001call the meeting to order. This being Monday, May the 12th, 2025. And at this time, we will call the meeting to order. I will turn it over to Anthony Mlean to lead us all 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. Board members, at this time I will seek approval of the agenda. What is the pleasure of the board? Motion to approve. Second. A motion to approve by board member Arguas, second by vice chairman Denheart. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Like manner. Carries unanimously. At this time, I will turn it over to Dr. Denita Da Revis for our honors and recognitions.
002Thank you, Chairman Ree. So, believe it or not, we do have every possible chair that we could get out here in this room. So, we've got a full house tonight. Lots of recognitions. Let's first ask our Bethlehem Elementary School Battle of the Books team to come on up. Dr. D, before we begin, I just say a couple things. It's It's wonderful to see such a packed house, so many people. Uh usually that's that's for two reasons at a board meeting. Either really, really good or something really, really bad. Tonight is really, really good. And we're so proud of all these students recognition. Yeah. Uh this is our last meeting before we uh I guess adjourned for the summer. Uh, so we wanted to make sure that we got everybody up here that we could and
003recognize the wonderful things that you're doing in our school system. For students, congratulations to your parents and guardians. Thank you for your support and making that happen. Come on up, y'all. And um, we'll ask the coaches to come up. I know they're here. So, we have Maya Wilson. Okay. Olic Santa Cruz, Carter Iker, Carter, Olivia Dunn, job Carter. Kylie James, Elizabeth Ash, Nola Williams, job. Harper Hall, my neighbor right there. Kate Bowman, and Arine Th. And then of course, Mr. Bowman and Miss Howell are with us as their coaches. So, these students were victorious on March 8 uh excuse me, March 4th uh for the elementary contest here locally and then they went on to the regional competition in Hickory. And most impressive is that um this is the third year in the row that
004the team from Bethlehem has won our local competition. So, way to go. Keep working it. Good job. Good job. Oh, good job. [Applause] Congratulations. I'm gonna reposition you guys a little bit. I can see your name. Big proud right there. Okay. Okay. See if I can get everybody in. You're probably gonna have to squish. Okay. Squish. Super proud of y'all. I'm going to count to three. All right. One, two, three. One, two. One, two, three. [Music] It is coming in as much. Good job. Congratulations. Very good. [Applause] All right. So, next we're going to ask um Hudson Hower, Cheyenne Hartzo, Brian Praza, Seth Fox, Nathan Hernandez, RJ Miller, Sayia Thompson, Eden Torres, and Delaney Troxclair to come up. Those of you who are here from East Alexander anyway. Okay. How you doing? Wow. Good job.
005[Applause] Yeah, good job. So, um we are celebrating Oh, and our the teacher is here, Mr. Urgman, and uh representing the seventh grade. Thank you, Mr. Man. Um so, we want to celebrate the East Alexander Middle School Rocket Day winners. They have an annual tradition over there and it's organized by the science teachers and the seventh grade team. They invite a special guest, Dr. Dr. Doug Knight from Lenor Ryan. I don't know if you guys have heard of him, but he is like the premier guy on rockets in our area. We're lucky to have him so close by and he's even worked with NASA on some of the projects. So, um, they had their rocket day and the longest flight was Hudson, Cheyenne, and Brian. Best flight was Seth, Nathan, and R.J. And best design
006was Sayia, Eden, and Delaney. So, congrats. Congratulations. Thank you, J. We did a complete article about this in the Times because I thought it was so special. And Jason, you were Yes. Oh, it's unbelievable. And while the while the pictures are getting made, I I did vow that the school board would have a rocket next year. And we and and we and we will compete. Yeah, we'll play to win. We'll be testing, man. Let me get one, Mr. Mr. Jason. How many years you been doing this? 19. Years. That's awesome. All right. Thank you, Jason. [Applause] All right. Next, we're going to ask Meredith White to come up. One more of those rockets. Hang on. Another rocket. Rocket just showed up. You want to come back? She should come back. All right. And who is
007this lovely young lady tonight? Everybody looking here. One more. That's good. Good job. [Applause] All right. So, next we'll ask Meredith to come up. Meredith White. And um this might be a first for Alexander County Schools. I'm gonna have to get um the folks at the high school to do a little research for me, but Meredith has been selected to go to Governor School this summer for English. Good job. Good job. Congratulations. Good job. Governor's School is a program for gifted and talented high school students and it integrates all the disciplines, arts, and unique courses. And the learning focuses on the exploration of the most recent ideas and concepts in each discipline. And it they don't get credit for it, but they also don't have to take tests, so that'll be fun. Um, Meredith joins
008two other picks that we have already celebrated here at the school board. That's Isaac Bowen and Jackson Ruff. So Meredith will be at the campus of Meredith College in Raleigh. So I say it's a first because I don't know that we've ever had three kids from the high school get to go. So we're very proud. [Applause] [Laughter] about looking here. Yeah. Good job. All right. Next, we will ask Lydia Hendren to come up. Lydia is a senior headed to Chapel Hill. All right. Congratulations, Lydia. We are celebrating Lydia tonight. Look at her. She's got her blue. Um, that's right. We're celebrating Lydia tonight. She received the FL Sports Cross Country Scholarship and that's awarded by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. It is for students who are exceptional for academics, leadership, and athletics. Flow
009Sports is a streaming service that broadcasts high school competitions and she was recognized for her positive attitude with her teammates. And Lydia also does track and field and swims on the high school team. So, she is a busy girl. Yeah. Congratulations. Good [Applause] morning. [Applause] Congratulations. Go ahead. All right. Uh, good evening. Uh, our next presentations tonight will be for the 2025 State Skills USA winners. We are proud to announce the outstanding achievements of several ACS students who represented Alexander County at the State Skills USA competition in Greensboro, which was held April 23rd through the 25th. Skills USA is an organization for students whose mission is to improve the quality of a future skilled workforce through technical skills and leadership development. We had 31 students who attended this year, which is the most since I've
010been here um anyway that went and competed in a variety of events which were carpentry, construction core, drafting, firefighting, electrical construction, wiring, and job skills demonstration. Tonight we'll be honoring those who were state level winners. Starting in the area of carpentry. In second place for the state we have Mr. Harley Grogan. [Applause] We thought Harley might get that first place this year. He's been placing all around but narrowly missed that. but he did a great job. Uh in the area of drafting one in fourth place, we have Nakota [Applause] Hicks. In the area of firefighter basic training, we have Grayson Hendren who came in fifth place. [Applause] following in the family footsteps because we have two that placed in firefighter nationals. We have Grayson's older brother, Bradley Hendren II, who placed third for the state.
011And Gavin Smith came in fifth place for the state. Wow. And we're not done. We also had some high school students who participated in events related to their career and college pathways and we want to celebrate their wins also. We share them with CBCC but we want to celebrate them also. In the area of uh electrical construction wiring we have Lucas Day who came in second place and Elijah Anderson who came in fourth place. [Applause] And then in a new area for us, we had job skills demonstration, a fourth place state win, Mr. Braden Robinson. [Applause] Again, just want to commend all these students for their hard work, the skills that you put into uh the craft that you are doing. also would like to thank our ACS staff advisors and ask you to come
012up if you're here. Mr. Josh BS, Chief Justin Deal, Mr. Roy Hadley, Mr. Jeremy Honeyut, as well as our CBCC staff advisors, Mr. Raven Robinson and Jordan Wagner. Thank you for making this possible. [Applause] You can stand up here. Thank you, Justin. [Laughter] Unless you're in the Baptist church. Unless you're at the Baptist church. Amen. Get in there. Crystal needs to be in there. [Laughter] Be sure to smile. I'll get a bigger room. Okay, I got it right now. All right, let's All right. Good job, guys. Well, [Applause] we have another group we'd like to recognize tonight, and that's the 2025 FCCLA state leadership winners. Uh, this is another first for us, um, at least since I've been here. Um, we had an FCCLA group last year, but we did not have any that competed
013for the state level. So this year we had seven total students compete in events and four of those seven were state winners. So that's awesome. FCCLA um is a national organization for students in the areas of family and consumer science programs. So tonight we'd like to recognize four of those winners on a uh team coming in second place in the state. Again, we haven't competed in this before. So coming in second place in the state on the sports nutrition team. Congratulations to McKenna Harold and Alyssa Bumgner. Good job in the area of early childhood. Congratulations our second place state winner Reese Buff. [Applause] and Elena Godfrey came in fifth place for the state. Congratulations. Again, this isn't possible without our dedicated FCCLA adviserss who have uh organized this group once again for Alexander Central High
014School. So, please come up. Uh Mrs. Huffman, Mrs. Sever. I don't think Miss Millsaps is here tonight, but again, we thank you for your time, support, and dedication to this group. Yes, we do. [Applause] Congratulations. [Applause] All right, one more award for us in CTE and this one's a special one. Uh, it is my pleasure to present the 2025 2026 District INCAT CTE Teacher of the Year Award. This award honors outstanding CTE educators who make a difference in students lives, bring creativity and innovation to the classrooms, and lead in their communities. Locally, this award is sponsored by Glenn and April Eckard, who are true advocates and partners to our CTE program. And I'd like to ask you to come up to help present the award. [Music] Got one for everybody. So again, it is my
015honor to announce that the 2025 district INCAT CTE teacher of the year is Mrs. Jenny Shu. Congratulations. Yeah. [Applause] Now, I'm going to have to read a little bit about her because this is a special lady. Mrs. Shu has been teaching family and consumer science for nine years and she currently teaches apparel 1, two, and advanced studies. Interesting enough, her name is actually back there on another plaque for beginning teacher of the year few years ago. Miss Jenny is known for her passion and creativity and h has built a classroom where students excel academically and personally. Her love for teaching shines through in the way she connects with her students and encourages them to grow. Miss Shu goes above and beyond leading service projects. If y'all know Miss Jenny, she's always coming up with community
016projects like sewing tote bags for foster children and creating quilts to take over to the senior center. These projects teach students valuable skills while also helping them understand the importance of giving back to the community. One of her most popular events that we just had is the annual spring fashion show where students have the chance to showcase their designs and creativity which truly boosts their confidence. This award is well-earned recognition of Miss Shu's dedication and hard work. We're also excited to share that she will represent our district in the state competition this fall. Congratulations, Miss Congratulations. Good job. [Applause] I am going [Laughter] to two. Miss Jenny's also family support here. Mom, dad, and husband. That's great. Thank you. [Applause] All right, celebrations continue. So, we want to ask Mila Mayberry to come up. [Applause]
017Mila is our Go ahead, baby. Okay. Um, she's our district Head Start Teacher of the Year. She went on to represent the district at the state level. That was back in March. And there she was recognized by the North Carolina Head Start Association conference and their banquet in Raleigh. And Mila is a graduate of Alexander Central. Yes, she and be she began She began working as a Head Start teacher in 2021 and was promoted to lead teacher. She's at Wittenberg and we are proud of her and her work over there. Yes. Yes. Thank you. [Applause] And lastly, we just want to give a shout out to Alec Rogers. She is a student teacher at West Alexander Middle School. And about a week and a half ago, Dr. Griffin and I had the pleasure of joining
018some members of Appalachin State's faculty as they went over and told her that she is the student teacher of the year for Appalachin. Phenomenal. Excellent. and um she works with Amanda Simpson and she's not here tonight because she has finished her studies and already moved back home, but um she will be able to move on as the student teacher of the year representative for Appalachin um and compete against other student teachers across the state for state awards. So, we'll keep you posted on that. We appreciate the paper published in that last week about her um getting recognized, too. So that wraps up our celebrations. If you are not here for the business part of the meeting, you may be dismissed. Hey, everybody can come. Everybody can come Saturday night and have a celebration at the
019Booster Club dinner. I'll be grilling and we'd love to celebrate everybody there again for the Booers Club. Thanks for coming tonight. Thank you guys. Congratulations everybody. Yes, sir. Have a good day. Take care. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Thank you. See you. Good to see you, man. Thanks for coming, man. I think now would be a good [Music] I won't tell if you don't. That guy right there helps me a lot. I love her. Good. Yes. Where' Jack go? He's already gone. Tiny. Where did Tiny go? A lot of class of 97 representation. Class of 97. A lot of class of 97 representation. Just like not only on the board, but also in the party. They stay around here for the public comment. You guys public comment. Which one? Both of them. Awesome. I like that.
020Please, please get up. Well, you can sign up late if you'll just say something right there. Oh, yeah. Well, we'll cut. All right, we're going to go ahead and proceed on with the rest of our items on the agenda. The next one that is down is public comment. And tonight, we do not have anyone signed up for public comment. So, um, at this time, I need to get a motion from the board to approve the consent agenda. Make a motion. Second. I've got a motion to approve by board member Corey Mlan, second by board member Rob Argues. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Like matter? Carries unanimously. The next item on our report is we are going to get a financial report and update from Sharon Mafy, our chief financial officer. Okay. Tonight
021we have three budget amendments. Amendment number 11, 12, and 13. The first amendment is this is a state amendment. Um, we have a PRC called non-contributo employee benefits. And these are benefits that people earn and that the state guarantees payment. So, we don't really put those in until the end of the year. Can we kind of see how much they are and these include things like annual leave, pay out, um, uh, longevity, and those types of things. The the second uh uh is really a transfer number 12 and it transfers $33,000 that was left in local supplements to transfer to charter schools. Um, we had more students attend charter schools this year and by the end of the year we um predict that that that we will have transferred about $80,000 of our local um
022appropriation to charter schools. We're required by law to to give them their per pupil share of uh the county appropriation. And the final uh amendment number 13 is to add $700,000 to uh of half cent sales tax fund to the capital outlay budget to complete the uh sugarloaf project and I will need approve. Okay. Uh Miss Sharon, do you want that in three separate motions or would bill do 11, 12, and 13? Okay. Board members, you have heard the request from our CFO. Um, what is the pleasure of the board? I'll make a motion. Second. I've got a motion to approve by board member Oxentine, a second by Vice Chairman Dean Hart. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Like manner. Carries unanimously. Thank you, Sharon. The next item on our agenda is a
023testing update from Dr. Denita Dao Revis, director of communications, tech testing and accountability. Thank you. So, I have some documents for you guys to um have reviewed before the meeting, but the gist of it is the state on April 2nd told us that we could um readminister, they don't call it retesting, but readminister EOG's and EOCC's the last 10 days for middle and elementary, the last five days for high school. Um beforehand, once upon a time, we could do that. Then they took that away and they had us do that as a summer program which required us to get busing and food service and so on. So obviously there's some good advantages of being able to test during the last days of school while the kids are still expected to be at school and so
024on if they did not make proficiency the first time around. So, we are asking you tonight to approve a plan to have um a readministration of EOGS that'll be for third through 8th grade for math and fourth through 8th grade for reading. And um that would all be done during the school year. But again, it would give us just the opportunity to give those kids another chance just in case they might, you know, have needed just a little bit more to get that proficiency mark. So, what questions might you have? Is this for the entire school system? Yes. Well, the high school will not be participating in the opportunity to readminister because their exams are the last five days and you have to fit in time for remediation. And this late in the game, we
025did not feel I talked with Mr. Leo and his um testing coordinator, Miss um Brantley, talked with Dr. BS multiple times. just seemed so late in the game to try to shift for the high school. So, it's just going to be for elementary and middle. So, this is only a positive, right? There would be no negative in retesting. Correct. Correct. And it is voluntary. The um parents would allow their students to they have to sign permission for them to agree to the retesting. But, you know, depending on the school, sometimes you can um push some kids like right over that bubble where they can get that proficient mark. And um it does help with the school performance grades the state issues for the for the schools which you know is the A through F scale.
026So so will they take the higher of the two test the for proficiency. So what will be calculated will be if they make proficiency and that will be calculated in for 80% which is part of the proficiency scores or the school performance grade scores. we will not get any points if they pass on the second time for growth, but it will help us on the proficiency side, which is 80% of the formula. So, that can be a big boost. I know Dr. Griffin is used to doing it. I used to do it back when I was um in some other places and so on. And it definitely you can get a nice bump if you get, you know, sometimes even at small schools, one or two kids can make that whole difference in that Yeah.
027formula. So, um we think it's advantageous. It's voluntary. So, um, and parents will be seeing something later this week. Well, so the kids will take the tests and then immediately, like the very next morning, I get the scores and I'll get those out to the testing coordinators at the schools and then they'll let the parents know who is eligible to retest and then based on that, they'll send permission back for them to allow them to retest. Okay. Okay. Board members, I'll make a motion to approve it. Got a motion to approve by vice chairman Denheart. I've got a second by board member Oxentine. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Like manner. Carries unanimously. Thank you, Dr. The next item on our agenda is a human resources report from Dr. Alicia Clover. Good evening.
028Good evening. Hey, you have before you the usual and customary personnel agenda report and um have you had a chance to look over that and do you have any questions? Okay, board members, do you have any questions? At this time, I will seek a motion. What is the pleasure of the board? Motion to approve. Got a motion to approve by board member Argues. Second, a second by board member Anthony Mlan. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Like manner. Carries unanimously. Thank you, Dr. Thank you very much. The next item on our agenda is to turn the floor over to our esteemed superintendent, Dr. Bill Griffin. Thank you, Chairman Reed, Vice Chair Dagenheart, members of the board. Um, first I'm going to uh approach the podium to go over some time nutrition information for
029you. Um, the first uh matter to discuss here and we may may need a vote on this uh depending on what the players of the board is is to talk about our C program or community eligibility program that feeds our children. Uh you guys and and I'm representing Kathy uh and presenting tonight. She's in Raleigh, I believe, currently. Uh and Sharon, if if you need to chime in, please please feel free to do so. Um we've been doing that program uh since 2022. Uh and it is an outstanding program. It feeds free, gives the opportunity for all of our students to eat free, elementary, middle, and high school. Uh when I first came on board this year, uh we were looking at some of those numbers. uh we were seemingly going backwards uh in as
030far as our expenditures uh and what who we were serving and the amount that we were reimbursed or getting reimbursed for those programs uh based on the percentage and part of participation from those students at each of those those three levels. Uh elementary was doing well. We al we noticed our middle and high school weren't participating like we would like to get reimbursed for that money. Um and and that just has to do with with middle and high school students. they they more apt to bring their lunch. They're sometimes a little bit more picky and sometimes choose not to eat the meal or eat something that they have or alleart. Um so those numbers continue to go down. In 2022, uh we had a a bank balance of $855,1411. Um after one year there of
031the C program in 2023 uh that bank balance was almost cut in half by 51% uh to $438,92640. Uh we just weren't getting reimbursed because we weren't participating at the high and middle school level. Uh and then last year on December 2024, we pulled numbers. uh it again fell almost 59% to a bank balance of $259,545.35 and then yet this year we're projected to once again have uh those reductions uh are eating into our fund balance per se banking account for child nutrition. Uh as we stand now, this program is although we love it and it's it's a wonderful thing for our community and our students, uh it just is is not allowing us um to sustain uh that program moving forward. If if history prevails, and it looks like it has over the past
032several years and our predictions for next year, uh if we continue feeding all children, uh then we'll probably have a huge deficit come next year. Um and and at this point that just becomes pretty pretty delicate um and and hard represents a hardship for our district. Um so what I would like to recommend is that for next school year uh that we only have our elementary in the C program uh which would require our middle and high school students to uh pay for their lunch or breakfast. uh they could als they could uh uh apply for free and reduced lunch as as we've always been able to do that. Uh but those that don't qualify then they would be paying uh for their lunches and and breakfast. Um and and really that's the only way
033I can come up with at this point uh for us to sustain our child nutrition program and move her. It's it's my wish that we could continue to feed every child for for as long as as that's sustainable. Uh but at this point that's not looking promising. Um, I've I've met with Sharon. We've had a long and and Andrea and Kathy and we've had a long conversation about this. Um, if we get numbers in that that prove that to be false to where we we look like we're going to to make it for this year uh as as things progress to the end of the year, then then I'll come back to you and say that maybe that's something we can do. But but what I want to do is make sure that our parents,
034our community members know that this isn't something that that's all of a sudden we're monitoring this. But at this point, I would recommend to the board uh that we continue the C program for elementary, but not for middle and high school and let parents uh have an opportunity to prepare for sure. What what percentage of of children participate at the elementary level? Uh elementary was 80. No, it was like 94%. We're 87% in the middle and high school. Okay. Maybe it was a little higher than at 52% at the high school. Okay. Okay. All in all, I think those numbers were around 80s for those two. But in that deficit, well, just having three kids, one in one elementary, one in middle, and one in high school, I always put money in my daughter's and
035my son's account for them to buy, but I never have to do for my daughter in elementary. So, she must be following the process. She she's probably getting that that sustainable meal. Uh middle middle school and and high school would typically go all cart and buy things uh that that aren't part of that program. Um, and that's typically just goes back to that choice of of what they like, right? Um, and and I think that whether we have the program or not, that's kind of what we'll continue to see at the middle and high school level. Um, I you know, I just wish there was a way that that we had the the ability to support all kids. Yeah. We we want to make sure that that they have a hot, nutritious meal each and
036every day. Sure. Um, and I do think that those that truly need it will still have that ability to apply uh and and make that happen. And if something changes, I would would love to go back to this. I know Kathy wants to do do this as well. Okay. Any any further questions between Sharon and I that we can possibly answer. Thank you for the very clear explanation. Yep. So, so for next year to to our our parents and and students, if nothing changes, and we'll we'll revisit to make sure everybody's on on board, it does look like that our middle and high school students would be going back to what we knew before COVID and the E program. Uh, and that's to apply for free to reduce lunch or pay full amount. How are
037we how are we going to get that out to the public? Um, I I hope this board meeting, but we could probably and should and will send something home a little closer to summertime to make sure and and start of next school year as we come back into school. We'll make sure those parents and food costs going up it looks like. And that's just Yeah, that's just where we are. It's looking like $4 a lunch next year. Well, and it's it's been a wonderful thing. Yeah. while we've had it. I know my daughter still has been a huge advocate spokesperson in her classroom for the pick three. You know, she will all the time either before you need to pick three items. This is going to this is going to help. But Bill, at this
038time, do you want us to go ahead and put it formally into a motion? I think that would be appropriate if the board feels that this is a proper way to move forward. Yeah, you sure can. So the application for reduced lunches, is that a Google form that'll go out to the parents? How does that We'll have that. How are you sending that those out? Principal, you have those paper hard. Okay. And and that being new that we haven't done in a couple years and I've not been part of that process because I haven't been here when we were doing that back in in that time. Uh we will get that information out to make sure that's very clear. Um and and then making sure that the parents participated. Sure. A lot of times we
039have parents that just don't fill out that paperwork and could receive such. So we will we will make those announcements. We will do all we can to to make that information uh pertinent and relative to those that it apply applies for and uh hopefully they take advantage of. Okay. Okay. Board members, any other any other questions? Okay. We have heard um the information and the presentation from our superintendent. What is the pleasure of the board? Make a motion. Make a motion to approve the what? The amendment to the C program. Did not include not include middle school and high school. Good. Good. There you go. There we go. That was very specific. That is phenomenal. We have got a motion to approve by board member uh BS. Can I get a second? Second. A second
040by board member Anthony Mlan. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Like manner? Carries unanimously. Now, one more thing pertaining to child nutrition that I want to read to us. It's talking about our summer feeding program. Uh and uh free free breakfast and lunch uh will be available for uh folks to pick up at Stony Point Elementary, uh West Alexander Middle School and Alexander Central High School one day each week uh starting in the summer. We'll get those dates available and advertise this. Uh Last summer, our child nutrition staff served more than 13,000 breakfast and 13,000 lunches to our community members. Um and those meals will be available once again and we get reimbured for those and and that we were able to sustain. Uh we we were able to to uh make ends
041meet with with that uh with feeding those during the summer last year and we want to continue doing that again. I think that's a big benefit for those that need it over the summer and anytime that we can do this uh and not put us in create financial hardships, we want to continue to do so. So, uh I'll get more information out about our summer feeding program, but happy to announce that we're we'll be doing that again for our families. Anything Sharon that I missed? Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Griffin. At this time, the next item on the and I've got a couple more things. Uh so now I'm I'm no longer child uh nutrition director. I'm going to step back in as superintendent. U there were just a couple announcements
042I had with my report. Um one of the first things I want to talk about is is our uh our AI team uh that we had. We had 15 uh teacher leaders from across our district. Uh we we met with Ash County and Hickory City schools um for our last event and that was in Ash County and we we were able to listen to Dr. Dr. Linda Jordan. Uh, and and Dr. Jordan did an amazing job talking about brain research. And it really was a a an afternoon, a morning and afternoon of of wonderful professional development uh that I think our teachers and and those leaders from across the district are able to to disseminate that information back to their schools. But just talking about how the how the brain actually works and and and
043grows and absorbs information. uh and it was just a a special day for us and we'll begin to continue uh those PD sessions with with all staff across our district and and get that information to them. Uh the next thing is I just want to brag on our uh county sheriff's office, Taylor Police Department, Alexander County Fire Department's EMS for their participation in the uh the prom promise activity we had at Alexander Central High School before our prom. I think our prom went went off with with no issues that I'm aware of. Um, but the prom promise, just having our entire community come together and our students and uh with with all our special services from again firefighters to to EMS to to our law enforcement just says a lot about this community and everybody
044pulling together to make sure that we uh try to make sure that our our students are are safe and uh very very special event. Just commend th those participants. Uh and then the next thing was our district-wide special Olympics that took place here on May 2nd. uh many of you came out to that event, but just to watch those student athletes participate uh participation for community members and parents and guardians uh as we celebrated their success is just a very very special day and uh uh we'll advertise that again next year and if you can make it I think you you'll rejoice in in what they're able to do and the smiles on their faces and and then our other students from Alexander Central High School that also volunteered to help with that. So big
045thank you uh for that event. Uh May 22nd, the uh Alexander Early College class of 2025 will graduate. That'll be at 6 PM at the uh Alexander Central High School auditorium. So these dates are just around the bin. Uh and we'll be very very busy with these graduations. And then a reminder that on June 6th, Alexander Central High School, class of 2025, graduate at 7 p.m. in Cougar Stadium, uh if weather permitting. And fingers are crossed that everything's going to go off without a hitch there. Uh and then the last thing I just want to make known uh to the general public and and I've worked with the board and talked about this uh here over the last several weeks is uh I made a recommendation to move Jacob Le principal from Alexander Central High
046School into district administration and also uh to move Amy Dagel uh from Hidnight Elementary School to West Alexander Middle School uh as as a principal there. Um these decisions are are very delicate, but when we have holes and gaps in our system with administration, uh we often have to move around our our our leaders. Uh and that just creates a big snowballing situation. Uh and we we don't take these decisions lightly. Uh I'm I'm honored to work with amazing people and and can't wait to work with with Amy and Jacob in just different capacities, but within our school system. Uh they do an outstanding job and and we're we're growing. we're getting better. It does require change. We can't stay stagnant and sometimes one move creates two or three moves. Uh but I just ask
047that the community members and parents uh faculty and staff of those schools to rejoice uh in those moves and celebrate that for those individuals. Uh they're going to do amazing work for this district and I'm honored that they're part of my team. So our our team. So thank you very much guys and and to the board for for that information. Just want to make sure that's known. Okay. And uh that's all I have for this evening. Thank you very much. Thank you, Dr. Griffin. Now, at this time, we will move on to um unfinished business with um board of education policy revisions with Sharon Mappy. Okay. We have seven policies up tonight for revision. Uh grouping for I I have new glasses, so I hope I read this right now. Grouping for instruction 3130, school
048assignment 4150, student health services 6120, student wellness 6140, participation participation by historically underutilized businesses. 6402 um use of use and selection of architects, engineers, surveyors, and construction managers at risk 9110 and building for construction work 9120. These have stood for one month. I've had no suggestions or questions and I'd ask that um you approve them on second reading. Okay, board members, we have heard the request from our CFO. What is the pleasure of the board? Make a motion. Got a motion to approve by board member Oxenheime. Can I get a second? Second. A second by board member Arguas. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Like manner. Carries unanimously. And then now we're on to the next item, the first reading of policy revisions. Okay. We have eight policies up for review uh for
049first reading and I will uh request input on those. We'll be back. Okay. Thank you, Sharon. All right, board members, at this time, if I can get a motion that we adjourn or that we close open session and we enter into close session. Make a motion. Got a motion to approve by board member Corey Mlan. Can I get a second? Second. Second. A second by board member Jesse BS. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? like manner. All right, we are now entered into close session.