001test. Hey, there we go. >> Two minutes. All right, let's just call the uh W County Board of Education work session for May 7th to order. Um, appreciate everyone being here. We've got a lot to cover tonight because we're going to be going through the items in our consent agenda. O want to uh make sure that we've got enough time to talk about the items that uh are in that portion of our agenda. So uh we'll first start out and reviewing these by by item. Uh included in your packet for this month was the uh minutes from our regular meeting on April 9th along with our minutes from our work session. Uh those were notice a little uh little difference there. uh those were uh trying out some technology uh some dictation technology I guess
002uh be the best way to put it some people might call it AI but uh those uh minutes were uh were provided summarized uh they were reviewed u by human so it wasn't just u taken uh that for uh for granted and it was pretty thorough so glad we have uh have that appreciate y'all putting that together. Um, so any questions, corrections, comments regarding the minutes from our regular meeting or our work session from uh from April. >> Yes, ma'am. Please. >> That's minus five points. Okay. Oh, it's working. So, on the approval of the minutes, if you go down, it has me as yes, and I was not here. >> All right. So, uh, Miss Fowler noted that in the work session minutes and was that also, uh, same with the, uh, regular minutes?
003>> Oh, wait a minute. >> Was only the work session. uh you were noted absent in the uh regular meeting. So um so that's one correction that we need to make on the work session minutes. Uh please remove uh wait a second. Sorry, Miss Fowler. You're uh you're noted as absent for both. Oh, excuse me. The approval of the minutes. Yes, Miss Fowler. Uh Miss Fowler and Miss Stone also showing a vote. So we need to u >> Mr. Chair, I I wonder >> that's for March 19th. That's for March 19th. Okay. >> Yeah, I caught it. >> All right. >> But it's got approval of minutes, but then right under it, it says Mr. McDonald requested a correction to the record regarding the Central View property. >> Yeah, I think that was a correction
004to the March meeting. that we caught in the April meeting. >> Okay. I'm sorry. >> Yeah, I think you're correct on that, Mr. Smith. >> Okay. Yeah, that was just how it was uh the correction for that particular item on the agenda. So, you were present in the March meeting. Okay, that's good good that we're reading these. Um, anything else regarding our uh the approval of the minutes? All right. Then uh next we'll uh move down to our uh policy report. So in your packet you were presented with several policies. So looks like a total of about 16 different policies um that are coming forward on first reading. Uh Mr. Drumberger provided us with a summary of those policies from TB TSBA. As you know that TB TSBA uh helps us with uh keeping our
005policies compliant with state laws, law changes. Then addition to policies need to be made from time to time and there are several that uh that have come forward. Um, and our policies reflect as a basis the model policies TSBA provides. We al always have the opportunity to modify them to sit to uh fit our our district and what the board's intent is. But it is a starting point for us to uh to make sure that any updates or any new policies are in in place and compliant to to uh state and federal law. Um so there was uh again several policies uh that would be coming forward on first reading tonight. I'll just note those. 1151 1804 4214 5114 5200 5201 5202 5302 5310 5400 5403 5606 5608 5800 63041. Those are first reading policies.
006And just uh for the record uh 1804's alcohol and drugs in the workplace um update uh uh 5114 personnel files update update on our policy regarding personnel files. Um 51151 is telework during emergencies. Uh 5200 and 5202 uh that's separation practice for employers. Excuse me. separation practice for employees. Um, it was recommended that we re review the language with our board attorney. So, um, Mr. D, is that being looked at? I haven't had that conversation with him yet. I wanted the board's input on u on these policies. It has to deal with pay for during suspensions. There are there opportunities and rare circumstances for that. So, I was going to wait for the board's conversation after first reading before I reached out to the board attorney on that. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, let's circle
007back to that. Um, 532 is uh update to uh uh regarding sick leave. 5400 is personnel uh health examinations and communicable diseases. 5403 is drug and alcohol testing for employees. Uh 560 is political activities. Um 5608 is tutoring for pay. Uh 5800 regards uh updated policy uh clarifying uh roles to directors of schools and personnel. And then uh get into 510 >> those are >> I'm sorry administrative procedures. So uh so yeah that covers the uh policies that were that would require updates. So uh that information we we've had we've been given the link to those model policies and can compare those to what's in currently in place. Um so I'm going to pause here a second and ask u board if there's circling back to the separation policies. 5200 and 5202. Um, anything you
008think we need to discuss on these policies for first regarding first reading? I guess my question would be um is there anything gerain to these these policies other than 5200 uh or the separation policies that would uh require us to forgo first reading and and make it policy uh immediately or is there anything pressing that would need to make get that done? >> It's a great question. When I reviewed these and thinking about uh thinking about that, um the uh the only one that really stands out to me would be um uh personnel files. Just making sure that uh that's updated that employees know that disciplinary action would become uh part of a person uh employees personnel file. But um I think the director might have some input on that if that's necessary to forego
009a a first reading on that. Um in the uh in the uh season we're in uh election season regarding political activities. Um, that might be one that uh we would want to to have in place in the event somebody uh didn't know, but uh that not not allowed to use uh district property for filming political content. is pretty uh pretty specific about uh what that property is too in their uh in their model policy. But not sure if uh if either of those would necessarily arise to uh foregoing a second reading. Mr. D, you want to speak to that? I I'm not sure there's any um that time would prohibit us from doing that or prohibit the board from doing that, but I'm also not sure that it's there's a need to rush those through.
010Um so, if the board would like to take the time, um I feel confident we have time to do that, I think you have time to study those a little uh deeper and then um also uh I'll have time to really highlight we had TSBA was having trouble with their all week with our still with their website. So, normally I'm able to highlight in yellow and show those things. I'll have the opportunity to do that for you a little bit better in the coming days and then that way you'll you'll have a firmer standing maybe on some of these. Um, that just my recommendation. There's nothing there though that is imperative I think that we get done tonight. So, if the board wants to take the next month for second reading, that that'd be fine
011with me. >> Thank you. Um so 5200 and 5202 uh regarding separation practices. What would you like us to know regarding those three policies? >> So I think that's where um we're going to like to have some guidance from uh the board attorney. Um, you know, it's a practice now that the director of schools may not u pay uh pay someone who's on suspension during pending investigation. And there are some opport uh situations where um it may be beneficial. I think what what the what the policy speaks to is it may be in the best interest for someone to be out of the building while some some investigation is going on, but they've not necessarily being investigated themselves. And I think there's been some situations where people have been out of pay during that time
012that was really nothing um that they were being investigated for. So um I think it's a little vague in that sense that I think we need some input from the board attorney on that. I I it would be recommend my recommendation that the board would approve it on first reading. Um, I'd be able to supply you with that information from the board attorney uh here in the next few days and then uh you'd be able to make a final determination and have more discussion on it at next next month's meeting. Okay. So, u the recommendation on that is we approve it on first reading. uh you gather some information review with the attorney provide that to us prior to our our June 11th meeting and then uh that may be one if there's further discussion
013on how we want to handle that we make that um an agenda item and not a a work session item I guess Mr. D just one quick question for me. Um 52 01 and O2 are certified non-tenure teachers um tenure teachers and then non certified staff. Are will you be seeking guidance from him for all three of those policies or all those policies that fall under the separation practices for the district? >> Yes. Yes, I will be getting advice on all of those. >> Okay. And I guess that even goes into the sick leave, all of those. Is that part of that separation as well? >> No, sick leave, sick leave is separate. Um, that's that's separate from those policies. It's a different u different change there. >> Okay. All right. Sounds good. Thank you.
014>> Just clarification on that. Sick leave basically. It's um saying the policy provide a provision that if you're going to be absent for 5 days or longer that you have to have evidence. doctor's note or some type something something supporting that that absence. >> Yes, that's correct. The the the administrators can can request a sick leave note from a doctor any day that a sick leave is used but after five then they they have to provide that. >> Mr. Chair, question on that. the sick leave bank. It says if applicable. Do we have a sick leave bank? >> We do and we have parameters uh procedures based specifically for White County on that. >> Okay. I have another question or two if I may, sir. >> Go ahead, Mr. Smith. >> Um on the teleawwork
015policy, there's a line there that says teleawwork, I'm sorry, tell work during emergencies. In the second paragraph, it says teleawwork outside of times of emergency is not prohibited. Um, that seems a little stringent is because I think there are times that working outside of your normal station does make sense even when it's not an emergency. >> Yeah. So, telework really didn't exist much in the education world prior to COVID and then obviously that's when it came about. Um, and we still have I, you know, I haven't discussed with TSBA what where this is coming from, but I'm assuming that they're having problems with people that are using that and and abusing that. And so, um, this is being put back out there. This this is one of those, you can tell it has like a
016five-digit number. So, it was one of those that was added during COVID for the for that need. Uh, but now that that's passed, that's, you know, they're I guess they're pulling that back. So, um, you know, it's something we don't do. um you know we have leave um and I I agree there may be times for that but then it opens the door for a lot of abuse or u um you know I think there's you know there's something with public education we want to be um synchronous and and in in person and uh there's a need for that and that's what we pride ourselves on and so um it's just a practice that doesn't lend itself although in some s situations I could see it but doesn't lend itself overall to the benefit benefit
017of public education. So, okay. Um, I'd have to, you know, I don't want to speak for TSBA where exactly that's coming from, but and I don't see um, you know, a lot of TCA references on that, but I again this came out of COVID where postcoid I think it was being abused and so that's why they're making recommendation that it it be adopted. >> Okay. Thank you. One other quick question. Um, under policy 1804, when it talks about alcohol and drugs in the workplace and it defines workplace as any school building, school premise, so on and so forth, that doesn't take into consideration the previous policy 51151 where that workplace could be remote. Should should a line be in the definition for 1804 that just specifies that? >> If that makes sense to anybody but
018me. >> So, Mr. Smith, if I hear you correctly, you're saying that if you're working remote, then that would be uh considered a workplace. >> That's that's what I'm saying. And in the definition of 1804, it doesn't directly specify that. I'm I'm sure you could infer it, but would we want to be clear in that situation too? >> I I think even in that definition of 1804 uh when it defines the workplace, it talks about like uh or any other school approved vehicle, I think you could also say any school approved workplace u because uh remote learning would have to be approved by a supervisor. So that's approved workplace. Um now you know it gets into I don't know the legal of that. You know if something happens at your home is you know what
019authority does the employer have at that case that would probably be a legal situation but I understand your point if we're going to approve that to be a workplace then um those those places need to be drug and alcohol-f free as well. So >> right think the um excuse me the u expectation is if you're working for from home remote and you're on camera then you don't have to have your adult beverage you don't need to have your adult beverage on camera. >> No comment [laughter] for the record. This is Sprite Zero and [laughter] no additives. So It's good, good, good point, Mr. Smith. I not sure necessarily you'd have to go that deep in the weeds on that, >> but that might be a question we could ask our attorney since we have some
020other questions for him as well. >> I I I'll make that notation to ask that question, but as I said, if we if you adopt 5115 uh that that there's no telework allowed, then it takes that it makes that point moot. Okay. Any other questions about policies um for first reading? So, we do have uh three policies that will be coming up for second reading tonight. uh 2400 uh regarding uh revenues or cash transactions and how we would round up to uh minimize uh uh the penny. Um had 64 6411 regarding SKU student wellness. Um and we don't have anything in our nutrition program that violate that pro policy. So that actually um that item was actually removed from the agenda. So it doesn't need to come up for second reading for this. So that
021was no change on that. So really the only two policies for second reading that we need to deal with is u 2400 and 1404. Uh 1404 is uh regarding the uh uh statute that uh allowed the public to co comment on any topic that's uh germaine to the u to the district. Um and we said in this policy the that we would the motion passed this policy passed uh last uh on first reading setting a 30 minute total time limit and a three minute per speaker. Um, and so that was what we passed in in a regular meeting. So, uh, just any questions or comments? If we're good with that, uh, then at a second reading, that would go into effect and I plan to announce that that that would go into effect immediately, um,
022this evening. Uh, but if not comfortable with those t those times, we'll need to move that out to uh, new business. Okay. With uh no comments on that, then we will uh we will uh consider that part of our consent agenda. All right. So, uh next in our uh in our uh packet had a maintenance report. Appreciate Mr. Ally being here tonight. Uh just in lie of time, unless there's anything specific regarding maintenance the board member has from Mr. Ally. Uh we can move on to uh our budget reports. Any questions for Mr. Ally? Okay. Then uh next will be our uh budget report. Uh Miss Officer. >> So this report was combined um information from myself and from Mr. Chad Markham. Thank you for that. The following report is presented detailing the financial position
023of White County School System for the period ending April 30th, 2026. Through the end of April, total revenues for all school funds were 39,531,899 while total expenditures incumbrances were 37,37,422 resulting in a combined estimated fund balance of 22,679,641. This reflects a continued increase from the beginning fund balance [clears throat] and supported by the finalization of the major local sales tax collection cycles. However, the final two months of this fiscal year are typically heavy on expenditures and it is therefore anticipated this increased fund balance will return to a more normal level by June 30th. Within the general purpose school fund, revenues through April are kind of flat, representing less than 0.5% increase from the same period of last year. Expenditures and incumbrances again are an increase. Everything is just getting more expensive. These expenditures continue to
024be driven largely by salaries and the wages. Local option sales tax collections for the year to date has reflected continued growth over this time last year. expenditures for all departments vary between 70% and 80% of the budgeted expenditures with the exception of the technology department and there's going to be um requiring a budget amendment in the month of June for this final expenditure due to some federal grants which is typical of this cleanup procedure because there are some things that just have to reallocate funds because we just had not anticipated that the school fund projects fund um expenditures Revenues are 12.88% lower than the prior year while expenditures are 82% lower as program activity continues to be within the established guidelines. The Central Cafeteria Fund revenues show an increase of 9.08% over the prior year,
025but again it's caused by revenue recognition delay in the prior year and does not represent an anticipated overall increase in revenue. This fund continues to face the headwinds caused primarily by increased food and equipment cost. But overall, the school system maintains a stable financial standing as we approach the end of this fiscal year. With property property tax collections now at 134% of the annual budget, our health remains strong and consistent with historical performances in the end year end projections. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Officer. And thank thank you, Mr. Markhamm, for uh for helping that uh thorough report together. Um any questions, comments, board members, regarding the u her financial report? >> Mr. Chair, I don't have anything on the financial report. I'd like to back up just for a second on maintenance and
026and and ask Mr. Alli a question if I could. >> Okay. >> Let's uh let's make sure. Any questions on uh on our budget report? >> Mr. I I have a question just because I can't remember but with the central cafeteria fund the starting balance for this year was the ending balance from the previous year. There's not additional funds that are added to it. Okay. Thank you. Anything else regarding financial report? Okay. Uh Mr. McDonald, we'll swing back to you and uh >> maintenance. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Ali, I I wanted to uh commend you and your group for uh the job well done on the bathroom project at the the high school. Heard lots and lots and lots of positive things from that. Um drove by the other day, looks real nice. I
027didn't get out and and go over and look at it, but I just drove by. Everything looks good. Uh just wanted to commend your group for for the job well done there. Uh also, um looks like you got quite a bit of stuff coming up for the summer. Uh going to be able to get all that done over the summer. Do's going to be ready to go for next school year. >> Walking track and everything. If I may, Mr. Chairman, echo that. Um, you know, we've we've been blessed. We've had some really good maintenance crews over the years, and we've never had more than four or five people taking care of what is it? Se Yeah, I was going to say 17, 18 buildings. Uh, and, uh, they're doing it this, but I had somebody
028just tell me this week, I said, "This is the best maintenance crew we've ever had." And no offense to anybody that's come prior, but they've all been great. But, um, this crew is doing a really good job. They've uh they're already doing preventative things that we normally wouldn't be doing till later in the summer. They've had opportunities to build bathrooms while they're taking care of our buildings. They're building a maintenance shed, uh a big shed at the maintenance garage or at the bus garage right now in between fixing everything else at the school. So, they're doing a great job. >> That helps. [clears throat] All right. um maintenance and budget. So, next we'll go through uh we've got a healthy list of budget amendments and transfers, 13 in total. So, uh Mr. Stroberger, if you
029could speak to those. Okay. Um several of these are uh just cleanups from the end of the year. As we get to the end of the budget, we're moving money from where it's not needed from one line item to somewhere where it is. Uh so that's the case here in the first one which is in CTE reserve. Uh we're moving uh revenue code 802. We're moving um minor $17.67 to uh from career and technical, excuse me, it's just money that's unused in PD and moving it over to uh other instructional supplies and materials so they can buy some things down the stretch. Uh also similar fashion, um this is uh the out of school time uh grant. This is fund 142 again, CTE funds, uh needed money for social security and subs and stipens. Um
030so we're moving money out of instructional supplies and materials and moving it to uh employee benefits to cover some uh social security uh state retirement and Medicare. That's $412. Um next we've moving money from the reserve to stellar for um for educational based health services. Um, actually we're moving it out of that category and moving it to other supplies and materials. Um, and so to to buy purchase things down the stretch for the schools. Next is uh fund 142 sub fund 102. Um, this is uh more benefits, money muted for for benefits. So we're moving that out of uh teachers. We had some extra teacher salary pay in there and uh in the budget and we moved that over to the regular section program for pensions uh for benefits. Um moving on 142 sub fund
031901 special ed funding moving it out of uh this $2,000 moving it out of special ed equipment move it over to other salaries and wages. Uh just making those funds available where they're needed more. Um, next one is fund 141 sub fund 71200. This is $750 transferring funds from from insurance to salaries. Um, so moving it to educational assistance from a medical over uh funded medical insurance category. Um then in a similar fashion 142 sub fund 901 also special ed funds relocating funds to cover salaries and benefits. Uh so this is $13,998. Um moving it out of um instructional supplies and materials and transportation and moving it crediting it to uh educational assistance and benefits. Then 142 sub fund 411 um amount of $137 moving funds out of uh indirect indirect cost and moving it
032to instructional supplies to be utilized at the end of the school year. 142 sub fund 705. This is Mckin Vento homelessness uh funding. Uh we're moving u $8,000 uh was in a medical insurance uh category to the reg regular instruction program for medical insurance. That's a $9,000 $8,000 trans transfer. Uh 141 also this is amount of $180,550. So, this is an item that's actually on the budget, uh, excuse me, on the agenda under new business. As as we've previously previously stated, the school was school district was awarded $67,000 and some change from the uh from the state department for uh a high performing bonus money that we received from our test scores from last year. So, we received that $67,000. We weren't sure what we were going to do with that. that was put in
033the um in our general fund. Um I don't know if it's actually been put in the fund balance at this point, but it's put in our account. Um and we were trying to decide what to do with that money. So um we have a need, as I've expressed to the board, that we have some school buses. We buy about two school buses every year, uh on average, and we plan to do that again this year. But what we've been doing, our accounting practice has been to get a purchase order and actually to order the buses before we got a purchase order, and then wait till the next fiscal year, which is July one, and then we're purchasing the bus buses. So, we're ordering buses in one fiscal year and purchasing them in the next, which
034is not the correct accounting practice. So, uh, in talking with our finance director, we would like to get that true. And so, when we have the money available to do that now to get ahead, um, and to pay for the buses when we order them. And so we'd like to go ahead and get on that cycle now. This time next year, we would have money in the budget to do this again at this time next year. We'd be on the correct budgeting cycle by doing that. So we feel like we're not going to have to dip into our uh fund balance to do that. We have this money that we received as a bonus. The next sort of third of that money or next there's another $100,000. I don't This is not in this particular
035budget amendment. I don't think Mr. Mark, is that the next one? Yeah, it's the next one. Um, so I'm I'm if you would skip down to the next one. This is a 141 where you see the amount of $436,234. This is what I'm speaking of right now. That is the amount for the two buses that we want to get um on and the $100,000 that I would like I proposed to the board to purchase uh school vans that we very desperately need. We have many school vans that have gone out of commission. If you don't know, the schools have to run their vehicles until they die. Uh we we can always we can't sell them to the general public. Um we can't we have to gov deal them. We get pennies on the dollar. We
036might be lucky if we get $500 for a pretty decent vehicle because we just can't sell them outright. So we have to run them until they die. Well, they're dying and we have several that have this year that have gone by the wayside. Um so what I what I'm proposing is that we would replace a couple of those vans for the schools. We're also going to keep the majority of this fleet at the bus garage where they can be monitored and cleaned and checked out. And uh that's where that and hopefully they'll be uh taken care of well and they'll last longer. So the 436,234 that you're looking at is about 2/3 of that 607 that we received in bonus funding. So we would buy a fleet of vans of used vans but in very
037good condition, low mileage vans. Um a total of five I'm proposing and then the two buses. And the way I see that, that's going to help our schools with the vans. It's going to help our taxpayers with go ahead and purchasing the buses with that money and not have to get new money uh for for that and budget it for next year. And then if you'll go back up one uh budget amendment and this $180,550, that's about the last third of that 607 and high performance bo bonus money. I feel strongly that a good portion of this money needs to go back to the schools. Um, this money was earned by students that took these tests, uh, by teachers and by staff that that worked hard to get them prepared for that test. Um, I
038have requests from schools all the time. If we had a little more money, we could do something big for for our school or for our students. U, we talked a lot about the elementary level of wanting more playground equipment. It's very expensive. Um, PTO's can't raise that kind of money. Um, but this would give them the freedom to talk to their schools and talk to their students and talk to their families and say, "If we could buy something big for our kids, what would you want it to be?" Um, so this, uh, I what I proposed is about $50 per student. So, every school would get $50 per student. Um, and the very end of your packet tonight, you have a breakdown of what that would mean per school. It's pretty significant. Um, one school
039would receive, I think, at the least about $8,900 and our biggest school would receive about $45,000. Um, so, uh, that money would come with stipulations that it needs to be spent soon and on your students. Uh, and that doesn't mean to go in the bank and just draw interest. Uh, it needs to be spent wisely. Uh, with a couple caveats. We don't know if it's ever coming back. if we hopefully we're going to keep performing well and get that money, but we were only one of 22 districts in the whole state out of 147 that received that bonus funding. So, one, we're very proud of that, but there's no guarantee it's coming back. And I think I feel strongly that this a good portion of this money needs to go back to the schools for
040our principles and our our schools and our school families to decide uh how to reward our students and provide something something neat that uh otherwise they wouldn't be able to. So, those two budget uh amendments go together uh for that total of $67,000 and and change. And I'm sorry for the lengthy explanation, but I wanted to make sure that that was very clear because it is it is a large amount of money. So, if I could stop stop you right there. I appreciate that explanation, but we've got that in new business under high performing bonus allocations. That's really where that needs to take place. So board members, for purposes of budget amendments and transfers, what I'm going to ask uh that we do [clears throat] is we pull those two budget amendments out of consent.
041We move them as uh second item on or the an item under the high performing performance budget bonus allocation. So that way we can properly deliberate on that at that proper time when that comes up in our meeting. So, um, if everybody's okay with that, that just gives us time to hear and ask questions in the proper form. Okay. Yes. If the jury will strike with the witness last statement, um, we'll we'll move forward. The last two, um, thank you, Mr. Chairman. The last two um items are fund 142 sub fund 895 uh funding to provide instructional supplies materials moving it out of special education uh grants to uh in instructional supplies materials. And the final one in your packet 142 sub fund 802 um $982 u moving it out of um inservice and staff
042development to uh substitute teachers and um and benefits. So, apologize for those lengthy uh that lengthy report, but again, it's the end of the year where we're shuffling money that's already budgeted from one line item to another where it's needed most >> and we should expect those over the next couple months too in June, maybe July uh as we start the transition. But yeah, so uh just to be clear, we've got of the 13, we're going to pull two out. uh the uh uh the general purpose uh 141s uh both of those items new new monies. So we'll pull that out, add that to new business and u then any questions regarding the other the other budget amendments which basically just uh approving the uh recommendations for uh moving money for better intended purposes. Okay.
043If there's nothing on that, then we'll move uh next our personnel reports. Personnel reports for April were provided in your packet with applicants and and interviews and hires. Along with that, you had a personnel change report that was provided listing names and new hires, terminations, and transfers. Any questions regarding our personnel reports? So, so you only interviewed four people, but you hired six. How does that work? >> That's the new math, Mr. McDonald. >> That that that math don't math at all. >> Yeah, >> it it depends on the situation. Um, sometimes we had people that were already uh in our midst that we are student teaching with us or already working and we already know who that we want them in those positions. Um, so we don't open those necessarily if we already have
044folks that we know are prepared and ready to go. Any other questions regarding personnel report? Okay. If not, then uh we're provided a threat assessment report for the district going back to end of end of March through April. Um have uh of six items there. We have two that are being monitored. Everything else is uh closed, deemed non noncredible. So uh hope those other two turn out to be uh closed and noncredible at our next meeting. Any questions on uh on our threat assessment report? Okay. If not, we'll uh go to uh Mr. Smith regarding TLN report. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh just a few uh key legislative themes from this year. Uh, one was the Education Freedom Act and the expansion of the voucher program. Uh, I believe it went to 35,000, maybe
04540. I'll look to Mr. D to confirm that. I think it went to 40,000. I know White County only has one private school that I know of, but uh, to cover the cost of a program like this, I think we'll eventually see the taxpayers affected at some point in the future. Another was technology and student devices and uh trying to or asking us to come up with an appropriate policy to apply those for age appropriate screen time. Uh another was teacher compensation and TISA funding. I believe going into this next year the minimum teacher pay is 50,000. I think that's obviously not enough but a great uh uh minimum to start with uh for our teachers. Uh and one final one was immigration related reporting requirements uh when it comes to uh looking at who
046we're allowed to to admit in into our schools. Those are the major takeaways that I have and I as always turn it over to Mr. D if he has more to share from his superintendence group that he's with. >> No, you're exactly right. I think the the total this year on the ESA ESFs are 35,000. it was a compromise that they had made. Um, but we I have I'm actually going Monday to our legislative update with toss and where we'll get a breakdown of of everything. But you what you've reported on is accurate and were some of the big items that we were watching. Okay. Any more questions for Mr. Smith regarding the tail end report? Okay. If not, we have uh four uh trip requests um that are as being considered tonight. White County
047High School boys basketball uh program is asked to attend a tournament in Panama City, Florida, December 26th through 30th. Uh White County girls basketball has also requested travel for a tournament to Gulf Shores, Alabama, uh December 27th through the 30th this year. Um we have uh FCCLA uh request uh to go to a leadership conference in Washington DC. Um that would be July 5th through the 11th. Uh so those uh those are trips involving students and we have a then a request from our director to attend national s national superintendence forum um in December of this year. And so uh uh I think the uh basketball trips uh and um leadership conference are pretty self-explanatory and we always great for basketball teams to go represent u uh White County and uh across the uh across
048the country and so they always do a great job with that leadership conferences. Great opportunity for the students that are attending that. Mr. D, would you like to speak to the uh director's request? >> Yes. the this national superintendent forum is is one that I've attended before. A couple years ago, I think I attended one. Um it's an invitation only um of about 50 superintendents across the country. Um and I'll have an opportunity to present uh on some of the great things that White County is doing. Um it they pay for I have to pay for my travel. They pay for my lodging, my meals while I'm there. Uh so it's a pretty minimal expense for me to attend. uh just my airfare uh travel expenses there to and from. And um so I I
049I would like the opportunity to attend that. It's been a good one uh in the past for me to go and it's very economical compared to some others that I'm a part of uh other groups that I'm a part of. And I provided information in the packet for you. Is there a is there a monetary fee that would need to be attached to this to cover your cost of flights uh that the board would need to take care of? >> I I have a travel uh budget line item and uh I never exceed that and so I'm very very careful about using that. So this would fit in that that budget fine. >> Perfect. I would like to bring up I think last year didn't we not approve something for um Mr. Miss Drombberger to
050go Beverly? >> Yes, she went uh she went with me. I think we approved Yeah, I think we did approve uh some of her travel expenses to go, but I'm not requesting that. >> No, that's okay. That's why I'm bringing it up. So, if uh you were to change your mind on that and for her to go uh this conference, uh then you can bring that back up to us at a later meeting. We could consider that if uh that's something y'all choose to do. >> Okay. All right. Any other questions regarding our our trip requests? Um okay. Yes, sir. It's it's just a comment. I look forward to the day that, you know, basketball or another sport brings us a a request to travel to like Bismar, North Dakota. You know, uh that I'll
051pay for that one. I'm sure [laughter] >> you're going to pay for the trip. It's generous of you. >> That is incorrect for the records. >> I am not. >> Okay. All right. We'll have to let AI search that out. Um All right. So, uh, next we'll move on to fundraiser requests. We have, uh, three fundraiser requests. FCCLA is requesting calendar board donations. Uh, the football team is requesting sale field signs and the quarterback club is requesting approval for sales for Jumbotron ads. >> Yes, Mr. Chairman, if I may. Um, these are coming for you. We we know the board prefers to do most of these in bulk in June, but obviously these some of these organizations need to get started fundraising before that. So that's why they're being brought to you now in May.
052>> Um looking at these fundraisers, I know that they've had uh uh administrative approval from the school uh directors approving those as well. >> They were I apologize. I put those in the um folder as I received them, but I haven't electronically signed them yet, but they have my approval. >> Okay. So, uh even though they're not signed, they come with proper recommendations. Board members, any questions regarding those fundraisers. Okay. If not, then uh we'll uh move forward to next item in consent. Uh CT textbook textbook adoption committee for 2526. Um, so Lifetime Wellness, uh, recommended, uh, Katie Roberts, CTE computer science, uh, Allison Boston, uh, CTN, CTE STEM, uh, Angela McCully, and the district, Miss Val, Dr. Valerie Butcher. Uh, any questions, comments you want to make on that, Mr. Dumbber? >> Um, just
053that this is a light lift for textbooks when it comes to be a very minimal expense, but what's the next one, Miss Dr. temperature. Yeah. Yeah. So, it's significant. Even though most things have gone to a digital format, they still charge you the full price like you're getting a hard textbook. So, um and and it's yeah, it's very it's going to be it's going to be hundreds of thousands next year uh for that purchase. Yeah. So, we the state had Thank you, Dr. Butcher. The state has done a little bit of work in the past years to try and stagger that so that school systems don't have a hit every year or have a two or three big hits in a year. So, as we said, this will be a light hit as far as
054textbook purchases go this year, but anticipating a larger one next year with the social studies adoption. All right. So, u any other question about the individuals recommended for uh being the on the textbook adoption committee? Okay. If not, we'll move on to next item on consent. Um just want to get uh uh draw your attention that we will be sending out uh the director's evaluation. uh to be filled out. Uh know it's a little bit maybe uh shorter than what it did last year, but uh want to try to have that done here in the next couple of weeks. Uh you're all familiar with it. Uh same survey and question evaluation that we've used in the past. Um and it a hard copy or a overview of what those questions are um or were presented
055in your packet unless there's other any questions change requests for change of either the director or board we will uh prove that that's the evaluation we would use for this cycle. >> I I don't have any changes but Mr. Last year you provided evidence of many of those items if not all. That was extremely helpful. I know that's a lot of work, but I'd love to see that again. >> Okay. Any other questions regarding comments regarding the director's evaluation process? >> When will we see that um come through our email and when do you want it back? talk to Miss Rush, but we'll uh get that out sometime this week. >> So, what the question of when I want it want it back? Um, want it back by say sometime uh it's a great question.
056Say around the 22nd. We'll look at that. No, ma'am. In fact, if you just go on and send that out, that'll be fine. and give us two weeks. That'll give you enough time to compile the data, right? Give you enough time to do your self evaluation. Okay, it's two weeks 22nd. We'll go with get them returned back by May 22nd. Okay. Uh then the last item in our work session is summer school preliminary budget. We've been asked to uh been presented with preliminary budget for running sum summer school uh learning camps. Uh this year this budget's been presented to the state uh and but it gives us total of what um what summer school is going to cost us. You like to speak to that? >> Yes. So what you're looking at is last year's
057budget. So, uh, in true state fashion, uh, we do not have our budget officially for this summer school, although we anticipate it's going to be a slightly larger than we think it's going to be slightly larger than it was last year. >> Okay. So, yeah. So, we the the meetings that I've been in is going to be it's going to be the same, but there might be a chance of increase and they are moving it together. or the transportation funds are now folded in with the instructional funds. So, what we're asking the board to do tonight is on a preliminary basis approve us to move forward because we have to staff summer school even though they don't have that. So, we're asking we've been told by the state it's going to be at least what
058we had last year. So, we're asking the board to approve at least that amount so that we can start staffing it and start recruiting students to come and then uh once we have that obviously we'll get that before the board and you have meetings at the end of the month. I'd be able to give you an update on what our actual budget funding was. I apologize we can't be any more specific, but I provided last month's bud last year's budget so that you can see this is exactly what we will work off of. >> So, okay, quick quick question on that. And this this may be something for for you ladies over here, but summer school is the month of June, correct? Is that right? Four weeks. four weeks almost a half a million dollars.
059That is astronomical. >> 16 days. Holy smokes, that's a bunch of money. >> So, question board members. Um, we've been asked to approve this uh preliminary budget. Um, that would be approved if under consent unless um there was any objection that you wanted to to discuss it more. or if we did, we'd pull that out, add that to new business. Any thoughts on that? >> Just one other note that that's money that's coming in from the state that's coming in and going back out. So, that's not money that's coming out of the of the White County's budget. >> Well, with that that comment, then I I think Mr. Young, I'm I'm fine leaving any consent. >> [snorts] >> We're going to take whatever the state's going to give us. >> Yeah, exactly. Exactly. There it's
060basically saying we're going to agree to spend whatever the state gives us. >> So, I think we're all in agreement with that. Um, okay. So, that uh that was a healthy consent agenda. So, just as a a review, what we're going to do um when we get to our regular meeting here in just a minute, um we weren't pulling anything out of our consent agenda items with the exception of two budget amendments regarding uh fund uh 141 uh with the uh high performance uh bonus funds that were received. We'll put those amendments down in new business under item A. So, if you could add that on the fly, that'd be great. [clears throat] All right. If uh if nothing else, we will uh conclude our work session. Call this meeting adjourned and five minutes we'll
061begin our regular meeting. Thank you. All right, here's your two two-minute warning. We'll start in two minutes. I'm sorry. All right. If I could have your attention this time, I'd like to call the May 7th meeting of the White County Board of Education to order. If you would please rise. Miss Tracy Fowler is going to lead us in the pledge. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you, Miss Fowler, and thank you for everyone being here tonight, members of the public, our staff, and our uh honored guest tonight. Uh tonight we have uh Mr. Wilson and representatives from the high school here. So, we look forward to hearing from you later in our
062meeting. So, before we con consider approving tonight's agenda, just a couple things I'd like for you to note. Tennessee statute and board policy 1400 states that every meeting of the board shall be open to the public except where law allows to close session. The agenda for board meetings are posted on the district's website at www.whountsychools.com, excuse me.net. and the agendas are posted at least three days prior to each meeting. Public acts of 2023, chapter number 300 and board policy 1404 state that each board meeting shall include an agenda item reserved for public comment as well as the conditions under which those wish wishing to comment will be recognized. Signup sheet is made available prior to the beginning of each regular meeting for those wishing to speak. Individuals who have signed up prior to the start
063of our regular meeting and wish to speak during the time portion of the agenda will be recognized in the order listed on the signup sheet at the time designated for public comment. Legislation recently signed into law open public comments to include agenda items as well as matters that are germanine to the White County Board of Education's jurisdiction. Upon approval of the policy tonight that's in consent agenda. This policy will go into effect immediately. Per the policy, the total of the total allotted time allowed for public comment will be 30 minutes and each speaker will be allotted three minutes to speak. Delegations shall be select only one individual to speak on their behalf unless otherwise determined by the board. It should not be expected that the board would take any take up any matter brought up
064during public comment period during tonight's meeting unless it was an agenda item. The public is encouraged to reach out to the representatives with questions or comments about district matters. Board meetings are streamed with the help of our central office technology staff for live or recorded viewing. The links are provided on the district websites. Attendant attending and or speaking during tonight's meeting applies consent for comments and appearances to be used. So before we consider tonight's agenda, does anyone on the board have a conflict of interest on an item on the agenda being considered tonight? >> Mr. chairman. Um, as I have done each and every month for the past almost 12 years and will do for at least three more times after tonight. Um, no conflict of agend of interest on the agenda for tonight. Uh,
065just want to make sure that my comments are of mine and mine alone and for the best interest of our students first and then our staff uh, throughout this district. >> Thank you, Mr. McDonald. And that's because you have a spouse that's working within this within the district. That that's I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Yes, my spouse is a uh my wife is an employee of the district and uh you know the the comments you hear from me will be of my uh own interest for for this school district. >> Not a problem, Mr. McDonald. Thank you for clarity. >> Sorry, I I screwed that up once. >> All right, Mr. McDonald. That's once in 12 years is okay, >> Miss Officer. I'm not going to put a time frame on mine, but um my
066husband is employed by the district, so no conflicts tonight, but the thoughts and comments are mine and mine alone. >> Thank you, Miss Officer. Uh same here, Mr. Chair. I do remember that my wife works for the school system. [snorts] Nothing on the agenda provides a conflict and my my opinions are mine. >> Thank you, Mr. Smith. So, uh, Miss Sims, please let the, uh, minutes for tonight's meeting show that Mr. McDonald, Miss Officer, Miss Smith, all indicated they have spouses working for the district, but nothing on the agenda would constitute a conflict for them. So, at this time, uh, board members who had a chance to, uh, review the, uh, agenda for tonight's meeting as it was posted, we do have, u two items that we, uh, need for for clarity. Uh, there's a
067new business item that was added. Uh that's the high performance bud budget allocations that uh directors asked us consider. And with that, we're moving from a consent agenda to budget item transfers that uh apply to that. Um those regarding uh sub fund new monies for sub fund or or general uh purpose fund 141. And so those items that were uh reviewed in consent, those items and amounts will be moved to a new business item. Otherwise, uh, no, uh, no other changes to the agenda has been considered. So, at this point, I'd entertain a motion for approval of the agenda for tonight's meeting. Entertain a motion for approval for the agenda for tonight's meeting. Have a motion by Miss Douglas. Do I have a second? >> Second by Miss Fowler. Any discussion? >> Hearing none. All
068those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. opposed. Motion passes. Next item on our agenda is our consent agenda during our work session at five o'clock. We reviewed the uh reviewed the board meeting minutes from uh April 9th, 2026, both our board meeting and our work session. And uh those will be part of approval for tonight. Uh also in policy, we have uh policies uh that were presented to us for first reading. Uh policies 1151 1804 5114 5200 5201 5202 5302 5310 5400 543 5606 5608 5800 51151 and 60 63041. Those policies were reviewed tonight and will be considered uh part of our consent agenda and approved on first reading. Also tonight, policies 1404 and 2400 will coming forward for second reading as part of our consent agenda. We uh we heard from uh
069were presented with a maintenance report by Mr. alley was that was reviewed also a budget report that was given by Miss Officer with uh the material provided by uh Mr. Markham uh budget amendments and transfers there were 11 bud budget amendments and transfers that were discussed none of those were new monies but it was just a reappropriation of funds that have already been budgeted personnel report was reviewed or threat assessment was reviewed TNL TLN report was given miss Mr. Smith. There were four travel requests that were were discussed. Boys high school basketball team going to Panama City Beach in December uh for a tournament as well as the high school girls team going to Gulf Shores, Alabama. Same time period. Uh FCCLA will be going to a leadership conference in Washington DC in July. And
070then our director has requested travel for uh national superintendent forum in California in December. Uh three two fund three fundraising requests uh that were presented uh FCCLA and football and the quarterback club all requested fundraiser approvals since their need to get ahead of the curve on that. We had a textbook committee approval for uh for CTE. Um the director's evaluation process will begin and the board members will be sent the evaluation form electronically and that will be requested that be returned and completed by uh by May 22nd this year and then summer school uh preliminary budget was approved with uh and summer school is uh totally funded by the state. So we have a preliminary approval of what that monies are going to be. So those are items in consent agenda. Again, board members, if
071there's any item in consent that needs further discussion, pull that out and add that into new business. Otherwise, uh unless there's objection, the items in consent will be considered approved. Do I hear an objection? Okay, hearing none, then uh the consent agent consent agent agenda is adopted as presented. Next is uh we were presented with uh recommendations for tenure. Uh and tenure is uh process of for teachers go through to get evaluated and then it comes to the board for uh they're recommended to to the board for approval and granting these employees tenure within our our district. if you're here tonight, uh those that have been uh that are eligible and have been recommended for tenants, give you the opportunity to please stand when I call your name, but I will uh identif uh recognize
072those uh teachers that have been recommended for for tenure. Um Shelby Brooks, Carla Foster, David Foster, Joel Goff, Philip Hensley, Augusta Jones, Logan Lowry, Dana Smith, Andy Southern, Warren Spear, Cole Vaughn, and Ally Woodford. So congratulations. Congratulations. [applause] >> So, so board members, uh these individuals were recommended for uh approval for for tenure. Uh so, uh if there's any comments that director would like to make or any other board member uh we can do that before we take a motion for approval. >> Yeah, first of all, just want to say congratulations ladies in the room and everyone on this list for a job well done. Um the tenure process has changed from what it was 100 years ago when I started. But um it basically you have to attain a overall what we call LOE
073level of effectiveness score of a four or a five uh for two consecutive years into your fifth year of teaching. So that year four and five would have to be a four or a five uh in order to attain tenure. So on your list you will see a list of different months listing to make sure that they're qualified. They've served a number of months. Some of them are higher than others, meaning they probably came from another district. And when you come from another district, you're on a probationary period of two years. And so you have to attain that four or five uh status as well for those two years. So that's why the difference in months there. But certainly all highquality educators and contributing to the great scores that we have here in White County
074and we're very proud to honor these folks and to recommend them for tenure tonight. >> Thank you, Mr. Stroberger. Any other comments? I was going to ask that question a minute just in a few moments, but he answered my question for me because I was some are at 213 months and some are at 45 or you know 40 50 months or whatever. So he answered that question for me and I but I do want to say I am so proud of each one of you that are here and the ones that are maybe watching. Uh that's a big deal. It's a big deal and I'll make a motion we approve uh each name that listed. >> Okay. Okay. I have a motion for approval for the uh those eligible for uh for tenure as presented.
075Do I have a second? >> Second by Miss uh Miss Fowler. Uh discussion. >> No discussion, but I Mr. McDonald, Miss Fowler beat me to it. I All the folks on this list are are very worthy, but it does gives me great pleasure to know one personally, Miss Brooks. So, it's an honor to be able to vote yes. All right. Any other uh any other >> We won't we won't hold her knowing Mr. Smith personally against her. My wife thinks a lot of her too. So she and she's blushing so you can see it. Can we get the camera on that? No, I'm just kid. Just Just kidding. Just kidding. Just kidding. All right. Um so uh any any further discussion? Okay. Okay. All those in favor s uh for approving tenure recommendations signify by
076saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion passes. Next item on our agenda is a school spotlight. We are uh we are happy to have uh principal Greg Wilson from White County High School here with us this evening. Uh all year we have been uh focusing on the arts and recognizing those who have uh showed uh showed uh uh great uh great performance and talent in the arts. And so, uh, this, uh, I think this concludes our school, uh, all of our schools for presentations this year. So, Mr. Wilson, thank you for being here and I look forward to seeing those that you'll be recognizing tonight. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank the school board and Mr. Donarger for their support of the fine arts at White County High School. Uh, we
077have multiple students that take advantage of the u opportunities given to them at our school for fine arts. Uh a little later tonight, our uh WCHS band spring concert will happen. Monday night, we'll have a performance of our WCHS choir. And um our art department is what we're going to uh spotlight tonight. Our art department is under the direction of Miss Melissa Amarall and uh she's accomplished great things in her department with her students over the years. And tonight we have the privilege of honoring five uh students that are awarded winning artists at some competitions. And each of these students complete competed and received awards at the Reeba Bacon art competition for the upper Cland region. This is an art competition that has been going on for over 35 years and includes all the schools
078in the upper Cumberland region. And WCHS is proud to recognize the following students as our artist of the year spotlights. And ladies, when I call your names, if you'll come up, please. Our first student is Morgan Campbell. Morgan is a senior and the daughter of Elizabeth and Charles Meny. Uh she received fourth place in the clay division. Congratulations, [applause] Morgan. Uh, one was not able to be with us here tonight and that's Olivia Carol. Olivia is a senior and a daughter of Britney and Andrew Carol and she received second place in the clay division and has uh had several things honored at other events that we've had and she wasn't able to be here with us tonight. Our next young lady is Kaylee Kelly and she's a sophomore and she's the niece of Amber and
079Kevin Randles. She received four fourth place in the three-dimensional artwork. In addition, Kaylee has been selected to attend the high school art intensive program this summer at the TTU Appalachian Center for Crafts. Congratulations. [applause] Our next young lady is Ella Neil. Ella is a junior in the daughter of Jen and Joe Neil. Uh she received third place in the pen and ink division and she also took first place in the three-dimensional artwork division. Congratulations. [applause] And our next young lady is Casey Wright. Casey is a senior and the daughter of Jason and Sarah Wright. She placed second in the colored pencil division. She placed third in the oil painting division and fifth place in the acrylic painting division and placed second in the threedimensional artwork division. Congratulations, Casey. [applause] And we're so proud of these
080young ladies and all of our students who participate in the arts at WCHS and we thank you for all the support that we get from the school board and Mr. D and again our arts departments at White County High School. They're I in my opinion the best in the upper government and I really am proud of our students here tonight and again we thank you for spotlighting White County High School tonight. >> [applause] >> Thank you, Mr. Wilson. Uh we're going to recess. We'll like take opportunity to take some uh some pictures. Uh parents, you're welcome to come up and take pictures at this time and uh then we'll resume shortly. Mr. Wilson, you're glad welcome to jump into those pictures, too. So, So ladies, if we could, I hate to put you on the
081spot, but could you uh come over and show who who made what and uh >> if you could just step over and show, we'd love to see this. >> Pardon? Oh, that's great. I like that. >> There you go. >> Mr. Does Mr. Wilson let you walk down the hall with that on? Mr. Wilson. Mr. >> Hey, we can we can fix that tonight. Just a motion. I don't appreciate Thank you. >> All right. Well, listen, you're you're welcome to stay as we uh continue our meeting, but uh we certainly appreciate you taking time out of your day and coming for that presentation, allowing us to to recognize you, Mr. Wilson. Thank you for coming as well. >> They're going they're going to get them tomorrow. All right. So, at this time, I'll uh call
082our meeting back to order. Next item on our agenda is student representative report and uh Miss Cali Odell would like to recognize you to give us an update. >> Okay. I've been a little sick, so bear with me if I need to get water or something. I just want to know before I start, I'm a little sad because this is like our last full report and Bella is not here because she's at an FFA event, but she's here with us in spirit. So, to start, as we begin wrapping up the school year, there are still many exciting things happening across all of our schools, but specifically at the high school. Next week, we'll officially conclude our AP testing. And I just want to take a second to recognize AP and dual enrollment kids because they
083work very hard and they put in a lot of preparation throughout the school year in addition to balancing sports and extracurriculars and all that type of stuff. Um, those types of courses require a lot of commitment both inside and outside of the class and our students have represented White County extremely well through their perseverance and academic achievement. As the school year comes to a close, teachers and students will also begin preparing for the transition into the next school year, while many juniors begin important senior preparations like finalizing senior schedules, college planning, and graduation requirements. Our spring sport seasons are almost done, and we're very proud of all of our student athletes for their hard work and dedication throughout the season. We especially want to recognize the tennis team for advancing to regional play and competing
084with great determination and sportsmanship. They fought hard, represented White County well, and continue to demonstrate the growth and success of the program. Student organizations and clubs also continue to stay very active as we close out the year. FFA, Beta Club, Skills USA, FCCLA, and many other groups are continuing to participate in leadership opportunities, competitions, service projects, and school events. There has also been a lot of fundraising taking place recently through organizations like Skills USA and Beta Club. And it's been great to see both students and the community support. Beta club members are especially looking forward, as you guys may have seen, to the upcoming Beta Banquet on Saturday, May 9th, where students will have the opportunity to celebrate accomplishments from throughout the year and recognize the success of the organization. Overall, there are a lot
085of positive things continuing to happen. Even as the school year begins winding down, students remain busy academically, athletically, and through extracurriculars. It's been exciting to see students continue to grow as leaders both both inside and outside of the classroom and we are proud of everything that they have accomplished. >> Thank you, Miss Odell. We appreciate that. And uh yeah, this is a busy season, busy time for uh for the high school, but all the schools throughout the district as uh conclude testing and start heading into the transition before they break for summer. Uh any questions, comments for uh our student representative? We do would like for you to mark on your calendar to come back uh next month and we'll make sure Miss Sacket gets that invitation as well, but we certainly want you uh
086to be be back with us in in June if you can. All right. Um so we'll go on next item on our agenda and that's our district update. Mr. Drum Marger. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. um personnel reports in your packets. We've offered employment to several prospective teachers as positions uh have opened up due to normal attrition. Uh we have a few more positions yet to fill, but we have great uh applicants to choose from. Um we're very excited about the new hires that we've made. There will be some administrative changes in the coming weeks and those will be announced in a timely manner. Academically, uh TCAP testing is practic practically complete. Uh some makeup testing still is outstanding, but that will all be finished tomorrow. um process this year went very smoothly and thank
087you to all of our school and school families and all of our administrators for making that happen. High school AP testing, as we said, was taking place this week. Um and there's some progress monitoring going on as well as we wind up the school year. Special thanks to our administrators, testing coordinators, teachers, staff, students, and families for all their hard work and producing a great testing environment and testing experience. This week is teacher appreciation week. And I hope everyone takes the opportunity to reach out to teachers and thank them for all that they do. White County is blessed to have a team of highquality professionals leading our classrooms and their hard work is the backbone to our success. To that point, I had the pleasure of visiting Woodenham Park uh elementary this week and spending
088some time in the classroom. I witnessed a group of teachers there using their planning time to delve into a practice called success criteria to improve their practice for next year. At a time where it would be really easy to take your foot off the accelerator, our teachers are are pressing hard and already looking at next year. So that commitment to excellence is what makes us successful and just want to say thank you to all of our teachers. You are you are appreciated. Uh legislatively the general assembly is adjourned for this session. Now we will work with TW TSBA uh sometimes TWSAA and uh um and toss through a myriad of laws and policy changes. The school board has addressed many of these policies this evening, but you can expect many more in the month of
089June. Financially, the school board will be discussing a fiscal year 27 budget on May 26th and voting on that budget on May 28th. I'm working closely with uh Mr. Markham, our finance director, to produce a preliminary budget as soon as possible. Uh this preliminary budget will be shared with the school board in the coming days so you can study it prior to the 26th meeting. Athletically, spring sports and are in tournament stages and winding down for the year. Several of our teams are top contenders and all of our squads are representing our school system well. Uh some of our fall sports are already in conditioning phases and uh we'll have camps and practices throughout the summer. The TWSA dead period is set for June 22nd through July 5th and during this time no athletic activities
090of any kind will take place. uh building projects. We have uh selected a contractor to install the wall panels at the WCHS career academy. Inspect that work to take place this summer. Floor tile installation at Doyle is complete. The cabinets are being installed and the furniture has arrived. Uh this project is very close to completion. There are no major capital projects scheduled for next year, but there will be many small uh projects that we hope to tackle in next year's budget. Uh, finally in the calendar update, there are only 11 days of school left in this school year. Very proud of the hard work of our staff and students that they put in this year. All of our teams have functioned at a high level and we're anxious to see our test results coming in
091in the coming months. Uh, quick reminder that the bal laorate service for White County High School will be May 7th uh, excuse 7 p.m. on May 13th, excuse me. Graduation for Warrior Academy will be held at the high school at 6 PM on the 14th and traditional high school graduation ceremony will be on the football field, weather permitting, at 7 p.m. on May 15th, and we hope to see everyone there. This completes the director's report, but I'll be glad to answer any questions that you have. >> Thank you, Mr. Dumer. Uh board members, any questions for director regarding the report? Okay. If none, thank you for that uh thorough report and thank you for keeping us updated weekly too as we go go throughout the year. Uh so the next item on our agenda is
092uh public comment. As uh mentioned public comment is uh uh port portion of our agenda allow uh PE members from the public to speak on an item that is on the agenda or any items remain to uh to the district falls under the board's jurisdiction. Uh signup sheets provided before each meeting. Uh we will recognize those wishing to speak in order which they are on the on the list. Uh but since there is uh this is new first time uh in on this uh revision of the pol uh policy 1404 uh any member of the public wish to speak that did not was not uh signed up on the the uh signup sheet uh if you'd like to speak now we'd recognize you at the podium. Okay. If not, then we'll move on to uh
093new business. And new business item uh from when our agenda was first published early this week was uh our directors asked us to consider um the allocations for the high performance bonus that we received from the state. Uh uh bonus that uh totaled approximately uh $600,000. And so that was new money coming to the district. And again, really appreciate everyone. It's it's the the district as a whole is what makes sets conditions to make high performance happen. Um and but we can't can't uh not recognize those that are actually doing the work, the students uh and recognize those those the hard work that they put in and showing that that high performance and also the teachers and and administrators and staff that make the conditions set the conditions for that learn high performing learning take
094place. So, um, in our packet, we were asked as a budget amendment to consider the appropriations of that that new money. And, uh, Mr. Drumarger has, uh, briefed us in our work session about how he would like how he would how he would suggest that we, uh, appropriate that money. Um, and but we pulled it out because thought there might be some more discussion that we'd want to have and this is appropriate setting to do that. Uh so uh with that, Mr. Stroberger, I'll give you the opportunity to share your thoughts on how we allocate these funds. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So I'll try and be brief as I've already um discussed this in the work session, but the district received $67,143 in what is called a high performance bonus. We were one of
09522 districts in the state out of 147 that received this. and it just means we did so good on our testing that we got we got paid for it. Um so um we weren't sure because that's unexpected money. Um and we don't know if it'll happen again. We we're trying to say well what will we do with that money that we wouldn't have done otherwise. Um we discussed from a district level the need to get on a better budget cycle with our school bus purchases uh a better accounting cycle. So this would this money would allow us to take the swing of of buses that we would normally uh purchase anyway. uh but it'll get us on a better fiscal cycle and that's expensive. That's $336,234 uh in order to do that. And again, that's
096money we would have spent anyway, but this puts us on a uh a truer accounting uh procedure as it should be uh to purchase the budget buses that we would purchase. So, I felt like from a district, from a taxpayer standpoint, that was a good use of the money because it wasn't money we were going to have to generate or ask for or pull out of a fund balance to do to make that correction. From a district standpoint, we desperately need uh we have transportation needs. We need vans. Uh all of our vans that our schools use to transport students to various uh programs like art contests and things like that um are in bad condition. They're old. Um and they uh some of them, many of them have been taken out of commission for
097safety reasons. Uh so I felt like this was from a district standpoint an opportunity to replenish our fleet and set up a program to make sure that they're wellmaintained and they last as long as they can. Um, and it's a an expense that we normally wouldn't do otherwise if we didn't have access to funds like this. Uh, so I I estimate that I can get those used vans in good condition and low mileage for for $100,000. We can get five of those and put them into service. And I think that's been wellreceived with all the principles that I've discussed it with. Uh then I, as I said earlier, I feel very strongly that a lot of this money needs to go back to the schools. um they uh their performance, their hard work in the
098classrooms, uh from the students to the staff to the teachers to the the families that get them to school every day. Um they need to see this reward go back to them. And so I'm proposing that uh uh an amount of $50 per student for each school. Uh and that money would that go back to the schools to be used at their discretion with the caveat or the suggestion um that it be spent um on the students in a way that's that's visible, that's tangible, that's expedient. Um you know, they uh that's needs be there might be some things that they're already I I've run this by some of our principles and they're already dreaming of ways that they could do some big ticket item that's going to last a long time that otherwise they
099wouldn't have the ability to do. Uh, elementaryaries, for example, elementary schools always talk about adding playground equipment. They just can't do it. It's so expensive. But this might be a way for them to finally get a good piece of play new piece of playground equipment, maybe work with their PTO. Um, you know, we're talking about ways to celebrate. Uh, another principal talked about, hey, we could bring in this group that does this great performance that kids would really love, but we just can't afford it. We never can afford it otherwise. So, they're dream, they can dream about what that was. They could they can have conversations with their students. they can vote on what they want to do. I just think this is an opportunity to give back to our kids and to our schools
100uh in a way that uh that they deserve. Uh we don't have any guarantee this is going to happen again. You know, we hope that we're going to perform again in a way that we receive that bonus. Uh so we'll we'll have some uh guard rails on that. You don't want to do something so big for this group right now that next year's group doesn't see any fruit of that. So, we'll we'll have conversations about that uh to make sure that we spend it wisely, but we want to spend it on these kids that have worked hard, and I feel strongly about it. And so, this is the proposal that I bring forth to spend about a third of this money, put it back in the schools uh in the in in the hands of
101the the kids that deserve it. >> Thank you, Mr. Stroberg, for that that explanation, and thank you for keeping us updated on on your thoughts prior to coming to this meeting. So board members, the budget amendments that we discussed in our work session pulled out. Um there are two uh one is uh and this all does not have a subfund but uh basically it's uh taking the the funds a portion of these funds as uh as our director has broken it down uh as a roughly a third of that I think it's uh $180,550 that would be appropriated to schools under one budget amendment for their uh to be used at their discretion. session and it's been allocated out based on headcount at the various schools. So there's uh been provided with a structure of
102what that looks like. And then um the amount of $436,234 uh that would be used to uh for capital uh for for capital spending uh to uh assist us in transportation, one of our our our biggest expenses on annual basis, but also allow us to pro provide some uh upgrades to our transportation uh vehicles that are not big school buses, they're small buses, vans. So, uh that's what's being considered. So, board members, this time I will uh give you the opportunity to ask questions, provide comments, thoughts on what's being presented. >> While Mr. McDonald still thinking um the vans is that a a contract price so you know or we know exactly it'll be $20,000. I guess that's my concern about some of the exact numbers here. I wouldn't want to approve something that we
103have to go back and change. >> Yes, that's a good question. So I in a lot of my vast free time I spend researching cars in a in a weird sort of hobby. Uh, so I feel confident that we can find those those models. I've I've researched there's lots of models from anywhere from 2018 to 2023 in the vans that we're looking for that I'm confident we can find them in the in the mileage that we need that would keep us under that. That would be my budget. So there wouldn't be any going over in order to make that happen. And if it came under, would we you just take those additional unused funds and apply them to the schools or >> it I I I don't know. I probably would apply it back towards
104just the bus or the um or the general fund because we're going to have to settle that $50 based on the enrollment. So I mean and then otherwise it would change it to $502 or something like that. I think it would be cumbersome. So, I'd probably just say that would revert back to uh the general fund at that point. >> You answered my question that I had and M. Miss, I'm sorry if I jumped ahead of you, but the the 180,000 it said amount needed for that the enrollment of those students. I mean, we had 170,000 left. I mean, that's about, you know, between 9 and $10,000 there. That would have to be a budget amendment, I guess, would be what would have to come from the general fund. Um just making sure that those
105numbers are correct. >> So um just my calculations today, you know, we that 3611 on your um in your packet, the last paper there, the enrollment number of 3611 was a number that I had pulled uh just uh from from a few days ago, a few weeks ago actually. The number I have today is 3567. So um it's a little bit lower. So the number I mean on the quick math it's $178,350 is what would be needed for for the student school bonuses. So those numbers will fluctuate a little bit but my intention would be not to take anything away from the schools. We would do $50 uh per student. If it comes from anywhere, if we had to do any sort of budget amendment, we would come towards u and again I think we
106might come under the the hundred,000 for the vans and then we'd apply it. But if it came from anywhere, we would we would pull extra money to pay for the buses. I don't want to take it away from the schools and I I I think we can definitely do the standard budget on the vans, but I want to make sure the students get that that full amount. >> Any other questions about appropriations that we're being asked to consider approving? And again, just if I [clears throat] haven't made my philosophy clear, I you know, when I say from the from the tax taxpayer standpoint, if I can speak as a taxpayer, you know, this what are they what do we need? Uh what can we do with this money? Well, we can buy two buses that
107otherwise we wouldn't have to pay for. Um so that's what that's what a taxpayers see. If you ask me as a director, what does our district need that I would never otherwise buy? We need vans that I would never otherwise say, let's spend $100,000 on some vans. And then I say to our schools, here's some money. Go buy some things that you would never otherwise be able to do that you really want to do for your students and your schools. U so that's kind of the philosophy behind this this money that that we're very honored to receive from the from our students and our staff's hard work. questions, comments from the uh guess that would be the east side of the room. >> I do have a question, >> Miss Officer. >> So, the $9,641
108that's coming from unassigned fund balance. What's that? So when you're looking at it's coming from general purpose and I think it's one of those others out there because when you're doing the math >> the numbers are $9,641 and so that's coming from another fund somewhere the unassigned funds the others page 11 make sense. So the question is uh miss officer if I'm not if I'm understanding you correctly um we got an increase of the u high performing uh school bonus but then we've also are pulling monies out of count um 39,000 unassigned fund balances that gets you to $436,234. Um, so we're adding a little money it looks like out of our out of our fund to guess round this off. per student. And so you got that money set and then you said, "Okay,
109what's it going to be to cover two $100,000 for vans and then to be able to buy two buses?" Basically, you had to pull 9641 to round that off to cover those costs. >> That's the maximum. But as we said, if if the enrollment number is a little lower, which we think it is, then we won't need the whole 180,550 for the school. So that would go back towards that 9,000. And then if we don't spend a full, you know, $100,000 on the vans, that goes back towards that 9,000. So that 9,000 would be the max that we would need, but it's likely to be less than that. Okay. It's great catch and thanks for the clarification. >> Any other questions, comments on the uh allocations? >> Motion to approve. >> All right. So this
110time entertain a motion by Mr. McDonald for approval of the uh breakdown of the high performance uh bonus as presented. Do I have a second? >> Second by Mr. Smith. Discussion. Just thankful that our teachers and our students put in such hard work to allow us to be able to do this. Uh kudos to all those teachers and all those students. uh Miss Odell, I I'll give you your due uh since you are here and you're part of that. So, we're we're so thankful that uh you are a member of this board and and able to give us the insight that happens at the high school uh and to be able to uh discuss with our our teachers and and our students that we see from the elementary schools and middle school. Uh it's just
111it's a great time to be a member of this c this county and this board and and of this uh school system. So, thank you. It's a motion motion and a second. Uh, any other discussion? >> Okay. Hearing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion passes. Just an example to show you how hard work and uh uh dedication um it pays. So, that's good. Good to see. Um, all right. Next item on our agenda is old business. Uh no items on old business. That brings us down to chairman's comments. We have budget meeting uh scheduled for May 26 uh at for budget review. That would be 6:00 p. p.m. here at the um central office. Then we will have a meeting on May 28th where we will consider
112approval and adoption of that of that budget to then uh send on to to the county. Um, so along that line, keep in mind that we have uh director's evaluation that we want to get back uh the get turned in by the by the 22nd. So, please keep that on your radar. And then our next scheduled board meeting will be June 11th here at the the BOE. So, uh, regarding that, that's all the chairman's comments for tonight. So, at this time, I'd entertain a motion for adjournment. >> Motion by Miss Fard. I have a second. Mr. McDonald second. All those in favor? >> I thank you very much for being here tonight.