001Thank you. All right, the pledge of allegiance. If y'all would stand with us, please come. >> Attention. Salute. Pledge. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> If you'll have a seat, please for me. We are going to have our friends here from Coopertown Middle to turn around to the crowd and we're going to let them introduce themselves and their grade levels. They are representing the junior beta club and it is a club that recognizes students for achievement, leadership, and community service. >> Emmy Hamaradi, eighth grade. Elsa Yandike, eighth grade. Galupe Martinez, eighth grade. Addison Moses, seventh grade. Vanessa Perez, eighth grade. >> Emma, eighth grade. >> Hattie Bryant, seventh grade.
002Anna Triplet, eighth grade. >> Ethan O'Neal, seventh grade. >> Sutton Hudgen, seventh grade. >> If you all help me give a big round of applause for THE >> Thank you all. Um, Dr. weeks. Would you like to read our mission and vision state mission and vision statement, please? >> Our mission is to ensure that each student is prepared to succeed in life. And our vision is that Robertson County Schools will enable all students to reach and exceed high academic and career standards while empowering them to succeed in a culturally advanced and a technologically diverse society. >> Thank you, sir. Uh we don't have any items for public comment uh this evening. Uh board members, you have been provided a copy of the consent agenda for your review prior to the meeting. Um I will open
003it up this time for any questions or comments uh by the board. >> Motion to approve by Mr. Jeff White. >> Second. >> Mr. White, could I can interrupt and add an item 7E that was omitted from your agendas, please. Uh we need to complete the LEA compliance report. This is a report that the state requires to be done each November, and that was my mistake for leaving that off of your agenda. Item 7E LEA compliance report, please. Thank you, sir. Right. And on the consent agenda, we have a motion to approve by Mr. Jeff White, a second by Mr. Scott Rice. All those in favor, make it known by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Passes. 6. Time for some recognitions. Dr. Weeks. Board members, this evening we are proud and honored to
004recognize our teachers who had highest proficiency rates in their classrooms last year. And Mr. Whiting will ask if you would uh join us up front and we'll allow you to present certificates, please. We'll let you do half and then we'll uh ask Mr. Jeff White to do the other half for us, please. Uh but these uh individuals, they their classrooms had the highest averages on either TCAP or end of course tests. Uh if you'll remember, we have recognized teachers for growth scores, their TAS scores. Tonight, we're going to be recognizing this group uh that have the highest scores in their respective grades and subject. Miss Dickerson has their names. I think we also have a banner, Miss Dickerson, is that correct? To hang in their classrooms that will reflect their achievements. >> We we have
005banners and we have decals for those that earned the banner last year. So it is my pleasure to recognize these teachers and you know they know their stuff, they know their content and they have made sure their kids know it. So we are um grateful for their dedication for the work that they do every day and for ensuring that kids leave them knowing the state standards. So, when I call your name, if you would come up front, um, a board member will present you with a certificate and then we will get you either the decal or the banner. We're going to make lots of pictures. So, Mr. Beasley is going to make our individual picture here and then we'll move to the next room for a group picture. So, first I'd like to recognize for
006third grade ELA, Miss Don Amaya. Missa, if you'll just stay up here. Sorry about that. Just come right here. for math in third grade. Miss Tanya Batson for science third grade. Miss Erica Newman for fourth grade ELA, Miss Nicole Brown. And Miss Brown could not be with us tonight, but we still want to recognize her. Uh, fourth grade math, Miss Melissa Bishop. I'd like to also recognize Miss Bishop for having the highest achievement for fourth grade science as well. So for fifth grade ELA, Miss Diane Armstrong fifth grade math, Miss Julie Neblo. Okay. Um, sixth grade ELA, Miss Christina Bot for sixth grade math. Miss Ashley Schnetzler. I'd like to also recognize Miss Ashley Schnetzler for sixth grade science, sixth grade social studies, Miss Jessica Worsham. Seventh grade ELA, Miss I'm sorry, let me skip
007that one. She's no longer with us. Uh, seventh grade math, Miss Mary Miller. Seventh grade science, Mr. Victor White. eighth grade ELA. Miss Penny Girch, >> eighth grade math, Miss Deborah Smith. science uh eighth grade, Mr. Dennis Ellison. We certainly want to recognize him. And uh we'll also recognize Miss Kimmy Kimmy Gersh for uh 8th grade social studies. English one, Mr. Ryan Jameson. >> Mr. White here. >> Where do you want me to start this? >> Um, let's let's let's let we'll just put them in front. That'll be great. >> We'll stair step and window pane up from here, >> please. Sir. Okay. English two, Miss Denise Richards. Algebra 1, Miss Ashley Schnetzler. Algebra 1. Miss Kristen Teraba. Algebra 2. Miss Sierra Burton. for biology, Dr. Angela Rogeri. And for US history, Mr. Eric Hagen.
008>> Thank you, sir. >> Okay. Could we give this group another round of applause? If you will head over to the PD room, we'd like to have a group picture, please. Thank you. >> Congratulations again to you all. >> Dr. Weekes, would you like to review the personnel reports with us? >> Be glad to. Board members, item 5A, page 42 and 43 44 in your packets are our personnel reports. Page 42 has our certified personnel report. So you will see a retirement, Miss Jennifer Howell, who is an IIA engineering teacher, and we've had one resignation, a transfer, several leaves of absence, and several new hires for positions under certified. Classified employees, you'll see starts on page 43. Uh again, you'll see some leaves of absence, retirements, resignations, job abandonment, transfers, and new hires. >> Thank
009you, sir. Moving on to the expense comparison report. >> Board members, item 6A in your packets, page 45 is our expense comparison report. You'll see our revenues to date are 24.4 million. Our expenditures to date are 36.7 million. And again, that's pretty typical for the start of a school year when we have several contracts and large expenditures that uh are paid up front. Uh you'll see that that's uh quite a bit out of balance where we are at this point of the year, but we believe and are confident that that will adjust out as we move through the year. Our property tax has come in. We uh we had a few folks pay property tax at this point in time, $67,000, 3% of our budget number on that. Uh but I would draw your attention
010to the sales tax 3.6 million. That's a couple hundred,000 higher than the same period last year. Proud to see that number coming up. We we'd express some concern and been watching that number late through the year. Uh but again, glad to see that back kind of where we projected. You'll see the expenditures that we track very uh often and keep track of. Electricity 31% of our budget already. Diesel fuel 19% of our budget. Gasoline 16% of our budget. salaries at 18% of our budget and insurance at 24% of our budget. Detailed reports for those uh items that are summarized for you are contained in your consent agenda, your packet there with financial reports. >> Thank you. Next item on the agenda 7A, uh school attendance report. >> If you would pull page 46 from your
011packets that had a couple of errors in there and I'd like to give you a corrected report. Um so this uh this will become item 7A for you. Uh it will replace item 7A page 46 in your book. Uh you would ask uh that we would start preparing for you an attendance report each month and this is our first uh attendance report uh for the month of October. You'll see that our schools we have every school listed including our virtual school Phoenix Academy and our special schools there. So you will see attendance reports and attendance in the month of October I believe ranged from high we had a couple of schools at 96% we'd like to recognize White House heritage elementary school park elementary school and saw another 96 in there somewhere innovation academy all
012at 96% were our schools with the highest percentages uh you see that range goes from 96% uh down to approximately 80% % somewhere in that range. >> 98 and a half. Correct. For >> 98 and a half. Did I overlook that? Heritage High School. That is correct. >> Great. >> So, Heritage High did have the highest one. Uh, which is unusual for our high schools. Uh, we will be adding to this report at your request. I think you had requested the number of truent students or the students who are truent or chronically absent. So, we will be adding to that report as we continue to move forward with the with the attendance report. So, if you'll look for that as a u as a standing report, we'll try to leave it at 7A in your
013packet so that way you can be looking at that. I do apologize for any errors that were in your packet and uh you can just disregard that page, please. >> Thank you. Item 7B, we've got some proposed dates uh for board meetings uh for 2026. >> Board members, I shared this document with you, I think last month, and gave you a month to look over that. I think these are our typical meeting dates. Uh we always meet the second Monday of the month at 6:30 here in this location unless we uh have otherwise. You'll see some planning sessions planned and the topic for those special sessions. Uh we have not yet scheduled a legislative dinner. Uh Chairman White and I discussed the um the opportunity to have a a legislative lunchon or a legislative dinner.
014uh we've reached out to uh our senators and our representative office off offices and asked them uh given them some dates. So we'll put those on your calendar as soon as those are announced. Also, if you look down to September, uh the fall district meeting from TSBA has not yet been scheduled and uh once they do that, we will place that item on the calendar. But u with your approval, we will announce these and and advertise those appropriately, put them on our website and announce those throughout other areas of our regular board meeting dates and special sessions. Any discussion regarding the proposed calendar for next year? >> Do we have a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by Mr. Ays. Do we have a second? >> Second by Mr. Scott Rice. All
015those in favor make it known by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes 5, not six. My apologies on the consent agenda. Next item, graduation dates for spring of next year and winter. Board members, item 7 C on page 48 are our recommended dates for our winter commencements and spring commencements. Uh you will notice a change in winter commencement this year. We um we have certainly tightened up some expectations on early graduation as well. And uh we would uh we just quite honestly don't have enough students at all of our schools who are going to meet graduation requirements and meet the expectations uh that we believe would justify having seven separate ceremonies. And so we are recommending this year that we have one ceremony uh at Springfield High School 6 p.m. on
016January 22nd. uh we will personalize that enough so that they are certainly recognized with their school colors, their diploma covers and things like that that they would typically expect from uh their own school. But we've made it clear that uh for this year we are going to be at one ceremony. So with your approval, we'll do that. The spring commencement dates uh as you will see uh pretty typical for what we have done the last several years starting on May 13th uh for our special schools or alternative program adult high school and virtual program. Springfield High on May 14th East on May 15th Joe Burns on May 16th White House Heritage also on May 16th that's the Saturday Greenber High School on May 18th and IA on May 19th. You'll see uh several of those
017have scheduled outdoor uh commencement exercises, but we'll be flexible with the weather as well. >> Do we have any discussion on the proposed commencement dates uh for the this school year? Do we have a motion to approve as presented? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by Motion by Mr. Scott Rice, second by Mr. Jeff White. All those in favor make it known by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? Motion carries 50. >> All right. Item 7D, Pekka, special questions committee. >> Four members, as you'll recall at our last meeting, RCA informed us that they would like to uh think they presented the signatures that we need to uh participate in collaborative conferencing. And so as a part of that act, uh we are required to have a special questioning committee. Um I do have a
018document that I'd be glad to share with you just in case uh it's been a while since we've had the committee. So this is a two-page document coming to you. Uh explains the process of PEKA, how we go through the questioning, what that process looks like for uh the board as well as for our staff. And uh you can read that at your leisure. That'll be a good reference document for you to have. Uh but part of our requirements are to set up a special questioning committee which will poll our staff to determine if if or not they would like to participate in collaborative conferencing and then if or not which professional organization would represent them. And so u Mr. Walling and I have met a couple times our recommendation for the committee. Miss Amy
019Amos who is RCA president, Dr. Nikki Fields who is one of our coordinators. she would be representing management, Connie Hogan, a board member who would be representing management, and Miss Ashley Schnetzler, who would be representing teaching staff. Again, this uh meeting will be uh this group will meet. They'll schedule the questioning process and then they'll report um back to us at our December meeting. So, with your approval, we'll we'll establish that committee as a special committee. Any discussion or questions regarding the proposed committee? >> Motion to approve the committee as uh presented by Mr. Jeff White. >> Second by Mr. Steven Ays. All those in favor make it known by saying I. >> I. Any opposed. Motion carries. 5-0. And now on to the LEA compliance report. members. Each year the uh the state department
020of education asks that we sign uh to the best of our knowledge that we are in compliance. I'm reading from the second paragraph that we're in compliance with all federal state education laws, state board of education rules. And uh we ask our department heads, we ask each of those to uh check carefully with documents and check throughout to make sure that uh we are either in compliance or we have waiverss for uh anything that we may be out of compliance with. Uh we've checked with our staff and on two occasions they have all verified that within their departments to the best of their knowledge and the best of their ability we are in compliance with those federal and state laws. You see that we've u indicated that by clicking bullet one and so this does
021require board approval and we are required to submit that by the end of the month. >> Do we have discussion or a motion by the board to submit by the end of the month as presented? >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by Mr. Steven Ays. Do we have a second? >> Second by Mr. Jeff White, >> before we vote, I just have the discussion kind of came to my mind. Um, with a voucher program, do we know if other organizations, private schools that now receive taxpayer dollars have to do the same document? >> I I would doubt that seriously. I I think charter schools do, and I think there is some debate on whether or not a charter school is a public entity or not. But >> I just find it interesting. I wonder what
022would happen if we didn't do it. >> I'm not aware of any private schools that are required to complete this document. >> Yeah. I mean, I we had some discussion before. I just think it's interesting. Taxpayer dollars are being used to organizations that don't have to comply by the same rules that we do. And uh at some point I'd like to say no and see what they would do, but that's just me talking. It's interesting that that taxpayer dollars could be used with two different sets of rules and uh our lawmakers seem to not have a problem with that. >> Just just my soap box here. >> One day somebody will challenge it, >> right? >> Thank you, Mr. Rice. No, no, you're good. Uh any further discussion? We have got a motion for submitt
023by the end of this month uh by Mr. Ays, second by Mr. Jeff White. Uh all those in favor make a known by saying I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes 5-0. >> I think next we all >> that was Mr. Make a motion >> you wanted to make. >> Should have thought about that a little bit more. We might have done that. >> Scott recorded he voted under duress. >> Right. Okay, on to transportation facilities. We've got some applications for campus construction projects. >> Well, even though this is listed on your agenda as four separate projects, let me go back and explain. Um, we've had a request um from a church that meets uh at East Robertson High School and uh I know we had approved this last year and and you'd ask us
024to kind of um have a discussion with the the members and the leadership of Life Center Church uh about their use of our facilities. And we've had that discussion. I think they're to the point they are purchasing land and they're ready to um start doing some construction there in their own facility. However, they uh they've requested and mentioned to us that they need another year uh to go through that process which I certainly understand that you know construction and everything. So, uh, we have calculated how much space that they would need, uh, to use for their church. And again, they meet regularly at East Robertson High School and have done so, it's my understanding, for several years. And, um, last year in lie of paying the rental fees, they had taken care of uh, two
025or three campus construction projects uh, which was an offset of the fees that they done. Uh so tonight uh after again some conversation, Mr. Charles has had a lot of conversation with principal Cook as well as uh with the leadership of Life Church, Life Center Church and um in lie of the fees they have requested and Miss Cook has approved uh the four construction projects that you see, the four additions to her campus uh that you see. And um I don't know if it's easier just to take these as one because it's really a it's an entire set of group or grouping of these projects that would go together to offset the costs uh of their what we would charge a as a rental expense for that building. Uh so let me just touch on
026these very carefully. Uh item 8A on page 50, they are requesting uh with the consent of East Robertson High School to install vape detectors in certain banks of restrooms. And you see those outlined on page 52. Uh vape detectors are in place in several of our schools. And so this would be an addition. Uh you see the value of that project alone is $6,000 on page 50. The second project is restroom renovations. And restroom renovations on page 55. Um you see that there is a project for $4,000 to complete some restroom renovations uh for um the restrooms in the stage area or behind stage area. And again, you'll see the description and the location of those pack those restrooms on page 57. Again, that's valued at $4,000. Project C is uh additional construction, additional renovation
027of uh other restrooms. You'll see those the location of those restrooms uh on page 60. And that project is valued at $13,000. And then finally, project D, they would like to work on the concession stand restrooms uh out by the football field, football concession stand restrooms. That's project D. Uh you see that project at $4,550. And so uh they would take care of that. They have uh received approval and discussed all those projects with Mr. Corbin to make sure that they're in compliance with everything we need it to do and it's quality work. It matches uh what we are doing. So you see the total uh cost of the proposed offset uh is approaching $20,000 and so that would offset uh the cost of their renting that facility for the year. We have expressed to
028them that um their usage of our facilities, they do need to be going ahead and you know constructing their own own property and um you know our goal is uh we certainly want to be good neighbors but we are not in the business of conducting church on a regular basis. We we want to do that on special occasions with with uh people and we have policies and procedures in place for that. But, uh, we've shared with them the board's feelings and the board's, uh, expectation that these are all short that that the continued leasing of our facilities is a short-term process. >> They already own property. >> That's my understanding because they've purchased property. Yes, sir. >> Any discussion by the board on these projects? >> You seeking a motion for all four. Is that
029>> that? I make a motion to approve all four A, B, C, and D. >> Motion made by Jeff White to approve all four projects. Do we have a second? >> Second by Miss Connie Hogan. Any further discussion? >> I'm sure. And Steve, I'll ask you. I think y'all brought this up last year when it everything they're using is the same type equipment we use. >> Building ground will be providing fixtures. >> Okay. All right. I I remember that was something that come up in the past, so that's good. >> Any further questions or discussion? >> We have a motion in a second. All those in favor of approving all four projects on the East Robertson campus, make it known by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. 5-0. >> Dr. Weekes, communications.
030Uh board members, it's uh it's not unusual that I get some communications from the public at some point in time and some are asked to be shared with you. Uh but this week uh this month I have received some communication from first graders and these are first graders at Westside and they've asked me to share these with you. Um most of them say, "Dear Dr. Wixs, thank you for our new classrooms at Westside. Uh we will learn so much. Uh, thank you for our new classroom. We'll learn so much there. Um, and so I'd like to pass these around so that you can look at them. And I believe this was Miss Lynn Doris's first grade class. Uh, so you'll see uh just a sample of those where they are thanking the board for the
031work that has been completed over there. And u we're we're very happy with the work that's been completed at Westside. And so we're making good progress on that. So that's uh that's our official communications for the month. >> Wonderful. Wonderful. On to uh the director of schools report. >> The first thing I'd like to uh just update you on is we had the opportunity this past week uh to participate in the state of the county. Uh the chamber of commerce sponsors the state of the county and uh get to share a a time with uh with chamber members. I think it's um maybe open to the public a little bit and uh the mayor shared about 30 minutes and we shared about 30 minutes. So that is uh was an opportunity at Springfield Baptist this
032past Thursday. We uh we had a good crowd there. Um we told them that was just a kind of a sneak peek at the the state of the schools which will be presented on March the 11th and again just I think that's on your calendars as a placeholder. Uh but we're excited to share things that are going on in the school system and uh be able to answer several questions related to that. I had the same opportunity today for lunch on a Veterans Day program. Uh the Robertson County Retired Teachers Association uh we host them each November and they uh they come and have their business meeting and have a lunchon and uh get an update on where we are as a school system. So that took place at lunch today. There were probably uh
03340 or so retired teachers here. So, we had a good opportunity to meet with them. Um, we are still looking at some property that I think you've been made aware of and we're uh meeting with some property owners this week and meeting with Hullet Spencer to review some uh due diligence work that you'd asked us to complete. Uh should have some information for you hopefully by the end of the week that I'll share individually with you and then uh that may require some action at our December meeting. I hope I mentioned earlier that we're looking at our legislative dinner. We're trying to get that scheduled. We'll be working on that. Uh beside your desk, you should find uh Veterans Day programs that are that are in our schools. Uh many of them or a few
034tonight actually uh many tomorrow and even into tomorrow night. And beside there, you'll also find on the back of that document, you'll find our fine arts and our band and choir competition results. You'll also find our band and choir uh winner schedule. So, you'll see have an opportunity to participate in those. And then lastly, we would like to congratulate uh our football teams this year. We have three uh football teams from our county, Joe Burns, Springfield High, and East Robertson High uh that made it through round one of the playoffs. and they will be competing this week. Uh Springfield and East Robertson will both be hosting and um Juel Burns will be traveling in quite a distance from what I can tell. And with that, I think that would conclude my report. I importantly I
035did want to share and I think I've asked that you put this on your calendar as well. Uh we're expecting some uh exciting news that we'll be able to share on Friday, November 21st. Uh and a few are free that morning. We'd like for you to uh travel with us to some of our schools. We um we're anticipating um that some of our schools will receive reward school status. We're very excited about that and excited about the opportunity to be in those schools. And we also hope to have some um very good district updates that we'd like to share with you on that's um under review until November 21st, but that'll be a Friday morning. We'll share some details with you and um like to travel to some of our schools and congratulate those staff
036and students for their work. >> Thank you, Dr. Weekes. Uh at this time, I'll open the floor for any old business. We have any new business? >> I don't know if it's really old or new business, but on this uh attendance report, do you think we could add a snapshot of the overall district or percentage of attendance instead of Yeah, the by school is great. Keeps me from doing a bunch of math. >> I think we can add that pretty easily. Yes, sir. Any other old or new business? Hearing none, we'll move on to comments by board members. Miss Connie, if you'll lead us off tonight. >> Well, I don't think I have to tell these guys this because, you know, I'm very excited about Westside. I I went last week and looked at it
037and it just uh blows my mind what that cafeteria looks like. You know, of course, it's a brand new cafeteria now and I'm thinking, man, these kids, it it's just unreal. >> It's not underground. >> It it is not. It is not. Uh it is very nice. So, um you know, the the classrooms, I mean, it's it's all not finished yet, but it's it's getting there. And um I was just so excited that we I just hate we didn't do it sooner because the the kids and the teachers both deserve it. So anyway, um and then I was going to tell you, of course y'all are going to think this is Yeah. Right. I'm sure you did this. I went to I just thought I was going to pick out a PD to go listen
038to for a little bit last week, you know. And so naturally, I picked out first grade and it was math. That that was a whole different language from what I taught. I I mean I was like what in the world are they talking about you know I mean it's just changed so much. Uh but but it was really good. I thought they did a great job. Um and then I went the next day and uh kind of visited with some teachers parent teacher conferences you know some parent some teachers that weren't busy. Uh I I stopped and talked to them and um you know just expressed how much I appreciate that what they all do. So that was good too. Okay. I'm done. All right, Mr. White. >> No comments tonight. Mr. Rice, >> not
039much. I think on on West side, I think we have a ceremony on the 14th this Friday. Uh 3:30, I believe. So, >> uh it's 8:30. >> Did I mess that up? >> No, that's the email said 3:30. >> Okay. But the invitation >> 8:30 a.m. I got you. Okay. >> I'm glad I said that. >> That's all I have. Just looking forward to that. All right, Mr. ARS. >> Um, really proud of the group of teachers we were able to recognize tonight. That's a great group and uh to be at that level. They're doing life-changing work and um I really appreciate that. I appreciate all our teachers, but man, that was some stellar work they did. Um, thank you to my daughter Elsie and her friends for keeping me up to date on the
040blizzard today and see I really thought we should have called it pointed out. So, but uh thank y'all. Thank you, sir. I uh I'll be brief since I'm the one standing between everybody and getting out in this nice warm weather. Um speaking of Westside, uh Miss Hogan, I will tell you, uh I was brand new to the board when we started that project and uh I just like to pass my appreciation along for you suggesting that we go walk that school. Uh it's pretty eye opening. I'm glad we got that project done, but I know that started with you and your suggestion to actually go take a look. So, thank you for that. Um, the only other thing I have, you know, to to, you know, anybody with an earshot, uh, if you're a veteran,
041thank you very, very much for your service. If, um, I know we've got a handful of these throughout the county. If you're a veteran who also chose outside of the military, a career uh, in education, thank you, doubly. Um, I don't know if that's a servant's heart or a glutton for punishment or or what that may be, but uh, we we owe you, you know, a tremendous amount of thanks for that. So, thanks for for all the people that that have chosen that path. Other than that, I don't have anything. Is there anything else by the board for tonight? We will be adjourned. He held us a little while in the cold.