001Just last Good afternoon and welcome as we call to order the regular monthly board meeting of the House and County Board of Education on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 1 p.m. We'll begin our meeting with a moment of silence to kind of get our mind collected and catch our breath and focus on today's activities. So, a moment of silence, please. Thank you. Okay. Today we will begin our meeting with a special presentation of the national anthem led by our middle school and high school students from throughout our school district. These students were selected as members of the 2025 all state chorus and we are honored to have them today. Would you please stand for the national anthem? And we ask that you please remain standing as they lead us in the pledge. Oh, say can
002you [Music] see we [Music] lasting stripes and bright stars through the [Music] streaming on the [Music] rocking [Music] pro. Oh. Take [Music] us [Music] way for the land of the [Music] free and the home of the praise. [Music] To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [Applause] Thank you so much for Am I? Are we good? Okay, there I am. Okay. Um, before this group of talented students leave, I would like to congratulate each of you on the honor of being selected to all state chorus. There are 104 students from Hston County that were selected. We have students from Hston County. High, Perry High, Veterans High, and Warner Robbins High. Bonire Middle, Fagan Mill, Mossy Creek
003Middle, and Perry Middle. I also would like to thank your coral directors for their extraordinary leadership. Your performance today was outstanding. It actually gave me chills, kind of goosebumps. So, thank you so much, and please continue to use your God-given talents in the future. Can we give these students one more round of applause? I think you can do your exit thing now. So We're good. So, if you were present today, you got a special treat. So, that was outstanding. So, I know you enjoyed it. Um, at this time, we will hear from four of our school principles who have brought special guests that they would like to introduce. So, first of all, we have Matt Arthur Primary School and their principal, Miss Alicia Connor. Miss Connor, thank you so much for having us. We're so
004excited because this is our first board meeting as a new school. So, we're very, very excited. My special guests are Jamari Heron and Amaya Bernie and my um teacher of the year, Miss Jar Kathy Jarzinka. I'm going to talk about Jamari first. Jamari is just a joy. He comes to school happy every day. I think on the way down here I heard Miss Connor, Miss Connor, Miss Connor a thousand times. Mom said I should have turned up the radio. But I I really enjoy him. He comes in every day with a huge smile. He brings so much joy to our school. And when he comes up to you, he also has a story to tell. So he tells me something just about every day. And if he doesn't see me every day, he'll see me
005next time and tell me he had something to tell me. So when he grows up, he wants to be a doctor because he wants to help people and make them feel better. He wants to help the needy as well. His favorite subject in school is math. He loves to solve problems and he likes challenging things. So we are honored to have Jamari at our school. He was also named the first for our school, the Perry Area Chamber of Commerce student of the quarter for our school. So we're excited about that as well. So thank you for being a Mad Arthur Primary Dragon, Jamari. Next we have Amaya Bernie. Amaya Bernie grew up her first few years in Korea. So she came to Matt Arthur Elementary last year at the end of the school year in
006first grade and then she transitioned over to Matt Arthur Primary and she has just been a joy at our school. So she actually learned how to write and speak in Korean and learns learned the alphabet there. And I said it's Hungul. I hope I'm pronouncing that correctly. She said, "I'm not sure." So, but she has done such a great job at our school. She loves chorus. She loves gymnastics and jazz and all the dancing. So, she has just got a very, very caring attitude. She has two sisters, twin sisters, and they live in Australia. So, she wanted me to share a little bit about them. She loves singing, and she's also been a dynamic dragon. And so, we are so blessed to have Amaya at our school. Thank you. All right, next we have Miss
007Kathy Jarzinka. I met her last year at Matt Arthur Elementary and she was a second grade teacher, but when we transitioned over to Matt Arthur Primary, I stole her from second grade and made her a math EIP teacher and that is really her jam. She has done such a great job in that role. She builds relationships with everyone she meets. She is just really have she really has a caring heart. Um she has um middle school certification for math. So, see why I stole her from my math EIP um in science. And she has an early childhood degree or elementary degree. She has her reading endorsement, her STEM endorsement, and coaching endorsement. And she's going back to Mercer for her sixth year or her specialist. So, she's got a lot going on. She's married. She
008has two sons that she's very, very proud of. She is a member of Southside Baptist and she served on their operations team. She is in was in the Celebrate Recovery. She serves in that area and she has her testimony online if you'd like to look that up with Celebrate Recovery. Some fun facts about her. She started in school nutrition then became a parah and now she's a teacher at Mad Arthur Primary School. Kathy Jarza. [Applause] Thank you, Miss Connor. Next, we have Pearl Stevens Elementary School and their principal, Miss Gloria Smith. Good afternoon to Dr. Scott and the board members, thank you so much for this opportunity in being here and thank you for all that you do for the students, the um teachers and the administrators to help us uh effectively um provide quality
009education for our students. So, thank you. I have um some amazing warriors who are leading the way at Pearl Stevens. Uh I first start with my teacher of the year. She's the 2425 teacher of the year, Miss Jalisa McGriff. Um she teaches fourth grade. Um just an awesome person inside and out. She brings a lot of positive energy to our school. Um she serves on our better seeking team. Um just energetic, a go-getter. Um she's also one of our sponsors for our dance team. Uh builds positive relationships as I said among the faculty. uh very studententoriented and anytime you go into her classroom she is doing something very creative sort of a different twist on how do you get kids engaged into learning. So thank you for all that you do on a daily basis.
010Okay. Quintavius Hope is a fifth grader and we've had the opportunity to have Quintavius um at our school for three years and we have definitely seen lots of growth in academics um emotionally, socially. Um this year he really just sort of blossomed. He was a part of the fifth grade honors course this year. Um what else? Um Warrior Beats. Yeah, the bucket drummers at our school. and he's also a member of the safety patrol where um those members are responsible for doing dismissal, keeping everyone safe and u reminding them of the hallway expectations. So, he does a great job of of keeping them in line and reminding them of those expectations. Um in addition to school activities outside of school, he's a part of a choir. He does a community choir where he leads songs.
011So, he's um not only is he smart, but he's also talented. Okay. Thank you so much for being a mighty warrior. And we have Miss Khloe Glanton. Chloe and Miss um Connor sort of made connections as I we came in because Khloe was also represent she represented u CB Watson when she was second grade. So Pearl Stevens gets an opportunity to share some of that greatness. She's a fourth grade student, gifted student here at Pearl Stevens, and we've enjoyed her. She's also a part of our safety patrol. Um, she makes the announcements. She keeps everyone in line, including me. Sometimes she's Miss Mib, did you hear the bus? Okay. So, she organizes everything. And I do know that one day she will be um an entrepreneur. She's our Girl Scout. um wrap when when cookies
012when it's time to purchase cookies, she keeps us all supplied. So, we appreciate that and thank you for all that you do. [Applause] Thank you, Miss Smith. Now, we have Perry High School and their principal, Dell Martin. Good afternoon. Thank you for having us here today. We want to start off with our saludiatoran here, Sawin Patel. Uh we're very proud of Sin. He is an honor student. Uh he's been at Perry High School all four years and he's ranked second in his class with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Sin has pursued the most rigorous coursework available, nine honors, um nine AP and four dual enrollment classes, never once choosing the easy route. His dream is to become a dentist and he lives each day with that discipline and drive the go that goal requires. But Sin
013is more than just an academic standout. He is a leader, a volunteer and a role model. Whether serving as a math team captain, student council secretary, or helping with Middle Georgia Indian community, Sen brings kindness, responsibility, and a and a quiet confidence to everything he does. He's respected by his peers, loved by his teachers, and supported by a family that has instilled in him a deep appreciation for education and opportunity. We have Sin Patel. Oh, and Sin is planning to attend the University of Georgia to to do dental school. Um, next we have Daniel Chun, our validictorian for Perry High School. Um, Daniel's leadership is amazing. He's he's thoughtful and inclusive shaped by his role in student council beta club national honor society and has a baritone squad leader in the panther regiment where the
014leading a countywide recycling initiative by the way he was one of the uh one of the three starters for the housey county recycle initiative which you may have seen on 13waz not long ago. Um they actually recycle the paper and turn it to uh brick paper bricks brick fire starters basically and they sell them for $5 a block and they've that was a huge fundraiser for FBLA. So he's done an amazing job with that. Um it's a privilege to speak about him and the as the validictorian and he's also a student who's accomplished a lot more with not more than just just his character but Daniel has taken the most challenging academic path earning a credit for 10 advanced placement courses while also exceeding a wide wide range of extracurriculars. He's also a standout member
015for the cross country and track teams at JRTC Raider FBA president and senior vice president. uh balancing all with humility, discipline, and grace. We have Mr. Daniel Chun. And last but not least, I have our teacher of the year, Coach Felton Williams. I was very honored to um grab Coach Williams from was it DY High? Monroe High School uh four years ago. He's had 29 years total teaching. Um he's he was a head co football coach and his teaching skills is in the behavior support classes. Um that is a huge that's his testim testimony. Uh when he interviewed for the job four years ago, I just never forget the story that he told us during the interview. It wasn't about coaching. It wasn't about anything more than the students. Um that was like very much
016a secondary thing. He didn't really want to talk about coaching. He was talking about his relationships with the students and that made a huge uh impact on us and he's done just that here at Perry High School. He has been phenomenal uh with our students with the behavior support program. Uh one of the first things they do in the classroom is sit down talk about they do like a circle and talk about social abilities and social uh skills and how they how to make sure they learn how to deescalate situations on a daily on a regular day. Um, so that's been crucial and it's been funny kind of because uh the funny part I have is that sometimes when we have to get subs in the building and you know sometimes teachers have to sub
017classes for them and one time we had a couple of teachers that had to go in that classroom and help help out and they were like this is the teacher of the year right here because um you know just that impact of that classroom and the things that he does in there is just amazing. So we're very blessed to have coach with us. I call him coach still because he coaches the quarterbacks at Perry High School, but his first love and first passion is the students and what he does for those students is phenomenal. So we have coach Felton Williams. [Applause] And finally, last but not least, we have Tucker Elementary and their principal, Miss Eddie Williams. Hello. Thank you so much for having us. It's always a great day when we are able to
018brag on Tucker Tigers and I have to say that Perry High's saludiatoran was a previous Tucker Tiger. So that's great to see our kids go on and do wonderful things. Today I brought with me our teacher of the year, Miss Holly Owen. She is working on her doctorate. She is all in all the time. She sponsors our beta club, our academic bowl. She also works as a science a Hston County science ambassador and she is truly our go-to for technology. If we need anything with technology, we go straight to her and she is always so helpful with staff, students, parents, everyone she comes in contact with. So, we are so thankful to have Miss Holly Owen as our teacher of the year and I brought her here today. Also, we have Miss Mia Thorne. And
019Mia is definitely a Tucker Tiger because at Tucker, our motto is be kind and dream big. And she is so kind and helpful. She is a great friend to all her classmates. She is a hard worker. She is always ready to take on a challenge and determined to complete it. She also is in our chorus and our early act club and when she grows up she wants to be in the Coast Guard. So that's a big dream. I am so proud of her and I know she will accomplish it just like Mr. Chason Clark who also came with us today. And Chason is kind and but you know he's kind of quiet and if you don't know him, you don't realize until you get to know him just how funny he is. We asked, "What
020would you use to describe yourself?" And he said, "Fun." But he's not just fun. He's sweet. He's kind. He's helpful. He is also a hard worker. He is on our flag team. And both of our students have been student of the quarter for the Perry Chamber. And finally, he wants to own his own business one day. And I know he will do that. So this is just three examples of why it's great to be a Tucker [Applause] Tiger. Thank you, Miss Williams. And thank you to each of our guests. Um, we always look forward to meeting students and staff members throughout the school year, hearing about your accomplishments and hearing about the things that you're learning in school and the activities that you're participating in. So, um, thank you so much for the good example
021that you're setting for others. Um, we appreciate all of you being here today. Now, at this time, I will turn things over to Dr. Scott who will recognize our other visitors. Join me up front. Our Hston County Sharks are a great group of athletes and we're always excited to introduce them at our board meetings. And so today we have here to celebrate our wheelchair state basketball champion Sharks. Uh and also uh they won the state championship in football on this past Saturday and I know that we're not here to recognize that and it's not exactly the same group of students but many of you how many of y'all played on the football? Everybody's same. Okay. Well, that is great. Well, congratulations. And at this time, I'd ask you to come forward. Um this is certainly
022one of the groups that we're most proud of who continues to shine every year. They even have their football trophy with them. Who's going to get the honors to hold a trophy? You gonna hold it down? She's going to take it home with her, I think. Put this down. Excuse me. Let's give them a round of applause. [Applause] All right. One, two, three. Everybody ready? All right, I just want to say um we have been up here quite a bit, but what goes unnoticed a lot of the times is just how hard these athletes work every single day at practice. Um that's what really sets them apart from everybody else competing in the state is the level of which they practice every single day. Um they put a lot of heart into it and a
023lot of hard work. Um, and with our, you know, basketball and football championships this year, that brought our winning streak to 106 varsity wins in a row. So, and those all and those um, you know, we've had several close games. Basketball championship was a very close game. the football championship was a very close game, but they always find a way to dig down deep and uh you know, finish the job they they started. Um, and with that, our basketball championship across three sports since 2007 was our 40th state championship, and our football was our 41st state championship across three sports since 2007. So, and we can't uh thank Dr. Scott enough for everything he's done and all the support he's always given us and we're going to be sad to see you go but excited
024you know that we will always have your backing. So thank you. And along with that our last token to you the ball. [Applause] Well, thank y'all very much. Thank you. Y'all could have taken it easy on the guppies, but I think they beat us a hundred to nothing. Next, we want to recognize students from several schools who won first place at recent FCCLA competition. And as I call your school, please come forward to introduce your students. Bonire Middle School. First off, thank you to the board and all its members for having us here today. Um, these students have worked so hard and I'm so proud of them and as part of FCCLA, part of our mission is to teach them public speaking and leadership skills. So, instead of me introducing them, I'm going to let
025them introduce themselves. Hi, I'm Addie Roach. I place first in personal finance and I'm a distinguished statesman recipient. Hi, I'm Savannah Stone and I place first place in say yes to FCS education. Hi, my name is Penelopey Gold and I placed first in my category professional presentation. Hello, I'm Maggie Kate Ferguson. I received first place in my category nutrition and wellness and I was also second place in the 2025 um online proficiency test for Fax Middle School. Hi, my name is Joy Hatcher and I placed first in entrepreneurship. Hi, I'm TJ King. I place first in sports nutrition. Hi, my name is Eliana Pino and I placed first in chapter review portfolio. Hi, my name is Maggie Thompson and I placed first in teacher train. Hi, my name is Juliana Sanford and I placed first
026in Power of One Display. [Applause] Good job. [Applause] The Technology Student Association encourages personal development, leadership, and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math. Today, we have the opportunity to recognize an award-winning student from Mossy Creek Middle School. So please come forward at this time. Good afternoon. My name is Jody Dean. I'm the principal at Mossy Creek Middle School and I have the pleasure of introducing Selena Carter. Uh she was our TSA state champion um a couple months ago at their at the state competition and um I'm going to introduce Mr. Jake Harvey who is our TSA adviser and he's going to talk a little bit more about her accomplishment. Selena competed in state in the CO2 dragster competition. She's been working towards this since sixth grade and she is our state champ and
027we're hopefully going to go to nationals and win nationals. Right. She's also our TSA president and she's been an officer with us for three years in a row. So, she she will be missed very much so, but I'm excited to see where you go. [Applause] I was looking at my list trying to figure out how I got to the end so fast and it's cuz I skipped over a bunch of uh FCCLA. So, we can hit back space and go to Fagen Mill School. Apologize for that. I knew I had signed a whole more lot more certificates than that. Hi, I'm Lisa Duke. I'm the adviser at Fagan Middle School for FCCLA. And um we brought our state winners and I'll explain about national in a minute. Um we have state winners. This is Olivia
028Grant, Morgan Davis, um Llaya Aleron, and Maline Taylor. Um they did the booth. They won first place in the state for the booth. Um and that's like months in the works. We had to put that together. They put it together. Um and it was a lot of work they put into it. It's about our national programs. Um and also we have our membership recruitment winners which includes part of the booth team which is Olivia Grant and Matt um Morgan Davis sorry and um because they all work together really and they all helped each other with both of them anyway. Um but anyway also for um our national recognition last year we won student body and the national program through all the middle schools in the nation. Um this year we won financial fitness award for
029um all of the middle schools in the nation for FCCLA and that basically the financial fitness is budgeting which is a lot of what we should all be learning about in starting in middle school if not before. Um they worked in the concession stand and help um coach McDuffy plan everything you know help customers learn how to deal with customers and handle the money. So um we did a lot of life things. So we appreciate all the support that the board gives us. administrators um Mr. Seawward and um all the different people that support SCSLA because it is such an important thing um for these kids and the skills that they learn kind of like Michaela mentioned this public speaking and different things like that. But um we appreciate y'all supporting us and recognizing um
030these winners. Thank you. [Applause] Next we have Perry Middle School. All right. Good afternoon everyone. I'm Holly Anderson, FCCLA adviser at Perry Middle. I'd like to thank Dr. Scott and the board for having us here today and recognizing these wonderful students. Um I have three sixth graders here who um it's hard to believe that they're actually sixth graders for what they've accomplished this year. But these young ladies um took on star event competitions this year um and state event competitions and placed first in their categories. So um first over here I have Charlotte Oglesby who competed in event management. uh Jackie Hartwell who completed in chapter service project display and then I have Ally Parker who competed in creed speaking and interpretation and I want to mention also that Ally had a near perfect score
031with a 99.7 with her um competition with her speech. So she did amazing. I'm super proud of them and I want to thank Dr. Burch for always supporting us as well. So thank you [Applause] She's Warner Robbins Middle Cool. Good afternoon. I'm Steven Rusk. I'm the principal of Warner Robbins Middle School and it's my pleasure to introduce Isabella Satello. And Miss Hayes is going to tell more about her and their accomplishments. But I did want to tell you that Miss Hayes is the This is a mouthful, okay? So, she is the Georgia Association of Teachers for Family and Consumer Science Georgia Teacher of the Year. So, give her a Thank you so much. I'm the adviser, Miss Amanda Hayes. Um this is Isabella Satello and she competed in food science investigation where she had to
032investigate um how she did freeze-dried Skittles thanks to U Mr. Seer for getting us a freeze dryer last year and she's investigated the science behind how that works um and did a video on that and placed first at the state level. She's also attending nationals and competing in instructional video design um with that. And then our chapter also won for the second year in a row middle school chapter of the year for FCCLA. Um as well as getting a national program at the national level for stand up um which is a advocacy program in your community where we did food preservation classes. Miss Lorie Johnson attended some of our classes um on food preservations to the community to teach them how to be more self- sustainable. [Applause] Next we have North Side High School. Good
033afternoon. Thanks for having the Eagles out this afternoon. My name is Dusty Dyes. I'm the principal at North Side. Um, real proud of this group. They've been working real hard, so it's great to see their hard work pay off. When we were invited down, Miss Pard came and said, "There's a problem." And I said, "What's the problem?" And she said, "We don't wear red in Eagle Country." So, we've had to make an exception to the rule today. Uh, but they still look great or a huge part of why it's great to be a North Side Eagle. Miss Pard's going to tell you about these young ladies. Hey y'all. I am Faith Pard. This is my third year at North Side and my fourth year as an adviser. And I must say this is our best
034year yet. Um, all of our students have done amazing. Um, these are our first place winners. But before I jump into that, I want to introduce Miss Sasha Smith. She jumped in in January after Miss Hoover retired and she ran with me the entire year. Um, none of this would have been um possible without her here. A thank you. Good afternoon. I am Sasha Smith. Um, it's been a pleasure to be a North Side Eagle since January. Um, they have a warm heart, family-like atmosphere. Um, and it's been so such a blessing to see them develop into leaders in such what seemed like a short amount of time. Um, but they definitely jumped in with the project and we're going to nationals in Orlando. So, I can't wait for the summer. So, now we will
035introduce um, you want to start with the freshman team? Yes. So, our freshman team here at the end we have Study Patel, Alyssa Lee, and Kendall Horn who competed in focus on children level two where they placed first place with a score of 99. Um, and their focus was on money management. Their goal was to teach high schoolers how to save more, spend less. And to my right, we have the senior team. So, we have Taniah Baker and here we have Bana Verara. And they actually had the chapter and review display that kind of highlighted everything that North Side had accomplished from fundraisers. Um, particularly one in particular was the pulling for Payton. And so, there was actually a faculty member and they were supporting the sun. So from t-shirts being sold to fundraisers being
036held, anything they could do to support the family. And that actually is what got us the um national runnerup award for community service, which we will represent for North Side in Orlando this summer for nationals. And our last award that we got, granted we got a lot, um was our state um financial, not sorry, not financial, our state uh fitness award where we hosted dance classes to promote physical health as well as mental health. Um but I must say it's always great to be a North Side Eagle and there's no side like the north side. is our new region officer for the upcoming year. [Applause] All right. Perry High School. Good afternoon again. I'm very proud of Miss Quick and Mrs. Bulmeray for all they've done at I've been here at Perry High for nine
037years now and every year they've come representing Perry High School in FCCLA in some form of fashion whether it was u gold or silver or bronze medal but mostly gold. Uh they've done this nine years straight for that and and I know it's been longer than that but and they've always gone to nationals. So we're very proud of them and let them introduce our students. I'm Crystal Quick. I'm the one of the FCCLA adviserss but I don't do all the talking. We let Miss Bow Marchet do that. I'm going to retire in two years, so she's gonna have to learn to do this. Hi, I'm Kayla Bulmer and I'm the adviser at Perry High. Um, we would just like to uh introduce our first place winners. Uh, this is Bella New and Eleanor Sangenberger. rates
038right up there with Bow Marsh, but they're more affectionately known as Bellanor. And they competed in food innovations and received first place with their project, three peas in a pod. They developed a healthy drink with pomegranate, pear, and pineapple in it. And what were the health benefits? Oh no. Oh gosh. Why does nobody want to talk? But they uh their case they had to do a healthy drink based on a case study and they uh won first place in at state and they're on to nationals this summer. This is my level two parliamentary procedure team. Um the most the the best thing about these kids is they they're all freshman. knew absolutely nothing about parliamentary procedures when I told them in October, "Hey, let me come teach you some stuff." Knew nothing. And they beat
039every single team at state. The highest score, everybody. It was awesome. So proud of them. Um, those that don't know what parliamentary procedures is, you have to hold a business meeting uh using Robert's rules of order. And the board, I say this every year, can attest to how uh difficult that can be at sometimes. No, following the correct procedures and the rules. Uh they have to take a test. They nailed the test. It's awesome. They took the national test on Monday. They nailed that. Uh they will compete be competing against all the other parley teams in level two uh this summer in Orlando. and I have no doubt that they will be on the podium representing Hston County proudly. I also want to say that we have nine more competitors that we will also be
040taking with us to nationals. So there is quite the group of from Perryhive representing Hston County in Orlando. Thank you. [Applause] This is my job. And finally, Veterans High School. Good afternoon everyone. I'm Jill Massie. I teach nutrition and food science at Veterans High School. Um, and I'm al I'm one of the FCCLA adviserss and I'd like to introduce to you Miss Julie Vena. She's the early childhood education teacher and director of the Little Warhawks preschool and she's also one of the FCCLA adviserss. Um before we get started, I would like to um also um we have with us Dr. Amy Barber. She is the principal at Veterans High and Dana Morris who is our CTA supervisor. And without these two ladies, none of this would be possible. So we really appreciate them and really
041appreciate those the support that they give us because like I said, we couldn't do it without them. Okay, so let's get started. Um I'll start down at this end. Um this is Gabby Horton and she is a 10th grader, a rising junior for next year. Um she um competed in career investigation and received first in the state which all of these girls are first in the state in their um event. Um we have Madison. Oh, let me tell you a little bit about Gabby. I'm sorry. Um so she's planning to be a pediatric nurse practitioner and that's what she researched and did her her project on. Um and then we have Madison Washington. And Madison um did Chapter Service project um portfolio. And Chapter Service is doing a community service project. And so what she
042chose to do this year is collect cozy items like mittens and um um blankets and socks um fuzzy socks um for the memory care patients at Summer's Landing. And then she went and took the chapter and they visited um the memory care and it was just a blessing for to see you know the young people interacting with those patients and they absolutely adored it. So it was very a very special time. Um then we have um Vivian Daniel and Kayla Gaines and they did event management. Um so they planned a big event and their event is um a mental health um project event for Veterans High School and these ladies they've put hours and hours of time. They've worked really hard and their hard work definitely paid off. We appreciate you guys letting us be
043here too and I think Miss Vent we would also like to recognize Mrs. Massie for her 32 plus years of service in the state of Georgia as an educator and as an FCCLA adviser. She will be retiring at the end of the school year and we will all be sad to see her go because that means I'm going to have to do all the talking next year. Congratulations. Congratulations. Cognney accreditation is a process that recognizes schools and districts for demonstrating highquality education and continuous improvement. Anyone who has ever been through accreditation process know that it isn't easy. It's extremely thorough process and the preparation for an accreditation review spans several years. I am very pleased to invite Dr. Lasagna Frierson, our assistant superintendent for district and school effectiveness to come forward and speak with us
044about our district's accreditation process and findings. Lasagna. Good afternoon everyone. Good afternoon. Again, I'm Dr. Lasagna Frierson and I have served as the lead facilitator and point of contact for Hston County's accreditation engagement review and we are so excited that housing county has earned systems accredititation from Cogna for six years. Cogna is a global nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping education providers grow our students, our teachers, and our leaders. So yesterday we had our board of education retreat. We unpacked our report with our board members, superintendent and executive cabinet. So today we would like to share some highlights of that report with you, our amazing stakeholders. So, if you would at this time turn to the screen. Hston County is proud to have earned systems accreditation using Cogna's continuous improvement process that revolves around
04530 performance standards aligned to four key characteristics. Culture of learning, leadership for learning, engagement of learning, and growth in learning. As part of our accredititation engagement review, Cognia evaluated our submissions using a four-point rating scale. This included assessments of our data analysis, written narratives with supporting evidence of initiatives and actions, and overall performance, all measured against Cogna's 30 performance standards. From the different ratings Cogna assigns to an institution's engagement review documentation, they provide institutions with an index of education quality score to represent a holistic measure of performance. To meet expectations for accreditation, an institution must have a score above 300. The Hston County School District is so proud to have earned an IEQ score of 338 compared to Cogna's network average of 296. As part of Cogna's continuous improvement process, all institutions are assigned at
046least one area of improvement. Not all institutions are recognized for noteworthy practices and very few have two or more. Housing County, however, was recognized for two noteworthy practices that reflect significant areas of strength. First, we were recognized for committing to operating as a district-wide professional learning community with a focus on high levels of learning for all. And secondly, for promoting leadership development for teachers through our Hston County teacher leadership academy, aspiring assistant principles through our housing county leadership development program, and aspiring principles through the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders, Aspiring Principles Academy. Our area of improvement is leveraging technology used to enhance learning. We want to improve student engagement by using technology as a facilitator for critical thinking, collaborating, problem solving, and creating. Our May 2025 special edition community report of our strategic plan is
047dedicated to Dr. Mark Scott, our outgoing superintendent. If you open the first page, you will see a biography highlighting Dr. Scott's outstanding accomplishments throughout his career. On the facing page, you will see an overview of our Cogna accredititation results. These exceptional outcomes are a direct result of Dr. Scott's visionary and strategic leadership. The high praise we received during this review reflects not only our district's collective efforts, but also the legacy of excellence he leaves behind. With full accreditation secured for the next six years, this achievement stands as a lasting testament to his leadership. In closing, we want to say thank you to our exemplary board members, superintendent, district and school leaders, teachers, staff, students, parents, and community for helping us achieve this accomplishment. All right, at this time, Dr. Scott and Miss Hughes, if you
048would come up to take a picture with our plaque. [Applause] Congratulations. This accomplishment is for all of us. Our district could not do such an amazing job without everyone in this room and our entire community. So, thank you all so much [Applause] again. Thank you so much, Dr. Frierson. And we need to give her a round of applause because that was a great great deal of work gathering all the data, putting it into a presentation, and making us look sharing our story. So, thank you again. All right. Well, here we are. I would like for my board members to come and join me up here. We have a special presentation that we would like to uh get a special person. Um, as Dr. Fryson said in her remarks that this was Dr. Scott's last board
049meeting with us as board members. So, we would like to share a plaque that he has given to many people actually. So, it feels kind of strange being on this side of it because I'm usually watching him give the plaque, but here we are giving the plaque to him. And the plaque says, "My arm's still working in grateful appreciation for your leadership, vision, and years of service dedicated to the Hston County Board of Education and the students of Hston County, Superintendent of Schools, 2014 through 2025. Thank you. [Applause] Okay. And there's one more special presentation that you have given to other people. Um, it has been pre prepared by the Fab Lab. And I may need some help with this, but it is a lazy Susan with the building that he's been to for the
050past 11 years. And hopefully when he gets home and he sees this building, he'll have lots of memories, special memories, good memories, and um thank you again for all that you've done for our school system. I always say when a person leaves you want to leave it better than when you became and he can certainly say that. So thank you. [Applause] Believe it or not, we actually have a meeting to get to. Um, this has been great seeing all of the individual things that have we've seen today. All right, we are going to first of all go to our agenda and we need Dr. Unrew to give us a motion provide a motion to adopt our agenda. Madam Chair, I make a motion to adopt the agenda as published. Second. Okay, we have a motion
051by Dr. Enrew and a second by Mr. Nichols to adopt the agenda as published. Are there any questions regarding the agenda? There being none, all those in favor, please raise your hand. Okay. Motion approves seven to zero. Okay. The next item on our agenda will be to approve our minutes. Dr. Unrew. Yes. I move to approve the minutes from our previous meetings. Second. Okay. We have a motion by Dr. Unrew and a second by Mr. Crockett to approve our minutes from our previous meeting. Any questions, comments regarding the minutes? If not, all those in favor, please raise your hand. Okay. Minutes are approved. Seven to zero. Now, at this time, we will have our board member comments. And um Mr. Ivory, you have that honor to provide us with comments today. Well, thank you, Madam
052Chair. Can everybody hear me? Yes, sir. All right. So, this time of the year, we have um graduation, we have retirement, you know, a lot of people, uh kids graduating, excuse me, going off to college, going to do different things. Congratulations to your validator and saludiatoral. Um looking for big things out of them. So, I want to read you um some words from my favorite rapper. All right. It's my favorite rapper, Dr. Seuss. Bear with me. Y'all got to know me. And I know many of you have heard this heard this uh poem or part of this book before and it's called All the Places You'll Go. All right. So, this not just for Dr. Scott, but you know, like all of you guys, Dr. Riser, you involve all you guys. So, listen to this.
053I'm not going to read the whole thing because it'll take too long. I've been warned. So, all the places you'll go, congratulations. Today is your day. You're off to great places. You're off and away. You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own and you know what you know and you are the guy who'll decide where to go. You'll look you'll look up and down streets look them over with care about some you'll say I don't choose to go there with your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet. You're too smart to go down any not so good street and you may not find any you'll want to go down. In that case, of course, you'll head
054straight out of town. Validatory. It's opener there in the wide open air. Out there things can happen and frequ and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you. And then things start to happen. Don't worry, don't stew. Just go right along. You'll start happening, too. Oh, the places you'll go. You'll be on your way up. You'll be seeing great sights. You'll join high-f flyers who soar to high heights. You won't lag behind because you'll have the speed. You'll pass the whole game. And you'll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest except when you don't because sometimes you won't. Now, I'm not going to read the whole thing, but that part. So, just know that, you know, when
055you start in this next chapter of your life, sometimes the road is not going to be just smooth. Everything is not going to be all hunky dory. You're going to stumble. You're going to fall. But I but I know that we're prepared and we have prepared you. Your teachers have, the board have, the community have uh prepared you for hard times. So just be diligent and work hard and don't quit. Thank you. That you you could find it online. It's from the great rapper Dr. Seuss. Thank you. Um he's one of my favorites, too. I I have to remember that he's a rapper now. So So, okay. Um are there any other board members that would like to make any comments today? Ditto. All right. I think that pretty much concludes um board comments. Now,
056I'll turn it over to Dr. Scott for his superintendent report. Yes, Madam Chair. I'd like to start my comments by recognizing our teachers. Uh last week we joined the rest of the country as we celebrated teacher appreciation week and I cannot thank our teachers enough for what they do each and every day. Um you know we're blessed in this community to live in a place that loves and supports public education but we're also blessed to live in a community that has outstanding teachers that care about our students and uh are there working hard every day in our classroom. So we appreciate them for that as well. We have lots of GHSA region winners to recognize today. Congratulations to the House County High School baseball team for winning first place in their region. Yeah, congratulations. In
057soccer, the Hston County High School girls team also took the top trophy home while Veterans High School boys team won first place in their region. Perry High School boys and girls soccer team both won first place in their region. So, great job to those soccer teams. In track, congratulations to the Hston County High School boys and the Warner Robbins High School girls who both won first place in track for their respective regions. And then, uh, amazingly, Perry High School and Hston County High School were recently named all sports champions for their respective regions. And that's no small accomplishment. So, congratulations. We're so proud of both Perry High School and Hston County for being all sports champions for middle school baseball championships. Congratulations to Fagan Mill School baseball team for winning the seventh grade county championship
058and to Perry Middle School for winning the eighth grade county championship. Middle school track Perry Middle School girls with and Bonire Middle School boys were named the county champs. We're so proud of both of these teams. In the month of May, we have some special dates. May 7th was the National School Nurse Day. Our nurses work hard to ensure the health and safety of our students, and I'm so thankful uh for our nurses. And so May 9th was National School Communications Day. And I would like to thank our community relations staff uh who keep our community informed of what's happening in our schools. And they're always here at our board meeting making sure that everything is running smoothly and keeping me straight. Um, so I appreciate them. And May the 21st is the last day
059of school. How about that? I know the students in the room are probably excited about that, but not more so than your teachers. So, and I see a few principles excited about that as well. But as a reminder, students will attend school for a half day before they're released to officially start the summer break. And finally, our ultimate goal of graduation is coming and close to 2100 seniors will graduate this year. And so we're looking forward to Warner Robins High School and Veterans High School students graduating on Friday, May the 23rd. And then Perry High, Hston County High, and North Side High holding their ceremonies on Saturday, May the 24th. We are so proud of our graduates and uh like we said the ultimate goal is graduation and uh we just wish them all the
060best in in their futures. And I want to just close by saying it's been a pleasure to serve with this great group of people and with the executive cabinet and um you know I I plan to continue to be around in the community and uh and hope to see a lot of Sharks games in the future and uh so yeah, thank you for your support and I I look forward to continuing to see the great things happen in Hston County schools. So thank you. I turn it back over to you. And thank you again to Dr. Scott. Um, at this time we will have a brief intermission for our students to return to school. So, um, drive safely, travel safely. Um, have a great summer if we don't see you. I That was the best
061the most fun I had. Okay. Um, we hit the pause button and now we'll resume our meeting. Um, we will move on to the next item, which is item 10, and those are our department reports. Um, do any board members have any comments or questions regarding the department reports that we had the opportunity to review over the past couple of days? Oh, sorry. Okay. There being none comments, we'll move on to um the next item, which will be our unfinished or old business. Um, Mr. Nichols. Thank you, Madam Chair. At this time, I make a motion to approve the superintendent's recommendation of the sto statemandated policy BHB as written. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. Motion by Mr. Nichols and a second by Mr. Crockett to approve the statemandated new policy BHB.
062Um, any questions or comments? Okay, there being none, all those in favor, please raise your hand. Okay, motion approved 70. All right, now we will move on to our new business and that will be the fiscal year 2026 budget hearing. So, I will now turn the meeting over to Mr. Jurels. All right, ladies and gentlemen, uh looks like as everybody in the room knows, uh at uh budget time, the law requires that the district have a public hearing for the public to give input with regards to the proposed budget uh for the following fiscal year. Um at this time, I would open the public hearing uh and ask if there is anyone here to speak in favor of the proposed budget, would you please come forward? Morris. Thank you. Good afternoon. My name is Michelle
063Morris. I'm the chief financial officer for the Hston County School District. This afternoon, I pre present to you a tenative budget for fiscal year ending June 30th, 2026. Our school district budget is comprised of four major funds. The first one is our general fund. Uh our budgeted expenditures are 470,965,000 for a fund um an ending fund balance of 64,758,000. Our debt service fund has expenditures of 9,19,000 with the ending fund balance of 9,165,000. Capital project is projects are projected to have expenditures of 83,964,000 with a fund balance of 50,662,000. Our other programs which consist mainly of our grants has an expected expenditures of 75,954,000 and an ending fund balance of 13,932,000. Our overall school district budget has expected expenditures of 636,744,000 with an ending fund balance of 141,680,000. Our budget uh assumes no change in
064the millillage. It would remain at 11.719 mills. Our local option sales tax is a known amount since this is fixed uh and based on our calendar year 2024 collections. Uh interest rates remain strong and with our state revenue uh the amount presented in our budget is the unofficial amount from the Georgia Department of Education. Our other state grants consist of the school security grant and with our expenditures in general fund, it includes 53 additional personnel, step increases for certified personnel, local step increases for classified personnel, a 1% increase in the Hston County certified salary schedule for our certified employees, a 1% cost of living raise for all eligible classified employees and a $1,000 supplement to be to be paid to all full-time employee eligible employees. In addition to the salary and benefit items that are
065included in our budget, we have computer replacements, textbooks, software subscriptions, equipment purchases, vehicle replacements, and bus uh purchases totaling 16,488,41 for our fund balance. Um, please note that the projected beginning fund balance for 26 is derived from our current year estimated revenues and expenses based upon our last April monthly financials. These projections will change and be adjusted as information becomes uh available. However, we believe that they are materially correct. I request that the board tenatively approve the budget as presented. Thank you. Is there anyone else to speak in favor of the proposed? Seeing and hearing none, is there anyone here to oppose or speak against the proposed budget? Hearing none. And seeing none, then uh this will conclude the public hearing as required by Georgia law. Uh I will close it and turn it back
066over to you, Miss Hughes. Thank you, Mr. approval of the budget. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. I'd like to make a motion to approve the tenative um fiscal year 2026 budget. Second. Second. Okay. We have a motion by Miss Johnson and a second by Mr. Ivory for the tenative approval of the fiscal year 2026 budget. Um, any questions or comments? There being none, all those in favor, please raise your hand. Okay. Motion approves seven to zero. Okay. Now, we will go to the tentative setting of the millage rate. Um, Miss Morris, I'm going to ask you to kind of explain that to our visitors. As required by House Bill 92 and the law that's uh referenced uh up above, the tenative approval is requested to set the calendar year 2025 fiscal year 2026 millage rate or
067estimated roll back rate at the same rate as last year's millillage which is 11.719 uh for the the school district should receive the 2025 tax digest by the tax commissioner Mark Kushinka in sometime in July at that time the proposed actual miller uh rate will be calculated reviewed and submitted to the board for approval. We want to make note that our millage rate has remained unchanged or decreased over the past 17 years. Uh the request for the budget that uh we just discussed does contain um an expected 11.719 millage rate. The tenative approval of the 11.79 mills will also require the board to authorize the district to complete the uh required advertisement of the five-year history and all necessary calculations will also be completed and um and provided to the board prior to final approval.
068Okay. Thank you, Miss Morris. Are there any questions or comments for Miss Morris? Okay. If not, um Mr. Crockett, I believe you have that motion. Yes, ma'am. Move we tentatively approve setting the calendar year 2025 fiscal year 2026 millage rate at the same rate as last year's millage of 11.719 mills. Second. Okay. We have a motion by Mr. Crockett and a second by Miss Johnson for a ten tentative setting of the millage rate at 11.719 mills um for calendar year 2025 fiscal year 2026. Um, any questions, any comments? Okay. If not, all those in favor, please raise your hand. Okay. Motion approved. 70. All right. Now, we will move on to the financial reports for March, and that is Mr. Ivory. Yes, Madam Chair. I make a motion that we approve the March 2025 financial
069reports as presented. Second. Okay. We have a motion by Mr. Ivory and a second by Dr. Enry to approve the March 2025 financial reports as presented. Any questions or comments regarding those reports? Okay, there being none, all those in favor, please raise your hand. Motion approved seven to zero. All right, the next item will be our purchasing report and that will be Mr. Crockett. Madam Chair, I move we approve the May 2025 purchases as presented financial impact of 3,857,840. The funds coming from the general fund and East funds. Second. Okay. We have a motion by Mr. Crockett and a second by Mr. Nichols to uh approve the May 2025 purchases on the purchasing report. and he gave you those numbers, so I won't repeat that. Um, and they're up there. So, um, any questions or
070comments? If not, all those in favor, please raise your hand. And motion approved, seven to zero. Okay. The next item we have is the voluntary student accident insurance. Dr. Unrew. Yes, ma'am. I move that we approve the recommendation that we continue to utilize the services of a young group to offer voluntary insurance to our students for the 25 26 school year. All premiums are paid by parents or guardians. Second. Okay. We have a motion by Dr. Enrew and a second by Mr. Ivory to approve the voluntary student accident insurance. Um no cost involved um to the system. Um, any questions or comments? All right. All those in favor, please raise your hand. Motion approved seven to zero. All right. Now we go to item G. Mr. Nichols. Thank you, Madam Chair. You know, over time
071we have many, many, many, many, many, many, many of you guys sitting in front of us, teachers, uh, principles, assistant principles, coaches, staff that make a in the lives of the the kids, the parents, the community. And I'm proud at this time to make a motion, Madam Chair, to approve the superintendent's recommendation to rename the varsity football locker room after former head coach, Coach Conrad Nicks. Second. Okay, we have a motion by Mr. Nichols and a second by Mr. Crockett to approve the naming of the varsity North Side High School varsity football locker room after former head football coach Conrad Nicks and he is a legend in the area. I didn't grow up in this area but I've been around some of these people who did and I have learned he is a legend. Okay.
072So, are there any questions or comments regarding the naming of the locker room? Okay. All those in favor please raise your hand. Okay. Motion approved. Seven to zero. All right. Now, we're going to go to our personnel reports. Mr. Ivory. Uh, yes, Madam Chair. I make a motion that we approve the personnel report as presented, which includes 53 additional certified contract recommendations. Second. Second. Okay. Sorry. Thank you. Okay. We have a motion by Mr. Ivory and a second by Dr. to approve the May financial May personnel reports which includes 53 additional um contract recommendations. Um any questions or comments? Okay, there being none, all those in favor, please raise your hand. Okay, motion approved. Seven to zero. Okay, now we do have four additional personnel items. Okay, number one, um that would be Dr. Unrew.
073Yes, Madam Chair. I make a motion to approve the superintendent's recommendation of Dr. Steven Hornac for the position of chief innovation officer. Second. Okay. We have a motion by Dr. Unrew and a second by Miss Johnson to approve the superintendent's recommendation of Dr. Steven Hornac for the position of chief innovation officer. I love that name. So, all right. Um, any questions, comments? All right. All those in favor, please raise your hand. Okay. Motion approved 70. Okay. The next item, Mr. Ivory number two. Yes, ma'am. I make a I make a recommendation that we approve the superintendent recommendation for Mr. Nicholas Brooks for the position of athletic director at Warner Robbins Middle School. Second. Okay, we have a motion by Mr. Ivory and a second by Mr. Crockett to approve the superintendent's recommendation for Mr. Nicholas
074Brooks for the position of athletic director at Warner Robbins Middle School. Are there any questions, comments? There being none, all those in favor, please raise your hand. Motion approves seven to zero. All right. Item number three, Miss Johnson. Yes. I'd like to make a motion to approve um the superintendent's recommendation of Mr. Benjamin Bailey for the position of assistant principal of discipline at Warner Robbins High School. Second. Okay. We have a motion by Miss Johnson and a second by Dr. Unre for the superintendent's recommendation for Mr. Benjamin Bailey for the position of assistant principal of discipline at Warner Robbins High School. Any questions, comments? All those in favor, please raise your hand. Motion approves seven to zero. And then the final item under personnel reports, Mr. Nichols. Yes, madam chair. I make a motion that
075we accept the superintendent's recommendation for the termination of Miss Aisha Tucker uh and Tucker's employment as a school uh food service worker at Perry High School due to job abandonment. Second. Okay, we have a motion by Mr. Nichols and a second by Miss Johnson to approve the superintendent's recommendation for the termination of Miss Paisha Tucker's employment as a senior as a school's food service worker at Perry High School. Um, any questions or comments? All right. All those in favor, please raise your hand. All right. Motion approves seven to zero. That includes concludes our personnel items. Okay. We have well, three more items. Okay. Um, the next two are job descriptions. We have item I and I believe that is Miss Johnson. Yes, ma'am. I'd like to make a motion to approve the recommendation for the
076new job description that defines the duties and responsibilities of the new assistant athletic trainer positions. Second. Okay, we have a motion by Miss Johnson and a second by Mr. Ivory to approve the new job job description for assistant athletic trainer. Um, which is like I said, it's a new position. Um any questions or comments anyone would like to make regarding this item? I think people have felt that this was a real need in our school system. So um this is well accepted. Um all those in favor please raise your hand. Okay. Motion approved. Seven to zero. All right. And then the job description, the title that I really like is chief innovation officer. Mr. Nichols, would you give us a motion for that? Thank you, Madam Chair. I make a motion that we accept the
077superintendent's recommendation for the new job description of Chief Innovation Officer as written. Second. Okay. I have We have a motion by Mr. Nichols and a second. A plethora a plethora of Cly. Okay. By Mr. Mr. Jackson. Okay. Second by Mr. Jackson to approve the new jobs description for chief innovation officer. Um and any questions or comments? There being none. All those in favor, please raise your hand. Okay. Motion approves seven to zero. So, Mr. Horn, you have a new position and you have a new job description. [Applause] All right, last item. Item K, the 2025 26 organizational chart. Mr. Crockett. Madam Chair, I move we approve the 2025 2026 district leadership team organizational chart as presented. Second. Okay. We have a motion by Mr. Crockett and a second by Mr. Nicholls to approve the 202526
078organ organizational chart as presented. Um any questions or comments? There being none. All those in favor, please raise your hand. Motion approved. Seven to zero. All right. Um I don't believe there's anyone who wishes to address the board. We don't do we have any items for executive session? Okay. Uh all that being said, we will need a motion to adjurnn. Motion. Second. Okay. We have a motion and a second to adjurnn. All those in favor, please raise your hand. Motion approved. 70. Thank you everyone. We