Special Regular Board Meeting- December 16, 2025

001All right, it is 6 p.m. on December 16th, 2025. We'll call to order the special called regular meeting here at Woodford County Public Schools. All members are here and in person, and we will do the pledge of 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. And starting us off today, we have a recognition. So, I'm gonna ask Dr. Rurn to come up to the front. Okay. Um, our new recognition protocol. If I can invite the board and Dr. Jones to the middle of the floor and then I'll give it away to Dr. Ray Burn to do the recognition. >> All right. Good evening board and thank you for this opportunity to

002recognize one of our amazing amazing educators here in Woodford County. Uh when we talk about what it means to be an engineering teacher, Arlene Crabtree is a true engineering teacher and not just an engineering teacher but an educator at heart, all realms of that. Um just so you know, she came she was with students all day at work, then had students until 5:30 and then came here to get recognized. She's Arlene, how how many times were you in the building until 1 or two in the morning getting kids prepared? Too many times to count. That's the correct answer. Every time that you would drive by and see a light on in this building when it was here, it was in that part of the building where the shop was because Miss Crabtree was with students

003all of the time. And now at the new high school, you see the same thing as you drive up the extension to the high school. You can look right in her room, the lights on. There's kids working in the shop because that's the dedication she has to our our students here. And that dedication goes far and beyond that for all of the many other things that she does for our district. So this year, Miss Crabtree and the engineering program were honored with the Kea, which is the Kentucky engineering teacher association program of the year award. And so that's what we're recognizing Miss Crabtree and all of her hard work for this year. So please give Miss Crabtree a round of applause. Yeah. All right. And up next, our superintendent's remarks. Dr. Jones. Thank you. Good

004evening. Get my technology to work. There we go. So for my December report, uh just wanted to remind you sort of our theme this year is all voices are united in building the next generation of excellence in Woodford County. And uh wanted to begin by introducing or a couple just reminding us about a couple resources for our families and caregivers. Um we have an incredible partnership with uh family medical centers and with our healthy kids clinic. And so just wanted to remind all of our families and our staff members about our healthy kids clinic and that it serves our staff members as well as our students. We have a nurse practitioner. Um and so it's been a wonderful service to my family and so many others. And so your child can get or staff members

005can get medical attention during the day during uh school hours through that service. And a special thank you to our school nurses because they coordinate all of it and they do an incredible job. So the other thing I wanted to share again is in the new year we are starting a book study on the anxious generation and so that has been posted in parent square and also um on our socials and I really want to encourage our caregivers to participate in this book study. I think it's going to be a gamecher for you and it definitely was for me when I read it. Just wanted to give uh shoutouts to our national board certified teachers. Um new this year are um Miesa Gearing and she is she has earned her National Board Certification Vocal Music

006um early and middle childhood. And then Emily Perkins at North Side and she um has earned hers in physical education. Sarah Potter at Huntertown Elementary and hers is in literacy, reading, language arts. And then um maintaining which is also a huge feat. Um we have Sarah Gayart and she is social studies history um at the high school. And then Melody Hamilton who is also at the high school and hers is maintaining in physical education. Again, I wanted to share um some of the themes that I've been hearing in my rounding sessions um in my hive groups. Um just reiterating that um we've got some systems that we are working on and need to work on. Um a lot of times these things are in place, but we need to get them documented or maybe we

007need to revisit some of those systems. And so we're currently working on um documenting our athletic systems and you'll hear more about that tonight. We're continuing to work on our welcoming and onboarding process as well as our budget. Those are three that are at the primary focus of our work here in the district. Um I'm hearing a lot of great feedback around our hive groups and our strategic uh plan process that we've been working on as well as um the level of safety in our schools. Um our budget committee will meet again this week and they will be hearing um the presentation from our energy assessment. They will also be discussing recommendations for the January budget work session. And then again we have our budget tab on the website and so if you have questions

008about the budget you can submit those there and you can see everything that our budget committee um is reviewing and discussing there as well. And then we have a budget work session with our board on January 13. Um, and we will be looking at the energy assessment as well as the budget committee recommendations. And last, I just wanted to say that my training this month um, as a new superintendent has focused on finance as well as food service. And I wanted to say that um, the KASA has done a wonderful job supporting me and supporting our district. um in this new role of mine. So, thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Jones. We'll move on to our good news report. And Miss Springot, we'll start with you. >> Okay. Uh just really briefly,

009I I'm so excited that it is almost Christmas break. I cannot wait. I'm sure that all of the students, families, staff, and teachers are excited about having a nice break, too. Um we did get to attend um just a board training session um this month which was nice and then uh the KSBA conference was held this month and there were a ton of really really good sessions, lots of good information. So just want to wish everyone a merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday. >> Dr. Gold. >> Hello everyone. Um, I wanted to share kind of echoing what Sher had just said, Miss Springay had just said that we're all excited about um having a little bit of break. I know we've had a lot of school day or snow days rather, NI days.

010I know that um that sometimes can be stressful for families. So, I'm sure that just having just a little bit of reprieve can be very beneficial for a lot of people. But I think it's important for us to remember the resources that we have in our community because not not everyone has the capacity to meet their basic needs over the break as you know especially our kiddos that are um relying on our school lunches and that sort of thing. So we do have a lot of backpack programs and I want to celebrate that and our additional resources that we partner with our community um to provide for our students over break. So, um really excited to um have the opportunity to be here tonight and hear about the wonderful things that our district is doing.

011But I also wanted to give a shout out to our swim and dive team. I ran into some of our students at the local Starbucks as I was picking up my coffee to get me through the evening and I said, "Girls, what should I shout out about tonight?" They said, "We're members of the swim and dive team." Which I knew that already, but they were like, "Share about us." So, I just want to say good luck in your upcoming meet this weekend and congratulations on your success for diving this past week. So, um, and I will turn it over to you, >> Mr. Wilson. >> Thank you, uh, chairman. I wanted to, um, give a shout out to the calendar committee. Um, I worked on it, um, representing the board and especially to Mr. Wells.

012uh he did a wonderful job facilitating the entire uh project and it was you know we we shouldn't take for granted when things come to the board that it's I mean a lot of time and effort goes into everything like this and uh Mr. Wells did a tremendous job and I wish that you all could have seen the interaction of people on that committee from students to parents the teachers it was wonderful Mr. Wells. Thank you very much. >> Yes. I'd like to take a minute just to recognize um Dr. Jones and our transportation department. As uh Dr. Gold mentioned, we've had more snow days than I can remember uh this early in December. But I appreciate you um and the transportation team and all of the folks here at central office that are really

013going out and seeing for yourselves what do the roads look like? whatever, you know, assessing really the safety and and keeping in mind um what we think is best or what you think is best for everyone that may be traveling. And I appreciate your um thoughtfulness and the the consideration that goes into whether to use an NTI or a snow day. Um because those are some the NTI days I think are such an excellent um resource that we have that we didn't have, you know, 15 20 years ago. And I just appreciate that um all the thought that goes into it and I'm I'm sure those are early mornings, but thank you very much. >> I agree. I think you guys were out at like 3:30 one morning, weren't you? Looking at the roads, so

014yeah, thank you. Um for me, just really want to say thank you to everybody that's done so much hard work this first semester of the school year. We're getting up to Christmas break and it just really shows that um what kind of community we have because all the time you see whether it's downtown events and we have students participating in them or parades or anything that we have going on in the community, people come out to support the students when they're active in those. Um and you know, we never need to forget that everybody cares about these students. no matter what your goals are and anything, if you can focus on what's best for these students and these children and the staff that support them, that's what we all need to focus on. And and

015during this time of year, I always like to really remind myself of that. So, thank you everybody for all the work you put in and uh we'll keep going from there. So, we now have our do we have choir performance? Gotcha. >> No problem. >> All right. >> Yeah. I will say I did go to the middle school orchestra uh performance last night and they did a fantastic job. So, I'll sneak that in my good news report. So, thank you to um the conductors, the teachers that work with those students on orchestra and all the other activities. But yeah, that was fantastic last night. All right. and I'll turn over to you for our high school update. >> All right. Well, I appreciate um y'all giving me the opportunity to share um a little bit

016about what's going on at the high school. Um a lot of the the what I'll share with you is kind of what we open the school year with. Um some data highlights, but also our big rocks that have grounded us for the work this year. We've been able to add a few things that I'm excited to share as data come in over the uh the course of the semester. Um but three big categories I'm going to highlight. academics, some culture, um data, and then some overall accountability um as we are just coming off of being able to share that publicly. But a few things um that we kind of open the year with um when we talk about academics at the high school. Um we try to be as data driven as possible and allow

017that to guide a lot of the the work we do. Um and we're really supported by the the curriculum instruction team here in helping us drive a lot of that. So, I'm super appreciative of Mr. Asher and his team I mean helping us dive in and get uh that true data to make these decisions. But when we look at failures across the school um in in the two year last two years we've had uh a 54% decrease in overall student failures and a 55% decrease in in failures at the freshman level. And I think it's easy um to maybe look at that data and say that we've decreased rigor but I'll talk a lot about some structures we put in place that have actually done the opposite of that. I mean, a lot of this

018is tr contributed directly to, I think, our bar um program. I know the middle school in their presentation a couple months ago talked about the impact that it's having there. Um, Miss Preston was able to get get it off the ground at the high school um before I was ever even there. I mean, it's really solidified the work. I think we're at the point where every student has gone through the bar program at the high school and it just shows um in in the data. Um last year we had a lot of changes within um our AP um teaching but we still saw tremendous strides. Um we had 67.7% of our average was our average for AP test rate and that's the second highest in school history. I it's the highest since precoid. Um and

019then 64.7% of our AP courses had an improved pass rate from the previous year. Um so we're increasing year after year but we're increasing um across the board as well. And again that was the highest improvement rate since the 1819 school year which that pre precoid um data as well. I mean it's easy to kind of get lost in that. I know we get a lot of questions about who is actually taking our um dual credit classes. And this is one slide I'm most excited about. Um when we look at our AP and dual credit enrollment, this is broken down by our student population. So you can see the percentage of the the students that are enrolled in each of those um programs um by uh each of the subgroups that we kind of kind

020of look at there. So I'll give you a moment to to look at that. I wish I had historic data to kind of compare this to. I can only imagine that it's it's increased over time. Um but where we are um we're happy to see those kind of numbers and we're going to continue to focus on increasing each of those enrollments within each of those groups. As we dive into to culture, these are two big highlights we we hit on to open the the school year. Um, a lot of it is focused on our behavior structures that we put in place. And when when I uh first got to the high school, um, we ran the numbers and what we were seeing is a lot of our students weren't getting to class. That was one

021of our biggest um, kind of behavior referrals. Um and in that time we've decreased um students out of class time whether that's skipping or just out of area by 62%. Um so really we've been able to focus on what's happening in classes now getting students to class to be able to focus on on what's happening in class and so we're really excited about that because we know students learn when they're in class. Um and then uh 70% of decrease in student physical contact. So when you look at um data of of student aggression and a lot of that's kind of the our behavior referrals for fighting um the 70% decrease in in two years. So we're making school safer. We're getting kids in class. Um and when we look at at at culture this kind

022of dives into attendance. We all know attendance is tied to funding. Um we want to make a place where students um feel like they belong. And so I pulled these numbers to be able to share with you. um that data indicates that students are um coming to school at a at a higher rate each and every year. Um so within our freshmen and I again contribute bar um to to this um we've had over a 2% increase in freshman attendance and this is just the first four months. So it's comparing this school year's data to first four months of um the previous three years as well. Um but our percentage for all student attendance has increased um over one and a half percent as well. So really excited. Again, kids are getting to school, kids

023are getting to class, kids are um learning, and that's evident in the things that are happening, which leads us to accountability. Um it's hard not to celebrate the great work that our our teachers and our students are doing. Um people ask me how Woodford County is and only thing I can say is we have great teachers. We have great students. Um I couldn't imagine wanting to be anywhere else. Um and all that leads to what our accountability um is showing that this state that we have great teachers, we have great students, we have a great school system. Um our math and reading um we scored in the green high range. Um social studies, uh science and writing was very high, the highest score you can get. And we really focused on post-secary um readiness. I

024think that's something I shared with you last year. It was an area of concern for us. Um, and it's an area I'm really passionate about because when you look at the accountability areas, it's the one thing we can focus on for four years. Um, it's not a snapshot of how a student did on a test that day. It's not um the factors that they have in their life each and every day that may contribute to graduation rate or um being a transient student. It it it's truly things that we can focus on and help students achieve goals. Um, and we were able to hit a 113%. So they built in high demand um indicators for that as well and we were able to get that blue status there. Our graduation rate for the last year

025was 100%. We're super proud of that and our quality of school climate was um a high rating as well. Um so that gives us a a very high rating which made us a blue school overall. So um it's hard to beat a yellow jacket but um being a blue school um makes it just a little sweeter. Um, when we dive into those indicators for accountability testing, I wanted to be able to share these with you. We often look at percentage of proficient and distinguish and you can see those increase each and every year within each of those categories. Um, but it's not just focusing on those top achievers. While that's where accountability lies, it's really reducing those noviceses too. So while you we can celebrate um our students reaching proficient distinguished status um we're seeing

026our students leave that novice category as well um year after year. So we're excited um about that. And then I talked about Mr. Asher being able to provide that kind of data driven perspective when we look at our our marginal groups and our gap groups as well. We're seeing the exact same thing. So this is kind of looking at our novice percentage within each of those categories. economically disadvantaged our IEP students um and then our black African-American or Hispanic and our two or more races. And you see the same thing within novice reduction there. Um so that's something I I I can't help but celebrate that our staff is doing. They're not again just focusing on um those students that are showing up and achieving each and every day. They're really getting into the journey

027looking at how we can provide interventions um for students. Um and you may have heard about that with within our Hyde program. We've really focused in on um providing a universal screener for our students um identifying those uh gaps in foundational knowledge and being able to support students so that they can still gain that high school context but content but maybe um overcome some learning deficits they've had in the past as well. Any questions about those highlights before we jump in? >> I just have a quick question as well. >> No, that is that is strictly our IP students. All right. So, jumping into kind of our big rocks for this year's. These are three categories that we um focused on. PLC refinement. So, I shared with you last year we've kind of shifted um

028some of our PLC work that I'll talk about. Um and then the the other two areas are are really growth areas for me as well, getting out of my comfort zone. Um, and that's building a guiding coalition and working on building student voice um, within the things that we're doing because we really felt like we were in in that place as well. Um, within our PLC refinement last school year, we moved to a collaboration schedule. Um, we had a lot of autonomy for our PLC's. I mean, at the high school level, uh, we want to protect that because a lot of teachers have so many preps. That's the one thing you get at high school is how do I manage um to collaborate with all my PLC partners um but not overwhelm um the finite

029amount of time that I have as well. Um so we kept that autonomy but we wanted to build in structure where we come together um on a bi-weekly basis as a department and really focus in on the goals that those PLC's set. Last year again we left a lot of autonomy to that and kind of naturally discovered um some themes within each department. Um and this year um with again help from the curriculum assess um assessment team um we really focused on what what those PLC's were focused on with a self assessment and goal setting. So each of our PLC's um did a PLC self assessment that Mr. Hunley worked with our um district PLC guiding coalition on creating um and that helped streamline some work for each of those PLC's. So, we again come

030together on a a monthly basis. Um it's it's bi-weekly meetings, but each um PLC only presents on a monthly basis and we really focus in on what their goals are. So, um that can be anywhere from um database results that from their summit of assessments um and interventions that they're providing within their their hives or um profile or sorry, portrait of a a learner um initiatives that they're trying to build in um to their curriculum. So, we're seeing some really great gains in those targeted and focused areas. Um I know those department our PLC's that are focused on um portrait of a learner um really led the charge on our showcase night which we were super excited. Um that's been a um kind of uphill battle is getting folks back invested at the high school

031level from from the parent side. Um as students get older sometimes we lose our engagement. Um so building that connection back into school. So, we tried to rebrand what we were doing um in launching our showcase night and and had a a great success, a great turnout. I think we had about um 30% of our students um come out and um showcase their learning and their parents see exactly what they were doing. So, um I think this uh focused effort within our PLC's and that goal setting has been a big contributing factor to to that success. Sorry about that. Know what happened. All right. Um, and again, I said Big Rock number two and Big Rock number three are a little bit out of my comfort zone. I I tend to be a little bit

032more focused on on that data. I enjoy being able to present those things to you and kind of get in the numbers and and tweak those systems and structures. Um, these move a little bit more to that that interpersonal um side that I super appreciative of. first our um admin team and our leadership team at the high school that's been able to kind of shift over some of that systems work and keep that going, but also the support at central office and Dr. Jones and Mr. Asher and Mr. Hunley that have been able to step up and kind of support me in this work as well. But we really wanted to bring more stakeholders to the table in the decision-making process at the high school. Um so we have had a leadership team in the

033past that is our department chairs and we um took this step to add a guiding coalition um that can really dive into our um comprehensive school improvement plan um help build the structures within that and then make sure our holistic decision- making um is centered on on that. Um, I think it's helped communication out. Um, it's helped our leadership team focus on kind of the day-to-day decisions and operations while our guiding coalition can look at um, bigger perspectives um, and that continuous improvement cycle. And then the next is even more important than that in this building in um, student voice. We had a lot of structures that we wanted to to build on in the past two years and with the leadership turnover that the high school had faced, I'm building in those structures and

034transitioning to a new building. um protecting the traditions of Woodford County High School, but also how do we incorporate that into a new building? And now we're at a place where student voice is so important in building on that foundation that we've renewed. Um last year we started some student feedback surveys for AP and dual credits and our teachers were so hungry to get that data. Um they were kind of emailing me all all summer. Um we didn't get uh I I kind of pushed that out late. Um we'll probably look at doing that here at the semester break to really inform the the um kind of instruction for our teachers moving forward because again I think um they're hungry for what their students are saying too. Um we've started a principal's advisory council which

035is a team of students from um each and every grade level um that comes together we try to do on a monthly basis and focus in on um specific themes around high school. Um, we've talked about engagement, we've talked about bullying, um, we've talked about cell phones. Um, uh, it's been really interesting to get those students perspectives and hear the ways that we can tweak things at the high school. Um, this last month, um, we've selected a sitebased um, student rep. Um, following the lead of the board, we've, um, watched, um, the impact Milliey's had this year, and I think all of y'all can attest to that as well. We're excited to have that kind of same representation on our um sitebased decision-making council um moving forward. And then um student driven support programming. So

036I talked a little bit about kindness week briefly. It was a um studentled initiative to really address um kind of bullying and specifically cyber bullying within um the confines of high school. I think it was really impactful for students to get that perspective. Um, and again, I talked about our principal's advisory council that came together and and and talked about what would be impactful for our students and how we could shape a week that really um targeted um things that they would be responsive to. We're working on getting sources of strength off the ground. I know that's been a push over the last couple years. Um, but I think we're ready to finally to the point to get that um launched. Um, and then I can't um not highlight our youth service center um student

037center groups. Miss Hunley does an amazing job and she's actually featured um this month in a uh state level spotlight um over the ACA group. So I have that on here. Um and just within that group that I think she launched last year um as as soon as she uh came into the high school uh or joined us at the high school and in that year we really targeted 15 students that um uh were were at risk for many factors. Um and we've seen a 704% decrease in behavior referrals, a 77 um% decrease in um absence events and a 26% decrease in suspensions amongst that group. Um so again that group is um targeted at males at risk males um and and it's just huge strides to the point that the end of the year

038last year they were saying hey are we doing again can we have this and we've expanded it um to the students in it she's started um grief counseling group has a girls group that met over the course of the summer um I was able to attend one of her groups um over the course of the summer we went to the life adventure center and took kids uh canoing and it was just cool to to see those students that don't have that opportunity be able to to find that opportunity here in our community and and connect with um other students as well. Um so those are some of the big initiatives that we have going on at the high school. Um happy to answer any questions that you have. >> Yeah, I just for one I

039want to praise you and your team for this focus on student voice. I mean, we have, like you mentioned, we have Millie on as a student representative, which apparently that's not the norm in Kentucky for school boards to have a student representative. And there's actually a state legislator who's trying to push that more for uh multiple districts. And so, the fact that Woodford County does put that emphasis on student voice and that you're continuing that in your team and having all this, that's really important because, you know, it's not just about teaching them everything in class. It's about developing leaders, developing students on how to find your voice and how to get involved. And so, um, I think that's a really important thing that you're doing. So, thank you for that. >> And thank you,

040too. Um, just when you were sharing with us the results of the AP and the dual credit, um, and really a a great amount of diversity in representation from all of our students. I'm happy to see that that become more broad um because I think that that just points to increased, you know, access for people >> um and opportunities. So, I'm very happy to see that and uh congratulations. Please share that with your your teachers and all the staff there. Appreciative of that. >> For sure. And I'm excited to be able to track that long term, too, and just see hopefully see those numbers continue to grow. >> Absolutely. Thank you. I want to say just looking at the student voice slide here. I I appreciate the fact that you're hitting every population of your

041student success. So, you know, we're looking at maybe higher achieving students with AP and dual credit and you've got, you know, different opportunities for leadership in multiple areas. And I think that that is so important to recognize that that skill set from not just your emerging leaders, but pulling other students up to that level of, hey, we see this and we want to give you these opportunities to grow and have that that capacity to be have leadership, but also find their place in student groups because I think connection and belonging is so critically important for our students. So, um, I just love that there's multiple ways for your students to get involved and I think that that is so critical and I appreciate all the things that your staff are doing as well. So, congratulations.

042>> I just wanted to thank you for an excellent report. You hit a lot of areas very concisely and that was very very well done. I agree with everything the other three have said. Uh, and I was going to mention those, but I'm glad you all did. So, I'll mention two other things that that I thought were very important about your presentation. one was the information about a 100% graduation rate. That does not happen everywhere. Uh and that is a testament to our leadership team, our teachers and everybody. Uh so well done on that. And then the second thing you mentioned u is so important, kindness week. You know, if there's anything we need in this world right now is more kindness. So, I am very very glad that uh that you all brought that

043up. And I've learned in life that sometimes when you hear about acts of kindness, it makes you understand you can be a deliverer of kindness. So, I hope that that worked out for you all. Thank you for a wonderful report. >> Thank you all. >> All right. Next we have our athletics presentation by Coach Johnson. There we go. >> Excuse me. Good evening. Dennis Johnson. I'm the athletic director uh of of the district. And so I'm going to be speaking on some all things kind of athletics kind of going over a few things and we'll go through a few of these slides. All righty. So the first thing is we're going to we're going to talk about standards uh our systems and goals our budget some sponsorship things we're looking to do uh starting next

044year our dashboards our priorities and scheduling uh participation opportunity and then some partnerships we have that are that are really amazing in our district. So the first thing I'll say before we start is kind of the standard what we try to do and I you know we we always use a gold standard and so the one thing we want to do is keep a uh we want our environment to always be adequate for our student athletes and our parents and so I think we run the best game day systems uh in the state of Kentucky. You look at from baseball to soccer the district tournament you look at some of those things football uh swimming all these things we run top-notch events. So, as we go through all these things and start having these meetings,

045we want to make sure uh at the end of the day when somebody comes to Wolfer County, our facilities are in great working standing order, bathrooms, you know, the the the environment that people get a chance to come into is topnotch. So, those are so definitely uh top of our priority. The first thing we do is we have stakeholders and this is this has really been uh really good for me as a district affect director. So, it's not very often. We've had, I think, three meetings up to this point is that you get our superintendent, our principles, uh the athletic directors, the middle school athletic directors, uh uh we get all our bookkeepers, right? Uh we get our uh district finance persons, and then Jean Kirk, who actually works with us, who has 40 years

046of experience. And so, we all get a chance to get in a room and really talk about all the goods, the bads, things we want to change in our district. And it's been really, really good. And so the ultimate goal um as we begin is uh every year at the beginning of the school year I have a athletic director's meeting. Uh then I have a meeting with all the coaches. And so we give every coach a wolfer county handbook. And so as we go about this process, the end goal, one of our end goals is to have a a athletic handbook for districtwide because at some point we all leave and positions change and so we want the next person who comes in uh any of the position as a coach, as a custodial that

047plays a part in it, as a as a assistant coach, as a athletic trainer to know where all this this stuff can be found in one place. And so that's what we're currently working on now. So, like I said, the end goal u next year we hope to have a athletic handbook for everybody to to be on the same page. Standards and systems. Uh the first thing we want to do is is is things are changing, right? Things aren't like they were 20 years ago. And so, we thought it would be really really good to give every coach what does it cost to run uh an event. And so if you look on on this uh on the on the paper, you know, during the week, um you know, all the things that gate workers,

048SRO's, game security, custodians, officials, which is a a charge that's uh that's going up every year. And so we give them a total. And so, uh each coach now knows before because I let those every coach do all their scheduling. They I don't do all the scheduling. They do their scheduling. They kind of know how much it's going to cost to run the event. so they know profit what they what they need to make in order to keep them having a a positive budget. And so we came up with one for every one of our sports. We're currently actually working on a middle school well. So we'll have this all in in one combined space uh in probably the next month. And then we uh uh on the weekend, right? Because now uh we're having

049to pay each individual team is having to pay for u custodians and other things like that. So we have a a weekend where it cost to run a game during a weekday and what it cost to run a game during the weekend. And I think that's going to be very very huge for our coaches. We've in the past had a ton of weekend events, right, which was we've been able to athletically the district to be able to cover. Some things are changing and so we need to let our coaches know if you're going to have an event, right? We need to make sure it's worth your while, right? The cost where you want to go into the negative having an event and like again we want every kid to have every opportunity but it has

050to make sense too uh in the sense of financial and budgeting and making sure everybody's account is in the in the positive. So, this is one huge things we've done for all of our athlete or for all of our coaches and I think it's going to help them out tremendously with the budget. The next thing we're talked about is is one thing we're going to change. We do you see all the banners and everybody does a lot of individual uh sponsorships from from my booster clubs from we got some some quarterback club basketball has a club. Everybody has all these different systems in place. So, we want to try to bring this into one umbrella. And so, uh we came up and I went talked to uh one of my buddies uh the district AD

051at Scott County. I've talked to my buddy at Spencer County and so they do some different type things. So we're looking at doing some corporate sponsorship. So I'm going to really starting next semester and into the summer really start digging into some of these corporate sponsorship. I think we can get some people. We have some people high dollar people that were willing to invest uh in Wolfer County. If you look at our school, our new school now, we signed a game one deal uh and they outfitted our school. We see all the flags and all the banners and all the Wolfer County signs and and and and things like that. They've done a really really good job. So, one of our big things we want to do with this sponsorship is um is we want

052to be able to use they're going to put a big windcreen at the stadium uh on the bleachers. And so, we think if we can get some sponsorships, some guys uh some organizations, some companies to to display their logos, I think that can really help us out a lot and really advance try to do something with our budget, put us in the positive. So, those are some big things we're working on. But, I think sponsorships at different levels. So, we started if you look at 10,000, 5,000, $3,000 uh dollar levels, and I think we'll be able to get uh some some great sponsorships to help our to help our athletic uh budget out. And I think that could be good. But again, the the other sponsorships is uh we got the big jumbotron at the

053stadium. So, when we play games over there, people being able to display uh their businesses on there as well. And then there's some other type thing just beside the old signs or they have some now electronic uh roll screens that you can you can put all different types of companies. So we think that those things can be beneficial for us moving forward in our district. The dashboard is really huge and this is uh probably Dr. Jones is really her big thing. She wants to she wanted to have somewhere we could put everything all combined. So policies right ticketing uh supervision uh so all the things FMX so everybody any coach who needed to find anything about our athletic program will be able to come in one place and it hadn't been like that in the

054past and so uh we jokingly joked about in one of our meetings know Jean's been there for 42 years I've been there for eight or 10 years and so everybody kind of knows what to do but it hadn't been in one centralized location so we're really working hard on this dashboard So, anytime anybody has a question, they're able to go right to this and be able to figure out just what they need. So, if somebody had to fill in a teacher or something, had to fill in for ad to do maybe game day supervision, they know exactly what to do, how to lock up, how to open up, what needs to be shut down, turning off the the lights at the stadium or turning down the air conditioning so it doesn't run too high or

055or whatever we need to do. So, this dashboard is going to be really really good because it's going to be in one centralized location on a Google doc. you can just go press and play and you'll know exactly it'll be uh really spelled out clearly for you understand what's going on. So I think this is going to really help us out a ton. Uh one of the big questions before I talk about our priority scheduling is uh no there was a lot of a lot of talk about once we got our our uh our new state that we weren't going to use falling springs and that is totally not the truth. You can never have enough facilities at any in any school right we could have 10 more gyms. We could have five more turf

056fields. we could have uh two more swimming arenas. We could always be in use. So uh that's the first Miss Norma. I think we will have a great partnership. We work well together and there's not too many places you can go probably in the state and the country where you have such a great working relationship with Falling Springs uh uh and the school system. So uh one of the big questions too is how do how do we schedule the weight room? How do we schedule the the the field? How do we schedule the tennis court? So inseason sports always take priority. So, whoever's in season, uh, they they get facilities uses first. Um, so I had a meeting about a week ago with because I knew following spring turf is getting redone. I had a

057meeting with our all our, uh, lacrosse folks and our and our track and field just to get the schedule together because we want to make sure they're all in season. Everybody needs time to practice. So, we want to make sure we got that schedule. Great meeting. we're able to schedule it out through the FMX calendar, uh, which every coach is able to see, but only certain people are able to schedule just because we don't want anybody going in there taking somebody's, uh, practice time out or game time. And so, I've tried to do a better job at meeting with all our folks in advance just so we can make sure it's smooth transition. Like I said, I I know I'm huge on practice as a coach and everybody's practice the most important, but we want

058to make sure everybody gets equal time. And so, so inseason sports take priority and then the second step would be offseason guys. then you get a chance to to schedule where you need. For instance, we do spring football, but I know it's lacrosse time and so they'll get the fields soccer for the middle school and so you just sometimes you got to work together and find a place. And so I think we've done really really good. Everybody works well together to make sure everybody gets enough time like we all want 350 to 550. It's not possible all the time, but I think we've done a good uh we've done really really well. And this FMX is able to let every person in our district, every coach, uh, custodian, trainer to be able to see when

059practices are. So, this has been huge for us. Participation and opportunity. Um, I think one of the one of the huge things and and I'll say this to my mom, I think middle school and high school sports are the the best in the world. Not every kid's going to go to play college or get a chance to go to the professional ranks. And so, we want to give kids a ton of opportunities. And so at the high school we offer 22 sports that are offered at the middle school 14. And so I did some research and we have to do a title n survey every year at the high school. So we have over 700 um uh athletes at the high school who participate. There's over 400 at the middle school and I got a

060chance to talk to Ricks a few weeks ago. We had a meeting and there's over 1500 people in our in our county who participate in sports which is huge. So 60 65% of students in Wolfford County are participating sports and that's you don't get that a lot and that's why I think that's one great thing about a county right we don't we don't draw from two or three different schools everybody's together but if you at any moment you can see a ton of kids from from from the the middle school playing at the new stadium or or the youth playing at Falling Springs or the youth going over to the to the old uh to this field out here the old grass field. That's my that's my part and joy. I've been there for 10

061years to have the practice. So, uh, but we offer a ton of sports. Uh, every three years we have to do a try on survey from the catches to see if we want to if they want to offer some more. Uh, some sports on the horizon might be boys volleyball and I think at some point um, a girls flag football will come into play. I still have to we do a flag football game. We didn't weren't able to do it this year just because of of girls soccer and volleyball. We're still playing in the district and reading. So, I got to make sure I do that before these girls kill me. But I think two those are two of the sports that um in the next coming years might be offered at our high school.

062And so but but I think 65% participation is is a humongous for our district and the more the more student athletes we get a chance to participate I think the better partnerships and and this is one of the big things and I talked about it before man we are blessed to be able to have this this facility we have our high school facility and we have falling springs and we all work together and so I'm not going to read all those but we use the elementary schools we use this track we use falling springs right we use soccer fields Uh, golf goes to the country club. We just kind of signed a a little agreement to be able to go to Midway until our field gets done. So, we're going to be able to use

063some of Midway's facilities. They've worked well with us. So, we have a ton of auxiliary places just beside the new high school we're able to use and I think we use all of them uh every single day and and and it's been great. It's a great partnership. I talked to uh one of my buddies and about 50 55 60,000 for a small school kind of maintenance and and the things you need to do and then u uh one of my buddies in Indianapolis the big ad and they're at 250,000 to take care of the facilities. They got two or three turf fields, three or four gyms and so the partnership we have with Falling Springs is phenomenal. They do a good job of helping us out. I think we partner well together and uh that's

064what makes one one county district so good or one school. We all work together. uh most of the kids are know each other and able to get around in a close proximity and so we're excited about that. So these are some of the things we've been working on. Um I think getting the uh get the all the systems in place and so uh and getting uh everything in in in in one centralized location for everybody to be able to see is going to be huge for our diction. This is a great thing I know for me to be able to learn from everybody else to get all our minds in one room to be able to meet and and what we don't like, what we do like, and really come to a a joint conclusion

065has been really really good. So, athletics are good in Wford County, man. We love them. We're uh we've I think the one thing we try to do is raise the bar. We have good coaches, good assistant coaches, good parent support, and so, you know, I love it every single day, and we're going to continue to to to do the great work. And I think, you know, the best experience is for all these kids to be able to experience playing a a sport at least one time, right? It might not be your thing, but I think we offer so many so many activities and and things that kids do. We want to get every kid involved. So, with that being said, any questions? >> I just really appreciate that we had this presentation. I've since I've

066been on the board, we've never seen one specific about the athletics and you brought so much good information to us today. I mean, the the percentage of student athletes we have. I love that you brought budgetary information and you know, one of the big things that the board tasked Dr. Jones with when we hired her was wrap your head around every budget, every single system that we have in place and the fact that you're working with her and you jumped in and you're you're pulling this information together. I really appreciate it. I think a lot of people do. Um because you never know sometimes you just don't know what's going on in different departments and with this sport or that sport or or this group. And so um thank you very much. we needed to

067see this and we have been wanting it for a while. So definitely appreciate it. Um I think it helps give visibility to a lot of things that we've been wondering about for a while. So yeah. >> And Miss Miss Tracy, Mr. Hunley, man, those those guys have been really great. So we have a lot of the guys are in the building. So it's it's been a great partnership. >> Absolutely. And I you know, not to jump in, but uh Falling Springs is an amazing partnership. And you're right, not a lot of places have that. the the close relationship and the use of the facilities, the agreements that they have with us, and you know, I love that you promoted that. And yes, we are still going to use Falling Springs, everybody. Nobody nobody's getting rid

068of Falling Springs. Um, and yeah, so just thank you for for bringing that up as well. Mr. Wilson, >> Coach Johnson, thank you so much for this report. Uh, excellent report. I was really surprised about I was curious how many of our students participate. I had no idea it was 65%. That's wonderful because uh that's part of the education process. That's part of the learning process being being on a team, etc. Uh and something that that it's hard to gauge and I don't know how you would do a report on this, but the community pride we have in our athletics program. I mean, if any of you all were at the Scott County football games to see that pride and see how many people turned out, um, you know, you go to Kroger and places

069and you you hear people talking about a two-time cross country champion and things like that. Uh, and I think it helps to promote a positive uh environment and it it helps for the community to understand uh more about our educational process. It's just it's a win winin. >> It is. >> And thank you very much for your guidance and for your leadership. I appreciate it. >> I'm going to take it down to a parent level. As a parent of student athlete in Wford County School Systems, I just want to say thank you so much for sharing this information. I think it is vitally important that it gets into the hands of our parents and caregivers so they have a better understanding of kind of how this whole process works. Because I will say from a

070parent lens and h being in the concession stand working or being at the gate, there's lots of conversations that are had about what where does this go and how does this factor in and how do we get to go to these big events and where are the pay sources and where is my fundraising dollars going? Is it going to booster? Is it going to student athletics? Um and the need for a card reader at the gates so we don't have to do fan go fan all the time or at the concession stands. Um, but I just think that this is just very valuable information that will help bring a collective understanding for our athletic parents and caregivers. So, I just want to say thank you so much for what you're doing and all the support.

071When I look at this um and I know that you and I have emailed um about, hey, middle school boys, basketball, where can we put them? Um, it it just speaks to the growing need for these spaces and these facilities. reason to echo what you said, Falling Springs is a great partnership that brings up our student athletes and I think that it's so great that we continue to nurture that in so many different programs, including the quarterback club and the football program and our soccer program and so on and so forth. So, um I'm just really appreciative of all the work that you have done to bring the collective together. Um but I think it's, you know, we have great coaches, great facilities, great teamwork, but another thing as a parent, I think it brings

072families together so much. the relationships and connections that I have made in this community as a sports parent are so invaluable and watching my kids grow up and play sports with their peers and just that connection and belonging that they experience and feel as part of a team. I just think it's huge and so many kids are impacted by it. So, thank you so much for facilitating all those things. >> Thank you, coach. >> Appreciate it. >> No, I was just going to say thank you so much for this presentation. And I think uh like everyone else said, it's helpful to have everything and just kind of a report out periodically about what's going on kind of throughout the whole district. And I'm I'm excited to learn more about the corporate sponsorships, too, and how

073that will work. I think there are things that we can do creatively to help support programs that we already have in place and to develop them. So, I love that idea because there we have had I mean I've even had people reach out to me and say, "Hey, how about >> you know this kind of a club and something that's because, you know, with band I know that there's a band boosters program and all different kinds of things depending on the sport, but um I think that >> looking at creative ways to help support the the things that we'd like to do and provide for our kids is the way to go." So, thank you for doing that. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. >> All right. And Dr. Ray Burn is going to

074come up with our new high school project update. All right. Good evening, board. Today, um, I'm going to share with you the budget that is remaining from the high school project. first so that we can have an understanding. So if you look at the munis report that you have available to you which is also uploaded um I ran this as of today. So this is as of today what's encumbered. Um so the way munis reports work you have your 8019b which is our new high school project and then you have our 8023 which is the phase two. Um so you can see those two different line items on there because they're two separate BGs and two separate BG products. Yep. Just over to Mr. Blah. Thank you. Um you can see the first column here

075is the incumbrances. That is the money that has been with a purchase order that has been paid um set to be paid through a purchase order but has not left our bank account yet. Um that is money to contractors with when we're in the last 1% of any project. That is the part that takes forever is to get everybody paid out. And so we have been working through those and working with Trace Creek to to get those incumbrances down. Uh but that is the project there. Um you can see the the budgets are there. Remember a negative is and revenue is a positive. It's backwards than what you would want to think. Uh and then our month-to- date and our uh year-to- date and quartertoate reports are there. Um, so if you look at the

076bottom of the the page that you have, you can see that all of the combined, so that's the darker blue section at the very very bottom. You have your total revenue, total expenses, and the grand total. And then you look at this last column down here, the 802 number or 803 number. I think this one is the one from prior. You all have 803 on your paper. Um, that 803 is as of today. So this one was a November. I was going to do November, then I was like, "No, I'll just do um do it for as of today for this one." So 803 is what is left in the project total. So that's everything's already been encumbered. We have $83 left remaining in our project. $83,000. Yeah, $83. That's that's that's close to that

077one. Yeah, it's all good. Um so it's been a long day. Um but anyways, that is what we are currently sitting at. So, uh, part of the discussions that we've had that I'm not asking for a decision to be made on tonight. So, please don't take this as I'm asking for any any action items to be presented and to be voted on tonight. Um, we had told you when I first came on that we needed a month to get our to to just reset and make sure we understand still what was going on. So, here's where we are. The first thing is the spring box. Um, you have an email that was sent to Mr. green from the um conservation district for Woodford County where they came and looked at the um facility and they

078were in agreeance that that is an appropriate solution to um the spring box problem um that we're having now. The spring box has not the spring has not been a problem. It has not gone above the concrete. It has not impeded any of the uh bus circle as it speaks right now as it is right now. Okay. So that is their opinion but we wanted a second opinion that was an outside agency to come and look at it and that is what they said and that is a common fix for this problem is that spring box. Um and they also noted that we shared with them the what we were being asked to spend and they appro they they said in that email there that that was an appropriate one from the city engineer. um

079that also was talking over them. So you can read that email um that as you wish. Um so that is the first thing. The second thing is the uh parking situation at the high school. And so we have gone through and like received bids for that one. Again, we're going to start over in January to make sure that it is appropriate because we've kind of drugg our feet only because we have wanted a good get a good stance on where we were. Um so the that is the additional parking lot parking spots at the high school. Um 121,000 was one of the bids. Um this one was just over 60,000 and then this one was at 60,000 as well. So, um, just so you are aware of like we have $83,000 to spend. $200,000 would

080be could be given to that one and that would give us, you know, what was left of that. So, that's kind of where we are on the project. Um the plan is in January to come back with the board to make final decisions on how we want to finish this out so that we can come up with a game plan to get the BG closed. It will take some time to close the BG. Um but whatever we don't spend can be used on another capital project or a roof repair or whatever we want to on that as well. Can you remind us about what the estimated cost of the spring box system? >> It was about 75,000. That's the number that's in top of my head, but >> Okay. >> Um, yeah. 76 75. Yeah.

081>> And just to make sure I'm clear, are you're saying that the 200,000 could be the highend, like if we pave, but then the 60,000 range for the parking lot is more of that gravel comp. >> This would be the the combining of the two products. >> Okay. Got you. Got you. Sorry. I just want to make sure. >> No. >> Um, >> so like that is not black top. We didn't we can quote it out black top. We can quote it out. However, um, >> I just wanted to make sure I was clear about the combined number. Um, the other question I had is what about the HVAC problems that we were having? Were we seeing that? >> I'm getting to that one. >> Oh, sorry. Put a pin in that. >> So, this

082is the this is where we are on that. Um, any questions related to the parking or the spring box? >> I do have a question about the spring box. Are are we talking about maybe moving forward with the spring box at this point in time? Because I thought we were going to hold and see what we needed to do. >> We're going to come back in January with >> Right. And then >> where we are, what we're going to do, and how we're >> at that point. No, I don't mean I didn't mean tonight. I just meant like the last I thought we had talked about it that it was like wait and we were going to wait and see. That was the tactic we were taking. I didn't know we were going to make

083a decision in January about it because I have a follow-up question if we're going to make a decision in January to help me think ahead about that. and that is where do we stand with them taking ownership responsibility helping with the pay source are they still willing to wave those fees that they had discussed if we wait until J like where's our statute of limitation around >> so each organization has reduced their price on fees most of them have been the fees that they're going to be collecting um but it's not a significant >> amount >> decrease >> well I mean at least it's something >> and like it's it's really they're doing something yes but not a lot. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> So, um the biggest thing that we have to be

084careful of with this spring box is that it is going to impact the buses. >> It is going to impact huge vehicles that are going to be going over blacktop that is going to be have to be repaired multiple times because it's right now it's it's well set and everything, but if they're putting in that spring box, they're going to have to cut that um pavement and make those adjustments with that in that pavement. Um, Mr. Green and I have been like, can we mitigate it in a different way without a spring box that where we can route the water to the drain? Right now, it is going to the drain. Um, and it dries up in the spring. So, it's not actually making it to the pavement like they're they were concerned about. So,

085it just makes it challenging for mowing. >> Okay. >> In that area. So, it's like a wet grass always in that little spot for mowing. Does that cost include the French drain system that they were also talking about putting in in addition to the spring box? >> So that's all inclusive of what they were talking about. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> So that is spring box. That is the um parking. The last thing is just an update for you all. Uh the boiler has not kicked off since November 19th. Knock on wood. Um, so we have been able to successfully do a firmware update on our products and get them working and talking and um, speaking the correct language that it's supposed to speak. There was a box that wasn't checked um, in the programming

086side of that that the one of the programmers were looking at and they checked the box and it magically works and we've made it through very cold temperatures this last week and it did not kick off. So, um, we're confident that it is that checkbox, whatever that checkbox was, which is amazing that a little checkbox, but I know how that works, but you know, one checkbox could set up set off a whole system. Um, so that has been um fixed hasn't mean we've been going for a month and have had no issues and before it was every other day. Um, >> so nothing needed replaced, no additional installation fees or anything. Just it was just hardware >> programming. Yeah. >> Would you share also about how you're having the you and and Mr. Green and

087and when I can join as well are having those weekly meet update meetings because that's you've done an excellent job. I just want you to share that. >> Yeah. So each week um we have pretty much every contractor that has been a part of this um this issue with the boiler and issue with the systems not talking have had weekly coordination meetings for the last two months once we found out it we found out that they were happening and and started asking and probing more questions. Um so it's got the um architects on there, the trace 3es, trace creeks on there, and then um all of the contractors, subcontractors that have been a part of the program um project have been on there and they are literally they have a line item of everything that

088they're going through and putting dates on it and who's responsible for it and stuff's actually getting done. Uh which is which is really nice. Um and it's it's saved a lot of headache. You know, we've got we've had the manufacturer on there for the system that wasn't working and you know, it just gets the all the people in the same spot that doesn't allow them to point fingers at each other, which is what they do when they're not in the same room. >> Yeah. And Lisa Slama, my administrative assistant, takes notes of that every every week and does a great job um keeping track of it and making sure that people actually do what they say they're going to do. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. So, um, any other questions? >> Yeah. >> Um, I

089do want to say though, uh, I had to get ESPN to watch number two on UK because, uh, hometown kid, we got to support. So, I now watch UK basketball because of Jasper. Uh, and then, um, the, uh, high school received a blue rating, shutting down for a week, making a massive move, and still was able to be a top ranked high school. So, if you don't remember that, that's what we were doing at this time last year. So, congrats to the high school staff. >> Thank you. Good call out. >> All right. And next, Dr. Jones is going to provide us with the strategic vision presentation >> and guests. No one else wants um let me let me begin by saying how much I have enjoyed this steering committee the the um strategic visioning

090steering committee and I have to give a shout out now we call him Mr. Stutter but Mr. Bill Adams that has presented to you all um has been so valuable in leading and facilitating um the work of the focus groups and the steering committee and we are so excited to present this draft to you as a board. Someone asked me about it last week and a I was at the chamber doing a a conversation sort of a coffee with administrators and the chamber and they asked about the vision. and I said, "I can't talk to you about it till I talk to the board first." So, this this has the list of our um steering committee members, and you can see I just want to name them because they have been incredible. Joanna Smith, um

091a parent, Silus Hart representing Weaf in the community, uh Wade Slama operations, Dr. Sergent at the high school, Dr. KT Gold, our board member. Uh, Miss Rebecca Gulan, soon to be Dr. Goolan. Um, from Huntertown Elementary, uh, Mackenzie Durr, uh, represented administrators, school administrators, um, from Southside, Dr. Raburn, um, COO, Mr. Ryan Asher, CAOO, and then, uh, Amy Oats, um, with special ed and also MTSS, and then Heather Varnner representing our, um, instructional assistants. um uh Elaine Bailey who is Mrs. Woodford County. You all know this. So she is everything Woodford County and then myself. And so we're excited to share um the draft with you today. Uh what went into this this process was pretty amazing. Um we started out with nine focus groups and then the strategic the steering committee said we feel

092like we need a little bit more student voice. And so I was able to give them the notes from my student hive meeting. So we're able to bring in those as well into the conversation. So 12 focus groups, um, student groups, caregivers, community, schoolboard, um, classified and certified. And then we had 890 uh, survey respondents, which was really great. Um and then also our steering committee that conducted the data analysis and um synthesizing all of that and really articulating what we felt like the vision should look like. So, we're going to start out with um truly we were so excited about this um motto and the motto that the group really felt like encapsulated everything we had heard from all of our constituents is Woodford County Public Schools legacy of excellence future of opportunity. And

093what was really neat was Saturday when the school board came together in the training, the same words were echoed. It gives me chills. The same words were echoed in the commitments that we made as a as that you guys made as a board. Really all about that excellence and opportunity. And so it just it makes me so excited about the future of our schools. Um the draft mission that we would like for you to consider uh Woodford County Public Schools will cultivate portrait ready learners by offering a safe and engaging environment and by harnessing the dedication of staff and the support of the community. And then our vision. So mission is is um what we want to accomplish, right? It's um it's why we exist. It's our purpose. And then vision is is where we're

094headed. And so our vision is a unified community where empowered staff and engaged partners guide every student to become a resilient learner, an empathetic communicator, reflective collaborator, creative problem solver, responsible contributor, prepared to positively impact the world. And so again, those are drafts that we're asking the board to consider. Um so we're very excited about that. And then the pillars that we are re we're recommending four pillars that sort of support us accomplishing um that mission and that vision. And so I'm going to have Dr. Sergent come up and share the first pillar. And you have this I don't know if you all know this. You have this paper of this. Um so we're going to start out with our first pillar. Well, y'all know I love my job and I love working with students,

095but I also come to you as a taxpayer and a parent. And before I dive into the successful engaged students, um, when my husband took this job that led him to build the hospital at UK and we were having to move from a very small town in northern Kentucky and we didn't know where we were going to move, we didn't know where our kids were going to go to school. When we decided on Woodford, it was not the conversation that I had with my then superintendent or principal, but it was a conversation that I had with a church member who was also a 27-year veteran bus driver. When she found out I was moving to Woodford, her comments to me, Martha was she looked at me, she goes, "Oh, Amber, you're going to love that

096place. It's top-notch." So I say that what makes a school top-notch? What brings it that legacy of excellence? It's absolutely the data Mr. Reid presented. It's absolutely the facilities and it can be measured many different ways. It is your people. It is your people that reach and instill a reputation of excellence. And that people is little to big. And so what I love about this pillar is to me I can narrow it down. Yes, we have these individual tasks but it really comes down to three virtues. Nurturing and empowering and in guiding and as much as it is the adults doing it it's the students doing it. And that's what I love about that pillar because it took what is so dynamic and is leading the state, the portrait of the learner, and it extends

097it. It extends it to the faculty in a different way. It extends it to the parents and the caregivers, to the systems with it. And when we nurture, we're cultivating belonging. I love that that word was all in there because that meant I tell you what, it's why I teach. You look, you show a kid love. You hold them to expectations, rigor, all the things that can be measured in the data, measured in success, measured in reputation. You're connecting learning to the learner and you're you're inspiring opportunities and creativity. And so for me, this pillar can often be the sole focus, but it can't it really can't be when you're talking about a legacy of excellence. It it's so much more. And so when we commit to utilizing the portrait of a learner to ensure

098academic ev excellence, vibrant learning opportunities, and fostering a strong sense of belonging for all students. To me, it it goes back to that 2017 when I was sitting at that church function and Martha looked at me and said, "You are taking your place, your children, the love of your all's family's life, and you're taking it to a good home. Thank you. Then our second pillar um skilled and committed teams. And I've asked Mr. Slama, Wade Slama to help me with this one a little bit, but what really came through in terms of when we were talking to focus groups when we were looking at um the data is that truly like Dr. Sergeant said, um what makes us excellent, it really is those skilled and committed teams. And so what I've heard in rounding sessions,

099what we've heard in the focus groups is truly these are the ways in this column. This is what we need to be committed skilled teams in Woodford County. And so um truly the the whole aim of it is retaining and unifying our staff. Um the the things they've asked for two-way communication, continuous support, and celebrations of staff success. And you'll see throughout those bullets, you will see those threads. Um you will also see that really uh we need we are wanting to commit over the next four years to truly having a first class um mentoring and uh like hiring mentoring and truly um investing in training our individuals when they come when they be they get hired first thing. And so very excited about that and I wanted Wayade to share a little bit about

100that. >> Sure. Thank you. Um so to my mind when we started this whole process you know the skilled and committed teams really ties in also a pillar I'll talk about excuse me here in just a moment which is stewardship. Um but if our staff isn't properly trained we can't expect them to be efficient. We can't expect them to use products properly. We I mean speaking from a custodial standpoint we just can't get quality results. I mean, they're just not going to be efficient, which is going to cause inefficiency, which is going to cause higher cost. It's going to, you know, just not be good stewards of the budget overall. Likewise, you know, leadership at all levels, like speaking as me as a head custodian, I know that you have admin retreats, you have board

101retreats, but sometimes us in the middle, other than a safe schools video, we don't really have any training like to be leaders, you know, and I I've got some experience with that, but I don't I'm not a master at it, you know. There's always ways we can grow. So with through better leadership training through better that helps us to be a better steward with our staff time with our resources with our overall efficiency. So these are all vital components of the good stewardship mindset. So I think appropriate transparency um uh communication um all this should help with buyin too of our staff. Like if they know we got a problem they're going to step up and help most likely. I've seen that firsthand with my department. So, just like uh for example, as a department

102head, um knowing about our current financial challenges, it's made me be a lot more frugal with my budget because I know there's not more money. You know what I'm saying? We've got to try to stay in that realm. So, that's uh that's the mindset I think we need to start moving towards. And I think we we do a pretty good job if we know we need to do these things. But it's easy to say, "Oh, you know, we can leave the lights on. It's it's just it's just the school." Well, maybe if you turn the light off when you leave the classroom, it's, you know, little things like that can make a big difference. You know, 100 bucks sounds like not much, but when you throw it in a bucket and add a bunch to

103it, you've got money to use for other things. So, thank you. And then our next pillar, I've got our very own board member, Dr. Gold, to talk about. Want to kick me off? Okay. Oh, goodness. Okay. So now I'm nervous because like it's really hard to follow that great interaction and conversation about this process. So um as you all well know um it's hard to look this way because I'm used to looking this way. Um so as you all know that I have been in this community for a very long time and I think as we look around at our Whitford County community, we are built upon a tradition of excellence and cooperation and support for our students and our schools. Um, I think if you go way back, you can find a tradition of

104people that are welcoming people that are coming into our community, but as well as building and developing those roots that we already exist. And I think the same thing goes with our community partnerships. We have a long-standing relationship with many community partners. We've discussed some of them tonight that support our students, that support the work that we do in our schools. And I love that this pillar continues to foster those community partnerships as part of this process. But another part, as I've talked about many times, I'm also a parent. So I come from that lens as well. And I was excited to be a part of this process, not only as a board member, but also a parent um from a parent heart. And I think it's really important for us to remember our caregivers

105in this space because our parents and guardians, they really support the work that we do in our schools as well as they, you know, have a right to know um and have build buy in into the educational process of what's going on. So that together that collaboration and partnership when we say community we're not just talking about community as in the businesses in our community or the people within our community but we're also talking about the community within our schools and the community within our parents and give caregivers as well. So it is a collective group and so I think that this pillar just really implements um that process very very well and our community partnerships also not only from our parent guardian volunteers that come into our schools but also um from our athletics

106coaches to our club leaders as well as our community partnerships. They really provide a unique grounds and footing that we can continue to build upon and grow our educational opportunities for our students. So that communication and um partnership is very vital to the work that we do in our school system. And a couple of things I just want to point out that I really wanted to share and elaborate on is the relationship building the trust within our community. And I want to give a shout out to Dr. Jones because I think she's done amazing job about becoming more transparent with our budget with what we do even in our board meetings because let's face it they're long and um they you know she's really fostering that sense of open communication with our community partners with

107our parents and caregivers but also our staff and students and educators within our buildings. So I think that that building that level of trust is so huge as well as the partnerships across the home and community focus on student needs and development of portrait ready students as it very clearly elaborates in our mission and vision. Um, we want to make sure that our our focus is providing for every student learner. And I know that we talk about that a lot as a board and I think that you guys can absolutely get behind that. And I feel like this pillar absolutely elaborates on the partnerships that we can develop with those open lines of communication and that building of this pillar. I think that's welcome. I've never sworn on words. >> You didn't need me. You

108didn't need me. >> And I wanted Mr. Slama is also going to come up and talk about stewardship. The original language that was used here was not stewardship. And this group said stewardship really encapsulates what we feel like our board is asking us as a district to do. It's not only running operations. It's really an appreciation and using the resources we have to accomplish something. We're stewarding the mission through those resources and using them efficiently and taking care of things. Not just, you know, watching what money we're spending. It is that it's watching our resources in that way, but it's also taking care of our facilities. It's also, you know, all forms of stewardship. And so he's going to talk specifically about that. >> Logan. Um so within this pillar you know team Woodford commits

109to the careful and responsible management of facilities operations and processes. Um those aren't just words. You know we we didn't just get a small group and make this document. You know this is actually from feedback from all of our stakeholders. Um a lot of feedback from from students and everybody. Um, so when we be talk about stewardship, um, I'd like to share an example, I guess, of of what how I use this in my daily day-to-day. So, when I took over as a head custodian at the high school, um, 25% of my operational budget had already been used up by late August before I took over. So, I'm looking at this thinking like this might not be a situation of if I'm going to run out of money, it might be when. So, I've got

110to I got to do some different things. So, what I did first, I took a page out of Dr. Jones's book and was transparent with my staff. I just told them, I said, "Hey, you know, we're kind of in trouble here. You know, we what can we do as a group and collectively?" And I and I'm I'm proud to say that my staff stepped up and they're like, "Well, I can do this or I can do that." And we they came up with lots of ideas and they've been using less things but still not sacrificing quality. Because I told him, I said, "We do not want to sacrifice what we do for these kids every day. This a clean school is to me the foundation of everything." You know, starts with cleanliness, security, and then

111you go to the classroom. You know, that's the thing you see first is the building, not your not your teacher necessarily. So, um, when I included them in this process, you know, the suggestions they made and stuff, and I've heard from other head custodians, one of the things I did was something as simple as changing the type of toilet paper. like I found larger rolls, more rolls per box, cheaper per box. So I'm like, well that's no-brainer. So we started using that and I I got feedback from my staff. I said, "Hey, how is this working? Is this working? Is it not working?" Because if we don't want to use something that's costs less, but we use three times as fast. That doesn't solve anything. So um and we also reduce the cost of the

112just by a few bucks, but a few bucks can add up of the paper towels we use, you know. So every and how often they change their stuff, their soap, their toilet paper, their paper towels. You know, I've seen custodians. I've been with this district 13 years. I've been at elementary, I've been at Safe Harbor, I've been at the high school level and I've seen custodians, there'll be that much left on a roll and they'll change it. Like why? Well, it's easier. Well, easy isn't always the best. You know, we we've got to do better. And so that's kind of what encapsulated all this in these conversations of stewardship. So, um, later on after we did all this, you know, by placing smaller orders and saving some money, when Dr. Raburn took over as the

113chief operations officer, I reached out to him. I said, "We need to have some communication here and maybe some tough conversations." And uh, you know, I wish I could go in there and say everything was wonderful, but it we we had a good conversation. I felt good at the end of our our talk. You know, he he understood my challenges. he supported where he could and uh was very direct and honest about expectations and and what we can do and uh so now we have a plan in place that we can address whatever happens no matter what that is. So, thank you. >> And so, you can see when the document comes together um that we're proposing that it really does have those four pillars that really support um the work of the proposed mission

114and vision. And so, we want to see if you have questions for us. >> I just would like to say I loved hearing from each of the groups. Um, and I especially liked hearing about how important it is when you include others, when you're transparent and you say, "Hey guys, we got a problem. >> People have solutions potentially if they know about it and if they're asked." I I think that's excellent. So, I just appreciate hearing from a diverse group of people, >> a subset of a larger diverse group of people that have really um come together quickly >> to put some ideas down on paper and we've needed this. So, thank you. >> I'll throw one other thing. I meant to say this earlier. I'm going to I'm going to use a word that

115is commonly not used with meetings. >> Joy. >> I I'm not kidding you. And if you look around, we have people here who simply were that were dynamic contributors and yet they just wanted to see this in action because it it genuinely was you looked up and it was two hours later and all we had been talking about was how much and what we love our areas of strength, our areas of need. How do we turn this into this document that we hope it has to get laminated because you're pulling it out so many times in every single conversation? But truly, I don't know, like all of us would walk away and be like, "Okay, that was like there was joy in that discussion about what makes Woodford Woodford." >> I love that. No, and

116and thank you for doing all the work that you did. I mean, I think you said almost 900 surveys you guys got data from and compiled that and utilize that for this. That's a lot of work. And so, I just want to acknowledge how much time and effort you all and and everybody else that was on there put into this and it's so so appreciated. And this is this is fantastic. I love the words that you came up with. I love the definitions. Um, you know, you talked about training and you're you're absolutely right. You can get educated in, you know, you can get a degree in something, but that's your foundation and training is your refinement and that is so important in every aspect of your job and everything else you guys shared. So,

117yeah, thank you very much. >> I just wanted to say I'm absolutely amazed by the speed in which this has happened. It seems like it was a couple of months ago we were approving the contract to get this started and these things usually drag on because this is usually kind of the bottom of the list. Uh and not only did you do a all of you do a fantastic job. I am amazed at how fast this came together and thank you. >> Yeah. And I just wanted to add like really very thankful. Well, I think this process has been overdue by about four years. And it's so nice to finally have just a foundation, just a shared understanding, just a we need to do better and we need to do better if we want better.

118And so I'm very very thankful to all of you all. Thank you. >> You're going to make that suggestion. >> I just wanted to echo something that was just said about the um foster engagement and share responsibility for student success, which is part of the pillar that I spoke to. I think the survey responses and the number of people that were engaged in this process really reflect that shared responsibility that we all feel as a community and I want to brag on your staff >> because I think school very much represents a community obviously but the custodial staff and the role and I was actually going to do a shout out today. I got lost in my own thoughts and I forgot to go there so I'm glad you're here. Um, so I want to

119take this opportunity, but the role that our custodians play in developing those relationships and that interpersonal connection to our students is huge. I see Mr. Allen at the middle school. Mr. Allen, is that his name? >> High school. >> There's a high school. Okay. Um, but he's at the middle school outside directing traffic. I was confused because he was looking like maybe I was wrong. I was um directing traffic and just the connection and engagement that he has with his students. Mr. Aaron at Hunter Townley. I could just name several of them. Um, and they just I think that that embracing of everybody has a role in supporting our students is such the epitome of our community partners. So, >> thank you. >> Good job. >> Thank you all very much. >> Thank you. >>

120And Dr. Jones, what we were just saying, um, Mr. Wilson and I like Dr. Sergeant recommended, if we could get laminated copies of this at our places because then when we're talking in the meeting and making decisions like because what we're talking about support, >> this is this will inform our >> everything that we do. >> And eventually our board, we want to report to the board regularly on these areas so that you all can see the progress towards them. and we'll have measures. So, the the group is working on those measures as well and the goals, but we wanted to make sure that you all in January are feeling good about these pillars. So, >> perfect. Thank you. >> All right. >> Is yours still plugged yours still plugged in? >> It is, but

121I've turned it off, so yours should work. Maybe not. >> There we go. >> All right. So, we're moving to curriculum and instruction update with Mr. Asher. >> Uh, you guys have gotten a lot of information. We're already an hour and a half in. I'm going to be relatively brief. Uh part of the reason is I know and I've seen on the approval of meetings that we'll have our data meeting uh in February shortly after uh we come back. Uh but not so much getting into into the numbers more so just some uh qualitative things that are based on numbers. Uh these were the posts that were made and I'm sorry I'm speaking of the our our accountability uh platform or or uh assessments I should say KSA. Um, and these were the posts that

122were done back in November when they were released. Uh, so just a couple highlights here. Um, want to acknowledge both Huntertown and Southside for maintaining their green status. And I'll show you the meters here in just a little bit and how how they uh, uh, resulted in that. Uh, but also I want to port point out North Side and Simmons. Uh, one specific area and uh, Mr. Reed had mentioned this is focusing on our low socioeconomic students and they had some significant reduction novice reduction uh which has been a goal in that area. As we move on to secondary um congratulations to our middle school for moving up to the green status and again I'll show you the meters here in just a little bit. And as Mr. Reid talked about a lot that went

123into uh the blue yellow jacket there and getting to that status. How did they get there? This is what I'm referring to. Uh while there certainly are growth areas and I'll dig more into those more um at our data meeting and what we've been working on for that. Here is an example and again these are just visuals. Uh but these are the indicators. Uh what we can say and what we're proud of is that we are green or above in the core content areas when you look at reading and math, science, social studies and combined writing. And then the uh great progress uh that is high school only in regard to graduation rate and post-secary readiness uh that Mr. Reed alluded to earlier. Um so where we go from here um as we always preach

124a continuous improvement process uh planning I should say. Uh so we don't wait till November, December to plan. We come into the school year uh with your big rock action plan knowing the data that you had back in the spring uh using our universal screener behavior whatever it may be. Uh but then you've got to combine in the new results. Uh the unfortunate thing with our system is you take that test of May, you got to wait all the way till November. So it's just in a time for adjustment. So what we've been doing over those past couple months, we do uh data analysis action planning. Uh we don't throw out the baby with the bathwater uh as far as their big rock action plans. You just make adjustments through MTSS, through our admin leadership,

125and then even down to school level SPS, which stands for systematic problem solving. Uh so if there is a glaring issue uh we had a meeting just yesterday on uh the NCI day uh to do just that to get folks around the table and try to systematically problem solve. And so then what the adjustments we make then come out as our CIPS at the school level and C dips. So those will be brought to you in January. Full transparency on the CIP. Um and Dr. Jones can attest to this. We've got different plans going on and I'm trying to make sure that they merge and complement each other. So, I've really delayed the CIP process till we could see the strategic plan till um I've mentioned before that we have our our portrait plan. We

126want all those things to merge and complement each other so we don't have five different plans going on. Uh so I will bring you the update in January. Uh so that concludes this part of the update. I know there may be some questions about the uh accelerated uh coursework plan. Uh but any questions about our status at this point? Thank you. >> Okay. Um, while I'm up here, were there any followup? I know we had good dialogue uh via email today in regard to that uh accelerated coursework plan, >> advanced coursework, I should say. >> Do you want me to talk about it now or you going to wait? >> Um, we can wait. >> I mean, I I just want to get permission. >> Yeah. No, it's okay. We can talk about it now.

127Okay. >> And it'll just serve as our discussion later. Well, I I just want and I appreciate so much the dialogue that we did have today back and forth about about the changes to the plan and what we're basically talking about is there's been some changes in the KRS that necessitate an adaption of our accelerated plan um to meet those needs. And part of that is centered around all learners and then with a subsection out that um looks at gifted and talented. So there's two different um learners that we're talking about here that is overlapped of course as well. Um so when you scroll down >> here >> um I was going to go to the >> the actual plan sorry but it's okay we could go whatever. So this is the adaption the new

128plan that we're talking about today. And one of the things that I had some questions about is when we look at GT services that are offered in the district and of course there's and Mr. Asher please correct me anytime that I'm off track. Um when we look at GT services in our district as well as accelerated learner services that we can maybe have for all learners which is part of the KRS that passed in 2025 or 20 yes 2025. Um the gifted and talented identific identific identifiers include more than what's in incorporated in here. So we have core subjects with social studies, language arts, mathematics and um science, but it also includes general intellectual intelligence, um the arts as well as leadership. And those things are not addressed in this plan. So I was just

129wondering if those could the co the dialogue was about including those but also in relation to the pillars that we just talked about um looking at advancing communication about what this plan looks like and so as we are incorporating the accessibility of all learners I think it's also even though we have in our GT policy and procedures that there should be communication to parents and caregivers around what their plan looks like for their child we also need to offer the same accessibility to communication by adding that into this plan as well is what I'm proposing. Um that any person that is getting accelerated services, any student that's getting accelerated services also has communication with their parent and guardian to be able to notify them of what those services may look like for their student. So

130if we scroll down there is or scroll up, I'm sorry, up and down. Um, so there it shows you the different areas on the plan that the subject areas and then what some of the corresponding interventions could look like, the strategies and approaches. Again, I'm asking to add some additional subject areas there to mirror our gifted and talented plan um or options. But then if you go down to B, it also says that gifted and talented should meet have those services provided but also a another component of service delivery. So um so it is parallel in the sense that we are talking about accelerated learners and also a little bit about gifted and talented as part of this process too. So just having that language about communication would really solidify bringing in parents and caregivers

131into that that process and helping them understand what services their students having. It was a very long-winded way of getting around it. But we had some great dialogue about that earlier just to catch you all up to speed. But that does require a vote to amend that process. >> Mr. Asher, do you have anything? >> I I just want to follow up and Mr. Reed showed the data again. Uh, a lot of what this is geared toward, that's why I dug deeper and and sent that last email was accelerated opportunities for all. Yes. And the the data that he shared and and that we talked about our our minority populations, how high we have in both AP and dual credit. So regardless, it's good to know that the plan is working. So >> absolutely. >>

132But no, I as I dug deeper too, that number three is said more systematic communication or something about it. So I could see addressing that here. >> Uniform and systematic communication, I think, is what it said. >> Yeah. Yeah. And it sounds like what you're asking for is just actually in the policy, in the wording that there is a plan for parents essentially to know exactly what's going on with their students that are in this accelerated track that they know what what the schedule is. When is my child going to get pulled out, why are they getting pulled out for these other types of um topics and and what that looks like. So um I mean that that makes sense to me. Got it. >> And one I just didn't want to confuse matters when

133it comes to strictly gifted and talented because there's a 13page procedure of how that's done. And so I didn't want to get this too heavy. While this is related to gifted and talented, it is more about all students in advanced opportunities for all. >> Let me ask you a quick question. Um, so if we did not approve this tonight and we went back and had um the additional um information added and just began again and did a first reading and then a second reading. Um, is that going to cause issues because I didn't know if there was a timeline that this needed to be approved by. >> I I I don't know. I >> I thought it said December 1st by December the 1st. Yeah, >> it did. But >> so I don't know if

134there'd be an issue because it's already passed. >> There would not. Nobody's been knocking on my door for it yet, but just >> I just wanted to double check because I don't want to cause any >> I don't know that you would have to do yet another first and second. It would just be an addition made. It's not as though we'd be starting from scratch. We would just make that addition. Uh so to me, it' almost be a third reading if you had to bring it forth again. And I really think that the importance of parent and caregiver communication, I mean, I've spoken about that quite a bit, but also as we're looking at this being accessibility for all that it mirrors the gifted and talented process in that sense of being able to identify

135leadership, arts, and general intellectual intelligence. Maybe that doesn't need to be in there, but I know that it's part of the KDE um standards as far as those services go. But I do think that the leadership skills and fostering that is incredibly important. And kind of to go back to what Mr. Reid's presentation was about today is, you know, making sure that students don't get looked over for leadership opportunities just because they are not identified as gifted and talented in leadership. And I think that having those other designations, including the arts in that sense, will really um foster that bridge to being able to identify all learners that may fit those those needs and those categories. >> So I think when we get to it, when we actually vote on that, I think we can

136still look to approve the second reading contingent on changes that will be presented at the January meeting. Something >> Yeah, works for me. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Chairman. Can I make a comment to the superintendent, please? Um, each and every one of these presentations tonight have been excellent >> and the quality of the information that they share with us is wonderful. And all of this takes time. And I just wanted if you would if you would pass that on how much we appreciate the effort because we have seen presentations that were not very informative. Uh not this year but in the past in the past and um they just did such a wonderful job very and it helps us to be better board members. So thank them for that. Yeah.

137Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Wilson. All right. Do we have any public comment? All right. >> Oh, you do? Will you you want to you okay? Go ahead and speak and then after that will you sign the the thing over there? Do you want to come up and speak? >> Okay. I'm Larry Blacker. Thank you all for giving me an opportunity tonight to speak. Uh congratulation uh Dr. uh Jones on you being superintendent with the county and to the school board. Uh I want to speak to you all night something uh from my spirit out of truth and out of love or truth of me being authentic. and uh uh I graduated from here in Wer County. Uh spent two years teaching at Wer County at Simmons Elementary. From here I went to uh

138Sarah School for three years. Liberty Baptist University in Lynchburg, Virginia where Jerry Fwell was the uh chancellor and founder of Thomas Ro Baptist Church in Liberty Baptist University. And from there I came home and spent one year at Franklin Independent School System and spent 17 years retired out of Fed County schools. And uh I I tell you that because it's such a diverse experience of me having uh God give me the opportunity to be at those different places and uh enjoy being those places. And uh I have I still got some concerns with county schools. I know you had a good presentation tonight. I don't want to bring a damper on nothing, but I have to be real and authentic. because uh I've always been a retired school teacher. I've always had an interest in

139our kids excelling uh getting the best out of them. All kids, that's where education is. I I think I was kind of neighbor to education thinking all administrators and teachers was want all kids was excited about having a diverse group of kids to work together and have to accomplish stuff. And so, but uh I was approached uh by assistant Brim and Danny Bradley years ago when Wolf County was having some trouble with some kids in the school, African-American young men who was uh having trouble uh feeling comfortable in the school system. Things was happening and they asked me to come and start meeting with some kids and uh so I was honored they did that, you know, asked me to do that. I mean, you know, hey, I appreciate that. then you know got problems

140you reaching out to somebody to get some help and not everybody do that but anyway uh so I came into school started a program and we it was uh uh accepted by sightbased council and it was called beam regularly educated motivated men and we would have a lot of I have a lot of people coming to speak to the kids we met at a certain time and we had some uh retired school teacher I mean some teachers who was in professional college and educators come and talk to the kids We had some graduates, doctors from W County, lawyers with the county and just sports a variety of people and that program really going good and really uh and kids, you know, anytime you have our kids have an opportunity to see somebody like him in

141the building. If they're having trouble, it reduces their behavior and raise academics. Bottom line, that's is it. They got to see somebody like them that can keep pouring into them daily and they know that they're saying some things to them that helps them to uh navigate through the school. And that that went well for all of a su all of a sudden it just shut down. Don't know why. And I say that because uh to me, you know, me taking my time and me for a couple of friends coming up and doing something like that was valuable to the school and to the kids and also just fell out. Happened in the middle school also. And so it seemed to be just a regular thing of not being able to keep something going. Sustainability to

142helping our kids, you know, that's that's, you know, and I know other program in the middle school, they keep going, they're growing, but every time you go over, you got a different group of kids. You over here, you're over there. It's nothing within that continuity to it. So it's kind of, you know, uh, it's kind of disturbing, especially when you know you can make a difference in kids' lives, but you're not given opportunity to do that. Uh so uh anytime you have I know our kids need somebody in the room in the building look like them whether it be administrators, teachers, whatever. Uh because it does enhance their uh bring the academics up like I said reduce their behaviors but also help them to become more developed emotionally and psychologically. you know to feel that

143you have a place in a building uh that's you can look at somebody that's pouring into you it makes a big difference make big difference and so I just know that the whole lot of time the school climate was not what it need to be for our kids to be successful that's why they're having so many troubles you know problems in school and there been some things I'm not going to detail I don't want to do that but there's some things that uh that happened in the school that was really really painful and hurtful to our kids you know I'm be nice and just be decent there some painful thing, but I'd like to share that with you sometime so you would know because it it was some terrible things happened and it was not

144handled well. And so what I'm looking at these things continue to happen continue to happen and nothing ever changes. I don't know if if there's no interest in really trying to reach out to the African-American community to really try to help our kids to work together some kind of way to fix these problems. I don't know what the problem is. You know, I don't think we have have I ever had a superintendent that's reached out to the black community, you know, have not reached I don't know if that's just don't think they have an interest or don't think it's a problem or they're afraid, don't know how to deal with I don't know. But we as educators, as leaders have to do that. I think what leaders are uh I did a lot of coaching.

145A leader was a kid who was my point guard on the team. Point guard leading everybody else on the team. But the face for the point guard was a head coach. Developing that point guard to lead the team. Cuz you can't play, but you can coach, but you can put it in the point guard to lead the team. Principles are faces of the school building. Teachers are the faces in the classroom. Superintendent is the face of the school board. Everything goes in the school system. That's the way it is. This is leadership. You all are faces in the community and so whatever happens it really falls on us as leaders in the community. Uh and I take leadership serious cuz I know it can either make or break a a a situation or what you're

146trying to do. And it it's it's tough being a leader, but you just got to know what's the right thing to do and you got to do it and just go about doing it and just knowing that you're doing the right thing to make things better. Uh this is what the leadership is. But when you don't do it, when you don't have any interest in you know those problems or you don't reach out people you need to get help from, then it has it's I don't know. I don't know where it is. I'm not like that. I don't know what you're thinking and I can't say what you're thinking, you know, but I know I know it doesn't help the situation. Okay. So uh uh those some of my concerns is I know diversity matters.

147It matters. It matters. Diversity matters. Uh I love diversity. I love people all walks of life, you know. Uh it's just who I am. That's the way I was raised. And I thank God I was raised that way. You know, I don't think as a person I cannot relate to. Give me some time with you. I don't think it's a person I can relate to. I'm not afraid to deal in tough situation conversations. uh I'm comfortable, you know, and it doesn't frustrate me other people know everybody don't have to be like me not don't have the same background of how experience I've had. But I do think when you're in certain positions, especially in education, you need to be able to be able to communicate and have a tough conversation and getting get in the

148school system to where it it makes everybody feel comfortable. You know, it's easy to take just a certain amount of kids in the school which we got get a lot of scholarships. We got a lot of kids have uh successful academically. But what about those kids who are not doing that? All kids in school not be athletes. All them not going to dribble the ball or run a football. There's a whole lot of kids that that you know those kind of kids feel good in school. Everybody knowing the pat on the back d. But what about the other kids who need a little bit more pushing? show them how to be leaders, make them feel comfortable, bring out the best in them, and you have to have people who who can pull out the best

149in those kids in the school to be successful. Um, one other thing I saw on on your mission thing, you said, uh, I was wondering how how how you going to reach out to the African-American community? How do you how you go about doing that? And who speaks to you all about African community concern our kids? You know, we keep having all these groups and people on committees. Are any Africans on these committees? I mean, maybe. I don't know. But, you know, I mean, uh, that's good. You know, I hope they can give you the input they really need. You know, I mean, that that you need to really be successful and help these kids. Uh, so that that's my that's my concern. But I do want to share with you some things that that

150happened just you all personally that I want you to really know why I'm speaking like because it was some things that really needs need some attention or be handled differently, you know. So, but thank you very much and you have a merry Christmas. >> Thank you very much. Thank you very much for sharing and it absolutely means a lot that you came to speak to us and share that and that's not going to go unheard. So, thank you. All right. Well, we are going to move on. Can I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? >> So move. >> Motion by Mr. Wilson. >> Second by Miss Macauen. All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> Motion passes five to zero. Can I have a motion to approve or yeah, approve accept notification

151of personnel matters. >> So move. >> Motion by Mr. Wilson. >> Second by Miss Macauen. Any discussion? All those in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes five to zero. Can I have a motion to approve the minutes of the November board meetings? >> So moved. >> Motion by Mr. Wilson. >> Second by Miss Macauen. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes five to zero. Can I have a motion to accept notification and payment of bills? >> So moved. >> Motion by Mr. Wilson. >> Second by Miss Macauen. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes five to zero. Can I have a motion to approve November financial report, treasures report? >> So move. >> Motion by Mr. Wilson. >> I will second that and

152open it for discussion or presentation by Dr. Reburn. >> I know. Try to give everybody a chance. >> All right. So um tonight's presentation I do want to acknowledge that there was a mistake on my end. It wasn't uploaded correctly. So I do apologize for that. Um you will have this presentation along with the financials. There are upload it now so that you can review those. Um and my presentation is beyond just the reports. So just know that if you see something that comes up, please reach out to me, email me. Um our financial consultant, Mr. Patrick and I are actively working together with Dr. Jones on um keeping things moving and keeping things afloat as we are in this interim time frame um that we are actively seeking a new finance director. Um I

153also want to say that when I mentioned the 803 I had that backwards that was the true November 30th date that you all saw. Okay. So at the incumbrance on the high school project for November was 803,000. The 802 is what was pulled for today. So, I just wanted to see if there was anything that happened in the last little bit. There wasn't. Um, so I do apologize for getting those two numbers flipped around. Um, so for the financial reports today, um, our financial updates, you'll see that I put the October one there so that you can see that, uh, we had about a million dollars in our, um, revenue for the month of October and then we had expended about $3 million in October. Um, I left that in there because I wanted you

154to see the difference in November. So, November, like I mentioned in my November report that um, for October, those weren't accounted for. The tax credits weren't accounted for, the tax payments. They are accounted for now because November has passed. So, you'll see that our month is 15 million and our expenditures were down uh, were $2 million. Um and so I have reached out to other finance directors in the state around the area um and just trying to collaborate with them on how they present their information to the board to kind of understand what their presentations were. Um, so this is um just kind of a little bit of a financial um spreadsheet that was shared by one of the districts around us that has a great finance director that um I know and um she

155shared her presentations with me and I thought I would use this format for you all so that you can kind of see. So the first column is what we budgeted for. The second column is what we've spent um year-to- date and then percentages that of our budget that was spent based on what we budgeted for in 26 versus 25. Um and you can see that in 25 we had 72% more because we had more revenue received in November than what we received this year. Um so there is a difference there. Um and then we are actually spending less money. And if we were lucky enough to be at the end of the year, we would have a $5,000 contingency budget. Um, so five million. Good grief. These little zeros keep getting in my way tonight.

156Uh, five million. Um, this does exclude all the on behalf payments because we don't those are just in and outs that we have no control over. Um, so just know that you will not you'll see those line items in the budget under the 3900 mark, but you will not see them rep represented in these budgets because we don't do anything with those. Um, here's a little graph for you for year-over-year expenditures that we have done. And you can see that um we are correcting um that's where we're currently at. We're correcting some things. We've stopped a lot of stuff. We've corrected a lot of um things. And you can see that we went from we're we're going over to now we're at in November. If you look at this column right here in November, this

157is this is our current year. The darker blue is the current year. The lighter blue is the uh previous year. So, we are doing our absolute best to stop it. That's exactly what we're trying to do. We are line iteming every single thing we do. And Dr. Jones and I spend so much time on line items because we really want to stop what we can to not get us further down the road and be like, I wish we had taken the time to do it then. So, so please know that we are actively stopping the bleeding as much as possible. We can't do certain things, but we are taking the time every time we can. and it is showing um even from energy usage in this building we're going significantly down which is what you'll

158see in January when we have our budget u meeting that our building usage energy cost for this building alone is decreasing by thousands of dollars a month um by energy things that we're trying to accomplish. So when we are working overtime, we are really saying we're working overtime. And I just wanted to show that in a graph form um that that is where we are. >> Thank you both for doing that. That's a lot of work. >> It's not just us, but like >> thank you both and your team. It takes the whole district like every admin um they don't like me anymore. So >> well, thank you for thank everybody for putting that work in because it has a big impact obviously. Uh so here are your property taxes, the tax collections by um

159area that you would see on your budget reports kind of broken down to there. So when um if you wanted to know how much we received in November for each one, this is the line item here. So I've just taken that line item and put it into a um a graph here. I had um one of my staff members work on that for me. And uh you'll notice that you might say, "Well, we we have $18 million in property tax, but we only have 14 million in general fund." Well, that's because that money can go into fund one and it goes into fund 320. And so you'll see that if you take fund one and fund 320, which is what we're required to do, that those month date monthto date actually do equal $18 million.

160Um and so so just know that between fund one and fund 320 which is our building fund that that is where that is and that's just general accounting that we have to um to do. Uh and then also if you want to see like who paid what or when we received money like I put that on there from up until uh November 30th and uh we do have we have received some since then but those would not be accounted for until the uh next board meeting. So, just know that we are doing our absolute best to collect and we are also doing our absolute best to report on our um taxes. Uh and so this is just our general fund um general fund reports that we're also looking at. Fund two um revenue versus expenditures.

161Uh you can see that some of these things are in the negative for the year. That's because we haven't received especially fund two which is our special revenue our federal programs. Um those are on reimbursement. So, those will probably be in a negative for a while overall. Um, and some accounts you'll see are spending less and some are spending more. And so, we're actively looking at why are you spending more than you're taking in. Um, sometimes like it's not just a revenue account that they're just going to spend more that month than what they received. And that's the way it works. So, this is our district activity funds. Um, you can see that uh the this one is one that took in less than they uh spent. And then our school activity funds took in

162more than they spent. Um, and both of those accounts are based off of student fee collections and field trips and other um, activity accounts. And then our building fund um, is there. This one is where you'll see that $4 million from the tax um, money. That is where building u the, the building fund 320 is there. Um, I left out like the 310 and the the other ones. They don't have any activity, but they're in the report for you to review. I just didn't feel like it was worth me messing up a zero here or there trying to say it. Um, you got $1 left. Um, food service. So, food service is in the negative for the whole as a year, but that's because we haven't received our reimbursements for our free reduced students or

163our C. So, so do know that that looks like there's a huge problem, but if you look at the line item for revenue and that there is zero dollars received for reimburseable lunch, breakfast, and that just hasn't been reimbursed yet. So, um so do know that. >> Do you know when we get those reimbursements? Is that like the same every year or is it just >> it just comes when whenever Okay. >> You know, there is a certain time that it comes. It's just it's it's >> that's fine. >> You know, you know, >> no worries. >> This is this being live streamed. Um, so, uh, the the last thing is our ETC fund. Um, you'll see that they are, um, also spending more than they're receiving. Um, Dr. Jones and I have a meeting

164with the ETC coordinator and Miss Johnson to review some things and to to figure out some things. They still have a reserve, a large reserve in their pot that is carrying them forward, but we want to make sure that we're correcting any future so that we aren't continuously living in our savings account for for that program. Um, so that is the monthly financial report. Does anybody have any questions or comments or anything? >> I love this format that you're providing to us, taking the the detail and putting it in the in the different way for us to view it and understand it easier. So, thank you for doing that. I know that's a lot of work, too. >> I mean, you're welcome to read the 61 pages. >> Nope. >> Um, it's it's a lot

165to try and understand and trying to to figure out, but you know, like I have followed Mr. Smith many times through the as he's trying to figure out, you know, as he was doing his presentation and just like there's no way that I could keep track of which which spot I'm talking about. So like this for me was easier to to do. >> Um I just do want to say like we are like again reiterate we are actively working on reducing reducing reducing this year um because we can't wait until next year. >> Um next year is going to hurt but we can't wait until next year to take the time to do it now. I'm so happy that you all are doing that. Like I I just think that that I hope that people

166are listening at home too that this is active and this is happening now and and being proactive. That's that's huge. That is huge. I know it's not easy. >> Dr. Raburn. Oh, no. That's okay. I just had one question. It was near the beginning of the presentation where where we were looking at revenues and you had a snapshot of maybe it was this one right here. So this last fiscal year, the same period, we generated almost $21 million and now we're at $15.6 million to date. Do we know why those revenues are >> some have been delayed? >> Delayed. >> So like we have another $2 million that we're we've received um in December. So we have they just received them earlier last year than what we received this year. But we do have um

167like if when I was looking at the reports and stuff we had another 1.9 maybe it's 1.19 I can't remember million that we received from the last week. So we are still receiving taxes. >> And you know it's all based on when people pay their taxes too like um some people are pay them in October some people do it through their monthly mortgage payment and they pay them in November. Some people wait till the very end and some people don't, you know. So, so just just depends on when they're when that's going to >> When do does the barrel tax funds come in? >> That's a great question. I'll get back to you on that one. >> No, >> I'll have to look at last year to see when the distilled tax comes in. Um,

168one of the one of the ones that we were pilot that was a pilot program where they don't have to pay us the taxes, but they'll give us money in lie of didn't have enough barrel tax to pay for us. Luckily, we didn't budget it for it, so because we didn't receive it last year either. Um, but that was one of the newer ones. So, I'll get back to you when that's when that's normally received. >> I just didn't know if it was normally like if that contributed to the the different difference in the numbers. Yeah, >> it's it's not it's not the tune of that much money. Yeah. >> Anybody else have any questions? All right. Uh we have a motion. So, all those in favor of approving November financial report, treasures report. >>

169I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes 5 to zero. >> Can I have a motion to approve the 2026 board meeting dates? >> So move. >> Motion by Mr. Wilson. >> Second by Miss Macauen. Any discussion, questions on that? Everybody should have received the paper copy as well. Right. No discussion questions. All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> Motion passes five to zero. >> Can I have a motion to approve the second reading of the drug testing policy? >> So moved. >> Motion by Mr. Wilson. >> Second by Miss Macauen. And did we have any discussion or questions for Dr. Raburn on that? All right. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion passes five to zero. So, next is our um the advanced coursework that we already talked about. Had some discussion. So,

170can I have a motion to approve the second reading of WCPS advanced co coursework and accelerated learning plan with trying to remember how we worded this earlier. um >> contingent upon >> added language >> to be presented in January's regular meeting. >> So move motion by Mr. Wilson. >> I will second that. Any further discussion on that? >> Um I just want to um just explain I I'm probably going to vote nay just because I'm more comfortable if I see what I'm voting on and since we don't really know what we're voting on um that that'll just be why I'm voting. >> Okay. Sure. All right. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes four to one. Um the we have discussion item for Mr. Wells on the 2026 2027 school

171calendar year. >> All right. Good evening. First of all, I want to thank Mr. Wilson for his words earlier. Thank you. Appreciate that. Um it really is a group effort as he as he alluded to. Um a diverse group, a lot of different opinions. Uh, but at the end of the day, we we came up with what we felt like were good recommendations. So, having said all that, I know where I'm at on the agenda, so I'm going to cut to the chase. You have two calendar recommendations. Uh, number one is the recommended calendar from the committee. That's the calendar that we believe or we would recommend that you approve. Um, by law, we have to provide more than one calendar. So, we gave you a second option. The only difference in option one and

172option two are the fall break dates. Option one, fall break would be the first full week in October. Uh we surveyed parents, we did a separate survey with employees and a separate one with students. All three groups unanimously preferred that that first full week in October, but we have to give you a second calendar. And so that would be the other option would just be a week earlier. We'd be starting on the second Thursday as we historically have. Um, and then happy to answer any questions anyone may have on the calendar or the recommendations. >> Doesn't look like it. >> Thank you so much. Appreciate it. >> Thank you for your work on it. >> All right. Can I have a motion to adjourn? >> Absolutely. >> Motion by Mr. Wilson. >> Second by Miss

173Macauen. All those in favor? I I motion passes 5 to zero. Good night everybody.