001So you're ready. Good evening. I'd like to call this meeting to the order. I'm going to ask my preacher if he would say a prayer for us. He's an excellent preacher. Please come out, stand across, and join us. Let's all stand. Let us pray. Our most gracious heavenly father, author of all salvation, we seek your wisdom here tonight as we conduct business for the good of the county. Lord, we seek wisdom for this Lord that they would lead not from compulsion, not for filthy lucer, but Lord, and the manner that you prescribe to lift up the voiceless, to seek the calls of those who cannot do so themselves. Lord, in Leviticus, you tell us not to pick sides, not to choose one or the other, but to listen to the truth. I pray that we
002would listen to the truth. Lord, it is heavy weight to lead. And I pray that you would give strength to those that you would touch, that you would strengthen for your glory. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. >> Amen. Let's all stand and we flag it to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Brit. Board members, before you you have an agenda, do I have a motion to approve the agenda? >> I make a motion that we approve the agenda. >> I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> I second. >> I have a motion to second. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Okay. It has been
003extremely a rough last five or six days. Um I come tonight with you with um a letter of emotion and I'm going to read it to you. March the 16, 2026 to the Gates County Board of Education Chairman Lesley Byron. Board members Miss Sally Ryan and Miss Terry Rick. Effective March the 17, 26, I respectfully submit my resignation from my position on the Gates County Board of Education for personal reason. It has been an honor to serve alongside my fellow board members and to respect the citizens of Gates County while supporting the work of our school system. As the board considers filling the remainder of my unexpired term, I would like to offer my sincere recommendation of Mrs. Lola. Rank. Miss Rankford brings 38 years of dedicated service to Gates County Schools along with deep
004understanding of the district's operations, challenges, and opportunities. Her long-standing commitment to the school system has allowed her to develop strong relationship with staff, administrators, and the community while maintaining a clear focus on student success. Mrs. Fra has been actively involved in supporting key district initiatives including the recent consolidation studies. In that process, she worked closely with Dr. Watson and various departments to provide essential data and information used in the preparation of the study. Her familiarity with the district data including student enrollment tins trends testing outcomes and accountability measures provide valuable insight that can be assist the board and that can informal decisions and moving forward. Equally important, Miss Ranky understands firsthand how board decision affects students, teachers, families, and the community. Her experience within the district allows her to approach issues with both institutional knowledge
005and practical perspective which can provide continued to stability as the board continues to work on important matters facing the school system. Because of her long-standing service and familiarity with the district's current initiative and challenge, Miss Rancher would be an excellent step into this role with immediate understanding and providing steady informed leadership during this important time of our school system. I believe Mrs. Rank's experience, commitment, and understanding of Gates County Schools will make her a valuable and effective member of this board to finish my uninspired term. So, board members, um, you've heard a letter of resignations. Do you accept it by a motion? >> I make a motion that we accept, um, Mr. Riddick's resignation. >> Okay. I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> I have a motion and second. All
006those signify by saying I. >> I. Okay. [clears throat] is chair. Um I have the responsibility of conducting the meeting which I think is in the best interest of the affairs going on. Um we do make up a quorum which is the majority because there are three people out of five here. I do feel like that the decision needs to be made tonight because our employees are really really wanting to know what school will close and later on what their future would be. It saddens [snorts] me to um sit up here and want to close a school. I know that uh Miss Riddick um read a letter as to support why she supported her school to remain open. I'd like to read you a letter today. Good evening everyone. First, I would like to say
007I cherish every employee employed in Gainesville schools and Buckland schools. This has been a difficult decision to make, but I must summarize all my pros and cons and choosing the right school to close and the right one to keep open. I have truly cried many nights. This action is required due to a shortfall in funding decrease in student population over the last several years and the expected decrease in the next year's decrease in funding from the state based on the ADM which is our student enrollment. Our students have dropped our expenses have increased to give you an example in our sectional children's department. We are growing uh by leaps and bound, but the funding money has not been to support that. So, we've had to use county monies to support that. We're here for every
008child, no matter what the situation or the problem is. [clears throat] Over the last five years, we have had three low performing schools. This is one reason why our fund balance has decreased. It was extremely expensive to bring those three schools out of low performing schools. If we had not achieved this, then the state of North Carolina would have taken over the school and earmarked it as low performing after the third year enrollment. When we went to the commission requesting a reclassification of $828,000 and funding from the capital reserve to regular balance, it represented 73.84% 84% was used to bring those schools out of low performance. This amount of money did not affect the taxpayers. This is something that we need to uh accept. Our teachers did an outstanding wonderful job. I cannot continue to
009give the adjectives that our teachers and staff did to bring them out of low performing. We do not have a school right now of the five that are low performing. And I think that is that extended. It was stated here at the last meeting that um the taxpayers felt like that our superintendent salary is high. My reply to this comment is when you compare the superintendent salary to other counties they are fair pay. When setting a salary you need to look at experience, performance and years working in the field. When I compare the salaries of the superintendent in Burkin County and Paspac County, they all appear to be in line. I would like to explain why I voted to close Gatesville School and keep Buckland School open and address some public comments that I did
010earlier. So, basically what I did is I did a worksheet of the pros and cons. Okay. Um, I put Gatesville School and I put Buckland School and I'm going to explain my explanation. Yes, Gatesville school has more square footage than Buckland. So that was a con for B a pro for Gatesville. The student capacity actually um both schools can handle the capacity that I predicted and I have been on this board over 10 years ago and I saw that Buckland could handle those and did a wonderful job with that maintenance problems. I see that Gatesville is a constant maintenance problem. our maintenance department has exceeded their time coming here for the heat and air conditioning. So that would be a con for Gatesville, a pro for Buckles. Structure-wise, um I would say that Gatesville is
011a con and Buckland is a pro. And to explain that, Buckland is a brick and mortar building. Gatesville is not a brickandmortar building. It has some structures in here that are wall and um I don't feel like that um Gatesville school would be the best school for handling some type of environment like in case of a severe storm like a tornado. I do see that Buckland would I see that. So that's a pro for them, a con for Gatesville. Major capital expenses, a con for Gatesville, a pro for Buckley. deed. I do feel like the deed is important, a pro for Gatesville because the school system owns the deed and also it's a con for Buck. Recommended by the study, a pro for Gatesville and a con for Buckland. When I average all of my
012pros and cons, Gatesville school came up with five and Buckland came up with six. I think I looked at it realistically and I analyzed every situation that could happen. I did not take what um Dr. Watson gave us. I wish it had been a little bit more informative and a better descriptive of what was there, but we all had to make our decisions. Now, this is the reasons why I feel like I voted the way I did the last time. [snorts] Got one little last sentence and then I'mma turn it over to Miss Ry not to put on the spot. First, whatever decision is made tonight, I will accept the decision made by my fellow board members and I will put children and staff first because that's what we're here for. We're here to see
013that every child under the general statutes of North Carolina receives the best education possible. And that's based on my reason. I'm going to turn it over to Miss Ryan because I know Miss Riddick uh made her statement too. Um I didn't have everything all together. I apologize for that at the last meeting. I'm going turn it over Miss Ryan if you'd like to state your reasons. >> And I never had everything together, so bear with me. [clears throat] Um after Miss Catherine letter or notice last week, I said I concurred with everything she said. Some of the things that really were meaningful to me is when I first heard about the geothermal system here, I immediately thought, well, that's a no-brainer because it's going to cost so much to keep Gatesville open. And then after
014talking to the screen and talking to other maintenance expert people, I realized that that's going to have to be fixed one way or the other because we're going to keep whatever school that does not have students in it. We're going to keep it operating and we're going to look at alternative school COA things. And so there's there's no I I don't think that's a consolidation cost. I think that is a regular cost that this school has coming forward. So that's that's one of mine. Um and again the the difference in the square footage, the amount of empty classrooms factored in my decision. The prek program was very important because I just don't think there's a place to house the prek at Buckley. I know they have the trailers there, but I also know that these
015kids are used to classrooms, bathrooms, and that we have to pass the state licensing. Um, another concern that I had, not so much the size of Buckland's cafeteria because I know all those things have been fitted, those people, as Mr. Lesley says, have been fitted in there in years back. My real concern was the buckling kitchen. Every one of those freezers, fryers, cookers, all those things. I mean, there's like this much space in between them. And I think if you've been in that kitchen, you know, I'm not exaggerating, but everything [clears throat] is so close together that I don't know where they will be able to put new things. Um, so warmers, the three trials I had on that. And and one thing that was not addressed last time, but I thought this had been
016addressed. I would let you know that thing on that. I looked at the bus routes and uh the morning ride for Gatesville is going to be on an average six minutes greater than it is for Buckland. The evening ride is going to be on the average five minutes later. It's a difference of two miles. From the student living the furthest is like 9.7 from Gatesville and from Buckland is 7.6. So none of those numbers to me stood out and said you've got to decide on Buckland. So that's that is why and I do want to address this too because I should never go on Facebook but I did go on Facebook and they were saying oh nobody was ever had any contact with that school should have anything to say about it should not be
017able to vote. But I am here to tell you when the geothermal stuff hit me, I didn't have a doubt what I was going to do until I became better informed and more able to understand that that was not a consolidation cost, that it was a cost that was going to have to be spent one way or the other. So, it pains me and I have prayed all day. I wrote down the road. I even wrote by the place out there where the new house is going to be going, "God, give me a sign." But as of right now, what I said last week and and what I just said is what my heart tells me to do and my judgment tells me to do. >> Thank you, M. R. Miss. Re, would you like
018to add anything else? >> Nope. I said everything I had to say, Bill. >> Okay. I do feel like every board member um has the right to voice their opinion and how they feel because um it lets the taxpayers, the teachers, and the staff know more advance of what's being taken. It's different on this side of the table versus that side of the table. I know sometimes decisions are made and that side of the table don't understand why the decision was made on this side of the table, but we have a lot more information um that is there and making those decisions, but I truly I'm going to ask my board members. I know that we don't have you here to represent us. I know we don't have Gates here to represent us, [snorts] but
019we owe this to our employees. So, we need to make a decision tonight. I have spoken with legal counsel. We consent that decision because we have a quorum which represents three people majority of the vote. So, board members, how do you feel, Miss Ryan? I I'm okay with tonight. >> Okay. >> It would be next week before Miss Jojo comes on. Correct. 25th. Next Wednesday. And the one thing I will say that I heard from many this week was that the teachers were anxious to know what was going to happen. And a lot of the people said, "Just say what school you're going to close. keep three schools this year and then make all those changes in the 27 28 year. We don't have the money to do that. As much as I would like
020to say, sounds like a good idea and something that I would like us to do, I just don't think we have the money to be able to do that adequately. >> What is with that being said, Stephen? I mean, she brought up a valid point. Excuse me, Miss Terrible. Um, about funding. I mean, we don't have the funding to keep going the way that we are. Not not for another year. Not with the what's the word? The >> projected a lotment that's coming from the state >> the that's coming down. Correct. >> Okay. I mean, I I've said it all along that this is we've drove this out too long and we need to make a decision. We've got to let the families know. We've got to let the staff know and we've got to
021let the central office have time to put things in motion and of what needs to happen. It's not something that's going to happen overnight. So, the decision I think has to be made and I'm I'm okay with it. >> Okay. I do um believe that we do need to make that decision based on um what each board member has stated tonight. I don't feel like we have left out your or Gates. I feel like we're representing them very well in our decision. Um I know at the last meeting it was a two two tie, but sometimes one person has to give into that tie in order for it to be a majority. So, um I hope that everyone will respect the decision of the vote that we have here. A question that came up at
022the last board meeting about a grant that was written. Dr. Williams did write a grant for 40ome million dollars for the projection of building a one elementary school. So, we would have one elementary school, one middle school, and one high school. This came as secondhand information. I have not been through the facts, but I was told that the commissioners would have liked to have written their own crank. My statement to that is is that in order for us to be collaborative, each one of us, each board of us needs to sit down together and design the best application and give the best sources so that we can present that and it will be more favorable for more funding and we can achieve that. I also believe that um I will not be after November 30th,
023but I believe this future board should move that process up immediately. Start doing that. A new school is not going to take place overnight. It's not going to take place in one year. It's going to take at least 18 to 24 months to build a new school. So, I feel like that plan needs to be changed from 10 years to five years. We need to look out for future growth. I believe that growth will come to Gates County based on the developer that has purchased the property on Willington Road or off of Willington Road. They've already put up one home. They're using that as an experiment to see if the market is there. So, board members, have you expressed every concern that you have before we vote? I'm good. >> Do do we have any
024new information from any of the administration or directors or is everything as was as >> it is? >> I think um one the major reason or two major reasons that we need to make this um tonight is one is our teachers. we need to look out for them and I hope and pray that we will have enough retirees so that um people will not lose their jobs based on the information. Board members, we also it was not in the consolidation study about prek. When you make a motion as to what needs to be closed or open, we need to add prek to it because that is also important role in our development of our students coming into kindergarten. Does anybody have a problem with that? >> No. >> Okay. Board members, you have had the
025opportunity to state your facts and your reasons and your rationale is why you support one school over another school. Do I have a motion on the floor? >> Chairman, I make a motion that we keep Gatesville Elementary School open. It will house uh prek and it will also house the Head Start that is currently at Oakland. >> Okay, I have a motion on the floor. I need a second to it. >> Second. >> I have a motion and a second. All those signify by saying I. >> I'm going to say no. So two is the majority. So Gatesville School will be the one that will be open. Um and I do respect my fellow board members for that decision. Um we all have our opinions and I believe we should respect them. Okay. So that
026pretty much solves what will happen with the o the closing of a school and also prek and also head start. Those two Head Start and prek were not mentioned in the consolidation and I feel like they were important to be included in that motion. Okay. The next thing that we need to address is we need to have a special call meeting March the 25th at 6:00. Board members, you have a meeting on that same day from 1 to 4 with the commissioners. Board members, do I have your approval to call a special call meeting March the 25th? What we will do in the March 25th meeting is we will induct Mrs. Le into this role. So that there will be four people. And then the second thing that we will apply is how we want
027to appoint Mr. Riddick's position. It's time for us to get back to five board members. Board members, are you okay with the decision that I'm making and calling what will be done? >> The 25th. You said >> yes. >> And when four is the commission is 6:00 here. >> Yes. 6 o'clock at Gatesville School. Is that okay, Miss Brooks? Okay. And then um one of one the four with the commissioners will be at the old court house on the second floor. And the purpose of that meeting is to discuss budget. It is not a final budget because uh Mr. Harold and Dr. Williams have to present this board a budget and this board has to approve the budget I think the middle of May according to the general statutes and present it to the commissioners
028and it will give them opportunity for them to approve our budget. I feel like our budget this year should be an essential budget number one. And then the second priority should be what would be our most needs in in our school system. And we need to state that to our commissions. Our commissions pretty much have given us pretty much the same funded but they have been gracious enough to give us additional monies. And if we can give them the information that's additionally needed, I feel like maybe they might um give some additional monies. They do have a good fund balance. We do not have a good fund balance. So, it's time for us to restore our fund balance. So it's it's set that we're going to have a meeting with the commissioners from 1 to
0294 which will be a special call meeting which will be a work session. It is open to the public but the public will not have comment. It will be a special meeting on March the 25th at 6:00 p.m. which will be a work session and no public comment. The general statute states that we must at least have one public comment and we normally have that on our regular meeting. So, how do you feel about that? >> I'm on my calendar. We're good, >> Miss Dream. >> Yes, [snorts] that's >> okay. And I did um I noticed um on Facebook u people were looking for the agenda. If you go to the website, it comes up as it's in construction. If you go to the magnifying glass at the top right corner and you type in
030what you would like to find, it will give it will write you to the right direction. For an example, if I want to look at policies, I type in policies in that field for magnifying glasses and it gives you the policy manual and you can scroll down and get what our policies that we have adopted and approved. Is that not right, Mrs. Smith? >> That's right. Okay. I know. Um I think that will help people in a more user friendly to look for it because I know some people didn't see the agenda. The agenda was posted. I know. Um I I'm sorry I forgot the time, but it was posted and we can the board members can go in and see because we have a little bit more access than the public does. And that's
031unfortunate, but that's because a closed session is included in that assembly eboard um program. So, we're not trying to um hide anything or do anything. Trust me. Um as long as I'm chair, there will be nothing discussed in closed session that violates open session laws because I hold them accountable for it. >> [laughter] >> So, and they know that. Board members, do you have any other matters that need to be brought to our attention? >> I'd like to give buffering school a message. I want to promise you each that as long as I'm on this board, and we're hoping that will be four more years if I make it. I will not allow Buckland to become a place like Sbury School has. We need an educational program cutting with COA. We need an alternative school
032for our children. And there's just lots of things that we can do to keep Buckland intact and keep that legacy going because it is a wonderful school. And it the decision was not made easily. Please know that I I know your hearts don't care about what I'm saying right now, but please know that it will be made so that you can be proud of it forever. >> Okay, I've heard Miss Ryan, Miss Ry, >> this was not easy. I hope all of you know that it was [snorts] nothing. It was nothing personal. Somebody told me when I first got elected to this board [clears throat] that the one thing you need to remember is none of this is personal. It's all business. And it truly is. And it all comes down to the God Almighty
033dollar. And none of us wanted to have to close a school. Dr. Williams forwarded an article to us today that there was a um city in Texas that [snorts] voted they had to close seven schools and I can't imagine what they went through having to close seven schools if we went through all of this hell of torment for one school. I cannot imagine. So know that this is it was not it's not a personal decision. It was a business decision and looking at data and our kids and our students are what is important. That's our number one thought. It's our number one priority is our students and educating them. And behind that is our staff. And we have taken all of this into consideration, but our hands were tied. We didn't have any other choice.
034I know this was a heart dis a heart decision. You all think it was, and it was a hard decision, but sometimes you had to put those things aside, and I'm sorry. It was not easy. Um, but please be respectful of us and what we went through and having to make this decision because it was not easy. So, we're going to move forward. I want everybody staffwise to work together and to come together. It's no more this is mine, this is yours. We're all in this together. It's no more just us. We're in this silo. We're in this silo. Everybody has to come together and work together and do what's right for and what's best for our students and to get our school system. We all want to get back to where we where we
035were where it was a good school system and people are beating the doors down trying to get Gates County schools. And that's where I want us to be again. And I think we can do that. But we've all got to work together. We can't we can't The animosity has got to go away. And so that's what my prayer is. And no, there's been a whole lot there's been a whole lot of conversations with the big man upstairs over this. So, I'm sorry. Um, please give us some grace and knowing that this wasn't easy for us. Thank you, Miss Rick. My heart goes out to each of you that are employed at Buckland School. You are dynamic employees. Y'all done an exceptional job. And I believe in my heart even though this decision was made to
036close the school that um it was like a business essential. Um we're not the only county. I had the ability in the past to serve on the state board and I still have contacts um with every county that's across North Carolina and we go to the national I mean to our state meeting um pretty much everybody knows me by name because I was active on that. Um to give you some examples, Chapel Hill Cabaras, I believe that's S County, is in the process now of talking about closing two schools because a financial problem and a loss of student enrollment. Can you imagine and compare Gates County to Chapel Hill? So, it's not only our problem, it's other problems across the state of North Carolina. It's time that we as citizens need to step up to
037our legislators, fight for our school system, and tell them that we're just as important as Wake County or we're just as important as Durham, Meckllinburgg County. Also, um we're there too and we speak out too and we educate students. We have educated students who have graduated from Harvard Law School who have done an outstanding job are performing well and other renowned colleges. And I want to cry the same thing that I do with y'all from Buckland. I really do. Um, I did do my best to support everybody and um, I do respect the decision that's made and I hope that um, everybody will go back home and reflect that this wasn't the board's decision. Financially, this school system had to make a decision um, of whether we continue as three elementary schools or we continue
038as two elementary schools. Maybe it should have been done earlier. I went back to the minutes and I believe eight years ago um Mrs. Renee Kitrol from Gates Canyon High School in her public comments made a statement that um we needed to look into that factor. This board did look into it. It was not favorable at that time. So we dropped it. Um my heart goes out to y'all. It really does. It really does. I will say this. I know that we do not own the Buckland property because I have the deeds to all five of the schools here if anybody would like to look at them. Okay. I also have um a map of what represents the school. There's more land at um Buffalo School to grow than it is here at Gatesville unless
039you chase change the wastewater system. But wastewater system uh that's high in Gatesville has been funded um a grant for sewage and I believe that is supposed to start in summer. Is that right? >> I think so. >> Right. Okay. So, I feel like that we um as a board need to come up with a resolution that we don't forget Buckland school and that we repurpose it from an elementary school to some other type of schooling and therefore it will still be um an important asset to the Gates County school system. I know that that's additional cost but I can tell you from speaking from the president of the college mall it is he is very interested in seeing that we have an early college. We also in the past had an alternative school which
040Miss Ryan was the director of it and I can tell you that that environment really touched the lives and it pulled children out of the regular classroom so the children in the regular setting could educate themselves and it wasn't a handicap to them. It was also an asset to the um behavioral problems that were moved over to the alternative school. And they worked together and we had people that graduated, people that had remained in the same classroom regular, they would have dropped out. So we improved our dropoutback rate by having I do feel like we need that. So, I do feel like we need to come up with a resolution and I do not feel like we need to give up the purpose of Buckland Elementary as um a back to the county that it
041will continue to be um supported as a school system function in the Gates County School System. Dr. Williams has prepared a resolution that I'm going to bring before the board members. Resolution. A resolution of the Gates County Board of Education authorizes the closure of Buckland Elementary School before commencing the 2627 school year. Whereas the Gates County Board of Education hereafter the board is charged with the responsibility of providing a high quality education to all students on Gates County with the Puit stewardship of the district resources. And whereas the board has considered the closing or consolidation of one or more elementary schools within the local school administrative unit as allowed by the North Carolina General Statutes 115C-72 and whereas the board has conducted a thorough and transparent study of the student enrollment needs, geographic conditions, anticipated
042increase or decrease and school enrollment. The inconvenience or the hardship that might result to the pupil to be affected by such closing or consolidation, facility conditions, operational costs and educational outcomes across all elementary schools in the district. hand. Whereas the board of education has engaged district administration, school staff, students, families, and broader community in a comprehensive consolidation process, including by conducting public hearings and providing opportunities for comment in regard to such proposed closing and the consolidation at which the public was afforded and the opportunity to express their views. And whereas a result of said study and upon consideration of the information provided during this process, including but not limited to the consideration of the comments received from the public, the board has determined that consolidating the district's three elementary schools into two schools with improved
043educational quality, operational efficiency, and the overall learning environment for all students of Gates County and whereas the board has determined in accordance to the North Carolina General Statutes in 115C-72 and in broad discretion that Buckland Elementary School should be closed as a public elementary school and that all elementary students currently assigned to Buckland Elementary School shall be reassigned to either Gatesville Elementary School or TS Cuper Elementary School with attendance zones to be withdrawn accordingly. To give you a layman's term of that, um I know that um they presented a study of east and west and that's what the zonings that we approved as a board. So wherever the lines are of road maps, it will be redistricked and it will be clearly stated by road members. So it won't be um hard for the um
044parents to decipher whether a child go to Buckland or Gatesville. Whereas the board has further determined that the closure of Buckland Elementary School shall be affected at the end of the 2526 school year with the new school assignments to take effect at the beginning of the 2627 school year. And whereas the board is committed to ensuring a smooth, supportive, and well-communicated transition for all affected students, friends, and staff. Now, I therefore be resolved that the Gates Gates County Board of Education hereby authorizes and directs the following. This is linked. Thank y'all for being section one. Closure of the Buckland Elementary School elementary schools operation at Buckland Elementary should be discontinued effectively of conclusion of the 2526 school year. Beginning with the 2627 school year, Buckland Elementary shall no longer operate as an elementary school until
045enrollment enrollment trends uh district needs or other circumstance warrant the reopening of the Buckland Elementary as an active public school. Section two, redistribution of students. All students who would otherwise be assigned to enroll or to remain at Buckland Elementary School for the 2627 school year shall be reassigned to either Gatesville Elementary School or to TS Cooper Elementary School for the 2627 school year and thereafter in accordance with the revised attendance zones to be adopted by the board. So that means that this board will have to approve the attendance zones that were um dictated or given to us in the consolidation study. Section three, revision of attendance zones. The superintendent or design is directed to prepare and present revised elementary school attendance zone boundaries for formal adoption [laughter] by the board for the 2627 school year.
046The revised attendance zones shall ensure the equitable and orderly assignment of all elementary students within the district to either Gatesville Elementary School or TS Kopa Elementary School before new [laughter] attendance zones are implemented. The superintendent shall allow for public comment period in accordance with the applicable law and our board policy as stated. Section four, communication. The superintendent or the design is directed to communicate this decision promptly and clearly to all affected families, staff, and community members. Upon approval of the new uh attendance zones, communication shall include the name of each student newly assigned school, transportation information, key contacts, and any other information necessary to support families through the transition. The district also will notify the North Carolina public of instruction, which is known an acronym of the NCPI, of the school closure and comply with
047all applicable state requirements. Section five, staffing and personnel. The superintendent or design is directed to work with school principles and the human resource department to appropriately reassign, transform or if necessary reduce staff positions in accordance with applicable law, board policy and any applicable reduction enforce acron procedures. Section C disposition of a closed facility. The board shall determine in a timely manner the future use or dispos dispos disposition of Buckland Elementary School facilities managing the vacated building in a manner that best serves the interest of the district and also the community. Section five student support transition service. The superintendent or designate is redirected redirected to coordinate with school counselors and receiving school principles to provide appropriate support service to student transitioning to new schools included but not limited to oration events, welcome activities, open house and
048counseling service to facilities students social and emotional adjustment. Section 8, transfer records. The superintendent or destiny is directed to ensure that the secure and timely transfer of all students records and all relevant documentation to appropriate receiving schools to update the district student information system accordingly. Section 9 effective date. This resolution will take effect immediately upon the adoption by the Gates County Board of Education. The closure of Buckland Elementary School as a public school and all actions directed here and shall be implemented no later than the commencement of the 26 27 school year adopted this 17th day of March the 26. And it's asking for signatures. And keep in mind that in section six, I reiterate that disposition of closed facility, the board shall determine in a timely manner the future use or disposition of Buckland
049Elementary School facilities, managing the vacated building in a manner that best serves the interest of this district and the community. So in basic in essence that's telling you that we don't own ownership to it but we have not released this school as far as the school district putting something there for educational purposes whether it be central office early college um whether it be alternative school or any other thing. So basically that's in a nutshell. Board members, I have read you the resolution for closing of Buckland Elementary School which will take effect this night. What is the pledge of the board on me reading this resolution? And if you have any comments or would like me to reread something, I will do that. I will do that. Or if you're okay, I will obtain a motion.
050What's the pledge of the board? I make a motion that we accept the resolution. >> Okay. Mr. Rick has made a motion that we accept um the resolution as a motion. Do I have a second to the motion? >> Second. >> I have a motion and second. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Motion carries. >> Can we get a copy of that? >> Will you send us a copy? Okay. All right. I'll sign this. Okay. Okay. Board members is the um any other business that needs to come before the board. [clears throat] Okay. Um this is what I have decided. I felt like filling Mr. Riddick's position would have been additional trauma to the board and to the public and to the staff. This night's decision was a dramatic trauma to
051our employees of Buckland School and I want to show them respect by that. I want to in the special call meeting that we induct uh Miss Le in the opening of our special call meeting on March the 25th at 6. And then this board after she's appointed, she will have an opportunity to speak about filling the appointment of Mr. Rick. And that appointment will be from March the 17th to November 30th. And on December the 1st, Mr. Hail won the election and he will come on board for four years. And that's what he'll serve. Is there any other um business that needs to be brought before the board? >> No. If there's no other business, do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> I make a motion we adjourn. >> I have a motion to
052adjurnn. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> I have a motion, a second. All those favor signify by saying I. I. >> I. Motion carries. Thank y'all all for coming. I hope that you will understand that the um decision that was made was not a personal decision. It was a financial decision. and we truly are hurting. Um, thank y'all all for coming out. I'll support you. I will continue to support you even after I'm gone because that's my dedication. Thank y'all all for coming out. I hope y'all have a safe returning home safely. Take care and be good. Thank you. >> Thank you.