001is so important to our community and what you mean for for us as a city, for us as a as a district, for us as a community. So, I have four um four checks here. Um $5,000 for Hoover High School ROC, which we can give them down to Montgomery next. That'd be fantastic. Um $10,000 for mental health. I talked with the Stewart from your staff about the need for some training, mental health training. And so, I'll get 10,000 for that. Hope that'll cover a couple years for the programs you spoke about. Um 6,000 for Spain Park football and cheer, which sounds a little unbalanced, but right now some of the money um we have uh because I know that Spain Park and Hoover are both very important schools to my district, but uh the state
002funds we get can go to Shelby County. uh the county funds which I'm still waiting on some new part of that u has sustained Jeff Jefferson County sustained park and also uh $41,000 that I'd like to allocate this fine arts programs in the the city as a product of fine arts myself for better or worse it's it's always something that sometimes gets left out so it be great partner with that so that's it vortex and appreciate what y'all do and thank you for partnering with uh with us on on on these programs Thank you so much. And some people do the big checks, but >> a little too politician. >> Although I could be Perfect. I'll take >> this one. >> Okay. Ready. >> Ready in. One, two, three. Ready in. One, two, three. >>
003I'm gonna get that. All right, it's recognition time. So for recognition, I'd like to call M. Wilson to the podium. >> Thank you. Thank you, board members. Dr. Maddock, uh we had a wonderful start to school. It was so great to see so many of our students and our faculty and staff smiling faces on the first day. I think we could all feel the energy, but we know to make the first day of school happen, it takes a lot of behind the scenes work. And so tonight, we'd like to uh recognize one of our groups that does a whole lot of behind the scenes operations. So, I'd like to ask Matt Wilson, director of operations in his department, if they would come and mine um our wall. >> Don't Don't let them pretend like they're
004not excited. I heard them come in. So, I want I want to brag on this crew a little bit. So this summer alone, this team completed more than 140 projects districtwide to make sure that our schools were ready to be open on the first day of school. And over this past year, from August to August, they completed nearly seven uh 7,800 work orders answering all the calls from our teachers, our faculty, and staff of our schools. And this just proves how committed they are to keeping our schools running smoothly. But I want to talk a little bit more about the impact they make. They don't just build and fix things in our schools. Um this past spring we had a self-contained class in one of our elementary schools that was having a um air conditioning
005issue. And so of course the crew came out they quickly they they were there on the spot. They fixed it. But what really was just so above and beyond is what the teacher recognized where the crew grabbed some of those self-contained kids, showed them their tools, talked to them about what they were doing. It was the highlight of the students day and they had a ton of things. I mean, we said there's almost 8,000 work orders that they were going through, but they stopped and took the time to make sure that they were making a connection with those students. Um, it really just shows that they're not just working on their skill, but they also have so much heart in what they do. Um, also a little bit more bragging. Um this past year in
006the spring at Spain Park um Spain Park faculty and staff decided to name their general maintenance mechanic staff member of the quarter. Also this is our fifth year in a row where this operations department hosted six students from RC3 over the summer. Let those students come along um see their skill train but also see what this department does across the district. And so really just wanted to recognize them because our doors couldn't open the first day of school. We cannot continue to operate our school buildings without these individuals. But there is so much more than what they're doing and just working behind the scenes. Each one of them, I've seen it myself, when they go into the classrooms, they're making those connections with our students. They're making those connections with our faculty and staff. And
007that is just truly something that is really amazing. And just wanted to have the opportunity to thank them for what they do for our schools. [Applause] We have a certificate of appreciation that I will give to Matt Wilson. And then as awkward as it feels, if you guys will stand right here. close. >> Come on. [Music] Get in close. >> Short guys in the front. Sorry. You can't see me. I can't see you. Ready? Everybody smile. And one, two, three. Ready? And one, two, three. [Applause] This team does an amazing job. I know Merritt just highlighted that if you talk to any uh employee in our district, they're raving about this group. The amount of knowledge and expertise they have, not only about what they do, but about our district is is unbelievable. And they
008work hard. Uh I think um on every school visit we had, even the first day of school, we saw your guys working in the buildings. And and uh I'll say this. So one day I pull up in the back and uh there's an awning out back and there were some u like weeds growing up out of the awning. So I called Matt. I was like, "Look, Matt, this is way way down the priority list." Okay. But if if you get a minute at some point in the future, could you send someone up? Literally 15 minutes later, two of these guys are up on a ladder and they're they're cleaning the gutters out. And that's just how it works. And it's so nice to be a part of a district where we all work together, we
009all support one another. And uh but this crew right here, if it wasn't for the work that they do on a daily basis, we wouldn't be able to operate. And uh so just want to say an extra special thank you. They also are great cooks. They also they can put away some food because I experienced it with them. Just a fun fun group of people. but don't don't underestimate their role in our school district uh because we wouldn't be able to function without them. And uh so guys, just want to say another thank you, Matt. Thank you, David. Thank you for your leadership uh in all that you do. So, appreciate you. [Applause] >> All right. We have another group that I'd like to recognize tonight. I'd like to ask our transportation department led by
010Brad N to come forward so we can recognize I can brag on you guys. Come join me. Yes. Great. All right. So, this is a little bit of our crew. Of course, we have many drivers and uh maintenance workers that are not with us today, but we wanted to spotlight them because this is our awardwinning transportation department. All I do is they fix what I tear up. I just drive it. This is one of only six school uh school districts across North America to receive the top transportation team award from school transportation news. This was a huge honor to be a school system that was selected for this. This allowed our transportation department to travel to Nevada for free and go and talk on a national stage about what it takes to make an amazing
011department to sustain an amazing department and to create a culture that is happy and excited to come to work and and this was not possible. This doesn't happen overnight. Um finding people who want to drive a bus, who want to come in each and every day and do this hard work is not an easy task. But for us to have a department that is recognized at this level is really huge. And that award is based off of employee surveys. And so that just really talks through to what uh our employees think about working for school in the transportation department. And so it is just absolutely amazing. This is also a crew that spent nine months who said, "We want to find a program that helps our bus drivers." Uh let's see. Let me make sure
012I don't get it wrong. They spent nine months evaluating multiple plat platforms that will improve efficiency, safety, and accuracy in the school bus routing. And so now this year, we are so excited that our families get to experience a program that plans and adjusts routes more quickly, reduces the mileage and drive time for our bus drivers, and has built-in safety features for drop off and pick up. And this is something that they spent nine months in doing because, as Mr. H said he wanted to have the very best not just for our students and for our families but for his employees as well. And so because of that I will say this is probably one of our amazing innovative departments that is always looking at how they can go above and beyond to just make
013things better each and every day not just for themselves and their department but for our students as well. And so we are so proud and so honored to have y'all. Brad could not be here tonight. Um but we are so thankful that you guys came so we could celebrate your award and we loved seeing an institute when they were introduced and they all started screaming know we are the award winning. >> So thank you guys for being with us tonight. Thank you for all you do for our Anybody look right here? Ready? One, two, three. One, two, three. And then last but not least, we want to thank and honor our board members. next year's goal, but so much work goes behind the scenes with our board members to help make sure that the start
014of school goes smooth and safely. I know that our faculty and staff and our students love seeing you in our schools on the first day. It was amazing. I think you guys covered every single building. Um it is a busy day on that first day. I know everyone's exhausted, but that meant so much to our faculty now. So, we want to thank you for helping make sure that this school year has off to a great hit, but also we want to recognize our schoolboard members for their compliance achievement this year. So, we have certificates from the Alabama Association of School Boards um to our board members who have completed their required six hours of training for the 2425 school year as part of the school board. Oh, we got Oh, there's even more. You hours.
015You had a lot of hours by the way. We'll get into that. um for the school year as part of the schoolboard government improvement act and this act act strengthens schoolboard governance in Alabama and completing this training shows our board's dedication to serving our students and excellence. So we are going to start Mr. >> your certificate Mr. Blair, Miss Hosy, Miss Shaw, also a little bit >> a little bit more bragging. Also, our board members um have achieved the academy achievement level one. Miss Shaw has earned that this year. U Mr. Blair received the academy achievement level two and Mr. has achieved the level three academy achievement who also joins Miss Hosy who's already um received this one in the past as well. So congratulations to you guys in in doing your training but also
016just really going above to be there for >> proud of you guys. >> You're good Jake. I mean, you guys look good. >> All right, Dr. Matt. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Next is our consent agenda. It includes personnel actions, contracts, field trips, obsolete items, non- capitalized assets, and surplus items, non-c capitalized assets. and 2526 additional extracurricular supplements. >> Very good. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda as recommended by the superintendent? >> I do I have a second. >> All right. On any of these items, are there any questions from the board? Seeing there are none, I have a motion and a second. All in favor? >> Any oppos? There are none. The consent agenda is approved. >> Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, board. All right, let's go to
017action items. Uh, our business action items are next on the agenda. I'll ask our CSFO, Melinda Buck, to provide an overview. >> Good evening, board. Included in your packet is a summary and general purpose financial statements for the month June 30, 2025. For FY2, 97.6% of the budget revenue has been received for the month ending June 30, 20. Remember city schools receives the majority of tax receipts between October and March. I do not anticipate elections to increase significant significantly in July, August and September. The resulting represents anticipate having 75% at this time 74.4% 4% of the budget for the nine months of activity. The current month's reserve is at 12.14 months. We will continue to see this decline until tax collections increase in October. In June, we started summer maintenance projects at the local schools
018such as resurfacing gym floors, painting, pressure washing, and paving. We made payments related to the room projects at Rocky Ridge Elementary School, Spain Park High School and phase 2 O Middle School along with playground replacements at Shades Mountain Elementary School and Greystone Elementary School. Mechanical renovations at Gwyn Elementary School, restroom renovations at Cooper High School and Green Valley Elementary School and refresh device refresh. So our transportation I mean our operations are really busy this summer. Special fund expenditures for nine months of activity were at 20.7 million or 92.6% of the budget. The majority of federal funds are expensed during the school year and reimbursement occurs among their readers. Our um June cash dispersements were 7,9,165.94 and our July 25 payroll was $13,967 67,284. >> Very good. All right. Any questions from the board? >> Just
019add a comment. I think we got to keep in mind the reserves look good, but we haven't had July yet. We spent a lot of money in July on capital project. So that'll bring that back into balance on the correct amount. >> Very good. No other questions from the board. All right. Do I have a motion to approve the business actions? Do I have a second? >> Second. >> All right. I have a motion, a second. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? All right. Business actions are approved. Thank you, Miss Buck. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, board. The next item on the agenda is a bid for uniforms and equipment for Barry Middle School athletic teams. I recommend this bid be awarded to BSN Sports LLC with Nike, UA, Adidas, and BSN products. Thank
020you, Dr. Maddox. Do I have a motion to award the bid for the supply of uniforms and equipment from Barry Middle School athletic teams to BSN Sports as recommended by Dr. Maddox? >> So move. >> All right. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Any questions on this item from the board? >> All right. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Right. The motion is approved. Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, board. Next, we have two policy revisions. I recommend approving the revision to policy 4.09.4 internet safety and use of technology and 6.17 electronic communication devices in our board policy manual. At this time I would ask Dr. Lowry our chief administrative officer to come forward to discuss these recommended changes before voting for Dr. N. Thank you. Uh these are the same recommendations
021that were provided to you last month. There have been no changes with those. We have been provided some clarity from the state as to what some of the internet safety protocols and things will be. Um they talked about an internet safety course. It's really not a course. It's more of an assignment. It's four modules of good discussion. Each module is about 30 minutes long. They go ahead and they take a full exam after each module. Then they have a 20 question exam at the end. So that is that safety component this morning is every student in the state will receive that. So we did not have the the clarity on what that was at the time but it is covered in the draft policy. >> We have to come up with that or they provide
022that. >> They have provided us. So we are still awaiting the the survey that accompanies the cell phone portion of this law. So when it comes to 4.09 that's the safety that's the internet safety. We were already there. >> It's just a very very minor point. >> Are there any questions about 4.09? >> Very good. I have a motion to approve the revisions to policies 4.09.4 and 6.17 in our board policy manual. >> Do I have a second? Second. All right. We talked about questions. There's no questions. I have a motion and a second. All in favor? Any opposed? All right, the motion is approved. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Dr. Lowry. Thank you, board. Um, we go ahead and move to to awesome. So, Dr. Lowry is already here. I'll let him remain.
023We want to talk a little bit about the focus act. Um, it was a big a big change for >> see Mike Um, so Dr. Low, would you mind giving us kind of the board kind of an update of how implementation has gone? I look around, I see four of our principles that I'll spotlight shortly. Um, so obviously they have some experience with this, but would you uh mind sharing with the board um some information about the focus? >> So on our first day tours, that was the question at every location. How's it going? What are you guys saying? Um by noon with one of our high schools there was one conversation that was had with a child that had some headphones on and there were three or four conversations at Hoover High School and
024that was it on the first. So it's been very very very low. I circle back around with schools today. Elementary schools really aren't seeing much of an impact which we did not expect that because middle school and elementary schools were already the focus act before it was cool to do. And um our high schools, we've got we've got great kids. We've got great administrators and great teachers and everybody came together understand that this is a law for their benefit. They've all pulled together. They view it has not been a problem for us which is just absolutely fantastic to hear. Now there was one real quick story of a child didn't want the story to be told. So I'm not going to say but he actually went up to a teacher. He said, "Please don't tell
025anybody I said this, but I like this. We're talking at the lunch table, not on our cell phones." So, it's just it's it's been a phenomenal implementation. We have great teachers, great staff, great administrator, great kids, great parents. This is this has been a dream come true for something of this scale and magnitude and potentially controversial. It would be So, aren't you glad you stayed, Mike? >> Great job. do it all. Regarding the exceptions, because one of the other questions, we've got under 20 exceptions across the district, both medical exceptions. That's not that's very very small. Um, of course, students that have diabetic monitors, that's going to be the biggest category of people. So, very small numbers. It's just it's it's going great. So, I wanted you to have that feedback. And I'll take this
026as an opportunity to thank you for all of the hard work that you did in bringing people together and kind of vetting our processes and uh our consequences and working through the pros and the cons and working with Merrick and our schools in terms of how we communicated about it. And so I think we all felt really good going into the school year that that students in Hoover knew exactly what was expected of them uh on the first day of school. and uh my observations reflect uh exactly your sentiments and it seemed to be going really well. I will tell this story though. Um so I was at Spain Park and I I you know I I need to wear a watch but I don't. So this is my watch. So we were in the
027cafeteria and I reached and pulled my phone out to look at the time and literally just this panic ensued and I was like oh like all the kids are watching. I thought I was on the stage like a spotlight on me as I stuck the phone back in my pocket. But I think it is it has also had that effect on the adults like okay we we need to try to model for our kids uh you know what we're expecting of them. So unintended consequences but um you know my observations are that things are going very very well and uh I see uh Dr. for sitting here. She she has returned to work for like the third or fourth week in a row. We're so excited about that. We've got doc Dr. Eslinger in the
028back. Uh we had an opportunity to walk around with her the other day. Mr. WAC from Simmons and I'm happy to say Dr. Andrea Forum. Now, congratulations [Applause] Monday. she's defending her dissertation and and uh so I appreciate you guys coming and all the hard work. Um you know um the school year started really really well and it that doesn't happen by accident and it's a result of lots of planning and training and collaboration. And so I'm thankful um for all of you especially you principles at the school level and the work that you do. uh two of you were brand new this year and you were kind of thrown into the fire um unexpectedly, but um we couldn't turn the corner at any of our schools without people bragging on our principles and what
029a great job that they've done. So um it was it was really a sight to behold. So again, thank you Dr. Lowry for everything that you've done. We really appreciate your hard work. Um, speaking of the start of school board members, again, to reiterate what Merrick said, thank you so much for spending time Thursday and and Friday in our schools. It was much appreciated. Um, I know you guys were running hectically around trying to get from one location to another. Uh, I must say that that that our board president, I shall not call his name, but he was defeated in tic-tac-toe by a kindergarter on the first day. I'm not sure if that was intentional or not. Um, >> I'm going to claim it was, but only God knows. >> So, we we went into
030a a kindergarten classroom at Green Valley on the first day. You know, it's exactly what a kindergarten teacher doesn't want to happen on the first day when they're trying to establish routines and order. But it was uh it was a whole lot of fun. And I know our board members enjoyed their time in schools. And so we had an opportunity to visit all 18 campuses over a two-day period. And it was uh it was mentally exhausting, but it was amazing. We were able to escape our last school, which was Greystone, right before Carpool released. Um and it was just a lot of fun. um seeing kids and teachers and you know everyone's so happy and engaged and I told our staff the other day one of the things I was most impressed by as we
031walked around there was engaging instruction going on from the moment the first bell rang. It wasn't just we're going to have fun and introduce ourselves today like we were working on the first day which is what you need to do if you want the school year to go very well. So very appreciative to our schools and our staff members for all the hard work that they did in preparing and executing a great start to the school year. Um I'd like to commend the central office staff for their hard work. We couldn't do it without you. I've said this numerous times this summer. This is the this is the brightest, hardest working uh most visionary group of administrators that I've worked with in my 33y year career. and they never cease to amaze me. Um, you
032know, they make me look good when I don't deserve it. Um, they're solving problems before I even know a problem exists. Uh, and it really indicative of the type of leaders that we want to develop in our district. Um, problem solvers, not problem creators, which are problem identifiers are the three categories that we talked about. And we have lots of problem solvers. I'm very thankful for each of you in this room and for the work that that you do. Great start to the school year. Um, with that, Mr. President, I yield back to you. >> Very good. Thank you, Dr. Maddox. We have no public comments tonight, so we'll go past that. We'll go straight to board comments and I'll just throw it up for grabs. Who would like to lead off tonight? >> I'll
033go. I was very impressed when we went into the schools. I'm not sure this sounds good, but I was impressed with the fact that how quiet it was. You kind expect to walk into a very hectic situation on day one, >> which is fine. Lots of kids. I'm used to hectic. Uh, but in fact, I remember thinking, "Where is everybody?" So, I mean, the hallways were clear, the kids were in the right spots, and to your point, Dr. M, when you look in the window, it wasn't screaming craziness. They're already sitting and they were working. Um, Hilly and I were in a school where they were already in the library checking out their first book. And that was before 9:00 am. So, they were already bringing people in the library and showing the kids, here's
034the books, here's how to check them out. Um, you know, we saw principles about correcting a few little and I'm correcting anything wrong, like helping with a couple issues that popped up. Uh, teachers bragging on things, happy to talk about their schools. Um, Rocky Ridg's little uh poor little parents crying fest, the 5-year-old parents. Um, so six kids folks I uh but it was just neat to see all these different things that we do to try to make sure not just the kids are taken care of but how they take care of the parents too, right? It's it's tough when you're handing off that 5y old whatever. Um it was fun organized very inspiring. So I enjoyed that. So great job to all of you to help you all do that and everything you said
035I [Music] go ahead. I can say that I was at schools that were having a lot of fun. All these inflatables and music happening. It was noisy couple. >> It was on the outside. They were entering at the carpool. It was the, you know, bus drop off. It was really fun to see the elementary schools just welcoming. Um I was with Dr. Smith. We were there um at Gwen really I think by 7 am and um it was amazing. We were we were there early and but I felt I felt like that was the best time to be there because we then we were welcoming teachers. Then we got to welcome students. So we we just had a great time. Bluff Park, Shades Mountain, Green Valley, and then we were at Simmons. That was our
036middle school. And so great work. It was a a lot of fun just getting to be there. I don't have currently I don't have students in um any of the schools. They're both graduates. But it was just interesting to be there and see it from that side and to just know how much work went into the the first day of school. Great job, >> Jeremy. >> Sure. I was expecting to go first tonight, so I already took everything he's going to say. So, so I'm experiencing a lot of first, which is fun. Uh, and so I'm assuming Dr. Robins, I'm assuming that y'all drew straws and you drew the short straw. So, Dr. Robins was stuck with me on Thursday. Uh, but to his credit, so he offered to drive me around. We hit seven
037schools. Uh, he offered to drive me. He didn't know I was going to pepper him with questions while driving in the school, entering school. So, to his credit, he answered every question I had. I appreciate that. So, uh, it was a lot of fun to spend time with you, but just to echo what everyone else said, um, it was really neat to walk in and see the the range of emotions, seeing parents who were, uh, trusting and knowing that they were dropping their children off with folks that they trust and and have complete confidence in. >> Uh, lots of kids smiling, just lots of smiling faces. And that doesn't happen by chance. It's an environment that is intentional and is created. So, I just want to echo, you know, there's so many people we could
038thank. Just thanking administrators, teachers, all the support staff, everyone who put so much work into making day one happen because we didn't walk in to everyone's point um with people coming up and wondering what to do next or where to be. Everyone knew where they were supposed to be. They were in their classrooms. I think we got to experience maybe a kindergarten class that was going through the routine and going to the bathroom together for the first time, walking down the hall just, you know, all the things that uh we as adults, you know, don't think about. It was there were a lot of things, a lot of flashbacks for me as a as a kid just walking through the halls on Thursday. So, um I appreciated that opportunity. Um and just want to say
039thank you to everyone who made day one and these following days such a success. Real quick, I I I had Dr. Lowry has two options for cars. Climb on up if you can in his Jeep or climb on up if you can in the truck. He brought the Jeep with no running board and didn't tell me. And here I have on a short dress. And I'm just like, you open doors, you go around because I was like and we went where? Seven places. I thought but um no it was great and Bob knows everybody he's been around so long but there was another one other thing I noticed was I went to Barry Middle School and I noticed that they had their teams their sixth grade teams in different spots. one had in the lunchroom
040and they were discussing this is the procedure for this, this is how you do this to that team and with each of the teachers taking a role and and it they would be in different places. These are our rules. These are how this is how we do things and they were going to do that for those two days. And I thought how brilliant just to go ahead and knock that out and these are our expectations and we expect you to follow them. And then we all met at Green Valley, which was lovely. And I got to see how great nurses are because I just didn't feel good. And so I went and laid down in the nurse's office. And while I'm laying down, she's going, my oxygen. Like I even met the doctor. It was
041great. She was she was a sub a sub nurse and she was fantastic. And I left there thinking we are a welloiled machine of professional wonderful people that we have working with our students and that makes me very happy. >> Well, it was certainly a great two days of seeing all 18 schools. Um really glad we did it. Saw a lot of neat things. Um could tell they were paying attention at institute. A couple principles said, "Well, we knew you were coming and we made sure there was no trash on the ground and lights weren't out." Um, but I have to say this. Last year I I went to a lot of schools and everybody will tell you everything's great. I'm going to be very transparent here. Everything's great. Everything's great. But it didn't feel
042genuine. Oh, everybody seemed excited, but it didn't feel genuine. I have to say this year that the enthusiasm, the excitement was was real. Uh, I felt like people were really glad to get this school year off and starting. We got off to a good start. We had no no hiccups. Nothing crazy happened last week or so far this week. Um and so I was thrilled by that. I felt like genuinely we were ready to start the school year. Um, we got all the way to the 18th visit and we're walking around Greystone and we come up on a fourth grade class, Miss Spencer's class, lined up, two lines, and the teacher says to these kids, and we're getting pretty close to them by then. They're like, "Does anybody know who these people are?" And this
043cute little blondheaded girl, she leaned forward and looked at her name text, "Yeah, it's Kevin and Allan. I was like, "Okay, you've heard of fifth grade." That was like, "All right, >> it's right there on their name." Kevin and Allan got a great someone else. That looks like a good way to end 18 school visits. I'm excited about 25 26. Um, it was really weird going through Riverchase Elementary and talking to teachers who had my kid who's about to graduate and I was just reminded and I'll remind us all of this days are long but are short. Try to enjoy every one of them. >> All right. All right. Leave it at that. Our next called board meeting. Uh, oh, it's budget time guys. So, first budget hearing is scheduled for September 9th at 7:30
044a.m. That's AM. Okay. The good news is we're in here before Rocky Ridge Park. Uh, well, barely. The next regular board meeting will begin that afternoon at 4:30 because, you know, we have to hear the budget twice. Uh, and we'll include the second required budget hearing. All right. Seeing there's no other business, we are adjourned.