001This is the make up time. >> This is the instructional time we got. >> Okay. >> All right. We are now back uh in our regular meeting. At this time, we're on item number 11, 2025, 2026 calendar. >> Yes. Thank Thank you, Mr. Battle. Thank you, board. Um on February 3rd, I crafted a memo to you um saying that we must make up the instructional time that the district has lost due to weather. Um the state requires schools to provide 1,25 instructional hours each year. Um we we fell below that as of February 2nd. Um just to note each instructional full instructional day is six hours. So, as of today, we are exactly 20 actually I said 24, but that's 23 hours and some minutes short of um being in the county law. So, we
002have a few options. One, we can convert scheduled days to full instructional days, which would be February 20th, which is currently an optional work day. March 26 and June 9th, which are currently early release days, make those full days of school. And then March 27th, which is currently a required work day, make that a student day. This would allow us to make up the student instructional hours. Option one gives us 18 hours of instructional time reclaimed. All right. So, we took the February 20th to March 26th, March 27th, and June 9th. That gives us 18 instructional hours. uh then we would either we could or we could say we could just add time to the school day not mess with the calendar or we could convert days from spring break to regular instructional days. Um
003I the other the worst option is also extending the school year making more time which will have a very significant financial impact because we'll be going beyond our calendar year. Um so based on the review options um we bested to explore a combination of option one and two um just want to be clear moving forward if we have a two-hour delay. If we get out early we will have to we're now having to count the instructional hours from now to the end of the year. So if there was some weather next week and we had to do an hour delay on Monday um we will have to make up a plan to make up that hour because we were following the instruction time. So I turn over to the board and you have a a
004regular calendar attached to you and so therefore I turn to the board for discussion for consideration. >> All right discussion question. So by my calculation, the high school is going six hours and 15 minutes of academic time per day based off of the class schedule and seat time. And Diller is going six hours and 11 minutes per day. Then elementary schools are each six hours. Correct. So if we took February 20th and March 27th, then the high school and middle school would be okay. Puzzles. And then what if we add took just those two days and added 10 minutes to the morning time of elementary school and we would get we would need 720 minutes. So that would be 72 days at 10 minutes per day and we would still leave those two early release
005days in case you had to call it delay. So, I'm in favor of any kind of way we can bank time as well as making time. I just brought to you right 18 hours at the time. I was hoping we could have school um at least one day in and we only had to make up those three. >> We have to count every hour. And the reason I say six hours is it's based off of the the lowest instructional time. So, that's based off the elementary school, >> right? >> So, what you're saying is good data points. Um, however, I just want to make sure we understand that if there's a delay, if there's any kind of change, we've got to watch hours move forward. So, if power went out, we lost a water main
006break, those kind of things, we had to dismiss school who we have to come back. >> Oh, yeah. >> With everything that's happened. So, we're literally counting the hours between now and end of the school year. I just want to make a recommendation so to give you some thinking about the calendar. >> So, for the state for us to be in compliance, we have to go off for six instruction hours a day because our four elementary schools only go six hours a day. the secondary have always had a little more time based off of the parameters of their schedule >> because I mean last year we got in this situation we work with elementary the high and middle was okay. So really if we took those two work days back then the high and middle
007ought to be okay. Really if we added 10 minutes to the day for elementary and the only reason I'm saying morning is you know I talked to some teachers yesterday they were all for having it in the morning and not in the afternoon which would mean they would start at 8 instead of 18. It really doesn't mess up anything after school trying to get take child care and people home and all that. >> Tutoring. Yeah. tutoring, >> right? >> Um because and also that evening route would be a concern for the tiered route, >> right? >> It wasn't tiered routes happen. Um >> that's just my suggest. >> Yeah, we just bring to the board for consideration and discussion so we can get adisement from you. But I want to give you something to work
008from. >> Okay. >> Other discussion. >> Do we need to take action today on this? >> That would be my preference. Yes, ma'am. So we need to communicate to the community what's happening because a lot of people are under impression these makeup days will make up staff days and we have to make that clear so the most we can clear up. I don't want any additional weather to come and then we're further in the whole um you know my my my prefer we could make up the time before spring break would be easier but I don't know how much time that would equate for the six for the hour. try to have a cut off time before it's done so we don't have a payroll, you know, it doesn't impact time and payroll. >> I
009can agree with Joel because the um teachers that reached out to me from the elementary, they wanted morning it to be tacked on the morning, not the afternoon as well. >> Anyone else? >> Okay. Basically, we have to have a start because like you say, something else could come the weekend or whatever. And whatever we decide, make sure you when you put it out there that the parents understand, you know, the parents understand days. >> They don't really understand the time more or less, right? >> Because they're so used to that, you know, and the biggest thing in their mind is spring break, you know, right? Uh and uh this is very unusual situation but we got to let them know where we stand. We we what action we take is where we are but
010we have to make that decision and there's all kind of combination that you can do because it used to be a time when you had a required and option and all that but we need to do that today. Need to do it today. Anybody else? Nico has something >> just will that affect the um transportation department? I mean would that is that all attainable >> if we move the when the short answer is yes the impacts may be minimal. Um it it would the tier route those students getting that right toward the end would still the te probably couldn't get that in earlier because they're getting as early as they can now. >> Um but that's only isolating maybe possibly one school. >> That's it's not a perfect scenario. where everything's going to fall in
011line. But that's our best that's that's a good record because I just say add time to the day. I was thinking five minutes before, five minutes after, split the 10 minutes up. So people got those windows of time within my thoughts. Add five in the morning, five in the afternoon because you know people running tight and so not that's not a very big major shift in the time. But also gives us if we had to come back and add five more in the evenings, it wouldn't be the end. >> Right. >> If we had 10 in the morning, then we had to come and tax them all. Hopefully won't because we'll still have six hours to play with on those early days. Right. >> Yeah. So the earliest days if they become full days that
012gives us about three hours each day because early days three hours, right? Right. >> Of instruction. And so you can beat little way you could turn one of them into a full day. Um but I know they like June 9th is a release day. >> Um but there's also an exam makeup day and so these notes they can plan according because your ceremonies all accomplish no discussion. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> Make a motion that we turn Mar February 20th into a regular instructional day. We make March 27th a regular instructional day. For elementary school only, we add 10 minutes in the morning, which means school would take in at 8:00 and we need to do that for 72 days. >> Start. >> I would say Monday the >> Monday the 16th. >> Get a
013head start here. Get a second to the motion. Smith second. any further discussion. >> So, you're saying that March the 27th would be um for the high school only? >> The two work days will be for everybody. >> Everybody, we're only going to add 10 minutes in the morning to the elementary school. >> Okay. 10. >> So, the earliest days stay the same. >> Okay. >> Right. >> All right. >> Okay. All right. >> The 20 You said the 27th is going to stay at work March 27th. instructional days. >> The 20th of February and March the 27th will become regular instructional days. >> And we just need to add 10 minutes to the elementary in the mornings for 72 days >> and the 26th of March and June 9th stay where they are now.
014Everybody. All right. All in favor mot is carried. Thank you. Appreciate it. Next item. Item number 12. Resolution. Miss Black. Resolution is born in appreciation of the life of Ruth Anne Vernon. Whereas Ruth Anne Vernon was born on June 24th, 1953 and resided at 1200 Rice Road, Reville, North Carolina 27320 until the time of her death on January 29th, 2026. And whereas Ruth Vernon was a faithful and loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend, and her family's welfare was her major and constant concern. And whereas Ruth Vernon was a special lady and enjoyed helping others, she was an avid southball player, enjoyed working in her yard, whether mowing or planting flowers and painting figurines to place in her flower beds. Some will remember Rof as a lucky person, as she enjoyed playing the
015lottery. However, those that knew Ruth was the lucky ones. And whereas Ruth Vernon had a passion for serving her community and did that by serving in the Cherry Grove Fire Department for 15 years as well as supporting numerous fundraising events. And whereas Ruth Fern worked for Pastor County Schools and was a loyal employee during that time. She served as a bus driver at Stony Creek Elementary for many years and later moved into the role as a teacher assistant for the functional skilled students. She touched the lives of many students and families. She with the help of her husband were known to go above and beyond to give of their time to help the schools in which she served. Her compassion and love were evident each day of her life. She always went the extra mile
016to help those in need. She retired from the Caser County Schools with 25 years of service. And whereas Booth Von attended Pleasant View Assembly of God, enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family. And now therefore, be it resolved that the Casper County Board of Education wishes to honor the memory of Ruth Vernon and expresses his sympathy to her family by causing a copy of this resolution to be spread upon the official minutes of the board of education and a copy forwarded to the family this ninth day of February 2026. There a motion to accept the resolution second night. Any discussion? All in favor the res raise your hand. Post motion car. Thank you very much. Superintendent updates. Have a few updates. As you know last week was school counselor appreciation week. However, we were
017in snow. So, I just want to take an opportunity to thank all of our counseling for the opportunity. Um, their dedication to support our students both academically, socially, emotionally makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our entire school community. And so, I wanted to say on behalf of the the superintendent's office and staff as well as the board of education, we are internally grateful to the work of our school counselors for the work they do in front and behind the scenes each and every day. We thank you for your commitment, your compassion, and your advocacy. and we're truly grateful for all you do. Also like to share that the contingency fund expenditures, this was something we sent to you guys via email. Um so we spent a total of $1,862 in contingency uh for
018two big purposes. One was we had a glass broken lash replacement that we needed at Ba High School. And then we also had a HAVAC issue where we had to call in McWorks mechanical contractors to help us with that. Those two expenditures invoice date for the tenting was um January 9th and networks mechanical contractors was was January 13th and those expenditures come to a total $1,86242. You have that information I believe was sent to you from Miss Kim just wanted to be update the board regarding that as we didn't make the packet. >> How was that window broken? >> So we reviewed the video of that window. That window shattered at about 2:00 in the morning when the bid was baking. It is our belief that the building has temperature changes. >> Okay. >> And
019it's a wooden door and that um door had had some work done to it. >> So we're thinking that those big temperature changes have making wood expand. We truly feel that that was too much of a bomb. So we thought that when we left that afternoon that afternoon, it was not broken. Okay. So we could see on the cameras the window and clear light and that window shattered some around between 2 and 3:00 in the morning. Okay. >> So because if there was some damage we would make them be responsible for >> okay >> other question regard that it >> all right that's for that. So other updates I have um as you know that from our shack committee um we discussed to come up with a collaborative support committee to look at options for
020our elementary students um who have work beyond the scope. Um the meeting was rescheduled twice due to the snow but that meeting will be held this week um at 3 to 4. Um, so we I put in my student base, but I want the community to know that we are still looking at our partnerships with you focus and other things to provide services and supports how we can partner with them. That meeting is scheduled for later this week from 3 to 4. The actual date is I want to say is Thursday um 3 to 4. >> And let me ask you a question. >> Yes sir. >> How many people on the shack committ? >> That's a good question. So last one we held we had about seven to a 10. Some previous ones we've
021had up to 3540. >> But I guess let me let me rephrase that. Are they members or just concerned citizens? >> There's a combination. Okay. That's making the concerned citizens. I can't get with Dr. Jones to give up the official who's the list because Amy Atkins, the nurse at the high school, is the chair of that shack committee. >> So anybody can be a member. >> I'm not sure, but I think people can attend the meeting because I >> understand that. >> Yeah. Um, I know it's comprised of our nurses, our student services support, and we have a building principal on it. >> Okay. >> Historically that and a board member. Um, we've had that in the past. I'm just not sure how it got really really really big one day. I don't know if
022the link just got shared because it's a Zoom link. >> Okay. >> I thought I had >> All right. Another update is I'm proud to stalk that with the district. The state released some um student safety, dropout prevention, dropout data, and Castle County Schools looks really good in this information. Um our dropout rate is 0.78% which is below the state mean in in comparison to all of our neighbors. We are the lowest. We're we're lower than Alamance, Burlington, Orange County Schools, Preston County Schools, and Rockingham County Schools. And so great work to the high school staff that work to find our students. This is a a collaborative effort to our social workers, principles, administrators, teachers to help us ensure that we properly track down the students and um know that our records are correct. So
023um if you look over time, some some time ago, our dropout rate was almost almost 8%. So over the past six, seven years, it's down down to 78 and the North Carolina state average is 1.62%. Other data is um there's a report from the Northland Department of Public Record Instructor talks about total reportable offenses that of these certain offenses have to be reported by law. For the previous school year, the 23 24 school year, C County had nine acts of reportable acts. The 2425, we had six. So, we've seen a reduction in those violent violent um acts that require being um recorded as well as if you look at the 23 24 school year, CAS County recorded 584 short-term short-term suspensions representing 28.9 28.49% instructional loss. And then last year we had a decrease to
024450 out of school suspensions um representing 21.65%. These this improvement reflects strengthened behavior supports, proactive interventions and a focus on keeping students engaged in learning if applicable. And so understand we're not perfect, but we're perfecting the process. And do want to talk to school staff and others about um the gains we've been making keeping students in school to increase and have better outside instructional outcomes. Um that is do want to update you that I met with some members of the county about the civic center gave them the best tour I could give them about our civic center and we will see how that pans out. did have the opportunity to attend the collaborative education session this past Saturday. Great information. There's a lot of great support for rural schools and I was waiting to see
025all the organizations come together to have support that. And we also had an AIG super Saturday event this Saturday. We had had over 30 something students come to. So we're very appreciative and thankful for that opportunity for our learners as well. Those are all the updates I have at this time. >> And the AIG the new teachers on board. >> Yes. start date this week. >> Okay. >> I'm sorry. 16th. I'm sorry. >> Okay. Got Okay. Thank you very much. All right. Uh board member observations. Miss Knight, we start with you. >> Um I attended the collaborative um summit on Saturday. Also, Don Show was from the College of Virginia. you shared a lot of information about rural um education and how North Carolina and Caswell County ranked n I guess with with the state
026and nationally. Um also I open with one day and um mayor Miss talk Robinson I guess when we had a snow day just to see how things were going over there but I guess I want to thank I guess Mr. um petite and all the men that assisted him with the snowball move that did an excellent job. I guess I happen to be out one day and I saw them in the high school in the civic center trying to get all eyes up and all and also the uh education collaborative is having another meeting on March Wednesday March 11th at 6:00 at PCC and they asked me to share with the board members and they said they would like to see more of us there. Yes, it starts at done at 5:30 and the meeting
027starts at 6. >> Thank you. I um thought our commissioners meeting, our joint meeting with the commissioners went really well. Um I went to visit North M one day and um talked to Mr. Artist. I also um just thinking about Ruth Vernon. She um was at Stony Creek when my son was there and she was always just such a positive impact on all the kids. And I debated whether I was going to tell this or not, but I'm going to tell it. It's a little private. But my husband and her son were good friends. So the reason the night I met my husband was at the club with her son. My husband and her son were there together. So when I went to a visitation, I just thought, you know, I might not even have
028the life I have if it wasn't for Ron. So um I just thought that was, you know, she was just a sweet lady. Sweet lady. >> Very good, >> Joe. Um so again, thank maintenance for the snow removal. Great job. They had to work a lot of different hours to make that happen. Um, I had some teachers from elementary school tell me how thankful they were that Miss Beavers and her team helped with those remote packets that it took a lot of work off them. Um, AIG Super Saturday, my son come and um gosh, he talked about it all evening when he got home. So, what an impact that makes, you know, on the kids. Um, also, you know, the guidance week was last week for our guidance counsel. want to thank them and think
029um school bus appreciation week is this week on September 13th. So thank all our school bus drivers for all that they do. >> Dr. McGee. >> Yeah. Um just thank our counselors, school bus um appreciation and any other appreciations we've missed um during this time. Just want to thank maintenance and all staff who worked hard behind the scenes to help get our students back safely. And um you know it it takes a lot of work everybody working together thinking through this challenging conditions and we you know want to always put safety as our priority. So just thank everybody for all you've done. Well, I'm glad to be present and glad that uh glad that you know we didn't hear any things that didn't happen that wasn't safe so that our all of our students, all
030of our staff return back safely and uh just hoping that everybody just continue to keep up the good work. We've already thanked Mr. Patine and his staff. So glad that the staff was packed safely and staff and everyone please know that we are always putting you first and I think that that's important for everybody to know and thank you parents for a job well done. They all came back. They're glad you board members. U just in general sometime we may forget to thank people for all they do >> and you never know how small email goes a long ways. Just a little note to somebody because in the hustle and bustle we get all hooked up and we don't tell people what we think they're doing such a good job. But uh it's important to
031do that. I've seen a couple of things here lately that kind of disturb me. This is a neighboring county and people, you know, Facebook is a good tool, but it's also a tool where people want to vent. Uh I saw one the other night the parents was talking about the idiots at the central office, the school board, need to get rid of them and blah. They were getting tired of them children, huh? That's what that was. But uh we all in this together and that's the bottom line. Miss Knight sent me something the other night. It was really disturbing where this is Irael Statesville County where the board member resigned. I mean chairman resigned got to argue with another board member and uh there's some strange stuff that goes on out there >> and you
032need to be careful. But always remember what the common goal is. You know what we do is for the children of Caswell County schools and somebody gonna like it, somebody ain't gonna like it. I saw a man in Gro store the other day looked at me when they going back to school. I said, "Well, the weather warms up." I'm just as calm as I could be. He was tired. He said, "They got to go." But again, thank you for all you're doing. Okay. >> I just like that. I'm sorry I didn't say this, but Mr. coach. I know this was your first time, so we say thank you because we know there was a lot of decision making that kept changing and all of that. So, we appreciate the way that you handled everything. >>
033And also having um food available, you know, that was a plus, too. >> That was really good. >> Um some of even some of my students, you know, I think probably took advantage of it because I had a parent to reach out. So, you never know what parents have to go through or anybody in general going through times like these. So yeah, you know, that was most appreciative, too. >> Okay. And I'm thankful for my weather team, um, Mr. Pet, Miss Ge, and Mr. Berdine. I know they got tired of all my calls and questions and their concerns, but we wanted to get it right. Um, we want to make sure everybody was safe. I want to thank Mrs. U channel and school nutrition for helping us get people mobilized. We served the first one,
034we served over five over 500 meals. In this past week, this past one we serve, I think 488 meals. And so we know that >> when you have kids at home, they get they eat more >> and families have budgeted for groceries. So anytime we can do that and it gives our people our purpose that we're in a capacity to serve. And so as long as we continue to work together and keep kindness in the forefront and follow the rules and laws, um, great things will continue to happen for the students of Caswell County. I much appreciate this board for your many questions and concerns and support. Uh, I'm greatly appreciative of that and thank you so very much. At this time, I move that the casual county board of public education go into close
035session for the purpose of considering a personnel action that involves an officer or employee of this board NC General 143 through81 tril 6 and for the purpose of discussing information that is privilege confidential or not of public record NC statute 143 318.11 princes AR and prefer with attorney. Yeah. Motion to that effect. Mr. L makes the motion. Is there a second? Miss Smith. Any discussion? If not, all mot