School Board Meeting Union County Tn 3-19-26

001Miss. Okay. Mer is not here. Okay. The next item on the agenda is representatives. >> Hello. Turn the bell. Okay. Hello, I'm Haley Beer. I'm a senior here and I play basketball, track, and cross country. Um, I've been the commander of the RTC program here for the past four years. I also do Beta Club and FCA. When I graduate, I'm going to join the Naval Academy and hopes to become a Marine Corps officer. Some recent things that's happened at the school is winterport and we raised 47,824 points for non perishable items to give away. Our teacher of the month was Miss Stexton. Our student of the month was a senior David Nicely. And we had a winner formal that raised $3,000 for the travel club. Um our spring sports are just starting up. Uh track,

002softball, baseball, and tennis. They've all had their first games and meets. We had a senior wrestler, Serena Hilton, who made it to state. And we have an upcoming talent show. Uh we also just had an ACT for the juniors yesterday. And ROC is hosting a field meet next month. And we are also having prom next month. Thank you. >> Thank you, Kay. >> The next item on the agenda is recognition. Miss Laura, Miss Lauren and Mr. P. >> All right. Thank you for having us. I'm going to go ahead and let Mr. Powers speak right now if that's okay. >> Oh, sure. >> And thank you all for inviting me and I'll be glad to do a Q&A if you all want to do that at any time. So, but one uh the main reasons

003I'm here is to uh we did a house joint resolution for Kaylee Beler. So, could I have her come up, please? >> I should have asked her to stay up here a while ago. My bad. Hi. We uh were informed uh that Kaylee is going to go uh join the uh United States Naval Academy and we're very proud of her and u so we did a resolution in her honor the House of Representatives and the resolution is to recognize Kathy Ba upon her appointment to United States Naval Academy where it is fitting we should honor those Tennessian who proven dedication to excellence is a great pride for the state and we're one such individual. is Kaylee Baylor who recently received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. A true honor and a great beginning

004to her career of service. Whereas established in 1845 Annapolis, Maryland Naval Academy is the second oldest of five US servicemies. Whereas a senior at Union County High School where she is a four-year member commanding officer of the Navy JRT ROTC program, Kayie Baylor holds a 4.0 0 grade point average. It's what I had when I when I'm sorry, I had a 3.0 and will graduate third in her class. Whereas a faithful member of the Alder Springs Church, Miss Beer has participated in a number of extracurricular activities during her high school career, including Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, basketball, softball, golf, cross country, and track. Whereas Kelly Baylor is an exemplary young lady whose work ethic, integrity, and ability to serve will embark her well upon her next chapter. Whereas Miss Beer is one of

005Tennessee's most known worthy young people, is most fitting that she be recognized on this milestone occasion. Now therefore, be it resolved by the Tennessee House of Representatives of the 114th General Assembly of the State of Tennessee that we recognize Kaylee Baylor upon her appointment to United States Naval Academy. extending her our our best wishes for her ever future endeavor. Kayie, we are proud of you and thank you for your service that you were going to be providing our country and uh we couldn't be more proud of you and congratulations. Thank you. Um Kylie, if you'll come back here, I also have something else. Um on behalf of Union County Schools, we also have what's called the Lead the Way Award. This is the first award we've ever given out for a Lead the Way award.

006Um, this award is for Kaylee Beer. It's be the life that leads and the inspiration that leads others to excellence. Congratulations on your acceptance to the United States Naval Academy. Your hard work and dedication throughout your entire educational career has paid off. Um, we are not just proud of you, but we are so UC proud of you for all your accomplishments. And if I could just get um all of Kayle's family, I know y'all did not plan on this, but if you all would just all please come up here. All of Kayle's family that is here with her. I know there I know we embarrassed you. We're going to embarrass them, right? Come on. This is proud moment for you, too. You all have worked hard to get here. It takes a village to uh

007get somebody here to be where she's at. And I have no doubt that all these people have helped her to get to where she are she is. So just a round of applause for Kelly Deer and her family. All right, thank you all. And now we have lots of wonderful awards and I'm super excited to be able to give all of these out. Um many awards for our teachers that have worked so extremely hard um throughout last school year. We have many awards tonight and the first we're going to start with are teachers who actually scored last year on the TECAPS. they had a cumulative score above the state average. So that's the state of Tennessee average for their um grade level in their subject area and they far exceeded that state average. So we're

008going to celebrate them. I know we had some that were able to come tonight. Um but I'm hopeful that we have some in attendance. Um Derek Tharp from Big Ridge for fourth grade English. Okay. We also have Derek Bark for fifth grade English. Reita Malone, fourth grade science, and Reita Malone for fifth grade science. And just stay down there so we can get all kinds of pictures. >> Take from the middle school. Pearson Tulle 7th grade English horse manor Heather Wallace 8th grade English Manville elementary Laura Whitaker fifth grade English. Also, Marville Elementary, Pam Monroe, fifth grade science from Pette Elementary. Nicole Hickle, third grade English from Pette. Samantha Atkins, fourth grade English from Pette. Destiny Weaver, third grade math from Pette. Courtney Collins, third grade science from Sharps Chapel Elementary. Jamie Rhodess, third grade

009science and Jamie Rhodess, fourth grade science from Sharps Travel, April of Favorvers, fourth grade English, Union County High School, Leslie Middleton, algebra 2. Hannah Richardson, English one. Andrea Williams, English one. Hannah Dockery, English two. Christy Day in US history. Jamie Aikens, US history. Y'all just stay up here. All right. Next we have um teachers that had a T- boss of a level four, which is amazing to have a T- boss of a level four. Um Laura Walston Thank you. Horse minor middle school at level four. Rob Luther Jacqueline Lanner. Horse Miner Middle School. Andrea Kaer, Horseman Middle School. Donna Eagle. Horseman Middle School. Rebecca Hickman, HMS. Marina Lacy, MES, Laura Whitaker, Union County High School. Christy Dane, Union County High School, Hannah Richardson. Also from the high school, Jamie Akins, Union County High School at

010level four, Bethany Newman. Union County High School Austin Lei. These are teachers with a level five T- boss. Derek Thart from Big Ridge Elementary. Laura Harrison from Horse Minor Middle School, Jonathan Go forth, Horse Minor Middle School. Anthony Malone, Horseman Middle School, Kirsten Tulle, Horse Mayor Middle School. Pam Monroe, Mayville Elementary. Samantha Atkins, Plette. Savannah Ratherford, Plette. Leslie Middleton, Union County High School. Donna Campbell, Union County High School. Chase Pops, Union County High School. And this is fun. This is one of our administrators this year. Um, but last year she was a teacher and a great one as you can see. Um Haley Brantley from Union County High School now for Mayor Middle School. Hannah Dockery, Union County High School. Christy Williams, Union County High School. Ashton Go forth, Union County High School and Austin

011Le, Union County High School. All right, if we could just give them all a big hand. Um, they have worked extremely hard last year to get to where they are and I'm sure I will be giving them all the same awards um around this time next year. So, they're amazing teachers. Um, I feel like I'm constantly giving all of them awards. So, >> before they take off, I just want to say thank you personally to you guys. I've I've had the privilege of being in a lot of your classrooms, especially some of the elderly ones over the years when I was a middle school principal like Mr. Lever. But, I'm glad to see her now. She knew I would come around. But, thank you guys for what you do for the kids every day. It

012means a lot to me personally. So, keep it up and just look at what we would have had if I ought to be here tonight. All right. They've been on both sides of the stage. So, good things going on camp. Thank you. >> You all can have a seat. We have two more awards for you about and then we're going to take um a couple of pictures at the step. So, if you'll just hang out with me for just a couple minutes, we'll go out and take some pictures. All right. We have um a couple more awards to give out. Um these awards go to two ladies who have been with us for quite some time and have really just been um I mean they just do what they love, right? They have to do

013it because goodness gracious, why are you still working here after all these years if you don't love it? Um so if we could have Miss Wanda Keg and and um my mom mus come up here please. >> All right, Miss Wanda Keg, thank you for your many years of service and dedication to the students and faculty of Union County Schools. 42 years down and many more to go. By doing what you would love, you inspire and awaken the hearts of others. >> All right. And to my mom, 47 years down and I hope many more to go. If I can do half of what she has done for these 47 years, I will be doing something right. >> This lady is gold in my eyes and I think that she is the best person to

014have walked the earth. So, I'm so incredibly thankful for her and thankful that she is my mom. Um, so 47 years down and I hope many more. I love you, Mom. All right, and that concludes my awards tonight. Um, but thank you for letting me do these awards to these teachers. They definitely deserve it. Wanda, Sarah, we are glad that you all chose this school system and we're proud of you. men's public comment. >> Okay. >> Yeah. You have Yeah. Okay, the next item on the agenda is skill service presentation. I invited these gentlemen to uh come to present. We were looking at some options at possible renovations at the old middle school once we move to the new middle school. So, they've got a lot of ideas they they're going to share with you.

015Everyone should have a booklet that they're going to go over and I'll let them uh take it away. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. I'm Rob Smith from Skilled Services and this is Trevor Mitchell. He's a director of sales and shareholder as well. Um, so yeah, several months ago, Director Clay asked us to look over Horse Mayor Middle School and come up with some concepts in relation to making improvements and renovations to it after um the move. And so we've worked and came up with several ideas, came up with a set of comprehensive drawings for it. And uh the um we started working through a list of different ideas and we've had several meetings with director Clay and Mike Johnson and came up with some of the prominent things that we felt that would make the

016most improvements. Um and uh several years ago we looked at a countywide lighting retrofit to um for energy savings and u we ended up incorporating that into this proposal. Um the uh state of Tennessee is very favorable for building envelope improvements um coupled with lighting savings and paid for by lighting savings. And so that's what brought us to the concept. But um as far as the Hor Horus Maynard Middle School um we looked at removing and um replacing all the exterior doors and windows with aluminum storefront like we did in um four of the other schools in the system three years ago. And uh we looked at um replacing all of the ceiling the grid and tiles and the diffusers. And of course it'd be new light lights in the ceiling and uh painting the

017interior of the school and um all those things we felt would make the biggest impact. we talked of um and priced out several other options which we can get a list of those if needed but um to stay within the budget parameters. We felt that that would make the biggest impact for the initial stint of the project. And uh included in that we included the uh lighting retrofit at the other seven facilities. And um that includes replacing all the sports lighting at the football field, the baseball field, and the softball field at Union County High School, as well as the um sports lights at the uh multi-purpose field across from Horus Maynard. Um and uh with that, you you'll end up with a 100,000 over $100,000 in energy savings per year, and that's compounding. And

018uh we we do have um several finance schemes available, but at this point we just included it as a um payout program and didn't include any finance in the contract, which of course if you're able to pay it out, it saves quite a bit on interest. So, um, but the total project that we looked at is $2,700 and >> 2.7 >> two, sorry, $2.7 million. And, uh, that would qualify you for a $125,000 rebate from TVA and it would also bring an energy savings of $101,000 per year. Um, we felt like this would do improvements countywide and uh, it would be a tremendous start for the improvements at Horse Mayor. Be glad, Mr. Clay, if you had any other points in regards to it. Well, when we met uh Reese, well, this week actually before

019uh he came tonight, I had him to go back and just look at one of the proposals he had was just doing the lighting countywide and then upgrading I think it was HVAC and windows and doors at Horseman, which was less than the one that's in this package. Then there was one that does everything. I mean, the whole school a basically a retrofit put in a put in a vestible which would bring us up to code on those things. And I think it was a neighborhood just a little bit over four million or >> right at just under four >> right under right around $4 million if you did all that. So there's various options you could look at. And I know that we talked about this a little bit or you could do nothing

020>> other than clean it up and get it ready to go because we can like I've told you guys before, we can move into the eighth grade hallway next year if we have. But u I know the windows have never been touched in that school. So that was one of the things that I want to make sure that we got some pricing on because that's going to be a huge energy savings if you do go with the windows and doors. So that's why he's kind of in the middle of the road when he brought to you guys tonight. But I know they're willing to break it out any way we would want to do it. It's just I want to get some numbers in front of you all so you could know this is kind

021of what we're looking at if we do decide to go forward with something. And uh like you said before, he's they've done a lot of work for us in the past. I know Dr. Carter dealt with these guys in the past. They've done a lot of other school systems in the area, similar projects. So, there's all kinds of references for these guys. So, if you guys have any questions for them, just feel free. >> Okay. I don't necessarily have a lot of questions, but I was wondering uh when you say paint as needed, who determines as needed? >> Sorry. Um, no. It included painting the entire um interior of the structure. >> Okay. >> And and all of the door frames. It didn't include refinishing the doors. We had that in a second proposal, but

022but the actual door frames and then all the paint on the interior of the building. >> Okay. Was there any painting included on the exterior? >> Exterior. Yeah. And that was on the separate contract as well. >> Yeah. the coping and the uh the sloped roofs at the um wind some of the entrances. Yeah, that was not included in this proposal, but it was in the other one. >> Okay. I just I mean I know there's a lot of exterior paint. >> Yeah. >> And and we actually we actually have a set of plans that corresponds with this proposal that we would provide with the contract. So that was there was a complete clear scope of everything marked out with square footages and so on and so forth. >> And then are we the school

023system going to be using the lighting then on the football field and baseball field? >> The school system ourself. No, not at all. I mean it I was under the impression that the youth leagues would take over not take over but they would have access to those fields as we move to the new place. But he they included in we wanted to upgrade those lights as well. That's something you could remove. >> And then I was I know this is a lot but this is as they're presenting. I was thinking it maybe have been sometime since a lot of people have been in that school that maybe we could just do a walk through and so people the board could just get a visual of what all these things actually look like. And the biggest

024reason I wanted to look at the ceilings is of course when I was principal there we had a collapse >> and we had a collapse recently since I've been director. So I know those are some of the things that needs to be addressed because that's I guess I don't know when those drops put in probably 40 years ago or something. >> Crazy because I had a ceiling collapse while I was director >> over there. One of the rooms across from the library. >> Yeah. It was one of those rooms that collapsed when I was there. No, I don't think so. So that that was just the things that crossed my mind. >> This has nothing to do with like the upstairs part and the old vocational section or they this is strictly the main level

025because that's the only place that I would ever envision ever using for children again. >> And so what are your thoughts of use for that area? Well, one of the easiest things to do if you could take over Kran off Man Elementary would be move fourth and fifth grade over there and that would open up a lot of space. About 200 kids to move over. You could expand and that would just be used mainly the what I consider the eighth grade hallway, the old senior hallway, which is the newest and best part of the building. So, that's that's one way to take pressure off minor. Then you can look at zoning and make you can actually make minor elementary itself bigger. You can take some pressure off Paul that Blford also, but there's some zoning

026things to do there to move some kids back to my >> Do all these improvements include the auditoriums? >> This the not this one. >> The painting of the auditorium, but not not anything else. The other proposal included redoing the auditorium. >> Okay. >> Yeah. The other the other one, the bigger proposal had totally going in redo the outdoor. >> Okay. I've got copies of that. I'll forward those to you so you guys can see the other part of the scope that was in those. But I didn't I'm just trying to get something in front of you. This something we can discuss at the retreat more going forward. So we just have an idea of in the future. I just want to get some ideas of what we could do. >> Has and I'm sorry

027I feel like I'm >> No, no, that's good. That's really good. >> Has this gone out the bid or did we just ask for proposals from different vendors? >> I just asked for proposals right now. just not gone out to bid and these guys I let them talk about it since they're a professional service some of this you wouldn't have to go to some of the work >> yeah that was um kind of the idea for incorporating the energy side of it there's about three different benefits to that but um Tennessee state law I think it's at the back of your proposal but it shows the um it references the state law there in Tennessee code 12-4-110 on how um energy contracts can be awarded Um, and if the goal of the project, as it

028says there in the law, um, if the goal of the project is reducing energy, um, then the project can be awarded on the same fa fashion as professional services. So, it doesn't something like this wouldn't have to go out to bid. Um, it's awarded based on best value. So, director Clay can go out and get quotes from whoever he wants, but as long as that's the goal of the project, you can award a project under that Tennessee code. Um, which gives him a lot more flexibility. Um, and then that there's a couple different benefits with that. I mean, obviously the energy savings um, helps pay back against the project. So, I mean, the total project cost there is 2.7 million. Then you get the TVA rebate. Um, and then the energy savings, those compound over

029the years. So, over 10 years or so, or whatever that adds up to, it actually pays back for the total value of the project long term. So, there's that benefit of making it an energy focused project. Um and then not only that, it touches all the other schools as opposed to just um Horus Maynard. >> So would we have to do two projects when it comes to paint? The painting of the building wouldn't necessarily come under energy. So I don't know how that factor. So would we have to do like do it as two separate projects or try to fold it all under professional? I guess that's a missy question. >> Missy has to weigh in on all this. engineering and architecture could be considered a professional service. So, um, anything else would would not

030fall under that criteria. So, um I'm not really sure that I didn't realize this was going to happen. >> No, you >> I think I think on it there it says um it can be awarded on the same fashion as as professional services. So, it's it's more just referencing how you can award it. It doesn't necessarily, it's kind of confusing to explain. It's um it just means contracts that are an energy type project can be awarded in the same fashion as a professional services contract. Doesn't necessarily have to be professional services to qualify as >> Yeah. Um I I would need to talk to Cax regarding this to make sure. >> Yeah, that's that's fine. And we we actually um are in touch quite a bit with the controllers's office and we we can get

031any of that information that you need for sure. We we support in that way as well. Um all all of the pricing that we use in our proposals is on tips through a tips contract. And so it all is bid out in a certain sense. It's it's all um based on RS means um pricing and that's the program we use. You have to use a certified program to produce the um >> and we list don't we? >> Yes, we do. >> I would like to I would before going forward with anything I would want to go to the school as Dr. Carter just just suggested and have several different workshops looking at proposals, looking at exactly what is on this list and looking at what we need to do and trying to be as efficient

032as possible. And so I would just ask that we would have several workshops where we actually go to the school, maybe one workshop where we're going to the school with with the companies that we're considering. Um, and then also I want to ask too if I know Johnson Controls replaced a lot of lighting for us. So I'm I'm >> most of what they did is out of date. It's basically obsolete now because everything's moved to LED away from the fluorescent stuff. >> Yeah, that's that's correct. Um, so typically they were either 40 or 32 watt light bulbs and they put in 28 watt 4 foot fluorescent strips or 4 foot fluorescent tubes. And the new LED tubes are 9 and a half watts. So you have a substantial savings even a lot more than it

033used to be from 32 to 28. So now it's 28 to 9 and a half. And so the savings is certified and documented and it is there to pay off these projects. We work closely with EESI for a um that's a funding arm of the state of Tennessee and they they will certify all the projects if needed as well as TVA third party engineering. So yeah, >> this is a very in the week's question. So that project is still paying for itself. >> Yes. >> So when we make a improvement on their project does it reduce it would reduce our cost but it also reduce I guess the plan that we had before. So it would possibly set them to where they would never ever have to compensate us if we weren't underneath the threshold.

034Do you understand what I'm saying? >> I I do. Uh, and yeah, any any thing that we do will definitely lower our savings, but I still think that we will have to pay. >> We'd be moving ahead, but that these schools that were that went through Johnson control basically we're what in our 15th year? >> Yes, I believe so. >> No, we're only in like year 10. We still got we still got five to go. >> Okay. So I mean s saying that but I didn't know how that factored into that. >> Well this year is the first year that Johnson patrol has not wrote written us a check. >> Yeah >> because and I know they they have like a summer they were going to do but they never have got back with us.

035They've had a lot of turnover and change. But one of the things the biggest savings that Johnson Control was able to show is we went to all those smart readers from KUB. It wasn't anything Johnson did. They went to the smart meters on the schools and that started showing savings because we saved like $50,000 or something when we went to those meters. >> Yeah. >> And was that part of the Johnson? >> No, that was KUB came to us said, "Hey, we need to upgrade these." >> So, but again though, it helped Johnson patrol get out of having to pay us. I don't was it about 15 to 20,000 a year or something they were paying us because they were not meeting their standards whatever bro but I'm with you I'm saving the savings on

036some of this stuff. >> Yeah. I didn't know how that would factor in to what we were currently because we pay that accounted so much money. >> It's about 250 230,000 >> annually and we would still be required to >> Yeah, we're still paying that off, >> right? That that was supposed to be >> any savings get from them. That would just be money balance. But yes, still have to continue being paid. >> That was really in the weeds. >> No, no, that's good. That's good. And and the way we proposed this project here, the um was simply just a payout. It was not a finance um energy savings scheme, but you would realize the $100,000 savings to the system each year. >> Yeah. When he brought the proposal to me, he added the finance

037rate, and I said, "I'd rather take action." >> Yeah. >> There was a day we didn't have that option. >> One question I do have is you was talking about the old middle school about doing some of the ceiling. Does this compensate for any like hazardous material or asbestous or Yes. >> any of that removal? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Anything else? >> Okay. I I'll just say to the board, I feel like we have to be very very careful and this I I don't mean to say this when you're here, but you said anything else. I don't want to lose my opportunity to say something. I think we have to be very careful with some of these upgrades. I think the Johnson control upgrades were very dubious. We are still paying on them. I

038I at one point I had notes and I can't find them. I recently looked at them adding up what we've paid and how many checks we get, the reports we get. I I I have tried to figure those reports out and I I I've asked other people. Um, I think it's very I think this board would have to be very careful with some of these savings promises. And I'm I'm sorry to say that no one here, but I I appreciate the idea of doing the ceiling, getting the kids in the building, making it safe, but I am very disappointed to hear that Johnson Controls is out of state and that we are still paying on that. That is Union County's only debt other than the schools and I think that's very concerning. So, >> well,

039that was well, it's just because it was financed. I think it was a blonde issue or something >> and it was before our time. It was important, but but I just >> So, the lighting issue and I don't mean to say that while y'all are here. I appreciate building >> improvements. Absolutely. I just want to make sure I do not lose this opportunity to say that to this board. >> Yeah, that I was going to I fully agree with you. Um it does I mean as a vendor you're sitting here wanting the project but a lot of schools have that exact same concern. Um and I will say one thing that's a little bit different about where we go with it is we have um there's two independent checks of our savings which I don't

040believe Johnson Controls would have had. So TVA which is a obviously government agency and then ESI the state of Tennessee their own engineers typically would that's two levels of like third party review and that would be as a part of the proposal too the guarantees that is one area where it's a little bit different um it's not just us as a vendor saying hey we can we'll promise you the world and not deliver um so that is one area that's a little bit different but I fully agree with what you're saying >> thank you and and I didn't mean to >> no you're fine learn to say what you're going to say or you'll never get another opportunity. >> Yeah. No, you're fine. >> Yeah. But I appreciate the building things. We absolutely need to

041make improvements for the if we're going to put kids in there. Absolutely. So, I appreciate that and I would be happy to go and look at all these at the school and try to determine what what was needed as a board >> and we're happy to provide any information you need on that. So, we've done a very thorough research project on it. So, we have the information. >> Thank you so much. Thank you very much. One other question I did have in this total contract amount, is that incorporating like any change orders or is that just a set amount to do the whole project? >> It's a a set amount to do the whole project. Yes. >> Yes, sir. >> And we we just uh we try to be extremely thorough on the front end

042and we just don't have many change orders. >> Yes, sir. and and you would you you will you will see that when we show you the comprehensive drawings. We have a 15page set of drawings drawn up and detail every spec and scope. So >> thank you Mr. Clay. Can you arrange a tour of the middle school when it's convenient when we don't have children there? >> So you Maybe. Yeah, we'll get something. >> Thank you, gentlemen. Appreciate. >> Thank you, guys. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Next item on the agenda is State Representative Dennis Powers. And I appreciate you coming tonight, Mr. Powers. >> Thank you. And first of all, let me say thank you and uh thank you all for what you do. I know it you all are a true servant and

043I know um it's a lot of times it can be a a headache but a blessing too. But thank you all for what you do. I really appreciate and I just drove here from Nashville. I got stuck in traffic for two hours. So it took me about seven hours to get here but uh barely made it on time but uh didn't get to go home and change. So, I apologize for that, but thank y'all for let letting me come out tonight and um I just want to come out and I would love to come, you know, at least once a year and just kind of update you on on what we're doing at the state. Um see if you have any questions, anything that I can answer. We're putting $230 million more in in K

044through2 education. Uh over the past 10 years, we've doubled the amount that we've put in K through2. We went from 3.7 billion to 7.5 billion last year and now we're putting 230 billion more in. So, uh we believe in uh education in the state of Tennessee we know and and then we've got so many good things going on here at in Union County with uh you know got the uh grant for the TCAD and Walder State and of course the middle school and then uh the virtual schools. I wanted to update you on that. We I talked with u several people about it about the virtual schools and I'm trying to get a three-year extension. Uh they were want to end uh this year, but we're we're trying to work it out. We've got an

045amendment file to keep it going for three more years and and let us evaluate from that point on and look at those three-year period and and look at the progress during that time. Um, I know that in the past they've looked at three years and even even the bill that they had had went back a year or two and looking at prior years. So, what we're trying to do is get them to look from this point forward and um I think that's what's going to happen and we put in three years and hopefully when they go to conference that'll that'll be what they come up with. So, that's what we have proposed for the for the virtual schools and I know we want to keep it going here. I carried the bill originally, so I

046know that it's good for Union County and and so many people need it across the state of Tennessee. So, honored to get to do that. We'll keep pushing for more money for dual enrollment and uh the middle school uh middle college, I should say. We've uh I've been involved in that from the very beginning. my my wife was the director of uh Ron State Community College, so she kept uh in my ear all the time talking about, you know, getting more money for for colleges. And the other ear, she would tell me not to raise her taxes. But uh we have uh worked on on that too because I know that we just want to tell everybody that high school is not the end that they need to get some kind of training either at

047a TCAT or a community college or a four-year university, but it should not be the end of of their education. And so we're going to keep trying to promote that and trying to make it free. Uh we did that with Tennessee Promise and we're going to try to keep that going for as long as we can because we know that uh that's what companies are looking for when they're moving into an area. Uh they're looking for a well-trained workforce ready to go to work on day one. So we're going to keep pushing for that to make sure that we have that available and hopefully get more industry in. If we ever get the road completed up here, that'll help, too. That's been a 15-year project. Uh, and I found out one time when I went

048to a media t dot that the average is 14 years. And I said, "Why is it 14 years?" They said, "Well, it's environmental, then moving utilities and buying up land, and then sometimes they don't want to sell land, and they have to go to intermine, and then they have to go to port, and then they run into things with the contractor's issue with that, or they run into uh rocks or whatever that they weren't anticipating." So, it always takes a lot longer than it should. And we've actually got a bill up to make them uh T do complete every project in an eight-year period. We think eight years is enough to do it. And we need to get a lot of the projects done that we've got already started across the state of Tennessee. And

049uh Highway 33 is what I'm glad to get the the four lane in. And and it's supposed to be done by the end of this year, but you know how that works. We it may be the end of next year. No. Uh it should be the end of this year hopefully, but that has moved from time to time and it's moving target. Um I guess anything else I I'll be glad to take some questions and uh hopefully have the answers for you and uh if not I I'll be glad to get them and come back and and talk to you about them later. >> Mr. Are you familiar with bill 2310? Um, we have about uh I think I have 2500 bills. So, you might have to tell me a little bit more about it

050and I will be familiar with it though. >> I have it here on my report the board. Um um it prohibits eleas and public charter schools that serve students in any grades kindergarten through five allowing them to for from allowing them to access digital devices at school from allowing employees to use digital device devices to provide instruction and from administering assessments to students in an electronic format except in certain circumstances. It passed the Senate I believe meeting last night and it also um is going to be heard in the education committee on 324. The sponsor is Michelle Renault. >> Okay. >> So I don't know what >> I know her. Okay. Yeah. That that gives me a better idea. We we have so many. I'm sorry the the numbers it's hard for me to keep

051up. I have 13 that I'm carrying and one day we had 130 to vote on. Um fortunately we didn't get tound all 130 of them. But um that is one bill and if it's one I'm thinking about it kind of mirrors some what other states have done where they if they have a cell phone or whatever they have a place to put them when they come to school so that they can't use them in the classroom but they can use them you know when they go home or if there's an emergency or something like that if that's the bill I'm thinking about they can use them for that uh bring the phone in for that particular uh you know if they're emergency or then you get get in touch with a parent for some reason.

052But yeah, just not being able to use it while they're in the classroom. >> Thank you, sir. I'd just like to say thank you, Mr. Powers, because anytime I've reached out, he's got back with me >> because I sent him a few text messages about this closure bill for the virtual school and he was promptly to respond back. Appreciate that. >> All right. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. Anytime. Uh, I think everybody pretty well has my cell phone number so you can call me either text me or call me if you have any. >> I I wanted to thank you also because you always get back to us and you all help us. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Um, and also I guess my concern as a board member right now is the

053virtual school build and one of the things that maybe Mr. Clay can speak to even better or maybe somebody else on board in the audience. Um, I don't feel it's getting a fair representation in these committee meetings that I've been watching. I did write a letter. I I did uh write a letter with help of of um some statistics from our central office because they they're comparing and Mr. Clay just jump in if you want, but they're they're using the T-Boss metric and not the priority school metric. And it's unfair because, correct me if I'm wrong, the priority school metric is the one they use for public schools to close them, traditional public schools, brick and mortar, but they're they're proposing in Mark White's bill to use the Tivos growth metric to close us down.

054And so they're saying we're family school and Senator Powers kept saying that family school, family school, but we are not on the priority list. Corre and please correct me if any of that's wrong. I feel that the legislators don't really understand what they're saying. We're failing school, but we're not on the priority list. And I did put that in the letter. I sent it to all the committee members. I made a few phone calls, but we don't always hear back from everyone. Um, and and so that's one concern I have. If I'm wrong with any of that, please, Mr. Ple, correct me. >> Um, it's very complicated and I honestly don't feel like it's getting a fair representation even today on the Senate floor. It was so disheartening >> because >> they were they were

055saying all kinds of things and making it look a certain way and I I was so disheartened because I don't think they even understood what they were voting for. That's my thought. >> Okay. And and thank you and and I and for I'm not on the education committee, but I thought they were using the priority school uh evaluation. I thought they were using that rather than uh the other method. and and and I will be glad to to talk with them about that before it goes into uh the committee. I think it it's going to come back up on the 24th, I believe you said. >> Yes. Um K12 9:00 24th and um the department would not close us down. So I understand I've been talking to a lot of people about this. The department

056bill would not close us down and they would use the priority school metric which is fair because that's what all other schools go by and even our our students are more challenged in many cases with health issues with all these other issues they have perhaps mental health issues perhaps bullying issues all kinds of struggles. So but we're not going to go down that route of saying we need something special. We're just saying please treat us like any other public school. And um yeah, and and they're they're using a different metric that's evidently harder, I believe. Right, Mr. Clay? Is it harder to score well on T- boss than it is on the priority school metric? >> Well, they're both pretty difficult. >> Okay. >> Yeah. But once you once you dig yourself in as a

057level one, a lot of times it's hard to get out of the hole. That that's kind of where the virtual academy is at right now with being a level one. >> Okay. That's my concern right now. Main concern >> and I and I'll be glad to check on that. Um I talked with Representative White uh today and actually talked to him on the way up here too uh just to make sure, but yeah, he had filed that amendment to get a three-year extension, but I'm going to go back. He even talked about and I'm not sure if he's going to do this or not. They even talked about separating that out of the other bill and just do u the virtual school separately and then that way they could evaluate it better than than to

058throw it in the mix with all the rest of them. But he talked about doing that too. So I I'll find out before we go to the committee meeting on the 24th, but I'll I will check with him again. But uh I I think he he was pretty confident that we were going to get the three-year extension on on looking at that. But I also talk about the method too that we need to change that and I agree with you. >> Yeah. And the department though to my knowledge doesn't use that metric. So he is using a different metric. And would the three-year thing protect us then if they did do a threeyear >> if it was priority? Yes. We're the TMBA is not a priority. It is it is an ATSI again this year

059but it's not priority. It has to go down another level and get to priority. >> Okay. Okay. I I will check with you. I'll follow back up with you. Okay. >> Thank you, Mr. Pyrus, for coming tonight. Really appreciate it. One question I do have is on House Bill 2365. It's the expansion of the education freedom scholarship. How do you think that's going in the legislature? I I I think it's going to pass public governor's bill um you know an administration bill and they crafted it last time and they're doing it the same way this time to where nobody will lose any money. You know, if somebody disenrolls and goes to a another school under the school choice program that uh the school will not lose any money and uh they're going to do that

060one that way too. It was set to go the way they did the original bill. had 20,000 and that's statewide. Um, and it went to if they if they had all of those that were taken up, it was supposed to go to 25,000. His bill, my understanding is it going to go to 40. So, they're going to increase it 15,000 more because they had 57,000 applications, but it it's probably going to pass at the governor's bill. So, it it will not harm. There's a no harm clause in there for for public schools. So, if you have anybody that disenrolls, you'll still get the same amount of money. And they'll actually put more money in there. They took more money out of the And I hate didn't say this, but the that gaming, they have a

061gaming law where they uh uh do online gaming. And so, they took 80% of all that money and put it in for any kind of capital projects that that any of the schools have. And that ended up being, you know, it was somewhere right around about a half a million dollars per school. I think that that was actually allocated and that that varies from school to school, but uh so it that will probably pass because of that. Yeah. >> Thank you, sir. >> Sure. >> I had a a question. Do you have the percentage or do you have access to the percentage of students who were currently in private schools that took advantage of this these funds versus kids that came from a public school into a private school? >> Do you all have those

062figures? >> You you know I don't I may be a I can probably get those for you, but I don't have those figures right off hand. Uh the way they looked at they did what they were doing. and they were doing half of them and it it didn't really affect I mean they would really wouldn't they didn't penalize anybody if they came out of a private school and went back into one. They were doing half of them based on income and they were looking at at household income. So half of them were low income and half of them were open to anyone. So anybody even in a private school that was already there could apply for one. But I don't have that figured about exactly how many did it. I know like in I was

063looking at Campbell County school I think they lost about 30 people out of the whole school system of about 5,500 or whatever about 30 people left and disenrolled and went to and used the freedom scholarship and it is a scholarship and I know they call it a voucher but there is a little bit of difference vouchers be a check for the tuition scholarship you can use up to $7,300 that will increase to 7500 I under the new plan. So if school cost $5,500 to have $2,000 they could pay for computers, books, tutoring, transportation, or anything like that, but I will check on that. I'll get back with you, Jimmy, on that. Okay. >> I I've been listening to a lot of committee meetings and I'm pretty sure we don't have those numbers. I I I

064I'm pretty sure that there's not numbers because there's been a few legislators very trying to get those numbers and I'm pretty sure those numbers are not there and there's there's been even bills on that to try to get some numbers if if I'm not mistaken. I' I've been listening to a lot of meetings and I'm pretty sure that's what I heard. >> There there was one bill that came up in committee on that very thing. That's what he was asking for is to collect that data and it failed in committee. to >> and and I'm not sure why that would be hard to figure out. I mean, you know, it would and it looked like that would be hard to attain. I mean, once they apply for it, you know, they could it'll usually have

065on there, you know, where they the previous school is. So, I don't know why that would be hard to obtain. So, I I will check into it and find out. >> Anything else? I appreciate you coming, sir. >> Thank you. Thank you all for inviting me. I appreciate it. And I'll be glad to come anytime. And uh if I can ever be a cap, you put my number and uh we'd love to have y'all come down. You you would you do come down once a year, don't you? On a school board thing. Uh >> you know when that is? >> I've come down a few times. But I will say I'm considering trying to come down on the 24th. >> Okay. Some some of the all the school boards come down like once a year

066for a meeting and I can't remember what the meeting's called but >> they they have TSBA in the fall but you guys are not in session. >> We're not there then. Yeah. And they come down this. >> It's the day on >> the day on the hill. >> Yeah. The day on the hill. That's >> when the school boards come with that. Is that in uh end of this month or something? I believe >> I think it is. Yeah. That's when you all are in session. So >> Sure. Yeah. Well, if you get to come down, please come by and see me. And uh I get to chair one committee. I'm I'm kind of up there like you all are. I have 12 people on my committees. I know I feel like I know how

067everybody feels when we're kind of down a little bit lower and we're we're talking to them like that. But I I get to chair one committee. I'm on five others. And uh so I'm I'm running from one thing to another, but I'll be glad to take time and meet with you all anytime you want to come down. So we'd be honored to have you. Thank you for having >> We will be down. Some of us will be down next week. >> Oh, okay. Good. >> We're going down. >> Okay. I will be there. So, please Yeah. Please call call and let me know and uh I'll be glad to make time. All right. >> Also, I thank you for the communism bill that the recognition of the victims of communist bill and I think it

068passed right before it did. Yeah. I took a lot of heat for that and I thought that would be an easy one. But >> yeah, I thought it was great. I have a degree in political science and some of my teachers were >> very much socialist. So I was very appreciative of the bill that you passed. >> Well, thank you. >> Thank you for that. I did watch your meeting. >> Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it. All right. Thank you all. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Next on the agenda is PLA. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, thank you, board. I have um an update here and um we just talked about the major in concern which is House Bill 2420 um that could potentially close our virtual school, which will be

069in committee on 3:24 on Tuesday. Um, I've attached the letter that I I wrote um that um that I sent to the committee members um also this this already passed the Senate so we we have pretty much one chance left and that's the House and I've been talking to TSBA about this as well and they trying to get um the most current information and I've been watching the meetings um but it's of great concern because it very well is looking like we might get our virtual school will close down on on Tuesday and if not then it will I go to the education committee in another chance. So um that's just something to be on our radar and um I put together a list here of bills. Um I highlighted Senator P's bill that did

070pass. Um and um I think you all have seen the list of bills. So I I won't read through them all. Um there's several of I would say concern and then several that maybe are good. Um there's a few transportation bills I saw that I I thought were interesting too. I will have to provide services 1.5 miles or less. Um if it um I think the bill is on the second page here if if it passes. Um and then then there's Senate Bill 1951 also deals with transportation. I I highlighted things that I thought were of interest to our district. Um there's several things that I think people will be happy to see and I I won't go through this list and take all of our time, but if you had any concerns, let me

071know. Uh any questions um trying to keep you all informed and I did um give you the names of the committee members last meeting um and and then I can certainly help if you if you need a phone number or something. I'll definitely give that to anyone who's interested if you have a concern or as a board if we wanted to look at this and speak out against one of these bills or for one of these bills. I'm happy to to you know maybe we can take a few minutes if the board wants to. If the board doesn't need that that's fine too. But um and then one correction on this as well that um the House Education Committees they they actually probably won't be closing next week. Um I just got that correction. So

072that that is a correction. The Senate Education Committee is closed. So anything that hasn't gone through the Senate yet is is dead. Um and then also to the meetings I put there, there's a there's a training opportunity in Knoxville. TSBA is coming to Knoxville to do a board superintendent relations training. Uh you can also do it virtually, but they're coming to Knoxville to do it. Um so I thought I'd mention that. And then also the fall district meetings. They reached out to our district and said that we were next on the list to host the fall district meetings. And I don't know uh exactly how we responded or if we responded on that, but I um figured I'd mention that as well. So that's all my report unless anybody wants me to go over anything

073else on this list. And I also have some additional bills, the transportation ones on this list. There's two of them that that have to do with transportation that I printed out after I done my report. So, I have another list if anybody's interested of other bills that would affect us. >> Thank you, Rebecca. >> Okay. The next uh item is discuss school trips. There are two uh Union County High School 11 students to the Hosa State Convention in Chattanooga March the 29th through April the 1st. Sponsored by Sasha Brantley, Rachel Holmes, and Lindsay Ston and Pallet Elementary School. Five students to the Beta Nationals at Gaylord Opryland June the 20th through the 22nd sponsored by Summer Car. >> Any questions on that? Okay, we'll move along to discuss contracts. The K12. This is not really

074a contract, but it has to do with contract that um send it around. Um just an update on that while we're on since we're on K12. I may send another draft back. We're going through it right now. Uh we've been going back and forth on that. Uh what this is is we're getting close to the 90-day window to notify those folks because the contract expires June 30. So two years ago, we went through the same process. Miss Stack House drafted a letter. All I've done is revise this for now. Uh we need to do the same thing because I got to get it sent to those folks by March 30. So we stay outside that 90 days to give them notice. And at the bottom of it, it says we we'll continue negotiating, but I

075just want to make sure that we do our eyes across the TV. So that's why we need to approve this tonight. You need that on the agenda. I'll have to just under contracts to approve the contract. >> Okay. Well, is there much differences in negotiation from the second or the prior one to this one? I knew as far as like >> Well, there's a few things that they've asked for. We went back. Um, of course, some of the things that we're looking at is like this how we class what the SP >> and that kind of things. Of course, the percentage is always going to be the number that we're looking at. So, how that they class we classify those. But uh I don't foresee any problem get a contract like we did two years

076ago when it went down to the wire. I think we'll have something worked out. Mr. Clay, is there any way that we can get some kind of accountability on how the money is spent in this contract? I don't think so because they're a contractor. That's one of the things we'll find out next week at our hearing because that's a lot of the questions will be based on his finances. >> Another thing is their accountability and I agree with you chairman wash about that as far as them reporting or giving an update to us possibly as a board. I think >> she would come any time to give you an update as far as where they are. >> I think that would be necessary moving forward because that gives them accountability going forward with us. You

077know, us as a board, we only see the virtual school, but we do not see anything else out at this. They uh well, they come to my monthly meeting, the headman staff does, and we sit down with them every testing cycle to go through where they're where they are kind of thing. So, it's something we already are doing, but we can have her come and give you guys an update. Awesome. I think that would be great. Any more discussions? >> Jimmy, you got a ball in to go to, sir? >> Yeah, you need to wrap it up. >> Okay. The director's monthly report budget amendment transfers. Missing. Good evening everybody. And in answer to your question regarding the professional services, I was doing a little bit of reading while I was sitting there before I

078came up. And this is for Jimmy. We u I did see something in there that said possibly painting being part of a larger energy pro program could fall under professional services. But I would just like to state that calling something professional services while it may be easier may not get us the best price. So, even with professional services, we offer RFQS, which are um requests for qualification even on a professional service and we can sometimes get a better rate and even if they're through tips, that just allows us to bypass the bid, but it doesn't mean that we wouldn't get some competition if we did do a bid. So, just wanted to throw that out there. But I will check with CAS specifically on that painting and get you a direct answer on that. >>

079But now moving on to the monthly reports. You should have two monthly reports in there this time because we did not have the reports. >> Can I Can I interrupt you? Was you talking about bidding that out or how was your >> I can't We can't hardly hear you. We're having a hard time. >> Okay. Can you hear me now? Okay. um we could even with the professional service you can still bid that out even though you don't have to and I said it might get you a more competitive price. The other thing is with a professional service, you can do an RFQ, which is request for qualifications on a professional service. And that too would just give you some more routes that you could possibly go. But while yes, you don't have to bid

080professional services, there's nothing that says you can't. So, I just wanted to throw that out there. >> I will ask my question to that, but with that out, is there any additional cost as opposed to not. >> Well, there's always the cost of the advertising and but it no I mean there's no more cost to us other than just having to advertise it and then my my staff having to do the work. So >> would it be would you say minimal? >> Yeah, I would say minimal. Okay. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Any other questions regarding that? Okay. Then you all should have two um two monthsly reports in there. One for January and one for February. Uh we did not have the reports at the last meeting to >> actually see I

081only included this month because this month also includes January. >> Okay. Well, then you'll see January's totals on the February report as well in the column right before February. So, but we did not have the trustees reports in time to get those to you for last meeting. So, any questions regarding the reports? We are running about on schedule for spend right now. So, I I didn't see any problems when I looked at them. If not, I'll move on to the budget amendments. We have five pages of budget amendments. This time we always do our midyear cleanup at this time of year. Any items that we need to address and so that's what the majority of these are. Pages one and two are fund 141, the general purpose schools. This request is to move funds within

082the appropriated budget as needed and add funds received from other entities. Any questions on 141? Okay, next page three is fund 141 and fund 177. And these two correspond to each other. And what these are is um the when we did the fund balance transfer at the beginning of the year, I gave you guys an amount and when I got the actuals back from audit, which came about two weeks ago, and I might add that the the county had a perfect audit this year. So, I'm very proud of that. But um I wanted when we did to get the actuals though, we had a little bit more fun balance than we needed to in 141. So I'm actually moving another 700,000 over into capital. So So I know I know Greg liked that. So >>

083Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that that I've got extra $776,000 in there. >> Exactly. So >> thank you. >> You're welcome. just to just to make sure we stay within our fund balance policy. I wanted to make sure we got that moved over before audit starts this year, which they already have actually. They've been in my office all last week. So So that's what those that page is for. Then we've got pages four, which is federal programs 142. At the top of the page is a request to enter additional allocation for the FY26 Carl Perkins grant, sorry, Carl Perkins grant. And then the bottom of the page is to add in the ATSI 25 grant into our budget for this year. And then the final page is bud 143, the central cafeteria. We were

084just fixing some lines that have uh spent over spent and we were using the funds that were from the excess budget plan that we always have for each year on 1430. Any questions? >> And it's called the ATSI grant. Is that for um like core performance and get a grant? >> It's the virtual grant. That's the extra money that'll be that it'll be to use for next year, right? >> Yes. >> And it was 140,000 total. And it's it's the actual name of the grant is additional targeted support and improvement. So, it's to help the kids catch up. And then, um, Greg's already gone over the contract. And then the only thing I have left is the surplus for this month. And what we had was a storage trailer at the CTE that needed to

085be demolished and moved uh so that they can start work on their new building. So I'm just putting that on the surplus list for de for to be demolished. So >> I didn't receive anything on that. I mean it's on the agenda. >> Craig had the letter. I can get you a copy of that. >> But do you need more to approve that tonight? >> Yes, we do need to approve the surplus. And that's all I have for tonight. >> Thank you, guys. >> Thank you, Miss. It was the metal trailer that you get behind in the back. You store all this scrap metal in. We had to move it out of the way in order to just build the what I call the hay barn for CTE. It is mil. So they had to

086chalk it up to get it out of there. So we had to scrap it and demolish it. That's what it was. It was like an old tractor trailer that was just sitting in the back. >> Yeah. They've been up a long time. Real eyes over now. >> Any questions on that? Okay. Number 13, personnel update. I think you did you pass it out already? Everybody has one of those. It's pretty short to speak just now. Thank goodness. Any questions on the handout? I I have one question. I'm noticing there was one retirement um resignation from a sped sped teacher. sure that that what is the bottom one there. Um, and I know we passed my my plan for the merit thing and they were included in that, but I I feel like it's maybe something

087to talk about to make sure we are doing something to keep these people to reward them for what they are doing. Is is that a discussion we can still have? I'd like to I'd like to still have it at the board. Of course, it's a pleasure to board. Well, that well last meeting the board decided to wait until we go through the budget to look at it for next year. >> Okay. I remember that about my my plan, but I didn't remember that about teachers. But I just would say I think we definitely need to be looking at that hearing, you know, their their service is very valuable and I think they they need to be rewarded for it. >> Mr. Well, I think she's talking about the lady that uh took Darla's place maybe.

088>> Yes, I know. Yes. >> Yeah, we we replaced Darla at the middle school, but I was thinking it was on last minute things. If it wasn't, then that was something that's left off. It should have been >> because it was an incount move. She came from a young lady that took the job. >> Okay. And I think I've asked this in the past, but I would love to see just, you know, we send out like a postmp employment survey like why they left >> an exit interview. That's the word. Um I I the board. So sorry that I I personally would like to see that. >> I don't know. I don't know if that would have policy issue or >> I'll follow the HR, but anything that's non-certified, it's always paid. I mean, that's

089what I've been told, but I've asked the question. >> Thank you for asking those questions. I'm I'm glad. Thank you. >> 9%. >> Any more questions? I'd like to know how we get these new hires that we take applications for that. We post it on our website and then people turn in applications because for most for most for all these jobs there were multiple applicants. Then they go through the interview process typically with HR and the principal of the school. I just cured Thank you, Harold. Any more questions? If not, we'll move on. Maintenance and capital project updates. Let's do a real quick rundown of some things been going on. Of course, we've had the ongoing issues with the Big Ridge, their large unit. It's running about 50% capacity right now. We've got a compressor

090on the way to fix all of those problems because that's what shut us down for a while. We got that fixed and the compressor actually got it fixed. So, that should be fixed anytime. Uh, of course, we had the leak at the central office. We're looking at some samples either going back with carpet or some kind of hard surface to replace all that that happened there. If you've been by a lot, you've noticed that our floor is kind of a lovely yellow blue color in the hallways and in Miss Mary and Miss Sh's offices and places like that. Poor John Smith, he got wiped out. He took out his wall and save the time and everything else in his office. Uh the other thing came up just a second ago is the uh metal building

091at the high school. Uh they've finished up the concrete work this week. uh they set the peers for the peers and the building is scheduled to be delivered Monday and it should be assembled by the end of the week is what Mr. Shopper told me today. So those go up pretty quick. Uh so that'll finish out a lot of those things. There's still a little bit left on that project. We're doing a new fence around the CTE lot and then oh there's some equipment he was going to purchase with the rest of those funds and the greenhouse. I know it's been a long drawn out process. we can build tecat building quicker than we get a greenhouse put up. But uh that's supposed to start on the Monday also to get the new greenhouse put

092up. One thing we did do, we went out and got one of those temporary uh frames, plastic you can put over so we can have something for outdoors. They did a lot of stuff in Mr. Ever's shop area there because he has those growing lights in there now, but so we have something they can use for spring season, but I don't think they'll be able to use it as much. It's kind of disappointing that that they were supposed to have that done almost a year ago. It kept getting drawn out. Um, as far as the middle school goals in your orange folders that you guys have, it has the cost sheet that I do every month on that. The other things in your orange folders I was is the budget information I was going to

093give you guys on Monday, but since we postponed, I just want to get you those documents. The one thing I'd already sent to you on just some summary things to look over. So when we decide to meet and talk about that, you'll have some of these documents. Always bring your own folder when we talk about budget. Put everything in your own folder. So you'll have those. Um let's see. As far as the middle school, of course, they're making a lot of progress right now. If you've been by uh the media center, they've got structure still complete, roofing complete, metal framing the library desk is ongoing. The boulevard and the gym are the two biggest areas to finish up and get closed in. U the curtain walls been installed in the south end of the building.

094So, we're starting to close in where the uh into that long hallway on the second floor. Once they get that, they'll take off. We've got the propane tanks are in place. They're supposed to gas those up either tomorrow or Monday. So they can turn on some heat in the wings so they can start uh getting it environmentally friendly for flooring. Uh so those things are ongoing there. And I guess the biggest piece left is getting the the the roof is on the gym but getting actual roof on it. It's got the metal in it right now. And if you've noticed you've been buying notice it's got that opening around the whole top part of the gym. It's going to have those translucent windows in there. So it'll give you light in the gym. It's going

095to be it's going to be beautiful when it's finished. So, um, any other questions about what's going on at the new middle school? We're still on target for completion day. >> Yeah. Okay. The only thing, like I brought up before, is the gym may be lagging behind as far as being open today when school opens. They'll be finishing up some fine tuning areas in there, but the rest of school is still on target to be open and operational. Uh, we did finish I think I put this notes put notes last week because it's on break. But anyway, uh the furniture uh we've settled on those the pretty sure that's been awarded and as I talked to little group today, the lady who's handling all of that. So that's I think about a 8 week 6

096to 8 week turnaround on getting the furniture in. So we'll stage it in the cafeteria as they start assembling and put it down in the classrooms. So all that's still on track. Anything other questions? You need to if you've not been by a long need to go by you need to come by and see it's really taking off. Oh yeah. >> Any questions? >> Okay moving right along the library board. Well, I guess I'll speak on this or chairman was not able to make it tonight. He just sent me a text and say, but what I passed out is this booklet. This is from the Union County Library Board. It talks about our data report for the libraries. Tells what we do for Luxur Manual and Shark Chapel Book Station. And uh there was a

097discussion in our library board meeting about possibly if we could help and partner if the if anything public schools could help partner with the summer reading program maybe next year on helping maybe fund it because basically what they do you know what we do in the public library and then the school system will intertwine especially with uh reading and as far as them early grade levels. So, I wanted to present that to you all and let you look over the data and just kind of get familiar because we're wanting to work with the school system. >> When I was at the middle school, a librarian of mine used to come over all the time, get the cards for the kids so you can use the library. >> I I'm don't know if they still do

098that or not. Do they? >> They're still do do that. And then I reckon with the elementary school, May Elementary, they still work with them. the summer reading. They're wanting to ask, I think, and I'm not for sure on the number right now. I can bring it to you about possibly helping with next year's summer reading program. They're wanting to expand it and do some new things, but uh we'll have the director come maybe in a future meeting and discuss that. But I just want to get this data in front of the board and then see what they think about that. But >> it'd be good to tie that in also with Dr. Effort's book bust. >> That's what I was wondering. She's had tremendous success with that and getting books out to kids in

099the community. >> But that's pretty much what all I have on that. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me or Sydney Jesse Jr. is chairman of the library group. I would reach out to him and then Tama Chesney is our head librarian and but that's all of it. Thank you. >> Thanks Charlie. Any questions? Currently, I'm I'm seeing there's two grants that you have listed here. Is this all the funding that you receive or is this >> That's a two grants we get. What page is that on? Okay, that's uh what we do. What we do, we operate off the county gives us an allocation each year and basically it's a small budget. I mean, we do three well two libraries and one book station we fund and really

100and honestly that's cutting it close because we have employees we pay we uh part-time full-time as far as hours keeping hours open and then providing programs and resources but we do reach out to grants through we're a member of the clinch pal library libraries through the state and they're also good help too providing funding But, uh, if you hadn't been to a location, please reach out and we'll do a tour one day with Mville Library, local library, and then the book station at Charles Chapel. I mean a lot of people don't realize what all they can resources they offer to the community. >> Thank you. >> Any more discussion? >> Okay. Item 16, discuss TSBA recommended board policy reviews. These are the policies. They're deviant for approval on second reading. And true to nature, I

101always have at least one mistake. Don't Mr. Washington. So, I got it right on the workshop. They are due for approval on second reading, but on the actual agenda, it still says for first reading, but it needs to be approved on second reading on the actual agenda. Uh these are just u TSBA recommended policies that you all adopted on first reading last month presented again. And a word about surplus if I could go back to that. I always leave surplus on the agenda as a standing item just in case anything shows up. So yes, it's on the workshop agenda and it is also on the board agenda as item number six to approve or disagree items for surplus. I apologize for not uploading anything on your Chromebooks, but I I wasn't aware we had it.

102>> You said the meeting doesn't show policy as second reading. Correct. >> Correct. It still says approved on first reading. >> My agenda >> says second reading. should >> good. >> That that is what should be said. Mine says first. So there there is both both are on here. Okay. So we'll need clarification that That need to be a motion to amend. >> I wouldn't think so. As long as when the motion's made, it's to approve my second. >> Anything else on apologies. Okay, moving along. We'll discuss board retreat. I'm not sure what Angela has shared or not shared, but we have moved to a location in the POW area on Callahan. It's the Jubilee, whatever it is. I lost the name. The Jubilee Center. Uh we do have a live breakfast provided and a

103lunch already provided there. Uh they have a nice conference room. I think Ronnie and Angela have been there before. something on Dr. Carend there. So, it was close, but it's far enough away that we can sit down and have a discussion if we need to. Of course, uh the agenda, I think, is being revised. You said that that the TSBA section of will probably be more afternoon and we'll have our strategic planning budget discussions that morning. So, that's kind of how the day will break up. So, it starts at 8:30 and we'll have we'll have refreshments, coffee, and stuff and we'll have lunch around 11:30 or noon. Okay. >> I know it was texted and it's in my notes, but can you remind me the date if you haven't confirmed that? >> March 30. >>

104Sorry. Okay. >> Any questions on that? Okay, next item we'll discuss teacher tenure. You guys should have a list of of folks who have met the scores as far as the fives and fours for two consecutive years that are eligible tenure been with us for a while. So basically just have any questions on those that there's there's two that's on the list that are not eligible but the rest of them are >> you don't have >> is it on that >> there is I'm sorry go ahead Can you tell me is it two years? >> They once they get to a certain point in length of time of being with us, they have to have two year consecutive years of four or five. >> But once they make it just three, right? Is it is

105it three or is it? >> No, it has to be a four and a five to get approved for tenure. >> Okay. And they have to have two consecutive years >> and they fall off once then they have to start over. if they've got two consecutive years ones once they reach tenure then they could revert back to uh not tenure but they I mean wouldn't lose employment >> right but they would just >> they'd have to go through the process again >> so far I've not had anybody that's had that that's ones but then next year they might be a three or something I might have had two consecutive years of ones in county so I had a quick question and this is just my idea of tenure and stuff. There's one person from TNBA.

106>> So that does fall under her. >> She she is actually our employee. She's the one that is our employee and based on the way she qualified was she chose uh things with their high school and her high schools has has had good score especially with freshman class. They've been level three in their ELC's for English one algebra one and things like that. That's that was the criteria that she had chosen. >> Can you remind the LE is it the score they score based on their evaluation and on the student performance, right? >> Yes, it >> so there is like they're allowed to c certain criteria. Is that true for all of the teachers or >> Well, well, in her case, she chose since she's administrator, she she chose a growth score. Everybody, if they're

107like, well, if you look at the first gentleman on there, his is tied strictly to his subject. He's an ELA teacher. Have all these gone through the evaluation process? >> Yes, >> they've all been evaluated. >> Yes, >> you have two that are not non-eligible. We want >> Yes, we do. I mean, that's it's just this is probably the first time they are eligible to be up for it. I don't know. I can't remember what I'm talking about. I think you've got like seven years to get to that score before that you have to be let go. >> Yeah. I've noticed on one of them she had a four I guess she had a four the first year then a three >> right the fifth year. >> And if you notice the gentleman on the

108first row he had two consecutive years. Then when he became eligible, he had a three that kept him from getting it last year. I mean, okay. Could these two that are non-eligible, you can't next year, but this one that had the four and the three next year, could he make a four and be to Israel? in a row. >> Yeah. Has to be two years in a row. >> Mr. PL >> after 10 years is granted is there someone program yearly to check that they are maintaining that level? I would just have to run team compass. >> I'm sorry. >> I would have to run over team compass and check it myself. >> Is that something we're doing we're currently doing every year is is keeping up with the tenure teachers and their >> I

109ran the report last year. I can't say the first year that I came into the county, but I did it last year. >> That's one because that's how I knew that I didn't have anybody with two in a row. And you're asking you're asking for all these people to be voted. >> I'm I'm giving you the list. It's up to you to decide you want to grant. I I don't have that authority. >> I think though you were supposed to be recommending. >> Yeah. This is the list I'm recommending. >> Okay. >> So, did you evaluate Con? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I did her evaluation last year. Well, all the years I've been here >> has a sticky wink. >> It's hard to do that evaluation. >> Yes, it's very Well, all laws

110are hard administrative level. >> They have a whole totally different rubric that they meet. >> I have a quick question, but this is just me on this uh about the TNBA. >> If something does happen and this law goes through and it ends, how do we grant tenure if it ends? Well, from my understanding is if that job is eliminated, then she would be laid off basically. >> So, it follows the job contract how that however that works. >> She's a unique situation because she is our only employee with the NBA. But if the job is no longer there and I don't have something that she would fit into that's open, then I would have to let her go. I have to let her. She could be reassigned. She could be resigned. >> The way

111it is with all tenure teachers, if you eliminate a position, >> then you have to give them an opportunity for other positions that open up that they are qualified for. She could be reassigned, right? If I had anything available that her license would let her do or I mean she could be administrator some. >> Thank you. >> Any more discussion? Okay, we're going to have a five minute recess. >> Can we do other real quick? I know we all need a five minute recess, but I'm assuming we're going to redo a day for the budget. >> Yes. My request is when we do that, can we separate that and have it and organize in a way where we can do salaries on one and then operational on another night? Let's just separate those. >> I

112didn't well for month this past month. I didn't have salaries with me and Missy. I had finished those yet. I didn't have the salary scale. So, could we do the operational side separate from the the >> We could That's up. That's up to you guys. Operational. The one sheet that I gave you in your orange folder, that's the operational cuts I'm recommending because we've not increased operations. Well, starting my fourth year, the three years that I've been here, I've kept it pretty much flat because all the increases that's affected the budget have been salaries and the salary scale increases. that has been the biggest contributor to the budget increase. But uh but that one sheet that you have in your folder when you guys look at it before we meet again it is the things

113that I recommend and gave me run the numbers on. Well, that was my question and maybe the board could elect to dude. It's really difficult to look at this entire budget and say, "Okay, we're going to discuss the entire budget." If it's broken down into salaries and then operational, it's a little a little more manageable. Uh because we're talking about are we going to increase salaries, benefits, tenure, I mean certified teachers, non-certified teachers, all those salaries. It gets overwhelming doing that with the operational side of the budget. So when we organize, we can do that. But I just wanted to make that suggestion because it is really difficult to look at this the entire budget as one breaking it apart and salaries and benefits are I mean you can look at whatever salary increase you're

114going to do but the operational studies is totally a different beast. >> Okay. >> Like I said all I had ready for you was operational anyway. That's all you got in your folder. >> Okay. on the rescheduling this meeting. Have y'all I mean is it before we do the border treat or after? >> Border treat is in a little over a week. So we could let that be the first one. We'll go from there if you wanted to get a kickoff to look at operations that day. We could do that. Then we come back and do something with salary. So that gives Missy and and Ann more time to get all that. I think Ann's got it pretty well finished though, don't she? Okay, >> forgive me if this has already been answered, but I

115would probably like to see all of it like maybe look at one piece, but maybe have those that information in front of us so we can kind of know as a whole >> while we're discussing operations. Did I Yes. >> contradict anything just >> I wasn't saying necessarily break the entire budget apart, but concentrate on those pages on operational. >> Yeah. Yeah. rather than the entire budget discussion at the same time >> because the the big spreadsheet that you have in your folder is what the budget is right now. It's this year. If you look at that very first column, that's the budget amounts for each month. That's what's in there right now. The other spreadsheet I put in there is the things on operations side that I propose either to cut that we have

116to increase like insuranceances, like building insurance, building insurance, all that kind of stuff will go up. and I increased utilities because we're going to have a new school on. So, that's going to go up and we can't turn off the other one if you still got to have it on lease somewhat at the old school. Otherwise, you'll get all kinds of problems. But that's what's in that one spreadsheet. Then the other spreadsheet that's in there is the summary of this how much testimony we got. It has some revenue pieces on there like the ROTC, we get reimbursable, things like that. and it shows with TMBA without TMBA and at the very bottom it gives you where we are. So you look at that that's how you got two examples of that works out and and

117on TMBA side I put in the 8% in the equation piece so you can see what that difference is and below that I've got a 10 or 12 13 14% went that route what that money would look like based on how much TNA money they generated for next year. So when you look that that's what all that information is. Feel free to call or drop by any time. >> Anything else? >> Just say thank you. >> Okay, we'll take a five minute recess. What's up? What do you got? Yeah, we Huh? >> Yeah. I I go by him when he says this. We're off. >> Okay, we'll get started. You all will stand. >> Mr. Collins, will you lead us in the pledge? I pray >> to the flag of the United States of America

118and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Please remain standing. Cook, will you lead us in prayer? Our heavenly father, we come to you tonight with a heart full of thanks for all that you've done for us. Father, we ask that you would keep everyone safe in this facility. All the children and all faculty, each and everyone. We ask that you would shield them with your protective love. Lord, we thank you for the many blessings you've given us. Lord, the decisions we have to make. We ask that you would guide and direct us in the path that you would choose for us. Lord forgive us our sins in short term have mercy upon us in Jesus name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. >> Okay

119to order. >> First item on the agenda is to approve the agenda. Do I have a motion? >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Do we have any public comments? >> Okay. Approve, disapprove the school trips and the agenda, consent agenda. >> Make a motion to approve. >> Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> All in favor? I opposed. >> Motion carried. Approved. Disapproved. Budget amendments, transfers. Do I have a motion? >> Motion to approve. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Okay. Der, I'm sorry. >> M. >> Four. >> Dr. Carter. >> Four. >> Mr. Collins. >> Four. >> Mr. Cook. Four, >> Mr. Hamilton. >> Four, >> M. >> Four, >> and Mr. W. >> Four.

120>> Item number six, approve or disapprove items for surplus. >> I'll make a motion to approve. >> Do I have a second? >> A second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Approve or disapprove. contract for K12 >> the nonrenewal >> non removal. >> I make a motion that we approve the nonrenewal letter for K12. >> I do a roll. >> Let's do a roll call on that one. Okay. Miss B >> four. >> Dr. Carter >> four >> Mr. Collins >> four >> Mr. C >> four >> Mr. Hamilton >> four >> and Mr. Wash >> four item number eight approve on the first on the second reading the TSBA recommended board policy revisions. Do I have a motion? >> Make a motion. >> Do I have a second? >> A second. All in

121favor? >> Opposed? >> Motion carried. >> Item number nine, approve or disapprove teacher tenure. The tax list. Do I have a motion? >> I'll make a motion. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> oppose. Motion carried. Okay. The next board workshop and meeting will be the 9th of April. >> 16th. >> We need to move it to the 16th because of Missy having her financial things ready for us for budget. We discuss we discussed that last month that okay we'll move that to the 16th. >> And just a reminder of treaties March 30. >> Do I have a motion to adjourn? I'll >> second. All in >> favor. like a motion.