001Thank you all for coming and we're going to call the meeting to order and we're going to stand and have a short invocation prayer and then we're going to pledge allegiance to the flag. Let's pray. Our dear heavenly father, thank you for bringing all of us here safe and healthy tonight. God be with us as we're conducting business of our school system. God, please help us keep the number one thing >> [sighs and gasps] >> that we are here to conduct business about is our students and our staff. Please help us keep an open mind and an open hearts. God be with us as we leave here tonight and give us safe travels home. In your name we pray. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
002republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> [laughter] >> Mr. Baron is not here tonight to see he's sick and so I'm the one who was asked to take over. I'm going to read you the ethics statement real quickly. Board members are reminded that it is our duty to avoid conflicts of interest and any appearance of conflicts of interest in retaining work of this board. If any member of the board has any conflict or any appearance of conflict with respect to any matters before us at the meeting, if so, please state it for the record. If during the course of the meeting you become aware of an actual or apparent conflict of interest, please bring the matter to the attention of the chair. It will then
003be your duty to abstain from participating in discussion on the matter and voting on this matter. Thank you for listening today. I don't I don't know if any of y'all were here when we had our meeting where we determined that we were not going to appoint one of the applicants to fill the position of the year of Ray Freeman. Ray Felton. I'm a little tense. We've been here since 10. We uh we decided that we were not going to that we were going to wait until after the election and we would go ahead and appoint the person to fill Ray's position who was elected by the constituency to fill this position. And you know that was Ms. JoJo sitting down there. Well, on March the 25th we swore her right on in and decided we
004probably did not need to vote on that again because we had voted on it prior [clears throat] to that, but her name was not mentioned in the motion. So now we're going to make the motion to approve JoJo as the person that we appointed on March 25th. Just to keep all the records straight and so we will be in order. So, do I have a motion to nominate Ms. JoJo Leg to be the recipient to fill Ray Felton's position until December? I make a motion that we appoint >> [laughter] >> JoJo Leg effective March 25th, 2026 to fill the year district seat for the remainder of the term. Do [snorts] I have a second? I'll second that motion. All in favor say I. I. All opposed? Thank you. Motion passes. Thank you, Mr. Jordan. Well,
005good. >> [laughter] >> For the second time. For the second time. And for all day. Um Miss Lawanda, do we have some public comments? Yes, Mr. Don Gregory. Okay. Please take the floor, Mr. Gregory. Good to see you. Thank you. Hello, Mr. >> Mr. Gregory. Good good to be here. Um You know, Linda Hofler had a little history lesson on schools. So, closing schools in Gates County is not a good thing. When they had 80 schools one time, 70, I forgot the number. Huge. And I know it upset every community that where that happened [clears throat] in some way or other. Some something happened. And uh So, I I heard [clears throat] and then of course every every school I feel like I have a connection. The elementary ones, you know, the principal went to
006Buckland, the teacher school. Uh the one here works in Buckland. The one that's at Buckland went to Buckland. They did her student teaching there. And and a lot of the teachers I know it feels like we're all like there's good things happening in all three of our schools. It's unfortunate that we have to look at anything less than what we currently have. But I know money's an issue. And we got to pay our way. We got to pay bills. Um But um uh when the vote was taken and I heard the result, I wasn't surprised necessarily. But when I heard the the number was two to one, I think. And and and I knew the election was coming up or um so, what I'm getting at is you have a five-member board four to nothing.
007You have a five-member board. Um I feel like the part of that vote that hit the hardest um didn't have any representation. Buckland, Gates, it it didn't have that and because Ronnie resigned. Gates didn't have any representation. Ronnie Yoder did not have any representation. And I thought that decision that important closing something that is going to upset a community. And I'm representing a lot of folks, a lot of them. Not one of them told me to do this. But I represent a lot of them. And I have I've done some some talking around just to get a better feel of the buildings and what it's going to cost to get them back in the shape they need to be in to receive students and operate. So, I I've I've got some knowledge of that. But
008what I would would hope would be that you'll take another look at this thing. And you will repurpose whatever building you you end up with or keep. Because what I understand that community center has some issues. I could see my parents grew up in the depression. And then my people that work with me know I don't throw stuff away much. >> [laughter] >> I don't throw away much. Repurpose or reuse it. Make it work. >> [snorts] >> And um So, I I feel that uh with the community center in the shape it's in why build a brand new one when you could repurpose it for one of the buildings that's no longer operating? I mean it would work. I guarantee it would work. You wouldn't have to put a new building up and save all
009that money and put it in somewhere that we we can use it. And do other things with it. But I I would like to see you I'm petitioning you to revisit that vote with all five members present. And give that county part that was affected most at least some representation. And it ended up being the same or different. But again, whatever whatever happens, I hope you can repurpose that that building. And maybe think about the community center as a way to do it. Uh because I could each any building we have could turn out to be a community center. Any [clears throat] building. And I've forgotten what I I think I heard a figure on that building, but you know, that's a lot of money that we could repurpose. We could make it work in
010a different kind of manner. But I would like to see you revisit it and vote with all five members here because all of you at least know some things and have learned some things, maybe even some more things since you voted. Dollars and cents. What's got to be fixed. And maybe something about the new construction that could happen in Canning but it's on the road somewhere. So, that's that's what I'm asking tonight that you rethink things. Think about all of the things, but give every member representing the county a vote. And I think those people in the community most affected and maybe throughout the whole county would feel better about whatever decision you make. A different one or the same. Uh you know, you got a you got an important job and what I see
011I think you have to have some welcome additions to your board. And different aspects. Uh but just think about it and and uh consider revisiting that vote so that we feel better about it. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. Gregory. Miss Lawanda, do we have anyone else? I need a motion to approve the business meeting agenda. Amend [clears throat] it. Oh, I have to amend it first. Okay. Uh the business meeting agenda will be amended to have a number six under consent agenda items, motion to approve where student Mr. Jeremy Bryant will be discussing the school division lines. Also, I need to let you know that we will not be voting on uh our approval of the minutes for March 6th, 17th, and 25th or March 9th because we don't have a quorum
012of people who were all on the board able to vote here tonight. You can do the 25th. I'm sure you can do the 25th. If I'm not mistaken. We Okay, it was just Okay, if you would like to do that, that is perfect. We were just going to do them all the same time to make it easier, but we we will do that. Okay, so let me let me just circle that and and put the 6th, 7th, 6th, 17th, and 9th will not be approved. And we will vote on the 25th when we get to that point. >> [snorts] >> Okay, anything else, Miss Lawanda? Mr. Wright? No, Mr. Wright. Okay. So, then with the addition of number six on consent agenda items and the deletion of 6th, 17th, and 9th on approval of minutes.
013All right? Okay, I need a motion to approve the business agenda. I make a motion to approve the business agenda. Second. Second. All in favor. Aye. Aye. Um >> [snorts] >> items for information, Mastery Connect. This is after we're looking forward to hearing this. Weren't you going to approve the minutes? Yeah, I was going to say cuz we got to correct it. Uh [snorts] hold on. >> [laughter] >> Do we have an approval of the business of the special called meeting on March 25th? I think there's one correction that needs to be made. If I'm not mistaken on March 25th, there was your proposal by Mr. to put summer school in Buckland Buckland Elementary. It was four to one with Mr. Jordan abstaining. I think that that needs to be corrected information. I believe it
014was incorrect that the summer school program would be at Gatesville. That is correct. So, I think we need to correct the record or to revote if whatever [clears throat] is needed to fix that. I'm not I think we can correct the record because it was incorrect information that was dispersed. Correct? >> Yeah, that's Okay. >> [laughter] >> So, Miss Lawanda, you got that? >> Yes. Okay. Thank you and I appreciate you giving me grace cuz I'm not used to this anymore. Now, Miss Season. Oh, we need a motion to approve the 25th minutes. I need the approved I need a motion to approve the March 25th meeting minutes. I make a motion to approve the March 26th meeting minutes with the corrections. >> Yes. Okay. With the corrections. Second that second. All in favor. Aye.
015Aye. Motion carried. It's unanimous. >> [laughter] >> Good evening board members and guests. Um, I was asked on behalf of a on the behalf of a board member to provide some more information about Mastery Connect, which is a student assessment system. I did provide you with a handout of the bullet points to just give you some um information about what it is and what it is um what it can do for our district. So, it does allow teachers to create both formative and summative assessments that are aligned to our state standards and it allows them to do that in terms of our um scope and sequence for curriculum. So, it can be tailored to match what they're doing in the classroom versus um trying to tailor our instruction to what the North Carolina Check-Ins is
016providing us. Um, testing can be set up to do automatic scoring for our teachers and they are able to write their own questions. They can adapt existing questions and it does support multiple questioning types, not just multiple choice, so it does allow us to look at some of the types of questioning that is found on the NC Check-In. It does provide tools as well for you know universal screening and benchmarking of our students and doing progress monitoring uh more frequently in order to determine student starting points and what their growth is over the course of the year. The library does contain currently over 100,000 [snorts] vetted test questions >> [clears throat] >> um that are looked at for both reliability and rigor to ensure that we are pushing our students. Um, as far as data
017insights, it does provide insights that allow you to track the data for student, classroom, school, and the entire district. Um, one of the key features that it does have is a mastery tracker dashboard for teachers and that allows them to pull up their classes. So, for instance, they could do a pre-assessment on a standard. They could or three standards. Let's say three. And then they would teach those three standards, do smaller assessments on those three standards, and then at the end they could do a post-assessment that would track how students have done over the course of that that standard uh those three standards being taught. The tracker does allow you to see it in a visual form and color, so you get a student you get green if the student has mastered the standard, they
018would get a yellow if they are near mastery, and it would show up as red if they need remediation. That data would allow them then to be able to decide their re-teaching needs in real time and more frequently than what we see with the North Carolina Check-Ins. And they would be allowed uh to able to use that data rather to set up small groups for intervention. Um, it certainly does pinpoint learning gaps for individual standards because the teacher can select how many questions they wish to ask on a particular standard. That is one of the weaknesses that we have with the NC Check-Ins right now. You may get a Check-In and it will have one question on the standard. So, you really have no clear understanding whether that student has mastered that or if they
019just gave a good guess that particular day. Um, it does allow what allow us to do uh predictions of student performance on our student performance on our end-of- year course and end-of- grade testing. And it does probably, I'm not sure I've got I hate to hesitate I hesitate to say this, but I think it's probably going to give us more alignment with what the EVAAS is saying, which is of course the growth model used by the state. High school benefits, it does already it would integrate into the already existing Canvas courses that many of our teachers who are testing testing EOGs are using and there is a curated library as well of ACT questions. So, when you look at the fact that the ACT is also part of our accountability model, having that test bank
020for our teachers to be able to pull from would also be um important. And that was the bulk of what I have to tell you. If you have any questions, I'll be glad to answer what I know. I see the high school benefits. Is it typically who's starting in grades three? Third grade? So, third through 12th grade? The high school would only be though for EOC tested courses. So, this is a software you can see purchase and it goes on our platform here. It's accessible by all teachers, all staff members, whoever needs to know. Those that would be um aligned to a class with those that would be class who has an EOC or an EOG test. And it's a one-time purchase, it's not a tail to it, it's not a service. You just buy
021load the software, do some training, and you're you're off to races. For one year. For one year. >> it is a recurring cost. So, it would be um an initial cost and I can tell you I did ask for a quote in July of this year um for the high school alone and that would be for four tested courses, it was going to be $19,000 for the first year and $11,000 as an annual renewal. For the district, it was $28,000 for the first year and an annual renewal of $21,000. The decrease in the price would be because you do not get training beyond the first year. Um, but obviously that was not something that we could move forward with at that time because it's just very cost-prohibitive where we were at at that point in
022time. So, and I'll assume it again, it's cloud-based. So, we're not loading software on our on our system. It's a cloud-based system that the teachers are going into. >> understanding, yes, it's a secure web-based program. Is this something that parents and/or students would be able to access? I do not believe so. It's just going to There will be reports that can be sent home to students or to parents. And honestly, I haven't sat through a a big demo. I've just sat through the the um pricing portion of it, so I'm not 100% sure about some of these questions that would require me to do a a meeting with them. But I am correct, you met with someone who has been using it and was very, very happy and So, originally originally this came because Mr.
023Hayes had looked into what it would cost for the high school and then he asked me to attend the pricing meeting. I do know other districts, I know Iredell-Statesville and Bertie have both started using it. I know there's at least two right off the top of my head. I hesitate to say anyone else because I'm not 100% sure, but there's at least three or four districts around us that have stopped using the Check-Ins and have moved to Mastery Connect. Is there additional workload to a teacher to be in this system? Is this something they would have to put a lot of time into or is this uh what would be the effort index? >> It's It's going to be a lift at the beginning obviously in order to learn the platform and you know again,
024there's 100,000 vetted questions in there, but if it's not a question that the teacher likes, they would need to you know create their own, but it does take the lift off of our teachers eventually because of the the data that we would be able to get. I mean, we get data from the Check-Ins, but I do believe that the Check-In data I mean, the data that we would get from these assessments would be more beneficial to our district because of the fact that you can tailor your assessment based on what standards you would like to teach. We've got pacing guides set up right now, but if something happens and and you know like this year we had snow, so of course that meant that our kids were taking Check-Ins and our teachers did not have
025the opportunity to teach all of those standards. And we did we did adjust the middle one a little bit I believe, but eventually you know you can't push it back that so much or you're into the testing window. And these if doing this, you said that they can do more frequent Check-Ins or benchmark, whatever you want to call it. >> I mean, it would up be up to them to set you know how you know if I want to teach four standards and then do an assessment. They would have some flexibility. >> It's more flexible than what they've got now. >> Yes. The the data that comes now and I know you haven't done a lot with this, but >> [clears throat] >> I swear is it easier data to be able to to get
026access to through something like Mastery Connect versus EVAAS coming through the state or do you know what I'm saying? Which So, you As far as them being able to work with and and being cumbersome. So, in my mind you're comparing apples to oranges and when you're looking at EVAAS data versus Check-In data, they don't always mesh well. And so, I do believe Mastery Connect would give them more opportunity to look at you know the individual data based on those standards, which is then going to you know so that can say my students have mastered these three standards and then I move on to my next one. That's going to give me a better predictor of where they're going to be for the EOG EOC. The Check-Ins is you it does have some some flaws in
027how it's done. Like I said, when you have one question on one standard, that just makes it very hard for you to predict for the kids maybe. Okay. So, then when you're looking at your EVAAS data, they don't always mesh well in my mind. Okay. Any more questions? Thank you very >> Thank you, Ms. Casper, very much. Y'all have a good trip. >> [laughter] >> Mr. Steven, the floor is yours. Good evening. Have a Have a good night. >> [laughter] >> Good evening. You can see your state funding is at 79.56%. Local is in good place at 63.15%. Federal and federal grants are at 66.41. Capital outlay is finishing up nicely at 86.90%. Child nutrition is at 77. 184% and my local weight restriction grant fund is at 75.67%. For a total of 76.56 for
028a year. Do you have any questions? Just for clarification. This is through the March payroll. This does not have the April payroll on it. >> It does not. It stops at March. But this March is included in this. >> Yes, sir. So but May payroll is not, what you said. That is correct. Okay. All right. Where are we on our child nutrition numbers and how does this um relate to the special funding we got from the county and how our numbers affect next year? Um right now our revenue to the good is $34,000 for the year. Uh we are a moving target though. We are in the middle of trying to get our numbers close to last year on CEP numbers. Last year we had over 700 kids that qualified. This year we're down over
029100. We tried to do a recount and make sure those numbers When you say qualified, what what do you mean by that? That would be the qualification for on the program where they are they qualify to be um free. >> Got you. Got you. I got you. We're at 82% now. That means we have to come up with that 18%. Um those numbers are normally through we're going to lose 10% of that funding from the state. Yes, ma'am. Did Did we start off the year with the free lunches and breakfast? Yes, ma'am. Do we think that might be a reason why the qualification numbers are down? People just didn't apply because they knew they were going to receive them. That is the That is the number. For the past 2 weeks we've been going over
030that trying to figure out why we have such a drop-off. Uh we have the DPI consultant coming in at the end of the month to do a thorough recount trying to make them sure those numbers are correct. Okay. Um because we don't want to lose the program and go back to processing applications. But right now right now is what we have. But that that would be a valid reason if I were a parent to not fill out that application. Right. I'm just saying. I'm like I'm doing it. >> We should have a better report by the next board meeting. Okay. On that adoption. Thank you. So I've got one more question. We we we talked about this before. There's There's some things up here that are linear that are just monthly payments like payroll. Right.
031Is there any number up here that we should be concerned about that we are going to run out of funding before the end of June? Any Any particular line that we should be thinking about saying we need to make an adjustment, we need to cut back or Like I see some lines where we're at 96% so far. I know that I know that the most expenditure is coming out of it or anything you want to draw attention to that we should know? The only thing that right now the next month I will start putting some salaries into local just to make up. But that is the only thing that Right cuz then local seem to be at 63% so Right. we're going to have to transfer we're going to run out salaries into one. Right.
032We have to push down to make it through the end of the year. Yes, sir. Any other questions? Okay. And why did you call me in? >> [laughter] >> No, I'm good. Thank you. I am first on the superintendent's personnel recommendations. The report and personnel recommendations. I make a motion that we approve the superintendent's personnel recommendations from closed session. Second the motion. I will make the motion to accept anything that has money on it. Got you. I cannot approve as you know. Got you. And I think you're in the same boat. We have our resignations and our volunteerism forms in there so we can't vote on ourselves. So not like we're skipping anything it's just you understand I can't do that. She couldn't She can't vote for herself. That's right. But we do have a
033form because we think it [laughter] is valid. I can't vote myself to be a volunteer. Does that make sense? Yes. Do I have a motion to approve the superintendent's report and personnel recommendations today? Do you so do I have a second? I second it. Gage has second. Thank you. All in favor say I. I. Okay, we have the consent agenda items to approve. I think we have all the information on these except do you need to do the land lease? We did that last month. >> [clears throat] >> Mr. Smith, do you need to say Do you submit your paperwork in? Do you need to tell us anything? I will just Okay, great. Thank you. >> [snorts] [clears throat] >> Good evening. Hope you're all doing well. Hi. It's good to see you. Again. Um
034we had the LAN this year we actually had a wide area network contract renewal. We had They had two legitimate bids. In the past [clears throat] we've had multiple bids but a lot of them were just really far-fetched. In other words, there were companies that would come in and charge us hundreds of dollars to drill you know a tunnel in and and uh with the fiber. So this year we had in addition to Brightspeed who is you know we've always had, we've also had Five. And Five put prices in and they were significantly cheaper as you can see in your packets than Brightspeed was. Um and keep in mind with that E-rate pays 90% of our uh and we we pay the other 10% but we get reimbursed by the state for So um in
035the past we've just gone with Brightspeed because that was really the only realistic I I shouldn't say legitimate realistic bid that we had. Uh I met with some of the Five people and I think they're going to they're going to do a good job. I really do. Keep in mind with that though they will have to bring fiber in each building because right now you know we had Brightspeed for the past what 15 years and if that all that stuff they brought in and and it was done so every year we didn't have to do that. So they're going to have to come in and and do that. And they've got to get it done by the end of June because our contract renews on July 1st. So they they will give me my word
036given our word that we'll get that done in due course. I believe them. I think I I met with some of the engineers and some of the technicians. I was really impressed with them so uh so we're going to you know I just couldn't I I mean even though you know we get reimbursed for that I I still felt like as good stewards of the state and we're all taxpayers and we all paid that we all could try to you know get the best deal. And I also feel like from a support standpoint that we'll have a lot better you know support from them than we have in the past with Brightspeed. Um we had really good support with Brightspeed but then one of the technicians retired and I don't know if they ever really
037filled his role so uh so that that was the rationale for going with Five mainly the cost but also the support from the support standpoint. And they're local here in Eden so I I feel like that would be you know in our best interest to do that. So are we increasing Yeah if you need to. Thank you. You can get that. You know in the past we had one gig going to schools. Five gig going to central office and of course the way our wide area network is set up all the schools tie into the central office. Internet comes from MCNC to central office and then it branches off you know fans off into the the schools. Um we have doubled that with the option to also in that contract we've also got option to
038increase bump it up again if we need to. And that's something that we really haven't had before you know. Of course so that would be good too. So basically what we've done is doubled it. We're going to do two gig each school and we're going to do uh 10 gig at the central office and that's comparable to I was talking to the guy Friday but that's comparable to to Eden and [clears throat] Charlotte and some of the But we also have the capability of bumping that all up to 100 gig if we need to. You know as high as 100 gig if we need to. Uh over the course of 3 years. It's a 3-year contract. Um But anyway that's [clears throat] kind of where we are with it um as far as that goes.
039Uh and they >> [clears throat] >> they they've already come back and done the site surveys. They did We did that last week and so they will they will begin working back. >> [snorts] >> Uh they've got to get the course of fiber. They've got locations near the buildings but they got got got to actually get it to the building. They got to get it in in the building and then have put your network equipment up and do testing. >> [clears throat] >> So, here one though it is May Yeah, probably get a lot of your rough in in May and in in in June and by June I think it's >> [cough and clears throat] >> 15th and 25th. Don't hold me to that, but it's one of those days you have everything ready.
040I think it's the 15th so then we can test and then uh make sure we're ready to go when we can swap over from uh uh Brightspeed. I've already contacted Brightspeed. You have to give them a 30-day notice to terminate their services so uh I don't think they'll be too happy with me, but anyway, [clears throat] you know. Uh but we we've done that. So, that that part is done. Um any questions on that part? Yes. >> Does the central office have a wiring closet like the other schools do? Yes. So, if down the road the central office were to relocate somewhere, what would happen? Like is that an additional cost to move all of that? It probably would be servers. >> Servers. Yeah. It probably would. I mean, a lot of this like the
041servers and stuff we would move that, but as far as that connection because see MCNC comes in there. So, MCNC is you know, they they got fiber all around so they would they would be able to they would have to relocate this office. I don't know if they would charge us to put that in a lot. Uh and I don't know if Five that's a good question. I know you know, I don't know if Five would or not. I would think they may, but I mean I also uh I don't know what I was I was going to say. With the whole issue with with Buckland right now, we now had to do this bid process. It was uncertain what was going to happen at Buckland and our E-rate coordinator from the state said, you
042know, let's go ahead and put Buckland in because we don't know. Um and so Buckland will be at least initially they will actually set Buckland up too. >> [clears throat] >> We can always cancel it later, but I I I didn't want to cancel it because at the time we were talking maybe in summer school and all that stuff happening. I mean, I you know, of course E-rate is one of those things is federally uh regulated and it's kind of you know, you can't mess with E-rate either like if you do you're You're done. You're done. They don't care if you're sick. They don't care what you're doing. You you know. Uh but we appreciate the money we get from them. What I'm saying is a very stringent timeline. You have to do it every
043year. It's cyclical, but Um so, right now Buckland will still have services and our E-rate coordinator is aware of that. Um later down the line we can we can you know, of course terminate that if we need to or whatever we need to do. Um How How much were were we paying Brightspeed? What What was it costing us versus what the fiber is going to cost us? It's similar to on that it was on that uh form. It was very similar to what we were paying. Okay, so it's not a whole lot of price difference and we're getting more gigabytes for it, right? Okay. >> Well, I mean, Five you know, I've got pricing from Brightspeed for the same thing, but that that comparison I mean, it was like $240 250 closer to $250 per
044site per month except central office it was about almost 500 there cheaper. Okay. Over the course of 36 months. I I felt like that was significant. If it had been $5 I might would have said, you know, we'll just go with Brightspeed because it's going to be it's going to be some work that we have to they have to do we have to get it going, but I just felt like it was worth it. They had done the a lot of the county. Matter of fact, they their reference was the county, you know. >> [clears throat] >> That's right. And so, I talked to the county. They had been pleased with them. They said they had done multiple jobs. They hadn't been dying in the all. I mean, they would say they were pleased with
045them. So, [clears throat] that's it's similar. Yeah, a local rep. Good. So, we're going to go with it and see. I mean, as long as long as you all approve it. I mean, I I feel I feel good about it. We'll We'll just It's going to be some pickups. I'm sure [clears throat] we'll deal with them. That's what we do. If I may, I I do have any more questions? I'll leave that. No. Yes. So, you talked about they're going to go to the buildings and have to run in the fiber. Yes, sir. And that's going to start around May. Mhm. So, how how difficult is that? How much interruption is that going to have to the school and the students because May is a pretty critical time line for us. That's the testing periods
046and I've already >> a bunch of people with their hard hats and jackhammers and putting stuff in. I've sent them the testing schedule so they know they can't be working in the building during testing. Okay, so that's the plan. >> Um they said it would take once they and they can rough in, you know, outside. That's not going to be but inside you're right. That could be some problems. And so, they said it would take about a day a site to rough it in. So, my way of thinking I think they'll probably do the the outside work probably in May and maybe the first part of June due to Okay. We said it would take about a day a site to run it to the wiring closets in the in the building. And then the
047network crew would have to come back put the in the remote access devices and whatever and do testing. I think it's something we appreciate if we could pull that off so it's not too interruptive. Yes. Especially during that time line. >> Yes. Yes, sir. Yeah, yeah, we're we're we're not I I already sent them the testing schedule and let them know they couldn't be working in the building during those times. Um I got that from Mr. You know, Mr. Windham. He sent that to him. He sent it to you. The other thing if I can real quick, I just need to address a couple of things. If you know, it's not related to that, but um the laptops have been ordered and have been shipped. And so, hopefully they will be in this week hopefully
048and we'll get them set up and get them to you as soon as we can. >> [snorts] >> Uh And then third [clears throat] thing I I understand there was some you know, concern about the website. >> [laughter] >> Um [snorts] We're working on that. And we've also got you know, 10 or 10 or 12 other big projects we're working on this summer too. So, it's going to be a busy summer we're working on. We we we flipped over in probably the end of November from our old site to this new site and the company [clears throat] tran- migrated a lot of the stuff over. A lot of stuff did not migrate over so we're working on that. We're trying to get the home pages. We met with some of the media specialists during PD
049and so, they know how to get in work on the school sites. I've got a lot of work to do on the you know, on the central office site too. So, we're working on that. I just like to say in that discussion that was nothing against you. I think every single person had nothing but you know I'll be the first to admit the hard work that you're doing. I'll be the first to admit there's some work that needs to be done. We're working on it. Um getting the bugs out so to speak. So, we're we're working on that. But we do have a lot of other projects we're working on too before the fall and that we got to get done. But that's all I had to say. I appreciate it. We appreciate everything. >>
050Thank you. Thank you, John. Everything you do. Mr. Wright, the floor is your words. >> [snorts] >> Good evening. Board of Education, um before you you should have uh regulation code 4150R which is our boundary description for school site. Um The information that is in this updated regulation is information that I have presented to you several times now. Um these are the boundaries that I covered at our last meeting. And then before that when we had um some conversations at the Millpond. Um there has been no change since I presented this information. The 4150 boundary description is what actually goes into policy. And again, it reads just like we've had conversations before. The primary east-west boundary between Eaton Elementary School and C.S. Cooper uh is established along the following roadways: Adrick, Medical Center, Millpond, Horse
051Quarter. Um And it keeps it continues to talk about what the boundary description is. If you've seen our old boundary description, this is a lot easier to read. It does [snorts] make it much more clear where the boundaries are. Um And there's also a regulation 4150E which is where the maps will go in our policy manual that is online. So, there are a couple versions of the map. There's the main map which shows the whole county. Then you have a northern view of the elementary school boundaries. And you have a southern view of the boundaries. Again, this is way easier to look at than our old boundary map. And it's just new technology. The partnership with TIMS and the information we were able to get from the institute has been a big big help. >>
052[clears throat] >> So, after getting the boundaries approved um we're working on getting everything into Infinite Campus. Um I actually uh I worked with the county. They provided me the GIS file uh which has been another tremendous uh thing to come across or to get. So, it will go actually into Infinite Campus and we'll I just update it as the county updates theirs. And it's going to help us tremendously with some of these roads and addresses that are not always correct in the system. As soon as we get the boundaries approved and we get the GIS into Infinite Campus, then we'll be able to print out names of where students will be going uh and send out letters to each individual family. Do Do have about a timeline for that? Uh >> [sighs and gasps]
053>> Well, everything should be ready to roll. So, I have one more item I need to do to get the GIS. I'm working with Mr. Windham Infinite Campus to get that system in there and that shouldn't take more than a couple days. So, I'll be ready next week hopefully to start printing out addresses and names. The hard part is going to be getting all the letters together and getting the information out to the parents. Well, you say getting letters out to parents. I'm assuming we're sending we're mailing hard copies. Are we also sending like electronic like via emails through the school or are we just doing the mail copy? >> I think we're going to try to do everything we can once the boundaries are approved. You know, we'll go social media. I kind of
054wanted to do the letters first to make sure that everybody was getting their hard copies and then follow up with emails through Infinite Campus, some phone calls, get things posted online so the parents can see the policy, the regulations and the maps. Okay. But the biggest thing is you I mean even if you look at the map and you you see it, there's going to be some roads that are pretty close that parents are going to they're going to need to know. They're going to have to actually see that address and the good thing about getting the GIS file into Infinite Campus is that when our data center puts the address in, then it will automatically show them what boundary it is, which we've never had before. That's great. Okay. I think the more that
055we can put it out there, the better it it will be. >> [snorts] >> Because Lord, we can't depend on the mail system reliably right now. So, but the more that we can put it out there. >> [snorts] >> So, you're all agreeing to even though the board has already been approved No, we have to it has to be approved. You have to have to have this approved. Yeah, regulation policy has got to be updated. Yes, the policy. Cuz I'm going to vote no tonight. Any questions to the board? Any more questions? Okay. You can view the follow one through three online. Mhm. All right, is one I need a motion to approve the consent of the items with Mr. Jeremy Bright number six and so one through six, I need to approve them. Can
056I um Can I ask for a summary of the regional report? I missed that. I'm sorry. Oh. >> [clears throat] >> The land lease? The land lease. It's Mr. Windham. What's the deal with Pardon? >> It's under his it's under his it's under his wife's. That's right. Right because he passed away. Yes, it's Elizabeth Brinkley. And so, that's just a a land lease that certain amount of acres was allotted to Mr. Brinkley for farming of what it was five acres and so the board ever since I've been here has allowed that for Mr. Brinkley to use as his own. And so, we lease that. It was at a specific amount. I can't remember right now. I don't have numbers in front of me. That was allocated for a higher amount and he's comfortable with that.
057It's a three three-year lease. Is that correct? Three years? No, he renews it every he renews it every year. So, one-year lease. Cuz he's had it a long time. It's land lease. No, it's land locked like around another piece of land that they own. They own cuz I looked it up on the GIS. They own the field around it. It's a little block of five acres. In the corner across the road. Yes, and it is all of it is farmed and the assumption is she's probably sub leasing it out to whoever's farming that other piece that they own, which is right beside that map. My question is why do we have What What is it for? I mean No, that was way before my time. I don't I think I looked it up on the
058GIS GIS one day and it said something like Sunbury waste water or something on that line. It was probably the fire department. >> have It must have been. So, maybe it was 20 years ago or something. They probably built on that indeed and Lord knows what over there. Um But it is definitely a five acres that I I don't believe the school system have any benefit to down the road or could get anything with it. Or we're just holding on to it for nostalgia's sake. That's I don't know if you want to buy that or lease it, but I mean just maybe that's something needs to be under discussion is do we want to continue to be the owners of it? I mean Well, we need to think about >> Mr. Baron. Mr. Baron can
059probably tell you that or Mr. Felton one of the other. I I don't have a clue. Um so, yes, we can follow up on that. I'll make note. And I'm assuming the cuz I know it's in the middle of the field. So, I'm assuming the farmer that's renting it probably already got it planted. I mean How do you know he's farming Cuz he's got corn and beans in right now. So, Oh, okay. So, it's a good thing we got a we got a lease on it cuz they probably already got an investment in it. But we could maybe figure that out by next board meeting. >> He usually does it in November. Most farmers are usually Decembers or January. And I don't I can't remember when he passed away. It was not long ago. Cuz
060it's it's converted over to her name now. So, I I just like to put on a future agenda that we have a discussion of land property that we own um over in the Sunbury and what our final long-term plan is going to be for it, so to speak. That would be in two. Um Mr. Harold, on that, can you look and see what we pay in property tax on that piece of land every year because if it's not if it's not making what our property taxes are, there's no need of I'll report for you. Okay, thank you. I'll be doing the other net policies. Mr. Harold, do you need to go back over the budget resolution? Oh, never mind. We need to do We need to approve the consent items again. Motion to approve the
061consent items. I'll make a motion to approve them as read. Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Mr. Harold, do you need to go back over the budget resolutions? No, only if you have any questions. Questions for Mr. Harold? On the handouts he gave us? I just need you to tell me you know, what what the funds were for. I can I can see where they were transferred, but just tell me what they were. Okay, the state amendments consists of a CTE CTE transfer for positions for months of $12 It also it includes covered media salaries. It also payout It was an increase of $31,371.20, which consists of a longevity and payout to people that retired. It also included that's a PRC 9 state funded PRC and also included that few PRCs that were late arrivals
062for small amounts of money. Got you. The local amendments consists of the increase of charter schools, moving one or two um dollar amounts just to cover an increase in salaries. The local restricted local consisted of moving zero and out one of the accounts that was insurance for the year for the school system. Moving that This is our revenue over to technology line. That's all. Thank you. I need a motion to approve the budget amendments. I make a motion to approve the budget amendments. Second, please. I'll second the motion. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Motion passed. Okay, is that all the business we have? Uh I'd like to say one more thing. Uh Mr. Harold, you asked about the land lease. That's $250 and that is looked at every December of every year for renewal
063and in the um in the agreement lease agreement, it says that the land shall be used by the lessee only as farm land for growing a crop or crops. Yeah, I believe it is. I believe it's in the middle of a field. I don't need to pick it. It's in the middle of a field. I think it's in the middle of a great big field. >> That's a field. So, it's farm land. Yeah, it's another piece of property. They I think what happened is they had to have it probably for some particular reason and Mr. James Earl sold it to the school system at at time for that cuz it is literally, like, surrounded by other property that Ms. Elizabeth owns there. Okay. All right. Okay. Get your calendars out. No. >> [laughter] >> I
064don't have a calendar. I'll bring it to you. I didn't say Let's go ahead because it's going to be easier to set our next regular meeting. Set it on May the second Tuesday in May. Preferably day 11. Let's go on Monday. That works. First, second, second Monday. May 11. 4:00, 6:00? If everybody else is good with it. Uh What what day? Is Brooks Yeah. Yes, thank you. I will be here. All right. Okay, the next one we have to choose is a waiting day. It would be nice if we could choose one this one day this week to finish up the budget. If we can do it during the day. I would prefer we do it during the day, Jojo. Okay. All right. Give me some options. The 20 >> Oh, we can't do it
065the 23rd or 24th. That's out. I really don't want to do it the 21st. So, that leaves the 27th or the 28th. And the 22nd. No. The 27th or the 28th. Can we can we inform the public of what we're working on so that they can understand where we're at? So, we are currently in the budget process of looking through uh the FY 26-27 budget that's been proposed uh to the board. We had uh full day of meeting last week uh Mill Pond. We've had a full day of meeting today. And we're going to need to meet some more. So, what we're trying to get to is we have a approachable deadline for the county commissioners um that has to be done state law-wise by May 15th. So, we still have a lot of work
066to do in our budget. We are painstakingly going through it and we're doing um a very uh fine-tooth comb through the budget, through every line, state, local, federal. Um what uh the vice has stated is we're we're trying to beat a deadline but trying to meet more. So, it's unusual to see a board meet three or four times in a two- or three-week period. It is really just budget meetings. That's all we're working on. So, last we had one all day last Tuesday. We've been here all day today. And now we're trying to go back again. Uh again, our goal is to prepare a budget that will be uh uh signed and hopefully uh funded and executed so we can uh do what do what we need to do in '26 and '27. So, we're
067we're getting there slowly but we we we're working on it more. So, with that, that's the history of why we're meeting so much. If anybody's wondering why we're going to all these special meetings, it's nothing but budget. We're just we're we're not doing line by line, but we are asking a lot of questions and getting a lot of feedback, a lot of good answers. Uh and we're hopefully to build a budget that will uh make everybody succeed in '26 and '27. That's our goal. So, with that, if you want to try to get a date. Okay, I'm fine with the 27th. I'm closest to the playoffs. 27th is what day? Monday. Monday. And so, just to again, just full transparency, we uh originally had a meeting scheduled with the commissioners for this Wednesday, I believe.
06827th. >> We asked for an extension on that for obvious reasons. We are still negotiating, I suppose, with the county commissioners to try to find another agreeable date to meet. I had asked if the 27th they were unable to meet. The 29th was not good for us, either one of us. Correct. They could sit back. So, the 29th is is not an agreeable date currently as we stand. It is not. So, to make sure I'm clear, as we stand today, we do not have another date >> We do not. currently to meet with the county commissioners on the joint. We do not. Okay. 27th, we're going to do it in the morning. I say we start at 9:00 rather than 10:00. All right. 10:00 9:00 Hey, I said it and you didn't agree. Okay, I
069want to be done before dark. Okay. 9:00 on the 27th. All right. I can stop talking. Same here. I'm good. I'm good with this. All right. Location? Um if you could stay in this again, we'd appreciate it. If not, we can meet at my church. We may need some prayers, I don't know. But, if it's not okay, we have an alternative place. No, this is fine. Okay, thank you. >> [clears throat] >> Monday, 9:00 for budget meeting, May 9th, May 11th, Monday at 4:00. We'll be getting closed session to open session to May regular meeting. Is that good? Okay. We don't have anything else. Do I have a motion to adjourn? I make a motion to [laughter] adjourn. Second. All in favor, say I. I. Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you. >> [clears throat]