042726 Dublin City Board of Education Meeting

001I just not Keep trying. in this room. >> Good evening. like to call the April 27th 2026 meeting to order. At this time the indication of pledge pledge by Mr. Der. Let us pray. My dear gracious heavenly father, we just come to you today Lord just first and foremost so thankful for all you do for us. Lord we ask forgiveness of the ways that we fail you daily. God we know >> Lord I just pray that you would just exhibit your presence in this room. Lord, let the decisions this board makes be betterment for the whole of our system and not just any certain group. God, I pray that you will guide our decisions, make them pleasing to you. Lord, bless our teachers, our faculty, and our staff and our students and their families. We

002ask these things in your precious son Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Madam Chairman, I want the motion we approve the exe for approval of the agenda and second. All in favor? I. >> All those have it seven to zero. Item number four, approval of minutes from April 13, 2026 at 4:30 p.m., April 13th, 2026 at 6 PM and April 21st, 2026. May I get a motion to approve the minutes? >> I'll make a motion to approve those. Is it a second? I'll second for the April 13th, 226 at 4:30, April 13th, 2026, and April 21st, 2026. Any discussion? All in favor? I >> All

003those nay I next board norm and protocol. I'll be reading from board meetings. Number two, all board members will come to the meeting by reviewing the packet in the email. And then our number six or code of ethics conduct as a board member. Number five, participate in all required training programs developed for board members by the board or the state board of education. And at this time, Miss comments do call Miss, you know the policy that we have and it'll be a three minute timeout on the board. I'm here once again. I am Ray Butler. I am confused about you as a whole. Uh last month you all voted down on the preparatory bill as a warning and then on the 21st you all voted with not providing all the board members with information. And

004I have a problem with that. I think everybody here has a problem with that. And I think you all should really take a look at that vote because it wasn't done yet. All the board members that have to correct the information. Whoever didn't. It wasn't done right. We heard the board members speak out that they was provided the information the same day. That's not being transparent. We as a community here want to work with you all as we want because we here because we want our children to be taken care of properly and we see you all are not doing it well. So, I'm asking that you all take a look at that post and redo it and do a workshop and provide the community with all the recommendation that the state provided some of

005you. So I will be standing before you every morning because I see a need for me to speak out. I don't have any children here when I walk in this building or any schools. I believe all those children are mine and I'm going to stand for each child and each teacher until you all work together as a team. Thank you. >> I am Alex Thomas. I'm a proud alumna of Del High School class. Um I'm also a parent of three um scholars in the school system. And so I'm not here to argue or I just want to have y'all think. And so I have some questions. Um so what or why is your app? What is app? App is accountability, purpose and pride. So when we leave these four walls or when you all leave

006these four walls, when you go home in your four walls, I want you all to think about accountability, purpose, and pride. Accountability. What can I do to make it better purpose? Why am I here? Is it for just title? Is it to actually do for the kids? Speak for the kids and I mean for the sake of the name Irish. So where is it? Thank you. Good afternoon everyone. >> Apparently there's a thing everybody is kind of here to discuss what took place last week. My name is Selena Anderson and I'm here tonight at the Mother's been part of the Irish gift academy family since the very beginning. My daughter started at IGA at its inception at 20 on up back in 2019 when the program had fewer than 100 students and none of us

007knew what it would become. Over the years, I watched a small beginning grow into a community where my child felt supported, challenged, and truly seen. But last week, I listened closely to a presentation/p proposal about making IGA an IB school and the vote that followed. As a parent, what stood out to me wasn't just the idea itself, but the timing and the fact that so many families were unaware that a major change was being discussed. The conversations happening among our children and in our homes make it clear that people feel unprepared and uninformed. The voices of the majority of the board doesn't reflect the minority breeds in our school system. And that's A PROBLEM. >> YEAH. RIGHT NOW. I feel so scared and especially I want to speak about the affiliation because that's a concern

008that I have and I'm hearing the most about. That's what I thought we was going to hear last week here. And my concern and that's one of my concerns as a parent. My biggest worry right now is accreditation. Our students have worked incredibly hard for the years and they deserve to know their credits, their coursework and their achievements are protected right now and they don't feel reassured that uncertainty is uh is causing real fear. I also want to share something from my own experience in this district. Several years ago, I witnessed assassin schools closed. At the time, families were told funding was wasn't strong enough to keep school open. The decisions affected many children and the state with my community. Now years later, I'm hearing conversations about funding being tied heavily to a program, not

009a school and about shifting into something new, something many families did not know about or ask for. As a parent, it was confusing to see major changes happening again without the community fully involved. These concerns arising at a time when our children should be focusing on test in the year milestones finals and graduation. >> That's right. That's right. >> They're talking about whether they need to take classes somewhere else or just protect their their credits. Some even think about school at this late in the game, myself included. Hearing that as a parent is heartbreaking and frustrating. Our students need stability. Our teachers and staff need support and retention. And um community needs clear communication and a time to understand how major changes affect our children. Skip to the last three. My one thing one three

010things we need to focus on supporting our students by reassuring that they can remain open and clarate and allowing them to have a voice. Two retaining and paying our teachers in the board for the plans of the future goals of retention. And three ensuring the community that we are following the true plan for financial stability so our schools can thrive. I ask that y'all hold pause at vote involve community. Let us breathe and then come back to >> Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Courtney and I want to address the proposed recommendations that were provided by the city schools. We've heard that certain decisions were based on state guidance. However, it is still unclear that the full scope of those recommendations included number one and and this is just two things that um

011I'm looking for that I have not seen. Um, can we get a complete list of the recommendations provided to the district? Can it be produced and made available to the public? Number two, was a zero balance budgeting module included among those recommendations? And if so, was it formally considered? Because without understanding of the full scope of what was recommended, how those recommendations were evaluated, the community cannot fully understand how these decisions were made. Transparency is not just about outcome. It's about the process behind those outcomes. And I also want to address something that I believe is also equally important, which is trust. Based on what we've experienced as a community, there has been a clear breakdown in trust with this board. That includes not only the financial concerns, but also the conduct that has been

012displayed, including members walking out, raising voices at public, and the interactions that do not reflect the level of professionalism this community deserves. When trust is compromised, it impacts everything from decision making to communication and the district's ability to move forward. At this point, restoring that trust will require more than updates or statements. It will require real accountability and a serious evaluation of leadership. Because of these concerns, I believe it could be time for a change of leadership. Our community deserves leadership that is transparent, professional, and fully committed to serving its students, educators, and stakeholders with integrity. As a community, we are expecting clear, accurate, and complete answers and leadership that we can trust. It's so much better when we do it together. Good evening. Again, here I am again. I come to you in the

013spirit of collaboration. I assume that we all want the best for our school and most importantly, we all want a school. Since this crisis has come to light, the community continues to try to engage the board and district leadership to help with the solution. We have been promised transparency and access to information that we previously didn't have. We are now about nine months into this process and it could be not and it could not be any more obvious that we as a community are still in the dark. There has been no little to no utilization of our governance teams. And just two weeks ago, our board chair formally declined an offer to create a task force of community members to work with the district, citing that the group was not representative of the community. We

014have a serious problem. A downgrade in our accreditation is nearly the worst thing that can happen to a system. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel like our board and district leadership are taking this seriously. In fact, the entire cognitive report has been dismissed and said to be based on hearsay. While we may not agree on how to fix this problem, the community is asking for a chance to weigh in and to provide feedback. However, if information is withheld, this is not possible today. I'm asking that you release all documented recommendations from the state and provide feedback as to why the recommendation was declined. After Tuesday's call board meeting, it was it has become apparent that information is not being shared with the community or with all board members. If the board and the superintendent are not functioning

015properly, how can we have any confidence in your ability to lead our school district? If you recall, when a group of parents sought to create a new school under BCS, the superintendent established a committee of stakeholders to evaluate the proposals. The process took over 90 days for the board to make a formal decision. At Tuesday's meeting, when a new Ivy school was presented and the proposal to move the the alternative school, the board had a 20-minute discussion and voted even after push back from some board members saying they didn't receive the information prior to the meeting. This is not transparency. This is not moving us forward and this is not fair to any student, parent, teacher, or community member. For all these reasons, I'm asking that you reconsider your vote on the Ivy School and

016allow the community to gain more information and provide feedback. I am asking that all recommendations be made public. I'll be very honest with you, a refusal to consider will send a clear message and I cannot see how the community can move forward with this board and superintendent. email. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Did it say specifically the one thing that was the concern? Was it not being inclusive of the whole community or was it until we had a new superintendent to get their >> It was both. It was kind of an answer of both. There were two questions before you know >> the response that I got was that we were going to pause it and that also there was concerns that the group was not representative of the community. >> Well, we were just going

017to explore options. Um the second thing was with the Cosian report um you were a part of the board during >> Absolutely. I served on this board for two years with most of you. And the next question was um the recommendations were they not listed in the letter for Mr. Woods? >> What? What do you mean? >> Well, there were there were recommendations in the letter that Mr. Wood listed out that we posted on our parents. >> Which letter are you referring to? The letter that he applied replied to >> the letter when he pulled support that letter >> that said until you do X Y and Z we will not >> So are you are you saying did that letter include all the recommendations that the state has given you main ones? Yes. >>

018Um no >> there were no recommendations >> so let me make I'm sure clarify what I'm trying to ask you because I I want to be willing us to be on the same page. What I'm asking is that there were a there were series of of uh recommendations that came from the state even when I was on the board and when I was on the board I did not get that information either but now I'm those recommendations what I'm asking you all to make public because our interim said that Marcy excuse me Marcy Marcy said that in her in that meeting that some of the recommendations didn't fit our school which which could be a valid point. We're just asking, well, what was those recommendations? >> No, that's a fair question. I mean, there's been

019so much. >> Sorry. I'm sorry. >> No, that's a No, that's that's all I'm just um So, that's all we're asking is if you could please and in regards to Richard Wood's letter, I think there we did you all sent the response back. Did you all post his response back to your letter to his letter? >> Which response? >> So, that's another thing. I mean, we just >> What are you talking about? transparency. I I I've sat there. I know how you feel. So, we're just trying to together we're making it better because we're saying show us everything because you know when we sat on that board that's what we wanted to see was everything. >> It's one of the reasons that we don't comment >> last >> on in your citizen comments because we

020as a board we speak as one collectively not individually. Someone ask a question they'll answer the question from their perspective. >> The only thing that this board is supposed to do is set policy and how >> right there >> and act on recommendations from the superintendent. >> So if you come and make a comment, we'll take a note. and we'll respond to it collect. >> If you got a question, write the question downend and she would answer it and get back with you. >> So, it's a it's a comment on you answer question through the board. We could be here all night >> doing this answer the question. So, we had a rule here. You don't answer comments. and the superintendent answer any questions. So, we can't give you answer every question you got. It's

021not that we're not interested. It's not that we don't care, but we speak collectively, not individually. Think about that. I know you called today agenda for tonight. I'm a parent and I'm concerned about our children and I'm concerned about our teachers. From what you all discussed last week, it need to be redone >> because you don't just come in a meeting and just vote to change children's schools. I work with the state, too. I work with right from the start. I've read this report. Everybody can get it. You need to read. You need to you need to read it because it's not good. But my main concern is to respect each and every one of you all. But you respect every teacher because these children are going through Georgia milestone this week. They shouldn't even

022be having to be concerned about the school system and moving them. That is not right to even talk about upgrading a child. Y'all know that >> when it's come down to testing, these children supposed to be in a calm setting. have a balanced meal and not have to worry about all this stuff. Now, children, how you going to talk about a million dollars coming in? You don't even know where the children are going to be. >> You don't know where they're going. You don't even know who's going to move, how many teachers you going to have when this year start. You already got the classrooms crowded. It's too much. It's time to stop and think about every child, not just a group of children. Ben made a report last week that this was a program.

023Let's consider every student and the situation that they're going through Georgia milestone. So they'll become about the children and if you got information it need to be shared with all the board and I agree you don't need to be mad. We need to work together as a team. Don't do that. Work together as a team to satisfy the community because you were hired by the first um I like to say that my first question is what happened to no child left behind because when my kids went to We just concerned about every child. >> Yes. >> Not just one group. >> You got kids at the middle school that don't have teachers. >> They don't have teachers. You got coaches walking in the classroom writing something on the board and telling them to do this

024assignment and the coach will >> kids now that they're they're not looking at that and going to go ahead and do their their class. They need teachers in there. I has teachers. But you're going to tell me it's more important that they have teachers, but the middle school students don't have them. And like she just said, they're tested. So how are you expecting them to pass these tests, but they don't have teachers to teach them? >> Explain that to me. >> Because I had two kids in W. I graduated from Dublin and was proud to be Dublin. I had a son that actually taught East a East Lawrence player, West player, and a Trinity player to come to Dublin. Switch schools to come to Dublin because he was proud to be at Dublin. >> Right

025now, I could not right now at this point in time, I could not tell anyone that I'm I'm proud alumni of Dublin High. >> I can't because I'm sitting up here looking at I have a nephew that's going to Dublin Middle School. He doesn't have a teacher. But we sitting up here worrying about IG. They got their people. >> Come on. Where is that? Right. >> But then you they most of the teach most of the students may fail their grade because they don't have teachers. So are you even concerned about that? >> Are you concerned about it? Cuz me most Mr. Laneir and and Mr. W they know me. I love kids. That's that's my thing of kids. But at the end of the day, y'all are not important. Don't no disrespect, but you're

026not important. What's important is these kids. >> That's right. That's right. >> It's not about y'all. >> And my problem is these kids don't have teachers. You have gotten rid of teachers. And some the teachers you got rid of really cared about these kids. >> So now they don't have anything. >> So what are you expecting them to do? What are you expecting them to do? >> Like I said, I don't have any kids in school right now, but I have a grand I have a granddaughter that goes out here. It's nothing against the kids. Believe me, I don't have anything against the kids, but at at the end of the day, we have to be fair with all kids. It's not just for that that building over there. It's not just for that. And

027now you got kids talking about leaving your Dublin city to go to East and West. How does that make you look if they wanted to leave Dublin, which was back in the day was up here. >> Now they're way down here. >> Just think about it. If it means talking about what happened last week and talking about Yes. 24 hours in advance. I didn't sign up 24 hours to talk Wednesday. >> That didn't happen. What are you talking about? >> Tuesday with whatever the meeting was this past week. >> I don't understand. What are you talking about? >> I walked in here, signed in, and talked last week. I don't know what you're saying other than I walked in here last week and I stood up here and talk. He's telling me you don't remember

028me. >> Thank you. >> You spoke about what was on the agenda last week. Are you speaking about what's on the agenda tonight? >> I don't know what's on the >> what was said. What was said and not what's being said. I'd like to make a comment. what happened to me last Wednesday or Tuesday, whatever that is. >> So, you're telling me I can't stand? >> This is what's wrong. >> Go ahead. Go ahead. Say what you got to say. Go ahead. Thank you. I want to come back to what happened just like this man said down at the end that you're a complete bored and that ain't so because what happened last week when I stood up here and talked this lady right down here said to me when I talked she said Mr.

029Peter she said I feel the same way as you because I wasn't informed. If she wasn't informed how are we supposed to be informed? She said to my face, she said, "Sir, I wasn't in board. I opened my book and then you had a vote. How is it that you all don't understand? When you talk about chairman and superintendent, how come these other people didn't understand, but maybe you knew what you knew?" Because you had something up here where they talked, that doctor back there talked and that other person taught. >> How is it that you all had that, but she didn't understand? I don't understand what's going on in here. >> We should have a right. And I don't have any kids in here, but I think all kids needed the right to have

030good education. >> Justice for all. To the flag, justice for all. >> And that man down there, my board said, "It's not about this. the color of our arms are said. >> He said I speak and I'll prove it again and my body of work will stand against anybody in this room about children and I will not be questioned on that by you or anybody else. >> I'm not questioning that. But wait a minute, wait a minute. People are saying there's no there's no teachers in school. Two people are supposed to be involved. This lady just before me said there's schools in here in this city that don't even have teachers. Now, come on. How is that right? >> Come on. >> How is that right? I'm using my time. How is that right? I

031don't understand it. I don't get it. I started here talking to you seven consolidation. Then I talked to you seven about taxes. I'm glad there's more people upset about what's going on with IGA because these people weren't here on taxes. I was talk to you. Okay. So, all I'm saying is where is it fair for everybody? Justice for all. We stand there. We go. Justice for all. One nation under God. It ain't one nation under God here. And you know what? What I'm hearing a lot of these people have said about >> all these need to be fired. First, I just want to say I've been strong, super supporters of our superintendent and for this board. I have wanted to see this district succeed and I have supported efforts that have that I believe were

032in the best interest of our students, staff, families, and youth. I am so glad to see that attention is now being placed on the air conditioning systems at food. >> Amen. Come on. >> I also want to acknowledge the maintenance team. I believe they have done a superb job trying to patch, repair, and address the ongoing problems across the school except one. However, at some point, we must move beyond temporary fixes and begin addressing these issues on a more permanent and sustainable basis. At a previous meeting, it was stated that students from W Street School will be getting a better facility when the school is transferred to the IG. My question is simple. Are they truly getting a better facility? As I'm told, the building is condemned. While I strongly believe the two presenters the

033two presenters from last week are two of the most competent members of the district staff. I also feel that many many important details were left out when the magnet school was introduced at the last minute last at the last minute as a way to save IG. It has been stated that IGA saved the district. I do not think that statement is accurate. It has also been stated that the students at IG bringing in approximately $1 million. >> However, due to the continued lack of transparency with the full board and the community, there are still serious questions and concerns regarding that figure. that >> several questions remain unanswered. What is the actual cost of operating IG? >> Yes, sir. >> What is the projected cost to operate this new magnet school? Will building upgrades will be

034needed? How many students are required to actually draw down the additional funding that has been discussed based on the current student count at IGA. It does not appear that the number is enough to generate the additional formula that was presented on last week. The community deserves clear, complete and transparent information. Parents, students, staff, and taxpayers should be able to fully understand the impact of these decisions on our schools and on our district as a whole. Again, I have supported this in superintendent in this board. But the support does not mean silence. When decisions are made without transparency, it creates concern. It creates confusion and it creates anxiety in this community. We cannot continue to doing the same things while expecting different results. I hope the state and I hope partner are paying attention to us

035in this room today. Thank you. >> Jackie who? >> She just signed in, I believe. sound like it's the wrong sheet. >> Unless they're two Good afternoon. I don't feel my concerns about the children and I know they have testes and milestone and everything is some of these kids um you know like one of the lady was saying that they have um a lot on their mind. I have work school system and some of them have issues and problems at home so they don't need the extra problems. So I'm concerned by us being on one car. They take the the importance of the children first. You know, they need to go forward. They need to pass their grades. And that's the number one thing that we should be working on because a lot of them

036come to school, they be home, but they have, you know, no coats, no bags. I have brought and purchased a lot of things for the students. You know, it's all with them love. You know, you got to love your children and you got to love what you doing. You love your profession, you'll do great. And I can say that I have helped a lot of kids and help them move forward. And I would like to see the school sisters, young school system go forth. We get on one court, think like we waste a lot of time back and forth. We need to get together and get on one court and make this thing right. Moving on to item comments and announcements. Thank everyone for being here tonight. >> We have one last public comment. There

037you go. Leave it on. >> Tried to sneak it in. >> Good evening. Good afternoon. Good evening for community milestone testing is this week. Forgive me if I'm going to read but milestone testing is this week and my heart aches for our children as they attempt to focus on grades that impact their future while adults create obstacles that impact that same future. We're all here in a crowded boardroom tonight. People are angry. Community is divided. But we're all fighting to save the school. How do we get here is the question. The true answer is because for years no one has really paid attention for years. >> Go as far back as 2012. Financial struggles quiet maybe considered voluntary even segregation. State reports going unfulfilled and local school officials going unchecked as taxes go up. because

038some previous administrators and some administration chose to serve themselves and our state representative either knew it or let it go or worse he didn't know. Either way, he's left all of us here to deal with this mess. Matt Hatchet left us here with one question. Consolidation or not? I would like to know his answer. For the people in this room, we need this Lord. We need them right now. The people in this community. We need you right now. The anger is legitimate. The discourse is expected. But let's not forget how we got here, okay? This did not just creep up on us. It did not just happen. I have a child at a I understand the lack of teachers. There are lack of teachers for my student as well. Let's not forget we may be

039angry, okay? And it's right to be angry that this is not new. people didn't know and they left us here. Matt Hatchet, do you want us consolidated or not? Do you want the step the state to step in and help us or not? >> These board members are doing everything they can right now. Maybe not to the best of everyone's approval and I understand that. >> No. >> But we are all here in this room together for one purpose and that is to use a school. Right. Is that right? >> Yes, sir. >> Let's remember that. Let's point our attention to that cause. Let's point our attention to the people who led us. And let's make sure that we in this community will stand behind our students in this milestone moment. We will let them

040put their heads to rest at night as peacefully as they can. Let's let them get up in the morning and do the best that they can. Let's do all the good we can for all the people we can, every time we can, and every day we can. That means all of us in this room together together. Okay, let's remember that. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, community. Let's all continue to go forward together. >> That's my opinion. I didn't like what you said the other night. Oh, you didn't go to that meeting. I don't recall you there. >> Welcome everyone here. I appreciate everyone being here and I appreciate you taking the time being there for our students. Um we do have testing this week. Um it began today with our elementary and middle school um

041testing and that will go throughout this week and then we'll start on our high school um next week. Last Thursday we had some part of Georgia Resa winners that were celebrated at the deoteer center and we were very proud of those people that were rep represented there. Um, our district had an overwhelming amount of kids that were awarded different awards for writing and art and mathematics. So, we were very excited to see them all there. Um, we do have some positions available and we have several applicants for each position. And so that is exciting that we will be able to, you know, anybody that was that decided not to stay with us that we would be able to replace them with um some great applicants. So excited about that. I do want to take this

042time to celebrate one of our students that was unable to attend the heart of Georgeesa banquet. That's Beyonce for we want TO serving on our state school superintendent advisory council and that is such a big deal and so we are so proud of him for doing that. from Georgia and they are like shifting through all of the ones that weren't able to get there to receive their award. Okay, thank you so much. Good evening everybody. >> That sounds like a bad >> evening. And the reason I want y'all to be loud is because I want y'all to be proud when I put this first slide up. I want you to be >> Oh yeah. based on my research, this is the fifth Dublin High School football player in the last 40 years, 30 plus years

043to be drafted. We have Taylor who got drafted and played for the Seahawks. Uh Ben Claxton played some in the NFL. Ryan Taylor, if you remember him, played in the NFL. You're not familiar. Walden, Super Bowl champion, played in the NFL. >> Yes. was the Philadelphia Eagles stealing my line. The thing I want you to to to keep in mind is while this in of itself is phenomenal, his ride to get there is equally as strong. This young man participated with some of the most academically strenuous universities. He started at Auburn, which I know that might make some of Georgia fan. I know one in the front row for sure. There's going to be another school you don't like either on the list, just know. Then he went to USC, which is considered one of

044the most academically strenuous schools in the nation. Then he went to Georgia Tech. I told you there was going to be another one on the list. and he shined there and then he finally wrapped things up by having probably his best year at Texas Tech, which is the reason that he was the number six pick in the third round. But it's all stopping and walking back. If he hadn't taken care of his books, and this is the fact that I love to share most of all, this young man graduated from Dublin High School a semester early, >> okay? He handled his business and he was at Auburn spring semester. He actually had to come from Auburn to come to graduation. That was during some of that co stuff and it was it was not fun.

045But he made sure to come back for the ring ceremony when we won the state championship and he made sure to come for graduation. But that young man graduated early and that's a product of some of the opportunities that he was afforded while he was at Dublin. So I just want to celebrate him just as much for what he did in the classroom as I do for what he's Lord willing. I don't know if y'all are 49ers fans. I'm from California. So, I'm I was going to be rooting for the 49ers, but now I'm really going to be rooting for my half. >> So, congratulations for me and I hope you see this. Our Irish baseball team had another 20 win season this year. It didn't go as deep as we had hoped it would.

046I want you to keep in mind that it had been decades since we had a single 20 win season. Now, we've had two in a row. Uh we keep making the state baseball playoffs and these young men, especially the seniors, I know have been together for years. Uh and it's been so neat watching the brotherhood. In fact, there was another Davis, slightly taller, uh Ginger that hit him a home run in game one that helped us to win. And unfortunately, we weren't able to beat Jasper in game three, but we fought hard and had to leave late. and I I appreciated the fact that they could have laid down, but they were still fighting the virus and they were up five to four late in the game. So, I want to thank them and congratulate

047them even though we didn't get the goal that we wanted to get to. As Miss Pool said earlier, we had dozens of kids across all schools that were claiming awards from the hard Georgia. I love seeing this because it's such a wide swath of kids and it's every school. That makes my heart happy. that shows that there's good things happening at each school and I want to thank all the teachers for what they do before any of the children to make sure that we can get them on to the podium. We had a milestones event to get everybody ready and I want to thank uh communities and schools for their continued support. If if y'all don't know, this agency goes above and beyond for our children. They are constantly what do you need? How can

048we help? What can we do? Uh, and that's something that I want to charge all of us. Are we all doing what we what we claim to do about supporting our children at every turn? Because community school does it hand over fist. And they it's not even a question. And I know so many people in this community that you have to beg to get a penny out of them and they just help help. There's somebody on the front row familiar in the center. He gave a a little presentation to families about how milestones work. And for those who did come, the first 50 were able to get a free snow viz. They also had a 360 camera. Uh I want to thank Miss Ash for coming and bringing that free of charge. Another person that

049that was just contributing to help out. She also did it for prom. Uh so I want to make sure that I give support like I told her I would. Um hopefully their kids are going to do well on those tests. Earlier in the day, our seniors from the class of 26 received their caps and gowns, and it was called a sweet ending to a new beginning. If you see down here, if y'all aren't AKA's, I don't want y'all to be throwing shade, okay? But these young ladies help register children to vote. Uh, and I think that's really important. >> Yes, sir. uh to be part of this process, but in turn for them receiving their cap and gown and getting some of this important information to get them ready. They got a a primer from

050Dr. O, who you'll be hearing from in just a minute about some of the important dates and steps ahead. Uh in my time, you had me, Miss Whitlock, that was the threat that if you did anything crazy graduation night, you did not get your parchment paper. So, they did it much nicer. So, kudos to y'all. and they gave out ice cream rich weather. Moving ahead, got to congratulate Amari Bell. This young lady assumed command of the Dublin High School Air Force JOTC. She took over for Cadet Commander Bostic right here. Another fine young man. I want to thank Sergeant Martin. He does a fantastic job with our cadets. And the thing that I want to make sure everybody understands is this is not a direct pipeline into the military. It's teaching these children soft skills

051that they can apply out into the in the work world. If you want to join, that's fine. And we have several that do every year, but it's really teaching you how to handle business and handle it in the right way. And I'm grateful to Sergeant Martin. And I'm excited for Amari because she's as sweet as she can be and she's going to be a fantastic cadet commander. This right here, Mr. Tory English, I don't know if y'all are familiar with him. He has a farm. It's a orchard. He's a brave person because I kill a lot of trees more than I plant a lot of trees. And he takes trees and put them together like Lego bricks. So, he showed students at Hillrest Elementary's uh lab the other day how to graft a tree, which

052is where you take a piece of one tree and you put it with another tree and you have two trees. My granddad, because he grew up back when most of our grandparents did, we did farming. It was like a side hustle almost. and he had a cherry tree with three different types of cherries. I didn't when I was a kid, I had no clue what that how you did that. But Mr. English showed our students how to do that. He's also was explaining them about agurism. If you guys aren't familiar with that around here is huge. And there's also a lot of opportunities if you have land and you're growing specific crops, you can have grants and all kinds of other ways to help make this stuff flourish. And he's just a wonderful person to

053talk to. got to talk to him for about 45 minutes the other day to learn more about this and I'm so grateful that he came. I think this might be the last of the celebrations, but I'd like for y'all to give our DMS nutrition staff a hand real quick. We talk about getting kids ready for the day. Transportation and nutrition are two of those unsung heroes that I always want to make sure that we're giving up to constantly. they don't get here safely, they can't take the test. If they don't have a full stomach, they're not going to take the test well. And so, I just want to make sure that that those departments are are given proper attention and proper love to what they do. Uh because a lot of times those can be

054thankless jobs. I remember when I was a kid, I used to tease about those rectangle pizzas and uh they still ate. But, you know, these these people put so much time into making sure the meals that they get are nutritious and tasty and uh telling you we this same group that won trade of the week for the state a couple weeks ago. Uh lastly, just a handful of dates. If you can see, graduation has creeped up onto the list. Got a couple of graduations coming there at the end. Keep an eye out on our social media channels in Parent Square. If you happen to be a a a parent or a family member of one of our students, there's going to be so many events coming up in the next month. My family knows that

055they're probably going to see me a lot less in the evening than they're used to, but it's all for the good of the cause because on the other side is Memorial Day holiday. Miss school, that's all. >> I have one more announcement. Um I finally got in touch with GSBA who was doing superintendent search for us our system. Um and was told 25 applicants have applied for our superintendent position. SO we're excited about going forward. Um the date closed April 19th. So hopefully next week they will reach out and give us a day to review all applicants um after they screen check references. So super excited about that. School has done a wonderful job. I don't know who else would have jumped into this um situation that we're in. And while we appreciate her, she

056will be going to curriculum and superintendent. So um again, we're super excited about those 25. So just be in prayer and thought about the right person for this position. Okay, we have general administration a school spotlight. Thank you for this opportunity to stand before the community and present the faces of high school for being to you for members as well. Um before I get started, I want to say a quick note that Jason has reduced my slide presentation by two slides. I'm move quickly but I really want to focus on the faces of the high school. It was when M asked me to present on today. I began thinking about the presentation and of course I did not want to bore you with data, spreadsheets, numbers. I want to show you the story, your faces

057behind the numbers. I've been around a long time, 32 years in education. And I remember the days of AYP, annual year of progress, and now a CCPI, college career rate performance index. I know that schools are graded. That's important. I get it. But behind every grade, behind every number, there are students that represent all of us. And the current theme that I heard tonight is what it is for our scholars, our scholars. So here you see D High School has approximately 600 students enrolled on our campus. We have that diverse group of scholars, black students, obviously is our predominant subgroup, but also we have Asian-Americans, we have Hispanics. >> Um, we have other students that make up this unique diverse population. If you can see, you can see those smiling faces on my display here,

058my slide. We come together every day to be about working on the work as I describe. Before I move forward, let me pause and I want to pause because I want to commend my teachers. I want to commend the support staff. I want to commend the paraprofessionals. I want to commend the custodians and I want to commend the voice. Those individuals along with our scholars during a time like this are unsung people every DAY up and they show out in a very good way. Every morning I encourage our students to be engaged. That means to be actively engaged in the learning process, to be responsible about working on the work and being at a level of excellence with that work. And thirdly, to be respectful in everything we do, respectful to each other, respectful to

059the adults in the building, and have a sense of respect for for you as an individual. Of course, you know, uh, the academic programs at Dublin High School includes our international bachelor art program. It includes our dual involvement program. It includes our gifted honors program. And it also includes our college and career academy. There is something for every scholar at Dublin High School. I believe we coined the phrase, Mr. Leair, you can start at Dublin and go anywhere. So these are the programs that are represented at high school. Next slide. >> A lot of times and I've been told over street. What's the front porch? Give me clearly. What's the front porch of Dublin High School? Every school has their own brand, very uniqueness. Uh for Dublin High School is the IV program, international balor

060program. the only IB program this side of central high school and county I believe nestled between the Savannah I think Chad County uh and that's great and our IP program has grown significantly I would say over recent years but dual enrollment is the front page you think of the front porch UG you think of what then football >> LSU football. Auburn football. What's Dublin High School's front pledge? Dual enroll. Now, this number, this number is slightly down, but it's still a good number. 81 juniors and seniors are currently every day >> either on the campus of Belvin High School or momentum part two. The rest of the day, if not all day, they're attending based universities here in the middle of area. 24% of our dual enrollment students are at or at OMTC major in

061various programs of study. 41% are at GMC major in various programs of study. And 30 31% are at Middle Georgia State University. We are fortunate that all of our dual enrollment students are not in transit to those universities, those college campuses. Many of them may remain right there at Dublin High School because of the credentiing of our teachers to be credentialed by one of the three universities to teach that dual enrollment class on site. So that's a good thing right there. So if anybody ever quiz you what's Dublin High School front what are you going to say? >> Okay. So let's get into the faces of high school. Troop 669. >> Uh, tremendous group. You see the diversity here. Tremendous group and their presentations around the region and their one act plays. Uh, this past

062play was summerish. Yes, summerish. And uh, can't tell you much about it, but I was there. They did a tremendous job as they competed against other more profound schools like a Washington County like a black who are reaching champions in their own right that next and you were working on the screen at Mr. director of the B PROGRAM and they have a spring production that they're working on currently. You recognize the Fighting Irish marching bands mostly during football season. Guess what? They are a unique and very welloile machine throughout the year. Aside from marching at halftime and pregame in our football season, this time of the year, there is a symphonic band clinicians coming into our school. As a matter of fact, there were three renowned clinicians in the band room at Dan High School

063helping our kids to perfect their musicianship, their particular respective SGS. So here recently the fighting hours band symphonic band um won superior honors for district 11 and large group performance. Just another example of how here's the word that I want to use as I move forward. The resilience of our students. >> Yeah, I've had those hard conversations in the hallway. Is Del High School going to be open next year? >> They are in the midst of the uncertainty, the unknown as we've heard tonight. And I would say they make you fight, >> but at the same time, my purpose tonight is to show you that they're so resilient that they show up and do the work that we expected them every day to be high achievers and successful for them individually, for you as parents

064and guardians, and for those teachers and staff that work with them each and every day. Next slide. I can't say enough about this group of kids. These are students with disabilities. They're part of us. We love them as we love all kids. We provide them with appropriate educational services to make sure that when they graduate and walk across the stage that they have the life skills that they need based on their disabilities to be successful to be employable and to have the have the basic skills to to to uh navigate life beyond high school. So they attended an I can conference that was held at OOLTC just what we consider to be a career fair. We had several large community employers and agencies providing them with exposure um to better um make them aware of

065all the opportunities that them uh as in as anyone else as that's a through high school and looking towards life after graduation. This is just a continuation and you see the smile on this board's face right there. It looks as if he has the passion of becoming. >> Oh wow. Look at these beautiful faces. These are the faces behind high school. Y'all, we sitting here tonight. We've got a lot of adult business that we're talking about. you know, maybe some tension in the room uh about trying to move this district forward, but these kids here, this is FA, FPLA day in Atlanta. Our Dublin High School students are co-mingling with FPLA chapters from around the state. Does it seem like they're worried about what we're talking about? They're having fun. Look at the smile on

066his boy's face, but he's going to hear a bit more about him. Uh, but I think that they are engaged. They're being responsible and they're being respectful here. Miss Warlaw is the sponsor for LLA, our business ed teacher. Here's Miss Hope. I guess that's her name. Miss Hope. She's the spouse of Coach Hope, our head boys basketball uh coach. And you can just see that away. Next slide. Oh, here's a kid from the previous slide. You see that beautiful smile? This is Ami Williams and Shane Stro. Stroling, I believe it is. Um, Drift Guard. These are two high school students that are entrepreneurs. They started their own small business thanks TO tell you a brief story. Shane and uh Shane and Ammani were one of finalists, one of the finalists. Well, they were the finalist

067for Dublin High School. We had several entrepreneurs to enter into the Georgia Flex program, foundational leadership and entrepreneurial uh experience. It was just an opportunity originated by the state and facilitated by Sarah Kobe and the local chamber of commerce to expose high school students to entrepreneurship. Shane and Ammani created their own gaming company called Rift. How many gamers probably granddaughter there? They fix gamers. They customize gamers for for our generation that put on what PlayStation and gaming you know gaming. But how amazing for Del High School students to become one of three finalists in the district. They competed against East Lawrence, West Lawrence, and Trinity. >> Um, they didn't win first place. It was a very competitive uh opportunity, but they did come in third place. They received a $1,000 check on the flex program

068to invest in their company. Fiance, I believe him and his mother just left our state superintendent advisory member. Let's don't move past that too quickly. Keonte stood here with M pool and I completed the application. It was competitive process. He was one of 180 school district students represented in Atlanta quarterly. I believe they met with the state superintendent at the table and his cabinet. And part of the assignment is for those individuals to create a business plan or some idea that they want to bring back to their school to benefit their school. And then they have to present that business plan back to the advisory council in Atlanta before the state superintendent and his cabinet. Kee created met with me. I got this idea. I want I want to call it the care closet and

069as a result of our conference I assigned Miss Warlock to be his ed teacher to mentor and provide him with guidance. He created this fly along with Miss Warlock. There is a place in our on our campus in our building whereby for those kids who come to school who are in need of such such groom um some grooming items or what have you. You can see the list here. We solicited the community to donate certain items that we could store. So if Michael Street shows up on the day and I forgot to brush my teeth because I didn't have a toothbrush or toothpaste at home, I can find those items at school. So you see the list here. toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, body wash, shoes, water bottles, just a list an array of different things that

070were created by my state superintendent advisory student who presented this program, this plan to the state advisory board and implemented bolded out there at High School. That just shows you another example of the entrepreneurship created the create creativity of our students. Jason stole this slide from me. I won't hold it against him. And of course, he had a change change of ceremonies with Commander Bale taking the reigns, Mr. Amanda Fosting his duties, his to duty as a commander as she prepares to leave JRTC on next year. I will say this as well, JRTC has done a tremendous job uh with the community services that they provide with the PA in particular and other in other areas. And uh they've also received two consecutive back-to-back national awards from the u from their headquarters acknowledge acknowledging them

071and the service that they provide to the local community. Oh wow. I can't say more. I can't say enough about this. You probably saw WAC interview with Jonas Allen baseball player. Great kid. I had no idea that he was a pilot. He just as a dual enroll student with Middle Georgia State University and their Eastman aviation program just completed his first solo flight here of late in the past couple. He just completed his first solo flight as a part of his his program of study. Uh he eventually will go on to do big things that maybe a major pilot uh in in the very near future. So here you should see our kids participating in various community activities here. Uh Emily Matt, she's the daughter of one of my administrative assistant assistants at Bel High

072School. She was recognized as the appropriate club. uh third quarter of the student of the month um here s Walker her dad is here Mr. Walker is RECOGNIZED for the voters district speak contest for governor Lawrence County and then she competed for the region is that right Mr. Yes, sir. She did. >> Has that been done? >> Yes, it did. >> How did she do? >> I think she was in like third place or something. >> Over here. Proud dad. This is our star student, Jeff Davis. Jeff at Dublin High School in Dublin City at the region six star student, star teacher uh banquet up in Middle Georgia State University. Uh tremendous uh young man, tremendous baseball player as well, allaround student. IB, he's one that's going to graduate this uh a few weeks as

073as an IB diploma student. SO, AND IT GOES ON. I PROMISE YOU folk it gets better. And the slides that I'm sharing with you tonight, the basis behind D is just a tip of iceberg. We could be here all night if I had more slides, right? I just want to show you an assortment of accomplishments among our students who are who are showing a great level of resiliency in spite of the unknown and uncertain. Every year, Lawrence Youth Leadership uh here in here here in the city um you know they offer all the high schools uh an opportunity to serve on their leadership council. Uh it's a very um interesting program. I've had the pleasure of serving on the panel. All these students come together and they learn about Dublin County. That is a good

074foundational opportunity for students to learn about the community in which they live. You have greater you have a cross represent representation community leaders that sit at the table and ask and respond to their question the questions that they ask. They also are challenged with a particular project and so these students here obviously uh have completed and graduated from that program just this year. So that's students representing kids program. I got to tell you about these kids here. I call them my master chefs. These students here represent food science. Um the teachers teacher of the year, Miss Einstein O'Neal. You probably seen these kids out in the community. You attended some local I think that was one just recently school. They perform and volunteer to participate in various student act community activities. But even more importantly,

075for all the banquetss that are held at the high school, particularly this time of the year, you had the privilege of attending one and enjoyed a delicious meal. These are the kids that are preparing those meals under leadership of our teacher, Miss Angie O'Neal, and they're serving those meals. I love these kids. people small small places. Next slide. Welding. Um what I tell these kids about welding and uh we've had for a poster kid a few years ago, Jarvis Wiggins who completed one of our welding programs. He was the first to complete the accelerated career diploma program. Jarvis is working now in welding. uh these kids are bringing up career. When you talk to a kid about how did you develop the interest in welding, it's because of a uncle or grand grandparent or dad

076or somebody who is building who is welding something in the backyard and they saw they come to be interested. What I tell them is it's dirty work, but it's good money. And now we have five students at OMCC in the dual enrollment welding program. So these guys right here that are going once they finish their credentials get money when I was 212. All right. Prom was April 4th. Uh I just wanted to show you how good these kids. You know, we started something different two years ago. Um, we started to have a car show. So, all of our parents show up. They line the front of the school entrance. The kids parade in their nice nice cars like this kid right here. That nice >> and they look beautiful. This is our queen and Alvarado

077King and our queen there. Just look at look at the diversity. And this prom was held on our on our campus. I'm nearing the end right here. One or two more slides left. I want to show you this. The class of 2025. This is sort of a benchmark each year for every graduating class. And you probably see this pinned on our Facebook page. Our senior honors day is coming up May 14th. So we don't know what the class of 26 2026 how they may well they may do. We believe they will do extremely well to exceed the class of 2025. For an example, last year 146 graduates. This year we had 143 scholarships that were given out on that honors day total 3 million plus for national, local, and other scholarships that our scholars pursue

078throughout the year. That's a huge figure. Each year we poll our graduates to see what what are your plans after graduation. We've been successful with their responses. Last year's class, 95% did submit a graduation plan. That tells me the staff that hey, Michael is going to college. He's going to major in education, etc. So, here's a breakdown of the 95% that submitted a postgraduation plan. 52% stated that they would they would attend a two-year four-year college. 26% attending a technical college, 12% thanks to the college and career academy are prepared to go directly into the world of work. 9% thanks to the Gerald GC program. All the ones going to fouryear and two-year colleges. >> All right. Here are the different colleges that they're that they've chosen Duke. Let me say it again. Duke, Abraham

079Baldwin, opponent fall, Georgia Southern, University of Georgia, University of Georgia, Fort Valley State, Savannah State, and Dalton Park. So that I just wanted to show you this as a segue into the next slide. Here are records. David and McLaren. Jeff is going to Georgia State University and Clair Clemson University. And I just want to go through and show you. There are 19 of them. Ricardo Alvarado, Kennal State, Yur Andrews, a tremendous soccer player. Georgia Southern Jordan Bostic Georgia Southern. Next slide. >> Yeah. Uh Jordan Bostic, Augusta University, uh Tom J. Carwell, West Georgia College, uh Pimonte Davis, Fort Valley State. >> We're going to see all day here. >> All right. So, uh, Bianca Edund, uh, Air Force, >> uh, Doris Gton, uh, Fallon, Keonte G, the young man you just met, Augusta University, >>

080and um, Jaylen Harris, uh, trike player, trikes, trike scholarship, I believe, I'm not mistaken. one of those athletes one of those athletes Kennaw State. Uh Ariana Johnson, Middle Georgia State University, Emily Maddox softball scholarship to Brook Parker and um Eony Moore, Augusta University, uh Ransom Scrubs, Augusta University, and Sage Stevens, Kennaw State University. Lastly, got Shane Strive, South Carolina State University. and uh Z Walker, Georgia Southern University. Those are OUR on Thursday. Thanks to And if I can give a shout out to Saltwater Fishery, they're going to host us uh as we recognize and honor those 19 honor graduates with the lunchon on this Thursday. Wrapping up here, It's already this is one of the two slides. We're not going to spend time here. He's already talked about it. It was a great tradition uh

081for our graduates. Here's the next and the last slide. You know that we're having graduation uh in the Shamrock Bowl this year. Um thanks to the community and the outpour from the community with that recommendation and thanks to the board for approving that RECOMMENDATION for that. Jason's going to release and u more information as we approach May 22nd at six o'clock. Prior to that, he'll roll out this pictorial so you have a full understanding of the layout of the graduation. I'm just going to run through it right quick. It's just like Friday night football parking is is available all around the stadium. The graduates will gather here in the fieldhouse. They will come down just like a football team. They will will process the staircase there. They're going to make a right and they're going

082to process all the way in front of the visiting stands. Um seating is available for both for on both sides of the Shamrock Bowl. Coming down this way is the enter the graduation uh seating area for them. The stage will be in front of the uh visiting fieldhouse. The jumbo plans are for the jumbotron to be on. So you can actually see the live stream on the jumbotron as the graduates cross the stage to receive their diploma. At the end of the ceremony, they would then recess out along the home side back up to the fieldhouse where they receive they enter the fieldhouse to receive their diplomas. Here is a medical tent because it's going to be outside, you know, at 6:00. Uh we'll have bottled water. We'll have first aid kits. first aid tents

083on both sides just in case there's a there's a medical emergency that we need to attend to. But that's the layout for graduation this year. Uh let's pray for a beautiful night. Uh uh no rain in the forecast. However, if there is inclement weather, there's a backup plan. The backup plan is the gymnasium. Each graduate will receive 10 tickets for that backup plan. Um next slide. And here's where we started in the faces of D High School. >> No, I think that was an awesome presentation. >> Awesome job. Thank you. Thank you. All right, Miss Pool, moving along to the FY27 revised calendar. So, in your packet, you do have the revised calendar. Um, notice that this calendar does not have any reduction days because of the um approved um salary scale that kind of

084changed those things. Um, so we just need an approval for this calendar. All right. >> Glad to see it. >> All right. At this time, I need a motion to approve the FY27 revised calendar. >> Madam Chair, I offer a motion that we approve the revised calendar to calendar showing absolutely no furlow days. May I get a second? >> All right. >> Second. >> All right. We have a motion and a second this to approve the FY27 revised calendar. Any discussion? >> All right. All in favor? I. >> I. >> All oppose? No. Eyes have it. 7 to zero. >> Thank goodness. >> All right. Moving along to item C. So, next we have our um HVAC unit at Susie Dasher. We have um some problems in our cafeteria and kitchen and we have Mr.

085Ro here um to talk to us about that. We have this packet. >> Thank you. >> Good afternoon. all stockholders. Um I am Andy Wright, technic man coordinator for the WC for the kitchen and systems. I'm here to talk about the safety of the kitchen. U the units are now over 30 years old and we cannot anymore. I recommend that we um I won't go into what's all wrong with it. It's 30 years old. Um I got three bids from three different companies and um I recommend Dr. One room cost $38,714 after the cafeteria part and the other one called 94,000 $700. Um these units are very um 15 and 20 ton unit. So that's why there's so industrial unit but the unit we have have been some good unit for 35 years >> they

086don't make them like that anymore >> and the reason we want to do this we want all kids loving safe and comfort >> they're all about the kids >> and I would like the board recommend Mr. Andy is recommending us go with the middle door mechanical bid and you have that packet in your your folder as well. 1999. >> And Mr. Wright, you do a good bit of work with Middle Georgia Mechanical. >> Yes. >> Because I remember being because through all the trouble we've been having and stuff, they still >> they got no matter what's going on. When you got people who can come and protect you and make sure that you're okay, you stick with them. >> Okay. uh where would this work begin? >> As soon as you said yes. >> Okay.

087>> Well, let's don't wait. >> Madam Chairman, I offer motion that we accept a bid for Middle Georgia Mechanical based on Mr. Wright's recommendation for the air condition. Yes. >> All right. >> At this time, we have a motion and a second to approve the HVAC units through Middle Georgia Mechanical at Susie Dasher Elementary. Any discussion? >> Okay. All in favor? I. >> All oppose? No. Eyes have it. Seven to zero. Great job. Next on the agenda for Raymond alone >> two financials >> and Miss Corbett. So, you have um several sheets with the March financials in your packet and the city will being those. They know my confidence. So, we'll stand right by. Um, good evening. Um, we have been just give you an update on what we've been doing the last two, three

088weeks is um we've been diligently getting out getting salary schedules ready, list out our schedules and salary sheets to give out to employees. Uh last Friday um Dr. Joyce Davis has been instrumental in getting this helping us with this. Um she uh made a form to file implemented it put it in the form and so we were able and then she folded and stapled every salary sheet. So I want to say a thank you to my friend Dr. Joyce Davis for her diligence and help. Also, um we've only had a few questions and we're trying to answer those questions as best as we can. Um payroll is upon us. So, that's to the president. All right. On our revenue expenditures for the month of March, as you can see, our revenues at 2678 for the

089I told you not let me touch. All right, revenues for the so year to date is 26,780 1111. Year to date in FY25 is at 23791,929. We have a a gain in revenue at 2.9 million, but this is due to we've already received the majority of our QBE a lot for the year and um that is the difference in our revenue. uh on can you push it up >> Miss Betty on that the the remaining balance for um 3120 QBE formula earnings. >> I'm not we don't I'm not sure where this is coming in >> because we we've gotten all our QBE. Right. >> Right. And this and this is actually what the QB enlock sheet says and this is what we have as is reported but it could be that it is due to

090a um we get July and August ahead of time and that would be an approval and that could be >> for I got you >> for Yes. So that would be the difference. Um, and tax wise, we've only we received uh 11 million in taxes and we're hoping to receive closer to 14 million. So, um, they received 12 12.7 million as today in FY25. I put the FY25 here just for y'all to have a reference >> because you don't know what we did last year. Somebody asked for that and I said that that's no no hard hardship on my part card. Okay. Expenditures. Our expenditures over FY25 is 2.8 million less. So that 2.8 8 million is due to reduction in salaries and red day and and having red days and some is due to

091actually overall spending in maintenance, transportation, supplies and that type thing. So we are looking good about having um over the expend expenses being less than the prior year at this time. Okay. Yep. mini balance sheet. Balance sheet is looking good. I like y'all for y'all to notice this little number right here. 2.4 million is our fund balance as it stands right now. >> So that is in the it's in the black, >> not in the red. >> Okay. And that's including um you know we've got still got our payable on state health to pay fund balance like I said is 2.4 million. Our total revenues this year has been 26.7 and our total expenditure is 20. We started with a deficit of $3.8 million in fund balance. Any questions? >> Which part of this goes

092to the state? Just this one sheet. >> They don't ask for anything. They just look at it when they come visit you in the office. >> So, we're not sending it to the state. >> There's a problem. >> Yeah, there's a problem. >> Do we send those? They might be requiring it now. I'm not sure. >> Well, we were sending them to the state for years and years and years and they never saw anything wrong. >> I don't know. uses none of the board minutes is statement request board minutes is held in here until we have an audit then they will go through the board minutes auditor so any other questions >> that's all thank you >> thank you miss daddy a motion. >> At this time, I need a motion to approve the March

093financials. >> I make a motion. >> Make a second. >> Second. It's been motioned and seconded to approve the March financials. All in favor? I. >> I. >> All oppose? No. eyes have it 7 to zero. Okay. Next on the agenda is board member comments. Mr. Walters. >> Good evening everyone. >> Good evening. >> I got a whole list here. Well, I guess there's a lot of things that we can and need to talk about. A few of the things that I had um outlined for my comments had already been said and already been talked about. But one of the main things that I'm so disappointed in the way we handled our meeting on last week I spent four days talking to my constituent my constituencies about how we can improve our communication definitely that

094our leaders has failed us because they didn't get the information to us and they didn't they made us sit down and trying to explain what happened and how it's going to happen and how much this building cost how much this building cost. It was totally unnecessary. The GSBA trains us to be on one call. The chairman supposed to keep in communication with us, let us know what's going on. Anything happened, we need to know about it. We don't. It was so disappointing. I mean, it was so disappointing. The superintendent handled business for us. That was a disappointment. Both of them failed us on last week. No way to put it. Oh, no other way. I was disappointed. Totally disappointed. A lot of my constituents, even myself, said maybe that both of them need to resign.

095They need to get somebody else to do it. I said, "Let's look at it and see what's going on." I I can't answer. I don't know is an answer because I didn't know. Some of the other board members didn't know. And I don't want to get accused of lecturing nobody. I just want to tell you how it works. It works that we speak collectively at one voice. Everybody should know. I even made the suggestion when I was chairman that one year. There shouldn't be anything that one board member know that another one don't. No way. I have been I have been told things from the previous administration. I'mma tell you this. Don't tell nobody. >> I said hold up. >> If you don't want me to tell nobody, don't tell me. But >> it ain't

096going to happen. Right? So that's the way we need to operate now going forward. I know we we're in a the midst of a a search for a a superintendent and I'm like James, we kind of hooked with each other. 25 people want to come here. That's kind of like okay, >> right? >> 25 people want to come. That's that's a good thing, >> right? >> But we got to start practicing what we preach and our words and our action got to match. When you sit there and say you love these kids and it's been for the kids, it does make a difference. >> If it's a four to three vote versus a 7 to zero vote, right? >> A four to three vote is saying I'm just interested in these four people got to

097say. >> I don't got to do what these three people got to say. That's it. Don't work like that. It don't work like that. In my tenure as chairman that one year, they can tell you every time I made a decision or want to make a statement for the board, I pick up the phone and call them. What do y'all think? Do you think we should do this? We got to communicate. It have to be done collectively and not individually. So, it is what it is. Trying to make it easy and not trying to trying to throw rocks at nobody. It happened. It should never happen again. We should make sure everybody is communicating, everybody talks and understanding, and when we say something, we say it in one voice. >> Right. That's all, Mr. Madam

098Chair. >> Thank you, Mr. Wers. Mr. Ler. >> Uh, yes, ma'am. First off, thank y'all all for coming. Thank you for your voices. We don't always have to agree on everything, but we can always be agreeable and we can treat each other with respect. That's the one thing that I have always thrived on in Dublin City Schools. Not one decision have I ever made that I didn't have every child in this system at my heart. >> Amen. >> Again, like I said earlier, I apologize to Mr. Lisky for my outburst, >> but when people start using color and pointing fingers, I won't stand for that. >> I open my home to a child. I don't care who you are. if you need help. My me and my family have done that since I've been here.

099That's the way I was raised. That's the way my father and mother raised me. And to be honest with you, the only way they're going to destroy this school system is to keep us at odds with each other. If we don't come together and fight for a common cause to keep this school system solvent and to keep this school system moving in the right direction, the people who hold the pen in Atlanta will just have one stroke of the pen and we'll be gone. So thinking think about that when people are talking about division. It's not it's not one person that's doing this. It is a collective group that have been doing it for years. >> And they have tried to dissolve the city school system in every way they possibly can, underhanded or not.

100>> And I'm telling you, it goes on in this community right now. and and and and unless we come together as one voice, it's gonna keep coming. It's gonna keep happening in this community and eventually they're gonna win. >> That's all I got to say, Madam Chair. Thank you'all. >> Thank you, Mr. First and foremost, I want to thank each and every one of y'all for coming out again once again, showing who I who got me hands up fighting. Um, I can piggy back off of a lot of the comments that I my previous board members have said and state and made the statements or can major statements on far as um a lot of you all have gotten up and spoken about being transparent. It's easy to use that word, but it's hard for

101me to trust anybody when you're with the word that is coming out of your mouth. I myself, my word is all that I can stand on. and then I have to show my actions behind it. Um, we're talking about saving our kids and saving our schools. We got to save our teachers first. >> Yes. We got to save our teachers first because if we don't have the teachers there to teach our kids, our kids are going to be gone and lost. So, as a as a person that lives in the community, the majority of the kids that we're talking about um even with more street kids relocating them, I am part of that product. I am and I live in I have to walk through those neighborhood and every time when I walk through the

102neighborhood where these kids that we're talking about are not being taught, don't have teachers at school, their parents talk to me and I have to have an answer for them. Just like Ken said, I can't say I don't know. Only thing I can tell them, I say, "Well, I understand your concern." And I asked them, "Just come to the meetings and if you have to express how you feel about what is going on and you don't know, send the email, send the text messages. All our numbers are on the website. Just show that you are concerned cuz we can't fight this by ourselves. Yes, they put me here to stand and speak for them, but I also need their support as well. I also need for them to show up to just say, "Hey, yeah,

103Miss Joanne, we right here. We right here. We right here." And I need that. You know, I can do it, but I can't do it alone. Just like the board members, they can't do it alone. You know, I can only speak for myself in my community and where I'm at. We just got to learn how to get along and do what is right because we saying one thing and we doing another. So, when you speak of it's for the kids, let that be your priority. It's for the kids. Your decision is based upon what do you think was best for these kids. And then you also, like I said, we got to have the teachers. Ain't no need having a body of school, a school and no teachers. So, we got to put them, we

104got to put them two first, too, as well. And far as um transparency wise, is everybody receiving all the information? I too have a problem with that that we all don't receive the same information. Sometimes we don't even get the information. And as Miss Peggy stated last week, yes, we did not receive any information. Mr. Peter, I do apologize for the treatment that you received last week. Please forgive us for the treatment that you received because of your knowledge of not understanding and it has not been explained to you directly like it should be. That's where the miscommunication that's what it is. when you miscommunicate something something that needs to be understood if they don't understand it. How do you think they understood what you said? So for um Marcy and Mandy as serving on

105the board, I I mean I know you all are doing what y'all think is best, but when you think you can't think of as an individual, you have to think of as board members. Everything that you discuss, we need to know too as well. and how you handle the situation. We need to know as collectively as a group as as Kenny spoke and as James stated out that um he stands for the kids. He don't mind helping the kids out. You know, we can go on on and on about that, you know, about how we treat children and how we bring kids into our home, but it's like they say, it's difference when you actually do it. Don't just say it, but do it. Let your words and your action line together. I'm with Kenny

106on the on the um recommendation as to Amanda and Miss Chair, Miss Chairman, Amanda and Marcy who something has to be done. Mr. >> Y'all bear with me. >> It was said that nobody apologized about what happened. I apologized several months ago in a board meeting. I'm saying it again. I apologize for what happened. Nobody on this board and including Miss McCrae knew about what was going on. We cannot micromanage the school system. We can only do what's told to us by the superintendent. So what happened with being from the financial department to the superintendent and we had no idea what was going on about the health insurance been paid or anything. Y'all believe me or not, but I'm telling you the truth. And also I knew nothing about what was going to be put

107on the agenda last night. I knew nothing about any of that. But I thoroughly support what we voted for. Once the board votes for something, every board member has to support it after that or you're in trouble with Cogna. We're in trouble trouble with Cogna now. We never had a problem with Cogna in 27 years and all of a sudden we're in trouble with Cogna. So from once something is voted on by the board, the whole board has to support that after. You cannot come in here and say I'm not supporting it because that's that's wrong. And do you know what they the state school board wanted us to do with more street before December? >> Do you know what they wanted us to do with Mor Street before December by December? This past December

108they were want to completely shut down and put in a trailer and a room or something over at the high school. There weren't going to be any more Mor Street. Miss P and Miss Smith worked and worked with the state to get that changed where we would still have more street and there's not a single building over there at IGA that is condemned. I don't know who started that rumor, but nothing's condemned over there. The problem with the gym is not on the Excuse me. I'm talking I'm talking if you're you know the gym over there at IG is not on the state facilities plan. We cannot get any money for anything on that gym. So that's the reason for moving IGA. We're just changing the name. It's still going to be a school basically

109like the same, but it might be some things changed. >> Excuse me. Excuse me. I'm talking. You have no right to talk while I'm talking. Is officer. >> Let's just be professional. Let's be professional. >> You don't talk. >> I'm trying to I'm trying to tell you the truth. If you don't want to hear the truth, you can keep up the rumors and everything else. I'm trying to tell you the truth. IGA is still going to be is going to be moved to Morris Street because it's got more room and we want to put Mor Street. It'll still be More Street School, but it's going to be in a different building. There's no reason to change the name. It's still going to be there and it's still going to be taught by our great staff

110at Morris Street, which every school in this system had been cut. Every single school in this system has been cut. teachers. IGA was cut. More street. Unfortunately, Mor Street was cut. I hated that. The middle school, if there's some classroom at the middle school that doesn't have a teacher in there, then I'm very disappointed in that because I did not know that there's not a teacher in a classroom. If there'll be a teacher in every single classroom, every student in the system needs to be taught. If you don't believe what I'm saying, I want everything made public. I want the I want Miss Pool to put everything out to y'all and tell y'all what's going on. We have been through, you know what, since August. Since August, she has worked herself to death since August.

111It has been unreal. They tell you one thing on one day during the week and a few days later they tell you something else. They tell you had to cut all these teachers and then three days later they said, "No, you got to cut more teachers. We had to do what the state said. We had to do what the state said. I'm sorry. I'm a little loud, but I'm really upset that y'all to not believe what we're saying, and you don't want to believe what is what I'm saying evidently because I'm telling you the truth. I have been here all these years. And I would I'd love every one of y'all and I know what's going on in this system. And I have fought and fought and fought for this system to stay here. We're

112losing some teachers right now that I do not want to lose because their pay has been cut so much because we had to go with the state pay. We had to go with the state pay and and and everybody keeps talking about how much these coaches make. Well, they ain't going to be making all this money that and some of them weren't even making all that money. I thank y'all for being here, but I I'll be glad answering questions later, but I love y'all and I want to apologize to you for getting a little loud, but you know, I sit here and get criticized for something I don't need to be crit criticized for. Thank y'all. >> Thank you, Mr. Mr. D. Nothing. >> Miss Johnson, >> I just want to say good evening to

113each of you and it's always a pleasure uh to see you all come and participate in the process and first I want to thank uh Dr. Overru for the wonderful presentation that you have given that you gave tonight. Uh, one of the things that I have enjoyed were the spotlights. Even though we're going through a tough time, the principles that have been before us, they got up here and spoke with pride about their schools and they spoke with pride about their students. So, that lets me know the kind of work that is going on in the classroom in each school. even though we are going through a tough unprecedented time. And so I'm impressed that our students are able to stay focused, our teachers seem to be able to stay focused or else we will

114not see the accomplishments that we see uh it may be hard for them. So when I see all of this going on and even some of the elementary schools in the uh cogn report, you didn't have supplies, you didn't have this, you didn't have that. But what in the spotlights, the ray of sunshine in that report was how well how uh the the teachers were doing, how committed they seem to be, how you were going beyond the uh your expectations. and you should be applauded for that in these tough times. So that being said, it it it I have to as a board member look at us superintendent and board members. If the people that we hire in our district can provide the level of education that they do under the circumstances that they are

115in, we need to have a heartto-heart come to Jesus meeting and get this together because it's no longer acceptable. We must have transparency from the superintendent to the board. We must have transparency from our board chair and to the board because there is no no one board member has more authority than the other >> and even with a board chair they have the authority that the board gives the chair. Now that's the way that work but we have to come up to the level of our students. These are students and we're adults. I'll be honest with you, I've been ready to move forward, but sometimes some of the decisions, the poor decisions, I might as well just say, that were made, it set us back, >> caused us to get a letter from the state

116superintendent. And then even when we had uh the cognitive uh review, some of the things that happened, I didn't like that because I had to stick with that report to find out that we our accreditation status have been changed. And that bothers me. It bothers me because I know we have we have been accredited all these years and we are one step in I mean before we lose our accreditation if we do want to address those directives as they have stated and now because of that we have to have a hearing law requires that so that's how serious this is It's not a light matter. >> And I would like to see us talk about it in that way and and and handle whatever we need to handle in that same manner because we have

117all these wonderful students in our school system that we have been charged to provide an education with. And I'm tired of all of the nonsense. We are adults. We've been elected, appointed, however we got here, but we need to come together and make sure that what happened last meeting would never happen again. >> Now, I was really disappointed. I've been in a lot of meetings and we've had a lot of issues, but we were always able to come together and respect each other. But last last Tuesday night, I was really disappointed and I've been thinking about that thing. Not one board member saw that it was wrong, that we did not have the information. Not one board member voiced a concern that we didn't have the information. And I have been on this board with

118two board members and I it really bothered me that they didn't speak up because we've had our issues but at the end of the day we respected each other and always got along and that really bothered me because I thought that as a board member I would be regarded better than that. Now, you don't understand it until you sitting in the seat and you working with people and and and you hashing it out and you coming to blow sometime, but in the at the end of the day, we could walk out a unified a unified board. And that's what we always strive to do. But then when we find ourselves in this particular situation, you know, when the money is short, we can't just divvy it up the way we want to. We have to

119try to spread it across the district and be as fair as possible because all of our students need resources >> and we definitely need to make sure that we have resources in our elementary schools so they can have science. That's a critical subject. Science. I mean, we as a board and superintendent, we have no more excuses. We either gonna do it >> or either if we can't do it, I'll be the first one to say they ought to remove us >> because we have a job to do. And yes, they want to know what the all the recommendations. They don't want to just know what what what has been thrown out. They want to know all the different options that the state presented so that they can have confidence in the choices that have been

120made. >> Amen. >> And not ENOUGH and they have a right to know that. So we as a board and and and our superintendent, we either going to have to get it together >> or either if they decide to do whatever they going to do, I'm not going to have anything to say >> because if it happens, it's our fault. Now, we say we love these children. Let's prove it. >> Let's prove that we love these children by doing what we supposed to. Let's prove it by being courteous to our citizens, not coming in here having a attitude and and ready to attack when really they just want to know. And the more we don't share, the angrier they get >> and then it's our fault. We can be more transparent than we are. >>

121Thank you. >> What is it going to cost us? Right. >> Just think every recommendation that the state put before us. If you had a committee in the community that that you could say this is what's been presented before us, >> they could help you by warding off some of that negative energy, negative comments, cuz they can testify to what was presented before you and they can share that in the community. We're not using the resources that are available to us, our people. >> Yes, ma'am. >> We need to start doing that. Utilize the uh local government's teams. Utilize every resource that we have. >> We can do better, y'all. >> We're going to have to do better or some kind of way. We going to have to change leadership. >> Now, it's one or

122the other. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS JOHNSON. UM, apparently we're going to have some hard conversations coming up um about doing better. Um, I I don't think anybody can question my love for the children because at this point in time, it would be really easy for me to throw in the towel. It would have been really easy for me to throw in the towel when the state told me all the concerns um when they told all of us all the concerns in different ways. Um I'm talking about board when Dr. Johnson spoke with us. Um my concern is what would come next? So, with the accreditation piece, with the cognia review, we are going to work an action plan. We're going to go through it. There's a lot we have to speak to. Um,

123and and we knew it was going to be bad. We knew because the state had been in here already showing us some things. Um, we didn't want it to be smoke and mirrors. We wanted it to be all out in the public because you can't correct it if it's not in the public, if it's all shown. Um so we will be working through those. Um we'll be continuing to look for a superintendent and and trust that process that GSBA will come through and then a committee will be formed to make the recommendation after interviews. Um so that's where we are moving forward and anything else we will talk about state recommendations um and other ways that we can communicate in the community. So I appreciate all y'all coming. Dr. Aver Street, thank you so much.

124I do adore those children. Um, at this time, may I get a motion to go into executive session for personnel, real estate, and litigation? >> Some move. >> All right. So, any discussion? All in favor? I. >> All eyes have it at 8:07 p.m.