I mean I I thought I heard you say this but something statewise. I mean is there any sort of pursuit of some sort of a bill or anything at the state level? Well, right now I cannot comment on that, but I to a point. Yes, >> there's been discussion. >> Yes, definitely. And you would not believe and I'll tell you why that people has let me know in a political figure that this is a very great time to do this. I would never thought a thing in the world about it. It's going to be election year and it's time to I don't want to mention anything like a political but if you've actually heard about how

099Trump has said that God has led him to be president of the United States because he's supposed to make a difference in this country and that famous word he uses make it great again and it's got to come with faith. It's got to cometh fully. And you know you right here and what when what I say about statewide, I'm talking about I want us to be the ones that lead this. And if it can happen in Jefferson County that the people will come together and I want to go statewide, but I mean I got automatically knocked down in Hamlin County to go speak to the school board for one reason. I am a citizen of the state of Tennessee, but I don't live in Hamilton County. And I mean, I understand that would make that

100to where I can't speak in Hamilton County School Board like I can hear because I'm not a resident there. But it seems like that there's always something to where we do not want to have that name Jesus name. >> You got another question. If we as a school board voted to have prayer in school, what procedure would Tommy have to do or what can what would you have to do Tommy to? >> So a year you can't have burn at the football games. >> Right. Right. So a year ago this came up um Mr. Bennett board attorney sent um school law his recommendations of why u based on sixth circuit that we cannot you know he mentioned it we are all adults here we are not all adults here u so we have a group

101that of students who are required to be here tonight and and that's part of the reason why we do not have um you know prayer in in schools and prayer at school board because you are an arm of the school. Uh whereas county commission, city governments are different than school boards and and that's what sets us apart from um I mean you can do it >> but what would be the re results? >> Well, there'll be there'll be groups that will uh challenge you. Um just like Mr. Bennett in that email talked about sixth circuit which we fall under in this area is our jurisdiction has ruled that um you know it's not just in schools but at school events just like you don't see us u before football games before basketball games we don't

102we don't lead in a u in a prayer so we do offer that time for students to reflect act in their own way and we don't lead a self-guided prayer >> that is Mr. journal on on that same thing and I mean I can understand that like any kind of event but the only thing that I'm wanting to add to this I'm not saying make it public where we go to a football game to watch a football game we go to school to learn the kids need to learn and I mean that's fully understandable it is that's what our that's what it's going to make this country keep going year after year after year what we teach our kids but by That's just automatically saying we're not going to live Jesus Christ in our school.

103It's not nothing that you're going to have to do. And I mean, I do not believe that they would be a principal unless they just do not believe in God that would actually say that we cannot let this be childled or studentled to where they can be one or two students be picked out. What what should actually say students that would be able to do this that would want to be able to do this and they are still parents that go to church and they are still kids that's raised up in church but we live in such a fast-paced world just like you all look here you're still here after 8:00 tonight I mean it's like we're going so fast and the number one thing that we don't have time for is our Lord and

104Savior Jesus Christ we just don't have time for it but you take three minutes this is already said ahead head just like anything else clubs that we have in schools. But if that is set ahead of the system for a week or for a month that we have children that can come up there through with the parents help them or whoever wants to help them uh a student counsel or a counselor at school a short prayer or a short verse first and then a prayer then pledge allegiance over the school. Wow. And then then we are saying we're actually putting Jesus Christ back in our school system and that's it. I mean that is it. And I know that there's going to be fights. But we got one thing on our side is that we

105still believe in Jesus. We got him on our side and he's just asking us when we stand up as adults and men and let's let this happen and let's just give it a try and see. And I I know lawsuits are probably going to be coming about and people uh the uh ACLU is going to come and I've been told if I do get that chance to go to Nashville. If it ever passes the Senate, my life will be a living hell because that's when the ACLU will step in. But if I don't do it for the Lord, if I don't do it and if I don't ask you all to help me if I don't if you all do not take control and say yes, I'm going to I'm going to make a difference

106here in this county. And if this county does it, I can promise you all the other counties gonna say, "Well, you know what? We're going to do the same thing Jefferson County does." But we need to be the first ones to say, "Let's give this a try and let's see what happens." >> So, you know, one thing is we mentioned about a studentled prayer. So, you know, we're not a Christianbased school. We're not a private school. So, we follow by guidelines of the state. So we have students who are of all faiths, denominations, believers, non-believers. So whenever a student's called up and they're an atheist and they give a prayer that is of the atheist faith, then how's our community going to react to that? um you know are we fine with anyone's belief being

107said over a loudspeaker and going out to be proclaimed to other students. So um we we are not of as a public school we are not of one faith, one religion. We are not of one belief. We don't teach one doctrine. Um but we give our students and our staff time to reflect and to to issue their own beliefs and faith during their time at school. Um so that's where we stand right now. That's where um our attorney has given us the direction to be. Um >> so attorney for sure >> like he said you know there would be lawsuits there would be would be a pathway. So about a year ago, I actually brought this up to the lawyer and uh kind of like you just cuz a year went by doesn't mean I've

108forgotten about it. That's kind of what spurred on these emails. I remember the one thing that he talked about was coercion of a student by saying prayer. I kind of understand that. I looked into it further. There's a big another big gray area what is considered coercion student big enough that I'd be willing to push it again. And you know when it comes to saying the word God in school, I think just about every religion has a God. And so when I get up and I would a prayer and I say, "God, I know a God I'm talking to, but it might be a different God than what the Buddhist gets up to or the Muslim or whoever." And it doesn't mean that that doesn't have to mean they can take the word God for

109however they want. And that's how I look at it. Um, you know, I'm I'm a lot like you. One day I'm going to have to stand before my God and be on my knees. We're all going to whether you want to believe that or not. And you're going have to answer for everything you've ever done. And if that means we have to stand up there and say, "I tried. I went to court. I got my butt beat over Facebook. I took phone calls." But I knew that I did what I tried to do. And I've got three years left on the school board. I don't have to count for sure thing again. But you know, I apolog for kind of bringing this up too. But you know, I'd like to look back into it. Sixth

110circuit, that's just their role. Um, our lawyers, Mr. Bennett, very, very, that's just his recommendation. And you know, if we decide to implement it, we could sue. What's the implications of what's going to happen to us? >> M I I just think it's just going to have to be somebody that's willing to take that chance. Like I say, there's not a doubt in my mind that this cannot be done. And I know, but only thing I just go back to say your your great great great grandparents. You look back and you see there was one time people would stand up and want to fight, but people are so scared to say I mean I people has told me the teachers has told me they they got a family. They got to they can't afford to

111lose their jobs. They would love to see this happen, but it's such a touchy subject. Just like what Mr. Arnold wants to kind of push it from what the lawyer says, it can't be done. It can be. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can do it. But it's got to come from us to want to put forth the effort to say we want to be a county that's going to stand up. >> He's the He's the one that makes the impossible possible. >> Exactly. Right. And everybody here probably would probably probably admit if there's someone bear I'll be I don't care. So Mr. >> Yes. >> I guess the Oh, I thought I'm going to tell everybody else to do it and I didn't do it. Um I guess the question I'm just looking at

112it from a kind of a practical point of view. If if we expand this further, I think we have to ask ourselves what are we as a board willing to endure for put up with it locally? What are we willing to uh spend on lawyers? And what are we willing to how much attention are we willing to draw to our district? because we will draw a lot of attention both statewide and nationally to this district. I'm not saying that should be something that that we don't do this because of but I think when we go into this we need to know what the you know what the consequences and the push back is going to be. Just like this gentleman said it's going to be you know it's going to be substantial. Now, that doesn't

113scare me. Right is right and wrong is wrong. But we need to know before we start driving the wrong way on a freeway. What the consequences could be. And I'm not saying this is the wrong way. I just use that as a as an example. I mean, we are going to be dodging all kinds of stuff, you know. Um I never want to overestimate the support that we'll get, but I don't want to underestimate the push back we're going to get either. So, you know, if we if we decide to go ahead with this, just understand it is going to be substantial push back and it's up to us to determine if that's it if it's worth it to do that. Well, there's not a doubt in my mind. If if you only knew how

114many times that I lay in bed of the night and I can't sleep and it's just like something eats at me. You need to do this, you need to do that. And I mean, I'm trying to do it, but it always comes right back to here. This is where I need my help. And I mean, just like I love sitting here. I could have got up and walked out right after I got done that on my speech. You all have got a hard job. You got decisions you got to make. But for some reason, God is telling me that you all can do this. But It's got to take everybody. It's got to take the whole group. But, you know, I don't think that it will come to the part that we would not have

115help if it ever come to the point of lawsuits because people people are really wanting to go back to the way it used to be. I mean, people really wants to see our country back the way it used to be. But as long as we do not believe that Jesus Christ cannot make a difference, we are really wrong. And we are going to see it one day when another 911 happens. We'll all be back on our knees saying, "Oh, God, what don't don't let this happen. We're we're sorry. We're sorry. We'll be make a difference." And when it all goes away, we may hear a bad word to us or something. If you try to do anything about Jesus, I'll make sure that you're destroyed. But I can promise you if this county would come

116together and it's got to start at the school board and I I really don't think you're going to have many teachers that's not going to say we could be on board with this, but we don't want to lose our jobs. I wouldn't want nobody lose their jobs, but I can guarantee you this county would stick together and say, "Let's give this a try. Let's just see let's see what the the outcome is as far as just bring it out and say we want to see what takes place." And Mr. You could really and truly do that. You could say, "You know what? I just want to see what people have to say about that. I went and talked to the standard banner this morning and has given me this little thing, little how much it

117cost you to put a little ad in there. It's either this or this." I said, "Well, I'm going to put something on the main front page, the whole front page." And she said, "Well, you better don't need to talk to me. You need to talk to the new owner, the standard." And she's very nice. And she said, "We'll see what we can do." So people are want to be nice and you know I just know I know in my heart that there's no doubt that this is not going to happen. Prayers will be back in school. A Bible verse will be read and we won't be ashamed of it. We will not be ashamed of Jesus Christ. And man you support this so much. >> Thank you. Uh just a question, Dr. How is that

118prek child care program going? >> Yeah, I was in that room today. So, it is full. Um I believe that we had maybe one late addition that that wanted in were full. We told them that there was some vacancies at other preks. Um, so we cap that out at 20 and uh and we started the year with 20. So we're really doing very well. I was in that room today. U so they're very happy. Um a lot of employees are are excited and uh you know that's just not a that's any employee within our school system it's open to. And last question um on the concerns for the online fundraising. What what what are the concerns that is it the school or the school district or is it the department? I I I don't know

119with the uh public comment on the online fundraising. What are the concerns with that? >> So it's it's not just online fundraising. It's You want to >> We have a diff a couple of different policies that we have to just follow. >> Could you come up to the mic? >> She loves it. >> It's called old man with her. >> That's right. Um we have a couple of different policies that we're following um by the guidance of the state as well. So with school support organizations, any of them, um, we just have to be careful with what we open up. So the Zephy platform, I'm not 100% familiar with it, but the controls I I I haven't really looked at it or anything. Um, it opens up to more options for um, it just have

120to be careful once we approve it. Um, my understanding it's at the discretion of the superintendent and he does reach out to the finance department as well um before making his decision. So like I said we have apologize there's something in my eye right now um we have a revenue policy that we have to consider and a fundraising and a school support organization policy that we have to consider. So, um, it's really at the discretion, but once we open it up, I apologize. >> So, you're crying. >> Yeah, there's there's a lot of things. I mean, you know, she mentioned one. Um, so we have to be able to monitor all these, control all these. We have to get the same type of So, whenever we take in cash, we or a check, we give

121a receipt. So whenever somebody pays with a credit card online, we have to be able to see that purchase, receipt that purchase, we have to be able to track that purchase. U so there's a lot of things that go into to play on this. Um we have to ensure of where that that money's deposited. Um so >> we also have to be careful. Um, we don't want to allow like teachers to collect funds through PayPal or Vinmo or whatever the kids are using these days for um, money because well because we have to receipt it. We have a receipt policy within our school system. Um, and you have to submit those funds within three days of the receipt. But also, you have to consider if let's say I send Danny $700 on PayPal. Well, that's

122going to show up on his taxes. He's going to have to show whether he sends it on to somebody else. That's going to show up that he brought in over $600 from an individual. So, he'll have to report that as tax income. And um I don't think Danny would want to show that as income since that wasn't technically his income at that point. Um mainly controls, you just have to be careful. Um school support organizations are fantastic. Um, but it changes hands. So, let's say one person sets it up and then their student moves on to the high school and they no longer want to be a part of the PTO, which makes sense of the middle school. Um, then it's got to be set up again in the new PTO's president's name. So, there's

123just a lot of um unknowns on those. But I I don't mind looking into this. It is one that came up I believe last because I feel like they offer for nonprofits, they offer not scholarships, but um funding towards it. From what I remember, I've read about Zephy. I've just never personally used it. >> I guess all I would ask is maybe we look into this, you know. >> Yeah. I sent Miss Gwen email and she'll set up a meeting. We'll all get together and and uh you know, there's a lot of horror stories though. Whenever PayPal and Vinmo first come out, these people coaches and stuff were saying, "Just ventmo me the money and I'll put it in." It never got put in or then they they collected $12,000 and they did it right,

124but then they hit their taxes. I mean, you know, they all kinds of stuff >> and I'm I'm very boring person and I'll admit this that I'm very boring. So, I like to read the comprollers website for fun and um it's very interesting and you can see in my number one goal is for our school systems and county to stay off that website. I don't ever want to send the paper for anything that could have just been a misunderstanding um or whatnot. And so when you open up those type of um fun collections, it's just red flags. Every class I go to, there's just a lot of red flags there. So we just have to be careful before we >> So you mentioned it was policy. Is that through the state or is that >>

125we have school board policy that we follow on just uh revenue collections like I mentioned the three-day receiving um we have school support organization policy um that we have to follow but we also have internal controls I believe she stated the internal funds control of the bookkeepers call it their Bible that's also guidance for school support organizations >> okay but it's not on a state level policy this is this is the internal school manual funds. I'm not even sure what it's called. >> That's state level and we have to follow that's what we're audited by. Anybody else? >> So, um you're bringing this up at the business session, but um I imagine everybody here knows. Um last year we had restaurant playground which was basically dilapidated at the time completely got redone completely brand new

126and loose was over for 17 years. She served as a resource officer. Still currently is a resource officer school. Um sat up there several times just kind of watching the kids and the and the just the noise and see the kids running around. Every time I go by there, you see it from the highway. My first thought is, man, this would love this. This is so what I'd like to do is uh I've spoken to several people and on board with this too. I appreciate that. I would I'll be coming before the board at the business meeting to dedicate that Rush Strong playground to Moose and have a sign put up there just commemorating him for his service over there. And anybody that's from Strawberry Plains and has gone there knows what he has meant

127to those kids and so I just ask your support. Just wanted to let you know what I be doing here. All right. Thank you. Anyone else? All right. Then we'll be adjourned till the business meeting next Thursday.