001Tonight, Back down. Heat. Heat. Hey, Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Oh yeah. Heat. Heat. smiling faces. We don't have any snow this evening. >> Welcome to our February 9th meeting. The public is listening to us and they are doing that over YouTube comced county public schools. So they can participate they they are not participating in the meeting but they can hear everything that we are doing and we welcome you all who decided to come and observe us face to face. All right, we will declare and call this meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. At this time, we will ask everyone to stand as we lead in our 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
002liberty and justice for all. May I ask you to continue standing please as we pay deference to uh some of our former members uh members of our staffs, some of my our retirees and their families who passed recently at first to our public relations uh director Susan Hul to Mr. David Smoot, a retired principal, longtime principal of the Phillips was middle school at that point. Mrs. Ruby Horn, who was a teacher at Ed North Edgecom, uh Mrs. Glattis Shelton, who was the register of deeds and the mother of Sandra Langley, coach at Southwest, and the grandmother of Shelton Langley, the principal at Southwest. Mrs. Irene Redmond who was an employee at Patilla and then the mother of Mr. Mike Mosley. Mr. Mosley is who is the boys basketball coach at Southwest. Let us bow if
003you will in a moment of silence for those persons. Amen. You may be seated. I hope everyone has picked up an agenda. We will follow it. I've had about four people to come to me and say we don't want a long meeting tonight. Uh I don't think it'll be very very long, but we going to take care of business >> that we have to do. Uh at this time, we will look at our agenda. Dr. Grant, do you have anything to add to this agenda? >> No, madam chair. >> Okay. If not, we need to hear a motion to approve the agenda as printed. >> Madam chair, I'll move for the approval of the agenda is printed. >> Second. >> Has been moved and properly second that we will approve our agenda as printed. Any
004other discussion on the motion hearing? None. All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I. >> Oppose the same sign. hearing. None. The motion passes. Item three, we do not have any committee reports there. Item four, public comments. I have the sign in sheet for public comments and stated on the sheet is none. So, no one signed up to speak. Item five, approval of our open session minutes for January 12th, 2026. Our regular business meeting minutes. You've had a few days to read over those minutes. Does anyone have any corrections? Hearing none, I need to hear a motion for approval. Madam Chair, approve um make a motion to approve our January January 12th, 2026 regular business board meeting open session. >> Has been moved and properly second that we will
005approve our January 12th, 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. We'll add item six on our agenda, items for information. Item 6.1, school updates. Dr. Brian. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, a lot of uh, information shared tonight. Lots of great things we're celebrating and also uh some uh some awards as well. Uh I know everyone joins us in celebrating Black History Month uh this February. As we posted the other day and sharing with the community, black Americans have always shaped our history and culture, making our nation so much stronger and better. From worldrenowned achievements advancing science and culture to lesserk known contributions building our families and communities, his legacy
006continues to inspire people around the globe. Originally inspired by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a prominent historian and scholar, this year's Black History Month is a special one. It marks the 100th anniversary of the first Black History uh commemoration, a week-long celebration sponsored by the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History in February 1926 to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas. As we honor this milestone, let's continue working together to to create a better future working with each other. >> Thank you. >> Celebrating school counselors. Uh this is also this past week was school counselors week, national school counselors week and we celebrated all of our great counselors we have in ECPS. Recognize them for all their incredible work that they do. We thank them for the great compassion, guidance,
007and support they provide for students on a daily basis. And uh their dedication really shapes bright futures for our students and stronger communities overall. And uh we appreciate everything that they do. And they truly truly uh stand and hold the line for students in many ways both from an academic perspective and an emotional support perspective. I'm very very appreciative of that. We're also very excited to announce some very positive news tonight that came out actually last week. The Golden Leaf board of directors announced funding in the amount of 17,376,6379 uh to support job creation and economic investment, workforce preparedness, and agriculture projects as part of the community-based grants initiative in the North Central Propensity Center, which is what Edinburgh County is part of. We're very excited to announce that Golden the Golden League board directors
008awarded $500,000 county public schools to establish a welding program and lab at Tarville High School in partnership with Nashville Community College resulting in students earning industry recognized credentials. We're excited for our students and the impact this lab will have on their lives and the community. We also see this as an additional support to the work being done at the county level by county manager Eric Evans, the county board of commissioners and the committee sorting uh supporting get off the list go work which has become a rallying crowd for our community to make sure that we are advancing and supporting things to make our community better for workforce development and health wellness and and equality living. and we're very excited to be part of that and very grateful for that point. This is also school bus
009appreciation week and national association for pupil transportation nap love the bus month. Monday, February 9th through fe Friday, February 13th, 2026 is school bus appreciation week in North Carolina. And uh February is love the bus month. As I said before, we want to thank all of our school bus drivers who commit their time, energy, and love to safely transporting our students back and forth to school every day. Uh we thank our bus drivers, and we also thank all of our support staff and our transportation department who support us and keep us going every day. It's a lot of work. Uh please make sure everybody shows their love to their bus driver and their transportation employees. make sure uh because all they do is dedicate to the safety for all of our students every day. Uh
010a reminder, and we've been talking about this uh for about a month now, so we want to make sure we get a great turnout with the Love and Literacy Family Festival. Uh host our Title One Love and Literacy Family Festival this Thursday, February 12th, from 5:00 to 7:00, DS Johnson Elementary School. This is a family centered event designed to celebrate literacy, learning, and connection through engaging activities such as story book theater, rhyming, relay, and interactive reading stations. The event is free and open to all ECBS families with food, drinks, and raffles provided. We look forward to welcoming families uh for an evening strengthens partnerships and fosters a love of reading. As we all know, literacy and reading is the core foundation for everything we do as a school district. Also want to alert everybody to
011second annual district steam night. ECPS will host the second annual title one steam night. Um with steam uh it will be focused on aviation experience on Wednesday, March 6, 2026 from 5 to 7:00 p.m. Southwest Eric High School. This exciting event will include hands-on steam uh activities, science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. Uh with many of our schools, our technology department leading interactive stations. Uh there will be engaging opportunities for all grade levels with fun and educational experiences for students and families alike. And if I remember correctly, it was a a big hit last year uh with with the work. And I invite everybody to come out and uh be part of that. I just um Wednesday is four. >> Well, we will make sure that we correct that. So, my career and technical education
012month. Uh it's also in February and we're celebrating it across our district. I want to thank all of our career and technical education teachers and business partners for all they do to help students learn specific careers, promote workforce development uh through content, credentials, certifications, internships, and pre-apprenticeships. We of course have a great CT program in Edison County and uh you'll be hearing more about that in just a moment. And uh we've done a lot of work in all those areas and durable skills. At this time, I would like to ask our CTE uh presenters to come out tonight to talk a little bit about CTE and uh and some of the work that we're doing within uh within our county to highlight some of the great things going on. Thanks for everybody indulging me there
013as I went through that really rather lengthy list of items, but I think very worth all items that illustrate what we try to do for our community and our students provide great news for >> good afternoon. Good evening. >> Good evening. Good evening. >> Um so as Dr. Brian just mentioned this is CTE month and we wanted to take the opportunity to talk about the critical role that CTE plays in preparing our students for careers, college and life and to thank you for your continued support of our CTE program connecting student learning with work opportunities. So to start we just want to give a shout out to our CTE team and some of them are here if you would just stand or raise your hand. We have Mr. We have James Cavalleti and Ray Bz
014who are who are our career development coordinators. Miss Camila um Barrett who is our CTE specials coordinator. Miss Christine Henderson. Welcome aboard Miss Henderson. She's our curriculum and instructional management coordinator. Miss Tandra Hedgeb who is our CTE director and myself Dr. Whitaker who is the director of secondary ed and CTE. We want to share some highlights of our program with you. So we have five program areas, 11 clusters, 18 career pathways. We operate out of three traditional high schools where there where you would find 19 teachers in total, six traditional middle schools and there's a middle school teacher at each school and six support staff and Dr. Whitaker just introduced those of us. So those are our those are our pathways and how you obtain a completion in the pathway. Um business, finance and entrepreneurship.
015That's actually three different pathways. Um you could take entrepreneurship, project management, um financial planning or just general management or sales. Then under the cluster of marketing and hospitality, you have marketing, sport and event marketing or travel and tourism which contains hospitality and tourism. Then you have your human services, counseling and mental health, early childhood education, food and nutrition, agriculture and natural sci resources contains animal science plant systems which incorporate horiculture and landscaping technology and computer science. We have two pathways computer science and computer engineering and technology al I apologize three and Adobe visual design public safety and AV technology incorporates public safety and audio engineering technology. Here we have our data from last school year and we have um the different pathways that include a state assessment or a performance-based measure. This does not incorporate
016the classes that have a credential as their final assessment. So at North Edgecomb um they obtained 53% proficient in agriculture and in CT proficiency is 70% or higher because in the EOCC's it's 60% or higher and if you're taking a CTE assessment it's 100 questions. So they literally have to get 70 or more correct in order to be proficient. So that takes a lot. Southwest um there you see their agriculture education 68%. Tarbor High unfortunately does not offer agriculture. I would love to be able to get the space there to do so. Then under your business marketing and finance contains all those pathways we just discussed. Two of our schools were si 67% or higher. Only one was proficient, but North Edgecom as you see is very close. And that was a new pathway for
017North Edgecomb last year. Um, computer science, North Edgecomb did not fall under that. They do offer computer science, but it's a credential. And Southwest was proficient 71%. Family Consumer Science, Southwest and Tarbor both were proficient and that is not just your food and nutrition, but that includes your um early childhood, your hospitality and tourism, as well as um counseling and mental health. And we have no trade and industry programs that fall under these categories. They would be under credentials. So as you see the total for all schools they were proficient when you put all the um program areas together. This is just to show the growth from 22 2022 to 2025 and this year is even larger but we don't have the exact data yet. So we have more participants in 24 25 um 1245
018in middle school and this is not duplicated some students are in more than one of our classes throughout the school year high school uh last year we had 1272 participants and concentrators concentration means they have completed a pathway so if I'm in marketing I took marketing one and marketing It looks like from 2324 to 2425 they decreased in concentrators but some of them were already concentrators the year before. So they're not counted again. And this is your anybody 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grader that is a concentrator. So it's only counts when they become the concentrator. And the schools are doing much better with having them concentrate early like in ninth or tth grade. So that means in 11th or 12th grade they can do work-based learning. And we'll talk about that in a second.
019And as you see our credentials greatly greatly increase, doubled from 23 to 24 and then third about a 300% increase up to 2425. Oh, thank you. I have that. So a credential, you could possibly earn surf safe food handlers, serve safe managers, and if I'm in a food and nutrition class and take those credentials, I can take that to my job and tell them if I work at Piggly Wiggly or Bojangles and tell them I've earned that credential and now they will pay me more and they'll get an increase in pay. welding, they gain credentials. Um, there's several different ones that you could possibly get. And a lot of our educators also have multiple credentials. In fact, all three of us that are in here do. So, skills for the future. So, what we're finding
020out um from our employers in the business world is that students need to have more than just technical skills to do a job. They need what we call durable skills. And durable skills are essential. They are skills that um run across careers, industries, and technology. We often think about um when we think about durable skills as the soft skills that um students will need to be successful in careers and jobs in North Carolina. The durable skills are aligned with the North Carolina portrait of a graduate. And you will see here these are the general skills for um what we want students to have or be able to u master before graduating. Adaptability, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, personal responsibility, empathy, and a learner's mindset. So, we're imported because um why durable skills matter and what what
021are we doing to get our teachers and students prepared? Well, ECPS has two cohorts of CTE teachers that are receiving training on how to embed durable skills. And once we start with these cohorts, we would like to broaden that out so that other teachers and other content areas will know how to embed durable skills so that these skills are taught across all content areas in all curriculum. Our goal is to ensure that every student graduates with the skills ready for tomorrow land tomorrow's landscape. It's good if they understand the technical piece of the job, but they also need to know how to communicate and how to collaborate and what it means to grow as a learner. 92% of businesses say that these skills are more important than the technical skills. And we had 18 teachers
022to start in our first cohort in um August and excited because our second cohort kicked off today virtually. It was a really really good training. And so these teachers are getting trained on how to embed these skills and then they're having to give students um projects, assignments, and activities that are going to support this career awareness, exploration, and development. So career um CTE doesn't just begin in high school once students get to nth grade. We are exposing students to um CTE careers opportunities down early. Um in elementary we have fifth grade career rodeos. We also have students interacting with real professionals exploring the tools so that they can help them to determine what that pathway is that they would like to pursue. And here are some of our CTE workbased learning partners. We're ex especially
023happy to have these partners. They are essential because they bridge the gap between classroom learning and real real world application. They allow us to give students authentic experiences with our internship programs, our apprenticeships, and our job shadowing. So, this is the list of our workbased partners. We are excited to announce and this was announced last week by the state. Um Mo Green, Superintendent Mo Green announced that we were number three in the most improved credential attainment rate. So our uh students and teachers worked really hard last year when they announced the list. We weren't on the list. We weren't on any of the lists. And I said, I want to be on the list. And as I said, we were number three. What was it? 37% increase from and that was the chart I showed
024you before um with the credential numbers. >> And Dr. Brian announced this. This is another exciting thing. um with his leadership, we were able to obtain $500,000 from Golden Leaf to add a welding program at Tarborough High School. And these are just some pictures of authentic learning experiences that our students have um in culinary arts, welding, early childhood. Just wanted you to get an idea of what the students are actually doing and the instruction that our teachers and our CTE staff are providing. questions. >> Yes. You know, I have a question. >> You mentioned consumer science >> now at North. What about South Edge, Southwest Edge, and Topper High School? It's actually at all three, but not at North Edgecom right now. It was until this school year because of the building and >> I
025I understand. Okay. All right. Well, I saw construction management. What are the construction management kinds of classes we offer? We offer those actually through a collaboration with the community college >> through their facilities maintenance. >> Correct. Facilities maintenance construction um also electrical. That particular picture was actually marketing a marketing um internship and she wants to be a real estate >> agent. Well, I think it's great that we're giving our our our students the opportunity to sort of explore what they want to do. And I'm going to give you a two segment if that'll be all right. Dr. Wilson story. My son uh oldest son couldn't find his place in the world. I mean, I all my kids went to the community college um during their high school years, not through the early college. this was
026pre- early college and took courses and I tried to put him in the uh college courses. Well, it didn't work out cuz he just wasn't ready for that. And one day I said it was right after the flood and um they were building habitat houses and I put him in the facilities maintenance program um his last course during the day at school just to keep the child in school. This is the truth. I guess a month and a half in, he came home one day and he said, and we didn't think he was g, and you know this, it was John. >> When I he came home one day and he said, "When I graduate," and we were just thinking, "If he graduates, he said he said, "When I graduate, I'm going to Pit Community
027College and I'm a big contractor." And he did. And it's courses like this that save the children that that don't need to be in the classroom all day long listening. They need to be doing. And I think the more opportunities we can put courses like this in our in our schools to reach every child. We need those going to college, but we also need opportunities for children who have wonderful skills that are very much needed in the world. And we need to train them and keep them in our community. And so I applaud you for that. >> Skill sets are just it's fantastic. Just sitting here having been a teacher myself. It just it felt so good hearing what >> I thought was lost. >> You know, communication, the kinds of things that because everybody
028now thinks this is what it is. >> And it was you said it many times that this is not >> and that's that's the that's the real deal because our many of our kids think that this is it. And um I'm just so excited about all of the opportunities that's in that's in in this program because it really does it it it helps a child find out who he is and where he wants to go. And so I just commend you all. I just I was just excited about the kinds of skill sets that that you know things that they're getting in those in in the CTE in the program. >> I like to say I always enjoy hearing you tell about CTE. um getting our kids involved in technical stuff like Ann said all
029of them are not ready or desire to go to a four-year college but this is it I like this a lot always appreciate you >> great job Madam Chair, that concludes our report. >> Thank you. >> Now that's right down my line. Sorry I can't go back to the classroom. Don't have time. Okay. Next 6.2 two maintenance updates. >> Miss Good evening, vice chair, board members, superintendent. I'll be making this update. This is basketball. We had a pump to go out earlier. That's the old and the new. >> This is Basil old chiller. We have a new one put in. This is Basil. Um maybe he was selling the back offices. He went back there and we had those painted. This view chiller and this is the new chiller being placed. And this is Parker
030the carpet uh in the back office. We removed the carpet. This is what it look like now. MMA has a roof damage. And this is what it look like now. And southwest EC classroom. We put them in split in the classroom. Other than that, what you've been doing >> a lot. >> Are are we are we able to get u chillers and equipment better? Now, I know at one time there was a a backlog and it took 6 months, 8 months to get new equipment in. Are we seeing? >> Yeah, with the chiller. Um, we actually got those back um during the summer, but we had to wait before we could put them in because we still using the old stuff, >> right? Wait, waiting to turn >> Yes, ma'am. >> turn those off and
031get the heat on, change them out. >> So, do you think we're getting being able to get parts better as the pipeline kind of opened up on things or >> It it depends. It really does. Uh because we've been waiting uh just like the south war we've been waiting on a burner assembly for how long when you call me probably about a month two months. >> So finally we finally got that boiler. Finally got the burn in. Now we just got to get the rope to pretty much put it together. So it's running but it's smoking really bad. something we got to go back in there and tighten it up, make some adjustments with that. So hopefully we can get that contracted back out to get that fixed for >> some some of the problems
032with parts is that we have older equipment. >> Yes. >> You end up with parts that are more difficult to find. Well, I know that you all have been doing great job with getting the snow moved out of the parking lots, driveways, >> and so forth. So, I want to commend the maintenance department for working 3 and 4 a.m. and so forth. Uh, and it's been real cold. >> Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. >> It's been real cold. I couldn't help you. Not one bit. But we appreciate your department because without your department things would have been slower getting students back to school and >> just I'll let them know. >> And we have so many older we got older buildings like you had mentioned before and you're doing a lot of catching up you catching
033up stuff. >> Yes. >> Things that have gone >> especially on the Rocky Mountain side. Yes, >> those schools almost like it should have been closed. You know, look at the things that you all are doing from time to time and it goes out here goes there. But it's the like of you know in the past we they not been it appears that it's not been up. >> It's sometimes we go get something running and we leave go to another school and that school went back down again. So we have to go back to that school. So thank y'all for understanding. >> Thank you sir for what you do. Mr. Perkins uh where are we with boilers and chillers? How with the 19 facilities that schools that we have, are we close to kind of
034catching them up? >> Well, well, West need a boy. Uh, well, any two boys. >> Um, but we we getting there, >> but we we're not there yet. >> We getting there. I mean, just like with um the new children that we just put in at Fair View um what we did uh Fairview and Past. So, you know, we're set with those two, Joe. We have a small one at Fairview. We're going to have to change that one up, too, because sooner or later it's going to go, too. So, but we're catching up. We actually moving in the right direction. We really are. I mean it, like I said, if we can get rid of some of this old stuff. >> Sure. >> You know, a lot of stuff will we're repeating the cycle. I
035mean, we just we go patch it. >> It may last a month and then we right back out there again 4:00 in the morning and try to get it for, you know, make sure the children, you know, have to eat when they get there. >> Appreciate. >> Any other questions? Anyone? Thank you very much. >> Thank you, sir. Thank you all for what you do. >> 6.3. >> Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Just a matter of information. Fairview Elementary School collaboration just announced with Rocky Mountain Alumni Chapter, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The Community Reading Saturday, May 2nd. Again, part of our partnerships dedicated to literacy in the school district. Do you know anything about that, Dr. Thomas? Thank you so much. I'm just teasing her. That's her sorority. Okay. Item seven, we do
036not have any. Okay. 8.8. Dr. Bryant. Um, this is our consent items. >> Uh, yes, madam chair. We have a rather lengthy set of consent items. I will not I will not bore the public with the uh extended day field trips >> rather >> overnight fundraising. If you have specific questions you'd like to bring up, I'll do my very best to answer them. Uh but uh you could tell that people were thinking and contemplating things over the snow break >> things they need to do. So >> did you did you while you were reading find anything you have a question that you need to ask about? Dr. Brian, does this include our 8.2 to a our fundraisers as well. Okay, this whole document includes overnight activities for two of our schools. Then 8.2A fundraisers. Yeah,
037they've been working. See our bus director, transportation director's, she'd been busy cuz she has to supply all of these >> transports. >> And we don't have enough to get around sometime. >> Nope. >> If no one has a question about any of these, I need to hear a motion for approval of our consent items. Madam Chair, I make a motion that we approve the consent items as presented. >> Second. >> Has been moved and properly seconded that we will approve our consent items as presented. Any other discussion on the motion? Hearing none. All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. >> I oppose the same sign. hearing none. The motion carries. Thank you very much Dr. for that. Okay. Now we're at the section 8B items for action. The first
038item, Madam Chair, is approval of the way the community used the facilities rental fees for the Zeta 5 beta authority using the Dia Johnson Elementary School multi-purpose room to host the African-American readin on February 21st, 2026 from 2:00 to 4 p.m. Say the five beta is that Roy blue and white. >> All right. I I just want to make sure I don't want to get in trouble with the sorities. Does anybody have a concern? uh support this. If you do, uh I need to hear a motion. >> Madam Chair, I move for the approval of the waving of the community use fees for the uh to use DS Johnson Elementary most purposeful for uh the uh African-American median. >> Second. has been moved and properly second that we will approve to waiver the community use
039of facilities rental fees for Zeta FBA sorority incororated you to use DS Johnson Elementary School for the AfricanAmerican readin on February 21st 26 from 12 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Any other discussion on the motion? >> Just a comment, Madam Chair. This is a truly worthwhile effort. My church used to hold this in our fellowship hall and it outgrew the space and I'm glad that it did. This is a they do a tremendous job with this. >> It has grown tremendously. You know, we're so fortunate to have sororities in our community in partnership with our schools. I mean, we really are. >> We truly are. >> It is. >> 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.
0408.2B. Uh, king. >> Good evening, madame board chair. >> Good evening, Vice Chair, Mr. Evan, board members and superintendent Dr. >> Good evening. >> I stand before you. My name is Sherikica King. As stated, I'm the mental health coordinator for each county, but I don't stand before you much, but I just want to fine. Thank you. I stand before you to request board approval to wave the community use of facilities rental fees for green club using the British building to host green girls institute of excellence youth mentoring sessions on February the 21st March the 14th and April the 18th 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 300 p.m. like to tell you a little bit about Dream Social Institute Club. They have a mentoring group called Dream Girl Institute of Excellence. Dream Social Institute Club is a
041county based organization committed to empowering youth, families, and communities through service, leadership, development, education, and civic engagement. Founded on the principles of purpose, collaboration, and impact, DSDC works to create meaningful opportunities that promote personal growth, social responsibility, and positive community change. The organization partners with schools, families, and local stakeholders to deliver programs and events that uplift and inspire. The Dream Girl Institute of Excellence is a youth mentoring and development arm of Dream Social Institute Club specifically designed to support and empower young girls in the Edge Cone County community. DGIE focuses on building confidence, leadership skills, academic excellence, career exploration, financial literacy, wellness, and community service through structured mentoring sessions, enrichment activities, and exposure opportunities. DGIE equips girls with tools they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally while preparing them to become future leaders. So
042on this evening, I'm asking board approval to wave the community use of the Philippines rental fees for Dream Social and affiliate club using the Burges building to host Dream Girl Institute of Excellence youth mentoring sessions on February 21st, March 14th, and April the 18th. I will be on site for all of these sessions um through the entire time. >> Thank you. >> Sounds good. And we're having questions. >> I just have a general question, not a concern at all. Um it says that it's for like 20 to 30 kids. Do these do these young people go to all three or will it be like different kids each time? I was just wondering the total impact of >> so these these girls that will be coming are girls that are actually in the program. So we
043will do the same >> the same group. Okay. >> I was just wondering how many people we were touching with this. >> Well they have an opportunity all year long to sign up for the program. So the ones that um actually sign up are the ones that we actually work with. >> Thank you. Any other concern or question? Thank you, Miss King. I need to hear a motion for approval. >> Madam Chair, I make a motion to approve uh to wave the community use of facilities rental fees for dream social and civic club use in the Bridger building to host Dream Girls Institute of Excellence on February 21st, March 14th, and April the 18th. >> Second. has been moved and properly. Second to approve to waiver the community use of facilities rental fees for dream
044social and civic club using the bridges building to host an uh the dream institute programs on February 21st March 14th and April 18th, 2026 from 11 a.m. to 300 p.m. each time. Is that right? Okay. Any other question or discussion on the motion? Hearing none. All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I. Oppose. The same sign. Thank you very much. Thank you all. >> Good work. Thank you. Keep working. >> Thank you. >> To uh make up for some of the lost time we've had being out of school because of snow. Uh making the recommendation to make the following changes to traditional and early college calendars. On traditional and early college calendars change Wednesday, February 18, Wednesday, March 25, and Wednesday, May 6 to full school days instead of
045half school days. On traditional and early college calendars, change Thursday, March 5 from a required planning day to a required school a regular school day. And then on traditional and early college calendars, change Friday, March 6 from an optional planning day to a regular school day. It compiles with um changes in that regard. and also gives us back about approximately 22 hours worth of instructional time back into the counter. Does >> it catch us up? >> Um it it it does actually um because the remote days they help a lot but we also take the view that students being in front of teachers is really important and uh we also um we have the rest of February to go through. Great. Sir approval of 8.3 B. >> Madam Chair, I move for the approval of
0468.3B as presented by Dr. Brian. >> Second. has been moved and properly second that we will approve 8.3B as presented by Dr. Bryant. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I >> oppose the same car. Very kind 8.4. And Madam Chair, just to provide a little bit more context, I know today we had a uh had optional planning day. Uh in order to uh change that to a regular school day, we would have to given 14 days notice for that. That's why today was not a regular school day. We recognized what was going to happen this previous week, we probably would have made that change, but we were not able to get that. Uh 8.4B 4B. Um, this is a recommendation to change the
047regular school day to a teacher work day on March 3rd for the board of elections, school voting effect, Martin Millennium Academy, Phillips Middle, DS Johnson Elementary, GW Bulock Elementary, and JW Parker Middle. The recommendation is based upon the idea just from a safety perspective in uh voting at a school site and have students and staff there. And we would recommend that we have those days off at those particular schools. >> Yes. >> These are the same sites that we used last year. I mean the last voted cycle. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Right. >> They're the one they're the ones provided um by the board. >> Any other comments or concerns in reference to 8.4B? 4B. If not, I need a motion for approval. >> Madam chair, I make a motion to approve the change to
048a regular change the regular school day to a teacher work day on March the 3 school day. It's been moved and properly second that we will approve 8.4B. that is to change the regular school day to a teacher work day on March the 3rd, for the board of elections school voting sites at Martin Millennium Academy, Phillips Middle, DS Johnson Elementary, GW Bullock Elementary, and JW Parker middle school. 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. 8.5 B Wayne White. Good evening. Good evening. Good to see everyone. All right. Good evening, madam board chair, vice chair, board members, and superintendent Dr. B. I'm here tonight to request board approval for two items of
049action. Um the first being item item for action for requesting board approval to obligate a purchase order with Whites International for the following amounts. So, these are new school buses. Um, the first two new school buses will total $328,000 100 $328,156 for two new school buses authorized by North Carolina Public Construction that will replace two currently old school buses. These two buses will have a 66 passenger student capacity. Also in this uh purchase order is an order for three new international school buses authorized by North Carolina Department of Public Instruction that will replace three old school buses. These three buses will have a 66 passenger capacity as well. The total obligation to Whites International is $823,690. North Carolina Department of Public Instruction will be making payments on behalf of Edgecom County Public Schools for these
050new school buses. The second item for action that I have is pertaining to school buses as well is request for board approval to obligate purchase orders to Carolina Thomas, our second vendor for buses in the following amounts. $482,790 for three new Freightlininer school buses authorized by North Carolina Department of Public Instruction that will replace three old school buses that are currently in service. These three buses will have a 66 passenger capacity. The second part of this um item fraction is $500,412 for three new Freightlininer EC lift buses authorized by North Carolina Department of Public Instruction that will replace three old EC lift buses. These are three lift buses with a 54 student passenger capacity. The total obligation to Carolina is $983,22. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction will be making payments on behalf of
051Edgecom County Public Schools for these new buses as well. The total amount to be financed for all 11 buses is 1,8006892 for 11 new school buses for the district. And we were able to we were able to um acquire these new buses by strategically um acquiring used buses when we had the um demurder. So we were very in the year makes and models that we chose and this is we had that have to run for one year. They ran for that one year and then the first six months of this year was the um ordering and paperwork processing. Yes. So hopefully in the summer of this June, July or August of this year, we will receive these buses. >> Okay. >> Could I ask you a question? >> Yes, ma'am. >> You said 11 buses
052total. >> Total. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Total cost. I'm thinking I'm reading something else a little bit different. in the two items cuz I I don't need to talk about what's wrong. I just need to know what's right and I need a a board member to catch what we are saying. That's right. >> Okay. >> And that is you mentioned 11 buses. >> Yes, ma'am. for a total of 1,86 1,8006892. >> So when the motion is made, I don't need for you to quote all that that she said. I just need you to quote 8B, 85B, and 86B cuz that's what she was speaking from. >> Does Does that need to be two motions or >> they're listed as two separate motions and they're different vendors. So, I would approve the first one with the
053first vendor and the second one with the second vendor. >> Okay. >> Who wrote it down correctly? I I I Okay, Madam Chair, I make a motion to approve for approve a purchase order payable to Carolina Thomas LLC in the amount of $983,22 for six new buses. >> Second. has been moved and properly second that we will approve uh 8 point 8.5B to the purchase order payable to Carolina LLC in the amount of $983,22 for six new buses. Okay. separated. Okay. >> All in favor of that motion, let it be known by saying I >> oppose the same sign. The motion carries. All right. 8.6 B. >> Madam President, >> you reading that. >> Yes, ma'am. Madame President uh Madam, >> you can call me and thank you. >> I make a motion to approve
054the princess order uh to Whites International in the amount of $823,690 for five new buses. >> Second has been moved and properly second to approve 8.6B 6B to approve the purchase order payable to Whites International in the amount of $823,690 for five new buses. All in favor of the motion, let be known by saying I. I >> oppose the same sign. The motion caris, thank you very kindly. >> Thank you. Thank you for keeping our buses going. That's it. >> Absolutely. >> I will pass that word to the people who really turn the reaches. >> All right. Okay. Mr. Ellis. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Would you take us into close session, please? >> Yes, madam chair. I make a motion under the North Carolina Open Meetings Law section 143-318.11A1 A3 and A6 to go into
055close 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 20USC 1232G and the disclosure of personnel records is rendered confidential under general statute 115C- 319 through 321. >> Second. >> Has been uh moved and second that we will now go into close session with five minute break. >> All right y'all have a good night. Welcome. Down. Down. Hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey. Baby, hey. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Hey, Heat. Down. Hello. Oh, hey. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Hey, Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey, Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Oh yeah. Down. There you go. Hey. Hey. Hey. Get away. Heat. Heat. N. I love you. I'm going
056to la. with you. Hey Heat. Heat. Hey, hey, hey, hey. Heat. Heat. Oo. Aha. Best feeling. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey. Heat. Heat. Heat. Do you know? Yeah. I love you. down. I feel Hey, hey, hey. Yeah. Heat. Heat. N. return grade. My heart is great. >> All right. 11 uh 10 point. Two. Our extracurricular activities. Our spring sports >> skipped over personnel. >> Where is >> I've already turned to the back. You've already proved that. >> Yes, ma'am. Where is it? Oh gosh. All right. Okay. Approval of our close session items 10.1. Our personnel management. >> Madam chair. I move for the approval of the personnel management and discuss in close session. Second >> has been moved and second that we will approve our personnel management. Any discussion on the motion? All in favor of
057the motion, let it be known by saying I. I. >> I disapprove the same sign. None. So the motion carries 10.12 is the extracurricular activities. Our spring sports. Madam Chair, make a motion that we approve our extracurricular activities for spring sports. >> Second. >> Has been moved and properly seconded that we will approve our extracurricular activities which are our spring sports. Any other discussion of the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I >> oppose the same sign. The motion carries. Our close session minutes. Uh, has everyone read those minutes? >> I see all the packets up. That lets me know you've already read them. >> Our January 12th, 26 close session minutes. Could I have a motion? >> Madam Chair, I'll make a motion that we approve
058the close session minutes from January 12th, 2026. Second >> has been moved and properly second that we will approve our January 12th, 2026 close 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 motion. The motion carries. Co board correspondence. I have one. This is a lovely card from GW Carver PTO. Oo, that's neat. Thank you for all you do for our children in Edgecom County. We appreciate you. GW Carver PTO. I think that's a lovely card. I'm glad to hear from a PTO. I think we appreciate them too. Oh yeah, we have my little right hand and >> that's who sent this miss. >> And I'll write a thank you note and >> Oh, they did. >> Yes,
059they're the ones who sent >> special thanks. >> Yes, >> you got yours. >> I got it on my book. >> Okay. >> I didn't have any other card to read. I'm just trying to think. seem like I had something else, but if I don't see it, I don't remember it. >> Okay. I didn't mess up. >> I I don't have anything that I bought. I just remembered, Madam Chair, when we were talking about the uh uh 500,000 that we got for the welding program, I was just going to we're going to get a report as to how that program looks later on, right? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. >> We we've actually already budgeted out and we're based on the model we used at Southwest and we redid the uh the lab at Southwest.
060>> Okay. All right. So, do they have a area already spec specified? >> Oh, yeah. We got an area. >> There's an area. I'm like, I'm excited about that. >> That is going to be >> bring in some plumbing and some brick man and some electric. >> Yeah. Can't wait to see the ones and consumer science. I tell you it's very needed. It's very needed. >> What you talking about? >> You could write a culinary. >> I started at four years old. >> You can take the culinary to cooking. >> They got lots of areas in there. I was >> trying to teach S. I don't have time to teach. Okay, now we getting to the real number 13. I'll make that motion. Madam chair, >> I second.