4/14/2025 - BOE Regular Meeting

001[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Nat. Heat. Heat. [Music] N. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Hey. [Music] [Laughter] [Music] Ooh. Hey. Hey. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] you. Yeah. [Music] Oh [Music] yeah. [Music] Heat up here. [Music] Hey, hey, hey. [Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Heat. Hey, heat. Hey, heat. [Music] Hey. Hey. Hey. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Good evening, Madam Chair. I tried not to get a speeding ticket this evening, so I'm a little late. I get all the tickets in Edgecom County. Wow. And I was determined not to get one this evening. has made me a little bit late, but we're delighted that you are here. I have my notebook finally ready to go. All right. Welcome to our regular meeting of Edgecom County Board of Education. The public may view the

002board meeting at YouTube.com Edgecom County Public Schools. And now I will declare our meeting to come to order. And at this time, would you join with us as we do 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 liberty and justice for all. May I ask you to remain standing, please bow in a moment moment of silence. First in the loss of a sixth grade student in the Edgecom County schools at Parker Middle School and then in the death of the mother of Mrs. is Ruthie Mcdow, director of food services for our county. Please bow at a moment of silence for the but loss of both of those persons. Amen. You may be seated.

003Thank you very much for having Okay. And I assume everyone has an agenda and we will follow it to the chief if we can. Uh item two, approval of our agenda for the evening. Dr. Bryant, do you have any other thing to Madam Chair? Just have one one uh correction. Uh it's on uh 6.6 six under items for information and the third um sort of extended day opportunity there references edge early college edge early college high school it actually should be edge academy so just changing the name of the school change I have madam chair thank I would ask for a motion to approve this agenda as amended. Madam chair, I make a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Second. It has been moved and second that we will approve our agenda for the

004evening as amended. Any other discussion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I oppose the same sign. The motion carries. Thank you very much. Item three, recognition. Miss Hope. [Music] Good evening, madam board chair, Mr. Vice Chair, members of the board, superintendent Dr. Ryan. I'm thrilled to recognize Brooks Whitehurst, a phenomenal kindergarten teacher at GW Bulock Elementary School as our ECPS employee of the month for April. She creates a classroom environment that is both structured and nurturing where young learners feel safe, valued, and excited to learn each day. With her remarkable ability to spark a love of learning, her classroom becomes a space where engagement and curiosity thrive. Her thoughtfully designed centers promote age appropriate exploration and meaningful growth while her deep understanding of students behavioral, academic and social

005emotional needs sets her apart. She uses effective strategies to ensure that every child no matter their challenge feels included, supported and capable of success. Her dedication, expertise, and passion for teaching make her classroom a true model of excellence. We are incredibly grateful for the positive impact she makes every day in the lives of her students in the Bullet Elementary community. Congratulations, Ms. White, and thank you for inviting the heart of [Applause] ECPS. Congratulations. And I also have a gift card to present to her from Greg's um Cesum State Farm agent. [Music] [Applause] Okay, following our agenda, the next item is our public comments. Uh at this time today, I would ask each person who's speaking to give your community that you live and how many and state how many children you have in the four

006schools that we are discussing. Okay, first person is Miss Natalie Ori. Good afternoon everyone. My name is Matlin Ori and I live in the Met Brook community. How many children do I have? Um I I currently serve preschoolers who are being um we're moving up into the school system advocating for parents to get their children enrolled and you know before August. So, I have quite a few and I'm also a community advocate and uh anything else you want to know, but I thank you all for the transparency that you all have demonstrated thus far in the process of redistricting our school system. Um and we want you to continue to you know give us more you know information about timelines so that we can keep our communities engaged and informed. Um I am you know

007active with the metal group community um organization. We just had a meeting last Saturday. And so, um, we also want you to continue to, you know, host public forums to help us to navigate, um, the information that you are, um, sharing with us. Um, I have looked at the newly presented map D and it does not, um, fully support the Edgemont and um, Brookinities. Matter of fact, um it breaks up a few important communities over in our area. Um and two of the major precincts in Rocky Mountain, 121, the Johnson precinct and 122, the Edgeville College precinct. So um Matthew is not um suiting us, you know, it's not the best option. Best C option C is still the best option for our area, you know, geographically. And we have some new development in the

008area also. And so um those areas are growing as we speak. And I know there was a consideration of the um commissioners borders um for determination of where the lines be drawn. But those lines are sort of outdated now due to the growth that has occurred since the lines were then were drawn in the past. and you may be setting a new bar to help them when the lines are redrawn for them. So, you know, all of this is connected. Uh but we do want to um continue to advocate for option C and um we don't see a a greater benefit for A or B2 for the our areas. And those are my comments. Thank you. Thank you. Next person, Miss Angela Bryant. Uh, good evening board members. Uh, I don't have any children in

009school. Uh, and however, I do want to mention that the issue of redistricting that we're discussing is a constitutional process that impacts every resident. Amen. uh in the county and by in to and by the fact that North Carol I mean that Rocky Mount is a twin county city it in impacts our whole city and we've always many of us have always always seen those issues our issues as connected in that way um I am here representing the uh school de merger community redistricting working group and that group has people in it from both counties and it also has worked worked on the redist the uh de merger issue and redistricting in both counties. And this is the last part of that process of closing this the the the book on the school de merger

010process as it relates to um responding to uh the legislation and the decisions as it related to making that redistricting happen. On behalf of the uh the merger working group, I want to say that we ask that option C be moved forward for further review by the board and the community in your next phase of public information meetings or uh public hearings. There has not been the opportunity to discuss in to discuss in depth with you uh the positive attributes of option C, but we appreciate and applaud the brilliance of Blake in creating option C. And keeping communities of interest together is important for community representation. For example, multiple people won't represent the same neighborhood. It is also important because people will be able to identify who represents them in a simpler manner. Option C

011provides, as has been stated before, a fair percentage of black voting age population across the districts, avoiding the high numbers of black population in options. A uh 82.5% and B2 92% and D 89% for district 1. Option D has increased the high percentage of black voters voting age population in two districts in that are predominantly black and reduced the black population in two districts that are predominantly white. So we do want to uh emphasize that uh for the record. Uh we understand that option D was meant to model the county commissioners map uh which also has high voting age populations in in commissioner districts three and seven. However, that doesn't have to be the case uh for the school board. And in 2020 when the commissioner's map was redistricted uh for many of the citizens

012impacted by that map uh there was not a focus at that time on the possibility of the annexation of Rocky Mountain into Edgecom County for the school board. So we just really want to ask that you consider uh on behalf of the community members uh in the redistricting work group that option C move forward for further review uh in in the next phase of the process. Thank you. Next person Mr. James Hopper is not he I'm okay. Check that name. Darth St. [Music] She had to leave. Yeah. What happened? She had to leave. Next, Mrs. James Ren. Good evening everybody. Good evening. My name is James Ren. I live at 704 NC7 East in Leot area. Uh me and my wife Mayor have two proud graduates of Edgecom public schools. not doing us now, but

013they're in school now, but they're proud graduates of the Edge Cone County Public School System. I come to you today again to um in support of option C. Uh I noted uh last meeting you had a new map drawn up for option D. There was a model on the county commissioner districts and as other people have said um the the one thing that stands out is the high number of black voters in option D districts one and three 89%. Um which again is a problem in the county commissioner districts. I think the option C is is um you have less black voters packed in the district. Um I think both both option C and option D have a a district from Rocky Mount to Tarbor outskirts to Tarbor. So I don't think that's is either

014one is is you know one is not any different than the other in that sense but we want to support or ask you to support option C but we also want to ask you to have some public hearings across the county on these two maps. I don't think map A, map B is is um we need to go back to that, but I would um that we have some public hearings on maps C and D in four areas of the county north in in Leot, Rocky Mountain, Pinetops, and Tar. Thank you. Thank [Music] you. That ends our public comments at this time. Oh, you all want to know why I asked uh if you had any children currently serving in the school. Is that that's the reason? I was just trying to test where the

015parents are. Okay, we were right at the end. Miss, would you like to come up and make your comments? Do I mess up your kind? I'll be quick. Come right on. I'm sorry. I came up with two things. One was to commend you and the work you've been doing on the de merger process and the public meetings and also just giving us more options. And now we move from A and C2 to ABC C2 and D. I really appreciate that because it gives the public representation and opportunities to see that no one is being left out. So I want to appreciate that. Appreciate D plan. I'm still favoring seeking, but there's a lot more people than farmers to favor. So, thank you for what you're doing and what you will do and how the public

016is benefiting and will benefit. And then after we make that final decision, we still have the work to do to make sure everyone in the community understands for everyone. Thank you. Thank you. [Music] Okay, thank you all for participating. [Music] Okay, we'll move to item five on our agenda. Approval of our open session March the 3. Does anyone have any corrections, comments at all about our March 3rd open session minutes? Hearing none, I need to have here and have a motion to approve those minutes. Madam Chair, I move for the approval of the March 3rd, 2025 open session minutes as presented. Second has been moved and properly seconded that we will approve our March 3rd. It was a special call meeting. Um any other discussion on the motion? All in favor let it be known

017by saying I oppose the same sign. The motion carries. March 10th work session minutes. We have any concerns, questions, comments on those minutes hearing none. Do we have a motion to approve the work session minutes on March 10th? Madam Chair, I make a motion that we approve the March 10th uh work session minutes. Second. Has been moved and properly second that we will approve our March 10th work 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 hearing. None. The motion carries. our March 10th, 20 uh 5th regular business open session. Did anyone find any concerns in that set of minutes? Hearing none, I need a motion for approval. Madam chair, I'll make a motion to approve the March

01810th regular business open session minutes. Second has been moved and properly second that we will approve our March 10th regular business 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. Thank you. Item six, items for information [Music] 6.1. That's why she didn't move. [Laughter] Good afternoon. I'm going to ask that my sister Reena Simmons, who is the chief of our programs, present. Oh, good evening. Thank you. Thank you so much. Um, so tonight I was tasked with um presenting to you all the um nonprofit organization one Harvard's Life Center and I'm here to give you some some background information of who we are. We are a young, bright, flourishing organization, new to the community,

019but we want to share some of the information that we have been doing and so that everybody can know who we are. My name again is Reena Simmons. I am the chief uh director of programs at One Harvest Life Center and we have been established, we are nonprofit 501c3 organization. We are our our mission, excuse me, not our mission, but our vision is to bridge the socioeconomic gap and equipping equipping individuals and families with educational tools to build a healthy holistic life. We have been established ever since 2017. Uh we have been doing work in our community currently. Um in the last four years, we have done a lot of work. In the last two years, we have done a lot of work. Um, we have recently received our second round of funding from Edgecom

020County, the Edgecom County Recreational Mini Grant. We are two-year recipient. Um, and that monies have provided us to be able to do after school and weekend events for our youth. We have a plethora of things that we do for our youth. Um, one of the events that was funded that we that we had that we hosted was the drone event, the drone technical education um, event. We collaborated with Edgecom County Emergency Operations and Edgecom Community College in October of last year and that was a successful event. Mr. Daniel Webb was able to come out to educate our youth about drones and flying and h possibly having a career. We also this past Saturday, this past Saturday, we had a youthled community bike ride where we were partnered, we partnered with a lot of people in

021Edgecom County. Our own sheriff, Sheriff Atkinson was, he came out. Also, the chief of police um our mayor Tate was also there. County manager and the town of Tarbor also supported in a mighty strong way. Um our youth came out in in large numbers and so we were successful with that event. Again, these programs that we have, they benefit our youth. With one harvest, we have a youth council called Tribe. And the name it stands for together reaching youth for better environments. And so all of these things, like I said, they benefit from what we do, the incentives um that we have in place. Um the programs help to support Ecom County getting off the list. Okay. So, this is some things that One Harvest Life Center does. And like I said, my sister and

022I, we work together in the community and we we look forward to doing more events and we look forward to partnering with more people in our town in our city. And by the way, I did have three children from Edgecom County to graduate. Thank you. Thank you. Keep them coming. Keep them coming. With your permission, we can give out these this information. Sure. And I'd like to say thank you Dr. Johnson who was my eighth grade teacher. Thank you Miss Kit who was my teacher in Edgecom Community College. I say all this to say that when we're in Edgecom, that's one of the things the strong things that we like to share with everybody that you don't have to leave here. You can live here, work here, get your education from here. And we can

023also have children here to help us to to give that message. And one of the other things that we're doing is social emotional health. We have therapists that are licensed that are talking to them about their social emotional health to uplift them and also help them and motivating them in the work that they're doing. We're giving them service projects. We we know that our counties also have food insecurities and that we have a service project that we will be actually doing with these youth and they will lead them. So what we want to do is we want to be an adult to guide them but the children to lead the the projects. Thank you. Thank you. [Music] Thank you. [Music] [Applause] Sorry. Thank you. My apologies. Thank you. [Music] Thank you young ladies. Excellent presentation.

024We'll continue with our agenda 6.2, our school updates. Dr. Bryan. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, as we start tonight, I will note a lot of uh see a lot of folks wearing blue ribbons uh this evening and a lot of people wearing blue highlighting National Child Abuse Prevention Month. And uh certainly we have a lot of things planned this week as well. Uh we had a big day today. Uh here's Kyouung Public Schools. Our special Olympics uh occurring today at Tarville High School. Uh it's good to see Reverend Privet out there sort of facilitating the uh the day and helping everybody get to the right place. Um couldn't be more proud of our all of our amazing students who were there today from across the district. Great participation today in a in a in a

025great great event. Lots of community support, volunteers, and lots of different organizations involved in successful. Huge shout out to Megan Sykes, our director of exceptional children, her incredible EC team, along with town at Tarborough, uh, and Es Special Olympics committee for organizing such a meaningful event and the Jersey Mike and Tarbor for generously donating lunch for our athletes and volunteers. So, very, very great day. Last Friday, I had the opportunity to go to uh to uh Carrie uh our ECPS teacher of the year, Miss Tama Farmer, 43 teacher, GW Carver Elementary School, was honored as a for the Bur Welcome Fund North Carolina teacher of the year ceremony. Uh she represented Esco County with excellence as a regional teacher of the year. We're incredibly proud of her dedication, leadership, and positive impact. Chief, great showing

026for county and thank you. Uh last Friday as well, there was a uh ferocious STEM design challenge competition. U Nash and believe Wilson and uh Wilson just Nash and Ed. Thank you. Um, congratulations to South Edge Middle School for capturing first place in Friday's STEM design challenge held at Rocky Mountain Event Center. Uh, very proud of our our our team there at South Edge. Um, they brought home first place. Oh, really? Very excited. Uh, lot lots of great uh events there that day. great opportunities for for students uh regardless of what school district they're in. And uh we're proud of our students and coaches from South District Middle School. And uh thank you for uh to everybody who helped make that happen. A special thank you to STEP who uh does a great job in

027sponsoring lots of amazing opportunities for students across our counties and uh dedication to workforce development and innovation which we think is also had a great week last week with art art explosion if I can say it correctly. uh huge success. We had a uh on the 7th we had a variety fest uh to powerful performances on the band fest night which was April 10th and uh lots of Echo County students who showed off their their uh their vision and talent with the arts and uh just got lots of rave reviews and families and community members and staff and uh we just want to thank everybody who made that made that happen. a great great event and I and uh I have to tell you when when uh when our students hit the stage there there's

028an energy electricity that comes through the building when they do that and uh it it's it's fun to see it's great celebration thing u finally and I know nobody will be excited about this but uh spring break begins on Friday and Um, all schools will be closed from April 18 through April 25. We wish all students and staff a restful and welldeserved spring break. That concludes my report. All right. Thank you. They just pretended that they were they were some kind of happy. You think they're seem pretty excited to me. Oh yes, that was wonderful. Okay. 6.3. Yes, ma'am. Uh it is that time of the year for uh uh budget consideration and uh tonight I will uh present you with uh a what I will call a a draft budget uh proposal. And uh

029just for everybody out there listening and and uh presentation purposes tonight uh the board is going through the process we'll be going through the process now looking at the local budget request and uh I always say to everybody this is a a local request for for funding as everybody knows our our budget also made up of state funding and also federal funding. So all those things are taken into consideration. seems there's a lot of uh uncertainty this year in regards to what the state and federal numbers might be. Actually uh tonight just a few months before the meeting started uh the Senate general assembly in North Carolina actually released their budget for what their proposal was. I've not had a chance to look at that yet. So I always tell people that this is a

030fluid process and sometimes the num numbers change. So even what I say tonight might have already changed already. So I will I'll say that for everybody's u information. But uh tonight uh what what I put out there is uh some thoughts for the board to consider for them to eventually uh adopt their own local budget request to the county commissioners uh for some things that we think are important. And uh I I will preface all this tonight and I'll I'll say several things, but our board of education um prioritizes retaining and attracting the very best educators and individuals to support students and that is their number one priority or has been. So, I will talk about some of the supplement increases that I'll be uh proposing within this and the board will certainly take this

031up into consideration as we move through the next couple of months uh with requirement that will be presented to the uh to the county commissioners and we'll actually have a joint meeting with county commissioners in April 22. So, uh, there are some fixed costs in here. Uh, an increase in the cost of current supplements based on an estimated 3% state raise. That is a that is a whole that's a number to sort of hold there at 3%. We're not exactly sure what that state may be. So, that is certainly subject to change. Also recommended an increase in teacher supplement rate from 10% to 11%. uh an increasing school administrative supplements uh across the board to try to get uh our lowest paid administrative supplement to 11%. Uh also looking increasing some some administrative supplements for

032some folks in CO uh classified supplement increase from $300 a year to about $1,300 a year. And I I my own perspective, I think I think increasing the the uh the classified supplement is critically important for for us. Finally, uh a 10% rate increase for athletic supplement for coaches. Um you'll see the information I've given you there that that accounts to about $966,000 to increases in funding and then some also some post salary increases uh estimated again trying to account for what we think the state increases might be for locally paid individuals a 3% state raise again that 3% might change and then also looking at revising our bus driver pay schedule uh supplement to look at increasing that sort of the average increase of 7 to 14% uh per hour which those two things

033would cost about $180,000. Uh we also built in an increase in utilities about $300,000 and then that all that comes out to a total at this point uh $1,446,000 which would be about 13.5% So let me let me talk a little bit about some rationale behind this and and as you all know uh as we move forward with this process we have a nice tidy booklet that will contain all this information and information that you need to to make informed decisions as you work through the budget because ultimately this is my recommend this will be my recommendation to the board but it becomes the board's budget and the board will make their decision about what they want pass and support which will in turn be submitted to the county commissioners. Um we try to take

034into account uh input and feedback from folks as we've had conversations throughout the year, not always specifically about budget but about uh input about how we can do things better and how we can better support retaining and attracting the very best people. Um we try to get that people that information from folks. As I noted before, one of our best our top our top priority is retain the very best people to teach and support our students in the classroom. In the current environment, uh there's intense competition to do that to attract and retain the very best folks and uh it's also in a in an environment where there are fewer seem to be fewer and fewer people going into the education profession. So, it's a smaller pipeline of individuals with keener competition for them. Um,

035as I noted a little bit earlier, uh certainly trying to raise um some of the uh pay for individuals in that regard the cost. That's not always the the uh only answer, but it's certainly part of an answer for that. uh as I note before, we try to touch uh employees across the district in all those categories to try to increase some of that funding support. There will also be a local capital budget request that you will be receiving very soon as well. We're in the final process of getting our final quotes. As you know, um sort of uh capital needs and some of the uh some of the variability and costs for that are becoming uh very uh very erratic have been very erratic recently. So, we're trying to get some firmer numbers for

036what we're trying to do. As you as you remember from last year, you will have uh photos and pictures of things that we feel like that we need to uh to improve and uh hopefully uh some good cost some cost that will be very accurate. U with that. Um, as always, uh, the bottom line and most important thing for us is to make sure our students are being successful, and we're going to do everything we can to not only make sure they're successful in school. We want to be an engine to support economic development in our community. We want to make sure our students are prepared not only in the classroom but to develop the workforce development skills that they have that they need to be successful whether they're here in Edcomm County or wherever

037they might be right to contribute to their individual success or the success of the community they're uh living in. As someone mentioned a little bit earlier, Eskim County is a great place to grow up, live, right? Work, go to school, all those great things here. And we want folks, we want students who can do that if they if they choose to live here and contribute here to be part of that process. That's critically important to us. Over the past year, we've been fortunate to have some great uh successes on the economic development front for our school district and community. uh Natron Energy relocating here to the Kingsboro mega site is critically important and obviously Amazon has been involved with distribution centers and things there in Tarboro. So it seems to be uh we we seem

038to be on a very positive trend and we want to contribute to that and be a part of that. Um finally uh we we know that we always want to do better as a school district and uh we are trying to put a number of things in place uh to make that happen in the classroom for students from graduation rate to uh accountability scores uh to how well our students read and do math and science uh contribute to workforce development and also just um are part of innovative things that happen in the classroom and across schools. Uh we tried to put a plan in place and tried to work on that over the last year to improve our school district and prove and improve opportunities for students. Uh a small school district with great opportunity.

039That's what we strive for. And uh you all and public will be getting uh even more information about this as we go through the process. But I I wanted to make sure you aware that tonight is just forformational purposes tonight. But we'll be going through a pretty intense process as we go through the next month and your local budget request to the commissioners and also uh as we watch what is happening at the state and federal level as well. Any questions for me or thoughts for me as we conclude this conversation? I have some um I really am scared about not having students excited about becoming a teacher. uh I do not think that we are starting early enough to discuss the issue with students. I called my teacher discovering my talent in the fourth

040grade and I was able to continue to college and so forth and keep my pallet in place. So, I'm just saying that maybe we ought to be sure that we're covering that issue to try to make sure that students are interest find that interest early and hopefully we don't get to the point where we just can't find a teacher. Uh, I have to go a long way. Respond, Madam Chair. Yes, sir. Um, EPCOM um has taken an innovative approach I believe towards developing increasing number of students. Scholar teacher program that our foundation has been such an important part of probably the founding principle of what the foundation was was uh was founded on has has been has been really important for our school district and I think we are we are seeing the benefits of

041of that within our school. I I do certainly agree with you that um we can continue to expand upon that at a younger age where we will we will try to uh make sure that students have an understanding of what it means to be in education and be a teacher and to uh maybe pursue that as a career. We we are I think we're looking at this now as sort of two two solutions to the issue. There's a short-term solution and there's a long-term solution. And uh we're trying to make sure that we do everything we can to to pursue both of them. During this year, for the first time, we've actually expanded the scholar teacher program to include some students at the traditional high schools who were not just at the early college. Okay.

042And we we've had a a student who has uh pursued that which has been good. And uh we're looking to expand that even more and that'll be part of the foundation discussion as well. Um but so I think there's some exciting things out there but your your point is I think right on the mark and uh duly noted for us as students explore different careers which we try to do that for our students at the elementary and middle school level. We need to make sure that we are we are including education and teaching as part of that discussion. Good to answer that. Other board members need to I just want to mention I'm glad we're thinking about increasing salaries of bus drivers. It's disheartening and we don't have a bus driver. We have children who

043need to get to school. And um I'm hoping that that might be part of the solution. Um I don't know if that's going to be part of the solution, but maybe more people will feel attracted to to driving for us or even employees may they choose to do that before and after traditional. M I think that I think that our teachers themselves can do a lot and go a long ways in influencing uh the teaching profession upon the students. I I knew in the second grade I was going to teach. There was no question. Everybody that I came in contact with at home, in the community, at church, uh, wherever I went, they prided themselves in being teachers and we looked up to them. My band director, my coaches, my scout masters, the Thunder School

044teachers. I think our teachers can do a lot to let people know that this is an honorable and a very special profession. Uh, I hear too much of us putting it down and I think we need to do more to let them know that it is something to call. Um, I'm going to say this and I'm through with this part cuz we have six based agenda and I realize that. [Music] Um, I know a teacher that complains all the time and I do not believe that teacher is encouraging anyone in in its [Music] classroom to be a teacher. But this is something that we just need to start talking about it more and supporting what we have already in the making. Madam Chair, may I say one other thing? We are we are always re-evaluating

045things looking at different different levels of uh employees and salary scales etc. So even as we're talking now we will we are continuing to do that as we work through this process. So I always always put this disclaimer out there that uh what I present tonight is always subject to change and and ultimately depends upon your approval. So just want to make sure that everybody's aware of that. Okay. Thank you very much. Okay. We're only on item 644. Uh Mr. Perkins. Madam Chair, I am sorry. Oh my goodness. I I uh I have to give the maintenance report. Second string again. Second string again. Oh man. For those you don't know when I have to give the uh maintenance report is the second string is in. Sorry. Thank you, Joseph. Um so uh so this

046is a a before and after repair on a fair view of some leaking pipes that we had uh installation in the school. This was a a wall that was repaired at Phelps Middle School before some work there. Room steam removal. There's some steam issues there with the boiler itself and then repair on the classroom. They changed out some some carpet open door southwest and and I will I will I will just share with everybody uh because I know we're this moving but you know when we when we show photos like this we we try to give people an example of some of the work that's being done It's not all the work that's being done. There are lots of other things that happen during the day, planning, and lots of different things. But, uh, and

047and you will you will see that in your capital budget request as we move forward in the next couple weeks. So, thank you, Madam Chair. And goes to the maintenance people because they do all of that stuff. We told that might be why he doesn't come. Well, there there might be some method to the matter. I'm not sure. Mr. Perkins look right straight at me when he come. Well, he wants to hear what has happened. I He'll be expecting a report from me. You got to keep it real. Okay. Next. Okay. Field trips date 6.5. So, what you have in there? uh extended day for Friendsville Elementary School uh to the uh zoo in Asheville. And then you also uh in 6.6 uh you also have some overnight uh overnight field trips um that were

048previously approved and lots of different uh extended day trips. They're there for your your information. We have a lot going on. Okay. You want, if I may continue. Yes. Uh 6.7 6.7. You have fundraisers uh there for various uh schools. Uh lots of different goodies on there as well from the double good popcorn at Edge Academy. And then uh if I may, Madam Chair, I will just go ahead and go to 6.8 Eight uh child nutrition program submitted nonet summer meal model application for no kids hungry $30,000. Could I the uh expansion of it? Will we be able to expand that program project? Isn't Isn't that like the summer program? Miss Ruth, would you like to answer the question? Oh, is Miss Ruthie here? Hello, Miss Ruth. Yes. All right. Like to expand the program.

049Oh, and I was just listening to those two ladies that were up here. I want to connect with you uh so that you can do summer feeding at your site this summer, too. Uh so, yes, this grant is going to hopefully I want to expand the program. Uh hopefully purchase a van to take meals to the householders. Remember, like we did during CO, uh we non- congregate means families didn't have to come to us. We're going to take it to them. and expand the program and do it to maybe a few households anyway. Good. Thank you. Thank item seven. We have no committee report. Okay. 8.8 item. Dr. Brian. Madam chair, uh we have field trip fundraisers. Uh we have a grant um receive being received by uh New York High School for for athletic

050department. Coverly accepting monetary donations $1,652 from the Phil Brooks Alumni Association designated sports initiatives and programs at Cupwood. And uh also um 825A we have a sort of participation in our 202425 readministration program plan for testing for students and reading and math. Have some changes uh changes that came down from the state. We've uh we've reworked that allow us to do some u some remediation and testing at the end of the school year prior to school year getting out. I think I'll cover everything. All right. Board members, do you have any questions to Dr. Bryant in that section of our consent items? Hearing none, we need one motion to approve all of our consent items. Madam Chair, make that motion to approve for the approval of all of the consent items as presented. Second has

051been moved and properly second that we will approve uh the consent items 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 kind. 8 point B items for action. Um, I'm sorry we did not recognize uh our attorney with us uh this evening, but I'll do it now. Uh, Attorney Stagner uh is going to be with us as we discuss this section of the next step for posting and public feedback on the draft redistricting maps. Oh, hi you, Mr. Blake. Thank you, Madam Chair, board members, Superintendent Brian. Um, y'all are going to be tired of seeing me and talking about this, but u we're just here, as you know, we went through quite a

052bit of information on the new option at the work session. I hope you all have now had a chance to look at that. We're Blake and I are here to answer any questions, but ultimately the goal tonight, we hope, is that you will narrow down the options. so that uh we can move forward with giving public input, having some public um information sessions and uh I think superintendent has put together some options for dates and locations, but um as we've talked about before, we'll you know once you have selected one or two um or three, however many you can narrow it down to options to to move forward with, we'll draw some put up some big maps around the county. Again, they're available on the website. Um, and so this is an opportunity for you

053all to ask any questions. Um, and then if you have if you're ready to move forward to to select a couple of options to go forward with. Yes, I think we need to label the locations that we expect and any of the board members can name the places that we would like for the maps to be. Is that correct or am I in the wrong lane? I think the superintendent has some suggestions. M I've got some suggestions and uh we talked about them a couple months ago, but um we we talked about sites across the county spread out from uh libraries to uh IOC to to uh county administrative buildings both harbor and various places. So, I think we're I think we have about at least six or six, seven locations that we want to

054put maps out there for folks and we will make an official announcement on on that. Um, some of that is dependent upon we want to make sure we're double checking on the timeline. We've not we've not obviously ordered maps yet until you all approve what you want to publish for the community. So, we're waiting on that and then we think we can have an announcement either by the end of the day tomorrow or by the first thing on and we will publicize since we have our system that sends information out website, social media and anybody who has signed up about for the redistring process, we can very easily publicize that, send that out to everybody. And and while we're talking about it, I would suggest that at least to begin with that the community meetings

055be held at North Edge High School, Southwest Edge High School, Tarbor High School, and DS Johnson Elementary School. And I say DS Johnson because it might be a little bit bigger there uh versus having a teacher resource center, but we can adjust and add as we need to. But those would be the initial four. That seems to hit four areas of the county. And I even have I even have some dates for you to consider. But I'd really like to put that out for you all first so that you all can confirm your schedule and then we can we can announce ASAP so everybody will know when they are. Well, I I think I can get that information to you. You give you all some time to check your calendar tonight and early tomorrow and

056then we will we will publicize that just like we have all the other information. I just want to make sure it's it works for you and then we can confirm your calendars. Then we can confirm that with the different sites, high schools and the sites throughout the county. So we get it all coordinated at one time. Has been publicized. Well, I think we [Music] need Okay, take a little minute here. I see everybody looking. Do you have your [Music] Mr. [Music] Anybody have a problem with that on this side? It's okay. Monday. All right. All right. Locations. Now, all the locations that you mentioned, we'll need to go to each of those. Is that right? Yes, ma'am. And and if you don't mind, I would like to match locations and dates by working with each

057one of those. I want to make sure I work with each one of those schools to make sure that they don't have some type of special event that night. With our high schools, that's really hard sometimes. So, I just want to have a little bit of flexibility before we announce before we match dates and high school settings together. Okay. That that's your job. Um, and the time is always whatever we do is at 6:00 p.m. Well, we that's that's a time that we have thrown out, but we can adjust that as you all see fit. Um, [Music] about 4:30. High schools are usually pretty pretty busy. So, but that six unless there's a a game going on or an event, it's usually a little better time. All right. [Music] I need is all that we

058just said. Okay. um that our next meeting will be Monday, May 5th and we'll do these meetings at all four locations that's listed here. Tar High School, North Edgecomb, Southwest Edgecom, and DS Johnson. and the time will keep at 6 p.m. and and I will I will communicate with the board to double check all the dates and give y'all time to take a look at this book. Question, Dr. Brian, did you mean for us to look at all of these dates listed here? Yes. Yes, sir. Starting with May 1st. May 5th. First is on there, but that's five dates. Four dates here. We have another big thing that day. That's why I didn't [Music] mention, but we need to do it early and move forward. So that's what the next day if if the board's

059okay with it, I will send out a communication to you and get that information back and we will make decision and we just like we have everything else, we'll make sure we publicize that for everybody to be able to be there which whichever site they might want to choose. Yeah. Okay. So we actually need to look at each one of these to see one of them because they come in different different sites. different sites, different days. Okay. So, do you have enough information for us for me to move on on the agenda? Yes, ma'am. [Applause] Okay. Is Is that clear as mud for you? Well, I think the the important thing is for the board to number one, do you have any questions about any of the four plans you've seen? Oh. And number two,

060which two plans would you like to move forward with to have at these public information sessions? if you are ready to narrow it down and that that's that's the direction that we need from you as the board is which maps are we going to which maps do you want to gather public impact input on and that will give us guidance about what we need to do move forward with the dates and maps we need to get copied etc Stop. Madam chair. Yes. Yes. I I had a recommendation for the two maps. I think I was I was wanting to hear what each board member had to say. Let them sit. And if we're not uh on on your toes, then then you squeal. Oh, we're good. We want to do two, right? Again, there's nothing,

061you know, sort of magical about two except that it's, you know, we've got four maps. Four is a lot to get public input. too much. If you have narrowed it down to two, I think that gives the the public a good opportunity to compare. And uh you know, if if you all can eliminate two that you're just not happy with right now and then move forward to get public input on two more, I think that makes a lot of sense. If you you know, it's sort of a a sweet spot as far as the number of maps. But if you are just determined that there are three great ones or there's just one that you all like, you know, we could we could go forward with that as well. What if you if there was

062like a map that you wanted to see uh some revisions on? Well, again, I think that would be it, you know, the board would need to give us direction. Um, when I say us, I mean specifically Blake give direction on how to, you know, what changes you would like to see to any particular map. I do think that would, you know, sort of stop the I don't want to say momentum, but we would, I think, need to bring that back to the board so everyone could look at it and and uh then we could look at putting it out in the public um having the public information session. So certainly can be done if that's the desire of the board. Madam Chair, my options that I choose is option C and option D. Excuse me.

063A and D. Um I want to see uh revision on D. Um and I had to make another choice. A but I want to see some revisions on the C and D. A and D. C and D. What was Kevin? What did you say, Jill? Um, A and D. A and D or A and B. CN. Now since we need to what was that you want D make a motion to kick B out that would be going in that would be one off because no one chose B. I mean it's a step in the right direction. I know it's not where you want us to be. step in the right direction. That's But it it at least takes one off the table because no one chose B. I have a question. Miss Wilson didn't name

064him, too. Oh. Oh, I didn't like you all. It's [Music] good. I'm not ready. I'm not ready because I want to see revisions that's going to come out of [Music] D. Well, again, just to to be clear, I mean, certainly um we could make revisions. Blake could could make some changes. Um if that's the the wish of the whole board if you know if you're satisfied with D. If most folks are satisfied with the if you're curious about seeing what what those changes are, you know, it's really decision and maybe they're small changes. I don't know, Mr. Alice. What change? I'd be interested. What changes would you like to see in D? Okay. Indeed, I would like to see um one more mention like the communities or whatever in the Rocky Mount area had been

065better and something else. I would like to see him do something with that to try to get those communities back together the way they were and see that I would think that that would be that big of an issue. Um my other is all of the um incumbents here for the most part has got a reasonable amount of constituents that they had um in their area from the previous except Miss Kent. I would like to see if there was a possibility um to revise her area and Mr. Reverend Privet's area. Um and just it's based on the constitu constituents and also communities of interest together. Um to look at maybe um old highway 64 to make that the what's north of 64 into Miss uh Kent's district to give her some more constituents than what

066she has had. I know then that you might have to tweak a little bit something else somewhere else, but I don't think it'll be would be real major to do that. But when Miss Kent's area was pulled down into that little spot, it just um basically covers her neighborhood. So, she has next to nothing as far as any constituents um that she's been serving through these many years. But, I mean, it would give her more if, like I said, and you may have to adjust Reverend Privets a little bit somewhere to to even it out orever how you do it. But um when I was looking at the map, that was the best um solution I could see as far as trying to give her some constituents that she's had in the past, if that

067makes sense. And the other thing, like I said, was trying to get the Rocky Mount area um get that area um based upon the way it is in draft seat. As far as the communities together, I think C is the one that keeps communities whole, right? Other one split them up. The other one divide them. So, just to remind the board members, option A was the priority was keeping the current districts as much as they are uh together as possible. So that's that was the plan that would keep the most constituents with this incumbent board member was option A. Um option C was to keep communities of interest together. That was the priority. And then option D, the priority was to follow the commissioner districts as close as possible with just minor changes to include

068incumbents. And so Mr. tell us that's why you know just dropping down to get Miss Kent in district 5 because we were keeping those commissioner districts and just trying to make sure so that you know other changes would be more of a deviation from the commissioner districts which was our understanding that's so certainly if the board wants to go a different direction now um you know and Blake may have some comment about how you know he thinks it's could be done or not done easily I have one question. La last at the last meeting he mentioned communities of interest in five and he listed three communities of interest. They're not together. They're individual. Right. I'm going to let Blake answer that. Blake, when you mention more than one community, like you mentioned Austin Pines, Mobile

069Home Estates, and Brentwood, um you that's three different communities of interest or one community of interest. Uh that's a good question. So in the document that we received from the community group that had specified communities of interest that they wanted kept intact or kept groups together, there were identified groups of communities and this was true in Rocky Mount as well as Tarbor. Um so those would have been individual communities that had been requested to be kept together in the same district. So to answer your question, I guess it sort of depends on on who you ask, but yes, those are maybe one could say that those were separate subdivisions or neighborhoods that wanted that the the group had identified as um communities that would be desirable to be kept in one district. Well, that's by

070district and that's nowhere close to being true at all. it again as Deborah said the priority was to do that in option C and in option C uh that those those requests were monitored. So are you saying that you don't agree with the request that the community group put to to have those group together or that in in option D that wasn't satisfied? I'm just saying Austin Pines, Oklahoma Estates, and Brentwood would not be a commu three communities that would be of interest in one group. Okay. So, your your uh understanding or or your uh evaluation of that would be different than what the community group submitted? Yes. Okay. Thank you for that. Which makes me wonder, I mean, if if the people that put these together were basically the Rocky Mountain Nash group, they

071may not have a clear understanding of other sections of the county's communities of interest. But when it that just kind of came up random last time and I thought well those three areas don't have any I mean I imagine it was a demographic move but it that's a that's that's not a group that three groups that would have anything in common. Also, Pines would be more in line with Bington Woods and North, whatever it's called, North. And Miss K. Um, thank you, thank you for clearing that up because as I think Blake and I said when we started off this process, you know, we're not familiar with the county as you all are. And uh so then the you desire of the board was to get public input. So we had the website opened up.

072um it was advertised to get input and honestly that was the only input we got was from the one group. So there was nothing else to go by and that was what we went by. So if there are changes that need to be made to reflect board members understanding because you've represented you know these districts for years. Um you know that's feedback that that certainly Blake um could use if the board wants to see some other option. I I think and and we wanted one thing, one of the the main thing was to keep us from having to run against one another. Yeah. So, it looks like indeed you scooped out a section to keep us from having to do that. I think scooped out your section and moved you up uh to keep us

073from having to run against one another. That was that was the first thing that we told them that we didn't, you know, not to do. Yeah. I understand that. But I'm saying I mean you know to me the process is if you you know you got these different maps where there may be some tweaking that you want with with the maps. We were given D the other night and we were we said we were going to go home and look at it. Now I've looked at it and I'm asking about some options possible which I don't think there's nothing wrong with. We're not doing this just for us here around the table. We're doing it also for the ones that are going to be coming behind us later on 5 10 20 years from now.

074These maps will be good until 2030 to 2030. I think there might be somebody coming forward. I think that the but I think the uh and one thing that we wanted to do was keep in uh communities of interest together together and and and neighborhoods whole right when we look there are two of them that split neighborhoods all to pieces really what I'm looking at is not splitting up neighborhoods in fact I've asked for the Rocky Mount uh to try to get them back together they where they were where I said make the line is not splitting up. There's no neighborhoods that are going to be split up. But where where would we have been if we did not have option D at all? The only reason why we did option D was to be

075resembling the commission. Okay. So, what where would we be if we didn't have option D? Well, I personally I didn't like A, B, or C. Got to have something. You got to handle I understand but I got a right to propose my opinion just like everybody else. You have but we but but if you we want and I don't think what I'm asking is neighborhoods of interest together communities whole is what we're asking. I I don't see that that's a bad thing to ask for. And the only thing I've heard about comm um communities being split up from D is from Rocky Mount. And I'm asking uh Blake to look at that and see if he can adjust that to get that together the way it's listed in C. And again I say what if

076we didn't have D at all but we got but we just got D last week. So so when he does that we're going it'll be more of a modification of a direct what we haven't actually haven't seen. No, I don't think we know what it's going to be until we see it. That's why I said let him let Blake look at it. He He made a request. Answer it so we can move on. But give what we what what he wants in it. You just can't tell Blake to modify it. Do he might you know just tell him what it is that you want to see. I do. And what was that again? going down Highway 60, old 64. Um because Miss Kent does not have has very few constituents that she's had throughout these

077years. That would give her a few more constituents of what she's had in the past. And the other thing is getting the Rocky Mount areas uh together. Whatever was um had been divided up, Metobrook and something else. Um they said it and it split up. So I don't know that you can bring in 10,000 new people and and all of us not have uh all of the constituents that we had. I didn't say that had all the constituents. I said a reasonable number of constituents. Of course that's uh that's going to depend on who's saying that reasonable. Well, I thought it would be reasonable. My my my one man, one vote. One man, one vote. That's exactly right. One man, one vote. That's my vote. And it's on the table. It's on the table. [Music]

078So Blake might be able to give some quick or quick input. I don't He hasn't had a chance obviously to look at those requests, [Music] but So can you all see what I'm sharing? um from my computer here a map on the screen. Yes. Yeah. Okay. And Miss Kent is district five. Correct. Correct. So the black outlines here, I'll just put them on. So the black outline here that we see is Miss Kent's current district. What's in this black outline? That's the existing district. So those would be her current constituents. And then if I add option D, I'm going to turn on option D and make option D visible. You can see that what's in pink is what uh would be in district 5 in option D. So all of the area that is pink

079inside this black outline would currently be part of Miss Kent's district and it would be part of her district in option D. [Music] So I believe the residence her residence is in this area here and this this portion uh I'm just you know in terms of land area it's probably a little less than half of her district would be in the the pink. So in the district in option D but But I'm understanding if I just want to make sure that I would be asked to adjust this so that more of her constituents would be brought into the pink. Yes, as as I think was suggested I that can be done, but they're going to be knockon effects. They're going to be which is my constituents. Yeah. And take mine away. I don't think they'll

080be yours if if he goes down and bring yours back up cuz you took my baby with six. So, um, you're you're district six, correct? [Music] So do sort of the same same analysis here. Currently this is district the district six outline and that in option D that district would become much more compact. That's the one in tan um here. So, um, the the challenge then is moving in because district three is narrow. Yeah, as I said, there would be kind of knock-on effects or or a cascading series of effects, I think. Um, which is certainly something I can look at, but as as Deborah said, that just means um, you know, another number of weeks would go by before [Music] Uh the next time to to evaluate and and choose plans to you don't

081even know these mine. I hope I know the community's interest because right now my neighborhood is good like right across the street from me is served by person. So that's why the communities of interest thing does is not that's not important. Well, and I'm just telling communities of interest and leaving neighborhoods whole is important to me so that you can relate to these people and tell them talk to them and let them know where they're going, where they stay there. And she had all of that. She has a mixture of all of it. A mixture of all of it. You know, when you look at what we're trying to do, I think really, if you look realistically, I think I'm looking realistically at I guess speak. You have a voice. It's it's just that, you

082know, take out percentages of racial because that's illegal. You can't do that. You don't draw. You can't draw according to that. Okay. You sir I just I think C answers what we see C is more realistic about what we what we were we're looking to do. I know we brought the commissioner piece in, you know, to to do that. But what we've done, we've created more problems rather than resolve something we already got have. The the community is is as it is. And and I think it's just if we just kind of look at it realistically, everybody's have to adjust. But when you come with the commissioners, it brings brings about more. It create more problems. We thought it was going to help, but it didn't. It didn't help. Mhm. No, go ahead. I was

083just going to say I hate to say this, but probably what would be the best bit is the real county commissioner map, but that would put people running for me against you and you against you. That is that would be the easiest for the community because it's no change at all. But I know that's not something we want. But I'm saying if we were looking at what's best for the community, giving them the same thing with county commissioners and the school districts would be the county commissioner map. No, no, I know the same will be easier for the community is the same thing. But what one thing was that we didn't want [Music] not long. That's true. Say it again. That's true. That's true. That's true. She said some people some people in the community

084may not even realize the lines when it comes to comparing the the board of ed to the commission because you know I've worked it before I came on this board and they were familiar with where they were voting and now you getting ready to stir up again and change their locations for voting. If we were to take the lines and put them to coordinate with the commissioners, you got people learning where they going to vote again all over again. Well, I I don't think and maybe something different, but typically the the person votes in their precinct, but they may get a different style of ballot depending on what district they're in. So, they're not necessarily going to be moving where they vote. It's the type of the the ballot that they actually get at their

085voting location. Now, they may move where they vote. They It's a possibility that they could move where they vote. There is a possibility. Well, a couple of us have the same commissioner. Some don't have a commissioner in that district. Oh, in the school district. Right. Right. Yeah, some don't have one. We we have both of us have the same. But there are some of us some who don't have one. M. Okay. I'll I'll make this quick. I make a motion and just let it fall where it may that I would like to see um the some revisions as stated uh to option D second that what did you say that I'd like to see the revisions for Matt D as stated It has been moved and properly second that we uh Mr. Ellis would like

086to see the revisions that he stated. Done. Any discussion question? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I [Music] raise your hand. All right. Oppose. Okay. See, I think he should have his request. So that's four to three. That means he get his request and it doesn't move anything. Madam chair, could we make just got to trim it down for time? Uh, I was just going to suggest could we make a motion to take B completely off the table since nobody mentioned B right in their list and that would at least narrow what's down. Would that be beneficial? Mistake because it's it's it's not mentioned. It's not mentioned. So that means it's not something we don't have to worry about, right? You don't have to worry about what's not on

087the table. Okay. So, do we have to have a time frame that uh uh for you all to to do what what he's asking? I think the May dates that were put out originally are going to be on the table at this point. Um, what I would ask though is while we first of all, does Blake have enough information to to do this to take undertake this task? And number two, if there are any other changes that board members would like to see, this might be the time to incorporate them. So, for example, Miss Kent, you mentioned that you felt some communities were not properly together. If you have additional input, it would be good to have Blake hear that now. Um, so that any final version of map D incorporates anything that the board

088wants to see as a part of change because before again option D was taking the commissioner's districts and making tiny little changes. I think he said 97% of people were still in the commissioner district. So if you're deviating for that now, you know, it's not going to be the same map as the commissioner. So if there are other changes that the board would like to see, I think this would be the time to um to share that. Six people uh called the but that's as I would assume. So now that changes cuz if if Mr. Ellison's request is honored, I don't believe the read or expect it to come out to be just like it won't be the same D. And so so that will probably change. If if I may, what sort of like

089we had option B and B2, I don't know that it's been made clear that if I were to make revisions to option D and come back with D2, that D2, the second version of D, would necessarily supplant D. In other words, if some board members actually prefer the original D to the second version of D, uh it it wasn't clear for me to the motion that this taking for me to come back with some revisions to D would necessarily replace that. Um, so I would ordinarily would would come back with something called D2 and the board could evaluate whether they thought that D2 was an improvement or not over the the original D. Correct. So, what is it that you're going to do with D now that and the new and the D2? What what

090what are you going to do with it? What is it that we're going to put in it that uh we need to see are going to see? So, the the notes that I've taken and from what I understand um from the the motion and what was stated, it would be to change the lines in the Rocky Mountain area to be more consistent with the stated communities of interest um more along the lines in that southern Rocky Mount area uh of District C. So to to honor the communities of interest there and keep them intact in u southern Rocky Mount and then also in the area of Miss Kent's district to see if the lines can be modified in such a way so that more of her current constituents would be included in her district uh

091in option D, the revised option D. as as Deborah said, if if there are other um concerns or preferences that that folks identified that they think should also be taken into account, now would be a good time for for folks to bring those up. They might require a new motion, but you know, we never got really a list of communities of interest. Does anybody have a list of communities? That was in some of the earlier materials. Um, and that's what I asked. That was my question for my district. the last time that he gave me that those were in um and we can resend that but it was in one of the earlier presentations I think with presentation C and included a post you know included in this live presentation was excerpts that identified the

092communities of interest that the um community group presenters requested and again that's the only thing that we we got out of the month that we had the portal open, but I'd be glad to send that again to board members. Absolutely. Um there's nothing else. I think we have our marching orders. Thank you. We thank you for coming. Mr. B, how long is going to take you to share the next concern about what Mr. Ellis asked about? How long? I I should be able to have those u by the by the end of this week. By the end of this week. Yes, ma'am. Okay. So, I'll clarify um the board's desire preference on that. in the past um as we've you know we have shared them with the board in a public meeting um I don't

093know if you all want to have another meeting or if you want these sent to you and then posted online at the same time so that you have a chance to look at them before the next meeting but that would you know have them presented to the public without without having a presented board meeting but I think you all have expressed a desire for transparency and So, um, if you have them at that point, they become public records. And so, um, but again, if the board's um, you know, preference, we can make that work. I, you know, spring break's coming up. I'll be out the rest of the month after the 22nd. So, that just something to to keep in mind how you would like those delivered, how you'd like that map delivered. Yeah, we

094need to see because we really don't know what we're getting. I think it'll be good to see. May I ask question about the date thing? So with with that motion in place, so now we dismiss all that cuz he said the end of the week. So he's talking about 17th or 18th he'll have it. So there's another full week and a half in April. It would be a quick turnaround. We can try to we can try to keep some of those dates and but we would still require approval of the board specific maps that that are communicated and advertised with the public. Okay. We can we can work on the dates and adjust the dates. Uh, I'm thinking what needs to happen that you would send it so that the public could see it and

095send it to us as board members cuz we know how to read and study the map uh the changes and we'll be able to see it. So, I'm thinking we need to re receive it and and so does the [Music] public. That's what I'm think about. Anybody think we shouldn't do that? I'm thinking we need to study before we come back, but I think we should have a separate meeting before the May before I [Music] recess stretching it out. Then we got a long day. That's true. It's a big student. Yeah. Gold key. Gold key student. If he That's a long week. If if you give it by the end of the week, that would be good. That's not going to be good for me. No, I'm not talking about a week. I'm talking about

096will Blake be done. I'm not going to be able to look at by the end of this week. No, I'm asking will he be done by the end of the week and then we look at it the first quarter next week and then schedule a meeting. I I think it may be to share that that both it sounds like I think both Deborah and I would not be able to attend neither of us would be able to attend the meeting um after the 20th for the that that part of April. Um so that uh those those final 10 days of April I think are are not options for us to be able to be in a meeting. Is that correct, Debbra? 22nd for me, but the rest of the month after the 22nd. I think

097the most important thing to me is that the community get the map access to the maps at the same time we get access to the maps. Okay. To be able to look at them and that way the group has plenty of time to to look at them as well as we do. Yes. I'd like to make a comment. Yeah, even if the community look at the map, I think the community has already made their mind on what option they wanted to use. And that's what I I draw the line right there. The community has put their input in. They have studied the maps and we're getting ready to make another alteration to a map that they have already studied for how many weeks? For how many weeks? Mhm. Now, I feel I I'm on this

098board and I feel that I have a voice just like everyone else. Sure. They have studied the map for weeks. Mhm. For weeks, and none of us on this board will ever get exactly what we want when it comes to drawing a map. Mhm. So, let's put aside our differences and let's do what's best for the community and our students as a whole. Community and our students. It's not about our feelings and what we want. It's about what is right when it comes to Edgecomb County Community and Edgecom County Schools. Okay. That's not safe. And I agree with you, but we've only heard from one community. We haven't heard from Pine Chops. We haven't heard from Charlie. They had an opportunity to come. They had opportunity to come just like everybody else. This is long

099for them. And I think we don't we don't do any meetings in this building without giving public knowledge of it. Public notice is given out within so many days of the meeting. And that's my point of view and I'm sticking with it. Okay. Thank you. Okay. I'd like Madam Chair, I'd like to see us go to it as as well rather than to keep coming back trying to make a one person one person whole. This is a whole this is a a community thing and not about making a person whole. None of us are going to be old. bring 10,000 new people and and everybody stay old the same. Can do that. We made a motion to hear Mr. Ellis's request. I should I think we should stick to it. You You got your mind

100made up. That's what she's telling me. So, if you read uh whatever Blake is able to do with D based on Mr. Ellis's request, it shouldn't change your mind. You already got your mind made up. And because you got your mind made up, Miss Worley got hers made up and not going to change. It takes his request away. I'm not sure I understand. But let's keep moving. That That doesn't make sense to me. Let's keep going. That doesn't make sense. No, not [Music] Dr. drive. We will ask you to make sure we get the dates and things. You're going to work on that as such. Yes, ma'am. With the school. Okay. All right. And you'll be in touch with us. [Music] Okay. Sticking with the agenda item A2Z. That's Miss Hope. [Applause] Hello once again.

101I am here tonight to present the calendar for the early colleges. I hope you have received um an updated copy in your packet this evening. Um so you'll notice that this calendar again is for both Edgecom early college and edge the gap health sciences. It follows it's a very similar calendar to the county we had this year. Um the teacher work days and the early release days, holidays within the school uh year are very similar to uh or identical to the traditional calendar dates. So they'll be able to cl you know work with the um traditional schools on on districtwide PD and things such as that. Um but um as you also notice in August the 19th we once again included a teacher work day so the teachers in the early colleges can attend our

102districtwide um convocation. Um on that it is um again very similar to this year's calendar and pretty much following our traditional calendar with the days that students are not in school. I'd be happy to answer any other questions you may have. [Music] Does anyone have any questions on the thousand foot and the edge academy hearing? None. We need a motion for approval of 8.2. Madam Chair, I'll make a motion to approve fiscal year 2025 2026 calendar for EC uh early college edge early college and edge academy health science. Second has been moved and properly second that we will approve uh FY2526 calendar for the early college and edge academy. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I oppose the same sign. The motions carried.

103Thank you. 8.3B. Dr. Madam chair, this uh recommendation for approval of way facility use fees separate cost of custodian uh for Eagles Baptist Church using Carver Elementary School gym on June 19, 2025 setup for vacation Bible school June 22nd to 26, 2025 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. uh complying with all uh power limits for community use facilities policy [Music] 5030. Does anybody have any concerns request a motion for approve? See if we can. No discussion. Madam Chair, I make a motion for the approval of waving facilities use fees accept the cost of custodian required to be on campus during the event of Eagles Baptist Church using the Carver Elementary School gym on June 19th, 2025 to sit up and June 22nd through the 26, 2025 from 8:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. to conduct community vacation

104Bible school with rest exceeds a single use or six-hour time limit and to wave fees per community use of facilities policy. Second has been moved and properly second that we will approve the facility use fees for Eagles Baptist Church using Carver Elementary School June 19th, 2025 to set up and June 22nd through 26 uh from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to conduct community Bible school. This request exceeds a single use the 6 hours limit and to wave fees per the community use of facilities policy 5030. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I. Opposed same sign the motion carries. Thank you. 8.4B. Mr. Hanks. Good evening, Madam Chair, vice chair, board member, superintendent Dr. Brian. Um I have two actions of item um two

105items of action before you tonight. Um both of them are from the cops grant that we um were awarded last year. Um the first one 8.4B 4B is a request for board approval to purchase of the purchase of security cameras installation and licensing for middle schools and high schools and to award the um bid to Encore in the amount of $593,1348. Um the funds were awarded through the cops SBP grant. 75% of the cost in the amount of $444,76011 will be used from the grant funds which is PRC um 376. Um the district has a matching share of 25% u of the cost and that is $148,253.37 and we were using um state school safety funds PRC 40 along with capital PRC077. Um this was posted as a formal bid and rub rubric used to

106um award um the wind bid met all of the bidding criteria. I listed a chart here of all the bids that were um received for the cops grant um RFP and um met all the bidding criteria presented the best return on investment for the cameras. Madam Chair, um yes, if you choose to uh approve this, it should be approved pending review by board the board attorney and Patric and Patricia has submitted the um contract um and I submitted it to Arcore. Armed Corps um has signed it and so um right now we just need if it's approved the board to counter sign that um that contract. Okay. Any questions? I don't have any questions about it. I I would entertain any concerns from the board and if we don't have any then I need to

107get a motion for approval. Madam Chair, I make a motion to approve the purchase of security cameras, installation, and license for middle schools and high schools to reward the bid to Encore in the amount of $593,348. Uh, subject to review by the attorney approval. Right. Did I get it right? Yes. Second. Thank you. Second. It has been moved and we uh second that we will approve award the bid to unco and in the amount of 593,1348. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I. I oppose. Thanking the motion car, Mr. P. Yes. Um 8.5B is a request for board approval for the purchase of the window film protection for our middleman high schools from the cops um SB grant and to award the bid

108to tint nerds um in the amount of $24,260. Um 75% again of the cost in the amount of $18,195 will be used from grant funds. The remaining 25% of the cost, $6,65, will be paid from the state school safety funds along with um any capital outlay that's needed for the um project. Um this was posted as a formal bid and Rubik used to um award the winning bid met all the bidding criteria and I have listed all the bids we received. Okay, any questions? Anyone to Miss Haynes? Hearing none, I leave here motion. I make move that we approve the purchase of the protection for middle schools and high schools and to award the bid to 10 yeah in the amount of $24,000 plus $60. Second. It has been moved and properly second that we

109will approve the purchase of Windows film protection for middle school and high school and to award the bid to tenur in the amount of $24,260. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let me be known by saying I. I oppose the same sign. Motion carries. Thank you, Counc. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening, madame board chair, vice chair, board members, and Dr. Brian. I stand before you tonight requesting board approval of the purchase of CTE instructional materials, digital content, and hands-on activities for middle school CTE career readiness and fifth grade career awareness for next school year 2526 um from Paxton Patterson as the sole source in the amount of $119,322.93. 3 cents using PRC14CT state funds. Currently, we have two middle schools actively using Pax and Patterson, and

110we would like to make sure that all six middle schools have the same materials and equipment and exposure to um career readiness. And along with providing the career career development coordinators materials, portable Pax and Patterson materials for fifth grade career awareness. Does anyone have any questions for Miss about the program that she requested? Hearing none, could we hear a motion for approval? Madam Chair, I make a motion for the approval of the purchase of CTE instructional materials, digital content content for middle school CTE, career readiness, and fifth grade career awareness for 2526 school year in the amount of 119 32293 using PRC 14. Second. It has been moved and properly second that we will approve the purchase of CTE instructional materials, digital content for middle school CTE career readiness for fifth grade career awareness for

111the 25 26 school year and uh practiced Madam Chair Addison sole source I Rose pointed out that part of the um motion motion language was left out indicating that it's a sole source from Paxman I didn't just want to be sure that's part of the record that it's so source okay well I'm middle weight of the mo of repeating the motion. Is that okay to continue? Yes. All right. Uh we're aware we have this uh career awareness for our 25th 26 school year from the Praxton uh Patterson and a soul and as a soul source in the amount of $119,322.93 uh using PRC 014 uh CTE funds. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I oppose. Same sign. Hearing none. The motion carries. Thank

112you very kind. Good evening, board chair, um, vice chair, board members, superintendent Dr. Brian. I come before you this evening to request the board approval of a revision of our opportunity culture advanced teaching roles career ladder and stipens um for the addition of the remotelylo multiclassroom leader educator. Um we are currently part of a three-year grant that the board has previously approved and um part of that grant is that they are piloting the remote NCL role. Um we currently are working with Rockenham County Schools. So we are the first set of districts to try this out in the state. Um but one of the things that we wanted to make sure that we had the board approval on is to add the stipen for that remote uh located uh MCL uh to our current stipen.

113Um we took advice from public impact looking at different models to decide our final one that we proposed and our proposal um requests that the MCL maintain their current base stipen and then they receive an additional stipen per teacher at the school that they are supporting remotely. Um, if it's for a non-title one school, it would be 1,300 for the uh annual calendar year. And then for a title one school, it'd be 1,600 for the calendar year. Um, and that would be prated because we are aware that remote may only be there for three to six months sometimes. And so we would prate that by a 10-month stipen. Um, so we're here to request your approval to add this role in this stipen to our current um, opportunity culture career ladder. Okay, I don't have

114any questions for you. What about the board members? Any of the board members? You say I you say this is uh we are the first we are the first district. Um so we started the be the school year we have one in district remote MCL currently working at the early college and working at edge. Um but we second semester started we are working with Rockingham. So they are ex we are exporting our talent. We have a very talented MCL supporting at North Edge Cone and she is now supporting two math teachers in Rockingham. That's great. Yes. Yes. So, we're excited to be on the cusp of innovation and hopefully create a model for the state that they can implement statewide. Got one more thing to say. Go ahead. Well, Mr. Carmen used to say we

115want to get off the list. We want to be put on the list for this. Yes. Yes. And we will share they've already started to do a couple of stories about the work through MC. So, we can share those stories. Yeah. We will also have the opportunity to import talent if we need to from other districts later on if they decide any questions. I have chair make a motion that we approve of the approval of the revision to the current opportunity culture advanced teaching roles career ladder and stipens to include the remotelylo MCL annual stipen second has been moved and properly second that we will approve the revision to the current opportunity cultures advanced teaching roles career here ladder and stipens to include the remotely located ML annual stipen. Any other discussion on the motion?

116All in favor of the motion, let it be known by saying I oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Okay. All right. Okay. take. Madam Chair, I make a motion under the North Carolina Open Meetings Law Section 143-318.11A L and A3 A6 to go into close session to consider personnel matters to consult with the attorney to preserve attorney client privilege information and to present the disclosure of students records private confidential under the family educational rights act privacy act 20 SC1 1232G and the disclosure of personnel records rendered confidential on a GS115C-319 through 321. It has been moved that we go into close session. Any other discussion on the motion? I'll favor let me be known by saying I oppose the same sign. Motion carries take about five. in your pocket. This is the home screen. Tap the

117three horizontal lines in the bottom left to see all the menu items. To turn on push notifications, tap settings, select notification preferences, and allow notifications. Tap subscriptions to subscribe to your school. The event section shows a list of events throughout the school. You can use this button to add an event to your calendar or tap here to share the event with friends and family. The feed is where you'll find updates from administration about what's going on throughout the school. Whether that's celebrating a student success or reminding you about an upcoming deadline, search Edgecom County Public Schools in the App Store or Play Store to explore the app for yourself. It's everything ECPS in your pocket. [Music] Baby, hey. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Baby, [Music] down. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] N. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat.

118[Music] down. [Music] [Laughter] [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Oh, hey. [Music] feel. Hey [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Hey, Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Laughter] [Music] [Laughter] [Music] Nat. Nat. [Music] Down. Down. [Laughter] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] with you. I feel with you. [Music] La. Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Hey, I'm [Music] D hey baby. [Music] We like to come. Okay. All right. We'll get ready to go on in this meeting. Okay. 10.1 uh personnel management. I need to hear a motion. Madam chair, I make a motion that we approve our personnel management. Second. has been moved and properly second that we will approve our personnel management. Any discussion on the motion? All in favor, let it be known by saying I. I oppose. Same sign. Motion is

119carry. Thank you very kindly. [Music] 10.12 our extracurricular activities addendum spring force. No one has any concern to need to have a motion to approve that sprint. Madam chair, I make a motion we approve the extracurricular activities. I think it was fall. What did I see? Yeah, that right. All right. Can we hear a motion to approve? I think she Johnson we have we have a motion to approve our fall sports extracurricular activities and they are our fall sports. Who second? Somebody Johnson. It has been moved and properly a second that we will approve the fall sports agenda. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor? There be none by saying I. I oppose the same sign. Motion carried. Thank you. Okay. Our next item, March 10th, 2025, our regular business close session minutes.

120We just read it. Let's skip March 3rd. Huh? Call. Well, I back up. Uh, we need to approve our March 3rd special call meeting agenda. I mean minutes. Minutes. Could we hear a motion for those? Madam Chair, I make a motion that we approve our March 3rd, 2025 special call meeting board session minutes. Second. Has been moved and properly. Second that we will approve our March 3rd, 2025 our special uh call meetings close session minutes. Any other discussion on the motion? All in favor? Let it be known by saying I. Opposed same sign. Motion's carried. Now we'll move to our March 10th regular business close session minutes. Madam Chair, make a motion that we approve the March 10th, 2025 regular business session minutes. Second. has been moved that properly second that we will approve by

121March 10th, 2025 regular business close session minutes. Any other discussion? All in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I oppose the same sign carried. Okay. Board correspondence. Anybody have any [Music] correspondents? Right here. I was trying to find the last questions I needed to ask in this session. Who will be attending the April 17th 18th black summit in Robin? Who will be attending? I am I am okay. I will attend Thursday but not Friday. I checked our budget. That's the reason. And it would be very important for us when I looked at our line item if we could go together for just overnight meeting. Could we have someone to volunteer to drive? Uh we only have a green van that we use uh from a volunteer standpoint from sister chair. Yeah,

122I would not drive to Green Point. But I'll drive. I don't mind driving, but not the privilege. Not the ma'am. All right. Okay, we will. Thank you very much. But don't we have a It's a two night stay, right? It's a one night. One night. One night stay. One night, I think. Yeah, cuz I was at You've got the phone. What does your hotel tell you? Said what? Let's see. Check out time is Saturday. I was there and she was late session that Friday. that Friday night reception at 7 usually in around 10 and it really late y'all didn't want to drive afterwards. No, nobody wants to do that. Okay, thank you very much for that part. myself. I I'm going 30 when I come back. I have a plan on Miss uh one of

123our former teachers. Yeah. With stats. I have to do her for service. That's right. I forgot all about that. She was in southwest Southwest for 40 years. Well, she was first at West and then she finished at Southwest English teacher. Okay. I will I'll have you down school. I will talk to you since you're the driver. Okay. And Miss [Music] Ro number two. Friday, May the 19th. What's that all about? Friday night. Why did I need to bring that up? [Music] All right. You have anything on Friday, May 9th for us? Oh, that's the community college graduation that day. Yes. But that's the only thing I can think of. Oh, is it all day from It's in the afternoon. It starts at 4:00 p.m. I believe that's uh you have to have a ticket and

124some I I have to go back see can I find that email? It was in the email. I believe there was an invitation sent out at the end of last week. Yes. To everyone. Uh, does anyone plan to go to Edgeon Community College? Not the Ray College. Okay. No, not early. No, I sat through 34 years of those. I do I do plan to attend. Did y'all get my email to respond to that request on the ceremonies you each want to attend? Yes. Okay. I have to share that with schools and generally for that one you drive yourself. You don't do the green bane. So what Miss Ro generally the early college you drive straight there. You don't get on the green bane, right? Uh but that I think there's something about a parking ticket.

125That was that was quite a few things that the person that was at that was the that was the community college that had the parking thing. Mhm. She said early college. Who said early college? It's not the early college. It's college. Community college. It's the community college. Community college. Great. You you sent a different one out. It's two separate ones. Oh, I'm not familiar with Right. You sent a different one out. This came from another girl, the secretary at the community college. I just needed to mention that because that's what I was replying to. I didn't see I didn't read that. That's what it was college. That's the early college. No, it was the community college. Community college. She sent it out for Okay, I think that ends any comments. Anybody else have any comments

126other than a motion for ajourn? So move second. Has been moved and second that we will adjourn this meeting. Any other discussion? All in favor of the motion let be known by saying I. Those the same