001our regularly scheduled board of education meeting. At this time, board member Robert Arguas, if you will lead us in the pledge of allegiance. >> Attention and salute. Pledge >> algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. At this time, our superintendent, we will lead us in the mission and vision statement. >> Great. Thank you, Chairman Ree. If you guys would please repeat after me. Uh, here in Alexander County Schools, we're committed to building a legacy of excellence >> and our vision is to be the educational choice for every child. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. At this time, uh, board members, before we get a motion to approve the agenda, we
002need to add a closed session in there. So, if I could, if I could get um the approval from the board. >> Make a motion. >> Second. >> Got a motion to approve by board member Oxent Time, second by Vice Chairman Denhart. All in favor say I. >> Any oppose? Like manner. >> Carries unanimously. At this time, I'm going to turn it over to Denita Da Revvis for honors and recognition. >> Thank you, Chairman Ree. Dr. BS, would you come up and assist? So, tonight we are celebrating something that uh I know myself and Dr. BS does too, was no easy task. We have um a good many teachers who worked on um getting their academically and intellectually gifted certification through the Northwest Resa over the summer. and it amounts to about 60 hours of
003work. And in that time, they have to lesson plan and learn how to differentiate for high-erforming students. And adding these folks to our AIG certified folks is part of our Alexander County Schools goals to enhance our district's AIG plan and help those students. So we would like to ask Lauren Doula from Stony Point, Christina Lusk from Alexander Central, Savannah Paige Jackson from Alexander Central, Caitlyn Davis from Bethlehem, Taylor Gallion from East Alexander, Heather Basher from Alexander Central, Michelle Robinson from West Alexander, Tina Walker from East Alexander, and Kim Herzler from Bethlehem Elementary to come up and be recognized. Congratulations guys. >> Congratulations y'all. >> Congratulations. settle down. >> Thanks, sir. One, two, three. Thank y'all so much. [Applause] >> That concludes our honors and recognition for tonight. So, you are welcome to stay if you'd
004like for the remainder of our business session. >> Oh, don't gone wrong. like that. >> He was running. >> Couldn't get out of here. >> Okay. The next item on our agenda is public comment. And I understand at this time we did not have anyone sign up for public comment. So we will go on to the next item of the agenda, which is our consent agenda. Board members, um the agenda is in your packet. What is the pleasure of the board? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. Got a motion to approve by board member Argues, second by board member Anthony Mlan. All in favor say I. >> Any oppose? Like manner. Carries unanimously. Thank you. At this time, I will turn it over to Sharon Mafy, our chief financial officer, for a financial report update.
005[Applause] some Michelle clicker and now I'm absolutely terrified. >> You're going to do I believe. >> Okay, >> look at there. >> Okay. Um, >> I thought I would just review for just a second some of the information that Shannon gave in gave in the um presentation she did at the work session. We did have a um unmodified opinion which means we had a clean audit and if you have one of those that takes everybody everybody. >> Yes. people in this office, directors, the people in finance, the support staff, the teachers, the principles, everybody to do that. >> Great job. >> I and I I thank them. >> Okay. Uh to review, this year we were able to increase our uh current expense fund balance by 384,355. >> Great job. >> Wow. >> And one
006of the uh charts that um Shannon gave was fund balance over time. And if you look at the gray line, that is what our our actual fund balance in the current expense was. And you can see um the decrease in fund balance over the years >> except this yearceptional except this year it just went up just a little bit. >> Okay. Now then on to this year's budget. Okay. Just to review um we have these funding. These are our funds which uh are our funding sources. the state public school fund, the local current expense fund, which is our what we call our local budget, federal grants fund, special grants fund, that's fund 8, and that includes things like Medicaid, Head Start, PreK, ROC, and uh our nursing grant. And then we have other funds, capital
007outlay, child nutrition, and before and after school care. Okay, this is a pie chart showing the distributions of funds. The total budget for this year is $60,378,765 and that is a decrease of 3,368,273. The majority of the decrease is in the capital outlay fund. A couple of projects made like sugarloaf and the turf field were completed last year and therefore um that decreased the budget we had to bring forward to this year. State funds account for 69% of our budget. Our state budget decreased by $543,411. One of the major drivers to our state budget is the increases in retirement and health insurance. Retirement increased by 63% to 24.67% and health insurance cost increased by $45 to $850 per employee. Local funds accounts for 15 uh% of our budget. We received an additional 585,000 from the
008county commissioners and this Yes. >> Thanks to them >> very very much. They they gave us enough to um replenish our state budget. The losses in our state budget and that is going to be extremely helpful. >> And Sharon th those funds if I might say were not in addition to they were not supplemental. They were bringing us back to to a baseline. So again, extremely grateful for their support for that to allow us to stay at a baseline. So So thank you. Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. >> And then federal funds this year are 7% of our budget, up from 6% in 2425. That's an increase of $162,149. And that increase was due to a grant for uh programs this summer. Okay. Now, one of the things that that we talk about this is the
009distribution of funds in the different areas that we have. So again, uh salaries and benefits are the majority of our budget. They um they combi com combined they are 80% 84% of our budget or 48,32 $32,790. Um, sometimes I think about this, especially when we pay supplements, we are pouring millions of dollars into the county economy through the the um the salaries we pay our um our employees. Then the final slide is a comparison between the the budget for 2526 and 2425. And you can see some of those things I mentioned such as the decrease in capital outlay um and state funds. >> Okay, those are all my prepared comments. Does anyone have any questions? board members just comment great work on >> you've done a great job your team >> the additional money in
010the general fund balance and you and all all the work hard work y'all done just >> thank you but like I say it takes >> it takes >> the whole the whole school system really did an exceptional job all coming together and pulling in the same direction and the proof is in the pudding that you stopped that downward more current than we were. So, it's great job. Not just your finance department, which is exceptionally well, but everyone in the school system. >> Well, thank you to everybody. >> Good job. >> Thank you, Sharon. >> Thank you. >> Oh, uh, I need a vote. >> Oh, yeah. We have the resolution, right? >> All right, board members, what is the pleasure of the board? >> Make a motion to approve the resolution presented forth. >> Okay.
011Got a motion by board member Arguas. >> Second by board member Anthony Mlan. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Like manner? >> Carries unanimously. >> And I'm passing this on to the next. >> You did a good job. >> Thank you. >> All right. The next item on the agenda is Jacob Le um technology update. I am representing the technology department and uh on behalf of the technology department, I am bringing forward a request for approval of the bid for the paging and intercom systems at both Hiddenai Elementary School and Wittenberg Elementary School. And you'll find the details for that bid in your agenda materials. After talking with uh Mr. Stike Leather and his team, the upgrades will significantly improve the quality and the consistency of those systems over there. And
012they've been having some problems for quite some time. And so we issued a formal request for proposal to ensure competitive bidding in compliance with all state and district policies. So, at this time, the technology department is requesting a an approval uh for us to proceed with the recommended bid that you guys have in your materials. >> Question. Are these within budget? >> Say that one more time. >> Are these expenses within budget? >> Yes, sir. >> Sharon will let us know if they weren't. >> Just making sure. >> I double checked with Sharon earlier. Yes, sir. Should we make this? >> All right, board members. Any any further questions? >> If we can, let's um >> I make a motion. >> I've got a motion to approve by Vice Chairman Denart. >> Second by board
013member Cory Mlan. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Like man. >> Carries unanimous. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you, sir. The next item on the agenda is the human resources report update from Dr. Clover. >> Sharon, you might have to share the clicker. Not okay. >> Not on this anyways. >> All right. Good evening everyone. >> So you have before you the uh personnel agenda and uh as customary >> usual and customary. >> Yes. Do you have any questions? >> So any we get motion to approve? >> Motion. >> Got a motion to approve by board member Argues. Second by board member Oxentine. All in favor say I. >> I. carries unanimously. >> Okay, awesome. I was thinking I'm doing the U policies like I usually do, but that's
014next. >> Gotcha. >> Thank you. >> You're very welcome. Thank you. >> Now, we will receive an update with from Jessica Anderson. It's actually in reference to the related service um provider contract that was presented at uh the work session. I just need approval on that. >> Okay, board members, what is the pleasure? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Motion to approve by board member Argues, second by Vice Chairman Den Park. All in favor say I. I. >> Carries unanimously. >> Thank you. >> Good job. Um, at this time we will get a superintendent report from Dr. Bill Griffin. >> Thank you, Chairman Reese, Vice Chair Dagenheart, members of the board. Um, the the first thing that I want to bring attention to is is we just had a presentation from our finance officer,
015Chair Mafy, and and uh, Andrea is part of that team and and the hard work that that goes on within their department. Um, and it was a clean audit, a positive report. I'd also like to add that that we've we've tried to be extremely transparent over over the past uh months in making sure that the public's aware of where we sit with our budget uh and and what our operating expenses are and how we utilize those funds uh and how they're spent appropriately. Um and and we spent an an amount of time last week at our work session uh talking about the audit uh talking about uh our our budget and and how we are and how we're we're moving forward and and I think we as as a board uh and as administrative team
016learned a lot during during that work session. So I applaud you for being there and and providing your feedback. Um I' I'd like to put this thing in perspective though. Um in in school year 232 24 we used $89,44 of fund balance. >> We we were projected at a place that we were told that if we didn't make some tough decisions and do things a little differently uh that we would be bankrupt in one year. >> This board made some extremely difficult decisions. Uh this administrative team here made some extremely difficult decisions. Uh but we began and I challenge this entire staff and uh team that we have here that we have to begin operating within our means. We have to begin operating this school district so that we can be around for another 30
01740 50 100red years uh down down the pipe. I I won't be here during that time, but somebody will be leading this school district at that point. And I want it to be prospering. I want it to be doing amazing things. >> Uh so we put some things in place. Uh and we we caused some schools and and some departments and some some parts of our school system to be a little uncomfortable. Uh but those things worked and this year we were able to put back into fund balance $384,355 for a total difference in one year of 1,1937 excuse me $1,193,759 in one year. And I want to commend our our school board. I want to commend our uh constituents, our administrators. I want to commend every staff within this school system for understanding that
018we have to do things a little differently. >> Uh and and with that, we saw a rise in test scores. >> We saw uh things within our buildings expand and get better than where they were the the previous year. Uh when it comes to our accountability measures, we still have places to work on. We still have things that we we we have to improve upon. We still have areas that we need to support more. Uh and and I hear those things and I listen to that. Um and and I know that our our professionals are are are accurate there. So, you know, I ask the board to continue to trust this team. uh continue continue to trust our finance department, continue to trust HR because we look at every allotted position we have and we
019hope that we're we're appropriately spending each and every dollar that that that we has made been made available to us. So, uh again, hats off to this staff, hats off to to this administrative team, hats off to every employee that's been part of this journey and doing their part to get us to where we need to be. Now, we have to do it again next year. >> Yeah. and again next year and next year to a place to where we're healthy and we understand that we're stable uh that we're understand that we're operating with with the number of students that we have each year understand that if our ADM and our student enrollment goes up next year then we'll continue to add back to it. Um, and then understanding that we follow our mission and
020vision that we've set forth and that we're the educational choice for every child within this county. And and those things I believe can can keep our our school district around for for many years. Our our buildings open in our communities. And that's important to me that we make sure that that those buildings are there for our communities to to utilize and be part of of what they have. Uh, and they continue to grow successful students. So again, hats off to to our board uh and each of our employees for for a tremendous school year. So thank you for that. >> Thank you. >> The the next piece that I have is uh just reminder to the board on October 20th and 21st uh we're going to do our board visits to our school. I'm looking
021forward to that. I see many principles out in the audience this evening. Uh we look forward to coming into your school uh listening to you and your team uh and getting in some of your classrooms and high-fiving some teachers and students. So looking forward to those days. Um and then some upcoming events that we have. October is principal appreciation month. Uh so we want to say thank you. Was that a clap? I heard a clap. I think we should clap. >> They love the clap. I'm glad we're clapping for those individuals cuz they certainly deserve it. Uh the job that they do on a on a daily basis, the general public really never sees the amount of hats that these administrators wear. uh and we'll be celebrating that at our at our principal meetings and
022and uh but I just wanted to give public recognition to you guys and uh board members, you guys may have something to say about that as well. I >> I would just like to add, you know, Dr. Griffin uh Rob and I went last year to the North Carolina uh school board conference in Greensboro and one of the speakers said it should be your goal as a school board member to have a relationship with every administrator, especially if you have a child in the building. And this year I've done a a better job of of making relationship with Coach Lewis, Lee Swanson, and Miss Liry. Um, and again, I just appreciate these three people. They're in my child's lives. The difference that you're making. Um, it matters. And I appreciate you, coach. I appreciate Mr.
023Swanson. I was at East today and I'm wearing the shirt that says above the line. I'm going to give East a little PR. Um, but he said that above the line is intentional and accountable and uh you're either meeting the standard or you're not. And if you have a child at East Alexander uh middle school, you need to go down there and see what's going on. Absolutely. >> Um >> I mean the pavement uh the the the field uh everything that's going on in that building is just phenomenal. And then this weekend at Sugarloaf, again, I'm just giving highlights of where my kids go. Okay. So, this weekend at Sugarloaf, we had the fall festival raised over $15,000 and uh it's just great. It's great information for people for the community to know, but appreciate
024Miss Liry and what she's doing there for the community and the teachers and uh it's just fun for my kids to go to school. So, thank y'all and everybody else that's out here in the audience. Appreciate y'all. I appreciate all the principles and administrators in our county. >> Good job. >> Thank you, Vice Chair. Any anyone else? >> I just like to echo what he's saying. I'm kind of grew up with some of these and watched one principal actually grow up. She's ignoring me back there, but >> uh remember when she was born. Um but I'm just really proud to between the budget and I'm just uh extremely proud of this school district and where we're at and and uh hopefully uh the path we're headed on and everything. I know there'll be hiccups along
025the way, but uh just my son's graduating this year, so it's kind of a sentimental time for me. I'm not looking forward to the next chapter. Um but I'm really really proud of the principles in this room and every every member of this school system. Going back to the budget, I mean, what we've done is nothing short of a miracle. And a lot of sacrifices were made. And I want I want personally I want >> everyone to know how much I appreciate the the the smallest of sacrifices from our maintenance department to our our custodians to to buses. It's not just this board. It's not just Dr. Griffin. It's not just Dr. CL or any of the staff. This was this was down in the in in the trenches. Uh, and I want I want
026everyone to know how much I appreciate that and and look forward to the future and and where we're headed. >> Thank you. >> I would just add one thing to what our board members are. I think that the mission and vision speak volumes to where you all are taking the team in our school system. And I'm just absolutely tickled to see how it is that you're going to make it really difficult for folks not to choose Alexander Central Schools for the educational path for their children when they have many other options available because I truly believe in my heart you are the team that provides the educational choice for every child in this county. >> Amen. >> Thanks. So, so as you've heard from several of the board members, I feel comfortable that I can
027speak for all of them. Even though that did not mention, we believe in what you do each and every day. >> Each one of us sitting here, we have children in these schools. >> We believe it is our goal to be transparent in anything and everything that we do. You know, sure, some of the decisions that we've had to make, they weren't the most popular decision, but we have to look at the long-term effects so that, as Dr. Griffin mentioned, the school system will be around for a very long time. And we've got that foundation. We've got that laid. We've just got to keep building off of it. And as I've heard in different meetings that I've been in with the school system, we need to make sure that we are the ones telling our
028story and that it is a positive one. >> Sure. Right. >> And that it is getting out there because folks, that's what's going to drive our ADM up. You know, the old adage, you know, we can worry about what we can't control, but it ain't going to do no good. Worry about what you can control. And every single day you as a leader have the opportunity of making it a good day or a bad day. >> And there's going to be bad days, but we have to pull ourselves up and keep pressing on. So on behalf of this board, we appreciate you. We love you. We are here for you. >> Amen. >> And Dr. Griffin, thank you for that update. Thank you. >> Absolutely. >> Um and and finally, I have just a couple
029more dates. It's uh Alexander Early College fall breaks the 13th through the 17th. Uh have a required teacher work day on the 23rd. Optional teacher work day uh the 24th and that's the end of the nine weeks. It's flying by. It's >> Wow. >> Um and then the 31st is early release day for students. A has a required work day on the 31st as well. Uh and then moving into November uh the 11th we'll celebrate Veterans Day. So that's a holiday. So we'll be out of school that day for employees and students. So it's it's flying by. It's went by very quickly. uh but accomplishing a lot each day and and I'm I'm proud to be part of this this system. Uh I'm I'm proud to be associated and surrounded by amazing administrators and and
030employees and and amazing board. So, thank you very much once again, Dr. Griffin. Thank you. Um the next two items on the agenda um will be presented from Dr. Alicia Clover, our assistant superintendent. We've got some board of education policy revisions. >> Yes, I have some exciting things to present. Trying to make y'all laugh a little bit. All right. So, as I am the technology runner operator, let me pull that up for us as well. This thing's not like me today. won't be the first and won't be the last. Let's see. Know why it's not working. >> Missed my happy mic. >> Well, I'm clicking the button as you can hear. There it goes. But it wouldn't click. Okay. So, I'm here with the second reading for the following policies. 6220, 63330, 7130, 7820, and
0319210. >> What's the pleasure of the board? >> Make a motion to approve. Got a motion to approve by vice chairman Dagenheart. >> Second. >> A second by board member Anthony Mlan. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Life manor. Okay. Carries you now. >> Thank you. It works better up here. I found out also found something else out. There is a drawer that pulls out here to make a >> table. Did you know that? >> There you go. >> Sorry, I'm totally off topic. All right. Are you ready for me next? >> It's the little things. >> It is. All right. So the next one is the first reading and I have several on here but they were very minor changes. So it's policy 1300500600700 4331 7100 7335 and 7340 and
032again they were just footnote changes very small changes in those but that's first reading. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right, board members. About 30 minutes. This concludes our open session. What is the pleasure of the board? Can I get a motion that we close open session, we enter into close session. >> Make a motion. >> Got a motion to approve by board member Cory Mlan. >> Second by board member Arguas. All in favor say I. >> Any oppose? like manner. We are in executive session.