BOE Regular recurrent meeting

001of the Carroll County Board of Education. And this time I would ask you for a moment of silence followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. First item of business is approval of the minutes from April 13th, 2026. Is there a motion to that effect? Ms. Bagley and Ms. Smith second. Any discussion? Now all in favor raise your hand. Opposed? Motion is carried. Approval of the agenda. So moved. Mr. Miller makes the motion. Second? Ms. Smith. Any discussion? If not, all in favor raise your hand. Announcements. All right. Good evening and welcome to tonight's board meeting. I do want to thank Board

002of Education members, staff, families, community members for your continued support of Carroll County Schools. We appreciate everyone who takes the time to be engaged in the important work of supporting our students and our schools. Before we proceed with tonight's agenda, I would like to take a moment to recognize an important group of individuals across our district. Last week was Administrative Professionals Appreciation Day, And I want to publicly thank all of our administrative assistants for the outstanding work they do each day. Our administrative assistants are often the first faces families and visitors see when they enter our schools and offices. They help our operations run smoothly, support staff and students, managing countless responsibilities, and provide exceptional service with professionalism and care. Their work is essential, and they are truly valuable members of our team. On behalf

003of Castle County Schools, thank you to each and every one of our administrative assistants for your dedication, commitment, and the many ways you contribute to the success of our district. You are appreciated. Turn over to you, Mr. Chair. All right. Need to apologize for a few minutes of your time. We got another item on the agenda coming up. Be right with you. >> [clears throat] >> Okay. All right. We're now at public comments. Uh We ask that you state your name. Your address is already here. That's not necessary. Uh your time limit is 3 minutes. We have a clock running to let you know. Okay? You would state your name and then go ahead. I'm April Harris. I am the parent of Audrey Salter. I have sent each and every one of you an email

004about what has happened at Salter Elementary. Excuse me. My daughter was assaulted. Physically, it's on the video. I have a copy of the video. I have spoke with the superintendent. I was told not to come here tonight to speak on this. This teacher has put her hands on my daughter more than once. Happened last year, nothing was done about it. Again, she's not her teacher. She summoned her to walk her to the bus. I brought this up to the principal. The principal said that she would handle the situation. She never handled the situation. She continued to have contact with my daughter for a whole month. And nothing was done. I continued to I emailed all of you guys. I reached out to the superintendent. I've reached out to the state. I want something to be

005done because that's not acceptable. She grabbed my daughter by the wrist instead of the hand. The principal said that she was going to pull the video to look at it to see what happened. And she said that she didn't need to do so because she saw that and she was standing there. She said that she was holding her by the hand. She wasn't. She grabbed her by her wrist. And it's clear on video. The superintendent saw and agreed. >> [clears throat] >> And she said that she grabbed her by the wrist because she was talking in line. My daughter was 6 years old at the time. Just walking to the Sorry. Walking to the bus. And this teacher had no right to put her hands on her. The principal, I had tried to speak with

006her about it. She's continuously hung up on me. She yelled and screamed at me and continuously hung up on me. I have not heard anything. I have not received an apology. It's very unprofessional. She's extremely unprofessional. I wish um that something is done about both the teacher and the principal cuz this is not okay. I'm I worry for my daughter to go to school. I ask her every day when she comes home, has she spoke to you? Has she done anything? Has anybody touched you? Has anybody done anything? Um and so far she hasn't. She It's been okay, but that doesn't excuse the reason for her grabbing her wrist or last year during graduation in front of everybody, her kindergarten graduation, she yanked the sash off of my daughter in front of everybody. And um

007nothing was ever done about that. The principal never addressed it. Nothing was ever done. And I That's not okay. I want something to be done about both the teacher and principal. Counselor? I don't know about the counselor. I called Yes, I called I called to speak to the counselor, Miss Bucking. She's amazing. Called to speak to her. She let me know that um the principal was in the office with her when I had called and would not let me speak to the counselor. And then she started screaming at me saying that I wasn't going to tell lies and that when I wanted to have a real conversation to call back. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. I have a question. Question. So, it is my understanding from the superintendent you've been advised of the grievance process.

008Is that correct? Yes. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Go ahead and talk. Who asked you not to come speak? They did. Mr. Stokes. I know that one lie after another. >> Well, just a minute, Mr. Oliver. You're out of order right now, please. They won't hear it. Well, well, you're out of order Just If you're going to speak, you come to the podium and speak. Okay? >> Sorry about that. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So, we addressed this board because of she's 7 years old. She looks used to love to go to school. Short period. She don't want to go to school no more. She wants her mom to keep her home every day. We have to talk her into getting on the bus. This is what we have to do because that gentleman right

009there right there BS. That's all he's done. He told us Tuesday. I told him I was going out of town. I had an emergency I had to go out of town. I told her I She does not drive. That I would have to come back to take her to this meeting. No problem. I drove all night last night to get here to take her to this meeting and then he calls her up and says, "Well, there's no reason to be here. The meeting's going to be really long. You're not going to be able to talk. You're not going to be able to do this. You're not going to be able to do that." This is ridiculous. This is in your guidelines. State guidelines say teachers are not allowed to touch the children. What is she

010doing behind closed doors? What has she been doing that parents just ain't saying anything or the child isn't saying anything? What are What is she doing? Nobody wants to say. They walk out of the meeting because I tell you the truth. I tell you what I'm feeling. That's my granddaughter. I'm sticking up for her. Nobody's going to put their hands on her. There's no reason for that. All my kids went to South Elementary. Never had a problem. Mr. Battle knows who I am. Never had a problem. I don't understand why this is taking place, why all this stuff is going on. It's cut-and-dry. Your guidelines say they're not to touch the children. That's against the law. That's it. Cut-and-dry. There's no Nothing else. Drawing this out for a month. He keeps making up this stuff.

011"Well, we need to do this. Well, we need to do this. We need to do" It should be cut-and-dry. Sir, here. This is what you need to do. Nothing. He told her that he was supposed to give her some paperwork to fill out so we can come and talk here. He said, "I never said that." This guy I don't know what I know he's temporary but he needs to go. Cuz he's He's protecting these. That principal over there specifically said she's going to look at the video. Then she come back and said she didn't need to cuz she was there. Yeah, she was there. She was over there and looking over that way. She wasn't even looking. You can see it on the video. But why tell my daughter she was holding her hand when

012she wasn't holding her hand? They tried to downplay it. We had a meeting with them. What they do? They didn't like it. They got up and walked out in front of him. That's their boss. You're disrespecting your boss, not me. I could care less. Something needs to be done. Look at all these kids are getting assaulted, raped, all kinds of stuff because the board sits here and does nothing. It's all quiet. Keep it quiet. Don't tell nobody cuz that's what's happening. A month this has been going on. Granddaughter don't want to go to school no more. Now what do I do? Y'all got a suggestion? She ain't even in second grade and y'all already got her that she don't want to go to school. That usually happens in uh high school, middle school. They don't

013want to go to school. But here, she loves school. Thank you. Anything else? Didn't sign up. Uh next item reports, uh quarterly reports. Good afternoon, board members. So, we have the third quarter reports in front of you. Um I'll do what we normally do. We just go page by page. If there's questions with that page, we can answer them then, if that's okay. Yeah, you can. >> Okay. So, the first page is the bank balances and um things like that. I will want to note that the current expense fund usually does not have that amount of money in it. It's because of March payroll, some expenditures rolled over into April, so it would have not cleared by March 30th. The current expense does not usually carry a balance that large. All the other funds are

014pretty much in line with the what they usually have. Okay. So, on the next page, we have our state funds. Um I do want to note that even though some of them look like they are over by the purpose code, that's not necessarily because the state goes by PRC's and not purpose code. So, just because the purpose code is over 75%, which is the 5110 the or the 5100 the 5200, the PRC's is how the state uses their budget. So, it's a three-digit number. So, just because like for example, 5200 is 88% 5200 might not be 88% by the state what the state actually has. Any questions on the state? Anyone? All right, continue. So, the next one is our local funds. Our revenues are right on track at 75% and our um expenditures are

015actually only 78%. That percentage of 112 on the third call on the third line um is what's throwing the percentage off at the bottom. So, going through them, 5200, that is what that we have to match locally for the MIE. So, once that money is spent, there's no more expenditures coming out of that money. >> Exactly. Who's Betty? Up here at um 4420, well, 40 yeah, 4420. The Civic Center, why would that not be over here in revenue? I've seen it on the other reports. So, expenditure send uh Civic Center is not in fund eight. I mean, in fund two. It's in fund eight. Because if we put it in fund two, then we would have to give it to charter schools. It's been in fund eight since probably 21. Is that the same thing

016as driver's ed money? Driver's ed, we do not spend money in driver's ed anymore because we contract all that. We do not. It's all contracted out. So the money that we the kids pay, students pay >> It's to a contract. Okay. We do not have any driver's ed money coming in and out. That stopped probably around COVID. You know what off. Mhm. But we get money from the state. It's all state funded and we contracted out. And then the contractor actually pays some of our people to do that. Any other? Anything else? I'm all right. I can dig it. So 5300 is NC pre-K. There's a small expenditure that needs to go into fund eight that's in fund two. That's why that was looks like it's over budget right now, but it's actually not. 5400

017is usually about $3,000 every month that's spent. So right now with 9,000 being in there, we should be good till the end of the year. There might be a budget amendment that comes in June for that. But as of right now, we're not doing that. And then 6500 um So there's only it's only been gone up 22.7% from second quarter. And 6600 has only gone up 6.46% from second quarter. So you going to spend all of that? Sir? You going to spend all of that? >> Yes, sir. Okay. >> [snorts] >> And then 6900 has only gone up 18% since second quarter. Those three usually are very beginning of the year heavy because we have a lot of insurances and um um, things that come out of those pots. Any questions? Okay. Federal is pretty

018is very cut and dry like state where it about 50% spent or 50% revenue and about 60% spent, but remember federal money rolls over. So, we don't have to spend all of that this fiscal year. Okay, good. Yes. >> Mr. Smith, >> [clears throat] >> 5800, can you explain that budget amount and the actual expenditures to date? >> [snorts] >> I don't want to misquote on that, so I can get that information to you what that is. >> Okay. But again, it's very similar to how the state operates. It goes off of PRC's, not purpose codes. So, just because the purpose [clears throat] code is overspent does not necessarily mean the PRC's overspent. Okay. Just to be clear, what clarity do you need for 5800 for the question? Just the fact that the expenditure was

019so much more than the budgeted amount. It was $85,000 more than expected. Yeah. For school nutrition basic food service. >> Yes. All right. Any other questions on federal? Okay. So, then capital outlay, um, we are seeing about a 17% on our revenues, but again, that's because the percentage is off by the 109 because we have actually received more ABC revenues than expected. So, when you receive more revenues, it throws the percentage off. Yes, ma'am. Okay. So, when you saying on the ABC revenue, which I've been on the board going almost eight years, it's never went over 60. So, you're saying we got a bump up in there? So, ABC revenues is based off of how much they sell. Yeah, they got a big sign somebody sitting inside the store. Mhm. So, we have received $65,000

020worth of ABC revenues for this fiscal year. >> [laughter] >> Well, they don't always have I mean, we're not the first choice. Right. You know, like all the renovation that they did. Okay. That's top priority, first thing. Correct. Okay. All right. So, then down to expenditures. Because of our 888, which we're very, very grateful for, it does throw a little bit of our expenditures off. So, we still have about $11,000 worth in capital outlay to actually spend that we budgeted. The 9,000 block, where it has 500 and um 64,000 balance to be expended, those are POs and expenditures that we are sending to the county for the 888. There's also some 888 expenditures in HVAC. Okay. Especially when you go forward. On child nutrition equipment, I've noticed on all of our our paperwork, we [snorts]

021had no equipment needed to be fixed. The board did away with that line item at the beginning of the year. So, >> [clears throat] >> can we take that line out so it won't look like they're not asking? We can, but if you ask for it, you're going to have to put it back in there. I just, you know, cuz looking at I'm like, you know, I know we got equipment needs to be fixed. Mhm. So, at the beginning of the year, it was when we did our adopted budget, it was done away with. Okay. What do we need to do to get this back? Thank you. Yes, ma'am. So, we have actually received um $20,000 of the $32,000 reimbursement that we've received from the county, and then we have another big reimbursement that's getting

022ready to go to the county, hopefully this week as well. And then those big expenditures that are some HVAC needs will also be going to the county as well as soon as they come in and are repaired. And we have invoices for them. Any other questions? >> [clears throat] >> So, the next one is child nutrition. I want to keep in mind that the revenue for child nutrition is about a month behind. So, when we start the school year in August, we do not receive our first USDA reimbursement until September. So, in June is when that gets caught back up. So, technically, the revenue piece of this only goes up until that February. And then we're 78% expended, which is a roughly about what we were last year at 75%. But, our revenues are actually

023over this year at 59% versus 51% last year. This is So, if they needed equipment, where would it fall in here? Depends on what the equipment is and the amount. Child nutrition really does not have funds to purchase equipment, so it would be a capital outlay need. What are the catered and non-itemized lunches? So, that is for I believe that is for like if the board goes and eats. I want to say what it means. >> Right. And it comes out of our line. Come out of Yeah. No, no, no. The revenue. It's a revenue. That's not a expenditure. Right, revenue. >> Right. Mhm. That makes it. >> [laughter] >> I got I just wanted to I can get you a printout of what those revenues look like. >> Not a problem. Any other >>

024So, they possibly have some money to go back in their fund balance this year, right? Potentially, yes. >> Okay. Um that fresh fruits and vegetables has really taken off this year with the amount of reimbursement and because the state up the USDA reimbursement has helped us out a whole lot. So, hopefully we either can add to fund balance or we won't have to take any fund balance. And if they continue to make money, we can take indirect cost off of them. Okay. All right, go ahead. So, the next one is before and after school care. Um, this one is kind of where it's always been. We did not spend as much expenditure-wise this year versus last year. Last year we were at 70% and this year we're only at 64% and these also the way

025the expenditures hit June is the catch-up month because there is 2 weeks worth of um, before and after school care in June where they get caught up. So, are we going to have to take money out of local to make this whole this year? No, cuz they still have fund balance. Okay. It's a little bit of fund balance. So, the auditors did actually um, suggest that we move that fund balance because it's it's only like $30,000 and put it in their regular account to keep their operationals going so we don't have to keep moving it back and forth, but I still have it in our um, stiff account. Okay. Cuz last year we had to move some local money I thought to make them whole. No, we used their local their fund balance, but it

026was about $20,000 I believe, but their fund balance is dwindling down cuz it they just haven't added to it. But when that fund balance is gone, that's when local would have to pick it up. Okay. And then the last one is restricted funds. This is where the civic center rental is. And that's because if we have it in our local amount, it's considered revenue for us and then the charter schools also can get a piece of it. Okay. This ma'am. Go ahead. Can you explain the school nurse revenue? So, the school nurse revenue is the $200,000 that we get from the county um health health health department. They actually had a little bit more money this year that we were able to get off of. So, that's why the expenditures are more than the budgeted

027revenue or budgeted expense. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Any other questions? Yes, ma'am. Under expenditures, 5800, the school based support services, it looked like we spent um $87,000 more than expected. What was that? That's the school nurses. >> So, that is Okay. >> And what happens on there? Okay. Thank you. Thank you. We'll see you a little later. >> [laughter] >> Okay, school inspection reports. So, board members, in your agendas, you have two sets of reports. One from Cintas, which is our supplier for custodial materials and chemicals and things of that sort. The second is from the local um health health department. And so, if you have those for your viewing and and out of the discussion so that we can get back to our staff, we were glad to see that there is a correlation

028between the health inspector and the Cintas reports. Because for since COVID, for some time we've only had one or the other. So, we just wanted to make sure that there was some consistency and we had two reports that showed two listed particular here to discuss if need be. With these reports for your viewing and any questions you may have. Yes. Come on, about what? How do you uh once you get the reports, do you yourself go with the the principal and the custodians or what go over there. How do you do that? So, I haven't yet. So, what I've done is they just finished up BY's last report last week. So, what we were basically checking is Surveil is who we purchased items from. They've always done inspections at the beginning of the year and

029at the end of the year. The health department is now um with Castle has started doing the whole school inspection for sanitation [cough] and they're doing the whole school once or twice a year also. So, I wanted to compare apples to apples this year. So, I waited till BY got their last report done, I believe last week. And um I've got both of them together to compare and looking at both reports, they're fairly similar on the reports. Um a little bit different on one or two others, but it's a different times of the year. But So, I want to present those to the board and you can actually see the sanitation grades of what the schools are getting and now I want to share these with the principals and the custodians. Okay. It's better than

030>> What gives what concerns me is the high school. When you see I mean I 81 sounds good, but when you look on their ratings, it's below average. Um and then if you We've had a lot of complaints, I know the past 2 years about our students' restrooms. And I assume it must be true since you see that. I mean I think we talked about this some last year. What can we get to clean these sinks and it It's a fairly new school. It is a fairly new school and if you go in and look at the partition walls and some of the staining and stuff on it. Um I've talked to Surveil. Um some of it, I believe was misuse of the custodial products. Um I believe they were using toilet bowl cleaner to

031scrub the walls and fixtures and faucets. Okay. Which it etched a lot of the chrome and fixtures in that new building. Um, however, the uh Surveil uh has gone to the custodians to talk to them about the products that they're using. And they're offering to do a training class for the custodians if we would be willing to pay for it to come up, but we've got new people coming in and out, so they may understand some of the products, they may not, um. You know, in the past it used to be every custodian had a section. That's when maintenance was over custodians. To me, maybe that's something we need to talk about to go back to to let Allen take on one more thing on his plate. Sorry. But, I mean, it's kind of needs

032to know who's at what section cleaning. Cuz you can't go on and blame everybody. And I know they work as hard as they are because we lost custodians. But, you know, some of this is And I think BY had a shortage on custodians for a while, and I think they hired uh um a lot of people back then, and I think they were working in sections at the time there. >> [clears throat] >> So, um but I think they've got a lot um with new help, and looks like to me they got some go-getters in the places, so I think they Right. You can make a big turnover. >> And also on the equipment, now where it says equipment needs to be kept, some of it said the blades on the equipment. Is that something

033they send in to you all to do? Cuz I'm sure that's not >> So, any repairs that we get, Surveil is the company that we use to fix and repair a lot of the cleaning equipment. Some of the stuff we can do, we change the batteries, heads, we unstopp them, clog them, that's all, sucked up pencils or whatever in some of the machines. And um we're fix several of those, cold ones, and different things on them, but the major repairs come the boards, circuit boards, and stuff like that, we send back to to Seville for them to fix and repair. But I know equipment, it says it's poor, so I just want to make sure they are sending in what they need to send in so they can get fixed. Cuz that's something that I

034don't know if you all here, but when I go walk around the school, there's always somebody's going to complain about the equipment that's not working. Equipment is going on this, and they can't clean with that equipment. Well, we don't have a person that goes around and services the equipment um yearly either. >> And you don't know they don't tell you >> have a budget to do the servicing and stuff like that. We've only got the actual contract for the custodians of what Seville from charge for cleaning products. We don't have a budget to handle the Well, they all doing a good job, I'd say that, but there's some things. Thank you. Thank you. Madam So, uh are you saying that the principals have not seen this report yet? No, ma'am, they have not. So, once

035like uh I know B Y, right? So, and now that I think according to what I looked at, they're fully staffed now. I'm not sure, I'm not sure about about answering to the team as far as that. So, that would be uh something to look for. To yeah, to be able to, and um just as she says about the repair of the equipment, I think that being that's something that should be brought to us because sometimes when we don't service things, they break. That's correct. And you have to have a service plan. That's correct. >> So, um please take a look at that and bring us something so that we will be made aware of things that are worn out and need to be serviced. Okay? Yes, ma'am. >> And um I don't know what

036kind of training that the staff goes through to learn the products, but I do think it's a good idea that they do have some training because of their issues in product products and causing more harm than we need to you know talk about. Yes, ma'am. >> But I think overall the reports were, you know, very good, but I do agree this is a new school and we need to treat it as such. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. >> [laughter] >> Audrey. Anyone else? Go ahead, Joe. The one [clears throat] thing I was going to say is, you know, I think everybody's working hard, but you know, like me and Mr. Battle were at the high school a couple weeks ago, all the custodians were in the cafeteria from the time the first lunch starts to the last

037lunch ends. It seems to be that way at all of our schools, so I'm not sure that every custodian needs to be at one spot. You know, maybe two custodians can handle the lunch instead of all of them because there's no other cleaning going on. Um and somebody's got to be in charge of them. I mean, I remember us talking about this at the last custodial report that somebody has got to be in charge of the custodians saying this is what you need to do. This is not clean. This is not clean. So, if the principals are not going to do it, then we've got to come up with who that person is going to be. Um I know the principals got a lot on your plate and their plate, but somebody has to manage

038who's going to do what um or it doesn't get done. Um not only that, um I agree kind of what you're saying, but the cleaning products um the custodians are also in charge of making sure they have supply of products coming in. Um the products are delivered directly to the schools. They don't come to us first. So, checking balance of are they over stocking or they So, it's not a person to go around and actually check behind them to see about stock coming in and going out and they kind of order them based on the contract of the products they need throughout the year, so Well, you used to kind of have I guess maybe we've gotten away from it. We used to kind of have like a head custodian at each school. Right. And

039they were kind of in charge of this school thing be clean and these people are going to do this, and order materials, and doing all that. And I don't know if we've got away from that practice. Um cuz nobody seems to know who the heck is still doing these anymore. So, I guess we don't have them, but maybe that's something to go back to. Right. Um you know, maybe they make just a little bit more per hour, but somebody's got to be in charge to make sure they got everything they need. And if I'm making $10, he's making $10, she's making $10, I ain't going to do it. Right? Unless I'm making a little more than everybody sitting beside me. So, I just think we got to figure out, you know, who's in charge of

040that process at each location. I guess I guess it's up to the principal. That's a That's the conversation we got to have. Right. Yes, sir. Okay. All right. Ms. Bagwell? He asked my question. He did? I was just going to say, um at the middle school and high school, it used to be under one of the assistant principals. Um prior In the prior years, they helped the head custodian make sure the different material, you know, cleaning and supplies were coming in appropriately because we had a book that we had to go through and >> [clears throat] >> check off. So, Yes, ma'am. That must have changed. Yeah. You know, somebody I I think Somebody's got to be in charge. >> [laughter] >> Right. So, All right. I guess we just have to get with the

041principals and you and come up with a plan of who's going to be the leader. So, is it the board director for us to come up with a plan and then to identify our lead custodian, look at who or the chain of conversation, for example, and that is at at every site, regardless of that if it's a school or not, but each site has more than one custodian. Because since I've been here, I have never I have not known of a lead custodian. It's always been Well, most of them have. In the past, they've had that, but kind of got away from that. Changes in personnel or whatever. But clean is clean, that is that. And we get the report, we may see something, we may not see something, but the reports tell the story,

042though. Well, I thought it was great to actually have two different companies come to the places coming in to check and balance of Absolutely. Okay. But and they We used to just have health department. And the health department, I guess, they're they're coming in now, so but they were just doing the kitchens and cafeterias and stuff, but they're doing the whole schools now, so the safety plan. Right. Mr. Mr. If we give the custodians more money, where's that money going to come from? Well, we don't have any choices. Well, it would be local. Has to be local. Okay. State's not going to give it to you. Anybody else got a question? I think I got that. Okay. Thank you all. Uh Unfinished business. You back up now. Which budget would you like to go over

043first? Let's Let's go page by page. Okay. So >> [clears throat] >> Let's do capital outlay first, if that's okay with the board. Well, before you do that >> Yes. I want I've got something on the Let me make sure I got this right. Expenditures first. That's the first page. Where it says current expense. Okay. I got a couple questions right here first. >> Sure. Okay. All right. Look Explain 6,500 to me. So, 6,500 is any operational cost, so it includes um I know I know what it includes, but explain that 146. 140 I'm going to read that right. 146,000 increase? That's for utilities. Okay. All right. Because that's also where our um like electrical, water Okay. All right. Explain 6900 to me again. 6900 is more board superintendent and the COO. Okay. So, it's

044um all >> I guess I'm jumping ahead. Yeah, you're fine. Once I see it Right. >> Okay. So, the 6900 is also where you pay your legal fees out of, your um audit fees out of. Okay. All right. >> So, since we're on that one, we can go into the line by line if y'all want to do that or Yeah. Okay. Okay. So, if you look at the first page there's not much difference. I did not include the supplement in this because that was a separate budget item. So, the supplement is not on this. All right. Is there any questions with 5100, 5200, or 5300? Cuz most of that stayed the same. That's right. Anybody or what? Mine was in revenue. Okay. Yeah, that's it. What's your question on revenue? On the ABC revenue why

045is it why does it come up different than it does on the I know you got a reason, but help me out. You know, on the other sheet it said we got 60,000. Where do you see ABC revenue on there? 40 Currently on the capital outlay. No, we're on local current expense. >> my mistake. I'm so sorry. Okay. Now I'm with you. Okay. All right. Continue. So, this third page or the second page is 5400, 5500, and 5800. The one that changed is 5500. And the reason that changed is because we have not received and this goes for every local paid expense or every local paid person, we have not received retirement from the state, we have not received health insurance amounts from the [clears throat] state, and we have not received if the state's

046going to give raises or not. So, this is based off of retirement at a 26% which it was 2 years ago. It's health insurance at $9,000. It's $8,500 this year. It was eight or roughly around $8,000 in the year before. So, it was a $400 jump, so I did that $400 jump again. And then it's a 3% raise, which is typically what the state does. Okay. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. So, with us not having a budget and we give that percentage where does it come from until we get the money? So, you you don't give a >> [clears throat] >> raise or anything like that until the state passes it. So, like next year, we know we're already behind. Mhm. So, we can't tell our teachers they're getting a 3% because >> Teachers wouldn't come

047from this anyway. They would come from state funds. This is just your locally paid people. And so, if the state says that everybody across the board gets 4% raise, the locally paid individuals also get a 4% raise. Where would that come from? It would It would come from local money. So, if we have not budgeted for that, then it would come from fund balance. And then will it be put back in once So, it's a locally funded position. The state does not reimburse us for locally funded positions. >> just pay them and then Yes, ma'am. I've got three things on that, please. First one is the coaching supplement. Explain that $19,000 jump to me. So, the coaching supplement jump was we've added a couple positions, correct, in our coaching supplements? Now, we had a discussion.

048We did we didn't finalize. So, look Let me see. What's on the slide and what you read out? This is different. This is what I have. I got the right stuff here. >> This is what I have, Mr. Brown. Okay, this is what I got. For reference, what page are you on? Page two. I'm on page two. Page two. It says page two at the bottom. The supplement I'm on the right page. You're with me. Okay, good. Local fund budget line detailed by purpose. That's what you said. Yeah. Go to page two. >> [clears throat] >> Go to page two. Okay, we're good. All right, so go back to the supplement and you say what now? So if First off, what what's the title of it? It's current expense. It's says current expense fund 2627

049is the first page. Go to page two then. Correct. It says current expense 2627. Page two. It says page two at the bottom. Everybody got it now? I got Miss Lines. Okay. Nicole, you got yours? It's page two. It's 5500. It says page two at the bottom. Well, I don't have a page two. Okay, y'all share that till you make a copy. Okay. Sorry. Go back to the code supplement again. >> [laughter] >> So the reason that is an increase, I will preface by saying that this is just a budget proposal. This is not a in stone. So once we receive our money back from the county, we'll have to go through all of this all over again. Yeah, I'm just looking at what we're projecting. So what I did was if everybody goes up

050a percentage and they're or not percentage but a step in their coaching supplements. We have some that are also employees and if they're employees we have to pay FICA and retirement on those coaching supplements. So, that increases coaching supplements as well. Okay, I've got two more. Just right under that is athletic trainer. Yes, sir. And we've had discussion about that. Yes, sir. Explain that to me. So, the athletic trainer is who is at the games in case I understand it. But it gets It's more so because of the retirement going up. All right. And like I said, we also do not know what that rate is going to be. I projected it very high cuz it's better to go over than under. Um but that's where that projection is and it's only about a 20

051I mean a $1,200 increase from what we already have. Okay, and the last one I got the way I'm reading this that athletic director is a decrease. Mhm. Is that correct? >> Yes, that's because the current athletic director does not cost as much as the old athletic director. Okay. He doesn't have as many years of service. >> you. Just want to be sure. Go ahead. Part of his money is coming out of teaching, right? Cuz we decided we were not funding only two months out of our athletic director last year. What the board approved. So, when we look at what licensure area the person can fill, that person's license for a CTE position. And the CTE months of employment calculations are much more difficult to use as we did with the PE like core teacher

052because it would cut into your months of employment. So, the previous athletic director could have a PE license which could be used through core state to state funded the CTE position. We have months of employment, so therefore there's a little more complicated to do that. Okay. So we can come back and revisit. >> to revisit because the issue right now is we haven't paid we haven't sent that to the state for in that position yet because the position at the time the person had to apply for a license. So are we saying this whole year we've paid that person out of locally even though this board said we were not doing that? Exactly. He's being paid out of state, but he's an exception right now. >> He's an exception. Because he's not licensed. Potentially. He

053is not licensed. Yes. >> So how do we get in that situation when the board said no? We were told we had no exceptions. I asked that question at the last meeting and James said we had no exceptions. He's he his license he does not have a license to teach except for CTE. Then why did we hire him? I didn't hire him. I don't I guess my next question is why are we allowing him to be paid without board approval? That is again not my I'm paying him out of state right now. Mr. Stults, why is that happening? So when we hired this individual for a position the licensure had not been applied for. So when we when we hired we we My understanding is that when we hired that that after the rest of

054it kind of goes to this Cuz you're saying that the we had to apply for a license. Once we looked at the transcripts, it came back as the person would be we got as a CTE position. Which is there was some ways we were trying to work through navigate to get that done. And I can't say exactly how we are finishing it because he had to apply for a license he had to pay for on process. And so, he currently is being He currently on a classified way CT position, which months of employment makes it difficult. And he should be like everybody else and move to substitute pay and not come out of our local budget that we said we were not funding. In the past, if somebody is not licensed, they move to sub

055pay, not come out of local budget and be paid all the way up until this time before the board finds out. And Ms. Hill, the board should have notified you that you paid the money out. He's being paid out of state funds right now. >> I understand, but you know it's an exception he's going to turn around and be paid out of local. And when Jane gets back, we'll discuss that because she sitting here to address this board and said we had no exceptions. He is not currently an exception because he is being paid out of state CTE funds. But you're saying Which he is not licensed. He's licensed in, but he cannot be paid out of that. So, he will become an exception and have to roll out of local. Correct, unless he gets

056licensed correctly. What happens if we move him to sub pay like we've done everybody else in the past? >> comes out of state 03. So, I just want to understand how we keep getting here without the board knowing. This upsets me because I didn't agree in even doing this, and then we voted and ended up making him be a teacher and the athletic director, and then knowing that our AD left possibly because we were changing it. So, that's what upsets me so much. I had no idea that this was happening, and I didn't You know, I didn't agree to it in the first place when it happened cuz I didn't want to lose the AD we had. And now we budgeted for it without the board knowing for the '26-'27 budget. All right, we're getting

057a little ahead of ourselves right now. >> take it out. >> No, no, no. We're not at that point right now. [laughter] The part you have now, this is a proposal. Correct. And I understand you're saying Jane, glad you got back. He's been paid out of He has been paid out of state CTE funds. >> As of now? As of now, yes. But it could change. Correct. Okay. So, Ms. Frazier, we asked at the last meeting if we had anybody that was on exception that we were about to pay for and your answer was no. He is being paid out of a state CTE position. He is not a current exception. He will be an exception if he is not licensed properly. But shouldn't we be watching all of that? That's how we got ourselves

058in trouble year before last because we weren't watching this stuff. He is It is being watched and it is being worked through. Yes, we're working through it every time they they send in a report. But it's not finalized right now. Correct. No, it will be finalized. Okay, can I guess my question is why are we budgeting it for next year if we think we're going to fix the problem now? Why would we >> Because there's still 4 months of us athletic director that has to come out of local money. You have two for the um high school and then two for the middle school. Well, it doesn't cost us $60,000 for that, does it? I mean, they're pretty high-paying positions and again, this is a proposal. Right. All right, that's the reason why I'm asking

059this. That's I think this is the premise why I'm asking these questions, right? Because you have to find out what's proposed. And all this going to be null and void when we get the money back from the commission that we can be right back at this table saying, "Hey, we can do A B C D or we cannot do A B C D." >> Correct. That's a simple thing right there. Yes. But it's good to have this discussion because to know where we're going. Correct. Cuz I got a lot of more bullets on here just [laughter] to ask. Ms. Bell. So, a question for Ms. Frazier, is the is this individual now teaching a class a CTE class? No, ma'am. So, how can we go back and pay him from the state if he's not

060been teaching the whole time? I think we may need to because we're speaking about a specific person. He needs to go into personnel, I mean to close session. Okay. We're not mentioning a name, but I'd like to know how we're putting a person in a CTE fund that hasn't taught one minute of a CTE class. And we're paying them out of that pot of money. Cuz it's easier to move them into another state-funded position if they're already in state funds. Okay. I'd like to go over this in the personnel side too. All right. I think that as black as they um we have done some different positions differently. So, we may be announcing it differently here now, but there are some things that has been done with the budget. All right. Still on page three.

061>> [snorts] >> But, these are just mine. I mean, feel free. I've got two more things on page three. Page three or two? I'm on page >> [snorts] >> four. It's the third page, but it's page two. All right. Yeah. Okay. I'm on the accreditation. Yes, sir. Are we having another school that's coming up for accreditation for 26-27? We had one last year, and we had one the year before, so we would have another one coming up. I think it's BY. Okay. And It's for Dillard. It's BY cuz I think we paid Dillard last year. Well, it depends on what the accreditation body answers to accreditation was a six-year cycle. And it's just now in the mid-year of review, but this is the third year out of this accreditation. And if we stay with the

062current within the Cognia Mhm. Um there will maybe some fees needed to cover the subscription. I just want Okay. Uh I got two more on that page, and I'll be done. The employer prior to retirement. $12,000 projected increase. Is that correct? I got a little sick. 26% retirement rate. Okay. Last one. Second one from the bottom. Technology software. Explain that big joke. Am I right? This is 2,000. Which number? Which number? 604 64 6403 Okay. $20,000 Mhm. And $52,000. So, that's if we renew any of our um software, any of our So, it's projected, like I said, a proposed budget. So, it's projected if we renew anything cuz that's a very expensive thing and it cannot come out of states cuz it's an operational need. I got you. That's what I mean. Sure. Anybody else

063on that page? All right. Continue, Brooke. Okay. So, does anybody else have anything for 61, 6120, 62, or 6400? I don't. Okay. Sorry. Then the next one is the probably the largest one is the 6500. This is for operational. >> [snorts] >> I [clears throat] just had one. The maintenance agreement is the first one. Yes, sir. Uh Where it says actual 2526 Mhm. That's the total of the 31999. Yes, sir. So, you project something else new? No, I just project the 40,000 that we've been doing for this year. Yes, sir. >> Anybody else have anything on that page? Continue. Then the 6600 and the 6700. Most of those are just from where um the state increases could potentially change those. Okay. This is another raise thing that could be could be not. Mhm. Okay. And

064I will state that the current the reason that um there's only 36,000 spent in 61 11002 is because I'm able to take some of that salary out of state. We cannot do that every year cuz I was locally funded position, but that is one of those positions that we can push into state if we have extra state funds to save better to save fund balance. You want to spend the state money first and then the local. >> Correct. Got you. Anybody else have anything on that page? All right, continue. Then the 6800 there was no changes there as well. All right. I see this line item is blank. Student services director salary. Is that a used to be a position? >> It is. Okay. It was here when in 20 324 was the last time

065that position was used. And then we just lost it? Well, she [clears throat] left the position and we did not put that as a um student services. It fell under the assistant superintendent. She was assistant superintendent of student services and human resources. >> Okay. So that was a fill up in there. >> Okay. And now it's dispersed again into another director. Okay. But for a while it was a locally funded position because that's only thing that director did. Okay. See a long time ago we used to have a state assistant called community schools coordinator. And that's what Mr. Folks was paid out of. Mhm. So, the reason a lot of that position was absorbed into local was because 02 is a dollar allotment and 02 has along among other things have been shrinking. So, when

066that position came about, it was a locally funded position. >> Okay. Anybody else a question on that page? All right, next page. And then the 6900 has the board superintendent and COO in it. Yeah, I got a question on that one. Sure. Uh the legal fees. Yes. Uh I'm seeing a 20 proposed to what? Because if we if we have to get a new attorney, it could potentially be more money. Well, my research is going to be less. Well, then that would be great. And that's what I'm saying. Because what the proposal was, we didn't have to pay a retaining fee. Mhm. Uh it would be billed by the hours. Mhm. And the rates we got, if we met 10 hours every meeting, Mhm. you know, which I hope we don't do. Right. But it

067And we can get those numbers >> numbers can always come down, yeah. It can always go down, but in my mind I always projected a possible increase >> I see. You got to get somebody different. >> Okay. Is there any other questions on that? Anybody else on that page? Yeah, if any of you had any more. Yeah, I'm sorry. I just can't keep up. I'm just sorry. But on the top of page seven, >> [clears throat] >> and I know y'all going to shoot me later, but go ahead. 6910, you're going to tell me board, I'm sorry. We got to [clears throat] cut everywhere else. We got to start with ourselves. Board, what's next? That's ridiculous. Will you stop right here at the top, cutting? You going to go from $2,000 to $4,000? It's ridiculous.

068All right. >> You got to do people. Anything else? >> [snorts] >> No, I see another one snack down here. Um same for our superintendent and snacks, 6941, 4,000. We got to start from the top. I have another question. The water things we have out with central office, we don't have the schools. Where What line does that come out of? 65. But is that an operational expense? Is that still Is that something we actually would have to have? So >> We don't mean We don't give it to our students or our other staff members. So it is something we were looking to cut. Okay. Uh the last time we had we had to we look at the contract and the vendor changed, so we had a massive credit. That we are now using that credit

069versus um an expense. So I have asked maintenance they could look at it once that when we are getting ready to once we get to the close part of where we that credit is now exhausted, uh that's a potential cut. Any other question? I think No, your question. I did want to note that the um superintendent is what is over the state. The state pays about $130,000. But the state puts a cap on how much can actually come out of state funds for the superintendent. >> snacks? No, for their salary. Yes, that sounds good. Based on Based on where we are right now, these are figures [clears throat] based on the interim superintendent's pay right now. Correct. So all that comes out of local. Yes. Anything over what the state pays comes out of local.

070Okay. We're in a tier one and whatever that cap is. >> like $10,727. >> Right. Okay, got you. Is there anything on that page? All right, well. And then the very last one is charter schools. And that's just an increase because it's been increasing every year. And then I also put in a contingent thing that the we can I would suggest whatever we get back from the county that be the first thing that we mix. Okay. Okay, yep. Is this the one? Go ahead. >> So just so I'm clear. Last year we got 3.8. We asked for 3.8 last year. We got 2.7. But we also put up $600,000 out of fund balance to balance our budget, which was 3.5. And this was this is with us not putting up any fund balance. Okay. And

071just for the past 2 years 24 25 it was 3.6 with a 608 fund balance appropriation. 23 24 was 2.3 with a 359 fund balance appropriation. The 2. The 3.2 and the 3.6 was our total budget. And both of them adjust and well once it's just presented and it comes back and we'll be sitting back at this table again. Yes, once we receive the money from the county with the county is says that they're going to give us then we'll come back and we'll do this all over again. Okay. Anything else? What is the we need with them in May? The county. I don't think there's been a date that's been decided yet. The date they've asked for us to submit it back in April, but the statute gives us another date to give to

072them. Mhm. Statute date is May 15th. Yes. Now, go back to we didn't discuss this this. Go back to the supplement thing. Yes. So we know what we're going to project for that. So I don't even have a clue. You got that? I have I know what I'll put down, but I don't know exact numbers. I don't have that piece of paper with me. But what it is is we projected only for teachers this year. It was 166 teachers at $1,000 for the teachers with the possible retirement, FICA, and um health insurance would obviously not come out of that. And it was about what we spent we asked for last year out of local. Which we got 240 last year. 240 and $500. So it was roughly about the same. I think it was 221.

073So our ask is 221, 859. Mhm. And that's for teacher supplement. So it's anybody that's paid on a teacher salary schedule. So it would be the same individuals that received the low wealth supplement from the state. And it's $1,000. Okay. Is that So we're not going to ask for anything for classified? I was not advised to ask for classified. I was only advised to ask for teachers. Just to be I'm sorry, go ahead. Well, I guess I disagree with that because in some of that when when I think of a teacher, when you say teacher, I think of that classroom teacher standing up there that's doing this work, putting grades in. But we know other people fall in that category that are not really a teacher. So how's that fair to a classified person? I

074think we need to We need to work on that. There's two things to look at. When you hear the term teacher supplement, you're talking about teachers, period. Teachers are classroom teachers, guidance counselors, uh nurses. School nurses. Counselors and nurses. They are the ones getting the low wealth supplement because we are low wealth county. Yes. If you said it was a staff supplement, that's different. That would include everybody. The reality of the fact is what are they going to give us? How are they going to look at it? If you were to ask them now, they would say teacher supplement. That's what they say. To give an example, if you include everybody in the mix, you take your principals, your directors, they're your highest paid people. Okay? And I understand the thing about classified, if you're

075a TA or custodian, etc., etc. Everybody needs money. But we're looking at the commission give us, hopefully, X number of dollars. And when you give them the term teacher supplement, I guarantee you they are thinking it is for teachers. I've had that discussion with them. Okay. But you never get it unless you ask for it, so okay. I mean, I can rework it and include all staff, but I was only asked to do teachers. Okay, Miss Little first, then you, then Vincent. My understanding is there's no plan to give county employees a raise. So I think it's very hard to ask the county to give all of our employees money when they can't give a county employees money. That's always been their argument. Last year they They gave their people raises and helped us out

076with some hours, but I don't think that's going to be the case. Mhm. And you know teachers is who we'll be going after cuz they're the hardest to keep. Not that everybody isn't as important. But if you go right next door to one of the counties around us, they're offering a teacher supplement, not a worker supplement. So they're not offering a supplement to everybody, they're offering it to the teachers. That's what makes us competitive. Okay. Ms. Bagley. I think that um we should ask for a little more to include classified people. I just feel like that um we are small county and try to be inclusive. It helps recruit as well. Okay. Ms. Bagley. I just want to add in that, you know, we got some TAs. It's not like it used to be with

077TAs. TAs are really pulling kids, teaching, and just as much. And I hate knowing you know, they all work hard, but we got some TAs do more than TAs used to do. True. And then the other way to look at it is this. The state does not give you extra money for what you're just saying right now. They don't do that. Because we're we're a low wealth county. So that means what? Everybody. But the state's not going to give you that because they don't do that. They give it for the for the teachers. Okay. So there's pros and cons both ways with that. I mean, I understand that. Okay. Everybody pays. Okay. >> [snorts] >> Anything else, brother? Sir, do you want me to go over the capital outlay? Oh, yeah, I'm sorry. No, you're

078good. Go ahead. So capital outlay, um the reason for the ask all inclusive is because last year this started the discussion and this is how we received the 888,000 in addition to the 400,000 we received to operate. So that's why I grouped it all together. So, it's an increase of 845,000. Last year was an increase of 888,000. And that goes towards the key places, the plumbing, which would be to fix Stony Creek. Then we have the HVAC, which would be for Dillard. And then I think that's like the bigger ones. And then we also had a paving line because I know that was a discussion that came up last time. And it was about the last quotes that we received that were a couple years old was about $70,000 to do half a parking lot

079for north and south. And paving is one of those things that if we chose to use lottery money, you cannot use lottery money for paving. Okay. And what's the 9100 building improvement? So, that's when um it kind of goes with our software and local. It's the actual hardware, like cameras, if the gate stops working, that hardware. That's why there's only like $20,000 put into it. It's not a lot of money. And that would be Again, that would be one of the first places I cut. >> [snorts] >> Another one, it seem like every year we go up. I know things go up, but go up on landscaping and Mhm. So, landscaping is just what's out would be outside of the contract. >> Okay. Mhm. It's the contract plus what's outside of it. Okay. All right,

080go ahead. Mine would be on uh playground. Mhm. So upgrades. Is any way you can see me? I want to know what we ask is every year about the upgrade of playgrounds. Cuz we went from five million to let's say 75 cents. Not quite 2,000 then, but we're going to ask for 20 next year. So why? So So generally when you do a playground upgrade and Mr. Rattle correct me if I'm wrong cuz it's never happened since I've the school also puts up money and then the >> Matching money. It's matching money. So the little bit that we spend is to fix the current playground that we have. So do we have any playgrounds that we know that's going to come up that needs to be fixed? I do. I know we went for a

081while when I first got on board South and I think we finally got that fixed, I think. I don't have any that We just did start back that matching two years ago. Cuz we had dropped it at one time. Mhm. We did. Cuz I think it before it was like only $5,000 in that line item and we upped it a couple years ago. Okay. Anybody else? Okay. Thank you. Keep your fingers crossed. All right, we've got to approve what we've got cuz it's got to go. Uh Have they said anything what we can present or just give? They've asked us already to submit our budget to them. And so my understanding is we will submit with the write-up that we've done in the past. So they can begin the discussion. Okay. Go ahead. Well, I

082would just It what it is, but I'll just have to address it for a whole lot of the time when we're counting saying they don't that they're going to have to cut from their budgets, but So, we're going to do them all separate. Separate way we do it. The local teacher and then the capital. Yeah, you need Yeah, should be that makes it separate. So, I'll make a motion that we approve the teacher supplement as long as they'll give it to us. Like the 166. Yeah, plus the benefits. 221, 859. Okay. Is there a second to that motion? Mr. So, does that mean if that takes out anything for classified >> Yes. Yes. asking for that? Yes. Not classified. Right. Any other discussion? If not, all in favor of that motion raise your hand. Closed.

083Motion carries 4 to 2. Is that correct? Mr. Blackman voted no. No. Very good. Next one. I'll move that we approve the capital outlay. I'll second. Is there a second? Mr. Smith seconds. Any discussion? Hearing none, all in favor of that motion raise your hand. Motion carries 6 - 0. Thank you. I'll move that we approve the local fund budget. All right. >> [laughter] >> Mr. Blackman seconds. Any discussion? If not, all in favor raise your hand. Motion carries 6 - 0. Thank you. Thank you, board. Uh new business. Consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda. Is there a motion that makes a motion that second? Mr. Smith second any discussion? Mr. Black comes out Mr. Liller. >> [laughter] >> I'm sorry. I just I want to some more information on

084what this um What's a hotter box? Like what is exactly? Is that going to be like for the Can we use that at graduation and prove the sound or what exactly That's a large amount of money. So it is a um sound system with a screen projection system that can be used indoor and outdoor. preliminary um preliminary for parent involvement events. They We purchased one last year. Um the one We purchased a small sound system last year. Um it's not adequate for some of the larger events. Um it's my understanding that the old graduation has to be in the gym. This could be helped and used there because the sound system in the gym is not the best. But it is something that we plan on >> [cough] >> paying through once it's title one

085funds. We brought it to the board because of the amount >> [cough] >> Some shipping prices and things are potential for it to go up. We wanted to make sure that it didn't go over that for we missed the $10,000 over $10,000 threshold without the board approval. Um So I guess the question for the board But [clears throat] the funds title one that is used to buy that if that were not spent on that, they could be rolled over. We're not going to lose them. Great. I'd like to pull that item separate because I think I would like for whoever the principal be for next year at the high school to make that decision to use that much money. I will support this week. Okay. So I'd like to keep it separate on the table.

086All right. Just for clarification, the money the money is not spending rolls over and stays there. We have to double check. I think they're using the So, this money is fiscal year 26. So, it's a 27 Title 1 is a 27 month. So, >> Okay. I got you. Okay, that makes sense. So, then if that's something I'm sorry. If there's something that was needed, they could still buy whoever we >> With our next year allotment. The money would be Yeah, okay. Miss Smith. Do you think that they're going to need this for this year's graduation? Well, I hadn't had that whole conversation, but I they wouldn't have ordered it if they didn't need it. Um but, I understand the board's motion. Well, I understand it, too. But, I've been to many graduations and what BY

087has is not very good. You got feedback everywhere. But, this this sound system isn't going to be used for the It ain't going to be for outside. >> I know I'm saying what they've gotten now, they need to improve on that, too, as well. Yeah. I'd rather put money in something out there. >> Yeah. Okay, the request has been to pull that one. So, is uh let's see. Is there a motion to So, make a motion to request a transfer. Request a transfer. The second on that, Miss Smith. Any discussion? All right, all in favor raise your hand. Motion is carried. All right. Next item is the auto bus to pull that. Uh Which is separate vote? Separate vote. All right. All in favor of going with the purchase, raise your hand. I think they

088need it. I mean, >> I know not now. You voting You voting yes, Miss We have no discussion. I'm sorry. Discussion. Discussion. Okay. So, before we scratch it, because apparently they've done their research and want to purchase this item for whatever. Could it be put on hold? To see if this is something with PA system we definitely need to go cuz I mean we don't we can't keep getting on being on the field and people can't hear you. Cuz they're going to fix that. Yes, sir. This is screen and all. But he said it was outside and inside. So they So they in your if I'm like that's I I'm sorry. So this is part of the student engagement and strengthen the family engagement opportunities which is part of the title one plan. The portable

089audio-visual system will allow staff to deliver high-quality multimedia instruction and presentation in classrooms, intervention settings, and doing school-wide programs. The other box system will support core instruction, MTSS intervention tutoring, and student-centered learning activities. So this is a couple pieces to this I'm reading. The piece cuz this was in your packet for you to see what it does and the purpose of it. By improving communication and families and increasing student engagement in learning, this resource directly supports the purpose of the title one plan and strengthens partnership between the school and home and improve academic outcomes for all students in that So that's one part of it cuz there's more than one thing. So this was um approved as a It has a 55-in um screen. It has uh storage cord. It has an audio system with

090subwoofers, Bluetooth enabled microphone, and a speaker light. So it's it's a pretty versatile system that can be used as well as what you have in your packet. So um Mrs. Beavers had approved it as appropriate use of the title one funds. Um I I can't speak more on behalf of the principal, but they wouldn't have submitted the purchase if they didn't really need Okay. That's I would like to hold it until we find out we have IIT and on it, too. Something if something we can use inside and out I'm okay with. If you can't use it outside, and that's where most graduations are, what you sound is terrible, you know, the worst. Then I think hold it. We need to be very careful with saying it's going to be used outside because that goes

091Automatic mind is athletic and Title 1 funds cannot be used for athletics. I understand that. But I just For that amount of money I mean, if we can't use it for graduation outside I just want like we use it for the PA system for the Right. Like it can't be used for that. So, we just need to I just want to let her know. The graduation will be a different term. So, it could be used for open house, parent events, things that's all like if a picture assembly in the gym, it could be used there. It could be used for your ninth grade transition, like those people it's It can be used in other places. I still say I'm not saying it may not be a good thing. I'm saying we got 30 days of

092school left. We're going to have a high principal at the high school. Could be Miss Carter, could be somebody else. I would like to have a principal in place to make the decision before we spend $10,000 on something. They may want to spend Title 1 funding differently. So, I'm not saying scratch it. I'm saying let's hold it until a different time and see if this really works. Okay. So, you can say hold it. I would like the motion to be tabled until a different time. Okay. You have a motion to table it by Miss Back. Well, I I think he was reading that and I was also thinking that it wasn't just to be used for graduation, that it was also to be used for instructional purposes and other kinds of assemblies. And so that

093is a multi-use for not just for trying to say we're trying to get better sound for graduation, but when you in the proposal is talking about a structural. All in favor yes. I motion is to put it on a hold which can be revisited. Any more discussion? No, I was going to say something. All right. It's already been seconded. Oh, I'm sorry. All in favor of the motion raise your hand. Opposed. Motion is carried 4-2. McGee and what? >> that one. Oh, I didn't second. And who made the second motion? Who did it? Who did it? Benedict. Yeah. And then two was Nicole and Tria at that time. Correct. All right. >> [snorts] >> Thank you. Budget amendment. So each school year after our audit, I believe there was a question after our pre-meeting was

094asked to bring the discussion of budget amendments to um the board. Uh as you know as we shared in my superintendent updates, we have the finance and procurement that has to be done. And there was questions regarding um budget amendments. Our budget amendment process we kind of have in place is by purpose code which is the line. So for example, if you take this uh uh our U 6900 as a as a prime example, the board is 16900. If it's 6910 or 6912, 6915, 6920, money can be moved between those pieces under the threshold in which if it went from 6900 to 5500, we would have to bring that to the board for an amendment. And so [cough and clears throat] therefore the budget amendment process is in alignment with our board policy. I understand

095that with the if you want to go by line by line by detail, we will have to amend the board policy and amend the budget resolution. So, our budget resolution and our policies are in line as well as the auditor did not find any exceptions within our budget amendments. In other words, we're legal with what we're doing in that line item. Correct. Okay. Any questions about that, anybody? Well, I guess I do have a concern because I I don't like this moving it just because it's in that category. So, It's not a matter of liking, it's whether it's legal or not to do that. >> Well, I I hadn't finished. Go ahead. Why can we not go back and amend our policy? Well, you'd have to do that. That's a whole different process, yeah. Yes,

096sir. I understand what you're saying. Because if you spend X number of dollars, it needs to be known where it's going, yeah. I understand. >> Anything y'all want to add to that? I have a question about so, what are we talking about here? We're talking about what he said briefly in the synopsis. It's in that same line with six Purpose code. Purpose code. You can move it there. I thought our resolution I thought our budget resolution we said if we moved it from one line to the other and the last digits, that's the way it was going to be. Is the budget resolution the budget resolution driving >> Miss Miss Brooke, come to come to the podium, please. >> [snorts] >> So, your budget resolution drives your budget amendments. So, we did change from last

097year's budget resolution. It was in local and capital outlay to make it not more difficult to put to for the everybody to have a little bit more control over where money was done. We changed it from 5,000, 6,000, 7,000, 8,000 to now it's 5,100, 5,200, 5,300. When let's just use the example when the board bought the laptops, it moved from a 6910 to another 6910 purpose code. So, a budget resolution was I mean, a budget amendment was not needed, and it was also board approved. And it was under $10,000. Now, if it was moved within the 6900 and it was over $10,000, it would definitely have to come back to the board regardless of if it moved from 6910 to 6910 411 to 4 or 312. That was my my understanding. So, we're asking the

098clerk to pull minutes because [clears throat] of my understanding was if you moved it, we were going to use the last digits of it, and if you move money from any line, it was going to have to come before us. If we didn't do that, they would do it for next year. Cuz we should not be able to move money in local around without the board knowing from one line item to another, period. And that was the attempt, and I was pretty sure that's what we had discussion on in this meeting. The minutes do say line by line, but in the budget resolution, it goes 69, 68, 67, and so those are the lines. Your budget resolution drives your budget amendment, not your adopted budget. I'm pretty sure I asked and I was told it

099would be line by line. So, that means the language in the resolution is not correct with what the board wants. The language in the resolution is correct by the audit purposes because last year when this came up, I asked our auditors to review our budget resolution, our board policy, and our budget amendments, and he didn't see anything. And when he presented our 25 audit, he did not find that as a finding. So, me, you, Mr. Stokes, and Mr. Battles sat in the pre-meeting and talked about changing Mhm. the policy. And you and Mr. Stokes said there was no need to change the policy cuz we were going to fix it in the budget resolution where we would if money was moved from this line to this line, it would be a budget resolution. >> It

100is. It's not what we should stand on. It's in that purpose code. >> care about a purpose code, it's the line. And when we went to the finance meeting, me and Trudy and Nicole, and Miss Knight, and Vinnie, they told us that we could control the money all the way down to those lines, if you moved one dime from where it wasn't anticipated, that we could ask for a budget amendment. You asked us not to do that in state and federal money, but that we would do it in local money. And right now we do have it where it's more restricted in local and capital outlay funds. But the intent is if you move a dime from here to here in local or capital outlay money, this board wants a budget amendment. And we were

101doing it that way before last year. And that was the intent for this year. Then we're going to have to change our budget resolution for capital outlay and local. Well, I thought we had done that. We did. We made it to where it wasn't 6,000, 5,000, it was 69, 68, 67. Okay. Cool. We'll change it and bring it back to the next meeting. It's also my understanding that Mr. Stover said we got some money from the state for transportation, maybe to help with fuel costs. That has not So, yes, the state did say that they were going to help with fuel costs, but that is state money, not local money. I understand. Yes. But any money that comes into a budget after it's done, we're supposed to do another resolution. >> It has No, you're

102supposed to do a budget amendment. But it has not dropped yet for The lady down there told us we had to do a whole 'nother resolution. No, it's an amendment to the budget. When you add or take away money from the resolution, I think it's the last page on the resolution, it states when you add or take away money or move it within a purpose code, it is to come back as a budget amendment, not a resolution. Okay, we've got good discussion here. Okay, we So, can I put it in the form of a motion that she can bring us the resolution back? >> it back to the Yeah, that'd be the best way. All right, [laughter] to be like we're saying. Okay. I'll second it, Mr. So, I'll make a motion that we change

103our resolution to all local money capital outlay and if you move one dime from one item to another and we have a budget amendment for this board. I see. It's been moved properly seconded discussion. Can we take out the term one dime just say Any amount Just say money. Okay. That give you a chance to do your research and everything. Mhm. That's all it is. Any discussion on that anymore? So Mr. Black. We are asking her to go back and redo the resolution is what this motion is? Correct. To redo the resolution. So do you have to go back to the auditors as well? I'll have to find out how to do it that way because basically we're going to take that line by line that I just given you and make it as a

104budget resolution. And our operations are going to stop. What is that being going to stop? Because it's and it's not that we move money all the time. We don't move money all the time. >> [clears throat] >> It just is going to make it harder to operate. Which is if that's what the board wants to do that is what we will do. Okay. Anybody else? Mr. Black, better yet. I don't want you to feel that I feel that by any way that you move money not but when the audit man stood up there and said within a couple of years we going to be bankrupt out of money. If we do and it comes down to that anybody that wants to know it's not my fault because I knew where every penny went. I don't

105want to be sitting up here like dumbfounded. Oh, I should have asked. It's too late to ask then. I don't want you to think we doing nothing wrong, okay? Okay. Any other discussion? If not Can I get I'm sorry, go ahead. Clarification, so just to make sure I'm understanding. Even if you move it it's still going to be on that page, right? Mhm. So regardless of what line is in, the money's not going away. It's still going to be in one line or the other line. Yes. And if it's moved like if you have to use appropriate fund balance, that has to come back to the board even if it is a dollar. >> Either way. And then we're at the point right now where we're appropriating fund balance. Well, what what our board is

106asking to know every time you move it from here to here. Mhm. So, we're going to have to do the budget resolution just like the line-by-line that was given. Okay. Any other questions discussion? I hear any more. All in favor of the motion raise your hand. Opposed? Motion carried 5 to 1. Black and voting no. Next item cafeteria survey. Mr. Burden? Yes. So, Mr. Burden and I will try to be good and be coming forward. As you know, earlier this year we had the survey that was approved by the board to go out to our parents in regards to school start time. So, I will turn over to Mr. You Century and Mr. Burden uh for questions and presentation to the board. All right. Good evening. Good evening. So, uh you have the results of

107the survey. Um um we have um different options that we asked about and then the main purpose of this survey was to figure out the feeling and the impact [laughter and clears throat] that some families will have if we stagger the routes in transportation to allow more efficiency and to reduce the time the kids are transported in those long routes that we currently have. So, um as you see the results in the survey, um we have uh twen- option B uh as as being probably the most popular followed by keeping the current uh schedules that we have. Now, when we look at keeping the current, uh, we shared that document with you about sort of kind of explaining or clarifying a little bit about that that that option. And the bottom line is, uh, there's

108no change. If we If we keep the the same with there's no solution to to address the issue that we're trying to address. Uh, we're we're not going to be able to use, uh, the time the students, uh, spend in the in the bus routes. Um, option B, on the other hand, will give us that hour so that we're going to be able to use the same resources and uh, service in different groups of school. So, while the same drivers and the same buses are serving a group of school, they'll go earlier, then they're going to be available to come back and serve the second group of schools, which and uh, start school later. And that way we can reduce the amount of time by at least, and this is approximate numbers, 42 minutes, uh,

109or 43 minutes, uh, average. You know, some of them will be even more than that, but the average time we're going to reduce uh, route time of 45 minutes. Uh, this this sheet right here will probably explain better what you can accomplish when you do a stagger, when you do an hour between one group or the other because basically, like for South Elementary, you're gaining an extra bus, an extra route that it's going to be available to um, balance the number of students that go in that route to bring down the the route time to to those numbers. And then, um, North will gain two extra buses and so forth. And those that do not gain, they're just going to have less students because they're going to be sharing uh, routes with other schools at

110the same time. So, that's that's what we have. That's what we have, um, uh, tried to, um, work all year to try to find solutions to to make it better for students considering that we don't have enough bus drivers to be able to increase the number of routes. Even if we bring more buses into the equation, it's hard to recruit bus drivers and it's hard to keep the ones that we have. So we're we're doing a good job keeping them and and we we would like to do that. So this option will also improve the current situation because that means more hours of employment for them. And and that will be something that some of them will appreciate to have that opportunity to to have more hours to work to improve their income. So that

111being said, we are open for any questions comments or anything that we can clarify beyond that. How many kids riding us ride the bus now? Estimated about 1,200. Okay. Between Let's just about between 1,000 and 1,200. Okay. But everybody is assigned? Not everybody. At the beginning of the year the a transportation sheet goes home or is out and and they say whether they're going to if they if they are determined to be a car rider at that sheet, they are not assigned to a bus. But do they have the option? They do. Everybody has the option. Yes. All right. Questions? Just no. I guess walk [clears throat] me through how this is I know that we cut route times by doing this. But tell me how this is cost savings for the system if we

112are running more buses per school. Um People that have longer hours we're now be paying benefits for. Um So won't this in the long run cost the school system more money? No. And the reason is transportation is paid by the state by our efficiency rating. Our current efficiency rating is around 86 88.6 .7% which means local money is having to be put into transportation for us to run the buses on a daily basis. Going to a staggered start and and a tiered routing system, it puts more students per bus. More students per bus, you're more efficient. Counties that have gone to this this style have went from an 88 to a 98. And there are three counties uh that are currently at 100. So, there is zero money coming out of local going into the

113transportation. It's all paid by state. >> How is it putting more students on the bus? If If So, for example, if Stony Creek had this We'll take South. So, if South is running three buses right now and we're going to add four buses to them, how is that putting more kids on the bus? It's based on the average. That bus is being utilized in two three different schools at this point. Or two of those buses will be utilized in three different schools. The proposal that I put together um 24 and 25, for example, will continue on as a single route bus. They will only drive and pick up South elementary kids, go back and park, and and the driver goes home. Um bus 88 and bus 109 will become tier routes. They will go out

114and pick up elementary kids, and then that same bus picks up the same number of kids or more at the secondary level of school and goes and drops them off. So, that bus is being instead of having two more buses on the road I've only got that one bus. So, at the bottom where it basically where I've got 30 next year we're proposing 30 routes for Castle County schools and only utilizing 22 buses. So, your cost per operation goes down because you're not paying the insurance, the uh the maintenance for those extra drivers. You're not paying for the extra drivers, you're not paying for the extra buses. It actually pull ends up pulling buses off the road, which does hurt our um replacement for the first couple of years, but it comes back and helps

115us in the long run. The state wants to see more They want to see more bang for the buck. I had a question as far as the the graph went with the percentage of people that responded um employees and the the parents and stuff. If you really look at it, around 57% do not want to go or do not want to go later than 8:00. And then around 41% do want to go later than 8:00. So, to me I just feel like especially at the high school when we mentioned it again and again, I'm just concerned about teacher retention cuz I've already heard a lot of complaints if this moves forward. And then I'm concerned about sports if if the kids are in you know, uh honors class and they're going to miss for sports

116an extra hour and 45 minutes. That's my concerns with this. I appreciate y'all's work in doing all this, but those are my concerns. Is that Put a lot of work into it. Very I mean, you can read it. I can understand it, so I can agree with that. But, one of my concerns is we're already getting ready to have a headache for next year. And what to do with those other kids? So, I personally don't feel this is a good time to step into this. I mean, I I'm sure I'm wrong, but that's just my decision. Wow, interesting. With Oakley? [clears throat] Yes, with Oakley. >> You know, good point. And another one, I've been noticing different schools have different times. I know high school that starts at 8:45. Parents were they weren't given a

117choice. This is our school day. They get out at 3:30, 3:45. So, there's one of another, you know. And you got a small school system, you don't have the drivers. You have to do what you have to do. I'm not saying it's going to be perfect. But, uh you don't have drivers knocking down the door, you know, we want to drive. A long time ago we had teacher assistants, custodians, clerical people driving a bus. That was a win-win. You don't You don't have that now. Ms. Blackman? Approximately, how many um bus drivers will end up getting benefits? That they will benefit by getting a benefit. We currently pay benefits to uh about 95% of our bus drivers. Because our current routes are over 2 hours long. Okay. So, it averages out anything over 20 hours

118a week, you earn leave benefits. And I think the one most of the ones that don't earn benefits are dual employees. Okay. Yes. I have one question. So, if you're saying our kids are on the bus 2 hours, some of them, which we know they are, and longer. It Would it be better for us to re >> [laughter] >> Sorry. >> Go ahead. Go ahead and, you know, reroute all the you know, I don't not saying we route but help me out. Y'all think I'm being funny today. Do we need to reassign some kids like draw the lines? Again. >> Is it re-re-redistricting? >> Yes, redistrict. Yes. >> [laughter] >> In my opinion, yes. Okay. That's what I'm looking at here. Yes. And the problem we're going to run into is next year you're going

119to have kids on the bus longer than 2 hours. Your 6:00 start time for kids to be picked up is is going to be hard to meet to get kids to school on time. Well, that's not even It's not even going to help with this situation this year. >> But >> Because of Right. Well, now with though with this is bringing in Oakwood into this. But Oakwood's going to Sorry for interrupting but your point about next year with Oakwood potential relocation and whatever that the board decides. Actually, something like this is a good opportunity. Because, you know, it's a good time to do it because now that we have to relocate one of the schools temporarily then a lot of challenges will be presented with the current We already have a lot of challenges with

120the current situation. It's going to be even more. Cuz if we have to put Oakwood away farther from town, all this population will need to be be on the bus even longer than others. >> Longer. Based on the current situation. So base because of that, Oakwood is actually an opportunity to revisit the staff for next year. And with what we get I gave put together that was putting in effect the change of at Oakwood. What I anticipated is that the buses the Oakwood population would be separated by bus. And this bus would go to this school, this bus would go to this school, this bus [clears throat] would go wherever. Um and then the EC buses not The EC buses are not included in this tearing at all because they're technically already doing a tearing

121and they go to all the schools anyway. Um However, with that said, Oakwood actually does gain a bus in this scenario. It gains an extra big bus um because of the tearing. Uh it's not a tier bus. It's a single Oakwood bus, but they get an extra bus. Um the in-town current on single tier route that we have, the in-town, would stay the same. Because that drive I mean it's it's still the same kids. I just need to know what school to take them to. And it doesn't matter if they go to South, North, uh Dillard, Stony Creek, doesn't matter because they're already on that one bus and they can do it. That is with option B. With yes, with option B. >> With the staggered staggered start Go ahead. So, is it can we

122start looking into the headache of redistricting to make it also help students not be on the bus longer? I mean, I know regardless when you get to Dillard and the high school, it's going to be long anyway, because you can't fix that. They got only two schools they go to. The elementary, it would, but is it even worth the headache? Good point, but redistricting, to me, not going to make a difference for the simple fact people live where they live. They still have to ride that bus to get to school A or school B. Correct. And what what we're getting ready to do with Oakwood What parents are going to do The reason why I'm asking that question, what parents are going to do? They're going to decide, "Hey, I'm going to take my child

123to school." That's what's going to happen. That's the reason I asked you that question in the beginning. And I hear where y'all are coming from, too. Uh cuz the lack of drivers. You know, if you had more drivers, more buses, it'd be it'd be different. That's That's That's not happening. And uh take you back 20 years ago when we opened north and south and redistrict. That was a mess. It wasn't perfect. So the first five years or well first six years the kids where they are. Now when they get to middle school they all ride same. Yes, go ahead. I guess my question is PCC. So we have PCC students that ride the bus that attend PCC and take classes both. So is PCC going to change their schedule to match us because what if

124a child has a 8:00 class start time at PCC and they ride the bus? I'll have to defer that to the superintendent. So what has happened historically in the past once we have determined our school start time, we inform PCC of our school start time. So in years ago there was an earlier time, PCC since we since Pitt Community College Caswell Campus the majority of the attendees are high school students, they have always adjusted their calendar time. So for example, um when we pushed the high school back because high school used to start earlier, when we pushed it back to start at 8:00, we asked PCC to push their time back. So a decision needs to be made so that we can communicate those things so PCC is aware that we're looking at possible start

125time changes, but we haven't made a decision. Okay. So the class So what what PCC would do is the classes that are assigned for our students through college where apartments, social pathway, etc. Um they will have to make sure those classes are aligned with our bell schedule so that there isn't conflict because now we're starting earlier which helps with some of the conflict we once had. Now they pretty much follow our bell schedule at the high school. Okay. You got a follow up? I do. I got a follow up. all the students take those classes just to set hours. All right, go ahead. Not only that, I know next year is already set. The The course The courses have been set in all the times, but PCC has been amenable to uh schedule changes in

126the past. I don't know if it it takes a lot this year. Cuz usually by this time we've already informed them what our bell schedule is. Yes. Yeah, cuz you can go online and see when their classes start next Right. I'm not sure. Okay. But we haven't given them anything different, so that's why it is what it is. All right. >> [snorts] >> Any other? I do. Yes, ma'am. So, if the elementary starts at 7:30, what does that look like? Arrival at 7:30? It'd be arrival arrival about 20 minutes ahead of So, they still come at 7:15? Yes. Drop off at 7:15? >> Mhm. And then the bus the tier buses would take off go back out and they have an hour basically to pick up the BYM schools and get them to the schools.

127And it is doable. Um it's it's hard to look at what is in terms right now because it's all based on this year's bell times [clears throat] and so the times look re- really really bad cuz one bus has a start time at 3:30 a.m. and obviously that's not going to be. We went I just went with total time and then had an hour to get the the secondary to uh Dillard to drop off and we built a route based on that and that's how these projections came. Let me ask you something. Is 7:30 the bell the bell time? In class. In class. Bell time. Yes, ma'am. So, so what about a parent that drops their kid off at the middle school. So, if I'm a parent that has to be at work by 8:00,

128right now I can take a kid to the high school, middle school, and elementary and still get to work at 8:00. Now, I can take an elementary school kid, but if I had to drop off, say, a ninth grader or drop off a kid at Dillard, I can no longer do that. Cuz we don't have before school or after school care in the middle high school level. So, we just What are we going to do with those kids? >> [cough and clears throat] >> And if you read some of the comments, that's a little bit of a hardship, too. And based on the comments here, you can can tell that there's no perfect solution for you. >> Right, I understand it, but you know, we also have something to do, you know, you got to

129get those kids to school. You know, a lot of people don't use our buses. I know we're doing this for the buses, but but based off what the number you gave, over 50% of our kids are riding cars. Mhm. So, we also have to be mindful of the car riders as well as the bus riders. >> This might also put more kids on the bus, which helps funding. There's no easy easy way. No. But you uh when do y'all need to discuss it? Yesterday. Yesterday. >> [clears throat] >> Because what will happen is once the board makes a decision, we have yet to send out the bus request transportation form for the upcoming school year. And so, the longer we wait, the less time parents have to fill that out and get that back to

130make routes. And we've already voted for the school year to start earlier next year, so we have less time to prepare. And we've got DPI breathing Oh, yeah, right. Right. Yes. Okay. All right. Any other questions or concerns? All right. What's your recommendation? So, it was staff recommendation to go with option B. Option B. Okay. And is there any citizen comments? recommendation when you play. It's black. I make a motion we go with option B. Is second? Second. I'll let you second. Is there more discussion? If not, all in favor of the motion which is option B, raise your hand. Opposed. Motion is defeated. Uh Let me ask a question since it's defeated. So, what we going to do now? You want to look at it? It appears the current schedule will remain in place.

131Okay. And I think more or less uh it is what it is. Uh Number four, summer hours. So, what was in your packet uh last year around this time, uh there was discussion about summer hours. Summer hours has been a uh thing put in place where we pick a date and window of time to go to a four-day work week. Um and so, in your packet you will see that we have we show it to you correctly. We're proposing for summer hours to begin the week of June 15th and ending the week of August 3rd. That means the last Friday off will be August 7th. Time suggested, maintenance department 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Maintenance office 7:00 to 5:00 so they'll be available to the public. Transportation 6:00 to 4:00. Transportation office 7:00 to 5:00.

132All school all office and school staff have the option from 7:00 to 5:00 or 7:30 to 5:30. And this will be in place with the exception of the week of July 4th where there's is holiday so summer workers will get that Thursday and Friday off as the holiday falls on the whole week. Okay. Mr. Berry. Um Mr. Stokes, that means okay I thought it was last year one of our departments couldn't do that because they had too much maintenance. So, is maintenance going to get to do five or four-day week? That's correct. So, your guys will be off on Friday. Yes, sir. They did that last year. Okay. My other question was um So, you're this is a 10 hours. I know some the office staff I think don't How many hours do y'all get

133for lunch? 30 minutes an hour? So, 30 minutes. 30. Okay. So, wouldn't they have to work till 4:00 30, 5:30? Cuz if you the [clears throat] way you got it right now it's 10:00 and you subtract that 30 minutes for lunch they only work in 9 and 1/2 hours. >> [cough and clears throat] >> That's not a full year week. So, I just modeled this after what we did last year because there was something with the labor said there was something about lunch time. Um Mr. Camera help me. I I don't know the exact language. >> Labor laws last year might have been explained you take a lunch. So, that's last year is the first year we were not required to take a lunch. We brought our lunch we sat at our desk and kept

134eating. We didn't Some. I think I have most of us did I'll put it that way. I mean we've had this discussion I think the last couple of years. Um I'm just going to leave it at that. Mr. Berry, I think this is one of those cases of um a few ruining for all. Like Mr. Berry said, for the last 3 years this has not worked. And it's tried to be overall and done a different way and folks don't do what they're supposed to do. Um I understand transportation always works like that year round. It didn't difference for them. They have always worked over a four-day work week as long as I can remember. Um cuz late time buses and our maintenance is always done in the summer to be uh beat the heat. But

135um you know. We even got principals not doing it. You got principals that can't clock in. You got principals that don't follow it. So then people in the building don't follow it. So I just have a hard time with it because it hasn't been followed. And then you're given an option to work 7:00 to 5:00 or 7:30 to 5:30. That's very hard to keep up with. I mean, does that mean I'm coming in today at 7:00, tomorrow I'm coming at 7:30? Next week I come at 7:15. Um I don't know. I mean, I hate it because I know staff enjoys it, but uh it's kind of like remote learning. If a few ruin it for all because we don't do what we're supposed to do. Anybody else? Dr. McGee. Every um classified or whoever the

136licensed person has a supervisor, and I just wish people would be held accountable. We can't punish the whole school district because two or three people cuz unless some names are brought up, I don't know who's breaking it cuz I'm working. I don't ride around Kanawha County see who's not who's taking their lunch time at a certain time. We have to have some respect for our staff, too, and hope that they would do the right thing. And if they're not, then hold those people accountable for what they're not doing right. We can't continue to punish the whole school district for whoever it is. If you know you see somebody out when they should be in, then let's then let's take it to that person. But you're talking about 200 How many staff members do we have?

137200 some staff members that are going to be punished basically for 10 or two or one. Anybody else? I agree with the pastor. Okay. Well, said. Okay. I mean, I agree, but you know, we looked at some principals' timesheets last year in here that did not work at 10 hours. And they were not They were Well, excuse me. Then why don't we address it with the principals and say That's why they are evaluated. We hold them accountable. And then you make your decision on how we proceed. Is it a write-up? Is it a suspension or whatever? We have got to start streamlining things because you're holding everybody accountable for what the principal did. But what if every teacher showed up and did what they or whoever is in the building and the principal didn't do

138the right thing? It was a game. The principal is a supervisor. I get it. I understand, and I do understand what you're saying. But why not hold people accountable for what they're doing versus punishing the whole central office? What if everybody in central office came because a principal didn't do right? Now we're going to punish the whole central office. I mean, Miss Rigby, I understand that. I guess my thing is we brought those concerns to this table. The superintendent runs the principals. The principals were not dealt with. They continued doing it for the rest of the summer. So, do we lose money and not people not do the right thing? I understand, and all our employees are not working during the summer. That's all we do. So, if everybody's We say the same thing every

139year. If everybody's going to be held accountable and be made to do it, then we'll do it one more year. And guess what happens? Here we are again. So, I agree with you. I have no problem with it if we're going to hold those people accountable. But we got to hold them accountable. And they don't work I guess in the end they work for the board, but everybody rolls up to the superintendent. Okay. Anybody else? All right, give you my two cents cuz I've done this before. I've worked that Some do, some don't. But, if nobody slaps you on the wrist, you'll keep on doing what you've been doing. Simple as that. I have no problem with maintenance. I have no problem with transportation. The regular school and central office staff, it should not be

140either or. It should be one or the other. Uh and to Ms. Begley's point about the 30 minutes, I That means you cannot leave for hour and go to Danville and get something to eat. You can't do that. But, the accountability thing has to be there. If I'm your supervisor, whether it be the assistant superintendents [cough] or the superintendents or principals or or the directors or whatever, you need to be where you're supposed to be. Be where you're supposed to be there. Simple as that. You can't come in at 7:00 this day and then come in at 8:00 the next day. That won't work. That's what messes it up for everybody else. And we've been Since I've been on this board, we've had this conversation every year. And I never liked it because I was

141dead tired on Friday when working them 10 hours. But, some people loved that time. So, you got your choices. And uh Like I said, maintenance and transportation are fine. But, on the office and school staff, it should be one or the other. Not just And the board should decide that. Yes. So, just to clarify, Ms. Begley, what you're saying is uh for the office and school staff, it needs to be 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 7:30. >> Correct. >> Okay. No choices. I agree. Cuz people see something like that, hey, you know, I'll change today, you know. Yes, ma'am. >> We also need to talk about the lunch time. So, you're saying everybody work 7:00 to 5:30 to get your 30-minute lunch or just let them >> know systems that do 7:00 to 5:30.

142Mhm. That allows a 30 minute for lunch, okay? Right. And I know some systems that do 7:00 to 5:00 because they say, "Well, we going to eat right here at my desk." I've seen that happen. It's up to this board is what you want to do. Yes, sir. All right, I'll make a motion, Mr. Chairman. So, I'll make a motion that we approve maintenance 6:00 to 4:00 with the maintenance office staff being 7:00 to 5:00. We approve transportation 6:00 to 4:00 with the transportation office staff being 7:00 to 5:00. And all other schools and staff are 7:00 to 5:00. The caveat is if it's abused, then this board has the right to stop it. If it's been abused and not dealt with at the higher level. Okay. What time do they get their lunch? Is

143there a second to the motion? Mr. Smith seconds. Any discussion? So, Mr. Woody, you're saying we're only going to work a 9 and 1/2 hour day? Last year, employees had to bring their lunch. They could not go out and sit down and eat lunch. Okay. And that's what the employees agreed to. I'm assuming they want to do the same thing this year. Right. I mean, they could run pick something up really quick, but it was no going to sit down for an hour for lunch. I'm good with that. Anybody else? Not to influence your vote, but I can tell you a little caveat. I used to be right here, and then 5 minutes to 5:00, I'd get a call. Nobody would say anything. I knew who it was. I said, "Yeah, let them know I'm

144here." Then I'd get one maybe uh 10:00 to 5:00 in the afternoon. I'm here, you know. And it worked. You know, I was where I was supposed to be. Simple as that. All right. Hear the motion. No other discussion. All those in favor raise your hand. Motion carried 6-0. Please relay that information to everybody. All right. One question. Go ahead. For the summer work hours for the 7:00 to 5:00, are office hours 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. open to the public as well? Or is that 8:00 to 5:00 like the normal? Now, I've seen different school boards doing different things. You know what I'm saying. If you going to be here, you might as well be here. That's consistent. You can count on them people going to be here at 7:00 in the morning to

145see you. But your door is open. Okay. Cuz I've known people to abuse that. Okay. So just be Don't make it complex. >> Okay. Okay. I just like to just clarify that that would be I understand. I thank the board for that consideration. >> I appreciate it. Number five. MOU ABA services. So as you know, um we put out our request for proposal, request for qualification for uh ABA services. And subsequently we approved the vendors listed for ABA services. And we used Dancin and Smith to help us write our MOUs. The MOUs you have before you are the final versions of those MOUs. And I have Ms. Carla Wilson here just in case there's questions regarding the MOUs, but there are four MOUs um for the four selected providers. And each MOU is for a

146year. So current MOUs will expire at the end of this upcoming school year. Next fall we'll bring them back to you for approval. Um I know Mr. Bratcher was on the correspondence with Dancin and Smith regarding the MOUs, um, and we're thankful to uh, the board allowing us to use Thornton and Smith to help us with the language in the MOUs that's needed and necessary to ensure that the district did not incur or put itself on the hook for any financial cost. Okay. Ms. Mills, do you have any comments you can come and give us anything? >> [clears throat] >> No, uh, I did the one thing that I did ask for is that there be a limit of 10 10 classroom hours with ABA therapists, the behavior therapists. >> Mhm. So, that was added

147in there because >> [sighs and gasps] >> ABA therapy is often written as a prescription and it can be written like up to 80 hours. >> Mhm. And they're writing it like 40 hours at home and 40 hours at school. Mhm. And so, that would be the entire, you know, school week. Um, and we don't know how this is going to go. It's just an experiment right now. So, I did ask that it be limited to like 2 hours a day. So, that's why I chose 10 at this point. And Thornton and Smith was in agree- agreement with that. >> agreement that >> Having that that put in there. Okay. Wait a minute. Do you have you had you had your hand up? Ms. No, I know it comes out. So, you said this is

148no cost to the This ensures there's no cost to the district. Right. This This is parent request. Right. And it's, um, when a parent comes to us with a child who has, um, a medical diagnosis of autism or a developmental delay and says, "You know, my doctor has said that I should pursue ABA." We can say, "Well, we're We have agreements with these four companies. We can put you in touch with them." >> Good. My question. My question would be I heard you say [clears throat] we're going to use this till the end of the year and then we'll do it again for the That's That's a yearly MOU. And then I'm guessing we can use the same document. And you have to go through that whole process you did again or we can just

149go back with these four companies? >> we can just go back with these four companies. >> Okay. That's it. This gets us through this. >> Yes. So but and it this gives these MOUs were written to give the school system a lot of control. Um so that you know, essentially we can terminate the agreement kind of at any, you know, we just have to give them 15 business days notice. Okay. Um if something happens. Okay. Yeah. So So you're going to kind of give us like progress as we go along to let us know this is working or not working. >> Yes. Okay. Yes, ma'am. I'm good. Um it said that the criminal record and background checks the provider will conduct but they go through any background checks through us? Um there is a sheet

150I believe it is uh exhibit C where they will give us a list of the providers that will be in our school system and then HR will run the names um that they will do. Okay. Anyone else? So just make So I kind of envision this like they will come to the school ask for the student to be pulled. So that is >> class. >> Okay. So that is one of the things because I have um there are EC teachers at particularly so that teachers who are not thrilled about having ABA providers in their classroom. Um so that is a discussion that um we're going to have um as this process goes on [clears throat] is is it is the service going to take place outside of a class outside of the the service, you

151know, the the EC classroom, the general education classroom, or is it going to take place inside the classroom? Um with some children, you know, it would be beneficial to take place in the classroom because that is where they're having behaviors. But other children where we have never seen behaviors from them, but the parents are very insistent that they need this ABA, um maybe it would be better to take place outside of the classroom. Okay. So, individual situation. Yeah, I mean it needs to be an individual decision and and situation. Yes. If you had the control, so if if they go into the classroom today and it's not working with the other kids >> Right. and you can say from now on Yes. >> you will have to pull that child out. So, and we will

152have to, you know, make that like a a case-by-case Okay. and it say for instance because most of the adaptive classrooms are at Oakwood, um we'll have to find a space um where they can work with those kids at. Um Very good. Thank you. Now, we got to meet the needs of the kids Yes. >> best we can. And we we've done really good. >> Okay. We're we're working on that, so. Very good. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Do you need action on it? Yes, we need um the board to approve this my recommendation that you approve the memorandum of understandings presented to the board for ABA services. Mr. Blackwell. I make a motion that we approve the Second. Mr. Blackwell, is there any further discussion? Now, all in favor

153raise your hand. Motion is carried 6-0. Thank you. I'm tired. I just want to ask you, Mr. Blackwell, can we approve do all together or we got to do each one? This is a contract. The MOUs have been historically Okay. They've already been written there. They've already been written. You got copies? So, you're approving Oh, all of them? Yes, all of them. Okay. You're only approving them for that All of them again? Each division has Okay, very good. All right. All right, next item. Uh number six, contract consultant to the board. You have it in your desk place. You should have it. It's School Systems Consultant Services LLC. This is what we've done with the budget with Dr. Barber. Uh It just means uh the approval that we approved to consult. And uh I'll open

154that for any discussion you have. Can you give us a minute to read it? Sure. I appreciate it. Mhm. >> [clears throat] [snorts] >> Mhm. >> [clears throat] [snorts] [clears throat] >> Yes, question for the signs. Question? Yes. So, um with this contract, it starts April the 6th and it's going to go through June 30th? Well, what do you mean by "go through"? Well, it depends. Basically, work has been done. You got an email over the weekend about what the suggestions were. Okay. And the only thing left to do now is what? Give to Brooke and to Lance to make those revisions. And then, of course, we vote on the final thing and then that'll be it. Okay. So, um will Brooke, he will be talking with Brooke and the superintendent? >> That's the final

155thing, yeah. Yes. >> Okay. And of course, you you'll get a copy of it too. Okay. So, he only bills that much? All right. Yes. So, it asks here we have to give him a 30-day notice? Well, that's a standard thing in a contract. Uh but time is not going to run out to be that way. Okay. Okay. I think what our original motion was to help us on the financials on the project. Right. Um so, I guess we can from my understanding, it would kind of be like a retainer. If we need it, we use it. If we don't >> Right. No, there will be no billing if we don't use it. Right. So, if the budget's done and it's 10 months before we ask questions have questions on the project, then there will

156be no billing Right. until we need it, unless Mr. Stokes But nothing done, yeah. Right. Unless Mr. Stokes needs something and if he reaches out, my understanding is he would bill I don't know how he bills on a 15-minute interval. It's 250 an hour. Based on that. Okay. 15-minute interval. Okay. So, Brooke can call in like what we have talked about today. Anybody can call. I just want to make sure that we stay consistent with some of our contracts. I know that in some of our other contracts we had a amount budget not to exceed in some of our contracts and I just want to make sure that this fund is also coming from 6900 or where would we pull the funding Oh, that's local. It's local. Okay, I'm just making sure. I may have

157missed that and I apologize. It's local funding. Got it. Has to be. Good then. Go ahead. I make a motion. Is there a second? Mr. Smith, any further discussion? If not, all in favor raise your hand. Opposed, motion is carried. Thank you. Superintendent updates? Yes, so in your superintendent updates last week I talked about some lottery funding information and so both the county as well as the CFO and I sat in on the NCDPI to provide an overview of the various lottery funds available to the school district including the processes and restrictions associated with each fund category. I also in my update gave you >> [clears throat] >> balance in all of the accounts as of 326. It updates monthly cuz it accrues interest. And so I just wanted to it to be clearly stated

158in the note that the both boards must agree on how the lottery funds are used and the ADM funds are a one to three match. And so I just want us to be clear on that as there has been some need for clarity. And so the ADM fund as of 32626 has $961,300 in it. Say that again. $961,000 $300.03. >> [snorts] >> That's the one to three match fund. The lottery fund has $826,677.55. And the repair and renovation lottery fund has 2.2 million 234,986,080 cent. >> [snorts] >> That is in a That is in addition to what is already appropriate with the 18.805 and smart change of the new Ubase grant. So, we have funding sources for various projects. In your agenda, I also have shared with you that you saw a capital outlay facilities

159need plan. It is time for us to sit down and really discuss what we're going to prioritize for a three to five year facilities plan as we plan out and can possibly earmark some of these dollars to help support that as well as our capital outlay needs. Okay. The state requires us to upload and submit our facilities plan. In the agenda I shared with you, it was a thing that said capital outlay. Um it was a and in the with the last 10 year plan that we had, which is not updated, but I wanted you to see we've got to update based off of our capital A&E reserve and the things we did before. So, I I would be remiss if I didn't share that with you. So, as we address things such as Stony

160Creek, as we address things such as um some of our needs that will be forthcoming, um given that that may be we may not have the capital reserve A&E in the past. We can draw a plan, submit and discuss with the county commissioners. Both county commissioners and both boards have to agree on that. One one can't tell the other. They have to be a mutually agreed upon project. And depending on the scope of the work, certain things may have to be needed to be submitted to DTI for specs and project design depending on what the project is. However, lottery funds cannot be used for our day-to-day maintenance needs. It has to be to fix and repair something. And so I just want to make sure that you guys were aware of that. I know you

161might have seen my little chicken scratching at the bottom, but sometimes you can read the wrong number. If you read the wrong number on that form, you have a very different a total of money that you're working with. Okay. Also, um I do want to thank Stone Creek Elementary faculty and staff. You know, last Friday they had a power outage one of the maintenance and those were quickly helping us ensure that students were taken care of as the power went out toward the end of the day. I'm glad that wanted to just highlight our maintenance team for jumping on that as well as the partnership with Piedmont Electric although we paid the bill. Uh they were able to get the uh they were able to get the power they were able to get the power

162back on earlier than they predicted so that the students could still have their bags. Um I also know that I also I wanted to just highlight that there were some calendar requests and responses that I shared with you regarding the warranty work of the um civic center that you all all know and see that in in my superintendent's update. Okay. That's all I have for um superintendent updates. All right. I'll turn it back to you. All right. Thank you. Next item, board member my observation is that we have to talk about kids. Um I've had an opportunity to to visit right many ball games here toward end of the year. Um one that stood out, I was at a soccer game and we talked about a somebody I volunteer firemen's going out helping if a

163kid got hurt. Um we did have one step up to do that. We had a kid got hurt at the high school, Mr. McGee, Anthony. He went out to help. So I think somebody had recommended that to look into. So that's something we may be really need to look into. It would be that would be very nice. It mean he got up to go help. Um Also uh ones don't know Dillard just won their two years in a row conference. And they also won the championship tonight. And which sports are they playing? Dillard is volleyball. Sorry. >> I just want to make sure. Undefeated. Yes, undefeated >> [cough] >> all year long. Two years in a row. So I mean that's hands Hats off to Angela Uts and Miss Miller for that. Um And have

164to also give a little praise to our AD at the high school, Mr. Rick Hill. When we have three ball games, those two fellows are in there running that concession stand. So And that's not an easy task, but they did it for three ball games. Um I know I also asked at our last meeting um and I text Mr. Stokes and about asking Miss Jones about looking for some type of handicap grants to fix around our ball fields. And I had a parent to reach out to me and told me please don't forget the high school. Two fields needed also at soft- uh softball cuz they just have gravel going around there. I thought they needed to complain. Yes. Uh-huh. And baseball, you don't really have a way to roll a couple of mats to

165really increase the seating. I'm sorry I left them out. But other than that, Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I went to quite a few ball games, too, but one thing kind of piggybacking on um but Vinnie, at Dillard, I do think that for some of the um the sports, we do need to get a port-a-john at least for outside. I know we talked about it, but we really do. It's just it's not safe, I don't think, everybody being able to go in and out. Okay. Uh I was at Dillard last week and when they won there they beat us in semi-finals. And I want to commend Mr. Petitt since he's sitting here. I like to give people their flowers because Dillard all their banners were put up and only one light was out. >> [laughter] >>

166And uh, I think it just recently blow, she said, but I really appreciate your staff doing that. And uh, it you know, one thing it's good to have competition like that, especially when they bring some parents. And we got the parents. I mean, it's it's good competition. And Dillard is well respected for volleyball. I'm here to tell you that. And uh, very impressive, very impressive. I wish I could have been there today, but uh, maybe we can recognize them at a next future meet. Okay. Is Dillard I should [clears throat] have just Mr. Boteler and also with Mr. Carter, but the Spring Fling Festival at North not quite the event this year, but one thing that I was really impressed with is the new football coach took some of the boys over there. Uh, and

167they were dressed in their jerseys and very, very manageable and they volunteered their time to work at the Spring Fling and I heard several good compliments about that. Um, I tried to make a donation to the PDSO for Mr. Stokes and his black and gold and the drum and bugle, but >> [laughter] >> it didn't work. >> Yeah, we'll do that. They wouldn't get in. But uh, and then >> I would like I put out $100 for you. >> [laughter] >> Um, and then I went to the high school uh, Mr. Singer night, but I'll tell you it was three sports over there, not a lot of people. Uh, we drew in a crowd of folks in those three sports and um, you know, good evening for it. Good. Ms. Williams? Uh, yeah, I just

168want to give some kudos to the social media. I know everybody doesn't do social media, but that is a way to get information out and I have seen that the new coach has put out the coaches and information about how he's pulling the team together to acquaint them with the community with him. I thought that was really good way to get himself out there and just I have attended soccer games. Glad Angela was there to help. But just shout out to everybody for the hard work they're doing. Thank you. It's likely. I had opportunity to >> [clears throat] >> visit with the different ones at the central office. That was very informative. Got a lot of good information from Miss Favors and Dr. Jones, Miss Brooks and Miss Kelly. And I saw the IT as

169well. Saw them and it was good. They were talking about the end of the year. And also working on next year. So you know to sit there and everybody is gearing up for the end but also having to look into the future. And so hats off to all of them. They were a lot of mini hats. So that was informative. I did go over to the transportation and all you all but they were at a meeting. So and the child nutrition. So I'll be back there. I went to Dillard's and that was good. I spoke with a couple of teachers there. And I attended the carnival at North. Sophisticated. I loved the bingo. That was that was really good. They really had a really lot of nice prizes. Well attended. And they had food trucks.

170So hats off to Mr. Artist for that. Attended Barley Asa High School. I saw Jordan passing and never saw me. But it was three games. It it was three games going on at one time and you're right about the people that's manning the uh the counselor was also there. So she was there and I only know as Miss Lawson just threw it, I don't know her married name, but she was there and uh, I saw uh, Dr. I'm not Dr. Carter, Miss Carter was going back and forth to all the different games, but the attendance was good. It it was a good attendance there. So, uh, and I think it's good to have more than one game going on at the same time. I I like that that is happening. So, overall the things that

171I attended, well pleased with parent and community support. Uh, so thank all of the parents and community for continuing to support our students. And hats off to the staff. I mean, the staff was there at I don't I think all the staff was there at at North School. So, uh, and then I ended up when I went over to South School, just to uh, mention South School, they were very appreciative of us handing out the things for the end of the year for the May thing. Uh, so they liked the idea of the Kentucky Derby. So, that should be well attended this year. Very good. Thank you. With that being said, I move that the Caldwell County Board of Public Education go into closed session for the purpose of considering a personnel action that involves

172an officer or employee of this board. K C D O statute 143.218.11, versus that versus six. And for the purpose of discussing information that is privileged, confidential, and not of public record. K C D O statute 143.218.11, versus that versus one, and to confer with attorney. Also, to discuss uh, the proposed contract for superintendent revisions. Do I have a second to that? Is there any further discussion? Now, all in favor, raise your hand. We are now in closed session. We'll take a short break.