001You are my >> [music] >> You are my You are my >> [music] [music] >> You are my >> [music] [music] >> You are my You are my >> [music] [music] >> You are >> [music] [music] >> You are my You are my >> [music] >> We call this meeting of the Nelson County Board of Education to order on March 17th, 2026 at 5:30. Please join our board team as we recite the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance 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. All right, good evening, everyone. Um our mission and vision in the Nelson County schools, we unite students and staff with people, place, and purpose to thrive in work and
002life. Our meeting goals tonight are to review the Nelson County High School schematic design, discuss facility timelines, evaluate a 3-year compensation scenarios, and review district communication system upgrade. And then, um up next, we have guest comments. I didn't see any online. I don't know if there's any I didn't see any. out there. Thanks, Alex. All right. So, um I'm not going to bother to read that since we don't have any guests tonight. So, but it is on the slide if you guys want to read that. All right. Um consent agenda was given to board members prior to this evening. Um do you guys have any questions regarding anything on the consent agenda? Any questions, discussions? If not, I will need a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. I'll make the motion. Thank you.
003Do I have a second? I'll second. Thank you. All in favor? I. Any opposed? >> I. All right, motion passes. All right, and moving on, we are setting graduation date and time. Well, we thought we were in the clear, uh and we still are uh on target for the graduation date of May 22nd. Um we do see some snow coming in tomorrow, uh potentially uh similar to today. But, uh with that, we are still confident that these graduation dates can um be maintained. So, each high school alternates times each year. Based on that, this year, Nelson County High School uh would have graduation Friday, May 22nd at 5:30 p.m. Thomas Nelson High School would have graduation Friday, May 22nd at 7:30 p.m. This is just uh alternating from last year. Any questions about graduation dates
004and times? Any questions, anything? Are you guys good? Good. All right, so with that, let's set the graduation dates and times for Friday, May 22nd at May 22nd at 5:30 at Nelson County High School, and Friday, May 22nd at 7:30 for Thomas Nelson. All in or I need a motion. >> [snorts] >> I'll make a motion. Thank you. Do I have a second? I'll second. All right, thanks. All in favor? I. Any opposed? All right, motion passes. All right, now we are moving on to the Nelson County High School phase one schematic design with Mr. Martin and Kate Ward. Mr. Martin's going to talk through just some of the related links and uh motions, cuz there's a number of pieces that we're updating as we have advanced on the phase one process. Yeah, good af-
005good evening. So, um I'm just going to kind of give a high-level overview of some of the work that's going on in the Nelson County High discussions. Kate's going to kind of detail uh the design process as you think about the site and the school and and what that process has looked like with teachers and kind of where we are currently uh with those designs. As you know, there's also a softball field that we're looking to relocate. Um so, that's Kate'll also speak about that process some, but some of these items related to approval also authorizes us to be able to continue with that softball relocation, cuz it really is the first It's almost like phase zero, because that needs to occur before really the phase one of the school can occur. Um so, the
006revised BG1 and the BG3 kind of encompasses an updated um whole scope of that work with those included documents. Uh we'll kind of talk about, you know, what we're thinking for that softball space, but these action items allow us to move forward uh with that softball process, and and we'll clarify anything at the end of of that process. So, I'll pass it over to Kate. >> [clears throat and snorts] >> And sorry, I'm losing my voice. I sound worse than I am. I'm fine, so please don't be scared of me. Um so, for tonight's presentation for the Nelson County High School campus, we're doing SD schematic design submittal of the high school addition, and then a combined SD and DD submission of the softball field, which I'll get to you in more detail in a
007minute. But, just focusing on Nelson County High School, where we are um the SD submittal's pretty light in terms of documentations, mostly just a floor plan and a site plan to tell KDE what your intentions are. So, those are the two links that were there. We are targeting a 750 high school student, 550 uh middle school student target. So, that's what we're working on. And then, as her terms of schedule, um this summer will be back with a design development submission request, and then construction documents we're targeting in the September with a bid in October to get started in November. So, that's the upcoming schedule. Um so, focusing on the plan at Nelson County High School, this is just a continuation of of things we presented in January. So, we're still looking at um content
008program areas or pockets or micro schools as we're starting to call them with the stakeholder teams. We're looking at main entrance off to the side, the existing media center and former main entrance are here just to orient you, auditorium and gym. And then, we still have the two courtyard spaces working in tandem with this building, and we're um doing the addition around it, and then backfilling the um existing high school floor plan as a second sequence as part of this phase one. So, we've got admin suite, main office, student life hub, social studies core content, English. We're looking at a classroom um off the main hallway that's uh there now, as well as arts connector, agriculture connector, special education program, and then a cafeteria extension as part of this phase one. Going up to the
009second floor, that's positioned so it has some presence along Bloomfield Road. We've got our science and math programs that overlook the student life hub. Um so, right now, we we're really focusing on with uh conversations with Ms. Sikolsky and Mr. Bradley, how the student life hub is going to work, how it's going to be a future point of this building, and how it's going to invite uh alumni, students, um and college and career programs, and just really create an inviting space that works with all the programs surrounding it. So, this is a view um of the student life hub standing at the main entrance looking at a presentation space, uh a second assembly space, science labs, math wing, and then school store, as well as views out to the courtyard. And then, just another view
010through, we're really trying to work on how those pockets pull you into different parts of the building, how things can remain visible, how we don't go back with a double-loaded corridor or with no light. We're really looking at ways that make any to where you turn an inviting view, an inviting way to to bring students in and and make learning visible. So, we don't have them here tonight, but we've engaged Carmen as our landscape architects and campus plans kind of updaters for this portion. So, part of this SD plan is this site plan that you're seeing here. Um based on relocating the softball field closer to OKH and creating a stronger connection to the up center here, they have updated the campus plan. So, this is what's in your SD package and then I just
011wanted to point out in this blue area, that's really what we'd focus on is construction of phase one. But, they're thinking about it as a holistic, um, approach based on where the moving parts are. And then we've started to have discussions about internal courtyards. So, while it's not designed yet, they are bringing, um, ideas to the forefront of what an alumni garden might look like, what a student lab, student courtyard might look like and how those will work with the design of the building. I'll probably invite them here at Mr. Bradley's invitation either in April or May, so they'll go into more detail on that. And then just moving forward, um, we're going to be having stakeholder meetings with each core content area at Nelson County High School, so we've got those started at the
012end of March and then on the backpack day on April 13th. So, we're really going to just be focusing on these design principles that we started the design with and looking at how we can keep a space flexible and evolving. So, we're always going to bring these to bear when we talk to each core content area of making sure that we're thinking out a diversity of spaces, inviting spaces that remain flexible for student learning moving forward. Um, safety and transparency, really opening the outside up, making views into learning spaces, so you never feel closed off, you never feel like you can't engage. Nothing's behind a closed door that you wouldn't be privy to or have access to. And then elevating the modern identity, we're really going to want to have these identities applied to each
013content program area, so that you know when you're in the social studies pocket or you know when you're in the science wing. So, using some strategies that are here on another project, how we could bring those up and and just really make it an inviting and interesting space. Any questions on that before I move on to softball? No, but it looks great. >> [laughter] >> Okay. >> [clears throat] >> I'll take a breath, too, and my voice is going. So, softball, um, we we had anticipated maybe being ready to bring you final CDs tonight, but we wanted to make sure that we got all, um, all needs for this area met. So, we're asking for one more month, which will not affect a February play date, practice date for softball. So, next month we're going
014to be coming to you for CD approval and then bidding right after that and then May would be approval of the contracts. So, this layout is what we've arrived at. We've got dugouts, press box, batting tunnel building, connection to those main two buildings that are, um, next to OKH, as well as softball field that is sized for regional play. And then we've also had, um, some practice area that we're keeping graded in on that existing flat field area over by OKH that could used for middle school practice in the meantime. So, on tonight's agenda, it is the revised BG1, um, that Mr. Martin talked about before where um, we're including the softball scope into the BG1. It's under one umbrella of, um, contract funds. And then a BG3 cost assumption with the softball added in
015to our previous assumption for Nelson County addition, SD and DD drawings, and then we're looking to bring you final approvals in April with a contract award in May. So, summer summer will get started with construction of softball. What has Go ahead. What has been the level of stakeholder engagement in the design of the softball field? We've we've invited them in and on bi-weekly meetings, um, the ADs, uh, Matt Rogers, Mr. Reynolds, excuse me, and then Glenn Benham Spalding. This is right. I'm I'm bad with names. I will remember your face forever. I will not remember your name, I'm sorry. Or their names. And so, they've been involved as well as as well as Miss Sikorski, too. So, we have gotten their input. We're talking with, um, Field Turf as well for the synthetic portion, synthetic
016turf portion of that. And, um, I feel like we've had them engaged pretty much right along. You've also had construction teams, uh, engineers. Yes, sir. So, our our same team that's working on Nelson County High School is the same team designing the softball with us. So, Buescher is our civil engineer. Um, we've got the same structural engineer, Brown and Kubican. CMTA is doing all the electrical and site work, so they all had a knowledge of this site and this, um, this client base before we before I even I got involved. And then Codell's been giving us cost information along the way as well. I'm thinking, too, about, you know, as we move along further in the details past the actual construction, um, student feedback into that and, you know, how we reflect like the the
017design, the decor, you know, what those elements and making sure it reflects what students envision, too, and the practical aspects of that. I believe Miss Sikorski's going to get some of the student leadership teams involved as well. I think we're starting with the stakeholders for the teacher groups and the, um, the staff members that are directly involved, but I believe she's also going to be engaging either through questionnaires or maybe direct invitation. And Melissa Case has also started doing some work with students as well, uh, through what we call SPICA. Is that what it's called? Um, that's currently been probably focused on the cafe as a design conversation. Right. The the cafe and school store, which is part of the student life hub, is really engaged with the business classes. So, it's positioned pretty centrally
018here. Um, but yeah, we will want feedback on equipment, um, any sort of student needs there and we've already gotten a big jump on that from the science, uh, stakeholder team with even like how they want the rooms laid out. So, that's been a pretty big jump on our design process as well. I appreciate that. Thank you. You're welcome. I'm excited to see the outdoor eating area, which really will expand the space, um, of the cafeteria, so I think every student would love to eat outdoors. Not quite today, but when it's gorgeous outside. End of the week, I think it's 80, so I'll lose my voice again. It'll be fine. So, I think there's been, um, a lot of engaging conversation because this is a very thought out plan. It looks really nice and I
019love the feel that it's going to have of really just being like I don't even feel like the middle school is even going to be part of like this is going to be its own unique space, um, and it's going to be really nice. I'm glad to see the green and and um, we know so much about the effect of lighting and the natural lighting and mood and involvement and I'm I'm glad to make that a more welcoming space for our students. Looks really good. So, with that, So, approving schematic is essentially approving the location and the floor plan, but it could change. This is allows you to move forward. Correct. Yeah, it'll These plans will be honed down, some realism will be in there. We'll actually get restrooms, not just a big gray box.
020I mean, those sort of things, but yes, correct. It'll be evolving with feedback and making sure it's realistic and constructible and economical as well. Any other discussion? So, um, we will need a motion to approve the following as presented. Nelson County High School revised BG1, Nelson County High School BG3, Nelson County softball schematic design, design development, Nelson County phase one schematic design, the floor plan site plan. I'll make the motion. Thank you. Do I have a second? I'll second. All right. All in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. [clears throat] Motion passes. Yep. Thank you, Kate. It looks really nice. So, moving on, we have facility updates. So, >> [clears throat] >> just wanted to it's it's been a couple of months I think since we've discussed kind of our on our current projects that
021are going on. So, really just this high-level overview kind of gives us some framework in terms of what is some current action that's taken place and what are our immediate next steps with each of these facilities. So, um, up center, really the up center, bus garage, uh, lots of construction taking place each month. I think if you're in those buildings each month, you can see huge strides that are being made in each of them. Um, it says [clears throat] exterior and interior finishes, which is a rather broad and finishing is still pretty vague term, I would say. Uh, but in other words, there's lots of activity still in the exterior, lots of activity on the interior, everything from floors, door hardware. There's also some painting, uh, that has occurred, uh, ceiling the ceiling, not the
022tiles, but the, uh, kind of the frame that holds the ceiling tiles, ceiling grid, that's what it's called. Um, that's been installed. Also, lots of equipment discussions with the up center. Um, there's a lot of equipment inside that space, so bringing in some of the existing equipment, bringing in the new equipment and starting to work to install those things. Lots of conversations around that. Really, we're continuing to target end of May 1st to June as kind of completion opportunity. Um, a major milestone in April would be above ceiling inspections, which Stephen could tell you all about, but that's kind of a a punch item per se. Um that's a milestone we look for. With the bus garage, you could see that space has evolved a lot. Uh really I would say it is more finishing
023touches are coming in. Uh most recently we've had power installation there in that space. We're looking to target moving date April 6th, which is a convenient time cuz that allows Devon and his team that's during spring break. Uh so we're not transporting students and they'll be working on transitioning out of the old bus facility into the new one. Um and then also parking lot and road paving would be another major milestone coming up. At Thomas Nelson, really we're in the earthwork continuing the earthwork phase and weather has not been very cooperative over the last month. Uh so they haven't been able to do as much with that, but really still stabilization of dirt uh for foundation parking and road and really continuing that process along with building a retaining wall. We spoke quite a bit
024about Nelson County High. Uh with New Haven, architect is continuing to work with design team and engineers to finalize those construction documents. I'd say it's somewhere in in between the 50% to 75% stage. We had a virtual meeting last week and another one this week to really look at some fine details. Um Ms. Clark and others are on that call as well, but um just finalizing some smaller elements there. Really the slides that follow are just a few images. Obviously this is just right across the way. You can see this uh up center, the storefront and that glass. It's kind of hard to see with the glare, but um that's been installed. Uh and then this would be the health science section. So this is the um kind of the area closest to the current
025bus garage. It's probably the most finished, but this is also one that would be a new construction element and not a renovation piece. With the transportation facility, uh lots of really this is definitely evolved over the last month. And on the inside you can really feel like it's a garage that you're definitely going to be able to uh lots of work could could occur in this space and and you can really see the finishing touches coming in. And then this is just kind of an image of the earthwork that's currently occurring at Thomas Nelson. So the current media center kind of sits here. And so this would be looking to the left of that space. And that's our facility update. So any questions? >> [snorts] >> Moving along. Looks good. Thank you. So the timeline
026on uh opening for the up center is June the 12th. Final completion date June 12th. April 6th for moving date. We shall see. I have faith. I have faith that you're going to get in there. So um I think I have figured out that uh April 6th is the building for for the bus maintenance facility. All the site around it won't quite be done. Good update. >> Access to the building. The access from the driveway side, but like all the bus parking up there. Mhm. Yeah. Right. >> [clears throat] >> Got it. >> Thanks, Mr. Martin. So we still have you next, too. >> Yes. Uh go right ahead. All right. So um really this is a compensation discussion. Um we discussed in February this this kind of timeline is nice for us to look
027at. There are lots of decisions that we're making uh in this spring semester. I talked to you in February about tentative allocations. Um as a reminder in April we'll be coming to you guys with final allocations along with job description and salary schedule. So this is kind of helping us prepare for for the April salary discussion conversation. Uh many of these slides are slides that you've seen several times, but just reminders to the conversation. We continue to continue to prioritize people uh in the compensation that we're that we're providing with those folks. Uh with our certified staff since 2019, these would be step um or or percentage increases in the salary schedule themselves anywhere from 17 to 22%. And then with classified since 2019, anything from 30% to upper to 80% salary increases. Um I
028think the point here is we want to continue to invest in people. Uh we've done so. We want to continue to push the envelope there. Last year you guys worked to uh approve a raise for certified and classified. We also advanced the salary schedule. It did kind of cap off at 27 years. We we extended that, so it now caps off at 30 years, which really talks about your experience. Uh we've also continued to invest in rank change opportunities, uh leadership roles, summer pathways. There's a number of ways for teachers to get credentials and then also earn money for those things. And then our benefits package uh is something that we've spent a lot of really made a lot of strides with that um over the past year. So this is just a reminder. As
029we look to the future, uh we're kind of working from these sets of priorities. We recognize that we need to continue to uh put teams together so that they're able to innovate and grow. Uh our campuses will change quite a bit over the course of the next year. And so um creating opportunity [clears throat] for teams to be flexible and allow for collaboration uh will be important. Also we want to prioritize staff and resources towards the front of the line, meaning that people that are working directly with students, making the biggest impact on student learning. That's where we need to prioritize our resources. And really enable in order for us for us to do that, uh we have to be effective and efficient with our use of resources and we have to really uh optimize
030in order to create additional compensation. So as [snorts] as we prepare for the April discussion, uh here's just a couple of things that are important to consider. As as you look at the salary schedule, essentially each additional year that you gain a another year of experience, you move down the step, uh which does indicate a pay increase. So this is on the left the salaried schedule. So if I'm a 186-day employee, a teacher, and I move from a level 13 to a level 14 or step 14, really the average step increase is about $800. So so if we kept the salary schedule the same, by gaining another year of retention, I'll have a $800 raise. If we left it the same. On the hourly pay scale, that equates to 30 cents an hour on average.
031Kind of varies depending upon which step and what rank you're in. >> [clears throat] >> As we as we think about future compensation opportunities, this is this is a pretty generic graph to just help us think about uh what might be possible. So obviously we're here in 2026. As we think about the next 5 years, you know, as we look at that salary schedule, how much uh additional raise opportunity might we be able to explore? And obviously there are infinite possibilities here. Um really I just kind of modeled a a high range of say say our target is $5,000 over the course of the next 5 years or as low as [snorts] $2,500. You could you could accelerate this pretty quickly on the upper end and then kind of flatten off, but this is kind
032of a range of opportunities that we want to explore uh with the finance team to see, >> [snorts] >> you know, what's possible. And really again back to this effective and efficient conversation, we do want to take care of our people, but the reality is is we also have to manage our fund balance, right? So we don't have unlimited revenue. >> [snorts] >> Uh I think I showed this back in February. Our fund balance did increase in these years with some COVID kind of additional revenue. For the last couple of years we've tapered off some and we're currently projecting uh flat or a balanced budget as we get into July. Uh obviously a lot of factors still at play there, um but we'll continue to monitor that. The point is is in order to in
033order to push salaries further, uh you have to find a way to optimize so that you don't essentially run yourself negative. So as we think about, you know, what might be possible, I think it's it's safe to say that we probably need to err on the side of caution per se and maybe not be as aggressive here in year one and maybe be a bit more cautious in the first year to allow our fund balance to stabilize even further. But there are a number of forces at play. I think in order to achieve any sense of uh substantial compensation, we have to optimize, right? From a staffing standpoint, >> [snorts] >> uh we have to be really effective and efficient with their allocation. And we also have to continue to look at operations and see
034where we can optimize from that standpoint. Um there are a number of forces that that are kind of variables that we're not sure how they play out. Obviously your your property assessments and their adjustments, um KDE and SEEK calculations, how how might they they adjust? And then also really long-term revenue continuing to understand easily to easily quantifiable. I think it also creates equity across the board as you think about step and various ranks. Cuz they would still get the step increase. So this would be right. So I think right. So we we would have the So we'd have the step increase of an average of $800 with additional raise opportunities whatever we may explore would be on top of that. Whether it's a percentage or a flat mhm. Correct. And then one of the things
035that we had talked about is really sort of looking at that next two to three year where we're bridging um the campuses and sort of understanding that. And this would allow us also to kind of look at the long-term projections. Um in relation to using a at a stationary amount compared to a percentage. That also [clears throat] help with the planning process, you know, in thinking about what the cost may be. I'd say it's definitely easier to probably plan and project. I I think the the primary benefit from a equity standpoint is that if you give a percentage, those that make the most gain the most and it compounds upon itself year after year where the division between a first year teacher and a more experienced teacher that divide is is big. We're trying as
036we know, we want to raise the floor and the ceiling simultaneously. I agree. I like that. That was great information. Gives us a lot to think on for the next month. I would say big picture as we look at this graph for the carry forward. This is a byproduct of continuing to be intentional, but it's also a byproduct of the bourbon boom in Nelson County continuing to give us some annual returns in revenue that allow us to really continue to invest in in employees. I share that >> [clears throat] >> as we look to the future that uh the bourbon bill will plateau that funding and we're still learning and understanding how that impacts Nelson County. And we'll be spending quite a bit of time over the coming months as it as it kind of
037becomes a a reality learning more about it. I think it's not something you can just upload into uh Google Gemini and it understands because the law is very complex. And those that wrote the law understand it, but it only has implications on a few counties across Kentucky and we're one of those. So, we're studying that closely. We'll have more clarity as it moves into the coming year. All right. Thank you, Mr. Martin. Appreciate your work. All right. Moving on to district communication systems with Grace Perlos. So, Grace has been asked to be part of a board meeting for the last few years and she finally got her chance tonight. So, she's here excited. We're excited [laughter] that you're here, too. So, Grace has been working on this for about 6 months. Since September. Really? Really
038since the school year started, but thinking about it since probably last year. Um So, our um family communicator coordinator and as part of our team goals is always constantly looking on ways on how to improve uh how we communicate with our families and community. Um this year we really are focusing on the district website. Um we partnered with technology team and evaluated um just how to like make it more accessible. Um like families and community be able to actually find the information easily. Um and also kind of like, you know, make it attractive enough that as a hook for us to get more um enrollment, etc. Um So, we reviewed different website platforms and decided to go with Parent Square, which is the tool we're using for communication since Senate Bill 181 passed. Um they
039also provide website integration. So, we just looked um a little further into that and just decided that that would be the right tool to pro to move forward with our website. So, without further ado, you can scan the QR code. >> wanted you to scan the QR code cuz on your phone is mostly how you're going to access it. >> Yes. You could also look at it on your computers if that's I mean, we can look We'll click on it here. Yeah. >> [laughter] >> That way I can have a reference of what I'm talking about. Um so, from the get-go you like it's more pleasing, more welcoming with the video um showcasing our programs and um all the good stuff we offer our students. Um then immediately afterwards we have a quick quick links
040uh which are the most used. Uh we assume that these are the ones are going to be used. They can still change uh if not, but most important of them are there. Um below that, I just want to go real quick. Uh we have our archives for all in weekly, which is sent every week. Every Tuesday or Wednesday, I think. Every Wednesday. Mhm. Um then we have all the important links we have to have uh state mandate um calendar, nutrition menus, the Up Foundation and then below to stay with um you know, with the state mandates, we have our scores. Right there. Um I would like to highlight community first. If you click on that um we have the NCES promise, which is what we are promising our community uh that we provide. Wes, do
041you want to Yeah, so one of the conversations that came up at KSBA with some of the sessions was around the promises we're making to parents, staff, community and >> [snorts] >> um it was a useful conversation and Ms. Bowling, Ms. Lee talked a bit about this as a a launch point for us to start talking about some of these promises and what they mean to us. So, this is a draft one of that conversation as we think about community, as we think about employees and parents, those are different conversations, but we know that our community, as we think about that, it's a diverse place and our ability to engage and honor those diverse voices and needs is important as we think about that as a school district, as a school board. The quality of
042programs and the relationships between community partners, talent pipelines is a big part of the work we do. Obviously, we talk about place, it's a huge component. And then finally, line spending is a we know one of the primary goals as we think about our goals and and our relationship to our community using tax dollars to benefit students becoming work and life ready. The financial reports, treasurer reports, all the work that goes on as we think about the um work of our finance team and ensuring ethical practices are also in this conversation. We also have our vision link here, too. If you click vision um so, this was a start to talking about community. I think this begs for further discussion and clarity around these promises. Um but we wanted to express that, you know, previously
043to be honest, our our website um wasn't organized in a way that was quite simple enough to find some of this information. You had to look a little too hard. So, we're trying to simplify that. >> Yeah, it was um it was there, but it was very spread out and I now it lives in its own place where it's easy to access, one click away for families. Um after that, you can go to families and students. Yeah. And then there's the NCES parent promise. So, we know families are you know, are looking through a different lens and this is our start to a conversation that will expand uh further. But it was our beginning to come back to where we were in thinking about benefits for students. Big picture benefits, safe and respectful schools are
044big part of what families want and and demand of us. High quality academic and leadership programs and ensuring work and life ready skills for students. We're using the phrase work and life ready. Ms. Bowling reads thrive and work and life as a part of our vision. Really, if you look at this website on your phone, the first thing you're going to see at the top is work and life ready. That's basically just simplifying the previous mission statement further. We feel like it's going to be a more relevant message as we think about families. We know sometimes the wording we use can be distracting. So, um the we're trying to simplify that. Yeah, so immediately after that, you have all the quick links um are important, the calendar, code of conduct, all of that. You You
045see the calendar in a bigger way. Uh schools are accessible there. Um school links to homepages, uh family forms, you know, all that good stuff goes in there and then uh right at the bottom you can access like what family will mostly care about like care clinic, uh nutrition, enrollment, all those good links. You can still access them on there. Um the weather, all of that lives in there. Uh employees takes you outside to our employee web portal. Um which is we are NC. That's where the employee uh promise lives. Well, initially I can say it definitely is more user-friendly than our previous website. Um I love that the calendar pops up right with the families because I feel like that's one thing that we always go to the website to look for. We're also
046linking it in several places like in the homepages, there's a link and then all the way on the top, if you go all the way to the top, there's like a quick links. It lives there, too. Um we also have like right here on popular links. Yeah. Yeah, and then like schools are being um there's a page for schools, there's also quick links for schools. We just thought it was important that people know that's where the schools are. These are the schools we have. Um So, yeah. But also trying to make it more pleasing and actually functional. And and again, as Superintendent Bradley said when we talked about the promises that we make as a board to our community and our families, I think it is important that we not only remind them what our
047promise is, but we remind we remind ourselves so that every decision that we make goes back to these promises. Um this looks really really nice. And like I said, it user-friendly wise Um Um for education has you guys listed, so >> [laughter] >> I think it looks nicer than we used to have them on the side and it was like kind of strange to hover over that, but >> You can directly link. >> Yes. Um what we're also meeting uh Uh we we're s- removing our personal email so we don't have like spam reaching to us. So, with this way, what it does it creates like it opens a a message window that actually forwards it to you and that way they don't like people out there or like scammers or whatever don't have access
048to emails. We're trying to um remove every email that has like a personal like not personal, but like a school website uh school site or school email so we get less spam and scams. So. Yeah. And everything linked. Any questions? I'll just have to say it's a lot better than when I first started. Thank you for your hard work. Yeah, it's you did an exceptional job, Grace. It looks I mean, every every week for the last 3 months you just continue to make it better. I can tell that you've put a lot of thought and effort into this. Congratulations. >> uh are still like moving things around, just making sure that all the links are still working and active. And it's going to continue to be upkept. That's really what should be happening every month
049anyway, so It's a living site, so it's always going to be a um adaptation. So, no it >> But also like in regards of like the back end, this is just the Squarespace Parent Square. Sorry, there's so many squares. >> [laughter] >> Parent Square just uh provides like an easier access on my end to like modify update things and it's like immediate. Like it's just quick. The platform we had before was very difficult to navigate. Um I came in when it was set, so I had to basically teach it to myself. So, with this one it's just immediate and like you can go back if you make a mistake. There's like so many like good things that it provides. Um just making it better for everybody really. And then we also have like the world's
050best IT group, so >> Yes, we do. >> [laughter] >> Um Yes. That's right. No, you great work. Thank you. Great work. Good job. I got to find my way back to the board meeting. That was all of 15 tabs. All right. So, reviewing our board calendar, um I don't believe there are any changes. Did anyone have any concerns with the calendar? Do you have any update on our retreat? Um yes, I'm going to be sending an email out. That's probably going to be sometime in June. Excellent. Um Anything additional? All right. Well, I know we have things to celebrate. Um one being that I have to commend um Devin O'Brien and Superintendent for working together this morning in such a unique way um to make sure that our students say stayed safe and our
051staff was safe in making them walk to work this morning cuz it was a surprise for everyone. Um and that last minute um agility comes in handy, so we really appreciate you guys thinking ahead in that being prepared as much as we could be for last minute decisions. You you got to understand Devin makes a phone call at 6:15 and by 6:25 he's on his phone on Parent Square sending out a message to all families in a voicemail. So, um you know, that's not a common thing that would occur, but uh I share that just to know like, you know, their ability to act on information and I think after going out we recognized we were very fortunate we did not have buses on the road. It is not an ideal situation for anyone, but
052we do we would have not been in a good spot if we had buses out trying to navigate that stretch, so Um yes, I just want to acknowledge this. We know it's an inconvenience, but it was reality. We dealt with it thanks to Devin for handling that. So, good job. Anything else, anyone? Well, now we can all just wish on the sun and the warm weather. >> [laughter] >> All right. With that, um we can move on to adjourning the meeting. Um do I have a motion? I'll make a motion. >> All right. Thank you. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. All right. All in favor? I. >> I. Any opposed? >> I. All right. Motion passed.