001Most gracious heavenly father, we thank you for every opportunity we can call on your name and ask for your presence. And father, we thank you that you tell us in your word that uh we can pray in every situation and every circumstance and for every reason. And so tonight we come asking you to be in the midst of this meeting. Uh Lord, send your spirit here in this place. Uh dwell in the people who are here. Lord, guide and direct those who are in leadership as well as those who are in attendance. Lord God, we thank you so much that you sent your son Jesus to this earth to be our savior. And we just honor him and you tonight by invoking your presence into this place. And we pray this prayer tonight in Jesus
002name. Amen. >> Amen. All right, we have two special young men who's going to lead us in our pledge. Uh, Grayson Barnett and Jurgen Collier. If they'll come up. All right. To the flag of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you gentlemen. At this time, we have some uh special recognition. I'll call on Dr. Jason Parker. Mr. Chair, members of the board, and Dr. Fiser, it's time for our annual treat for students who attended the North Carolina State Honors Chorus. So, a little different this year. We're going to ask them to go ahead and come out on the stage behind you. And then I have some additional accolades to share with you. They are then going to sing a
003selection and then we will recognize them with certificates after their song. So, the North Carolina Elementary Honors Chorus is a select group of students who are chosen from across North Carolina to perform at the North Carolina Music Educator Association Conference each year in Winston Salem. The purpose of this honors course is to provide students with the opportunity to develop their abilities to the greatest possible extent. This year we had 15 students from Cleveland County schools selected. It is important to note, however, that only 184 students from across the entire state were selected for this honor. This year, out of those 184 students, only two students achieved a perfect score in their audition. One of those perfect scores is Aiden Sowway from FOST. Aiden, if you'll raise your hand. Let's give Aiden a round of applause.
004[applause] Again, we are thrilled with the level of representation from Cleveland County Schools this year. And then students, after you sing, we'll call you down and you can get a certificate from Dr. Fisher. Oh sh [singing and music] I long to hear you rolling [singing] river [music] [singing] We're bound across [singing] the world. [music] Misery. >> [singing] >> I have seen you again [music] your [singing] rolling river. [singing] [music] We're [singing] bound away. across the misery [singing and music] [singing] forget you my lord. I dream of your clear [singing] [singing] in my bound [singing] across the AC. [music] Across the [singing] across the across [singing] the [music] misery. >> [applause] [applause] >> Students and teachers, that was awesome. Thank you so very much. We will now recognize you by school. So, when you hear your
005name, come forward to Dr. Fischer. He has a certificate for you. And then make your way across uh the board members here. You can shake their hand if you would like. And then teachers and students, if you would wait to my left and then Mr. Terry will come up and get a group photo when we're finished. First of all, from Kaser Elementary, uh the teacher there is Maria Loveless and the student is Ellie Barnett. [applause] Miss Loveless has double duty over at Union and her honor student there is Liliana Porter. >> [applause] >> from Fost Elementary. Teacher there is Miss Susan Fogelman. We have students Savannah Robinson [applause] and Aiden Soway [applause] from Kings Mountain Intermediate. The that teacher is Miss Angie Cosner. [applause] And the students from KMIS are Eva Eckles, [applause] Caroline Kirkindall,
006[applause] Raven Lab Boy, [applause] Mora Mahoney, [applause] Mattaline Moriceette, Leah Reid and Rebecca Welsh [applause] from North Elementary. That teacher is Miss Tracy Adderhole. [applause] And representing North Elementary tonight is Brody Shaver. [applause] From West Elementary, we have teacher Mrs. Casey Vest. [applause] And then Abigail RP from James Love Elementary, we have teacher Ashley Smith. [applause] And then representing James Live, James Love tonight is Liliana Hopper. [applause] Last but not least, we have Jefferson Elementary. The teacher there is Dr. Ricky Austin, who is under the weather tonight, but we have student Milo Bog Boen. [applause] And again, board members, I want to especially thank our teachers. We do not pay them extra for all of this. They hit they have to hit the ground running at the beginning of each school year and they do
007a marvelous job each and every year. So, if we could give our teachers a round of applause for their great job. [applause] And then boys and girls and teachers, if you wouldn't mind coming to the front here, we'll get you positioned for a photo and Mr. Terry will take care of that. This way. Congratulations [applause] again. I don't know how they held that last note so long. I was like, my goodness. But that was excellent. We have a second recognition tonight from elementary ed. This is our second year of completing our rebranded elementary math competition entitled Cleveland Calculates. I do want to take a moment to give a special thanks to our friends over at Albamaro Kings Mountain as well as the Cleveland County Educational Foundation who help us financially with this event. So, tonight
008we're pleased to recognize our top three teams and board members. I do want to uh let you know that we increased the rigor greatly in this competition when we rebranded it. So, I feel like this definitely lines up with your goal of STEM and developing and promoting and growing innovative academic programs within our school system. There are math problems on here that stump the adults in the room, too. So, we have tremendous mathematicians in elementary. So, we'll start by recognizing our third place team. Uh Dr. Fiser has a trophy for them and he also has money for them from the Cleveland County Educational Foundation. So, third place taking home a $200 check is the Township three Rams or excuse me, the Township Free Fraction Flock. I have to get their [laughter] name wrong. [applause] We
009have Coach Chris Huffstetler coming down, also co-ed by Kaylee Waycaster. And then I'll just read off the the team names and they can come for a photo. We've got Madison Fry, Estabbon Maladan Lopez, Annayia Smith, Kingston Smith, Evan Vincent, and Jeffrey Zavala Mendoza. >> Congratulations to the fraction flock from Township 3. [applause] was a close competition this year. Our second place winner is from Jefferson Elementary, the Jefferson Bees. Uh the coach there is Miss Mary Beth Patton and the honorary slash volunttold coach is her husband Ron Patton. Those student names are Binley Arowwood, Blakeley Beam, Maddie Carpenter, Molly Hayes, Jaden Hernandez, and Parker Man. And thanks to the Cleveland County Educational Foundation, they are taking home $300. Let's give our Jefferson D's a round of applause. [applause] >> Great job. Yeah, I've been volunte. >>
010That's good. >> [applause] >> And our first place winner this year is from Boiling Springs Elementary. We have the BSE Brainiacs coached by Miss Heather Bryson. Those student names are Mia Blandon, Jaden Bowen, Elijah Bruises, Abraham Ethridge, Malachi Lawrence, and Jake Testnir. Good job. Good job. Congratulations. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. >> [applause] >> And because we rebranded the competition, we added a round and that's called the Mathlete round. It is a sudden death competition and it takes place right here with buzzers. It is It is tense. I would be curious if the gentleman holding the trophy, who is a former math teacher, could beat this student. We have a future mathematician on our hands. The the top mathlete from Cleveland County Schools Elementary this year is none other than from Township 3 Elementary, Mr.
011Evan Vincent. [applause] >> [applause] >> And Evan is taking home $100 from the Albamaro Corporation, Kings Mountain. >> [applause] >> No Stay on the field. All right. At this time, I'll call on Miss Rhonda Benfield to uh introduce a CTE intern. >> Good evening. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board, Dr. Fischer. We appreciate the opportunity to highlight our CTE internship program. The program began four years ago with just five students and we are just right there at about to reach 200 students who've completed an internship and we've had 100 new uh business partners to work with us uh so graciously and our interns as well. Um I want to thank Miss Courtney Doster. She's here tonight. She coordinates our internship program. She's our work-based learning coordinator. And I would introduce to you one
012of our CTE interns, uh, Sincere Pettis. He is a senior at Shelby High School. We've had the opportunity to watch Sincere grow and mature, uh, since he was in the ninth grade. Take advantage of every opportunity that comes his way, most recently being the internship. He recently gave his final presentation. You all are always welcome to attend those final presentations. I know it's difficult to get to all of those. Uh but we wanted to bring sincere uh tonight to uh share with you a little bit. He has a good story and a great experience and I'll with that I won't steal any more of his thunder and I'll bring him up. Sincere you'll come on up. [applause] First things first, I just want to say uh thank you for having me here tonight to so
013I can share my story about my internship experience. And overall, I just hope that, you know, this can shine a spot on internships and just overall just, you know, shine a light on things that need to be had. And first things first, my name is Censor Pettis and I attend Shelby High School and I will be talking about my drone internship at Shelby High School and Garden of Web. Now to make things and to give a little bit of con to give myself a little bit of context about myself. Um, first things first, I come from a background to where, you know, I come from nothing and thanks to this internship experience, I've been able to just have a whole lot of great things happen in my life and just a whole lot of great
014great things happen for me in the future. Now, my background, which I love video games as a kid, and fortunately, I've been the two-time North Carolina state champion in esports. And with video games, I've been able to figure out about drones actually through that. And about my credential in getting it in the 10th grade, first things first, I had to get my trust, which is a certificate that um certifies that the person knows about the drones and also knows how a drone operates. And in the 11th grade, I went down to Charlotte, North Carolina at the Charlotte complex airport to take my 107 test, which I passed being one of the first people in the state to actually get it. And right here with all the skills that I have and all the interest that
015I have that's listed above with drones, it just helped me, you know, um just helped me find my love. Of course, I loved football and I love video games. And with the drones, I've been able to mix together the best of both. Um, with this program, of course, now working at Shelby High is a little bit different compared to working at Garden Web. At Shelby High, first things first, I had to work by myself. There really wasn't too much of a um too much help around me, but I've been able to get through it with the coaches and stuff like that. And also with Shelby High, it also had great benefits like being able to go to the football games. And fortunately, we won a state championship, which I'll be able to receive a ring
016for that. But overall at Chilby High School, just being able to go out there every day, you know, filming with the football team and just overall just being a part of something that I was never a part of before after that. Now, working at Gardener Web has been a little bit different because at Gardener Web, they have a scheduled program. There's actually people there to help there. There's actually multiple drones that are flying at uh at the same time to help film different sides of the practices, but also at Gardener Web, they actually have a script that you have to actually read off of. So now it's more of a scheduled program. And working at a division one college has definitely been just one of a great experience that I have in front of my
017life there. And also at Garner Webb, I've been able to meet NFL scouts, which is actually people that actually work for the NFL. And with those NFL communications, right now I've took it into myself to be proactive and right now I'm pursuing a potential internship with the Carolina Panthers. So hopefully that can go well in the future and maybe you can see me on TV sometime. [laughter] And overall, I just want to highlight, you know, the great the great uh internship lady I have in Miss Doster that actually gave me this great opportunity. And and second thing second, I want to get all all the glory glory to God. you know, without him, he wouldn't be able to, you know, I wouldn't be able to even have any of this stuff. And overall, I just
018want to say, um, thank you to the board for actually, you know, um, believing in kids like me, you know, as a person that has came from nothing, you know, Southside Richmond, moving out here and just getting a great opportunity. I just love everything that y'all do here at the board, but also what y'all do for students across Cleveland County. I want to say thank you for that. And of course, uh, last things last, what I do want to mention is that hopefully, um, with this presentation today, I can shine a light on, um, more internships being available and people get in contact with more businesses because clearly if an internship can have an effect like this on my life, you know, clearly there's another kid out there that is as hungry as me that
019also wants to be able to do something with their life. Also, I want to say thank you for having me here today. And if y'all have any questions, uh, just go ahead and feel free to ask. >> Anybody have any questions for me? >> I don't have any questions. >> I'm going to be looking for you on TV. [laughter] >> Yes, ma'am. Well, uh, since you have no questions, I just want to say, God bless you. >> Hey, the sky's the limit for you. Congratulations. >> You You show a great sense of professionalism already to be so young. And that's that's striking. >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And honestly, that actually means a lot. Which my professionalism, I actually want to give credit to my great two grandparents in the back. You know, >> you
020did a good job. >> You know, you know, them absolutely, you know, pushing me to do the most and me shining them lights on things that they never seen before and them just believing me in general. I just want to say thank God for putting two great grandparents inside of my life. And overall, I mean, clearly it played out to be the best. >> Congratulations to you and good luck. [applause] >> Thank you. Y'all have a blessed day. Thank you. Thank you. >> [applause] >> All righty. Next on the agenda is the adoption of the agenda. Do I hear hear a motion to adopt the agenda as presented? >> I make a motion. >> I heard Mr. Bridges and then Mr. [snorts] All those in favor. Mr. Blandon, was you yet? Okay, that's 8 to
021zero. Uh approval of the minutes from uh December the uh 28th. Uh we got two sets. Uh one from the regular meeting and then the approval of the closed session. Uh, do I have a >> I got a I got a question about the minutes. >> Okay, let me uh go ahead. >> My question is uh uh I'm sort of hard of hearing. Don't see well neither, but I see something that must be missing from the minutes or it wasn't added to the minutes. [clears throat] Uh so I'll just ask the board. Did we vote to allow a person to go to the media and speak? Do does anybody remember of that? I don't remember it. >> No. So, what's your >> Well, we had a we had one of our board members to go,
022>> Mr. Blandon. This is about the minutes. >> That's exactly right. And that's the reason I can bring it up now because it's not on the minutes. >> It wasn't discussed. >> Uh well, how do you get something brought up then when it wasn't on the minutes? Well, if it's not on the agenda, the the number one way is call me >> or the superintendent. And there's another way. You can make a motion and someone can second it and the board vote. All right. >> I'll make a motion. >> The mo the adop the you do that prior. >> Well, every time I asked to adopt the agenda, it gets voted down. >> And I did speak with our attorney about it. >> Okay. I'm just trying to follow Robert rules. I'm not trying to
023be argumentative with you. I'm just just trying to follow the rules. Okay. >> Okay. I'll bring it back up then in my board members uh things. >> Okay. >> I'll bring it back up then. Any other discussion on the board minutes as presented? All right. All those in favor? >> Yes. >> Oh, I that's right. I'm sorry. I do need a motion. I ap Mr. Bridges. And I need a second. >> All right, Mr. Now, all those in favor, uh, would you raise your hand? All those opposed. That's seven to one. All right. Finance and Personnel Committee report. Mr. Bridges. >> The [clears throat] January 7th Finance and Personnel Committee meeting was called to order by committee chair Aaron Bridges. Rob McDaniel shared a budget update. Mr. McDaniel shared that we are currently six months
024into our budget year, but we still do not have a state budget. He reminded the committee that our budget allowment is based on a month a two-month ADM of the previous year. Our month 2 ADM this year is down around 100 students, which will impact our budget next year by about a million dollars. The committee discussed the budget situation. Mr. McDaniel reminded the committee that the 071 state bonus supplements will be paid to teachers in January. [clears throat] Mr. Vince Quinn from Anderson Smith and uh White PC shared a rep a presentation on the recent audit he completed. The audit was excellent with no findings or recommendations. Dr. Valerie O Kelly, Eric Lammana, and Dr. Jennifer Wampler shar shared information related to teacher recruitment efforts. Dr. Dr. Wamper shared information related to employees and reasons
025for separations of employment during 2025. Dr. Wamper shared information related to teacher performant bonuses for student growth in 2025. These bonuses will be paid to eligible teachers in January 2026 checks. The committee discussed the information shared with no new business. The meeting was adjourned and the next finance and personnel committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 28th, 2026 at 11:45 a.m. >> Thank you, Mr. Bridges. Next is the uh personnel report. Uh I will need a motion and a second. >> Mr. Bridges makes the motion to approve personnel. >> I have a question on that. >> Okay, let me get a second. Second on Mr. Humphre and uh Mr. Blandon >> on the personnel report. >> Yes, sir. >> I noticed on it uh when I pulled it up that we had 21 resignations. >>
026Okay. And uh are are we thoroughly checking out why our staff is resigning on us? Because we need every person that we could keep and and and and our recruitment. Uh there's 21 resations about eight or nine plus or minus one or two uh retired. Did they retire because they wanted to or they had their years in or they was fed up with what we were doing. Uh so I think we need answers on that. >> All right, Mr. Bridges, if you take note of that, please. >> Well, we actually just had that discussion in our meeting this past week. So, there was a chart and there was information provided in the meeting. I'd be happy to forward that to you. Um but we just had that discussion. Well, we need that before a meeting
027takes place, that discussion exactly what took place. That's the reason I question about minutes and stuff. When y'all when we have our committee meetings, you don't know what we do in our committee. I don't know what you do in your committee. And every one of us board members has brought this up one time another, and I'm not going to back down. In other words, I think we need to do away with these committees and start bringing it out here to the public. >> Okay. All right. We're going to move on. Uh a mot. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor. That's all those oppos have a comment to make >> on personnel. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh I wish every one of you could have heard this gentleman talk uh at
028our committee meeting that we had. In my 27 years that I have served on the board of education, this is the first time that I have ever heard an auditor say that there were no recommendations. Now, ladies and gentlemen, that speaks for our uh finance department. Uh I commend Rob and I commend all of his department. I've did that in committee meeting and I'll do it in uh uh main board meeting but I wish you could have heard uh what was said by this gentleman. He did an excellent job. We used to have this uh not necessarily this company, but we used to have the auditor come before the entire board, but uh this is the very first time in my 27 years that I have ever heard an excellent report as this. So, Rob,
029thank you very much. You're to be commended. Please commend your staff and we thank them very much. Keep up the excellent work. I want to say one more thing. >> All right. >> Concerning finance and personnel. >> Yeah. >> Uh that is a very good example that we you I've been on here say 13 14 years that that auditor used to come to the whole board and give us that that report. That is a very good example just what Mr. Leadford got through saying that the whole board for something to the gratitude of our audi for the whole school system should come before the whole board instead of just one or two hearing it. So thank you. >> All right. Safety and operations, Mr. Blandon. >> I've cheered the uh safety and operations this uh
030this month. Uh January the 5th, the safety and operations meeting was called to order uh by committee meter Dan Danny Blandon, Daniel Hail, Rodney Borders shared what we have two new SROs starting today due to the retirement and staffing changes. David Ples shared the clear bag policy for athletics events is in effort now. It was go it has gone okay at the schools that have had games in the new year. Dr. Do uh Dr. Fiser shared that Dr. Anita Wire has retired from Turning Point uh Academy and Dr. Tara Beam has been appointed to interim principal for the remainder of the school year. There were no agency reports. Dr. Jennifer Walner and Chip Childers shared the capital project report. This report will be shared with the full board as an information item at their January
031meeting. Dr. Wner and Miss Mr. Childers and Daniel Sherman shared information related to a project continues and update the committee on the progress of the recent projects. Mr. Childers shared that we plan to bring bids to the board for the chiller replacement project at Bowling Springs Elementary. The bids for this project are to be submitted on the January 8th which is after the committee meeting. So the bids will be brought to the full board for consideration and approval at the January meeting through related to the driver's education and the state were shared. I was the one that shared that. I have uh I have discussed that they're trying to get our driver's education straightened out here in this county for our children with no additional business. The the meeting was adjourned. The next safety and
032operations meeting will is scheduled for Monday, January the 26th, 2026 at 11:45 a.m. as staff development. I'd like to go back to that driver's education. See, there's where the minutes was not accurate because I discussed that entirely of what was taking place on the driver's education and uh and our legislators are working for us to try to get something in place with Mr. Ples and and everything. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Blandon. Uh next is uh Miss Wampler. Do you have some bid information on those uh boilers that Mr. Blandon spoke about? >> You should have the bid sheet for the Bolan Springs Elementary uh chiller replacement and you can see the bids that we have received and the information that's shared there. Uh this is one that we bring to you
033at this point because this will be a summer project, but it'll take about 20 weeks for those chillers to arrive. >> All right. What? >> It's in the It's in this in your notes. >> You can see this uh will be paid for using the RNR funds from the state. You can see the four bids that we received. Uh it's our recommendation we accept the lowest bid and that we do uh a contingency of 5% making the project total cost 309,000. >> Okay. Y'all have heard uh from staff to I have a motion >> to adopt and to be specific on >> I make a motion to approve the recommended um company for the bid. >> What's that company and how [clears throat] much? >> Masters Incorporated for 294,000 with a 5% contingency for $39,000
034total. >> Okay. >> All right. >> I got I got a question. All right. One second. Second by Mr. Humphrey. All right. question. The question is, I thought we didn't tell about the contingency until everything is done. We're telling it right here that we're accepting the 294,000 bid and the 15,000 contingency. So, they know that we've done approve, we're approving $39,000. I thought we'd done that discussion in our meetings that we didn't let that out what our contingency was. >> Not during the bid process. They're not told when they're bidding what contingency we'll add. >> All right, they bid that. Now they know that we got $15 more,000 laying there that they could see something else and add to it. >> Not just something random. It would have to be related to connectiv connectivity and
035existing piping as it is listed. >> Okay, Mr. There is just to kind of clear this up. There's nothing we're trying to keep secret. We have to bid on it and the board has to bid on the contingency. So there's no way of keeping it secret. It's as she said the bid process is the bid pro. We don't say put your bid in and we're going to give 5 10% but >> and as we shared in committee we often don't use all of the contingency because you don't need it. >> Right. So anyway all right I Yes. Have we used these people before? >> We have not used them before. Have we checked credentials and everything? >> We have and this one we this project we used a mechanical engineer to help do the drawings
036and things for this project and they know of that company and highly recommend them. >> I don't know if you have anything to add. Well, right here is our sheet that we had that they gave us out. And I I will say that the companies, none of them used all of the contingency, but they most of what we did that's done been done and approved, a lot of contingency was used. Uh not all, but some. Uh but that's what I'm getting at. when when they know that that money is laying there, you can bet a lot of people they greedy when it comes to a dollar. >> All right. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. W. Uh I have a motion and a second for the company that Mr. Bridges. All in favor of that. That's
0378 to zero. All right. Thank you, Miss W. Dr. Wford, I apologize. All right. Next is education and policy. Miss Sherman, are you doing that? Okay. >> The January 6th educational programs and policy committee meeting was called to order by committee chair Ron Umpre. Dr. Steven Fiser reminded the committee that two policies with legal updates based on recent legislation are up for a second read and approval at their January meeting. Those policies are 3220 technology in the educational program and 32264205 internet safety. The committee had no questions or concerns. Dr. Fiser shared five policies that had legal reference updates. The policies do not have any changes to the text of the policy, but do update the legal references as recommended by the North Carolina School Board Association. The changes were reviewed by the committee and
038approved for updating. Since no changes are being recommended or made to the text of the policy, these updates do not require full board approval. Dr. Fiser and Dr. Brian Hunnel shared rough drafts to policy 3460, graduation requirements, and policy 3460-R, promotion and graduation requirements. As part of these policy updates, policy 3460-e, early graduation application, is being replaced with school-based applications and is no longer needed. The committee discussed and supported these changes. These policies will come back to the committee at their next meeting as a final draft and then will go to the full board for a first reading at their February meeting. As part of the normal review of policies, eight policies in the 7,000 section personnel were reviewed. These policies were policy 7270, school safety, policy 7270-R, fire prevention, policy 7271, injury and loss
039prevention. Policy 7272, Service Animals in schools. Policy 7272-R1, Service Animal Procedures. Policy 7272-R2, request for the use of service animal. Policy 7272-R3, service animal registration agreement. and policy 7275, weapons and explosives prohibited. No changes were recommended to these policies. Dr. Hunnel shared some updates from the education and instructional department as a result of Dr. Wear's retirement. Ginger Jackson shared a Microsoft Enterprise Enrollment for Education Solutions renewal quote that was presented for approval in the annual amount of $95,227.40 for a three-year agreement. The EES agreement provides districtwide licensing and access to Microsoft software and services. This quote was the lowest of four proposals received. The committee reviewed the proposal and supported the renewal. The agreement will be presented to the board for approval at the January meeting. Stephanie Henson shared a contract for medical staffing based
040on a student need which is not to exceed $64,350. Mrs. Hansen also shared an amendment to the stepping stone contract for the 2526 school year for the use of additional speech pathology services in the amount of $59,280. These contracts do not require board approval due to being under $75,000 but are shared asformational items. Dr. Fischer shared the recommendation to submit a restart application for Elizabeth Elementary. Dr. Fischer shared the benefits of being designated a restart school which provides charter-like flexibility in calendar staffing and funding. The committee supported the recommendation and it will be added to the board's January agenda. Dr. Hunnel and Dr. Chris Bennett shared a testing and accountability update from first semester testing data. The committee discussed the data and the good progress being made by high schools. Dr. Hunnel cited the good
041work being implemented through the lead teacher model in these areas. Dr. Jennifer Wampler shared information related to teacher bonuses that will be paid to select AP teachers, CTE teachers, third through fifth grade reading teachers, and fourth through 8th grade math teachers in January of 2026 for student growth and performance. Specifically, 111 teachers will receive bonuses totaling 295,480. With no additional new business, the meeting was adjourned and the next educational and policy me committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 27th, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. >> Thank you, Miss Sherman. Next is policies for approval. Those two policies are policies 3220 technology and the educational program and policy 3226 4205 internet safety. Both those come from committee. Uh any questions? >> Not on the policies, but I got something on on the other part. >> What other
042part? >> Uh the restart. >> We ain't to that. Okay. All right. All in favor? That's 8 Z. All right. Next is the uh Microsoft uh EES renewal and Elizabeth Elementary restart application that does something for committee. You have a question. >> Yes. Uh should a school when it's going to restart that's getting sort of in the low the low performing uh in that category. Shouldn't that be discussed? Uh that we have a meeting and we have discussed that to let us know what's really going on for that the state to take over and on a restart. Shouldn't that be before the whole board make that decision instead of three people? I'm not throwing off on the three people, you know, but a item of the restart uh and a and a school in that
043position. I think the whole board should know about that really and truly. Yes. >> Well, this I was going to say this has been in your information that was sent >> and you had time to ask questions. >> Sort of like uh I got a packet too and we didn't get one, you know, on the sale of that school. >> We didn't get a packet and >> No, we did. >> Then at home, that's right. We didn't. And at my my home, I cannot pull up anything on my iPad. I have to wait till I get here uh to do it uh basically to for me to find things. I don't know if my I'm just in a bad spot. I don't have that. So I have to wait to I can't read now since
044we changed to this new from board docks to this here. I cannot pull up anything basically till I get home unless I go to somebody else's house. >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes. >> I'm sorry. these two already speak about the [clears throat] subject. >> Okay. >> Mr. Chair, um is there any way we could have Dr. Fischer come up and explain this restart because you know I was on that committee and um I I think it might be valuable to uh go ahead and discuss some of it now if you could. >> All right, Mr. Fischer, do you >> like to say I'm not throwing off them their decision. Thank [clears throat] you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. Um, this this recommendation for potential restart, as explained to the committee, has nothing really to
045do with low performing at all. The school in question is not a low performing school. The school in question has done an excellent job and we do not anticipate that school being low performing. Um, the things that are happening at that school uh meet the standards in which we need to want to see in terms of curriculum instruction. Um, you know, I was there at that school twice last week and and really saw good things going on. However, this is an opportunity for that school that they still are eligible to apply for restart status. Uh, and so we would like to recommend take to take advantage of that while we can. That application is due at the end of January. Quite honestly, as I explained to the committee, there's still some question or not of
046of whether we want to do that or not. But if we don't get board approval to move forward with that, then we lose that opportunity because I do not anticipate that particular school to go back to low to low performing status, then then we'll lose that forever. Um, restart status is something that a restart like status is something that we've written a proposal for for the entire district to be able to have additional flexibility in some of our funding categories and some of the things that that we could do at restart that you can't do in traditional school. It it is unique in the state of North Carolina that sometimes low performing you get additional flexibilities which again doesn't make a lot of sense. You would think high performing schools would have additional flexibilities, but
047this is an opportunity for us at this particular school to potentially have additional flexibilities and that they are doing well. They are achieving. Uh that school uh was a C school last year really uh has done some remarkable things uh in the last three years. That school has been open for three years in its current grade level uh configuration. So we're really proud of the work that's being done there. We believe the restart status will enhance that if we have the opportunity to go restart status with all of our schools and get some of that flexibility, especially at the elementary school. We would advocate for that because it does enable our staff and enables the staff at the school to do some things that potentially we can't do at a particular school and I could
048go into a full, you know, dissertation about why that would be advantageous and why that would work for schools. We're asking the board tonight to give us the approval that if we cho we choose to to submit that application by the end of the month, we have board approval to do that. Again, we're still working with our team. We're working with Dr. Parker. We're working with uh Dr. Wampler, Dr. Hunnel, and the school uh administration to say, is this something we want to do? And if we want to do it, make sure we write that plan in in a in an appropriate way. Um you know, I'll highlight this school success. I'll also highlight the success of some of our other restart schools, especially in Washington. We're able to do some unique things in those
049schools to to help uh our students and staff >> here. >> Yes. >> Uh okay. So, by it going to a restart school, am I understanding that that would give us more flexibility that we could hire more teachers uh to help for to help those children out by doing by it being a restart school? >> Well, I don't know that it it gives you the flexibility to hire more teachers. Um you you only get >> or smaller groups. >> The only get you only get the money that you get. What it does is is allow you to better utilize those funds you can get without having to navigate the uh the maze of of how schools are funded in North Carolina. So, we're able to use instead of uh monies being designated in this pocket,
050we can use monies in in a different pocket. Um and so it gives us some flexibilities that we we can't do. Um, you know, we one of the things that we've been able to do at our restart B schools that we're not able to do at other schools are things like uh pay bonuses for those teachers out of restart funds. We have performance bonuses for those teachers out of restart funds and we're only able to do that at restart schools. One of the other things that's unique to the restart schools at the elementary level is we have lead teachers. Uh, and that lead teacher model, we were in a school, two schools today, and we saw good examples of of of lead teachers. And in one of the schools lead teachers, you know, we don't
051have a lead teacher in every grade level and we see the difference of the lead teacher working in this grade level, but we really want a lead teacher and need a lead teacher in the other grade level. So, as we do restart, as we get flexibility with our funds, um you know, in theory, you could you could roll some of those funds and hire other teachers, but but what it allows you to do is maybe be more selective in your teachers or recruit other teachers and do some other things that that you normally can't do because of the constraints of the North Carolina uh public financial system. >> But, so it does not have anything to do with our scores, our report cards, uh or anything. >> I I didn't say that. It it does
052have something to do. it just doesn't have in this particular situation. It doesn't because Elizabeth is not a low performing school. Um so you do have to be or have been a low performing school. So if you have been that in the past, you have a window that continue to apply. That window at at this particular school is getting ready to close because the academic achievement that we've seen at that school. So if we don't do that at this point, most likely I firmly believe that we will forever more lose that ability to do that. And and if that happens and that's the the desire of the board, then then that's okay. We just, you know, we can't go back and say, "Boy, I wish we had that flexibility." >> Well, you had the opportunity,
053but we passed up on it. This is an opportunity to say, you know what, let's take it. Um, and then we don't have to use a flexibility. With restart, there is lots of flexibility that we could do and lots of flexibility that districts across the state do that we don't do because we don't believe that's best practice. So, we really fine-tune the flexibilities we have based on the needs of those schools, based on the direction we want to do in Cleveland County. >> Well, let me see if I can clear up what you're saying in basically layman's terms. Thankfully, we had nine schools year before last that were underperforming. We got that on down to two. We had seven to raise it up and then we have two. If those two schools come up this
054year, we will still have a window for those two schools to apply for restart for two and three years because at one time they were below performing. >> Well, they are restart. So we >> we would continue even if they come up. So that doesn't mean that they at one time they were. But if these two schools, if next year we don't have any low performing schools, we still have a window to apply for restart for those that were in the past. >> Well, if it's better for our staff and our kids, I'm all for it. >> We've been paying without a shadow of a doubt. >> We've been paying teachers bonuses >> and uh so it's not that I'm wanting to take away, but I just want the people to understand exactly what's taking
055place. But if it's better for our staff and our children, that's what I'm all about. >> We believe it is, Mr. Can I >> Sure. >> Just one point of clarity. I I think I've understood Mr. Blandon to equate restart with the state taking over the school. Did I? >> Yeah. >> That's not the case. Okay. >> That's they're not associated. >> Well, it's a certain degree they're taking it over because if you go under the charter, uh we're going by a lot by their guidelines, are we not? >> Then what's the use of we doing it then? the well the charter you're you're talking about several different topics. You're talking about restart, you're talking about charter, and you're talking about state taking over the the schools. The state taking over the schools, they've only
056done that once or twice, and that's proved to be, you know, uh extremely unsuccessful at the state level. So, they're really not even looking at that anymore. The the restart status gives you some charterike flexibilities. And I would I would be cautious in saying that because it is not a charter school, but it does give you charterike flexibilities, meaning you can move your monies around, meaning that you are immune to [clears throat] some of the laws that are out there because you have charter-like flexibility. I I would also warn anybody from from looking and taking the restart processes that that Dr. Parker and Dr. Hun and his team have put in here at Cleveland County schools and comparing those to recess a restart process across the the state because we are very pointed and very
057specific in what we're doing with restart and that's why we've seen success of the restart school where we don't play with a broad brush and do lots of stuff that you see across the state but but you know it's not a charter school. It really has nothing to do with state takeover. Those are those are very different pieces. a restart is gives you charter like flexibility in the ability to run your school in what we would consider a little more an efficient and effective manner. >> Well, I by my understanding then we're fixing to have a workshop. I think uh I've sort of been misled then for 13 or 14 years uh about this restart thing. So I believe that during our work session that we need to get I need to get a little
058education. Well, and the restart hadn't been around 13 to 14 years, but but but >> [clears throat] >> um in our our I will tell you our work session is pretty full. If you look at agenda, it's very full, but but we've got a spring work session, so we will include that on the agenda, the spring work session. Uh if if that's okay with the board, we we we got a pretty packed agenda uh here in in a couple weeks. >> So, I think that the main thing I'm hearing from him, he was concerned about state takeover. That's not happening. It is best for our teachers and our kids to do it. So, and it's not saying they're underperforming. I think that was his concerns. Am I correct? >> Well, that's the biggest part of
059it. >> Okay. And those concerns were answered that that's not the case. >> Well, I've been misled or misguided then the the the for a lot of times. So, uh >> and if I've been misled, misguided, and I've spoke wrong, I apologize for that. But so, I'm going to get some answers on it before if it Lord just let me live. Okay. All right. Now, we're going to move on. We're going to take a vote on this. Are you ready to go? >> I'm ready. All right. >> Mr. Chair, Mr. Chairman, if I could add one thing just real quickly, please. Is that the the approval tonight we're asking for is the board to give us the opportunity and permission to do that. >> That don't mean we got it. >> We Yes, sir. That's
060correct. >> We're doing both. >> They're either they >> they're either already low they're either already restart or they're not eligible. >> Okay. >> And so this particular school is eligible. But our middle schools that came out of low performing are not eligible because they were only in that low performing designation for one year. So they're not eligible. >> So it's only elementary. >> No sir, it's not only elementary. It it could be middle or high school. But those the middle schools were only low performing for one year and so they're not eligible. So you would had to have that board. So that we if we had more schools eligible, we would do that. Okay. We got three schools that are restart and we just reuped on their five-year plan. >> In other words, they
061got to have multiple years. >> You you got to have there's there's several data pieces there that you got to have and the other low performing schools from from previous years don't have all those data pieces. >> All right. On these contracts, excuse me, Mr. chairman, on these contracts uh for several thousand dollar that come before this, should this not also come before finance, >> the the contracts? >> Um no, we've not done that in the past because they're they are um instructional contracts. Um the policy says if a contract is above $75,000, it >> understand that. So what we try to do is drive that that contract into the area that it of of of most uh likeness if you will. So this >> uh technology curriculum instructional technology is a is a curriculum
062instruction issue. Yeah, you're looking at >> so so we try to drive that. If not what we end up is you take things to multiple committees and then it gets confusing of where it came from and those type of things. That's why we put all that information on the board. we could on the uh Friday update we include all those um uh reports there so everybody's got aware of that but we're just used to taking that to to one of the committee by the time it's um by the time that that uh before that contract goes to any of the committees it has been pre-approved by Miss McDaniel his office to say there is money there and we have the appropriate funds to do that so it's not necessarily a financial issue if it becomes
063an instructional issue Okay. All right. >> So, >> yes, >> I'd just like to say I I'm representing I'm on the educational programs and policy committee report in the meetings and I want to encourage Mr. Blandon, Mr. Leadford, anybody um when these minutes come out after our meetings, contact me or I'm sure Mr. Grigg would and Mr. Please ask, call me, email me because we can get these things answered and direct to you. Don't feel, don't hesitate. Call me anytime with any questions in our Isn't that the process that we're >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Sherman. >> All right. Right now, with any more questions? All right. We're going we're voting on the Microsoft and the restart both. Okay. Everybody understand? All right. All those in favor.
064All right, that's eight to zero. All right, next. Dr. Fisher, [clears throat] you shouldn't have went and sit down. I don't think you really cared about what I wanted to say. You just wanted me to stay up here and talk a little more. I understand you didn't have any questions. Uh, do have a couple updates. You've got a copy of this at your spot. Um, I would like to highlight first bullet there, high school exams are complete. We may have a few stragglers, retest, we probably completed most of those. I just want to say a huge thank you and congratulations to our high schools, our high school principles, assistant principles, uh, teachers, guidance counselors, front office staff, custodians, everybody at at those high schools doing a really good job of of mid-year testing. Um, I
065was out at doing a high school visit earlier this week, uh, excuse me, last week and at Hall shut down for some retesting this week still. Uh, just a really good effort in terms of our high schools of what they were doing. It's the first year we've done retesting. Uh, educational programs committee, you saw a little snapshot of some data that that was really good. Uh, we feel really good about our data. Um, I think we're roughly, you know, look at the the the full year of high school testing. We're a little more in a third u between a third and 40% finished with that testing. Uh so we still got a lot lot of testing to go, still got a lot of uh things to do uh in in the spring and moving forward,
066but we're really encouraged by the work that's going on in our high schools. Really appreciate the collective effort of everybody there. Uh we'll share with a little more about that data at your work session at the end of the month. Uh so just wanted to mention that and and thank our high school folks for for doing those things this year. Um you know, I mentioned last month, January 6th was our date to school. So we started last Tuesday, almost a week ago that began second semester. It's really hard to believe that we're already second semester. Um Dr. Parker sends out a a weekly update to his elementary principles and at on there he always says we got you know 60% of the year left and I think the last update I saw was like 45%
067of the year left. So it it really resonates when you you get here in the second semester and and the spring the winter is going to finish in the spring. You've got a couple of of uh board of education events there between committee meetings and board meetings. I do want to highlight a couple things. Uh first, uh spelling be Thursday, February 12th at 10 o'clock at Shelby Middle School. It's a great event. Again, you saw the mathematicians that were highlighted here today. You get the opportunity for students to spell uh some some really, you know, unique and challenging words there. So, that's a great opportunity. We will have a teacher citizen appreciation banquet on Thursday, February 19th. Those you may remember years and years ago, Mr. Plant, you may be the only one on the
068board. Uh M. Sherman, you brought me as principal, Mr. Lead for years ago when you on the board, we had the TA uh dinner in the in the spring. Uh we're going to bring that back. It's been many years since we've done that. So that's February 19th. You're invited to do that. Uh we got a couple other things. Um the last two things I'll address is there are beginning of March, get back into the elementary um cycle of of cultivating excellence. The My Home Library project celebration is is on March 2nd at 9:00 at Bowling Springs Elementary. You won't want to miss that opportunity to celebrate the My Home Library project. This year, uh we have last year was first and second grade. This year it's first, second, and third grade that we'll send a
069backpack full of books uh to students. So, that'll be a really good celebration. And then our elementary book competition is Tuesday, March 3rd here at Central Services. Um that uh I'll send you some more detailed information when those plans firm up, but usually the awards program is about 12:30 uh sometime around there. So, uh, it's a great day to celebrate literacy. That is, uh, literacy awareness week, Dr. Suk's birthday week. So, there'll be lots of things going on, uh, that first week of March that emphasizes reading literacy across the district. So, Mr. Chairman, we'll be glad to try to answer any questions the board may have. >> Any questions? >> Thank you, Dr. Fiser. >> All right. >> We're going to student transfer. We'll need him back. >> Excuse me. >> Student transfer. >> Oh,
070that's just on here. We don't it's not for us to discuss. Right. Next is uh public participation. Uh Mr. Bridges, would you read our rules, please? >> Public comment should not address any specific confidential student or personnel matter. Specific concerns related to confidential student or personnel matters should be directed to the superintendent or designate. Comments must be relevant to matters that are within the authority of the board. Speaker shall refrain from personal attacks or threats directed towards staff, elected board members, or members of the public. speaker shall be courteous in their language and presentations. Uh insults, profanity, use of vulgar language or gestures or other inappropriate behaviors are not allowed. The board vests in his chair or other presiding officers authority to terminate the remarks of any individual when he or she does not adhere
071to the rules established above. Any person who willingfully interrupts or disrupts a board meeting may be directed to leave the meeting by the presiding officer. [clears throat] Any person who refuses to leave uh may be prosecuted for disrupting a public meeting. Persons appearing before the board are reminded as a point of information that members of the Cleveland County Board of Education are without authority to act independently as individuals in official matters. Immediate answers are not generally possible and must be deferred pending investigation and consideration by the full board. >> Thank you, Mr. Bridges. The first sheet I have is Mr. Rob Pow. Mr. Chair and members of the board, my name is Rod Powell. I'm a Cleveland County resident and I am a retired public school history teacher high school and I am a member
072of the NAACP. Now, I want to choose my words carefully here. I'm not speaking for the NAACP. I'm speaking for myself as someone who listens at these meetings and listens in the community. One concern that I keep hearing and one that I share tonight is a quiet drift towards sanitizing American history in high school. Now, it doesn't show up as a big policy vote. It shows up in what gets softened, what gets skipped, and what teachers feel pressured to say. Now, American history is not just a timeline of presidents and wars. It's also slavery, reconstruction, it's Jim Crow, it's redlinining. It's a long fight for voting rights and civil rights. It's labor history, women's history, and the story of immigrants who built this country. If we only teach the easy parts, we're not protecting students.
073We're cheating them. Now, we can love our country and still tell the truth about it. Pride and honesty can exist in the same classroom. When we sanitize the the past, we do two things. We dismiss the lived experience of many Cleveland County families and we send every student into adulthood with the weaker civic understanding. Now, you can't make sense of the present if you're not allowed to study the past, honestly. So, I have a few specific requests for this board here tonight. First of all, I ask the board to state plainly that Cleveland County schools will teach a full and accurate history aligned to state standards without political filtering in each in either direction. Second, I ask for transparency. Let's put course materials in reading list where parents can see them in context with teacher
074input. Third, protect your educators and your teachers. Teachers should not fear discipline for teaching established history or assigning primary sources. Fourth, let's consider a public forum on curriculum and academic freedom with classroom teachers, parents, and community voices at the table. Now, this is not about blaming teachers. It's about whether we're willing to teach the truth with care. Thank y'all. >> Thank you, Mr. Pal. Next is Jenny Ross. Um I'm going to start off by reading this is North Carolina General Statute Article 33C um 143-318.9 this is meetings of public bodies whereas the public bodies that administer the legislative policym quasi judicial administrative and advis advisory functions in North Carolina and its political subdivisions exist solely to conduct the people's business. It is the public policy of North Carolina that the hearings, deliberations, and actions of
075these bodies be conducted openly. Further, the Cleveland County Board of Education's policy manual um in board policy 2320 says that you affirm the public policy of the state that hearings, deliberations, and actions of public bodies be conducted openly. You may not have set out with the intent of violating that law by having small group meetings last week to discuss Marian school. But you're in a very legal gray area. Asheville um city council was doing the same thing where they would have small groups that did not meet a majority. So they did not have to take minutes or give public notice or allow the public to attend. and they were sued and that court case is still outstanding and the North Carolina appellet court is in the process of deliberating on that. That is exactly what
076happened here last week. Exactly the same thing when the board had meetings where you didn't have a majority. You didn't have to include the public or take minutes or let the public know that it was happening, but you got together to deliberate about Marian school. Further, um the restrictions that were referenced in the last meeting, I had multiple people that I spoke with that have requested those restrictions and they were not provided as they were told they do not yet exist. And again, I think it is just completely unconscionable that we would still be thinking about putting the sale of Marian school back on the agenda when nobody on this board has seen the full restrictions that should that are supposed to make that sale legal. And I'm not sure um but I was also
077told that last before the last meeting the attorney was calling board members to ask how they were going to vote. And that's very curious that that was happening before the last meeting and then it was taken off the agenda. It's just you're still eroding the public trust. Everything that you're doing, please, the public is asking for transparency and we're asking you to to be to answer to us. That's what your job is. Thank you. >> Next is Lisa Phillips. Good evening. I'll be really quick. Um, my name is Lita Books. I work for Clayton County Schools and I want to be very transparent when I say that I'm here on not on behalf of any other any school or um any individual. But um just for myself and other special education educators. Okay. Um I
078want to read this first. Grac's gentle, steady hand, a quiet gift we seldom demand. It sees our falls and yet chooses care. It lifts, restores, and helps us bear. Where patience lives and kindness grows, grace meets the heart and softly slows. That even when we fall astray, love, understanding, light the way. Together with grace, we learn, improve, and continue doing what we care about most. Um, with all that being said, as educators, we often hold ourselves to high standards, sometimes even perfection. Well, I speak for myself when I say that, but I do. Um, but the truth is, we are human. We make mistakes. We learn and we grow, just like the students we serve. There are times when mistakes happen knowingly. And there are times when they never become they never come from a
079place of harm or disrespect. but from being human in a demanding emotional profession. This is especially true for special special educations teachers. So tonight I just ask you to give some special education teachers grace um support and check on us because we are overwhelmed. We do have a lot of going on and do we do have some challenging kids. Okay. Thank you guys. >> Thank you Miss Phillips. >> All right. That's all the public speakers I have. Next will be our board comments. Fisher, Mr. Blandon. Yes. Well, I couldn't get to talk while ago, so I guess I'll talk now. Uh, few years back, I got censored for 90 days because I said somebody should be held accountable. and I got censored by 90 days by a few board members. I'll not call no names
080tonight. Everybody knows who they were. And I couldn't participate in quite a few things. And one thing was dear to my heart that I couldn't participate because I was told that I went to the press and said somebody should be held accountable. Well, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. We've had another board member to go to the media and I think that he needs to be censored. We had a few board members to go to our attorney to have a letter wrote up to censor us which was really against the law because I have my free right as long as I'm not operating on by the board or as I have that right. Anybody has that right if you're not going on the sides of the board. But I got censored.
081And there's another board member got censored. But I'm not speaking for him. I'm speaking for myself. I want the people to understand that. But right here is where a board member went to the media. And what's good for the goose is good for the gander. And I'm making a motion. I want to make a motion that he'd be censored or our attorney to draw up a set of papers. I'll be on and bring it back to the board and let us address that issue. We can do it in closed session. We can do it in open session or whatever, but I feel like that there was a policy put in place that it's the chair and our superintendent is the one that talks to the media about issues in our schools. They have a policy
082put in place or uh ethics. They say I broke ethics and this that and the other. So, I'm asking the board to ask our attorney to bring something up to censoring. And if we need to bring back a recording, I think we got it available for what our lawyer came up and said, uh what her belief was. uh if she'd like to step up. Okay. But uh I'd like immediate action done on that. You done? >> Uh do I need to say any more? >> It's your is I I'm I'm going to address some things when but no. >> Mr. Humphre. Well, >> I'd talk a little bit. Mr. Le, >> I'd just like to say welcome to our board meeting. We had one of excellent meetings tonight. It was good to hear the young
083man speak on his intern experience. Uh it's good to hear these kids at sing the way they can sing. Now, boy, I tell you, if I could sing like that, he wouldn't I be good. Okay. >> But they did an excellent job. Um, it's good to see our schools start back. I know that the kids are grateful that these tests are over with. I know that these teachers are grateful that this test is over with. So, uh, I'm just thankful that we've got the people that we've got and we've got the things that are taking place. That's all I have, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Leford. Miss Sherman. >> Yes. I'd like to agree um with Mr. Leadford, all the accomplishments and people that came tonight. Um Dr. Parker, the recognition um honors chorus. I
084mean, I could hear their voices right here and they were beautiful. And um for a few minutes, I thought I was like actually at a concert in a fancy place. So they that was um congratulations to those students and um all the hard work that their teachers put in and the Cleveland calculates. Um I'd like to also thank Albam Marl. We continually hear um how much support we have from from them and many many other um agencies and companies in Cleveland County. and they do at the end of the year when we go to the recognition banquet of the Cleveland County Educational Foundation for the scholars, um all those things. It's it's just great and it takes so many people. And then um of course the uh student that spoke tonight with the drones, they
085just um so proud of that and all the many things. I also would like to speak to the teachers um that are out there working so hard every day in your classrooms, the teacher assistants, um all the support personnel in your schools. You are the ones that are making it happen. We're trying to we're providing you support as best we can. Um please reach out to me anytime. Um know that I do totally understand what you're going through. January is a kind of it's a hard month um because Christmas is over, but here you're you have to find a way to pump the kids back up again for the end of the year and to excel. So, I just don't want to um let our teachers think that we are not totally behind you and
086understand because you're the ones that make all this happen and um we get to see it when it's over and when when the success is there. So, thank you school administrators and all the people that make your schools run. It takes a lot to do that. You make it look easy, but it's not real easy and um you do a great job. So, thank you to our staff. >> Thank you, Miss Sherman, Mr. Pick. [clears throat] >> Well, I want to say uh that I'm proud of Shelby and Crest for bringing home the trophies. I didn't hear anybody mention that tonight, so I wanted to mention it. Uh they did a great job this year and hopefully they can come back and do a great job next year. The kids that were here tonight, they
087put on an amazing show and it just shows you guys what our teachers and staff are actually doing with our kids. Um Dr. Parker, I'm I appreciate you bringing all this to us. Um it was an outstanding program and I want to thank each and every one of you. The other thing I want to say is I' I've missed our um school visits this year. So, I want to make a recommendation to the superintendent. I I do want to go visit uh Bowling Springs Elementary uh in the coming week and I think I'm supposed to let you know. So, I'm just going ahead and putting that out there to you. Um had a parent want me to come over. So, I would like to uh make that trip in this coming week. Other than that,
088[clears throat] that's all I got. >> Mr. Bridges, >> I just want to say uh it's hard to believe we're in the second semester of this uh school year. It's going by pretty fast. I wanted to take a moment just tell Miss Phillips that I appreciate what our special ed teachers do. I appreciate the hard work that you put in. Um not just special ed, but all of our teachers also. So, I just, you know, we can't have a school system without our teachers. And um if I could get all of them a huge raise, I would. Um I think they do a great job here in Cleveland County. We appreciate you. Uh we couldn't do it without you. Um and I also want to commend our programs. As we spoke earlier, we have 200
089students that are interning. Um that's a great opportunity for our students. There's just a lot of good things that go on with Cleveland County Schools. Our partnership with the college. Um we've got, you know, numerous numerous kids that leave here. um they leave Cleveland County schools and they have their high school diploma and their associates and I mean this just a phenomenal thing that we offer. Um a lot of good things going on in the school system. I appreciate all of our staff and students and also teachers and also want to commend uh the finance department. I I chair that committee and I think that you know we had an audit. They found nothing. Um so I just want to tell Rob I appreciate appreciate what you guys do. Um job well done. Thank you.
090>> Thank you Mr. Bridges. Um, change my line. Uh, do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Make a motion to adjurnn. >> Mr. Bridges, do I have a second? Second, >> Mr. All in favor? >> All right, we'rejourn.