001call to order the July meeting, regular meeting of the board of education, uh, Hston County Board of Education. Uh, we're glad to see you here. Uh, see some some guests as well as our staff. It's good to have you all with us. I am not Helen Hughes. I will not do as good a job as she does, but she's in Bonnie, Scotland, and so I wish her the best of time, and we'll get through this and welcome her back next month. I would like to remind you to silence your cell phones and other devices that might make noises during the meeting. And uh we'll begin with a moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance by Miss Johnson. Moment of silence. Thank you to the flag of the United States of America and to
002the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay, we need a motion to adopt the agenda. Mr. Ivy, Dr. Make a motion that we adopt, excuse me, that we adopt the agenda. Second. We have a motion and a second to adopt the agenda. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor raise your hand. 6. Okay. Um, next the minutes. Mr. Crockett. Dr. Unrew. I move we approve the minutes from our previous meeting. Second. We have a motion a second to approve the M minutes. Are there corrections or other discussion? Seeing none, all in favor, please raise your hand. Motion carries. 6. All right, we do have time for board members comments, no matter what I said last night. So, if there's anyone that would like to speak, I'll
003give you that opportunity. Okay, we'll move on to the superintendent report. It is great to be here with you today. We're glad to have some students in the house with us today. Here, want to welcome you guys here. You know, as we begin our second month of summer break, I hope you all are making time to rest and relax. We continue to work on plans for the school year and are excited about what we will accomplish because together we can. And that's our theme this year. You will hear more about our theme this year in the coming weeks and I know it will be great collaboration for all of us highlighting our students and each other. Summer feeding. We will continue with summer feeding through July 18th. I've been able to watch this in action
004and it's a great site to see. Our food and nutrition staff have done a wonderful job again this year. And the smiling faces of the students and families receiving the services. It reminds us of why we're here. And I'll tell you, it was really fun. I was able to be her assistant that day. And she told me what to do. And man, their skill and the talent and the kids coming up. It will get your heart. If you ever need a special moment, join a van and ride around. It was such a special day. Guys, we're excited about our new mobile app. I hope you've already downloaded this. This summer has been busy with launching our Hston County School District mobile app. And of course, y'all has a big H, which I love. The app
005is designed to streamline communication between schools and families by replacing the need for multiple apps like Class Dojo and Remind. Our goal is to provide families with a more efficient and effective way to stay informed about what's happening at school. We've had very positive feedback so far and almost 6,000 people have downloaded this app. So, if you're sitting in this room right now and you haven't, please join us today. We look forward to improving how we stay connected with our parents and family. And if we haven't if you haven't download, we encourage you to. This has been a big team effort and I just want to thank all the departments that have worked together um for this because guys I've already posted a couple times on it and it's just great to be able to,
006you know, take a picture, be in a school, take a picture, post it and it goes out and each school you can subscribe to our district app andor a school. So if you have a child at a specific school, you can subscribe to that one as well. So we're excited about the app. We have new teacher orientation coming up July 21st and 22nd. We'll welcome approximately 250 new teachers to our district for this and we look forward to welcoming our teachers to the Hston County opening session. We have been planning for this. It will be held on Wednesday, July 23rd at 9:00 at Southside Baptist Church. It's always a great day to reconnect with each other and kick off another fantastic school year. You know, when I attend it, it makes me think it's like
007a a family reunion. you all go in and it's just really neat to see everybody in one place together and it reminds you just how large our district is and how special it is to see everyone in the same place. Meet and greet events will be held for students and their families later this month. The dates and times have been posted on our website, social media, and the new mobile app. This is a great opportunity to get students and parents excited for the year which begins on July 30th. All right, guys. I'm pleased to announce the creation of the superintendent's teacher advisory council. The purpose of this council is to strengthen the connection between our incredible classroom educators and district leadership. Uh Jay Thomas, our 2425 teacher of the year and state runner up. She
008was a top 10 and state runner up will lead the initiative for this school year. The council will consist of other teachers uh across our school from so we'll have 40 teachers on this council. They will meet four times a year discussing relevant topics and challenges that our teachers may be facing. I'm so excited about this initiative and how it can help shape our framework and nurture relationships for the benefit of our students and the entire district. Guys, we want to hear the teachers voices and this is going to be a good way for us to do it this year. Thank you. I just must tell you, thank you. My first month as superintendent has been busy but also very fulfilling. I and several of our executive cabinet members, my wonderful team here on the
009front row, were able to visit schools that hosted summer learning, extended school year enhancement. It's been so rewarding for me to see our teachers and students as they continue to develop and learn. Maintaining these relationships bring about success and achievements within our districts. Our team has made a goal. We're going to be in the schools and building relationships with our students and our teachers. Birthdays. Finally, I'd like to recognize and say happy birthday to our Claudia McDaniel coming up here on July 21st. She does so well taking care of everyone around this table right here. So, we thank you, Claudia, for all you do. And our chair, who this is not Miss Helen Hughes, but her birthday will be celebrated on July 22nd. Thank you. And at this time, I turn it over to you,
010vice chair. Okay, next is our department reports. Is there are there any comments or discussion? We don't have that. We will move on to new business. First item of business a Mr. Nichols. Thank you Dr. Unrew. Uh little wordy y'all just bear with me. I make a motion that we accept the superintendent's recommendation of the referendum authorizing the continuence of the 1% sales tax for education effective April 1st, 2027 and allow the district to issue $30 million in general obligation debt to expediate the capital outlay project. Financial impact for the 1% is going to be $275 million. Nope. That's a lot of money. It is. So, so, so buy your Coca-Cas and buy all your stuff so that it'll help us grow. All right, we have a motion. Second. Thank you. A motion in a
011second. Is there any discussion? That's a lot of money. For the record, I thought he said no. That's why Okay, you know, I'm I'm gonna carry just a little bit further if you don't mind, guys. I'm tell you I I brag about this and I say this but I've been here 57 of my 60 years a little jot in between in the 80s but born in ' 64 and Warner Robbins and been here all my life and I am so thankful that we have a not me but we have a school board and and a forwardthinking board of education uh purchasing department financial department uh educators that have come up to the board and and put their minds together as which way this school district should move. Okay? And and I'm I'm thankful to be
012a smidgen of that. I'm thankful to be a little small part that says, "Hey, how are we spending our money? Are we doing it right? And if so, let's make sure that we do it right in the future." And that's what we're doing with this 1% sales tax. Y'all see the schools. Y'all see the buildings. Y'all see the the the gyms. Y'all see the football stadiums. Y'all see all the the swim the swim uh uhh building. Y'all see everything that we've grown as over the last few years. And and it's because we approved a 1% sales tax back in the 90s and it has continued. And I'm I'm I'm just saying thank you. Thank you. Thank you for all of that. We are we are very uh privileged to have a community that supports us
013like this. Yes, we are. So we have a mo motion uh before us. All in favor raise your hand. Have six four zero against. Uh motion carries. Next our financial reports. Uh Mr. Crockett. M sir. Mr. Chair, move we approve the May 2025 financial reports as presented. Second motion second. Any discussion? Hearing? None. It's time to vote. All in favor, raise your hand. Six. In favor, zero against. All right. Next, Mr. Ivory, item C. Uh, yes. Uh, Mr. Vice Chair, I make a motion that we approve the, uh, purchasing report as presented. Second. We have a motion, a second. Is there discussion? bringing music back to the elementary schools. Thank you. Very pleased. As a as a former music teacher, nothing pleases me more. That's right. All right. All in favor, raise your hand, please.
014All opposed. Motion carries 6. Miss Johnson, sorry. I'd like to make a motion to approve the recommendation for the purchase of 13 2026 model Bluebird buses. This will be a financial impact of 2 million $7,600. Second. Okay, we have a motion to second uh for bus purchases. Um any discussion? Okay. All in favor raise your hand. opposed. Okay. Motion carries 6. Uh item E, Mr. Crockett, Mr. Vice Chair, I move that we approve declaring the 26 buses listed as surplus. The buses will be sold through gov.deals.com. Second. Okay, we have a motion in a second. Uh any discussion? All in favor, raise your hand. Motion carries 6. And Miss Johnson, personnel. Yes, sir. I'd like to make a motion to approve the personnel reports as presented. Second. Have a motion and a second to approve
015the personnel reports. Discussion. Hearing none. All in favor, raise your hand, please. Okay. And um item G, Mr. Nichols. Thank you, Dr. I make a motion that we accept the 2025 policy revisions. Um the first five uh are about um purchasing and getting our standard up to the state and federal level. Um, we were below that for a long time and we're just making sure that that's back in place. Um, uh, DG I mean, excuse me, DJ, purchasing quality control, DJed, purchasing bids and quotations. DJ Eg, uh, purchasing uh, purchase orders and contracts, and DG DJI, purchasing vendor relations. Um those three are about just getting us where we need to be um where we have not been. So that was a revision. Um the next two and I'm going to kind of go through
016those. Y'all bear with me. um BC BD um is about our board policy of of how um let me make sure I'm straight about how people how citizens um how our constituents are to come and and address the board. Um it it is bringing us up to date. There are a few things that are are changed. Um but uh it's just getting us intact to where um we will be set up for the future of how citizens can come and address the board. Um without reading all of it, but it's really I think it's just setting precedents in how to address the board in kindness and Robert's rules. Um the last one, this is a biggie. I asked for this one, so I'm going to bring it to you. JCD AF. Okay. This is about
017the use of electronic devices by students. Um, pursuant to House Bill 340 passed by the legislature in 2025, the Hston County School District believes that all students will achieve better academically in a learning environment free from distraction due to the use of personal electronic devices. The House Tanakut School District intends to promote a distractionfree learning environment, which means a learning environment where access to personal electronic devices is restricted to minimize distractions, improve academic outcomes, and increase meaningful in uh interactions and focused learning experience. Um, this policy outlines the access and use of personal electronic devices for students in pre kindergarten through 8th grade while on school premises during school hours. As I asked the question from bell to bail. Okay. Students in grades PK through eight are not permitted to access personal electronic devices while
018on school premises during school hours, including but not limited to cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, e-readers, headphones, earbuds, and other devices with functionalities such as wireless communication, internet access, messaging, video recording, gaming, social media access, and data transmission during school hours. Any student found in violation of this policy and/or procedures during the school day shall be subject to progressive discipline consequences as outlined in the student code of conduct. It's a new policy the state said is needs to be put in place. We're just adhering to what the state has asked us to do. I make the motion that we accept these revisions um in our policy as written. Sir, we have a motion and a second uh to approve the policy revisions for July 2025 and they've been well explained to us. Thank you. Uh any
019further discussion hearing? None. Vote. All in favor raise your hand. Motion carries 6. All right. Uh next, um Mr. Ivory. Uh yes, excuse me. Uh yes. Uh I'd like to make a motion that we approve the procedures the revision for uh procedures for addressing the board. Excuse me, y'all. Start over. I'd like to make a motion that we approve the revisions for procedures for addressing the board. All right. We have a motion in a second. Is there discussion? Right. Hearing none. All in favor raise your hand. Motion carries 6. All right. Mr. Jackson, item I. Yes. Uh, Mr. Vice Chair, I would like to make a motion um to approve the Georgia Department of Education certificates of completion for uh capital outlay projects at Huntington Middle, Thompson Middle, and War High School HVAC and Westside
020renovations. Second. Okay, we have a a motion and a second for certificates of completion for our capital outlay projects. Do we have any discussion comments? Okay, hearing none. All in favor, raise your hand. Motion carries 6. Item J. Uh, Mr. Crockett. Yes, Mr. Vice Chair, I move we approve the intergovernmental agreement with the House of County Board of Commissioners for deceleration lane with that's approximately 500 ft in length at King's Chapel Elementary School. Second. We have a motion in a second. uh to um approve the IG with house and county. No, that's that's no that's it. Um commissioners regarding deceleration lane at at King's Chapel. Any discussion? I'm certain that community that King Chapel community as well as motorists in that community will be thanking us for this. Uh all in favor? Okay. Motion carries
0216. All right. Item K, Miss Johnson. Yes, sir. Um, in regards to King's Chapel, the elementary King's Chapel Elementary um improvements that we're making to the parking lots, I'd like to request um I'd like to make a motion to approve the revision to the agreement with JWS LLC. Um, and the financial impact is is $19,760. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second uh to approve the revision to the agreement with JWS. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor, raise your hand. Motion carries. 6. All right. And um item L, Miss Nichols. Thank you, Dr. Unroot. I make a motion um to apply for the GSBA's exemplary board uh recognition as requested by the superintendent. Second. We have a motion and a second to approve the GSBA exp exemplary board application. Discussion. I just
022I want to say sometimes that this can be taken a different way and I don't want it to be that way which is us being proud and and and poking our chest out and say look at us. This is not a a pat on our back. It's it's that this school district does it right and we are just um pieces of doing it right and we're we're thankful for the opportunity to do that. In retrospect, it it helps us to be able to say, "Hey, board, hey, uh, state GSBA." Um, we are one of those that you want us to be. And, uh, their program of recognition is it just moves all the school districts towards towards excellence and we want to participate in that. Any further comments? Hearing none. All in favor of this
023motion, raise your hand, please. Motion carries 6. All right. The next item is persons who wish to address the board. We do not have any on agenda, I don't believe. And uh we do have one item for student uh for executive session, a student matter. And so I need a motion to go into executive session. Motion second. We have a motion, a second to go into executive session. All in favor, raise your hand. Motion carries. And we will take a short break so that we can move that direction.