001I aliance 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. >> Thank you. >> This time, Dr. Griffin, we will lead us in our school district's mission and vision. >> Yes. If if you would please uh join me as we recite our mission and vision. Alexander County Schools. Uh we are dedicated to building a legacy of excellence and our vision is to be the educational choice for every child. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. At this time, board members, um you have had um an opportunity to to view the agenda. What is the pleasure of the board? >> Make a motion to approve the agenda. >> I've got a motion to approve the agenda by
002board member Corey Mlan. Second by Vice Chairman Denheart. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Like manner? >> Carries unanimously. Thank you board members. At this time I will turn it over to Dr. Denita Dao Revvis for our honors and recognitions. I don't know. Oh, no. No. No, I'm sorry. >> Good evening. >> So, December is our um celebration of the arts as we promote the winners of our holiday card contest. And I always love to see the designs and the amazing creative spirit of our students um along with their just talents and abilities. So, we had dozens of um submissions this year and um the criteria was to have um a winter time a holiday theme. So, we will first ask Miss Holly Ralph from Hidnai Elementary to come up. Mom, you can
003come with her. And so we have framed your card for you, Howie. And we also have some copies of your card. You and mom can get together and send those to your friends and family. >> Good job. >> And then we also have a $25 gift certificate. Come on up, Hie. Miss Row, you come up too and get your picture with Miss um with Dr. Griffin, please. Y'all come on up. >> Congratulations. Yes. Keep it off. So you hold it all >> and way to go. >> Great job. I'm actually going to do photo. >> So, our next winner is um also from Hai Elementary. Rayan Ralph is a fifth grader. COME ON UP, RAYEN. I KNOW, RIGHT? CAN y'all slide together? Good here. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Come on. I just don't I haven't met
004him. >> There we go. There we go. >> All right. CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT. SO, OUR NEXT LEVEL WINNER is a middle schooler. It's eighth grader Callie Mullman's from West Alexander. Good job, CALLIE. And last but not least, our final winner is Angelie Carico, who's a Alexander Early College student, also originally FROM Go get your family up. >> Let me get my job. >> Come on family. All right. Look in here. One more. And if I can get all the winners back up with their with their cards, I'll do one group shop. >> Yeah, let's just do yours here. Okay. two old ladies and I'll get one girl power Congratulations. >> And I just wanted to thank the families. We apologize for having moved the meeting uh due to excellent weather, but thank you so much
005for coming. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations in the hall. I have a little paperwork for you to sign. trying to make it to a concert. So, we'll scadaddle outside. >> Good job. >> Thank y'all. >> Thank you. >> Merry Christmas. >> Congratulations. >> Merry Christmas everybody. >> Merry Christmas. All right. The next item on the agenda um is public comment. And I understand at this time we do not have any. So we will move on board members. Um at this time I need a motion um to approve the consent agenda. What would the pleasure of the board be? >> Motion to approve. Got a motion to approve by board member Argues. >> Second by vice chairman Denheart. All in favor say I. I. >> Any oppose? Like manner. Carries unanimously. All right. At this time,
006the next item on the agenda is shared Mafy, our chief financial officer. >> This evening. I have budget amendment number three for your approval. and as 199,08 to the public school fund for a total of 37 million93 $93,554 and it adds additional aotments to behavior support, third grade reading bonus, teacher performance bonus, CTE credentials and driver training. Okay, we have heard the information from our CFO. What is the pleasure of the board? >> Motion. So, a motion to approve by vice chairman Denhart, second by board member Oxentine. All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? Like manner. Carries unanimously. >> Thank you. The second item I have tonight is in accordance with policy 6420, contracts with the board. I'm asking for approval of Well, first let me say that Brian could not be here tonight.
007He's having a scan. So, um I'm asking approval of a contract that exceeds $50,000. The contract is to Sigma Construction Services of Taylorville for upgrades to the tennis court. The scope of the work includes ADA compatible sidewalks, bleacher pad with handicapped access at court one, two sections of steps, back filling the and sewing grass, grading work work and pipe installation and the cost of the project is $52,300. Okay, >> board members, we have heard the information from our CFO. What is the pleasure of the board? >> Motion. Got a motion to approve by vice chairman um Denhart. Can I get a second? >> Second by board member Arguas. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Like manner? Carries unanimously. >> Thank you, Sharon. The next item on the agenda is um our
008assistant superintendent, Dr. Alicia CL with our human resources report. And while she's making her way to the podium, board members, you will find the information um in your packet. >> Good evening. >> So, you do have the information, our usual and customary in your packets. >> Okay, board members, what is the pleasure? >> Motion to approve. >> Got a motion to approve by board member Arguas. >> Second by vice chairman Deenheart. All in favor say I. >> I. Any oppose? like manner carries unanimously. >> Thank you, Dr. Clover. >> At this time, I will turn it over to our superintendent for the superintendent report. >> Great. Thank you, Chairman Ree, uh, Vice Chair Dagart, members of the board. Uh, I appreciate you. First of all, I I alluded to just a second ago um with
009our parents about changing our times and dates, and I appreciate the cooperation of the board uh of getting this meeting in and making sure that we we handle our business uh monthly there. Um the the last meeting, as you recall, we had an inclement weather uh coming in uh and we had been advised we canceled all activities for that afternoon and I just didn't feel it was appropriate uh to have a board member meeting and cancel all activity for the school system. So, I appreciate your understanding in that and hopefully we'll get home safe this evening. It's it's still cold, uh, but nothing nothing's coming from the sky at this point. >> Um, I just have a couple things for us. Um, since we last met, uh, several of us actually, uh, went to the
010North Carolina School Board Association conference and we had spoken of that before we went. Uh, but we did have a we actually p parttook and participated in a session there as a board of education and our cabinet. Um and and I think that was uh very meaningful. Uh I enjoyed uh presenting and getting to see other people from across the state of North Carolina. Uh but the title of our topic was navigating district rebranding while dodging bankruptcy. Uh and we did a culmination of some of the the amazing work that our cabinet uh did last year uh and this board of education did and some of the uh the things that we wanted to some of the accomplishments that that we wanted to talk about and and then some of the things that we we
011learned from and and hopefully improve upon in the future. Uh but we had a full room of people from across the state, other board members, other superintendents, uh just various members. Uh and I think it was a good opportunity for us to tell our story. Yes. and for us also to uh to listen to other people's stories. I had several other uh persons from across the state reach out to me and uh and talk about our experiences and and then uh allow me to listen to theirs. So uh I think again a positive day, a positive conference. Uh one of the other pieces I wanted to speak about is uh the keynote speaker that that you guys heard and you guys could elaborate on this if you'd like. Uh but Dr. John Hodgej uh was
012our keynote speaker that morning. Um and he did an amazing job. Uh I I thought he was very uh entertaining. Uh I thought the information that he shared was was certainly beneficial to us. Uh and he and he spoke of the topic that he talked about was what teachers and how teachers affected his life. Uh and in about an hourong uh conversation with us as as audience members, um he basically just alluded to that that teachers made him who he is today. uh and he owed many many uh of of his successes to them and and I would like to make sure that that we say the same thing. Uh our our teachers are amazing people. Uh they work hard. Uh they they work long hours. Uh they put up with a lot of things.
013Uh and sometimes they don't get the thank yous that they need daily. uh sometimes they come 20 years later when you have a person that's on the stage uh and reflects back of what they did for them uh and and the impact that they made in their life. So I just like to thank our teachers uh for what they do and our employees of the school system. Uh we do make a difference daily. Uh we don't always hear that every day. Uh but it but those those impacts are are life lifelong for our folks. Um and then the last thing just celebrating the holidays. Uh we've got some important dates coming up. Um our EOCC's for Alexander Early College are this week. Uh Friday, we'll all be getting out of school for students uh for
014the Christmas holiday. Um several annual leaves and and holidays that are planned for our uh for our employees. Uh and then on January 5th, 2026, uh we'll return again uh to finish that second semester. So uh get through this week. Uh this is one of those weeks that uh that many look forward to. Uh looking forward to that break and then uh returning on uh 2026 to to finish up our school year. Um in ending I I would like to uh to ask that um that we have a moment of silence here in just a second. Uh and that moment of silence would be for those that have lost their lives over the past several days. Uh and really uh this took us back to last week of just acts of violence across our our
015nation, our state uh and and this world that that we seem to be dealing with. Um I I've got a good friend that I work for with with many for many years, Dr. Don Fipps, just took the superintendency in uh Winston Salem, Forsythe County. I' been there less than two weeks and had to deal with an episode of violence of of a student stabbing at North for Scythe High School. um that that morning. None of those faculty members or or students knew they'd be dealing with that that tragedy. Um and it is a tragedy for all those involved. Um but they handled it well. I just my heart goes out to to anybody that was involved in that situation. Certainly both sides and both families. And uh it just saddens me that that there was
016loss of life in one of those situations. But we have to be reminded that uh we never take a day for granted. uh that could happen to any of us in any situation uh that that may take place in in any of our schools. So, uh just heart goes out to them. Also had another uh school shooting at University of Brown University uh where several people lost their lives and then finally in Australia uh there was a shooting over the weekend that 15 people lost their lives. So, it just seems that that we can't get away from from these random acts of violence. Um and uh I I just at this point if if we could just have a moment of silence for any of those affected uh and know that uh that our hearts
017go out to to all those families >> and thank you thank you very much. >> Thank you Dr. Griffin. At this time, the next item on the agenda is some policy revisions um that will be um brought to us by our assistant superintendent, Dr. Alicia CL. Um board members, once again, as she is making her way, um those items you will find in your packet that she will be bringing forward. All right. So for our second reading, I've brought these back from it seems like it's been a long time ago that I brought these back uh from our November meeting and so those are the four policies there. So what is the pleasure of the board for those >> board members? We have heard the information from Dr. Core. What is the pleasure of the
018board? >> Motion. >> Got a motion to approve by Vice Chairman Denheart. >> Can I get a second? >> Second by board member Corey Mlan. All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? Like manner carries unanimously. >> Thank you. Move on to the first reading. There are several on this page um focusing on parent involvement, parent inspection for instructional materials, field trips and excursions. Some of these overlap um with students going on field trips and their sleeping quarters. Religious based exemptions from school programs. Again, this one extracurricular activities overlaps with the parent involvement. As far as the changes, doicile or residence requirements. I'd like to call your attention to the use of wireless communication devices. This one being a first reading has been recommended by our attorney to be approved and wave a second
019reading because it's legislation. There's nothing we cannot do here with the changes. Um, however, it is required to be adopted by the 1st of January. And we also had to submit by today uh this policy updated to the state and so with your blessing that is will be submitted today since we had to move our board meeting. Um but the rest of them were pretty self-explanatory there. >> Okay. >> So if we could wave the and approve that one and we'll bring the others back for >> what we need is just a sole motion >> on that 4318. >> Yes. >> Okay. Board members, what is the pleasure of the board? We've heard the information from Dr. Cher. Motion to approve 4318 moving forward. >> Got a 43. >> Motion to approve by board member
020Arguas. Second by board member Oxentine. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Like manner. >> Carries unanimously. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Thanks Dr. The next item on the agenda um is the proposed uh school calendar um update for the 2026 2027 school year um by Jacob Lel. >> Good evening board members. Hope you guys are doing all right. It's hard to believe that we're already talking about the 26 27 academic calendar and not even the midway point of this school year, but that's just the nature of the beast and we have to be prepared and get that information out to parents. So, uh in your materials, you will see the proposed uh academic calendar for Alexander County Schools. Uh this does not include the calendar for the early college. Uh
021we will be working with Miss Brown and CBCC to get that to you guys uh in the new year. >> Okay. Um, but this is the same proposed calendar that you had in November at the work session >> and just cleaning it up a little bit and here it is before you and I'm looking for an approval of that proposal. Yes, sir. >> Just a question before we cast approval. Could you share with us the who constituted the team that put this calendar together so that we could communicate that to the community at >> 100%. Yep. So we brought three drafts um before a calendar committee which was comprised of our of the year winners um that we recognized at the beginning of the year. So our teacher of the year, beginning teacher of the
022year, classified, certified and so on and so on. We tried to um make sure we had uh school leadership from all levels. Um we had district leadership on that team. We had support staff. We had people from uh the finance department. um we had Miss Rosenberg um from Infinite Campus and CIS and we we tried to cover all bases that could provide input on a on a sound calendar and then what we did at that point is we we then took the feedback from that calendar committee and then we took it to principles uh at the principal meeting and we asked that all principles uh I had created a slideshow and uh had some information that we then asked share this with your parent advisory councils send it out further beyond that those walls and
023those parameters but get feedback and then supply that feedback with us so that we can make adjustments. Uh all of that started in October and we wanted to have that completed by November so that you as a board could hear the feedback we were receiving. Uh and then we obviously wanted the board to check in with constituents and members from the community and provide feedback as well. So hopefully it was layered and trying to create a calendar that um is listening to the community's needs. Yeah. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Thank you. Great question. >> Excellent. >> I make a motion to approve the calendar. >> Okay. I've got a motion to approve by Vice Chairman Been Hart. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Got a second by board member uh Jesse BS.
024All in favor say I. >> Any oppose? Like manner? >> Carries unanimously. >> Jacob. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. >> Okay. At this time, I am going to um turn it over to our superintendent um Bill Griffin. At this time, it is unusual and customary that um the election of board chair and vice chair. >> Okay. Uh as as we do this business uh in open session, making sure that uh um that we listen to the voices of the of the board. Uh at at this time uh we are looking for an election or people to nominate uh anyone whom they would like from the board to be our new chair for the upcoming year. Do I have any nominations for board chair for for uh next year's uh board starting effective uh I
025guess it'd be January, wouldn't it? Okay. >> Yes, it would be January. So, >> would you like us to make a nomination for who we would put on the on the docket for chair? I make a motion for Josh Deenhart to be chairman of the board of education. >> Okay. Second. Got a second. I've got a motion to nominate Josh Deenheart as chairman of the board of education. That uh motion was made by board member Arguas, second by board member BS. Okay. All in favor? >> Any other any other nominations? >> Yes. Okay. >> Okay. >> The next is for the election of >> Okay. >> vice chairman. Is there nominations? >> I nominate Jesse BS. >> Okay. >> A second. >> Okay. I've got a I've got a motion to nominate JC BS as
026vice chairman of the board of education by Josh Deenheart and a second by board member Arguas. Is there any other nominations? Okay. At this time, Dr. Griffin as it stands. We have got um Josh Deenheart as chairman and vice chairman Jesse BS. Board members in your packet you will find um ballots. Dr. Griffin, do you want us to pass those down to you? >> You can. Yeah, that'd be fine. But as we took, did we take a record of those votes in the eyes? >> Has that vote been >> It's in the >> Okay. Has that So, that was voted on at that point, correct? >> Okay. So per our vote uh it looks as though uh for next term uh that uh that Josh Dagenheart would be our chair and vice chair be that
027of Jesse BS. Is that correct? Make sure I have that in the minutes and what we went through. Okay, great. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> All right, chair. Do we have further motion? >> I will turn it over to you to um adjourn us out and get a motion and we'll go from there. >> Wow. Thanks everybody. >> Yeah. Merry Christmas everyone. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. Robert first. Second. Jesse BS. All in favor? I I meeting a journ. >> Congratulations.