001All right. We will call the meeting to order. This being our regularly scheduled board of education meeting, Monday, November the 10th, 2025. At this time, I will ask board member Shannon Oxentine to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. Attention. Salute. Pledge. I pledge algiance 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. >> At this time, I'll turn it over to Dr. Griffin. We will site our school's mission and vision statement. At this time, uh, it's kind of tradition. What we [clears throat] do is try to recite our mission and vision statement. Uh, so in Alexander County Schools, our mission is to be committed to building a legacy of excellence >> and our vision is
002to be the educational choice for every child. >> Thank you very much. >> All right, board members, at this time, um, you have had a moment to look over the agenda. Can I get a motion to approve? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. Got a motion to approve by board member Argues, second by vice chairman DeGenhart. All in favor say I. I. >> Any oppose? Like manner. Carries unanimously. At this time, I'm going to turn it over to Dr. Denita Dalvas for our honors and recognitions. >> Good evening. Um, I'm going to ask Mr. Oxentine, he's heavily invested in this, to come on up. [laughter] We would like tonight to recognize our students from East Alexander Middle School. They conduct an annual rocket day bonanza and this is the 19th time that they've had this
003contest. Um it's a collaboration between East and a Lenor Ryan professor, physics professor. If anybody knows him, they know he's the rocket guru around the area, Dr. Doug Knight. And our teachers Jason Irman, Charity Watkins, and Jessica Eckert. They lead the students through learning and the competition. So, I'll ask those teachers to come up. So, we want to start with uh the longest flight. If Donnie Merwin and Everett Myers, if you guys are here, I know it's a cold night. Some kids might not have gotten out tonight, but if y'all will come on up, >> CONGRATULATIONS. [applause] Good job, buddy. >> Good job on the second place. >> We're talking. [laughter] >> Um then in uh our next award goes to the students who had the [clears throat] best flight from Miss Eert's class. And
004those are Andrew Davis, Belle Millsaps, and Brock Brock Griggs. Those [applause] are students are here. Good job. >> Next in Miss Watkins class, we have um for the best flight, Braden Campbell and Caleb Smith. [applause] [clears throat] We used to have one. [laughter] He's not bitter at all. >> All right. Next from um Miss Eard's class for best design, we have Bana Kazar and Colton Hampton and Bentley Johnson. That's best DESIGN [applause] KIDS. Next from Miss Watkins class, we have the best design. That's Ashlin Parsons and Avery Barnes. [applause] >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> [cough] >> And lastly, the award for that evening or that day, and I I'm not sure I see her, was the longest flight for a teacher, and that's Becky Johnson. [applause] I'll ask Miss Eard to make sure she gets her certificate.
005So, um, crew, will you guys kind of make two rows so we can get a nice picture? >> Yeah. [laughter] >> First of all, um, there were Our core got involved this year. They they went last year to the rocket launch. Uh and board member Oxen felt like that they could build a rocket. >> And we did. >> Well, they tell [laughter] the true story behind it. >> Oh man. Had a couple rockets because they weren't very successful, [laughter] >> but but they endured and and they had a good time with it. But I'm just so happy and proud of our students. engage the lessons. I'm extremely proud of our our educators, our teachers, administration there at East that are doing things that are engaging our mind and our students involved in the science. So,
006so hats off to you. I hope y'all had a good time with it. Um, I'll try to keep board member Oxen. [laughter] They look forward to it. Thank you very much. >> Thanks. Thank you. >> Rearranging. Okay. So, I'm going to move some of the students in front. Uh, we'll stagger like in between people. Also, I'm going to need your certificates open and not upside down hopefully. And yeah, and just don't cover them with your rocket. So, hold them with two hands. And if you have a rocket, that's perfect. Like that. Hold them kind of right here. >> That's awesome. >> Yeah, that's perfect. And yeah, so I can see your certificate here. >> And [clears throat] so I'm Yeah, that'll work. >> And then you're gonna have to squish. >> Yeah. Up here now.
007Can't see this. >> Yeah, you're right there. >> [laughter] >> All right, let me see if I can get everybody on this one. >> Don't move. Do not Hold your place. I need a shot. >> Yeah. >> And now we'd like to invite parents to come to the center so they can get a center. Anybody? >> I'm sitting right here. >> Is it just me? I'm not. >> Go ahead. >> Come on up. >> Come on. >> You didn't want to take a picture? >> I mean, if other parents will. >> Well, I'll share. You can download it. How's that? >> Here we go. We got more. Here we go. >> Here we go. Come on up, parents. >> Awesome. >> There you go. There you go. I love it. Yes. Love this. >> There
008you go. [applause] >> Come on in. Come on in. >> There we go. [laughter] >> Come on up here. >> Tell them all to come. Yeah. >> We've lost Ashley. >> Oh, wait. Did you say you [laughter] >> There we go. >> You are rather I looked at the move to move. He squat down. Squat down. >> All right. Good job. Thank you, guys. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Good job, guys. >> Great job. >> Good job. >> Who was this? >> Oh, I got you. And we have one other very quick um recognition. Uh she could not be here tonight. It's a not a great night out as y'all know. Um but we would like to say that we want to recognize Stephanie Marshall. She's the EC teacher, a preschool teacher, and she has
009received the Teach Early Childhood North Carolina scholarship, and that's a scholarship that honors early childhood professionals, and she is working on her degree, which is why she applied for that scholarship so that she can eventually become a full-time teacher. And so, we'd like to celebrate Miss Marshall and her achievement and commend her on her continued work as she pursues her degree in early childhood education. So, good job, Miss Marshall. >> Congratulations. CONGRATULATIONS. [applause] Good job. >> At this time, our honored guests are welcome to stay or if you are not interested in staying for the business portion of the meeting, you may be dismissed. >> DON'T DO IT. DON'T LEAVE. >> It's the best part of the meeting. >> You can stay. >> See you. That wiped him out. >> Well, you can stay. [laughter]
010>> No, we got to get out of here. >> Thank y'all. >> Totally understand. >> He said, "I'd really like to stay. I got to go." >> Yeah, >> maybe next time. Maybe next time. >> I will say that that is my part of favorite part of the the meeting, the honors and recognition. Um, anyhow, at this time, the next item on our agenda is public comment, but I have received information that we do not have any. So, at this point, it brings us to our consent agenda. Board members, um, once again, you have had an opportunity to review the consent agenda. What is the pleasure of the board? >> Motion to approve the consent agendas presented to the board. >> Got a motion to approve. Approve by board member Argues, second by board member
011Corey Mlan. All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? Like manner. Carries unanimously. At this time, the next item on our agenda is a financial report from Sharon Mafy, our chief financial officer. Tonight, we have two budget amendments. Uh the first one is to the state public school fund for $194,299 bringing the total budget to 36,849,546. The second amendment is to the um capital outlay fund which also coincides with being uh the state public school fund. the state um uh leases buses, does a lease purchase of buses for the school system and we book the payment for that for those leases. And um we have a budget amendment of $39,219 bringing the capital outlay fund budget to $3,198,496. And I ask for approval for these two amendments. >> Okay. Board members, you have heard
012the information presented from our chief financial officer. What is the pleasure of the board? >> Motion. >> Got a motion to approve by vice chairman Denhart. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Got a second by board member Arguas. All in favor say I. >> Any oppose? Like manner. >> Carries unanimously. >> Thank you, Sharon. [clears throat] At this time, the next item on our agenda is um Jessica Anderson, our executive director of exceptional children and student services. >> Good evening. I uh just need approval for the related service personnel contract that you reviewed and had in your packet for the work session. >> Okay, board members, what is the pleasure of the board? >> Make a motion. >> Second motion to approve by board member Oxentheim, second by Vice Chairman Denheart. All in
013favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Like manner. Carries unanimously. >> Thank you, Jessica. >> All right. The next item on our agenda [laughter] is curriculum and instruction update with Dr. Amy Balls. >> Good evening. Um on the work session, I presented to you the school improvement plans for this school year and um the plans for our schools of designation or ATSI and low performing schools. I did not receive any questions or updates. So, I wanted to ask for approval of those items. >> Okay. All right. Board members, we have heard the information from our director of curriculum and instruction. What is the pleasure of the board? >> Make a motion. >> I've got a motion to approve by board member BS. Second, second by vice chairman Denhart. All in favor say I. >>
014Any oppose? Like manner? >> Carries unanimously. >> Thank you, Dr. BS. Now, at this time, >> if we can get a human resources report update from Dr. Alicia CL, our assistant superintendent. >> Hey, Alicia. >> Good evening. I'm here for the human resources update and report. Um, so before you, you have the items of information and the personnel recommendations per usual and customary process here. Do you have any questions? >> Any questions, board members? Like she said, this information is in our packet to review. >> What is the pleasure of >> I make a motion to approve. I've >> got a a motion to approve by Vice Chairman Denhart. Can I get a second? >> Second by board member Oxentine. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Like manner. Carries unanimously. >>
015Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. At this time, superintendent's report with Dr. Bill Griffin. >> Great. Thank you, Chairman Ree, Vice Chair Dagart, members of the board. Um, have just a couple items uh for discussion this evening. Uh, as part of my report, I'd like to report out to to the public that on October 20th and 21st, uh, we did our fall board visits of the schools. Uh this is uh one of my most enjoyable times and that's where we collectively as a board and then I as a superintendent get to go out to our uh to each of our school buildings. Uh it takes us two days to to do those site visits and during those visits you guys were presented uh with the school improvement plans from each of the the principles
016and assistant principles at those bu buildings. Um and then we got to go into classrooms and and other uh areas of of the school building uh to basically see what what takes place on a daily basis. Uh and again those uh that's the enjoyable part of of what we do uh seeing the the learning that's taking place in the classrooms uh the work that takes place uh by our amazing employees uh and what what happens on a day in dayout basis. But uh again being around the students and employees is is the fun part of our job and I hope that you guys uh en enjoy [clears throat] those those visits as much as I do. >> Yes. >> Um next thing I want to speak on uh briefly is that uh we uh we
017did a ribbon cutting uh for Sugarloaf Elementary School. So So that building is open in full. Uh last year at about this time or prior September we did a ribbon cutting for the new offices and gymnasium. Uh and then this year we finally fig uh finished and completed uh the uh renovation of the old gymnasium into the media center. Uh so a beautiful uh facility. Uh hats off uh to administration and all those uh that Brian Davis over over maintenance. Uh Joe Mabberry last year is as principal and this year Don Liry and their their work in guiding that project. Uh but we have really almost a completely new uh school building in whole. Uh and I'd welcome the the public to go by and and take a look at that. Uh I think we
018have an amazing facility and that project ended well. So hats off to to everybody involved. Our county commissioner is also very supportive of that and we're in attendance at that ribbon cutting. Uh but I believe we have a state-of-the-art venue now. >> Yeah. >> Probably not. Any any comments? anything. Uh, also next was the we finished the first nine weeks. Uh, proud of our our students, proud of our employee employees for uh for getting through that that [clears throat] first of four nine weeks that we have and uh getting closer to to midpoint of the of the year and that time just flies by in a hurry for sure. Uh and the last thing that I have as far as a report is uh like to make it everyone aware that our our board of
019education and our executive cabinet will be presenting uh this Wednesday at the North Carolina Schoolboard Association conference in Greensboro. Uh so we are presenting on uh the title of of our program is is navigating our uh our our rebranding our our school district uh while we were in the the throws of bankruptcy. So uh the story that we're trying to tell is is that we've had a lot of work and a lot to do over the past year. Uh it's taken a lot of people to come to the table to to try to um to work to navigate our school district and get it get our fund balance healthy. >> Sure. >> Uh it's required some diff difficult decisions on everyone's part in in doing that. Uh and we're just excited about telling our story
020to the state of North Carolina and the leaders across our state. So we've got an hour presentation that we'll be doing uh for for the schoolboard association and those that attend that conference. uh we have multiple uh board members that'll be there and then our executive cabinet and just real excited about that. I think it'll be a good opportunity to give a little bit of recognition to Alexander County Schools. So, uh very very pleased that that we're doing that and uh we'll be able to report back next time and see how it went. Uh hopefully we won't fall on our face and it it'll go okay, but looking forward to to that opportunity. >> Uh [clears throat] and then finally, some of the dates that I have come for the upcoming events. Um, uh, the
02111th, uh, is tomorrow's Veterans Day. I just like to recognize all of our amazing veterans out there. [clears throat] Uh, their service, uh, what they've given this this fine country, uh, what they've done for us and and allowing us to to live the life that we have, and we just can't give enough thanks to them and what they've done. >> That's right. >> Uh, the 24th, we'll have our sports hall of fame. Uh, they'll be held uh, there at the Alexander [clears throat] Central High School auditorium. uh have a dinner uh prior to that and then the Hall of Fame uh banquet following that at 6:30. Uh if you would like to attend uh we are selling tickets, you can buy those up front here at the the county office, but we'd love to have
022uh anyone in attendance to honor uh those members that are being chosen and selected to be part of the Hall of Fame. Then finally on the 26th be day before Thanksgiving, have an optional teacher work day that day. Then the 27th and 28th are our Thanksgiving holiday. and and time is going by quickly. Uh it it sure is and and we're doing amazing things in our classrooms and in our school buildings and just just proud of of of what we've accomplished thus far in the school year. Any questions for anything I've reported on there? >> I'd just like [clears throat] to comment. I was able to attend Sugarloaf on Friday uh for their veterans program and I know there was other schools in the county that that did that and it was just phenomenal and
023just brought a lot of people to the community and just appreciate the support of our veterans in our community. >> Absolutely. And we did have multiple uh different presentations and and shows to honor those throughout our our school buildings. Um and just hats off to everyone and putting together those those presentations. uh to give honor that those that certainly deserve it >> deserve it. >> Yes, absolutely. >> I'd like to make one more comment too about the schoolboard visits there. The the visits we did just was already proud of Alexander County Schools, but after in just 6 months or so since we've been to the last one, >> the amazing amount of progress that is happening in and so many of our on so many of our campuses is just really encouraging. I think the
024>> guys would agree with that. Like it's just it's neat to see. Um, we're headed in a great direction and really proud of what's going on >> to see the leaders within those schools shine. It just it really it's another part of what we love to >> It's an obvious difference. >> Yes, you can tell. >> Yes. >> Thank you for that. If I may, Bill, the North Carolina School Board Association, I think that it's a indication of a congratulatory note that needs to be shared with each and every one of your team members throughout each and every one of your organizations and schools. I mean, what you guys have accomplished in the last year is exceptional. >> You reversed the course on our fund balance problem and our budget problem. We increased the fund
025balance by 50% year-over-year. And it's not just a oneperson show. was a team effort and you guys really pulled together and made it happen. And I think now you're going to become the benchmark after you're done presenting at the North Carolina School Board. That's true. >> You know, how to how to be fiscally responsible with with our taxpayers treasure that that is shared with us. Um the other thing too I think that is a great news story is the culture and the morale and the teams. And to echo what Jesse said, those tour those school visits were exceptional. It was a great great great investment of two days time from each and every one of our board members. You should all be very proud of what you're accomplishing. And >> the hard part is you
026now got to continue the momentum yet. And so, but that's but that's that's the fun. That's the mission. >> And you're that we haven't touched base on test scores and such, but I'm especially proud because that's at the end of the day where the rubber meets the road. Yeah. How well are we preparing our kids for the future? and and I'm excited for you to be able to share why Alexander County leads the state on test scores, leads the country in test scores. And I think that you all should take that back to your teams and say good job. The I personally, as a board member, I'm very excited about the progress and and the momentum that you're building forward on each and every one of those fronts. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you for that,
027Board Member Argues. I I appreciate the support uh the guidance that that that you've given our team. Uh I look forward to uh to presenting on Wednesday. Uh I think it'll be a great moment for us. Uh and hopefully we'll have a a large crowd. Fingers crossed on that. Um that that will be in attendance. But but either neither here nor there. We've got a great story to tell. Yeah. >> Um but anybody can do it for one year. You you've got to be able to to continue to do great things for years to come and that's that's our goal. So So thank you for that. >> Amazing. >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Griven. All right. Then we will be back with Dr. CL to round us out with the last two items with um
028some proposed board of education policy revisions. >> Okay, this is the most exciting part. Are you ready? [laughter] >> All right. So, we've got the second reading of the policies from last meeting listed here. >> [snorts] >> Does anyone have any questions with those >> board members? Any questions? >> Make a motion to approve the policies. >> Okay, got a motion to approve by Vice Chairman Dean Hart. >> Second by board member Arguas. All in favor say I. I. >> Any opposed? Like manner. Carries unanimously. >> All right. Thank you. >> Next item is first reading policy revisions. >> Just as exciting. First reading. We have four policy revisions here for student parent grievance procedure, grievance procedures for employees, confidential information and technology in the educational program. And these are very basic changes, some changes
029in some language, some legal terms, um, and some changes in the references. Okay. >> Do you want us to go ahead and are you going to let them go for another month? >> Yes, we'll bring those back. Just give everybody a chance to take a look. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Excellent. Thank you, Dr. All right. At this moment, that concludes our meeting. If I can get a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion. >> Got a motion to adjurnn by Corey Mlan. >> Second by board member Argues. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Like manner. Carries unanimously. Meeting adjourned.