Board of Education Work Session - August 19, 2025

001live work session for the Rutherford County School District. We will be opening the meeting with a brief moment of silence or prayer and a pledge of allegiance to the United States flag. No one is required to participate or be present for any of these and being in this portion of the meeting is completely voluntary. Mr. Ba, I believe you're in charge. >> In charge. Join with me in a moment of personal reflection and silent prayer. Dear heavenly father, we thank you for the opportunity to be of service to you and our fellow man. We thank you for the many families represented here. We thank you for all the blessings. We thank you for a good start to the school system and continued safety for all our children. We ask that you give us discernment, guidance,

002wisdom to make the decisions you would have us to make. We ask all these things in your holy name. Amen. >> Amen. 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. First up, we have the agenda. Anyone have any comments or questions regarding the agenda? Next we have the consent agenda. Any comments or questions regarding that? Okay. So we have no public comments. Rutherford Crowd will be on Thursday, I believe. >> Correct. Yes. >> So, next up we have the director of schools evaluation tool and we will be voting to approve it on Thursday. >> It's the same as it's been previously. >> It's the same to create >> whatever year that was. >> Any questions

003or comments? Okay. Next, we have discussion for the five-year plan. >> All right. All right. So, there's going to be a couple things. Everyone has a draft. We do not need to vote on a five-year plan on Thursday. This is just kind of to get us discussing and looking towards what's next. Um, and I'll mention this again on Thursday, but I thank the board and I thank our county commission because we have made a ton of progress the last 30 months, over $350 million that has been put into building programs. And so you will see this five-year plan number is 398 million compared to where we were almost 800 million year year and a half ago. And so greatly appreciate that. You'll see some of these dates and all of this of course can be

004moved around. This was just a draft we looked at at our retreat back in March. Before we finalize it, I would advise we wait till enrollment settles a little bit and we see where students actually end up. Uh I'll give an enrollment report here in just a little while, but they're still moving all over the place. And so you'll see the first is land for North End High School. And so that is actually for consideration tonight. Then you'll see high school, plain View or North. And I just have them as placeholders because that'll be up for the board and based on enrollment what we see to decide. That does say January of 26th. January of 2026 to hit that opening of August of 28. We probably try what date to you? >> We would need

005to start design in November of this year and bid in June of >> and that's I know that that is a large project. whichever again direction we decide to go plane view or north that is going to hit right in the middle of a county commission election and so getting funding is a >> oh good >> going to be a challenge and so again this is best case scenario but I do that's I don't know of any school project that's been funded right before a county commissioner election so just wanted that to be out there you'll see that we have these broken down over multiple years so projects through June the 27th And these are we always like to be conservative so that we have money available and never go have to go back and

006ask. So this is kind of your overall this is for a high school of 1500 students but with a core that could hold up to 2500. And so your auditorium, gymnasiums, cafeteria could hold up to 2500 students. um but to start off at 1500. So trying to go go towards that smaller high school. That has been the conversations that I've had with commissioners. As I said, we I think the board and myself want to go smaller. They were interested in entertaining that as long as we built it so that future generations or future boards and county commissions could then go and add on if they so chose. And we can we can stop right there and then we can go to the rest of just a little while. That's it. >> Okay. >> Oh, go

007ahead. >> Go ahead. >> Do you care? I mean, do you care? I sidestep right here. Just just a second. If you don't care uh you know though, y'all know this for years. I've been in real estate business and I've observed things that's happened uh to Rutherford County over the years. And the reason I bring that up, every time we created a school zone that a child or a family could stay in, K through 12, they loved it. And it really came to fruition, I guess, with the Seagull and Blackman school zones. You know, they're and and still to this day, they're both very very popular um locations for families to to to locate to. Now it appears to be Rock Veil and Stewart's Creek. And so with that thought in mind, reason I bring

008this up when we get into trying to design and build these high schools or which you know which comes first, the chicken or the egg so to speak, how do we balance a, you know, 1500 student high school, 2,000 student high school, 2500 with a feeder middle school, a feeder elementary. What what does that look like sizewise, I guess, is what I'm asking. Have I don't know if Trey Do you and Trey have done this. >> Help me with that. >> In a perfect world, you'd want four to six elementary schools feeding into a middle school and then a middle two middle schools feeding into a high school. We are not set up that way outside of your triple campuses and they're not direct feeders either. Um, when the board looked at reszoning at first

009in the trying to remember the year would have been the spring of 2023, the direct feeder patterns was not something that was going to be feasible for the way we're set up currently. But if you're looking at a three school type site, you would want four to six elementary into two middle into one high school. And the reason I say that is there because one of my personal goals in getting on the board was to try to set direction, you know, for the next 20 years really. Not being hogish or overbearing or anything, but just being, you know, farsighted uh how can we incorporate all of that into those wishes? Do we need to look at you know 1500 student high school 1600 student high school a 1200 student middle school two elementary schools at

010what 7 800 I'm trying to do the numbers in my head but basically you're looking at 400 students per grade right is that what I'm driving at >> a high school yes to get to that 1500 >> to do that and so what does that what does that site look like because we all know this land is getting more more scarce to kind of have that concept. I've heard that from Miss Sharp ever since I've been here. We got to find land. We got to find land and and so looking trying to determine where those sites are. They're getting fewer fewer and few further between. I guess I would say that there are some sites out there I've identified and and may be able to share with y'all sometime in the next few months kind

011of off the record a little bit about ideas or where this is headed. families that are uh in estate planning sessions. But that's I don't know. Just kind of wanted to throw that out there. What is that achievable? First of all, second of all, if it's not, then how do we, you know, help these parents, you know, pick where they raise their families as far as school zones are concerned because that's the worst thing that that and the books. That's the two worst things I've been through so far right now is reszoning and books. So anyway, I didn't know if anybody else had any insight or preference there. >> Mr. Tidwell, >> I'm looking at here at the high school. It says high school at Plane View or North, but we had talked about possibly

012even doing a hybrid split. What is the difference in number? You got this 138 million. If we were to do a hybrid split, put one uh a smaller high school in the north end, a smaller high school than a plaint property we already have. these would be smaller because the cost went higher because of having to make the core up to 2500. And so when Trey and I first started looking at we were trying to do 90 to 110 million overall at the county commission's kind of health and ed and just discussions where we needed to try to get that core bigger in case other and that's what made your cost go up and so we could definitely I mean that's up to the board if you want to go smaller I would definitely advocate

013for smaller that's something I believe in wholeheartedly. Well I think uh the basis for my question really you know we've been doing a lot on the north end and there's no issue with that. That's where we've had a lot of uh high density issues, especially the capacity. Uh but at some point that overflows to the south end too. And if you're looking at the projections from our RSP whenever we was doing all these uh numbers, we got to start making considerations down the south end as well. I I would probably most likely be advocating for splitting up two smaller high schools and seeing what that difference would look like so that we are spreading out a little bit more across the county. And look, I'm all for doing what's best for the county as a

014whole and not just sticking to my particular zone or anything like that, but this is the conversation we've had the past. I think it's worthy of at least investigating a little bit deeper to see what that would look like. U not not only from a balance of capacity, but also just knowing that the smaller the high school is typically the better these do with behavioral, the less the better you have for teacher retention. I think overall the benefits are greater than building these huge high schools, which I know others on the board have advocated for smaller schools as well. But I just wanted to make sure that we're focusing in on that. So, as we're discussing this 5-year plan, I would like to see what that difference would be when it comes to cost and

015capacity if we were to do a hybrid model between smaller high schools and split that into two rather than another large high school on one end of the county. Let me get Mr. Vaughn and then Okay, this Mr. B. >> Research shows that smaller high school kids do better. Um, more kids get to participate. And I guess if I had my way, every kid would be be participating in something. They just do better. and uh that you know the cost may be a little higher to do a small high school compared to a comprehensive school. But again, we've got to do what's best for the kids. And to me, there's really no comparison between having a large high school or a small one. I just I don't think I think it helps us too that

016you don't need as much land to be able to small ice as you do a big one. >> Um and I just think the positives far outweigh the negatives and I'm all for it myself. >> M Thank you, Madam Chair. Um it's I guess it's been about three or four years ago now. Miss Rosales and I went to Warren County. We went to Kentucky and what I would really this plain view or the north end is going to come down to land and we already have the land in plain view. As much as I want something up on the north end, it's probably going to come down to us having land. So that said, we do have more land at Plain View and the Warren County High School layout I think is a great layout.

017It's a V and the junior high is on one side and the high school is on the other side. So, we could actually do a three gradeband level at that school if we because it's smaller than what we typically do. I would really like to look into doing that. The um community areas or the communal areas, the auditorium and the cafeteria and everything in the middle and you know, then we only have to have one football field. They share the football field and the baseball fields and everything like that. So, we don't have to have more land like what we've had at Stewart's Creek and some of the other three campuses schools. Um, and that's great, but like Mr. Vault said, we are running out of land. So, I would really like to look at

018that. I call it the Jack and Gill, Mr. Lee. I don't know what they call it, but um it's the B or whatever um layout for Plane View because it would be smaller and we would be able to get the middle school and the high school on that property. Mr. Rosales. >> Yeah. So, Dr. Sin, so I heard you right. There'sund the 138 the $138,000. >> I wish >> for Well, it's an estimate. Well, the I mean, sorry. Sorry. I meant to say 138 million. >> Find that tomorrow. >> I'm sorry. >> I wish it cost Well, back in the 1800s, maybe. I don't know. Um $138 million. Um that is the cost for a smaller high school >> 1,500 with capacity in your core areas to go up to 2500. >> So how how

019much are we saving to do a smaller versus a regular high school? >> You basically cut a wing of classrooms off. >> So how >> like our last I mean what did I'm trying to you give a guess. >> So how much is that savings that we're looking at? >> Probably about 15 to 20 billion. So, the difference between a 1500 CL um high school versus a 2500 um is a $15 million >> because of your core areas being so much bigger. >> You have your same library, same auditorium, same two gyms, same cafeteria, same office, and you have your same athletic complex. What what is missing is the classrooms per thousand students and I need to say that's the inexpensive space because I none of it's inexpensive but comparatively speaking that's the less expensive

020of the >> square footage. So, um I mean I want to save money and save whatever we can, but thinking about what happened in Rockville that it was supposed to be the school that was going to take care of all this overcrowding and within a year it did not. And then what happened is that there was a lot of conversations of going back to the drawing board to reszone. And the last thing I want to do to save $15 million to go from 1500 to 2500 is that we do this small school and then within a year or two they're already at capacity and they're overcrowded and then we're having to go back. So, um I think before we make it my opinion, this I'm just one vote that if before we go into thinking

021about what the size of a high school is to look into the area of where that's going and the growth because where I know we have one property that we're looking at in Lee Road, but that area of where that school is situated is populated with new development. I mean, there's new development popping up I feel like almost every week. And so um I want to save money but at the same time I also want to be conscious of what the rapid growth and that impact so that we don't this board whoever sits in my seat won't have to come back again and redo what was done because we're having to bring portables because of what h and have be caught in a similar situation that happened with Rockville. That's my two cents. >> You

022build a school not going to come. >> Oh exactly. I was going to say our issue is it takes schools three years to get built from when we start and then by that point you're reszoning like we've seen we tried to reszone and give everybody a heads up and then developments hit by the time that >> yes >> um one of the things that I do want to address um and I think it hits a little closer with Stewart's Creek in particular because those are all literally on the same piece of ground is some of the challenges we get into building the elementary, middle, and high al together. And the traffic getting in and out, not just for the students and the parents, but also for the people that live in that vicinity when they're

023blocked in for over an hour in the morning and the afternoon because traffic's not moving. So, if we're going to continue to look at that model, I think the infrastructure is a big portion of that. We have a lot of people I know in Lever specifically, I don't know about Murphy'sboro, but who are talking a lot about lack of infrastructure and I just don't want this the schools to compound that issue as we go down this. So, I think it's important that we keep that in mind too. I will say close to me like even just having them not very far apart like Rock Springs Middle and Rock Springs Elementary. Rock Springs Elementary gets a little bogged down, but I think that's because it's a very large elementary school at this point, too. But them

024being spread apart just a little bit that they are as helpful because it just helps disperse that traffic. So, I think that's something that we also need to look into. Um, and I do have concerns, too. I don't know how deep in the weeds we want to get on this conversation. Um, but these older schools, I know Mr. Lee and I were talking, you know, some of them are are costing us a decent amount of money just to keep them going in the current state they're in. So, I also think it's important that we keep that at the top of the conversation, too, because if there's any way to move some of that up in the timeline, um, I think they would be greatly appreciative. And I and and I've said this for a couple

025years now. If we don't start getting at least one school a year going on renovations, we're looking at a really big problem in 10 20 years because we have over 50 schools. That means we're not renovating for a whole another 50 years that same school. So >> Mr. Mr. Blond and then I have some comments. >> And I was she took some of my thunder right there. So I was glad somebody else was thinking of it. But along that line almost to the point we're building a school year and we need to renovate a school a year, right? I mean that's just kind of hand in hand. And so laying the this thing out and and the the thing about infrastructure, you talk to anybody, you know, sitting in the school zone, we the school

026system complicates traffic, right? Shopping complicates it. School traffic complicates it. So that's another good point. So if you if you end up if I think you know which comes which comes first the chicken or the egg. Do we want to advocate for the three school complex? If we do then we've got to be very specific about where we put them and then the size of them really needs to be limited because of traffic, right? And so if you come up with kind of a nimble way to hit and run so to speak uh and I'm fixing to say something here. I'm going to tell y'all where I'm going. Um, is I think right now we need to move McFadden and Thurman Francis >> and Daniel McKe up right now. Postpone the high school and build

027two as you were kind of had I think you were heading down that road Caleb just a little bit of these smaller footprint high schools and build two of them two years from now or something. I don't know that it matters, but I know I know th those three schools need some attention. Smyrna West, Daniel McKe, Thurman Francis, uh, and, um, McFaten, that's what started this. And I see my good friend Dr. Blair back there right now. Uh, so uh, which made me think about that. So, if we could do these renovation projects right now and get on with them, I don't want to take this away from Trey right now. He may have his heart set on building the high school right now, but uh getting those renovation projects done and then maybe postponing

028the high school and building two high schools at one time. That's just an idea. >> I I want to agree with basically everybody what everybody's saying. Uh I'm really proud of the fact that we really we got it in high gear. They had never done the number of projects that we've done in the last couple of years after being in quicksand for two years and not being told no, we can't do anything now. We can't do anything now. We hit the ground running. That's the new normal. What we're doing now, we're that hasn't slowed down. The growth is still coming, but we've got to take care of our older schools, too. I would say I not only do I want us to go ahead and I'm okay with postponing a high school for right now

029and going ahead. I know we can do these at the same time. We don't need to do one at a time. We we can do a couple of these and start them just like we proved we can do that. We we basically started Smartr Riverdale and Oakland at the same time. And then we've got Leverne going now. So we can do this and that's what I would like to do. Um but I would also when it comes to Thurman Francis I have talked about us having another magnet school that's high school. I think now is the time to go ahead and expand it and make it make it through the high school because we don't have a fine arts magnet high school. >> Miss Maxwell, are you I'm sorry. I think we're done. >> You're

030after Well, I So, um, McFaten is at the bottom over here. Can we if we're g if if the board is in agreement to postpone we go ahead and buy the land and on leave property and if we're going to postpone moving into building a high school and moving into renovating this the the older schools then can we bump up McFaten as well at least start the process of >> I haven't forgotten but they did >> what would that what would that look like if we We're going to do that along with all the other schools with >> Smyrna, Daniel McKeen, Smyrna West, and Thurman for instance, because we have McFaten tentively slated to open in 29. >> McFaten definitely needs attention. The timeline for McFaten is going to take longer because it's in the

031city limits. You're also dealing with a historic issues. The other part, you're looking almost like a we renovated John Coleman and rebuilt. So, we're going to have to those students have to have somewhere to go. So, we'll have to start building behind it. So, we need to acquire property first. Um I'm concerned about the traffic study that may happen there because of all the developments the city of Murphy'sboro is doing right there and we've by McFatten and that whole just right across the railroad tracks. Um, >> I would definitely want to do our fair share, but I don't believe it's the school and it's not the school system's responsibility to pay for the city of Murphy'sboro's infrastructure around that site either. And so there's that is not on their radar right now about McFazzy. So

032I need to have some conversations with the city before that gets on their radar. >> Okay. So to that point where you're saying about buying property, um, so what if we were to start the process of buying the properties? so that when we're ready to build, we're not hanging on and trying to get the properties. Can if the holdup is partly because we need to buy this property, can we start that process? And um so last year, no this past academic year, we were all all of the board members, not minus Dan and Butch because they were not Mr. Vaughn and Mr. V because they were not on the board. We were invited to the their PTO presentation and they had a presentation of what potentially could look like if they were to buy the

033properties and how they can have expansion, grow and increase the capacity so it won't be just at 240 kids. There's actually potential where they can grow and add more seats and so there's a lot more competition for kids to want to come to a school that is um a magnet school. So, if the holdup is the buying these properties, because it'll take a while, can we if if on Thursday, I don't know what the motions are going to be, but on Thursday, could we do a motion where we can start that process along with this five-year plan or um >> Yeah, I think you could do a motion to go into discuss with those tenants because you have tenants, you have lease, you don't know when the lease is going to be up. So, there's

034>> I would like to do that. I would like to make a motion on Thursday, if the board pleases, to authorize M. Reed to go in um talking to those h um property owners that are in the house in front of the school so we can at least get the ball rolling on that. And then the board, we we can discuss and prioritize which of the other older schools we can potentially renovate as we're trying to get um as we're trying to get the properties off the ground. and and then because we're going to need land to expand um that school. >> Okay. >> So, Mr. Tidwell, then Mr. Darby, and then Mr. Vaughn. >> Well, there's a lot of discussion about this and I think that's a good thing. I think that you can

035see how seriously every board member is taking this and we're looking at all the options and we're removing portables from the county for the first time. So, we are making progress. Um, so, uh, on that note, I I I agree with the discussions here about renovating our old schools and where these schools should fit. I think Michael Smith's probably having a heart attack right now if he's listening in to us trying to move all these. >> Yeah. To the front of the list. Uh, so we may end up having to do some kind of priority or >> or looking at the data and what the data supports as our need. I know we've talked about our alternative schools, Dan McKe, Smrna West, they haven't been addressed in what was it 20 years. Um, and yet

036our growth has been exponential since then. So, I mean, it's hard to see those being moved much. Uh, as far as delaying the high school, I think that is going to be a little bit of a challenge uh simply because of the growth that we're having and how long it takes to build a high school. So, it's a little bit different uh than what we see with a middle school or an elementary school as far as the timelines. So, we don't want to get if we were to delay it, we don't want to get into a position to where we needed it, had the opportunity to to build it and moving up some of these other options cause even a greater hardship back on the high school level. So, I'm very curious to see where

037the enrollment forecasted enrollment um is potentially what that split smaller high school. When I say smaller high schools, I mean, we're thinking of a smaller number. I still think we're above a thousand at least, you know, maybe 1,200 still possibly maybe with a little bit larger core. Maybe not the 2500 core on the smaller high schools, but still with a core there uh to expand those as well. Uh but but not I'm just not for leaving the high school portion. We know that the elementary school needed help. We've done that. It's we've seen what that has done for our capacity. It's been great with the redistric. We know what the middle school is going to do whenever it comes in how it's going to help with our capacity. I don't think delaying the high school

038is in our best benefit two to three years. And that's what we're doing. We're trying to forecast, right? Trying to see what it's going to look like three years from now. I don't think it's in our best benefit to do that and that's, you know, just my opinion, but I would love to see what the the numbers look like and what's possible and what's not. >> Mr. D, Mr. Lee, the figures that you have on here for McBTEN for the rebuild. Um, does that include the purchase of any of those properties like just a general? So, it would be plus whatever that is. These are budgetary numbers based on a replacement for the building. It doesn't take into account at this time because we don't know uh land or how much additional is going to

039be needed for traffic what the city's going to request that to look like. Can you out of this the four schools that are listed here in terms of how desperately they're needing a rebuild in conjunction with how much money keeping up with them is costing? What order would you put these four in? >> They're the they're the top four, >> right? But what order in the in those four? Like if we had to split them up and do like two one year and two another year, which ones would have those top priority spots? >> Hard to see. We've poured the most money into McFaten over the last five to seven years. We have poured money in it. Um, >> you want to think on it? >> Yeah. Okay. >> I I got a different idea

040than what? >> Yeah, I'll think on. >> Okay. Um, touching on what you said, Madam Chair, as far as Thurman Francis, I'm a huge, huge advocate for us to have a performing arts fine arts high school. Um, I am not in favor of adding it onto Thurman Francis. And I will tell you, it's because there is not a large enough footprint there to have the athletic facilities that would be needed for a high school. And I don't like the notion of telling arts kids that they can't also be athletes. Dr. Sullivan and I have talked about this. The performing arts high school that I attended was a regular high school with a performing arts magnet school kind of built inside of it. So, you had to audition for those arts teachers to be accepted into

041that program. There was a performing arts building that housed the dance classes, the art classes, the theater classes. Um, and I really love that idea because it gives those students the opportunity to still participate in the regular high school activities as well as fine-tune their arts skills. Um, which I think is important at a high school level. A lot of those arts kids are looking at taking that on to college potentially or they're trying to figure out whether they want to go an athletic route or an arts route. Um I there's just kind of a weird connotation sometimes with the magnet school kids that they're we already hear with Central that they're not getting the same facilities that the other high schools are. So we have the number three school in the nation as of

042today. Congratulations Central. Um but they don't have the same facilities that the rest of our high schools do. And I don't I I don't think that's fair. So nothing against Thurman Francis. It's one of my favorite schools. My kids have all gone there. Um, I just don't think it's an adequate space to turn it into a K12 school. I would rather see us put an arts magnet if we build this North End High School right there so that it's close by um, and kind of institute it more in that way so that they can participate in all the other high school activities. Okay, but >> you know, if you go in all these buildings, which I've been in all of them, and I'm sure y'all have, too, the building that is probably in the worst

043shape of them all, matter of fact, and Mr. Lee said, you know, they've been throwing money in there, and it's what you call throwing good money at the bank. And I don't know that building needs needs more help than anything. If I went over to see Mr. Blair and he cared down in the basement, I'd be scared to death that sucker fall in cuz it's a it really needs to be replaced. And I, you know, personally, I'd like to see it moved up above all the rest of these. All the rest of them can probably last five more years. I'm not sure McFaden will. I mean, it's it's really in the that's the reason we had to put so much money into it, I guess. But, you know, you're talking about schools and getting the

044same type of facilities and everything, but a central central main school, if you're looking at comparable facilities with high schools, they're in need of another gym, you know, they uh I don't know how they do all they do with just that one gym, but there's a lot of things that need to be done there. Of course, we got a little bit of room to do that with and need to need to look at that, too. But I don't see any pushing in this back. I think it's just something we in order for us to catch up, we're going to have to keep going. We put our foot on the gas and just keep going cuz we're behind now building schools and we're not going to catch up by putting things off. >> M Miss Sharp

045and Mr. today. >> Okay, y'all put the sharp objects away. Um, I'm going to suggest something out of the box here. Mr. Lee and I were talking earlier since Holloway is not full and we've got all the things that we have to deal with with the city and I'm going to y'all know what we have to deal with. My thought would to be if we could move McFaden to Holloway and maybe put some portables there to supplement and that way we could just haze Hollow haze U McFaden and do it all at the same time and that way it would probably shorten the building pro the building program because it we wouldn't have the other school to to be in the way and everything >> on a temporary basis. Yes, on a temporary basis until

046the until the school is built. Since Holloway is not full, maybe we could move it. >> He's not listening. Um, you know, maybe he's not he's probably making notes. Um, but I I think that that's something and I think maybe the historical and some of the other people that we're going to have to deal with in dealing with building at McFaden. Um, I think that that might help because it would shorten that window of having this having a mess and traffic and all of that stuff over there. So, that's just something something out of the box that Mr. Lee and I were talking about earlier. >> Who was I think >> that's interesting suggestion. Hadn't heard that. U, Trey, I just wanted to open the floor up. I heard you start to say something uh

047that you thought a little bit different and we're all just talking opinions here. uh but you have the most knowledge and background. So I'd like to get your thoughts if you feel comfortable sharing. I've been doing this a long time here and and I've dealt with a lot of county commissions. When you start talking to high school and you start you're talking two years and if we start now we're right at three. I don't see us as a district with the growth that I know is here now. And I'm not talking about anything that's not on the board or anything that's not in planning at this time. There's and I realize we could be looking at and I'm going to use the term slowdown. Fortunately, Ruerford County has always in the last 15 years and

048Mr. and you correct me if you disagree. Have we've weathered the storm a little better than the balance of our state? We may go flat for 6 months or a year or 18 months, but we've typically not taken the downturn that the rest of the South has. And and I see that I don't see anything that I see differently coming forward. I say all that to say this. If you look at your high school, unless y'all want to put portables back in Oakland, Riverdale, and Smyrna, and Leverne two years from now, I don't see you seeing us being able to put the high school off for three years. One of them. I'm not saying both of them, but one of them. And I don't care where where you want to put it. That's y'all's decision.

049You've asked me to kind of step off in this. If you look at the smaller version, which allows us to expand, gives us the core, whether you call it a magnet, whether you have some incorporation that's a little bit different. You take that 138, you cut it in half because that's what your expenditure is going to roughly be per year. So, we're looking at, and I'm going to use the round term, 70 million. That's a new elementary or I mean a new middle school closed. county can in the past has been able to swallow that kind of money. You start a high school now, pick one of these three, I don't care, McFaden, it's going to be your larger chunk. It's going to be your heaviest hitter. You can take Daniel McKe and Smyrna West

050and add them together. You're pretty close to McFaten. Attack the high school. now attack either two Smyrna West, Daniel McKe, Thurman Francis, McFaten, I don't care what combination because they're all in need. I'm not going to point I've dealt with all of them right now. I can now that I have gotten sewer to Daniel McKe and it doesn't I have to kids the kids can't use the restroom every time it rains. They can they can do that now that we've got sewer there. I'm a little more comfortable. Neither one of them have kitchens. They can't that that we satellite food in. So So we're going to continue to do that. Pick one. So if y'all want McFaden first, that's But you put McFaden with year one of the high school. Then you pick either one

051or the other or both because Thurman Francis is going to be a little more expensive unless we think outside the box and look at what maybe we do add another two or three four million to this 1500 to make it more magnet to give it a few more things and make the magnet high school at Rocky Fort. I mean, it's an idea to think about, but you take the high school, stretch it over two years, you put one or two projects the first year or one or two the next, and that keeps you in that hundred million dollar range, which is something in the past the countyy's been able to do. But I don't see us if if we put off the high school, I'm going to go fight the city to let them to

052let them keep us. Let I'll spit it out. let them allow us to keep the portables at Oakland and Riverdale because we're gonna start needing them. And the portables that I moved at Smyrna, I'm gonna be right back next year or the next moving them back. Beyond that, you go back to the go back to back to the high school the next and then at that point you decide three years from now, do we still need that next high school? You leave it on there. You can use the same footprint. We if we look at designing what we've used for the last 20 years, our elementarymentaries, our middles, and our highs have been prototypes except for the last couple that we've built. We've built a couple of new prototypes, the elementary and the middle. We

053can use those again. We can go forward with those there. We've got something in our arsenal that we've got we can go back and reuse. And in three years, you revisit started today, they're 18 months away from houses coming online. That buys us that two to three years. And then at that point, you look at do I need a high school? Do I need a middle school? And you still probably got one of these smaller projects that's sitting out there that you do if nothing else. That's you asked me, that's not two cents. >> I appreciate that that feedback. Uh yeah, and I would I still think we're going to need again focusing on the numbers. still think we're going to need if we split this high school, one on the south end and one

054on the north end. I don't think it's possible, judging from all the numbers we've seen, to build to either not build a huge high school or larger high school or split these two. I'm not advocating that we just build one or the other, just to be clear. Um, but I do got one more follow-up question about McFaden. So, obviously, we several I think everybody got emails today about McFad and some of the conditions there and the Hback. Well, you made a statement that we've been pouring money into McFaden. Uh, so my follow-up question to that is, does that mean it is in better shape than uh the other ones on this list at this point or are you saying it's still a money pit? >> Well, when I say we've been pouring money in it,

055Dr. Blair can correct me. I'll be off a couple of years, but I'm not going to be off in the last 18 years. We've put new windows in it that leak. We've fought the brick that still continues. We've got it in pretty good shape now, but we still have been fighting it for the last few years. We've still got a few walls at Central Magnet that leak and it's because of the type of construction. We've sprayed sealer on them and the ultimate repair is hundreds of thousands of dollars to cut the mortar out and retuck point them. That's how you fix it. um roof, HBAC, all of these things have been put in. But what gets lost, and I was trying to get the age right, we're 12 to 15 years on his new HVAC

056system. So, his HVAC system is no longer new. We have, and I'm sorry, >> no, you're right. >> You asked I answered Dr. Sullivan question today. What does our HVAC systems look like? There's a lot of talk about that on We have 33 HVAC systems in our system that are over 12 to 15 years old. All of them are at or beyond replacement. I've got some that are 20. And if you remember the report that the guys did for us in 2021, they told us then, "We don't know how y'all kept this stuff running." And I'm sorry guys, we're still keeping them running and we're going to have to keep them running for a while longer. And I'm running out of rabbits um to to pull out of my hat. Um I say all that

057to say this, we don't have anything new other than our new facilities. And if you want to think about it, I had a gentleman tell me the other day, Single High School is one of our new high schools. They're 20 years old. They're not new anymore. That that's and I'm not pointing a finger or saying anything when I say we're pouring money in them. When you've got a building McFaden, I don't want to cheat it now and it's late in the days. Original building was built in 1938 and 78. That's when it burnt, rebuilt, added on, whatever. Central Magnet School 1948. Christian Elementary 1948. Daniel McKe 1950. Holloway High School 1959. Simon Springs we were all there recently 1963. Just said McFaden. Smyrna Middle School which was Smyrna High School 1961. Smyrna Primary 1963. Smyrna

058West 1950. Thurman Francis Arts Academy 1963. been asked by a lot of people, give me your top three. I I I'm not Solomon and I've said this before. It's very difficult to split that baby >> and I'm a smart boy, >> but it's hard. >> I look at this as a district. That's my job. >> So, I'm sorry I got off. >> Thank you for that feedback. >> Yes, >> Miss Maxwell. >> Let me go over here real quick. Okay, M Sharp and then Mr. >> V. I >> Okay, sorry. >> At this point, I can't remember. So, go ahead. >> All right. Observation, and forgive me. I didn't really mean about putting the high school off. What I meant to say was, can we move the small projects on up time frame wise? I

059I I concur. I understand the the numbers with the high school. I I kind of like what Katie said. You know, we could we could take the design if if we get an agreement here to build two high schools that maybe we could design part of the the north high school, a third of it as a arts academy. I don't know. I don't know what that looks like. You attended one that had a school within a school. I think that's what you're saying. So, that could be a a great possibility. So, don't Yeah, I we need to get on with it. I just I know McFaden has been both my sons went there and and we've patched back then. We're still patching and at some point in time and the observation I would give everybody

060is this. You you you've seen a lot of you know the real estate business been pretty good for three years here. All these investors came from out of town and essentially what they have done is bought 20, 25 year old houses, come in, put new roofs, new cabinets, new bathrooms, new flooring, new light fixtures, new central heat and air unit. And and the houses are 20 years old. And so they've made them modern and they flipped them and they've made money. And essentially that's what we have to do in the school business is that these buildings when they get some age on them, I mean your average central heat and air unit is 15, 18 years old. Um, some of you have heard me say this. I' I've got fif about 50 rental houses right

061now. We buy three units a year. I just budget that. And so that there's three or four roofs a year. And so I know those things and I know Trey knows those things, but the average taxpayer, the average homeowner may not understand that from this large of system. you know, 52 schools. Hey, odds are you got three or four central heat and air units are going to be out every year, right? Just just in just in sheer numbers, the luck of the draw. So, anyway, that my intention would keep on with the high school, but let's see if we can't get on with MFD and maybe one of these other ones, Daniel McKe or something next year or this year. Start this year. What What would it look like if we brought back a trade

062and bring it back? you bring it back next month and let's kind of re, you know, what what do we need to do to get it to push it along? I know we've we've gotten to this point. We've got the three uh additions done essentially with Riverdale, Oakland, and Smyrna. But let's go on. Let's what's the next step and let's keep pushing. >> Go ahead. >> Um I think the next step I I think Mr. Rosales's suggested motion is perfectly fine because before we know what we can do with McFaten, we need to go ahead and acquire those properties. So to authorize Mr. Reed to go ahead and contact who the owners are. I think then I would wait until our enrollment numbers come back more towards October because I'm going to go over enrollment

063here in just a little while. We're following the same trend we did last year. Starting off kind of flat and then September October we blew up. And so one year we've used RSB and they use September's numbers and then we grew like 400 kids the next month. And so I don't know if that's the people that move here and their districts are usually starting after Labor Day and that's what the big growth is. And so I would hate to develop the plan and then have a ton more kids move in that I don't know about. Um that's kind of >> we're going to discuss this at our retreat as well. It's going to be a big portion of that >> and then no sorry Max. Okay. So this is my last comment about this. Um

064so to Charlie Turn's point about the need for the high school um if we remember correctly and the trend and the growth and how with the buildings that we have to hold all these kids that are coming and having seats available. Even with this um resoning within the high school, it showed that I think it was either year 28 29, we will be at capacity with even at Seagull High School and that we will desperately need a high school within that Sewers Creek zone area. And then he also talked about how within five years we will need another high school within close to the Riverdale side area, Christiana, because of the growth. So, I will agree that we will need to move forward with the high school on the north end. That's why we have

065the lead property. Hopefully, it works for that. But I will also like to and I'm just one vote what to advocate is to add an older school um to renovate and we can look into um bumping up McFaten by starting with the process of buying the property so that we can start um with renovations and then we can also prioritize those older schools and how they rank and in in priority list. So that's my two cents for that. I will say one thing I think that helped us in the past is once we voted and we got a plan together, we stuck together and we stuck to that plan. And yes, we were a little pushy. I was a little pushy, but you have to. But I think that we have a very good relationship

066with the county commission. And I know we're always going to have new ones coming in. I'm losing probably two of mine. But I think if we if we just stay determined, we can do this because we're not going to be able to to do one or two. She's right. Mr. Malis is right and Mr. Bond is right. We're going to have to do multiple projects at one time. And so I I I think that we can get this done. We just need to make sure that we all are working as one voice as a board. Sorry, >> I was going to echo that. So for looking at our five-year plan, whatever we decide, um, regardless of whatever the majority of the board vote is, that needs to be what the board's conversation is. Uh because

067again, moving into a reelection year, any thing is going to be tough. But if we're all unified, then it's going to be much easier for me to push that. And it's also going to be much easier to push two smaller high schools that represent the entire county during an election year than it would be one smaller or bigger high school in only one area. It's a lot easier to get the entire commission support if everybody's >> like we did when we said Oakland and Riverdale. helping two areas, not just one. Yes, M. Sharp. And then, Mr. >> Thank Thank you, Madam Chair. The The only thing The only problem that, and I agree with everything, the only problem is we still need another high school in Lever because the Lee Road is not going to

068address the problems that we have in Lever. So, that's that's really a third one. It's really a third high school if you look at it because Lever is already in capacity and even with the annex, we've got to have something there and right there with Smyrna and everything because Lee Road is going to take care of all that property that's coming people that are coming over on the west side of the interstate and they're coming. It's going to be huge. That Lee Road is not going to do anything for Lever. They're not going to move anybody from Lever over to that area. And with Stewart Creek and everything already been full, we really need a high school. We do need one on the north end and the south end, but Lever has got to have

069one as well. >> Yes, I go ahead. Uh so just to consolidate everything that we've talked about here, it it seems like the board is is considering uh uh high school splitting this larger high school into two high schools, one on the north end, one down near Plane View, and then additionally potentially moving up one of these items. Um that seems like McFaden is holding the reigns here, but moving up one of these if we can. Um because this is on it's we're having a vote on Thursday, right? No, we're just not discuss just discussion. >> Well, then on that note, uh that still seems like the direction so we can start getting ideas about that. Uh but I would like to see the difference between acquiring properties. I know that I reached out to

070Trey earlier today about McFaten and about what those properties would cost in comparison to Miss Sharp's uh idea of utilizing Holloway and what that would look like. That's something that I heard for the first time tonight. It's a unique idea. I'd love to see what the differences are to see if there's some savings there. Uh it sounds like unfortunately this is uh within Murphy'sboro City's uh district. So there's going to be some challenging items there already. The less challenging we have likely the less delays, the less we have to fight with the city. U so let's uh let's try to make that as easy as possible. >> Miss Maxwell. Yes. >> Dr. Can we add can we modify the agenda or is it too late to add the motion to authorize Mr. Reid to move

071forward with acquiring the properties on >> I would officially to Mr. Reed but since it's being discussed during a work session I don't see any reason that it couldn't be added to the agenda. >> Can we add that to agenda so that it can be a board agenda item that we can vote on Thursday and go ahead and start that pro process. That'll be great. Thank you. I will tell you, have you seen, Mr. Lee, have you seen the the mockup that McFaten PTO showed us? Okay. Okay. I'd like you to see it. Um I have a a lot a lot of you know my husband is on city council so I have kind of really have kind of talked about this behind the scenes and the houses are not that expensive. Um, and I

072think one owner of has two of them. And, uh, basically they're looking at flipping flipping the front to what is now the back. And it does follow along with, you know, we are going to need the city's help, you know, and and but I do believe this does follow with what they're trying to do and the the beautifification that area and uh the the downtown um project there where they're daylighting the old uh stream. So I I do think that they could be actually a better partner and uh I'm very optimistic. I always am. Yes, the principal is here, Mr. Blair. And I had asked him earlier if he could present those plans to everyone on the board. So, if they can send it to Mr. Lee and Dr. Sullivan, that'd be great because they

073had that meeting. And I will request if we, the PTO, can have another meeting and invite the board members to talk about it as well. That'll be that'll be great. I will appreciate that. I don't know if there'll be the board members, but it'll be great to have that conversation. >> Yes. Mr. >> Well, it sounds like we're all pretty open-minded to looking at everything. So, we're having a fall retreat. >> So, it appears to me that con school construction and renovation is going to be the topic by that time. Will you have updated enrollment numbers? Can we also ask for and I don't know how to do this other than the consultant you know looking at where the numbers are and say okay if you had a location here what the zoning would be

074can we kind of play with that kind of stuff >> already we've worked on it a little bit last year and I meet with him again tomorrow so yes >> all right because again I I think I mentioned this ear there are several tracks of land that are going to come up for sale in the next couple of years for for state purposes and so kind of knowing that on the front end it may give us a in or at least give y'all the information to make some type of decision. >> Okay, Mr. >> You know, going back the the Ben situation, you know, we're looking at those houses I think to the east of I think that's where you're talking about another option. You know, I I think a lot of the people buy

075those houses and then um they get pretty proud of them real quick. And uh you know, another thing that another option to look at is right beside there there's a uh the recreation department has that building there. >> Uhhuh. And it may be a possibility we could talk to the city of Merchburg and see if see if we couldn't work out some kind of arrangement or deal or whatever you want to call it about maybe flipping that building and and utilizing that area there. So it's just I don't know it's just thoughts. >> Funny you should say that. I've actually approached them about that but but uh yeah that would be I think a good idea too. I want to ask you one more question about the alternative schools. The price for redoing them, obviously

076they're not as large, so it's not as high. Are we still looking at possibly doing that ourselves? That would not be outside of them the county having to go commission having to go get a bond for that. Or is that still >> they would No, we'd have to get a bond for that much. >> Okay. >> For 21 a.5 million, we would for sure. >> Okay. >> Yes, we're going to talk about the alternative schools. They're really to me they're really small compared to some of the other buildings that we've built. And if we have the land there, we need to think about since if we're going to build there, we need to think about what other opportunities we could put on those locations and not just build to the same size that we had.

077>> Oh, >> we're for sure going to add seats to alternative school. But I agree what other options we need. >> Yeah. You know, maybe administrative or you know, sometime I don't know. I don't really know how much land we have. Go. Yes, ma'am. These budget those schools right now are about 10 to 12,000 square feet and these budgets are for 25,000 so it's to double them. >> Okay. Do do we have land to put maybe a foot? >> Yes. A football >> and they can stay in service >> so we can >> we may have to relocate some portables but we can still probably keep them there while we build. Are we thinking about not just increasing the size and having more classroom space, but maybe adding a gym to each of them? >>

078You would be pushing it probably would increase, >> but we could maybe look at we can look at it, but it's not included in the budget. >> Okay. Okay. I definitely would like to >> budgets are you tell me what you want and I'll give you a budget for it. In my head, I have like and and I can't remember what Smyrna West I've been out there before, but Daniel AKI I know what that footprint looks like, but I I was hoping that we could like separate the middle school from the high school and uh and maybe go even go up go twotory high school. >> Yeah, it's two that's what we discussed. >> Uh let me throw a little monkey rich in the deal. Um years ago, we looked at the alternative school situation.

079And my recommendation at that time, Mr. Gil was the superintendent. We talked about maybe making the intermediate alternative school at Holloway and put the frequent flyers and the guys that earned their earned their stripes at the uh the hardcore ones at Daniel McKe. And the intermediate alternative school would be for things that are nonweapon or non drugs. And therefore, you know, we don't utilize hallway is near full. And I think there's plenty of room there to add the intermediate alternative school which is take the load off to any McKe. And I think it would be great for the for the uh alternative schools to separate the frequent flyers and the guys that earn his stripes compared to the people that just there for other reasons. Um I mean it's just the option that >> I

080understand what you're saying and I and I think that that concept of separating the two. However, I do feel feel like Holloway serves a purpose and I I really like the fact that we've had that choice school for some of these kids and it's been the right call for a lot of them who were drowning in our big larger schools. >> Yeah. I'm not talking about eliminating hallway. I'm talking about they got they don't have very many students compared to the area they got. And I think you you would have room to add that uh intermediate alternative scope to part of >> Oh, so just to put it like a part of >> Okay. Madam Chair. >> Yes. M >> just to touch on hallway since it was brought up. I think I've talked to

081you about this before, Dr. Sullivan. One of the things I'd really love to see us do is really kind of put a spotlight on hallway. I know I don't know about the rest of you, but my experience has been that most people don't know it exists and those that do know it exists have a misperception of what it is. So, I think we could do a much better job if we want more students in that building of exposing the district to what that school is and what it provides and kind of with our marketing team kind of getting some more information out to the district about that school because I've known several parents that either didn't know it existed or they are perception of it wasn't what the school actually is. So, if we need

082more students in that building, I'd love to see us work with marketing and maybe put something together to just try and raise awareness of that school because they really do some amazing things and they provide an environment that a lot of our students to what you just said really truly need. I just think the majority of our district is unaware. >> I agree. We need to add more seats to the school. >> Absolutely. >> Yes. I I agree with you, Claire. U special and I think McFaten is more in line with what they're doing at Holloway. Um we've all been out there every year um in January for lunch and see the students that um Holloway takes care of and um it it's a life-saving school and I I would like to see us continue

083that. >> Any other questions? >> Yes, this year. Just a timeline. So, we have our November 4th is our fall retreat and then we are scheduled to have our middle school reszoning meeting on November 6th. The decision does not have to be made for reasonzoning in November 6th. It's just the presentation. And then we would need to do a decision just like we did with high schools in the December board meetings, but that November 6th, those maps already published. We'll have to do some modifications just based on growth. I'll give you an example. Rockfell Middle grew 100 kids this year and so that was that's tough and we have to do some things with Oakland Seagull just a couple shifts but I don't expect large scale changes from what we've already looked at. >> Dr.

084Sullivan Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Sorry. Um talking about timeline. So I heard that if if we were going to build a new high school that we will need to start the design November 20 25th. So, when will we need to make a decision as a board on this five-year plan so that the high school can begin? When will we need to I know everyone talked about we're going to discuss this in the November meeting in the fall retreat that takes place in November. So, when do we need to make a decision in November so that Lee can start the process of that design? >> Probably October. But the reality is there's no funding available for the design. So, we're going to have to ask the commission to design to pay for the

085design for this anyways. >> So, when do you need to go before the county commissioners to ask for the money for that design? >> October. So then technically we need to make a decision before because there's if we don't have a five-year plan, how are we going to authorize you to go before the county commissioners to ask for the design >> in order for us to meet that deadline of having a new high school in 28, which is that's when, >> if I'm speaking bluntly, I cannot imagine we have a high school ready by August of 28. To me, it's August of 29. Uh, it's just that's the reality. Um, I don't if we were planning on opening a high school in 28, we probably needed to start last year and that >> Oh, well

086that I'm going by what's written here. >> Yeah, that's and we changed this to try to get it open by August. >> Okay. So, I guess my question is when do you need the board to make a decision so that you can >> We want to try to operate it get it open by August of 28. I need to go to them in November at the very latest. >> So, when does the board needs to make a decision? >> October. So technically we won't be able to talk about this from the fall during the break. >> So if we want to move our fall retreat, we can move our fall retrie. >> I'm in favor. >> That was the suggestion I was about to make. >> Yeah, I'm in favor of moving our fall break

087our >> but we're not going to have all of our enrollment numbers back yet. >> So that's >> Can we have estimates at least? >> Yeah, we'll have some. >> I think we can have at least estimates, right? Walter, we're trying to get the meeting. >> November 4th, 9 to 30. >> When do we meet back here? >> Which month? >> Um, we meet October 30th. >> We meet October 30th. So, it'd be a week later. It'd be 10 days later. You just have to move it on pretty fast. We'd have to vote on it in November. That first meeting in November, right? >> We could. Yeah, >> we we can do it at the end and just push it on. So that will give Dr. Sullivan time to go before the county commissioners to

088ask for that money if we do it in November. >> Personally, I think you run up the flag pole and let them know it's coming. >> Right. Right. >> That too. >> I was being hesitant. Yeah. But we vote on it and create the plan. You don't want to go in there half >> So we'll vote on it in November after the fall break. So after we meet in the fall, we meet in November 4th and then the following meeting it'll be on the Janette for us to vote. >> Yeah. It is November 18th and 20th is our November meeting because you have fall retreat, middle school resoning, and then TSB annual conference takes one week out. >> Yeah. >> So, we have a meeting scheduled the 18th and 20th. >> Okay. So, then it'll

089be on the board agenda for the November the week of November 18th. >> Would it not be better to put it on the October 30th agenda to vote on so that you're have time to get your stuff together for November? I will miss the health and ed for October by that October 30th meeting because of the way the calendar falls. >> Right. But I just mean if we voted on it on the 30th >> then you would know what you had to what you had to prepare with. You would have time to get stuff together for the November meeting. I'm worried if we push it to mid November you're going to be scrambling to get it all. I'll have it ready because that's what I've had to do every other time is our board votes

090and then usually like health and net is waiting on our >> Well, you you tell us. >> Yeah, November 18th and 20 is fine with it. Okay. >> I don't again my biggest concern is they don't have a way to fund it. They've known it was coming. We have communicated this was coming. So that's but it's our job to ask. >> That's fine. But I think for timelines purposes um we have to make decisions >> because the further we wait and delay then the further this gets pushed back. >> Yeah. The November 18th >> that's why I'm saying that the urgency of when do we need the board as a collectible needs to make the decisions >> at the latest November 18th 20th. If the board votes on it on the October 28th and 30th

091we'll miss the October health and ed meeting because it's the 28th. It's the same day as our board meeting. The next session is November 25th for health and ed. So, we would hit that one, hit the December 4th budget meeting and the December 11th county commission meeting. >> Okay. >> So, the qu the question is, do you want to back up the board retreat to the first week in October? That's what it sounds like. >> First week in October break. >> Yeah. >> Uh well, that first meet when's our first meeting? I get it. I get it. >> October 14th. >> If we if we had it the 14th, we could get it to health and ed. >> Yeah, on the 28th would be. >> All right. So, when can we do the board retreat

092before the meeting on the 14th? Everybody look at their calendars. >> Well, they have it tensively for November 4th. >> But see, we we we we're missing everything by a month, Francis. That's what I'm trying to do is back it up a month, >> but not Yeah. But not getting everybody's fall break. Y'all not going to give up your fall break to meet with us. I don't blame you. >> Well, we have work session on the 14th. >> You want to give up your Saturdays? >> I was just saying Saturday I'm going to be selfish. >> November 4th. >> My Saturdays are spoken for. >> I'll send We'll have Dawn send an email available. >> Oh, you you know us auctioneers, we just work one day a week. Okay. So, that's my day. >> I'll

093have Don send an email about September 30th. >> It's still a Tuesday. It's before fall break. >> Um I'm all good personally. >> Miss Maxwell. >> Yes. >> I'm good. If you want to take a look instead of being on the spot, if y'all want to come up with a couple dates, send it out. >> Yeah. >> Bumping it up. >> Yeah. Bump it up. Roll them out and we can take a look at our calendars. I honestly don't have my calendar with me here and I have a lot of stuff that my husband has penciled in into my calendar. I need to make sure. >> Yeah, I get it. Yeah. >> Yep. That sounds good. >> I got your apparently it's a joint effort. >> It's a family calendar. >> Okay. Well, I'm getting

094This is kind of exciting. I like Yeah, we're getting excited. Um Okay. So, is there any other questions and we can move on? >> Let's start all over. >> No, I'm just joking. >> Let's move on to instruction for the rest of >> Yeah, that's just a co-op proposal between Oakland Middle and Central Magnet. Has to have board approval before we can >> Okay. >> Next, we've got legal. >> This is a transfer student under discipline. So, this student is requested to um enter county schools from another school system under discipline. The student was remanded for possession of illegal drugs and director of schools recommendations to deny. >> Okay. Next we have got um policy adoption first and final reading. So, this is a request. Um, we noticed it with many of our a couple

095of our vending machine vendors are no longer wanting to service the schools and so we have our own CTE programs that are already running it. In board policy, it says that it has to be run by a vending company and so this is request is just to ask for the schools to continue to run these themselves since they're losing their ability. um talk with finance. The big request of finance is to make sure that it still has the accounting goes through the school books and that inventory control is kept because that's the only thing you really want to make sure that you have is some type of inventory control. >> Talking about snacks are we talking about drinks? >> Yes, both. >> Really? >> Yep. Both. >> It's not everybody. Depends on when somebody's contract

096is going out. And so >> the high schools I always thought it was like a cash town for them. >> I'd like to make a comment on that. I'm telling you, it's going to be they're going to be shocked about um one or two things. How much money they going to make if you hand it yourself or how much cheaper you could sell that candy for what they charging now. So, I mean, it may be a little bit of an effort for somebody, but I'm telling you, it's a little bit putting a little bit of dollars in the school's pocket to spend on other things. I'm just shocked that they're [Music] >> as you have contracts that come open, >> you may not get the same benefit that you did previously, whether it's the same

097and each school's their own. So, they may have a different percentage and it makes more sense for the school to do it themselves. I know that Smyrna and Oakland, and I don't quote me, but those were the two schools that I know their vending company was interested in selling to them because they were getting out of it. So, >> wow. I believe those are so good that they even like were willing to sponsor things at the schools and >> some are days of scoreboard. >> Yeah, those days are over there. Nobody's giving scoreboards anymore. >> And then we've got approval of two. >> Yes. And so just request for us to go ahead and do this so that we don't have to wait for two motions so that the CT programs can go ahead and

098operate it. >> Okay. Next we have financial matters. >> Yeah. And so this is first one is benefits and insurance update. So we are looking um open enrollment of course will happen in October. We do not need to vote on this on Thursday but a vote does need to happen by September 11th. There is an increase of 5.6%. From the state department and so Jennifer I'm not meaning to take your thunder. Go ahead and come up. Sorry. No sorry >> you are good. >> Yeah. And we're blessed to have Jennifer. Jennifer was with the county for a while and ran the school systems portion of county insurance. Then you went and worked with um I've gone blank on their name, Gallagher. She's the broker. And she's been back with us for over a year. And

099so this is just kind of an overview of medical plans. And before we start, because this is something we always hear from from you, you guys can see nationwide insurance costs are going up. It's not fun, but it's it's nation costs are going up nationwide. And we always hear educators rightfully so say that, you know, the percentage of increase of my health insurance plan is more than the raise that I got. The percentage increase is on whatever that you were paying that premium to where your raise is based on what your average salary was. And so it's it's not true apples to apples when you're comparing those. But I definitely understand because that that's tough when you're like, it went up 5.6% 6% and I got two and a half% rates. So it's it's tough.

100>> So this year the uh state has decided to make some plan changes to kind of bring down the cost. If they didn't do the plan changes, the increase was going to be higher. Um with that they have increased what we call the buup. Um so for the bigger networks, the open access for Sigma, the network P for Blue Cross, um for employee only tier and the employee and children tier, it's increased by $15 a month. Um and then for the other two tiers, $30 per month. And then the next biggest change is going to be on the pharmacy. Um they are now doing a pharmacy cost share change. um one the weight loss drugs which are a big expense for a lot of plans and then specialy medications which is their next biggest expense

101currently depending on what plan an employee is on it could be a percentage or they could pay a co-ay now it will be a percentage regardless of what plan the employee elects >> yeah what does that mean I'm sorry to ask but what does that mean employee only and employee >> so those are two different tiers and they've got the same increase per month for that addition that bigger network. So if I'm paying 50 for a smaller network but you want the bigger they're adding that >> right I understand that is is that supposed to like employer only and employee or is it I guess it's throwing me off employee only and employee because it to me it means the same thing. >> No it's employee only and then employee and children. >> So it

102depends on which coverage you're choosing. depends on which coverage you're choosing. If you need it just for you or you and a child or you and your entire family, this is the wording the state uses for their plans. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> I've got a question also. >> Yeah. >> Members will pay 25% co insurance for weight loss of all plans if uh do you get 25% discount if you lose weight? >> No. That would >> I mean that was a plan >> that kill two birds one stone. >> Yeah. >> I promise you boy it' be people getting on scales. [Music] [Laughter] >> You better go easy down there. >> Go easy. >> That's hard. It's hard for us to quit eating to stand. >> Yeah. >> The bottom portion's big because especially

103the members will pay 30% for in network. Right now, it is connected to your out-of- pocket maximum for the year and there's going to be a new pharmacy out-of- pocket maximum. So, it truly is going to matter which plan you get on because that is that's a big change. >> Yeah. >> Um there we did have Gallagher look at some different rate options for us with that. There's some kind of points to keep in mind when you look at it. It is based on a calendar year and not our budget year. Um the chart that we have is done annually and for 12 kind of for the 12 month but we do deductions tently. Um it is based off a snapshot in time. I gave them a report a few weeks ago of our current

104enrollments and then that's what they use to kind of figure out for the next year. Um it doesn't account for any migration to different plans during annual enrollment. And then they've assumed on retirees that it's certified 30 years or more because we don't know how many retirees what their years of service are. We just know how many we have enrolled. These our are the options. The very first line is our current. So that's where we're at now. And then it goes down the different employer contribution amounts. If we took 100% of the increase, 75, 50, 25, or if we took none of the increase and the proportional is doing it exactly as it is done now for the 2025, we just apply that to 2026. >> And let me go over these just real quick

105so everybody sees because this is the tough part of the just conversation. We were at 10% of our entire budget went to health insurance two years ago. We are trending towards more of 11% already but covering just a small portion of it last year. If you look on the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh column, that is what we are paying as a district. So, we've got a $560 something million budget that is not in the deficit. And we are this year already paying 56,987,000 for medical insurance. That is what we have budgeted is that number. So, any of these other increases, we're going to have to find additional revenue sources for. Now, we will get a little bit because of outcome funding. I think we get about $4 million for outcome funding, but Brian

106and I use that outcome funding to cover costs that we don't know that exist throughout the year. We hire teachers on our average is 20-year bachelors. If somebody comes up with a master's 25, we've got to cover that somewhere. We have a position that needs to be filled that we didn't fill or sub rates are paid higher. So, that that $4 million is a kind of a 1% 8% terrifying cushion that we operate on. So there is no budgeted expense for the 17550 and even covering 25. I don't think that we need to cover I don't think it's realistic for us not to cover any of it. And so my recommendation would be we try to cover 25% and we may have to cut spending later on in the year as we're watching some things

107to see where we are. Um I would love to cover all of it but we we do not have $60.8 million to cover medical insurance. And so that's just as you're looking at the cost and what the employer employee portion is. I know that uh current administration hope talked about trying to get some of these costs down and I hope that occurs because there's there's got to that's just like we talked about two years ago. This isn't sustainable for anybody, not just us, but for anybody. >> Mr. So are you recommending third column up from the bottom? >> Yes. And that's and I just wanted the board to understand that's going to be a push trying to find an extra million dollars. Um we were notified yesterday that we have about a million dollars less

108in TISA generating. Um so it's so I'm already at that four million. I'm already 2 million out and so it's >> Can you go back panic attack over here but >> no and another consideration is is with our paid parental leave. >> Great point. Yes. the the legislature did not fund the subs that is required for those paid parental leave uh qualifiers. Um so we're we as a district have to pick up that full amount of the subs that's required and then last year I think we went over that two or $300,000 just for subs that we had to pull from our outcomes funding or our growth funding in order to be able to cover those. So, that's another consideration that you're going to have to throw in there that probably will be the same

109because we don't know how many paid parental leave uh qualifiers we're going to have throughout the year. And just a real quick what the state passed two years ago that we pay for teachers and um and their spouse to be able to take a certain amount of time that's paid. They covered the portion to pay the teacher. The state did. They did not cover the portion to pay for the sub at lunch. And so we are having to eat that cost of covering the sub in the classroom. And we didn't we trying to figure out this year of what in the world hit us so hard on subs. Why did we go over and it was paper and a leave because there's no reimbursement. >> Mr. >> So we've got a lot of new kids

110being born in the district. >> What do you mean? >> Well, you said you had parental leave. You must have a lot of babies in the county. I'm trying to be a little funny right there. You didn't catch my >> I did because our kindergarten numbers aren't where I want right now. Well, they will be they will be five years from now. You got six years, right? >> The question is this is not exclusive to the U district's employees, right? This would be county general laws, just district employers. County haven't had an increase in a couple years since we left, which I know that we have we've talked about. I know that you talked to uh our finance director about that. The county I do not know what the county is doing. Do you >>

111last I thought it was 6%. So we'll be a little bit less though. They have see >> that's what they're looking at is 6%. >> For each plant ours is 5% aggregate. Theirs is 6% across all. >> What are they going to do? That makes it easier to swallow when it's theirs compared to the last couple years they haven't had an increase and that was tough. >> So what will the county general fund do? >> They control their Yeah, they control their funding and they can add revenue. >> Well, I'm just asking are they going to pay half of it? They gonna pay a quarter of it. Has anybody heard any rumors? >> I don't know. They do have a little bit more options than we do because they administer their plan. They can pull

112a different they can change deductibles. They can change co-pays. They can change what's not. So, >> even if they say we're covering, they can they've got a little bit more movement than we do on that. >> But it's still a cost. They they've got a cost also. So, I would be curious as to what the county general fund employees end up with and try to find out before September 11th. That would be great. >> Mr. V, >> retired years of service is unknown. The last thing right there, uh, that's getting pretty close to home. you're disqualified. >> I you know one thing that uh all of us old folks on fixed income and I tell you insurance is a big thing and I tell you I have no complaints about our current insurance. I think

113it's I don't know of any way it could be any better, but we just can't we can't afford to on the people that have retired and all, you know, we just can't put that extra financial burden on them because uh social security, a lot of them, you know, just doesn't doesn't quite keep up with the cost of living. Um, so you know, I I think that's one thing we definitely need to keep in mind cuz y'all all be there one of these days, so you'll understand what we're talking about. >> Any other questions? >> Thank you so much. >> Again, I know that's not a fun discussion, but we we've got to make a decision. >> I know the million dollars is is going to be extremely tough to swallow. Mr. Young when he was

114on this committee, didn't he say that before we left the one of the reasons why we left it was getting 17%. >> Oh yeah, some of Yeah, they were huge. >> It was astronomical. We're coming off. It's not great, but we're still I'm glad we we did what we did. >> I tell you, down the highway insurancees, health insurance is going to be a tremendous challenge. It is much so is building. Okay, we're just going to move on now to engineering and construction. >> This is a request for Blackman Middle School. Their CDC fence request. Principal Jessica Jackson is requesting to install approximately 100 ft of fence to enclose the CDC area. You'll see the anticipated budget for this is 7,830. Um, and engineering has reviewed the request and has no objections. It is coming

115from the seagull grant. Sorry. >> Okay. Number two, Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Dr. Sullivan. >> Yep. When we are spending grant money, do we have to go out for bid? >> You want to >> through one of our vendors? >> Typically, it's through one of their vendors, but they have a they don't if it's under 15, they don't have to go out for a bid. >> If it's over 15, >> I know, but if it's over 15, do >> they do they can get three prices. >> Okay. >> You have three actual quotes and then once you get over 50,000, then it has to go out. >> Then it has to go out to public bid. Okay. >> Yep. >> Okay. Number two, >> this is 5405 Lee property road review. So, we have

116all of our reports in for the property at 5405 Lee Road and so we can um retrieve who's going over these. Hi. Okay. Okay. I've just selected certain pages from the various reports. I'm going to call it hitting a 20,000 foot level. The first um thing you have is the survey. The main thing is to gather from the survey surveyed acres and actual survey on the grounds 161.07 acres. The rest we did some uh topography that would be useful for us in the future, but we did not. If you'll notice on that front page, and I'm gonna try and use this pointer, this area right here, we did not do a complete survey of. It's not needed at this time. That's the hill. >> Yeah. >> How many acres are those in the area that

117we didn't survey? >> Ma'am, >> how many acres is does that represent the area that we did not survey? >> Probably about 45 or 50. Is there a reason we're not saving money when we it there's a potential that we could use that for uh materials to be used on the site if we were to purchase it and at that time we would go back and survey it at that time as part of our construction cost. But there's not a there was not a need at this time. >> Is that across the street? >> No, ma'am. We didn't part of it's all part of the same property. There is Okay. Thank you. >> There is no property across the street. >> Okay. No, that's that's great. I know that when we were looking at it,

118there was property on one side and then another property >> that was the property previous to this one. >> Okay. Perfect. Okay. Good. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Is the 45 to 50 acres on the hill part of the 161? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. The next page uh that we have is the geotechnical report. It's uh 68 pages. There's individual reports, but I would refer you to page two. What I have highlighted soil test boring location just this is just there again general information. The locations for 43 soil test borings identified borings B1 through B43 were established by overlaying the proposed building locations of boring locations into J Google Earth, transferring the data into commercial grade handheld GPS systems which were used to drill the holes in the field. We also

119drilled 22 test holes through the woods that we did not survey. There is an actual report attached to that for each one of these holes. We drill down to determine the dirt and where when we hit rock, which is fairly typical. The next thing is on page three, site conditions. Bedrock underlying the site contains carbonate rock, which is what we call limestone, typical for this area. Test pouring drills at the site did not encounter open voids or other signs of incipent sinkhole conditions. They have reviewed the USGS quadrangle map for this area. The map does not show a pattern of closed depressions that will indicate past sinkhole activity in the near proximity of this site. Therefore, it is the opinion that the proposed construction will generally not increase the recent sinkhole development. That's just standard

120things. Uh residual materials, Carter's limestone, Lebanon limestone, and the Ridley limestone formation. And that's pretty much the vast majority of Rolford County. So that's just highlights of not uh didn't find anything we didn't expect to average depth to rock is anywhere from 2 feet to 14 ft. Site assessment which is on page five 5.2 two. Based on the U subsurface conditions encountered during this explanation, the subject site is adaptable for the plan construction. Any questions on the geo report there? Again, you can read all about each exciting every test hole. If you have any questions between now and Thursday, be sure and let me know. Phase one environmental is our next test and it is to determine if we have anything out there uh that could be a potential hazard. Uh, page one in the

121executive summary, the evidence. Well, they did, and this is not unusual for a farm that's been in the farming community since 1900, they did find evidence of vehicular or tractor repair on the ground surface in one of the barns. I don't think that's anything that would be uncommon in any barn that we would find in the area that they would find some diesel fuel, some brake pads, some old oil m >> I didn't hear the question. >> Didn't we have a dump truck in Lever? There was there maybe not our property, but there was one found. >> Found. Yes. Yes. >> Um there's no uh what's called VC. That's any chemical releases or chemical large chemical spills that have happened in the area. One thing that they did, you'll notice if you read through this

122report, they talk about HMAS, which is hazardous material assessment based on the fact that the home that's on this property was built 1900 and the fact that they found this uh tractor repair going on in the barn. They did recommend that we have an HMA done which we have uh I got I don't have the report for you to review. I have the executive summary. Basically what it says there's no asbestous in the house. There is some lead paint on the building and that there you know some as old asbestous brake pads and a little bit of fuel around the barn. Other than that nothing of any substance to do. Phase one they talk about on page two the goal of the phase one is to identify pursuant recognized environmental conditions in connection with the

123subject property just said we other than the barn which if you go to page 18 the conclusion based on the results of the phase one ESA the historical vehicle andor tractor repair operations subject needs to be reviewed. And there's no VEC's for this property, meaning we're pretty clear from an environmental standpoint. Any questions on the phase one environment? Next, we have the jurisdictional water determination report. Going to go to page one. In the executive summary, they tell you about the property, a little bit about what they see. The creek we knew about, we'll get to some pictures here in a minute. The hillsides got some natural drainages, two small ponds, um, and that's about it. And it's recommended that the project be referred for reference to J to the jurisdictional water report be reviewed by

124the appropriate regulatory agency and a concurrence letter be acquired from that agency that's Tekk and the core of engineers and I have started that process and basically all that means is is they read the report review the findings from this report and they either concur with it and issue us a letter or they don't and they come back with something they see that uh was incorrect in the report. I don't see that happening for us. If you look at page four, there's some pictures of what they find. That's Olive Branch. That's the stream that traverses through the property. It's pretty much a rock bottom. What right now? There's not much water in it. Um there's three or four, five pages of different things. the main page. What do you have next, John? I got lost.

125Make sure to keep going. Should be determination. >> Yeah, that should be Yeah. uh two streams, four wetland areas, two ponds, four wet weather conveyances were identified on the property. The main thing for us, if you'll remember from plain view, we found some additional wetlands that we were unable to use. The purpose of this was to determine that upfront. based on everything they found, we're just uh a hair over one acre, but it's scattered out. In our uh construction reports, we're allowed to disturb up to a half acre. So, if there's anything that we had to deal with TD deck on, at the most it would be a half an acre. Basically, the property's free and clear from any jurisdiction of waters other than the creek. And we knew the creek was there. We discussed

126building a box cover or a bridge over it. when we looked at it to begin with. So, no no surprises in the jurisdictional water report. >> Mr. Dele. >> Yes, sir. >> Um I was in black and middle, we looked at uh having supply water for the athletic fields and it was going to cost us fortune. We decided to dig a well and it it it waters all the uh all the athletic fields at the middle school. This seems like the uh everything points to having a good water s water source at the water table which I would think whales would be pretty um a given in this area that do y'all utilize that very often to take care of the water in the field >> when we have a sustainable predictable groundwater table. Yes,

127sir. We do. We have it. We have a well at Stewart's Creek for the And it does about half the fields. They get enough flow to do half the fields and we buy the water for the other half. >> Yeah. Well, would be be nice if we could water them. Mom, >> they don't have enough pressure. That that becomes the problem. There's so many wells around now that the water table is there, but the pressure is not. So it it we typically can determine that when we do our geothermal wells. That helps us determine how what the depth of the water is and what our pressure looks like. It helps us determine whether or not a a well would work for us for athletic fields or not. But we do look at that. >> Mr.

128Lee, I may be jumping ahead here. I'm on the last page of figure two, the site detail map. How much you mentioned that we can disturb up to a half acre >> and I'm seeing, you know, pond one, pond two, some wetland areas. >> How much nonusable space are we are we looking at, including the creek crossing here? You know, on each side, is there like a little small flood plane that we're not able to >> the the the the creek itself, which we can't get in and the flow plane is probably about 8 to 10 acres? >> Okay. And then if we're don't use the acorage in the front between the creek and the road for building something, there's probably five to seven acres there. And then the wetlands is one acre if you

129add them all together. >> And the and it's usable. We just don't have it in our current layout, but we don't if we needed to use some of that land in the front of the creek, we can. Yes, >> that's yeah, that's the question I was going for. This the the places where the wetlands are, we can still disturb it and use it if we need to. It's not preventing us from >> correct future. It just adds a little bit of cost, but at a half an acre is very minimal. >> Yeah. Very good. >> Very minimal. >> Any other questions? >> Miss, have you gone through all of the reports you wanted to go? >> No, ma'am. Go ahead. Finish. The next one is the CU location from CUD in the 12-in water line.

130This is just there. Again, it's information you've had before, but I don't want to lose sight of this to have the fire flow that is required for the school. This is CUD's proposed uh waterline ex uh upgrade. They are in the process of getting ready to begin this work because of some of these other subdivisions. So it would be a sharing uh split cost. So John, if you go to the next page, there is the breakdown. Our cost right now, uh they call us the potential additional site. It's around a million dollars would be our portion for the shared upgrade. It's a $2.5 million upgrade. CUD's paying um you know you see their portion and then the other developers along the way are paying their portion to pay depend upon how long the line is

131to get them where they need. So it's a it's a sharing opportunity. We did a similar thing at Plane View. Um but I wanted to keep that out there that that is still there. Um, and then last we have this is a preliminary conclusion for the off-site traffic improvements. I will have their entire report which is multiple pages. I got this today. Um, they're they were rushing trying to meet our deadline. So, I'll be able to send that to you a little bit later. But basically three things, things that we already knew pretty much that um in front of the school would need left turn, right turns, um different traffic amenities. Cooks, Rocky Fork, and Lee Road. Uh there's been some conversation with the city about it and also what we could do, but there

132their proposal is there does need to be some remediation there and instead of a signal based on the geometry of the roads that we would probably be looking at a roundabout with high school drivers. >> I figure some of them just go there. There's one. >> I know. It's just man, >> the one that kind of surprised me is based on the current numbers is that Cooks Lo Cooks Lane and Lee Road didn't require something. But I guess there's not enough neighborhoods out there yet. It's almost at the county line. However, that large green section between uh Cooks Lane and the first yellow dot that says expect to operate ex ex acceptably under projected conditions. They're they've started that project and there's about five or six hundred homes in it. >> Oh wow. >> They

133started knocking down trees and putting up silk fence in the last couple of weeks. So that's probably going to change. Ma'am, >> is it on the Lee Road side? It's between Lee Road and Rocky Fort between the gas line and us. It's kind of halfway between Cooks Lane and the property that we're looking at. There's a 500 acre squatch right there. And miraculously, they've started construction. And pretty much that's all of the reports. We did not have anything that came back that really surprised us. Uh everything is fairly typical for this area. The wetland study was what I was hate to say most interested in, but it came back very favorable to have a creek running through it. Um, but I'll be glad to answer any questions and any thing that you'd like to see

134more between now and Thursday or have a question on a report, just let me know and I'll be glad to answer it for you. >> Miss Maxwell. >> Yes, Mr. >> Okay. Thank you. So, just to compare apples to apples in regards to um the tests that were done what is considered the phase one or mental standard geolog geological testing. So you you presented a subsurface exploration. >> That's the geo. Yes, ma'am. >> The the we got a overview of what the traffic traffic study is, but we're going to receive the report later on like soon. Um are we going we have this the the cu the letter um for the cud cud what was what is proposed. Um, so my question is, are we going to have a letter to Tennessee Electric to work

135with them like we did with the baking property, >> Middle Tennessee Electric? >> Mhm. Or whoever, >> they already have the power there. >> They have no problem servicing us there. >> Okay, perfect. And so then we've got the property survey and the wetlands survey. So that's all of the testings that we did, correct? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay, so could we vote on this on Thursday? we wanted to move forward with purchasing this land that we decided or we're going to wait till >> there's all the numbers or I mean that will be the next step which will be to decide whether we're going to buy this purchase property or not. Right. >> That is >> the motion is to Oh, okay. There's I'm sorry. >> Yeah. Okay. Great. Awesome. Any other questions? >>

136Okay, let's move on. >> Can I point out something? So, something >> um let's go ahead and do these two and I'll connect the director. >> Okay. Okay. >> Next is Fourth Buchanan Middle Pavilion request. Um CT and principal April Sneer submitting approval for the construction of an open air pavilion. Rutherford County Schools career and technical education department proposing the purchase of a 130x 24 pavilion for Whitworth County Middle School. Cost for the pavilion is $92,544 and will be funded by the CT department using the Tennessee Innovative Schools model grant. Engineering Construction review the project and has no objections. Engineer will work with the school on the proposed location. >> Okay. And they're wanting to use the pavilion for outside activities classroom classrooms. Okay. >> Okay. Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> Dr. Sullen, do you

137know if that one went out for bid? >> You It has nothing has yet because we're just trying to get approval to do it first. So once the board approves it. >> Oh, because it mentioned who was going to be doing it in this one tab. >> It's they provided that. So I'm assuming that they did put it out for bid. If they did not, it would have to be because it's over the threshold >> and then they'd have their own internal audit funding, too. So yeah. So they they know what they have to follow as well. >> Oh, I was just curious because I that's why I was it it just raised the question because I thought I wonder if we even have to do that when we're using grant money. I >> absolutely

138when we're using grant money because then you have more oversight. >> The the only way they could get away with it if it's an Omnia bid, one of the brokers that's already been bid that's approved by the state. There are vendors there are we call them buy bid boards. if if they were looking at one of them then and it's on that then they could utilize it >> next. >> So Rockfell bus route really just where we are in general with our bus routes. Um Trey, you got us an update on this one too. This is the Trey Lee show today. >> Okay. Rock Bell open routes bus 184, bus 272, bus 320. We've sent out all call twice, no takers. Bus 156 um has no driver. It's being covered by two other contractors. They

139do have a driver that's been training and it's supposed to the driver is supposed to test on the 21st. >> Where's that route? Is that route Rock Bell? >> Yes, sir. These are those are all Rock Bell. Next area is Blackman. We have one open route there, bus 59. It has had an all call, no takers. We currently have it covered by two other contractors. Lever open routes, we have bus 112 and 317. Special education open routes. Bus 94, which is a Leverne Sperna area. It's being covered by two other buses. Bus 282 is a single route covered by two other buses. Bus 145 is a single route. It's covered by other buses. We may have an option to work it out sometime later this week if the driver clears. We have a total of

140nine open routes, six regular education buses, three special education buses. We currently have overloads that we are working to address and get routes readjusted in Stewart's Creek, Rock Springs Middle. Making sure I can get them all. and we're working on some timing issues at Planefield. Following buses are without current drivers, meaning there the route is taken, but they don't currently have someone to drive them. Bus 161 has a afternoon driver only. Morning routes being covered by others. Bus 125, which is a Lever area bus waiting on a driver to pass the test. Bus 156 is a Rock Whale area waiting on the driver to pass the test. Bus 306, the driver broke their arm and currently no driver to cover. Currently we are still operating under the old rules that on awarding routes. Uh the

141old system goes away technically on Friday the 29th of August. At that point we could we have we would have two options if nobody takes the routes that are currently sitting out there. We would have the option to bring in a new contractor that meets our regulations or we do what nobody wants to talk about. We buy a bus and try and hire our own driver. That would be our two options at that point. >> I don't know, sir. We haven't been able to make that offer because we haven't been able to offer it to them. Um, but come the 29th, if these buses remain open, I'm going to ask our purchasing department to put something out there to see if there is someone that's in there to advertise it. Until then, I'm not able

142to offer them anything because of the way the our current contract reads, we can't bring in an outside contractor. >> But can we buy our new buses? Can we buy new buses? If we could find one right now, it would probably be a used one. >> I I haven't >> I haven't looked for anything. >> I don't know what's available. I know the buses that were available to us have been acquired. So, I have not reached out to the two vendors to see if they have anything in hand. >> Okay. >> Yes, Mr. B. >> Question. Would a policy change now related to experience and license help us? And what I'm getting at under under the you know, you got to drive for us for two years. And I had mentioned last month and and

143I feel >> that goes away on the 29th, >> right? I feel pretty strongly about that that if you got a CDL A or B endorsement, why why couldn't we? Have you had anybody approach you that does not meet that first criteria? >> What do you mean by >> Well, that has not driven for us for two years. >> We've talked to one contractor out of Hamilton County that's kind of interested to see what it looks like. >> But no, I mean, no other individual within >> Have I had an individual who's only been driving or never drove for us walked up and said, "Hey, on the 29th, can I drive for you?" The answer is no. And that's what you're saying. Go to market and go to purchase and and put that >> put

144it out there and let let people know that we now can if you've got a bus and you've got a driver that meets qualifications, technically you could drive for us. >> Okay. >> Now, we're going to have a form that you have to fill out. There's going to be a vetting process. I don't want the public to think we're just going to take anybody that walks in. But the answer to your question is on September 2nd, we can start doing business with someone who's not in the old under the old system. >> Right. And that's what I was getting at. What what do we need to do to be proactive about that? >> I'm getting there. And I don't know that >> today. I mean, it's we're we're a week and a half or two

145weeks away. >> Right. And which leads me to the next thing you were talking about. Well, if we had the buses, but the buses aren't the problem as much as finding a qualified driver. >> True. >> Right. Yes. Because if we started hiring drivers, they in all likelihood, they would come from some of the contractors we have now. >> And they probably bring a bus for us to buy >> and and and we would be right back. >> Right back, but they may have a route that someone would be interested in, >> right? And that's what >> you don't know that. I >> I kind of want everybody to be open-minded about this. >> And that's what I'm saying. We we'll in two weeks we'll have another op auction and I don't know maybe somebody

146will or won't take them between now and then or we'll continue to do the best we can cover them with other routes. >> When you cover them with other routes what do you do split the pay or something? >> Yes sir. The simplified version is we take the contractors that are on both sides and have them come closer to the minimum. >> Right. Right. Right. And then whatever portion that is, they get paid that portion of that. >> But that really makes that bus and that driver extremely efficient as far as return on >> investment. The pro the problem becomes we start running into time problems and we start running into overloading which is what we got in Rock Bale. >> Even though they're covered, it's taking longer to run them. >> So then there's

147your two dilemas. >> They're late for class. >> They're late every day. traffic fairies or >> or they're like >> they're overcrowded and I have to they have to leave nine kids standing there and go run and drop 10 or 15 kids ch children off and come back and pick the nine up and go back out again. That they're the try you can't gauge the traffic. That's the problem. And the time the time factor is what really gets us in the Rockville area because the traffic is so I'm gonna use the term horrendous >> like it isn't anywhere else but it's >> it's worse out there. You don't have many ways to get around it. >> Yeah. You don't have you've got to get back to Veterans Parkway. You can't Armstrong Valley doesn't help you.

148Nothing Nothing helps you there. It's an island unto itself. >> Yes, sir. >> That's the reason you're having trouble picking up. The drivers just don't want to fight traffic. >> All right. Thank you. >> You know, the the problem is personnel. It's not about bus. is, you know, I think that I think it'd be very beneficial to us to look at possibility of the US hiring bus drivers to work for the county and to give them the option of, you know, if they want to go ahead and work out the 40hour week to be custodians for the down period. you know, I think that uh you know, to have those people uh and get them I I think it would be more attractive and I think you'd get a lot of people that'd be willing

149to do that. >> Well, we've looked at that. Dr. Sullivan sent an email to the Rock Veil Schools and said, "Hey, if you got anybody that wants to drive, let us know." I got one email from Mr. Lucer. He has one driver that wants to. The problem is it's going to be difficult to tell a contractor that we're going to tell him who's going to put on his bus with him carrying the insurance. Now, I'm not saying that this person is a bad driver. >> Wait a minute. >> What was that again? >> We would have Right now, we don't have a bus to run them ourselves. So, they would have to drive for one of the contractors that don't have a driver. If we want to utilize our staff, we got to have a

150bus. >> Right >> now, here's the problem. And we've looked at it, and I don't have a perfect solution. Maybe everybody else can. I have a high school teacher or custodian that wants to work. Custodian's a little bit easier because we could make their shift flexible because they're going to have to drive an hour to get to run the elementary run. They start an hour ahead of the high school. So, they're going to be working an hour and a half before they start their day at the high school. They bring the high school kids to school, let them off, park their bus, go to work, no problem. They're going to have to leave an hour and a half early, which knock is going to knock out a coach or a teacher or something like that

151that wants to help because they've got to go run the elementary route. >> Can that person drive bus 161? They need a morning driver. That would be great if we could find one in that, you know, that area and if it works. It's because you have one offs. It's difficult. It sounds easy. We used to have uh four or five contractors that worked in our nutrition department and work custodians, >> right? >> And we allowed them to have flexible hours. like the nutrition staff would be a five and a half hour person because they finish after the students eat. They were able to leave that high school and go run their elementary route because they were off for the day. So there are oneoffs that do work and we would be willing to work with

152them if we had our own bus and if they had their own bus and that's what these were. These were contractors who actually worked for us and it worked. If it works, we're all for it. We have no objection to it. We've done it in the past. >> Yes, Mr. V. And then Mr. >> Oops. You're still I was going to say in this marketing campaign or trying to come up with ideas, would it do any good to put out uh some type of solicitation to our current employees? And with that idea, I see what you're getting at. If you had the same driver trying to drive mornings and afternoons, that messes it up. But what if you had a team situation? If you know, one one teacher drives in the morning, one teacher drives

153in the afternoon. I may be asking for trouble right there, but I'm trying to be creative. >> And I'm all for creative. The problem is I got to have that driver in that zone. In other words, that teacher's got to work at those at those two or three schools, >> right? It would have to be, you know, there was a there was a concept here years ago, team teaching, right? You know, that kind of worked. I I don't know if we team bus driver here. I don't know if that would work or not, but I'm just in in your due diligence. I'm wondering if you you know, poll your I would say custodians, maintenance workers, any that work in a particular area that stay pretty close. I don't know. Just trying to help you figure

154it out. >> Rockville, we threw it out to all the schools there. We had one that was willing to consider. >> Not much takers then. Now >> you have to bribe them. >> We're willing to be creative. We are. >> That's fine. Just start. >> Have we talked to our current contractors to see if anybody has buses and just doesn't have drivers besides the ones that we're aware of? And have we thought about putting out that information to the custodians, to the nutrition workers to say, "Hey, these contractors are looking for drivers. If you're interested, they have buses." >> We've had two match up to one reached out to James Evans and one reached out to us that they were looking to be a driver. One of them lived in the Christian area. We sent

155that person's information to all the drivers that are looking contractors that are looking for drivers. We send them their phone number and contact information. If somebody contacts us looking to be a driver, we're sending them their way, >> right? I just mean there could be somebody in nutrition that hasn't really thought about it before and didn't know that it can work with their schedule. So, I'm just wondering trying to be proactive out of the box a little bit. Would it be beneficial to just kind of send those positions within our district that would work well >> with them also being a driver to just say, "Hey, if you've never thought about it, maybe think about it." >> We could send that out and then we could send the information to the contractors because ultimately it's

156up to them whether they employ them or not, >> right? But yes, we could, >> you know, if we could hire them, if we could hire them and the benefits that they would get to me would be a big a big draw, you know, I just I just think that that'd be a big asset. >> Go ahead. No, I was just going to say so I don't know about the rest of the board, but I've been included in um threads of parents that have not um understand the complexities of why we're in a situation where we are, especially in the Rockville area. And so, um thank you for sharing all this information, Trey. So my question to you is is if we have these non-open routes um and then we've got options on August 29th

157and if we open it up um for the contractors and they don't take any they don't take up any of these contracts when are you putting that for bid to see if we can or I guess what options can we have about buying buses if we have to what will be the timeline for that decision so that we can cover ourselves because I will tell you their parents that I've gotten that I've been part of text messages and even emails that they're frustrated because of this especially in the Rockville area. That's where I'm getting a lot of a lot of complaints for and so they don't understand this whole 30-day contract the ex what expired the new thing like none of that really factors in. All they're seeing is that their child is taking forever

158to get home, is taking longer, and they're just voicing their concerns. >> Ask them if they're willing to drive the bus. >> Yes, absolutely. That's right. That is a part of it. So, I think my question would be so that they can see that we're moving and we're doing making decisions and there's traction to fix this issue. Um, so what would the timeline would be if we were to buy buses so that we could have the buses to operate ourselves? If we have if it ends up being that after open it up to everybody, they don't take up the contract contractors don't that's if the contractors do not pick up this routes then we're still have to figure out how they're going to be how do we drive these routes. So I mean ultimately it

159will be buying buses. >> Yeah, I don't disagree with you. It's a very frustrating to be the director of schools and know that there's a problem and not have the tools to be able to solve it >> and I I don't have the tools to solve it now. Buying the buses is the right idea. I don't know until the 29th and I know it's not a good answer but that's >> right. So I I understand that the 29th is a deadline. All right. I understand but we don't meet again till like officially as a board meeting September >> 9th. So from the 30th to the 9th there's no board decision action for the trainee or you to move forward in what are the options other than that waiting and see. So if you if we

160see that there's nothing I don't know why we're going to wait till September 9th to make a decision when we can have make preliminary decisions in the event of something were to h that there's no contractors are taking those routes and we're being proactive and then parents can see that we are being proactive instead of just waiting and then it delays everything till September 9th because ultimately we're going to have to make some hard decisions and I'd rather do that now that we're meeting knowing that we know this information. They're waiting >> to September 9th. >> Mr. T >> on August 29th. I mean to to allow the the discussion here, the the best thing to do, Dr. Sullivan, correct me if I'm wrong here, but the best decision at this time is just to

161let these parents know, hey, our hands are tied until the 29th as part of the contract. Um, but there are going to be some options that may open up at the 29th. And as far as purchasing or anything, if we were to go down some route like that, we would you'd still need time to collect and see what options there are. So that's not going to be something we can just turn over and grant you permission ahead of time for. But as as far as the current options, letting parents know, hey, we're doing the best what we can. Hopefully some drivers come in, snag these things. If they don't, by the 29th, we'll have a few more tools at our disposal at that point. And then you'll have information to follow back up with us.

162Is that a fair assessment of how that's going to go >> currently? Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> Yes, Mr. >> I know we've talked about the negative, but I do want to thank our contractors because we started off June with two and 300 open routes. And so we we're talking about nine out of 350. And so I know that's not and that's too many. One is too many, but it's not out of the norm of how we're normally operating here. How many did we have open last year throughout the year? 10. I think we discussed 10 12 >> probably about the same number. The the it was a lot quieter because they were in areas where it was oneoffs. They were scattered, you know, one in Leverne, one here. We've got three in that Rock

163Bell area, which makes it even harder. We've got the overcrowding. There's two or three in the same place. I mean, that that's what makes it hard. And the fact that nobody is taking the routes is kind of unusual, too. but they don't want to get in that traffic. >> The only other thing I'll say about Rockville Trade and I met last week, we are looking at changing some adding some extra spot for the buses to be able to turn um just making some modifications to the campus to be able to help. I don't and then we I know that Mr. Luger is meeting uh with represent from the sheriff's department to look at another crossing guard at a back part of the campus. So, we're we're trying everything that we possibly can to get it

164moving. We do have one thing that we're doing that's trying to it's slow and the drivers are frustrated. I can't help them. We're It's the permit process for 99 and getting that outbound lane added going back toward Murersburg so that they don't have to stop traffic so far back so that the buses can make the right-hand turn coming out of there without having to get into the turning lane. So, we're working through some of those things along with the internal changes as well. >> Mr. Lee, the person that reached out about driving to you, are they only wanting to drive for the district and they're against driving for a contractor? >> They're not against driving for the contractor. >> Okay. So, it wouldn't make a difference whether it was for the district or a contractor.

165Okay. because I do know and just so anyone who's watching the public is aware um I do know there have been issues with the third party testers that drivers that are waiting to be tested have to test through. They have had several people leave and it's delayed things and there's been all kinds of stuff there. So there are some extenduating circumstances I think that have made the process a little more difficult for everybody. So there are things going on. I think the best thing we can do, which I know Mr. Lee and uh Wanda have been working on, is making sure we stay on top of our communication to the parents just so that they're kind of kept in the loop. I think as long as they know that we are diligently working on it,

166it helps to definitely ease that. Most of our parents are understanding as long as they have time and information to kind of make alternate arrangements if necessary. So, appreciate everybody's work on that. >> Okay. Okay. >> Yeah, just a couple things. Director's update. So, enrollment. So, that's my only concern with the potential September date is we talked about the beginning. We're not going to have all enrollment solidified yet. So, if we make decisions with our building plan, just know that we're going to have more students that aren't really we don't know that they're there yet um to the big because RSP is using our October enrollment. I can ask him to use September's enrollment, but it doesn't show all of our students yet. So, just be aware of that. Our enrollment is same date. So,

167the seventh day of school last year, we were at 51106. And this is just our students. So, just K12, not preK, not our two authorized charter schools. This is just K12, doesn't include preK. 51106. Today we're at 51100 at the time I checked it. So down six students. Very similar to last year. We grew several hundred throughout the year as students continued to add and we had a big jump from August to October. So I would anticipate that. Our biggest drop right now is in kindergarten. And so kindergarten is is strange. We're still trying to figure that out. It's kind of a statewide thing right now. This time last year we had 2,798 kindergarteners and right now we have a little bit over 150 kindergarteners down. 12th grade is up 45 kids. So it's just

168some fluctuations kind of throughout. We were last year funded on 51589. And so that gives you an idea kind of as the year goes on. It's an average of your funding periods. So we're continuing to add students especially at the high school level. high school where we're staying the biggest growth middle and high school which has kind of been our trend the last year. Talk more about that on Thursday. The biggest concern that I have is and something we very well may do in the next couple days um is Browns Chapel and Stewart's Creek. So Browns Chapel is under 600 students and Stewart's Creek Elementary. I mentioned this the last time as of today was at 11:46. >> Popler Hill is within where we thought there's some about 150 kids roughly that should be at

169Browns Chapel that are at Stewart's Creek still based on the projections and so we've got to do some investigation to see where did those students go. I know Stewart's Creek is still growing where the Browns Chapel students go and we're probably going to Thursday um ask for volunteers if anybody wants to go from Stewart's Creek to Browns Chapel to smaller school. I don't know that we'll have many takers, but you can always kind of offer that as an option if you want to go to a smaller school, potentially smaller class size, and try to get some students out of Stewart's Creek before we can address that zoning. So, that's just kind of that's the one. You know, we do a district-wide reszone. I don't like that we have any, but to have one, it's kind

170of where we are right now. Those it's it's a strange zone. >> Mr. uh Dr. S, are we still capped at Stewart Creek? So we can always put that back in place too. >> We need to do that. >> Yeah, probably. >> Any other questions? Okay, general discussion. Anyone have anything? >> Yes. I'd just like to say um US News and World Report came out with a rating of high schools in the country. Central Maine was number one high school in the state of Tennessee and third nationally. So I mean that's that's pretty high pretty high cop because of Mac F. >> It's all it's really it's really all because of the history of that building. You know, the the spirits in that building have stayed over the years and it just fell on John

171Ash. >> And he's listening and watching. So, all good. >> Okay. Anything else? >> I'd like to say thank you for the longer mic stands. >> Very nice. >> That's all. I just want to say that um the Riverdale ribbon cutting was very nice. So was the Smith Springs community ribbon cutting that was very very nice. Um and so it was well done. >> Thank you. >> Really excited to be there. I thought they both went really really well and I was proud graduate of Riverdale. I was glad to be part of that. Thank you for everyone for being here and we are journal.