6/9/2026 - BOE Regular Meeting

001down. Heat. Hey, Heat. Hey, do Heat. Heat. Heat. to our regular board meeting. I will announce that the public will be able to hear everything that we are doing in this room on YouTube.com Edgecom County Public Schools. We have a fivepage agenda so we won't tinker along a lot tonight. We'll try to cover everything that we have to cover and we're delighted that each of you are here. I will now declare our meeting to come to order. And I will ask each of you to stand with us as we recite the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America. and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. You may be seated. We have one board member who

002will not be in attendance uh with us this evening. Mr. William Alice. So, we will get started. I hope each of you have had an opportunity to pick up an agenda. I believe they're on the stand outside the door and we will follow that to the T. We are right now at item two on our agenda. >> Dr. Brian, would you have any additional information that we will need to add to our agenda? >> Uh, no, Madam Chair. >> I will call for a motion to approve the agenda as printed. Madam Chair, I move for the approval and the acceptance of the agenda as printed. >> Second. >> Has been moved and properly second that we will approve our agenda as printed. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor, let it be known

003by saying I. >> I oppose the same sign. The motion carries. We are now at item three, recognitions. Dr. Doug, >> Madam Chair, I believe Dr. Whitaker is uh standing in for Dr. Dub this evening. >> Oh, welcome. >> Thank you. Good evening, everyone. >> Good evening. ECPS Susan Hope Employee of the Month. In honor of Susan Hul's enduring legacy of service, compassion, and dedication, we proudly present the Susan Hope Employee of the Month Award to recognize a team member who exemplifies the positive impact and caring spirit Susan shared throughout Edgecom County. This month's recipient serves as the welcoming face of her school and is often the first person students, families, staff, and visitors encounter. She consistently creates a warm, inviting, and supportive environment while carrying out her responsibilities with patience, professionalism, and kindness. Whether

004comforting a nervous student, assisting a parent, answering questions, or supporting staff members, she approaches every interaction with compassion and respect. Even during unexpected or challenging situations, she remains calm, responsive, and solutionoriented, helping to foster a safe and reassuring atmosphere for everyone she serves. Her dedication to customer service and her unwavering commitment to students, families, and colleagues make her an invaluable member of the school community. The recipient of the June 2026 Susan Hope employee of the month award is Teresa Leech, receptionist at GW Carver Elementary School. welldeserved recognition for her outstanding service and dedication to Edgecom County Public Schools. We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to the local State Farm Insurance Agent Greg Sessum for partnering with ECPS to provide our employee of the month recipients with a token of appreciation. Heat. And

005our next item 3.2 Fairview Elementary and DS Johnston Elementary School employee of the year service Gorum and Lee. >> Thank you. Good evening. >> Good evening. Thank you, Dr. Wilson, board members, Dr. Brian, and senior staff for allowing us time for this special recognition tonight. I'm Dr. Lindseay Lee, the proud principal of DS Johnson and the former assistant principal of Fairview Elementary School tonight. And she's not here. Um, we wish that she was here tonight, but tonight we have the privilege of recognizing someone who has become a true cornerstone of our community for an incredible 53 years. Miss Lionberger, yes. has faithfully served as a crossing guard for both schools, dedicating herself each and every day to the safety and well-being of our students. Through generations of children, families, school staff, she is a steady

006and caring presence, grooving students with kindness, protecting with vigilance, and treating every student as if they were her own. She also treats staff regularly with the very best pound cake in all of Rocky Mountain. Her commitment goes far beyond directing traffic. She has helped create a sense of security, comfort, and community for countless families for over five decades. Her dedication to our students is remarkable, and the impact that she has made on our community cannot cannot be measured. Tonight, it is our honor to celebrate and recognize Miss Limeberger for 53 years of extraordinary service and unwavering dedication. Um, thank you to Miss Limeberger and we hope to see her in August. Um we will present her with her um recognition when we see her at school. Thank you. >> I believe that's about the longest

007I've heard. >> Good. Wow. 53 years. >> Yes. >> That's wonderful. >> You tell her we missed her. >> Thank you. >> Thank her for the service. >> Yes. Now it's time for our public comments. And at this time we have a loted time for individuals to speak to us. They have three minutes to share with us. they have to sign in before the meeting starts. That's one of our rules uh in relation to our public comment section. So, we are at that time now and that involves the whole policy. You can read uh at at your leisure. Uh that's policy 2310. And I have the sheet This is about the first time in a while I haven't seen but one name. Oh man, this must be something real special. >> The individual that is

008going to speak to us now is Mr. Ruben Blackwell. if you come forward. >> Good afternoon. Good afternoon to the board and to the superintendent, to the fine staff and the citizens of Edgecom County. Um, >> thank you for coming to Rocky Mountain. Let me just say that. We are so excited about your um future in Rocky Mountain for the children, for our families, for our communities, for our city. Um I know I only have 3 minutes. I'm familiar with trying to keep uh keep it short and right to the point. Um I want to request that um we do something very special for all the citizens of Edgecom and Rocky Mount in particular. It's very important as a city and elected official with the city council of Rocky Mountain. It's so important to me

009and to others that we begin to show history and respect for those who paved the way for us. And so my request is coming from three individuals representing a community uh that is Ruben Blackwell, Andre Knight, and Richard Joiner who is a former city council person. Collectively, the three of us that have represented Edgecom Rocky Mount for a number of years along with other individuals. We are asking that your board consider naming the teacher resource center in Fairfield Road after your own esteemed chair, Dr. Evelyn Shaw Wilson. We're asking that you put her name prominently on that building so that students and families will know that Edgecom County has a distinguished individual who served as the first African-American woman elected official to the school board. U first African-American female that leads the school board in

010the past and set footprints for the future for many to follow after. I would like you to consider putting her name on that building and then consider thinking about how you can continue the legacy of remembering history throughout all of Edgecom County for all of us, the things that people have done in the past to encourage us to do better in the future. So that's my request to you. I got some individuals here I believe um who would stand with me in support. If you would just sort of rise on your feet if you would. Thank you. Just a few folks. Thank you so much. Thank you if you can support that. Just a few people. Thank you so much for the legacy. Thank you so much and look forward to supporting every one of

011you uh as you work to improve all of our county and all of our citizens. >> Oh, thank you so much. You can keep on talking. I know we have to move the meeting, but um I don't know how to take this. I I I thank you. I thank you and thank everyone who uh who knows me. You know, if I say something, I mean it. You know, if I say it and mean it, I'm going to do it. I I can't I I don't know what else to say. Uh it it's bothering me now. Um but I'm happy that you care about me. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you, Dr. Wilson. You don't have to say another word. I think they got it from here. But um I'll leave it in your hands. Whatever

012your policy is about naming buildings and um how you move forward with that, that's up to you. So, I stay in my lane. I did what our hearts have desired to do. Thank you for accepting my request and thank you for Thank you for your service all >> Thank you. Thank you. And my daughter is here tonight and she was in on that As I was getting dressed, somebody opened my back door and I was ready to step out and there was Grace, her husband, and my grandson. And you all need to stand up so that the people will know who you are. Okay, >> that's what all that was about. But anyway, I'll talk to them later. I thank you so much for doing so. >> Uh, Madam Chair, before we move forward, >>

013what is the process? >> I know we have a policy. >> Is that correct, >> Mr. Robinson? We have a policy about naming looking at it right now. >> Could we read through that briefly before we move forward? >> This policy 9300 naming facility. You want me to read it, >> please? Edcom County Board of Education considers naming facilities to be a significant endeavor. Since the name of a facility can reflect upon the student, staff, school system, and community, the superintendent shall involve the staff and students assigned to the facility and the students parents in the process of identifying possible names for a new school facility or facility being renamed. The superintendent shall consider the following criteria as well as other factors the superintendent determines to be relevant in identifying potential names. The name should

014not be so familiar to the names of existing facilities as to cause confusion. The name should include a designation of the type of school such as elementary, middle, high, or specialized kind of school. The name may be in honor or in memory of an individual who has helped students in this school system succeed through financial contributions or educational leadership. The name may be that of an educational leader of prominence and reputation beyond the school system. However, priority will be given to names of educational leaders who have directly or indirectly helped students in this school system to succeed. The name may specify the geographic locality of the school. The superintendent shall submit a recommended name or limited list of recommended names to the board for approval. We can't hear about here. >> We can't hear you.

015>> We can't hear anything. >> Sorry about that. Uh so she asked me the question about uh moving forward with this and policy and superintendent. I'll work with the board attorney to uh set up a process and timeline to uh bring back a possible recommendation for the board. We don't have a timeline yet. >> Uh we will discuss that and I can expedite that >> please. >> Okay. >> Some some of us our days are over. Thank you so much. We do have a tendency to follow policy and anything that we need to do that affects the board. That's how we operate. And I may be a part of the vote and I may not, but um I think we should follow what the policy states and from what I hear, Dr. Bryant will take

016the lead and we'll follow up and we will probably make sure that all of you who are here and others it will know something about it and probably plan it in a situation where others can attend. Thank you so much. Okay, we'll continue with now. Have you do you have another question before we move? >> No, I know often we wait policy, but I didn't know if this was the case that we would have to wait policy for Miss Robinson of the board. >> Yes. Um, I suppose if there was a desire to act tonight, there could be a motion to amend the agenda to add an item for the naming of the teacher resource center. And then we need to hear from Dr. Brian. As the policy anticipates, his superintendent brings a recommendation and

017presents that to the board for approval. And then the board on that. >> Is there pleasure of the board for this? Do you want discussion later in the meeting or Okay. That's what you think should happen. That's what you think should happen. We have discussions later in the meeting. >> Now we think everybody can everybody can hear me, right? So, I have I have a point of clarification for the board attorney. Uh, is there and I want to make sure that I heard everything correctly here. So, does that mean that's going to be placed on the agenda as an item to discuss? >> I I would like to add it to the agenda for us to discuss um the naming of the teacher resource center. I can't hear you. >> Excuse me. Uh I I

018would like to request that we just have a add um the item to the agenda so we can discuss it later. >> All right. Can you phrase that form a motion? >> Motion that uh later in the meeting we discuss the possibility of the renaming of the teacher resource center in Rocky Mountain. Then we need two/3 vote since the agenda has already been approved. >> Second. I'll second. >> Oh, it we got a motion and a second. >> Yes, we need to vote on it. >> Yes, ma'am. We have a motion and a second that we will add to the agenda an item to discuss the renaming of the teacher resource center in Rocky Mountain. All in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I >> I >> oppose the same sign.

019The motion carries. So, we will add it to the >> 12. >> Where's a good place? Put it under item 12. >> 12. >> Mhm. >> 128. >> 121. I'm sorry. >> Uh 121. >> All right. Thank you very much. Well, does anyone else have any comments on this issue? The motion carries. So we'll move forward. Approval of our open session minutes. We have two sets. So we have to approve each set individually. Have you had the opportunity to read the May 11th, 2026 set amendment open session minutes? If you have read them and found any correction, we need to hear that now. Hearing none. None. I need to hear a motion to approve our May 11th, 2026 open session minutes. >> Madam Chair, I make a motion to approve our May 11, 2026 regular

020business meeting open session minutes. >> Second. >> Has been moved and properly second that we will approve the May 11th, 2026 open session minutes. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I. >> Oppose the same sign. The motion carries. The next set, our May 27th, 2026 open second minutes in your reading. Did you find any corrections? Hearing none, I need to hear a motion for approval. Madam Chair, I have a motion we approve the opening session minutes for May 27th, 2026 regular business meeting. Second has been moved and properly second that we will approve our May 27th, 2026 open session minutes. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. oppose the same

021sign. The motion carries. Thank you very kindly. We are moving forward. Items for information item number six. Dr. Bryant, school updates. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um tonight we're going to start off with a uh sort of an overview that I think uh fits sort of the uh mood of the season. Uh as everybody knows uh over the last uh few weeks we've had lots of end of year celebrations and uh one of the great celebrations that we have our high school graduations and uh we on Friday uh obviously just before Memorial Day uh Esley College High School had their graduation and uh also on Friday we had our three traditional high schools that had their graduation and uh tonight uh Dr. Whitaker is going to present uh three students who uh sort of exemplify

022the uh making of a graduate in Ash County. Dr. W. >> Good evening again. >> Good evening. excited to stand before you and to share some um exciting news about our class of 2026 ECPS making of a graduate. So, first of all, I want to start off just by reminding everyone about North Carolina portrait of a graduate and the competencies that we are to instill or teach our students upon graduation. And you will see them listed here on the screen. adaptability, collaboration, communication, empathy, learners mindset, and personal responsibility. And so you will hear from some students tonight that will talk about or um how these competencies have been instilled in them and how it's helping to propel them to the next chapter in their lives. So, we do want to say I'm standing here tonight

023talking about um the making of a graduate, but I also want to keep in mind that preparing students for postsecary success requires all of our um collaboration and working together. So, on the screen is the prek13 continuum. So, it's everybody, all of our departments, curriculum and instruction, teachers, administrators, federal programs, all of us working together to make sure that we're doing what's in the best interest of our students. So, right now, I'm going to open the floor. We have some students we're very excited about. They are going to share with us student reflections and they're going to talk about what it meant being a student in ECPS and the impact Hone County Public Schools has had on them. So, first we're going to call Miss Tama Fox, and she is a graduate of North Edgecomb

024High School. Good evening everyone. My name is Tamita Fox. I am a graduate of North Edgecom High School, class of 2026. Okay, when I reflect on my journey through ECPS, I realized that my path has been anything but ordinary. I started school in Tarbor at Julia Ham Hammond's Head Start Center. From there, I attended Stocks Elementary School for kindergarten, moved to East NECP for first grade, and then returned to Stocks for second through fifth grade. After elementary school, I attended Phillips Middle School, then Patillo during seventh grade through COVID. Returned to Phillips for eighth grade and attended North Edgecom High School as a freshman. During high school, I was given opportunity to attend Edge Academy of Health Sciences after expressing my interest in healthcare to my principal, Miss Creek. I attended EDGE for one semester

025before transferring back to North Edgecomb. At the time, Edge didn't fit where I was in my life. And as I continued to find myself, I realized that North Edge Cone was where I truly put my best foot forward and thrived. So I returned and finished high school, my high school career there. As you can see, I did a lot of moving from school to school. Some of it was due to changes in in my living situation, but through those experiences, I learned something important. Not every environment is meant for you, and that's okay. While I made friendships everywhere I went, I found that the atmosphere, staff, and students at Phillips and North Edgecomb felt like home. One of the biggest ways I've grown in my confidence. When I was younger, I was extremely shy because

026of comments people made about my lip, I often kept myself, I kept to myself and was afraid to put myself out there. But Phyllis Middle School brought out a different side of me. My classmates made me made me feel accepted and comfortable. enough to be myself. I began opening up, building relationships, and realizing that I couldn't spend my life worrying about what others thought of me. By the time I reached North Edge Cone, I wanted to be involved in everything, and I mean everything. I stopped letting fear hold me back and started taking chances. Throughout my years in ECPS, I've been blessed with people who supported me. Miss Jessica Parker and Miss Kenya Rainer are two people I value deeply. But one teacher I especially I especially want to recognize is Miss Del Monica Dick,

027my freshman year math teacher. During a difficult time in my life, I allowed problems at home and personal distractions to affect my schoolwork because I was usually energetic, joyful, and always helping others. She noticed when something was off. She reached out when she reached out to my parents and took the time to talk with me. She made me feel seen, understood, and cared for. Her encouragement helped me get back on my back on track and I truly believe she was the person who nominated me for the go key award freshman year. Miss Vic never let me give up on myself and for that I will always be grateful. One experience I will never forget happened during my freshman year when I made the cheerleading team. Unfortunately, I was removed from the team after in after

028using inappropriate language from the best football game. At the time I was angry, hurt, and full of regret. I begged for the chance but wasn't given one. Looking back now, I'm thankful that that that experience taught me that something you love can be taken away in an instant because of one poor decision. It taught me accountability, self-control, and the importance of carrying myself with maturity. This lesson changed me and I've never allowed myself to make that mistake again. ECPS has taught me many valuable lessons. First, always be yourself. Try to fit in. Trying to fit in with a crowd that doesn't make you happy will lead you will never lead you where you where you're meant to go. Second, never be afraid of change. I've experienced many different schools school envir schools environments and opportunities

029and each one opened doors I never imagined. Finally, never give up. There will there were always times when I wanted to quit when things felt overwhelming. But teacher, staff members, and friends encouraged me to keep going. Their support helped me become the person I am today. Those lessons have given me the confidence to attend Edgecom Community College before transferring to University of North Carolina Charlotte. Many people have asked why I why I chose not to go straight to a 4-year university. But I've learned that success isn't always isn't about following someone else's path. It's about choosing the path that works best for you. For me, this decision makes you makes sense financially and personally, and it will help me stay focused on my goals. While my journey may look different from some of my friends,

030I am confident in the choice in the choices I've made for my future. Best part of best part of ECPS has g being a part of ECPS has given me a sense of belonging and helped shape my identity through every school, every challenge, every mistake and every success. I learned to believe in myself. My schools, my school community helped me in my voice, build my confidence and discover who I am. To the younger students, my advice is simple. Never be afraid to put yourself out there. You will fail. You will fall. You will experience disappointment and hurt. But don't let those moments define you. Get back up and keep trying and continue taking risk risks. When you put yourself out there, there are opportunities waiting for you. You just have to be willing to walk

031through the doors when when they open. Because of ECPS, I am confident in who I am, proud of how I've become, and prepared to face the future with courage, resilience, and determination. Thank you. >> Thank you. Let's give her another round. At this time, we will have Mr. Nir Nasir Johnson, who is a graduate of Tarbor High School. Greetings. My name is Nas Johnson. >> Yes. >> Greetings. My name is Nas Johnson. I attended Tar High School and I am a part of the class of 2026. where the disc was from. >> Use your strong voice. >> Pull the mic up and use your strong voice. >> I I didn't know if y'all was ready. >> Yeah. Be listening. Listening. >> My journey first started at Northeast Carolina. But as I was approaching the fourth

032grade, my mom made the decision of a lifetime. I then became I then began attending schools within the Edgecom County public school system which helped me become the man I am today. I went from not being able to speak with confidence to being able to proudly say I am your Mr. Tarbah. Not only that, but my confidence in speaking has rewarded me with with many opportunities and much success and the credit truly goes to Edge County Public Schools. One challenge I faced, one challenge I faced was transitioning from a private in institution into a public school system. That experience helped me find myself and also build character. The people I grew up with within the Edge County school system were a little different for me, but I learned how to adapt and adjust to my

033new environment. I always seem a little different in terms of interest, style, and personality. But through it all, I continue to be au I continue to be my authentic self and strive to flourish through life with joy. Throughout my journey in the school system, I have met and learned from many people. Here I have a few individuals who made an outstanding impact on my life. Mr. Dennis Taylor, Mrs. Joseph Morton, Mrs. Jessica Jones, Mr. Chasey Garrett, Mr. Christopher Miles Stafford, Mrs. Samantha, Mr. Ricky Dger, Mr. Terry Hopkins, Mrs. Jessica Jones, Mrs. Destin Phillips, Mr. Jasmine England, and Mr. J. Brown. These individuals did more than educate me. They educated me about life. They taught me valuable lessons that help me that helped protect me, guide me, and allow me to flourish in positive ways. Mass

034and aerospace instructor for JRTC was like a father figure to me. He treated me like a son and would not allow me to fail even on the most simplest tasks. I attended summer leadership camp for two consecutive years. The camp involved countless miles of walking, running, countless push-ups and intense mental challenges. To overcome it, you cannot simply be physically strong. You must also be mentally prepared. Sometimes sometimes that means shedding a few tears and also shedding a few smiles. Before the camp began, Master Sergeant Garrett be before the camp began, Master Sergeant Garrett made me promise that I would never leave the camp forever. He made me promise to fight through even the toughest moments. I was a big guy. I was 16, 5'11, and 250 lbs. And so I don't I don't move quickly

035as other people. I don't move as quickly though. He knew that and so he pushed me even harder. As a result, I became the top flight cadet during my first year of summer leadership camp. As a three sport athlete, one thing I will never forget is the love, joy, and peace that athletics at Tar High School has given me over the past four years. I truly value the support, kindness, and character building experiences I've gained simply by participating in sports. Beyond athletics, I also benefited from organ or organizations as I benefited from organizations and activities such as student body development association and also super superintendent student advisory committee and many more. Throughout these years, I developed my greatest takeaway from Edgeome County Schools. Be yourself and never let anyone or anything define you. You or

036your work. Also learn that nothing in this world is free. You must sacrifice something whether it is money, your lifestyle or simply time. Something always has to give. I will always encourage young people to work hard work. I will always encourage people young people to work hard first and enjoy the reward enjoy the rewards after. I understand that in the moment some things can feel that they cannot wait. However, life is all about time management, account, and accountability and making the right choices. Thank you. >> So, we actually had I'm sorry. So, we actually had one more student, um, Telia Evans from Southwest who was going to speak and share reflections tonight, but she contacted me earlier today and she's ill and won't be able to make it, but we do thank her um, for

037just being willing to participate. Um, let's give these students another round of applause. We are so proud of them. And we do want to say as we talk about the making of a graduate that it just didn't start in ninth grade or in high school as they reflected back this journey starts all the way back in Head Start and prek. And we are thankful for all of the teachers and administrators and staff poured into not just these two students but all of our graduates that helped get them to that point. >> All right, just a few more things about the class of 2026. postsecary outcomes. So I wanted to share so when our students are um in school they take um ACT and ACT work keys. So the work keys is a career readiness assessment

038that measures um essential workplace skills and whether or not students are ready to go into the workplace. And so there are three levels to work keys platinum, gold and silver. So, it is our hope that all of our students reach platinum, but we do have some students at silver and gold. Um, and we are we're not where we want to be, but we're excited with where we are now. And we're pushing to increase our work keys proficiency. So, just want to share that right now with our graduating class, we have 15 platinum, 57 gold, and 69 silver. So, post-secary goals. Again, one of the things that we were very intentional about this year is we wanted 100% of our graduating students to be enrolled, enlisted or employed upon graduation. Meaning when they walked across the

039stage Friday or two weeks ago, they had to have a plan. So the strategic plan, we believe every student should leave with a clear postsecary plan or pathway for success. Students should be prepared for opportunities in higher education, military, or the workforce. And through intentional preparation and support, we aim to equip them with what they need. So our goal was 100% and we call it the three E. Enroll, enlisted, employed. What are you going to do when you leave us? So this chart right here breaks down our schools and it shows the the number of students in each class, the cohort, and then the percent of students who are enrolled, enlisted, or employed, meaning that they have a plan after graduation. So you can look and see the percent um of the outcomes for each

040one of our high schools. And overall, as a district, we're just at 80% and we're still pushing. So, next year we're hoping that that's going to be 100%. Okay. All right. And some more good news. We've shared here our high schools, um, our graduates, and the amount of scholarships that have been awarded to this class, the class of 2026. And we see that overall scholarship awards are in the amount of 2,494,868. We would like to thank all of our um schools and our staff and administrators, but a special thank you goes out to our high school counseling teams because they dig in and without them helping students with college applications and um taking an ASVAB and things that they need to do for the future, getting those scholarships out there, we wouldn't be where we

041are now. So, a special thanks to all of our high school counseling counselors, the team, and our administrators. Congratulations. Thank you. >> Oh, graduate. Can you come up for a quick picture with Dr. Brian? She's turning back. Thank you. Congratulations. Now that's now that's what I call a blessing to my ears. >> Madam chair. >> Yes sir. Could we could we just uh go back to a previous item that I think we can bring to the back to the vote? U believe our honor reading from Tia Johnson and Fairview might be >> I think it'd be a great time to recognize Miss Limeberger if you could come forward. They heard all about you earlier. all about your 53 years of dedication to our families and our students and the best town cake in all of

042Rock. >> So on behalf of DS Johnson at elementary school, we say thank you for over 50 years of service. >> Thank you. is coming out, you know. Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. She said she dressed in the night. I got your girl >> and we can slow up our anytime we have a recognition like that. >> Yes. I did not see her come in and I didn't know she had gotten >> Okay. Wow. We have ready for >> Yes. Uh couple other items. Um so as I said before, lots of end of year activities happen uh at the end of school year. Uh lots of celebrations from uh elementary schools and fifth grade students going to middle school and eighth grade students going on to high school. uh to athletic awards and senior

043awards. Just a great time of the year. Want to thank everybody involved in that with our school district and our schools and what a great effort they put forward to honor students and uh I think it just means a lot to our community when that happens. So, we're very appreciative um what shared tonight. Um we've been in the process over the last six to eight months. We've been working on a uh research project with uh watershed and um NCBS and pride institute to look at how we're implementing literacy within the school district and uh that report is still uh near completion still in draft form but they've been uh looking at data and looking at uh um talking with MCL's and teachers was in the classroom and I think we've gotten back some good feedback

044on things we're doing well and things we we're trying to improve in the school district and one of the one of the things that is the goal of the research is to create a model for literacy a literacy model in eastern North Carolina and I appreciate their the work from the researchers and the cooperation of our staffs. So very appreciative and that report will be out very soon. Finally tonight like to ask Shannon Dennison from our auditor group to come forward and uh present our audit for for last year. Shannon, thank you for being here. Thank you. Good evening. >> Good evening, >> Madam Chair, board members, Dr. Brian. I appreciate the opportunity to present the results of the June 30th, 2025 audit. So this does go back to last uh last school year, last

045fiscal year. So uh looking back ending June 30th, 2025. So a lot's happened since um since this time, but wanted to uh we wrapped up the audit um for the June 30th, 2025 uh early April. And so wanted to be able to present that. Our opinion uh on the June 30th, 2025 financial statements, it's unmodified. That's a clean opinion. The best opinion that you can get on a set of financial statements. Um, so excellent work on being able to obtain a clean opinion. Uh, looking at the funds, if you recall, the general fund is going to be the main fund of the district's bank account. They uh accounts that can continue uh from one year to the next. state public school fund, federal grants fund. That's a those are both more of a use it

046or lose it situation. Uh you cannot carry fund balance in those two accounts. Uh so the general fund started the year with 1,34,515, ended the year with $389,486. capital outlay fund. It's going to be the fund that can be used for uh expenditures on buildings. Started the year with 2,31,12, end of the year with 1,531,966,000. On the capital outlay fund, a lot of those projects are done over the summer. Uh so that fund can tend to fluctuate um more than most funds. Individual schools are going to be the funds held at the schools. Started the year with 421492, ended with 517139. Other special revenue is going to be primarily grant funds. Uh there's going to be some other funds that are unrestricted in that in the other special revenue, but primarily it's going to be

047restricted funds. Started the year with 4,59,575,000. Ended the year with 1,348,287. Looking at the funds, the unassigned fund balance is really the number that's going to be most impactful within each of these funds. The unassigned F fund balance for the general fund is $148,179. Um the other allocations are going to be restricted uh and some of it most of it's tied up in inventory um as well as prepaid expenses. Um looking at the other special revenue fund again the majority of that is in grants. Some of that the stabilization by state statute are amounts that the district has not yet received as of June 30th but is owed. Uh that makes up 382,000. Uh there's about 1 point almost 1.1 million that is restricted for uh specific items related to grants. Uh leaving $111,429 as

048unassigned that's able to be used. uh looking at the child nutrition fund because of how uh the school s school s school food service fund manages the child nutrition operations. Um we recommend looking at this fund from a cash standpoint and looking at the fiscal activity um just because of how items have to be booked within this fund from an accounting standpoint. Uh started the year with $4,86275. ended the year with 4,46633. Uh spending about a little under $400,000 during the uh now looking at items that we identified during the audit. Uh a material weakness is going to be the most significant um type of deficiency that we identify. A significant deficiency is going to be the lesser of the two items as we talk through uh some of these findings. And then the least

049significant is going to be kind of a separate management letter. Uh so if you look at it kind of as a three tier um system as to how uh items can be reported. Uh so the first one is going to be a material weakness. that's going to be the more significant um and that's going to be reconciliation of records. Um we identified that bank accounts uh and other various accounts on the general ledger were not reconciled on a regular basis uh in a timely manner. Many of these are reconciled after the end of the year and so uh we do because of that um financial information that is reviewed throughout the year um was not necessarily accurate uh and those any errors were not identified until after the end of the year. Uh so we

050do recommend u making sure that bank reconciliations are completed on a monthly basis uh shortly after the end of the month. This is a repeat finding from the 2024 audit as well. Uh the next one is going to be a material weakness. Um again the more significant of the two and that's going to be budget violations. Um when when we went when we were doing the audit um there were several items that were over budget uh in a variety of funds. uh which also means that expenses were not able to be pre- audited. Um one of the requirements uh that the general statute requires is that expenses are pre- audited which means um the finance officer or delegate that somebody in finance is reviewing to make sure there's sufficient budget uh that you all as

051a board have allocated for items um prior to incurring the items prior to paying for the items. Um and so because of the the budget violations that does also mean that the pre- audit function was not functioning how it should have. Um also federal grants fund other special revenue fund did not have uh beginning budgets for most aotments. Um, I think that was kind of a a technical situation from discussions um with staff and thinking that um the continuing resolution would go through um until one until there were numbers in there, but with all the those were passed, they were passed with very small or 0 beginning budgets um specifically. And so we just recommend on this making sure that budgets are passed for all funds before any funds are spent. Um even you know

052you can project project out budgets or wait to pass a budget for a fund until uh those funds are more known and then making sure all expenses are within budget prior to incurring them. Uh our third finding is a significant deficiency. This is going to be the lower of the two findings. Um and I apologize the prior one was also a repeat finding from 2024. Um so the third one leave balances. Um this is where uh as employees uh come and go from the district um that if an employee leaves or retires uh from the district uh their leave in the accounting software should be adjusted for being transferred to the retirement system or transferred to another district or entity um or after so many years um removed if they lose the leave and don't

053transfer it. Uh we identified several instances where those leave balances weren't adjusted. Uh and really the risk with this is going to be if an employee were for some reason to return um and then their balances show them having a bunch of leave and they bring leave in and all of a sudden they get more leave that than they had earned. And on the district's books it looks like a greater liability than um it should be because um those employees are no longer with the district. Uh so this is also a repeat finding from 2024. The next finding um is a significant deficiency. Again, the lower of the two findings. Um, in this situation, it when expenses are moved between state and local funds, um, DPI in past a couple of past years automatically transfer

054the cash when you moved an expense. Moving expenses happens on a regular basis. It is something that um, if if a district is efficiently using their dollars, they are making those movements. um to make sure that they're effectively using um state aotments provided. Um however, cash balances do have to be transferred. If you initially paid it out of local and were able to move it to state, you do have to transfer the money as well. Um, as of the end of the year, as of June 30th, 2025, there was almost $4.1 million uh that the local district dis district dis district dis district dis district disarch bank account owed the state uh bank account that is recorded in all of the numbers. So that's not an additional liability that's already accounted for that that bank

055transfer needs needed to be made. Um and that is a repeat finding from a prior year, however growing number um from the prior year. Feel free to stop me if you have any questions on any of these. I meant to say that. Um the next finding significant deficiency again lower of the two and this relates to capital assets. um many assets were acquired through the de de merger with um Nash County schools um did not get reported um as them coming over into Edgecom. Uh so a lot of work was done on that um kind of after the end of the year and making sure that all of those assets um were properly reported on Edgecom County schools um books as they transferred to the school district. Um the next one significant deficiency again lower

056of the two and this one's going to be purchase orders. Um and with the purchase orders uh we had this as a management letter comment in the prior year. Uh did elevate it to to a significant deficiency. Uh and that's just making sure that a purchase order exists before items are purchased or order or services are um contracted. The biggest reason for this kind of goes back to the budget situation. Um, you know, making sure that those funds are set aside before an invoice comes in. Once an invoice comes in, it's very challenging to, you know, if somebody's provided a service, um, it's very challenging to set aside the money after the fact. Uh so with the declining fund balance uh that the district h has gone through and the issues with the budget um

057that that is why we kind of elevated it because it does become a bigger concern um in in just making sure that purchase orders are out there before any items um are ordered or any services are contracted. Um the next one is going to be a material weakness. This one has to do with credit card expenditures. Um we we noticed several instances uh where receipts were not necessarily obtained, expenses weren't recorded properly in the general ledger. Um and there really wasn't a great tracking of kind of what um was paid on the credit card. And so due to that, there had to be a reconciliation done after the end of the year. and just under $50,000 had to be reported from many transactions. We looked at the vendors of of those transactions and didn't identify

058um anything that looked, you know, any any more significant than the fact that uh they accounting around it and the receipts were not um submitted. However, we were not able to view receipts or see exact purchases for these items. Um, the next item revolves around cash management. Um, as state funds are are used, uh, state cash has to be requested. Um the state doesn't automatically, you don't get automatically the money that the state all lots you, they don't automatically put that into the state bank account on a monthly basis. The district has to request the cash. Um if the district uh doesn't request enough cash about 10 days after the end of the month, the state puts deposits the cash. If they request too much about 10 days after the end of the month, the

059state withdraws it back. But they do like the funds to be as close as possible. Um there used to be a rule that they had to be spent within three days. Um and so it is a very kind of especially on June 30th, they want to get it as close as possible. Um in this instance, the district requested and received about 20 mill 21 million more than um they had state expenditures in the month of June. Uh so while this is never an exact number or um it is it should typically be a a guess of approximately what the district is going to spend for the month. Um so that was automatically withdrawn back from the state. Um we just kind of felt we needed to to report it due to how high the dollar

060amount was. Um and again the request for the state from the state to try to make it as close as possible. Uh the next one is a significant deficiency. That's going to be the lower of the two. Uh and this one um relates to the timeline of the audit and being able to wrap up the audit. Uh they the audits this year were due December 31st. Um and the federal audit clearing house submission was due March 31st. Um and again the audit was not wrapped up until early April um due to being able to get information from the district as well as kind of getting things cleaned up, getting bank reconciliations done and whatnot. The next one is a material weakness. Um and this revolves around a correction of an error from the uh prior

061year. Um in the prior as we were doing the the June 30th, 2025 audit uh and going through bank reconciliations, we identified a difference. Uh the district looked into it, worked with multiple consultants and able to uh in order to try to find it did essentially identify it. Um, back to a June 30th, 2024 issue regarding approximately $432,000. Um, that was not properly reported on last year's um, bank reconciliations. Um, again, as you recall, there's been many issues with the district's bank reconciliations. And so, um, this year, unfortunately, uncovered one more issue that had not been identified last year. Um the next one is a significant deficiency. This is the lower of the two findings. Uh and this one involves uh the district is able to charge a the child nutrition program an indirect cost

062expense for all of the expenses that the district incurs really on behalf of the child nutrition program. Um and in this instance the child uh there is a cap to that. Um there's an indirect cost rate and then there's an 8% cap to it. Um and in this instance, the district overcharged the child nutrition program by 300 a little over $314,000. Um this has been already reported on the books to get it corrected and paid back. Um so this is not in addition to anything that is already on the books. Um the next one uh involves uh this this one is also a repeat funding in regards to uh if you recall the state allot certain aotments in positions uh and the state will cover the entire salary for um specific positions, classroom teachers, health

063personnel and instructional support uh in addition to principles but there was not an issue with principles um in this instance. Uh there were some overages of utilizing these funds uh that ultimately amounted to about $92,000 and then incurred about 4,600 in interest. Um this was significantly better than last year's uh overages. Last year's were significantly over. So um again significantly improved but still some room to go on making sure that um the district doesn't overspend uh classroom teachers or a lotments. those hand you can exceed state aotments. They just have to come out of local dollars. Um and this 96,625 has also already been recorded and accounted for in the fund balance numbers that it is owed back to the state. Um so essentially it was paid out of state dollars. Um should have been

064paid out of local dollars to begin with. So it's really not costing the district an extra $96,000. It's really costing the district the 4600 interest. um because the 92,000 really should have originally been paid out of a local account. So, um if you think about the real cost, it's not the full 96. Um the next one, uh significant efficiency, lower of the two. Uh this one kind of goes back to bank reconciliations and reconciling uh with the state bank uh cash account records and making sure that the district cash account records uh reconcile with the state records. Um you really can't recon you can't reconcile with the state records if you don't have the district records in order. So uh really this one goes back to um the bank reconciliations not being completed on a

065timely basis. So, uh, that would definitely be, um, our emphasis on on kind of items to be able to look at. Um, I will say because of the timing, we were able to finish the audit um, and be able to present to you. We have actually already started on some of the 2026 work. I have looked at some of the 2026 um, bank reconciliations as well as those. Um I have not looked at all of them but I have looked at some of them. Um so some of these items may have been um we have not audited everything so I can't say what has or has not been corrected. Um but uh we have started looking at 2026 items. Any questions on findings before I kind of move over to required communications and management letter?

066I I just have a statement not to you in general. >> You know, the board and the school system are stewards of state, local, and federal dollars, and it seems like we're continuing to have repeat problems. too much. >> We we seem to have uh continuous repeated same problems. What is there a plan and a process to prevent this from reoccurring in the future? We're looking at 26 now. Um >> and that actually started um this school year 2526. So uh as we move into uh the fall u our staff looked at things, but we we've had some outside finance folks come in to support us in some of these things to ensure that we do the very best we can. Make sure we uh look at the systems and uh make sure some of

067the processes that were not in place in this audit uh to the best of our ability are going to be put in place and have been put in place for this school year 2526. U obviously this audit is 2425. Uh it's a snapshot of a year ago and uh as we've gone through this year we've tried to make sure that uh we put things in place to address these issues. U obviously as Miss Dennison said uh the audit for 25 of 26 is already underway. Um, and we feel like we're moving in the right direction for what we need to do to address the issue you're talking about. Obviously, that will uh that will come out in in uh as we move forward because uh Miss Dennis and her uh team will come back in

068the fall that we're uh come back in the fall to finalize things as as we close out the year. Um and uh we we feel positive about making differences making a difference with that and uh we want to be good stewards of of funding as well and uh uh just because of the nature of some of the things identified and and I'm sure Miss Dennis will take the same thing because nature of some of the things identified in 2425 some of those things will naturally reoccur in 2526 But we feel like that we've made tremendous strides with that. I don't want to overpromise with that. >> I just hate the word this is a repeat. This, you know, this is a repeat. It's frustrating. It is frustrating. >> It is very frustrating. >> Question. >>

069Okay. Yes, ma'am. >> Um, there should be a mechanism. This is nothing but a spreadsheet developed that you could do that would assist in reconciling the bank statement that it could be just keyed in, entered in from month to month to make sure that this bank account is reconciled. I I will I will tell you and I I don't think I'm going to misspeak here. Um that we are reconciled through May reconciled to me >> May for this school year and I will double check that for you as well just to make sure I'm not misspeaking. But uh so we I believe we I believe we've done a much much better job in reconciling things this year. I know. >> I don't I hope so. >> Oh, go ahead. Finish. You >> I was going

070to just say uh Miss Warsley that I don't I don't guarantee perfection, but I believe process and that's because of some of the um the people that we're using that we're using to do that. >> I was just thinking probably we need to since we have so many things that we have to look at waiting until the fall uh seems far out to me and can we look at most of those concerns a little earlier? We have already started looking at some of the things started. >> Yes. So, we were on site. I had a staff of four of us on site today at the district. Um, so we have started looking at some of the things. Some of the things we're not able to really look at until after June 30th. Um, but um,

071you know, as the district's ready and and has things ready, we can we would love to complete the audit as quickly as possible. And I don't I don't mean to give the wrong impression about when I say the fall. I was just sort of speaking generally speaking about when that time that is the typical time. >> Yeah, that is the typical time frame. Yes, typically um you know the earliest earliest audits that we would look at issuing are going to be August to September time frame just because of the time that it takes to uh close out the year to be able to get everything compiled by the district to be able to go through us and then um potentially waiting on things from the state and federal government to be able to finalize the

072effect. But we have started looking at what we can >> and and even before their visit today there was information and documents that were already transmitted to them prior to their visit today. >> Yeah. >> Which was within the last >> few weeks. Well, if you are feeling that we're on the right track, I would hope that we would not get off again that you're putting things in place cuz that's the only thing I know is how to reconcile and keep good records. >> And that's what we're certainly what we're trying to >> and that's what I want to hear from this. >> Did you look like you have one more question? >> Well, you know, I was just looking at the finding on number eight where the district requested and received 21 21, you

073know, the amount of money. Yeah. >> Okay. 21. Um, again, I know I'm just a repeat, but there should be some type of mechanism in place that you show your expenditures before you make that request to make sure that it coincides with what you're requesting from the state. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Absolutely. Unless there's some other >> I do have >> Oh, you got a little bit more. >> We'll cruise along. I just wanted to to kind of pause for a minute. Um, so we do have we did identify we did report in uh post entries for several adjustments. Uh we do have to report these to the board. These are really all in relation to the findings that we've already reported. So I'm not going to go through these in detail.

074Um you guys have the audit reports, you have the letters. Um just to kind of bring those to your attention that we did post uh several large entries to the district's books uh in relation to these items. Um significant accounting estimates. These are the things that we would identify everywhere um across the state. Um disagreements, we had no disagreements with management. Um staff was great. uh difficulty was just re receiving some of the items and timing of being able to get everything uh really is what contributed to to the later completion of the audit. Um but again, no um extreme disagreements or difficulties, just timing and being able to complete it. Um management letter, I did mention this is going to be kind of the lowest level of reporting. Have a few things. Um one,

075timeliness of payments. We identified several payments um that were made to vendors significantly after uh invoice vendor due dates. Um the Gfeller Waller Concussion Act um we had we review uh the concussion forms that athletes and parents have to sign. Um we didn't identify any missing, but we identified some that were not necessarily completely properly initial, signed, and dated. um we just kind of recommend either using a software to track that or really closely watching to make sure that those are fully completed. Um employee loans, the district provides um various types of loans uh to employees, many of which are going to be the v international staff that come in. Um, and there were at the end of the year there were loans to 12 people and totaling for all 12 of them $11,895 uh

076that were never set up properly in the payroll system and were not deducted from their paychecks. Um, so as as of the end of the year, they did still owe those amounts to the district. Um, the district is technically able to collect those this year. Maybe has already happened. I can't speak to that because we have not audited that, but um that is this is not necessarily foregone. Um and the last item is just really to bring to your attention the the level of fund balance, the level of of kind of savings that the district has um compared to really what we would expect to see for a district this size and the use of funds. um with $389,000 left of which 148,000 is unassigned. Um again, this other special revenue fund has 1 million

077was 1,348. Um and and so with the level of spending between the general fund and other special revenue fund, those funds are not available in 2026 to be able to spend. So, um, just really bringing to the attention that and and I I know I sent the board early on a letter, um, that kind of detailed what we thought at the time before we really even got into auditing because there was a lot that needed to be audited. But I think the message um, while the numbers have fluctuated and changed um, to to an extent, uh, the message was the same that there was needed to be some um, adjustments on spending. And I know um that was especially challenging and just kind of want to recognize the fact that it was especially challenging with

078the de merger um with the added students that came over and and the challenges with that and being able to pin out and predict that um would have definitely made this significantly challen more challenging um than an average year going through 2025. and identifying um what those costs cost would be uh and what the state funding was going to look like for those um added students. Uh then real quick to look at some supplementary information, you can see revenue did increase in 2025. Um and that again that's going to be um mostly related to the de merger and the addition of students um with the addition of uh state dollars, federal dollars did decrease with the ending of ESSER. Um and then like I said the other um other is going to be the other

079special revenue going to be grant uh type revenues. Um this is a chart of um expenses. Instructional makes up the bulk of it. Systemwide support making up the next bulk of it. That's going to include custodians. It's going to include bus drivers. It's going to include maintenance workers. Um you know, kind of the things that surround the students, but are not specifically in um instructional. And then capital out other expenses. other expenses are going to include um things like charter school payments. Uh and then this is a look of the fund balance uh general fund balance in yellow. Um and again just to kind of point out the the declining u nature of that capital as you can see and I mentioned earlier is really does fluctuate significantly more just um from year to year

080based upon summer projects can go up and can go down. Um but again uh something to monitor and keep an eye on. I don't if there are any other questions. Thank you very much. Appreciate Mr. Yeah. Good evening. >> Good evening. I'm chairman superintendent Brian. I'll be giving you a few maintenance updates. This is West Edge. Um the leak that we had this on repair. This is floor tiles at West En. This is what we did to complete it. This is a toilet that we had that worked to replace the west. We had side water cracked all up and um broken concrete. We repaired it. This is bullet carpet remove. The carpet is really bad. Move it. floor tiles down like >> and I I'll just say that um Mr. Perkins doesn't put up every

081picture of every project that they do just so everybody knows. >> And I don't do that. I do that because I don't want to take up all your time. We all free tuning in. I didn't want anybody to think that >> that's what we've done since last. >> Okay. We are on page two of our agenda now. Uh we do not have any uh committee reports. We back with our consent item. >> Thank you, madam chair. Uh approval to submit the 2026 27 consolidated grant substantial approval application includes statement of assurances on behalf of the board of education county public schools. U our consolidated grants are obviously uh for next year and this puts everything in the motion for funding that will be received next year. And Miss Pierce is here if you want to

082ask any more specific questions, but I I think you've done this probably enough time. This sort of this sort of sets everything in motion >> and it is a new process this year. So, you'll start to see this in June and then you'll get the application like you typically do in the fall. This be part of the fall >> and it'll come back. It'll come back in the fall. >> Yeah. In the fall when we finish our final budget and application, it will come to you for the final approval. It just allows us to make expenditures in July and August before the final application get. >> Thank you very questions as relates to our consent items. And madam chair, while while we're if we're just going to deal with both items on consent, >> 8.2A

083is approval of the 2026 27 comprehensive target support CSI and TSI uh PRC 105. U again statement of assurances as we head into 2627. U sets sets everything in motion again for PRC 105 which are federal funding. uh coming back to our schools and then that will that will come back again for you in the fall. Okay. I would like to call for a motion to approve our consent items. >> I move for the approval of set items as presented. >> Second. has been moved and properly second that we will approve our consent item as presented. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. >> Oppose the same sign. The motion carries. Thank you very kindly. Now we will start with our items for

084action 8B. Um I have action 8.1 B uh as to approval uh to support constru new construction and renovation at North Edge High School to temporarily relocate students for the 2627 school year due to ongoing construction facility needs at North Edge. moving students from North Dash High School to Phillips Middle School and relocating students currently housed at Phillips Middle School to Coco Wimberly Elementary for the duration of the construction project. >> Any concerns? Anyone questions on this recommendation? If not, I need to hear a motion. >> I'm sorry. >> No, I was I have a question. Yes, sir. >> Yeah. >> Um, when we move the students, uh, that that does not take us over capacity at either one of these slots to to to uh provide for any additional people coming in. That won't

085take us over that, will it? We we think we can accommodate that uh both either in brick and mortar and I'm specifically talking about Phillips >> right I am right >> uh and we we will assess any need for uh because we're doing the brick and mortar uh we might have to assess looking at particularly in the second year of that maybe an additional mobile unit or two >> but we understand we've had we're having that conversation and we'll we'll look at the numbers and see what they are but as everybody knows Phillips used to the >> high school. Right. Right. >> And and just to just to alleviate another piece of all this, we also understand uh we're making plans for athletic facilities as well for for high school and middle school. And we

086know we're going to need to make some adjustments there, but we believe that we have viable plans to make that happen. and and the parents have already they know exactly what's going on. >> We're we're in the process now once you approve tonight, we're going to be communicating with parents about specifics of that. We met with the staffs of each school and make sure that we're moving forward so everybody knows what's happening. And the bathroom facilities of course at Koka will be upgraded to meet the middle school uh >> uh Venus is already working on trying to meet those uh facility needs to have the plan for not a motion. I make a motion that we approve to temporarily relocate students for the 26 27th school year due to on construction and facility needs at

087North Edge High School by moving students currently housed at North Edgecom to Phillips Middle and relocating students at Philips Middle to Cocoa Wind Elementary for the duration of second. has been moved and properly second that we approve temporarily to relocate students for the 26 27th school year due to ongoing construction and facility needs at North Edge High School by relocating students currently housed at North Edge High School to Phillips. Philips Middle School and reloading locating students currently housed at Phillips Middle School to Cocoa Wimblely Elementary School for the duration of the construction project. Any other discussion on the motion? one one one the the athletic facilities for the uh fellow kids they go playing with um we're still going to be able to continue to use some facilities and and we can go further if

088you want certainly the volleyball can be used at Philips for uh but we we do not believe it can be used for basketball. It could be used for basketball practice, correct? But not >> and that's what that's what we've been working on specifically. >> Yeah. Of course, to clarify, all in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I >> oppose the same sign. The motion cars. Thank you very kindly. 8.2B too big. Um, it's like that. >> Good evening. >> Uh, madame chair, co-chair, board members, and Dr. I stand before you tonight to request approval of the bids for the child nutrition program for the 2627 uh school year. That's going to include milk and dairy, food and beverages, supplies, chemicals, produce, and equipment repairs. And they are listed there. As you

089can see, we rolled over everything. We don't have to rebid. We don't rebid. We're getting good service. >> All right. >> Yes, sir. We are. >> Okay. Any comments or questions for Miss McDow? If not, I need to hear a motion for approval of the recommendation. >> Madam Chair, we approve of the county official program for year 2026. Second has been moved and properly second that we will approval of the child nutrition program bids for school year. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. >> Oppose the same sign. Motion carries. Thank you very kindly. 8.3B Mr. Hay. >> Good evening, board chair, board members, >> superintendent Dr. O'Brien. Tonight, I'm requesting board approval for the purchase of a the district website hosting from

090Ed Leo, which is our provider, current provider, beginning July 1st, 2026, and ending June 30th, 2029 as a sole source in the amount of 32,400. Um that's over 3 years. So um per year cost it's 10,800. Um using um PRC015 which is technology funds. Um the district website hosting for that $10,800 includes the um hosting the website um hosting all 20 school websites. Also um because of new federal law um all of our websites and web pages have to be ADA compliant. And so this has an accessibility AI tool to ensure that we are ADA compliant and then also a chatbot to help our guest who visits our website um which they can ask questions in the chat bot should be able to answer based off all the information compiled on the website. >> Anybody

091have any questions uh to Mr. If not I need to hear a motion for approval. Madam Chair, I make a motion to approve the purchase of the district website hosting from Elia Elio >> Elio beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2029 as a sole source in the amount of $32,400 uh using PRC 015 local technology funds. It's been moved and second that we will approve the approval of the purchase of district website hosting from Ed Eio beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2029 as a sole source in the amount of $34,400. $00 using PRC15 uh funds, our technology funds. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. >> I oppose the same sign. Motion carry. I believe you're still standing,

092Mr. Hay. >> Yes, ma'am. Um, >> I'd also like to request board approval for the purchase of our district Microsoft license for fiscal year 2026 2027 from soft choice as a soul source in a minute of $59,95522. Um, technology will use local technology fund 015 for this purchase. Um and these license are required if we want to continue to legally operate um our devices that use Microsoft Windows um infrastructure. Um and also Soft Choice is the vendor of record for North Carolina. This is a state contract that we're pretty much using to purchase Microsoft with. >> Any questions from any board members? Hearing none, I need to hear a motion for approval. To mad chair, make a motion we approve the purchase of district Microsoft license for fiscal year 2026 2027 for choice sold 59,

093$4145. Second >> has been moved and properly second that we will approve the approval of purchasing district Microsoft license for 2627 from the 77 soft choice as a sold source in the amount of 59,95522. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Thank you very Okay. 8.5 Dr. Brown. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. What you have in front of you tonight is approval of budget amendment number two for 2526. And you have two pieces of paper there. Uh let me explain what's on each one. and the broad and their view on it. The uh the first page you have called labeled budget amendment number two. Those are actual u there's no loss of money in any

094of those lookout. It's just where either funds have been moved or added within specific areas to maximize funding which is what typically happens uh throughout the school year. Uh, and I'll I'll give you an example. Uh, if you look at that page on budget amendment number two, state public school fund under instructional services, there's been an addition of $1.6 million into that area. You see a total subtotal under uh state public school fund and and uh you see areas where things have been moved uh to other to other areas. So um that's the narrow view of where throughout throughout that and by the way let me just add uh close out meeting in June we'll have another movement to close things out as we end on page two that's that's the uh 50,000 foot view

095which uh shows where uh funding um has landed into different areas from state public school fund to local current expense, federal funding, capital outlay and then those same subgroups like instructional services and systemwide support services and and those areas that's that's the big view. The first page is the uh the actual changes that have happened to create those those funding numbers on the street. Happy questions. Dr. Bry, >> like I said, this will be we'll be coming back to you at the end of June as we close close things out. And I feel I feel I feel good about where we are getting ready to close out here. We have any other questions or concerns with our budget amendment number two? If not, I need to hear a motion for approval. >> Madam Chair, I

096move for the approval of Buck budget amendment number two for 2526 as presented. >> Second. has been moved and properly second that we will approve the budget amendment number two for 2526. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. >> Oppose the same sign. The motion carries 8.6 6B Dr. Madam Chair, uh these are services uh that you would all approve uh in relation to the funding for that, but we we just need to come back and um and make sure that the SER source uh documentation was provided as well cuz this is a a unique service that's provided by Yon and Richmond resource center for mental health support and we're we're just sort of dotting the eye in our process for that. So

097you you've already approved this. >> I was going to say we've already >> So we can keep >> this is not this is not unfamiliar to you. >> This is for the soul sourcing component of it for the um purchasing bidding requirement component. >> All right. >> Are you planning to I I think we're okay with that one. Okay. >> Question. >> Yeah. Does anybody have any specific questions or that you do not understand? This is really a procedural issue. >> Yes. Okay. Thank you very much. >> Okay. We will continue. Dr. Grant 8.7. >> We need a motion. >> Oh, sorry. >> I'm trying to move it too fast. >> I think I was talking too much. >> All right. We need to have a motion for approval of this recommendation. Madam chair, I

098make an make a motion for the approval of the services provided by Rutaran Enrichment and Resource Center as a sole source for school-based mental health services for the total amount not to exceed $36,000 using PRC 145 North Carolina Stronger Connections grant federal funds. Second. It has been moved and properly second that we will uh approval of the services provided by Utron Enrichment and Resource Center as a sole source for schoolbased mental health services for the total amount not to exceed 36,000 using PRC 145 North Carolina Stronger Connections grant federal funds. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I >> oppose the same sign. The motion carries. Thank you very kindly. Now chair 817B uh same sole source uh request procedural nature educator's handbook

099is where we collect uh disciplinary information for students and uh it allows us to analyze data and various other things with that. You've already approved this request for $15,152. We are seeking sole source approval from the board. Anybody have any questions on this one? If not, I need to hear a motion for >> Madam Chair. I move for the approval of the services provided by educationalhandbook.com as a sole source for the technological license for office referral and money incidents for the 2526 school year. Total of $15,162. >> Second me. >> Okay. has been moved and properly seconded that we will for the approval of services provided by educators handbooks as a soul source for the technology license for office referral and minor incidents for the 2526 school year for the total amount of $15,160. $62.

100Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion say I >> oppose the same sign. >> Okay. >> Madam chair 8.8B. Uh this is also a sole source request procedural uh in nature to approve uh uh communities and schools uh support staff at our at our five schools and u ask for support through and I know I know what a big fan you all are communities and schools. as we all >> done some really good work for us particularly in supporting our our graduation. >> Whoever's making the motion, I need you to reduce this paragraph. That's a half page long. I got it. >> All right. Make a motion that we approve item 8.8 AP as a sole source listed >> the schools listed >> the school and the schools listed second

101has been moved and properly second that we will approve 8B as a sole source and the schools that's listed any other discussion on the motion all in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I >> oppose the same sign. The motion carries here. >> Could you take a Senate clip? Absolutely. Madam Chair, I make a motion under the North Carolina Open Meetings Law Section 143, 31811 A1, A3, and A6 to go into close session to consider personnel matters, to consult with the attorney to preserve attorney client privileged information, and to prevent the disclosure of student records rendered confidential under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. 20 USC 1232G and the disclosure of personnel records render confidential under GS15C 319 through 321. >> Second has been moved and second that we will

102go into close session and at this time we'll need to take about a 10 minute break. It's been six Hey everybody. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Ooh. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. N. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. See you. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Down. with me. La. with me. Hey Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Oh, Best every You feel you but Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Hey, Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Hey, Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Yeah. Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Happy. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. a hey. Heat. Heat. N. everyone back. Hey Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. N. Wonder. my mother. Heat. Heat. I got my B. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. I'm going. Heat

103up here. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey, Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Happy birthday. down. Hey Hey, Heat. Heat. Heat up here. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Oh, hey. Hello. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Get away. Da down. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion let by saying I oppose sign. Motion carry. We end open session. range. >> Yeah. >> We need to get a motion to approve the person. >> Madam Chair, I make a motion to approve the personnel management. >> Second. It has been moved and properly second that we uh will approve our personnel management. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. >> Oppose the same sign. Motion carries.

104Next item, our close session minutes. Uh we have two sets of those. of our May 11th, 2026 regular close session minutes. I need a motion on those. >> A motion to accept, madam chair. >> Second. >> Has been moved and properly second that we will approve our May 11th, 2026 close session minutes. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. oppose the same sign. The motion carries. Um the second set of minutes um close second minutes May 27th, 2026 personnel. >> Chair motion we approve May 27th personnel meeting. >> Second. has been moved and properly second that we will approve our May 27th, 2026 personnel close session minutes. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known

105by saying I. I >> oppose the same sign. The motion carries. Board correspondence. We do not have any of those items brought by board members or superintendent for consideration or discussion. >> 12.1. Madam Chair, I believe that's from >> 12. Oh, >> discussion regarding the renaming of resources. >> I had gotten to that. Okay. >> Is this the appropriate time now? >> Yes, chair. >> Yes, it is. So, I believe in in um correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Robinson, that superintendent has the authority to make a recommendation to the board. >> Yes, sir. regarding that. Uh it seemed to me that the recommendation made tonight by citizens of Es County and Rock seemed to me to make the recommendation that teacher resource center be >> I would like to make that a formal motion.

106No sir. >> Dr. Madam chair, I would like to make a motion that we name the teacher resource center after Dr. Evelyn Shaw Wilson. Who is that? >> That is a fabulous a fabulous woman because she has been a huge a huge asset to our school system. He needs to >> he needs to carry it. >> So, uh, we have a motion made and properly seconded. Uh, all those in favor? Well, should I is there any other discussion? With no further discussion, all those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? The motion carries. The teacher resource center will be named Dr. Evelyn Shaw in honor of Dr. Evelyn Shaw Wolf. Oh, >> I don't want to see it go. >> I can't take it. >> I think I think it

107should be royal blue. >> Royal blue. >> Yeah, I don't want to see it go big blue. >> I don't want to see no go over here. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. Congratulations. Well deserved. >> Thank you so much. >> I now need to have a motion for adjournment. >> So moved. >> Second. >> It has been moved and proper second that we will adjourn this meeting. All in favor of that motion, let it be known by saying I. >> I >> oppose the same sign. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. Thank you.