001We'll go ahead and call this meeting for Monday, November the 10th, 2025 to order. At this time, I would call on Mr. Aaron Bllandon with fam the family pastor at Hope Community Church for our invocation. Thank you for the opportunity, guys. Let's bow our heads and pray. Father, we love you and we just thank you so much for allowing us to gather together. And Father, we just pray that um we just acknowledge you as our heavenly father. God, you're you're a gracious God. And we just want to pause before the start of this schoolboard meeting to uh lift up our hearts to you in prayer and in thanksgiving for all the many mercies and blessings that you give us throughout our lives, God. and we just want to seek your face as we prepare to
002make plans for the future of our schools, for our children and our teachers. And Father, we pray that you'll give each one of us here today the wisdom to discuss uh the many important issues um and the decisions that we make. God, help them to be decisions that would honor you. Give us wisdom and discernment. And God, we thank you that you've guided our our lives, that you you guard us, watch over us, protect us. And Father, we just pray that for Cleveland County schools, God, that you would just bless the schools, bless all the teachers, all the folks that serve in all the different capacities throughout the school system, God. And I just pray, you know, we know that our world puts so much pressure on our kids. It's It's just worse and worse
003every year. And God, we just pray that u they would make wise choices, Father, that you would grant us all wisdom as we move forward in a way, God, that would honor your name, that would bring you glory. And Father, we lift up each staff member to you and to each child as well as every member of the board here tonight. God, we ask that you continue to bless them, to bless their lives and their families, Father, that they would seek your wisdom and your guidance. That they would have courage and strength uh in all the issues that they face and decisions they have to make, Father, that you would touch their lives. Keep us humble, God, before your throne. Give us integrity to stand up for what we believe in and for what's right.
004And we pray, God, that all that we do would honor and glorify you. And it's in Jesus name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Bunt. At this time, I'll call on Major Ples Olen to lead us in our pledge. Uh he's from Shelby High School. >> Attention. Salute. Pledge. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. At this time we have some special recognition. Um, [clears throat] uh, Major Sergeant, uh, >> Sergeant Major, Mr. Davis, is he here? >> He's not here. >> Excuse me. >> Neither instructor was able to present. >> Okay. Thank you. Are you guys ready for a presentation? Well, come on up.
005[clears throat] >> Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Today we'll be presenting the Air Force Junior Agency NC942 mission. The overview of what we'll be discussing tonight is our unit structure, our goals, our performance in both our physical and community service programs, LDRs, and the achievements that our unit has acquired throughout the recent year. As you can see on the screen demonstrated, this is our unit basic unit structure. Emitted from this is the flights as they will be discussed in the latest slide begins at the top with their group commander moving down to a deputy over our squadrons. Our squadrons are the heart of our operations as they conduct all our logistics, our events, our standards and evaluations and our safety. At the bottom of the list, we have our first sergeant in charge of our
006cadets, the core of our program. Additionally, we have a new position, our judge advocate general that works on corrective issues and corrective action within our unit to address any disciplinary issues that may arise within our legal boundaries. See, spread across four flights, we have a total of 58 cadets in our unit. Each flight corresponds to a different period of the school day with spread across different years of development. Our aerospace science year means the amount of years a cadet has spent in the program. We have 34 cadets this year that is their first time in ROC. 13 for their second, six for their third, and five fourth year cadetses. Also, what you'll notice is our Sierra flight is a program that branches both Crest and Shelby High School to create a more full program and
007to provide cadets from both schools the opportunity to grow. I'll now invite Cadet Major Annal to stay. >> Good evening. I'm Cadet Major Annabal, the deputy group commander here for NC942. Some of our cadet impact goals are 85% of the cadets will achieve a grade of at least 85 overall throughout the year in JROTC. 80% of cadets will improve fit personal fitness assessment scores by the end of the school year. and at least 75% of the cadets will participate in at least three LDR teams which will be discussed of what they are later on in the presentation. I would like to introduce our operations commander, Cadet Lieutenant Avery Urban. >> Good evening, good good evening. Uh my name is Kadet Avery Irvin. I'm the operations commander for NC42. Um these are our school impact impact
008goals. 80% of the cadetses will participate in three campus beautifification events by May of 26. Uh, our Kennyhawk honor society will collect 300 toys for the toys for tots from October to December of 2025. And the cadet core recruit recruit at Shelby and Crest Middle and high school during the during the school year 25 and through 26. These efforts will add a total of 25 cadets to the unit roster by the start of the fall of 2026 semester. Our community impact goals are 85% of cadetses will participate in two Veterans Day events. 30% of cadetses will receive the service room by earning 15 hours community service by May of 2026. And number three, the cadet court will collect 400 non-p perishable food items by May of 2026. We have a fitness test. We do it
009every beginning of a semester and usually every end of a semester. Our first PT was completed on 8:15 25 and our PT PFT test uh is made up of three components which is push-ups, sit-ups and one mile run. PS PFT mass generated in wings on 8:15 2025 and we plan to test him before the end of the semester. We had zero gold stars earned, two gold two silver stars earned and one bronze star earned. The total to total number of completion rate tests test 56 out of 98% completion rate. NC42 act action achieved 320 plus community service hours so far hours and 14 plus events since April 11th 2025. We did adopt the highways uh DAV parking lot detail, a crest campus beautifification detail, uh a blood drive event, um provided cooking and serving detail
010for a pancake supper and a food drive which we donate to a local church food pantry. 500 540 items to donate to suffer for this semester. Kitty Hall honor size is doing a toy for tots campaign goal of 300 toy. Their goal is 300 toys. And we also do flag detail and color guards. Here [clears throat] are some pictures of the DMV parking lot. Uh color guards and golden crowds and roadside cleanups and pancake suppers. Now I'd like to introduce Major Joseph. Good evening. Over the past year, uh, cadets have went to Kittyhawk, North Carolina. On this trip, they visited the aviation museum at Kittyhawk, North Carolina, and the Bodie Island lighouses. Cadets also enjoyed Jockey Ridge National Park and [clears throat] sand dunes. 23 out of 42 cadet cadets win, 54% of them. Recently,
011we have went to the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. Cadets experience team building events to include high/ low ropes, team leadership, sports events, hiking, marching, archery, and fun bonding events for three days. We have two upcoming CIA trips planned. The Solenburgger Aviation Museum for February 26th and the Air Force Thunderbirds Air Show March 26th. Reintroducing Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Logan Frank. So, one of the core parts of our programs are leadership development requirements. We have many of these teams. It's what gets our cadetses more involved rather than just that one period a day. We have five STEMbased teams, four activity based, and three unit based teams. 57 out of our 58 total cadets have participated in at least one LDR. Many of them doing more than one so far this year. It's 98% of the cadet core.
012And now I'll major on again to >> the tier one of our STEMbased LDR requirements are JAB which is an academics based team which we take a test for every semester and if you score a certain percentage you move on to the first few rounds. Our drones team which we participate we try to at least once a week. We have flight team that we also try to participate once a week which is pretty much the same thing as drones. We build drones we can fly them and we Flight simulators we do mild building is once a week. We try to include that with the flight team and drones. Rocketry projects is all semester in the spring. We have all the cadets build and launch rockets. Robotic spaces is also during the spring where we teach
013our cadets robotics building and team working well as a team and our civil air patrol flights which will be fired back up once the government shutdown ends. And I would like to reintroduce cadet Aurors involves um color guards, markmanship teams and where we have a gold, green and gray team and we practice at least four days a week. Our color guard we do it at least once every other week. And then orienting we have once every month and then radio team is every two weeks or every two days of the week. Now, I'd like to introduce Cadet Major Hunter A. >> Hello. Today, I'll be going over our LA activities and a few other things. But first, let's go over our fight team. We raise them with the flag each day. We have one team
014in the morning and one team at the end of the day. We have we fold our flags and store them each night. One cadet will say the pledge each morning and is volunt strictly volunteer based. Now, one of our LDR activities is our tier three activity. We have the Kittyhawk Honor Society/ the Kittyhawk Air Society. They make a pledge to join, must have a 3.5 GPA to join. They meet with veterans each month, and they show a good image of JRTC. These are our cadets across the campus. These show that our cadetses do more than just RTC. They do other activities outside of it, which includes our cheer, football, wrestling, and other team like that. We have archer, which is a Shelby team only, and we have activities outside of school. HOSA, swim, AA basketball,
015and others like that. On the side, you have photos including those things. Now, we have our cuts, more cadets across campus. We have our organizations and clubs and our musical arts. We have the future farmers of America, our anime club, which just recently been stated. We have our FCA, Civil Air Patrol, YCI. We have a few cadets in each of those activities. Then we have musical arts which as you know do a few other things around the school including winter guard, color guard, orchestra, band, drama and theater. We are now for achievements. We continue to get awarded each sorry we are we are continuous award winners. We earn things as our distinguished unit. We have earned five AFGRTC distinguished unit awards. last award in the AY 2019 and we have one highway adopted. As you
016see on the right, we have a few photos of our activities that we have done. Now to reintroduce Major Annabelle Aen, our deputy group commander. >> Some of our cadet accomplishments over this past year, we had eight cadetses participate and complete the CLC leadership course at Converse College in Spartanberg during the summer. This program is once a week every year and our cadetses can go spend a week to learn team building activities and become officers such as the few of us here. More cadet accomplishments. Our top shooter last year placed third at marksmanship state comp state competition over last spring semester. And some of our things we do every semester is we try to have planned car washes to d to raise money and our military balls which is a planned event bench event every
017semester to build morale and to get cadetses from each flight to get to know each other a little bit better. And now I will reintroduce cadet Logan Franker our group commander. So summarize our mission briefing here. We began units. We went over unit structure, our goals, our community service and our activi involvement in our community and our school that we talked about the achievements we've made and how we plan to proceed in the future and how our cadets are involved not just in ROTC but how the effect it has on the rest of the community and their involvement elsewhere. Thank you for your time. This concludes our mission brief for school year 2025 2026. [applause] Thank you guys and gals. Uh, you said you was Shelby, Chris combined. Where are you from? >> Chris. >>
018Shelby. Oh, okay. That's good. Uh, anyone want me to say anything? Uh, Mr. Sperling and Mr. Black. So, uh, being combined, do do all the stats and all the activities include both high schools? >> Yes, sir. >> You do them together? >> Yes, sir. >> That's great. I want to thank y'all and keep up the good work and keep recruiting and for more ROC's because y'all are the ones that's going to make our service and protect our country. And thank you, Yes, sir. >> Uh, Miss Sherman, >> turn your microphone on. >> You did a great job. I know you didn't have your um the teacher, right? Your sponsor. She had an emergency she had to go to. So, I know I was thinking about how, you know, that can throw things off. Couldn't even
019tell. If she hadn't told us, I wouldn't have known it. So, you did a great job. Thank you. Do you folks plan on uh participating in the veterans uh program tomorrow? Yes, sir. >> What's your What are you planning on doing >> in the parade? [clears throat] >> Good. very good. You did a great job. We're proud of you and uh continue to to keep up the good work. >> Y'all look sharp. you um you just look sharp. That's just all I say. But anyway, thank y'all for coming. Have have a great night. I'm sorry. >> We We got to meet you guys, but who's your cameraman? [laughter] >> I am Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Grayson McLaclin. Um I'm just here tonight to take pictures. Um >> are you are you in school in in one
020of our schools? >> Yes, sir. I go to Shelby High. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you for being here. >> All right. I'll tell you what we'll do if y'all want to come up. We'll let you take a picture right here and with us and we'll get in behind you and >> Wait a minute. You get in the picture, too. And then you step back. >> We'll get you one sent to you. Thank you. I'll let him take a picture. >> Yeah. >> [laughter] >> All right. Thank y'all. >> All right. Thank you. Good job. >> Good job. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you guys. Have a good night. >> Thank you. >> Dr. Mr. Fischer, would you uh like to introduce our next guest, our speaker? >> Thank
021you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. Um it's always great to have students u here at a board meeting and and especially representing such a fine program as our junior ROC's. Um we also have a wonderful community partner here tonight. U just want to recognize the work that they are doing in our community. um and have Miss Stevens come up and share a little bit um about Feeding Kids Cleveland County and the extensive work that they're doing to support our community. Uh but specifically uh their support of our students and as you can see from some of the data and I'm sure she will mention this, not only their support feeding our students and feeding kids in this in our community, but also they they do literacy and book distribution, which as you know is
022is near and dear to to my heart. So, um, Heather, if you'll come up and and introduce folks if anybody's here with you. I know you got a couple of your folks here with you. Uh, you can introduce and just appreciate. Then afterwards, we'll get a picture of you and your team. Okay. >> Great. >> Thank you so much, Dr. Fisher. >> Thank you for having me and the rest of the people that were able to attend here from Feeding Kids. Um, we've got a board member and we've got a few team members and then a few honorary team members that also happen to be my family. So, um I'm Heather Stevens and um I guess you can hear me. Okay. Um and I am just so grateful to have the opportunity to speak to
023you tonight, share a little bit about um what's going on in our community and what Feeding Kids is doing to respond to those needs. Um and also to invite you um to come alongside us as we care for the students of Cleveland County Schools. Um, so I'm just going to kind of run through some things and then, um, you also have some handouts that I gave you earlier, um, that highlight a few stats and different things like that as well. Um, but who who is Feeding Kids? Uh, Feeding Kids is a 501c3 nonprofit. Uh, we began 10 years ago. We are actually celebrating a decade of difference this school year. Um, and it we are powered by volunteers. Um for most of our existence there were no paid staff. It was all volunteers um including
024myself and um and so everything we do um could not be done without community support and community partnership. Um and so who do we serve? We serve the students of Cleveland County schools. Um that is that's who our focus is. Um those students and their families. Uh, one out of three kids in Cleveland County are living with food insecurity. Um, that may sound high. Um, but it is it is not and actually um since the government shutdown and the end of those benefits um that number I'm sure is much higher um than one out of three right now. Um, so I appreciate that the um the school system actually did a post on social media reminding everyone that every child in Cleveland County schools receives a free breakfast and lunch. They don't have to fill
025out a form. They there's no, you know, well, these kids get free and reduced lunch. These kids have to pay. There's none of that. It's available for every student without a stigma or differentiation of these kids are in one category, these kids are not in another. And that really goes a long way for students. Um I'm sure you all remember those days when you were a kid and anything that felt different was a really big deal. Um even if it wasn't a big deal to anybody else personally those things always felt huge. So I'm just so thankful and so grateful that our school system continues to provide those um free breakfast and lunches for all the students because there is a great need. Um, and so some of you all may be familiar with Maso's
026hierarchy of needs, which is from a psychology class that you may have had at some point in your education. Um but basically that theory is it's a little pyramid and at the bottom um it's got basic needs, shelter, safety, food and it's talking about how as you develop as a person and a community member um it's almost nearly impossible to go higher in those levels when you are stuck at the bottom just trying to survive. Not sure where your food is coming from. um not sure if you live in a safe place. All of these factors go into these kids coming into school and you know and and sometimes we wonder, well, why are their scores so low at this school or that school or these students? Um they're they're fighting a battle that we
027don't always know about. Um and so we are trying to as feeding kids Cleveland County eliminate as many barriers as possible for these kids so that they don't just survive but they thrive in this community. Um and so we do four main things um as an organization and I will try to go through those quickly. Um the first is our weekend food bags. Um you may be very familiar with that concept. Um it's often thought of as backpack food program. Um, we call it weekend food bags because we don't do backpacks anymore for a lot of logistic reasons. Um, I'm sure you can imagine what some of those are, but we uh, you know, we're recycling. You know, we are using those plastic bags more than one time. So, we can feel good about that.
028Um, for, you know, so when you have groceries and you're getting the plastic bags, save them. We can use them um because that's what we put um our weekend food bags in. And then those can slip really easily into kids backpacks um if they don't feel like sharing with the world that they have a a food bag for the weekend coming home. Um and right now we are uh sending home 301 bags weekly. Um, and I'm going to jump ahead a little bit in what I was going to share, but um, some of the questions and a lot of lot of organizations and people uh, right now are very concerned, rightly concerned about what's going on with our kids, especially when they're not in school. Um and so the response that feeding kids has to
029that is we are using our um kind of the pathways that we already have with the school social workers um and our way to get food easily to kids um with the least amount of barriers as possible and that is the weekend food bags. And so we have reached out to the school social workers and let them know please don't limit your numbers. If you have students that need a bag of food every single day of school, not just on the weekends, to take home so they have something to eat for dinner, we will provide that. And so we work closely with the school social workers. Those school social workers are in the trenches, y'all. I'm sure you know this. Um, but they are doing home visits. They are looking out for the kids that
030are, you know, they have a lot of a lot of things kind of going against them. um and and those social workers are are right there in the trenches with those kids, keeping an eye on them, making sure they're okay, that they're getting to school, that they have what they need. And so we are one of the organizations that the school social workers communicate with when those kids have needs. Um and so that is that is our response. Um that's different from what we're already doing is increasing um the opportunity to get food to the homes of those kids. Um and then the the next thing the second thing that we do as an organization is we do school break home deliveries. Um and this is a little bit different. Um we actually have a
031few of our board members here that have joined us and participated in our um food and book home deliveries. Miss Sherman, Mr. Greg, Mr. Bridges have all joined us. And I think um our board member Elizabeth Schwepy um is filling your inbox with requests to join us on that. And I am also putting that request out there. We would love we would love for you to come with us. Um board members, team members, I will go along with you. I will answer all your questions or board members or whoever um that you are connected with. Uh we would love we would love to have you. Um and and people that have done deliveries will tell you that um it is incredibly impactful um to really see where some of these students that go to our
032Cleveland County schools um what where they live and what their situations are. Um, and it's it's very humbling and it's also very eyeopening. And I think it also um hopefully is also um inspiring to for us as community members that maybe have what we need or have enough to join in in caring for our community members that don't because, you know, we're all part of this community. Um, it's not just the school board members or the people that are in positions that seem to make things happen and get things done, but even the child who doesn't have enough clothes or clean clothes or food in their homes, they are also part of this community just as much as each and every one of us. And they grow up to be community members, maybe staying here
033in Cleveland County. And so the way we interact and the way we care for these children will make a difference long term. Um and that is our goal as an organization to make that difference in these kids' lives. And um the next thing um that well I want to go ahead and tell you a few numbers that are sort of maybe a little bit different than what's on your sheet. Um we have uh and are actually for Thanksgiving deliveries. We will be delivering to 270 plus homes of Cleveland County students and we serve um all areas of Cleveland County. We are still a growing organization. Um it's taken us 10 years to get here and we continue to keep we um will continue to grow um the next 10, 20, 30, however many years um
034uh that we are in existence. And right, we started with elementary schools. We started with the two highest needed needs. The schools with the highest needs, the two of them are were Graham and James Love. Um, and that was back when we were doing kind of the percentages of how many were getting or qualifying for free and reduced lunches. Um, and at that time, Graham was 98% of that student body and James Love was 96%. Um, and those are the people filling out the forms. So that gives you an indication it was probably closer to almost every child in those schools um, needed help with food. Um, and so that was 10 years ago um, when we started. So we started with those two schools. It was basically 20 families that we were delivering to.
035Um, now we are delivering to 270 for Thanksgiving break. And it includes every elementary school in the Cleveland County schools, every preK program, every middle school, and every intermediate school. And our goal in the next few years is to be able to add the five high schools. Uh, that is that is our our growth pattern there. Um but we are able to serve some of those high school students because they have siblings in some of the lower grades. So um we are doing our very best to get help to as many students as possible. Um and then our final um or excuse me, no our third um thing that reading kids or excuse me that feeding kids does is we have an arm of feeding kids called Reading Kids Cleveland County and that began in
0362022 and it actually started it was started by Molly Brownley which some of you may be familiar she wasn't able to be here tonight. she's visiting family um out of town, but uh she had the idea, she'd been a volunteer with us for years and had the idea of adding books to our deliveries. And so um from that was born reading kids Cleveland County. And what that looks like is with our food deliveries, and I guess I skipped some of these details in the food and book deliveries for the school breaks. Um we do that about six times a year. Um and that is before the longer break. So Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break, and then once a month in the summer. And so we include fresh food items, we include shelf stable items, and we
037also include a book for every child in the home. Um so when we are getting information on the families, um they are telling us the ages of all the children in their home. So it's from birth to 18, um are getting books. they get to keep the books. They are their books. Then we often also include a family book as well that they get to keep. Um and you can kind of look at this later, but um one of the things I wanted to point out um when you on your little feedback forms um we actually have a lot more responses than what's on here. These are just a few um selections. Um, but we sent out a survey to the families that we serve as well as volunteers that have served with us. We
038had 56 families respond to us. And I don't know about you, but I rarely fill out a survey if I don't have to. [laughter] And so to me, that number is very meaningful um that 56 of the families chose to take the time to fill out a survey. And so um you can kind of see where in the one column it talks about the food and how that's helped them and then in the second column it talks about how the books have helped them. Um and these are examples and it was very much similar responses over and over and over again um where some of the families are now reading together every night and they weren't doing that before. Um, the stats are 60% of homes do not have their own books, which sounds like
039a crazy number, y'all. Stats it are very eye opening. Um, I think, you know, we live in our bubbles. We interact with people in our circles often and that's it. Unless we make an effort to get outside of that and expose ourselves to what else is going on in our community. Um, and so getting books into the homes where it they belong to those children and those families, they can build those libraries and they can start to have a love of reading that maybe they didn't have before. Um, and so please read through those. I can share more of them with you if you're interested in at another time. Um, and so reading kids also includes a book for every child, but we also have seven little free libraries around Cleveland County. Um we partner
040with different organizations. Sometimes we have people reach out to us to establish one. Um and and some we have just established on our own. Um and so they are all through and they're available. We stock them. They're available for people to just go and grab a book. They can keep it or they can bring it back. It's really whatever they want to do with that. Um and then finally, the fourth thing that we do is we have a community table Thanksgiving meal. And we have been doing that since 2016. And that is actually happening also on November 22nd. November 22nd is going to be a very busy day for Feeding Kids Cleveland County. Um but that meal takes place in six locations around the county. And if you look on the back of your handout,
041um the locations are listed here. Um and and it's a free meal for anyone in the community to come and share a meal with their neighbors. And the really the the hope is that when you look down the table, all you see are community members. You don't differentiate, well, that person's there because they need food or this person's here because they're volunteering. It's a community meal for the community to come together for food and fellowship and and hopefully help to unify our community together. Um, and even relationships may begin at that meal. conversations may be had between people that maybe would have never talked otherwise. Um so that is the hope for the meal and we uh last year we served around 1500 meals between those six locations. Um this year we've moved it to
042a Saturday. Um it was the day before Thanksgiving so that number may greatly increase this year. So we'll we'll have to let you know. Um, and so like I mentioned before, what we're doing right now, um, to help with the increased need is doing those bags that can go home with the students. Um, we don't want any child to feel like they're going to go home and just have nothing to eat. Um, and so in closing, um, I really would like to extend an invitation to each and every one of you to please come join us on a delivery. I would love to have you on November 22nd if you don't have something going on or maybe it's something that can be moved around. It takes about an hour of your time. Um, and most
043of us have that. So, if you look at your uh form here, um there's a QR code and all you do is you open up your camera app, you know, you aim it at that and it'll take you to the you click on the little website that pops up and you can sign up to volunteer for deliveries. If you want to double up with a with another board member, um that's great. However you want to do it, just let us know. We'd love to have you. Um and then we also are doing our Christmas break um deliveries, home deliveries on December 21st. And so um and then if you want to learn more about the Thanksgiving meals and sign up to volunteer or do something with that, that QR code is there as well. So
044um I would just I would love for you all to come out and join us as we make every effort to care for kids in Cleveland County. >> Thank you. >> Any questions? >> Yeah, I I have a >> [applause] >> Uh if someone wants to contribute, would you guys rather have money or food or both? And >> second part of that, >> where do we if somebody wanted to send you money or give you food, can you Okay. >> Um that well both are wonderful. Um that it I will just be very straightforward and say that money is often more helpful because then we can purchase exactly what we need. Um, and you can go to our website. We have a secure way to donate online at our website. If that is not something
045you like to do, you can also mail us a check. And the address is there. Um, the mailing address for a check. Um, if you would [clears throat] like to host a food drive, because we also love food drives and book drives. Um, and so if you'd like to do that, um, we would also love that. and we can give you a list of food items that we would like if you, you know, want to put that out there. We've had people, it's actually been wonderful. The community has really rallied. Um, at this time, there have been so many people concerned and asking what they can do. We have quite a few food drives going on right now, which is wonderful. We've actually had a couple people just do it in their neighborhoods and ask
046their neighbors to get involved. So, you don't have to be you don't have to make it some big huge thing um to make a difference. um so we can send you what you need as far as a list of food items. We also have a list of books that we um are looking for. The books that we need the most are um baby books like that, you know, zero to prek age and then the high school books. Um and we have lists of books actually on Amazon and Walmart. They um Amazon is called a wish list and you can just go on there if you're on Amazon and search for feeding kids. If you're on Walmart, you can search for the registry and we have a list of books. You don't have to purchase from
047them. Um you can purchase from a local bookstore. Got Books actually is doing a drive for us right now as well. So you can donate food items there. We have donation drop off locations that are also listed on our website around the community if you just want to drop off some food items. Um you can also drop off at any of those locations at any time. >> Okay, for all the ones that may be watching this ends up on YouTube and you don't know how many people will reach, but am I correct in saying www.feedingkidscc.org? >> Yes. again feeding kids ccc.org feeding kids and then the CC is for Cleveland County. >> Okay. So if anyone's watching again I will say that again www.feeding fee d i n g k i dscc.org. >> Yes. >>
048All right. Anybody else? >> I got a question. >> All right. Do y'all uh do y'all partner with like local churches, businesses? We do. Yes, we do. We partner with um we have volunteer groups from local businesses, churches that come and volunteer with us as well as people that you know, churches and businesses that encourage their employees or members to participate with us on deliveries. Um so yes, we do we love to partner with organizations, churches, who basically whoever wants to partner with us. We are happy to partner with them. >> Anybody else? >> I just want to say a quick word. >> I just want to thank you. I know how many you do so many things, you know, from the little libraries to the book the bags with food. And so I've personally
049been able to experience some of those and slip them in book bags back when we had did that and just see the difference you make. So, your organization makes a huge difference and thank you for what you do. >> Anyone else, >> Miss Stevens? Thank you very much for coming. >> Thank you so much. >> And we hope your program becomes more successful. >> Thank you so much. [applause] >> As we're before we move Oh, yeah. We got to get a picture. Before we move on, uh, when Miss Stevens was speaking, she brought something to my memory and I want to read this. Uh, all board members, you got it from the superintendent, but our my home library project, which was submitted to North Carolina State Board Association, uh, sent this to Dr. Fiser. Thank
050you for your submission to the Champion of Education, NCSBA. We'll be honoring the top three entries as scored by the judges. I'm happy to share that your entry is one of the three. So I just wanted to share that that uh uh what we're doing is caught the attention of the state and uh very proud of that. So with that being said, we'll move on to the adoption of the agenda. Uh with no objections, we'll approve all the ones from October 13th and October the 21st. >> Adoption first. >> Got adoption of the agenda. Yep. >> I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> Mr. Bridges and agenda, >> Mr. Humphrey's motion and second to adopt the agenda. All those in favor? It's 90. Now we'll move on to the approval of the minutes.
051[snorts] With no objections, we will approve the minutes from October 13th and October 21st all at once. >> Make a motion to approve all the minutes at once. >> Mr. Bridg's motion. >> Mr. Humphrey second. All those in favor? 90. All right. Finance and person personnel committee report. Mr. Bridges. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair. The October 29th Finance and Personnel Committee meeting was called to order by committee member Kenneth Leadford. Rob McDaniel shared that there have been no changes in the state budget. No budget has been approved. Mr. McDaniel chair that we have received federal title one funds. We are continuing to monitor federal funds specifically how child nutrition reimbursements are impacted. Mr. McDaniel reminded the committee that the December pay date for employees will be December 31st. This has been communicated to employees. Dr.
052Steven Fischer shared a state health plan update related to the new salary bands that premiums are based on. Employee enrollment goes through October 31st, 2025. Dr. Fischer also shared our district's bonus and supplemental plan for approval by the board. The committee was supportive of this plan. It will go to the full board for approval at their November meeting. Dr. Dr. Jennifer Wampler shared that HR has a beginning teacher support program monitoring visit today with NCDPI Dr. Valerie Oke Kelly and is handling this visit and we expect good results. Dr. Fischer and Jinger Jackson shared about an upcoming student Chromebook purchase. This was shared with the educational and policy committee and will come to the full board for approval under that committee but is being shared in this committee as an important financial expense. Miss Jackson
053shared that the technology plan for student devices and the committee discussed this plan. The committee supported this purchase. With no new business, the meeting was adjourned and the next finance and personnel committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January the 7th, 2025 at 11:45 a.m. >> Thank you, Mr. Bridges. Next comes from committee. The 2526 bonus and supplement plan uh does from come from committee. Any questions on that >> comment, Mr. Chairman? >> Yes, sir. >> This is one of the best things I think that's been done. At least it gives the board an opportunity to see exactly what's there and what's being done. So, I think this is one of the best uh pieces that we've had submitted to us and wholly up uphold it. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other? All right. With that
054being said, all in favor? That's 90. Next is the uh personnel report. Uh we'll need a motion and a second for that. >> Motion to approve. >> Mr. Bridges makes a motion to approve the personnel report. >> Second by Mr. Humphre. Any questions? turn. >> Turn. Sorry. I say it looks like we got a lot of turnover in our lunchroom area. Cafeteria. Yay. Nay. >> Yeah. I think that's kind of been a thing for a for a while. >> Yeah. Um, I just Anyway, that's >> Well, we need to do we make sure we need to be doing uh exit interviews on these people to find out why they're leaving and uh report that. That'd be a good thing to report uh in this personnel committee sometime. >> Okay. >> Maybe we can find out
055what's taking place while we're getting this turnover. >> Mr. Mr. Bridges, will you take that under consideration in the next committee meeting, please? >> Yes, sir. >> All right. Thank you. Anything? Yes, Mr. Bryant. We're having some turnover at another school. Uh, but my understanding I'll not call the school uh is quite a bit, but I think we need to think about uh putting someone out there as a recruiter to help in our first nail. Uh we used to have that years ago. re uh and I it's been a long time probably and we might have somebody but I don't know that it's been mentioned. I'm talking about even if we have to go slam out of town if we have to go I don't want to go to New York. Uh for sure >>
056they're coming here. Don't worry. Uh but uh but I think we need to hire uh put one of our employees here in our central office out there running these lines to help us do some recruiting because uh we're losing staff uh not just uh nutrition. It's all way across the board. And uh I guess that's all I got to say that but we need to really study this uh and making sure that we are hiring the best person for the job at at all times. Okay, Mr. Blandon, I just asked Mr. Bridges that he jotted that down as well. >> Okay. >> All right. Any further discussion? All right. All those in favor? All those opposed? That is 8 to one. All right. Safety and operations, Mr. Sperling. >> Thank you, sir. The October, excuse
057me, [clears throat] the October 27th safety and operations committee meeting was called to order by committee chair Walter Sperling. Daniel How shared updated information related to the SA school safety plans and procedures. David David Ples shared that there were no changes with the driver's education. Dr. Fischer shared that the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department or Sheriff's Office applied for and received the federal cops, that's an acronym, COPS grant for two additional officers. We will work with Captain Humphrey's and his team to determine placement and use of these officers. There will be some district costs as the grant continues. Mr. Ples shared updated information on the athletic event safety procedure of a clear bag policy in conversations with high school administrators. The recommendation is to start these procedures on January 1st, 2026. Appropriate signage, notification, and communication
058will be shared with the public as this occurs. Dr. Fiser shared that our internal safety team will begin their annual safety walkthroughs in November and will continue through the winter. There were no agency reports. Dr. Wampmpler and Chip Childers shared shared the capital projects report. This report will be shared with the full board as an information item in their November meeting. Dr. Wampler and Chip Childers shared bids received for re-roofing the Kings Mountain Intermediate School. This roof had damage from the recent hell storm and has been submitted to insurance for coverage. They recommended accepting the lowest bid base bid for alternate two which includes installing OSB over the entire deck from gutter guys in the amount of $618,000 which includes contingency and gutter maintenance. The committee supported the recommendation and it will go to the
059full board for approval at the November meeting. Dr. Wampler shared a request from Kings Mountain High School to name the basketball court in honor of coach Larry Sy to who was a longtime coach. The committee supported the recommendation and it will go in front of the board for approval in November. Dr. Wampler shared a request from the Kings Mountain High School athletic department to declare their portable basketball goals surplus for sale. Their their plan is to move from portable to suspended basketball goals. The committee supported this request that will go to to the full board for approval in their November meeting. Jamie Courier shared a child nutrition update. They are feeding around 9,700 students a day. With no additional bid business, the meeting was adjourned. The next safety and operations committee meeting is scheduled for
060Monday, December 1st, 2025 at 11:45 a.m. >> Thank you, Mr. Sperland. Yes, sir. Mr. BL, >> I'd like for you to uh repeat. I'm sorry I missed that meeting, so I wasn't uh I wasn't at that meeting. What about the driver's education? Did you read there? I didn't. >> David Ples shared that there are no changes with driver's education. >> Okay. And then on the bidding, I'm still a little bit concerned that we keep putting out our contingency. We can put that contingency fee. We know, we vote, and we know what percentage we're going to do. But putting that in with the bid, uh, when a person bids a certain amount, they bid on that project, and we automatically we put out, uh, on that contingency that mounted up to quite a big sum. uh
061you know no matter when you're doing construction work you can find something to add some more fees to it uh add a little bit to it but when a person puts a bid in that should be their price on base because we told them that we wanted the OSB on that part okay they gave us the price on that and then there we up and give that contingency added to that to that number of $45,000 And uh I just can't understand. I when I'm in the construction, when I give a person a bid, unless that person asks for something else, if it goes more, I lose personally. Uh not coming out of the taxpayers's pocket. And we're doing this every time. This board knows what we can uh approve and the and the maintenance people
062does not have to come back to us. But us putting these numbers out there are what they could they know that we we've approved that much and a lot of most of the time it it runs into that. I think that needs to we need to address that issue. We're talking about the taxpayers's money, >> not my mine and yours. >> All right. Uh I think last meeting we were told that this was not shared with the biders. This is something that's added internally. >> In other words, they don't know. >> They don't know. >> We've seen this movie before, Mr. >> Okay. Yep. All right. Let's move on to uh there's three items that does come from committee. Um the Kings Mountain intermittent roofing bids. Uh I'm assuming Mr. Blandon that's some of your
063concerns as well. If you are expressed >> Yeah. But I'm I'm fine with the >> Okay. Okay. The Kings Mountain High School gym floor naming request and the Kings Mountain High School uh basketball goal surplus request. That does come from committee. Any other questions, comments? >> I have a question, but not necessarily on this. >> Okay. What's your question? >> Uh question, Mr. Perlin. How will this open bag uh inspection be done? Does it do they the kids come in and they uh empty out their book bag and show everything that they've got or >> That's not No, that's the purpose of the open where you can see through >> the clear bag. The clear bag. >> What is that? >> So see through it. >> Oh yeah. >> So it it's actually a clear
064bag. Okay, I understand. All right. >> And then there was one other thing. Um the um grant that we received or the sher's department received is that for more than one officer or just one >> two. It says >> have those been identified yet? >> Mr. leopard. It says, uh, we received a federal reg grant or the the sheriff's office received a federal grant for two additional officers, >> right? >> And it'll and uh it'll be up to the sheriff's office whose resource office, right? Officer and then they will >> I'm not worried about who it is. I'm just do we know where they're going to go? >> Oh, uh, it it does that been determined yet? It also said in the in the minutes, we will work with Captain Humphre and his team to
065determine placement and use of these officers. So So we have not we we >> but we would be the ones determining where they go. Correct. >> We will in the future work with Captain Humphre and his team. Yeah. >> To determine the placement, >> but now they don't know where to place them. I mean, they could place them anywhere. So >> that'll be up to the school system to say where they go. >> That's right. It says we will work with them. >> Yeah. So >> it won't be one decide. It won't be just us and it won't be just them. It'll be a collaborative effort and I I think that's the best way to do it since they're the security uh folks. All right, let's get back to this uh any others on the
066uh things I read three things I read off. All right. All those in favor? Any oppose? That's 90. All right. Uh, education programs and policy, Miss Sherman. >> Okay. The October 28th educational programs and policy committee meeting was called to order by committee chairman Ron Ure. Mr. Uhre and Dr. Fiser reminded the committee that three policies with legal updates based on recent legislation are up for a third read and approval at their November meeting. Those policies are 3210 parental inspection and objection to instructional materials personnel files and 7100 recruitment and selection of personnel. Leah Sink talked with Kenneth Leadford regarding his concerns and questions prior to this meeting. As part of the normal review of policies, seven policies in the 7,000 section personnel were reviewed. Those policies were 7230 discrimination and harassment prohibited by federal
067law non-discrimination on the basis of disability 7232 discrimination and harassment in the workplace. 7235 Title 9 on the basis of sex. 7236 Title 9 Sexual Harassment Prohibited Conduct and Reporting Process. 7236R Title 9 Sexual Harassment Definitions and 7237 Title 9 Sexual Harassment Grievance Process. No changes were recommended to these policies. Dr. Fischer shared five policy updates recommended by the North Carolina School Board Association related to recent changes in the law. The changes were reviewed by the committee for the following policies. student and parental grievance procedure. grievance procedure for employees confidential information 4050 children of military families and concussion and head injury. The committee recommended the changes and these policies will go to the full board for a first read at their November meeting. Dr. Brian Hunnel shared an EC contract for approval to fill a
068vacancy for an EC teacher at one of our restart schools. The committee discussed the contract and supported it. The contract will go to the full board for approval in November. Dr. Hunnel shared a student Chromebook purchase from technology for board approval. The quote is for 1,400 Chromebooks with Chrome management licensing, white glove services, and a 4-year warranty warranty for incoming ninth graders. This quote was received through the national tips contract for pricing, which is open to anyone who would like to bid. The total cost is $418,000. $418,600 contract for pricing. The committee recommended approval of this purchase which will go to the full board for approval in November. Dr. Fiser shared an update on school attendance and chronic absenteeism. With no additional new business, the meeting was adjourned. The next educational and policy committee meeting
069is scheduled for Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. >> Okay. Thank you, Miss Sherman. Um, I'll read off the policies for first read. Uh 4010 student and parents grievance procedure 1750 7220 grievance procedure for employees confidential information 4050 children of military families and 4270 and 6145 concussion and head injury. All right. Policies for approval uh are 3210. These do come from uh committee. Uh 3210 parental inspection of the or the objection to instructional materials. Policy 3225 4312 7320 technology responsible use. Policy 7100 recruitment and selection. Policy 7820 personnel files. Any discussion on any of those? With none, all in favor? Oh, did someone have >> I was going to say, Mr. Humphre, I don't see how in this world you can review 12 policies in 30 minutes with updates. >> We do our homework.
070>> Yeah. >> All right. All right. [laughter] >> All right. Any other questions? All right. All those in favor? Any opposed? That's 8 to one. All right. Uh the EC contract and the Chromebook uh does also come from committee uh recommended uh for approval. Uh any questions on that? What what uh age group on those Chromebooks? >> I would assume it's for everyone. Is that correct? >> Is that for your elementary and high schools and middle schools? >> Ninth grade. Okay. >> Just ninth grade. >> Ninth grade. Ninth grade. Okay. All right. You good? >> I'm I'm good as long as that. Okay. >> Uh I've got a discussion when we get to elementary. >> Okay. >> All right. All those in uh in favor of the EC contract and the Chromebook quote. That's 90.
071All right. Next is the 2026 27 calendar. Um I think we're all very familiar with all these options. We've had our small groups meetings and had plenty of discussion on these. So, at this time, I'll just uh entertain a motion from someone on the calendar of their choosing. >> Move to approve option A. >> I have a motion for option A. >> Second. >> A second from option A. All right. Any discussion? >> Yes, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to say some some stuff. Um, I have been on the phone more times this week and number of hours I can't even count since I've been elected to this position. Um, I have gone back and forth. Um, I have stressed, I have lost sleep, I have consulted with people. Um, and so I'm just going to
072lay my heart on this issue for a moment. Um, I first got elected to this board in 2022. I voted to break the calendar law um to ensure the the um calendar moved forward as it was um last year year before. I didn't vote for it um because it does break the calendar law. Um I didn't start this. The previous board three or four years ago aligned our our col our calendar up with the college. um we've seen the results of what happened or what has happened and the opportunities opportunities it provided our high schoolers to go to um CCC and obtain um their high school diploma, their associates degree and then a certificate if they didn't do the associates. So the the benefits of this calendar um in the past um we have seen
073the success from it. Um our our calendar A um everything follows the calendar law other than starting um early um the calendar law was put into place in 2004. Um it's over a 20-year-old law. It was for the um beach areas and the mountain areas. It was affected by tourism. It had nothing to do with Cleveland County schools. Um I am a total rule follower. I believe in the law. Um, I have struggled with this decision tonight. Um, and I'm just I want to say all this and letting the public know and and and the board know and the school district know that I didn't like being put in this position to break the law. I do understand what's at stake if this calendar doesn't pass tonight. I understand that, you know, we bust numerous
074students from Cleveland County Schools to CCC in order to get this opportunity. And at this calendar, if we don't line with the community college, um that's a loss of opportunity for our students. And I got elected to this school board um to follow the law, but also to do what's best for the students of Cleveland County schools and our teachers. Um there's 30 other districts in in our in the state that have broken the law. Um I think some this year started school on the 6th, the 11th, and the 12th. Um you know, for me tonight, um I was I was dead set on not voting for this. Um I could not do it. Um, but I also cannot take an opportunity away from our students and we have seen the success that they have
075have have gotten. Um, I've got numerous notes here, but you know, for me it was it was when I went home tonight, was I going to go put my head on my pillow because I followed a law that doesn't make sense for our school district and take away opportunities for our students? or was I going to go home tonight put my head on the pillow knowing that the kids continue to do what they're doing right now and the impact it's making on this community and our school district. Um I was not going to vote for this calendar tonight. I just couldn't. Uh and I'm willing to take the risk of what's going to happen uh for our our kids and our teachers. Um it's just a great opportunity. I mean, who doesn't want their child
076um to to graduate high school with a high school diploma and also a associates degree or a certificate? Um, also the millions of dollars that our parents save every year by allowing this program to happen. Um, so yes, it does break the law because if we're starting earlier, the rest of the calendar falls in line um with that law. Um, and there's if we were the only school district that was doing this, I'd absolutely say we cannot do this. Um, but because there are other districts that are doing this and have done this, um, I cannot sit back and and change this the schedule at this point for our kids, um, knowing the domino effect that could take place by not by them not getting this opportunity. Um, so tonight I I I stand here
077um, to support this calendar. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Bridges. Anyone else? Mr. Blandon. >> Yes. Well, I have pushed that calendar from day one what's best for our children. But I've also I've I've had letter after letter and call after call just like Mr. Bridges about breaking the law. We can actually sc start school, have our testing done before Christmas and not break the law. And I know for a fact, this is not hearsay. This didn't come from nobody else but me. I know of four kids that graduated from Cleveland Community College with associates degree and has not set one foot in that place. I have four grandkids that graduated with associates degree and they got enough to get their associates degree and went on to college and that was all paid for.
078Okay. teachers used to come to us instead of us sending the kids to them. I also spoke to some people out at the community college. If we shift a little and they shift a little, everything work it'll work out. I know some staff out there that says it's rough for them to get those kids caught up, but it'll work. Why don't we bring that staff back to the schools like it used to be years ago? I was here, right here in this seat when those teachers used to come to here. And those kids is going to get the full teaching then because they're not spending 40 minutes riding from the school to check in over there and then riding for school and checking back to get to their next period. So there are a lot
079of options here and um that we need to think about and I counted from the 20 The 26 27 year is the 24th of August, the nearest Monday this time. And you back that up to the 11th or the 12th or whatever, you got a weekend or two in there. So, you're really not losing that many day as as many days as we might think. If a if I if I can count from 24 back to 13 or or whatever uh that don't uh that don't mount to 18 days but and we are following the law. Yes, that calendar is going to June the 4th instead of June the 1st and it's starting the 24th uh the instead what? Let me look at that calendar. But no matter what we do, we're wrong to a
080certain degree. Any decision one of us makes, if one goes one way, they're going to be some against us that way. If we go the other way, it's going to be some against us that way. There no, it's it's a no. It's not a win situation, but that's we need everybody in this county wearing the Senate out. Not these board members. Us board members cannot do anything about that law except we can call and you can bet I done my share last week calling down there. But we need the people the charter schools within a mile and a half of two of our schools. They get to choose the calendar they want to. I don't have nothing against that charter schools, but if we've got to follow a rule, they should have to follow the
081same rule on this calendar when we're within a mile of each other. And that's the way it is. So, I know I'm going around in circles, but I'm going to follow the law on this calendar, but I'm going to go with option B. We follow the law, but we still do the testing before Christmas. The kids is going to affect the kids that's graduating, get them, let's let's bring those numbers out here. The ones that's graduating, it's not going to affect them about a few days less because they're graduating and they're gone. They going to get to go on to the community college with option B straight on over there. The ones it's affecting is the ones that's going to still be here. They'll be in our schools that going to college that's not going
082that's not actually graduating. Say like our juniors or seniors that's not finishing in December. They could be going on over there and that money those parents is going to still get that for free. And if if they miss that week and a half on that early, they're going to be here at the second semester anyway, they're not going to miss it from Crest High School, Shelby High School, Burns High School, and Kings Mountain High School. They're not going to miss it. Or their uh middle schools, they're not going to miss it because they're going to be here till the end of the year anyway. The only one that's going to miss it is the one that's going over there to that college. And that's where I'm saying let the college work uh us go back
083to work and the college and the schools work actually both of us working together to work out something for those kids because the the elementary kids it's not going to matter because they're going to be here till the end of the year. I guess I'll shut up. I'm going with option B. Thank you Mr. Black Mr. Sperling. So, uh, I agree wholeheartedly that I wish the Senate would change this law. Uh, the the system is broke if one man can hold up the whole law. U, but, uh, sitting here listening to Mr. Bllandon, I will tell you, uh, we have a we had a a saying in the army, uh, and and it and it came up is kind of like the new guy saying in my experience. So, u uh, I will tell you,
084I've been a high school teacher, Crest High School. I am a teacher at the college. I have I do teach the the high school kids that are at the college. Uh I get to talk to them and have talked to them about this calendar. Uh and I will tell you adopting uh the the one the cal plan B which which or calendar B which uh uh it has 20 days less teaching days not count the weekends 20 less teaching days than the second semester. What does that mean? Well, yeah, they end the semester before Christmas and they have 20 basically 20 days less knowledge. They are not going to do as well on their testing as the second semester students will that have 20 extra days. So, that's number one. Uh number two, uh yes,
085you can some some of the CCP classes can adapt to the the the differences in the calendars. Uh the community college is governed just like just just like they're trying they they want to govern the the uh the schools. the community college is told when they when they got to start a calendar and all that stuff. So, they're not going to change. I'm telling you. Uh but when you when you vote for one of these misaligned calendars, the college starts basically two weeks before the high school starts. So that means they you cannot like my class is is what they call a stack class. I have college students and high school students in the same class taking the same the same information comes out of both of them. You cannot have one of those classes
086if if if they're on two different schedules. You can't do it uh at the end of the semester. it with with the the unaligned calendars, the college ends basically two weeks before the the high schools. So So it's not just misaligned on the front side, it's misaligned on the back side, too. So they again they get about 20 days less than than the college students. So even even in the adaptable classes, they're going to get less instruction because of those misaligned calendars. Uh I've been on both sides of it. I've been, like I said, I' I've been on in the high school side of it and I am on the college side of it. I have talked to parents. I have talked to teachers. I have talked to even the students. This listen the high
087school students now don't even know what the old calendar was. We've been doing this early start calendar long enough that they don't even know what the other calendar was. And some of these students are in a two-year program. They they're juniors starting a two-year program. And if we change this calendar, what are they going to do next year? If they can't if they if it's one of those classes that they can't go to, what are they going to do? They're just going to miss out. So, I agree, Mr. Bridges. I agree wholeheartedly. Listen, I rarely lose sleep over anything. I've been through enough stressful, confrontational situations that stress usually does not bother me. But more than once, I've woke up at 3:00 in the morning and played out every scenario. Listen, I was in the
088army for 26 years. You want to talk about rule following, believe me, I follow the rules and I believe in the rules. But in this case, I I believe in serving our students, our teachers, and our community way more than I believe in that one guy in the Senate holding up the process. Thank you, Mr. Sperling. Anyone else? >> Yeah, >> Mr. Greg, go ahead and get my >> Let me get my few words out here. You know, it having a board of nine that gives us all a lot of different opportunities to hear different reasons as to why we should go with A, B, C, or D. But for my reason, it's because I stood down here and took an oath. I took an oath when I was sworn in. That oath was to
089follow the law and to follow the Constitution of the United States. Now, I swore that in front of everybody that when I took this seat, that's what I was going to do. Right here is the penalties for breaking this school calendar law. Now, somebody said to me, "Well, when have they have they come after you for breaking the law?" No. I can go out here and drive 50 miles through town, 50 miles an hour through town and I might can get to the other side without getting caught. But does that mean that there wasn't a law? Does that mean that I can't get caught? Does it mean I can't get charged? No. It means that I was lucky this time. And the same thing with this. We're lucky that we hadn't been charged. We did
090get a letter telling us that we broke the law. I believe it was a year last year, year before last. But for me, I still have a little bit of integrity and I'm not going to go with that. I'm I can't go with a there's just no way that's breaking the law. So, I appreciate you and I appreciate every one of y'all. Y'all have your opinion. Your vote is your vote. My vote is my vote and I can't vote for it. >> Thank you, Mr. Green. Anyone else? >> I'd like to say something, Mr. Chairman. I sit on the board of directors for I mean the board of uh uh education. I sit on the board of trustees for the college. One thing that uh has been said already is the fact that we go
091with this law, we're going to break it or this calendar, we're going to break the law. If we don't go with the calendar, we're not going to break the law. One of the penalties is uh I think $10,000 per board member. the board of education picks that up. That's $90,000 coming out of the board of education that's not going to kids. Another is that they may withhold funds from uh uh our school system. Well, we don't know how much. Our legislature can't come up with a a budget at the present time, so we don't know what and when it's going to happen. No, the bo the uh schools the the state schools have not uh state board of education has not levied out any kind of penalty so far. But are we guaranteed that they
092are not going to levy that this year? No, we're not. We don't know when and if it's going to happen. I have always tried to obey the law to the best of my ability. My grandpa would roll over in his grave if I said I I can't obey the law. And I have got uh like everyone else up here, we had to take that oath with my hand on the Bible saying that I'm going to obey the North Carolina Constitution, the Constitution of the United States, and that I'm going to obey the laws, and that's what I have to do. Thank you, Mr. >> Hold on. >> Mr. Leford, I would like for you to site where you're getting a $10,000 fine from, please. >> I can't site it because I don't have it in
093front of me. >> It don't exist. >> We need to be up here. That is not law. >> That is where they tried to pass a law and it failed in the Senate. They wanted to find the superintendent and the school boards. It came up in the Senate. Senate did not or maybe passed it, but the House shot it down. >> So, please, if we're going to state something, let's state facts. >> Then I withdraw that and I apologize for stating it, >> but it still says that we're going to be withheld funds. If Yes, it does. >> No, it does not. >> It does. >> I'm not one to argue. >> No funds at all. cycle for me. >> Please, if you're going to come in here and start saying we're going to get
094fine, this and that, bring the law with you. >> All right, I will. >> Thank you. >> Okay, that's went black on the general statute 184. What is it? Does >> you Michael turn? >> Yeah. Yeah, I've read that so many times. I ought to be able to recite the stupid thing. Uh there is no mechanism. It's not selfcorrecting. There is no mechanism for punishment in it. And I'm getting ready to tell you why it's not. Okay, let's go back to the beginning. Leandro 1997. In 1997, spear court judge ruled that the state was out of compliance with the constitution for education. One of the as and well, I'm getting ahead of myself here. It's been a long day. Um so the court ruled that the the state has the constitutional obligation to actively safeguard
095and successfully deliver every child's Leandro right which I have a lot of stuff I'm going to cut this down. Let's cut to the chase. The Leandro plan orders the state to adopt necessary policies to allow school calendar flexibility to ensure that local schools can align with community college and university schedules by the end of 2022. Unfortunately, the general assembly has failed to comply with this active court order. P speaking of people that's taken oaths of office. Wow. Okay. Now, let's go back to 2002 when Mark Bassnot introduced this bill. Leandro Leandro preceded this bill. Holy cow. Mark Bassnot flouted the superior court judge and like, "Yeah, you said that, but watch me. I'll I'll pass a law." It was a illegal law when it started. Okay. Now, in the meantime, over the years, this came
096back up at around COVID time. November the 10th, 2021, the Superior Court orders the state to fully imple implement the Leandro plan, including $1.7 billion to fund years one and two. This order includes the language requiring the state to grant districts calendar flexibility. Okay. Now, November the 30th, 2021, the Court of Appeals issues an order halting the transfer of $1.7 billion. This is how misdirection works. Pending new calculations of what the state owes following the passage of the new budget. This order only halted the transfer of the money. It only halted the transfer of the money. Other nonmonetary aspects of the superior court's November the 10th order remain in effect. The calendar portion the calendar flexibility report portion of it remains in effect. The order still stands. April the 22nd, 2022. The Superior Court calculates
097that the state still owes $785 million, but the transfer of fund remains on hold pending the Supreme Court hearing. November the 4th, 2022. The Supreme Court orders the full funding and implementation of the Leandro plan. They affirmatively reinstate the language in the November 11, 2021 superior court order and repeal the language of the November 30, 2021. However, the transfer of money remains on hold because the budget and not pass. The non-monetary things stay in effect. March the 3rd, 2023. The Supreme Court with a different partisan makeup following the November 2022 elections reinstates the Court of Appeals November the 30th, 2021 rid of prohibition, which is halting the transfer of the money. This action, oh, I got ahead of myself. Sorry. This action halts the transfer of the funds until the new Supreme Court can rehear
098the recently settled case. Again reinstated 2021 order does not absolve the general assembly of implementing non-monetary policies such as granting schools calendar flexibility. Now my good friend, my old friend, it's a political smackdown that god I've had great discussions with him over the years. I won't say who it is but there's only four to choose from. not that many older than me, but um we always come back to only a judge can decide this. Well, here we go. November 11, 2021 order reinstated the November 422 2022 Supreme Court ruling states any and all other state actors and their officers, agents, servants, and employees are authorized and directed to do what is necessary to fully effectuate years two and three of the comprehensive remedial plan, which by the way includes calendar flexibility. Let me read this
099one more time because here we're actors. We're all actors. Some different than others, but we're all actors. Um, so it says the court ruling, the Supreme Court of the state of North Carolina, which by the way supersedes any legislative law, it's the top of the food chain, says any and all other state actors and their officers, that's us, agents, servants, and employees are authorized and directed to do what is necessary to fully effectuate years two and three of the comprehensive remedial plan. That's an order from the Supreme Court of North Carolina to align our calendars with the community colleges. They knew it in 1997. Now, what they've managed to do is, and honestly, you have to dig for this stuff. Somebody told me one time that like a old dog looking for a bone in
100the backyard, I'll dig the whole dab blame backard up to find the bone. I've dug up almost the whole backyard, but I finally found the bone. As hard as blazes to find and and Lee and I discussed this earlier, to find all the language in these rulings, you have to dig for it. It's a lot of reading. But what our good senator wants to do is focus all on the money. That's easy. 7.1 billion. We can't do that. Course said we don't have to do the money. Never mentioned that about the calendar flexibility. Never mentioned the other things. There's a lot of things in this ruling. It's the law. Now we're we're going to Sorry. Are we going to follow the law or not? The law of the land is what the Supreme Court says
101the law of the land is. Not Phil Burgerer. Now, now Okay, here we go. It's been a long day. [laughter] It's emotional wrong coming out here. I try to keep him under wraps. If you or I, anybody in this room, if one of the superior court judges right over here gave us an order and we flouted it and his face went, "No, I'm not doing that. I'm I'm going to get on TV and everything else and I'm just going to ignore yours. A matter of fact, I'm going to make something else up as I go to really throw it in your face." We'd be in a 6 by8 j sale over there. There's no question about it. Why Philberger hasn't got drugged out of the general assembly in chains for impeding a lawful order of
102the Supreme Court of North Carolina is beyond me. It this just blows my dad gum mind that this has gone on all these years. And that's why there's no penalties attached to it. You can't charge somebody for obeying the law or disobeying the law that wasn't lawful to begin with. Come on. You know, I mean, this has got me to death forever. So, one other thing. U I'm say it's been a stressful day for personal reasons, but for whatever reason, I start getting philosophical when I get under stress. Uh Miss Stevens brought up Maslo's hierarchy and needs earlier, speaking my language. You also mentioned that one out of three in our county have food insecurities. for whatever I was listening to that there's a book out there called Damon Copperhead. I don't know if anybody's
103ever read it or familiar with it. Okay, there there's a dichomous term in there uh no hill for a climber. It's the thread of the book. No hill for a climber at the beginning of the book is this is this is set in Appal Appalachia. I almost said Appalachia. That's a cur. That's a sin to say Appalachia. It's Appalachia. These are This is similar. And you'll probably agree this is similar. That tells a story that we're familiar with in this area. The kid wants to do things. He's a climber, but there's no hill for him to climb. There's no opportunities. And that I'm waxing very philosophical here, but I mean if if you want to be a carpenter and there's no way for you to learn to be a carpenter, there's no opportunities to do
104that. But as opportunities come in to him by the end of the book, no hill for a climber is referring to if you're a real climber, there's nothing you can't surpass. You can climb any mountain. You can, no matter how perceptive the slope is, you can do it. I want to be the board member that helps these kids, that gives the kids a hill to climb. I want kids graduate in our schools thinking there's nothing I can't do. That's what makes a better society. That's how we grow people. That's how we grow our economy. And I'm done. Sorry. [laughter] >> Thank you, Mr. >> Didn't mean to preach. >> I don't want to go back around. Have you got a question? >> I got I got one. >> Okay. >> Uh could uh we have
105our lawyer to come up and tell if we're breaking the law of that statue that we've all been fighting about up here the whole time. Give us just a yes or no answer. >> I I think we all know the answer to that. I'm not going to call her to do that. Well, I want to hear it from our attorney because she's the one that's supposed to be directing us. >> No, I'm I'm we're going we're going to move on. Okay. I'm not going to We all know >> Well, you tell it then. >> I think everybody said it right here. >> So, it it is breaking the statute, >> I think. >> All right. Does that override the statute? This >> Let me just say this. I think she If you want to ask
106her, does the Supreme Court overrule? I'll bring her up and let her do that. But I'm not going to add her letter up here saying whether or not break law. Do you want to know whether or not Supreme Court overrides >> general statue that we've been arguing about for two uh for for two months or or two years? >> Mr. Sink, I think the question is >> yes or no. >> She can't give legal advice. >> You just you you do what you think's legal >> unless we get legal session. Um, Chairman Schwes, I believe my job is to protect the board in the best way possible and to give legal advice on this complex matter in open session would not be protecting the board. >> Okay. Thank you. >> If we if we need
107to address in close session, we we can do that. I mean, I I think proceeding with the vote is also for >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Brian. All right. >> I'm not going back around. >> This is it. This is This is it. This is it. I'm >> I'm gonna say what I got to say, then we're going to vote. Okay. >> I mean, I've sat here and didn't bother anybody while they spoke. >> And so, I'm going to say what I got to say, then we'll vote. All right. I've heard from the parents, from the staff, from the teachers loud and clear through your phone calls, your text, your survey responses. And overwhelmingly 96% of you want a semester that ends before Christmas break.
108There's only one realistic way to make that happen, and that's option A. Let me explain why option B would be an extreme challenge for our schools, our teachers, and most importantly, our students. Teachers would have to completely rewrite pacing guides and lesson plans. Students wouldn't have equal days in each semester, forcing AP and EOCC courses into the spring. Packing those courses into the spring would incl. Transportation options would decline. Enrollment in our CTE programs would drop. Would have an increase. Listen to this. We would have an increase in IEP meetings to fix the service gaps times. Teachers morale would take a huge hit. The first semester would have 18 fewer days than the second. Option A, first semester's 86 days. Second semester is 92. Option B, first semester's 80 days. Second semester's 98 days. How
109in the world is that fair? How is that fair? There's been plenty of talk about the start date, but not nearly enough discussion about the part of the same law which clearly states this. Local boards of education shall consult with parents and the employed public school personnel in the development of the school calendar. It tells us we have to do it. We've done exactly that. 96% of the parents want a calendar where the first semester ends before Christmas. And I can tell you almost every single teacher feels that same way. In my opinion, if we don't follow what the parents and staff want, we're breaking the law. If we pass any calendar other than option A, then in the fall of 2026, when Cleveland Community College opens its doors, our high school students will not
110be bust on that day from our high schools to walk into that college. They will not be attending their HVAC, heating and air conditioning class on day one. They will not be attending their automation engineering technology or reclision repair on day one. They will not be learning cosmetology, electrical systems technology, information technology, pharmacy technology, or firefighting on day one. those incredible opportunities, the very programs that prepare our students for real careers and real success will be out of reach. These are jobs AI can't replace. That's what's at stake. And that's why option A isn't just a preference, it's a promise to our students and their futures. As one principal told me, if the board chooses option B, they cannot hold us responsible for EOC or EOG grades as it's not fair and accurate measure of
111such a large difference in actual instructional days, which option B is 80 days to 98 days. We made tremendous progress with moving seven of nine schools out of low performing status. If the board passes option B, do not blame the superintendent or principles for poor academic performance. We got to blame ourselves. What other option is there? Option C. Option C received 2% of the vote in our survey. It's balanced. First semester does go into January and second semester goes more into the summer. It will prevent those who graduate early that want to enroll in college in January from doing so. It will also make alignment for CCP classes very difficult if not impossible for both semesters. The clear choice option A respects our family, supports our teachers, and sets our students up for success. Right
112now, one man in Raleigh, one man is blocking a law that would give local boards of education the right to set their own school calendars. Just think about that for a moment. One person is standing between our communities and what's best for our students. The House of Representatives has passed this bill time and time again to allow local boards to create a calendar that works for them. I've been told if it ever made to the Senate floor, it would pass there, too. But it never gets there because one man refuses to let it move forward. Now, let's take a look back. The last time one person had that much control, it cost our children dearly. During COVID, the governor shut down our schools with an executive order. Looking back now, we can all see it.
113That was one of the worst decisions ever made for the education of our students. Their learning loss was devastating. It has taken years and years to help students catch up and still many haven't. That same governor also signed orders that forced everyone to wear mask that said we couldn't go to church, but sure we can go to Walmart and shop. It was the law. Did everyone wear a mask? Did everyone stop going to church? Will every board member here tonight say, "I will I will not wear a mask or stop going to church, God forbid, if another COVID situation arises." One man can make that law. One person should never have that kind of power over our schools, our children, and our communities. Here in Cleveland County, we've built something special that's working. We've partnered
114with Cleveland Community College to give our high school students the chance to earn college credits, get certificates, and even graduate with an associates degree, all before they walk across the high school stage. This program has saved local parents millions of dollars over the past three years, and results speak for themselves. Enrollment is growing, success is climbing, and opportunities expanding. So why on earth would anyone want to stop that? Why would we let one man in Raleigh hold up what's right for Cleveland County? My priority is right here in Cleveland County. My priority is the education of our children and saving money for the hardworking parents. This is about local control. This is about common sense and this is about doing what's right for our kids, not what's convenient for politicians or special interests. It's time
115we stand up and say enough's enough. It's time to return the power to the people, to our local boards, to our parents, and to our comm community communities. Because folks in Raleigh don't know children like we do. They don't know our teachers like we do. And they sure don't know what Cleveland County needs better than the people who live right here in it. Let's do what's right. Let's put education first. Let's stand together and take back control of our schools, our future, and our children's opportunities. One other thing I'd like to mention is the North Carolina Public Instruction has taken over the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. This is a state institution. They say it's okay for students who play sports to return on August 1st. Band members can come back to school on
116August 1st. There's about 34% of students that play fall sports. If we go with opt any other option other than a, we'll be having football games before school starts. Also, charter schools are public schools, but they're not required to follow the August 26 uh start date. There are between 35 and 40 other school districts who are starting school prior to Monday, closest to August 26. These districts have decided they're going to fight for what is right in their districts. I'm going to fight for what's right here in Cleveland County and do what people want. I hope all of you will join me in this fight and vote for all and vote for option A because if the legislators can't stand up to one man, I will stand with me in this fight. At this time,
117we've had a motion and a second. All those in favor of option A, raise your hand. All those opposed passes five to four. Thank you. >> Did we not say in our last meeting that Mr. Chair that we was going to hold this off till December anyway? >> I think there were some talks in some of the small groups that we were maybe going to hold it off, but I'll just tell you uh the high school principles needed it yesterday to be honest with you. They they've got to get to moving forward because they don't they don't know which one. As I said and I went through that list, this was going to cause >> Why don't we move the teachers back to back to our high schools? Mr. Chair, uh this board don't need
118to be a >> fighter. No, I'm not I'm not fighting with anybody. Let me just say this and we're going to end this. When it all said and done, Mr. Blandon, everything comes about money. So, let me just leave it at that. Everything is about money. I don't want to fight with none of it. I think we all want to do what's right for kids. >> I'm just tired of dealing with Raleigh and I'll just leave it at that. All right, let me find my I have lost it here amongst all my papers. All right, here we go. Superintendent update. Mr. Fisher, Dr. Fischer, sorry. >> Oh, chairman, we got this strategic plan 8 8.02. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Hold right there, Dr. Fischer. Yes, sir. >> All right. I I I missed that. >>
119Okay. All right. Yep. We do have a strategic plan that's been in our emails. I hope everyone's been there over and over and over again. Uh do I have a motion to appro to adopt the strategic plan for 2026 2030? >> Motion. >> Mr. Sperling and Mr. Bridges. All those in favor? All right. All those opposed? I'm assuming. Did you vote yes? >> Okay. Uh 8 to zero. If you just want to know, he's had a a situation he needed to leave. His his wife is Let me just go ahead and say it. Mr. Humphrey's wife was in an automobile accident this morning. Uh very serious accident. So, he's got a phone call. He needed to to get that call. Dr. Fisher. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the board. Just real quickly, uh
120do have um superintendent updates for you today. Um, obviously tomorrow, uh, school was closed for students and staff. Tomorrow is Veterans Day, so we had a little snow, uh, flags early, so no worry having to worry about what what's happening with school or that type of thing tomorrow. So, uh, tomorrow is a holiday for student staff for Veterans Day. Um, couple things looking down the the uh, for next week, the heroes banquet is Tuesday, November 18th. Uh, we encourage you to attend. is always a great night to represent to recognize some of our students and staff members. Uh the Thanksgiving holidays there are quickly approaching. It's hard to believe today is November 10th. It seems like just yesterday that we started school in August and September and we're um in the November and thinking about
121the holiday season. You do have a board committee meetings. You see that schedule on the Monday the 2nd and the 3rd. Just a reminder, I know we've read that out, but there is no finance personnel committee meeting there in December. Uh on Wednesday, um the the 3 is math day. Encourage you to come to math day. Um that award ceremony will be about 12:45. If you um want to come and see students doing that, you can come earlier today, but they'll be here on our campus on Monday, uh December 3rd, 12:45. uh on that Friday's title one parent advisory committee at 10 o'clock. Um lots of parents come in. Dr. Parker and his team do a really good job with that. That gets to the board meeting in December and then we're here at high
122school exam week and and Christmas break. So you've got those dates. I just want to provide just a few reminders for you especially coming up next week with the heroes and agape banquet on your schedule. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Fiser. Uh, I don't have any. So, we don't have no public participation. Uh, okay. Uh, board member com, Mr. B. >> The board member comments. >> Yeah, board member comments. >> All right. You're >> okay. I've done a little homework on our growth here in the city of Shelby. There are 13 buildings with 312 units. and that is commercial. In other words, that's classified as uh and they're single family. In the the month of January, February, and March, there was $2,784,000 in January, 1,779,750. March 1,759129. This is
123houses is completed in the city limits of Shelby. It took me about 5 10 minutes to get this. I even got the people that build them what they paid to build them in the whole nine yards. There quite a few houses been built. Uh, I'm going to go I'm getting the counties. I'm going to get Kings Mountain. I'm going to get uh Bowling Springs, but we need to really think we don't have the money to build a new building. We've got a building that if we had to use that we need to use. But I'm not taking it away from the group. If any group was going to get it, I just assume that group is anybody. But we need to make sure that we're not going to need room to put some children. All
124of these all of this here that I've got here in my hand, I guarantee they some babies in there and some children without a shadow of a doubt. So, I guess everybody have a good meeting. Uh, and I'm going to do some more homework and research, but we need to think twice about I don't I have not heard another word about the outcome on our building. Uh, nothing has been brought, but I don't think is they got 180 days before anything is said to us. I believe that was right. Uh, but I think we need to make sure that we've done our homework that we're not going to need this building. Now, I do know that there was a lot of people lived in that area. They moved their children out to the other school
125and moved them over. I know that uh maybe we need I hate that, you know, to put guidelines on and not allow somebody to let their child go where they want to go, but we also got to pay attention of how we're using our the taxpayers's money. Well, it's our money, too, but it's I'm a taxpayer and uh that we're il utilizing our space the way we need to you utilize it and I know there'll have to be work done on the building uh and everything like that. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Mr. P. So, uh, first of all, uh, feeding kids. I appreciate her that she had to walk out, but I do appreciate her presentation and, uh, way what a great way, uh, show faith through works. Uh, very, very good.
126Uh, I'd like to say our Crest JOTC, love that them and Shelby join forces and we have a a booming JOTC program. Uh I am uh a huge fan of that and CTE as most people know my family is military family. I had two sons that went through JOTC although it was army J roc uh so I am a huge fan of that it creates uh uh good productive citizens. Uh definitely want to say happy birthday. 250th birthday for the Marines today. I am not a Marine, but happy birthday. And I would like to say uh thank you to all the vets. Uh tomorrow's Veterans Day. Uh we have a a community here uh that has a lot of vets in it. Uh uh tell a vet. Uh thank you. That's it. All right. Miss
127Charman, >> I have a few words I'd like to say about my decision and my vote on the calendar. Um, I just have a few notes here. I used to say I have a couple notes and I put them on a sticky note and a sticky note and a sticky note. So, at least I have my my big paper here. So, um, I wanted you to know why I did vote against um, calendar A. And I can tell you, as everyone has said, this was a very, very, very hard decision. Um, not clear and cut. Um, so it it I had some sleepless nights as well, u Mr. Sperling. But my decision to vote against calendar A is based on integrity, respect, and advocacy as well as my career that I had in Cleveland County
128schools that um played a huge role in my decision. My integrity is very important to me and is the foundation I used to make decisions. Throughout my career, I've always done what's very best to lead and for our children with integrity. Um I ex as a principal I expected students and staff and parents to follow rules and guidelines and laws that um were in place that sometimes we questioned but it was a way to run our school in an orderly and effective manner and to provide the best instruction for our students. I have also based my decisions on what I've best for students within the constraints of safety and law guidelines. Um I want to tell Dr. Fiser and and all the board members I truly appreciate the conversations and open dialogue that we've had
129um because that helps when you have very difficult decisions to make. But it it gave each one of us a time to say and to ask questions and then make the best decision that we could be comfortable with for the 202526 calendar. So following the current calendar for the past few years has provided and no one can argue with that the the um the data the statistics the success that the students have had. It has provided educational benefits for many of our students and students that are now in college. I have respect for the decision each board member made tonight. And um just want you to know that for me personally, my decision does reflect integrity, respect for the process, and a request for advocacy through the proper channels. So, I ask, as we've said,
130if anyone would like to um contact our legislators, help us so that we we um can get this resolved before next time when we need to vote on the calendar. Um it would be appreciated and create changes um to the North Carolina calendar law that will continue to benefit our students. >> That's it. >> Thank you, Mr. Sherman. >> Anyone else? I'd like to say something if it' be all right, Mr. Chairman. >> Sure. >> Um, first of all, I want to congratulate all the veterans. Uh, being one myself, I want to say welcome home, brothers and sisters. Uh, whether you received a good welcome or not, you're certainly welcome. Now, there are activities, as Mr. Sperling said, going on throughout the county. So, I hope veterans will attend those. going to be a cold
131tomorrow uh day tomorrow, but uh uh the parade will start I think at 10:00 a.m. and then there's other activities going on as well. Uh I do not regret as far as what I've said about the calendar law. I have based my decision purely on my own. I remember whenever the calendar law first came out. As a matter of fact, it was my very last year on the board of education. I didn't have to put up with the calendar uh uh during that particular time. We didn't have to worry about it. But the law is the law. The way to get it changed is for people to contact our representative, our senator, and have him to to work as far as getting this thing passed. I don't know how he voted as far as on
132the calendar, but we need to to stress everything that we can to get these people to change the law. And then it's not where we're violating any law. I know there's penalties on this and I'm going to find out exactly what they are and I assure you that I will be bringing this back. But I do want to thank the lady that was here from uh uh feeding the kids. It's a very important thing especially now during uh the time that we've got as far as with the u government saying shutting down and not being able or not providing funds for our kids. We're in a dilemma. Not having any kind of funds from uh the state makes us in a dilemma. So, we've got to find all possible ways that we can in order
133to make sure that these kids get nutritional food. Uh, appreciate everybody coming. Uh, I want to thank all the teachers for what they're doing getting ready now for closed down for Thanksgiving and for Christmas. Going to be a big time for these kids. So, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for allowing me to speak. >> Thank you, Mr. Leard. Anyone else? I want to say thank you to the special guests that came tonight. Um, feeding kids. Um, Heather's program is really a great program. I've had the honor of going out and helping deliver and I've also uh contributed about a 100 books to um the book cabinet so far. I think it's a great thing. And you know, Cleveland County's got a lot of good uh organizations here in Cleveland County, but you have to
134get out of your box and kind of start looking around before you'll see them. Uh if you get an opportunity and you can go out and help deliver food with her organization, I I suggest that you do it. Um it is an eyeopener when you get out there because you have no idea what some of these families are going through and the conditions that they're living in. And I can only imagine what the kids are going through. And um I just appreciate people like her for doing that. And I do want to say thanks to all the veterans. My dad fought in Korea in the 40s. my nephew fought in both desert storms and um you know we we need to be thanking all of our veterans tomorrow and all all the time really but
135that's all I got. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Greg. You're not having a All right. Uh I'll entertain a motion to go into close session. >> Okay. Yep. >> Enter into close session pursuant to general statute 143-318.11 subsection A1 and A3. Um into close session to discuss confidential student concerns and to consult with the board attorney. >> Motion by Mr. Bridges. Did I hear a second from Mr. Bland? All in favor? >> All right. Yeah, it work.